Valentine Legends: 55 Years of Marriage and Still in Love – Here’s Why

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Feb 12, 2016

Most people expect the typical gift of flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day from their partner. This year go beyond the cliché gifts and think from the heart to create an extra special Valentine’s Day with your love. You’ll find a fresh new perspective and your partner will be totally surprised.

If you want to be romantic, but don’t buy-into the commercialism, check out these 6 ways to impress and be yourself, right from the heart:

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Express Your Love through Words:

Put your love into words by writing a love letter, poem or song about your relationship. Who wouldn’t love an old fashioned, hand-written love letter given to them? During the hustle and bustle of life we often forget about these old school traditions. It’s so meaningful to hear why we were chosen and loved by someone. If writing isn’t your strong suit, consider a top 10 list of things you love about your partner. Remember you’re not writing to get published, so just use your own voice and show your Valentine how meaningful your relationship is.

Send a Valentine to Those They Love:

Make an impression and share the love by sending a Valentine’s Day card, chocolates or flowers to your sweetie’s mother and grandmother. This is a sentimental gesture that will surely impress your Valentine and their family.

Plant a Tree:

Buy a beautiful flowering tree in honor of your Valentine’s Day together and when spring comes you can plant the tree in your backyard. The tree can represent the growth in your relationship over time and each year it will be a special reminder of that Valentine’s Day in your relationship.

Create a DIY Gift:

Homemade is truly best (unless we’re talking about a diamond ring). Show off your crafty side by making your Valentine a gift rather than buying one. If you knit, try your hand at knitting a pair of mittens with your initials on the palm side or maybe a special word that means something to you both. Or you can dig out the colored construction paper, heart doilies and glue. Channel the elementary school Valentine’s Day cards of your past. Cut, glue and decorate your way to a beautiful Valentine’s Day card sans the Hallmark stamp.

Make a Photo Gift:

Nothing captures your real life and love together like the photos you’ve collected throughout your relationship. There are so many creative ways to make a gift of photos. The only hard part will be deciding which one to do. A few photo gift ideas include a collection of Instagram photos in a flip book, a video montage of photos set to music and a hard cover photo book that you design and upload photos to. You can add your own special message to any of these gifts as well. This can also be made into an annual gift. Who wouldn’t love getting a collection of memories to cherish forever?

MORE: Dozens of Fun, Yet Frugal, Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Plan Ahead Dates:

Whether you plan for a month or a year, organize dates ahead of time and package the plans into a gift for your Valentine. This will show your partner that you definitely see a future for the two of you! Come up with ideas that leave a big impression and build lasting memories. Plan a picnic in the park with an outdoor concert/movie; a trip to the museum or science center; join an Earth Day clean-up and planting initiative; plan a board game/beer tasting night in; a trip to a local vineyard for wine tasting; an all-day movie marathon with your favorite collective movies and snacks; a date night to see an up and coming band or comedian; a visit to the local farmer’s market or flea market; go strawberry or apple picking; go on a DIY pub crawl; find a drive-in movie theater; or rent bikes from your local bike share program and tour around your city. Take some time to divide your date activities by month and place them in a booklet you can both reference back to.

Justin Lavelle is the Communications Director at BeenVerified, a source to check whether your new date is who they say they are. BeenVerified allows individuals to find more information about people, phone numbers, email addresses, property records and criminal records in a way that’s fast, easy and affordable. (Photo by Pedrosiminoes, CC)

WWII Vet Meets Girlfriend After 70 Yrs Thanks to Strangers Funding Reunion (WATCH)

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Feb 11, 2016

Seven decades, a World War, and 10,000 miles couldn’t keep this couple from celebrating Valentine’s Day together.

Norwood Thomas was a 21-year-old American paratrooper in Britain when he met and fell in love with Joyce Morris, a Londoner, during World War II. He parachuted into France on D-Day, and though he wrote to her several times, they never saw each other again — until this week.

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In one of his letters, Thomas asked Joyce to marry him, but she misunderstood, thought he was marrying someone else, so stopped writing him.

Now 88, Joyce enlisted one of her sons to use the Internet to track down the paratrooper, and the search led to an article about D-Day veterans in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The two reconnected on Skype – and thanks to a crowdfunding campaign that raised the money, the lost lovers will reunite in person after seventy years.

The American vet boarded a flight to Adelaide, Australia, where Joyce now lives, and will spend the next two weeks with his wartime girlfriend.

“We’re going to have a wonderful fortnight,” Morris told Channel 10’s The Project.

(WATCH the video from 5 News below and READ more at the Associated Press) — Photo: 5 News

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Sydney Rallies to Let 9-yo Superhero Rescue the City as Iron Boy (WATCH)

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Feb 11, 2016

When Sydney, Australia needed a hero, the city turned to Domenic, a nine-year-old with cystic fibrosis who just happens to be Iron Man’s apprentice, Iron Boy.

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With the evil robot, Ultron, threatening Sydney, and his henchmen taking a reporter hostage, the police commissioner of New South Wales had one option–he called on Iron Boy for help.

With help from the Make-a-Wish Foundation which helps sick children fulfill their dreams, a police helicopter picked up Domenic from a playground and, once in his armor, Iron Boy sped around the city by speedboat and police cruiser, rescuing the hostage, defeating the henchmen and meeting Ultron for a final showdown in front of a crowd of cheering citizens.

Afterwards, Commissioner Andrew Scipione presented Domenic with the medal of valor and maybe even better, the real Tony Stark (actor Robert Downey, Jr.) sent him a video message announcing Domenic was now an “Honorary Avenger.”

(WATCH the video from News 7 below and SEE the Robert Downey, Jr’s message at the bottom) — Photos: News 7

A dream come true for an ill boy: Iron Man's apprentice was called in to help the police #IronBoyAU https://t.co/1te1kkaN9J
— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) February 11, 2016

Robert Downey, Jr. message:

A special message from Tony Stark
We didn't think today could get any better for our newest Super Hero #IronBoyAU, But then he received this amazing message:
Posted by Make-A-Wish Australia on Wednesday, February 10, 2016

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Rare Wildflower Superbloom Paints Death Valley in Brilliant Color (VIDEO)

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Feb 11, 2016

Death Valley Superbloom FB National Park Service

Death Valley is coming alive with a rare, once in a decade, “superbloom” — where millions of wildflowers burst into full color all at once.

Park Ranger Alan Van Valkenburg calls it “beyond all your expectations.”

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He’s lived in Death Valley National Park for 25 years and says flowers are almost always blooming somewhere in the park. But superblooms are rare and brief when they do happen.

Millions of seeds may lie buried in the park’s soil for years, adding up for a massive crop of wildflowers. When the weather conditions are just right, they all begin to sprout at the same time, spreading across the gray and brown desert in waves of brilliant colors.

CHECK OUT: Wisconsin Man Plants 4-Mile Stretch of Sunflowers in Tribute to Late Wife

The Park Service says it’s happening right now and Van Valkenburg calls it a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for visitors to see a superbloom.

(WATCH the video from the National Park Service below) — Photos: National Park Service

Death Valley Exposed: Wildflowers - February 2016
Death Valley Exposed: Wildflowers - February 2016 In what could be a rare ‘super bloom’, Death Valley is transforming from a valley of death to a valley of life.“If you get the chance to see a bloom in Death Valley, especially a super bloom, you should take the opportunity to see it because it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity.” – Park Ranger Alan Van ValkenburgJoin Alan in this episode of "Death Valley Exposed" and learn more about the current bloom that is spreading across the park. Death Valley Exposed is a video podcast series that highlights various snapshots from Death Valley National Park. Produced by Bristlecone Media and the National Park Service in association with Death Valley Natural History Association, an official nonprofit partner of Death Valley National Park.
Posted by Death Valley National Park on Wednesday, February 10, 2016

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Instead of Evicting City Farmers From His New Land, Owner Sows Amazing Goodwill

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Feb 11, 2016

Even though they had been using land that didn’t belong to them, a handful of elderly urban farmers must have been cultivating a crop of goodwill –because they harvested a gift of 8 acres of new land.

Real estate developer Bob Clark of Clayco, Inc., whenever he drove by on the highway, had always been fascinated to see the urban farmers work a stretch of land near the airport in St. Louis, Missouri. When his company bought the land out from under them, Clark found a way they could keep farming.

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The men, mostly in their seventies, always knew they’d have to give up the land.

About two dozen construction and factory workers had been growing beans, tomatoes, okra, and other crops there for 35 years. What started as an amusement, turned into a money saving source of nutrition for their families as they retired.

The Airport Authority, which owned the land until 2006, had let them stay, and even gave them water for their crops because they kept tidy the nine acres — saving the airport about $60,000 in mowing costs every year.

When the airport sold the land to become part of a massive real estate development, the farmers were ready to pack away their plows. That’s when Clark stepped in with other plans.

WATCH: Pastor Turns Food Desert into Garden of Eden for the Poor

He offered the farmers eight acres right across the street — and a deal that allowed them to farm it for the rest of their lives.

On top of that, he threw in an irrigation system and a building that has running water.

“I’ve always been appreciative of how they’ve operated,” Clark told the St. Louis Post Dispatch. “Most of them are retired folks — people who had productive careers but weren’t ready to sit around the house for the rest of their lives.”

CHECK OUT: How to Create a ‘Humane Backyard’ for Wildlife and Turn Your Ordinary Garden Lush

Clark decided even before he bought the land in 2006, he would always make sure these farmers could keep growing crops. He’s directed his company’s lawyers to make sure the new land can be used for agricultural purposes in perpetuity.

The men will own the eight acres outright — and can hand it down to future farmers.

(READ more in the St. Louis Post Dispatch) — Photos: Biswarup Ganguly, CC; Clayco, Inc.

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Election Day in New Hampshire Unites Foes From All Sides (WATCH)

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Feb 11, 2016

Media coverage of politics and political campaigns tends to focus solely on conflicts and magnify the many differences people have. But the truth is, politically active people (regardless of their ideology) ultimately share far more in common with other political activists, than with the general public.

Conservative and liberal activists feel so strongly about their core values that they are willing to stand out in the cold for hours to help elect their candidate. They often strike up conversations with their foes because they are the only ones also out standing in the snow.

A video shot in New Hampshire captures this camaraderie, as supporters on different sides find out that they share deeper core values about civic engagement – “but from a different path,” as one campaigner noted.

Kevin Bowe is a political animal who is always one of those people holding signs. He caught the video-making bug 10 years ago and, from his home base in northern Massachusetts, has been shooting a web series on the New Hampshire Primary for the past 9 months.

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“Knowing that it is very common for poll volunteers to bond across the aisle, I visited seven polling places on election day and managed to get two exchanges that demonstrated my point,” Bowe told Good News Network.

“As for the Hillary snowman…serendipity is a wonderful thing and I came across it after a wrong turn while visiting one of 7 polling places.”

(WATCH the exchanges of friendship – across blue and red chasms – from Story-crafters.com)

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Taiwan’s First Woman President Becomes Most Powerful Woman in Chinese Speaking World

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Feb 11, 2016

Without any family ties to politics (in fact, her father repaired cars for a living), Taiwan’s first woman president was elected in a landslide to improve the nation’s economy.

Tsai Ing-wen, a lawyer who had never been elected to any public office, won the presidency last week taking 56% of the popular vote. She joins a very small club of around two dozen world leaders who are women.

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She was recognized for cleaning up corruption in the Democratic Progressive Party after becoming its chairperson in 2008, and, in a highly traditional country, has spoken out for marriage equality and LGBT rights.

The cat-loving, wine-drinking, law professor had run for mayor of New Taipei in 2010, but lost. Instead, she served as chairperson of the Fair Trade Commission and a consultant to Tiawan’s Mainland Affairs Council and National Security Council.

Posted by 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen on Friday, November 27, 2015

Those jobs have given her a reputation as a tough and skilled negotiator, but she likes to unwind at the end of the day with her two cats, Tsai Hsiang Hsiang and Ah Tsai, reading a book and enjoying a glass of wine.

(READ more at The Telegraph) — Photo: VOA

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Van Gogh Painting Recreated As Actual Bedroom to Rent on Airbnb

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Feb 11, 2016

That room is just as pretty as a picture – as a matter of fact, it’s exactly as pretty as Vincent Van Gogh‘s famously breath-taking painting Bedroom In Arles.

Painstakingly recreated as an exhibit by artists at the Art Institute of Chicago, the painting has been brought to life as a room for rent at $10 a night on Airbnb.

LOOK: Van Gogh Themed Parade Dazzles With Amazing Dahlia-Covered Floats

The room’s rental page description is narrated as if by the tortured artist himself, claiming: “I’m charging $10 for no other reason than that I need to buy paint.”

With guests only allowed to stay for one night, the experience is being offered from February 14th to May 10th — and it looks like, as of this posting, all the days have been scooped up and booked by art lovers starving for a taste of Van gogh’s genius.

Want to spend a night in one of the world’s most famous paintings?

Available tomorrow on @airbnb. #VanGoghbnb pic.twitter.com/9iYtcMmYUX
— Art Institute (@artinstitutechi) February 8, 2016

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Dozens of Fun, Yet Frugal, Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

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Feb 10, 2016

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and for many of us it means spending big bucks on dinners, flowers, and gifts. You may find yourself asking if this is really the best way to celebrate your love for one another. Good news! It doesn’t have to be. There are many fulfilling ways to celebrate the holiday of love that won’t drain your pocketbook, but still bring you and your sweetie a slice of happiness. Here are just a few ideas:

Romantic Movie Marathon: Create a cozy nook with some pillows, a couple of cozy blankets, your favorite sweets and snacks and a selection of the most romantic movies from every era, think Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, Titanic, When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman. Make it a sleepover in front of the TV to go all out. You’ll fall in love all over again!

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Go Dancing: There’s nothing sexier than dancing together, whether that’s in your living room or heading out to a local club where you can salsa or ballroom dance to your heart’s content. Never danced before? Many dance studios will give you a free introductory lesson.

DIY Gifts: A wonderful way to make your V-day gift extra special is to do this homemade. Does he have a favorite football team? Bake him a batch of football shaped cookies decorated in his team’s colors. Try enlarging a photo of you two and buy a frame at local craft store (or make your own). There are so many options from DIY personalized pottery to beer making, your sweetheart will appreciate the effort you put in to make your gift truly personal.

MORE: 4 Ways To Manifest Your Soul Mate And Give Up Looking for ‘Perfect’

Relive Your First Date: Whether your first date was a long time ago or just a couple of years, try and recreate your first date from the very beginning. Did he pick you up? If so, have him pick you up for your date even if it’s at your shared home. Did you attend a high school basketball game together? See if you can catch one together at the local high school (they’re either free or only cost a couple of bucks). If your first date was a movie, catch a matinee together (they’re cheaper than evening movies)–or rent the movie you saw together. Maybe you went roller skating? That’s right, pay for your skate rentals and go have a laugh like you haven’t had in awhile. Just don’t break anything!

Winter Romance: Go sledding, skating, snow tubing, snow shoeing, ice fishing, or simply go on a snow hike or build a snowman together. The point is you’re together and enjoying some outdoor fun. Cap it off with cups of hot cocoa and a game of scrabble in front of the fireplace.

Eat Out at Home: Make your favorite meal together and decorate your dining room as if you’re in a high end restaurant, complete with white table cloth and napkins– and deck out the place in a plethora of candles. Throw on some Frank Sinatra and no 5-star restaurant could compete. A fun twist on this is to come up with a dinner theme (Italian, French, etc.), adapt the menu, wine served, music, accordingly.

Host an Indoor Picnic: For most people Valentine’s Day brings cold weather so an outdoor picnic is not an option. But you can have a little Valentine’s picnic indoors instead for a fun twist. Make a yummy picnic-type lunch or dinner complete with picnic basket, blanket and wine, of course. Have a fireplace? Even better! No matter what it will make for an interesting and inexpensive date and you won’t get any bug bites.

MORE: Four Ways To Be In Love With Your Relationship In The Present Moment

Create Your Own City Tour by Car: Drop the kids off at grandma’s house, grab a Starbuck’s and bring along your favorite or romantic music. Then treat yourselves to a little tour of your city. Drive by historical sights, visit your favorite neighborhoods, find homes you both love and swing by your childhood home or the spot of your first date, if possible. If you have Sirius radio or old CDs you can play your favorite shared songs from different times in your relationship. Cap off the night with a trip to the ice cream shop or grab a dessert to share a favorite restaurant.

Enjoy a Night of Your City’s Freebies: Most cities offer a multitude of free fun that you may not even know about. Do a little research and plan to tap into a few of them. Enjoy a carefree and inexpensive evening of karaoke, darts, pool or trivia night at your local pub. Challenge each other at Monopoly at a board game cafe, check out a free improv night of up and coming talent, take a free yoga class, go to a local jazz club or find a movie or concert in the park.

Cheap Couple Activities: There are so many fun activities people want to try but never seem to have or make the time for. This Valentine’s Day just might be the perfect time! Think mini golf, geocaching, bumper cars, painting pottery, indoor rock climbing, paintball, kite flying, ferry rides, wine tastings at a winery, indoor swimming, sand castle building, or video games at an arcade. The possibilities are endless–and if you’ve been together a while, it will be good for your relationship to break out of the “same old” routine and enjoy each other in a different environment from the local restaurant or bar hangout.

Game On: A little healthy competition is good for any couple. Make V-day a game night. Think Jenga, Scrabble (add in a V-day twist by only allowing sexy or romantic words), the Newlywed game. This is also a great option for a double date.

Celebrate with Your Kids: Whether by choice or default, you may end up spending Valentine’s Day with your kids so make the most of it. Make dinner at home or order heart shaped pizzas. Encourage your kids to dress-up, wear an apron and pretend to be the waitstaff at the “Chez Family” restaurant. Let them pour water in glasses, take orders and bring your food to the table. They’ll have a blast and be entertained while you and your partner get to sit back and let the kids take care of you. If you can swing it, have them do the dishes.

Justin Lavelle is the Communications Director at BeenVerified, a source to check whether your new date is who they say they are. BeenVerified allows individuals to find more information about people, phone numbers, email addresses, property records and criminal records in a way that’s fast, easy and affordable.

(Photo by AviaTioNut, CC)

This Group Brings Nature Inside for Those Who Can’t Go Outside

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Feb 10, 2016

A Massachusetts group is letting Mother Nature make house calls, bringing its healing power to people who don’t have opportunities to go outside.

Since 1983, Nature Connection has brought the outdoors in–conducting 15,000 presentations to hospitals, nursing homes, juvenile homes, and other places where people have no access to the natural world.

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“When they touch and hold animals like a chinchilla or hedgehog, they are like little kids again, having fun,” said NC supporter Carol Krauss. “The hope is that they make a memorable connection and open up to their peers, their caregivers, and themselves. An animal connection can have a long-lasting impact.”

At the residential Pelham Academy in Lexington, Massachusetts, where teen girls who have suffered significant trauma live, study, and work together, a presentation of live wild animals in their midst has served as a catalyst for the youth to make connections and share their feelings. The Nature Connection program has become, what the staff at Pelham calls, “critical support.”

The Nature Program also shares ideas with caregivers who deal with an aging population suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia. One such idea is the “ocean context box”. Inside are sand, pebbles, and seashell fragments. Slowly tipping the box back and forth sounds like breaking waves. Touching the items, too, has opened up patients to childhood memories of the sea.

Another context box holds containers of spices and herbs that elders can pinch, releasing aromas that often trigger family memories. Cinnamon, lavender, or cloves can be added to a small pouch that they can keep.

CHECK OUT: New York City Plants One Million Trees! Reaches Goal 2 Years Early

Executive Director Sophie Wadsworth sums it up like this, “We bring the meadow, the ocean, and the forest to offer restoration, rejuvenation, and the joy that comes with touch, smell, and sound.”

(WATCH their video and Donate on their website) — Photo: Nature Connection, Facebook

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Four Ways To Be In Love With Your Relationship In The Present Moment

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Feb 10, 2016

We all know that Happily Ever After doesn’t always pan out. Tinderella and Prince Match.com don’t always ride off into the sunset, either, but that doesn’t mean it was a complete failure.

Many times people come into our lives for a moment of time to help us grow and expand; then their purpose is done.

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Unfortunately we often get so caught up in obsessive planning for the future of “what if’s” and the “might be’s”, that we miss the magic of the moment. Which essentially is all that really exists.

What about this…Happily Ever Now.

Being present with your partner means dropping all of the wondering and worrying about whether this relationship will or will not last, and instead appreciating the fact that this person is actually here, now, standing right smack in front of us.

MORE: 4 Ways To Manifest Your Soul Mate And Give Up Looking for ‘Perfect’

The art of being in love in the present moment, takes a bit of cultivation, a slowing down, and a bit of mindfulness.

Here are 4 powerful ways to get your relationship back to the here and now.

Pinch Yourself: Be grateful that in this moment you are together, notice who they are and how they contribute to your life. Take time to appreciate their strengths, their flaws, their attractive qualities, and their shortcomings.

Let it Happen: If you have just met, allow your love story to organically tell itself. Stop trying to force the relationship into the next level without enjoying the stage you are in together now.

Avoid Social Media: When you partner is trying to connect with you…limit your attention to social media. Leave the phone in the car during date night; shut the computer down when the sun goes down so that you can be present and available for some evening magic!

Be Authentic: Take time to authentically communicate with your partner about how you feel, especially when something is on your mind. Take a risk and allow yourself to be vulnerable by communicating without blame or judgment, your true needs and wants.

Happily Ever Now is quite a magical place to be. Simply be present and learn to relax about the future. Fairy tales can and do come true, but who wants to get to “The End” that fast anyway?

Jennifer Grace spent eight years on Wall Street in investment banking, then crossed over into the creative world as a SAG actress, filmmaker, and screenwriter. In the last seven years she has blended her business knowledge and creative expertise to become a transformational coach. Based on the famed Stanford Course, ‘Creativity in Business,’ the curriculum she teaches helps students “get unstuck” in their lives and empowers them with practical tools and techniques to make significant shifts in their lives.

Photo by Street Photography, CC

Plus-Sized Yogi Can Rock Any Pose, Inspire Anyone to Love Their Body

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Feb 10, 2016

This plus-size yogi can rock any pose and, at the same time, inspire 128K fans with every stretch.

Dana Falsetti, a self-labeled believer in all bodies, works as a yoga instructor traveling the country to teach workshops on body-positive fundamentals. She has come a long way since college.

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Dana weighed 300 pounds then, and struggled with binge-eating and depression. After hitting the gym and adding more nutrition-rich foods to her diet, she lost 70 pounds but still did not feel the fulfillment she had hoped for.

Then she tried yoga.

MORE: Check Out This Yoga Studio Made Entirely of Salt

“I practice yoga because it is the first and only thing I’ve found that has given me the space to see myself as I am,” says Dana on her Facebook. “I didn’t think I was worthy of happiness. A lot of us feel like that and it shows in different ways.”

With over 128k followers on her Instagram, Dana’a expressions of yogic self-love have inspired thousands to believe in themselves and their bodies – no matter the size.

LOOK: Lane Bryant Challenges Victoria’s Secret By Redefining Beauty

“The only thing I’ve ever wanted to get across is that you are absolutely allowed to love yourself. In any body, any situation, at any time. And you can do that while moving towards a healthier place in body, mind, and spirit.”

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Couple Defers Dream Boat to Cover College Tuition for Entire Class

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Feb 10, 2016

Inspired by a sermon at church, attorney Marty Burbank and his wife gave up their dream of buying a boat and decided to put an entire elementary school class through college, instead.

Twenty-six kindergarten students at Rio Vista Elementary School in Anaheim, California all will receive two years of community college and two years at a state university, thanks to Burbank and his wife.

WATCH: Disabled Veteran Converts His Wheelchair into Snow Plow to Help Town

“(Putting) these kids through school seems like a much better investment,” Mr. Burbank told KTTV news.

All of the children are in classes to learn English as a second language, and their parents are overjoyed.

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Both of the philanthropists were the first in their families to go to college. They say it will cost them about one million dollars for them to help these children to do the same.

(WATCH the video below from KTTV)

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Number of American Teens Who Excel at Advanced Math Has Surged

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Feb 10, 2016

Slumping national test-score averages are distressing, but they obscure a little-known surge in the number of American teenagers who are reaching world-class heights in math.

The Atlantic reports: The students are being produced by a new pedagogical ecosystem—almost entirely extracurricular—that has developed online and in the country’s rich coastal cities and tech meccas. In these places, accelerated students are learning more and learning faster than they were 10 years ago—tackling more-complex material than many people in the advanced-math community had thought possible.

“The bench of American teens who can do world-class math,” says Po-Shen Loh, the head coach of the U.S. team, “is significantly wider and stronger than it used to be.”

(READ the full article in The Atlantic)

Jaw Dropping Pancake Artist Cooks Masterpieces in a Minute (WATCH)

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Feb 9, 2016

It’s Pancake Day today, and we are flipping out over these breakfast masterpieces.

Nathan Shields is just your average full-time dad, part-time illustrator, part-time math teacher, and, oh yeah, part-time pancake artist.

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With Washington as home base, Nathan started making the goofy flapjack creations to entertain his two children while on a 9-month tour through Saipan.

His website, Saipancakes, features everything from animals, famous logos, movie characters, and elaborate designs – all made out of pancake batter from a squirt bottle.

With a Facebook page and Youtube channel with tens of thousands of fans, Mr. Shields is certainly making a tasty splash on social media.

MORE: Graffiti Artists Paints An Entire Town – Rainbow of Joy Was the Result

If you don’t doubt whether anyone can actually create with such breakfast prowess, check out the video he made for his friends at the International Animal Rescue below in celebration of Pancake Day today.

The edible image depicts Jojo, the first orangutan rescued by the organization–and now the first one commemorated in a smiling wheat portrait.

It takes him 30 seconds flat to create a masterpiece.

Happy Pancake Day to all our supporters!Please share this very special video made by the wonderful Saipancakes JoJo was the first orangutan rescued by International Animal Rescue. He is also now the largest orangutan at the sanctuary, weighing in at 80kg! You can adopt JoJo today and support our orangutan rescue project: http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/adopt-orangutan/jojo
Posted by International Animal Rescue on Tuesday, February 9, 2016

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Duchess Kate Calls For Mental Health Support in Schools w/ Heartfelt Video

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Feb 9, 2016

Mental illness affects every group in society: seniors, adults, teens – but often the turmoil begins in early childhood.

That’s why the Duchess of Cambridge is devoting time to a model program that gives kids a safe place in school to express and learn about emotions. As patron of the charity Place2Be since 2013, she sat down with some 10-year-olds for a serious heart-to-heart discussion to mark the start of the first UK Children’s Mental Health Week.

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On Monday, Place2Be unveiled their week-long campaign with a three-minute message from Duchess Kate to parents around the world – a gentle, yet sorely-needed, reminder that kids need just as much mental consoling and support as adults too.

The theme of Children’s Mental Health Week this year is ‘building resilience’ and teaching children to ‘bounce forward’ from life’s challenges.

Place2Be‘s work in over 250 schools and their training for school staff focuses on understanding a child’s behavior and helping them to manage their emotions in a positive way by teaching skills to cope with the difficulties life throws at them. A telephone hotline was set up to offer guidance for parents, as well.

Place2Be’s research claims that increased emotional well-being among children improved classroom learning by 68% and quality of friendships with peers by 80%.

“This resilience — our ability to deal with stressful situations — is something we begin to learn in childhood,” said the Duchess, speaking from a classroom at Salusbury Primary School in London. “Every child deserves to grow up feeling confident that they won’t fall at the first hurdle, that they can cope with life’s setbacks.”

(WATCH the video below)

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See Hugh Jackman’s Plea to Fans After Removal of Cancerous Growth

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Feb 9, 2016

An example of what happens when you don't wear sunscreen. Basal Cell. The mildest form of cancer but serious, nonetheless. PLEASE USE SUNSCREEN and get regular check-ups.

A photo posted by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman) on Feb 8, 2016 at 7:57am PST

Following a bout with skin cancer, X-Men actor Hugh Jackman posted a plea to his followers on Instagram.

Doctors found basal cell carcinoma – one of the mildest and most common forms of cancer – on Jackman’s nose, which prompted the Australian star to urge to wear everyone to wear sunscreen and regularly get checked out.

SEE All Our Inspiring Celebrity Stories: on Good News Network’s Celebrities Page

Wolverine is apparently well and fine now (probably thanks to that whole “super healing” thing), but fans should remember to heed his warning and think of their health before staying out in the sun.

Amount of Mercury, DDT and Other Contaminants in Fish is at 40-Year Low

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Feb 9, 2016

Fish in today’s oceans contain far lower levels of mercury, DDT and other toxic substances than at any time in the last four decades, according to a major review from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California.

“Looking at nearly 2,700 studies of pollutants in fish, the researchers saw steady, significant drops in the concentrations of a wide range of contaminants known to accumulate in fish — from about 50% for mercury to more than 90% for PCBs,” reports the LA Times.

One 2015 study showed mercury levels in bluefish caught off the U.S. Atlantic coast had officially dropped 43% since 1972.

Scientists say the drop is due to federal restrictions on coal plant emissions that have resulted in less mercury being transported by rainfall into the ocean.

However, researchers warned that many fish in the wild still have pollutant levels considered unsafe if consumed frequently by humans.

(READ the full article in the LA Times)

– Photo by alemdag, CC

Guy Brilliantly Sticks Out His Leg to Trip Man Running From Police (WATCH)

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