I have to say, I think this is huge.  I’m a firm believer in if you give a man a fish, you have fed him today, if you teach him how to fish, you have fed him for a lifetime.

We all know that Haiti is struggling so hard still.  Aid has not come through that was promised, I know the US promised a lot of money that hasn’t been given yet.  People are still living in camps under horrible conditions and the government is trying to force them out of these camps, leaving them really, no place to go.

Through the sale of Heart of Haiti products, artisans are able to earn life-changing income for themselves, their families, and their communities. The initiative is enabling artisans to repair homes, pay school fees, and feed and clothe their families. The income also allows them to have access to better nutrition, improved education and healthcare.

I think this is the key to helping any struggling country, community, person, period.  Teach them how, give them the chance to do it on their own.  There are many talented people in Haiti, they need the opportunity to rebuild, regrow, and have something to be proud of.

The Heart of Haiti pendent is available for $10.

Have heart. Made of metal from recycled drums, this handcrafted pendant embodies the unparalleled creativity of Haiti’s master artisans. Cool textured detail creates a look of rustic beauty. With faux suede cord.

There’s a cross of the crossroad pendent for the same price that I am going to order for myself.

The Heart of Haiti collection has already led to employment of 350 artists in Haiti and has provided some financial benefits for an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people in the country.  How awesome is that?  See, they can do it on their own if they are given the opportunity and resources they need to do it.  I don’t think the Haitian people want handouts, I think they are just as proud as any other people of the world.  They can’t do it if we don’t help them get started.

Trade, not aid.  Give them something to build on, to continue to take care of themselves for their lifetime and those to come.

To help support these artisans, check out the Heart of Haiti collection at Macy’s!  I think these would make awesome holiday presents and you’d be helping people who need it…badly.

I am writing this post to spread the word about Heart of Haiti through a Mom Bloggers Club member program and I will receive a Heart of Haiti pendant as a thank you. Without the pendent, I still would have blogged, I think this is so important!

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Heart Of Haiti is a post from: Not Everyone's Mama
If you are reading it from anywhere other than at Not Everyone's Mama (http://noteveryonesmama.com) or Not Everyone's Mama RSS Feed, it has been stolen - unless otherwise noted and posted at the bottom of the blog post.

All content at Not Everyone's Mama is ©Heather Manning unless otherwise noted and credited.

Open enrollment is coming up for many insurance companies.  It’s usually between October and December, lasts for 30 days, and is the time that you will want to make changes to your policies, switch to other policies, etc.  Aetna has written an article to help you with that, but I’ll give you a few tips to get you started!

- Figure out what is important to you?  Lots of prescriptions?  Prescription copays can add up, look for one with the lowest amount that you have to pay.  Do you want to be able to see out of network doctors without a referral?  Think about dental and vision, 2 things that are very important to my family.  Jordan and I are both in glasses and seeing the dentist every 6 months for my kids is a priority I make time for.

- Make sure you can afford the premiums of the plan that you chose.  No one, possibly not even congress, knows what will happen with the new health reform laws.  Yes, everyone is supposed to be able to get coverage, plan ahead now though and make sure you can afford yours.

- Look ahead to what you may need.  Some policies may not cover yearly physicals, but that might be something that is important to you.  They also may not cover routine screening tests.  If you are genetically predisposed to a certain thing and you want to keep an eye on that, you may want to make sure that test is covered.

- A huge one to me is making sure my doctor is actually in the network.  I refuse to switch doctors after as many years as I have been going to him. At one job we had 2 different choices, he was in one network, not in the other.  I went with the one he was in.

- Compare the plans to see which one gives you the most bang for your buck.  You definitely want to get the most out of your money!  Will you get more from getting a bit more expensive plan because you go to the doctor a lot and pay out a lot in copays?  Or do you hardly ever go and it is better having a higher copay and a cheaper plan?  Plan for emergencies too though.  You never know when one might happen, though we hope it never does.

Good luck with all of that and I hope you find the perfect plan for you!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Aetna blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 Target gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

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Be Smart About Your Health Benefits is a post from: Not Everyone's Mama
If you are reading it from anywhere other than at Not Everyone's Mama (http://noteveryonesmama.com) or Not Everyone's Mama RSS Feed, it has been stolen - unless otherwise noted and posted at the bottom of the blog post.

All content at Not Everyone's Mama is ©Heather Manning unless otherwise noted and credited.

____________________________________________________

We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It’s time to
take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that
values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand
before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I’d
choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up.
Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit — that’s what rednecks are
made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the
same, pass this on to your redneck friends.
Y’all know who ya are!

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to
be offended by the phrase, ‘One nation, under God..’

You might be a redneck if: You’ve never protested about seeing
the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say ‘ Christmas’
instead of ‘Winter Festival.’

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when
some one prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your
hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces
veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You’ve never burned an
American flag, nor never intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe
and you aren’t afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and
raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You’d give your last dollar to
a friend.

If you got this email from me, it is because I believe that
you, like me, have just enough Red Neck in you to have the
same beliefs as those talked about in this email.
God Bless the USA!

____________________________________________________

I fall into all of those.  And I don’t mind if you call the time around Christmas – Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or Ramadan.  Just don’t challenge my right to call it Christmas.

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You Might Be A Redneck If… is a post from: Not Everyone's Mama
If you are reading it from anywhere other than at Not Everyone's Mama (http://noteveryonesmama.com) or Not Everyone's Mama RSS Feed, it has been stolen - unless otherwise noted and posted at the bottom of the blog post.

All content at Not Everyone's Mama is ©Heather Manning unless otherwise noted and credited.

We may be in knee deep in those lazy, hazy days of summer, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t keep our kids active with challenging games and activities that will keep their minds buzzing. In fact, here are some great rainy day and car ride activities that will challenge your kids to think on their feet!

1. Mind games can keep boredom away as well as physical activity. Even small children can follow an adjusted version of "I Spy." Just be sure that the clues are age appropriate and not too tricky. Look for easy to spot shapes, bright colors, or unique characteristics (animals, common objects such as pencils, etc.). Remember to let them give you the clues, too, to really work their brains. Finding an object is different than coming up with a clue for an object.

2. Once your child is a little older, around 4 years or so, theme games can be played. A favorite (still) of my kids is the animal game. "I Spy"-like clues can be given, but your child must rely on their memory and knowledge of animals instead of looking for pictures or representations of them. These types of games are great for long car rides, and you can make them more challenging, as your children get older. Go in order through the alphabet…"I have a long nose and tongue" = Aardvark (or anteater, both will work in this case); "I’m totally white and live in the cold" = Beluga whale. Get it?

3. READ, READ, READ. Reading to your child, no matter how young, increases their vocabulary, imagination, and overall cognitive abilities. Hearing language creates synapses – the connection of brain cells. Most of us parents think that reading at bedtime is sufficient. And while bedtime stories create a wonderful bonding time between parent and child, so can reading a story with your child snuggled on your lap in a waiting room. Granted, you can’t be expected to tote a small library around with you at all times. But if you know your day will include a little waiting time, why not pop your child’s favorite book in the day bag. Or maybe a story you haven’t yet read to them? Or take advantage of digital children’s books that can be downloaded to your cell phone or iPod? These digital books can do double duty, as oftentimes they are books that are enhanced with narration (sometimes even music and sound effects are added), so your little one can hear the book as they see the words on your phone or iPod screen.

So the next time you find yourself exasperated trying to tame the savage beast that is a toddler with nothing to do, try a few of these tips. Not all of them will work at all times or in every situation. But hopefully if nothing else, it will spark your creativity to engage your child and use your waiting time as teaching time. For there is no better teacher for a child than his or her own parent. Good luck!!!

Wendy Toone is a child expert having owned and operated a leading franchise children’s fitness center and now producing MobiStories, Digital Books for KidsTM, as well as being a mom to her two children. To experience the world of digital children’s picture books, visit www.mobistories.com.

To download a free copy of Mommy’s High Heel Shoes for your PC or Mac, visit MobiStories.com and enter the promo code: MHHS0710. The offer expires 8/22.Mommy’s High Heel Shoes is also available for download as an app via the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad in the iTunes store where you can check out more great story apps from MobiStories: To order a hard cover copy of Kristie Finnan’s book, Mommy’s High Heeled shoes, visit her at KristieFinnan.com. *This advertorial post is sponsored by the Role Mommy Writers Network.

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Toone Offers Ways To Expand Your Child’s Mind is a post from: Not Everyone's Mama
If you are reading it from anywhere other than at Not Everyone's Mama (http://noteveryonesmama.com) or Not Everyone's Mama RSS Feed, it has been stolen - unless otherwise noted and posted at the bottom of the blog post.

All content at Not Everyone's Mama is ©Heather Manning unless otherwise noted and credited.

There is a 10 year old girl on Ebay who is making these cute beaded bird toys.  They are only 99 cents (plus 99 cents flat rate shipping).  I got 2 of them, one for each cage and I think I will order more just because of what she is doing it for.

She is making them to donate the money for food and supplies for parrot rescues.  I don’t know if many of you know that along with dogs and cats, birds get abused too.  It’s horribly sad.  These wonderful rescues come in and take on these parrots that are neglected, abused, who have started plucking out their feathers, damaging themselves.  Those are the ones that they are able to get to in time.  There are too many who die, just like other animals in horrible conditions.  This isn’t necessarily the rescue they support (it’s just one of the many that I know of), but The Gabriel Foundation has a video that shows some of those majestic animals in horrible cruel conditions.  It’s very hard to watch.

Just search parrot rescue on You Tube.  It will break your heart seeing the conditions these birds were kept in, but it will also lift your spirits when you see the parrots come alive under the right care.

It’s for poor birds like these that I am so impressed by this little girl.  She could make these and keep the money for herself, but she wants to put it towards helping these birds.

Here’s one of the ones that I bought –

I would have taken a picture of the other one, but I didn’t think about it until I already had it hanging from the back by their rope perch.

If you have birds, you know they love beaded toys.  Take a few dollars and buy some from this girl.  Help her help support parrots that need it.

Get your bird a few beaded bird toys here!.

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Beaded Bird Toys For A Good Cause is a post from: Not Everyone's Mama
If you are reading it from anywhere other than at Not Everyone's Mama (http://noteveryonesmama.com) or Not Everyone's Mama RSS Feed, it has been stolen - unless otherwise noted and posted at the bottom of the blog post.

All content at Not Everyone's Mama is ©Heather Manning unless otherwise noted and credited.