Thursday, September 3, 2009 by Planet Janet.

My post rounds out a swell two weeks of blogging.  Thanks to MomsCharlotte.com  for hosting Birthday Blessings’ first blog, “Birthday Blessings and Beyond.”  Sharing our Birthday Blessings stories was such a gift, so thank you so much for reading and getting involved!  It really does take a village.

Blogs | MomsCharlotte.com

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, Birthday Blessings, CHARLOTTE, N.C., MomsCharlotte - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Getting personal, Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 by Planet Janet.

As some of you well know, I volunteer a lot of my time with Birthday Blessings.  Well, I am at it again, and I have another great way for Charlotte families to pitch in and help our struggling homeless community.  Did you know that as of May 2009, there are 2,989 children enrolled in CMS who have no place to call home?

  Well, Birthday Blessings coordinates with A Child’s Place (who compiled those stats, by the way!) to help make birthday dreams come true.  For more information about our partner, A Child’s Place, click here.

For details about how you can help starting today from 12-4 p.m., click here.  

Thanks, Charlotte MomsLikeMe, for the free press!  And, while you’re checking out the cold, hard facts (get it?  “Cold” Stone Creamery) , check out the site while you’re there!

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Birthday Blessings, CHARLOTTE, N.C., N.C., Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Business and retail - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Getting personal, Parenting - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | 1 Comment »

Saturday, August 8, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Some people know this about me, and some don’t.  My first baby, Cooper, died on his due date in February 2001.

> Read Cooper’s story, as I told it at KinderMourn’s Memorial service in December 2007.

KinderMourn literally saved my life.  If it weren’t for their Empty Arms support group and my grief counselor, Christine Crawford…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty.  So when I opened the paper to see KinderMourn featured in the Observer today as a focus of Charlotte Mission Possible, I jumped for joy.

> Read a snippet of the Observer article.

The United Way debacle has really hurt this organization, and that directly hurts local families who really need KinderMourn’s guidance through grieving.

> Want to help? 

Charlotte non-profits are all tightening their belt straps, and some are even closing.  There’s no easy answer, but I think there’s hope.  If only each of us would vow to do one charitable activity or make one charitable donation per month (don’t focus on size or amount, now — just do whatever you can), can you imagine how Charlotte would look in 2015?

Posted in Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Getting personal, Pregnancy and neonatal loss | Print | No Comments »

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Seed Newsvine

If you didn’t catch HBO’s inauguration coverage, “We are One, The Obama Inaugural Celebration,” boy did you miss out.  This clip with Bruce Springsteen and the father of American folk music, Pete Seeger, was my absolute favorite moment.  Never did the lyrics mean so much as they do now.

Lyrics to “This Land Is Your Land”

Posted in National news, Politics, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Getting personal | Print | No Comments »

Monday, January 5, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Janet here.  I have a confession.  Suddenly, it seems, I’m 12 pounds heavier — and 5 pounds of it I gained in the last two weeks.

Read Oprah’s confession

Janet’s excuses for being a fat-ass:

1. My doctor recommended I not exercise for one month following two separate procedures on my leg
2. Freaking holidays
3. I had house guests for ten straight days.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in CHARLOTTE, N.C., MomsCharlotte - CHARLOTTE, N.C., Health and fitness, Getting personal, Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Print | No Comments »

Friday, January 2, 2009 by Planet Janet.

Life seemed to stand still for a moment as I processed the news that she was actually gone.  She died a year ago today.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Getting personal | Print | No Comments »

Thursday, January 1, 2009 by Planet Janet.

I think it’s ironic how we all vow to lose 25 pounds in the New Year, and then come January 1, we’re hung over and continuing the same bad habits.  Or is that just me?  This year, I’m going to lose weight with MomsCharlotte.com.  Will I see you there?  momscharlotte.com • View topic - Are you in? Lose weight with MomsCharlotte! Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Health and fitness, Getting personal | Print | No Comments »