August 31st, 2010 by El Ed Mom

“Ready To Learn Mom” with Stacey Kannenberg Radio Show at 10 CST/11 EST every Wednesday!  Join us on 09/01/10 with the Top 2 Winner in the Business Baby Shower Contest, Lori Sawyer of Mommy Moves who is going to help us get fit! 

About Lori Sawyer, M.A., ATC, Owner

National Athletic Trainiers Association Certified Athletic Trainer
National Academy of Sports Medicine, Personal Trainer
National Association of Sports Nutrition Consultant
Owner, LS-Fitness and Founder of Mommy-Moves
Co-Owner, Kids-Move

Lori Sawyer earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Movement Studies and Exercise Science with a concentration in Athletic Training from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania.  She then earned a Masters of Arts Degree in Exercise Science from Montclair State University in New Jersey. 

After graduating, Lori took a position at Seton Hall University as an Athletic Trainer for two years.   She then moved to Los Angeles to take a position as a staff Athletic Trainer at UCLA in 2001.  While at UCLA, she traveled with the women’s basketball team and was directly responsible for the  women’s tennis team and the 2003 national championship women’s water polo team. 

Her focus as an Athletic Trainer has been on injury prevention, rehabilitation, and sports specific training. She has developed a well deserved reputation in the field for bringing athletes back from injury, quicker and safer than before.  While at UCLA, she was certified in the Graston Technique for pain and injury management. 

Since undergraduate school and throughout her career, she has trained people from every walk of life to help them improve their lifestyle and achieve their specific goals.  Now, her lifestyle and goals have changed.  She has created LS-Fitness, a personal training, nutrition and rehabilitation business that focuses on core strength while achieving your goals.  When Jake was born she wanted to stay at home with her new son, she also didn’t want to end her professional career…so MOMMY-MOVES! was born!  Now with 2 beautiful boys (Jake  and Chase) She runs the Mommy-Moves program and continues to teach classes, while working on building Kids-Move with Co-Owner, Mary Patterson.  They are working on building a family fitness franchise!  She is also working on becoming certified in the Tupler technique, a non surgical way to close diastasis recti, a common abdominal problem in women with children.

Fore more information, visit Lori’s websites at www.Mommy-Moves.com and www.KidsMove.com.  

For more information, please CLICK HERE.

August 24th, 2010 by El Ed Mom

When I was asked to review the ISafeBag (www.isafebags.com); I could hardly wait to receive it.  It was invented by an entrepreneur in the Chicago area after he heard a news story about a woman walking on the street at night who was raped by four guys.  He was so upset by this story that he decided to do something to help protect women and kids from abductors, muggers and rapists…and even your run-of-the-mill school yard bullies!  I love that he was inspired to take ACTION!!!

Essentially, the ISafeBag looks like a regular backpack but underneath a flap on the right strap is a rip cord that, when pulled, activates a LOUD alarm (equivalent to a car alarm) and a strobe light.  It will sound for two hours so it’s also wonderful for campers or hikers who are lost.  It works on two nine volt batteries and the weight and price of this back pack is similar to any other back pack BUT this offers PEACE OF MIND!!

Ironically, on the day it arrived, I had received an email alert that an alleged kidnapper was on the loose in our tiny community. I am not kidding! The alert contained a picture of a man who looked very familiar as someone we had all recognized as seeing before in our small town.  I work from home so I turned on our home security alarm.  When it was time to walk down to the mailbox, our lovely babysitter and neighbor (who we all love like a family member) Amanda (Photo by Heidi Kannenberg) wore the ISafeBag Sling Bag and pulled the ripcord.  

It’s LOUD and will definitely scare away a predator and get attention!  My girls reminded me that it will also scare away the coyotes who have been getting braver and braver, and the recent black bears that have been seen in our neighborhood too!   I just reminded the girls that it was not a toy, but a tool. 

So the ISafeBag isn’t just for back to school for kids and college students; it’s perfect for traveling, hiking, camping, biking and other outdoor adventures, the zoo, the park, shopping and any place you need a little extra PEACE OF MIND! 

We all love the ISafeBag!  Please share it with your loved ones too!

Smiles – Stacey

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary ISafe Bag for this review. No other compensation was provided.

August 19th, 2010 by El Ed Mom

Now that summer is ending, many of us are thinking about the upcoming school year and how to create an atmosphere of success for our children. Regardless of age, a blank notebook, a fresh backpack, new pencils, pens, markers, and/or crayons should be joyful and yet, for many children, it elicits feelings of insecurity and fear of failure.  It is up to us, as parents and educators, to make certain that our kids are emotionally, socially, cognitively, and physically ready to meet new challenges.  Children need guidance, time, and reminders in order to successfully transition from the more carefree days of summer to the more rigorous routines of the school year. Proper manners should be reinforced, kindness acknowledged, reading, listening, and practicing skills encouraged and healthy eating and sleeping patterns enforced. Since children mimic our attitudes and behaviors, it is critical to speak in positive ways about the school year, teachers, school, and curriculum.  It is also important to set realistic expectations so that your child/children can tackle their new experiences and challenges with self confidence and with the knowledge that you will be both their cheerleader and confidant. Please note that I am not encouraging parents to make excuses for or to complete assignments for children, but rather, am advocating an environment of open dialogue, where discussions focus on both positive and negative emotions, behaviors, and experiences. 
Creating a solid foundation is critical to buildings constructed from brick and mortar as well as those more gentle structures made up of feelings, ideas, and knowledge.  Let’s work together towards building a foundation that supports a love for learning, a respect for self and others, and a dedication to excellence, diligence, and empathy.

I wish everyone a successful and lovely school year!!

Magical Educating!

Donna Mavrides
Magical Moments
www.magicalms.com

August 5th, 2010 by El Ed Mom

Rebuild a charity resale shop that supports abused women and children. 

WINGS Program, Inc.

Founded in 1985, the WINGS Program (Women in Need Growing Stronger) provides shelter and support for women and children who are escaping homelessness or domestic violence. WINGS has 24 transitional homes and an emergency domestic violence shelter in suburban Chicago.

Right now, Wings is trying to win the Pepsi Grant for $250,000 which would really help rebuild the resale store.  Could you please take a few minutes of your time to visit the link below and vote for Wings to receive the funds?  Also, please feel free to share this wonderful cause.  Thank you sooo much!!!

Vote to give this idea 250K: Rebuild a charity resale shop that supports abused women and children. http://pep.si/cL7KZ2

Together, we can make this happen!!!

July 28th, 2010 by El Ed Mom

“Ready To Learn Mom” with Stacey Kannenberg Radio Show at 10 CST/11 EST every Wednesday!  Join us on 07/28/10 with the WINNER of the Business Baby Shower, Robyn Pellei of ViveVita.com.  Robyn talks about winning and how she manages her 9 kids, ages 1 to 10, while running her business!!!   Oh my, 9 kids under 10!!!

About Robyn Pellei:

Currently, I am a very busy lady with a great life!  And, I have sneaked out on to my screen porch to steal a moment to write.

My days are filled with smiles, laundry, school work, emails, business calls, diapers, snacks, hugs,  coffee and prayers (lots!).

“What am I doing?” and “How do I do it?” are questions that I ask myself and often hear from others.

I have 9 adorable children that range in age from 3 months to 9 years!  Please, pick up your jaw and stifle your laughter.  I am not a comedian, though that may be my next venture!  I started making products when the needs got so great in my home that I had to do something to make things easier.  Necessity truly is the mother of invention.   Oh, I also homeschool our kids…they are all in 4th grade this year!  And, I am the wife and life-partner to a wonderful husband.  I have friends that are amazing and a squad of cheering family members.

So, you know all about who I am now – a wife, a mom, a teacher, a CEO, and a friend.  Today’s popular term for all of that is Momprenuer.

In my prior life – the BK (before kids) one – I was a nurse, an emergency room nurse to be specific.  I also worked really, really hard and got my masters degree as a family nurse practitioner…funny, I never practiced in that role.  OK, not so funny, but I just couldn’t do it.  I had my first child just two weeks after I graduated and I was sooo tired of school and honestly…I wanted to stay home with my little guy.  So, I’ve got that in my back pocket and of course, I use what I learned everyday.  A very expensive education to be a mom!

And before all of that…

• grew up in a small town in Virginia, that qualifies me as a Southern country girl – sort-of.
• lived a “normal” faith-filled life with a fun family and many years of school and good friends.
• spent half a year in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa with a missions organization (YWAM) running a small clinic.  I lived in a real hut for 2 weeks – so cool!
• met the man of my dreams in the ER and married him a year later.  He’s the one that I look at and get pregnant!

Now that we are all caught up, I will be sharing my everyday experiences and loads of tidbits that I have and am learning.  I will try to be mostly informational, as there are lots of TV shows you can watch if seeking drama.  You will hear about how I manage to do most of this stuff and keep myself and our family together.  We adopted two of our children internationally, so I will write about that sometimes too – though not very often because I don’t want it to seem like there is a difference in our family.  Nothing so different, just a wonderful way to come together.  My faith is very strong, honestly – it is only by staying close to my Creator that I am able to be or do anything that I am today.  So, you will catch that strength running through lots of what I write.  I have nursed all of my babies, even got the chance to nurse our adopted boys for two days – so special!  And of course, you will hear lots about daily life with the kids and managing a business.  I am not politically minded, so you won’t hear much about that from me and I refuse to write anything about my marriage (except the great stuff!).  My marriage is sacred and I wouldn’t want to cause any discord – I can manage that well enough on my own!

I look forward to sharing my experiences with you and hearing about your experiences, questions and thoughts.  Please try our products and tell your friends about them!  For more information about Robyn’s products, please visit www.ViveVita.com

For more information, please CLICK HERE.

July 1st, 2010 by El Ed Mom

Big Announcement: Join Me in Supporting Goodwill’s Donate Movement!

I am so excited and pleased to announce that The Clutter Diet® is partnering with Goodwill Industries International to launch the Donate Movement! Visit donate.goodwill.org to see all of the details. I am in Tacoma today serving as their national spokesperson and ambassador of the movement, speaking at the launch event and doing a radio media tour, and soon you’ll see our Public Service Announcement commercials airing all over the country.

You can get a sneak peek now on YouTube! We have three PSAs, one featuring me and a bunch of stuff popping into my outstretched hands… and the other two explaining more about the choices we make about our stuff and the impact they have.

“Just as there are things you recycle, there are things you donate” (the one I’m in)

“Donations = Chances” showing the impact your donations have

“Think Twice: Donate for Your Community and the Environment” showing the choices we make every day that make a difference

Many people get organized and donate their household items without ever considering the impact those donations are having on their neighborhoods and the world. We want to create a culture of Conscious Donation, and have people consider where they are making their donations of belongings as carefully as they would consider where they are making a financial donation.

Did you know that, according to a survey we just commissioned, we found that for every one item of clothing consumers donate, they have at least 30 more that are ready to be donated? Get organized, get that stagnant stuff out of your house, and use it to put people to work and build strong families and communities! Visit donate.goodwill.org to see the impact of your donations on people and the planet. And if you need help getting organized, you know our expert team can help anybody, affordably, from anywhere… Read more about our Clutter Diet®  program that gives you the tools and support you need at less than the cost of a pizza.

Oh, and PS: I purchased the fabulous red shirt I am wearing in the commercial at my local Goodwill store on Lake Austin Boulevard! 

Look for the Donate icon on Levi’s care tags (and other partners’ products coming soon)! And watch for tweets with the #Donate hashtag!

Thanks so much from Lorie from The Clutter Diet!

May 27th, 2010 by El Ed Mom

What a powerful video to remind you that seat belts save lives!

December 17th, 2009 by El Ed Mom

Name of Activity: Animal Actions

Purpose of Activity: To help students practice and master various locomotor or traveling patterns.

Prerequisites: How to take turns and if necessary momentarily wait a turn. How to belly crawl, dog crawl and jump, either two-foot to two-foot pattern or a leap, one foot to opposite foot pattern.

Suggested Grade Level: PRE-K

Click Here to read more…

Materials Needed: 8 Mini 6″ cones 8 Medium cones 10-12″ 8 larger cones 12-18″ 12 pool noodles 24 noodle connectors 4 XL 24″ cones

November 17th, 2009 by El Ed Mom

• Get vaccinated. Vaccination is the best protection we have against flu. Seasonal flu vaccine is available now and initial doses of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine also are available, with additional doses available later this year.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.
• Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.

November 5th, 2009 by El Ed Mom

Packing your kids’ lunches for school is a great way to monitor the nutritional content of their meals. Sometimes kids don’t want to bring their own lunch to school because their friends don’t bring theirs, or they would prefer to eat the lunch the school serves. One fun thing to do is to put a note in your child’s lunch. The note can be an encouragement for an upcoming test, congratulations for doing well on a project, a cute little drawing, or simply “I Love You.”

Another idea is to buy some plain bags, and use stamps, markers and crayons to have your kids decorate their own lunch bags, or they can personalize their siblings’ lunch bags.

Click Here to read more…