I'm a Mama Bear!

This is my favorite picture of my son and I.  Although we are living in the digital age, this was taken at an event and sadly I only have a hard copy (my apologies for the poor photo quality).  If I had it digitally I'd be sure to send this photo as my holiday card. They say there is nothing like a mother's love for her son and this photo epitomizes the love that we share for each other. It never ceases to amaze me when we are out around town and people ask if he is my only child. Apparently it is obvious that he is the love of my life and even when I am reprimanding him he clearly has me wrapped around his little finger! 


Momma Polar Bears are equally (if not more) protective of their cubs and the Arctic Home website has an interesting feature where you can learn facts about Polar Bears and actually track five live Momma Bears! The momma bears in the Arctic are on a mission to both protect and feed their cubs in their quickly diminishing environment. 


As a mama bear myself, I will do whatever it takes to ensure my son has the things he needs. Most recently he has taken to sleeping in the bed with me and although I know some frown upon co-sleeping, I figure he is only young once and at some point it will be difficult to even get a hug or kiss for him so I take advantage of all the cuddles I can get now!  For me this is going the extra mile because I enjoy having my bed to myself but we are currently in a major transition in our lives so this is the very least I can do for my son. And of course, I will always do more! 


What is your personal mama bear story? Share it here in my comments or tweet #arctichome with your story. Also, don't forget to purchase the special white mama bear coca-cola cans and make a donation to save the environment! 

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Coca-Cola, but Coca-Cola is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this post. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of Coca-Cola.

Say Anything and Win an iPad!!!!

When I attended Blogalcious last month I had the opportunity to meet the founder of North Star Games, Luke. A table was set up with various games from the North Star line including Say Anything. In this game you answer a question and the answer with the most responses win. I am currently playing the game on facebook and answered the question  -  If I could train a monkey to do anything, what would I train it to do? 

As a result of my playing along,  North Star Games will be giving my charity, The Lupus Foundation of America a $1000 donation! As part of a total donation of $5000 to the charities of the participating bloggers choice!  Take a visit to the contest on their Facebook page, vote for your favorite answer to the question and you will be entered to win an iPad! 

The contest ends on Monday, November 28th so hurry up and vote!!!! 

Thanksgiving Eve

It is Thanksgiving Eve and families across the country are preparing for the big day! Turkeys brining, pies are baking but the big question I want to know is how do you handle dinnertime at your house? Do you have a kids table? Do the kids eat first? 





Vist Mom's The Word on Dinner and give your best suggestions and ideas for dinner time. I'm sure we can all learn from each other! 


Disclosure: I'm a Mom's The Word on Dinner ambassador and have been compensated for this post.

Hosea Feed the Hungry and the Homeless

There are numerous people in the Atlanta area who are hungry and homeless this Thanksgiving. Hosea Feed the Hungry is a non-profit organization that provides food and necessities to needy people in the Atlanta metro area. Every Thanksgiving they provide thousands of people with a meal, clothing, and grooming. I volunteered to set-up for the Martin Luther King day event earlier this year and am familiar with the work of Hosea Feed the Hungry.  When Walmart challenged me to buy a Thanksgiving meal for under $40 I immediately knew that I'd donate all of the food to Hosea Feed The Hungry. 


Not only was I able to get an entire Thanksgiving meal including a turkey, yams, collard greens, corn, stuffing, rice and a sweet potato pie - I was way under budget with a grand total of $29.08! Since I was donating the food I had to rely on some canned goods but I know that even with fresh produce I would have come in under budget. You too can go to Walmart for all of your Thanksgiving essentials and perhaps make a donation to your local food bank this holiday season! 

Disclosure: I am a Walmart mom and was compensated for this post but all of the opinions are 100% as usual!

Dinner Redux - Giveaway 3 $100 AMEX Giftcards!

As a Ragu Mom's The Word on Dinner ambassador I was asked about my utilization of leftovers but instead of leftovers I like to call it lunch/dinner redux! In the photo above I used a piece of salmon that I'd cooked the night before in my lunch salad. It was amazing and I enjoyed it. Since my son doesn't really like to eat salmon outright, I made muffins with the remaining salmon, froze them and reheated when my son wanted one. Sneaky way for me to get him to eat protein but no food goes to waste!


I want to hear about your favorite meal "redux" using leftovers. Ragú is sponsoring a giveaway of 3 $100 Amex giftcards just in time for the holidays! Leave a comment with your meal and be entered to win!!!!


Contest open until Friday, November 25th at 10PM EST. 

Celebrating More Birthdays with ACS and Tiny Prints

Last week I ran my fourth 1/2 marathon - it feels funny typing that especially since before last October I'd never run a single one! My exercise and training for these events does help me in my personal journey to better health and studies have shown that regular exercise can help in the prevention of cancer. In both my first race and my last, I not only ran for myself but I also raised money for the fight against cancer. As a member of the American Cancer Society Bloggers Advisory Board I've had the opportunity to see first hand the work that ACS is doing to ensure we have a world with More Birthdays.  And am happy to announce the partnership they now have with Tiny Prints an online stationary boutique. 


You can now purchase the ACS Tiny Prints Collection of More Birthdays cards. I personally really love Tiny Prints and have used them for holiday cards, thank you notes and now birthday cards! The cards are fully customizable and I took the opportunity to create a few cards. The first card I personalized was for my honored hero Melissa. 

I ran the Savannah 1/2 marathon in her honor and wanted to send her a special card to commemorate the event. She is fighting non-Hodgins lymphoma and although it is not her birthday, I want to remind her to celebrate every day as if it is her birthday.  


I also made a card for another girlfriend, her birthday is coming up in December and I choose a third card simply to have on hand for the next time I need a birthday card. There are nine different cards to choose from and 5% of the purchase price goes to the ACS, additionally, if you make a purchase of any type from the ACS page, 12.5% of the proceeds are directed to ACS. 


If you are shopping for holiday cards or specifically birthday cards, choose Tiny Prints and make a difference in the fight against cancer! 


Disclosure: This sponsored post was written in conjunction with the American Cancer Society/Tiny Prints card collection launch. All content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Snow in Atlanta!

Okay, not really! But today Mekhi and I went to Centennial Olympic Park for the kickoff celebration for the "12 Days of Arthur Christmas." We had a ball snow tubing and playing on the snow.

Visitors had a chance to win a prized appointment with the Phipps Santa Claus tomorrow - if you are an Atlanta resident you know appointments with Santa sell out quickly - and guess what? Mekhi will be visiting SANTA for the very first time! Here is a listing of the rest of the free events for the 12 Days of Arthur Christmas - on the final day the movie will be released! 

Day 2, Sunday, November 13, 2011

Exclusive Santa Sightings

Phipps Plaza

Enter-to-win Appointment between 6:00PM-8:00PM

Attend the Snow Celebration at Centennial Park on 11/12 to enter-to-win an appointment with the ultra-exclusive Phipps Plaza Santa which includes a photo and video package.

Day 3, Monday, November 14, 2011

Very Merry Breakfast Benefit

Denny’s Norcross

9:00AM-12:00PM

Bring a donation for Toys For Tots to the Denny’s Norcross restaurant, located at 5534 Jimmy Carter Blvd, to receive a free Grand Slam gift card and Arthur Christmas goodies. Open to the public.

Day 4, Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Sugar & Spice & Storytime’s Nice

Central Library, Downtown Atlanta

10:30AM

Join Arthur Christmas at the Fulton County Central Library, located at One Margaret Mitchell Square in Downtown Atlanta, for storytime with Santa’s milk and cookies. Activities to follow.  Open to the public.

Day 5, Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Arthur’s Reindeer Round Up

Atlantic Station Central Park

3:00PM-6:00PM

Meet Santa’s Reindeer before they depart for the North Pole at Atlantic Station’s Central Park, located at 1380 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, and don’t forget your camera for a free photo op in Santa’s sleigh. Open to the public.

Day 6, Thursday, November 17, 2011

Operation: North Pole Post

Imagine It! Children’s Museum

10:00AM-2:00PM

Arthur’s Letters to Santa Campaign kicks off at the Imagine It! Children Museum, located at 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive Northwest, Atlanta, with activities and giveaways. Visit www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org for more details.

Day 7, Friday, November 18, 2011

Arthur Lights Up Lake Lanier’s Holiday Village

Magical Night of Lights Holiday Village

5:00PM-10:00PM

Join the Arthur Christmas party in Lake Lanier Island’s Holiday Village at the Magical Night of Lights Opening Night Extravaganza to make ornaments and letters to Santa and the chance to win prizes!  Visit www.lakelanierislands.com for more information.

                                       

Day 8, Saturday, November 19, 2011

Grandsanta’s Grand Screening

Regal Mall of Georgia

11:00AM

Calling all grandparents and grandkids!  Grab your favorite ugly sweater and attend a very special screening of Arthur Christmas!  The best sweater will win a GRAND prize. Attend any of the events listed above for opportunities to win passes to this screening at the Regal Mall of Georgia theater, located at 3379 Buford Drive in Buford.

Day 9, Sunday, November 20, 2011

Rock Around the Ice Skating Rink!

Centennial Olympic Park Ice Skating Rink

1:00PM-5:00PM

Arthur Christmas takes over Centennial Park’s Ice Skating Rink with activities, games, photo opportunities and giveaways! Visit www.centennialpark.com for more information.

Day 10, Monday, November 21, 2011

North Pole Portraits

Zoo Atlanta

10:00AM-1:00PM

Discounted tix and free pix in celebration of Arthur Christmas! Receive $3 off general admission to Zoo Atlanta, located at 800 Cherokee Avenue SE , Atlanta, for up to four people with a donation of ONE new toy for Toys for Tots.  And, pose for a free photograph featuring scenes from Arthur Christmas. Visit www.zooatlanta.org/arthur_christmas for more information.

Day 11, Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Arthur’s Ice-Stravaganza!  

Georgia Aquarium

10:00PM-2:00PM

Visit the Georgia Aquarium, located at 225 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, for a North Pole-Palooza! Arthur’s elves will construct his very own Igloo featuring scenes from the film.   Visit www.georgiaaquarium.org for more information.

Day 12, Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Jingle Bell Rock Party!

Arthur Christmas is released in theaters across the country!

Regal Atlantic Station

11:00AM-3:00PM

Join the opening day bash at Regal Atlantic Station, located at 261 19^th Street NW, Atlanta, for ornament decorating, wrapping competitions, prizes for ugly sweaters and more! 

We will be sure to check out more of the events and look forward to seeing Arthur Christmas!

The Pursuit of Healthiness Powered by Social Media Live Chat 1PM

For well over a decade I devoted my professional life to public health. I battled HIV/AIDS here in the United States and lived in South Africa working on the epidemic there and in Zimbabwe. Shortly after my son was born I left my position as State AIDS Director for Georgia, leaving behind a staff of 35 and a budget in excess of $100M because I wanted to focus on my child. I did however continue my public health work, consulting for an early childhood literacy program based called Reach Out and Read based in pediatricians offices. When my contract ended I was blogging with intensity and it seemed natural for my love of public health to continue in the blogging realm. Little did I know at the time that social media would not only help me to raise awareness about important health issues for others but it would help me too.

I've blogged about HIV/AIDS, asthma, cancer, and loudly shared my journey to healthy living on my blog.  Although I am a work in progress, by sharing my experiences I know I can help others. I lost over fifty pounds and chronicled it on my blog - now I find myself up about twenty pounds and I am writing about that too. Being overweight and the health issues that arise as a result of it are pr

Today, I have the wonderful opportunity to share my pursuit of Healthiness utilizing Social Media during A LIVE CHAT on the MOTHERHOOD today at 1 PM. I will be joined by a host of AMAZING LADIES including Karyne Briane of the Red Pump Project, Gina of the Mom's Clean Air Force, Simone I Smith (wife of LL Cool J) and Tonya Lewis Lee of Healthy Baby Begins. I cannot wait to be a part of this chat and hope that you will join us.

The American Cancer Society organized this chat and I am a proud member of their Bloggers Advisory Council. Hope to see you there!

My Fourth Half-Marathon!

There is so much to tell about the Savannah Rock n Roll ½ marathon that I almost don’t know where to start. As many of you know, I ran this race as a member of Team in Training and raised over $1600 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I surpassed my fundraising goal and ran this race in honor of my friend Melissa, a young mother of three who is currently battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Another special aspect of this race was running it with my good friend Lorraine of Run Wifey Runas part of her Race & Relax on the road series. With Race &Relax we were treated like VIPs and the food - outstanding! But I’m getting ahead of myself.We (Lorraine, her sister Nicole and partner Christie) hit this road on Friday morning to Savannah and made it in by 2:15pm.

To read the rest of my race report click HERE

Save the Polar Bears!

You may not remember but a couple of years ago (I can't believe how quickly time flies!) I hosted a radio show called Green & Gorgeous. Jennae and I talked about going green a little at a time. I still am very interested in sustainability, our environment and am working on truly living a green life. When I was invited to the launch of the Arctic Home campaign, a partnership between Coca-Cola and the World Wildlife Federation, I immediately said yes! And I am now a Momma Bear ambassador for the program! 

So, what is the partnership? Well, Coca-Cola is turning its iconic red can white for the very first time in history! 

See the momma bear and her cubs? She will do anything to protect them.

Whenever you see a white can or white top on a bottle, look for the package code, and text 

357357 to make $1 donation to the World Wildlife Federation. 

For every $1 donated, Coca-Cola will match it up to $1 Million! 

You may be wondering why this is important? Well, the Arctic is the only place where polar bears live and the ice there is melting at an alarming rate. At the launch, we saw the preview of the IMAX movie following a mother and her two cubs - where there is usually 50 miles of ice in the arctic, there was only 10 miles leaving her cubs in closer proximity to the male polar bears that prey on them. "The WWF has a vision to help protect the polar bear’s Arctic home. This includes working with local residents to manage an area high in the Arctic where the summer sea ice will likely persist the longest. This area—potentially covering 500,000 square miles—could provide a home for the polar bear while protecting the cultural and economic needs of local people."

If you are not a coke drinker ( truthfully, I am not but I love this campaign and do drink other Coke-Cola products) you can simply donate online at ArcticHome.com  This interactive site is truly amazing and I suggest you check it out even if you choose to donate by text! 

I am honored to be a Momma Bear ambassador, please be on the lookout for more updates from me about this exciting campaign! 



Compensation was provided by Coca-Cola, but Coca-Cola is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this post. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of Coca-Cola.