(Photo Credit: Florida Department Children and Families and PreventNeedlessDeaths.com campaign )

In the Tampa Bay area, nearly 200 children have died from drowning, unsafe sleep and abusive head trauma in the last five years – causes that could have been prevented, and are also a concern while traveling.

Before you hit the road with your infant, consider these five tips to make traveling with your baby safer and less stressful:

1. Have a crib or Pack ‘n Play prepared

Consider where you’ll be staying and make arrangements to have a crib in the room or bring a Pack ‘n Play. After you arrive, use a tight-fitting sheet to cover the crib mattress or Pack ‘n Play pad.

Infants should never be placed on an adult bed, couch or blow-up mattress, which can increase the chances of suffocation.

 (Photo Credit: Florida Department Children and Families and PreventNeedlessDeaths.com campaign )

2. Make sure your family knows the safest way for your infant to sleep

Educate family members on the ABCs of safe sleep. The safest way for infants to sleep is Alone on their Backs in a Crib (or Pack ‘n Play). This provides the safest sleep environment for your infant since most babies are still developing neck muscle control and are at an increased risk of suffocation.

 (Photo Credit: Florida Department Children and Families and PreventNeedlessDeaths.com campaign )

3. Help caregivers deal with stress in a healthy way

Relatives, family friends or babysitters might help watch your infant while you’re traveling. Crying is normal and babies do it often, but this can be stressful for caregivers. Shaking an infant – even once – can be fatal, and in most cases, the individual does not mean to harm the child but lacks the knowledge or skills to cope with a stressful situation.

Take a moment to talk with your child’s caretaker about how they deal with stress. Understand how your child’s caregiver would cope with stress and look for signs that they may not be prepared, such as if they are easily angered or seem inattentive.

4. Keep drowning hazards out of reach

Bathtubs, dog bowls and containers that hold an inch or more of water can be dangerous to your child, because children can drown in as little as 20 seconds and often silently. Be aware of your child’s surroundings, remove any dangerous items and talk to your family and friends about keeping doors locked when visiting their house, especially doors that lead to a pool or water area.

 (Photo Credit: Florida Department Children and Families and PreventNeedlessDeaths.com campaign )

5. Designate a “water watcher”

Lack of adult supervision in and around the water leads to drowning, which is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in children ages 1 to 4. Designate a “water watcher” who will keep their eyes on children at all times and avoid distractions like texting.

Be sure to share this information with family members, babysitters and other caregivers, and keep it in mind while traveling. For more information about how to prevent the top three causes of preventable child deaths in Tampa Bay, visit PreventNeedessDeaths.com.

(The review is written by the Florida Department Children and Families and PreventNeedlessDeaths.com campaign and shared on my blog for awareness.)

The post 5 NO ORDINARY ways to make traveling with an infant less stressful first appeared on #NoOrdinaryLiz.

I have the pleasure of hosting this guest blogger’s story. It’s comforting to know that we all are connected in some way or another. We all have lived a not so ordinary life. So why not tell it? I’m not gonna spoil any of it for you. 

This is her story…

Looking at where I am now, one might think I’m more than average. I’m
the founder of COPE24…Changing Our Parenting Experience. We are a
non-profit child advocacy organization committed to reducing the
incidences of child abuse and neglect. Many organizations have this
mission but most are dealing with the problems that exist. History has
proven this to be an almost insurmountable task. For all the work, the
dysfunctional/unhealthy families continue to grow. That is why COPE24 is
promoting the need to make parenting education a priority within our
high school systems. We believe that getting out in front of this
problem and educating all youth, before they become parents, is a piece
of the solution that hasn’t been explored.

So why?

Eighteen years ago I was an average American housewife living the
American dream. I had married a man right out of college. We were young
and dreamed of starting a family and becoming successful enough that I
could stay at home with our children. That had happened. My husband had
become a successful banker and we had been blessed with three healthy
and beautiful daughters. I was busy running the girls to all of their
activities all afternoon and evenings. By day, when they were in school,
I took care of all the domestic duties and played lots of tennis. If I
wasn’t running the girls I was helping my husband to entertain business
associates in the evening. We could and did golf and travel and
basically just living the American dream. Then everything changed.

Through a family situation two children would enter our life that at
best were being severely neglected. We supported this family
emotionally, financially and provided care for these children often. I
guess here would be a good place to describe to you why I believed I was
just an average citizen. I knew child abuse/neglect existed but it had
never been a factor in my life. I knew that Child Welfare existed and
thought this agency could protect these innocent victims. I knew that
adoption existed but in my mind this was about babies. I also knew that
foster care existed but in my minds eye this care was sort of a hub for
children until permanency could be reached away from the abusive
parents. As a woman with no experience in child advocacy I believe this
would be average thinking. We teach our young women if they find
themselves in an abusive situation to get out and never go back. So the
assumption was that we would do the same for our children. But children
are more complicated than that. It isn’t so simple to remove children
from the only family and living situation they have ever known. Even in
abusive, neglectful and dysfunctional situations the children have no
other frame of reference and most often still love their parents.

These lessons will be learned through a four year fight for these
children. We became the kinship care provider for extended periods of
time and on three occasions will be ordered to return the children to
their mother. A mom we knew hadn’t gotten any better but had just
learned how to game the system. We also watched these children, with
excited anticipation, believing each time that mom was better and life
would now be great. The love and bond children have with their parents
is the one factor the system hasn’t figured out even to this day. As we
work with the parents trying to fix the problems that exist in their
family, the children are lingering in, bouncing around and ultimately
aging out of the foster care system. We do this because sometimes the
parents get it and make the necessary changes but most often they don’t.
The problem is the children just keep growing up. They don’t stay little
children with little problems. We compound the problems by offing what
was to be temporary care but ultimately becomes a way of life for the
child’s childhood.

This was the motivation for a book I wrote about our experience “Whose
Best Interest”. However, writing a book and complaining to Child
Welfare, legislators and anyone who would listen still isn’t a solution.
Anyone can complain I wanted and needed to be a part of the solution. I
began reading, accepted appointments to committees and began speaking in
our high schools. Listening to those with more education and experience,
listening to teachers and students. Then that moment when God knocked me
over the head and said “what’s missing is parenting education.” I’m not
talking about education that only reaches those who are being abused or
who are growing up in care but parenting education that reaches all of
our youth. Let’s get out in front of this issue and prepare all of our
youth for the toughest job any of us will ever face…parenting.
www.cope24.com

Rene Howitt

Rene has been married for 37 years, has three daughters and three grandchildren. Several years ago she and her husband fostered their nephew and his sister on two different occasions. This experience inspired her to author the book Whose Best Interest.

She is an appointment member to the Missouri Children’s Justice Task Force (CJA), Critical Event Review Committee. In 2008, she began volunteer work throughout Missouri as a child advocate, speaking to students in classrooms all across the country. The responses from the students lead Rene to found the COPE24…Changing Our Parenting Experience organization.

The first project taken on by this organization was the COPE24 Parenting Skill Program. Rene originated this program based upon the inspiration provided by the more than 23,000 students to which she has spoken.

The second project is the documentary video titled The Life Sentence. This documents the stories of four families whose infants were shaken or suffered severe head trauma and survived. These families give testimony of the event and allow the viewer to see the quality of life for these children several years later. This video is extremely emotional and not something our youth will soon forget.

Currently, she is working on a new series of documentary videos. The series will be titled Elements. Each video in this series will subject a common issue often seen in families where abuse/neglect has been identified like immaturity, drugs/alcohol, domestic violence, absent fathers, mental health, poverty, child endangerment, etc. In December 2015 COPE24 released the first video in this series titled “Life-Line”. This video focusses on the element of immaturity and what an unplanned pregnancy means when there is no support system. January 2017 the second video in this series “Parenting Under The Influence” was released. The topic of this video is drugs, alcohol and parenting.

Rene has also recently released her first children’s book titled “Fosterhood”. Introducing children to concepts like fostering and adoption, at a young age, may be helpful for the needs of child welfare as we move forward. The first book in this series was released December 2015and is titled “Fosterhood…Let’s Explore”.

Rene spends a significant portion of her time speaking in middle and high school classrooms across the nation. She also provides presentations and keynote speaking at universities, teacher conferences, and advocacy events.

Rene can be contacted by visiting her website at www.cope24.com, emailing her at renehowitt@cope24.com, or visiting her facebook and twitter pages. Rene would enjoy the opportunity to speak at any advocacy, parenting, or educational event.

The post Guest Blog: COPE24…Changing Our Parenting Experience first appeared on #NoOrdinaryLiz.

Also, want a chance to catch me LIVE?  I’ll be participating in an online panel discussion “Welcoming A Child Into Your Home” on May 26th between 7:00 – 8:00 PM EST.  For further details and to register, click here!

Seeing Through Life’s Storms

APRIL showers bring MAY flowers is a phrase we all certainly know!   It’s an expression that I’ve come to live by, but not for the simple reasons.  APRIL, the month we are greeted by Mother Nature with open arms and she sprinkles us with her tears and her temper tantrums, known as storms.  MAY, the month where Mother Nature makes sure we all feel the love by providing beautiful flowers to bloom, but, this wouldn’t happen without the storms from April!

To read further, click here to find out how this I weathered the storm… 🙂

The post GUEST POST: No Ordinary Storm first appeared on #NoOrdinaryLiz.

WOW, imagine the impact!

So what is Give Day Tampa Bay?

For those that don’t know, Give Day Tampa Bay is a community-wide, 24-hour online giving challenge hosted by The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. This charitable event helps Tampa Bay area nonprofits raise much-needed dollars and bring awareness to the numerous challenges facing these organizations.

Last year, Give Day Tampa Bay raised $1.75 million for 550 Tampa Bay area nonprofit organizations. This year, 595 nonprofits are participating. Let’s show our pride and support for nonprofits in our area on May 3!

How it works

It’s so simple to participate. Just visit this website on May 3, 2016 anytime between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. and with a few simple clicks, you can make a donation to your favorite nonprofit organization. The minimum donation is $25. Nonprofits can also win monetary awards and additional prizes based on their day’s donations. The tallies for each organization are tracked in real time on the online leaderboard.  (info pulled from Give Day Tampa Bay website)

 (photo courtesy of Google)

Give Day Tampa Bay happens to arrive at the perfect time for one of these amazing nonprofit organizations!  May is National Foster Care Month where we take a moment to honor, unite and celebrate the awesome families of our children in the Bay area.  Eckerd Kids does just that!  They are a powerful team who work impeccably to provide our Bay kids a second chance at the life they deserve!

This year as you consider which nonprofit organization you wish to GIVE to, please note that with a donation of $25 or more given to Eckerd Kids, you will receive a special keepsake cookbook from their founder, Ruth Eckerd.  What a great way to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children in our community, including foster kids searching for their forever family as well as cooking up awesome meals!  

595 participating nonprofit organizations are looking for you!  Wherever you decide to GIVE this year, I hope you walk away full of happiness, inspiration and kindness that you spread it EVERYWHERE you go throughout or Tampa Bay communities.

(photo courtesy of Google)

This post is written by me and collaboration with Eckerd Kids.  The opinions expressed above are all mine.

The post No Ordinary GIVING first appeared on #NoOrdinaryLiz.

• getting lost and finding your way
• failing and making mistakes
• learning to find your own path
• following your heart
• learning to forgive
• finding your purpose
• letting go and trusting
• learning to forgive
• being kind
• BEAUTIFUL

I truly believe that your life is already planned out for you before you are born.  Each of us are unique in our own way and we all have our own reasons as to why we are placed in each other’s lives strategically.  I’ve come to believe that people travel in and out of your lives for a certain reasons.  You may not know at the time, but there’s always a purpose for it.  PURPOSE…now there’s a word that was my shadow for years.  YEARS…I was questioning…WHO AM I?!?!

 (Photo Credit: Google)

November is National Adoption Month,  a month set aside to particular focus on the adoption of children currently in foster care.  I really think it’s important that while we take this time to give THANKS for what we are grateful for, we also take the time to THANK every individual who has extended a hand to care for a child in need, without those “kind” people, these children wouldn’t have the guidance they need.  Looking for ways to get involved?  Eckerd can guide you along they way.  

 (photo credit: Google/melanieinboston.com)

Internships are stepping-stones.  They provide real world experiences for students transitioning from academic to professional careers. I know all about transitions.  As a child, I transitioned from Spain to America and then one placement to another, never knowing a sense of stability or a sense of belonging. Then, at the age of 18, I transitioned from ward of the court to emancipated adult.  The transition from dependent child to independent adult could have done me in, as I have seen it do others like me, but I vowed to overcome it, to thrive, no matter what.

I barely remember arriving in the United States, although I think I was 5 years old at the time and I know I didn’t speak a lick of English.  My brother, sister and I was escorted by a man whom dropped us off at his mother’s house in NC and vanished forever.

I was 13 years old that wonderful summer day.  My brother, sister and I were picking away at blackberry bushes by the road when the neat business lady arrived.  She was there to take us into DSS custody.  At that point, my sister and I had lost contact with my brother.  He had gone in one direction while my sister and I went in another.  I didn’t even get to hug him goodbye.  The last image I had of my brother was that of his wailing, crying and struggling to reach towards me through the rear window of the car that drove him away that day, out of my life forever.  Initially, my sister and I ended up at a group home, where we shared our own private bedroom.  After a week, DSS placed us with a foster family that warehoused children, or so that’s what it had seemed.  From here on out, I really didn’t know what was going on.  Children came and went, I was going from home to home without my sister, group home to group home, in one school to another, meeting different case workers after another, and it was like a whirlwind.  I had no sense of stability.  I was looking for something…ANYTHING…I needed to bounce back.  The last bits and pieces of my reflective foster-kid family fantasies now dashed, I sunk deeper into depression.

I graduated Andrews High School June 4, 1998, turned 18 June 9th and moved into a one-bedroom apartment the next day.  I had barely more than the clothes on my back when I exited placement; no furniture, no bed, no job, no friends and no adult to guide me.  Depressed and disconnected, I fell in with the wrong crowd, who introduced me to alcohol and drugs.  I self-medicated for a while, as I tried to fit into society.  I was so scared, so confused, so alone, so traumatized by my past and so intimidated by my future.  I just wanted to belong. Oh, how I needed to feel a part of something….anything….

I still remember the pride I felt as I crossed the stage to receive my college degree, and less than a week later, I smiled so wide my face hurt, when I stood on the platform with the other interns to address the U.S. Congress.  In my wildest dreams, I could not have conceived that someone like me, a lowly orphan, would receive such an amazing honor. As the other interns responded to the question, “What one thing would you do in your state to improve the foster care system?” I could only think about how much I missed my brother and sister.  Frightened as I was, I put on my best smile and told them how important it is to keep siblings together because sometimes that is the only remaining connection to family we have left.  Not knowing who your biological mother and father are is already too much to handle, but then losing your siblings in the system destroys any remaining sense of belonging.  I am sure I stumbled over my words some, and at one point, I couldn’t see anymore, not through the tears….

(Referencing to Foster Care Review, Inc): Resilience in physics is the quality of bouncing back, the ability of a body to recover its shape after some force has changed it.  Resilience in children refers to the ability to adapt and achieve positive outcomes despite adversity. (Hard times) 

What helps you bounce back?

Just imagine with me for a moment that you think all your life you are one person, only to find out you’re not.  Everyday you’re faced with many obstacles in life.  How do you handle them? While I was bouncing back and forth to foster homes, I didn’t let it discourage me.  I let it characterize me. I went to church.  I surrounded myself with good friends.  I want to share with you my strengths as a foster child and as a young adult today.  Intelligence is one of my biggest strengths that have helped me succeed into a self-sufficient adult.  Since the day I aged out of foster care at the age of 18, I have been on my own.  I put myself through college working up to as many as five jobs at a time and taking eighteen hours of classes per week.  I’ve earned two bachelor’s degrees from WCU. You have to just embrace your past and be excited about your future!

Sharing my story and experiences is my therapy and helps me grow each day to become a better person inside and out.  It’s my outlet.  Find your outlet. Whether it’s playing sports, performing arts, lending a helping hand, writing, getting an education, going to church, whatever it may be, continue to be strong.  Be a fighter!  Always remember to smile because it’s infectious and you never know who needs it.  No matter what pathway life has you walking down, always remember that you will be faced with adversity and obstacles.  Social competence, problem solving skills, self-sufficiency, and optimism are just a few examples of my resilience that helped me survive while being in foster care.  There are unlimited possibilities of ways to bounce back.  What are yours?

Today, I can say that I have found my PURPOSE!  Speaking about my past and helping those in care to move forward is the greatest reward I can offer.  I also get to work for a Big Four Accounting Firm who enables me to be the best that I can be and allows me to chase after what I’m passionate about.  They allow me to feel confident in my PURPOSE and because of that, I’m able to help others in foster care become future leaders!  #ILOVEMYJOB!

Thank you to ROBERT FROST for coming into my life at an early age!  Because of his famous quote, “The Road Not Taken,” I have found my way 🙂 

BY ROBERT FROST

The post No Ordinary Life for No Ordinary Liz (Repost) first appeared on #NoOrdinaryLiz.

May is National Foster Care Month.  a month set aside to acknowledge foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections.  I really think it’s important that we take the time to THANK every individual who has extended a hand for a child in need.  Looking for ways to get involved?  Eckerd can show you the way!

Internships are stepping-stones.  They provide real world experiences for students transitioning from academic to professional careers. I know all about transitions.  As a child, I transitioned from Spain to America and then one placement to another, never knowing a sense of stability or a sense of belonging. Then, at the age of 18, I transitioned from ward of the court to emancipated adult.  The transition from dependent child to independent adult could have done me in, as I have seen it do others like me, but I vowed to overcome it, to thrive, no matter what.

I barely remember arriving in the United States, although I think I was 5 years old at the time and I know I didn’t speak a lick of English.  My brother, sister and I was escorted by a man whom dropped us off at his mother’s house in NC and vanished forever.

I was 13 years old that wonderful summer day.  My brother, sister and I were picking away at blackberry bushes by the road when the neat business lady arrived.  She was there to take us into DSS custody.  At that point, my sister and I had lost contact with my brother.  He had gone in one direction while my sister and I went in another.  I didn’t even get to hug him goodbye.  The last image I had of my brother was that of his wailing, crying and struggling to reach towards me through the rear window of the car that drove him away that day, out of my life forever.  Initially, my sister and I ended up at a group home, where we shared our own private bedroom.  After a week, DSS placed us with a foster family that warehoused children, or so that’s what it had seemed.  From here on out, I really didn’t know what was going on.  Children came and went, I was going from home to home without my sister, group home to group home, in one school to another, meeting different case workers after another, and it was like a whirlwind.  I had no sense of stability.  I was looking for something…ANYTHING…I needed to bounce back.  The last bits and pieces of my reflective foster-kid family fantasies now dashed, I sunk deeper into depression.

I graduated Andrews High School June 4, 1998, turned 18 June 9th and moved into a one-bedroom apartment the next day.  I had barely more than the clothes on my back when I exited placement; no furniture, no bed, no job, no friends and no adult to guide me.  Depressed and disconnected, I fell in with the wrong crowd, who introduced me to alcohol and drugs.  I self-medicated for a while, as I tried to fit into society.  I was so scared, so confused, so alone, so traumatized by my past and so intimidated by my future.  I just wanted to belong. Oh, how I needed to feel a part of something….anything….

I still remember the pride I felt as I crossed the stage to receive my college degree, and less than a week later, I smiled so wide my face hurt, when I stood on the platform with the other interns to address the U.S. Congress.  In my wildest dreams, I could not have conceived that someone like me, a lowly orphan, would receive such an amazing honor. As the other interns responded to the question, “What one thing would you do in your state to improve the foster care system?” I could only think about how much I missed my brother and sister.  Frightened as I was, I put on my best smile and told them how important it is to keep siblings together because sometimes that is the only remaining connection to family we have left.  Not knowing who your biological mother and father are is already too much to handle, but then losing your siblings in the system destroys any remaining sense of belonging.  I am sure I stumbled over my words some, and at one point, I couldn’t see anymore, not through the tears….

(Referencing to Foster Care Review, Inc): Resilience in physics is the quality of bouncing back, the ability of a body to recover its shape after some force has changed it.  Resilience in children refers to the ability to adapt and achieve positive outcomes despite adversity. (Hard times) 

What helps you bounce back?

Just imagine with me for a moment that you think all your life you are one person, only to find out you’re not.  Everyday you’re faced with many obstacles in life.  How do you handle them? While I was bouncing back and forth to foster homes, I didn’t let it discourage me.  I let it characterize me. I went to church.  I surrounded myself with good friends.  I want to share with you my strengths as a foster child and as a young adult today.  Intelligence is one of my biggest strengths that have helped me succeed into a self-sufficient adult.  Since the day I aged out of foster care at the age of 18, I have been on my own.  I put myself through college working up to as many as five jobs at a time and taking eighteen hours of classes per week.  I’ve earned two bachelor’s degrees from WCU. You have to just embrace your past and be excited about your future!

Sharing my story and experiences is my therapy and helps me grow each day to become a better person inside and out.  It’s my outlet.  Find your outlet. Whether it’s playing sports, performing arts, lending a helping hand, writing, getting an education, going to church, whatever it may be, continue to be strong.  Be a fighter!  Always remember to smile because it’s infectious and you never know who needs it.  No matter what pathway life has you walking down, always remember that you will be faced with adversity and obstacles.  Social competence, problem solving skills, self-sufficiency, and optimism are just a few examples of my resilience that helped me survive while being in foster care.  There are unlimited possibilities of ways to bounce back.  What are yours?

Today, I can say that I have found my PURPOSE!  Speaking about my past and helping those in care to move forward is the greatest rewards I can offer.  I also get to work for a Big Four Accounting Firm who enables me to be the best that I can be and allows me to chase after what I’m passionate about.  They allow me to feel confident in my PURPOSE and because of that, I’m able to help others in foster care become future leaders!  #ILOVEMYJOB!

Thank you to ROBERT FROST for coming into my life at an early age!  Because of his famous quote, “The Road Not Taken,” I have found my way 🙂 

BY ROBERT FROST

The post From Foster Care To The Big Four: No Ordinary Liz’s Story first appeared on #NoOrdinaryLiz.

Why is this important?

You see, there are different forms of a MOTHER.  So this post is in appreciation for ALL you new MOTHERS, foster MOTHERS, biological MOTHERS, adoptive MOTHERS, single MOTHERS, grandMOTHERS, great grandMOTHERS, & GodMOTHERS. THANK YOU for EVERYTHING you do each and every day!  You truly are a hero and inspire us all! 

So how are you looking to appreciate all these special MOTHERS mentioned above?  Are you scrambling for ideas?  Whelp, I’ve got you covered!!

I’ve teamed up with OpenTable and we’re happy to assist you with some local restaurants who are waiting for your reservation to make your “mom” feel special as she should!

Here’s my TOP 5 Picks 

5 – Roy’s: Open early and offering a special 2-course MOTHER’S Day brunch menu for $35.95.  Will also offer a limited version of their Classic &  Children’s menu!

4 – Rusty Pelican: Tampa: Champagne Buffet with Breakfast items(until 3pm), Roasted Turkey, Prime Rib & Roast Beef Carving Station, Pork Loin, Crab Legs, Salmon & more all day!  Flower for “MOM” 🙂 9-5pm.

3 – BRIO Tuscan Grille: Only the best for “MOM” will do, treat her to a taste of TUSCANY!

2 – Fleming’s Steakhouse: Enjoy 3-course MOTHER’S Day brunch for just $39.95 from 10am – 3pm ($18.95 children’s menu)!

1 – Columbia Restaurant: Serving from their regular dinner menu all day, along with MOTHER’S Day features! YUM!

Your FAVORITE didn’t make the list?  NO WORRIES, there are over 64 restaurants with MOTHER’S Day OFFERS!

Remember, YOU only have 3 days to get your reservations in!  Let OpenTable assist you!  If you’re not near a computer, no problem, there’s an APP for that 🙂

If you’re not local, no problem, OpenTable can assist you with restaurant reservations, reviews, menus, local food & dining to make sure the “MOTHER” in your life has the best SUNDAY FUN-DAY she deserves!

Here’s to wishing all forms of MOTHERS out there a wonderful MOTHER’S DAY!!

How are you celebrating MOTHER’S Day?  I would love to know… 🙂

Disclaimer: I have teamed with OpenTable to share my views.  All opinions are my own.

The post Treat the “MOTHER” in your Life to a SUNDAY FUN-DAY with the help of OpenTable! first appeared on #NoOrdinaryLiz.

No Ordinary Liz has been involved in many cool things in my lifetime, a trip to Belize, meeting cool people, tasting amazing food and experiencing things for the very first time.  So this past Tuesday, I got to add something else to my FUN list. A MUSICAL!!  I’ve had this on my bucket list to attend one in New York for quite sometime now, but whaddya know, one was right around the corner.  Guess I can check this off! (CHECK) I’ve driven past the STRAZ CENTER  many times and wondered what exciting things go on inside, it’s always so bright and inviting.

Seeee, are you enticed?

 David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts

 Due to the rain and eager ppl trying to catch the musical, I was a bit late getting to the show.  This is what happens when you arrive late!  You get stuck watching it on the outside until there is a break for you to go in.  I had missed about 15 minutes of show 🙁  NO BUENO.  

So is it sad that I don’t remember much about Annie from my childhood?  I have heard of her, but don’t recall much about her.  I should, as her and I share some similarities.  We both did have a “hard knock life” growing up.  I was always looking for the “sun to come up tomorrow” in my early years.  While we both are “orphans” searching for our birth parents, she grew up in an orphanage while I grew up in a foster home along with 7 to 8 other foster children.  We were all always looking out for one another and I did have a “Miss Hannigan” who wasn’t quite humorous, but very dry and loved to chain smoke her Marlboros’.   After watching the musical, I absolutely fell in love with ANNIE!! 

I had such an amazing time with my sister and some friends watching the Tony Award Winning production of Annie.  I’m not going to give any spoilers, but I just loved everything from the cast, the set, the music, to Sandy.  I absolutely adored all the orphans and couldn’t get over how talented they all were.  I think it’s so inspiring to see them chasing their dreams.  And LET’S not forget ANNIE!  I mean, she is from our own back yard, Davie, FL.  Whooo Hooo!!  Way to represent.  Such talent, grace and loved watching her embrace that stage.  She is definitely going places.   Miss Hannigan was definitely  a hoot!  I mean, sister got moves to go along with all that humor.   The MUSIC, was phenomenal. I was catching myself singing along to a couple of songs.  I hope the people over the my right liked my tune HEHE!  I couldn’t help it.  It’s a MUSICAL after all. Isn’t that what you’re suppose to do?  Sing a long…No?  The whole production was just put together nicely.  I’m still trying to figure out how they did some of the sets.  It was really cool seeing the different scenes.  They had so many.  A couple of my favs were… well… I’m not gonna say.  You’re going to have just go see for yourself!

   For opening night of ANNIE, the STRAZ had to’ve been sold out cuz look at all the people!  This was intermission, I thought the show was OVER lol.  Please note, make sure you carve out at least 3hrs of your evening for this event.  It runs from 7:30 – 10:30pm.  P.S. IT IS WORTH IT!!!

NO HARD KNOCK LIFE NO MORE: I think this is just amazing, for Feb. 17th – Feb. 22nd, the STRAZ will be accepting donations of any sorts for children’s clothing as well as primary school uniforms.  The drive will benefit Metropolitan Ministries  who serves families in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  ANNIE The Musical is only in town through February 22nd.  Make sure you get your tickets TODAY!!

Show Times

Prices starting at $46.00

Select a performance from the list below

Friday, February 20, 2015 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 21, 2015 2 p.m.
Saturday, February 21, 2015 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 22, 2015 1 p.m.
Sunday, February 22, 2015 6 p.m.

This was my first musical and certainly not my last!  I LOVED the STRAZ and will be back.  I’m now addicted to those flashy lights!

The review is written by me on behalf of the STRAZ. I received complimentary tickets to the show from the STRAin exchange for my review. The opinions in this post are all mine.

The post ANNIE The Musical Makes her Debut In Tampa!!! first appeared on #NoOrdinaryLiz.

There are things in life that are generally expected to take our breath away, you meet that great love (yep, still looking), you experience the birth of a baby, (adorbs) or you hit your big toe on the corner of your dresser…OUCH!  Whelp, I’m still holding my breath that is…until this past weekend!  No, I didn’t find that great love, or hit my big toe, BUT I did experience something so much greater than any of that!  Are you curious yet?

I don’t know if you remember me talking about CHOSEN in my previous posts, but this past weekend we had the half marathon here in Tampa.  I was introduced to this race by a good friend of mine, and blogmate, Orangespoken who had a friend that was looking to adopt and participate in this race.  I’ve written about BabySanchez in a previous post.  Over the past couple of months leading up to this race, I’ve gotten to know the Sanchez family a little bit better.  We’ve moved from the “friend of a friend” kinda stage to now “friends.”  I have been keeping up with their adoption story and hearing them praise CHOSEN!

 The wonderful Sandra Sanchez! 

That weekend, I didn’t hit the payment and do the 13.1 miles as the other 500 or so runners did, I decided to volunteer at the finish line handing out the medals to those who came across it.  I wanted to look in the eyes of those who were running to give others a SECOND CHANCE, HOPE, a LIFE, a HOME, and LOVE to congratulate them or to comfort them as some had big tears as the finished!  What they didn’t know was that SECOND CHANCE was standing right in front of them.

So why did CHOSEN take my breath away?  See for yourself…

  Seeing these kids who are or in the stages or being adopted running as fast as they could to greet the runner with a medal!  

 Seeing those in PURPLE shirts supporting BabySanchez!  What I found to be most amazing about this is that Sandra had over 70 ppl running for her!  Most of these ppl she didn’t know……but met after the race 🙂

 Two strangers who are from different paths, came together on one for a purpose!

 The people’s SECOND CHANCES!

  The encouragement we get from a friend…

  CHOSEN’s Angels…

 She was running for her SISTER… To be able to capture that moment….

 This AMAZING boy ran for himself and his family!  What an inspiration it was to see him cross  this…

 Ed, who was on a CANE completed the 13.1 mile marathon.  I was so moved with hearing his story, that I had to run out to him and walk with him to the finish line!  This right here was the most inspirational moment, I’ve ever experienced and to know the reason behind it…  he has adopted children…

 Loved this picture!  Waiting on the sidelines and being the cheerleaders for bringing home BabySanchez!

But the BIGGEST MOMENT for me was…

 watching Sandra Sanchez run across that finish line and being greeted by her son who put the medal on her!  Such an epic moment. 

 🙂

Yep, CHOSEN, you did take my breath away, not once, but SEVERAL times!  I have never experienced a more real, heartfelt, motivational race such as CHOSEN!  I walked away that day with my heart so FULL!  I know that BabySanchez will arrive very soon for the Sanchez’s.  CHOSEN soon will be taking their breath away!  I just know IT!

If you’re interested in adopting or would like to participate in a race near you, be sure to check out CHOSEN.

The post is written by me about Chosen Marathon. The opinions are all mine.

The post CHOSEN Took My Breath Away… first appeared on #NoOrdinaryLiz.