The Cast from the Web Series, "Unplanned Motherhood"

I want to introduce to you the cast of Unplanned Motherhood. I started this web series with an idea to write a book. My friends kept telling me to write a book based on my family because my five children are hilarious. I must admit they are pretty darn funny. So instead of writing a book, I decided to create a web series based on my life. Each episode is derived from an actual event. Each child in the web series is in some way a version of my own child.

So I want to introduce to you, my children. Well, my "fake" children. And the talented actress that plays my best friend. They are unique and funny and the actors that play them are extremely talented. So welcome them with a hello or stop by one of their social site and wish them luck! They truly deserve it. And don't forget to tune in on March 28th on Youtube!!! You catch a sneak peek now at the bottom of the post. :-)

Stefani Colvin aka Brooke
Stefani Colvin plays Brooke, a twelve year old with a teenage attitude. She wants the protection of her mom, yet wants to assert her own independence. She's trying to find her way as a big sister and a pre-teen, and in doing so, struggles with finding her identity. She wants her privacy, but doesn't understand the concept of giving the same to her mother. Brooke is a funny character because she is the antitheses of what she doesn't want to be.

Stefani Colvin is a smart, creative fourteen year old that loves to sing and act. She is a member of the junior national honor society and a self defined fashionista. She is a child model for Alabama Fashion Alliance and has experience in print and runway. She has been in three music videos and local theater. She loves horse back riding, shopping, photography, outdoor activities and hanging out with her friends.



Aidan Heuer plays Spoon
A ten year old boy with special needs. He is sweet kind hearted soul that only wants to what is fair. What keeps Spoon grounded is the constant need to carry around a spoon that he repeatedly taps on the palm of his hand. He's carried the spoon since he was a toddler, hence the name Spoon. You will love Spoon because what he cares about most is his family and his spoon, and you don't want to mess with either of them. And he has some really great dance moves too.

Aidan Heuer is 11 and likes to remind his mom that he is "almost 12, which is almost a teenager." He will be in the 7th grade next year. Aidan is making his first on screen debut as "Spoon". He has been dancing for numerous local audiences for the last 4 years, as well as modeling for Alabama Fashion Alliance. He enjoys performing on any stage. In his free time he likes playing football (his team went 8-0 and played in the National Championship in Orlando, FL) basketball. He is also a huge Xbox fan. Aidan is a natural comedian and has been entertaining his family and friends since he was a toddler.

Grayson aka Deacon
Deacon is a fast-talking eight year old who thinks he can get the one up on his mom at all times. He also believes he's a lady magnet and seizes every opportunity to drop a pick up line on a cute girl. He is very protective of his siblings. He and Spoon often get into trouble together, with Deacon being the mastermind. Grayson is a funny mischievous character with a charming personality.

Grayson Thorne Kilpatrick became interested in acting after meeting a fellow actor Grayson Russell from Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Grayson was extra on Space Warriors that was filmed Space and Rocket Center. Since then Grayson had been taking Acting Classes at Hollywood Huntsville under Bill and Ayoka Billions. Grayson loves playing Mindcraft, playing football, riding his bike and taking Karate classes under Master Jay at Alexander Martial art. Grayson loves watching Disney XD and Nickelodon, in the fall he love watching SEC College football and a huge fan of Alabama Crimson Tide.


Ari plays Ari
Ari is a percocious five year old who loves playing the role of big sister to her baby sister Sonny. Ari has a bubbly personality and adorable smile. She takes pride in helping her baby sister and her mom. She has a unique style as most five years old do. She insists on dressing herself and often doesn't match her clothes. This five year old is destined to be a fashionista someday. You'll love her bubbly spirit and her stylish choices.

Ari Heuer is 6 years old and will be a second grader next year. This is Ari's first on screen debut and she is very excited to be part of the cast. Ari enjoys dancing, singing playing with her American Girl Dolls and Build a Bear stuffed animals. She also enjoys modeling with Alabama Fashion Alliance. She loves watching movies and spending time with her family and friends. Ari is certainly a spunky out going little sweetheart.


Morgan aka Sonny
Sonny is the baby of the family. She is four years old and has a peculiar way of deciding if she likes someone. She often trails behind Ari and tries to be a big girl. Wherever Ari goes, Sonny is not far behind. The two sisters are inseparable and together can create an adorable mess for their mom to clean up.

Morgan Hamilton is 4 years old. She enjoys dance, singing, school, helping mommy cook, and playing dress up. She has danced since the age of 2. She's funny, loves to talk with a bubbly personality. Also, she loves eating chicken. Lol!! This is Morgan's first time acting and she says, "she loves it!"









Ashley as Sarah
Sarah is Layla's best friend and sister-in-law. She is Layla's rational side when Layla gets a crazy idea. Sarah is a genetic scientist that teaches online classes in order to stay home with her kids. She is married to Marcel, Layla's brother, which often resorts in Layla giving Sarah advice on how to deal with Marcel. The two best friends come up with the craziest theories and often play them out to see who is right. Sarah is smart and intelligent but usually over analyzes most every situation. When Layla wants best friend advice, Sarah often gives medical explanations instead. And when Layla gives Sarah advice, it often backfires on Sarah, resulting in Sarah having to step out of her comfort zone. Sarah's character is the best friend we all have, the one that gets us out of trouble or gets in trouble with you.

Ashley Coughlin grew up in theater and enjoys writing. She studied acting with Ed Crick (Knight Rider) and Regina Moore. She published three books: one softcover under Ashley Hargrove called Beneath the Water's Calm and two Kindle editions under Ashley Coughlin: In the Hands of a Vampire and Just a Bit of a Christmas Miracle. She recently completed an reenactment project for the 700 Club, a couple of short films and continue to improve her craft of acting and writing.

What I've Been Up To

Hey everyone,

I've been quite busy and I sorta kinda neglected my blog. But for good reason. I've been transitioning into film. I made a short film in December of 2013, titled Grandma's Hands. It was accepted into the River City Film festival. Woohoo! Wish me luck in winning.

Just recently, I finished my first comedy web series called Unplanned Motherhood. We officially wrapped this past Monday. It's a six episode web series, it's for the perfectly imperfect parents in the world. It stars myself, as Layla, a wife and mother of five that gives professional parenting advice on her real life mommy blog. Her unique parenting style contradicts the perfect parenting advice she gives on her blog, which lends to a distinct brand of humor. With each episode, Layla tries to teach her kids important life lessons, only to discover more about herself and her parenting advice.

What is truly unique about this web series is Layla has a real life blog where she will actually give parenting advice. And after most of her posts, the readers get to see an episode of the web series where her real/fake life is shown. As we all do sometimes in life, we can give others the perfect advice, but it can be quite difficult to take our own advice. So for the perfectly imperfect, this web series is for you.

Stay tune to see it's debut on March 28, 2013 on my Youtube channel. Layla's blog goes up on March 25th. To stay informed, go to my Facebook fan page. Or to the Unplanned Motherhood Fan page.

I hope you'll watch. Wish us luck!

Reading is Fundamental

In 1966, former teacher Margaret McNamara brought a bag of used books to four boys in Washington, D.C., whom she tutored in reading. When she told the children they could each select a book to keep, their astonishment and delight led her to discover that these children, and many of their classmates, had never owned any books. By that summer, McNamara had gathered a group of school volunteers, and on November 3, 1966, they launched the book distribution and reading motivation program they called Reading is FUNdamental. From November 1966 through the early 1970s, RIF expanded from a pilot project at three elementary schools in Washington, D.C., to a program reaching children in 60 of the city's public schools. Its well-known slogan during those times was "Reading is FUNdamental". In 1975, the U.S. Congress created the Inexpensive Book Distribution Program (IBDP) which provides federal matching funds to sites that qualify for RIF's national book program. Today, through its contract with the United States Department of Education to operate the IBDP, now supplemented with private funds, RIF programs operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. RIF is also affiliated with programs in Argentina and the United Kingdom.

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is the largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States. They prepare and motivate children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. They inspire children to be lifelong readers through the power of choice. RIF provides new, free books for children to choose from and make their own. The seeds of inspiration in these books have motivated children to follow their dreams and achieve their potential. Yes, it seems incredible for a book to launch a life, but it happens every day as hungry, inquisitive young minds reach out and grab hold of the new people, places, and ideas that books bring them.

Nearly two-thirds of low income families in the United States own no books. I wanted to highlight reading today because so many children are labeled as lazy in school. But I honestly think with today's technology they are over stimulated and are just tuning out. I remember days as a child, spending hours in the library debating over which books to check out. My family was poor so it wasn't until I was a teenager that I owned a book, which is probably why I won't loan out a book today. But I will buy you one. :-) And I perhaps if more kids had access or were encouraged to read in order to decompress from the outside noise and technology, maybe their grades from school would improve and the effort demonstrated by these students would increase.

My nine year old niece often ask me for books. Last night, she asked me for a book and a new bible. When she asks me, I get excited. I told my brother-in-law, you know if she asks me for books, I'm compelled to get them. Plus, I get to let out my book buying demon. Joy, joy and win-win for me.

So if you're out one day buying yourself a book, buy an extra one for a school classroom, library or family member or donate to RIF. Give back some of what you love, and the world may just be a little more productive because of it.

(Sources: RIF, Wikipedia and Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund)

Do you donate books or buy books as gifts?

Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my blog and to the Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop. There are over 260 blogs participating in this hop, hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and I Am A Reader, Not a Writer.

Well, this will be the last giveaway hop I participate in for the rest of the year. It's near Christmas and I need to concentrate the gift giving closer to home. So I wanted to make this last one really special. 

What am I giving away?

I will be giving away (3) three prizes open to U.S and International participants. Each prize is a gift box filled with books and goodies. How will the winner choose the prize? The first winner chosen by Random.org through Rafflecopter will get first choice, then the second winner will choose, and the the third winner will get the remaining gift box.

What are the rules?

1. Must be a follower of my blog via GFC, RSS or Email. 

2. Let me know in the comments section below if you are a U.S. or International resident.

(If postage is too much, I may opt to give a $25 credit towards purchases at The Book Depository instead.)

That's it. All other entries on the Rafflecopter are optional. If you decide to tweet about the giveaway on the Rafflecopter form, don't worry about pasting the URL, just tweet it. I think pasting is such a hassle. Plus, I get a notification whenever someone does. :-)

What are the gifts? Well, let me show you instead. Everything shown inside the gift box is included along with the gift box too!

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Gift Box 1

The Gift Box 1
What's inside?

Let's Take A Peek.

It's a brand new Da Vinci Code
Special Edition DVD Set,
along with three books,
The Da Vinci Code,
Angels and Demons
and A New Prospect
by Wayne Zurl

------------------------------

Gift Box 2

Kids Fun Book
Bundle and
Gift Box

A jumbo pen, two pencils,
a jumbo coloring book,
two stencil rulers, an etcha
sketch type drawing board,
3 boxes of card games
& 4 color stamps.

Includes books, Amy HodgePodge
The Secret's Out, One Brother
Too Many &
Standing Against the Wind.
Two sealed dvds,
March of the Penguins
and Osmosis Jones

 --------------------------

Gift Box 3

Include The Night Circus,
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen,
Trouble Don't Last Always
by Francis Ray, Leaving Atlanta
by Tayari Jones and Embracing
Destiny by Suzanne Purewal

A gift box with carrying handle.
Very spacious and can
be used to hold or carry
clothes, makeup, etc.

Conair Massager,
one vanilla cookie candle,
one coffee mug,
bookmark, two journals
and a planner

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That's it. Have fun entering all the other giveaways on the Book Lover's Giveaway Hop. For a list of other participating blogs, click List of Blog Hop Participants.

GOOD LUCK!

*Also, stop by and enter my 1,000 Followers Kindle Giveaway for a chance to win a new Amazon Kindle eReader. Valued at $99! And it's Free! Click Kindle Giveaway for more details to enter. Giveaway ends just in time to receive the Amazon Kindle for the holidays.