Nellie's Catwalk for Kids - Helping Find a Cure for Childhood Cancer

If you look on my right sidebar, you will notice a badge with the face of a gorgeous child named Ezra. Ezra is the son of my blogger friend Beth from Manic Mother, and Ezra has leukemia. Beth was contacted by a young lady named Jenelle "Nellie" Krumlauf who runs a program called Nellie's Catwalk for Kids which is a growing non-profit organization that she started when she was just sixteen-years-old. Her organization raises funds to donate to Nationwide Children's Hospital Oncology Center to help advance childhood cancer research, but we also sets aside funds to directly help families that have a child with cancer.

Which brings us to the reason why Nellie contacted Beth, she wanted to help make Beth's Christmas spectacular for her and her family. Please head on over to Manic Mother to read Beth's post to see all about their Christmas and learn more about Nellie's Catwalk for Kids.

Until next time..... Lorie

Baby Panda, Yun Zi, Makes Debut at San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo announced yesterday that Yun Zi, its five-month-old panda cub, makes his public debut January 7, 2010. Yun Zi, which means “son of cloud,” clowned around for press photographers on Wednesday. See more panda photos and videos here, and you can also try to spot him on the zoo’s PandaCam.

I think this guy is SO adorable and I love the panda project at the San Diego zoo. I hope some day to go see them in person. I got these photos from one of my favorite websites, CuteOverload, if you like cute animals, you really have to check it out.

Until next time..... Lorie

Happy Birthday Elvis!!

Today is Elvis Presley's 75th birthday..... His home in Memphis, TN - Graceland - is having a spectacular celebration. {Which of course is sold out.} Plus there will be several more special events throughout the year at Graceland to celebrate this special event!

Happy birthday Elvis..... wherever you are!!

Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day: Mom, If you Want it Done Right...

Remember, moms should always do things themselves if they want it done correctly!!

Until next time..... Lorie

Would You Believe Possibility of SNOW ???

OMG, it's so cold down here in Florida that they are even predicting the possibility of flurries!! The following is from the WKMG Orlando website:

"Snow In Central Fla? It's Possible
Orlando Area Could See Snow Flurries Over Weekend

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

With cold days and freezing temperatures being the norm for the past week, many Central Floridians wouldn't mind seeing some snowflakes in the air.

And Local 6 meteorologist Eric Wilson said it's possible over the weekend.

'It's been a long time since we've had even a chance for snow in this area,'Wilson said. 'The question is whether or not there's going to be moisture in place to turn that cold air from rain into flurries over the weekend.'

Cold air has invaded the region all week, and although high temperatures will reach the mid-60s on Friday, a cold front currently over the Gulf of Mexico is expected to bring freezing temperatures back to Central Florida over the weekend.

The new front is expected to push through on Friday afternoon, with a 40 percent chance of rain.

Wilson said snow could fall in Central Florida on Saturday morning if a current frontal boundary stalls and provides moisture from the south and the west.

'Some of that rain could transfer over to flurries north of the jet stream,' said Wilson, who showed the jet stream north of Orlando. 'We'll have to keep a really close eye on whether all those things come together.'

High temperatures in Orlando are forecast to be 46 and 51 degrees -- more than 20 degrees below normal -- on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The low temperature Sunday morning will reach 34 degrees in Orlando, with a low of 27 forecast for Monday morning.

Icy Road Warning

Meanwhile, Florida's Department of Emergency Management said drivers in the Panhandle and north Florida should watch for icy spots on roads and bridges Friday morning.

Rain is expected as a cold front moves through the region Thursday night and Friday morning.

Meteorologist Amy Godsey said there is a possibility some rural bridges and roads may have ice.

Overnight lows are expected to dip into the lower 20s and high teens across the region on Friday and Saturday nights.

Temperatures in the region were in the upper 50s and lower 60s in advance of the approaching cold front Thursday afternoon."

This terrible cold weather is also hurting our poor sea turtles, more than 100 turtles were found floating in the Mosquito Lagoon and rescued Wednesday after cold water shocked their systems. We really need warm weather soon.

I have had enough of this.... I moved down here for the warmth and sunshine, not these 20 - 30 degree temperatures. I am tired of having to wear hats, gloves, coats, sweatshirts, etc. YUK!!

And, I don't want to hear from all you people saying, "You think it's cold there, you should be here in..... {so-and-s0}..... " I live in Florida because I DON'T want to be cold, I want to be where it is WARM, I don't like the cold. I used to live in New England where it was cold, snowy and icy - I LEFT THERE!!! So no comments like that people, let me whine... I hate the cold!

Please come back my wonderful weather that belongs here... I really miss you!

Until next time..... Lorie

Tagged: How I Became the Mother I Am

My friend Michelle from Flying Giggles and Lollipops tagged me earlier this week and I was quite flattered. To complete this tag, I must share 5 experiences that helped shape me into the mom I am today, and tag 5 other moms I admire.

Here are the five things that helped turn me into the mom I am today:

1. My mother: But not in the way one might think. My mother hasn't spoken to me in 3 years, all because of religious differences. Plus, my mom also allowed my father to mentally and emotionally abuse me; and at times physically abuse me and my sisters for years. My dad was also a substance abuser, and mom was his enabler - much to the detriment of our family's finances: I grew up just above the poverty line. I ended up marrying an abuser the first time, but refused to let my children become victims of abuse. It took me a while, and I am still trying to increase my self-esteem, but I did manage to get out of that abusive marriage - without the support of family - and go out on my own and start a new life.

2. My best friend Sue: Sue had been through an abusive marriage before I met her, and was a HUGE support to me; plus she was my best friend for 30 years. We were both there for each other as a source of comfort and friendship no matter what. When I had questions on motherhood or womanhood (is that a word???) she was always there for me, and vice versa! When my family disowned me, she was there for me. I would definitely NOT be the person I am today without her. I really miss her.....

3. The way I was treated by my parents taught me to treat my own children with respect and to really listen to them. I tried to be honest and open with them at all times, letting them know they could ALWAYS come to me. Even when it came to religion, I explained that just because their father and grandparents didn't have the same religion as I did, it wasn't wrong, it was just different. When they were old enough, they could decide which path they would choose. However, they were being told by their father and my parents and sisters that I was wrong and that I was following the wrong path and was going to be punished by God. They have grown up to be extremely tolerant young men who accept people of all races and religions and have friends from all over. I think I did a pretty good job, and we have a very close and open relationship. They come to me all the time, and we talk about everything.

4. Psychotherapy and medication have played a big part in my balanced view of motherhood. Because of my very difficult childhood and my divorce and the fact that I was assaulted in June of 2001, and suffer from PTSD and Social Anxiety Disorder, I have had to see a doctor and take medication for a while, and am comfortable with that, as are my children. I am very grateful to my doctor for helping me realize that I am not to blame for the things that happened to me and that I am a good person who deserves to be loved and can raise my children on my own to be well-balanced loving young men. (At least in my head I know that... sometimes still in my heart I have doubts - it is a struggle, but I work on it every day, and my children, husband, and friends give me support.)

5. Meeting and marrying my husband Bill was the best thing that happened to me in the last 15 years! He is so wonderful. He is the first person to see ME, not someone's daughter, not someone's sister, wife or mother, he saw me as a woman. No one else { besides my therapist - and I paid her for that :-) } had ever seen me like that before, he listened to me for ME. He made me feel so special and important, like I deserved to be listened to, and like I could really make it on my own. Then I didn't want to... I wanted him by my side to help me raise my children. He made me a better person, which in turn made me a better mother; and he is a fabulous step-father [just look at the photos of him and the boys]. I will love him forever for that.

The five moms I greatly admire and would like to tag are:

~ Maria from Maria's Space
~ Alexis from Running Away, I'll Help You Pack
~ Connie from The Young and Relentless
~ Shannon from The Mommy-Files
~ Noelle from Jumpin Beans

Please head on over to all of these blogs to meet these wonderful moms and you will see what I mean about them. They all have their own set of circumstances to deal with, yet, they are all outstanding mothers, and I love them all, as well as Michelle for tagging me. Have a wonderful week everyone, and a terrific new year!!

Until next year..... Lorie

Maria's Space: Dove Self Esteem Fund

My friend Maria has posted about a wonderful program sponsored by Dove to help promote self esteem in young girls. Too many girls have a distorted image of themselves because of all the tweeked and computer generated images that are displayed on TV, billboards and magazines of beautiful women.

The Dove Self-Esteem Fund was developed to make real change in the way women and young girls perceive and embrace beauty. They want to help us free ourselves and the next generation from beauty stereotypes.

Head on over to Maria's blog to learn all about this program, especially if you have young children, girls or boys, to help them grow up with a positive self image, and encourage others to do the same.

Maria's Space: Dove Self Esteem Fund

Until next time..... Lorie

Wordless Wednesday: Hey, When Did He Get So Big???

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday.....

Alexander and Bill, December 2009

Don't forget to link up to the Wordless Wednesday Hub.

Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day: Mom's Wages

To all the stay at home mom's out there...
I know they appreciate everything you do, and even if your families don't say it often enough - they would be lost without you!!

Until next time..... Lorie

Disney World with Alex, Part 1: Magic Kingdom

While Alex and Rachel were visiting, we went to Disney World three times {we have annual passes and go all the time}. This was Rachel's very first visit, and her best friend Devon works there so she got her a pair of Mickey ears with her name embroidered on the back and a special pin with her name written in calligraphy. We all had such a great time. Hope you enjoy the photos. We really love how Disney decorates for the holidays - it is so beautiful, and of course we got a chance to see Mickey and Minne!

Alex, Rachel and Devon.

This is something that Alex and Bill have been doing every time we go to Disney. Each time we end up at one of the 3-D adventures, they put their glasses on upside down and pose for a photo. However last summer they were the same height, and the year before, Alex was shorter. This was quite disturbing to Bill... :-)

Until next time..... Lorie