Moving Comfort Sports Bra Giveaway!

I’m  curious as to how many of you workout?  I try ( in between my mommy routine and toddler demands) to jog on my treadmill for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.  I know that it’s important during my activity to give my breasts the proper support to avoid discomfort and damage.  Without the appropriate support the breast’s delicate outer skin and the Coopers ligaments (connective tissues) can stretch and cause PERMANENT sagging!  Who needs that?  Yikes!

It is essential to wear the  correct fitting sports bra during exercise to minimize breast movement.  A good sports bra should hold the breasts against the chest wall to restrict motion (compression) and/or the bra should be constructed to surround and support the breasts (encapsulation).

Not all sports bras are created equal,  so it is important to find one that is supremely made from a trusted leading company such as Moving Comfort.

Moving Comfort is a business dedicated to making garments only for women.  For over 30 years they have been providing women with their technically high quality athletic apparel such as women’s fitness tops, sports bras, and fitness accessories. They inspire and encourage woman to get fit, stay healthy, and to never feel limited by anything.

Moving Comfort believes a  sports bra  is  the most important piece of equipment  an active  woman can have in her fitness wardrobe.  This is why their sports bras are comfortable, made with special DriLayer fabric to manage any moisture, and provide superior support.

Regardless  if your an A or E cup, you more than likely will find a bra that suits your body and desired style.  Check out the Chloe bra with the Racer Back…

We approached this bra like architects, constructing it with strategically placed bonded areas and powermesh for both form and function: great support that also flatters your natural shape. The smooth, unique fabric is ultra-lightweight. Cross-back straps for full range of chafe-free arm movement and stability.

or the Moving Comfort Grace Bra with the front closure…

Like a great friend, the Grace offers unconditional support. Our C/D style features a powermesh back liner for enhanced support, along with a discreet front zipper with a generous flap that prevents chafing, soft front lining for rapid moisture transfer, a Coolmax® mesh back for added breathability and ventilation, and a racer-back cut for full range of arm movement and strap stability.

“A Fit Woman is a Powerful Woman
Spread the word!”

“Moving Comfort is dedicated to supporting women of all ages in their active pursuits. Through our Support Your Girls initiative, we partner with like-minded non-profits committed to educating women and young girls on the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise, nutritious eating habits and proper breast health examination.

To launch our Support Your Girls program, we are selling these fabulous cotton/spandex T-shirt’s online and at various FLEET FEET locations across the country to help spread the word. With the sale of this Support Your Girls T, Moving Comfort will donate 33% of the proceeds to Girls in the Game®.

The mission of Girls in the Game is to provide and promote sports and fitness opportunities, nutrition and health education and leadership development to enhance the overall health and well being of girls aged six to eighteen. Girls in the Game encourages girls of all abilities to get in the game–any game–in an all-girl setting where girls are empowered to find their voices, explore new physical activities and support one another. After one year in the after school program, girls eat healthier, exercise more, have a healthier body image and have better social skills than their peers. These positive habits mean a healthy body and a bright future for Girls in the Game girls.”

WIN WIN WIN!

Moving Comfort has generously offered one A happy hippy Mom reader a choice of one of their fantastic sports bras!  To enter check out the Moving Comfort Sports Bras and come back here to leave me a comment on which one you would select if you were chosen as the winner.  You might also want to visit the helpful Sports Bra Finder to determine your correct size.

Extra Entries

1.Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to Moving Comfort and this post.  Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. YOU CAN TWEET ONCE PER DAY TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

6. Stumble, Digg, or Technorati this post and leave me TWO extra comments. ( At the bottom of this post you should see a bookmark button to make this an easy option.)

7.  Please make a simple comment on my Blog It Forward To Fight Hunger post and earn 5 extra entries!  Make sure to come back here after you comment to add your entries!

8.  Enter any of my other giveaways.  Leave me a comment telling me which giveaway you entered.

OPEN TO US

Blog It Forward To Help Fight Hunger

I have been blessed with the finest group of readers.   You are kind, compassionate, and motivated to helping others in need.  I’ve seen you pull together and accomplish tasks that seemed nearly impossible.  With your strong dedication and perseverance you have made a positive difference in the lives of others.  I’m hoping today you can once again come together and join ShopRite Partners In Caring,  along with me,  in the fight against hunger.

Facts about hunger in America.

Did you know that more than 36 million Americans suffer from food insecurity?  What is food insecurity?  Food insecurity is  when you lack the economic means to enough safe, nutritious foods, and  you are unsure when or what your next meal will be.  Sadly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that approximately 11 percent of U.S. households are food insecure, and nearly one-third of these families are experiencing moderate to severe hunger.  The statistics show a shocking 12 million children are growing up hungry and 2 million seniors endure the pain of food insecurity.   The figures breakdown to one out of every eight Americans went hungry some time in the previous 12 months.  Look around you! This could even be a family member, friend, neighbor or co-worker affected by hunger.  How can this be going on in America?

ShopRite compiled a list of statewide food insecurity rates within their area.

New Jersey – 7.7%
Delaware – 7.8%
Maryland – 9.5%
Connecticut – 8.6%
Pennsylvania – 10%
New York – 9.8%

Complications of hunger.

A growing child is most vulnerable to the devastating complications of hunger.  Children who do not receive the adequate nutrients their little bodies require suffer from weekend immune systems making them more acceptable to diseases.  They may develop cognitive  and behavioral problems such as irritability, fatigue, and young children might possibly show difficulty in concentration.  Further complications result in a slow or unusual development in areas such as speaking, behavior, or movement.  It has also been proven that teenagers are not exempt to the ill affects of hunger and will display signs of depression.

ShopRite Partners In Caring

The good news is that the ShopRite organization recognized the widespread problem of hunger experienced by families in the neighborhoods served by their stores.  For more than 20 years ShopRite has been helping to fight the problem of hunger through it’s support of the Feeding America Network and  by direct participation in the Checkout Hunger Program.

In 1999 ShopRite felt the need to do more to fight the growing battle of hunger.  They realized hunger was a year-round problem and began their community based hunger fighting program called the ShopRite Partners In Caring.  With the support of over 50 generous manufactures, the successful program has  helped feed and meet the nutritional needs of the families and elderly who otherwise may have gone without food.

Currently, the ShopRite Partners In Caring program supports 23 regional food banks and more than 1,400 charitable agencies with food or meal items.   The program has generated over $20 million in donations since 1999 in the fight against hunger.

How it works.

Companies that joined ShopRite in the fight against hunger have their products specially marked in stores with the ShopRite Partners In Caring shelf label (see label above).  Every time you purchase one of the items marked with the special tag you help support the manufactures who contribute to the program.

The list of brands with the ShopRite Partners In Caring shelf label can be found here.

“Each of the 217 ShopRite grocery stores  in the six states that ShopRite serves (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland) selects qualified local organizations to benefit from the program. These local food charities use their designated funds to acquire supplies at a food bank.”

The ShopRite Partners In Caring donations contribute to a large variety of organizations with feeding capabilities including emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, child care centers, battered women’s shelters, senior programs, drug rehab centers, programs for the mentally and physically disabled, after school programs and more!

Getting Involved

Getting involved in the fight against food hunger and food insecurity is easier than you might think.  Did you know a small donation of $1 can purchase 10 pounds of food from a food bank?  Amazing!

Other ideas (borrowed from ShopRite) on how  you can actively fight against hunger are…

Send a tax-deductible donation to the ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund:
ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund
c/o Consumer and Corporate Affairs
P7-103 Wakefern Food Corp.
PO Box 7812
Edison NJ 08818-7812

Contribute to the annual Check Out Hunger program at participating ShopRite stores by asking your cashier for a $1, $3 or $5 donation tag at check-out; your contribution will be added to your grocery bill.

Support local charities by contributing to their fundraisers, or help organize a fundraiser in your neighborhood or at work (where permitted). In addition to the money you can raise, talking to people you know about hunger helps raise awareness of the issue and involve them in the effort to address it.

Contact your elected officials to find out what is being done about hunger and poverty in your community and encourage them to support policies that help the needy and the organizations and agencies that help them.

Write a “letter to the editor” of your local newspaper about hunger in your community and encouraging others to support community programs.

Volunteer at a food bank or food pantry, soup kitchen or other charity in your community, helping them to help others in your community. Invite your friends and family, co-workers, members of your religious congregation, or clubs to which you belong, to join you.

Talk to your children about the effects of hunger on other children in your community and encourage them to get involved. Volunteering together is a great way to teach them about the importance of helping others and make them more likely to remain involved in service as adults.

Get to know a family or individual in your community who may be experiencing food insecurity, and find out how you can help. It may be by preparing a meal once a week or twice a month, or helping them find an agency or organization appropriate to their situation that can address long-term needs.

How you can help right now by making a simple comment!

Since the beginning of the ShopRite Partners In Caring Program in 1999, General Mills has been one of the program’s most supportive vendor partners and their steadfast fight against hunger continues today.

General Mills and ShopRite will donate one box of  Cheerios to a food bank in ShopRite’s trading area for the first 30 people who comment on this post!  If you would like to help someone in need,  leave a comment telling me you would like to join the fight against hunger.   Very simple but effective!  To help even further and become a “hunger-fighting hero” spread the word about the ShopRite Partners In Caring program and the fight against hunger and raise awareness through the power of blogging!

Statistics facts reported by Feeding America

Amazon Kindle & The Seven Rays Giveaway!

SheKnows is currently having a giveaway for an Amazon Kindle pre-loaded with the first chapter of The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger!  This is Jessica’s FIRST teen novel and you can download a free sneak peek of chapter one at www.thesevenrays.com.

Who is Jessica Bendinger?

Jessica Bendinger is an acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter who launched onto the scene with her number one box hit Bring It On.  You might also recognize her name from Glamour Magazine which featured her on the  “Hollywoods Most Powerful Women Under 40″  list.  Bendinger, a former journalist for Spin Magazine and MTV News, was a writer for Season Four of Sex And The City,  and she recently wrote plus directed the teen gymnastics hit Stick It.

The Seven Rays synopsis…

The Seven Rays
Written by Jessica Bendinger

When seventeen year-old honors student Beth Michaels starts receiving gold envelopes with messages like, YOU ARE MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE, she thinks that a crazy person might be stalking her. When she begins seeing people’s thoughts, feelings, and personal histories on their electromagnetic fields, she thinks that she might be a crazy person. And then when the hottest boy in town, Richie Mac, kisses and becomes obsessed with her, she knows that something’s up.

But she can deal with all of that until her mom gets freaked out by her erratic behavior and sends her to a psychiatric institute for observation. It is here where Beth finds out that she was adopted under mysterious circumstances and perhaps has supernatural powers. Now all she has to do is break out of the ward – with Richie’s help – and road trip to New York to discover who she really is and why all this is happening to her…

Is it possible that Beth might be more than she thinks she is?

The Sevens Rays is a paranormal coming-of-age story that delves into love, friendship, family and the supernatural.

Jessica Bendinger is an acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter. She launched onto the scene with her original script Bring it On, which debuted at #1 in the box office. Bendinger was also a writer on the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning Season Four of Sex in the City. Her other screenwriting credits include The Truth about Charlie, First Daughter and Aquamarine. Most recently, she wrote and directed the teen gymnastics hit Stick It. Jessica currently lives in Los Angeles with her two dogs.

THE SEVEN RAYS
By Jessica Bendinger
$16.99
ISBN: 9781416938392
November 24, 2009
Ages 14 and up
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

To enter the SheKnows Amazon Kindle & The Seven Rays Giveaway click here.

The Sweepstakes ends on August 23, 2009 at 11:59 p.

Simple Green Naturals Review and Giveaway- Safe For The Environment But Tough On Dirt!

Even though Sunshine Makers, Inc.,  the manufacturer of  Simple Green,  has been making environmentally safe cleaning products for over thirty years—-I’ve never tried them.  I’ve seen their ads in Good Housekeeping and their cleaners displayed on shelves at Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, and  numerous hardware stores, but over looked them until a few weeks ago.

I become curious when I saw their new line of Simple Green Naturals household cleaning products and contacted the company to request a sample.  I wanted to test their effectiveness compared to other non green brands and their green competition.  I am all about preserving the environment and keeping my family healthy and safe, but if a green product doesn’t work then it’s like throwing your money in the wind.  Well much to my surprise,  the Simple Green team sent me the WHOLE line of Simple Green Naturals household cleaning products to try! WOW!

The Simple Green Naturals contain pure naturally derived ingredients.  The products do not consist of  any synthetic preservatives, colorants, or fragrances.  The ingredients are completely made up from  bio-organics such as chicory, coconut, corn, palm, minerals, salt, and sugars.  The fresh scent in the cleaners are arising out of 100% natural essential oils and plant extracts manufactured in compliance with the stringent regulations of the International Fragrance Association,  ensuring your skin does not become over sensitive by coming in contact with the products.  Furthermore,  Simple Green Naturals are free of animal or animal derived ingredients and are never tested on any cute fury animals.

All this sounds wonderful but do they actually work?

Over the weekend I went on a dirt busting, grime scrubbing, crumb wiping,  floor mopping, scum fighting, dish-washing, and carpet spot removal cleaning fest.  From the bottom of my home to the top was examined for dirt and sprayed down with the Simple Green Naturals cleaning solutions.

Here are the products  I used during my mad cleaning adventure and their descriptions.

Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care

Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care Free & Clear is a very effective and easy to use product for spot cleaning all colorfast and washable carpet, rugs and upholstery. This product is easy to use and fast acting. Simply remove any gross soils from your carpet or upholstered surface, spray Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care directly onto the soiled area. Allow to penetrate the soil for a few minutes, agitate lightly, and blot the spot with a clean, damp towel. You may want to repeat the application on heavier stains in order to completely remove the stain. After cleaning, allow the area to dry completely before vacuuming and then resume traffic. The ingredients in Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care Free & Clear are 100% naturally sourced and sustainable and there is no added scent or color. Simple Green Natural Carpet Care is water based. It contains a non-chlorine oxidizer that breaks down and oxidizes proteins such as food soils, vomit and pet stains. The preservative is derived from chicory root and keeps the product fresh and longer lasting. A plant based surfactant derived from the kernel of palm seeds penetrates oily soils. A mineral based alkali builder increases the alkalinity of the product which counteracts oily and organic soils which are mostly acidic. The packaging of this Naturals product is 25% or more post-consumer content, recyclable PET plastic, and the label is printed with soy based ink. Full ingredient disclosure is right on the label. Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care Free & Clear has never been tested on animals.

Simple Green Naturals Liquid Hand Soap

Simple Green Naturals Liquid Hand Soap is an effective cleaner and gentle to the skin as well. Its easy to use and will not strip the skins natural oils, making it perfect for every day hand washing. The ingredients in Simple Green Naturals Liquid Hand Soap are 100% naturally sourced, and sustainable. Simple Green Naturals Liquid Hand Soap is water based. It contains a plant-derived surfactant to penetrate greasy soils. Plant-based emulsifiers put the oily soils into solution with water so that they are rinsed off rather than re-deposited onto the hands being cleaned. A sugar-based acid works to remove alkaline soils. Basil, sage, clary sage, rosemary and orange oils provide a fresh scent without phthalates. The packaging of this Naturals product is 25% or more post-consumer content, recyclable PET plastic, and the label is printed with soy based ink. Full ingredient disclosure is right on the label. Simple Green Naturals Liquid Hand Soap has never been tested on animals.

Simple Green Naturals Dish Washing Liquid

Simple Green Naturals Dish Washing Liquid is strong enough to hand wash even the grimiest pots & pans, but gentle on the skin. This product has an appealing fresh citrus scent and just a few squirts provide cleaning for a sink full of dishes. The ingredients in Simple Green Naturals Dish Washing Liquid are 100% naturally sourced, and sustainable. Simple Green Naturals Dish Washing Liquid is water based. It contains coconut derived surfactants that penetrate greasy soil and cut through fats. Coconut-derived emulsifiers and a fermentation of grain sugar solvent put greasy and fatty soils into a solution with the water. A coconut derived sequestrant breaks the bond of soil with surfaces. A sugar based acid helps to remove alkaline soils. The product is thickened by a neutral mineral salt. The natural scent is a combination of extracts and essential oils of grapefruit and eucalyptus with no phthalates. The packaging of this Naturals product is 25% or more post-consumer content, recyclable PET plastic, and the label is printed with soy-based ink. Full ingredient disclosure is right on the label. Simple Green Naturals Dish Washing Liquid has never been tested on animals.

Simple Green Naturals Glass and Surface Care

Simple Green Naturals Glass & Surface Care is effective for use on glass and reflective surfaces. It is easy to use. This ready-to-use glass cleaner can be simply sprayed onto a glass, reflective or other hard surface and wiped clean with a lint free paper towel, a non-abrasive lint free cloth or clean microfiber cloth. This product will provide the best results when used on a cool surface. The ingredients in Simple Green Naturals Glass & Surface Care are 100% naturally sourced and sustainable. Simple Green Naturals Glass & Surface Care is water based. It contains plant-based surfactants that penetrate oily soils such as air pollutants, tobacco tars, auto smog, fireplace & candle soot. It contains corn and coconut-derived sequestrants that break the bond of the soils with the non porous surfaces. The scent is a combination of rosemary, spearmint, grapefruit and orange oils, providing a fresh scent with no phthalates. The packaging of this Naturals product is 25% or more post-consumer content, recyclable PET plastic, and the label is printed with soy-based ink. Full ingredient disclosure is right on the label. Simple Green Naturals Glass & Surface Care has never been tested on animals.

Simple Green Naturals Multi-Surface Care

Simple Green Naturals Multi-Surface Care is designed for cleaning hard surfaces such as counter-tops, tables, walls, fixtures and appliances. This product is easy to use. Simply spray onto the hard surface you want to clean, scrub lightly if necessary and wipe with a clean damp sponge, cloth or microfiber. The ingredients in Simple Green Naturals Multi-Surface Care are 100% naturally sourced and sustainable. Simple Green Naturals Multi-Surface Care is water based. It contains plant based surfactants that penetrate oily soils. An alkaline mineral builder increases the alkalinity of the formula so that it works better at removing organic soils such as food and oils. It also contains a preservative derived from chicory root that keeps the ingredients fresh and longer-lasting. The scent comes from extracts and essential oils of lemongrass, citrus, tonka resin, armoise essence, bois de rose, citral, litsea cubeba, geraniol palmrose, lavender, rosemary, thyme and soybean oils that provide a fresh scent without phthalates. The packaging of this Naturals product is 25% or more post-consumer content, recyclable PET plastic, and the label is printed with soy based ink. Full ingredient disclosure is right on the label. Simple Green Multi-Surface Care has never been tested on animals.

Simple Green Naturals Bathroom Cleaner

Simple Green Naturals Bathroom Cleaner is designed for use on soils such as water borne minerals and soap scum that are commonly found in the tub, toilet and sink. The product is easy to use. Simply spray, mop or wipe onto a surface and scrub if necessary. For best results, rinse or damp wipe with clean water. The ingredients in Simple Green Naturals Bathroom Cleaner are 100% naturally sourced and sustainable. Simple Green Naturals Bathroom Cleaner is water based. It contains a sugar-based acid that works to remove alkaline soils typically found in bathrooms. It also contains plant based surfactants, which penetrate oily soils such as body oils, lotion and other bath oils that mix with soaps and minerals to produce soap scum. The scent is derived from pure extract and essential oils of rosemary, spearmint, grapefruit and orange which provide a fresh scent with no phthalates. The packaging of this Naturals product is 25% or more post-consumer content, recyclable PET plastic, and the label is printed with soy based ink. Full ingredient disclosure is right on the label. Simple Green Naturals Bathroom Cleaner has never been tested on animals.

Simple Green Naturals Floor Care

Simple Green Naturals Floor Care is designed for safe and effective cleaning of all types of flooring including laminate, porcelain tile, slate, finished wood, linoleum and more. This product is easy to use. You can simply spray onto sections of the floor and damp mop up, or wipe up with a microfiber pad. For best results always go over with a clean water damp mop or pad. This will insure a thoroughly clean and streak free finish. The ingredients in Simple Green Naturals Floor Care are 100% naturally sourced and sustainable. Simple Green Naturals Floor Care is water based. It contains a sugar-based acid which bonds with alkaline soils to remove them from the surfaces upon which they were previously bonded. A plant-based foaming agent provides agitation and also has a detergent-like cleaning ability. The sugar derived alkalizer provides alkalinity in the formula to counteract and aid in the removal of acidic soils. It does not interact with the sugar-based acid in the formula. This creates a floor cleaning product that handles a wider variety of soils. This is appropriate for floors where both alkaline and acidic soils commonly occur. It also contains a plant based surfactant that penetrates oily soils. The scent is derived from extracts and essential oils of fir, Valencia orange, patchouli, rosemary, and amyris oils and oakmoss, providing a fresh scent without synthetic chemicals or carcinogenic phthalates. The packaging of this Naturals product is 25% or more post-consumer content, recyclable PET plastic, and the label is printed with soy based ink. Full ingredient disclosure is right on the label. Simple Green Naturals Floor Care has never been tested on animals.

I know this review is wordy, but at the end of it your going to have the opportunity to win the whole Simple Green Naturals household cleaning products line,  so please stick with me a few more minutes!

What I am about to tell you might sound disgusting,  nevertheless it’s true and part of being a mom to a toddler who is unpredictable.  I was in Walmart shopping for my daughters bedroom decor (hint..big surprise for you in a few weeks) and my son was playing around  in the cart.   He suddenly turned to look at my hubby and projectile vomited all over himself plus his car carrier.  I was worried and mortified all at the same time.  I hurried out of the store, rushed him home and gave him a bath.  He was fine,  but his carrier was a smelly gross MESS.  I removed the fabric and padding, through it in the wash and proceeded to clean the car seat carrier frame with the Simple Green Naturals Dish Washing Liquid.   The dishwashing liquid cut the potent odor and cleaned the carrier back to its original condition—-impressive!

I also tested the Simple Green Naturals Dish Washing Liquid on pots, greasy pans, and plates.  It makes more suds than other green brands I have used, leaves the dishes clean, has a pleasant scent, and was gentle on my hands.  I would say it most certainly works!

How did the other Simple Green Naturals perform?

• The Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care removed a small mud  and juice spot on my rug.

• The Simple Green Naturals Liquid Hand Soap left my hands feeling clean,  but was gentle.

• The Simple Green Naturals Multi-Surface Care worked wonderfully on my counter-tops and appliances.   I also used it to wipe down dirty fingerprints on my walls.

• The Simple Green Naturals Bathroom Cleaner cleaned the soap residue off my bathtub, worked great on my toilets, and did not over power me with a harsh scent like other scum removers.

• The Simple Green Naturals Glass & Surface Care cleaned my windows and mirrors without leaving streaks.

• The Simple Green Naturals Floor Care was used on my laminate kitchen floor and hardwood floors.  It cleaned the floors without leaving any tacky residue or greasy film  behind.  It gave a nice streak free finish and freshened the room with a mild spruce scent.  This was my favorite product!

I will be incorporating all the Simple Green Naturals household cleaners in my cleaning routine.  They are effective, eco-friendly, and reasonably priced. I recommend the products to anyone who desires  green cleaning solutions to demolish dirt, is environmentally self conscious,  and concerned with the health and safety of their families.

Information about the EGBAR Foundation.

In 1989, Bruce FaBrizio and Simple Green founded the EGBAR Foundation. EGBAR is an acronym for Everything’s Gonna Be All Right. The foundation is funded by a percentage of Simple Green sales, which goes toward a national education curriculum that teaches children about the environment and how to care for it. Funds also support community clean-up projects, and most recently, partnerships with The Catalina Island Conservancy and The SEA Lab. These partners also focus on improving children’s understandings of environmental issues and supports actions toward improving the environment around us. With the support of Simple Green, as well as the generous donations from people all over the world, the EGBAR Foundation is making a difference by teaching everyone to “Think Globally, Act Locally.”

“Save money with a Simple Green Coupon” …go here

(product description quoted from Amazon.com)

WIN WIN WIN

One A happy hippy Mom reader is going to win the WHOLE product line of the Simple Green Naturals household cleaners!  To enter visit Simple Green, come back here and leave me a comment with something you learned about the company or products.  Please do this first before any extra entries.

Extra Entries

1.Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to Simple Green and this post.  Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. YOU CAN TWEET ONCE PER DAY TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

6. Stumble, Digg, or Technorati this post and leave me TWO extra comments. ( At the bottom of this post you should see a bookmark button to make this an easy option.)

7. JUST ADDED!  Please make a simple comment on my Blog It Forward To Fight Hunger post and earn 5 extra entries!  Make sure to come back here after you comment to add your entries!

OPEN TO US

The winner must provide a street address, no PO
Boxes,  for prize to be shipped.

SOLEMATE Master the Art of Aloneness & Transform Your Life by Lauren Mackler Giveaway!

Book Overview ( www.laurenmackler.com)

Many people spend years waiting for an ideal partner—a “soul mate” to make them feel happy and complete. Others settle for unfulfilling relationships out of a deep–seated fear of being alone. In Solemate, Lauren Mackler provides a groundbreaking road map for achieving mastery of your own life so you can experience a sense of wholeness and well-being whether you’re on your own or in a relationship. It’s about becoming the person you were meant to be, treating yourself well, and shedding the old beliefs and behaviors that limit your ability to realize your greatest potential.

Drawing from her own experiences; those of her clients; and the fields of psychology, physiology, sociology, holistic healing, and strategic business practices, Lauren has developed a unique program for reclaiming your innate wholeness. This gradual, step–by–step process involves understanding where your self–defeating patterns come from and how to move beyond them. She helps you uncover and retrieve your authentic self—who you really are beneath the layers of life conditioning. This program will help you live in a more conscious and deliberate way and align your actions with the results you want in your life.

A renowned coach, workshop facilitator, and keynote speaker, Lauren guides you through a process that, until now, has only been available through her coaching programs and Mastering the Art of Aloneness workshops. Through quizzes, exercises, and guided journaling, she helps you:

* Identify the limiting beliefs, fears, and behaviors that keep you from feeling whole and happy
* Learn to override these habitual patterns and manage your fears
* Uncover your authentic self
* Create a life vision and action plan to help you achieve any goal you set for yourself, and
* Build inner and outer support systems that help you bring your vision to life

Solemate is about mastering the art of aloneness. But it’s not about being alone. It’s a book for people who want to enhance the quality of their lives by improving their relationships with themselves and with others. Solemate gives you the tools you need to develop the self-awareness, life skills, and emotional intelligence to live a full, happy, successful, and financially secure life—with or without a partner.

I was under the impression the whole key to life was to find a partner to share my journey and the search for happiness started at a young age.   We learn from classic folk tales like Cinderella,  who was a young girl living in unfavorable circumstances and was whisked away by a handsome prince to live happily ever after,  we won’t be fulfilled unless we also find our prince charming or princess.  What about the 95.7 million single adults who go through life alone?  Are they all doomed to live a bleak meaningless life?

Bestselling author Lauren Mackler, a 25 year psychotherapist and renowned life coach, offers a fresh perspective that aloneness is not to be feared in her new book Solemate.    Through her unique program,  she teaches how to achieve a sense of feeling complete on your own and finding happiness within yourself.

I have only had a chance to thumb through Solemate, but what I have read has been fascinating.  Mackler’s own personal experience grabs you and pulls you into wanting to read more.   After being married for 14 years,  she  finds herself companion-less following a divorce  in Germany with a 9 year old boy and an 11 year old girl to raise on her own without any means of taking care of them or herself!

If you would like to learn more about Lauren Mackler click here.

You can also listen to Lauren on the weekly Life Keys radio show, every Thursday from 1-2 pm ET on www.hayhouseradio.com.

You can purchase a copy of Solemate here.

Win Win Win

I was generously  given a copy of Solemate to give to one A happy hippy Mom reader.  To enter to win the book,  leave me a comment explaining why you would like to win Solemate.

EXTRA ENTRIES

1.Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to  this post.   Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. YOU CAN TWEET ONCE PER DAY TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

6. Stumble, Digg, or Technorati this post and leave me TWO extra comments. ( At the bottom of this post you should see a bookmark button to make this an easy option.)

A Thousand Words Thursday – Nature’s Beauty

Happy Thousand Words Thursday!

Pictures were taken by my daughter Kylie who loves the beauty of nature and the giant fur-ball that is stuck to her bed.

$150 Tupperware Package Giveaway

Did you get the chance to read my earlier post about Tupperware’s Chain of Confidence Challenge Contest?  The contest is about nominating a person who has encouraged you to be more confident.  Maybe it was your mom, dad, sibling, best friend, teacher, co-worker, or a Tupperware consultant that empowered you through their act of kindness.

Would you like to pay a special tribute to the person who made a positive difference in your life?  Go to www.chainofconfidence.com and share your personal story of inspiration and you might even win $5000 to pass onto your favorite charity.  In addition,  if you have the winning story,  your nominee and you will receive a $1000 Tupperware gift certificate.  Also, after submitting your essay you can enter my giveaway to win $150 worth of Tupperware products!

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY ON HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN THE TUPPERWARE PRODUCTS VALUED AT $150.

GIVEAWAY

One A happy hippy Mom reader will win Tupperware goodies valued at $150 which include Impression Tumblers, Ideal Bowl Sets, Rectangular Modular Mates and TupperLiving microfiber dishcloth set, plus the kitchen towel set.

AFTER you have submitted your essay at www.chainofconfidence.com per the rules,  come back here and leave me a comment WITH a link to your essay.  If you have ANY questions on how to get the link email me and I will help you.  This is  mandatory in order for a valid entry.  The sponsor can only give the prize to someone who has entered the Chain of Confidence Challenge on the website and I have to be able to check that you did.

Extra Entries

1.Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to the giveaway and Tupperware’s Chain of Confidence Challenge Contest.  Leave an additional comment with a link to your post. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. YOU CAN TWEET ONCE PER DAY TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

6. Stumble, Digg, or Technorati this post and leave me TWO extra comments. ( At the bottom of this post you should see a bookmark button to make this an easy option.)

Help Save Trees By Sending Free Ecards

Approximately a whopping 4 billion trees worldwide are cut down per year for making paper.  Why not save some trees and yourself some money by sending free ecards?

GotFreeCards.com has a card just about for every occasion!  If your looking for free birthday ecards, traditional holiday ecards,  thank you ecards, sorry ecards, missing you ecards, congratulations ecards, and more—-they have it!  You can even find special-topic  ecards such as their Indian focused greetings to help celebrate Baisakhi, Holi, Durga Puja, Poila Baisakh, and Diwali.

The best part is the ecard you send can be completely unique.  Add your own personal touch showing how much you care by adding a heartfelt  photo,  attach some music, or upload a voice message for even a more personalized greeting.

Unlike some other free online greeting card companies, GotFreeCards.com does not require any registration, so you can send an ecard faster and you won’t receive unwanted emails from the company.  Furthermore, Got Free Cards guarantees your information to remain private and will never sell your email address to third-party vendors.  Your email address and recipient’s is only collected for the purpose of sending the ecards.

If you must send a card by actual snail mail they also have free printable cards. You can design and create your own card and print it out in the convenience of your own home to send to your loved ones.  I noticed they even have cute printable Back To School cards which will come in handy in a few months!

The next time you need to send a card, reduce your environmental impact and save yourself some money by sending a free ecard at GotFreeCards.com.

(Tree statistic quoted from ecology.com)

”I am participating in “Jump Start Your Blog Contest”  sponsored by got-free-ecards and momdot.

Heroic Measures -Free Book Download

Oprah.com  is offering members a free download of the new novel Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment.  The book is on Oprah’s 25 Books You Can’t Put Down list and can be downloaded now until 10:59 a.m. ET Wednesday July 22, 2009.

More about the novel from Publishers weekly

Ciment’s spare and surprisingly gripping novel details one long weekend in the life of Ruth and Alex Cohen, an elderly New York couple hoping to sell their East Village apartment of 45 years. Ruth is a retired teacher and Chekhov devotee, and Alex is an artist, currently adding colorful illuminations to the couples’ old FBI files. As they ready for an open house, a gas tanker truck gets stuck in the Midtown tunnel, seizing the city with gridlock and fear of a terrorist attack. (In scenes that border on parody, the local news adopts a Danger in the Tunnel graphic and runs viewer polls about whether terrorists take drugs.) Meanwhile, the Cohens’ beloved dachshund, Dorothy, falls ill and has to be taken to an uptown animal hospital. As the real estate market swings in response to the news about the tanker, the Cohens wait for news about their dog and confront the reality of leaving their home. Ciment plays the veterinary, real estate and domestic details like elements of a thriller plot, while the couple’s love of their dog provides heartrending texture—literature with commercial crossover.

To download your free book click here.

How to Instantly Connect with Anyone – 96 All-New Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships By Leil Lowndes

Author:  Leil Lowndes
Publisher:  McGraw Hill Professional, 2009
Length:  336 pages

Book Overview From Publisher

Meet new people and converse with confidence.
Be credible and charismatic in every social and business situation.
Make friends and important contacts wherever you go.
Command the respect of everyone you meet.

You know who they are. They’re the people who, regardless of money, education, looks, or personality, make an impression wherever they go. They are master communicators, and everyone enjoys talking to them. How to Develop Great People Skills shows you how to be one of those lucky few.

Communication guru Leil Lowndes arms you with ninety-six all-new, cutting edge, research-based communications techniques for success in life, love, and business. You will smash the invisible glass ceiling that keeps many people down both personally and professionally. Your new weapon is a neurologically and psychologically sound concept called “Emotional Prediction,” or E.P. Leil Lowndes explains the power of EP and shows you how to harness it through deceptively simple methods to reach greater success in all of your relationships.

How is it that two men can be born into families of the same socioeconomic status, attend the same schools, and are equally intelligent, but one man ends up a successful CEO and the other has trouble making enough money to live? Is it karma, luck, or perhaps inside connections? Leil Lowndes, a master communications expert and best selling author of How to Talk to Anyone, would say the CEO displays “Emotional Prediction.”

What is Emotional Prediction?

Lowndes believes Emotion prediction is the secret to instantly connecting with others. It is the ability to be able to anticipate another person’s feelings by placing yourself in their shoes.

Examples of Emotional Prediction

A potential employer is meeting you around the close of business. Acknowledging that you appreciate their time at the end of what may be a long work day will make an instant connection.

Even though you have the instructions committed to memory, making an effort to take down notes anyway will make your boss feel more secure about you-another instant connection.

Introducing “Steve, my assistant,” is more emphatic, personable, and warm, than “my assistant Steve.”

In How to Instantly Connect With Anyone, Leil Lowndes gives 96 little tricks on how to break the ice, put yourself at ease, make a first and lasting impression, and become a people magnet. You will learn the art of being more confident in social gatherings and make a positive impact by applying her Emotional Prediction techniques.

I found myself laughing and identifying with some of the uncomfortable situations the author found herself in and how she escaped a not so pleasant experience while remaining to look dignified by using her E.P methods. One of my favorite little tricks is #57. This trick helps you break away from a bore who likes to talk your ear off without hurting their feelings. I’m sure some of you out there can relate with trying to avoid that one acquaintance who keeps you in a conversation longer than you would like and away from important work.

Little Trick #57

Walk Away Slowly, Then Let Them See You Sprint.

A quick review on how to escape a bore in five easy steps.

1. Wave enthusiastically when you first spot her.
2. Stop and chat, unrushed, for forty-five seconds.
3. Look at your watch and act disappointed.
4. Walk slowly away.
5. After a few yards, break into a sprint and run like hell.

Now she feels valued, you retain her respect, and it didn’t take any longer than the insulting white rabbit break dance.

Here is how to get sweet freedom while still leaving the bore admiring you.

Leil recommends you yak it up for forty five-seconds which is the minimum time to qualify as a genuine conversation,  and posses a laid back demeanor. Then look at your watch and explain how you are late for a meeting , appointment, or event. Now, here comes the most important move which must be executed correctly in order for you to not blow your cover. Begin walking away at a leisurely pace, but when you get ten feet away from the person, break into a sprint. This gives the wind bag the impression you are making up for lost time because you preferred to stay and chat.

Who should read How to Instantly Connect with Anyone – 96 All-New Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships?

I recommend this book to ANYONE who would like to make new friends, gain respect from business contacts, or become more comfortable in social and business situations. Leil Lowndes writing style makes the book entertaining, and it is loaded with amazing advice to help you communicate effectively with people. The book also gives useful information on things you should never say or do if you want to maintain your connection.

Learn more about the author here.

Purchase  “How to Instantly Connect with Anyone: 96 All-New Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships“  here

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