90 Days of Kindness Challenge :: Day Three

 

On 19 July 2010, I officially started the "90 Days of Kindness Challenge," hosted by Laura over at the wonderful blog, Along for the Ride.

I find myself joining this challenge, since I tend to look for what's wrong with the world, whether than what's right with it. 

I assess my personal life and think of ten things that are not going well, while simutaneously ignoring the ten things that are going fantasically awesome!!! (It takes a lot of energy out of me, I must say...)

My goal for this challenge is to actively recognize three things each day, no matter how small or trivial, that exude kindness.

How will I accomplish this goal?? Glad you asked!!!

• Right here on my blog, I will recognize three kind things that I encounter each day.
• These proofs of kindness could be anything, from a kind word I hear at home from my children or husband to something amazingly kind that I encounter on the blogosphere or web.  These kindness encounters could be a picture, word, or deed.

I am so excited about this challenge!! I am definitely looking forward to the benefits of opening my eyes to everything that is kind!!!

Mary Elizabeth's Day Three Kindness Encounters ... in Illustrations:

Graphic ::  Feed Your Soul :  The Free Art Project

Graphic :: Feed Your Soul : The Free Art Project

As always, extending ten thousand ((hugs)) to you,

90 Days of Kindness Challenge :: Day Two

 

On 19 July 2010, I officially started the "90 Days of Kindness Challenge," hosted by Laura over at the wonderful blog, Along for the Ride.

I find myself joining this challenge, since I tend to look for what's wrong with the world, whether than what's right with it. 

I assess my personal life and think of ten things that are not going well, while simutaneously ignoring the ten things that are going fantasically awesome!!! (It takes a lot of energy out of me, I must say...)

My goal for this challenge is to actively recognize three things each day, no matter how small or trivial, that exude kindness.

How will I accomplish this goal?? Glad you asked!!!

• Right here on my blog, I will recognize three kind things that I encounter each day.
• These proofs of kindness could be anything, from a kind word I hear at home from my children or husband to something amazingly kind that I encounter on the blogosphere or web.  These kindness encounters could be a picture, word, or deed.

I am so excited about this challenge!! I am definitely looking forward to the benefits of opening my eyes to everything that is kind!!!

Mary Elizabeth's Day Two Kindness Encounters:

1. My baby's smile - so innocent.  So perfect.  So genuine.
2. Reading this blog post about "emergency hugs."  Definitely going to employ this one in our house!
3. I am getting ready to extend myself a kindness by taking a nap after publishing this post.

 

** This is my first "Follow Me Back Tuesday" post ... click on the button directly above to join in the linky fun!! **

As always, extending ten thousand ((hugs)) to you,

Shutter Love Tuesdays at Trendy Treehouse :: Faces ::

 This week's theme is FACES.  

That's our little Aedan - always with a unique expression to share!!!

As always, extending ten thousand ((hugs)) to you,

 

90 Days of Kindness Challenge :: Day One

  

Today, I officially start Day One of the "90 Days of Kindness Challenge," hosted by Laura over at the wonderful blog, Along for the Ride.

I find myself joining this challenge, since I tend to look for what's wrong with the world, whether than what's right with it. 

I assess my personal life and think of ten things that are not going well, while simutaneously ignoring the ten things that are going fantasically awesome!!! (It takes a lot of energy out of me, I must say...)

My goal for this challenge is to actively recognize three things each day, no matter how small or trivial, that exude kindness.

How will I accomplish this goal?? Glad you asked!!!

• Right here on my blog, I will recognize three kind things that I encounter each day.
• These proofs of kindness could be anything, from a kind word I hear at home from my children or husband to something amazingly kind that I encounter on the blogosphere or web.  These kindness encounters could be a picture, word, or deed.

I am so excited about this challenge and looking forward to reaping the benefits of opening my eyes to everything that is kind!!!

What better time to start than right now???!!!

Mary Elizabeth's Day One Kindness Encounters:

1. My son, Elijah, tenderly gazed at me this morning and said with a smile, "Mama, you're beautiful!".
2. My husband called me this morning from work to tell me how much he enjoyed a conversation we had last night.
3. The opportunity of this challenge!

** This post is part of "Meet and Greet Monday," hosted by Southern Reflections!!! **

As always, extending ten thousand ((hugs)) to you,

Book Review :: Making a Family Home by Shannon Honeybloom ::

Making a Family Home

Written by Shannon Honeybloom
Photographs by Skip Hunt
Published by SteinerBooks
Copyright 2010
88 pages

"The domestic arts - cooking, baking, cleaning, making, and so on - are central aspects to creating a living, artistic home atmosphere.  Natural materials - wood, stone, cotton, wool, silk - help to keep children (and adults) in touch with nature and natural processes.  Attention and consciousness toward our inner life keeps us striving as individuals."

Publisher's Summary:  Making a Family Home is a book of real beauty, both personal and universal.  In describing her home and family life, Shannon Honeybloom shows how she made - and how we can make - a house into a real home as she shares her own efforts, hopes, and lessons in making a safe and healthy home that provides warmth and intimacy for the whole family.

Illustrated in color with lively, evocative photographs, Shannon invites the reader into her home and offers warm encouragement and practical suggestions for virtually every aspect of bringing love, comfort, and beauty to a family home.  The chapters in Making a Family Home range from "At Home with Children" to "The Front Porch," from "The Playroom" to "The Backyard and the Garden."

Shannon Honeybloom is a friend and confidant who offers gentle suggestions and wise insights for parents who wish to surround their family with the best possible home environment.

Mary Elizabeth's Musings:  The minute I received Ms. Honeybloom's gorgeous book in the mail for review, I have to admit I knew I would love it! The warm, inviting cover instantly beckoned for me to sit down with a cup of hot tea, get comfortable, and enjoy a lovely read.  Ms. Honeybloom's personal, yet elegant writing style combined poetically with Skip Hunt's delightfully colorful photographs.  Truly, this book was the gem I had expected!

Ms. Honeybloom graciously invites us into her entire home, kindly walking us through every room, every corner, and every aspect of her family's domicile to show how she has made a beautiful place for her children to call home.  Utilizing the Waldorf approach to child-rearing and homemaking, which emphasizes a variety of natural sensory experiences, Ms. Honeybloom offers gentle musings of how to integrate this amazing approach into the life of the home.

Mr. Hunt's photography allows us to fully engage in our visual awareness, as his unique vision through the photographic medium helps us feel at home with Ms. Honeybloom and her family.  With gentle, warm use of light, Mr. Hunt captures the intimate feeling of hearth and home conveyed through Ms. Honeybloom's prose. 

Ms. Honeybloom has created an absolute joy of a book in Making a Family Home, and generously invites all of us to share in that creation through our homes.  You will truly do yourself, your home, and your family a favor by reading this book and implementing Ms. Honeybloom's approach to homemaking and child-rearing.

** To find out more about the Waldorf approach, visit Why Waldorf Works. ** 

** I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Honeybloom for the chance to read and review her wonderful book.  I would also like to thank her for allowing me to feature her on my little blog this past Tuesday.  In case you missed my interview with Ms. Honeybloom, just click here! **


As always, extending ten thousand ((hugs)) to you,