I hope you will consider liking the Facebook page "Help Bell Barnwell Meet Taylor Swift".  Bell is the daughter of a high school friend.  She has cystic fibrosis and is awaiting a double lung transplant.  She is currently registered with Make a Wish Foundation, but there seems to be a problem with granting this wish.  A family friend created this page with the hopes of getting media coverage and making something happen.  I am so blessed with a healthy little girl of the same age and pray this little girl will have her wish granted as well as receive the transplant she so desperately needs.  Please consider like the Facebook page and sharing it with friends.  Several people have made an effort to contact media and contacts in Nashville just hoping this will come to the attention of this country music artist so she can make it happen.  Thanks for your efforts.  No comments needed- just do what you can.

link:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Bell-Meet-Taylor-Swift/112167665537141

During the last few years I have noticed our swimsuits w/noticeable stains and stretching after very little wear.  I generally wear black so the staining was primarily on my daughter's swimsuits, but I have noticed the elastic wearing out in my suits.  As we begin to swim and apply sunscreen everytime we swim, I started thinking how sunscreen has changed over the last few years.  Because of the ease of application many of us have started using the spray sunscreen.  Most sunscreens now protect from UVA and UVB rays so this means new chemicals.  Due to this revalation I did a little research on sunscreens.

I am not suggesting anyone stop using sunscreen, but we need to look at what we are putting on our skin as well as our children's skin.  From my research I found that certain chemicals in the spray sunscreens disolve the elastic polymer component in the threads.  Many of us spend 100s of dollars on swimsuits with super elastic to hold it all in and when we  use the spray we ruin the elastic in these suits.

The stains are most likely caused by avobenzone (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane or Parsol) which protects against UVB rays.  This chemical binds w/iron and causes staning of cloths in iron rich water.  These stains don't show up until after the suit is laundered.  I also read this chemical can get into the bloodstream act similar to the horomone, estrogen.  In some studies it has not been recommended for pregnant women and children.  From what I read this chemical also doesn't hold up when worn w/mineral make-up. 

I will continue doing some research, but from what I read it is safer to use a product w/zinc oxide or titanium oxide.  Many of the products for babies have zinc oxide.  Just be careful with whatever products you use on your skin whether it be make-up or sunscreen.  Happy Swimming!

Today my sweetie brought her kindergarten report card. Enclosed was a letter entitled "Welcome to First Grade". I had her sound out the words in the title and she was so excited by the message. My son is headed to middle school, but not before a trip to the beach with a friend. My little sweetie was dropping hints and drew a picture to remind us of what she is missing.

The last week has been sad, but exciting as I see many of my students head off to college or work. During the recent honors day program many received awards and scholarships. I watched as many of them teared up on senior picture day. Today one messaged me about the last day she spent in the third grade class where she interned. She was delighted by a book of letters the children compiled for her. She expressed how she did not want to go away to college, but stay and work with them as they progress in school. I told her now she knows how I felt as a teacher to let my students go off to college. She assured me there was room for me to bunk in her dorm room. It is a great thought, but this my chance to start fresh with a new bunch-just as my students get a new start as college students or employees. CONGRATS TO THE CLASS OF 2011!

I'm about a week behind, but the recipes we served for our Derby Party this year are timeless.

Menu:
Shrimp Salad
Chicken Salad
Spicy Carrots
Tomato Biscuits
Ham Biscuits with Blackberry Butter
Key Lime Squares
Derby Pie and Chewies (a friend's contribution)
Sweet Tea Mint Juleps (May issue of SL)

The Shrimp Salad recipe was from one of the more recent issues of Southern Living and so was the Blackberry butter.  I made homemade biscuits, but you could use biscuits from the freezer section of your grocery store. 

Blackberry Butter
1 stick of butter, softened
2 heaping tablespoons of blackberry jam/jelly

Mix and serve.  This stuff is incredibly impressive and too easy to make.

Shrimp Salad (the dish of salad was empty at the end of the party- a keeper)

Two bags of small frozen shrimp (the SL recipe uses fresh shrimp, but frozen is more economical and sometimes easier to access)

1 jar sliced pickled okra
1 (4oz) jar pimento
1/3 cup mayo (I always use Hellmans)
3 TBSP- minced red onion (soak in milk for a thirty minutes to get rid of strong flavor)
1/2 tsp. lime zest
3 TBSP lime juice
1/4 tsp pepper
Dash of salt

Place frozen shrimp in a colander and run cold water over it to defrost.  Combine all ingredients and serve immediately.

Tomato Biscuits
2-3 TBSP Mayo (Hellmans)
1 tbsp grated vidalia onion
pinch of garlic powder
Small biscuits
Cherry Tomatoes
Fresh Basil

Combine mayo, onion and garlic- let this sit overnight in the refrigerator.  You could use frozen angel biscuits or make your own- bake according to instructions.  Slice cherry tomatoes into mini tomato slices.  Chop the basil.  Slice open biscuit and spread some mayo mixture on the inside of both pieces.  Top with a tomato slice and a pinch of basil.  Yummy!  I make my summer tomato sandwiches the same way.

I feel like I've taken a vacation from blogging-not on purpose, but we have just been extremely busy and I don't see the end in sight for several weeks. 

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of helping put together a new updated honors program for the students at my school.  In the past we had a school honors program and a system wide honors program.  The system wide version had grown too large and not very personal.  Our new principal shared his vision for a new and improved version and a team of staff worked to make it happen.  It was a very special ocassion for our students and I hope the start of a new tradition.  Some naysayers have posted comments in the local paper about doing away with the old system wide version and I hope they were invited to attend at least one of the new and improved school programs.  I hear each school is holding a very special program- can't wait to go to my son's honors program next week.  You know change can be good!  Congrats to all of the wonderful students receiving honors and awards.

Here are a few pics of our most recent happenings: