Monday A La Mode: October 21, 2013

I hand pick the news, products, websites and more that I believe will interest MMC readers most and compile it all into one easy to read weekly post.

Go to work on Monday morning with something to talk about!

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This week on Monday A La Mode...


What Not to Eat...

You've probably seen the "Dirty Dozen" list of fruits and veggies you should avoid unless organicly grown. But I found a new list this week that's very interesting! Click here to read what eight different experts said was the one food they would never eat, compliments of EatLocalGrown.com. 

Speaking of That...

If you haven't visited EatLocalGrown.com before, click here to go to their home page, where you can find out where to buy locally grown food in your area, share with others where you get your locally grown food, and more. It's a pretty fantastic project that works better and better the more people participate.

Back Up...

Just in case you haven't seen the "Dirty Dozen" list I mentioned above, it is an annually updated list from the Environmental Working Group of the 12 foods that retain the highest amounts of dangerous chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Even if you can't always grow your own or buy organic, avoid these items unless organically grown! 

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Cherry Tomatoes
4. Cucumbers
5. Hot Peppers
6. Grapes
7. Imported Nectarines
8. Peaches
9. Potatoes
10. Spinach
11. Strawberries
12. Sweet Bell Peppers

Click here to visit the Environmental Working Group website where you can download the Dirty Dozen as well as the Clean Fifteen or learn how to get them on your phone or tablet. You can also sign up for their email tips, make a donation, or see the results of all of the foods they tested. 

Earlier this month I promised more info about Breast Cancer Awareness. I found a great site to share with you! I hope you learn lots and have as much fun as I did with their site. They are doing a great job for a great cause...

• Loving the cute buttons and sayings from the non profit Feel Your Boobies Foundation! Click here to like their fb site Feel Your Boobies Foundation or click here to download one of their awesome badges. Share the badge on fb or twitter to be entered to win a free t-shirt.

See the bottom of this post for a great set of directions that will tell you how to feel your boobies properly, also from feelyourboobies.com!

• Be aware of the common symptoms of breast cancer and never hesitate to seek a professional opinion if you are concerned. Early treatment carries a far higher success rate! Possible symptons include:

1. Unexplained redness of the breast.
2. Pain or itching of the breast.
3. Breast swelling or enlargement.
4. Thickening of the breast's skin and ridged or dimpled skin.
5. Swolen lymph nodes in the armpit or just above or below your collarbone.

 That's it for this week's Monday A La Mode. Now, ladies, go feel yourself properly! 

Healthy Eating Holiday Giveaway

Mama Making Changes is happy to announce another great giveaway!

Prize:

1 Week BistroMD Food Delivery
(A.L.L. Review)

ARV $185

Hosted by:

A Ladybug on the Go
and 

Co-Hosted by The Frugal Exerciser

"BistroMD is not just convenient, low-calorie food. Each meal and each day is designed with the proper combination of nutrients. From the amount of lean, adequate protein in our entrées and snacks to the proper balance of carbohydrates, fat and fiber; each ingredient is selected to provide the proper nutrition needed to promote healthy weight loss."

**If you are a company and would like to see your brand advertised in a M.O.O.N. event similar to this please contact MakeOurOwnNetwork@gmail.com

This giveaway is open to the Continental US only (because of shipping costs) and will end on November 1st, 2013

Entry-Form

"Make Our Own Network" solely organized this event and I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are 100% my own and may differ from your own or even those stated in this post. MAMA MAKING CHANGES is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Clean Up Your Act Giveaway

Mama Making Changes is happy to bring you another great giveaway!

Prize:

2 Herbal Life Shakes (Flavor of Choice), 1 Bottle Cell Activator, 1 Bottle Energizing Herbal Tea + 1 Month Online Nutrition and Fitness Coaching from Indpendent Fitness Coach Amanda Luba
(A Ladybug on the Go Review)

ARV $250+

Hosted by:

A Ladybug on the Go
and 

If you are looking for a Health and Wellness coach that is compassionate about you and your wellness - Amanda is your girl! Amanda empowers your mind and soul to keep you going through any obstacle.

"Over the past year and a half I’ve been building my own health and wellness program after noticing the manner in which I approach total health and wellness – REALLY gets life changing results. My relationship with health and wellness has been evolving since childhood; I played division 2 women’s rugby, was a cheerleading coach for 7 years, cheerleader for 11 years, race car driver for 8 years, and am finishing my master’s in bio-medical engineering with a concentration in injury/sports biomechanics.  As a health and wellness coach I am a firm believer of 80% nutrition, 20% fitness, and 100% mindset."

**If you are a company and would like to see your brand advertised in a M.O.O.N. event similar to this please contact MakeOurOwnNetwork@gmail.com
This giveaway is open to the Continental US only (because of shipping costs) and will end on October 29th, 2013

Entry-Form

"Make Our Own Network" solely organized this event and I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are 100% my own and may differ from your own or even those stated in this post. MAMA MAKING CHANGES is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Healthy Holiday Giveaway Blogger Opp

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.aladybugonthego.com/2013/09/healthy-eating-holidays-moonblogs.html" title="Make Our Own Network" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7FSecA-EN-Vu7xGINUgmo9BR7HvfTu7Ogo9r8XoT57DPeouvppxmqgD4vkk8zRkfutlsvKVfBt9GECwtPFKEoXi588ncUGJG7K_Q2RHR8ZHCFfWcS3Hr3FVbjgNIe5XzBLHmhVlu8-p5/s1600/rciuysbrcsh.jpg" alt="Make Our Own Network" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Prize:

1 Week BistroMD Food Delivery

ARV $185

Hosted by:

A Ladybug on the Go
and 

Sign-ups close 10/15 so don't delay.

**The blogger with the most referrals will receive the additional links at no cost so please tell them
MAMA MAKING CHANGES sent you

Click HERE to sign up and for more html info.

M.O.O.N. has now added several perks/discounts for frequent participation in our events but you must be a member of our Facebook group to be eligible.  Please visit the M.O.O.N. group if you are a blogger and would like more information regarding these perks and other group events.

**If you are a company and would like to see your brand advertised in a M.O.O.N. event similar to this or a Blogger interested in working with M.O.O.N. please contact MakeOurOwnNetwork@gmail.com

Herbal Life Giveaway Blogger Opp

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.aladybugonthego.com/2013/09/clean-up-your-act-moonblogs-giveaway.html" title="A Ladybug on the Go" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEj02HPwVeydHko7YRMRNfJThMYPDPdECXHB8J94-rqnO2hmzrCB6P_N9sbbqwapzBJz1Urj2xb_ti7uogF8IENFMD3R5FPHuOKNlBHkq9dAtr_2fc4Xgp2INRDVgbmu7fww4-3oiOQBM/s1600/ID-100144624.jpg" alt="A Ladybug on the Go" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Prize:

2 Herbal Life Shakes (Flavor of Choice), 1 Bottle Cell Activator, 1 Bottle Energizing Herbal Tea + 1 Month Online Nutrition & Fitness Coaching from Indpendent Fitness Coach Amanda Luba

ARV $250+

Hosted by:

A Ladybug on the Go
and 

Sign-ups close 10/12

**The blogger with the most referrals will receive the additional links at no cost so tell 'em
MAMA MAKING CHANGES sent you!

Click HERE to sign up and for more html info.

M.O.O.N. has now added several perks/discounts for frequent participation in our events but you must be a member of our Facebook group to be eligible.  Please visit the M.O.O.N. group if you are a blogger and would like more information regarding these perks and other group events.

**If you are a company and would like to see your brand advertised in a M.O.O.N. event similar to this or a Blogger interested in working with M.O.O.N. please contact MakeOurOwnNetwork@gmail.com

Monday A La Mode: October 7, 2013

It's time for another edition of Monday A La Mode. I've got some interesting stuff for you this week from all around the web. To see more great links, click on the Monday A La Mode tab at the top of the page and see a clickable list of all of the previous editions. 






Bee Helpful:

• Sign this petition from MoveOn.org, asking Lowe's and Home Depot to stop selling plants that have been sprayed with chemicals that poison. The dalarming decline in the bee population could actually mean the end of life as we know it.   Click here to sign now! While there, sign up for their newsletter and recieve email notifications of future petitions.

Quinoa: Love it or hate it? 

• The things we will debate! Apparently there are some who want to be heard loud and clear on the topic of hating quinoa and it has actually been said that quinoa is part of a government conspiracy! Personally I love that their is a healthier, lower carb alternative to rice and pasta and I like the texture better than rice, too.Do you love quinoa or do you agree with the haters?    Click here to read more about this surprising debate.

Child Health Day:

• National Child Health Day is today, October 7th. What changes have you made recently with your child's health in mind? What efforts do you make on a regular basis? What one thing would you recommend to other parents as a critical step in protecting a child's health? Join other moms who are posting short videos on YouTube.com today about how going organic and GMO Free have effected the health of their children. 

Wierd but True: 

• Forget summer love and think fall love! Click here to read about all the reasons you are more likely to get some love this time of year.  Suddenly, I am looking forward to cooler weather even more...

And Just for Laughs:

• Urbanization keeps bringing people and wild animals into closer proximity, sometimes with saddening results. The fox in this video, however, has actually become an attraction at a Swiss golf course. Apparently more people are showing up for an afternoon of golf because they want to see the ball-snatching fox everyone is talking about!

That's it for this Monday! Remember, I love to hear from you! Don't forget to leave your comments below and share this with your friends so they can join the conversation. And have a great week!

Today is the Day

Today marks the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ironically, it is also the first day that millions of uninsured Americans are able to shop for health insurance through the new Health Insurance Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov.

The Tea Party Republicans have been pushing a shutdown of the federal government today in protest of the new healthcare law. Hopefully they will not be able to follow through on their threats. Not sure what this would mean for everyday people like you and me? Click here to read exactly what agencies and services would come to a halt. Whether you agree with the new healthcare reforms or not, a government shutdown is not a good thing.

What exactly does the new site provide? If you don't have medicare or other insurance, you will be able to shop for plans at the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels. All plans at each level will offer the same coverage but may have different copays and premiums. How much you pay will be based on your income, family size, etc. The government will be paying the difference to the insurance companies. 

As one of more than 40 million hard working uninsured Americans, I will be logging in this evening after work to see what kind of rates I can get for my kids and myself. I lost my insurance and my job due to the recession when my employer permanently closed the doors of our business just after Christmas last year. I was extremely blessed to find a new job quickly but I now have no benefits through my employer and have not been able to afford insurance on my own. My family doesn't qualify for any government assistance programs like Medicaid or Food Stamps due to my income, but my income isn't much and I am a single mom. When I burned my arm earlier this year, I didn't see a doctor. When I broke my hand (and I didn't need an x-ray to know it was broken) I also didn't see a doctor. My daughter went a month without her prescription medication at one point this year because I couldn't pay for it. And none of us have seen a dentist since my insurance lapsed.

So you won't see me supporting the government shutdown or arguing with government sponsored healthcare. Most of the civilized world did this before us with much success. There is always room for improvement and the system may or not end up needing to be tweeked and adjusted, but overall I see this as a step in the right direction. 

One last thing...to all those who are moaning and groaning about having to pay for this with your taxes...have a heart for others. Look around and see that this isn't about the people who refuse to work and expect a handout. This program is for the Americans who are busting their butts every day trying to support their families on minimum wage or a little better, making the products you use every day, repairing the car you drive, driving the nails that hold up the new house you just bought, answering phones when you call to complain to some company about something relatively unimportant, running the checkout when you go shopping. Imagine a life without any of those people. Better yet, imagine your life with their paycheck. If you still disagree with the reform, okay, but make sure your decision isn't selfish and self-righteous.