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Amelia this morning reading eating books. I can't believe she is 7 months old already!

Find Your Voice: Week 3

It took me a while to finish this weeks worksheet and project, but I finally found some time to focus and think about it.

1. What stories do you want to tell? Your stories? Stories about others? The BIG stories? or the everyday life detail stories?

I want to tell the everyday stories of me, my friends, and family. I want to make sure I don't forget the little things. Things that bring simply joy to our everyday lives.

2. What do you want from your creative life? Escape? Recognition? Relaxing? Memory keeping? Tradition?

Creative life: purpose, expression, fulfillment, happiness and a chance to share that happiness. Eventually I would like to make my creative life into a career to help support my family.

3. How do your storytelling and creativity goals fit into the rest of your life goals? Do you need to make room for new priorities in order to meet your storytelling and creative goals or are you comfortable with where you are right now?

I definitely need to make more time for these goals and myself. As a new mom this change has been really hard for me, but hopefully by organizing my time better I can make my goals happen. Right now I am able to stay home to take care of my daughter, which also gives me the opportunity to work towards my goals in a way I've never been able to before.

The creative prompt I chose was to create a project that makes you happy and come up with 5 reasons why it makes you happy. And how do the reasons compare with your creative goals?

I chose a painting I have been working on. I won't call it finished yet, but I think it's getting closer. Here it is at a stopping point:

And here it is, where I've stopped for tonight:

This is completely out of my comfort zone and I was trying some new techniques. I almost went in the direction I usually go by adding a cute face on there, but painted over it. I wanted a more abstract feel, which I've never tried before. I was inspired by Paramore's song "Still Into You".

5 Reasons This Painting Made Me Happy

1. Listening to music and painting helps me to relax. I can just be messy, play and bop my head to the beat.

2. I suck at expressing my emotions. Painting helps with that, even if no one ever sees it.

3. Teaching myself new things makes me feel happy and accomplished.

4. Having paint on my hands shows that I've been working on something joyful.

5. This painting makes me think of the love I have for my husband, even if it's corny. But we are corny. And if I want to get all deep and arty about it, I could compare our love to blossoming flowers growing into something beautiful. How we began and the journey to where we are today. LOL But that makes me feel all awkward even typing it, so lets stick with we are corny.

Here's the music video (just for fun)!


If you would like to participate in the Find Your Voice workshop (IT’S FREE!!), check out the links below:

Click Here to learn more about Find Your Voice

Download lesson one here

Join the facebook group

Sign up for lessons delivered straight to your email

That's What She Said Sunday

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Girl Talk with Simply Sertain Cupcakes

Simply Sertain Cupcakes is a local delivery cupcakery based in San Angelo, Texas. Today I am interviewing the owner Ashley Sertain, to gain some insight into the life of a small indie business owner.

1. Tell us a little about you, and what inspired you to start Simply Sertain Cupcakes?

I am a stay at home mom of 2 toddler girls- Avery (3) and Mercedes (1), and our husky Raider. My husband is a driller in the oil field, so that means he is gone at work for a week at a time. I started baking cupcakes in my free time, and my husband would take some with him to work and share with his coworkers. I started trying out new recipes on them and suddenly they wanted to buy my cupcakes. Something I did as a hobby started to look pretty good as a business. After reading books and blogs, I started getting my business together and finally launched my page in March of this year.

2. Tell us about your kitchen! What do you like best about your space?

The one thing in my kitchen I'm grateful for, is that my fridge is double door and huge so it can hold all the boxes of cupcakes before orders are picked up or delivered. I also like that we have lots of counter space, I seem to use every inch.

3. What music/tv shows do you listen to/watch while baking?

If I'm baking and my husband is home from work the TV is on some man show, and if he is at work it tends to be on cartoons or a Disney movie to help keep the girls occupied while I'm in the kitchen.

4. What are your future plans for Simply Sertain Cupcakes?

My future plans for Simply Sertain Cupcakes is first to be able to ship cupcakes to a wider customer base. Then I would like to start out with an awesome cupcake food truck, and from there open up my own shop or two or three.

5. What is your most popular cupcake flavor?

Right now the most popular flavor is a tie between strawberry cheesecake (which is a vanilla cupcake with a strawberry filling and a cream cheese frosting), and Reese's (which is a chocolate cake with a Reese's candy baked on the inside peanut butter frosting topped with a mini Reese's candy).

6. Can we get the inside scoop on a new flavor?

I'm not sure what is going to be my next new flavor. I have a book where I write all my recipes that I haven't tested yet, and I have about 50 to choose from. I'm thinking the next one will be a strawberry shortcake or strawberry cake.

7. Have you considered baking vegan cupcakes? Gluten-free?

I did look into baking vegan or gluten free cupcakes to be different from the cupcake shop that is here in San Angelo, but there isn't much of a customer demand for it here. It also takes a lot of different ingredients to make them that can't be found here, because San Angelo doesn't have a specialty grocery store.

8. What defines the perfect cupcake to you?

The perfect cupcake is a nice fluffy cupcake (not too dense), and just the right amount of frosting so it doesn't over power the cake. The combination of cupcake and frosting should complement each other.

9. What is the biggest cupcake 'dont' when preparing cupcakes for us novices?

Definitely don't just throw everything into the bowl at once and mix it. The batter will just be lumpy and not mixed well. Always remember to have dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another, and alternate when mixing to get the best batter. For a nice frosting that can hold up to piping it on a cupcake, add a little bit of shortening to either your buttercream or cream cheese base.

10. When it comes to placing an order, what do you require?

To find me, check out and like my Facebook page Simply Sertain Cupcakes. That is where I post pictures of flavors, orders, and do give aways for free dozens. Or you can email me at SimplySertainCupcakes@yahoo.com

Please note: Right now she is only able to deliver/take orders for the San Angelo area. Please contact Ashley if you have any questions about whether or not your location is in her range. :)

Ashley is doing a DOUBLE giveaway when she reaches 200 fans on Facebook. 2 lucky fans (drawn at random) will each win a FREE dozen cupcakes! So what are you waiting for?! Go like Simply Sertain Cupcakes!

***Remember the giveaway is only open to residents in the San Angelo, TX area.****

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My friend Teresa took these when we had a girls day out for coffee a few weeks ago. I'm always the one taking the pictures, so it was nice to be in a few with her for once. Amelia's nose is red from allergies :( poor girl.

That's What She Said Sunday

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My love for Audrey Hepburn will never die. She is a great inspiration and role model! Now let's all watch Breakfast at Tiffany's and drink coffee.

Blogosphere Reads

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Here are a few of my favorite posts from the week! Happy Reading!

Speaking of reading, here is a fun giveaway with My Life as a Teacup.

This post will inspire you to check out your local used book store.

This sounds like a great idea. Can't wait to make my own and share it.

Originality is something I think about a lot. Thanks for the link Lemon & Raspberry!

Got a good read to recommend? Leave a link in the comments.