D.I.Y. Squirrel Pelt Patch for Wooden Blinds

Dear Squirrel (or anything that enjoys torturing my dog while I am out),

You have succeeded in getting my otherwise, obedient dog into hot water. Oh.... You know what you did (and, so do I)! You and your squirrel friends must have come into my patio while my family and I ran a few errands today and, while Jakey (my loving coonhound) was holed up in the house guarding my home. You probably did some sort of dance in front of my back patio window taunting him since he can't get to you. "Which window?," you ask in that oh-so-cute chipmunk voice of yours... The window facing my backyard that I just recently hung new, wooden blinds from. That one. Does that jog your memory or, do you dance in front of other windows taunting dogs often?

In Jakey's frenzy of madness to tear you into pieces (and, annoyance to my neighbours with the probable baying coming from inside my home), he chomped with, what I can only assume was a rabid, foaming assault to my new wooden blinds. I would have never noticed this destruction to my beautiful, new wooden blinds had it not been for Jakey. When we arrived home from our short trip out, he wore a, 'who, me?!' expression on his sweet face that melted my heart and made me bend down to pick up his favourite 'baby' aka stuffed dog toy he lovingly flaunts to anyone that shows him the slightest affection. Upon bending down, I noticed wooden pieces scattered everywhere.

Now, I know squirrels like to point fingers (do you even have fingers)? But, I am a wonderful pet owner. My Jakey boy is an otherwise loving and sweet family dog. He only foams at the mouth and becomes the coonhound he should be when he hears the word for your kind...squirrel... or, that is, when he sees you or, one of your family members on my fence.

My only regret is not installing a shorter fence so that, before said blind incident occurred, I could have prevented this from happening. Jakey would have gotten you a long time ago had the fence been a bit shorter. You can thank my son for the fence height that saved your life. I didn't want my boy finding pieces of squirrel fur around my yard.

Now, I know that squirrels don't read blogs however, if you happen to visit my patio again I'll have a special treat waiting just for you.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot....We can both thank my brother, Mike for the b.b. gun last Christmas. At first, I was a bit surprised that he found that to be an appropriate gift for the holidays but, I see now how fitting and thoughtful it was.
That gift will come in handy soon, I hope. Maybe I can use your squirrel pelt to mask the gaping hole in my blinds? I'll search Pinterest for that DIY project. I am sure Pinterest will have a pin for that type of project.
Yours truly,
-ProjectDonna

How to Join a Twitter Chat

If you are new to Twitter, you may not know HOW to join a Twitter Chat or Party.

Below, are a few easy steps, that I have found, which make joining any Twitter chat helpful and easy to manage. These steps will help you ease into the fun of Twitter chats and tweeting, in general.

Step 1: Sign up for Twitter. Get a Free Twitter account. Follow Friends, Family and Businesses you want to get the latest news from. Follow @cpalmscharter (or, any Twitter Party or Twitter Chat hosts).

Step 2: Just before the chat time (give yourself a good 20 minutes to set this all up), use Tweetgrid to join the party at: http://tweetgrid.com/party

Step 3: You should see this Page on Tweetgrid:

Step 4:  You want to add the Party Chat Details.

Party Hashtag: #cpcharter
Party Host(s): @cpalmscharter
Twitter Handle – Your Twitter username: @____________

Click on: Join The Party!

Step 5: What you see is the party on the left, hosts in the middle, your tweets on the right. You are not finished yet... 2 more simple steps to go!

Step 6: On the top, middle of the page (just above the Party Host(s), click Login. You will be asked to Login into your Twitter account and Connect the Tweetgrid App to your account. It’s secure. Click on Authorize App.

Step 7: Start tweeting!

For more details about the Twitter Chat, see below:

CPALMS Charter (@cpalmscharter) is calling all teachers and administrators to join us this summer for 8 informative twitter chats that will cover topics ranging from classroom management to common core to technology and everything in between.

Twitter chats will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST beginning Tuesday, July 9 at 3:00. This first twitter chat will focus on classroom management concerns and best practices. Come ask your questions for advice on maintaining better classroom management and provide some insight for best practices that have worked in your classroom. This is a great chance to interact with other teachers, learn some new tools and tricks, and build your professional network on Twitter.

To join, simply log in to your twitter account at www.twitter.com and search for #cpcharter and begin chatting. Please remember that you must put #cpcharter in the body of your post (e.g., “I am tweeting to #cpcharter”) so that everyone can see them. Also, be sure to follow the moderator, @cpalmscharter.

The schedule for the first four sessions is as follows:

Tuesday, July 9 – Classroom Management

Thursday, July 11 – Common Core Reading

Tuesday, July 16 – Response to Intervention and Student Accommodations

Thursday, July 18 – Common Core Mathematics

Hope to tweet you there!

If you found this blog post useful and helpful, please follow me on Twitter @ProjectDonna

A Positive Local Business Story

It's not often that I blog on my personal blog site. In fact, I don't believe I've written a blog (as myself) on this blog, for several years. My time and work typically revolve around writing for other businesses, writing AS the Owner of a client's business or, writing AS if I am part of the Marketing staff for a specific client, otherwise known as, ghost blogging. However, today I feel compelled to write a blog post, about an amazing gymnastics facility and local business that deserves the spotlight and many kudos. 

Why, all of a sudden do I feel the need to write a new blog post? Passion. I feel passionate about this story and believe that 360 Gymnastics, LLC deserves to have their amazing story in the spotlight. For several years, when my son was a toddler, we frequented another gymnastics facility. The staff and gym trainers made that gym experience unbeatable. So, when that gymnastics center closed, we stopped attending gymnastics altogether... Fast forward almost 4 years later and I came across (while doing research for places to have my son's birthday party indoors), 360gymnast.com and 360 Gymnastics, LLC.

The former head coach and gymnastics trainer, Valerie Mas, now owns 360 Gymnastics and the best part about 360 Gymnastics? Many of the staff and coaches have come to work at 360 Gymnastics too! I was so happy to know that my son's favorite athletic instructor, Katelyn Collins was also at 360 Gymnastics. Katelyn is awesome! She has the perfect approach and demeanor with even the most timid little ones and has a truly special ability to make everyone smile. I booked my son's 7th birthday party at 360 Gymnastics without hesitation, once I knew Katelyn was a part of 360 Gymnastics.

Once I spoke with Owner of 360 Gymnastics, Valerie Mas, I felt compelled to help promote and market her one year Anniversary celebration and move to a massive 15,000 square foot facility. I am disappointed that I did not find this Gymnastics Center sooner!
 
"I am overjoyed that 360 Gymnastics is expanding to a larger facility. Parents like that the owner is on the (gym) floor coaching, that we know all of our customers, and above all that we care if the children are really learning gymnastics! I want to promote a larger more beautiful facility, but I also want families and members to know the feel and culture of our gym will remain the same. I hope to continue to grow 360 Gymnastics with exciting, new classes, as well as an ability to serve a larger audience" said Valerie Mas, in a recent interview.

Valerie Mas is a Mompreneur with local ties to Stuart, Florida's Martin County. 360 Gymnastics is thriving in an economy that is faltering. Excellent customer service and membership rapport, being hands on, supporting and creating classes that are Mom friendly AND kid friendly, including home school programs...  all of these elements go together to create a positive, local, success story for 360 Gymnastics, LLC. I really thought more local newspapers and print media would rally around to celebrate in a small, local business' expansion. I know that a local writer is out there somewhere wanting to cover this story and feature 360 Gymnastics.

Please SHARE, this blog post with your friends and help rally around Valerie & the 360 Gymnastics Crew! Tell all your friends about this amazing woman and her fun gymnastics facility. To read more about Valerie Mas and a positive local business creating buzz, go to the full story, here: 360 Gymnastics' Press Release.
PRESS/MEDIA:If you would like to inquire about an interview or private gym tour, please call 772.600.5087 or email; Val360gym@gmail.com.

I wish Valerie much success in the future with 360 Gymnastics,
-Donna Wallerstein
PS- My son's 7th birthday party was wonderful -everything I had hoped for and more!


   

The City of Port Saint Lucie

In the wake of BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, one question’s what they can do to better their local environment. As a citizen of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, I ask myself –How can I do my part to save local wildlife and better my community? Port St. Lucie, Florida has a sign when you enter the city, “A City for All Ages”, but what if we, as a community decided that the slogan was outdated? What about a more fitting slogan to our city should aspire to live up to, such as, “A City Proud” or, “Port Saint Lucie –A Green City for All”!

By asking ourselves how we can entice growth and development in our community, ultimately, we make it a better place for all ages. Many factors go into making a city “green”. One such factor is recycling. Many citizens in Port Saint Lucie do not recycle. Why not, you might ask? The bottom line is there are no incentives for citizens to do so. RecycleBank.com offers incentives such as points earned to be redeemed at hundreds of partner companies with gift cards, flowers and other products for everyday use. In light of the unfortunate economy, these incentives for our citizens can be just the right spark to get everyone to recycle and motivated about doing so.

Another factor that goes into making a city, “green” is water conservation. The city has done an excellent job of making residents cut back on water usage, encouraging homeowners to use water on certain days depending upon what their home’s address number is, alternating day usage. But, what if Port Saint Lucie took this a step further, involving local universities and schools as well as, local environmental groups to form an educational awareness campaign? What if local children helped secure this community’s waterways and wildlife, creating rain barrels for all residents and this was encouraged and supported by local government? Our local wildlife and the Saint Lucie River is in dire straits. If you don’t believe me, turn on the local news and watch a few clips of BP’s oil spill. Don’t think this will concern us? You are kidding yourself if you think the effects of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will not eventually destroy or damage our waterways, wildlife and community as well as affect local businesses that depend upon oceans and our local river as their livelihood, a means for employment and income for many residents. This harmful BP oil spill will not only effect fishing industries but our valuable tourist industry too.

The third and probably most changeable factor in getting our community noticed as spearheading the green movement is home builders. Home builders, for many years now in Saint Lucie County have been afforded special treatment and kudos for their fast building methods and ability to quickly and safely manufacture homes and commercial buildings in our community. But, what if the city of Port Saint Lucie applied more stringent “green” methods to building new construction, offering builders extra incentives to not only get the job done quickly, but in a green way –utilizing green building materials in conjunction with solar power and water cisterns to lessen the carbon footprint for families. Port Saint Lucie, Florida has the potential to be the most desirable place to reside in the State! Who wouldn’t want a generation of forward thinking people who care about their environment populating their town?! And, Port Saint Lucie and Saint Lucie County can take this a step further offering green companies special incentives for moving their businesses to our town. -This would create new jobs, new industries and even further propel our city into the special place it can be.

As a homeowner, with vested interest in seeing Port Saint Lucie, FL succeed, I wish government and city officials would display faint interest in creating a community for the future. We are a society of 'now' and instant gratification, so future planning (beyond one or two years from now), unfortunately, is not top priority for the city at this time. It's surprising that communities everywhere can't see the positives in making a green change. Or, perhaps they can see the possibility of change, but their bottom line ($$$) would be too greatly affected to take the leap into a greener world. I love my city but wish it was more proactive and progressive. With the housing market tanking in Port St. Lucie, FL -you would think change is inevitable and change would be welcome.

Harold Wilson said it best, “He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery”.

Win a $50 Safeway Gift Card

Check out this link: FrugalFLoridian
and enter to win a $50 gift card to Safeway and their affiliate stores.

There are several ways to enter to win, all of which are easy and fast!

I know if you have a Safeway Savings card, this gift certificate will help you out when shopping for dog food as well as human food ;)


I entered to win and if I do, I will donate the card to ABTCR or, American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue since Safeway is nowhere near where I live and I made it my New Year's resolution to help them raise money!
Good Luck! -D0nna

Candy Rant

This little rant came about after reading another blog concerning harmful kid’s snacks being pushed by marketing mavens on our kids. It makes me so mad that parents buy into this concept of character yogurts as being a healthy snack. Would you pump yourself with dye-filled, sugar infused yogurt if you really knew what was in that stuff? Probably not. So why is it O.K. if we give this to our kids? Because Sponge Bob’s picture is on each squeezy yogurt packet? My 4.5 year old son will never be allowed yogurts with characters on the label.
#1. Because they are LOADED with sugar
#2. They have crazy artificial colorants that are known to cause cancer in lab rats. Yes, cancer.

I always find it shocking that parents give this to their kids under the pretext of it being, "healthy". One mother I asked offered this, "It's yogurt, it's not baaaadd for them".

Oh, yes it is!
Another annoyance I have with kids' snacks (and these are BANNED from our house), are the gummy/fruit chews, bears and other appealing-to-children character candies. There, I said it! I called them what they are… "candy"! I have tried many different brands of soft, chewy fruit snacks –from organic to Nabisco, all of which make my loving and sweet child turn instantly into a crazy nut ball that bounces from sofa to Noguchi coffee table without flinching!

I say shame on these companies for making these products our kids beg for when we go to the grocery store extremely unhealthy and even, harmful. BUT, really… shame on parents for buying it too. After all, someone is buying these products for their kids. Not me. One could use the excuse of not having enough time. I am a busy parent too, but not too busy to peel a juicy orange as a healthy snack instead of on-the-go, sugar infused yogurt packets. I hope someone reads this and remembers my call to action that these snacks are not healthy when they reach for them to add to their grocery cart.

They are candy and nothing more!

Buying Ink & Toner online from RestockIt.com

Have you ever went to print something and realized, your ink or toner cartridges are empty??? RestockIt.com offers fast and convenient shipping in their one stop shopping approach to all of your office needs, including offering the best priced printer ink and toner cartridges, so running out of printer ink cartridges, no longer happens to you!
By purchasing your ink and toner through RestockIt.com you are sure to find the best selling brands such as; HP, Canon, Brother, Epson, Konica Minolta, Lexmark, Oki Printing Solutions, Panasonic, Samsung and Sharp.

What is that, you say? You DON’T own a printer, fax machine, copier or scanner?!!!?? RestockIt.com not only offers printer cartridges for these office nessecities, but they have great deals on HP all-in-ones at unbeatable prices! Visit RestockIt.com for all of your printer supplies and accessories.

In fact, ReStockIt.com is so committed to providing the lowest, name-brand products at the most affordable prices available, that it offers a 110% price guarantee! – Restockit.com will not only match any competitor's price, but pledges to beat it by 10%.