Green Your Mom Giveaway Hop

It's time for the 2nd Annual Green Your Mom Giveaway Hop, hosted by Happy Mothering and Green Moms Network! I'm so happy to be a member of GMN and be able to bring this to you! 

Many blogs are participating and all have prizes valued at $25+ to help you "Green Your Mom" (or yourself) this Mother's Day!

Mama Making Changes has partnered with two sponsors for Green Your Mom for a total of approximately $75 in prizes!

Ethical Consumer Magazine is available in print and online. For full access to their website, including pdf versions of current and past issues of the print magazine and other wonderful features, you must be a paid subscriber at www.ethicalconsumer.org. However, for the Green Your Mom Giveaway Hop, Ethical Consumer is giving one lucky winner a one year subscription for FREE! Read my full review of ethicalconsumer.org by clicking here.

GAC Filters are reusable filters for water bottles. Each carbon filter is about the size of a tea bag and is reusable for up to 50 liters of water. When it's time for a new one, the old one is compostable! GAC Filters is giving our lucky giveaway winner a $25 gift certificate to www.gacfilters.com! Click here to read my full review of the GAC Filter.

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win both of these prizes for your mom or for yourself this Mother's Day! 

After entering my giveaway, be sure to visit the other blogs listed under the Rafflecopter form form for your chance to win more green mom giveaways.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Q is for Quiet

If you're thinking "Quiet? What's that?", then this is for you! 

I used to run all day at near the speed of light and then drop into bed after everyone else was sleeping. I'd lie in bed with a zillion thoughts running through my mind till I fell asleep, then get up the next day and do it again. 

It was actually my pastor that made me realize that this was unhealthy physically, mentally, and spiritually. I was stressed and tired and I never took time for myself. I thought giving selflessly was part of being a good wife and mom but in reality I wasn't much fun to be around. 

I bought some headphones. I moved my laptop to the bedroom. The dishes will wait if they haven't been done yet. Completely alone, after I put my daughter to bed, I  sit and listen to music while I relax. I may blog, chat online with a friend, read my Bible, write in my journal, whatever...but it's my quiet time, my peaceful time. 

When I get sleepy, which happens much more easily when I'm relaxed, I switch the music to my bedtime playlist at a low volume and I close my eyes. 

Do you get your quiet time every day? If so, how do you like to spend it? If not, I challenge you to make it happen for one week and see the difference it makes!

Click here for a full list of my posts and a list of participating blogs in the 2013 A to Z Challenge!

Green Your Mom Giveaway Hop Returns

Mama Making Changes just joined the 2nd Annual Green Your Mom Giveaway Hop! 

This event starts May 1, 2013, and MMC is working with EthicalConsumer.org to bring you a prize valued at nearly $50!

If you're a blogger, just click the button in this post or the button in the sidebar at right to go sign up. It's easy! Just add your blog to the linky and post the button. Promoting is optional, but the more we promote the bigger the event will be!

G is for GMO

Too often, we assume that because we are passionate about a subject that everyone else should not only know exactly what we're talking about, but also share our opinion! In reality, many people just don't know what the heck we are talking about.

Such is often the case when I start talking about GMOs. Occasionally someone will ask me what is a GMO? In fact, my mom admitted not long ago that she didn't really know anything about them and wanted to know more. 

So, this post is for those who have wondered but not asked. Just a quick and very basic overview. No opinions, just facts (although the facts are what determine our opinions, right?). There is so much more information than this, but this is an introduction. Do a little research on Google and you'll find plenty more if you find yourself interested. 

1. GMO is an abbreviation for genetically modified organism, an organism being defined by www.dictionary.com as "a form of life composed of mutually interdependent parts that maintain various vital processes." 
2. A GMO is created when scientists in laboratories alter the genes of an organism to create what they determine to be a "better" version of the original, i.e. more drought resistant or resistant to common herbicides.
3. GMO seeds are marketed to farmers as a way to produce a more bountiful crop using fewer natural resources.
4. Monsanto is the leader in producing GMO seeds and was the first company to ever successfully alter the genes of a plant.
5. Farmers who use GMO seeds are not allowed to keep seed from their crops because Monsanto, the company that produces these seeds, claim to own the sole rights to the seeds (and this has been upheld in United States courts).
6. If GMO crops pollinate neighboring farmers' crops, Monsanto claims the rights to all seed on those farms also. Thus, Monsanto currently controls about half the world's seeds for agriculture.
7. When GMOs are sold as food, there is no legislation to require that the food be labeled as such, although about twenty states have attempted or are presently attempting to obtain a labeling requirement.
8. While there is a lack of definitive research, some studies have indicated that animals that eat GMOs are negatively affected and some claim that GMOs are a carcinogen. 
9. Monsanto scientists claim that GMOs are completely safe according to their privately conducted studies.
10. About thirty countries have restricted or banned GMOs because they have not been proven safe.

Click here for a full list of my posts and a list of participating blogs in the 2013 A to Z Challenge!

F is for Food

Food...BIG subject. I could write a book I feel so strongly about many issues involving food. Don't worry! Not tonight and not here! This will be brief!

About a year ago, I started making more effort to eat healthier and to know more about what I eat, not just me but my family too. I've made a ton of changes since then and learned so much. I've also lost about thirty pounds in that time without being hungry! We rarely eat corn now, we buy locally grown, organic vegetables and free-range natural meat. I have given up pasta and rice. I buy local raw milk from grass fed cows. I could go on. I won't go into all of the whys in this post - after all I promised not to write a book tonight. I'll list a few links at the bottom of this post if you want to learn more.

I think we can all agree, however, that a diet of "real food" only is healthier than a diet of highly processed foods like potato chips, crackers, frozen dinners and the like. In January, I participated in the 7 Day Real Food Challenge from Holistic Mama. I got a 7 day menu plan, complete with recipes for everything on the menu and shopping list. My family and I agreed to do the Challenge together and it was a great experience! We were able to give up some of those highly processed foods that were remaining in our diet. In fact, separating our food into what was allowed and not allowed during the challenge, we realized how many unhealthy foods were still in our kitchen.


Holistic Mama is bringing back the 7 Day Real Food Challenge at the end of April! I'm so excited! I will be posting details since this time I am a contributing blogger, but you can head over to read about the challenge now by clicking here. Hope you'll join us when sign-ups open soon!

For more info on why we've made so many changes to our diet, try some of these links:

http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2009/
http://www.localharvest.org/buylocal.jsp
http://www.fixfood.org/
http://www.mamamakingchanges.com/2012/04/new-facts-draw-your-own-conclusions.html
http://robertkennerfilms.com/food_inc_return.html
http://www.transferofhealth.com/healthy-eating/why-eat-healthy/corn-facts/
http://www.mamamakingchanges.com/2012/07/summer-blog-challenge-day-49.html
http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/resources/grass-fed-beef-grain-fed-beef-00412000070712/
http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2007/05/the-difficult-lives-and-deaths-of-factory-farmed-chickens/
http://worldtruth.tv/how-monsanto-big-ag-are-killing-us-planet-earth/
http://theholisticmama.com/store-7/?ap_id=lrbroach1973




Click here for a full list of my posts and a list of participating blogs in the 2013 A to Z Challenge!

B is for Bags

Click here for a full list of my posts and a list of participating blogs in the 2013 A to Z Challenge!

Aren't bags convenient? Bags allow us to carry more, stay organized, contain loose or small items, and more. But are we using them responsibly? What could we change to be a little more eco-friendly?

Think about how many different ways we use bags each day:

• Is your makeup in a bag?
• Do you keep special jewelry in little jewelry sacks?
• Did your groceries come home in bags?
• Do you buy packaged products that come in bags?
• When you buy bulk, like oats or rice, do you scoop it into a bag? Store it in a bag at home?
• Do you store food in bags?
• Do you carry a handbag or shoulder bag?
• Is your gym bag packed and ready to go at a moment's notice?
• If you are in school, do you carry a book bag?
• When you pack your lunch, do you put it in a bag?
• Do you use gift bags?

I'm sure you can think of more! They're everywhere! Did you know that in the U.S. alone, nearly 100 billion plastic bags are trashed every year, even though most are recyclable? If you choose paper bags whenever they are available, you will be surprised how much they will hold, resulting in your using fewer bags, but what about the trees used to produce them? Of course we could and should use our own re-usable shopping bags, but we don't always remember to take them with us. 

Re-use your plastic or paper bags! Use them to line trash cans, carry your lunch, sort recyclables, pack clothes and other used items for donation, store raw fruits and veggies, or line your garden or flower beds (with paper bags) to hold back weeds. See how many times you can re-use the same bag! 

Gifts that are difficult to wrap in paper, can usually be wrapped in fabric! Try a colorful bandana or other piece of fabric, knotting the four corners on top. Use a round piece of fabric and secure it on top with a ribbon or a strip of colorful fabric. This is actually a great way to upcyle clothing that has seen better days! Just cut it up for gift wrap! You can also use old tees to make shopping bags like the one at left. Get directions by clicking here!

When choosing backpacks, handbags, and other similar bags, materials matter! Many are made from petroleum-derived products and are not easily recycled. Choose bags made from recycled materials and then donate them when you are finished with them. Recycle them again if and when they become unusable. Organic cotton is always a great eco-friendly choice (and easily washable), but a Lily Bloom bag made from recycled plastic is too! 

What other ways do we use bags? What tips can you add for using bags more responsibly?

A to Z Challenge 2013

Thanks for checking out the A to Z Challenge! Here's how it works: 

Each day corresponds with a letter of the alphabet. My post for that day must correspond with the letter of the day. On the schedule below you will see all of the letters on their scheduled dates. I will post a clickable link beside the day on the schedule each time a post is completed, making it easy for you to find them. 

Below the schedule, at the bottom of this post, is a list of links to all of the participating blogs. Please visit some or all of them. How many things can you learn about the start with the same letter each day?

Wish me luck! This should be fun!

A to Z: 2013 Challenge Schedule and Links to Posts

Week One:

April 01, Monday - Letter "A" - A is for Arlee

April 02, Tuesday - Letter "B" - B is for Bags

April 03, Wednesday - Letter "C" - C is for Climate

April 04, Thursday - Letter "D" - D is for Do-It-Yourself

April 05, Friday - Letter "E" - E is for Earth Day

April 06, Saturday - Letter "F" - F is for Food

Week Two:

April 07, Sunday - BREAK

April 08, Monday - Letter "G" - G is for GMO

April 09, Tuesday - Letter "H" - H is for Hemp

April 10, Wednesday - Letter "I" - I is for Insect

April 11, Thursday - Letter "J" - J is for Java

April 12, Friday - Letter "K" - K is for Kansas

April 13, Saturday - Letter "L" - L is for Light

Week Three:

April 14, Sunday - BREAK

April 15, Monday - Letter "M" - M is for Music

April 16, Tuesday - Letter "N" - N is for Novel

April 17, Wednesday - Letter "O" - O is for Opera

April 18, Thursday - Letter "P" - P is for People

April 19, Friday - Letter "Q" - Q is for Quiet

April 20, Saturday - Letter "R" - R is for Roasts & Rivers

Week Four:

April 21, Sunday - BREAK

April 22, Monday - Letter "S" - S is for Sugar

April 23, Tuesday - Letter "T" - T is for TheUselessWeb

April 24, Wednesday - Letter "U" - U is for Unusual

April 25, Thursday - Letter "V" - V is for Vegetables

April 26, Friday - Letter "W" - W is for What I Wish I Knew Then

April 27, Saturday - Letter "X" - X is for Xylitol

Week Five:

April 28, Sunday - BREAK

April 29, Monday - Letter "Y" - Y is for Yellow

April 30, Tuesday - Letter "Z"

A to Z Blog Challenge

In April 2013, Mama Making Changes will be participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge. I love challenges because they hold me accountable for posting daily, which is something that I tend to plan but not always do. 

In the A to Z Challenge, participants' post titles will start with the letter of the day every day except Sunday. Participating bloggers are also asked to visit and comment on at least 5 other blogs on the linky each day, starting with the blog that is listed after your own. 

The best part of this challenge is that participating blogs should see a huge increase in activity! This has been referred to as a "blog hop on steroids" because there are so many participants! 

Sign-ups are open now so click here to find out more or to sign up. I'm excited and ready to begin!

Photo-A-Day Challenge: Day 12

Today's Prompt:  Candy Cane

This is my sister doing her best impression of a candy cane!
What do you think? How'd she do?

Click here or the tab at the top of the page to see the other photos in the December Photo-A-Day Challenge!

Photo-A-Day Challenge: Day One

December 1 Prompt - Smile :)

If this doesn't make ya smile, what will?!!

December Photo-A-Day Challenge Hop

Mama Making Changes is sponsoring a Photo-A-Day Challenge Hop for December 2012! Below is a list of dates in December and beside each one is a prompt, which is a suggestion for your photo that day. Let's see how creative we can get! Think outside the box! And have fun! 



Each day, after I post the photo of the day, I will change the suggestion to a clickable link. Just click the link to see the photo! 

Calling all Bloggers! Would you like to join me? Just copy and paste the button and the intro above and the list below to your page and add your blog to the linky at the bottom of this post. I'll email the linky code to you after you sign up. Feel free to make some changes to the introduction to customize it to your blog, as long as you give include the link to Mama Making Changes.

December Photo-A-Day Challenge

12/1      Smile :)

12/2      2012 Event I won't forget

12/3      Red

12/4      It's so cold!

12/5      Decorate

12/6      One

12/7      Flashback

12/8      Green

12/9      Yummy

12/10     Lights

12/11     Friendship

12/12     Local 

12/13     Candy cane

12/14     Wrap it up!

12/15     I love...

12/16     Two 

12/17     Toy

12/18     Warm and cozy

12/19     Tree

12/20     Special

12/21     Sweet

12/22     White

12/23     Homemade

12/24     Joy

12/25     Good morning!

12/26     Relax

12/27     Me

12/28     Three

12/29     Family

12/30     Resolution

12/31     Celebrate!

Model Ship Giveaway

Now that November is here, people across the world have holiday shopping on their minds. If you’re looking for a unique holiday gift idea for the man or boy in your life, you’ll love this giveaway! I’ve teamed up with Happy Mothering, Model-Ships.co.uk and an SEO company in India to offer you a chance to win a $200 gift voucher so you can order the realistic model ship of your choice! Model-Ships.co.uk, one the leading ship manufacturing companies in the UK, offers more than 600 models to choose from! Their model ship selection includes

Winter Wonderland Giveaway Hop

Announcing The Winter Wonderland Blog Hop...

I am excited to announce the team up of Andersons Angels and Joy of Momma Joyner once again to bring you another FUN blog hop called Winter Wonderland! This event will run from 12:01am EST Saturday December 1, 2012 through 11:59pm EST Saturday December 15, 2012. It's super easy to join in on all the fun of getting ready for the Winter Season!



Sign-ups are open now, so head on over to add your blog to the Linky. Be sure to tell them that Mama Making Changes sent you!

Mama Making Changes will have a two great prizes for this giveaway: one sponsored by BeeAlive and another sponsored by Sprout San Francisco for a total of more than $100 in prizes!