Where has the time gone?

Is it just me or do you feel the time flying by? I can't believe it is the first of February already.

I am working outside of my daily Whisper business for another 4 weeks. I took an eight week job as a On-Call Optician for a local optometrist to cover an employee who planned an 8 week leave of absence. I must admit I enjoy the work when I am there. The job is very satisfying to me because I enjoy helping people; the doctor so her business can run as usual, the doctor's assistant who needs a teammate and the patients who look to me for advice on frame and lens choices. It is a fun profession that I have been in for well over 25 years.

Tooth Fairy Pillows

My Tooth Fairy Pillows are a HIT! Parents and kids love their silly faces and missing tooth. Here is Calvin showing off one of my first pillows. He recently used his Tooth Fairy Pillow and it worked perfectly. The Tooth Fairy found his tooth with no problem and surprised him with money!

To see more pillows visit Daily Whisper Tooth Fairy Pillows

Happy Customer

After this darling redheaded girl's  Mom bought her this Purple Star the little girl came back and told us that she named him "Smiley Face". My husband and I looked at each other and together said that this day is now perfect. This is exactly what warms my heart and inspires me continue sewing for children.

15 Ways to Find Our Holiday Spirit

    * Relax while listening to your favorite holiday music
    * Decorate your home and yard
    * Invite your favorite friends over for some holiday cheer
    * Ask a child what they want for Christmas
    * Bake Christmas cookies
    * Wrap presents while listening to holiday music
    * Drive on streets with decorated homes or trees
    * Read a heart warming Christmas book
    * Attend Church to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas
    * Hang out with people who love the holidays
    * Enjoy the holiday decorations at the stores
    * Put Christmas lights on your house and look at them every night
    * Give time, clothes or money to a favorite charity
    * Watch a favorite Christmas movie
    * Wear holiday socks

Today's Thought

"The great man is he who does not lose his childlike heart."--Mencius

I love this statement. A child has a heart that is so pure. He is in a constant state of learning and his perception of life has not been altered. He is closer to God and everyday is seeing something for the first time.

After living in my home for ten years at times I take my house and neighborhood for granted. I see it every day so sometimes I forget to see the beauty around me. When I step into my childlike heart I remember that first day coming into the area and how beautiful I thought the streets and buildings were.  At that moment, when I reflect back,  I become grateful and realize how blessed I am. I do this exercise often to keep me grounded and in a constant state of gratefulness. I also use my childlike heart with people in my life that I find myself taking  for granted.  I remind myself why I care for them and how they added to my life and it changes how I behave around them.

It is easy to fall into routines and take what we have for granted.  But this statement will help remind you look at your life differently. Take the time and appreciate what you have and who you have in your life by reflecting back and looking again with your childlike heart. Doing so will encourage love to bloom all over again.

Hidden Treasures

I believe in allowing a child to have time to just "be". To sit with themselves and think, dream and let their imagination go. I think it is more difficult these days for our children to do this because of the constant activity and input from the media, phones, computers, computer games, and after school sports. I asked my son who is 20 if he ever gives himself time to sit quietly and he said that his quiet time is while he is in the shower! I believe him because I have never seen him anywhere where he wasn't getting input somehow. As a child he used to eat his cereal at breakfast while reading the cereal box.
I wonder how healthy it is for a child to be constantly bombarded with input. My son is very intelligent and happy so for him it seems to have worked. But what about the children who are creative and never get a chance to work with their creativity because of the high demand of our times? Are they still finding time to just be alone and are their parents intuitive enough to understand that this is what they need?
This Star pillow isn't just for Christmas, it was made by me for the sole purpose of teaching a child to dream. It is soft, plush and has a friendly smiley face.  The treasure is the card in the back pocket with a verse to remind the child to take a chance on dreaming. The card in the back pocket reads:

Take me close and hold me tight

and wish a dream with all your might.

Dreams come true and you will see

anything is possible if it’s meant to be.

In our busy world children can use bedtime as a time to think about themselves, how their day went and the possibilities that are waiting for them tomorrow.
Star Pillows come in red, blue and gold and are a perfect gift any time of the year. To see them in more detail go to my Etsy store by following this link: Etsy Store

Buddy Walk for OC Down Syndrome Association

I was delighted to have a booth for this buddy walk in the Angel's Stadium on November 7th. Many families participated to raise money for this very worthwhile cause. It was easy to see that these were special families as they were calm and friendly with well mannered kids. I was just a spectator and vendor and I loved every minute the day. I had a great response to my product line. The children, with and without down syndrome loved my plushies. They twisted their necks to look more if their parent had them by the hand and walked by without stopping and the ones who stopped had the most delighted expressions on their faces. I was happy with my sales and the experience gave me the fuel to continue sewing and creating. There is something about a smiling child that warms my heart and fills me with joy. I can't think of a better feeling.