ChambanaMoms.com

Moms can give blood, too. (Photo by jimwolffman on flickr

by Rachael McMillan

Moms are natural multitaskers. We can care for our children while checking any number of items off our to-do list: laundry, shopping, exercising, church—you name it.

How about taking the kids along when you donate blood? Here’s the great news: not only is it OK to do this, at Community Blood Services of Illinois it’s recommended.

Melissa Halcomb, the Director of Donor Relations for the blood bank, points out that not only does this make it easier for parents to give blood, it also helps build the future donor base.

The receptionist, Myrle Blackburn, is quick to reinforce the idea that kids are welcome. “We can accommodate infants on up,” she said, and recounted instances of babies parked snugly in their car seats at her desk. [...]

As you may know, we’ve been on the road. And while we’re grateful we had such a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how we can make chambanamoms.com the best it could be, it sure is hard to get back in the swing of things. It’s hard not to feel low after being on such a high all weekend! So, without further ado … 

After a brief hiatus – it’s once again time for Monday Sound Off! Unburden yourselves, friends. Tell us what’s on your mind. Get it off your chest!

Amy is in California getting ready for her Dr. Phil appearance, and she absolutely Hates. To. Fly. Here’s hoping she makes it back to Chicago before Snowmaggedon hits tonight.

Laura needs a lesson in focus. Too much to do, so little time, so many ideas. It’s a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless!

What’s got you hot under the collar today? Just need to vent? Pull up a virtual chair and share on Monday Sound Off! 

by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

While on Twitter a couple of months ago, I happened to come across an Indiana woman named Kristine Brite who had recently lost her newborn daughter very suddenly and unexpectedly. The culprit was Congenital Heart Disease.

Ever since Cora’s death, Kristine has worked tirelessly to grow awareness of CHD — and to save lives. She’s not the first mom touched by this issue, but she is working so that no other mother will have to endure her pain.

CHD is the most common birth defect in the United States, as it affects an estimated 1 in 100 babies born. According to the Children’s Heart Foundation, CHD is the No. 1 baby killer. CHD is also the most prevalent birth defect, according to the March of Dimes.

So what can you and I do about CHD? [...]

What is your red rubber ball? (Photo by Joe M500, Flickr)

By Amy L. Hatch

Laura and I are in Nashville this week, at a writing and blogging conference called Blissdom. We’re connecting with some great national brands, meeting lots of like-minded women and writers — and we’re doing something I don’t think either one of us expected.

We are getting inspired.

Part of the great program here — and by “here” I mean the Opryland Hotel and Resort … HOLLA! … this place is out of this world — was possibly the best keynote speaker I’ve ever heard.

I know, right? Keynote speaker is usually code for “Time to take a snooze, conference goers!”

Not this time. We were lucky enough to hear Kevin Carroll, author, speaker and agent for social change. Caroll was formerly employed by Nike Co. as that company’s “katalyst.” [...]