I'm back!

After quite a long respite, I'm back!

Specifics to follow soon, but suffice it to say; it's been BUSY around here!

Homeschooling, copywriting, creative writing, developing and executing marketing strategies for a variety of clients, and a great deal of health and wellness coaching.  It's been incredible, but I'm ready to get back to my variety blog!

So, stay tuned, subscribe, or check back in soon...

Counting down the days...

...and reflecting on our many blessings!

I love, love, LOVE watching Cole grabbing his daily dose of chocolate...just can't believe how much he's grown since last year.


Carl, my Step-father, is recovering nicely from two strokes and bypass surgery. Mom is doing as well as can be expected and her faith and love are carrying her through.



My brother, Devon, married his sweetheart, Amber, in September of this year.





Carla and her American-born/Aussie-raised beau, Jacob, moved in together.


We adore both additions to the family!





Doug's doing great at H&R Block, and I'm still plugging away with Innovative (my marketing consulting and coaching biz). We've both been at our respective gigs for about 3 1/2 years since leaving Transamerica and feel fortunate; during this awful economy, Doug has a terrific job, which he loves and ditto as far as me with Innovative. We've put the insurance agency on hold to focus on our family needs, and that's okay.

Cole's homeschooling is going amazingly and has really become a part of our family lifestyle/culture! It really does suit not just Cole but all of us. It is such a cool, intuitive, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I only wish; I'd started earlier. Doug and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary in October. Cole turns 13 in a few days, and I'm approaching the last year of my thirties in a little over a week. LOTS going on about which to be happy!

Looking forward to getting the family together to celebrate the Season and hoping the weather cooperates this year!! : ) HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!!

xoxo, Diane

Tutoring Success Story: Sara

I would like to honor Sara for her incredible progress in reading fluency and comprehension over the past eleven months.

Sara is an excellent student who comes to her sessions prepared to work and who has found her passion for reading!

Sara, I am SO proud of you!! GREAT JOB, KIDDO! Keep it up! - Mrs. Diane

Thanksgiving Place Cards - Repost

These Thanksgiving place cards make an excellent Seasonal art project and a great keepsake for dinner guests.




What you'll need (for 8 table settings):

4 sheets construction paper (81/2 x 11 or close...just not too large)
markers
scissors
pencil
dinner guest list

To begin, fold one piece of construction paper in half, top to bottom (portrait).

Open paper, and using scissors, cut at middle seam. Repeat with all pieces of paper. (If you have a heavy-duty paper cutter, you can do them all at once.)

With the pencil, draw the outline of a Pilgrim on a piece of construction paper (paper should be in the portrait position). Repeat with Pilgrim and feather head bands outlines on each piece of construction paper.

Using a black marker, trace over pencil drawings.

Color in drawings with markers.

Once complete, hold one of the pieces of construction paper in front of you (portrait) and fold in half. Open it up.

Using your guest list, write one guest's name on each card (anywhere in the bottom half) with a marker. If you're nervous, you can use the pencil to write name, check spelling, and trace with marker.

If you'd like to embellish with any other decorative designs, now is the time. : )

Using scissors, carefully cut around the top portion of your drawing...being mindful of staying above the fold line. Repeat with each drawing.

Fold cards once again with top portion of drawing "popping up," and you're ready to set the table!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
























(This project can be modified for any Holiday, using a simple stencil...a Christmas tree ornament, a dradle, a cross, etc.)

Changing Education Paradigms

I absolutely LOVE this presentation by Sir Ken Robinson. The content in this post is from his website: http://sirkenrobinson.com. The video is via Cognitive Media: http://www.cognitivemedia.co.uk/. The drawing, btw, is being done by the excellent Andrew Park of Cognitive Media.
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Sir Ken Robinson, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He has worked with governments in Europe, Asia and the USA, with international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and some of the world’s leading cultural organizations.



In 1998, he led a national commission on creativity, education and the economy for the UK Government. ‘All Our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education’ (The Robinson Report) was published to wide acclaim in 1999. He was the central figure in developing a strategy for creative and economic development as part of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland, working with the ministers for training, education enterprise and culture. He was one of four international advisors to the Singapore Government for its strategy to become the creative hub of South East Asia.

For twelve years, he was Professor of Education at the University of Warwick in the UK and is now Professor Emeritus. He has received honorary degrees from the Open University and the Central School of Speech and Drama; Birmingham City University, Rhode Island School of Design, Ringling College of Art and Design and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. He has been honored with the Athena Award of the Rhode Island School of Design for services to the arts and education; the Peabody Medal for contributions to the arts and culture in the United States, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal of the Royal Society of Arts for outstanding contributions to cultural relations between the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2005 he was named as one of Time/Fortune/CNN’s Principal Voices. In 2003, he received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his services to the arts. He speaks to audiences throughout the world on the creative challenges facing business and education in the new global economies.

His new book, a New York Times Best Seller, ‘The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything’ (Penguin/Viking 2009) is being translated into sixteen languages.

Sir Ken was born in Liverpool, England as one of seven children. He is married to Therese (Lady) Robinson. They have two children, James and Kate, and live in Los Angeles, California.

Cole's Cityscape - Water Color & Marker

A couple more of Mama and the ever-growing Kiddo...

Columbus Day

Pic: Cole and I having our afternoon tea while tackling our respective work today.

Cole is Native American, so we're not taking the day off for Columbus Day.

Rather, we are discussing the history of European exploration between 1460-1600 and the ultimately devastating effects on the North American Native Americans from Columbus' discovery of the Americas (which to his dying day of a heart attack at age 54, he thought was East Asia).

Cole likes my f/b friend, Robert Folsom's, post today (Robert is also Native American): Fighting illegal immigration and terrorism since 1492.

Off to a good start...

Cole - reading in his new study area.