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Navigating Food Allergies

Navigating Food Allergies

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On February 2, 2011, The Motherhood hosted its most popular Talk ever, the first class in its Cooking Connections series. The topic was Navigating Food Allergies, led by the fabulous Lori Sandler, founder of Divvies Bakery, and sponsored by ConAgra Foods, and women swarmed to the conversation looking for information, ideas and support. The class rocked.

 

http://youtu.be/aO8cVP_K4Cg

 

Read the full conversation here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62140

 

Below are highlights of what was shared:

 

Getting friends and family on board

 

The best way to deal with the uninformed is by educating them. Lori explained, “Ironically at times asking family to understand all about dealing with food allergies can be the most complicated. I understand how awkward and exhausting this can feel. It is absolutely worth your while to patiently educate your family and friends about food allergies.”

 

Kelly Rudnicki, Food Allergy Mama, added, “If an adult is combative, it’s helpful to just say ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’ and carry on. There’s not much you can do to address this type of close-minded behavior other than to walk away and keep your dignity.”

 

Getting your child on board

 

It’s so tough to get your kid to understand that the yummy pizza or ice cream with sprinkles that his friends are scarfing down just aren’t on the menu for him. One word says it all: education. “This is so very important. I don’t tell my kids they can’t have something ‘just because’; I educate them. My five-year-old reads so she understand what ingredients are good and bad for her,” said Niri, Mommy Niri.

 

When they learn to read labels, tell them “it’s important to keep reading labels because manufacturers often change ingredients,” said Piera, Jolly Mom.

 

One of the best ways to teach your children is to get them involved in their own care by cooking with them. “I think when you cook with kids, you allow them to ‘own’ their allergy. It’s not just Mom saying, don’t eat this, eat that. It develops understanding,” said participant Squanky.

 

Getting your child to eat in the first place

 

You can lead a kid to the table but you can’t make him eat. Or can you? Mary Jo Strobel, FoodAllergy.org, recommends finding a dietitian through the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org. “They can help by evaluating the diet and offering menus to ensure appropriate nutrition.”

 

Still won’t chow down? Rachael shared a neat trick. “I have found to getting my son to try new foods, is to call it Buffet night. I set up everything like an all-you-can-eat buffet and he gets to walk the line and put things on his plate he might have never ever tried.”

 

Protecting your home space

 

“Every family has their own style. We personally have kept our home primarily free of all ingredients/foods that are not safe for Benjamin so he can feel free and worry-free. It is very important to keep our children just as emotionally safe as we keep them physically safe,” said Lori.

 

If you do allow allergens in your home, put them in one spot where your child can’t reach. Stefany, To Be Thode, told a friend to “put a big red X on the things her son could not have. It helped him, at three, to know his safety boundaries with food.”

 

Recipes

 

Check out Lori’s terrific cookbook, The Divvies Bakery Cookbook, and co-host Kelly’s The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book, for lots of great recipes.

 

  

 

Also, ConAgra Foods’ great website, www.readyseteat.com, will provide new recipe ideas. (Lori likes the Spicy Mediterranean Pasta at www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Spicy-Mediterranean-Pasta-2446.html)

 

“I love how easy it is to search by ingredient – and it even shows me which ingredients are on sale in my area!” said Christina, Mommy’s Must Haves.

 

Some other good recipes from the class:

Check out Divvies Sugar Cut-Out Cookies http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62140/view/single/post/488104

 

 

Allergy-Free Chocolate Cookies

http://www.foodallergymama.com/2011/02/02/dairy-egg-and-nut-free-chocolate-sugar-cookies-and-a-food-allergy-cooking-show-today/

 

Restaurants, schools and birthday parties

 

Whenever you go out, be prepared. Christy, MoreThanMommy, had this tip: “My son carries a Twin-ject with him. It’s an auto-injector with two doses of epinephrine, so we only have to carry one. If you normally carry two epi-pens,you might want to ask your allergist about the Twin-ject.”

 

But how to make outings more fun for your child? “I bring treats for my allergic daughter. I always try to get something similar to what is being served. So, for birthday parties, I bring a delicious vegan cupcake for my daughter who is allergic to dairy and eggs. I always bring soy ice cream. That way it’s similar to the birthday cake and ice cream,” says Emily, West of the Loop.

 

We also learned that sometimes restaurants will not allow you to bring a separate meal for your child. Call ahead to avoid any unpleasantness, or scan the menu in advance to see if there is anything safe for your child to eat.

 

Allergy-free cooking on a budget

 

Participant Erin asked for tips on how to deal with allergies on a budget: “I am finding this all to be very expensive!” There were suggestions to cook from scratch, which is cheaper than buying prepared foods. Or buying and freezing foods in quantities. Read more great tips at http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62140/view/single/post/488087.

 

Lori’s Six “Ingredients” for Cooking with Food Allergies in Mind

 

MADE TO SHARE:  Eating and celebrating should always be an inclusive, shared experience…not exclusive only to those who do not have food allergies/dietary restrictions.  Planning ahead and choosing a recipe that will appeal and be safe to everyone is key.

 

 

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS: How safe are your ingredients? Label the problem foods, or conversely, label the safe foods.  Stock up on the essentials and have safe substitutes on hand.  Read product claims carefully and whenever in the slightest doubt, call to inquire about safe manufacturing practices.

 

 

MADE WITHOUT: Be 100% certain which food allergies are to be considered and which ingredients to strictly eliminate before choosing a recipe.  Understanding food “families”  (e.g., If someone is allergic to peanuts, are they allergic to all legumes?).

 

 

KEEPING IT CLEAN: Is your kitchen workspace dedicated to being allergen-free (allergens have NEVER touched all work surfaces and cooking tools) vs. prepped to be allergen-free (thoroughly cleaning all work surfaces and cooking tools)?  Make sure everything is clean and allergen-free: clothing, hands, work surfaces, tools, sponges, towels, even garbage!

 

 

COOKING WITH KIDS:

 

Rule #1 – choose recipes kids will want to make and eat!

 

Teaching kids how to cook from an early age can instill a lifelong love of food. When choosing recipes for kids who want to learn to cook, consider the difficulty of the recipe, how much parent involvement will be needed, and whether the child will eat it after finishing.

 

Select a recipe for kids with simple steps. This allows kids to learn exactly how to cook without unnecessary pressure. The cleanup should also be kid-friendly.

 

 

BE PREPARED: Assemble an emergency kit that includes your medications, autoinjectors, and an emergency medical plan.

 

Many thanks to all who participated and shared their information. As Emily said, “To all the parents out there dealing with allergies, you are not alone. I give you all big kudos for being such strong advocates for your kids.”

 

Many thanks also to our host, Lori Sandler, founder of Divvies Bakery and author of The Divvies Bakery Cookbook, http://www.divvies.com

 

And to the awesome co-hosts as well:

 

Caryn Bailey, Rockin’ Mama

Christina McMenemy, Mommy’s Must Haves

Christy Matte, Quirky Fusion

Clarissa Nassar, The Posh Parent

Emily Paster, West of the Loop

Kelly Rudnicki, Food Allergy Mama

Mary Jo Strobel, FoodAllergy.org

Nicole Shields Smith, Allergic Child

Nirasha Jaganath, Mommy Niri

Piera Jolly, Jolly Mom

Stefany Thode, To Be Thode

Nicole Meadow, NutritionWise

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62140

Blissful Cooking Connections Featuring Celebrity Chef George Duran

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To kick off Cooking Connections in grand style, we held a live cooking class onstage at Blissdom (the conference for bloggers) in Nashville and on the web with celebrity chef George Duran. It was a blast interacting with George, the audience and participants online in the first virtual cooking school experience!

 

From February 2- March 16, nearly 100 of your favorite bloggers will be teaching classes here in The Motherhood and you all are invited to join in, ask questions, share your recipes, tips, tricks and great ideas for making cooking for your family joyful, social and fun! Cooking Connections is brought to us through a partnership with ConAgra Foods.

 

To get the full feel for the awesomeness of the kick off event, check out this video we played at the start of the class with George.

 

http://youtu.be/d3HKkwaph5I

 

George cooked up a yummy dish for everyone – chicken with balsamic tomatoes -from ReadySetEat.com. http://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Chicken-with-Balsamic-Tomatoes-5254.html So delish!!

 

While he was cooking, George and Cooper took questions from the web and George shared some great tips and stories, among them:

 

– There are two kinds of balsamic vinegar: the cheap one and the expensive one! According to George, use the cheap one for your cooking and the expensive ones in your salads!

 

 

– The best way to chop garlic without making your fingers smell like garlic … is not to touch the garlic. Ha! But if you do touch it, lemon juice will cut the smell.

 

 

– His favorite guilty pleasure is deep-fried cheesecake bites. (And because he is such and amazing guy, George actually brought special cheesecake for two lucky bloggers at Blissdom with him all the way from New York!) Watch George tell the story.

 

http://youtu.be/fA-DjppjD10

 

Be sure to read through the full transcript and here’s Cooper and Emily’s video introduction of Cooking Connections:

 

http://youtu.be/rz8vUrUNLzc

 

The classes coming up are:

 

Navigating Food Allergies
Cooking With Loved Ones
Creating an Efficient Kitchen
Healthier Meal Makeovers
Expanding Your Family’s Palate By Placating Picky Eaters
Sweet Treats
Cooking With Dad

 

Register now and mark your calendars!! It’s free, it’s online in TheMotherhood and going to be TONS of fun! themotherhood.com/cookingconnections

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62131

Christmas Tree Promotion Board #FreshCutHomeGrown Twitter Party Official Rules

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­Sweepstakes Rules:

No Purchase Necessary TO ENTER OR WIN.

The #FreshCutHomeGrown Twitter Party starts DECEMBER 8, 2015 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on DECEMBER 8, 2015 at 2:30 PM Eastern Time (“Twitter Party”).

ELIGIBILITY: SWEEPSTAKES ARE Open Only to Legal Residents OF THE fifty (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, who are at least 18 years of age.  Void Where Prohibited.  Employees (and their immediate families (parent, child, spouse or sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related) of Sponsor, The Motherhood, the participating bloggers, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies are not eligible to enter or win.  By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, participating blog and/or judges, which are binding and final on matters relating to this Sweepstakes.  Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.

To enter: To enter, follow the directions provided in the Sweepstakes Posting on the participating blog to RSVP here and enter prior to the Twitter Party.  All entries must be received by the date and time stated in the Sweepstakes Posting to be eligible.  Limit one (1) entry per person/email address.  Entries received from any person or e-mail address in excess of the stated limitation will be void.  Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means or by any means which subvert the entry process are void.  All entries become the property of the Participating Blog and will not be acknowledged or returned.

Drawing:  Potential winner(s) will be selected in random drawing(s) held during the Twitter Party from all eligible entries received.  Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Potential winner(s) will be notified by a tweet from @TMChatHost during the Twitter Party and may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release and, where lawful, a publicity release within seven (7) days of date of issuance. If such documents are not returned within the specified time period, prize notification is returned as undeliverable, or a potential winner is not in compliance with these rules, prize will be forfeited and, at Sponsor’s discretion, an alternate winner selected.  If a potential winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, prize may be awarded in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian who will be responsible for fulfilling all requirements imposed on winners set forth herein. Winners will be required to Direct Message their mailing address to @TMChatHost in order for The Motherhood to fulfill prizes. Failure to do may result in forfeiture of prize and, at Sponsor’s discretion, prize may be awarded to an alternate winner.

Prize(s): The prize(s) and their approximate retail value(s) will be set forth during the Twitter Party.  Gift card(s), if awarded as a prize, are subject to terms and conditions specified by issuer. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied.  Prizes may not substituted, assigned or transferred or redeemed for cash, however Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value.  Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided.  All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Limit one (1) prize per household.  If gift cards are awarded as prizes, terms and conditions of issuer applies. Prizes will be shipped within two weeks of the end of the Twitter Party.

General Conditions: Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, inaccurate, stolen, misdirected, undelivered or garbled entries, Tweets, @mentions or email; or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties, or other errors or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes, the processing of entries, the announcement of the prize(s) or in any Sweepstakes-related materials.  Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes.  Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to participants’ or to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes or downloading materials from or use of the website.  Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Sweepstakes or any website or blog or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void.  Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Sweepstakes at any time and for any reason, including, but not limited to, should any portion of the Sweepstakes be, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by virus, worms, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of entries, and, if terminated, at its discretion, select the potential winner(s) from all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to action taken or as otherwise deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor. Entrants, by participating, agree that Sponsor, The Motherhood, Participating Bloggers, Twitter, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (collectively, “Released Parties”) will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by entrants against, any liability, for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including death, to persons, or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in this Sweepstakes.  In the event of a dispute regarding entries received from multiple users having the same e-mail account, the authorized subscriber of the e-mail account at the time of entry will be deemed to be the entrant and must comply with these rules.  Authorized account subscriber is the natural person who is assigned the e-mail address by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), on-line service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses.

Winners’ LIST: The names of the winners will be announced by @TMChatHost during the Twitter Party immediately following the drawing(s).

Sponsor:  National Christmas Tree Promotion Board

This Sweepstakes is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Twitter.

Holiday Gift Ideas from Treehugger and Cool Mom Picks

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As we get into the holiday spirit – and start to panic just a little about what to get that hard-to-shop-for person on our gift list – TheMotherhood asked CoolMomPicks and TreeHugger to share some of their best gift ideas and inspiration.  Moms came to the Talk and shared dozens of great ideas.  The highlights are below, but check out the rest of the conversation for even more inspiration!

 

Gifts Don’t Have to Be Things

 

– My favorite gift this year is to my parents. They don’t really NEED anything, but since they’ve just moved to a new city, we are getting them season tickets to the symphony. I think this will be a great way to introduce them to the community, and it’s not another tie or sweater that will get packed away with all the other gifts from Christmas past…

 

– If you think about it, what we really treasure are memories as opposed to stuff someone buys in a store!

 

– Buy someone new to an area one of the discount coupon books for their city or region. They can get restaurant meals for half off, discover new stores to shop, get discounted sports or recreational opportunities, etc.

 

– My parents love getting gift certificates to hotels near our house – it’s a little reason to “vacation” near us, and the kids have fun seeing them, playing in the pool and getting room service.

 

– My one gift for my mother this year is decorating her house for the holidays.

 

– A friend of mine painted her roommate’s room as a Christmas gift one year – it was something the other girl had been meaning to do for months and didn’t have time for!

 

– We typically give my in-laws a gift certificate to a nice bed and breakfast or winery cottage so they can escape and enjoy some time away.

 

– There’s a service called smartbox.com that actually gives your recipient the gift certificate so they can pick their own b+b, or other experiential gift: http://coolmompicks.com/holidaygiftguide/

 

– One of our favorite Christmas gifts was a surprise trip to Disney with the entire family.

 

Turn the Kids’ Artwork or Memories into Gifts

 

– Gifts that bring tears to my eyes are the children’s artwork or poems that come framed and ready to hang and enjoy!

 

– I have been working on a DVD project for my parents which includes video and photos from the past year.

 

– Create a custom coffee table art book using your kids’ art – make your own by scanning the artwork and turning it into JPG files, or have one made: http://dreamsakes.com/gift-shop/coffee-table-art-books/

 

Toy Ideas for Toddlers

 

– Plan Toys: sustainably made wooden toys. Their website lets you browse by age, and they have lots of toddler options: http://www.plantoys.com/products.php

 

–  Citiblocs: http://www.citiblocs.com/

 

– EcoKids EcoTown: http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2010/11/green-gift-guide-the-kids.php?page=2

 

– Sprig Toys Dolphin Boat: http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2010/11/green-gift-guide-the-kids.php?page=3

 

– Bugabike: http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2010/11/green-gift-guide-the-kids.php?page=4

 

Gifts for Teachers

 

– CoolMomPicks has a bunch of great under $15 gifts on our holiday guide: http://www.coolmompicks.com/holidaygiftguide/

 

– Here is a post we did for National Teacher Appreciation Week – some great ideas here too: http://www.coolmompicks.com/2010/05/its_national_teacher_appreciat.php

 

– Besides gift cards, teachers love items for their classroom, books, and plants. A gift card to Target, Walmart, and other such stores are always great!

 

– Put ingredients for cookies, brownies, hot chocolate, etc., in a jar with the recipe tied to the top with ribbon so the recipient can use your homemade “mix” to bake them later.

 

Gifts for Dads and Husbands

 

– I had one of these one-of-a-kind keychains made using one of my kids’ drawings: http://www.coolmompicks.com/2009/06/key_to_an_awesome_fathers_day.php

 

– “Pocket briefcase” from Levenger.com

 

– Small luggage scale from REI and a Grid-It to organize cords and electronic accessories in his bag

 

– F Rock Bags are pretty cool for guys: http://www.frockbags.com/

 

– I got these great “collar stays” for his dress shirts. You can choose romantic or suggestive sayings on the stays. Practical yet personal: http://www.signals.com/signals/Item_Secret-Love-Letter-Collar-Stays-Sentimental_HK2266_ps_srm.html

 

Photo Gifts

 

– Here’s a great round up of photo books: http://www.coolmompicks.com/2010/05/mothers_day_photo_book_round-u.php

 

– For a pricier option, try jewelry or a key fob/chain – we’ve got a keepsake version in our guide: http://www.coolmompicks.com/holidaygiftguide/

 

– A photo tie tack is a good option for men who need to wear a tie to work: http://www.tjandco.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=85&zenid=ea1578428484b68117f0b77aaadd84c7

 

– I purchased a gift from http://chiccanvas.com/, where they take a photo and print in onto a large canvas. The coolest part is that you can have something printed – a special date or a name, say – on the side of the canvas.

 

– Another fun idea is doing something with silhouettes: http://www.coolmompicks.com/2009/04/another_way_to_hang_your_kids.php

 

Green Gifts

 

– Green gift ideas from the City of New York: homemade items, entertainment (tickets), learning (lessons), time/talent (babysitting, home repairs), fitness, pampering, and greater good (charitable donations).

 

– Supporting a nonprofit organization like the Fresh Air Fund is a great gift to give! To find out more information about The Fresh Air Fund visit http://www.freshair.org.

 

– My parents do Heifer International and give the kids pictures of the goats or chickens that they “donated” in their names to a village. We then find it on a map:
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.183217/

 

 

Cool Wrapping Ideas

 

– Take your kids’ piles and piles of paper from school from the past few months and have them use it as wrapping paper for the little things.  Not only are they giving a cute little gift, all of their tests, drawings and practice papers get new life.

 

– If you have brown packing paper hanging around from packages that were shipped to you, use it to make potato-stamped wrapping paper. http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/06/14/potato-printing-with-design-mom/

 

– You can also use the colored comic pages from the Sunday newspapers for kids’ gifts. Wrap Dad’s gifts in the business or sports pages and Mom’s in the Living or Home section of the newspaper.

 

– Reusable gift bags from CoolMomPicks: http://www.coolmompicks.com/2010/11/wrap_it_up_to_go.php

 

– Buy some holiday kitchen towels at the dollar store and use them to wrap hostess gifts.

 

For More Inspiration

 

– Groupon

– Etsy

– CoolMomPicks Holiday Gift Guide: http://coolmompicks.com/holidaygiftguide/

– TreeHugger Holiday Gift Guide: http://www.treehugger.com/giftguide/?campaign=top_news

 

 

THANK YOU to TreeHugger, CoolMomPicks and all of our fabulous co-hosts for a wonderful, idea-generating conversation!!!

 

Meaghan, Treehugger

Kristen Chase, Cool Mom Picks

Liz Gumbinner, Mom101 and Cool Mom Picks

Caryn Baily, Rockin Mama

Micaela, MindfulMomma

Rachel Sarnoff, Eco Stiletto

Susan Hunt Stevens, Practically Green

Delilah Dawson, Delilah S Dawson

Christina Reffort, Fairly Odd Mother

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62108

Walmart #Sing2Salute Sweepstakes Rules

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­Sweepstakes Rules:

No Purchase Necessary TO ENTER OR WIN.

The Walmart #Sing2Salute Twitter Party starts December 18, 2015 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on December 18, 2015 at 1:30 PM Eastern Time (“Twitter Party”).

 ELIGIBILITY: SWEEPSTAKES ARE Open Only to Legal Residents OF THE fifty (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, who are at least 18 years of age.  Void Where Prohibited.  Employees (and their immediate families (parent, child, spouse or sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and those living in their same households, whether or not related) of Sponsor, The Motherhood, the participating bloggers, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies are not eligible to enter or win.  By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, participating blog and/or judges, which are binding and final on matters relating to this Sweepstakes.  Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.

To enter: To enter, follow the directions provided in the Sweepstakes Posting on the participating blog to RSVP and enter (vite.io/TheMotherhoodChats).  All entries must be received by the date and time stated in the Sweepstakes Posting to be eligible.  Limit one (1) entry per person/email address.  Entries received from any person or e-mail address in excess of the stated limitation will be void.  Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means or by any means which subvert the entry process are void.  All entries become the property of the Participating Blog and will not be acknowledged or returned.

Drawing:  Potential winner(s) will be selected in random drawing(s) held during the Twitter Party from all eligible entries received.  Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Potential winner(s) will be notified by a tweet from @TMChatHost during the Twitter Party and may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release and, where lawful, a publicity release within seven (7) days of date of issuance. If such documents are not returned within the specified time period, prize notification is returned as undeliverable, or a potential winner is not in compliance with these rules, prize will be forfeited and, at Sponsor’s discretion, an alternate winner selected.  If a potential winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, prize may be awarded in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian who will be responsible for fulfilling all requirements imposed on winners set forth herein. Winners will be required to Direct Message their mailing address to @TMChatHost in order for The Motherhood to fulfill prizes. Failure to do may result in forfeiture of prize and, at Sponsor’s discretion, prize may be awarded to an alternate winner.

Prize(s): The prize(s) and their approximate retail value(s) will be set forth during the Twitter Party.  Gift card(s), if awarded as a prize, are subject to terms and conditions specified by issuer. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied.  Prizes may not substituted, assigned or transferred or redeemed for cash, however Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value.  Winners are responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided.  All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Limit one (1) prize per household.  If gift cards are awarded as prizes, terms and conditions of issuer applies. Prizes will be shipped within two weeks of the end of the Twitter Party. There will be three winners selected at random during the Twitter Party. Each winner will receive a gift card in the amount of $50.

General Conditions: Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, inaccurate, stolen, misdirected, undelivered or garbled entries, Tweets, @mentions or email; or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties, or other errors or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes, the processing of entries, the announcement of the prize(s) or in any Sweepstakes-related materials.  Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes.  Released Parties are not responsible for injury or damage to participants’ or to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes or downloading materials from or use of the website.  Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the Sweepstakes or any website or blog or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified and all associated entries will be void.  Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Sweepstakes at any time and for any reason, including, but not limited to, should any portion of the Sweepstakes be, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by virus, worms, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of entries, and, if terminated, at its discretion, select the potential winner(s) from all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to action taken or as otherwise deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor. Entrants, by participating, agree that Sponsor, The Motherhood, Participating Bloggers, Twitter, and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (collectively, “Released Parties”) will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by entrants against, any liability, for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including death, to persons, or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in this Sweepstakes.  In the event of a dispute regarding entries received from multiple users having the same e-mail account, the authorized subscriber of the e-mail account at the time of entry will be deemed to be the entrant and must comply with these rules.  Authorized account subscriber is the natural person who is assigned the e-mail address by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), on-line service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning e-mail addresses.

Winners’ LIST: The names of the winners will be announced by @TMChatHost during the Twitter Party immediately following the drawing(s).

Sponsor: Walmart

This Sweepstakes is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Twitter.

Going Beyond Business as Usual This Holiday Season

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Business expert and PictureItPostage spokesperson Barbara Corcoran joined TheMotherhood today to discuss ways to cut through the mail clutter during the holidays to reach current and prospective small business clients.  She was joined by a number of co-hosts, social media moms and small business owners, who all shared their collective wisdom!

 

Thanks to PictureItPostage for sponsoring the Talk and providing this special offer – use the coupon code MOTHERHOOD to get $4 off an order of custom stamps (offer expires Jan. 31, 2011) at http://pictureitpostage.com/!!  Your purchase will enter you to win a $500 prize!  (See entry rules below.)

 

Custom stamps happen to be an excellent way to brand your mailings and catch your recipients’ attention!  Read on for more great suggestions:

 

 

– Why to Send Holiday Mailers: It’s important to thank both clients, for their business throughout the year, and anyone who has worked for you.  People will appreciate your effort, and it’s a good way to remind them about your business – and sell your product!

 

– Get Started Now! Send holiday mailings and gifts during the Thanksgiving season – the week before or after.  People get fewer mailings during this time than they do around Christmas.

 

– Cut Through the Holiday Clutter: A lot of businesses send thank-yous and small gifts to customers during the holiday season.  To ensure your mailing gets noticed and opened, use vibrant colors and personalize each handwritten message.  Branding your envelope with a cute custom stamp, like the ones from PictureItPostage, is another great way to catch the eye!

 

– Tuck a Small Gift Into the Envelope: Items like magnets, pens, calendars or other small, useful items that are tastefully branded with your logo are a great way to keep your name in front of your customers all year round.

 

– Snail Mail is Best: Sending an electronic card to customers may seem easier and more economical, but it is less likely to be seen and appreciated.  Many such emails are deleted unopened or caught in spam filters.

 

– Showcase Your Product: If you are a photographer, send holiday photo cards, using your photos – and order photo postage to put on the envelope.  If you design personalized stationery, use your own work when you create your holiday mailings.  It is a built-in advertisement for what you do.

 

– Be Persistent: If your mailings don’t drum up the business you had hoped for the first, second or even third time, don’t give up! Keep trying new approaches until you find something that works for you and resonates with your customer base.

 

– Personalize, Personalize, Personalize: If you give nicer gifts to regular clients, be sure to get them something that acknowledges their interests. If someone likes flowers, send them bulbs directly from Holland. If someone adores their children, have a photo of them printed on a custom deck of playing cards – or give the gift of custom stamps from PictureItPostage at http://www.pictureitpostage.com !!

 

Another BIG thanks to PictureItPostage and our incredibly talented blogger co-hosts!!!  Don’t forget to use the coupon code and order your custom postage to make your holiday business mailings pop this season!!!

 

– Audrey, Mom Generations
– Candy, Mommypalooza
– Clarissa, Diary of a POSHpreneur
– Dawn, My Home Sweet Home Online
– Ellen, Mompreneurs Online
– Grace, Grace Hester Designs
– Jen, Next Kid Thing
– Jodi, Mom’s Favorite Stuff
– Kate, The Shopping Mama
– Melissa, Girlymama
– Mishelle, Secret Agent Mama
– Nicole, Momtrends
– Piera, Jolly Mom
– Stacey, Mama Law

 

PictureItPostage Giveaway with themotherhood.com
OFFICIAL RULES
1. PictureItPostage by DYMO Endicia™ is conducting a $500 prize giveaway. All PictureItPostage customers who enter code “MOTHERHOOD” upon checkout for purchases made on PictureItPostage.com from November 17, 2010 through December 15, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time will be entered to win one (1) $500 cash prize giveaway.
2. One (1) winner will be selected at random on December 20, 2010 by PictureItPostage by DYMO Endicia, or DYMO Endicia’s designee. Odds of winning will be determined by the total number of eligible entries received. Winner need not be present at drawing to win. Winner will be notified by phone or mail no later than December 31, 2010. Entry into contest constitutes entrant’s permission for Endicia to contact entrant for sales and marketing purposes.
3. The prize package consists of one (1) $500 cash prize.

4. Contest is open only to PictureItPostage by DYMO Endicia customers who are legal U.S. residents 21 years of age or older except employees of DYMO Endicia, its affiliates, subsidiaries, sales representatives, distributors, or advertising and promotion agencies and the immediate families and household members of each of the above. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited by law.
5. No prize substitutions allowed except that DYMO Endicia reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if an advertised prize becomes unavailable. All taxes on prizes are winner’s responsibility.
Sponsor: PictureItPostage by DYMO Endicia, a Newell Rubbermaid company, Palo Alto, CA

 

 

See the original Talk here: http://tmotherhood.wpengine.com/talk/show/id/62106