Inspire Yourself — by Guest Mom Amy Sharp

I try and live a wonder filled life. I try and stay true to my artist soul. My family typically creates something each day together. It may be an art project, a poem, or a cake, but we try and use the spark daily. I think the spark is the magic in your day, the energy that can make a bad day good, or a hard day easier.

Before I share a lot of specific projects or ideas that I have for parents and children, I would love to think about inspiration. People email me and ask me how I think of cool art projects and educational lessons and I always reply that I read and I look each day. I am rarely doing anything revolutionary, simply filtering all the amazing inspiration that is out there through my life.

I like to go to this site and dream about mood boards, which can help you come up with magical ideas! The flickr pool for inspiration boards is amazing and I dare you to not start your wheels a turning while looking. I go to the library weekly and check out tons of activity, art, craft, and lesson planning books like these:
Under Chinaberry Tree
Ginger Carlson
Making Stuff Kids

I keep a basket under my desk of ideas and future wishes and dreams. I tear out magazine articles or scribble ideas and tuck them in there for safe keeping. You cannot do it all at once, but in a year you can do a lot with your child!

I love to browse the web for lovely things to kindle the wonder. I love to go to flickr pages like this one and browse, and flickr is so cool as you can just type in a word like a color or an emotion and just swoon. I love to go to youtube and listen to music from my past as it always makes me feel delirious with passion and ready to tackle a new day.

And then there are the blogs! It is at times too much to think about all of the creative buzz that is flowing round this web. I love to visit my favorite blogs daily and soak up the eye candy and wisdom. I love how I feel when I read my favorite blogs, or discover a new fabulous blog. I feel energized. I feel full of possibility.

Each day is filled with the must do's of life. We must work, run errands, care for others, cook, clean, pay bills, and so on...Why not make creativity a must do for your day too? We are all creative and capable of fostering a sense of wonder in our lives. We must not be afraid to play and learn with our children. We must not be afraid to take the time we need to nourish our souls first. Fill your mind and soul with inspiration and watch it run over into all the parts of your life.

What do you do daily to inspire yourself and your family?

photos from flickr that are lovely/inspire me:
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