To have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation-this is to have succeeded.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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We wish to offer our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all of the wonderful, touching expressions of sympathy we have received over the loss of our mother and grandmother and our inspiration. We are so grateful and will always remember the kindness of so many.
Linda, Elizabeth, and Elena |
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Dr. Toy Picks Nana Star & Friends for 100 Best Children's Product You've seen her seals on all of your other favorite toys-and now you'll see them on Nana Star! We are super excited to report that this month, both Nana Star and Nana Star and the Moonman, as well as their accompanying plushies, were named to Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2008 and Best Picks lists! Dr. Toy, the internationally recognized expert on children's products and play, explains that the winners "were chosen as the latest new products that utilize innovation in specifically captivating a child's interest through play to learn, be creative and physically active, while providing consumers with more choices for home and classroom."
Since this is precisely why we do what we do at the laugh-friendly company®, we are very proud of and grateful for this prestigious distinction. You can see Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2008 and Best Picks - and get a start on that holiday shopping at www.drtoy.com.
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Moonbeam Chooses the Moonman
We are also pleased to announce that a picture book very close to your hearts has been named a semi-finalist of the 2009 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards! Nana Star and the Moonman, along with the companion Moonman lovey, was chosen from 1,085 entries as one of just three semi-finalists in the Book with Merchandise category! Yahoooo!
www.independentpublisher.com
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Child safety is on every parent's mind in these days leading up to Halloween. ee talked with our favorite personal safety expert, Alfred McComber, about staying safe and keeping our little ghosts and goblins safe every day and not just when they're trick-or-treating. Here's what he had to say.
ee: What inspired you to develop your emergency preparedness radio show Code Red! ? How would you describe your mission as a show host?
am: The reason for developing the Code Red! radio show, which is now being revamped as a weekly television broadcast, is based on my 25+ years in law enforcement and dignitary protection, as well as my experience in rescue and emergency preparedness response operations. What inspired me to create the show back in 2004 is the fact that people truly must take their personal security and safety seriously. How can they learn the right steps and precautions to take? Fortunately the Code Red! show and my knowledgeable experts and guests specialize in teaching people exactly what they can do to increase their chances in emergencies and disasters.
ee: What is the single most important lesson you want listeners of the show and readers of your blog to come away with?
am: People must be aware of their surroundings (we call this Situational Awareness) and they need to have a PLAN OF ACTION (POA) before an emergency so that they can RESPOND in a calm, cool, and collected manner when emergencies do occur, rather than just reacting to a crisis.
ee: What do you think parents need to be most vigilant about when it comes to their kids' safety these days?
am: Parents need to get their heads out of the sand when it comes to the safety and security of their children. Ignorance is not going to protect their kids. Parents need to talk with their kids and train them on a regular basis about exactly what to do if they ever find themselves in a dangerous situation, whether in the form of a physical confrontation or even over the internet in a chat room somewhere. Just telling your kids not to talk to strangers is not enough! Many children are abused or taken by someone actually known to the child or the family.
ee: Are there any other likeminded security and emergency preparedness organizations or programs that you particularly endorse or recommend that parents get involved with
or tune into?
am: Of course tuning into the Code Red! show for the latest personal security, safety, and emergency preparedness tips (visit: www.coderedradioshow.com) is always my first recommendation! In addition, be sure to keep up to date with information through your local law enforcement-and don't forget non- profit organizations such as one of our direct partners, the National Crime Prevention Council (visit: www.ncpc.org) or the National Safety Council (visit: www.nsc.org). As far as my personal endorsement goes, the best course of action parents and guardians can take right this very moment to greatly increase the safety of their children is to invest in the proven prevention system available exclusively through our direct partner, Child Shield USA (see their brief, thought-provoking video at: www.mykidsbodyguard.com).
ee: What is the most rewarding or satisfying part of what you do?
am: My time with my radio show has been a true labor of love that has cost me plenty of time, energy, and money. But I do receive tremendous reward and satisfaction knowing that if the information, tips, and strategies that we share with listeners results in the saving of even one life or keeps one person from becoming another needless victim in another senseless act of violence, then it has all truly been worth it-and I wouldn't change the experience for anything else in the world!
Stay Safe!
Tune into www.coderedradioshow.com and put Alfred's knowledge and expertise to work protecting your family. |
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Check out SheKnows.com to win a copy of Nana Star and Nana Star and the Moonman!
You can enter hourly (believe it or not) until November 9th! Click the Buzz Up button and share your thoughts about and experiences with Nana Star with the whole wide world! Here is the link you'll need to be a winner: www.sheknows.com |
| Vote Laugh-Friendly!
You don't have to wait for November 4th to vote. This election season, ee needs YOUR vote! StartupNation, the web site by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, is celebrating America's most outstanding home-based businesses and the people behind them. It only takes a few seconds to cast your vote for the laugh-friendly company® by following the links below. You can vote (for us!) once a day through the rest of the month.
Most Innovative:
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Parent Bloggers Love Nana Star
Nana Star continues to be featured on numerous parent blogs and the buzz continues to GROW!
Here are just a few more of our favorite highlights from recent reviews.
Ever since the Moonman came into our lives, my little girl has been hooked.
She is now obsessed with the moon and has to look for itevery night. We listen
to the Moonman story and song on my iPod every morning. [She] can sing the accompanying song word for word without missing a beat. She loves her Moonman lovey and every night we tuck her into bed, we must give Moonman a kiss goodnight. (Of course, Nana Star is tucked in right beside both of them.) If that doesn't show how easy these characters are to love, then I don't know
We have so many books at our house, and while some are just for fun, some are for teaching life lessons. Nana Star falls in the later category. It's a warm story about having compassion and friendship, and about doing the right thing and helping others. All of this in a simple to understand story that is beautifully illustrated as well. The Nana Star website also makes it very simple to extend your experience.
- Kid Buy Products 10/16/08
The book brings many positives to nighttime, including the message that your little one is being watched over by the Moonman, even if they cannot see him. The adorable song on the CD will leave children drifting off to sleep into a warm, safe world. Nana Star and the Moonman is a good addition to any children's bookshelf.
- Great Dad 10/8/08
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What's Your Family's Favorite
Halloween Activity?
What's your favorite fun for Halloween - bobbing for apples, carving pumpkins, or trick-or-treating? Let us know and we'll donate, on behalf of the Nana Star Foundation, a picture book to the school, library, children's hospital, or doctor's office.
The Nana Star Foundation
Keeping the Chain of Giving Going.
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ee sends a most special, laugh-friendly birthday shout to BlapherMJ's daughter Olivia, who hit the double digits and turned the big 1-0 on October 12th! Happy, happy birthday, Olivia!
During the last year of our dear Grandmother's life, she resided at Loyalton of Hagerstown Assisted Living facility. Our whole family remains gratefule for the kind, loving attention they provided. Since June, they were ably assisted by several wonderful volunteers from Washington County Hospice Association.
To Peter, April and all those at the Chick-fil-A in Chantilly, we were simply speechless and beyond humbled by your most beautiful card and "Remembering Nana Star" in Moo Noos for October. We think you and your organization are without a doubt the most respectable and extraordinary model that corporations and companies in America could follow. Our endless thanks and appreciation.
Erika Thompson, a First Book volunteer at this year's Capital BookFest, was so incredibly helpful and kind to us! Erika, we really appreciated you and hope our paths cross again!
Darrin Ho of the Asian Grill in Springfield, VA is so, so laugh-friendly and deserves EXTRA LF kudos for being so kid-friendly too! Thank you Darrin! And our kids think you're tops! The Asian Grill is just a neat, welcoming place with great cuisine - one of our favorites no doubt! |
| It's been a couple of months since we had a contest, and it's definitely time!
We decided to run TWO contests at once - both with an October/Halloween theme. Go to our blaph page to see details about both contests, along with ee's own Halloween pictures! |
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October is
Breast Cancer Awareness Month - National Pretzel Month - National Fire Prevention Month - Adopt A Shelter Dog Month - National Chile Month - National SIDS Awareness Month
Guardian Angels Day - October 2
Yom Kippur - October 9
National Cake Decorating Day - October 10
Columbus Day - October 12
Bosses Day - October 16
Mother-in-Law Day - October 25
Mule Day - October 26
St. Jude's Day - October 28
Halloween - October 31
Mental Illness Awarness Week - 1st week of October
National School Lunch Week - 2nd week of October
Freedom of Speech Week - 3rd week of October
Give Wildlife a Break Week - 4th week of October
"Just before the death of flowers, And before they are buried in snow, There comes a festival season When nature is all aglow." - Author Unknown  |
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Remember to Vote on November 4
It's a right . . . it's a privilege . . . it's a duty! | |
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Now Available!
Go to
www.NanaStar.com or www.laughfriendly.com to order yours TODAY! |
Halloween Humor
Why did the vampire go to the orthodontist?
To improve his bite
What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman?
Frostbite
Why do witches use brooms to fly on?
Because vacuum cleaners are too heavy
Do zombies eat popcorn with their fingers?
No, they eat the fingers separately
Why don't skeletons ever go out on the town?
Because they don't have any body to go out with
What do ghosts add to their morning cereal?
Booberries
What is a vampire's favorite sport?
Casketball
What did one ghost say to the other ghost?
"Do you believe in people?"
Why do mummies have trouble keeping friends?
They're so wrapped up in themselves
What kind of streets do zombies like the best?
Dead ends
What is a vampire's favorite mode of transportation?
A blood vessel
What type of dog do vampire's like the best?
Bloodhounds
What is a skeleton's favorite musical instrument?
A trombone
Why do vampires need mouthwash?
They have bat breath
What's a vampire's favorite fast food?
A guy with very high blood pressure
Why did the Vampire subscribe to the Wall Street Journal?
He heard it had great circulation
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INGREDIENTS
Granny Smith apples 6 wooden sticks 1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped 2 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, toasted 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS
Insert wooden sticks 3/4 of the way into the stem end of each apple.
Place apples on a cookie sheet covered with lightly greased aluminum foil.
Combine caramels and water in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring often, until caramel melts and is smooth.
Stir in the vanilla.
Dip each apple into the caramel and gently run apples around insides of saucepan to scrape off some of the caramel. Scrape excess caramel from the apple bottoms using the side of the saucepan.
Combine the miniature marshmallows and pecans on a dinner plate.
Roll the apples in the mixture to coat.
Place on the aluminum foil and chill.
Put the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Drizzle over the apples and return them to the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Serves 6
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