Aspirational Auntie

My name is Renée, and I'm blessed to be an aunt to a number of young people. Three of which I have within my immediate grasp and influence.

I sometimes like to think of myself as a junior or "bonus" mom. And I do my best to show and teach my nieces and nephew (5, 14, and 15) things I think could be useful and pertinent for them in life. That includes how to have fun.

Though my work keeps me pretty busy, I've found time last year and at fortuitous intervals past to live tiny dreams through these young charges. 

You see, dear reader, though I'm not a mother in the traditional sense, and I'm well into adulthood, I am a big kid at heart. And I'm enjoying doing things I hope will only create happy core memories for them (and who are we kidding, for me too). Some of the activities we've shared:

firepit fun

 arts and crafts (obviously!)

 

making treats

fresh air fun

Nature seems to be a recurring theme. Also food, lol. As I look at these memories we created, I'm thinking of what should be next. 

I want to be remembered as the auntie who created a safe space, encouraged individuality, instilled wisdom to prepare them for this world, and fostered their natural gifts. Also, of course, fun auntie! 

This year I hope to share more experiences that would be new to them. I have a laundry list of fun things I've done that I think they'd love, like tubing on the Chattahoochee, rollerskating, and new recipes, just to name a few. What are some activities you would recommend??

Wordless Wednesday

Balancing Act

I'm taking a moment to reflect today. It is now late July and therefore more than halfway through the year. We have yet to reach the dog days of summer, but I'm looking out on a muggy, cloudy afternoon, watching for the latest round of storms to hit and thinking about how quickly fall will descend on us.

Unplanned Obsolescence

 After years of [somewhat] adequate service, I recently bid farewell to a key member of my team here in this studio. I was not prepared to part ways. I spent several months and dollars seeking a resolution. But the matter simply could not be resolved favorably. 

Tuesday: Things I Make for Me

 This one is a little different. Because this TIMFM post is about something different I make for me: space.

Tuesday [Things I Make for Me]

It happened. I'm surprised that I evaded it this long. Time and time again, I have been regaled with others' horror stories. And my own experience lived up to the grave descriptions.

Different But the Same

The days of sameness are passé. We are human beings. Individuals. And what makes us interesting are our differences.

I recently read a book that discussed evolutionary psychology. It talked about modern man's reasons for certain behaviors and choices and how they are linked to survival instincts we've had hardwired into us for millennia. It also touched on the possibility that some of those behaviors may no longer serve us.

Give and Take

 April was Earth month. And in honor of Earth Day (4/22), I shared one way I try to do my part as a concerned inhabitant of this planet. I strapped on a funny harness thing to hold my camera and went to pick up trash from a small creek near my home. 

I filmed myself fishing old toy balls and other trash from the creek.

Ways and Means

No one asked, but I feel this is a valid (and necessary) PSA. I'm an artist. I sell my work online and locally. I also create content around my work. I take pictures and videos, I write and edit all of these forms of content myself.

Wax and Wane

I went the whole month of March without publishing a single post. I love writing this blog. It feeds a part of my creativity. But you wouldn't know it going by March, ha.

Week's [Rear] End

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot." - Michael Altshuler

My week had a dizzying clip to it. I think I blinked and it was Friday night.

Things I Make for Me: Glasses Wall

As a creative person, I often find myself falling into DIY projects for my own needs and for others. While I'm not on the level of doing things like electrical work, I can do a mean faux stone wall, make a lamp, or set up a decent home theater.