Stories That Inspire

Captivating Young Readers

Discover a world of whimsical stories that spark joy and imagination in young minds. Each book is crafted to engage and inspire the next generation of readers.

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Friday Funnies!

What does the frog say at the library? Read-it, read-it, read-it!

There are certainly some sections of the library and bookstore where I feel like a frog. If your little learner has as many books as mine does, maybe take a moment and let them pretend to be a frog. Go through their books with them and see which ones they have already read and which ones they are still interested in reading. There might be a new favorite in there!

#fridayfunnies #readit #kidhumor #justkeepreading #childrensbooksarethebest

Thesaurus Thursday!

You can ask your little learner what makes them feel cozy. Is it fuzzy socks? A soft, warm blanket? Cuddled with a favorite stuffed animal? All of the above? Create a cozy corner and then curl up with a good book.

#ThesaurusThursday #cozy #kidlit #readinglife

Magical Monday!

Blanket fort or full-on campsite inside. Tired of waiting for good weather or just not too keen on sleeping on hard ground? Kids love a good tent and will be happy to show you exactly the best kind to make. Don't be afraid to use couch cushions, blankets, or a tent if you have one to create a magical play space right at home.

#magicalmonday #blanketfort #indoorcamping #readingisfun #kidlit

Friday Funnies!

One more week. Just one more week. That last day of school is approaching oh so quick! Sometimes teaching is like herding cats. At least they are cute.

#weareteachers #kidlit #teachershumor #funny

Thesaurus Thursday!

Today's word is "peek". We can play Hide and Seek and when we think we know where someone is located, let's take a peek! Reading a story and think you know what's coming next? Let's turn the page and take a peek! What are some other fun ways your little learners can use "peek" today?

#thesaurusthursday #kidlit #peek #peekaboo #newwords

Magical Monday!

From fancy garden stores, or crafting your own from craft supplies or painted rocks, or even drawn on with sidewalk chalk, there is no telling where a Fairy door might pop up! You and your little learners can make your own magic by crafting a fairy door or go on a scavenger hunt to find one in your neighborhood. Encourage them to make up stories about what kind of fairy might live in a home like that.
I imagine there is a sweet little Flower Fairy tending to the flora at the base of a tree. She keeps her yard tidy and safe from pests with her brown picket fence.

#magicalmonday #creativekids #kidlit #storytelling

Friday Funnies!

Another beautiful Friday here in the mountains. I don't blame the books though because MY favorite place to snooze is under those covers too!

Tonight is prom for the high schoolers and tomorrow is our Grand Opening for the Flame & Feather Farm Roadside stand. My daughter will be joining us with a lemonade stand with fresh homemade magical lemonade!

Enjoy the weekend!

#Fridayfunnies #keepreading #kidlit #jokes

Thesaurus Thursday!

On your mark, get set, go! What kiddo doesn't want to run faster than fast? Challenge them to a race and see how swift they can be. What else could be described as swift?

#thesaurusthursday #younglearners #vocabularywords #swift #kidlit

Magical Monday!

Whether you play inside or out, by the pool or by the creek, strap on your most majestic mermaid tail and have yourself a magical Monday!

It always blows my mind how something as simple as a wardrobe change or a switch of scenery (outside instead of inside) can completely change the mood.

#magicalmonday #mermaid #justaddwater #kids #kidslit

Friday Funnies!

We have finally been getting the nice warm days we've been patiently (not-so-patiently) waiting for here in SW Virginia. The little learners are ready to be let out and I can't blame them. Happy Friday, Friends! I hope you have a sun and fun filled weekend!

#fridayfunnies #cutechaos #schoolkids #outsideisfree #weekendvibes

Thesaurus Thursday!

This isn't a very big word, you might even say it was TINY! Especially compared to last week's word: Enormous. Take a moment with your young readers to discuss opposites. A scavenger hunt around the yard to find tiny critters, pebbles or shells sounds like fun too!

#thesaurusthursday #vocabulary #kidlit #whimsy #kids

A little late for Magical Monday but when am I not running a bit late?

It doesn't take much to add a little whimsy to every day life. A little edible glitter added to some lemonade on a hot day and voila you have mermaid juice! If you are really feeling fancy add a piece of fresh fruit or a mini umbrella and pretend you're at a resort. When the kiddos are older they won't remember the big trips and gifts, they'll remember the every day moments that you made magical.

#magicalmonday #whimsy #parentlife #kidlit #kids

Friday Funnies!

Share a laugh with a young reader today. Where do young trees go to learn? Elemen-tree school, of course!

With about a month left of school, the students are starting to get antsy, and probably the teachers too. Hang in there!

#fridayfunnies #fridayvibes #kidjokes #kidlit

Thesaurus Thursday! Build bigger vocabularies for your little readers. Today's word is Enormous! This is a great opportunity to include comparisons. Look around and find things that are big and small and ENORMOUS! See how many times you and your little reader can say this new word today.

#thesaurusthursday #elementary #readingtime #kidlit

The strength of a relationship relies on two whole people constantly and consistently choosing to love each other. Trust, commitment, all of it comes down to making that choice.
#relationships #relationshipcoach #strongertogether #couplegoals

Light 'em if you've got 'em, boys!
All those left over sparklers from the holiday should be lighting a fire for your creativity. If not, that's ok. Sometimes inspiration takes a little extra effort. Grab a copy of my new creativity workbook called Managing My Muse. Link in bio.
#sparkler #creativity #holiday #creativityconsultant #creativitycoach #art #performance #writersblock #writerscommunity

When was the last time you got to have fun being creative? It feels like everything is about production and profit these days. We look at creativity like a job that is only worth while if the art (writing, performance, music, etc) is "good". I challenge you to create something today that isn't pretty. Be messy. Create something new and have fun.
Having trouble getting those creative juices flowing? I'm here to help. Schedule a consultation today!

#create #creativity #creativitycoach #fun #art

At 4am I sat in a hospital waiting room this morning and watched each patient sitting with their person.
Today, I got to be my mother's person.
It didn't matter what the relationship was, or what fights that may have come before, in this place, they just needed someone to be there.
Someone to hold their hand.
Someone to tell them everything would be okay.
Someone that would wait to hear the progress of their procedure.
You don't always have to know what to do or what to say.
Showing up when someone needs you to be their person, tells them everything they need to know.

#relationship #relationshipgoals #myperson #justbethere

I feel like when we are creatively stuck, we are really just setting up our own road blocks.
If you are experiencing writer's block and don't know which direction to go in, why not explore all of the options?
Kill off a character, write in a different genre, write from a different perspective.
Creating more than you keep is not a waste of time or energy. It is the journey of creating.
Let your editor come in at the end to determine what to keep as art and what to save for later.

#creativity #creativityconsultant #writersblock #art #creatives

Little story:
We are decluttering the house and trying not to buy any unnecessary things. We have jars of pickles. Plenty of pickles. BUT, I really love dill pickle chips on my hamburgers. My daughter really loves her pickles too. So I asked Alexa to add Dill Pickle Chips to the shopping list. This was probably over a week ago. Tonight, Matt runs to the store and proudly says "Babe, I got you something." Then he promptly presents Lay's Dill Pickle flavored chips. I accept the food gift because I love him and I enjoy the chips. As I'm sitting here, munching, I'm also wondering why in the heck my partner would be so proud to bring this particular snack to me. It then occurs to me what he had seen on the shopping list. This was his version of "Dill Pickle Chips".

Moral of the story: Communication can be hard. Both sides can be right and things can still go wrong.

#communication #relationshipgoals #relationshipcounselling #dillpicklechips

Tell your dad about me! 😂

I'm only partly kidding. Mother's and Father's Day can bring up some mixed emotions if your relationship with your parents is strained. And many of our parents are still dealing with the lingering stigma around professional therapy and mental health in general.

As a certified relationship consultant, I have the knowledge and experience to help navigate difficult relationships. I provide a relaxed online experience that is comfortable for my clients. Taking an organic approach to counseling, we can discover what strategies work best for their needs.

So, if you are struggling to talk to Dad this year, offer him the discount code of FF1ST050623 so he can get 50% off his first consultation as long as it is booked before June 30, 2023.

#fathersday #relationshipcoach #mentalhealth #stopthestigma

There is no sugar coating it. Writer's block is terrifying. Being uninspired is terrifying.
I've been putting together a workbook to help unclog your creativity and inspire your imagination. It is called Managing My Muse and will include practical exercises to help get those creative juices flowing again.
Keep an eye out for this workbook coming soon.
When you are feeling stuck, what do you do to get inspired?

#creativitycoach #writersblock #inspiration

Do you ever find yourself replaying conversations that took place twenty years ago?
Maybe someone said something that jackhammered it's way into your brain and wouldn't let go. Maybe the person wasn't even significant but what they said spoke to your insecurities in such a way to latch on.
I have a few of these that like to rear their ugly heads when I least expect it.
The best way to combat those voices is to create a different narrative.
I can't change how that conversation played out twenty years ago but I can control how much it impacts me today.
Daily affirmations and positive self talk is not just saying "I am beautiful", "I am smart", and "I am strong". Sometimes we have to be very specific.

You remember the thing they say about insanity?
You know. We all know it.
Einstein's definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
I'll agree Einstein was a smart dude. But, I'd love to know his thoughts on practice. I, personally, hate the word. Practice sticks in my mouth the same way exercise does. It tastes awful.
It sounds hard and sweaty.
And, it often IS hard and sweaty.
Practice is the only way to get good at anything.
Practice is showing up.
Practice is doing the thing even when you don't feel like it.
Practice is doing it so many times you think body parts are going to fall off. Practice is what turns doodles into art.
Practice is what turns noise into music.
Practice is what turns writing into something worth reading.
Practice is how we become who we are.
That doesn't sound insane at all.

Hi! I'm Raquel. Do you know me?
Did we meet at Girl Scout camp or college? Did we meet over roller derby or book club? Have we known each other a little while or a long while?
Maybe you know a Raquel that was creative but cautious. Maybe you know me to be socially awkward or the life of the party. Maybe you you've had conversations with me at 3am and maybe we've never really spoken.
I can be a bit of a chameleon. My aunt used to say that every time she saw me I had a different hair color. Not just my hair color changes though. Often my course of study, my career, my passion has changed right along with it.
As far back as I can remember, I have always changed things up on a fairly consistant basis. Through my younger years I practiced dance, gymnastics, basketball and volleyball. In highschool and college, I was an art and theater kid. A great benefit of the theater is that every few months a new show requires new skills. I was able to stretch my artistic and technical muscles through set design and construction, costume design and construction, light and sound design and operation, as well as write, act and direct.
I worked jobs in retail, customer service and in a call center. Each job allowed me to lean into my strengths and become a coach, a recruiter or just allowed me to learn another aspect of the business from a different department.
I always believed I was so inconsistent. But I was so wrong.
Consistently, I was showing up and trying something new. I would pivot as life circumstances or my interests would change. I would try something different. Maybe I would fail. Maybe I would succeed. Either way, it wouldn't be long before I was pivoting again.
In recent years, I was a baker and a roller derby player. Now, I am a relationship and creativity consultant.
One of my superpowers is to take big leaps of faith and try new things. I believe it is what makes me a great consultant. I'm always going to encourage you to be brave and lean into your strengths. Go where the universe takes you.

Buckle up. This might be a long ride. Before last night, I had never heard this quote. It was shared with me during a Masterclass for Chaotic Creatives hosted by @healingforhotmesses
It got me thinking about a few things. I've never played Assassin's Creed. I'm not really a gamer.
I have only played D&D a handful of times. One of those times, during character creation, I was told to come up with an ability. I wanted a light at the end of my finger. Nothing crazy. I just wanted to be able to see in the dark with a small light like the ones on old keychains. I was told I couldn't do that.
This is not a post about the rules of D&D. One thing about me is that I HATE being told what to do. But, even moreso, I HATE being told what I "CAN'T" do.
First things first, I do what I want. Secondly, how is someone going to tell me that I can't do something as mundane as have a light at the end of my finger when they have orcs and elves running around? It is FANTASY! Why do we feel the need to *edit* fantasy? I'm not even sure edit is the right word.
Here's part of the takeaway from the Masterclass.
Your container for me might be quite small. But that is your container. Not mine.
I have a big body, a bigger personality and even bigger dreams.
In a fantasy world, why can't I have a light at the end of my finger?
In a world where everything is made up, why can't I fulfill my dreams? And more importantly, at least to you, why can't YOU fulfill your dreams? Are you living in someone else's container of you?
Try to remember that "nothing is true; everything is permitted."

My current work in progress has been putting together a creativity workbook called Managing My Muse. That is to say until my hard drive decided to take a nosedive this past week. Typically, when my creative juices are put on hold I finally put off the procrastination and clean the house. The house was clean this week as we are trying to sell and get ready for a move. So, where did my creativity have to go? I ended up spending the weekend in a craft store buying pieces for a miniature diaroma. I can't justify purchasing actual craft supplies but surely miniature ones are okay. This is what I HAD to do. My mind was not going to leave me alone until I could unleash some creativity out into the world.
As a creative, do you also feel this need and desire to create? Can you be at peace if you are not creating? What do you do if you are unable to create what you originally had in mind? Does it come out in a different way?

Some might think this is saying it is better to lie and be kind than to tell the truth. I don't see it that way.
I think, in relationships, when attempting to communicate we get hung up on the facts. We miss the attitudes, emotions and needs the other person is expressing.
When you ask two partners who does the most work around the house you might get different answers. Who actually does the work is not nearly as important as the feelings of those involved. If someone feels undervalued and says, "I do all the housework," the important part is that they feel undervalued. They have a need that is not being met.
So, maybe, instead of getting hung up on the truth or facts, we focus on the relationship. We try to be kind and understand where the other person is coming from.

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou.
Sometimes we talk about creativity like it is a finite natural resource. And don't even get me started on the way AI plays into that. The fact is, as long as we keep creating, inventing, dreaming, we will never run out of creativity.

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Discover Raquel's Latest Works

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Step into stories that spark imagination, nurture curiosity, and celebrate the beauty of connection. Raquel’s books are crafted with heart—blending playful language, meaningful themes, and moments that invite both children and adults to pause, reflect, and feel.

Each story offers something special. From whimsical adventures that encourage movement and creativity, to heartfelt tales that explore love, kindness, and the world around us, these books are designed to leave a lasting impression long after the final page is turned.

Whether you’re sharing a giggle during storytime or opening the door to deeper conversations, there’s a story waiting for you.

Ready to explore more? Visit the Books section to discover each title in detail.

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Programs

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Wonder & Wiggle Story Experience

An interactive storytelling experience where stories come alive through movement, imagination, and participation. Designed to keep young learners engaged while building early literacy confidence.

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Little Story makers Lab

A playful introduction to storytelling where children create their own ideas through drawing, imagination, and guided prompts. Focused on cfreativity- not spelling or structure.