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Jolt of Joy

Joyblz! Sprinkle Kindness like Confetti with Sprinklz

Sprinkle Kindness like Confetti with Sprinklz

By Jolt of Joy

Welcome to our “Jolt of Joy” newsletter. Last week, Cracklz shared how to crack open Christmas crackers!  We hope you enJOYed either making your own or popping some open for New Year’s! Starting in 2021, our newsletter will be published once a month instead of weekly. Sprinklz is being featured for January as a reminder to be kind to yourself and others. So, let’s sprinkle kindness like confetti with Sprinklz!

My favorite mug has the saying “Sprinkle kindness like confetti.”  I use it every day because sprinkling kindness is something I’ve tried to do since I was a young girl. It’s a way of life I learned from my beloved parents. This motto is incredibly important because it’s amazing to see how much the smallest act of kindness can make a huge impact in someone’s life. Kindness is also contagious, so the more kindness you show, the more it will spread. Do not hold back; a simple act of kindness can create a ripple effect!

And how joy-full is confetti – it’s bright, fun and makes people happy. I believe that we all should be sprinkling kindness everywhere and to everyone. I created the word “kindness” from scrabble pieces this weekend, as shown in the photo above. Continue reading to meet Sprinklz, explore ways to spread kindness, and watch some fun videos to inspire you…

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Savor the Season with Chestnutlz

Savor the Season with Chestnutlz

By Jolt of Joy

Welcome to our “Jolt of Joy” newsletter.  Last week, Gingerbreadlz shared some delicious Christmas cookie recipes and a life-size gingerbread house tour. We hope you enJOYed some holiday cookies, whether you baked them yourself or not. This week, Chesnutlz is being featured in memory of my favorite seasonal treat, Italian chestnuts. So, let’s savor the season with Chestnutlz!

You’ve probably heard or sung the opening line of “The Christmas Song”: “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.” But there’s a good chance you’ve never cooked a chestnut in an oven, let alone on an open fire. It’s during this time of year that chestnuts are at their peak and they make a great addition — particularly a great ending — to any meal. Chestnuts were a part of every Thanksgiving and Christmas during my childhood. The sweet, nutty aroma of roasting chestnuts brings back so many happy memories and time spent with family.

My grandpa would buy many big bags of castagne (Italian for chestnuts) since he knew they were my Dad’s and my favorite. Then he would cut crosses on the sides and roast them in the oven. After a huge day of eating a three-course meal, we would have chestnuts with tangerines, pomegranates, assorted nuts, Amaretto, and Italian pastries for the fourth course.

I just roasted some chestnuts yesterday and they were so sweet, buttery, toasty, and nutty. I drew Chestnutlz to honor our family tradition. Continue reading to learn about my best tips for roasting chestnuts, other ways to use them, and to view photos of my sweet treat…

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Joyblz! Be Merry and Bright with Lightlz

Be Merry and Bright with Lightlz

By Jolt of Joy

Welcome to our “Jolt of Joy” newsletter. Last week, Boodlz shared ways to practice meditation. We hope that you took some time to meditate. The holiday Joyblz! are now in the spotlight until the end of December. I created these Joyblz! to honor memories and traditions from the holidays since I was a child. This week Lightlz is featured and reminds me of the magic and JOY of holiday lights. So, for a little extra sparkle, let’s be merry and bright with Lightlz!

One of the first things I remember most when it comes to the holiday season is lights. For me, it’s very nostalgic and connects me to my childhood. Some of my fondest memories are driving through neighborhoods to see the festive lights, going to view beautiful light displays at different venues, and watching my Dad precisely hang the colorful lights on our Christmas tree. I have a special place in my heart for those old-fashioned over-sized Christmas bulb strands with individual screw-in sockets. It was this memory that inspired me to create Lightlz and Li’l Lightlz, shown above.

Continue reading to view a spectacular light show, learn more about my memories and share some of yours…

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Joyblz! Jolt of Joy - Practice Meditation with Boodlz

Practice Meditation with Boodlz

By Jolt of Joy

Welcome to our “Jolt of Joy” newsletter. Last week, Boodlz shared ways to cultivate gratitude. We hope that you took some time to be grateful. This is Boodlz’ last week in the spotlight and, for the next month, we’ll surprise you with different holiday Joyblz!. This week, we are going to explore how you can become more aware and focused using mindfulness meditation. So, take a seat and let’s practice meditation with Boodlz!

I had never tried “formally” meditating until this year. When I first started, it was difficult to sit even for just a few minutes. However, it became easier the more I practiced each day. People often think there are many rules around how to meditate properly, but meditation is meant to be flexible and personalized.

I’ve found even doodling my characters, singing in the shower, and swimming to be meditative. I had fun drawing the above image after thinking about how meditation affects me. Continue reading to learn more and watch an animation with two adorable, meditating mice…

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Joyblz! Cultivate Gratitude with Boodlz

Cultivate Gratitude with Boodlz

By Jolt of Joy

Welcome to our “Jolt of Joy” newsletter. Last week, Boodlz shared ways to mindfully explore nature’s beauty. We hope that you took some time to enJOY nature. As Thanksgiving is approaching, it seems fitting to examine the power of expressing gratitude in our daily lives. This week we are going to discover ways to be more grateful. So, let’s explore how to cultivate gratitude with Boodlz!

My grandmother always had a warm smile and a focus on what is truly important in this life. Ever since I was a young child, I remember her saying, “Lick your fingers!” Taken literally, it’s probably not the best advice for these pandemic times! However, she was referring to savoring every moment, being grateful, and teaching me to appreciate what I have.

This attitude of gratitude practice is something that I have been following my entire life. I was inspired to create a colorful drawing, shown above, highlighting some of the things for which I am grateful. Continue reading to learn some tips for practicing gratitude and to watch an uplifting short video about being thankful for the gift of this day…

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Explore Nature’s Beauty with Boodlz - Joyblz Artichoke Flower

Explore Nature’s Beauty with Boodlz

By Jolt of Joy

Welcome to our “Jolt of Joy’ newsletter. Last week, you met Boodlz and she shared ways to enJOY this moment. We hope that you did some fun activities to be more present. This week, in addition to announcing the winner of the Joyblz! coloring contest, we are going to use mindfulness techniques to connect with nature. So, let’s explore nature’s beauty with Boodlz!

I got a head start and walked around my neighborhood, bringing my awareness to the many sights, sounds, and smells. Spending time outside in nature was very peaceful and relaxing. I was in awe of the spiny, neon violet looking puffball, pictured above, that caught my eye. When I gazed down, it looked like a brand-new Koosh ball or some type of sea anemone. I couldn’t resist running my hands across it. Would you like to know what this is, view the winning entry, and explore mindful ways to enJOY nature?

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Jump Start Your Creativity with Artistlz - 30 Circle Challenge

Jump-Start your Creativity with Artistlz

By Jolt of Joy

Welcome to the seventh “Jolt of Joy” newsletter. Last week, Artistlz suggested ways to tap into your inner child. We hope that you were inspired and took some time to play! This week, we want to help ignite your creativity by doing some fun warm-up activities from bilateral drawing to doodling. So, get ready to jump-start your creativity with Artistlz!

I believe that creativity and the ability to innovate are like muscles — the more we use them, the stronger they get. By doing some creative warm-up activities first, we can open our minds, stretch our imaginations, defer judgments, and inspire innovation.

One way to get warmed up is to do the 30 Circles Challenge. The above image shows what ideas I came up with while doing the challenge. Continue reading to learn more about this activity, download your own 30 Circles template, and try it for yourself …

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