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Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’

Friday’s Fresh Five! (10/7/11)

Posted in About me, Creativity, Health, Holidays, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Photography, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Sitting at my desk and admiring the sleek beauty of my iMac computer, I think with sadness about the passing of Steve Jobs. His combination of creative intelligence and technological genius definitely put the “ding in the universe” that he so wanted. He challenged and inspired us with his innovations and changed the world forever.

#1 – Inspirational Quotes by Steve Jobs
Take a moment and read the 20 Most Inspirational Quotes By Steve Jobs.

#2 – Picture Perfect
Using the site iPiccy, I downloaded the graphic of Steve Job’s silhouette and the Apple logo, quadrupled the image, selected colors, and added text all within 15 minutes. Because iPiccy is so easy to use and is fun to experiment with, you’ll find yourself searching your photo library for more photos on which to test techniques and effects. Why not plan ahead and create something interesting for your holiday cards?

#3 – Apple Trivia
Apple season is here, so check out how much you know about this popular fruit:

• Over 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States and 7,500 varieties are grown worldwide.

• Apples are grown in all 50 states.

• The first recorded apple tree planting was in 1629 by the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

• Americans eat about 19.6 pounds of fresh apples annually, compared to about 46 pounds consumed annually by residents of European countries.

• Apples are a member of the rose family.

• A medium-sized apple contains about 80 calories.

• Apples float because 25% of an apple’s volume is air.

• Two pounds of apples make one 9-inch pie.

• Apples contain no fat, cholesterol, or sodium.

• Apples are a great source of pectin, a water-soluble fiber found to reduce levels of cholesterol by removing it from the blood stream.

• Apples contain boron, an essential trace element that helps to harden bones, which may reduce the onset of osteoporosis.

• Apples are best stored in a plastic bag in your refrigerator.

Read more apple facts at:
Knouse Foods
Sweetwater Cellars
FoodReference.com

#4 – Color Quiz
I wasn’t expecting much after I took this quick and simple Color Quiz. I knew color selection affects behavior and learning styles, but I didn’t really appreciate how much it could reveal about a person’s emotional state. Maybe it was just my mood yesterday, but my test results were interestingly accurate. Take the quiz and find out what color selection says about you?

#5 – Happiness
“The amount of happiness that you have depends on the amount of freedom you have in your heart.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Have a lovely weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (9/30/11)

Posted in About me, Creativity, Entertainment, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Photography, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 30, 2011| 1 Comment »

Baskets of ripe tomatoes in a myriad of colors resemble a richly-textured quilt sitting on a table. As summer crops, such as tomatoes, peaches, berries and plums, wane and winter squashes take over the tables at farmers’ markets, I’m reminded that autumn is here. With temperatures still warm where I live, it’s hard to recognize the transition of summer to fall. But I’m ready, actually more than ready, for fall. I’m in the mood for apple cider and sweaters and soup and crisp mornings. What about you?

#1 – Mood Music
Does music create moods or do moods create music? I think it goes both ways. Whether you need music to match your mood or music to accompany a particular activity, you’ll probably find a playlist on STEREOmood that fits the bill. “Behind every song there’s always an emotion. We don’t know why but maybe that’s why we love music. So we’ve created a way to suggest songs that follow your feelings: stereomood is the free emotional internet radio, providing music that best suits your mood and your activities,” reads the website. Right now I’m listening to a playlist of music to paint by and, although I don’t paint anymore, listening to this playlist makes me want to get out my paint brushes!

#2 – Awwwards
No, the title is not misspelled. Awwwards are “The awards for design, creativity and innovation on the Internet, which recognize and promote the best web designers in the world.” Cool Gadgets for Creative Offices is an article that caught my eye. Check out the clever designs from ingenious designers. Or should it be, ingenious designs from clever designers?

#3 – How to Peel a Garlic in 10 Seconds!
Todd Coleman, Saveur executive food editor, shows in a super-brief video how to peel a head of garlic in less than 10 seconds! Wow, who would have thought you could work out your triceps and peel garlic at the same time!

#4 – Must-Reads
From Woman’s Day comes this list of 11 Must-Read Fall Books. Although I love to sink my teeth into a good book, I find that I don’t have as much time for reading as I would like. After reading the descriptions of each of these books, though, I’m in the mood to throw away my “To Do” list, snuggle on the sofa with my dog, and read them all!

#5 – Growing Ideas
“Throwing away ideas too soon is like opening a package of flower seeds and then throwing them away because they’re not pretty.”
– Arthur VanGundy, Ph.D.

Spend some time this weekend nurturing that little idea of yours!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (9/23/11)

Posted in About me, Aging, Helping Others, inspiration, Pets, Photography, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 23, 2011| 3 Comments »

As I sat at my computer working on today’s post, I could hear Romeo, my twelve-and-a-half-year-old Cockapoo, snoring under the desk. At first glance, one would think he is much younger. His blond curly coat and his small dog attitude belie his age. But upon closer observation, Romeo’s old, soulful eyes and stiff back legs reveal the truth. He is really a mellow old guy now and is such a joy to have around. With that thought in mind, I wondered if I were to see an old dog like Romeo in a shelter, would I adopt him or would I want a younger, more spry puppy? Would would you do?

#1 – Senior Dogs
Check out the Senior Dogs Project, a site dedicated to “Looking Out for Older Dogs.” Learn about the joys of adopting or fostering an older dog. According to the website, the top ten reasons to adopt a senior dog are:

1. House-trained
2. Won’t chew inappropriate items
3. Focuses well
4. Knows what “no” means
5. Settles in with the “pack”
6. Good at giving love
7. What you see is what you get
8. Instant companion
9. Time for yourself
10. Get a good night’s sleep

Another site dedicated to senior dog rescue is Muttville.

#2 – Dalai Lama’s 18 Rules for Living
No matter your age, these rules for living are worth remembering.

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs:
a. Respect for self
b. Respect for others
c. Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

#3 – Reuse It

If you have multiple electrical cords and plugs under your desk or elsewhere in your house, and you don’t have a clue which appliances they belong to, here’s a helpful tip for you. Instead of throwing away those little, square, plastic clips on bread bags that have product dates stamped on them, use them to help identify the plugs. On the unstamped side of the plastic clips, indicate (with a permanent ink marker or label) where the cord originates – computer, printer, toaster, lamp, sewing machine, etc. and you’ll always know which device you’re unplugging!

#4 – Real Love Photo
Photographs can often reveal a depth and breadth of emotion that words cannot do justice. This particular photo by Anze Malovrh was one of those types of photos and it tugged at my heartstrings.

#5 – Born to Stand Out
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
— Dr. Seuss

Enjoy this last weekend in September!

Note: The portrait of Romeo was taken by my son Adam.

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (9/16/11)

Posted in About me, Entertainment, Health, Helping Others, inspiration, Photography, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 16, 2011| 2 Comments »

Being pulled in many different directions is something I am used to since I’m a mom with children who still need my help from time to time. The last couple of weeks have been crazy with activity and I tried to help all three of my kids through their recent transitions. That being said, I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do for each of them or do what I would have normally done for each of them, but I did the best I could. By focusing on the many things that could be accomplished, I did not let the few “unachievable” tasks stop me.

#1 – Makes Me Think
An aging brain and over 240 posts written make it difficult for me to remember whether I’ve already shared Makes Me Think. I’m pretty sure that I have, but it is a site well worth revisiting. Reading the often inspiring and often sad, but always thought-provoking, submissions validates my beliefs that life should be celebrated and that there is inherent goodness in man. Visit the site and read some submissions yourself, but if you don’t, here are a few examples:

Today, my cab driver showed back up at my house an hour later and knocked on my door to give me back my wallet, which another passenger found in his backseat. All of my cash and cards were intact.

Today, my dad saw the tears in my eyes and asked, “You’re not crying over him again, are you?” “Just let me be,” I said. He started walking out of the room, then turned around and said, “If someone won’t lift a finger to call you, see you and spend time with you, it’s time for you to lift five fingers and wave goodbye.”

Today, I ran into my favorite teacher from high school. He was my music teacher all four years. I saw him standing in line outside an unemployment office. I own my a small production company here in L.A. that does animated graphics, sound effects and background music for TV shows, commercials, and small-mid budget movies. I grabbed him out of the line, we chatted and I hired him on the spot. He’s going to be a priceless addition to the team.

Today, my cousin and I met for lunch for the first time in almost a year. He sat across from me with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen across his face and updated me on all the things going on in his life. He said all of his hard work was paying dividends and his small business was thriving. He also mentioned that he was thinking of proposing to “the most amazing woman he had ever met.” “I don’t know how else to say it,” he said sometime toward the end of our lunch, “I’m happy. I’m finally feeling comfortable in my own skin.” My cousin lost his life in a car accident on the way home from work this evening.

#2 – Osteoporosis
Concerned about osteoporosis? Read iVillage’s list of 7 Foods that Fight Osteoporosis and then check out these exercises in Good for Your Bones: Exercises to Prevent Osteoporosis.

#3 – Arctic Light
Sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty of an arctic light display as captured in a short video by photographer Terje Sorgjerd! While on this site stay awhile and watch his other beautifully soothing videos.

#4 – Make It Short
Short stories make perfect reads when you are short on time. It takes a great deal of skill to craft a short story, because the writer has far fewer words than a novelist in which to grab a reader’s attention and develop characters and plot lines. Read and appreciate the art of short story writing at East of the Web, where different genres of short stories are available to read for free. The Short Stories application for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch is free, so that you can read a short story anytime and anywhere you want!

#5 – 18/40/60 Rule
“I like Dr. Daniel Amen’s 18/40/60 Rule: When you’re 18, you worry about what everybody is thinking of you; when you’re 40, you don’t give a darn what anybody thinks of you; when you’re 60, you realize nobody’s been thinking about you at all.”
Jack Canfield

Enjoy your weekend!

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Spread Joy

Posted in About me, Community, Helping Others, inspiration, Kids, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 13, 2011| 2 Comments »

Spread joy. It doesn’t take much, really it doesn’t. There are no guidelines, no right or wrong ways to do it, no right time . . . . Occasionally, a little bit of planning is involved, but mostly it’s spontaneous. Do it and let your actions be joyfully contagious!

There is not a finite number of ways to spread joy, but here are a few suggestions:

Be Kind
When you perform acts of kindness, random or specific, you not only do something good for others, but you make yourself feel good, too! Whether your acts are acknowledged or not, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you sent positive energy out into the universe and that you may have made a difference in people’s lives. And if you are ever lucky enough to be on the receiving end of someone’s kindness, pay it forward. Don’t let the positive energy die – keep it going!

Listen
In our increasingly busy lives, we often don’t have the time or take the time to really listen to what those around us are saying. With a million distractions at our disposal, do we listen carefully enough to read between the lines or to catch innuendos? By listening to others intently, we are conveying to them that they are important to us and that what they have to say matters. Do not try to multitask, solve problems, interrupt, or even converse – just listen.

Encourage
I always say that words have power. In high school, a P.E. teacher gave me the grade of  “C” after performing the Cha-Cha in the ballroom dancing section of our P.E. curriculum. When I asked her about the grade, she said, “You have no rhythm.” For decades I shied away from dancing because I assumed I had no rhythm. Now, because I’m old and I don’t care what others think, I dance. In a world of “what ifs” I muse about the difference it might have made if the teacher had only tried to encourage me by saying, “Not too bad! With a little bit more practice, you could be good!” A word of encouragement here and there can create foundations of joy.

Share
Spread joy by sharing yourself with others. Share your time, your energy, your smile, your talents, your heart, your possessions, your money . . . . You are a multifaceted person, so there is much to share!

Reach Out
Reach out to a friend or relative that you haven’t seen in a while or with whom you’ve lost contact. Call, write, email, text – do whatever it takes to let them know you are thinking of them. Far too many excuses and assumptions prevent us from reaching out to others, but all it takes is a simple “Hello” or “I haven’t seen you in ages, but was thinking about you . . .” to reconnect.

Help Others
Helping others in any way, shape, or form is a guaranteed way of spreading joy. Yesterday in a grocery store, a disabled man in a wheelchair dropped his shopping basket and was unable to retrieve it. Those nearest to him ignored him. I went over and offered my help. The smile I received in return warmed my heart. Helping in large scale ways, such as donating and volunteering, are admirable, but the everyday small ways of helping others mean just as much.

Show Gratitude
Keeping a gratitude journal is a nice habit, but don’t keep all those good thoughts to yourself. Being grateful and showing gratitude are two different things. It doesn’t take much – a simple thank you, a little note, a small reminder to a loved one, a touch on the arm, doing something special – there are so many ways to show gratitude.

Compliment
A sincere compliment goes a long way to spread joy. Compliment someone in their workplace for good service received. Pay a compliment if you notice something different about someone. Leave positive comments for bloggers, newspaper and magazine columnists or any one else whose work you’ve appreciated. Thank your doctor for doing his best to provide you with good care. Why is it so much easier to criticize than compliment?

Celebrate
Celebrate life’s gifts everyday. Celebrate nature – spreading joy is not restricted to mankind. I receive much joy from feeding birds in my backyard. Watching them feed and bathe and listening to their songs always brings me back to the present and to a point of appreciation and celebration of life. Celebrate every occasion possible! Especially celebrate special occasions – don’t let them go by unnoticed. Don’t assume that others know you are thinking about them on their birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, etc. How can they know you are thinking of them, if you never tell them?  Don’t wait to celebrate!

After reading this post, I hope you feel inspired to go out and SPREAD SOME JOY!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (9/9/11)

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Health, Helping Others, inspiration, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on September 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Random thoughts. That’s usually one of the tags I use when I post my Friday’s Fresh Five! columns. Having random content is both good and bad. The bad part is because these posts, and my blog in general, feature random bits of information and thoughts I want to share, my blog may never attain the readership that food blogs or other thematic blogs reach. Sorry, my head is just too crammed with thoughts and ideas to stick to one subject matter! The good thing about having a random theme is that it allows me the freedom to explore and to share with you everything I find and feel. Life is not just about hitting one target all the time; it’s about hitting as many as possible, as often as possible!

#1 – Tonic for the Soul
Inspirational stories, tales of good deeds, volunteer opportunities and more are posted on Tonic. One can never have too much inspiration!

#2 – Secrets of Success
Watch analyst Richard St. John presents 8 Secrets of Success in this short and humorous TED video.

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#3 – Alcohol and Art
I never thought I would promote alcohol on this blog, but I was intrigued with the idea of alcohol art. Magnified images of microscopic alcohol and carbohydrate crystals create colorful and abstract pieces of art. After viewing the images, I decided I am a tequila-type of gal!

#4 – Vitamin Supplements
I feel like I’m drowning in a sea of supplements. My cardiologist recommends potassium, magnesium, selenium, and a daily baby aspirin. My general physician wants me to take a vitamin-D supplement and my OB-GYN strongly suggests I take calcium supplements. All these supplements are in addition to the multi-vitamins I take daily and, of course, my normal healthy diet. I’m not into supplements and medications, but of course, I will follow all of my doctors’ recommendations. Out of curiosity, I thought I would check with the famous Dr. Oz to see what supplements he recommends for my age. On an Oprah web page titled, Vitamins and You, links are provided to lists of age and gender appropriate supplements. To remind me to take them and to prevent my kitchen table from looking like a pharmacy, I keep all the bottles in a nice covered basket on top of my kitchen table.

#5 – Stroke of Luck
“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.”
-Dalai Lama

Hope you hit many fulfilling life targets during this lovely weekend!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! ( 8/26/11)

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Entertainment, Gift Ideas, Handcrafted Cards, inspiration, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Being a creative person is a joy, but it also gives rise to odd looks and a lifetime of explanations. For example, one time at work someone presented me with a box of wide, purple, satin ribbons. “What should we do with this?” she said. Off the top of my head came this answer, “We can weave them together and make clutch purses!” The look I received in return translated to “Are you crazy?” In my mind, anything is doable if given an appropriate amount of creative thought. Today’s post is dedicated to all the creative people who think outside of the box, who envision things as others can’t, who are the problem solvers of the world, and who often say, “What about this?”

#1 – Create For Free
Finding this site was like a dream come true! From Everything Etsy is a list of 101 links for printable gift tags, recipe cards, labels, thank you notes, baby shower invites, sayings, travel games and more! Not only are some of them really cute, they are also FREE! You’ll want to bookmark this page for your future creations!

#2 – 365Q
365Q pairs photos with inspirational sayings and is a project by photographer and graphic design student Julian Bialowas. His goal is to post one of his own photographs everyday for an entire year. We are the lucky recipients of his endeavor!

#3 – Escape Motions
Drawing is just not for kids. Create a piece of art that moves and changes color just by dragging your cursor in a black square on your computer screen. You’ll escape temporarily from your daily drudgery and duties. Amber Starfire of Women’s Memoirs writes, “Drawing engages the right side of the brain while relaxing the left side, allowing visual, emotional, intuitive expression. And when you draw, if only for a few minutes, it improves your ability to problem-solve, including your ability to understand and see into yourself.”

This is so true for me – doing something creative energizes and rejuvenates me. To create something beautiful just for yourself, click here first, then click on the play icon and start moving your cursor around. Just like magic beautiful swirls appear! To check out other escape motions by Peter Blaskovic, click here. Take a moment and enjoy yourself!

#4 – Hotel Tips
Escaping to another place altogether? Create a perfect hotel stay by checking out these tips submitted by readers/travelers on Gadling before you go.

#5 – Don’t Stop Playing
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
-George Bernard Shaw

Create a weekend that rejuvenates your soul!!

Note: The photo above is a screen capture of a “Wordle” that I created. Make a Wordle using your own words or a favorite quote by clicking here.

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (8/12/11)

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Helping Others, inspiration, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 12, 2011| 1 Comment »

Full Moon Rising - Manarola, Italy - Adam Chang 2007

Day or night? Which time of day do you prefer? There are some (not just vampires and werewolves!) that feel a sense of renewal during the evening. Maybe it’s the peaceful quiet that envelops them as the day’s rhythm shifts and settles down or maybe it’s the sight of the calming moon replacing the fiery sun that soothes their souls. Where I live, evenings are the best part of the day during the summer; pleasant, often-breezy nights replace high-temperature days to create perfect scenarios for outdoor activities. Years ago, before the trees grew tall and before the ambient light from surrounding homes and local businesses grew bright, stargazing was a favorite summertime activity for my family. With blankets to lie on, we would settle down on the steep slope of our driveway and enjoy the spectacular stadium-like view of the dark night sky. Although our neighbors must have thought we were crazy, there was magic in just being together and identifying summer constellations and wishing on shooting stars. I wonder how many of those wishes have come true?

#1 – Starry Night
Ever wonder what prompted Van Gogh to paint his famous Starry Night masterpiece? Here’s an artist’s concept of what Van Gogh’s inspiration may have looked like. Compare the two by clicking on their links. Which “starry night” do you like better?

#2 – How to Save Time
Do you want to save time during the day, so that you have more free time in the evening? Start by being more efficient at everything you do. A video titled How to Do Ordinary Things Quickly shows creative time-saving tips. The clothes-folding segments are fascinating, but I don’t recommend trying to park a car as shown!

#3 – Life Lessons
I’ve linked to Marc and Angel Hack Life before, but here’s another one of their lists that made me stop and think. It’s called 111 Lessons Life Taught Us and it centers around  “. . .  all the things you would love to tell yourself if you could travel back in time to give your younger self some advice about life.” If you could, what advice would you give to your younger self? The list is comprised of submissions from a sister site Everyday Life Lessons. Here are a few examples:

You are capable of loving and of being loved. You deserve nothing less. You are not perfect. There may be parts of you that you would change if you could, but accept that some things cannot be changed. This acceptance isn’t easy, but it makes you a stronger person. Try your best not to dwell on your imperfections. Instead, try to see them as just part of a beautiful whole. The same things that make you different make you beautiful.

No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.

There is a difference between giving up and letting go. Giving up is sacrificing what was rightfully yours, letting go is forgetting what was never yours. We can’t gain if we can’t let go. There’s no love without tears, there’s no happiness without sacrifice, and there’s no forever without goodbye. It’s not giving up, it’s more like . . . letting go.

Complaining is like slapping yourself for slapping yourself. It doesn’t solve the problem, it just hurts you more.

There will be two dates on your tombstone. Everyone is going to be looking at them, but all that’s going to matter is that little dash in between them.

#4 – Somewhere Over the Moonbow
If you’re out for an evening stroll and the conditions are just right, look to the part of the sky opposite the moon, and maybe you’ll see a moonbow. A moonbow or lunar rainbow is a phenomenon that occurs when light is reflected off the surface of the moon. According to Wikipedia, Moonbows are most easily viewed when the moon is near to full (when it is brightest). For true moonbows, other than those produced by waterfalls or sprays, the moon must be low in the sky (less than 42 degrees and preferably lower) and the sky must be dark. And of course there must be rain falling opposite the moon. This combination of requirements makes moonbows much more rare than rainbows produced by the sun. Camping.com claims that “The two most famous viewing spots in the U.S. are at Cumberland Falls, near Williamsburg, Kentucky and Waimea, Hawaii. In both places, sign up for a guided hike to see the moon bow.” Add this to your list of things to see during your lifetime!

#5 – Dream By Day
“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night.”
Edgar Allan Poe

May you find ways to renew your soul this weekend!

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Give Up to Give Help: Feed the Starving

Posted in About me, Health, Helping Others, inspiration, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on August 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

As the images of people flocking to refugee camps, of pleading eyes and emaciated bodies, and of anguished mothers weeping over their dead children haunt me, I feel extremely guilty about having plenty of food to eat. With every bite of food I take, I am ashamed of not helping those who are starving. Today’s newspaper carries additional news, “Hundreds of thousands of Somali children could die in East Africa’s famine unless more help arrives.” HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS is a heart-breaking and unfathomable number, but one person starving to death is already one too many. It’s easy to remove ourselves from this news, because Africa is so far away and because we do not witness the daily struggles and tragedies of these people. But we must find a way to help them, because they desperately need our help.

Find 20 minutes in your day to watch this TED video featuring Josette Sheeran, the head of the UN’s World Food Program. Learn about the issues surrounding world hunger and the concepts to alleviate it. She challenges the people of the world to “draw a line in the sand and say no more.” If you don’t have 20 minutes to spare, you can see the faces of hunger and learn more about the famine in East Africa by reading this article in the Atlantic.

What can I do or anyone else do to help? Plenty! It doesn’t take much if everyone helps. According to Caryl Stern, the president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, “Just $10 can feed a child for 10 days.” That’s all – just 10 dollars! For many people 10 dollars is not a make or break amount of money, so here’s my idea: what if everyone gave up some form of daily, weekly, or monthly personal indulgence to help end world hunger? I call it Give Up to Give Help! What are you willing to give up to feed someone who is starving? If you gave up one luxury on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis and donated the money you would have normally spent, think of how many people you could feed. To put it in further perspective, this is what your money could buy, according to the UNICEF site:

$10 can provide 321 sachets of Multiple Micronutrient Powder containing essential vitamins to give a powerful boost to infant survival and development.

$40 can provide a practical and easy to transport scale used to monitor children’s weight.

$80 can provide 1000 sachets of Oral Rehydration Salts to help children combat dehydration.

Here’s a list of things to Give Up to Give Help that I made to jump start everyone into action. Again, the frequency of giving up something in order to donate is up to you:

1. Starbuck’s or any other routine gourmet coffee treat
2. Manicure or pedicure
3. Car wash
4. Dry cleaning and laundry services
5. Dining out – fast food or fine dining
6. Buying new clothes or accessories – instead of buying a new item, donate the cost of that item.
7. Going to a movie
8. Recycling bottles and cans – start a fund to help the hungry by putting the money you get back from recycling into it
9. Admission to entertainment venues – sports, concerts, lectures, etc.
10. Massages
11. Tanning salon appointments
12. Cut back your Netflix subscription or the number of DVDs you rent
13. Waxing – eyebrows or bikini!
14. Instead of an impulsive purchase at the grocery counter (think magazines, candy, or gum), donate the money!
15. Buying a new toy for your child or pet
16. Bouquet of flowers
17. One cocktail or glass of wine
18. One bottle of wine
19. Stretch out your hair appointments by one week and donate the savings
20. Greeting cards – it’s the sentiment that counts, so make your own. The cost of two greeting cards could feed a child for over a week!

These items are luxuries for most of us, but considering food is a luxury for others, I think we can collectively help by sacrificing something! If you have any great ideas for my Give Up to Give Help list, please let me know!

Finally, here are two links to donate directly to the African Famine efforts:
UNICEF
Doctors Without Borders

What will you give up to help?

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (8/5/11)

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Helping Others, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on August 5, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Reminding myself that “sharing and encouraging joy in life” is the intent of this blog, I quickly scanned the entries for today’s post. At first glance, perhaps a few did not reflect my goal, but after careful consideration, I decided I was over-thinking the issue. How could thinking about others, sharing with others, or helping others not create joy?

#1 – TED
Since I’m an idea person, I enjoy watching TED videos. TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas. For no cost, people around the world can watch humorous or thought-provoking lectures.

TED is owned by the Sapling Foundation whose goal  . . . is to foster the spread of great ideas. It aims to provide a platform for the world’s smartest thinkers, greatest visionaries and most-inspiring teachers, so that millions of people can gain a better understanding of the biggest issues faced by the world, and a desire to help create a better future. Core to this goal is a belief that there is no greater force for changing the world than a powerful idea. Consider:

* An idea can be created out of nothing except an inspired imagination.
* An idea weighs nothing.
* It can be transferred across the world at the speed of light for virtually zero cost.
* And yet an idea, when received by a prepared mind, can have extraordinary impact.
* It can reshape that mind’s view of the world.
* It can dramatically alter the behavior of the mind’s owner.
* It can cause the mind to pass on the idea to others.

Here’s a brief three minute video to wet your TED whistle – Jok Church presents A Circle of Caring.

#2 – 13,138 Dice
What do 13,138 dice have in common with artist and designer Tobias Wong? Sadly, that is the number of days he lived. In memory of his friend, artist Frederick McSwain constructed a portrait of Wong using this exact number of dice. It’s a special tribute to a friend and an incredible art installation.

#3 – Kitchen Substitutes
I received a call this morning from one of my neighbors asking to borrow some milk. Because I didn’t have any, we started brainstorming about what she could substitute in her recipe. It’s hard to be a spontaneous cook these days unless you have a full refrigerator and a well-stocked pantry. This list of Common Ingredient Substitutions offers help by providing alternatives. Check out what’s listed as substitutes for milk and read that the substitutes for ricotta cheese are silken tofu or cottage cheese!

#4 – Where in the World?
Do you like puzzles, photographs, geography, and geology? Then this site is for you! Take a look at these photographs and guess where in the world these areas are located. Bits of information are provided as clues and the answers are at the bottom of the page. Good luck!

#5 – Which Way Are You Going?
“Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.”
Henry David Thoreau

Wherever you go this weekend, have a wonderful time!

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