How to Write a Letter to the Editor - A Mom's Guide
Have something you want to share with the world? Writing a letter to the editor of your local paper is an easy and effective way to make your voice heard. And, it doesn’t have to be intimidating!
Here are a few tips and tricks for writing an effective letter that will make a difference.
1. Know Your Audience
Before you start writing, think about who you are writing for. What kind of people read your local newspaper? What topics would they be interested in? Does the paper have any particular areas of focus or interest? These types of questions will help you hone in on what kind of content will resonate with your readers.
2. Be Concise
Letters to the editor are usually short and sweet - somewhere between 150-300 words ( about 3 paragraphs) is usually best. Get right to the point. Don’t waste any time with lengthy introductions or digressions. The goal here is clarity, not eloquence; stick to your main point from beginning to end and keep it concise!
3. Be Specific
If you can back up your opinion with facts and figures, do so! Include specific examples whenever possible to demonstrate why you feel strongly about a particular issue or situation. This will help make your letter more convincing and draw the reader in, especially if other readers share similar experiences or opinions. Share a quick personal example of why you feel this way.
4. Have a great headline
Grab attention by writing a headline that immediately hooks the reader. Make it short but straight to the point and speaks to your passion on the subject you are writing about.
5. Pay attention to tone
What is your tone of voice? Are you feeling angry, mindful, emotional, witty, funny, frustrated?
6. Good and bad news
No matter how frustrated or angry you may feel about the topic, try and share good news also. Be sure and thank the paper for including your letter and for shedding light on the topic.
7. Legislators often read them
Be mindful that your letter and opinion may be read by legislators. They often read local newspapers from across the State to see how their community members feel about issues which could then influence their legislation and votes on bills.
Writing letters to the editor doesn't have to be daunting - even for busy moms! By keeping these tips in mind, you can easily craft an effective letter that resonates with readers and helps get your message across in a clear and concise manner. So go ahead - write that letter! You never know what kind of impact it may have on those around you. Remember, your voice IS powerful and it is needed.
You've got this mama!
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7 ways to Detox your home
Ditch those Chemicals: Cleaning Supplies, hand soaps, air fresheners, dryer sheets, personal care and anything else lurking in your cabinets could be really harming you. Cut your losses and get those bottles of carcinogens out of their house. Take it room by room.
Diffuse. Oils like Purification, Thieves, Peppermint, Peace and Calming, Stress Away or YOUR favorite oils. Diffusing freshens and purifies your rooms, neutralizes airborne particles and odors, supports oxygen levels, strengthens your immune systems. Getting oils into your cells helps combat oxidative stress on your body.
Ditch the candles: Your diffuser gives a gentle glow without the chemicals, including heavy metals in the wicks, The wax is full of toxins, synthetic fragrance and petroleum ( not good at all for your lungs).
Use Baking soda & Active Charcoal: These naturally absorb odors. Put a bowl out with 10 drops of oil in a laundry room, refrigerator, nursery, shoe closet, etc.
Get a car diffuser; Air fresheners are full of chemicals- yuck! Cars also off-fume a whole bunch of manufacturing chemicals so you can counteract those.
Bring in the plants: Mother Nature is boss! Living plants purify the air and look pretty. Put LIVE plants all over the house and love them well, they’ll clean the air in return. Fake plants are havens for dust mites and allergens. Ditch ‘em.
Air out the house: Your circulated indoor air is 5-7x more toxic than fresh air so get it out of your house routinely.
* thank you to the Mom who shared this online. I cannot find her name again but credit goes to her!
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If you're like me when it comes to dinner, I often am challenged trying to come up with something my family will like and also not making the same boring things every night. I have a husband who loves tacos and a son who loves Mac and Cheese. ;)
Here are my top 5 favorites that are easy, delish and most importantly, don't take a whole lot of planning or work.
1) Tacos: We love tacos in this house. We usually cook up chicken or ground turkey. Combine with onions, cilantro, cheese, guacamole and tortillas. Rice and beans make easy side dishes too.
2) Turkey guacamole burgers: Take ground turkey, bread crumbs, avocado and a little tomato paste and make patties. Cook up in saute pan or on the grill.They taste so good!
3) Chili: I will take 2 cartons of beef broth and add it to a pot. Combine different types of beans like pinto, kidney, chili beans, along with cooked and drained ground turkey or ground beef. Add your favorite spices like cumin, pepper, garlic, salt, etc.. Simmer until done! You can throw some cheese in to make it even yummier.
4) BBQ chicken: I usually just take chicken breasts, cook until done and add in some BBQ marinade and simmer. Serve over rice and have a side of veggies like salad, green beans, peas or mixed veggies.
5) Loaded baked potatoes: These make the perfect easy dinner meal! Top with your favorite toppings like chives, sour cream, butter, cheese, bacon, pesto, salsa. Add your favorite salad on the side for a light meal that is energy packed.
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Hi Friend!
Having a basic Mamas Emergency healthcare kit for home is so much easier than you may think!
Having an at home resource that supports you physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually is so helpful.
If something were to happen like a natural disaster, the grid going down,, an earthquake, just having that peace of mind and knowing you've got a way at home to holistically care for your families needs in case of a crisis or sudden emergency is so comforting.
Here are my daily must haves in my Mama toolkit.
Oils:
Thieves: this blend is a powerful combination of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils. It is a great blend for keeping your immune system fully supported.
Peppermint: digestive support, cooling, repels pests, energizing, soothing for muscles, etc. This is a powerful oil that can be used for many things.
Frankincense: all things skin, for calming and grounding and focus, relaxing, many more things but I need to stay compliant. :)
Lemon: Add to your water for detoxification purposes. Use it to remove sticky stuff. Add it to recipes for enhanced flavor.
Peace and Calming: I love this oil for so many reasons. It is my go-to when I am feeling extra anxious and stressed. It immediately relaxes my mind and allows me to focus on the task at hand.
Stress Away: Just like Peace and Calming, it is so soothing and the smell just makes me think of vacation and that feeling of just a cool, relaxing day at the beach. It is "vacation in a bottle!"
Release: This is a powerful oil that helps release emotions and helps you process your feelings. I rub it on my liver which is where many of our emotions are stored.
Joy: "The oil of gladness" I call it. It always makes me feel happier and more joyful. It smells amazing!
White Angelica: this oil helps promote a feeling of protection and security and helps to guard against negative energy.
En-r-gee: For that mama fuel that we all need, It is uplifting and energizing and gives you that pep in your step and boost of energy you need during the day.
Endoflex: For all things hormonal. It is very balancing to the endocrine gland and supports hormones. It also helps our mood during those special times of the month and for older women as well.
Cedarwood: This oil is really high in sesquiterpenes and has so many uses. It supports good, restful sleep, is calming for the body, helps with focus.
Lavender: Known as the "swiss army knife" of oils, Lavender has hundreds of uses. Skin support, sleep, calming and so many other uses.
I would be happy to help you have your own First Aid kit. It is really easy to sign up. I have my own personal referral link here: https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/new-start?sponsorid=2108472&enrollerid=2108472&isocountrycode=US&culture=en-US&type=member
When you join my community, I will make sure you have ongoing, absolutely free education and share with you lots of ways to use your oils. I will add you to my community FB group as well as our team group for support and encouragement.
There is never any pressure to continue to buy or to sell but you may find that you love the products so much, you can't help but share. Totally up to you!
You will also receive for FREE a pocket reference guide!
There is a convenient monthly shipping program called Essential Rewards that is optional that you can sign up with too. It will deliver the products you choose that fits YOUR budget. You can cancel anytime and pick your shipping date each month. You earn up to 25% back every order to be able to get FREE products., plus get free oils at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months and an exclusive oil at 24 months.
I strongly recommend adding Thieves Household Cleaner to your order. You will use it way more than you expect. It cleans everything! If you sign up for Essential Rewards with your kit order and add the Thieves cleaner via "Customize your order", you will immediately start earning those points.
I am excited for you to get started! I will be sending you a WELCOME email once your order processes. You will also receive the invite to our group. I will be sending out your desk reference immediately! Please ask me any questions at all. I want to help you get started on the right foot!
In His care,
erika
xo
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Hey mama, I see you. You are tired. I know the struggle is so real.
You wake up and immediately start thinking about all the daily things. You wake up already feeling overwhelmed and defeated. I feel you and I am right there with you. There's a long list of to do's to tackle. It seems like every day runs into the next and you feel behind before you step out of bed. But, friend, can I offer you some hope? Can i share what works for me when I feel that sense of heaviness and feeling of failure drift into my mind?
I needed something that was simple, that would get the biggest bang for my buck.
These are my top 4 on-the-go wellness rollers that help me emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically. Just to be clear I am not a doctor so this information is for educational purposes only, not to cure, treat or diagnose any issues. These are just things that I love and have used personally.
Rollers are great for on the go and are so easy to use. Just throw them in your purse or your car console when you need some body, mind and spirit support. It is liquid sunshine! God has blessed us with all we need to support our body with just one ingredient oils. They raise our frequency, increase our oxygen and our cells match up perfectly with plant molecules. God has given us an amazing garden of options for our health without pharmaceuticals and chemicals that can potentially hurt us AND without the withdrawals or side affects.
My top 5 Daily Rollers and Scripture verses
#1 Weary Mama- Emotional Support Roller
Philippians 4:4-8
Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! ... And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- 10 drops Bergamot
- 10 drops Orange
- 10 drops Stress Away
- 10 drops Joy
- Dilute with coconut oil
* these really help give you a happy feeling ( hello, citrus!), inspire joy and allow you to feel carefree and let go!
#2 Strong Mama- Physical and Immune Support Roller
Psalm 139:13
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my Mothers' womb.
- 5 drops of Thieves
- 5 drops Frankincense
- 5 drops Lemon
- Dilute with coconut oil
* these are all amazing oils for cleansing, purifying and overall support.
#3 Empowered Mama- Spiritual Support Roller
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- 10 drops of Frankincense
- 5 drops of Bergamot
- 5 drops of Ylang Ylang
- 3 drops of Valor
- Dilute with Coconut oil
* this combo will calm your spirit, help you focus on your daily tasks and give you a sense that you can handle anything.
#4 Confident Mama- Mental Support Roller
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- 5 drops of Valor
- 5 drops of Release
- 5 drops of Sara
- 5 drops of Peace and Calming
- Diluted with coconut oil
* I know you're a warrior mama and this combo will really make you feel like one! It inspires courage and confidence and you'll feel ready to tackle anything. You were made to overcome and conquer!
I hope you love these blends and please let me know how I can help you in any way.
Hugs mama! You've got this.
XO,
erika
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