If you’re a mom who has thought about doing mixed media art or art journaling, today’s episode is sure to inspire and encourage you. I spoke with Iris Fritschi-Cussens, mixed media artist and mom of two who lives in London with her family. 
We had a wonderful conversation about how she got started with mixed media, what it means to her, and how she finds time for art while also being the mother of two young boys and working with her husband in their event filming business. 
Highlights of Our Conversation

How Iris finds joy in her art
What art has taught her about life
How we art can help us deal with the tough stuff
The meaning of creativity
Finding time for creativity
How we can help our children to be creative
What Iris does when she makes a “mistake”
Why she prefers to paint rather than crochet
How to get started with art journaling
Why America is a great place to do art
How we can all be a little bit happier
Iris’s courses, including her awesome free Inspiration Guide

Links and Books Mentioned
www.iris-impressions.com
NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson (Amazon affiliate link)
www.happinessmama.com
Spread the Word
If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too, visit iTunes and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you!
If you need any help with that, visit www.happinessmama.com/itunes-review.
Thank you for listening! 

Mixed Media Art with Iris Fritschi-Cussens, Episode 1

The Happiness Mama Podcast is about mindful mamas consciously creating our happiest lives. My goal is to inspire, encourage, and help other mothers take practical steps to create the lives they want to live. All mamas deserve happiness! You can go from striving to thriving!

Alternative Health

Health

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

PMS can be rough. Listen as Heather shares two key steps to feel better when PMS has you down, and learn 20 self-care strategies so you can take good care of yourself in times of stress or anxiety. Heather also shares how these challenging times can also be a gift to us, yielding unexpected benefits. You may have PMS, but there are things you can do to feel better. Highlights:    Two key steps to managing PMS How to accept your feelings rather than pushing them down 20 strategies for ramping up your self-care Surprising benefits of PMS   Happy birthday, Happiness Mama Podcast #2PodsaDay campaign: listen more, listen indie.    Links and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:  2 Pods A Day Campaign Oracle cards I love  Kindle Unlimited Shade of Vampire Outlander Essential oils  Progessence Plus  Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too,  visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast:   Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher   

PMS: Strategies for Feeling Better, Episode 23

Summer is coming to an end, and it’s time for the kids to go back to school. Back-to-school time is a great time for intentional change and ritual in our own personal lives as women. Highlights:  8 Ways to Celebrate Back-to-School for Moms! Happiness Mama is an official nominee for the 2017 Podcast Awards! Listen all the way to the end to hear a message from a very special guest!  Books and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:  Shownotes: happinessmama.com/22  Ningxia Red TUL Pens Mom Retreat Ebates Back to School Clothes for Mom  Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too,  visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast:   Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher  Thank you so much for listening!  And remember, You Are Loved! 

Back to School For Moms, Episode 22

Welcome to Season 3 of the Happiness Mama Podcast with Heather Ash! Season 3 is all about Self-Love... Loving ourselves, body, mind, and spirit. This episode is about loving our body. I talk about how I lost 17 pounds in less than 7 months and got stronger and fitter in an easy, very doable, fun way! Listen and learn tips and strategies for creating your own new healthy habits. Enjoy! Highlights:  My weight journey Pregnancy weight gain Postpartum priorities How I’d rather not be motivated to lose weight and get in shape The foundational mindset for losing weight and getting in shape (or making any other changes in your life) The biggest factor in my weight loss success The second biggest factor in my weight loss success Dealing with imperfection Imperfect dieting and exercise The slow carb diet by Tim Ferriss The key to losing weight Real weight training results Surprising results after climbing a mountain How to make your habits stick Surprising nerd results: What the charts revealed... Creating a self-love mindset: Body Love Affirmations Show your love by becoming a Happiness Mama Patron! And get mentioned on the show…  Books and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:  The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss Body Love Affirmations: Free access at happinessmama.com/affirmations Shownotes: www.happinessmama.com/21  Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too,  visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast:   Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher  Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you love yourself more, body, mind, and spirit. Love to you!  

Body Love: How I Lost 17 Pounds, Episode 21

Heather shares how a stressful time in her life prompted her to start silent meditation. She shares what it was like meditating in her earlier days and how the experience of meditation has changed and stayed the same.  She shares some of the benefits of meditation, as well as simple instructions for how to get started with meditation.  Highlights:  How a panic attack prompted me to start meditating What it was like then, and what it is like now Gratitude as a benefit of meditation Benefits of meditation, including managing stress and anxiety How to start a meditation practice Shamatha and Vipassana meditation: What are they? A simple guide to how to meditate  Books and Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Shownotes: www.happinessmama.com/20  Blog Post: What I’m Doing For More Peace and Energy 10% Happier by Dan Harris Quiet Mind, edited by Susan Piver    Spread the Word: If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too,  visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. Thank you! How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast:   Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher  Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it’s essential.

Meditation: My Story and How to Get Started, Episode 20

Highlights:    How I got into bullet journaling #bujo Thank you, Elsie! Before bullet journal #bebujo What makes a bullet journal different Why the index is such a game changer How The Happiness Project inspired my habit tracker chart Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues chart My search for a doable charting system My advice for how to use your bullet journal How I use my bullet journal The Five Minute Journal questions Keeping it free… How I do my Habit Tracker Chart My new habit My new month routine What’s so great about the actual journals Heather says Leuchtturm about 6 times…http://amzn.to/2m010rZ Jar of Awesome It’s your thing. Do what you wanna do. Daddy! The bullet journal is like the pocket journal. What you track, grows. Benefits of bullet journaling How to get started bullet journaling How I draw my habit chart Podfest My listener Laura and I met on a plane! Shout outs to fellow podcasters: Steph and Val at  Wine to Five, Sarah at  Simple Change, Honor Knight of the  Soiled Restroom Cinema Podcast, Copper Yuenger of  Life Under the Laundry Pile, Amanda Doughty of The  Great Beer Adventure, Brian Musial of  Health Geeks Radio, Ryan Gray of the  PreMed Years, Jeff Sanders of the  5 AM Miracle, Jessica Kupferman and Elsie Escobar of  She Podcasts, Deb Williams of  Financial Karma, Katie Krimitsos of  Biz Women Rock, Jessica Rhodes of Interview Connections, and Tina Dietz of  The Start Something Show    Books and Resources Mentioned In This Episode:    Shownotes: www.happinessmama.com/19 The journal I use is here www.bulletjournal.com  The Productive Woman Podcast The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Ovusoft Oracle cards Tim Ferriss’s podcast: http://tim.blog/podcast/ The Five Minute Journal    Quotes   “Daily journaling helps me stay sane and happy.”   “You do deserve happiness, and you can live the life you desire, in total alignment with your values, dreams, and goals.”   Spread the Word:   If you enjoyed the podcast and want to help other mamas be happier, too,  visit iTunes or Stitcher and kindly leave me a rating, review, and subscribe. More ratings and reviews lead to more eyes and ears seeing and hearing the podcast. Thank you!   How to Subscribe to the Happiness Mama Podcast:     Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher    Stay in Touch:   Never miss an episode!  Thank you so much for listening! I hope this podcast helps you be a little bit happier, and remember, self-care is not selfish, it’s essential.

Mixed Media Art with Iris Fritschi-Cussens, Episode 1

Download our free app to listen on your phone