Blog Archives

Get your PeaceLove On

May 13, 2013

PeaceLove, mental health, Peacelove studios, pawtucket paintings, jeff sparr, get your peacelove on,

Get Your PeaceLove On!

Based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, PeaceLove Studios provides free art classes to communities effected by mental illness. Their mission is to help people create peace of mind and find comfort through artistic expression. They aim to chip away and remove the stigma attached to mental illness beginning with sharing personal stories.

[caption id="attachment_2445" align="alignright" width="180"]jeff sparr, matt kaplan, peacelove founders, peacelove foundation, peacelove pawtucket, ocd stories, PeaceLove Co-Founders, Matt Kaplan and Jeff Sparr[/caption]

Co-founder of PeaceLove, Jeff Sparr, openly shares his story and struggle with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). For years he searched for ways to ease his symptoms and, along with other tools, he found that painting brings him peace of mind.

He says, “My ‘something more’ would be to create a positive symbol of hope and acceptance for mental health. Every cause has their ‘ribbon,’ but tens of millions of people like me and their friends and families had nothing to rally and celebrate behind.”

Music for Newtown Auction

March 22, 2013

  The list of heavy hitting stars donating to the Music for Newtown Auction keeps growing even as the auction date is three days away. Jack Johnson, Taylor Swift, Elton John, Tim McGraw, 3 Doors Down, The Eagles, Eddie Vedder, John Mayer, One Direction, and Rush to give you a teaser. I have an “in,” [...]

7 Ways to Make Your Own Luck

March 15, 2013

4 leaf clover, make luck, lucky 7, lucky clover, I'm unlucky, happy st. paddy's day, st. patty's day luck, be generous, attitude, what's luck got to do with it, law of attractionI wish people, “Good Luck!” as a vote of confidence, a hope for success, but I only have a limited belief in luck. Instead, I believe we make our own luck. Two people could be handed the same situation, the same resources (or lack thereof) and can create completely different outcomes. Some might dismiss it as “lucky” or use it as and excuse, “I’m just unlucky,” or “She’s luckier than me.” I don’t believe that’s luck, it’s attitude, how you choose to look at the world and interact within it.

These are lessons Nick and I work to instill in our kids at every opportunity. We believe in these principles in our own lives, as parents and contributors to society. Let’s call it “The Luck O’ the Italians,” it’s a recipe to make your own luck! Here are LUCKY NUMBER 7 Ways to Make your Own Luck!

Music for Newtown

February 25, 2013

music for newtown logo, Music for Newtown, sandy hook elementary, tim mcgraw, republic records, beth bogdan, heart musical noteMoved by the horrors in Newtown, Connecticut, our hometown, my sister launched Music for Newtown. She works for Republic Records who is sponsoring the online auction which will take place March 25 – 27, 2013.

After December 14, Beth, like so many who called Newtown home, felt drawn, and returned to Newtown. She talked to the First Selectman’s specially organized committee, the administrators of the United Way of Western Connecticut, as well as the superintendent’s office and Newtown Social Services to determine where needs exist.

There was an incredible, immediate outpouring from people wanting to help, but the needs continue. Many of the affected families are out of work and struggling financially. Resources are needed for ongoing counseling services and eventually for building or rebuilding, depending upon what is decided for the future of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The United Way of Western Connecticut has waived their administration fee so that all of the proceeds from the auction will benefit Newtown needs through the Sandy Hook School Support Fund. Beth has been pulling together resources and the music industry is rallying for the cause.posters for Newtown, signatures for Newtown, 3 Doors Down, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, guitar donations, signed guitars,

KOTO – Know One Teach One

February 18, 2013

koto hanoi, hanoi restaurant, paper lanterns, white paper lanterns, globe lightsA year ago this month, my Mom and I took a trip of a lifetime together to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Before the trip, my daughter selected the book Noodle Pie by Ruth Starke for our mother-daughter book club, it takes place in Hanoi. I read it before leaving to be sure I could bring back relevant details and photos for the girls. KOTO is highlighted in the book and it was on my list of places I had to go to.

In one of those law-of-attraction moments, on our first night in Hanoi, only hours after landing, our guide gave us a run down of the next day. Quang told us the itinerary has “lunch on our own” scheduled but he hoped we didn’t mind that he had made a reservation for us all to eat together at a place called KOTO. My jaw dropped, I gasped and I flung my head to look at my Mom who understood my excitement.

Perfect! I would be taken directly to the one place not on the official tour that I wanted to see.mother daughter traveling together, traveling with your mom, vietnam tours, odyssey tours, southeast asia travel, visiting vietnam,

Hands that Rock – The Gift of Music for Children

December 28, 2012

Please consider Hands that Rock as you make your year end donations.

hands that rock, HTR, I love you in sign language, music charity, music education, saving music education, chair massage at concerts, Hands that Rock is an organization with a mission to bring the magic of music to under served communities throughout the United States. Founded by Darcy Lynch, a Rhode Island resident, and founder of Stage Hands Massage Therapy, the organization will provide chair massages for audiences at major concerts and events with net proceeds supporting music programs in cooperation with local music outreach organizations.

Since its inception in June 2012, the six month young charity has had 390 massage therapists who have worked at 31 music festivals and events nationwide for 118 consecutive days, and raised $12,000.

Hands that Rock’s primary focus is on developing and partnering with programs concerned with music education, performance, related resources and outreach for individuals and groups in need. It will also support community initiatives associated with environmental, social and health-related concerns to help create suitable environments for the creation and performance of music.

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