If you’re a fan of NBC’s Thursday night lineup, you know today’s birthday girl pretty well!
Rashida got her big break playing Jim Halpert’s other love interest on The Office before she left the show to star in yet another NBC hit, Parks and Recreation.
While she’s only been a household name for a few years, Rashida was destined for Hollywood fame — just look at her parents! Rashida is the daughter of music mogul Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton!
Check out Rashida as she tells Ellen about her not-so-normal childhood
I’m a big Johnny Depp fan (after all, who isn’t?) so you can imagine how excited I am about his new movie, Alice in Wonderland.
The movie is opening next month and it’s supposed to be great, which got me thinking about today’s theme Thursday post…what about an Alice in Wonderland birthday party?!
White/Blue invitations
Invitations with a picture of a rabbit, stopwatch, Alice, etc.
Verse for party information:
Don’t be late, don’t be late
___________’s party is going to be great!
Meet us in wonderland _______________ (address)
On ____________________________ (date)
At ________________________ (time)
Wear your funniest Alice in Wonderland character costume or a big party hat.
The queen requests you RSVP by __________ (date – 3 days before the party).
We all have our daily routines and for many us, it includes a dose of NPR.
NPR, or as it is formally known, National Public Radio is a non-profit media organization that serves over 900 public radio stations all across the U.S. Whether it’s Morning Edition or All Things Considered, commuters from coast to coast rely on NPR for their drive time newscast!
According to NPR, their mission is simple — to create a more informed public. From the hard-hitting news to the light and quirky, NPR is always there, ready to educate the American public on the news of the day!
Now take a look below as NPR probes into one of America’s most fascinating individuals: the cookie monster
One of my favorite things about the first few months of a new year is the renewed sense of hope that abounds. Whether focused on a healthier lifestyle, a more fulfilling job, or more quality time with family, commitments are made and renewed, all driven by hope and optimism.
Those people who stay committed to their goals will continue to feel hopeful as they see the results of their efforts. Others will lose hope and resolve to try again in 2011. Some people don’t need a holiday to have hope though, it’s simply a part of who they are and they share their hope every day with others who need it.
Some friends and I had the pleasure of meeting just such a woman several weeks back. Her name is Karen Seaberry and, most appropriately, she is the manager of the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Baltimore, Maryland.
For nearly 10 years, Karen has been sharing hope with cancer patients and their caregivers who stay with her at her 26-room “home away from home” during their treatments. The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge® is a safe place – with a 52-person family, as Karen calls it – for people traveling to facilities like University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, and St. Agnes as they battle the disease by undergoing the best treatment options away from home.
As you would imagine, Karen is quite humble and not too interested in talking about herself. She’s more than happy though to brag about her recently renovated facility, the community she’s building inside the Hope Lodge, and the community outside it that supports her efforts and helps her give hope a home 24/7, 365 days a year.
The Baltimore Hope Lodge – one of 28 Hope Lodge locations the American Cancer Society operates nationwide – is one of the oldest in the country. The facility is as beautiful as any hotel a family could find. What’s more, Hope Lodge provides far more services and amenities than most any hotel, and they are all free – it’s the only lodging of its kind that doesn’t charge a penny—easing the financial obstacles many cancer patients find themselves facing on their journey to getting well. Residents at Karen’s Hope Lodge not only have a large, comfortable room, they also have spacious community living facilities, including a formal dining room, an activity room, a computer lab, cancer information library, and laundry facilities. There’s also a shared kitchen area where residents can cook meals for each other or just enough for themselves. Each patient is assigned a private refrigerator space so that they can shop for what they need and enjoy – replicating as many of the comforts of home as possible.
When we visited we toured the beautifully decorated spaces, chatted with some residents, and really got an appreciation for what the Baltimore Hope Lodge (and all American Cancer Society Hope Lodge locations across the country) mean to their residents. As we walked through the facility we asked lots of questions about how it operated and how they handled demand. Memorably, Karen told us that, “Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither do we.”
In fact, unlike other facilities, Hope Lodge doesn’t ask their residents’ financial status. They accept residents on a first-come, first-serve basis, but they do try to reserve some space for patients who may have urgent treatment needs that could not be anticipated in advance. Many Hope Lodge locations even have rooms that are set up for immuno-compromised patients who must take special care not to get sick. While we were there, the Hope Lodge had a full house, including several bone cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer patients. Those we talked with told us how much the Hope Lodge meant to them and how they enjoyed the emotional support when they experienced when they became a part of the 52-person family; for those who stayed during the holidays, many said they had never enjoyed the holidays at home as much as they did at the Hope Lodge—amazing words from people fighting for their lives.
One guest, Miss Lorraine, shared her Hope Lodge experience with us.
The holidays may be over, but there are a few things Karen and her residents “hope” for all year long. If you’re interested in sharing some hope of your own, consider providing one or more of these commonly requested items to a Hope Lodge near you, or making a donation to the American Cancer Society:
Postage stamps
Calling cards
Gas cards
Gift cards for sundries
Disposable cups
Paper plates
Kleenex
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Lights bulbs
And if you happen to have a Ravens connection, the Baltimore Hope Lodge is hoping to replace a Ray Lewis-autographed football that they recently auctioned. Feel free to ask Ray for one!
We’re very thankful for Karen’s hospitality and offer a reminder that hope, compassion and family support can create a world with less cancer and more birthdays any time of year.
Have you joined the movement for more birthdays? If not, please visit morebirthdays.com and join us today!
We’ve all seen enough VH1 specials to know it’s tough being a childhood star in Hollywood — but it appears Dakota Fanning is having no trouble at all!
Only 16 years old today (happy birthday Dakota!), Dakota is one of the most successful young actors in Hollywood, having starred in films such as I am Sam, Man on Fire, War of the Worlds, and The Secret Life of Bees. Quite the resume for a teenager!
Juggling high school and a career at 16 must be a challenge! Take a look as Ellen DeGeneres grills Dakota on what it’s like to be a teenage star!
Check out this great post from Karyn Brianne, Blogger Advisory Council Member, at the Fab Giver:
Health has always been an issue close to my heart. Growing up, I had my heart set on becoming a doctor because I’ve always believed that if you don’t have your health, everything else suffers. In college, however, I decided that being healthy starts before the treatment process. Every day that we wake up, there are things that we can do to take steps to being as healthy as we can be. So, I decided to study marketing and use those communication skills to promote healthy behaviors and empower others to take an active role in their health. And, as a member of the American Cancer Society’s Blogger Advisory Council, I’m committed to using my online presence to do just that.
This week marks National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, and recognizing this issue is very important to me. As an African-American, I was blown away to learn that we have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the US for most cancers. National Minority Cancer Awareness Week is about recognizing the health disparities that exist within our communities and encouraging action to help shrink the gap. About fifty percent of cancer deaths can be prevented through regularly scheduled screenings, healthy eating, regular physical activity and quitting tobacco use. However, minorities continue to have lower screening rates than whites; report less physical activity than recommended, and consume less fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
These simple lifestyle changes can go a long way towards ensuring that we are around to see more birthdays for ourselves and those that we love. I’m dedicating this post to my maternal grandmother, maternal great-aunt, maternal great uncle, maternal great-cousin, paternal great-grandfather, and paternal (step) grandfather. They passed away due to cancer and build a strong case for why I have to take the necessary steps to be as healthy as I possibly can. I’ll admit that I don’t know all the facts and haven’t been as healthy as I should be, but I’m committed to making that change. This week, I’m setting up appointments ranging from a general checkup to screenings necessary for my health and I encourage you to do the same.
The ACS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-227-2345 to help answer any questions about cancer and provide information on what resources exist for free or low cost cancer screenings. Get the facts, understand your medical history, and commit to your health! Some might say that it’s easier said than done, but when has that ever stopped us?
To learn more about the American Cancer Society, please visit cancer.org.
You never forget birthdays that are special to you… for me it was my 7th birthday and my mom orchestrated a surprise party in our garage. She did it with such secrecy and pizazz and that I will never forget… It was a typical Saturday at our house. I had a soccer game in the morning and my mom had made cupcakes for the team instead of the usual orange slices. I had told my mom I wanted a party but it was a week or so away so I wasn’t really thinking about anything happening until then… After the game was over, we headed home and as my mom opened the garage door, there were my friends and family waiting to say, “SURPRISE!” Indeed I was suprised. My mom had pulled off an unbelievable birthday celebration for me and managed to keep both of my older brothers from spilling the beans!
The reason this story is so memorable is because this was the last time I remember my mother healthy… shortly after this, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and although she was a fighter, she gave up her battle on June 14, just 2 1/2 years after her diagnosis. She was 41. She died 1 week before her 42nd birthday…
So you see, birthdays are not just special, they create lasting memories when there are no more birthdays to celebrate with loved ones gone before us…
Treasure each birthday and treasure each day… remember someone, somewhere is making a memorable birthday today.
This weekend, my 12-year old daughter and her friends are hosting a surprise birthday sleepover for one of their friends whose mother lost her very short battle with lung cancer this past July. Each year, her Mom would have a huge sleepover birthday party for her which all the girls looked forward to. This will be the first birthday she will have without her Mom and it will probably be difficult for her and her Dad and brothers.
I am so touched by the extraordinary compassion and sensitivity displayed by my daughter and her friends. While they are just 12 years old, they instinctively knew what to do for their friend. So, Saturday evening, think about the 10 twelve year olds who understand the meaning of more birthdays!
Birthdays…for some it’s a special day to acknowledge another year of life and for others it’s just another day. For me, something always comes up on a birthday whether it be my own or that of someone I know…
In the summer of 2002 birthdays took on a whole new meaning. For 7 months I was sick on and off. I had suffered from fevers of 102, 103, and sometimes 104 degrees. I had drenching night sweats to the point that I would wet my clothes and the sheets of my bed. My lymph nodes were enlarged and in less than a couple of months I had shed a little over 20 pounds. These symptoms would come and go during the 7 months and when summer came I knew this all couldn’t be, “just another cold.”
In July, my mom who is a nurse had me stop by her clinic to see the doctor that she had worked for. There I told him my symptoms and he had examined me. When he was done he told me that I had Lymphoma. At 23 years old I had no clue what that meant. He had left the room to tell my mom the news. When she returned to the room it was clear she had been crying. I thought to myself, “Oh God, I am dying…” I asked my mom, “What is Lymphoma?”
On July 24, 2002 which is my dad’s birthday I was officially diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Stage 3. From there I underwent chemotherapy for 6 months and my cancer went into remission. Four short months later while randomly scratching my neck I found a lump. The cancer had returned. For my 2nd battle with cancer my oncologist suggested that we do an Autologus Stem Cell Transplant. It’s a transplant procedure where they harvest your own stem cells and re-infuse them back into your body. It’s like taking apart an old car, getting rid of the bad parts and rebuilding it with new parts. So, since the cancer didn’t hit my bone marrow, I was able to be the donor and recipient of my own stem cells.
On June 21, 2003, my 23rd birthday I sat in a chair for several hours with an IV drip of various chemo drugs instead of behind a table with a birthday cake. For several weeks after that there was more preparation for the transplant. In August I was admitted to the hospital for more chemo and to complete the transplant process. I was scheduled to be there for 30 days straight.
On August 18th, my oncologist’s birthday; he re-infused me with my stem cells and I also had 5 blood transfusions that week. Weeks later, I was released from the hospital on August 31st, the day before my son’s 3rd birthday. Jacob was born on September 1st which was also my OBGYN’s birthday. I made her miss dinner with her family that day due to Jacob’s arrival which was actually 3 days late. I have been in remission since October of 2003!
As you can see birthdays are not just another day for me…even if it’s not my own. Prior to my transplant my friends and co-workers celebrated my several times in the month of June to make up for having chemo on my special day. Every day of life is precious! Celebrate the birthdays in your life because you never know what someone else is going through that day. This year is my 30th birthday and 6 year cancer free anniversary. It’s also the 25th anniversary of the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. So, how am I celebrating all these special events? I am attending 25+ Relay For Life events this summer from March through August. I’m a 2 time cancer survivor so what better way to live out the rest of my life than to… CELEBRATE, REMEMBER, FIGHT BACK!
For my 18th birthday, I was a senior in high school. I was at school for 15 hours that day because on top of school, it was Tech Week for our Winter Play. When school let out for the day, my friend and I hung out with our friends down in the Robotics Lab before grabbing a bite to eat for dinner and heading for rehearsal. Rehearsal went very well, and when it was over, the Stage Manager told my friend and I to organize the prop closet. Later, she came back and told us to sweep the stage. When I came onto the stage, the entire cast and crew was standing there, and started to sing Happy Birthday to me, and my other friend brought out the cake he made for me. I was completely surprised, and that made me so happy!
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If you’re a fan of NBC’s Thursday night lineup, you know today’s birthday girl pretty well!
I’m a big Johnny Depp fan (after all, who isn’t?) so you can imagine how excited I am about his new movie, Alice in Wonderland.
We all have our daily routines and for many us, it includes a dose of NPR.
As you would imagine, Karen is quite humble and not too interested in talking about herself. She’s more than happy though to brag about her recently renovated facility, the community she’s building inside the Hope Lodge, and the community outside it that supports her efforts and helps her give hope a home 24/7, 365 days a year.
We’ve all seen enough VH1 specials to know it’s tough being a childhood star in Hollywood — but it appears Dakota Fanning is having no trouble at all!
This weekend, my 12-year old daughter and her friends are hosting a surprise birthday sleepover for one of their friends whose mother lost her very short battle with lung cancer this past July. Each year, her Mom would have a huge sleepover birthday party for her which all the girls looked forward to. This will be the first birthday she will have without her Mom and it will probably be difficult for her and her Dad and brothers.
