Beauty in Art: A Musically-Inspired Lite Brite

How incredible is this video? The concept, the lyrics, the colors? The ending gave me goose bumps. I love seeing God's people creatively expressing themselves through unique mediums. The ending moves me to the place of tears. And arm chills.

Muffin tin lunch

After seeing this example on blogs well over a year ago, I finally attempted my first "muffin tin lunch." It was a HUGE hit with Maggie, who had a blast munching on whatever she wanted. This lunch worked well because I was low on groceries and was able to put a few of each item in each cup. Whatever she didn't finish we ate for snack after her nap. And along these same lines, my friend Casey wrote a recent post on using the muffin tin as a snack tray throughout the day: fill the cups in the morning and your child can eat anything at his/her leisure. But, once a cup is empty, it's empty; no refills until the next day.

Sometimes, as a mom it's SO easy to get overwhelmed with all the creative/crafty/fun ideas out there that I "should/could" be doing with my children. I've always liked the idea of implementing "measurable goals," a phrase I learned from a mentor years ago. Instead of feeling like I should do a "muffin tin lunch" or a "muffin tin snack" every day, I'm going to them each weekly. Totally doable, and totally something fun for Maggie to look forward to!

keenan's home!

Thanks to those of you who prayed, posted, and helped in any way possible. Keenan, the Howerton's soon-to-be adopted son, arrived from Haiti on Friday! Praise God!

Great pics here.

happy blog

I've recently discovered this blog, thanks to an article my mom sent me from American Way magazine (yes, the in-flight airline magazine). The story highlighted an NYC artist named Katie Sokoler and her creative attempts to bring smiles and cheer to the city. She often found herself wondering what people were thinking as she walked past them on the streets or rode next to them on the subways, and in an effort to keep her inner child alive, started a shadow project, inspired by Peter Pan. She traced and cut out life-size silhouette "shadows," taped them to walls and sidewalks, and discovered an elderly man's shadow break-dancing and a girl's shadow holding flowers next to a graffitied door. She also punched hearts out of pink paper and taped them near areas that needed a little, well, love. And perhaps one of my favorites (after the shadows), thought bubbles! The pics are so fun! See the article from AW magazine here.

I just finished perusing her blog, "Color Me Katie" and learned she is part of an improv team in NYC called "Improv Everywhere." They do improv events in public, including a spontaneous grocery store musical performance, a happy high five escalator event, going pants-free on the subway (more than 2,000 people turned out for this in the freezing January weather!), and maybe my favorite, welcoming home random people from JFK airport.

I also loved her creation of indoor rain clouds, her wall of silhouette pictures, and her attempts to brighten dingy, brown snow.

Her colors and creative expressions brought a smile to my face tonight. Maybe they will to you as well.

can you help?

This post is dedicated to some friends of friends here in Orange County, the Howertons. They have been trying to adopt a precious boy, Keenan, from Haiti for the past 2 1/2 years. They visit him several times a year, and the mom, Kristen, was in there on Tuesday when the earthquake hit. She was able to get out safely, but had to leave Keenan behind. Diane Sawyer visited the orphanage where Keenan lives, a Christian-run ministry called Heartline. It aired on ABC last night; she actually met Keenan and gave him a big hug (he's the one in the blue shirt). Watch the 1 1/2 minute clip here. Their story was also featured tonight on ABC 7 news in LA. The video is at the top of the Howerton's blog.

I encourage you to read their blog and if you can help in any way, please let them know! If you live in CA, I encourage you to write our senators; I plan to do this before I go to bed.

And of course, pray! It's heartbreaking to me that this isn't the only family going through this right now.

And finally, please please re-post this story or Tweet it or put it on FB. Many thanks!

birthday heirloom signs

I commissioned my incredibly talented friend, Tina, to make birthday signs for my kiddos. We've been friends for over 12 years, meeting that long ago at a Bible college in Estes Park, Colorado. She is an incredible mom, wife, and friend, and is very artsy, though she is remiss to admit it. :) Tina had made similar signs for her two kiddos and when I saw the pics, they instantly struck a chord with me. I really wanted one. Badly. And I LOVE the idea of hanging up the sign every year on their birthdays--the kids will learn to anticipate their birthday and enjoy seeing their special sign decorating the living room. I love her handwriting and she said she created a stencil for each sign.

If anyone is interested in one, let me know and I'll pass along Tina's info!