Weighted Hula Hoops for Weight Loss

Just when I thought I was on a roll with my exercise routine, I found out that three hours on the treadmill and about an hour of weight training (per week) just isn't enough to shed the pounds! According to Lindsey Tanner's article "Daily Hour of Exercise Needed to Stay Thin", new research indicates, "At least an hour of moderate activity a day is needed for older women at a healthy weight who aren't dieting. For those who are already overweight -- and that's most American women -- even more exercise is called for to avoid gaining weight without eating less, the study results suggest."

When I saw the weighted Hula Hoops, for weight loss, I thought this might be a fun way to add additional exercise to my workouts. Check out this one weighted set available on Amazon. One reviewer indicates losing 5 lbs. in a week by just adding 10 minutes of hooping a night.





There is just one problem. I don't know how to Hula Hoop! I was under the impression that it is an ability that super thin and perky people are just born with. Maybe if I study videos like this one, I could learn to "feel the hoop".



The good news is that weighted hula hoops (about 3 -5 lbs.)may be easier to twirl than a regular hula hoop because of greater resistance. Peter McCall, a spokesperson with the American Council on Exercise says, "The bigger and heavier the hoop, the easier it is to keep the hoop going - and the more likely you'll be able to hoop for longer periods of time."

Apparently, the size of the hoop matters! McCall says that the hoop should reach somewhere between your waist and your chest when it is resting vertically on the ground. Any type of Hula Hooping can be an aerobic activity - especially if you're able to hoop for 10 minutes. (Let's try 10 seconds first!)

If she can do it......




Check out my other post on fun forms of exercise.

Can you hula hoop? What you think of hula hooping for exercise?

Beyond Blue Book Winners

Thank you all for entering the Beyond Blue Book Giveaway. The five lucky winners are:
12 Time4Mommy
42 Jaime
23 Janet Faye
64 Perfect Blue Moon
9 Busy Woring Mama.

I will be emailing shortly!



Thank you for reading, following and subscribing to Moms Own Words!

Apple Ipod Touch 8 GB Third Generation

Enter to win an Apple Ipod Touch 8GB Third Generation over at the Savvy Coupon Mommy.

For details on this giveaway item and to find out how you can enter to win, Go there now!

Friday Follow March 26 w/ " I LOVE TOOTH SOAP®" CASH Giveaway!

Friday Follow March 26th with cash giveaway!!

Sponsored by:


Welcome to a SPECIAL edition of Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! Visit any of these wonderful blogs to find out more about Friday Follow.

THREE one hundred dollar cash prizes up for grabs from Toothsoap.com as a thank you for your Friday Follow participation! Don't miss Friday Follow this week!

The Power of the Middle Ground A Couple's Guide..Book Review and 2 Book Giveaway

A US marriage in the 21st century has about a 50% chance of failing. The Americans for Divorce Reform predicts that, "Probably, 40 or possibly even 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce if current trends continue.”

The divorce rate is Switzerland is about half that number at 25%. What is the Swiss secret? A group of Swiss researchers claim to have the formula to increase a couple’s chances of acquiring a happy marriage. The wife should be five years younger, come from the same cultural background and be 27 percent smarter than her husband.

While here in the US the ages and cultural backgrounds of couples do vary, ladies, it is not your fault that every last one of you is more than 27 percent smarter than your husbands!

So if our marriages are on shaky ground what do we do? One thing that is sure to help is reuniting with our partners back on the more stable, middle ground.

About the Book: The Power of the Middle Ground: A Couple’s Guide to Renewing Your Relationship by Marty Babits, LCSW, BCD. Prometheus Books. ISBN- 978-1591026624. December 2008.

The Power of the Middle Ground teaches couples how to achieve a much greater impact in solving difficult interpersonal problems. Couples envision a place that brings their potential for love and compassion alive - the Middle Ground. Each partner learns to approach problems productively and neither can dominate.

The Power of the Middle Ground details a series of exercises that equips couples to appreciate and actualize what is positive and possible in their relationship. The Power of the Middle Ground empowers partners to negotiate differences, emphasize the positive, see the issues from the other’s point of view, defuse anger, and rekindle warmth and love.

About the Author: Marty Babits, LCSW, BCD (New York, NY) is a psychotherapist in private practice and a member of the Executive Supervisory Committee of FACTS (the Family and Couples Treatment Service) of the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy.

The Review: Babits admits to having had his own difficulties communicating with his partner, and had come to see that they were fighting with themselves in each other’s presence. I connected with what he states (in the introduction): “I realize now that the problem was that neither of us had evolved to the point where we felt secure enough within ourselves to risk giving up even one iota of personal prerogative, for fear that not only would that iota never be recovered, but that it would precipitate an avalanche of chaos within each of our fragile self-systems.” When I read that, I knew he was speaking about us and probably so many other couples.

Conversation can become an extension of a power struggle and as a result can frustrate, and distance partners. Babit’s three-step communication formula provides a solution that is meant to bring both partners together. Here is his simple formula:

1. You state what you feel.
2. You state when you feel it (the circumstances under which it usually occurs).
3. You invite your partner to respond and join you in talking about what is bothering you.

According to Babit, you-statements are perceived as an attack, with the basic three-step communication formula, you are not using “you” statements but “I” statements.

Babit reveals that some of his patients protested to trying to talk this way, as it required too much thinking. He also says that improving a relationship is hard work and learning new ways to talk to each other is a big part of it. I couldn’t agree more.

The chapter on parenthood is divided into two sections, the first half focuses on problems that may arise when parenting a child with “special needs”. The second half focuses on the relationships of those parents who focus all of their attention on nurturing their children at the expense of neglecting their partner.

The book includes case examples of different types of couples, heterosexual, homosexual and senior couples. In each case, the couples work through the three basic communication exercises. The couples experience a conversation in which they take turns and express themselves fully without making accusations or implying blame. The listener explicitly acknowledges the speaker’s feelings.

Chapter seven is a review of the seven guidelines for middle ground communication. This chapter gives a condensed overview of the seven guidelines and is convenient for quick reference.

An entire chapter is devoted to letting go of anger. The chapter includes exercises to help determine your anger profile as well as an exercise to develop an anger genogram (family tree) to explore (anger) traits that may have been inherited.

I enjoyed reading this comprehensive couple’s guide and look forward to applying some of the principles regarding communication that I’ve learned. If couples take the time to read this book and honestly work on the exercises together, rekindling warmth and love within their marriage is very possible.

Buy It: The Power of the Middle Ground is available on Amazon.com for $14.02.


This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by!

Win It: Julie from FSB Associates is generously offering two copies of The Power of the Middle Ground to my readers.

To Enter is easy, just one mandatory entry.

Mandatory Entry:

1. How is the communication between you and your partner? Comment on whether it is perfect or needs improvement. (We could personally use some improvement!)
--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional (optional) entries- Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

1. Follow my blog.

2. Follow me on Facebook.

3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.

4. Grab my blog button and place it on your side bar. (Leave a link to your blog.)

5. Follow me on Networked Blogs.

6. Follow me on Twitter.

7. Tweet this giveaway.

8. Write a post about this giveaway on your blog. (Leave a link to your blog.)

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by!

Giveaway ends Thursday, on April 22st at 11:59 PM EST. Open to US addresses only. Winners will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Many thanks to Julie for the review and giveaway copies of The Power of the Middle Ground!

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the author, the manufacturer, or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

CyberCube Giveaway Winner

Thank you all for entering the Cybercube giveaway. The winner is #50 Misty! Congratulations Misty. I will be emailing you shortly! Thank you for reading and subscribing Moms Own Words!

Green Sewn 100% Recycled Vintage Saris Silk Scarves and Wraps Review and Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. 

One of the quickest ways to dress up an outfit is to add a colorful scarf or wrap. This simple accessory can turn a plain outfit into an "OMG" outfit in a snap.

While many traditional silk scarves consist of a few colors, one simple pattern and fabric, Green Sewn scarves and wraps are unique in that they are "green sewn" from 100% recycled vintage Indian Saris. A 35" wide silk wrap consists of at least eight different patterns recycled from a variety of vintage saris. Thank you Dan from Green Sewn for sending my the 35" wide wrap for this review.

From Green Sewn - GreenSewn is an eco fashion design company that creates unique eco-chic one of a kind scarves by recycling old vintage saris. If you don't know what a sari is, it's a long (usually 15 feet or more) garment worn by women in India. Our recycled vintage sari scarves are colorful, intricately patterned, and sometimes have intricate gold "zari" work hand woven into the borders. We collect the softest and prettiest old saris and lovingly recycle them into luxurious, authentic, ultra limited edition and gloriously colorful green fashion creations that are both sexy and sustainable.
Our designs are made from upcycled materials, and each piece is unique, with it's own special history and charm. Slight imperfections and signs of wear from a past life are normal and we believe they add to the beauty and authenticity of the product. To make selection easier, we group colors together into families and the colors shown on our site are representations. You will get close to, but not exactly what you see on this site. We are confident that you will love your one of a kind item.

The Review - The wrap I received is similar to the one shown in the picture above, with colors in the red family. The colors are so vibrant and will certainly make this wrap the focal point of any outfit. This accessory can either be worn as a wrap or a scarf.

Upon close inspection, the slight imperfections only add character, just enough to make me wonder about the "past lives" of this wrap. Notice the different patterns that all come together to make this one-of-a kind wrap.





The wrap measures approximately 6 feet long, 35" wide and is made from a minimum of 75% recycled silk saris. The balance is made from other assorted, recycled materials. As a fragile, silk item the wrap is dry clean only. The Green Sewn scarves and wraps are made in India.

While red is not for everyone, I am able to wear tomato red shades and love the patterns and colors that make up this "green" item. I tried it on with a white top as a wrap, and tied it into different configurations and wore it as a scarf. I tied the ends together, wrapped it around my neck and wore it as an "infinity" scarf also.


For all of us that believe in recycling and eco-friendly products, Green Sewn accessories like this wrap are a beautiful way of going green.




Buy It: Wraps of all different colors are available on Green Sewn for $65.00 each.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.  

Win It: Dan from Green Sewn is offering one of my readers one of these 100% recycled vintage saris wraps. To enter is easy - There is just one mandatory entry.

Mandatory Entry: Since the winner will be able to choose their favorite, what better way to enter than to go to Green Sewn and take a look at the wrap's color choices and come back here and comment on your favorite.
Additional (optional) entries- Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. As always, please include your email address in your comments!

1. Follow my blog.

2. Follow me on Facebook.

3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.

4. Grab my blog button and place it on your side bar. (Leave a link to your blog.)

5. Follow me on Networked Blogs.

6. Follow me on Twitter.

7. Tweet this giveaway.

8. Write a post about this giveaway on your blog. (Leave a link to your blog.)

Giveaway ends on April 12st at 11:59 PM EST. Open to US addresses only. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Many thanks to Dan for the review and giveaway Green Sewn Wraps!

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the author, the manufacturer, or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Donna Simpson Making Six Figures From Having Six Figures

Donna Simpson is becoming a household name. She is being talked about on broadcast news, on the Internet and on talk radio.

In case you haven't heard, Donna Simpson is a 41-year-old New Jersey mom who weighs 600 lbs. She has announced to the world that she is going for the Guinness Book of World Records by gaining another 400 lbs., so that she will tip the scales at 1,000 pounds - a four-figure weight.



The talk radio show hosts want to know what you and I think of this. So I thought about it for a bit.

Way back when, circuses used to have these side-shows where you could pay extra to take a look at the shortest woman in the world, the tallest man in the world, and of course, the fat lady. As I recall, I think the shortest woman and the tallest man got married. I just remember as a kid flipping through the Guinness Book of World records to find all of these mesmerizing photos (and I remember reading about the marriage there.)

In the age of the Internet and video cameras, Donna Simpson doesn't have to join the circus, she can "perform" for us from the comfort of her own home. We are curious about the abnormal and it is hard to look away.

But what about the people that pay to watch her eat on the Internet? Who is more abnormal? While she is feeding her face, she is feeding society's dysfunction and laughing all the way to the bank. (But I'm not sure how she actually gets to the bank.)

One talk show host thought that if Donna Simpson gets her reality show that viewers would be so disgusted that it would be incentive for them to lose weight. I disagree. I think those that choose to watch will say, "Oh, I am not that bad, just twenty pounds overweight, (ok maybe thirty)."

I don't think any good will come from Donna's venture to gain 400 pounds. I can't imagine any proceeds going to any charitable organizations. I can't imagine her children becoming well-adjusted, healthy adults. I can't even imagine Donna Simpson's quality of life at 1,000 pounds.

I realize how far gone she is when she says she doesn't, "Buy into all the diseases that come with being overweight." Sadly, I can imagine that some of the cash she makes from her reality show and Internet website will be paying for her extra large coffin.

Friday Follow A Celebration of Followers March 19

Happy Friday Follow!










This weeks Friday Follow sponsor is Bea’s Gift Baskets.com.



To find out how to participate in Friday follow go here.

While you are here, link up your giveaways and check Moms Own Words current giveaways!

Thursday Giveaway Mclinky hosted by Moms Own Words and Make Ahead Meals

Golden Giveaway Thursday!

We want to spread the word about your fantastic giveaways!
Moms Own Words and Make Ahead Meals are teaming up on Thursdays to promote all of your awesome giveaways. Anyone who is running an active blog giveaway during this week is welcome to leave the link to their giveaway post in Mr. Linky below.

Just leave the direct link below to the blog giveaway that you want everyone to enter! Please note, all links are for giveaways only. All others will be deleted.

Please leave your link name in the following format: Name/Blog name/Product Name – (end date month/date).

If you would like to join Golden Giveaway Thursday, grab the code and please link back to us!

We would love to hear from you! Comments, comments we love comments!

Kiss My Face Breath Blast Mouth Rinse Review and Giveaway

This giveaway in now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

Picture this. You are out for a night on the town with your girl friends and your laughing about the good old days and then, speaking of the good old days, in walks (who you think is) your old high school flame. Let’s call him Mario. But it’s dark, so you aren’t quite sure. Oh-My-God, you think. You two love birds were “engaged ” all four years of high school and you haven’t laid eyes on him in fifteen years. Your heart starts fluttering.

He approaches and your eyes widen as you see he has put on weight, has a road-map on his face from all the tanning, and is that? Yes, clearly those are hair plugs. He comes over and gets right up in your face and says, “I thought that was you!” and proceeds to kiss you right on the mouth. You are horrified. It’s not the extra weight (but he is F-A-T) It’s not the wrinkles on his face (but he looks like your grandmother) and it isn’t even the hair plugs (well maybe it is the hair plugs). No. It’s his bad breath that leaves you speechless and teetering backwards in your chair.

While there is no quick fix to lose fifty pounds, erase years of sun damage or male pattern baldness, there is a quick fix for bad breath! Too bad Mario didn’t know about “Kiss My Face” breath blast, naturally healthy mouth rinse.

From Kiss My Face – Kiss My Face Breath Blast healthy mouth rinse is a natural and organic personal care product made by Kiss My Face, a company that has been feeding body and soul for over 25 years. Kiss My Face takes great care in utilizing the most potent and pure botanticals, (grown organically) natural vitamins and minerals. Properly formultated natural and organic personal care products are not only good for you, but are actually more effective than their commercially produced counterparts.

For the ultimate fresh breath and healthy mouth, the Kiss My Face Natural Formula Mouth Rinse is:

• A natural formula that kills bad breath
• Promotes healthy teeth and gums
• Contains a super fruit antioxidant boost of goji berry, pomegranate and green tea
• Contains natural Xylitol and no alcohol, or artificial sweeteners or flavors.

The Review – Kiss My Face healthy mouth rinse is available in four flavors – Spearmint, Spearmint anti-cavity with fluoride, Vanilla Mint, and Orange Mint. Thank you Sara for sending me the Kiss My Face Mouth Rinses for this review.

I have sampled each flavor and they all have an excellent taste. The taste isn’t overwhelming (like Listerine). It is very refreshing. I actually checked my watch a half hour later and I still had the fresh orange mint taste in my mouth. I especially like the orange mint and the spearmint with fluoride. Kiss My Face is another “green” natural and organic product that I feel good about using.

Buy It- Kiss My Face healthy mouth rinse will be available on the Kiss My Face Website in March 2010 for $9.95 each. Kiss My Face is offering 25% off of your online purchases and a free lip-balm as part of their "Kiss It Green" special offer which ends March 31, 2010.

This giveaway in now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

Win It- Kiss My Face is offering a gift pack of each of the four types of healthy mouth rinse, a total giveaway worth about $40. To enter is easy, just one mandatory entry:


Mandatory Entry- Visit Kiss My Face, check out their products and comment on anything that you would like to try.


Additional (optional) entries- Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. As always, please include your email address in your comments!


1. Follow my blog.


2. Follow me on Facebook.


3. Mention this giveaway on Facebook.


4. Grab my blog button and place it on your side bar. (Leave a link to your blog.)


5. Follow me on Networked Blogs.


6. Follow me on Twitter.


7. Tweet this giveaway.


8. Write a post about this giveaway on your blog. (Leave a link to your blog.)

This giveaway in now closed. Thanks for stopping by.

Giveaway ends on April 7st at 11:59 PM EST. Open to US addresses only. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Many thanks to Sara for the review and giveaway bottles of Kiss My Face Breath Blast!

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the author, the manufacturer, or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Free Online Tools to Make Your Own Outfits

There are so many great online tools available these days, you may already be using these free tools to print coupons, organize volunteers, and print recipes. Have you checked out the free online tools that allow you to make your own outfits? Not only can you make your own outfits, but sites like Wet Seal allow you to post your virtual outfits so users can browse through them, comment and exchange recommendations. In a way, it's like having your own fashion consultants!

Wet Seal – While Wet Seal's stores account for 80 percent of sales, the company’s online presence is growing in large part to the introduction of a Web feature called Outfitter, which allows users to put together their outfits online.

According to the New York Times Article, A Data Explosion Remakes Retailing, more than 300,000 user-generated outfits have been designed, generating millions of page views on Wet Seal.

Wet Seal has also created its own iPhone application, called iRunway. When in store, a customer can type an item’s ticket number and see how it has been used in outfits that other customers have created online.

Click here to enter the spring break outfit contest at Wet Seal. 1st place winner will receive a $500 gift card!

Polyvore- Polyvore is a fashion and social shopping platform that is revolutionizing how people all over the world are creating, experiencing and shopping for fashion on the Internet. Polyvore's virtual styling tool allows the user to mix and match products from any online store to create fashion collections called "sets".

Make your own outfits browsing by category, brand, price or website. You also have the option of importing your own items. It is as simple as drag and drop to create the look you want. Add text, photos, music and make-up to add the finishing touches to your display. Publish your outfit to get others opinions before spending your money. Purchase your items with just one click.

The Polyvore blog offers fashion advice, trend sightings and much more. Check it out here.

Shmotter- Shmotter is a fashion social network that allows you to design your own outfits from your own wardrobe or by a large selection of online retailers. Use the Top Outfits section to get ideas for your own outfits. Browse through the top brands and rate others' outfits. Click and purchase something you like in any outfit that has been created. Create your own looks with the drag and drop interface. Choose the main item you are looking for, such as a dress, top or jeans and then accessorize with jewelry, handbags, shoes, and so on. Save your favorites for later viewing by setting up an account. Shmotter makes it easy to mix and match items from different brand names and online stores. Like Polyvore, Shmotter has its own blog.

Shoppouri-At Shoppouri, users browse huge selections of top designer apparel for women and men at up to 50% off apparel, with clothing closeouts, and shoe discounts. Most items are available from Amazon.com, which is convenient for one-stop, discount shopping. Begin by choosing your favorite color to view Popular Fashions available on Amazon. Hover your mouse over the scrolling items to stop the scrolling and view items side-by-side.



Land's End My Virtual Model- Retail stores like Land's End have developed free online tools to make your own outfits on your own virtual model. Land's End was the first to offer this innovative shopping tool. Create a 3-D model of yourself by providing your measurements, which are applied to your virtual model.

Use your virtual model to "try on" items and outfits. Outfits can be stored and recalled for later reference. Once created, your model can also be used at other apparel Web sites in the My Virtual Model network and can be emailed to family and friends. Click here to see other companies that are part of the My Virtual Model Network.

These online tools are a convenient way to design, shop and interact with your own social fashion networks. Get creative by using these tools to make our own outfits. Express yourself!

Have you used any of these sites to make your own outfits? Be the first to comment!!

Friday Follow - A Celebration of Followers March 12

Click here to find out how to participate in Friday Follow!

Check out the Friday Follow Sponsor!

No need to fear the dentist anymore. You can reduce the visits and make your dentist happy too. Brush with Tooth Soap®. Non-toxic, sustainable, organic and no need for a warning label. Created by a mom who has kids with no cavities. Get more information at: http://www.toothsoap.com/special-offers.

Thanks for your comments and follows!

Ann-Made, Handcrafted, Eco-Friendly Bracelet Review and Giveaway

The next time you open up a can of soda, take a look at the soda can tab.
What do you see? I see a piece of aluminum that's only purpose is to help me open up a can. Period.

If you are Ann Skydell Harmon, of Ann-Made Art (Ann-Made LLC) you would see that soda tab's potential as a beautiful resource for handcrafted jewelry. The "Sweet Birch" bracelet shown below is hand-crafted using 22 soda can tabs along with elastic, wire-wrapping and a sea green glass bead with wood accent beads. Thank you Ann for sending me The Sweet Birch bracelet for this review.



From: Annmadeart.com (Ann-Made, LLC) The vision and passion behind Ann-Made's line of jewelry is Ann Skydell Harmon, a special education art teacher. She set out to design a unique and chic product to promote recycling, as well as to show that a business can "do good" for society and the planet in all aspects of its operation.

Ann-Made jewelry is Ann's unique creation made from recycled soda can tabs to remind us that a little creativity can put many discarded materials to new use. The bracelets were the first item in the line and were originally conceived as a project for her alternative school art students.

The popularity of the bracelets were immediately apparent as Ann, her daughters, and fellow teachers received numerous enthusiastic comments each time they wore theirs. Earrings and Pendants have now joined the bracelets in this unique line of jewelry.



The Review: The Sweet Birch Bracelet was nicely packaged as shown above. This bracelet is handcrafted from 22 recycled soda can tabs. Each tab is hand-selected, washed and polished and then woven into a one-size fits most design using either silver or gold elastic. I have a large wrist and the bracelet fits nicely, not too tight. I do wear green (note my green shirt) and tend to wear silver jewelry, so the color choices suit me perfectly.

I don't usually think about jewelry as making much of a statement, however, wearing this bracelet makes a variety of statements regarding creativity, resourcefulness, consciousness, uniqueness and it is a "beautiful conversation piece."

As past reviews on this blog indicate, I am fond of products made from recycled materials such as Rebagging It's recycled juice bag totes, the Up With Paper pop-up greeting cards, and the Say it With Vases, plastic reusable vases made from recycled materials. Going Green is the wave of the future and Ann-Made Art is along for the ride!

The recycled tabs Ann uses are purchased from a non-profit group in New Jersey dedicated to teaching students of all ages the importance of recycling. A portion of each sale is donated to environmental causes. I appreciate that Ann "set out to show that businesses have the power to 'do good' for society and the planet in all aspects of their operations."

Now, when I pop open my diet soda, that little tab will remind me of my Ann-Made bracelet, and how that one piece of aluminum has evolved into an eco-friendly jewelry with a global-sized cause.

Buy It: The Sweet Birch Ann-Made Bracelet is available on www.annmadeart.com for $18.50.

Win It: Win your own Ann-Made eco-friendly Bracelet right here! To enter is easy- just one mandatory entry.

Mandatory Entry: Please visit the Ann-Made, LLC website and check out all of the bracelets and comment on which one you like best. Please leave your e-mail address in your comment.

Extra Entries:

Additional optional entries: Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

2. --Follow my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you are a follower.

3. --Subscribe to my blog (see the right side bar to sign up) Current subscribers are eligible too.

4.--Follow me on Twitter . Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

5.--Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link to your tweet (Can tweet once daily).

6.--Post my button on your blog and leave a link to your blog.

--FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Write a blog post about this giveaway, with a link to my blog. Come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

Giveaway ends on April 1st at 11:59 PM EST. Open to US addresses only. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Many thanks to Ann for the review and giveaway bracelets!

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the author, the manufacturer, or representing PR agency. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

The Adventures of Harvey the Wonder Dog Book Winner

Thank you for entering The Adventures of Harvey the Wonder Dog - Harvey the Hungry Dog Book giveaway.
The winner is #32 Kim.
I will be emailing your shortly Kim!

Thank you for reading and subscribing to Moms Own Words.

Beyond Blue Book Review and Five Book Giveaway

This review is now closed. Thank you for entering!

If you are someone who is living with depression and anxiety you must read Therese J. Borchard's Book Beyond Blue. This book offers advice, inspiration, and an honest account from someone who has endured severe depression first-hand. Even for those not living with depression, Borchard's story is fascinating, you will find yourself chuckling on one page and deeply moved the next, and overall, the book will leave you with a greater understanding of the illness.

About the Author: Therese Borchard is the author of the hit daily blog "Beyond Blue" on Beliefnet.com, which is one of her most popular columns on the website. Her blog appears weekly on the Huffington Post and she is becoming a top go-to expert on pop psychology. Borchard's work has been featured in salon.com, Psychology Today, Real Simple, Redbook, Parenting, More, and Ladies Home Journal. She writes a syndicated column for the Catholic News Service and is a regular guest on Sirius Satellite Radio.

About the Book: Beyond Blue- Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes. ISBN 978-I-59995-I56-0. Copyright 2010 Center Street, Hatchette Book Group.

Beyond Blue is Therese J. Borchard's book that was written based on her blog posts in her daily blog Beyond Blue. Borchard is a manic depressive, an alcoholic, an adult child of an alcoholic and (sadly) her list of disorders goes on. Borchard reveals her day to day struggles and honestly examines her own depression biologically, holistically, spiritually and gives the reader guidance based on her acquired wisdom and research.

The Review: The main reason I wanted to read Beyond Blue is because I live with mild depression and I was curious to read about someone else's experience with the illness. I couldn't have picked a better book, as I can relate to Borchard in so many ways. We are both moms; bloggers; writers; Catholics; people-pleasers; sugar addicts; hormonally imbalanced females; and highly sensitive people who live with depression. If I ever have the opportunity to meet her, we will certainly have a few things to chat about.

My book is marked with so many flags of interesting, moving and informative excerpts, I hardly know where to begin. I couldn't agree more with Borchard when she says, "And besides, 'wounded' people are so much more fun to hang out with than 'flawless' folks who deny their illnesses and object to prescriptions. "

I used to be one of those people that objected to taking a prescription for depression, because I didn't want to admit that I needed it. I thought it was a weakness or a cop-out. Thank God I got over that and thanks to medication, I am feeling a whole lot better.

Borchard experiences the same thing, but on a much, much more severe level. This is a woman who would cry and shake with anxiety at her son's karate class. She was obsessed with thoughts of suicide and spent her time thinking of ways to kill herself.

She attempts to overcome her depression and Bipolar disorder without medication and is unsuccessful. Borchard comes to understand that it is the combination of the right medications in the right quantities, the right doctor, the right therapist, exercise, meditation and diet that has enabled her to control her depression and anxiety successfully.

Borchard has the ability to reveal something so painful (and shameful) as her alcohol abuse and yet brings levity by writing, "I woke up in between trash cans on the lawn of a classmate (or) in a friend's closet- my mom subsequently told me that my dad used to pass out in closets, too, so I guess it runs in the family..." At just the right moments, she is very funny throughout the book.

In the chapter From the Maternity Ward to the Psych Ward, Borchard describes how having her first child disrupted her biochemistry and literally landed her in the psych ward in four simple steps. This made me think about my own depression (which not surprisingly showed up after having my first child). Borchard cites Ruta Nonacs, MD, PHD who explains in her book A Deeper Shade of Blue that, "one of the most challenging aspects of caring for a young child in our culture is social isolation.... Today most women are left to care for their baby alone." HELLO?! How many moms can relate to that?

In the Chapter Work It, Girlfriend! Borchard reveals her 12-Step Program. Find the right doctor. Find the right cocktail (medication). Exercise. Eat well. Sleep. Light up. (get sunlight). Reach Out! Get Involved (service to others). Keep a Mood/sleep/gratitude journal. Therapy and lots of it. Pray and Meditate. Fake it Til You Make It.

Borchard thoughtfully describes her recovery from severe depression as being "much like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly. Butterflies are stonger and more beautiful than caterpillars as a result of their struggle."

My eyes got misty when I read, "My sincere intention for Beyond Blue is that anyone who struggles with anxiety or depression-even in the slightest way-might find a companion in me, some consolation in the incredibly personal details of my story, and a bit of hope to lighten an often dark and lonely place." Once you read the details of her story, you know that these words are written with compassion and humility, (no question) coming straight from her heart.

This book is a valuable resource for overcoming depression recommended highly by fellow authors, licensed clinical phychologists and me.

Buy It: Beyond Blue is available on Amazon.com for $14.95.


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