Good Search

Okay, maybe I'm behind the times but in case I'm not, let me tell you about GoodSearch. You simply enter in the charity you want to support and then use the website just like Google. Every time you search the internet, GoodSearch donates money to the charity of your choice. You can even add a GoodSearch to your internet toolbar. Awesome! I've set mine to benefit Living Water International. I encourage you to use Goodsearch from now on.

How to Make a Chalkboard Book

When my mother visits, it is always with a bag of goodies in hand. Her latest visit included miscellaneous toys, a few hair clips....and some Chalkboard Wallies (they also come in lots of other colors and shapes). I have always wanted some Wallies but I've never gotten around to ordering them or remembering to look for them at the store but now I had two packages to use...YES!!!

We cut out the shape of a man and a thought bubble to put on the side of a bookcase...and then added some ocean waves to the end of his crib...but I had several sheets left over. I sat for awhile...thinking of what I should do and then my eye fell on Isaiah's collection of board books!

He has one particular board book I can't stand: it has animals wearing clothes and talking to each other. Ugh! It pained me whenever he grabbed that book for me to read. But I now had a way to make it cool in spite of itself.

I traced the outline of the book on the back of the Wallie sheet (I was able to make four pages from one sheet), cut them out and stuck them on the pages of the board book. It was so easy! The best part is that when he gets tired of his awesome chalkboard book, I can simply peel off the Wallies and stick them somewhere else. We know have a portable art station that will never run out of paper (and Scrap is a great place to pick up chalk for super cheap). Isaiah loves it! We take it in the car, to doctor appointments and to visit relatives.

It seems like you would be able to do the same thing with Chalkboard paint if you lightly sanded the board book pages before applying the paint. Let me know if you try it...I would love to hear how it turned out!

I knit my bit

Tragedy and famine have hit my house...and all because Andy brought home a knitting book. I know, I know...I should have stopped him right then and there but I didn't and now my family and household are suffering. Activities that once brought me joy (or at least got done) such as cleaning, cooking, and social outings have all taken a backseat while I discover new knitting patterns and stitches.

It wouldn't be all bad if I knit useful items such as socks, blankets or even toys but alas, I knit trinkets and doodads. There is no usefulness in the bits I knit (which is probably why I enjoy it so much). In a vain attempt to salvage some purpose from my two wasted days, I will post pictures and update my neglected blog.

The Bracelet

I discovered the Moss stitch in the first few pages. I had grand visions of a slender (but obscenely long) scarf made out of red pima cotton from Peru. Five minutes into it my vision had changed...into a rather cuff-like bracelet. The results satisfied but the labor intense.

Up in the Air

The Checker stitch beckoned next. I have no idea what I am making but I am contently enjoying the process.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Watermelon Brain!!!

I made this for my pumpkin carving party using a small, seedless watermelon. It was super time consuming but well worth the effort!

Tell Toy Companies: Target Parents, Not Kids, With Holiday Ads

This is my latest letter although I cannot take credit for its content...it came from "Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood."

"I am writing to urge you to suspend all advertising to children this holiday season. With the global economic crisis intensifying, many families will have to scale back their holiday shopping this year. It's wrong to create unrealistic expectations in children or to foment family stress by encouraging kids to lobby for gifts that their parents may not be able to afford.

I understand the need to create awareness of your products. I urge you to do that by advertising directly to parents instead of enlisting children as lobbyists for their holiday gifts. Since it's parents, not children, who can truly understand their family's financial situation in these difficult times, it is more important than ever that you respect their authority as gatekeepers. Please target parents instead of children with your holiday advertising."

Sincerely,
Laura Monahan


The above letter was sent to the following companies:
~Mattel: CEO Robert Eckert
~V-Tech: CEO Allan Wong Chi Yun
~Leap Frog: President & CEO Jeffrey Katz
~Hasbro: President & CEO Brian Goldner
~Spin Master: Co-CEOs Anton Rabie and Ronen Harary
~Jakks Pacific: CEO Jack Friedman
~Techno-Source: President Richard Migatz
~MEGA Brands: CEO Marc Bertrand
~MGA Entertainment: CEO Isaac Larian
~LEGO: CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp
~Activision Blizzard: CEO Robert Kotick
~Thinkway Toys: CEO Albert Chan
~ThinkFun: CEO Bill Ritchie
~Electronic Arts: CEO John Riccitiello
~Ganz: CEO Howard Ganz
~Oregon Scientific: President Mike Prager
~Disney: CEO Robert Iger
~Playmates Holdings LTD: President Lou Novak
~Nintendo: CEO Tatsumi Kimishima
~Take-Two Interactive: CEO Ben Feder
~Microsoft: CEO Steve Ballmer
~KMart: CMO Mark Snyder
~Walmart: CEO Lee Scott
~Target: President & CEO Gregg Steinhafel
~Toys R' Us: CEO Gerald Storch

Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/621/t/6914/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26139

Free from the Electronic Babysitter!!!

We have managed to free ourselves from the ever-present, power-using, life-draining babysitter known as:

T.V.

I've toyed around with the idea of kicking the boob tube to the curb for quite some time but I was never able to get Andy on board. A quick mention of a close family who lives TV free (and is still considered "normal") was enough to get his help kicking it to the curb (or at least as far as the garage but no worries...the garage has no power!).

The reasons for ridding ourselves of the insane time-sucker were many but if I had to pick one, it would have to be my utter lack of self-control when it comes to anything broadcast over the airwaves. I was wasting away hours a day...hours I could have spent with my boys (even though they were sleeping), or knitting, or catching up on all the housework (okay, you're right...I would never do that anyway), or even reading a book that involved more than one sentence per page.

It has been a few days since we exorcised the telly and I have to say, it has been absolutely wonderful. Our pace of life has slowed down, I am able to be more present in the moment, and I actually enjoy more of the housework that I'm actually getting done!

Knitting Revisited

Okay...I'm on a knitting high right now...no, seriously! Last night I taught myself how to purl and then this morning I finished my first non-scarf project: hand warmers!!! Okay, so I've only made one so far but the second one is not far behind. I'll post a picture once the set is done.