Preschool Prep

I am planning to homeschool my kids, and I would like to start Miss Magoo with preschool this fall, since she turns 4 in November.  However, since I'm having a baby at the beginning of August, I figured I'd better get started on preparation for the school year before I get wrapped up in a brand new baby.
Since I'm usually a procrastinator, I know that if I don't get things started right away, I'll be trying to create a classroom space, figure out materials, get supplies, and more, all in between nursing a new baby! I don't think that sounds like a great idea, so I'm setting goals for myself on preschool prep.

• March: I will organize a classroom space

So far I have this awesome table for the kids that my friend Ramona gave me. Last fall I spray-painted it red.

As you can see in the picture, we have a relatively small space to work with, so good organization will be key.

• April: I will make up a list of supplies we need to have, and figure out where they will be put away (for instance, storage space for paper, craft supplies, markers, crayons, and pencils, and any books we might be using this year)

• May: I will print out and organize materials for teaching the alphabet  (for both letters and numbers, I plan on using curriculum from Confessions of a Homeschooler)

• June: I will print out and organize materials for teaching numbers

• July: I will do any other projects that come up, since right now I'm not sure what else I will need

• August: I will have a baby, and shop back-to-school sales for items on my supply list

• September: We will begin homeschooling! 

 I hope you'll keep me accountable to following this schedule, and if you have any input or ideas of things I've missed, I would be so grateful for any help!

Check out our link parties here.

These are a Few of My (New) Favorite Things

Yes, the song from the Sound of Music is on repeat in my brain. And these are new to me, but they may not be new to you.  I know I am sometimes late to the party like with hummus or Greek yogurt.

1. PicMonkey - I'm having so much fun making collages, adding texts to pictures and messing with effects.

2. Anything to do with chickens.  We are embarking on a new adventure of having chickens in our backyard and I'm having fun reading up on them. This post about Caring for baby chicks is especially helpful since that's the stage we are at.

How cute are they?

3. {Skinny} Chocolate Cake in a Mug from Yummy. Healthy. Easy. Yum! Yum! Yum!  I'm on the mug cake kick lately.  If you missed my Greek Yogurt Berry Mug Cake check it out too.

4. Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe I'm still in the early parts of this book but I'm really enjoying it so far.  I'll let you know what I thought when I get through with it.

5. How awesome is this To Do List! And as soon as I get my printer fixed buy a new printer, I'm printing and framing one for me!

6. This blog post.  Reminds me not to shy out of snapshots and photos just cuz I have a few pounds to lose. My dad hated to have his picture taken and now that he is gone, I wish we had more family pictures together.

7. Ok on this one, I am definitely late to the party.  But I recently found this Tangled Preschool Pack and it's prefect for my girls.  It's one of their favorite movies (especially Ry, who's 3) and the pages look so fun and educational.  (Now if only I had a new printer!)

Update: Got a new printer and this pack was a HUGE hit! Kae has been all about writing and "school work" lately and was thrilled to work on these. Ry loved the Tangled pictures and having worksheets of her own to work on. 

8. My Recipe Magic - Have you seen this button on our blog? 

If you click this handy button you will be taken to our recipe on My Recipe Magic. Where you can see the nutritional value, get a printable version, add it to your cookbook, see more recipes by us and a lot more "magic".  The above button takes you to Cowboy Cookies, Yum!

Gardening Season Is Right Around The Corner

I am getting excited for spring.  Here in Idaho we don't put plants in the ground until about mid to late May.  But that doesn't stop me from planning things out in my head. And buying stuff to get ready. Lucy will be planting very soon. I'm a tad bit jealous, but when summer comes I won't envy the misery of the heat.

For now I just keep planning because this past weekend we had another snow storm. This is what my garden looks like right now.

Last year my husband built me a garden bed along the house and along the back fence and a strawberry box. The garden bed along the house is raised. And the strawberry box is also raised. I like to have my strawberries raised because it helps keep the weeds out. The garden bed along the fence isn't raised.

In last summer's garden, I grew 6 zucchini plants, 2 squash plants, 7 tomato plants, a bell pepper plant, basil, romaine, spinach, a cantaloupe, a watermelon, and strawberries. The watermelon was dug up by a squirrel or cat. And the cantaloupe didn't have a long enough growing season. So both of those were losses.

My garden really got out of control. I had tomato plants laying over in the yard and they were covering the pepper plant and the basil. I had zucchini and squash plants growing so far into the yard, I had to mow around them.

This year I plan to do things a little different. I don't want the out of control mess again. I haven't completely decided, but I know I don't want so many zucchini. I don't know that I want that many tomatoes either, but I do love having the tomatoes canned in the pantry for the winter. I also want more lettuce and I'm sure my husband wants more peppers this year. I bought a planter that sits on the deck rail. I plan to to plant herbs in that.

Any suggestions on what I should plant? Should I have 7 tomato plants again this year? Should I put the basil in the planter to help keep the slugs out? Do you have tips for growing herbs?

No-Sew Upcycled Jersey Headband

This headband is really easy to make, and doesn't require a sewing machine! And the best part is, you don't even have to buy fabric for it- just find an old t-shirt you don't want anymore and a hot glue gun, and you're ready to go!
I have a lot of clothes lying in a box from BK (before kids). Part of me thinks that I'll eventually fit back in to them, but another part thinks, "Good grief! Let's just get rid of them!" (Confession: I am definitely suffering from Cabin Fever, and I'm ready to throw everything in our house in the garbage!)
So here's the shirt that got the ax.

It was getting stretched out and faded, and it was time to say goodbye.
I cut a strip about 3 inches wide (and not perfectly straight, because I'm not a good straight cutter) and folded the strip into thirds. Then I measured it around Miss Magoo's head and put a pin in it to hold it the size I wanted it.
In the following picture, you can see the process:
1. Pin the strip at the desired length
2. Fold the excess back over the pin and
3. Hot glue close to the pin (repeat 2 & 3 on the other side)
4. Under the rolled fold of the strip (the long way around the headband), go around the strip putting a dot of
     hot glue inside every inch or so

Once this is done, just trim the excess off, and you've got your headband.
Now, you'll want to make a couple of rosettes to make the headband cute. These are pretty easy, and you can follow the tutorial HERE from Jones Design Company, since it's got great pictures and it's one of the easiest tutorials I've seen for these.

I made 3 of the rosettes. I wanted to incorporate a bit of the lacy front, since I thought it was pretty and that it would be a nice texture change, but I think if I did it again I would stick with plain jersey for all the flowers.

I mean, it's pretty, right? But because the rosettes are so small, you can't really see any detail, you can just see that the one flower doesn't quite match the others. Oh well!
Once you've made your rosettes, hot glue them onto the headband (on the side of the headband that doesn't have the seam), and voila! you're finished!

Miss Magoo was busy having coffee when I asked her to model the headband!

Check out our link parties here.

Aussie Teen Dodges Jail For Bashing Deaf Man

VIDEO: Watoday.com.au - Western Australia teen dodges jail for bashing Deaf man.



A teenager has dodged a jail term after pleading guilty to bashing a Deaf man at a Perth train station, but he will face imprisonment if he offends again in the next year, a judge has warned.



Joshua William Bignell, 18, bashed Seow Oh, 28, fracturing his eye socket, in the eastern Perth suburb of Carlisle in June last year.



Bignell bashed and kicked Mr Oh from behind as he was walking to his car parked at the station. Bignell was originally charged with assault occasioning bodily harm but the charge was later upgraded to grievous bodily harm.



On Monday, in the District Court of Western Australia Judge Phillip Eaton handed Bignell a pre-sentence order, subject to three reviews over the next 12 months. Judge Eaton decided not to imprison Bignell immediately because he was young, had a troubled childhood and mental health problems and was "now in a stable situation".



If Bignell committed an offence in the next 12 months, it was likely he'd be sentenced to an immediate term of imprisonment, Judge Eaton warned. "You can just about bank on that," he said.

Video by 7NEWS



"If you're going well, I'll allow the order to continue. "If things are falling apart, then I won't hesitate to bring it to an end. "If you fail, Mr Bignell, then the consequences will be grim."



Judge Eaton said the maximum penalty for the offence was 10 years' imprisonment, meaning Bignell was "in the big league" after "fairly relentless offending" in recent years. ... READ MORE: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-teen-dodges-jail-for-bashing-deaf-man-20130225-2f1zl.html



 Related Article: Vicious Attack on Deaf Man in Australia

$5.75 Million Settlement Awarded To Deaf & Blind Students

VIDEO: Hawaiireporter.com - $5.75 Million Settlement Awarded to Deaf and Blind Students Sexually Assaulted by Gang at Hawaii Public School.



HONOLULU - A young girl is forced to perform oral sex on an older boy while he films her with his cell phone camera and students at their school look on, another young girl becomes pregnant after she is raped by a male student at her school, a young boy is sodomized in the bathroom by an older student, but school administrators don’t penalized the perpetrator, another child is sexually assaulted by five boys on campus, and nothing is done to stop them or punish them after the fact.



These are not scenarios from an NBC’s Law and Order: Special Victims Unit episode, they are actual events that parents say took place at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind, the state’s only public school for children with these disabilities.

Video by KHONNewsHawaii



For more than a decade, some of the school’s administrators and students covered up a terrible secret young children between 12 and 16 years old were being terrorized - robbed, raped, sodomized and even gang raped on campus and on the school buses – not by employees, but by other children. There are just 80 children enrolled in the school, which is located on the edge of Waikiki, Hawaii’s main tourism hub, and just across the street from the Honolulu Zoo.



One student heading a gang calling themselves the “Ringleaders” orchestrated the attacks, and students were ordered to participate as attackers or retaliated against.



Michael Green is one of five attorneys who successfully secured a $5,750,000 settlement last week from the state and a school counselor. ... READ MORE: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/5-75-million-settlement-awarded-to-deaf-and-blind-students-sexually-assaulted-by-gang-at-hawaii-public-school/123



Related Articles:

Settlement Reached In Lawsuit Involving Deaf & Blind Students

Arrests Made In Alleged Sex Assaults At Hawaii's School For The Deaf and Blind

Breaking News: Michael Hubbs Hositpalized

WATCH VIDEO: Breaking News: Michael Hubbs hositpalized.



Michael Hubbs of short track speed skater, found himself in the psychiatric's room on Saturday after being hospitalized with a stress symptoms from the social network, according to his facebook page.



Michael Hubbs statement on Facebook.



UPDATE: I'm willing to share. I ended up in the hospital today. Found out it was because of stress which is not cool. It has affected my skating and my focus. Too much to handle. My solution is that I'm going to shut down my personal facebook for temporary. I'm going to give you all 2 days starting from now. Let's focus on my fanpage at Facebook.com/mhubbsspeedskater. For sponsorship or donation, contact Josh, PR Agent, at jweissmanpr@live.com. I love you all so much for the support and thanks for understanding. God bless.



Dear Friends, Fans, Donors and Supporters,



My PERSONAL Facebook is NO LONGER PUBLIC. IF you aren't my friends and I do not know you and you added me, you will NOT automatically be approved. You have to message me before you're approved to have the access to my PERSONAL Facebook. If you want to follow on my progress, you will need to go to my FAN PAGE at www.Facebook.com/MHubbsSpeedSkater. Thank you for your continuous support. I love you all! :)



UPDATE...

Michael Hubbs of short track speed skater, found himself of an esteem fitness after being hospitalized with a stress symptoms from the social network. However, Hubbs decides to apologizing quotes to the communities.



Michael Hubbs statement on YouTube.



Deafnation. VRS. I apologize for my mistakes. Forgiveness. Support. Donation. Deaf Community work together. Teamwork. Goals. Motivations.

Video by Michael Hubbs



DONATION:

If you are interested in donating funds to support my dream and to help and inspire the Deaf community around the US and the whole world. You can donate with credit card or debit card via paypal. BE SURE click on dollar amount you wish to donate then click "give." See link below:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/336992



Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/MHubbsSpeedSkater

Twitter - https://twitter.com/samuraiskater

Visit http://www.michaelwhubbs.com for more details.



Related content:

Michael Hubbs, Deaf, Olympic Hopeful

Michael Hubbs, Deaf, Olympic Hopeful, A Fraud ?

Breaking News: Michael Hubbs Hositpalized

Gallaudet Professor Creates Historical Change

VIDEO: Gallaudet Professor Creates Historical Change. (Captioned)



NBC 4 WRC. Dr. Carolyn McCaskill, a professor of Deaf studies at Gallaudet University, has seen firsthand the pressures of being black in America pressure made worse because she is Deaf.



But even without a voice she's spoken out, in a book she co-authored with Dr. Ceil Lucas, Robert Bayley and Joseph Hill. News4's Seth Lemon reports.

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video/#!/multimedia/Gallaudet-Professor-Creates-Historical-Change/192601211

WPRI - Deaf Student Breaks Barriers

VIDEO: WPRI - Deaf student breaks barriers. (Captioned)



PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A Providence teen would love to break another barrier through her senior project. 18-year-old Amber Rodriguez is a high school senior with dreams of becoming a police officer, so getting tugged along by one of Providence’s two explosive detection dogs makes for a perfect project.



This is a first for Providence Patrolman Linc Sisson, and Kyra the Belgian Shepherd, who is stronger than she looks. Amber is a sharp shooter on the court for the Rhode Island School For The Deaf, and competes on the basketball court as well as in the classroom.



Her desire to protect and serve combined with her love of animals sparked her unique senior project idea. “I’m learning about how she sniffs out the bombs, how she can find and detect some of the bombs that are hidden,” Amber said.



While Amber’s athleticism would be an advantage to the rigors of police work, she knows she would probably be the first Deaf officer.



“Deaf people are a little more visual, so I would be able to see a lot of things before they happen. We are more attentive with our eyes,” she said. ... READ MORE: http://www.wpri.com/dpp/on_air/street_stories/Street-stories-deaf-student-breaks-barriers

Short Film: 'If I Were Deaf'

VIDEO: 'If I were Deaf' (English Subtitles)



如果我聾了... 'If I Were Deaf'... If you were Deaf, how would you feel if you were called or labelled as 'the Deaf one'?



A short film 'If I were Deaf' promo from Deaf Awareness by Hong Kong Association of the Deaf.



Starring Lo Sui Wah Lisa.

Co-Starring Laura Lesmana Wijaya.

Produced, Written and Directed by Yau Tsz Hung Becky.

Video by Becky Yau

A Very Buggy Birthday

I realized today my oldest son's birthday is quickly approaching and I hadn't even begun to think about his party.  I really need to at least have a convo with my hubby soon on what kind of party: kid, family or combo (which is what we usually do).  We don't usually have huge or elaborate parties but we do have fun and try to make the day special for the birthday kid.  So while I brainstorm on party themes, I thought I'd share last year's party with you.

My oldest, DP, has been fascinated with bugs for many years so we went with a bug and creepy crawler theme last year.

The Cake

Oreo Ice Cream Cake with gummy worms

 

 The Games

Spider Web Game

The kids had to follow their string through all the tangled web to their treats at the end.

Pin the Antenna on the Ant

We also had a "bug hunt" and the kids got to keep all the bugs they found in their goodie bags.

My son still enjoys bugs but not nearly as much.  He's more into Magic Tree House books, Legos, Batman and Wii games.  Anyone have party ideas along those lines?

Check out our link parties here.

Thieves Steal Deaf Man's Scooter

Thieves steal Deaf man's scooter caught on video.



7NEWS - Here's a raw video clip of a 64 year old Deaf man has been beaten by thieves who stole his motorised scooter.



A 64-year-old Deaf man had a bottle smashed in his face after his scooter was stolen from Swan View last weekend. Detectives are appealing for the public’s help to catch the three young thugs involved in the assault.



About 9:30pm last Saturday night, the Swan View man noticed his electric scooter was missing from the back patio of his Patterson Drive home. The 64-year-old walked across the road to look for his scooter in a park, where he had found it abandoned once before. He was then approached by three teenage boys, who walked towards him from a nearby lake.

Video by 7NEWS



Two of the boys pushed and shoved the man before one of them smashed a bottle in his face. The victim dropped to the ground then managed to run home. He sustained a cut and swelling to his cheek.



The scooter was later found damaged and partially submerged in the lake. ... READ MORE: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/16208285/thugs-steal-scooter-and-bash-deaf-owner/

Harlem Reacts To 'Harlem Shake' Videos

Viral Video: Harlem Reacts to 'Harlem Shake' Videos (Captioned)



Street interviews with members of the Harlem community, and their views about the popular 'Harlem Shake' video trend and infamous music by: Baauer's Harlem Shake



For the Record, only 2 people interviewed did not make the final cut. One because the microphone was off. And the other because they only spoke for 30 secs. No one was omitted because they did not fit the 'mold'. This is what the people who stopped to talk with us had to say. We did not 'target' anyone. All pedestrians walking by were welcome to stop and talk. These are the people who stopped to talk with us.



Videos shown to participants included versions from DizastaMusic, TheSunnyCoastSkate, & PHLOn NAN.

Video by SchleppFilms



Shot & Edited By Chris McGuire

Sound by John Farmakis



Song 'Headspin Long'

Licensed by Apple Garage Band.



About 'The Harlem Shake' (Wikipedia):



The Harlem Shake is a dance that originally began in Harlem, New York. Since its beginnings it has spread to other urban areas and became popular in music videos.



The announcers at the Entertainer's Basketball Classic at Rucker Park will tell you that the modern day Harlem Shake was started by a man by the name of "Al B" (nickname Sisqo or Cisco). Al B was an alcoholic that would do the dance upon request. Because of its founder, the dance was originally called the "albee" in Rucker and Harlem, but then later became known as the Harlem Shake. ... Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_shake_%28meme%29

Having A Plan Works For Me

I am a planner. I like to have things organized and planned. I do it pretty much to save time and flying by the seat of my pants drives me nuts.
Not long after I got married, I started planing meals for the week. It was nice to have a plan, and I wasn't trying to figure out what we were having for dinner every afternoon. And then making sure I had all then ingredients. With a weekly plan, I could grocery shop once a week and have everything I needed. About a year ago, Jamie introduced me to making a menu plan for the whole month. At first I wasn't sure if I would like it. But after doing it one month, I was hooked. I still grocery shop once a week, but plan for the whole month at the end of the month before. I make a master list of all the ingredients I will need for the month. So if something I need at the end of the month is on sale at the beginning of the month, I can pick it up then.
I plan the main dish and then just pick up whatever vegetables are sale that week for sides. The only fruit my husband really likes is blueberries. So we don't eat much fruit.
My menu for February:


Week 1:
French Dip Sandwiches
Chicken Pot Pie
Skillet Sauce and Rice
Lasagna for Two
Burgers

Week 2:

Cheeseburger Soup
Chicken Chimichanga
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Green Mango
Mac & Cheese Tortellini Casserole
Pizza

Week 3:
John Wayne Casserole
Honey Spiced Glazed Chicken
BLT
Spaghetti
Burgers

Week 4:
Enchilada Casserole
BBQ Chicken Salad
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Chicken Fettucine Alfredo
Pizza

You may have noticed a pattern. We have beef on Monday, chicken on Tuesday, pork or fish on Wednesday, pasta on Thursday, and burgers or pizza (alternating) on Friday. Saturday and Sunday we eat leftovers or fend for ourselves.

What do you have on your menu for February? Anything I need to try?

Harlem Shake Deaf Asia Pacific Edition

VIDEO: Harlem Shake Deaf Asia Pacific Edition.



This is a colaboration between Deaf and hearing people from Asia Pasific. Music: Baauer's Harlem Shake

Video by Adhi Kusumo Bharoto



Thank you for watching! enjoy... :D



About 'The Harlem Shake' (Wikipedia):



The Harlem Shake is a dance that originally began in Harlem, New York. Since its beginnings it has spread to other urban areas and became popular in music videos.



The announcers at the Entertainer's Basketball Classic at Rucker Park will tell you that the modern day Harlem Shake was started by a man by the name of "Al B" (nickname Sisqo or Cisco). Al B was an alcoholic that would do the dance upon request. Because of its founder, the dance was originally called the "albee" in Rucker and Harlem, but then later became known as the Harlem Shake. ... Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_shake_%28meme%29

Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

My husband loves pineapple upside down cake, and has been asking me to make it for a while. While I was looking at different recipes, I decided it might be fun (and easier for him to take to work) if I made it in cupcake form. So, I concocted a little recipe, and I think they turned out pretty well.

3 Tbsp. Butter
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
8 oz can Crushed Pineapple or Pinapple Tidbits, drained
2/3 cups Flour
1/3 cup Sugar
3 Tbsp. Shortening
6 Tbsp. Milk
3/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Salt
1 Egg

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners.

In a small bowl, microwave butter until melted, then mix in brown sugar.
Spoon the brown sugar mixture evenly into the cupcake liners, and then top with even amounts of pineapple.

In a large bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients with an electric mixer, for about 1 minute on low and then 2 minutes on high. Divide this mixture evenly over the pineapple.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until edges start to brown. Remove from oven, and allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
Turn cupcakes upside down, remove cupcake liner, and serve with whipped cream or ice cream.
I recommend storing any leftovers upside down on a plate, so that the wrapper doesn't stick too badly to the pineapple mixture.
For a printer-friendly version visit myrecipemagic here:


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Deaf Stockton Chef To Present New TV Show Punk Chef

Gazettelive.co.uk - Deaf Stockton chef to present new TV show Punk Chef.



A STOCKTON chef is sharing his expertise in a new TV show helping people who are Deaf improve their cooking skills. Dad-of-one Scott Garthwaite, who is Deaf, will present Punk Chef, starting on Film4 next month.



The former Beverley School pupil said: “What the Deaf community are very passionate about are programmes that feature Deaf people.



“They also appreciate programmes that include sign language and will hopefully see someone like myself as a role model.”



Hartlepool-born Scott, who lives in Stockton with fiancee Jessica and their son Rocco, four months, qualified as a chef in 2011 after study professional culinary art and patisserie at Newcastle College in partnership with Leeds Metropolis University.



He was asked to front the TV show after starting up cookery blogs spotted by London-based Deaf-run production company Remark!



“They see me as the perfect person to front Punk Chef due to my unique character - I have a pink and black Mohawk which I have had for years,” he said.



The 32-year-old proved a big hit with executives at sign language broadcasting organisation BSLBT when the programme was trialled on Sky and Virgin Media last year. He has since been working on the new series. ... READ MORE: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2013/02/20/deaf-stockton-chef-to-present-new-tv-show-punk-chef-84229-32844031/



The pilot of Punk Chef can be viewed at www.bslzone.co.uk. The first episode of the new series will be shown on March 4 at 8am on Film4.

Howard Rosenblum's Inspiration

VIDEO: Howard Rosenblum's Inspiration. (Subtitles)



Howard Rosenblum, CEO of National Association of the Deaf, shares his inspiration with Deaf students.

Video by ampaasd

What Is It Like To Be DEAF ?

VIDEO: What is it like to be DEAF? (Captioned)



This vlog is to educate the hearing people and help spread the awareness about our Deaf culture.



The vlog part two coming soon but If you have any stories to share what you or someone you know went through similiar experience and want to make a VLOG please contact us deffamiliavision@gmail.com - Def Familia.

Video by Iamdeffamilia

My Child is Deaf and Blind: NDCS Family Story

VIDEO: My child is Deaf and Blind: NDCS family story. (Captioned)



Parents Kevin and Jane tell us about life with their Deafblind son Gethin, including why they have taken up rock climbing! Find out how to make activities accessible for Deaf children:

Video by ndcswebteam



Visit http://www.ndcs.org.uk/me2 for more information.

Song: Sidewalk by Jason Shaw http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/SIDEWALK



Related of blindness: The story of my progressive vision loss. What will I do when I become entirely blind? http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2013/02/committing-suicide-over-going-deaf-and.html

Greek Yogurt Berry Mug Cake

I'll admit it I have a major sweet tooth.  I love candy, cookies and brownies. But I'm also trying to eat healthier and lose a little weight. So keeping these things in my house really isn't a good idea.  But I also don't want to deny myself an occasional treat, especially if I can make it a bit healthier.  I wanted to create something with fruit and   maybe some Greek yogurt for added protein but it still had to satisfy my sweet tooth.  This is what I came up with

Greek Yogurt Berry Mug Cake
2 T frozen mixed berries
3 T blueberry Greek yogurt
2 1/2 T flour
2 T + 1t brown sugar
1/8 t salt
1/4 t baking powder
1/4 t cinnamon
dash nutmeg (optional)
1 T water

Place frozen berries in bottom of mug (these are kind of hard to measure so I normally just cover the bottom of the mug with berries). Microwave on defrost for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.

Top berries with yogurt, then all the dry ingredients, and then water.

Stir really well.  (When you think it's fully mixed you might want to stir again. I've had flour left at the bottom several times).

Microwave on high for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until set. (Remember microwave times vary).

So according to my calculations this comes in right under 200 calories and while it has a lot of carbs (it is cake after all), it also has 7 grams of protein.  Hope you enjoy!

You know what? This also makes a great breakfast.  I mean who doesn't want to eat cake for Breakfast? And since it's loaded with protein, it will keep you fuller longer.

For a printable version and nutritional information click
Note they calculate this higher in calories and lower in protein than I did. These would vary depending on the brand of yogurt and other ingredients you use.

Check out our link parties here.

Signs of Laughter

VIDEO: Signs of Laughter (Captioned, American Sign Language)



CJ Jones is an internationally known Deaf entertainer who has been making audiences of all ages laugh for over 25 years. Through sign language and humor, he hopes to remind people that 'life is good'.



CJ is an awesome motivational role model for not only people of the Deaf community, but to every person who has ever faced an obstacle in life.

Video by HooplaHaChannel



Official website visit at http://www.cjjoneslive.com

Get more feel good video clips at http://www.hooplaha.com

Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hooplaha

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/hooplaha

Harlem Shake Studio Edition (Deaf Star Studios)

VIDEO: Harlem Shake Studio Edition (Deaf Star Studios)



SONG NAME: Baauer's Harlem Shake



Recording Studio Version - http://www.deafstarstudios.com

Video by DeafStarStudios



About 'The Harlem Shake' (Wikipedia):



The Harlem Shake is a dance that originally began in Harlem, New York. Since its beginnings it has spread to other urban areas and became popular in music videos.



The announcers at the Entertainer's Basketball Classic at Rucker Park will tell you that the modern day Harlem Shake was started by a man by the name of "Al B" (nickname Sisqo or Cisco). Al B was an alcoholic that would do the dance upon request. Because of its founder, the dance was originally called the "albee" in Rucker and Harlem, but then later became known as the Harlem Shake. ... Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_shake_%28meme%29

Deaf Prisoner Advocacy: Lobbing The FCC For Change

VIDEO: Deaf Prisoner Advocacy Lobbying the FCC for Change: Discrimination Against Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Signin. (Captioned, American Sign Language)



HEARD interns Rita Torres & Alexandre Dubsky explain how the Community can support equal communication access for all Deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired prisoners and their family members.



On December 28, 2012, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to address the long-standing issue of high prison telephone rates. Hearing prisoners' telephone calls can cost their family members as much as $17 for just 15 minutes of time. These excessive rates prevent families from maintaining contact with loved ones.

Video by BEHEARDDC



Deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind, speech impaired, and hearing prisoners with Deaf family members endure an even greater financial burden with respect to telephone rates due to a number of factors, including (1) telephone rates being applied evenly to TTY and regular voice phone calls, the former of which is much more time-consuming; (2) failure of prisons to install videophones and captioned telephones; (3) security measures that either prevent Deaf prisoners from calling relay operators or cause them to incur additional fees by requiring relay services; and (4) security measures that require Deaf prisoners to only place collect calls.



The FCC has requested public comments on whether prisoner phone rates should be reduced and capped and on Deaf & disabled prisoner telecommunications access. This video explains some of the inequities that persist for Deaf, signing & speech impaired prisoners and their families with regard to rates for and access to telecommunications in prison. Please follow the directions in the document to submit a comment to the FCC. http://www.fcc.gov/

Medical Research: Rise in Abortions of Deaf Babies

Dailymail.co.uk - Prenatal testing prompts rise in abortions of Deaf babies. Hearing loss can be a curse if it's linked to a revelation as heart-breaking as this.



According to a survey conducted by Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram hospital, a majority of would-be parents would opt for an abortion if knew they are going to have a hearing-impaired child.



The study was published in a recent issue of American Journal of Medical Genetics.



The research-based study was conducted for four years - 2005 to 2009 - on at least 51 families with a history of congenital hearing loss.



"Around 93 per cent of the couples expressed high interest in prenatal diagnosis, while 73 per cent considered termination if the foetus was affected," Dr Ishwar C Verma, chairman, department of genetics, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, said.



The result in cases of hearing couples, in whom genetic anomalies were identified, was even more disheartening.



"All of them opted for prenatal diagnosis. On testing, all the foetuses were found to be affected and the hearing parents elected to terminate the pregnancies," Dr Verma said.



In developing countries such as India, there is an increasing awareness and interest in prenatal testing because genetic disorders of all types, including hereditary deafness, which lead to significant social and economic burden on families due to poor support structure. During the study, doctors found that around 68 per cent would be parents opted for genetic testing. ... READ MORE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2280183/Prenatal-testing-prompts-rise-abortions-deaf-babies.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Deaf Pennsylvanians Lawsuit Welfare for Lack of Interpreters

Pennlive.com - Deaf of Pennsylvanians lawsuit welfare for lack of interpreters: U.S. judge eyeing deal to aid state's Deaf, intellectually disabled human service system clients.



HARRISBURG - A federal judge is being asked to approve a settlement of a class-action lawsuit that would ramp up the state's responsibility to individuals who are Deaf and intellectually disabled.



A key provision of the proposed deal U.S. Middle District Chief Judge Yvette Kane is weighing would require the state Department of Public Welfare to hire sign language interpreters and other specialists to improve communications with Deaf and intellectually disabled clients in the human services system.



About 250 such clients have been identified so far in the state's system of group homes and other service providers, according to filings in the case. Also, DPW would have to pay $450,000 to the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, which filed the lawsuit against DPW in 2010 on behalf of a disabled client identified in court papers only as Harry M.



In seeking approval of the settlement, the rights network stated that DPW officials also have signed off on the proposed deal. The rights network claimed in its lawsuit that the state is not properly helping intellectually disabled Pennsylvanians who are Deaf, because service providers often cannot effectively communicate with them.



Clients who would be affected by the settlement receive services from their home counties through the state-funded Home and Community-Based Waiver, also known as the Consolidated Waiver program. ... READ MORE: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/02/us_judge_eyeing_deal_to_aid_st.html

Adopted Deaf Child To Force On Cochlear Implant

Amarillo.com - Family flies Deaf child to Italy for surgery not approved in US.



LUBBOCK - From an onlooker’s perspective, Anna Burch is like any other 5-year-old. She’s friendly, energized and quite interactive. But if you call her name, she won’t respond. She’s not being rude. She simply can’t hear you.



Amy Burch is a single mother of three adopted girls Amelia, 8; Lucy, 3; and Anna, 5. Burch adopted Anna from Anyang, China, just a few weeks before her fifth birthday with the help of her parents. Debra Burch, Amy’s mother, said she and her husband Mike were with her daughter when she made the decision to adopt Anna. “We knew she was Deaf,” said Debra.



The disability didn’t hinder the family’s excitement to adopt her and figured Anna’s deafness could be treated with a hearing aid or cochlear implant. The extent of Anna’s condition was unknown until the family had her hearing assessed.



Anna was born with no cochleas, said Dr. Steven Zupancic, assistant professor of Speech-Language & Hearing Sciences at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Allied Health Sciences. The cochlea is what allows hearing, said Brittany Hall, clinical supervisor for SLHS at TTUHSC SAHS.



Anna was profoundly Deaf. Debra said cochlear implants and hearing aids would be of no use, so the family began looking into other options. She was taken to Hall for an assessment in August.



“Anna is such an amazing little girl,” Hall said. “She has no formal language of communication, but she is such a communicative little girl. … I saw her for an assessment in 2012. She was communicating, but it wasn’t through words. With the help of the family, she learned sign communication.”



Hall said before Anna’s departure to Verona, she was working to teach her Anna to pair signs with speech by reading lips. ... READ MORE: http://amarillo.com/news/texas-news/2013-02-19/family-flies-deaf-child-italy-surgery-not-approved-us

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Related of Cochlear Implants:



If you travel consider which company you use. Your dreams could be destroyed. Some of you may be considering a Cochlear Implant for yourself or a child. As a Cochlear Implant Recipient, The following video is important for you to watch before making a decision on which implant to receive: Warning To Cochlear Implant Users



Historically, women and girls have faced forced laws that tell them what to do with their bodies against their will which is a violation of human rights: A Violation of Human Rights: Forcing A Deaf Child to Wear CI



My experience with people telling me there is a "cure" for deafness: Cochlear Implants Is NOT A Cure!

OCDAC Leader Dies at Age 50

VIDEO: Deaf community leader known as Uncle Ruckus dies at age 50. Richard Roehm was a founder of the Santa Ana-based Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center.



SANTA ANA – Richard Roehm aka Iron Teeth, chairman and a founder of the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center, died Feb. 6. He was 50.



Roehm, who lived in the French Park area, suffered a heart attack and died at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, said Beth Koenig, the executive director of the nonprofit.



Roehm grew up in Glendale, graduated form Rancho Alamitos High School in 1981 and received a bachelor's degree in computer science from Cal State Fullerton. He worked for Disneyland, left the company and was disabled by the time he helped found the Santa Ana-based Deaf Advocacy Center in 1998, said Koenig. He served as CEO and president until 2010, when he became board chairman and Koenig became its executive director.

Roehm was a longtime fan of the "Law and Order" television series. She said he loved learning about and tracking volcanoes and earthquakes, enjoyed seeing Old Faithful eruptions via a webcam, and cared about animals, such as the pet lizard he kept, and Ruby, a mixed-breed dog who was his companion for many years.



Roehm had been hard of hearing as a child and became Deaf at age 11, Koenig said. She said he believed that nonprofits turned away people who needed help, so decided to start the Deaf Advocacy Center. The agency helps people with disabilities find employment and housing provides training in such areas as Braille, American Sign Language, computer skills and personal finances, and helps Deaf people with poor reading skills fill out forms.



The agency he helped found runs on a budget of $30,000 to $45,000 a year, mostly from sales on its eBay store and from donations, Koenig said. It relies on a roll of about 200 volunteers, about 20 of whom are regulars and about five of whom make up its core group, she said.



Roehm will be remembered as passionate, Koenig said. Many Deaf people are active bloggers and readers of blogs, Koenig said. ... READ MORE: http://www.ocregister.com/news/koenig-496357-roehm-deaf.html