Mondays Matter: Week 28

Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways To Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza

NO FAST FOOD

-30% of children's meals consist of fast food.

-1 in 5 children between the ages of 6 and 17 are overweight.

-Large portions, value meals, and supersizing create serving sizes that are double and triple the recommended daily allowance.

-Billions of dollars are spent each year on fast food ads targeting children.

ACTION STEPS

1. Don't eat fast food today.

2. Start the habit of switching one fast food meal per week to a healthier alternative.

3. On days you do eat fast food, ask for the small size.

4. Never supersize your meal. The price and value may be tempting, but your health pays the greatest price.

5. Plan your meals at least a few days in advance.

6. Go to the store and buy fresh or organic food.

7. Pack a healthy lunch or cook dinner at home today.

With each fast-food meal, you significantly increase your carbohydrate and fat intake as well as the calories you eat. So, plan your meals, simplify your schedule, cook and eat dinner as a family. When I plan our meals, our family eats better, I am less stressed and we are sitting around our own table!

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk!

Don't cry over spilled milk, but apparantly you do cry over spilled trail mix! Poor Reagan! Luckily, we had more!

I Believe...

I saw this in a newsletter and I loved all 3 of the statements and thought I would share them with you.

I BELIEVE....

that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences...

that money is a lousy way of keeping score...

that my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time...

So, appreciate your heroes, don't value money over relationships, and find time to get together with your best friend!

Mondays Matter: Week 27

Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

-8.4 million adults are victims of identity fraud annually.

-$5,720 is the average fraud amount per victim

-25 hours per victim is the average time required to resolve identity theft and its consequences.

-63% of identity information is obtained through traditional methods, such as lost or stolen wallets; misappropriation by family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors; stolen mail or trash.

ACTION STEPS

1. Use a paper shredder for important documents like credit applications, credit offers, insurance forms, physician statements, bank statements, and expired charge cards.

2. Deposit outgoing mail in collection boxes located inside the post office.

3. Promptly remove mail from your home or business mailbox.

4. Don't carry your Social Security card with you.

5. Keep personal information in a safe and secure location at home.

6. Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know with whom you are dealing.

7. Create passwords that are random combinations o numbers, symbols, and both upper and lower-case letters.

8. Order a free copy of your credit report every 12 months.

9. Check your online bank statement on a regular basis.

Thieves can be so convincing, whether it is through email or the telephone. They make the situation drastic....like you will lose the particular service, email, account is in jeopardy, etc. The companies will never call you. They will close the account if they have doubts and wait for you to call them. If you ever have a concern, hang up and call the company you have the account with yourself. They will appreciate you double-checking with them!

When someone steals your name, social security number and credit, they steal YOU! You could lose a job opportunity, be refused a loan for a house, car, or school. Get arrested for a crime you didn't commit. Take the time and protect yourself as well as your protect your children or personal belongings!

Mondays Matter: Week 26

Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways To Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza


Support A Global Cause


In the world:
-Every 3.5 seconds someone dies of hunger.
-Every 11 seconds someone dies of AIDS.
-Every 15 seconds a child dies from a waterborne illness.
-1 billion have no access to clean water.
-2.6 billion live without basic sanitation.
-1.08 billion live on $1 or less/day
-2 million children die each year from diseases that inexpensive vaccines could have prevented.
-11 million children die before they reach their 5th birthday.
-Enough food is produced to feed everyone.


ACTION STEPS
1. Pick a global organization that interests you. The needs are many and obvious.
2. Get involved today.



For our VBS mission project this summer I have chosen Pennies for Schools. This is the foundation started by Greg Mortensen, author of Three Cups of Tea. After falling ill trying to climb a mountain he ends up getting lost in a village in Pakistan. The villagers take care of him and keep him safe and to thank them he promises to return and build a school for the children of the village. He does that a some much more. I agree with Mortensen, that education can change lives and so we will be collecting pennies and sending them to their foundation to help build more schools in under-privileged areas of the world.

This is OUR world. You, your friends, your family, your co-workers all matter when it comes to changing the statistics. Each one of you can make a huge difference. Choose an issue: Malaria nets, hunger, education, healthcare, violence and then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

My Sister's Keeper Movie Review

I have been anxiously awaiting the debut of "My Sister's Keeper", the movie based of the novel by the same name by Jodi Picoult. I LOVED the book and couldn't wait to see the movie. My friend, Tammy, and I planned to see it on opening night. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. I would suppose that if someone hadn't read the book, they would probably like the movie. Of course the movie is about cancer and a sibling who no longer wants to use her body to help save her sister. So, the topic isn't a happy one. But, there was so much more they could have done with the movie. I felt the character development was very weak. Alec Baldwin played the lawyer and he was such a pivotal character in the book, but wasn't as amazing in the movie. Jesse, the troubled brothers character, was also not as developed as he could have been in the movie. But then other external family members were part of the movie who I think were completely unnecessary to the storyline. I think the actress who played Kate was amazing and the makeup used to show her cancer was very realistic. I loved seeing Jason Patric as the father. It has been years since I have seen him in something and he looks as good as I remember him! :) The ending of the movie was the most frustrating. I think any lovers of Jodi Picoult's novels know relish in the twists and unexpected storylines and this movie adaptation ruined that for us. It totally changed the flow of the whole story and really ruined it for me. Again, I think if you haven't read the book, you probably won't be as disappointed. I would love to know Jodi Picoult's take on the movie and her feelings on the storyline. I would give this a 2 out of 5 stars.

A Precious Giveaway!

As a child and an adult, I was in love with Precious Moments. I collected the figurines, the books, whatever I could find. Then 11 years ago this summer, my boyfriend took me to the home of Precious Moments in Carthage, Missouri for a vacation. We toured the area and at the end, we went into the Precious Moments Chapel where, suprisingly, he proposed to me right on the alter! So, the Precious Moments company has been close to my heart for many years.

When I had the opportunity to try out the Precious Girls Club, I was thrilled! If you have a daughter and haven't checked them out, you definately should.

Since the topic of little girls growing up too fast seems to be a concern for Moms everywhere, Precious Moments, the inspirational figurine and collectible company, created the Precious Girls Club. More than a club, it's a way of thinking and being, a safe place for young girls to discover how wonderful it is to be precious.

The Precious Girls Club is based on an all new book series for girls that revolves around the life of Katie Bennett and a diverse group of her friends. Their world is brought to life not only through books, but also through a state-of-the-art virtual world where girls can learn and play in a safe, wholesome environment based on the values embraced by Precious Moments.

Please check out their website http://www.preciousgirlsclub.com/ and invite your daughter to play around. My 4 year old daughter loves it. She created her own girl and has a room that she has to keep clean and games to play. She loves to play around and I don't have to worry about what she is seeing or doing on this site.

The exciting part is that I have 2 things to offer for a giveaway from The Precious Girls Club! I have the book Operation Kindness by Cindy Kenney and a stuffed precious puppy to go along with it (the brown one on the right).

The story is a easy-to-read chapter book that follows Katie Bennett and her Precious Girls Club members on a mission to help the children who are sick and staying at the local hospital. I loved how the story focused on being kind and generous as well as discussing Katie's faith in God and what He would want her to do in situations. Katie also has a cute guardian angel, Faith, who steps in and helps her follow God's plan. This is a refreshing series of books for girls to read that also reminds them of God's love for them and for others.

So, if you would like to win the book and puppy for your Precious Girl, please leave me a comment telling me what is Precious about your little girl as well as your email address. The contest is open until 11:59 PM on July 13th. I will then use Random.org to choose a comment and mail the items to the winner! Be sure to tell all your friends about this great giveaway!