Tag Archives: Family

October 28, 2016 · 12:15 am

How To Save on Things To Do with #Groupon

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

Kids grow so fast, it seems time is racing and we are trying to create as many lifelong memories as we can before they leave home. You may feel that it will be ages before that happens but I can tell you, it happens in the blink of an eye. I was blessed to be able to start all over again after my first three were in their teens. So now, with 2 little ones, I know how fast it truly goes. I have not discovered a way to stop time or travel back in time, so I am just trying to treasure the moments we have.

Some of our favorite ways to make great memories are to do things together as a family. That is why I love Groupon so much! Their site is my go-to when looking to do things in the area. When I find something I want to do or a place I want to go to and I can save big with Groupon, I feel like a champion. The money we save, means our dollars go farther and we can do more for less. Who doesn’t want to save these days?

Have you ever checked Groupon out? If you haven’t, you need to! Just go to Groupon-Things To Do and see what that brings up. You will be amazed at all the great deals on all kinds of activities. You can browse through all kinds of events near you like; Concerts, Museums, Live Shows, Festivals, Sporting Events, Comedy Clubs, Tours and so much more.

Give it a try and let me know how you make out. If you are a seasoned Groupon user, let me know some of the best deals you were able to take advantage of. I would love to hear all about it.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Attractions, Coupon, Family Fun, Saving Money

Tagged as #Groupon, Events, Family, Saving, Things To Do

October 19, 2016 · 3:22 pm

A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Asthma

Asthma is recognized as one of the leading chronic disorders in childhood, affecting almost 7 million kids in the United States alone. Despite this, a lot of parents remain uneducated or misinformed about what exactly makes it a serious condition. And for parents of kids with asthma, proper education on the disease is imperative to avoid situations that may require emergency care or cause life-threatening complications.

Asthma is incurable, but there are a lot of ways to manage it. Find out what you need to know about asthma and how to prevent its attacks with this step by step guide created by FilterBuy.com.

Asthma is more common in the United States than you might think

Around 1 to 2 in every 10 kids (approximately 14%) have been told that they have asthma. The thing is, with this condition being incurable, the children who are part of the 14% will grow up and add to the already growing number of teens and adults living with asthma. It is more common than one might think.

Health concerns with asthma

Every year, around 10.5 million school days are missed because of asthma and its complications. In 2010 alone, the number of emergency room cases by children complaining of asthma-related problems added up to a staggering 640,000 visits. These are certainly legitimate health concerns, especially when you factor in that over 150 kids die every year from asthma.

5 Steps to Act Against Your Child’s Asthma

Step 1: Increase your asthma awareness

Asthma causes the airways to become narrow and then start to swell, causing inflammation. Additionally, this causes extra mucus to be produced. The inflammation of the airways plus the excessive mucus causes difficulty in breathing, which makes the asthmatic person start to wheeze, cough, and experience shortness of breath.

Males are generally more at risk for being affected by asthma. Genetics also play a huge role in determining the risk factor for this condition, as does the existence of allergies, and respiratory infections. Being constantly exposed to a polluted environment can also increase the risk for asthma.

Step 2: Know the triggers and how to avoid them

Cigarette smoke and pollution can magnify the symptoms of asthma, as will allergens such as pollen and dust. The dander of pets can also trigger symptoms, and this is why a lot of people with asthma opt not to bring in pets into their homes. Having an upper respiratory infection can also cause asthma symptoms.

Excessive physical activity can exacerbate the symptoms of asthma, so exercise should be done under the doctor’s recommendation. Symptoms are more common in cold weather, and excessive emotional outburst like crying or yelling can trigger them even more.

Step 3: Manage asthma symptoms
Take your child to the doctor as soon as asthma symptoms are noticed. Early treatment can avoid trips to the emergency room and missed workdays for parents.

What Asthma Medications Do Doctors Prescribe?

Quick Relief

At times called “rescue” medication, quick relief meds are given to provide fast relief from asthma symptoms. The relief is short-term, though, but they work in a similar way as first-aid medications. They mostly come in inhaler form.

Long-term Control

The goal of long-term control is to prevent symptoms from coming up, as well as to avoid asthma attacks which can be deadly. This typically involves the intake of daily medication through oral, inhaled, or intravenous methods.

When to call 911?
Asthma causes the airways to get inflamed, which makes breathing difficult. When the child afflicted with asthma starts gasping for air, or has trouble speaking, it’s time to call 911.

Step 4: Prevent Asthma Attacks

Prevention is always far better than cure, and in asthma, there are ways to prevent attacks from occurring. The focus should be on eliminated the triggers that could cause asthma symptoms to show, and this includes minimizing dust, reducing pet dander, avoiding pollen and mold growth, eliminating smoking, and ensuring that the child stays healthy. Changing air filters regularly is one way to avoid these dangers. Parents should also coordinate with the teachers at school about the child’s condition so they can take necessary measures in keeping the environment at school safe for children with asthma.

Step 5: Help your child stay healthy

Asthma can be deadly when not properly controlled, but it can certainly be managed. Preparing an Asthma Action Plan on top of the careful monitoring of the child’s asthma symptoms can help a lot in disease management. By keeping the child healthy and fit, asthma complications and attacks can be prevented.

View and download the complete infographic here.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Education, Family, Guest Post, Health, Sponsored

Tagged as #sp, Allergies, Asthma, Family, Guest Post, Health

September 4, 2016 · 11:23 pm

How To Keep The People & Things You Love Most Close To You

What are the meaningful things in your life. Maybe you are thinking about your family, your husband, your kids, your pets, your hobbies or your career. Would you like to showcase those things in a way where you could have them with you and be able to share them with others? If you think that sounds nice, a charm bracelet may just be something you would like. Did you know you can make personalized photo charms using photos of your family and pets? Some can be engraved with names and dates to make them even more special.

Charm bracelets make beautiful gifts to celebrate anniversaries, graduations, holidays and more. Right now you can save big on charms at Soufeel. They have a sale going on where you can get up to 60% off personalized charms. Plus they have $5 off $60, $10 off $100 and $20 off $150!

I love Soufeel charms because they have such a great selection of charms and whether you want family charms, inspirational charms, charms that represent your hobby or career, you are probably going to find it on their site.

Their charms are very high quality and so detailed. All of their products are made of 100% 925 Sterling Silver. I love Soufeel charms and recently orders some personalized photo charms and others. Check out the great charms I choose.

I was provided with charms and a bracelet to facilitate my review. As always my words and views are 100% my own.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Faith, Family, jewelry, Life Stages, Review

Tagged as Anniversary, Charm Bracelet, Charms, children, Faith, Family, pets, Sale, Soufeel, Weddings

May 16, 2016 · 7:40 pm

#ESVFamilyDevotionalBible- Share God’s Word As A Family -#Giveaway

The say that family that prays together stays together, in fact my priest just told me that the other day! If you are looking for a way to help your family read and apply God’s Word together, I have good news. The ESV FAMILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE is a hardbound colorful Bible that retells 130 key stories from the Bible. The stories feature full color illustrations as well as a key verse and are placed within the Bible text where it is found. The stories are simplified and easy for children of all ages to understand.

I was happy to see that this Bible provided a way to share stories whenever with our children. They are the perfect length for reading in addition to a traditional bedtime story. There are questions that you can use with your children to spur discussion of the story. There is also a key verse for the story that I really liked.

The ESV Family Devotional Bible is designed to help families read and apply God’s Word together. This full-color edition features the complete ESV text interspersed with engaging illustrations and gospel-centered devotions related to key Bible stories—guiding families through the entirety of God’s Word over the course of a year. Each devotion also includes discussion questions and suggestions for additional reading, helping families develop a habit of reading the Bible together and applying its truth to all of life. You can find this Bible on Amazon.

Enter The Giveaway:

Propeller / FlyBy Promotions is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own ESV Family Devotional Bible. Thank you to Propeller / FlyBy Promotions for the review Bible and for sponsoring this inspirational giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

ESV Family Devotional Bible Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Family, Giveaway, kids, Spiritual

Tagged as #ESVFamilyDevotionalBible, #FlyBy, Bible, Family, giveaway, God, Mommy Ramblings

February 29, 2016 · 12:48 am

Great Easter Basket Treat For The Whole Family-#Giveaway

Are you looking for something that won’t cause cavities and sugar highs for your kid’s Easter basket? If so, you might want to take a look at Capture The Flag, a fun-filled space adventure that arrives on DVD, Digital HD and On Demand March 1, 2016!

CAPTURE THE FLAG is approved by the Dove Foundation for family audiences, the film weaves a fantastical tale of a boy, his father and grandfather who come together to protect the legacy of the original moon landing. With reimagined animated scenes of the famed Apollo 11 mission, CAPTURE THE FLAG offer fans of all ages an entertaining take on NASA and space exploration.

Space travel runs in Mike Goldwing’s family: both his father and grandfather were astronauts. But the plucky 12-year-old’s estranged grandfather, Frank, has lived a life isolated from his family after missing out on the chance to make history as a member of the Apollo 11 crew. However, when Mike discovers that an eccentric billionaire plans to fly to the moon, claim its vast, valuable mineral resources, and destroy the American flag planted by the Apollo 11 astronauts, the countdown to a spectacular adventure begins! Mike, teamed with his grandfather, best friends Amy and Marty, and a clever chameleon, blasts off on an incredible moon-bound mission, determined to thwart the billionaire’s evil plan, capture the flag, and reunite his divided family.

An ideal gift for Easter, the CAPTURE THE FLAG DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description, with English, French and Spanish subtitles.

CAPTURE THE FLAG

Street Date: March 1, 2016

SRP: $29.99 U.S.

Runtime: 97 minutes

U.S. Rating: PG for action, language and some thematic elements

Canadian Rating: G

Enter To Win

Paramount Home Media Distribution is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Capture The Flag DVD. Thank you to Paramount Home Media Distribution for the review product and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Capture The Flag DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →

8 Comments

Filed under Attractions, Entertainment, Faith, Family, Family Fun, Giveaway, Holiday, Movies

Tagged as Capture The Flag, contest, DVD, Easter, Faith, Family, giveaway, mommyramblings, Moon Landing, Paramount Home Media, Space

February 19, 2016 · 11:01 pm

The Legend of the Easter Robin #Giveaway #EasterRobin #FlyBy

Surprisingly up until last week the weather in Upstate New York has been mild. January 31st was like a spring day and we missed the snowstorms that dumped a few feet of the white stuff to areas less than 60 minutes from us. In fact, we have no snow on the ground at all. We did experience bone chilling cold temperatures of -6 degrees Fahrenheit last weekend. It has warmed up, but nowhere near the early spring like temperatures we were having a few weeks ago.

Christmas day was so warm we had dandelions blooming but ironically, Mother Nature wants to give us a taste of winter before spring rolls in. It looks like the next 10 days will only bring us highs in the 30’s and 40’s along with some snow showers. Oh well, it can’t last that long, at least I hope it won’t. I am eager to see the first Robin Red Breast of spring. Speaking of spring, I have a great book to share with you. The Legend of the Easter Robin is a great book that is perfect to share with your own child or any special child in your life to captivate and teach them about compassion and faith.

In the center of the nest lay one perfect egg, the color of a spring sky. The father robin sat on a branch nearby, guarding his family. Tressa spotted raccoon tracks below and a blue jay eyeing the nest. “Gran, how are we going to keep the egg safe?” “We’ll have to leave that one to the Creator,” Gran said. Robins have built a nest on the window ledge at Grandmother’s house! Tressa is thrilled―and concerned. What will happen to the sky-blue egg laid by the mother robin? As more eggs appear, Tressa witnesses the daily drama of the robins’ nest and learns how God cares for all creatures. Besides watching the birds, there are Easter eggs to color. And there is a very special story to hear―a tale of long ago about one small bird with a very big heart. How did the robin get its red breast? Tressa is about to find out as Gran tells her the story of the Easter robin. Brought to life with colorful, tender illustrations, The Legend of the Easter Robin makes a perfect Easter Gift!

Giveaway

Would you like to enter our giveaway to win a copy? I thought you would, just enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. Please read our rules below. Good Luck!!!

The Legend of the Easter Robin Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Open to residents of the USA and Canada only.

Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Books, Education, Faith, Family, Gift, Giveaway, Holiday

Tagged as #EasterRobin and #FlyBy, book, Easter Gift, Faith, Family, giveaway, Legend of the Easter Robin, Robin Red Breast, Spring

February 2, 2016 · 1:10 pm

Monster Truck Destruction Tour Coming To New Jersey!

If you have Monster Truck fans in your family, you are going to want to read this! The Monster Truck Destruction Tour is making its way to the SUN NATIONAL BANK CENTER in Trenton, New Jersey! Advance discount tickets are available online at ComcastTix.com, by phone at 1-800-298-4200, or at the Box Office (609) 656-3200. Adult tickets start at $20 and kids 2-11 start at $5, kids 2 years old and under are free! Event is indoors and as one would expect will be very loud. Bring ear protection for little ones! It is best to purchase tickets now as they may increase the day of the show.

Monster Truck Lineup:

BIGFOOT… The truck that started it all!
CRUSHTATION… This Monster is straight from Casco Bay!
BEAST…Nothing’s stopping this monster!
SON OF BEAST… Going head-to-head with the BIG boys!
LUMBERJACK… He’ hauling a heavy load!

Additional Features:
PIT PARTY & DRIVER AUTOGRAPH SESSION...Come early, meet the drivers, get autographs and take photos with the drivers and their Monsters.
Pit party pass must be accompanied by an event ticket.

FREESTYLE MOTOCROSS… The best of the best will be performing sick tricks! including: roof scrapping Cliffhangers, Double Grabs,
Superman Seat Grabs, and of course THE BACKFLIP!

RIDE TRUCK…That’s right! Get the ride of your life on-board a real Monster Truck during the Pit Party and Intermission!

Pit Party Information:

Order a VIP ticket and Party in the Pits with the stars of the MONSTER TRUCK DESTRUCTION TOUR! Didn’t score VIP tickets? Don’t worry, you can purchase a Pit Party Pass for just $10! Party with the Drivers starts 90 minutes before show time and ends 30 minutes before show time, every show.

Event Notes:

Event will be indoors. Loud noise and exhaust fumes should be expected.
Not recommended for children under 2 years of age.
No video cameras, or professional extended lens cameras allowed.
Event length approximately 2-3 hours.

Venue Information:
SUN NATIONAL BANK CENTER, 81 HAMILTON AVE AT RT. 129, TRENTON, NJ 08611 – (609) 656-3200

Save 50% off selected merchandise! – Enjoy savings off selected merchandise on location! Not to be combined with any other offer. Click HERE to redeem offer.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Attractions, Entertainment, Family, Family Fun, Travel

Tagged as Afraid of Monsters, Destruction Tour, Entertainment, Family, Monster Truck, Monster Truck Demolition, NJ, Tickets, Trenton, USFG

November 6, 2015 · 7:35 pm

How Three Wishes Can Change Everything

Discover How Three Wishes Can Change Everything in Disney’s Timeless Adventure
for the Whole Family Available for the First Time on Blu-ray™ and Digital HD!

Enjoy This Magic Carpet Ride of Non-Stop Comedy on

Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) and Blu-ray Combo Pack

My oldest three children loved this movie! I am so glad to be able to share this new Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo pack with my youngest children now. How wonderful to see them watch this for the first time and relive those memories I shared with my older children.

Disney’s beloved masterpiece will make your heart race and your spirit soar. Experience the laughter, adventure and Academy Award®-winning music (1992: Best Music, Original Song, “A Whole New World,” Original Score) for the first time on Blu-ray and Digital HD. And now Aladdin shines even brighter with never-before-seen tributes to the enchanting talent of Robin Williams, the “Genius behind the Genie”. Click HERE to watch the trailer!

Voice Cast: Robin Williams (Jumanji, Night at the Museum) as The Genie, Scott Weinger (TV’s “Full House”) as Aladdin, Linda Larkinas Jasmine, Gilbert Gottfried (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”) as Iago, Jonathan Freeman (Aladdin: the Musical on Broadway) as Jafar, Douglas Seale (Rescuers Down Under, For Love or Money) as Sultan and Frank Welker (Mulan, The Smurfs 2) as Abu.

Producers/ John Musker and Ron Clements (Moana, The Little Mermaid, Hercules)

Directors:

Writers: Ron Clements and John Musker (Moana, The Little Mermaid, Hercules)

Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio (Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean 1-4)

Music & Lyrics: Alan Menken – Music (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Howard Ashman – Lyrics (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast), Tim Rice – Lyrics (The Lion King, Evita)

Blu-ray & Digital The Genie Outtakes – Robin Williams’ Genie outtakes are magically

Bonus Features: brought to life.

Genie 101 – Our host, Scott Weinger (the voice of Aladdin), takes us through the various transformations of the famous (and formerly famous) celebrity references of the Genie.

Ron & John: You Ain’t Never Had a Friend Like Me – Directors John Musker & Ron Clements sit down and discuss the experiences of their long-running partnership together at Disney.

Aladdin: Creating Broadway Magic – Join host Darren Criss as we take “a new fantastic point of view” at the story of how Aladdin went from a classic Disney animated film to become Broadway’s smash hit with Composer Alan Menken and others.

Unboxing Aladdin – Our host, Joey Bragg from Disney Channel’s Liv & Maddy, explore the Easter eggs and hidden secrets of Aladdin in this unboxing video.

Classic Bonus – ALL classic bonus from the original DVD release

DMA Exclusive: Deleted Song – “My Finest Hour” – Jafar takes the stage in this never-

Bonus Features: before-seen deleted song. Includes intro from Ron & John. (DMA exclusive)

DVD Bonus Features: Select Classic Bonus, including:

· Deleted Song / “Proud Of Your Boy” (Original Demo Recording)

· Deleted Song / “You Can Count On Me”

· Deleted Song / “Humiliate The Boy”

· Deleted Song / “Why Me”

· Deleted Scene / “Aladdin & Jasmine’s First Meeting”

· Deleted Scene / “Aladdin in the Lap of Luxury”

Ratings: G in US & Canada (bonus materials are not rated)

Feature Run Time: Approximately 91 Minutes

Aspect Ratio: 1:85:1

Audio: Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital. DVD: English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital.

Languages: English, French and Spanish

Subtitles: English (ESL/SDH), French and Spanish

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook:

Twitter:

Website: http://movies.disney.com/aladdin

DMA App:

ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA):

Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) is an engaging and family-friendly cloud-based digital movie service that makes it simple to buy your favorite Disney, Pixar and Marvel movies once and watch them anywhere. With DMA you can explore Disney’s library of over 400 eligible digital movies, discover hours of new and exclusive short-form content, and watch your digital movies from the comfort of the living room or across multiple mobile devices. In addition, you can redeem Digital Copy codes found in Disney, Pixar and Marvel Blu-rays and DVDs, as well as earn Disney Movie Rewards points with every digital purchase. Sign up and access Disney Movies Anywhere for free on DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com and through the Disney Movies Anywhere iOS and Android apps. Users can then simply connect their iTunes, Google Play and/or VUDU at VUDU.com/DMA accounts to begin enjoying their Disney, Pixar, and Marvel digital movie collections across platforms and devices.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS

Combining masterful artistry and storytelling with groundbreaking technology, Walt Disney Animation Studios is a filmmaker-driven animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved films ever made. Located in Burbank, WDAS continues to build on its rich legacy of innovation and creativity, stretching from the first fully-animated feature film, 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to 2013’s Academy Award®-winning Frozen, the biggest animated film of all time. Among the studio’s timeless creations are Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Tangled and the Oscar®-winning Big Hero 6.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Disney, Entertainment, Movies

Tagged as Blu-ray Combo Pack, Diamond Edition Aladdin, Disney, Entertainment, Family, Movie, Robin Williams

June 22, 2015 · 12:01 pm

Great Ways To Get That Energy Out This Summer #HealthyHabits

I am part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network and this post is sponsored by the Together Counts/Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital. As always my words and views are 100% my own.

Some of my greatest memories growing up are from great times had as a Girl Scout. The activities, crafts, learning experiences and outdoor adventures have remained with me all my life. Those experiences inspired me to lead my daughter’s Girl Scout troop. Seeing the Girl Scouts as both a scout and a leader showed me what awesome resources there were for girls and their leaders. I remember going to many leader trainings and the sense of camaraderie was so heartwarming.

I learned some great life lessons and values in my time as a scout and as a leader I tried to do that for the girls I was leading. I am excited to share the collaboration of the Girl Scouts Nations’s Capital and the Together Counts program. Together Counts is a program by the “Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation” to reduce obesity through active and healthy living. Inspiring physical activity and good nutrition are the fundamentals of this program.

Balancing Act:

The principle behind the Together Counts is called Energy Balance, which just means balancing the calories we consume with the calories we expend.

Energy In: the calories you get from eating and drinking.

Energy Out: the calories you burn from physical activities.

Now that Summer is officially here, some great ways to get Energy Out are camping, hiking, swimming, biking, planting gardens, mowing lawns, running, community service and so much more. Just getting out and being active makes such a difference. See our list below for inspiration and ideas how to get that Energy Out!

Great Resources:

Girl Scouts in partnership with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation developed three “Healthy Habits” booklets. These free booklets are an excellent resource to use with Daises, Brownies, Juniors, Girl Scout leaders, volunteers and their families to guide them in fun, easy ways to achieve “energy balance.” They provide inspiration and ideas to help girls learn the habits and lead healthy, active lifestyles. The Healthy Habits booklets are helpful for volunteers to use in conjunction with their Journey Adult Guides.

The 3 Healthy Habits booklets available for download include:

Between Earth and Sky with Healthy Habits – girls learn about the many plants, trees,and animals that flourish in nature, and also build important leadership skills.
WOW! Wonders of Water with Healthy Habits – girls discover the many forms and paths that water takes and how to protect it. They also learn how to engage in teamwork,speak effectively to convey a message, and inspire others.
Get Moving! with Healthy Habits – girls learn how to use their energy to protect Earth’s energy and build important leadership skills.

Girl Scouts

My involvement with the Girl Scouts has been such a treasured time of my life as well as my daughter’s life. I love that Health and fitness have been part of Girl Scouting since girls ran foot races in 1912! Camping is essential to Girl Scouts mission. It is about the outdoors, and developing a deep appreciation for nature. I can recall many enjoyable, active outdoor activities and camping trips. Girls enjoy camping with their troop or attending a Girl Scout day, evening or resident sleep-away camp. From high adventure with kayaking, archery and rock climbing to traditional camps with crafts, singing, hiking and cooking over an open fire, Girl Scout camps give girls an opportunity to grow, explore, and have fun under the guidance of caring, trained adults. Find your local council to enroll girls in camp programs.

Girl Scouts’ leadership program is girl-led. And Girl Scouts sure do a lot with guidance from caring adult mentors! From national badge programs to council-wide events, each council offers a variety of exciting program opportunities for girls of all ages. Volunteers are supported with program level and subject training courses online and in classroom settings. There is a lot of peer-to-peer support and mentoring, and quality publications to support the delivery of high quality programs. To locate the council nearest you, see the Girl Scout Council Finder.

Follow Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital on Twitter and Facebook for council information including awards, photos, resources, highlights from council events and volunteering as well as partner content for Together Counts!

Helpful Links:

Together Counts Website –The website is consumer friendly—aimed at parents and educators and provides resources, tips, recipes and more.
Together Counts Blog – The Together Counts blog is the main source of all consumer-friendly news including HWCF campaigns, announcements and content from HWCF partners around the topic of healthy eating habits and incorporating more physical activity.
Together Counts Twitter – On Twitter, Together Counts shares everything from digital assets(video, infographics) to industry or conference news related to food in addition to campaign and partner news.
Together Counts Pinterest – Together Counts’ resource for sharing recipe inspiration from across the network, family activity ideas and pins from partners that relate to family eating and activity including Girl Scouts, Healthy Dining Finders, etc.

Would love to have your thoughts on this great collaboration as well as any of your experiences as a scout or leader you would like to share in the comments.

11 Comments

Filed under Education, Family, Family Fun, Main Page Post

Tagged as “No Girl Left Inside”, Active, Activity, Energy Balance, Energy Out, Family, Free Booklets, Girl Scouts, Healthy Habits, Obesity, Outdoors, Together Counts, Volunteers

May 10, 2015 · 1:19 am

Remembering The Motherless on Mother’s Day – The Cardinals’ Kiss

I wrote something 2 days ago on Facebook that received many comments and resonated with many people. I thought I would share it here today, for all the motherless on Mother’s Day.

The Cardinals’ Kiss

10 years ago on Mother’s Day, I lost my mother, my best friend, and life was forever changed. 364 days later, I lost my father. It was the end of an era. Yesterday, on the anniversary of my Dad’s passing, I saw a male and female cardinal who were nesting in our yard.

The male cardinal kept flying over to where I was sitting on the porch, and would sing sweetly, the female sang too as she stayed clearly in my view. They would at times, both fly back to a bush in the front yard and perch there.

I saw them throughout the day, and it was comforting to me. I am certain it was a sign that their spirit is still here. I am so grateful for signs like this. My two youngest children never had the chance to meet their grandparents, which is so sad to me. Last spring, I told my youngest son, Luke, that the Swallowtail butterflies that always come in a pair every spring and summer, remind me of them.

When the Swallowtails stay on the lilacs, my mother’s favorite flower or when I see them circling around my two youngest children as they play, I know it is a sign they are here. Well, Luke came in the house all excited shortly after that and said, “Mommy, I saw your mother in the garden.” He meant the butterfly, a preschooler’s take on it. It made me smile.

The other sign, is the pair of eagles on our lake, we never had eagles, until the summer after my father passed away. Now, we have a pair of bald eagles living here. Some may say I am crazy, and it is my own wishful thinking, but it pulls me from the darkest moments. Those moments, where I have thoughts that maybe “this” is all there is, maybe Heaven and eternal life is something many have to believe because the truth of “that” and the fact we would never see our loved ones again, is too painful to comprehend.

When I see these signs, it pulls me out of that thinking, it gives me hope and faith that there is so much more to “this.” I love and miss you every day Mom and Dad, please keep sending signs to let me know you are near and watching over us. I need them more than you know.

After I wrote this status, I went outside and saw the most amazing thing just as I was going back inside. I know the picture below is not the best, but I am so glad I was able to capture the moment. The male and female cardinal flew to a branch off my porch near my front door as I was going back inside, and they kissed.

When I went out early that afternoon, I sat on the porch and the male cardinal flew right across my field of vision to land in a bush directly across the yard from where I was sitting. He looked at me, and twisted his head in all sorts of ways. and then sang his beautiful song. He just stayed there singing and looking at me.

I was blown away by these moments, and so very grateful. I hope that all of the motherless have a moment like that, one so profound it lets you know her spirit is around you. I hope it gives you comfort and peace on a day that makes you remember more than ever, just how much you have lost. I wish you all of you a happy Mother’s Day, and most of all, I hope you see signs!