Celebrating....YOU!

I can honestly say ... I love me some me!

I'm not being self-centered or cocky...I'm being real.

There was a time that I couldn't say that. I let the words and actions of others impact what I saw in the mirror.

I know I'm not alone.

February is typically a month to celebrate love - couples, Valentine's Day, chocolate, hearts, all that jazz plus some.

This February I would like for us all to celebrate the wonderful diva that you see in the mirror each day.

You've noticed this year I'm focused on specific actions. It's easy to make plans and have goals - but without a plan of action and accountability it's easy to get lost in the shuffle, lose focus and get let those goals slip by.

This year, I'm excited to be a Love Ambassador! Throughout the year, I'll be highlighting different projects, events and articles that promote self-love. Let's be honest, divas - if we can't truly love and accept ourselves, then we can't fully love and accept others.

I'm looking forward to some great guest posts and activities here on the blog as we celebrate YOU and the love and appreciation we should have for ourselves.

If you're in the Columbia, SC area be on the look out for a special event later this month - feel free to reach out to me for specific details and to be added to the email distribution list for local events and activities.

How do you celebrate you?

#26Acts ... Remembering Jessica

"Jessica was our first born. 

She started our family, and she was our rock...

We called her our little CEO for the way she carefully thought out and planned everything. We can not imagine our life without her. We are mourning her loss, sharing our beautiful memories we have of her"

 ~ taken from statement from Jessica Rekos' family

Courtesy of MSNBC.com

Six year old Jessica loved horses.  She spent her free time reading about, writing about and drawing horses.  Big sister to two little brothers. Oldest daughter to two loving parents. Taken from those who loved her way too soon in a crime that we may never be able to comprehend.


Reading the stories of Jessica that have been shared by those who knew her best, she reminds me so much of my little ones. Precocious, outspoken, lively and full of love.  I can't even begin to imagine the void left in her family.

This dedication to her was extremely hard to write.  Today was one of those days that just seemed to start off wrong and went downhill from there.  My kids seemed to all plot together ways to push Mommy further over the edge...and I snapped. Shut the house down. Bed time came immediately when yet another fight amongst my two boys broke out. I needed complete and utter silence to just be with my thoughts and emotions.

Then I realized that I had this dedication post to do...and now I welcome the noise and fights and calls for me to intervene.
 

"I always felt lucky to be your mom." 

~ Krista Rekos at Jessica's memorial service

In honor of Jessica's life , I encourage you to share with your children how they've made your life better and share with them why you're glad they're a part of your life.  Remember and reflect on those reasons the next time you're ready to pull your hair out and put yourself in timeout.

This post is brought to you as part of my involvement with The Global Team of 200 - a highly specialized group of Mom Bloggers for Social Good members who focus on maternal health, children, hunger, and women and girls. Many of us have committed to keeping the awareness on the #26Acts of Kindness and the victims of the Newtown tragedy. If you're a blogger and have written a post on either (or both), we'd love for you to link up with us below.  

#EndTrafficking : Saving Our Children

Worldwide millions and millions of children are victims of child trafficking and forced labor - bought and sold, made to work in grueling, dangerous conditions with little or no pay, and, often, forced into prostitution. 

Think it doesn't impact you? Think again! The food we eat, the coffee, wine or tea we drink, the cotton we wear - are all items that are the "worst offenders" that are most commonly produced by child labor or forced labor.  There are 128 items on the list and include gold, sugarcane, coal, cotton, rice, tobacco,  cocoa, diamonds, garments, coffee, bricks, carpets.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and the US Fund for UNICEF has launched The End Trafficking project to raise awareness and mobilize communities to take meaningful action to protect children.  Human trafficking cases have been reported in EVERY state in the US and are particularly high in California, Texas, New York and Florida (Trafficking in Persons Report, 2011).

How can YOU make a difference?

Connect with UNICEF's End Trafficking Project on Twitter to stay up-to-date and informed. Use the hashtag #EndTrafficking to help spread awareness amongst your Twitter community.

Reach out and influence the life of a young girl or boy in your community by volunteering as a tutor or mentor. Get connected to an organization near you at mentoring.org.

Change the conversation by working within your social circles. A “pimp” is not a cool guy, but someone who abuses and exploits women. A “prostitute” is often a victim of sexual exploitation. Help your friends rethink their choice of language. For tips on how to talk about these issues, visit againstourwill.org/how-to-talkabout-it.

Switch to Fair Trade brands, and/or host a Fair Trade Party. Fair Trade-certified products are produced without slave or child labor. Profits from Fair Trade products support farmers and laborers involved in production and ensure that they are paid fairly and work under safe conditions. To learn more, visit fairtradeusa.org.

Advocate for state laws addressing human trafficking. Visit polarisproject.org/what-we-do/policy-advocacy/state-policy. Advocate for victims by visiting change.org’s human trafficking petition page.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline number is 1-888-373-7888. 
Callers can report potential cases, get help, or request information and training. This 24/7 toll-free hotline is 100% confidential.

Traffickers have been reported targeting their minor victims through telephone chat-lines, clubs, on the street, through friends, and at malls, as well as using girls to recruit other girls at schools and after-school programs. With the rise of social media use by our children, it is essential that parents, guardians, and concerned adults be vigilant in their lives. Ask questions, have conversations, and be active!






This post is brought to you as part of my involvement with The Global Team of 200 - a highly specialized group of Mom Bloggers for Social Good members who focus on maternal health, children, hunger, and women and girls. Meet the team. See our press. Contact us to get involved.

Remembering Grace ... #26Acts

"A beautiful and artistic soul, 

Grace was truly a gift from God 

and represented all that is good in this world"

~Obituary of Grace McDonnell, Newtown Bee

Last night, President Obama paused during his press conference to acknowledge Grace McDonnell's parents - Chris and Lynn - with these words:

"She dreamed of becoming a painter.  And so just before I left, Chris, her father, gave me one of her paintings, and I hung it in my private study just off the Oval Office. And every time I look at that painting, I think about Grace. And I think about the life that she lived and the life that lay ahead of her, and most of all, I think about how, when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us, we must act now — for Grace. For the 25 other innocent children and devoted educators who had so much left to give."

Courtesy of CNN.com

Grace, from all accounts, was a child full of happiness and joy. She loved drawing, the beach and school.

In the days after the horrific acts at sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT - many of us were jolted into action with the 26 Acts of Kindness Movement inspired by Ann Curry. Thirty-four days later is the momentum still there? Have you followed through with your 26 Acts of Kindness? If so, are you going to start the process of over again?

The key, in my opinion, to keeping the memory of Grace and her schoolmates and teachers alive is to continue acting, to continue giving back and to continue having a positive presence in our communities.

When I read the articles on Grace - I'm struck by how fitting her name seems to be with her spirit and the legacy that she leaves behind. Her last goodbye to her mother was a blown kiss as her bus departed that Friday morning for school.  Her father had these words, that we all can and should apply to our daily lives, to share about Grace:

“[Grace] taught us you have to live for the future, happiness and peace" and “not to divert your energy to hate and anger.”

In honor of Grace's life - one characterized with love and a passion for drawing, I encourage you to draw a picture to give to a child (your own or one close to you) today.  So often we cherish the pictures that our little ones create for us, imagine their surprise when we share a piece of ourselves with them the same way.

This post is brought to you as part of my involvement with The Global Team of 200 - a highly specialized group of Mom Bloggers for Social Good members who focus on maternal health, children, hunger, and women and girls. Many of us have committed to keeping the awareness on the #26Acts of Kindness and the victims of the Newtown tragedy. If you're a blogger and have written a post on either (or both), we'd love for you to link up with us below.  

#TheRealAwards - Vote to Honor a US Health Worker

A few months ago, I brought you all information on a new awards program set up to honor health care workers called The Real Awards.

To honor health care workers, Save The Children has joined with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Frontline Health Workers Coalition to help people globally thank and salute health care workers who are saving and protecting lives on a daily basis.  This is the first of any such global awards program and will honor workers from the United States and 9 other countries.

The Real Awards will honor and celebrate health workers in the following categories:

• Newborn and Mother Care
• Chronic Disease Care
• Pediatric Care
• Hospice Care
• Veteran Care
• Emergency Care
• At-Home Care
• General Health Worker

Voting ends TONIGHT, January 7, 2013. Head to http://www.therealawards.com/vote to cast your vote for a deserving health worker.

Did you vote for someone nominated for The Real Awards?

Has a health worker impacted your life or someone close to you?

SHE28: Empowering Women. Period.

Most women can relate to that wonderful time of the month where we're made so aware of our womanhood.  Many of us have that oh-so-embarrassing story where we wore white pants on the wrong day or had to purchase our pads or tampons for the first time from a male cashier. It's part of growing up - a rites of passage of sorts, right?

For many women in developing countries, that one week out of the month is more than just a slight inconvenience.  Since they lack access to affordable maxi pads, they are forced to miss school or work.  No work more times than not means no pay in a developing country.  And for many of these ladies, even losing out one day's salary can be detrimental to their families' livelihood.  Think of this the next time you purchase a package of your trusted brand at your local drug store - imported brands often cost more than a single days wage. The alternatives - cloth rags, bark, or mud - don't prevent leakage and can often put them at risk for serious reproductive health issues when you consider they often lack a clean water supply.

Sustainable Health Enterprises  (SHE) is a social venture on a mission to invest in people and ideas that are most often overlooked and considered taboo as vehicles of social and economic change. The SHE28 campaign is its initiative to address this pertinent, but often silent, issue with an innovative product design and economic opportunities for women and their communities.  (Some divas with a serious purpose!!!) 

SHE is coupling its LaunchPad with a sustainable business model that will create economic opportunities all across the value chain – from the banana farmers who will sell their banana fiber to SHE to the women entrepreneurs that will be equipped with business skills training and education to sell the LaunchPads in their communities. For every women-led and operated business that SHE invests in, approximately 100 jobs are created and approximately 100,000 girls and women have access to affordable menstrual pads.

They have developed an patent-pending, low-cost, and eco-friendly menstrual pad, the SHE LaunchPad, that makes an absorbent core (the highest material cost driver) for pads from agro-waste (banana fibers) without using any chemicals or super absorbent polymers. The SHE28 campaign launched in Rwanda in 2009, and girls and women, will now have access to a menstrual product that will be priced at 5 cents per pad!

I love that SHE is, also,  dedicated to instigating change with its education and advocacy programs. Educate the people and you empower the people! SHE is currently in talks with Rwandan Ministry officials to ensure menstrual hygiene education is widely available across all government primary schools.

How can you help?

1. Give $28. Support SHE.
2. Break the silence and go viral — share the SHE28 campaign video found on YouTube
3. Follow SHE on its website and blog or find them on Twitter and Facebook.
4. Share your voice - Retweet this on Twitter

 

This post is brought to you as part of my involvement with The Global Team of 200 - a highly specialized group of Mom Bloggers for Social Good members who focus on maternal health, children, hunger, and women and girls. Meet the team. See our press. Contact us to get involved.

Helping the Hungry this Holiday Season

Often when emergency situations and disasters strike and we're inclined to help or donate, one of the first items that often comes to mind seems to be food.  Hunger is a real issue in the world.  In areas that are already devastated with poverty, a natural disaster can be a death sentence for its residence.  To me, that's a scary thought.  I often look at how much my family wastes and am reminded of those warnings every mom seemed to give their child who refused to eat peas.  You know - "the starving kids in Africa" speech.  As an adult, I realize that wasn't her just talking to talk, but that there are truly children and adults that would love to have a portion of the food we toss aside or take for granted from time-to-time.

The World Food Programme is the food arm of the United Nations system. Its focus is on eradicating hunger and poverty.  What seems like a little to us when compared to our regular monthly food budget, can go a long way with The World Food Programme and their initiatives to help feed families across the world:

• $35 provides nutritious food for 2 weeks
• $75 provides food for 1 month
• $150 provides food for the next 2 months

Hunger is actually the worst weapon of mass destruction. It claims millions of victims each year."

~  Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,
President of Brazil

This holiday season, donations made can provide life-saving food for families facing the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy in Haiti, refugees fleeing conflict in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and mothers struggling to feed their kids due to drought in Somalia.

Don't have it to give at this time? Don't fret! There are ways to spread the word about their initiatives and still help to feed those impacted by hunger and poverty.

This post is brought to you as part of my involvement with The Global Team of 200 - a highly specialized group of Mom Bloggers for Social Good members who focus on maternal health, children, hunger, and women and girls. Meet the team. See our press. Contact us to get involved.

#26ActsofKindness : I'm In

Many of us are still emotionally reeling from the events in Newtown, Connecticut. The holiday season is typically a time of year where we're inspired to give more and "pay it forward". This holiday season the need seems to be greater.  When reflecting on the senseless act and the feelings of hopelessness when reading or watching news accounts, you just want to do something. 

Honestly, I've had to remove myself from the social media focus on Newtown, but I'm aware that those directly impacted do not have that capability. That breaks my heart! There are young, innocent children whose lives will never be the same.  Families that are devastated.  This one act will affect generations to come.

I'm choosing to focus on the 26 lives and the legacy that they will leave.  Ann Curry from NBC News has inspired a movement focused on giving in their honor:

Newtown's heartbreak has a lot of us asking, "What can I do?" Thinking about this, I took to Twitter and asked people to imagine what would happen if all of us committed to 20 acts of kindness to honor each child lost in Newtown. I added, "I'm in. If you are, RT #20Acts." ~ Ann Curry (Inspired to act: #26Acts of kindness to honor those lost in Newtown, Conn.)

 
 My oldest son is in middle school so I had to have a discussion with him earlier this week to discuss what conversations he may have had at school with his friends and seen on television or online.  That kid truly never ceases to amaze me when it comes to his compassion and concern for others.

When I discussed the #26ActsOfKindness Movement and ways we could participate, he came up with the following ways (one to impact our community and one to impact Sandy Hook Elementary:

~ give 26 random people a candy bar wrapped with an encouraging quote saying happy holidays and to be more thankful and helpful to others (I think he has an ulterior motive to get me to buy candy, but I'll let that one slide for this cause)

~ collect $26 over his winter break to send to Sandy Hook Elementary's PTA with 26 signatures on a card giving them well-wishes and encouragement

We're in, are you?

Doing Our Part When Tragedy Hits

My heart is heavy this morning. As I lay here in my favorite spot on the couch - which is, also, everyone else's favorite spot for some reason - with my one year old cuddled up next to me and my four year old curled at my feet watching Saturday morning cartoons, my mind goes to the parents, families and friends in grief, shock and disbelief over the tragedies at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

My social media threads are filled with people seemingly far removed from this tragedy but connected as parents, as educators, as family, as caring human beings.  Just typing these words has me tearing up because when something like this happens - it's a glaring reminder that our lives can be changed so quickly by something we have no control over.  A reminder that those we love and protect and cherish can be taken away by the senseless actions of someone else.

Reach out to those that you love.  Remember that we never know when it's going to be the last time we see their face or hear their voice.  

If you have children in your lives and homes, please be mindful and careful of what you say and how you say it.  They pick up on so much and internalize it in ways we often don't even notice.

Do something kind. Be a blessing to someone - no matter how small or insignificant the gesture may seem.  Leave a kind note on a napkin telling your server how great they were and that you hope they have a fantastic week.  During the holiday season, so many seem to already be on an emotional roller-coaster.  Make someone smile and lift their spirits.

Volunteer to help others and give back to your community.  You don't have to journey to the area impacted by these tragedies to make a difference.  Start in your own backyard and lend a hand to those right around you.

Sadly, nothing we say or do will change what happened yesterday.  Over the days, weeks, months and years - many will struggle to come to terms with the loss and devastation.  My thoughts and prayers are with them.  We can make changes within ourselves and our communities to care more, share more, and give more.

#TheRealAwards - Honoring Health Care Workers

I come from a family of nurses. My mother is a registered nurse and for as long as I could remember her ever-changing shifts were a part of our lives growing up.  It was always just a part of our lives and something we adjusted to.  That's a reality for many families worldwide. Working in the health care field takes true sacrifice and dedication.  They deal with so much on a regular basis and, often, aren't recognized for it.

To honor health care workers, Save The Children has joined with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Frontline Health Workers Coalition to help people globally thank and salute health care workers who are saving and protecting lives on a daily basis.  This is the first of any such global awards program and will honor workers from the United States and 9 other countries.

Has a health care worker impacted your life or someone you know? Now through November 29th, you can nominate an inspiring health care worker on The REAL Awards website - www.theREALawards.com. While there you can meet the frontline health workers receiving REAL Awards honors around the world nominated and selected by staff from members of the Frontline Health Workers Coalition..

You can, also, connect with The REAL Awards on Facebook and Twitter

"It is estimated that every 3 seconds, a child’s death is prevented thanks to care provided by a frontline health worker."- Press Release for The Real Awards

#GivingTuesday - Doing My Part

A little over a week ago, I shared with you all the concept of #GivingTuesday - a focused national day of giving amidst the shopping and spending the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Connect with the #GivingTuesday initiative via their website, Facebook and Twitter.


How can you contribute?

• Honor those who help keep our communities safe with a home cooked meal, thank you cards, appreciation basket, etc
• Have a Home Treasure Hunt for items that aren't used and that can be donated to an organization in need
• As a family schedule time to give back at least once a quarter
• Coordinate a "Change of Season" Drive - at the beginning of each season think of one specific item that is in need and do a collection (example - gloves in winter, t-shirts in summer, etc) and donate.  Get your neighbors and co-workers involved and drop off your donations together.

Today I'd like to share with you how Divas With A Purpose will be doing their part with our 1st Annual Pack-A-Purse Initiative.
 

Divas With A Purpose’s

1^st Annual Pack-A-Purse Initiative

Purses and totes will be collected and “stuffed” with toiletry items to be donated.  I am taking suggestions for shelters , organizations and individuals you feel would benefit from this initiative.

How can you help?  Donate your gently used purses; donate toiletry items (travel-sized items are great); girly items (lipsticks, compacts, perfumes, etc); donate funds towards the purchase of these items; spread the word amongst your family, friends and social networks.

To help offset the cost of this initiative, We will be hosting a 31 gifts party to help purchase Zipper pouches that will be donated and toiletry items.

Donations will be taken in $5 increments. For every $5 you donate you will receive a $5 gift certificate to my Thirty One Gifts site or Dorinda’s Diva Shoppe! Everyone that donates will, also, be entered into a drawing for an additional $25 in Thirty One Gifts products. Definitely a win-win donation!

Please contact me directly at divaswithpurpose@gmail.com with any questions, to coordinate shipment of donations, or to suggest a shelter.  Pay Pal donations can be sent to the same email address.

#BornTooSoon - World Prematurity Day 2012

A premature baby is one who is born too early, before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Premature babies can have more health problems and may need to stay in the hospital longer than babies born later. More than half a million babies are born prematurely each year in the United States. ~ March of Dimes

My premature babies' stories are far from heart-wrenching when I think of others who have and still are dealing with the short and long-term effects of premature births.

My oldest son was born at 30 weeks. My youngest son and daughter were kept put with progesterone shots, modified bed rest and lots of prayers. 

 In many countries, babies born at the same gestational period as my oldest son face many obstacles in their first days of life and, sadly, do not survive.  According to the World Health Organization, preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn deaths (babies in the first four weeks of life) and the second leading cause of death after pneumonia in children under five years.

In honor of World Prematurity Day this Saturday, November  17th, Impatient Optimists is helping to bring attention to premature births and, especially, the impact it has in developing countries where access to the proper medical is often unavailable.

Please head over here to read my story and others in support of this wonderful cause!

Better Safe than Sorry...Dating 2012

It's amazing what we can achieve when we feel as though we're backed into a corner! That fight or flight instinct just kicks in, adrenaline starts rushing through our veins and I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR becomes our mantra all within a blink of an eye.

A friend recently recounted a story that made me want to just shake her silly (I know I'm not the only person that has THAT friend).  She met a guy online and met him for their first date at a busy coffee shop on the other side of town from her home.  After an hour or so of great conversation she felt they just "clicked" and she accepted an invitation to his home. WARNING BELLS GOING OFF YET???

Not going into all the details, but she put herself in a situation that became very scary very quickly. Super thankful she came out physically unharmed but emotionally she's a wreck.  Her flight or fight instinct kicked in and strength that she didn't even realize she had in her came out.

Dating in 2012 is nothing like dating in 1992 - with the Internet, chat lines, meet-up sites, etc.  I encourage all my single divas to be careful, be prepared and be smart.

The best advice I've heard recently - date like it's an interview and you know how many checks are done for most jobs these days, right? Also, when I was still in the dating world, I had a check-in buddy who knew where, when, and with whom I was with. If plans changed, I let her know.  We had an "alert" topic to let the other know if things weren't going well and interference was needed.

Whether you're single or married - what's the best advice you've received or given when it comes to safe dating practices?

#GivingTuesday ... Save the Date

 

Thanksgiving is focused on giving thanks and spending time with family and friends.

The following day (well late night/early morning) tons of shoppers descend upon retail stores to find the "hottest" deals of the season and officially kick-off the Christmas countdown.

The Monday after Thanksgiving has now become known as Cyber Monday - think online Black Friday if you're unfamiliar with the term.

Retailers have benefited for years by coordinating the shopping season around the holidays. Black Friday preparations have become a family tradition for many.  This year #GivingTuesday enters the scene.

What is #GivingTuesday?  A coordinated call to action centered around the national shopping season.  It's a focused national day of giving amidst the shopping and spending.  #GivingTuesday will prove that the holidays can be about giving and giving back and celebrate Americans using the power of their dollars to help others in need.

The goal is to have #GivingTuesday become a major part of the holiday season.  The thinking behind it is to have it become a forefront in November rather than an afterthought in December.

These words from Kathy Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation pretty much summarize what #GivingTuesday embodies for me:

“#GivingTuesday is a counter narrative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday because it reminds us that the spirit of the holiday giving season should be about community and not just consumerism. The most meaningful gift we can give our children, loved ones, friends and neighbors is the commitment to work together to help build a better world.”

Stay tuned to Divas With A Purpose over the coming weeks as we share ways we can all participate in #GivingTuesday as consumers, entrepreneurs, and social media savvy divas.

Connect with the #GivingTuesday initiative via their website, Facebook and Twitter.

Do you make a conscious effort to give back during  the holiday season? Are you more inclined to spend dollars with a company that earmarks a certain percentage to charity?

Time to Rock the Vote, Divas!

It's Election 2012! So get out and Vote. Go cast your vote for our country's leaders, then hop over here and vote for your favorite blog post! Several bloggers are submitting their favorite posts and are hoping you'll vote for them! The post that gets the most votes WINS! 

We've all heard the saying - No Vote! No Voice! For my readers here in the US - I hope you all exercise your right to vote on Tuesday. I tend not to discuss politics on DWP, but I do stress the importance of being involved in our communities. The Presidential Election is important but there are many LOCAL elections and issues that will be voted on next week, as well.

#GracoSafety Babies "R" Us Event

Happy Friday, Divas :)

Earlier this week I shared with you all the great time the little diva and I had at the #GracoSafety Night Out with fellow bloggers in Charlotte. Today I'm going to share with you the fun I had that following Saturday hosting my very first event. I got the opportunity to travel to Concord, North Carolina and spend the afternoon with some great families and employees at the Babies "R" Us discussing Graco's newest product - The SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40!

  
Keeping our little one's safe is high on all parents list of priorities. The American Association of Pediatrics suggests that children be rear-facing until they are 2 years old. Graco's newest product - The SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 is the ONLY infant car seat the provides rear-facing protection for infants up until 40 pounds (the weight of an average 2 year old).

The families that I chatted with last weekend agreed that SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 was stylish and easy to use.  The top features were the adjustable base that allows the infant car seat to grow their children and the Simply Safe Adjust™ harness systems that allows harness and headrest to be adjusted with just one hand (that was my favorite feature hands down!).

During my afternoon at the #GracoSafety event, the families and I discussed key safety concerns of parents and the importance of having a car seat that could grow with our children.  My favorite part of the afternoon was having the opportunity to present two moms-to-be with their very own Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40!!! 

Overall, the families that I interacted with were very impressed with the ease of use of the SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40. One father stated it specifically addressed one of the key features he was looking for in an infant seat - lightweight and easy to transition from the car to stroller.

The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 is available exclusively at Babies "R" Us and one lucky reader had the opportunity to win a $25 Gift Certificate (giveaway has ended).
Congrats to our winner - name will be announced as soon as she confirms her prize :)

Disclaimer:

The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 – the first and only newborn to two-year infant car seat that actually grows with your baby from four pounds all the way up to 40 pounds. The car seat is designed for a parent on the go. The infant car seat can be easily removed from the base and used as a carrier when the infant is small, providing portability and convenience so you can easily move your infant in and out of the car without disturbing them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently made the recommendation to keep all children in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2. Graco set out to make this product so parents can keep infants rear facing longer while still keeping them comfortable.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. The opinions and text are all mine.