Join The #D23Expo Twitter Party 8/11 At 7pm EST

Tomorrow, July 31 2015, is World Ranger Day. You might be familiar with their flat hats and uniforms, but a day in the life of a park ranger can be as different as the 408 parks themselves. One year away from the Centennial of the National Park Service, August 25, 2015 marks the 99th birthday of the National Park Service, and fee-free admission into more than 400 parks across the country for everyone. As you can see, America’s parks go far beyond the traditional landscapes you might normally think of.
I was able to get with Dr. Donna Shaver, Chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at my local National Park, Padre Island National Seashore & ask how her park is celebrating the Centennial and all the ways people can get up, get out there and find their own connections with the parks, which preserve and protect America’s unique landscapes, history and culture.
Dr. Donna Shaver is the Chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at Padre Island National Seashore, with the US National Park Service. She specializes in sea turtle research and conservation, winning the Harte’s Heroes Award last year for her efforts in the recovery of critically endangered species.
In addition to helping develop the Department of Interior’s restoration activities for sea turtle nesting, she has initiated a widely acclaimed sea turtle program that integrates conservation, research, and public education activities. Dr. Shaver is a member of the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Working Group and the IUCN Species Survival Commission Marine Turtle Specialist Group. From 2002-2011, she worked with the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Recovery Team that prepared the revised Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Recovery Plan to guide future restoration and research efforts for this species.
The boys and I love going to Padre National Seashore, so I asked Dr. Donna Shaver, What makes Padre National Seashore special?
Padre Island National Seashore preserves the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island beach in the U.S. This very special place protects nearly 70 miles of beautiful Gulf of Mexico beachfront and preserves it in perpetuity for future generations.
Padre Island National Seashore is an important habitat for a wide diversity of plants and animals. It is the most important nesting beach in the U.S. for the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Padre Island National Seashore staff and volunteers have worked with partners in the U.S. and Mexico for more than three decades to re-establish nesting by this species at the National Seashore and involve the community and public in our related restoration, research, and education programs. The National Park Service has been committed to this restoration program since the mid-1970s, and when we celebrate our Centennial it is very fitting to celebrate our decades of commitment to preservation of this magnificent species.
Sometimes we just want to help out and take out trash, even if it’s not ours. Dr. Donna Shaver had this to say about ways the public help her out?
The public can aid with our sea turtle conservation and research efforts by being alert for nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtles when they are on the beach, and immediately reporting any that they see so that we can document and protect them and their eggs. Kemp’s ridleys nest mostly during the day, when most of our beach visitation occurs. In addition to helping with reports of nesting, there are also actions that people can take to avoid inadvertently harming the nesting turtles or their eggs.
Most Texas beaches are open to driving by the public, so if you drive on the beach during the nesting season please watch carefully for nesting and adhere to posted speed limits. If you see a nesting Kemp’s ridley turtle, let her nest undisturbed, protect her from others, and make sure that she safely re-enters the water after nesting. Carefully place an identification marker next to the nest so that rangers can quickly find it and protect the eggs. You can help by filling in any holes that you dig in the sand so that the nesting turtles do not become trapped in them. You can also make the beach a safer place for nesting turtles, people, and other wildlife by aiding with beach clean-ups and removing all of your beach equipment and trash when you leave the beach.
What made you want to work with the park and be a turtle conservationist?
During undergraduate school, I majored in Wildlife Biology and was very interested in conservation of endangered species. I read about the work with Kemp’s ridley sea turtles at Padre Island National Seashore and applied to be a Student Conservation Association volunteer aiding with that work here. I was selected for the position and this opportunity provided me with my first glimpse of the ocean and of a sea turtle. I was “hooked” on the spectacular vistas at the park, the friendly people of south Texas, and of course the opportunity to help save the world’s most endangered sea turtle species.
What is some little known history about the park?
The first published record in the scientific literature of Kemp’s ridleys nesting anywhere in the world was a Kemp’s ridley that nested here in 1948, years before this land was designated as Padre Island National Seashore and a unit of the National Park System. This record was published in 1951 in the scientific journal Zoologica. This was more than a decade before scientists learned the location of the primary nesting beach for the species, near Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and published that information.
I know there happens to be turtle releases, where can the public learn more about this program?
The public can learn more about our sea turtle program and our hatchling releases by viewing our Facebook page titled Padre Island NS Division of Sea Turtle Science & Recovery, our website, or our YouTube Channel.
Watch our #FindYourPark video
This video celebrates the Centennial and #FindYourPark. We made it to help spotlight our hatchling releases and the long-term commitment of the National Park Service and Padre Island National Seashore to the restoration of this species, during this important occasion of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. We hope that our video will inspire many more people to Find Your Park and watch a hatchling release here in the future. Many people plan a vacation to Padre Island National Seashore around the opportunity to see a release. Releases are soon coming to an end for this year, but will begin again next year starting in late-May or early-June.
Don’t forget to check out FindYourPark.com and use the #FindYourPark hashtag to share your stories!!

Top Wedding Flower Trends
There is a lot that needs to be taken into account when it comes to planning your special day. This includes everything from invitations and table seating arrangements to entertainment and the colour of your bridesmaids’ dresses. However, one thing that needs a lot of attention is your wedding artificial flowers. After all, flowers are responsible for creating a joyous and romantic mood.
It can be difficult to know where to start when looking for the best artificial wedding flowers for your big day. Thus, one of the best things to do is take a look at the latest trends to see if something inspires you. This is what we are going to do in this post. Pastel flower arrangements are coming back in fashion. This is because they provide a joyful and warm feeling, and they are linked with elements of luxury and romance. One thing that we have noticed is growing in popularity as the year goes by is wild wedding blooms. To get an idea of what these bouquets and arrangements look like, simply imagining picking something straight from someone else’s garden. The arrangements contain a number of different flowers. This is ideal if you are hosting a quirky and rustic wedding, which is certainly in fashion at the moment. Last but not least, why not go for a taste of romantic luxe with the artificial flowers you choose? This is all about high flower content and romantic blooms, such as orchids and hydrangea, in cream and pastel shades.
How to Choose the Perfect Band for Your Wedding.
Wedding bands are undoubtedly what you are searching for if you have a big wedding on the horizon. There are a lot of things to think about when organizing the big day, but the wedding band has to be pretty high up there. It’s the thing people will most remember about the day and can make all the difference to the atmosphere. But this is probably also your first time trying to book wedding bands. Unless you are a professional events organizer, booking a wedding band might strike you as a rather complicated process, and certainly a pretty big deal. Here are a few things to consider.
What to Consider When Booking Wedding Bands
If you are looking at wedding bands, there are more than a few things which are worth bearing in mind in order to make a wise and educated decision. The entertainment at your wedding is up there with the food in terms of importance. Making the right choice is a make or break decision for your big day. The first thing to bear in mind in your search for wedding bands is whether or not you can make choices from the play list. Most bands should have a fairly comprehensive playlist of songs they can play; this is actually important to check in itself. But after this, you want to make sure that you can customize the line up. A lot of bands might not give you this option – they will simply stick to all the familiar songs they have selected themselves. But to personalize your day and add that extra dimension of quality, it is important to make sure your chosen band will be right for your personal tastes. Some wedding bands will even learn your first dance if it is not in their repertoire to begin with! Another small but important thing to consider is whether the band will provide music between sets. Even band members need to take breaks or stop to have something to eat, but it can be pretty mood killing if this means the venue is suddenly left silent. Some bands will provide music between sets as part of their service and this avoids having to fork out extra for a DJ.
Other things to consider when choosing a wedding band
There is yet more to think about when you are choosing a wedding band. A really important one is to do with all important time considerations. Simply, how long does the band play for? How long can they play for? Band performance times really vary, but a typical wedding evening will usually take the form of a first dance, followed by three sets of 45 minutes or so until midnight. But other bands might offer variations on this theme and this isn’t always strictly true. Consider how long you want the band for and when you want them playing, before you start looking. Another seemingly obvious point when going about choosing live wedding bands is obviously the actual music you are going to hear. Of course, you will have considered what type of band you want playing, and have probably checked out their performance in videos, or even live if you are lucky. But you also need to think about the songs they play. If they have played your favorite song and played it well, then that is great, but they can’t play one song on repeat for over two hours. They also need to have an impressive repertoire that will offer a variety for your guests, young and old, and of varying tastes. This is just a sample of the decisions you need to make in choosing a wedding.

The first thing the boys head to when they get home from school is to the snack cabinet. They usually ask for snack cakes or cookies…you know sugar. I’ve found a few snacks that they actually enjoy that are healthy for them too!
Slammers Snack Pouches are perfect for Back-to-School lunches and sports. Slammers Super Food Snacks by Kids Gourmet just released new line of protein Slammers Snacks for summer 2015. Created to be delicious, easily digestible & instant fuel for active kids, Watermelon Kiwi Burst and Pomegranate Grape Crush each have 7 grams of protein per pouch.
The boys LOVE these pouches. My super picky 2-year-old would ask for more. These are definitely on our shopping list for snacks from now on!
Vermont Nut-Free Chocolates are perfect for parents to send their kids to school with, especially as more schools become aware of the dangers of nut allergies.
Vermont Nut Free was founded by the mother of boy with a peanut allergy. Their entire selection is made safe for those with peanut or tree nut allergies, but can also be enjoyed by lovers of fine chocolates. Along with sweets, they also have a number of healthy snacks for school including the nut free granola bar,TANABAR and Trail Mix.
The boys enjoyed the trail mix even though it had a few things that I didn’t think they would enjoy in it. The Trail Mix has the perfect combination of flavors…Sunflower Seeds, Roasted Soybeans, Dark Skippers, Dried Cranberries, Raisins and Pretzels.
They also enjoyed the TANABAR. It has the perfect combination of all natural nut free ingredients. The best part about both snacks, it they are healthy and help keep them fuller then sugar until dinner.
Enjoy Life Foods, leading maker of allergy-friendly foods and gluten-free foods, introduces Plentils®, the perfect quick-and-easy food for back-to-school snacks. Enjoy Life Foods crafted tasty Plentils made with plant-based, protein-filled lentils for a better-for-you alternative to traditional chips with 40 percent less fat. Like all Enjoy Life Foods products, the Plentils are allergy-friendly and free from the eight most common food allergens (wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish), Certified Gluten-Free, Non-GMO Project Verified and made with high-quality ingredients. Varieties include:
Honestly, the kids never got to try them! My husband fell in love and ate them all, while we were on vacation at my moms! That says a lot, because he’s picky about his chips & snacks. He said they were really tasty and thinks the kids would really enjoy them too, so guess I need to head to the store to get some more!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Having three kids, I have had my share of baby carriers, but I’ve never tried a sling…until now…I was able to try out a Hotsling…I absolutely LOVE this thing! They come is such great colors and patterns, and work so well. Comfortable and Stylish…now that’s something i can really get behind!
I truly love all the designs, they can be used for either gender. They come in sizes Regular and Large. They have a sizing chart on their site, so you can make sure you get the proper fit! “Say bye bye to complicated sizing charts and hello to the infinitely adjustable Hotslings AP! Two strategically placed tri-glides allow the AP to fit comfortably on multiple users while also easily accommodating postpartum body changes.” Click Here to see which of our two sizes are right for you!
A: Wearing Shoulder – Shoulder covered by pouch.
B: Red Arrow – Located on inside of pouch next to caution label.
C: Buckle & Strap – Two buckles with straps infinitely adjust to give you the best
Hotslings fit.
D: Good Fit Zone – Pouch should sit at belly button or slightly below.
E: Sleek Padding – Pouch is lightly padded on both sides for structure in the semi-reclined carry & added comfort in the hip carry.
F: Seam & “hs” Tag – Where pouch is sewn together. Use tag to align pouch & find best fit.
I don’t think i would go back to using the other carriers…I can even carry little man still…and he is 2!
He thought it was so fun, and it took a load off my arms…it felt so much better carrying him with the Hotsling. It’s super soft, comfortable and I love the adjustable straps. Find Hotsling on Facebook and YouTube, and Pinterest. Buy Hotsling on their website.
One Lucky winner will receive a Hotsling in choice of pattern. This giveaway is open to residents in US; 18+. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm before a forfeit is assumed. Giveaway will runs July 9, 2012 @ 12:01AM – July 23, 2012 @ 11:59PM (EST).
Disclosure: I received a product(s) for review purposes only, however I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Hotsling has not influenced the editorial nature of this post, and No other compensation was received. Please see our disclosure policy for more information.
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5 Tips For Creating Safe Havens for Your Anxious Child
The school environment can pose unique problems for a child with anxiety, especially if the type of anxiety is social anxiety. Often considered a “performance-related” anxiety, children exhibiting social anxiety are often triggered by both the social demands of a school setting and the performance demands within the classroom. The five tips below can help you, and the school, create “safe havens” within the highly social school setting, supporting your child’s anxiety before it develops into school avoidance or worse:
Partner with the teacher and school at the first indication of concern. Don’t wait until the problem is significant to approach the teacher. As soon as your child begins to avoid school or indicate a problem, speak with the teacher to develop strategies early. Doing this can help you avoid the more serious cases of school avoidance.
Develop strategies with the teacher for use within the classroom environment. Many anxious children are triggered by the typical performance demands of a classroom. Work with the teacher to incorporate some of the strategies listed below to minimize the negative impact:
Seat the child next to helpful and calming peers
Work out non-verbal signals to use with the child to signal when the teacher is going to call on him or her.
Provide advanced warning to the child for changes in routine
Establish “safe zones” for the child to use during recess and/or lunch. It is easy for a child with anxiety to be triggered by the noise and energy of the other students during lunch and recess. If this is a trigger for your child, work with the school to establish alternative places for your child to go. Working in another classroom and using the library often work very well for children with anxiety.
Establish “safe” people on campus to function as coaches to your child. Although schools can be huge triggers for children with anxiety, they also provide great opportunities for children to learn and refine social skills and coping strategies. Enlist the help of someone on campus that your child trusts to help your child learn and use social competencies at school.
Make sure the home environment is safe and supportive. As important as it is to mitigate the possible negative impact of the school environment for children with anxiety, it is important to remember that everything starts at home. Making sure that home is a calm and secure environment can establish a foundation of safety that can support the anxious child.
Children who demonstrate extreme shyness and social anxiety-like behaviors can really struggle in school and during social events. Following these tips and adapting them to your specific situation can go a long way toward supporting these children and improving their outcomes. Social anxiety disorder doesn’t have to dominate a child’s life. Providing safe havens can help your child find the balance needed to manage his or her anxieties.
Raising the Shy Child
By Christine Fonseca
The fear of being judged by others in social activities is a common human experience, especially during childhood. But when the fear becomes all-consuming, it can disrupt daily functioning and the development of social competency. Raising the Shy Child: A Parent’s Guide to Social Anxiety takes a fresh look at social anxiety disorder, coupling the latest in research trends with evidence-based strategies and real-world stories to untangle the complexities of this disorder. Presented in an easy-to-read, conversational style, the book uses a combination of real-world examples and stories from adults and children with social anxiety disorder to show parents and educators how to help children find a path through their fear and into social competence. With specific strategies to address school refusal, bullying, and identity issues, Raising the Shy Child is a must-read resource for anyone dedicated to enhancing the lives of children.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christine Fonseca is a school psychologist and award-winning author of nonfiction and teen novels dedicated to helping children and adults find their unique voice in the world, including the books “Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students,” “The Girl Guide,” and “Quiet Kids.” When she isn’t crafting new stories or working with student groups, she can be found sipping too many skinny vanilla lattes at her local coffee house.
BUY IT
Prufrock Press
March 1, 2015
ISBN: 9781618213983
$16.95
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