I Went Viral...I Think!

The very lovely ladies over at Northshore Parent asked me to do a guest blog post about why Common Core was the final straw in my decision to home school. I have a big mouth and don't mind spilling my guts, so I obliged.

Well, I apparently hit a nerve because the post has been liked and shared over 10k times. Even I, an online business owner, knows that is a pretty awesome hit count in a few days!!

So if you are so inclined, I know I've discussed it a bit here as well as other reasons we decided to home school, please check out the post over on Northshore Parent and check out their facebook page, lots of great ideas and things to do in the area!

~~Amy

Stuck in a rut....

I have NO idea what to blog about anymore! I'm stuck. Writer's block to the extreme!! I just sit here...thinking..what the hell can I tell these people that I haven't already said??  So what do I write about?

The Oil Gusher? Scoff! I can't even write that calmly enough...although I suspect in time I will. (I do encourage you to check out www.handmadelouisiana.etsy.com where we are donating all our profits to oil spill cleanup!)

The kids? I could write about them, but does anyone even read it? You know Eli has Autism and Harrison has sensory issues...what else can I write about? Is this the dilema of social networking, we're all SO connected we've got no secrets anymore?

So what if I wrote about a secret? Well then it'd be out forever in cyberland and surely come back to bite me?

I could tell you I made up with PussDaddy awhile back. But it was really uneventful...we just chatted, she's a nice person and although I'll never necessarily agree with HOW she says things, she admitted she misjudged me and things got out of hand. She's a good person and I wish her the best. See, that's not even that exciting!!

Music?  Ya'll know I love my musicians...but most of them no one has ever heard of. So I'll tell ya I saw an awesome Amos Lee show back in April and a equally awesome Marc Broussard show in May. Click those links...hear their tunes. Enjoy the vibe.

Sewing/Crafts/Selling? Ah heck if I haven't pimped myself out to ya'll enough yet, you don't read this anyways!! What's new? Um, I opened 2 new Etsy shops (SHOCK I know). Badge Reels for fabric covered badge reels and Micro Mops is a shop collab with my friend Dee and a place for budget friendly cleaning products :)

Sooooooooooooo what does that leave me? Politics? Ehh not enough energy today. Religion? Not enough time.....Quantum Physics? Sure...right.

So I've got nothing left right now but THIS:
Disposable diapers that look like jeans....
Thoughts?
Stupid? Funny?

www.huggies.com

Happy Memorial Day

As this Memorial Day Weekend approaches, I would like to share a few things. First, this lovely spotlight featuring some Patriotic inspired items!



Secondly, despite the many Memorial Day sales, picnics, vacations, etc; I challenge you this Memorial Day to truly recognize what the day means. I really don't care what your political beliefs are. I don't care if your right, left, middle of the road, hanging from an overpass..whatever. No matter what you believe in and whether you support the war or not, I feel you should support the TROOPS in this war. Let's not squabble over why they are there for one day, let's just show them the respect and appreciation they deserve, because let's face it, they don't HAVE to be there! There is no draft. They are there because they WANT to serve our country, are proud to do so and many die doing so. They protect this land from people who's only goal in life is do us harm. And for that I will constantly and always respect and appreciate them.

So I challenge you this Memorial Day to take a minute and THANK a veteran who served, pay your respects to those who died serving our country, and take notice of this beautiful land in which we live. Have you ever really stopped and looked at all the beautiful American flags flying? Really thought about what it means? Really respected what has gone into building this nation of ours? No matter what you think of any administration, current or past, soldiers have been dying for our land for a LOOOONG time now. Do we really respect that?

So take some time from your busy weekend to show some respect and appreciation to the men and women who serve us so faithfully and those who have served their time. Perhaps you can donate something to a military family? There are spouses and children who wait patiently and nervously for their loved ones to come home. Maybe those children could use a lovely new play thing? (Trust me, the military does not pay great.) Maybe there is a Vet in your neighborhood who needs help around the yard? A mother who lost her son to war who misses him dearly this time of year? Could you pay her a visit?

No matter what you do, and who you spend time with this weekend, you should appreciate them. Hug them, love them, and tell them how much they mean to you. They won't be here forever.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!! God Bless America!

Good CPSIA Read.........

Click and Learn!!

Update from Rick--CPSIA

I greatly depend on Rick for intelligent, important CPSIA info. Here is some of the latest. Be sure you follow Rick on Twitter also!

http://learningresourcesinc.blogspot.com/2009/02/cpsia-calling-all-mommies.html

www.twitter.com/rwoldenberg

Personal Rant.....

Okay. I do not usually do such posts but this reaaaaly ticks me off. We need LESS government, not MORE! Anyone who reads the bible know such things will happen but this REALLY ticks me off. Government again trying to say what is right for me and my family as if I am too STUPID to know it?

http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=87929

Don't Give Up the Fight!

While this news about the stay on the enacting of the CPSIA is wonderful news, it does not mean our battle is over!

We still have the 30 day comment period, so inactuality after Feb 10 the law remains the same, until the 30 day comment period is over (around March).

My point is this: While this is slaptastically happy dance news, our fight is not over! We need to keep putting pressure on lawmakers and keep getting our voices out there! This year will pass very quickly and we could find ourselves in this exact position in a year.

DO NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT! Continue to write letters, just changing them to incorporate your thanks for the stay, and continued proof that handmade is and has been safe.

Keep on going guys!
Mama

Breaking CPSIA News, Via www.etsy.com

We are so excited to announce that the Commission has voted for a "Stay of Enforcement of Certain Testing and Certification Requirements of CPSIA" — which means that the burden of lead testing and certification has been suspended for a year while they take more time to review the rules and plan enforcement! All of your hard work has paid off (for the time being at least!). You don't have to pay to do the certification and testing, though you are still liable if your products are found to have lead. We are so pleased that artisans and vintage sellers got their voices heard. Your hard work is not over; we must continue to play a role in advocating for small business people throughout the coming year.

"The action taken today provides breathing space to get in place some of the rules needed for implementation, but it should not be viewed as a full solution to the many problems that have been raised." —U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission

You'll find the press release below:

CPSC Grants One Year Stay of Testing and Certification Requirements for Certain Products

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger. These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.

Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.

The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.

The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.

The stay does not apply to:

• Four requirements for third-party testing and certification of certain children’s products subject to:

  • The ban on lead in paint and other surface coatings effective for products made after December 21, 2008;

  • The standards for full-size and non full-size cribs and pacifiers effective for products made after January 20, 2009;

  • The ban on small parts effective for products made after February 15, 2009; and

  • The limits on lead content of metal components of children’s jewelry effective for products made after March 23, 2009.

• Certification requirements applicable to ATV’s manufactured after April 13, 2009.

• Pre-CPSIA testing and certification requirements, including for: automatic residential garage door openers, bike helmets, candles with metal core wicks, lawnmowers, lighters, mattresses, and swimming pool slides; and

• Pool drain cover requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act.

The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.

Handmade garment makers are cautioned to know whether the zippers, buttons and other fasteners they are using contain lead. Likewise, handmade toy manufacturers need to know whether their products, if using plastic or soft flexible vinyl, contain phthalates.

The stay of enforcement on testing and certification does not address thrift and second hand stores and small retailers because they are not required to test and certify products under the CPSIA. The products they sell, including those in inventory on February 10, 2009, must not contain more than 600 ppm lead in any accessible part. The Commission is aware that it is difficult to know whether a product meets the lead standard without testing and has issued guidance for these companies that can be found on our Web site.

The Commission trusts that State Attorneys General will respect the Commission's judgment that it is necessary to stay certain testing and certification requirements and will focus their own enforcement efforts on other provisions of the law, e.g. the sale of recalled products.

Please visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html for more information on all of the efforts being made to successfully implement the CPSIA.

Thank You Donna Pool Designs!!

MANY MANY thanks to Donna Pool Designs for taking my graphic (also available on www.cafepress.com/momsmonkeys) and adding it to her Etsy shop on her buttons!!


Click the pic to go straight there and start supporting handmade artisans!