Helping to Power A Bright Future with a Giveaway

Sometimes I walk up to the playground and I just sit and stare at the school from the bench next to the playground. It seems so long ago that my girls ran out of those double doors and into my arms after the bell rang.

Its amazing to me that with school closings in our area, making the student size bigger, that the feeling can be the same.

McKinley is one of the elementary schools in my town. The one that I went to for my Kindergarten year and then my girls attended when we moved to this area in 2005. It was a school that I was confident for my girls to go to after talking with the secretary (who now happens to be a good friend) on the phone for 15 minutes when calling & getting information about registering.

I remember how she stayed later than she would have normally stayed so I could get a chance to get up to the school to register them and how she wasn't upset when I didn't have all the paperwork. How each member of the staff that we encountered that day was so very friendly and asked the girls about themselves and welcomed them to their school.

How when I visit I can always count on a hug from Mrs. Sullivan and I am always able to pop my head into Mrs. Ward's classroom and say hello to all My First Grade Friends.

How teachers that didn't even have my girls in their class will ask about them by name and sigh when I tell them that Giggles will be a sophomore and that she is driving.

"She can't be big enough for that." they always say. And I always agree.

In some ways the school is very much the same, but in other ways it is different.

Last year it was rumored that grades K-3 were going to lose their PE, Music, and Art classes. The teachers could just do that stuff in the classroom and the kids always get out for recces.

Thankfully by some miracle we were able to hold onto PE, Music, and Art Classes for the little ones, but sadly something else had to go.

The Band & Orchestra Programs for kids in elementary school is no longer there. Sure, they can pick up band or orchestra when they get to one of the middle schools, but I just don't think its the same.

I remember when my girls were entering 5th grade and how they were excited to be able to play in Band for the first time. How each week they would tell me about the day that they got to be excused from class with their fellow band-mates so they could go practice.

I knew that if I had a question about something, Mrs. Brawley would happily answer it, even when she was in another school that day. The kids loved her and we loved that when she said that the concert would be 30 minutes long, it was 30 minutes long.

Each year in May they have a huge Band Concert at the end of the year and all of the 5th and 6th grade bands from the entire school district get together to play the same songs. The kids get all excited as they get to play in the High School Gym and its really something that so many of them look forward to.

I remember the difference in what just one year made in how they sounded. It was phenomenal.

When Clorox and The Motherhood contacted me to ask if I wanted to be part of The Power a Bright Future Campaign I knew what school I wanted to share with you.

Now many may ask why wouldn't I pick the middle school or even the high school to submit for this grant. The answer is simple. Elementary school is the foundation, the building blocks of a child's education. So many times they are at the bottom of the list because the needs of the older kids come first.

We could have lost football or track or some other thing associated with the middle or high schools, but we didn't.

I know that McKinley would benefit from a grant of $50,000. Couldn't a school in your area benefit too?


Now a little something from Clorox

· Music, art and sports offer some of childhood’s most memorable experiences, but recently, budget cuts in schools nationwide mean many of these programs are being cut. We know these programs can be critical to a child’s educational experience, and can be just plain fun.

· Each year parents hold fundraisers to keep enrichment programs in schools. Now there’s another way to raise money for your child’s school: Power A Bright Future, created by the Clorox Company, will help brighten kids’ futures with school grants to help fund critical programs. Parents and teachers can help kids continue to learn and play by nominating their school programs for a Power A Bright Future grant from the Clorox Company.

· Since 1980, Clorox has donated $80 million to non-profit organizations and community programs with a focus on schools. This year, the company is awarding four grants, totaling $110,000, to help fund school programs that will brighten and enrich the lives of kids.

· There are multiple ways to participate and win. In addition to nominating your school and voting, participants have the chance to win a variety of daily prizes including supplies for your school and coupons for Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, Clorox® Regular-Bleach and Clorox2.

· As part of the Power A Bright Future grant program, Clorox is seeking nominations for school programs for a chance to win a $50,000 grand-prize grant or one of three $20,000 grants to help provide critically needed resources to school programs that enrich kids’ lives and create brighter futures. In November, four schools will be chosen to receive grants and the opportunity to impact the lives of children in their communities.

· For more than six generations, Clorox has been a trusted stain remover and disinfectant, ultimately helping to keep families healthier, cleaner and happier. Clorox wants to continue to celebrate these activities that help kids continue to learn, play and create. To nominate a new or existing school program, visit www.Clorox.com from August 12 to September 27, 2010 and choose the category that best represents your idea. The three categories include: Learn, Play or Create.

· Nominators will receive exclusive Clorox classroom tools and the chance to win coupons for Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, Clorox® Regular-Bleach and other great prize packs daily.

· Once the nomination period has closed, we will leave the voting up to you. Between October 4 and November 1, be sure to vote for your favorite nominee. To encourage votes for their entries, nominators will receive a “Promote-it!” kit with tips on how to encourage votes, like sharing on Facebook and an e-mail for friends and family members.

· For official rules and to nominate a school program, visit www.Clorox.com.

And if you got through all of that I have a surprise for you!

I will be giving away one Clorox Back to School Goodie Bag if you comment and tell me what program you would most like to see your school get if they were awarded $50,000 from Clorox.

Included in this pack will be:

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
Dr. Harley Rotbart’s book Germ Proof Your Kids
Clorox Hand Sanitizer
Tissues
Fun stickers
Crazy cutting scissors
Markets/pencils/crayons

Now for the rules (because there always has to be rules you know!)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. (I know, I know my Canadian friends it is upsetting but you should be used to this by now).
This giveaway will end on September 7, 2010 and the winner will be randomly drawn the good old fashioned way of pen, paper and a big bowl.
Make sure you have a valid email attached to your profile or you can leave it in the comments.
If I don't hear from you by September 8, 2010 I will have to pick a new winner on September 9, 2010.
If you would like an extra entry to the contest you can tweet about it using the hash tag #cloroxbrightfuture (make sure you leave the link to your tweet.


FTC disclosure-I was compensated for my time of writing this post and hosting this giveaway through Clorox and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own and I really do love my girls elementary school

Around My Neck

I wear a certain necklace around my neck each day.

Recently I have been wearing two necklaces thanks to her, but that is a story for another day

"Is it Lisa Leonard?" I get asked.

Nope.

"Oh right, its The Vintage Pearl" they always reply.

Wrong again.

My necklace, one that I put around my neck each day, even on days in which it feels like a weight due to my fibromyalgia was lovingly made by my friend Melissa of Cascade Custom Crafts.

She blames me for getting her into all of this.

I admit to only getting her started in scrapbooking.

If you have never seen my necklace, I would like to introduce you to her.

Why yes I said her, the only guy coming this close to my girls on a regular basis is my husband.



I know that your first thought is "Wow that is a beautiful necklace!" with a close second being "Why is it laying among those business cards?" with a possible third thought being "Hey look there's my business card!"

Well friends, today I am happy to tell you that you can win a $25 credit to Melissa's shop by participating in a little contest.

I swear it's not hard and it should be fun.

See this photo?



These are the business cards that I collected from BlogHer, less one because my husband needed to write down a number and for whatever reason I let him use a business card out of my purse to do so, you know so he wouldn't write on his hand again because I am so nice and gracious like that.

All you have to do is guess how many business cards are in that pile and you can win yourself a necklace of your very own.

Note my necklace isn't pictured because I designed it myself and truth be told that isn't the 'bling' it came with I just recently switched it out because I spilled ice cream on my necklace...you know while it was around my neck. True Story

Let me give you two hints.

1. I didn't really ask for anyone's business card unless I was talking to them for a good while.

2. For me going to a conference with 2,399 of my closest friends I was seriously disappointed when I counted how many cards I actually got. It is sad and pathetic and I probably shouldn't be allowed to exchange business cards at another conference ever.

Now for the details

~This contest ends on Friday September 3, 2010 at 5 p.m. EST.
~You may only enter once.
~In the event that two people pick the correct amount, I will randomly draw a name.
~But people this is an open comment form so try to check what others have guessed before you put your guess in.
~If no one picks the correct amount it will go to the person that was closest & if there are more than one of those that are equally far away from the unsaid number of cards I will randomly draw a name.
~The winner will have until Monday September 6, 2010 to contact me if not I will randomly draw a winner on Tuesday, September 7, 2010. So make sure your email is connected to your blogger account or you leave me a valid email in your comment.


FTC disclosure The original necklace was purchased by me (well techinally the husband as it was my mother's day gift). I was not compensated in any way and the opinions expressed are solely my own except for the ones that I shared that others shared with me and I am pretty sure they weren't paid for their opinions as well but I can't be sure because people are tricky like that. Also I didn't steal any of the business cards, not that I would steal business cards and if I did steal them I would probably steal way more of them so that the number would be higher, because FTC the number is sad and low

Seven and Three

Giggles is learning how to drive.

The Husband and I had an understanding and that understanding was that he was teaching the girls how to drive.

He took her out once or so.

Its not his fault due to his crazy work schedule, but due to his crazy schedule I started to feel bad that she wasn't driving.

Because is all honesty if we waited for him to be able to take her out to get her required driving time in she may be able to get her licence by the time she graduated high school.

At first we drove the car that she will be driving once she gets her licence.

The car is small and the backseat is cramped.

The Chicken is so long and her knees uncomfortably hit the back of the seats.

The Chicken's doubts and fears were right in my ear, as well as her sister's.

You know the one learning to drive

It started as a one time thing, her driving my van.

Then she started driving it more and more.

I admit when she first started driving it I had to take my motion sickness medication because she seemed to be all over the road.

She scared me when she would turn to quickly, or when she would accelerate my V6 too fast.

I have since stopped taking my medication when she drives and I find myself having to correct her less and less.

She has confidence behind the wheel, but not too much.

She constantly amazes me at the things she can do.

I can't believe that my baby is driving on the road, in my van, without much direction.

But no matter how many times I tell her that her hands need to be at Ten and Two they always end up at Seven and Three.



Photo taken with the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone while she was driving down the road

Giving a Face to Fibromyalgia

My name is Heather.

I am in constant pain.

The days in which I have been in pain far outweigh the ability of my brain to remember those days that I have not been in pain.

For years I would wonder if I was slowly losing my mind to the pain.

This is me.



Most days anyways.

I won't let the fibromyalgia define me.

I can't let it win.

In some ways I think I have become a better person since the pain has started.

I smile more. I talk to strangers.

I want my interactions with people to be positive, something that would be a bright point in their day.

But there are days like today when its even a struggle for me to smile because the pain runs deep.

The days where I have to grit my teeth and push through the pain. No matter how deep the pain burns.

I hate these days.

I hate that I can't remember what it feels like to be completely pain free.

I hate knowing that one day my pain free days will be outnumbered by the pain filled ones.

I hate that there is no cure and that so many doctors don't recognize it as a problem.

Even though its "all in my head" I can't change that I have it no more than an asthmatic chooses to have asthma attacks.

I admit that when I am in severe pain and someone mentions to me that they have a 'touch of fibromyalgia' it takes all that I have to not laugh in their face and mock their so called pain.

I don't like the person I become when I am in this much pain.

She can be bitter and angry and short with her children.

She lets the pain consume her and she sometimes stops the fight, letting the pain take over.

She isn't me.

So I fight and I get frustrated and people think I am angry.

All because I am waging this internal war with myself over something I can never control.

But still I fight, because she is worth fighting for.



Top photo credit my good friend Dawn
Bottom Photo my good friend Mishelle Lane

Flashback Friday-The Geauga Lake Edition plus a deal for YOU!

Growing up my parents had businesses. Lots of businesses. Specifically businesses that worked well without snow.

So growing up in Ohio with my parents and their seasonal businesses, well, the money flowed a lot easier in the summertime when the work flowed as well. And in the wintertime things like hating the gas company became a bit standard.

But the summertime was pure bliss and sadly I don't remember much of it.

I remember always going to Sea World when it was in Aurora, Ohio and also to Geauga Lake, which was right next to Sea World.

Dad said he always liked going because it made us kids happy, kept us out of his thinning hair, and they served beer. What more could a guy ask for.

I remember the drive was long but we would stay at either of the parks well beyond dusk and would get home sometime around midnight sometimes asleep or sometimes still high off of our cotton candy buzzes.

The last time I was at Geuaga Lake, well....I honestly couldn't tell you.

The last time I was at Sea World was when I was about seven months pregnant with Giggles. My mom would decide every now and again that we needed to go and off we went. I remember getting the little cups full of fish to feed to the dolphins and how once I lost a watch feeding the said dolphins. (Although I didn't lose the watch on my very pregnant trip there)

I always thought that I would be able to go back there someday with my family and enjoy the same sights and smells as I did in my youth. But, alas that wasn't part of the plan.

Sea World closed, as did Geauga Lake. It seemed like they re-opened a time or two but before I could get the girls there it seemed like they were closed again. In 2008 Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom opened soley as a waterpark.

Imagine my surprise when I was contacted by Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom asking if I would like to bring my family to the park to enjoy a day seeing what they had to offer.

We jumped on it! I was so excited to take my girls to Geauga Lake to see what they had to offer.

We went this past Sunday and coincendally my best friend and her family were going that day as well.

The boys (her husband and mine) were excited to tackle the water park together.

We arrived shortly after the park had opened and made our way to the gate. It was a bit cool that day with light sprinkles here and there, but since the sun kept peeking out, we decided to brave it and enjoy ourselves.

The first thing I noticed was how friendly each staff person was that we encountered. They were all smiling and helpful. The lifeguards were amazing. I could probably go on and on about how diligent they were and how they took their job so seriously. (I later found out that the training that the Lifeguards receive is the highest standard of care in the industry)

Here we are in the Kiddie Area of the Park enjoying a big of a swim.




Another amazing thing is that the water always seemed like the perfect tempature. I seriously was not cold until I stopped riding on the slides.

The food seemed reasonably priced and was quite tasty, well the stuff that we tried.

I do have to say that my girls did become a bit bored after the day went on because while the attractions are great, there aren't that many of them. But the kiddie part of the Park was AMAZING!! My best friend said she could hang out there all day with the kids and enjoy it (and she pretty much did!)

She enjoyed it so much that she is thinking of getting a season pass for her family next year.

I could see coming back, especially with their Platinum Passes as they are good at any Cedar Fair Park.

The one depressing thing was that you could see the old Geauga Lake. Now I know that it isn't any fault of the new Wildwater Kingdom but it was depressing for me to look across the lake to see some of the old rides and other things basically overgrown and wasting away. But like I said, that is just me.

All in all I think that it was great fun to go and if you have younger ones that would enjoy their Kiddie Park then its a wonderful place to go.

For those of you who are local you only have 5 more days before the park closes (this weekend and next) so if you decide to go please take advantage of the coupon below to get $5 off your admission to the park.



Disclosure: I was contacted by Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kindgom and given tickets for my family as well as $40 in Beagle Bucks to enjoy the concessions. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and that of my family (and my best friend who was not compensated and had to buy her tickets on her own!)