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Miss Lori says the movie The Spy Next Door is safe for your kids.

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

My children and I, plus two other families, had the great fortune to go and see a pre-screening of the movie The Spy Next Door. (I received free tickets through my association with ChicagoMomsblog.com, and I also won several through MomsLikeMe.com Win It Weekend.) We had 10 kids in tow, ages 7-12, and 3 Moms. A very diverse group. First off I can tell you that we all enjoyed ourselves. No painful groans at the end of the movie. No whining wanting to know, “Why did you drag me to see this?!” Everyone came out of the movie happy that we went in. It was kid safe, it was funny, and it was the right length.

For many parents I know that?s absolutely all you need to hear. So you don?t have to read any further. Just gather your kids and head to the theatre when the movie opens January 15. End of story.

For others of you who have an interest in an artistic review, here we go.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori's Entertainment Picks, Miss Lori's Recommendations, Miss Lori's Shareviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Miss Lori’s Christmas miracle, READING!

December 25, 2009 By 1 Comment
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My own little Christmas miracle. As I sat holding my youngest in church last night I was a little overcome with emotion. It wasn’t just the soulful music from the choir, or the spirit of the holiday, it was really about the little girl sitting in my lap, and the journey that she bravely traveled this last year. I am so in awe of her strength, her resolve and her perserverence, despite all that was hurled at her. Through it all she has remained a sparkling, vivacious spirit that lights my soul.

My daughter Jaedyn started getting ill in November of 2008. We had no idea what was happening to her. Her teachers noticed it at first, the dimming of her energy. They brought it to our attention, saying Jaedyn, just wasn’t acting like Jaedyn. If you had ever met jC before November of 2008 you would know exactly what they meant. But to those who hadn’t met her, like the new doctors we went to see, JC looked like a perfectly healthy and energetic 5 year old. They didn’t realize that they were only seeing her at half mast.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori At Home

Miss Lori’s 4th #SMILE_ON giveaway, an Elmo toy and PBS Kids DVD!

December 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Here’s my 4th #SMILE_ON giveaway!

I was a PBS Kid, then a PBS Parent, and now a PBS Ambassador. And I know that I owe Sesame Street big time for my early artistic awareness and sensibility. With all of that in mind I am very happy to share this next bundle with you, an Elmo plush finger puppet and a WTTW Kids Raising Readers demo DVD that includes and episode of Super Why and my favorite, Word World! My great friends at WTTW here in Chicago were kind enough to share these with me, so now I can share them with you. Perfect for the toddler or preschooler in your life. Maybe they’ll grow up and follow in my footsteps, just as I followed in Mister Rogers! Pretty cool!

To enter the fourth #SMILE_On giveaway please leave a comment on this
blog telling me how PBS in general, or Sesame Street specifically has made a difference in your life. We?re going to pay our good luck forward. So if you
win this giveaway you won?t get just one WTTW package of fun, you?ll get two! One for
your family, and one to give away. Because the chance to give is the
greatest gift of all.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori's Giveaways

Miss Lori’s 3rd #SMILE_ON giveaway, Office Supplies!

December 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Miss Lori’s third #SMILE_ON Giveaway!

How about Moms and Dads out there. Do you need a little something too this Holiday? Well of course you do! Whether you are an entrepreneur, nine to five-er, or a stay at home parent, everyone needs office supplies and writing pads. Especially to write all of those notes to the teachers at school! (And to write the note to remind yourself to write a note to the teacher at school. LOL!) Earlier this season I had the honor of participating in a campaign to help teachers through Officemax’s A Day Made Better campaign. Now I’m giving away my personal office supply packs from the event for your benefit!

To enter the third #SMILE_On giveaway please leave a comment on this
blog telling about what you plan to do to get organized in the new year. We?re going to pay our good luck forward. So if you
win this giveaway you won?t get just one package of office supplies, you?ll get two! One for
your family, and one to give away. Because the chance to give is the
greatest gift of all.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori's Giveaways

Miss Lori’s 2nd #SMILE_On! Giveaway is the Molar Mate!

December 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Here’s the second #SMILE_On! giveaway of the week

As many of you know in 2008 I was named an Ambassador for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry?s Healthy Smiles Healthy Children Foundation. Improving the overall health and wellness of children is very important to me. As you know your health starts with your mouth. For my second giveaway I have 2 Molar Mates to help children brush their teeth for the right amount of time, and to put them on a path towards a stronger brighter smile. The Molar Mate is a great addition to your family’s bathroom routine. It has toothbrush holders and a clock. Plus looking at it will make you smile.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori's Giveaways

Miss Lori’s first #SMILE_On giveaway, Go Go Sports Girls Dolls!

December 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I am so excited about playing Santa this week. I want to start with a great, Openheimer award winning toy, that is a such an inspiration to girls. They?re called Go Go Sports Girls Dolls and I am a huge fan of the dolls ‘m not the only one. the dolls will be featured later this week on the Today Show! I’m not only a fan of the dolls but of their designer, Jodi Norgaard, too. She was generous enough to donate some dolls to an event I had earlier this year. I have some left and I want to share them with some very deserving young girls.

To enter the first #SMILE_On giveaway please leave a comment on this blog telling me why you, or someone close to you, needs a Go Go Sports Girl this holiday. We?re going to pay our good luck forward. So if you win this giveaway you won?t get just one doll, you?ll get two! One for your family, and one to give away. Because the chance to give is the greatest gift of all.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori's Giveaways

Miss Lori is giving away to those in need this holiday season!

December 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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The economy has hit many of us right between the eyes this year and deep into our wallets this holiday season. So many people are struggling, trying to find a away to keep the cheer in the holiday especially for their children. I have encountered many parents who feel ashamed of their predicament. Well, I am here to tell them that they are not alone, and neither are you. There is no shame in struggling. Let’s lift the veil of secrecy so we can stand side by side and help each other. Because no matter our circumstances there is always something that we can do for someone else. And in giving away, we gain so very much. Our hearts swell, our souls lift, and we feel powerful in a time of powerlessness. We all need that. Me too.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori's Giveaways

Miss Lori is giving away learning fun from Playmobil!

December 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diZ41nBR1Ps

How do you make learning fun for your little ones? Well, the makers of the award winning toys at Playmobil make learning fun with the myriad of educationally inspired toys that they offer to children all over the World. And this holiday season they have given me the best gift of fun, because it is one that I can share with you.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori's Giveaways

MIss Lori encourages you to include instead of exclude to combat bullying.

December 15, 2009 By 2 Comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z42ZzjVaOHQ

When I was a kid in elementary school I had a really hard time. I was one of two children of color in an all white Catholic school, (the other was my little sister). I was outspoken and smart, (I actually skipped a grade). I was into theatre and music, performing downtown in plays. I was very different than my schoolmates. At least that?s how they made me feel-like I really didn’t fit in. And most of my classmates actively made sure that I knew it, in both physical and emotional ways. But some, some did it passively by just ignoring me and the bad things that were being done by the other kids. All of them were bully?s.

Bullying is an epidemic in our society, especially in elementary school. Student bullying is one of the most frequently reported discipline problems at school: 21% of elementary schools, 43% of middle schools, and 22% of high schools reported problems with bullying in 2005-06. Most bullying fact sheets will tell you that victims of bullying are people who are timid and less likely to report offenses. That may be true in general, but there are still many bullying victims who are just the opposite. Who appear to be strong, capable, and perhaps talented individuals. And it is those very qualities that can make them a target. They may find that their classmates target them in an attempt to cut them down to size and put them in their place, so to speak. The play of today is creating a generation filled with ?Simon?s?, (IE American Idol). Being the evil critic is totally acceptable and practically expected. Supporting someone, cheering them on, encouraging new pursuits…well that?s just not cool. Better to demonstrate how cutting you can be with your tongue OR, if tongue lashing isn?t your forte then maybe you can start a club to alienate the target. Shut them out of the conversations, pick them last for the team in gym class, close them out of the lunch table, or simply pretend they don?t exist.

I spend a lot of time in schools all across the country and I can tell you this happens every day. And because the targets appear strong and self sufficient, and the bullying is cut downs and exclusion, not physical or overt, many parents and educators are missing the danger. But it is dangerous, and destructive. It eats away at even the strongest of children, because everyone wants to feel accepted and a part of the group. It?s human nature. Just because you have a strong character and perhaps a talent, doesn?t mean you don?t bleed like everyone else or cry like everyone else. Everybody hurts. Some just hide it better than others.

But just because a child can cope, doesn?t mean they should have to.

Let?s all make a point of opening our eyes and recognizing the child standing off to the side, and the child standing right in front of the room. They both deserve our attention but they also need our protection. Lead by example. Don?t tolerate exclusion. Don?t tolerate unsupportive language. Step in and change the tide. Sometimes all it takes is eye contact, a smile and a simple ?hello? to change the World.

SMILE On!

ML

Miss Lori can be found Musing from her Minivan at MissLori.TV , Wearetherealdeal.com and ChicagoMomsBlog. You can also see her Activating to Be Great at Miss Lori’s CAMPUS on Youtube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori On Education, Miss Lori Parent to Parent, Miss Lori's Thoughts

Hi. My name is Miss Lori and I am sleep deprived.

December 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I?m tired. No, I mean it. I am really tired. And it?s not that I didn?t get 8 hours of sleep last night, it?s because my sleep wasn?t restful, or satisfying. I was sleeping in my Ikea platform bed. Though it?s reasonably priced and looks great, it is simply not doing its? job. Because every morning I wake up feeling even more tired than I was when I went to bed the night before. Crazy, right? I think so too! For a long time I thought my sleep deprivation was just about quantity of sleep. Now, eventhough I am making a point to increase my hours of sleep, I?m still tired. Tired. Tired. Tired! So what I realize is that my sleep deprivation is even more about the quality of my sleep, or lack thereof.

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Filed Under: Miss Lori's Thoughts
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