Driftwood horses at PDX

Public art is the most awesome art.

Pomplamoose

Pomplamoose is a musical duo doing more than just making music. They’re making five schools in Richmond very happy.

By offering a free MP3 download of their holiday album, they helped the Richmond Book Drive bring in over 10,000 books and counting.

That’s pretty freaking awesome.

Dane Picard

Right now, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs has on display a really interesting collection, in connection with Los Angeles World Airports.

“Human Nature,” as it’s called, features Annie Buckley and Dane Picard, two artists doing work that combines the human form with other natural forms.  Buckley’s work combines forms of women with trees.  Picard’s video installations are moving mosaics that depict animals using tiled pictures of human hands.

Both artists are engaging, making for a truly awesome project in a truly unexpected location.

What I Like About Me

Fitting in at school can be challenging. Especially if you have really curly hair or are extra tall or are covered in adorable freckles that you will think are hideous until you’re in your adult years.

There’s a children’s book that helps kids see their unique qualities as something to like about themselves. What I Like About Me is a fabulous book that makes not exactly fitting in fun–and desirable.

If you have kids, get this book. It’s awesome.

Escape Rental Campervan - "Frogs"

New Zealand’s Escape Rentals has a fleet of campervans that doulbe as works of art.  With more than 200 unique designs, this is the way to see the country.  Designs are sprayed freehand onto the vans by artists including the 2008 World Graffiti Champion.

That’s pretty awesome.

You Are One Third Daffodil

Like trivia? You’ll love this book!

You Are One Third Daffodil is full of interesting facts and stats.  For example, did you know:

• advertising wine is banned on French television
• 70% of Land Rovers (first built in 1948) are still on the road
• The IRS has a computer devoted soley to Bill Gates’ tax return
• In 90 days a single toad can consume nearly 10,000 insects
• Drivers named Ben are most likely to crash their cars; Ians are the safest
• Isaac Newton invented the cat door

See? Fascinating!  And awesome.

Taking the Leap

This 99 page book serves as an instruction manual for how to slow down, breathe and move forward when everyday challenges get us down.  That’s something most of us can use.  Pema offers fast, easy, and sustainable daily practices – ways for us to show compassion to ourselves and others.

Image of stacked books

The world is increasingly more visual. To illustrate a point, sometimes it’s really best to, well, illustrate it.

Enter stock.xchng, a website with zillions of free stock photos–like this stack of books–you can use (check permissions section first).

Awesome.

The Awe-Manac

This book is not only awesome, it’s an awe-manac.

Really.

The Awe-Manac: A Daily Dose of Wonder is just that.  It’s a page-a-day book that helps us see the wonder and awe in everyday.

It’s beautifully put together–bright and cheery and light. And with all the awesome information in there, it’s such a joy to read.

There’s a daily soul vitamin, a toast of the day, awe-servances, aha-phrodisiacs, a dose of mirth and journal juju.

Today’s journal juju, for example:

Write a list of thinks that bring you hope and rewrite them in a Cure for Hopelessness recipe.
Write what you would do if you were the righest person in the world. Now decide what small part of that you could actually do even if it’s in a small, abbreviated form.

See?  Awesome!