Sunday Post: Famous Movies…The American President…A Father’s Day Tribute

Posted on June 17, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is FAMOUS MOVIES.

It seems that the whole world has a fascination with movies. In this country, we host the Academy Awards…and present the coveted “Oscar” to dozens of actors, actresses, directors, producers and others who are involved in creating the visions we enjoy at the theater.

With a tip of my hat (wait a minute while I put one on) to all the fathers who are reading this and with a thought to the upcoming American presidential elections, I’ve chosen one of my favorite movies about a president, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, starring Michael Douglas and Annette Benning. Not only is it my favorite movie about a president…it is also in my top 10 favorite movies in any category.

The first time I saw it, I wanted to nominate Michael Douglas to be the REAL American president. Ethical, yet human, and not above making mistakes, the character he portrayed was willing to do ALMOST anything for what he believed in…and was able to listen and process what he had heard and then change his mind and his tactics, if necessary, FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE.

Ahhhhh….isn’t that why we elect a president…to look after the good of the people in our country?

The American President was a loving father and a thoughtful lover…he puts his love and concern for his daughter above everything and the scene where he tries to order a bunch of flowers for Annette Benning is priceless.

I’ve seen this movie quite a few times…and never tire of the hope it inspires in me. I do believe that each president we elect really does want to do his best for the country…and I understand that politics and the economy and the world situation often get in the way of each president carrying out their original plans.

The election for President of the United States is coming up in November. I hope that everyone who is eligible to vote will examine the issues and the candidates and then exercise this precious right…people in many other countries would die (and some do) to be able to have a say in who governs them. As parents, we need to be good role models for our children…by voting, we are teaching our children to be involved citizens.

For more great parenting tips and a whole bunch of quick and easy activities that will keep your little ones busy and happy all summer long, you can get a copy of my book, Show Me How! In the last week, there have been a couple of new reviews of this great parenting resource: Kirsten over at Creating Curious Kids did several of the activities with her own children…http://creatingcuriouskids.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/summer-fun-shortcut-show-me-how/ and Tom over at Your Family Book Club was happy to recommend as a great way to spend quality time with your kids this summer…http://yourfamilybookclub.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/book-review-show-me-how-build-tour-childs-self-esteem-through-reading-crafting-and-cooking-by-vivian-kirkfield/.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://cyclingrandma.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/west-side-story-911-anniversaries/

http://cuoreq.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/sunday-post-movies/

http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/the-sunday-post-famous-movies/

Photo credits: Mount Rushmore – Ed Menard Ranger

SUNDAY POST : Famous Movies (jakesprinters.wordpress.com)

Academy Award of the Blogosphere: The Liebster Award

Posted on February 7, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Image via Wikipedia

The 84^th Academy Awards will be televised on Sunday, February 26^th at 7pm EST. If you are interested in a run-down of the nominees, you can go to the Official Site of the Academy Awards.

The Blogosphere has its own awards that one blogger can confer on another blogger. Among the many awards are the Versatile Blogger Award, the Stylish Blogger Award, the Kreativ Blogger Award and the Liebster Blog Award.

I was honored to receive the Liebster Blog Award yesterday from Patricia Tilton, an amazing woman who has been in love with writing for most of her life. Please visit her Children’s Books Heal blog to learn more about this special lady. I’ve connected with Pat in Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge and in Susannah Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Fridays. If you love picture books and children, you will love all of these talented authors.

“Liebster is a German word, meaning dearest or beloved, but it can also mean favorite. The idea behind the Liebster Blog Award is that it is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers in order to create new connections and bring attention to their wonderful blogs!”

In accepting this award, I must thank the giver, add the award to my blog, list five things about myself people don’t know and select five bloggers to whom I want to give the Liebster Blog Award.

Patricia…Thank you so much. I truly am grateful for the award…but connecting with you and the others who have motivated me to return to writing picture books is, in itself, the ultimate reward for me!

I’ve posted the award logo…so on to five things about me that most of you might not know.

Heights are not my favorite thing, but I went skydiving with my son last year in Chicago. I had a ball. You can click on the link to see the video.
Oceans and swimming are also not my favorite things, but I went on an undersea walk with a Jules Verne-type helmet on my head during a trip to the Caribbean. It was an amazing experience!
Decades ago, I almost failed the verbal part of my teachers’ license exam because of a panic attack…but I managed to collect myself and continue on, even though my hands were sweating, my knees were knocking and my teeth were chattering.
In addition to being a kindergarten and Head Start teacher before I had children, I also operated a home daycare for many years while my own children were growing up. At the same time, I helped my husband in his financial planning business and had to get licensed as a registered insurance and investment representative. Talk about juggling many hats!
When my children were small, I wrote several picture book drafts that lay languishing in boxes or were lost during our many moves. I’m thrilled to be back writing picture books…thank you, Julie and Susannah…and I keep a notebook and pen with me at all times (by the bed, in my handbag and yes, even in the bathroom) in case a brilliant thought comes upon me and I need to write it down before it returns to the universe from whence it came.

And now here are five wonderful bloggers who I’d like to give the Liebster Blog Award.

Barb at Plate Spinning 101

Amberr at Like a Bump on a Blog

Elizabeth at Mirth and Motivation

Nancy at Spirit Lights the Way

Milka at Perfecting Motherhood

I honestly don’t know how many followers each of these bloggers have already…but I know I enjoy reading their posts regularly…they make me laugh and cry…they teach me things I didn’t know and make me think…so please go and check them out!

Cinema Sundays: My Picks of Great Flicks: Academy Awards Special Edition

Posted on February 27, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Classic Photo from 1937 Academy Awards at the ...

Image by ExperienceLA via Flickr

Tonight many people will be glued in front of their televisions, watching the Academy Awards presentation.

All across the country (and probably in other parts of the world), there will be Oscar-night parties and other celebrations to honor the winners (and losers…how can they be “losers” if those nominated were among the top 5 of all actors, actresses, movies, etc. for the entire year?).

My husband and I don’t go to the movies very often.

We actually LOVE watching movies, but don’t like the cost and inconvenience of going OUT to the movies.

So we got most of our movies for free from our local library or for $1 from Red box vending machines.:)

This past week, for President’s Day, I’ve written several posts that examine HONESTY, and how it relates to parenting.

So, my movie pick for today is GET LOW with Robert Duvall, Bill Cobbs, Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray. Although not one of the Academy Award nominees in any category, it’s a film well worth your time.

The movie examines the life of a man who has a secret he has kept to himself for many years. He takes up the life of a hermit and finally connects with the world only because he wants to arrange a “funeral party”, inviting EVERYONE and ANYONE who has a story to tell about him…but his real reason is that he knows he is going to die soon and wants to reveal the truth…so that he can rest easy.

Look at the word DISEASE…it’s made up of two parts: DIS (meaning not) and EASE (meaning at rest or at peace or functioning smoothly).

When we are not at peace, we are much more prone to getting sick.

Children start out in life being innocent and honest and forthright. Some begin to practice deception and dishonesty because they learn that when you tell the truth, if the truth is something unpleasant, you will likely get into trouble.

One of the cornerstones of Positive Parental Participation is listening to our children without judgment. Please don’t think this means that children don’t have to be responsible for their actions. A second cornerstone of this parenting approach is to consistently expect children to accept the consequences for what they do.

The gentle parenting tips included on every other page of SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING are one of the coolest parts of the book. Do you worry that your children will not grow up the way you want them to? Are you concerned that peer pressure may influence your children to misbehave or stray off the path you would have them follow?

Use the book with your child for just 15 minutes a day and you will be amazed at the positive results! Head over to my website and grab a copy for half-price…only $22.50!

What will you get for $22.50?

100 story summaries of picture books your child needs to hear.
100 simple eco-friendly craft projects you and your child will enjoy doing.
100 child-friendly healthful recipes you and your child will have fun preparing together.
100 gentle parenting tips that will inspire you and give you confidence in your own parenting abilities.
365-day money-back guarantee.

Children grown and don’t need a copy for yourself? Pick one up as a super Mother’s Day gift for a new mom, working mom of preschoolers, homeschooling mom or dad or as a great gift for someone you know who is a preschool teacher, daycare provider, babysitter or nanny. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to spend this special time with your young children…even if it is just 15 minutes a day.

Please stop by tomorrow for Make-A-Meal Mondays!