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Dirt & Noise

A blog by a left leaning mom of 2 boys

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Dirt and Noise

Not All Children Are Blanketed in Love – Support SAFEchild

Ilinap · December 29, 2015 ·

The other day two gigantic boxes arrived on the doorstep of SAFEchild. It appeared to be a mass quantity of toilet paper (Stranger things have happened, and yes, toilet paper is a need at any non-profit so there's that.). Upon further inspection of the boxes, we uncovered the … [Read more...] about Not All Children Are Blanketed in Love – Support SAFEchild

Tags: children, community, family, kids, love, parenting, values, volunteer

It’s OK to Have a Toy Gun…If You’re a White Kid

Ilinap · December 28, 2015 ·

I see preppy white boys the same age as Tamir Rice carrying air soft guns in my neighborhood and in affluent neighborhoods near me. The longish hair swooshed over their eyes, ever so effortlessly coiffed. They are decked out in Nike shirts or Vineyard T-shirts emblazoned with the … [Read more...] about It’s OK to Have a Toy Gun…If You’re a White Kid

Tags: America, children, gun control, politics, responsibility, Tamir Rice, values

Merry Consumer

Ilinap · December 23, 2015 ·

  One of the hardest parts of parenting is imparting lessons to our children that we hope will stick and carry on through their lives. These are trying times, the height of the holiday season. Consumerism abounds as we substitute the cash register for the altar at … [Read more...] about Merry Consumer

Tags: children, holidays, parenting, values

On Allies

Ilinap · December 21, 2015 ·

There are times life’s journey makes us feel like Sisyphus. Every day we roll up the proverbial rock, only to watch it fall back down, crashing our souls with every step. There are a legions of people who feel disenfranchised in this world and live the life of Sisyphus every damn … [Read more...] about On Allies

Tags: equality, responsibility, thankful, values, women

The Secret of Santa’s Helpers

Ilinap · December 18, 2015 ·

There really needs to be more than one Mother’s Day a year. Mothers the world over deserve some accolades and rest during this, the season of giving. You see, without mothers there is little giving going on. We are the ones shopping, cooking, baking, wrapping, party … [Read more...] about The Secret of Santa’s Helpers

Tags: holidays, motherhood

On Giving

Ilinap · November 25, 2015 ·

We are entering the holiday season full throttle. Never mind that Christmas decorations have graced store shelves since August. There is no grace in consumerizing even more of the American way. It’s painful to see the melange of Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving turkey crafts, and … [Read more...] about On Giving

Tags: community, holidays, responsibility, thankful, values, wordless Wednesday

Xenophobia is more than a vocabulary word.

Ilinap · November 19, 2015 ·

When I was around 10 years old my language arts teacher asked us to draw a letter from a hat. Our task was to study and present a vocabulary word that started with the letter we picked. I picked X. My classmates simultaneously groaned in empathy and sighed with relief. I pored … [Read more...] about Xenophobia is more than a vocabulary word.

Tags: community, politics, refugees, responsibility, values

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Writer. Marketer. Energizer.



Progressive, mom, writer, reader, traveler. Believe in good manners, home cooking, spending $ on experiences, not things, Oxford comma. ENFJ.

There are certain shades of limelight that can wreck a girl's complexion. - Holly Golightly
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