It WAS Fun in the Sun!

So...it finally happened...after all that planning and promotion...radio shows and advertisement online and in nearby neighborhoods, and that famous video...the day came, some people showed up, and a good time was had by all :)

We had a great time with the DJ singing and dancing up a storm on the porch/stage, and the firemen gave us a lesson in fire safety...Misty took a video of us...and I even took some pics which you see here. Many children got their faces painted and got wonderful balloon animals for their very own, and we even had delicious food from Chloes, vendors got to show off their wares (including me with my jewelry and Shaklee - which will both be used in the camp this summer!), and participate in the raffle, and we all went home tired and happy...

Now onto the next community event! We are planning our next one for June 13...stay tuned! :)

Fun In The Sun Community Festival

I am glad to have finally found a place where my love for kids and my love for "going green" can meet - we will be teaching the kids to value the earth, recycle, use natural products, do a little organic farming...but FIRST we will have a little fun at the Fun in the Sun Festival on May 23rd!

This is our first community event - I am sure there will be more. I am helping get the vendors lined up and other community partners and sponsors now, but will be more involved with the education/teacher side of things when camp starts on June 15, as well as still be a community liaison.

If you or anyone you know has an interest in contributing something (a skill or service) of value to a great non-profit located in Durham, NC - let me know by commenting here or emailing me at laurel@star-foundation.org. Thanks and God Bless! :)

What made your Mother's Day special?

Hi Moms! And people that have moms or know a mom...oh I guess I am talking to everyone :)

Did you have a great Mother's Day? I hope so. I know I talked to my mom-in-law and my sister (that is her with 3 of her 4 kids above) today and wished them a Happy Mother's Day...those are the special "moms" in my life now that my mom has passed away.

What did you do for the moms in your life today? Maybe you cooked her dinner or gave her roses...maybe a massage or cleaned the house for her. Or maybe you told her you loved her and appreciated all the times she has done these things for you...taken care of you and bandaged your booboos and made you eat healthy and made the house a nice place to live.

And maybe, just maybe, we can do this for our moms on a more regular basis than just once a year! My mom-in-law was always there for me when we lived near by and we are close (no horror stories here :) She has always given me advice and has listened to my advice too when it comes to matters of health and healthy products. She even started using Shaklee a couple of months ago, and is very picky about what she uses. But the amazing thing is - she reordered the laundry soap and soft fabric concentrate when she ran out, because her clothes were not feeling itchy on her skin anymore and she liked the way they felt after she washed them with Shaklee.

So many people have the same reaction...I value my relationships and would never sell a product just to make a buck. I honestly sell from my heart and experience, and everyone I recommend product to sees that I am giving them solutions to their problems, whether it is cleaning your house so your kids can play in a safe environment or getting healthier so you will be around longer for your children.

So Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there that make our lives better - we appreciate all you do for us and value all your "healthy" advice - especially now that we are old enough to appreciate it :)

What are you doing this summer?

I don't know about you - but summer for me is all about getting out in nature and enjoying the cool breezes and the sunshine. I enjoy being outside, although I have never been the rugged mountain climbing type, at least I have spent days at the pool as a kid or even better, at the beach.

My best memories as a kid were at summer camp. That is where I found some new friends, had some new experiences and learned to ride a horse. I loved arts & crafts and singing camp songs, especially with marshmallows at a campfire.

Now as a teacher, and as an adult who enjoys hanging around kids of all ages - I have helped in various Vacation Bible Schools during the summer, summer school programs for private and Christian schools...and every year, enjoy visiting my nieces and sister in small town Kansas during their 4th of July festivities. We get to go to the carnival and the turtle races, and on the night of the 4th, their "Idol" competition, followed by the fireworks over the lake.

This summer I am looking forward to a new adventure - I am working with the non-profit Star Foundation in Durham, NC, and as Education Coordinator, I am helping to provide a great camp experience for a lot of inner city kids that would otherwise never get to do these things that I did as a kid. I love working with the others on our staff that really have a heart for these kids, and am looking forward to giving these kids an experience that they will never forget.

We will be providing a full day camp for 10 weeks from June 15 - August 21 - we hope to serve 100 kids from 4-14 in the Raleigh/Durham area, and even provide mentoring opportunities for older kids as well, so they can get an idea of what is out there for them as they turn into young adults. We have, in the past, had therapeutic horseriding activities, lots of outdoor experiences and local field trips, as well as "go green" activities, to help them value our planet and conserve, use a refillable water bottle instead of plastic, plant a garden and maybe even some vegetables, and watch them grow. Kids LOVE nature and science, learning how things work and love to have pets to take care of and nurture.

We are looking for volunteers and donors for the summer camp, and doing a Fun in the Sun Community Festival on May 23 from 1-7 pm at Zafa Temple in Durham, to raise awareness in the community about what we do, to give kids a day of fun with a bounce house, clown and face painting, games and other fun activities.

We are also giving vendors a chance to come out and promote their businesses to raise funds for the summer camp, so if you want to spend the afternoon with us - just contact Ms Joyce at http://star-foundation.org and tell her you want to help a kid go to summer camp!