I WATCHED A POWERFUL MOVIE LAST NIGHT ON GMC. It wasn’t a feel good movie. It was a moving story about Brooks Douglass, who is now an Oklahoma State Senator. The tragedy that caused his father and mother to be violently killed has also made him into a victim’s rights advocate. Heaven’s Rain is based on his family story…and it’s quite an incredible story. If you get the chance to watch the movie, please do. If you get the opportunity to support or forward legislation about this topic, please make the difference with your voice.

In conjunction with the kick-off of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, GMC TV, America’s favorite television channel for uplifting music and family entertainment, will present the GMC World Premiere Movie Heaven’s Rain, on Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 7 p.m. with encore broadcasts at 9 p.m. and Monday, April 23 at 9 p.m.  Heaven’s Rain is a true story that tells of one man’s mission to gain legal revenge for the unjust and illegal acts his family suffered and who ultimately found forgiveness and who became, and continues to be, a champion for victims’ rights.

FYI -

ENCORE PERFORMANCES

April 23rd
9:00 pm

and
April 26th
9:00 pm 

for more information on Heaven’s Rain: A True Story.

FROM THE MOMENT A COUPLE FINDS OUT THEY ARE PREGNANT THE PARENTING RESEARCH BEGINS. Each new stage, milestone, and logistical problem tests us in ways we had never imagined. I’ve been through those early stage three times and still I am amazed at the products and information to be deciphered for the benefit of the family. The one thing which always helped me? Putting my hands on new tools and products. It allowed me to filter the information and make sense of the overwhelming chaos as a new parent.

I am so excited to be hosting a giveaway for VIP tickets to the Atlanta Baby & Child Expo for expecting and new parents. Imagine having parenting and baby products in one location along with professionals who can answer specific questions for your family. This is designed as an elite experience – like a party for the parents – without being overwhelming. It’s a party for YOU, the expectant, the new parent, the grandparent and the supporting cast of family and friends.

When: May 12th, 11am-3pm (VIP ticket holders get early entry, starting at
10:30am)
Where: Fox Theatre Ballrooms, 660 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Tickets: www.atlantababyandchildexpo.com has all the details and tickets

This event features a Maternity Fashion Show, Red Carpet Photos of attendees as they enter, a Stroller Trial Track, Cravings Corner and so
much more!

To enter the giveaway for 2 VIP tickets to the Atlanta Baby & Child Expo, follow the instructions below and enter daily! Take advantage of the multiple options for entry to increase your chances to win the VIP tickets which give you early entry into the event, VIP seating during the event, and an awesome swag bag full of goodies.

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THE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE RELEASE INUNDATED THE NEWS LAST WEEK IN POP CULTURE REALMS. My teenager turned me onto the books about a year ago and I finally read them a few months ago. Devoured them actually, because once I started reading the series written by Suzanne Collins, I couldn’t stop. The main character, Katniss Everdeen, tells the horrible story from her point of view and although the absurd “games” are more about killing and survival, the complexity of her personality kept me reading. I found myself rooting for her through the whole situation and found it hard to realize that the character was a mere 15 – the actual age of my daughter in May.

I’ve read both positive and negative opinions about the books and subsequent movie. Whether you should allow your tween or teen to see it in theaters; why kids are killing in the book; and just plain stupid references to the title by media people who haven’t taken the time to read and understand. For me, the fact that the heroine in this book has a distinct character and strength makes up for any negatives.

• RESOURCEFULNESS AND SELF-RELIANCE – No man or vampire necessary to rescue Katniss in The Hunger Games. Are there indictions of her attraction to Gale and Peeta? Certainly, but not because of her belief that they will ‘complete’ her. One of Kat’s best traits is her ability to assess a situation quickly and determine the best course of action. Years of providing for her family’s food and care have made her mature beyond her years.
• INGENUITY – Katniss is clever. She can evaluate tools and nature (even the Capitol-manufactured environment of the games), along with the intentions of people and their motivations. This allows her to provide the unpredictable answer that often saves lives. 
• A SENSE OF HERITAGE – Katniss’ father died when she was young, but throughout the story we see a heritage of plant and nature knowledge he instilled into her brain. Initially Katniss discounts her mother’s usefulness in the family following a long period of depression and loss. As the story unfolds, the healing hands of her mother begin to show themselves in Kat’s actions. Katniss did indeed learn from her mother and when she returns from the games seems to have a rediscovered appreciation for her contribution to the lives of others. This sense of heritage and taught instinct helped me to understand her personality.
• CARES FOR HER SISTER – Katniss shows empathy and the willingness to volunteer in her young sister’s place. Beyond that scene we see that it’s the thought of her sister’s expectations and connection which carry Kat through difficult moments. It causes her to form an alliance with tiny Rue when the other’s have long overlooked her abilities in the game as a potential winner. Primrose’s last words to Katniss after the candidate selection ring in her ears and cheer her forward.
• ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF THE TEEN BRAIN – Despite her experience with sadness, loss, and desperate need in her District, Katniss is still a young girl. She is allowed the chance to mentally mature through even the simplist implications of hand-holding and what a gift might mean from an acquaintance. Kat holds onto memories and analyzes them for meaning like only a teenager could. Hardened adults don’t spend the time to worry about a moment’s glance, but Katniss does. Her complex and growing human brain is accurately portrayed despite the circumstances of the future world.
• SEXUAL REFERENCE IS RESTRAINED - Let’s be honest, when you are playing in the Hunger Games where your survival chances are 1:24, sex is not your first concern. But the attitude of sexuality does not invade this story. The heroine is beautiful in a simple, classic way. Her priorities before the game are family and community. Her ideals inside the game do not use sexuality as a tool. Even when groomed by the Capitol Districts designers, her vain side does not appear. She is not swayed by the “latest” or the “newest” or the “hottest”. Those terms are not really in her vocabulary. She is not in a rush to become part of a couple and when she does become part of a couple Katniss questions her own motives and intentions. How refreshing. 
• THE SUPERFICIAL SOCIETY IS THE ANTAGONIST – When Katniss arrives in the Capitol she observes the gluttony and glitter of the district. Having only heard of the Capitol’s wastefulness and focus on the superficial is a true contrast from her poor coal-mining District 12. There is a clear reference to the negative effects on a society where wealth and opportunity are available to only a few. Of course those are the citizens who enjoy watching the Hunger Games because no one in their district loses a life. The domineering control of the President trickles down into every negative happening for Districts 1-12. The clear political thought throughout the series is: Do we want our future in the United States to be like the citizens of Panem?

Have you given (or set up) technology for your parents? I’d love to hear about your successes and failures in this area!

HOW DO YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE WORLD’S PROBLEMS? Teaching children to understand the issues of need in our world seems like an overwhelming topic. As our children grew, we were able to participate in ‘hands on” projects here in our local community. The nights where we serve dinner at a recovery facility have become pivotal to our family discussions. Often when we get in the car – hot and messy from cooking and serving the meal – a question will rise from the backseat about someone they have met or a situation they had never realized was possible.

I’ll admit that those discussions are on the reasons I keep coming back to the commitment we’ve made with our small group. That and the fact that I get to look broken people in the eye and understand how we are all broken at some point in our life. I like doing something concrete and palpable on a regular basis. We don’t do it perfectly, but we do get involved. That’s half the battle – making a construbite to participate and then following through.

Recently I was asked to join the Clever Girls Collective campaign for Members Unite, in part because of our family involvement in community service. After doing my research I thought this was a great opportunity to share a bit of the concept with you. The concept of world need is not new, but the way information has been gathered to build a group consensus on projects is sincerely fresh and new. It’s based on these steps:

Each month a collection of projects…really well run, well developed ideas…are loaded onto the Members Unite site. You choose the site which has the greatest meaning to your family. The project your family decides can help in their eyes. Behind each topic are links, resources, and personal stories which help you understand and explain the concepts and intention of each project.

So I’ve signed up our family for the first month. ($5 plus the yearly admin fee of $25 / 100% of the donation goes to the chosen project and the admin fee covers all other costs involved for the organizers.) William stood by my side as we discussed the process. Initially he may have been waiting for me to finish so he could log onto a favorite game…but then he became involved in the ideas presented on the site. William is a big strong athlete, but he has a heart of gold. He smiles at babies and bends down to pet everyone’s dog. When we serve at The Extension, he sits at a table with strangers and asks what kind of job they are working. And now…he’s concerned about providing service dogs for returning military members which need support for mental and physical effects of the deployments which happened 7000+ miles away.

William moved me aside and began to read through each project. In the end he felt a pull towards the needs of our returning soldiers. We’ve watched as our military friends have had service dogs trained in their honor, so perhaps that swayed him. Now we wait and see what the crowdsourcing of everyone else’s money will influence. We’ll have our answer within the month. The goal is to have $5000 to donate to the chosen cause each month. It’s a do-able goal done together.

There are “lobbies” where you can discuss the projects with others or lobby for their support. You are allowed to give ratings to all the projects listed and offer comments to have your voice heard. In addition there are opportunities to offer ideas for next month’s projects. I love the involvement level despite the fact we are online, we are drawn into the details of serving. If you decide to join, please leave me a comment below so I know.

Members Unite is a great opportunity to donate to bigger causes…but even more important, it’s an opportunity to speak with your kids about helping others. Kindness is something this world could use more. Taking actions like these make good things happen. Let me know what you think about Members Unite.

About Members Unite:
Members Unite is a simple, interactive, fun way to fund amazing projects. We find the most interesting, impactful, meaningful projects and then let our members figure out which ones get funded. This is possible because the projects are funded through member contributions. And the members ultimately control the outcome each month. We’re all in this together. There’s a saying we love… One person giving $20 is a drop in the ocean. One thousand people giving $20 brings clean water to a village for a lifetime. Members Unite helps us all do more than we could do on our own.

As part of the Members Unite blog team I have been compensated to review their ideas and try the program with my family. I always speak my mind and you can be guaranteed that I will only write the truth here on Mundane Magic. 

“ATLANTA IS ABOUT TO BE ELECTRIFIED BY BROADWAY’S “BEST MUSICAL OF THE DECADE.”  says Time Magazine. Thrilling audiences worldwide and winning ten 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, “THE BEST SHOW YOU WILL EVER SEE” (New York Post) is coming to Atlanta!

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is a joyous celebration of one young boy’s triumph against the odds. Called “THE MOST INSPIRING SHOW I’VE SEEN IN YEARS” by Ben Brantley of The New York Times, the story follows Billy’s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring, into a ballet class and discovers his dream to dance.

BILLY ELLIOT is brought to life by the Tony-winning creative team — director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall — along with music legend Elton John, who has written what the New York Post calls “HIS BEST SCORE YET!”.  BILLY ELLIOT will enchant the dreamer in all of us.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL

March 13-18

The Fabulous Fox Theatre

I would love for you to win 2 Tickets to see Billy Elliot at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre for Opening Night! (03/13/12) Enter below in the Rafflecopter box and collect more chances by revisiting daily.

 


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BEING A PARENT IS HARD. BEING A PARENT OF A TODDLER IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT IT PREPARES YOU FOR THE COMPLICATION OF TEENS. Any parents of teenagers agreeing with me at this moment? I’m not trying to scare anyone. Just tell the truth.

Amazingly, this post is not a rant about my teenager. The situation that caused this post — totally about what teen parents will face with this new generation. I want to say at the beginning that I am proud of my husband. He may well have had the patient parenting moment of the century. Let me explain.

Earlier this week my husband gets a FaceBook notification concerning a photo comment. The comment is quoted in his notification and it makes my dear husband fall off of his seat…figuratively speaking. The word and acronyms used are rude, vulgar, and are written under a family photo taken in November. Right there, under all the kind friend comments sits a real stinker of teenage stupidity from a young man who attends high school with our daughter.

My husband took a screen shot to preserve the moment of evidence.

Dave then begins to look for contact information associated with the comment. That’s when I get the phone call and we take a look in the school directory. It doesn’t take us long to have parent names and phone numbers. Thank you PTA. Dave calls late that afternoon hoping to catch someone at home. First time a voice answers and then quickly hangs up. The second time there is simply a pickup/hangup end to the call. Hmmm, I wonder who is answering…any bets on whether Mr. Facebook is receiving calls?

The next day Dave drops by the house after taking Will to baseball practice. The father comes to the door. Dave calmly says that apparently there has been an inappropriate FaceBook message. He goes on to say that although we pay attention to our daughter, we really don’t know everything she broadcasts to the world as a teenager. (And that’s just the honest reality of this digital age.) And then he ends by saying that he would appreciate someone notifying him if this issue ever came up in our household.

Truth be told, I had assumed there would be some defensiveness from the offender’s parents. Instead the calm, father-to-father understanding was met with appreciation. The father promised to get to the bottom of the situation.

About an hour later we were finishing dinner. The home phone rang and the name which flashed on the caller id matched the one seen earlier on FaceBook. I sushed everyone and then heard the tidbits of a very humble and polite young man. He explained that while at a party (and bored) he had logged into facebook on a friend’s computer, but never logged out. He apologized for the whole incident.

Whatever the cause of the remark, this lesson has taught us all new lessons. Parenting lessons, gentleman lessons for the offender, and a few examples of how we are paying attention to even the stray comment which affects our family name.  The comment could have been simply deleted, but that wouldn’t have made the impression on everyone involved. The older my children become, the more complicated the situations.

I want to express my thanks to both my husband and the father of the offender. Those are the examples of behavior which will last beyond the temporary FaceBook post and affect the hearts of their children. 

HAVE YOU SEEN “MEMPHIS” YET? Tuesday night my husband and I shaw the Broadway hit, Memphis, at the Fox Theatre. The singing was incredible – big full voices who captured your ear from the very moment they began singing. Somehow the play takes a difficult subject and manages to show a slice of segregated reality in the fifties.

It was a fantastic date night to celebrate my birthday! Sushi plus a Broadway hit equals a superb night out.

THIS YEAR I HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO DO MORE OF THE “GOOD IDEAS” IN MY LIFE. THOSE IDEAS WHICH REMAIN SUSPENDED FOREVER IN MY MIND, BUT NEVER USED.  Pinterest is a perfect example of that. I love the browsing of cool crafts, neat outfits, and beautiful rooms, but how many of those ideas am I going to put into practice? My friend Meghan began a group of Pinterest lovers who are putting their pinboards to work. Last week was the first “linky” link up at her JaMonkey site. Interesting to see how ideas are put into action from this sharing.

So for the second week of this group challenge I decided to find the organization idea using a parts bin from Harbor Freight mentioned by kinseywilson.com on her Jiminy Pinterest profile. She obviously does scrapbooking and has her rotating bins perfectly organized, but it looks great!

This is the article on her blog. 

So we went off to Harbor Freight to buy the 12″ Revolving Four Tray Bin. Actually, we called ahead with the information from their website and found out that this little parts bin was out of stock in many places. I blame Pinterest. I wonder how many saw this and plunked down the twenty dollars to organize their projects and supplies? This would be great with jewelry beads and materials, stamps, makeup or kid art supplies.

We bought the last two parts bins in the store. Once my husband unboxed them and laid out all the parts he had over 75 screws and matching washers to piece this item together. To say it was tedious was an understatement. It does seem sturdy though! We were missing parts from both boxes so my husband simply made one complete one until we could put the other one together for our teenager.

I am completely thrilled with the result though. I placed it in my art area. About a year ago I began to assemble some of my supplies together in the unfinished part of our basement − in a lockable situation away from kid sleepovers and other parenting hazards. It’s nothing fancy and it has no natural light…BUT the mere fact that I can leave a project in progress is worth e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! I do art with the kids also (of course) but this is where I keep my good Prismacolor Pencils, my nice watercolor paper, and my empty canvases.

My husband made that beautiful dresser from scratch about four years ago. At one point it was supposed to be in my closet and it is a beautiful 5 drawer cabinetry piece he has mounted on the studs at my request. I have a desk to the left of it which is actually a 1930s Hollywood Blonde Wood table. I bought it at an estate sale in my hometown for 40 dollars before going off to college. 27 years later and it still serves me well. One day I’ll have the whole set up ready for a photograph and show you my little nook away from the computers and technology. For now this Project Pinterest idea will have to suffice.

Are you on Pinterest yet? If you want an invite please leave me a comment and I will send you an invitation so we can share ideas. Make sure you visit this week’s Project Pinterest page on JaMonkey’s blog for more project fun. I love seeing what everyone is trying.

WE LIVE IN THE SOUTH.  Water is always nearby and boating is a favorite sport. The Atlanta Boat Show has been operating for 50 years and draws crowds downtown to drool over the latest craft regardless of the economy. I suppose the dream is always alive, isn’t it?

This year the feature event at the show was the world’s largest wakeboard tank. Over 400,000 gallons of water were pumped into the indoor facility to create the water feature. The plan was to have professional wakeboarders perform stunts and feats for the crowds in a large manmade lake.

So, this morning all the reporters were there to cover the preview of the excitement planned for this weekend indoors of the World Congress Center. This is the first report by Will Frampton of CBS Atlanta’s morning show.

Atlanta Boat Show 2012 – Wakeboard tank collapse

Sometimes you just have to appreciate the beauty of live television and the way things happen. Amazingly they almost have all the boats that floated back into place and the show opened only 4 hours late.

Gotta love the live shot! I call the engineer a genius who designed drains in the exhibit floor. At least someone was thinking!

LET’S JUST CALL THIS THURSDAY TECH FROM NOW ON… We were waiting for a table at Steak ‘n’ Shake after the Christmas holiday. Our family was out to take advantage of the sales and use the gift cards we had received from Grandparents. My husband had his iPad under his arm. Suddenly the elderly woman in front of him struck up a conversation explaining that she had just received an Amazon Fire, but was ready to return it out of frustration. “Did you hear about the software upgrade which was announced a day ago? That may solve some of your problems.” said my husband.

“No, I had no idea? Should I just send the whole thing back and try to reorder it after they get all this mess situated?”

Not sure how this conversation went from an introductory comment to advice request in just a few minutes, my husband began showing her his iPad and how he uses it. About ten minutes later he came to the table. Sometimes getting the latest and greatest doesn’t always mean a happy user. Technology is a blessing and a curse…especially to some generations.

Did your family receive a new gadget, technology tool, or complicated toy for the holidays? I’m interested in knowing:

• If you LOVE or HATE your new device?
• Does anything ANNOY you about using of setting it up?
• Did you have to consult a child as a TECH EXPERT?
• Do you have BUYER’s REMORSE and wish you’d never bought it?
• Does anything CONCERN you — security? parental controls? why you need it?

I’m here for you…need to vent about the new devices which invaded your house during Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa?

HOW DO YOU GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT? Our family travelled to Pine Mountain, Georgia recently to experience a few special family moments together at Callaway Gardens. The weeks following Thanksgiving are sure to fly by in a big rush. Lots of scheduled plans usually find our family exhausted by the time the new year arrives.

We met my parents and immediately enjoyed a lunch (and incredible views) at The Country Store. We had time to visit the Day Butterfly Pavilion mid afternoon. The best time is actually around midday when the sun is at it’s highest, but we  got a glimpse at some wonderful butterflies in their habitat anyway. My kids were fascinated at the larger butterflies eating the fruit which is placed up in the trees.

Although they are all familiar with the life cycle of the butterfly, there is something special about seeing the crysalids actually moving and working to become a beautiful butterfly. Even my teenager, Jordan, was enamored with the different stages displayed in the pavilion.

As the sun went down we donned our jackets and excitedly prepared for the main event – Callaway’s Fantasy in Lights. As we arrived at the Beachside area we first saw the Nativity Story being portrayed in lights with a full narrative. Up in the food and concession area there were fires glowing, smores, kettle corn, and even heartier goodies to enjoy. Soon we boarded the trolley set to take us on the nighttime tour of the gardens. I had brought blankets to share, but the weather was moderate and we needed only jackets. Gotta love the weather in Georgia!

The initial part of the ride allows you to ease into the nighttime sky and then you begin to see the entryway to the lights and their glow. And then the oohing and aahing begins:

The kids had a great time because so many of the animated lights were delightful. I loved how the new additions to the exhibit included the butterflies we had enjoyed earlier in the day. It was just the right experience to put us in the Christmas mood.

After the ride we made our way to the  heated, indoor Christmas Village and visited with a really authentic looking Santa (or as we call it – a good Santa) for pictures at a reasonable price. There were so many specialized gift items inside and also opportunities for children to make glazed pieces as personalized gifts or memories for your family. We had a fabulous night together.

We stayed at the Cottages at Callaway Gardens and found them perfect for our needs. 4 queen sized bed made sleeping our family plus grandparents simple. There is a full kitchen inside the cottage and a living area complete with a already stocked fireplace. That’s what we enjoyed best of all…the fireplace. We all gathered around late at night and enjoyed some much needed conversation and down time with no television (through there were three available in the cottage).

The next day we awoke refreshed and after enjoying an early morning fire with coffee we headed off on our next adventure. Callaway has a full site of information about their 20th anniversary year of the Fantasy in Lights event. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about the experience.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided with Callaway Gardens Holiday in Lights tickets, admission to the Gardens, and a night’s stay in one of their lovely 2-bedroom Cottages so I could experience this event and give you my honest feedback in this review.

JUST GOT THE NEWS RELEASE FROM THE NEW LEGOLAND WHICH IS BEING BUILT HERE IN ATLANTA. There was a contest to determine the Top 10 Atlanta Landmarks which would be built especially for the Atlanta LEGOLAND at Phipp’s Plaza. Here it is straight from their Media release:

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta Reveals Winning Sites to be Built in Custom MINILAND Exhibit

Landmark Contest Concludes as 10 Top Attraction Highlights Prepare to Receive the LEGO Treatment

ATLANTA (November 18, 2011) – For months, Atlanta has been buzzing about its newest family attraction, LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Atlanta. Brick buffs the city over have gotten in on the LEGO® action with a contest to choose which landmarks will appear in the attraction’s signature MINILAND® exhibit. After rounds of nominations and voting for the top 20 contenders, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta unveils the 10 winning sites that will be immortalized in LEGO bricks.

Area LEGO lovers voted, and the following 10 Atlanta icons will be featured in the MINILAND portion of LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta:

Bank of America Building

Fox Theatre

Georgia Dome

Georgia Aquarium

High Museum of Art

King and Queen Towers

Stone Mountain

The Varsity

Turner Field

World of Coca Cola

“We were thrilled to learn that the Georgia Aquarium was selected as one of the top Atlanta attractions to be built in LEGOLAND Discovery Center’s MINILAND,” explains Georgia Aquarium Vice President of Marketing & Communications Scott Higley.  “It means a lot to us that Atlanta residents consider the Aquarium one of the leading architectural icons in our city.  We look forward to the opening of LEGOLAND Discovery Center and are eager to see Georgia Aquarium constructed once again, LEGO-style, brick by colorful brick.”

On being chosen for the project, Fox Theatre General Manager Allan C. Vella remarked, “We are honored to be selected to be included in the new LEGOLAND Discovery Center MINILAND here in Atlanta, and we cannot wait to see our National Historic Landmark recreated! I am eager to see how the master builders accomplish our intricate designs.”

“Atlanta will be well-represented in the iconic MINILAND exhibit,” said Jonathan Giles, marketing manager for LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta. “Learning what Atlantans love most about their city has been a great way to get to know our future LEGOLAND Discovery Center visitors. We look forward to continuing to build excitement in Atlanta for our newest engaging, family-focused experience.”

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta is scheduled to open in Phipps Plaza in April 2012. This will be the third LEGOLAND Discovery Center in the United States. Described as stepping into the biggest box of LEGO bricks in the world, the $15 million, 30,000-square-foot interactive attraction will feature a MINILAND exhibit which recreates landmark buildings in Atlanta out of LEGO bricks, hands-on play areas, a 4D Cinema, master classes from the LEGO Master Model Builder, LEGO rides, and special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations. This highly interactive and educational 2-3 hour indoor experience is ideal for families with children.

I’m looking forward to this opening. Have you ever been to a LEGOLAND in another city?

I’VE BEEN GETTING SOME EXCITING EMAILS THIS WEEK FROM THE GAMING COMPANY, UBISOFT. Because I was selected as a UbiChamp Blogger, I get many of their press releases long before they hit the news stand. Nothing worse than a geeky tech lover who gets excited over the new ideas for families.

A Creative Holiday Idea

Today I saw the email for UbiSoft’s new tablet interface for the Wii. It looks perfect for little hands and clumsy parent hands, too. I can’t wait to get my hands on one and try it out. Just hearing the word “Whoa” come out of Will’s mouth was enough to convince me that it could be a fun peripheral to add to our collection. Take a look at this preview video and tell me what you think. Fun, right?

Come Visit Me at The Savvy Source

My latest article in The Savvy Source features ideas for rainy days. {Actually, some of you have already had snowy days!} I’ve rounded up some ideas for indoor playgrounds, playgroup fun, and even a work/play situation or two if you have to finish up a conference call while your little one plays. I’d love to have you visit Savvy Source and leave a comment if you have any other ideas for Atlanta and other areas. I’m sure there are plenty of other options…

There is one sure truth in parenting:
Kid energy must be used everyday for a household to function and a mother to stay sane!

YESTERDAY WAS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAYS ARE CRAZY AT OUR HOUSE. I spent most of the afternoon running people where they needed to be and then picking them up. It seemed like everyone had to be picked up at the same moment. Mom cloning could be a b-i-g business!

This afternoon we are going to do something a little fun. After the homework and chores I am going to bake cookies with my kids. Not homemade since it is a school night, but still…who doesn’t love a warm cookie out of the oven? I could read all the ingredients…rare in most mixes, as you know.

I received a little bundle on my doorstep from Betty Crocker with their new Molasses Cookie Mix and I am anxious to try it. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Another thing I am excited about?

Tomorrow is the TEDx Peachtree conference here in Atlanta. I had to be selected from a list and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to listen to innovators in their respective fields. I’ll have more information about the conference later, but you might want to go to their site and listen to the talks from the last few years. Really special moments in a world that seems very chaotic at times.

See you this afternoon.

A MONTH AGO I WAS INVITED TO ATTEND A TOUR OF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF ATLANTA EGLESTON CANCER FACILITIES WITH THE CURING KIDS CANCER ORGANIZATION. Every since we were given the privileged to know Hailey Trainer, this has been an issue near to our hearts. More children die each year from cancer than any other disease.

We were able to tour the research facilities and hear how the unique situation in Childhood Cancer Research. Because of sharing between pediatric scientists, the most progress to be made towards a cure than any other disease besides pneumonia.

Howard Katzenstein, M.D. who is the Director, Clinical Research and Innovative Therapy Program from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, took the time to explain exactly how the research progress works. I had no idea that pediatric research is not often pursued by commercial drug companies because there is little profit in the discovery. Because of this, the community of pediatric researchers share their discoveries among all the others within the national research group so that breakthroughs can happen more quickly.

And there is progress being made:

20 years ago only 20% of children with cancer were cured.

Today, 75% of children with cancer are cured.

There is a great fund which goes directly to this research being done in the United States. Clay and Grainne Owen began Curing Kid’s Cancer one year after their son, Killian, lost his five year battle with leukemia.  This Georgia family has developed a clever way to both honor a sports coach and contribute to this research fund. Quite frankly, it is sometimes the difference between a lab being staffed to do proper research or not. It’s called Coaches Curing Kids Cancer.

This is a wonderful way to honor your Coach’s dedication to children…and make a difference in the quality of life for the children facing this illness. Once you purchase the gift for your coach, you are presented with a certificate and choice of a logo gift for your coach. I’ve actually seen coaches cry when they receive this gift. It’s near the end of football, soccer, and lacrosse season and I wanted to mention this for those of you who are wracking your brain to come up with a meaningful gift for your coaches.

Thoughtful goes to a new level when it is truly meaningful to a child’s life. Any coach would cheer for that!

A WEEK AGO, DAVE AND I SPENT SOME TIME AT THE FIRST HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL IN PEACEFUL CALLAWAY GARDENS. We had been there just weeks before for the Multiple Sclerosis 150 cycling event so we weren’t quite sure what to expect from the festival. The minute we saw the music lineup we were intrigued though. Several of the artists we had been following  for years and also some new independent artists in the mix. Once the mention of delicious food was added into the weekend, we were hooked.

I’ve always enjoyed having an eclectic mix of artists in my personal library. Digital music has allowed independent artists to gain attention even more so. I love the fact that I can hear a song on a television show like Grey’s Anatomy and then have it downloaded onto my ipod within minutes of completing the show. That’s where I first heard Mat Kearney. His music has been handpicked more than once by the Grey’s Anatomy producers to color a pivotal scene in the show. It is a visual and musical pairing which makes the scene haunt you long after you’ve deleted it on your DVR.  I *had* to have “Nothing Left to Lose” and “Breathe In Breathe Out” once I had been haunted by their strains.

Kearney’s new album, Young Love is not only full of wonderful singles which will capture your ear, but it’s presentation as a whole will capture your heart. This is an album you will want to purchase in it’s entirety. The acoustic sounds of Mat’s guitar line blends so beautifully with the Hammond Organ which adds it’s soulful thoughts in the background.

As soon as Mat started his set people rose up out of their chairs and headed toward the stage area on the sand. Boyfriends took their girlfriends by the hand and kids were dancing along in the sand. it was clear that some in the crowd had come to see him specifically, but I am sure he won some new fans that day. Callaway’s beach was the perfect setting for Kearney’s well-written words and heartfelt singing. As the set transitioned through both familiar and new pieces, Mat Kearney delivered a crowd-pleasing performance at the Harvest Moon Festival.

I have been blessed to hear Mat play in various situations. In Nashville he played a concert at the Opryland Hotel for the Blissdom 2011 concert. That was an intimate nightclub situation just for attendees. It was a special night filled with great music. To hear Mat Kearney again in an outdoor venue simply cemented my appreciation for his true musician’s soul and singer/songwriter quality. Though the setting was different, the quality of performance was equally as special. It fit the mood of the Harvest Moon Festival perfectly.

I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to experience this festival’s inaugural year and cannot wait to attend next year’s music and food event. It was so worth orchestrating three children to their respective friends and relatives so that Dave and I could enjoy some uninterrupted conversation. The funny thing is that the festival was so family friendly that they could have actually come along easily. Maybe next time we’ll let them!

Mat Kearney is currently on tour in more than 40 cities.

DISCLOSURE: Mat Kearney’s Young Love concert at Callaway Garden’s 2011 Harvest Moon Festival was a review assignment by the One2One Network. I am a member of One2One Network. They provided me with two festival tickets to facilitate the review and share my honest impressions with you. This in no way influenced my ability to discern good music, nor would I lie to you. Mat Kearney is more than worthy of a date night with your husband. Go get your tickets!

I STILL HEAR THE GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING DAILY. I know some of you do not like change. You never have and you never will…but change is inevitable in the world of technology. Technology is always evolving. So what to do when you are unhappy with something a spunky company like Facebook has changed?

I actually like change. A lot of the updates to Facebook haven’t bothered me. Two things have annoyed me though:

1. Where are my friends and their statuses? I have over 950 friends, but somehow Facebook determined that I only wanted to see 10% of their updates. Dislike.
2. The incessant scrolling in the right hand column. It could make anyone crazy. Enough said.

So I looked high and low for the settings. I’ve done it before and had great success. This time I could not find the right settings. I was able to make the scrolling area smaller, but no luck making it disappear. That’s when I began to think about how a work around could be made. The following is just a temporary solution, but I thought I would offer it to anyone who was interested.

The comments are in dark orange on the screenshots. Ready to try it?

FIRST, go to the left hand column below you profile picture. Move down to the “LISTS” section and click on that header:

SECOND, the lists will load which you have previously created. Click on the “Create a List” button and then select a name for your new list:

THIRD, Name your list whatever you want. I named mine “All”. Click the blue “Create List” button:

FOURTH, you are now going to add whomever you want into that new list. Because I was curious at what I had missed I took the time to select literally all of my friends. To begin this process you need to click “Add friends” below the newspaper icon.

FIFTH, The lovely profiles of your friends and family will show up in a box like this and you simply click on the ones you want to select. See my friend Alicia Hagen? She has a check mark on her profile picture indicating that I have selected her. After you finish your selections, click “Done”.

ONE CATCH:

You will need to click on the list you created each time you want this view. It’s a small price to pay for having your screen set up like you want it.

Any questions?

I’M OVER AT SAVVY SOURCE TODAY WITH THE FIRST OF MY FALL ARTICLES FOR OCTOBER. Come on over and visit the site. After you read my article take the time to explore some of their activities and parenting ideas. There are writers in different area of the country so you can find articles local to you by changing your zip code information. I’ve really enjoyed being part of this team of writers. Today’s article:

The Best of Fall in Atlanta

We’ve gotten a lot of rain today here in Georgia, but this weekend is supposed to be beautiful. Beautiful Fall weather…I adore it!

I’VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I’LL SAY IT AGAIN — KID ART IS SPECIAL. As you know, I love kid art. On Friday a drawing appeared on our refrigerator with very little fanfare. It was put under a magnet and quietly waited for someone to notice it. I saw it as we finished packing the sunscreen and other details later that night. It was a drawing by Grace. A piece she had done on September 12, 2011. The day after the ten year anniversary of 9/11.

And the words were accurate — particularly for someone who was not born on 9/11/01.

Love the way she mentions the debris falling from the disaster. I think the visuals she saw last month during all of the news recaps must have made quite an impression on her.

This year we let our children see a little more of the news and reality that happened on that horrible day. For them it was a relief to see some explanation as to why our country and communities honor those lost in 9/11. Some things made sense to them. They have always known about our friend’s sacrifice at the Pentagon. Oddly enough, our teenager who was four and a half when it happened remembers the actual day. She remembers her Grandmother picking her up at school and not understanding why. She remembers us being in the hospital with a 4 day old William. William knows that his birth is very close to the actual date.

Grace was not even born then. That’s why it is so interesting to see her interpretation of this history event. I gave her a big hug when I realized why she had put her drawing front and center on the fridge. I was glad for a reminder of life a month later after the 10 year anniversary.

Children are very perceptive, aren’t they? Happy {Not So Wordless} Wednesday!