Sep 27, 2010

And the Winners Are .....Congratulations to Lucy & Mindy!

Latest Updates..


And the winners are..........
Congratulations to Lucy Miller. You have won a copy of "Operation Beautiful!" Please email us your address so we can have your book sent to you.














Congratulations to Mindy Marie you are the winner of "What We Have" by Amy Boesky! 





















Love books? Sign up for our "Intentional Conscious Parenting" newsletter for a chance to win! 


(Newsletter sign up link on the right) 


Children's picture book A Night In The Woods by Dave McGraw
Read Carol's review of "A Night In The Woods" and sign up to win a copy.














Awesomism A New Way to Understand the Diagnosis of Autism by Suzy Miller 
Stacy's Top Ten Reasons Why "Awesomism" Is A Vital, Indispensable Groundbreaking Book! 












Zen Mama by Betsy Henry










Read all about Carol's interview with Betsy Henry and sign up to win a copy of "Zen Mama"






We want to share with you a 34-page Mini Personal Growth Book
for kids, parents and teachers intended to give you and your
child or teen an opportunity to learn the science behind living a fulfilling and happy life by authors 
Rhonda Ryder and Patrick McMillan
Founders, HappierKidsNow.com
The Happier Kids Now Online Expo

Check out their wonderful website Kids Can Do Anything!
http://www.happierkidsnow.com/ebooks/the_ultimate_kids_guide_to_happiness.pdf

Intentional Conscious Parenting Facebook Page

Love animals, nature, pets and the environment? 
Upcoming review! We will be giving away two autographed copies of "Lost Dogs" The story behind the Michael Vick dogs on our Pet/Nature Blog. Incredible Creatures At Home And In The Wild!

Finally after you subscribe for our newsletter, sign up as a Facebook follower and check out some of our book reviews we want to know that one of our blogging buddies is having a giveaway. Not just any giveaway! She's giving away Jack Lalanne's Power Juicer! http://www.twoofakindworkingonafullhouse.com/2010/09/jack-lalannes-power-juicer-express.html



To Live Is To Learn and To Learn Is To Live! Thanks for reading our blog!
We love our readers. Please leave a comment if you feel inspired to.

Sep 22, 2010

The House Of 1000 Mirrors By: Author Unknown


The House of 1000 Mirrors
By: Author Unknown

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place 
known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little 
dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he 
arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway
of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears 
lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To 
his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other 
happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as 
his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 
great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the 
House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I 
will come back and visit it often." 

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite 
as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He 
slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he 
looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly 
looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and 
was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. 
As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible 
place, and I will never go back there again." 
All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of 
reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet? 

Sep 19, 2010

Help Your Child Learn Empathy

I found this poem that teaches children about empathy on the mom stuff community blog.Help Your Child Learn Empathy

This is the perfect time to share this poem with your kids as they go back to school.
Somewhere out there is Laura.  I don’t know anything about her except that she wrote this poignant poem titled “I Am”.  The poem has been used in anti bullying campaigns around the world, and today I’d like to share it with you.

I AM
I am the person you bullied in school
I am the one who didn’t know how to be cool
I am the person you alienated
I am the person you ridiculed and hated
I am the person who sat on their own
I am the person who walked home alone
I am the person you scared every day
I am the person who had nothing to say
I am the person with hurt in their eyes
I am the person you never saw cry
I am the person living alone with their fears
I am the person destroyed by their peers
I am the person who drowned in your scorn
I am the person who wished they hadn’t been born
I am the person whose name you don’t know
I am the person who just can’t let go
I am the person destroyed for ‘fun’
I am the person, but not the only one
I am the person who had feelings too
..and I am a person, JUST LIKE YOU!!!

This poem evokes immense empathy by the preponderance of those who read it.  The dictionary defines empathy as “understanding” or “a deep emotional understanding of another’s feelings or problems”.  Having researched the value of emotional and social intelligence (ESI) skills in our youth, I can tell you that development of empathy as a key competency renders positive results for personal satisfaction and healthy relationships.   Though some believe that empathy is innate, I’m with the majority and believe that empathy can, and should be, taught to children at the earliest cognitive opportunity.  I envision empathy as a tool for carving out a kinder world in which there is diminished bullying and a population of children that is happier to the core.  Reading this poem with your kids and creating dialogue of what it must be like to be a bullied person is one approach to create awareness and fruitful action, but we need more.
Please contribute to our comments section and share your positive ideas or rewarding personal stories on how we, as a community can increase empathy to decrease bullying of any kind.  Then, consider sharing the article with anyone and everyone you know who can make a difference at home and beyond.  Ask them to participate too.  
It does take a village!
This post is from Keyuri Joshi the On the Ball Parenting Coach
.http://www.ontheballparent.com/blog/2010/08/24/how-parenting-with-emotional-intelligence-can-weaken-bullying/ Visit here web site for more great help on parenting, and to share your positive ideas.

Sep 15, 2010

Children's Picture Book Review - A Night In The Woods By Dave McGraw

A Night In The Woods By: Dave M. McGraw


A Night in the Woods

A Night In The Woods is a tale about a dog named Josie. 
This delightful story written for children and adults is written from Josie's point of view. Josie goes on an accidental adventure full of excitement, love, fear, danger and courage. She will touch your heart as she shares her exploration in courage, loyalty and strength.




A Night In The Woods is a beautiful hardback children's book featuring detailed captivating illustrations.


A Night In The Woods teaches children 

  • About the joys of having a dog
  • Courage
  • Love
  • Loyalty
  • Gratitude & Kindness

The author Dave McGraw shows his love for fly fishing, the outdoors and spending time with family and friends at Fuzzy Moose Flats through his descriptive words and inspiring characterizations . 
You would almost think Dave was a dog by the way he captures Josie's point of view! He describes Josie's bold and daring tale in such vivid detail you feel like you are there along for the journey.

A Night In The Woods would make a great gift for adults and children alike.
Purchase your copy today.
A Night in the Woods


To learn more about "A Night In The Woods" or see what Dave's up to these days check out his Facebook Page.




Would you like to win a copy of A Night In The Woods?

  • A winner will be selected using random.org from our "Intentional Conscious Parenting Newsletter" Subscriber list. 




Written By: Carol Lawrence


No monetary compensation has been received for the review of this book.
I came across Dave's site and knew I wanted to read his book and share it with you.
Dave Thank You so much for donating two beautiful hardback copies to share with our readers!


http://www.intentionalconsciousparenting.com

Sep 14, 2010

Warmhearted Wednesday!

Have you heard of HeartMath?


FEEL BETTER
LIVE BETTER



For more than 18 years, HeartMath has made significant contributions to both the scientific and practical understanding of the physiology of stress, heart-brain interactions and performance. This research has led to the creation of the Award winning emWave Personal Stress Reliever® and emWave® Desktop (works on both Mac & PC).


Helps create 
  • A Greater Well Being
  • Mental Clarity
  • Relief From Stress
  • Reduces anxiety
  • Improves Performance
  • Experience A More Balanced Life



    I've heard great things about the benefits of HearthMath but I have never used it personally.
    I would very much appreciate any feedback from anyone who has.
    Please share with us what you think of it and how well does it work.
    I know on Facebook there's a video showing promising work using Emwave with Rwandan Orphans.


    Sep 12, 2010

    Introducing Betsy Henry Author Of "How To Be A Zen Mama"

    Introducing Betsy Henry.
    A Mother, Daughter, Aunt, Sister, Blogger, Author and Friend.





    Betsy is the author of "The Zen Mama's Blog" There you will find ideas on how to stop worrying, let go and be closer to your kids. Ideas on education and Buddhism. Learn how to live life without anger and control. Betsy's blog is intended to be a companion to her book, How To Be A Zen Mama, 13 Ways To Stop Worrying,  Let Go and Be Closer to Your Kids.
    I recently asked Betsy if she could tell us a little about herself, her new book and the writing process of Zen Mama.

    Betsy please tell us about yourself.

    I am a wife of 23 years, a mother to three teenage sons, a daughter of wonderful parents, an aunt to 6 nieces and nephews and a sister to three siblings! I am a preschool teacher. And finally, what I’ve always wanted to be ... a writer!  I also like to garden, read, cook and travel.


    How long have you been a practicing Buddhist, what led you to this path?

    Well, I’ve had an interesting upbringing.  I was christened Catholic.  Back in those days the wives of Catholics promised, at their weddings, to raise their children as Catholics.  My mother was a philosophy major and the daughter of a Christian scientist.  So on Sundays my siblings and I were Catholics, the rest of the week we were raised with my mother’s philosophies.  
    So to really answer the questions...I love to look through all religions and see what I like the best.  So far the Buddhist path is my favorite and I so enjoy reading and practicing the Buddhist way.

    What is a technique you personally use to get back into a Zen state of mind when you're in a stressful situation? 

    To start with I don’t react to what ever is bothering me. I need to clear my head whether it’s by meditation, a long walk, a cup of coffee and a book.

    A good 2 minutes meditation:  
    First, you need to stop thinking so get comfortable.  Begin to notice your breath. Take a deep breath through your nose and breathe out your mouth.  Put your hands on your rib cage.  If your ribcage expands, then  you know you’re breathing right.  If it doesn’t, then you’re not taking a deep enough breath.  The more deeply you breathe, the more oxygen that gets to your brain.  It will help you relax and let go, to let go of the things over which we have no control. 

    My favorite is this walking meditation:
    Don’t walk fast.  Fast walking equals anxiety.  Slow walking is happiness, peace and joy.  Be in this moment. Next coordinate your breathing with your steps. I like to think something as I exhale and another word as I inhale. Maybe you say, “Exhale anger, breathe in peace.” “Breathe out stress.  Breathe in joy.” Don’t forget to have a slight smile on your face. Do this for about 20 minutes (give or take) and I think you will feel better able to take on the world!


    Betsy, I can really relate to key points in your book. On page 18 you touch on the view point that your children's failures and successes are not a reflection of you. Let your children be who they are and learn to let go. This is such a hard but important realization of parenthood.

    Would you agree that while under stressful situations the energy and vibrations of parents influence their children? 

    Absolutely!  It’s the reason I wrote this book, mostly for myself and my husband, because we were angry with our teenagers all the time.  While anger isn’t the only stressful situation, it’s often one of the most damaging. It definitely affected the relationship with our kids. They didn’t want to be around us.  When we came into a room, they’d find a way to leave. At the table, they’d ask to be excused right after they ate dinner.

    The first thing we worked on was getting them to stay longer at the dinner table so we could all talk again. Using humor, jokes and riddles worked immediately. Some other benefits came later. For a while I had to start out a sentence saying, “I am not angry but....” They would still think I was mad about certain things. And I was for a while but after practicing not getting angry, you really do stop.
    By the way, being a zen mama doesn’t mean I don’t discipline. It just means I say and react to things in a different way.


    You talk about Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence. I became familiar with his writing when I was homeschooling my youngest son Josh. This is a very important topic. Children do learn in so many different ways. I love how at preschool you ask the children "What kind of smart are you?" instead of "How smart are you?" Every child is good at something and it's our job to help them  discover what it is.

    What is your philosophy on life? On parenting?
    With Kids:
    Accepting children as individuals
    Keeping anger at bay
    Unconditional Love and compassion
    Humor

    In Life:
    Doing what you love first
    Being as positive as possible




    In chapter Eight "Find Out What They're Interested In" you talk about relating to your children by speaking their language. Living in a house full of males this chapter really resonated with me. 
    A few of the things I learned was how to camp, fish, watch football, Dragon ball Z and Pokemon. You have to find ways to connect to your children on their level. One of the best ways is to learn about something they are interested in. Thank you for pointing this out.

    What inspired you to write "How to be a Zen Mama" and how long did it take to write?

    I conceived the “Zen Mama” concept when I was going through the challenging time with my children a few years ago.  I kept joking around that I was becoming a “Zen Mama” so I could let go of the controlling and angry feelings I was feeling.  As my husband and I applied the principles that would eventually become the book, he said, “Here’s the book you’ve always wanted to write! I wrote down what those chapters would be on the back of an envelope and those original 13 ideas became my 13 chapters.

    It took about 10 months to write and edit. It flowed once I started. I mostly wrote in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep when I was worried about the kids. When I’d edit and reread at night, I’d find advice for myself.  It was kind of funny! Now I’m sleeping well again and can’t find any time to write!

    Can you tell us about the publishing process for Zen Mama?

    I self published through Createspace.com, an Amazon company. I had a great experience. It’s a print on demand company so you don’t have to put up a lot of money to start.  It wouldn’t work for everyone. For instance they don’t print hardbacks. Another plus createspace gets you onto Amazon automatically. I did write to agents and publishers. First, I found ones that might be interested in publishing a book like mine. Then I went to their website to see what their submission requirements were.  Finally, I sent letters out. A friend of mine in publishing told me that many publishers aren’t looking for new books. In fact they like to see you self publish and then if you do well, they approach. When I got the negative replies (mostly form letters before the manuscript had been looked at) I forged ahead!  I’m glad I did. As for marketing, you have to enjoy it.  This can be tough. My book is doing quite well in Colorado. I’ve gone to conventions, taught Zen Mama classes and had a number of book signings.  This fall, I will explore how to get it marketed to the rest of the country.

    Do you have any advice for our writing audience?

    Yes!
    1. The publishing industry is so discouraging!  I decided to ignore what I read and just write.       
    It may have been nice to find a publisher but I’ve really enjoyed the process myself.

    2. The more you write, the easier it is to write.  That’s one of the things I’ve enjoyed about having a blog.

    3. If you have the right idea, it will flow. You can think and dream about it but when it’s right, it flows.

    What's next for Betsy Henry and Zen Mama? Anything you would like to add?
    I’m working on a second book. I’m compiling many of my blog posts plus some other work into a sort of Zen Mama diary.  I’m also working  on a book of quotations that will be offered as an ebook as well. And, I will continue to blog and teach Zen Mama workshops.  It’s a second job for me and I love it! My husband and I are also considering putting together a travel website because we've so enjoyed traveling.




    Do you have a newsletter to keep your readers up to date on your writing, book tours and more great parenting tips and advice? 

    I am going to start a newsletter in the fall to send out to subscribers and people who have bought my book.  Another thing to add to the list!



     Zen Mama Blog

    Thank you for sharing your Zen wisdom with all of us. 
    Keep us posted on the process of your second book, we look forward to hearing all about it.






    To win an autographed copy of Betsy's book "How To Be A Zen Mama" all you need to do is sign up for our "Intentional Conscious Parenting newsletter", leave comment of your favorite part of this interview and visit Betsy's blog. We will use random.org to pick a lucky winner.

    There's still time to enter to win "What We Have" by Amy Boesky & "Operation Beautiful" by Caitlin Boyle


    Drawings for all three books will be held Friday September 25th.

    Written By: Carol Lawrence