Art Projects for Kids This Christmas

Help your kids appreciate the arts during the holiday season, with these easy steps. With the commercialization of the holiday season, many children are primarily concerned with how much loot they will score. While visiting family members, for good food, games and fun,so it's easy for kids to get greedy and forget about the importance of being generous. Instead, show them how important it is to give back and use their imagination, which will allow them to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas.Imagination is key, when it comes to exploring these new ideas, because only then, a child can unlock the magic of Elf's, Santa Clause, Rodolph The Red Nose Reindeer, Snowmen, etc. This will teach a child the importance of using what they have, and more importantly, the true meaning of giving back, and helping the less fortunate.
Here are some ideas that will help you get started.

Turn on Your Holiday Imagination

Now that the holiday season is here, and many of you are in the festive mood, why not turn on a little holiday imagination to go along with the  holiday cheers. I'm sure many of you are wondering, but I don't have any money to buy a decent tree this year, but money doesn't have to determine your prospective or outlook of what makes Christmas special, so just dig a little deeper, and try to find and rediscover the magic of whats makes the holiday season so special, as if you were five years old, preparing cookies and milk in the middle of the night, awaiting the arrival of Santa Clause. The holidays doesn't have to be about materialistic things, but about the joy it bring, when you  smile on Christmas morning, spending time with the ones you love. This year instead of focusing of not having enough money to buy a big and expensive Christmas tree, just tweak your brain just a little, and see what kind of wacky  ideas you can come up with, to carry on the holiday fun. Here is a site that I found that can give you really cool and interesting ideas...http://www.home-designing.com/2008/12/unusual-Christmas-trees/   Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays....

It's all about the journey.. Dedication to My Second Family In Costa Rica... AKA Random Crew.

Many times when we look back on our lives, we focus on the good and the bad, instead of the steps  we need to take towards our destination. Then we lose sight of what makes the journey special, which is the experience within itself. Its not about the dream or what happens when you accomplish your dream, but its a matter of how you got there, with the help of people around you such as  family and friends.Paving your way towards your path. Coming back from Costa Rica, I had a couple of days to reflect on the moments, and experiences I have gone through, and the personal growth  and transformation, that has made me come to this conclusion. Setting a personal goal in mind  is important, when it comes to chasing your dream, but the journey towards your Dreams doesn't have to be difficult with the support of the ones that really care about you, because only then, can you truly know what is means to Dare to Dream And Touch A Star. Discovering this, has made me look at life with a whole  new attitude, outlook, prospective and appreciation . The journey is a battle withing itself, because a person has to transform, takes important steps to recognized their moment of captivity. What I have taken from my experience in Costa Rica, is live for the moment, treasure each step you make, because that is where the personal growth comes from. Be realistic when it comes to the steps and how to take them head on, Be aware of staying one place too long, because everything is a process, At times, things are not going to be easy, but if you stay strong and stand firm, things will always have a way of working themselves out, because you have the support of those who care about you.

Why Not Build Your Own Island?

Saving the world starts with a little thing I call,  passion, dedication, environmental awareness, artistic expression,  and 250,000 plastic bottles. Check out this video.

Jay-Z New Book.... Decoded

In his own words......

Turn On Your Imagination....... Using Coconuts

Imagine,sitting on an Island in the Caribbean, soaking up the rays of the sun, laying in your beach chair, Awaiting for the sunset,then after a few minutes you decide to go to the local vender, to buy a coconut,after a few sips, you decide to dump it to out in the trash bin, because you no longer have use for it. Then a local passes by, and ask you, if its OK if they have it, meanwhile your face is puzzled ,wondering why this person wants your trash. Then you ask them, why do you want to have my coconut,there is nothing in there. The local answers, because I want to create some beautiful art work. Coconut art has been affiliated with the Caribbean for quit some time now. Growing up as a kid in Jamaica, when I use to go to the beach, locals would be carving and polishing coconut shells, to make some very prolific crafts and designs.

 Although,coconuts usually come in similar shapes, if you look beyond what your eyes can see, they hide a lot within. When I look at a coconut and imagine, patterns start emerging, and I know what it can be turned into. Now, thats the power of imagination. There are many variation of styles and shapes, but you can use multiple coconut shells.The toughest Challenge to find a perfectly symmetric coconut. Also the shell has to be polished to give a near gold finish. Also used, a bit of veneer, artificial pebbles and colored beads, to add richness. The next time you go the Carribean, and you want to throw away your coconut, go to a local craft stop, its amazing what they can do with a little imagination.

Food For Thought (Self Reflection)

When I decided to venture off into unkown lands, I had a goal in mind, but within the process,  I had to learn about myelf and the steps needed to undergo my  transformation, so I can blossom into a butterfly. Within the process, the butterfly must first learn about its surroundings, and take account  mistakes it made along the journey, before breaking out of its cocoon, and taking flight. Otherwise it will never grow, and like time, it will  just expire. Speaking from a personal standpoint, I realize the past can sometimes follow you like a bad smell. From my past, to where I stand today, I have finally came to grips with myself  and my past, and now take full responsibility for my actions, so I can move forward from this point of Daring To Dream And Touch A Star,  and finally grabbing that star. As I analyze my situation, from every angle, I decided its time to cut it off from the roots, so it doesn´t continue to follow me on my journey. From my past, I usually blame others for my faults and misfortune, and never  took responsibility for my own actions. Therefore I  held grudges, and overtime, it drained me physically and mentally.Moving to Costa Rica, I knew that I had some personal issues to resolve, but never did I realize, it was something that it stemmed from my childhood years, which my love ones and close friends warned me about. Now realizing my faults, I now have a different outlook on life, when it comes to problem solving, when dealing with irrational or self absorb people. One must be level headed at all times, otherwise you wear yourself down, and nothing is ever accomplished, because you spend so much energy, fighting those who you think is oppressing you, while you lose focus on your ultimate goal. Sometimes distractions can contribute to a major disappointment to ones success, because along the journey, there are going to be alot of distraction, but if one knows how to handle those things, in a cool and rational manner,  it can determine ones future, whether or not,  dreams can be accomplished. As the saying goes, the soldier that goes to war, without firing a shot or claiming any lives, is usually the most successful. As I continue the journey, I too realize, like the transformation of the butterfly, I need continue the process of  self transformation, so when the time arrives, I recognize when its time to take flight. In the meanwhile, I´m still looking forward to learning from my mistakes, before transforming into that butterfly.