Ok- after nearly two years of denial I will admit that hubby and I are officially empty nesters. I know this to be true as I am busy packing up our DC area house to head west to a new residence and opportunity in California. When one packs up nearly 20 years of “life” it is hard not to keep everything and anything. I managed to toss and donate a fair amount, but one thing that was non-negotiable was my pottery collection.
My most recent edition was a great baking dish from the collection of Peacock Pottery. They specialize in pottery imported from Poland and it is BEAUTIFUL! They sent me a great sample of their amazing pottery and asked me to use it in a very practical and day to day manner. So, I made a lot of “meals for two” using this fun size pottery. I loved that it was small enough for our larger sized toaster oven and didn’t need to have me fire up the big oven for our dinner. But, make no mistake, this is a great piece of pottery and certainly not for “easy bake ovens”!
What did I make? The first night I made a combo of chicken, stuffing, vegetables and CRAISINS. ( I really do love the “craisin”). It baked up like a charm! I was able to put all the ingredients together in to the single dish and bake for about 30 minutes. (I used precooked chicken- yes I “cheat” when I am busy packing).
Secondly, I used the dish for some homemade brownies with white chocolate chips. YUMMY!! (Also, I found that the dish was great for reheating, too!)
Best of all this quality pottery is easy to wash, microwave, put in the fridge and even use as a decorative piece. I have given several other Peacock Pottery pieces as gifts. The serving bowls were a hit with my daughter and the Christmas ornaments made for lovely gifts for friends.
This week I am super excited to have on my radio show as a guest- Debbi Dachinger. I have known this amazing media personality and now author for several years. She never fails to impress. Always one of those who is on the know and so empowering with her deeds and words.
When I first talked to Debbi I was duly impressed with her ability to motivate people. She could lift anyone from a case of self-doubt and send them charging in to the land of “I CAN DO IT!”
So, if you are one of those people who may feel the need to have a “life – boost” or to get past any mid-life- anything crisis then go ahead and get DARE TO DREAM. Available on her website DeborahDachinger.com or AMAZON.Here is an excerpt…
Forgiveness Sets You Free
Once upon a time, I convinced myself that not forgiving others meant they couldn ̳t hurt me again. I believed my holding a grudge would remind them they couldn ̳t do that to me without repercussions. I told myself it was for the better, it was self- protection and I thought it was self–caring. But, the truth is, it was sucking the life out of me. I carried each person and each situation around like an energetic garbage bag, slung heavily over my shoulder through each step in my life.All the reasons I held onto grudges worked against me. Bitterness did not protect me, it burdened me. Grudges did not separate me from anyone harmful; they kept me married to them through my various colors of judgment, condemnation and hate. This behavior didn ̳t allow me to love myself because I was busy destroying others with my thoughts and emotions. Bitterness was a bitter pill I swallowed over and over again and then blamed others for making me gulp. Withholding forgiveness did not end the terrible hurt I felt, it kept the hurt cemented and brought the hurt forward into each day, month and year.Then I learned there was another way. Engaging in the act of forgiveness changed my life. I learned through doing inner healing work to forgive meant to dissipate and end the actual anger and hurt. Forgiving others took me off the bitter hook, and forgiving made me free.Also appearing on ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT and THE BUSINESS OF IT ALL! is ABSOLUTELY ABBY– she will help bring down the hour with her sage advice about getting a job, including in the entertainment industry. CALL IN your questions here: (619) 639-4656
I wish I knew who to give credit to for these photos or posters in my slideshow. They came to me via various sources through emails and Facebook. In my opinion, all are worth sharing because they are just too wonderful to read or view. Enjoy your new year and may it be full of beauty and wisdom, as well.
I am a believer that the toys you buy your kids should have either good educational value and/or be “old fashioned” – like Leggos and Tinker Toys. Yet, despite my “philosophy” I have been known to indulge many a child with toys and games that are for the “here and now”. How many Power Rangers and Polly Pockets does one kid need? Is it possible that my family has actually purchased not one, not two but three versions of MONOLPOLY? (Well, the Star Wars version was really cool!) It is because of the excess of toys and games that now are hiding out in the closets of my “empty nest” basement, that I was overjoyed to have discovered TOYconomy. This idea is nothing short of brilliant. Simply enroll in their very reasonable and inexpensive membership for the TOYconomy club and “rent” away. Love it!
I was so fascinated that I asked to do an interview with TOYconomy owner, Shannon MacAfee. She not only gave me great insight in to her business, but also asked me to make this great offer to my readers:
Sign up to become a TOYMember for $1.00 and get your next two months free OR get 25% off a NON-Member order. Email orders@toyconomy.com with Louise’s Blog in the subject line.
Here is the interview with Shannon – great info for anyone starting their own business.
Louise: How and why did you decide to start your own business, TOYconomy?
Shannon:I am a mom of three girls. My oldest is 8 years old. As you can imagine, over the span of 8 years, we accumulated a LOT of toys in our house. We had an entire room (our living room) reserved as a “play room”. It was so cluttered that you could barely walk through it. One thing I observed over the years was, even with all of these toys at my kids’ disposal, they had a tendency to play with only a few things at a time. Some toys that they received as gifts, they never played with at all. I just felt like I was surrounded by waste. We held on to toys thinking that our younger kids would at some point play with them. But, what I realized was that we rarely ever pulled them back out once they made it into our storage! I just thought there had to be a better way to provide our kids with the toys they need and want, without the frustrations that many parents feel from the clutter and the high prices of toys that kids grow bored with very quickly. Toy rental seemed like the perfect solution to me.
I initially created my own website to get the idea out there and see what kind of response I would get. I launched my first website in May 2010. The response was very positive, but there were three main factors I had to address: 1. sanitation, 2. parents’ fear that their child will break a “rented” toy, 3. cost/convenience of the service. I did a lot of research (and continue to do so!) to figure out exactly how to create a toy rental program that would address these three main factors. TOYconomy has and will continue to change to ensure that we’re addressing the needs of our customers. TOYconomy is about providing the most convenient and cost-effective service for families who believe in the concept of renting for the benefit of their wallet, space, and the environment – I believe we are on the right path and am excited about the growth of this business. Read how it actually works here:http://www.toyconomy.com/how-toyconomy-works
Louise: How do you juggle being a working mom?
Shannon: First and foremost – I have a wonderful, supportive husband. Without him, none of it would be possible. Life is a constant juggling act – some days you’re up, some days you’re down, some days you fall right in the middle (balanced). The most important thing to me is that I never lose sight of my first priority and the most important thing in my life – my kids and my family. However, I am very excited because I feel like I have a second family growing – my TOYMembers! My life is consumed by many late nights, early mornings, and work on the weekends. But, to me it’s worth it. I like that my kids see me working hard at something I truly believe in. I love that I’m helping other families and providing a service that is beneficial to them, not to mention, beneficial for the environment too!
Louise: What are the most popular toys rented from your catalog of great items!
Shannon: I have a lot of requests for wooden and “green” toys. The most popular rentals so far:
1. VTech Sit to Stand Dance Tower 2. LeapFrog handheld game systems 3. Discovery House 4. Melissa & Doug Classic Bead Maze 5. iPlay Super Spiral Play Tower 6. Rody Horse 7. Melissa & Doug wooden puzzles 8. iPlay Build A Road 9. Fisher-Price baby toys
There you have it.. great and green information for parents who wish to save money, get good product for their dollar and help the environment. Thanks for sharing, Shannon!
Do you remember the Staples commercial where parents sang, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” while they were shopping with their kids who looked like they were ready to cry? I am slightly disappointed not to have seen it in several years as it truly marks (for me) the beginning of a new school year. (So, I found it on YouTube- click here)
Back to school usually is met with considerable excitement by both parents and students. New clothes, teachers, and friends all will be discovered this year. Not to mention the saturation of learning that will be experienced by parents, teachers and oh yeah… the students.
However, on a serious note, parents with children who have exceptional needs often experience a different set of emotion this time of year … anxiety, sadness, and maybe hopefullness. Parents in this community sometimes are full of questions and concerns. Will my child have a teacher who is a good “fit” and can follow his/her individual educational plan (IEP/ 504, etc.)? Will my child be able to learn in a new environment? Make friends? Be able to negotiate a new school building, bus, or vocational center? Be bullied? Be understood?
It is for these parents and students that I write an updated resource list in the hopes that it will provide an easier transition as all children head back to school. (Also note, that I have included resources for children who are home educated, as well.) Twitter names are in parentheses. (I am @LouiseASL)
♦GENERAL EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES WITH GREAT INFORMATION APPLICABLE for SPECIAL NEEDS
Education.com – Two million visitors each month find all kinds of information on this site. Their JustAsk forum is open to answer all kinds of education, parenting and developmental questions. And you may get me as one of the experts to respond! (@Education_Com)
abcteach.com – Looking for some help as a teacher? Need creative ideas for the classroom or home school? Check out this great website and enjoy both the free and very inexpensive subscription rate. Great gift for your child’s teacher! (@abcteach)
The Autism News – The latest information on research and strategies in the field of Autism and related disorders (@TheAutismNews)
Autism Speaks – The “clearinghouse” of information for this disorder (@AutismSpeaks)
Our Journey Thru Autism – A resource site started by a mom of a child with autism, Tiffani Lawton (@AutismJourneys)
Spirit of Autism – Another website started by a mom with a child with Autism. She also speaks about safety issues as related to EMS understanding special needs children. (@SpiritofAutism)
National Organization for Rare Diseases There are so many disorders in this world that do not have large organizations to support families or provide information on an individual basis. Here is an excellent web site to gain information regarding RARE disorders that impact development. (NORD)
WRIGHTS LAW– Many of us don’t speak LEGAL. So, here is a website dedicated to all the legal-speak for education / special education.
♦FEATURED PRODUCT COMPANY FOR BACK TO SCHOOL
CAROLINA PAD – I LOVE this company! Probably because they are philanthropic in addition to having a very smart looking set of materials which include – organizers, notebooks, folders and other necessities for back to school. Their products are PERFECT for children who have difficulty with organizational strategies, such as those with learning disabilities for ADD. Bright colors help with colors coding and mnemonic learning. The designs are very contemporary.
One of my faves is their IDEAL book which is a sectioned spiral book small enough to fit in to a pocketbook. This is terrific for students who lose their books and need inserts to hold CD-Roms and much more in a compact space. Also, due to the smaller size it lends itself to being a great resource for students who can’t handle a lot of written text on a standard sized paper and can benefit from large rule spacing on a smaller surface. As for adults, I use this book to organize my own business materials, and travel with one to each guest lecture I give! It fits conveniently in my pocketbook and is so bright that I easily find it on my desk!
Thanks to Carolina Pad, I was able to donate last year many school supplies to children in need. I plan to do the same this year. (@carolinapad)
Enjoy my recent photos taken from a hike in the Williamsburg, Virginia area. The one of the highway is just plain ironic – a hiking path so close to a busy road.
UPDATE:
Here is a FREE OFFER from KABONGO for your child to play the online literacy game: GoGoKabongo!
WARNING: I am really enthusiastic about GoGoKABONGO and this blog may make you become really motivated to learn more about how one great company sets the tone for the world of online educational gaming! Proceed with caution!
I find it my job to search out and review companies that develop products and services that promote learning. I consider it my “responsibility”, especially since I write as an expert for JustAsk on Education.com. When I see a product/service that targets essential tools to master development and can translate in to classroom success – I jump for joy! Such is the case with the child’s online game – GoGoKABONGO!
The companyKABONGO is STEALTH! On a single website they actively engage younger elementary aged kids to learn skills that are necessary for reading and writing readiness and more. In fact, their learning skills chart reads like a checklist for classroom teachers when designing lesson plans in order to assure language arts and reading skills are mastered!
Imagine your child enhancing memory, attending, decoding and motor planning all with online GAMING! I told you they were stealth! And how do they accomplish such a feat? With cute characters who are integrated in to games that start with simple phonics and word recognition and then become more complex with paragraph and story building. Before you know it your child has learned basic core skills, like word order for writing, without realizing it! Plus there are built in incentives in to their online gaming structure and feedback for parents. Lots of brain power in this online site!
Now here are some features that set GoGoKABONGO apart from other sites. I love that they have a great parent forum that helps to outline exactly the purpose and the goals of their program. Also, they feature excellent supplemental downloads and games to continue learning offline. (I particularly loved the Kiddie Yoga and printable mazes for sensory and visual integration activities.)
Equally as wonderful was the selections for teachers. Here they expand their offerings to provide more hands on classroom based activities. This company has been well “schooled” in educational theory and implementation!
Now these next comments are for special educators who are always searching for psycho-educational recommendations for IndividualizedEducational Plans (IEPs). At times it is a challenge to find classroom and home strategies that work with struggling readers. GoGoKABONGO is a fun way to get a child to improve visual memory, motor-planning and sequential /simultaneous skill development without risking negative reactions from the students. Planning teams can easily integrate GoGoKABONGO in to an IEP when language arts or reading goals need to be attained at an elementary level.
Now here comes the warning… adults may want to play, too!
Try their free trial (a $10 value). Also, check out their beta site for older kids – SKATEKIDS
Our giveaway is complete! Thanks to all who participated. Winners announced below!
Some people are gifted musicians. Others are amazing storytellers. And a few can help those who truly are in desperate need. Wrap together the musician, storyteller and the person with a heart to help others and you have one Ava Parnass. I first became interested in the person who tweets as @ListenToMePleas because she often was tweeting with vigor and offering great advice for her “followers”. Then I noticed she was engaging many online to have REAL conversations in the social media milieu. This piqued my interest as only a select few really want to have meaningful online banter while most just wish to share their favorite meal of the day or sport score update. So, I decided to research Ms. Parnass which resulted in my learning about her brilliance with her writing of children’s books, her creation of music to help soothe and calm children with angst and her amazing spirit to give to other much more than she receives.
Then something happened which was not expected. I received a note from Ava herself asking if she could learn more about the new experts group forming, 411 Voices, asking if she could participate. Duh- yeah! And that my friends is the power of how social media can create business relationships and friendships. Now, as part of 411 Voices, Ava Parnass shares her brilliance with the friends of 411 Voices daily as it is her tunes that lead in to our radio shows!
Now let’s talk about the wonderful writing and creativity of Ava Parnass. In particular, I would love to discuss her three books, Listen to Me Please,Time IN Not – Time OUT! (with Dr. Ron Taffel and Kat Kiminski) , My Feelings Are Hungry and Where Did My Good Mood Go? All of these are adorable books with amazing verse and illustration that pack an intellectual punch! Not to mention that each comes with a solid story to help children express their feelings. Listen to Me Please is a book that should sit on the shelves of libraries and pediatric counseling offices everywhere. It acts as a script for parents to use to help their children understand the ups and downs of family life. I really liked how parents were offered messages to use in order to help allay their child’s concerns or calm disruption within the home. Moreover, it also has garnered the attention of the folks at Nickelodeon, as it is scheduled to be featured in the Nick Jr. Magazine this coming Fall.
When asked how Ava would describe her collection this is what she wrote, ” Our books and songs are entirely devoted to helping parents have fun while improving their child’s behavior, tantrums and/or overeating for the better. Since children learn how they feel through playing, talking, listening, reading, singing, and dancing; our different products reflect the way kids learn. We want to help parents achieve their goal of raising kind, loving, fun, well-behaved children. Read the books, sing and dance to the songs, and have fun while learning that feelings are hiding underneath behavior and need to be talked about so behavior improves.”
I couldn’t have summarized it any better!
*******To be eligible to win a FREE copy of Listen to Me Please comment below. We will pick a random winner on Friday, July 22nd
To learn more about these great reads go to Ava Parnass’ site. Listen to Me Please
To listen to her music which also is a wonderful asset to classrooms and homes click here.
And stay tuned, as this woman is just getting started. She has a television pilot in the works and I happened to have sneaked a peek! You will LOVE IT!
Natasha in a pic used for sign language photo cards for special education
I grew up in an area where there were lots of languages spoken. So, it is of no surprise that when my hubby and I had kids we decided to raise them in a home with several languages. And since I worked at the Delaware State School for the Deaf at the time of the birth of our first child , incorporating sign language in to our home was an obvious choice.
At first it was fun to introduce a variety of languages to our little mini-robot, eh daughter, Natasha. But, the value of having a signing home really came in to play when our son, Seth, was born prematurely and experienced serious speech delays. Years later we still use sign language in our home, school and places of work. Of course for me, merging my work as a psychologist with my love for sign language resulted in development of my company, SIGNING FAMILIES™.
I asked Natasha to film a bit about growing up in a bilingual home as part of the SIGNING FAMILIES™Just the Basics and Just the Kids online sign language courses. Below is the video. (She has additional signing videos we will include as well in the series,too!) I especially like the part where she discusses sign language in respect to culture. I also was pleased to see that ABCFamilywrote that very aspect in to their most recent episode of Switched At Birth when one mom discussed with the other the importance of deaf culture in relation to ASL.
NEWS:
SIGNING FAMILIES™ has new products too. Believe it or not we have HEBREW– ASL – ENGLISH Bookmarks in stock now. Go here to learn more (Also available with Spanish-ASL-English)
I am trying out the new font from WORDPRESS..not sure if I like it or not…
And will you be joining me and countless others with the boycott against purchasing a single item that profits Casey Anthony?
