Abbey’s Injury and Fight for Life

In June of 2007, Abbey, her sisters and some friends went for a swim at a golf club’s pool. All of the children finished swimming and went to shower except Abbey. She was injured, but at the time of the incident no one knew how seriously. Hours later, doctors learned that Abbey had been disemboweled by an uncovered pool drain. The suction ripped out her small intestine.

Abbey shouldn’t have survived, but she did. She went through many surgeries and hospital stays, including triple-transplant surgery – a liver, small bowel and pancreas. While sick and weak, Abbey did the things she loved most – singing, riding a bicycle, attending parties, and most of all, spending time with her parents and her sisters. Sadly, after infections, kidney dialysis, cancer and her body rejecting her new organs, Abbey Taylor died on March 20, 2008, just nine months after the disembowelment.

Abbey’s Parents’ Promise and Abbey’s Hope

Because Abbey’s parents made a promise to her that this kind of injury wouldn’t happen again to anyone else, the Abbey’s Hope Foundation was formed.

One of the goals of Abbey’s Hope is to teach about pool safety. Here are the Four Steps to Safer Pools:

1. Avoid Dangerous Drains
2. Teach Swimming and Lifesaving Skills
3. Install Barriers
4. Be Vigilant

Abbey’s Hope has come up with a way to ensure that an adult is always supervising children when they are swimming, even when there is a lifeguard on duty. It’s the Water WatchDog program. Learn more about this take the pledge and receive a free Watchdog tag.

Learn about safe pool drain covers. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (the “VGB Act”) was signed into law by President George Bush on December 19, 2007, and became effective on December 19, 2008. This law covers only public pools. Please be alert in checking each pool and spa cover to see if it is a dome-shaped, anti-entrapment cover. If in doubt, don’t swim or enter the pool or spa.

What You Can Do

1. Visit Abbey’s Hope and learn more.
2. Share this post.
3.  Make a donation.
4. Follow Abbey’s Hope on Twitter and Facebook.

I received no compensation for this post. The story of Abbey Taylor and her family inspired me to share their story and the information about Abbey’s Hope.

Not that long ago, I’d go clothes and shoe shopping with my friends. We’d show off our outfits before going out to get last minute advice and even helped put on each other’s makeup and do our hair. I miss out on that now. My beauty and fashion knowledge has dried up. As much as I want to look good and dress well, there are way too many other things going on. And spending money on me makes feel guilty when there are bills to be paid.

On the StyleUnited site I took a few moments to re-learn about what it takes for me to look good and feel better about myself. After I joined, I took some quizzes about my skin type, my own fashion style, the type of cosmetics that work for me and my hair care and style. It didn’t take a lot of time and it was like being reborn into the world of beauty and fashion.

The beauty tips are helpful, especially the free things that I can do at home on my own time to improve the look of my skin and hair. The personalized fashion profile presented my long standing hippy side. The products and clothing that were suggested for me helped me get over my mommy guilt.  Plus it was fun!

No matter what stage you are in on your fashion and beauty life, StyleUnited has something to offer. Read articles, watch how-to-do videos, take the quizzes and even get advice from your friends on your style choices through the Inner Circle. And if you join StyleUnited by May 30^th, you are eligible to win the StyleUnited: New View, New You Giveaway. Two lucky winners will be chosen at random to take home a $500 gift card for Macy’s or Nordstrom.

StyleUnited is still in Beta, but works perfectly. Join now and be one of the first to get your own beauty and fashion tips and feel fantastic about yourself.

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to use StyleUnited for this review. I will also receive a beauty gift from P&G, the owners of the website. All opinions are my own. This blog uses affiliate links.

Off we went to their “dressing room” – a suite in the Disney Yacht Club Convention Center. I still couldn’t believe I was one of the chosen – four bloggers who must have caught Leanne’s eyes as Cubby O’Brien and Sherry Alberoni were on stage. From the start of the Mickey Mouse Club March as I clapped and sang along to the effortless drum routine played by Cubby, I was enthralled by every minute. They deservedly received a standing ovation from many of us.

Meeting Cubby O’Brien and Sherry Alberoni in person proved to me that famous people can be just what they seem like on stage – caring, funny and considerate. They took time to speak with each of us one on one to get to know us a little better and to take photos with us. When I got overwhelmed with emotion, I got a hug from Sherry, who was just as kind as could be. It felt like family in the room.

Earlier, during their performance, we learned that Cubby O’Brien continued drumming after the Mickey Mouse Club. Some of the musical celebrities he worked with are Lawrence Welk, Ann-Margaret, Debbie Reynolds and Bernadette Peters (1968-Present). When he is introduced, he is remembered as a Mouseketeer. Sherry Alberoni was in the film, Dance With Me, Henry, as Lou Costello’s adopted daughter. She played Davy Jones’ wife or girlfriend on The Monkees and other shows, was the voice for Alexandra Cabot from Josie and the Pussy Cats and did voice overs for other animated shows and movies.

So what is it about the original Mickey Mouse Club that so endearing to me? I wasn’t even born during the first four seasons of the show (1955 – 1959), but thanks to syndicated reruns I was able to watch and enjoy the shows with my Mother and older sister who is 11 years older than me. They were reliving a part of their life with me which became a family tradition. Each day, we’d sit together and sing along to the March, and wait for Fun with Music Day, Anything Can Happen Day and Talent Roundup Day. It brought us close together, having one thing in common between the three of us.

I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. In exchange for my registration fee, I received deeply discounted rates on hotel, park tickets, free events, meals, and swag. I am not required nor was I asked to write about the events by Disney or any other brands, celebrities, or speakers affiliated with the event. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used on this blog.

Look at the view

Spend the Day

For more inspiring photos, check: High Impact Mom, The Bonafide Life, Shanamama, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Mom Blog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist and Zensible Mama and link your own photo stories.

Do you have a favorite hotel pool?

Before I moved to the south, I’d never heard of iced tea. Now it’s something I drink quite often, especially when I’m dining out. Sweet tea with lemon is my favorite flavor and I like it sweet. Pure Leaf Iced Tea has Sweet Tea, Extra Sweet Tea and Lemon Tea among other flavors. I’ve tried the Sweet and Lemon and they are simply delicious!

The new plastic bottles used by Pure Leaf make it easier to bring the iced tea along to an outing on the beach or a picnic. Of course, they are 100% recyclable. Pure Leaf has made a commitment to help the environment by switching from glass bottles to PET plastic.

Recipes

CHOCOLATE BANANA SMOOTHIES

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

• 1 bottle Pure Leaf™ Sweetened Iced Tea or Pure Leaf™ Unsweetened Iced Tea, chilled
• 1 cup heavy or whipping cream
• 1 cup chocolate syrup
• 1 medium banana
• 2 cups ice cubes (about 8 to 10)

In blender, process all ingredients until smooth. Serve immediately and drizzle, if desired, with additional chocolate syrup.

Tip: For a decorative twist, drizzle melted chocolate into glass; refrigerate 5 minutes to set.

FRUIT-TEA SMOOTHIES

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

• 1 bottle (16 oz.) Pure Leaf Iced Tea with Lemon or Pure Leaf Unsweetened Iced Tea, chilled
• 2 cups frozen strawberries
• 1 cup Breyers  Fat Free Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream
• 1 Tbsp. sugar

In blender, process all ingredients until smooth. Serve immediately in tall glasses and garnish, if desired, with fresh strawberries.

Enjoy other Pure Leaf drink and food recipes.

Have you tasted Pure Leaf Iced Tea? What do you think about the taste?

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Lipton Pure Leaf. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Guests can stroll through the softly lit trees of The Enchanted Forest while looking over our silent auction items. The auction features a wide variety of items donated by local business owners and private companies. Some of the items include: a Brunch Cruise by Gaspar’s Grotto, a 1 hour Horseback Riding package for two by Horsepower for Kids, and a 7 day vacation package for a family of four by Grand Incentives.  There will also be raffles and giveaways throughout the evening.

Enjoy a sumptuous dinner catered by El Unico Loco. Dance under the twinkling lights in the Celestial Swan Ballroom and indulge in cocktails in the Secret Garden. All proceeds from the event, auction and raffles will benefit the Warriors for Autism 2012 Programs.

Warriors For Autism welcomes donations for the silent auction including, product samples, autographed books and sports memorabilia, gift baskets, attraction tickets, consulting services and more. Please contact Deena@Warriorsforautism.com to make a donation or for any questions about the event.

Tickets are $40 pp for General Admission Seating
VIP Table Option $300 (seats 8-10) Reserved Seating
Each Ticket includes dinner, dancing, silent auction & open bar!

To learn more about Warriors For Autism, to purchase tickets, or to donate to our organization please visit www.warriorsforautism.com

Please help by attending the event, making a donation and sharing this post.

Stanley Steemer, the nation’s largest deep cleaning service, put out a national poll that found nearly half of respondents predicted spending less than four hours total on this year’s spring cleaning, but only 19 percent reported having ever used a professional for cleaning.  They also stay in touch with their customers on their Facebook page and Twitter account.

My Review

I gave Stanley Steemer a try for myself. After calling 1-800-Steemer (remember that jingle?), I got a quote for upholstered furniture cleaning. I then made an appointment to have my sectional sofa was professionally cleaned.

On the day of service, although a little late, two friendly gentlemen from Stanley Steemer showed up. They measured my sofa for the exact payment amount. Next, they moved each piece of my couch into a nearby tiled room since my hardwood floor could be damaged by the hot water extraction cleaning process. Each pillow and the entire sofa were cleaned. They gave me time to sweep up the dirt from under the sofa and even put some missing parts back on the bottom of recliner seats back on. My sofa hasn’t been this clean since it was purchased!

Giveaway

Here’s your chance to get help with spring cleaning from Stanley Steemer – Enter to win a $100 Gift Certificate to use for carpet, hardwood floor, tile and grout, upholstery and air duct cleaning. Just use the Rafflecopter entry form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: The gift certificate, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Stanley Steemer through MyBlogSpark.

Sisters

Even if when it was just my 13 year old, me and my husband, I felt like I had to stand on my head and spit nickels to get us in one room of the house, or to go somewhere as a family. But, when we did spend time as a family, the realization of the fun we had together, the memories we created, and the smiles we shared on photos made it more likely that I’d hear, “Yes” from my daughter for the next family event.

Spending Time Together as a Family

I’ve made it my goal to teach my children that “Making Together Better” is what being a family is all about. When we spend time together, we retell stories and laugh at them anyway, we eat food that my grandparents cooked for me, we celebrate holidays and achievements, and we are spontaneous. Spending time as a family deepens our relationships, inspires us to continue family traditions, and helps us focus on what is most important – our love for each other.

I wrote this post as an entry to win a full scholarship to the Type-A Parent Scholarship from Brica, whose motto is Making Together Better. You can find Brica on Facebook and on Twitter.

Discount Tickets

Get tickets for just $13 with code MOMDD. The offer is valid for these performances: May 18 at 7 p.m., May 19 at 11 am and 7 pm, and May 20 at 5 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the Tampa Bay Times Forum ticket office or Ticketmaster.com

About Disney on Ice Dare to Dream

Get tangled up in the newest thrilling show to hit the ice, Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream. Experience Disney’s hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled; as Rapunzel, her unlikely companion, Flynn, and Maximus, embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths!  Boogie to the beat of the bayou with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from The Princess and the Frog, in a magical, musical journey that all begins with a fateful kiss.  And fanciful dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true.  All your favorite princesses take to the ice in a spectacular finale at the ultimate Disney Princess event of a lifetime!  Experience the beauty, sparkle, and spirit at Dare to Dream!

Giveaway

Win a Family Four Pack of Tickets to Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream at the Tampa Bay Times Forum by using the Rafflecopter entry form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

But because the attendees are bloggers and social media enthusiasts, we thrive on conference day. It’s time to learn about our business and to be inspired. This year, I walked away with a mixture of information and motivation, with a higher percentage of motivation. And this was just what I needed during this time of my blogging career.

Meg Croftin on Conference Stage

When the doors of conference room were opened, I was awed by the stage, table decorations and the overall look of the room. Every year, it gets better! Rayovac sponsored the conference and kept us powered up with outlets on our table. Instead of flowers, each of us received a bouquet of USB outlets, batteries and chargers. Thanks Rayovac!

Maryellen Hooper

Speakers

• Amy Jo Martin, Digital Royalty @DigitalRoyalty – Known as a renegade in social media, Amy Jo spoke about finding your why in your business.
• Ramon DeLeon, Domino’s Pizza, @Ramon_Deleon – I was most inspired by Ramon, who went from a pizza delivery guy to the Social Media mastermind of Domino’s. His enthusiasm, his family values and his online honesty (he retweets negative tweets about Domino’s and then deals with them) had me listening to every word. I’m a fan and even kissed him after his talk.
• Peter Shankman, The Geek Factory @PeterShankman – I loved that Peter chose to honor us with a brand new talk. I understood all too well what it means to “be a weed”. Although unique, you probably have haters, but dig in deep and overcome.
• Lisa Druxman, Stroller Strides @LisaDruxman – Lisa began a business after having a child and proved to us that we can follow our goals even when we feel like we are overwhelmed.
• Chris Brogan, Human Business Works @ChrisBrogan – Chris gave us tips on updating our blogs to gain more readers.
• Conference Host: Maryellen Hooper @MaryellenHooper – Maryellen had me in stitches as she spoke about being a mother of two and showed us photos of her family.

Ramon DeLeon

Animal Kingdom Dinner

Visiting Animal Kingdom after the park closed was exciting and staying after dark was thrilling. We spent our time in DinoLand USA with a dinner buffet, opened rides, including Mt. Everest (the first time it was opened to riders after dark) and midway games.

Mickey and Minnie and Me

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck and other characters appeared for photos. Before we entered we were greeted by a face character (I don’t know her name) who called out my daughter, Sammi to ask if she was in the mafia. Sammi was wearing her black fedora. Sammi came out of her shell and had a very funny back and forth with her. We had time to sit with other attendees, talk and eat another scrumptious dinner. The celebration continued and we looked forward to the next day of breakout sessions and dinner at the not yet opened Art of Animation Resort.

My Flickr folder contains more photos from the Animal Kingdom Dinner. Take a look!

Stay tuned for more Disney Social Media Moms posts.

I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. In exchange for my registration fee, I received deeply discounted rates on hotel, park tickets, free events, meals, and swag. I am not required nor was I asked to write about the events by Disney or any other brands, celebrities, or speakers affiliated with the event. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used on this blog