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I Lost The #FitBit Blogger Challenge

May 30, 2012 By 8 Comments

Last week I teamed up with several fellow bloggers for our first FitBit Blogger Challenge to simply see who could take the most steps in 7 days.  The “prize” for the winner was merely bragging rights… and a blog post of praise from the losers.

I lost.

Big Time.

Now, obviously had I actually remembered to wear my FitBit every day during the 7 days, I might have had a better showing.  But who am I kidding?  There is no WAY I was coming close to Virginia from That Bald Chick – who wrapped up an impressive 89,400 steps last week.

Seriously.

How many IS that per day anyway… someone get me a calculator.

The FitBit – in case you havent heard – is my new favorite tool for getting my self in shape by introducing a huge dose of…. AWARENESS.

With the FitBit you are brutally aware of what you are doing – or in my case this week NOT doing – to stay on track with your weightloss or health goals. The FitBit is worn close to your body and tracks your steps, floors climbed (I assume based on altitude, because the time I killed myself on the StairMaster didnt register) distance walked, and calories burned.  You can even track your sleep cycles! It also has a little “flower” that I like to grow over and over each day.  The more leaves you have – the better your day is going.

The FitBit also has an online dashboard community where you can track all of your stats and progress, as well as connect with other FitBit users.  It will even sync with popular phone apps – like MyFitnessPal – so you can even track your “calories in” while FitBit monitors your “calories out.”

I KNOW. 

So we will be doing the FitBit Blogger Challenge again soon (and I am going to wear my FitBit every day if I have to staple it to my body), and hopefully I will have a better shot at winning… or at least coming in closer.

89,440…. wow.

I bow to you Mrs V.

Disclaimer: The links above are affiliate links but all opinions are 100% my own.  I truly believe EVERYONE needs one of these little thingies.

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Blogger Olympics Thanks to Jambu Footwear

May 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This past weekend we kicked off Brandcation with our first ever Blogger Olympics, sponsored by Jambu Footwear.  We gave our Attendees very little warning as to what all would be involved in Blogger Olympics, only assured them that there would be very little physical fitness involved.  As a “Condo Mom” I got to be the team leader and cheer my team on…. while laughing hysterically.  

The Blogger Olympics began with a Scavenger Hunt which covered the entire Portofino Property.   Let me tell you that there are few things funnier than being on the 11th floor of a condo and overlooking 4 groups of 8 women in different colored shirts – some sporting floppy hats, ladybug wings, and mustache sun glasses – scurry around between 5 towers racing to take pictures of their finds.

After the Scavenger Hunt we hit the beach for White House Sand Castle Building (I still think my team nailed it), grass skirt and coconut bra relay, float races, and a hula hoop contest… which I am proud to say my girl Denise absolutely smoked the competition on.  For a lady who has given birth to quads, she pretty much was bowed to after that performance.

Trisha, Kim, Blondie, and I were coordinating and coaching the events – which means laughing hysterically and talking smack to one another the entire time.  I even put a bounty on Blondie if someone could dunk her during the float races, but for a little thing she is hard to take down.  It was fabulous.

It was an absolute blast, and I am so proud of my Blue Team – The Beachin Bloggers – for doing such an awesome job in the competition!  Thanks again to Jambu Footwear for the sponsorship which made the Blogger Olympics 2012 possible.


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I’m Going Coastal – Brandcation #3

March 18, 2012 By 5 Comments

The last month I have been consumed with getting things ready for Brandfluential’s third Brandcation event on Pensacola Beach, Florida.   To say that I am excited is the understatement of the year.

On May 4th – FORTY SIX DAYS – 29 Bloggers and I will take to the beaches for the Bloggers Gone Coastal event.   We will be staying at the more-than-amazing Portofino Island Resort where we have four condos over looking the Gulf of Mexico. We will be spending three jam packed days checking out all that the Gulf Coast has to offer.  From dolphin cruises to ziplining, the Sandshaker to Surf Burger, and even the First Annual Brandcation Blog Olympics, this weekend is going to be A-MA-ZING! 

It was the second Brandcation – Global Getaway – where I finally decided to branch out with a personal blog and with the help of the 30+ ladies there chose the name of MoscatoMom.   Needless to say, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I am not sure if I am more excited about seeing my buddies from the first two Brandcations – like Paula, Lisa, Blondie, Kim -  or meeting new friends – like Amy,  Megan, Alison, and Jenn.   Also excited that I get to hang with my old high school buddies – Toni and Joy and Trisha of course.  It has been way too long since us ladies spent an evening sipping Bushwackers listening to Island tunes.

This event has also been great motivation for me – just what I needed to finally take me from “man I really need to lose these last few pounds” to “holy crap I am going to be around 30 bloggers (read: people with cameras) in a bathing suit in 46 days….”  It goes without saying that I have gone from wishing to intention.

If you are a company who is interested in getting your product in front of 30 top Bloggers from around the country – here is your chance!   We have already received amazing products and sponsorships from companies like KidzGear, Cook’n Software, Mabels Labels, and literally dozens more!   Click on the Meet Lynsey tab at the top to learn more about how you can have your product or company featured at the Brandcation Bloggers Gone Coastal Event!

 


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How I Put An End To My Daughter Being Bullied At School

September 21, 2011 By 15 Comments

How I Put An End To My Daughter Being Bullied At School

Yesterday a friend of mine posted a message on my favorite Bloggers Forum about her middle schooler son being bullied at school.  She was asking how she should handle it in such a way that it gets taken care of, but without the child getting harassed further for “telling mom.”  I posted that I had a bullying issue with my middle school daughter last year, and that if she wanted to call me, I would be happy to share my story of how I put an end to it.

This began a thread of others wanting to hear the story, so I decided to Vlog it since writing it would probably take hours – even as fast as I type.   So here it is:

Now let me say that even though I use humor in this video, bullying is no laughing matter.  I truly believe it is high time the parents step up and start demanding things be different.  That being said though, it is also high time parents step up and get more involved with their kids and the schools.   We can not control what we do not see, and one thing that is constant when you hear the bullying tragedies of suicide and murder, the parents will say “I had no idea it was going on” or “no idea it was that bad.”

There are many resources for bullying.  If you Google “Bullying Resources” you will find thousands of results from Federal Organizations to local grass roots movements in your own town.  I still strongly believe however that the best thing we can do is simply volunteer our time and be present at the schools to help the teachers and faculty be more in control.  We know they are out numbered, we should be there to help.

I hope you enjoy the video, that you got a giggle, and I invite you to talk to your children tonight about bullying – especially if you have noticed a change in behavior.  It is our JOB to keep our children safe.  Start now.

We can all be “bitches” together, and keep our children safe.