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Crafting: Creative Outlet Studios
In my search for great crafters looking to write for dandelion moms (yes, we are still looking!) I came across this cool studio located here in Orange County, California. Creative Outlet Studios is a creative persons dream come true! The entire shop is dedicated to providing crafters an opportunity to create to their hearts desire. The art of crafting has become more popular the past few years and Pinterest and Esty has helped move this “hobby” for many women into a legitamate and profitable business. I had a chance to speak to Lauren and Susan, a mother-daughter team who created Creative Outlet Studios after being inspired by the show “Project Assessory.” …
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Family: Enjoy a Leprechaun Hunt on St. Patrick’s Day
Create Your Own Leprechaun Hunt: St. Patrick’s Day is a fun day to celebrate all things green which includes leprechauns. Last year my daughter’s pre-school teacher had used washable green paint and put little footprints around the classroom. When the kids arrived at school, they couldn’t believe that a little leprechaun had visited their school during the night. She explained that he was a bit naughty as he messed the room up – turning over chairs, leaving some papers on the floor, footprints on the floor – but he also left some gold chocolate coins for them. This year we plan to do a Leprechaun Hunt in our neighborhood and…
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The Lost Art of Classic Jazz
When you think of jazz, most of us conjure up the smooth sounds of Kenny G, possibly Ray Charles and his woeful blues, or maybe the sultry tones of Diana Krall. But there are entire genres of jazz—styles that are important to our Nation’s history—that are unheard of by new generations of music fans. The classic styles of Dixieland, ragtime and stride are virtually lost to young listeners who aren’t being exposed to the “party music” that played during the 1890s to 1930s. From the age of 13, my father has been a classic jazz junkie so I grew up listening to this music. Blaring from our hi fi…
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Relationships: What Mark Did You Make?
Teaching Values: Checking in with your kids each day is a great way to help them remember their values and to focus on the type of person that they want to be. And a great question to ask each night is, “What mark did you make today?” You see, every time you are with someone you leave a mark – either a “gold heart” or a “grungy mark” depending on how you treated them. The Golden Rule: When I was a young girl, my Dad loved to talk about the Golden Rule – “to treat others as I would want to be treated”. The Golden Rule was really about…
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Photography Tips: Capturing the Moments
Capturing the Moments with Photography By Becky Lew, Photographer As a photographer, I wanted to provide some tips to help you capture the moments that make up your life. Following are some things that I have found to be helpful in taking photographs. Create an Adventure: Make it an adventure – you can even sketch out the idea, or make a pinterest board!. This family wanted a circus theme. The mom bought the girls outfits on etsy and brought costumes, top hats, and fun props to go along with their theme. They came ready to play. They wanted to ride the carousel and dance together. It was darling and as you…
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Life Planning: Saving for Retirement
Planning for Retirement I’ve said before that I am not a financial advisor. But I have learned a few things along my path. It is very important to save something for retirement. I am a firm believer that we are the makers of our own destiny and as such we are responsible for the planning that takes us to that destiny. That said, I have always been a bit skeptical about the reliability of Social Security benefits by the time I reach that golden age. So I have taken some steps to make sure there is something in the coffers when I need it. Tip #1:…
