If you look at your sale ads, you're going to see a lot of places are running specials on hurricane supplies. We are in the last day of a sales tax holiday, meaning we can buy things like duct tape, batteries, and flashlights without paying sales tax. However, be smart don't purchase items that you in no way will ever need, If finances are tight, be especially smart about how you purchase and stock up on your supplies. I admit, I typically begin restocking my hurricane supplies in February. 

When you make your weekly or bi-weekly grocery trip, grab an extra jar of peanut butter, jug of water, or a pack of batteries. Purchasing 1 or 2 items a week throughout the year, will help you to be prepared without having to endure the panic that comes the week before a storm hits. This panic is why no stores have water, canned soup, bread or ice available right before a storm comes.  I am actually quite proud to say that I did not need to go shopping for hurricane supplies last season. I did go purchase moving boxes and packing tape, and was dumbfounded by the empty aisles and people scrambling, even fighting over canned meats that they otherwise would never purchase. They were in a panic and not ideally prepared. Haven't started, START TODAY!
 
You can read the other tips we issued last year here.  They were very helpful during my own evacuation. After weathering Hurricane Irma, I want to remind you of a few other important to do's.
 
I'm glad to say that throughout the evacuation and the aftermath, my mental health was in great shape. I was tired but had been certain to refill my medications prior to evacuating, so I was not faced with suddenly going cold turkey. I continued to check in with my support team and care providers. I really cannot stress this enough: if there is any prescription or over the counter medication someone in your home takes on a daily basis as well as rescue meds, such as inhalers or anxiety medication, please be sure to get your advance refills during your storm prep. If you haven't seen your provider in a while and you need to have an office visit to get more refills, now is the time to make that appointment. Tell your provider you want to be prepared in the event of an emergency situation and ask them to put a refill on file. If a named storm is projected to hit, please go fill that prescription don't try to tough it out.  Make sure you do this for everyone in your household. Medication for inhalers and nebulizers are crucial.  I'm sure anyone with asthma or other respiratory issues will agree when you have no power and the humidity is thick, breathing can become difficult. If you have children that require inhalers please keep them with you. Do not evacuate without, and if you shelter in place be sure you have a supply or means of providing the medication should you lose power. This is not so much about during the storm itself, but in the time to follow the storm when, you may be residing in a shelter or with family or in home without electric or water for days or even weeks.
 
This includes your pets!  Again, get ready now. Make an appointment, go to your vet, keep your pets are up-to-date on which ever vaccines and registrations are required for your county.  Put these records with all the other important papers in that waterproof container.  Be sure you have enough pet medications as well. Heart worms can be very serious and with the mosquitoes they are a threat.
 
Whether you're evacuating, or sheltering in place add a good size supply of Chux pads also known as pittle mats, puppy pads or potty papers. You're likely not going to be able to walk Fido in the middle of a storm. If your dog is like mine they don't want to go out when it's raining. You don't want that mess in your house, have some backup potty mats.  Chux pads are right up there with duct tape as one of my absolute must have survival items.  Because of their multiple uses if you have pets definitely have extra.  Like your children, if your pets have favorite toys, blankets, or comfort items make sure that you have those with your pets. Animals are aware when things are different, they feel changes in weather, and they do become stressed. These items for your pets can be very helpful because if the kids are already stir crazy, and you've been cooped up inside with no power, you don't want to add an anxious pet to that mess.
 
Here are important to know websites:
Tampa Bay Hurricane Guide for 2018
NOAA 2018 Predictions
NOAA Tracking Charts (it's fun to play meteorologist!)

Additionally Hillsborough County Proclaimed May 13 through May 19, 2018 as Hillsborough County Hurricane Preparedness Week in Hillsborough County. Even though it is now Hurricane Season, we should be making sure we are prepared!  (also, Perinatal Health Week Proclamation was read shortly after the Hurricane Preparedness Week!)

Here's hoping that everybody has a safe and enjoyable summer. Storm season is long and it is my hope that we have a mild one without any major hurricanes this year. However, if we do, I hope that we are able to help you feel prepared.  If you have any tips or tricks that have helped you please feel free to share them in the comments. Learning together and leaning on each other is how we weather the storm.
 
Want to learn more about how my storm adventure was weathered?  Follow along, that story is coming soon.


Weathering Storm,
Rebecca

Raincoat Run, followed quickly by Give Day Tampa Bay, occurring simultaneously with Maternal Mental Health Week = chaotic but fantastic!

We quickly moved into GIVE DAY mode and thanks to the support of the Raincoat Run, Angela and Joanna's LulaRoe Fundraiser, and Give Day Tampa Bay, we not only spread the word about Maternal Mental Health, but also raised over $2794 this season! 
We landed a live spot on the WEDU broadcast and brought our friends the flamingos... 

On Monday, April 30th, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Logan, Allison, and Haddie traveled to Citrus County. Rebecca and Elizabeth were invited as panelists as the Citrus County Health Department hosted a film screening of The Dark Side of the Full Moon. (The kiddos were just for the cuteness effect) 

Pasco, Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties and various cities declared Perinatal Mental Health Week with official Proclamations. Click here to read The City of Tampa's Perinatal Mental Health Week Proclamation!

If you made it this far, you are likely ready for a good rest!  So are we.

But we will be ready to flock soon!

Holding the umbrella,
-Elizabeth

​Hello Tampa,

If you are following us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, you may have noticed that the the Flamingos are coming​ and you are probably wondering, "What's with the big pink birds?" 

While running is great for your mental and physical health, we also fully believe in the power of laughter, so for some summertime fun... the Flamingos are coming.

Come June 1st, for your amazing donation of $25 and the completion of a Flocking Order, we will be glad to say thanks by migrating our flock of pink lawn flamingos to the yard you have chosen. The dwellers will then have the opportunity to make a donation as well and send the flamingos to another place to roost. Who doesn't love a good summer prank?

Now if you're worried about getting flocked, don't worry we are also going to be offering Flamingo Insurance Policies. For a $20 donation, you can secure you very own Flamingo Insurance Policy that will prevent your lawn from getting flocked. (This is a great investment if you live in an HOA and/or do not want to be flocked repeatedly). 

So here is the scoop on Flamingo Insurance Policy. With Give Day Tampa Bay upon us. we are feeling giving ourselves. One of our #GiveDayTB18 goals is to have the most unique donations during the hours of 11 a.m. through 1 p.m. So for those hours only, Flamingo Insurance will be discounted to $15.  Anyone who makes this donation during this double lunch hour will not be able to be flocked from May 1st, 2018-April 30th 2019.  It is the ultimate protection from Flamingo Flocking. 

We will also be collecting donations and taking reservations for Flocking on May 1st. Following Give Day Tampa Bay, we will create our Flocking schedule and be sure to let you know when the Flamingo Flock you've sponsored will arrive during throughout the summer. All Flocking will be completed by July 31st.

Questions? Feel free to fly them over to our in box at 7thmomproject@gmail.com

As always, hold the umbrella, because you never know what might be raining down.

-Rebecca

Before I became pregnant with Allison, I took up running.  I often referred to it as my therapy.  Since then, and my work with mothers struggling with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, I try not to refer to my running hobby as "therapy" or make jokes about it being cheaper than a therapist. I did do these things once, but now I recognize how damaging that can be. However, running is a huge part of my self care strategies and in that it is immensely important to my mental health. We also know that exercise is important for every person's mental wellness, so yay running!

There are a few reasons I love running, and on a run last week I realized running has several similarities to motherhood. Which made me love it even more. 

1. It's not easy. It makes you sweat, and breath hard. Sometimes things hurt. 
2. The hardest run leaves you with the greatest level of satisfaction. 
3. It is a one person sport. Yes you can say that you are racing against the other racers, but most runners I know are aiming for a PR (personal record). 
4. You are measured by improvements, not "winning"
5. You can wear leggings all the time. 

Just in case you're not a runner, here is a little more explanation as to what I am talking about.

1. Motherhood is hard. It makes you sweat, and breath hard. Sometimes things hurt. 
2. Raising kids is not easy, but after each terrible phase, you really feel like you did it. The reward of love and kisses and silly kiddos after a long hard week of parenting is so satisfying. 
3. While it can be tempting to get caught up into Mommy Wars, and the increased focus on such differences, the truth is, I am the best mother for my children (and you are for yours). There is no need to compare against each other, but to simply to better than we did before.
4. There is not magic "Perfect Mom" line that we reach. Everything is fluid and some days we are just rocking the mom thing, and other days not so much. But every day we keep the kids alive is success.
5. Leggings.  (and if you are a LuLaRoe wearer, check out the fundraiser Angela and JoAnna are doing to support us!)


So in conclusion, I love running, as much as I love mothering. And I hope you join me for our first Raincoat Run 5K and Family Fun Run on Sunday!


This Mom Wears Rainboots (and running shoes)

-Elizabeth 

We don rainboots and carry the umbrellas as we help others through the storms of early motherhood. We do it for the mothers, but the benefits for the children in having a healthier mom are immeasurable.