• Hug a Tree – protect and plan trees
• Carwashing – wash your car on the lawn
• Slow The Flow – install a low flow toilet
• Crusin on the Highway – drive slower
• Beware of Vampires – unplug electronics when not in use
• Seal the Ducks and Save Some Green – seal heating ducts
• Reuse Old Clothes – hold a clothing swap, donate or give away hand-me-downs
• Food Planner – check your fridge and cupboard before grocery shopping

It’s easy to make a pledge. So take part and help raise money for healthier foods through Cascadian Farms.

I was provided with this information by Blog Spark via a campaign for Cascadian Farm. I’ll be receiving products from Cascadian Farm shortly also.

The main message of the address will be about students working hard and staying in school. At first the President asked for students in Pre-Kindergarten to Sixth Grade to write letters to the him about how they can help the President. That has now been changed to having students write letters to themselves about the goals they want to achieve.

There has been an uproar about this speech. What do you feel about it? If your school is going to show it, will you allow your children to watch it?

How do you not panic about your children, or you getting the Swine Flu?

• Keep in mind that the people in the US who have this type of flu have been to Mexico or have had close contact with someone who has.
• This is not considered a pandemic at this time.
• “Symptoms of swine flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the CDC said.” (per CNN.com) But in the US, Tamiflu has been able to work against it.
• If you are healthy, don’t be afraid to go out, send your children to school, go to work, etc. Use precautions like good hand washing and staying away from someone who is noticeably sick. Also if you are sick, remember to sneeze or cough into your elbow not your hands.
• If you have any concerns about your children or yourself being sick, call your physician. Of course, any time you have a fever, you should not go to work and you should keep your children home from school.
• I believe that the government is prepared for a pandemic now since 9/11. From local communities up to the Federal level, the CDC and Homeland Security have worked on these types of emergencies.
• Keep informed online, with newspapers and TV with reliable sources.
• If your child questions you about Swine Flu, give them the information they can understand based on their age.

How do you feel about this situation? Do you think that enough is being done? Are you more worried by what you are hearing? If so or if not, what sources are you getting your information from?

Tonight my 10 year old daughter and I watched Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards when to my shock on came the Pussy Cat Dolls, gyrating in their clothes that expose a lot of skin. I wondered why in the world would this group be at a children’s event. They are not something that I want my daughter to see. Their are way to provocative for my taste.

One of the songs they sang was “When I Grow Up”. I looked up the lyrics and here’s the beginning of the song:

Boys call you sexy and you don’t care what they say. See every time you turn around, they calling your name. (Repeat 2x) Now I’ve got a confession. When I was young I wanted attention and I promised myself that I’d do anything, anything at all for them to notice me….

Not the kind of message that I want my daughter to learn either. But did I turn off the TV or forbid her from watching the rest of the show? No. After it was over, we sat and talked about them and what they stand for. I didn’t lecture but I was sure to get my point across that being sexy, or dressing like a slut isn’t what anyone needs to do. I allowed her to tell me why she liked this group and then we looked at the lyrics of the song.

Just think, Chris Brown was removed from the Kids Choice Awards, why were the Pussy Cat Dolls even considered to be on the show in the first place?

I don’t hide my child from real life but I do set boundaries about certain areas of her life. One of my responsibilities as a mother is to educate her on morals. And I can’t do that if she’s playing with a Bratz doll while watching young women in skimpy clothes sing about using sex to gain success.

What are some of the boundaries you have for your children?

Events:

• Monday, January 29th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is a National holiday. Some public schools depending on what state you reside in. This year’s theme is “A Day of Service”.
• Monday, January 29th at 8 PM ET, the Disney Channel presents the “Kid’s Inaugural: We Are The Future” – a concert featuring the Jonas Brothers and Hanna Montana. Michelle Obama and her children, Mahlia and Sasha are expected to be present also.
• Tuesday, January 29th at 11:30 AM ET, the Swearing In Ceremony held on the steps of the US Capital in Washington DC.
• Tuesday, January 29th at 2:30 PM ET, the Presidential Inauguration Parade held along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.
• Tuesday, January 29th, all evening, Inaugural Balls will take place. Some will have portions televised.

Activities:

• Volunteer during MLK Day with your child. Be sure to explain that this is being done in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Make one of the dishes that will be served at the Inaugural Luncheon with your children, or Obama’s favorite chili recipe and eat it on during the parade.
• View some of the photos about the Inaugurations of the past.
• Make a “Yes We Can” Can from Kaboose to teach your children about the phrase that they will hear so often and help them save money for a cause they choose.
• Buy a few small American flags and march along with the bands during the parade.
• Print out some Presidential coloring pages, including the Lincoln Memorial and the White House and do some coloring!
• Print out a President’s Word Search, an Abraham Lincoln Maze or some American Flag Stationary. Help your child complete these and use the writing paper to send a letter to the new President.
• Take some photographs of your own celebration of the Inauguration to save for your children. You can blog about your party, post them to Flickr, Facebook or another social media site.
• Share Your Story with President Elect Obama on his website. Help your children tell the upcoming President what they think is important.

Tell me what you are doing with your family to celebrate this historical day.

photo credit: the schneider clan

The recent election had people communicating with each other on the internet, on Twitter, on Facebook, on blogs and in person. Even strangers talked about who they were voting for and why. Have you thought about how much you and your children talked about the election and the issues involving it?

In my home, I try my best to keep my 9 year old informed of current events. We read the newspaper together at breakfast, watch the news together and talk about what we read and see. She also enjoys reading Scholastic News that she gets from school.

Some Issues We Discussed:

• How To Decide Who Will Get Your Vote
• Why Voting is Important
• Civil Rights
• Women’s Rights
• Poverty in the USA
• Volunteering and Giving Back
• Respect For People With Whom We Disagree
• Republicans and Democrats

Even though the election is over, our conversations have continued. We are continuing to learn about the government and how it affects not only the people in this country but the people all over the world. We talk about what we hope that President-Elect Obama will do and continue to read about the transition of power. We are taking part in helping make changes by volunteering together to do things in our community. We also watch the Change.gov website.

Have you found that this election in particular, got you and your children talking more about what is going on in the world? Have you made any changes to your lifestyle due to the election?