Mama Mojo

Day 25 #ROMP4good Snowflakes for Sandy Hook

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:22:00 -0800

When we heard that the children of Sandy Hook Elementary would return to their new building in January surrounded by thousands of snowflakes made by people all over the world, we had to help. My daughter (who does not know about the shooting) and her friend spent much of the day making snowflakes. All she needs to know is that it her contribution will brighten the day of a child her age when they come back from winter break.

We’re sending a little love.

Here’s more on this sweet project: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katelyn-darroweystad/post_4254_b_2339750.html

Day 24 #ROMP4good AARDA

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:40:55 -0800

I’m the spokesperson for the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association. The thing that makes AARDA special is that it looks at all autoimmune diseases as a category of disease rather than a group of single diseases.

I’ve had many people in my life affected by autoimmune diseases and feel honored that I can raise awareness and research money on their behalf.

To learn more, go to aarda.org.

Day 23 #ROMP4good Blankets 4 Doggies

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:34:25 -0800

Baby, it’s cold outside (and inside sometimes too). Today we donated a few of my daughter’s baby blankets to keep some dogs and cats warm during their stay at a shelter.

Day 22 #ROMP4good Christmas Cookies

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 19:51:32 -0800

There is a Christmas tradition in my family and it involves cookies with frosting shaped like Santas and stars. My mom has been making these cookies since I was a year old! I’ve continued the tradition with my daughter. We make these and give them to neighbors. They are without a doubt my favorite cookie on the planet and they’re too good not to share!

Day 21 #ROMP4good Food for the Pantry

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 19:45:07 -0800

Today we dropped off canned food to a local food pantry. Tried to pick holiday necessities, protein and some spicy favorites!

Day 20 #ROMP4good Salvation Army

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:29:15 -0800

We put a bit into the Salvation Army’s red bucket. Every little bit…

Day 19 #ROMP4good Children's Nature Institute

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:27:57 -0800

Living in Southern California is pretty awesome in the winter. Even in January we can go for hikes in the mountains around here and not take much more than a sweatshirt. With all the noise of modern life, it’s essential to get out into nature and just turn off the world. I’ve been trying to teach my daughter how important the natural world is to our sanity and happiness. The Children’s Nature Institute has been an important part of that lesson.

“The Children’s Nature Institute (CNI) is dedicated to providing young children with the opportunity to explore the natural world through hands-on, educational experiences. We use nature as a tool for fostering creativity, discovery, independence, personal development and improved social and academic skills. Through our programs, including the award winning Outreach Discovery Program, Tykes on Trails Program, Kids Leading Kids, and Family Walks, CNI connects nature to the everyday lives of children by incorporating parents, grandparents, and teachers into the learning process.” - ChildrensNatureInstitute.org

Today for ExtremeGiving, I signed up at CNI as a volunteer. I will assist on future hikes, helping the kiddos learn about trees and bugs. Sounds like a blast!

Day18 #ROMP4good Baby2Baby

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:34:09 -0800

If you have a baby, you need baby gear. Stocking up on that gear is one of the exciting parts of preparing for parenthood. But for a lot of families out there, buying it can be a financial hardship, and that’s where organizations like Baby2Baby come in.

When the founders of Baby2Baby, who are all moms, found themselves with more kid stuff than they knew what to do with, they decided to create an organization that would collect new and gently used baby and toddler gear to distribute to poor families around Los Angeles. Since 2006, Baby2Baby has been helping some of the over 130,000 poor families with children under the age of five.

For more information on Baby2Baby, visit Baby2Baby.org

Day 17 #ROMP4good Aviva Family & Children Services

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:48:14 -0800

Maggie and I spent the evening filling mason jars with markers, gems, little stars and small bottles of glue. A jar full of creative possibilities for the impoverished children helped by the Aviva Family and Children’s Services. Aviva is a non-profit social service organization with a mission to provide therapeutic and educational services to abused and neglected children and their families. This Los Angeles-based agency serves over 8,000 children and families..all of whom live below the federal poverty line.

While Maggie filled the jars with craft items, she decided that there was something missing. She asked me to write little messages on each jar, offering Maggie’s words of encouragement to the children—just to send a little love along with it.

Day 16 #ROMP4good Tree People

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:19:35 -0800

I’m a treehugger. Trees make life in a city a lot sweeter.

TreePeople is a fantastic nonprofit that is dedicated to expanding the tree canopy thereby creating a sustainable future for Los Angeles. Their mission is to “inspire, engage, and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment, making it safe, healthy, fun and sustainable and to share the process as a model for the whole world (TreePeople.org).”

My daughter is going to grow up in this city, and it’s vitally important to me it be a healthy, beautiful and inspiring place to live. So today I dedicated three trees to a friend through TreePeople. Hopefully, I’ll raise my daughter to be a treehugger like her mama.

Day 15 - #ROMP4good Children's Hospital LA

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:33:58 -0800

my daughter visited Children’s Hospital Los Angeles last year with a broken arm. I was overwhelmed by the care and attention she received—the same care and attention every child who walks through their doors receives, regardless of whether or not they have insurance. I’m grateful that this hospital exists and cares for so many who need it.

team ROMP donated a toy for a child at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. if you’d like to learn more, volunteer or make a donation, visit: http://www.chla.org/site/c.ipINKTOAJsG/b.3476085/k.CC14/Giving__Donate__Volunteer__Gift_of_Life__Hospital_Events.htm

Day 14 - Prayer

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 15:03:35 -0800

I wish we could go back in time and erase yesterday. There are no words right now to describe what we are all feeling in the wake of the shooting, and that is nothing compared to the families directly affected.

What I did to give back yesterday was pray. That was my offering, my way to help.

May we all move forward with a little more awareness of those around us and love in our hearts.

Day 13 #ROMP4good Our Salute

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:37:33 -0800

Sometimes when saying thank you, words are not enough. Our soldiers and the families who support them give so much of themselves on a daily basis without asking for a thank you.

My daughter and her friend spent the afternoon making holiday decorations to brighten a soldier’s day. We’re sending these gifts to Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit volunteer-based corporation that works to put a smiles on the faces of soldiers, veterans and their families. Operation Gratitude welcome letters, pictures and care packages. It just takes a moment to say thank you, and you can’t imagine how much it means.

To find out more about Operation Gratitude, visit: operationgratitude.com

Day 12 #ROMP4good Secret Shopper

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:00:03 -0800

An unsuspecting Trader Joe’s shopper is going to get a grocery gift card. Fun, surprising, just because.

Day 11 #ROMP4good The Pencil Project II

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:20:08 -0800

So our little pencil drive for a school in need has grown! We just received a few hundred pencils, colored pencils, erasers and sharpeners from our friend Kelly and her sweet son (photo below). Thank you!! And team ROMP member, Kiran, just picked up a box full of pencils from her cousin. We are so excited that this elementary school will be set for awhile! Again, if you want more info on this lovely organization, go to thePencilProject.com.

Here’s my blog on The Pencil Project: http://kelliemartin.tumblr.com/post/36987092422/the-pencil-project-romp4good

Day 10 #ROMP4good Close to home

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:25:19 -0800

In 1998 my family spent a few months at UCLA medical center. My 19 year-old sister was diagnosed with lupus and admitted a few days later with one of the worst cases they’d seen in awhile. Our time there didn’t end well, and, as many of you know, my sister died from complications of lupus.

I know that miracles do happen at that hospital, and I’m hoping that the young man we are “adopting” through the UCLA Health System Auxiliary Adopt-a-Family Project this holiday will be one of those miracles. He’s in there for the long haul and he’s got a battle to wage. Here’s hoping that our holiday gift brings a smile to his face. We’ll be thinking of him.

Here’s more information on this fantastic program:

Day 9 #ROMP4good Run for it!

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 20:10:57 -0800

This morning I hauled myself out of bed and out into the chilly (but still Los Angeles) weather to run in the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run. I’m very involved in autoimmune disease awareness and arthritis hits close to home for me because it affects my mother-in-law. The thing that touched me most was seeing those kids who live with rheumatoid arthritis on a daily basis out there walking or wheeling along the course, excited to participate and celebrate.

To lean more about the arthritis foundation, visit: arthritis.org

Day 8 #ROMP4good Pass it on!

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:08:40 -0800

A friend’s 6 year-old son has asthma and frequently needs to be treated at the ER with a nebulizer machine. She had mentioned that she wished she could afford to get a nebulizer for her home.

Here’s where a good idea hatched:

My nephew has a nebulizer he no longer needs and when we inquired, he was happy to pass it along. Here’s hoping my friend can avoid long waits at the ER and have a little peace of mind knowing that they have an extra line of defense when dealing with a scary asthma attack.

Day 7 #ROMP4good Good Intentions

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:34:29 -0800

Sometimes the best laid plans get derailed. I had planned to give blood today. Just a pint. Apparently, I wasn’t adequately hydrated because my body decided that it only had 20 ccs to spare : ( It wasn’t an argument I was going to win. So, I tried … and I’ve got a pretty pink bandage to prove it. Sigh.

Day 6 #ROMP4good - Hillsides

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:33:36 -0800

This morning Maggie and I brought a holiday gift from ROMP for a child at Hillsides.

Hillsides, the Episcopal Home for Children in Pasadena, provides care for children who have no family or who cannot live with their family (often because of abuse and neglect). Hillsides creates safe places for children by treating abuse, neglect and mental illness; strengthening families; providing special education; and advocating for children’s rights.

To learn more, please visit hillsides.org.