Have You Ever Wanted To Start Your Own Foundation? Now You Can!

Give Back Your Foundation is the foundation you set up to support foundations and charities that really impact you, your family and your community.

The idea of giving back and allowing people the opportunity to assist in these causes is not new, however taking charge and supporting these funds with the help of your friends, neighbors and even strangers is.

You open an account (2 mins) and create a foundation by selecting from the many foundations available. I selected some in my own home town. and then you manage, earn and donate money to the causes near and dear to you.

It really is as easy as 1, 2, 3, and the feeling you get when you give back and support others in sometimes the simplest way, feels great. Plus, small donations really add up, when people work together. So grab your friends and family, decide on an organization and support it!
You will be amazed at how many people want to help!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post and all the information for me to research Give Back Foundation was provided by One2One Network. 

Budding Artist Tuesday - June 28, 2011

Do you have an artist in your house? One who is constantly drawing, creating and inspired by all things art? If so, check out this new meme for the summer called "Budding Artists" for kids age 3-18. 

I love blogging and I especially love when my kids are involved.

This drawing is by Goddess and was the last drawing she did in Kindergarten this year. Her father and I are pretty impressed.

Interested? Come back Tuesday morning and link up your post starring your child's artwork. I can't wait to see it.

There Is No Reason To Spend $100's On A Birthday Party

Why do we feel we need to spend $100's on our children's birthday parties these days? Is it to keep up with the Jonese? Is it because we think it is what our child wants? Is it because we want them to be popular? Whatever your reason, there really is no reason for it. Kids, just love being together.

Yesterday the kids and I headed to a the beach for a friend's birthday party. Last year I spent over $500.00 on each kid's birthday party and this year about $225.00. My girlfriend and her family of 4 with number 5 on the way in a month invited a slew of family and friends to celebrate at the beach. When we got there, her husband was grilling, the kids were playing on the water and the tables were set.

The kids ranging from 2-12 and had free play for about 45 minutes and were then called to the table for hot dogs, veggies, ziti and Capri Suns. They went back to the water and played frisbee!

After that, our host called us out for games of:
Potato Sack Race
Watermelon Eating Contests
Water Balloon Toss

Everyone had a great time and she probably spent a total of $100.00 with the food, cake, drinks, balloons, and gift buckets. Plus the kids loved it!

Wisharoo Park Makes A Sweet, Shining Entrance Into My World

Wisharoo Park is a multimedia edutainment series designed to help children ages 3-6 recognize and appreciate their own individuality.  Wisharoo Park helps children discover and understand their own personal strengths and, in doing so, develop greater self-esteem and a positive self-image. Unique among hundreds of preschool programs, Wisharoo Park is specifically focused on teaching social skills and building self esteem.

Wow, what a way to end the school year. We got home on Thursday and found a box waiting at the door. I honestly had no idea what it was and we like surprises. I opened the box with the kids, nipping at my heels and inside was....

They look like proud parents, don't they?

At first I thought, is that a hat? But, when we took the wrapper off, we found it was...

Can you even imagine!?

If you loved chocolate as much as Goddess, you would have this face on too!

Inside the chocolate bowl was a DVD and the cutest, colorful, finger puppets.

We have watched the DVD at least three times this weekend and this morning while making the beds, the theme song was the song we sang.

Wisharoo Park originally aired on PBS, for preschoolers to use their imagination and creativity, while also teaching social skills and bolstering their self-esteem. The characters are colorful and we each had a favorite. 

The DVD contains all 13 of the Wisharoo Park episodes and can be purchased here.

Wisharoopark.com their online site, is a great place for you and your children to meet the characters and share in the fun with some great Wisharoo Park games, videos, music and more!

You can follow Wisharoo Park on Twitter and Facebook. Wisharoo is growing all the time, visit them often to keep up with the many new features like an upcoming app Wisharoo Lessons for Life Apps: Each Lesson for Life App includes a fully-illustrated e-book with accompanying games, activities and music that will help preschoolers recognize their own strengths and put them on the road to developing greater self-esteem.

Buzz Chic Was Featured On Babybindle

Some of you know that I am Buzz Chic and work on the team of a good friend of mine, Sandra and her company Babybindle.

This past weekend, Sandra was at the auditions of Shark Tank in Texas, toting her product, The SeatPak for the show. Hopefully, they see the same special person and her product as I do!

Below, please find Sandra's post about my little company Buzz Chic! I am honored to have been interviewed.

 

Happy Saturday to everyone! Hopefully you are all enjoying the start of Summer. I am in Texas, getting ready to wait on line for auditions of the show Shark Tank on ABC, wish me luck!

There I am. See me in the reflection!

Please allow me to introduce you to one of our behind the scenes team members. Our very own Social Media Specialist, Maria.

Maria, runs a company called Buzz Chic which she created to help companies like babybindle to facilitate their online marketing. By working closely with the company she brings her 6+ years of Social Media expertise and social online direction by growing our online audience and cross promotion opportunities for mass exposure.

Social media networking is an important part of our strategy because it involves facilitating and working out a way to achieve the objectives and goals of all areas of the company. From sales to cross-promotional functions, Maria finds a way to enhance the personality of the company to all potential clients and associates.

Tell us a little about yourself

I am a stay at home mom of two who started blogging after second baby was born. I was at home with a 22 year old tantrum king and a newborn who cried 18+ hours a day. I really needed a place to vent. I started Maria's Space and eventually blogs where I spoke in my children's voices. It was great therapy. 


My kids are my first priority. I love documenting their life in word and photo form. I love, talking, writing, reading, photography and creating jewelry which I sell on Etsy under Street Angel

What is the biggest hurdle facing female entrepreneurs today?

I think the toughest thing about starting a business is Fear! Just taking the first step and doing it is scary. Once you do that, it is only a matter of motivation and not giving up.

What business lesson have you learned that you will never forget?

"Your time is money" which I learned from Sandra. My husband has told me this over the last 8 years, whenever I would run  out to take photos for a friends, party, band, business opening, School, etc., Eventually Sandra was the one who got through to me. She made me believe that you are good at what you do. When she asked me to take her prototype photos and then to head up her social media direction, I felt that I could do it. Sometimes, it takes one person to make a difference.

What have been your major challenges? 

Growing Buzz Chic while maintaining, everything else I do, life, parenting, kids, product reviews and book reviews for Maria's Space and supporting my clients. It is a challenge I appreciate after being out of the work force for so many years before my kids started school.

What would you say has been your major success?

Being featured here!

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of starting up a business, what would it be?
Just do it! 

Balancing business and family is a conscious effort. How do you keep a healthy balance? 
Working at home makes this a little easier. Waking two hours before the kids helps. When they were in school I worked when they were there. It will take a little more balancing now that they are on summer vacation.

Name two things you must carry with you at all times.

My blackberry and my wallet

Do you have a favorite business tool or resource? 

I love Tweetdeck. It makes tweeting so much easier when you run more than on Twitter account.

Do you have a motivational quote? 

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better -  Ralph Waldo Emerson

On your most challenging day, what inspires you to keep going?

Knowing and believing that This Too Shall Pass!

Mellow Yellow Monday - Fribee with Friends

Happy Monday

Happy Monday everyone!
Happiness is getting the perfect shot!
I love this one because it is so funny to me. My son put his thumbs up because I asked, "are you having fun." He loves the beach. With the bikini in the background, it looks like he is enjoying the view. At 8, he is thankfully oblivious to girls and the only thing he was focusing on was the time and knowing, eventually, mom would be telling him it was time to leave.

Blue Monday - Potato Sack Races Are Always Fun

Message to Sally: Keep fighting the good fight! Hope to see you blogging again soon. Get well my dear.

Quotography - Summer

We headed to the beach today for a birthday party. It was a great way to spend a Sunday. The kids loved playing in the water, and I gave them as much freedom as a self proclaimed hoover mom can give two kids under 9, playing at the beach.

Color Carnival #96

This week our winner with 1 vote is Lorie's Flowers!  Awesome photos everyone. I always have trouble picking a favorite.

Welcome to another colorful week here at Color Carnival!

We will run till Thursday at midnight. At which point a voting button will show up, giving you time to vote and Saturday morning a new post will go up with the prior week's winner. Sound good?

Hope everyone had a great week.

Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules DVD Review

Thanks to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, I was given a complimentary copy of Diary of A Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules on DVD.

Greg Heffley is about to discover that there is something worse than middle school – his own family! Based on the 2011 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice™ Award for Best Book Series, the original film cast returns in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES, available on Blu-ray and DVD on June 21st. This flick takes sibling rivalry to entirely new levels as big brother and little brother wrestle through growing pains.

Just back from summer vacation, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon, National Treasure: Book of Secrets) and his friend Rowley (Robert Capron, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) enter the next grade as undersized weaklings in their school. A bully favorite, Greg tries not to get noticed by anyone except the pretty new girl, Holly Hills (Peyton List, 27 Dresses). And at home, Greg is still at war with his older brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick, “Degrassi”), until their mom Susan (Rachael Harris, The Hangover) instigates a ‘Mom Bucks’ program so Greg and Rodrick can earn play money by doing chores and—gasp!—being nice to each other. Calamity ensues when their parents return from vacation and dad Frank (Steve Zahn, A Perfect Getaway) finds evidence that Rodrick secretly threw a houseparty with his band, Löded Diper. As they struggle with school and compete for ‘Mom Bucks,’ the brothers discover that avoiding trouble is easier if they unite—and their once-twisted partnership grows into a hilariously playful and sometimes mischievous friendship.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES is available on single-disc DVD, 2-disc DVD, and 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy and includes the crazy adventures Greg and his friends has over the summer with hilarious all-new “My Summer Vacation” shorts not seen in theaters. It is available in the U.S. and Canada.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES 1-Disc DVD
    ●    Feature Film
        ○    Two (2) “My Summer Vacation” Shorts
        ○    Theatrical Trailer
        ○    Audio Commentary

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES 2-Disc DVD
    ●    Feature Film
        ○    Six (6) “My Summer Vacation” Shorts
        ○    Six (6) Deleted Scenes
        ○    Gag Reel
        ○    Audio Commentary

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES 3-Disc Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy
    ●    Feature Film
        ○    Seven (7) “My Summer Vacation” Shorts
        ○    Ten (10) Deleted Scenes
        ○    Gag Reel
        ○    Alternate Ending
        ○    Audio Commentary
    ●    Digital Copy

What I Can Tell You: 

I thought this was even better than the first one. In this one, mom has decided to offer the boys an incentive to get along. Greg would be more than happy to get along with Rodrick but for Rodrick, what's the sense of having a younger brother if you can't make his life miserable. Mom's "Mom Bucks" eventually work in Rodrick's favor as he works the "system" and swindles some awesome  presents for himself.

Eventually the boys work together to get the most out of the opportunity which makes for some fun times and brotherly love and acceptance. 

This is a great movie for the whole family. I love movies that my kids will watch and that I can actually sit through without feeling I am wasting precious time.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from 20th Century Fox for my honest opinion.

Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Activity Sheets

Kick Off the First Day of Summer with DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES

Available on Blu-ray and DVD Now

To coincide with the release of DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES, available on Blu-ray and DVD, 20th Century Fox has sent over some fun and engaging activity sheets for you to print and play at home with friends and family. 

They are full of recipes, crafts, and more. 

If you want me to forward the actual to you, please contact me directly.

Camping Tips

Camping has become so much more popular since vacations are so expensive and depending on where you live, camping is a normal way of life. Where I am, families I know go camping very frequently, which I find very enduring, however, doubt my family and I will do much of it unless we head out with people who are frequent campers. 

We do however, let the kids camp indoors at least twice a year. We put up a tent and allow the kids to sleep in it, watch TV, play, eat, for a few days before we take it down. They are never happy with it coming down but we always promise to do it again. If the house was bigger, we would probably keep it up all the time.

Tune In Alert

WHAT:

Brand new episodes of “Transformers Prime” and “Dan Vs.” as well as a spooky encore episode of “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series” this weekend on The Hub.

- In, Crisscross, the latest “Transformers Prime” episode this Saturday, Airachnid plots her revenge against Arcee and Jack negotiates with Silas.

- This week Dan plots to expose a magician as a fraud after being bested by his tricks in “Dan Vs.” The Magician.

- Ever think that there was something living in your walls? In this week’s encore episode of “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series”, Walls, Jeffrey realizes that not everyone moves out before someone else moves into a new home.

The Hub is a joint venture between Discovery Communications and Hasbro, Inc.

For more information about The Hub, visit http://hubworld.com

4th of July Recipe Ideas from Ocean Spray

No matter what the summer occasion, declare your independence by coloring your party with a little red, white and blue food and flare. Tangy cranberries and seasonal, sun-ripened blueberries, native to North America, complement any flavor combination, while the sweet taste of white cranberry juice serves as the perfect mixer. From cool cocktails and mocktails to Uncle Sam-approved salads and treats, add fresh bursts of zest and color to your next backyard bash:

·         Offer mingling guests the ultimate flag-inspired cocktail assortment of The Patriot, The Federal Hill and Ocean Blue

·         Deliver fresh, clean flavors with festive yet modern dishes like the Watermelon, Feta and Arugula Salad

·         Perk up your punch bowl with fun Independence Ice Cubes

·         Fill tummies of big and little kids alike with Star Spangled Chunky Chip Cookies and Patriotic Pops

For more great recipes to heat up your taste buds but cool down your summer, visit www.oceanspray.com.  While online, visit us on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about our sizzling summer contests and other special offerings.

As Alice Cooper Said; School's Out For Summer!

Hooray! I am so happy that school is over for the summer. My readers may remember that I was very sick last summer. Our summer vacation was a bust, as I couldn't really go anywhere because I was heavily medicated after spending two weeks in the hospital and finally having surgery in December. This year, I vow will be different. This week, I am working on a calendar so that the kids know exactly what we are doing and when. Now that I am a working mama, things need to change a little but our plan is to give them an awesome, fun filled summer.

Yesterday, school ended at 12:30 and the kids seemed to almost not realize that they will not see some of their friends until September. Hopefully, we are able to set up play dates and meet ups with most of them throughout the summer.

Handsome and his teacher on the last day of school

Goddess and her Kindergarten Teacher

One of Goddess' classmates parents owns a local deli, and invited her class there for a pizza party. It was the perfect way to end the school year.

We took a yearbook with us and had the kids sign near their names. They ran around with their friends and I got to hear some conversations that made me happy and sad at the same time.

A little girl that Handsome went to preschool with but moved away for Kindergarten came back in the middle of this year. While they are not in class together, I am thrilled to see them together again.

She told me at the circus that Handsome loves her. Then yesterday morning, I heard another little boy telling Jewel that Handsome said, he is going to marry this little girl.

I was a little shocked because I didn't think he thought about things like this.

Yesterday while at the pizza party, how Handsome feels about this girl was the talk of the kids. One little girl in Goddess' class who states she is going to marry Justin Bieber, overheard this is was like, "what, he said that? Why, why her?"

So funny and disturbing, why are kids growing up so fast. I don't believe I was thinking about boys until the 3rd grade. They were so far off my radar before that.

20 minutes later, this little girl again, stood up, put her hand on her hip and stated, "I can't believe he said that? Why her?"

Too crazy. Then I overheard my son's supposed crush telling Goddess while she poured her a drink, very matter of fact like, "my cousin Charlie, tells me all about you. I hear about you every afternoon." Thankfully Goddess was uninterested. While it is very cute, crushes and broken hearts, I was hoping would be very far in the future. However, with the kids these days hearing from other kids at school about boy and girls they like, parents are dealing with crushes much sooner than our parents.

All in all, it was a great day. My kids had a fun time hanging with friends and I got to be a fly on the wall in a moment in my children's life. Good times.

Alphabe-Thursday - J =

Juggling
At the circus a juggler juggled his son.

Sepia Scenes - Wheel

Sepia Scenes

ABC Wednesday - W - June 22, 2011

ABC Wednesday

W = Wake Up Brother, you are sleeping too long

W = What! Get away kid, you bother me!

 

TLC's Newest Show Stars Brad Garret And Some Funny Kids

You know when your kids say those funny, adorable, introspective lines that remind you that they’re just seeing the world for the first time? The ones that make you think, "I need to remember this one for the blog"? Well, now TLC has a show built around those lines. Brad Garrett (of Everybody Loves Raymond fame), hosts a new show called I Kid with Brad Garrett that takes an entertaining and insightful look into the minds of kids and gets their perspective on the world around them. Check it out next Tuesday, June 28th at 8 PM ET/PT.