The Bluebird Patch

"You Ain't Nothin' But A Pound Dog"                Keller was born without eyes and he runs and plays just like other puppies.                He needs eye surgery to clean and close each eye to stop future infections  Did you know that the ‘Pound Dog’ event the Georgia SPCA held every year, helps us rescue animals (like Keller above) from Animal Control? Animals that have a lot of medical needs are put down all the time, but thanks to all our Members, Volunteers and staff we are able to bring in donations to cover the medical issues and place then into a “Fur-Ever” home. We placed over 1,000 animals last year with your help and we are needing your donations to reach that again this year.  We would like you to join us in this awesome event this year. The cost of each ticket will be $77.00 and each dollar goes right to the Georgia SPC...

The day has finally arrived. The Bluebird of Happiness is heading to Country Inn & Suites. The hotel has implemented several environmentally friendly changes as part of their commitment to exist in harmony with their surroundings and reduce their environmental footprint, while providing a better yet less expensive service for all their guests.   I will be sharing photos and tweets over the internet.  Please make sure you follow @countryinns on twitter. Country Inn has also created the hashtag  #LoveThisCountryATL so you can follow the conference live.  Talk to you soon. I really need to start packing :D                                facebook.com/ countryinnstonemountainga

Children's healthcare of Atlanta is notorious for going above and beyond for their patients. This time it was Olivia King's turn to shine and we were invited to watch the event unfold. A fter essentially spending her childhood in hospital rooms at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, Olivia King finally got her chance to celebrate her birthday in good health – and in VIP fashion. Olivia celebrated her sweet 16 on Monday, June 25, just one day before she got to be honored at the Atlanta Dream Kids Day game against the Indiana Fever. Olivia’s journey has been anything but easy. When she was three years old, she experienced complete liver failure. Olivia was airlifted from Nashville to Children’s at Egleston where doctors determined she would need a liver transplant. In November 2000, she received a split liver transplant and doctors discovered she was also suffering from cystic fibrosis. The disease had attacked her digestive system, further complicating her ...

Facing tough economic times, most charities saw drops in charitable giving this year. Connecting celebrities to support a cause needs to be more than just lending their name. Supermodel Cynthia Bailey (RHOA) has always shown a commitment to help her community by supporting charitable causes. This time her agency, Bailey Agency School of Fashion, is joining forces with Show Me the Way Foundation, for an All-Star model casting call for children ages 5-17. Show Me the Way Foundation (SMTWF) is a non-profit organization that provides mentoring and positive group activities for youth infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS and other terminal health issues.   Image via Rolling Out Magazine Want to attend? I will be there supporting this wonderful organization. Here are the deets: WHO: Supermodel Cynthia Bailey (RHOA) and the Bailey Agency School of Fashion will partner with Show Me the Way Foundation for an All-Star model casting call for children ag...

1. Bobby Flay Beef Burgers with Peanut-Chipotle Barbecue Sauce     Bobby Flay makes this extremely good barbecue sauce by spiking tomato puree with two forms of smoky chile—ancho chile powder and chipotle in adobo sauce—then adding peanut butter for sweetness. The sauce takes some time to prepare, but by doubling the recipe, it can be made in one large batch and kept in the refrigerator for up to  two months.     2. Andouille and Beef Burgers with Spicy Mayo and Caramelized Onions.   Prolific cookbook author James McNair has been chief judge of Sutter Home Winery's burger cook-off since it began in Napa in 1990. One of his books, Build a Better Burger , includes every winning recipe. Some past winners—and McNair's Louisiana roots—inspired the burger here.   3. Minetta Burger  Minetta Tavern has become known for its spectacular hamburgers. The restaurant's namesake burger is made with a blend of ...

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost You know those days when you just want to escape the suburbs and you drive down the winding road with no specific course and you let God lead the way? Well, that's exactly what happened this past Father's Day. We had just finished watching a movie when our kids asked us that dreaded question... what are we doing next?? Honestly, I had no idea. I went into a panic mode. We are on a tight budget, and we have no friends or family close by that we can visit. Going to a restaurant or a paying attraction was out of the question. So what to do? Where to go?? On the spur of the moment I told my husband to just drive. Drive?? Drive where? He replied with an incredulous look on his face. I don't know I told him. Just drive down the road and let's see where it takes us. And for the next 25 minutes that was exactly what we did. We dro...

I can't remember a time this boy didn't have a LEGO in his hands. LEGO's has always been an important part of Exol's development. He can do anything with them. He can build lighthouses, gigantic spaceships, to anything in between. I called him the "Alton Brown" of LEGO for his unique ability to lecture anyone he comes into contact with. Is funny how LEGO has allowed me, to sneak peek into my son's future. Exol only likes building, he do play video games but his true strength lies in designing and building. If you come to his room and open his desk you will find a bunch of papers with drawing of designs he comes up with. I love how he always write Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 and so on on every single paper.  Exol's spatial visualization ability makes him a great candidate for the LEGO Mini Apprentice Program. Exol's perceptual and cognitive abilities enables him to complete any task faster than a regular person. Exol's natura...