Creative Sugar - Call For Submissions!

WELCOME to the very first CREATIVE SUGAR... my NEW weekly storytelling project! 

I believe everyone has a story to tell, so I want to hear your inspiring stories and give you the chance to share them with thousands of others around the world! My intention with this new blog column, CREATIVE SUGAR, is to provide a platform for everyone to share their positive stories and experiences, showcasing the beauty, connection and inspiration that exists in our every day.

Every Tuesday on my blog, I'll be featuring a new story. Your story can be about anything...as long as it's full of positivity and makes your heart laugh or swoon. Maybe your story is about someone who let you go ahead of them in line at the grocery store, just when you needed that most. Or maybe it's about your nephew who always makes you laugh. Please share anything inspirational. And feel free to pass this on to any friends who might love to share their stories too.

If you are interested in submitting your story, find guidelines and submit your story here and I will let you know when I will be posting it on my blog. 

It's all about being inspired by the little things, every day!

photo by stephanie claire birr

to kick off CREATIVE SUGAR, i thought i'd share some of my story with you.... 

What’s the greatest advice you’ve been given? *

Be True To Yourself

What’s some not-so-great advice you’ve been given? *

Don't be an artist

Now, I must say, while this is the worst advice I've ever been given, it's also the advice that made me really decide I need to be and can do nothing but be an artist. 

Your Inspiring Story*

When I was around 6, my dad brought home this bmx bike for me. My best friend at the time had one of those pink bikes with the plastic flowers going around a sweet little white basket. 

So, when I saw this bmx bike, I immediately knew it wasn't quite what I had in mind. 

Within minutes, my dad convinced me to try out that bike. And I was on it and riding around the yard. I loved it! And I could go really fast, up and down and around all of the hills in the backyard.

So when we went camping a few weeks later up in Door County, Wisconsin (where Brian and I got married), I could not wait to bring my bike and ride it on the trails!

Each summer, we went camping with a group of families. And this was my first year riding with the adults on my own bike. There was a group of around twenty adults and kids, all biking in a row, on our way to the ice cream shop. 

I was on a mission to bike as fast as I could and loved going ahead of everyone! I'd been on the main gravel trail and passed everyone else, when I came to a super steep hill. 

I definitely remember I'd been going way too fast. I saw a clearing up ahead at the bottom of the hill. A road. A busy, busy road. And I knew I needed to stop, but the breaks weren't doing it. 

All of a sudden, just before the busy road, a man grabbed me by the back of my shirt and pulled me from my bike. It flew out into the street and just missed a car, whizzing past. My dad biked up beside us. I saw it was a man and his son standing there that had saved me. They all exchanged a few words, then the man and son went away, walking on the trail towards everyone else. Although no one else ever saw them.

I'm very thankful to whomever that man and son happen to be. And know, that moment really changed my life.

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do you have a story to tell? if you are interested in submitting your story, find guidelines and fill out the short form here. 

join me next tuesday for a very special CREATIVE SUGAR! with someone who has been inspiring me and lots of others to share their stories! i can't wait to share his story with you!

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ps. HOW TO PAINT AN OWL - the SELF-PACED, INSTANT-ACCESS class is now available! find all of the details and register here. i'm so excited to paint with everyone!