Let’s Get Ready with Cedar Valley Publishing

Dreams do come true!  I so wanted to be in the audience for this one!!! I have been burning the midnight oil writing to the Oprah Show asking to be invited to this powerful event:  the crisis in our schools.  I am beyond excited to have been given this amazing opportunity to watch the new educational documentary “Waiting for Superman” at the HARPO studio on Thursday night and be a guest in the audience on the Friday morning live taping of the Oprah Show!!!  This is an opportunity for us all to join the national conversation with practical solutions to for change in our current educational system.  I believe that the only way we will ever change education is to empower and inspire the parents, kids and the teaching teachers to take back our educational system.  It’s time to stop pointing fingers, no more bullying tactics, put the balance back between left and right and take action to make our schools better!   

http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/

NBC is having an Educational Summit next week and will have opportunities for us all to be involved.

http://www.educationnation.com/

Here’s just one of my many wishes for education:

I would level the playing field and make cuts at the top tiers of education and develop the dream teaching team for each school, filled with passionate teachers and rich with specialty teachers and aids inside the classrooms.  No more part time guidance counselors, or doing without art and music, putting the fitness back in gym, adding fun back into the system by empowering parents, kids and teachers to take back their schools and make it flourish within their communities! 

What is your one wish for education?

Come join me as I host a Twitter Party sponsored by Lowe’s talking about all things safety related when it comes to your family.

Bringing home your first baby? What are the “must-do’s” to make your home as safe as can be! And we’ll be giving away great prizes to help you do this!

• Whole home suites of GE Choice alert products. Worth more than $100
• $100 worth of Cooper tamper resistant outlets for the whole home
• North States baby gates (3-in-1 Metal Super Yard $148 each)

Want to learn some tips on how to handle emergencies and some of the top hazards around the home? We’ll talk about that too! And, we’ll share some of the “I can’t believe that happened to my kid” stories that we all have.

#Lowes4Safety Twitter Party

When: Thursday, September 23rd, from 8:00P to 9:00PM EST
Where: #Lowes4Safety tag on Twitter
How: Follow hostess @SafetyMom and tweet with the party tag

October is fire safety month, and most schools will be talking to our kids about what to do in case of a fire.  But how many of us really practice this at home?   How many of us have taken a few moments to read the instructions on our fire extinguisher?  Would you know how to use it in a fire? 

Take some time in the coming weeks and put together an emergency evacuation plan and practice it! Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:

• Having properly installed smoke alarms cut the chances of dying in a reported fire by half.  Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on every level of the home.  Consider purchasing one with an escape light built in as well.  Put a note on the calendar to test the smoke alarm on the first of every month.
• Be sure to place specially designed stickers from the fire department on the window of each child’s bedroom which will alert fire fighters that a child could be present in that room.
  • Keep fire extinguishers in various places around your home including the kitchen, garage, near the furnace and near any fireplace.
• If you are using a portable space heater, be sure it has built-in safety features, such as automatic shutoffs, anti-tipping devices and heat guards.
• When you have small children in the home, install a baby gate around the fireplace to prevent access.
• Purchase a 2-Story Emergency Fire Escape Ladder and keep it somewhere in or near your bedroom.
• Teach your children never to try and put out a fire themselves but to leave the house immediately and call 911 from a neighbor’s home.  Have a fire drill once every few months so that everyone can practice.

You can learn more safety tips and give your kids a chance to ride a fire truck during Safety Saturday at your local Lowe’s store on Saturday, September 25th from 10A – 2P.  And, your kids can even build a fire truck for themselves!

Visit www.lowesbuildandgrow.com  and be one of the first 50 to sign up and reserve your spot. All Build & Grow attendees will receive a free apron and goggles.

It may seem early to be talking about Halloween, but one of the best ways to celebrate green is by planning ahead.

In 2009, $4.75 billion was expected to be spent by consumers for Halloween. And you can bet that this spending ultimately results in a lot of waste, some of which is attributed to costumes.

Swapping half the costumes that kids wear at Halloween would reduce annual landfill waste by 6,250 tons, equal to the weight of 2500 mid-sized cars, says Bob Lilienfield of Use-Less-Stuff.com.

Millions of parents buy new costumes each year wanting to fulfill their childrens’ fantasies. But like a wedding day, in general, costumes are worn once, then thrown away. Relatively small numbers are kept in dress up boxes and reused or donated to thrift shops. Most are likely sent to the dump.

So this year, why not make a boo-ti-ful Halloween resolution and swap?

It’s easy to plan a family or neighborhood swap. Just sent out e-invites inviting guests to bring outgrown costumes in good condition. Make it a party by adding activities like the design-a-bag contest from ChicoBag where your kids can win $250 for them and the same for their schools. Or dunk for apples, make goodie bags or add other Halloween/seasonal games. Or how about staging a fashion show with kids wearing their new-to-them outfits!

If you’re interested in staging or attending a public event where more costume choices should be available, check out www.CostumeSwapDay.com where you’ll find a database of swaps plus tips on how to set one up.

Add another aspect to a public swap by teaming with a non-profit. Charge a small swapping fee that goes to your partner.

And if you can’t make it to a swap or there is none in your area, the internet comes to your rescue. Do a search for “costume swap” or “clothing swap” and you’ll likely find online alternatives.

Books by Author Donna Mavrides

Instead of my typical weekly blog that involves strategies, ideas, and suggestions for parents and educator, I have decided to share the themes and goals of my children’s books with you.  The common thread throughout each of the stories is my commitment to help our children to become more self confident, to instill a love for reading, to encourage children to  be open to new ideas, people, and places, to be kind and empathetic, and to love and respect  family, friends and the world around us.

“Forever Love” is a beautiful story that explores the everlasting love between a terminally ill parent and his child.

“Room for One More” is a wonderful book to share with young children for it focuses on the heart’s ability to expand as a new baby is welcomed into a family.

“Margaret the Magnificent” is the first in the Margaret series of stories.  It introduces the magical super-dog as she travels the globe in her quest to help a little girl who needs love, friendship, and a boost to her self confidence as she gets ready to attend a new school.

“Margaret the Magnificent Visits the Everglades” is dedicated to children and adults who believe in the power of friendship, beauty, and in the belief that working together will create a greener and kinder tomorrow. The book combines accurate information about the Everglades   with the imaginary adventures of Margaret the Magnificent, Ali the alligator and Crock the Crocodile.  It also blends photographs by Rodney Cammauf with the beautiful art work created by Ann Pilicer.”

“Margaret the Magnificent Visits the Rain Forest” invites readers to travel to the wetlands of Africa in order to help Margaret assist Kyle the crocodile and his friends preserve their ecosystem. Once again, Margaret, the magical, super-dog demonstrates how perseverance and team work can impact change and give us hope for a greener and kinder future.  The graphic illustrations, created by Michael Costa, are so life-like that you will feel as if you are in the African jungle along with Margaret and her friends. Again, the combination of facts and fiction make this story a “must read” for elementary aged children.

To order Donna’s books and/or to find out how to schedule a speaking engagement/author visit, please visit, www.magicalms.com.

It’s back to school time!  In honor of Heidi and Megan going back to school we are giving away a set of our books!  Feel free to share this great news! 

Leave a comment (including your email address) to be entered to win!  We will ship globally to a winner!  This contest ends September 30th!

Moms, we need your help again! Are you frustrated, like me, by companies like Abercrombie & Fitch who seem to think that too sexy is right for our kids and teens?  I called to complain and they said the Managers don’t take complaints — must be too busy surfing the web to find nude inspiration or maybe playing Farmville?? I love www.onemillionmoms.com who think like I do!!

Abercrombie and Filth
August 26, 2010

Abercrombie and Fitch continues to push the envelope and now has become more p*rnographic than ever before. A & F’s p*rnographic posters are desensitizing our youth which can lead to addiction and destruction. They are ignoring parents’ concerns and have outdone themselves by printing images which are more graphic than in years past.

A & F’s s*xually explicit posters have images of models posing n*de with parts blurred out, full rear n*dity of a male and men and women with clothes barely covering themselves wadded up so you can tell nothing about the article of clothing they are attempting to sell. These posters will shock, embarrass and potentially hurt the teens they hope to profit from. This type of marketing is damaging to our youth since so many struggle with self-esteem issues which can lead to obsession, eating disorders and depression as well as addiction. The destruction continues in the A & F Quarterly which is published with more s*xual imagery. (* used to bypass internet filters.)

OMM has received numerous complaints from our members over Abercrombie and Fitch’s new ads and store displays. Even though the company has blocked our emails in the past, we will not give up. We will call their corporate office and voice our concerns. We know from past experiences that calling may take a few more minutes of your time, but it will be time well spent. We have found from past experience that we have been successful in doing this and that most of you have no problem in giving your opinion to a retailer that is displaying nasty images to make a buck.

TAKE ACTION

Call Abercrombie and Fitch’s corporate office at 1-614-283-6500 & press #3 & #4 or you can press 0. If you get the recording asking you to email them, then just call back to get the menu to talk to someone. (The email address given came back as undeliverable for OMM since they block us.)

Then ask, “As a mother and a member of OneMillionMoms.com, I would like to know why your ads and posters have images of models posing n*de if you are in the market to sell clothes?” Let A & F know that if they do not remove these outrageous posters from their stores immediately, then as a parent this Christmas Season you will not be shopping in their stores (A & F, abercrombie Kids, Gilly Hicks and Hollister’s) for your family’s Christmas gifts. This type of marketing is ridiculous and we want answers. They can block our emails, but they can’t keep us quiet.

Sincerely,

Monica Cole, Director
www.OneMillionMoms.com