About Me

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Dawn is a watercolor and collage artist, writer, Host of #JournalChat Live and Creative and Social Media Consultant. She enjoys sharing insights, humor, and encouragement as she shares from her life experiences. She enjoys keeping a journal and reading spiritual texts to help keep the light on. Hope you enjoy perusing the blog posts and in the process, get to know her a bit better. Enjoy your stay!

Friday, June 29, 2012

A Special Thank You to Debra DiPietro of The Warm Milk Journal

The following link takes you to The Warm Milk Journal, a place where you can find great posts on journaling for a healthy mindset and good night's sleep.

Debra DiPietro, host of The Warm Milk Journal, recently asked folks on Facebook to share about something they accomplished recently. I had the opportunity to share about The Birthday Wall: Create a Collage to Celebrate Your Child.

This post shows Debra's generosity and support; thanks, Debra!

My good friend Debra DiPietro of The Warm Milk Journal shares about my new book, The Birthday Wall, and invites folks to join me on #JournalChat! Thanks, Debra!!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Journal Writing: A Birthday Party Activity

Journal Writing is an activity near and dear to my heart; so when I saw this post, Teachable Moments Series: Journal Writing, I just had to share it! I love the activities they suggest for kids with a journal writing project, including an artistic approach to make it visually fun. It makes for a fun, custom choice since each child can do it any way they want to.

A Birthday Wall can be created in any way you want it to be to show your child how much you love them just as they are in all their fun and creative dimensions. In my e-book, I share a suggestion you can use in addition to or instead of the wall for your display that just might hit the journaling spot!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Oh, It's Magic: A Mom's Story

We all want to see our children enjoy the things that delight them, and a birthday is the perfect time to make that happen. Nicole Paitsel shares this delightful birthday story of her son and his experience with a real-live magician titled, "Son's Birthday Is Magical for Mom Too." He's always had a fascination with magic, experiencing the fun with family members. Nicole gives a heart-warming rendition of his magician performance at his party and how much fun he had, with his mom enjoying every minute.

In my book, The Birthday Wall: Create a Collage to Celebrate Your Child, I give various examples of how you can showcase the things that delight your child, showing them how much you appreciate and love what makes them special; make it a special time, enjoying every minute.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Hands-On Colorful Birthday Party Ideas to Save You Money

We all want to save money on preparing for a birthday party without skimping on the fun. Kelsey provides seven hands-on ideas with colorful photos to get you inspired that will help you save on the expense and have fun in the process in her post,  7 Ways to Save Money on Kid's Birthday Parties.

One of the things that makes a Birthday Wall fun is the hands-on aspect of it; you can choose, create, cut, and collage your way to a charming colorful display that represents your child in all of their personal dimensions. I also share ways you can save money in the process so your Birthday Wall doesn't break the bank!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

16 Birthday Wishes for a Sweet 16

Children need the support and encouragement that only a truly loving and caring parent can give. They need to know they are not alone and that we believe in them and their place in this world. My good friend, Rus VanWestervelt, shared this beautiful love and light filled wish list for his daughter for her 16th birthday. I found it so inspiring and full of truth and encouragement, the kind of message every child should receive at some point in their life.

The message we can convey to our children when we create a birthday wall for their validation and nurture cannot be underestimated. Our children need to see, feel, and know our love both visually, tangibly, and with the heart.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

An Eco Friendly Birthday: Your Options

We all want to do our part to recycle and save the earth from unwanted trash. Well, birthday parties are a great place to incorporate such an approach. Terri Bennett share some fab eco-tips to help you get started in her post, Do Your Part: Throw a Green Birthday Bash.

One of my favorite tips from Terri is creating a paper wall for the kids to write birthday greetings on. The Birthday Wall is close to my heart since it's a great way to create a fun visual without a lot of waste. And it's a great keepsake too so your kids can have the memory to savor and go green at the same time.