One Direction Makeup Kit & Giveaway

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!!

Every year we do the same old egg decorating and egg hunts…let try a few new ideas…
ART – is always a fun way to get keepsakes of your children growing, and let them get creative…if you need ideas Pinterest has tons…The best ones are using hand-prints or finer-prints to create…that way you can see their hands grow over the years, and it’s very personal!
BUNNIES – are always fun – I remember taking a picture with the Easter bunny every year. Now the hip trend is pictures with a real bunny, these are adorable keepsakes that you would be proud to hang up around the house, or share with friends, ask your photographer about Easter sessions, chances are they have a bunny waiting for you!
CUPCAKES – need i say more! except let’s get creative, not just with icing and sprinkles…let the kids get creative and have fun!
DECORATIONS – Decorations don’t have to be store-bought – try making your own decorations, they’re fun to make, cheep [free] and personalized!
EGGS – Yes we all die eggs, and most of us have experiences we want to forget..lol..but lets face it, kids love dyeing eggs!! Lets try something new this year, get creative, and have fun doing it!
FLOWERS – Let your kids help you make an Easter arrangement for the table!
GARDENS – Plant an “Easter Garden”
HISTORY It’s time we talk to are kids and let them know what Easter is really about…sure bunnies are cute, and eggs are fun, but the History is important!
IDEAS – Let your kids throw in some ideas on how they would like to spend Easter…they will enjoy the gesture!
JELLY BEANS! – I don’t know how, and i don’t care..lol..but Jelly Beans have become a tradition at Easter…
Place 3 packs gelatin, 16 oz. sugar and 12 oz. water in a pan. Bring the ingredients to a boil over medium heat, stirring as you mix them. Continue to stir for 20 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, and add 1/4 tsp. salt, 4 oz. orange juice and 2 oz. lemon juice. After the mixture has cooled a bit, stir in 4 tsp. orange zest and 4 tsp. lemon zest. Chill a medium-size baking pan, then fill it with the mixture and let it harden for 4 to 5 hours. Loosen the jelly from the pan with a knife, and dump it onto a cutting surface. Cut the jelly into small pieces, dusting them with cornstarch. Put them on a wire rack to dry. Pour the jelly pieces into the coating bowl attachment on your mixer, and add 2 oz. water and 6 oz. sugar. Turn the mixer on high for the suggested time according to the manufacturer’s directions, or until the shells have achieved the thickness and appearance you want.
KITE FLYING – With Easter being in spring it’s a perfect time to fly a kite, great addition to the Easter basket as well.
LUNCH – Have fun with lunch – try sending your kids on an Easter egg hunt for their lunch items!!
MONEY – Not much…try just adding a dollar or two to their baskets, and see how excited they get!
NOTE – Leave a note from the “Easter Bunny” in an egg…
ORNAMENTS – Get some fishing twine and cut different lengths…snap Easter eggs on it in different patterns, and hang them from a tree, porch, or even the ceiling in your child’s room!
PEEPS – Try some new ways to enjoy peeps!!
QUIET READING TIME – Take this time to read some cute Easter stories
RICE KRISPIE TREATS – There are so many ideas now…and these are always fun to make with the kiddos…
SCIENCE – Believe it or not…you can squeak in some science! Try these ideas out…
Naked Egg
Growing Peeps
TOYS – You don’t always have to put candy in the baskets…try some little toys they’ve been asking for…like hot wheels or spring time barbie…they’ll be just as happy
UMBRELLA – As a little girl I loved my sun umbrella…it’s super fun!
VIOLETS – For a fresh spin on an Easter bouquet try adding Violets!
WATER – Get some Mio, or just some old-fashioned food coloring and die your kids water…it’s fun and inexpensive!
XYLOPHONE FUN – Try this little fun – use your leftover egg die, still in the glasses, and make a fun colorful xylophone!
YELLOW – Wear yellow to brighten up the day … it will look Fab in you pictures!
Zzzzz – Get enough rest for all the fun that Easter brings!
Head on over to my Easter Pinterest page for more fun ideas to do this Easter!

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
Must watch this DVD is…this DVD combines two of my favorite things…legos & star wars! Disney and Lucasfilm have released a DVD collection for LEGO Star Wars: The New Yoda Chronicles. If you’re familiar with any of the animated LEGO movies or shows, you have an idea what this is like. You get a mix of seeing all your favorite Star Wars characters, in LEGO form, combined with the humor you would expect in a LEGO show.
I sat down to watch this while the boys were at school, and found myself giggling and into every bit!
The DVD consists of four 23-minute episodes. Each continuing the story from the episode before it. While the first episode does feature a sort of flashback to the time right after Episode III, the main story takes place after the events of Episode IV. The idea is to find the Jedi Holocrons so Luke Skywalker can continue his Jedi training. The problem is, he’s not the only one after them. Darth Vader is also trying to locate them as well.
After headstrong Luke nearly delivers the good guys into Palpatine’s clutches, Master Yoda and the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi unearth the Holocrons – last remnants of the secrets of the Jedi – to further Luke’s training. But Darth Vader also seeks the Holocrons, and he’ll stop at nothing to get to them first! Meanwhile, courageous superclone Jek-14, a Force-sensitive clone, comes out of retirement to help bolster the Rebels. Share all the action-packed thrills of these interlocking, intergalactic adventures in LEGO® STAR WARS: The New Yoda Chronicles!
Episode IV: Escape from the Jedi Temple (23:00)
The heroes need to escape from Vader and Star Destroyers. Flashback to right after Episode III. Obi-Wan,Yoda, and Bail Organa have to retrieve the Jedi Holocrons from the Jedi Temple so Luke can be trained.
Episode V: Race for the Holocrons (22:59)
The Holocrons have been hidden but someone else might find it before Luke. We see some familiar locations. Han goes to Dagobah, Luke returns to Tatooine and comes across Watto.
Episode VI: Raid on Coruscant (23:01)
Vader has to head back to Tatooine. Jek-14 arrives to help Luke and the others. A mission is set up to journey to Coruscant to try to retrieve the Holocrons.
Clash of the Skywalkers (23:01)
Luke’s death is faked to throw off Darth Vader. Han, Chewie, and C-3PO go to Hoth to set up a new base for the Alliance. Luke tries to make sense of the Holocron crystal he has.
Bonus Material
Alternate Ending: “Clash of the Skywalkers” (1:51)
I really enjoyed this DVD and I know the boys will too! It had a good story with plenty of comedy.
LEGO Star Wars: The New Yoda Chronicles was released on September 15 & retails for $19.99 but I’ve seen it available for as low as $16.95. Star Wars and LEGO fans should definitely check this out.

McFarland, USA came out this weekend with a bang and surpasses our expectations in the box office! But with as inspiring as the movie is the cast behind it is just as inspiring. While I was in LA a few weeks ago I got to sit down with Kevin Costner, Director Niki Caro, the real inspiration behind the movie & the 7 young men who brought the inspiration to life on the big screen. Those 7 young men Carlos Pratts, Hector Duran, Sergio Avelar, Johnny Ortiz, Rafael Martinez, Michael Aguero & Rodrigo Ramirez, were so fun to listen to. They talked about many things, but I think the thing that touch me the most was the brotherhood and the bonds that you could clearly see formed just like a real cross-country team does. Staring across Kevin Costner isn’t an easy task but these boys clearly held their own in this inspiring movie.
Your first question might be a little like ours…what was it like working with Kevin Costner? The boys had some great answers…
It was a great experience, he’s a great legend, such a humble guy. – Group
He was more stories that a library, I swear. – Michael Aguero
While a few of the boys only had very little time to spend with their inspiration, Romero, Sergio & Michael are all from McFarland and grew up with the real inspiration as their coaches, councilors and teachers. While two of them (Michael & Sergio) are actually runners for McFarland and another (Romero) is a champion Soccer player for McFarland..when it came down to it they only had one month to “train” for their roles, however, they did do more running while filming then you see in the movie.
While the other boys had never acted before Carlos & Johnny have acted in other roles..Carlos states that making a movie is different from TV in that TV moves so much faster so you must have faith in the script, where a movie you get to take your time and have more confidence in what you are doing.
Carlos Pratts Taking Direction from Director Niki Caro | Photo: Disney
Q: What’s the most influential real life lesson that you took from this movie?
For me personally, throughout my high school and pretty much my whole life, I’ve been the chubby one, and in this movie, I see it a lot. They picked on me, but despite all this, it was a joke. Me and him get along, all of us get along. Yeah, they could tell me that I’m fat, but to be honest, in real life, it really did hurt me, and to see him triumph the way he did, it’s really a triumph for me also, because it proved everybody wrong. A big man could do it, but it showed me also that I could do it too. – Rodrigo Ramirez
I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned throughout this film, which I already knew, but it just reinforces it even more is the idea of equality and not judging a book by its cover. As you see in the film, Kevin Costner comes into this small town, small town, and he kind of judges the book by its cover. Once you get deeper into what’s really and all the values that are there, you see that everybody’s equal. Everybody had their own opinions. The only thing that separates us is the color of our skin, so we should try to treat each other equally. – Hector Duran
Even after the filming they all keep in touch and it’s more like a brotherhood now with “Hector as the little brother”. The chemistry that you see on-screen is the way it is in real life…
We love each other as brothers and we, we never lost that connection. When they said cut, it was still there.
What’s next for these boys? There “doors are open” to whatever life brings their way.
I hope, if you haven’t already, you go check out these amazing young men in McFarland, USA. It really is the little movie that could, far surpassing everyone’s expectations!
Follow McFARLAND, USA on Facebook
Follow Disney Pictures on Twitter
Follow the Boys on Twitter:
Ramiro Rodriguez @Ramiroo_17
Sergio Avelar @sjravelar
Rafael Martinez @koolaidrafa
Johnny Ortiz @MrJohnnyOrtiz
Hector Duran @hector_duran11
Carlos Pratts @carlospratts

Report the accident where it occurred, whether in your hotel or a tourist attraction. Make sure they make a record of what happened. Take the name of anyone you spoke to, and note the time and date of the accident, so you have a timeline of events. If you’re on a package holiday, report what happened to your holiday rep, or call the headquarters.
If you’ve had an accident on the road or pathways, report your accident to the police or local embassy so they can make arrangements to avoid similar accidents. Contact your insurer as soon as possible. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it may be wise to speak to a specialist lawyer who can advise you, like https://ericramoslaw.com/san-antonio/car-accident-lawyer/.
Gather Evidence
If you’re going to claim on insurance, you will need evidence. Write down what happened as soon as you can, while all the details are still fresh in your mind. If they were witnesses, ask them for their contact details, should what they saw be needed later. Take photographs of where the accident happened, and of your injuries.
Note down the date and time of any calls you make relating to your accident, any reports you make and any medical treatment you receive whether while away and when you get home. Keep medical bills and receipts somewhere safe. Keep receipts from any other costs related to your accident, such as for painkillers, wheelchair hire or any missed trips.
When You Get Home
An accident on vacation can leave you shocked and upset. When you get home, it’s sensible to go and see your own Doctor even if you received medical treatment abroad. They can give you a second check over and make sure nothing was missed. They will be able to advise on any continuing treatment you may need.
If you think your accident was caused by a third party, whether a hotel failing to put out a wet floor sign or a dangerous activity planned by your tour operator, consider whether you may have a claim. Compensation can help to recover the costs of any loss of earnings after an injury, medical care or other costs like having to rebook flights. To successfully claim, you will need to prove that the accident was caused by the other party. The evidence you kept for you insurance company will also be useful here, so save everything.
A vacation is supposed to be a fun time with your loved ones, but an accident can be very distressing and spoil things for you. Whatever’s happened, try not to let it ruin the good memories you have of the break before the accident happened, and don’t let it ruin the idea of a future trip.

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
During our Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales press junket, we were able to sit down and chat with directors Joachim Ronning & Espen Sandberg about joining the Pirates’ franchise and bringing the fifth installment to life.
Why most people might think that the job just fell into their laps, think again…
“We chased it. We really wanted to make this movie.”
It was actually their idea to do the origin story. That was something they wanted to explore. Being fans of the franchise they wanted to learn more about Jack Sparrow. Johnny liked the idea but was a little reserved on the idea as he is protective of his character.
The ghost sharks were brilliantly written in by Jeff Nathanson, and left up to Joachim & Espen to take it from paper to an action sequence. The design of the sharks was a long process that they did together with Javier Bardem, the production designers & the VFX supervisors.
Joachim & Espen started making movies together when they were 10. Movies that inspired them were the Spielberg, Lucas and Zemeckis films.
Q. So, because you work with a team and you work as a team so often, do you have individual roles interacting?
A. “It’s very easy for everyone. We don’t really know any other way of doing this then being together. For us, it’s a very natural process. And I think it’s a collaborative one. We include the actors and the crew and everyone as part of the discussion basically.”
Q. When you were filming the young Jack scenes, was the process similar to the rogue one and filming Leah, the young Leah in terms of the CGI for his face, for Johnny’s face?
A. “I would say yes and no because the Leah was not with Carrie Fisher but we shot with Johnny Depp. So I mean the youthification that we call it — And we shot it with Johnny and then spent the year in the computer basically.”
Q. What was it like working with Johnny Depp? And what was the chemistry like on set?
A.“Oh, it’s amazing. He’s so funny. And I mean, what you see with Jack Sparrow, it’s all Johnny. And he’s a genius. I mean for us he’s like up there with Chaplin and the other ones because his timing is just perfect and he has such a weird imagination. He comes up with the craziest ideas. And for us, the highlight was always going into his trailer in the morning and going through the scenes and the lines and trying to come up with even more cool stuff to do to make it even funnier. And of course, when we started shooting he would do something completely different. And everyone was sort of thrown off but that also makes it come alive and funny.”
Pirates Facts:
Captain “Salazar” was written as a British Capt. until they cast Javier Bardem for the role.
They were inspired by Hollywood adventure family movies
They hope the franchise continues
They were breakdancers when they were 10
Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales Hits Theaters May 26
Follow PIRATES on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
You Might Also Enjoy
Activity Pack & Trailers | Pirates Premiere | Pirates Movie Review
Interviews
Geoffrey Rush | Javier Bardem | Brenton Thwaites | Kaya Scodelario
Want to see more of my adventures in LA? Check out my Twitter & Instagram. I’ve shared several photos from my adventures! #PiratesLifeEvent & #BambiBluray.
I attended an all-expense-paid trip by Disney, all opinions are 100% my own.