BABW furry friends make the perfect toy for all ages. My little guy clutched his Elmo by the ear when he was not quite 2. My tween favors any of the glam and glitzy BABWs. My teen has various creatures in her bed — shhhh don’t tell her I said this!

BABWs make a great gift for special occasions. My daughters were 7 and 4 when our son was born. I knew both girls would immediately fall in love with their baby brother. I never worried about jealousy. I wanted to buy each of my daughters a gift before the baby arrived. I wanted to make the arrival of a new baby in our family a special one.

I liked the idea of all four of us going to BABW on our last outing as a “family-of-four-soon-to-be-five.” I knew that I did not need to buy toys as the baby boy was unlikely to want their Barbie/Disney Princess/girlie toys. I just wanted to give the girls something to commemorate the arrival of their brother to our family.

We have a milestone coming up in our family. Our teen “graduates” from 8th grade. Technically, she will have a transition ceremony. Graduation. Transition. Even graduation from preschool! Whatever you call it. Family milestones are a reason to celebrate.

My friends at BABW told me about a line of furry friends specially designed for spring and summer happenings:

• Graduation — BABW has a selection of cuddly stuffed animals dressed  in items including: a black or white graduation gown, mortar board with tassel, dress clothes, a Class of 2010 sash, and a “Pomp & Circumstance” Sound. The graduation sash or robe can be embroidered with your child’s name for an additional charge of $10.
  
• Father’s Day
• Armed Forces Day — Choose from camo sailor bear, Marine Hero Champ, Air Force curly teddy, Army office teddy, to name a few.
• Wedding and Bridal Shower

I have a special giveaway for Musings from Me readers! I have one $25 BABW Gift Card to giveaway. One comment = one entry. Enter now!

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I was given a bear as part of my review. The views expressed in the article are my own. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The giveaway ends May 31, 2010, at 11:59 p.m.

The graphic design and writing class taught me two very important lessons:

1. I don’t want to be a designer. I never felt comfortable with the programs I was required to use. I made great strides in the class, but knew that graphic design was not my chosen field.
2. I discovered a love for writing. Who knew? After 35 years of writing letters, memos, and work documents, I finally found my writer’s voice. It was freeing. I was invigorated. The feedback I received from the graphic design professor was minimal and unhelpful, while the feedback from the writing professor was golden.

The class ended in May. After many months of focusing on the assignments for the graphic design and writing class, I fell head first in to the end-of-the-school year activities for all three children. My son “graduated” from preschool, while my daughters finished 6th and 4th grades. School is busiest in May and June. I let my blog lie dormant for months.

The new school year was a milestone for me. For 12 years, I had dreamed of the day when all 3 kids would be in full-day school. I said goodbye to a patchwork quilt of preschool pickups and dropoffs, classes, storytimes at the library, spotty babysitting, and carting an unwilling 4-year-old to Jiffy Lube, Costco, and the DMV. I said hello to peace and quiet from 8:30 until 3 p.m.

Blogging is now what I do. Is it a job? Well, it would depend on your definition of job. My job of blogging, writing, and product reviewing fully engages my attention. While it may not be very well paid, my job is the most fulfilling job I have ever had.

Lolli wrote about her takeaway from blogging here. She listed a Top 10 list of What Blogging Has taught her in response to Mama Kat’s Writing Workshop.

My Top 10 List would have to include:

1. It is possible to discover you have a calling even if you come to it late in the game. Writing is what I love.
2. Blogging about my kids is difficult as I have no stories of pee, puke, and poo to fall back on.
3. Blogging about tweens and teens is a minefield of what I cannot mention…their names (of course), friend’s names, schools, sports teams, grades, and anything else that might be embarrassing to them. Read: EVERYTHING is embarrassing to them!
4. A supportive husband is hard to find. Who knew that my “you really should go back to work at least part time once the youngest starts school” husband would become my “let’s see where the blogging, freelancing, and consulting takes you” husband. Go Coach Dad!
5. While I can’t blog about the specifics of the lives of my kid, preteen, and teen, I can find more that enough fodder from the logistics of our daily trials and tribulations of managing our crazy schedule of activities. Have minivan? Will travel.
6. The effort required to get two sleepy headed girls and one bouncing of the walls boy as well as one resigned to getting ready for what the day has to bring husband out door makes me want to go back to bed, but I don’t…usually.
7. I have not cracked the HTML code…it’s on my list of things I should really learn.
8. Twitter is amazing. I found Mariana and her mad design skills. Thanks to Mariana I have a domain name and a header. I would still be hanging out over at Blogger!
9. While I am not a Top 10 blog, I have found a niche in hosting giveaways. I have a loyal following of people who enter my giveaways. Now if I could draw readers to my posts that are not giveaways, I would be set.
10. Speaking of giveaways, I enjoy working with brands. By reviewing products/hosting giveaways, I can combine my two loves: writing and finding out about new products.

Are you a brand or do you represent a brand? I would love to work with you. I can be reached at JillAnneBerry @ msn . com

What’s on your Top 10 list of what blogging has taught you! Leave a comment or a post on your blog with a link here in the comments. I’ll stop by and read it!

The Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, MD,  is hosting a free panel discussion about the recent controversial findings about the link between vaccines and autism on Wednesday, April 7 at noon. This event will present a history of the issue and provide insight about how the anti-vaccine movement has changed the field of public health.

Symposium Previews Discussions of New Vaccines Class Coming to USG in 2011

Speakers: Arthur Allen, author of VACCINE; Dr. Carol Plotsky, Pediatrician; Mark Hodge, Immunization and Refugee Programs, Montgomery County

WHAT:

Following the recent retraction of a controversial paper published in the Lancet that drew a link between vaccines and autism and helped fuel a backlash against immunization of children, the Universities at Shady Grove Committee for Inter-professional and Interdisciplinary Education Strategies will hold a free, public discussion on the topic.

Arthur Allen, author of VACCINE, will present a general history and background on the issue. Pediatrician Dr.Carol Plotsky will discuss how the anti-vaccine movement has affected the field of pediatrics and what information parents and guardians are looking for when they make decisions regarding immunizations.

Finally, Mark Hodge of Montgomery County’s Immunization and Refugee Programs will discuss what the anti-vaccine movement has meant to the field of public health and how the county dealt with a small Measles outbreak last year. Measles is preventable through the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine. This free, symposium is being held as the University of Maryland, College Park, Biological Sciences and Public Health Sciences programs and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Pharmacy program at USG, are partnering to develop a new class on vaccines. The new class is expected to be available in 2011.

WHEN:

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

12 noon-1 p.m.

WHERE:

Universities at Shady Grove-Bldg II Multi-Purpose Room

9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, Md. 20850

About The Universities at Shady Grove:

The Universities at Shady Grove is an innovative model for delivering
top-quality college degree programs. USG is not one university; instead it is a collaboration of nine leading public universities in Maryland offering more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Montgomery County. Established in 2000, USG serves more than 3,600 full- and part-time students. Participating USG partners include: Bowie State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; University of Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; University of Maryland, College Park; University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and University of Maryland University College. More information on all of the undergraduate and graduate programs is available at www.shadygrove.umd.edu.

I had a blogspot blog that I started when I created a blog for a design class. I let the design blog lapse, while continuing to write on the personal blog. The posts were interesting to me, but I knew that I needed something more. I started clicking around to other people’s blogs. I wonder which blog I clicked to first? How could I find out?

As I clicked on blogs, I first noticed the writing style of each blogger and then the buttons. So colorful. So shiny. One click led to another. Soon I was on twitter…on Facebook reuniting with English friends, college friends, and even neighbors who I don’t see on a regular basis…writing for TypeAMom…doing reviews for One2One Network. At about the time my plate was full of new ideas and assignments, I heard about #Blissdom and Blissfully Domestic.

I was unable to commit to writing for another site at the time, but I followed the tweets for #Blissdom09. I’d never heard of a blogging conference, much less attended one. Soon I was reading tweets from Blissdom, SXSW, BlogHer, and many others.

I made it to one conference in 09 — the #typeamom conference. As a regular contributor, I was desperate to go. I am so glad I did. Those who were at TypeAMom said it was very like Blissdom — small number of attendees, enriching sessions, and an all-around good vibe conference.

As 2010 begins, I would love to commit to go to one conference at least, but money is an issue. I obtained sponsorship for TypeAMom from two sponsors, which was good….but I am still waiting to be paid by one of the sponsor, which is not good. 

Speaking of clicking on blogs, I clicked on Mom in the City tweet link about a Blissdom ticket giveaway. Squee! I would love to go to Nashville for this conference. I missed out on the Disney Social Media Moms Conference registration. Again flights for 5 would have been difficult, but I just could not take my kids out of school for 3 days. So sad to miss this fantastic opportunity. Being a grownup is hard!

How will I follow my bliss in 2010?

- Keep on bloggin’

- Keep on reviewin’

- Keep on postin’

- Love my job, but need to be more focused.

- Figure out what I like best about my “job.” Commit to doing my best at whatever I choose.

Basically, I will follow my bliss to see where it leads me!

Happy School Year’s Eve!

I know I’m a little late with this post, but a few things got in the way like the actual preparation for the first day of school and a blogger event that you might have heard mention on twitter #tabletalk. The event took me to Minneapolis, specifically the General Mills facility. I will post on my trip this weekend.

Our family tradition...the new kindergartener is given a bunch of balloons.

Due to my trip I was not home on School Year’s Eve. My family dropped me off at BWI on the morning of School Year’s Eve. There were a few tears from a certain just-turned 11-year-old, but she is a sensitive soul and likes everyone to be in the right location. Mommy is not supposed to be jetting off to Minneapolis on School Year’s Eve or any day for that matter.

I negotiated security, hung out at the airport, bought a coffee, spilled a coffee on my shirt, mopped coffee off my shirt, boarded the plane, arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, and then got caught up in mingling with bloggers and General Mills people. I did not call home that evening to talk to the kids. I debated calling, but worried that I would disturb the calm of the evening. I knew my husband had the home team under control. As the lone member of the away team I allowed myself to enjoy my time away from home.

Before I left I purchased Lunchables. I refer to Lunchables as Mommy’s ”once in a while, but don’t get used to it treat.” I generally buy Lunchables in the waning weeks of the school year when everyone including me is sick of sandwiches, soup, yogurt, and any other oft-purchased lunch item. The backpacks were packed. Clothes were picked out. Breakfast cereal was in the pantry. In short, everything was ready for back-to-school morning. Oh and I told my husband to take photos or else!

We didn’t have a School Year’s Eve party since we had my daughter’s 11th birthday the same weekend as my trip to Minneapolis. My daughter, her friends, and her siblings had great fun eating pizza, drinking juice, doing a treasure hunt, and watching the Wizards_of_Waverly_Place movie.

My hopes for the school year are the same, but different. I hope I can continue to have children who want to learn. I want them to love going to school. I know that there will be days when none of us wants to get out of bd and get moving, but I hope those days are few and far between. Specifically, I want the teen to continue believing in her ability to do math AND hand all her assignments in on time. I want the preteen to adjust to middle school AND tackle her work the way I know she can. For the kid, I want him to continue learning to read — he has come so far in a year — AND make friends. As for me I want to be a good mom, but also strike a balance between the computer work I do AND the housework and cooking that I ignore.

The idea for this post was brought to you by Cookie and the PTA. Cookie and the PTA came up with the idea to have a party, mark a beginning, and make New Year’s Resolutions to feel hopeful and more engaged in the calendar year. It’s like treating the school year like New Year’s Eve? PAAAAARTY!!!!!!!!

Check out School Year’s Eve to find out more.  What a great excuse to have a party and post the pictures on your blog!  We’d also love to hear your School Year’s Resolutions – your hopes and dreams for this upcoming year (and they don’t have to be about your kid earning A’s).  Think creating a proactive plan for homework made fun, exposure to a new language for both of you, or planning exciting once a week after-school activities that can be done together at home.

I was enrolled in a writing and graphics class at the University of Baltimore in Spring 2008. The class was tough for me. For the spring semester, I basically completed written and graphics projects for my class and provided basic childcare for my children (5, 10, and 12) — that was it, as I had no time or energy for anything else. I spent many days, nights, and weekends on this class.

The class was already “kicking my butt” when I embarked on preparing for the final evaluation on May 17, 2008. I worked all week to do final revised drafts for 7 projects. The night of May 16 found me as always in front of my computer. I worked all night to finish all projects. At 6 a.m. I grabbed a quick nap. By 8 a.m. I was back at work until I packed up and drove my daughter to her lacrosse game (my husband had our oldest daughter at her volleyball game, so could not do the driving). After dropping my daughter and my 5-year-old son at their grandparents’ house, I drove to my final evaluation. The professors had some positive comments about my written and graphics assignments, but my success in the class was far from secure. I knew that I had done everything to help my grade, if I fell short it was not for want of trying.

The final evaluation ended, but my day was not over. After driving to watch my oldest win her volleyball game, I drove to get my younger children from their grandparents. On a fairly empty road in Gaithersburg, MD, I lost my concentration for a few seconds…probably because I had been up all night…and plowed in to the car in front of me. Minivan versus Mazda Miata…minivan wins. Luckily neither the driver or I were hurt. Also, I did not have my children in the minivan. May 17, 2008 will live in infamy as the day I just did not have it in me to do everything…something had to give. I tried.

I generally leave the conference having learned at least one thing about my child…well, except for the 4th grade language arts teacher conference where the teacher said a few words about my daughter, showed me one piece of written work, and closed her folder. I was left speechless.

So, this year I am only meeting with the language arts teachers for my kindergartner and 5th grader. The reason is that my kindergartner is in a 1st grade math class…yes, all those days spent playing math preschool games and doing puzzles paid off (allow me a momentary Mommy brag!). He is happy in the class and is doing well. My 5th grader is a different story. She is in an on-grade level math class. She struggled at the beginning of the year, but lately has shown more class participation and is doing better on tests. It is hard to know what she does knows as she will get nervous during tests and underperform. I am trying to give her lots of positive feedback at home. I have had her do some math games on the PC and in her workbook–she is extremely willing to do extra work.

In middle school, conference scheduling is different. For a start, you are discouraged from scheduling a conference with all your child’s teachers unless there is a specific problem. My daughter has Reading, English, Social Studies, Science, Math, and French teachers. I did not think I needed to schedule with any of them. Her report card was great, except for math. I planned on scheduling with the math teacher, but two things happened: (1) I missed the deadline for signing up online and the school administration will not schedule if you miss the deadline and (2) my daughter in the last 2 weeks has not handed in 7 assignments. So, my perfect little bubble of “everything is hunky dory” burst. Why she did not hand in her assignments is a mystery…cluttered locker, disorganized binder? I am not sure. She knows she needs to hand in work that is complete or she will lose 50% of the grade if one day late.

So, I ask you…Do you find teacher conferences to be helpful? Useful? Necessary?

I’ll post when and if I get the project done. Odds are I will get it done, but it will be a little rough around the edges…

The assignment has taken seemingly all of my waking hours. Lots of computer time. Lots of scratching my head. Lots of wondering why I have to do an assignment on an unfamiliar software on a deadline. Lots of searching the web for clues, suggestions, anything on how to do a certain function in this program. Not a great combination.

To make matters worse we are having the worst winter/spring for illnesses. I had the 9-year-old at the ER on Sunday night for acute stomach pain…went away on the way to the ER. We had an x-ray done and strep test. Who knows what is wrong? Today she had another stomach ache. The 5-year-old was at the dr. this a.m. for an ear infection. The 12-year-old has bad allergies, as well as the 5-year-old. We are all failing apart.

Class is tomorrow. After class we escape for the night and travel near the shore. Staying in a hotel should be fun. the 12-year-old has a volleyball tournament on Sunday. I will spend the day with the younger two.

So, today I solved my problems by checking my e-mail less…still checking, just not as voraciously. This helped me finish my rough draft in time even factoring in a stop at the party goods store for the 4 soon to be 5’s party.

O.K. now where was I…that’s right dinner, laundry…blah, blah.