Grace E. Hester, just-turned-30, corporate-working mom of 2 young daughters who sold out her creative soul when she moved from Singapore to Cleveland, Ohio when she finally found a man who was worthy. Join her on her journey from concrete jungle to mid-west surburbia of Westerville, Ohio, from college grad to mother of two, from mtv to numbers-crunching . . . all while trying to balance the pretty with practical in her life.
Gianna is my crafter-kid. I mean both of them like to do things with their hands but Gianna is an AVID crafter. This was also confirmed by her teacher at school who says that she is her favourite kid [to do crafts with] because she has so much enthusiasm and puts so much care into her piece.
When she brought me the canvas art piece I am holding in my hands at Breakfast with Mom (an annual event the school hosts in celebration of Mother's Day), she was so proud and earnest, it just made the moment that much more sweet and heartwarming.
Thanks to The Bully Project for sponsoring my writing. Visit their website to join the movement and learn more.
This weekend, I observed a sweet moment between a group of teenage girls and my 4-year-old. Basically we were waiting for Gianna's class to start and she saw three older teenage girls casually nudging a basketball soccer-style to one another in a circle and was intrigued. Being the social bird that she is, she just walked over and inserted herself into the circle and wanted to play along. Instead of stopping the game or looking awkwardly over at me, the girls simply opened up their circle and gave my little one a chance to play along despite the fact that she was not even close to being as skilled as they were. The pace was all off, the ball rolled out of the circle each time it was Gianna's turn. But these girls never lost patience and in fact set-up chances for her to participate.
I felt such a surge of gratitude to these girls and when it was time to break away, Gianna was just so elated at having had the chance of playing with "the older kids" and was beaming from ear-to-ear.
However, this moment of kindness and goodwill that warmed my heart felt in such stark contrast to how I felt while reading and previewing Bully the Movie. In fact, in the opening of the trailer for Bully the Movie, I freeze at this statement that comes on in white text against a black backdrop,
Over 13 million American kids will be bullied
And think, “what are the odds that my sweet young girls will become one of those 13 million bullied?” And worst yet, what are the odds that they will be one of those who bully one of the 13 million kids? Already, my 7-year-old is coming home with stories on how friends are not playing with a specific boy/girl because they are deemed annoying. Or how a classmate used a mean name on another friend. As a non-American mother to two multi-racial girls, living in a predominantly-Caucasian part of the US, I try to instill pride and teach my girls to celebrate everyone's beauty - externally and internally. And although we have been blessed not to have had a major life-changing event to cause either of them to question this, I live with this caution and hope that they never have to experience such an event.
I think it's so commendable that a group of people have taken this on and brought attention to this struggle and challenge that kids face today. And my heart goes out to the families profiled in the film who have lost their kids or continue to fear the potential loss of their kids due to this crisis. I have not paid as much attention to the public outcry on the intial R-rating on the film but am glad it has been lowered as of a few days ago. I have to believe that the world is filled with people like the three teenage girls this weekend but I still have to put on my "Mama Bear" hat and prepare my girls and my husband and myself for those in the world who are not like them. Do consider taking the time out to see and support this movie with me!
More About Bully the Movie:
Bully is a film directed by Sundance- and Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch. It is a beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary—at its heart are those with the most at stake and whose stories each represent a different facet of this bullying crisis. Following five kids and families over the course of a school year, the film confronts bullying’s most tragic outcomes, including the stories of two families who’ve lost children to suicide and a mother who waits to learn the fate of her 14 –year-old daughter, incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus. With rare access to the Sioux City Community School District, the film also gives an intimate glimpse into school busses, classrooms, cafeterias and even principles offices, offering insight into the often-cruel world of children, as teachers, administrators and parents struggle to find answers.
Bully will be shown in select theaters beginning Friday, March 30. Website: www.thebullyproject.com
I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. Find showings in your area for The Bully Project and buy tickets here
Made 96 (and some) mini cupcakes for both girls' Valentine's Day parties at school. Yes, I am one of THOSE parents who skimp on the frosting. But I am quite sure they will make up for my attempt at rationing their sugar intake with the candy and treats that comes with Valentine's Day celebrations.
We went with the tried-and-tested-and-loved swim party birthday package at Westerville Recreation Center at the request of the birthday girl. She also picked out the butterfly theme for the day so we had a cupcake arrangement made in the shape of a butterfly and I designed her invitations and favor bags.
Food-wise, we served mini sandwiches, and had a fruit tray and a vegetable tray. It turned out to be just right for the mix of grown-ups and kids, even though the kids were looking forward to the cake and ice-cream anyway.
She wore a Harajuku Mini for Target by Gwen Stefani dress (which I scored with a major discount off their already low prices!) and lace-printed leggings with glitter flats - she picked it all out herself. Animal print + lace + glitter = birthday outfit.
The party had a mix of old and new friends and they all mingled well which was great. I also had the pleasure of having a photographer Jessica Nash from Elegant Events Design and Photography at the party to take photos and that was SUCH a great and affordable investment because I was really able to enjoy the party and for once, be in some of the photos vs. being behind the camera. She even mailed me a CD of the photos from the party in three different effects! I would definitely be glad to use her again at a future party.
I am working on an large media collage with my 6-year-old for a visual arts competition and need 1" to 2" heart-shaped trinkets/embellishments in all shades of pink. This can be in the form of chipboard, (heart-shaped) buttons, paper cut-outs, felt cut-outs, wood, altered/raw, any format. As long as it is 1" to 2" max in width or height. Please consider helping us out with this project - international contributions especially welcomed!
Please mail your contribution with your first and last name, and the city/state you are in, to
The girls and I love to go garage sale hunting. We are not avid hunters but would stop at a garage sale if a sign indicates there is one nearby. These were our finds this weekend,
The wooden caddy is perfect for holding bedside story books for the girls. I will probably just paint it white.
The $0.25 Tangle toy and Toy Camera were picked out by the girls. The Viewmaster was picked out by me and I have already started looking for film reels online. It creates such a feeling of nostalgia. I never owned one but remember playing with my cousin's whenever we visited their home.
Do you like going garage-sale-shopping? What are some of your gem finds?
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