Monica the Maine coon...cute kitty wants a friend!

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Carolyn Braden says "Support the Dizzy Feet Foundation on National Dance Day, July 30th, 2011.

I am learning the NapTabs routine from "So You Think You Can Dance" to do on National Dance Day. It's on July 30th, 2011. I'm hosting a "Zoolander Zombie" party that day and plan to do the dance flash-mob style. The song is "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO. I've listed the links to the intermediate and the easier dance in case the master dance is a little tough (it is fast!). I've recruited some friends to help me out on this. Support the arts and dance on National Dance Day!


Master Dance, Tabitha and Napoleon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s-eH2aJU4w

Intensive Intermediate, Robin Antin (who is Johnathan Antin's, of Jonathan hair products, sister....love Dirt!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwiqrtTBYBg&feature=relmfu

Easiest Routine: Mary Murphy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSzT_ahH5PA&feature=relmfu

Carolyn Braden's Humphrey GoKart in Safety Dance By the Cast of Glee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz8KYsVVYIQ

Carolyn Braden says "Bridal Bouquet Trend"

A friend of mine was a photographer at a wedding recently and the bride's bouquet should have had it's own photo shoot. She made the bouquet out of vintage flower pins. The base was styrofoam. This bouquet is one that will last forever!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Carolyn Braden's Revolutionary Idea

I just finished changing the look of all my blogs. I love a change of scenery sometimes and they just needed some sprucing up. Most people make all their changes in their lives when the new year is arriving. Maybe my new year is arriving at this moment. It is never too late to make a change in your life. Try a fun new recipe like Baked Alaska. Try swimming for exercise instead of lifting weights. Hang out with people that make you laugh instead of cry. As we all know, tomorrow is just another day but maybe it should be your revolutionary day.

Carolyn's Rainbow

All the rainstorms here in Louisville can at least produce one beautiful thing!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Carolyn Braden's Ponder

There are no coincidences.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Carolyn Braden's New Thing: Writing for eHow

My new year, new thing:  I will write more!


I am now a contributing writer for www.ehow.com.


My first article was just published.  You can check it out below by clicking on the link.  It is about how to use my new favorite Lush product, Charlotte Island skin tint.  I blogged about it a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to share the news about how it's a great alternative to self-tanners and tanning in the sun (and in tanning beds).


http://www.ehow.com/how_7713184_use-charlottle-island-skin-tint.html


I plan to write articles about style, fashion, and beauty products, but I also will write about other topics.  I am currently an art educator, so I plan to write articles that inspire people to create art projects and crafts.  Having taught art to elementary and middle school age students, I've figured out very simple and easy ways to break down hard projects.  Going on my 7th year of teaching, I've learned a lot and I am excited to take my knowledge to the next level, which is writing about it.  I write a blog about what is going on in my classroom and about certain art projects called Braden's Art Stars.( http://bradensartstars.blogspot.com/ ) I also contribute my knowledge in the arts on other websites such as www.kinderart.com and SchoolArts Magazine.( http://www.davisart.com/portal/schoolarts/sadefault.aspx ) Now, withwww.ehow.com, I'm just adding more to my writing resume.  And this is one step in the direction to keep my new year, new thing resolution!

Carolyn Braden's Poetry #3

In the dark, the possible can come true.
In the light, the impossible is all I have,
can you give me a clue?
The hills are becoming mountains.
The trees, I cannot climb.
Can you hear me, are you listening?
Am I running out of time?
I feel naked, alone, and sad.
But at times, I grow incredibly mad.
The happiness comes and goes.
I have many highs, but too many lows.
What is it that can cure my blues?
It's the dreams that I hope to come true.
They say the clock is ticking,
my time is running out.
"Why do I have to give up!",
is all I want to shout.
It's true, I want to give up, 
throw my hands up in the air.
But all I can do is look the hole in the face,
not blinking, 
with just a stare.

Carolyn Braden's Poetry #2

Love, an impossible thing?
It doesn't only come from a ring. 
Love comes from hard work, patience, and time.
It survives hatred and crime.
Will I be able to keep you forever to be mine.
Or will you be like the others and cast me aside?

Carolyn Braden Is Poetry?

I've been feeling so upset for a while because I haven't had a chance to be creative.  Since starting back to school in August, I have not created on thing artistically for myself.  I've had absolutely zero inspiration.  Then, we recently had some bad weather and I got an unexpected early start to my winter break.  With having the time off, I've been able to actually think of myself for once, therefore, my inspirations started to come back to me.  A little while ago, someone told me I needed to write poetry.  I've written poetry in the past, but never thought of it as being "real".  It was before I knew I was actually a creative person who didn't think like everyone else.  I used to take my talents for granted because I didn't know that my gifts were anything special.  I just thought everyone was like me.  I had an awakening a couple of years ago that made me stop in my tracks and truly told me I was different.  I then realized what I made was really art, and I've taken it very seriously since.


So.....here is some of my first bits of creativity that has been suppressed since August.  


Poem One:  


It's time to stop the punches you throw.
It's time to just let you go.
You said you wished I'd go away,
but you really thought I'd want to stay.
It just doesn't matter anymore.
I've already walked out the door.
I've loved, I've hoped, I've tried.
You knew how much I cried.
My tears have now all dried.
It's time.  
I've forever put you aside.

Carolyn Braden says "Dance Anyone?"

At my Winter Wonderland Party, everyone loved the Michael Jackson Experience game for Wii!  Dancing is great exercise!  It also can lift a bad mood.  So get up and dance today!  

Life As We Know It

After talking to my grandmother today, I had to ask myself if she was reading my mind.  She said she got the song "Que Sera Sera" stuck in her head today.  She said, "You know, that's very true.  Whatever will be, will be."  I was feeling doubtful for a second today, and she got my thoughts on the good road once again.


You know what.  It is true.  I thought I'd post the lyrics to the song here so you could read it.  It's like a poem.  Read it and see if you believe the future is up in the air and we should leave it that way.  I told my grandmother, "You know, I don't think I'd want to really know what will happen in the future for myself.  There are things I'd love to know, but there are many things I wouldn't want to know.  Those things would take a hold of my life and make the good thing anticipation totally be outweighed by the bad thing anticipation."  What do you think?


When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich
Here's what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

When I was young, I fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead
Will we have rainbows, day after day
Here's what my sweetheart said.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother, what will I be
Will I be handsome, will I be rich
I tell them tenderly.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be. 


Lyrics from:  http://www.lyriczz.com/lyrics/doris-day/12960-que-sera-sera/


Click the ad for a MP3 download of "Que Sera Sera" sung by Doris Day

Soooooo....Carolyn Braden Asks

I blogged about what he did last year. So, I'm asking now, do you
mean what you say? Actions are louder than words. You know that.
Stop twittering. Stop talking. In the words of Britney Spears, why
don't you do something Kanye West. Or are you still scared about what
people will say?
Carolyn Braden
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the
rain."
--Dolly Parton

Carolyn Braden asks "Patterns Anyone?"

I have a friend that has been doing some of the same things as I have been lately.  She's trying to move onto the next step in her life like I am and I just finished sending her an e-mail.  After typing it, it seemed like a blog entry I needed to post here.  Here's an excerpt from the e-mail.  It's about not giving up hope even though it seems the world keeps telling you to.  

"Just hang in there.  It's so hard to wait for something when it is your life that is the matter.  I feel like it's been an eternity that I've been waiting to move onto a more artistic career.  You are right to keep the hope.  It's so hard sometimes and I get so mad every once in a while that a run on the treadmill is the only thing that gets rid of the anger.  It usually does the trick.  I usually only get mad when I've worked so hard on something for a while and then it doesn't go my way.  It makes me feel a little bit like a failure.  I yell that I will give up and the failure must have meant I was supposed to give up.  Then after the anger from the failure feelings pass, I know I didn't fail.  I just remember that it wasn't the right opportunity and hopefully another chance will come again soon.  The hope returns, and then I move onto my next project. This seems to be the pattern for me.  :)  Do you notice a pattern in anything that you are doing in the process of starting your new life?

I read Kelly Cutrone's book recently (the owner of People's Revolution that was on The Hills and The City).  It was such a great read because she described a lot of the things that I've felt or gone through on my "journey".  She said when she got her first big artistic career, it was like finding her tribe.  The tribe of people that kept her motivated and inspired.  People that are just like her and felt just like her.  That was a "whoa!" moment for me. 

Keep me updated on everything career wise." 

I know there are other people out there that feel like they are failing on a daily basis.  Either they just lost their job, have been out of work for a while and can't find another job, or something else in their life just isn't adding up.  I only hope that they realize that they aren't alone.  There are so many people on their last leg of hope out there and must be encouraged to keep on going.  If you know anyone that needs a little hope in their life, please call them or go visit them.  If you let them know that you've seen them struggle and tell them to keep on going because someone will say "yes" to them soon, it will shine a light upon them and give them just that little bit of encouragement they were seeking but didn't know it.  

I have a sparkling snow globe with these characters in it from Hallmark.  My husband gave it to me.  Encouragement gifts are so wonderful!  Give them to your kids too!