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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

How do you make the most of family time?: introducing the new McDonald’s “Every Minute Counts” widget

This is a sponsored post from BlogHer and McDonald's.

This is the second and final part of our McDonald’s trip review and I’m excited to talk about family time and charity. Y’all know that TubaDad travels quite a bit for work. Oh so much traveling… So when he’s back in town we do the happy dance and make THE MOST of our family time. We’re not picky about what we do, as long as we do it together. Seriously, the tiniest little things make us grin. Like giving each other makeovers with cheap Claire’s makeup the other day. Oh man this made us laugh (and yes, we took the girls out of the house looking like that).

DSC_7633LRaDSC_7576LRaDSC_7591LRa   DSC_7615LRa

 

We hang out together and do slightly more conventional family time activities too:

  • Traveling at the drop of a hat: say it with me, ROADTRIP!! 
  • Listening to music (lots of tuba, of course), dancing, and singing
  • Playing at parks, amusement parks, or the beach
  • Watching movies
  • Or just hanging out in the backyard or the pool

DSC02204 DSC02545LRLRa IMG_4182LRa IMG_0491LRLRa IMG_0789LRa IMG_4847LRa_anon

Yeah, we enjoy spending time together. That’s probably not a shocker to anyone reading this, is it? Heh. Now, though, there’s a simple way to turn this family time into a charity donation. We learned about this when our family visited McDonald’s corporate headquarters and a Ronald McDonald House Charity® back in June, and were all pretty psyched for them to roll it out. Here’s the deal: McDonald’s has just introduced a new online tool to promote family time and raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®). Basically, this widget collects family-time pledges. And McDonald’s will donate 1 penny to RMHC® for every minute of time a person pledges to spend with his/her family, with the goal of reaching 1-million minutes. This widget is part of a new national fundraiser the company launched that also includes their Happy Meals. For each Happy Meal® and Mighty Kids Meal® sold in the U.S., a portion of the sales will be donated to RMHC – McDonald’s “Charity of Choice” for more than 35 years.

Now you might be thinking (like me), that a penny is a teeny amount that won’t make any difference. But these pennies and minutes add up fast. Last year, those little spare-change-donation boxes that you see on the counter of every McDonald’s raised nearly $20 million for local RMHC Chapters. Not bad! So make a family-time pledge today, and feel good about spending time with your family and helping charity. Shoot, do what we’re going to do and tell your kids about the RMHC and get them to pledge what they’d like to do as a family.

The giveaway: 

One winner will be chosen to win a McDonald’s Family Fun Prize Pack, which includes a McDonald’s smile tote bag, surprise set of Happy Meal toys, $25 McDonald’s Arch card (can be used for any purchase at a McD’s), McDonald’s Vintage Character T-Shirt, Pen-Buddy notebook, Organic Lip Balm, McDonald’s Stainless Tumbler, and a Just-Give gift card for any charity of the winner’s choice.

To enter the giveaway, pledge family time on the McDonald's “Make Family Time Happy Time” widget (above) and let us know what you pledged in the comment section for a chance to win! (You don’t have to sign up, register, or give any identifying info in the widget.) We’d also love to hear if you have a favorite family memory tied to McDonald’s.

  1. Giveaway opens at 9:00 a.m. (PST) August 11, 2010 and closes at 5:00 p.m. (PST) August 24, 2010.
  2. To get one extra entry, either blog or tweet about this promotion and leave an additional comment with the url of your tweet or blog post (two entries allowed per person).
  3. You can view the BlogHer.com special offers page for 9 more chances to win or to read their awesome reviews.
  4. Check out the full text of the official rules.
  5. Entries/comments must be on topic and not offensive or derogatory.

UPDATE AT 5pm 8/24/10 – THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. I’LL DRAW A WINNER TOMORROW. THANKS!!

48 comments:

Mami2jcn said...

I used the widget and pledged 90 minutes to have a movie night with my family.

I remember having a birthday party at McDonalds when I was a little girl.

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I pledged 120 minutes to hike with my family... It will really be a combination hiking and camping trip, but I couldn't get my custom pledge to work. ;)

I love love this idea; I am adding the widget to my blog!

D said...

pledged to play with chalk ( in 100 degree weather)
I remember when my youngest daughter thought going to McDonald's was THE restaurants to have b-day parties & couldn't imagine why mommy & daddy didn't pick it for their b-day dinner :)

ddashby16@hotmail.com

Stacy said...

I used the widget and pledged 40 minutes to take clothes/toys to a local charity. My kids have been helping to clean out for back to school, and I hope they can see where their stuff will be going!

Stacy said...

And I tweeted it too:
https://twitter.com/mom2m3

Analeise said...

I pledges 120 minutes to go to the library with my family. This is awesome and i am gong to send the link to all my family and friends.

sassy2 said...

we already work with the local food bank and would gladly pledge more time.

fuzzandfuzzlet said...

I volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House~! I am glad to see you promoting this worthy cause~!

Unknown said...

I pledged to make jewelry with the girls

TK said...

I just pledged 120 minutes with my family helping at our local homeless shelter.

Kim O

TK said...

I also just facebooked/twitted about my pledge. I don't do twitter but clicked on the facebook link and it posted there. My page is private.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1335503014#!/sweetiee1?v=wall&story_fbid=147288875289875&ref=notif&notif_t=feed_comment

Kim O

BrendaLea, the Prpldy said...

I pledge 60 minutes of creative time with the boys. They love McDonalds!

prpldy (at) comcast dot net

Carolyn G said...

I pledged 60 minutes to collect and donate clothes

Carolyn G said...

blogged here http://theartofrandomwillynillyness.blogspot.com/2010/08/blogher-contests.html

Angel Jacklyn said...

I PLEDGED SPENDING 20 MINUTES TO COLLECTING AND DONATING ALL MY CLOTHING ITEMS I NO LONGER WEAR TO THOSE IN NEED! ALSO, EVERY TRIP TO MCDONALDS IS A FAVORITE MEMORY LOL! kytah00@yahoo.com

Angel Jacklyn said...

TWEET http://twitter.com/kytah00/status/21521252560 kytah00@yahoo.com

jakiesmom said...

i pledged 30 minutes of collecting clothes/items for donation.
my best mc d memory is that after weeks of trying to get my son to try adult/big boy food..he lunged for a mc d french fry and he's been eating them ever since
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amy said...

I pledged 60 minutes for our family to go on a walk at the park.

Type (little) a aka Michele said...

I Pledged 30 mins making custom rmh donation boxes.

type little a at g mail dot com

c & b said...

I pledged 60 minutes to do yoga or pilates with my family. My 5 y.o. loves to do this with me and it's a great way to bond, but this time I'm going to *drag* the Huz to join us too. We already do family disco, why not do exercise too?
christina

Melinda said...

I pledged to spent 30 minutes donating my unused clothing to charity

Blue Girl said...

I pledge 60 min volunteering
Bluegirl1423@gmail.com

ShoppingChic2 said...

My family prepares meals for families in need! I pledge to do this more!

shoppingchic2@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I pledged 120 minutes to chalk with my family!

JC said...

I helped families in need by pledging 120 mins to take photos of nature w/ my family. My favorite McDonald memory is the birthday party I had with friends.

JC said...

http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/21690289594

mommyofkgrc said...

i used the widget. . .pledged 120 minutes to go to the park and have a picnic with my kiddos!!

jenna b said...

I pledged 30 minutes to make dinner together every night. We always eat together, but making it as a family is just as important.

Anonymous said...

I pledged to spend 120 minutes with my kids tonight enjoying all the fun things we can do outdoors. Chalk, bikes, bubbles, I can't wait!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I pledged 30 minutes of arts and craft with my family

shopgurl101 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

tweeted: http://twitter.com/shopgurl/status/21700167421

shopgurl101 at gmail dot com

JShannon said...

I pledged 120 minutes draw on the driveway with chalk with my daughter, its one of her very favorite things to do!

E said...

I used the widget and pledged 120 minutes (actually per day for one week, but that isn't an option) to turn the tv off and spend time with my family. I have been looking for a reason to leave it off more and give all of my attention to on dancing/ playing dress up/ playing dolls with my daughter.

I remember the first time my older brother baby-sat our baby sister and I alone. He took us to McD's for dinner. She was so happy to play, and we had a great time just talking and munching. That was about the time we started becoming friends instead of just siblings.

DG said...

I pledge 120 minutes for a trip to the museum with my family - should be great and we plan on getting in some education fun and lunch at the museum cafe :)

dreamzz12{at]aol{dot}com

btw you and your family are so cute and happy! so inspiring!

DG said...

tweeted!

http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/21803989304

dreamzz12{at]aol{dot}com

Anonymous said...

I pledged 60 minutes to play board games with my family. That is one of my happiest memories growing up and I want my son to have more time with family game time.

My Ming Mei said...

I pledged 60 minutes of my family packing up donations of clothes and toys for a local shelter. My kids like the idea of donating toys after they saw Toy Story 3, as long as we stay away from their favorites.

DoughGirl said...

I pledged 60 minutes of arts and crafts with my girls...they will love it!

elderberry44 AT yahoo.com

Amy said...

I pledged 2 hours to clean up my local park with my family.

avennett AT verizon DOT net

Anonymous said...

I pledged to spend 2 hours outdoors with my family on the weekend.

pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

M3 said...

Okeydokey, the giveaway is now closed as of 5pm today. I'll draw a winner using random.org and email the winner tomorrow.

Thanks everyone!!!!

Deb said...

I pledge 30 minutes to play board games with my family and 30 minutes every night for story time.

Deb said...

tweeted

https://twitter.com/fairydancer35/status/22044162460

Missy said...

play board games

maryjaco1 said...

I pledge to read 20 minutes daily with my family.

Reply

Unknown said...

I pledged 120 minutes of taking nature photos with my family. A very close friend was helped by McDonalds during a difficult time when her son was born and very sick. He went on to heaven, but that reminded me of how important every minute with my family is and always should be. McDonald's house was a great help to her and I will always appreciate that.