NWAtlantaMommies

Lost?

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:01:00 +0000

Oops! Were you looking for NWAtlantaMommies.com? This chapter has merged with AtlantaAreaMommies.com to offer the same fabulous, free friendship and support through a variety of forums, a full calendar of events, and a chat room. Don't delay! Check out your new digs, and join us at AtlantaAreaMommies.com today!

Click here to visit the AtlantaAreaMommies blog

Mommies Weigh-In Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:23:00 +0000

Are you looking to shed a few pounds? Need some help with your fitness goals? Or just searching for the right foods to eat? The Mommies Network challenges you to be the best you can be in 2012!

Join mommies across the country on their journey to be healthy for themselves and their families. Participants will be assigned to regional teams led by a TMN member and a wellness collaborator. Results, tips, and stories will be shared monthly to keep all participants motivated. This challenge is a six-month commitment, running January–June.

Email fitness@themommiesnetwork.org for more information about this program. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 23, 2011.

The Mommies Network Presents Santa Letters

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:34:00 +0000

TMN presents Santa Letters!

Have your kids begun making their Christmas wish lists? The Mommies Network and Santa Claus have teamed up to send your little one a letter straight from the North Pole!

Your first custom letter is only $6. If you purchase more than one, you will receive a 10 percent discount on the entire order. Use coupon code SANTA at checkout to receive 10 percent off the total.

You will be asked a few questions about your child during the ordering process. Your answers will assist Santa in creating a unique letter for your child. Letters will be printed on Santa's special stationery, signed by the jolly fellow himself, and with the help of a special elf, shipped in bulk to North Pole, Alaska, in time for your little one to receive a special letter before the holidays.

Reserve your letter(s) before Nov. 30 to ensure delivery before Christmas. We hope you'll take advantage of this terrific treat from the North Pole. Place your order now! http://www.themommiesnetwork.org/santa.html
Please mention our area chapter name to ensure we receive credit for your purchase.

The proceeds of this fundraiser will support The Mommies Network and your local chapter.

National Support at Your Fingertips

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:25:00 +0000

What if you had a place to go that had the same great support as your local chapter, but with more specialized forums and thousands of members across the United States?

What if that place offered encouragement to mommies in specific situations, such as stay-at-home, work-at-home, and military mommies?

What if that place provided interaction in groups discussing the latest Twilight books, couponing tips, and other hot topics in today's culture?

What if you could get all that for free?

Well, wonder no longer, because it's here at The Mommies Network National Forum. With 3,000 members and growing, the National Forum offers the same great support you've come to know from your local chapter, but with a twist. It features unique forums not available on your home site, including couponing, family vacation tips (including Disney), and alternative medicine.

Looking for someone to chat with about Twilight and other vamp books? Check out our "Everything Vamps" subforum in Books, Movies, & Entertainment. Are you a stay-at-home, campus, or military mommy looking for a friend? Talk with those in your situation in one of the Our Work subforums. Do you have a child with special needs and desire interaction with other mothers who are dealing with a specific condition? We have subforums related to specific diagnoses in Our Kids With Special Needs.

Members of this free site may purchase a Premium Membership, which contains extra forums, such as Debate This and Classifieds, along with other perks.

Mommies across the country are chatting it up in these and many other groups in the National Forum. So skip the "what ifs," and join us for enhanced support on a national scale!

If you're interested in being on the ground level of the action, consider becoming a Support Coordinator or Posting Diva for the National Forum.

The Mommies Network Presents ... Mommies Talk

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:02:00 +0000

The Mommies Network Presents ... Mommies Talk!

Mommies Talk is a monthly webinar series that engages, informs, and supports our members.

Get your kids to listen — the first time. No nagging or yelling required. October's webinar, presented in partnership with Positive Parenting Solutions, offers tools and strategies you can use right away. Discover how this webinar will be your answer to better behavior and parenting peace!

There are two dates to choose from: Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. EDT and Thursday, Oct. 13, at 9 p.m. EDT. To ensure that this webinar proceeds as scheduled, we need at least 120 participants. If you are interested in attending, please click here to sign up as soon as possible.

Email jennifer.zaranis@themommiesnetwork.org with any questions about the Mommies Talk webinar series.

Everyone Deserves a Second Chance!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:30:00 +0000

The Mommies Network would like to thank everyone who participated in the National Auction! Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from the auction will go to support Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. The remaining 75 percent of funds raised will be used to further The Mommies Network mission to provide a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, parents, and community leaders.

The Mommies Network National Auction received a number of last-minute donations! These new items, along with some previously listed, will go up for sale in a limited-time Second Chance Auction! Get your shop on Sept. 5–11 on the National Forum!

Click here to shop today!

Mom Business Spotlight- Amy Lenocker

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:45:00 +0000

Amy Lenocker
Owner of Crazy Daisy Cards

About Amy:
I am a mother of Emmalee and Noah, wife of Jim, and love to scrapbook, read, hang out with friends and make crafts of all kinds. I have played French horn at Carnegie Hall and have 5 tattoos. My family is the most important thing to me.

How did you decide to open this business?
I started making cards 4 years ago since I had so much stuff leftover from scrapbooking. I did not like what I found in the stores because the price was too high for what was on the card. So I decided to make my own. Friends asked me to make some for them and it grew from there. My husband and daughter named the business and it was born in July 2009.

What do you love about this business?
I love getting to be creative and have fun making something that someone will enjoy. I love getting cards in the mail, so I create something that will the recipient smile and remember whomever went the card to them.

What is the hardest part about this business?
The hardest thing is finding the time to be as creative as I can and still balance the rest of my time for work and family. Sometimes I get in a creative bubble and lose track of time.

What advice do you have for other moms opening their own business?
Do your homework and have a business plan in place when you start to work. The more you have laid out in writing for goals and how to run your business properly, the more success you will have.

Mom Business Spotlight- Tracie Perkins

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:36:00 +0000

Tracie Perkins

Regional Representative for beso bags, California, USA

About Tracie:

I am a full time student at Kennesaw State University and will graduate in May 2013 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. I am a former Property Manager and Real Estate Agent. I am married to James who works at Georgia Tech Research Institute and mom to Kinsley who is about to turn 15 and Karsen who just turned 7. We love to go camping, boating, and geocaching as a family with our friends.

What attracted you to this job?
Beso needed a regional rep in our area so since I loved the handbags so much I thought it would be fun to have trunk shows and show them off!

What do you love about this job?

I love helping ladies pick out a new purse that is custom made with their choice of fabrics and seeing the smile on their face when it arrives!

What is the hardest part about this job?

I haven’t found anything hard about it yet, it’s just been fun.

What advice do you have for other moms opening their own business or going back to work?

Make a to do list, plan weekly menus and shopping trips, make sure to incorporate some family time as well as some “me” time!

Beso handbags is owned by Johanna Penagos in CA. Tracie has been a Regional Rep for 3 months. Johanna offers vintage fabrics with modern style! Everything is custom made.

http://tinyurl.com/3s7ukne

Last Chance!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:04:00 +0000

The Mommies Network National Auction closes Saturday, August 13, at 10 p.m. EST! There are but a few hours left to place your bids. With more than 600 items, ranging from boutique clothing to autographed books to tickets to Dollywood, there is sure to be something for every taste and budget.

Click on a link below to see what's what in each category!
Amusement Parks, Activities, and Travel
Beauty
Books, Music, and Games
Children's Clothing
Classes and Lessons
Crafts, Collectibles, and Toys
Decor and Home Items
Dining
Fashion and Jewelry
Health and Fitness
Infant Items
Infant/Child Gear
Maternity and Breastfeeding
Miscellaneous
Party Time
Photography Packages

By bidding on an item, you are helping mommies all over the country! Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from The Mommies Network National Auction will benefit Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. The remaining portion of the proceeds will go to furthering our mission:

To provide a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, parents, and community leaders.

Book Club

noreply@blogger.com (Asriel) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:08:00 +0000

Just a reminder, Book Club is meeting this week! We will be discussing "Those Who Save Us" by Jenna Blum.

The National Auction has Arrived!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:06:00 +0000

It is said that it takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a community to support a mother and to provide her with the resources, encouragement, and opportunities necessary for her to be her best. With more than 90 local chapters and a national site that reaches all moms, The Mommies Network provides that community.

We are a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, parents, and community leaders. Our philosophy is that no one should have to pay a fee to make a friend, so we offer free membership to any mother within the community who wishes to join. Members gain camaraderie and support through an online forum that is available 24 hours a day, as well as local events where mothers can meet and develop friendships that last a lifetime.

This August, The Mommies Network is hosting our second annual National Auction and will donate 25 percent of the funds raised to Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a national network of volunteer photographers who "introduce remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby with the free gift of professional portraiture … [to] serve as an important step in the family's healing process by honoring their child's legacy." The remaining 75 percent of funds raised will be used to further the mission of TMN to provide support to moms across the country.

We believe that by working together, mothers can change the world — one family, one neighborhood, one community at a time. The Mommies Network is a connecting force, helping us each to make a difference in our own lives, in our families, and in the places we call home.

Evolution of a Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:30:00 +0000

Post submitted from StatesvilleMommies

Evolution of a Mom

Yes, parenthood changes everything.
But parenthood also changes with each baby.

Here are some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first:

Your Clothes

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes are your regular clothes.

The Baby's Name

1st baby: You pore over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and writing combinations of all your favorites.
2nd baby: Someone has to name their kid after your great-aunt Mavis, right? It might as well be you.
3rd baby: You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger falls. Bimaldo? Perfect!

Preparing for the Birth

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother practicing because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your 8th month.

The Layette

1st baby: You prewash your newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Activities

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home 5 times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

The National Auction is Coming! Want a Sneak Peek?

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The National Forum has Arrived! Register TODAY!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Test

noreply@blogger.com (Asriel) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:53:00 +0000

Testing 123

Adequate Yearly Progress- What Does It Mean to Parents?

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 04:28:00 +0000

It's a controversial subject, for sure, but what exactly does it mean for a Cobb/Cherokee/Paulding County parent? Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is a measure of how well schools are measuring up to their goals under the No Child Left Behind Act. Cobb, Cherokee, and Paulding counties have released their initial AYP reports. The second year a school misses AYP it is marked as Needs Improvement (NI). The criteria used to grade schools under No Child Left Behind gets tougher each year. Many superintendents, principals, and educators contend that schools will eventually hit a wall as far as progress goes. It is important to note that failing to meet AYP does not make it a "bad" school or a "bad" district. Schools can exceed statewide or national averages yet still fail to meet AYP because of how the criteria progresses.

Cobb- According to the 2011 Cobb County AYP Report, 30 Cobb schools did not make AYP. Compton Elementary School, Lindley 6th Grade Academy, Campbell Middle School, Osborne High School, South Cobb High School, Pebblebrook High School and Oakwood High School are all marked as NI. In addition, 3 Marietta City schools also failed to meet AYP. However, Compton, Oakwood, Osborne and Pebblebrook all offer school choice so students can possibly attend other Cobb schools. Letters have been mailed and details concerning the process can be found at the Cobb County Schools website.

Cherokee- As a whole, the district failed to meet AYP standards. Clayton Elementary School, Hasty Elementary School, Holly Springs Elementary School, Johnston Elementary School, Creekland Middle School, and Dean Rusk Middle School did not make AYP this year. In addition, Cherokee High School and Polaris Evening School are now listed as NI schools. The district will offer expanded support services to students in need of help at those two schools. The district released an informative letter that explains the criteria, shortcomings, and successes to parents available via PDF.

Paulding- Like Cherokee, the district failed to meet AYP. South Paulding Middle was able to remove itself from NI status, but none of the districts four high schools met AYP. Six schools remain in NI status and must either offer school choice or supplemental academic support. Complete results can be seen on the Georgia Department of Education website.

So there you have it. More and more schools failed to meet AYP because of increasing standards. The goal of No Child Left Behind is 100% proficency by 2014. What steps are you taking to make sure your children's needs are met? What do you think can be done?

Photo Credit:

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reminder:

noreply@blogger.com (Asriel) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:38:00 +0000

Don't forget to sign up for the Stevi B's Pizza Tour on Monday, its going to be fun!

!!Upcoming July Events!!

noreply@blogger.com (Asriel) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:35:00 +0000

Here are some upcoming events for this week:

Join us on Monday for Chick fil a lunch and playtime

Tuesday we will be at the Bounce House and Creative Thinking Bedtime Stories

Wednesday join us for the Summer Movie Express

Thursday is the Groupwide Mom's Night Out, don't miss it!

Join us Friday at McDonald's for a Playdate

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:48:00 +0000

What's Cooking Hun?

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 06:29:00 +0000

Do you ever go man what am I going to make for dinner tonight? Or do you make something and the family goes again? Or maybe you just need new meal ideas. Well here is were to find it. One of our sister sites.

CalDeltaMommies is hosting the first ever Whats Cooking Hun? What is it, you ask? It will be a weekly post all about DINNER! Every week for 2011, we will post a recipe for all to share. We will also have a spot for you to come and link the recipes posted on your blog. You can post one recipe a month or a week-- as many as you like! Who knows... your recipe may be shown here on CDM as the main Dinner of the week. Here's your chance to gain some fame.

Please Take Our Button And Add It To Your Site And Too The Bottom Of Your Posts!

Contribute As Little or As Much As You Can!

LOOK FOR OUR RECIPES, EVERY WEDNESDAY OF EVERY WEEK!

A Dad's Point of View: Being a Teenager Can Be Wonder-Full

noreply@blogger.com (The Mommies Network) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:36:00 +0000

It’s so easy to complain about our teens. I know I’m guilty of too often dishing out criticisms, admonishments, and lectures. I worry that my boys might be doing drugs, drinking, or some other peer-pressure stupidity. But, they also deserve my support when they do well and my understanding when they slip up.

My 16-year-old, Will, recently bounded into my office, eager to talk. Wisely, I pulled away from the hypnotic lure of my computer, and faced him squarely, ready for whatever followed.
Normally, when Will comes to talk to me, I am concerned that he either wants something or is going to confess something that I wish I didn’t have to hear. This time, I listened. And I listened and I listened. I smiled, I nodded, I grunted. But, mostly I listened. He had made a remarkable discovery! What was this remarkable revelation? “Life is complicated and full of wonder and amazing things. Where did life come from? Why do we sleep? How does our brain work? Why are there different languages and how did they evolve?” He literally rambled off these and other subjects, as if he’d just discovered the wheel!

Will didn’t want me to offer any feedback: he just wanted to share with me his marvelous realizations. I just sat there and patiently let him passionately express these extraordinary questions. After maybe 15 minutes, he didn’t need me anymore and jumped up and left to call his girlfriend and share with her what he’d just voiced.

Later, as we were all getting ready for bed, he came into our bedroom, where my wife was lying down reading, and I had just come in to get ready for bed. He leaped on our chaise lounge, fell off to the side, and scrambled up laughing at his clumsiness. He then proclaimed, “I love this family,” and proceeded to elaborate for a couple more minutes.

My wife and I actually wondered if Will had taken some drugs, as he seemed so high. But, he hadn’t, and was apparently just being a teenager--a teen enjoying the “wonder-full-ness” of life.

That is my point. The older we get, the more we forget the wonder of youth, the wonder of being a teenager--discovering new worlds to explore and the new ideas that we feel are just ours. (Okay, let’s hear the Star Trek theme now).

Being a teenager means discovering the world. I think adults too often squash that sense of wonder with the desire to have our kids conform. That was my discovery during the short 18 months that I home-schooled Will, since the lack of conforming public school curriculum and class management allowed Will to learn so much more than he otherwise would have under the structure of public school. It’s why I believe home-schooling is really much better for some kids and, at the time, was the very best thing I could have done for Will.

The job of parents is to introduce our children to the world, to give them exposure to as much as we can, and to allow them to choose their paths. I know that early in my parenting, I had my ideas of what I wanted for my sons that were based on my own particular interests and desires. Fortunately, I got over that selfish instinct and ended up supporting my boys’ own interests and dreams. I know too many parents that are single-minded in pushing their kids in the directions these parents think is best while not taking into consideration their kids interests, skills, and desires.

This is dramatically evident in the sports arena, where kids are sometimes literally forced to participate in a sport in which they have no interest. The reason is simply the parents’ ego and vicarious desire to live through their kids. It is so wrong. We also see this in the over-the-top push that parents often inflict on their kids to excel at school so that they can get into this or that college that the parents deem best for their child.

I wonder if it ever occurred to those parents that their son or daughter might actually be better off with a year off between high school and college? Or, maybe not even going to college! Not every kid should go to college. Couldn’t college wait a year or two while these high school grads explore life on their own? Maybe they can see a bit more of the world rather than just continue in what can be the cocoon of education and parental (financial) support?

I may have wanted my sons to be great skiers, or get into an Ivy League college, but now I want them to fulfill their own passions and find the same joy in what they do that I’ve been blessed to find in my writing and now, my radio show as well. I urge you to do the same!

Please listen to “The Bruce Sallan Show - A Dad’s Point-of-View” Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., PST on KZSB AM1290 in Santa Barbara or on the Internet via a live stream. For that link and all information about the show and Bruce, visit his web-site: http://brucesallan.com. Bruce’s column, “A Dad’s Point-of-View,” is available in over 75 newspapers and web-sites worldwide. Find Bruce on Facebook by joining his “A Dad’s Point-of-View” page: http://www.facebook.com/aDadsPointOfView. You can also follow Bruce at Twitter: http://twitter.com/BruceSallan.

If you'd like to contribute to the TMN blog, please email blogpost@themommiesnetwork.org

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 04:16:00 +0000

View the calendar to RSVP, get more details, view member organized events, or create your own events!

Groupwide
June 8th - Daddyless Dinner
June 9th - Ice Cream Social
June 23rd- Fire Station Tour and Lunch
June 24th- Play date at Tracie’s
June 26th- Spa Day

Bartow/Cherokee
June 10th- Movies at Town Center Mall
June 14th- Pooles Mill Park hike/play/swim
June 18th – Mom’s Night Out @ Pure Taqueria
June 23rd- Sprayground at River Park

Cobb
June 8th - Logan Farm Park play/walk
June 11th- Soft Play at Town Center Mall
June 14th- Mom’s Night Out
June 22nd-Monkey Joe’s
June 25th- Stevie B’s Pizza Tour
June28th- Jumpits
June 30th- Red Top Mtn beach/picnic

Paulding
June 15th- Lunch at Stevie B’s
June 17th- Puppets and Story Time
June 21st- Bruster’s Ice Cream
June 29th- Taylor Farm Park

May 2010 Events

noreply@blogger.com (Amy) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:16:00 +0000

May is almost here.. Check out our NW Atlanta Mommies CALENDAR to see all the details and to RSVP
Bartow/Cherokee
May 6 – Playdate with Amy and Lily
May 11 – Picnic and play at JJ Biello
May 18 – Daddyless Dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack
May 21 – Mom’s Morning out Coffee
May 27 – Sprinkler Play Date
Cobb
May 4 – Playdate at Little Bears in Kennesaw
May 11 – Picnic and Play at Thompson Park
May 14 – Southern Prep
May 14 – Mom’s Night Out at Doc’s in Smyrna *21 and older
May 17 – Chuck E Cheese in Smyrna
May 20 – Lunch and Concert in Marietta
May 21 – Play and Picnic at Lost Mountain Park
May 25 – Play and Walk at Logan Park
May 26 - Red Top Mountain – Picnic and Play
Paulding
May 3 – Nature Walk the Silver Comet Trail
May 12 – Picnic and Play at White Oak Park
May 19 – Taylor Farm Trip
May 26 – Mom’s Night Out – Drinks and Dessert
May 27 - Storytime
Groupwide
May 6 – Book Club meeting at Papi’s Cuban – Book: Sara’s Key
May 10 – Afternoon hike at Kennesaw Mountain
May 11 – Mom’s lunch out at Macaroni Grill
May 18 – Baby Playdate with Amanda and Sarah (0-18 months)
May 22 – Bakers Needed – for NWAM Bake Sale
May 24 – Let’s go to the Movies (Shrek 3) and the Varsity for dinner
May 25 – Six Flags
Support Forums
May 13 – Biggest Loser Winner announced and dinner at Sweet Tomatoes
Remember it’s FREE to join!!!

Magic of photography (actually photographers!)

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:55:00 +0000

I started work for an online baby clothes boutique and one of my responsibilities is to market our products online. Sounds like an easy task – but not so at all!!!! Pictures of clothing provided by manufacturers are usually substandard or not provided. These images are the only chance our customers have to see our product line. If the image isn’t good, it doesn’t sell! Manufacturers are trying to keep down production costs, therefore selling the product to the end consumer is not their problem.

Being the problem solver that I am, I came up with the idea of using our own children to model our clothes for our online catalog. Easy, right!?!? Boy was I surprised. If you ever want to see what mass bedlam looks like, try a photo shoot with 20 outfits, 10 bows, 5 hats, one newborn, and one very active 18 month old.

Our photographer, Cat Warren, was very flexible and very talented. She didn’t try to harness the action to get that one perfect portrait-type shot. I don’t even think that would have been possible. All her shots were taken on the move and spur of the moment. I have to say, we were all a little skeptical about the end result. How can you possibly chase a toddler around a room and still get that perfect shot?

I have taken my toddler to one of those photo studios, where they put a prop in the picture, set the child down and try to make them smile. I guess those photos have their purpose, but I never felt like the personality was captured. They remind me of those portrait paintings done on commission by the rich and powerful, before the time of film. It has been said that portrait artist’s , not unlike photographers, were motivated by several things – they either adored the subject - which came out in their paintings, paid to paint – which shows in the obvious unattachment or emotion of the subject, or they depicted their moods with self portraits. The portraits that were commissioned were not the most famous works of the artist, the infamous paintings included their own personal influence.

In my opinion, the magic of photographs is when you capture everything – personality, facial expressions, light in the eyes of the subject, and those little moments of unplanned fun. The talent of the photographer and her love of the subject shine through the lens, to make unforgettably beautiful pictures! When I look at a piece of art, painting, or even a picture, I want to feel the emotion of the subject and the artist.

Cat, our artist, created miracles!! Not only did she get that one perfect shot, she got tons of perfect shots. She captured the personality of each model and the clothing. We were amazed. On top of it all, she managed to capture those fun little moments behind the scenes. Those pictures were the memory makers for us the parents. I think these shots capture all of that and more. Take a look for yourself! Facebook link for In The Moment Photographs.

By Shannon Henrici of My Baby Clothes Boutique – specializing in picture-perfect baby clothes, baby headbands, and baby hats.

Is It Tilikum's Fault?

noreply@blogger.com (Stephanie) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:38:00 +0000

By Shannon Henrici

I am shocked, sad and not overly surprised by the incident at Sea World, the death of animal trainer Dawn Brancheau. I don’t think the situation is unique for anyone working with animals professionally or even for recreation. I have been in and around the world of animals for over 20 years. My experiences have ranged from personal pets, professional pet sitting, fostering animals in need, riding – caring and training horses. In my experience, the relationship with the animal is what determines their behavior - good or bad.

When we decided to take animals into our lives as companions, we imposed our personalities on them. In some cases we even anthropomorphize our pets. The key word being COMPANION, many of us have replaced human relationships with animals. Is this good or bad? I am not the one to answer this question. CBS news stated the following in an interview with Brancheau’s sister – “Dawn Brancheau loved whales like they were her own children, her sister told The Associated Press. But the 40-year-old trainer was killed by one of the animals she loved most - Tilikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale.” I am just as guilty in my relationships with the animals in my life. Where do we draw the line in trust?
When does it go too far? My frame of reference in viewing what happened at Sea World, is my experiences with horses. I see myself as having strength in reading the body language of horses. Using this strength has helped me to stay safe. Horses are wonderful animals, but they are still dangerous. Anyone who has spent time with them, understands that there is an inherent danger. These animals are trainable, but they are still driven by their natural instincts. They are a flight animal and when threatened will flee. You will never take this out of them. They can learn to respect their owners, but don’t test it. The head trainer at Sea World says it best in the LA times - He said Tilikum was probably agitated before Wednesday's attack, possibly from some kind of clash with the other killer whales. Gary Wilson, a professor at Moorpark College's exotic animal training program, said it can be difficult to detect when an animal is about to turn on its trainer. "One of the challenges working with any animal is learning to read its body language and getting a feel for what's going on in its mind," he said.
How many of you have been to a horse show or watched the Olympics? Inevitably there is one or even more of the horses who will “act up”. Is the horse bad for reacting to their instincts and causing their riders to fall off? Does a horse intentionally dump or even kill their riders? I don’t believe that any horse or animal understands the concept of killing by our definition. We view killing as an evil act with the intention of causing harm to another thing. Animal view of killing, in my opinion, is for the purposes of survival. Killing means the following in the animal world - to eat, protect, and incidental in establishing dominance.

Dreamer is one of my more reactive horses. When I tried to take her to new places, I would be able to tell immediately if she was going to be able to overcome her fears. In some instances, I have been able to see that she will not be safe. I have been called a coward many times for not forcing the issue. Am I a coward, because I choose to keep myself and my horse safe? On those days when I can see that she is confident, we have a wonderful ride.

The first thought I had when I heard about the Sea World incident is that I would bet that the trainer knew the killer whale was off that day. Sea World is in the business of making money, so they can’t cancel the show. It is a tough decision to make whether to forge ahead or cancel the event for anyone in the world of training and showing animals. You put a lot of time and money into getting the animal ready for that one day or show. Many times you get to the event and your animal is not ready. Are they feeding off of our nervousness, or are they sensing a danger we can’t detect? What do you do? I don’t fault anyone for trying to push through the fear and doing it anyway. I think in doing so you have to weigh the pros and cons. Death is always out there as a risk!!!!!!!
In some of the articles I read, the trainer knew and understood the risks of working with Tilikum. The whale had a very troubled past and a history of instinct driven behavior. I found some interesting information from the LA times interview with Chuck Tompkins, the chief animal trainer at Sea World. “We didn't ignore those incidents," Tompkins said. "We work with him very, very carefully. We did not get in the water with this animal like we do with other killer whales because we recognized his potential."
I don’t believe the whale should be destroyed. As for his release, that is a difficult situation. He might not survive, because he has not had to find his own food. I don’t know if it is fair to have him sequestered either. I deal with this same decision with one of my horses. She has been deemed dangerous by many people. She can’t survive in the wild, but it isn’t fair to destroy her. Her behaviors are instinctual and based on her previous experiences with abusive humans. The decisions left up to Sea World at this time are very controversial and carry a heavy burden. I am very sorry for the family of the trainer, Dawn Brancheau. They all knew the inherent risks of death or even incapacitating injuries in her job. I don’t believe anyone ever expected her to die, it is very unfortunate. I can just imagine that she would not want anything to happen to Tilikum in response to her death though.

Shannon Henrici is a writer for My Baby Clothes Boutique where you can shop for trendy baby clothing, adorable baby swaddlers and much more.