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How’s Your Oral Hygiene?

How’s Your Oral Hygiene?

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People give me funny looks when I tell them that I love visiting the dentist.

 

Since grade school, I’ve had a keen interest in keeping my chompers pearly white and cavity-free – so I brush, floss and rinse religiously. The result? A clean bill of dental health every six months for the past 20 years.

 

I know I’m in the minority, and it’s one of the reasons I love working with the team at LISTERINE. We recently completed our second blog tour encouraging good oral hygiene for families, a particular concern following the Halloween sugar rush. Since oral disease has become the number one chronic childhood disease, this issue is more important than ever.

 

Photo credit: Sheena Tatum, Sophistishe

 

We worked with an amazing team of bloggers to spread the word about the power of brushing, flossing and rinsing to maintain a healthy, happy mouth during our LISTERINE Sweet Smart Challenge in October.

 

Xenia of Thanks, Mail Carrier!, said of the challenge in her blog post, “By the time the Challenge ended, it was clear that Listerine Smart Rinse had made enough of an impact on our lives to be a permanent part of our routine. When we ventured out of town with the kids to a water park hotel to celebrate a few days off from school recently, my husband and I were scolded for forgetting to bring the bottles with us!”

 

Amanda of Multiples & More shared this cute photo of her kids’ brushing, flossing and rinsing routine in her blog post, and offered a bit of great advice: “For my family with this challenge, I really want to lead by example. The kiddos watch me brush my teeth and rinse every morning.”

 

 

Meagan of Sunshine and Sippy Cups noted that, as a result of participating in the Sweet Smart Challenge, “Now I know that they’ll have less scary cavities to fill, and I’ll have less scary dentist bills to pay!”

 

And Rachel of Yellow Tennessee concluded her challenge with excellent results: “The dreaded Halloween came and I was was thrilled to see Mario getting ready for bed after a night of trick or treating and candy. Toothbrush in hand, he was happy to be brushing and was excited to show me that he could still use the mouthwash all by himself.”

 

 

Photo Credits: Rachel Akers of Yellow Tennessee and Xenia Sundell of Thanks, Mail Carrier!

 

Great work on this challenge to everyone who participated!

Ask the Tough Questions at our #FoodD Twitter Party!

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There’s been a lot of concern around food lately, and we’re working with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Association to address some of those concerns during an upcoming Twitter party on November 13 at 2 p.m. ET.

USFRA is hosting a The Food Dialogues panel discussion on some of the tough issues around food – from media and marketing to GMOs to antibiotics – and in advance of the panel on November 15, they’re holding a Twitter party to collect questions for the panelists and have an open conversation about how food is grown and raised.

See below for all the Twitter party details!

 

 

What: A Twitter party with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) to discuss important questions about how food is grown and raised, including topics like GMOs/antibiotics and your food.  The party will preview a The Food Dialogues panel discussion in New York City, which will be available for LiveStream viewing on USFRA’s website on November 15. For insights on these topics, we will be joined by real-life Kansas cattle rancher Debbie Lyons-Blythe (@DebbieLB) and other expert guests.

When: Tuesday, November 13, 2-3 p.m. ET

Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #FoodD hashtag to track the conversation.  You can see the details and RSVP via this Twtvite.

Hashtag: #FoodD

Prizes: USFRA will give away five total prizes – four skillets/accessories and one set of pots/pans/accessories.  Winners will be chosen randomly from among participants who respond correctly to trivia questions.

Hosts: @USFRA, @DebbieLB, @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann

Check out USFRA’s Facebook page and The Food Dialogues website, where panel discussions will be streamed on November 15.

The Food Dialogues Panel Discussions on November 15

Panel 1: Media, Marketing & Healthy Choices, 11/15 at 10 am ET. Live on fooddialogues.com.

Panel 2: Your Toughest Questions Answered on Antibiotics and Your Food, 11/15 at 11:45 am ET. Live on fooddialogues.com.

Panel 3: Your Toughest Questions Answered on Biotechnology (GMOs) and Your Food, 11/15 at 2 pm ET. Live on fooddialogues.com.

Watch for these fabulous bloggers, who are co-hosting the party:
Amy, @GrinCheek2Cheek
Anne, @lunaj1456
Felicia, @gograhamgo
Johanna, @mommacuisine
Julie, @JulieMPron
Laurie, @clueless_mama
Liz, @blueviolet
Melissa, @ConsumerQueen
Robyn, @RobynsWorld
Vanessa, @FrenchFoodieMom

Are You Ready for Some Football? (And History?)

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Attention Pittsburgh moms!

 

If you have a football-loving family, instead of spending Sunday afternoon watching NFL games from the couch, why not head over to the Senator John Heinz History Center and get active?

 

The History Center is hosting a fun-filled NFL Play 60 Training Camp for families with kids of all ages this Sunday, November 11, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. You won’t even miss any Steelers action, since the game isn’t scheduled until Monday of next week.

 

 

Check out this fabulous list of activities you’ll find on the five floors that will be open to the public:

 

1) A mini-NFL Combine on the History Center’s fifth floor where young visitors can test their speed in the 40-yard dash, gauge their vertical leaping skills, and practice their accuracy passing a football

 

2) A football-themed obstacle course with instruction from players and coaches from the Pittsburgh Passion

 

3) Demonstrations in the new Weisbrod Kitchen Classroom on how to make a perfect smoothie with Fuel Up to Play 60 coordinator Sharon Piano

 

4) Sports trivia with Pittsburgh sports writer Chuck Finder

 

5) Special yoga and tai chi demonstrations in the History Center’s first floor Great Hall

 

6) A touchdown dance contest where young visitors can flaunt their best moves

 

As you can see, there will be something for everyone in the family – AND you could win special prize packs courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

 

In addition to these activities, the team at the History Center has told us that docent-led tours of the History Center’s new exhibition, Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be offered throughout the day. The exhibit displays more than 200 football artifacts from the Pro Football Hall of Fame collections, exclusive videos from the vaults of NFL Films, and a special section on the Steelers and football in Western PA.

 

The History Center event is sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods and presented in conjunction with NFL Play 60, the National Football League’s national health and fitness campaign to encourage young fans to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. (How wonderful is that?!)

 

Visitors to the event will also receive information on how parents and teachers can effectively encourage physical activity to their students as part of the American Heart Association’s NFL Play 60 Challenge.

 

All NFL Play 60 event activities are included with regular History Center admission. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (age 62+), $10 for students and children (age 6-17), and free for children (age 5 and under). Tickets can be purchased at www.showclix.com or by calling 1-888-71-TICKETS or on-site at the History Center box office during regular museum hours (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day).

Melissa Joan Hart joins Merck for Mothers “Once Upon a Birth”

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Melissa Joan Hart, celebrity mom and star of ABC Family’s television show “Melissa and Joey,” has partnered with Merck for Mothers in support of their “Once Upon a Birth” campaign.

 

I recently had the opportunity to interview Melissa Joan Hart and we talked about her passion for saving the lives of mothers around the world.

 

“Every day, 800 women die from pregnancies and childbirth, including in the U.S., and 90 percent of these deaths are preventable,” said Hart.

 

She is thrilled to be working with Merck for Mothers in support of their 10-year, $500 million commitment to reducing maternal mortality.   As part of the program, she is helping to get the word out on the importance of maternal health around the world, in particular the “Once Upon a Birth” Facebook initiative.

 

“For every birth story shared on the Merck for Mothers’ Facebook page, Merck will make a donation to a great cause”, said Hart.  The donations will go to Join my Village – the CARE program that empowers women and girls and supports safe pregnancies and deliveries.

 

Anyone can tell a birth story on the Merck for Mothers’ Facebook page.

 

“My brother was in the corner of the room during the delivery of my son Tucker, and he could share the story of his nephew being born,” said Hart.  “My mother will share the story of my birth.”

 

Among the biggest threats to motherhood are hemorrhaging and preeclampsia, both preventable conditions, and because of these and other conditions, every year, one million children are left motherless in the world.

 

Melissa Joan Hart would love to see us all share our birth stories on the Merck for Mothers Facebook page so mothers “lives can be spared and they can see their kids grow up.”

 

And how is Melissa doing after the birth of her third son, Tucker, in September?  She says he is sleeping 4-5 hours at a stretch and his older brothers Mason, 6, and Brady, 4, are excited to have another boy in the house.

 

Melissa, we are with you.  Thank you for your good work, and thank you Merck for Mothers for your commitment to maternal health.

 

Putting Your Blog in the Media Spotlight

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This is a guest blog post by Linsey Knerl of Lille Punkin’, who hosted a live chat in The Motherhood on this topic. She was joined by panelists Alissa of Fun Finds for Families, Joey of Real Mom Media, Lynnae of Freelance Homeschool Mom and Sarah of Sarah’s Cucina Bella.

 

Last Wednesday, some of the Internet’s savviest moms and marketers came together to discuss one of the questions that seems to be on every blogger’s mind these days: “How can I get the world to know about my blog?”  Specifically, we wanted to dig into sharing our blogs with the mainstream media.

 

Several moms were in attendance, and each one had something unique to offer the conversation.  Here are some of the highlights of our 30-minute chat, along with an action plan for taking your media presence to the next level.

 

Small Blogs Can Get BIG Exposure!

 

One of the most delightful lessons we learned is that blogs are really making an impact on big media.  Some of the bloggers in attendance had been featured in some very prominent periodicals, including TIME, Redbook, and All You!  Just learning that it’s possible to have the editors at these publications interested in what you do was a major inspiration to us all.

 

Professionalism Counts

 

Being polite, staying punctual, and offering a helping hand are all important qualities to bring to your blog and business.  Guess what?  Reporters respond well to these qualities, too.  By keeping your word on communications to reporters and giving them lots of direct quotes to work with, you can improve your chances of being used as a source in future articles and televisions spots.

 

Get Connected

 

You could go out and pitch every news site and magazine that may be looking for a story like yours, but it’s like casting a very large net for a tiny, tiny catch.  You are better off subscribing to free services like HelpAReporter.com or ProfNet to get alerts whenever a journalist is needing an expert to interview.  The success stories for those who have used these to score amazing press mentions are numerous, and it’s much more realistic for small blogs with limited PR budgets.

 

With the web being instrumental in so many “rags to riches” stories, is it any surprise that it’s one of the #1 tools bloggers have in sharing their stories with those who give news to the world?  To get started getting your share of free press mentions, follow these few simple tips:

 

1) If you don’t already have an easy way for reporters to reach you (either with a contact form or an easy-to-find email address on your blog), you may be missing out on the chance to see your name in the next issue of your favorite mag.

 

2) Get connected with reporters and news outlets on Facebook and Twitter.  Keep an eye out for “open calls” for story submissions, and be prepared to pitch!

 

3) Sign up for HelpAReporter’s free subscription service, and check it regularly for stories that match your expertise.  Have a pitch template on hand that you can change up to match the needs of each request.

 

Good luck with your pitches.  We hope to see your name in the news soon!

Benefiting from a Healthcare Partner

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Last week, we had the honor of hosting a briefing session for WellPoint, one of the largest health benefits companies in the nation, with a wonderful group of bloggers.

 

The WellPoint representatives made the point that most of us think of health insurance as the bill-payer – but we can and should expect more. You need help keeping both you and your family healthy and out of the doctor’s office in the first place, and WellPoint – which operates under the names Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, depending on your state – offers plans tailored to meet your needs with programs, tools and services that work with you to personalize your health care experience and fit into your schedule.

 

Such a great (and needed) idea, right?!

 

Here are just a few of the WellPoint services we love:

 

24/7 NurseLine:  When your doctor has gone home but you need quick health answers, this service provides accurate info and 1-on-1 counseling with experienced registered nurses any time of the day or night through a toll-free number.

 

Future Moms: Not only does the company help you tackle the day-to-day challenges of being a mom, but it also helps you before you actually take on that role, through its Future Moms maternity program.  This program gives very personalized support to expectant moms, helping them achieve healthier pregnancies and healthier deliveries – which can lead to having healthier babies.

 

Personalizing Your Health:  Knowing that moms have little time in their day to focus on just themselves, WellPoint and its affiliated health plans have provided a health and wellness portal that you can customize to your needs.  The portal lets you – and other family members (yes, Dads too!) – develop a personalized health plan and includes email reminders and prompts for you to do the things you need to do – like scheduling check-ups and working out.

 

Fitness to Fit Your Lifestyle: Being a mom often times means putting your family’s needs before your own, leaving very little time to work on your personal fitness goals.  Understanding this, WellPoint and its affiliated health plans have partnered with FitOrbit to offer convenient and affordable ways for you to achieve your personal fitness goals.

 

Thank you to the WellPoint team and our amazing team of bloggers for helping spread the word about the promising future of health insurance!