Throughout the course of this campaign I have learned many things about myself. I have learned that I CAN lose weight, without the assistance of a diet pill or crazy fad diet. I have learned that the key ingredients to my success have been in my hands all along, I just had to learn how to use them.
The top ten things I have learned from this campaign are:
1. I LOVE drinking water. I’m actually quenched by it. Shocking right? When I drink nothing but water, I actually find I do not crave anything else.
2. Portions can be hard to eyeball. It’s funny how I could constantly be under my calorie needs prior to this campaign, and yet, I could be overeating certain things at the same time. It was like shooting myself in the foot. Twice. I’m still measuring things out until I get better at it. And it doesn’t bother me or really add time to the cooking process.
3. Strength training is more important than I thought. I always kind of ignored it in the past. But now that I have been working on building muscle, I’m losing weight in a different way than I ever have before.
4. Planning meals is critical!
5. I need rest days.
6. I always have time to work out. Even when I think I don’t.
7. Keeping track of my steps every day has helped me make sure I am always moving.
8. Sharing my journey with those around me not only encourages others to make healthy lifestyle changes, but keeps me accountable to the changes I have made.
9. What I am eating is just as important as what I am doing to keep active. If I put garbage in, I’ll get garbage out. If I put good food in, I’ll feel great, and work out harder!
10. I am the only one who can determine if I will reach my goals.
I know I have said it before, but I think the most surprising thing I have learned is that under eating can actually stall weight loss by putting your body into starvation mode. All my life I have heard of people starving themselves and dropping weight. I’ve always heard that to lose weight you should eat under 1200 calories (wrong BTW). Learning that the amount of calories required to maintain your body each day varies depending on your size and activity level, was surprising, even though it makes a lot of sense. But the fact that I could not eat enough and not only not lose, but actually gain weight. Yeah, that was shocking! I’m very glad that I now know a little bit more about the proper way to fuel my body. I’m glad that I can teach my children the proper way to eat now when they are young, and hopefully they will never find themselves in my shoes, but will enjoy this new lifestyle of being healthy, and carry it with them as they grow.
This past week was pretty great. I had a tremendous weigh-in Sunday, dropping another 4 lbs., bringing my total for this campaign to 10.8 lbs. gone for good! I am feeling pretty awesome and hope I can keep this momentum going until I reach my goal weight! With all the wonderful support I’ve received so far, I have no doubt in my mind that I will do just that! 
Prepared to take the Wheel!
#SimilacNoGMO Petition Twitter Party
I’m on a mission to protect babies.
Especially the ones who are poor, have limited accesses to resources, or who have parents who just aren’t paying attention. And I can use your help.
Please Sign This Petition
Join me in petitioning Similac to remove genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from their infant formula during an online rally Wednesday, May 22nd from 8-9:30pm EST (5-6:30pm PST). Because when it comes to babies, is it really worth the risk?
And I’m sure Similac will be listening. We are their target audience. Without our support, they cease to be a company.
They. Need. Us.
But I think we can encourage them to do the right thing.
Hashtag: #SimilacNoGMO
When: Wednesday, May 22nd from 8-9:30pm EST
Theme: Educational Rally about GMOs in infant formula and baby food. We want Similac to reformulate and lead the industry in positive change.
Related: Similac is also involved directly marketing to social media moms with their #StrongMomsEmpower campaign. The campaign is about not judging each other and the decisions we make as parents. I thought the hashtag was very ironic because I feel as if WE need to empower ourselves first to ask them to change some things. Right now I don’t think they have demonstrated core values of putting the safety of babies first. Let’s focus on who’s more important in this scenario–the babies. Then we can start talking about how moms treat each other. But to me, one is far more important.
Panelists:
@Bookieboo–Hostess
@Momma_oz–Swag Hag (She’s in charge of giveaways every 3 minutes…)
@GMOInside–panelist
@GreenAmerica–panelist
@Food_Democracy–Panelist
@Lisa_Stokke–Panelist
@UnhealthyTruth–Panelist
@PhdinParenting–Panelist
@JessicaGottlieb–panelist
@LucretiaPruitt–Panelist
@MommyNanibooboo–Panelist
@DietsinReview–Panelist
@FormulaFeeder–Panelist
@HappyMothering–Panelist
@JoLynneS–Panelist
@Realmomreviews–panelist
@Whatsthatsmell–panelist
@YvonneinLA–panelist
@FrostedFingers–panelist
@ScrappinMichele–panelist
@Goddessgarden–panelist
@Purenaturaldiva–panelist
@The818–panelist
@Bigzigfitness–panelist
@HealthyJasmine–panelist
@Gutimom–panelist
@AMusingFoodie–panelist
@EatPlayLove–panelist
@GGirlGGreen–panelist
@thesoftlanding–panelist
@ecokarenlee–panelist
@Greentalk–panelist
@GreenSisterhood–panelist
@thesmartmama–panelist
@YourOrganicLife–panelist
Giveaways every 3 minutes….or less
Some very generous brands also supported our efforts and because of them we will be doing a giveaway every 3 minutes.
1.Earth Footwear (3 winners)
2. Nutiva gift baskets (3 winners)
3. Nature’s Path gift baskets (4 winners)
4. iPlay Baby dinnerware multi-pack (4 winners)
5. Bob’s Red Mill whole grain sampler packs (4 winners)
6. Hint Water sampler packs (4 winners)
7. Poppy’s Naturally Clean Aloe Vera hand soaps & cleaning powder (3 winners)
8. Goddess Gardens Organics kids and adults spray sun tan lotion (4 winners)
9. Unhealthy Truth by Robyn O’Brien (3 winners)
10. GMO Inside Kits: “I’m Not a Lab Rat” Tshirt, GMO Inside pins, Labeling stickers saying “May Contain GMOs” (3 winners)
11. Healthier Breakfast & Brunch Recipes eBook by DietsinReview.com (3 winners)
How to Enter:
1. To enter please share this on two social media platforms of your choice. Here is a sample tweet in case you choose to use twitter:
I’m standing w/ @Bookieboo & asking Similac to remove #GMOs from their infant formula 5/22, http://bit.ly/13BmkSH #SimilacNoGMO
OR
#GMOs in baby formula? Similac we want you to remove them and lead positive industry change, http://bit.ly/13BmkSH #SimilacNoGMO
2. During the event, every tweet you produce will enter you to win a prize. There are no maximum entries.
I have not been compensated by any of the sponsors above to host this online event. I’m doing it to drive petition signatures to ask Similac to remove genetic modified organisms from their baby formula. That’s pretty much it.Please RSVP by hitting the linky below
Similac Stop Feeding Babies GMOs Petition
Moms CAN make a difference, but sometimes our looks can be deceiving. Some of us may live in yoga pants, while others confess to wearing baby food. We wipe noses, kiss boo boos, and comfort the defenseless.
Another thing that is true of us is we protect our little ones….even if they aren’t our own. But most of all, we are powerful.
And I’m going to prove it to you.
Sign This Petition
Last week Abbott Labratories, the makers of Similac Infant Formula, had a shareholders meeting and voted down removing GMOs from their infant formula.
And thus abandoning babies.
*jaw drops to ground*
I sat here completely stunned because not only does Similac Infant Formula contain genetically modified ingredients, which hasn’t been proven safe by long-term independent testing (Yes, independent as in they have nothing to gain), it’s also labeled OR BANNED in about 60 other countries, including Russia, China, all of Europe, India and Saudi Arabia. Those countries have made labeling and removing GMOs from their food supply a priority.
Here’s the real issue. When it comes to babies, is it worth the risk?
I know advocates of biotechnology are going to say that GMOs are the most tested food in history…they are regulated by the FDA…they have been deemed safe by our own governmental agencies…no one has died of a GMO…blah blah blah…
Sure, because we’ve never gotten it wrong before, right?
Here’s my point. Is it REALLY worth the risk when we are talking about babies?
The vast majority of industrialized nations have answered that question unanimously: NO
In fact, if you go to Europe where only 5% of the food supply is genetically modified compared with America’s whopping 85%, you will find that there are lots of studies being done over there that are tying GMOs to diseases like cancer, obesity, allergies…and the list goes on and on.
Let’s also consider some basic facts that I got from Healthychild.org. Since the mid 90′s, which is about the same time that GMOs were introduced into the food supply, some very dramatic things have happened to the health of children.
- 400% increase in food allergies
- 300% increase in asthma
- 400% increase ADHD
- and 1,500% increase in Autism
And as a mother, I find that disturbing. Because even if there was a CHANCE that GMOs are dangerous, why are we putting them in baby formula? Babies are more susceptible to chemicals than adults.
Let’s leave the defenseless alone, mkay?
Here’s what I think. I think corporations CAN make good decisions. I want to feel safe about what I feed my kids. Don’t we all? I just think in this instance, Similac shareholders may have made an error in judgement. And I’m asking them to rectify it.
I’m asking Similac Infant Formula to lead this industry in a very positive way. I want them to remove GMOs from all their formulas and lead the industry so others do the same.
Because when it comes to babies…it’s not worth the risk.
Sign This Petition
You can help by visiting my petition and sharing it with your friends using #similacnogmo.
Let’s change this. We can. And we will.
For more information on the impacts of GMOs on the health of our children visit these organizations:
It’s All in the Family
We are now entering Week 5 of the 7 week Mamavation Mom Boot Camp. I cannot believe it really. The time has just flown by! During the time I have been engaged in the boot camp, you might say my family has been just as engaged! The workouts and diet changes are more than just a passing phase, but a lifestyle change. In order to be successful, everyone in the house will have to make some changes too. Really, it’s been a positive change here. We are eating better food, being more active, and just feeling better in general! Also, not spending money of junk food or fast food, has allowed us to spend more on fresh produce without feeling it in our wallets!
Since changing the way I eat I had to change the way I fed my family as well. So we’ve eliminated a lot of starchy meals, such as pasta with bread, or mac n cheese with bread, or meat, potatoes, and bread. Um do you see a pattern here? I ate a lot of veggies before this boot camp, but it was often just a part of a meal, not a major component. Now I am trying to make sure our meals include protein and fiber. In the past I might have made meatloaf for dinner, with mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and biscuits. Guess what I ate? Mashed potatoes, broccoli, and a biscuit. Healthy huh?
In addition to changes in diet, I’ve been working out a lot more. At first it was frustrating. Trying to get in my workouts, while still taking care of my family and housework was a bit daunting. But once I found a time that worked, that was it. It is now part of my daily routine and oftentimes my kids will encourage me or even join in. So that part has been fantastic because it seems everyone is happy when mommy is happy! And when I work out, I am a happy mommy!
The most difficult part of this campaign is, not surprisingly, related to food. As you know, I have 5 kids. My husband works long hours, and has a bit of a commute. So I often felt like I didn’t have time to prepare meals when we were rushing off to an activity for the kids. In reality, I have time, I just haven’t done my homework and planned out our meals as much as I should. When I do plan meals, we eat good food. But when I fail to the kids often wound up eating something processed, or fast food. I often would just not eat. So I have been making a more concerted effort to think about what I will make each day. I’ve been shopping at a produce store instead of my beloved big box store. It feels weird, but at the same time not. I guess I didn’t realize how much crap I was buying until I stopped!
This last week I had not been measuring out my food as I should, and looking back I can see I was not hitting the target for calories each day, or exchanges. I am working on that now, and hopefully the scale will reflect that this coming week. Last week I had a 0.2 lb gain. I am still down 6.8 lbs since applying to be a Mamavation Mom. I am determined to reach my goals, and I truly feel that I will very soon, now that I am finally seeing for myself how important diet really is in my weight loss journey.
Apply to Be Stonyfield Blogger Ambassador through #WakeUpWithStonyfield Campaign
Do you like organic Greek yogurt? I have to tell you it’s very difficult to find organic Greek yogurt (which is my favorite), but Stonyfield has got you covered. As the largest producer of organic yogurt and a leader in the dairy industry, they are celebrating 30 years in business. And today, they are in grocery stores all across the nation including Walmart, supplying the masses with affordable organic food. We are proud to call them a client and help them in their search for a blogger Ambassador. In just two short months, they are selecting a Blogger Ambassador to represent them online for three months from participation in the “Wake Up with Stonyfield” campaign (link live May 1st) celebrating 30 years of waking up with fans and breakfast eaters.
A Celebration of Breakfast– #WakeUpWithStonyfield
Stonyfield is celebrating 30 years of waking up with fans and breakfast eaters and inviting everyone to #WakeupwithStonyfield this spring. They are inspiring fans to make mornings social by sharing photos and engaging in a conversation about ways we all wake up living a healthy, organic lifestyle. Everyday for 60 days, from May 1st to June 30th, Stonyfield will post a wake-up call to action online and invite fans to participate by sharing photos and tagging them with #WakeupwithStonyfield. Each day will have a different theme and fans are encouraged to use that theme to create pictures. User submitted photos will stream online and be shared on Stonyfield’s website, Facebook Fan page, Twitter and Pinterest platforms. To stay on top of each day’s theme and join in on the fun, fans can sign up for morning emails on Stonyfield.com/wakeup (link live May 1st) and also receive coupons and special offers available only through email. Stonyfield’s teams may also drop by and hand deliver yogurt Wake up Calls to fans who use the #WakeUpwithStonyfield hashtag.
Want to be an Ambassador? Details on how to apply:
Stonyfield is looking for ONE blogger who will do the following for three months (August-October):
- Write two blog posts per month. One will be hosted on their (the bloggers) site and the other will be content created for the Stonyfield website.
- Tweet about Stonyfield 2x per week with a specialized hashtag
- Update Facebook 1x per week with updates from Stonyfield
- Share two pictures of yourself with Stonyfield products 2x per week
- Represent Stonyfield at a blogging conference
For all this, Stonyfield will compensate one blogger with $500 per month (totaling $1500) and sponsorship to a blogger conference of their choice (up to $1,000). This total compensation package will be worth $2,500 for three months of work. Not bad.
How to apply:
Step One: Fill out this form here. Each applicant will be sent daily reminder emails from Stonyfield with a theme of the day for 60 days.
Step Two: Share about this opportunity on at least two social media platforms of your choice like Twitter & Facebook using #WakeupwithStonyfield hashtag and #ad to be compliant with the FTC. We need help spreading the word and appreciate any help you can give us! (The first 100 applicants to complete Steps 1 & 2 of the application process will receive FREE product coupons.)
Step Three: The Virtual Interview–Participate in their #WakeupwithStonyfield campaign for 15 days out of the 60 days by sharing a photo on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest and referencing the theme of the day and #WakeUpWithStonyfield hashtag. Days do not need to be consecutive, but no more than one photo will be accepted as an application per day. This means each blogger will need to tag 15 pictures with #WakeupwithStonyfield to fully apply. (And bloggers are only required to participate in 15 days of the program in order to qualify as an applicant.)
We will be monitoring all applicants that fill out the form to see what kind of creative content they make. Stonyfield will base their decision on the following:
- Creates quality photos and does a good job of storytelling through photos
- Has a passion for the Stonyfield mission
- Tells clear stories that resonate with their consumers through their social media platforms
- Shows excitement for the Wake Up with Stonyfield Campaign and 30 year anniversary
Decisions will be made and announced around July 17th. If you have any questions or just want to communicate your excitement, please comment below.
How to find Stonyfield:
Online: Stonyfield.com/wakeup (link live May 1st)
Twitter: @Stonyfield
Facebook: Facebook.com/stonyfieldfarm
Instagram: @Stonyfield
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/stonyfield
Spotify: Stonyfield
The Legal Disclaimers: The selected ambassador will represent Stonyfield as an independent contractor and not as an employee or agent of Stonyfield. The work that the Ambassador performs will be deemed “work made for hire” and will be owned by Stonyfield. Unless otherwise approved by Stonyfield, ambassador will be expected to perform duties for three consecutive months beginning August 1st, 2013 and ending October 31st, 2013 and conference must be attended prior to December 31st, 2013. Ambassador will be required to sign an agreement with Stonyfield outlining roles and responsibilities. Ambassador may be paid directly by Stonyfield or through a temporary employment agency, at Stonyfield’s discretion.
Week 2- We like to Move It Move It
So This past week has been great. I have followed the diet plan given to me by Alysa and the workouts I received from Mr Bookieboo. Can I just say that this week has been eye opening? I am really starting to get a handle on the diet, but before I share anything about that with you I’d like to talk about the workouts.
You might be wondering what kind of grueling workout the Mamavation Moms go through each day. Are we running miles on end, repeating dozens of sets of squats, burpees, and lunges? Are we spending hours a day in the gym and neglecting our homes, children, and jobs? No! That would be totally unrealistic, and unreasonable as well. The point of the Mamavation campaign is to help moms everywhere lose weight and to share their new healthy habits with their families and friends. As ambassadors for Mamavation, it is our duty to show other moms that weight loss is not only attainable (in a healthy way), but attainable to anyone! These workouts that Mark has provided are a perfect example. All of the exercises can be done in the comfort of your own home, and the workout takes very little time. It is definitely a high intensity workout, but in a short amount of time. So there really are no excuses. Short on time, no problem, you only need about 20-30 minutes! No weights at home? Use water bottles! It really is very easy to incorporate a small amount of exercise into your daily routine. And in order to make a lifestyle change that will help you to permanently shed the pounds, it’s critical!
The plan calls for 6 workouts throughout the week, in addition to making sure you walk at least 10,000 steps each day. Three days we do a workout called Build It, and the other days we do Burn It. Build It is all about building lean muscle mass. Burn It does exactly what it sounds like it should, and leaves you dripping in sweat. The most amazing thing about these workouts is that they can be done anywhere and in a short amount of time. I found that for myself the best time of day to workout is definitely in the morning. It sets the mood for my entire day and I feel more accomplished. I get up at 5:15 am, get the kids ready for school, and usually by 7:20 am they are all off to school and I’ve had a cup of coffee and I can either go for a run or workout. Then I have the rest of my day to do all the things I do as a mother of five busy kiddos!
Here is a sample of what the week one workouts looked like:
Burn It:
Burpees x 10
Alternating Lunge x 16
Squats x 10
Kick and Lunge x 10 on each side
30 second rest then you repeat this set 3 more times, but the reps increase a bit for sets 2 and then 3, and repeat these reps for set 4.
Build It:
Warm Up: Cross punches 5 sets of 10 right, 5 sets of 10 left
Push-ups x 10
Shoulder Press x 10
Triceps push-ups x 10
30 second rest then you repeat this set 2 more times, but the reps increase a bit for sets 2 and then 3.
It was definitely a good first week. If you recall last week I weighed in at 155 lbs. This week when I stepped on the scale I was down 1.2 lbs! That brings me to a total of 4.8 lbs down since applying to be a Mamavation Mom!
And I painted my toenails, no more hideousness!
Results
|
Start |
Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
Week 4 |
Week 5 |
Week 6 |
Week 7 |
Total Change |
|
|
Weight |
158.6 |
153.8 |
|||||||
|
Bust |
36 |
||||||||
|
Waist |
31 |
||||||||
|
Hips |
39 |
||||||||
|
Arms |
R-11.75 L-12 |
||||||||
|
Thigh |
R-20.5 L-19.5 |
||||||||
Begin at the Beginning
Hi! My name is Amy. I am a wife and mother of five. I spent exactly 193 weeks of my life being pregnant, in a span of 7 years. During that same time frame I spent 27 months breastfeeding, which I liked to call “eat whatever you want dieting”. And then I resigned myself to being overweight simply because I’d had 5 kids. Just like so many of you here on Mamavation I am unhappy with my weight. For too long I have allowed my own excuses and bad choices to control my weight loss. No more excuses! I want more than anything to take back my body, to take back control and be the best me I can be. I want to set an example of how to live in a healthy way, and I feel my body should reflect that. The Mamavation community has given me such a fabulous start on my weight loss journey and I really hope to reach my goal by the end of this campaign. I would be so honored to have you support me during these next 7 weeks!
When I started my journey with Mamavation back in January I was 172 lbs.This picture was taken at Christmas. My first reaction was, “Wow, what an unflattering picture!” Then a couple weeks later, I bought a scale and was shocked by the number staring back at me. I really thought I was about 150 lbs, and somehow I was off by 22 lbs. No wonder I couldn’t fit into any of my clothes!
That was such a hard number to wrap my head around. When I was gave birth to both my 4th and 5th children I weighed 180 lbs. Both boys were OVER 9 lbs at birth! I couldn’t believe I had let so much weight creep up on me. I was determined to do something about it. I struggle most with my diet. I think that is probably pretty normal, but in my case I was definitely eating far too many carbs and not enough proteins. And not enough calories in general as well. When I applied to for this campaign my weight was 158.6 lbs. On Sunday, I was pleased to weigh in and see the number below (Please ignore the cat, and the lack of nail polish on my toes!). Yay for losing 3.6 lbs thus far!!
I am wicked excited about having been chosen as one of the Mamavation Moms. I plan to do everything in my power to take full advantage of this amazing opportunity and shed these excess pounds! And now I will share with you a picture of my adorable little loves because they are far cuter than my feet and you need to un-see that right now!
Are they not the most gorgeous little creatures ever?
My Before Pictures
Please ignore the lovely face I was making, I hate having my picture taken! Apparently so much so, that I scowl! Lovely!!
And of course here are my beginning measurements:
Waist: 31 inches
Hips: 39 inches
L thigh: 19.5 inches
R thigh: 20.5 inches
L Arm: 12 inches
R Arm: 11.75 inches
Chest: 36 inches
To Leah, Mark, Shelley, Shannon, and Alysa: Thank you again for this amazing opportunity! I hope to amaze you all with my results! And to the wonderful mentors, thank you for your support and guidance!
2 Week Challenge Campaign 12 Wrap-up
It’s hard to believe that we just wrapped up our 12th Mamavation Two Week Challenge. When I first started doing these for Leah a couple years ago I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Looking back at the past 12 challenges I can see the results of everyone’s hard work. To date the Mamavation two week challenge has helped shed 1330 pounds and 902 inches! That’s pretty amazing for a simple little workout that takes 30 minutes or less.
Here are the details of the 12th challenge:
81 people signed up, 43 finished.
117 pounds and 92 inches were lost.
To date: 1330 pounds and 902 inches have been lost.
Grand Prize Winner #1: @all_about_savin
Grand Prize Winner #2: @sticemichelle
Runner-Up: @cynthiaejenkins
Runner-Up: @krosinus
Winners please contact @momma_oz to claim your prize within 5 days of notification
Don’t worry, we’ll be back soon with another Mamavation Two Week Challenge. Keep an eye on the #Mamavation and #2weekchallenge hashtags for more details.
Here are the individuals that completed the 12th Mamavation 2 week challenge:
@1980dodge
@acwilliams1223
@akajanerandom
@all_about_savin
@allnewhealth
@bkstar00
@brenam24
@carrigansjoy
@coloradomom
@crunchybchmama
@cynthiaejenkins
@dancingvalentin
@foodallergybuzz
@irishred02
@jackie23t
@jeanae
@johnna_r_t
@kimtracyprince
@krosinus
@laundrydayblues
@lindsayfamily
@lumpytoleandee
@mom4less
@mommahunt16
@momvantage
@monicazyoung
@mrsleftybrown
@nccarterfamily
@nicole_johnson
@ohmariana
@onmyvtporch
@pgreen730
@poniabaum
@rachhabs
@ronaleeakarose
@sensiblysara
@simplyjunebug
@slap_happi
@slockwood33
@sticemichelle
@tink4everbell
@wifemummynurse
@wonderwomanmoma
Mamavation Mom Twitter Party for Campaign #16
Our deepest sympathies go out to anyone affected by this tragedy. Obviously, tonight we want to hug our families and a twitter party is not where we can do that, and we are cancelling. I think you would agree this is the right decision. We apologize for the delay in announcing this.
Please keep all those affected in your thoughts.
———————————————————————————————————
It’s Campaign #16 already!
Mamavation has organized boot camp campaigns for over three years now. And every year we just keep getting better and better. We have so much to celebrate!
Some facts about Mamavation:
1. #Mamavation has been mentioned over 250,000 times on twitter
2. Mamavation community members have lost over 3,200 lbs. together
3. Mamavation Moms last campaign lost 114 lbs.
4. Mamavation turns 4 years old on July 1st this year
5. Mamavation’s mission is to teach moms healthy living slowly and gradually so they can share that with their family
Join us Monday, April 15th from 8-9:30pm EST (5-6:30pm PST) for a twitter party in celebration of all the inspiration Mamavation gives to social media, win some prizes, and learn who the next Mamavation Moms are going to be.
Here are the finalists. Three of them will become the next Mamavation Moms for campaign #16 and that will be announced that night:
1. Lindsay Oussa
2. Erica Zamsky Hunt
3. Amy Reilly
4. Greta Funk
5. Melissa McMurchy
If you were not selected by Mamavation for this round, we encourage you to stick with the community and apply again. Please give us a chance to get to know you better. It’s in your best interest to do so. Several Mamavation Mom Graduates had to apply more than once before finally becoming selected.
Prizes:
1. Nutiva Gift Boxes with popular items (3 winners)
2. Pair of New Balance Shoes (3 winners)
3. Color Garden Natural Dye Sets (4 winners)
How to Win:
Half the prizes will be drawn from Rafflecoptor and the other half will be based on live tweeting that night. So make sure to enter by helping us promote and then during the party, every tweet enters you as well.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please make sure to RSVP on the Linky below!
Helping Ugandans Build Clean Drinking Water With Blood:Water Mission
I just finished the Blood:Water 40 Days of Water Challenge. And to put it bluntly, I drank my weight in water. Or at least it felt that way.
The mission of the 40 Days of Water Challenge is to raise enough money during Lent to build clean water resources for communities in Uganda. Uganda is one of those under-served nations that struggles with HIV and clean water resources. Even if you are poor in the United States, chances are you have more than the average person in Uganda.
As you can see, with over 34 million people, only 1/3 of them have safe drinking water. And that is where social media come into play. We can share this information with an infinite amount of people for free.
Challenges like this are interesting to me because they remind me of two things:
1. Even though I’m super healthy there are always things I can improve on (like my water intake) and
2. Some people just don’t have what I have and I take things for granted everyday.
During a very difficult month where I was watching my baby suffer with severe Eczema, I was doing the Blood:Water Challenge. And even though I was feeling sorry for my baby, I was reminded that there are children in Uganda that have it worse. AIDS is a very serious medical problem in Uganda that has left children without mothers. Mothers have died from HIV leaving a land of orphans. My baby may be suffering, but we are so fortunate to have medical care and I’m healthy enough to care for him myself. We truly are blessed.
I didn’t intend to donate as much as I did. But I really felt I needed to. So the grand total Mamavation donated to Blood:Water to help them bring clean water resources to communities in Uganda was…..
$500.00
And now it’s your turn. The campaign is over and it’s time to donate the funds you have been saving. I recognize that your sum might not be as large. You don’t even need to tell me how much you donated. BUT I would love to know if you did donate something so I can thank you. The money you will be giving will help families who have far less than us in Uganda and I think that is a win. Especially since we have so much here.
And just to keep your spirits in the right place, you can listen to this song. I have to warn you though, it will stay in your head for MONTHS cause it’s that catchy.
So please consider donating to Blood:Water. And let me know if you do here so I can say thank you to you publicly.
