There were 7 entries in the contest, and the random number generator picked number 6.

This means Kirsten is our lucky winner!

Congratulations Kirsten!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Be sure to read to the end because Joni is offering a great giveaway for one lucky Sparrow reader.

I really love helping people, and over the past several years I started learning about different holistic modalities for healing.  When I discovered doTERRA essential oils, it was the perfect fit for me.  By sharing the benefits of doTERRA’s pure, therapeutic quality oils I get to help others improve their physical and emotional wellbeing, and I have my oils paid for with a little extra income on the side.  My favorite part about being involved in doTERRA is teaching and doing presentations. It’s the best feeling ever to share the power of the oils with someone and then hear back from them about the amazing healing experiences they have had. I have the best job ever!

As much as I love my job sharing health and wellness, my most important job is that of wife, mother and grandma.  As much as I love my grandbabies, it’s still hard sometimes for me to admit that I’m a grandma. I still feel like I’m in my 20′s!  Looking in the mirror brings me back to reality though.  My family means everything to me, and we are blessed to have all our children live within just a few miles of us, so we are able to spend a lot of quality time together. 

I would love to help you learn how to take care of your health more naturally with the power of essential oils, so feel free to contact me anytime through my Website, Facebook or Twitter. 

Joni is offering on lucky Sparrow reader an Introduction to Essential Oils kit. All you need to do is “like” her Facebook page and leave a comment here sharing why you would like to learn more about essential oils. Comments will close Sunday April 15 at midnight and the winner will be announced here on Monday morning. Good luck!

Our lucky winner is Angie R.!!

Congratulations Angie! I love that your favorite creative outlet is making cards for others, and that focusing on the receiver is what makes it so enjoyable for you. What a wonderful lesson!

Thanks to everyone who enter the giveaway. If you didn’t win I highly recommend checking out A Free Spirit Life. On Shannon’s blog there is a place to sign up for her newsletter to keep you updated on all the details of the next session of Inside Out in September. If you decide to sign up you will not regret it!

Shannon Kinney-Duh is a mother, artist, yoga teacher and holistic life mentor. She created A Free Spirit Life as a place of inspiration, celebration and wellness. She writes about creativity, mothering, and living an authentic life. And she offers e-courses world-wide like Inside Out: A Creative Adventure of Self-Discovery and Mothering with heART.

The 7th session of Inside Out starts September 10th.

Here is what Shannon says about her incredible e-course.

The more I learn and grow, the more I want to share with others. So for me, Inside Out is the culmination of my life’s searching, reflecting, exploring and discovering. I’ve combined my love and appreciation for the creative process, art, writing, journaling, yoga and meditation into this e-course as tools for self-awakening. I know from experience that only so much can change when we start externally. The real change, the deep change, the ever-lasting change–the kind that breaks cycles, thought patterns and self-sabotaging behaviors–happens when we start from the INSIDE and work OUT.

I (Kelly) can personally attest to the power of Inside Out. It is an amazing journey in self discovery and creativity. I have taken the course two times and it has changed my life. Seriously. Working with Shannon, her incredible coursework, and connecting with amazing like-minded women in the online community that accompanies the course opened my heart and helped awaken my truest self. Inside Out helped me to see myself as a creative woman and helped me to not only see my potential but to wholeheartedly go after it and create a life I love. Here’s what others have had to say about Inside Out. 

Shannon is generously offering a spot in her upcoming Inside Out e-course to one Sparrow Reader!

Leave a comment telling us your favorite way to be creative. We will randomly select one lucky winner of a Free spot in the next session of Inside Out.

Comments will close Sunday April 9th at Midnight EST. We will announce the lucky winner here on the blog and on our Facebook page.

In her amazing article “A Mother, a Boy, and Running to Feel Still” Kristina Pinto explores how she connects with her son through running. Kristina clearly illustrates that mothers hole an incredible ability to deeply understand their children and what is best for them. This is so important when we live in a time when labels are quickly assigned and quick fixes are hastily prescribed.

The second article we’re featuring this week is Suzanne Carver’s “Taking Chocolate Milk Away from Children (and Other Things I do for Fun)”. Suzanne shares her dedication not only to her daughters’ health and nutrition, but her willingness to stand up for the health and nutrition of an entire school full of children. Suzanne is an amazing example of the kind of mothers we need blazing the way for our children to grow up strong. Suzanne is also going to be published on Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Blog for her amazing work. Isn’t that just the coolest!

Enjoy these articles and this week take some extra time to look your children in the eye and spend time connecting with them, with their young creative minds acting as your guide.

Hi! I’m Kate and I’m the owner of Kate Crabtree Photography, located in Bangor Maine. I’m primarily a Maine wedding photographer, but I also shoot senior portraits and some fashion/beauty.

As we all strive to live our lives to the fullest, we are creating our own story. We all have different motives and different passions. Because of this, each wedding and portrait session I shoot is completely unique. I make sure it’s all about you and what you love.

Sparrow readers who book a session before April 18th, 2012 will receive a $50 dollar print credit, and readers who book a wedding will receive a $100 print credit. Please contact me through my website at Kate Crabtree Photography. Looking forward to hearing from you!

You can also connect with Kate via her website Kate Crabtree Photography and also on her Facebook page.

Today is such a special day. A day of equal day and night. A day that marks the beginning of the year to many who follow the earth’s nautural cycles. A day that marks new beginnings, full of hope and possibility.

For this week’s article pairing we featuring two articles that focus on Spring Cleaning your eating. Spring is a wonderful time to start to reconnect with your body through what you eat.

In her article “Cleansing Foods for Spring” Lauren Norster introduces some recipes that will help refresh your body from the inside out.

Then, read Heather Webb’s article about “Embracing the Clean Food Challenge; One mama recenters herself with clean eating”. Heather shares her own journey cleaning up her eating and how it had a profound effect on so much more than her diet.

If you are interested in learning more about the Clean Food Challenge, which was created by our editor Emilie, head over to her blog. She just completed the Challenge with several others and she shares some advice and tips. Also, if you are interested in trying the Clean Food Challenge for the first time, or doing it again, I will be doing the CFC over on my site April 1 – 7. I’d love to have you eat clean with me!

Today we are featuring Mary Holt Wilson’s article “Sharp Turns: Endurance Coach and Athlete Reflects on Her Surprising Life Path” and Emilie Manhart’s article “‘Yes, Hal. Anything you Say, Hal.’ Why I am an obedient slave to training plans”.

The weather was amazing over the weekend in much of the U.S. (or at least that’s the impression I have from all the Facebook updates). With the warm air and the sun shining later into the day now, my legs were itching for a good run. This week we are featuring two articles that will help motivate you to get moving, and make a plan for fitness.

First, the incredible Mary Holt Wilson tells her inspiring story in “Sharp Turns: Endurance Coach and Athlete Reflects on Her Surprising Life Path”. After reading her article I felt a huge push to make the most of my life, and not just physically, but in every way.

Next we’ve got Sparrow Editor Emilie Manhart’s article “‘Yes, Hal. Anything you Say, Hal.’ Why I am an obedient slave to training plans”. This article has me seriously yearning for a training plan on my fridge. Emilie will inspire you to create some consistency and accountability in your quest for a healthy body.

Now, go get moving!

And now, the winner to one free spot in Erin Goodman’s class is Cat!

Congratulations Cat! Please email me (kelly [at] sparrowmagazine [dot] com) so that I can get you the information from Erin to get you all registered in the class.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Erin Goodman describes herself as the following: Multi-media artist. Interfaith Minister. Yoga Teacher. Wife. And Mama.

I have had the honor of getting to know Erin, first through her profoundly honest and moving blog, continuing with her insightful interviews on her new podcast,  and now as a colleague. Last month I experienced Erin’s first online program, both as a participant and contributor.

The easiest way for me to describe Erin’s work is simple wisdom that will move you deeply and ease you into a place of meaningful everyday connection with what you most love. Wordy? Yes. Not such a simple description? Maybe not. True? Every word.

Erin has a new online program called Planting the Seeds, and online funshop starting on Monday March 12. I’m looking forward to participating and learning from her again. Here is how Erin describes the program:

Remember back in the day when you cut words and photos out of your favorite magazines and posted collages of “stuff you like” around your room (or in your locker)? Wasn’t that fun?

In this online, funshop yoga teacher, interfaith minister, mama and RI Birth Network Founder, Erin Goodman, invites you to pull out your scissors, glue sticks (and whatever else inspires you) and get back in touch with that creative place. This three-week program, which is offered in a flexible, self-paced format so you can experience it as you go about your daily life, will help you to gain clarity, get inspired and start moving forward towards living the life of YOUR dreams!

You can get more information about the Planting the Seeds funshop here.

Erin is generously offering one Sparrow reader a Free spot in her course!

Just leave a comment on this post sharing the ‘seeds’ you are hoping to plant this Spring. Comments close Friday at midnight and we will randomly select one lucky winner. The winner will be announced here on the blog Saturday morning.