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BOOKS & GUIDED JOURNALS

40 unique illustrations featuring animals, flowers, and natural scenery.Single-sided coloring designs with blank backs.Large 8.5 × 11-inch pages with comfortable margins.A mix of open coloring spaces and finer details to explore.A welcoming dedication and simple coloring tips to get you started.Enjoy a quiet afternoon, reconnect with your creativity, or share the book with someone who loves animals and the outdoors.Colored pencils, crayons, and markers are welcome. When using markers, place a protective sheet underneath your page to help protect the next design.Let nature inspire you—and let your colors bring the joy.

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Juniper Fox and the Day That Went SPLAT! is a playful read-and-color adventure about navigating big feelings, making room for unexpected moments, and discovering that a day doesn’t have to be perfect to hold a little joy.Written by Wendy Shugar, this NatureHeals® Little Adventure invites children to enjoy the story and bring Juniper’s woodland world to life with their own colors.Inside, young readers can:• Follow Juniper through a lively woodland adventure.
• Explore feelings that come with disappointment and changing plans.
• Add their own creativity to the coloring illustrations.
• Share conversations about what to do when their own day goes “SPLAT!”Enjoy it together during story time, bring it along for a creative afternoon, or give it to a child who loves animals, stories, and coloring.Read the story. Color the adventure. Make it your own!

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*as the author I still need to state... "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases." LOL"

NATUREHEALS® JOURNAL

Reflections, practices, and stories to help you slow down, reconnect with yourself, and move forward with greater clarity and purpose.

When your mind won’t stop, let your senses lead

Coming home after time away can feel surprisingly noisy.
The bags need unpacking. Laundry begins to pile up...

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Miles, Memories & the Wild Places Between

There are trips you take to see places.
And then there are trips that somehow become part of your story.
Our recent trip was one of the latter...

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WHAT NATURE TEACHES US ABOUT BEGINNING AGAINNature rarely rushes, yet it is always becoming. A gentle reflection on releasing pressure and trusting your own pace.

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Light Within the Season

“Even in the longest night, your light is not lost it’s simply gathering strength for dawn.” Wendy Shugar There’s a quiet beauty during this time of....

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Winter Wellness Begins

Winter has a way of inviting us inward softly, like a gentle tap on the heart. Reality is it seems like the world gets louder...

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Let’s Talk Grounding

Alright, friends, let’s get real for a minute. You’ve heard of grounding, right? No, not the kind you give to kids who sneak cookies before...

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Coming home after time away can feel surprisingly noisy.The bags need unpacking. Laundry begins to pile up. Messages are waiting. Plans, appointments, and responsibilities quickly return. And of course picture POSTINGS!!! Your body may be standing in your own kitchen, but your mind is already three days ahead (or still on vacation if your me) sorting, remembering, planning, and trying to catch up. This is the time you need to remember to stay in the NOW…After days of travel, changing scenery, and being surrounded by nature, returning to ordinary life can make that mental noise feel even louder.When this happens, our first instinct is often to think harder. We make another list, replay another conversation, or try to solve every unfinished problem at once.
But an active mind does not always need another answer.
Sometimes it needs somewhere safe to land.Your senses can help you return to the moment you are actually living (being present and in the NOW) not the one you are anticipating, regretting, or mentally rehearsing.
Step outside if you can. You do not need a forest, mountaintop, or perfect view. A backyard, porch, open window, neighborhood tree, or patch of sky is enough.Begin by noticing one thing you can see.Do not simply label it “tree” or “cloud.” Look a little longer. Notice the shape, color, shadow, movement, or texture. Let your eyes stay with it without needing to explain it.Next, notice one thing you can hear.
It might be a bird, wind moving through leaves, distant traffic, a dog barking, or the quiet hum of your surroundings. Listen without deciding whether the sound is pleasant or annoying. Let it simply be present.Then notice one physical sensation.
Feel your feet against the ground. Notice the temperature of the air on your skin. Feel the chair supporting you or the movement of your breath through your body.You are not trying to force yourself to relax. You are giving your attention something real and immediate to hold.This simple shift matters because the senses live in the present. They cannot see tomorrow’s schedule or hear yesterday’s conversation. They can only receive what is happening now.Your thoughts may continue and that is okay. The goal is not to empty your mind. The goal is to remember that you are more than the thoughts moving through it.
When your mind begins racing again, gently return to what you can see, hear, and feel.You may need to do this more than once. You may need to do it many times.Nature never asks us to arrive perfectly calm. It simply offers us a place to return.Before moving on with your day, ask yourself:What needs my attention right now and what can wait?Let the answer be smaller than your entire life.Perhaps the next step is unpacking one bag, drinking a glass of water, answering one message, or resting for ten minutes before doing anything else.When your mind will not stop, you do not have to follow every thought.
Let your senses lead you home.
— Wendy ShugarNatureHeals® with Wendy
Want to experience this with gentle guidance? Join me for the free NatureHeals® Reset on October 17, 2026—a live, 40-minute online experience designed to help you pause, breathe, and feel more grounded.Join me for a free NatureHeals® reset on Saturday, October 17, from 9:30–10 AM Pacific on Zoom. Visit my website and tap the October 17 free session button to register.

• Join me for a free NatureHeals® reset on Saturday, October 17, from 9:30–10 AM Pacific on Zoom

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Miles, Memories & the Wild Places BetweenA Karendy Adventure and the continued reminder that NatureHeals®There are trips you take to see places.And then there are trips that somehow become part of your story.Our recent trip was one of the latter.We loaded up the van, brought Sedona along for the adventure, carried our e-bikes on the back, and headed out without needing every moment to be perfect.And believe me, every moment was not perfect.There were weather changes (and flood surprises), plans that changed (5 stars isn’t always accurate) , roads we questioned (but only avoided 1), brought a bike rack that decided to become its own adventure, places that looked better online than they did when we pulled in, and more than a few moments of, “Okay…now what?”But let me tell you, all of that may be exactly why I loved this trip so much.Because somewhere between Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and back again, I was reminded that the best part of traveling isn’t checking places off a list.It’s being there.Together.Summer Lake — Beginning With a SoakOur adventure began at Summer Lake Hot Springs in Oregon.There is something about beginning a road trip in warm mineral water, surrounded by the wide-open landscape of southeastern Oregon, that immediately tells your nervous system:You can slow down now.No big agenda. No rushing.Just water, sky, quiet and the beginning of an adventure.It was the perfect first reminder of something I teach through NatureHeals® all the time: sometimes we don’t need to figure everything out.Sometimes we simply need to change our surroundings long enough to hear ourselves again.Ancient Stories Written in StoneFrom Summer Lake, we traveled through the high desert along highway 50 (more to come on that) and stopped for the night to see petroglyphs.Standing in front of rock art created by people who walked these lands long before any of us is incredibly humbling - even if I did not understand them!These aren’t simply interesting markings on rocks. They’re reminders that human beings have always had a need to leave something behind to communicate, to create a story just to communicate:I was here.Maybe that’s part of why these places affect me so deeply.Nature has a way of putting our own little timeline into perspective.The mountains were here before us.The rocks will remain after us.And somehow that doesn’t make our lives feel less important.It makes the moments we have feel more precious.Ely, Nevada — High Desert HistoryThen came Ely, surrounded by Nevada’s huge skies and rugged mountain country.
Then
Pioche — A Little Town With a Big PastPioche was another glimpse into Nevada history.I love places like this because they make you curious.Who lived here?What were their lives like?What dreams brought them out into these remote places?Road trips give us time to wonder about things we usually drive right past.Btw, one of the other things this trip reminded me of is not to judge a book by its cover, especially when it comes to people.We met people in little towns and out-of-the-way places who, at first glance, might have seemed completely different from us. But then you start talking. You hear a story, share a laugh, ask a question, or get a little help when you need it, and suddenly all those things we use to separate ourselves from one another don’t seem very important.Travel has a wonderful way of putting people in your path you might never meet at home. If we stay curious instead of making assumptions, sometimes a stranger in a tiny town becomes one of the moments you remember most.There are good people everywhere and sometimes you have to get past the cover to discover the story.And then we crossed into Utah.Bryce Canyon — Our FavoriteAnd then…Bryce Canyon.Oh, Bryce.Of everything we saw on this trip, this was the place that absolutely captured us!The hoodoos rise from the canyon in shapes and colors that almost don’t look real, layers of orange, pink, and cream, and red stretching below us like some enormous natural canvas.Photos simply cannot explain Bryce.You have to stand there.You have to feel the cool air.You have to look across that landscape and realize that wind, water, ice, and time created all of it.Bryce was our favorite.Maybe because it felt otherworldly.Maybe because it was beautiful in a way we were not prepared for.Or maybe because every once in a while, nature gives us a place that makes the chatter in our heads completely stop.Bryce did that for us.Kanab — Red Rocks, Animals & a Little Bit of My PastFrom Bryce we headed toward Kanab, a wonderful little town surrounded by southern Utah’s red-rock country.And nearby was a place we really wanted to experience: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.Best Friends sits within the red-rock canyons outside Kanab and provides sanctuary and care for dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits, pigs, and other animals.For an animal lover, it’s a pretty incredible place.But this area held another memory for me too.Moqui Cave — Then and NowWe stopped at Moqui Cave, and this one was different.Because I had been there before.Way back in the 1980s.There is something strange and wonderful about returning to a place decades later.You are standing in essentially the same place…but you’re not the same person.The woman walking into that place today has lived decades of life the younger version of me couldn’t possibly have imagined.Love.Loss.Motherhood.Change.Heartbreak.Adventure.Starting over.And now I was there again with Karen right beside me.Sometimes travel doesn’t just show us where we’re going.It shows us how far we’ve come.Zion — WOWAnd then there was Zion National Park.There really isn’t a sophisticated way for me to say this.WOW.Those enormous sandstone walls rise around you and suddenly everything else feels very small.Zion doesn’t ask you to pay attention.It commands it.We explored the canyon, looked up at cliffs that seemed impossibly high and simply let ourselves experience it.And one of my favorite parts came on two wheels.We e-biked through Zion with Sedona along for the adventure, all the way up to the Temple of Sinawava.The Temple of Sinawava sits at the end of Zion Canyon, a spectacular natural amphitheater surrounded by towering canyon walls.Riding through that canyon was one of those moments I wanted to bottle.Karen.Me.Sedona.Our bikes.Towering canyon walls.Fresh air.Moving through one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the country under our own power.That’s my kind of day.And Yes…There Was Bumbleberry JamSome memories aren’t about spectacular landscapes.Sometimes in my world anyway…they’re about jam. lolI have loved Bumbleberry jam since I was a kid, so there was absolutely no chance I was getting that close without bringing some home.There’s something wonderful about finding a little piece of childhood tucked into an entirely new adventure.Taste and smell can transport us through time faster than almost anything else.One spoonful and suddenly there are memories attached to it.So yes, the jam came home with us.Some things are non-negotiable.Valley of FireNext came Nevada’s Valley of Fire.The name makes perfect sense when you see the red sandstone glowing in the desert sun.It is bold.Hot. Very hot. So hot, in fact, that we decided to keep moving forward!Rugged.Beautiful.And completely different from Bryce and Zion, even though all three landscapes were shaped by nature over enormous stretches of time.That’s something that struck me throughout this trip.Nature never seems worried about making everything match.A hoodoo doesn’t need to look like a canyon.A desert doesn’t need to look like a forest.A river doesn’t need to apologize for changing direction.Nature simply becomes what it becomes.There might be a lesson there for the rest of us.Reno and the Long Road NorthEventually the trip started pointing us toward home.We traveled through Nevada again and through Reno, watching the desert landscape slowly begin its transformation as we headed north.That’s one of my favorite parts of road travel.You actually watch the world change.Desert becomes high desert.High desert becomes mountain.Dry landscapes become forests.And eventually…Mount Shasta appears.Mount Shasta — Smoke, Water & Coming HomeOur Shasta experience wasn’t quite the crystal-clear mountain scene we always imagine.Smoke from a controlled burn hung in the air and softened the views.But even that felt like part of the story.Nature isn’t a postcard.It’s alive.It changes.It burns.It grows.It heals.And before leaving, we stopped at the headwaters and stocked up on that beautiful mountain water.It felt like the right ending.We started this journey with healing water at Summer Lake.And we ended it gathering water at Mount Shasta.We couldn’t have planned a better full circle trip if we tried.What This Trip Really Gave UsWhen I think back on this adventure, of course I’ll remember Bryce.I’ll remember Zion.I’ll remember the petroglyphs, the animals at Best Friends, the red rocks, the desert highways, the hot springs, Bumbleberry jam, and Sedona coming along for the ride.But those aren’t the most important things I’m bringing home.I’m bringing home time with Karen.Hours sitting beside each other in the van.Figuring things out when plans changed.Laughing.Getting tired.Being amazed.Solving problems.Stopping when something caught our attention.Experiencing places neither of us will ever experience exactly the same way again.And somewhere along all those miles, I feel we grew a little closer.That’s something I think we’ve forgotten in our very busy world.Connection doesn’t always happen while sitting across from someone having a deep conversation.Sometimes connection happens while you’re driving across Nevada.Sometimes it’s holding someone’s hand while staring into a canyon.Sometimes it’s laughing because the day absolutely did not go according to plan.Sometimes it’s riding bicycles together through Zion with your dog in tow.Sometimes love grows in the spaces between destinations.Nature Doesn’t Ask Us to Be ProductiveThis trip reminded me of why I created NatureHeals® in the first place.Nature doesn’t care about our résumé.It doesn’t know how many followers we have.It doesn’t know whether the laundry is done, the inbox is empty or everything on our to-do list has been checked off.It simply invites us to arrive.To notice.To breathe.To feel the sun.To listen to water.To look up.To remember the person walking beside us.And maybe to remember ourselves.You don’t have to take a multi-state road trip to experience that.Go sit underneath a tree.Walk around the block without your phone.Put your feet in a creek.Watch the sunset with someone you love.Take your dog somewhere new.Find a trail you’ve never walked.Pack lunch and drive somewhere beautiful.You don’t need a spectacular destination.You need a little space to notice where you already are.Because the healing isn’t necessarily in Bryce Canyon or Zion or Summer Lake.Those places simply make it harder for us to ignore what nature has been trying to tell us all along:Slow down.Look around.You’re here.And this life is happening now.We came home with photographs, dirty hiking shoes, jars of jam, healing water, a tired dog, and a whole lot of stories.But more than anything, we came home having shared something together.And that may have been the best souvenir of all.Until the next adventure,WendyNatureHeals® with Wendy Shugar
Helping people reconnect with nature, themselves and the life still waiting to be lived.Follow AlongNatureHeals® with WendyFollow along for nature-based practices, encouragement, personal reflections, upcoming NatureHeals® programs, workshops, and ways to bring more nature into everyday life.Website: naturehealswithwendy.com
Facebook: NatureHealswithWendyShugar
Instagram: NatureHealswith Wendy🚐Karendy AdventuresCome along with Karen, Wendy & Sedona as we explore van life, road trips, campgrounds, e-bike adventures, dog-friendly stops, beautiful places and all the things we learn along the way.Instagram: @KarendyAdventuresKarendy Adventures is on Facebook!We’re creating the Facebook page as more than another place to post pretty travel photos. We’ll also be building a collection of useful information from our adventures campgrounds and overnight stops, routes, places worth seeing, dog-friendly finds, e-bike information, van-life favorites, gear we actually use, Amazon affiliate finds and files you can save for planning your own future travels.Because sometimes the best travel advice comes from someone who actually pulled the van into the driveway, drove the road, tried the campground, carried the dog, hauled the bikes, and figured it out along the way.NatureHeals®. Adventure connects us. And there is still so much road ahead.

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Alright, friends, let’s get real for a minute. You’ve heard of grounding, right? No, not the kind you give to kids who sneak cookies before dinner. I’m talking about real grounding—where you ditch your shoes and reconnect with the Earth, literally. Yes, I know, it sounds all hippy-dippy, but bear with me. There’s some actual science behind why you should toss those sneakers aside and embrace some barefoot time. Spoiler alert: your feet have been DYING for this moment.Look, I love a cute pair of shoes as much as the next person, but guess what? Shoes are traitors. They make your feet weak, stiff, and—brace yourself—shoe-shaped. Yep, shoe-shaped. When did we agree to that? Feet were designed to be wild and free, not stuffed into narrow prisons of leather and rubber. And the result? Sad, sore feet and a missed connection with Mother Earth. Cue the tiny violins.So, here’s the deal: Grounding, also known as earthing, is all about letting your feet make direct contact with natural surfaces like grass, soil, sand, or, if you’re really lucky, a forest trail. This isn’t just some woo-woo trend from the ’70s—science shows that walking barefoot can reduce inflammation, boost your energy, and improve your sleep. It’s like your feet are the VIP guests to the coolest health party on the planet, and shoes?When I Walk Barefoot, I feel I get SuperpowersOkay, so maybe not literal superpowers, but you know what happened when I kicked off my shoes and decided to get grounded? I felt AMAZING. The grass under my feet was cool, the Earth was soft, and suddenly, I was like, “Why have I been torturing myself with always wearing shoes and never taking advantage of touching grass or dirt?” Walking barefoot made me feel connected—like I had an invisible cord plugged directly into the Earth’s energy source.And here’s the wild part: I slept better that night. You think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not. My body was like, “Finally, you get it!” Better sleep, less stress, and dare I say it, more pep in my step. Who knew ditching shoes for a short time could unlock so many perks?The Science-y Stuff Behind GroundingFor all my skeptics out there, let’s break it down. When you walk barefoot, you’re not just playing like a kid in the park (though that’s part of the fun). You’re connecting with the Earth’s electrons. These little guys can help neutralize free radicals in your body. Translation? They reduce inflammation, stress, and even boost your immunity. If there was a grounding fan club, I’d be president.Studies show that grounding can lower cortisol levels (bye-bye, stress), reduce chronic pain, and even improve your mood. So, when you’re feeling cranky after a long day of adulting, maybe all you need is a quick barefoot stroll or a seat in the grass to reset. Forget the fancy spa days—your backyard might just be the ultimate therapy spot. And it’s free! Win-win.So, how do you start practicing the “no shoes, no problem” moments? Easy. Find yourself a patch of natural ground—grass, sand, dirt, whatever floats your grounding boat—and set those feet free. Just make sure you’re not stepping on sharp objects because nothing ruins a zen moment faster than a rogue rock.If you’re new to this, start slow. Don’t go running marathons barefoot (unless you’re some kind of ninja). Begin with a few minutes of mindful walking each day. Feel the Earth beneath your feet—the coolness of the grass, the warmth of the sand, even the squish of mud if you’re into that sort of thing. And for the love of all things grounding, drink water! Apparently, grounding detoxifies your body, and water helps flush out the bad stuff. Plus, staying hydrated just makes you feel like you have your life together, right?Grounding Hacks for Everyday LifeGrounding isn’t just a one-and-done kind of deal. You can sprinkle it throughout your day. Start your mornings with a barefoot walk around your backyard. Skip the slippers and let your feet say “good morning” to the dew on the grass.At work, instead of scrolling through social media during breaks, step outside and walk barefoot for a few minutes. Boom—instant mood boost. Even in the evening, take a stroll in the yard to wind down. Grounding before bed is basically nature’s version of a lullaby.And hey, make it a family thing! Get the kids, the dog, maybe even that grumpy neighbor involved. You can turn barefoot walking into a bonding experience. It’s good for everyone’s mood (especially the grumpy neighbor’s). I mean I used to have a sand box for adults at my house in LA and after long I was no longer the weird neighbor I was the hang out with put our feet in the sand together kind of neighbor!! True story!Reclaim Your EnergyIf you’ve made it this far, I dare you—yes, dare you—to kick off your shoes for just 10 minutes today. Go find a patch of grass, beach, or dirt, and let your feet connect with the Earth. Feel the ground, breathe deeply, and just be. If you don’t feel at least 1% more zen, I’ll eat my shoes (okay, maybe not literally, but you get the idea).You’ll probably notice that you sleep better, feel less stressed, and maybe even walk with a little extra bounce in your step. Grounding is the real deal, people!So go ahead and let the Earth do its magic. You can thank me—and your very happy, liberated feet—later.Peace, Happiness and NatureHeals®

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WHAT NATURE TEACHES US ABOUT BEGINNING AGAINNature rarely rushes, yet it is always becoming.A tree does not apologize for losing its leaves. A trail does not disappear simply because it takes an unexpected turn. After a fire, storm, or long winter, the natural world does not try to return to exactly what it was before. It responds to what has happened and begins again from where it is.We often expect something different from ourselves.We believe a new beginning must be dramatic, a major decision, a perfect plan, or a sudden burst of confidence. We wait until we feel completely ready. We tell ourselves we should already know the way forward.Nature offers us another possibility.Beginning again can be quiet. It may look like taking one honest breath before answering. Stepping outside for ten minutes. Writing down what you need instead of pushing it aside. Choosing one small action that supports the life you want to create.Growth does not require you to erase what came before. The rings inside a tree remain. The broken branch becomes part of its shape. Everything that has happened to you can remain part of your story without having to determine every chapter that follows.If you are standing at the edge of change, you do not need to see the entire path. You only need enough clarity for the next true step.Today, find a place where you can notice something growing a tree, a plant, moss between stones, or even a weed pushing through a crack. Pause and ask yourself:What am I ready to begin again, gently?Do not force an answer. Let the question stay with you. Your next step does not need to be large to be meaningful.Nature reminds us that becoming is not a single moment. It is a relationship with change one season, one choice, and one honest step at a time.— Wendy Shugar
NatureHeals® with Wendy

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“Even in the longest night, your light is not lost it’s simply gathering strength for dawn.”
Wendy ShugarThere’s a quiet beauty during this time of year when the days grow short and the world slows into stillness. Nature retreats not out of fear, but out of wisdom. The trees rest. The rivers soften. The air hushes into a sacred pause. It’s an invitation for reflection, for gentle healing, for rediscovering the light that lives within you.The holiday season can stir many emotions joy, nostalgia, loneliness, and hope. It’s easy to lose ourselves in the swirl of activity, forgetting that light isn’t something we chase outside of ourselves, it’s something we tend from within.Being “light within the season” means honoring both the brightness and the shadow. It means allowing yourself to feel deeply, to rest fully, and to nurture the quiet spaces of your heart. Because real wellness the kind that sustains begins when we stop running and start listening.Research shows that exposure to natural light, even on cloudy days, increases serotonin and stabilizes our mood. But nature offers something even more profound than science can measure it offers reflection. When you step outside and see the low sun glint through bare branches or the mist rise from a frosted field, something in you exhales. You remember that cycles are sacred. That darkness is not absence, but preparation.Here’s a practice to carry through the season:
Each morning, before you open your phone or start your day, step outside. Breathe in the cold air. Feel the temperature on your skin. Whisper three words you want to embody today, maybe peace, patience, gratitude. Let those words become your light.At night, light a candle or sit near a window. Reflect on one thing that brought warmth to your day a conversation, a memory, a quiet victory. Gratitude becomes your lantern, no matter how dark the world feels.Light is not a feeling that comes and goes. It’s a state of being you can return to through mindfulness, through connection, through breath. The more you slow down and align with nature’s rhythm, the more radiant your energy becomes.You don’t have to be the brightest. You just have to be present. You just have to keep glowing in your own way.So, as winter deepens, remember your light has never left you. It’s there, waiting to be seen, waiting to guide you forward.Step outside. Feel the air. Trust the rhythm of your own heartbeat.You are light steady, gentle, and enduring.Wendy Shugar
NatureHeals®

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Winter has a way of inviting us inward softly, like a gentle tap on the heart. Reality is it seems like the world gets louder, faster, and more intense. But….What would happen if you changed your mindset a little to let in what should be the case, what is the case for Nature… the world gets quieter, the pace slows, and suddenly we could feel that familiar pull toward what matters most: connection, gratitude, giving, and the healing rhythm of nature. And this is exactly where Winter Wellness begins.At the center of this practice for me is the belief that NatureHeals® is more than a concept, it’s a lifestyle and a reminder. When the cold season arrives, we don’t lose nature’s benefits; we simply experience them differently. The trails turn softer. The air feels sharp but clean. The trees stand still yet powerful. And every breath seems fuller when you take it outside.Nature regulates us without needing permission. You step out your door, feel the crisp air on your cheeks, and your body responds: your shoulders drop, your jaw unclenches, your lungs remember their job again. That’s the magic of stepping into the natural world, big moments are not required. One walk will do. One breath. One pause. One step that says: I choose healing today.Then there’s family, the one you’re born into or the one you lovingly collect over time. Maybe it looks like soup simmering on the stove while everyone talks at once, hands waving, stories spilling over each other like paint splatter on a studio floor. Maybe it’s a cozy corner on the couch with your favorite humans laughing until someone snorts and it becomes a core memory. Maybe your people don’t share your last name at all and that’s okay! The family you choose is often the softest place you land.Winter gives us an excuse to gather, but togetherness doesn’t actually need one. Hikes become slower adventures. Kayaking stories turn into “remember that one time…” with exaggerated sound effects and reenactments. Creativity shifts from speed to savoring. This season invites us to make memories, not masterpieces.And speaking of masterpieces… winter has a way of revealing that people are the point. The art, the creation, the beauty, those are the expression, but the togetherness is the soul of it.Now let’s talk about giving.There’s something so ridiculously good about doing something nice for someone else. Not a big Instagram worthy gesture, just a real-life human moment like paying for someone’s coffee, holding the door with an extra flourish, or complimenting someone’s art out loud where they can actually hear the pride in your voice.Generosity is contagious and the best part? Smiles cost nothing yet carry a lifetime return of energy. You share one, and it multiplies like French bread in a food processor (I swear it puffs up when you chop it). That smile might go to a stranger today but become somebody’s story tomorrow. It’s a tiny spark of warmth passed hand to hand like a community peace pole painted by all who touch it.Winter Wellness doesn’t start when you feel perfect or healed or organized. It starts with a moment of awareness that says: I can choose joy here too. Even now. Even in the cold.Nature holds you.
Your people hold you.
And giving holds you because kindness feeds the giver just as much as the receiver.So go ahead:choose the trail
choose your humans
choose kindness
and please, for the love of legacy… choose joy
Because that is where Winter Wellness Begins.“In winter’s stillness, kindness grows louder than the cold ever could.” – Wendy Shugar ✦

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HappyArtist® — Art by Wendy Shugar

Art is another way I explore connection, expression, and possibility. Through HappyArtist®, I create colorful acrylic and mixed-media artwork inspired by nature, emotion, and the joy of creating.Explore a selection of my artwork below. Contact me to ask about available originals and print options.

October - November
Featured Prints: Bee & Turtle

8×10 — $35: mat, backer board, and sleeve; local pickup.
5×7 — $8 plus shipping: in a sleeve
“Frame shown for display only. Prints are unframed.”
Tell me your design, size, and quantity. I’ll confirm your total and send Venmo or PayPal payment details.

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Print Sizes & Prices

Rectangular Matted Prints — $55
8 × 10″ image · Fits an 11 × 14″ frame
Available for: Unshaken, The Quiet Between the Hits, and Unapologetically Blue.Square Matted Prints — $65
8 × 8″ image · Fits a 12 × 12″ frame
Available for: Sacred Glow, Where the Stories Flow, and Color Outside the Lines.Mat and backing included. Frame not included.Shipping is additional and quoted before payment.
Looking for another size? Additional print sizes available by request.
Contact me for size options, pricing, and shipping.
Local pickup available in Cottage Grove, Oregon

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HappyArtist® Greeting Cards

Greeting Cards · $5 each
4 × 6″ · Blank inside · Envelope included
Choose from the designs above.
U.S. shipping: $2.50 for one card
Shipping for multiple cards quoted before payment.
Free local pickup in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

To order, click below and tell me your card choices, quantities, and whether you prefer shipping or local pickup. I’ll confirm availability and your total, then send payment details for PayPal or Venmo.

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