Category: Uncategorized

Well hopefully you know where they are… but do you know how they are?

I haven’t talked about ovaries for a while (remember that time I skyped with Kelly Ripa?), but since September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, it’s high time I did.

In addition to it being September, this post is also timely because I just had my yearly blood test and ovary ultrasound… and since Dr. Oz got a colonoscopy on his show and Bob & Tom do their prostate exams on the air, I figured I might as well document my check up with a vlog!

Just kidding! I would not subject you to that. But I did have those tests run last week, and everything checked out just fine. Woohoo!

So, back to the subject at hand – Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. If you’ve hung around this blog for a while, you’ve heard this all before, but here’s a refresher…

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women. It’s often called the “silent killer” because the symptoms are often vague and by the time it’s diagnosed, it’s often in an advanced stage. There is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer, but there are tests that can detect it when patients are at high risk or have early symptoms. The most effective way women can protect themselves against ovarian cancer is to learn the signs and symptoms – the OCRF website is a wealth of information, and I encourage you all to go there and learn more, but here are the basics:

Signs & Symptoms
• Bloating
• Pelvic and/or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

Risk Factors
• Increasing age, with highest occurrence in women over 50
• Family or personal history of ovarian, breast, endometrial, or colon cancer
• Uninterrupted ovulation (having no pregnancies, infertility, low parity)
• Presence of gene mutations, especially BRCA 1 or BRCA 2

Prevention & Risk Reduction
• Use of oral contraceptives for more than five years can reduce your risk by approximately 50%
• Multiple pregnancies, having first full-term pregnancy before the age of 25
• Breastfeeding

Since the first time I posted about ovarian cancer, I’ve been floored by the amount of awareness I’ve seen spread through blogs and social media. The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and their partners (like Electrolux, L’Oreal, and Seventh Generation) have been doing an amazing job of getting the word out about this terrible disease.

There’s even an app for that – Previvors is a free iPhone app that has a simple 7 question quiz to help you determine your level of risk.

But like I’ve said before… it is so, so important that we all know our bodies and listen to them. Familiarize yourselves with the signs & symptoms above, and check out the picture below that simplifies it.

Let’s BEAT ovarian cancer.
–The End.

Last year I got involved with Weight Watchers’ Lose for Good campaign. I might have mentioned it a time or two.

It’s that time again – today’s the Lose-a-Palooza. Here’s how the Weight Watchers people explain it:
Could the weight you lose help fight world hunger? Weight Watchers has designed a program to accomplish this. This September, the third annual Lose for Good campaign will strive to relieve world hunger.

Between September 5 and October 23, the Lose for Good campaign is teaming up members, online subscribers and charitable organizations to donate up to 1 million dollars to leading hunger-fighting organizations. These organizations, Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger, will benefit from members’ weight loss and other activities.

Additionally, Weight Watchers’ Lose-a-Palooza campaign is a fun, easy way to spread the word and one of many activities you can join to encourage participation in the Lose for Good campaign. On September 14, you can encourage your friends and followers to help fight world hunger using your favorite social network. It is a one-day social media event where $1 will be donated every time Lose for Good is mentioned on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare or through a Lose For Good Twibbon on your profile picture. You can also use the hashtag #LoseforGood to help spread the word and raise funds.

Pretty cool, huh?

This campaign is what got me started on Weight Watchers last year, and I truly believe it changed my life.

Unfortunately, I, for one, have apparently consumed a few too many ice cream cones this summer and have put on a couple pounds (but I’ve been running like crazy so it’s probably muscle, right? Nah, probably the ice cream cones) and it is time for me to get back on track. Lose-a-Palooza is the perfect time for that – it combines two of my favorite things, Weight Watchers and social media! I am back on board. You heard it here first, people. Hold me to it!

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to join Weight Watchers (like I was for years), let Lose for Good be it! You won’t regret it, I promise.

Have you heard about Zulily?

Zulily is an online store great deals every day on high-quality clothing, kid & baby gear, and lots of other things! The best part? Everything is on sale – up to 70% of retail prices. I’ve been keeping an eye on the site for the last couple of weeks, and I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen (and with the prices!). They’ve offered organic baby clothes, those hip 20-year-old-looking rock star t-shirts, car seats, maternity clothes, and tons more. All great stuff, all unique, and all on sale.

As an example, here is info on the events that start today:
Kidkraft: KidKraft is all about imagination, high quality, and durability. With KidKraft, your family can get organized and keep it together. What a difference a little planning and the right tools can make! Shop today for a desk with a built-in bulletin board, wooden caddies, clothing hangers, an easel, and more. Many of the KidsKraft items can be personalized with your child’s name.

Zio Sport: Nothing says get out and play like Zio Sport! The company started when three women saw a void in the market for high-quality, stylish sportswear for kids. The Austin-based, family-owned company encourages a healthy lifestyle with the simple idea that kids who are comfortable keep playing longer. Their revolutionary Cool-Edge Fabric Technology not only wicks away moisture, but offers UV protection. Zulily has a few great styles that are very 80s retro-style – lots of bright colors and bold designs.

You have to be a member to get in on the deals, but membership is free and signing up is fast and easy. Once you’re a member (or “like” them on Facebook), you’ll find out about their events – each day they have at least five new offers, and each one only lasts 72 hours. Anything and everything for moms, babies, and kids will show up on Zulily!

Today, we are giving away these cute items!
Shirt from Polarn O. Pyret (Retails for $39.50; sells on Zulily for $19.99): Modern, Comfortable Clothing for Babies and Kids
Sweden’s Polarn O. Pyret offers clothes that are sensibly stylish and made to last. What started with a striped T-shirt has grown into a collection of comfy, casual playwear. The designs have a clean, modern feel to them, in bright, mix-and-match colors. These are the pieces that are passed down easily from sibling to sibling—and on to cousins and friends, too.

Hat from Urban Smalls (Retails for $23; sells on Zulily for $15.99): Witty Wear for Babies in Soft Cotton and Bamboo. Kids say the funniest things, but before they can speak for themselves, there’s help from Urban Smalls. The cheeky phrases on their tops and one-pieces are the antidote to sugary-sweet baby clothes, and coordinating pants and hats pull the look together. Their Small Plum line takes things in a greener (yet just as witty) direction with eco-friendly bamboo fabric that’s highly absorbent and silky soft.

Dress from Kate Quinn Organics (Retails for $38; sells on Zulily for $19.99): Modern, Eco-conscious Playwear
Once a stylist to the stars, Kate Quinn now designs her eponymous line of clothing that’s as earth friendly as it is style conscious. Simple, modern silhouettes that mix and match are what the collection is all about, in both earth-toned neutrals and more vibrant shades. The soft, thick fabric is sustainably grown, certified organic cotton, created with certified fair-trade labor.

Here’s how you can win!
1) Leave a comment on this blog post
2) For an extra entry tweet about this contest on twitter with a link back to this post, then leave a separate comment with your tweet URL. You may copy and paste this if you wish: “@mommintup & @jennyitup are giving away clothes from @Zulily! #wingiveaways ”
3) Post on Facebook about Mommin’ It Up – like our page if you haven’t already and then leave a separate comment letting us know you did so.
4) Subscribe to our blog feed and leave us a comment letting us know you did or already do.

To find out about all the great deals on Zulily, visit them at on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter @Zulily.

You can enter to win Zulily items from ALL 11 of our Back 2 School Giveaway bash blog partners! So after you enter here, go enter at our partners’ blogs:

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Bargain Briana
Common Sense With Money
Coupon Cravings
Moms Need to Know
Mommy Snacks
Passion for Savings
Saving Cents with Sense
Southern Savers
Stretching a Buck

Good luck!

This and all giveaways for this promotion end Monday, August 23rd at 3 pm.

This giveaway was sponsored by Zulily as part of Win Giveaways Back to School Bash. This post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor. Read more on our disclosure policy. Find more information on the terms for this giveaway on the Win Giveaways Facebook page.