2011 September

The Pink Ribbon Debate

September 30, 2011 by Jessica 11 Comments

Every October we see in the pages of magazines, catalogs and on web sites all of the pink products to buy in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink campaigns are all the rage.

If you haven’t yet heard the term, “pinkwashing” is when corporations and brands try to increase sales by associating their products with the fight against breast cancer. Pinkwashing is a form of marketing campaign designed to make consumers feel like they’re helping solve a serious issue while in actuality their dollars are not making much of an impact beyond increasing the company’s profit margin.

Think about it. Do you really need to buy that $100 pink scarf when just $5 from the purchase is going to the charity? Couldn’t you make a much bigger impact by purchasing a $20 scarf of your choice and putting $80 towards finding a cure? Pinkwashing occurs on everything from scarves to clothes to food to household items.

So, if you’re like me, we both want to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month but without being swindled. What’s a girl with boobs to do?

I asked a few experts and here’s what they suggest:

· See if the items you already purchase for your home and family are donating proceeds to a breast cancer charity during the month of October. You can do this by going to your favorite brands’ web sites. If the answer is yes, this is a great time to stock up on your favorite items.

· Look for pink ribbon products that donate 50% or more of the proceeds from the product to a breast cancer charity. That’s 25% or more of the total cost of the item. Not all of these items are pink in color but more importantly, by nature.

· If you can’t find a percentage, look for products that tell you the exact amount which will be donated to an organization if you purchase the product. Then you can figure out for yourself if your being pinkwashed.

· Instead of purchasing a pink ribbon product consider donating directly to a breast cancer charity such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation or to one of the walkers for the Breast Cancer 3 Day http://www.KomenAdvocacy.org.

· Sign up to participate in the Army of Women at http://www.armyofwomen.org/. By signing up you will receive periodic emails announcing new research studies looking for volunteers with or without breast cancer. Some might require you to complete a questionnaire, while others might need a sample of blood, urine, saliva, breast fluid, or breast tissue. You will never be pressured to take part in any study and you decide which studies (if any) you want to take part in.

· Support programs like the SCAR Project (www.thescarproject.org), a series of large-scale portraits of young breast cancer survivors that puts face on breast cancer because in reality breast cancer is not a pink ribbon.

Breast cancer is such an important cause and it is wonderful that we are acknowledging it in big ways. I just want to propose that we purchase pink products which make a significant contribution towards finding a cure so one day there will be no such thing as a pink ribbon.

How are you getting your pink on this month?

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Giving, Saving and Hoping: Breast Cancer Awareness

September 28, 2011 by Jessica 22 Comments

Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins in just a few days. Soon we will be entrenched in a sea of pink ribbons supporting awareness of a cause which touches millions of lives. At present, one in eight women will have breast cancer in their lifetime.

That is one in eight too many.

My family does not have a history of breast cancer, though having been on years of fertility medications I am still deeply terrified of the disease. I had a baseline mammogram done at age 35 and will have another at 40. I do self exams a few times a year, but probably not often enough. Though I have several friends of friends who are currently battling breast cancer, it has not hit my inner circle – yet. This disease is so prevalent that it feels like a ticking time bomb and we just don’t know who will be the next one in eight.

As consumers it has been easy to get swept up in the pink crusade because buying an item for a cause feels like a worthy contribution. In today’s economy, however, it may not be quite as easy as so many of us are focused on the necessities. This month, Procter & Gamble Beauty and the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) (http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/) have partnered to share the gift of early detection through simple actions and everyday purchases. P&G is joining the NBCF in the fight against breast cancer, helping to further support their mission of saving lives for women with breast cancer through early detection.

What I like about this effort is that you can help the cause while saving money by purchasing the items you already use. While we all want to see an end to breast cancer, this allows us to contribute by purchasing everyday items rather than something we would not typically buy simply because it is pink or has a ribbon sewn on it. Here are the details:

On Sunday, October 2^nd and Sunday, October 16^th, GIVE Hope brandSAVER coupons will be distributed in newspapers across the country with discounts on P&G products. For each coupon redeemed, P&G will donate two cents to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. This allows you to make a donation while saving money on products you purchase regularly for your family.

In addition, P&G consumers will receive a $10 rebate and P&G will make a $10 donation to the NBCF with the purchase of $50 worth of P&G Beauty products during the month of October, including: Olay, Venus, Secret, Cover Girl, Clairol, Pantene, Safeguard, Ivory, Aussie and Herbal Essences. That’s a 20% donation to the charity plus 20% back in your pocket. (http://www.pgpinkrebate.com/pink_rebate.pdf)

Lastly, for every Facebook “like” at http://www.facebook.com/PGUnitedWeBeautify, P&G will donate ten cents to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The P&G Beauty Facebook page will be featuring stories from employees of P&G who have been impacted by breast cancer.

How are you showing supporting breast cancer awareness month?

Leave a comment below and you will be entered to win a gift basket of P&G products!

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Contest Details: Leave a comment at the end of this post. Each comment qualifies as one entry. One winner will be chosen at random. All comments must be received by October 15th to qualify. The winner will be notified by October 17th. If a response is not received and confirmed within 48 hours of notification a new winner will be chosen at random among the remaining entries.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for TheMotherhood on behalf of P&G and will be compensated for writing this post by P&G, Hearst Magazines and TheMotherhood. All opinions and anecdotes are my own.

Filed Under: People Who Give Back, Product Reviews Tagged With: Aussie and Herbal Essences., baseline mammogram, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Clairol, Cover Girl, GIVE Hope brandSAVER, Ivory, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Olay, P&G, Pantene, Safeguard, Secret, Venus

See Jane Empowered: Gender Stereotypes in the Media @gdigm

September 26, 2011 by Jessica 10 Comments

“When my friends and I would act out movies as kids, we’d play the guys’ roles, since they had the most interesting things to do. Decades later, I can hardly believe my sons and daughter are seeing many of the same limited choices in current films.” – Geena Davis

During college I interned at Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine, which targeted kids ages 8-12. That summer I learned that there was a limit on how much female athlete editorial could be put in each issue of the magazine because the articles about female athletes were not nearly as well read as the ones about male athletes.

I’m not knocking the magazine for making a business decision to continue to engage their audience. Kids of both genders are brought up thinking that male athletes are cooler than female athletes. Wouldn’t it be nice, however, to change that perception? Shouldn’t girls get to see strong female characters in the media?

Sadly, studies show that gender stereotypes are also a serious issue on TV and in film. Females comprise over half the population yet they are outnumbered 3:1 in family films. When females are shown, they are in sexy attire, have unrealistic figures or (my personal pet peeve) play the role of a helpless female. In family films, 80% of employed characters are male while just 20% are female, compared to the 50:50 ratio in the real world. Just imagine how limitless the world would be if half of our population were given a fair representation in the media.

One of the most memorable films with strong female characters is Thelma and Louise, and one of the best lines in that movie is when Louise tells Thelma that, “You only get what you settle for.”

Actress and role model Geena Davis, who starred in Thelma and Louise, does not settle and someday soon there might just be a generation of girls who can thank her for that. Last week at the Social Good Summit I was fascinated to learn about the work that Geena Davis is doing with her foundation, the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. In fact, she commissioned the largest research project on gender in film and television ever undertaken which confirmed the presence of gender disparity on both the large and small screens. The Institute and its programming arm, See Jane, are working diligently to change gender stereotypes in media and entertainment, particularly among children’s programming.

Geena Davis has become a tireless advocate for having strong female characters in the media. Gender stereotypes in media, as in life, should be a thing of the past. As she spoke at the Summit, she mentioned that See Jane has a heartwarming video learning series for children to raise awareness about gender stereotypes and it wasn’t until watching this that I truly understood the impact that gender stereotyping in television and film can have on children.

I am so very grateful that Geena Davis has found her marbles and adore the great work of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. Are you ready to learn more? Just go to SeeJane.org or follow along on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GDIGM.

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Look who Found the Marbles supports non-profit organizations in their mission to serve and did not receive any compensation, monetary or otherwise, for this post. Please see the Disclosure policy on this site with any questions. If you know someone who has Found the Marbles, send an email to Jessica@FoundtheMarbles.com.

Filed Under: Celebrities Who Give Back, Paying It Forward, People Who Give Back Tagged With: Geena Davis, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, gender stereotypes, gender stereotyping, See Jane, SeeJane.org, Social Good Summit, Social Responsibility, strong female characters

Sunday Pinning

September 25, 2011 by Jessica 4 Comments

Sundays are delightful days for pinning, don’t you think? If you haven’t been on Pinterest yet, be forewarned. It is super-addicting. Here are some pins to enjoy on this lazy football Sunday. This is how I am feeling today… It’s all about breakfast, comfy clothes, football, a little trash talking and a few changing leaves.

Source: theperfectpantry.com via Kara on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Kathe on Pinterest

Source: redbubble.com via Neen on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Emily on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Noah on Pinterest

Source: sugarbabyboutique.blogspot.com via Jamie on Pinterest

Filed Under: Life - Tagged With: Autumn, Football Sunday, Pinterest, Sunday Pinning

Getting Down to Business With @TinyPrints

September 22, 2011 by Jessica 8 Comments

Lately I have been trying to introduce a cause or non-profit organization, but this week’s Thursday post is a little different. Often we hear about companies who are not adept at providing a positive customer experience, whether it be the product or the service which is lacking. In the spirit of giving credit where it is due, I want to share a recent brand experience that was terrific.

Last Thursday evening I realized that I needed new business cards, quickly and badly. My previous ones were so not attractive. Truth be told, they were downright ugly. I really, really wanted to have new cards done before a conference the following Tuesday but knew I was cutting it close for a decent quality card. I Googled “business cards next day” and not far down the list was Tiny Prints. At the Type A Parent conference, I had seen some great-looking cards which were from Tiny Prints so off-a-clicking I went. By Friday morning a proof of the card was waiting in my email. My new and substantially-improved business cards were in my hands by noon on Monday. They are seriously awesome.

It’s time to link up! Just add your favorite post from the past week and check out some of the other great sites in the linky. That’s all there is to it! We would appreciate it if you would follow the hosts: Look Who Found the Marbles,Rock & Drool and Do Sweat the Small Stuff.

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I told a Tiny Prints company representative how happy I was with my experience. Guess what? Just for telling you about it, Tiny Prints is gifting me a second set of business cards. Now that’s a class act, don’t you think?

Filed Under: Product Reviews, Thoughtful Thursday Tagged With: Business Cards, Thoughtful Thursday, Thursday Blog Hop, Thursday Linky, Tiny Prints, TinyPrints.com

And the Winner is…

September 21, 2011 by Jessica 8 Comments

Last week I was generously given a Kreativ Blogger award from Dayna at Great Beauty Buys. Quite honestly I don’t have the first clue where the Kreativ Blogger award originated from but I’ll take it. After all, who does not like getting an award? Awards that come with trophies and money don’t suck either, but this one is fun because it comes from a fellow blogger. Thanks, Dayna! I am honored.

The Kreativ Blogger award even comes with its own set of rules, which are as follows:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award. Check.

2. Share 7 things about yourself with your readers.

3. Give the award to 7 more blogs.

Per rule #2, here are 7 things about me:

I am a native New Yorker, eldest child, left-handed, Scorpio. Ok, so that’s four things right there, but they together they make one point. I am just mildly Type A.
I have gained a dress size (or more) over the past year and I am uncomfortable as all hell.
I miss my sister who I don’t speak to or see as often as I would like.
You know how they say that you don’t know what it’s like to be someone else until you walk in their shoes? Well, when I was in college I walked (literally) in Shaquille O’Neal’s shoes and I can tell you from experience that it’s like wearing canoes on your ankles.
I have a beat up old sweatshirt I got back in college that I still wear to bed. All the time.
I love being the mom of boys and would be like a lost puppy in a sea of pink.
In my next life I am going to look like either Kate Beckinsdale or Sienna Miller. I haven’t decided which one yet.

And now, with great admiration, I hereby present the Kreativ Blogger award to the following:

Behold the new Kreativ Blog award winners! Let their reign as Kreativ Bloggers begin.

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Filed Under: Blogging & Social Media Tagged With: Best Beauty Buys, Confessions of the Id, Do Sweat the Small Stuff, Good Girl Gone Green, Insanity is not an Option, Kreativ Blogger, Kreativ Blogger Award, Made in USA Challenge, Pieces of a Mom, Rock and Drool

Is Social Media Good for Business or a Time Suck?

September 20, 2011 by Jessica 5 Comments

Social media is the “it” catch phrase these days and unless your business exists under a rock, you are either participating in social media or thinking that it’s time get started. Yet, do you really understand which social media outlet will work for your business?

While I am at the Social Good Summit in New York, I have invited social media strategist Tim Fox to contribute a post about this very topic. Take it away, Tim:

There are so many social networks out there now that it is difficult to separate which ones can help a particular profession and which ones are just a waste of time or time suck. Let’s take a look at which social networks a blogger should use, a professional should use (doctor, chiropractor) and which social networks have no real business value.

For bloggers by far the most important social network (in my mind) is Twitter followed by Facebook. Twitter is still the most important in my opinion because you can develop fantastic relationships with people by just engaging with them and getting to know them. You might follow a new person, check out their bio, and start reading their blog. If you comment on their blog and tweet about it you can make a new friend fast. Sometimes these friendships on Twitter can lead to business relationships and other opportunities. You never know what can happen with a social network like Twitter. However, Twitter can be a time suck if you aren’t engaging with others and are just tweeting about yourself. In fact, the more you tweet and retweet others, the more success you will find on Twitter.

Having a Facebook fan page or page for your blog is also important. You can engage with readers as well as join their fan pages, like their posts and comment to, hopefully, get some return engagement on your page. Facebook is a bit more self promotional but it still can be a very effective blogger tool.

Google Plus might be worth using as a blogger but it seems that after the initial excitement over Google Plus that most everyone decided to stick with Twitter or Facebook. If you have people posting in your circles on Google Plus go ahead and use it. If instead you have not too many people in your circles posting and are dealing with too much spam I would use it sparingly.

For professionals like doctors or chiropractors I think it’s a good idea to have a Twitter page but not necessarily run it yourself. I would hire a consultant to keep track of Twitter search results for local dentist or local chiropractor and have them engage with the potential prospect. If you have the time to do it yourself, that’s great.

For a company, having a Twitter account is essential. It will allow you to listen and converse with your customers, have better customer service, do giveaways and create business relationships.

I think all professionals and companies should definitely have a Facebook fan page. You can also post your hours and contact info, offer discounts, add cool videos or host giveaways on your Facebook fan page. Whether you run the page yourself or hire someone to do it, having a Facebook fan page is a smart idea.

For bloggers, social networks like GetGlue, Tumblr, and Pinterest should be used sparingly unless you are an artist, photographer, or clothing designer. If your blog is a photography blog, posting photos on Tumblr or Pinterest can possibly give you good exposure. Same with posting designs on Tumblr or Pinterest. If you get lots of reblogs or repins your design could go viral. Now, I’m not saying not to use GetGlue, Pinterest, or Tumblr if you have no business benefits because they are all fun and addicting websites. I would just use them sparingly if your goal is to make more business contacts or money. Those sites are almost way too fun and can potentially distract you from your goals.

For professionals, I would also avoid GetGlue, Tumblr, or Pinterest as it’s not really relevant to your field and will likely not result in new leads or clients. Google Plus for professionals is similar to what I wrote about bloggers. If people are engaging with you on there keep using it. Google Plus is so new that you really just have to test things out.

Good luck!

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In addition to Tim’s expertise listed above, he is a consultant for Interactive Music Teacher where they teach live online drum lessons. http://interactivemusicteacher.com

Filed Under: Blogging & Social Media Tagged With: Foursquare, GetGlue, Google Plus, Interactive Music Teacher, Pinterest, Social Media, Soge Shirts, Tim Fox

There’s No Place Like @Starbucks

September 19, 2011 by Jessica 14 Comments

Just saying the word ‘Starbucks’ in certain circles can create an invisible dividing line between the devout loyalists and those who feel strongly that their offerings are beyond a rational price range for a cup of coffee.

One afternoon in Philadelphia, upon ordering my Grande non-fat, two-pump chai tea, the one and only Peter Shankman promptly rolled his eyes at me. Joking that he can tell how high-maintenance a female is by how many syllables are in her drink order, I felt the urgent need to replying by declaring that my other order is just a plain old green tea. I guess that makes me part-time high-maintenance? Yeah, I’ll just go with that. Next time I am just ordering the green tea, darn it.

While I am no Starbucks fanatic, the price of my multi-syllable drink feels more justified in my head because I am buying from a socially conscious company. They contribute funds towards rebuilding the Gulf Coast. They pay for literacy programs. They help the areas that produce their coffee, tea and cocoa. They help to provide people in developing countries with access to clean water. You can say what you want about their prices, but how many other companies are committed like that?

Working from home, Starbucks has become my office for casual business meetings. Typically I’ll purchase a cup of multi-syllable or green tea and a protein bistro box. Recently I started a high protein diet so the protein box is my Starbucks meal of choice. (Hmm. Maybe I am more high-maintenance than I thought.) Anyway, Starbucks launched a line of Bistro Boxes in some of their locations a couple of months ago and each one has less than 500 calories. The bistro boxes cost $4.95 for the snack size and $6.95 for the meal size, which is not too shabby, especially for Starbucks. You can see the different varieties here read the nutritional information here. The protein bistro box, which is my favorite, has a cage-free egg, cheddar cheese, a packet of honey peanut butter spread, multigrain bread, apples and some grapes. It has 380 calories, 19 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber.

Now it’s your turn. What’s your favorite item at Starbucks? Have you ever had their bistro boxes? How many syllables are in your regular drink order?
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Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Starbucks Bistro Boxes and received a gift card to facilitate my review and thank me for taking the time to participate. I was asked to provide an honest review and therefore all opinions expressed are my own. Peter Shankman’s opinions are his own as well….

Bistro Box Photo Credit: Starbucks.com

Filed Under: Companies Who Give Back, Product Reviews Tagged With: bistro box, Bistro Box Review, Bistro Boxes, Peter Shankman, Protein Bistro Box, Starbucks, Starbucks Responsiblity

Are You One in a Million? Taking the Million Moms Challenge

September 16, 2011 by Jessica 14 Comments

Here’s a chance to participate in something big, something amazing, something relevant and extremely important. This coming Monday the Million Moms Challenge begins its mission to create a global community where every mother has the tools for a healthy pregnancy and a baby who can thrive. This is a call to action to engage a million Americans with the millions of moms in the developing world facing issues regarding their pregnancies, childbirth and children’s health.

If you want to hear more about the campaign or participate there are so many ways to get involved:

Head to Facebook and ‘like’ MMC on the new Million Moms Challenge Facebook page.
Take the pledge to be one in a million by clicking here.
The Million Moms Challenge web site, www.MillionMomsChallenge.com will go live the morning of Monday, September 19th as will the official Million Moms Community. Simply go the ‘community’ tab and become a member.
In October, BabyCenter will host the BabyCenter’s ABC Million Moms Challenge Global Baby Shower, an online party that will be held on Twitter and The BabyCenter Community. Keep your eye out for the official date (coming soon).

The Million Moms Challenge is a joint venture between ABC News and the UN Foundation in conjunction with Baby Center and World Class Partners. Using traditional and social media this initiative will build a community that connects moms everywhere around crucial issues that are a priority for all mothers, including the right nutrition to support their pregnancies, trained mid-wives to assist in safe deliveries of newborns, and life-saving vaccines that allow children celebrate their first birthdays. To launch the initiative, hundreds of moms, dads, babies and kids will gather in Times Square for the official launch set to air on Good Morning America on Monday, September 19th.

I am one of the million. Are you?

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Do you know someone who has found their marbles? If so, send an email to Jessica @ FoundtheMarbles.com.

Filed Under: Life -, Paying It Forward Tagged With: healthy pregnancy, Million Moms Challenge, MillionMomsChallenge.com, millions of moms, Social Good

Thoughtful Thursday: Color a Smile

September 15, 2011 by Jessica 10 Comments

If you have a child who loves to draw or color, you might want to check this out. Color a Smile is a non-profit organization that collects crayon drawings from school children and distribute them to nursing homes, Meals on Wheels programs and to individuals throughout the country. They are always looking for young artists, either children in their homes or school classes and children’s organizations. For more information about Color a Smile, go to: http://www.colorasmile.org.

Time to link up! Just add your favorite post from the past week and check out some of the other great sites in the linky. That’s all there is to it! We would appreciate it if you would follow the hosts: Look Who Found the Marbles, Do Sweat the Small Stuff and Rock & Drool.

Filed Under: Thoughtful Thursday Tagged With: Color a Smile, ColoraSmile.org, Thoughtful Thursday, Thursday Blog Hop, Thursday Linky

What’s With All the Haters?

September 13, 2011 by Jessica 20 Comments

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” -Dr. Seuss

Since June I have heard multiple stories from bloggers regarding haters in the blogging community. Just to be clear, I am not talking about mild disagreements or people who just don’t click. I am talking about vicious comments on blogs and Twitter, bullying, threats and sabotage. That’s not even mentioning the entire sites devoted to hating certain bloggers.

Prior to becoming a blogger I worked at a media company which has competing entities under its umbrella. Competitors working in the same building. Yet, the tension there was not nearly as thick as some of what is happening lately in the blogosphere.

I don’t get it. What’s with all the haters in the blogosphere? Why can’t we all just get along? Seriously, folks. Aren’t there better ways to spend one’s time than spewing hatred on Twitter? Shouldn’t we instead be celebrating one another’s success?

When I first started in blogging I was the subject of some rumors and whispers behind my back. While I didn’t want to let it bother me, it really did. Friends told me not to waste my energy on it but we all know that it’s so much easier to say that than to do it. Finally, after months of hurt feelings and anger I was able to let myself ignore it and just move on. Fortunately at about that same time, those who had bought into the hype began to recognize the real situation (and my experience is small potatoes compared to what some of these other bloggers are dealing with lately). I have found great friends and supporters through this sphere, some who I know only through Twitter and others who I now call friends ‘in real life.’

There is enough room here for everyone to have success. Differing opinions are not just allowed, they are welcome. That’s what sparks interesting conversation and friendly debate. However, as the saying goes, when we start to attack the messenger rather than the message we have lost the meaning of the debate.

Those who are the subject of hatred did not ask to be placed in that role and all of it, albeit deflating, is not ultimately going to change a thing. For the most part, those who are the subject of the hatred are in that position because they are successful. These attempts at bringing them down are not going to work and may even help to boost their success. So why bother? What are the haters going to prove, anyway?

Let’s face it. These haters are not going to disappear any time soon. I guess it’s up to those of us on the outside to either ignore the nonsense or, at the very least, give it due diligence before drawing any conclusions.

And so I ask again. Can’t we all just get along?

Source: bitsofwisdom.org via Nanette on Pinterest

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Filed Under: Blogging & Social Media Tagged With: blogging, bullying bloggers, debate, haters, hatred

Being Kinder to My Body

September 12, 2011 by Jessica 7 Comments

Month one went well. Month two went a little better. Month three is not a pretty site but I am moving on to month four with a vengeance.

We all have our setbacks. Right?

This past month I did not drink enough water, get enough sleep and I ate too many empty calories. I didn’t eat enough vegetables either. I’ve got to find a way to sneak more greens into the boring old diet. If you have any suggestions (short of turning into a rabbit), please let me know!

Ideally I would like to take off a few pounds, so I can be more comfortable in my own skin. Hopefully by sticking with it the pounds will come off. Fingers crossed.

On the up side, a few of the recent changes which have become permanent and for those I am proud. Also, though I’ve eaten more empty calories than necessary, at mealtime I’ve been better about watching my portion sizes.

This little crusade to be kinder to my body was made public, in part, because I figured that by putting it out there in the universe I would be more likely to hold myself accountable for my actions. This past month was a bust but I am going to get back on the wagon in month four, for real.

That’s enough about me. What are you doing to be kind to your body? What do you need to work on? If you have any tips on what works for you please share them!

Source: pictureperfectbodywerkit.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Filed Under: Health & Fitness Tagged With: being kinder to my body, eating vegetables, portion sizes

Recycle it Forward

September 9, 2011 by Jessica 10 Comments

There’s a reason why this is not a recipe blog or craft blog. I’m not a good cook nor am I very crafty. Martha Stewart I am not. However, this site was founded on the basis of human interest and social good, so when the opportunity to be crafty for the sake of social good came along I winced a bit and then jumped on it.

Recently I was a part of the Elmer’s Bag It Forward campaign where I filled a backpack filled with school supplies and donate it to a child with cancer through the Kisses for Kyle foundation. Now I am a member of the Elmer’s Glue Crew, a movement to recycle empty glue bottles and glue sticks in schools.

With classrooms from all 50 states participating, Elmer’s hopes to exceed their goal of recycling 3 million glue bottles and glue sticks this school year. Your school can participate too! Just go to http://www.ElmersGlueCrew.com/ to see how you can implement the recycling practices in your school. To help kick-start the glue recycling movement in our elementary school, I am making a recycling box to house empty glue containers. Here goes:

So you already know that I’m not super crafty. I tend to like clean lines and symmetry which does not always go well with the creativity involved in craft projects. With that said, I set out to keep it simple. I chose fabric to make the collection box interesting and stick on letters for ease of use (knowing that I can’t be mad at myself for coloring outside the lines if I use stick-ons).

Drum roll please.

Here’s what I turned it into:

You’re impressed, right? You can see more of my shopping and craft-making adventure at: https://intersect.com/stories/23Nkb7RBxnbF.

Actually, it was relatively easy and cost a total of $18. Let’s start with the basic cardboard box. After I taped the bottom together, I ironed the fabric to get the creases out. I fastened the fabric to one of the inside top flaps then folded the flap over, making a clean inside fabric covering. Next I did the same on opposite side. The last two sides had more fabric, so I just tucked them under a bit more, almost like an envelope. You can see what I mean below.So the box is done and it is time for the poster.

I started with a plain Elmer’s tri-fold board and then laid out the lettering. Knowing that it would be more time-consuming and perhaps frustrating to try to perfectly align the letters, I instead chose to stagger them. The I just took the backings off the letters and stuck them to the board. Oh, and the Elmer’s logos on the poster board? I cut it out from the label on the tri-fold package. Pretty crafty, huh?Next it was time to decorate the sides.

I created and printed the school logo and mascot which I glued to the left facing side of the board using a disappearing purple glue stick from, you guessed it, Elmer’s. Then, on the right side, I printed out an explanation of the glue recycling program so anyone who passes by the poster can read about the effort. One more time for my pride, here’s the final project.

Now, go recycle some glue, will you? By the way, if you want to participate in the Elmer’s Glue Crew Brigade with glue you have at home or use with a homeschooling program, you can simply take the empties to your local Walmart drop-off location. Each time you purchase an Elmer’s (or Krazy Glue) product with a registered Upromise card, a percentage will go to your Upromise account. http://www.elmers.com/about/special-offers

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This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Elmer’s #BagItForward #collectivebias. All opinions, insights and amazingly crafty ideas are my own.

Filed Under: Companies Who Give Back, Going Green Tagged With: Elmer's, Elmer's Glue Crew, Recycling Program, Terracycle

Thoughtful Thursday: Talk to Me

September 8, 2011 by Jessica 4 Comments

Did you know that we are in the middle of National Suicide Prevention week? It is the time to check in with friends and family, letting them know that you care and that you’re available to talk. I took the pledge to talk and you can too by going to: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/talktome/pledge.html. By simply talking, you could possibly save a life.

Filed Under: Thoughtful Thursday Tagged With: Kevin McHale, National Suicide Prevention Week, Suicide Prevention, Talk to Me, The Trevor Project, Thoughtful Thursday, Thursday Blog Hop, Thursday Linky

How to Get Out of a Funk

September 6, 2011 by Jessica 12 Comments

When some women are in a funk they exercise. Some call on their friends for support. Others drink wine. Do you know what I did to get out of a funk? No, of course you don’t so I’ll tell you. I called a psychic.

I completely understand that the previous statement will likely either send you running from this site forever or wanting an explanation so here’s what happened…

A while back another blogger told me about the opportunity to get a free psychic reading and, while I did nothing about it at the time, it definitely piqued my curiosity. You see, I went to a psychic with my mom once, almost ten years ago. It was a fun and wild experience because almost every single thing she said came to fruition in some form.

Now I don’t know if I would say that I am a believer in the truest sense but I am definitely open to believing. Are you?

So, I have been in a rut for the past few days and decided that this might be just the time for a little psychic fun. I called Hollywood Psychics. Yes, I know, Hollywood Psychics could be the cheesiest name ever but that’s who was giving the free reading.

You know what? It was so much fun! Not only that, it snapped me right out of my funk. I honestly can’t explain why at all, but it left me feeling really, really happy. I would absolutely do it again if I am in need of some funk therapy. Seriously.

Truth be told, I am kind of fascinated by the process of how they know what is coming up in someone’s life so I asked more questions about how she does her work than about myself and my future.

She explained that each one of us has spirit guides who are with us at all times. The guides are almost like a conscience and try to steer us on the right path. So what about the people who don’t always take the right path? As she put it, the guides cannot interfere with free will. A guide is “chosen by what a person needs in their life. Guides can change as you change and evolve.” She said that I am on my second guide and this one has been with me since about age 23.

I don’t know about you, but I kind of like the thought that there could be some spirit lady guiding me on the right path. It’s not a shabby idea when you think about it.

Those few people who are closest to me have likely heard me say that I always trust my instincts. I can almost always make a quick decision but if I am wavering, my instincts always win. So I thought it was fascinating when she said those exact words to me, followed by “If you listen to your gut you will never go wrong. Your guide is never going to steer you wrong.” She said that in the coming months I will be on the fence about a decision. Everyone around me will think that it’s a good idea but my instincts will say otherwise and I must have the strength within myself to trust my instincts.

She told me that she saw a horseshoe (a sign of good luck) on a certain date coming up so you had better believe that the date is marked on my calendar and on that day I will be playing the lottery.

I asked about my children and my husband too, of course. She said that I worry about my husband more than I should but to watch when he hits age 45 because he will have some blood pressure issues. (We have a little while until then but I’ll be sending him to the cardiologist for his 45^th birthday.)

Before ending the call I told her that I need some sort of validation, something to show that this isn’t all a load of heaping bull. (Well, I didn’t say it in those terms exactly because I liked her.) She replied by saying that I had problems with the front tires in my car, especially the one on the driver’s side door. Guess what? Last month I had to replace my two front tires and a week later I had a nail in the driver’s side front tire.

She also said I have a ring that is important to me. It has dark blue stones, sapphires. There are very light stones on either side of the sapphires.

Now let me show you my wedding band.What do you think? Are you a believer?

Editor’s Note: On April 8th I walked outside to find that my car had a flat tire.

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As mentioned above, I was given a free psychic reading from Hollywood Psychics for this post and compensated as such. All opinions, quips and my wedding band are my own. Please see the Disclaimer and Terms of Use page on this site with any questions.

Filed Under: Life - Tagged With: get out of a funk, hollywood psychics, psychic reading

Stream of Consciousness Monday

September 5, 2011 by Jessica 8 Comments

Today I am taking a page out of Fadra Nally’s book and doing a Steam of Consciousness post. It is a five minute brain dump. There are no edits, no proofreading and no spellchecking. This is writing in the raw. Here goes:

I know that I need to write this post as a stream of consciousness because I am in a complete funk this week. And I know why. The ten year anniversary of 9/11 is here. Ten years. How the heck did ten years pass by already? In the fall of 2011 I could even not think ten years ahead.

For the past few days I feel like I am back in that same zombie-like funk that we were all in during the days, weeks and months after the attacks. I have been watching a lot of footage, reading the articles again. I read and re-read the obituary of Steve, my cousin’s husband. I don’t want to go back there but I am determined not to forget it. I can still see her face during the days when she thought there was a possibility that he was still alive and when reality hit that he was gone. I can still see the kids, at age four, who didn’t really understand why all those people were at their house but feeling the heaviness too.

This week coming up is going to be a difficult one; trying to go about our ordinary business but knowing that this week is anything but ordinary. Next Saturday I will be at the Kids With Food Allergies Foundation’s annual expo and while I would rather be glued to the television I know that paying it forward that day is a better use of my time. I just hope I can put on a happy face.

I’m not sure if being in this funk is doing anybody any good, especially myself, but somehow I can’t get out of it. Maybe writing this post and putting it out there in the universe will help me release some of the sadness.

Maybe.

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Filed Under: Life - Tagged With: 9/11, stream of consciousness

Words of Encouragement

September 3, 2011 by Jessica 14 Comments

Today’s words come to you courtesy of Pinterest. This week it seemed that several people I care about needed words of encouragement, either for a stressful personal situation or a temporary loss of mojo. I was feeling it too and these words made me feel a little bit better.

What do you think?