Ready To Make A Difference? Will YOU Join Me?

It’s Earth Day! If you have been wanting to find a way to “make a difference” now is the time to start. Because even just a baby step is still a step!

To that end, American Express has joined with TakePart.com to bring you opportunites to make a difference and provide you with a place to express your passion!

1. Take a moment and vote for your favorite charity to receive funding from American Express. Volunteer time, donate, or tell friends. Everyone can take a small step with the Members Project and start making a difference.

2. After you register here, volunteer at the charities that American Express helps you find and you will get Membership Reward Points for doing so

3. Vote once a week for causes you think American express should fund. The Members Project is donating $200k to 5 causes every 3 months. This quarters voting ends 5-24-2010!

4. Donate money or membership rewards points to one of each voting periods 50 selected charities or choose from over 1 million other charities.

5. Share your involvement and encourage others to participate

Everyone wants make a change. It is just a point of figuring out where to start. With The TakePart program, you can start making a change today. Sometimes the smallest of steps can lead to the biggest of change!

What will you do to make a difference? I signed up with the TakePart program, won’t you join me?

(This is a post that supports Members Project from American Express. By posting my thoughts and the information, I am eligible to win a gift card that is being provided from the One2One Network. )

10 Little Things That Lead To A Healthier Me

Twittermoms and Tropicana Trop50 asked us to write about 10 little things that lead to a healthier you (you can read more about Tropicana and the campaign here)

Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of the day, taking care of the kids, running my freelance writing business, and just general, everyday stuff, it can be almost 2pm before I remember to eat. There are days that I spend hours working on my writing, reasearch, and paper work, and don't realize that I have been sittiting for that long. As a mom, I want to be healthier. My kids are my main motiviation. I also want to be healthier for me. A healthier me, makes for a happier me!

1.)Excersise Daily. With 4 kids, finding a reason to get moving is easy. i try to take frequent breaks during the day and play with the kids.

2.)Drink plenty of water..flavored that is. I hate the taste of plain water. So, I drink flavored water. Wal-mart also has carbonated flavored water that I love, I have discovered that gets rid of my soda craving quickly.

3.)Measure Food. I purchased a one cup measuring cup to be used solely for that purpose. By measureing what I am eating I tend to eat less.

4.)Read the lables. Again, it is surprising that something low in calories may be high in fat. Since I started working on loosing weight I pay more attention to what I am eating.

4.)Adopt a positive mental attitude. I make it a point to find reasons to be happy. Smile when I am mad. Laugh when I want to cry.

5.)Eat locally grown produce whenever possible. There are so many recalls surrounding food now a days. By eating locally, I save money, eat better, and support the local economy

6.)Plant a flower garden. Nothing relieves stress faster then digging away in my garden. After a particularly stressfull day, I like to weed my garden and add new flowers.

7.)Go for a walk. Alone. Sometimes I need a few moments of silence. So, I take my iPod and go. Walking alone is a huge stress buster for me

8.)Do things for me. It is so easy to get caught up in taking care of everyone else, that I can forget about me. I make a point to do one thing a day just for me.

9.)Cook at home Vs going out. Not only does it save money. My family eats better too.

10.)Don't sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day, as long as the kids are happy and healthy, we have a roof over our heads, and food on the table, nothing else really matters in the grand scheme of things.

Here is a code you can redeem to get one juicy point. Visit The Juicy Rewards page to learn how you can save money. Code:TWMOM-READR. (This one-time use code is valid for new accounts ONLY. Must be entered within 6 hours of creating your account. Limit one new account bonus code per new account. All accounts must be created and all codes entered by June 30, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.” )



I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tropicana Trop50 blogging program to be eligible to win 6 free Juicy Rewards points and a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

I don't want to be THAT mom...

I don't want to be the mom that has to sit on the sideline while her kids play tag. I don't want to be the mom who is too tired to play catch with her daughter or monsters with her son. I don't want to be that mom.

I have struggled with a weight problem for a while. Granted having four kids (3 in 3 years) isn't going to bode well for the physique. But there is no excuse, no reason why I should weigh more now then I did while pregnant. I am the heaviest I have ever been. With a B.M. I of nearly 37, I am considered obese. I hate that word.

I also have Fibromyalgia. So, you would think that alone would be an incentive to loose weight. Yet, still I struggle. The pain is so bad at times, that walking down to the laundry room seems impossible.

I hate food. The thought of having to eat makes me ill. But I eat. Alot. I am also an emotional eater. So, when i am stressed, angry, depressed, bored....

Writing about my weight battle seemed scary at first. But I want to make changes. I want to be healthier, not only for my children, but also for me.

I currently weight around 230 pounds. My ideal weight would be between 150-160. That means at the very least I would have to loose 70 pounds. 70.

I have decided to share my journey here in the hopes that by doing so, this will force me to be accountable. Plus, I have met wonderful people through my blog and know that I can count on support.

So, here I go....One small step at a time

Join Me In The Ultimate Blog Party w/ 5 Minutes For Mom

I have been blogging for nearly a year now. My blog has grown some. But I still consider myself *green* when it comes to blogging.

So, I decided to join 5 Minutes For Mom in their Ultimate Blog Party 2010. It is a great way to meet new people, read new blogs and win some serious prizes.

(The two that really stood out for me were #39 and #40. I am sure there will be more, the prize list is MASSIVE)

Want to join me? Click the button above and see how you can get in on the biggest blog party of the year!

Boudreaux's Butt Paste: Hard to say, Great At Relieving Diaper Rash

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have sensitive skin. So, it is only natural that I pass that trait onto my children right? As a mom, I know that diaper rash can be a pain in--well, the rear--to deal with and treat. Usually when my kids get a diaper rash, it gets pretty bad pretty fast.

I started using Boudreaux's Butt Paste because it was cheaper then the other brands on the shelf, and at that time, I was short on cash.

I was a bit skeptical, because I had been using another brand and really wasn't getting the results I thought I should. I wanted my baby to feel better soon. Boudreaux's Butt Paste works extremely well. In fact, after the first use, the diaper rash is usually half of what it was prior to using the cream.

Boudreaux's Butt Paste is easy to apply to your baby, has a clean scent and is easy to wipe off. It doesn't leave behind a greasy residue like other brands.

Have you used it? What is your experience with it? Would you reccomend it to others?

If you haven't tried it, visit here for your own free sample of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste

Alvin and The Chipmunks:The Squeakquel Is Here

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Alvin and the Chipmunks. All opinions are 100% mine.

Growing up, cartoons were a staple in my day. Alvin and The Chipmunks was, by far, one of my favorites. I think that I even owned all three of the stuffed animal versions!

When Alvin and The Chipmunks:The Squeakquel came out, my kids couldn't wait to see it. They adored the first one. Well, their wait is over. Alvin and The Chipmunks:The Squeakquel is now available for DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Download. For even more fun, pick up the DVD package that has The Squeakquel bonus disk for more fun and mayhem from Alvin and The Boys.

Want more? Go 'Munk yourself ,your kids will have a blast with it. Check out Fox Family Flicks for More Munk Mayhem.

Alvin and The Chipmunks:The Squeakquel is a wonderful family friendly film that will make a great addition to your family's film library.

Got your copy yet? Why not? buy it now or download it on iTunes today!