how to protest :: a guide for OCCUPIERS

occupy wall street how to protest :: a guide for OCCUPIERSThroughout history, there have been times to stand up for a good cause. To congregate for the betterment of society. To give voice to the voiceless. To put aside self and make sacrifices in order to protect the current and future generations.

The OCCUPY movement is not one of them.

Following please find some basic principles for those who would seek to protest the 1%.

If you want to protest debt, carefully consider if you ought to take out loans in the first place. If the perceived benefit outweighs the risks, take the lowest amount possible and work doggedly to pay them off quickly.

If you want to protest steeping tuition costs, carefully consider if you ought to go to college in the first place. Perhaps it might be better to start your own company or to intern in a trade. Perhaps you may want to choose a state university or pursue a job alongside your studies. Whatever your choice, be diligent about learning. Work hard.

If you want to protest the poor economy, do contribute to the economy.

DO:

  • Exercise your right to vote.
  • Write, call, tweet, and otherwise engage with your political representatives.
  • Think about running for political office or other leadership positions.
  • Teach your children how to manage money, how to live with less, and how to love others.
  • Protest debt by living debt-free.
  • Show kindness to your fellow man.
Don’t – for goodness sake, don’t – pitch a tent in a public park and take advantage of public resources. Don’t burden our police forces, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions. Don’t sign a pledge refusing to pay the debt that you promised to pay back in the first place.

There are many ways to protest, but the best protests of all begin with wisdom, responsibility, a posture of humility, and a clear purpose.

Last Year; This Year

October 31st, 2010.

little cowhirl halloween 2010 Last Year; This Year cinderella halloween 2010 Last Year; This Year

October 31st, 2011.

little cowgirl halloween 2011 Last Year; This Year cinderella halloween 2011 Last Year; This Year

Same costumes. Same little girls. And yet – they’re changed too.

A year makes QUITE a difference. Especially when you spend it traveling the country in an RV

I know I’ve been a little quiet about our experience. It’s not a secret. There’s just so much spinning in this mind of mine. I’m not the kind of person who processes things right away so it’s hard for me to say “Here are 5 lessons we learned” or “Let me scrunch our entire year into 2 sentences.”

Little bits will leak out eventually. Just not all at once.

P.S. I know it’s not traditional to re-use costumes, but the girls didn’t mind a bit (and they charmed everyone just the same). I’m slowly learning that “new” isn’t always better. There’s a certain peace that comes with being able to peek in our own closets and our own backyard…and to discover that what we already have is more than enough.

how to drive long distances with preschoolers

playing in f250 how to drive long distances with preschoolersWhen we first decided to travel the country in an RV, I worried about the amount of time we would need to spend in the car. Our then one-and-a-half-year-old wasn’t a huge fan of her carseat and we hadn’t done many long road trips.

The girls surprised us by being Super Travelers. For the most part, they rarely complained or cried…and any meltdowns usually occurred in the last 30-60 minutes of a trip.

Here are a few of our techniques for keeping peace on-the-road:

1. We rarely drove more than 5 hours in any given day. Our typical length was about 3-4 hours. On our drive west, we did some longer stretches (up to 8 hours) – and that was less than ideal. I don’t recommend it.

2. We stayed at most campgrounds between 1-2 weeks. This helped because we were able to get out, stretch, enjoy an area, and not be constantly driving.

3. We packed snacks. I had utopian visions of packing fresh fruits and veggies in a portable igloo for travel days. In reality, we traveled so often that we couldn’t be that well-prepared. We usually opted for fruit leathers (individually wrapped in plastic packaging), beef jerky (World Kitchens is one of our favorite brands), apples and oranges, CLIF bars, and licorice.

4. We watched movies. At first, we resisted purchasing portable DVD players. As time wore on, however, we changed our thinking. We don’t have a TV inside our RV so our girls look forward to their screen time on-the-road. Made with lightweight plastic components, the players are strapped on the back of the headrests for easy visibility.

5. We listened to Adventures in Odyssey – an excellently produced audio show for kids that I listened to throughout my childhood! Our 4-year-old would often request to “listen to the Bible.”

What is the longest distance you’ve ever driven with your kids? What do you do to maintain sanity/peace in the car?

I am participating in a compensated program by Plastics Make it Possible® in partnership with the American Chemistry Council and Ogilvy PR. 

Road Trip Sweepstakes – $250 prize package

road Road Trip Sweepstakes   $250 prize packageWhile you wait for me to pass into the Land of the Living (aka the Second Trimester), perhaps you’d enjoy entering the Road Trip Sweepstakes?

Leave a comment on the Plastics Make It Possible website for a chance to win a prize package valued at $250.

The prize package includes:

  • a shatter resistant plastic picnic set backpack
  • go-anywhere plastic polyester chairs
  • plastic vacuum space-saver bags
  • large collapsible plastic cooler
  • $50 gas card
I am participating in a compensated program by Plastics Make it Possible® in partnership with the American Chemistry Council and Ogilvy PR. 
* Comments on this post are closed.

What event are you planning?

eventbrite logo What event are you planning?I used to host Clothes Swaps at my house once a quarter. It was a fun way for my friends and I to clear clutter from our closets, while also picking up “new” clothes.

Back in my pre-baby career days, I also planned (or was a pivotal part of planning) many events…from small faculty orientations at a university to large career/college fairs when I worked as a high school guidance counselor.

Like it or not, most moms end up planning quite a few events as their children grow-up – birthday parties, graduation celebrations, bridal showers, bake sales, and dinner soirees.

I recently had an opportunity to interview Julia Hartz, a mom of 1 (soon-to-be 2!) and the cofounder of Eventbrite, a site that “gives you all the online tools you need to bring people together for an event and sell tickets.”

julia hartz What event are you planning?

Julia Hartz, cofounder of Eventbrite

ME: Tell me more about the history of Eventbrite.

JULIA: The company was founded in January 2006 to democratize ticketing so that anyone would be able to sell tickets online.

ME: How do you envision moms using the site?

JULIA: Parents use the site along a wide spectrum. We’ve had people plan fall fundraisers for schools, yoga classes, music concerts, PTA meetings, even baby showers. The service allows you to track data about who is coming, how much money you are raising – plus, it assists with invitations, marketing, and follow-up.

ME: What is the cost to use Eventbrite?

JULIA: If your event is free, the service is completely free. If you’re selling tickets, Eventbrite takes 2.5% + 99cents per ticket. There is also a break for non-profits.

What events do you regularly plan/host at your house? Christmas cookie exchange? Easter lunch? Mother/Daughter Book Club? 

* Eventbrite is compensating me for this post.

Back in the West

mud is happiness wenatchee Back in the West It was a huge sigh of relief to enter the west coast.

After traveling almost 20,000 miles around the country, I admit: this is home. The rebellious west with her mountains and trees, her flip-flops and cowboy hats, her dry summer nights and expansive skies.

We’re currently parked in Camano Island, Washington and we hope to stay here a spell. To kick up our heels and wait out the sickness (It’s hitting me hard again).

I’m happy we won’t have to hear the GPS voice for awhile. That said, wow – we’ve been grateful for Tim’s phone [ It’s durable plastic components have helped it withstand drops and scratches!] and the MotionX Drive app. How did people travel back in the day of road maps and atlases? Stressful.

I am participating in a compensated program by Plastics Make it Possible® in partnership with the American Chemistry Council and Ogilvy PR. 

1/2 of a year

ags 2 and 4 at mount rushmore 1/2 of a yearHi from Rapid City, SD.

(This is a really cool area, by the way). (More on that later).

Guess what? We’ve lived in an RV for 1/2 a year.

Here are the stats of our trek across the USA so far:

I’ve tried to write about our trip so many times – but then hit “delete.” There’s just so much to say and I can’t get it exactly right.

Instead of trying to summarize our experience in one post, I’m going to take your questions instead and answer them straight-up in future posts.

Ask me anything about traveling/volunteering with small children, RVing, favorite experiences, our Give Every Day project, etc.