Do one good thing

Dear all of us,
Imagine what the world would be like if we each did one good thing....
Do one good thing today.
Do one good thing this week.
Do one good thing this month.
Do one good thing this year.

Just one good thing! Help someone. Smile at someone. Imagine how great the world would be.
There are so many good charities to get involved with.
Volunteer at a school.
Your good work is needed.

Need help finding a place? Ask me, I will help you find somewhere to volunteer.
Not only are you helping someone but you will also help yourself. It feels great to help someone who needs it!

Go and do one good thing....

Is this ok?

Dear all of us,
Is this ad ok? I honestly can not make up my mind. Please know before you watch that this ad has lots of foul language, it's not for the kids. But, there are kids in it. Spewing bad words all over the place. Trust me, I'm not a prude when it comes to foul language. I can curse like a sailor when I need to. However, I would not let my kids talk like this.
It is an ad for equality for women. Of course I am all for equality for women. I am a woman and I would like to be treated equally. I would like my daughters to be treated equally. I just don't know if this is the right way to go about getting that equality.
In full disclosure I will admit that I did laugh when I watched this. Cause really, what's cuter than watching little girls use the f word???
I'm so conflicted.
What do you think?
http://www.wcnc.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/23/feminism-for-sale-girls-drop-f-bombs-in-viral-ad/17769607/

Is compassion a thing of the past?

Dear all of us,
Is compassion a thing of the past? What in the world are we teaching our children if we are not teaching them to be compassionate towards others?
As you may have guessed my youngest has life threatening food allergies. We found this out the hard way when she was 3. It was the scariest moment of my life. I am not looking for sympathy. I am not looking for pity. I am not looking for attention. Nothing that I did caused the allergy. Yes, I know that it could be worse. I know all of that. A little compassion towards her would be nice. A little compassion towards all children with food allergies, diabetes, and so on at Halloween time would be appreciated. Imagine if it was your child that had to watch most of their Halloween candy go into the trash. Imagine for a moment what that feels like.
The teal pumpkin project has taken off! It's very exciting to see those that are not in the food allergy community embrace the project. Google it and you will find many news articles, interviews, and the like. It's so great!
What's not great are the comments underneath the articles.  I do not understand when I read the horrible, hurtful comments. I do not understand what makes a person type those words. The words that say that parents caused the allergy, parents like the attention, that it's all about Darwin and survival of the fittest.
I would do anything to make the allergy go away. She doesn't sneeze when she eats nuts, she stops breathing. I wouldn't wish our life on anyone. I do however wish that some people could spend just one day in our shoes.
You can still pass out whatever candy you would like. If you are so inclined, you can put out a bowl of non food treats too. Bracelets, stickers, crayons, glow sticks and so on are great non food items. You do not have to spend a lot at all.
Here's more information-feel free to share and spread the word and the compassion. Thank you to those that are participating, it means the world to us!
http://www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project

What if it was your child?

Dear all of us,
What if your child went missing? It is excruciating to think about. If your child, your friend, your cousin went missing, wouldn't you want everyone to look for him/her? Wouldn't you want your community to back you up? Wouldn't you want everyone to help.
Please share this link and help this girl find her way home to her family and her community.
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/---URGENT--MISSING-TEEN-ALERT--PLEASE-SHARE---.html?soid=1114179096740&aid=CWyq1-V2hXQ

Never say Never

Dear all of us,
Never say never. Well, I have always been one of those moms that looks at all of this Elf on a shelf stuff and thinks"this is crazy and a waste of time".

That was before the Mensch on a Bench came out. I am not paid by the company in anyway, I just love it though! I discovered it last year and I ordered one immediately. It's a good thing that I did because they sold out quickly. My kids love it! They named him Martin. My little one fully believes that he watches them.

So, I was just on Pinterest. I couldn't find any Mensch on a Bench ideas but I did find plenty of Elf on  Shelf ideas to use with Martin.

Never say never.....

Do you have any great ideas for your Mensch or Elf?

Dear all of us, when your kid is sick....

Dear all of us,
When your kid is sick, it's the worst, isn't it??????
Even a silly stomach bug is sooo stressful no matter how old your kid is.
This needs to pass. She feels awful. She is sooo rarely sick that this has hit her hard.
Any tips on how to make it all better? :)

Dear all of us, thank you!

Dear all of us,
Thank you! Two words that mean so much.

Thank you to all of you that read this blog, thank you to those that share it too, it is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to all of you that are participating in the teal pumpkin project! Some of you that are doing it don't even have food allergies in your home. You are going above and beyond, I hope you know how much the food allergic community appreciates your support.

We finished ours!  I have dum dum lollipops and stickers and bracelets to give out!

It is so exciting to see everyone's pumpkins on social media. The #tealpumpkinproject is even making the news!!!!!!!!

Here's our pumpkin.

Here is an article about the teal pumpkins

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/13/health/halloween-safety-food-allergies/

Dear all of us, did you ever have the wrong impression of someone?

Did you ever have feelings about someone then to find out that those feelings were so very wrong?
It happened to me today. I had feelings(not great ones) about someone. Then I sat down and listened, really listened. It turns out that I was really off base. I'm glad that I was off base but I was really, really off base.
I am so glad that I met with this person today....
I am even going to send her a note of thanks for meeting with me.
Has this ever happened to you?
How could I have been so wrong?

Dear all of us, scrambled thoughts

Dear all of us,
Do you ever have times when you have so much going on in your head that you can't even focus? Please tell me it's not just me!
There's too much going on. School has been in session for almost two months and I still can't get with it. The quantity of homework and common core is driving me insane. The math homework! Oh the math homework! I have to believe that whomever invented common core does not have children. It is pure torture.
I look at the calendar and laugh. There is so much on the calendar that I have to schedule in when we can go get some pumpkins.....
Halloween-never been my favorite holiday and even less with food allergies. But look at this!
http://blog.foodallergy.org/2014/10/06/the-teal-pumpkin-project-for-an-allergy-friendly-halloween/

Remember to paint your pumpkin teal! I will post pics as soon as ours is done.


There is so much out there that is making my head go crazy. I can't turn on the news anymore. Ebola, the respiratory virus that's going on (we don't have asthma but it still makes me nervous), beheadings, ISIS, and on and on.....

I wish the news would show more of what is good in the world. I have to believe that the good outweighs the bad. It's just that, of late, all I hear is bad. It hurts my heart when I hear of those doing the wrong thing. Especially those who are involved in the lives of children.

I wish people would take a minute everyday to be thankful for what they have. If you have a good life, if you are surrounded in love, if you and your family have your health, please don't take that for granted. Enjoy it. So many, many people have lost so much. Be grateful for what you have and spread love and joy. Have some perspective. Don't spread hate. Don't hurt others. Play nice! Isn't that what we teach our children? Adults need to listen to this advice.