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The Big Think Pink Stink

Posted on February 3, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Awareness about a cause is not found with a Facebook status message, nor placing a colored ribbon on your car, or even buying products that support them. Awareness is knowing someone that has battled something, realizing how it changes their life, and trying to help them. A post by my friend Ellen, Confessions of an IT Girl, titled On Awareness hit a nerve with me. Prior to this, Ellen also wrote about the recent coverage on the Susan G. Komen Foundation discontinuing their support to Planned Parenthood.

As I have been trying to take everything in, TechyDad sent me a link to he video below. It is about the new documentary called Pink Ribbons, Inc. that will be released in Canada today.

Over the years, I have supported the Think Pink movement, especially when my amazing friend A Frugal Friend has her month long event in honor of her mother. I have watched my aunt bravely battle cancer. She has been a survivor for almost nine years now. As others have noted, I have also seen the focus of the moment stray from helping people who are fighting for their life against breast cancer to a more commercial message. I am not a fan of this. I must say, I think it’s a bit odd that funding was cut this week, perhaps to take focus away from this new documentary that would also paint a not so pretty picture. Conspiracy theorist I am not, but it just is odd.

This makes me more focused to see what I can do to help others. Ellen’s post made me realize that I can call local oncology groups to see if they need knitted items for patients. Perhaps a lap blanket while sitting and receiving chemo, a pretty hat to make them less upset about their hair loss, or some cloths to help them pamper themselves. I also hope to see the film and work more with my family and community to make a difference. If anyone has seen a preview, I would also love to know your thoughts.

So my question to you this week is to help me brainstorm:

What would you do to help an organization or cause? Think of a way to bring awareness to the real people involved.

It's Me

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #189

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Aloha Friday health awareness me moments PSA

Tuesday Tales – Reading Multiple Books

Posted on January 31, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Books, books, and more books. As an educator our house is filled with books of all kinds. We have picture books, board books, drawing book, Newbery books, library books, Kindle books, travel books, and many more. Most of the time, I never know what I am going to read next.

The other day, I finally caught up with Ridley Pearson’s Kingdom Keeper books. The fourth book, Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play, was released at about the time we were visiting Disney World last year. I just happened to bump into the series and took a photo to check out when we got home. The rest is history. Now I can not wait until the next book is released on April 3. Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game sets up a new type of adventure for the Kingdom Keepers. Fans are even treated to a special sneak peek of Chapter 1 on Ridley Pearson’s website.

Of course, these are not the only books I am reading. The person that once thought it was impossible to have more than one book being read at a time does. I have a book in my Kindle for when I am on the go and am always reading with the boys. So what would I read next?

I recalled a book that I had been hoping to read. It would take me back to the good old days. You know, when I was a carefree kid who lived to see the next episode of Little House on the Prairie with her best friend. After I finished reading Prairie Tale: A Memoir, I heard that Alison Arngrim was coming out with her own book. Yes, this is the book that I am reading right now:

I am about a third of the way done with the book and am in love with Arngrim’s style of writing. I can almost hear Nellie Olsen reading the book. She tells us about her life growing up before Little House and then gives us her thoughts on the people she worked with for years. More details to come as I continue to read. If you are a fan of Little House and Nellie – I highly recommend Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated.

Do you read more than one book at a time? I would love to know your thoughts on this. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Disclosure: Four Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post with the four book titles mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the books through that link.

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books Disney looking back me moments photos television Tuesday Tales

Collection Time

Posted on January 27, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Growing up, we would usually take at least one family vacation a year. It would be to Disney World, Ocean City Maryland, Virginia, or various other places along the east coast. Along the way, my brother and I started to collect buttons/pins from the places that we would go to. This collection continued as I would get pins from locations I visited when I was in college and even beyond.

Over the summer, the boys and I found my giant box of goodies from growing up.

The boys were mesmerized with everything inside. They loved seeing all of the ones from different Disney attractions and locations. Some of these sadly are long gone. NHL spent quite a lot of time reading all of them and asking me questions about the different pins and when I received them.

My question to you this week is inspired by my old collection:

What items have you and/or your children decided to collect and why?

It's Me

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #188

Categories:
Aloha Friday Disney fun looking back me moments nhl photos vacation

Tuesday Tales – Newbery Books

Posted on January 24, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

On Monday, the American Library Association announced the 2012 Youth Media Award Winners. Some of the awards given out were the Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Award, Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, and many others. To see the full list of 2012 award winning books, the ALA has the press release with all of the titles, authors, illustrators, and other important information on their website.

As a parent who has an older child that is now reading chapter books, I like to keep up to date on these new award winning books . Of course, during my days in the classroom I read a lot of them as well.

I previously wrote about some of the Newbery titles that I have read over the years. I not only read these because I adored seeing all of the children’s literature that are out there, but also to see what to use within my classroom. I will not lie, I often selected titles that were Newbery Medal or Honor winners. They were not the only titles, but most years I would select 1-2 Newbery trade books to read as a literature unit.

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

The four books above have something in common. They are all Newbery Medal or Newbery Honor books. They are also four books that I taught during Language Arts units in my own classroom. Each of them is unique in their own way. They connect with other subject areas and are fantastic books.

I know that I hope to check out the new Newbery winners for 2012 soon.

Have you read any of the 2012 award books? I would love to hear about them. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Book Posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Categories:
books Educational me moments school Tuesday Tales

The Sleeping Blanket

Posted on January 23, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

There is nothing better during the cold months than to curl up under a cozy blanket and read a book. It doesn’t matter whether the book has pages to flip, or is found within my Kindle – it is just as relaxing. All that I need are my newly knitted blanket and current book.

I am about half way finished reading Kingdom Keepers IV – Power Play by Ridley Pearson. I love these books and have written about them before. Although they are not specifically written for adults, I enjoy them because the story puts me into the magical world of Disney. There is something special about favorite characters battling the evil Disney Villains like Maleficent and Cruella De Ville.

Sunday afternoon, the boys were busy playing Nintendo and it seemed like the perfect time to catch some more of the Kingdom Keepers adventures throughout Walt Disney World. I read for quiet a bit and then I felt like I was being put under a spell. Of course, the Evil Queen was not in my house. I felt the need to close my book and eyes.

After I woke up from my nap, I joked to TechyDad. I think there is something to this blanket. Several nights this week, I would curl up on the couch to sit and watch television or read, only to fall fast asleep under the blanket.

Does this cozy, soft, warm blanket have special powers to make those who curl under it forget their mission to read or get work done?

Hmmmm. . . could it be?

After TechyDad and I came up with this theory we asked the boys to test it out, but for some reason they refuse to try it. Of course, I still am going to test it with them one of these days – insert evil laugh here!

Do you own a special blanket, pillow, or something else that just seems to make you fall asleep? Makes me wonder if the baby blankets like this do the same for those that have received them?