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A Valuable Resource for Parents | Center for Parent and Teen Communication

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Teen Communication

This A Valuable Resource for Parents | Center for Parent and Teen Communication is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Center for Parent and Teen Communication. The opinions, memories, and text are all mine.

THEN

Listening to you say your first word – “mom.”  Watching you learn to crawl and then start walking on your 1st birthday as if you knew how to do it all along. Taking you to get your ears pierced and watching that terrified look on your face and reminding you that this is what you wanted.  Reading you bedtime stories until you could read on your own and then listening to you read them to me. 

NOW

Playfully fighting with you over the radio stations or songs that we play in the car. Loving the fact that you care about your grades in school and watching you continue to excel academically.  Giving you a little independence and dropping you off at high school football games and the mall so you can hang out with your friends.  Seeing you stand up for others who can’t stand up for themselves and listening to the compliments from other parents on your positive actions. Laughing with you on only things that the two of us think are funny and watching everyone else trying to figure out what the joke is.

As much as we may want to freeze time and keep our children young, we have to do our best to prepare them for adulthood.  Before they reach adulthood, of course, they have to through their teenage years.  Click on the video below to find out about a resource for parents to help their children navigate through the teenage years.

 

Center for Parent and Teen Communication

The Center for Parent and Teen Communication is a new, helpful resource for every parent with teenage children.  To get an idea of what type of advice and guidance can be found at the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, click HERE to read an article from the director, Dr. Ginsburg.

The Center for Parent and Teen Communication uses the best of science on youth development and parenting to support healthy family relationships and empower parents to effectively guide teens to be their best selves. 

Teen Communication

Teen Communication

Sharing is Caring!

  • Share with us one of your favorite childhood memories in the comments below.  
  • Don’t keep this valuable information all to yourself – share this article on to one or more of your social channels to help other parents.  Just click on the sharing icons.

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We hope you loved this A Valuable Resource for Parents | Center for Parent and Teen Communication post. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of the Center for Parent and Teen Communication The opinions and text are all mine.

2019 Honda Pilot | Upgraded

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2019 Honda Pilot Elite

2019 Honda Pilot Elite





Introducing the 2019 Honda Pilot

In 2016, Honda produced its third generation Pilot which is still in high demand today in the three-row midsize crossover segment.  Honda has upgraded the 2019 Honda Pilot to focus on family-friendly features and state-of-the-art technology to match the capability of the car. 

Changes include more aggressive exterior styling, an available new hands-free power tailgate, substantial powertrain refinements, major upgrades to available connected-car technology, an available new Display Audio touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ integration.

2019 Honda Pilot Starts at $32, 445

2019 Honda Pilot Elite

2019 Honda Pilot Elite



Safety First!

The new Pilot was designed to provide a high level of active and passive safety protection and targets a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For 2019, all Pilot models come standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies. Honda Sensing® helps provide greater awareness of driving conditions around the vehicle, and in some cases helps drivers maintain lane position. 

The Pilot also comes with Honda’s blind spot information system, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, and several other driver-assistive features, such as automatic high beams and a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera.

2019 Honda Pilot Elite                      2019 Honda Pilot Elite




Key Features New to the Pilot:

  • Look Ma, no hands!  The 2019 Pilot features a hands-free power tailgate.  Drivers can simply kick their foot under a designated area of the rear bumper to open the tailgate as long as they have the remote key fob with them.  Useful for occasions when hands are full.
  • Wireless Smartphone charging, Wi-Fi hotspot, and Bluetooth® capabilities.
  • CabinControl™ –  A downloadable app for iPhone and Android phones, CabinControl™ allows passengers to use their smartphones to control a range of Pilot features, including the audio system, Rear Entertainment System, and rear climate control system. Any connected phone can search for an address or point of interest and then send it to the navigation system, where the driver can accept or reject it.
  •  Three-way heated front seats, second-row captain’s chairs, and wider fold-down armrests on front seats.
  • The new front bumper design incorporates larger fog light housings within the bumper, giving it a more aggressive look.
  • New Instrument Cluster with touchtone features displaying vehicle speed and RPM in addition to driver-selectable customizable features (audio system and phone information, a detailed trip computer, and turn-by-turn route guidance). 
  • New steering wheel with enhanced controls.
  • After much ado about volume control being located on the touchscreen menu, a volume knob has returned to the 2019 Honda Pilot.  Consumers wanted easy access and not having to take their eyes off the road to adjust the music volume.

Check out the interior! 
2019 Honda Pilot Elite

Even with the third-row seats in place, there’s still a spacious 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind them.

2019 Honda Pilot Elite

2019 Honda Pilot Elite

2019 Honda Pilot Elite

The 2019 Honda Pilot design truly kept families in mind with the new infotainment system.  Honda wanted it to be easier to use in addition to enlarging the screen.

2019 Honda Pilot Elite

2019 Honda Elite

2019 Honda Pilot Starts at $32, 445

Test Drive

The third-generation Honda Pilot has always been a leader in the three-row midsize crossover segment.  With all of the upgrades added to refresh and redesign the 2019 Honda Pilot – this SUV will continue to be a leader of the pack in this segment. If your family is looking for a midsize seven-passenger (3-row) SUV, the 2019 Honda Pilot is worth a test drive.  We had so much fun test driving Pilot and pushing it to the limit to test the safety features.  You really can’t go wrong with the Honda brand, but the 2019 Honda Pilot is in a class of its own.  I recommend stopping by your local Honda dealership for a test drive today!

Fun Facts: 

  • Did you know that when it comes to buying a set of wheels, statistics show that women play a leading role in 85 percent of all auto purchases?  True story. 
  • Two female teams and two Honda vehicles  –  2019 Pilot and Ridgeline – will be participating in this year’s 1,500-mile Rebelle Rally.  2018 marks the second annual Rebelle Rally.  The event showcases the ability of teams of one female driver and one female navigator to cross the wilderness with nothing but a map and a compass.  That’s right – no GPS system and/or Google searches allowed.  Female competitors will travel across the southwestern United States, between Lake Tahoe, Nevada and San Diego, California (over 1,000 miles).  The competition focuses on precision navigation, timing, and off-road acumen vs. just speed.
    2019 Honda Pilot Chief Engineer - Lara Harrington

Lara Harrington
The lead engineer for the 2019 Honda Pilot is a woman, Lara Harrington. Lara is Chief Engineer at Honda’s Research and Development Americas based in Raymond, Ohio.




About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2017 more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

We hope that you loved this 2019 Honda Pilot | Upgraded post.

We were hosted by Honda and not compensated to write this post.
As always, the views expressed in my post are my own.




Choose Love Over Hate | #ChooseLove Campaign

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Say No to Hate - Simply Amazing Living




Make the Pledge to Choose Love!

In January of 2018, I made the pledge to Choose Love.  I made the pledge to accept others regardless of our differences, to not exclude anyone because they do not believe in the same things that I believe in, and to go out of my way to focus on love and not hate or division.  Will you make that pledge with me?

With all of the negativity that is going on in the world right now, we need love more than ever.  I believe that it is easier to love than it is to hate.  We are born with love in our hearts.  Hate is learned and it takes an effort to hate. 

Say No to Hate - Simply Amazing Living

Say No to Hate

The one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville, VA white supremacist march – Unite the Right- is coming up.  The white supremacists and various other far right-wing groups were protesting the removal of a Confederate monument.  Last year’s demonstration quickly turned into a riot and one woman was killed and 19 others were seriously injured when a man intentionally drove a car through a group of counter-protesters.

I remember watching the television in horror as white men with hateful looks on their faces dressed in khaki pants holding burning tiki torches and screaming “Blood and Soil” and “Jews will not replace us.”  The term “Blood and Soil” is a Nazi slogan believing ethnicity is based solely on blood descent and the territory one maintains.  Hitler made “Blood and Soil” a policy which made farmland hereditary and made German farmers show proof of ethnicity.  This was used as a way to keep Jewish people from owning the land.

Thankfully, the organizers of this year’s rally were denied a permit to hold an event in Charlottesville this year.  Unfortunately, that didn’t stop them from organizing somewhere else.  The organization was recently approved for a permit in Washington, D.C.

The focus of this year’s rally will be on what they conceive as “white civil rights.” They believe that white people now have limited rights – specifically freedom of speech.  Of course, this is blatantly untrue.  However, people that have always felt this way but kept it to their inner circles are now showing their hatred for the world to see and without shame.  When our leaders do not denounce racism and declare that we are all equal, it makes some people believe that racist behavior is okay and acceptable.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.  President John F. Kennedy tried to get it passed in 1963, but it was opposed by filibuster in the Senate.  Thankfully, Lyndon B. Johnson pushed the bill through (after several revisions) and it passed the Senate with a vote of 73–27 and a House vote of 289–126.  It was signed into law on July 2, 1964.

1964 was only 54 years ago which isn’t a long time ago.  A lot has changed for the better since then, but we are still not at a point where all people are equal.  White supremacy beliefs didn’t just vanish once the Civil Rights Act was passed.  If you read the numbers above, members of the House and Senate still had votes in the opposite direction.  The white supremacists that existed 54 years ago had children.  What do you think they taught their children?   Never forget, we are born with love in our hearts.




I am hoping and praying that all goes well in Washington this weekend with the rally.  I would imagine that they won’t have the numbers in attendance that they did last year because it is not in the same city – but we will see.  If they do show up and act the way they did last year, may all of the individuals acting inappropriately be captured in photos and/or video so we can expose them to the world for who they really are.
During this difficult time we are living in at the moment, I challenge everyone to do one of the five acts of kindness and awareness:
  1. Speak out if you see someone being harassed or treated unfairly and if you don’t feel comfortable doing that – record the situation with your phone so there is proof of the incident.
  2. If you have children and haven’t talked to them about racism, sit down with them and talk to them about racism and how it is wrong.  Don’t expect them to solely learn this fact from school – talk to them directly and make this an ongoing conversation.
  3. If you haven’t already, watch the movie “13th” to learn about systematic racism.  Education is the key to change.
  4. If you watch the same news channels on television or listen to the same news on the radio or podcast consistently, try something different and change up your routine.  Watch or listen to something that you haven’t before.  Also, research the facts of the news online to confirm its accuracy.  Note:  If someone is shouting the “news” at you – it more than likely is just their opinion of the news and they are trying to get viewers to see their way vs. the actual truth.
  5. Watch the PBS documentary “Documenting Hate” which details the hatred and division in last year’s Charlottesville event.  

Watch “Documenting Hate” trailer here:

Choose Love Campaign

I purchased my “CHOOSE LOVE” t-shirt during OMAZE’s fundraising partnership with RED this past December to raise money for AIDS awareness and prevention.  I wanted to continue spreading the message of “Choose Love” although Omaze no longer sells these t-shirts.  However, you can still purchase t-shirts with other positive messages by Omaze with a portion of all sales going to non-profit charitable organizations.  I am currently working on designing my own Choose Love T-shirts to sell and raise money for charity.  But for now, order your t-shirt with a positive message and support a variety of charitable efforts through OMAZE by clicking here: HERE.





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Say No to Hate - Simply Amazing Living

 

 

Say No to Hate - Simply Amazing Living



Attention Foodies! | A Chef’s Tour Bangkok

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A Chef's Tour

Chef’s Tour Logo




A Chef’s Tour Bangkok

On our recent trip to Bangkok, Thailand we had a foodie experience unlike no other on A Chef’s Tour.  We always love to try local food and when we travel and a great way to take in the history of the area and the local food is to take a foodie tour.  Most cities around the world have them now and you can easily book them online.  Foodie tours are an excellent way to experience local ingredients and cooking techniques.
A Chef’s Tour is a new concept in culinary travel and exploration. Their English speaking and professionally trained guides lead small group tours to the best places to eat both with and like the locals.  The owners of A Chef’s Tour, brothers Alex and Luke Charny started A Chef’s Tour with one simple aim – to create the world’s best food tasting tours that even chefs will enjoy.
Luke and Alex have traveled the world over and wanted to create a tour that would help people understand regional food, it’s history and the local ingredients being used.  They wanted to step out of the typical tourist trap tours and want their customers to walk away from an “experience” they will always remember.  All of the tours are led by highly-knowledgeable chefs, cooks, and foodies like themselves.
A Chef's Tour Bangkok

My son with one of the cooks on the tour.

The Food

A little piece of advice, on the day that you take this tour, be sure to eat light.  This tour is around 3.5 to 4 hours long and comes with A LOT of wonderful food.  You don’t want to miss out on any of it because you are full.

A Chef’s Tour takes place in Yaowarat, which is Bangkok’s Chinatown.  It might sound a little odd to visit Thailand and plan to eat in Chinatown.  However, the Chinese influence over centuries of immigration in Thailand has permeated almost every part of Thai culture including the cuisine.  A lot of Thai dishes have some type of Chinese influence.




A Chef's Tour

Workers’ Noodles (Egg noodles in a pork broth with slices of pork and Chinese greens)

A Chef's Tour

Chicken skewers marinated in coconut milk and barbecued over charcoal. Served with an ajat cucumber relish and peanut satay sauce.

A Chef's Tour

Nai Mong Hoy Tod (Oyster Omelet with tomato-based spicy sauce)




Tour Guide Chef Nutth

For my family tour, we had Chef Nutth as our guide and we loved our experience with him. The entire experience feels like you are on an episode of Anthony Bourdain (may he rest in peace).  Your intimate tour group (8 maximum) is taken into the back alleys of Bangkok’s Chinatown to find the most delicious Chinese/Thai food we have ever had.  The typical tourist would not normally venture into the establishments because they are not in the center areas, they are off the path where the locals live and work.   All throughout the tour, Chef Nutt described all the ingredients and how they connected back to Thai culture. 

A Chef's Tour in Bangkok

My daughter couldn’t get enough of the noodles!

A Chef's Tour

Soy Sauce Ice Cream

A Chef's Tour

Patongo (Deep-fried Chinese dough)

Patongo is a delicious local favorite.  It is deep-fried Chinese dough and it comes with a pandan coconut sauce or condensed milk. This streetfood trolley earned a Michelin “Plate” award for their outstanding preparation of these tasty treats.

Click here to see how Patango is made!

Must Do

My family and I enjoyed all of the places we visited and all of the food we tried.  As I stated earlier, the tour comes with a lot of food. I didn’t have room on this post to place a picture of all of the dishes we were served.  If you are ever in Bangkok – A Chef’s Tour is a must do.  A Chef’s Tour also offers tours in several other countries.  For a full list of all of their locations and to book a tour, click on their website below and/or on their social channels.




Foodie Tours

Whether it’s your first time in a foreign location or returning to one of your favorite travel destinations – foodie tours are the way to go.  When traveling to new places, selecting where you want to eat can be overwhelming.  There are so many choices and you want to make sure you select places that you will enjoy.  You also want to know what you’re eating if you are not familiar with the language.

We hope that you loved this Calling All Foodies | A Chef’s Tour Bangkok post.

We were hosted by A Chef’s Tour and not compensated to write this post.
As always, the views expressed in my post are my own.

Get Social with A Chef’s Tour!

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A Chef's Tour

With Chef Nutth


2019 Acura RDX Compact Luxury SUV Surpasses Competition

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2019 Acura RDX

2019 Acura RDX




2019 Acura RDX in Showrooms Now

I was so excited to be asked to test drive the 2019 all-new Acura RDX in Whistler, British Columbia.  My first luxury car was a 1995 Acura Legend.  I really loved that car.  It was stylish, comfortable, and dependable.  Basically, it was everything I needed and more in a car especially for someone in their early twenties.  When I sold the car on eBay, I was surprised to see a gentleman from South Dakota make the purchase.  He drove all the way from South Dakota to Atlanta, GA to pick up the car.  He loaded it on a trailer and off he went back to South Dakota.  That is 1500 miles each way!  When I made the exchange, I asked him why he drove so far to buy a car and his response was that an Acura with such great features and excellent body style is a car in hot demand in South Dakota.   Cars without salt damage and had not been in the “salt belt states” would go for much more than what the blue book listed and Acura’s even went higher than that due to their great reputation and reliable history in the automobile industry.   I knew I had purchased a great car, but felt even better about my purchase on the day I sold it!




2019 Acura RDX

2019 Acura RDX

Extensive Product Redesign

The all-new Acura RDX is a first in a generation.  It is the most extensive Acura product redesign in a decade heralds a new era for Acura design, performance and luxury.  The RDX has been the top-selling nameplate in the compact luxury SUV segment since launched in 2006.  With the Acura exclusive platform, powerful new turbo engine, available next-generation SH-AWD™ and top-of-class class power-to-weight ratio yields quickest, best handling RDX yet.

Acura Precision Concept

2019 Acura RDX

 

 

 

 

Designed in America
Developed at the Acura Design Studio in Los Angeles, California, and inspired by the Acura Precision Concept, the all-new RDX presents a more emotional, athletic and aggressive form to match its premium performance-luxury SUV image.  It is the first all-new Acura model to be designed around the bold new face of Acura and its signature design element, Acura’s diamond pentagon grille, from which the design intentionally flows outward.

Advance Interior





What’s Inside?
The RDX’s NSX-inspired high-deck floating center console – lends the cabin a more intimate “sports cockpit” atmosphere while providing a higher level of utility for the accompaniments of daily life, including cups, cell phones, handbags, tablets and charging cords. It also houses key elements of the Acura electronics interface – its prominent drive mode dial for control of the 4-mode Integrated Dynamics System, and Acura’s revolutionary new True Touchpad Interface™.  

Advance Interior

One of the things that I loved most, is the open and airy feeling of the new ultra-wide panoramic moonroof which is among the largest in a compact-luxury SUV and offered standard on every new RDX.

Key New Technologies
The 2019 RDX hosts a suite of advanced new technologies, including the Acura True Touchpad Interface™, featuring an all-new Android-based operating system, a high-mounted 10.2-inch full-HD display and an innovative touchpad with the first-ever application of absolute-positioning in a driving environment. Absolute positioning departs traditional touchpad interfaces, using one-to-one mapping to deliver a more intuitive and driver-oriented user experience. The new True Touchpad Interface™ is standard and all grades of RDX will include Apple CarPlay™ compatibility, plus Wi-Fi-enabled over-the-air system updates. Android Auto™ compatibility will be introduced later, pending release and certification of touchpad specification by Google.

2019 Acura RDX

HMI Screenview Samples                                                                                                A-Spec Interior

Sound System

You really have to hear it for yourself to believe how amazing it is!  The 2019 RDX  debuts the Acura/ELS Studio 3D™ premium audio system, tuned by Grammy-winning music producer Elliot Scheiner.  The 710-watt system utilizes 16 discrete sound channels and 16 speakers, including four ceiling-mounted Highline™ speakers to create a more natural and omnidirectional high-fidelity listening experience – the most advanced audio system ever offered by Acura.

Advance Interior

Advance Interior

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hidden Storage
Need extra storage space?  The Acura RDX has got you covered!  Hidden underneath the cargo area floor is a best-in-class 1.7 cu. ft. of additional storage. Flipping the multi-folding floor panel up and forward reveals a storage area 16 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 6 inches deep – enough to hold folding chairs (bag type) or two laptop computer cases. Flipping the cover up a second time reveals two additional storage bins. In addition, a handy open storage bin that can accommodate six wine bottles (yes, they tested this out), six beverage cans or a gallon of milk is positioned at the left side of the cargo area behind the rear seat. Two incandescent bulbs illuminate the storage area when the tailgate is open.




Test Driving the 2019 Acura RDX

They said to put the pedal to the metal to test it out, so I did!  Check out the video here:

RDX Performance

The 2019 RDX is powered by a direct-injected and turbocharged 2.0-liter, 16-valve powerplant with DOHC VTEC® valvetrain mated to the segment’s only 10-speed automatic transmission (10AT). Peak output of 272 horsepower (SAE net) and 280 lb.-ft. of torque (SAE net) bests RDX’s key competitors, including Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Volvo, and delivers 40 percent more low-end torque than the outgoing 3.5L V6 for powerful acceleration.

Safety and Driver Assistive
As a mother of two, safety is extremely important to me. The third-generation 2019 RDX offers the highest level of standard safety and driver-assistance features in the model’s history – and in its class. The AcuraWatch™ suite of technologies is now standard on all RDX grades, along with a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera, while the Technology Package and higher grades add blind spot information (BSI), front and rear parking sensors and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor. The RDX with Advance Package includes a Head-Up Display and Surround View Camera System for the first time.

Pricing

The pricing of the 2019 Acura RDX undercuts a number of other category competitors.  Fully loaded, it comes in at just a little more than $47,000, a reasonable price compared to less powerful, less spacious, and less technically advanced competitors.

  • RDX base model (adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and automatic emergency braking) –  $37,300
  • RDX AWD (adding all-wheel drive, panoramic sunroof and LED headlights) – $39,300
  • RDX A-Spec (adding a sports package and exclusive design details) – $43,500
  • RDX Advance model  (adding hands-free liftgate, heads-up display, surround view camera, and 16-way ventilated front seats) – $47,400
  • Delivery charge for all models- $995

Overview

The Acura RDX Compact Luxury SUV is going to give its competitors a run for the money.  The RDX has the latest and greatest in technology, enhanced safety features, a striking design both inside and out, superior sound system, and impressive value for the cost.  All this combined with the history and reputation of the Acura brand behind it, it is going to be one of the best car purchases you can make.

 

About Acura

Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, representing the original values of the Acura brand – a commitment to evocative styling, high performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability.

The Acura lineup features six distinctive models – the RLX premium, luxury sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America’s all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV and the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.

Five of the six models in the Acura lineup are made exclusively in central Ohio using domestic and globally sourced parts, including the ILX and TLX luxury sports sedans (Marysville Auto Plant), the RDX and MDX luxury SUVs (East Liberty Auto Plant) and the Acura NSX supercar, which is built to order at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.




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Disclosure: I was Acura’s guest for this test drive; travel and accommodations were provided but all opinions are my own.




Free Educators Open House – Atlanta

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World of Coca-Cola Atlanta - Educators Open House




Educators Open House in Atlanta 

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to attend the annual Educators Open House this September.  Registration is open now and is completely free

Every year, World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium and the Center for Civil and Human Rights invite local educators (including homeschool teachers) to visit the attractions for free to learn about educational and field trip opportunities to all three educational attractions.

All registered attending educators are able to bring one guest (both free of charge) and visit the attractions from 8-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8th.  Tickets may be purchased for additional guests.

Pre-registration is required.  All interested educators should register as soon as possible.

Click on this link to register: https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/experience/learn/educator-open-house.

A valid teacher ID is required for entry to the event, and homeschool teachers may bring a copy of their Letter of Intent.

World of Coca-Cola Atlanta - Educators Open House




Teacher Toolkit

World of Coca-Cola welcomes school field trips throughout the year, and dozens of Georgia Performance Standards can be fulfilled at the attraction. World of Coca-Cola offers a teacher toolkit on its website, which outlines all of those Standards and provides pre- and post-visit activities to assist with lesson planning.

  • The average length of a school visit is estimated to be around 1.5 to 2 hours.
  • Tickets for school field trips are discounted.
  • The Teacher Tool Kit provides ways for students to explore educational connections for your class visit.  
  • Pre and post-visit activities are provided to assist with lesson planning.
  • Registering with My Coke Rewards for Schools will help schools get items necessary to facilitate a well-rounded educational experience for students.

Download your Teacher Tool Kit today!

Visit www.coca-colacompany.com for more information on The Coca‑ColaCompany’s history, products, sustainability initiatives and much more.

Center for Civil and Human Rights Atlanta - Educators Open House

Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta - Educators Open House

The Center for Civil and Human Rights
The Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta is an engaging cultural attraction that connects the American Civil Rights Movement to today’s struggle for Global Human Rights

Their purpose is to create a safe space for visitors to explore the fundamental rights of all human beings so that they leave inspired and empowered to join the ongoing dialogue about human rights in their communities.

Click HERE for tickets to the Center for Civil and Human Rights.




Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta - Educators Open House

 

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta - Educators Open House

Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium is a leading 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Atlanta, Ga., committed to working on behalf of all marine life through education, preservation, exceptional animal care, and research across the globe. Georgia Aquarium inspires, educates, and entertains its millions of guests about the aquatic biodiversity throughout the world through its hundreds of exhibits and tens of thousands of animals across its seven major galleries.  Learn More
Click HERE to purchase tickets to the Georgia Aquarium.



 

Chicago Metallic’s Mini 3 tier cake pans are everything

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Chicago Metallic Mini 3 tier cake pan

This is a sponsored post, but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.  This post may contain affiliate links, for a copy of my disclosure policy click here.

How cute are these mini 3 tier cakes?

My daughter’s birthday is coming up soon and she wants something different for her birthday cake.  She doesn’t want a cake from a bakery, donuts, or cupcakes.  When she saw me trying out these pans from Chicago Metallic, it was love at first sight.

Choose Love

Chicago Metallic’s Mini 3 Tier Cake Pans are easy to use and the final results are adorable.  I am torn between wanting to be dainty and decorate them to look like a wedding cake and fighting the desire to pretend to be Godzilla and bite the top of the cake because they make me feel like a giant.  Nom, nom, nom.

Mini 3 Tier Cake Pans by Chicago Metallic

Baking tips for Chicago Metallic’s 3 Tier Cake Pans:

  • One box of cake mix will make three of the four min cake cylinders.  Make sure to fill the cake batter to the top of each cylinder.  It will overflow slightly when baking, but you can cut the overflow off after baking so that the cake has an even, flat bottom. 
  • Since one box of cake mix only makes three cakes, you will need to make several batches.
  • Make sure to spray the pan with non-stick spray so the cakes pop out with ease after baking.
  • Try making different flavors of cake mixes and cut the tiers off and stack the different flavors of cake. 
  • Each cake equals two portions.  I recommend cutting the cakes in half and serving as two portions as it is more than enough for one person.

For my daughter’s birthday next month, we decided on baking several of the mini 3 tier cakes and having each of her party guests decorate them individually.  A grand prize will be going to the one that decorates the cutest cake.

Overall, the Chicago Metallic 3 Tier Cake Pans are a huge hit in my house.  Easy to use, easy to clean, and they look absolutely adorable.

About Chicago Metallic

The baking experts celebrating 100 years of innovative and durable bakeware products including jelly roll pans, muffin pans, cake pans and more! At Chicago Metallic we believe that serious baking requires serious bakeware. That’s why we’ve been crafting innovative equipment for professionals and serious home bakers for over 100 years. It’s the reason we’ve been able to build a global reputation one kitchen at a time.

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All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response | Volunteers Needed

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All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response

Four days into our program and the volunteers have begun their work. Team leader Gabi takes a moment to grab a photo with a local homeowner.

Puerto Rico is in Need of Volunteers

All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response is now accepting volunteer applications to help with recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Maria.  In the fall of 2017, Hurricane Maria’s 155 mph violent winds severely impacted the island of Puerto Rico, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.  The island has yet to fully recover.  

Steven Tyler Opens Janie’s House in Atlanta

“It is the worst natural disaster on record in Puerto Rico and nearly four months later, the island still does not have power and potable water in many areas.  As always, our team worked with local partners to carefully assess the damage and identify communities with the greatest need for help” noted Erik Dyson, C.E.O. of All Hands and Hearts. “Now that the situation on the ground has settled we will be helping the families, in the areas of Yabucoa and Barranquitas, in the cleanup process and to be there alongside them on the long road to recovery.”

Watch Voices of Puerto Rico video here:

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All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response is now accepting volunteer applications.  Please donate today or apply to volunteer to continue helping those affected by Hurricane Maria.  Click here to find out more:  All Hands and Hearts

All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response

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The Mission of All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response

All Hands and Hearts – Smart Response efficiently and effectively addresses the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters. By listening to local people, and deploying our unique model of engaging volunteers to enable direct impact, we rebuild safe, resilient schools, homes and other community infrastructure.

All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response

The end of the day brings substantial exhaustion, but also substantial happiness from our homeowners and their volunteers. Moments like these are prime motivation for a hard day’s work.

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A Simple Pregnancy Guide for Dads to Be

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A simple pregnancy guide for dads to be.



Simple Pregnancy Guide – First Time Dads

When your partner is pregnant for the first time, it can be a strange transition for you too.  As a Dad-to-be, you aren’t going to carry the baby or have that immediate connection, but there are some things you can do to being bonding with your baby and help your partner through her pregnancy.

Stephen Tyler’s Janie’s House in Atlanta

It’s All About Her

Yes, gents, the next 9 months will be all about your partner and baby. In fact, this is an idea you should get used to because even after the baby shower, your partner and baby will still be reliant on you to look after them. This is what being a Dad is all about: supporting Mommy and nurturing your baby.

So while you might not be experiencing pregnancy symptoms week by week, you can help her through doing a few practical things. Make up a bunch of meals you can keep in the freezer for those days when you just don’t get a minute to cook something healthy; make sure that the car is in good shape with good tires ready for the trip to the maternity ward; listen to your partner’s needs and respond with empathy – she’s going through a lot right now!

Pregnancy guide for dads.

Bonding with Baby

Mommies have an incredible opportunity to connect with their babies while they are in the womb and for many Dads, this can make you feel a little bit left out. However, there are some things you can do to bring yourself a little closer, even when you don’t have a womb!

Singing and talking to the bump might feel a bit weird to start with, but since babies can learn to recognize the voices of their family at an incredibly young age, it is a good way to begin to bond. Tell your baby how much you love them and sing nursery rhymes or lullabies if you like, or try reading from a storybook for youngsters if you like. It doesn’t really matter what you say, as long as you are talking.

Touching Mommy’s bump is also a good way for you to bond, though you should respect that sometimes she won’t want to because she is uncomfortable. Feeling a baby kicking is one of the most life-affirming experiences and will make the whole thing so much more real for you!

Nesting

Nesting is a term that is generally applied to mothers-to-be and describes the urge to clean and prepare the house for the new arrival, including decorating and furnishing the nursery. However, there is no reason that Dads can’t share in this activity.

Work together with Mommy to choose a color, pick out soft furnishings and do your bit figuring out how to construct the flat pack furniture you are bound to buy! You should also start taking over some more of the household duties as she gets bigger because movement will get harder for her and frankly those last few weeks are tiring!

Being a Dad is such an incredible journey and it starts well before the birth of your baby. This is your time to get responsible, help your partner and become a parent.





The Baby Shower Gift Guide

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Baby Shower





Been invited to a baby shower and not sure what to bring as a gift? Baby showers are a chance to celebrate the baby as well helping out the parents. Any gift is certain to be appreciated, but if you want to buy a gift that stands out here are a few special ideas that are certain to make an impact

Don’t Stop Believing.

Clothing

Baby clothing is often the go-to gift – but think twice before buying newborn clothes. Babies can often get inundated with newborn size clothes, but rarely do they ever all get worn. Some infants are born so big that they immediately skip the newborn size altogether, resulting in lots of clothes that never get worn at all. Plan ahead and buy a few clothes in a bigger size.

If you’re looking for baby clothes that stand out, consider getting a sleepsuit or bodysuit that’s monogrammed or one containing an embroidered personalised message. You can find lots of companies online that offer this service. You could also consider splashing out on some boutique baby clothes – if you visit here you’ll find lots of elegant baby clothes for a touch of luxury. You could even consider buying seasonal accessories such as hats and gloves for the winter and sunhats for the summer – these important items can often get forgotten about.

Practical

As sweet as soft toys and funny parenting books can be, they’re not exactly practical. If you’re buying a gift for a mother-to-be who is financially struggling, consider small gifts that are certain to get some usage. Diapers, baby wipes, and formula milk might not seem gift-worthy, but they could be essentials that the mother needs. Other practical gifts like bibs and blankets might allow more personalization (you can get these items monogrammed for a personal touch or even hand-knit your own blanket if you’ve got the craft skills). On top of this, there’s always the option to give money or vouchers, which can be spent at their leisure.

Something for Mommy

Baby shower gifts don’t have to be aimed at the baby. New moms often need some TLC so consider small gifts aimed at them that could help to make the transition to parenthood that little bit easier. Gifts to help them relax when they get their moments of peace could include bath bombs, herbal drinks to help sleep, chocolate and even perhaps a bottle of champagne.

Joint Gift

If they need certain big gifts like a bed, stroller or a car seat, consider chipping in some money with some of the other people attending in order to afford such a large gift. This could be a surprise gift, or it could be a planned gift (planning with the mom-to-be it could ensure that you buy something that’s to their liking). You could even consider all putting money in a pot and then allow the mum-to-be to spend this on what they want.





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