Archive for the 'Cedar Valley Heart' Category

Aug 30 2010

Let’s Get Ready For Back To School Extravaganza!

Our back to school ritual involves Back-to-School shopping.  Every year (this was our 6th year) my daughters Heidi, now 11 and Megan, now 9 and our next door neighbor/big sister/babysitter/who has known the girls since day one, Amanda, who is now 17 and I go shopping.  This isn’t just shopping we turn it into a fashion show extravaganza and involving many times the entire store.   Honestly, I hate shopping and so do my girls.  But years ago I decided to tell the girls we would be having a fashion show with their favorite person in the entire world, Amanda.  We went from “fit n’tears” to “fun n’laughs” just by making it into a special event – a few stores for a few hours and lunch in a nice restaurant.   They gear up to the event with the girls painting their nails and picking out a special outfit to wear shopping and Amanda does their hair.  So they “feel” special for picking out even more “special outfits”.

We only go to a few stores and each of us takes one girl and we work with the help of a sales person with that girl.  This year we had one sales girl who keep going in the back room and finding us the cutest clothes that I would never have found on the rack in a million years.  Once the girls explain what they want – I have learned that if my girls really, really don’t love it and they are only buying it to please me – they will NOT wear it; so now we explain to the salesperson we want A line waistlines from one girl that cover her appropriately and will not show her belly button when she raises her hand in class and more fitted outfits for the other girl with the same description that they need to be covered appropriately and honestly, the salesperson does all of the work.  We have so much fun the manager and a bunch of salesreps usually gets involved too helping us decide which ones we should select.  The girls feel special and love the attention!    We have stores that remember us each year and enjoy the “fun and excitement” we bring back to Back-to-School shopping.  

The key for me, everyone needs an Amanda and salesreps who enjoy their jobs!!

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Aug 12 2010

Let’s Get Ready to be a character in the latest “Cynthia’s Attic”

Choose A Character For Cynthia’s Attic: Book Five!

Want to choose a character to be in the next Cynthia’s Attic book? Here’s how!

cynthiasattic

Listed at http://cynthiasattic.blogspot.com/2010/07/choose-character-for-cynthias-attic.html are 10 Cynthia’s Attic characters the author, Mary Cunningham, is considering for a recurring role in Book Five. Leave a comment with your choice and an explanation as to why you think the character deserves to return. Mary choose one winner based on the most compelling reason.

What do you win? First is the Cynthia’s Attic book of your choice. You can wait for Book Five (title coming soon!) or you can choose one of the first four titles. Now for the really fun part. If your character and comment is chosen, you’ll also become a character in the book!

Click Here for More Information!

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Aug 06 2010

Let’s get ready for the Baby Dipper!

Recently, Barb was a guest on my radio show and we were discussing how her Baby Dipper would be perfect for special needs families.  Well, check out this review, by a mom of a special needs 5-year-old child: http://www.able2able.com/2010/06/review-giveaway-ends-78-increase.html

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Aug 05 2010

Let’s get Ready to help WINGS!

Rebuild a charity resale shop that supports abused women and children. 

WINGS Program, Inc.

Founded in 1985, the WINGS Program (Women in Need Growing Stronger) provides shelter and support for women and children who are escaping homelessness or domestic violence. WINGS has 24 transitional homes and an emergency domestic violence shelter in suburban Chicago.

Right now, Wings is trying to win the Pepsi Grant for $250,000 which would really help rebuild the resale store.  Could you please take a few minutes of your time to visit the link below and vote for Wings to receive the funds?  Also, please feel free to share this wonderful cause.  Thank you sooo much!!!

Vote to give this idea 250K: Rebuild a charity resale shop that supports abused women and children. http://pep.si/cL7KZ2

Together, we can make this happen!!!

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Jul 01 2010

Congratulations to Lorie @Clutterdiet and her National Movement to #Donate, #Donate, #Donate!

Big Announcement: Join Me in Supporting Goodwill’s Donate Movement!

I am so excited and pleased to announce that The Clutter Diet® is partnering with Goodwill Industries International to launch the Donate Movement! Visit donate.goodwill.org to see all of the details. I am in Tacoma today serving as their national spokesperson and ambassador of the movement, speaking at the launch event and doing a radio media tour, and soon you’ll see our Public Service Announcement commercials airing all over the country.

You can get a sneak peek now on YouTube! We have three PSAs, one featuring me and a bunch of stuff popping into my outstretched hands… and the other two explaining more about the choices we make about our stuff and the impact they have.

“Just as there are things you recycle, there are things you donate” (the one I’m in)

“Donations = Chances” showing the impact your donations have

“Think Twice: Donate for Your Community and the Environment” showing the choices we make every day that make a difference

Many people get organized and donate their household items without ever considering the impact those donations are having on their neighborhoods and the world. We want to create a culture of Conscious Donation, and have people consider where they are making their donations of belongings as carefully as they would consider where they are making a financial donation.

Did you know that, according to a survey we just commissioned, we found that for every one item of clothing consumers donate, they have at least 30 more that are ready to be donated? Get organized, get that stagnant stuff out of your house, and use it to put people to work and build strong families and communities! Visit donate.goodwill.org to see the impact of your donations on people and the planet. And if you need help getting organized, you know our expert team can help anybody, affordably, from anywhere… Read more about our Clutter Diet®  program that gives you the tools and support you need at less than the cost of a pizza.

Oh, and PS: I purchased the fabulous red shirt I am wearing in the commercial at my local Goodwill store on Lake Austin Boulevard!  :)

Look for the Donate icon on Levi’s care tags (and other partners’ products coming soon)! And watch for tweets with the #Donate hashtag!

Thanks so much from Lorie from The Clutter Diet!

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May 28 2010

I love this tribute created by Harley Davidson and Military.com for Memorial Day!

Freedom is never FREE. Thank you to all of our military and their families for the ultimate sacrifice of serving our country.  We salute YOU for protecting the precious gift of freedom!

http://www.military.com/memorial-day/harley-davidson-tribute/

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

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May 27 2010

Happy Memorial Weekend – Buckle Up!

What a powerful video to remind you that seat belts save lives!

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May 24 2010

Speak Up for Education & Kids Campaign

Please show support of teachers on May 26, 2010 for Speak Up for Education & Kids Campaign to support #EducationJobsFund. National Call-in Day 1-866-608-6355 please tell our national education leaders to stop cuts to education - http://bit.ly/9VNbuB

I was so honored to be selected as the Wisconsin Delegate at Mom Congress in DC earlier this month and invited to the Wisconsin Engagement Summit on Saturday to meet with the Governor, First Lady and Secretary of Education to empower parents, kids and teachers to be involved in education.

Our children’s quality education is under threat from budget cuts– music and arts programs, bus routes, sports, extracurricular activities, books, crossing guards, special needs, gifted and talented and foreign language programs are all on the cutting block–and teacher layoffs could mean perhaps as many as 35 or 45 students per classroom.  

This is not the answer!   Students need individual attention, not crowded classrooms and fewer educators, to succeed in the 21st century and help keep America competitive.  It’s not just failing schools that need our help!!  Gwen Samuel, the Mom Congress Delegate from Connecticut is fighting to keep a top 10 HIGH PERFORMANCE school OPEN.  It serves over 70% minority, 20% ESL, 10% disabilities and it is on the chopping block to close!  We need your help to get the message out to parents to get involved!! School should be replicated not closed!Their excuse the budget.SBCTA is convener of event

For more information on this important legislation visit: http://www.educationvotes.nea.org.

Here is a sample to share with your social networking sites: 

National Call-in Day 5/26/10 to Speak Up for Education & Kids to stop cuts! Yes to #EducationJobsFund 1-866-608-6355 http://bit.ly/9VNbuB

Thank you so much for your help and support!

Smiles – Stacey

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Apr 14 2010

Please Join Brenda Novak and the 2010 Auciton for Diabetes Research

Let’s Get Ready to Help Brenda Novak and her amazing goal to break the $1 Million mark for her 2010 Online Auction for Diabetes Research. 

diabetes

If you are a book lover like I am, you will find some amazing autographed copies from some of your favorite authors!! 

Bid often for a great cause and bid on a set of our books for your favorite child heading off to school this year!

Brenda will be giving away some incredible prizes to keep things fun and light, drawing from those who place bids each day, so definitely register and shop because everyone is eligible! There are some fabulous items that would make great gifts up for grabs, and with your help, we should break the $1 million mark this year.

diabetes2

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE DIABETES AUCTION

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Apr 08 2010

How I’m Surviving My Life by Guest Blogger Alison Rhodes, The Safety Mom

Up until now the majority of my blogs have been about child safety issues happening in the world, tips for baby proofing and product recalls.  Once in a while I’ve opened up a bit about my life but not much.  Some people are concerned about me doing this – that’s not my job as The Safety Mom  they tell me.  But I’ve been learning some incredible life lessons these past two years.  One of these realizations is that, as I’ve talked about on my radio show Keeping It Together With Alison Rhodes, The Safety Mom – www.safetymom.com, in order to keep our kids safe, happy and well, we need to first take care of ourselves.  Well, that’s easier said than done for moms.  And I realized that I wasn’t taking my own advice.  But how do we put ourselves above our kids?  I would literally lie down and die for each of my children every day.  How do I do something selfish and think of myself first?  Well, I’m beginning to realize that if I don’t, I quite possibly might die and that won’t help them at all.

You see there are some pretty tough things going on in my life, some I’ve blogged about but others I haven’t touched yet.  Now I’m going to and I’m doing it for several reasons.  Writing is therapy for me (and I suspect for many mom bloggers).  Once it’s down on paper, or computer, it’s out of my head and not causing me as much stress.  I also do it because I know that ,if I’m going through some of this stuff, there have to be millions of people going through very similar situations and probably feeling isolated and alone.  Maybe by reading this blog they will know that they’re not alone and maybe, if we all start posting, we can all help each other find the support, encouragement and love all of us need to get by.  The third reason is that because I’m a “do-er.”  I’ve entered into the confusing worlds of special needs, the educational system, emotional abuse, divorce, aging parents, and financial hardship.  There are some major problems in many of these areas and I’m determined to start screaming about it to try and change archaic and dysfunctional systems that don’t work.   The fourth is because this is the only way I’m going to heal myself.  For years I never discussed what was going on in my personal life.  I didn’t think that anyone, even family and friends, wanted to know my problems.  So I put on my “game face” and kept things to myself.  Oh sure, a few close friends so the little cracks in my armor but not many.  I’m really good at keeping a positive outlook and not showing my problems.  But that, in the end, was my un-doing.  Because when I finally realized that I had to start talking about what was going on, most people didn’t believe me.  “How could these things be happening in your life?” they would ask.  In the end I’ve had dear friends and members of my community turn away from me because it didn’t seem possible.  Quite possibly it also forced them to look at their own lives which they probably didn’t want to do.  Now I’m talking about everything.  It takes courage and it’s not easy but I have to in order to build a new and much happier life for myself.  My blog and my radio show is how I will do it.  I’m sure there will be readers out there who disagree with me and downright dislike me with some of the things I’m going to say but that’s my last and most important lesson – to be true to myself no matter what.

So a quick update from my last blog about Spencer my oldest son with special needs.  Last Thursday we ended up in the emergency room as he got upset with his sisters and put his hands around the back of his sister’s throat.  His psychologist was worried he was having a psychotic breakdown.  I was having a complete breakdown worried about my baby boy.

Yesterday he was diagnosed by the psychiatrist hired by the school as meeting the criteria for childhood schizophrenia.  The first question out of my hopefully soon-to-be ex-husband’s mouth when he heard was whether there was something else we could call it when talking to friends (yes, that’s been part of my problem – someone who is more worried about appearances than dealing with an issue).  I participated in the PPT at school and it looks as if by the end of this week or next week he will be in a temporary home-bound learning situation.  My next PPT is next Thursday to start searching for the appropriate out-placement for him. 

Yes, it’s been a long week and there are so many other things to blog about.  But this is it for now.  My early morning peace is about to end as I need to get the girls ready for school.  So, how am I surviving?  If you’ve never heard of Jerry and Ester Hicks, check out their website – www.abraham-hicks.com .  Reading their books and messages has helped.  Writing is helping as well as walking in the woods and clearing my head.  I’m blessed to have a wonderful minister at my church who is always there to lend an ear.  I’ve surrounded myself with a very few close friends who now protect me and I’m fortunate to have unwavering optimism that I wake up with every morning no matter how bad it gets.  For anyone out there struggling, please know you’re not alone.  Write back and let’s support each other – it’s how we’ll all survive.

Alison Rhodes is the founder of Safety Mom Enterprises and Safety Mom Solutions, the premier baby proofing and child safety company in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area.  Alison is a family safety expert, TV personality and consultant.

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