Mama Writing So I Don't Go Crazy

True North- Tell Us Your Story

Have you heard of True North? They are these awesome little snacks made from nuts.

My husband found them one day at our local Super Target and brought home some almond clusters and pistachios.

They were mighty tasty.

If you haven't heard of them, go check out their site here.

The masterminds behind True North snacks are now looking for someone to share their True North story with the world.

But what is a True North story, you ask?

According to their website, "A true north is that singular passion in life that causes you to leap out of bed in the morning and think, “This is why I’m here.”   Maybe it's something that improves your local community, or just a few people. Maybe it's something that may not have any impact right now, but  will be huge in the future.

Whatever your true north might be, if you think you have a true north worth sharing with the world, then I urge you to go here and tell them what you're up to. If the judges think that your passion is truly inspiring, your story could be chosen to be written into a 60 second commercial, shot by a celebrity director (Helen Hunt!!), and aired during the Academy Awards on Sunday, February 22, 2009 on ABC.

Who wouldn't want to see their passion on national tv?

Guess what else might happen if your story is chosen?

Come on, take a guess...

You'll win $25,000 towards your true north!

So get writing people! And go buy some True North snacks while you're at it!

SeatSnug For Your Little Bugs **Updated with Coupon!!**

Any time I go out in the car with my son and his friend Sydney in tow, there's a little bit of Mommy paranoia in the back of my mind.

I worry about other drivers.

I worry about losing control on a slippery road.

I worry about an accident that might cause my son or his friend to become a flying object.

I even worry about ending up in the river near our home, which follows a winding road.

I'm sure statistics regarding the likelihood of an accident like one of these would put my mind at ease.

But I digress.

I've had the opportunity to try a product that gives my overactive imagination a break.

SeatSnug

This nifty little device clips on to your existing seat belt for use with a regular lap/shoulder belt. It secures a child riding in a booster seat by fitting snugly at the hips, while still allowing for upper body movement and normal use of the shoulder belt. SeatSnug lessens the slack or looseness that  can happen while using a seat belt.

Check out the SeatSnug website video that shows how the SeatSnug device can considerably lessen rocking, bouncing, tipping, etc that can occur while a child is riding in a booster seat.

My son is not quite ready for a booster yet, but I do transport a friend of his to and from school, and she does use a booster. I was excited to try the SeatSnug, because I just wasn't comfortable with the booster and our back seat belt system. The first couple of times she rode in our car, even while driving in a 30 MPH area, she moved around a little to much for my comfort.

The SeatSnug device was easy to attach to our seat belt, and I noticed a difference the first time we used it. My son's friend stayed put more with the SeatSnug than she did without it. She even commented that she liked the new seat belt and it wasn't uncomfortable.

I am impressed.

I would recommend that if you have a small child who uses a booster seat, take a look at the SeatSnug website and check it out for yourself. And seriously consider purchasing one for your own car.

You'll be glad you did.

Here's a Christmas bonus for you from the company...

Ladies, Educate Yourselves

I blogged awhile back  (April) about a new procedure for those women who have heavy cycles. (And I'm not talking laundry here).

The ladies over at Mom Central wanted me to let ya'll know about another way to educate yourself about your special plumbing.

The AAGL has been around since the early 70's. AAGL stands for American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, although after reading their website I found them to be more than just Laparoscopists.

The AAGL website offers a wealth of information regarding women's gynecological health. You can browse everything from learning about newer minimally invasive procedures for issues that used to require major surgery, to patient education on a variety of topics from Abnormal Uterine Bleeding to Ectopic Pregnancies.

I found the information on the AAGL's site to be easy to read and informative. Coming from a family with a history of various types of women's cancer, I find it's absolutely imperative for my family that I be well versed on various gynecological conditions, the vocabulary associated with them, and the treatment  options that are available, should I ever need them.

Take a few minutes to look around the AAGL website and educate yourself on what's available to women who might need surgery to correct a gynecological issue. Or take a look at the educational information they have to offer.

You won't be sorry.