A Mama's Rant

Make it happen in your community with the Pepsi Refresh Project

You may have read that Pepsi is not advertising in the Super Bowl this year. (The only exception is the Doritos brand.) Instead they have decided to invest their resources – over $20 million – to fund community projects through the Pepsi Refresh Project

Pepsi wants to fund great ideas

Pepsi is looking for people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact and are asking people to look around their communities to think about how they want to change it.

This could be anything from upgrading a worn out playground or ball field to starting a food bank in your community. Maybe your child’s school would like to start a greenhouse project like my kids’ school does. Or maybe your senior center needs a new roof or van. Whatever it is Pepsi wants to hear what your community needs so they can help.

How to participate

Each month, you have the opportunity to submit a proposal in one of six categories: health, arts & culture, food & shelter, the planet, neighborhood, or education. (Grants range from $5,000 to $250,000.)At the end of the month, Pepsi will post the top submissions on RefreshEverything.com and let the public vote on the winners.

This month, visit RefreshEverything.com and vote for your favorite submissions for February's grants. You can also connect with the Pepsi Refresh program via Twitter @Pepsi, on Facebook or on the Refresh Everything blog.

For more information:

• Submission kit for tips [PDF]
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Official Application Guidelines
• Send Pepsi Refresh an email
• Call Pepsi Refresh at 1-800-768-2784

How to help Haiti

As you may have noticed I’ve put a Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) badge on all my blogs.

MSF appeals to me for many reasons including that they make sure 87% of donations go their work, only 12% to fundraising and 1% to administrative costs. I also like how they make good use of social networking sites like Twitter at @MSF_USA, YouTube, Tumblr and Facebook. But that’s me and you may want to help out in other ways. Here’s how:

Check out Mom Central's 5 Ways to Help Haiti. Besides linking to MSF, they also give you ways to donate through Oxfam, UNICEF, Mercy Corps., and via your cellphone.

Another way is to donate to the William J. Clinton Foundation for Haiti Earthquake Relief, President Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation. There are two ways to help. You can donate online at clintonfoundation.org/haitirelief to help provide immediate relief and long-term support to earthquake survivors. You can also text "HAITI" to 20222 and $10 will be donated to relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. One hundred percent of your donation will be used for Haiti relief efforts.

The Clinton Foundation is also suggesting that you donate to:

UN World Food Programme (BlogCritics is recommending them, too, as part of their Bloggers Against Hunger efforts.)

American Red Cross: International Response Fund

Mercy Corps: Haiti Earthquake Fund

Partners in Health

If you’re a blogger you can put badges on your site:

• UN World Food Programme’s badge page
• Doctors Without Borders badge page
• Partners in Health badge page (lower right)

You can create a Mercy Corp donation page. And make sure to join all the charities Facebook and Twitter pages, too!

Blogher has some excellent suggestion on HOW to raise money for Haiti.

Finally, On Friday, January 22 at 8-10 p.m. ET, George Clooney and Wyclef Jean will host a live telethon to benefit earthquake victims in Haiti. The telethon will air on all of the MTV channels worldwide, along with ABC, NBC, HBO, and CNN. You can also donate money to Wyclef Jean's Yéle Haiti Foundation by texting "yele" to 501501 from your cell to automatically donate $5 to the Yéle Haiti Earthquake Fund.

Mead Johnson, Maker of Enfamil, Loses Multi-Million Dollar False Advertising Case Against Store-Brand

This is a sponsored guest post written by a Press Release on behalf of PBM Products. Post powered by Sponzai.

GORDONSVILLE, VA., December  2 , 2009—PBM Products, LLC, a leading infant formula company that supplies store-brand infant formulas to Walmart, Sam's Club, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, and other retailers, has received a favorable jury verdict and a $13.5 million damages award in its false advertising lawsuit against Mead Johnson & Co., the operating subsidiary of   Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (NYSE: MJN) (“Mead Johnson”), the makers of the national-brand Enfamil® LIPIL® Infant Formula.  Mead Johnson is 83 percent-owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

 

PBM’s lawsuit claimed that Mead Johnson engaged in false and misleading campaigns against PBM’s competing store-brand of infant formulas, suggesting they do not provide the same nutrition as Mead Johnson’s brands.  PBM’s store-brand infant formulas cost up to 50 percent less than Enfamil® LIPIL®.  The $13.5 million in damages awarded by the jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of the largest damages awards ever for a false advertising case.

 

Disney On Ice Worlds of Fantasy: Denver Pepsi Center Review

My family and I went to see Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy last Saturday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. I wasn’t expecting a Broadway show since it’s supposed to appeal to little kids. However,  I was very impressed with the costuming and lighting, especially during the Lion King sequence. Very imaginative.

The Cars part of the show was a bit silly since it featured the characters from Cars driving around the ice. Not exactly ice skating though it was interesting to figure out where the driver was inside the “costumes.”

The Little Mermaid part was fun since I knew the songs and story. However, I didn’t get much out of the Tinker Bell performance, which took up the second half of the show. I haven’t watched the movie though my kids have, so that was part of the problem. In fact, I actually felled asleep, more from the medication I was taking for my bad back (my husband drove) than the show.

What was really important was the kids’ reaction to the show. They loved Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy! My daughter, Lucie was screaming, “It’s Minnie. Mommy, it’s Goofy. Oh look it’s Ariel!” My son, Nathan thanked me for taking him and said he enjoyed it very much.

It was a nice way to get my kids pumped up for going to Disneyland later this month. Next time, I’ll be having a double latte before the show begins, or I’ll bring a blanket and settle in for a nice nap. Either way, I know my kids will have a grand time for any Disney on Ice show.

General Mills is taking you to the movies

Since a new movie theater with IMAX and 3D opened up near us, the kids and I have been going to the movies quite regularly. Every time we go I seem to drop $30 to $40 on not only the movies (3D and IMAX are even more expensive than regular movies) but popcorn and drinks, too. (We try to economize by sharing, since our theater gives free refills – but still!) And with all the cool holiday movies we want to see from Fantastic Mr. Fox to Planet 51, there’s got to be a cheaper way to do things.

Now General Mills is helping to make seeing all those holiday movies a more affordable this year. You can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of General Mills cereals(Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix and Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs).

After purchasing your two cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the code found inside each box and print your free movie certificate good for admission to any movie. That’s it!

These would make great stocking stuffers or a great way for your spouse to take the kids to the movies while you wrap presents. Or forget the kids and go with your girlfriends to see some George Clooney movies. Just keep in mind that the certificates are only good for 60 days after you print them, so plan accordingly!

To find a participating theater near you, log on to the eMovie Cash Locator. If your favorite theater isn’t available (mine isn’t, darn it!) you can click here to email them. To find out more about how the program works, check out the FAQ page.

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Disclosure: General Mills provided me with a free coupon for one box of General Mills cereal, information on the program, and four eMovie Cash certificates through MyBlogSpark.

Disney On Ice Worlds of Fantasy Coming to Denver!

Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy is Feld Entertainment's newest Disney ice spectacular featuring four fun-filled classic and current Disney stories with such loved characters from Disney/Pixar such as Cars, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Tinker Bell.

We’ll be going to the show at the Pepsi Center, which is a fantastic venue to see shows and sporting events. (I saw Springsteen there and was very impressed with the sound.) Plus, this will be a nice way for my family – even my husband who thinks ice skating shows are stupid – to get excited for our trip to Disneyland in a few weeks.

Schedule

Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy is playing the Denver area at the Pepsi Center and the Denver Coliseum. Show times are as follows:

Pepsi Center
Dec. 4th: 7:30pm
Dec. 5th: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30am
Dec. 6th: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

The Denver Coliseum
Dec. 11th: 11:00am, 7:30pm
Dec. 12th: 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Dec. 13th: 1:30pm, 5:30pm

Special Discount Offer

Purchase a 4‐pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows or receive $4 off weekend tickets by entering the
coupon code: MOM. (You can get 4 tickets for $44 a Monday‐Friday matinee, or $4 off weekend tickets by entering the code “MOM” in the
promotion code box on Ticketmaster or Tickethorse. A minimum purchase of 4 tickets is required. Additional tickets can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating. Remember, service charges and handling fees will apply. Yeah, I hate them, too.)

Complimentary with your ticket purchase, you’ll be able to attend the Disney Princess Pre-Show. Prior to each Worlds of Fantasy performance, families can view the exclusive collection of enchanting gowns and mementos from the Disney Princess stories. Don’t forget your camera!

(I’ll bet posting my review here at A Mama’s Rant next weekend.)

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Disclosure: I wrote this post for Mom Central on behalf of Feld Entertainment. For my efforts in spreading the word about the show, my family and I were given complimentary tickets to see the show.

Helping others through Oxfam America Unwrapped

This year Oxfam America Unwrapped is giving you a chance to help those in need while giving you a convenient, easy way to find something for every one on your list.

Here’s how it works:

• First, browse their online catalog, and find a gift for a friend or relative.
• Then you’ll receive a free card with the image of your specific gift. You can personalize the card online and have it sent directly to your friend or relative. Or you can have the card delivered to you to write your own message.
• Your donation will go to the people who need it, and where it will have the greatest impact.

Gifts start at $12 and go up to $10,000. Remember, all Oxfam Unwrapped donations are tax deductible and you will get a receipt.

You can have a lot of fun with these, too. For example, if your boss is a total sh*t, you can send him a gift of manure for only $12. (Too bad they don’t dump it on his office chair.) In reality, a gift of organic manure increases crop yields and is cheaper, greener, and safer than chemical fertilizers. It’s another way of telling people that you really “give a $%@#” for the planet.

Here are some other ideas:

• For the bookworm, give a gift of books for kids for $18
• For the jewelry lover, give a gift of beaded jewelry for $18
• For the gardener, give a gift of a grove of "miracle trees", planting of 50 trees or planting a vegetable garden for $30 (each).

Learn more about Oxfam here.

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Disclosure:  I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Oxfam America Unwrapped and received a credit for a gift on the Oxfam site.

Win a Glade Fresh Night Out gift basket

I had the honor of hosting* the Glade Fresh Night Out event in Denver last week. It was a night of socializing with local mom bloggers while enjoying some yummy appetizers and drinks at the Warwick hotel.

Part of the evening’s festivities including making gift baskets with a decorate it yourself mug, a chenille throw blanket, a jar of homemade chocolate mix (which included marshmallows and chocolate chips), a satin sleep eyeshade, and some Glade Sense & Spray products. (The blanket and basket are from IKEA, so what’s not to love.)

I’ve been using Glade Sense & Spray products in my home and love them. I’m usually into scented candles, but after leaving the house only to come home and find out that I left them burning, I’ve tried to find an alternative like Glade Sense & Spray Automatic Freshener. Heck anything that can cover up the scent of my indoor electric composter while not setting the house on fire is my favorite thing.

How you can get a Glade Fresh Night Out gift basket

I’m giving away one of the gift baskets I made. (The other one went home with me.) This would be a nice housewarming gift. Or you can give the mug, pens and homemade hot chocolate as a teacher appreciation gift, the blanket and eyeshade to your mother-in-law and the basket to someone else. Or you can keep it all for yourself!

Congrats to Julie P. of Booking Mama who won the basket!

FREE cookies from Cheryl & Co.

Cheryl & Co. is offering cookie lovers a chance to sample their cookies for FREE. If you order a gift box of 6 cookies, you’ll receive a sampling of their most popular flavors: chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, sugar, snickerdoodle, chocolate chocolate chip, and their famous buttercream frosted cookie. 

Plus you’ll also receive a $10 Reward Card to use on your next purchase! 

The only thing you have to pay for shipping and handling charges of $6.95. (Total value is $21.99) There is a limit of one free sample per customer. Also, this offer will only be good until November 20, 2009 at 11:59pm EST.

This would make a great teacher appreciation or hostess gift. You can go to www.cherylandco.com/free to get the free cookies or go to www.cherylandco.com to see what else Cheryl & Co. has to offer like these Hanukkah gifts or these Thanksgiving goodies.

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Full disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post. But I do have a good friend whose husband works at Cheryl & Co., and she says the cookies are delicious!

Family travel made easy with Microsoft Office Live

I’ve been a user of Microsoft Office for a long time. However, I realize I still use these products the way I did years ago – as stand alone programs – instead of integrating them more into my work and family life.

But learning how takes time, you know? So when Mom Central asked me to check out Microsoft Office Live, I thought maybe I’d learn something and find a better way to do things.

Office Live for Small Business

Microsoft Office Live has two sections: Microsoft Office Live Workspace and Microsoft Office Live for Small Business. Microsoft Office Live for Small Business gives you the opportunity to create a small, customizable website and email account. This would be a great way to quickly and cheaply create an online presence. I’ll have to play around with it more before I recommend it to my writing clients though, since I usually find that most people need a blog and not a static website. However, if this is something you may be interested in you can learn more or check out their FAQs or Community and Support.

Why I need Office Live Workspace

What I was interested in was discovering if Microsoft Office Live Workspace would make camping and other trip planning easier. When I go to conferences, I’d forward a slew of documents and email to a special Gmail account I keep for this purpose so I have access to the information and files.

However, there are times you can’t get Internet access even with a smart phone. So, I’d print out a bunch of emails from airlines and hotels for both myself and my family. (One to take along and one to keep at home.) I’d also print out pages of emails from people I was planning to meet up with, and cut and paste the conference lineup into a Word document and print that out, too. Finally, I’d also print out maps if I had to go to several places over the course of one trip. Bottom line: while I believe in hard copy backup, I hated killing a few trees every time I left the house.

I was also frustrated that my husband never knew when I was leaving or when I’d be coming back. The problem was that he’d have a printout of my itinerary at home and wouldn’t have a copy at the office. Maybe I should tattoo it on one of the kids’ tushies?

With a family trip coming up – we’re meeting my sister and her family in San Diego next month – maybe Office Live Workspace could help.