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.

"The Heart of the Matter"

I got this info via email and wanted to pass it on...I wish I could go but it is the same night as Refuge.

Inviting all women to please join us for an unforgettable event…

Cross Cultural Study
The Heart of the Matter: Touching the Lives of Women and Children in Poverty
Date: 3 Monday evenings: Oct 27, Nov 3, and Nov 10
Time: 6:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 NW Cornell Road in Portland
Cost: $5.00 for materials

For more information or to RSVP, contact Dorothy Hoover, CCS Co-Chair,
at 503-646-3074 or hooverdl1@msn.com.


The event is hosted by Women of Vision, a volunteer program of World
Vision, who advocates on behalf of the poor; generates funds and
resources to support World Vision projects; sponsors a speaker series
each year that educates the Portland metropolitan community about
global poverty issues; and provides volunteer service on behalf of
impoverished and oppressed women and children.

The Columbia-Willamette chapter of Women of Vision, founded in 1997,
is made up of women from throughout the Portland/Vancouver area. Women
of Vision is inviting all women to attend an unforgettable event -
Cross Cultural Study The Heart of the Matter: Touching the Lives of
Women and Children in Poverty. This study will explore the root causes
of poverty and what to do about it, using scripture, video,
discussion, simulation activities, and testimony from women who have
traveled to our projects.

'Tudes

This picture sums up all the attitudes at my house right now....

Social Involvement

I sent the following letter to Crest, Oral-B, Colgate, Mentadent and Philips...check it out!

"I recently found a company that offers toothbrushes made from recycled plastics and will also recycle the used toothbrush (http://www.recycline.com/toothbrush.html/). I will only be buying these toothbrushes in the future.

I would love to see your company offer a similar product. It makes sense for the environment, your bottom dollar, and our community.

If your company started to make a similar product, I would seriously consider purchasing the product and recommending it to all of my friends and family. Thank you for your time."

Laura Monahan
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Portland, OR xxxxx

My hope is to encourage businesses to use environmentally friendly practices by not only "voting" with my dollars but to also clue them in to what I types of products I do want. My goal is to write one letter a week (to corporations, politicians, etc) in an attempt to be heard. I am not naive...I know the corporations get tons of letters/comments but it is still worth a try.

Let me know if there is a letter you want me to write or an issue you want me to write about. I'm going to need the inspiration. Oh...I'll also keep you posted on if I hear back from anyone.

Why?

Why is it:

There is no milk when you finally want cereal for breakfast?

You know exactly where everything is until you need it?

Your kids play by themselves until you want to have some personal time?

You hit all the red lights when you're in a hurry?

The pens in the house always have ink when someone wants to draw on the walls?

Your kids know just the right moment to give you a hug?

Refuge

As some of you may know, I go to Refuge every Monday night. Before we broke into smaller groups, a woman shared her beautiful story of pain and redemption. I've interacted with this woman for awhile and I never had an idea of what she has been through and what God has done in her life.

It got me thinking: how often do I delve deeper with others? How often do I give someone enough space to really fill me in? How often do I pursue someone else?

It was amazing to hear her transformation and all of the raw emotion behind what God has done in her life. I want to know her better and feel slightly sad that I haven't already pursued a relationship with her.

I've given in...

You've done it. You've convinced me. I now have my own blog.

You wanted me to read yours while warning me not to have my own. No such luck, friends.

I've convinced you to join facebook, a yahoo group or two, and now this: my own blog.

This will be a place for me to share all of my random thoughts and hear all of your random comments. I will not check my voicemail but I will check my blog.

Read at your own risk.