Kindness Countdown

I cannot believe how far we have all come since I first started the Ugga Mugga blog nearly seven years ago!  Your children, whom you began reading this parenting blog for have grown, matured and mastered so many skills over the years!  And you're gotten them there!  Congratulations!  Well done, Mama and Daddy! 

Mr. Mugga and I had a third baby and she and our other two children have grown to the ages of 10, 8 and almost 6!  How did that happen?  We set off on the adventure of home education, and have never looked back.  Martha now Irish dances and August and Hazel play soccer all in between Pokemon club, hikes, kickball games with friends, Confirmation classes, book club, visits to flea markets, and bike rides.  It's a busy, full and beautiful life.  But...

The homeschooling and activities coupled with my freelance writing gig and our actual family time has, unfortunately, made it nearly impossible for me to keep up this dear Ugga Mugga blog in the tradition I was once able to do (and that I greatly enjoyed).  It has become more of an occasional letter to an important penpal that I want to keep in touch with...checking in when big things happen in life, and enjoying each letter (comment or emails from readers) I receive in return. 

And so, as promised, I am checking in with exciting family news.  We have started a new 40-week adventure:  the Kindness Countdown.  What is it?  What does it do?  What does this all mean?  Let me explain...

My 40th birthday has been on my mind for a couple of years now.  I wouldn't say I feel old, and I certainly am not dreading turning 40, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel different as this milestone approaches in the horizon.  I clearly remember when my parents turned 40, thinking that it was a huge number...perhaps I'm viewing this birthday just a bit through those 16-year-old eyes.

As a result, I have been spending the past few months reflecting upon the many trials and countless blessings of my past 39 years of life, and have decided to do something big as I approach turning 40 (on June 30, 2015)...something that I hope will make many people smile.  That something is the Kindness Countdown. 

And so, I will be completing 40 random acts of kindness over the next 40 weeks...for complete strangers (and a few people I know) and documenting them to entertain and hopefully inspire others to spread the kindness in their own lives. 

Spoiler alert:  The first week's act of kindness was a family outing to the grocery store to shop for a local food pantry.  

To follow along on our kindness journey, "like" the Kindness Countdown on Facebook where I will post preparations, other inspirational findings and each week's random act of kindness as it's completed. 

And there's also a Kindness Countdown blog, which Ugga Mugga readers will find nice and comfortable and homey (it shares the same layout and design). 

And so, faithful UM readers, this completes the latest penpal letter from my family.  I hope this finds your family well and full of love!  Until next time...

xoxo,
Shannon

Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

I've been trying to find a way to help the children and staff at Sandy Hook in Newtown, CT and was so excited this morning when I read an article mentioning the snowflake donations they're accepting through January 12, 2013.  Here is a message from the Connecticut PTSA:

When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike. Please make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to the Connecticut PTSA at:

Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

My children and I will be making many snowflakes to mail in support of those returning to school.  I hope it helps to bring smiles to their faces as they see the multitude of snowflakes hand-crafted by people supporting them from around the globe.

And if you'd like to make a financial contribution, the Newtown School Board is announcing on its website that anyone who wishes to support the Sandy Hook Elementary community can make donations to the address below. The announcement states that this is preferred rather than gifts (other than the snowflakes).  Donations can be made via Newtown.uwwesternct.org  or by mailing  checks to:

Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main St
Newtown, CT  06470

Pura Vida Bracelets

My first order of Pura Vida bracelets arrived today...and I couldn't wait to share my thoughts with you all!

I had very high hopes for these little bracelets and let me tell you, they did not disappoint! The colors are so vivid and bright, the coating on the threads is comfortable, and the little beads on the beaded one I purchased are adorable! I'm already wearing two of them (which I've secured with a knot because let's face it, these little guys are not coming off of my wrists for at least the rest of summer).

When I was placing my order I kept my children's color preferences in mind and picked out a couple for each of them as well. We opened the package over lunch today and they all chose the ones I had selected for them and quickly asked for me to put them on. Theirs too are tied in knots since they said they didn't want them to come off - ever.

Each bracelet consists of 9 colored, waxed threads tied together with a slip fastener for an adjustable fit...these will fit anywhere from an adult's wrist to a 2 year old's, judging by how Hazel's bracelet fits on her wrist.

Pura Vida, which translates to pure life, donates 1% of it's sales to the Surfrider Foundation, a charity organization dedicated to protecting beaches and oceans worldwide. They have over 50,000 members that have completed over 140,000 hours of volunteer work. In addition to cleaning up beaches, they also are providing more and more full time jobs to talented artisans in Costa Rica, where these bracelets are hand made.

Pura Vida bracelets range from $5.00 to $10.00 each and are available at puravidabracelets.com and in boutiques nationwide.

FEED Trick-or-Treat Bag

I am LOVING this trick or treat sack from FEED! What an amazing bag, not only for your children to use as they go door-to-door wearing their Halloween costume, but also for us parents to tote around this month!

Each FEED Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF bag will generate funding to help UNICEF provide one child in the developing world with an entire year’s worth of micronutrient powder. Children can easily sprinkle the powder over their food, making this a revolutionary way to help children receive the vitamins and minerals they need. Isn't that just wonderful?!

This FEED Trick-or-Treat bag is available exclusively at HSN.com for only $13.20. And for each FEED Trick-or-Treat bag purchased, HSN will donate $3.50 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help support UNICEF’s nutrition programs.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

My children have never had a school-provided meal...two are at home with me all day and the other is in half-day kindergarten (and will be homeschooled next year...another story for another time). But from friends I know who have children in school, from watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, and from simply seeing Americans pull into fast food restaurants on a daily basis, I know that school food is in desperate need of an overhaul...toward natural, fresh and healthy meals.

Have you watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC? If not, I think you should. If you are looking to change the way your family eats, it's educational. If you and your family already eat fresh, nutritious meals, it will help you understand other Americans better and open your eyes to a whole other world that is perhaps right next door.

Episode 2 has been the most, well, appalling to me. In that hour it showed Jamie Oliver step into a kindergarten classroom, hold up vegetables, and ask the students what they were...and none of them knew the answers. Not what a potato is. Not a tomato. And certainly not an eggplant. But wait, it gets so much worse. Just watch the video below in which Mr. Oliver shows children how chicken nuggets are made. It was an "epic failure." I'll be honest, I cried.



I encourage you all to join me in signing Jamie Oliver's petition to improve school food. Here is an excerpt from his site followed by a link to sign the petition:

"I believe that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food. Too many people are being affected by what they eat. It's time for a national revolution. America needs to stand up for better food!

With your help, we can get better food into homes, schools and communities all over America and give your kids a better future. Sign the petition to save America's cooking skills and improve school food. It could be the most important thing you ever do for your family. America's health needs you now!"

Click here to sign the petition today! It takes 30 seconds.

And then please, start a food revolution in your own home...cook something. From scratch. With fresh and raw ingredients - no packets, no cheating! And get your children in the kitchen with you...kids can cook with some guidance and instruction. It will get them on the path to a happy and healthy life!

Fashion for Haiti

The earthquake that shook Haiti to it's core was felt by all around the world. The outpouring of love and support was touching...but so much work still needs to be done. The giving needs to continue.

The Fashion for Haiti and Hands Helping Haiti shirts shown here are available at J.Crew for $25.00 each and 100% of the profits from their sales will be donated to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. The Fund is raising money for immediate, high-impact relief and long-term recovery efforts to help those in Haiti who are most in need of assistance. And having yourself or your child wearing these fashionable tees will continue to raise awareness for the cause.

Buy these charitable tees at jcrew.com.