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The Blessing of Giving. #CBias #AbbottCFK

January 17, 2012 in Collective Bias, kid's health, volunteering with 14 Comments

Mrs. R at the local Boys & Girls Club!

I little bit ago, I blogged here about the Champions for Kids Simple Service Project for January, The Abbott Nutrition Pack a Snack. This simple service project for this month is to create a snack pack and donate the pack to be used by a hungry child.

For example, you could create a little snack pack and drop it off at a food bank or pregnancy shelter. Or, something like starting a food drive at your work by simply placing a box in a corner of the break room and delivering it to a local Boys and Girls Club.

For this project I was hoping to go big, you know…start some wonderful giant project. I did not do that. I did do my one small thing, though, and I hope it was a blessing to some little children.

As Abbott is the sponsor, we hit WalMart to buy Pediasure, SideKicks and Zone Perfect bars to add some protein in our packs. You can see my shopping trip on my google+ album! Or, watch this slideshow:)

There really are tons of ways to help, and for me, the secret is in the “simple” message.

We all want to do tons, I know! But, with our own families and busy lives, it is hard. At least it is for me. But this concept of doing one small thing…with millions of people doing it…well, I can do that!

My family and I talked about what we would do. My daughter has volunteered at a local Boys and Girls club near our town, and she thought it would be very helpful to do something for the little children at that club. I was proud she was thinking about them and told my husband. He then mentioned how I really like to talk about nutrition and that we should do little healthy packs for the children, maybe let them decorate their packs with stickers and include activities.

We included some Pediasure, Zone Perfect bars, stickers and coloring sheets, word find...and organic lollipops for good measure!

Yes, my family is awesome! I loved my husband’s idea, so we went with that. We worked on this as a family and set up a dozen little packs for the k-1st graders and spoke with the Club director, Mrs. Regina. She was a love and was glad to do whatever to help, and said she’d love to do a little healthy class with the kids, let them design their bags and talk about proteins. She also said many of the kids could use the nutrition as this club serves a low income area.

My husband met with her and dropped off the packs and came home very content. He then mentioned that maybe we should try to get something started like the backpack program to help this B&G club. So, we’ll see where we go with this. I want to be careful not to overpromise, but I know my husband is already thinking about putting a donation box in his break room at work.

It seems so true, that once you notice something, you see it everywhere, and these simple service projects have made us, as a family, more aware of our surroundings.

Want to help? You can easily do a Simple Service Project in your town! Click here to see the Champions For Kids Simple Service Project page here.

Join in the Abbott/Champions for Kids Twitter party, January 19^th at 9:00 pm EST.

Thank you, Champions for Kids and Abbott!

“This shop will be compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. I have given my honest opinion and I am pleased to be affliated with Champions For Kids!” #CBias #AbbottCFK

Boost Your New Year! Try Phix Energy Drinks

January 8, 2012 in giveaways, green living, health, organic with 6 Comments

Have you seen these new Phix Energy drink sticks?

I was super curious to try some of these natural energy drink mix sticks. I am perfectly happy with my big glass of water to drink…but I do also count on my morning coffee and afternoon tea. And, if something important is going down, I need more coffee!

I do use organic milk in the coffee, ok? Ha! Well, I know many people use things like coffee and diet drinks and such for pick me ups during the day. My own teens are asking for things like this as they get older and need more stamina for tests, and sports, for example.

Anyway, so the kids have brought home all kinds of energy type drinks. I often fuss at them about all the unpronounceable ingredients on the labels and beg them to find healthier choices.

When I saw Phix Energy, I wanted to try them. I want natural and organic ingredients. I know the kids want flavors. Phix drinks make us both happy. They offer cool flavors like Citron, Tropic, and Teaberry. And, the little single serving sticks can be used on the go. They even have vitamins and minerals.

Phix says, “Our powders are entirely natural, vegan, and gluten free. All our solutions are good for you and of course they’re completely safe. Just mix with water and drink to your health!”

So, when I got a trial, I immediately tried the organic, gluten free Teaberry. I liked that one. When dissolved in a glass of water, it had a berry taste. It did have a teeny aftertaste to me. When I tried the Tropic the next day, I read the directions better and decided to use more water. For me, Using about 14 oz of water and letting the Tropic sit a minute worked. It was delicious. I like to use my blender bottle, but you do not have to.

My daughter liked the Tropic, too. In fact, my teenagers all liked them, so I put them into their stockings at Christmas! All in all, they are fun and colorful. I see now, you can even use the Phix as a hot drink in winter. I’ll have to try that.

While I did not give up my beloved coffee for Phix, I liked having an afternoon pick me up with these. I did not have a crash later. Honestly, I am most excited about the kids having a choice that is more natural if they want.

“Phix does not just rely on caffeine to boost and maintain energy, it was designed by leading naturopathic physicians and licensed dietitians to utilize the body’s natural healing power,” said Brown, “So we can guarantee you’re Drinking In Health.”

Phix also has a calming drink, called Phix Sleep. I tried that Lemon Camomile. I did not like the camomile flavor. It was okay, but I don’t like camomile. I gave it to my husband to taste and he loved it and drank it all. Basically, if you like herbal tea flavors, you’d probably like this one. The 1/2 cup I drank made me sleepy!

Phix is coming out with more flavors, (like sugar-free grape) so keep an eye out for these! You can also get more information on them, like what exactly is in them, and how to order some on their website: http://www.phix.com/

Phix Energy (Teaberry, Citron & Tropic) – www.phix.com/learn/energy.aspx
Phix Sleep (Lemon Chamomile) – www.phix.com/learn/sleep.aspx

You can visit them online at www.Phix.com follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thePHIXisin and watch videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/phixphan

AND, you can win some here to try! Enter below using the Rafflecopter!
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Fighting Hunger. One Pack at a Time! #CBias, #AbbottCFK

January 6, 2012 in health, volunteering with 8 Comments

A few days ago in my local Giant Eagle, I watched a couple with a small child carefully checking coupons and doing the math for a very scant meal in their cart. I was ashamed of my full cart as their child stared at my cart, and my child holding candy. I knew just from the expressions on their faces that they were hungry.

In another aisle I saw a tired looking older woman, with a teenager, again with very few, cheap (unhealthy, I’d add) items and a look of despair. This is a hard time.

I came home to an email in my box about the Champions for Kids Simple Service Project for January, The Abbott Nutrition Pack a Snack.

Talk about appropriate for right now! This project has me researching ways to really help fight hunger in my own community.

From Champions for Kids, I had already heard that more than 16 million children under age 18 are unable to eat healthy, consistent meals. That number includes 3 million children under the age of five.

I went to google some statistics in my area. I see from our local Food Bank that

“Over 1 in 10 in the region—can’t take their next meal for granted. And 4 in 10 of these are children. Those who receive food include the most vulnerable in our communities – children, the elderly, struggling families, the working poor, people with disabilities and the homeless. They are hungry because they’ve run out of good options. So they cut back, miss meals, and make the food they have last as long as possible.”

And, these who are hungry are from all walks of life. Quiet children in classrooms are turning to teachers for food, a co-worker who rarely eats lunch is a father who must choose between food or paying bills.

So there is all that.

On top of all this, you all know I am a whole food and organic foods proponent. There is no doubt in my mind that people in need are rarely able to procure healthy foods.

And, while children are developing, healthy foods are so important! Their little systems need nutrition to help them learn and grow, even to fight infections.

Abbott, a sponsor for the January Champions for Kids Simple Service Project, has some nutritional products that could benefit these children, including Pediasure, Pediasure, SideKicks and Zone Perfect bars. People around the nation will be creating snack packs and donating them to children and appropriate agencies everywhere!

For example, you can create a little snack pack and drop it off at a food bank or pregnancy shelter. Start a drive at your work by simply placing a box in a corner of the break room and delivering it to a local Boys and Girls Club.

I really like these Simple Service Projects, because, frankly, they are not intimidating. You can do a small thing that makes a huge difference without taking away from your own family and responsibilities.

Want to help? You can easily do a Simple Service Project in your town! Click here to see the Champions For Kids Simple Service Project page here.

My daughter has volunteered with our local Boys and Girls Club in the past. She was upset by some of the hunger issues she saw with the children. So, I was excited when she wanted to help!

So…our plan is to shop Walmart and create some Abbott Nutrition Snack Packs for the children in K and 1^st. Then, we will get some cute little white bags and healthy food stickers and create a coloring sheet with healthy food options, so the kids can have a healthy snack while designing their bags and learning. We will bring these to the club and deliver them to the Director, Mrs. R.

I can’t wait to post pictures and such about how this goes. And, please let me know if you sign up and do a Simple Service Project! Just go to http://championsforkids.org/simple/ for more information. You can also find them on The Champions For Kids Facebook wall and on their Twitter Page.

Join in a Abbott/Champions for Kids Twitter party, January 19^th at 9:00 pm EST.

“ This shop will be compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. I have given my honest opinion and I am pleased to be affliated with Champions For Kids! #CBias #AbbottCFK “

Take The Brave Woman Pledge this New Year #CBias #BraveWoman

January 4, 2012 in family, health, kid's health with 5 Comments

*Please note that this post and the associated links are on a sensitive and adult topic*

During all the excitement of the New Year’s celebration, I spoke to someone who is a survivor of domestic abuse. I was careful to not mention the past, but my heart just chilled when I heard that the abusive ex-spouse had bought many Christmas gifts for the children.

Really, I thought? How about the true gifts of Christmas? How about peace, love, kindness, gentleness, patience…just for starters? Wouldn’t these be lovely gifts for a woman and her children to receive?

Oh, I wish this family could have both. But this family is the statistic. The one in four.

Did you know that ONE in FOUR women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime?

25% of women.

In many cases, this woman is actually grateful to get through a day and not be hurt, emotionally and physically.

I would think a New Year makes little difference to a lifestyle where you need to be brave just to face each day.

But what if the New Year could be filled with hope and peace?

I recently took the Brave Woman Pledge to help support other women. To reinforce my opinion that peace in their homes should not need to be only a dream. To show that I care about what happens behind closed doors. To point the way to find help and resources for those who battle just getting through the day.

I wish I could do more. But, this I can do!

Will you help?

Please take a look at the Brave Woman website and Take the pledge today for 2012 and become a champion for yourself or for other women.

www.BraveWoman.org

“That every woman and child will have the supportive resources they need to live without fear in their homes and see themselves as courageous victors, finally free from family violence.”

You can find many resources to help stop this cycle of violence. Below find just a few:

(Btw: The site has a little “x” on each page that you can click to make it “disappear” really quickly if you need to.)

You can find Brave Women online and on the Brave Woman Facebook Page and on Twitter @Brave_Woman.

Remember: If you are in immediate danger or need help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. TTY number 1-800-787-3224.

*Join in a Twitter party on Tuesday, January 17^th from 8:00-9:00 pm EST to support all brave women, using the hashtag #BraveWoman.

Want to Take the pledge and then do even more? See As the Bunny Hops for a great idea!

“My research and time has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. Opinions are my own.” #CBias