Hunger In Our Schools

I used to volunteer in my daughter's classroom. One little girl was always cranky, had a problem paying attention, and one morning I realized that noise I heard was her stomach growling! That was when hunger in the suburbs hit home. Not my home, but one down the street from me. In a relatively affluent suburb. A little girl went to school hungry. And as I learned more about the problem I found that she wasn't the only one.

Share Our Strength released its 2012 Annual Teacher's Survey it reported that "a majority of teachers say they have kids in their classes who regularly come to school hungry." How do we expect kids to pay attention, to learn to the best of their abilities when they are worrying about such basics as having enough food to eat? No child should have this worry. The impact hunger has on students is devastating, whether it's constant illness, behavior issues, or an inability to concentrate.

What can you do?

• Contact your local lawmakers. Let them know fighting hunger in schools is a priority. Give them the details of why they should fund school breakfast programs.
• Support school breakfasts in your school district. Supporting school breakfasts helps reduce the behavior problems in our classrooms (so all our children can learn better) and lets all students concentrate on learning, not how hungry they feel.
• Help teachers spread the word about the program so there is no stigma attached to having breakfast at school. For parents sometimes one of the hardest things to do is ask for help.
• Have your PTA/PTO support stop hunger initiatives.
• Support a healthy snack program in your schools. Whether it is school provided or parent provided, encouraging healthy snacks encouraging a better learning environment.
• Support your local food bank or church bread basket. Make it a family project to find healthy inexpensive items to donate to food banks. Use couponing to make this financially feasible for you.

Help Share Our Strength support funding of school breakfast programs by visiting http://www.strength.org/teachers/ to take the No Kid Hungry® pledge, take action and share the report.

The Key To Breast Pump

 

Video from KTLA

 

Despite **laws passed allowing women to breastfeed at work and specific requirements about the areas that must be provided to allow them to do so, some companies are still fighting it. Hennessey's Tavern in Seal Beach CA is one of them.

 

Hennessey's Tavern (Seal Beach CA location) refused to allow one of their waitstaff to pump her breasts during her shift in their restaurant.

 

Kristen Joseph, a 28-year-old single mom, says she was denied her right to pump her breast milk while on the job. She has worked at Hennessey's Tavern in Seal Beach for three years. She had been using the manager's office when she took her break to pump her milk but had to ask for the key. Previously this had not been a problem, but this night it was. 

 

The manager is reported to have said 'no' to her request for the key to the office and to have commented that it (breast feeding) was "disgusting."

 

(Note: this is not a company wide policy, but a single restaurant in a chain acting independently.)

 

Management needs to wake up and join the 21st century. Breast feeding is one of the best things we can do for infant health, so what's the problem? Seems some of the world has missed the message.

 

So just in case you're an employer who is reading this...get with the program! Whether you like it or not it is THE LAW. I have a feeling Hennessy's is going to regret not giving her the opportunity to pump.

 

Kristen Joseph has still not heard from corporate (who is "conducting an investigation")--we hope they will come down hard and allow all their mothers who need a place to pump to do so without harassment from their managers, no matter what the manager's personal opinion.

Post on Hennessey's Seal Beach Facebook page to encourage corporate cooperation.

**Federal law requires any employer with 50 or more employees to provide an area -- other than a bathroom -- for women to pump breast milk. It also allows women to breastfeed their children anywhere, at any time, in any public place.

Atlantic City Air Show -- Family Fun In The Sun

This week our family had the opportunity to see the 2012 Atlantic City Air Show, Thunder Over The Boardwalk. For those of you who have never been to see it, it's a great free show that anyone can watch from the boardwalk or the beaches in Atlantic City.

Thunder Over The Boardwalk is the largest beachfront airshow on the East Coast. You see the planes as low as 50 feet over the water and as high as 15,000 feet. The demonstrations wow the spectators, especially the headliners the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Golden Knights.

All the armed services get together to show off the best of their best.

Caesar's Entertainment is the official host hotel sponsor this year and the Atlantic City Airport is the host airport.

How big is the airshow? Estimates are just below 900,000 people scattered from along the boardwalk, on the beaches, and even people out in their boats all watching this spectacular show.

Channel Six was just one of the local channels who were there covering the airshow. Their on air talent graciously taking photos and autographing them for fans.

Tips when you head to the airshow?

• Get there early and stake out your spot. Take plenty of water or Gatorade or juice. It is always hot and it is a long day.

• Lather on that sunscreen multiple times during the day. It's a long day and you'll be on the beach during prime burn hours.

• If you have sensitive ears grab some ear plugs.

• Pack some food that will stay fresh in the heat. No mayo on those sandwiches!

• The air show is a fun day but it is a long one and traffic after the show can be bumper to bumper. Try to use jitneys ($2.25 takes you from one end of the boardwalk to the other, beats taking you car out!) You might have to wait to board one after the show but it beats sitting in your car in bumper to bumper traffic.

• Make the most of the air show weekend. Book a hotel well in advance so you can relax and enjoy! No race to get back on the Expressway and head home afterwards.

So have fun! Plan your trip for next year early. This is one of those things that can easily become a family tradition. It's like nothing you've ever seen (or heard!) Atlantic City isn't just for grown ups any more!

Tips on Tipping

Have you ever wondered just how much you should be tipping at a restaurant? Did you know tipping varies depending on where you are in the world? So what is standard in the United States might not be standard when you head to Europe or south of the border on vacation.

First, standard United States tips:

Restaurant Tipping United States:

1. Waitstaff: 15% if adequate, 20% for very good service, no less than 10% on poor service.
2. Sommelier or Wine Steward: 15% of the cost of the bottle.
3. Bartender: 15-20% of the tab, minimum of 50 cents per soft drink, $1 per alcoholic drink.
4. Coatroom attendant: $1 per coat.
5. Parking valet or garage attendant: $2.
6. Staff at coffee shops or food retailers with jar: tipping optional.
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Restaurant Tipping Other Countries:

Canada: Tipping in Canada is similar to the United States.

Mexico: 10-15% is customary in Mexico. Dollars are accepted, cash is preferred.

United Kingdom: Service fee usually tacked on, often referred to as an "optional charge." If not applied then tip should be 10-15%. Tipping in pubs is not expected.

France: Locals usually tip an additional 10% on top of the service charge on the check in restaurants. For some reason visitors are not expected to tip unless the service is excellent.

Germany: Adding a tip onto a bill is customary. Dollars accepted, euros preferred.

Italy: 10% tipping is customary. Oddly enough tipping gondoliers is not customary. (go figure!)

Switzerland: Most places include a 15% service charge; leaving a small additional tip is customary in fancier restaurants. It all depends on the service. When in doubt, ask someone local.

Australia: 10-15% is customary. While this custom was not common practice 25 years ago, it has since gained popularity. Tip is for good service.

While this doesn't cover every country you might be traveling in, it's always a good idea to check what the customary tipping is when you travel.  Conde Nast and Emily Post are good resources for other countries' tipping customs.

Sources: Conde Nast/Emily Post

Movie Review: The Odd Life Of Timothy Green

Photo still from movie courtesy of Disney

A few nights ago our family had the opportunity to preview The Odd Life of Timothy Green, a new Disney film. Odd Life has the magic of ET without the spaceship. This film is enjoyable on so many levels, adults, children and teens alike will all enjoy it.


Disney Preview on YouTube The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The film is the story of a childless couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton)who find they cannot have a child of their own. So they create their dream child with all the characteristics they'd hoped their child would have. And to their surprise, after a storm one night, a young man shows up on their doorstep but he is just a little...different. Their young 'son,' Timothy Green (CJ Adams) is magical in many ways. Timothy has the gift of changing everyone around him for the better. Watch as Timothy and the small town he lives in, Stanleyville, learn that the unexpected and different can bring the greatest joys in life.

The film was directed by Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?)  Hodges once again touches hearts with his ingenious direction of an unusual story.

Check and see where it's playing near you and take your whole family. There aren't too many films these days that you can take the whole family from Grandma and Grandpa to the kids to see and everyone will enjoy it. So make it a family occasion and head to the movies this weekend for a fun filled afternoon or evening watching The Odd Life Of Timothy Green.

Disclosure: Free tickets were provided for this preview. No other compensation was provided. Disney or their agents did not suggest or edit any opinions posted above. All opinions are my own.

Look For My Movie Review Wednesday

Photo courtesy of Disney

Coming soon to a theater near you: Disney's The Odd Life of Timothy Green!

Look for my movie review on Wednesday, August 15th on the new film by Disney, The Odd Life Of Timothy Green. We saw a special preview in King of Prussia tonight. I can't give away any details until then but be sure to check back later this week.

Just a heads up, if you are going to a 7:30 show, don't forget to factor in rush hour traffic! Live and learn!



***I received 2 free movie tickets that were not contingent on my writing a review, but I am disclosing this because I want the reader to be aware of the value of the product received. It did not effect blog posts and the blog posts reflect my personal opinion of the movie. It has not been edited by Disney or their agents.

Disney Dames Who Rock Attitudes & One Angry Bird

Source: iwastesomuchtime.com via Cassie on Pinterest

Disney heroines are often criticized for being less than 'with it.' Old fashioned, anti-feminist, and other uncomplimentary comments are frequently hurled at them.

But then again, the above take on them makes you think again--maybe it's time we rethink these colorful beauties and give them their due! Maybe girls who wear glasses are what the movie going public needs to see!

So, do you think Disney will go back and re-work all their movies to give their girls an updated attitude?

Which Dis beauty aggravates you the most? What would you do to the movie to bring it into the 21st century?