Book Review & Excerpt: Create Your Writer's Life
Posted November-29-2007
What a Writing Coach Can Do for You!
I've been a huge fan of writing coach Cynthia Morris from the get-go. Her contributions to the Creativity Portal have inspired my own writing life, and in particular, her piece "Enhance Your Travel with Your Own Art" encouraged my first unforgettable public writing session inside of a hotel lobby in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Kindness Pass-Along Christmas Gift Cards
Posted November-25-2007
Kindness: Pass it On!
How would you feel if you were in your favorite coffee shop this weekend, and suddenly, you get a taste for a Gingerbread Latte or a Peppermint Moca and saunter up to the counter to order one. As you extend out your $3.95 to pay, the barista hands you a card and says, "It's already been paid for by the person before you. Enjoy!"

Memories of Woodhaven Lakes Posted November-21-2007
Campy Childhood Memories: Krazy Korner Section 17, Lot 4
Woodhaven Lakes was a nature-filled playground, and a child's dream! Being the curious and adventurous kid that I was, I'd spend whole days partaking of scheduled arts and crafts activities, swimming at the beach, bike riding on miles of road, hiking on the trails, and watching outdoor movies on the lakefront.

The $4 Conception Dollar Bill Posted Nov-19-2007
20 Web Sites Effecting Change in the World
One of my favorite quotes on the back of the Conception Dollar says "Humanity's Rite of Passage from the Love of Power to the Power of Love." Oh, how I love consciousness-raising word play!

“The word essay comes from the French word essai, which means ‘a trial or attempt.’ We read essays to find a new window to the world, to laugh, to learn something from other people’s trials and attempts in life.”
— Barbara Abercrombie,
PERSONAL ESSAYS: Short Takes

"Thankful Four" Thanksgiving Writing Reflection Project Pages for Individuals & Teachers
Posted Nov-14-2007
When's the last time you traced your hand into a turkey?
Here's another Thanksgiving writing prompt to help you reflect upon the reason for the season. What are you thankful for in your life, right now? I'm certain you can name at least four things going well for you. And if you are blessed with many more, turn your reflection into a blog post or personal essay. Up to the creative challenge? Print and use my Thankful Four handsational project pages »

Gobblencea: Creatively Cut Out for Turkey Crafting
Posted Nov-12-2007
Chris's Turkey Cut-Outs: Print Yours Now!
Ultimately, "it" may be worse than a strand of e. coli from an undercooked turkey leg. I asked a quack doctor today what condition could overtake an ordinary graphic artist within two weeks of the Thanksgiving holiday, consuming her with feathers and turkeys and that rubbery thing hanging from their beaks.

Not ducking the question (get it, a "quack doctor"?), he looked at me with one eye closed and his tongue concentratingly sticking out the side of his mouth and said, "Chris, put down your Prismacolor® markers because you have a case of Gobblencea. It will clear up the moment people start camping out in Wal-mart parking lots the night before the biggest shopping day of the year."

"Girl, you ain't right!"

Hey, who just said that?

Anyway, there you have it — the most silly explanation I could make up in a moment's notice for this turkey-crafting-activity obsession of mine this week. Oh, were YOU looking for Thanksgiving Turkey Cutouts to decorate your cubical walls or refrigerator door with? Here they are in aisle 10 »

Hey Turkey! Can YOU Find ALL the Words? Challenging Thanksgiving Holiday Word Search Puzzles
Posted Nov-11-2007
Gobble up this creatively fun challenge!
I'm spending way too much time talking turkey these days. Every time I sneeze, I see feathers-a-floating and hear that cute little "gobble, gobble" sound wild turkeys make when they don't think anyone's listening.

That aside, I've been continuing with my fun series of word search (find-a-word) puzzles I started last year on the Creativity Portal Playground and am proud to unveil the latest: the Thanksgiving Word Search. Can you find all the words before November 22? Or are you too chicken to even try? (Chickens and turkeys are cousins, you know!) •

"We Are All One" Copyright Brenda Johima

Brenda Johima's BoobArt for Breast Cancer
Posted Nov-10-2007
Creativity Takes Courage
Today I applaud artist Brenda Johima and her courageous artistic expression she's called "BoobArt for Breast Cancer", as I share this tidbit of quoteworthiness from her blog post.

"The First Thanksgiving" painted by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863–1930).

More Thanksgiving Day Writing & Blogging Prompts
Posted Nov-9-2007
Not Peanuts, Popcorn & Toast
Do you think the history of Thanksgiving Day matters to people anymore? Is the current meaning of a holiday celebration or family tradition more important than its roots?

Nit Wits #38: Turnkey Posted Nov-8-2007
Mmmmmm.... Thanksgiving Day Turnkey Dinner
Nit Wits #38 ("Turnkey") was a comic hatched after the conception of two ideas and one chronic typing mishap.

2008 KaleidoSoul Collage Desk Calendars
Posted November-7-2007
Counting the Days with Color, Creativity, and Inspiration
Last year I ordered one of artist Anne Marie Bennett's (KaleidoSoul) Soul Collage desk calendars and gifted it to my sister who had never seen anything like it, but absolutely loved it. On seeing my sister's nifty new calendar, my mother exclaimed how wonderful it was and wanted to know where I found it because she wanted one too.

Book Preview: The Genie in Your Genes by Dawson Church Posted November-6-2007
Epigenetic Medicine and the New Biology of Intention
Some months ago I was listening to the Hay House Radio archives and came across the June 12, 2007 podcast of Crystal Andrus's radio show titled "The Genie in Your Genes" which featured an interview with guest author Dawson Church, Ph.D. and a discussion about his new book, The Genie in Your Genes: Epigenetic Medicine and the New Biology of Intention.

Thanksgiving Writing Prompt: Turkey Crossing
Posted November-5-2007
Chris's "A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words" Photo Prompt
Have you ever seen a "turkey crossing" sign before? I saw one for the first time in my life a couple of weeks ago when I was driving into a wooded section of town known for its novel attraction of "rafters" (not flocks) of wild turkeys.

“Life is the dancer and you are the dance.”
— Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth:
Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

Cool Kids' Recycled Project: Artist Trading Cards
Posted November-5-2007
From the Imagination Factory
Fans of recycled or reuse art will love this new project activity suitable for kids and adults at Marilyn Brackney's Imagination Factory. The Artist Trading Cards project nicely explains what the cards are, how to make them, and where kids, especially, can find others with whom to trade. •