Mission Monkey Day

Please stop over and visit Daffy @ Batcrap Crazy. I personally do not know her, but I do know her and her family are going through a very difficult time and my heart goes out to them. Please click the button below to give her the love and support that I know can come from bloggers. Thank you!

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Hello blog-world! I am participating in what's known around the world as Mission Monkey day! What is Mission Monkey you ask? Well, there's this blogger friend of ours known as Pixie Momma, aka Michelle. Michelle has a little girl, or Monkey as she's known by who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. To learn more about it, click here. Monkey is a sweet little 16 month old girl. She doesn't deserve this. Nobody deserves this.

But the good news is that Monkey only has Stage 1 (low risk). The bad news is the medical bills are mounting and the Physical Therapy (starts today) isn't covered by insurance. Michelle is using the donated money to offset medical bills. She will donate and unused portion to another family dealing with the same issue.

This is why the blogging universe is banning together like never before to rally around Michelle and Monkey to provide support. In addition to further entice you to lend your hand, and donate to the cause, we have over 50 items that have been donated. Many bloggers are hosting these fabulous giveaways and all you need to win one of these items is just one raffle ticket.

Donation pages:
Princess of Sarcasm
The One and Only Oka
SupahMommy
Jenn B Says #1
Jenn B Says #2
Amber
Two Little Monkeys
Mommy's Nest
Chief's Hiding From the Kids
Jenny
Jana


You may donate any amount of money via PayPal as it's linked directly to Michelle's bank account. However, in order to be a part of the raffle, this is how that's going to go. If you donate the following, you get the subsequent number of entries:

• $10 - 2 entries
• $20 - 5 entries
• $30 - 10 entries
• $40 - 15 entries
• $50 - 20 entries
• $75 - 35 entries
• $100 - 50 entries
• $200 - 125 entries

The raffles for each item will start on or around July 1st.

Click on monkey to donate...please help!

If you are donating money via PayPal, I need to know who it's coming from. For example, look at the first picture below. The link takes to you this screen. Press the plus sign and then indicate your blog name/blog email address so I can track you accordingly.

And, here's the thing: this could be any of our kids. Thank you for your time and thank you for your donation.

There are also a few other things going on to celebrate Mission Monkey please visit them all!

Twitter party!
More info can be found here - CASH PRIZES!!!!!!

Kerri over at Kerri's Klutter is donating $1 for each and every linkup she receives for her weekly meme, Comment Love Letters. In addition, Adrienne is matching Kerri's donation dollar for dollar! Go and link up and support Mission Monkey!

ZGirl and Travis are participating in a weight loss challenge and they are asking for your sponsorship. Please visit them and lend your support!

Jenn over at BabyStepsInHighHeels has a challenge where she's going to donate $1 for every comment/new follower from now until the end of May. Please visit her!

Until next time....

Monday Minute - Monkey Style

Writer's block... well it's just not my friend. Some days I want to write but I'm drawing nothing but blanks. Other days I have a million and 1 stories to tell that no one other than me cares about and I just have to clear them out to make room for something else, like trying to figure out where the kids put the remote. Again.

Ian @ The Daily Dose of Reality does Monday Minute. It's great for my writers block moments after yet another long and crazy weekend. It also helps me to clear my head to I can find that darn remote! Again!

1. Have you ever peed in the shower/bath/pool?
Honestly, I never have. Ok, I'm sure at some point when I was a chubby butterball teeny tiny baby I might have. I have heard that if you do decide to pee in the shower it somehow conserves water. I have not done the research on this yet and I'm not sure if I want to experiment.


2. What is your biggest pet peeve?
I have a few things that bother me. I will admit that my house is not a clutter free one, but I do have my sections that shall not be touched!!! For example, I have some crystal figures my brother gets me on top of the bookshelf in our dining room. Touch them and you may very well lose a finger!

Back when I was working the thing that bothered me most 9other than the job itself) was the way some people spoke. Extra syllables were always added into words. If someone was telling a story of how they walked to the store the other day, they would say they "walk-ted". WTH is that?!?

Speaking of words... that holiday all about love has an "N" in it. The word is not ValentiMes!!!


3. What's the story behind your blog title?
Originally "All You Need is Love" came from my love of the Beatles. I used to know every song, when it was written, and all kinds of little useless facts about each member. But the thing is, I've had kids. And once I had said kids, my brain has apparently turned to mush! I'm lucky to remember what day it is sometimes.

Now that I have been blogging a few months, the meaning of my blog's name has changed. I've written things that have made me reflect on my life. I have also read posts by others that relate to something in my life. I've learned that when the going gets tough, sometimes all you need is love to help you through it.


4. What is your definition of success?
Happiness.

I used to think that having the best job and the biggest house were signs of success. Yes, we would like a bigger house. In fact, we need it. In time, it will happen. As for jobs, the husband works in a field he is very passionate about and I have the best job ever - a mom. We have always had food on our plates and a roof over our heads. But even when things were tight, and sometimes they still are, we are happy.

I have some things in my life that I feel I need to work on, but when the day is done, I have a husband who loves me very much. I have kids who love me. And I am surrounded by friends and family who will always be there for me.


5. If you were famous, what would you want to be famous for?
Writing.

I haven't written anything in years outside of my personal thoughts on my blog. Maybe some day I will share some things I have written. Another thing I always wanted to do was write children's books. This is one area where I have never attempted to try anything. I go to the bookstores and libraries and see the amount of books in the children's section. It's quite intimidating to try and come up with something new.

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Monday Minute has been recently changed to Monkey Minute. Monkey is a beautiful 16 month old baby girl is beginning her fight against cancer. To read more, please click the button below. Show her mom the love and support that I know bloggers can give. And feel free to snag the code below to add Monkey's button to your page and help spread her story.

<center><a href="http://www.mypixiedreams.com/" target="_blank"><img style="width: 125px; height: 125px;" src="http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq250/smiles4jude/Buttons/pixieprayers.png" alt="Prayers for Monkey" border="0" /></a></center>

For more information on how you can help, please visit Ian @ The Daily Dose of Reality

I am also participating in the raffle he has planned as well as offering up my services.

Get your mind out of the gutter! I'm not that kind of girl!

To see what services I am referring to, please read this.




Until next time....

Mission MonkeyI'm Helping & So Can You

Monkey's story seems to be spreading like a wild fire and that is just awesome. Monkey and her family need all the love and support they can get right now because Monkey, only 16 months old, was recently diagnosed with neuroblastoma. For more information, please click the button at the top of this post.

Unfortunately, financial burden is also a part of this battle. If you can spare anything, even if it's just a dollar, please click the other button that's located between my nav bar and this post. Please feel free to snag either button to help spread the word. Thank you!


Ian from The Daily Dose of Reality has a huge heart. He is organizing a raffle which will benefit Monkey. For more info on the raffle, go here. And to see some of the prizes thus far, go here. I promise, they're awesome!

I have offered up a few things that I have made for this raffle.

Funny Frog Pillow

Playing Card Coasters

I have also decided to do something else. I have an Etsy shop, Creative Castle. It's itty bitty and I wish there were more hours in the day or I could crochet faster, but it's what I have. If any of those items happen to sell, I will donate half of the proceeds towards Mission Monkey.

I also love to make animals pillows, like the frog. They're fairly simple and seem to turn out well. At least I think so! If your child or someone you know has an obsession with a certain animal like my kids do and you would love an animal pillow, shoot me an email and hopefully we can work something out. Again, half of the proceeds would go towards Monkey.

You can contact me at eumbel (at) gmail (dot) com

Please continue to keep Monkey and her family in your thoughts.

Click on monkey to donate...please help!

Until next time....

Pouring My Heart OutMaybe Things Happen For a Reason

Today is a rough day. I have so many emotions running through me. I don't know which one to go with or how to react to everything.

A lot of you know the story of sweet Monkey. If you don't, click her beautiful face over there on the right in my sidebar. She was recently diagnosed with cancer. If you know her story and are aware of the financial burden that accompanies this battle, please click the button up top under my nav bar. It will direct you to the PayPal site where you can donate. Also, go visit Ian for other ways to help.

The cancer that Monkey is battling is neuroblastoma. It sickens me that I now know how to spell that correctly. Cancer in general is a cold hearted bitch! The cancer that Monkey has is the same thing that Jaden was diagnosed with and the same cancer that took sweet Ethan from this world too soon. Cancer can hit anyone - mothers, daughters, friends. It doesn't care who. It just strikes.

I am pissed that cancer can strike those who have done no wrong in their lives. At least nothing serious enough to be cursed with such a battle as cancer. I am also sad. Sad for those who have to battle this, no matter what their age may be. Sad for those who have lost their battles to this ugliness.

I have this feeling in my gut about Monkey.

SHE WILL OVERCOME THIS!!!!!

What tears me apart is why I know this. Over the past few months it seems things have been taken at the same time things have been given.

Shorty after the new year began, my friend Marie lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. She was a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and a beautiful person. As hard as her loss was, it helped to hear that at the same time, Jaden was winning his battle with cancer. I am not going into my religious beliefs because I try to keep that subject off of here, so call it what you will. Part of me believes Marie sacrificed so Jaden could thrive. These thoughts are creeping in regarding Ethan and Monkey.

Ethan getting his wings is too sad for words. I can't even imagine losing my child. I do follow Ethan Bug's blog, but I will admit, some days I just cannot bear to read. Perhaps Ethan's path was to receive his wings so he could watch over other babies suffering. Maybe his loss will help protect Monkey and get her and her family through this.




Today I am also dealing with a slew of other emotions. Hope, nervousness, my relationships with those around me. Today is the voting day for PTA officers. I am up for Treasurer. I will save the release of these emotions for another time. Just wish me luck and please put your focus on Monkey.


Thank you!


Until next time....

Mission Monkey Minute

Ian over at The Daily Dose of Reality hosts a weekly meme called the Monday Minute. This week is a little different. Michelle from My Pixie Dreams received the devastating news that her 16 month old daughter has neuroblastoma. Mission Monkey Minute is dedicated to her and all questions are kid related.

Please visit Michelle and let her know that she has support during this difficult time. And please feel free to take the button below for your blog and help spread the word about her story.

<center><a href="http://www.mypixiedreams.com/" target="_blank"><img style="width: 231px; height: 215px;" src="http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq250/smiles4jude/Buttons/pixieprayers.png" alt="Prayers for Monkey" border="0" /></a></center>

1. How old do you act?
For the most part, I guess you would say I act my age - mature, responsible, etc. Ya, I know, real fun, right? But I do have my moments when I age no where near that number. No, I am not old, but I do have those moments when I get all giddy like a kid. I really need let my hair down and act more like that sometimes. Metaphorically of course. I love my ponytail too much to let it down!

2. As far back as you can remember, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be a teacher. I remember being about 7 or 8 and sitting a bunch of Cabbage Patch dolls on the couch and piano bench and playing school. I did go to school to be an elementary teacher. I finished all of it except for my student teaching. Shortly before I started teaching is when GG was born and at that time it was a lot to try and do. Some days I wish I could go back and finish that part of my education. But at the same time I am a teacher. I teach my own kids things every day and I wouldn't change that for the world!

3. If you were to write a book based on your life, what would the title be?
Honestly I have no idea! I guess it would depend on which part of my life I am writing about because there are lots of tales to tell. At this stage in my life, I think "zoo" or "circus" would be in the title somewhere!

4. What's something that you do that's considered "childish" by most?
I can act somewhat childish when I get mad. I have been known to throw things. I've learned that when you throw a remote against a wall, there's really not a lot the repair department in a store can do for you. It's best to buy a new one.

5. The last question isn't a question. Write a story of a time of when you or someone you know overcame great adversity.
There have been times in my life where I have had to deal with death or another form of a loss, which I don't want to get in to right now. But I wouldn't classify those events under "great adversity". I have seen others turn hardship into greatness, but nothing truly outstanding in my personal life comes to mind.

My hope is that Monkey can overcome great adversity by winning her battle. I have seen complete strangers come together to help lift someone up during a hard time. I am starting to see that with Monkey and her family and I know that she can come through her battle and win.



Until next time....

Monkey Business

I tried to write this post in my head so many times over the past 2 days, but I couldn't come up with the words to express how I feel. It amazes me how things can change so fast. One day life is beautiful and the next, your world is turned upside down. This was the case with Momma's Pixie Dreams. Her world was rocked last week when she received the devastating news that here baby was diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

Monkey is only 16 months old and she must now face the battle of her life. For her life.

<center><a href="http://www.mypixiedreams.com/" target="_blank"><img style="width: 231px; height: 215px;" src="http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq250/smiles4jude/Buttons/pixieprayers.png" alt="Prayers for Monkey" border="0" /></a></center>

I can't even imagine what Monkey's family is going through. And I don't want to. But what I do want to do is help where ever I can. There's ways that you can help, too.

First and most important, visit Momma's Pixie Dreams. Follow her blog and show her the support that I know can come from other bloggers. Keep that family in your heart, your thoughts, and your prayers.

Second, Ian over at The Daily Dose of Reality is trying to organize a fundraiser to help the family. Prayers and good thoughts definitely go a long way, but unfortunately in a situation like this, there is also a financial burden. If you have a business or are crafty and can make something to donate, please do. Go to Ian's page and let him know. Or leave a comment here and I will help pass the message along. Just be sure you leave a way for me to contact you so I can pass that info along as well. If you have another way to raise money for this family, please try to do so.

I know not everyone is crafty or has money to give. But at the very least, follow Momma's Pixie Dreams and show your support for her. Please feel free to spread the word and post Monkey's button on your blog.

Until next time....