Little Dresses For Africa are What Got to Me Today

I have a new hero to add to my growing list of awesome people doing amazing things on our planet.  Last 

night I was watching the Nightly News with Brian Williams and learned about a woman right here in Michigan who saw a need, and made a decision to help fix it.

Rachel O'Neill lives in Woodhaven (Brownstown Twp.).  While visiting Africa on a mission, she noticed that so many of the little girls there had mere scraps to wear for clothing.  One child might have one single outfit , to wear again and again and again.  Well, thankfully for thousands of little girls, this particular fact kep tugging at Mrs. O'Neill's heart, and she found a way to do something about it.

Little Dresses For Africa is a non-profit organization that makes little girl's dresses out of pillowcases.  Pillowcases!  In four easy steps, which O'Neill gives on her website, just about anyone can change a pillowcase into something colorful, frilly, girlie and NEW for a little girl who has never had ANYTHING new and all her own.  More importantly, these little dresses help instill a feeling of worthiness to the girls who wear them.

O'Neill's organization is growing at a record pace, thanks to a lot of media attention and national coverage.  Individuals and groups from all over the U.S. are having "sewing parties" and sending them to Woodhaven, MI for distribution.  To date, more than 120,000 dresses have been shipped to several different countries in Africa.  And...so not to leave the little boys out, Little Dresses For Africa also makes "Britches for boys" shorts.  How awesome is that?

I'm just blown away by Rachel O'Neill and the lesson she teaches us, and the simplicity of her mission.  One person.  One idea.  Endless results. Mega kudos to Little Dresses.  Anyone can help by sewing or donating.  Here is the website: http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/.

Ready For The Stage! Can you believe it?!

Hi Everyone,

Oh my dear blog....I've missed you so.  As a matter of fact, I've missed ALL of my blogs!!! Ladies and gents, the book manuscript is in final editing...and just when I thought I was going to take a breather (yeah, like I take breathers)...

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?????

Okay, I totally auditioned for a national public speaking contest called "Ready For the Stage".  It's taking place in Washington D.C. this week at an event called SEVEN.  I am so lucky to be here learning from the best in entrepreneurial everything, and how to use speaking and events to launch more of what I love to do best: help women, write about women, make women superstars!  Just think of how I will be able to promote my book "Off the Couch, Back to Business"-- A Woman's Guide to Success After Setback, as well as all of the awesome and important topics I love to write about, like cool mom stuff, women's rights, bringing positive energy and optimism into your life, orgaizations doing right by women and children and exposing the ones who aren't, and totally hot sports for chicks!

GUESS WHAT ELSE??????

I am one of the semi-finalists!  If I make it to the top four, I'll be competing on stage Thursday night from 7:30-9:30 PM Eastern.  And...you can watch if you like!  Here is the link to opt in, or just "like" Ready For The Stage on Facebook.

And finally, if you are so inclined...you can place a pre-order for my book.  Just click http://offthecouch.eventbrite.com/ and as soon as it becomes available you"ll get it right off the press!  Planned release is for first quarter 2011.

I've missed blogging so much!  I'll be back in Michigan before I know it and will be sure to get my bloggin' on!  Until then, I hope you'll tune in Thursday night and vote!

Thanks readers!  You are all awesome!

april S.

What a Night! A meeting with Congressman Mark Schauer

I realize I am supposed to be on hiatus to meet my book deadline, and I am so thankful for your patience in doing so, but some things are too good to skip out on writing about.  What a night I've had!  I'd like to tell you about it...

I attended the 2010 Saline Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards.  This is always a great event, but tonight was fantastic.  Of course, I was thrilled to be there to support award honoree Jill Hartman, of Hartman Insurance, who is a smart and savvy business woman and super involved member of our community.  I was also pleased to see Leibherr Aerospace and Gear Technology win the award for a larger business.  Saline really is fortunate to have both of these businesses in our city.  Kudos also to A2YP.TV for filming tonight's event.

I was so happy to be there tonight, you'd think I was the one receiving the award. I may not have brought home a plaque or trophy, but I brought home a memory of an evening I won't soon forget.  The company at my table couldn't be beat.  Let me introduce you to my table-mates.

I was so pleased to dine with Congressman Mark Schauer, Saline City Councilman Brian Marl, Senior District Representative Fran Brennan, Mayor of Saline Gretchen Driskell, City Manager Todd Campbell and savvy business owner of DesignHub in Saline, Karen Ragland.  I couldn't have dreamed this up any better!

An evening like tonight is a perfect way for me to remind all of my readers to vote this November.  Now it's obvious from this post who I am voting for, and I've got some great reasons for doing so. (The only other candidate I wish had been there was David Rhoads, Saline City Council). I hope you'll consider doing the same.

It is so important to exercise your right to vote, especially YOU, ladies.  The reason I say that is we must remember how many women in so many other countries will never have the freedom to fill out a ballot and have a voice.  We are so fortunate here in the U. S.  We may not have a woman in the Oval Office yet, but she's coming...ahem...Hillary. 

Thanks to all for such a wonderful evening, to Mayor Driskell, Todd Campbell and Brian Marl (and David Rhoads who we missed) for taking such good care of our Saline citizens.  Thank you Congressman Mark Schauer and your camp for looking out for so many people.  I wish you all nothing but success this November!

(photos top right, me and Congressman Schauer, bottom left me and City Councilman Brian Marl)

Happy Hiatus, Be back Soon!

Hey readers! Just a quick note...I am so happy to announce I have a publisher for my first book...A Women's Guide To Business Success After Setback. With it, however, comes a looming deadline. This means I'm going to be out of the blogosphere for awhile because all of my time and attention will be on getting this book published and promoted. I will be back as soon as I possibly can!


I appreciate your understanding and support, and look forward to writing and hearing back from you again soon. I will keep you posted as to my progress!  It is because of the encouragement and feedback from readers like each of you, that I have felt confident enough to pursue my dream of becoming an author. Thank you so much and I'll be in touch!

April Scarlett

Sex Harrassment in Sports Reporting: What Got To Me Today

There has been a lot of hubbub about Mexican sports reporter Ines Sainz and whether or not she instigated cat calls in the locker room while covering the NY Jets, because she is stunningly beautiful and does not dress in a shy manner.  This blog isn't about her today.  It was going to be, but there are two sides to her story, everyone is covering it...blah blah blah...my opinion on the matter is no woman at anytime should be verbally abused period, don't care if she's naked.  IF she is or dresses unprofessionally, that is poor judgment on her part but doesn't excuse derogatory comments.   Now, on to my next point.

I want to be very clear here...I do a blog called Sports For Chicks.  In that blog I do sometimes reference a great looking bicep, a gorgeous face, or even how "generally" awesome someone looks in their tennis outfit (fashion is a chick's second language, doesn't matter who is wearing it!). Never do I inappropriately comment on a person's body, or make any inappropriate suggestions/innuendo therein.  And always, the fluff comments are color commentary for the substance.  I talk sports first, tasteful flattery second.

Imagine how surprised I was then, and admittedly naive, to find a website (while researching the Sainz story) who's sole purpose was to sexualize and exploit female sports reporters. This "guy" who calls himself HogWild and considers himself a dating expert (gag!) has a page where he pictures his top five hottest women who report on the sidelines.  Not only does he post their photos, but the captions underneath those photos are disgusting. He speaks of what he'd like to do to the women, exploits their sexual body parts, and makes jokes about his own physical reactions to the pictures.  As his name depicts, he is a pig.  He is also a coward.  If he yelled out the things he posts on his site, down to the sidelines toward one of those women reporters, he'd get kicked out of the venue.

I understand there is free speech on the internet.  Mr. Pig does have the right to say what he wants.   What I'm hoping to do is to make people aware of such sites, and encourage them to boycott them.  Again, I appreciate the handsomeness of an athlete, (as does the Swuiss Chocolate company who, in one of their commercials, has Federer going through airport security, questioned by two female officers), but there are lines that aren't to be crossed.

The other bummer is how bad this pig makes men appear.  He talks like all men share his opinion.  I'm sure he has some followers, but real men don't behave in such a manner.  I guess if Mr. Pig is a dating expert, he is bound to find out that real chicks don't like what he is dishing out.  Yuck.

Local glass blower's future glows bright

I'm a writer, so it is no surprise I keep a pen, some type of paper and a camera in my purse, pretty much at all times.  I never know when I'm going to see something or someone who inspires me to get to my keyboard.  On Saturday, I came upon both someone, and some things. As you can see, I got to typing.

Hailey Suydam can take the heat.  Not just any heat, 2200 degree heat.  That is about the standard furnace temperature it takes to blow glass, and Suydam, just a year onto the blown glass scene, is making pieces that have customers coming back for more.

Hailey lives with her parents, Jim and Darcy Lees, in Saline when she is not away in school at Bowling Green State University.  She is a sophomore Art major there, with a minor in Psychology.  This past weekend she had one more chance to sell some of her blown glass art before returning to college, while participating in a fundraiser garage sale in Saline.

When asked what it is about blowing glass that appeals to her, Suydam says, "I'm really more of a 3D (dimensional) person, than a 2D person, and it (glass) was a good way to explore 3D art."

She recently worked on a glass blowing team doing a demonstration at the Toledo Museum of Art.  "It's kind of like a dance," Suydam says, "you need to know where to be at just the right time."  The art of glass blowing is intense.  It's all about timing, using the right temperatures, cooling time limits, oven doors being opened and closed in perfect order.  Suydam has also worked with the region's well renowned artist/ glass blower Leonard Marty.

Suydam often has a design idea in her mind at the start of a project, but likes the beginning of the process best.  "The first bubble is my favorite part," she said, "glass is unpredictable--you kind of gotta go with the flow."

She likes creating sculptures best, but didn't have any available at Saturday's sale.  What she did have on hand didn't stick around long.  By 3PM she had all but three pieces sold, and one customer coming back to the table again and again, debating on whether a particular glass vase would compliment her living room decor.

Hailey Suydam has quite a future in front of her.  She plans to combine her passion of art with her interest in psychology to become an art therapist.  It was obvious by the way she spoke with her customers Saturday, that she has all the qualities and personality suited to such a profession, and don't forget her talent.  Hailey Suydam is one bright and talented young woman.

Sports For Chicks: So many hunky sports!

So what's a sporty girl to do?

So many hunky sports, so little time! First and foremost I'd like to remind everyone it is football season.  Yep--this week is chock full of pre-season NFL knock down, run hard, hike it, kick it football.  Personally, I'll be watching my Lions (hush now!  I know Pitt beat them 23-7 but we're only trying out our rookies).  I know you've probably got a favorite team too and if you don't then yo probably have a favorite player, and if you don't--you should. There are so many hot ones--ahem, I mean skilled athletes--to root for.  Are you ready for some football?  I am.  My prediction the Lions are the Wildcard in the Playoffs (no scoffing allowed).

Also, Phil Mickelson is rockin' it at the PGA Championship in the mid-west this weekend, while Tiger has got some assistant golf guy holding his chin straight win he tees off...what?  Yep, Tiggy's form has gone to hell and if he's not careful he is going to lose his numero uno world ranking!  C'mon Tiger, we need you to finish strong (we'll have no colorful comments inserted here either!).

Did someone say hunky sports?  It will soon be US Open time in New York.  Ya know, I plan to make it there to watch a finals match at center court someday. Until then, we'll have all the usual fantastic fare this year:  Nadal, Federer, Roddick, Williams and Williams--and so many more who are moving up fast to kick the aforementioned off the court.  Two weeks to count it down...US Open starts Aug. 30th.