I am always on the lookout for unique gifts and the opportunity to support people/companies that sync with making the world better. This post contains affiliate links. THE THANK-YOU PROJECT book Gratitude is a buzzword right now (and rightly so). The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time tells the story of the year writer/podcaster Nancy Davis Kho wrote thank-you letters to 50 people, places, and pastimes that had shaped her, inspired her, and helped her become the person she was. Using her own story as a springboard and incorporating facets from the emerging science of happiness to understand why her gratitude letters worked so well, Davis Kho gives practical and reassuring guidance to readers who want to start their own Thank-You Project. I received a copy of the book and can confirm it will make you laugh, reflect, and itch to start writing your own letters to the formative people in your life. Consider gifting it to someone special, with a personal thank-you letter to them attached. Princess Awesome Clothing I always feel a little teary when one of my girls outgrows her Princess Awesome clothing. Tossing aside traditional stereotypes of what girls should wear, Princess Awesome champions the idea that all kids deserve to be seen for their true selves and honored for their own unique set of interests. Think dresses, shirts, and pants covered in dragons, rockets, fossils, ninjas, circuits, ocean explorers, and more. Sizes range from babes all the way up to age 12. The company also recently launched …

It was serendipitous a review copy of Sarah Centrella’s book #futureboards: Learn How to Create a Vision Board to Get Exactly the Life You Want came to my mailbox. A few days earlier I had been blown away by the exhibit “Dior: From Paris to the World” at the Dallas Museum of Art. From a cathedral-like room packed with remarkable designs to areas filled with the works of Dior himself, imagination ran abundant throughout the exhibit. Several pieces in particular caught my eye…the mood boards by current Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri. Mood boards (aka vision boards) let designers establish a theme for their lines with visual details and inspirations. In the same mindset, Centrella asks readers of her book to take the concept further with what she dubs #futureboards. She defines them as a physical board (proudly displayed) that has beautiful photographs intentionally chosen to visually show the creator’s future dream life. #futureboards What I appreciate most about Centrella’s concept is #futureboards focus on experiences and not things. Experiences matter because, as Centrella writes, “they teach you to focus on what brings you happiness and joy. When you are building your life around experiences, you are training your mind to seek happiness and receive joy. It’s one of the fastest ways for you to tap into a sensation of happiness at any given moment, by thinking of an experience you want to live. When you feel that happiness in your mind, you will soon manifest it in real life.” The book is divided into three parts: Exercises …

What are the roles for women and girls in science fiction (SciFi) and superhero films and television? Are they visible? Are they powerful? Are they inclusive? What do their representation, voice share, presence — or absence — mean to the stories that shape our imaginations of who we are and what is possible? These are just some of the questions approached in the study Superpowering Women in SciFi Superhero Films: A 10 Year Investigation by WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER with BBC America. “At this time of enormous, sweeping, social change, it’s important that television and film provide an abundance of roles and role models for diverse girls and young women,” said Julie Burton, President and CEO of the WOMEN’S MEDIA CENTER. “We know that representation matters, and impressive box office numbers show that women filmmakers make great films and women and girls lead the charge to watch them. Despite that, our analysis shows we still have a long way to go for sci-fi and superhero films to reflect the views and visions of women and girls.” Behind and In Front of the Camera There has been a slight uptick in opportunities for women, particularly in front of the camera — an indication that demands by media and gender advocates, filmmakers, journalists, and audiences, has begun to make a difference. Some key findings from this latest report show: Only three percent of sci-fi/superhero film directors were women during the 10-year period. 88 percent of the most influential behind-the-scenes roles (directing, producing, writing and editing) were held by …

10 powerful quotes from women in the arts are a great antidote to a creative rut. Here is a collection of inspiring words by several women artists. Consider it a thought-provoking pep talk. Trust me; these women know what they’re talking about, and their wisdom deserves to be shared! 10 Powerful Quotes From Women in Arts  “I love creation more than life, and I must express myself before disappearing.” ~Sonia Delaunay, multi-disciplinary abstract artist “The world is full of fictional characters looking for their stories.” ~Diane Arbus, photographer “Every time I have had a problem, I have confronted it with the ax of art.” ~Yayoi Kusama, contemporary artist “The only thing I have learned is to find strength in yourself. No one can help you, no one can do anything for you, you have to do the work yourself.” ~Marina Abramovic, performance artist “Dreamers are those who have achieved in love and life, because it is a dream that got them there.” ~Cindy Sherman, artist photographic self-portraits “I try every time for a project to have a natural ending. As much as I can, I try to follow the story and to give it its own end.” ~Sophie Calle, writer, photographer, installation artist “That’s what I’m interested in: the space in between, the moment of imagining what is possible and yet not knowing what that is.” ~Julie Mehretu, contemporary visual artist “Inhale possibility, exhale creativity.” ~Laura Jaworski, author and artist “We have to laugh. Because laughter, we already know, is the first evidence of freedom.” ~Rosario …

Last week I went to the Mom 2.0 Summit in Austin. What is Mom 2.0? I’ll let Texas Monthly explain. I connected with a lot of inspiring folks and learned a whole new set of communication ninja skills for Girls That Create. Google attended as a main sponsor to promote its Be Internet Awesome program. Its purpose is to teach kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence. I will be using the Family Guide to help my girls become more informed online users and there’s also a Digital Wellbeing Guide to help spark discussion within families about screen time. Brené Brown Special The stars also aligned so I was able to see Brené Brown again at Mom 2.0. Brené actually spoke at the very first Mom 2.0 over a decade ago…the talk focused on how to self-publish a book when no one else will give you a publishing deal. It was also revealed that when I saw Brené last year, Netflix was in the audience. Which is how you can now watch a talk similar to what I saw on the streaming service. And you should watch it. Which takes me to Melinda Gates. She spoke with Krys Boyd (the host of the radio/podcast show THINK) about why providing opportunities to women is the key to bettering society as a whole. Guess what? Turns out Brené Brown’s book The Gift of Imperfection made an impact on Melinda (always funny when things you’re interested in mingle unexpectedly). Don’t pass up hearing this THINK episode. Little Humor and Gratitude I saw the author Mary Laura Philpott speak at Mom 2.0 and …

International Women’s Day is today (#IWD2019)! A global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, the day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. This year’s theme #BalancefoBetter calls on all of us to build a gender-balanced world. Ways You Can Celebrate International Women’s Day 1) Honor an important woman  Ask your kiddos to name a special woman in their lives. Suggest they create a gratitude card for that person, one that includes why the woman is important to them. Deliver the card personally, mail it, or take a phone photo to send digitally. Create your own card for a woman who is special to you. 2) Make a music playlist showcasing women artists Last year NPR put out a list of The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women. Compiled by more than 70 women and non-binary writers from inside and outside NPR, the list celebrates how women and non-binary musicians are shaping the sound of music today. Use the list to buy music and jam out. 3) TED videos are awesome, watch them Recommendations: Why women should tell the stories of humanity The story of Marvel’s first queer Latina superhero Small ways women can support each other at work Why should you read sci-fi superstar Octavia E. Butler? The historic women’s suffrage march on Washington The political progress women have made — and what’s next 4) Commit to supporting a nonprofit for women and girls Whether a domestic abuse shelter, health clinic, female film festival, after school program or job-search assistance, …