Soles from the Souls

Have you ever gone shopping for shoes for your kids or yourself and ended up with more than you went for? How about 1500 more.

It started with school shoes for kids. Her own. It ended with shoes for 1500 kids.

The family that entered the Payless store that was having a closing sale that day never knew that that closing would spark the opening of their hearts in such a big way.

You can see the video of this Arkansas mom and her children inspired to gift shoes.

We never know when inspiration may strike, or be the catalyst to a whole different life trajectory.

The world cannot have too much kindness... and the thing about kindness is that the more you give, the more of it you have.

Never underestimate the power of kindness to alter a life trajectory… for the recipient and the giver.
~LeAura Alderson, Cofounder-iCreateDaily.com

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Kind Bus Driver Helps Man Who Became Homeless

How do angels become angels? Perhaps it is by being guardian angels as humans first. Natalie Barnes, a Milwaukee bus driver is such a guardian angel in human form. Natalie was driving her routine bus route when Richard, a passenger she’d served in the past, stepped onto her bus.

Bowing his head, Richard’s reply to Natalie’s, “How are you doing?”, was “I’ve been homeless for a week now.”

Shelter in the Bus

When Natalie first learned of Richard’s trouble, he shared that a unit in the building where he lived caught on fire and he needed a place to stay for a couple of hours. He asked Natalie if it would be ok for her, if he rode the bus for awhile. She welcomed him warmly.

Soon Natalie realized that Richard was a kind and giving person. What caught her attention was his desire to share his little church candy with her and other passengers.

When Natalie saw Richard waiting for her bus on another night, she welcomed him and asked how he was doing.

Natalie remember that exact night. It was really cold and Richard seemed that he had nowhere to go. And, unfortunately, she was right. When he got on the bus he shared that the apartment building where he used to live was condemned and he was homeless, wandering the streets for a week now.

When Natalie realized Richard’s situation she immediately offered him to stay with her on the bus until her shift was over at 2:44 a.m. She even bought dinner for Richard.

Caught on Camera… Being Nice

The camera on the bus caught Natalie asking Richard, if he needed something from the dollar store. It is clear that Natalie was determined to help Richard in whatever way she could.

And then it struck her – she was going to shelter Richard in her bus until her shift ended at 2:44 a.m, but then what? Natalie came up with a solution by calling her friend at Community Advocates. They were able to find a temporary shelter for Richard and promised to assist him in finding a permanent home.

But Natalie went even further. She gave Richard her phone number and insisted on him calling to update her on his situation.

Simple Acts of Kindness Make All the Difference

It turns out that the exchanges between Natalie and Richard were caught on tape by the bus cameras. When the Milwaukee County Transit System noticed Natalie’s act of kindness and compassion, they awarded her third commendation for outstanding service.

Richard is forever thankful and even calls Natalie his “little guardian angel”. Natalie confirms that she and Richard keep in touch and that he is doing well.

Never underestimate the power of a simple act of kindness to change the world.

Source: MCTS

Gratitude is the music of the heart, when it’s cords are swept by the breeze of kindness.
~unknown

iHeartDaily… because the world needs more love.

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We live in the woods and birds sometimes fly into our windows. The most recent casualty is an injured cardinal.

This window strike was a red male cardinal. We’ve had several of these, but no female cardinal casualties yet, so it seems that the male cardinals are the feisty fighters. Some of them attack the glass and dash away, thinking they’re tussling with another male cardinal. These don’t usually get injured.

Other cardinals seem to think the glass is sky and fly into it hard enough to injure themselves, or worse.

We’ve had a few fatalities over the 30 years of living in the woods. Some died instantly of a broken neck. A few died minutes later, likely from internal hemorrhaging. This is always distressing because we love all animals.

The good news is that we’ve rescued and released far more birds than we’ve lost!

A Deterrent to Prevent Bird Strikes

And more good news: we found a fairly effective solution that has helped tremendously. It doesn’t look great, but if it saves the birds… we’re all for it!

You can read more about our bird crash prevention system here in this article on our gardening site.

However, we still have a few accidents here and there.

Our latest injured cardinal was is a very feisty male cardinal that injured his wing. When he tried to fly away, one wing clearly wasn’t working as well and he couldn’t fly. He could scoot around on the ground really well, so we had to scurry to try to catch him again.

We couldn’t let him go because he would most definitely not have survived. But we did learn an important lesson:

Wear gloves when trying to capture an injured bird!

Do Injured Birds Bite?

Typically, when we pick up the birds they’re stunned or shaken from the hit, so they’re docile and quiet while recovering. The feature image at top is actually one of our previous rescues and he flew away after awhile. It was harder to get photos of Cisco, as you will read below.

An Injured Cardinal Can Bite Very Hard

So far, none of the injured cardinal or other birds have bitten us.

But this guy was fully awake and aware and was definitely unhappy, scared and probably in pain. So when captured he bites, and very, very hard!

Imagine… birds can crack nuts and sunflower seeds with their beaks, so they are definitely quite strong. The effect was like being pinched to a blood blister.

Fortunately, the beak isn’t sharp enough to break the skin on most adults, but it sure can hurt a finger, and definitely not advisable for children to come in contact.

Injured Cardinal Francisco

Meanwhile, we’ve named him “Cardinal Francisco”… “Cisco” for short :-), and he’s enjoying eating good wildlife birdseed, drinking water and in general, making a mess and talking a lot… more like squawking a lot!

Local Vet Injured Cardinal for Free

Fortunately, there’s a vet in a neighboring town to us that will take in injured wildlife for free. So if you have injured birds or wildlife that need more than a few minutes in a safe environment to heal, search online for wildlife vet, and you’ll see the options near you.

It turns out that this injured cardinal broke his collarbone. The vet said he needed to stay overnight for observation, then they would work on his injuries the following day.

It turns out they needed to keep Cardinal Cisco for about four weeks to recover. They said they’d call us so we could release him back into our yard, but I guess they forgot because when we called them to check in, they’d already released him in their area.

It was sad not to see him fly off, but we’re just grateful he was healed and cared for.

It’s illegal to keep songbirds in captivity.

I know what they say: if you name them you end up keeping them, but that’s definitely not going to happen here! We love to help birds be free to fly, plus it’s illegal to keep songbirds in captivity^[1]http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/WDCA/documents/Birds.pdf, even if we were inclined to.

Meet Cisco the Red Cardinal

We didn’t have a bird cage but our small pet carrier, with towels placed inside is working out really well. We feed the birds in winter, so had a wild bird seed blend on hand and placed a dish of that along with a bowl of water into his cage. It was good to see him making good use of both as an indication of feeling well and even safe enough to eat and drink.

Cardinal “Cisco” in Recovery

Here’s a video of a previous cardinal rescue. He was only stunned and stayed to visit for awhile.

HeartDaily!

Wild Bird Rescue Stories

If you love birds, you may also enjoy reading some more wild bird rescue stories, and this one.

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I wasn’t sure I liked it at first. It felt frustrating… because life for Dakota Fanning’s character, Wendy. But then that’s testament to how effectively Dakota’s portrayed life for Wendy.

A family movie with heart, Please Stand By delivers powerfully human emotions surrounding a uniquely autistic individual who struggles with them. This movie takes you there.

Although they never name the specific challenge Wendy is affected by… likely to intentionally convey that individual struggles are real, no matter what name they may be given.

Dakota’s portrayal of the anguished but hopeful Wendy, was so believable that you completely forgot it was Dakota Fanning and not the young woman learning how to navigate complicated human relationships and emotions. As with many who are autistic, Wendy had an obsession… one that she developed to help her cope and that eventually would clearly become her compelling future. We’d say that more than an obsession…

She had a purpose that kept her focused and gave her hope.

Please Stand By is a movie of struggle and triumph, and a portrayal of some of the best and worst of humanity, and the warmth of conflicted relationships, even when they’re not so easy. The writing, production and direction in this film were like a well woven tapestry of humanity that linked with surprising bursts of color that bring it all together beautifully.

Our family of five, ranging in ages from 21-82 all thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend Please Stand By.

Please Stand By, starring Dakota Fanning is a compelling story worth seeing. A solid 

If you’re interested in the topic of autism and special needs, you will enjoy this article about a special social organization for differently abled youth started by a sister for her twin brother.

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Marissa Hacker’s brother Matthew is autistic, and she saw how socially isolated he was growing up in Voorhees, NJ. She dreamed of a comfortable, easy environment where he could hang out with friends and enjoy himself, and she decided to create one. She was just 15!!

Young or old, Age is not a barrier to making the world a better place.

Now 21, Fantastic Friends is alive and well, and continues to host monthly social functions for friends (members with special needs) and volunteer friends (peer volunteers).

“Our teen-led chapters help people with special needs gain confidence about being in a group, while sharing ideas, hopes, and dreams, in an accepting environment,” Marissa Hacker

The organization has raised $30,000 to support activities involving 500 participants, volunteers, siblings, and parents — it’s one of the top 100 special needs social groups in the United States. Marissa recently received a Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award, which recognizes the next generation of philanthropic visionaries and provides them with support and resources in their drive to make the world a better place.

Next up for Fantastic Friends? Convincing Bruno Mars to come to their Prom!

Enjoy this fantastically FUN video. Well done too!

When Marissa was interviewed in for the online publication, JewishExponent.com, they asked:

Q: Is there anything you would tell your 15-year-old self now?

A: “I would tell myself not to worry so much because everything always works out. I would tell myself not to be nervous about anything.”

Interested in starting a chapter in your area? Get in touch! This is a group dynamic worth sharing.

Interestingly, on the heels of editing this article to share, we just last night watched a very well produced movie on an autistic young woman, played by Dakota Fanning, titled Please Stand By.

“I would tell my [younger] self not to worry so much because everything always works out.”

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For the longest time, I had no idea what “Witch Hazel” was or why it always belonged in a bathroom cabinet. To me, it sounded more like a English tea. Or something that my dad had in his garage to treat wood. I dunno.

But now that I’m a fully informed adult, I know that witch hazel is an astringent derived from the witch-hazel shrub. It’s been long used to treat skin irritations, so it has that “been-around-for-centuries” seal of approval.

Thayer’s Witch Hazel with the gentle rose petal scent is the one we use.

For quick zit treatment and facial toner you can use these witch hazel pads. It treats softens and soothes skin and also shrinks pores and removes excess oil.

It checks off on being paraben-free, vegan and smelling awesome. Oh, and it’s pretty affordable compared to some of the brand name cosmetics.

And the positives don’t stop there! You can also use witch hazel to soothe sunburns, treat bug bites, de-puff eyes and splash on as an aftershave. It’s the Swiss army knife of astringents… if only it could fit on my keychain!

And… if you like to grow things, you can even grow your own witch hazel plant! We have some in our yard and they produce beautiful blossoms! You can grow witch hazel in pots for a while indoors.

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We recently got a request to find some cute journals. Mission accepted! Of course, no two people journal the same way, so here’s a variety to suit each and every one of your documentarian tastes.

 Every Day: A Five-Year Memory Book. If you have a penchant for nostalgia, this could be the journal for you. Every day has five sections for five years, so you can easily look back and see all the cool things you did. Or if you’re like me, see what you were watching on Netflix.

 Ticket Stub Diary. If you love events, then you’ll want to keep track of where you’ve been and when with all those nostalgic ticket stubs. You don’t have to be the writerly type, to keep a journal. If you track your life by the concerts, sporting events, plays and movies you go to, slide your ticket stubs in here for a scrapbook of your favorite moments in time.

 Dream Journal – How can your soul communicate with you? One way is through dreams. Sometimes dreams are just weird. Other times there are hidden messages in them. And sometimes we’re lucky and the dream is a wonderful depiction of the things and people we love and the visions we hold dear. One way to learn more from your dreams is to record as much of them as you can recall. We like the Knock Knock brand, and their Dream Journal is really cool.

Start Where You Are Journal for Self Exploration by Meera Lee Patel

Meera is a lovely young, very successful artist. We love her painted watercolor illustrations and  artistic style, with wonderful whimsical—yet wise—sayings, such as: “If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.”

Definitely a journal to inspire creativity, self exploration and self expression.

90 Day Goals Journal – If you’re motivated—or need help getting motivated—to achieve your dreams, this goals journal is the way to go. Don’t leave your plans to chance. Identify and track your quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily goals.  We made this and use it daily!

 The Wisdom Journal – If you love nature, gardening and gardens, you’ll enjoy this lovely wisdom journal full of nature images and down home quotes.

The Celestial Journal – For a touch of mystical elegance, we love this journal. Inviting cover, beckons you to create magic on the pages within.

So let us know what kind of journal is your favorite. If it’s not one of these, we’ll add it here.

Bottom line, journaling is a great way to improve your writing and flow of thoughts, while getting more in touch with your inner self.

Happy Journaling!

The post 7 Best Journals for Creativity, Discovery, Reflection and Productivity appeared first on iHeartDaily.

It’s Good Enough to Eat.

I mean… anything you place on your lips, should be edible, right? After all, any time you have on lipgloss, lipstick or lip balm, you are naturally ingesting some of it. Not only is it entering your body through your skin, but also when you eat, drink or lick your lips, you’re consuming small particles of whatever you’ve placed on your lips.

So, not only does all natural lip balm make sense, it’s the only kind of lip stuff that does.

We forget that so many products today were created in a lab by scientists looking to make products that work, that last, and that stay in place. Their job was not usually to make a product that’s also good for you, inside and out. Today, more companies are waking up to this and creating more and better products.

But Dan… he saw the light way back in 2004. Dan was ahead of the curve.

Dan Gosling and ChopSaver

Dan Gosling is a professional trumpet player. Few professions are as abusive to the lips as wind instruments, so when Dan didn’t find a good solution to treat his bruised and abused lips, he created one.

Today, Dan’s company, ChopSaver, has saved many chops with a lip balm that’s actually good for you, inside and out, and Dan? He has happy lips and is now known for more than being an awesome trumpet player. Dan is also The ChopSaver Guy.^[1]http://www.chopsaver.com/our-story/

You can find ChopSavers all natural lip balms in CVS and on Amazon, and you don’t have to be a trumpet player to enjoy the wonderful benefits of this good-for-you lip treat!

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Chandler Kinney is best known for her breakout role on Amazon Prime Family’s “Gortimer Gibbons Life on Normal Street” as Christina Dillman, the talkative brainiac up for any intellectual challenge. The show tells the story of Gortimer and his friends as they navigate through various journeys and adventures on Normal Street, an ordinary suburban neighborhood that has a hint of something magical just beneath their feet. We talked to Chandler about school, acting, and music on vinyl, among other things.

I Heart Daily: Your character is super-smart… are you a brainiac in real life?
Chandler Kinney: I’d like to think so, though I can’t solve the issues of global warming and the dangers of climate change like Catherine did! She’s practically a genius! However, I am very passionate about education and it’s extremely important to me that I do well in school. I’m a straight-A student and I like to stay on top of my school work.

IHD: We hear you’re into Tae Kwon Do — and you’re a first-degree black belt?!
CK: Yes! I love it because it not only teaches self-defense, it also teaches the importance and value of discipline, responsibility, respect, humility and other great morals. It’s great exercise too! In addition to what I’ve learned from martial arts, I’ve also made some amazing friends through the sport.

IHD: What’s your next goal?
CK: I have so many things I want to accomplish! I want to keep working and creating art through film. I actually just won Best Youth Actress from Canadagraphs for my performance as Catherine and it is truly amazing to me to think that people enjoyed my work enough to vote for me! So I hope I can continue to inspire and affect people with my acting.

“Not everyone is fortunate, and if you have the ability to do something about it, why wouldn’t you?” Chandler Kinney

IHD: You’re involved with a few different charities — what inspires you to reach out to help others?
CK: Not everyone is fortunate, and if you have the ability to do something about it, why wouldn’t you? There is true significance in even the simplest of gestures. Giving back to the community in any way you can is important! And helping others has also broadened my perspective — and it just feels good!

IHD: You have a penpal Ethiopia — what do you guys write about?
CK: She doesn’t know how much she’s inspired me. We talk about our families, pets, school, and activities! It’s such an interesting and exciting experience!

IHD: We always ask: What are you hearting right now?
CK: I’m really hearting vinyl right now! I have a record player in my room and I’ve been listening to a lot of Adele, Taylor Swift, Chicago, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra! They are such talented artists and I love their music!

I’m also hearting the launch of my new organization called Chandler’s Friends! Our mission is to reach out to kids who are at any kind of disadvantage and let them know that someone cares. Our current project consists of making and donating fleece blankets. Exciting things are beginning to happen and I can’t wait to share more details in the near future!

Thanks, Chandler! Find this cool girl on twitter and Instagram.

And… here’s a snippet of Chandler on her acting role and dreams.

Heart Daily!

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Finding money for college is both a noble and difficult mission. You’ve got ambitions, dreams, goals… and it’s expensive as heck. Sure, there are big-name scholarships and financial aid packages to apply for, but there are also thousands of lesser-known opportunities that your average Google search may or may not reveal.

Enter Scholly, an app that uses a set of eight specific parameters to instantly match applicants with their best scholarship prospects. The database is current, the guidelines are clear, and the app has helped applicants secure over $35 million in scholarships in the last two years alone.

The Scholly app has helped applicants secure over $35 million in scholarships over two years.

Scholly’s database includes both need-based and merit scholarships, and also features helpful tips for the application process, examples of successful essays and a dashboard for saved dates and deadlines.

“There are millions of dollars in funding for college and grad school that go to waste each year simply because students aren’t aware they exist or don’t know where to look,” says Christopher Gray (pictured), who founded Scholly in 2013, while an undergraduate at Drexel University.

“Millions of dollars in funding for college and grad school go to waste each year.” Christopher Gray, founder, Scholly

Gray grew up in an underserved community in Alabama, and he doggedly pursued funding for college (often applying on his phone since he had no computer at home — a tedious process). Ultimately, he won $1.3 million in scholarships. So, you know, he’s a good source.

“Persistence is key.” Christopher Gray, founder, Scholly

Read more success stories and check out Scholly for yourself.

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