Family Friendly Earth Day Volunteer Opps Abound With TogetherGreen & Audubon This Weekend

Corporate Responsibility

When I was a little girl my mom and dad routinely took us kids on family road trips to appreciate all the beauty in nature. Thanks to my parents' love of the outdoors and living things and especially of National Parks, I grew up with a particularly strong sensitivity toward preserving the environment for future generations to enjoy. It's a passion I hope to be successful passing on to my children who will then be inspired to continue the tradition with their own kids one day.

My Mom w/ us kids in New Hampshire--I'm in middle, 1964 Vintage Photo

Toyota is one consumer company steward of the environment that I really admire. A clear front runner in social responsibility in the corporate community -- both on national and local scales -- on eco awareness initiatives such as their involvement with Wyland Water Foundation. As in years past, the company is indeed going full-force this weekend with a variety of activities and sponsorships to celebrate, educate and bring about more awareness to Earth Day.

Another project they're currently involved -- with activities planned for Earth Day 2012 weekend -- with that I'd like to share with readers -- this one since 2008 -- is TogetherGreen, which is a partnership between the car maker and the National Audubon Society that has been fueled by a $20 million grant from Toyota.

The multi-year TogetherGreen project has three goals

To provide innovation grants for conservation and environmental causes
To train future environmental leaders
To organize and implement volunteer and community service opportunities that have a positive ecological impact

My hubbie & sons volunteer to plant this urban school garden in L.A.

Here are just a few Together Green events on the calendar for this weekend on the East Coast in the New York area.

Saturday, April 21

8:30 am - 1 pm
Audubon Center & Sanctuary, Jamestown, NY

10 am - 1 pm

10 am - 2 pm
New York City Audubon Together Green Volunteer Day, Plumb Beach, Brooklyn

10 am - 4 pm
Kaler's Pond Earth Day, Kaler's Pond Audubon Center, Moriches, NY

Visit TogetherGreen.org for more information and for ways to get involved in your local area. There are a variety of free and fun family and kid friendly volunteer eco events nationwide to make the Earth a better place for us all to live not only this weekend but year-round.

In related TogetherGreen news, Toyota just announced a new green initiative offering a free Spring Cleaning Facebook app.

About TogetherGreen

Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to build the promise of a greener, healthier future through innovation, leadership and volunteerism. For information visit www.togethergreen.org.

About Audubon
In its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. They have national network of community-based nature centers and a variety of programs reaching millions of people and inspiring conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. Visit Audubon at www.audubon.org.

About Toyota
Toyota established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people here in the U.S. and its investment in America is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

Toyota is a committed good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed over half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs in the U.S. For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities nationwide visit http://www.toyota.com/community.

FTC Disclosure: I am a member of the Toyota Women Influencers Network TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of Toyota or any of its brands. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

FREE $16 Scanable QR-Code Dog & Cat ID Tag

Pets

PetHub Giveaway for All, Offer Ends 4/22/12

In the spirit of National Pet ID Week -- which aims to ensure that pets are not roaming the streets without proper identification -- PetHub is giving away at least 10,000 of their digital ID pet ID tags for dogs and cats for a limited time.

The 1.25 inch PetHub tags made of ultra-strong recycled steel featured in this giveaway usually sell for $16 each, but are being given away free with just a shipping/handling cost of $2 per tag from now through Sunday, April 22, 2012.

Get your pet a Free PetHub ID tag like the one pictured above

A basic PetHub membership that links the pet's unique QR-code capable of scanning to your contact information online profile is included in this free offer. There are no other hidden fees for this service. However, people taking advantage of this giveaway still have the option to upgrade to a Silver or Gold subscription for added functionality such as GPS. This promotional offer is good only for U.S. residents and is limited to five pet ID tags per person.

How the PetHub ID Tag Works

With PetHub anyone with a smartphone who finds your lost or injured pet can easily scan the QR-code on a pet's tag or use the unique Web address on the tag's front to access that pet's owner contact information.

Watch this entertaining and award-winning one minute video of a runaway Bulldog named Gabe that skateboards and skis -- among other physical feats while he is on the lam -- to see the product in action.

This Lost Bulldog Video Clip is adorable...

To reiterate, the above PetHub offer is free to all. Remember this is good only as long as supplies last and when you request your pet ID tag(s) before the giveaway ends on August 22.

ANOTHER GIVEAWAY

In addition to the special pet ID tags giveaway featured in this post for everyone, MommyBlogExpert is hosting a separate giveaway where you can win a hip RedDingo PetHub ID tag with one year Silver Subscription upgrade prize package valued at $54 HERE

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this particular post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

4 Basics to Prepare for Your New Baby - Must-do Things In the Last Trimester of Pregnancy

Pregnancy

MommyBlogExpert 's foursome: Newborn triplets plus 1 year-old big brother

What To Do Before Baby Arrives

Guest Post
by Katie Moore, Moore From Katie

Preparing for a new baby is an exciting and emotional time. There are so many baby accessories out there that it can be hard to decide on what is necessary and to stay focused as the time of your delivery draws near.

To simplify what seems to be a complicated matter, only a handful of things are truly necessary to consider: a place to sleep, food, and safe transportation.

To ease the transition associated with your impending new addition -- Whether you've decided baby will sleep in your room when you return from the hospital or will have a dedicated nursery of his or her own -- you'll want to get to work in advance on preparing that space at home. This can be a fun and meaningful process that helps with feelings of nesting. Also, cleaning the house thoroughly well in advance of your due date will help preserve your energy after childbirth. The important thing to keep in mind is that a new baby needs a functional, safe and clean place to sleep. In addition, it's a good idea to get familiar with the infant safe sleep recommendations provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Toward the end of your pregnancy mothers-to-be should also start thinking about feeding your newborn. For those choosing to breastfeed taking a hospital-approved course, speaking to experienced mothers, and attending a breastfeeding support group are great ways to prepare. A nursing pillow and breast pump are useful for mothers planning to nurse, though they are not necessary.

Speaking of food, as a new mom you'll also want to plan ahead about how you'll feed the rest of your household during those first few weeks after delivery. Cooking meals and freezing them in advance is a great way to ensure that you and your family will have nutritious foods accessible during the post-partum period. As a mater of fact good nutrition is important in helping you to keep up your own energy levels as high as possible, particularly if you are nursing your new child.

Lastly, but equally important, each baby needs a safe car seat for travel. All newborns being transported by car, as required by law, must be placed in a rear facing carseats that meet established safety requirements. Proper installation of this important piece of equipment can be checked by a car seat safety specialist at your local police or fire station.

By considering these preparations in advance of your big day, the focus can then be on taking care of the new addition to the family as soon as he or she arrives.

Katie Moore is married with one child and writes the mom blog Moore From Katie.

FTC Disclosure: This guest post was authored by Katie Moore and edited by MommyBlogExpert. I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

5 Ways for Parents to Teach Kids About Positive Values, Personal Integrity & Social Responsibility

Parenting

Images in this post provided by Rachel Albert

With the prevalence of everything from cyber bullies to white collar crime these days -- it's never been more important for parents to walk the talk. This is no more true than when it comes to empowering our children to make the right decisions and to act appropriately in the day-to-day situations with which they are confronted.

A mother of four, Rachel Albert is also an author

This post, inspired by the thoughts of Rachel Albert, author of the young adult novel Quest to Telos, offers the key essentials to instilling personal integrity and social responsibility in today's youth.

Never lie in front of your kids. Most of us have spoken or acted falsely in front of our children or encouraged them to lie. For example, misstating a child’s age to save money on tickets or doing your child's school project or homework and then suggesting the student present it as his own work. These white lies don't gain much in the short run, do they? Worse, they cause long-term damage because they are setting standards for kids to emulate.
Give your kids a reason why. Mark Twain once said the two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you figure out why. If you fail to tell your kids why they are here, you've missed the opportunity to help them figure out what motivates them and gets them excited. This is the most important key to getting kids’ cooperation and empowering them at the grassroots level to get more involved in their local communities and ultimately make the world a better place.
Don’t criticize your children. Criticism is generally destructive, yet most parents criticize their kids anyway. In fact, when we focus on what they aren’t, they believe they can’t. In effect we are poisoning our own offspring. The result is angry children who express internalized pain by bullying others. It’s better instead to tell them how you feel rather than what you think of them. Something along the lines of, “I feel frustrated that you didn’t listen to me,” is likely to be better received.
Don’t speak badly about other people. This is probably one of the hardest things to do, considering we’re a generation that thrives on celebrity gossip. Speaking badly about others teaches kids to look for what they view as the negative in others and to take joy in sharing information that can actually hurt another person.
Model charity. Actions -- whether donating financially or by giving of your time -- speaks louder than words. When you make sure your children see the kindness and generosity you extend to others, they will learn empathy through osmosis.Besides, can you think of a better way to teach altruism than by bringing your child along when you volunteer at the local food pantry for the poor?

Clearly many of our society's ethics and social problems stem from the serious lack of personal integrity and absence of social responsibility in the world today. But parents can potentially change all that.

Albert says, "Each child is hungry to form his or her identity and make their mark on the world. As parents it is our duty to start at home by providing them with the tools they need to always do the right thing."

Rochel Albert lives in Miami and is a mother of four. Her book Quest to Telos published in March 2012 is a young adult novel where fantasy meets reality and even world peace is possible. It's available on Amazon $13.99/softcover and $4.99/e-book or Kindle.

What ways are you transmitting positive values to your child to help him or her know right from wrong? Feel free to share your thoughts as a comment below.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Twitter Party Calendar This Week - April 16-22 - for Women & Moms to Win Brand Name Products

Twitter Parties

Updated 4/20/12

This week's Twitter Party schedule lists parties women and moms will enjoy attending April 16-22. Be sure to check back as this schedule will be updated frequently all week so you don't miss updates and additions as they become available. Also get a sneak peek at Twitter parties coming up soon in subsequent weeks. Want to be the first to know when next week's Mommy Blog Expert Twitter Party schedule goes live? Then consider following MBE on Twitter and Facebook and by subscribing to this blog.

THIS WEEK

Monday, April 16

Join @ResourcefulMom and @RBabyFoundation for the #RBABYMoms Twitter Party at 8 pm EST. Prizes include GlassyBaby Candle Set valued at $132 each. RSVP

You're invited to @Travelingmoms weekly Twitter Party with sponsor @layngo at 9 pm EST where they'll be talking about entertaining kids while traveling. Prizes include Four (4) Lay-n-Go LITEs (this ingenious invention retails for $64.95 each) #TMoms RSVP

Make a date to attend the @MelissaAndDoug Twitter Party tonight w/ Prizes at 9 pm EST. NO RSVP needed, just use hashtag #mdparty

@5minutesformom hosts 6th Annual Ultimate Blog Party #UBP12 from 9-10:30 pm EST. Grand prize is a Nook Color plus they're also giving away THREE (3) $100 Target Gift Cards and TEN (10) signed copies of the book Hurry Less, Worry Less for Moms. RSVP

Tuesday, April 17

Get in on the fun and join @Staples and @AudreyMcClellan for a Martha Stewart Twitter Party at 8 pm EST. Prizes TBA. Use hashtag #MarthaAtStaples to participate

Come to the @MonroeandMain Twitter Party at 8 pm EST talking all about shoes. RSVP by tweeting #StepIntoSummer and following Monroe and Main. Prizes will be given away every 10 minutes.

You're not going to want to miss @MomItForward and the @FacesofMBC #gno #facesofMBC Twitter Party on breast cancer awareness at 9 pm EST. One winner will be awarded a $250 donation to the breast cancer charity of their choice. RSVP

Join in the fun at the Twitter Party @Savvysassymoms is hosting for @Britax and Bob Trailers Baby Buggies Twitter Party at 10 pm EST benefiting @LoveRecycled #MayPAM. Four (4) prizes will be given away; by participating in this party you have the chance to win a five piece prize pack of Britax & Bob baby gear valued at almost $1,400 RSVP

Wednesday, April 18

Join the #XboxFamily Twitter Party at 1 pm EST. More details to come.

You're invited to the #MomsandBrands Earth Day Twitter Party at 7 pm EST. Prizes from natural band sponsors: Rockin Green Soap, Manitoba Harvest, Bambooee and Love Grown Foods. Follow @MomsandBrands and RSVP

Don't miss the weekly @TheOnlineMom Family Friendly Tech Twitter Party at 9 pm EST. Grand Prize is a brand new iPad (3rd Generation). Must RSVP & participate in party to be eligible to win.

Thursday, April 19

@Champions4Kids @lomargie @MommaDandDaBoyz hosts the #OdwallaCFK Game Day Challenge Twitter Party at 2 pm EST. They'll be talking how to get the kids off the couch. Prizes: 4 Walmart gift cards (3-$25 and 1-$100). RSVP

Join @Momcentral for the #GladBlackBag Twitter Party at 3 pm EST. Prizes include SIX (6) $50 Amazon gift codes + Glad sample will be given away during the party and TWO (2) $50 Amazon GCs + Glad product for pre-tweeting before it starts. Details

If you or your child loves My Little Pony you must attend the @MyLittlePony #PonyWedding Twitter Party that @ModernMom is hosting at 4 pm EST. SIX (6) My Little Pony prize packs will be given away and the Grand Prize includes a Sony Bloggie, the MLP Friendship Train Express and other cool swag. Opp to Tweet abt the party before party starts too! RSVP

@SheSpeaksUp invites you to the @StyleUnited Glam Hour Twitter Party at 9 pm EST. $1000 in prizes to be given away including a $50 Zappos gift card, a B. Makowsky Holly Hobo handbag, a CHI Ceramic Flatiron and more; grand prize is a $200 Macy’s gift card. #StyleUnited RSVP

Hot Twitter party hosted by @Spokesmoms and @CalissonInc celebrating @SophieGiraffeUS Big Birthday at 9-11 pm EST. 57 fun prizes for kids and moms to give away. #Spokesmoms RSVP

Friday, April 20

Join the #theonlinemom #VZWBuzz @VerizonInsider for their weekly Twitter Party hosted by @theOnlineMom and @RobynsWorld at 3 pm EST. Prizes include a 4G LTE Spectrum by LG and other great prizes. To be eligible to win participate in the party and RSVP

Next Week

Monday, April 23
Thomas & Friends Celebrate Earth Day Twitter Party at 2 pm EST. Hosted by @Babygoodbuys w/ Thomas expert tweeting from @TrueBlueEngine. Prizes include 5 Thomas & Friends Up Up and Away DVDs, Trackmaster R/C toys. #totsyparty

Tuesday, April 24
Join @GrillHappiness @Sears @theBlogFrog and @ShibleySmiles for the #GrillingisHappiness Twitter Party at 1 pm EST. Talking about outdoor grilling with Sears. Prizes! Details

Wednesday, April 25

@MomSparkMedia invites you to the Duda Farm Fresh Foods Twitter Party at 8 pm EST. They'll be talking about how to get your family to #snacksmart. Prizes include FIVE (5) $50 American Express Gift Cards. RSVP

Thursday, April 26

Join @shespeaksup at 9 pm EST for the #RecallsPlus Twitter Party. Prizes include $50 gift cards to the stores you shop at for yourself and your kids PLUS a brand new iPad. RSVP #styleunited

Friday, April 27

Get in on the @ShotatLife Twitter Party from 9 am- noon EST celebrating World Immunization Week! #vaccineswork #socialgoodmoms

Sunday, April 29
@Resourcefulmom hosts a Baby Shower Twitter Party for @BookieBoo where YOU can win prizes such as Baby Trend Jogging Stroller and a $75 ecoStore baby basket and other great stuff. RSVP

Coming Soon

Monday, April 30

Join the @Mamavation 12th Mom Boot Camp Launch Twitter Party 8-10 pm EST. Prizes include Omron Pedometers (2 winners), Omron Body Fat Analysis Scales (2 winners), New Balance Tennis Shoes (2 winners) & other healthy lifestyle products. RSVP

Tuesday, June 5

The @FortyliciousCA and @RandomHouseCA Twitter Party at 9 pm EST. Prizes: 10 copies of new book Shelter Details

About this Weekly Twitter Party List Compiled by MommyBlogExpert.com

Twitter Parties are listed free of charge in this weekly schedule. If you'd like to add an event to the Mommy Blog Expert Twitter Party Calendar please email janis at janiselspas dot com with Twitter Party in the subject line including all the details and links in the body of your message.

I'm also available, for a nominal fee, to host or serve as a panelist for your own brand Twitter party, email janis@janiselspas.com for more information with Consulting Query in the subject line.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert does attend some Twitter parties as a Guest and also hosts some. However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

MOMMY BLOG EXPERT

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