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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Newly Appointed YWCA of Greater Atlanta Marketing Committee Member















The YWCA plants the seeds of hope to provide comfort where there is pain, love where there is loneliness, and a light where there is darkness.









Dear Friends,

I am honored to serve on a number of important committees, most recently I was asked to serve on the Marketing Committee for the YWCA of Greater Atlanta.

The YWCA of Greater Atlanta is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Within the next couple of days, I will begin sharing informative information and wonderful events that take place and are hosted by the YWCA of Greater Atlanta.

It is my hope that you will enjoy this information and share these events utilizing social media to family and friends.

I’m thrilled and honored to serve on this important committee. I sincerely appreciate your support and readership.

For more information about the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, please visit: http://ywcaatlanta.org.

Continuing my life's passion to love, educate, and serve.

Best,

Sojourner



Monday, August 29, 2011

Support Heart of Haiti at Macy's & Enter to Win a Beautiful Handcrafted Picture Frame Giveaway!


The 2010 earthquake in Haiti was catastrophic and an estimated three million people were affected by the quake.

Soon after giving birth to our second child, I sat up late nights feeding him and watching the devastation occur in Haiti. I was nursing our newborn and watching young children fight for their lives. It was absolutely heart-wrenching.

Like you the devastation caused me to immediately act and contribute financially toward rebuilding Haiti and helping those in need. I gave my contribution nearly a year ago, but my heart continued to want to help.

I believe that what you say will come to pass. I spoke into existence that I wanted to continue to help Haiti. Not long after that, I crossed paths with someone who told me about Heart of Haiti.

The truth is that although millions of dollars were given to help rebuild the country, we still have a long way to go. Haiti still needs our support. Hundreds of thousands of people still live in refugee camps.

The Heart of Haiti program allows artists to sell their products through Macy's and earn life-changing income for themselves, their families, and their communities.

The initiative is enabling artisans to repair homes, pay school fees, and feed and clothe their families. The income also allows them to have access to better nutrition, improved education and healthcare.

Heart of Haiti Collection

- The Heart of Haiti collection has already led to employment of 350 artists in Haiti and has provided some financial benefits for an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people in the country

- Each product is made from recycled materials. Products include vases, candleholders, serving trays, picture frames, mirrors, coasters, necklaces, clutch purses and more

- Most items fall in the $25-$60 range

Enter to win this Heart of Haiti handcrafted picture frame!

By entering this giveaway you're helping me spread the word about Heart of Haiti.


1. Like Heart of Haiti on
Facebook.

2. Like Married with Two Boys on
Facebook.

3. Comment on this post the last good deed you did and how that made you and the other person feel.

To purchase Heart of Haiti items online or to find a store near you that sells them, please visit Heart of Haiti at Macy’s.

Thank you for helping me spread the word about Heart of Haiti. This giveaway will end on October 1, 20011 at 7pm.












I absolutely love this handcrafted picture frame, as well as, these beautiful Heart of Haiti Bookends, Set of 2 La Sirene Stone Mermaids

$50.00








and this gorgeous Heart of Haiti Jewelry, Horn Collection

$25.00 - 36.00








For more information, please visit Heart of Haiti at Macy’s.










Disclosure: I received a Heart of Haiti pendant as a thank you for writing this post. Thank you for supporting Heart of Haiti.


Saturday, August 27, 2011

Georgia Tech Town Kickoff: Tech partners with Atlantic Station for the 2011 Football Season (Photos)


We had a blast today at the Georgia Tech Town Kickoff event at Atlantic Station. The boys had front row seats at the event and sang and cheered with the football team, cheerleaders, and band!

I haven't been this excited about college football since I was a graduate student at Penn State. The family fun event was fabulous!

I grew up in different college towns throughout the country and want to instill the same tradition in our young boys of being on college campuses (planting the seed early, folks). So, I like to take our boys to different college events throughout the city. If they decide to go out of state for college then that's fine, but I want them to know about all of the wonderful institutions we have in Atlanta and the South.

Joe Pa I love the Nittany Lions but this year I think I'm rooting for Tech!























Share these helpful college resources with family and friends:





















































<---- Look at that arm!

QB in the making!















































































Friday, August 26, 2011

Atlanta Diaper Relief’s Kick-off Charity Event at Catch Air

Atlanta Diaper Relief is having it’s FIRST Charity Benefit to raise money for families who need diapers!

Bring your kids and as many people as you’d like and come out to the new

PlayCenter at

2505 Chastain Meadows Parkway, Suite 103, Marietta GA 30066.

September 24th

2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

We’ll boogie on down and have a dance party with a Laser light-up floor, we’ll bask in the bubbles floating by and the little ones will have a ball, literally in the ball pit!

And at the end of the day, hundreds of babies in Metro Atlanta will benefit from the money being raised.









Tell everyone you know to come on out and support this great cause and have a great time. Come out and learn about the work that Atlanta Diaper Relief provides to families in need.

Cost: Infants FREE

Kids 2 & younger $5.35

Kids 3 & older $8.56

Atlanta Diaper Relief will have a box to drop off diapers if you care to donate diapers in addition to your entry fee. Diaper donations are much appreciated, but not required. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the diaper bank.

For more information, please visit http://tinyurl.com/3m33cz .











Mommy Blogger for the Common Good. Got an event for the Common Good? Let me know and I'll do my best to share your event! Good Deeds Done Daily! - Sojourner


What Not to Do at Work: 10 Tips for Recent Grads























In this tough economy landing a job can be challenging, but once you find one it is a true blessing. Congratulations you can now somewhat relax because there are no more sweat mark circles under your armpits. You're officially on your way to staring a new career. You've got a suit that fits you perfectly, several blouses or shirts to mix and match your way into getting comfortable in your new office chair. There's just a few things to point out that will keep you on the right track, and not land you in the "hot seat."

Chere Thomas knows a thing or two about keeping her job. When discussing how her co-workers got fired she stated, "At my company we are reimbursed for mileage when we drive for work related assignments. One person decided to pad their mileage to and from an assignment and it cost them their job when their travel expenses were audited. They stayed at the same hotel as everyone else and claimed an additional 10 miles to the assignment a day. They basically lost their job for 50 extra dollars."

Besides the obvious of coming in late without communicating to your supervisor, or leaving work early without approval, there are other ways of getting "the boot."

1. Ringtone - Make a custom ringtone for work, not a popular song or jingle, but basic ringtone. Better yet turn your phone on vibrate at work, because you really shouldn't be answering it anyway while on the job.

2. Relationships - Do your best to keep your relationships professional. The line of inappropriateness can easily be crossed so be cautious.

3. Grooming - Clip your fingernails at home, not on the job. If you have an office mate then believe you me, she/he doesn't want to see your fingernail clippings sprinkled all over the floor like confetti.

4. Manners - "Yes Ma'am" and "No Sir" are proper and appropriate phrases to use the first day on the job to your well-seasoned colleagues. Once he/she tells you to call them by their first name, then follow their advice. Until then, stay on your best behavior.

5. Pay attention - Be sure to observe more than you talk, during the first week of your new job. Your new to the environment, and want to make sure that you don't cross any murky waters early on by saying something outlandish.

6. Think before you click: Never tweet or post anything negative about yourself or your job to your social netowork. With today's technology, people can tweet the wrong thing and be fired, not hired, or convey an image detrimental to their reputation and career. Google yourself often and find out what's out there about you, because these days most people are Googleable.











Danielle Howard, Senior Consultant at a Fortunate 500 Company stated, "Remember there's not "I" in Team, but there is an "I" in promotion. It's not about working hard but about working smart. A lot of people don't keep track of a running tab of their success at work. When it comes time for a review you should have a good understanding of your value, remember you are your own biggest advocate." She provided a couple of more tips on what not to do on the job.

7. Flirting - Hitting on your co-workers is inappropriate and can make or break your ability to be seen as a professional.

8. Drinking on the job - Taking longer than one hour lunches or participating in an early "happy hour" is out of the question.

9. Social Media - Using social media at work while in a meeting or while you should be working makes your productivity questionable.

10. Movies - Downloading bootleg movies or songs on the companies PC, and looking at porn in never OK.

What's the craziest thing a co-worker has ever done that got them in the "hot seat?" What not to do at work?

Link

Visit my blog Married with Two Boys follow me on Twitter like me on Facebook and connect with me on LinkedIn.

Published on MyAtlantaMoms.com.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

GEORGIA AQUARIUM “STUFFS THE BARREL” FOR SCHOOL KIDS IN NEED











GEORGIA AQUARIUM “STUFFS THE BARREL” FOR SCHOOL KIDS IN NEED

Promotional weekend allows guests discounted admission for helping schools

ATLANTA –As students head back to school, Georgia Aquarium is partnering with Kids In Need, a free store for teachers, for a special “Stuff the Barrel” two-in-one school supply drive and promotion. Offering $5 off general admission to all guests who donate school supplies from August 25-28, Georgia Aquarium provides a special way for guests to give back to local schools, while giving back to their wallets, as well.

During this special promotional weekend, guests of the Aquarium will be “stuffing” barrels and bins with school and art supplies for educators and students from financially-challenged Atlanta area schools. Guests will receive $5 off their purchase of a general admission ticket with the donation of new school supplies worth at least $5 retail. Vouchers will be issued at ticket window collection stations and can be redeemed on any day of the promotion.














A project of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Kids In Need is a year-round program that aims to provide learning supplies to Atlanta area schools whose success is threatened by poverty. With all items donated by manufacturers, retail stores and supply drives, teachers from eligible schools can “shop” for free classroom supplies at the Kids In Need warehouse store.

For a school to qualify, at least 80% of the students must be enrolled in the federal free and reduced lunch program. Every year, Kids In Need distributes thousands of pounds of brand new school and art supplies to elementary, middle and high schools across more than 12 Georgia school systems. Georgia Aquarium’s “Stuff the Barrel” campaign gives guests the opportunity to learn about marine life from across the world, while helping to enrich the minds and imaginations of students in their own back yard.














Through its mission to inspire, entertain and educate, Georgia Aquarium strives to serve as an educational and enlightening resource in the Atlanta community, teaching students about the wonders of the world’s waterways and oceans.

For more information about Georgia Aquarium and its dedication to education, please visit www.georgiaaquarium.org or call (404) 581-4000.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

One Million Pairs of Socks to Families in Need!





















This year, No nonsense® is ensuring that for every special three-pack of socks purchased at Nononsense.com, a person in need will receive a new, clean pair of their own to go back to school with. No nonsense’s “Socks for America” program has pledged one million new pairs of socks through K.I.D.S. – (Kids in Distressed Situations) to people in need. K.I.D.S. donates new items to homeless and other shelters around the country. While most people take their socks for granted, they are one of the most needed and least donated items for families in need. And for a lot of them, it is the first new item of clothing they have ever received.

















The No nonsense “Socks for America” program, which is being supported by new mother and philanthropist Emily Procter from CSI: Miami, aims to help some of the 18 million children who are living below the poverty line with the benefit of new, clean socks to go back to school in. Additionally, eight film students traveled the country by car handing out the million pairs of socks and you can see their journey here:
www.socksforamerica.com.

I donated my box of no nonsense socks to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women & Children, Inc.

Consumers can also help by becoming a fan of No nonsense on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nononsense.

By entering the promo code “nnmoms” in the lower right corner at purchase, you will save 15% on ALL products at nononsense.com. Hurry, the code expires Sunday, August 27 at midnight.

We’re on a mission to rid the world of nonsense!

Kids Field Trip to Rancho Alegre Farm (Photos)



















On Monday I helped chaperone a field trip for our kids school. We went to the Rancho Alegre Farm, located in Dacula, Georgia. Rancho Alegre Farm is owned and operated by Pilar Quintero who gave us a tour of the farm. We had a great time draining cows milk (process of making cheese), picking herbs from the garden, feeding and milking goats, petting a very friendly horse, and taking a very joyful hayride.

Check out the photo of our oldest son, Roland Jay milking a goat below. My husband said that our oldest is following in his footsteps (because as a child he milked goats on his Granny's farm in Tuskegee.)

To learn more information about Rancho Alegre Farm, please visit: http://ranchoalegrefarm.com/




































































































































































































































To learn more information about Rancho Alegre Farm, please visit: http://ranchoalegrefarm.com/