Friday Four: Things You May Not Know About Me

As a blogger and mom coach I share a lot. It helps others see that the differences we have are not differences at all and that everyone has there own cross to bear.  However, even in one on one coaching sessions, I hold back bits of information. BUT I was in a sharing mood as I pondered on what to write for today’s post.  Secrets! Everyone LOVES SECRETS.  Here’s four no one knows about me! Ssssh, don’t tell a soul.

 

1. I have put out one of my own children. I was raised a certain way. Certain things were just never even considered acceptable or possible. Because I refuse to be mainstreamed by these new age parenting gurus, I chose to rely on what my mind and heart says is right. At the time I put her out, I felt that reality need to set in. When I’m feeding , housing, nurturing, and struggling for you and other influencers can entice you with more worldly and  defiant ideas, it’s a good time to open the door and let the child see for herself if it is really glamorous as it’s stated. At 16, she’s isn’t a complete fool, so it may work out for her, is what went through my mind. So she stayed out for 36 hours and begged to come home. The grass was not greener and although she was safe, she knew that the pressures of real life isn’t what she wants – just yet.
2. I hate shopping and I’m  dressing handicap. I don’t understand how shopping assistants can do their jobs everyday! I thank GOD for my infinity belt. It’s simple to put on and it goes great with everything! First let me say, If I had to describe my uh, dressing style, it would be somewhere between, “I don’t plan to get out and ” Not a soul knows me there, so I’m good.” That theory used to work well for many years. Lately, not so much. Between hanging with Queen City Stay At Home Moms and business errands for Queen City Stay At Home Moms, I’ve had more people approach me with “Heeeeey, I know you…. You’re the mom coach or you’re the one that is everywhere, knows everything, and trys out all those cool things.” I like that- trust me, I do but here’s what I do— Click Here-—. https://im1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/000032352424/media/50439685521/medium/1408114528/enhance
3. My family would rather eat from Golden Corral than my kitchen. They love my veggie lasagna, cabbage and sweet potato fries….and that’s it. They LOVED when my son comes home because food is it very best! They say my Johnson & Wales relationship takes over.  (mind you, I earned two degrees- NEITHER, the B.S. or A.S are in culinary.) https://app.thislife.com/full/50439717490
4. I don’t believe that energy can be destroy. It just comes back in another form. I trust that after death a person’s spirit is sent back.   I swear that I’m raising at least three of my elder  family members right now. And that’s not a bad thing!

Well, there you have. Did any of that surprise you?

The Muslim-African Wedding

If you are ever invited to and African wedding and it says the ceremony will begin at 3pm, show up at 5pm and you may beat the bride and groom there.

Yes, I wore an hijab. See more about Muslim ceremonies here.

Over the weekend I attended a African-Muslim wedding and was honored for the experience. I didn’t know what to expect from an Muslim-African infused ceremony, so I did a little research before attending.

Although many Muslims stage a multiday celebration to mark a wedding, the traditional marriage ritual itself, called a nikah in Arabic, is simple and brief. It generally follows these steps:

At the wedding, which can take place pretty much anywhere, the bride and groom are separated in different rooms. They may or may not be able to see each other, depending on how conservative the families are.

An officiant, who can be any man familiar with Islamic law, heads to each room separately. There he asks the spouses-to-be if they consent to the marriage and if they are marrying of their own free will (a representative called a wali answers the officiant’s questions on the bride’s behalf).

The couple signs the marriage contract or license, with witnesses observing.

The officiant brings the pair together and pronounces them husband and wife.

The first thing I noticed  at the mosque was that the women and men sat separate from each other. Even the engage couple.  There was no wedding party and everything was pleasantly different than anything else I’ve ever seen before.  There was no solos, flowers girls, no bridal party walking in. As a matter of fact the engaged couple was seated for the entire ceremony until the dowry part. They did kiss at the end.

I took my daughter with me. 

Now can we talk about the reception. More importantly the food! It was everything I ever hope for in a African reception. Joloff, spicy meats, crisp salads…..even the drinks were amazing. I loved the African Ginger beer. (Click here for the recipe) 

Ok, ok, ok, I won’t show my love of African food before I give you more details. –The reception included a very lively African dance by a all female group. I didn’t know  one word that was said, but their movement was very much so lovely and graceful!  Now when the families got on the floor, it was a wrap! I took off my shoes and got down with them! They know how to parrrrr-ty!  Line dances, couple dances, man dances…… it was amazing! Little did I know, Mrs Bride is a Delta. One of her sisters gave her the sweetest token of love in song (lip syncing)

As the night progressed I seen first hand why this marriage will work. The families are loving.PURELY LOVING. The husband LOVES his new daughters. The husbands family LOVES their new daughter.AND THE NEW COUPLE adores each other.  I’m so glad I brought my daughter with me.

What I was most impressed with is how they spent their money. Nothing was over the top except for those dresses the bride wore. They were incredibly beautiful. Nothing was lacking. I think they did a great job  on the ceremony. I am so elated to have been a part of it ,and wish them nothing but the very best. Sorry, I haven’t shared any videos or closer photos. I haven’t received permission to release wedding details as of posting date. Once received, I’ll share them on our Facebook page (click here to go there now.)

Here’s more on

The Sweetheart Song by DELTA’s

another tear jerking Sweetheart song by the Deltas

Islamic weddings

African Weddings

African Wedding Food

Liberian Pineapple Ginger Beer

Friday Four: Home school, Charter, High and Private

This year we got two of our children accepted for an Opportunity Educational grant. The Opportunity Scholarship Program expands school choice in North Carolina through scholarship grants for eligible children in kindergarten through 12th

 

It wasn’t hard at all to get it. All I did was apply. It took less than a hour and I did it for five of my children.

Our children have been to public school, charter schools, regular high schools in low income zones and now high school in high income zone.  Let me be  the first to tell you , there is MESS in all of them if you skip a beat.

Our oldest daughter was attending Kennedy Charter last year. They put so many electives in her day. They kept promising to fix it the following semester and it never happened. Because they were easy classes, my daughter got comfortable with them too so of course she wouldn’t say anything.  As we began the process to transfer her to her current high school, instead of her being a senior, she a junior.

Now at the high income high school, ( for reading pleasure, let’s say Providence High) the counselor there won’t return phone calls to figure out a way to get her out in time. When my daughter discovered at opportunity, she replies that she has never heard of it.   So now she passing the same classes she’s taken already.

As we now prepare ourselves for private school. I am creating a checklist for signals to lookout for. Of course you can never be to sure of anything, but from dealing with a few educational warehouses,  I now can sense when to grab my child and run. 

Disclosure: I acknowledge that school systems are blessed with many gifted administrators and dedicated teachers, not all educational facilities are created equal. However, here are my four points of caution. Feel free to add yours in the comments.

1. The large majority of your teachers have less than five years of experience- The best schools have solid veteran teaching forces, mixing in talented newcomers each year as teachers retire or move into administration or other job opportunities. When you run off your veteran teachers, you not only do not have teachers who can mentor the younger staff members and help them reach their full potential, but you also are increasing the odds that you are going to hire some less gifted teachers just to fill the vacancies. That makes it that much harder to understand why so many state legislatures are appropriating millions for inexperienced Teach for America instructors instead of spending that money to keep their best teachers in the classroom.”
2. Does your child seem fixated on designer labels and trendy clothes for school? This is a symptom of an approach that emphasizes external rather than internal values, causing children to rely on shallower means of comparison and acceptance, rather than deeper values.
3. The community is not involved in its schools- In many school districts, the community is kept at arm’s length until it is time to pass another bond issue or tax levy increase. Or the community involvement is restricted to a carefully selected group of business and civic leaders or the spouses of those leaders. A successful school district is one in which the involvement is organic and comes from all segments of the community, not just the ones who are needed when it comes time to ask for money. In some school districts, the community is asked for its input and then guided to give the input the administrators are seeking so they can say whatever initiative they have has the support of the community. That is not community involvement; that is pure spin
4. Your child suffers a staggering drop in self-confidence. “Your child may begin to call himself ‘dumb’ or ‘stupid’ or is overly anxious about homework.”This is often a sign that the teaching style your child is meeting in the classroom is in direct conflict with what he or she requires to learn. Conversely, if your child is not being challenged, you may notice that he or she has started to act out in the classroom or regularly complains about being bored at school.”

More on Schooling:

Types of schooling

8 Signs Of A Bad School

The top-five reasons to avoid a high school

Wish us luck!

Jabela

 

Baba Doula

A few years ago I was surfing on Facebook. I came across a name that really intrigued me. It was a guy named Baba Doula!

He had the sweetest family and the most adorable little girl. So I felt comfortable approaching him. It did help that he was  socially conscious and  knew people in high places…..(and who doesn’t LOVE Ms Erykah She Ill Badu?)

The name alone made me  search through his profile to learn more about him. I looked through pictures, comments on his timeline , and even his friend list to get a better sense what type of person he was. He checked out to be a really upstanding fella so I befriended him and quickly asked,  “What’s up with that name?  The conversation went like this:

ME: Morning Baba. Are you a doula? Your name is throwing me off.

Free em all! Lol… Allow me to try and explain Sis.

ME: Lol, I’m listening….

Did you see the post on my time line from 17 JAN about jailed father for daughters vaccination?

I didn’t  see it but I quickly went to find it. Some time later,  I engaged him again. This time it was to learn more about his passion for birthing, life and if possible, more about him as a husband.  So he shared: 

I’m Baba Doula!  My nom de plume, my moniker, which like our child was conceived / created out of love. As you know, Baba means father and Doula is one who serves a woman doing childbirth. I am a husband, and a father to a darling little girl named Tsage. It never even occurred to me the all of the struggles a woman must go through before, during, and after childbirth. When we found out we were with child, I began reading, watching, and educating myself to the point of passing out and having nightmares literally. Prenatal DVDs, cooking fine cuisines, mediation, bonding, Bradley Method childbirth class. It was King Solomon who said, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” Old African birthing wisdom, such as squatting during labor, moving around freely, being able to eat and drink freely, and relaxing has been repackaged into an expensive birthing class. But thankfully, friends of ours donated half the money so we could take it. We also procured a doula to augment my own support during labor. Lastly, we hired a placenta encapsulation specialist to ensure a smooth postpartum transition. And although I am not the one who gives birth, my politics do, and is shaped from the reality by those who did, and those who continue to bring life into this world.

ME: You mentioned ” We have slight generational and culture parenting differences.” Everyone doesn’t agree with me…… But I’m curious…… what do you think is the biggest difference?

Months later I engaged him again. He then shared.

I grew up in the 80’s and she grew up in the 90’s. James from Good Times was my “TV Dad.” While she had Bill Cosby. It wasn’t frowned upon to spank your child. Ash don’t believe in spanking, she hasn’t seen a House Party film either. So sweeping a broom over your foot, cutting the seat out of old panties, keeping a piece of salt pork on top of the Frigidaire as medicine, sayings like “don’t let the hide go with the tallow”, using a piece of straw broom as a tooth pick, etc. are all foreign to her.

Did you see the post on my time line from 17 JAN about jailed father for daughters vaccination? Yes? That was him 🙂

Baba is all man, but his foundation is reminiscent of mine. It wasn’t long ago that I stood up for all breastfeeding moms in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library. He is the type of person I would send my mommy and daddy friends to when my husband is worn out from responding to parenting and social questions. Well, the good news is I persuaded him to increase his profound presence to the ones that need it the most!

Help me welcome BaBa Doula to QC Supermom!!! We are so happy to have his perspective in our pubic, liberal,  holistic,  community! Let the fun begin!

Baba is available for family centered product reviews, daddy consultations and even speaking events! Learn more about this cool cat on our page. Click HERE !

Thrilled from The Windy City to The Queen City,

Jabela

Friday Four: Thanksgiving- FIND YOURS

Thanksgiving carries different meanings for different people. My family on my dad side host a huge dinner. Everyone gathers at an elders family member home and we eat, laugh and lounge until the belt button pops! Then walk it off with our more fit aunts! The guys usually play a round of football or basketball.  Some even ride a horse. It’s awesome because everyone is included and made to feel welcomed and warm. All the family drama is left in the glove compartment for the day. 

Now that I have a tribe of my own, I go there less often and try to establish my own family traditions. Although I want them to feel the generational love, I want to impress memories with them as well. The first dinner I did was before my 11 yr old past in 2004*. My now 23yr old son did the sweet potatoes and Mya did the cabbage. We had a simple yet delicious spread.  But ended up throwing away a large amount of meat and beans. I didn’t like that too much and knew that we had to try something different.

So now, we take a little out for the local shelters before we eat.  Problem solved.

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states.

At any given moment, I have 14 arms to hug and love me unconditionally. At any given moment,I can bend over and pick something off the floor. At any given moment, I can walk outside my door and work in my garden. At any given moment, I can go to my sink and collect clean* water. At Any Given Moment, I can give THANKS to God for my life!

Here is how we do Thanksgiving.

1. We recall what we are thankful for )loved ones, life, health, family and a peace of mind and everything in between)
2. We will not gorge on this day. For we know that we must eat  well after that one day.
3. We will find a way to bring joy in someone else life, via food, deed or both.
4. We will build on what we have and find ways to care for and our current gifts.

More on Thanksgiving (Please check out the links and book offer. Each purchase from the books justify time given to this blog- THANKS IN ADVANCE. 🙂 )

The real cost of Thanksgiving

Oven Cautions!

The Latin Kitchen- How to cook in 3 hours!

Detox your self after the fest/ eat clean during it . Follow my pinterest board.

Recipes the kids can help make!

Buy the book! Teens Gobble Gobble MAD LIBs

Charlie Brown ThanksGiving

Thanksgiving Is For Giving

Children’s Books: WHAT’S FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER? (Delightfully Fun, Rhyming Bedtime Story/Picture Book for Beginner Readers About Making Friends and Being … Ages 2-8) (Happy Children’s Series 5)

and Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving “This is a very cute book with really nice illustrations and such a good story. ”

 How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? I would LOVE to know.

Gobble Till You Wobble,

Kelle, QC Supermom

Operation Scarf Bombing In The QC!

It’s sweeping the country! Now it’s here in the Queen City! Scarf Bombing! Yes Charlotte, it’s our time to pay it forward with a good deed.

A few weeks ago, I had to pick my oldest daughter up from the transit around 9:30pm. My younger daughter was riding with me and she said “Ma, that guy is shivering on the bench. What do we have in here to give him?” Well, we didn’t have anything. But I promised her that  after we got her older sister back home, we would find him something to keep him warm. Once there, we picked up  that we use when we sit outdoors . It was one of our most compact blankets. We then zoomed back down Beatties Ford Rd. to give it to him. We were happy to see that he was still there and alive. He graciously accepted. No questions were asked or any words spoken during the warm, cozy ride back home. I was happy that she had a heart to care for someone else and I think she was happy to be a giver of something of value and much needed. Yet we knew there were others like him. Balled up in tents-cities’ and benches throughout the Queens City.

If you see a scarf wrapped around a tree nearby, here’s one possible explanation.

It’s called scarf bombing, similar to yarn bombing and it’s basically placing scarves or other knitted clothing around the city. Most have cards saying that the scarves aren’t trash, but instead donations for those who need them.  

There are reports from all around the nation including these from Oklahoma City to Jacksonville to Fort Wayne, Raleigh, NC. even in Ottawa, Canada and now Charlotte NC!

We even a Facebook event! Gloves, hats, and other warm items are also welcome for our operation on  December 14th. Our goal for the 1st year here in Charlotte is 100 scarfs*!  We will accept donations at 4 different locations in Charlotte if you can not attend. Those locations will be listed on the Facebook page. You may also contact me,directly at (704)756 9947 or message me at QCSuperMomInfo@Gmail.com

Pioneer Square at night with downtown city lights with a homeless man sleeping on a park bench Seattle Washington State USA

It’s not exactly clear when the whole practice got started, but some sites suggest the scarves first started popping up in 2010. See how Michelle Chance-Sangthong Warms The Needy With Free Scarves. Now it’s on us!

We already have “Hallie” an awesome teen coordinator anxious to get started at her high school. Her mom shared: ” She’s excited and so am I. THANK YOU! You have no idea what a blessing this is for her right now.”

Come on Queen City, let’s show our  Southern Hospitality in the most meaningful way. Everyone that can help is encourage to do so in their own special way! Thanks in advance.

Jabela, QC Supermom

Chase the Chill of Central GA tied 144 scarves to trees for the taking.

Friday Four: Gratitude For All! From Tots to Teens

Everyone likes to be appreciated. EVERYONE! One of the many jobs of parenting, is to teach your children about gratitude. The world doesn’t owe them a thing. And it really isn’t that hard to do. But if it’s not programmed in them … it isn’t gonna come out of them. (Ya’ll have seen those type of children)  Even the smallest child can learn and show gratitude. Take a peek at a few ideas below.

1. STOP GIVING THEM SO MUCH!  Keeping thing in perspective, more and more children are living a lie. How is it that we are in a recession, but so many of our children are carrying smart phones and Heavily branded shoes. I tell my children all of the time, “You are entitled to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” I also tell them “I refuse to dress up an empty box.”  When you reward your child(ren) for earning “Perks” (which includes volunteering, grades, character) you are teaching them more than just gratitude.I roll my eyes  at some of the things my husband do to save money, but in hind sight the end justify his actions. (Did you see the grill on the featured image. We are still using that same grill. Sure our food takes longer to cook, but when my son get’s his own home and family, his wife is gonna thank us for the raising a grateful guy!)
2. BE A MODEL!   You already know how kids mimic EVERYTHING we do. Make an
   

   Seniors & team captains Reggie Johnson & Jervon Pressley went to Magruder Elementary school to speak to students about academics, pursuing goals, and being respectful to their parents and others.

   effort to super grateful in-front of your kids. Growing up people would always say to me…. why do you have such a frown on your face?” I really didn’t intend to look that way because I was a happy child. At some point I changed it. Last year, one of my private tutoring students asked in the middle of a lesson, “why do you smile all of the time?” “I don’t know, I guess because I’m happy.Don’t your mom smile at home?” I replied. Her response to that blew me away….. She said she does, but only when she’s taking a picture!….  (Talk about too Much Information – right?)

3. SAY Thank you!

   My mother In Law is amazed by the things technology can do. So for her birthday, we had the children make a video birthday card. To prepare, I had each of them write down 2 things they loved most about her. We then talked about their list collectively and the older ones all realized how thoughtful of a grandma she is. When we began to record, they were speaking more from their hearts and less from the list. Not only was their grandma over joyed, the kids gained more gratitude for good family members that care about them ,and they all felt warm inside by sharing goodwill.  Because of this family video below, I have learned a new appreciation for all dentist, big brothers floss.  
4. Thank them with food.

   Nothing says thanks to me like food. I just associate so much pleasure to eating, that I automatically think good things about a person who gives me food – Guys, I know I am not alone on this     Find out what their favorite type of food is and attach a nice little note telling them why it is being given to them. I like to give vegan treats from Cassie’s Sweetz!

Bonus: to really make this fun you can tell them thank you in 26 different languages.

One of my most memorable lessons in having a grateful perspective came from a salmon slicer at Zabar’s in New York City. I asked how he’d been, and his response stopped me in my tracks.

“Blessed,” he said. “I go home to a warm bed. There’s food on my table. I have running water and I can take a hot shower. I am blessed.”

How powerful is that?! Just imagine how different life would be if we all adopted this attitude and passed it on to our children as well.

Your Mom Coach, Kelle

Wednesday Wow: 10010 My home schooled young Boys Are Coding!

PROGRAM OR BE PROGRAMMED

Yesterday my younger sons attended their very first coding class! I didn’t know what to expect from these young guys, but they did great! The look on each of their faces was thanks enough.

I didn’t learn it until after college. Even thing, I past it over and ran to the cut and paste – ins website apps.

The reason I  introduced them to it is not just because a girlfriend invited us,to this FREE series of classes but because I wanted the middle aged boys to improve their problem solving skills. Having children that “THINK” is a BIG thing for me.  I think in life you are either a consumer- programmed or a producer……. the programmer.  And tell me, what’s wrong  with having a Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak,or a Steve Jobs in our large family?

I hear that some countries, including England, have begun to add coding to their national school curriculum, teaching children as young as 5 how to code. It’s urged to expose them to it as an additional language.

Coding is what makes it possible for us to create computer software, apps and websites. Your browser, your OS, the apps on your phone, Facebook, and this website – they’re all made with code. (CODING EXPLAINED For BEGINNERS)

What Charlotte elementary school teaches coding???  These are the days that I am so grateful to have the opportunity to teach outside of the box. They are learning real skills! These skills include hand-crafting their  own websites, becoming a career coder or even starting a technology business. Most importantly, they will be able to understand the technology shaping their world.

There is a new business in Charlotte for educating; and that organization wants to teach you to code. Tech Talent South is a business that is now providing web development coding classes to Charlotteans. In the classes, applicants will learn to code with Ruby on Rails, Javascript and HTML/CSS. The business was started in Atlanta last year by Betsy Hauser Idilbi and Richard Simms.

Tech Talent South  is all over the US. (and Africa). And it’s steady growing. We attended the 1st class in Charlotte, NC – Courses Offered:

Code Immersion
Next Level Rails
The Graduate Program
Big Data Analytics
iOS Development
JavaScript Application Development
Intro to Web Design and Creation
Google Analytics Workshop
Free Kids Code

To find out about classes in your area, click here.

Okay, now, you can’t say I never gave you the “Good Stuff! Do me a favor and like this post if you like it! THANKS!!!!!! “Let’s get our seeds tools for success!

~ Jabela

Here are a few more impressive sites on CODING

KIDTECH LLC

We teach children ages preschool through middle school. We just began teaching coding classes using CODE.org, Khan Academy, and Tynker.org. We have curriculum for a beginner and advanced beginner class in place, and are teaching a number of camps this summer.

WE CODE

We help organize coding clubs and high school hackathons for inner-city students

~ How Coding works.

~15 Facts for Beginners

~Coding 101

Halloween Candy Hangover

The fun of dressing up is over. Now parents across the country are wondering how they’re going to get rid of all that candy their kids brought home over the weekend…. You Are NOT Alone. My guy tribe enjoyed 8 days of Halloween festivities.Although most of them were non candy focused, (like the Home Depot Party by Queen City Stay At Home Moms) some how we left with at least 5 lbs of candy in-tow! 

We could open up a Sweet Shop’ if we wanted too.

There are a number of creative ways to get rid of Halloween candy, like using it for crafts or science experiments, saving it until Easter and throwing it in the basket. (Hey, it’s only six months away—how stale can that candy get?) But perhaps the best thing to do with Halloween candy is keep some, donate to others and trash the rest.

Today we made ART! Using just candy and toothpicks, our family has an annual competition to make the best statue. See the video.. 

Operation Gratitude and Halloween Candy Buy Back
Operation Gratitude sends more than 100,000 care packages annually to U.S. troops stationed in overseas and to their children left behind, as well as veterans. The organization’s mission is simple: to put a smile on soldiers’ faces. Operation Gratitude accepts donations of unopened candy, and asks that you separate and mark “chocolate” versus “non-chocolate” packages. The website contains other important shipping info, and kids are encouraged to include letters and pictures, too. Worried you won’t get it together to send the candy by the mid-November deadline? Then consider the Halloween Candy Buy Back program, which benefits Operation Gratitude. Go to the website to search for a participating dentist near you who will accept candy in exchange for toothbrushes, coupons and sometimes cash.

The closest one to me is-

Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry
130 Harbour Place Drive Suite 180
Davidson, NC, 28036
Phone: 704-377-3687
Email: mstamey@cltpediatricdentistry.com
www.cltpediatricdentistry.com

Important note: It’s imperative that you call ahead. Many dentists set certain buy back rules, like a maximum amount of candy or specific drop-off hours. Get the details before you go!

Listen in to Kids Health  on the topic of moderation and Halloween Candy<Click here!>

Operation Stars and Stripes
Founded in 2001 in memory of a Vietnam War hero, this all-volunteer nonprofit supports service members at home and abroad with care packages and letters. Packages of unopened candy can be sent to the organization’s Georgia headquarters. Specific shipping info can be found on the website.

Operation Shoebox and Any Soldier
These are two more organizations that collect and send care packages to troops overseas. Operation Shoebox accepts individually wrapped candies all year long. Meanwhile, Any Soldier allows you to decide which branch of the armed forces you’d like to support: Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines.     

Finally, don’t forget about your local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, food pantry, or retirement or nursing home. Many take donations of unopened candy for residents and guests. It’s worth calling to find out if they accept treats, otherwise….. just trash them! Everyone knows sugar is NOT The healthiest thing to eat!