We do a lot of reading here at A Milkhouse Party.

It's not always fun (see: small business certifications/permits/laws in New Jersey), but doing a lot of research helps keeps our minds fresh and those creative juices flowing. One of our favorite recent reads, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, was the perfect kick-in-the-hiney that really got us amped up for our work at the Milkhouse.

You Know the Author From...

You may recognize Gilbert's name from her well-known novel-turned-movie, Eat, Pray Love. And let's be honest, is there anyone who read/saw Eat, Pray, Love that wasn't immediately tempted to step out of the mundane cycle of daily activities and go on an adventure? Of course not - it was romantic, exciting and...not entirely realistic. When we heard about Big Magic, we were interested to see how Gilbert applied her lessons on living creatively to her everyday life. Some lessons are purely inspiring, some are funny and some are tough to hear - which is just what we needed to embrace our journey at A Milkhouse Party.

Read This Book If...

We recommend this read if you are looking to unleash a passion that has been gathering dust in the corner of your soul. It doesn't need to be something that will make you money (though wouldn't that be a bonus!), something that you are the best in the world at, or something that anybody else understands. If there is something that you love to do that you may have forgotten about or never taken seriously, this is the book to spark the life back into it.

Standout Quotes...

"If you're alive, you're a creative person."

Gilbert argues that everyone has something that sits in the creative spectrum. We love the variety of workshops that we offer at A Milkhouse Party because it means that we can invite all sorts of different individuals to come and embrace their passions. This also proves that there are so many people who could benefit from reading this book about doing something for no other motivation than the pure joy of it.

"Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart."

This is what drives us. Creative living brings us to life. It's not always fun - we've had plenty of hardships on this path to reviving the Milkhouse already, and it's only 2 years old. But it is this revolution that keeps us pushing forward. Gilbert lists a laundry list of fears - which we found ourselves nodding furiously at - but determined that by accepting these fears and living despite them, there is a certain level of freedom.