Money, What Kind Of Relationship Are We In Here?

So I've been wondering what to post this week. I've been having a hard time as all my posts ended up sounding depressing! I've been going through a lot of emotions lately. I've been working on improving myself with a lot of self help books and courses. Especially when it comes to money. This is one area that I have always struggled with and continue to struggle with. As I have been working on improving my mindset around money, it's crazy all the bad thoughts I have towards it and myself!

But, I am pushing myself to improve this part of my life. I'm sure like me, there are some of you who lack money and have a lack mindset around it. You stress every day about if you're going to have enough and hope and pray your next paycheck will be enough to cover all your expenses. Like food. I have had more times than I'd like to admit where I wondered if I'd be able to afford groceries. Then get excited when I work my part time job because it provides me with one meal per shift (life saver!). I have had many weeks of ramen noodles (and my body doesn't agree with gluten) and rice and beans (the kind you buy in a bag and have to soak).

Although some weeks are hard and can be stressful, I am working on bettering my mindset and not looking at my money in a form of lack, but being grateful for every penny and dollar I have. I am fortunate to still be able to eat and have a roof over my head and a car to drive me to and from all my events and my job. If you are like me, try to keep a level head. I know this may sound hard and you are probably thinking, girl, how can you have a level head when all you can afford most days is Ramen!

Believe me, I have been known to stress and freak out. I have witnesses to prove my insanity about money lack. But if there's one thing I've been learning about money, just like with everything else in life, what you think about you bring about. My steps may seem small right now, but I'm saying my affirmations and I'm continuing to read books on money mindset. Let's just say this is a work in progress.

If you are like me, I encourage you to start taking little steps towards bettering your money mindset. I've personally been reading "You Are A Badass at Making Money" By Jen Sincero. It's a great place to start!

What are some things you do everyday to better your money mindset, or to keep a more positive mindset in general?

Happy Father's Day

Last night I went and saw Rocketman. For those of you who are unaware, I am a huge fan of Elton John. I have always been drawn to his music and his wonderfully crazy fashions. So when I saw a preview to a movie about him, of course I had to go see it. Even though I am a fan of his, I didn't know much about his personal life. I'm really not one to dig in to the personal lives of famous people. I just like to enjoy their talents. But seeing Rocketman, I never felt so connected to a famous person before. There were many things that happened in the movie that I could relate to when I was growing up. To make a story short, Elton had two narcissistic, emotionally abusive parents, that wrapped up into one, make up my dad.

Reading this, you may be wondering how this can be a good Father's Day story? I am blessed to have an amazing mom, but sadly, after years of trying to make a good relationship with my dad, for my overall wellbeing, I estranged from him. Even though I no long am in contact with my dad, I do know many wonderful men in the world. Many of them are wonderful dads and have shared their compassion and wisdom with me, and I am grateful that they have been there to show me that there are decent fathers and decent men out there.

For those of you who have an amazing dad, make sure you let him know it. Don't take him for granted. I hope you were able to celebrate with him today, and if you don't live near him, I hope you were able to give him a call. If your dad is no longer with you, I hope you remembered him and honored his memory.

For all of you emotionally uplifting, supportive, loving dads, I am wishing all of you  a Happy Father's Day. I hope it was a special day for you spent with your family and filled with love and joy.

Who's an artist?

Hey all. Welcome to my blog! For those who know me, I'm excited you decided to check it out. For those who don't know me, I'm Stacey. Owner of a traveling paint studio in Southeast Wisconsin, named Stickman Painting Studio. My team and I get to travel to various locations throughout the area and teach people how to paint, all while sipping on some liquid courage.

Yes. We are the lucky ones. We're doing something that we love. Plus we get to paint too! Just kidding. We do love teaching and painting (or at least my team tells me they do).

In the almost six years I've been in the paint and sip industry, one thing that never changes is people. There's at least one person at every event that says, I can't draw a stick man to save my life. Hence the studio name! But in all seriousness. Why is this? So many students come in, scared out of their wits, afraid they're going to do a bad job. Afraid they are going to be judged.

Remember when we were kids, when we had no fear to just create and draw and doodle (even if it was on our parents living room wall). We were excited to paint. To create mud sculptures in the backyard. And we couldn't wait to show our creations to our family and friends. We were proud of our work. But then, as we got older, something changed. In school, if we weren't "good enough," we stopped creating. We pushed that desire under the rug and moved on with our lives. Maybe some of us had and still have a hidden desire to want to create art again. Maybe some of us do create secretly.

In the industry I'm in, about 90% of my students say they haven't painted or created since grade or middle school, with a small percentage saying they have never created in their life (which I don't think I believe, sidewalk chalk art still counts!)

But why does this have to happen? A majority of the people I paint with state how much fun it was and how relaxing and therapeutic the class was when it was over. Not everyone in the world is going to be a van Gogh or a da Vinci. But why can't we all just create to create?

If you stopped making art at one point. How old were you? If you remember, why did you stop?