Frugal Back Porch

He is sooo on my Christmas wish list but I'll settle for his album! ;)

Last month, I was blessed to receive Kenny Loggins newest album, All Join In. I was quite surprised when I popped it in my CD player. I normally listen to country, top 40, or rock music-think 80's hair bands or 90's boy bands. I know, awful isn't it? lol I like something with a snappy beat I can dance and sing along with while I vacuum or do the dishes. It helps keep me motivated!

My eight year old and my three year old love music-all music-but they really seemed to enjoy this album. All Join In is marketed as a children's album but it's so much more. I really enjoyed the music as much as the kids. Tapping my feet and singing along. Of course one of our favorites was "You've Got a Friend in Me!" Maybe it's because the song reminds me of one of our favorite animated films, Toy Story. This song (and the movie) are definitely tops on our jammin' list! (FYI-Toy Story 1 and 2 are being re-released in 3D for 2 weeks in October. YAY!)

My recommendation: Perfect for the whole family!

To help kick off Kenny Loggins' newest "family" album and get some fan feedback, here are four fFREE downloads from All Join In plus a couple of quick questions you can answer after listening.

I hope you enjoy! Follow Kenny Loggins on twitter and facebook for updates on all things Kenny Loggins!

Just in time for all the little ghosts and ghoblins pounding down our doors for sweet goodies. Amazon is offering a significant savings on selected Hershey's, Nestle, Mars, and Wonka chocolate and candies.

Spend $39 or more=Get a $15 discount.

Not bad if you ask me! For details and to order, click here.

Learn more about how you can support breast cancer awareness at Susan G Komen FoundationAmerican Cancer Society. There are some simple strategies you can use to prevent or reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. and the

1. Early detection is key-self checks and annual mammograms are key for the over 40 crowd or earlier for women with a family history of the disease.
2. Healthy weight and nutritious diet.
3. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes a day for five or more days a week.

I have two words: YUM-MY! A mixture of sweetness from the pineapple and heat from the peppers makes the perfect combo. It was great on tacos and pork chops we had last week and awesome with melted cheese mixed in for a chip dip!

I'm not one for chain letters and mass emails. Some are mildly funny but most I find an enourmous waste of time. Nor do I believe just I'll have 10 times the good luck if I pass on these spammy emails to 10 of my friends! In all likelihood, my friends will probably block me from their friend's list if I sent them every chain letter that hit my inbox so I don't bother with these types of emails!

This being said, I was fortunate enough to read this one. It's a heart-warming story about a boy named Shay! I'm not sure if this is a true story but even if it's not, it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside! So if you need a warm and fuzzy moment, read on!

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home..

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day !


AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:

We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'

So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:

Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

May your day, be a Shay Day.

I don't read as much as I should or would like to but two books on my "must read" list are being released today. Dan Brown's, The Lost Symbol and Michelle Moran's, Cleopatra's Daughter

Border's and Waldenbooks are hosting a twitter treasure hunt giving away 80 FREE autographed copies of The Lost Symbol across the country. Simply follow http://twitter.com/BordersMedia. Starting today, clues will be randomly tweeted leading you to one of 80 "Lost Symbol Golden Tickets" scattered among different stores across the US. Discover the ticket and present it to the store's information desk for the signed copy of The Lost Symbol.

Michelle Moran, author of best selling book Nefertiti, is conducting a treasure hunt for her new book, Cleopatra's Daughter-a historical fiction novel based on the life of Cleopatra's daughter, Selene. Beginning today, there are 60 literary clues posted on her treasure hunt site along with the location of the independent book store giving away a copy of the signed book. All you need to do is visit the store, find the book referenced in the literary clue, grab the red ribbon, and take it to the desk clerk. Remember: be kind to the books as the stores cannot sell new books with bent corners, creased spines, etc. Here's the first clue:

• Location #1: Main Street Books. St. Charles, Missouri.
• Literary Clue:

  “Although there are times I'd give anything to have her back, I'm glad she went first. Losing her was like being cleft down the middle. It was the moment it all ended for me, and I wouldn't have wanted her to go through that. Being the survivor stinks.”

Remember, there's 59 other clues scattered across the country so be sure to look down the list of locations to see if there's one close to you. Sadly there is not one near me but hopefully one of you will find one!

Special note: Michelle is also running a special Teen Only contest. Beginning today through October 31st, any teen who reads, reviews and posts their review somewhere on the web (facebook, Myspace, twitter, blog, etc) is eligible to win a $250 Hollister gift card. I really admire her effort to encourage teen reading so spread the word!

Join the treasure hunts for your chance at a free book!