Noble The Story of Humanitarian Christine Noble

They broke everything but her spirit. They took everything but her dream. NOBLE, the award-winning feature film, is the incredible true story of a fearless Irish heroine driven by her daring vision to escape the slums of Ireland and risk everything on the streets of Vietnam.

I have never been a fan of synopsis. They don't tell enough about the movie and this one doesn't make me want to watch Noble. It is so much more than this.

Noble tells the true life story of Christine Noble an Irish woman who takes on the streets of Vietnam by getting a working Visa and protecting the innocence of abandoned children. It is so much more than that little bit too. We see three different Christina's all played well by amazing actresses. The movie shows us the story of Christina's life and why she is where is she in flashbacks toggling between the present, 17 year old Christina and young Christina played by a young actress by the name of Gloria Cramer Curtis who was amazing!   17 year old Christina is played by Sarah Greene who had me riveted to the screen. Life for young Christina was very hard but 17 year old Christina OMG...her faith is the reason she survived! The heartache and break had me weeping. Deidre O'Lane our current day Christine is Christine! I loved her calm, cool and collected delivery. Wonderful actress, I had to remind myself this was not a documentary but an actress playing a role. 

There is so much going on in this movie and in order to move it along while getting the gist of how Christine got to where she is, I felt some things were rushed or needed to be assumed. What I do know is that Christine had a rough life, alcoholic father, mother died, father gave her and her siblings away. Christine could have gone the way of her father but her faith keeps her balanced and even with all her loss she comes out a hero to so many children who needed someone just like her. Someone who understood and saw them for what they are, children in need NOT vagrants or slaves.
Winner of six U.S. film festival awards, including the Panavision Spirit Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Rating: PG-13 (for mature material, violent and sexual situations although you don't see anything it can be assumed)

If You have Prime, Watch Now or purchase the DVD 

  


For More on The Christina Noble Foundation visit her website. 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. My reviews are 100% honest and true based on my personal opinion not on a company’s description or request. No monetary compensation was received.

Our Blue Jay Situation

We have loved having active nests around the house. It made us so happy to know that baby birds were growing in the nests and while there was one we couldn't see because it was close to the roof (above our slider door, inside the old mount for the antenna back in the day) knowing it had baby Blue Jays was thrilling until....this past week....dun dun dun....

We know Blue Jays have a reputation of being nasty but we hadn't experienced it. Up until last Thursday we lived as one big happy family. Over the week I had watched the babies start sticking their heads over the side of the next. We loved looking up to see them with their mouths open waiting for mom to feed them.

We didn't realize that as the babies got bigger their parents would get nastier. We were living in a bubble.

Thursday I went out to water the plants and ended up going back inside with my ears ringing. The wonderful adult Blue Jays started doing very close drive-bys. Out of nowhere they would come whipping by either side of my head the whole time I was out there. It must have happened 8 times in 3 minutes. I went to the house with my head tucked very low.
 

By Saturday they didn't want us on the deck at all. We didn't know at the time but this means that the babies are getting ready to fly and the parents are making sure they have the chance.

My  husband went out to the deck to sweep and basically enjoy his long weekend when he was hit in the head by an adult Blue Jay that angrily squawked and slammed into him.  Every time we went to the deck Saturday they just yelled and did these ridiculous fly bys. basically warning us.

Sunday we knew the deal, go outside without causing any trouble. Go right to the BBQ an back. We were not allowed to enjoy the deck and if we considered staying they would just squawk and fly around us.  My  husband was hit in the back two times. They fully rushed at him when he went to BBQ...so this brings us to yesterday, Monday.

He decided he would not be kept from BBQ'ing but he had to protect his head and eyes.  He did this by grabbing the Go-Kart helmet and googles. They were  not happy to see him but at least he was protected.

I went to the screened in gazebo and heard a baby fall to the deck. It stayed in the corner and finally started hoping. I had my phone with me so quietly sat and grabbed some photos. Mom and Dad were very close but I thought...just stay put....that was fine until the baby started running toward me.

Adorable yes....but I knew if that baby came into the gazebo mom would come too and that meant a new screen before the Summer even got started. I almost crawled to the house.

It eventually fell off the deck trying to fly and made its way to the creek where it sat for a long time before making it's way to the our neighbors yard. They have dog so I prayed it would be fine but the parents was now very agitated because they had birds in the nest and now this one wandering around.

We were ready for the nest to come out and honestly were ready for that to happen because we will never allow the Jay's to put up another nest on our house and wanted this nest down! Here is the Hub watching from the safety of the screened Gazebo.

Baby #2 fell from the nest about 3 hours later while I was checking email. I heard it land and walked over to the door. It walked over to me and was adorable.

Mama was there too saw me and flew toward the door. I know she is behind glass but she made me nervous so I moved away from the door.

This baby was a better flier than the first one.

We watched it fall off the deck as well.

My husband went out 30 minutes later to see if he could see it where it had fallen and was hit in the back by the parents.

2 hours later the babies are gone except for one. There has been no noise so I decided to see if I could see if the baby had safely made it to the ground. I lean over the deck and shock of all shocks I am slammed fully in the back of the head with the entire body of the bird. It hurt! I screamed "OUCH". Honestly I was completely taken off guard. There was no indication it just came from nowhere, no squawk, no flapping or fly-bys just clubbed in the back of the head with an immediate headache. I thought...great...concussion by Blue Jay.

I went to take a shower because I felt like I  had bird germs in my hair and decided to stay in for the rest of the day.

The third baby came out of the nest about 7:30 and made it to the ground in front of my house. Hopefully all babies survived last night. I wish them nothing but the best but this will be their last time on my deck! No more Blue Jay nests attached to my house. BESIDES they were super lazy and moved into a nest that was abandoned over five years ago. They didn't build it, they didn't pay rent and I would much rather look at the beauty of the Blue Jay from afar.

LuLu's Kitchen A Taste Of The Gulf Coast Good Life Cookbook

Lulu's Kitchen A Taste Of The Gulf Coast Good Life Cookbook 

by Lucy Buffett the Sister of Jimmy

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Life & Style (April 26, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1455566489
• ISBN-13: 978-1455566488

Updated with a new introduction and amazing photography, the bestselling cookbook by Lucy Buffett (chef sister of Jimmy Buffett) includes authentic family recipes from her Alabama and Florida destination restaurants, Lulu's.

LULU'S KITCHEN is Lucy Buffett's culinary guide to classic Southern coastal cuisine and is packed with more than 120 signature recipes from her famous Gulf Coast restaurant, LuLu's, and LULU'S KITCHEN is the next best thing to being there. Tucked inside are humorous stories and plenty of wit and wisdom from Lucy's own kitchen. The book features party menus, Buffett family favorites, and lots of telling it like it is.

Recipes include soul-satisfying delights like West Indies Salad, Heavenly Fried Crab Claws, Garlic Cheese Grits, and Silver Queen Succotash-not to mention a whole chapter of specialty cocktails that will have you daydreaming of cold margaritas and warm sand between your toes.

The 411:
LOVED IT!
This cookbook is exactly what I love in a cookbook. Color photos and stories that accompany the recipes.

In Lulu's Kitchen you will find 120 of Lucy's Gulf Coast Restaurant's recipes from drinks to Crab Melts made with crab claw meat and swiss cheese or Classic Shrimp Loaf where you dredge the shrimp in LuLu Crazy Frying Flour (recipe included) to make a yummy Po'Boy. There are desserts and recipes for dressings and even your own homemade tartar sauce.

Delicious and easy recipes AND photos. You can't beat it.

To Purchase:

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. . My reviews are 100% honest and true based on my personal opinion not on a company’s description or request. No monetary compensation was received.

Pretty In Pink

The tassel of this necklace is so cute. Love all the colors

The flowers at my friend's house are so beautiful.

My daughter loves all things Kawaii so we got her a subscription to Japan Crate. This was in there last month.

Dolphin School Pearl's Ocean Magic by Catherine Hapka

Dolphin School Pearl's Ocean Magic


Pearl is a magical dolphin of the Salty Sea, and today is her first day of school. Her classmates Echo and Splash make great new friends! Together they start learning dolphin skills like magic, music, and jumping.

But another student, Flip, just won't stop bragging. And when he accepts a dare from an older student, he ends up in terrible danger from a shark! Can Pearl and her friends save him? It's an exciting first day at Dolphin School!

The 411:

Everyone has their own magical powers. We all do sometimes it is making people laugh without even trying, or maybe they can make friends everywhere they go but for Peal she can sing. Your child will love the animals below the water. They are just like them. They go to school and have friends and sometimes even need to stand up for their friends.

Great story with large words and some pictures

Lexile Score on this is 550. Perfect for ages 7-10.

To Purchase:


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion.  My reviews are 100% honest and true based on my personal opinion not on a company’s description or request. No monetary compensation was received.

The Heart of the Ocean Is Crystal Clear

This Heart of the Ocean" Pendant Necklace is made with a large, heart shaped SWAROVSKI Crystal, and tiny crystals that pick up beautiful rainbow reflections surrounded by Alloy metal and and hanging on an 18" inch chain with a 2" extension. 

It is gorgeous. We also have it in blue and think this one is just as gorgeous. 

It looks amazing in person.  Very eye catching. Not sure that I would wear it everyday but I love it. 

The crystal is so clear. I love using my macro when to take photos of jewelry because sometimes it sees flaws that the naked eye cannot. This looks even better under my macro

It comes in a plastic bag inside a gift box

On the 2" extension chain

Lobster Claw Clasp

 

Final Word:

I don't think it is for everyone. I find it beautiful though. The clear heart with the crystals wrapped around is a favorite.

To Purchase:

Disclaimer: I received a discounted product for my honest opinion.  My reviews are 100% honest and true based on my personal opinion not on a company’s description or request. No monetary compensation was received.

I Finally Have My Own Mermaid Tail

For Goddess' 11th birthday we got her a mermaid tail blanket. She loved it and so did I! When she would go to sleep for the night I grabbed it and took it to the couch so I could use it. I now have one of my own from HugHapy and I like it even better than the one I got for her and I think so does she as I keep finding her in it!

It looks like my berber carpet in blue shades

The blanket is 100% knitting polyester. Polyester as you know is wrinkle and mold resistant and easily washed. When you buy a blanket that is exactly what you need. Something I can toss in the wash when necessary. Not a dry clean only thing!

The blanket comes wrapped in a ribbon and love the colors in it. So soothing and beautiful. It also comes with a cute mermaid necklace too.

My absolute favorite part is the tail. It spreads out so wide and has an opening so if you want to stick your toes out you can.

My daughter thinks it is like a sleeping bag. I love that unlike a sleeping bag there is a large opening in the bag that makes it easy to get in and out of and NO ZIPPER.

It is soft and comfy and we love it. We will be sitting at the drive in with our mermaid tails this summer on the cooler evenings watching the movies on the big screen.

I can't wait.
5 STARS

To Purchase:

Disclaimer: I received a discounted product for my honest opinion. My star ratings are exact based on Amazon's star descriptions.  My reviews are 100% honest and true based on my personal opinion not on a company’s description or request. No monetary compensation was received.

LET THEM PLAY! CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS BENEFIT FROM OUTDOOR PLAY

The Episcopal Center for Children, A Nonprofit Organization in DC, Offers Tips for Getting Kids Outside
 
WASHINGTON – Getting children with special needs outside is important for their development and growth, says the staff at the Episcopal Center for Children, a nonprofit organization that assists elementary and middle school aged children with special needs.

It improves coordination and motor skills. Many children with special needs have developmental delays. Playing outside can improve flexibility, muscle strength, and coordination. It can also help them improve body awareness, motor skills and balance. 

Outdoor play builds self-esteem and improves behavior. As children overcome obstacles and improve physical skills, their feelings of self-confidence and self-esteem go up. They experience personal satisfaction and accomplishment, which builds their confidence in other areas.

They improve their social skills. Playing outside gives children with special needs opportunities to share, deal with conflict and work together – but in a low-stress and fun environment.

They advocate for themselves. When these children learn and explore, they often overcome  challenges and acquire new skills. This promotes self-advocacy, resiliency, and self-confidence.

Their health improves. Playing outside makes children fitter and leaner. It also boosts their immune systems and raises Vitamin D levels, which many children today are deficient in.

It increases their attention span and problem-solving skills. Children who play outside can increase their attention spans and problem-solving skills. They also tend to have more creative imaginations.

Playing outside lowers stress. Outdoor play reduced stress and lowers a child’s risk for anxiety and depression. It can also ease some symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Getting your child outside may be easier than you think. “Make sure your child gets at least 15-30 minutes of outdoor play each day,” said Dodd White, president and CEO of ECC. “If you live in an apartment building or don’t have a yard, try to get to a neighborhood park a few times a week, and leave your technology at home or turned off.”

Other suggestions are:

- Pack up a “healthy picnic” and enjoy family time outside at an area park.
- Paint a rock garden and put it outside. Visit the garden and play with it.
- Join a recreational sports team or community activity that gets your child outside and playing.
- Encourage your child to act out stories or make up their own. Maybe they can put on a play outside for you to watch.

If you have a limited amount of time available for outdoor play, use a visual cue like a timer, to ease the transition when it’s time to go home.

“A child with special needs may need structure and supervision but you don’t want to excessively hover over them while they are playing,” said White. “Part of the benefit of outdoor play is getting to explore and be creative. So be observant and keep your child safe, but try to give your child some breathing room and keep it fun.”

The Center needs a new playground and is currently raising $30,000 as part of its “Let Them Play!” campaign, which kicks off on June 2, 2016 during DoMore24, a 24-hour day of giving in the Washington, DC metro area for nonprofits organized by the United Way of the National Capital Area. A YouTube video is available.

“We have a beautiful and historic Northwest D.C. campus, but the playground structures we inherited are old and need replacing,” said White. “The children enjoy time outside now in our school garden and play games in the field, but we are eager to get a play structure built for our students, so they can reap more of the benefits of playing outdoors.”

About the Episcopal Center for Children
The Episcopal Center for Children is a private nonprofit, nondenominational day treatment facility for emotionally troubled children and their families from the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  Accredited by the Joint Commission, the Center offers a day treatment program for children who are 5-14 years old, and focuses on enabling children to return to the public school and the community, while being able to re-engage with their families and build a positive future for themselves.  More information is available at www.eccofdc.org.
Media contact:  Ami Neiberger-Miller, 703.887.4877, ami@steppingstoneLLC.com.

###