All in a Day's Quirks

This is way I'd like to shop...


This would be a great way to let off a little energy in middle/high schools...


These creative guys hit it big and you can see why... 


The viral that got them noticed...

Purple Robe and Anemones

QuotesandArt
by Henri Matisse


There are always flowers
for those
who want to
see them.




 
 
 
 

Ivy in Flower

It has bothered me
all my life that
I do not paint 
like
everybody
else.


 
 







He who loves,

From Autism News:
Temple Grandin HBO Movie Receives 15 Emmy Nominations

Guess I'm not the only viewer with 2 thumbs way up!

Very deserving. Well made, touching, eye-opening awesome movie. In interviews and the lecture I saw her present, she admits that the movie is very close to reality and she loved Claire Danes' acting.  After seeing her in person and video interviews, I'd agree that Claire Danes acted wonderfully.  While not every autism story is this successful, Temple Grandin is bringing much-needed attention to our world.  Different, not less.




Making of:


A full list of the nominations and other great interviews and Temple news can be found on Temple Grandin's website:
http://www.templegrandin.com/

Ok admit it - who saved their home pregnancy test?
Was the Facebook question.

My answer, a story I'll tell over and over until everyone is tired of it. 
I'll write the embellished story later.

After years of infertility treatments, dozens of pg tests,
giving up on the bio route and 2 wonderful adopted children; no.
But 4 years later when I took a test and it read +,
I went and bought 4 more, just to be sure.
I took photos through my tears, and still have the tests. You betcha! ;}
Little G was our 3rd little miracle, a bio-miracle. 
Ok, crying now...

Check out what EPT is doing to help you cherish those pee sticks forever.
They're offering a gift with purchase to "Remember the Moment You Knew" .
Maybe I'll order one, especially since they're purplicious. 
Only problem is, I don't need any pregnancy tests!  ;}



The offer (coupon outdated!):  http://www.testaccurately.com/


The fun article:
http://www.coolmompicks.com/2010/07/saving-your-home-pregnancy-test.php

Got 9 minutes? 
Catch this thought-provoking, spectacular stop-motion videotorial.

BIG BANG BIG BOOM - the new wall-painted animation by BLU
from blu on Vimeo.

More BLU: http://www.blublu.org/


How does stop animation happen?
Here's a VERY simple explanation:

How Stop Motion Animation Works from 365 Video Blog on Vimeo.



Another Blu collaboration which shows the process here and there,
so you get the tiny glimpse of the extent of painting, moving, repainting,
setting up cameras, shooting photos, then producing the video, soundtrack, etc.



If you enjoyed Blu, check out graffiti with a message by Banksy:  http://www.banksy.co.uk/

Congrats to my 10 year old M, whose softball team won the final championship game tonight against the only team they'd lost to all season.  She had a great game with key plays, which made it even more exciting...especially since Grandma and her Uncle travelled an hour to watch her.  Plus her whole family. Huge shout out to G for this, since we haven't been able to sit through a whole game, activity or function in years with him.  Of course I planned and packed enough activities, snacks, and drinks for a week; my husband I tag-teamed it; I walked way around the park with G to follow the magnificent flight of a hot air balloon, but we made it work.  We were there for my M, to support, cheer and take photos.  Yippee! 


How sad for my 2 older NT (neuro-typical) kids that this was a unique event, and not routine.  Most kids have a parent or two or their whole family for each game.  Not my kids, not this year.  Talk about feeling like a loser parent.  This season's games have been at fields without playgrounds, which makes G get into mischief/danger or create it.  His activity and judgment level is that of a 2 year old.  Unfortunately, he's also very big for his 4.5 year old self, and looks 8.  This only serves to have him appear more ill-behaved.  He has boundary issues with dogs, babies or people's items, which makes me flustered and apologetic.  He loves bleachers, but is not coordinated and falls.  He follows other kids under the bleachers, but gets hurt because of his clumsiness and lack of judgment.  He has a penchant for throwing sand, rocks or wood chips. A few weeks ago he threw rocks at a car, with a family inside, scaring the children.  Not good at all. Sigh.  When I try to redirect/stop him from any of these behaviors, he's likely to fly into a huge tantrum, screeching, crying and kicking; causing stares and angry looks (especially his siblings, who are mortified).  Not worth it.  Instead I drop off the N & M, thankful for the parents who cheer loudly for them, knowing they don't have family there for support. 


My husband works ridiculous hours, so most practice and game nights I take both kids to their fields and take G to play somewhere until I have to go pick them both up.  I'm so glad to be done for the season!  No more juggling and rushing around!  No more apologizing and feeling guilty - utterly exhausting.  Just back to a single sport now - TKD (Tae Kwon Do), which we may start him on soon.  My husband has been pushing for G to start TKD, but I've resisted, thinking he wasn't ready.  Then I took him to the kids' belt testing a few weeks ago, which was 2.5 hours in a crowded gym, sitting on the floor watching.  He kept quiet and peaceful for the most part.  Who was this boy and what did someone do with my wild G????  I've never been able to sit for more than 10 minutes with him to watch them in their TKD class.  That was enough to convince me!  I'm all for it if TKD holds his interest.  Some therapy centers offer TKD for ASD.  It may teach him responsibility, respect and discipline, but I worry the the master may be too hard on him and not understand G's issues/needs.  But maybe he'll be better for him than he is for us.  He did great at gymnastics - I believe the routine aspect appealed to him and regulated him.  The same may work for him in TKD.  I hope so.


My Facebook friends likely think I'm a braggart, posting about the kids' achievements. This is my way of giving them kudos. I can't be at their games, but I can post photos and show them how proud everyone is. I have to make it up to them somehow.  As I downloaded tonight's game photos, I cried when I saw the photo of G holding M's trophy.  He was enamored with it, just gazing in amazement.  When the team's huge trophy passed by he wanted to see it.  The coach's daughter knelt down and patiently explained it to G (what a sweetie!).  He listened, then walked in a full circle around it, checking it out thoroughly.  So awestruck.  His 11 year old brother N and I shared a moment of noticing the cuteness of him in that moment.  I worry that G may never get the chance to achieve an award.  I worry that he'll not be able to regulate or mainstream enough to last through a whole game of anything, not follow rules, not be a team player, blow a gasket or hurt someone.  Sure, there are lots of kids who don't get trophies, but he's got talented siblings who get awards for their achievements. He'll notice.  Logic and reason don't work with G, he only understands black and white, have and have not.  Not will get or may get.  All I can do is try, check out a few sports or activities to find a good fit.  If that doesn't work, we'll try for an academic or creative talent.  He gets negative feedback for his actions so often, I'd just love to boost his confidence/pride with kudos.  In any case, he's my champ, the same as my other kids.  He gets his kudos daily from us, and he returns them with his smile and hugs.  We all win, we're all winners in my heart.

Love Google Doodles?  I'm decidedly a fan. 



More info about the Google Doodles:
http://www.google.com/doodle4google/doodler.html

A full vivual history of Google Doodles:
http://www.google.com/logos/index.html

Inspired? 

Get doodling...or googling. 

Google doodling? 

Doodle googling? 

Just have fun!

Caught in a Rainbow, Ruth Palmer

☀ Even after all this time
the sun never says to the earth, "you owe me".

Look what happens with a love like that.
It lights the whole sky. ☀  Hafiz

Happy Sunrise, Ginette Callaway

Color Your World Orange, Sari McNamee

Orion, John Naylor

Click-spiration. Begin your journey, stay on course.
Tell Someone : Happiness is a Journey

Click link if you need a little love.  Don't we all?  Pay it forward.
Tell Someone : You Are...

Happy 4th of July Holiday weekend!

Thought I'd share a fun dish to take to a potluck. A few years ago, I fell in love with this at a chili cookoff.  I subsequently played around with the recipe each time I attended a potluck that year and finally hit upon a winner. Delish! This is a salad by name only, so totally dessert.  Let's face it: a salad with Snickers?  Don't even think about calories, fat, or carbs; but it has plenty of FIBER!  Plus appeal (and a-peel) for all ages. :}

Snickers Caramel Apple Salad - 105580 - Recipezaar

http://www.recipezaar.com/ is the first cooking/recipe website I joined years ago before there were a gazillion.  I've strayed, searched and tried others, but always go back to RecipeZaar.  Love it.   

Second choice recipe site: http://www.kraftfoods.com/
Excellent family everyday recipes plus cool party recipes, many very simple - gotta love that!
Here's a simple recipe for Red Lobster Cheesy Garlic Biscuits - another good potluck item:
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/community/recipe-exchange/UserRecipeDisplay.aspx?group_id=1&user_recipe_id=382390
And their 4th of July idea page:
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-entertaining/holidays/patrioticpartymenu.aspx
If you've ever seen their magazine Food & Family, it's packed with great recipes and how-to's.  So many ideas.  It used to be a free subscription, now it's still pretty cheap ($14/year).  The kraft website has all the same recipes I think, but the magazine is fun to breeze through and see gorgeous photos.
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/foodfamilyarchive/foodandfamilyarchivelanding.aspx

Happy Potlucking, Happy Cooking!

Mmmmmmmarshmallows....
Just returned from a camping weekend, the memory is fresh on my family's memory. These all-new Campfire® Giant Roasters™ are HUGE! We passed them in the store, screeched to a halt, jaws dropping to the floor along with our drool at the thought of the gooey goodness packed in each of these sugary zero-nutrition delights. We instantly laughed our heads off. My 11 year old grabbed a bag, his eyes pleading with me. I tossed it into the cart, then grabbed another. These are just too "wow" - I have to share with friends! Several other shoppers stopped, gasped and grabbed too. The 4th of July S'mores Display section was abuzz. It was a random hidden camera commercial moment in the middle of Meijer.  Too bad it wasn't a random taste test - my kids would've fainted from sheer joy.


There'll be plenty of GIANT S'mores this holiday weekend around Michigan. On the back of the bag is a recipe. For Giant S'mores, each Giant Roaster marshmallow is paired with a full Hershey bar and 2 full graham crackers. And for those who can't wait, they included a microwave version of roasting the marshmallow. What? Who knew? Not me! Somehow it just loses the ambiance. Marshmallows are all about the process, aren't they? Each roaster has their own method and preferences. The fun is in the mystery: will this one turn out perfect, fall in the fire, or will I have to feed it to little brother? Pressing buttons and "DING" is not part of that equation. It's about relaxing by the campfire... I'm imagining the sight of mine: I'm a purist - no S'more, just plain marshmallow. I'm one of those who like to catch the marshmallow on fire, then blow it out. These marshmallows could make quite a torch!

While googling the marshmallows, I came across a fun site: The National Marshmallow Roasters Institute. http://www.nmrinstitute.com/   I love the title of their WTF "What the Fluff" conference...another fine example proving that theres truly a website for everyone. 

OK now for the marketing of these big boys: seriously deficient! The Campfire website doesn't even offer a photo of these bold stars. http://www.campfiremarshmallows.com/whatsfresh_viewarticle.asp?News_ID=13  Campfire® Giant Roasters™ are begging for comparison photos and hype! And the name: I understand Giant Roasters, but doesn't Mighty-Mallows sound way cooler...or should I say hotter?

Postscript: I posted a link to this to my Facebook, and from the comments I've seen that many others have been wow-ed by Giant Roasters too.  A baseball mom gave out whole bags to each player at the end of their season last week, a happy camper friend said that her husband bought a case(!), and another friend posted her fun discovery along with a photo a few weeks ago (which I missed).  These marshmallows are definitely making a GIANT impression! 
Search Amazon.com for marshmallow roasting sticks
Search Amazon.com for marshmallow roasting forks
Search Amazon.com for marshmallow shooter

Funny inspiring ideas for summertime. With kids or without. Love the playful easy writing style. Great website too.
Battle the Summer Blahs Hybrid Mom

Get started with one of my faves...I'd just love to do this with a fun group of friends sometime...





If you haven't seen these cleverly orchestrated crowd events, you gotta see this! Start with #2 or #3, click link below...
15 Fab Flash Mob Videos on YouTube
Now was that cool or what? Makes me feel like doing one...any ideas?

And for the fun Dads, bust your move! Love this commercial - never goes out of style...

Fun Dadurdays - love the simplicity. Happy Dad's Day to great Dad's everywhere.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/article-fathers-dadurday.html?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=fanpage&utm_campaign=pbs

Love this simple description of Sensory Processing Disorder.  SPD was G's 1st Dx when he was 2.5, which started us on the road to OT and sensory diet.  He still has major sensory issues and needs, some managable, some still a mystery.  ASD kids frequently have sensory issues.  I notice it now constantly when I visit G's classroom.   Great interview.

Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, neighbors, friends:  find a child or simply the child within yourself and have fun!  Summertime is here!

Click on link:
Pour Kind Over Matter : Take a little bit of time out of your day to be a kid again

 Parents have been buzzing about 5th grade Sex Education Class since kindergarten.  They ask in hushed tones if you've had "the talk" yet, when you plan to.  Whether the mother or father will take the task.  They give a concerned frown and knowing nod when you tell them you have a child in 5th grade, " Have they done the sex ed thing yet?"  Parents report what a big deal the school presentation is. A special Health Teacher visits the school for the day.  The boys and girls get separate presentations, and the rumor is that the kids don't even look at each other for weeks afterwards.  We get notes sent home, we sign permission slips resembling legal documents.  The teachers make a to-do of it.  Parents are offered the opportunity to take the video home to review it.  The principal is available to discuss concerns and questions about the material covered. The school does a marvelous job of preparing and making everyone at once comfortable and supremely uncomfortable. On the presentation day, they cordon off the room and paper over the windows to shield the movie from younger eyes, adding to the mystery and drama of the event.
 So by the time the school presentation arrives, kids and parents are flustered and anxious.  I'm tense with worry at what could go wrong.  Have I left out some vital detail, prepared him for what he'll see and hear today?  Have I opened the door wide enough for discussion or will he instead talk to friends and get bogus information - or worse yet, look on the internet (yikes!).  I can't even predict what is going on in my tween's fragile psyche.  One of his close friends has not turned in his permission slip - may avoid the talk altogether he's so nervous.  I wonder if N will make it through the presentation.
 
A week ago N stressed wondering if I'd sent the permission slip, yes.  I'd told him the last 3 times he asked.  Then N wondered when it was.  Later he told me that he'd looked up the date for the "Sexuation" thing.  Just how do you keep a straight face with that kind of funny mix-up?  What an ingenius new term!  The marketing geek in me got thinking of a youth book on "Sexuation, the New Sex Education", or how-to-have-the-talk-book for parents.  My mind raced to design and promote a "Sexuation Kit" for the whole family...Discover the healthy way to share this intimidating subject matter.
 
I laughed, N had created another of our "family-isms", aka inside jokes.  He slipped up and wordbined (combined 2 words), that's now our family term for sex education. So funny!  We laughed at his new word to break the tension filling the days until the DAY.
 
By the DAY, the whole household felt the effect of my worry over N's review.  N got home and I asked him how his "Sexuation" was.  "Horrible!" he declared.  "Horrible - why?" I asked, alarmed.  "It was just gross."  "What was gross and horrible?" I pried.  "I dunno, but some kid actually barfed!"
I chuckled with comic relief!  I sighed in relief that N thought it was gross because someone barfed, not a  struggle with the content.  I visualized a kid so disgusted with the material that he barfed.  It rings of a sitcom or SNL skit. 

After I posted this gem to Facebook, I found out the barfer was a friend's sick son.  What I thought was a funny post about the presentation stress turned into a mom's nightmare.  It took me awhile for the reality to fully sink in.  I was surprised because this mom is fun and outgoing.  I thought she was being hypersensitive about her son.  Just make him laugh, I thought.  Help him to see the humor in it to shed a new light on it, or give him ideas for a snarky response to teasers. 

My experiences with G have changed my perspective on how devastating this could be for a boy, a mom; lowered the bar of proper public behavior and public opinion alike. 

But then I remembered how big this "Sexuation" was.  Years of worry, years of preparation, but mostly years of BUZZ.  I imagine she worried that parents would buzz about her son for years to come, telling how the presentation made one boy throw up.  "Oh yes, he was so nervous he just threw up and they had to...blah blah blah."  Blech.  This IS how these things start, and I'd potentially exacerbated the situation by reminding those who knew and letting others know who may not have known at the school.  UGH! 

In a response to my private apology, she mentioned that he'd been teased on his way out of school already.  I envisioned her handsome son: deflated, pale, feeling sick, out of it, and teased by classmates to top it all off.  Kids can be ruthless.  

Please parents, don't make this into a story, a drama to scare parents with.  We already have enough reason to worry.  We worry that we're doing enough at home to support our children, to help them make sound choices and to discuss problems and questions with us.  To help them grow and learn.  To let teasing roll off their back and not to be a bully or be bullied. 

I'm grateful that my friend let me know that it was her son and that she was hurt by my post, my action.  I may have forever lost a friend and damaged her son by promoting gossip and stories to be passed on from year to year, growing in intensity like a bad game of telephone.   All this boy did was to get ill at a most inopportune time.  Let's wish him well and hope that his mother doesn't have a sick stomach from all of this.  I do.

Enjoy a peaceful Memorial Day...for the world is bigger than our problems.  It's good to remind ourselves of our blessings.

  

May 29, 2010 Autism Speaks Blog Post
http://blog.autismspeaks.org/2010/05/29/itow_procor/

In Their Own Words – I Have Autism


I have autism. I hold only a few similarities to the character in “Rain Man.” When I am out on the playground, never say to my mother, “I would have never guessed that; he looks so normal” The face of autism is not a defined one.


I have autism. This does not mean I am deaf, nor does it mean I can’t understand your words. When cruel things are said, it hurts just like it would anyone else. Sometimes even more, as I am very sensitive.


I have autism. I am not blind. When you stare at me, point, and whisper – I don’t like it. I sometimes cannot control my emotions; however, I still can see you.


I have autism. I am not spoiled, undisciplined, or disrespectful intentionally. Don’t tell my parents I just need to be smacked, as that would never work and I smack back! All I know is if I am being hurt I must defend myself.


I have autism. This does not mean I am mentally delayed. I am very smart. I may focus on only a few things, but I have become an expert on them.


I have autism. Don’t think I am not capable of love or am emotionally detached from the world around me. I am very close to my family and sometimes need to be hugged. I do have the capacity to care. Especially if I see someone else being hurt or teased.


I have autism. I will line things up on the floor in my room in perfect order. This may be strange, but to me it is contentment. I can only relax if things are in sync.


I have autism. Which means I am supersensitive to sounds; I hear all of them. Even the smallest of sounds. When I get overloaded with too many sounds at once, It is hard to cope and I must step away and be alone. This does not mean I can’t handle the world, I just have to have more time to tune out as I hear more than everyone.


I have autism. I live by schedules. This is one of the ways I have found to cope with the chaos around me. Knowing what is going to happen at a certain time each day helps me prepare for transitions. That is why it is difficult for me to deal with a schedule change. I have to have order to obtain peace.


I have autism. It is very important for people to mean what they say That is why joking with me is never understood. Things are black and white to me, like a set schedule. If you say you are going to turn blue in five minutes, I expect you to do so.


So remember, having autism does not mean I am blind, retarded, unresponsive, incapable of love, or unable to function in the real world. I am unique and gifted because I have found a way to coexist within two very separate worlds. Take a moment to think about how many of us have difficulty within just the one world we live, now imagine juggling two. This is something I have learned to do. So forgive me if at times I have trouble separating the two, again I am only human.


I often hear people say to my mom, “It must be so hard for you” – no one ever says that to me. In fact, no one expects me to understand or respond because of the face society has painted autism to be. I do not know all that autism is, but I know who I am. I am special, and cherished. Almost like a superhero I was set aside to have these unique abilities. They are not a disability. They are not something to fear. In a way they are magical. I have unlocked parts of my brain that others cannot.


When you look at me, don’t look at me with sadness or feel sorry for me. Look at me with wonderment and I will amaze you every time.


This “In Their Own Words” essay is written by Tonya Procor, a loving mother of a son with autism.

Enjoy a peaceful Memorial Day...
for the world is bigger than our problems.
It's good to remind ourselves of our blessings.

The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's by Temple Grandin



My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Temple Grandin speaks from personal experience as ASD/Aspergergian, giving extra credence to her message. Her straightforward approach is honest and compelling. Each chapter is only 5 pages or so, giving parents with ASD children a sense of accomplishment when we finish each chapter - many of us don't get much time to read. It's easy to get lost in the mumbo-jumbo terminology, psychobabble of many ASD books, but Temple's simple conversational style is extremely user-friendly. She inserts delightful wit and no-nonsense advice.



View all my reviews >>

Carl's Birthday by Alexandra Day



My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carl books were suggested in a course for helping parents to work with their children to develop expressive speech. These Carl books have minimal words and many pictures to captivate children. Each time we look at these books we notice new details. Carl the dog is lovable, mischieveous, yet responsible. Delightful in every way and my little guy talks up a storm and his imagination gets sparked. Lovely illustrations too.



View all my reviews >>