DAN ZANES WOW!

Today Dylan and I had the pleasure of assisting Wensdy in a video interview with Dan Zanes. The show was at Rackham Hall in Ann Arbor. We were lucky enough to be given tix to the AWESOME show and then interview Dan and a couple of his band mates after. Dan talked about performing for families, making music and his Disney TV pilot. His answers were so thoughtful and if he isn't already sweet enough, Wensdy gave him some magic brownies from Zimmerman's. He seemed really happy to get them! You'll be able to see the interview on www.mydols.tv in a few days.

COOL HUH?

I have a couple of really cool projects this weekend. One is designing the cover for a new book by Teri Williams called Sisstory. I stayed up late last night to work on it, because today I am headed to Ann Arbor to tape an interview with Dan Zanes for www.mydols.tv.

I'll write more when I get home!

Last night I bought Donny Deutsch's new book, The Big Idea: How to Make Your Entrepreneurial Dreams Come True, from the AHA Moment to Your First Million.

It came out in December but I just heard about it. I was shocked to find out there is a whole page on the Mydols and me! I was a guest on his CNBC show and later he had the whole band on with Marianne Williamson which was a GREAT honor.

I come into play on page 45, in the chapter called "Make Love, Not Work". Under the subtitle "Living Loud" it reads:

"This one will blow you away. At age 42, Judy Davids made a career decision most girls make as teenagers. She decided to become a rock star. And that's not all. She had no training and didn't even know how to play an instrument! Yet over night Judy went from soccer mom to rocker mom."

It goes on to tell the story of the Mydols with such great writing that even I was inspired by us! There is a "The Big Lesson" sidebar that reads:

Be bold about following your dream. The marketplace responds to boldness.

Well needless to say I am gobsmacked to be in this book. What an honor. The page about the Mydols ends with a quote from ME! It says: "As long as you have passion and fun, and are constantly learning and evolving, you can do anything."

The book is $25.95 and is hard cover. Check it out next time you're at the book store!

CONFIRMATION RETREAT

I spent all day yesterday at St. Benedict's Monastery in Oxford at a retreat with a bunch of eighth graders. It was so beautiful. The church sits atop a hill and overlooks most of Oakland County.

The kids learned how to meditate and journal. They also celebrated the sacrament of reconciliation and then we all went to mass together. I don't want to write too much about it as it was very private--just a quiet day with God.

SIFE and ecostore USA

I've been really hyping ecostore USA products for weeks. I received a box of cleaning products to try and I loved them all. They work and they don't contain any nasty chemicals. It's a WIN WIN.

Well now it's a WIN WIN WIN, because if you buy one of their products at Walgreen's you help SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise).




Watch the video. Run out to Walgreen's. Buy something from ecostore USA.

Be good to the earth.

Be good to your body.

Be good to students across the world.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

CERTIFIABLY BUSY!

I am staying up late working on the website for the mockumentary "Certifiably Jonathan". I just created a YouTube Channel that includes the trailer and a few clips.

Last night I went to Gilda's Club. My sister organized a scrapbooking class there. I taped it. I'll post video of the cool projects soon.

Tomorrow I have a busy day that inculdes working on a few new websites and meeting with the cool peeps frm ecostore USA. We are planning a PAR-TAY!

Gotta go. The Prez is going to be on the Tonight Show!

THE GARDEN OF SOUL

I am reading Lynn Serafinn's "The Garden of the Soul". It is a big book with a big message. For me, the timing is so perfect.

These days I struggle to be organized. I have so much I want to accomplish and I find myself spinning in circles wondering God has in mind for me. What direction is right for me?

In my frazzled state, Lynn's writing is so calming. From "Lesson from the Rose".

I am strong

I am strong enough to know my limitations.

Strength, in part, is tolerance.

Pateince, the means to that tolerance.

To myself do I first owe that patience

For in truth--

the only person

with whom I shall spend all my days

is I.

That message is so powerful. As is everything I have read so far. I have my nose deep into it. And my heart deeper still. I am looking for answers in my life and I am finding them in the garden. And let me tell you the aroma is beautiful.

This book review is a part of a blog tour.
Yesterday, the book blog tour stopped at Heidi Richards Mooney Blog at WE Magazine for Women talks about the book and author.

And tomorrow it continues with Lola Fayemi. She interviews Lynn about her journey with finding her soul and self.

If you would like to receive updates and more information about the Amazon campaign launch on April 7th, please visit http://tinyurl.com/lynn-bonus
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This St. Patrick's I'm going green. No more cleaning products with NASTY chemicals for me. I'm hooked on ecostore USA.

THIS BLOG IS GOING GREEN FOR ST. PATRICKS DAY

So I have taken the leap to be self-employed. I've never been busier. I have web design work, logos and brochures to design. I have events to plan and a bands to book. My former boss, Rick, says I need to focus. But it's hard. I want to do it all.

I really enjoy working from home. I like the fact that I see my kids in the morning and the dogs lay by my feet all day. I like getting escaping during the day and meeting new people. It's all very exciting.

Here's one fact about working from home that I don't like. (I found this on http://www.ecostoreusa.com/.)

Women who work from home and are more frequently exposed to household toxins and poor air quality are 50% more likely to develop cancer.

That scares me. So I am joining the green movement. Band mate April is showing me the way, as is new BFF Lyne from ecostores USA. Lyne is passionate about her family's health and she's bringing ecostore products (without nasty chemicals) to Michigan. Her determination is infectious.

Today I'm going to Meijers with my kids and we're going to interview customers about living green. We're apostles spreading the word. Look for a "special" green Vlog on St. Patrick's Day with interviews about genuinely green and clean living.

In the meantime my friends at ecostore have a coupon for you! Click here to get it.

BLOWING OUT

The Mydols played at the Metro Times Blowout yesterday afternoon. I've got to say it was one of my favorite gigs ever. The music was so good starting with Cello Bella. They played old songs for the "new depression"--songs from the 1930s to be be "broke" by.

Next up was Danny Kroha. And he was darling! I loved him. He of course is a rock legend and he played a bunch of instruments he made himself. The kids all loved it and I am hoping to work with him and do some promoting for him--this guy bleeds talent.

The Mydols played last. The room was packed with kids, adults, balloons and smiling faces. We are really coming together as a band. We rocked!

DVD ART

Seems like every day I get asked to work on something cool. Today I designed the DVD packaging for a documentary called MomZ Hot Rocks and I also was asked to work on a website for another documentary film about Jonathan Winters.

NEW WEBSITE! NEW TV SHOW!

Hey, the Mydols have a new website and a new TV show. The website is at http://www.mydols.com/. Check it out and you can see video from Mydols.TV which debuts tonight on the Community Media Network in metro Detroit.

It shows THREE times this week.

March 3 (Tues.) at 5:30 AM

March 4 (Wed.) at 10:30 AM

March 5 (Thurs.) at 8:30 PM

(Comcast Channel 52 or Wowway Channel 18 in Metro Detroit only. See http://www.cmntv.org/ for cities.)

If you miss it (or don't have cable or live in Detroit!), you can see clips from the show at http://www.mydols.com/

ECO STORE

This year I kind of made a resolution to be a better citizen of the earth. Inspired by Mydols' lead singer, April Boyle (whose leading the Green Drinks movement in Detroit), I'm trying to use products that don't contain nasty chemicals and reduce my family's carbon footprint.

Out of the blue, came my answer. I was asked if I wanted to try some products from the Eco Store and given a box of stuff to try.

I have spent the entire weekend testing the products. Not only is my home spotless but I am really impressed with the quality of the products.

First up: the Dishwash Liquid and Laundry Liquid are concentrated. For example, you only need a tiny capful of Laundry Liquid to do a load of wash. The container is about the size of a large bottle of shampoo! I loved carrying to my laundry room. It was so light compared to the enormous packaging of powdered detergent. The Dishwash Liquid also just requires a dab--for Lent I am trying to do dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher. (I think that should make God happy.)

I also used the Spray Cleaner on my stove top after my husband made spaghetti. It cleaned up his mess nicely. (Now if they could only send me a husband-in-a-box that cleans up after himself!)

The product I like the best was the nourishing Baby Moisteriser. It smells so good. Truly, it lifted my spirits and it made my skin so soft. I love it.

It's important to note, you don't have to sacrifice quality to be eco-friendly. And not only are you being very nice to the earth but you also do your kids a great service when you use products like these. The Eco Store says:

"Your family’s health is a priority to the team at ecostore USA. That is why we have produced a range of eco-friendlier kitchen cleaning products that are better for the earth, and better for your health too. We believe that by changing from the conventional cleaning products in your kitchen you are doing your family an important service, especially young children whose immune systems are still developing."

I feel better about myself and my house looks fantastic!

BTW...The Eco Store products are sold exclusively at the Meijers grocery store chain. Go to http://www.meijer.com/ to find a store near you.

CONGRATS DYLAN!

First Willie got the news that he was selected to the Wind Ensemble at Royal Oak High School next year as a freshman! He had to beat out some high school students for the honor. AND considering he has only been playing trombone for about 3 months, well it's quite an achievement.

Now we learn that Dylan was nominated by his chemistry teacher for the honor of "Ravens with Character"! Check out the sign at Royal Oak High. Well done!