Fossil Collective - 'Let It Go' Official Video (HD)

http://www.fossilcollective.com/

The Wild Feathers: "The Ceiling" (Official Video)

A rare band: supreme musicality and supreme guitarists!

http://thewildfeathers.warnerreprise.com/

Wailin' Jennys - Arlington

A dear friend recommended this amazing band - I am passing her gift to you!
Check them out and follow them.

http://www.thewailinjennys.com/

The Last Resort - Dan Llywelyn Hall - Art

Dan  Llywelyn  Hall

Recent Work - The Last Resort
Saturday 23rd November 2013 @Chase House, Richmond, London

A solo exhibition of recent paintings. Inspired from trips to Crete, France and the Canaries, the exhibition will explore ideas concerned with travel. Please register your email above if you would like to be sent an invitation to this exhibition.
Click here to view selection of work on show 

The Wild Feathers - Ramblin' Man (Truckstop Covers Series - Part 1)

The Sound of Paper: Starting from Scratch - Julia Cameron

 

 

The Sound of Paper:  Starting from Scratch – Julia Cameron (2005)

     Julia Cameron is an American writer and teacher who is most famous for her 1992 book, The Artist’s Way, a legendary twelve week, self-paced nonfiction book that will inspire creativity and spirituality.  The book is for the open-minded reader and cultivates an immersion into writing and nature. Cameron’s most recent work in her extremely prolific career is called, The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children (2013). I have read many of her books and am currently devouring, The Sound of Paper: Starting from Scratch (2005). I have had a busy summer and wish I had many more hours to devote to this amazing book.  This nonfiction, personal narrative is beautifully and thoughtfully written, with exercises at the end of each of chapter for enhancing a sense of creativity and exploration that many of us have lost in our vigorous pursuit of work and productivity. Cameron’s books assist in helping the reader slow down and she uses writing as a meditation tool that will positively influence all endeavors of readers' lives.  Her work will have a profound effect on your own life if you follow her plan.

     Cameron’s books are meant to assist in the internal awareness of an individual and help us explore the spiritual nature of our existence. In my review, I ask all readers to be open and read her ideas with a kind heart.  There are exercises that require some inner work and they are magnificent for personal growth. Ms. Cameron writes that we ourselves are all creations and therefore, our creativity stems from inspiration – the Latin word for “spirit.” 

     In The Artist’s Way and many of Cameron’s works she follows an interesting formula:  1. The Morning Pages: set your clock for thirty minutes earlier than normal each day and write three pages in a journal or spiral notebook (it must be longhand and no computer is permitted; you can get a cup of coffee, but this  writing is meant for the moment you wake). The pages might not be “real” prose but anything you wish to write. It is meant for clearing mental clutter and having an intimate conversation with yourself. You will eventually gain some real insights about yourself from the pages and see growth in your life. 2. The Artist’s Date: Set a few minutes to an hour each week to explore something that interests you: examples - a museum, fabric store, nature trail, art store, the Goodwill, a bookstore, etc. – follow your heart and just get lost somewhere for ten minutes to an hour. Cameron says, “Think pleasure not duty.” 3. Walk – get outside and walk if only for ten minutes a week. Be with nature. The best scenario is to walk or run every day for thirty minutes to an hour. This formula is so very simple and takes a bit of discipline but the rewards are amazing.

     In The Sound of Paper, Cameron shares her experiences and stories regarding living a creative life. She often reverts to her magical formula and describes that we all have a creative side (everyday, we unconsciously make many creative choices in our lives).  The author and some of my most interesting friends have been doing the pages for over twenty years.  I have been doing the pages, artist’s dates, and running in outside for the last seven months and recommend Cameron’s formula for all who read this post! I hope this writing will generate some creativity in my readers; it truly benefits everyone when we create.

Cameron quotes author, Henry Miller, : Develop an interest in life as you see it; in people, things, literature, music – the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls, and interesting people. Forget yourself…. (55). Enjoy the journey and this amazing book!

 

My Foot is Too Big for the Glass Slipper: Gabrielle Reece

 

My Foot is Too Big for the Glass Slipper: Gabrielle Reece

On an ordinary Saturday morning, I was beyond excited when this new book arrived on my doorstep.  My Foot is Too Big for the Glass Slipper: A Guide to the Less than Perfect Life is the second nonfiction book by volleyball icon, fitness expert, and devoted mother, friend, and wife: Gabrielle Reece.  The author also wrote an earlier book called Big Girl in the Middle, which I count as a favorite for inspiration on cultivating a hard work ethic with regard to lifestyle and fitness.  On a side note, Ms. Reece is married to surfing legend, Laird Hamilton, a fitness guru and proponent of healthy living. In my Northern Virginia hometown, I may have the local library record for the amount of times I have checked out his book, Force of Nature, which is sort of the key to his amazing philosophy on life, fitness/ exercise tips, and a glimpse into his healthy vibe.

 Being a lucky book blogger, I was able to read My Foot is Too Big for the Glass Slipper the day before its mainstream media release. (Note: I collect books the way many women collect shoes!)  First of all, I love the self depreciating and cheeky title which drew me in with its humor and honesty.  I proceeded to read the book in the span of two days and it scored off the charts on my meter of “unputdownable.”  I meant to review the book the next day but due to a full-time teaching career, motherhood, and graduate studies – the review would have to wait.  The book has so many positive messages and wonderful advice for the modern wife and mother.  My favorite theme is that of exercise. Ms. Reece is a preacher to my own cause and core philosophy that to feel good and be productive in life, some sort of exercise is imperative every day.  Reece writes, “Regular exercise is the secret to everything” (61) and “Its not only the natural cure for depression, but also deals out all those great endorphins, the world’s best high, natural or otherwise” (61).  As a runner, yoga enthusiast, and a lover of sports in general (mind you, this evolved later in life for me), this is one of the most important themes of this illuminating book.  I could spend volumes ruminating on the life changing and hugely beneficial aspects of exercise and getting out in nature on a daily basis. Studies show us that even a thirty minute daily walk can have enormous health benefits!

Reece shares a lot of personal anecdotes on marriage, childrearing, and the value of female friendship. Unfortunately, the mainstream media glommed on to one sentence she mentioned on keeping equilibrium in a relationship with ones husband by sometimes being “submissive.”  I hardly remember this portion of the book and it’s unfortunate that this became the spotlight topic in her interviews.  As a reader of the author’s earlier piece and being a huge fan of her husband’s book, I feel that their main message is too keep life natural, simple, filled with activity, and time spent on family.  Ms. Reece is not trying to sell a gimmick but kindly shares the intricacies of both the highs and lows of a lifestyle that works.  I loved this book (even though I was disappointed the author has only one vice: chocolate).  Overall, this is a fabulous book by a women who does not pretend to have it all and is brave enough to put her personal life choices out for the masses to chew on. Five big stars to My Foot is Too Big for the Glass Slipper! You will be wiser, more motivated, and possibly healthier and thinner for reading this fantastic book.

  http://www.gabriellereece.com/

Make sure to read another favorite by Laird Hamilton: Inspiration on ocean life and surfing.
http://lairdhamilton.com/