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  • Party with Robert Downey Jr

    Party with Robert Downey Jr

    You KNOW I cannot resist a good cause! This just came through my email and I had to share it with you!

    Right now, if you donate just $10 to Julia’s House, you could win a trip for you and a friend to Hollywood to have the experience of a lifetime with Robert Downey Jr. You must donate at this site here, to be entered.

    Julia’s House

    Julia’s House is a children’s hospice charity dedicated to helping life-limited children and their families. The nurses and caregivers at Julia’s house provide life-changing support for parents and their children both in the hospice and in their own homes. The majority of those children are unlikely to live beyond the age of 18, but thankfully Julia’s House is there for them year-round, offering emergency respite and overnight care during treatment and offering emotional and practical support at the end of a child’s life. 

    The Experience

    You and a friend will be joining Robert Downey Jr. for the best day of your lives at the premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. You will experience indoor skydiving, a helicopter ride over the Hollywood sign, a custom tux/gown fitting, a pit stop at Randy’s Donuts and caviar tasting with RDJ before riding in his private motorcade to the premiere. Flights, 4-star hotel, and transportation are all included. Best of all, every entry benefits Julia’s House.
    Looking at the donation site, there are also many other goodies to receive, just by increasing your donation amount. 
    Avengers: Age of Ultron in theaters everywhere May 1
    Like The Avengers on Facebook
    Follow The Avengers on Twitter
  • Can you live on $1.50/Day?

    Can you live on $1.50/Day?

    This is NOT a sponsored post. Information about the program has been shared with me, and I am sharing it with you in hopes to spread awareness. No compensation has been given for this post.
    Could you do it? How would you spend that $1.50 every day if it’s all you had? Would you walk to work, or forgo eating? Maybe all you could afford is a loaf of bread – and perhaps you aren’t working because you can’t afford to get to work. 
    That is the reality facing 1.2 Billion people today.
    So could you do it? Would you do it to raise awareness? 
    Opportunity International is doing it! Kicking off this initiative is the 2nd Annual Live Below the Line Cook Off. 4 Chefs are coming together to prepare meals that cost less than $1/serving
    Paul Hitalenko of Huegah 
    Mariela Bolanos of Whitelodging Services/Viand Bar and Kitchen 
    Christy Gaylord of Simply Plated 
    Justin Hall from Fig Catering

    Then starting Monday April 28th you can join the 5 day Live Below the Line Challenge to eat on no more than $1.50/day. Learn more, and see how this initiative can help those living in extreme poverty stop the cycle and start living a better life at the Live Below the Line and Opportunity International website. 
    Keep up with the challenge, and stay informed
    Twitter – @YAOpportunity
    and #BelowtheLine
    Will you take the challenge?
  • National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

    National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

    February 21 to February 27 is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. 

    I’m pleased to welcome Samantha Hope to the blog today to share her experience and why she is involved with Project HEAL

    Eating Disorders are an illness. Help spread awareness and end the stigma
     

    Eating Disorders don’t just affect young girls.  There is such a lack of understanding when it comes to eating disorders.  Eating Disorders come in all shapes, sizes, genders, and ages.  There is no “cookie cutter” eating disorder as I am sure some have heard the saying before. This is where my story comes in. I was 33 years old, married with 4 kids when this dreaded illness took me over.  Yes…an eating disorder is an illness.  Another thing that is misunderstood.  Someone does not wake up one day and say I think I am going to have an eating disorder. Eating disorders aren’t just about weight either.  

    I grew up as an only child and was raised by my Mom as my Dad passed away from cancer when I was just 10 months old.  I had a good upbringing, no trauma.  I was loved and cared for.  Growing up, I was happy with myself for the most part.  I was shy and did have a low self-esteem, but nothing that was out of the  0rdinary.  In July of 2008, I had a hysterectomy.  Shortly after my recovery came to an end I ended up getting sick.  It took months to finally figure out what was going on and to realize that what started with an
    illness quickly turned into an eating disorder. After searching and searching, I came across the Center for Change.  I was able to see a therapist and a dietitian as I tried to work on things outpatient, as I did not think there was a way for me to do a higher level of care.  Well after a year of that and not much progress I entered the day program.  I spent 6 months visiting the Center daily Monday – Friday’s.  When I discharged was I recovered???  No.  Was I on my way to recovery???  Yes. 

               
    Being a Mother and a Wife that has suffered from an eating disorder I want to reach out to other women and help them.  I want them to know they are not alone in the battle.  There is help no matter how old you are, how long or short you have struggled.  I want them to know that recovery is possible.  That is why when I heard about Project HEAL I knew I wanted to be involved. I saw that a Project HEAL – Utah Chapter was just created and I became the Co-Founder.  I love speaking out on this issue and my heart breaks for all those that have been affected by an eating disorder.  I have also returned to school so I can get my degree and help those suffering more in depth than what I can, working with Project HEAL. 
             
    I do want parents that are suffering to understand how their actions are affecting their children.  Children are smart and they pick up on what we do and don’t do, what we say and don’t say.  You may think you are being secretive but in reality, you are causing damage to yourself as well as to your children. Please again know that you are not alone, please reach out for help.  Eating disorders have such a stigma and are so misunderstood.  I have
    chosen to speak out to help people to understand more about them and I hope to be a positive influence to even just that one person.  If I can be an example and help one person it will make everything I do worth it. 

    Samantha Hope. Co-founder of Project-HEAL Utah ChapterMy name is Samantha Hope.  I was born and raised in California and moved to Utah when I was 19.  Shortly after moving here, I met my husband and we got married in Dec of 1995.  We currently live in Spring City, Utah.  We have 4 kids, 3 boys, and 1 girl.  I am currently taking online classes through Utah State University and will graduate in April with my Associates than I plan to get my Bachelors in Family Life Studies and Masters in Social Work.  I want to be able to help those that are
    struggling in Sanpete County as there is nothing here to help those struggling.  As well as being the Co-Founder of the Project HEAL – Utah Chapter. I am also a Pink Zebra Independent Consultant.  I lead a busy full life and I love every minute of it.

     
     
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     Get help for yourself or a loved one
     
     
     
  • Feed a Child, Nourish a Mind

    Feed a Child, Nourish a Mind

    It’s Monday morning, you’re getting your child ready for school.

    What should you put in their lunch? A water bottle or a juice box? Sandwich or salad? Fruit cups or chopped vegetable?  Maybe you’ll just send them with some lunch money?

    “Lack of food can diminish concentration, erode willpower, and strip away a child’s potential. Compound that with prevalence of HIV/AIDS or the trauma of losing parents and loved ones, without food, a child’s attendance and performance at school is severely jeopardized.”

    You aren’t worrying that your child is getting the right nutrition because you are present in their life. You are there making sure they eat healthy, go to school, and have all that they need to succeed.

    “Nearly 20% of all children in South Africa are orphans, with approximately 1.9 Million of those children orphaned as a result of HIV and AIDS.”

    You take your children to the doctor and dentist, making sure they are as healthy as possible. You change their diets if needed.  You do this all after school so they don’t have to miss any education.

    “65% of all South African children live in poverty. Receiving food encourages these children to stay in school and obtain their education.”

    What are you eating for lunch today?  I’m having a salad. I really nice big salad full of romaine lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, green onions, croutons, and a hard boiled egg.

    A salad like this doesn’t cost me very much. Especially in the spring and summer when a lot of the vegetables. I don’t always eat this healthy though. Sometimes I head to the nearest fast food. I spend a lot more when I do that. At least $5.  When my kids are with me, it’s a lot more.

    Did you know that just $10 can feed a child their only meal for the day. So if I donate $5, and you donate $5 together we can feed a child.

    The Lunchbox Fund is a campaign working to feed 100 South African children a daily meal for a year!  Will you be a part of this movement?

  • Project HEAL – Raising Awareness for Eating Disorders

    Project HEAL – Raising Awareness for Eating Disorders

    About a year ago I came across Project HEAL. They had recently opened a chapter up in Utah, and I believe I saw it come through my facebook feed. I reached out to the Utah chapter to learn a little more and see if there were some volunteer opportunities. At the time I didn’t live close enough to get involved with any of their activities.

    Then we moved.

    So once again I reached out to them, in hopes of being able to volunteer. You may ask, why this group?  There’s plenty of other groups I’m sure I could volunteer with…and do, like the PTA.  Let me tell you why. Growing up I had a few friends that suffered from eating disorders, and since then I’ve known others close to me develop an eating disorder. I want to learn more and educate myself so I can help my friends and also my daughters.

    As the mother of 3 girls, it’s important to me to be aware of any issues they may encounter in their lives, and to be ready to help them through anything. My children have different body types, different personalities, and different ways they react to situations. When our 5 year old began making comments about her sister being skinny and herself being fat, I knew we needed to talk. She is by no means fat, but her body type is larger boned than her sister. Our 5 year old also has a great relationship with food of all types, while her sister is much more picky and unwilling to give new things a try.  Neither of these are bad, but depending on the message I send to them, it could morph into an unhealthy relationship with food and with herself.

    I’m a mom, and I have a responsability to my daughters to show them beauty and help them find the beauty within themselves.

    I know there are many different reasons women and girls develop an eating disorder, but I feel one of the main causes is poor self image. With places like Hollywood showcasing size 0 women as the “perfect woman” or the “most beautiful woman”, it’s easy to believe that you are not beautiful. That you must lose insane amounts of weight to ever look pretty. You must have plastic surgery, take botox, eat nothing but water and fruit, take diet pills, and the list goes on.

    Project HEAL is working on raising awareness of eating disorders. Their mission as seen in their logo is to “Help to Eat, Accept, and Live”.

    Isn’t that awesome?  It’s OK to eat food. It’s OK to accept your body for what it is. It’s OK to LIVE and enjoy living!

    I’m joining Project HEAL to help raise awareness, and educate everyone I can reach. Love your body. Love your curves, your imperfections. Enjoy eating food. Enjoy your body. Most of all Enjoy Life!

    You can find me on the Project HEAL G+ page sharing inspirational stories, educational information, and more!