Search Results for: blog for the beauty of the earth

What is Earth Day?

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Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year. Many people consider the creation of Earth Day to be the moment when the modern environmental movement began. There will be events held, all around the world, that are intended to demonstrate support for environmental protection. John McConnell was the founder and creator of Earth Day. In 1939, he was partnering with chemist Albert Nobell in the Nobell Research Laboratory in Los Angeles, California. They built a factory that manufactured plastic. John McConnell learned about how the manufacture of plastic polluted the Earth. This is where his concern about the environment … Continue reading →

A Push for Safe Beauty Products

As I’ve warned before, your beauty products may be doing you harm.  Right now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t approve ingredients used in beauty products before they hit the shelves.  Instead, that responsibility of safety falls on the beauty product companies.  Still, there could be lead in your lipstick, lead acetate in your hair dye, and even formaldehyde and 1, 4-dioxane in you baby’s shampoo. But, that may change soon.  The Safe Cosmetics Act was introduced in 2011.  The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is hoping to convince the House of Representatives to support this bill, which would require … Continue reading →

For the Beauty of the Earth

I love the hymn, “For The Beauty of the Earth“. It has been one of my favorites for a long time. Last night, my little family took a drive up one of the canyons close to our house to look at the fall colors. I am constantly awe struck by the beauty of the mountains where I live. Growing up in TX, we don’t have mountains, and it seems like the fall colors are not as vibrant as the aspen trees against the evergreens in the mountains. They amaze me, and I feel like it takes my breath away. As … Continue reading →

Eartha Kitt Dies at Age 81

Groundbreaking singer/actress Eartha Kitt died of colon cancer on Christmas Day this year at the age of 81. Eartha had a career that spanned six decades, so I thought a blog about her life was only fitting. Eartha was born in North, South Carolina (one of the funniest city names I’ve ever heard!) in 1927. Her parentage was of a Cherokee/African-American mother and a German/Dutch father, which gave the singer/actress an unusually striking beauty. This photo, by Carl Van Vechten, is in the public domain. She started her career as a dancer for the Katherine Dunham Company in the 40s. … Continue reading →

The Good Earth – Pearl S. Buck

“The Good Earth” is considered one of author Pearl Buck’s greatest masterpieces, and I have to agree. Although it reflects a culture and a time very different from anything I’m familiar with, I could immediately recognize the flavor and the tone as authentic – I felt transported to a place I have never seen and now feel as though I could navigate my way through China with insight. Wang Lung is a farmer, living with his widowed father. He has decided that it is time for him to take a wife, so he goes to the household of the Hwang … Continue reading →

Bravo’s “Extreme Guide to Parenting”

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How would you describe your parenting style? Some parents will answer that question by stating that their parenting style is traditional, or conservative, or “old-school”. Others might explain their parenting style as “eclectic”. They take some ideas from how their parents raised them, and add in some new concepts that have become popular in the years since they were children. No matter what your parenting style happens to be, it is unlikely that it matches up with the parents on Bravo’s new TV show “Extreme Guide to Parenting”. Season one featured 10 different families whose parenting styles have been described … Continue reading →

Shanghai Disneyland to Open in 2015

In 2015, a brand new Disneyland will open its gates.  Don’t believe it?  Did you think you would have heard of something so momentous happening sooner?   At the end of 2015, Shanghai Disneyland will be open for business. It was easy to forget about the at-times controversial park, because it’s been years since we’ve heard more than a peep about it.  But now that we’re getting closer to its opening date, more details are beginning to trickle in.  The Disney Parks blog has a snapshot of the Shanghai Disneyland model, or at least a portion of the model, focusing on … Continue reading →

Our Primary Program

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This past Sunday we had our primary program. It was a success as usual, but I am also glad it is over! There is always a sense of relief as the primary president when that task is completed, although my job is never really “done”. I started by sharing a few words myself. For some reason, I was a little overly emotional. But, in the year and a half that I have had this calling, I have really grown to love my primary kids. We are few in numbers, but it seems that makes us more like a family. I … Continue reading →

General Relief Society Broadcast

Last night was the General Relief Society broadcast. I was lucky enough to get to attend the broadcast downtown in the conference center. It has been a long time since I had attended in person, and I had forgotten the enormity of the building, and how vast the number of members that can fit into it. I was immediately struck by singing the beautiful music with thousands of sisters singing with me. It is definitely a spiritual experience to get to go and listen to the leaders first-hand give us counsel from the Lord. A new general relief society presidency … Continue reading →

Vanity Fair Movie Review

Crafty Becky Sharp may not have been blessed with a good start in life, but she has her wits, her beauty, and her ability to speak fluent french, qualities she hoped will raise her from orphan to leader of society. Along the way, she laughs at society but years to be at its center, falls in love, but makes foolish choices, has a heart of gold at times and could care less in others. The film is an adaption of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 1848 novel, an undertaking, since the book spans decades of the early 19th century and is filled … Continue reading →