And she waits…

She wants milk.

So the first thing that happened to me this morning on the way to get said milk? I stepped in pee by the fridge. Yup, she peed her pants while waiting for milk.

(Feeling . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Calling All Humanitarians {PSA}]]> Every morning, my daughter wakes up and goes straight to the refrigerator.

And she waits…

She wants milk.

So the first thing that happened to me this morning on the way to get said milk? I stepped in pee by the fridge. Yup, she peed her pants while waiting for milk.

(Feeling sorry for me yet?)

Image borrowed from Spicy RV

There’s a website called Donors Choose. Donors Choose connects public school classrooms in need of supplies with people willing to donate towards the future of our country (the children).

Through Donors Choose (and some generous donors), I have been able to get an easel and easel pads for my First Grade classroom. If you know anything about lower Elementary School grades, an easel is such an essential piece to teaching and has multiple purposes. I was thrilled!

SO I have recently submitted two more proposals to Donors Choose. I am trying to get my children a listening center and sight word books (sight words are words that you should “just know” and are not easily sounded out phonetically like “the” “could” “from” and more).

I know that times are tough (if they weren’t, then my school would actually have the resources to purchase my classroom what it needs), but I am asking that if you can, or if you know someone who can- please consider donating to my classroom.

You can donate by visiting my Donors Choose page.

If you don’t want to donate towards a listening center, please consider donating resources below to my classroom (Email me and I’d be more than happy to provide you with my school address).

We are in need of:

• Glue Sticks
• Copy Paper
• Pencils
• Erasers (Block Erasers or Eraser Caps)
• Vis a Vis Wet Erase Markers
• Dry Erase Board Erasers
• Hanging File Folders (for organization purposes)
• File Folders
• Lysol/Clorox Wipes
• Lysol (or some disinfectant) spray and
• Book Baskets (for the classroom library I am trying to build)

I’m sure there are other things, but I can’t think of it right now.

Thanks for reading this Public Service Announcement.

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There are so many great organizations out there that it is often hard to choose who to support. I believe if I can give a little to campaigns that are close to my heart such as St. Baldrick’s or Relay for Life- then I can help those organizations get . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: See Where the Good Goes]]>

There are so many great organizations out there that it is often hard to choose who to support. I believe if I can give a little to campaigns that are close to my heart such as St. Baldrick’s or Relay for Life- then I can help those organizations get one step closer to their goal. As we all know, a little bit goes a long way. Especially in other countries.

I know that we need to work on the problems in our own country before we try to help others, but on the other hand I feel like we are a global community. We are all human beings and therefore should help one another whenever we can. We share this earth with one another.

Save the Children and the Ad Council has a new national public service campaign titled “See Where the Good Goes” which uses an interactive website and social media strategies to raise awareness about the importance of local health workers in developing countries.

“Every 4 seconds a child survives thanks to the basic health care provided by local health workers. Frontline local health workers help children all over the world survive threats like newborn complications, pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and malnutrition. But global estimates suggest we need 4.2 million more health workers in developing countries. Help one. Save many.“

“Meet local health workers and the children they help to survive.

Each year, almost 9 million children in the developing world die of largely preventable and treatable illnesses before they reach the age of five – that equates to approximately 24,000 child deaths a day.

However, every 4 seconds a child survives thanks to the basic health care provided by local health workers.

Save the Children and the Ad Council are working together to mobilize citizen action in the U.S. to help local health workers save more children worldwide.

Help local health workers bring the good to the children who need it most. You are one step away from helping children around the world survive.”

Take a look at their website and find out if this is something that you would like to get involved with.

GoodGoes.org features a customized Google map application of the local health worker’s village, blog posts, video bios, and a menu of ways that you can get involved in this campaign to make a difference.

Consider adding your photo in support of the project to The Great Wall of Good Facebook application.

You can keep up with Good Goes in the following ways:

- “Like” Good Goes on Facebook
- Follow Good Goes on Twitter
- Check out more videos by subscribing to the Good Goes You Tube page

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post. I was contacted by Save the Children and asked if I would help spread the word about their efforts. I am not affiliated in any way and do not have any material connection to Save the Children. All information about Good Goes was taken directly from the press website and placed in quotation marks, all other opinions are my own.

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Image from TDR Recycling

*I want to preface this post by saying that in no way do I consider myself an expert on matters of this type. Rather, I consider myself a concerned citizen of the world. I do a lot of reading, that’s all. My . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Shift Your Habit: Properly Disposing of e-Waste]]>

Image from TDR Recycling

*I want to preface this post by saying that in no way do I consider myself an expert on matters of this type. Rather, I consider myself a concerned citizen of the world. I do a lot of reading, that’s all. My hope is to help raise the question in your mind and encourage you to do some reading of your own and hopefully, encourage you to Shift You Habit.

Have you ever thrown away an old laptop, tv or cords/wires for electronics you no longer use? Have you ever wondered what happens to those items when they go to the landfill?

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that as much as three-quarters of the computers sold in the United States are stockpiled in garages and closets. When thrown away, they end up in landfills or incinerators or, more recently, are exported to Asia¹.”

Take a look at these e-waste diagrams to get an idea for where your e-waste may end up:

© UNEP

Click here to read a GREENPEACE article titled “Where does e-waste go?”

This post came from yesterday’s incidence of a dying electric toothbrush. I could not even bring myself to throw it away, so I had to find somewhere that I could recycle it.

If you have an electric product that you no longer want/use that is still in working condition, consider selling it on Craig’s List or listing it on ebay. If you’re not concerned with selling it how about giving it away? Consider the Goodwill, Salvation Army or Freecycle.

Here are some other helpful websites:

Recycler’s World

Earth 911

eRecycle

eCycling Tools

If you live on the West Coast, more specifically in the San Francisco Bay Area, consider using TDR Electronic Recycling to dispose of your e-Waste.

Below is a list of acceptable items that you can bring/send to TDR:

Battery Back-up Systems
Cables, Cords and Wires
CD’s
Cell Phones and Accessories
Components
Computers
Copy Machines Floor
Digital Cameras
Docking Stations
Fax Machines
Flash Drives
Hard Drives
Head Sets
High Voltage Equipment
I-Pods
Lab Electronics
Laptop Computers & Accessories
Medical Electronics
Message Machines
Microchips/components
Microphones
Microwaves
Modems
Monitors
MP3 Players
Network Equipment
Optical Drives
Palm Pilots and PDAs
PC Accessories
PC Boards
PC Cameras
Peripherals
Phone Systems
Printers (all)
Printers Large Floor
Power Supplies
RF Equipment
Routers
Servers
Telephone Equipment
Test Equipment

This list is always growing, so if you do not see an item that you would like recycled on the list, contact TDR by phone by calling:

(510) 683-9622
(877) 356-2771

I called and asked if they took electronic toothbrushes and their chargers and they do. So I will be mailing in my dead Oral B electronic toothbrush. I couldn’t even swallow the thought of just throwing it into the garbage. It would go to the landfill and do what? Absolutely nothing.

Items can be mailed to the following address:

TDR Electronic Recycling, LLC
45461 Fremont Blvd, #3
Fremont, CA 94538

It’s your planet. Small shifts can make a big difference.

1. Statistic taken from Greenpeace.org

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I found a barber on base that was willing to donate my hair cut, which was very . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Thank You]]> To all of you who helped me raise money for St. Baldrick’s. I was able to raise $836 and you are more than welcome to donate to help me raise $1,000. Click here to donate.

I found a barber on base that was willing to donate my hair cut, which was very nice of him. I had to cut my dreads off before I got there, though, so I did that last night.

Aaand there’s my hair:

5 Years of dread growing down the drain (lol)

This morning, I had a 9:30 appointment to go down and get the rest cut.

Ready to Rock N Roll

Hubby said I should’ve kept the mohawk. Ummm, no.

Cadence cried- the entire time because she was tired and refuses to nap… or get her hair combed for that matter (which is why she looks like a wild child). By the way, that’s my new buddy/barber- Alvin.

It is very hot here, so I need to either but sunblock on my head, or keep a hat on.

The End.

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Isaiah 49:14-16 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: For Layla]]>

Isaiah 49:14-16
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

The day that Cadence was born was the happiest day of my life. Almost everyday my husband and I wonder aloud why she is so “bad” and where she gets this behavior from. When my days with her get so overwhelming that I feel like I’ve reached my limit, my husband grabs my hand and reminds me of Layla Grace and what I’ve told him about her.

Then came the following Tweet from Layla’s family:

I cannot explain the pain that ripped through my body. I know that I don’t know this family, but it is hard as a mother not to feel their pain, to imagine what they are going through and to realize that this could be my child.

I find comfort knowing that Layla is no longer living in pain. It was tearing me apart watching her Mom and Dad tweet about her not eating, not pooping, not waking up and then last night they mentioned Layla’s feet were getting cold.

All we can do is continue to pray for their family, especially their other two daughters: Jenna who is 9 and Claire who is 3. May they find strength in one another, in their family and friends and the extended family and friends they met online who all supported and loved Layla. May they continue to find peace in their faith and know that Layla is with the Lord now.

We can also help to continue to raise awareness of Neuroblastoma. Click here to see how.
If you can, you can donate to Layla’s family by visiting their site and clicking on the Paypal “Donate” button. (All donations go towards Layla’s medical expenses).
Donations to Layla’s medical expenses can also be made at any Wells Fargo bank. Ask a manager to make a deposit to the Layla Grace Marsh donation account.

How to connect with the Marsh family:

- Follow Mom & Dad on Twitter
- Join their Facebook fan page
- Visit Layla’s website

In her short life, Layla was able to touch so many. It’s because of you that I am raising money to help fund pediatric cancer research. It is because of you that I fight for a cure. It is because of you that I now know what my purpose on this Earth is.

God Bless you Layla. Dance with the angels sweetie, dance…

2 Corninthians 4:7-12, 16-18

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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My goal is to raise $1,000, though I hope to surpass that goal!

Two . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Help Me Raise Money for Cancer Research and Win!]]> You all know by now that I am shaving my hair to help raise money for pediatric cancer research on April 8th in honor of my grandfather and in solidarity with all of the children suffering from cancer.

My goal is to raise $1,000, though I hope to surpass that goal!

Two companies have offered incentives for people to help donate money.

For every $1 that you donate, you get 1 entry into a raffle to win either a Mini Moby Wrap or a personalized hair bow for a special little girl in your life!

You could win this personalized bow- with the initial of your choice:

Or, you could win this Mini Moby Wrap, so your little on can carry around their favorite doll:

It’s all for a good cause! So donate, please. Click here to give.

After you donate, please come back here and fill out the form below so that I know how many entries to give you. Again, every dollar gives you 1 raffle ticket for each prize. For example, if you give $20, you get 20 raffle tickets for each giveaway.

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My friend, Trish, told me today that she’s signed up for St. Baldrick’s and will be shaving her hair on February 27. She heard about a fundraising event on her local radio station and decided to join in! 3 1/2 years ago Trish shaved her hair, . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Joining St. Baldrick’s]]>

My friend, Trish, told me today that she’s signed up for St. Baldrick’s and will be shaving her hair on February 27. She heard about a fundraising event on her local radio station and decided to join in! 3 1/2 years ago Trish shaved her hair, so doing it again andfor a good cause wasn’t a big deal. Of course I headed over to her donation page and wanted to see what St. Baldrick’s was all about and got inspired by Trish…

 On April 8, 2008 I got a call that would forever change the dynamics of my family.

My Grandfather, Lloyd Foster- our living Patriarch on my mother’s side- had passed away after fighting with Prostate Cancer for over 15 years. According to my mother, he had gone into remission and was doing just fine, but when it came back- it came back with a death sentence.

Since then I’ve tried to do so much to help with cancer research, all in the name of my very miserable, grumpy, tight-pocketed, Entenmann’s glazed popems, funny as hell, loving grandpa.

I participated in Relay for Life two years in a row and have found a local Relay that I hope to get involved with.

So, why not partner with St. Baldrick’s?

About St. Baldrick’s:

 ”The St. Baldrick’s Foundation funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. Government.”

“Volunteers shave their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and family and friends give generously – worldwide.”

St. Baldrick’s is a member of:

- Alliance for Childhood Cancer
- Childhood Cancer Charities Unite (C3 Unite)
- People Against Childhood Cancer (PAC2)

Like Trish, I’ve shaved my hair before, but this time it will actually be for a cause. I’ve chosen to shave in honor of my grandfather on the anniversary of his passing- April 8, 2010. I am also shaving in honor of two children that I don’t know:

Bryna
She is in remission from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
She was diagnosed with cancer at age 6.

 
Tanner
Tanner was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia(AML) at 3 months old.
He lost his battle with AML just before his first birthday.

My mother says that I try to be “Mother Theresa and save the world.” Really, it’s not about that for me. I know that this world is going to belong to my daughter and her peers one day. How can I see the pain and agony that so many are stricken with in our world and not try to help? Isn’t that what the Lord has called us to do? My husband and I are blessed enough to have family and friends that care and help us out whenever they can- why can’t I do the same? This could easily be my child or my friend’s child. I also know and have witnessed first hand how every single cent that is donated to a cause can make a difference. I can’t lose faith that one day a cure for cancer will be found. I know that my efforts are not in vain.

I believe that we should all strive to raise our children to be altruistic- that is the key to making the world a better place.

If you’d like to support Trish, please click here to donate.

To help me reach (or surpass) $1,000, please click here or click on the St. Baldrick’s badge in my sidebar.

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Image taken from USA Today, By Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Companies and celebrities alike have been reaching into their pockets to help with the devastation in Haiti. To me, this just shows certain peoples realization that we are all a part of a larger, global community. Setting . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Companies and Celebrities Pledge Aid]]>

Image taken from USA Today, By Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Companies and celebrities alike have been reaching into their pockets to help with the devastation in Haiti. To me, this just shows certain peoples realization that we are all a part of a larger, global community. Setting all personal feelings/thoughts/beliefs aside and saying “we are all human beings” and “I can’t even imagine this happening to me” because really, this could have just as easily happened here in the U.S., over in England- anywhere. I feel secure in supporting companies that can support others in need.

Here are just a few of the people and corporations pledging aid:

• Go Daddy gives $500,000
• UPS gives $1 mil in relief
• Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, said in a statement on Wednesday that their Jolie-Pitt Foundation would give $1 million to the emergency medical operations of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières.
• Abbott Pharmaceuticals is donating $1 million to help Haiti’s health care system.
• U.S. manufacturer 3M Co, which makes a variety of bandages and other products used in skin and wound care, said it was working with humanitarian relief agencies to ask what medical products it could provide. The company also said it would likely make a monetary contribution.
• The Florida Panthers hockey team said that at its next two home games it will collect donations, including food and used clothing, for victims.
• Rogers Communications and the Rogers family will donate $250,000 in funds and goods to Partners In Health:Haiti and other relief organizations.
• The Walmart Foundation is sending $500,000 in monetary support to Haiti and another $100,000 worth of pre-packaged food kits to help the Red Cross in its relief efforts in the nation. Wal-Mart’s Canadian division said its 314 stores will accept donations, and money raised will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake fund.
  (Wal-Mart won praise for its swift efforts to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 after the storm destroyed parts of Mississippi and Louisiana. Wal-Mart was one of the first responders on the scene, distributing water, food and other necessities to some of the hardest hit areas.)
• Hanes brands has pledged $25,000 to the relief efforts in Haiti.
• Walt Disney Co pledged $100,000 in humanitarian aid.
• Soles4Souls, a Nashville, Tenn.-based charity has announced it will donate 100,000 pairs of new shoes to victims of the disaster.
• Kraft Foods Foundation is donating $200,000 to the American Red Cross for relief efforts. The company also said it has a special 2:1 match for employees’ donations up to $100,000 — bringing the total matching component to $300,000.
• Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys R Us Inc said it will contribute $150,000 to help Save the Children in its efforts to provide immediate relief to victims of the earthquake.
• The PepsiCo Foundation said it will donate $1 million to the earthquake victims and that the food and beverage company PepsiCo will provide Quaker products as well as bottled water and Gatorade for the disaster victims through its bottlers in Florida and the Dominican Republic.
• General Mills Foundation said it will contribute $250,000 to support the disaster relief and rebuilding efforts.
• McDonald’s Corp and its franchise Arcos Dorados will together contribute at least $1 million to help the victims of the earthquake.
• Google Inc is donating $1 million to organizations engaged in disaster response in Haiti and has published a link on its home page directing users to a page with information on how to make donations.
• Alyssa Milano has donated $50,000 to UNICEF and challenged other corporations to match her donation.
• Target Corp will donate $500,000 to the American Red Cross to assist with disaster recovery in Haiti.
• Procter & Gamble Co said it will provide at least 2 million packets of PUR Purifier of Water through our Children’s Safe Drinking Water partners. It said Duracell has already provided $200,000 worth of batteries and flashlights for donation.
• The New York Yankees will donate $500,000 in support of rescue and relief efforts.
• The General Motors Foundation is making a $100,000 contribution to the American Red Cross relief fund. GM has provided an Internet link so its employees can contribute to the Red Cross.

This is just sampling. You can find updated information on corporate contributions on the Reuters website.

Kudos to these companies/people for taking action.

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Our Donation

They are saying on the News that the best thing that you can do is send money right now- whatever you can helps.

ABC News has a list of ways that you can help, but you have to keep clicking through and through . . . → Click Here To Read The Full Blog Post: Earthquake in Haiti: How You Can Help]]>

Our Donation

They are saying on the News that the best thing that you can do is send money right now- whatever you can helps.

ABC News has a list of ways that you can help, but you have to keep clicking through and through to see all of the organizations, so I’ve compiled it here for you.

Haiti: How You Can Help

• American Red Cross
• William J. Clinton Foundation
• Mercy Corps
• UNICEF
• Food for the Hungry
• The Salvation Army
• Doctors Without Borders
• Partners in Health
• CARE
• AmeriCares
• Samaritan’s Purse
• Operation Blessing International
• Action Against Hunger
• Habitat for Humanity
• Medical Emergency Relief International
• Oxfam America
• International Medical Corps
• International Rescue Committee
• World Relief Corporation
• Hope for Haiti
• Save the Children
• Food for the Poor
• Catholic Relief Services
• U.S. State Department
• Partners In Health

See here on ways to avoid scams.

Image taken from ABC News
(THONY BELIZAIRE/AFP/Getty Images/Getty Images)

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