In this ’rough’ video I share a few of the things that we have been doing at The Little Village with Anna….Hope that you enjoy it

MOMbo would like to send a special ‘thank you’ to Funky Monkey Snacks for sponsoring last week’s Back to School #healthylunchbox chat…and to all of the wonderful panelists who shared so much helpful information with those who participated. To @mattherzog @foodinsight @mothersactingup @elisazied @susanweissman @kidshealthtips….Thank you.

And finally…We have to say thank you to all of our followers who helped to spread the word about the #healthylunchbox event and giveaway. In the last week, you generated more than 3 million impressions* of the #healthylunchbox hashtag. That’s 3 million gentle reminders to send kids back to school this year with lunches that are healthy and nutritious.  We could not be more grateful

So, without further ado….the winner is………..(drumroll please

 idahomom7 Kathy Scott

CONGRATULATIONS, Kathy!

*Source– Tweetreach

Matt Herzog, CEO of Funky Monkey Snacks (This week’s chat sponsors

Elisa Zied,  MS, RD, CDN  ElisaZied.com

Foodinsight.org (IFICF)

Anjali Kochar, Mothers Acting Up

Maggie LaBarbera, RN Nourish Interactive

Susan Weissman, Peanuts In Eden

To join the conversation, just click here and follow the hashtag #healthylunchbox! At the end of the chat, we’ll be giving away a couple of fabulous prizes

To learn more about the Good Goes Campaign, please visit www.goodgoes.org

*According to Save the Children

One day while strolling through the city centre,  I stumbled upon a clothing line called People Tree.  What caught my attention first, was the look and feel of the clothes.  Then I started to read the tags that hung from the garments.  From the tags, I learned that the items had been made by economically disadvantaged and/or physically challenged men and women, that they were handmade…. and that the people who made them had been paid fairly for their work. 

I learned that the sale of People Tree products helped to send children to school and that communities were being transformed and empowered with the help of  People Tree.  Instantly, I loved them. 

My daughter was born just a few days before Christmas and for my first Christmas as a new mom, I received knitwear from People Tree.  For the first Mother’s Day, my gift to myself was a new post-maternity wardrobe comprised almost entirely of clothing from People Tree.

When we relocated back to the United States, one of the things I missed was being able to snatch a bargain and hit up the People Tree sales.  Needless to say, I was not pleased that they did not ship to the US. 

And then…..There was good news:)  A few months ago, my favorite fair trade fashion pioneer launched a new line and made People Tree available to folks living in the United States.  As a product line truly near and dear to my heart, I am excited about how much the company has grown in just the last 4 years.  I was happy to learn that People Tree is now educating teens about sustainable fashion and encouraging a new market of socially conscious consumers. 

This week’s clip goes behind the scenes with People Tree and Emma Watson… and shows off the sustainable line created just for teens..enjoy!

This morning after breakfast I could not resist a ‘teachable moment.’

I am blessed to have two little girls who love to spend time playing together.  While they are two years apart (ages 4 and 2)..and certainly at different stages of development…they usually find creative ways to engage in activities together.  As I write this post, they are working on Montessori sandpaper letters.  Abi, my oldest is tracing the letters and saying the corresponding sounds.  Anna is exploring the bumpy surface of each letter and placing it in a pile when she’s done.  I suspect that they will be playing with blocks or running around outside together by the time I’m done with this post.

Last week, my husband took Abi to the store while Anna took a nap.  When Abi came back, she was so excited about two new toys that had just been purchased…a hula hoop for herself and a shiny pink ball for Anna. When Anna got her ball…she was SO excited and bounced it everywhere.  Abi wriggled about in her hula hoop.  After a couple of days of this, however, my usually amiable children started to exhibit some ‘not so nice’ behavior. 

After taking turns and sharing their gifts for a few days…they suddenly began to demand the right to use each other’s gifts.  Abi wanted Anna’s ball while she was playing with it….and Anna wanted to use Abi’s hula hoop every time she picked it up.

I guess at this point it’s noteworthy to mention that we have a general sharing rule in our house.  While gifts may be purchased with one child in mind (due to developmental stage, interests, favorite colors, etc)…they are supposed to be shared with one another. 

This morning after breakfast, the girls took out the hula hoop and ball. It didn’t take long before they were, again, demanding the use of each other’s gift.  It was clear that each had come to believe that the gift  they held in their hand was not as valuable as the gift that the other had.  After settling  the disagreement, my older daughter Abi picked up her hula hoop and began hopping through it like a jumprope. Then she propped it up on the floor and started to spin it like a top.

At that moment,  all of a sudden,  I got an idea.  ‘Come on girls…It’s time to take a look at something on YouTube!’  As I walked them upstairs to our homeschool room, my mind was flooded with images of rythmic gymnastics…images that I knew neither child had ever seen.  It didn’t take long to find clips of limber gymnasts dancing around with hula hoops and shiny balls. The girls were FASCINATED. Abi said, ‘Hey!  That’s a hula hoop!! How can she do all of that with a hula hoop like mine?’  Anna had the same reaction.  With eyes as wide as saucers she yelled, ‘She has a ball like me!!’  Indeed she did.

After the ‘lesson,’ I asked them what they thought about the gymnasts.  While they were utterly amazed at the physical abilities of the girls they saw on screen–what really seemed to impress them was the way in  which each girl had used the gift that they had.  I think that Abi and Anna learned a lesson today about appreciation…using what you’ve been given to the best of your ability….and why appreciating what you have that is far better than coveting the gifts of others.

….. It is a lesson that I pray will be carried with them into adulthood.