I really hope everyone enjoyed my story on The Meeting Street School!

I wanted to let you know about one of the biggest opportunities of the year to give back to Meeting Street – every year they have an annual Telethon.  People involved in the school and people in the community get together to raise awareness and gather donations.  The school relies heavily on the community to support all of their state-of-the-art facilities, learning tools, and equipment.  It is such a worthy place and the support of the community is so appreciated!

There are many other really unique ways to give back to Meeting Street, like donating a brick to their brick garden!  You can explore some of the options on their website.

Meeting Street is one of the most remarkable places I’ve ever gotten to visit.  Hearing stories from students and teachers, I can see how the school changes the lives of so many families.  As you saw in my segment there are so many kids, like Joey, that get to do things every day at Meeting Street that they wouldn’t get to do otherwise.

The teachers and aides there are so wonderful, and everyone works together to create the most fun, exciting, and positive atmosphere!

Be sure to take a look at info on the 2012 Telethon!!

It will take place on Saturday, January 28th from 7pm-11pm!

Until next time!

<3 Sarah

So today was it, the beginning of the end, my final assignment has officially been filmed. It’s such a bittersweet feeling knowing that this is my last assignment for The Rhode Show Search for a Star Competition, but it also means we are all a bit closer to finding out the next co-host! Today I ran around Little Compton on a mission to share with everyone the amazing hidden treasures this lovely little town has to offer. Even with it being the “off-season” I still had a fun-filled day of food, fun, and even a little history lesson. I later took home one of my great food finds, a fresh lobster. Unfortunately I didn’t have the heart to go through with cooking Larry the lobster, and yes I named him. I was even considering throwing him back in the ocean until one of my friends told me I was crazy and offered  to take him (the lobster) home and cook it, so currently Larry the Lobster lives on.

So now I’m at home hashing out the final details for the editing of my next segment on “Rhode Island Staycations”  which you can see next Thursday, December 8th live on The Rhode Show, when I will also be joining the Rhode Show team to co-host for the day. Also don’t forget to keep an eye out for my Charity piece on The Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence, an amazing organization that continues to change lives every single day.

This week the Rhode Show is Giving Back, by having each one of the top 5 contestants highlight a local charity.

I was fortunate enough to visit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence.

I met with Nicole Dufresne, who has been the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence for more than 7 years. She is incredibly passionate about the organization, and told me all about the children and activities at the club.  Nicole told me about an incredible story involving a child and the Club’s recently expanded swim program.

Thanks to the reopening of the indoor pool at the South Side Clubhouse, more children have access to valuable swim lessons and aquatic sports.  One particular child desperately wanted to take swimming lessons, but due to her religion she could not wear a typical swimsuit, and henceforth, could not participate.  Someone from the community heard about this young girl, and found a way to donate towards a full body suit.  The girl has been swimming ever since!

I was able to help some children out with their homework, and sat through their dinner hour.  After eating, several kids went into another room for chorus rehearsal.  The ensemble was rehearsing one of my favorite songs from The Sound of Music, So Long, Farewell

I stayed after their rehearsal to sing along with them and teach the children a few fun songs that I knew

If you haven’t been able to check out the video, you can here.  Thanks to all of the staff and children for making the story possible.  The kids truly shined!

Thanks to donations, the Boys and Girls Clubs are able to provide membership for those children who otherwise may go without.  If you are in a giving mood, or would like to purchase a meaningful gift for someone, why not make a donation?  Of course, any gift or donation made to the Boys & Girls Clubs before the end of the year would be eligible as tax-deductible.  Thanks to support, the Clubs are safe and enriching environments where all children can grow and succeed.

I hope you enjoyed the video!  See you soon,

Mary

My final video assignment is ‘in the can’!

I spent all day Monday spanning the great Ocean State far and wide, with the help of my incredible mom (who is such a trooper), to explore some of my favorite places for you!  I’m not revealing all just yet!  But I’ll give you a preview of one treasured spot that made the cut.

The Crescent Park Carousel in East Providence

Yesterday, it was back to the editing room, where Nick and I made magic with my footage.  I’m so excited about my final product.  I have really been learning as I go – thinking back on what I’ve done that I’ve really liked and things I really wanted to work on or change from my other assignments!  This is quite a learning curve – but I feel like this is the best package I’ve put together yet!

I hope you all feel the same, and I hope you love what I have to bring to the Rhode Show!

You can watch my final assignment air live next Monday, December 5, on the Rhode Show from 8-9.  It will be presented by yours truly – because that’s the day I get to host the show!!!  I can’t wait!

Until next time!

<3

Sarah

Today I had another adventure…

I was given a camera and a mission – to create a segment depicting What I Would Bring to the Rhode Show.  I won’t give too much away, but I will tell you this:

My polka dotted boots made another appearance…

Since I’m always out looking for a deal, and because you are already on the computer – I thought I’d share a cyber Monday find with you!

LUNIAC STYLE  is selling all online etsy items at 15% off today, just use coupon code: CYBERMONDAY

Her jewelry is fun, fashionable, affordable and comes with a guarantee of being noticed.

      http://www.etsy.com/shop/luniacstyle

Happy (cyber) Monday,

Mary

Christmas is right around the corner and the TOP 5 got an early present! We had the chance to attend Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”  on opening night at the Providence Peforming Arts Center!

Group Shot!

The TOP 5 also did a promo shoot with Ni RO Pe at Cardi’s Furniture in Swansea, MA. I was excited we were getting to meet Ni Ro Pe and also do one of my favorite things…SMILE FOR THE CAMERA! SAY CHEESE

My 2nd assignment for “The Rhode Show Search for a Star Competition” was to work with a local charity. The charity assigned to me was The Potter League  for Animals. I am a big animal lover, so as soon as I found out the organization I would be working with I was thrilled!

The Potter League for Animals is private non-profit organization located in Middletown, Rhode Island. The Potter League provides shelter and care for lost and unwanted animals. I was able to shoot my segment, learn all about The Potter League, and best part of all play with the animals. (My favorite part was playing with all of the kittens)

I wanted to showcase this amazing organization and all of the great things they do for animals, so I am hoping my segment does just that. My segment will be airing on The Rhode Show on Wednesday, November 30th so make sure to check it out!

Also, a big thank you to Ginny Hanbridge and all the staff at The Potter League for Animals for being so welcoming and allowing me to come in and learn about this wonderful organization.

For more information on The Potter League for Animals you can check out their website at www.potterleague.org

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

I hope that you and yours had a most wonderful holiday, full of food, family, and traditions.  I was able to spend mine with my parents and sister in the morning, and then my in-laws house for our annual Thanksgiving feast.    We shared stories, our recent adventures, and I was able to talk about my fantastic experience with the Rhode Show.

I thought I’d  share with you a Thanksgiving poem that perfectly depicts our family dinner

The Old Fashioned Thanksgiving

(Edgar Albert Guest, 1881-1959)

It may be I am getting old and like too much to dwell
Upon the days of bygone years, the days I loved so well;

But thinking of them now I wish somehow that I cold know
A simple old Thanksgiving Day, like those of long ago,
When  all the family gathered round a table richly spread,
With little Jamie at the foot and grandpa at the head,
The youngest of us all to greet the oldest with a smile,
With mother running in and out and laughing all the while.

It may be I’m old-fashioned, but it seems to me to-day
We’re too much bent on having fun to take the time to pray;
Each little family grows up with fashions of its own;
It lives within a world itself and wants to be alone.
It has its special pleasures, its circle, too, of friends;
There are no get-together days; each one his journey wends,
Pursuing what he likes the best in his particular way,
Letting the others do the same upon Thanksgiving Day.
I like the olden way the best, when relatives were glad
To meet the way they used to do when I was but a lad;
The old home was a rendezvous for all our kith and kin,
And whether living far or near they all came trooping in
With shouts of “Hello, daddy!” as they fairly stormed the place
And made a rush for mother, who would stop to wipe her face
Upon her gingham apron before she kissed them all,
Hugging them proudly to her breast, the grownups and the small.

Then laughter rang throughout the home, and, Oh, the jokes they told;
From Boston, Frank brought new ones, but father sprang the old;
All afternoon we chatted, telling what we hoped to do,
The struggles we were making and the hardships we’d gone through;
We gathered round the fireside. How fast the hours would fly–

It seemed before we’d settled down ’twas time to say good-bye.
Those were the glad Thanksgivings, the old-time families knew
When relatives could still be friends and every heart was true.

Here is a link to one of my favorite songs, which fits in quite nicely with the Thanksgiving theme:

 Simple Gifts, from Appalachian Spring, by Aaron Copland

Happy and Safe Holiday Weekend,

Mary

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

As the food-fest winds down, and the food coma wears off, I know my mind immediately looks forward to holiday shopping. Door buster sales have their place, but I’m also a huge fan of little local shops to buy my presents.  I wanted to share a few of my favorites in case there’s anyone else out there like me.

My first stop is ususally Oop.  It’s an old favorite for most Rhode Islanders, since it’s such a great place to find gifts that are not only unique but are often made by Rhode Islanders for Rhode Islanders.  If you’re afraid everything in there is too pricey, I dare you to check out their Cheap Wall art!  Quirky-cool prints mounted on wood – I have them all over my apartment (my favorite, a picture of Shakespeare’s Globe).  I also like to show off my state pride with these guys:

I choose a different mug depending on my mood

Another favorite store for gifts is Frog and Toad, on Hope street.  Similar to Oop, but a little less slick (something I like about).  They have tons of amazing little stocking stuffers!

When I’m up for a little jaunt I head to Tiverton Four Corners, which has tons of amazing shops for anything you need – my personal favorite is Roseberry-Winn Pottery. They have really beautiful hand-made pottery – mugs, vases, bowls, whatever you may want!  Their stuff isn’t too frilly, either, so it’s always a good stand-by for the men in my life.

If you’re a pet-lover (as I am) you should head to Bone Appetit Dog Bakery, on Main Street in East Greenwich.  They not only have treats for your four-legged friends’ holiday, but they also do portraits of you and your pets!

Another really fun gift shop is Different Drummer, in Wickford, RI.  Not only do they have whimsical gifts, but they also have a huge Christmas section – so you can get your decorations and your presents all in one stop!

I hope I’ve helped get you into the holiday spirit, and given you some ideas!  I’m off to decorate

Happy shopping, everyone!

<3 Sarah

First let me take this time to say HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!! I hope everyone is preparing for a food filled day with family and friends. In the meantime I couldn’t think of a better time to give my thanks to everyone who has helped and supported me in my quest to become the next rhode show co-host. I’ve never done anything like this in my life, and I was so amazed to see all of the people who are rooting for me, helping me with my assignments,  or just watching (and hopefully enjoying) my videos! I’ve had complete strangers message me on facebook or twitter just to let me know that they are rooting for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

I’m thankful for my family has been a HUGE support system throughout this entire process, and most importantly my brother who has been my personal camera man and even let’s me pay him in food (thanks Jay).  I’m thankful for my friends who will drop anything at any moment for me, and who wake up early (when they don’t have to) just to see if I’m going to make The Rhode Show that day! I’m forever thankful to all of the people from The Rhode Show that believed in me enough to give me this amazing opportunity, and of course I’m thankful for meeting the 4 other fabulous contestants who complete the SFAS Top 5 with me!

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone and don’t forget what you are thankful for : )