☆ Stars in the Clouds [Friday Art]

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I need to take a month off from my life, go to a tropical island, and sip mojitos in my hammock while the barmy breeze kisses my skin, while my personal chef feeds me delicious meals and.....

Ok. Back to my life.

I know when I start having this little fantasy I am tired.

And I know when I dream of this I need to take time off.

But although I am going to take a week off at the end of September, taking off to my tropical island isn't possible. And with a family of five, impractical.

Luckily school breaks for the holidays today + for me at least there is a nice break from the daily hustle an bustle.

Holidays means lazy mornings in out jimjams, no tears during the hair styling, no rushing around for appointments + activities +  breakfast that is something other than cold cereal.

Sometimes I just want to hang out on the couch and sleep but I totally know what I am like if I'm not in the studio regularly.

I become a snarky bitch.

The girls + Mr Mac call it the Mama Dragon. (There has to be a painting in there some where!!)

So I dragged my weary self to the studio + started to paint.

'STARS IN THE CLOUDS'
Water colour Journal Page.

I didn't expect much - I was too tired. But I love how this girl turned out - I really love the black/grey tones in the background. And enjoyed the challenge of having only a limited water colour pallet to use.

Funnily enough once I emerged from my hole, I was totally and completely energised again.

So although I can't take the month long holiday on the beach sipping mojitos that is my fantasy, I need to find some other ways of taking tiny little vacay's during my week.

Things like enjoying the warmer weather on my verandah with a great book, or going up to the 'rents house to 'borrow' their spa bath, or taking my camera out and taking photos of all the little things that I can find. Making my own mojitos + swinging in the hammock out the back.

Things that I used to do in another life, (pre kids), but seem to have slipped right down to the bottom of my list of things to do.

Maybe it's time to move them back up the list.

What about you? What do you do to give yourself a boost, or a mini vacay from your week? I would love to hear how your recharge + relax. Please share your stories with us!

Did you know that I send out a monthly love letter with studio snippets, a monthly give away of one of my paintings or products, a free calendar download + more. Click here or on the image below for more + your free downloadable gratitude angel 

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Why a mini-vacay IS important....

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I'm back. 

I wouldn't say I am relaxed, rested or ready to jump back into the swing of things, but I have really enjoyed my mini-vacay. 

I call it a mini-vacay or mini-break, because I didn't go away anywhere, I didn't stop the daily scheduled family events, but I had a break from all things LilliBean Designs.

I was feeling uninspired and unmotivated + all I really wanted was to hang on the couch and read some really good books.

And so I did. I read some truly addictive books (I told Mr Mac they were like really good drugs. I just. couldn't. stop...), watched some truly awful television (why? WHY? I will never get that time back...), and I spent a whole evening pinning to my little hearts content, lost in the world of pinterest, pinners, and DIY (that I will never do) + I am totally unrepentant about it.

For two weeks, my usually busy brain switched off, I didn't check me emails first thing in the morning. I didn't have to do lists with ten, twenty things on it. I didn't even paint.

I wasn't paralyzed by the stuff I had to do.

But here is the awesome thing! I found that in switching off, some truly awesome ideas have sifted to the surface.

And because I switched off, I could actually take the time to explore these ideas.

And I can't wait to share them with you.

But not yet!! Soon though.

So anyway, here I am again! 

And I hope you will pop back on Thursday to see what this months give away will be + again on Friday to see if I actually managed to open the studio door and paint something for this weeks Friday Art.

I would love to know have you taken a mini-break from your busy life? How did you spend the time?Did you enjoyed it? Did you have some awesome ideas? Feel relaxed + refreshed? 

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