Author Archives: Terri Rupp

Word of the Week – Authentic

I sat down to write this blog Monday morning as the light bulb lit up for more creative ideas on reaching my goal of 75 blogs in 75 days.  I’m a little behind, so in my attempts on catching up and staying, “Authentic,” I’ve decided to start each week off with a vocabulary word.

A is for Authentic.

Merriam Webster defines, “Authentic,” as being exactly as appears or as claimed.

Synonyms; bona fide, certiviable, certified, dinkum, acht, genuine, honest, pukka, real, right, sure enough, and true.

Antonyms; bogus, counterfeit, fake, false, phony, pseudo, sham, spurious, suppositious, supposititious, unauthentic, and unreal.

I define, “Authentic,” as staying true, true to oneself, true to the cause, true to the experience, true to the emotion, and true to others.

I feel as if I am more authentic to myself and to others when I have my long white cane with me.  The cane is not an identifier to the world that I am blind, however it shows the truth that I used to hide for so many years.  I am proud of my blindness, proud of my cane, proud to have a daughter who is learning that blindness isn’t what defines us, but merely one of our super powers that we can choose to tap into to succeed and shine.

Marley, me, and our canes at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park on her birthday adventure hike

How do you define, “Authentic?”

 

 

That Precious Time in a Mom’s Day Known as Nap Time

It’s that time of day again.  Nap time!  Those few precious hours I so dearly hold onto as tightly as possible.  Moms, chine in if you know exactly what I mean.

To me naptime means I am temperarilly not at the beckon call of every single want and need of my kids.   The best part of nap time these days is when Marley is in school and I have two hours just to me!

So how do I spend nap time?  It really depends on the day.  Some days nap time means I’m sitting in the car while hubby runs in and out of appointments and stores taking care of errands as Jack naps.   Some other days, nap time means Marley and I get, “Mommy & Marley Time,” where we read, work on Braille, and do crafts.

Today however, nap time means a mad rush to clean the kitchen, sweep and mop the floors, crank out a blog, and Braille out a few Christmas cards.  To make more productive use of my time I’ll be listening to an audiobook while I doo the majority of these tasks.

So for now, I bid you farewell.  I must tear myself away from the computer to go dance with the broom and mop.  Until I write again, have a wonderful day!

A Braille Story Time & Braille Letters to Santa

The Nevada Organization of Parents of Blind Children would like to invite families with blind children to A Braille Story Time & Braille Letters to Santa We will be reading stories in Braille, and provide a station for your children to send Santa a letter in Braille. You may bring letters already written in Braille, or have one of our elves, who happen to be blind, help your child Braille out his/her letter. This event is free to all families with blind children. Las Vegas Saturday December 13th 10:00-11:00am Child's Play Las Vegas 7260 S. Cimarron Rd. Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89113 Afterwards, stick around and play in the indoor playground and take advantage of the group rate of $8 from 11am-10pm. Reno Friday December 19th at 3:30-5:00pm Itsy Bitsy Learning Center 1880 Prater Way Sparks, NV 89431 This event is in conjunction with Itsy Bitsy Learning Center's Christmas Program. For more information on this event or the Nevada Organization of Parents of Blind Children contact; Terri Rupp in Las Vegas at 702-524-0835 Belinda Martinez in Reno at 775-771-0567 NVOPBC would like to give a special thanks to Child's Play Las Vegas and Itsy Bitsy Learning Center for their partnership and participation. We believe that all children are entitled to a fun and thriving place to play, learn, and grow. We believe all children should have access to a bright and powerful future.

The Nevada Organization of Parents of Blind Childrenwould like to invite families with blind children to

A Braille Story Time & Braille Letters to Santa
We will be reading stories in Braille, and provide a station for your children to send Santa a letter in Braille.  You may bring letters already written in Braille, or have one of our elves, who happen to be blind, help your child Braille out his/her letter.
This event is free to all families with blind children.
Las Vegas
Saturday December 13th 10:00-11:00am
Child’s Play Las Vegas
7260 S. Cimarron Rd. Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89113
Afterwards, stick around and play in the indoor playground and take advantage of the group rate of $8 from 11am-10pm.
Reno
Friday December 19th at 3:30-5:00pm
Itsy Bitsy Learning Center
1880 Prater Way
Sparks, NV 89431
This event is in conjunction with Itsy Bitsy Learning Center’s Christmas Program.
For more information on this event or the Nevada Organization of Parents of Blind Children contact;
Terri Rupp in Las Vegas at 702-524-0835
Belinda Martinez in Reno at 775-771-0567
NVOPBC would like to give a special thanks to Child’s Play Las Vegas and Itsy Bitsy Learning Center for their partnership and participation.  We believe that all children are entitled to a fun and thriving place to play, learn, and grow.  We believe all children should have access to a bright and powerful future.
No registration required.  However, we simply ask that you RSVP on our Facebook group event page so that we have a rough estimate of how many families to expect.

Dear Santa, Please bring me patience.

Dear Santa,

Please bring me patience.  Please bring me strength to hold my tongue when dealing with the Vision Services Department of the Clark County School District.  Please bring me tools to overcome obstacles that may fall into my path.  Please bring me piece of mind when I send my daughter to school.  Please bring me a blow horn because I am about to scream and I’d love for everyone in this underfunded and understaffed school district that we live in to hear that this is one pissed off mom.

My daughter’s IEP was last March.  She started pre-k in August.  We added Braille instruction as an amendment in September.  She was assessed, once again, for a second time to see what her best medium for learning would be in November, and it is now December.  The assessment has still not yet been submitted by the assessor for review.  We are now being asked for more eye records, which we’ve signed and signed again for permission for them to retrieve.

Think of all the parents out there who aren’t educated on their rights. Think of all the parents who don’t know how to advocate for their children.  Think of how many children will be falling through the cracks.

This is why I have organized the Nevada Organization of Parents of Blind Children.  I will not sit back and let my daughter miss out on an equal education, and I won’t let other parents do the same.  We are here to learn from one another, gain strenths and strategies when it’s time to walk into that conference room for our child’s IEP, and support each other through whatever challenges that may come our way.

I am fortunate to have found the National Federation of the Blind and the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, and it is my passion and goal to share the positive blindness philosophy of the federation with whomever I come into contact with.  Every single child is, “Learning Capable.”  As parents and educators, it is our duty to ensure that we provide them with a stimulating, safe, and thriving place to play, learn, and grow.

Yours Truly,

MamaRupp

PS. I could also use a new apron too.

 

Fleece Sheets

I’m lying here in the dark in bed, listening to the rhythmic breathing of both kids on either side of me and the snoring of my 60 pound bulldog at my feet.
Cozy, comfy, completely content
In my new Sherpa lined fuzzy fleece sheets.
If you don’t have a set, than you absolutely MUST get yourself a set this winter.
I’m not talking about flannel sheets.
Fleece sheets!
Slipping into bed feels like slipping into a warm fuzzy hug. The only bad part about them is when morning comes and you have to get out of bed.
Go ahead. Get yourself a set. I just got a set for every bed in our house.
This is not an ad or review for a specific brand or company. I’m just so excited about these fleece sheets that I have to dedicate a whole blog to them. You can find them anywhere. I got mine from Amazon, my mom got hers from Ross.
I guarantee this is one purchase that you will be completely cozy and content about making this winter.

Lost in Never-Neverland

One of the shows my kids love to waqtch these days is Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  It’s a spoof off of Peter Pan where Jake and his band of pirates battle it out with Captain Hook in each episode.  Personally, I can’t stand the show.  It’s just as reidiculous as Dora the Explorer and her cousin Diego.

To add to the Neverland pretend play I hear between them, Jackson received a Jake and the Neverland Pirates Lego set for his birthday last October.  It’s always, “I’m Jake, and your so and so.”  “NO!  I’m Jake and you’re so and so.”  I could really care less to remember the other character names.

I’m Mommy, and I’m stuck in Never-Neverland!

Never done picking up the house.

Never done with the laundry.

Never done cleaning the kids rooms.

Never done with the dishes.

Never done cleaning the toothpaste off of the bathroom mirror.

Never done with this…

Never done with that…

While Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, the lost boys, and now Jake and his pirates may love it in Neverland, I’m desperately searching for a way out.

I’m back from my Thanksgiving coma

I’m here!  I’m back, back from my Thanksgiving coma.

My house has been full of festivities and in the last 12 days the door to Casa de Rupp have been open to family and friends coming and going.

From house guests, to play dates, from hosting a Thanksgiving feast for 20, to quick visits from the parents. We may have well have had a revolving door with a sign that reads, “Welcome!  Rates negotiable.”
With so much going on, the computer has not seemed quite as enticing as the kitchen,the  couch in front of the gass fireplace, or out back around the wood burning fire pit.
It’s not over yet! For the next few weeks my blogs will be much shorter, and much sweeter. It’s not about the length but the quality, right? Forgive any miss placed comas or typos as most of my blogging will be coming from my phone.
Be prepared to read all sorts of fun as my iPhone and I curl up all cozy under a blanket and log into WordPress.
How did you spend your Thanksgiving week?

the true meaning of ugly

 

 

I just registered to run in the Ugly Sweater 5K on December 20th.  I haven’t run a 5K in a long time.  My last jog was a mile about a week ago.  I think I can do it. The fun part will be doing it with my friends and wearing these awesome t-shirts.

true meaning of ugly shirt

click on the image to purchase your shirt now.

And guess what?  This shirt was designed by yours truly!

For my blind friends reading this, the shirt says, “True meaning of UGLY.  Unique, Genuine, Lovely, & You-know-it.”

Want your very own, true meaning of ugly” shirt withoutrunning a 5k?

Here’s your chance to get your hands on one while supplies last!

I’ve ordered extra to get out the true meaning of ugly this holiday season.

All proceeds will be going towards supporting a dear friend towards independence, empowerment, and starting a new chapter in the lives of her and her two little girls.

Share the message of the, “True meaning of ugly,” for only $30.  (price includes shipping costs)

Please specify your T-shirt size and give me your mailing address in the , “Add special instruction for the seller,” section when paying.

Go ahead… just click on the image and get your, “True meaning of UGLY,” shirt for yourself or as a gift for a friend.

Easy as Pie

Now I know where the saying, “Easy as pie,” comes from. Tonight, I baked my very first apple pie. I didn’t have all the ingredients to follow a recipe, so I just winged it. Here it is cooling on the kitchen counter. I can hardly wait to taste it! I’ll be sure to update with a comment on how great it tastes.

IMG_0734.JPG2 large apples peeled and finely chopped

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/3 cup white sugar

tossed everything together and spread into a store bought pie crust.

Take another pie crust and smooth over the top, tucking and foling leftover edges up on top and not around the sides of the pan.

Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.

 

P.S. This was my first blog post from the wordpress ap from my phone.