....Now let's give a big hand and warm welcome to the lovely Ms. Nadia Murdock, our newest guest on the Twitterview Tuesday series!
TT: Please introduce yourself.
NM: I like to consider myself a "Jack of all Trades"....I am the New York Fitness Examiner for the Examiner.com, Fitness Fashion blogger for Unik Apparel Style....
TT: Wow! That is quite a lot! Anything else to squeeze in?
NM: I have my own blog Nadia's Fit and Healthy Blog. In addition, I have small PR firm called Manchester Public Relations.
TT: What is it that you do?
NM: I have a fervor for many different things in life and I have decided not to limit myself, which has been a great learning experience!
TT: That is fantastic, and a good way to keep your brand fresh and diversified! By the way, what keeps you motivated?
NM: My desire to be successful mainly keeps me going, it helps tremendously that I love what I am doing!
TT: That's the spirit in 2010! Can you share with us how you stay so organized and focused with all you do?
NM: It is definitely important for me to prioritize each task separately. I am a huge believer in post it notes and lists...
TT: You know that TT lives by the Post It! Please, tell us more, especially now that everyone is scrambling to get organized for the New Year!
NM: I have posted notes on stickies all over my apartment to help remind me of what needs to get done...
TT: Any new-fangled technologies?
NM:I also have a task list and important dates marked on both my BlackBerry and laptop.
TT: I hope everyone put that on a Post-It! Lastly, what is your definition of sucess?
NM: Success comes inall measures in my book. Setting goals for myself and achieving them is such a gratifying feeling...
TT: Well, thank you so much for taking time out of your hectic schedule in order to share your story with us! Good luck with everything in 2010, and we look forward to hearing more from you in the near future!
For more information about Nadia Murdock and her exciting empire, :
http://www.unikapparelstyle.com/
Race now to her Examiner.com site and subscribe:
http://www.examiner.com/x-1079-New-York-Fitness-Examiner
Jog on over to her blog for ideas on how to be healthy and fit this New Year!
http://nadiasfitandhealthyblog.blogspot.com
And, of course, like with the BBC, follow her on Twitta:
http://twitter.com/Nadiam23
Like what you see? Want to meet some of her clients? :
http://makemeovereb.com
http://www.jennifershon.com
Thank you so much for the journey with us in 2009! It has been a pleasant experience and a wonderful journey to meet so many people!
To each and every one, I hope that this New Year will bring good health, love and peace, and good fortune!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Being a mother entails many things, not the least of which is the responsibility of instilling a sense of caring and purpose into the next generation. Recently, a mother of three decided that time was of the essence, and elected to choose the Seva Challenge as a way to communicate her beliefs to her daughters.
Tina Tran has a passion for yoga, and through that passion came some self-revelation. "Since I was a teenager, I had a strong desire to travel to Africa to do humanitarian work. I considered going back to school to study nursing to begin my career on this path." Once Tina became more and more immersed into the yoga lifestyle, she realized that her dream was growing stronger. As she studied with various yoga master teachers, Tina could feel the pull towards something greater than herself.
Master yogi Seane Corn became the catalyst for Tina's burgeoning consciousness. Tina took classes with her, and soon became attracted to Ms. Corn's latest project, called Off the Mat, Into the World which called on all those who practice yoga to participate in changing the world for the better. This message instantly called to Tina, who experienced an epiphany. "I am just an ordinary person, but I would like(my girls)to understand my motivations for contributing to underprivileged communities." Through the aims of the Seva Challenge, i.e. to "inspire activism and leadership in its participants while collaborating resources to help communities in crisis", Tina decided that this was the forum to express her commitment to meaningful social activism.
"This was a valuable opportunity and my motivation was strong, so I signed up to participate," Tina recalls. She soon got sponsors from all over San Jose and the environs: Bijan Bakery, Yogurtland, Willow Glen Yoga, and Earth Baby, to name a few of the many companies which are supporting her dream. To travel to war-ravaged Uganda in order to build an eco birthing center as well as a primary school would be a dream come true for her, and thus she has scheduled a series of events to raise money to this end.
Her goal is to raise the $20,000 necessary to personally go to Uganda with her yoga mentor Seane Corn. "I am now close to the end of the Seva Challenge and I have raised more than $10,000. There were many setbacks and lessons learned, but in general, great things have come out of this endeavor." Tina goes on to express equanimity no matter how much she ultimately raises: "I have found comfort in the knowledge that the money I have raised will contribute towards truly meaningful projects that are monumental in improving the quality of life for the people of Uganda, who have suffered for generations."
Tina's latest fundraising effort will come tomorrow, 17 October 2009, at Willow Glen Yoga. Two of the Willow Glen instructors, Debora Cohen and Lorien Neargarder, are offering vinyasa sequences from 1:00P-3.15P, for a suggested donation of $25. All proceeds will go towards Tina's Seva Challenge, and the balanced blend of movement, stillness and relaxation will hopefully put everyone in a good frame of mind to give generously. It will also launch the next fundraiser in Tina's sequence and is a wonderful opportunity for couples, families, friends and relatives to get out and do an activity that is not only sound for the body but excellent for the heart. soul and purse strings as well.
Tina Tran can be reached via her website. The Seva Challenge she is participating in will end December 15, 2009, and this free-spirit is cheerfully going forward. "I would like them(her daughters) to see the similarities between themselves and the kids from Africa despite their cultural differences. I would like them to be guided by my example.. I know that for me, a strong sense of fulfillment comes from helping others and contributing to the bigger picture. I intend to continue down that path and see where it takes me."
Tina Tran has a passion for yoga, and through that passion came some self-revelation. "Since I was a teenager, I had a strong desire to travel to Africa to do humanitarian work. I considered going back to school to study nursing to begin my career on this path." Once Tina became more and more immersed into the yoga lifestyle, she realized that her dream was growing stronger. As she studied with various yoga master teachers, Tina could feel the pull towards something greater than herself.
Master yogi Seane Corn became the catalyst for Tina's burgeoning consciousness. Tina took classes with her, and soon became attracted to Ms. Corn's latest project, called Off the Mat, Into the World which called on all those who practice yoga to participate in changing the world for the better. This message instantly called to Tina, who experienced an epiphany. "I am just an ordinary person, but I would like(my girls)to understand my motivations for contributing to underprivileged communities." Through the aims of the Seva Challenge, i.e. to "inspire activism and leadership in its participants while collaborating resources to help communities in crisis", Tina decided that this was the forum to express her commitment to meaningful social activism.
"This was a valuable opportunity and my motivation was strong, so I signed up to participate," Tina recalls. She soon got sponsors from all over San Jose and the environs: Bijan Bakery, Yogurtland, Willow Glen Yoga, and Earth Baby, to name a few of the many companies which are supporting her dream. To travel to war-ravaged Uganda in order to build an eco birthing center as well as a primary school would be a dream come true for her, and thus she has scheduled a series of events to raise money to this end.
Her goal is to raise the $20,000 necessary to personally go to Uganda with her yoga mentor Seane Corn. "I am now close to the end of the Seva Challenge and I have raised more than $10,000. There were many setbacks and lessons learned, but in general, great things have come out of this endeavor." Tina goes on to express equanimity no matter how much she ultimately raises: "I have found comfort in the knowledge that the money I have raised will contribute towards truly meaningful projects that are monumental in improving the quality of life for the people of Uganda, who have suffered for generations."
Tina's latest fundraising effort will come tomorrow, 17 October 2009, at Willow Glen Yoga. Two of the Willow Glen instructors, Debora Cohen and Lorien Neargarder, are offering vinyasa sequences from 1:00P-3.15P, for a suggested donation of $25. All proceeds will go towards Tina's Seva Challenge, and the balanced blend of movement, stillness and relaxation will hopefully put everyone in a good frame of mind to give generously. It will also launch the next fundraiser in Tina's sequence and is a wonderful opportunity for couples, families, friends and relatives to get out and do an activity that is not only sound for the body but excellent for the heart. soul and purse strings as well.
Tina Tran can be reached via her website. The Seva Challenge she is participating in will end December 15, 2009, and this free-spirit is cheerfully going forward. "I would like them(her daughters) to see the similarities between themselves and the kids from Africa despite their cultural differences. I would like them to be guided by my example.. I know that for me, a strong sense of fulfillment comes from helping others and contributing to the bigger picture. I intend to continue down that path and see where it takes me."
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
BOLD RED TENT EVENT SAN DIEGO 2009!
BOLD’S RED TENT EVENT SAN DIEGO!
A red tent…mother’s voices…intimacy…truth.
After BOLD’s(Birth On Labor Day) hugely successful RED TENT EVENT in 2006, the organizers thought: “Why not have BOLD RED TENT EVENTS around the world?”
BOLD is an organization that is dedicated to preserving women’s birth choices as well as their access to comprehensive medical care and treatment.
BOLD’S RED TENT EVENT concept is simple: gather women under a “RED TENT”(the safe space created by women for women)to listen to mothers’ birth stories and then record their stories in film, via written word or visual expression as part of BOLD’S LIBRARY OF BIRTH TRUTHS!
BOLD’S RED TENT EVENT SAN DIEGO is an excellent opportunity for showcasing community birth stories and resources.
For this reason, Doula Angelita of RESURGAM BIRTHINGWELL8899 is promoting this event as an opportunity for San Jose to shine by gathering a delegation of San Jose’s finest businesses together in an impressive display of the varied array of organizations working together for maternal-fetal health. In addition, Doula Angelita has already put in her bid for SAN JOSE to host a BOLD RED TENT EVENT in 2010, and this will be a nice way to pass the torch!
BOLD’S RED TENT EVENT SAN DIEGO will be held on 18 October 2009, at the La Jolla Women’s Club..
For more information, please contact Doula Angelita, promoter, at 408.890.6380, or at doula4hire@gmail.com, or Ms. Stephanie Entin, at 310.985.9985, or at stephanieentin@gmail.com.
A red tent…mother’s voices…intimacy…truth.
After BOLD’s(Birth On Labor Day) hugely successful RED TENT EVENT in 2006, the organizers thought: “Why not have BOLD RED TENT EVENTS around the world?”
BOLD is an organization that is dedicated to preserving women’s birth choices as well as their access to comprehensive medical care and treatment.
BOLD’S RED TENT EVENT concept is simple: gather women under a “RED TENT”(the safe space created by women for women)to listen to mothers’ birth stories and then record their stories in film, via written word or visual expression as part of BOLD’S LIBRARY OF BIRTH TRUTHS!
BOLD’S RED TENT EVENT SAN DIEGO is an excellent opportunity for showcasing community birth stories and resources.
For this reason, Doula Angelita of RESURGAM BIRTHINGWELL8899 is promoting this event as an opportunity for San Jose to shine by gathering a delegation of San Jose’s finest businesses together in an impressive display of the varied array of organizations working together for maternal-fetal health. In addition, Doula Angelita has already put in her bid for SAN JOSE to host a BOLD RED TENT EVENT in 2010, and this will be a nice way to pass the torch!
BOLD’S RED TENT EVENT SAN DIEGO will be held on 18 October 2009, at the La Jolla Women’s Club..
For more information, please contact Doula Angelita, promoter, at 408.890.6380, or at doula4hire@gmail.com, or Ms. Stephanie Entin, at 310.985.9985, or at stephanieentin@gmail.com.
P is for pedal-and pie!
Please welcome this week's very special guest, Ms. Natalie Galatzer!
As CEO/owner of Bike Basket Pies, she pedals her wares-literally!-in the San Francisco neighborhoods of Mission, SOMA, South Beach, and FiDi. Additionally, she will, for extra consideration, even pedal through the less hilly parts of Potrero and Mission in the evenings. Of course, she bakes all the pies, both savoury and sweet, herself, and is happy to make vegan versions of the treats as well.
The pies are the size of a cupcake, and are $5 apiece, a real bargain when you consider the craft that goes into each one. Not only that, but imagine: Natalie offers full-sized pies for $30($25 for the pie; $5 for the pie tin deposit). Dinner is served, and if you add in some sweet pies, dessert as well: fresh, homemade and brought to your door at the appointed time!
######### ############## #################
This Twitterview Tuesday interview is being interrupted so that a special bulletin may be brought to your attention:
If you love macaroni and cheese, if your children love macaroni and cheese, if your husband/wife/s.o./etc.etc loves macaroni and cheese, if you are looking for a deluxe recipe for macaroni and cheese........look.no.further.
Ms. Natalie Galatzer, she of the many hidden facets and owner of Bike Basket Pies, has a recipe for macaroni and cheese that blasts those blue boxes right out of your cupboard!
Not just a personal observation, but a fact: Ms. Galatzer's recipe for macaroni and cheese pie took both First Place and the People's Choice Awards at this year's San Francisco Food Wars' Mac Battle Royale with Cheese!
Without any further delay, may Twitterview Tuesday hasten to present the succulent recipe for mouthwatering macaroni and cheese pie:
http:/www.chow.com/recipes/27675
You will now be returned to the regularly scheduled Twitterview Tuesday interview:
######### ######## ##########
But who is this siren of the bicycle, who entrances all and sundry with her marvelous creations?
The answer may seem a bit incongruous at first, but ultimately proves to be satisfying: after graduating from the Big 10 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in molecular and cellular biology, she worked for AmeriCorps, putting her skills to work as a watershed steward. Not only did she lead teams in helping to clean up and monitor Illinois streams, she applied her expertise to the Californian environment by educating consumers as to how seasonal fisheries work, while also connecting consumers to fishermen selling product off of their boats.
Natalie, a woman on a mission, was also involved in SPAWN(salmon protection and watershed network)in the Lagunitas Watershed Project of Western Marin County. Through this project, Natalie was able to educate not only her fellow members of the community as to the importance of clean water and sustainable hatcheries, bur also reach out to school children in grades K-3 as well.
Ms. Galatzer also managed an online advertising campaign for SalmonAid, a two-day festival in Oakland, California to raise awareness and funds to help protect the fish and rivers in the area. As a result of her "see it through to the end" attitude, Natalie found a way to make it work successfully as she was both the assistant event manager and the production assistant during the event!
Passion infuses all that Natalie puts her hands to. As a hands-on fempreneur, she uses opportunity and talent to create a niche. "In college, I actually used to cook for a friend's household," Natalie reveals. "I have long been passionate about the role food plays in our daily lives." In this, Natalie has been successful in integrating both her experience and the calling of her heart, as she uses the freshest ingredients from area sources.
In the quest to pursue this passion of the interplay between food sources and culinary creations, Natalie wanted to fuse both her experiences and the calling of her heart. When she realized that she got "enrapt in pie prepping", the germ of an idea was planted. The creation of Bike Basket Pies came about precisely because she wanted to utilize her talents "in doing what she enjoyed doing to try to generate some extra income".
In five years' time, she plans to "bake using recipes developed over time, and in five years, I expect to know almost to the week when so-and-so's peach/apple/cherry/fig tree will be ripe." Every day is good; her motivation to get out of bed is the feeling that there is "so much to do, so much to bake, so much amazing food to cook and eat!"
As a busy woman on the move, Natalie knows that her strong foundation has given her the strength necessary to achieve. "My family has always encouraged me to follow what I love and that's what I've always aspired to do." Whether it is volunteering for AmeriCorp, baking pies, being interviewed for Daily Candy San Francisco or San Jose's own
Twitterview Tuesday, Natalie has a zest for life which adds great flavor to all that she does!
Please support Natalie's business!
Her pies make for great parties, bridal showers, baby showers, meetings, and birthdays! You can even send a piegram!
To contact Natalie, please visit her website: www.bikebasketpies.com and send her an email with:
your address
time of expected delivery
instructions on directions and delivery route
your telephone number, including cell phone
Life is better with pie, so please send Natalie your business and tell her San Jose's Twitterview Tuesday sent you!
As CEO/owner of Bike Basket Pies, she pedals her wares-literally!-in the San Francisco neighborhoods of Mission, SOMA, South Beach, and FiDi. Additionally, she will, for extra consideration, even pedal through the less hilly parts of Potrero and Mission in the evenings. Of course, she bakes all the pies, both savoury and sweet, herself, and is happy to make vegan versions of the treats as well.
The pies are the size of a cupcake, and are $5 apiece, a real bargain when you consider the craft that goes into each one. Not only that, but imagine: Natalie offers full-sized pies for $30($25 for the pie; $5 for the pie tin deposit). Dinner is served, and if you add in some sweet pies, dessert as well: fresh, homemade and brought to your door at the appointed time!
######### ############## #################
This Twitterview Tuesday interview is being interrupted so that a special bulletin may be brought to your attention:
If you love macaroni and cheese, if your children love macaroni and cheese, if your husband/wife/s.o./etc.etc loves macaroni and cheese, if you are looking for a deluxe recipe for macaroni and cheese........look.no.further.
Ms. Natalie Galatzer, she of the many hidden facets and owner of Bike Basket Pies, has a recipe for macaroni and cheese that blasts those blue boxes right out of your cupboard!
Not just a personal observation, but a fact: Ms. Galatzer's recipe for macaroni and cheese pie took both First Place and the People's Choice Awards at this year's San Francisco Food Wars' Mac Battle Royale with Cheese!
Without any further delay, may Twitterview Tuesday hasten to present the succulent recipe for mouthwatering macaroni and cheese pie:
http:/www.chow.com/recipes/27675
You will now be returned to the regularly scheduled Twitterview Tuesday interview:
######### ######## ##########
But who is this siren of the bicycle, who entrances all and sundry with her marvelous creations?
The answer may seem a bit incongruous at first, but ultimately proves to be satisfying: after graduating from the Big 10 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in molecular and cellular biology, she worked for AmeriCorps, putting her skills to work as a watershed steward. Not only did she lead teams in helping to clean up and monitor Illinois streams, she applied her expertise to the Californian environment by educating consumers as to how seasonal fisheries work, while also connecting consumers to fishermen selling product off of their boats.
Natalie, a woman on a mission, was also involved in SPAWN(salmon protection and watershed network)in the Lagunitas Watershed Project of Western Marin County. Through this project, Natalie was able to educate not only her fellow members of the community as to the importance of clean water and sustainable hatcheries, bur also reach out to school children in grades K-3 as well.
Ms. Galatzer also managed an online advertising campaign for SalmonAid, a two-day festival in Oakland, California to raise awareness and funds to help protect the fish and rivers in the area. As a result of her "see it through to the end" attitude, Natalie found a way to make it work successfully as she was both the assistant event manager and the production assistant during the event!
Passion infuses all that Natalie puts her hands to. As a hands-on fempreneur, she uses opportunity and talent to create a niche. "In college, I actually used to cook for a friend's household," Natalie reveals. "I have long been passionate about the role food plays in our daily lives." In this, Natalie has been successful in integrating both her experience and the calling of her heart, as she uses the freshest ingredients from area sources.
In the quest to pursue this passion of the interplay between food sources and culinary creations, Natalie wanted to fuse both her experiences and the calling of her heart. When she realized that she got "enrapt in pie prepping", the germ of an idea was planted. The creation of Bike Basket Pies came about precisely because she wanted to utilize her talents "in doing what she enjoyed doing to try to generate some extra income".
In five years' time, she plans to "bake using recipes developed over time, and in five years, I expect to know almost to the week when so-and-so's peach/apple/cherry/fig tree will be ripe." Every day is good; her motivation to get out of bed is the feeling that there is "so much to do, so much to bake, so much amazing food to cook and eat!"
As a busy woman on the move, Natalie knows that her strong foundation has given her the strength necessary to achieve. "My family has always encouraged me to follow what I love and that's what I've always aspired to do." Whether it is volunteering for AmeriCorp, baking pies, being interviewed for Daily Candy San Francisco or San Jose's own
Twitterview Tuesday, Natalie has a zest for life which adds great flavor to all that she does!
Please support Natalie's business!
Her pies make for great parties, bridal showers, baby showers, meetings, and birthdays! You can even send a piegram!
To contact Natalie, please visit her website: www.bikebasketpies.com and send her an email with:
your address
time of expected delivery
instructions on directions and delivery route
your telephone number, including cell phone
Life is better with pie, so please send Natalie your business and tell her San Jose's Twitterview Tuesday sent you!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Homebirth in Ohio
This post is dedicated to one family in Ohio who is struggling. They are being prosecuted for having a homebirth, despite the fact that both mother and baby are healthy.
The reason for this post is to let all who are involved with birth know that what happens in Ohio will not stay in Ohio. The best way we can help this family right now is to be watchful and vigilant, and to send what help that they can spare.
It is the family's earnest desire that NO FURIOUS LETTERS AND CAMPAIGNING be done on their behalf. They are hoping for a peaceful resolution of the situation, in which the prosecutor will drop all charges. PLEASE DO NOT AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION WITH WELL-MEANING LETTERS WHICH MAY SERVE INSTEAD TO INFLAME THE SITUATION.
Thank you for passing this information on to others in the birth community. We are all watching and waiting to see what will happen.
#### ##### ###### #### ##### #####
Update
As many of you may know, we had our pre-trial hearing this morning. We were hoping once the lawyers got a chance to hash things out, the charges would be dismissed. That was not the case. The prosecutor offered us a plea-bargain for the charge of disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. As much as my husband and I would love to close this horrible chapter of our lives and put it behind us, we didn't take the plea. First of all, we are not guilty of anything, and don't want a guilty plea following us around for the rest of our lives. Second of all, we felt that a guilty plea would validate the charges against us. Also, I thought that a guilty plea would give the impression that homebirth is wrong, and possibly open the door for other families to be prosecuted.
Right now, we don't have a trial date, and there is still a possibility that the charges could be dropped before going to trial. I want to consult further with my lawyer before involving the media, or unleashing a firestorm of letters and calls to the prosecutor. I just wanted to update everybody with what's going on and let everybody know what they can do to help.
This is always the hard part for me, as I'm not comfortable asking for things, but so many people keep asking how they can help, and we do need help, so I'm learning a lesson in humility. Obviously this is affecting us financially since we are a single income family, and my husband's hours at work have been reduced indefinitely. So far this whole fiasco has cost us $6427 in legal and medical bills. To pay our attorney, we took a $4000 cash advance on a credit card (at 20% interest). We have already raised quite a bit through fundraisers and individual donations, and we are grateful to everybody who has helped us so far. Paypal donations can be made to sweetchildofmine@live.com . You can also e-mail any questions to that address.
I know some people may be hesitant about sending cash, and I completely understand. Anything that saves us money on things we regularly have to buy would help too. Gift cards for groceries, gas, restaurants, clothes, etc are definitely welcomed. Also we definitely won't turn down local people who feel like dropping by with a pizza, bucket of chicken or a bag of your kids' old clothes!
There are also plenty of ways to help that are FREE!
-Send us your prayers and positive thoughts!
-Help out with a fundraiser.
- Be supportive of other families who make choices that may seem out of the ordinary to you.
I started a Facebook group page as a means to keep everybody updated. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140938029710
Please feel free to repost this message on Facebook, e-mail or any forums where it will enlist more supporters for our cause. Please do not alter the message in any way, except to remove anything that may be a violation of the TOS of the site you post it (namely fundraising info).
It's time for us to stand up for our rights as women, parents and law abiding citizens who don't want the government trampling on our rights to live and raise our families as we choose! If they succeed with prosecuting us, it won't stop there.
The reason for this post is to let all who are involved with birth know that what happens in Ohio will not stay in Ohio. The best way we can help this family right now is to be watchful and vigilant, and to send what help that they can spare.
It is the family's earnest desire that NO FURIOUS LETTERS AND CAMPAIGNING be done on their behalf. They are hoping for a peaceful resolution of the situation, in which the prosecutor will drop all charges. PLEASE DO NOT AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION WITH WELL-MEANING LETTERS WHICH MAY SERVE INSTEAD TO INFLAME THE SITUATION.
Thank you for passing this information on to others in the birth community. We are all watching and waiting to see what will happen.
#### ##### ###### #### ##### #####
Update
As many of you may know, we had our pre-trial hearing this morning. We were hoping once the lawyers got a chance to hash things out, the charges would be dismissed. That was not the case. The prosecutor offered us a plea-bargain for the charge of disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. As much as my husband and I would love to close this horrible chapter of our lives and put it behind us, we didn't take the plea. First of all, we are not guilty of anything, and don't want a guilty plea following us around for the rest of our lives. Second of all, we felt that a guilty plea would validate the charges against us. Also, I thought that a guilty plea would give the impression that homebirth is wrong, and possibly open the door for other families to be prosecuted.
Right now, we don't have a trial date, and there is still a possibility that the charges could be dropped before going to trial. I want to consult further with my lawyer before involving the media, or unleashing a firestorm of letters and calls to the prosecutor. I just wanted to update everybody with what's going on and let everybody know what they can do to help.
This is always the hard part for me, as I'm not comfortable asking for things, but so many people keep asking how they can help, and we do need help, so I'm learning a lesson in humility. Obviously this is affecting us financially since we are a single income family, and my husband's hours at work have been reduced indefinitely. So far this whole fiasco has cost us $6427 in legal and medical bills. To pay our attorney, we took a $4000 cash advance on a credit card (at 20% interest). We have already raised quite a bit through fundraisers and individual donations, and we are grateful to everybody who has helped us so far. Paypal donations can be made to sweetchildofmine@live.com . You can also e-mail any questions to that address.
I know some people may be hesitant about sending cash, and I completely understand. Anything that saves us money on things we regularly have to buy would help too. Gift cards for groceries, gas, restaurants, clothes, etc are definitely welcomed. Also we definitely won't turn down local people who feel like dropping by with a pizza, bucket of chicken or a bag of your kids' old clothes!
There are also plenty of ways to help that are FREE!
-Send us your prayers and positive thoughts!
-Help out with a fundraiser.
- Be supportive of other families who make choices that may seem out of the ordinary to you.
I started a Facebook group page as a means to keep everybody updated. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140938029710
Please feel free to repost this message on Facebook, e-mail or any forums where it will enlist more supporters for our cause. Please do not alter the message in any way, except to remove anything that may be a violation of the TOS of the site you post it (namely fundraising info).
It's time for us to stand up for our rights as women, parents and law abiding citizens who don't want the government trampling on our rights to live and raise our families as we choose! If they succeed with prosecuting us, it won't stop there.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Please welcome this week's VSG: Ms. Robin Elise Weiss!
Ms. Robin Elise Weiss is an extremely busy woman. Not only does she publish a pregnancy/childbirth column for About.com, she is an active birth doula, and a lecturer who travels across the country imparting the wisdom and advice gleaned from ten plus years in the birth business. Additionally, she is a published author. This is impressive enough, and would make for a sufficient resume for any one person.
However, Ms. Robin is not only an extremely busy woman, zipping here and there to talk about pregnancy and the accompanying changes that occur...Ms. Robin is the proud mother of eight! Even better is her perspective on her family:
"Being a mother and a doula helps me to stay in touch with the realities facing pregnant women and mothers today."
Ms. Weiss was in the military, and while serving, she "stumbled upon" the notion of women-centered care. This intrigued her to the extent that when she attended the University of Kentucky, she majored in Liberal Arts with a focus on Reproductive Health Education. Ms. Weiss was caught up in the various aspects of pregnancy and childbirth, and thus her feet were on the path to success.
Beginning in 1989, Ms. Robin began to develop her calling in earnest. Prior to this, she became certified as a doula with DONA International and she was able to become certified as a childbirth educator via Lamaze International. In addition, she became certified as a postpartum doula as well with ICEA. Thus, Ms. Robin was on her way to becoming a force in the birthing community, with hundreds of births to her credit.
Soon, Robin began to lecture, using the skills she acquired with her Communications minor. Her lectures to midwives, doulas, obstetricians and others concerned with birth were(and are!) quite popular. Others remark that Robin has a touch for disseminating information in a relaxed way that is non-threatening and easy to comprehend.
From there, Robin kept elevating her style, adding radio appearances and writing articles to her repertoire. In fact, at last count, Robin has written over 3,000 articles which were published on the web! Keeping not only abreast of birth trends, but also ahead of them, she soon branched out into becoming an author of a diverse series of books on pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.
Some of her many titles include:
The Everything New Mother's First Year
The Complete Illustrated Pregnancy Companion
150 Tips and Tricks for New Moms
The Joy of Pregnant Sex
Ms. Robin Elise Weiss is a woman who is actively involved in birth: she is the recipient of numerous awards, from the President's Award from Lamaze International, to the CIMS Forum award. She has many more awards, has made numerous television appearances, and doubtless has many more irons in the fire. To her, though, "seeing families meet their babies and watching women grow through parenting" are what motivates her, not the many awards she receives.
Her birth philosophy is simple: "Every woman has to make her own choices, but she has to know all of her options or she ahs no choices."
The part that most impresses about Robin, beyond the laundry list of accomplishments, are these words that she offered on pregnancy:
"Pregnancy is a special time in our lives. We need to be given the opportunity to ask questions, tell stories, and generally enjoy the experiences of bringing a new life into this world. "
Robin Weiss, whose typical day consists of "wake up, feed the kids, drive, write, read, study, drive, feed kids, read books to kids, homework with kids, bed" is a driven woman. Her desire to change the fact that so many women are so unaware of birth choices, that it is a scandal "how few of their options women know about"; this is the driving force behind Ms. Weiss's constant presence.
So the next time you are at a conference, or are searching for answers on the Internet,or are in need of a doula, contact Robin
first. Armed with "birth ball, lap top and music" she is the Johnny Appleseed of our profession, spreading the seeds of knowledge across the nation!
However, Ms. Robin is not only an extremely busy woman, zipping here and there to talk about pregnancy and the accompanying changes that occur...Ms. Robin is the proud mother of eight! Even better is her perspective on her family:
"Being a mother and a doula helps me to stay in touch with the realities facing pregnant women and mothers today."
Ms. Weiss was in the military, and while serving, she "stumbled upon" the notion of women-centered care. This intrigued her to the extent that when she attended the University of Kentucky, she majored in Liberal Arts with a focus on Reproductive Health Education. Ms. Weiss was caught up in the various aspects of pregnancy and childbirth, and thus her feet were on the path to success.
Beginning in 1989, Ms. Robin began to develop her calling in earnest. Prior to this, she became certified as a doula with DONA International and she was able to become certified as a childbirth educator via Lamaze International. In addition, she became certified as a postpartum doula as well with ICEA. Thus, Ms. Robin was on her way to becoming a force in the birthing community, with hundreds of births to her credit.
Soon, Robin began to lecture, using the skills she acquired with her Communications minor. Her lectures to midwives, doulas, obstetricians and others concerned with birth were(and are!) quite popular. Others remark that Robin has a touch for disseminating information in a relaxed way that is non-threatening and easy to comprehend.
From there, Robin kept elevating her style, adding radio appearances and writing articles to her repertoire. In fact, at last count, Robin has written over 3,000 articles which were published on the web! Keeping not only abreast of birth trends, but also ahead of them, she soon branched out into becoming an author of a diverse series of books on pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.
Some of her many titles include:
The Everything New Mother's First Year
The Complete Illustrated Pregnancy Companion
150 Tips and Tricks for New Moms
The Joy of Pregnant Sex
Ms. Robin Elise Weiss is a woman who is actively involved in birth: she is the recipient of numerous awards, from the President's Award from Lamaze International, to the CIMS Forum award. She has many more awards, has made numerous television appearances, and doubtless has many more irons in the fire. To her, though, "seeing families meet their babies and watching women grow through parenting" are what motivates her, not the many awards she receives.
Her birth philosophy is simple: "Every woman has to make her own choices, but she has to know all of her options or she ahs no choices."
The part that most impresses about Robin, beyond the laundry list of accomplishments, are these words that she offered on pregnancy:
"Pregnancy is a special time in our lives. We need to be given the opportunity to ask questions, tell stories, and generally enjoy the experiences of bringing a new life into this world. "
Robin Weiss, whose typical day consists of "wake up, feed the kids, drive, write, read, study, drive, feed kids, read books to kids, homework with kids, bed" is a driven woman. Her desire to change the fact that so many women are so unaware of birth choices, that it is a scandal "how few of their options women know about"; this is the driving force behind Ms. Weiss's constant presence.
So the next time you are at a conference, or are searching for answers on the Internet,or are in need of a doula, contact Robin
first. Armed with "birth ball, lap top and music" she is the Johnny Appleseed of our profession, spreading the seeds of knowledge across the nation!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Seattle's Own Quiet Jewel
Please welcome our VSG for today, Ms. Rochelle Schoen!
Seattle-born and raised, Ms. Rochelle demonstrates her affinity for, and influence by, this great city of the Pacific Northwest in many ways. Whether supporting KEXP 90.3 or using the cool periwinkle lavender colour of rain on her website, Ms. Rochelle is the epitome of all things Seattle. A relaxed, laid-back soul, she enjoys baking, reading, chasing after two irascible cats and being a full-time wife and mother.
Like many doulas, the pathway to birth did not appear at first. In her first incarnation, Ms. Rochelle attended the Seattle Central Community College and Western Washington University; at the end, she secured her degree to become a practicing social worker.
Using her talents for nurturing and giving, she worked with clients who were low-income and who had chronic medical/health issues. Soon, she found her niche in the social work methodology of "case management, referrals, resource management, short-term counseling and solution-focused problem solving." One of Ms. Rochelle's particular strengths that she brings from this period of her life is the ability to "can look at the big picture surrounding her clients' situations".
Ms. Rochelle worked as a social worker "for many years". After helping countless individuals to find their way in this wide world, she discovered that she herself was carrying life. Closing the door(as she thought)on her social work life, preparing for the arrival of her child, Rochelle took a Hypnobabies class. a decision which Rochelle reports led to "such a wonderful birth experience with my daughter. My daughter's birth was pain-free and I credit that to Hypnobabies."
Just as simply as that, the path to the world of birth opened before her. As her birth experience had been a model of calm and peace, she yearned to help other women achieve such a birth. Fortunate enough to train with Penny Simkin* personally during her doula training, Rochelle blossomed in her role as a doula, plaiting her new skills as a doula with her previous experiences as a social worker. Thus, a formidable blend of compassion, understanding, knowledge and empowerment was forged, and Rochelle was able to meld both her old skills and her new ones into a new profession: that of doula.
Part of Rochelle's drive is to eradicate "all the misinformation out there." It is the one thing she would love to change if she could. "Did you know that if you had scoliosis as a child, you must only have a c-section and never try a vaginal birth? Or that women who need to take antibiotics must stop breastfeeding because it makes the milk sour?" Correcting such misconceptions and replacing them with solid evidence-based facts is part of Rochelle's mission as a birth professional. This is evident in the advice that she gives to every client: "Become educated! Learn your options, do the research, and talk to others. Don't rely on one source for all of your information!"
The best part of being a doula for our Rochelle is "that it allows me to be a stay-at-home mom with my daughter yet still do some work, but with a greater control over how much I work than I had previously. Since I own my own business, I can do a lot of my work(research, reading, phone calls, etc) with my daughter right on my lap." Our Rochelle also points out that one of the drawbacks of being an active birth doula is that being on-call for an expectant mother can be disruptive, but feels "having a supportive husband, friends, and family is important."
In her capacity as a doula, there is often a duality common to most doulas: "When I am in the role of birth doula, my job is to take on the mom's philosophy and help her achieve her goals." This is exactly within the scope of practice for doulas; the role of the birth professional is to provide advice and counsel, and to respect the desires of the mother. "If a mother walks into the hospital at 2cm and wants an epidural immediately, it's my job to support that and help her to have the best birth experience she can, given her own decisions" our Rochelle points out.
However, when Doula Rochelle is "educating people, writing blog posts and living my life outside of the birthing room" she promotes her point of view, which is that "every baby deserves to be born naturally, without drugs or excessive interventions". This philosophy became firmly entrenched when working with Penny Simkin*.
One more famous quote from Ms. Simkin is:
There is a difference between pain and suffering. We can work with pain and use it to our benefit when birthing. However, excessive pain can become suffering and permanently and negatively affect a birthing mom's mental wellbeing. There is a time and place for pain medications in birth and when pain becomes suffering, it may be time to consider those options.
Ms. Rochelle definitely takes this quote to heart, for one of her goals is to expand her doula services by offering Hypnobabies* birth support and education. As a lifelong learner and educator, Ms. Rochelle is dedicated to the care, support and protection of women and their children, and she uses her social work background to good effect.
If you are ever in King County or Snohomish County, Washington, be sure to look up Ms. Rochelle Schoen. If you are giving birth near her, be sure to call her. You will be glad you did!
###
Penny Simkin: a physical therapist specializing in childbirth. More information: pennysimkin.com
Hypnobabies: a programme using hypnosis for calm and relaxation during birth. More information: www.hypnobabies.com
To contact Ms. Rochelle Schoen, please contact:
www.birthserene.com
twitter.com/birthserene
Seattle-born and raised, Ms. Rochelle demonstrates her affinity for, and influence by, this great city of the Pacific Northwest in many ways. Whether supporting KEXP 90.3 or using the cool periwinkle lavender colour of rain on her website, Ms. Rochelle is the epitome of all things Seattle. A relaxed, laid-back soul, she enjoys baking, reading, chasing after two irascible cats and being a full-time wife and mother.
Like many doulas, the pathway to birth did not appear at first. In her first incarnation, Ms. Rochelle attended the Seattle Central Community College and Western Washington University; at the end, she secured her degree to become a practicing social worker.
Using her talents for nurturing and giving, she worked with clients who were low-income and who had chronic medical/health issues. Soon, she found her niche in the social work methodology of "case management, referrals, resource management, short-term counseling and solution-focused problem solving." One of Ms. Rochelle's particular strengths that she brings from this period of her life is the ability to "can look at the big picture surrounding her clients' situations".
Ms. Rochelle worked as a social worker "for many years". After helping countless individuals to find their way in this wide world, she discovered that she herself was carrying life. Closing the door(as she thought)on her social work life, preparing for the arrival of her child, Rochelle took a Hypnobabies class. a decision which Rochelle reports led to "such a wonderful birth experience with my daughter. My daughter's birth was pain-free and I credit that to Hypnobabies."
Just as simply as that, the path to the world of birth opened before her. As her birth experience had been a model of calm and peace, she yearned to help other women achieve such a birth. Fortunate enough to train with Penny Simkin* personally during her doula training, Rochelle blossomed in her role as a doula, plaiting her new skills as a doula with her previous experiences as a social worker. Thus, a formidable blend of compassion, understanding, knowledge and empowerment was forged, and Rochelle was able to meld both her old skills and her new ones into a new profession: that of doula.
Part of Rochelle's drive is to eradicate "all the misinformation out there." It is the one thing she would love to change if she could. "Did you know that if you had scoliosis as a child, you must only have a c-section and never try a vaginal birth? Or that women who need to take antibiotics must stop breastfeeding because it makes the milk sour?" Correcting such misconceptions and replacing them with solid evidence-based facts is part of Rochelle's mission as a birth professional. This is evident in the advice that she gives to every client: "Become educated! Learn your options, do the research, and talk to others. Don't rely on one source for all of your information!"
The best part of being a doula for our Rochelle is "that it allows me to be a stay-at-home mom with my daughter yet still do some work, but with a greater control over how much I work than I had previously. Since I own my own business, I can do a lot of my work(research, reading, phone calls, etc) with my daughter right on my lap." Our Rochelle also points out that one of the drawbacks of being an active birth doula is that being on-call for an expectant mother can be disruptive, but feels "having a supportive husband, friends, and family is important."
In her capacity as a doula, there is often a duality common to most doulas: "When I am in the role of birth doula, my job is to take on the mom's philosophy and help her achieve her goals." This is exactly within the scope of practice for doulas; the role of the birth professional is to provide advice and counsel, and to respect the desires of the mother. "If a mother walks into the hospital at 2cm and wants an epidural immediately, it's my job to support that and help her to have the best birth experience she can, given her own decisions" our Rochelle points out.
However, when Doula Rochelle is "educating people, writing blog posts and living my life outside of the birthing room" she promotes her point of view, which is that "every baby deserves to be born naturally, without drugs or excessive interventions". This philosophy became firmly entrenched when working with Penny Simkin*.
One more famous quote from Ms. Simkin is:
There is a difference between pain and suffering. We can work with pain and use it to our benefit when birthing. However, excessive pain can become suffering and permanently and negatively affect a birthing mom's mental wellbeing. There is a time and place for pain medications in birth and when pain becomes suffering, it may be time to consider those options.
Ms. Rochelle definitely takes this quote to heart, for one of her goals is to expand her doula services by offering Hypnobabies* birth support and education. As a lifelong learner and educator, Ms. Rochelle is dedicated to the care, support and protection of women and their children, and she uses her social work background to good effect.
If you are ever in King County or Snohomish County, Washington, be sure to look up Ms. Rochelle Schoen. If you are giving birth near her, be sure to call her. You will be glad you did!
###
Penny Simkin: a physical therapist specializing in childbirth. More information: pennysimkin.com
Hypnobabies: a programme using hypnosis for calm and relaxation during birth. More information: www.hypnobabies.com
To contact Ms. Rochelle Schoen, please contact:
www.birthserene.com
twitter.com/birthserene
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Please give a warm welcome to our VSG: Ms. Renee Hennings!
Welcome to Twitterview Tuesday, the weekly meet-and-greet, where we get to know some of the wonderful Tweeple in our Twitterverse a little bit better!
My first guest is Ms. Renee Hennings! She is a lovely woman, who describes herself as a "doula, wife, mom and friend" on her Twitter bio.
Ms. Renee hails from the Garden State, and works as a doula with women in the northern New Jersey area. She is working towards her certification with Dona International and already has three births to her credit! Renee's philosophy of birth is that "helping women to findthe right rhythm to make their bodies work well" is of the utmost importance.
To that end, Renee is willing to work with pregnant women in Essex, Passaic, Morris, Bergen and Sussex counties. She works the Hudson Valley area, and is willing to consult in Manhattan-wth a nominal fee for gas and tolls, most reasonable in these economic times!
Ms. Hennings became interested in becoming a doula " when pregnant with my son. I took a hypnobirthing class. Doulas were mentioned, and I slowly researched what a doula does. It sounded like an amazing job to do! Finally, I took a course last summer and have just finished my third certification birth! I am hoping to finish in September!"
With a strong Web presence, including her Twitter presence, Renee is ready and willing to serve clients, wherever they give birth,whether in hospitals, birth centers or at homebirths. "One thing that I appreciate with the certification process," she enthuses, "is that the great thing about birth is witnessing the powerful changes that happen to women, both physically and emotionally." Each woman giving birth is unique, and Renee, as a mother herself, both appreciates and understands the transformative process of birth.
One piece of advice that Renee likes to impart to her clients is "that the ring of fire is only temporary"- good advice to keep in mind not only during delivery but also through the trials and tribulations of motherhood itself! Ms. Hennings channels the knowledge she is gaining from her doula training and melds it with her motherhood experience to provide support, reassurance and guidance for all mothers-to-be!
All doulas have a birth bag, a satchel of the tools of the trade that help to provide assistance, relief and refreshment for both mother and doula. Inside of Ms. Renee's bag? "A rebozo, rice bags, arnica, candies, snacks, tennis balls, bathing suit, change of clothes(for herself) and an iPod." Renee utilizes these materials to provide comfort to the mother while keeping herself alert and refreshed. It is interesting to note that Ms. Hennings is the first doula that I have met who carries arnica with her. Arnica is an herb which possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
I would like to thank Ms. Renee Hennings, my Very Special Guest for Twitterview Tuesday! She is a great sport, and a very considerate colleague! She is well on the way to becoming a doula of distinction, and I, for one, am most pleased to have met her!
To contact Ms. Hennings: Twitter.com/RENEEHENNINGS
Web presence:
www. breastfeeding.com
www. lifepassages.net
doulamatch.net
www.drmoz.com
www.pamperedpreggerandbeyond.com
My first guest is Ms. Renee Hennings! She is a lovely woman, who describes herself as a "doula, wife, mom and friend" on her Twitter bio.
Ms. Renee hails from the Garden State, and works as a doula with women in the northern New Jersey area. She is working towards her certification with Dona International and already has three births to her credit! Renee's philosophy of birth is that "helping women to findthe right rhythm to make their bodies work well" is of the utmost importance.
To that end, Renee is willing to work with pregnant women in Essex, Passaic, Morris, Bergen and Sussex counties. She works the Hudson Valley area, and is willing to consult in Manhattan-wth a nominal fee for gas and tolls, most reasonable in these economic times!
Ms. Hennings became interested in becoming a doula " when pregnant with my son. I took a hypnobirthing class. Doulas were mentioned, and I slowly researched what a doula does. It sounded like an amazing job to do! Finally, I took a course last summer and have just finished my third certification birth! I am hoping to finish in September!"
With a strong Web presence, including her Twitter presence, Renee is ready and willing to serve clients, wherever they give birth,whether in hospitals, birth centers or at homebirths. "One thing that I appreciate with the certification process," she enthuses, "is that the great thing about birth is witnessing the powerful changes that happen to women, both physically and emotionally." Each woman giving birth is unique, and Renee, as a mother herself, both appreciates and understands the transformative process of birth.
One piece of advice that Renee likes to impart to her clients is "that the ring of fire is only temporary"- good advice to keep in mind not only during delivery but also through the trials and tribulations of motherhood itself! Ms. Hennings channels the knowledge she is gaining from her doula training and melds it with her motherhood experience to provide support, reassurance and guidance for all mothers-to-be!
All doulas have a birth bag, a satchel of the tools of the trade that help to provide assistance, relief and refreshment for both mother and doula. Inside of Ms. Renee's bag? "A rebozo, rice bags, arnica, candies, snacks, tennis balls, bathing suit, change of clothes(for herself) and an iPod." Renee utilizes these materials to provide comfort to the mother while keeping herself alert and refreshed. It is interesting to note that Ms. Hennings is the first doula that I have met who carries arnica with her. Arnica is an herb which possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
I would like to thank Ms. Renee Hennings, my Very Special Guest for Twitterview Tuesday! She is a great sport, and a very considerate colleague! She is well on the way to becoming a doula of distinction, and I, for one, am most pleased to have met her!
To contact Ms. Hennings: Twitter.com/RENEEHENNINGS
Web presence:
www. breastfeeding.com
www. lifepassages.net
doulamatch.net
www.drmoz.com
www.pamperedpreggerandbeyond.com
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