Wishcasting Wednesday: Where do you wish to fierce?

Thanks for joining me for this week's Wishcasting Wednesday. If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

This week's prompt:

Where do you wish to be fierce? 

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Hmmm...This one's a tough one. Let's first define fierce.

fierce/fi(ə)rs/

Adjective:

Having or displaying an intense or ferocious aggressiveness. (of a feeling, emotion, or action) Showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity.

So...Where do I wish to be more aggressive and intense in a heartfelt manner. Ok, I've got this.

This past week I've been updating my bucket list (life list, life goals, dream list, etc.) because I felt that some of the items didn't really apply to my life anymore. But there are some of the items that were re-energized because I so "fiercely" feel that I must do these in my lifetime. I realized that it had been a little over a year since I've been able to cross something off the list. So that is my wish....

Where I wish to be fierce is with my bucket list. I wish to make these dreams happen and work ferociously at being able to cross items off the list.

When the updated list is complete, I plan to share it here with you.

Hugs,
Amanda

Look closer...

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If you took a closer look, you would see…

A woman becoming.

A star brightly shining.

A radiant light of hope.

A heart bursting with love.

A miraculous wonder.

Infinite strength.

A spirit exploring and expanding.

A heart seeking the truth.

A soul being nourished.

A feeding of creative dreams.

Endless potential and possibilities.

My Favorite Things - It's in the bag!

1) Garden flowers on linen from Blue Calla

2) Linen purse from Sew Beastly

3) Fuchsia faux leather handbag from Afamia

4) Flower handbag from Dear Prudence Lollibags

5) Messenger bag from Ickady Bag

Join me each Tuesday for My Favorite Things, beautiful and unique finds from Etsy and other favorite retail therapy sources.

Quote - Lift someone up

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If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. ~Booker T. Washington

What I've been up to. . .

I've been working on some doodles in my art journal:

Finishing up Body Restoration:

Getting ready for The Right-Brainers in Business tomorrow (this is for my notes):

Tried a new super yummy recipe, Ham & Cheese Poppy Sliders:

And read a couple new books:

Cutting for Stone was sooo good. I couldn't put it down. My favorite quote from the book,
"As many people as there are to hold you back, there are angels whose humanity makes up for all the others." Isn't that so true? You shake your head at those few people but have to keep it in perspective that they are not the population as a whole.

Bossypants gave me a few laughs but could have passed. I read Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang last year and it was hilarious but Bossypants is more of a clean funny. This is next:

Has anyone read Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close or any other great books to share?

Hugs,

On letting go

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I don’t know about you but I have a hard time with letting go. I don’t like to say goodbye. Goodbye is the end, a finale. What I fail to realize is that people and things or even feelings are not mine. They are not property and I don’t own them. They are not mine to keep. Sometimes you have to let them go in order to move on to something better.

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As painful as it is, letting go is the humane thing to do. It can no longer hurt you or cause you further pain. It has been released from your grips. You are free! What could be better than to be detached from something or someone that wounds your tender heart? If it’s a person you’re holding on to, it’s even more so the compassionate thing to do to set them free. End the cycle here. You both deserve to be showered in happiness not bathed in bitterness. 

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I know it’s tough. Believe me, I understand. Let’s end this chapter of our lives and start over fresh. Don’t worry; your story has only begun.


Hugs,

Quote - This life

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This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy.  ~Susan Polis Schutz

Against the Grain

Amazing colored pencil stop motion video created by Dropbear (Jonathan Chong) teamed with the indie-folk artist Hudson for his song, "Against the Grain."

XO,

Quote - Mistakes

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Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.  ~Scott Adams

My Favorite Things - Plush Cuties

1) Beloved primitive rag doll from grrl + dog

2) Vintage fabric bear from Innovatora

3) Kitty Chilli from Dancing in the Rains

4) Cloth bunny from Blue Calla

5) Plush friends from Pretty Plush

Join me each Tuesday for My Favorite Things, beautiful and unique finds from Etsy and other favorite retail therapy sources.

Quote - The most beautiful people

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The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. ~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

RAOK Week - Day 6 & 7

Welcome to Day 7 of Random Acts of Kindness Week! Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 & 5.

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.  ~Lao Tzu

Well, we made it to the last day of RAOK Week! I hope you've been able to get out and share some kindness not only with your loved ones but with strangers too. Instead of going out today we're going to stay in while still working towards our favorite causes.

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Are you familiar with Free Rice? It's completely free and fun. Simply click on the correct answer and for each one you get right 10 grains of rice is donated to United Nations World Food Program. The more you get right the more rice that's donated. Oh yeah, as a bonus your vocabulary improves. :-D

There are many "free click" sites out there that make a donation when you make one click each day. Nice Things To Do created a one stop shop listing these sites for hunger, children, fighting cancer, education, women, and the environment. All you have to do is go to the website, click on the button, and they make a donation. Free and easy! Instead of wasting time on Facebook or reading depressing news - yeah, I do it to!  - you can click for a cause.

I also want to share another cause that is near and dear to me, Kiva. I'm sure you've heard of them but you may not realize how easy it is to make a loan and change a life. What I love about Kiva is that you can see who your loan is going to (you pick the individual/group) and that when that loan is repaid you can then loan those funds to another individual. That $25 keeps on giving.

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There are so many ways you make a difference:

- Don't throw away, recycle.
- Give the gift of life, become an organ donor
- Collect canned goods to donate to your local food bank
- Donate blood
- Bring a bag of dog or cat food to your local animal shelter
- Open you home and heart by adopting a rescue pet
- Open the door for a stranger
- Pay the tab for the next customer
- Say, "Good Morning." to a stranger
- Leave a generous tip when dining out
- Let the next person go ahead of you in line
- When you're heading into Target and you see someone finished unloading their cart, take the cart off their hands
- Leave a positive comment on your favorite blogs
- Read a book for children at storytime at your local library
- Clean out your closets and donate the used clothing
- Leave change in vending machines for the next customer

I've really enjoyed doing the RAOK this week and was so inspired by the kindness birthday mission that Becki of Whippy Cake carried out a few years ago that I've made a list of my own. I'll be 36 in May so that's 36 acts of kindness to complete. Yes, in one day!

Love to all,

Quote - Hope begins

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Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up. ~Anne Lamott

RAOK Week - Day 4 & 5

Welcome to Day 5 of Random Acts of Kindness Week! Day 1, Day 2, & Day 3.

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.  ~Aesop

I'm a day late on posting. I'm reading a really good book that I can't seem to put down. :-D

My Day 4 RAOK was leaving a jug of laundry detergent and a couple dollars in quarters at a laundromat for someone to find. It would have been fun to hang out there to see the look on their face.

Today's RAOK is starting a piggy bank for a cause. Ok, it's really a cup not a piggy. A casino token cup from Vegas but I digress.

So I recently realized that when you use the Coinstar machines that you find at the grocery store and at Walmart, you can donate the change to a cause. It's called Coins that Count and they've partnered with American Red Cross, Change Making Change, Children's Miracle Network, Feeding America, Jumpstart, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, March of Dimes, UNICEF, and World Wildlife Fund. What an easy way to donate!

Go here to find the nearest Coinstar location.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

  

Quote - Help don't hurt

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Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. ~Dalai Lama

RAOK Week - Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of Random Acts of Kindness Week! Day 1 and Day 2.

Today I want to tell you about an organization that is near and dear to my heart. I briefly mentioned the Mother Miracle School in a previous post; Yoga, India, and Unfolding Creatively. In November of 2010, I embarked on a trip of a lifetime to India, a place I had dreamed of visiting for as long as I could remember. While in Rishikesh, a sacred town located about five hours north of Delhi, I was able to visit Mother Miracle and meet with the precious students that attend the school.

A few months before my trip I had started sponsoring, or being "friends" as the school likes to say, a gorgeous little girl around my son's age at Mother Miracle. I was introduced to the school after the group lead for the trip (it was a yoga retreat) had shared with us the wonderful work Mother Miracle does for their community and informed us that we would have an opportunity to visit and meet our sponsored child while in Rishikesh. Manju is the beautiful and bright girl that I sponsor and was able to meet and spend some time with.

One of the things that our group lead mentioned before the trip, something that never would have occurred to me, was to bring a Polaroid camera if you can get your hands on one. He shared that most of the children have never held a picture of themselves before. What? I looked around my home at all the pictures I have up of family and friends, including myself, but these kids don't have the same "luxury?" Before I departed I was able to purchase a camera and film from Amazon and that was the best decision I ever made!

I was like a celebrity to the excited kids as they lined up to have their picture taken and then get to walk away with the picture that magically develops moments later. A picture of themselves. I enjoyed that time so much and was saddened when the extra film eventually came to an end. Later, the group lead asked me with a knowing smirk, "So tell me, who do you think enjoyed that more, you or the kids?" As much as the kids were thrilled, my heart runneth over with more happiness than I knew what to do with. That time ranks in the top three happiest moments of my life.

If you would like to learn more about Mother Miracle and their work with underprivileged children, community development programs, or to sponsor a child please visit their website.

Shanti (peace),

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish for the world?

Thanks for joining me for this week's Wishcasting Wednesday. If you'd like to join this magical circle of dreamers and doers, please visit Jamie Ridler Studios.

This week's prompt:
What do you wish for the world?
 

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I wish for kindness and understanding among the people of the world. I wish for peace and love to be expressed and shared. I wish for people to feel safe, warm, and have full bellies. I wish for no person in the world to go without their basic needs being met.

This is Random Acts of Kindness Week. Check out my posts for Day 1 and Day 2 for ideas on how to make a difference in your community and beyond.  

XOXO,

Amanda

RAOK Week - Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of Random Acts of Kindness Week! Day 1 here.

A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.  ~Winnie the Pooh

Since it is Valentine's Day, it's the perfect day to show some love to those near and dear to you that you may overlook. Namely your coworkers, your pets, and yourself.

Today I showed kindness to my coworkers by sharing a special baked Valentine's treat. I showed kindness to my pups by providing them with a spa day...okay, a trip to the groomers and getting them new bones. And myself...who says we can't buy ourselves flowers? :-D

I also learned about She Loves Bubanza Valentine's Project and purchased an identification card for a woman in Bubanza, Burundi (Eastern Africa).

“As far as the world was concerned, they did not exist. With no official record of their existence they could claim no rights, no representation, no residence or real home. For all intents and purposes they were invisible … exiles in their own land living in the shadows of Burundian society.”

Just $12 can buy an id card, something basic and essential. Visit the link above for more info.

Lots of Love,

My Favorite Things - Valentine's Edition

1) Vintage Valentine's canvas by Karen Michel

2) Love coaster by Buffalo Creek Crafts

3) A true love story sign by PB&J Creations

4) Wonderful life print by Hairbrained Schemes

5) Peace, joy, and hope clay hearts by The Nest UK

Join me each Tuesday for My Favorite Things, beautiful and unique finds from Etsy and other favorite retail therapy sources.