
Come visit us on social media!
As you can tell, it's been a long time since I've written something and posted it to the blog here. I'm much more active on social media (Facebook and Instagram), where you can follow along with news about upcoming classes, activity ideas, daily inspiration, and general mindfulness practices. I may decide to pick up the blog again in the future, but until then, please come say hi on FB or IG outlets. Sending you much love! #activities #personalpractice #classroomactivities #a

Be Happy! Or Not.
I've had this picture in my reserved folder for quite some time but it never felt like the right time to post it. I've thought about it more and I think I realize why. Yes, today is a perfect day to be happy. It is also a perfect day to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, anxious, jubilant, or however else you are feeling today. There has been a shift in popular culture recently to praise "happiness" - but does that come at the expense of other emotions? I think it's important for

Everyday Objects Are GREAT Tools
There are a lot of things around the house that we can use as tools to help us and our little ones be mindful. Here are some of my favorites! Snow Globes Seriously, snow globes are PERFECT mindfulness tools. Have kids shake the snow globe really hard and then take deep breaths in and out as they hold it still and let the “snow” settle. As always with breathwork, have them practice first when in a positive headspace, but then use as a tool when they are upset to calm themselve

Kindness Confetti
“Throw kindness around like confetti.” I came across this quote recently and it really resonated with me. Being kind - to others, to the environment, and maybe most importantly, to ourselves - is probably the most key aspect of living well. It’s even a word in the short definition of mindfulness I like to use! If you work with kids (and are anything like me), thinking of confetti or glitter crafts sends a shiver down your spine as you recall past messes where you were still f

Time to Get Moving!
My good friend Emma has mentioned to me that it can get hard to find ways to entertain her kids or get their energy out on days when they can’t go outside. Whether at home or in the classroom, these long days can drive any kid-and adult- stir crazy! While many people think that mindfulness is all about being still, calm, and quiet, there are a lot of fun ways to get kids moving while practicing mindfulness. Color Search A color search is a great way to bring kids’ awareness t

Exploring Alphabreaths (N - T)
We are on our third post exploring Alphabreaths! This is a fun way to have kids try out new breathing techniques, while also practicing concepts like letters, animals, and visualizations. Even if your goal is for your child to use breathing exercises when feeling upset, make sure you introduce and practice new ones when your children are happy. Connecting to your breath should have a positive connotation, not feel like a “punishment” when sad or mad. N: Ninja Breath Place you

Exploring Alphabreaths (G - M)
Yesterday we started exploring a fun way to introduce breathing exercises - Alphabreaths! If you missed it, check it out. Today we’ll continue the series with G - M. G: Gratitude Breath Breathing in, pick a person you are thankful for and breathing out, send them good vibes! H: Hug Breath As you breathe in, open your arms to your sides, and as you breathe out, bring your arms in to give yourself a hug. I: Ice Breath Breathing in, imagine you are an ice cube - stiff and unmovi

Tackling the Winter Blues
Between the freezing weather here this weekend and watching the Superbowl, I thought about what we need to tackle in our own lives. And the first thing that came to mind was the Winter Blues. We are now deep into winter and it can begin to feel like spring will never come. With the shorter days, reduced sunlight, and colder weather, this season often takes a toll on many of our moods. However, controlling the weather is out of our hands, so what can we do to improve our well

When Life Gets in the Way
The past few weeks, life got in the way. Between the holidays, a week-long family vacation, and apartment hunting and planning a move to a new state and city, mindfulness and my blog took a backseat. And unfortunately, this happens all too easily. Things start moving fast, there are several balls being juggled, and the things we do that are good for us - good for our souls - are the things that get sacrificed. How many of us have experienced something like this? But the beaut

Why I Hate New Years Resolutions.
New Years can be an emotional time. We reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. And often, people use it as a time to make New Years Resolutions. I’m not the first person to say this, but: I HATE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS. Issue #1: Often they are made out of some form of guilt or to change in some way that we are told we should. Most are not made mindfully or with genuine intention, which is why they fail within days. And when we “fail” at our resolutions, it just