WEEKLY ROUNDUP.

AB is upstairs banging her Moana doll against the wall, while lying in bed, so I guess now is as good a time as any to decompress my week.

​I'm still adjusting to my life as a parent to TWO. AB2 is the sweetest baby. She sleeps. She smiles, like a lot. She loves smiling. She loves snuggling. She — I was about to write "never fusses," and then I had to get up just now because she was. Babies keep you in check like that, because you're NOT the boss.

It kind of blows my mind how much more I see to do now that I have kidlets. I try and recall what exactly I was doing before them. DRAWING A BLANK.

I didn't have my blog.
I wasn't involved in a nonprofit.
I certainly wasn't paying attention to the school board.

Like, what was I doing? 

I feel like naturally you'd have less time to do things when you have kids, and yet, somehow, in some weird world, I've taken on more and more and more. Is it in an effort to hold on to "me" as ME, and not me as "MOM"? I really don't know, to be honest.

Or maybe I'm just more aware of the world I'm raising my daughters in.

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This week has been an interesting one. I thought I'd have a relaxing one, following a busy weekend last weekend hanging out with Senator Stern. Guys, it's pretty much like he was following me, just BEGGING for photo ops. (Side note, reallllly need to get on losing that baby weight). 

Also I included a stunning photo of my boss Dianne McKay, who was honored as the Chamber's Woman of the Year.

But, I find myself not the sort to slow down. Do you ever find your mind always races? Mine does? I'm always overanalyzing everything. Writing, keeping busy... it's not chaotic for me. It actually brings me some sense of sanity and control.

Monday, we celebrated my husband's 35 BIRTHDAY. He's a champ. And he let us celebrate Monday so I could attend the school board meeting on Tuesday. We went to Public School 805. And we had beer. And that makes us happy. And then we had this delicious Nutella ice cream sandwich. 

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Tuesday was the school board meeting. It was rather uneventful, in a good way. I mean, other than Dunn putting on behavior even my four-year-old wouldn't stoop to (did anyone catch his water bottle antics with Dr. Connolly?) The man is a petulant child. I addressed Mr. Andersen for the last 20 seconds of my public comments and told him an effective apology contained the words "I'm sorry," and people on twitter were all: can't "we" just move on? ME: NO. I'm tired of people not calling out people on their shit. Do you know that he DID email my boss a personal apology? But not me. What kind of misogynistic bullshit is that? So no, I'm not just gonna move on and take it up the ...

Dunn took his board member comments time to give the funniest speech on Zillow ratings. It's gold really. The smug look on his face is worth watching it on repeat. I mean, I'm surprised he didn't shout MIC DROP at the end of it.  At one point during the meeting I looked up and he wasn't in his chair. I legit thought he had fallen over from leaning so far back.

Then I heard crinkling. Then I watched as he entered the board room from the side door with a bag of doritos. Homeboy  left to hit up the vending machine with NO CHILL. 

The district gave a presentation on safety and security measures happening in the district as well as performed some bylaws review.

You can read my post about the safety topic HERE ON MY PAGE.

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But, really amazing presentations otherwise at the board meeting. LOVED LOVED LOVED the presentation from THRIVE CONEJO....please join their FB group and learn about them and their mission to start a SEDAC and bring awareness to the need for inclusive education!

WATCH THEIR VIDEO HERE -- first time I've ever cried at a board meeting. You've been warned!

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Wednesday... I don't even remember Wednesday.

OH YEAH. I got my business cards!

OH YEAH! And I also had a great coffee chat with Tim Joyce of Emerging Leaders.

Emerging Leaders is a group of young and talented business professionals under 40, interested in networking, building friendships, and serving our community through various civic activities. EL is open to all professionals from the age of 21-39, Chamber membership is not required to be part of this group.

Check out their FB page for all the details on their networking mixers!

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Thursday I shared with you all a post about Ken, a homeless Vet who often hangs out by the Starbucks off Wendy. I handed him my card last week and he reached out earlier this week. I shared with you all the story he emailed me, and you've all been so kind in offering ways to support him. 

I'm meeting with him tomorrow at the library to help him with a resume and to drop off a bike that one of you was so kind to donate (thank you to all who offered to donate a bike to him!) Further, the quick gofundme  I set up after a few asked how they could donate has raised $615. I've also had $40 venmo'd to me. I'll be providing him with these donations tomorrow. And many of you sent resources links etc., all which I've passed on to him. THANK YOU!

I know it can be hard sometimes to know when to help, how to help, if the help with be received, etc. I never want to be so jaded that I don't help someone because I've been burned in the past. I hope with all my heart that the support you've all shown will make a difference for Ken.

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Also, on Thursday, I was so thrilled that my work (Mustang Marketing) allowed me to go and volunteer for Abilities Awareness Week at Sequoia Middle School. I shared about it on my page, here's what I wrote: 
 
"I just got back from volunteering at Sequoia's Abilities Awareness Week and I was blown away. Brandalyn Pursley Holzberger runs all of the activities for the week, and puts in hundreds and hundreds of volunteer hours to teach the students about kids with different abilities and inclusiveness.
This is an absolutely amazing experience for these kids. They set up different stations for the students to do activities that give them insight into what it would be like to have dyslexia or Autism, or to be blind, or to be missing limbs, or not have the ability to walk, and so on.

The station I worked at today was with the eighth graders, who made cards for an absolutely amazing, amazing program/camp called The Painted Turtle, which is actually a camp run through Paul Newman's organization. This is a camp for many kids with different abilities and illnesses, even terminal, to come and experience camp. Each kid who attends the camp, which is free to the parents thanks to generous donors, receives a birthday card every year, for the rest of their lives, that are created and decorated by volunteers.

In this case, Brandalyn Pursley Holzberger and a group of her helpers made about 1,000 cards for the students to help decorate. The eighth graders did an amazing job putting a lot of time into making beautiful cards to send to the camp kids.
I was so privileged to be able to come and help out for just a small fraction of what Brandalyn does for these kids. She is absolutely amazing."

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ALSO ON THURSDAY,  to celebrate International Women's Day, I joined the AAUW! 

ABOUT: AAUW (formerly the American Association of University Women) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation’s leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 170,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 800 college/university institutional partners and has awarded $4.3 million in fellowships and grants to support 278 women in their professional and academic careers. Since AAUW’s founding 130 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW’s commitment to educational equity is reflected in our public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.

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And, we got margaritas at The Alamo, because sometimes it's necessary.

And burritos.

And chips.

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Also, the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce's #40underFORTY is back! 

Nominate an outstanding young professional for our 3rd annual 40 Under Forty Awards honoring 40 individuals under 40 years of age based on their involvement in the business community and their vision for the future of the Greater Conejo Valley. Nominations must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on March 21, 2018. #conejochamber #conejovalley #youngprofessionals#40underForty

May I recommend KINSIE FLAME? :)

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Student organizers from the Conejo Valley's high schools have determined that their destination on March 24, for the nationwide March for Our Lives, will be downtown Los Angeles. Indivisible: Conejo and other (grownup) activist groups are joining with the students in distributing the attached poll, to gauge interest (among protesters of all ages) in marching as a Conejo cohort -- and, potentially, in traveling downtown together that Saturday morning via carpools or buses.

Please complete and submit this poll if you plan to march; just as important, please SHARE it on social media and via email, particularly with students!

FOR STUDENTS:
Check out the #NeverAgainSoCal links below to coordinate your campus efforts to pre-register student voters and build focused, effective plans for national days of action on March 14, March 24 and April 20.

FB Group > https://www.facebook.com/groups/431093653975963/
Twitter > https://twitter.com/NeverAgainSoCal
Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/neveragainsocal

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FRIDAY KICKSTART, hosted by the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce. FIRST 5 gave a great presentation on the importance of reading, singing and talking to your children. Thanks Lauren!

Great start to my Friday... of course until I got a text from my husband asking if I had the CRV keys in my purse... oops.

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 Also this week! Senator Henry Stern announced School Board by Betsy as the 27th District's Woman of the Year.

Congratulations Dr. Connolly! Thank you for your dedication to the school board and our students, among your volunteer work within the community.

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Also, this weird thing happened. Cathy Carlson called the American Cancer Society and complained about my team name: Done with Dunners, because she has absolutely nothing better to do with her time.

ACS sent me this email as a response. I'm sad that this was the tone they chose to take in handling this matter. I will be choosing another organization that supports cancer research and funding, to shift my support and volunteer time to. Thank you to all who donated. The ACS will receive that $800. And, I will still wear the "SORRY, YET" shirt at the school board meetings as a thank you to all who donated!

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IN THE WORKS:

For my birthday, I'm planning a PAINT NITE fundraiser! 33% of proceeds from the night will be donated directly to my local nonprofit Conejo Community Outreach.

We are a 100%-volunteer driven organization comprised of six moms in the community.
​
We aim to connect local generosity with local need for support by hosting a variety of community fundraising events that directly give back to individuals and families in the Conejo Valley.

We believe that communities gain strength when all residents are appropriately clothed and fed.

I am working with CAFE FIRENZE in Moorpark to get a date squared away. Most likely a Thursday evening or a Sunday brunch. STAY TUNED! Tickets will be $45, and $15 of that is donated to a great cause, plus you can come help me celebrate my birthday!

ALSO,  a huge huge huge thank you to all who have purchased us diapers and wipes for our community diaper bank. THANK YOU. We appreciate you so much.

HERE'S OUR AMAZON WISHLIST!

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AND FINALLY,  don't forget to save the date for the CVUSD Candidate Q&As on my page in APRIL.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES?

Email me with them so I can incorporate! I'll extend receiving q's through the end of the weekend.

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