#AloneTimeWithArian

If you follow me on Instagram you've maybe noticed I'm a fan of alone time. One of the most practical and helpful rhythms we've added to our week this new year is #AloneTimeWithArian. Four or so mornings a week, while Daniel gets our kids ready for the day from 7am-8am, I head out to start my day alone, in quietness. It's not a long time but it makes a big difference in the state of my heart for the rest of the day.

(this morning in Over The Rhine) 

If we're in town, my favorite thing is to journal or read in one of my favorite coffee shops. That, or wander around the quiet downtown streets taking photos of the morning sunlight.

 (Four Minute Essays by Dr. Frank Crane, 1919)

If we're visiting family in the country, I take advantage of nature and take a walk in the woods!

I even got a whole 24 hours of alone time a few weeks ago. Daniel took care of everything at home so I could spend the night in a hotel downtown, stay up late watching girly movies and eating chocolate, sleep in, and spend the day wandering from coffee shop to library to art store to book store to cafe. I confess, toward the end of that 24 hours I felt kind of homeless and was looking forward to being back with my family. Go figure : )

(the view from my hotel room)

It's a luxury I didn't think I could afford. But Daniel tends to think I'm worth it even when I don't. And I'm grateful!

Another luxury I didn't think we could afford---a babysitter! Starting this week I've got 9 hours of child-free time to work on new art! I plan on using it well!

So any other introverted mamas out there have tips on how to stay sane during the child-raising years?

Arian : )

My Ongoing Quest

Happy New Year! Goodness, there's a lot I want to catch up on here. This blog has been a useful means of remembering what we have learned over the years so it's important to keep it up : )

Christmas was once again demanding. Making sure print orders were in the mail on time, everyone on our long gift list was taken care of, the house was clean and beautiful, the Christmas concerts and parties were attended, and the homemade food was delicious and memorable kiiiiiinda got the best of me this year. And on December 26th I hit a wall of sadness......REAL hard. I think the pressures of balancing work and family finally did me in and I pretty much wanted to quit both of them.

So a goal of 2014 is not to end it in the fetal position : ) Enter my on-going quest for simplicity. A lovely friend lent me this book.  Actually she's more like my secret guardian angel---I haven't seen her face in a few years (?!?!) but every once in awhile she drops the perfect note, book, or gift card off then disappears...I'm not sure she's even real. (Thanks "Debbie", if that is your real name) ; )

We've been putting a few simplicity principles into practice. One, I remixed our wardrobes to only include neutral colors. The boys each have ONE pair of pajamas and about five to seven sets of clothes. Everything matches everything else. They can dress themselves and not look homeless. Plus it's easy on the eyes and they look pretty spiffy all the time. (Note: to do this in the least wasteful way possible, I gave away the non-neutral clothes to friends and then hit up the clearance racks at Target, Old Navy, Gap, and Children's Place over the course of a few weeks and bought whatever neutral items they had marked way down)

The new color scheme makes even laundry piles pleasing to look at.

I've been making my own high-waisted maxi skirts in neutral colors too. Another way to keep the cost down-- clearance fabric or 40% off coupons.

And our house is slowly getting it's own neutral makeover. For Christmas I asked for neutral blankets, throw pillows, picture frames, candle holders, and all white dishes.

BAM, ten times more peaceful. If the picture below had sound you'd hear the 2-year-old crying to my left and the 5-year-old's 30-minute dissertation on the differences between stamina Beyblades and defense Beyblades ( I. Don't. Care.). But white makes me feel grown up and calm. And when the 2-year-old jumped me seconds later and spilled the coffee on the white blanket I just threw it in the wash with a little bleach. No problem.

We're taking baby steps.  Next is a re-do of our family schedule. I feel trapped in the domestic realm. I want to be able to work on art business more and clean house, change diapers, cook dinners, etc less. So we're redistributing the domestic tasks so that Daniel, Jason, and the little boys have more responsibilities and we're looking into some sort of shared childcare kind of thing so that I can have more time to work. While I am really thankful that Daniel has a good job and I don't HAVE to work and I GET to stay home with my kids, a little LESS time with my kids would make me a saner person and a better mom and, hopefully, a better artist!

I'm (sometimes) hopeful. I (try to) think 2014 will be a good year! I (really) hope it's a good one for you too!

Arian : )

O Holy Night and a Special Note!

This weekend is the last weekend for 2013 orders in my Etsy shop. And I added this print just in time! It's my favorite line from my favorite Christmas song. I cling to the hope that a new and glorious morn is on this weary world's horizon and someday all will be made right! I don't know exactly how it all will work, which is good, because I'm hoping it will be something far greater than I could ask or imagine.

Get the signed print in my Etsy shop (coupon code CHRISTMAS13 for 25% off!) OR cards and device cases of this print over in my Society6 shop!

SPECIAL NOTE: I'm approaching 2014 with a goal of refining my brand. I'll be removing about 2/3 of my older prints from Etsy (though you'll still be able to get them at Society6) and venturing into more product designs. I'd love to design fabric, home goods, clothes, journals, and more! Just a heads up!

Arian : )

25% off!

I'm running a one week special in my Etsy shop



And Society6 is offering FREE SHIPPING on all of my device cases, laptop skins, cards, tshirts, pillows and more thru Monday. Check it out!

I hope my fellow Americans had a great Thanksgiving! For those of you who follow me on Instagram (@arianarmstrong) you know we're hard at work on our latest animated music video and enjoying some time in the country! More on that soon!

Arian : )

Simplicity IS Beautiful

Counter-cultural simplicity......man, it's what I've been striving for these last few months. Simplifying our schedule, simplifying our wardrobes, simplifying our meal plans, simplifying our home. For example, I gave away a lot of our clothes and I'm replacing them with just a few, thought-out items that all fall into a neutral color scheme. It's easier on the eye, makes choosing outfits simpler, and makes for less laundry and cleaner closets. I love it. This print is a pretty reminder for me: Simplicity IS beautiful.

The signed print is available in my Etsy shop.

 And all sorts of other goodies are available in my Society6 shop.

If you have any strategies for simplifying your daily life I'd love to hear them! Leave a comment below!

Arian : )

The Week(s) According To Instagram

Birthday celebrations, more weddings, and a stomach bug that swept through our whole family have kept me busy for the last couple weeks.

Let's catch up!

 I'd say one of the biggest themes of the last couple weeks has been my on-going quest to figure out what it means for me to live a "good day". I am really happy with the major events in my life---marriage, kids, work, friends.... But I haven't figured out how to enjoy a day. Days are often a blur, something I just want to get through so I can finally rest or have some quiet time. But that's not cool. I want to wake up excited about the day, savor meals, find satisfaction in every day tasks, take time to just BE with everyone in my family, enjoy simple pleasures, and sleep peacefully (I tend to have stress dreams at night).

 So I am experimenting with daily rhythms. I am not a morning person but I've been getting up extra early some days to head downtown, buy fresh baked bread from the person who made it, pick up coffee that was just roasted, and get back home before anyone else is awake. The quiet, alone time before the craziness of the day has been really sweet. Don't tell anyone this, but this night owl can be kind of cranky in the mornings while trying to get everyone dressed, fed, and out the door on time. But somehow waking up EARLIER and spending time alone makes me less cranky during the morning rush. Weird.

 October 10 was my birthday and the whole family celebrated by getting a stomach virus.

 Everyone took off work and school that day and we just settled in to watch hours and hours of movies. Not a bad way to spend my birthday, actually.

 Then Andrea took me on a super special birthday photo shoot day. I'll have LOTS of pictures to show you. We went to some of my favorite places and ate some of my favorite foods all while changing into different outfits and having our pictures taken by our own photographer. Fun stuff!!

I am trying to savor fall here. Leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, soups and stews are showing up in my weekly meal plans. I hope you're enjoying whichever season you're in!

Arian : )

Papa's

We spent the weekend camping with my mom, Andrea, and Tye at Papa's house. It was perfection. And by "camping" I of course mean cooking hotdogs and s'mores over a fire and then leaving the boys outside in tents while Eli and I slept indoors in a bed. You know.... camping!

 Though I love life in the city I am so grateful to have our family country retreats. We can spend the day surrounded by the people, architecture, business, coffee shops, and excitement of downtown.... then pack an overnight bag, hit the road, and in an hour or two be sleeping to the sound of crickets and nothing else.

 Papa has lived in the same house on the same hill since long before we were born. It's a big part of our history and we love day dreaming about its role in our future---- hosting creative getaways, outdoor concerts, recording studio, rustic modern guest cabins.... Who knows what this place will become as the seasons in our lives change!

 As we huddled around the campfire past midnight with Tye and Andrea, catching up and casting vision for our futures, I saw TWO shooting stars! TWO!!

 And in the morning we ate homemade biscuits and gravy with cappuccinos.

 Andrea, denim, coffee, vintage mugs, pretty rings, Papa's house.....yeah, these are a few of my very very favorite things.

I'm super grateful that September has held so many sweet gatherings and retreats for us. The summer felt hard and tiring. I needed this month to reset and get inspired.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Arian