You can never have enough sparkle

I love observing my child as she develops and nurtures her interests. Early on, she displayed a true love for the arts. At age 3 1/2, she sings, dances, acts, colors, paints, and creates.

Our county offers a monthly weekend art class, and I recently signed her up. She made a gorgeous fall tree in September. Today, she decorated a pumpkin. A table full of glitter, glue, stickers, feathers, buttons, shapes, and paints was at her disposal as she released her creativity.

We had a hunch what was coming the moment she selected her paint:

In true Amelia style, we ended up with this:

It is proudly sparkling in the sun by our front door right now.

I am quite certain, no neighbor will have one like it.

Pumpkin Huntin' - Ode to October

Stepping gingerly down each row,

How to choose? I do not know.

This one leans a bit to the side,

That one's so ugly it wants to hide.

I touch the stems and feel for bumps,

I don't want one with awkward lumps.

This one is too big,

That one is too small,

How do I find the best one of all?

Finally, my eyes do see,

The perfect one in front of me.

I pick it up, my grin spread wide,

At last at home, it comes inside.

If Picasso made an autumn tree...

Art class! Celebrating the arrival of Fall.

(By the way, did you know you can color on coffee filters with markers, then spray lightly with water and the colors bleed? A very cool project for kids! Will be trying this again at home soon.)

Because I dared to write

In “On Writing” Stephen King wrote,
“The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.”

I perused their tweets and lurked quietly into their blog posts. I followed their tales and shared joy from their memories. I felt the familiar twinge of jealousy as I scanned all the comments and tweets among the group; I would never feel such camaraderie.

The Red Dress Club? Looked like fun. However, jumping in myself was an utterly horrifying idea. These were real writers; teachers passing along their gifts to the newest generations, published authors, and bloggers who have already reached a certain level of fame I could only hope to find.

I was not qualified.

It was too scary.

What if they laughed behind their computer screens, baffled by the nerve of this untrained nobody blogger?

The RemembRED memoir prompts were persistent, intriguing me week after week, pulling me to join in. Finally, I took the plunge. Six months ago, I linked up with my very first The Red Dress Club post: First Day.

My stomach fluttered as my sweaty hand guided the mouse to hover the cursor over “publish”. I closed my eyes and quickly, before I could change my mind, clicked. That moment was the scariest. It was the moment I allowed myself to join a group of talented writers. The moment I agreed to call myself a writer. My own kind of writer, perhaps, but a writer nonetheless.

It has been easy from there. Am I a professional writer? No, and I don’t need those credentials. I blog for fun. I blog to relieve my brain when words are building up inside.

And when a prompt inspires?
I write. I link up. I tweet it out. Then I sit back and enjoy the creativity of others.

I am uplifted when I touch someone with mine.




The Red Dress Club has since evolved and has a new name: Write on Edge. Intrigued? Join in! I promise it is not as scary as it seems.

Coolest. Gadget. Ever!

The Brookstone store in Lenox Mall was hopping with tech-savvy ladies Thursday night! Several area bloggers were invited to browse the store, touch and feel, and learn all about the amazing products available at Brookstone.

Do you have a gadget guy at home? A husband who is impossible to buy for? Check this out - hands down the coolest new toy I've seen. Every time this was flown in the store, a crowd gathered to watch:



The Parrot AR.Drone Quadricopter is sold exclusively at Brookstone. It's not cheap, price is $299. But surely there's a fun-loving person in your life who deserves a treat?

Some of my other favorites?
   The N.A.P. Luxe blanket
   The Squeez Pro foot and calf massager
I would heal my aching feet and calves while cudding the ultra-soft fuzzy blanket. Daily.

Oh - and check out Tweet Your Heart Out - tweet 4 words from their amazing anti-gravity massage chair and you can win one! Entry through 10/31. This chair? Is AMAZING. Really. I didn't want to get up. Ever.

Check out Brookstone.com for hundreds of items you never knew you needed, but that make your life a whole lot more fun.

- - -
I was not compensated for this post. I participated in an Atlanta blogger's event and received a goody bag. The post was in no way required from Brookstone. All opinions belong solely to me..

I wish for you...

Sometimes, a writing prompt gives me an immediate jolt of inspiration. I know what I want to write and how I want to write it.

This week, Mama Kat showed this image that's been floating around Facebook:

And Mama Kat asked... "Who does it make you think about?"

No pondering needed with this one. My thoughts went instantaneously to someone. Not a person who isn't making an effort in my life, but a person who needs to read these words, take them to heart, and get the dead weight out of her life. Forever.

I am not at liberty to talk about it here
    ... which probably makes for a pretty lame blog post.

But it is not my own life to analyze, nor my own life to discuss on the Internet.

But for those of you out there who allow others to manipulate your feelings?

I wish for you strength.

For those who accept letdowns from the same person/people time and time again?

I wish for you self-worth.

And for those who hang on tightly to someone who just cannot give back?

I wish for you power.

The power to know when the time is right... and finally let go.


- - -

WW: This bed is crowded!

Amelia's bed was crowded this morning!

Kitty

Dumbo

Cat



Amelia & Ladybug
"We're both smiling!"



Also making an appearance in Amelia's bed?
Three small frogs, a turkey, a sleepy lamb, and a wolf.

Slumber party!

Link up with @BelleBeanDog and @TamingInsanity for  
iPhone Photo Phun today!