http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/collagemachine2.htm

To all the Mum’s out there “Happy Mother’s Day”. This art was made with the National Gallery of Art ~ Collage Software. I’m sure kids of all ages will love this online collage program. Keep in mind you need to have the latest version of Adobe Shockwave.

Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time. I made a quick dash in a second hand store today and made an incidental discovery….this gorgeous bird house pencil sharpener. I took it home and gave it a wash…….Voooooolah! It works a treat! My girls are enamored with it.

This is a book my daughter and I are currently reading at the moment. It is a timeless tale of optimism and triumph of the human spirit. There are a number of reviews here and here. We are really enjoying it so far. Please be aware; it is not a story for the faint hearted. The first chapter talks about  2 young boys, who are the main characters losing their parents. Their Mum passed away and their Dad was taken away by the “gendarmes” (French Police). The children become homeless ……and then these boys are rescued by a series of fortunate events……..and their life turns around in a positive way. This bestselling French Classic by Countess de Ségur and translated by Stephanie Smee was written in the 1800’s and well worth a read. ★★★★☆

Compassion has been a big theme in my life, right from a young child. However, lately the UNIVERSE has kept showing me time and time again the theme of Self-Compassion. To have compassion for one’s self is a theme I have never really looked at before. You hear people say you must truly love yourself before you can love others. For me, this theme is becoming more and more evident in my own life. Kristin Neff is one of the leading experts in Self-Compassion……..and what’s more, it has scientifically based research that may benefit our health….

I am a firm believer in “what happens, happens for a reason”. We are all on a journey and a couple of days ago the universe led me to this amazing website. www.wakeupsydney.com.au/free-gifts.aspx I discovered this clip on random acts of kindness, just like the movie “pay it forward”. I received my”kindness cards in the mail today. I was so excited ~ I can’t wait to make a difference in someone else’s day………As Wake Up Sydney say’s   see[d] a new dream.

Tara Brach has honestly helped me transform my life……..I have been on a journey my whole life and I feel like I have never seen clearer than I do right now. Tara offers free podcast’s to download on most electronic devices, whether that be, ipod, iphone, ipad, computer and android devices. Her podcasts cover a huge array of different topics, I’m sure there will be one for you. Transform your mind. She has wrtiten an amazing book called TRUE REFUGE. 

This has moved me to tears. I found this link a couple of days ago. Wow ~ Extremely moving. What a talented man.

For the last couple of months my girls and I have been posting gratitude notes in our letterbox. The idea is, we have to think of three things each day to be grateful for. We write our name on it, date and then post it in the letterbox. Every week we each pull one out like a lucky dip and then do a random act of kindness for that person. I hope you enjoy the idea.