Bigger Picture Moments: Sunday Morning {Happy Second Birthday, Bigger Picture Blogs!}

***The winner of the Creativity Package is number 8 -- Jen and Corinne! Congrats, ladies.
The winner of the books is number four --Jade and May! Congrats, friends!****

Every Thursday for two years now, we've come together to share the harvest of intentional living by capturing a glimpse of the bigger picture through simple moments.

In this coming together, the women who make up this beautiful community have not only shared life but have also encourage each other in the journey of intentional living as well as our journeys to become more engaged, intentional artists and writers. 

And that kind of makes my heart flutter and dance.

So in celebration of Bigger Picture Blogs second birthday, we knew we had to do what we do best: engage with each other and create. 


But we didn't want to just have cake and part ways. We wanted to take our creativity and community to another level, so paired together community members who wanted a challenge, asking one to take the task of the visual artist and one to use her words and work together to bring a word prompt to life.


Those of us who have come together as creative duos were given musically inspired prompts. It's my deep hope that those who have been working together have found that our unions are much like the song prompts we've been working with: the true beauty of such a collaboration doesn't just rest solely in lyrics or melody; they must mingle, interweave to be enjoyed thoroughly. 


Today, we sing our collaborations. 


And today we come together to share and listen to the playlist our community has created inspired by an actual playlist. {If you'd like to participate solo the prompt is For Me This is Heaven by Jimmy Eat World. Ready? Set? Go!}


Per normal, link your Bigger Picture Moment below and be sure to visit at least one creative collaboration {both contributors!} and encourage both people in their endeavor. Please link only your post and include our button or a link back so that others can come and see what our community is all about or the link will be deleted!

And since no birthday party would be complete without gifts, one creative collaboration duo will just have to make space on their bookshelves for the beautiful Creativity Packages graciously donated by Compendium Live Inspired and a copy of A Writer's Book of Days. We'll randomly draw a winning duo Monday, July 2.

*****

Sunday Morning {Ani DiFranco}
Words by Anna
Pictures by Hyacynth
{Yay! Our collaboration came together after technical difficulties!}

Sunday morning was once a time to catch up on all the things a week night wouldn't allow. House projects that needed extended time to complete, errands to run, coffee purchased on the go just to keep rushing in an effort to be productive. Just another day to pound through. What was this rest that others spoke of? And who had time for it?

But time changes all things and sometimes you get given gifts from the universe to remind you that there are more important things than what tasks one gets done in one day.

Where there was once house projects that needed completion at all costs there are now blocks to stack and puppets to make dance and sing. Coffee runs have given way to tiny fingers stained with wild berry juice, and a stain around a tiny cupid bow shaped mouth to match. Errands have bowed to swim pants, baby pools and books that invariably get forgotten as I get lost in watching my daughter splash while her father laughs. Providing a life for her making way for living life with her in her moments.

My little gift from a never ending universe. Redefining Sunday mornings, just as she has redefined the rest of my world.


Winner of the creativity package and books must be 18 years or older and live in the U.S. or Canada. 

Living Healthfully: Undercover Cookies

Tomorrow we're celebrating Bigger Picture Blogs SECOND birthday by engaging in two things we do best -- creativity and community.

But what's a party without goodies?

In celebration of our big day tomorrow, we thought it necessary to share our favorite uniquely flavored birthday treats as well as a little peak at the Creative Inspiration packages graciously given by Compendium Inc. Live Inspired for two members of our community who link up a special Bigger Picture Moment* here at the party tomorrow.

A delicious gift for a writer, isn't it?

Speaking of delicious, I'm sharing the recipe for my healthy Undercover {Breakfast} Cookies. We call them cookies, but, says hubby, they don't live up to their name if you're expecting crunch. This cookie is softer, like oatmeal, but holds up well after setting in the fridge.

And, of course, it's sweetened with Stevia, so those of us with inner body ecologies who need to steer clear of sugar can still enjoy a treat. Though my youngest picky eater, who indulges in fruit-sugar all the live-long day, loves these cookies and prefers them to even brownies.

Undercover {Breakfast} Cookies

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups of water
1 cup of quinoa flakes
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon of maca root powder {optional}
1 tablespoon of ground flax seed
1/4 cup of dried unsweetened coconut flakes
2 tablespoons of coconut oil
15 drops of liquid stevia
1/2 cup of dried unsweetened cranberries {optional because of the sugar content}


Directions:
Combine quinoa flakes, cinnamon, spice, maca root and ground flax in a bowl and mix together. 


In a pan atop of medium flames, boil water; add the dry mix, stirring continually until the mixture thickens (about 90 seconds). 


Add coconut oil, Stevia and coconut flakes. Stir well. Add cranberries. Mix well. 
Scoop large balls into a glass container, dividing the thick mixture evenly. Refrigerate until thoroughly cooled and well-formed. 


Link up YOUR favorite treat recipe -- old or new -- with This Heavenly Life today to help us celebrate!

*If you didn't sign up to be part of a Creative Duo and receive a prompt, no worries. You can still participate! We're creating to our second birthday musical mix, and the random card prompt is "For Me This is Heaven" by Jimmy Eat World. 

Bigger Picture Blogs: Let's Party like We're Turning TWO!

I can't help but to wonder where our baby's gone.

And how so much time has passed that our baby isn't actually a baby anymore.

Though I can hardly believe it, it's been two years since we birthed the Bigger Picture Blogs community.

Two years.

I kind of stare incredulously and wonder not only at how that little seed of an idea was sown and grown and birthed

but also at how its matured, developed its own personality and beauty beyond what I ever expected.

Where there was newness, softness around the edges, there are more defined features, stretched limbs and new thoughts and focus. 

We've grown so much this year. And growth requires a laying down of rocks, a celebration of sorts marking our time in becoming, in growing and living well spent.

Birthday celebrations are essential because they not only give us the chance to reflect on where we've been but also on who we've become. 


And, well, we've become something pretty spectacular; we are a commited community of writers who strengthen each other, polish each other and encourage each other to live intentionally by recognizing the bigger picture through the simple everyday moments. 


So will you celebrate who we've become as a community as we turn TWO?!


Consider this your official invitation: 

In celebration of our SECOND birthday we are hosting a very special Bigger Picture Moments that will stretch our creativity and connect our community!

We will be randomly pairing two community members to create a post for our special birthday celebration link up on Thursday, June 28 here at Undercover Mother; our creative collaborations will meet here to share their work by linking with the birthday linky and then mingle around and see other's collaborations. SIGN UP HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN A COLLABORATION!

Each creative collaboration duo will be given a prompt and work together to create a piece with one visual. 

Like any good party, there will certainly be gifts, too. We have a few lovely, creativity inspiring giveaways in store for a few of the party attendees who link up their collaborations!

And what would a party be with out some treats? Join us Wednesday, June 27 at Sarah's -- the day before our big birthday bash -- to feast on ideas for some delicious treats to bring to the celebration.

We'll each post our favorite cake/dessert recipes, baked with our own unique flavor, and link up our treats so we can share some sweetness with each other. 

Those who link up a sweet treat recipe will also be entered into our birthday gift giveaway. And feel free to be as creative as you so desire with your recipe, heavily flavoring it with sprinkles of your life or who you are or what you love. 

We are so looking forward to celebrating Bigger Picture Blogs SECOND birthday by pairing up TWO things that are at the heart of BPB: creativity and community. 

Let's party, friends!