Sparkle Stories Blog

Why we love Superheroes.

This week “Man of Steel” opened in theaters around the world.  It is the 2013 version of the “Superman” story that I will always equate with Christopher Reeves.  I have heard some encouraging things about it and I’ve heard some discouraging things about it, but what interests me most – is that the movie was made and that people want to see it.

 

 

In 2012, the two highest grossing films of the year were Avengers and Dark Night Rises – both superhero movies.  The Amazing Spiderman was number seven.  This year’s blockbusters will include Iron Man 3, The Wolverine and Thor in addition to Man of Steel.  Surely they will be some of the most popular – if not the absolutely most popular movies of the year.

 

Superheroes have been with us for many years.  From the batman and superman tv shows of our youth to the batman and spiderman movies of our early adulthood to the onslaught of superhero movies that we now see every year – superheroes have been with us our entire lives.

 

 

And what do they give us?  They give us marvel, wonder, awe and a magical sense of possibility.  They give us what the fairy tales give us and tall tales give us – the idea that there is greatness among us (and maybe within us too).

 

I have been working on a superhero story for the past few years which has manifested as an audio book called “How to Be Super”.  It is a story about a seemingly ordinary husband, father and elementary school teacher (me) who learns that he has the “mark” of a superhero. The moment he decides to rediscover lost superpowers from his youth, his eyes are opened to community of curious local folk who teach him How To Be Super.  It is a funny story filled with insights and wisdom that I have learned over the years as a teacher and storyteller.

 

The audio book contains the full story which includes the basic steps of How to Be Super

1)   Open Your Eyes

2)   Believe it

3)   Do Something Brave

4)   Tell No One

But it does not give much direction on how to deepen the experience and use them fully.  Over the next few weeks, I’d like to offer that in the form of a prose workshop.  I’ll explain the steps in more detail with examples and invite you to try them.

Being Super is basically being yourself with a particular respect for your imagination.  Your imagination will show you things that logic and rational thought cannot.  You will remember parts of yourself that you thought were only the dreams of a child – and they will show you the path to becoming a real superhero.  See you next week!

 

Read Full Post

Helping and Healing Stories: Week 24 – Unplugging

APPRECIATING the SIMPLE THINGS

Summertime has begun and in our house, this transition can be tricky.  “What are we going to do?” is a common song sung in the morning and our boys can be quick to look for stimulation, rather than relaxing into the slowness and quietness.
They are not alone. We live in stimulating times -  we have entertainment on-demand, and constant contact through our mobile devices.   And while our children are more and more attracted to this world,  we adults can find ourselves pining for times gone by.

Read Full Post

NEW! The Sparkle Sleepytime Sample Pack! 50% off this week!

We’re excited to offer the brand-new Sparkle Sleepytime Sample Pack!

The three stories in this Sample Pack are just like those you’d find in the Sparkle Sleepytime Subscription!

Read more about the Sample Pack Stories HERE!

We created the Sparkle Sleepytime Series to help the little ones in your life slow down at the end of the day.  It is perfect for nap-times, quiet times and bedtimes – or any time you want a particularly quiet and soothing story!

And we’re adding a little Sparkly Promo!

UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY:
Download
the Sparkle Sleepytime Sample Pack

for $3.
That’s 50% off!

To add it to your Shopping Bag,
click
HERE.

:: :: ::

Haven’t tried the Sparkle Sleepytime Stories yet?
Listen to the FREE SAMPLE
!
Or sign up for the SUBSCRIPTION SERIES!

Read Full Post

friday’s kind words

Whenever a Sparkle family takes the time to share their experience with the stories, we are delighted and moved.  We decided we wanted to share some of the kind words we receive in a blog post each week!

:: :: ::

After listening to Martin & Sylvia “The Go To Sleep Fairy” the other day, my 5-year old son tried it himself (with no prompting from me) and fell right to sleep!

Thank you so much for the authentic, creative and soul-building work that you do!!

- Lisa, Watertown, Wisconsin, USA

Read Full Post

sparkle kitchen – rainbow salad

If you’ve ever grown a vegetable garden, or you’re a member of a local CSA, I know at some point you’ve had this question:

What do I do with all these vegetables?

Once you’ve harvested the abundance of ripe things in your garden — or you’ve opened that extra-full CSA box — you simply aren’t sure what to do with the mounds of fresh veggies!

Here’s one of our best solutions:  Rainbow Salad! Continue reading sparkle kitchen – rainbow salad

Read Full Post

friday’s kind words

Whenever a Sparkle family takes the time to share their experience with the stories, we are delighted and moved. 

We decided we wanted to share some of the kind words we receive in a blog post each week!

:: :: ::

I just wanted to tell you how incredibly much my 4 yr old daughter is loving the stories (and me as well!).

The first day I uploaded the new autumn stories it was a cold rainy day and we sat in front of the fire and listened to them all (her request to hear them all).  I can’t believe she sat still that long and just listened.

And then she asked to listen to some of them again. And at the end when it says, “we hoped you enjoyed it.” she replied, “I did! I loved it!” . . . From a parent’s perspective, the stories inspire such lovely conversations and are also just so enjoyable to listen to.

Please know these stories have made a huge, positive impact in her life and she talks about Martin and Sylvia frequently (our son is only 19 months, and he enjoys dancing to the opening music).

Thank you SO MUCH for telling these stories and sharing them!

- Sara, New Plymouth, New Zealand

Read Full Post

Pay it Forward

Two weeks ago we published the story “Pay it Forward” in the “Martin and Sylvia – More Adventures series where brother and sister learn the practice of extending a kindness to a stranger or someone who hasn’t directly helped you.  The idea is to receive someone’s help and then instead of paying them back, you pay it forward to someone else.  Continue reading Pay it Forward

Read Full Post

sparkle kitchen – sushi salad

This is “Sushi Salad”.  But don’t be nervous.  No raw fish in there.  Just goodie easy things. Continue reading sparkle kitchen – sushi salad

Read Full Post

Seventeen Years

Today is our seventeenth wedding anniversary.  Lisabeth and I have been married for seventeen years. 

Continue reading Seventeen Years

Read Full Post

sparkle kitchen – our favorite snacks!

I just realized recently that readers can’t go back and look at the older Sparkle Kitchens without a lot of digging through the archives!  And oh there’s so much worth looking at!

So I thought I’d do a quick recap of all of our favorite snacks through the seasons.  (Most of which are Martin and Sylvia’s favorites too!) Continue reading sparkle kitchen – our favorite snacks!

Read Full Post