Tag Archives: inspirational

Mary Blair’s Disney Legacy

Last year for Women’s History Month I introduced the women of the Pen and Ink Department in the Golden Era of Walt Disney Animation. Today, on the 100th anniversary of Women’s History Day, his year I want to take a look at a woman who stands out in the following generation of Disney work in the 1940s. One of the most notable of these female Disney animation trailblazers is Mary Blair. Inducted into the Disney Legends Hall in 1991, Mary Blair revolutionized the artistry of the Disney Company. Her biography on the Legends website has the scoop on Mary Blair’s … Continue reading →

Women’s History at Disney

In recent years more credit and accolades have gone to those behind the birth of animation, through the many acknowledgments (including a 2005 documentary) to Disney’s famous “Nine Old Men,” the main animators responsible for Disney’s golden age. But these Nine Old Men were backed by more than their mostly-male animation department. For the glory years of Disney’s early animation, from the first cartoon shorts to the feature films leading up to World War II, the department in charge of all the inking and painting of the drawings was staffed almost exclusively by women. In honor of Women’s History Month, … Continue reading →

A Perfect Day – Richard Paul Evans

“A Perfect Day” by Richard Paul Evans was a little bit hard for me to get into at first, but after the first chapter, I was sucked into the story. Robert Harlan sells advertising space for a radio station, and is deeply in love with his wife Allyson and his daughter, Carson. Carson was named after Allyson’s father, who died shortly before she married Robert. The death was quick, brought about by a cancer that Allyson didn’t know existed until her father called her to come back home from college to spend one last, perfect day with him. Years later, … Continue reading →

The Widow’s Might – Ann Bennion Brown

“The Widow’s Might” by Ann Bennion Brown is a compilation book for women who have lost their spouses. The title comes from the parable of the widow’s mite, reminding us of the poor woman who came in to pay her tithing and only donated two of the smallest pieces of money in existence at that time. She was ridiculed by the rich, who had donated quite a bit, but Christ said that her donation was worth more, because she had given all she possessed for the building up of the kingdom. With spelling the title “might” rather than “mite,” this … Continue reading →

The Cedar Post – Jack Rose

We’re told not to judge books by their covers. When you’re wandering through the stacks at a library, you’ve often judging books by their spines and most often by their titles. I don’t know why “The Cedar Post” jumped out at me, with its boring name and its innocuous pale green binding, but I’m so glad it did. It’s a work of fiction meant to teach a lesson, and it does it better than any other book I’ve read with the same goal. The story is centered on Jon, a teenaged boy growing up in Declo, Idaho, who feels discouraged … Continue reading →

Diary of an Overweight MOM—Will I Lose The Weight? Will You Join Me? The CHALLENGE.

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of skinny moms. Especially the ones who are skinny right after having their babies. It affects me on many levels. After all, if moms can be skinny shortly after giving birth, how can I justify NOT being skinny when my youngest child is already two-and-a-half? Here are my excuses (ahem! I cough uncontrollably)…er…reasons: 1.Not enough time—I’m a stay-at-home-mom with two kids. Do you really think I have time to work out? C’mon. Have you lived with a preschooler lately? 2.Too tired—yes, I can work out after my husband gets home. Yes, I … Continue reading →

Signs and More Signs

From fun and funky or sleek and contemporary, to vintage and charming, there are some really cool signs that you can use to decorate your home. There are signs for the kitchen, the bath, the workshop, the garage, the laundry room, and there are also signs that your kids will love to hang on their bedroom doors such as “keep out” or “enter at your own risk.” You can use signs that mimic road signs. Put a “do not enter” or “wrong way” road sign on the door of your office or any room that you wish to keep private … Continue reading →