The butterfly room

31/10/2025

Thanks Mill Renfrewshire for helping with the promo for "self care isn't selfish"

Wellbeing & creativity coach, artist and author, Amanda McKinlay, has released a new book titled ‘Self Care Isn’t Selfish – A Gentle Journal to Help You Savour Your Spoons’. Based on her own battle with chronic illness, the journal invites readers to explore self-compassion, creativity, and everyday acts of nourishment – a reminder that self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate to be effective. 🥇

Amanda said “As someone who has lived with fibromyalgia for many years, I know that self-care isn’t about bubble baths or perfection, although I do like a nice soak – it’s about listening to your body and honouring your energy. I wanted to create something that helps people feel seen, supported, and inspired to care for themselves without guilt.” 🥰

To find out more or to buy the book, you can email Amanda at thebutterflyroom@yahoo.com, or find her at The butterfly room, based within WHAT IF Paisley Ltd on Moss Street. ✅

31/10/2025

Thank you Paisley First for this wonderful piece of promotion for the "self care isn't selfish" journal

31/10/2025

Good morning and happy Friday to you

This will be my last morning post for a couple of weeks as I'm finishing up today for some time away (Liverpool next week and krakow the week after) and whilst I love my work and love connecting with you all I feel it's important to disconnect and be fully "off" for these 2 weeks. (Although I'm hoping to visit a butterfly place.in krakow so you may well get a video of that!!)

I'm going into this break on such a high as the "self care isn't selfish" journal is out in the world and has received some really nice initial feedback and yesterday I read for a lovely lady before hosting an aroma balance workshop for a lovely group of young carers at Renfrewshire Carers Centre (always a joy to visit there)

This morning there's some tidying away to do and a little bit of admin but after that the out of office sign is in place and I'm embracing some time with family and friends in amazing places.

Take care and I'll catch up with you when I'm back

(PS the pic is what happens when you ask AI for a pic of a butterfly on a winter holiday!! Lol)

30/10/2025

Good morning and happy Thursday to you.

After a busy little Wednesday reorganising and refreshing my stock corner in what if (which included putting out copies of "self care isn't selfish" !!) prepping for a workshop I have today and hosting a lovely meditation hour on here I'm looking forwards to another mixed day today

I'll be taking my usual creative time this morning and then doing the last little bits of prep for an aroma balance workshop for young carers this evening. I also have a lovely lady coming in for an angel card reading this afternoon too so it's a lovely mixed day for me on the day before I finish for my holidays (tomorrow is my last work day til the 19th of November)

I hope whatever you're up to today contains the same amounts of fun and enjoyment...and if you feel like letting me know in the comments I'd love to see that.

29/10/2025

Midweek meet up: meditation and mindfulness hour

29/10/2025

Good morning and happy Wednesday to you. Hoping all is well as we move through the half way point of the last week of October.

After a fairly easy going day yesterday in terms of work....well, easy going until I received the copies of "self care isn't selfish" and got excited....although it did let me tick the video content goal off this week's to do list!

Today is an early start to host the final session in this block of "art as therapy" group sessions. I'm enjoying hosting both the group and open sessions for Fibromyalgia Action Uk - Fmauk and look forward to continuing it going forward.

Aside from that today will be a stock sorting day. I have some new artwork to put out at what if (photos will follow) and I need to reorganise my stock space to make space for journals.

I'll also be hosting our last "midweek meet up" hour for a few weeks....it's a meditation hour so a lovely way to take us in to the wee break.

So a varied and lovely day ahead for me....what about you? What's your plans for today? Let's have a wee chat in the comments.

28/10/2025

Just about to finish for the day but HAD to share this with you before I do.
I know I shared a bit of a peek at “self care isn’t selfish” last week but as the first orders/for sale batch arrived today I thought I’d give you a closer look at the layout and a bit more detail about what you can journal in it
REALLY grateful to those who helped with research and excited to have it out in the world

28/10/2025

Good morning and happy Tuesday to you.

After a slow and steady Monday with the chance to facilitate another lovely art session for Fibromyalgia Action Uk - Fmauk (got another one to look forward to tomorrow too) , my usual radio stint and a couple of other things sorted out too I'm looking forward to a slow, steady but productive day.

Had a nice start as I've found out the article on self care techniques I did for one of my sbs friends is available to read (I'll pop the link in the comments if you'd like to check that out). I've also got copies of the new journal on the way (which I'm hoping will arrive today or tomorrow) which has reminded me I wanted to make a video about how to work with the journal. I've also got some space organising I want to get done too.

So a day of creating and clearing lies ahead for me. I hope whatever lies ahead for you is enjoyable and nourishing. If you feel like letting me know what you're up to in the comments I'd live to see it.

27/10/2025

Good morning and happy Monday to you.

As we step into the last week of October I enjoyed a lovely weekend and I'm looking forward to a lovely week before I finish for some holiday time.

Today is the usual start to the week with angel card messages sent out to subscribers and group members and then once I've had breakfast, I'll be heading in to the butterfly room to host an online art as therapy session for Fibromyalgia Action Uk - Fmauk (this is an open to all one as opposed to the weekly closed group ones)

After that it'll be a little admin and organising before heading to Johnstone for a bit of presenting on Motivation and music. I go live on Johnstone Sound with that at 2pm if you'd like to join me.

I'm also planning a bit of creative time today too as I've got inktober doodles to keep up with and I also want to try out the new metallic pens and black paper I bought yesterday.

So, definitely a mixed but reasonably easy going day for me today. How's your Monday shaping up? Let's have a wee chat in the comments and connect for a bit.

25/10/2025

Hello there and happy Saturday to you

A wee bit later than usual with my post this morning due to some technical issues (massive thanks to the lovely gentleman in foneomenal, just a few shops up from what if in moss st for quickly sorting things free of charge)

Anyway after a really good day yesterday with bookings coming in, artwork being sorted AND a great night last night out sharing angel card readings with mystical events at a fundraising night for the 5th Dumbarton scouts I'm ready for a bit of a slower day today.

I've got some admin to take care of, a little prep for Mondays open art session for fma uk and a lovely lady coming in for her first wellbeing session. I'm also hoping to get a little video done on the "self care isn't selfish" journal to chat about the page layout and my thoughts on it.

So that's what Im up to today....what about you? Hows your saturday shaping up? I'd love a wee chat in the comments.

24/10/2025

A couple of new artwork pieces that are just perfect for release in the run up to Halloween.

There's a one off "crystal creations" crystal ball piece with a combination of tumbled and raw quartz (j had a geode break so I guess it wanted shared our!)

And there's a framed print with a powerful reminder for you from the crystal ball (more than 1 of these available and thank you to lovely Nikitta for the inspiration too)

If you're interested in either of these pieces then pop in to What if or drop me a dm and i can arrange postage if you're not local.

24/10/2025

Delighted to hear about Paisley being voted Scotland's town of the year in the scotland loves local awards. There are SO many amazing small businesses in paisley in the creative sector, food and drink, and of course in health and wellbeing too. There are people working hard ro raise the profile of all of this and to help people see beyond the less than perfect high street for the many gems and good things spread through the town.....and I haven't even got to the history, heritage and architecture stuff yet!!! Paisley is amazing and I love being part of it