WWAHHMpreneur

My Passion: Nature & Urban Conservation

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:06:00 +0000

Nature was my first "passion" and will always be my lifelong passion. I study and learn as much as I can whenever I can, and pass on what I learn to my kids and husbands and others that I know.

Because of where I live (a suburban "ghetto" that has great potential), I am having to readjust my expectations and expand my vision for life and health outside of the comfortable walls of our home. I used to live in a suburban area that was very close to a rural area, so this adjustment was a bit disheartening, at first.

BUT...one woman, if no one else in the world, has given me a lot of hope for my current/new community -- her name is Majora Carter. She's been described as a big thinker, and, in fact, that's her destiny and the very meaning of her name. She has started a wonderful movement called "Greening the Ghetto".

Majora Carter is the only conservationist that makes me cry every time I see/hear her. I cry because I felt so hopeless after I moved to this neighborhood. She spoke to my hopelessness, dissolved it, and challenged me to be a part of the solution. I truly love this woman.

I will let her speak for herself, see the videos below:

Game Reviews: Facebook Games and JumpStart for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:30:00 +0000

This is just a brief update regarding social games and other games that we enjoy for our own sake and for our kids to learn from.

Farmville and other social games on Facebook:
Due to the intentional design of these games to be addictive, I do not play them anymore. All of these games (except for Zoo World) are very difficult to play and advance in them unless you play every day, and, in fact, several times per day. Weaning off of the games is not an option. Cold turkey is the only way to be rid of that addiction, in addition to getting rid of networking connections who are also tied exclusively to those games.

Jumpstart:
This is an online virtual world for children that provides true edu-tainment. Our kids have really learned / practiced their learning in JS. You can purchase monthly subscription for your whole family for only $8 per month, so it's pretty affordable, as long as your computer and internet connection meets the system requirements. You have an option to download the software to your computer, or to just play online. Each of your children can design their own avatar and can play according to their age/grade level. They do have an application on Facebook, as well, which makes it a bit faster to login. We used to play a lot last year, however, they've made a lot of changes since we've returned to this game. We are still learning and will create a new review about it in the future. What we've seen so far is that the kids are now able to interact with other kids who are playing, including friends who they already know that also use Jumpstart. I am not sure if I like this networking aspect or not, but we'll see.

We do enjoy the Wii game system at home and can save the games as we progress and turn it on and off at will. We don't lose progress when we're not playing, and that is much more attractive than the games we used to play on Facebook. Our favorite Wii game so far is The New Super Mario Bros.

Use the comment area below (the small link below where it says "comments and reactions") to share about your own gaming experience and/or how you use edu-tainment to help your kids learn.

http://www.WWAHHMpreneur.com

Contemporary Black History Fact: Olympic Ice Pair Pioneers

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:50:00 +0000

This post is my response to this article that I read on blackamericaweb
[Little-Known Black History Fact: Vanessa James and Yannick Bonheur].

I love that Vanessa and Yannick (the first black pair in Olympic ice skating) seem to see the big picture. It's not just about them winning or being recognized as "the firsts".

It's about them opening a door that has been nailed shut for too long; and about them seeing how this can lead to a brighter future for people of color in the Olympics, with potentially more future judges and other officials of color behind the scenes at the olympics and other similar competitions.

That is the only way true and lasting change can come, at the heart of the organization, not just in front of the cameras.

Summary in French:

J'adore que Vanessa et Yannick, ils voient toute l'image. Ce n'est pas seulement s'ils gagnes la medaille d'or en Vancouver. Ils ouvrent la porte pour les autres personnes qui ont plusieurs d'éthinicités.

Je dit "Merci beaucoup, Vanessa et Yannick! Bravo!"

Thank you and Bravo to Vanessa and Yannick. You are already gold-winners in the hearts of your fans. And our admiration goes way beyond that ice. May you move on to even greater things after the Olympics has passed.

Que Dieu Vous Bénisses!

See a video of them competing on the ice at the bottom of this post on this blog at:
(Unfortunately one of the comments on this video shows just why we need people like these two in the public eye more.)

http://www.wwahhmpreneur.com

Atlanta homeschool 101: Can parent administer standardized tests

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:10:00 +0000

Andrea Hermitt is an experienced homeschool mom and writer for Examiner's homeschool column in Atlanta.
Her articles are always so helpful and/or inspiring.

This latest one was write on time because I have been looking for more details on testing requirements for homeschool. The details in the article linked below should help tremendously.

Atlanta homeschool 101: Can parent administer standardized tests

Posted using ShareThis

Lifestyle Upgrade: Lasting Change From Inside-Out

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:23:00 +0000

One of the things I have come to enjoy most about blogging is the "kinship" I feel with other bloggers who have similar lifestyles to mine. I most enjoy reading about self-improvement because I am constantly working to improve myself. It's very helpful for my sustained focus when I keep this type of information in the forefront of my thoughts. Maintaining focus is the most important part of working towards one's goals, as any Olympian would agree.

As a wife and mom, my focus has been on my family, and I have, unfortunately, let my own health needs stay on the back burner way too long. This is a trend that has run in my family for generations, and a very hard thing to break. So, I am now in the ever on-going process of not only keeping my focus on track, but also keeping my life in balance so that I can continue to take care of my family (husband plus 3 kids under 8 years old), while also taking care of me.

When I was a single working twenty-something college graduate, I finally came to realize that loving me has to come first before I can truly love others. There is a scripture that says we should love others as we love ourselves. As a single person, it was so easy to just focus in and hone in on my goals and get it done. I had no distractions. So, I lost 50 pounds in six months, and I kept if off for years. I was at my physical peek in my mid-twenties. It felt so good to finally maintain the weight-loss I had struggled with during college.

During this time, my future husband began to court me. When I was single, I had never considered the impact this awesome relationship could have on my weight-maintenance journey. Considering that he is slender and can eat anything without gaining any weight at all, you can imagine that this became a game-changer for my weight-maintenance journey. It wasn't until years later, after we had our first child that I realized I needed to communicate with my husband better about our food choices and the impact it was having on me. So, during our first child's infant stage, we made some awesome changes to our health habits - we "went" vegan. It was wonderful. I lost all of the baby weight and fit easily back into my pre-pregnancy clothes. I had energy and stamina and would walk the baby in her stroller on a regular basis.

However, after our firstborn was 9 months old, we were pregnant again and my waistline and energy level have never been the same since then. With my second pregnancy, I was totally undisciplined in my eating. Vegan flew out the window because I needed the extra iron that meat provides. This is something that is fairly common amongst vegetarians and vegans who are pregnant -- the baby doubles your blood supply needs.

But in addition to eating meat and other animal products, I was eating fast food constantly (addicted to fast food) and not paying any attention to my eating habits at all. So, after our second baby came, I continued my undisciplined eating. I had gained too much momentum going in the wrong direction and just kept going. When I was at my physical peek (1998), I was 138 pounds. I am now 288 pounds (2010).

Warnings to pregnant moms: don't let yourself get out of control with your eating while pregnant because it is hard to get that discipline back once you're busy taking care of babies. And stay away from fast food and sweets because they are made to be addictive.

During the early part of our marriage, my husband's work hours almost doubled. So, I found myself alone a lot with two babies, and then three babies (our kids are now 4, 6, and 8). Our communication definitely was impacted negatively. We very rarely had time to date each other. The stress of "success" was definitely making its mark. We went through an adjustment phase for some years where we had to become re-grounded and re-prioritize our life. I am so grateful that we came through this challenging time and are now wiser on this end of things.

Healthy Marriage Tips: Do not neglect your marriage dating because you have children. Trust God to provide you with a trustworthy sitter and wisdom for inexpensive dates. One day the kids will be grown and leave you all alone with one another. Openly and honestly communicate about everything with love/compassion/empathy towards your spouse; lay assumptions and accusations aside - your spouse is not your enemy. Timing and location are your friends when dealing with tough issues (e.g., talking about problems during football game or at grocery store may not be very effective)

During my second pregnancy (and third pregnancy which ended in miscarriage), I didn't know this, but part of my health challenges were due to an environmentally caused illness that was affecting my health. After we moved and my health improved, I was then able to focus and realize that my mental health was affected also. I may have also had some affects from being post-partum, but was never diagnosed with depression. I had mood swings that were frequent and pretty severe during this time.

So, I began my journey of inside-out self-improvement because I realized that my journey to more balanced health had to start with spiritual and mental improvement. I am keenly aware that no physical changes will last if my spiritual and mental states are off balance. This process takes more time than a fad diet, but I am willing to take longer and do this thing right so that my life will be changed for good. My goal is not just to fit into an outfit or slim down before an event. My goal is to maintain balance in every area of my life for my whole lifetime.

As a married mother, I am now having to re-learn what I learned as a single woman, but in a "new" context. Loving oneself, after years of neglect while immersed in caring for others, can only come from deep internal changes that manifest on the outside. This is how lasting lifestyle change comes into being.

This process of lifestyle change starts with our own words -- we are creative beings made in the image of God who created the world with His Words (see Genesis 1 and John 1). The impact of being positive and taking authority over your world with your own words is something that only people with strong faith can truly understand. Notice that I didn't say religious people. People who are striving to truly know God can only know Him in the spiritual realm because God is a spirit. This has nothing to do with religion, but with faith - an internal, unshakeable belief and revelation of Truth (God's Word & Promises) that comes from within one's own heart.

When I was single, I daily spoke confessions of God's Word and Promises over my own life that I am still seeing manifested in my reality today. Now, as a married woman, my husband and I have been standing in faith and confessing God's Word and Promises over our family for over 10 years now. We have seen God do very great things. And, as Canton Jones has sung, He keeps on doing great things for me. Alleluia!

So, in summary, keep your focus, stay positive, read God's Word and confess the promises of God over your own life. You'll see great things come to pass because God is good!

Also, let's keep one another encouraged. Leave a comment with your feedback.

I was blessed to read another blog recently that had an excellent post about the five main healthy changes we need to be mindful of when we're focused on getting real results. Here are my comments:

I love the comprehensiveness of this post.

The mental and spiritual aspects of personal health and wellness are even more vital than the physical aspects because they lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy living. However, physical changes without the inner changes tend to be fleeting.

I also love the fact that you touched on the importance of communication. People often overlook the very important impact of relationships on our inner health and the corresponding effect on our bodies. When a person’s relationships are causing stress, most of the time it’s best resolved simply by good communication with the other person, face-to-face, not via texting or email.

Many wrong assumptions and false expectations are best exposed through open communication face-to-face, in a non-confrontational way: make sure the timing and setting of your conversation are appropriate and use “I feel” statements coupled with a compassionate/empathetic tone (don’t take an accusatory or blaming tone).

http://www.wwahhmpreneur.com

Loving Yourself = Loving Your Family

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:00:00 +0000

As a mom, like most other moms I know, keeping life in balance is a constant way of life. It's not just a challenge, it's life. That's all I do is juggle priorities. If I ever give up this juggle, then that means I have dropped the ball of loving myself, and therefore can't possibly show proper love to my family if I am too burned out or stressed out to care and carry on any further.

So, in a nut shell, keeping all of those balls in the air is how I keep from becoming apathetic. If I get to the point where I just don't care anymore, that's where the real danger lies.

Recently, I had a brief online chat about the fact that I purposely avoid mirrors and taking photos. I refuse to sugar coat this - I must be honest. At this point in time, I haven't yet arrived to my preferred destination in my weight loss and hair growth journey.

The pot hasn't started boiling, yet, and if I constantly stare at it for 15 minutes, that's not good for my sanity because I'll just be worrying and fretting about when the pot will finally start boiling. That's not good for my own boiling point of blood pressure, either. Also, that would cause me to waste time that I could spend working on other important details that need to be handled while I am waiting -- like making sure we have enough clean plates, utensils and napkins, for instance. If the meal gets finished, but we have nothing to eat on and the food gets cold while I shuffle around, what use have I made of myself?

Anyway, I use this analogy to say that part of loving myself is accepting the fact that I am not perfected, yet, but I do care and I am truly working on it. And while I am waiting to arrive at the end of my journey, I love my imperfect self anyway. It is giving myself the freedom to honestly say that I don't like the way my fat body looks right now, but I will not give up my continuous improvement process.

I would love to know if any other moms can relate. Please use the comment link just beneath this post.

Have a wonderful "Love Fest" with your family this weekend!

http://www.wwahhmpreneur.com

Menu Planning Help - Rachel Ray EveryDay

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:56:00 +0000

I thought this was a cool tool that other families might also like to see. It's a portion of Rachel's website where you can get a menu planner and shopping list all in one to cover dinner for 7 days straight.
Hope this helps!

Blogging Movement: Without Obligation

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:47:00 +0000

I found out about this lovely little "movement" started by another blogger. [See the original post at the preceding link.]

I feel the same, so I am now posting this information to all of my personal blogs:

Because you shouldn’t have to look at your blog like it is a treadmill.

Because its okay to just say what you have to say. If that makes for a long post, fine. Short post, fine. Frequent post, fine. Infrequent post, fine.

Because its okay to not always be enthralled with the sound of your own typing.

Because sometimes less is more.

Because only blogging when you feel truly inspired keeps up the integrity of your blog.

Because they are probably not going to inscribe your stat, link and comment numbers on your tombstone.

Because for most of us blogging is just a hobby. A way to express yourself and connect with others. You should not have to apologize for lapses in posts. Just take a step back and enjoy life, not everything you do has to be “bloggable”.

Because if you blog without obligation you will naturally keep your blog around longer, because it won’t be a chore. Plus, just think you will be doing your part to eradicate post pollution. One post at a time. . .

[Disclaimer: if you're blogging for business marketing purposes, this really doesn't apply to you because you are obligated, so please disregard this.]

More about me

http://about.wwahhmpreneur.com

That's Edutainment! "Preacher's Kid"

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:51:00 +0000

I call "edutainment" any form of media that teaches a valuable lesson while also entertaining and/or engaging you.

In celebration of our 10th anniversary, my husband and I were blessed to see "Preacher's Kid" by Gener8xion Entertainment this past Friday when it premiered at the AMC theater at Southlake in Morrow, GA USA.

This great movie definitely has some good lessons. And it also had great music and an engaging storyline. It followed the general plot of the story about the prodigal child, but provided some edgier twists and turns that haven't been seen in very many Christian-produced films over the years.

Some of the actors in this awesome cast are: RandB soloist LeToya; RandB soloist Tank; actresses Essence Atkins and Ella Joyce; actors Sharif Atkins, GregAlan Williams and Clifton Powell

I gave a more detailed review on my music blog, but also wanted to briefly mention it on this blog, as well. [Understand Jesus Music blog]

We give it two thumbs up and recommend that you check your local listings and go see it today.

http://about.wwahhmpreneur.com

Spiritual Food: Understanding New Birth

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:58:00 +0000

At blog.understandjesus.org, there is a new blog entry which explains more about the New Birth, for those who have already accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, but are still trying to understand their salvation better.

Excerpt:

What's next after you are born-again?

If you have already accepted the Lord Christ Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, what's next?

What do you do from this point onward?

Over time, you start growing, changing, and maturing inside -- just like a baby does as they progress in life.

Newborn life is a progressive transformation.

[Read Full Article: Blog.UnderstandJesus.org]

Connect with me 24/7/365
http://about.wwahhmpreneur.com

Family Food Journal Entry: Taco Pie

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:25:00 +0000

I was astounded by how many people have asked me for my taco pie recipe. So, here it is, finally:

Johnson Family Taco Pie/Casserole

Though I am providing a list of ingredients, this recipe is pretty versatile, and you can easily modify it. I've left some other suggestions at the bottom, as well.

Suggested Ingredients:
1 taco spice packet
1 to 2 lbs lean ground turkey breast, according to your taste
OR replace meat with a can of kidney beans or soy meat replacement
1 can black beans
1 can white canellini beans
1 cup mild tomato salsa
2/3 cup of salsa (set aside for top layers of pie)
1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash chipotle blend
1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash table blend
1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 tsp olive oil
2 cups of mexican style shredded white and yellow cheeses (or soy cheeze if you prefer)
3 or 4 large white flour soft tortillas

Brush bottom and sides of a stainless steel large skillet with about 1/2 tsp of olive oil.
Pre-heat skillet to medium heat.
[Tip: When you sauté, be sure to keep stirring the contents of the pan frequently to keep it from burning because of little moisture.]

Sprinkle all dry seasonings except for the taco packet over your ground turkey breast to season it before taking it out of its package.

Saute minced garlic just until sizzling (about 30 seconds or less), but do not let it brown. [Tip: This process seasons your oil and pan and makes your food more flavorful.]

To the sautéed garlic, add in seasoned ground turkey breast and sauté until fully browned, but not charred/burnt, and no more pink is present. (If you used lean ground turkey breast, you won't need to strain off the fat.)

Stir in all remaining ingredients (taco packet, tomato sauce, salsa and beans). Be sure to stir well, and scrape down the sides of the pan and stir again to ensure everything is properly combined.

Lower heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, being sure to scrape the bottom and check that it's not burning/sticking. If it has begun to stick or burn badly, lower heat more and add in about 1/3 cup of vegetable broth (or hot water if you have no broth), stir and let simmer about 5 to 8 min. longer.

Remove lid, use the back of a spoon to mash your spiced meat and bean mixture around the pan evenly so that the top is flat.

Create layers of cheese and tortillas on top of the mixture:
--start by sprinkling a layer of cheese over the flattened meat and beans,
--top with a single layer of tortillas, you may need to tear them up to keep the single layer; double layer can be too much once you start eating
--spread just 1/3 cup of the set aside salsa
--sprinkle another cheese layer
--tear up the remaining tortillas and spread them randomly on top of the cheese
--top the torn tortilla layer with the rest of the cheese and the other 1/3 cup of salsa that was set aside...doesn't need to be completely covered, but you can just dot the salsa around to cover as much as you can.

Cover and simmer 5 more minutes or until all cheese has melted and tortillas have softened. Use a metal spatula to cut it like a pie and serve it. We fed our family of 2 adults and 3 small kids and still had leftovers. So, it should feed four adults a very satisfying meal.

Casserole Version
You can also make this dish as a casserole in the oven, after you make the meat and bean mixture, but add about 1/2 cup of water while simmering meat and beans (increases moisture for oven cooking).
From bottom to top of casserole dish, your layers would be:
tortilla, salsa, meat-bean mix, cheese + tortilla, salsa, meat-bean mix, cheese + tortilla and cheese on the very top

Meatless version
Replace the meat with 1 can of kidney beans and follow the recipe, being sure to simply warm up the kidney beans, as they, of course, don't need to be browned. Some people like to use soy meat replacements, however, I don't recommend it unless that's already part of your regular way of eating.
Before the 15 minute simmering, you can also add in other vegetables, like corn that has already been fully cooked, or even cooked rice or pasta. This recipe is pretty versatile.

Non-Cheese Version
One of our children has a dairy allergy, so we use soy cheeze to make this dish, sometimes.

Cheesier Version
If you're a true cheese lover, you may want to mix in a soft cheese (like nacho cheese dip or velveeta) before you start the 15 minute simmer. Just be sure to stir often, and scrape the bottom to cut down on sticking/burning.

Chili Version
If you have a chili mix box (you know those boxes you can buy that have everything you need, except for the meat and beans), then you can make chili as suggested on the box, and just reduce the amount of water a little, and then top the chili with layers of tortilla and cheese after you've cooked it well. You can probably also use canned chili for this, if you want/need, but it won't taste quite as good, unless you add other seasonings to it, as suggested in our recipe above.

http://about.wwahhmpreneur.com

Family Food Journal - Upcoming Posts

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:06:00 +0000

We have been keeping our "Family Food Journal" on wordpress at foodvlog.wordpress.com.

To save time, we are now combining these food and health-oriented posts into this main blog at wwahhmpreneur.com, or else they may never get posted.

Currently, I'm working on writing up several recipes that I plan to post soon, along with tips that work well for our family.

Some of the upcoming posts will include information on and recipes for topics such as:

--taco pie

--reuben sandwiches

--sweet potatoe souffle

--review about turkey fryer we got for Christmas

--tips on making your own homemade stock for soups, sauces, gravies and other dishes

The above is just a brief list of some items that we plan to post about, over time.

Feel free to leave a comment/reaction/feedback with a link to your food-oriented blog (no sales pitches or spam please).

We love to hear about what other families are doing, and what appliances and products you're using that work well for you.

Also, we plan to add a blogroll of some of the food-oriented blogs/sites that we are already using.

One of my fav blogs is by my Aunt Andrea, who is in culinary school at this time. She is a sublime cook, and I hope we'll be able to travel and go see her family and enjoy some of that great cooking in the near future. Please check her out.

Thanks!

--Donna

Connect with me 24/7/365
http://about.wwahhmpreneur.com

Blog Hijacking: Problem Fixed

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:55:00 +0000

Please note that, unknown to me, someone tried to hijack my site (wwahhmpreneur.com).

I believe I found the problem and cleared it up. However, please contact me if you ever see such a problem again.

Thanks!

Donna

Connect with me
http://about.wwahhmpreneur.com

Game Review: Social Games as Homeschool Projects (Continued)

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:58:00 +0000

Previously I wrote about the games that I've been playing (on Facebook and beyond) and using as homeschool projects for our kids.

This blog post will serve as an update to that information.

Facebook Games...

*Cafe World - a truly fabulous game, but can be very time consuming (and is designed to be very addictive); I had to give it up, but still recommend it to those who have the time on their hands to play it

*Farmville - Definitely my #1 game (and they won the 2009 social app award, as well...yes I did vote for them); I won't get into the many reasons that I like it so much. The main reason is the "neighborlyness" of the game...it's a true social game.

*My Town - I like it, even though this is a new (beta version) game that I swore I wasn't going to try; but I decided to play because I was curious and because I think it's a bit less time consuming (if you understand how to play it right); I love anything where I can control the look and feel of things...creating my own little virtual world; I also love it 'cause it helps my pre-schooler with understanding about geometric shapes and space...kind of like a puzzle

*Fishville -- previously I said that I like the graphics; but, as it turns out, that's about all I like; it's a bit too time consuming, and I don't get a real "social" anything out of it

*Rollercoaster World -- I still don't like it that much, but I like it more than Fishville; However, I hate the graphics, and have abandoned it; I also find it kind of confusing, esp because the graphics aren't very good; it's hard to see what I'm supposed to be doing

*Zoo World - Love It!; But I'm really leaving this one for the kids; They haven't been on it much because they were blessed with a Wii for Christmas.

On that note, see more about Wii games below.

Not on Facebook...

*Wii -- Truly enjoy it! The variety of games, just within each game alone, is tremendous. You can literally play this for hours on end without getting bored. You can play with others who are across country or across the world (on some games); Graphics are SUBLIME! And yes, you really do get real exercise from playing the sports and fitness-oriented games.

But with this variety you can also go into "option overload" and become stuck just from trying to figure out what you want to do. If you are "old school", then shop online right from your Wii and download your favorite Nintendo arcade games (like Donkey Kong, Pacman, etc.)

Our 3 year old (who just turned 4), easily beat me and her older siblings at boxing -- this same child also was only behind her father by 25 points in bowling, and he is a former league player; So, the intuitiveness and user-friendliness is truly awesome, as well.

For our 2nd and 1st grade kids, we downloaded Donkey Kong Jr. Math - it's given them some great fun while practicing more math on their levels.

Wii is expensive and so are all of the accessories, but it's well worth it; you don't need all of the accessories, but you should definitely get the motion plus, as it makes the virtual reality more real

This is it for now...gotta review their assignments.

Hope this was helpful.

Connect with me and add me as a neighbor in a social game: http://Facebook.com/donna.johnson

Game Reviews: Using Facebook Games as Homeschool Projects

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:14:00 +0000

Nowadays, I spend most of my time homeschooling the children. During my "down time", I have been playing Facebook games and creating virtual projects to help the children learn concepts about time and money. So, it's a win-win for us all. LOL

I used to claim that I'd never try these games. I've heard they can mess up your computer and that you can get hacked more easily, etc. So, I was scared of them.

But, I've found that Zynga's games seem to be "safer" than some of the other applications on Facebook. I rarely have any problems, and when I do, Zynga usually gets things back in order fairly quickly. I've never had any security or privacy breaches as a result of Zynga games...although I can't say that for other applications on FB, but that's another story.

Here's a quick review of the games that I like and don't like made by Zynga.com:

Farmville: Truly my most favorite game. I love animals and nature, plus I'm competitive and a community-oriented person. Out of all the games I've played, this one is the 2nd most community-oriented of all, just like a real farming community. I love the creative outlet it gives me. I tend to listen to audiobooks / meditate / pray while I harvest, plant, and design/re-design my farm.

Yoville: The most community-oriented of all the games, but not quite as fun as others. It's harder to make coins, in my opinion, than all the other Z games I play. I still like it, especially the awesome animations they have. It feels more like a real virtual world than other games.

Cafe World: Next to Farmville, Cafe World has me "caught up" in the game very nicely. They keep making it better, so I like it much better now than when I first started. I like the new awards they now have, and the fact that you can visit your neighbor's profile pages to get bonus food to serve when you're waiting for food to finish cooking. There are lots of groups/pages on FB where you can let other gamers know to add you, as well. By far, I am most competitive with this game than any other.

Fishville: I didn't get it at first, and refused to try it. But once I did, as usual, Zynga got me hooked. I like this one because it's easy for my kids to understand, and we use it to help understand some math and financial concepts. Each of our kids now has their own tank, and they really enjoy it. I couldn't handle this by myself along with the other games I play, so I'm glad the kids like it. The music is great, the graphics are awesome. If you like pretty and colorful things, this is a great game...soothing to watch, similar to a real tank.

RollerCoaster World: I tried it. I hated it. I think my son will like it, so I may let him play it, but I really could care less for this one. The graphics are nowhere near as good as the other games. And it just all seems kind of "hoaky" to me. I guess I just don't get it

Zynga has other games like Mafia world and Poker, but since those are not appropriate for the children (nor in line with our Bible-based values), I don't engage in those at all.

The kids help me with all of the games, but moreso with Fishville than the others. They really enjoy the games, so they also serve as a great incentive/reward, especially during cold and rainy days.

Now, if they'd just come out with a Bird World game....Ha Ha!

If you'd like to add me as a neighbor on any of the games that I play, you'll need to add me as a friend on Facebook and include a comment about which game/s you want to be neighbors on.

In the future, I expect to do a review on how we use Wii games in our homeschool, as well. But that won't be until some time next year.

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Book Review: Pricele$$!! Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:31:00 +0000

Dave Ramsey's radio program (on 640AM in Atlanta) is regularly heard in our home, as for more than 2 years now we've been fans. Evenso, this is the first time I've ever "read" his book: The Total Money Makeover. Since we have young kids who are close in age, reading an entire actual paper book cover to cover that's longer than 3 chapters is pretty rare in our home.
the audio version's price and delivery are perfect for our budget and schedule.

I've now "read" the Total Money Makeover book 3 full times within the past 3 days. The financial wisdom -- from a Biblical perspective -- that Dave Ramsey provides is priceless and worth much more money and time that we've spent on it.

So grateful to know about and have access to this awesome resource.

I now call myself an intense gazelle. I am escaping the credit/debt cheetah (cheater). No longer will we allow our family to be cheated out of it's wealth. We are determined to leave an inheritance for our kids and grandkids one day.

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Tackling Tough Issues One Song at a Time: Glee's "Wheels" Episode

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:48:00 +0000

I have finally found a tv show that has the ability to make me mad and make me proud all at the same time: GLEE (a FOX primetime show)

Though I didn't think this show would make it through the half-point of this season, they've proven me wrong once again, with an episode called "Wheels". I'll try not to give away too much and spoil it for you, but, suffice it to say that they "finessed" their way through many tough issues this season with some pretty sweet song and dance. However, this episode surely showcases the dept of the talent in this show, not just in the on-screen performances, but also in the writing.

Bravo! Well done!

I do believe that, if nothing else, this episode will get GLEE nominated for an Emmy for many different reasons. Watch the full episode video below (embedded from Hulu.com) and see for yourself.
Video:

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Celebrating Women - God's Partners in Faith

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:41:00 +0000

I really like the series that NBC network is doing on Women this month. It's truly wonderful to be celebrated by the media with useful and beautiful news that builds us up, lifts us up, and informs men about things they may not have realized about their female counterparts.

You can see the videos on the msnbc.com website. The following is a video specifically about women and faith.

Important points they make here:

>>for most women, developing a deep spiritual connection with God, such as through personal relationship through Jesus, is a vital need that women intuitively seek

>>for women, getting their children involved in church is a high priority

>>religious works are counter-intuitive and counterproductive; don't fit into most busy women's lifestyles, so many churches and organizations have begun to tailor their events and services to meet modern women's needs more - helps to keep working women plugged in over the long-term

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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#1 Way to Get Help When You Need It Most

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:30:00 +0000

Since earlier this year when one of my close relatives was missing for a brief period, I have become much more sensitive to the cause of missing children.

I am a true believer in the importance of service and giving. Being a resource, a donor, a supporter, and/or a promoter for a cause that you believe in is an awesome seed that you can confidently plant in the ground and know that it will grow up and produce fruit in your own life one day when you also need this kind of support or help.

Please pass on the following message from the head of a wonderful organization called "Peas In Their Pods" and consider donating to the cause for missing children, as well.

============

Feb. 28, 1983 in St Louis

26 years ago two men went into a abandoned building at 5635 Clemens Avenue scavenging for copper. Amid filth and debris, the two men stumbled on the body of a girl about 9 years old (African American) . She had been murdered, raped and decapitated. Her hands were tied behind her back with a red-and-white nylon rope. She was wearing only a dirty yellow orlon sweater with the label cut out. She had two layers of red nail polish on her fingernails.

The girl had medium-to-dark skin, was about 4 feet 10 inches and weighed about 70 pounds. Her body showed no signs of previous abuse - no bruises, scars or broken bones, and she appeared to be well-nourished. Because there was no blood at the scene, police suspect Jane Doe was murdered and decapitated somewhere else and dumped into the basement of the building.

The child's body lay in the city morgue for several months

Jane Doe was finally buried Dec. 2, 1983, in a pauper's grave on the southern side of Washington Park Cemetery. Four mud-covered gravediggers carried her small, white casket adorned with a single spray of pink, white and yellow flowers. The ceremony lasted five minutes. Months later, a group of schoolchildren raised money to buy Jane Doe a tombstone.

Where is the mother? Where is the father? Where are her brothers or sisters? Where are her relatives? Where are her playmates, friends or classmates? Where are her neighbors, her teachers? Where are the people who knew and cared for her? It's almost as if she didn't exist."

I do have picture that are very graphic and thought it would be best not to show them.

If you want to see them send me a email.

Let's bring closure to this precious child.

If you know anything please contact us!!

Thank you for your support!

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Catching Up: Where I've Been & What I'm Doing

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:25:00 +0000

I am so grateful to find that, even though I haven't been blogging on WWAHHMpreneur.com as much as I used to, many people have been connecting with me here on a regular basis.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making time for me. Please feel free to share your comments or thoughts here on this blog or my other blogs. I have installed the Disqus comment system on some of my blogs, which is one of the best social networking tools I've ever seen for bloggers and blog readers.

Here is more about what I've been up to lately and what is coming up in the future.

On this blog, I updated the links and widgets so that you can now find great content, including:
*family pics
*facebook fan page widget
*headlines from my other blogs: recipes, faith-based, music review, business, 2nd life journal, etc.

In the future, I will be sharing more professionally written articles on parenting, marriage, and family health-wellness. I will also be sharing about my experiences with homeschooling and becoming a learning coach for my older children via the state-sponsored online virtual charter school / academy.

My Top 10 Favorite Links
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More About Me
http://about.WWAHHMpreneur.com

Directory for My Network
http://directory.WWAHHMpreneur.com

Social Media Benefits For-Profit or Not-for-Profit: Free Expert Advice

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:34:00 +0000

I have written many many times that I believe that the wise are the Real Experts who always keep learning. I also believe that the wise are those who keep learning from those who also always keep learning. As a result, I have been learning quite a lot from my favorite mentors, including Nancy Marmolejo, who I have also mentioned in prior blog posts here and on my other business and personal blogs.

If you are a subscriber on this blog, most likely, you are well aware about the incredible impact sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and SecondLife are having on businesses, as well as on not-for-profit organizations and government agencies.

Networking has gone online in a major, major way and has produced many mutually beneficial financial relationships because of connections started via social sites.

Forecasts of the social trends say that online networking is only going to get bigger as a way to promote for-profit and non-profit businesses!

Whether or not you are already plugged into the online social sphere, click here now and have a look at what Nancy Marmolejo, who I've dubbed as "The Social Networker's Friend", has to offer. Nancy's multi-media home study system will make a great impact on your business or organization and help you produce more results. The title is:

“How to Get Free Publicity and Attract New Clients With the Power of Social Networking”.

With 4 hours of video tutorials, a comprehensive companion guide, word-for-word transcripts, bonus audio interviews, free updates and admission to a "secret" Facebook group, this product overdelivers so you can have success! You'll get more than "how-to" information:

You'll end up with a blueprint to guide your social networking success on any site whether it's Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, or others.

Nancy and her clients have enjoyed hundreds of thousands of dollars of new business simply through leads and connections generated from social networking. And quite a few of her clients have gotten major media attention both in the U.S. and in Europe, including spots on E! and other high profile networks.

In recent posts, I even shared about my own recent interview on LaunchNotes.com and then a subsequent speaking opportunity in Nonprofit Second Life. I know for sure that my consistent forward progress as a blogger and writer is greatly due to the real experts that I listen to, such as Nancy Marmolejo.

In Nancy's multi-media home study program, you’ll learn how to use social networking to generate free publicity, attract new clients, and take your business to new heights as you increase your sphere of influence and visibility.

You'll learn how to create a winning profile, understand who your best contacts are, set criteria for joint ventures, leverage your visibility into media success, and much, much more.

Whether you're new to social networking or have been around for a while, I urge you to click here now to learn more about this incredible system and take advantage of Nancy’s expertise as she uses it to bring your expertise into the spotlight.
To your continued success!

Donna Johnson
Donna Marie Johnson Consulting

For your reference, here is the link again:
http://bit.ly/friendnancy

HerStartup.com's Internet Show: LaunchNotes - Current Series "Her Virtual Life" with host Khrys Vaughn

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:05:00 +0000

I am honored to announce that as a result of this interview, I have also been asked to speak briefly during the weekly online meeting at the Nonprofit Commons (today 9-11-09 at 11:30AM EST). For more details and to join us, see:
http://facebook.com/nonprofitcommons

I had the honor of being interviewed by host Khrys Vaughn of HerStartup.com on Wednesday 9-9-09. The details and link to the audio recording of the show follow.

Show:

"LaunchNotes" on Blogtalk Radio at LaunchNotes.com

Host:

Khrys Vaughn of HerStartup.com

Series Name:

"Her Virtual Life"

Today’s episode features Tuty, aka Donna, who volunteers in real life and in the virtual world of Second Life via Nonprofit Commons. She provides social media and outreach assistance in both worlds, is an SL Blogger, and conducts other research for her own business purposes.

Listen via this link: http://bit.ly/tutyinterview

I truly enjoyed this "girl chat" with Khrys. She helped me to prepare for the interview and did a great job guiding me through it while also keeping it conversational, fun, and funny. We laughed a good bit, and it was a great pleasure and honor.

I am also honored to say that I am a registered virtual participant and blogger for the conference that Khrys mentioned on the show -- the Highly Empowered Women's Conference which HerStartup.com is hosting at the end of September. They are looking for more business and nonprofit bloggers who promote endeavors that are considered legal and legitimate in all 50 states of the USA. If you are interested, please go to herstartup.com to register and then contact Khrys for more details about the conference blogging piece.

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BE EMPOWERED! Attend This Women's Conference (Live or Online)

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:10:00 +0000

Highly Empowered Women's Conference

"Celebrate & Move Forward in Spite of the Economy!"

Khrys Vaughan, Founder

Her Startup, LLC

Advanced Registration Required!

Deadline - Saturday, September 19th

*www.HerStartup.com**

IT WILL BE SOLD OUT!!

*Keynote Speaker:

Dr. Sharon Hadary from Washington, D.C.

Former Executive Director

Center for Business Women’s Research

Speakers addressing key Women’s Business Issues

- Invaluable in today’s economy!

TICKETS:$55

Includes lunch Saturday Your Choice:

Moonrise Chicken Breast; Three Cheese Tortellini

CAN’T MAKE THE TRIP?

Attend From Your Own PC!

For only $39.95

(Outside MO & IL only!)

Connect with @WWAHHMpreneur on the twitter chat for this event.

(Hashtag will be announced during the event.)

Moonrise Hotel

6177 Delmar Blvd.

University City, MO

September 25-26

Friday 630-9p;

Saturday 930a-130p

EACH ATTENDEE RECEIVES A GIFT BAG!

PR Campaign valued at $2,000

Pink Magazine

Enterprising Women Magazine

Sex & the City Lingerie provider Pampered Passions Fine LingeriePurely Delicious!

Care 4 Hire

Eco-Friendly products

and much, much more!

{Click Here Now to View Original Flyer as an Adobe pdf file.}

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Getting Your Healing Even When Nothing Seems to Work

noreply@blogger.com (UnderstandJesus.org) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:18:00 +0000

I have had the privilege of receiving healing when nothing else seemed to work, by standing in faith, praying and receiving the intercessory prayers of others. The following post goes into a bit more detail on how I and others that I know have received divine healing.

[EXCERPT]

Part 2

PRAY & FORGIVE

Previously, I discussed the importance of compassionate prayer of intercession and the importance of praying for others.

Also, if you expect to ever be healed, it is vital to obey the spiritual law that Jesus pointed out when He commanded us to forgive as we stand praying. (Mark 11:25, The Message)

...the purposeful act of forgiveness...ushers in "soul healing" for yourself and the person who offended you...{and it} "unclogs" the channel so that God's compassion can flow freely on your behalf, as you stand before Him asking for your own or a loved one's healing.

[FULL ARTICLE, Part 2 on Receiving Healing]

[Part 1 on Understanding How to Receive Healing]

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Family Food Journal Series: Post 2 - Kids' Breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (WWAHHMpreneur) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:14:00 +0000

{Series: Post #1}

[EXCERPT - FAMILY FOOD JOURNAL - foodvlog.wordpress.com]

Post #2: Healthy Eating Family:

Healthy Eating Kids – Breakfast

Our children have varying specific nutritional needs based on their developmental stages, growth cycles and health statuses (i.e., allergies, dental challenges, sensitivities, etc.). So, we have learned that it’s best for our family to have flexible breakfast recipes, and during their growing phases, to have extra healthy food and snacks on hand for extra-hungry kids.

Pictured above: Multi-Grain Jumbo Krispies has become our kids' favorite cold cereal because it tastes great. We are also happy about that because it's lower in sugar than many cereals and has a bit more fiber, as well.

As a homeschool family, it is so much easier to give them those extra snacks at mid-morning and mid-afternoon to supplement breakfast and lunch. We’ve found that this also makes them mentally sharper without making them fat, as we give them healthier snacks during their most physically active time of day.

Breakfast is, hands-down, the most important meal of the day for growing children. You may see this as kind of a cliche, but, seriously, children need...[FULL ARTICLE]

If you liked this article and would like to read more, please click here now.

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