MOMS Club Archives

Season of Giving Day 28: Give What you Do

November 28, 2011 by Momstart 1 Comment

By Summer:

You may belong to one organization or a hand full of them, but find out what their need is and give to help out. If the organization is a registered non-profit then you can ask you employer if they’ll match your giving to stretch your dollars even further. Here is what we do or have done that we can give to and have our donations matched thanks to my husband’s wonderful employee benefits.

Toddler Group – Money given to my toddler group would help keep tuition prices down. The more money they have to operate the less they have to charge for tuition, granted they need more then my solo giving, but with a group of givers changes could be made. Or the group could also then afford to give more scholarships as needed. Another option of the Board of Directors with the money would be to further the school’s parent education program, which is one of the main purposes of the toddler group we attended.

MOMS Club – I can give two ways with my MOMS Club. I can give to my chapter or through International. A gift through my MOMS Club chapter will have money put back into my community helping local moms in need. A gift through MOMS Club International will be given to other MOMS Club members in need such as when 9/11 or Katrina happened. Giving to either is a win. No matter how I give through MOMS Club I’m helping another mom in need.

MOPS – In my MOPS group we need more money to help the group operate. There is a membership fee but it doesn’t cover the funds needed to function for a year. MOPS fundraises to help keep costs low.

Church – My husband’s work won’t give to religious groups such as my church but we do give tithe and offering. We also like to give to benevolence such as missionaries. In our church we also have programs I take part in and give to such as AWANA and an exercise club.

What do you belong to and where could your money go? Even donations that aren’t matched are donations and provide more money than no donations. Give to what you know and where you’re a member.

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm

Life Behind the Blog: Why We Do The Things We Do

April 27, 2011 by Momstart 10 Comments

I’ve been keeping extremely busy behind the blog. My husband and I are taking a class at church called Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey and well we’re learning all kinds of things, and mainly we’ve come to the decision to live our lives differently. We’re working very hard selling stuff we don’t use or no longer need, and I’ve sold a few things that I really loved to make a little extra money to put some of Dave’s practices into place. You may have even noticed that I’ve been doing more sponsored posts and have been trying out a few advertising techniques in order to earn a little money. Every little bit helps.

I’ve also been working on a few different charity projects. I don’t’ blog about all the charity work that I do, or mention it as much as I used to but I haven’t changed, most of the products received are still donated. I’m still making an impact in my community with all the work I do here on MomStart. I know that other bloggers look at my site and see it as a waste of on-line space but I’ve decided I don’t care what they think anymore. Everything I do and all the hard work and commitments I sign up for help this site be the success that it is and open up the opportunities that allow me to do things to help others. I love what I do, and I love the people I’ve met and the PR reps that I get to work with. So I hold my head up high knowing that I do have integrity in all that I do. And just to say thank you to all the companies involved in the larger projects we’re working on, I wanted to mention a few of them. Here are four of our current projects that we’re working on right now as a MomStart team behind the blog!

Box Out Hunger – The Box Out Hunger cereal drive is something that my local MOMS Club chapter does to benefit the Maltby Food Bank. This year MomStart has been working with the Nature’s Path Organics Food company. So we asked them if they would match our collection box for box and they said yes. So a big thank you to Nature’s Path Organics from MOMS Club of Woodinville WA and MomStart. Maltby Food Bank uses these boxes of cereal and snacks to feed kids that would normally get a free meal at school, and during the summer would otherwise go hungry.

Eastside Domestic Violence Program Fundraiser – Remember that sandwich competition that I was part of? Hillshire Farms donated 1000.00 to the Eastside Domestic Violence Program on behalf of my participation in the contest. I’ve also gathered up quite a few products (over $1800.00 worth) and things that were hardly used or were given to me from companies to donate directly. The Eastside Domestic Violence Program is having their yearly auction and fundraiser World of Hope Dinner & Auction on May 14th 2011 and I’m quite proud to be apart of it.

Pampers Miracles – As a Pampers Baby Board Ambassador, I’ve been given the opportunity to host a charity event of my making. They are providing me with the means to do some very large random acts of kindness that I can use to throw an event or just donate to a charity that helps little miracles. I’m so excited to be apart of the Pampers little miracles program and can’t wait to start helping little miracles. I’ve pulled in some of my friends to help me come up with ideas and this ones going to be BIG, so it will take much of our time and you’ll see even fewer personal posts while we’re working on this one.

Seattle Mom Prom – Summer has been quite an asset to MomStart this year and she’s been working on supporting the Seattle Mom Prom. On May 21, 2011 at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center from 8pm until Midnight Seattle Mom Prom will be raising money for Postpartum Support International of Washington. We’ve been collecting products for them to use as door prizes or possibly auction items and we can’t wait to be part of the fun. If you live in the Seattle area you can find out more by checking out the Seattle Mom Prom website, Liking their Seattle Mom Prom Facebook page, and following them on Twitter @SeattleMomProm. If you’re a company and want to help by giving a donation you can contact Myla Rugge through her Mom Prom email address [seattlemomprom@live.com].

All of these things are because of this blog, the support from our readers, and the companies that we work with. So the personal posts may have slowed down for the time being, but that’s because we’re working very hard behind the scenes. Thank you everyone that makes all of this possible.

BYOCM Bring Your Own Coffee Mug

December 17, 2010 by Momstart 2 Comments

Remember a few months ago when I shared my fresh idea at the Walmart booth at BlogHer? Well, I got my idea from My MOMS Club, one of the members was making her own coffee sleeves in craft club, so I asked my sister-in-law to make me some and she gave them to me as a Christmas gift. So since the idea originally came from MOMS Club, it’s fitting that Summer is revisiting the home made coffee sleeve idea as a green holiday tip and where you can buy one if you don’t know anyone crafty!

Big environmental changes can come in little packages; small enough to fit right into those stockings! I live in the Seattle area and there is literally a coffee shop on every corner! In stockings every years we end up giving someone (usually the grandparents) a coffee related item. On Black Friday I bought myself the “Non Paper Cup Mug” from Cost Plus World Market; this particular mug is ceramic with a silicon grip and fitted silicon lid. The mug looks like your favorite coffee shop’s cups. I like these mugs because they are REAL MUGS with a spill proof top for easy travel whether in the car or around the office. These cups are microwave and dishwasher safe – both are a bonus in my book! Think of all the paper cups, heat shields, and plastic lids you’re saving from becoming trash. Also think of all the hand washed dishes your saving yourself (bonus fact: did you know that hand washing dishes uses more water than using your dishwashing machine).

In store you can buy a single mug for about $8 and online you have to purchase a double pack for $16-$20 depending on the pattern you choose.
Though these mugs make great companions in the car, but your BFF won’t be carrying this cup in her purse since they are ceramic like at-home mugs. Never fear, in my very own purse I have the stocking stuffer solution for that too, a cloth sleeve. You can also have your kids make home made coffee sleeves for their teachers and the grandparents out of crafting scraps you may have around the house.

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

Guest Post – Summer Oleksy President of MOMS Club of Woodinville

December 2, 2009 by Momstart 1 Comment

The Northwest Regional Luncheon was a HUGE success again this year for the MOMS Club of Woodinville, WA. Thank you to the 18 MOMS who shared their time with me and each other today. Unfortunately NO ONE won a basket this year (bummer as some MOMS in other chapters won TWO baskets). Our gift basket which Louise and her blog MomStart support was valued at $1200 and was 6th in the collection of tickets. Thank you Louise for your time, dedication, and donations! This year our chapter won "Outstanding Service Programs", "Supporting the Mother-to-Mother Fund (R)", "Outstanding Chapter Overall", and "Outstanding Newsletter" awards; these were for our achievement in the 2008-9 year. Thank you for your support. Mark your calendars tentatively for the second Saturday (and weekend) in November 2010 as we’ll be headed to Portland for the Northwest Regional Luncheon. All members are invited to join us!

~Summer Oleksy

President

MOMS Club of Woodinville, WA

A Jessica Steele Apron was donated to the gift basket cause

November 11, 2009 by Momstart 3 Comments

I never thought of actually wearing an apron as a hostess until I saw the Jessica Steele Apron that was sent to me to review and giveaway. This donation was added to the MOMS Club Gift Basket. I wish they offered a giveaway to go with it because boy what a Thanksgiving treat this would be to some wonderful mom in the kitchen.

Jessie Steele introduces the

"Black Lace" Bib Sophia, A chic classic look for Fall Entertaining”

It is very light weight and attractive. The cut just curves around the body very well. So sorry that I didn’t have the nerve to take a photo of myself. Actually, I just now thought of it and I’m too lazy too, it’s already folder up neatly in the donation pile. But I am going to be bidding on the Gift Basket. I think a lot of moms will. Yes, I would love to have a vintage apron.

What is even cooler is that you can get all decked out with matching pots and pan holders and oven mitts. I’m just loving it. The vintage style makes wearing aprons make sense. I mean, why wear one unless you are frying up some chicken, these you want to wear when you’re not going to get dirty. (well, you can because all you have to do is throw them in the wash)