"Sunday Scoop" The Gang's Weekly Column- By Mara

SUNDAY SCOOP

Hi Everyone! I have the pleasure of writing the Sunday Scoop this week. Dave normally does it, but he asked me to contribute my thoughts this week. It is going to be a brief one, mainly because the previous post has brought everyone up to speed on what we have been up to, and things to come.

The girls have been busy with their school work and extra circular activities. Sami had the opportunity to go to a bowling party last weekend, which she LOVED! It even inspired us to take the whole family bowling the following day! Dave was an avid bowler growing up, and enjoyed knocking down the pins again. Who knows, maybe he will join a league soon. Then this past weekend, Lauryn went to an iceskating party. She had tons of fun there, and can't wait to go back. Next weekend we are off to NYC, there is an event at The American Girl Place. This will be a very long week for Lauryn and Sami! The girls are so excited to go, and truth be told I am too! Dave and I love seeing their faces light up when they enter that store.

Lately a lot of our energy has been devoted to our newest addition to our family, Bella our three month old puppy! She is a Shih Tzu, and such a beautiful, intelligent, and loving dog. Gee, I sound like a true Mommy! She has brought us such joy and happiness, something I never could have predicted. Bella is my first dog, as my Mother is allergic to pet dander, so we never had a pet growing up. Both Lauryn and Sami are great "Big Sisters" helping out with all the responsibilities, even the ones that aren't so exciting! In addition to their American Girl Dolls, they now can dress up their dog! I must say, Bella is definitely a Daddy's Girl. She loves David tremendously! She greets him with tons of kisses when he gets home from work, everyday! With that said, we are in heaven now that Bella has joined our home. If you are considering getting a dog, I highly recommend it. I read two fantastic books, Training Your Shih Tzu and Shih Tzu's for Dummies. They have both helped me understand a lot about the breed, and how to correctly raise Bella. I definitely recommend these series for anyone looking to gain some knowledge or advice on their new animal.

Next, I'm sure you have all seen the devastation Haiti has gone through since the earthquake. The next morning, I wanted to help out, but did not know where to begin. I immediately texted Haiti to 9099, but I felt that wasn't enough. I decided to go through all of our closets and donate clothes and shoes that are in good condition, but aren't being worn by us anymore. I saw on Good Morning America that there was a shoe shortage over there. I contacted our local Red Cross, and they are going to pick up our donations and arrange to have them shipped and dispersed. I am saddened when I see the pictures of the rubble, and people in despair. I hope they can begin to recover soon. If you are interested in helping out by donating, you can contact The Red Cross online, or through your local chapter. I feel that they are the most reliable and honest organization we have to reference.

I also wanted to mention something regarding our contest that ended yesterday, January 30. It was brought to our attention by one of our active followers that an oversight on our part was made. A requirement was made of posting both on the review of ICECORE, and the interview. Unfortunately this guideline was not met by one or more of the winners. As you all know, we are pretty strict with our rules, and generally catch any error prior to the contest end. We are human, believe it or not, and it slipped by us this time. At this point we are not going to change the winners, but in the future we will make sure not to let this error occur again. Please make sure you are following all contest rules when entering and posting going forward. As always, we appreciate your support and input on our website.

Have a wonderful week, happy reading!


MARA