My husband and I often talk about what’s happening in our world today, and discuss how we can make a difference.  If you remember, I recently expressed how our hearts are broken for the people of Haiti.  Our hearts are also broken for the poor, hungry, and homeless right here in our own community.  There are so many in need, right here…in front of us.

I admire companies that use their influence for something greater.  This year, Pepsi is helping to make great things happen the Pepsi Refresh Project.  Pepsi will give away over $20 million dollars to fund projects that will help make communities better.  But they need and want your ideas.  Does a playground in your area need a makeover so that it’s handicapped accessible?  Does a park need upgrades to make it safer for children?  Does your community library need new computers?  Whatever need you think is important in your community, share it with Pepsi…they want to hear about it.

Every month (beginning today, Februrary 1), you will have the opportunity to submit a project in one of six categories: health, arts & culture, food & shelter, the planet, neighborhood, or education.   At the end of the month, Pepsi will post the top submissions on their website and let the public vote on who should win grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 (totaling up to $1.3 million dollars)

Head on over to the site to submit an idea to be considered for March’s grants or to vote on your favorite submissions (right now you can vote on February’s entries). For more information you can follow the program on Twitter or Facebook.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Pepsi Refresh. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Last week I turned down an opportunity to ride in the Wienermobile (gasp!).  We had some crazy weather here in Southern California with torrential rain, thunderstorms and tornado watches.  As much as it broke my heart to turn down a ride in the famous Wienermobile, I kept the kidlets in.  So why all the hype?  Oscar Mayer kicked off their Good Mood Missions campaign in Los Angeles last week.

Photo Credit: Hotdogger Blog

The wickedly (giggle) famous Kristin Chenoweth was the spokesperson who helped kick off the campaign last week. Good Mood Missions is a charity initiative to turn America’s good moods into 2 million pounds of food for Feeding America.  Feeding America is the country’s leading hunger-relief organization which provides food to 25 million Americans every year. Oscar Mayer jumpstarted the campaign by donating 1 million pounds of food and is now asking America to help match that 1 million pounds for a total goal of 2 million pounds.  All you have to do is answer the question “it doesn’t get better than ______”  on their website.  Every person who shares their “good mood moment” results in more food donations towards their goal.

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I did not receive compensation for this post.

Last year, I had the honor of visiting the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House. This amazing organization keeps families together by providing a “home away from home,” for families who’s children are very sick.

I only just now watched the Golden Globes (which I had recorded on our DVR).  Such is the life of a mama with two little ones.  If you happened to watch it to, you may have remembered watching a commercial starring Lance Kopplin.  Lance Kopplin is a cancer survivor and his family has spent over 200 nights in four different Ronald McDonald Houses across the country.  Lance was diagnosed with cancer at the age of six and given a 0% chance of survival.   Today Lance is ten (and I’m having difficulty writing this because of the tears that are now flowing).  I encourage you to read his entire story on the RMHC site.

McDonalds USA donated the funds to make Lance Kopplin a star.  His commercial aired during the Golden Globes.

There are numerous charitable organizations that you can support.  Maybe because I’m a nurse…or maybe because I’m a mom.  RMHC is one charity that I support and believe in.  For more information, just visit their site, follow them on Twitter, or fan them on Facebook.

I did not receive compensation for this post.

While my time as a Frigidaire Test Drive Mom is officially over, I’ll still have lots to share with you from time to time about the company and the appliances I tested out.  The company has teamed up with Jennifer Garner to support Save the Children’s U.S. Programs, dedicated to helping impoverished children living in the U.S.  If you check out their new Spin & Win game you’ll have an opportunity to win gift cards for spending time with your children and a Frigidaire Affinity washer and dryer.  Frigidaire’s new appliances are designed to give you more time for the important things in your life…such as reading, crafting or watching a movie.

Every time you “spin” to “win,” Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children as part of their $250,000 commitment to support Save the Children’s CHANGE program, dedicated to providing nutritious snacks and promoting healthier lifestyles for impoverished children living in the United States.  So head on over to the site today for your chance to win and make a difference in a child’s life.

In other Frigidaire news, the company announced their new consumer rebate program called “Paid to Upgrade.”  Frigidaire is offering an additional $150 on top of the government’s $3 million Cash for Appliances program when you upgrade your current appliances to select Energy Star appliances.  Frigidaire recently launched 250 new kitchen and laundry appliances with time, money, and energy-saving features.  Their new line of appliances minimize energy and water consumption which is in line with their commitment to a greener world.  Their Energy Star appliances are 10-80% more energy-efficient.  Be sure to visit their website for more information. Here are some energy-saving tips, courtesy of the company:

Are you on Facebook?  If so, 1-800-Flowers.com is doing something pretty amazing.  They are working with Toys for Tots to help donate $5,000 for kids in need.  I’m not a huge Facebook user, but I have used an application here or there.  This is for a great cause.  They have a fun little application called Secret Santa which allows you to send an anonymous message to that special someone in your life.   And…if you want to send a real gift, you’ll receive a promo code for 15% off of a purchase at 1-800-Flowers.com just for using their Facebook Secret Santa application.  

I just sent my message (shhhh!).  On December 21, your recipient will find out who their Secret Santa is!  It’s fun and it’s for a great cause.  And I know many of you are on Facebook right?  So what are you waiting for?  Help 1-800-Flowers.com reach their goal of 10,000 so they can make their donation to Toys for Tots!

Last week I told you about an incredible opportunity I had to learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities.  McDonald’s obviously provides a great deal of support (in every way imaginable) to the RMHC.  However, much in the way of resources is necessary for RMHC to provide the support they do to families and their children.  RMHC relies on donors and volunteers to ensure that families have a place to go when their children are sick.

A few of us had an opportunity to sit down with two of RMHC’s celebrity friends…Billy Bush and Dayanara Torres.  It was neat to be able to spend some time talking to them about how their involvement with RMHC has impacted them and their families.  I realize there are three videos, but they’re not super long.  I think it was neat to hear both of them speak, in a casual environment (we were at McDonald’s of course!)… chatting like we were old friends.  I hope hearing them speak inspires you to get involved.  I know I was…

No parent ever imagines their child will get so sick that they’ll have to be hospitalized.  It’s unnatural.  As a NICU nurse in a large pediatric hospital, it’s assumed that I know about Ronald McDonald House Charities.  It’s not uncommon for parents to have their babies stay in the hospital for extended periods of time…weeks and even months.  I could share many a story of families who have had to travel quite a distance in order for their child to be afforded with the necessary medical care.  The emotional and financial stress this puts on a family who is struggling to cope with a sick child can be very overwhelming.  If there are other children present, the situation becomes even more complicated.

I recently had a very special opportunity to visit the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House. With only a handful of bloggers in attendance, I was honored to be invited to be a part of such an important event.  I want to start by sharing with you the mission of the LA RMH:   “To support the health and well-being of children by providing a ‘home away from home’ for families of seriously ill children who are receiving care in Southern California.”  Simply put, RMHC keeps families together. Family-centered care (where the family is involved and actively participating in the medical care of a patient) has been shown to improve outcomes.  But how can families be involved if they live in another county…or another country?

Such is the case with a mom and her son who have been living at the LA RMH because their home is in Hong Kong.  And by the way, her husband is overseas, working to ensure they are able to survive financially.  Listening to her story was heart-wrenching, but hopeful and inspirational.  As a woman and a mom, I only hope I could be as strong as she is.  Out of gratitude to the people of RMHC, her and her husband decided to give back.  They are raising funds to sponsor a family room at the LA RMH.

I will be completely honest in that my expectations for what I was to see were so greatly underestimated.  I expected simple and clean.  What I found was much more than that.  The LA RMH very much resembles the modernness of a hotel, with an open ambience.  It’s very much a “home away from home” complete with a kitchen, library, and fitness room.  Many companies have donated items to furnish the rooms. One such example is Select Comfort who has been the “Official Bed Provider” for Ronald McDonald House Charities for over 8 years.

I find that it’s important for families to be comfortable…to have the comforts of home while being as close to their children as possible.  The support that these families receive from both RMHC and the other families in the house is incredible.

None of this would be possible without help from people like you and me.  Two of the most important things you can do to support RMHC are to donate and volunteer.  While it costs approximately $125 a night to house one family, RMHC only charges families $25 a night (and if a family is only able to pay some of that, they are not turned away).  The difference must be made up somewhere, in order for RMHC to continue to provide families with this much needed resource.

Tomorrow is McHappy Day.  When you visit your local McDonald’s and purchase select food items, $1 will be donated to the RMHC.  You can also purchase a “hand” for $1 to help with RMHC.

And don’t forget about how important volunteering is.  Much of what goes on in the facility is made possible because people like you and I volunteer our time and services.

Here are some pictures from the event:

We live in a desert!  It feels that way sometimes living in Southern California.  While most of the country was freezing a few weeks ago, my husband, son and I were melting in 100 degree weather at Disneyland.  Needless to say, because the weather is so dry, my skin is always dry.  My hands and feet suffer the most.  As a nurse and a mom to a toddler, I am always washing my hands and using antibacterial gels.  My feet are constantly dry due to my daily open-toed fashion statement.

I have to use moisturizers every day to prevent my hands and feet from cracking.  I recently tried Baobab Body Butter and Sole Solution from Epoch’s line of face and body products made with botanical ingredients derived from renewable sources.  Nu Skin, a company dedicated to providing quality skin care with premium, wholesome ingredients, partnered with the world’s leading ethnobotanists to create the Epoch product line.  Here is a little more information from the site:

Utilizing ancient traditions of indigenous cultures, our Epoch face and body products feature skin beneficial botanical ingredients derived from renewable sources. These tried and trusted ingredients respond to skin concerns in a natural, comforting, and therapeutic way.

The body butter is amazing. I prefer body butters in general because they go on thicker and keep my hands moisturized longer, eliminating the need for frequent re application.  The main ingredients are Shea Butter, Macadamia Nut Oil, and the fruit of the African baobab tree.  The site has a wonderful explanation of how these three ingredients work but in summary, here are the benefits achieved from using this cream:

• Delivers all day moisturization for supple, healthy looking skin.
• Contains high levels of antioxidants.
• Reduces dry skin.
• Promotes softer, smoother, and more toned looking skin.
• Enhances the resiliency of skin over time.
• Conditions naturally with skin beneficial ethnobotanicals.
• Moisturizes skin of all ages.

The cream goes on smooth and greaseless with a light, pleasant scent (which I really can’t identify).  The only way you really know the cream is still on your hands is how soft they feel (and the scent, of course). I find it works really well after working a 12-hour shift in the NICU since my hands are pretty wrecked from washing and antibacterial hand gels.

I was most impressed with Sole Solution.  My incredible husband gives me foot rubs after I work my long days.  But a few weeks back he told me that my feet felt like sandpaper…and they did.  My shoe collection consists primarily of open-toed shoes and heels because we live in Southern California and there is no real need for things like boots. The problem with always wearing open-toed shoes is that my feet suffer, particularly my heels.  I started using Sole Solution a few weeks ago and while I still have a few dry patches, they feel so much softer.  I like that the product addresses the actual problem (dry, cracked feet) as opposed to just covering it up.  It goes on smooth, rubs in well, and has no fragrance.  The main ingredients are Crushed Allspice Berry (Pimenta dioica), Urea, and Papain.  Again, I’ll direct you to the site for further information on those particular ingredients.  In summary, here are the benefits attained from using Sole Solution:

• Works on the underlying cause of rough, dry, and cracked feet, returning them to a soft, smooth, healthy looking condition.
• Delivers noticeable relief in the first few weeks of use.
• Softens and exfoliates dead cell buildup and calluses for soft, smooth skin.
• No added fragrance; naturally fragranced with allspice berry.
• Safety-allergy-dermatologist tested.

Nu Skin donates $.25 from every Epoch product sale to the Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation—a nonprofit organization committed to creating a better world for children by improving human life, continuing indigenous cultures, and protecting fragile environments. If you’re looking for a gift to pamper that special mom in your life, check out the entire face and body collection!

I stay at home with my son 5 days a week and I only wish I could afford to take him to museums, the zoo, and other “fun” places.  It’s interesting because I had a conversation with my pediatrician about this very topic. He assured me that as long as we were spending time together playing, etc. he would develop appropriately…even if I didn’t take him to those “fun” places all the time.  We are very, very fortunate to live in a safe, family-friendly community filled with well-kept parks, a community center, walking trails/paths, and more.  So the park is the best “free” activity that we can do together and it’s within walking distance of our home.  I wish that for every family…a safe playspace for their children that they don’t need a car to get to.  More than that, I believe that playspaces should be clean and well-kept so children have a safe place to play.

From Mom Central:

KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding and creating play spaces within walking distance for every child, has embarked on a nationwide mission to help communities build playspaces.  KaBOOM! believes that play has a purpose and unstructured play in particular helps make children happier, fitter, smarter, more socially adept and creative.

Mom Central has teamed up with KaBOOM! to help map online 100,00 playspaces in 100 days.  A playspace can be a playground, field, skate park, roller hockey rink, lake, dog park, community center, basketball court or ice rink.  The place allow children to engage in unstructured play for free (or a nominal fee).  A playspace listing on the site consists of an address or cross street and a description (a photo and a rating). You can either fill out the form on the site or upload a picture via twitpic.  What a great resource this is going to be for finding playspaces for children when visiting other cities on vacation.

I would recommend that eveyone check out the site and join in this incredible cause.  For every playspace entered into the site’s database, Mom Central will donate $1 to Jumpstart, a non-profit organization that brings at-risk preschool children and caring adults together to improve literacy.

It’s that time again!  For the last three years, Baskin-Robbins has hosted a 31 Cent Scoop Night with proceeds donated to a designated cause or charity.  Next Wednesday April 29 from 5 – 10 p.m, head on over to your local Baskin-Robbins where you’ll be able to purchase 2.5 oz. scoops of ice cream for only 31 cents! Going out for ice cream is a rare treat for us, so we’ll definitely be there!   

This year, Baskin-Robbins is partnering with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and donating $100,000 to support the National Junior Firefighter Program. Many locations will be inviting local firefighters to help scoop ice cream and offer fire safety tips to kids during the event.  

If you’re on Facebook, you can RSVP to the event here.