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National Foster Care Month
May is the national Foster Care month. It is estimated that nearly 600,000 children are now in the foster care system. Thirty-five percent of those children are African American. Learn more about what we can do change lives, one child at a time.

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This Sunday is Mother’s Day. What are your plans? Normally pictured is a scene of mothers getting all gussied up in their finest, attending church services, then having a dinner at home, or going to a restaurant. Why not shake things up a little?

Today is your day to shine. So what is it that you want? What is it that we can give or do for our mothers, this Mother day?

Are you lost for some ideas on what to do this year? It’s not too late. Why not try something new this year? How about a play or musical? Or, a Gospel brunch? Check your local listings for events this weekend. Perhaps siblings can come together and pool your resources, to come up with something extraordinary for mother, this year.

There are many ideas just waiting to be tapped into. Check your local Spa listings. Many Spa’s are offering Spa packages for mother’s day. You can also look into giving Mom a rain check. Give her the opportunity to choose a day to pamper herself. This can be given through gift certificates or weekend getaways. Send her on a three-day cruise. Or, a hotel weekend, that offers spa treatments. Give your mother a day of pampering that she will never forget.

The ideas are endless. You just have to be wiling to go the extra mile, and find out what is available in your area, and affordable for your budget. But one thing is for certain--make sure it is coming from the heart. Because Mom’s, after all, know their kids!

Another great idea that has gone great in my family is preparing brunch or dinner. Don’t know how to cook? Check your local listings for restaurants that offer Mother Day specials. Or, get out that trusty cook book. In fact, if you are web savvy, try out a few websites that offer great recipes that are easy and fun.

Here is a simple Dinner Menu that will be sure to please mom, and won’t have you pulling out your hair! If you’re not a cook, then this menu is definitely for you.

Herb Roasted Chicken
Sautéed Green Beans with Almonds
Glazed Carrots
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Baby Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese & Red Onions
Whole Grain Dinner Rolls
Lemon Cake, with a Berry Compote and Whipped Cream
Sangria (Non-Alcohol)

Special note: Don’t want to cook? Buy it!!

Need the recipes? There are dozens of websites. But, try my favorite: http://www.foodnetwork.com/

Here’s to a phenomenal weekend! And, if none of this works for you…there’s always jewelry!!!


I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback!

Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Ruthe McDonald, African American Culture Editor
http://africanamericanculture.bellaonline.com

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