We are Going to #LightItUpBlue for Understanding and Acceptance

April 2, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

With spring in the air – my family and I are gearing up for all the fun that spring brings with it. We travel, a lot, as you know if you are a loyal reader here – which means new fun spring travels are imminent.

But April also brings something else – Autism Awareness.

#LightItUpBlue

April is World Autism Month, I’ve decided to #LightItUpBlue with Autism Speaks to increase understanding and awareness of autism. As a mother and educator, I believe it is important to learn as much as we can about autism. It’s highly likely that you know someone with autism, even if you do not realize it. The CDC estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in every 68 children in the United States.

Autism refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.

Autism’s most obvious signs tend to appear between 2 and 3 years of age. In some cases, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Autism Speaks encourages parents with concerns to seek evaluation without delay, as early intervention can improve outcomes.

 

The “Light It Up Blue” campaign is about more than awareness — it is about increasing understanding and acceptance of autism.  This includes advocacy and support for people across the entire spectrum throughout their lives. It also includes advancing research into personalized treatments for autism and related conditions.  I encourage you to test your understanding of autism by taking this quiz!

Certain medical and mental health issues frequently accompany autism. They include GI disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias. Traveling as much as I do, I am fortunate to meet a lot of people. This also means that it is important to have a good understanding of autism. Having a better understanding of each other is one way we can come together and unite.

If you’re moved to do so after visiting AutismSpeaks.org, please show your support for and understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with autism by sharing a photo to #LightItUpBlue for Autism Awareness Month too. Also, check out Autism Speaks’ nationwide calendar of autism-friendly friendly events and activities in April.

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U.S. Environment Body EPA Says Fracking May Be Contaminating Groundwater After All #BluewaterPure

December 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The following is via the Bluewater Group. It is not an ad, nor is it a paid message.

bluewater

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA today said activities in the hydraulic fracturing water cycle ‘can impact—and have impacted—drinking water resources’. The EPA’s latest findings are worrying in a world where the planet’s water resources are already under threat of contamination from multiple sources, according to Bluewater, a world leader in residential water purification.

“The EPA has reversed course on fracking since issuing a version of its study a year ago and appears to have backed away from a conclusion that there was no evidence that fracking contaminates water supplies,” said Bluewater spokesperson David Noble. He noted how the latest EPA report says it has found evidence that fracking does indeed cause contamination of drinking water due in part to the use of chemicals during the hydraulic fracturing process.

Dr. Thomas A. Burke, EPA’s Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development, described the report as “most complete compilation to date of national scientific data on the relationship of drinking water resources and hydraulic fracturing.”

Dr Burke added: “The value of high quality science has never been more important in helping to guide decisions around our nation’s fragile water resources. EPA’s assessment provides the scientific foundation for local decision makers, industry, and communities that are looking to protect public health and drinking water resources and make more informed decisions about hydraulic fracturing activities,” said Dr. Thomas A. Burke.

The EPA study, called ‘Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States’, identified cases of impacts on drinking water at each stage in the hydraulic fracturing water cycle. Impacts cited in the report generally occurred near hydraulically fractured oil and gas production wells and ranged in severity, from temporary changes in water quality, to contamination that made private drinking water wells unusable.

EPA’s final assessment benefited from extensive stakeholder engagement with states, tribes, industry, non-governmental organizations, the scientific community, and the public. This broad engagement helped to ensure that the final assessment report reflects current practices in hydraulic fracturing and uses all data and information available to the agency.

EPA said its new report advances the science. The understanding of the potential impacts from hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources will continue to improve over time as new information becomes available, according to EPA.

“The EPA study identified certain conditions under which impacts from hydraulic fracturing activities can be more frequent or severe, such as water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing in areas with limited or declining groundwater resources, and spills of hydraulic fracturing fluids and chemicals that result in large volumes or high concentrations of chemicals reaching groundwater resources,” said David Noble.

For a copy of the study, visit www.epa.gov/hfstudy.

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Giving Made Easy This Season #DoneStuffCreateJobs

December 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment

#DoneStuffCreateJobs

Ever thought about how many household goods and clothing end up in landfills? Me neither until it was time to clean up and declutter our home this year. Face it, we hold on to a lot of things. Clothes the kids have outgrown, clothes that have gone out of fashion or that don’t quite fit right anymore. Home décor that for whatever reason, no longer fits our style. I bet you could probably load a truck with all the things you have that you don’t need, want, or use anymore.

So why let it go to a landfill in the first place? We know it’s bad for the environment but millions of pounds of items end up in the trash every year. As long as those items are in good repair and still work (or aren’t full of holes or stains in the case of clothing), why not donate it? If it’s going to be hauled off to the trash, we might as well put it to someone else’s good use and I’m not just talking about thrift shopping.

Goodwill’s “Donate Stuff, Create Jobs” campaign is all about taking what you don’t use and putting it to use for someone else. The proceeds from every item donated to Goodwill supports and helps fund job training programs for people with disabilities and disadvantages.

What do “job training programs” really include? It really encompasses so much more than you or I could imagine. Things that you and I may take advantage of: education, mentoring, training, job preparation such as counseling and resume prep, financial education, job placement services, and childcare. Shew! That’s a lot. Who knew your old husband’s old golf clubs or that old toaster oven and stack of out-grown children’s clothes could benefit in so many ways?#DoneStuffCreateJobs

Calculate how much your donation helps your local community by using Goodwill’s Donation Impact Calculator, a feature available within the Goodwill Locator App available for Android and iOS devices and at www.Goodwill.org.

When you donate to Goodwill, you help the environment and build your community in ways that will last long after you’ve lost the love for that pair of old acid washed jeans (you know the ones I’m talking about). Show off your donations and encourage and inspire others to do the same by posting your Goodwill haul photos to Instagram using the hashtag #DoneStuffCreateJobs.

Make a difference, choose to donate.

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Did You Know November is National Adoption Month? #NationalAdoptionMonth #NAM2016

November 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Adoption Month

Did you know that November is National Adoption Month? I’m reaching out to you, my loyal readers, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, AdoptUSKids, and the Ad Council to ask for your help in spreading the word about just how important it is for prospective parents to consider adopting older youth from foster care.

There is a stigma about older kids that make people shy away from looking at them for adoption, and it is sad, really. Older teens have lower adoption rates than younger children, and they often wait longer to be adopted. But no matter their age, all kids need a supportive, loving home, and the teenage years are a critical period.

Right now, there are 428,000 youth in the U.S. foster care system and 112,000 are waiting to be adopted. AdoptUSKids’ maintains a national photo listing service for children waiting to be adopted.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8NVwgrjvLQ]

Since the project launched in 2002, more than 26,000 children who were once photo listed on adoptuskids.org have been adopted and nearly 39,000 families have registered to adopt through the website.  Nevertheless, older youth are disproportionally represented – approximately 43% percent of children and youth photo listed on adoptuskids.org are between 15 and 18 years old, but only 17% of those adopted have been in this age group.

Have you ever considered adoption? Here are a few key things to know and remember:

Adopting from Foster Care:

  • Adoption isn’t expensive.  Most adoptions from U.S. foster care are free. The minimal costs that can be associated with them are often reimbursable. In addition, the vast majority of youth adopted from foster care are also eligible for monthly adoption assistance up to the level of the foster care rate.
  • Kids are in foster care through no fault of their own. Children and youth enter foster care not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because they have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by the people who were supposed to care for them.  Over 100,000 are waiting for the love and security that a permanent home provides.
  • Many different kinds of people can adopt:
    • In most instances, you’re eligible to adopt regardless of age, income, marital status or sexual orientation.
    • You don’t need to own your own home, be wealthy, or have a college degree to adopt. (However, you do need to demonstrate that you can support yourself without any additional income, such as adoption assistance.)
    • You don’t have to be a stay-at-home parent or have children already.  And you don’t have to be of child-bearing age—experienced parents and empty-nesters are encouraged to adopt.
  • In most states, you do not have to be married to adopt. Many children have been successfully adopted by single parents.
  • Even families living outside of the United States, including military families stationed overseas, are eligible to adopt from the U.S. foster care system.

Adoption Month

 

For more information about adoption, or about becoming an adoptive parent to a child from foster care, please visit adoptuskids.org or visit the campaign’s communities on Facebook and Twitter.

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Do You Have Your Diploma? #HatsOffToYou @FinishYourDiploma

September 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment

high school diploma

There are 29 million Americans in the United States who do not have their high school diploma or equivalent. And there should never be a stigma attached to anyone who did not finish high school. There are so many different reasons as to why an individual was unable to graduate – and the fact is, it doesn’t matter. Those hardworking, smart, individuals may think that their time has come and gone. We need to show them as friends, neighbors, family, and co-workers that you are never too old, it is never too late, and you do not have to do this alone!

 There are many advantages to earning a high school equivalency, from finally completing a major goal to being able to help your children with their homework. It might seem hard to finish your high school diploma, but it can make all the difference in your life and for your family. Here are four of the top reasons why finishing your diploma makes sense.

  1. Open the door to new opportunities. Given the rapid changes in technology, education is more important than ever. By completing a high school degree, you can apply for a wider variety of jobs and open the door to a college education. Year after year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more employment opportunities are possible when you have a high school degree. But perhaps more importantly, you’ll have a great feeling of confidence after successfully conquering such a big goal.
  2. Opportunity to earn more money. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that high school graduates can earn on average $8,000 more per year than those without such a degree. Over the course of a lifetime, those with a high school degree are expected to earn more than 30% more than their peers who don’t have a diploma. Best of all, practice through your local adult education center can be free to prepare for the test. Enter your ZIP code at the top of the site to get started.
  3. Help your family and your kids. Improving your own reading, math and overall academic skills can help as a parent. Research shows that reading to children at an early age can help them do better in school. If you finish your high school education, you’ll be able to help your children with their homework — from social studies to science. Earning your high school degree can also inspire your children, family members and loved ones to continue and complete their own education.
  4. Resources are available to help. There are adult education centers in your local community that can help you prepare for the GED®, HiSET® or TASCTM test. Best of all, most of them are completely free. Enter your ZIP code at the top of this site to find a program in your local community. Your local program will help prepare you for and guide you through the testing process. The path toward your high school equivalency diploma starts here.

Without a high school diploma, opportunities in today’s economy can be limited. In fact, nearly 30% of adults with household incomes at or below the federal poverty line do not have a high school credential. The AdCouncil and FinishYourDiploma.org have launched a new campaign to celebrate the adults who have finished their diploma and to inspire those who feel like they have been alone or did not know where to turn to find resources and tools for free adult education in their community.

back to school

Since the campaign initially launched in 2010, Finish Your Diploma has helped more than 800,000 adults in all 50 states find free test-prep classes in their area.

If someone you know or love, or even if it is just a neighbor or a friend who wants to further their education and feel that gratification of earning their diploma – please, share this information with them!

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, education

Lillypost- encouraging children’s literacy one story at a time

August 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment

kids books

Lillypost, a new subscription service, is setting out to make a difference in children’s literacy by delivering books straight to their doorsteps beginning Sept. 1, 2016. Lillypost provides monthly deliveries of carefully curated, age-appropriate books for kids. Each box arriving at a child’s home will include individually wrapped books and occasionally other goodies, giving each child a sense of surprise and anticipation surrounding the books’ arrival.

Created by Book Depot, one of North America’s largest book wholesalers, Lillypost hopes to strengthen literacy throughout local communities by encouraging each parent, grandparent and caregiver who gifts a subscription to a budding young reader to donate the books to local libraries after their child has progressed to the next level of reading ability.

Lillypost is also partnering with Project Night Night, a charity that provides comforting nightime essentials – stuffed animals, blankets and books – to homeless children through the United States. These items help children feel safe, warm and ready to learn. Each month, Lillypost will donate one new book to Project Night Night for every single box shipped.

“There is no greater gift in this world than seeing a child’s eyes light up when they discover the world of books,” Book Depot CEO Wilf Wikkerink said. “Lillypost wants to do it’s part in spreading this joy.”

Lillypost will launch its service on September 1, and subscription sign-up can be accessed at Lillypost.com.

PRICES
1 month:  $26/month
3 months:  $24/month
6 months: $22/month
12 months: $20/month (1st month free!)

BUNDLE OPTIONS
Board Book Box (ages 0-3) – 5 books/month
or
Picture Book Box (ages 3+) – 4 books/month

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit

“Rise from the Ashes” with Smokey the Bear #SmokeyBearHug #OnlyYou @smokey_bear

August 24, 2016 by 4 Comments

smokey the bear

If you are one to keep up with national news, you have no doubt seen the chaos and devastation that the wildfires are causing across 7 different states. Thousands of acres burned, families who have lost their homes, and even people who have lost their lives. We have all heard the message of Smokey Bear – he has been telling us to prevent fires for 72 years now. His message is just as important now as it was back in 1944.

Smokey Bear’s message about wildfire prevention is the center of the longest running and one of the most successful PSA campaigns in our nation’s history. Although progress has been made, accidental, human-caused wildfires remain one of the most critical environmental issues affecting the U.S. the Soberanes fire, in California, is a perfect example. This fire was caused by an abandoned campfire. By someone being careless and not thinking about the consequences.

fire

We have to take preventative action, always! And while we all know that matches, burning cigarettes, and abandoned campfires are all potential threats for wildfire – there are MANY lesser known causes. Ones that you might be participating in and not even realize it.

Did you know? A wildfire can start due to the following:

  • Improperly extinguished fire pit
  • Dumping ashes from a BBQ/grill
  • Metal chains hanging from a moving vehicle
  • Parking over tall, dry grass
  • Dying embers left in a campfire
  • Oil from a lantern

Note: To Avoid Such Issues You May Make a Best Fire Pit that will help in various ways while traveling.

Coinciding with Smokey Bear’s 72nd birthday, the Ad Council, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), have launched a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) created to help prevent wildfires nationwide by increasing awareness about less commonly known fire starts.

forest fire

Although most of us don’t behave this way intentionally, each year we learn of devastating wildfires caused by careless behavior which can impact millions of acres of forest and thousands of homes. Although four out of five wildfires are started by people, nature is usually more than happy to help fan the flames.

  • In 2014 there were 7,933 wildfires caused by lightning, but 55,679 wildfires caused by human error (as reported to the National Interagency Fire Center).
  • In 2015 58,916 human-caused wildfires burned over 2 million acres.

Nature, the forest, our parks and trails – these are all an immensely important part of our lives. We need to take the pledge to be smart when we go outdoors. To do everything we can to preserve our beautiful forests. Will you join me in taking the pledge? I for one want to see these incredible lands preserved for my children and for their children.

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Adorable #BearsForHumanity Animal Pals

August 6, 2016 by 7 Comments

Disclosure- We received the belwo in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are our own. For more infomration, see “I Disclose”.

animal pals

If you have never heard of Bears For Humanity, you should definitely check them out. Bears For Humanity is a social commerce company that believes in 100% certified organic products, healthy children and a sustainable environment. They manufacture Teddy Bears and Animal Friends with an organic faux fur that is the closest thing to hugging a real bear (but much safer).  When a customer buys a Bear For Humanity stuffed pal, another just like it is sent to a child in need.  They also employ their workers through the “Welfare to Work” program. It’s a great program that helps at risk moms and caregivers get back to work.

We all shop, we all buy gifts, but how often do we see a company who donates one for one (buy one, donate one) to children in need?

Typically, when you purchase an item online, you are asked for your name, credit card and perhaps an option to join the mailing list. When you purchase a teddy bear from Bears For Humanity™, you get to choose which charity – Toys For Tots, Save The Children, Semper Fi Fund, OneSimpleWish.org, Lucile Packard– they will donate a bear to, because your purchase instantly doubles as a gift for a child in need.  You can also save even more by using this free shipping coupon code: FREESHIPPING4MOM which is valid through the end of August for online purchases on the Bears for Humanity website.

bears for humanity

After you order, the cuddly pal that you have helped donate is personally delivered to a veteran’s house, a children’s hospital, or an underprivileged household. It’s a win-win way to run a company! The stuffed bears come in two sizes – 16” Premium Bear and 7” Baby Bear (19.99). The many charity options and five color choices are splashed across www.BearsForHumanity.com website that opens to a philosophical question – Can A Teddy Bear Change The World?

The bears are really soft, as well.  Bears For Humanity pals are the only 100% Certified Organic Cotton/ Hemp, GOTS Certified Organic Cotton teddy bears in the world. Plus, they are naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic which gives parents the peace of mind they don’t get from polyester plush toys.

You can follow Bears for Humanity on social media here:
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