On Tuesday, January 27, Mom It Forward launched a giveaway. The requirement? To plan and carry out a service project or random act of kindness and vlog, blog, or submit a photo of it. And who says service doesn't pay off? Not only for the recipients of these kind acts, but for those that thoughtfully planned and carried out the service.
Thanks to all those that participated and in your own way, helped change the world one mom at a time. Drum roll please as we announce the winners! Be sure to click on their links, check out their entries, and be inspired (you'll want to break out the tissue for this first video)!
Thanks to Sugar Jones from Sugar Jones in the Raw for awarding Mom It Forward winners of the HP Magic Giveaway. These prizes are part of that package and this giveaway is an effort to spread the HP Magic and the spirit of service and giving even further.
For our next giveaway, we are partnering with the Park City Mountain Resort. Check out the amazing prize and rules for entry here or here. This time the tables are turned and you get to do the giving. Simply nominate a person that has made a big difference in your life or who, you feel, is the definition of a Mom It Forward mom, and she could win a family vacation in Park City, UT!
The Giveaway Prize Think of a person who has made a big difference in your life. Someone that embraces the Mom It Forward mission. Someone that lifts others, has overcome challenges with a smile, is a positive force for good, or just makes your world a better place. This person can be an on or offline friend. Perhaps a blogger who has inspired you. Or someone who is always tweeting the nicest things to people. Or a person that makes your day through their posts on your Facebook wall. It could be an IRL friend—someone in your community, a family member, a neighbor, or anyone that deserves a reward and some recognition for being a wonderful person.
Now think of this person enjoying a free summer vacation—on you!—with his or her family in the mountains of Utah at the Park City Mountain Resort. We're not just talking any vacation, we're talking an all-expenses-paid vacation, including the following for a family of up to 6 people:
Lodging for up to 6 people (3 nights, 4 days) in a 2-bedroom, 5-star condo
Dinner vouchers for 3 nights for the entire family
Resort Passes good for 3 days, including a wide range of family activities such asa climbing wall, an Alpine Slide, a Human Maze, miniature golfing, a Zip Rider, mountain biking and hiking, and more
Now think of how good you'll feel when you win this giveaway FOR this person and get to Mom It Forward to him or her! The giveaway that is meant to be given away.
The Giveaway Entry Requirements Please follow these rules to enter the giveaway.
Leave a comment with your name and an e-mail address where we can reach you.
In your comment, write a short description of the person you feel deserves this free summer vacation and how he or she embraces the Mom It Forward mission. (Click here for more information on Mom It Forward.)
Submit your entry by midnight on Tuesday, March 17.
So many amazing stories, so many amazing women. Mom It Forward wants to thank everyone who participated in the Happiness Headlines Challenge. We think you all RAwK! Here's five more:
9 to 5 to 9 tells how her little boy crashed into a Christmas tree at the grocery store. And how when he realized it was a giving tree and that there was a little boy named Rigo who needed warm clothes and a few toys, she couldn't say no to helping out that little boy. Here's what she said:
I'm quite good at telling the guys "no." I even have an international string of "no" in several languages that I break out when they can't grasp the concept in basic English, and they've heard it a lot since September.
But there was no way I could say "no" to that. Not when Big Guy had just given me a glimpse of a heart of gold buried beneath alternating layers of Sam Zell and Hanibal Lector.
After getting those gifts for Rigo, Deb was the grateful one:
Merry Christmas, Rigo.
And thank you, Big Guy, for giving me a glimpse of your light.
Shannon Sez So was worried she missed the challenge. But since we are moms with crazy schedules our deadline changed about 3 times, so if you told us your RAK we are thrilled to have it! She commented:
I wanted to let you know that I did give an elderly woman a ride to the Metro so she wouldn't have to wait in the cold for a bus. Does that count?
And I've said before. Ain't it the small things that make the season bright? Thanks Shannon.
Wanderlust and Lipstick has been hosting a fabulous Passports with Purpose the whole month of December. What is it? Well, it's awesome for one thing. It's also a fundraiser. With the proceeds going to Heifer International. And there's all these great items! Amazing travel deals and travel books, even a travel related scrapbook supply basket. But here's the twist. It's a virtual raffle! For only $10 you get the chance to 'win' hundreds of dollars of great stuff!
Michelle says:
I am a sucker for Christmas. I love the lights, the presents, the trees and the celebration in general. But, as I shop for gifts for my friends and family, I can’t help thinking of the deeper meaning of this season of goodwill: of this urge to reach out and help others.
The Raffle fundraiser for Heifer International is going on until the end of December! You can still qualify! There were so many items, I lost count at 40+!
Our very own Jyl at Mommy Gossip made some cookies, and not just any cookies. These are Reindeer Cookies people! (She's very proud). She and her kids gave away the cookies and some candy canes to neighbors this year. And this video of hers is great. It's worth the few minutes of watching it I promise! If nothing else watch long enough to see her little boy sitting up on the counter helping with the M&Ms! Precious.
Okay… I want world peace and an end to famine, war, discrimination, pain, suffering and the other usual fodder of beauty pagent contestants.
She goes on to say:
Beauty pagent jokes aside, what I want, what I really, really want (are you listening, Spice Girls?) is a better world for my children. That’s kind of hard to stuff in a stocking or put in a bag under the tree. But when I sit and think about what I want… that’s it. A safer, cleaner, healthier, more intelligent world.
Ecomom has come up with an innovative way to give back this year. She hosted a contest and each day right up until Christmas Day, she picked a winner and donated $$ to Christmas Future! This organization lets the 'winner' choose the place the money will be sent to and both the donor and the recipient get to see where the money is going. I love this method of kindness. Using Random Generator probably to create a random act of kindness!
What a great time of year, to look back and think about the good things you did for others. We truly believe women make a difference. Moms. Daughters. Grandmothers.
In the coming year we want you all to help us Mom It Forward. Help us change the world, one mom at a time.
We bring you Four more Mom It Forwards. These women have proven that Random Acts of Kindness are worth it. They bring big rewards. Thanks to all of them for their ideas and example.
Renee at Cutie Booty Cakes Connie at My Chronic Life Rhonda at Mother to Mother Heather at I am Feathermaye Cutie Booty Cakes makes a few suggestions for good deeds and give backs. She shares the partnership between Fererro Chocolates and www.sharesomethingsweet.com The chocolate company partnered with Share Our Strength a leading hunger relief organization. And when you use the share something sweet site to send a simple ecard they donate $1 to help feed the hungry. Now that's sweet! And so is Renee and her son!
My Chronic Life says she broke the rules for the Happiness Headlines Challenge. But I'm afraid I have to disagree. Instead she points out what some other good doers in her online community did for her. I think she got it just right.
The power of the blogging community is strong. Sure there’s some drama every now and then. Just stay clear of it. I’ve learned my lesson about that. But please don’t let feeling like you don’t know enough about blogging prevent you from starting. Join Twitter, GNO and other groups. Get to know people and watch those acts of kindness, random or not come your way.
Mother 2 Mother is shipping packages to troops in Iraq and Rhonda is still taking donations up until Jan 1st. She says the guys have submitted a list:
Their list includes hard candy, homemade cookies, chips, envelopes & writing paper, pens, deodorant, tooth brushes, tooth paste, food powder, lotion, sun screen, chap stick, batteries (AA, AAA & D), gum, sports and/or automotive magazines less than 2 months old, disposal razors, white socks, cheese & peanut butter crackers, ramen/cup o noodles.
It's a great way to help and some items won't cost you a thing, just donate some old magazines or pantry items! Contact Rhonda for details.
I AM Feathermaye had to get a little bit creative to Mom It Forward this holiday season. See. She found herself with an extra tree and all the trimmings when her husband came home with a new tree! Heather thought and thought about how to find a family in need of a great tree with all the ornaments to boot? She called some churches, got no answer, and then...
Yesterday, I got over myself. I made one call to the local elementary school's main office, who quickly transferred me to the guidance counselors' office, who was thrilled to hear from me! It turns out that the guidance counselors are working with social workers to match donors with families in need, of which there are many.
In less than 24 hours my little tree and bags and boxes of decorations were promised to a single mother with two elementary-aged kiddos who otherwise might not have a Christmas tree. I was so touched, imagining this family, because it was just a short twelve years ago that Jonathan and I were not so different from them. And if not for the generosity of others, we might have had some sad holidays of our own.
She asked herself:
Is it wrong of me to feel good for being able to do this? Not in an I'm-so-cool kind of way, but in an I-made-a-difference moment, for sure. Because sometimes we're not sure if we are making a difference, you know?
And, as far as I'm concerned, making even a little difference makes all the difference in the world.
What do you say? Mom It Forward women, is it worth it? The small things that help make a difference?
MERRY CHRISTMAS from Jyl and Carissa here at Mom It Forward!
We hope you are enjoying your holiday-- whether you celebrate Christmas or some other winter holiday! Seems like such a perfect time to find ways to Mom It Forward! Check out the Random acts these women created, from the simple to the heartwarming.
Short Pump Preppycame up with possibly the most creative random act of kindness. Early in December I asked Linda if I could have a great Santa hat on my twitter avatar like she had... and in only a few minutes (and a little snark) she created my masterpiece! She said she was stuck home a lot this month after her daughter's surgery, so this was something she could do for the Twitter world! Check out her handywork!
PantryGirl wrote a really amazing article about how the small and simple kind acts are the kinds of things she wants her child to grow up seeing and learning. Her simple act? In NYC she hailed a cab for an elderly lady while she herself was 'hoofing' 23 blocks!
She wrote:
How many times have I been uplifted by a simple smile from a stranger or watching someone on the bus give to a stranger a tissue to dry their eyes or blow their nose. That’s the world I want my child to see and live in. It’s a world of kindness and compassion. It’s a world where we’re not insulated and self serving. In a city where we can be total strangers to people sharing a wall with us, you can forget how important it is to be a part of the biggest society out there, humankind.
The Sassy Mom took on the RAK challenge and baked up some cookies and delivered them to an elderly neighbor. Keeping with the simple theme here it reminds me that the joys of the season are not always things.
Kristen wrote:
My kids had so much fun and it made a HUGE difference to our neighbor.
A Cup of Teashows us that while it's a good idea to keep your little acts of kindness a secret, you can still be genuine in your giving attitude whether folks know about it or not. She uses her husband's example of 17 year's worth of random giving! Duong created two giving moments in one shopping trip.
First. She surprised 10 lucky people behind her at a local tollbooth and paid all of their fares! Wouldn't you have liked to see their faces when they found out!?
Second. She was at Trader Joes and had decided to purchase a gift card which she would then somehow secretly hand to the cashier or something for the person behind her... but it turned out to be a busy day at Trader Joes and she gave up being very secretive, maybe the next time she thought. But just as she was leaving the store she found the perfect couple to Mom It Forward on! She handed this elderly couple the gift card and explained that she was giving it to them, they were shocked, and I think Duong got the bigger blessing...what do you think? I got teary reading this one!
Their eyes both lit up with amazement and responded with such gratitude! The woman's eyes looked like it was starting tear up. I'm a sensitive person; therefore, before they could see my glossy eyes turn teary, I wished them a Merry Christmas and headed to my car.
My heart was so overjoyed and all though I may have made their day-it 'Made My Day' all the more! Why? Because I've learned that it is always more blessed to give then to receive!
Mom It Forward brings you 4 more Forward Moms. One saving for giving, one cheering you on, one making me laugh and one simply serving others. Amazing what everyone does everyday. Thanks for being part of the Mom It Forward Happiness Headlines Challenge:
For pennies Brandy has been able to gather some goodies and then figured out a great way to give back on items she got for nearly free! She took 10 baskets packed with these items to a local home for the elderly, where her own grandmother had lived.
Many of these people don't have family in town or family that can be bothered to visit. So we thought it would be a good idea to share some of what we have with these ladies.
You would be surprised how a little bag of soap or candy can brighten someones day. The fact that someone thought of them means the world to them.
And to me.
Crispy Dragon cracked me up. It would totally be my luck. To attempt a RAK and then have to come home and write up a post entitled: RAK Fail. That's what Noreen did.
Well, it wasn't too great, but I went and bought a McDonalds meal and gift card for a forlorn looking young woman I saw on a street corner holding a sign. By the time I bought the stuff and went back she was gone!
It's the thought that counts right???
Good and Crazy asked: Do You RA(w)K? Carissa thinks you all do.
Photo generously allowed by Jill Stafford @ JillAllyn
Imagine the difference you make with all the small things you do each day. For your family, your neighbors, your friends and your world. YOU are more important than you realize.
Twincident commented on the GNO--Cares page. Janine has the right idea. Keep it simple and think about the people no one thinks about.
My special RAK project has been to return and/or collect shopping carts left out in the parking lots as I shop. Some poor guy is always stuck collecting them out in the cold and every one I can bring back is one less for him to have to do...I hope :). Great idea and loving the RAKs.
Mom It Forward will be bringing you three more days of Happiness Headlines. Have you signed up for the newsletter? That box at the top? Don't miss any of the exciting plans and changes coming up in '09. Come on. Mom It Forward with us!
How Did GNO Gals Mom It Forward This Holiday Season?
We challenged our #GNO community to spread holiday cheer, to Mom It Forward if you will. And now it's time! Time to share with you the ways in which many of you shifted the mood of the news by creating Happiness Headlines this season. We'd like to share with you the funny, the uplifting, the creative, and the kind acts GNO Gals have submitted this month. These women have shown what random acts of kindness look like. Welcome:
Mara inspires us with her holiday tradition using an advent wreath. She writes this on her blog The Mother of All Trips.
Advent is the season of waiting and hope, like the end of a pregnancy. I’ve found that focusing on Advent (rather than just Christmas) helps us see what is really special and important about this time of year. Each year the children and I gather dried flowers, branches, leaves, berries, and seed pods and make a wreath. The wreath goes in the middle of the dining room table and every night we light a candle – one the first week, two the second, and so on until the week of Christmas when all of the candles are lit.
On Christmas Eve, I take wreath apart and use it to decorate our nativity set, placing the crèche right in the middle of the dried roses and hydrangeas and holly. Last year the children checked to make sure Jesus was there before they went in to see their presents on Christmas morning.
Mommy Instincts reminds us that the small things in life are what really count. And sprinkles on sugar cookies are one of those things!
I have been little miss Suzy Homemaker this week. Between making my homemade Christmas gifts, making a random apple pie or peach cobbler, and today, making sugar cookies for my young-at-heart husband, who loves to decorate them, I have decided I am going to make up a second batch of cookies and take them over to the Salvation Army guy who rings the bell at the grocery store by my house. They always stand there, in the cold, ringing the bell and saying Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, and I wonder how many people really respond to them. I mean, I always do, but how many people just walk on by without a second glance.
Consumer Queenshares her two pay it forward plans. She encourages others to join her, spreading the holiday cheer a little further. First she helped out PetsandPeople.com, and then she supported the Oklahoma Baptist Girls Home.
Stop Drop and Blog got herself Elfed! Just look at all the goodies and goodness some secret elf shared with her and her family.
And, so, there you have it. We’ve been elfed. I simply can’t stop grinning about it. I’ve heard rumors that things like this happen but we’ve never been on the receiving end of such a beautiful gesture. (Honestly? I’m getting weepy right now.) The fact that someone took the time to provide a little something for my boys and for FireDad and I (because, let’s face it, we’re going to eat that candy!) is just so touching.
I’m heading out to do some shopping for the family whom we will be elfing this year. I say this year because it is something I’d like to see our family take on every year. We haven’t finalized, just yet, whom we will be surprising with a bag of goodies but we’re excited at the simple idea of making some family smile.
Thanks to today's featured GNO Gals—and everyone that participated in the Happiness Headlines Challenge we have 4 more days of fabulous RAKs to share, we've been enjoying them, and now we are happy to share them!
At Tuesday's GNO, we can't wait to hear about all of the random acts of kindness (RAKs) you've been doing to spread holiday cheer this season. RSVP for the party in the center sidebar to follow other GNO Gals on twitter and to be followed. Also, don't forget to submit your RAK-related blog posts by tomorrow, December 16. We'll be creating a newsletter, compiling all of your great submissions. You'll be amazed at the difference one act of service, one blog post can make. So, take the challenge and see the ripple effect you'll start!
To participate, read the directions carefully:
Identify and perform at least one random of act of kindness (RAK).
Post about the experience in written, picture, and/or video format(s).
Be creative! Keep it simple. Do something within your means and time. Include your friends and family.
Submit the post URL via e-mail to mommygossipgno AT gmail DOT com or here in the comments by Tuesday, December 16. You may also post comments, pictures, and/or videos on our Facebook group wall.
Grab the button below (code is also in the right sidebar) and post it on your blog or on your Facebook profile page.
IMPORTANT: To read about the RAKs, sign up for the GNO Newsletter (click on the orange button above this post) where GNO Gal's posts will be featured. The purpose of this newsletter is to uplift and inspire each other and to share great RAK ideas!
GNO Gals Spread Cheer and Kindness Across the Globe, Making It a Holiday Season to Remember!
This week, we are issuing a challenge—to perform at least one random act of kindness this week and to post about it! We will be creating a newsletter, compiling all of your great submissions to share with the Mommy Gossip—GNO community. The purpose is to share ideas, inspire, and help spread the holiday spirit not only within your communities, but with each other. You'll be amazed at how big of a difference one act of service, one blog post, and one "happiness headline" can make. Try it and see!
To participate, read the directions carefully:
Identify and perform at least one random of act of kindness (RAK) this week (December 2 through 9).
Post about the experience in written, picture, and/or video format(s).
Be creative! Keep it simple. Do something within your means and time. Include your friends and family.
Submit the post URL via e-mail to mommygossipgno AT gmail DOT com by Monday, December 9 at 6 p.m. Eastern (3 p.m. Pacific).
Grab the button below and post it on your blog.
Sign up for the GNO Newsletter where your post, along with all the other GNO Gal's posts, will be featured. The purpose of this newsletter is to uplift and inspire each other and to share great RAK ideas!
Welcome to Mom It Forward, an organization of women and moms dedicated to strengthening families and communities by first strengthening moms. Mom It Forward empowers women to achieve success through service, strength and socializing. By strengthening families and communities Mom It Forward is changing the world one mom at a time.
Be Part of the GNO "In Crowd"
Gossip With Us Here!
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Thanks to Sugar Jones from Sugar Jones in the Raw for awarding Mom It Forward winners of the HP Magic Giveaway. These prizes are part of that package and this giveaway is an effort to spread the HP Magic and the spirit of service and giving even further.
For our next giveaway, we are partnering with the Park City Mountain Resort. Check out the amazing prize and rules for entry here or here. This time the tables are turned and you get to do the giving. Simply nominate a person that has made a big difference in your life or who, you feel, is the definition of a Mom It Forward mom, and she could win a family vacation in Park City, UT!
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