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Friday, September 30, 2011

'Tis the Season to Get Scammed?


Over the weekend, I took our boys grocery shopping and pushed them around the store in their favorite race car cart. Right before we left the produce area we were abruptly interrupted by a mysterious woman standing near the apples. "Do you have a moment," she said. I said that I did as I examined her from head to toe. She continued, "I was wondering if you could sponsor my groceries today." I listened a bit closer as her voice turned into a whisper, "I don't have any money and need someone to pay for my groceries. You just tell me how much I can spend."

I entertained the idea for about a minute and even checked my purse for some cash, but had no luck finding any dollar bills. She interrupted me from scrounging through my purse, "I don't want any money. I just need you to give me a limit on what I can buy, then pay for my groceries." My motherly instinct kicked in and I regrettably told her that I was unable to assist her at that time. I walked away perplexed to what would of happened had I "sponsored" her grocery run.

What was her motive? Was it simply to get me to pay for her groceries? Or did she have an alternative motive in mind? My gut told me that after I paid for her groceries, then she would have asked me to walk her to her car. I daydreamed for a split second of me trying to protect myself and our children from her and possibly her accomplice. Was I being too over the top with this assumption? I didn't know, but I thought it was better to be "safe than sorry."

As someone who volunteers in the community and gives to panhandlers on the side of the road regularly, it's difficult for me to turn people away who appear to be in need of help. However, I rationalized with myself and thought that if something seems a bit off during a conversation, then it's probably best to turn away. Before leaving the store I alerted the cashier about the woman's behavior, and she confirmed that I did the right thing and indicated that, "I needed to be aware of scam artists during the holidays."

I've been scammed before.

Nearly 3 years ago I had my purse stolen out of my car. It was my fault for leaving it in the floor, while dropping our oldest son off at daycare. I was glued to the daycare surveillance video motionless, as I watched the unidentified man open my car door and snatch my purse. “He got you!” a woman yelled, while watching the video over my shoulder. My mouth fell to the floor, along with my tears. Speechless, I looked to the daycare director for help, but her words were no comfort. I sighed and my body slouched in disbelief. I learned from that lesson to always lock my car doors, even when dropping off our kids at daycare.

Holiday scam artists are prevalent, and I would argue are attracted to moms with their children. Are you aware of any recent scams? What advice can you give to moms about scammers?

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Featured on MyAtlantaMoms.com.

"Jazz Baby" Event at The Children's Museum of Atlanta


Join us as Imaginator Jerry G. White sings the book "Jazz Baby" by Lisa Wheeler while the award-winning children's book illustrator, R. Gregory Christie, demonstrates his illustration techniques.

Location: Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta
Date(s): October 8th, 2011
Time(s): 12:00 PM
Cost: Included with Museum admission
Ages: Geared toward children ages 8 and under http://www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org/visitors/calendar/jazz_baby

R. Gregory Christie is a three-time recipient of a Coretta Scott King Award Honor in illustration and the receiver of two New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books designations. His artwork has been featured on HBO Kids, “Between The Lions" on PBS, in numerous publications, and on the album covers of jazz artists such as Joe Sample, George Benson, Jonas Kullhammar, and the “Coltrane The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings” GRP Impulse.

The artist has illustrated the children's book biographies of many significant historical and cultural figures including Richard Wright, Langston Hughes, and Sojourner Truth. He is the 2008 Theodor Geisel Award Honor recipient for his book with Lisa Wheeler named “Jazz Baby.” He is also a 2007 Schneider Family Award winner for his book with folk music legend Pete Seeger “The Deaf Musicians.” More information about R. Gregory Christie at www.gas-art.com.



R. Gregory Christie is a three-time recipient of the Coretta Scott King Honor for illustration. Two of his books — Only Passing Through and Stars in the Darkness — were picked by The New York Times for its Best Illustrated Children's Books list. He has also illustrated numerous jazz album covers, and is a regular contributor to The New Yorker. He earned a B.F.A. in media arts from the School of Visual Arts.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

SAT Scores Slip But Southern Region Sets Record in Participation












Southern Regional Education Board - News


Average statewide composite SAT scores in 2011 declined in the eight Southern Regional Education Board states in which more than 50 percent of students take the college-admission test, results released on September 14 by the College Board show. But the region hit an all-time high of 51 percent in the proportion of graduating seniors who took the test, indicating that more students in SREB states are taking steps toward college.

Nationwide, nearly 1.65 million seniors in the 2011 graduating class took the SAT during high school — the biggest and most diverse class of test participants in history. More than one-third were in SREB states, where 580,000 students took the test. Georgia had the highest participation rate in the region at 80 percent, up 10 percent since 2006.

Read more here.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Live Ear Tubes Surgery: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta


More than 80% of children will have an ear infection before the age of 3. If children are having recurrent ear infections or have fluid behind the ear drum that won’t go away, a doctor may recommend ear tubes.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta performs thousands of ear tube procedures each year. With a surgical team dedicated to treating pediatric patients, Children’s specializes in kids. From the size of the equipment to the anesthesia (sleep medicine) to the pediatric-trained staff, Children’s is tailored to meet the specific needs of children.

Follow an ear tube surgery via the Children’s Twitter account, @ChildrensATL, Friday, Sept. 30 beginning at 7:30 a.m. and see the experiences – from anesthesia to recovery – a 1-year-old and her mom have during the procedure.

For more information about ear tubes, visit www.choa.org/eartubes.






















Visit www.supporttablefortwo.org.

Free Family Fun Day on Auburn Avenue: Strong 4 Life














Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic

Site host Strong4Life Atlanta

Free Family Fun Day on Auburn Avenue


Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site

WHAT: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, in partnership with the National Park Service, will host Strong4Life Atlanta on Saturday, October 8. The event is a free community festival promoting healthy and active lifestyles.

One of the top health issues facing Georgia kids today is childhood obesity. Georgia has the second highest rate of childhood obesity in the United States. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is tackling the crisis with a statewide movement called Strong4Life. Strong4Life is the largest public awareness campaign on childhood obesity and wellness to ever hit Georgia, along with programs, partnerships and clinical intervention to help and support kids when and where they need it.

Families are invited to experience the four pillars of Strong4Life: Eat Right, Be Active, Get Support and Have Fun. Attendees will enjoy cooking demonstrations from Chef Marvin Woods, America’s Healthy Chef, sample healthy foods and connect with community resources available to help them live a healthy lifestyle. The Strong4Life team will lead kids in fun activities, including an obstacle course, relay races, dance parties and a hula hoop contest. The event also offers families a chance to win raffle prizes and take home special giveaways.

To kick off the event, families are invited to participate in a Strong4Life Historic Walk, a U.S. Park Ranger-guided walk through the Old Fourth Ward “Sweet Auburn” neighborhood at 10 a.m. Live entertainment and activities will begin after the walk.

WHEN: Saturday, October 8

10 a.m. – Strong4Life Historic Walk

10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Strong4Life Fun and Activities

WHERE: Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, 450 Auburn Ave.

Auburn Avenue between Boulevard and Howell, Downtown Atlanta

PRICE: FREE










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Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. Managing more than half a million patient visits annually at three hospitals and 16 neighborhood locations, Children’s is one of the largest clinical care providers for children in the country. Children’s offers access to more than 30 pediatric specialties and is ranked among the top children’s hospitals by Parents magazine and U.S. News & World Report. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s has made an impact in the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world. Visit www.choa.org for more information.


Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service in downtown Atlanta, memorializes America’s most revered Civil Rights Movement leader. Authorized by Congress in 1980, the park preserves the Auburn Avenue neighborhood where Dr. King was born, where he lived, worked, worshiped, and where he is buried, for the benefit, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site is one of Atlanta’s top visitor destinations, drawing over 700,000 visitors annually. All attractions are free.


Chef Marvin Woods, America’s Healthy Chef

Chef Marvin is the first chef chosen by Michelle Obama to kick off the Let's Cook! web series for the Let's Move! campaign. He travels the country educating and motivating kids and parents to focus on positive ways to reduce childhood obesity and other children's health issues. Visit www.chefmarvinwoods.com for more information.


Wordless Wednesday: Support Table for Two

















www.supporttablefortwo.org

Monday, September 26, 2011

Take Charge of the Family/Work Balance by Starting Your Own Business: Free Event for Mom Entrepreneurs































Are you Mom, Incorporated? Or do you want to be?

Meet Entrepreneurs Aliza Sherman (founder of Cybergrrl, Inc., Webgrrls International and Mediaegg) and Danielle Smith (founder Danielle Smith Media and ExtraordinaryMommy.com) who have joined forces to write a book that helps women who are already moms (or are thinking about becoming moms in the future) learn how to take charge of the family/work balance by starting their own businesses.

Danielle Smith and Aliza Sherman










Mom, Incorporated is a holistic, user-friendly book that draws on Aliza and Danielle's own experiences as well as the experiences of other moms who've started their own successful businesses.

Mom Incorporated Book

Meet the Authors!

Meet Danielle and Aliza at The Green Room Actor's Lounge on Oct 2 Sunday at 2pm.

The Green Room Actor's Lounge - 25D Bennett St., Atlanta, GA 30309

They've also invited their good friends Heather Solos, author of Home-Ec 101 to join them. So you get to meet 3 authors at 1 event!

To register for the event, please visit: http://mombook2.eventbrite.com.

There will be a panel discussion featuring Danielle Smith, Aliza Sherman, Heather Solos, Shannon Nash and Terri J. Vaughn discussing businesses and lives.

More goodies and giveaways at the event. Danielle, Aliza and Heather will be on hand to chat about their books, their businesses, their lives - and are happy to sign books, too.

Shannon Nash

This event is hosted by Shannon Nash who is featured as a legal and accounting expert in Mom, Incorporated.

Shannon is co-owner of The Green Room Actor's Lounge and owner of Nash Management Group.

Terri J. Vaughn has entertained us on television for more than ten years.

Terri J. Vaughn

First, she stole America's heart with her lovable portrayal of Lovita Alizay Jenkins on "The Steve Harvey Show," then Vaughn made her way to UPN's "All of Us" and now she brings Renee, a sassy and hilarious nurse, to life on Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns.Vaughn has been honored with three Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her work on "The Steve Harvey Show" and was also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work on "Soulfood."

The Green Room (@realgreenroom) is a new concept lounge and entertainment/arts community haven in Atlanta located at 25-D Bennett Street, Atlanta, GA 30309. From plays by writers such as of Neil Simon, Arthur Miller, August Wilson, David Mamet, and even today's more contemporary playwrights, to books on acting techniques, industry professionals' autobiographies, and the entertainment industry at large; everything an actor, director, producer or show business novice could want, can be found at The Green Room.The Green Room has a fully stocked Coffee and Tea Bar, featuring exclusive appetizing pastries and snacks. Guests will be able to sip and browse and relax with free Wi-fi. The Green Room also offers a slate of acting classes for adults, kids and teenagers taught by some of the most sought after actors and instructors in the business. In addition, The Green Room has acting classes for special needs kids through a collaboration with Actors for Autism, as well as a variety of specialized classes related to the business of the entertainment industry. The Green Room is the place to be to get an education both in front of and behind the camera.






















































Connect with the Authors!

You can connect with Danielle and Aliza here:

Blog - http://momincorporated.com

Facebook - http://facebook.com/momincorporated

Twitter - http://twitter.com/momincbook Hashtag #mominc

Connect with Heather here:

Facebook - http://facebook.com/homeec101

Twitter - http://twitter.com/homeec101

Sponsor Love!

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