TINY WINS & SHAMELESS PROMOTION

Written By Leigh Marlar

The Satisfying Little Things (And the Tools That Keep Me Sane)

Look at these little tassels. Heart!

I have had little to no time to spend on decorations this week, but I wanted to make SOMETHING. Since I switched up the color palette, I needed to make new tassels for the beaded garland. Enter the scrap fabric that I’ve been testing the alcohol ink techniques on, a few left-over beads, some embroidery thread and voila! Adorable colorful little tassels. Super easy and so relaxing. I’m smitten. That happens a lot though, so there’s that. Easily amused.

Sometimes it's the tiny wins that keep you going.

The ornaments are coming together. The fabric scrap tassels are done. The wooden rings are waiting. The salt dough ornaments are painted and glittered within an inch of their lives. The tree is still sitting there, patient and pitiful, waiting for me to pull it all together.

And next week? Next week is Thanksgiving.

A Pause (Sort Of)

I'll be posting on Monday and Thursday next week, but let's be real: Thanksgiving week is chaos. We have family coming into town (some staying with us), my son closes on his first house this Friday, and I'll be juggling all of it while trying to finish these ornaments and not burn the turkey. That’s a lie. I’m not cooking the turkey, but you catch my drift.

So, if next week's posts are a little lighter, a little more "here's what I'm doing in between everything else," that's why.

But here's the thing: I survive chaos like this because I have tools that help me manage it. And since we're heading into the most chaotic time of year—Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas shopping, all of it—I want to tell you about the tools that keep me sane.

Because if you're feeling overwhelmed, scattered, or like you're barely holding it together, I have things that might help.

The Journals That Save Me (And Might Save You)

I create things for people like me. People who need structure but also flexibility. People whose brains work differently and need tools that actually fit how they think.

Here's a few things I personally use ALL the time:

One of Those Days: A Journal for Surviving the Chaos, Owning the Mess, and Finding Meaning in It Later

This is my go-to on especially rough days. The days when everything feels like too much and I need somewhere to put it all without judgment. It's not about toxic positivity or forcing gratitude—it's about surviving the day and making sense of it later.

If you're heading into a week (or a season) where you know some days are going to be those days, this journal will help you get through them.

Buy It Here

My So-Called Monotropic Life: A Year-Long Journal for Neurodivergent Focus Cycles, Obsession Management, and Beautifully Chaotic Brains

I use this one religiously to track my focus cycles. You know that thing where you hyperfocus on one project for three weeks and then suddenly pivot to something completely different? That's monotropism, and this journal helps you work with it instead of against it.

If you're neurodivergent and your brain does the thing where it latches onto one obsession and won't let go (and then suddenly drops it and moves to the next thing), this journal will help you track patterns, manage transitions, and stop feeling guilty about how your brain works.

Buy It Here

Prompt & Palette: Doodles & Daydreams - A Prompt Journal for Drawing, Poetry, and Escaping Reality (Just a Little)

When I'm feeling stuck and need inspiration, this is what I reach for. It's not about being good at art or poetry—it's about getting unstuck. Prompts for drawing, prompts for writing, prompts that give your brain permission to wander and play.

Perfect for when you need a creative break but don't know where to start.

Buy It Here

Prompt & Palette: A Shadow Work Art Journal for Shadow & Light

This one is heavier. It's for when you're ready to dig into the hard stuff—the parts of yourself you avoid, the patterns you keep repeating, the shadows you'd rather not look at. It combines shadow work prompts with creative expression, so you're processing while you're making.

If you're in a season of deep reflection or working through something difficult, this journal gives you space to do that work.

Buy It Here

By Faith: 90 Days to Deeper Trust in God's Character

And if you need spiritual grounding during the chaos, this devotional is designed to help you build trust in God's character over 90 days. Short, reflective, meant to meet you where you are.

Buy It Here

These are just the ones I use nearly every day, but there are so many more. You can follow my Author Page to stay up to date on new releases. There’s also a list of all the books on our home page!

Kids' Activity Books: For Gifts, Homeschooling, or Surviving Road Trips

And now for the kids. Whether you're shopping for Christmas gifts, looking for homeschool resources, or just need something to keep the kids busy while you finish making ornaments (or, you know, cook Thanksgiving dinner), I've got activity books for ages 3 through teens.

All available on Amazon:

For Young Kids (Ages 3-6):

  • ABC 123 Coloring & Writing Workbook: Phonics, Handwriting, and Fun Learning for Kids (Ages 3-6) - Perfect for preschool and early learners

For Elementary Ages (Ages 6-12):

For Teens:

These make perfect gifts, perfect homeschool supplements, perfect "I need the kids occupied for 30 minutes" tools. All available on Amazon.

Also: My Etsy Shop Is Having Black Friday Sales

Speaking of chaos season: if you're doing Christmas shopping and want to support a small business, my Etsy shop is running Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales starting next week.

I've got neurodivergent pride gear, custom items, holiday decor, the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments I mentioned (in the Frost colorway), and more. All made by someone who's currently covered in glitter and fabric scraps.

AuRTByGal

What's Next

Monday's post will check in on Thanksgiving prep and whatever ornament progress I manage to make between now and then. Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), I'll post something lighter—probably gratitude-focused, maybe a little reflective.

And then after Thanksgiving? We're in the final push. The tree gets decorated. The series wraps up. And I get to see if this whole "make Christmas from scratch on no budget" thing actually worked.

For now, I'm grateful for these tiny wins. The tassels are done. The journals are here if you need them. The chaos is manageable.

Oh, if you’ve stuck around this long (THANK YOU!) and don’t forget that the 2025 Holiday Survival Guide is still available!

See you Monday.

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About the Author
Gal is an autistic artist, late-diagnosed at 49, and the creator of AuRTistic Expressions—a space where neurodivergent truth meets creative survival. Through books, blog posts, printables, and coaching, Gal explores what it means to unmask safely, communicate authentically, and make art that doesn’t ask for permission. Stick around—there’s plenty more where this came from.

Leigh Marlar https://aurtisticexpressions.com
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