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welcome to the CANDYcolored studio, snowy spring edition for march '22!  today's episode is a little non-traditional. there's a video for you to watch with a virtual tour of my studio as well as the downstairs area of our home (since my studio is in our home, you can get a better idea of how we're using the space). then you can hear a "jack ryan" redpill in the audio portion. i'll leave a ton of links below. enjoy and know you're loved! xoxo

do you ever look out at your creative biz and see way too many things that you need to improve? maybe you even catch yourself saying, “the grass is greener on the other side? I opened an email from amy porterfield of the “online marketing made easy” podcast and she had a couple really profound descriptions & suggestions that i think will help so many of us!

did you miss so many friends during pandemic like i did? i found my heart swelling with gratitude for all the dear friends who made a positive impact in my life and so many others. i started sharing about these amazing women who i call “SWEETladies”. ondalynn lewis vance is one of those extra special friends who made my college years so bright, fun & enriching. hear about some of our many adventures together and some of the incredible lessons i learned being her friend. love you ondy!!! 

what a treat of an interview! as stephanie braced for an alabama storm & possible tornado, we chatted about all sorts of things: her tech background & skills, artist journey, teaching art, mentoring artists, time management, mothering, priorities and podcasting! it’s an episode jam-packed with goodness. one of my very favorite parts is when she talks about "like-hearted givers" in her membership. enjoy this sweet interview!

when joseph prayed to God with his soul-burning question, the sacred grove burst forth with light and knowledge. similarly, our heavenly parents greatly desire that each and every one of their children create a safe space where they can take their questions, ponderings, and research. our savior and redeemer, Jesus Christ invites us to “come, unto Him”, to find and cultivate our own “sacred grove.”

and what does YOUR “Sacred Grove” look or feel like? is it a PLACE? WHO is there? HOW are they lifting and supporting you in your quest for further light and knowledge? WHAT helps you feel the Holy Spirit most as you study and seek? is it TIME that you set aside each day to learn, listen and grow? are you taking the FEELINGS you receive THERE, with you each day, as you pursue this great journey?

isn’t hindsight 20-20? or just 2020 lol?! now that we’ve had time to look back over the past 2 years since the pandemic began, it’s easy to see things we would have liked to have done better or perhaps we feel guilty about our choices. no judgment here! everyone made choices they felt were best at the time and i know that no matter what there was a lot of learning that came from those choices. instead, this is a time to celebrate a big part of our community and family life: anneclaire’s dance studio. hear all about their wisdom and big wins during the pandemic and how that overall vibe and vision continues to permeate at the studio, at competitions, at performances, in our homes, community and i couldn’t be more grateful. this week i’ll also share a redpill about great & spacious buildings…what are they? can they look different for us individually? how can our acknowledgement of them help us to progress and become our best selves?

when in a rut or just simply in the need of something new to taste, i dive back into my favorite cookbooks to remember recipes or to find new ones. here are eleven of my favorite cookbooks. some were given at our wedding and others i’ve collected over the years. the ones i go back to again and again are quite often those that are easy to adjust or simply infallible lol. leave your favorites in the comments below!

"eve & asherah [a mother-daughter portrait]" 28x36 oil on wood

let's chat about all things adam & eve, how we can learn from their journey and what blessings do we enjoy because of their Fall? i've been researching across different of christian thoughts as well as from a messianic jewish perspective too. so many different feelings and impressions...some scientific, some symbolic...all led me to deeper possibilities -- ultimately, making the old testament feel alive and new in a way.

looking back at the sweetest memories that simply keep on giving...so much laughter and love, so much learned and enjoyed being friends with my beautiful dear friend christy. so much heart, soo much knowledge, and a giggle that is absolutely contagious -- this adventurous friend amazes me with all she has done and continues to do for all of those around her. love you sweetest friend! xoxo

have you read the book "the relatives came" by cythia rylant & stephen gammel?! oh it is so fun and wonderfully shows all the beauty & craziness that comes when we spend time with family. during the holidays i learned so much being with family members. here are 5 of the life lessons and epiphanies i pondered & gleaned. we learn so much from family -- whether it's our immediate family, extended family, and even our worldwide human family. thank goodness for this life experiment and learning journey we get to take together!