It's very important to me, in my life, to bring light and joy to others. I believe it to be the very core of my purpose on this earth. I love to do it, i'm good at it, and it causes ripples in the emotional conciousness that can turn into a tidal wave of good will. I think alot more people would reach out in kindness if they knew how, or believed that they had the resources to do so.
One seemingly small thing you can do to bring a little joy to someone is to write a little anonymous note and leave it for them to find. I first saw this a few years ago in a restaurant bathroom. A little orange sticky note was on the mirror and it said "It's going to be ok." and had a website address on the bottom to Operation Beautiful. As I was going through an extremely rough time in my life, this note touched me very deeply. I almost felt like it was put there specifically for me. Now I, myself, make it a habit to place little anonymous notes of encouragement in my wake with the hope someone will be touched like I was.
The lesson here is ANY act of kindness counts. A smile, holding open the door, buying an extra coke in the soda machine and leaving it there for the next person, paying for the fountain soda of the person behind you, leaving a dollar bill for someone to find. Any of these things, even just a smile can sometimes tip the balance in someone's day. It can make all the difference in the world to someone. Infect the world with joy and kindess one random act of kindness at a time. :)
In love and light,
Rachel
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
~About Prince Charming~
My life to this point has been fraught with drama. I've loved, I've been loved, I've lost and I've left. That is not to say that I haven't had my fairytale moments, however. Even in their flawed exterior, they still managed to have a little magic. The passionate kisses, the ragged breaths between them, the anticipation.
The thing about Prince Charming is that he doesn't exist anymore. At least, not in the way that he used to. Not in the way we wish he did. As we grew up we saw a man who loved his woman so passionately, so selfishly, that he would risk life and limb to protect her. He defended her honor. He craved her love and she his. The trouble is that while Prince Charming may be out there, he's changed. And so have we. We don't live in a land of horses and carriages, jousts and chivalry. We live in a land of Ford F-150's and XBox 360. We don't court and fall madly in love for happily ever after. We see lovers as disposable. "There are plenty of fish in the sea." While Romeo and Juliet recited sonnets and compared each other to the stars, we send a quick 5 word text and a smiley.
While some of us may get lucky enough to find a real Prince Charming, others of us end up with men that fall perilously short of our idealistic persona. The truth of it is, we expect far more in our hearts than any modern man can possibly know.
I've known my boyfriend for almost 16 years. We've been together as a couple for almost 4. He did not woo me, nor did he slay some great evil to rescue me from my tower. What he did was infinitely more than that. He rescued me from the pit of my despair. He climbed in to the abyss and carried me out. And then he did the unthinkable....he LOVED ME. He fought some of the greatest battles of my life right along with me.
If I've learned anything from the patchwork heart in my chest, it's that you have to FIND the magic. It doesn't just appear. When you do find it, you must nurture it and encourage it to grow.
And if you learn nothing else in this life know this: You. Deserve. Love. You deserve the magic. You can have the fairytale.
So put on your sweetest dress, put a flower in your hair and open your eyes for the magic...
The thing about Prince Charming is that he doesn't exist anymore. At least, not in the way that he used to. Not in the way we wish he did. As we grew up we saw a man who loved his woman so passionately, so selfishly, that he would risk life and limb to protect her. He defended her honor. He craved her love and she his. The trouble is that while Prince Charming may be out there, he's changed. And so have we. We don't live in a land of horses and carriages, jousts and chivalry. We live in a land of Ford F-150's and XBox 360. We don't court and fall madly in love for happily ever after. We see lovers as disposable. "There are plenty of fish in the sea." While Romeo and Juliet recited sonnets and compared each other to the stars, we send a quick 5 word text and a smiley.
While some of us may get lucky enough to find a real Prince Charming, others of us end up with men that fall perilously short of our idealistic persona. The truth of it is, we expect far more in our hearts than any modern man can possibly know.
I've known my boyfriend for almost 16 years. We've been together as a couple for almost 4. He did not woo me, nor did he slay some great evil to rescue me from my tower. What he did was infinitely more than that. He rescued me from the pit of my despair. He climbed in to the abyss and carried me out. And then he did the unthinkable....he LOVED ME. He fought some of the greatest battles of my life right along with me.
If I've learned anything from the patchwork heart in my chest, it's that you have to FIND the magic. It doesn't just appear. When you do find it, you must nurture it and encourage it to grow.
And if you learn nothing else in this life know this: You. Deserve. Love. You deserve the magic. You can have the fairytale.
So put on your sweetest dress, put a flower in your hair and open your eyes for the magic...
Monday, August 1, 2011
I live in Texas, which, anyone who watches the national weather knows, gets insanely hot in the summertime. One unusually hot weekend I improvised an activity for my kids and nieces to entertain, educate, and cool them off.
Ice Fossils!
Well, not really, but you know. :D
I froze random little beads and toys and such in cups, popped the ice from the "molds", dumped them on the porch, and let the kids have at it! Yep. It's that easy.
Here's what we did:
Collect your molds: This can be disposable cups, ice trays, tupperware containers, pretty much anything that can hold water.
Collect your embeds: We've used beads, silk flowers, small toys, marbles and even a barbie doll. Use different density items for a cooler effect. ie: Some beads sink, some float. For a variation of this project you can freeze orange or lemon wedges, grapes or pineapple chunks.
Fill the molds with water: We used good quality tap water because I knew my kids would be licking on them. Be mindful of the water that will be displaced by the objects you put in.
Place the objects in the water: We like random and colorful, but you can try monochromatic too. All blue in one mold, all red in another. Don't overfill. Part of the fun is seeing the items suspended in the clear ice!
Freeze: Just pop the mold in the freezer, undisturbed, overnight.
De-Mold: Flip the molds upsid-down on the ground and pour hot tap water over the tops of them. This will melt the outer layers of ice allowing the molds to slide off.
PLAY!: The kids really enjoyed touching, licking, sliding and holding the ice, and trying to pull the embedded objects out. You can also provide salt and more water for more melty fun!
Ice Fossils!
Well, not really, but you know. :D
I froze random little beads and toys and such in cups, popped the ice from the "molds", dumped them on the porch, and let the kids have at it! Yep. It's that easy.
Here's what we did:
Collect your molds: This can be disposable cups, ice trays, tupperware containers, pretty much anything that can hold water.
Collect your embeds: We've used beads, silk flowers, small toys, marbles and even a barbie doll. Use different density items for a cooler effect. ie: Some beads sink, some float. For a variation of this project you can freeze orange or lemon wedges, grapes or pineapple chunks.
Fill the molds with water: We used good quality tap water because I knew my kids would be licking on them. Be mindful of the water that will be displaced by the objects you put in.
Place the objects in the water: We like random and colorful, but you can try monochromatic too. All blue in one mold, all red in another. Don't overfill. Part of the fun is seeing the items suspended in the clear ice!
Freeze: Just pop the mold in the freezer, undisturbed, overnight.
De-Mold: Flip the molds upsid-down on the ground and pour hot tap water over the tops of them. This will melt the outer layers of ice allowing the molds to slide off.
PLAY!: The kids really enjoyed touching, licking, sliding and holding the ice, and trying to pull the embedded objects out. You can also provide salt and more water for more melty fun!
Once Upon A Time
My whole life I have been enamored with fairy tales. I crave the magic, the beauty and the adventure. I wished everyday for my Prince Charming, my pumpkin carriage, my happily ever after. Twenty-something years later, a few children, unforeseen circumstances and tumultuous events later I began to become disenchanted, disillusioned, discouraged, disappointed.
My life was stale, bland and much less colorful or magical than it once had been.
I sought a way to bring the life and the magic back into my life.
Suddenly, inspiration struck. A way to fill my life with the magic and enchantment I longed for. A way to be a princess and surround myself with light, life, beauty and my beloved magic.
Here I will share my discoveries about life, love, parenting and finding the magic.
And it all starts with a bean....
My life was stale, bland and much less colorful or magical than it once had been.
I sought a way to bring the life and the magic back into my life.
Suddenly, inspiration struck. A way to fill my life with the magic and enchantment I longed for. A way to be a princess and surround myself with light, life, beauty and my beloved magic.
Here I will share my discoveries about life, love, parenting and finding the magic.
And it all starts with a bean....
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