Let’s Get Ready with Cedar Valley Publishing

I love to post and I love it when people comment on my blog, but there is an art to posting!  Here are my top 5 tips to making the most of posting on a blog!

• Be genuine!  Read the post and respond from your heart!
• If you don’t have anything of value to add, don’t post!
• Many bloggers only accept comments with real names, pens names or avatars rather than posting as anonymous!
• Don’t be buy me, buy me, buy me!  It’s a turn off! 
• Get in the habit of exploring other blogs and comment often!  It’s all about networking!

I have some great friends today that started with a simple blog post!  Check out the MIMA Summit Blog Carnival blog at http://mimasummit2.blogspot.com/ for more information.

I love what Jeff and Jodi are doing over at Playgroups USA.  I am a HUGE fan of playgroups!!!

I admit it – I was a bit lonely being a stay-at-home mom in a new house in a new town.  It was an Oprah show that reminded me that networking is key!  I had a friend who was in a playgroup and asked if I could come along to see about starting one in my own neighborhood – it was fabulous!!!  To start our own local group, I would network with other moms at the local playgrounds and parks and if our kids were playing together I would invite the mom to bring their kids to our house for an informal play date with other moms from the area.  I explained that I was new so if they wanted to bring a friend along, that would be great!  Our playgroup network turned into our PTA and, to this day, includes some of my closest friends!

Playgroups USA, LLC (www.playgroupsusa.com) founded by Jeff & Jodi Van Lom is a growing, online community that helps parents and caregivers with young children to find the perfect playgroup.  Jeff and Jodi believe in the need to provide a resource that helped reduce the amount of isolation and anxiousness of new parents. Playgroups provide a built in support system and a way for children to learn to socially interact in preparedness for school. To provide even more assistance to young families, Jeff & Jodi took it one step further.  A sister project in Oregon called RaisingFamilies will soon provide a comprehensive resource of services all in one place so parents can gain quick access to qualified providers.  RaisingFamilies will link families to resources that provide services for many categories including autism, neglect, childcare, baby brain development and, of course, finding a playgroup.  Like Playgroups USA, the Raising Families project at www.raisingfamilies.org will one day serve a national audience.

Hip hip hooray for playgroups!

Have you ever seen anything so stunning?  Can you imagine wearing it around your neck?  This is one piece of jewelry that every mom of babies should have!

http://www.smartmomjewelry.com/

Know what I think?  Only a SMART MOM would design and create soemthing like this! 

This is called “teething bling” and what mom hasn’t had a baby pull on a necklace?  This one is perfectly safe for babies, and for moms! 

Now, certainly, this bling doesn’t *just* have to be for moms with babies — ANY woman can wear this fabulous jewelry.  That’s the beauty of it — it’s specifically designed as a teething ring, but the colors and designs of all of the Smart Mom Jewelry is so that it’s versatile … and wearable … no matter who you are!

Here at CVP, we have one to give away, too - to one lucky winner who puts their name and email address in our comments.  Open to US residents only, and only 1 entry per person / email address.  The drawing will be on Monday, September 29th and the winner will be notified on this blog and via email.

Come now, who wouldn’t love a piece of this beautiful www.SmartMomJewelry.com? 

Simply visit the Ringling Bros. website (www.ringling.com), type in your zip code, select your show date and enter the coupon code: MCC and you will receive a 20% discount code on tickets for the following additional shows: 

Grand Rapids, MI on Sept. 18-21, 2008
Denver, CO on Oct. 2-13, 2008
Boston, MA on Oct. 8-13, 2008
Cleveland, OH on Oct. 24- Nov. 2
Chicago, IL on Nov. 6-30, 2008
St. Louis, MO on Nov. 6-9, 2008
Auburn Hills, MI on Nov. 12-16, 2008
Highland Heights, KY on Feb 27- Mar. 1, 2009
Cincinnati, OH on Mar. 4-8, 2008

The circus is a family tradition for Heidi and Megan.   They still talk about going to the circus in Hayward, WI with Grandma Helene, Uncle Brett and cousin’s Julie and Eli.  It was an amazing day!

Nothing quite compares to the experience of the circus: the anticipation followed by the sheer excitement of the lights coming up, the performers riding in on elephants, the colorful clowns and the acrobats flying through the air. Many of us remember the magic of the circus from our own childhoods-one of the rare things that we can now pass down to our children as well. The circus has had such an influence on us as Moms, in fact, that in a recent Mom Central survey, 88% of Moms regard it as a “not to be missed” childhood experience.

Attending a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus provides more than just a night out. It creates a memory that lasts a lifetime and a tradition that can be carried on from year to year and generation to generation. As one mom said, the circus is “worth every smile and mesmerized stare.” From the laughs that come at the clowns’ expense, the gasps of delight at seeing a motorcycle making its way across the high wire, and the huge grins that come from seeing elephants and tigers up close, the circus truly feels synonymous with childhood.

As we get ready for a variety of new and exciting Ringling Bros. shows in cities across the country this fall, Mom Central is pleased to help you share in the enchantment. Simply visit the Ringling Bros. website (www.ringling.com), type in your zip code, select your show date and enter the coupon code: MCC and you will receive a 20% discount code on tickets for the following Boston shows:

Wed, Oct 7:00PM
Thu, Oct 7:00PM
Fri, Oct 7:00PM
Sat, Oct 11:00AM, 3:00PM, 7:00PM
Sun, Oct 11:00AM, 3:00PM, 7:00PM
Mon, Oct 12:00PM, 4:00PM

Teacher Movies That Inspire

For me, one of the first things I do to relax during the summer is to pick up a page turner spy thriller and catch up on some teacher movies that will inspire me for next year. 

• The Emperor’s Club (2002) 

I rarely buy movies after I’ve viewed them. 

This movie is the exception. 

The Emperor’s Club with Kevin Kline is one of my favourite teacher movies. It showed me that although I can try my best, do all I can for my students, I can’t “fix” them all. There will be failures, especially with students whom I tried to reach, but for whom I was unable to change their behavior. There will be students you can’t stop for whatever reason, from going down the wrong path. 

The Emperor’s Club more than any other movie, shows the internal struggles of the classroom teacher.

This movie also shows that for every student you can’t change, there will be hundreds of students where you will make a difference.

Those you will inspire to do their best through all the little things you do with them all year long.

Even though they don’t tell you or acknowledge the impact you have on them, in later years, they will remember and be grateful for the things you did.

Other movies I’ve enjoyed:

• Freedom Writers (2007)
• Stand and Deliver (1988)
• The Ron Clark Story (2006)
• The Karate Kid (1984)
• Glory Road (2006)
• Hoosiers (1986)
• Coach Carter (2005)
• Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)
• Renaissance Man (1994)

To read reviews of these movies and others, check out The Internet Movie Database, the biggest, best, most award-winning movie and TV site on the planet:  http://www.imdb.com/

Finding Inspiration in Literature and Movies (FILM):  http://www.youthfilmproject.org/programs.htm

This site features curriculum materials to support a curricula for youth that uses movies to promote literacy, learning and service.

If you have any favourite movies (or books) that help you get motivated, just e-mail me and I’ll include them in a future mailing.

Marjan Glavac
marjan@glavac.com
HowToMakeaDifference.com

P.S. If you want to know more about Marjan Glavac’s products and services or to hire him as a speaker, visit to the website - OR e-mail him.

“There are no boundaries for the journeys of the mind.”
 
Copyright 2008 - Marjan Glavac

Encourage your friends to be a part of the World Wide Sound Wave on the 11 October 2008!!! Make it a FUN or FUND  raiser to get music and art back into the schools and back into the homes!

We are doing for Music and humanity what Earth Day is doing for the Earth and humanity. Please help spread the word!

Hope for the 21st Century — Join us where ever you are for the 2nd global celebration of Universal Music Day.

In today’s complex world, we seek a universal language that speaks through our hearts to remind us of simpler times. Wouldn’t it be comforting to know there already is such a language? Well there is, and Music IS that universal language.

Music is man’s oldest language, humanity’s universal speech. It, alone, can harmonize and unify nations, peoples. Music has the unique ability to move us to tears with soulful ballads, restore hope though upbeat rhythms, and recall happier times through sensuous tropical drumbeats. Music can remind us of the wonders of nature, the kindness of strangers, and the overall goodness of humanity.

So mark your calendars, plan your events and celebrate the Second Annual Universal Music Day on the 11 October 2008. Wherever you are, set aside some time to make music from your heart, preferably with a group of friends. Help us create a World-Wide Sound Wave on the Second Saturday of October each year.

Music is Sound, Silence and Vibrations. We invite you to form an intention to create a world of Peace, Love, Justice and Joy. And we can do it – we can cut through the cacophony of modern life – through the magic, through the power of music!

Join old friends and make new ones around the world as we work together to make every day a MUSIC DAY for our health and well-being! Plan to attend one of our local or international events with your family, your friends, or simply by yourself. And please visit www.UniversalMusicDay.org for more information. We’d like you to email us about your event so we can post it on our Events Calendar in hopes of having others join you on Universal Music Day on October 11, 2008!

Let’s make the magic of music echo ‘round the world on October 11. Don’t miss it!

I’m lucky.  I know it.  My girls are healthy, happy little wonders.  Others moms are lucky too, even with the challenges they face from their children who may be facing medical or emotional challenges.

One such mom is Leeanthro, writer of the blog, Soy is the New Black.  Her daughter was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  Please read this set of posts, to understand her challenges.

So how can a mommy blogger raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes? Of course, have a giveaway! You may enter this giveaway by e-mailing blogdiabetes at gmail dot com. Please read the rules regarding this giveaway. All prizes can only be shipped to US addresses.

For extra entires, please consider blogging about this giveaway and my fundraiser or spread the word through networks such as Twitter. Send a separate e-mail for each action to blogdiabetes at gmail dot com. You’ll also receive a little linky love.

I encourage you to take a moment to think about how diabetes affects someone you know and to make a small contribution.

And if you live in Central Illinois, I would be thrilled to have you walk with us.

(If you–personally or on behalf of your blog–or your company would like to donate a prize either for the online giveaway or for the silent auction on walk day, please e-mail me at blogdiabetes at gmail dot com.)

Let’s Get Ready, folks!  Let’s help this family and many more, who struggle daily with the challenges of diabetes.  I donated a couple of prizes…what can YOU do?

I’m a HUGE Google fan - the Google Queen!  I Google everything! 

In 1999, they started with this:

And in 2009, they look like this:

So, from lil’ ole Cedar Valley Publishing, to my best friend Google, I present you with a 10th anniversary surprise: