As the school year draws to a close, and summer thoughts dazzle the senses, I wanted to remind any of you teens or tweens who had a less than great year that there is life and meaning and hope even in the worst years. It’s super hard to see this when you’re young, but one of the benefits of getting older is developing a telescoping lens where I can see now that things that really were the hardest for me in childhood have helped me and shaped my life’s directions. Especially with how I handle challenges and adversity. After someone…
Disneyland’s display of Aladdin’s magic
Amidst all the fun, in a quiet corner at Disneyland near the Lincoln exhibit, I stumbled into some of the props and original concept art for the upcoming Aladdin movie, which releases this Friday in theaters. Staring Marwan Kenzari, Mena Massoud, Will Smith as the Genie, Billy Magnussen, and Naomi Scott as Jasmine, the live-action movie is a remake of the animated one by Disney, where young Aladdin embarks on a magical adventure after finding a lamp with a very funny, wish-granting genie inside. We were able to get so close to the carpet! I love the rich hues and…
Being Grateful for the Bugs
[bws_captcha]It’s been a rough month with a series of weird situations that climaxed with our water heater bursting and ruining floors and walls in my office, my website failing for mysterious reasons, and now I am waiting to see if we will need an emergency move out of the house due to a crazy amount of bugs. We were surrounded by a two-story high cloud in the front of and behind our home for about two weeks while I’ve been trying to get answers and see what damage has been done, if it was termites, and if we need to…
Spring Tea in the Garden
Tea in the Garden Come join me for a little check-in about life and springtime and laying the groundwork for dreams to grow. I’ve been thinking a lot about springtime, since we’ve enjoyed a few walks in a gorgeous local historic garden and my flowers at home are in bloom. It’s time to shed the jackets and umbrellas after a very wet and unusual winter in Northern California. And I’ve also been remembering what it felt like to be an almost-teen during this time of year as it led into summer. I distinctly remember the feeling of braces (three and…
Magical Doorway Reads
My reviews for MMGM, Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, under the Magical Gazebo this week include three books that all involve going through a portal or transition to a land beyond. They couldn’t be more different than one another but each has a distinctive experience in another land, powerful lessons they learn there, and key decision points that will change their lives forever. Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley A dying grandfather shares amazing stories of a circus with an invisible tiger, a flying birdwoman, and the magician called The Man Who Bends Light, stories that may in fact be real. Young…
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