Hi! I’m Becky, a former shop owner & independent artist, currently trying to reclaim my creativity. I love sharing small businesses, chatting about crafts and rambling about books.

Come hangout in this not-so-serious, cat-photo-filled, creative space!

Dopamine Menu for Crafty People

***Apologies for the audio quality! I explain it in the beginning and I’m so sorry!***

Today, I’m leaning into a very silly idea.

My therapist suggested I make a “dopamine menu” for myself a while back. Just a list of little things that lift my spirits and bring me joy.

So, I decided to adapt that idea into a restaurant-style menu of different types of crafts and projects I can pull from when I need something to make.

Join me to learn what kinds of crafts I add to my menu. I’ve got appetizers, entrees, salads, specials and desserts! It’s very dorky and I’m into it.

♡ Becky

Thanks for reading and listening to My Artist Friend with Becky Helms! This post is public so please feel free share it!

This week, I’m excited to share how we do our Advent calendar each year. I painted this tree for Emmit’s first Christmas and we’ve used it every year since. I fill each box with a Christmas chocolate and small piece of paper with an activity on it.

Sometimes the activities are things we’re planning to go out and do. Sometimes they’re small ways to celebrate the season without much fuss. Here are some ideas for things you can add to your Advent calendar!

You can also watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts!

My Artist Friend with Becky Helms is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Activities

* Local Events - Anything date specific goes on the calendar and into the Advent tree

* Cocoa Crawls

* Tree Lightings

* Musical productions

* Parades

* Trivia Nights

* Trail of Lights

* Craft Shows & Holiday Markets - Get them on the calendar

* Blue Genie Art Bizarre in Austin (Running till Christmas Eve as always)

* Christkindl Markt in Grand Rapids (November 19th - December 23rd)

* Detroit Urban Craft Fair (December 6th and 7th at the Masonic Temple in Detroit)

* Family, Friends or Workplace Parties - If they’re part of your holiday season, add them to the Advent!

* Go Ice Skating - I prefer to watch from a distance with hot chocolate lol

* Buy a Special Ornament - We like to pick out a new ornament for each year, though I usually end up getting a few 😬

* Small Business Crawl - Visit your favorite small businesses all in one day! Maybe even eat at locally owned restaurants while you’re out. Bring some friends and support independent shops.

Movies & TV Shows

* The Muppet Christmas Carol

* How the Grinch Stole Christmas

* Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

* Frosty the Snowman

* Care Bears Nutcracker Suite

* White Christmas

* Home Alone

* Elf

* A Chipmunk Christmas (does anyone else remember this?)

* Christmas episodes of your favorite TV Shows (Like The Office, listed below)

* Season 2, Episode 10 - “Christmas Party”

* Season 3, Episode 10 & 11 - “A Benihana Christmas: Part 1 & 2”

* Season 5, Episode 11 - “Moroccan Christmas”

* Season 6, Episode 13 - “Secret Santa”

* Season 7, Episode 11 & 12 - “Classy Christmas: Part 1 & 2”

* Season 8, Episode 10 - “Christmas Wishes”

* Season 9, Episode 9 - “Dwight Christmas”

Food

* Make a hot chocolate bar (or just make hot chocolate together)

* Make Chex Mix together

* Cookie marathon day - sugar cookies with decorations, chocolate chip, etc

* Host a cookie swap

* Make a gingerbread house (or use graham crackers for an easier treat)

* Bake a yule log and decorate it together

* I always make my Great Aunt Becky’s toffee and send it to folks

Traditions

* Make paper snowflakes

* Play Candy Cane Hide & Seek

* Make a memory chain

* Make ornaments together

* Make your own Christmas cards

* Jolabokoflod - gift books on Christmas Eve!

When I’m putting my calendar together, I try to space things out and think about when we might need a break from the more involved things.

It must be said that we don’t always make good on every single activity every single day. Sometimes life happens. Sometimes we’re just not in the mood. We hold it loosely, but I like to use it as a framework for our holidays so we’re sure to do all the fun things we love each year!

♡ Becky

Thanks for reading and listening to My Artist Friend with Becky Helms! This post is public so please feel free share it!