Week Two-We're going on a Mission

"Success is a journey, not a destination. Just being a part of the process means you're succeeding." -Anon.


Can you feel it, girls? We are embarking on an incredible journey. We are not sitting still and waiting for our life to change. No...we are standing up and creating the life we want. The life we are meant to live.

I love it.
How about you?

It has been wonderful reading about all your routines and seeing  your pages!! It seems like everyday I am adding new members to our Facebook group, too. Love that so much. I am inspired by all of the hard work each of you is putting into our class and can't wait to see what you think up for our second week.

Week 2: Your Mission Statement

Now before I lose you here...our mission statement is not the boring old things you're thinking of. Nope. This is one that is full of love and light to guide us through our days and inspire us to become all that we were meant to be.

Several years ago I made my first Mission Statement using Stephen Covey's 7 Habits as a guide. It was awesome to get my values and talents and goals on paper. Then last year I took Brave Girl Melody Ross's "Soul Restoration Two" on-line class and created another one with a Brave Girl twist. I made a two page spread in my journal and added photos of myself.

I refer often to my Mission Statement, especially when I am losing sight of what's really important in my life or when I get down on myself.

Our "Being Me" Mission Statement involves ten questions I want you to ask yourself this week. Be sure and give yourself all week to do this project...I want you to really think about the questions and your answers. I would create a 2-page spread for your mission statement. Be sure and use your favorite colors and papers to reflect your personal style. Here is the first layer of my new "Being Me" Mission Statement.

I will add at least 4 more layers to my pages before any writing goes here!!

Okay...on to our TEN QUESTIONS...


1.  My mind, body and soul are very important to me. I promise to take care of them by...

2.  I know I was put on Earth to....

3.  When I pass from this world I want others to remember these very good things about me...

4. When I do these things I know I am the Best me I can be...

5. I need to avoid these things in order to be the TRUE ME...

6.  "Being Me" happens when I take time to do my favorite things...

7.  I am my very best self when I can spend my work life doing these things...

8. I have BIG DREAMS and I know if I spend my time doing these things I will live them...

9.  I know how important my Morning Routine is and will try my very best to incorporate these things in it daily...

10.  Each of us is born with great talents. I will make time to nurture these talents and share them with others.....

    My Talents are...                                Ways I will use them...



Girls, I would take time to answer these questions in a journal or just on a piece of paper. Take your time. At the end of the week you should be able to create your 2-page spread. You CAN do this!!! It will be so worth it...I promise:)


"To get out of a prison, you must become aware that you are in one."  -Mark Victor Hansen



It's time, girls...Believe in yourself!! 


*Join our Being Me class here. {it's free!!}
*Join our Facebook group here.

Why I Do what I Do

"Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich."  -Sarah Bernhardt.

If you have been following along this week with our 52 Weeks then you are on Day 5 of your Morning Routine...how are you doing?? Like the quote above...you should have more energy in your step, more life in your days. Remember...the longer you stick with your Morning Routine...the more Life you will have...there is not a truer statement, girls!!!

Speaking of Life....

Me and my Mom at the Dinner Theater in KC

I have been living mine!! It's been awhile since I posted photos of my days...so here are a few:)

My son Jackson and his darling girl Bailey. This was his very last track meet!! His Senior Year went by tooo fast!

Prom night was the first Saturday in May. They both looked stunning!!

Jacks and Bailey both have VERY colorful personalities...their outfits represent that perfectly:)

In May we also celebrated Jourdain's Birthday!! My Miss Emma painted these VERY CUTE mugs...He's Mine/She's Mine. He loved them!

This photo cracks me up!!

May 12th my son Jackson graduated from High School. A few weeks before that I treated my family to a day at The Plaza!!! LOVE this photo of my son and I!!!!

And here he is on his special day!

I honestly thought I would cry my eyes out on this day and had dreaded it for YEARS!!! Girls, it was one of the BEST days ever!!!

We are sooo PROUD of our son!!!

These are just half of his Speech and Debate trophies over the years!!

I am so grateful for my family!! They are why I try so hard to improve myself everyday!!

"A happy family is but an earlier heaven."  -John Bowring

Have you started our 52 weeks Being Me class yet?? If not click here!! 

Morning Routine Journal Page

Can I just tell you that art journaling is one of my very favorite things to do??! I LOVE it!! Everything from painting the page to stenciling to doodling to adding the images and words. Sooo peaceful!! Love!

Another thing I am sooo loving is my Morning Routine!! It has been several weeks now and I feel like my life is moving in a very good direction. Waking up, having a set routine and actually doing it is building momentum in life. One good practice is opening up doors to other good habits. Love it!

When sitting down to create my Morning Routine journal page the first thing I thought of was WINGS!! I love the symbolism of wings and my new routine has definately given me wings to fly through my day!!

Words inspired by a Brave Girl's class I took.

Girls...my Morning Routine has made me realize how much time I was wasting without it!! Seriously...when I get up and spend some quiet time on just me and my day...some pretty amazing things happen. I am choosing how I spend my time. I do have more joy in my days...I don't feel so rushed and stressed.

How is YOUR Morning Routine coming? Are you noticing any little changes in your day?? I would love for you to share with us!!


**Here is Week One of "Being Me" in case you missed it:)

Week One-What's Your Routine??

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together."  -Vincent Van Gogh

UPDATE AUGUST 2017

I am so grateful YOU are here! This is my most pinned and viewed class....so THANK YOU for being here! I PROMISE the next 52 weeks you will GROW so much!! I invite you to my on-line Facebook Group...Brave Heart Sisterhood Mixed-Media Art.  Stop by, introduce yourself and let me know you are taking this class!! Use the hashtag #braveheartsisterhood and #wordsofmeproject so I can see what you are up to. Thanks again!!

Leslie 

Welcome Girls to my year long gift to you and to myself..."Being Me"!! This class has come at a time in my life where I am done living from day to day with just enough "happy" in me to barely get by. I am ready for some full-time JOY and energy to enjoy my family, my art and to fulfill all my dreams. The time is NOW to get my groove on and I intend on giving you and myself everything in my heart.

Each topic I have chosen comes with much thought and love. This is something I am taking very seriously and it's important to me that you know that. Several of you have asked me if you have to do the art part. Of course not. You take this class and do what inspires you!! For me...the art is very healing so most weeks I will be creating something in my art journal and sharing here with you. But if that's not your thing...then please know it's not necessary.

Okay...are you ready?? Are you as excited as I am to add more JOY and LoVE to your life and to BE the TRUE YOU???

I am SOOOO READY!!!


Week One ROUTINE

"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."  -Chinese Proverb

Ahhhh...how many times have you started a new fitness program or eating program or art challenge and told yourself that this time...no matter what...you would do it and never, ever mess up or give up?!! I have done this nearly every Monday for the past 2 years. I have...I admit it. I am slightly embarassed by it...but I have done that. I start out with the best of intentions but usually by the third day or so (or heck sometimes later that same day) somehow I make a mistake, I eat too much or I don't get the art challenge finished or something and I just quit.

That is NOT gonna happen in the next 52 weeks. You wanna why?? Because THIS TIME, girls...we are gonna give ourselves some slack. We are gonna take our mistakes and our failures and learn from them. We are gonna learn why we mess up and why we sometimes just don't do as good as we want to do. This time we have each other, too!! And that is huge!! It. is. HUGE. Support is everything and just knowing we all have each other and we all are stronger in some areas than others...well, that just makes it all easier somehow ya' know? We are gonna lift one another up and cheer each other through the difficult times.

The past year and a half has been the hardest of my life. I won't go into any details today...but I will tell you that I have let myself go...majorly go. I just don't have that spark in my day. I drag myself out of bed, I eat waaaaay to many bad things and my creativity has been stagnant. I KNEW I needed a boost of energy so I decided to go to something that had worked in the past...a morning routine.

Looking back...I realize just how much of an effect a morning routine has had on my life. And I realized the past year and a half...I haven't had one...at all. Not even a glimpse of one.
Sooooo...a few weeks ago I decided to map out my routine and start doing it.

I knew I needed to add quiet time to my days and art and scripture study. I also knew that all of these would be the perfect way to begin my day. So I told myself to just do it!! So each morning as soon as I wake up I head to the kitchen for a tall glass of ice, lemon and water. I bring it upstairs to my art studio and get quiet. No music allowed during this half-hour. Then I take out my planner, something spiritual to read and anything else I think I need. I begin my Morning Routine with a prayer thanking my Father in Heaven for all my blessings and then asking Him to bless my day. I read something spiritual either from my Scriptures or a church magazine or book. I'll jot down any thoughts that touch me that day in a special journalI have just for this time. After 15 minutes or so I am ready to think about what I intend on doing for the day. I look at my calendar and make a list. Sometimes it's too long...but I write everything down that's in my head. I figure it's better on paper and will eventually get done that way:)

I am finding the more I do my routine the more I am crossing off my To-Do list and the more I am creating!! I mean seriously, girls...my creativity has gone from a 1 or 2 to a 5 or 6...it is growing by leaps and bounds just because I am doing something everyday. The art part isn't always in the morning...sometimes its just when I can fit it in...and it's not one loooong session but rather a bursts of 3 or 4 a day. It may be as simple as painting one layer in my journal...but one layer at a time adds up to a finished page by the end of a day:)

The second part of my new Morning Routine happens after my quiet time....I head out the door for a walk. Honestly I am still working on being consistent with this. It's taking time and I am not beating myself up over it. Little changes daily add up to big results over time. I am truly a believer in that. (it only took most of my life to figure that one out).


I LOVE this quote by artist Jennifer Lee...

"I know that by simply sticking with the process and being open to the unexpected, I create a channel to creative inspiration and that's a mighty powerful thing."

I would like to add my thoughts to this quote and say that by sticking with a Routine, whether it's for creativity, exercise, eating healthy...whatever...it's a mighty powerful thing.

Girls...I want you to take this week and come up with your own ROUTINE. For some of you mornings may not work...and that's ok. Just come up with a 30 minute ROUTINE that helps your day go better. Routines keep us in control of our time. And isn't time one of the most valuable commodities there is? This Routine is the most important part of our journey over the next 52 weeks. It is our foundation. It is sacred time spent with yourself each and everyday.

Time well spent.

"When you SHINE, you light the way."  -Jamie Ridler

Girls, it is our time to SHINE!!

Remember to share your pages, thoughts, ideas, etc in our FB group Mind.Body.Soul.

52 Weeks is almost here!

Oh girls I can't believe the response to my e-class..."Being Me". Sooo crazy excited!!! I have been trying to visit everyone's blogs and/or leave a message for you. Some of you are hard to get hold of...lol. Just know I tried!!

Ok...to answer a few questions...

The only thing you really need on this journey is an open and willing heart. An art journal would be great along with either a notebook or some kind of writing journal. Of course paints and pens and little bits of this and that will add to the fun:)

I get my art journals at Wal-Mart or you can find them at any craft store. They run anywhere from 5 to 20 dollars. I use the mid-size ones generally which are about the size of an 8x10 photo.

Each Sunday night/Monday morning I will post that week's theme. You can find that here, on my blog. I will ALWAYS put the link on my Facebook page Mind.Body.Soul. If you haven't joined this please. This Facebook page is also where we will share our pages, discuss, etc.

Throughout the class I will be shariing photos and inspiration on Instagram. If you want to follow me there click here.

This class is completely FREE. I am just excited to bring this to you and just know you will grow and become even better!!! Please share with your friends, in your art circles, etc. I appreciate all you have done so far!! Don't forget to grab a cute blog button on the top left. My darling friend Leanne made that for us.

Cannot wait till we begin!!

Oh and if you have anymore questions...just leave it in the comment section or my facebook page.

Are YOU ready for 52 Weeks?!!?

Happy day to you girls!! It's been so very long since I sat a computer and just typed. Thanks to my Mom who invited me over this afternoon. Our computer will be fixed in a few more days...but I just couldn't wait any longer:)

In just a few more days my NEW and FREE and AMAZING e-class begins!! This Monday, June 3rd "Being Me: 52 Weeks of Soul Searching and Loving Me" starts and I can't wait!! This course is straight from the heart, Girls. I am putting every little piece of ME in this class. The idea came about because I was sick and tired of looking in the mirror and seeing a stranger look back. When in the world did I become so frumpy and cynical and mad all the time?? Where had the fun and perky and sweet Leslie gone?? My energy  had all but vanished, eating everything in sight and not caring AND my creativity has been at an all-time low.

This is NOT the way I want to live the next half of my life!!

Girls, this class was inspired by several of my favorite authors including...Jennifer Louden, Cheryl Richardson, Gail McMeekin and Sarah Ban Breathnach to name a few. Years ago when I was at a loss as to where my life was going it was these women I turned to for guidance and support. Over the past 6 months I have pulled their books out once again in hopes of finding some much needed answers in my life. While reading from Cheryl's book "Life Makeover" it dawned on my that I should be putting this all down in my art journal. During the making of my first page I realized that this would make a perfect e-class. I set about picking dates, writing it and really making sure this was something I wanted to commit to. I mean let's face it...52 weeks is a very loooong time to do anything. But I knew deep in my heart that I am not the only woman that needs something like this...there are hundreds of us that need to makeover our lives. And since my WORD this year is TRUE and I promised myself I would listen to my Heart...I knew this is what I had to do!!

"Being Me" is for anyone wanting to add more light in their life. Be happier. Be healthier. Just Be. You will need a new art journal for this journey as well as a notebook or hard bound journal to jot notes in and answer questions. Just so you know I am a notebook kind of girl...spiral bound...college-ruled:)

Each week will have a Theme. Some of them include..."Making Lists", "Give yourself time", "Procrastination" and "What Do you long for?". I will have them posted either late Sunday night or early Monday morning. We will work one week on each theme...making journal pages, sharing in our facebook forum and doing anything else you are inspired to do (eat better, walk, clean out a closet, etc.).


This class is 100% free. Please share with your friends, on facebook, in your creative circles, etc. I want as many women taking this as I can!! We can all learn so much from each other!!:)

You do not need to sign-up...but it would be great to know how many of you right now are planning on joining us. Please let me know in the Comment section:)

Oh, also...do not get overwhelmed. You DO NOT have to do all 52 weeks!! You don't even have to art journal...just take the information and USE it in your life!!

And one more thing...so sorry for the new Comment thing...I hated putting that on here where you have to type letters and numbers before you comment but I was getting weird comments (SPAM) and it was annoying...so for now that will stay on:)

Girls...spread the word!! See you Sunday night!!! YAY!

PS...Please take my cute blog button that my friend Leanne made just for me!!! I would love for you to share!!:)

A Sneak Peek

Wow...I am actually sitting at a computer...amazing!!! I am still waiting on ours to be fixed...so happy to be at The Art Experience today...catching up on blogs and now writing a post...yay!

The weekend was AMAZING! My son that I love with all my heart graduated from High School Sunday. The weather was just perfect...blue skies, sunshine and little wind. So many friends and family stopped by to wish him the best...it was AWESOME!! Lots of photos to share very soon:)

It seems like forever since I've created anything...just so busy {all good tho}!! This weekend changes all that...my fabulous cousin Missy surprised me with a fully paid scrapbooking extravaganza in Kansas City all weekend!!! We leave Friday morning and I can't wait!! Lots of girl time, good food, shopping and creating...thanks so much Missy!!!!

Are you in for our Life-Makeover Art Journaling class June 3rd?? This is more than creating, girls. This is 52 weeks of life-changing ways to create the life you want!! I will be taking the journey right along with you and can't wait to see where we go! Mark your calendars!! Lots more information coming next week. Here are just a few of our topics we will be covering....

*Give Yourself Time
*Are You a Giver or a Taker?
*What Do You Long For?
*You Gotta Have Faith

I am waaaay excited about our BIGGEST and COMPLETELY FREE art journaling course to date!!! Please share with everyone you know:)

Have a great week, girls!

Lots to look forward to!!

Hi, girls...oh how I miss you!! Our hard-drive went KA-PUT last week!! Soooo next week we should be back on-line and ready to go:) If you want to connect be sure and stop by my facebook page!!

My amazing son Jackson graduates this Sunday at 2pm from High School...I truly can't believe it. Where in the heck did the time go?? Lots of fun to be had this weekend seeing family and friends!! We are having a BIG celebration!!

Be sure and mark your calenders for June 3rd. Our FREE Life Makeover art journaling class starts!! I promise this will change your life!!!

One more thing...the most AMAZING thing has happened to our family!! The MIRACLE we have been praying for since September...has HAPPENED!! I will share all about it in my blog next week!!

What is going on in your world, girls?? Please share!!!!!

52 Week Life Make-Over

"Art is not a part of life, it is not an addition to life, it is the essence of those pieces of us that make us fulfilled. That give us hope. That give us dreams and provide the world a view very different than what it would have been without us."
Hasan Davis 

Art and healing go hand in hand. I know that when we are lost and scared and hurting...creating can take us to a place of peace and love and hope. I am so grateful for the serenity my studio brings me. Making art is time well spent.

Girls...I am ready to shake up my life...change and grow and become. I am ready for a Life Makeover and want to take you with me. 

It is TIME for living TRUE. It is TIME for freeing our spirit and mind and Embrace all that we are!! 

Beginning Monday, June 3rd join me for 52 weeks of  artsy ideas, soul-searching prompts, images and words that speak to your heart and will help you move forward in your journey.
Hear from other artists and bloggers to find out what feeds their passion and creativity. This course will encourage you to set weekly art goals, take care of your body and feed  your spiritual self, too. It's a 52 week Life-Makeover and it's completely FREE!!

Stay tuned for more details as well as a button for your blog!! Be sure and share with all your artsy friends, too!!!

Questions?? Leave me a comment!!!

Artist Inspiration: Sarah Ahearn Bellemare

Sarah's work

I absolutely ADORE mixed-media artist Sarah Ahearn Bellemare!! She is a burst of HAPPY! The first time I saw her work was in a Somerset magazine and I went NUTS!! Her work is so simple, so bright and cheerful. It inspired me to paint my very own canvas...I LOVE the results!!

The canvas is 11x14 and filled with bits and pieces of my favorite epherema.

I used very watered down acrylic paints, stamps and pencil.

The quote I used was actually taken from one of Sarah's pieces...it is now one of my all-time favorites!

Here is my finished piece!! It hangs in my studio and makes me smile every time I see it. I plan on painting many other Sarah inspired pieces in the coming months. This was just so much FUN!

Be sure and stop by her blog...I think you'll really like it:)

What artist is inspiring YOU lately??

Free Art Journaling Course

“Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it” – Dee Hock


When it comes to my creativity...I am moving right along and loving it!! It seems I have found my niche and that is teaching. I LOVE seeing women who have never even thought about being creative...create something!! The sparkle in their eyes and joy on their face is priceless!!

Throughout the summer I have scheduled nearly a dozen classes at our local art studio where I hope to teach and empower many more women.  We are ALL creative souls!! All of us!

Speaking of teaching...it's time for another one of my FREE e-courses. Girls...I have so much fun coming up with these prompts and ideas and just can't wait to share what I have thought up this time:) I will tell you it is BIG and I PROMISE that as we go along...this course will change your life!! It will....and mine, too. Sooo excited to share!! Be on the lookout for ALL the details and blog button very soon!! This course will begin on Monday, June 3rd.

“To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.” – Osho

My Soul Neighborhood

“Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug' is just a wee voice telling you, 'I'd like my crayons back, please.” 
― Hugh MacLeod, Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity


With our lives on the edge of chaos this past 18 months, creativity has been the one quiet and sure place I can go to find comfort. Painting, gluing and doodling has a way of healing my heart and making me feel whole again. I am so grateful for it!

Last summer sometime my blog friend Becca wrote a post on her "dream neighborhood". She shared how cool it would be if only those people in our life that lifted us up and supported our dreams could be our neighbors. I loved her idea and was totally inspired to create my very own Soul Neighborhood on canvas!!! 

I actually started this last summer but had trouble getting it just right. It's the largest canvas I have ever worked with and to be honest I was quite intimidated by it. You can't tell but this piece has sooo many layers...I kept painting and re-painting it...lol. I FINALLY finished last Saturday!! It has been sitting in my craft closet and I was just in the mood to get it done!! Sooo excited to share my "Soul Neighbor-Part One" with you!!! 

So when I was planning this piece I thought about all those amazing women that uplift me, motivate me and inspire me with their creativeness, love and style. Before long I had over a dozen women!! I knew I wanted my houses to be pretty large...so this is just part one. I hope part two doesn't take as long...lol.

The cute skinny house on the far left is Melody Ross from Brave Girl's Club. Melody never ceases to amaze me!!!!

By taking her classes and being a member of Brave Girl's Club I have learned how to truly listen to my heart!!

Right next door to Melody is my dear friend Leanne from "Chaos Comes Happiness". She has been one of my biggest suppporters, creating my blog look (I LOVE it!!) and always being there for words of encouragement.

The words to the left of the flower read "She was so grateful". Leanne is soooo amazing with her family and sooo grateful for them. She has lifted me up on many occassions with stories about her daughters. She is an amazing mom!!

I chose the drama masks since she loves the theater and that Julia Child quote fits her philosophy so well:)

Next in line is the very talented writer and artist Courtney Walsh. Courtney was near the top of my list for many reasons!! Not only is she a super talented writer and scrapbooker but she her spirit-filled heart connects with mine. She lives her faith and it is so evident in all that she does. 

 She is a definite must in my Soul Neighborhood!!!

Next door to Courtney is another blog friend and mentor...Jodene Shaw.

Jodi lives on a ranch in South Dakota and LOVES taking photos of sunflowers and birds. Her mixed-media art and love of Jesus Christ is what I love most about her!!! I have watched her blossom into a very talented photographer, artist and teacher. Her art speaks to me and makes me happy:)

The last friend in my Soul Neighborhood is the whimsical and darling Kristin from "Twinkle Twinkle". Not only is Kristin a super talented mixed-media artist who has been published several times in various magazines...but she is also sweet, charming and crazy about her cutie patootie, dinosaur loving daughter Kendra. 

I think this quirky, little house with lots of sparkle and bling is perfect for her:)


So there you have it...my perfectly happy "Soul Neighborhood-Part One".
I hope you enjoyed your visit!!

Easter Fun!

These two little cutie patooties are growing up sooooo fast! 

And even though a part of me is sad...I am enjoying them so much as young adults!! The best part is our family has gained two more kids...Jourdain and Bailey.

Saturday night we had everyone at our home for home-made chicken enchiladas and coloring Easter eggs!! We had such a wonderful time!!!

Love my Jackson and his girl Bailey!! She is bright and colorful and just so much FUN to be around! Love her positive attitude:) She is a burst of sunshine!!!

Emma's missionary finally made it to our home Thursday afternoon.

Em met Jourdain while he served his 9 months of his mission here in Maryville. My husband Dave drove to California and picked him up last week!!! He is so wonderful!! We all love him:)


After church on Easter Sunday I made the kids keep their church clothes on a bit longer for photos...

As you can see Jackson was quick at getting his jammies on;)

Another picture of Em and Jourdain...

Yes....he is TALL...6'7!!! He played basketball at Utah Valley in Provo.

A family photo...

Love all of us together!! My family means the WORLD to me!!:)

Girls, I hope you had a blessed Easter and look forward to seeing your photos you post on your blogs.

I have some life-changing news to share with you tomorrow!!!!

LIFE CHANGING!!!!!!!