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Thought of the Day - 8/29/09

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.
~~ Miss Piggy ~~

Today, find EVERYTHING beautiful!

I Have a Dream

"I have a dream." It was one of the most dramatic lines of the 20th century. Spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the summer of 1963, it cut deeply into the culture's consciousness when America was deeply divided and at war with itself.

It was 46 years ago yesterday (8/28/09) that Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, spoke passionately about his dreams and hopes for equality in the United States.

Thought of the Day - 8/28/09

If you see a difference between where you are and where you want to be - consciously change your thoughts, words, and actions to match your grandest vision.
~~ Neal Donald Walsch ~~

Thought of the Day - 8/27/09

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~

Cut Energy Costs

Now many people are trying to cut costs and stick to a stricter budget. Since the electric bill can be quite high for families and small businesses, it’s a good idea to cut the energy consumption as much as possible.

The trick to lowering the electric bill is making smart purchases and using good strategies. To start cutting your energy costs and saving our natural resources, download these free goodies from EnergySTAR.

Do you want to teach your child about saving energy? Check out the kid-friendly downloads and kids page.

Do you need coupons to help you start the “saving” process? You can get coupons just by taking the GE lighting pledge. If you don’t want to sign up, you can visit the rebate locator to find deals in your local area.

Thought of the Day - 8/26/09

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.
~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~

Invisible Illness Week

Wordless Wednesday #31

First day of school is today.


















Of course, we had to have one silly photo.



For more photos, go to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Thought of the Day - 8/25/09

Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice. Not something to wish for, but to attain.
~~ William Jennings Bryan ~~

What Does It Say?

What does it say about me when the first thing I do every morning is check my Facebook messages?

What does it say about me when the last thing I do every night is check my Facebook messages?

What does it say about me when I also check my cell phone at those times?

All in the hopes that I get a message, however brief it may be, from you.

What does it say about me that after 25 I still love you?

What does it say about me that during these 25 years I have missed you during all that time?

Thought of the Day - 8/24/09

In solitude the mind gain strength and learns to lean upon itself.
~~ Laurence Sterne ~~

Grace

Grace by Richard Paul Evans

"She was my first kiss. My first love. She was a little match girl who could see the future in the flame of a candle. She as a runaway who taught me more about life than anyone has before or since. And when she was gone my innocence left with her.

There are things that become clearer to me as a I grow older. This much I know: too many things were kept secret in those days. Things that never should have been hidden. And things that should have."

This is a story of a young runaway and the boy who hides her from a frightening world too large and unfathomable for him to comprehend. As usual for Mr. Evans, it is a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Get out the tissues.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5

What is Your Mom Blogger Status

I’m curious. Has anyone else seen a trend in the SAME mom bloggers who are being handpicked for special events, conference panels, or incredible business opportunities? With the web overly saturated with so many fabulous mom bloggers, it seems that only a select few are being recognized over and over again. Why is this happening? This observation has me intrigued as to how one determines blogger status, and if that method is fair.

I am not a marketing or PR guru, so I do not know or understand the formula for figuring out one’s status or influence. Maybe it is calculated by Twitter followers or subscribers. Maybe it is based on years of experience, college degrees, or frankly, who you know. I personally have nothing against the “high status” mom bloggers, and I think it is awesome that they get to share in these experiences. My only qualm is why do companies and PR firms want to pick the same groups of bloggers? Would it not be more effective to target a completely different pool of mom bloggers, each time, who have not previously worked with companies A, B, & C, and who do not have current obligations with those companies? Would it not be smarter to tap into a new circle of bloggers that would soak up a special opportunity, and thus, put their heart into it more than, say, a blogger who has already been to 10 events that year?

I have no idea what my mom blogger status is, and I honestly don’t care. What I do care about is building positive, meaningful relationships, whether it be in friendship or business, and not worrying about what may follow monetarily.

Thought of the Day - 8/23/09

Love not who you are but what you may become.
~~ Miguel de Ceruantes ~~

Hold Tight

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

"Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd spy on their kids. But their sixteen-year-old son Adam has been unusually distant lately, and after the suicide of his best friend Spencer Hill, they can't help but worry. Within days of installing a sophisticated spy program on Adam's compute, they are jolted by a cryptic message from an unknown correspondent that shakes them to their core: Just stay quiet and all safe.

As if Mike Baye isn't dealing with enough, he also learns that Luca Loriman, the sweet kid who grew up next door, is in urgent need of a kidney transplant. As the boy's doctor, Mike suddenly find himself in possession of an explosive secret that threatens t rip the Loriman family apart at the seams.

Nearby, while browsing through an online memorial for Spence, Betsy Hill discovers a surprising detail about the night of her son's death. Before she can find out more, Adam disappears, taking the truth with him and sending shock waves through the neighborhood.

As the lives of these families collide in tragic, unexpected, and violent ways, long-hidden connection in their small suburb begin to work their way to the surface. And when an unidentified Jane Doe is beaten to death no far away, those connections threaten to turn this quiet community upside down -- and force these desperate parents to decide whether there is any line they won't cross to protect those they love most in the world."

The book raises the question how well do you know your child(ren). Harlan's promise of a thriller falls a little short in this book.

Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 3.5

Happy 10th Birthday!


 
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