Lands’ End FeelGood Yarn Donations September 13, 2009

Lands’ End is kicking off their FeelGood  Campaign! With the help of One Heart Foundation’s Warming Families, which is a nationwide knitting charity for the homeless, Lands Ends will help warm the homeless and displaced. You can help! For every Lands’ End FeelGood sweater purchased, Lands’ End will donated FeelGood yarn on your behalf and volunteers plan to knit up to 25,000 hats and other items to warm those in need.

Want to get even more involved? You can lend your skills by using the Hat Patterns designed exclusively for Lands End by Vickie Howell of DIY Network’s Knitty Gritty. Information on donating knitted hats in your area can be found at: http://www.landsend.com/lp/feelgood/

Celebrate the exciting initiative by joining in the Twitter party, too!

FeelGood Twitter Party
Join Lands’ End and Vickie Howell, host of TV’s Knitty Gritty, for a Twitter Party to celebrate the kick-off the FeelGood Campaign! The party will feature more than 20 fun giveaways ranging from the FeelGood sweater and Vickie Howell’s books to Lands’ End gift cards and FeelGood yarn.

Lands’ End FeelGood Twitter Party
Date:     Wednesday, September 16th
Time:     7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST
Location:     #landsend

I hope you’ll share in this great cause, and help to warm those in need this winter! You can also help by spreading the word to your friends, on facebook, by word of mouth, on twitter, or any other way that is to your liking! Thanks so much for making a difference!

Tyra Banks real hair and Jon Gosselin interview September 9, 2009

Tyra Banks got real with viewers and shared her hair au natural. Fresh from the shower. How cool is that? I love seeing celebs show their more natural side, even if it’s for a brief moment. It makes me feel better about my hair in a pony tail days I seem to be spending so many of my summer days in. Oh yea, here in South Florida, it’s summer until Halloween. Anyway, I don’t normally catch the Tyra show, but I caught this part on her season premier and thought that was gutsy. Not because she risked much doing it, seeing as though she has a loyal fan base anyhow, but because I think that all women care about how their hair looks.

You can see some footage here:http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/09/78384/index.html

On another TV note (can you tell I’ve been sick and trying to get some R&R?), why does the jon/kate trainwreck seem to never end? My opinion on it doesn’t matter as much as the eight kids that have to live through the whole thing. I can only imagine how they feel about it and what they’ll think when they look back on all this 10, 20 years from now. What stood out to me from the interview Jon Gosselin did on ABC, was, “I feel like I lover her more than I did Kate”, referring to his current girlfriend, whatever her name is. Sheesh. You know, for someone that complains about the attention, you’d think he would have kept that to himself and not make a dig to his kids’ Mother so publicly. Sometimes it’s hard to believe these are the same people that started out on the TLC show way back when.

done debating: we’re getting the flu shot September 3, 2009

photo by ramana.charming

This past February, my baby boy’s first Birthday came and passed almost completely unnoticed. I barely remember any of it. What I do remember is feeling like crap. I mean the kind of crappy feeling that you feel so awful that you can neither be awake nor alert, but yet you’re still not resting even when you are sleeping because your body has a war going on within. I had the flu. I’d never felt so awful. Then when my baby came down with the flu, at the same time my older son developed strep throat, he ended up in the hospital. I was useless to do much of anything.

For the first time I had given my kids the flu vaccine and they came down with it just weeks following. So why did we get sick?

Well, I’m not a doctor, but what two things I’ve learned from the experience are:

1)      It takes a few weeks after the flu vaccine to build up all the immunities.

2)      Everyone living in a household with a person vulnerable to the flu should be vaccinated.

 

 In our case, my husband and I did not get vaccinated last season, and he must’ve caught from school/work and brought it home. The kids received the vaccines late into the season.

I have always been wary of vaccines. However, I’ve come to believe that there are some benefits that outweigh risks, and paired with proper admission, I think it’s a good idea for my family. One of my sons is asthmatic, and I am, too. So it’s important to me that I take steps to keep my kids health robust. I make an effort to keep my little ones bodies as pure as nature intended by feeding them nutritious foods, teaching proper hygiene, and using medications only when necessary.

After having felt so terribly and missing a big milestone in my baby’s life, I don’t want to take any risks. We are all going to get the flu shot this year. It’s an easy step to take in order to have an additional layer of protection. It’s very much worth it to us.

inner growth September 2, 2009

 

by flightlessXbird

I’m trying, really REALLY hard, to be a good person.

 

 

I’m so grateful to be able to stay home with this beautiful family of mine. It fills my heart with warm gooey goodness, and all I want is to be the best “me” possible. So that I can be a great Mom, and a decent woman.

Sometimes, it seems, if I want to be honest, it means hurting someone else’s feelings. I hate hurting anyone’s feelings. I’ve made the mistake of just going along and pleasing others way too often, and 95% of the time I feel unhappy about the outcome. So how do I make the choices that are right for me, without being hurtful to others?

What I’m realizing is: you can never please everyone. That goes double if you happen to have the people I do in my life: mostly argumentative and confrontational. At this point, my priorities and my loyalties are shifting back to me and my boys. What’s best for our lil family?

I don’t think it’s selfish. I think it’s necessary. I also expect for some people in my personal life to feel unhappy about things I may say or do, especially when they are accustomed to me avoiding confrontation and just going along with whatever makes them happy. It may hurt their feeling to know that I disagree with them fairly often. It might be hard for me to balance being nice, and standing up for myself. I’m not sure I’m ready for the fallout.

I am, however, ready to be an example to my kids. I believe they should ALWAYS trust their best judgment no matter what; and that, their opinion is just as valuable and deserving of respect as anyone else’s. I wish I had learned that earlier on.

Come experience Disney On Ice Presents Princess Classics August 21, 2009

Disney On Ice Princess Classics

I’m excited about the Disney On Ice Princess Classics show coming to town in just a few weeks. Having been to a Disney On Ice Show before, I can tell you that the Feld Entertainment production is wonderful, and a must see for your family, too! I can say with all honesty that I enjoyed it as much as the kids; and, seeing how much the kids enjoy it makes it that much better.

I have some exciting news to share with South Florida Moms and Dads:

The wonderful folks at Mom Central have given me the opportunity to share with you a special offer and a great giveaway!

The show’s schedule for South Florida is:

Sunrise/Bank Atlantic Center Show Dates:

Thursday, September 17: 7:30pm

Friday, September 18: 7:30pm

Saturday, September 19: 3:30pm,

7:30pm

Sunday, September 20: 1:00pm, 5:00pm

Miami/American Airlines Arena Show Dates:

Wednesday, September 23: 7:30pm

Thursday, September 24: 7:30pm

Friday, September 25: 7:30pm

Saturday, September 26: 11:30am, 3:30pm,

7:30pm

Sunday, September 27: 1:00pm, 5:00pm

A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU!

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for Monday through Friday matinee shows, or receive $4 off all weekend shows (Any additional (over 4) weekday tickets are still priced at $11) by logging onto http://www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM in the “MC promotion” box.

Offer for the weekend shows is $4 off (same code though!).  

Offer not valid on Front Row, or VIP seating.   

Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges, facility & handling fees will apply

This is the fun part for me:

I am hosting a giveaway for a 4-pack of tickets to opening night! That’s Thursday, September 17 at 7:30pm at the Sunrise BankAtlantic Center.

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment here. You can tell me about a favorite Disney/Disney princess memory you have, or even your favorite Disney princess or Disney character.

I’ll use random.org to pick a winner and announce them here on September 10^th at 9pm. Be sure to leave your email address in the comment so that I may contact you if you are the winner! (If you want, you can spell it out to keep the spammers away, like this: orbitgirl0809 at gmail dot com)

I invite you to share this special offer and giveaway with your friends!

The lucky winner is:

 

 

Luis Marcano Says: September 1, 2009 at 4:59 pm e

Hello Maria.

Thank you for this opportunity! Two years ago, my niece told me that all she wanted for her birthday was to drive from home (Miami) to Downtown Disney to get her face-painted and the Character Makeover. She didn’t even ask to go to any of the parks (which we surprised her and tool her anyways). I would love these tickets to see that same smile on her face again!

Thank you!

Luis.marcano.jr@gmail.com

Congratulations Luis!

Winner has been notified via email. Thanks to all who participated!

 

Back To School Land’s End Twitter Party August 20, 2009

photo by Avolore

How about taking a short break to lighten the hussle and bussle of back to school shopping?

If you want to have some fun and maybe win a few prizes, join me for the Back To School Lands’ End Twitter Party event Lands End is taking part of with 5 Minutes for Mom.

If you haven’t taken part of a Twitter party, you should know that the ladies over at 5 Minutes for Mom are great hostess, and they know how to throw a great party. I’m looking forward to it, and can’t wait to party with Lands End. You can find all the info on their Twitter party taking place and their Back to School giveaways on their site, but if you want to be briefed:

The Twitter party will take place THIS Thursday, August 20th, 2009 at 7pm- 9pm CST. You can use the hashtag: #landsend .

Giveaways are happening from August 14^th -28^th (right now) on the 5 Minutes for Mom site. Entering the giveaways is as easy as leaving a comment on their site.

There are sure to be great prizes to be won at the Land’s End Twitter party, too. Be sure to check out their site before hand for a leg up.

Here’s another neat find from Lands end:

 

My cool 4 year old and I designed it.

You can design your own backpack, too! Just go to http://sc.landsend.com/packland/

I’ll be at the Land’s End Twitter party @OrbitMom, so say, “Hello!”

Last week of Summer Vacation August 20, 2009

photo by kippster

It’s here.

The last week of summer vacation, and the last days my sisters can spend their time freely at my house without having to worry about homework and projects and quizzes. My own boys won’t start school this year, but I do plenty of pickups afterschool for the girls (my three sisters). The oldest of them will be a senior in high school now, and she’s gearing up for all the last hurrahs and the college admission process. The other two girls will be attending adjoining middle and elementary schools.

I’ve seen the long lists of school supplies (jeez!), and I’ve also witnessed the excitement of trying on new shoes and packing the backpack.

 I’m always such a sap, all I keep thinking is, these kids grow so darn quickly! Next year one of my own will start K; but I know that the year will pass before you know it. Then once they start school, that’s it: they have school all the way to college, maybe grad school, and they are off. Oh goodness. I get knots in my stomach, I swear. So silly, I know. Believe me, I enjoy every minute I spend with my boys, and even with my sisters. I know one day they’ll be all grown and independent with families of their own. Time just goes so fast.

Upward movement July 24, 2009

Photo by vauvau

Move all the furniture. Take the train table out to the garage. That’s what I’ve had to do now. My 17 month old has taking his climbing and turned it into a FT hobby. He can now climb pretty much anything. No longer is he deterred by his short stature. Now, as he looks above to examine his conquests, he takes a quick glance over to me to estimate how much time he’ll have before I reach over to him and pull him down, and then takes whatever item in his reach to use as leverage to scale the dinner table, or whatever item of furniture is in front of him.

 

Sometimes I think that when you are a first time mother, your brain plays a trick on you. Like instant selective amnesia. That’s because suddenly I remembered when my older son, now 4 years old, used to climb furniture as a toddler also. It hit me, just as it did when I found myself on 3 hours of sleep with a round the clock eating newborn, that I had somehow managed to forget just how challenging it is to care for a young child that has a little self control and unwavering determination. (I did manage a quick picture, but I won’t share it since he is his diaper)

I think the amnesia happens as Mother Nature’s way of ensuring reproduction.

A little about me July 13, 2009

Photo by OrbitMom

Since there are so many wonderful woman doing the “mommy blogs” out on the blogosphere, I thought I’d share with you a little bit about me, aside whats in the about me section. Just some bits if you will.

1)I’m technically a professional photographer….technically. I’ve been taking photos for an auto dealership and for a Realtor in south Florida for a few years. While I wish it was with a great DSLR, it isn’t. All the work is done on a trusty Sony digital camera, (previous years with a Kodak, recently I received an awesome gift, the Sony, so the Kodak has been handed down now.) I also manage/maintain a website for the same auto dealership. Yea, you wouldn’t know from the looks of this blog right?!

2) Although I am a Mommy always first and foremost, I am also a young woman in college studying Geology and Meteorology, with a side of physics/astronomy for my own personal interests. If you haven’t yet guessed, that’s where the “orbit” in “orbitmom” derives from.

3) I love that my boys are so sharp and have a genuine interest in learning. My most fond moments are when we do “home learning” and I can see how their little brains are grasping at concepts and sometimes asking questions that send me to the books!

4)I’m blogging because I find writing keeps me sane. I make lists and I know I can have my mind free of the to dos because its all down on paper. I write here because I’m sharing something about myself for myself, and any other person reading that may take something away from it. No fluff, and I’m still learning how this whole thing works as I go along.

So now I’ve given you a bit more info on me (and I’ll let you in on more as I go along this week).

BTW, my son still wets the bed, but we’re down to about every 2 or 3 days/week occurrences, so I’m ecstatic about the progress! I know, it’s lame: that get me “ecstatic”.

Slacking over here June 18, 2009

Well, not really, I actually have posts that haven’t published yet. If you see this, woo-hoo! It means we’re getting somewhere. It seems that my isp sucks right now, maybe it’s bc of all the lighting going on around here, for the fourth day in a row? I’m looking forward to getting on and posting later, not to mention catching up on some blogs. In the mean time, back to getting the little one off the TV stand.