The Bluebird Patch

Bo, the Portuguese water dog of President Obama makes a final inspection of the 2012 White House Christmas decorations before 90,000 visitors come through the doors of the People's House this holiday season.

  -           The Georgia Aquarium is hosting an instructor-led education program for homeschoolers Dec. 6 at 1:45 p.m. In conjunction with that program, the World of Coca-Cola is offering homeschool discount rates all day (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). -           The World of Coca-Cola discounts are: The $10 school group rate for youth ages 3-12 will be extended to all students up to 12 th grade/age 18 (normally $15). The World of Coca-Cola also is offering one free adult chaperone ticket for every two students (maximum of five free tickets per group). Additional adults will receive the $15 adult school group rate. -           To receive these discounts, homeschool groups must reserve their tickets through group sales (404-676-6074 ). They will need to email or fax a copy of the Homeschool Letter of Intent validating them as off...

  This boy chihuahua hates the cold weather and needs to wear clothes every time he goes outside.  He is so adorable that you might think he is a stuffed toy chihuahua. Choosing a name for him was a very easy process. He is so small that we decided to call him "Tiny". He was adopted through a local animal shelter on a cold winter day. I still remember like it was yesterday how he was all curled up and shivering at the adoption event. Can you believe someone just gave up on him?

Disney's Beauty and the Beast , the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is now playing at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this family friendly theatrical production comes to life on stage from Tuesday, November 27 through Sunday, November 2 nd . Disney’s Beauty and the Beast  is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast  has become an international sensation that has played to over 35 million people worldwide in 13 countries. T his Broadway Musical is in our top 10 favorite plays of all times. This is what Broadway is all about. The show is mesme...

We had so much fun at the VIP opening party of  Duluth   Studio Movie Grill (SMG). After the ribbon cutting ceremony we went into an auditorium and ordered our courtesy appetizer, entrée and dessert while watching “Life of Pi” in their extra comfy movie seats. Studio Movie Grill, known nationwide for pioneering the in-theater dining concept has said goodbye to the days of stale popcorn and microwaved snacks and introduced a varied menu of hand-tossed gourmet pizzas, spicy Tabasco wings, a Southwest salad, and coconut chicken, alongside all of your theater favorites like hot dogs and candy. The menu also features healthier choices for adults and children alike, including turkey burgers, grilled chicken tenders, fruits and veggies. Menu prices range from $4.25 - $16.25, which is perfect for families. My favorite starter was the s eared Lump Blue Crab cakes with remoulade sauce and a small salad on the side. It was dynamite. The crab was sweet, tender, and moist....

Atlanta native Cee Lo Green is celebrating the holiday season, Muppet style. He has released a cool and fun  Christmas video for "All I Need Is Love," a track featuring Jim Henson's lovable muppets that was included on the singer's recent holiday album " Cee Lo's Magic Moment . " Watch how Cee Lo gives Atlanta a shout-out while he sings and dance with the Muppets.

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Chattahoochee River, lies a tiny village full of cobblestone alleys, old-world towers, gingerbread trims and lots but lots of happy people. Alpine Helen, is a re-creation German Town and is the most popular destination in North Georgia, and third in the state behind Atlanta and Savannah. 

Healthy Child Healthy World ignites the movement that empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals. Did you know o ver 80,000 chemicals have been invented since the 1950s.  There are  200  foreign  chemicals in our children's system AT BIRTH. 20% of these chemicals are untested as to their effects on our children? With a growing body of evidence linking everyday environmental contaminants to asthma, learning disabilities, obesity, cancer and more, Healthy Child translates the science and inspires parents and caregivers to create healthy environments where families can flourish. For the past two decades Healthy Child Healthy World has been the nation's leading organization of its kind.  They: Expand  awareness of unnecessary toxic risks to children's health; Encourage  easy actions and responsible lifestyle choices; Advocate  for corporate policies and government legislation that protect children from environme...

HOW PRIVATE ARE YOUR FACEBOOK SETTINGS? If you are tired of having to be on top of your Facebook privacy settings then I highly recommend you download Privacyfix and  instantly check your privacy settings across Facebook, Google and the other websites and companies collecting your data. PrivacyFix, a free plugin for Chrome that tells you how your online activity is being tracked, and fills in your online privacy holes with a click. But that’s not the best part. Unlike other tracker blocker plugins, PrivacyFix provides an estimate of exactly how much revenue you generate for Facebook and Google through your online activities. You can get to the fix with one click and know when policies change.  They don't collect any data from your use of Privacyfix, unless you choose to send it to them. Privacyfix don't store IP addresses and they cannot and do not see or save your web browsing. 

We love Rachel Crow, not only she is a smart, bubbly and talented young lady but she is pure sunshine. Crow participated in the first season of the U.S. version of The X Factor in 2011 and she finished in 5th place overall. Rachel was born to a drug addicted mother and suffered child abuse before she ended up in foster care. "She was born a crack baby and actually lived in a crack house and suffered a lot of abuse," Rachel's adoptive mother, Barbara Crow, told the Huffington Post. "But she is totally unaffected by it. She never looks at [her past] in a sad way. She looks at it as that is what made her the person she is."

I'm thankful for having healthy children. I'm thankful to have a spouse that will do anything for his family. I'm thankful for the little things in life such as having food on my table and having a place to call home. I'm thankful for my family unconditional love. I'm thankful to be alive and well and watch my children grow into their potential. I'm thankful for new friends that make my life so more meaningful. I'm thankful for my incredible daughter not only because she's so wonderful, kind, loving and but because she has grown to be my best friend. I'm thankful for my amazing son who is strong, brave, affectionate and a role model on how to be kind and compassionate toward strangers.

This Thanksgiving be more aware of portion control.  It's not just what you eat -- it's how much. With portion sizes growing, here are some steps you can take to remain Healthified. Remember, if you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want ;)

     Exciting New Ways to Contribute Make Donations Easy and Fun     The holidays are upon us, and there’s no better way to catch the spirit of the season than by giving back to our local community. Luckily, Bert’s Big Adventure has plenty of opportunities to donate time, money, and gifts that will help make the organization’s 11 th annual trip in 2013 the best one yet. Explore all of your options below: Bert’s Big Adventure Day at Swoozies – Chastain Square Save money and give back at Swoozies on Tuesday, November 27 On Tuesday, November 27, Swoozies at Chastain Square will offer 20% off the entire store all day long, with 10% of the day’s sales benefiting Bert’s Big Adventure. In addition to a fabulous discount on great gifts just in time for the holidays, shoppers who stop by from 6-8pm will enjoy sips, small bites, and a champagne toast with Bert’s Big Adventure Founder, Stacey Weiss at 6:30pm. http://swoozies.com/ ...

Help Majic 107.5 / 97.5 make Christmas bright for a child or family in need when you participate in our Christmas Angels 2012 campaign. Last year, Georgia families and children in need received gifts sponsored by YOU the Majic 107.5 / 97.5 listeners. This year they are doing it again and they want you to join them! Starting November 23 rd we will read “Christmas Angel Letters” from children and families across Georgia. When you hear a letter that touches your heart, call in and become a sponsor for that Christmas Angel Letter.

Watch as the camera tracks an act of kindness as its passed from one individual to the next and manages to boomerang back to the person who set it into motion. This wonderful video was created by Life Vest. They believe that charity work and community service are invaluable tools for bettering our world, but kindness is more than good deeds or volunteerism alone. Kindness is empathy, compassion, and human connection; it's a smile, a touch, or a comforting word. Even the smallest gesture can brighten a dark day or ease a heavy burden.

Today is World Toilet Day. Help us raise awareness of the huge need for proper sanitation and advocate for safe toilets by sharing this post or reposting this infographic.  “ Access to sanitation currently ranks as the most-off track of the Millennium Goals, and one that will obviously not be met by 2015,” the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, said according to a  press release  from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ( OHCHR ). Access to sanitation facilities around the world, more than any other service, provides a window into the vast difference between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots. “ Those who do not have access to adequate sanitation are overwhelmingly people living in poverty, and marginalised and excluded individuals and groups,” she added. World Toilet Day is observed annually on 19 November. The international day of action aims to break the taboo...

Every now and then is good to pause our lives and enjoy the simple things in life. If you have never spent a Saturday morning at Historic Norcross you have no idea what you have been missing. Historic downtown Norcross is very artsy, and is full of restaurant and small eateries.  One of the things I like to do most when I visit Norcross, is to explore one-of-a-kind antique shops like "The Little Red Barn". They sell the cutest, most adorable vintage linens, and rejuvenated furniture. I also adore stopping by at "Taste of Britain" and  stock up on all the goodies you would get if you ever visit this part of Europe. M y kids always stocked up on candy, while I like the meat pies and a carbonated lemonade they sell that I just can't get enough.

This is your time, so fly away and chase all your dreams. Remember, life is a play. You must act each scene with passion, embracing and enjoying the part. If you should ever get lost look to the stars take a deep breath and follow your heart...

Why are Walmart workers standing up all across the country? As the world’s largest private employer, Walmart impacts all of our lives. Communities, workers, organizations and elected officials are coming together to demand that Walmart improve living conditions and guarantee the rights of workers, care for the environment, rebuild our communities and elevate global living standards. Walmart store workers are asking people nationwide to support them on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. They ask that supporters take action that spreads the word about their strikes and demonstrates to Walmart a wave of support for workers who are speaking out about poor working conditions, low wages, irregular hours and more.  While the store workers are not union members, they have joined together in OUR Walmart , a worker-led organization that stands up to make change in its company. Find out more at http://forrespect.org  and http://MakingCha...

Back by popular demand! Rudolph soars back into town for this faithful adaptation of the wonderful holiday tradition that speaks to the misfit in all of us. Based on the beloved 1964 stop-motion animated special, Rudolph and his friends  (including Hermey the elf, Yukon Corneilus and the Abominable Snow Monster) take the stage in what the Atlanta Journal Constitution describes as a “holly-jolly holiday adventure for theater-goers of all ages.” If you have never seen this  show at the Center for Puppetry Arts here's our top 5 reasons you should take your kids to watch it: A lesson of acceptance: The story teaches children to celebrate those traits that makes them unique and special and gives them an valuable lesson about how differences should not be condemned or hated, but accepted. Be you: It shows kids how to live a happy life and stay true of themselves. It teaches children about self-respect and having compassion for others. ...

Starting this Month, You Can Spread Holiday Cheer While Helping Sick and Injured Children Through fuzzy ducks, Christmas parades and rides on Priscilla the Pink Pig,  organizations from all over the metro area are working to support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta this holiday season. Families in metro Atlanta can spread holiday cheer and celebrate in numerous ways, all while supporting Children’s. Proceeds from the holiday events, initiatives and promotions below will raise funds to care for the hundreds of thousands of sick and injured children each year in Georgia. “Share the Hope” Campaign and Video -  www.sharewithchildrens.org Children’s is launching a digital campaign of social sharing this holiday season with a video called “Share the Hope.” The video gives viewers an honest look into the lives of patients at Children’s. Share a message of hope with the patients who will be spending their holidays at Children’s. Online donations will also be acce...

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights not only offers an enchanting in-town experience but also is one of the largest light shows in the country, shimmering more than 1 million energy-efficient bulbs. The show, set for November 17-January 5 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, will feature almost exclusively LED lights, or special light-emitting diodes, continuing the Garden’s commitment to environmental sustainability. LED lights consume up to 80 percent less electricity than incandescent lights and have a life span more than double that of such traditional lights – five years or more. To further increase energy efficiency, new timing controls allow the Garden to minimize the number of hours the lights are on, providing a large-scale show with small-scale power consumption.  As part of an ongoing partnership, the Garden will use green energy from Georgia Power for the holiday exhibition. To ignite this winter wonderland, energy produced from renewable resour...

  Don't sweat the small stuff! Have a Happy Thanksgiving with Honeybaked Ham! No matter how much I plan a sensible Thanksgiving dinner, I always over -plan, over-work , and over - spend. This year I'll try a different approach. Cook as little as possible and leave the rest to Honeybaked ham. I'm willing to cook a 30 minute side dish (just one) and bake a simple dessert (apple crème brûlée bread pudding) but besides those two things (that can easily be made the day ahead) my kitchen will not be open during the holidays. This year I choose to be happy and stress free for Thanksgiving. I refuse to slave all day in the kitchen. As much as I enjoy cooking there are days I wish I have a personal chef at home that could cook for me. Since I don't see this remotely happening, the best thing I could do is order the Honeybaked Ham Whole Turkey Feast . Perfect for the Holidays and special celebrations, this gourmet feast includes a whole roasted turkey, old-fa...

  Can food bring happiness? Tetsuo Shimizu, a Japanese farmer and  restaurateur  from Shogotei Restaurant, shares his wisdom on living a happy and healthy life.  Tetsuo Shimizu has been hand-making udon noodles the same way for the last 45 years. He grows two crops a year of wheat and buckwheat and is a strong advocate of the philosophy “eat only what you can see”. “ Weren't you happy after eating those udon noodles today? This kind of spreading smiles... Not that I'm a serious Buddhist but if happiness spreads from what I'm doing, I am happy.”

Did you know World Kindness Day is today? This was the opening day of the first World Kindness Movement® conference held at Tokyo in 1998, and the 35th anniversary of the Small Kindness Movement of Japan, which brought the signatories of the ‘declaration of kindness’ of the World Kindness Movement together in 1997. The idea of a World Kindness Movement was conceived at a Tokyo conference in 1996 when founders of the Small Kindness Movement in Japan brought together like-minded individuals from around the world who had started kindness movements in their own countries. They were led by Dr.  Wataru Mori , a physician in Tokyo, who envisioned that a more compassionate and peaceful world could be achieved if a critical mass of acts of kindness was ignited.

M r. Broccoli, Clown Dog and a cast of IKEA adorable soft toy characters; will be given out today at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, 1405 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 at 9:00am. This IKEA Random Act of Life Improvement* is just another way to let everyone know this heart-felt soft toy campaign has purpose. Running from November 4 - December 29, 2012 , for every IKEA Soft Toy or children's book you buy, the IKEA Foundation www.IKEAfoundation.org will donate one euro ($1.30) to education programs worldwide supported by UNICEF www.unicef.org and Save the Children www.savethechildren.net . Additionally, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, IKEA has donated 2,000 soft toys to the American Red Cross to be distributed to children in shelters impacted by the hurricane. IKEA has also provided the American Red Cross with nearly $450,000 worth of in-kind donations to be used in shelters in New Jersey and New York. There are also many thousands o...

Ever since I had apple bread pudding at Taste of Atlanta I've been obsessed  with making it for Thanksgiving. I love bread pudding. Is gooey, decadent and luscious. I've searched for the perfect recipe for the past days and not one single one speaks to me, that is until I came across Chef Troy Ellis "Creme Brulee Bread Pudding". What I love about this recipe is that he uses the same custard you would use for a creme brulee and he adds raisins that have been soaked in Grand Marnier. For the grand finale he adds toasted pecans and a  Bourbon caramel sauce. Sounds delish right? I'm telling you, I can't wait to do my own version for Thanksgiving. I might add a twist or two (I never follow a recipe to the tee). Maybe I will add caramelized apples and spiced pecans to accentuate the  holiday flavor. Who knows, as long as is bread pudding is all good!

  Join The Container Store for the Grand Opening Weekend Celebration of their newly located store in Buckhead Triangle (corner of Peachtree Road and Wieuca Road) and shop the world’s most celebrated collection of storage and organization products!     The Container Store will give away prizes every hour, on the hour, including $1000 elfa® Space Makeovers on both days!  They'll amaze you with their legendary customer service and inspire you with new ways to organize your life.   It’s a one-of-a-kind experience – you have to see it to believe it!  The Container Store is proud to donate a percentage of proceeds of Grand Opening Weekend Sales from the new location of our Buckhead store – Saturday and Sunday, November 10th and 11th – to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

THE NEWEST SOCIAL EVENT FOR FOODIES LAUNCHES ITS FIRST EVENT IN THE BUCKHEAD NEIGHBORHOOD Recently featured on Springwise, Foodista and in the TRENDS section of the National Retail Federation trade magazine, STORES, food experience innovator Dishcrawl serves up an event for food lovers starting in the Buckhead neighborhood in Atlanta on November 13th 2012 at 7pm. Says Dishcrawl Founder Tracy Lee. “We explore everything from the high-end to the hidden gems with a crowd of locals, food lovers and the food curious alike.” Dishcrawl explores four restaurants in one night and gives neighbors and neighborhoods a chance to meet, greet and share a heaping portion of delicious fun, plus a chance to sample the signature dishes of the areas best restaurants and to often meet the owners and local chefs who make this all possible. Talk about taking pride in your neighborhood, nothing pulls people together like food!

Fried chicken is southern food at its best. It has deep and meaningful roots in our nation's history, and it has inspired food lovers emigrating to Georgia to create their own versions of it. Chef Asha Gomez of Cardamon Hill restaurant, recently expanded its lunch menu to include new renditions of her amazing and delirious Kerala fried chicken . This Indian inspired fried chicken is marinated overnight, seasoned with a plethora of provocative Indian spices and fried in hot coconut oil. The result is a perfectly moist, and tender boneless chicken thighs that have been fried until they reach a delicate crunch.    One bite, is all that it takes for you to realize this is no ordinary chicken. Once the flavors hit the roof of your palate your brain goes crazy trying to figure out the flavors that make your mouth tingle with so much happiness.    Cardamon Hill fried chicken is provocative but unpretentious, and is one of those things you need t...

Guardian columnist Oliver Burkeman discusses his latest book  The Antidote   in this video animation about happiness. During his research for the book Oliver spoke to people who believe that theories about positive thinking and visualising your goals may not be all they're cracked up to be. Turns out there's a long tradition in philosophical and spiritual thought which embraces negativity and bathes in insecurity and failure The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking   will be released to  Amazon  on November 13, 2012.

If you voted early or if you are looking to de-stress on election day I have good news for ya! To pay homage to its founder, Callaway Gardens will admit all guests for free on Cason J. Callaway’s birthday, Tuesday, November 6, 2012. To mark the occasion, guests can enjoy an organ concert from Noon to 4 p.m. at the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel. Callaway Gardens is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus.  For additional information, call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit www.callawaygardens.com

Hundreds of puppets (and puppeteers) took the streets of Washington D.C. in support of public broadcasting stations. The Million Puppet March — a political rally against Mitt Romney’s debate remarks about Big Bird and cutting funding to public television — draw hundreds of PBS supporters to the State Capitol. Protesters met at Lincoln Park and marched to the Capitol Reflecting Pool.    There were Big Birds, Kermits, Elmos, and Miss Piggies in attendance, along with some humans holding signs like “Puppets for Peace” and “Keep Your Mitts Off Big Bird.” As the crowd ran in the streets they chanted: “ Power to the puppets! We can save the Muppets!” “ Whose street? Sesame Street!” “ What do we want? Cookies! When do we want them? Now!” “ EL-MO! We won’t go!” “ We’re just making it clear that public media matters, and it’s something that we want to see supported and we still want to see federal funding of,” said co-organizer ...