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Save the turtles-- please share!

I wanted to pass along this information...

Please help to save a turtle's life and perhaps even your child's.

In August, your children will be enjoying another edition of the extremely popular, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. This will include a whole new generation of kids who missed the 2007 animated film. It's fun and great entertainment.

But, your help is needed. Since the first movie was released in 1990, hundreds of thousands of live turtles, mostly water turtles called red eared sliders, were purchased for between $10 and $25 after each ninja movie was released. The result? Many, if not most, were dumped and even deliberately killed or flushed down the toilet. Remember people buying thousands of dogs that ended up in shelters after 101 Dalmatians came me out? Same problem.

Unfortunately, children do not realize that real turtles do not fly, perform stunts or do any of the exciting moves fictional movie turtles do. Parents, trying to please their children, purchased live turtles which ended up languishing in tanks. Or, when the kids realized after a few weeks that these were not ninja turtles, the turtles were dumped illegally into rivers and lakes as well as dumpsters, flushed down toilets or relinquished to shelters and overcrowded rescues. It's estimated that 90 percent died. Additionally, zoos do not take turtles.

Turtles have been around for 200 million years and outlived the dinosaur. Is this the way we want to treat our precious wildlife? Most of these turtles are taken out of the wild and sold to pet stores, breeders and mercados for profit.
Here's the bigger problem. Turtles carry salmonella which can make a child very, very sick and can even kill them. That's why turtles less than four inches were banned from sale in the U.S. in 1974 and still are...tiny turtles easily fit into a child's mouth. Children also tend to touch the water and don't wash their hands. It's an ugly problem. A nine month old baby in Los Angeles got salmonella meningitis from a turtle after its parents touched it and then held the baby. We do not recommend live turtles or tortoises for children under 13 because of salmonella exposure and because the kids lose interest almost immediately.

What can you do to help? Buy Ninja Turtles action figures and toys instead of live turtles and save a turtle's life, and perhaps even your child's.
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Turn your spare room into the ultimate den

Your idea of bliss might involve curling up on a plush, overstuffed sofa with your favorite paperback and a steaming mug of tea. For your partner, heaven might be the thrill of tearing up some virtual tarmac with the latest white knuckle racing game and a mini fridge full of ice-cold craft beers. Everyone likes a little time away from the rest of the family, so it’s only natural to want to dedicate a small portion of the home to the preservation of everyone’s sanity. If this sounds like you, it’s time to transform your spare room into a family den.

If you do have a box room eligible for promotion to living space status, it has probably been used as the household dumping ground. Your first step towards creating your family haven is to banish the bumf and clear out the clutter. Any long lost articles of clothing and literature you are not instantly overjoyed to rediscover in the clear out should be recycled. Hoarders is not an aspirational lifestyle.

Once the room has been completely emptied, you can begin to determine the function and personality of your den with a bit of decor. Need a brooding man cave? Dark maroon or bottle green with wallpaper accents or wood paneling may exude the sophistication you crave. An airy meditation retreat will require lighter colors; duck egg blue will help you reclaim serenity, while light woods and white walls are necessary to make the most of the light in an aspiring artist’s studio.

As for furnishings, comfort trumps style every time. While we all picture ourselves staring into a crackling fire from the embrace of a chunky Chesterfield, the reality is that Chesterfields are a bit slippery, and fires consume as much time as they do fuel. Big, plush sofas scattered with squishy cushions work best. For the pyromaniac seeking a bit of fiery atmosphere, a few candles or fairly lights in a hurricane lamp will work as well as an inferno. In the same vein, exposed mahogany floorboards might sound grand, but toe splinters are no joke. Instead, layer traditional oriental rugs near well-trafficked spots to keep bare feet warm.

If you do have a forlorn little spot in your house, show it some love; not everyone has the fortune of a spare room to play with. Whether you choose to transform it into a home cinema, a billiards room or a crafts haven, you’ll find getting creative with a bit of personal space can do wonders for the soul.
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Keep Momming

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Shire. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

The relationship that exists between mothers and daughters is unlike any other. It has many unique moments, memories, and yes, even challenges along the way. The relationship dynamic can be even trickier when your daughter is in those tween-age years. What can be even more difficult is when some people dismiss certain behaviors as “typical tween girl behavior” when those behaviors can be symptoms of something more serious. Research suggests that girls are more likely than boys to report having mostly inattentive Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Since inattentive symptoms can be less noticeable than hyperactive and impulsive symptoms, it is important that moms know what to look for.

I’m proud to be joining forces with Shire, CHADD and Holly Robinson Peete to announce the launch of keep momming, a new public service initiative geared towards the moms of tween girls to raise awareness of ADHD.

The campaign is anchored within a new digital hub, KeepMomming.com, where you’ll find tips, tools and other go-to resources for moms, including a checklist to help recognize the symptoms of ADHD – inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity – and then encourages moms to talk to their daughter’s doctor. The keep momming initiative can help moms learn about ADHD and provide ideas on how to spark a conversation and stay connected with their tween.

Don’t miss Holly’s message about the keep momming initiative http://goo.gl/3tqd5q, and be sure to check out the website at KeepMomming.com.
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Check out “‘Summer with Cimorelli,’ served fresh by SUBWAY” & a fun giveaway

**CLOSED**- Winner is Kenyatta R 

I recently learned about Cimorelli, a six-sister a cappella group which performs original and top hits.

They are a YouTube sensation and I must say, those girls can sing! I watched a few of their music videos and found myself dancing in my chair. I love their cover of "Treasure" by Bruno Mars. My younger daughter walked in on me checking out some of Cimorelli's videos and she was like, "Hey, I know who they are! I saw them on a SUBWAY commercial!" And here they are in their latest SUBWAY commercial...

 
The Cimorelli sisters are signed to Universal Music’s Island label and have more than 700 million YouTube views.  “Summer with Cimorelli,” the sisters’ new AwesomenessTV web series, served fresh by SUBWAY, premiered at the beginning of June and their fans have been going crazy for it!  The six-part series takes viewers into the world of a family on the verge of musical stardom.

I was able to chat with them in a Google Hangout last week and they all remind me of my own daughters. Their mother is a music teacher and that's what started it all. They have been having a blast filming their web series and it's full of parties, singing, a monkey (yes, a MONKEY) and tons of shenanigans. No worries, there are many learning lessons along the way.

So I confess, I have watched all of the episodes they have posted and I might be just a tiny bit hooked and anticipating the next one. Here's the first episode. Don't get mad if the theme song gets stuck in your head ;)
 
You can subscribe to their official Cimorelli YouTube channel to watch their web series, Summer with Cimorelli and also check out their music videos.

For added Summer fun, one lucky Mom Files reader will win a prize pack including some Summer with Cimorelli swag and a $50 SUBWAY gift card! Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on July 11, 2014. Please follow giveaway rules in Rafflecopter widget. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received a prize pack in exchange for promoting Summer with Cimorelli, served fresh by SUBWAY. All opinions are my own as always. 
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Made in Nature Organic Dried Fruit Review & Giveaway (2 winners)

I have a confession. I'm not a fruit lover. I'm very particular when it comes to fruit texture. Oddly enough I prefer to eat fruit dried over fresh. I received some samples of Made in Nature Organic dried fruit in Bananas, Cranberries and Black Mission Figs. Made in Nature organic fruit has no added sugar, are non-GMO, nut-free and are unsulfered. I don't think you can get more natural than that! 
I tried the bananas first. They aren't the prettiest looking things, but boy do they taste amazing. I felt like I could eat them like candy. The texture was so chewy and I just loved how naturally sweet they were. The cranberries were nothing like what I am used to from the usual brand I use. Apparently I have been buying the wrong kind for years. Oh boy, the cranberries were perfectly sweet-tart and packed with flavor. I admit, I wasn't too thrilled about the figs. I went for it. You know what? They were actually very good-- surprisingly sweet with a chewy texture. I browsed the Made in Nature site and didn't realize how many recipes you can add dried fruit into.


Eating dried fruit is a very good option for me since my body is in need of the extra potassium and fiber. My husband really enjoyed snacking on all of the varieties of dried fruit with organic pecans. They keep him energized during the workday and I feel good that he's eating something really healthy, without added sugar. We look forward to trying some of the other fruit varieties, especially the apricots, apples and plums. As a matter of fact, I think the plums or apricots would be amazing in a zesty lamb or beef stew.

Giveaway: Two lucky Mom Files readers will win a gift pack including three varieties of Made in Nature Organic dried fruit in Bananas, Cranberries and Black Mission Figs. Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on July 11, 2014. Please follow giveaway rules in Rafflecopter widget. Two winners will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received product samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own as always. 
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Coca-Cola Give a Ball Program during FIFA World Cup (ends July 13)

Unless you either don't own a television or have no Internet access, it's almost inevitable you have been hearing all the FIFA World Cup talk everywhere. Whether I have attended gatherings, shopped for groceries or waved to a neighbor, it seems everyone is really into the sport. We have caught as many matches as we have been able to and I confess, there is so much excitement involved! 
I wanted to share the latest initiative by Coca-Cola in the spirit of the FIFA World Cup.  Coke has partnered with superstar DaMarcus Beasley to promote the passion and benefits of soccer to youth. In the age of video games, smart phones and recorded shows, it is so important to get out and be active. Summertime is the perfect time for families to go outside and kick a soccer ball around. Making a competition out of it can make it even more fun while working out your entire body. I'm sure the kids won't miss the electronics at all! 

You can help bring soccer to schools across the country. Beasley and Coca-Cola are inviting fans who purchase a product to donate a soccer ball to a school of their choice. Now through July 13, 2014, you can visit www.coke.com/soccer and enter a participating Coca-Cola product code to make the donation. Participants can also enter to instantly win prizes and download “The World Is Ours,” Coca-Cola’s song for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ campaign.
I have some points in my My Coke Rewards account that I used to play the instant win game. You get up to 5 chances per day and of course, you have to be in it to win it. Check it out if you can and remember, the last day to enter points to donate a ball to your school of choice ends on July 13, 2014.

Thanks for reading and please pass on the word!

I received promotional items as a thank you for spreading the word about the Coke Give a Ball campaign. All opinions are my own. 
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