VegasMommies

#MrsFieldsMoments Slow Down And Enjoy A Cookie With Someone You Love! #USO #cookies #family

2014-10-16T01:16:00.001-07:00

Share your story Here and download your coupon

Mrs. Fields Famous Brands ("Mrs. Fields") and Interbake Foods LLC ("Interbake Foods," the company responsible for the manufacture and sale of Mrs. Fields branded pre-packaged cookies sold at retailers throughout North America) today kicked off "Mrs. Fields Moments," a national campaign inspiring busy cookie lovers to slow down and enjoy a cookie moment with loved ones.

At a time when obligations leave precious little time for the ones that matter most, Mrs. Fields is encouraging a nationwide movement to dedicate Sunday night to cookie moments with family and friends. Mrs. Fields wants every cookie lover to embrace and share their #mrsfieldsmoments – from milk-and-cookies to bedtime treats – and has provided fun and useful tools for doing so at www.mrsfieldsmoments.com.

Mrs. Fields is a Proud Supporter of the United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO), and "Mrs. Fields Moments" builds on the Organization's "Every Moment Counts" campaign, which helps all families – military and otherwise – make the most of every moment together.

"When you buy Mrs. Fields cookies, you're not just buying a cookie: You're helping create moments that matter for troops enduring long deployments," said Kevin McDonough, President of Interbake Foods. "By buying a box of Mrs. Fields cookies, you help give a cookie moment for you and for them. It's a touch of home to those who need it most."

Visit MrsFieldsMoments.com for "Snacktivity" ideas, Conversation Starters, more information about the Mrs. Fields–USO partnership, or to find a grocery store with Mrs. Fields Cookies (look for the USO banner on the box!).

About Mrs. Fields Famous Brands The Company is a well-established franchiser in the premium snack food industry, featuring Mrs. Fields® and TCBY® as its core brands. Through its franchisees' retail stores; it is one of the largest retailers of freshly baked, on-premises specialty cookies and brownies in the world and the largest retailer of soft-serve frozen yogurt with live active cultures. Its franchise systems operate through a network of more than 950 franchised and licensed locations throughout the United States and in 23 foreign countries. In addition, it operates an internet and catalog gifting business, a branded retail business and has entered into licensing arrangements that leverage awareness of its core brands among its retail customer base. The Company is currently relocating their headquarters from Salt Lake City, Utah to Broomfield, Colorado.

About the USO The USO lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors, troops in transition and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.

About Interbake Foods Headquartered in Richmond, VA Interbake Foods LLC is a baked goods manufacturer with over 110 years of business experience. Interbake Foods is the North American cookie and cracker Division of Weston Foods. This includes Interbake Foods in the USA and Colonial Cookies Limited in Canada. Weston Foods' mission is to be recognized by its customers as providing the best bakery solutions in North America and Interbake is privileged to serve the marketplace with our award-winning products and services. Interbake Foods consists of three distinct business segments: Retail Private Brands, Contract Manufacturing and Girl Scout cookies through our ABC Bakers Division.

We would like to encourage you to spend a little extra time this Sunday with your family, here is a list of great "Snacktivities" to enjoy with the kids, from mix and watch movie night.....to a family costume contest, these ideas are so much fun. Turn off that TV and put down those devices for a little quality time. Enter to win the trip of a lifetime for your family in the #MrsFieldsMoments contest HERE , just upload a fun photo of your cookie moment and you will be entered to win a trip to Washington DC.

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United We Stand, You Are Forever In Our Hearts 9/11/01 #America #freedom #9/11/01

2014-09-11T02:12:00.001-07:00

We can never forget that fateful day 13 years ago when all of America was changed forever.

What were you doing at the moment the twin towers fell is a question I often hear asked on our forums, do you remember what you were doing? How has your life changed since then? We all have different answers, some good, some bad, some very sad. One thing we can say is that we still live in America, land of the free! United we stand!

Forever the victims of September 11 will stay in our hearts along with all the many soldiers that have died fighting for our freedom since 9/11.

United We Stand ~ You Are Forever In Our Hearts

Dedicated to those lost in the September 11,2001 terrorist attacks

Video post below- click to view So Awesome!

Post by Kristy Sinsara.

Leslie B

Crafty Kids: DIY Shaving Cream Paint Creations #crafts #kids

2014-08-20T12:17:00.001-07:00

Crafty Kids: DIY Shaving Cream Paint Creations

Rheney Williams-Guest Blogger

For moms who grew up in the '80s like I did, you'll probably remember those spinning art toys that let you create splashes and spiral smears of paint. You know – there was a spinning platform with paper exposed underneath, you dropped dots of paint into the middle and the spinning motion and centrifugal force pulled the paint out to the edges of the circle and you were left with these crazy, tie-died-looking paintings?

Although the toys have changed over the years, a kid's (and kids at heart!) basic desire to see swirls of paint and crazy combinations of colors hasn't. And an old-school product is making new spiral innovations possible: Shaving cream! All you need are a few basic supplies and you and your kids can have hours of creative and colorful fun with a beautiful piece of artwork to show for it at the end of the day.

Gather the materials for your shaving cream paint projects. You'll need:

Foam Shaving Cream (not the gel)
Paints in an assortment of colors
Heavy card stock or construction paper
Spatula or ruler
Skewer or little fingers!
Large cookie sheet or use smaller individual trays, one for each child

Tip: To make clean-up a breeze (and avoid having to buy a disposable tray), line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil first. Then all you have to do is remove the foil and you're done!

1. Spray a few lines of shaving cream onto the sheet and use the spatula or ruler to spread out the shaving cream flat and in a square or rectangle about the size of the paper.

2. Add a few random dots of paint or food coloring around the shaving cream palette.

Tip: If you have leftover paint samples from the last time you painted a room, this is a great way to use those and ensure whatever masterpiece your kids come up with coordinates with the space!

3. Use the skewer to make swirls with the paint in free-flowing circles or waves and if you have little kids, just let them go nuts with their fingers.

4. Place the paper into the shaving cream with the right-side facing down so that when you pull the paper off, the paint is on the correct side.

5. Gently push the paper into the shaving cream so that all surfaces touch and allow it to sit for about 10 seconds before carefully peeling the paper off of the shaving cream.

6. Place the paper on a flat surface (in my case, I had another foil-lined sheet pan at the ready) and carefully scrape all of the shaving cream off of the paper to reveal the magical marbling below!

7. Set the paper aside to dry thoroughly and if the edges start to curl, place a glass or other heavy object on the corners to keep them down during drying.

From here, take some time to admire your work and see what imaginative images your kids can find! Can you spot the hidden smiley face that appeared in my swirls? In addition to your classic refrigerator pin-up, here are some other creative uses for your pint-sized Picasso's masterpiece:

Make DIY bookmarks to give as Christmas gifts to the readers you love
Use the brown paper bags from the grocery store in your shaving cream paint project and have unique book covers for school next year
Frame it so you always have a custom piece of art in your office or work space
A DIY puzzle: Cut it into a bunch of different pieces that your kids can put back together and learn about how shapes and patterns relate to each other

What other cool things can you and your kids come up with for shaving cream paint creations?

Rheney Williams is a prolific crafter with a background in theatre arts. Besides writing about projects for Home Depot, Rheney is currently putting her DIY expertise to work by remodeling her first home and experimenting with colors and textures in her home decor.

Amazon.com Widgets

Are you a Business Owner? Now Sponsorship is easier (and cheaper) than ever!!!!

2014-07-16T17:49:00.001-07:00

Every day, moms across the country are logging into their chapter of The Mommies Network, thanks in part to the support that we get from our sponsors... and our moms are returning the favor by finding out more about those businesses that support their chapter.

That could be you! Sponsorship is a really inexpensive option to marketing, and this week, it's even more affordable.

Now until July 23rd, we are offering 50% all Forum Sponsorship spots with a graphic and text. For as little as $10-$125, your business can be in front of our members for a whole year!!!!

And, we try to make it really easy for you.

Simply Click Here and select the 50% Forum Sponsorship Option. From there, select your chapter and how many spots you want and fill out all of the other information and your discount is instantly applied. Or, you can look around to see if one of our other options works better for you!

After submitting your sponsorship, you'll be taken to a secure PayPal page, and with that complete, we will have your sponsorship up and running within 24 hours!!

An entire year of presentation to our members for as little as $10.... how can you NOT afford to!

Click Here to order your sponsorship today.

WANNA CHANGE YOUR USERNAME? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!!!!!

2014-05-29T10:02:00.001-07:00

We are in the last 48 hours of the Mommies Network May is for Mothers, and we are upping the perks for you to donate!!!

If you make a $25 donation before 11:59pm on May 31st, you can change your username by simply forwarding your donation receipt to heather@themommiesnetwork.org!

Yeah- it's really that easy!!!

Visit http://themommiesnetwork.causevox.com to make your donation right now!!!

Are you part of the 99%?

2014-05-08T08:19:00.001-07:00

How would you feel if I told you that less than 1% of the people around you cared about what you need?

Far too often, we feel the impact of standing alone and just wish that someone else would stand there with us, knowing that the journey would not be so hard if we just had a few extra people to help us along the way. This is apathy, and it's a big problem. I bet this is something you have experienced in your life. However, when the shoe is on the other foot and something out there in the world needs us, we tend to pass it right by.

The Mommies Network has over 20,000 members... moms who come to us for help and support and community. 20,000 moms just like you. Last year, less than 350 of those members donated to The Mommies Network during our May is for Mothers campaign. Look around you- do you think that only 350 of our members need support and community and the other 19,650 don't? And which one of those are you?

When we look at our chapters, that is not what we see. We see moms logging in day after day, sometimes 20 or 30 times a day. What we see is that almost all 20,000 of those members do need us and do use us, but that less than 1% of our membership helping burden the cost of the other 99% of us. Less than 1% of us are committed to what you need.

Forget the money, because it's not about the money. It's about apathy. The indifference of saying 'I don't need to do anything because someone else will take care of it and I'll still get what I need'. Do any of us really want to be that person?

Are you satisfied knowing that select few people are more invested in your support than you are?

This week, the conversation we are having on the forums is asking our members to make a commitment. We are asking one simple question:

"What will you do to make your community better?"

It doesn't have to be money! There are dozens of ways you can help... little things like signing up for Amazon Smiles and giving 0.5% of your purchases back to The Mommies Network, or asking a friend to join so that our community of support gets bigger, going to an event that one of our volunteers worked hard to provide to you, or even just not passing by a post without saying something.

Or you can give a few bucks and know for the next year that you were not a part of the 99% being cared for by 1%, if for not other reason than to know that a community cannot sustain itself like that and you know you use and need that community.

Give today so you can receive tomorrow.

Get Support. Give Support. The Mommies Network.

I Don't Like Mothers Day

2014-05-06T07:44:00.001-07:00

Let me tell you why.

I don't want to sound ungrateful- I really don't! But, I could do without the store bought card. Flowers are always nice, but they will wilt ( and guess who is going to have to throw them out and wash out the gunky water from the vase?)

Honestly, one day a year, a $5 card and overpriced flowers do not make this job any easier. I'd rather get something I know that I need. Something that actually makes motherhood a little easier. Something that is personal. Something I use the whole year!

This year, I am asking the people I love to give me a community of friends and people who understand me. This year, I'm just asking the people who love me to skip the card and the flowers and make a donation to The Mommies Network instead.

The Mommies Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which means that it can't continue to bring FREE support to moms without help.

It's super easy and takes just a second! Just click on the image you would prefer below and you can post it right to your Facebook Wall. Tag the people you know will be sending you a card and ask for this instead! Best of all, you actually are saving time (and money) of those people you love, because this takes just a minute. We will even be send out a personalized E-Card to you on Mothers Day to let you know that person has made a donation in your honor.

Give up the Mommy Myth that you can't ask for what you need, and tell the people that love you to skip the card... you'd prefer a circle of friends this Mothers Day!

Click here to Share this image on your Facebook Wall

Tales from our Supermoms

2014-05-03T08:41:00.001-07:00

Over the past two days, we asked for our moms to share their Mommy Myths, and the response has been overwhelming! Here are a just a few*...

" I had to learn it's okay to ask for help... My mom was very sick several years ago and was in and out of the hospital.... between taking care of my mom, going back and forth to the hospital... trying to keep some sort of normalcy for my family.... Dinner, homework, etc, I almost lost it. I felt like the world was on my shoulders and I was a moment away from losing it.

Thankfully several friends from this site would just send little notes of encouragement, offers to help with the kids, etc. I wouldn't have made it without them. I tear up just typing this because I will never be able to repay them for what they did during that time...."

"I'm not one who's afraid to lay it on the line.... For some reason however, it took me longer than usual to talk about (some) issues. I finally opened up last week and boy am I glad I did! It was like a weight was lifted. I don't want to talk about it on FB .... but I knew here I'd be safe. I got a ton of support and a wealth of information I would've had no clue about otherwise. I feel a lot better about my situation and I feel like I'm able to move forward not only more educated but also supported which means the world."

"When I started back at work after having my first daughter, I really depended on the MOTC forum for major support. I remember the feeling of missing the baby were so strong I felt like someone was ripping my heart strings out! I cried my first day back. The first few weeks were the hardest, and I went to the forum often for encouragement, understanding, advice, tips on how to balance working and being a new mom. It was so fantastic to get connected with other moms who knew exactly what I was feeling."

"I was talking to my MIL last night on the phone, and she asked me how I was coping... I said "Well, I am managing to feed the kids and keep them fairly clean, so we're doing okay." and she said "Well, I see you post smiling, happy pictures on FB and just think you are doing fine,....

Which is exactly why BM helps me. I don't post this stuff on FB because I don't want the whole world to know, but I can come here and talk, vent, ask for advice etc. I know that people here, other moms going through similar things will understand and give me support.

That's really such an amazing thing TMN provides, for their members to get and give support, for FREE! "

This is what just a few of our moms are saying when they are telling us why they need their chapter. We are not social media! We are a place where moms find support when the rest of the world expects them to just deal with what life throws at them. But we cannot do it alone.. just like these moms cannot do it alone.

We give this to our members for free because we don't believe that moms should have to pay to get this kind of support... but that doesn't mean that that it's cost free for us to provide it. We have moms who can't donate... and we understand that. We also have moms who already give their time to our organization, and we do not want to ask them to give more... they make your support possible! If you can give, give for yourself and another mom. Your donation means that these moms and tens of thousands of moms just like them can come here tomorrow and get the support they need!


Click here to donate now!

* Some of the details have been changed to protect the identity of our members and have been used with the permission of those members Our mission: To provide a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, mothers and community leaders.

Lessons from a Stressed-Out Mommy!

2014-04-30T21:04:00.001-07:00

I've had it. The smile has disappeared from my face and I am in a twisty-twirly spiral of self-doubt and the words echo through my brain like a mantra I know too well.

I can't do it all....

Those aren't the words of the Mommy I show the rest of the world. To the rest of the world, I am a rock. A pillar. A foundation. But inside, I am crumbling. The dozens of masks I put on... complete parent to my children, loving partner to my spouse, absolute provider to my family, dedicated employee to my job, willing volunteer to the schools and clubs, kind and thoughtful neighbor, generous and loving daughter, giving and supportive friend... I'm exhausted and I'm sick of constantly sacrificing myself. I have to be these things- all of these things- and I don't know which one to let go of ( or even if I can let go of) without feeling like I've disappointed everyone. And in my mind, I spin.

...But I have to do it all.

This is where I have been. Tied up in knots. Caught in a race with myself. Unable to feel any satisfaction because everything I did, even if it was good, was never good enough. And the path out of my Stressed-Out Mommy Syndrome was simple. I just wanted someone else who understood it all.

There is a relief that comes with having someone who tells you that you are not alone. The reason is that within struggle lies a feeling of solitude..and not the good kind of solitude I get when the kids are in bed and I can have a moment of peace. The bad solitude... the lonely solitude. People, by nature, long for connection, especially in times of struggle. And during those times, the best connection is made by simply acknowledging that my struggle is hard. And that I am not alone in thinking that.

What lessons have I learned? Three simple things:

- Admit the struggle. Every time you think the world is depending on you, stop telling yourself that you can't show that to the rest of the world. Stop thinking that you don't deserve support, because you do. We all do.

- Don't underestimate the power of connection. Connecting with other people is key, and finding a place where you can let down the masks, and what you get back is that you are not alone; it's vital to overcoming struggle that you not feel like you are walking the path by yourself.

- You only get what you are willing to give. When we connect, we cannot simply expect to take and never give. Connection is about exchange.... others being there when we need them, and showing up when others need us. With this, we create our own safe space. Our own community of people we can turn to.

This is what we do at The Mommies Network. When we started, we didn't do it to get the latest slow-cooker recipe or to debate about the whether we return shopping carts or not. We did it because we recognized that connections matter, and that women ( and especially mothers!) find it difficult to connect in a meaningful way unless we have a place to be honest about our struggles. And nobody can understand the struggle of a mother like another mother. When I talk about the twisty-twirly spiral of self-doubt, that is a place that almost every other mother recognizes. When I say I can't do it all but I have to do it all, millions of other mothers know this feeling... because they feel it too.

We Get It

We've Been There

This month, The Mommies Network is launching in annual May is for Mothers campaign focused on one idea... the letting go of the Mommy Myth. The Mommy Myth is simply that we don't need help and support. What we do is give you a safe space to let go of your Mommy Myths. A place to come with your struggles and have a community of moms who understand why it's so hard who can rally around you and say the thing you need to hear... that you are not alone.

We are YOUR Community

We are asking for a donation- whatever you can afford- so that we can continue to keep "the lights on and the doors open", for you and for every other moms in our communities. If you have received support, or watched other moms benefit from simply having a place where they can be honest about their struggles, please make even a small donation. We want to keep doing this year after year, but we can't do it without your help.

Click on a mom YOU identify with to help us keep doing what we love.... supporting you!

Now Thru 3/31- earn $5 for The Mommies Network by purchasing from Amazon!!!!

2014-03-24T06:44:00.001-07:00

The Mommies Network

Now through 3/31, make an Amazon purchase through The Mommies Network Amazon Smiles page, and Amazon will donate $5 to the organization we love so dearly ( in addition to the 0.5% we receive regularly). If you are making a purchase from Amazon ( including Prime purchases), please use this link to earn TMN $5!!!

HOW EASY IS THAT!!!!

Click Banner to sign up now to start earning money by shopping at Amazon for The Mommies Network!

We need you back!

2014-03-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

I know my fellow VegasMommies are out there somewhere. Let's get back into the game and get this site a rockin! We cover an area equivalent to many bigger TMN sites. I know there are a ton of moms here in Las Vegas...whether you are in Spring Valley, Summerlin, Henderson or elsewhere WE WANT YOU!! There is a forum for everyone! Moms of preschoolers, teens and tweens, special needs children and more. There are even some forums we DON'T have, but CAN have with enough members! Come find out what an amazing place VegasMommies can really be! Come join us www.vegasmommies.com

Check out our latest deals from our TMN Affiliates!

2014-02-12T19:06:00.001-08:00

ᐧ

Host an International Exchange Student

2013-10-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

Become a CIEE Host Family!

Families with or without children, as well as responsible single adults can become volunteer host families. All that is required of our hosting families is that they can provide a warm and loving environment for our students and are interested in encouraging the student to become an active member of their family.

As a Hosting Family You:

Welcome a student into your home as a family member
Provide an individual bed and meals
Maintain contact with your CIEE Local Coordinator
Provide your student with necessary transportation or assisting in arranging alternate transportation( i.e. a bike, car pool, etc. to and from school )
Attend host family orientations, student welcome meetings and farewell parties

We offer hosting opportunities for the either the semester or academic year program. Additionally, families may choose to welcome a student to the community by hosting for a short-term period (approx. three weeks)

"When Belgica came to stay with us we were excited about showing her American customs and culture. But the truth is we learned more from her - about our selves and the world we live in - than we ever expected. We'll treasure the experience and recommend it to anyone!"

What are the benefits of being a host family?

Unique insight and sharing
Welcome a foreign student into your home
Share your daily family experiences with them
Show your exchange student the American way of life, its sports, hobbies and culture
Learn a new language
Gain new insights and a renewed appreciation for different cultures
Embark on one of the most memorable and rewarding opportunities of a lifetime for you, your family, and your exchange student

"It was amazing to see how Americans live up close. This is the way to really understand another culture. My family was so welcoming. I hope to come back and visit my host family many, many times. And I hope they'll come to visit me in Italy!"

What do we provide our Host Families?

Host family training and orientation sessions
Ongoing assistance and support from our professional full time staff and Local Coordinators in your community
Thorough screening and selection of students
Full insurance coverage for each student

"My host sister is one of my best friends; we e-mail practically every week. I'll never forget my stay in Minnesota."

Sponsor Spotlight: Springs Preserve's Haunted Harvest

2013-10-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

The warm days of summer may be yielding to the cool nights of fall, but there’s still plenty of outdoor fun to be had as the Springs Preserve gears up for several events to celebrate the changing season.

Ghosts, goblins, and goodies galore await those who dare enter the Springs Preserve’s annual Haunted Harvest, slated for weekends in October from 5-9 p.m. The family-friendly spooktacular will feature trick or treat stations, carnival games, and a hay bale maze. New this year, Haunted Harvest—in association with Operation Gratitude—will feature a candy donation station where children can donate some of their Halloween candy and write thank you notes to our troops serving overseas. Also, a Safe Street trick or treat night presented by Sunny 106.5 will be held from 5-9 p.m. on October 26 and 27.

Admission to Haunted Harvest is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for kids ages 4 and under. Springs Preserve annual pass members receive half off the regular admission price.

Rounding out the fall event schedule is the Springs Preserve’s annual Dia de Muertos celebration, November 1-3 from 5-10 p.m. This family-friendly cultural event blends rich, 3,000-year-old customs with activities including live entertainment, mariachis, storytelling, traditional Mexican food, face painting, sugar skull decorating and an art exhibition. The event also will feature an altar contest; for entry rules and an application, visit www.springspreserve.org.

Admission to the Dia de Muertos festivities is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for kids ages 4 and under. Annual pass members receive half off the regular admission price.

Invitation to free new website that helps moms better manage their kids’ group activities

2013-08-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Mommies,

I am a fellow member of the Mommies Network and the creator of a new website called

Podanize, which helps moms, dads and group leaders better organize their kids'

group activities (e.g. soccer, scouts, school classes, etc.)

Kids today are overscheduled, and keeping up is a challenge:

• What day did I volunteer at school to go read with the kids?

• Who is driving to the scout meeting?

• When am I signed up to bring the team's snacks?

These are just a few of the many little details that busy parents have to keep straight.

Try as we might, something inevitably falls through the cracks. We all need a little help

to stay organized.

I’d like to invite you to join our brand new website. To join, just go to http://

www.podanize.com and click Get Started to create a "Pod" for any real-world group, or

even just your family for now. You can create a Pod if you’re a group leader or a group

member. It’s quick, easy and free. Then "get your Pod going" by adding discussions

or events, and inviting others to join your Pod. Podanize can also be accessed via a

mobile browser, and our mobile app will be available in late 2013.

Our mission at Podanize is to help ease the stress that comes with keeping our

kids active and involved. To this end, we welcome any feedback you have. Podanize

is for you and is built to get better over time by adding your suggestions – I’d love

to hear from you. Also, if you know of other moms (or dads) who might benefit from

Podanize, please share this with them.

Podanize is ideal for all extra-curricular activities: soccer, little league, playgroups, scout

troops, swim teams, theater groups, school classes, PTA, etc. The list is endless and

includes anything with a need for ongoing communication and coordination.

Again, just go to http://www.podanize.com to get started.

Best,

Nikki Sacks

Co-Founder of Podanize

nikki@podanize.com

Guest Post: A Look at Drug a Safety

2013-07-30T09:15:00.001-07:00

We Are All on Drugs — (Weezer, 2005)
A discussion about drug and product safety by Jami Castelton.

Where would we be without drugs? From Penicillin to Prozac, drugs have helped us pull away from the plagues of the past and overcome the afflictions of the present. As a society, readily available drugs have conditioned us to believe that over-the-counter drugs and even prescription medicines are inherently safe. Herein lies the problem.

As a parent and as a responsible adult, the most important attitude you should have toward any drug is that it is dangerous. The overuse of any drug, or a drug taken with too many other medications can be life threatening. Even a drug as seemingly innocuous as aspirin, is the cause of nearly 2000 deaths per year and is the leading cause of kidney disease. Other popular pain relievers such as acetaminophen as well as NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen are even more dangerous.

But what if you are taking doctor prescribed medication that causes you major health problems? What can you do then? And who is liable? In these cases, your personal line of defense would be to consult with a Las Vegas drug injury attorney.

What about the FDA?

So where is the FDA in all of this? I recently asked a doctor about the high incidence of deaths associated with nearly all of the popular OTC pain medications. I asked point blank if the FDA would have approved them under their current strict guidelines. He surmised that it would be doubtful if any of our current “safe” drugs would be easily approved.

One has to only look at the last decade of recalled ingredients in our favorite cold medications to see that the FDA is becoming more aggressive in their campaign to protect consumers from possible dangers and side effects of medication.

Clinical trials and studies vs. trial and error

Without getting into all of the money and politics associated with the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA does expect companies to comply with industry standards of research, studies, and clinical trials to assure product safety. However, even with safeguards, products may sometimes obtain approval because of the perceived benefit the product may offer doctors and patients.

Even with clinical trials, real life applications of a drug may manifest side effects and problems that weren’t revealed in the original studies. Most new drugs have built-in product liability budgets to handle any problems. A company that brings a new drug to market will price the new product to compensate for years of research, trials, profit, and liability. Are they planning on problems? Actually, yes.

What drugs should I worry about?

Two drug categories that should cause you concern deal with pain management and hormone balancing.

Pain

Safe and effective pain management has been a goal of the drug industry for years. Effective isn’t always safe and conversely, safe usually isn’t very effective. Yet pain management is one of the most important components of modern medicine. Research will continue and new products will come and go, in search of this elusive combination.

A good example of an effective product in clinical trials that has been disastrous in the hands of patients is transdermal patches, delivering the potent drug fentanyl directly into the blood stream. These pain patches have proved unreliable and often deliver life-threatening doses to the patient. The FDA claims the company has voluntarily recalled the product. However, if your loved one was affected you should get more information.

Even topical pain relieving products can prove harmful. For example, a useful but complex device that maintains ice-cold temperatures in a cold compress by recycling ice water has caused tissue and nerve damage in many patients by failing to have proper instructions, alarms, or temperature gauges that prevent such occurrences. Again, effective in trials but in real life, a defective product.

Hormones

One area that is a godsend and a nightmare all at once is the manipulation of hormones in patients. Whether it is balancing these brain chemicals to treat depression, anxiety, or stress, to using them to trick the female body to believe it is pregnant, hormone therapy is still both art and science. Companies are constantly seeking for more controlled responses to hormone altering medication to alleviate possible side effects.

When one of these products fails, the effects are like a high-school chemistry experiment gone bad. From anti-depressants causing suicides in teens to serious health consequences in birth control products like Yaz birth control the quest to achieve ideal brain and body chemistry has its fallout. The FDA is quick to jump on these problems but it is often only after serious injury or death.

You are part of the process

You never asked to be a guinea pig when you took your medication—and honestly, nobody wanted you to be one. However, if you have been injured by a drug or medication, coming forward and hiring an experienced drug injury attorney in Las Vegas will not only help you be justly compensated, it helps the FDA to police the drugs and medications that are currently on the market. It also helps drug companies by showing them the steps they may have missed to prevent future problems.

Sponsor Spotlight: Compassion International

2013-02-19T06:33:00.002-08:00

Have you ever wondered what life is really like in other parts of the world? Have you ever wondered how to explain to your kids that they have it pretty good compared to some kids who live in other countries? What if you could see daily life on another continent — and give your kids an experience they won’t forget — without getting on an airplane? At Change the Story: The Compassion Experience, you can do just that. Your destination? Uganda. India. Bolivia. Your tour guide? A child who lives there, waiting to give you an inside look into their world — how they live, the streets they walk, and why their stories will never be the same. This one-of-a-kind event is made up of 3,100 square feet of exhibit space that will immerse you and your family into the environment of the developing world. You’ll step inside homes, walk through markets and see schools. You’ll experience first hand the challenges that a life in poverty presents, but will also experience each child’s special story of hope. It’s an amazing opportunity to see a different world that is usually only experienced by traveling overseas. It’s also a chance to not just tell your kids about poverty, but to let them experience it — all in a safe and controlled environment. Hear what Dove award-winning recording artist Matthew West had to say about bringing his family to The Compassion Experience:

Matthew West Testimonial from Compassion International on Vimeo.

The Compassion Experience is coming to Las Vegas soon — it will be at The Crossing Church (7950 West Windmill Lane - Las Vegas, NV 89113 ) March 6-10. It’s a complimentary event, brought to you by Compassion International, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, and 90.9 KCBI radio. It takes about 20 minutes to complete the tour.

Walk-ins are accepted, but reservations are recommended to avoid waiting in line. Click here to reserve your spot now or visit Compassion.com/change for more information.

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Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children in 26 of the world's poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works through local churches to holistically address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children—enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Compassion has been awarded eleven consecutive, four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.

Making a list, Checking it twice

2012-11-15T06:17:00.000-08:00

Don't get caught on the Naughty List because you forgot to order customized Santa Letters for all your favorite kids!

For just $6 for the first letter and 10% off for each thereafter with the discount code SANTA, you can send the magic of Christmas to any child. A unique letter that you personalize will arrive from North Pole Station in Alaska in time for Christmas. Choose from a variety of themes including The Reason for the Season and School Days templates. Each one is special- just like the children.

Act now before Santa gets too busy making toys and packing his sleigh! Ordering is open through Tuesday, November 20.

Proceeds benefit The Mommies Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, mothers and community leaders.

You better watch out; You better not cry

2012-11-13T06:16:00.002-08:00

Santa Claus letters are coming to town!

This year share the magic of the holidays with your favorite children by ordering personalized letters for each one. Each unique letter will be mailed from North Pole Station in Alaska in time for Christmas. For just $6 for the first letter and 10% off for each thereafter with the discount code SANTA, choose from one of our eight templates to customize the perfect letter for each child on your Nice List. Whether it be Baby's First Christmas or encouraging an older kid to Keep Believing, we've got the right message for Santa to send!

Santa gets very busy this time of year, so place your order by Tuesday, November 20. All proceeds benefit The Mommies Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe, secure, FREE place for mothers to find support and encouragement from other mothers and to empower them to be better women, mothers and community leaders.

Place your order today by clicking on our Santa Letter campaign here, on our forums, or through our facebook event that you can share with all your friends and family.

Sponsor Highlight: The People's Law School

2012-04-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of The People’s Law School? Yeah, yeah, you might be thinking – that’s where people go before they go to The People’s Court, right? Wrong!
Actually, attendees of The People’s Law School will probably be less likely to end up in court because they will be armed with a greater knowledge of their rights and responsibilities under Nevada law whenever they are faced with a life decision or situation that may have legal repercussions.

Created in 1986 by the Nevada Foundation for Consumer Education, The People’s Law School is a free seminar series open to everyone. The vision was to provide an audience of the public with expert speakers (mostly attorneys) who can clarify the law on topics that most affect the public, topics such as how to write a will, how to settle a divorce or custody settlement, what to do when you are in an accident, etc. This year, this innovative program is being offered in Las Vegas at the UNLV Greenspun Hall, and will offer a few current and topical sessions as well. These sessions pertain to our current economic situation, including bankruptcy and mortgage default.
The series stretches over four weeks, with different high-quality speakers every night. If people are unable to attend the live series, they can catch the broadcast on public television, stream it online, or even order a free DVD recording. That way, as many Nevadans as possible can take advantage of this great program. An educated and empowered citizenry results in a better democracy – so make sure the voters you know are aware of this free program. For more information or to register, call the Nevada Justice Association at 775-885-7174 or go to www.nevadajustice.org.

This blog was created and is actively maintained by The Mommies Network, Inc. (TMN) Any and all information published is for informational and/or promotional use only. TMN receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product and/or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content will always be identified. Third party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this blog. Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the advertising opt-out page(http://www.google.com/privacy/ads/). Any questions regarding this blog can be directed to The Mommies Network at blogs@themommiesnetwork.org.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2012-03-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

VegasMommies' fabulous Flower Power fundraiser is drawing to a close, so if you haven't placed your order yet, now is the time! It's never too early to plan to improve your curb appeal or beautify your backyard. From begonias to tiger lilies and everything in between, Flower Power is the place for quality flower bulbs with a 100 percent money guarantee.

This fundraiser runs until March 20, 2012, and your bulbs will arrive in April and May, just in time for beautiful summer blooms. Time is running out!

Save time, money, and gas by planning your perfect garden from the comfort of your computer. Spring over to http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/240253/IB1me54J2bQb, and check out the wide array of lovely lilies and pretty peonies, among other bulbs. As a bonus, if you spend $40 or more, Flower Power will send you a free bag of 10 Twilight gladiolus, a $10 value.

So what are you waiting for? Don't delay: Grow with us today!

Profits made through our fundraising link go toward our chapter's operating expenses.

Free Premium Membership Access for a Limited Time

2012-02-28T17:00:00.001-08:00

Ever wonder what's so special about Premium Access to the National Forum? For a limited time The Mommies Network is offering FREE access to premium content like Debate This and Buy/Sell/Swap to all members.
See what you've been missing by logging on to http://www.themommiesnetwork.org/nationalforum/index.php and get started today.

Free Premium Access is available to all current and new members of The Mommies Network National Forum. It is available NOW through April 30th.

Learn a New Language During Cultural Awareness Month

2012-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Bonjour! Ciao! Hola! Have you been checking the National Chapter and participating in Cultural Awareness Month? In our Multicultural Mommies forum, we’re talking about foreign languages and discovering fun facts about different cultures. Join the celebration, and add some new words and phrases to your linguistic repertoire!

Do you have something to add to the conversation? Share your knowledge with other moms who are learning a language with their children. Go global with TMN as we highlight the many languages and cultures that make our world wonderful!

February Is Cultural Awareness Month!

2012-02-01T08:31:00.001-08:00

February is Cultural Awareness Month at The Mommies Network, and we're thinking globally! Share a love for foreign language and different cultures with your child in our Multicultural Mommies forum on our National Chapter. Each week, we'll feature several languages and cultural tidbits. You may also participate and strengthen your language lingo in a special webinar. Additionally, our sponsor will provide information on how you can continue your language-learning experience after the month is over.

According to Associated Content, brain research shows that children are at an optimal age for language learning. Although language study is effective at any age, some studies suggest that the human brain is more open to learning a foreign language from birth to preadolescence. Fortunately, researchers have not found an age in which the language window closes completely, especially in the areas of grammar and vocabulary.

Take advantage of this opportunity to think globally, and join us as we learn about foreign languages and different ways of life during Cultural Awareness Month at TMN!

Do You Have Flower Power?

2012-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for some curb appeal? Do you need to beautify your backyard? Spring planting season may be a few months away, but there's no better time than now to grow with VegasMommies! We've partnered with Flower Power to bring you a fabulous fundraiser to help you plan the garden of your dreams.

Flower Power sells quality flower bulbs with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Gorgeous geraniums, tantalizing tiger lilies, and beautiful begonias are just a few of the many bulbs available and ready to be shipped to your door. This fundraiser runs Jan. 22–March 20, 2012, and your bulbs will arrive in April and May, just in time for beautiful summer blooms.

So save some gas and the trip to your local nursery or big-box store, and plan your perfect garden from the comfort of your computer. Visit http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/i/t/240253/IB1me54J2bQb to view the enormous array of flower bulbs, and spring into Flower Power and VegasMommies' fabulous fundraiser!

Special bonus: Spend $40 or more to receive a free bag of 10 Twilight gladiolus, a $10 value.

Grow with us!

Profits made through our fundraising link go toward our chapter's operating expenses.