Blisscraft Life With Christina Katz

I have been making the transition to middle-age for a while now, and let me tell you, it has not always been smooth sailing. Now that I am firmly in the middle years, I have some advice about supplements. The good news is that taking vitamins and minerals can make a big difference in your health and quality of life.

I am not a doctor and these are not medical recommendations, however all of my traditional doctors refuse to discuss the benefits of vitamin and mineral supplements, and instead focus on prescriptions medication and surgery.

I believe that any person of any age can benefit from a few choice vitamin and mineral supplements. I feel that more conversation about supplements is needed. I would also like to reward companies that focus on women’s needs and invest in research and product development for women’s health needs.

The scales have been tipped towards men’s health for too long. I hope you will comment and share this post, so we can help balance the scales back out.

For women, managing mid-life, or younger women dealing with hormone-related issues, these are my recommendations.

If you are fatigued, get your blood work done and ask about anemia. You don’t want to take extra iron unless you are anemic. Anemia has been my greatest health issue throughout my life, and I have needed to take iron for it, off and on since I was a teen. I have written about some of the products I’ve used in this post. These days, I keep one brand on hand in case I need it or my daughter needs it. (I also highly recommend all of the Vitanica products, so I hope you will check this women-centric company out.)

I take this product to help suppress too much estrogen in my system, and I always feel better when I am taking it. I feel that it helps reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes, which can be a real pain.

Women need to get enough calcium. If you have depleted calcium caused by medication or if Osteoporosis runs in your family, check out this calcium product. Absorbancy is an important issue with calcium, and that’s why I chose this product, which is super-absorbable.

Turmeric capsules are good to take for any kind of inflammation. I get mine at Trader Joe’s, but you can get them anywhere. This product looks good.

If hot flashes are making it challenging to get a good night’s sleep, try taking the lowest dose of Melatonin each night right before bed. Be mindful to read labels, as there can be a big jump between lowest dose and the next dose up. I use this brand from Trader Joe’s.

Take a high quality daily supplement. This is the one I give my daughter from Vitanica. I suggest you search their products and choose supplement that is right for you.

Generally speaking, mood is not a challenge for me. However if you find yourself feeling down, discouraged or even mildly depressed, and you think the cause is hormonal, try this product from Vitanica and see how it works for you. Of course, if you are consistently or seriously depressed, please consult your doctor.

Finally, we live in a fairly distracted and distracting world. If focus is a challenge for you, I highly recommend taking L-Theanine. You can pick it up just about everywhere, but I suggest you use a natural brand. I get mine at my local grocery store, but this one looks good. It really makes a difference when you need to sit down and focus for several hours at a time, as most writers do.

What supplements have you taken that have helped you navigate mid-life more smoothly? Feel free to comment!

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. Though I often write about writing and creativity, I also write about issues that are important to me. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. Looking for more fun in your life daily? Then join us for Collaging For Self-discovery, my online accountability group. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

This post is for Nathalie. Here you go, Nathalie!

Are you a flower-lover, who wants amazing, colorful gardents without spending tons of money?

I feel like I have discovered gold in terms of seed companies, and I want to share the information with you.

I have been dabbling in gardening for years. I would usually purchase the cheapest seeds, throw them down without much thought, and then hope for the best.

Needless to say, the best is not what I usually got.

As the weather warmed and seeds did not pan out, I would reach for annuals and perennials that were already started at garden stores with pretty much the same results. Sometimes the plants would take and sometimes they wouldn’t.

Oh well, at least I was learning what liked to grow where. But the lessons were costly and I always felt frustrated by how much bare dirt I could not afford to fill in with plant starts.

I always felt happiest if a plant was a perennial, biennial or was self-seeding, so it would live on in my garden year after year. That was a good investment in my mind. But I could not really wrap my head around purchasing annuals and having them only survive one season.

Then last year, I discovered Botanical Interests seed mixtures. And what a huge difference in my gardens this seed retailer has made!

I have one area in my garden, in particular, where I could never get anything to grow. The space is underneath a tree in one of my garden beds. I had planted seeds and flower and ground cover starts, but they never seemed to take.

I had pretty much given up on that part of my garden when I stumbled on the Made In The Shade collection of seeds from Botanical Interests.

Fortunately, a couple of shops in my local area are selling these seed packets but you can also order them online from Amazon or from the company website.

As usual, I tossed them down, but this time, instead of mostly not growing, it seemed like every single seed grew.

But then, guess what happened? My husband was so used to nothing growing under that tree except weeds that he mowed the starts down with the riding mower as soon as they all sprang up.

Needless to say, he did not hear the end of this move for a while.

And yet some of the flowers blossomed anyway! It took them a little while to bounce back after being mowed, but fairly soon I had a steady assortment of delicate flowers.

Not only did I get awesome flowers, I got waves of awesome flowers.

The Made In The Shade seed packet is wisely mixed and it contains annuals, perennials biennials. So not only did I get steady flowers under the tree the first season, all new flowers came up to kick off the second season.

Apparently the key to my heart is to sell me seeds that actually grow. This was something I did not know about myself until I discovered Botanical Interests.

We can all have amazing gardens for little money, if we plant our garden from seed and wait for the magic to unfold.

Yes,if you grow them from seed, your gardens will need time to root and grow and blossom. But you are not going anywhere, right?

In the meantime, why not plant some window boxes, pots or planters with annuals that have already flowered to give you something to smile about while you are waiting for Mother Nature to do her magic.

Remember, it’s a lot less expensive to fill a planter with annuals than it is to fill an entire garden bed. You can also move planters around to different parts of your yard as the weather changes, which is convenient for flower longevity.

And isn’t it awesome that you can pretty much plant flower seeds year round except for the dead of summer and the dead of winter? As long as you have workable soil, you can plant seeds. Heck, you can even plant seeds when there is some snow on the ground.

So my good news is that there is hope for flower-lovers of all budgets with no green thumb or garden expertise required!

I have a few more tips for successful planting from seed:

1. Weed and then seed. I weed about three times a year, and then seed after each time once I’ve raked up the soil a bit in spots where I intend to plant.
2. Put the seeds where they are supposed to go according to the packet whether full sun, part sun/part shade or full shade.
3. Mix seeds with potting soil and then spread them throughout your gardens by hand, aiming for the spots you wish to fill in. (Watch out for wind!)
4. Plant seeds right before a series of rainy days. Then you don’t have to water and the birds won’t get as many.
5. Apply slug bait frequently while the seeds are sprouting so they don’t become slug snacks.
6. If you have serious trouble with birds, cover seeded area with netting until flowers are established.
7. If you still have bird and slug issues, mix part of the seeds from a packet (rather than the whole packet) with a cup of potting soil and plop that down in one spot and cover it with a recycled clear plastic container like a roasted chicken cover. Leave the plastic in place until seedlings sprout and then remove the cover.
8. Whenever any strategies work, repeat them. For example, I can grow Alyssum, English Daisies, Johnny Jump-ups, Columbines and Hollyhocks from seed with ease. (These seeds work for me whether I use Botanical Interests or not.) This is why you will find them all over my yard in increasing amounts each season.

Please let me know in the comments if this post is interesting and helpful. I have plenty of more tips to share about inexpensive gardening.

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. Though I often write about writing and creativity, I also write about issues that are important to me. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. Looking for more fun in your life daily? Then join us for Collaging For Self-discovery, my online accountability group. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

This sale has been extended until Friday, April 6th!

Expressing myself on a daily basis and encouraging you to express yourself is my biggest priority.

That’s why I’ve slashed prices in my school by 1/3 the regular cost.

It’s spring, and we are likely all feeling more restless and adventurous. So let’s bust out of our old winter routines and get into creativity mode.

You will find self-expression comes more easily when you take any of the courses in my school. These courses are all designed to increase your creative confidence by putting you through the paces of increasing your self-expression in various ways — always for fun and sometimes for profit.

Writing, platform development, essay writing, cultivating daily joy, and customized home decorating — I think you will be amazed by the variety of courses I offer.

Click Here To Visit The Course Directory

Use the scroll-down menus to find your course discount and then register. Taking my courses could not possibly be easier.

If you find yourself wishing for more creative momentum, you’ll increase it when you apply the curricula in my courses.

At the end of the day, we can all use a creative confidence coach.

This spring marks my 17th year teaching!

Find out why folks like my self-paced courses so much. You can read the FAQs here.

Happy spring, fellow creatives. It’s a whole new season for expressing ourselves anew! And I, for one, cannot wait!

Join me. Life is richer when you express yourself daily!

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. Though I often write about writing and creativity, I also write about issues that are important to me. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. Looking for more fun in your life daily? Then join us for Collaging For Self-discovery, my online accountability group. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

Every writer and writing coach need to own and refer frequently to The Business Of Being A Writer by Jane Friedman.

There are a lot of people in the book publishing industry, and folks move in and out of this realm all the time. For me, there could be no more of a trusted authority than Jane Friedman. If you are in the book publishing industry in any fashion — whether as a writer, teacher, agent, publisher or service provider — you simply must have a copy of The Business Of Being A Writer on your bookshelf, whether that shelf is literal or virtual.

Jane was the impetus behind all three of my book contracts at Writer’s Digest, and has worked in publishing for 20 years. She is also no stranger to collegiate writing since she has been a professor of writing, media, and publishing at the University of Cincinnati and University of Virginia.

In case you are wondering if Jane has practiced what she preaches, I remember distinctly that after Jane left F+W Media and started working for herself, she was able to pay off the remainder of her college loans in short order. Jane is not only one of the smartest people I have ever met, she is also one of the most emotionally intelligent people I have been lucky enough to know. You probably don’t know too many people who have been awarded lifetime achievement awards while in their early 40s or who teach for The Great Courses while in their late thirties.

If your work has anything to do with writing, teaching writing or publishing, you simply must subscribe to Jane’s essential publishing industry newsletter for writers, The Hot Sheet. She also offers a newsletter through her website at JaneFriedman.com. While you are shopping all things Jane Friedman, you may as well add  Publishing 101: A First-Time Author’s Guide to Getting Published, Marketing and Promoting Your Book, and Building a Successful Career to your cart, as well.

Photo credit: Mark Griffin

Jane stays on the cutting edge of what’s happening in publishing in a way few experts do. She has delivered keynotes and workshops on the digital era of authorship at worldwide industry events, including the Writer’s Digest annual conference, San Miguel Writers Conference, The Muse & The Marketplace, Frankfurt Book Fair, BookExpo America, LitFlow Berlin, and Digital Book World. She’s also served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund.

I met Jane Friedman over ten years ago, when she was still a fairly shy, but clearly brilliant book-publishing editor, who was not exactly thrilled about having to stand in front of people and present workshops at writing conferences. Back then, Jane had not yet done what she now asks writers to do to stay competitive in The Business Of Being A Writer. But today, a decade later, she has done it all, and in the course of stretching herself, she has blossomed into one of the most prominent experts in an entire industry.

But why not let Jane’s experience speak for itself? Here is an excerpt from the introduction of her essential book, The Business Of Being A Writer. See what you think!

From the Introduction to The Business Of Being A Writer by Jane Friedman (The University Of Chicago Press) with permission:

Thousands of people dream of writing and publishing full-time, yet few have been told how to make that dream a reality. Working writers may have no more than a rudimentary understanding of how the publishing and media industry works, and longtime writing professors may be out of the loop as to what it takes to build a career in an era of digital authorship, amid more competition—and confusing advice—than ever. Even instructors who are well informed and up to date on the practical aspects of a writing career may believe their job is to teach the art and craft, or feel that students shouldn’t allow business concerns to influence their voice or direction as writers.

The Business of Being a Writer takes it on principle that learning about the publishing industry will lead to a more positive and productive writing career. While business savvy may not make up for mediocre writing, or allow any author to skip important stages of creative development, it can reduce anxiety and frustration. And it can help writers avoid bad career decisions—by setting appropriate expectations of the industry, and by providing tools and information on how to pursue meaningful, sustainable careers in writing and publishing on a full-time or part-time basis. Because writing degrees may have little or no impact on earnings potential or industry knowledge, this guide is as much for students—or graduates—of undergraduate or graduate writing programs as it is for writers working outside such programs.

Despite ongoing transformations in the publishing industry, there are fundamental business principles that underlie writing and publishing success, and those principles are this book’s primary focus. Writers who learn to recognize the models behind successful authorship and publication will feel more empowered and confident to navigate a changing field, to build their own plans for long-term career development.

One underlying assumption in this guide is that many creative writers— particularly those pursuing formal degrees—want to build careers based on publishing books. It seems like common sense: literary agents sell and profit from book-length work, not single stories or essays; and getting anyone (whether a reader or a publisher) to pay for a book is easier than getting them to pay for an online article or poem. But book publishing is often just one component of a full-time writing career. Perhaps you’ve read personal essays by debut authors “exposing” the fact that the average book advance does not equate to a full-time living for even a single year. Such essays reveal unrealistic expectations about the industry—or magical thinking: I will be the exception and earn my living from writing great books.

This guide does offer guidance on how to get a book published, a milestone that remains foundational to most creative writing careers. But because very few people can make a living solely by writing and publishing books, it goes further, showing why this one pursuit should not constitute one’s entire business model. Earnings can come as well from other sectors of publishing, other activities that involve writing and the types of skills one picks up as a writer. Online media and journalism, for example, now play a significant role in even fiction writers’ careers, so this guide spends considerable time on skills and business models important to the digital media realm. When combining these skills with the entrepreneurial attitude and knowledge this guide teaches, a writer will be better prepared to piece together a writing life that is satisfying and sustainable. In the end, some writers may discover they prefer other types of writing and publishing—and not just because it’s tough to make a living wholly from books.

If you are a writer looking for the business education you feel you never received, I hope this book provides the missing piece. While I try to be encouraging, and want you to feel capable and well informed, I don’t sugarcoat the hard realities of the business. When you decide to pursue a writing career, you’ll experience frustration, again and again, and not just in the form of rejection letters. But it helps to know what’s coming and that your experience is normal. Writers who are properly educated about the industry typically feel less bitterness and resentment toward editors, agents, and other professionals. They are less likely to see themselves as victimized and less likely to be taken advantage of. It’s the writers who lack education on how the business works who are more vulnerable to finding themselves in bad situations.

Read more…

Learn more about Jane and all that she offers at JaneFriedman.com. If you are a writer, writing instructor or publishing professional, you will be happy to have Jane’s ongoing work on your radar.

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. So, though I often write about writing and creativity, I also write about issues that are important to me if I think my point of view might help others. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. Looking for more fun in your life daily? Then join us for Collaging For Self-discovery, my online accountability group. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

Making time for daily creativity IS self-love. ~ Christina Katz

How’s your creative confidence this year so far?

Cultivating creative accountability is one of my specialties. I have been helping others accomplish it for over a decade and a half. And by helping others with their creative accountability, I have also helped myself become more accountable.

This is why I have decided to make membership in my growing collage accountability group pay-what-you-will for the rest of 2018. I am growing an online group of women who prioritize creativity every day. We value creativity just for the sake of doing it, and by prioritizing ourselves, we empower ourselves.

When I prioritize creativity instead of the one million and one distractions each day, my life flows effortlessly and joyfully. And when I don’t, I can too easily get thrown off course by the shadowy slings and arrows in the daily news.

Don’t live a distracted life. A creative practice can help you focus on living a life you love. Even if you don’t join my collage accountability group, I hope you will find a daily creative practice of your own that inspires you.

2018 is my year for turning inward and getting my marching orders from within. Daily creative practices, like collage journaling, are the most effective ways I know for tapping into personal wisdom.

I always remember that the Internet is neutral. It takes on the tone of the intentions we bring to it. My intention is to leverage the power of the Internet to create a more empowered world. By encouraging women to make time for themselves each and every day in my online creativity group, I make the world a more inspiring place.

The cost of joining the group is negligible and the value is immeasurable.

You can join any time. You can cancel any time. Your membership will renew automatically on the same day each month – easy-peasy.

More creativity in your life each and every day. Membership in a group of like-minded women who value self-expression.

Sounds invaluable to me. What’s it worth to you?

Check out all the options for joining today!

Learn more about my Collaging For Self-discovery accountability group.

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. So, though I often write about writing and creativity, I also write about issues that are important to me if I think my point of view might help others. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. Looking for more fun in your life daily? Then join us for Collaging For Self-discovery, my online accountability group. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

We are more than half-way through the month and I have been collaging regularly.

Wow. What a difference collaging for self-discovery makes. Not only do I feel more inspired in my life and in my writing, my dreams have also become so much more colorfully vivid.

Having a collage journaling practice is something I have enjoyed doing for myself in recent years. And now I’m sharing the process with others and making more time for it.

We live in a world that is so focused on external results that it often feels challenging to prioritize our internal life. But I declared this year to be my opportunity to dive deep and express myself more than ever before. Just making this commitment feels good. And every time I pull out my collage materials I feel like I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.

If you would like to join me, I encourage you to check out my new Collaging For Self-discovery Accountability Group.

If you are not convinced that making time for yourself to do something like collage journaling is important or even necessary, here are five reasons time for you is crucial to your health and happiness. Once you have a regular collage journaling practice — or any kind of daily creative practice — these results can be yours!

One. Distinguish Yourself From Others. Never underestimate the hypnotic power of three spells in our society: codependency, sexism, and perfectionism.We all do the best we can, of course. But how are we supposed to heal, grow and love when we are continually grappling with this three-headed monster? By spending time on self-discovery each day, we activate the power of our individual uniqueness, which is the best immunization against negative forces around us. When we embrace who we are, we can activate our power and create a life we love based on positive self-expression.

Two. Practice Making More Choices. The world invites us to make choices every day, but many of us are overwhelmed by the sheer volume and variety.Collaging helps us become more decisive. By choosing what makes us come alive we become happier. When we have a daily creative practice like collaging, we practice sifting and sorting, rejecting and selecting. We seek our particular type of happiness rather than whatever version of the American Dream is currently being promoted.

Three. Spend Time With Self Daily. Americans have made an art out of distraction. We live in a high-pressure, hyper-busy, discouraging world and it will continue to feel this way unless we reclaim our time and point of view. You can spend big chunks of time alone each day and still not give yourself permission to do your inner work. But once you reclaim time for yourself daily, you re-encounter yourself. When we make time for ourselves, our self-esteem instantly and automatically goes up.

Four. Notice Soul Stirrings. I believe we are not merely people, but souls. Our souls are huge, bright, beckoning parts of us, but we can spend a lifetime resisting them. Having a daily creative practice puts us in touch with the power of our souls. When we are in touch with our soul power, we can make a bigger impact on the world with less effort. We can tap into the power of the infinite in the everyday.

Five. Wake Up Sleeping Potential. We are each born with so much to offer, but we can keep our potential at arm’s length, hide it and even bury it. There are many factors that can cause us to lose touch with our personal power, but regular time for self-expression wakes us up to our full potential. Who cares why we didn’t tap into our personal power before? We can do it now, do it daily, and live our most expressive life starting today.

A daily collage practice may not seem like any big deal from outward appearances. But making time for yourself is still a radical act in our society, especially when you do it in a way that activates personal meaning in your life.

I hope you will join me in embarking on a daily creative practice this year. I have changed the pricing structure of the group to pay-what-you-will. Check it out!

When I have something to say, this blog is the place where I give myself permission to say it. So, though I often write about writing and creativity, I also write about issues that are important to me if I think my point of view might help others. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. Looking for more fun in your life daily? Then join us for Collaging For Self-discovery, my online accountability group. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

Got scalp itch?

I hope it’s not lice. Because getting lice sucks.

We’ve only had lice once as a family, despite the fact that my husband has been teaching in the public school system for many years.

To say those little suckers brought me repeatedly to my knees over the course of several days would be an understatement. I lost my squash every time my latest attempts at delousing failed.

The time, the expense, the laundry! I shed many tears of frustration as over-the-counter solution after over-the-counter solution failed to have any effect whatsoever on the problem.

Even prescription medication from our doctor had no results. (What?)

Were these the supposed ‘super lice’ I’d heard about?

Come to find out, the problem was my response to the situation. Had I conducted more thorough research on the topic — before launching into world war three on all of our heads — the situation would have been over so much sooner and more painlessly.

But I was a good little doobie and I went straight to the local drugstore to look for the most toxic products I could find to nuke those little bastards off our scalps.

That was pretty short-sighted, in retrospect.

Had I been calmer, savvier and better informed, I might have heard about any of these products below. If you are suffering from a dreaded lice infestation, I hope you will find this post before you find yourself on your knees in a lice purging frenzy. Especially since those lice being passed around your community might be back for another visit the moment you are ready to sound the all-clear.

Just remember, when lice come to your town, there IS something you can do. You can use inexpensive, non-toxic products and get the word out to all of your friends and neighbors that powerful products are available that can get lice out of hair and keep it out for good.

Now next time you feel a little itch, you will be ready.

So stock up on these products, folks, and block a lice infestation before it comes to stay. Trust me, you will be so glad you did!

Lice Products I Recommend

Fairy Tales Hair Products. LINK

We used the Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel Shampoo and Conditioner LINK with a lice comb LINK and this combination got rid of our lice immediately. Lice can happen to anyone, so we keep these products on hand, and use them if anyone even has one itch. So far, lice have made no repeat performances!

If you have lice, simply wash hair twice with an ample amount of Rosemary Repel Shampoo. Turn off the shower and then use an ample amount of conditioner and leave on for 15 – 20 minutes. During that time, sit on the edge of the tub, run the lice comb through hair from roots to ends, and clean it off under the bath tap between combs. This worked on the first try for us, even after too many products to mention did not. Good luck!

Nit Free Terminator Lice Comb LINK

If you have children in public schools and attending activities, keep one of these lice combs on hand. I tried several types of combs and this type is far and away the best. It’s both effective and pain-free, which is important for folks with long hair. Just take your time and pull the comb through calmly and slowly for best results.

Blow Dry Hair Thoroughly After Cleaning & Delousing LINK

If your family has lice, your blowdryer is your new best friend. Use the above products generously and often and then give hair a good blasting with a hot blowdryer. Help young children, so they don’t burn themselves. But commit to using the blow dryer for a week or so to insure lice and nit-free hair.

Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Oil Shampoo & Conditioner LINK

My husband, who is a teacher, uses these products regularly and perhaps they are the reason why he does not get affected by lice outbreaks (which can happen anytime, anywhere, no one is immune). Also, these products smell minty great and even make your scalp tingle a bit. A great choice for kids in the summertime, whether you are worried about lice or not.

Lice Products Recommended By Others

I have also heard of multiple delousing products recommended by others. Here’s the short list:

Tea Tree Oil LINK

I have heard if you spray this directly on the scalp, it will get the job done. However, many young children do not like the smell and others may experience a burning sensation. So I am apt to recommend products containing tea tree oil rather than the straight-up oil itself. Consider adding a few drops to the shampoo and conditioner you already use as a treatment and deterrent.

Nature’s Gate Tea Tree Oil Shampoo & Conditioner LINK

I have not tried these products but they were recommended in a recent local online discussion thread. Apparently they are carried in grocery stores, and sometimes you just need help fast. So good to know. Let me know in the comments if you have had any luck with these products.

Ladibugs Lice Prevention Kit LINK

I have also not tried these products but they were also recommended in a recent local online discussion thread. Apparently these were developed by school nurses, who were no strangers to the magnitude of the problem. They are made from 96% natural resources, 100% renewable resources, 100% biodegradable, all made in the USA. Let me know in the comments if you have had any luck with these products.

I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. I am focused on making the world a saner, more expressive place. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

~ Photo by Ryan McGuire

A random list of things I appreciated this month…

Sending Samantha to dance for a week of half-days at Northwest Dance Project. They challenged her and she relished the opportunity to dance regularly. Check them out.

Finally watching Wonder Woman. A little sorry I didn’t see it in theaters. But ultimately feeling like the timing was perfect. Did you see it?

Launching an accountability group that has everything to do with self-discovery and nothing to do with professionalism. Because we don’t have enough places in this world to just show up and express who we are. Learn more.

Finding this quote: “I am not afraid of my truth anymore and I will not omit pieces of myself to make you more comfortable,” by Alex Elle. She seems cool. Here’s a link to her blog.

Hanging out with my little fam’ for an extended period of time over winter break without too many distractions or obligations. Always a blessing!

Reading this GQ article by Michael Chabon about what happens when we really try to understand our kids and get behind what makes them tick. It makes me wonder how many amazing kids there are in the world, just waiting for their dreams to be nurtured. Here’s an excerpt: “Abe was just a kid who loved clothes. He loved talking about them, looking at them, and wearing them, and when it came to men’s clothing, in particular the hipper precincts of streetwear, he knew his shit.” [Hat tip to Austin Kleon. I always find something I really like in his weekly sharing, which prompted me to start this occasional sharing of my own.]

A passage from Rob Brezney’s newsletter on what Jesus stood for. And this quote from Carl Jung that Brezney shared, which I will never forget: “The whole point of Jesus’s life was not that we should become exactly like him, but that we should become ourselves in the same way he became himself. Jesus was not the great exception but the great example.” Get Rob’s weekly horoscope and newsletter here for the New Year. Guaranteed to make you think fresh thoughts.

The moment I realized that it was time to get a new We’Moon calendar for 2018 and cut up the old one for my collage materials stash. Done and done.

Watching the totally fluffy Pitch Perfect 3 on an impromptu date with my husband and having a couple of laughs, even though it did not get good reviews and is way too short. Thankfully we’ll always have the original.

Falling in love with the Internet again, because I have reprogrammed it to make me happy. This cuts down significantly on mindless time spent on Facebook and increases the visual inspiration quotient to be gleaned from Instagram times ten.

Speaking of…I often read my favorite Stampington magazines and then look folks up who inspire me. I was reading about Sharon Sowell, an amazing paper cutting artist and I have been chatting with her over email and Instagram. See what I mean about loving the Internet?

Giving and receiving presents! In case you did not know, I am a Sagittarius, which means I am all about the presents no matter what the minimalists say. I gave and received so many wonderful presents, and now that Christmas is packed up and put away (early), and I am raring to start 2018.

I still maintain an Advanced Dream Team of writers for both articles and essays. We had a fun Secret Santa exchange for the third year in a row. Really proud of my writing accomplishments this year and humbled to participate in theirs. On to 2018!

The soundtrack from The Greatest Showman. If you saw it, I bet you are totally with me. If you didn’t, I recommend it. The movie is pure fiction; but the soundtrack is pure perfection!

Winter is the perfect time to stream British shows. We devoured The Crown, season two. We’re eagerly awaiting season seven of Call The Midwife. Earlier this year, we enjoyed three seasons of Grantchester. And we are still looking forward to Victoria, season two.

Composting is fun. Who knew? Never had a composter that worked well until this year. Got this one in May and it breaks down everything I put into it like a champ. Plus two chambers really are better than one because I can fill one and move on to the next and the first is ready in about eight months. Amazon won’t let me link to it directly, so click here and then scroll down until you find: “Good Ideas CW-2X Compost Wizard Dueling Tumbler.” We got the smaller size, and I’m going to order another one, so I can have four barrels going at once. If your family is larger than three, you may want the larger size.

Ringing in the New Year is awesome but my dog never enjoys the nearby fireworks. That’s why I am so grateful for the Thundershirt for dog anxiety. We wait until he starts barking and then we put on his Thundershirt, turn on some jazz music and leave the oven fan running to create extra white noise. The combination soothes him so he can sleep no matter how loud the fireworks.

Best holiday gifts I gave? Besides the dance workshop we got for Samantha, I’m going to go with Spirograph, because we get to share a childhood toy with Samantha. Best holiday gift I got? Too many to mention. Let’s go with my “Smash The Patriarchy” coffee mugs. I got two and I love them both. Oh, and this book, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden; Grow, Harvest & Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms by Erin Benzakein and Julie Chai with photography by Michele M. Wait.

Clearly December has been an awesome month. It is also my birthday month, which means I got even more presents (new ring from the Sundance store, 10 annual magazine subscriptions for $30, and more!).

Well, 2017, I feel feted, sated, celebrated, and I’m ready for 2018. So bring it on!

I’ll be right here, enjoying life and sharing the best experiences I have with you. Happy New Year!

I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. I am focused on making the world a saner, more expressive place. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

~ Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash

As a teacher, life-long learning is important to my personal enrichment.

One of the many things I adore about the Internet is the educational opportunities it provides.

Say what you want about social media, the times we are living in and the current political landscape—none of it matters when you use the Internet intentionally.

One of the best ways to leverage the Internet intentionally is to consider what you need in your life and then seek out online courses that have what you want.

In the early days of the Internet, it was such a thrill to be able to virtually connect with folks I admired. I used to scour the web striving to connect with my role models.

But these days, I am less about the mentor and more about the learning. I do not put people on pedestals any longer. In fact, I tend to trust imperfect, expressive people more than celebrities, who constantly play their highlight reels.

What interests me more than the person behind the course, is the course itself. Does it offer what I need? Is the course offering results I am looking for? Is it simple, rather than overwhelming? Finally, I ask is the teacher reputable? I do not need to become best friends with the course creator to benefit from what is being taught.

Using these principles, I have signed up for three courses that make my heart sing for 2018. I cannot wait to dive into these course and milk them for all they are worth in my life. I know they will uplift and sustain me for the rest of the year.

Here is another thing that has changed. In the past, I was often focused on professional development. But too much focus on professionalism was starting to make me feel dead inside.

I am professional enough. The continuous focus on it was squelching my joy.

Lately I have been much more soul-focused. I am clear that when I take care of the inside, the outside takes better care of itself. So rather than being externally focused, I am much more internally oriented. Needless to say, this makes me feel so much happier on a daily basis.

As I created my online school, I was following these same principles to create compelling courses for others. I put as much soul as possible into every single course, even when professionalism was a consideration.

I would say what sets my courses apart from other courses in the writing and creativity arena is that they always take the individual into account. You never had to abandon yourself to follow my advice. On the contrary, the more fully you embrace who you are, the more successful you can become.

I believe in the value and contributions of each person on the planet. In other words, I think every person is here for a reason. And it’s the responsibility of each person to dig deep to discover and share the wealth that wants to stream through them.

2018 is going to be about discovering more of who I am and cultivating my self-expression to better share it with the world. I will continue to do what I do best: write, teach, learn, share and grow. And I would love to share my journey with you.

What is your 2018 going to be about? Feel free to share in the comments or email me and give me an update. We’re all in the New Year together. The way we approach it individually definitely impacts the whole. I hope I can encourage you to cherish your soul more and focus on the status quo less.

I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. I am focused on making the world a saner, more expressive place. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save on my courses by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

Photo by Rosie Kerr on Unsplash