M Johnson Illustration and Design

M Johnson Illustration and Design Illustrator for the everyday: quotes + cozy art prints, books and patterns that feel like real life. Https://www.mjdesignandillustration.com

There are days after school starts when I do nothing.No catching up.No trying to be productive.No filling the quiet just...
09/03/2026

There are days after school starts when I do nothing.

No catching up.
No trying to be productive.
No filling the quiet just because I finally have it.

I sit. I drink my coffee while it’s still warm. I let the house be quiet. I decompress.

And I’m learning that this doesn’t make me lazy. It doesn’t mean I love my kids any less or that I’m not grateful for the time we have together.

Sometimes you just need to recharge after weeks of being needed all day long.

The quiet isn’t something to feel guilty about.

Sometimes, this is enough.

I just had several orders come through for this print today, and it made me smile because this one feels so true to frie...
09/02/2026

I just had several orders come through for this print today, and it made me smile because this one feels so true to friendship.

Every friend group has one who brings the snacks, one who somehow always has the advice, and one who brings just the right amount of chaos.

And somehow, it all works.

I love knowing this little scene is heading into several homes today. Thank you so much for supporting my art and seeing your own friendships in these illustrations.

The best friendships are the ones where you never have to perform.You can show up tired. Quiet. A little messy. Unsure o...
09/01/2026

The best friendships are the ones where you never have to perform.

You can show up tired. Quiet. A little messy. Unsure of yourself. You can laugh too loudly, tell the same story again, change your mind, or admit that you’re having a hard day.

And somehow, you’re still completely loved.

There’s something special about having a friend who makes you feel safe enough to simply be yourself.

Those are the friendships worth holding onto.
Tag yours!🤍

Monday morning, and somehow we’re already in the last week of summer.There’s a part of me that isn’t quite ready to let ...
08/31/2026

Monday morning, and somehow we’re already in the last week of summer.

There’s a part of me that isn’t quite ready to let go of the slower mornings, later nights, and freedom that summer brings.

But there’s also something really good about getting back into a routine.

Earlier bedtimes. More predictable days. Getting organized again. Finding a rhythm that makes life feel a little less scattered.

Maybe that’s the nice thing about this time of year. You can be a little sad to see summer go and still be ready for what comes next.

For now, I’m soaking up these last few summer mornings before September officially takes over.

Coffee first. Routine soon. Chaos… probably always. ☕️

August feels like that last golden stretch of summer you wish you could hold onto a little longer.The warm evenings. The...
08/30/2026

August feels like that last golden stretch of summer you wish you could hold onto a little longer.

The warm evenings. The flowers still blooming. The plans made just because the sun is out. The photos you take because everyone is together and happy.

But more than anything, this month has reminded me how much the people around us shape the way life feels.

The right people make ordinary days sweeter. Hard days lighter. Good days even better.

As August comes to a close, I hope you carry a little of that summer warmth with you into the season ahead. And I hope you keep making time for the people who make your life prettier simply by being in it.

There are seasons when everything feels loud.The responsibilities.The expectations.The constant need to keep up, respond...
08/28/2026

There are seasons when everything feels loud.

The responsibilities.
The expectations.
The constant need to keep up, respond, finish, plan, and be there for everyone.

And sometimes what you need isn’t more motivation or another way to be productive.

You need quiet.

A slow walk.
A cup of coffee while it’s still warm.
A few minutes without your phone.
A morning where you don’t rush into the next thing.

Rest doesn’t always mean doing nothing. Sometimes it means giving yourself enough space to hear yourself again.

If your soul has been asking for a little silence lately, maybe it’s worth listening. ♥️

08/27/2026

Because it usually is. 😀

The older I get, the more I realize self care isn’t something I can keep putting at the bottom of my list.For a long tim...
08/27/2026

The older I get, the more I realize self care isn’t something I can keep putting at the bottom of my list.

For a long time, I thought taking care of myself was something I would get to when everything else was done. Work finished. Kids taken care of. House picked up. Everyone else okay.

But there is always something else.

I’m realizing how much I need those small moments that are just mine. A quiet cup of coffee. Taking care of my skin. Sitting outside for a few minutes. Going for a walk. Reading. Creating something just because I want to.

Nothing huge. Just small ways of reminding myself that I need care too.

And maybe that’s what self care really looks like in this season. Not escaping my life, but slowing down enough to actually be present in it.

I’m still learning to make room for that. And I think I need it more than I ever realized.

Taking care of my skin has become one of those little daily rituals for me, and Sole Toscana has become part of that routine.

And right now is a really good time to try it or restock your favorites. Sole Toscana just launched their new facial skincare bundles:

Choose any 2 and save 10%
Choose any 3 and save 15%
Choose 4+ and save 20%

Plus, through Labor Day, September 7, there’s an extra 10% off sitewide, which means you can save up to 28% on a facial skincare bundle.

A little reminder to take care of yourself too. 🤍

Cheers to Wednesday. 🥂To the friends who bring a little calm to the chaos, who can turn a hard week into a laugh, and wh...
08/26/2026

Cheers to Wednesday. 🥂

To the friends who bring a little calm to the chaos, who can turn a hard week into a laugh, and who never need the house clean before they come over.

Some weeks call for coffee. Some call for wine. The best ones call for a friend who gets it.

Here’s to making it through the middle of the week together. 🤍

Some of the best adventures aren’t really about where you go.They’re about who is sitting beside you.The friend who turn...
08/26/2026

Some of the best adventures aren’t really about where you go.

They’re about who is sitting beside you.

The friend who turns a random drive into a favorite memory. Who makes you laugh until your stomach hurts. Who says “let’s go” when you need to get out of the house. Who makes even the most ordinary day feel like something worth remembering.

Those are the friendships I hope we never take for granted.

Here’s to the friends who make life a little lighter, a little more fun, and a whole lot more memorable. 🤍

Tag the friend you’d get in the car with and just GO.

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97086-97299

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