Conditions will be awesome this weekend according to Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in Mammoth Lakes, California. Also, weather reports call for the possibly of EVEN MORE SNOW over the next week to add to the 15+ inches received the past few days.
Looking forward to skiing with my family there, just over a WEEK FROM NOW.
Safe travels (and snow tires/chains) to those lucky ones who will be blasting through all the powder this weekend -- I'm jealous and wish I could join you all.
MAMMOTH Rocks!
15" of NEW Snow in Mammoth & STILL Falling - Special Room Rate DEALS NOW
I am so stoked and so is my DH and our 4 kids... because we will be up skiing Mammoth the last week of January.It's killing me that we can't be up there sooner, but you can...because Mammoth Mountain, California has 15 inches of fresh powder right now with MORE expected! Not only that, but with all this new snow, they've just dropped rates on some of the best slopeside rooms – availability is limited, so call 800.MAMMOTH NOW
- For up to the minute Mammoth Mountain snow, weather and road conditions, lift status information, and special deals and events, browse anytime HERE
- You can also watch the snow FALLING at MAMMOTH LIVE, right now via Webcam HERE
- Most important: You'll need 4WD or carry SNOW CHAINS because you'll likely need them over the next 24 hours and DRIVE CAREFULLY.
It's Going to Be Heavenly
in Mammoth this Weekend, For Sure
7 Ways to Avoid Scams & Find Legitimate Charities Now Aiding Haiti's Earthquake Victims
by Janis Brett Elspas
This is a followup to my MommyBlogExpert post earlier this week mentioning the YourCause.com website listing more than 200 organizations that are currently seeking help for Haiti's earthquake victims.
Now that we are in the midst of the tragic results of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, which has been followed by some strong after shocks causing further damage, injuries, and loss of life. As of this blog's posting, the American Red Cross alone has raised for than $35 million already, but more help is desperately needed. It's only natural that many of us want to just jump in and lend a hand. But, before we act, keep in mind that the potential for scams taking advantage of this situation is rising, so everyone should be extremely careful and do your own homework before giving to any groups soliciting funds or material items for this (or any other) cause.
To lessen the chance that you will be victimized, here are some guidelines to follow when donating money/items to help Haiti's residents to ensure that it doesn't end up being used for something other than the legitimate charitable cause you intended it for
- No matter how heart-wrenching their stories are, never respond to donation appeals from individuals whether in-person, by snail mail or by email, if you do not know the person making the request directly.
- Since there are plenty of legitimate U.S. organizations raising money for Haiti right now that you can easily contact, it would likely be safer and also tax-deductible to donate only through charities that are U.S.-based or at least U.S. branches or affiliates, rather than give to organizations rooted only in Haiti (or any other country other than the United States)
- Before giving money to any U.S. organization (whether you are approached in-person, by mail, or via the Internet) confirm that the charity is legitimate by checking to see if it is designated by the IRS as a 501 (c) non-profit. If you donate to an organization that is not on this IRS list, or to a foreign group with no U.S. ties, there is still the possibility that it could be a real cause, but your donation will probably not be tax-deductible.
- Consider giving through an organization that you have already had personal experience with before. Examples include, but are not limited to such groups as your local school, church, synagogue, or other organization in your hometown such as scout troups, that you know to be legitimate and that you've donated to before, asking them to earmark this particular contribution to aid the Haitian Earthquake.
- Do not fall for appeals for money/items on blogs, websites, Twitter, Facebook or other social networks, either, unless you have a direct connection to the person asking. Just because the person or group is connected to someone you actually do know, doesn't mean they are legitimate.
- To find worthy charities to donate to, visit the websites of the major aid groups such as the American Red Cross. Another good resource are online organizations such as YourCause.com, which does everything it can to connect donors with 501 (c) non-profits and currently lists more than 200 Haiti causes that currently need assistance. But they, and I encourage you to always do your own homework, too, before giving. You'd be surprised about how fast you can find out what you need to know just by Googling and visiting some online sites.
- If any group soliciting money seems suspicious, it probably is, so consider going with your gut reaction and looking into other charities to contribute to instead. To check for rumors and other suspicious information circulating on the Internet you can also check websites such as Snopes.com to confirm if there's any truth to all the chatter you've heard.
In summary, give generously, but be sure to do your homework first. Remember, there is no lack of legitimate organizations that are actively gathering badly-needed funds for Haiti right now, and your money will make the strongest impact if it ends up in the right hands. Lastly, keep in mind that giving money or items aren't the only ways you can help. Local Red Cross chapters need volunteers and donated blood is also in great demand right here in the U.S.
I look forward to your comments and welcome additional suggestions on ways to make sure that Haiti gets all the help it needs to rebuild and rehabilitate.
I look forward to your comments and welcome additional suggestions on ways to make sure that Haiti gets all the help it needs to rebuild and rehabilitate.
LINKS to Ways YOU CAN HELP Haiti's EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
by Janis Brett Elspas
MommyBlogExpert
This is a call to join me in doing what you can to help those in Haiti that were affected by the 7.0+ earthquake yesterday. As a family of advocates for community service, my DH, kids and I make a habit out of volunteering in our own town and helping elsewhere in the world where it is needed most. And, as Southern Californians living in earthquake country ourselves, we have empathetic to those who have suffered from the big one that hit Tuesday in the Western Hemisphere's most-impoverished country.
According to a news story published by YourCause.com, a social media network where caring people can harness the power of Web 2.0 and the Internet to raise for funds to help people around the world, this is the most catastrophic earthquake to strike that country since 1984. There is widespread panic still emerging now as Haiti needs our help. Even before this terrible shaker, 70% of Haiti's population lives on less than two dollars per day and half of its 8.5 million people are unemployed.
Here's a list of more than 220 organizations that have rushed to Haiti's rescue -- and more groups are still forming as this post goes live. Check these to find out how you and your kids can help the people of Haiti through an established organization or start your own on the YourCause.com website.
FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation from YourCause.com or others associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
MommyBlogExpert
This is a call to join me in doing what you can to help those in Haiti that were affected by the 7.0+ earthquake yesterday. As a family of advocates for community service, my DH, kids and I make a habit out of volunteering in our own town and helping elsewhere in the world where it is needed most. And, as Southern Californians living in earthquake country ourselves, we have empathetic to those who have suffered from the big one that hit Tuesday in the Western Hemisphere's most-impoverished country.According to a news story published by YourCause.com, a social media network where caring people can harness the power of Web 2.0 and the Internet to raise for funds to help people around the world, this is the most catastrophic earthquake to strike that country since 1984. There is widespread panic still emerging now as Haiti needs our help. Even before this terrible shaker, 70% of Haiti's population lives on less than two dollars per day and half of its 8.5 million people are unemployed.
Here's a list of more than 220 organizations that have rushed to Haiti's rescue -- and more groups are still forming as this post goes live. Check these to find out how you and your kids can help the people of Haiti through an established organization or start your own on the YourCause.com website.
FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation from YourCause.com or others associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
How A Homeschool Mom of Triplets Plus One, All Born Within a Year, Stays Sane
The Elspas Family, just a few years ago, entertaining at a charity event
by Janis Brett Elspas
It finally happened this morning, after almost two hours of chaos in our household that prevented my kids and I from getting anything done. This wasn't the first time it has been a zoo -- instead of a school -- around here, but hopefully this will be the last. Yes, readers, I've finally admitted that this mom's home schooled kids need more structure to get their schoolwork completed without driving me insane.
Since this is the first of what I hope will be many more posts on home schooling children, let me give you some background. For the past two school years our four kids -- triplets in 7th grade and big brother in 9th grade -- have been enrolled in public school independent study, which is essentially modified homeschool. Just in case you're not familiar with this type of home school, this is the way it works: Each kid meets with the school system's supervisors of the independent study program to turn in assignments due as well as to pickup work they are to accomplish in the week ahead.
Our public school program is designed so that the triplets each are required to have a half hour of one-on-one conference time in person with their teacher weekly. Big brother usually receives one hour or more per week of private instruction with his high school teacher since his workload is obviously greater and more demanding than middle school. The kids all answer to these public school teachers and as their mom, my job is simply to attend these meetings as an observer every week at two different City of Angels campuses which are part of L.A. Unified School District here in Los Angeles. In the role of unpaid teacher, my responsibility extends to facilitating the home class room, overseeing my kids to be sure that the work gets done.
Remember this is independent study, so by definition the kids are supposed to be motivated to get all their work done outside the conventional classroom and with minimal parental supervision. I'm home with them, though, and available to help whenever they get stuck and need some help -- but I'm only supposed to be in the background and they rarely ask for my assistance since they are all quite gifted.
In theory, this sounds easy from a mom perspective, doesn't it? But in reality, each of the four kids' workloads are slightly different, given their individual strengths and weaknesses not to mention their wide-ranging interests and personalities. On top of that, rarely are any two kids working on the same exact assignment at a given moment. So, up until now I've left it completely up to each individual when to work on their classwork, projects, and tests, and when to take breaks. This system has not worked well for the most part from the beginning, since there have been more than a few moments where someone either wasn't doing what they were not supposed to or even worse, bothering a sibling who was actually trying to work for a change.
Today that all changed with the new "program" I decided to implement to keep them in public school independent study while I continue to work on growing my blog business. As of now, we are all doing 50 minutes of work at a time throughout the day, myself included, followed by a 10 minute break to play, eat, use the restroom, etc. This includes lunch break, recesses and gym which are all mandatory and timed too.
Sure, this new regimentation cramps my creative style, especially as a writer and blogger. Like many writers, when I'm on a roll I don't like to have to start and stop working on a strict schedule. In case you're wondering, yes, at the moment, I really do almost feel as if I myself have returned to the rigidity of school periods with a few precious minutes in between to change classes.
How's it going so far? The truth is that I can't remember a period of calm like this since we started home schooling back in September 2008. Everyone has completed an unprecedented amount of quality work this morning and I'm proud of my kids. Not only that...I finished writing and editing this post within two 50-minute periods with a 10 minute break in between, as well as having had the luxury of a sit-down lunch with my kids and a bike riding outing (borrowing one of my boys' bikes because I don't have my own, yet) with one of my triplet girls.
A little structured time for us all, a good amount of quality work produced by everyone, plus the bonus of having family fun time together, too. It's funny. I've just realized now that the latter is actually one of the biggest selling points of home school and a primary reason why DH and I decided to move the kids from traditional school to the home classroom in the first place. Including the two hours of chaos that preceded all this today, I'd say all that is not bad for a morning's work. What do you think?
What is Your Own Secret to Sanity? Would Love to Hear Your Comments
What do other home schooling families do to educate their kids and keep things running smoothly? Please share your experiences and solutions in the comment box below. I'd especially like to know how other moms manage to maintain your own grip on reality.
What is Your Own Secret to Sanity? Would Love to Hear Your Comments
What do other home schooling families do to educate their kids and keep things running smoothly? Please share your experiences and solutions in the comment box below. I'd especially like to know how other moms manage to maintain your own grip on reality.
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