Latest News: Top 10 Blog Posts for 2021

Featured

Posted on by
Reply


(April 2021)

Top Ten 2021 Blog Posts With the Most Views (Culled only from 2021 blog posts)

1. Pride Month 2021 – I Support You and I Am With You 

2. Asking for Help is the Hardest Part

3. Get to Know Me: What Weird or Useless Talent Do You Have?

4. Why Writing is Important to Me – An Interview with Clare Rhoden

5. Throwback Post: It Was A Crummy Day

6. Exciting News – Lillian’s Imaginarium is Open and Get to Know Me – How Handy Are You When It Comes to Fixing Things?

7. Get to Know Me: What is Your Favorite Season and Why

8. Dear Anyone Who Feels Like They Don’t Matter

9. The 51st Birthday Celebration – Camilla Downs and Throwback Post: Compassion Has Replaced Judgments

10. Get to Know Me: What Do You Do On the Weekends? and Get to Know Me: Choose Anything for a Day

Top Ten 2021 Blog Posts With the Most Views (Culled from all blog posts)

1. Recipe: No Powdered Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

2. Pride Month 2021 – I Support You and I Am With You

3. Asking for Help is the Hardest Part

4. Olive Oil as Facial Cleanser and Moisturizer – Oil Cleansing Method

5. Trees Preach the Ancient Laws of Life

6. Get to Know Me: What Weird or Useless Talent Do You Have?

7. 17 Easy and Free Ideas on How to Rejuvenate Yourself

8. Why Writing is Important to Me – An Interview with Clare Rhoden

9. Happy Birthday to Me – Reuniting With Someone Special

10. Throwback Post: It Was A Crummy Day

Top 10 Blog Posts of All Time With the Most Views

1. Olive Oil as Facial Cleanser and Moisturizer – Oil Cleansing Method

2. Recipe: No Powdered Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

3. Recipe: Almond Flour Cookies

4. Help Team TLC With A Christmas Miracle

5. 17 Easy and Free Ideas on How to Rejuvenate Yourself

6. Oil Cleansing Method – Update

7. Taste the Wind

8. A Moment of Defeat

9. I Wish I Wasn’t An 18p- Girl: Moment of Defeat – Take Two

10. Lillian and Being Different Presentation

Top 3 Countries With Most Views for 2021

Top 3 Countries with Most Views for All Time

Blessings,
Camilla
See It. Share It. BE IT … Spread Love Everywhere You Go!

“Words of Alchemy”, published December 2019, is a free-verse poetry memoir covering the last 6 years of my life. The poetry of nature, the poetry of healing, the poetry of appreciation, the poetry of love, in one beautiful book.

Amazing news! My 20 year old daughter, Lillian Darnell’s debut book, “Where Would You Fly and Other Magical Stories” was published January 2018. Learn more and order here. 

Wonderfully exciting news! My 16 year old son, Thomas Darnell‘s book, Biggest Little Photographer is published. Be inspired! Learn more and order here.

You Are The Spark That Can Reignite the Fire Within – Shine!

Posted on by
Reply

August 26 2023

Hi friends! Please listen and share this beautiful new song by my friend Anthony. The lyrics, the beat, the vibe is sublime. Please share and let’s get this song and artist the recognition they deserve. 💜🎶💜 Song is on Spotify. @anthonypostman_mercurycalling

Poetry: Remember the Little Things

Posted on by
Reply

August 26 2023

Remember the Little Things

Feeling the cool water glide across your skin while swimming
The intoxicating scent of roses, lilacs, magnolia, Lillies
That first step into the warm sunshine
Picking dandelions and making a wish
That first gulp of a cool glass of water
Touching another and being touched
That first kiss with someone special
Walking barefoot through soft grass
That first bite into a ripe, juicy plum
Filling our belly with favorite foods
Fluffy towels just out of the dryer
Feeling the sunlight on your skin
Taking a nap under a shade tree
Listening to your favorite music
The feel of the sun after a swim
Sunshine through the window
Hot soup on a cold winter day
The smell of freshly cut grass
The sparkle of fresh snow
Sitting around a campfire
That first sip of coffee
Walking on the beach
A text from a friend
Deep belly laughter
The sound of waves
Fresh, clean sheets
Snuggles with pets
White puffy clouds
The smell of books
Watching a sunset
The smell of rain
Rainbows

July 2023 CamillaDowns.com

The Honeysuckle Vine With The Butterfly and the Dandelion With Books and a Dragonfly

Posted on by
Reply

June 10 2023

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

June 24 2023

Kelli finished the honeysuckle vine this afternoon. We didn’t have time for the shading 2 weeks ago when I got the tattoo. She is so awesome, and an amazing artist. 🖤🌿🖤

The honeysuckle represents joy, love, pure happiness, romance, sweetness, affection, growth, strength, resilience, and a connection to nature. It’s also nostalgic as my grandma had a honeysuckle vine in her backyard. In addition, they are everywhere in the Deep South. As kids we would pick the flowers, pull the stem out, and enjoy the tiny drop of nectar found inside.

Butterfly for emerging from the cocoon, transformation, growth, vitality, and new beginnings.

August 25 2023

Finally fully healed! Love it! 🖤🖤🖤 Thank you, Kelli! Listen up. If you don’t like my tattoo, you are welcome to keep your opinion to yourself. ✌️🙌✌️

Dandelions represent transformation and growth, going through different stages and blooming. Additionally they represent resilience, hope, and perseverance. Words of Alchemy is the title of my latest book; which also has a dandelion on the cover (a photo that I took on a walk).

The dragonfly represents transformation, change, hope, new beginnings, fresh starts, and self-realization.

Poetry: Where Are You?

Posted on by
Reply

Monday Night Poetry last night, always a beautiful time.

Where Are You?

I am halfway to nowhere.
I am halfway to everywhere.

I’ll meet you in the middle
I’ll meet you in the trees

We’ll dance to the music of the stars
We’ll laugh to the touch of the ocean

I am halfway to nowhere.
I am halfway to everywhere.

We’ll be each others sanctuary
We’ll transform into wild animals

We’ll laugh together as the oceans waves sing to the shore
We’ll embrace as the moonlight drips into our souls.

We’ll walk barefoot through the wet grass
We’ll hold hands to the scent of the sun.

I am halfway to nowhere.
I am halfway to everywhere.

We’ll whisper secrets as the trees embrace us
We’ll share music as the wind sings her song.

We’ll kiss as the flowers dance to the tune of our music
We’ll look into each others eyes as the clouds swallow us to be reborn as rain.

I am halfway to nowhere.
I am halfway to everywhere.

I’ll meet you in the middle
I’ll meet you in the trees.
2023 CamillaDowns.com

Photos and facilitated by @mondaynightpoetrynv and @sidewayseightprojects

Throwback Post: November 2013 Date Day With Lillian

Posted on by
Reply

**THROWBACK POST**

November 26 2013:

Another beautiful, awesome, magical day! This time I get to go on a date with the fairy princess that I get to call my daughter … Lillian Paige!

First and second stop on the November Date Day for Lillian and Camilla …. Lillian has a french fry obsession, so we tried some we’ve never had before. YUM! Had a car picnic at Audrey Harris Park and then a quick stop down below to Bartley Ranch. Beautiful view for a car picnic!

Last stop on the L & C date day …. Window shopping! One of my least favorite things to do with my time (unless it’s books)! Yet, for Lillian, I will choose to enjoy myself …. and take pictures!

Gratitude for the Real Ones

Posted on by
Reply

August 19 2023

Now that my life is in celebration mode, thank you to everyone who has stood by me for the past 17 years. Thank you to The Romano Duo and my Dad. Thank you to my childhood and teenage friends, to new friends and old friends. Thank you for loving me, cheering for me, helping financially, helping with food, buying my books and artistic creations. Thank you for the kind words, the hugs, the smiles. ❤️❤️❤️

It’s difficult for me to even think about how little my family lived on for all those years, the choices I had to make, the creative ways I made it work, or made it seem like it was working.
Financial PTSD is a real thing and one day soon I’ll be able to think about it without feeling sick to my stomach. And I shall take Natalie Goldberg’s advice and write about things you should not write about. You know me. I like to do things I’m not supposed to do. 🤣😂🤣

Oliver X – A Piece of the Puzzle is Gone Forever

Posted on by
Reply

August 16 2023

At Monday Night Poetry we were invited to honor Oliver X.

Oliver X was a connector of people and ideas.

He always had a lovely smile,
and warm welcoming energy.

When we met in 2013,
He invited me to write an article
For Reno Tahoe Tonight

In 2019,
he invited me on the RTT radio show
to talk about my books.

He supported creators however he could.
He was a connector of like-minded folks, with like-minded ideas.

Oliver X loved this city.
He was a piece of the art’s puzzle for this city.
He was the x that marked the art heart of Reno.

We’ve lost this piece of the Reno puzzle,
leaving a gaping hole in Reno and her art community. 💔💔💔

(Photo of us from 2019)
Camilla Downs – August 2023

It All Makes Sense Now – Maybe

Posted on by
Reply

August 16 2023

Yep. Grocery checker, bookkeeper, receptionist, paralegal, social media consultant, Reiki master, substitute teacher, newspaper delivery, pet sitter, shared living provider, project manager, writer, poet, author. Who knows what’s next? I’m hoping to add dancer at some point. Working on it.