The world is a strange place. It is full of oddities and today on the Morning Thing we decided to take a look at some of these. So if you are feeling like the world is a place in terrible shape, read these stories and feel encouraged knowing that there are people out there with a sense of humor…

Story 1: #DeadRaccoonTO

I’ve always heard that Canadians are a nice lot, and the touching story of DeadRaccoonTO proves it. What began as a dead raccoon on the sidewalk that was not being picked up by animal services turned into a memorial fit for a king, with passers-by leaving flowers and notes in loving memory of the poor animal. Yes, there is a hashtag. And yes, DeadRaccoonTO has his own Twitter account. You can check out the entire story through a hilarious series of tweets right HERE.

Story 2: The Chocolate Lobster.

I don’t mean just any chocolate lobster. I mean a 418.1 Pound, 90.5 inch, world record breaking chocolate lobster. In honor of their 100th anniversary Haven’s Candies of Maine decided to take on a rather large feat. You can see “Shelby” on display until October 22. You can find the whole story HERE.

Story 3: The Dessert Competition…. For a House.

That’s right, a Californian woman is holding a dessert competition and the winner receives her house. This is no small shack either- it’s a 1906, restored, 2267 square foot, four bedroom, two bathroom home valued at $390,000. Unfortunately the deadline for entering has passed, but we can still eagerly await the results. You can check out the story HERE.

Bonus: The Brilliant PTA Letter

Helping your child in school with those PTA fundraisers is never easy. Who has time to bake three dozen cookies, or make t-shirts, or hit up friends and neighbors to buy wrapping paper? Fortunately, one PTA caught on to this and sent students home with the most brilliant fundraising letter ever. Check it out!

Dishwashers. They make life so convenient. I remember when I was young and I had to help wash and dry the dishes… Such labor! Then came that glorious day when we got a dishwasher and my hands no longer had to be wrinkled with dish water anymore. Glorious day!

Okay, Not quite. As it turns out you can’t retire the dish-washing sponge once you have a dishwasher. There are actually several things that you should never put in the dishwasher. As it turns out, you might even have to use a special cleaning mixture to properly take care of it. You can check out the entire list of what NOT to put in the dishwasher HERE.

We also talked about the latest news from the stamp world- Charlie Brown is getting not one, not two, but ten stamps! That’s right, The Peanuts Gang is getting recognition in honor of the 50th anniversary of the beloved animated special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” You can see the stamps HERE, as well as learn about the other events being held in honor of the beloved classic.

It is International Literacy Day.

We talked with retired teacher Nancy Short about her recent donation of children’s books to the MVNU library. Click HERE to hear our conversation.

We also shared some wonderful quotes about life from children’s books. Click HERE to be inspired.

We also found 10 ways for parents to help struggling readers. Click HERE to read these amazing tips.

Grab a book today and celebrate International Literacy Day with The Morning Thing.

Happy Labor Day from The Morning Thing!
This morning, we shared some history behind this holiday.
Click HERE to read more about why we celebrate this holiday.

It is also a BIG day for Ohio State University football fans.
The Buckeyes kick off their season tonight. They play at Virginia Tech tonight at 8pm.
We share the Girl’s Guide to football. Ladies – you no longer have to stay on the sidelines!
Click HERE for a great football glossary.
You can learn football “lingo” and be ready to be part of the conversation tonight.
Click HERE for a handy guide to really understanding the game – from scoring to how the clock works.

We also shared some BIG news for a local actress.
Luna Moreland is participating in a contest to play the American Girl, Julie Albright, in a movie! Click HERE to hear a conversation about how Luna got involved with this contest.
To vote, click HERE. The deadline is Noon on Tuesday, 9/8/15. You will need to click on the picture of JULIE and then create an account on Tongal. It is free! Luna says “thank you” for your vote.
Here is a link to Luna’s video audition.

Today on The Morning Thing, we shared inspirational quotes from Social Media.
Take a minute, read through our blog and BE inspired.

We also shared The Morning Thing Fave 5 for the week of 8/31/15:

It’s Labor Day Weekend. Here is a list of fun ideas and you won’t have to travel!

1. Go to Ariel Foundation Park. Try climbing up the Rastin Observation Tower for an incredible view of our city of Mount Vernon.
2. Sleep in! It is GREAT to have a day when you do not have to set the alarm.
3. Go to the Kokosing Gap Trail. You can get some exercise and spend time with family and friends.
4. Have a movie marathon and go see the War Room. It is now playing at Premiere Theater in Mount Vernon. Show times: Friday, Saturday and Sunday – 12:45pm, 4:10pm, 7:10pm, 9:40pm. Monday – Thursday – 12:45pm, 4:10pm, 7:10pm.
5. Have a cookout and finish with ice cream. This is great way to say goodbye to summer! Have your favorite summer treats with your favorite people.

We wrapped up the show by having a chat with MVNU President, Dr. Henry Spaulding. Click HERE to listen to his September MVNU Update.

Is your family memorizing scripture? We shared some tips on how to add scripture into your regular routine. Click HERE to see these great ideas from BibleGateway.com.

We also shared some wonderful bible verses that can teach us “who” God is. These verses might be a great place to start your memorization journey. Click HERE to be inspired.

It’s official! Ohio has 3 cities on the list for the BEST U.S. cities for a staycation.  As you head into your holiday weekend, maybe you could plan a visit to one of these great destinations in Ohio. Click HERE to see the list.

Cincinnati, OH skyline

Cotton Swabs… It can be tempting to use them to clean your ears. But that’s a big no! That’s a big safety concern. So what can you do with them? Turns out there are a lot of surprising uses all around the house for them- from cleaning your laptop to getting the last drop of makeup out of the container. Today on the Morning Thing we took a look at what can be done with them, and you can find the whole list HERE.

In addition to talking about uses for cotton swabs we also took a look at exercise; specifically how to make it a habit. It is really easy to think of exercise as a chore and something that is anything but extinct- trust me, I’m right there with you. But when you dread exercise it makes it that much easier to do it at all, let alone regularly. So here are a few things that can help you get on the right exercise track.

1. Forget the myths! Exercise can be fun (think playing catch with the kids, taking a walk through the woods, or swimming). Find something that works for you on a personal level and forget the myths.
2. Start slowly. It can be easy to burn out and give up if you start big. It’s okay- scratch that- it’s great to start small and work your way up.
3. Find an exercise buddy. Having a friend keep you accountable helps you from talking yourself out of it. It’s a good idea to pick one who is in the same shape as you.
4. Pick an exercise that you like. Try it for a few weeks and if you still hate it then try something new. Remember- pick something else up, don’t give up entirely.

Parents – STOP helping your kids with their math homework! Why? Click HERE and find out how you might be creating math anxiety for your kids.

Do you have a future college student at your house? Today, we shared some important car prep tips to teach your kid before they leave for the college campus.

Today, The Morning Thing talked about the growing family and how to handle the constant changes to your house.

Click HERE for tips on how to keep your kitchen beautiful as your kids are growing up.

Click HERE for 7 style tricks for a bedroom that your kids will never outgrow.

We also shared our Morning Thing Fave 5!

The Morning Thing Fave 5 for the week of 8/24/15:

The MVNU students are back on campus and classes begin on Monday!
Here are our 5 tips for college freshman – our 5 favorite advice tips:

1. Meet as many people as you can. You will never have another chance where it is honestly acceptable to walk up to strangers and introduce yourself. Plus, you’ll make new friends!
2. Get involved! Join a club, a bible study, an organization or a random game of Frisbee golf. Don’t miss out on a chance to hang out and have fun! This is also a great way to make new friends and lifelong memories.
3. Find the balance between school work and fun. Be intentional from the beginning. Don’t procrastinate on your classwork, but don’t spend all weekend in the library.
4. Get up and eat breakfast! It really is the most important meal of the day. A good mix of protein and healthy carbs will help you get through the day and get better grades.
5. Don’t be afraid….to ask questions, to ask for help, talk to your professors (please set an appointment and check their office hours), talk to your Resident Director, talk to your Academic Advisor, join a study group, etc., etc. Just do NOT be afraid.