About: Diana Mercer
Posts by Diana Mercer:
When Things Fall Apart: Hope from the Ashes.by Diana Mercer on Aug 12, 2012 Sadness and I are friends now. 522 views |
Beyond Yoga Self-Indulgence: Off the Mat and Into the Worldby Diana Mercer on Jun 17, 2011 I’ll admit it. In my less-than-stellar hours, I am under the sorry illusion that life is all about me. I tiptoe into my personal yoga space with my head crammed full of worries about how crowded the class is likely to be, and how sorry I am that there is a substitute teacher instead of [...] 525 views |
A Hole is to Dig and Other Simple Truths.by Diana Mercer on Jun 7, 2011 I’ve always understood the young child to be my teacher. She sees clearly, tells the truth, and her simple understandings have not yet been muddied with unnecessary complexities. With children you will always find an innate sense of fair play, and of full-bodied expression. Children can be very thoughtful. I would never think to give [...] 1,201 views |
Can Anyone be an Artist? Banksy vs. Mr. Brainwash.by Diana Mercer on May 24, 2011 Exit Through the Gift Shop began for me as a mind-expanding dialogue about art, its meaning, and the role of the artists who create it. The Oscar nominated film chronicles the path of an eccentric shopkeeper (and wannabe artist’s) rise to stardom in a alarmingly superficial art world where his supporters seem to be following [...] 349 views |
Think ‘Fahbulous’ Art Collections are just for Rich People?by Diana Mercer on May 24, 2011 Think Again. I’ve met my share of art collectors. During the instructive year I manned the front desk at a sniffy art gallery on Madison Avenue in the 80′s, I watched a dandy in an ascot use his gold-tipped cane to highlight the shading on the breasts of a nude, and had a fur coat [...] 302 views |
 Vegan Cupcakes: Raspberry Tiramisu Deliciousness.by Diana Mercer on May 6, 2011 These make a very special dessert for a celebration or party. They have all the taste you hope for in a fancy cake, and none of the animal products. Hooray! Raspberry Tiramisu Cupcakes Makes 12 cupcakes Ingredients: Cupcakes 1 ½ cup flour 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup coconut [...] 708 views |
 Looking for Meaning? Ask Desmond Tutu, Zainab Salbi, Liz Phair and Get Inspired!by Diana Mercer on May 4, 2011 archbishop. author. peaceful leader. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is Chairman of The Elders, a group of world leaders who address some of the world’s most pressing problems. He works energetically for human-rights and in his ministry. www.tutu.org The most important thing for me now is reminding people that they are good. We are all essentially good. [...] 189 views |
 The Way of Tea: Japan Earthquake Relief.by Diana Mercer on Mar 22, 2011 For more than 500 years, Japanese culture has embraced the drinking of tea as a rich element of social, medicinal and spiritual practice. With strong links to Zen Buddhism, The Japanese Tea Ceremony captures all the elements of Japanese philosophy and artistic beauty, and interweaves four principles – harmony (with people and nature), respect (for [...] 628 views |
The Run Across America For Natural Medicineby Diana Mercer on Mar 14, 2011 By Dr. Holly Lucille, ND On July 17th 2011, Dr. Dennis Godby, accompanied by his energetic sons Isaiah and Jeremiah and nephew, Jonas Ely, will set off on an historic, 4-month journey from San Francisco, CA to Bridgeport, CT on foot. Yes, on foot! Why on earth would a doctor, with an established practice, set [...] 314 views |
Get Creative or Else.by Diana Mercer on Feb 16, 2011 Our complex world is struggling under the weight of disease, war, Global Warming, poverty, hunger, and vanishing resources. We expect the world’s population of approximately 6 billion to become 12 billion by 2054 if the current rate of growth continues. A great deal of creativity will be required to respond to these challenges. We need [...] 514 views |
Sadness and I Are Friends Now.by Diana Mercer on Feb 1, 2011 Part 2 of a 3 part series inspired by Pema Chodron’s book, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (and others)… Part 1 of this series can be found here: When Things Fall Apart: The Practice Part 2: Gone Baby Gone The very definition of a mother is selfless service to another – [...] 627 views |
When Things Fall Apart: The Practice.by Diana Mercer on Nov 28, 2010 Part 1 of a 3 part series inspired by Pema Chodron and her book, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times Part 1: The Fall Apart Heart “Funny how a heart shatters all at once, seems like it should make a sound” – The Weepies. The broken heart is [...] 8,097 views |
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.by Diana Mercer on Nov 11, 2010 Brrr. The snow is finally falling, and you might be looking for some fun, cozy and natural indoor projects to do with your little ones. Try making a sweet snowperson with Clementine Art! Remember to make your snowperson look just the way YOU want it to. Have fun! 95 views |
The Waitress Diaries: Lessons from the Table.by Diana Mercer on Oct 17, 2010 It’s a job. Thank heavens. Is it the job I thought I’d have at 43? Not a chance. It was the job I loved at 20. I bought and paid off my very first car with tips gleaned from the chopped Cobb salad and Chardonnay crowd in a posh Connecticut suburb. Breezy and carefree with a [...] 1,612 views |
Book Review: Simplicity Parenting (The Power of Less).by Diana Mercer on Oct 10, 2010 If a child has been able in his play to give up his whole living being to the world around him, he will be able, in the serious tasks of later life, to devote himself with confidence to the service of the world. – Rudolf Steiner. Deep, uninterrupted play is a child’s work; how a [...] 437 views |
Boulder Event: Green Halloween Costume Swapby Diana Mercer on Oct 4, 2010 Green Halloween is a non-profit dedicated to creating healthier and greener holidays, starting with Halloween. Come on down to Common Threads on Saturday afternoon with a pile of gently used costumes (or drop them off there anytime this week). You’ll get a ticket that you can swap for a NEW costume. Need an accessory like [...] 302 views |
Don’t Miss: Boulder’s Annual Open Studio’s Fall Tourby Diana Mercer on Sep 30, 2010 Kristin Fitzgerrell; Mixed Media With a snap in the air and golden leaves underfoot, it must be that time again! For more than 15 years, Boulder’s best and brightest visual artists have opened their studios to visits from the public to provide visitors a peek into the creative process, to share their work, and to [...] 253 views |
Why Wearing Makeup (or Not) is a Feminist Issue.by Diana Mercer on Sep 24, 2010 “Physical attractiveness is associated with a number of positive outcomes, including employment benefits such as hiring, wages, and promotion, and is correlated with social and personal rewards such as work satisfaction, positive perceptions of others, and higher self-esteem. As a result, individuals perform various forms of beauty work, thus reproducing and strengthening a social system [...] 3,090 views |
Green Your Halloween.by Diana Mercer on Sep 23, 2010 “Halloween candy sales this year will top $2.23 billion” – LA Times Let’s painted-face it. Halloween is big business. A 5.8 billion dollar business in the United States alone. Of the 43.4 million children ages 3-12 years old in the United States, 9 out of 10 will go trick or treating, consuming 600 million pounds [...] 1,029 views |
Helicopter Parenting vs. Looking Fear in The Eye.by Diana Mercer on Aug 20, 2010 The decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone As a child, my parents were unflappable about safety. I played, unsupervised, with a posse of neighborhood kids, rode in seat-beltless cars, skated near fragile ice over frigid pond water, [...] 659 views |
I’m Just Anneke: A Girl and Her Gender.by Diana Mercer on Aug 2, 2010 Most of us take it for granted. Penis makes a boy, vagina makes a girl. Can you argue with biology? Nearly universal cultural norms say no. Once gender is determined biologically, these same social and cultural norms kick in to dictate what behaviors, activities, toys, clothing, and interests developing boys and girls should prefer. But what [...] 583 views |
 A Music Lover’s Guide to Children’s Tunes.by Diana Mercer on Jul 22, 2010 I grew up a music nerd. Just like the worn cliche, I was a member of the family that sang every folk song known to man in our beater station wagon on long, sticky car trips, and belted out Christmas carols by candlelight around our small-town tree. More unusually, we also sang grace in five [...] 806 views |
Red Popsicles: Summer Fun or Cancer Sticks?by Diana Mercer on Jun 30, 2010 I’ve long been concerned about food that glows. Blue slushies that dye your tongue, cereal in rainbow hues, and squirtable yogurt so bright it looks like paint. My research over the years has revealed more than alarming evidence of the link between artificial dyes widely used in food, and the development of allergies, ADHD, and [...] 2,301 views |
Crayon Bits Begone! Make Them New Again.by Diana Mercer on Jun 22, 2010 Don’t throw out those crayon bits. Make them new again! I am thrilled when I discover a great way to recycle and reuse what I already have, and that happens to be a large box of broken crayons and a very sweet antique mold from the flea market. I warmed them in the oven at [...] 226 views |
Art on the Move: Summer Travel Fun.by Diana Mercer on Jun 16, 2010 While hot cars and cramped airplanes definitely aren’t the place for mural painting, art explorations while traveling can be simpler and more doable than you might think. With a few offbeat art supplies and a simple bag or pouch, it’s possible to stretch beyond the usual coloring book and crayons to provide low-mess, engaging, and [...] 102 views |
Perfect Little Abstracts: Melted Crayon Art.by Diana Mercer on Jun 9, 2010 Creamy natural crayons + warm surfaces = melty lusciousnesss All you need is a warming tray, paper, foil and natural soy crayons. First wrap foil over the warming tray and set it to LOW. When it’s warm, draw with crayons to your heart’s content. Then press paper gently over the melted wax. Use a rolling [...] 572 views |
Tweenager Art: via Kristin Fitzgerrellby Diana Mercer on Jun 3, 2010 From special guest contributor, Boulder artist Kristin Fitzgerrell I was beaming with pride this past Mother’s Day. All three of my children were part of the same art opening. Emma wrote poetry. Jack presented the cutest garbage fish on dry land, and Kate was commissioned to make some sweet scrap-paper dolls. As an artist/mother, I [...] 225 views |
 The Practice of Appreciationby Diana Mercer on May 29, 2010 My friends Amy and Anna are getting married today. I wanted to get them a toaster, but instead of presents, they asked for appreciations. I love this gift. The process of reflecting carefully on my friends, and articulating all the taken-for-granted qualities I love about them felt deeply satisfying. The little tags are tied onto [...] 115 views |
A Star is Born: Greyson Chance.by Diana Mercer on May 27, 2010 When I was twelve I dreamt of being the only girl in the Beach Boys. I wanted to be a star. I sang in the shower, the car and all over town. My friends used to ask me “Hey Diana, who sings this song?” I’d reply “so and so,” with the straightest face. Inevitably, they’d [...] 2,381 views |
For Hot Little Hands: Summer Paintsiclesby Diana Mercer on May 25, 2010 Summer is almost upon us and the weather is heating up. Keep cool this summer with natural paintsicle painting. All you need are some popsicle molds (or an ice tray and tongue depressors) and some craft paint (Clementine Art makes an all-natural version). For the preschool aged child, exploration of the properties of materials under a variety [...] 327 views |
Art Revolution (in the spirit of Jamie Oliver).by Diana Mercer on May 19, 2010 Are Schools Killing Creativity? Sir Ken Robinson Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution was a chilling look at the state-sanctioned junk food we have been feeding our children in America. In three months, an energetic, passionate chef from Britain made deep inroads into the supremely heart-clogging, processed food habits of ‘the unhealthiest town in America,’ sparking a [...] 356 views |
How to Grow a Creative Child For Our Planet’s Sakeby Diana Mercer on May 12, 2010 My contention is that creativity is now as important as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status. -Sir Ken Robinson Cultivating a creative child is oddly similar to gardening. You heartily prepare your soil, sprinkle some seeds, choose your tools, tend with love, and cross your fingers for a bountiful harvest. The [...] 730 views |
Natural Citrus Peel Soap (just in time for Mother’s Day)by Diana Mercer on Apr 29, 2010 Calling all dads and children looking for a sweet homemade gift to make for Mother’s Day this year. All natural citrus peel soap smells good enough to eat, is rich and nourishing to the skin, and is easy to make. So gather up the ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and head into the kitchen with [...] 955 views |
10 Great Reasons to Support Elephant Journalby Diana Mercer on Apr 29, 2010 One person can make a difference, and everyone should try. ~ John F. Kennedy As an enthusiastic woman who gets fired up about everything from Pema Chodron to Larkburger, it is not unusual for me to fall passionately under the spell of various causes including the arts, social service, politics, green-living, natural products, and [...] 639 views |
 Zen and the Art of Childhoodby Diana Mercer on Apr 13, 2010 The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment, wisely and earnestly. – Buddha Children know this already. I am always amazed by their natural and effortless awareness. Watching a colorful mobile spin can [...] 332 views |
 Groovy Spin Art: Kid Powered, Planet Approved.by Diana Mercer on Apr 10, 2010 Remember when battery powered Spin Art was the craze? I remember making psychedelic, groovy swirls by dripping paint onto a swiftly rotating sheet of cardstock until I was dazzled, or the batteries went dead, which was more often the case. Our version is stripped-down and kid powered; no batteries required. Spin art allows children to [...] 553 views |
Popular Lately
Your Mind & Body Are Not Separate. 8,719 views
"Korea's plastic surgery mayhem is finally converging on the same face. Here are the Miss Korea 2013 contestants." (Photos) 4,700 views
Eight things I Learned from 50 Naked People. 2,642 views
Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius: Clearing the Debris. ~ Kelly Lydick 2,470 views
50 Paulo Coelho Quotes for the Soul. ~ Dusty Ranft 2,304 views
What is Love? {Video} 1,322 views
Your Ugly Vagina Is Normal & Gorgeous. (Adult) 1,295 views
Playboy Yoga: Full Video with Sara Underwood. {Nude} 1,188 views
Why Enlightenment Might Be Bad For You. ~ G. S. Bobroff 898 views
Balancing Life as a Yogi Mom. ~ Jessa Baxter Voos 884 views
My Favorite Buddhist Quote By Someone I'll Bet You Never Realized Was Buddhist. 788 views
Your Inner Guru & the Full-Body Yes. ~ Sofiah Thom 764 views
The Bravest, Sexiest Thing You Can Do in an Uncomfortable Moment. ~ Garrison Cohen 669 views
"Be the Change you wish to see in the World." ~ (Not) Gandhi 571 views
Student's Doodle Wins Google's Heart. 550 views
Popular This Week
- Playboy Yoga: Full Video with Sara Underwood. {Nude} 97,617 views
Butter, Salt & a Side of Poison: How to Protect your Family from Monsanto & Genetically Modified Foods. ~ Marylee Fairbanks 31,753 views- Your Ugly Vagina Is Normal & Gorgeous. (Adult) 30,273 views
Katy Perry Rolling Stone Photoshop: when Beauty isn't Perfect enough. 30,007 views
The 10 things you’ll do once you start yoga (that have nothing to do with yoga). ~ Lee Anne Finfinger 29,569 views- Eight things I Learned from 50 Naked People. 21,469 views
How I lost 30 pounds through yoga & never saw them again, with embarrassing “before” picture. 19,369 views- "Be the Change you wish to see in the World." ~ (Not) Gandhi 17,118 views
Rockstar / Yoga fanman Adam Levine of Maroon 5 gets sexy for prostate & testicular cancer prevention. 16,545 views
How to Love a Girl who Writes. 14,495 views
Popular All-Time
- Playboy Yoga: Full Video with Sara Underwood. {Nude} 974,822 views
Skip Your Morning Meditation & Watch this Instead. 515,855 views
Someone asked the Dalai Lama (?) what surprises him most. This was his response. 438,921 views- Your Ugly Vagina Is Normal & Gorgeous. (Adult) 372,966 views
Why Lying Broken in a Pile on Your Bedroom Floor is a Good Idea. ~ Julie (JC) Peters 262,507 views- Eight things I Learned from 50 Naked People. 213,763 views
- Rockstar / Yoga fanman Adam Levine of Maroon 5 gets sexy for prostate & testicular cancer prevention. 208,057 views
Shake the dust – this one is for you. 150,914 views- The 10 things you’ll do once you start yoga (that have nothing to do with yoga). ~ Lee Anne Finfinger 147,914 views
- "Be the Change you wish to see in the World." ~ (Not) Gandhi 128,874 views
A Meeting In Central Park With The Oldest Living Yoga Teacher In The World. ~ Photographed by Robert Sturman 110,244 views
This Poster Might Just Change Your Life. ~ Nicole Duncan 101,194 views
