Be yourself!

Be you and then some!

For everybody else is already taken:)

Edible

Dream catcher!

My shirt is red tomato soup.

My pockets are green peas.

My blue jeans are grape popsicles.

My socks are cottage cheese.

I have vanilla ice cream shoes

with limp spaghetti bows.

I wish I could eat everything,

but then I'd have no clothes!

-Jecqueline Sweeney

For art work go to http://colormehappyworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/02/dream-catcher-my-daughters-colorful.html

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day!

The symbolism of Ganesha!

Beautifully told by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

"Ganesha is the formless Divinity - encapsulated in a magnificent form, for the benefit of the devotee.

Gan means group. The universe is a group of atoms and different energies. This universe would be in chaos if there was no supreme law governing these diverse groups of entities.

The Lord of all these groups of atoms and energies is Ganesha. He is the supreme consciousness that pervades all and brings order in this universe.

The essence of Ganesha is brought out beautifully by Adi Shankara.

Though Ganesha is worshiped as the elephant-headed God, the form (swaroop) is just to bring out the formless (parabrahma roopa). He is, ‘Ajam Nirvikalpam Niraakaaramekam.' This means Ganesha is Ajam (unborn), he is Nirvikalpa (attributeless), he is Niraakaar (formless) and he symbolizes the consciousness which is omnipresent.

Ganesha is the same energy which is the reason for this universe. It is the energy from which everything manifests and into which everything will dissolve.

We are all familiar with the story of how Ganesha became the elephant-headed God.

Parvati became dirty when she was celebrating with Shiva. When she realized this, she removed the dirt from her body and created a boy out of it. She then asked him to keep guard while she bathed.

When Shiva returned, the boy did not recognize him and obstructed his passage. So Shiva chopped off the boy’s head and entered.

Parvati was shocked when she saw this. She explained to Shiva that the boy was their son and pleaded with Shiva to save him at all costs.

Shiva then instructed his helpers to go and get the head of someone who was sleeping with their head pointing to the north. The helpers then got the head of an elephant, which Shiva affixed to the boy’s torso and Ganesha was born!

Does this story sound strange?

Why should Parvati have dirt on her body?

Didn’t the all-knowing Shiva recognize His own son?

Was Shiva, the epitome of peace, so short-tempered that he cut off the head of his own son? And why an elephant head on Ganesha?

There is a deeper meaning to all this.

Parvati is symbolic of festive energy. Her becoming dirty signifies that celebration can easily become Rajasik, or feverish and can take you away from your center.

Dirt is symbolic of ignorance, and Shiva is symbolic of the Supreme Innocence, Peace and Knowledge.

So when Ganesha obstructs the path of Shiva, this means that ignorance, which is an attribute of the head, does not recognize knowledge. Then knowledge has to overcome ignorance. This is the symbolism behind Shiva chopping off the boy’s head.

And why the elephant head?

Elephant represents both gyan shakti and karma shakti.

The principle qualities of the elephant are wisdom and effortlessness. The enormous head of the elephant signifies Wisdom and Knowledge.

Elephants don't walk around obstacles, neither are they stopped by them. They just remove them and walk ahead – signifying effortlessness.

So, when we worship Lord Ganesha these elephant qualities within us are kindled and we take on these qualities.
Ganesha's big belly represents generosity and total acceptance. Ganesha's upraised hand, depicting protection, means, 'Fear not, I am with you', and his lowered hand, palm facing outwards means endless giving as well as an invitation to bow down, this is symbolic of the fact that we will all dissolve into earth one day.

Ganesha also has a single tusk which signifies one-pointedness. Even the implements Ganesha wields are symbolic. He carries in his hands, the ‘Ankusa’ (signifying awakening) and the ‘Paasa’ (signifying control). With awakening, a lot of energy is released, which without proper control, can go haywire.

And why does Ganesha, the elephant-headed God travel on something as small as a mouse? Isn’t that so incongruous? Again there is symbolism that runs deep.

The mouse snips and nibbles away at ropes that bind. The mouse is like the mantra which can cut through sheaths and sheaths of ignorance, leading to the ultimate knowledge represented by Ganesha!

Our ancient Rishis were so deeply intelligent that they chose to express Divinity in terms of symbols rather than words, since words change over time, but symbols remain unchanged.

Let us keep the deep symbolism in mind as we experience the omnipresent in the form of the elephant God, yet be fully aware that Ganesha is very much within us. This is the wisdom we should carry as we celebrate Ganesh Chaturti."  http://www.artofliving.org/symbolism-ganesha

Wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous Ganesh Chaturthi!

For art project go to http://www.colormehappyworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/09/project-impressions.html
Thanks for visiting and have a joyful day!

Hard and easy!

Things are hard to start with...

learning makes them easy!!

Feeling apprehensive...

We feel insecure when we make our way into something new and unknown. New feels different only till we get used to it and then our mind finds  order even in chaos.

Next time, find yourself stuck and apprehensive..just remember how long it lasted when it happened before.

Eventually, everything does fall in place!!

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day:)

In the moment of truth

We all tend to apply too little of what we know!

Little little little by little....

We all are evolving, with each little step forward in this journey of life....

Make book reading more fun with these follow up questions!

• What is the title of the book?
• Who is the author? ...Words by
• Who is the illustrator? ...Pictures by
• What was the book about? ...Message
• What is the main event in the book?
• Was there any conflict in the story? If yes, what was it, and how was it solved? How you would have solved it?
• Who was your favorite character?
• What was your favorite part of the book?
• How would you have changed the story? Why?

Books are fun! Asking follow up questions can also help us understand and appreciate feelings and thought process of our little ones. Staying involved is the best way to stay informed:)

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day!

Onam Greetings!

Happy Onam everyone!

Have a colorful day:)

Keep faith!!

"Life is no straight and easy corridor along

which we travel free and unhampered,

but a maze of passages,

through which we must seek our way,

lost and confused, now and again

checked in a blind alley.

But always, if we have faith,

a door will open for us,

not perhaps one that we ourselves

would ever have thought of,

but one that will ultimately

prove good for us."

A.J.Cronin

Colorful fall - fun art and craft ideas!

Featured in Times-Republican

Colorful leaves, shiny apples, bright pumpkins, twigs, berries, acorns, bark, pine cones and nuts. Not to mention I am talking about the arrival of fall. Watching the trees turn color in all shades of yellow, orange, red and gold is a spectacular experience. The colors, texture and beauty of fall is so inspiring that it provides us with a wonderful opportunity to get indulged in inner self and appreciate the impermanence of everything.

Fall with its colorful beauty also compels us to be more creative and playful with what nature has to offer.

Here is a super fun and colorful art project to make fall trees using finger paints.

All you need is

• Finger paints

• Construction paper

• Card stock

• Glue

• Pipe cleaner

• Scissors

• Art paint brush

Using scissors cut tree trunk from construction paper. Stick it on card stock. Dip index finger in paints and press on to paper for leaves impression. Touch up construction paper using paints.

For flowers - Dip pipe cleaner in paints, press it on paper for stem. Make petals using art paint brush as shown. (Dip art paint brush in paints and press it on paper).

I am also listing few fun and easy ideas that are creative and educational.

• Collect before and after fall foliage leaves. It’s a great activity to get kids to observe, stay involved and excited.
•  Use leaves, apples and potatoes as stamps.
•  Glue pumpkin seeds for bookmarks and fall greetings.
•  Paint and roll corn cobs for fun impressions.
•  Paint acorn nuts and make faces on it using markers.
•  Paint a love you forever pumpkin and write a sweet message all over it using darker paints or markers for friends and family.
•  Tear construction paper in small pieces and make mosaic art. 
•  Colorful hand, fingers, thumb and feet impressions in fall colors.
•  Collect twigs, stick them on in shape of letters on a cardboard and make a name plate. Punch 2 holes and use jute twine to hang it. Stick leaves, acorns and barks around.
•  Collect pine cones, Peirce a hole in the stem and hang them using jute twine.

Thanks for visiting:)  Have a colorful day!

Significance of Janmashtami!

Beautifully told by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar!

"Janamashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Ashtami is significant as it indicates a perfect balance between the seen and the unseen aspects of reality; the visible material world and the invisible spiritual realm.

Krishna’s birth on Ashtami signifies his mastery of both the spiritual and material worlds. He is a great teacher and a spiritual inspiration as well as the consummate politician. On one hand, he is Yogeshwara (the Lord of Yogas — the state to which every yogi aspires) while on the other, he is a mischievous thief.

The unique quality of Krishna is that he is at once more pious than the saints and yet a thorough mischief-monger! His behaviour is a perfect balance of the extremes — perhaps this is why the personality of Krishna is so difficult to fathom. The avdhoot is oblivious to the world outside and a materialistic person, a politician or a king is oblivious to the spiritual world. But Krishna is both Dwarkadheesh and Yogeshwar.

Krishna’s teachings are most relevant to our times in the sense that they neither let you get lost in material pursuits nor make you completely withdrawn. They rekindle your life, from being a burnt-out and stressed personality to a more centred and dynamic one. Krishna teaches us devotion with skill. To celebrate Gokulashtami is to imbibe extremely opposite yet compatible qualities and manifest them in your own life.

Hence the most authentic way of celebrating Janamashtami is knowing that you have to play a dual role — of being a responsible human being on the planet and at the same time to realize that you are above all events, the untouched Brahman. Imbibing a bit of avadhoot and a bit of activism in your life is the real significance of celebrating Janamashtami."   http://www.artofliving.org/us-en/what-sri-sri-said-today

Jai Guru Dev!
www.artofliving.org

Appreciate what's little but makes life soooo meaningful!

Are we taking enough time out of our day to appreciate the smaller things in life? Or are we more obsessed with big, impressive material things? It's important to remember that we can't fully appreciate the major things unless we can appreciate the minor ones, too. A stranger's smile, a little kid's gigglefit, or even just the beautiful clouds in the sky all deserve our notice. We all run the risk of taking things for granted if we don't appreciate them more consciously.

Our strength lies in small things!

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that our strength lies!

Mother Teresa

The best thing, next best thing or worst you can do in moment of decision!

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing and the worst thing you can do is..nothing!

Theodore Roosevelt

Back to school art project - 5 simple steps in right direction as a family!

Featured in Times-Republican

Summer vacation is almost over. Stores are so filled with back to school supplies, clothes and new decors. Not to mention … It's school time again!

A new school year is also the beginning of a period defined by mixed emotions for everyone; exciting yet crazy days full with conflicting schedules, getting homework done while keeping up with demanding extracurricular activities, and the famous pick and drop kid’s scenario. I tell you, if we mothers get paid for driving around our kids…we will be so rich!

So, it’s time to bid a not so desirable farewell to those lazy laid back mornings, that comforting cup of tea with a lavish book reading and say hello to chaotic beginning to the day, followed by super chaotic evenings.

On a positive note, life offers us a fresh start every moment and back to school with new everything around is a wonderful opportunity to talk to our kids about aspirations and small things that can make big changes in our lives. Tell them about our dreams that came true and dreams that we are still working on…times when we felt proud and times when we almost gave up on things. Stories of our success and failures can empower them and make them relate with events in their lives and apply.

I am so scared of swimming. My daughters are so fishes. They dream of swimming like Michael Phelps and make us proud. They tell me all the time, mom, its ok come and try. It’s nothing. It’s so comforting. We will teach you. I tell them it’s so easy for you and so hard for me…because it’s all in the mind.

The other day she had to do her vault and bars routine in her new gym for first time. She was so nervous. She came to me and she said it looks hard mom…and I said like swimming for me. It’s all in the mind mom, right? I am going to do this, will you learn swimming. I said yes! And she went and gave it her best. Now, bars, beams or vaults…bring it on! She rocks them all…

As for me I am going to enroll for swimming lessons.

This month’s art project is make a list of 5 things you and kids want to accomplish together in coming year, 5 simple steps in right direction as a family.

What you will need

• Chart or cardboard
• Construction paper
• Stencils (optional)

• Pencil

• Scissors

• Paints

• Sponges

• Markers

• Glue

Using pencil draw 5 shapes on construction paper. Cut them using scissors. Stick them on chart using glue. To cover the remaining area, dip the tip of sponge in paint and pat gently on the paper. You can use same sponge for all the colors. Just go from lighter to darker for beautiful overlapping effect.

Make a pizzazz artwork for the family room using inspirational words, craft supplies, stickers, sequence etc. Express your style stating your family goals.

It’s never too late for anyone to be what they could have been! Push each other, be each others strength and keep up with the good work!

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day:)