Living One Day at a Time

The phrase "one day at a time" is often associated with those in recovery from drugs or alcohol. However, it can also be applied to any situation where one re-discovers the preciousness of life.

How would you live day to day if you found out that you had an inoperable condition which could take your life at any moment? That is exactly what happened to Carol, known as Stazjia on Squidoo. In "I Had a Mini-Stroke and What Happened After," she shares her very personal story. Besides highlighting very helpful information about the signs and symptoms of strokes, she also explains how she felt and her subsequent thought process when told that her condition was inoperable. Carol's first thought was that she couldn't die before the Olympics came to London in 2012!

Since her stroke, Carol has come to terms with her situation and taken some practical steps in the event that she has another stroke, for example, moving into a sheltered flat (complete with alarm cords) with a manager on site. She deals with limitations such as fatigue and short-term memory loss. All in all, she tries to keep life as normal as possible, focusing on doing the things she loves, like writing. To quote Carol, "It is possible to live contentedly and meaningfully. Perhaps the important things are to find something you want to do and to achieve a level of calm without lying to yourself about your condition."

Carol is an inspiration to me and many others. One way I know this for sure is when I look at the comments on her page. They are powerful and show how well she has connected with others by writing about her experience. And you will see that she has responded to almost every comment. Thank you, Carol, for sharing your story and I wish for you front row seats at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

---

Image Credit: Stroke Survivor BUTTERFLY SERIES 2 by awarenessgifts

---

Visit: I Had a Mini-Stroke and What Happened After

Parenting Wisdom

I've grown in wisdom as a parent over the years, but I certainly had only a fraction of that wisdom when I started having kids! I don't regret anything - - I did some things really well and other things not so well - - but it sure would have been nice to have my current wisdom when I started out!

That's why I was so impressed with Felicity Luckey. She's a woman of great wisdom. And she has that wisdom early on in her parenting journey.

Her lens, 100 Things I Want to Teach My Son, starts out with a significant statement. Felicity writes, "This is my list of the things that I believe will teach him to make the best possible choices for himself, and help him to live a happy, healthy, successful life."

The key word here is "himself."

And that's a wise and brave statement.

The statement is followed by a quote from Kahlil Gibran: "You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts."

How often, as parents, do we significantly influence our kid's thinking in order to protect them or pass on what we think is right in a situation? We do it with good intentions and it might seem like the safest course of action, but is it the wisest? Does it allow our kids to be able to make their own choices and develop their own thoughts?

Felicity goes on to share some powerful quotes that speak of the things she wants to teach her son. Something hugely important is, "I believe in you" (Blaise Pascal).

Wow.

How empowering are those words? I believe in you. They speak volumes about the value of a person . . . about the trust that we place in that person to make the choice that's right for them. How desperately do people want and need to hear those words?

Powerful stuff.

Actually, the entire lens is that powerful. Through quotes from unique sources, video and her own words, Felicity inspires people to take a look at what they want to pass on to their kids and encourages us to gain parenting wisdom from one another. So, it's even great for people who don't have kids. After all, "It takes a village to raise a child."

What would you add to your list of things to teach your kids?

---

Image Credit: A child's hand card by magnetic
Design a personalized note card on Zazzle

---

Visit: 100 Things I Want to Teach My Son

Clothing Adapted For Seniors

As a fitness instructor I help senior citizens stay active in their daily lives with exercise, stretches and sometimes laughter. My brother helps senior citizens when their daily activity has become too difficult to handle. We have both seen, too often, how difficult life can become for senior citizens who loose their ability to stay active or take care of themselves, as they grow older.

Sometimes, when daily activity has become too painful or too difficult to handle something as simple as innovative clothing designed to make life easier can make a huge difference in a person’s life. Fortunately, Discover the uses of Adaptive clothing, by Rewards4life, shows us the benefits of adaptive clothing, clothing made for individuals with specific needs (young or old). The article is informative, well written and organized. The introduction draws you in with words like "dignity," "pride," "stress and pain free". Even the pictures are attractive and heartwarming.

The rest of the page offers helpful information, situations and issues in which using adaptive clothing would make life easier and more dignified for the people that wear them, as well as the caregivers who must look after them. For example, we learn why adaptive clothing with a zipper in the back would help keep a patient with Dementia from disrobing or undressing himself in public. We learn why adaptive clothing with Velcro would be more suitable for someone who has joint pain and cannot button, zip, or tie her clothes because of this pain.

I would like to see more heart-warming pictures added to it as well as more pictures of the adaptive clothing up close. A video of the clothing in use would also be helpful. As with any article I would like to see green alternatives, such as organic adaptive clothing. Besides that, the entire work serves a good purpose, to inform the public of products that can make difficult living not as difficult and a lot more freeing. Thumbs up!

You can give it a thumbs up too, leave feedback and share the link to it with family and friends.

---

Image Credit: Seasons of Life by litabug

---

Visit: Discover the uses of Adaptive clothing

Have you changed your life recently?

Could you imagine not being able to change your life if, for some reason, you weren't happy with it? I couldn't. Although it's not something that I've ever thought of consciously. I mean, who has?

"Oh, I think I might try a period of depression right about now. If I don't happen to like it, or it doesn't go the way I want it, I can always change it back again."

The ability to do that would be so good!

What is good to know is that there are ways to correct the mistakes you have made, or error in judgements with the help of others in your life or by the use of literature. This is what Five Books That Changed My Life by Val_Bonney is all about. She has taken the five books that has changed her life for the better and created a very revealing squidoo lens about it. I say revealing because the title and subject matter of each book says everything about what this wonderful lady has gone through in her life and how overcoming them has helped her to 'become a better person'.

Like her good self, self help books weren't something I ever rushed out to read let alone buy; I think for a lot of the older generation, these kinds of books don't even, or shouldn't, exist. But, for many of us, who lack the certain skills or knowledge to get us out of a predicament, they can be a life saver.

I, for one, love this lens for the honesty and openness that is written within it. I certainly won't be discounting the option of consulting the odd life guide in the near future ever again.

So, have you changed your life recently? If so, how did you make the changes? What helped you?

---

Image Credit: You Changed My Life by bekandrews
View more Teacher Cards

---

Visit: Five Books That Changed My Life

---

A Tale Of A Retiring Knight

There comes a time in all of our lives when it is time to retire and take life a little easier. Yes, it seems even a valiant Knight who has devoted his life to protecting the castle and kingdom from trolls, griffins, bears, and dragons has to decide when his last working day is. He must face the reality of not being as agile as he once was and prepare to polish the shield one last time and hang up his trusty sword.

We begin to realize that our minds might still be sharp but the old body just can't move like it used to. It is difficult to think about passing the torch over to someone younger than we, someone who hasn't honed the same skills that we have. But, alas, the day comes for all of us even a storybook character who has fought many a brave battle defending his people and keeping them safe on the pages of a book. Enter one Sir Toby Jingle who is making this same decision for himself in a story for children by Wallace Tripp.

We learn about Sir Toby Jingle's Beastly Journey into retirement from 4u2c in a most wonderfully decorated article reviewing the book that was a favorite to read to her own children when they were growing up. The illustrations by Tripp are just divine and her telling of the story just makes you want to grab the book and find a child to read it to!

Oh shoot, who am I trying to kid...I want to read this book myself, child on my lap or not! That is the wonderful thing about being a Grandma, I can revisit books that I read to my girls and find ones that I somehow missed like Sir Toby. I'll let you in on a little secret, promise not to tell anyone? I get just as much of a kick out of these books for children as the children do! Getting to cuddle up on the sofa and read to the granddaughters is just my little trick in getting to enjoy the book one more time.

I think you will agree with me once you have read the article about this book...you will want to share it with a child in your life too.

Visit Sir Toby Jingle's Beastly Journey

Image Credit: Knights & Dragons Cards by FunGraphix

A New Look at History's Great Mysteries

There's something about a good mystery story. Particularly if it's a true-life one.

I don't know, maybe it's the fact that in an era where it seems that someone has an answer to everthing, and technology can reach across boundaries of space, time, and size, that there are still some secrets remaining to be discovered.

When the experts and gadgets fail to uncover the truth, well, doesn't that mean that your guess and mine are just as valid?

I suspect there's something in us all, too, that likes the fact that we could be the Indiana Jones figure who stumbles across the long lost treasure or is the holder of the missing clue. Like the incredible (and extremely valuable) Amber Room of the Catherine Palace, one of several of the homes of the Tsar of Russia. Stolen by the Nazis in 1941, the pieces of this stunning work of beauty have disappeared with barely a trace since 1945. Or the staircase that theoretically couldn't be built in a Santa Fe chapel, but which an elderly carpenter with only the most basic of tools constructed without payment before vanishing as mysteriously as he had arrived.

These stories, and others like them, give me a delicious tingle. As do tales of not only the Mary Celeste but also those of a more recent ship named the Baychimo, abandoned in 1931 and continuing to sail, without a soul on board, for an amazing 38 years (and perhaps she is still afloat even now). Or the lost squadron of Navy bombers in 1945 whose flight instruments mysteriously failed and who were never seen again.

This is just a sampling of some of the most intriguing mysteries that history has to offer us, and which have been gathered together and re-told in compelling detail. As to my source, well, I won't keep you in suspense about that. After all, it's fair to say that the writer who goes by the name of dc64 is one of my own favourites, and I love the work she produces for Squidoo.

As I write this, I have come across my own not-so-hidden clue that her fascinating article Mysterious and Amazing History had a mention here way back in 2008. Given that Debra has added so many strange and wonderful tales to it, and this blog has many new readers, I couldn't resist introducing it to a new audience today.

So, if you enjoy a mystery as much as I do, prepare to be caught up by Debra's stories of "weird history". Oh, and let me know which one intrigued you the most!

---

Image Credit: Flying Dutchman sailing ship by rangpl

---

Visit: Mysterious and Amazing History

A Little Girdle History

I don't know about you but the thought of wearing a girdle makes me gag. Being a figure skater growing up, I never had to worry about wearing something to hide the fat. I knew that girdles were worn often in my mother's day, but I figured women were beyond that sort of thing now. Then, along came Spanx, and it seems that many women were looking for something girdle-like that wasn't called a girdle.

As I've aged, there are certain occasions where a little tucking and trimming is called for and I would get some tummy-control pantyhose. Recently, I purchased my first pair of Spanx and they are really tight but definitely do the job. So, I was immediately drawn to the title of this article by new Squidoo writer brokersaunders, "My Girdle Ate My Fat - And That Is A Good Thing!"

I learned of this page through the Fresh Wonders group, where we work with new writers on Squidoo. The talent that shows up there continually amazes me. A real estate broker by profession, brokersaunders is a fabulous writer with a wicked sense of humor. Her article outlines the history of the girdle and also modern girdles like Spanx.

Take a look at the thought process she goes through in her introduction. She begins by saying that your grandma probably wore a girdle and that many of the well-known Hollywood actresses of the 50's also wore them. Their purpose was to make a woman feel more "womanly." This, of course, is a universal and timeless concept for what woman doesn't want to feel more womanly? She then goes on to wonder where all that fat goes when you put on a girdle? Thus begins an exploration into the history of the girdle and how they actually work. Did you know that the word girdle came from a word meaning belt and that the first girdles were like belts. Did you know that men wear man-girdles or "mirdles"?

This article also provides an opportunity to give your say about the future of girdles. A hilarious video shows a pretty skinny girl putting on her Spanx and a pair of pants that are clearly too small for her. What do you think? Is there a place for girdles in today's world?

---

Image Credit: Pin Up 004 Candy Baby Vintage Style Postcard by 369PinUps

---

Visit: My Girdle Ate My Fat

Do You See the Person Inside?

At the very beginning of her lens, Autoimmune Disorder Alopecia Areata, ShawnGourley
asks her readers if they've seen someone with no hair and assumed that they were really sick, likely with cancer.

The question really touched my personal experience.

I met someone in a group I was part of who was bald. He lacked body hair in other areas as well - - eyelashes, eyebrows, arms - - so I knew he didn't just shave his head. I assumed he had cancer and was on treatment. I didn't ever say anything to him about it because I wasn't sure what to say. Later, he spoke to the group and explained that he wasn't sick - - he had alopecia. He also explained that he was really open about it and to just ask. He revealed more about his experience with alopecia over time until he was tragically killed in a car accident about two years ago.

As I read through Shawn's lens that highlights the experience of her nephew, Austin, a lot of it sounded very similar to what my friend shared, and it brought back memories. I also learned even more about alopecia from the information that Shawn provides.

Not only that, though.

Shawn writes about an incredible camp for kids with skin disorders that Austin is a part of. She includes a video that describes the camp and features some of the kids and their stories - -  their stories of rejection and hardship outside of camp and their feelings of acceptance and friendship inside the camp. In this video, there was a really profound statement made by Jim Paratore, a camp volunteer. He said, "When you look at everybody's eyes, you can see the person inside."

I teach kids with special needs and I really related to this statement when I heard it. It's so true that no matter what is on the outside . . . no matter what "disability" or disorder a person may have . . . we're all human beings on the inside. We're deeper than an outer appearance or label or difference. We're all valuable. We all have something special to share with the world. And we all deserve love and acceptance.

To me, that's what it's really all about.

What do you think?

---

Image Credit: beautiful green eyes by GeoDesign
Browse other Adult Cards

---

Visit: Autoimmune Disorder Alopecia Areata

Do you make your own luck?

Have you ever believed the saying that you make your own luck? I'm not sure that I do. Lady Luck has never been by my side however hard I've tried to sweeten her up over the years.

Maybe this is why, 50 Signs of Good Luck From Around The World by monarch13 struck a chord with me. It appears that it's no wonder I'm not considered a very lucky woman; I've made little or no attempt to endear the good lady to me at all!

Here monarch13 has listed all the known lucky charms from insects, nature, animals and icons to symbols, plants, objects and gemstones; some of which you wouldn't ever dream of thinking of as a lucky charm. But, it just shows how diverse this world and its cultures really are.

There are some well known lucky charms listed here which we will know and sometimes even use: How many times have you avoided walking under a ladder, for instance, or searched in vain for that ever elusive four leaf clover?

Whilst reading through this lens, I've realised that there are a couple of symbols that I will blatantly ignore or mistreat. For example, I'll often, deliberately, walk under a ladder if I see one, with the attitude that could only be viewed as a provocation. Another listed symbol of good luck provokes a pathetic girlie scream and a cry of 'Get it off! Get it OFF!' reaction if it lands anywhere near me. Now, things are starting to make an awful lot of sense...

However, there are also some wonderful examples, on this lens, of lucky charms from other countries and folklore that stem back many centuries. Monarch13 is very much in touch with her spiritual side and it enables her to create awe-inspiring lenses like this one that are so interesting to read.

With its gorgeous images, well-researched and extensive information about each charm and neat but striking formatting, this lens is definitely a treat to visit.

Have you made your luck yet?

---

Image Credit: Neigh Luck Horse by haywiregraphics
View more Horse Posters

---

Visit: 50 Signs of Good Luck From Around The World

Native American Influence On Boys Scouts

Most people who know me very well at all, know that I am a student of Native American Spirituality. I spend a lot of time each week studying and researching the history of the indigenous peoples who inhabited North America long before the other cultures came here. By reading about the people and the way that they embraced and lived life, I find a better understanding of my own spiritual connection. Every once in a while I come across something that gives me one of those "Aha" moments. It happened this week when I found a connection between a Native American and the Boy Scouts of America.

I'm not sure why the information surprised me like it did. When I think about the activities that my brothers did in the Scouts, I can see the connection now. But I didn't know the history until I found an article written by emanderso about Charles Eastman a Native American who helped form the Boys Scouts of America. Eastman was of the Sioux Nation who graduated from Dartmouth and then Boston University with a medical degree and returned to the Pine Ridge Reservation to help his people. Emanderso tells us that Charles Eastman was present at the massacre of Wounded Knee and helped to take care of the wounded. Sometime around 1910 Eastman helped Ernest Thompson Seton create the institution of the Boy Scouts here in America and based it on the ways of the Native Americans.

What I found so fascinating was that Charles Eastman quietly used his education to help his people. He defended them against corrupt Indian Agencies and even lobbied in Washington D.C. His helping start the Boy Scouts was, in a way, bringing recognition to the old way of life. When I read the Boy Scout Law included in the article, I could see many of the teachings included that any young boy would have been taught from his tribe. In his quiet way, Eastman preserved a little of the culture.

What touched my heart was a quote from Charles Eastman. Here is an excerpt: "The true Indian sets no price upon either his property or his labor. His generosity is limited only by his strength and ability. He regards it as an honor to be selected for difficult or dangerous service and would think it shameful to ask for any reward..." I feel honored to have met this incredible man through Emanderso's article.

Visit Charles Eastman

Image Credit: Eagle Court of Honor Post Card by boyscouts

An Artist's Devotion

As Kim noted on Friday, here at Squidoo Lens Reviews each of us is searching for quality work to present to you, although what inspires each of us may be different.

The very act of writing for this blog has helped me to discover themes that appeal to me and that I can't resist coming back to. For instance, the two 'A's -- animals and art -- are subjects that never fail to draw me in. It's no surprise, then, that some of those I admire most on Squidoo happen to be animal artists.

This week I came across an article by someone who has led a fascinating life, to put it mildly. D-artist has many stories to tell, and each one of them alone would be compelling enough. Together, they make up a life story that encompasses everything from her parents' connections with silver screen movie stars and the travelling circus, to her own very youthful experiences of wartime Berlin and post-war Bavaria, and from there to Ellis Island, a modelling career that unexpectedly resulted in her lovely face becoming a global (if anonymous) icon, and a career as an accomplished artist.

Beneath all this is a very real person, a wife and mother, with a warm heart. That heart is big enough to include the four-legged creatures that have come her way. For 29 years, Delia shared her life with two horses that she adored. She has also given her attention to less fortunate horses and other creatures, and to other causes in line with her faith, by donating her artwork to charity.

These paintings are shared in Art for Donating, Events, Auctions. Given the work that goes into each and every painting, her generosity is admirable. From charity book illustrations to wall-sized murals to painted chairs, Delia has put her brush and paints in service of making this world a more caring place. Her drive to do this is such that, on fracturing her right wrist, she simply switched hand and completed the work with her left! I think this says more than I could about Delia's spirit.

Delia's life stories continue to captivate me. But what impresses me most is these tangible and beautiful acts of kindness. Delia and the others like her who use their talents in such a way are, for me, a true inspiration.

[amazon-slideshow height="250" tracking_id="worsqu-20" width="300"]924b78dc-aace-4af5-80ce-5a1ef237ad9b[/amazon-slideshow]

---

Image Credit: Art Amnesia by kmencher

---

Visit: Art for Donating, Events, Auctions

Des Moines, Baryshnikov and Grannysage

What is a quality Squidoo lens? This is a question that I am always trying to answer and what we are striving to discover on Squidoo Lens Reviews. Since we all perceive things differently, what is quality to me may not be quality to you. However, if an article grabs your attention, keeps you mesmerized, makes you think and you keep remembering it afterwards, then it was quality for you. This is what happened when I first read Grannysage's lens, "Des Moines, Baryshnikov, and Me."

To give you some background, Grannysage is a lensmaster that is in no hurry to create fifty or a hundred lenses. She takes her time with research and writing and does not hit publish until she is completely satisfied with what she has created.

Diane writes in her bio, "I consider myself to be a storyteller. I like to wrap inspirational messages inside little vignettes of my life or the lives of others." Her 24 lenses are personal, thoughtful, entertaining and filled with substance. This particular lens is a perfect example.

It is a true story (mixed with a little fantasy) of a family trip to Des Moines, which touches on celebrity worship, in particular her obsession with the great Russian ballet dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov. I don't want to give away any more than that because you should read Grannysage's hilarious version of the story on your own. It is a story of synchronicity and taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. Her style of lensmaking reflects the philosophy of Mr. Baryshnikov himself. "Dancing is my obsession. My life. I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself."

I hope that you enjoy reading this lens and that it inspires you to read more of Grannysage's work.

---

Image Credit: Baryshnikov by ValentinesDayTshirts

---

Visit: Des Moines, Baryshnikov, and Me

Watch Your Words

I came across a lens this week that really got me thinking. It's not like I haven't thought about the concept before. It was more about the timing than anything. Let me explain . . .

The lens is Taming the Tongue by Kapalbility. It's all about choosing your words carefully. What I find interesting about the timing is that there's so much information out there these days on improving and changing our thinking but not a whole lot about what follows from that - - our words.

An unknown source said:

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

Our words are that powerful. They impact our own lives and the lives of others. They can build up, or tear down.

All the world's major religions - - Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism & Islam - - address taming the tongue and Kapalbility highlights some of these on his lens. It's an ancient teaching. Yet, there's so much hate and negativity spewed out in our world. So much tearing down, rather than building up. So much reactivity, rather than intelligent responding. So much focus on all of this, rather than on the good.

That's what this lens got me thinking about.

Now, there are a couple of common reactions to the idea of taming the tongue. One is that it's just about not using curse words. Personally, I think this misses the point. Another common reaction is that it means that we have to hold in our thoughts, feelings and opinions. But I don't think that's the case. We just have to take time to consider how we're saying things. Expression in kindness and emotional maturity is the key, I think.

Kapalbility says something very important. He says to consider whether the words we're about to say will add value or not. Something very similar is taught in "The One Minute Millionaire" when Robert Allen & Mark Victor Hansen advise us to choose our words carefully. They add, "If it doesn't serve, don't say it." In other words, watch your words and make sure they add value.

What do you have to say on the subject?

---

Image Credit: Speech bubble by Thinkdifferent
Browse other cards on zazzle.com

---

Visit: Tame That Tongue

A Harbor of Refuge

We often feel as if we live in a hectic, chaotic world where daily responsibilities can be suffocating and the burdens of this life can be unbearable. So where do we find relief? The answer to that question certainly varies depending on each individual, but for many of us, we seek solace in nature. A quiet walk through the woods without ringing phones or doorbells can be all we need to refresh us and prepare us to take on the next task. But what if we live in the city, not close to any sanctuary of nature? That is when we must, once again, take matters into our own hands and create our own utopia.

In Create a Backyard Bird Sanctuary, ElizabethJeanAllen gives us terrific advice on how to begin. This article is about creating a sanctuary for birds, but I have found that in creating a place of beauty and restoration for other creatures, we are in fact creating a place for ourselves. She suggests that when we select flowers or shrubs that we choose our favorites and theirs. Isn’t it amazing how such beautiful additions to our own backyards can and will feed the bird’s little stomachs while the very same bloom will feed our souls? Sometimes just the fragrance of a rose or the sound of a mourning dove is all that is needed to calm our spirits. I have a very dear friend who recently shared with me that the dance of a raven made her giggle. What a wonderful way to start any day; calm in spirit and laughing at the gift that is literally just outside our window.

We should strive to find peaceful surroundings and if they are not already available, then we should make our own harbor of refuge that will wait for our return.

---

Image Credit: Hummingbird and Rose of Sharon by Sylvestermouse
Browse Rose Cards

---

Visit: Create a Backyard Bird Sanctuary

Carrie: New Wednesday Writer

It is with pleasure that I announce our new Wednesday writer.

If you've been around Squidoo for any length of time, you have probably heard of Carrie White, aka inkserotica.

Carrie has been on Squidoo for just over two years and has proven herself not only as a compelling writer but as a community-minded participant. This is evidenced by her stints as a Squid Angel and a Squid Greeter, as well as through her blogs and lenses made especially to help the Squidoo community.

She's a freelance writer and reviewer living in London, and her many interests include cryptozoology and true crime.

Welcome to the fold, Carrie! And thank you for all you do for the Squid community! Looking forward to your first post next Wednesday!

Kitsch Just Makes You Giggle

After having a rather rough day at work yesterday, I just needed a good giggle and Kitsch seemed like a good place to start. Admit it, the image of Bacon Man the Superhero in the picture makes you chuckle just a little, doesn't it? Its odd, its out of the box, its peculiar...it's Kitsch!

In my quest to find a good giggle, I ran across a new writer. Her humor was exactly what I needed to forget the grumpies that had taken over my psyche. Resabi writes about some oddities that she finds amusing in her article I Love Kitsch!. Apparently, her quirky collection got started when she was a kid and her family would stop at "South of the Border" a rest stop on the way to Florida. I remember that rest stop from a trip my family made and those hysterical and corny signs that kept you entertained for miles before you got to the shop. Obviously, Resabi finds joy in life and likes to laugh. She suggests that you try to eat an ice cream cone without smiling. I agree with her, it just can't be done.

So, you just have to go on over and read her article and discover the world of crime scene band aids, marshmallow launchers, and action figure dolls that aren't the norm. Did you know there is a Seth Godin doll? Resabi introduces us to him and others! Seriously, you are gonna laugh. And in some cases you just might say, "EEWWWW!" but you will still find yourself giggling.

Thank you Resabi for taking the grumpy out of me and giving me a good round of giggles, chuckles, and good old fashioned belly laughs. Now how did you know I needed that?

On a serious note, I think this gal has some real talent, she is an up and comer and I think we will all become big fans of hers.

Visit I Love Kitsch!

Image Credit: Bacon Man by tshirtdart
[amazon-product alink="0000FF" bordercolor="000000" height="240" tracking_id="hubp0773-20"]0859651525[/amazon-product]

A Walk in the Country

When it comes to the question "would you rather live in the city or the countryside?", I have to vote for the rural life. Of course, for me, countryside means the "green and pleasant" fields and woodland of an English landscape, hillsides dotted with cotton wool sheep. More recently, I have come to love the rugged, windswept places of Scotland with a passion.

Cities may be where the action is, but for me the countryside is timeless. I love the connection to those who were here before and who wandered the same lanes, crossed the same stream, paused on the same hilltop to look at a view not much changed across the stretch of years.

The names of wildflowers, and the traditions and uses surrounding them, are another thread that continues from generation to generation. And the pleasures of a country childhood are simple ones that revolve around the thrill of discovery and the joy not of simply looking on but of being part of the wild world of nature.

Poet, musician and preacher-in-training LizMac60 had a country childhood in Devon, which is an especially lovely part of rural England, located in the south west of the country. Through the ups and downs of her life, she has clearly retained this love of nature in general and of Devon in particular. To quote from her biography on Squidoo: By far the greater part of my life has been lived in the countryside in Devon England. How blessed I am.

This makes Liz the perfect guide to take us on a nature walk, and that's exactly what she does in Down a Devon Lane. With photos and an engaging commentary, Liz leads us on a tour of her beloved countryside, beginning in her own village. Along the way, she points out flowers and leaves, which she names for us, and spies a bee among the campions. The delights of nature come alive with her friendly conversation and to read this article it really does feel as if you were right there beside Liz as she shares anecdotes and even a couple of poems of her own composition.

One of these begins: There's nothing so grand / As a walk in the country. If you fall into step beside this charming walking companion and take a stroll down her Devon lane, I am certain you will agree.

[amazon-slideshow height="250" tracking_id="worsqu-20" width="300"]5e84d28b-169d-43c5-9bf1-3d9c0d897ba5[/amazon-slideshow]

---

Image Credit: Beautiful Blue Cornflowers meadow flower design by StarBrightNights

---

Visit: Down a Devon Lane

Wangari Maathai - Planting Trees for Peace

I admit that I have a thing for trees. To me, they are simply breathtaking no matter the season. Besides their beauty, we live in a world where our very existence depends on trees. While we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, those trees take in carbon dioxide and send out oxygen, all the while providing shelter for hundreds of plant and animal species. Forgive me, but I could go on and on about trees.

Another penchant of mine is to be inspired by people, not just trees. And one such inspiration for me is Wangari Maathai, an African woman who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for planting trees! What does planting trees have to do with peace? Well, you will just have to read this excellent article by Kangai on Wangari Maathai.

Wangari Maathai began planting trees in Kenya as a way of addressing rural issues such as deforestation and the resulting soil erosion, as well as empowering women. However, this movement to plant trees, called the Green Belt Movement, became so much more. She writes, "The planting of trees is the planting of ideas. By starting with the simple act of planting a tree, we give hope to ourselves and to future generations." She showed that by planting one tree at a time, a community could empower itself to decide what happens to their environment and provide hope for the future. Since 1977, 40 million trees have been planted across Africa, with a goal of 1 billion trees worldwide by 2018.

The personal story of Wangari Maathai is a fascinating one. Educated in the U.S., she was the first East and Central African woman to be awarded a Doctorate Degree. She also became a member of parliament. A superhero to me and Kangai, she is also a superhero for thousands in Africa and around the world.

[amazon-slideshow height="250" tracking_id="thenatuofphot-20" width="300"]a45ded62-8166-4ad7-b725-c1259fee5e34[/amazon-slideshow]

---

Image Credit: plant a tree by aissa

---

Visit: Wangari Maathai

Good Morning!

I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning.

This usually isn't the case for me. I love the work that I do from home and I'm usually excited and eager to get up and get going. Even when I'm teaching full time from September to June, I get up really early so I can work on my home business before I go to work.

I love it.

And I love the quiet, peaceful mornings.

I don't know what it was about today. Maybe my body just needed more sleep. Whatever the reason, it made me think of Norma Budden's lens, My Top Reasons for Getting Out of Bed.

As part of a wonderfully descriptive introduction, Norma asks, "Why can't I just stay in bed? Why won't my alarm clock just let me off the hook this one time so I can continue to bask in the luxury of blissful sleep?" I could relate to the sentiment this morning! But normally I would have different thoughts running through my head. The thought of just staying in bed all day would make me feel a little sad because I wouldn't be doing the things I love (unless, of course, I had my laptop in bed with me).

That's exactly the direction that Norma takes in this lens, actually.

She begins to share her most important reasons for getting up in the morning. With her personal, creative and engaging writing and her awesome photos, she describes the joys of her life and the little miraculous moments that bring a smile to her face and make each morning a good morning. Most captivating is her last reason for getting out of bed - - because she can.

After reading through this lens again, I was left sitting peacefully in gratitude and joy for the life I have. And I reflected on my own reasons for getting up in the morning.

What are your reasons for getting out of bed each day?

---

Image Credit: Good Morning! by ambermations
Make custom picture note cards at zazzle

---

Visit: My Top Reasons for Getting Out of Bed

A Little Slice of Happiness

Many years ago, there was a commercial jingle that sang “We love baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet.” Do you remember that? It still plays over and over in my head. As I recall, it was about American favorites and traditions.

I have to admit, there was absolutely nothing that compared to spending a Saturday afternoon attending a local baseball game, eating hot dogs and drinking a mixture of soft drinks. Saturday nights were spent “cruising” in our cars which, as often as not, were Chevys.

Then there was the apple pie; truly considered a family tradition. Why, you couldn’t have a Sunday meal without apple pie and then the nightly kitchen raids for the leftovers. It was indeed all part of growing up in “the good ole USA.”

I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by nostalgia as I read IntuitiveHealer’s Memories of Apple Pie. I thought about my own precious grandmother peeling apples, rolling out and shaping the crust with her fingers, cutting the slits in the top and slipping the pie in the oven to bake. When the pie was finished, we would sit down at the table to enjoy a hot piece of pie and just talk. I don’t remember what we talked about, but I do remember the time she spent making her house a home.

Just like IntuitiveHealer, many of us never learned how to make apple pie from scratch or we simply do not have the time in this fast paced world, but we can still enjoy a solitary moment of divine pleasure or recreate the family setting by purchasing a premade apple pie. Better yet, she has provided us with videos of step by step instructions on how to make an apple pie. Wouldn’t it be fun to grab a friend, family member or even your spouse and venture back into yesteryear by making your own slice of happiness? Just don your apron, cruise on over to Memories of Apple Pie, and let the games begin!

---

Image Credit: Apple pie by GPArkive
Browse Apples Flyers

---

Visit: Memories of Apple Pie

Learn How To Unhoard Yourself

My mom is a hoarder. This doesn’t make my mother a bad person. This isn’t the case at all. My mother is one of the most wonderful people I know. Her delightful soul can bring joy to any room at any moment if she wishes. Her flaw, her problem is collecting, buying and saving everything.



My mother’s hoarding is usually kept to a room or two, as well as a few closets in the house. Oh! and she keeps the shed in the backyard filled with potential art projects. My mother is a very artistic person with a lot of great ideas. She just never has enough time to follow through. Her hoarding is not nearly as bad as the extreme hoarders shown on TV, but it is a problem, a problem she has been embarrassed about for years. She wasn't always a hoarder.


My siblings and I are all afraid of becoming hoarders too. Growing up in a hoarding environment we have difficultly distinguishing the difference between frugality and hoarding. You see, my mother taught us to appreciate everything, how to be grateful for what we have and how to recognize a good deal when we come across a good deal, but mix that in with a few emotional issues and the concept can get a little blurred. There is being frugal and grateful and then there is not letting go of anything. There has to be a limit to what we own. Right?! This is easier said than done.


I have siblings that wont keep anything for too long out of fear of turning into hoarders themselves. Then there is me. I pride myself in my ecofrugality. I will recycle everything I can, reuse it, donate it or trade it in for something else. In the process of reusing, donating or trading, there is a bit…okay, a lot of “collecting" that needs to be done. The line between hoarder and ecofrugality can sometimes get covered by the toppling mess. So, when I came across MeltedRachel’s, How to Live Without Stuff and Why You Should, I was inspired, welcomed, understood, advised and intrigued by her lens.


Let’s begin with the first picture in the lens. What a great introductory picture! It sums up the emotions of isolation and the misunderstanding of hoarding in a nutshell. The quote, "99% of everything we buy ends up in the trash 6 months later," really brings the point across about our need to just buy things without the thought of where it will end up later. Then MeltedRachel posts a picture of a garbage truck in a landfill. Score! As a wannabe environmentalist this really tugs at my heart.


The Hug-E gram is just hilarious. I am lucky enough to have real hugs in my life. If I wasn't would I buy something like this? I don't think so. "You are a true hoarder if...you buy ten Hug-E grams," would look great on a zazzle t-shirt. Who would buy the t-shirt? MeltedRachel follows all of the above with her personal reasoning behind hoarding and then gives good advice for ways to “unhoard" oneself, followed by pictures of extreme hoarding homes and videos about compulsive hoarders.


This eye opening lens has a lot of potential to make a difference in a hoarder's life. I would love to see MeltedRachel use the page break module and a little bit more HTML in her lens to give it a cleaner and more organized look, but other than that I recommend all hoarders, potential hoarders or loved ones of a hoarder to visit the page. Vote for it. Leave feedback and share the lens link with family and friends.

Visit How to Live Without Stuff and Why You Should

---

Image Credit: Food Hoarding Squirrel! by RedneckHillbillies

---

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Raise your hand if you are growing-something-green challenged! Imagining the show of hands…alas, I don’t feel so lonely anymore. As I pulled together my patio garden this year, I was determined to meet my personal challenge head on! This year I had the time, this year I was going to give the garden my full attention.

Each morning I wake, grab a cup of caffeine-laced java and head out to my porch. I love the greeting I’ve been blessed with this year – green and lovely plants bursting with blossoms. Truly believe it’s my new mindset that has me anxiously waiting for the harvesting that includes sugar snap peas, cucs, banana peppers and more.

My container garden, this year, is small scale to what steveffeo writes about in Start a profitable Gardening business. Yet…I’m intrigued because with intention, some lessons and a serious tilling of the soil, my simple container gardening could be so much more. I envision, with Steve's enthusiasm, an opportunity to sell and share my garden gifts.

If you have not had the good fortune of landing on one of Steve’s gardening pages on Squidoo and beyond I’m telling you now it’s a real treat, a gardener’s haven of information. This guy loves gardening and it shows! In fact, if we met in person I bet he would have two bright green thumbs.

A seed was planted when I read Start a profitable Gardening business back in October of 2007, now it fuels me. What I really appreciate the most about this article is that it speaks to all kinds of gardeners – expert to novice – encourages you to run with the ideas while creating your garden, feed your family and others less fortunate, visualize your efforts turning into a business, plus much, much more. It’s not far out of reach now that I know it’s in me to grow something green! How about you?

Visit: Start a profitable Gardening business

---

Image Credit: I'm The Sugar To Your Snap Pea by clouda9 on Zazzle

---

The 1970s Revisited

When I reflect back to the decade of the 1970s, I realize that was a pretty monumental decade in my life. My high school class is about to celebrate our 40 year reunion in a few weeks so the 70s have been on my mind. I packed a lot of living into those 10 years! I would give ya the skinny on some far out parties we had, but the memory is a little foggy on those. Life was groovy! I married my high school sweetheart and we bought our first home in that decade. We also had our first daughter before the 1970s were finished. I went from being a little flower child and hanging with the Dudes and Chumps to being a wife and mother and it was all copacetic.

With the reunion coming soon, I started digging around for some cool stuff to do some skits with to get some chuckles from the rest of the geezers attending. So here's the scoop on one article I found by Mulberry who gives us the lowdown on some dudes that many liked to boogie to and watch on the boob tube. Her Teen Celebrities From The 70s will be Far Out for many of you, I think. Do me a solid and book on over and read about some of the heart throbs of 40 years ago. Mulberry really did an awesome job on it!

Hopefully those of you who are as old as me will recognize that I haven't totally flipped out and you have chuckled with some of the 70s slang that I've tossed around this review. For the younger crowd, I'll bet your parents can translate for you. Although, there are a lot of these terms that are still used today. Just goes to show ya that Cool is Cool no matter what decade it comes from. Right on!

Listen, I'll catch ya on the flip side....

Visit Teen Celebrities From The 70s

Image Credit: Groovy Vibe 70's Style by sogeshirts

[amazon-product align="center" tracking_id="hubp0773-20"]B003OW12NA[/amazon-product]

C.A.R.E. -- The Happiest Sanctuary Ever?

Imagine, if you will, being born into a land of giants. And that this land was full of the giants' loud and fast-moving machines that made you afraid.

In this land you have no voice. It is difficult, sometimes impossible, to survive by your natural gifts that served your ancestors so well.

Your only chance, often, is to trust in the giants. Yet those you trust may not be kind or good. You can find yourself at risk of mistreatment or abandonment. Or you might get sick and find you are suddenly unwanted. Neither is it always your choice who you must trust, when you are handed over from one giant to another like a package.

It is a sobering thought that this scenario might apply to the vulnerable young of humankind. Sad to say, even they do not always find the care they deserve in this world. What hope, then, for other defenceless creatures on our planet?

But there are lights in the darkness of these thoughts. Fortunately, though we are a land of giants to the small and vulnerable animals who find themselves too often at the mercy of human whim, there are many who do value the smaller creatures. Second chances exist, and loving hands can and do reach out to those who are sick, abused, old, or simply unwanted.

This week, the official Squidoo blog introduced us to several of the new charities that Squidoo so generously supports. One of these was C.A.R.E. The name stands for Cat/Canine Asssistance, Referral and Education, and this tells you pretty much what you need to know about their work. C.A.R.E. introduce us to their very special sanctuary in a beautifully-presented article that reflects the care and passion driving their work. It is one that will warm the hearts of animal lovers regardless of which side of the cats vs. dogs debate you fall on (and even more so if you have a passion for both feline and canine friends).

Dog lovers could not wish for better for these canine orphans than a partially-covered, spacious yard that each rescue dog will normally share with one other roommate. Volunteers pop in to play and in the summer the residents get their own wading pool! If the photo is anything to go by, these dogs are as happy as can be.

As for cats, we know how they love their home comforts. They share the sanctuary's buildings which have been transformed into a cat lodging house with clean, comfortable quarters, in addition to an outside enclosure where they can go for a wander as the mood takes them. They also have their own playtime and plenty of cuddles for those who like them. With so many comfy napping places it surely must be cat heaven! Even those with feline leukaemia (leukemia) live full and happy lives here.

If you can spare a quarter hour, please take the time to view this desert sanctuary's video. I guarantee it will lift any animal lover's spirts and will put a smile on your face.

This wonderful introduction to C.A.R.E. has been created by their Squidoo representative care4petssanctuary and is in itself a top quality article. So, even if you only have a moment, I hope you will look in on C.A.R.E. I'm confident you will forgive my bleak introduction when you see that this really is one of the happiest tales (or should I say tails?) on Squidoo!

[amazon-slideshow height="250" tracking_id="worsqu-20" width="300"]3e411ec4-1254-4bda-a9fd-72a7c5bd757a[/amazon-slideshow]

---

Image Credit: Cat and dog friendship Photo Sculpture by Andici

---

Visit: Cat/Canine Asssistance, Referral and Education

Lazy Summer Reading

Recently, I left for my summer vacation and one of my first priorities was to load up on books for the flight. First to go in my bag were a couple from home just waiting to be read, one of them being “Let the Great World Spin” by Colum McCann, a tale of the intersecting lives of ten characters in New York City during the summer of 1974. Next, I downloaded a few good reads onto my iPad, including “The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson, a true murder mystery that takes place during the Chicago World's Fair of 1893.

If you are searching for summer reading options, look no further than this article, “The Top 10 Books for Lazy Summer Reading” by Lucy, also known as LKW31 on Squidoo. Her list includes books for pure escapism, chick lit, an autobiography, a classic, an inspirational adventure book, and even a summer food cookbook. Like Lucy, I am an avid reader and always like to know what others are reading. Lucy’s article was intriguing because I hadn’t heard of many of the books on her list, yet she made them all sound interesting and fun; the perfect summer books. Besides her well-written and enthusiastic descriptions of each book, she also includes beautiful photos depicting the setting for each story.

What does Lucy look for in a book for summer reading? She writes, “The best holiday read for me is one that immerses me into another person's world, with originality and imagination.” I couldn’t agree more. While I tend to read mostly non-fiction, in summer I want to escape into a well-told story. Of the ten books Lucy recommends, the one that appeals to me most is “One Day” by David Nicholls, the story of two people and what they are doing on one particular day over a twenty year period.

How about you? What will be in your book bag this summer?

---

Image Credit: Flip Flops Ocean Bookmark by mrssocolov

---

Visit: Top 10 Books for Lazy Summer Reading

Celebrate Life

Most people want to be happy in life. In fact, when many people are asked what they really want and they get right down to the core of it, they often say, "To just be happy."

Yet many people believe that happiness will come at some point in the future. It'll come after something else happens. When they find the right job. When the kids move out. When their partner changes. When the economy improves. When __________ . You fill in the blank.

The thing is that happiness is a choice. It's a choice now. And it comes from the inside and spreads out . . . it doesn't come from outside circumstances, but from within you.

It's a mindset.

One way to achieve this mindset is to celebrate life as it is now, no matter what. Look for the little things right now that you can celebrate and be grateful for. Little things that make you smile or laugh out loud. Things that already exist or things that you can create and then celebrate. As Oprah Winfrey says, "The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." It's so true. When you notice simple pleasures or when you're grateful for little things, you see more and more to celebrate and be grateful for.

Lensmaster, Marelisa has written a beautiful and inspiring list of 100s of ways to create and celebrate simple pleasures every day. The positive ideas, quotes, images and videos will have you smiling and celebrating just by reading the lens!

Some of my favorite ideas are:

• have a picnic inside


• catch raindrops on your tongue


• donate blood


• blow bubbles


• simmer apple cider, cinnamon and cloves in water on your stove


• and smile

What are your favorite ideas to celebrate life?

---

Image Credit: Simple Pleasures Note Card by mysweettater
See other Sheep Cards

---

Visit: 100s of Ways to Celebrate Life