Love Yourself...

I had a really bad day at work yesterday and I happened to catch a yahoo mail list of "50 ways to keep from having your worst day at work". It came just at the right time! The higher power that sent it my way at just the right time channeled my frustration into something powerful, good and peaceful and I was reminded to breathe! I quickly made this piece (here is a close up for you) with a few of the "tips" on the list that were my favorite. It made me feel more connected, grounded and I quickly stretched it on canvas for my two co-workers. It helped remind me of the balance I need in my life....

New Website!

Just wanted to share some exciting news with you!!!I am in the process of setting up a website at: http://www.mitziestyles.com/ ! This will help streamline my BLOG and shop. It has been keeping me super busy this summer!! Hope you have a chance to visit soon!

I've been working hard to design the site with Surreality Studio. We have the "shop" and "BLOG" buttons live and we are working to get the rest of the site up and running. It has been an amazing process and journey this summer! Thanks to Erik- my designer extraodinaire! I would love to hear from all my fellow flyers about your process and any tips or helps you might have!

Be Inspired Today

Inspiration isn't just about being inspired to be creative. It's about that warm feeling you get that makes happiness bubble up inside and brings a smile to your heart.

We are so busy living our lives, that sometimes we don't notice the tender moments in the day.

It could be song lyrics that speak to you, a smile from a stranger, a friend reaching out just to say hi, a thank you from a co-worker or spending time with those you love. The catch is not having the moments (because they are everywhere in your day!) but recognizing those moments as inspired living and savoring them for what they are.

Take some time today to remind yourself to be inspired... find those moments that settle in your soul and take time to inJOY them....

To Friends

I am blessed to have friends in my life! They enrich my life in every way....

What a connection to the universe!

Be Quiet in your Soul

I've always believed that happiness is a choice... yet happiness is a constant struggle for the human psyche.

To me, it is a matter of settling in, getting quiet with myself, searching my soul, reaching out to the me I strive to be...

The more I do this, the more I settle in. I'm trying to have more conversations with myself- interrogate my reality...

I've been playing with some of my mixed media pieces, digitally. This piece really spoke to a quiet place in my soul, so I added the words.

I hope you enjoy it and that it speaks to you and reminds you to connect with yourself today.

Butterfly Frenzy

Sometimes I feel that life is a "frenzy" around me. Why does time move so fast?? In the blink of an eye your kids are grown, you've lost people important to you, and time has marched on. Change is a constant in the universe...

Like the butterfly, life is everchanging, a metamorphosis of time. Remind yourself to be still, to enjoy the moments worth enjoying, to connect with yourself and the air around you.

Be still in the wings of the butterfly...

Be Enough

I came across this journal post in one of my old journals so I cut it out to post here.

You are enough to your kids, to your husband/wife, to your family and friends... be enough to yourself. Be kind and gentle with you. The love you give yourself today will be reflected in amazing ways to the world outside. Share a smile, a kind comment- inJOY.

ETSY Shop Now Open!!!!!

My ETSY shop is now open! I set a personal goal to have it open by June 30th and I'm early!!! That doesn't happen too often :)!

Please check it out and if you want, give me some feedback. I'm sure I'm making tons of mistakes as we speak, but that's OK!!! Perfection and I are not good friends. Life-long learning allows for mistakes. So! Let me know how I can make it better- or what you like or don't like.

Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MitZmixedmedia

Look for my shop MitZ's mixed media

By the way- Happy Monday! I'm enjoying the first day of my vacation... I thought for the next couple of weeks I could practice what it's like to be a full time artist. Sounds fun and exhausting!

Life itself is such a full time job- I don't know how any of us manage to have day jobs, creative self-employed jobs or motherhood jobs! Whatever your job is, love what you do!!!

Find peace inside on this beautiful summer day! inJOY!

inJOY!!!

One of my favorite words is "enJOY". I really think they've been spelling it wrong all of these years...

For me it makes more sense to spell it "inJOY".

So here's to all of you!! I've spent the last three days with an amazing group of individuals and I was inspired and invigorated and reminded that this world we live in is all about the human relationship and helping each other reach our highest potential. That potential has no boundries!!! So inJOY your weekend, reach out to someone you love.

That someone might just be yourself...

inJOY!!!!

The Wonder of Little Girls

This father's day weekend I spent some time thinking about children and dads...

We watched home videos last night and I marveled at how fast time has gone by. My children are grown!!! I also marveled at how blessed my children are to have such a wonderful dad.

The journey we take to find ourselves, we must take alone... but parents are always there to "fly" in when needed. Perhaps to whisper in our ear, perhaps to simply "be" there. Like the bird, they are present in our lives.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Weekend Bliss!

One of my favorite quotes is by Ghandi- I use it often...


"Be the change you want to see in the world..."





Here's to a weekend of introspection, peace and enjoying connections! I literally dreamed big, worked hard, connected with myself, friends and the creative world!!!





June also marks the beginning of summer and is birthday to many special people in my life- So happy birthday to Dan, Kayla, Carolyn and Phillip (my soon to be 23 year old!) son.





I am so excited to share some of the digital work I have been consumed with. I will post as often as I can- Comments are always appreciated! Please facebook me if you are having a hard time posting.

This piece is about how we let our hearts get caged by doubts, worries, fear... I hope you can let go of those things that stand in your way and give to yourself the biggest gift of all-

OK- I just spent the day becoming insanely, crazy addicted to digital collage....

I really spent all 14 hours of my day immersed in digital collage- how crazy is that??!!! How can you lose one whole day!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have one more day in your weekend... what will you lose yourself in??? Hiking, biking, the Lakers??????????????????? What's it gonna be :)

Creativity Check

Here's what is happening with me right now creatively....

I am taking a third e-course from Susan Tuttle called digital layers. Susan designs amazing e-courses and I can't recommend her enough! You can find a link for her in my sidebar. Digital art is not my usual method of artistic expression. I have taken pictures since high school and love the world of photography. However, my usual art style is messy and hands-on. I love the stretch that Susan has given me and I find myself exploring new places!! TWO thumbs up! :)

Additionally, I am taking Kelly Rae Robert's e-course called Flying Lessons (find her badge on my side bar to link up). I wasn't so sure about this course content. Her topic is growing your creative business. However, after the first week, I can only say "WOW"!! Kelly has really created an amazing course! Her incredible connection and spirit are evident in everything she offers.

I just got back from a ten day trip to Paris, London and Italy. Another creative endeavour that was a feast for the eyes, mind and heart! I can't wait to post about it and show pictures!!

I wanted to leave you with this amazing quote I read on Sally Jean's facebook post today- it really spoke to my heart!!!

" After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, and you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't mean security, and you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child, and you learn to build all roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans. After a while, you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers, and you learn you really can endure... that you really are strong, and you really do have worth."

Veronica A. Shoffstall

See the Beautiful Right in Front of You

We can blame our busy lives, our past hurts or the challenges we live on a daily basis... what we focus on is a choice. Is the glass half full or half empty? Do we see the weeds or the flowers?? I have to bring myself back often to focus on the beautiful.... sometimes it's hard to see even when it's right in front of us... This photo is my reminder to see the beautiful and choose happiness.

A Rose is A Rose....

I'm Taking another Susan Tuttle class and I'm always surprised by how much I learn and how it can consume an entire day! I find I cannot stick to one technique and must layer techniques together. The 2nd rose is me sticking to one technique... What a nice way to spend v-day!

My favorite pictue today was rose number one... textured with a texture goody from Susan... I put both here so you could look at a couple of techniques that Susan teaches. Check out her web site- I have it listed under my favorites....

I've spent a lifetime of not "being enough" for many people in my life.... You know what I'm talking about... it seems as if others are always willing to share what they think about you... this collage is about being enough for yourself... it's not permission to stay stagnant but rather an invitation to dig deep and see yourself as you are and be amazed, delighted and willing to always be better but to also be enough... just as you are