People, Products and Purpose
23 May 2013

Creating memories

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Hello, my name is Keri-Anne. I am a wife, mother, photographer, crafter, baker and blogger. I live with my family in the middle of England. We dream of living in a little cottage in the countryside and having some ducks and chickens. I love teaparties, baking, sewing and creating wonderful memories with my family.

Here is my blog post.

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Summers are wonderful for us. The weather here in England is not so great but the summer, we finally get a little warmth and get to go out on adventures. I love taking the girls out for the day with a teepee or tube of bubbles and of course a picnic. We have a long list of things we want to do this summer including strawberry picking and evening bbqs at the lake.

Creating memories is a huge thing for me. These little fairies are not going to stay so little forever and it is wonderful to have these photographs to look back on and remember the lovely days we are having. This is why i think blogging is such an important thing. Just a few photographs and words now about what we have been up to may not be exciting but in five years time, it will be the most exciting post for us all to read as a family. Reliving those days and showing the girls how happy they were and the kind of childhood we tried to create for them. I wish blogging and digital cameras were around when i was younger as i would love to have had all these memories to look back on. It’s like having one big story book of their lives. I hope that the adventures we are going on this summer will stay with them as real memories. I remember a lot from around the age of 4, so i am enjoying creating these days for the girls in the hope that those day will stay with them forever.

By: Keri-Anne Pink

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22 May 2013

Detroit: IMAGINOSITY Discovery Center, LOGO Design Contest

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Logo Design Contest.imaginosity3

Students in K-8 in Michigan schools are invited to help Imaginosity create the most amazing logo design. Libraries across the State of Michigan are helping to get the word out! Young artists can use crayons, markers, pencil crayons, paint, even chalk, pastels, charcoal, or cray-pas! Send it in as soon as you can. Deadline is June 30th, voting by Celebrity Judges.

For complete rules and for more information on Imaginosity Detroit, please visit http://www.imaginositydetroit.org/

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21 May 2013

My Life’s Mission

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On here you’ll find  posts of my  illustrations, highlights of my adventures, special deals on my books, and how I find the balance in being a college student and children’s book illustrator.

My Life’s Mission; a little essay I wrote about why I illustrate:

My entire life I’ve harbored a passion for art. As a two year old, the first words out of my mouth daily were, “Where’s my pencil?”  My parents supported my need to draw by supplying me with sketchbooks, pens, and inspiration. I began art classes very young and my work was proudly displayed in our home. I love all aspects of art whether it be drawing, creating, sculpting or painting. My role models are not Hollywood celebrities, but artists like Picasso, Leonardo and Mondrian. Everything in my world revolved around art.
Creating pictures and making people smile is what brings me happiness. I am pursuing a career in Art Education where I can help children develop their talents and express their creativity through art.   I have had specific experiences in my life that have led me to this decision to be an Art teacher and Illustrator. I love working with children of all ages and backgrounds.It is so rewarding to help children recognize their talent and see  their excitement at their creations.

  

  
I have a passion for learning and a love for art.

My life’s mission is to help children realize their artistic potential and inspire them to create what no one else has ever created.

By: Ishel Brimhal

http://vbsunshine3.wix.com/ishelbrimhallbooks

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21 May 2013

Helping Elijah

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Hi my name Is Denise Rodriguez and I have a little boy who’s 11 months who has UVJ. What is UVJ? The uretrovesical junction is located where the ureter (the tube that drains urine from the kidney) meets the bladder. Ureterovesical junction (UVJ) obstruction refers to a blockage to this area. The obstruction impedes the flow of urine down to the bladder, causing the urine to back up in the ureters and kidney, creating dilation of the system (megaureter and hydronephrosis).Unilateral UVJ obstruction is the second most common prenatally detected obstructive disease, often picked up on maternal ultrasounds during pregnancy.

In a newborn with massive ureteral dilation or poor renal function, a cutaneous distal ureterostomy may be recommended. The ureter is surgically brought to the surface of the skin to allow it to drain urine freely into the diaper. This allows the affected kidney and ureter to decompress. Around 18 months of age, the ureter is then reimplanted into the bladder. In Elijah’s case it will be reimplanted when he’s two.

The reason for my story is that his doctors are pretty far from where we lived and we use to depend on family and friends to take us but its become very hard lately and we’ve had to reschedule several times and in Elijah’s situation every visit is important so we are trying to purchase a vehicle to help us get there.

I’m a very proud parent and usually hate asking for help but this isn’t for me it’s for our son. To help and for more information please visit,   www.gofundme.com/elijahstephan

Thank you for your time
By: Denise Rodriguez

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21 May 2013

Helping those affected by the Oklahoma City tornado

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Dozens of people — including several children — were killed when a massive tornado struck an area outside Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon. As we send our deepest thoughts to the families that have been affected, we wanted to share simple ways that we can all help.

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- The American Red Cross is always a good place to start, you can use your cell phone to donate $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999.

-Send a donation to the Oklahoma City region of the American Red Cross and help them provide shelter, food, and services for those in need. For those living in areas with frequent tornado warnings, they have also put together a list of important information to read before a tornado strikes.

-The United Way of Central Oklahoma helps local communities organize disaster response efforts, and will distribute donations to their May Tornado Fund to respected local non-profits working to rebuild their community after the storm.

-To donate to the OK Food Bank, you can text FOOD to 32333 to give $10 to help with relief efforts.

-Donate money directly to Oklahoma Disaster Relif online through reputable local organizations like BCGO  or the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s Disaster Relief. Please do not send clothes; while we all want to help in any way we can, money is what’s needed most right now. (via MomSpark)

-Donate to Feed the Children, $50.00 helps deliver 375 pounds of relief supplies, Or, donate as little as $10 to help those in need.

-Set up through the non-profit, grassroots-supporting Global Giving, the Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund is raising dollars for both immediate needs, as well as long-term rebuilding goals.

-Team Rubicon’s Operation: Starting Gun is preparing to mobilize volunteers to go directly to the communities to help assess damages and expedite home repair. Your support will help get these volunteers where they need to be as quickly as possible.

*Some Resources were pulled from (Via Cool Mom Tech)* Thank you for sharing.

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Stay Safe Friends <3, #iHEARTKIDS

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25 Apr 2013

30 of the Bests Blogs on Summer Childcare Choices

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For kids, summer is a time of sun, fun and most importantly a long break from school and homework. For parents, though, summer means finding activities to keep the kids occupied and, in most cases, suitable summer childcare. Every child is different, so making summer childcare choices can be difficult for parents. Summer childcare is significantly more expensive, too, accounting for around 50% of the average yearly childcare budget. These 30 blogs will help you make informed childcare choices, so that you don’t have to worry about your kids being bored this summer or how you’re going to handle your own work schedule while they’re free of school.

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Planning Your Summer Childcare

Your kids will thank you for a well-planned summer, which includes making sure they have the best childcare available. Planning your summer childcare is something that you should do well ahead of time. You should also try to involve your child as much as possible to ensure that they have a fun-filled summer. These five blogs will take you through some of the things you need to consider when planning summer childcare for your kids.

Coping with the Cost of Summer Childcare

Because of the long days involved, there’s a good chance that your childcare costs will be significantly higher in the summer months if you’re accustomed to only paying for a few hours each afternoon after classes end. There are ways of cutting the cost, however, so it pays to shop around and consider a number of options. You can normally expect to pay more for summer childcare, which means you should take advantage of any savings you can find. These five blogs look at cutting the cost of summer childcare, leaving you with more money for fun activities.

Beat the Waiting Lists

Don’t wait until the last minute to book your summer childcare. Plan your childcare well ahead of time to ensure that your chosen option is available to you. Whether you are hiring a summer nanny or sending your child to summer camp, avoid lengthy waiting lists at all costs. You do not want summer to arrive, only to find that you haven’t secured childcare. These five blogs provide tips on how to beat waiting lists, so that you don’t have to settle for second best.

Summer Camps

They were the best of times and the worst of times – words often spoken by adults when remembering long summers spent at camp. Summer camps are a great form of childcare; however, choosing the wrong type of camp may make your child’s summer miserable. The good news is that there are camps that will suit every child; you just have to know what to look for. Speak to your children and think about the activities that they enjoy, then have a look at these five blogs for more tips and ideas.

Summer Nannies

If you do not have a nanny year round or your nanny is unable to work during the summer months, you may want to hire someone who can meet your childcare needs over the holidays. You can find summer nannies through all the usual channels; however, these five blogs will help you find a temporary nanny, as well as provide tips on how to choose the best seasonal nanny for your family.

Creative Childcare Options

If you really want to go the extra mile for your kids this summer, consider getting creative with your childcare options. Unique situations require innovative ideas, which is why these five blogs are ideal for both creative thinking parents and those who need childcare that caters to exceptional circumstances.

http://www.summernanny.com/blog/30-of-the-bests-blogs-on-summer-childcare-choices/

By: Emma Roberts

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23 Apr 2013

Win For Brynn

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I would like to introduce you to my little girl, Brynn! Brynn is my love, my hope and my joy.
We were blessed with the most tiny, beautiful, little girl in 2006! She met her milestones as she grew, except she never was able to walk! She was crawling and she said some words and she could feed herself and hold her own bottle. We thought all would be ok! Except in the back of my mind, I wondered “why is my little girl not walking?” We saw specialist and they too thought all was ok. If she was not walking by the time she was 2, that is when they start to have some concern.
We go on living our lives and enjoying watching our little girl grow and smile and all in all just being a happy babe!
Brynns second birthday came and she still was not walking! I knew something was wrong. I didn’t want this for my babe! I was heartbroken. We saw a neurologist who just couldn’t pin what was wrong. He referred us to an autism clinic. We arrive for our appointment and they did some testing. It amazes me how they test babies! We met with a team of therapists and doctors. They didn’t believe Brynn had autism, but suspected Rett Syndrome. “Rett syndrome? What is that?” So after a simple blood test and 6 weeks of waiting ( which seemed like an eternity) we received Our answer that we had been waiting for. Brynn has a MECP2 deletion that is consistent with Rett syndrome.
I was so heartbroken, yet relieved that we had an answer. This would not change how I felt about her or how she would be loved. If anything Rett syndrome has made us love Brynn even more!
Here are some quick facts about Rett syndrome:
* A debilitating neurological disorder that predominantly affects girls.
* Leading cause of severe impairment in girls- most cannot speak, walk, or use their hands.
* As prevalent as ALS, Cystic Fibrosis and Huntington’s Disease.
* Another baby girl born afflicted every 90 minutes.
* Caused by a random gene mutation every baby girl has equal chance of acquiring.

Brynn is now a 6 year old beautiful young girl who is in kindergarten. She has since regressed in all of the skills she gained as a toddler. But she works hard in therapies and we are hopeful that she will gain some of her skills back. Brynn is not able to communicate with us, but her EYES say it all. We recently got approved for a communication device for her. So we are excited to train her to use that so we know how she feels, what she wants, or needs.
We have held a fundraiser in Brynns honor for the past 4 years. We are hopeful for a cure or treatment for Rett syndrome. There is some promising research going on and we are being very patient and trying to contribute the best way we can.
We hold a 5k called Win for Brynn that is hosted by our non-profit Girl Power 2 Cure. Girl Power 2 Cure is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for research and is an AWESOME support system for Rett families. It’s an AMAZING group all around and we have been with them for 4 years. All I ask is for you to share Brynns story! Awareness is so important to our family! If you are interested in running our race or would like to donate to our raffle, please visit www.gp2c.org/win-for-Brynn. Or if you would like to learn more about Brynn and “meet” her, please visit www.gp2c.org/Brynn.
By: Kristin

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21 Apr 2013

No more hurting people- Love to Martin Richard & his family

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On April 15th the Richard family was watching the Boston Marathon when bombs exploded nearby. Their young son Martin was killed. His younger sister and his mother remain seriously injured.

The Richard Family Fund has been created to help this family heal. To learn more and to make a donation visit http://richardfamilyfund.org/

Martin will always be loved and remembered, along with the other victims who lost their lives in this horrible and very sad tragedy. No more hurting people. PEACE

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05 Apr 2013

Meet Cobi Bear! Review and Giveaway!

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Cobi Bear is a fun new brand and friend created for kids.

Why Cobi? Who is Cobi?
Cobi Cari is the creator behind the new brand. He has a passion for working with children with over 10 years experience in recreation and youth programs. Cobi designs his own shirts which are original and exclusive to his products.

Cobi, the designer was inspired by his childhood teddy friend, Teddy Ruxpin. Cobi wanted to recreate a character children can grow with; one that teaches valuable life lessons. I think that’s pretty cool!

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Cobi Bear tees are currently available in youth sizes xs-xl with talks of toddler sizes coming soon. T-Shirts can be purchased on http://cobibear.bigcartel.com/ We are offering friends of iHeartKids a 10% discount this weekend on products with the promo code: iheartkids at checkout. Expires Sunday, April 7th.

iHeartKids is happy to partner with Cobi Bear on an Instagram Giveaway this weekend. TO participate check out iHeartKids on IG. www.instagram.com/iheartkids You can win a Cobi Bear Tee.

Looking forward to seeing more designs coming from Cobi Bear! iHeartKids approves!

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23 Mar 2013

America’s Oldest Aquarium- Belle Isle Detroit

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IMG_1168The Belle Isle Aquarium is a public aquarium located in Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan.  It opened on August 18, 1904, and is the oldest  public aquarium in America!

 

The aquarium was closed for 7 years due to budget cuts and officially reopened in September, 2012.

Now run by all volunteers the aquarium at is free and open to the public 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every Saturday.

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22 Mar 2013

Wigs 4 Kids, helping the self-esteem of Michigan Kids

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Wigs 4 Kids is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that reaches out to kids and young adults with hair loss. This program is available to any child or teen from ages 3 through 18 in Michigan at no cost to them or their families.

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This week I had the opportunity to meet with the Founder & CEO Maggie Varney and her dedicated staff at the Wigs 4 Kids Wellness Center.

Not only are they working hard to help these children look better on the outside, they also help them feel better on the inside. Wigs 4 Kids provides support services including grief and loss counseling, nutrition classes, art and music therapy, a cosmetology program and various children’s activities.

What I really loved about this program is that they do all of this at no cost to the children and their families. I learned about the process from hair donations, to the making of a wig, to meeting with the kids, to the fittings and on going support. Maggie and her team welcome the children in and make them feel special and right at home. I could see they truly care for these children.

Wigs 4 Kids: Kids need to have a sense of belonging, they need to fit in and be accepted by their peers. Wigs 4 Kids helps kids deal with appearance related issues and social acceptance, which are so critical to young adults and children.

I love the work of Wigs 4 Kids and I’m happy to have met with this beautiful organization. They are doing great things for Kids in Michigan. They do this from the hard work within, the support of people in our community and beyond. They receive hair donations from all over the world.

To learn more about Wigs 4 Kids you can visit their website here.

Hair Donations
For more information on
how to donate your hair,
click here!

Also learn about Go Green Salon, located inside of Wigs 4 Kids.
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Go Green Salon is a full-service environmentally-friendly salon for women and children and is open to the public. Go Green Salon, donates 50% of all hair donor cutting fees back to Wigs 4 Kids. The other 50% pays the technician for her professional service.

WIGS 4 KIDS is #iHEARTKIDS APPROVED! XO

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19 Feb 2013

Ouchies- Hide your wound, not your style!

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“Hide your wound, not your style”.

OuchiesThat is the motto behind the adorable 100 % latex free bandages Ouchies. We were very excited to make friends with Jennifer from Ouchies who sent us some really cool Ouchies bandages. The first thing we did was show the tin to our 6 year old niece Morgan and asked her what she thought they were. Her first guess? Candy! Our next experiment was on our 2 year old nephew Nathan. Nathan is the type of kid who does not like anything (besides clothing) on his body! He cried and made me take off the temporary tattoo Donna put on him just a few months ago. We put 3 on his arm and to our surprise he LOVED them! He kept them on all day and was so proud of his pretend boo boos! Ouchies come in many different varieties including Sportz, Mr. Men & Little Miss Sunshine, Silly Bandz, Sweetz which was the kids favorite and so many more!

My Favorite? Ouchies For Others. 100% of the profits benefit great organizations including D.A.R.E.  which is the one I am wearing in the picture that says  ”be nice”!

All in all, we love the products, the kids love the products and you should too!

Thank you Jennifer for the goodies, we can’t wait to work with you!

Order online or find a store near you that carries Ouchies at ouchiesonline.com

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