An Adventure In Art

Pageant

I'm a traveling' gal. I feel the need to admit that straight up. I love to get up and go. In fact, if I'm at home for more than 2 weeks straight I start to get a little 'antsy pants'. So, feeling 'the need for speed', I gathered my husband and our two youngest kiddos (the two left at home), and hit the wild blue yonder in search of an adventure. This most recent adventure took us to Laguna Beach, California. I would also like to admit right here and now that I l-o-v-e Southern California. The beautiful beaches, beautiful weather, and … [Read more...]

By Starting to Love Within

HeartShape.4924261093_f23abe5578_z

I was heartened to find an article on this site promoting emotional literacy in today’s young people.  Emotional literacy begins when we own the experience of our feelings by allowing them without judgment.   To be alive and Internet savvy right now suggests that physical needs—water, shelter, food—are met and likely well-surpassed.  Beyond these basic needs, beyond health and education and security, regardless of our economic standing, what calls us now is a push towards emotional evolution.  Towards living a daily experience of … [Read more...]

Mrs. P Facebook Party 8/30/12

mrsp_com

  We are so excited to have Mrs. P join us at our Facebook Party where we will be talking about their upcoming 4th Annual Be-A-Famous-Writer Contest that opens September 1st.  Best-selling author Natasha Wing will also join us! Details about the Facebook Party: WHAT:  We are having a Mrs.P  Facebook Party to talk about the love of reading and writing and the Mrs. P Be-A-Famous-Writer Contest. WHO:  Mrs. P is as our featured guest.  Also joining us will be best-selling author Natasha Wing. WHEN:  The … [Read more...]

CONNECTED KIDS

Three little girl playing with toy computer in grass

  Every day I seem to find something new geared toward my kids, your kids -- just kids. Generation Connected - I like to think of them as that. Our kids are going to grow up a lot different than we did. I question myself on a daily basis if I am doing the right thing. How can I know if this right? If I don’t do this they’ll be left behind (school, peers) in so many areas. I try to find a happy medium but I’m awash in gadgets and being a bit of a tech-head-geek-mom is my “happy medium” or really a “happy high”? Both … [Read more...]

So You Want To Write Books For Kids

Woman and young girl in kitchen with laptop and paperwork smilin

 Kids have no patience for books (printed or eBooks) that don’t capture their attention. An author has three minutes, maybe four, to hook them. By the first page or two if they are not hooked, kids are “so out of there!”  But, if your book does grab them, they’ll devour it. They’ll read it over and over again (or ask you to) until they’ve memorized it. A great book can give children a gift—the desire to read more. There is no need to “dumb down” writing for kids. Richness of language helps kids increase their vocabulary. … [Read more...]

Summer to Fall Wardrobe Transition

Outfit styled by Boden-USA

The first sip of my morning cup of coffee, that first snuggle with my children in the morning, the first bite of a crisp apple, and the first fall day when the air is cool and I can pull on a pair of jeans, boots, and a cozy sweater are some of the simple moments that I enjoy.   Fall has always been my favorite time of year, and although it feels months away here in Southern California where the temperatures have held steady in the 90‘s, fall fashions are being featured in magazines, retail catalogues, and stores.  The transition … [Read more...]

Wool Felting: The 6,000 Year Old Fiber Art

Michief, Needle-felted Unicorn Music Box

What is felting? Felting with wool fleece is the oldest form of fiber art, older than knitting or even sewing. As soon as people began domesticating livestock, they harvested wool to make sturdy and warm blankets, hats and boots. A simple form of felting is to boil fleece (or a knitted garment) until it shrinks and hardens into felt. Needle felting is the art of sculpting wool with a special needle. Wool roving (unspun wool) is poked repeatedly, until it compacts into a solid shape. At that point, the wool can be sculpted with the needle. … [Read more...]

8 Things I Would Tell My 16 Year Old Self

Image

  When I think of myself as a 16 year old girl I see a young person just starting to gain some self-assurance, excited about her future in the big, wide world. Now that the road has travelled some distance since that time, with all kinds of twists and turns, I look back and offer this advice to my 16 year old self. You are stronger and more capable and smarter than you ever imagined. You have enormous reserves of strength and resilience. You have a ton of great ideas. So don’t be afraid to take on new challenges. Grab … [Read more...]

The Four Roots of Optimum Wellness

Root of Optimum Wellness

  There are four essential parts to being healthy that I call roots. If you make healthy choices in each root area, you will achieve optimum wellness—feeling supported, watered, nourished and full of energy. Root One: Diet It is not a coincidence that disease is on the increase at the same time our diets consist of more artificial and sugar-laden ingredients, plus meats and dairy laced with antibiotics and hormones. Cancer has now become the number one killer. For a start, here's a list of things to avoid in … [Read more...]

Erin Condren’s Colorful World

ErinCondren.Headshot.securedownload-e1346094659256

  Who knew staying organized could be so much fun?  I came across Erin Condren’s company a few years back from one of the moms in my daughter’s class.  She gave a birthday gift to my daughter that had the cutest personalized sticker label on the outside of the bag in all of these wonderful colors and polka dots.  It was love at first site!  I asked her where she purchased them and she introduced me to the colorful world of Erin Condren products. I had the chance to interview Ms. Condren about her journey of starting her … [Read more...]