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CONNECTED KIDS
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 of my kids…
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So You Want To Write Books For Kids
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. Children will learn the “big words” if the words are written in an exciting way.…
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Wool Felting: The 6,000 Year Old Fiber Art
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. Generally, no gluing or stitching is needed. What is so special about a felting…
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8 Things I Would Tell My 16 Year Old Self
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 interesting opportunities when they arise. Live life fully! You are…
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The Four Roots 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 foods: Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) High fructose corn syrup Artificial colors, preservatives, flavors and sweeteners Meats given antibiotics,…
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Erin Condren’s Colorful World
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 company from the ground up. She explained that it started out as…
