From the moment the alarm went off at 5 am this morning, I’ve been mentally saying no. I reluctantly threw my legs over the edge of the bed, grimaced and stood.

Personal hygiene is not a topic that I normally write about but I am just so excited that I can't pass up the opportunity to share this newfound, no-stink formula of homemade deodorant.

When the challenge was presented something inside me immediately said yes. That was ten days ago and I’ve been mentally gearing up for it ever since and now it's go time.

When an artist and blogger that I follow said she was offering an online e-course, I was immediately interested and I signed up to be notified as soon as registration became available. The class, Hello Soul, Hello Mixed Media Mantras, is mixed media art, something I know nothing about but felt an urge to explore.

Pretty much anyone can set one up, you just pay a few cents and upload a photo of your handmade or vintage product, which for us, is a photo itself. But, what’s exciting is the organic way that it’s developed and the possibilities that it holds.

When I look out into the wide-open year before me and ask, what do I hope to accomplish?, there is no shortage of answers. I have ideas. Lots of them! But, I also have an uncanny ability to convince myself that my ideas aren’t all that great before I’ve ever truly given them a shot.

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share we recently had to say goodbye to my dad, Rudy, a man whose mere physical presence had the power to shift an entire room. Combined with his boisterous laugh and undeniable charm, he was a man respected and adored by many.