Twi-moms, of metro Detroit, are you ready?
Peter Facinelli, one of the stars of the “Twilight Saga” movies, will be coming to Monroe, Michigan, next month. Facinelli, who plays the Cullen clan’s father-figure, Carlisle, have a meet and greet, on Sunday, September 12th, from noon to 5 p.m., at The Mall of Monroe.
The star will be on hand signing autographs and taking pictures. Autographs will cost $25 and pictures will cost $40.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand, which supports childhood cancer research.
This is sure to be a popular event, so be sure to get there early!
The Mall of Monroe
2121 North Monroe Street
Monroe, MI 48162
YO GABBA GABBA! Launches Cool Tricks Contest
August 19, 2010 by Courtney Velasquez
Filed under Beyond, Featured
YO GABBA GABBA! announces the launch of the Cool Tricks contest which provides an opportunity for fans across North America to show-off their unique talents. Gabba fans are invited to upload a :30-:60 second video demonstrating their Cool Trick to win the opportunity to receive a VIP Family 4 Pack and have their winning video played during intermission at the KIA Motors Presents YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! show closest to their hometown. All participants are also automatically entered into a sweepstakes where one lucky fan will receive a five night trip for four to the Caribbean or Mexico.
In addition, each winner will also receive $100 worth of organic baby food, toddler, and lunchbox snacks and two “Party In My Lunchbox” Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! concert t-shirts from Revolution Foods and Plum Organics. Grand prize includes roundtrip air, Junior Suite accommodations, and all meals to a choice of Palladium Hotels & Resorts.
To enter the contest, participants must upload their video to Facebook at http://facebook.yogabbagabbalive.com. Winners are determined by public vote in each tour market. So be sure to get all your friends and family to vote for you!
Cool Tricks begins on Wednesday, August 18 at 10AM EST and winners will be notified and announced prior to the show date in each local market. The entry period for the grand prize sweepstakes will end on Sunday, Dec 12. See official rules at http://facebook.yogabbagabbalive.com.
Cool Tricks is a popular segment on the television series where children and adults show off their special talent or skill (gymnastics, cup stacking, breakdance move, etc.). Celebrities such as Tony Hawk performing a skateboard move and Rhys Darby doing the robot have appeared on Cool Tricks.
Heading back on the road, KIA Motors Presents YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! will make stops in 60 cities at top theaters, arenas and amphitheaters across North America starting on August 27 in Bethel, NY and ending in Dallas, TX on December 12. Featuring music, singing, dancing and animation, KIA Motors Presents YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! is an interactive experience that offers audience members of all ages the opportunity to witness their favorite characters come to life. Joining the characters on stage will be hip-hop legend Biz Markie to teach kids how to beat box with “Biz’s Beat of the Day.” Special guests will join the party on stage for the Super Music Friends Show and Dancey Dance segments.
For complete tour, ticket, and VIP package information, visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com.
| Friday, October 08, 2010 | Detroit, MI | Fox Theatre | Sept 28, 2010 |
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey looking for caring youth
In honor of one of the founders of The Greatest Show on Earth, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is accepting nominations of local kids whose volunteer efforts are making a difference in the Detroit area.
The Barnum Award will be presented to three local students.
The Barnum Award honors the spirit of P.T. Barnum by identifying and celebrating children ages six to 14 who give back to their own communities in creative, fun and innovative ways. Nominations for Metro Detroit kids can be submitted online at The Barnum Award website through Oct. 29.
Three local award recipients will be chosen by a panel of distinguished local leaders, and will receive award medals and funds to support future service projects in their area. The Gold Barnum Award recipient will receive a $1,000 grant, the Silver Barnum Award recipient will receive a $750 grant and the Bronze Barnum Award recipient will receive a $500 grant.
Nominees will be judged on the impact of their accomplishments, creativity and innovation, and their inspiration to others relating to their cause. Nominators are required to be at least 21 years of age.
Recipients will be recognized at an award ceremony prior to the opening night performance of “Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents ZING, ZANG, ZOOM,” which comes to The Palace of Auburn Hills Nov. 10-14.
The Barnum Award is a national program presented by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey in conjunction with a two-year celebration of the 200th anniversary of P.T. Barnum’s birth. Nationally, more than $150,000 in grants will be awarded.
Help less fortunate students get tools they need
But this fall, DaySpring is partnership with Adopt-A-Classroom to do something about that. They are working to bring school supplies to children who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it.
We will be praying for everyone going back to school this fall and hope to be able to donate some school supplies through our local Walmart to students who need them. What can you do to help?
Well, just join DaySpring’s #WithPurpose Campaign to support the company’s effort to donate $5,000 in product to Adopt-A-Classoom.
DAYSPRING’S BACK TO SCHOOL WITH PURPOSE BLOG CAMPAIGN RULES:
- Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.
- Create a blog post about what it means to you to go Back to School WithPurpose and identify others who you feel are Living With Purpose in their lives – you can recognize as many individuals as you want.
- Link back to person who gave you a DaySpring Award
- Let each person you are recognizing know you have recognized them.
- Leave your link at btswithpurpose comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #WithPurpose blog campaign, and more information about Back to School with Purpose with DaySpring there.
- Include the Back to School with Purpose image in your post
Join Bag it Forward and Elmer’s Will Donate $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom
July 23, 2010 by Courtney Velasquez
Filed under Beyond, Featured
The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward is charity blog meme, bloggers are able to raise $10 per blog post for Adopt-A-Classroom by writing a blog post and donating a virtual bag of school supplies . Elmer’s will donate $10 per each post written to Adopt-A-Classroom, up to $10,000.
HOW CAN YOU JOIN? It’s easy.
- Participate in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward and by giving away a virtual bag of school supplies and creating a blog post with specific rules described below.
- Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom.
- You can give as many virtual bags as you want.
- The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward will officially begin at 12 AM EST on July 22, 2010 and end at 12 PM EST on August 12, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted.
- The blog post link has to be submitted in the comment section below for your participation to be counted.
- In addition copy and paste the following text into your blog post:
ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES
- Copy and paste these rules into your blog post.
- Create a blog post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.
- Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.
- Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.
- Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
- Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by August 12, 2010).
- Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.
Here is the photo you can use for your virtual bag or create your own!
Read more about Adopt-A-Classroom
I’m giving a virtual bag of school supplies to:
Erica from Erica Says
Andrea from Savvy Sassy Moms
Nirasha from Mommy Niri
Jessica from It’s My Life
Katja from Skimbaco
Sandy from Explore Ohio With Sandy
Melissa from Rock and Drool
Shannon from Glamorous Moms
Kelly from The Centsible Life
Ester from She Posts
Crystal from Eccentric Eclectic Woman
Huron River Day Festival
July 9, 2010 by Courtney Velasquez
Filed under Beyond
Sunday, July 11, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. celebrate this annual event featuring the wonderful Huron River. The festivities begin in the morning with the Gallup Gallop Run. The afternoon activities from 12 to 4 p.m. include $5 canoe/kayak rentals, children’s activities, a butterfly house where you can hand feed butterflies, river exhibits, musical entertainment, food, fishing, geocaching and much, much more.
No pre-registration. Event is FREE.
Tall Ship Celebration
June 28, 2010 by Courtney Velasquez
Filed under Beyond
In Bay City, Michigan on July 15-18, 2010, magnificent Tall Ships will line both sides of the Saginaw River.
There will be three and a half days of family friendly activities including craft activities, Maritime musicians, interactive boat tours and much more.
Visit http://tallshipcelebration.com/ to get more information, buy tickets and view the schedule of events.
Camping with kids-Dining Out
Camping is a “thing” my family does. And by my family, I don’t just mean me and my husband and our children. I mean, I grew up camping. My grandparents traveled the United States in a motor home and then with a fifth wheel. That was luxury. Recliners, carpet throughout the trailers, glass dishes. Yes, glass dishes. So civilized. In our camper, that doesn’t happen.
My goal when camping, is to eat every meal outside and on dishes my children can’t break. Paper seems unnatural in that environment. I mean, why go camping and then throw away all the paper and plastic we used for eating. I thought camping was for enjoying nature.
But just because I can’t have the fancy pants plates doesn’t mean I’m stuck with bland plastic-ware. I went to the store and invested in a set of plastic plates with matching bowls, cups and some serving dishes. I brought bright colors–then I wouldn’t use in my house. I don’t care if they fall on the ground or get a little scratched up with knives. They were cheap and they are for camping, but they serve the purpose and they are cute.
I recommend getting something fun and cheap but that still makes you feel good about eating off of it.
For the record, we eat off of bright magenta plates and out of green bowls. We also have magenta and green plastic cups that go with these.
Oh, and make sure they are fun enough that you won’t be above having an adult beverage out of them around the campfire!
Camping with Kids-First trip of the season under our belts
We hardly rough it. We have a 22 foot travel trailer with air conditioning and enough beds for all of us. We don’t even use sleeping bags, but instead sleep with sheets and comforters. So I won’t pretend camping is a struggle, but with two children under the age of three, there are challenges. Aside from the typical “what do I pack for 70 and cloudy? shorts? bathing suits” to “how many diapers do I think I will need” there are also questions like “how do I get my two-year-old to nap in the camper” and “what can I do about the 40 mosquito bites my kids has?” I’m living it and answering all those questions.
Our first trip out as a family of four with two dogs was actually last October when my youngest was barely three months and I was freaking out a little bit about nursing at night in our camper. Turns out I didn’t need to worry too much since a skunk and our dogs cut our trip short. Though the linger clean up went on much longer than it should have. So our real first trip as a family of four happened over Memorial Day weekend to a campground in Canada…the Pinery in Grand Bend to be exact.
There were some trying moments. I mean, our 10-month old won’t sleep unless it’s pitch black outside. And, just in case you didn’t know, the sun comes up before 6 a.m. these days. So, she got up too. There were mornings of crying and begging her to please sleep for another hour. And there were mornings of her Mama taking her for long walks so Daddy and the pre-schooler could get some extra sleep. But that happens, even at home, so we got through it.
There was a poop-blow out incident involving my two-year-old. Yikes. Let’s just say it’s not easy to clean up a messy kid in a shower when the number one rule is DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING!
But we are through it and moving on to more camping adventures. Including this weekend. Back at the Pinery. Maybe I should write about why we love it. Hmmm. Stay tuned.
American Syringomyelia and Chiari Alliance Project Fundraiser
June 5, 2010 by Courtney Velasquez
Filed under Beyond
by Cindy Crysler
Two years ago my youngest daughter was diagnosed w/Chiari I Malformation. Around the same time, my friend’s daughter was diagnosed w/the same thing. That’s 2 little girls w/this same rare brain disorder in our little town of just over 1,100 people. I can’t change that, but I am doing what I can to raise awareness and funds for research grants for ASAP (American Syringomyelia and Chiari Alliance Project). In light of that, we are having a fund raiser/awareness event at Dixie Motor Speedway in Birch Run, MI on July 2 at the Super Sprints race. A very kind blogger here in our state did a post on us recently. http://michiganwomensforum.blogspot.com/2010/05/childs-rare-disorde…
Cindy assists her husband with his business venture Streamside Farm toy barns. The home schooling mom of 4 resides in Millington, MI. Cindy is a former Detroit Mom, now living “Up North”.
