Heartbeat Connection Magazine December 2015 by Nicole Flothe

POETRY x

Collection

Book a Session A Portrait A Scene & Flowers An Animal

Artist Suzanne Ervin www.semyart.com

239-777-9556

Mission: Sharing About Living with Heart. Create * Conceive * Connect

Letter from the Editor

News, Celebrations, and Giveaways

Heart of Fashion

The Power of Your First Impression & Fiammisday.com

Kitchen Corner

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Easy Oven Roast

Heart of Health

Superfoods by Van Wagner Chiropractic

Honest Wrestling - Questions of Faith when Attacked by Life Book Review

Author: K. Howard Joslin

Whale Done! Book

Giveaway

You Asked? We Answered.

How do I Create a Ridiculously Amazing Year?

Austin celebrates the Holidays

Heart of Home & Family

Start a Gratitude Jar!

Heart of Travel

Leavenworth, WA---A Bavarian Town in the Middle of Washington State!

Tech Tips & Apps

New Year, New You!... & December Apps

Featured Foundation

4 13

The Magic Yarn Project

Are some companies making a difference in the world? At Heartbeat Connection Magazine we discover the answer. Online, we share exclusive company reviews. Be sure to visit us at www.heartbeatmag.com.

Letter from the Editor

The last month of 2015 was filled with Christmas celebrations, gift giving, and receiving. The kids had two weeks off from school, plenty of time to enjoy the holiday season. My oldest son had several high school basketball tournaments, the kids got a chance to be Sprinkles the Donut from Dunkin Donuts at the Bears Basketball Bash Tournament at Palmetto Ridge High School.â&#x20AC;¨â&#x20AC;¨ Naples, Florida was one of the warmest cities in the United States in December. January is supposed to bring a few colder days; we'll see. We've been praying for the states that have been affected by the storms and crazy weather this winter. Some of my friends around the country had snow on Christmas Day, but most locations were without. There is nothing like a white Christmas. We celebrated Christmas Eve at my in-laws and each of us opened one special present. Then Santa came and filled our stockings and the kids were up early to enjoy Christmas Day. Happy Holidays everyone!

This month please enjoy many heartfelt articles and a great giveaway from Whale Done!, by Ken Blanchard. We will be using rafflecopter to give away the book. Learn more on the Heartbeat blog.

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Managing Editor NICOLE FLOTHE Photographer MELINDA NAGY OTERO Photographer JENNY PLOCINSKI Art Director SUZANNE ERVIN Editor CHERYL FLOTHE Cover - Public Domain Pictures CONNECT www.TWITTER.com/Heartbeat_mag FACEBOOK HEARTBEAT CONNECTION facebook.com/heartbeatconnection

With love, Nicole Flothe Managing Editor

Be a contributor or advertise with us, visit our website or send us an email at info@heartbeatmag.com!

This month's cover feature is a photo of my nephew, Austin Ervin, celebrating the holidays.

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. - Nelson Mandela

Lee Heyward - Style with Lee Shelly Aristizabal - You Asked & We Answered Beth Gatrell - Tech Tip of the Week Cheryl Flothe - Heart of Travel, Recipe Corner Heart of Home & Family

by Lee Heyward StylewithLee.com You've probably heard the old phrase before, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” It’s true. Studies show it takes only seven seconds to make a first impression! Let that sink in. You have seven seconds to say who you are! In seven seconds, those in a position to affect your business see you and have jumped to conclusions about who you are-- whether or not they want to work with you or your company, how much you can be paid, or if you can even be trusted! When in doubt about what to wear for a first meeting (and impression) with someone you have no knowledge about, remember that it is better to be overdressed than underdressed. There was a study done by a socio-linguist by the name of Albert Merabian. He discovered that in a face-to-face encounter-–-whether at a networking event, an interview, or a dinner party... • 7% of others’ judgment comes from the • •

words you use. 38% comes from the vocal tone and inflection you use. 55% of the message transmitted comes from your appearance.

Just like any style issue, this isn’t about ego-–-in the current competitive business environment, a polished appearance is considered a basic job requirement. Your image is basically made up of your wardrobe, your grooming habits, and your nonverbal communication. If your pitch to a client includes how well your company delivers on time, then you better be on time to your meetings. Or if you believe (or claim) you beat out the competition because you are so attentive to every single detail a customer needs, your appearance has to back that up. Scuffed shoes or a poor fitting suit doesn’t scream detail oriented. But I don’t want to stress you out. In fact, there’s reason to be thrilled that how you are styled makes such a big difference. Todd Lyon, author of Mastering the New ABC’s of What to Wear to Work, says:

Clothing is both a powerful communicator and an important business tool. Though judgment via fashion might seem unfair, in fact it presents a wonderful opportunity. By dressing to reflect your career objectives, you can send potent messages about your team spirit, ambition, creativity, and professionalism.

The Children's Fashion Blog Outfit and Kids' Style Magil Christmas with a baby look for Christmas is that of the heart. Lovely, romantic, feminine and always super comfortable. Thanks Magil, for understanding it clearly. There are special looks that make us feel a little more like princesses. When Fiammetta wears Magil, she’s wearing a little dream. So for these Christmas Fiammisday.com holidays (and beyond) I decided to Blogger Simona show a little girl look that is really from Florence, Italy stylish and "dreamy" with which Fiammetta was free to have fun (as always) and able to give free rein to her femininity and also the desire to wear something special.

For an afternoon with her friends, she chose a tulle skirt. A tulle skirt makes a Christmas party. It’s romantic and looks refined and sophisticated. A white shirt, and, instead of the usual sweater, a cape coordinated by the neutral colors to wear with everything. This did not prevent her from running and jumping. The high collar of the cape has allowed us also not to have to take a scarf. An inseparable pair of sneakers and our magic Christmas is almost ready. And you, are you ready? See you soon and, if you like, this is the new online shop of the Magil brand. Why not dream a little?

Kitchen Corner

by Cheryl Flothe

Photo from Bing Clip-art

Photo from Food.com.

For Christmas Eve dinner I planned to buy an Eye of Round beef roast, but ended up at home with a roast of slightly lesser quality. After spending some time online, I found several recipes for no-fail oven roast. One was for the Eye of Round, the other they said would work for any roast. Both recipes required cooking at high heat, then turning off the oven for a specified length of time. Neither called for a marinade, but I was worried my roast might turn out tough, so I went with a marinade. I adapted the recipe for the Eye of Round and the roast got rave reviews from my family. As an added bonus, I washed and wrapped potatoes in tinfoil that morning, put them in the crockpot on low, and they were ready by dinner time!

Ingredients for Roast: Beef roast 3-5 pounds Seasonings of your choice (fresh or powdered garlic, onion powder, pepper, etc.) Cooking oil (olive or canola) Directions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Marinate roast for 24 hours in refrigerator, turning when you think of it to cover all sides. Take roast out of refrigerator 2 hours, or so, before cooking so it can reach room temperature. Blot dry. Set oven on 500 degrees. Rub oil and seasonings on roast and brown on all sides. Place roast on rack in shallow pan in middle of oven (I placed 1 cup of broth and 1 cup of rose wine in pan and cooked roast right in the pan to maintain moisture.) Turn oven down to 475 degrees and cook roast for 7-12 minutes per pound, according to how well done you want it (I cooked mine for 12 minutes per pound and it was medium rare.) Turn oven off and leave roast in oven for 2.5 hours. Roast will continue to cook with the residual heat. Do not open the oven door before the time’s up! Remove roast from oven, cover with foil, and let rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing across the grain.

Note: If roast is not desired temperature, turn oven to 350 and put covered roast back in oven to warm up for 10-15 minutes. You may use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature for desired doneness. Ingredients for marinade: ½ cup olive of canola oil ¼ cup soy sauce ¼ cup Worchestershire sauce 2/3 cup lemon juice Season to taste with pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, etc. Cooking directions: 1. Put all ingredients for marinade in bowl and stir well. 2. Place meat in marinade and cover, turning occasionally for 24 hours. Dain and discard marinade before cooking.

Superfoods by Jared Van Wagner Chiropractor

KALE What used to be a garnish is now a major subject of research regarding this superfoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in inflammation, cancer, heart disease, and more. Kale contains many nutrients that fight cancer, assisting your body in rounding up cells called free radicals that may eventually turn to cancer. Kale also contains many nutrients that fight heart disease. Specifically, it binds up extra cholesterol, sticking it together so it passes out of the body without being absorbed. When this happens, we must draw upon our existing supply of cholesterol lowering our overall levels. In addition, it contains a spectacular amount of vitamin K. This vitamin is important in controlling chronic inflammation. Ask Dr. Van Wagner for more information about what this amazing food does and how you can make use of it in your life.

POMEGRANATE

Culinary use Kale freezes well and tastes sweeter and more flavorful after being exposed to a frost. Tender kale greens can provide an intense addition to salads, particularly when combined with other such strongly flavored ingredients as dry-roasted peanuts, soy sauce-roasted almonds, red capsicum flakes, or a sesame-based dressing. When baked or dehydrated, kale takes on a consistency similar to that of a potato chip. Curly kale varieties are usually preferred for chips. The chips can be seasoned with salt or other spices. (wikipedia.org)

The pomegranate is a nutrient-dense food source that is rich in phytochemical compounds. Pomegranates contain high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols, potent antioxidants offering protection against heart disease and cancer. A glass of pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than red wine, green tea, blueberries, and cranberries. A compound found in pomegranates called punicalagin is shown to benefit the heart and blood vessels. Punicalagin is the major component responsible for pomegranateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s antioxidant and health benefits. It not only lowers cholesterol, but also lowers blood pressure and increases the speed at which heart blockages (atherosclerosis) melt away. Recent medical research studied heart patients with severe carotid artery blockages. They were given an ounce of pomegranate juice each day for a year. Not only did study participants blood pressure lower by over 12 percent, but there was a 30 percent reduction in atherosclerotic plaque. Just as astounding, participants who did not take the pomegranate juice saw their atherosclerotic plaque increase by 9 percent. In other studies, potent antioxidant compounds found in pomegranates have shown to reduce platelet aggregation and naturally lower blood pressure, factors that prevent both heart attacks and strokes. Jared Van Wagner - Chiropractor 7550 Mission Hills Dr Suite 316 Naples, Florida (239) 775-6416 www.vanwagnerchiropractic.com

Culinary use After the pomegranate is opened by scoring it with a knife and breaking it open, the seeds are separated from the peel and internal white pulp membranes. Separating the seeds is easier in a bowl of water because the seeds sink and the inedible pulp floats. Freezing the entire fruit also makes it easier to separate. Another effective way of quickly harvesting the seeds is to cut the pomegranate in half, score each half of the exterior rind four to six times, hold the pomegranate half over a bowl, and smack the rind with a large spoon. The seeds should eject from the pomegranate directly into the bowl, leaving only a dozen or more deeply embedded seeds to remove. The entire seed is consumed raw, though the watery, tasty sarcotesta is the desired part. The taste differs depending on the variety or cultivar of pomegranate and its ripeness. (wikipedia.org)

www.vanwagnerchiropractic.com

Honest Wrestling by K. Howard Joslin Book Review by Nicole Flothe In Honest Wrestling, the author dedicates his book to his wife, who battled cancer with such courage: “To Ann, my confidant, complement and best friend. You fought cancer’s invasion because you wanted to grow old with me, to be there for our kids and to hold our grandkids. Thank you for begging me to join your battle and pray for complete physical healing. Because of the tenacity of your fight, we will always know that you loved us. The Resurrection is everything to me now. My iPod relentlessly reminds me that: Christ is Risen; He Rose; I Have a Hope; I Can Only Imagine; Save a Place for Me; There Will Be a Day; I Will Rise; and I Will See You Again.” The author goes on to say: “I love sports and always find it interesting when a player is “mic’d up” for a big game. You gain a different perspective when eavesdropping in the huddle during the heat of the battle as compared to the semi-prepared speeches of a press conference after the contest has been decided. Honest Wrestling is an opportunity for you to eavesdrop during the heat of our battle. This book consists primarily of email updates sent to family and friends while my wife, Ann, battled a rare, incurable cancer. Over time the emails became not only a means of keeping folks appraised of Ann’s condition, but also an occasion for me to reflect on what God might be teaching us through our painful hardship.” “Hannah’s Heart: Why Do We Pray? The narrator continues Hannah’s story by describing a specific pilgrimage to Shiloh one year. Hannah, shattered by the pain and sick of the taunting, poured out her broken heart before the Lord. In typical Hebrew fashion the storyteller paints a vivid picture with this simple sentence (1:10):

Honest Wrestling offers hope-filled perspective for those currently undergoing trials and insights for encouraging those who are suffering.

“In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord.” “Psalm 90:12-15 “So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Do return, O Lord; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants. O satisfy us in the morning with Your loving kindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, And the years we have seen evil.” (NASB, capitalization mine).”

About the Author To learn more about the author visit... www.independentauthornetwork.com/k-howard-joslin.html Thank you to Booklookbloggers.com for the opportunity to review this book.

K. Howard Joslin takes an intentional risk, allowing us to venture into the intimate struggles of his faith in order to come along side and encourage us with ours.

by Shelly Aristizabal of Business Women Connect

Q: How do I Create A Ridiculously Amazing Year? A: There are many things you can do to begin rebuilding your life. On ShellyAristizabal.com you will find resources to help in this process. What if one day you woke up and decided that you were tired of feeling tired and that you’ve had enough? Enough of stress and anxiety, enough of anger and resentment, enough of struggle, lack and pain, enough of tears, heartbreaks, self-destructive thoughts, behaviors, and relationships---and enough of all that is negative and toxic? What if you decided that you wanted to change yourself and your life, but didn’t know where exactly to start? What then? There are many things you can do to begin rebuilding your life and make it ridiculously amazing. Below is a list to help you design and begin to live the life of your dreams.  Make a commitment to yourself.  Once you truly commit to rebuilding your life and making it ridiculously amazing, nothing and no one will be able to stand in your way.

Be good to yourself.   Love yourself. Because if you do, the world around you will start mirroring your behavior. Take good care of your mind, body, heart, and soul. Exercise, drink plenty of water, eat healthy, get enough sleep, and have fun. Do what you love.  Self Worth.   Never get your sense of worth from outside yourself. Your worth comes from inside you and not from the world – people, events, material possessions. Don’t ever let other people tell you how much you’re worth, decide for yourself.  Be here now.   Learn to be present and engaged in the present moment. Be happy with what you have, what you know and who you are right now. Don’t allow your mind to trick you into thinking that you won’t be happy until you get where you want to go.   Support system.  Surround yourself with positive, cheerful, supportive and loving people. People who will lift you up when you are feeling down; people who will turn the light on for you when you are in the dark; people who can see you for who you truly are and who you will encourage you to live to your potential.

To learn more visit...www.shellyaristizabal.com/blog

Forgive.  Not necessarily because those who mistreated you deserve it, but because you do. You will feel happier and more at peace with yourself and the world around you.  Embrace gratitude.  Shift your focus from the bad to the good; from the pain to the gain; from resentment to the forgiveness, gratitude, and appreciation.  Visualize and create your destiny.  Ask yourself, “If there were no limits to what I can do, be and have, what would my life look like?” Let your imagination run wild. Dare to dream big. Don’t settle for less than you deserve.  Dreams work when you do.  Act upon your heart’s desire. Do the things you need to do in order to get where you want to get. Read the books you need to read, contact the people you need to contact, build the skills you need to build.  Give yourself permission to “fail” and make “mistakes.”  Accept failure as part of the process. “There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they’re necessary to reach the places we’ve chosen to go.” ~ Richard Bach

by Nicole Flothe Austin was in the Palmer Colony Christmas Parade. The float got 1st place under the Family/Friends Category. They had a blast, even in the wind and cold! Austin kept warm in his snow globe with his electric blanket and in front of the fireplace on the float as Santa in his sleigh. Austin and his friends had a lot of fun going to a DĹ?TERRA essential oil workshop. Austin wanted to make Christmas presents for his nurses, teachers, and family. They had different stations with fun things to make. We learned how to make homemade lip balm, bath salts, oil sprays, car freshener's, and even got to try different foods using the oils. Austin absolutely loves these oils!! Austin got started on the essential oils when he got into his car accident a friend brought a couple bottles in for him. I've seen a difference in him and even in the staff. Everybody that came in the hospital said that Austin had the best smelling and calming room. Austin gets a massage and stretching every morning and night with essential oils and coconut. These oils are very stimulating and calming and soothing for Austin. He loves telling us everyday what oils he wants on his skin. If you get a chance, try the oils. We don't sell them but we love using them. Just ask Austin, he can tell you all about them. Happy Holidays!

Austin spent Christmas Eve at the reindeer farm. He went out for dinner and topped off the evening by seeing the Christmas lights display. Many thanks to those who put the time and effort into creating these displays for everyone to enjoy! The Christmas lights display off Vicki Way/Lupine in Wasilla is so awesome!! Tune your radio to 104.7 FM to watch the Synchronized musical display. This was our first time going and everyone was courteous of the others' viewing. We went to Humdinger's for dinner since Austin loves pizza. Great food and the staff are great!! Here is Austin below with the Grinch and his friend.

To learn more about Austin and his journey to recovery visit Facebook.com/austinervinhealing. He continues to progress with his nursing care, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, and schooling. We all thank you for your prayers, support, and belief in his recovery.

by Cheryl Flothe

Charles Dickens once said: Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. Thankfulness and gratitude are being encouraged these days. Some may think it’s just a fad, but studies show when we take the time to be thankful for the good in our lives we feel more positive, sleep better, show more kindness and empathy to others, and even have stronger immune systems. No wonder “everyone’s” talking about it! You might ask, “What kinds of things would we write down---are there really that many things we could be thankful for?” To name a few: you can jot down a special moment to remember, goals accomplished (by you or someone special to you), something beautiful in nature, good or improved health, people in your lives, kind deeds, and so on. There are many suggestions for how to make a Gratitude Jar, the possibilities are endless. You probably want to choose a receptacle big enough to accommodate 365 slips of paper (or more), in case you and your family are feeling really thankful! A jar, box, or even a basket decorated any way you like would do the trick. I used a three-cup fruit jar and printed my own label. For the slips of paper, I used scrapbook paper. And you could use a basket, or any other receptacle to hold the blank slips and a pen. This might be a fun project for the family. Start today and read your slips any time you need a pick-me-up---read some every month, or at the end of the year. It’s all up to you. Once you and your family start this gratitude activity, see if it brings a change in your lives---more satisfaction, paying more attention to the little things in life; and maybe even more positive attitudes.

All the best to you and yours in the New Year! *************************************************************************************************************************

The Science Behind Gratitude (and How It Can Change Your Life) by Derrick Carpenter, MAPP Here are a few keys I’ve discovered—and research supports—that help not only to start a gratitude practice, but to maintain it for the long haul.

Freshen Up Your Thanks Get Real About Your Gratitude Practice Make Thankfulness Fun By Mixing It Up Be Social About Your Gratitude Practice

by Cheryl Flothe

Leavenworth, WA lit up for Christmas

Photo by Steven Pavlov (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3

A few years back, we gathered with my sister and her family over the Winter Solstice in December for my niece’s oldfashioned wedding in the Bavarian-style town of Leavenworth, Washington. Driving through snow in the scenic Cascade Mountain passes to get there added to the magic of the trip. Nestled in the heart of the mountains, a visit to Leavenworth is like going to Bavaria without leaving the U.S.! The town, established in the late 1800’s near the Wanatchee River, was given a makeover in the 1960’s when railroad and lumber facilities no longer sustained the economy. They chose a German Bavarian Village theme similar to one they’d seen in California. Tourism soon replaced the logging and railway economy, complete with planned Bavarian festivals for different times of the year. Everything is Bavarian, inside and out, which adds to the appeal.

Leavenworth Street could be any town Bavaria!

Photo by senapa (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Horse-drawn sleigh---one of the many fun activities Photo by Flothe

Today, more than a million visitors flock to the area to enjoy year-round activities. There are four distinct seasons, warm summers, and snowy winters. Spring and summer bring Maifest (replete with Maypole, music, food, and vendors), tubing, rafting, kayaking, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, zip-lining, wagon rides, and more. And nearby wineries, distilleries, and the Icicle Brewery offer tours and tastings.

Stevens Pass Ski Area. Photo by Flothe

Fall brings Oktoberfest, Leavenworth Alefest, Autumn Leaf Festival; followed by the celebrated Christmas Lighting Festival in December. During this time there’s sledding, tubing, and other attractions downtown. In January the Bavarian Icefest Winter Celebration is held, and then the cycle begins again. All winter there are sleigh rides; dog sledding; cross country skiing; snow shoeing; snowmobiling; as well as downhill skiing at Stevens Pass, just 30 Mt. Springs Lodge. miles away. Restaurant choices in Photo from Mt. Springs Lodge website Leavenworth abound---from a Bavarian-style McDonald’s to a gourmet dinner. German, Italian, Mexican, American---they’re all there. And plenty of lodging can be found in Leavenworth---from small cabins, B&B’s, and hotel rooms, to lodge-style rentals big enough for large groups. Some places offer “Stay and Play” packages that include lodging in Leavenworth and lift tickets to Stevens Pass Ski Area

Rock climbing and zip-lining are two popular sports in the Leavenworth area. Photo from Mt. Springs Lodge website

Leavenworth is such a popular town during the holidays, that it was named the Ultimate Holiday Town USA by the A&E 4 Channel! It’s the perfect location for a getaway---quaint surroundings, plenty to do, and fantastic weather. For more information, visit http://www.leavenworth.org.

December Apps by Nicole Flothe

New Year, New You! by Beth Gatrell Now is the time when most people decide to start or change their diet and exercise routines. Technology has come a long way in helping you achieve your goals. Aside from the many exercise DVDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s you can purchase and use in your own home, you can download videos on Netflix as well as checking out videos on YouTube or Do Yoga with me.

December Apps: Tom's Jetski, SpinArt, and ProjectMC2 are great kids' apps for fun and entertainment. Happify and DrOnDemand are two apps that can help with health and wellness. I am so excited to use my new iWatch and it comes with this great Activity app that monitors my daily movements and calories burned. Last on this list is the Hudl app that my son, Nathan, is using with his basketball team. His coach records their games and then puts them in this app. He can then go watch the recorded plays and see how to improve. I really like to be able to watch the past plays and I beleive this would be a great way to improve the team's game. I hope you will enjoy these apps and I wish you much success in 2016!

Visiting WebMD is a great place to obtain information on weight loss and diet including snacks, tips, blogs and more. Weight Watchers offers you the ability to sign up and follow their diet plans online as well as with their free mobile app. If you are on the go there are also plenty of Apps to help. Map My Fitness is a great site that lets you track your fitness routines with a real time map as well as allowing you to post your progress on your social networks and receive encouragement from friends along the way in addition to many other features including free Apps specific to your activity. My Fitness Pal and My Food Diary are great for recording your daily food intake along with your exercise as well as additional features. You can also find many popular diets with their tools and information online like the South Beach Diet, Mediterranean Diet and Paleo. For some great exercise routines complete with instructions on how to do them, check out Fitness Buddy, Daily Burn and 7 Minute workout. Good luck to all of our Friends with their diet and exercise goals! www.IntoTomorrow.com

To view more information about iPhone apps visit

www.heartbeatmag.com, What's on my iPhone.

Featured Foundation

by Nicole Flothe

At the Magic Yarn Project, they hope to deliver the dream of magic to brave little cancer fighters everywhere. They can’t take their horrible disease away, but they can add a bit of fun and whimsy to their young lives.

My friend remarked at how many other little girls in that hospital would love to have such a special gift as it had such an impact on her daughter’s demeanor and happiness during her treatments.

About their princess wigs: Magic Yarn wigs are made with soft acrylic yarns, and embellished with gems, crocheted flowers, starfish and snowflakes, silk flowers, and nylon/polyester ribbons. Volunteers send them handmade crocheted beanies/hats. At their workshops, they attach long strands of yarn and accessories to the beanies, and style them to resemble a variety of princesses. Their wigs are machine washable when placed in a mesh laundry bag. They deliver them in clear cellophane packaging with a whimsical greeting card for the girls and information on their project for their parents. Their wigs are made 100% by volunteers and funded 100% by donations of yarn and money. They currently are creating Elsa, Anna, Rapunzel, Ariel, and generic “rainbow” wigs with hopes to include Jasmine and Belle wigs in the near future.

I began to organize what I thought would be a small project, creating a few dozen wigs to send to little cancer patients, and put up a request on Facebook for yarn donations. Within hours, I was flooded with responses from around the world—mothers who wanted these wigs for their little girls who have cancer, complete strangers who wanted to help by donating money to buy yarn, professionals reaching out and requesting wigs for their hospitals.

How it all started… My name is Holly Christensen. I have often witnessed the scary and painful world of cancer as an oncology nurse, friend, and family member. I’ve always held my cancer patients very close to my heart. In 2014, upon learning that a friend’s daughter had been diagnosed with cancer and would likely be in the hospital for awhile, I began to think of what I could do to help bring some magic and light to this little girl’s life during the trying days that I knew were ahead for her.

What started as a small project, has snowballed into something much bigger than I ever expected. We have been overwhelmed with the donations and desire to help that have come from all over the world. The Magic Yarn Project was created to answer the call to bring yarn wigs to little girls and to help community members get involved in the Magic Yarn Project. To learn more visit www.themagicyarnproject.com.

Knowing how difficult it would be for her to lose her beautiful blonde curls, I made her a Rapunzel yarn wig and sent it in the mail. She was overcome with joy.

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