ProjectSAHM

Meet Holly!

So I did it! LOL, after all this time, I finally went and did my next surprise! I decided to go alone this time, because when I'm with other people it seems like it turns more into just giving the moms the money and not really explaining why I'm doing it. So I took my two kids with me, walked into the mall (by the play area) and immediately saw Holly sitting there. I've said it before, but I just "know" when I find the mom I want to surprise! There were other moms there, but something about this one made her the one!

The kids and I walked and sat down just right out side the play area. I was nervious, so I was taking a minute to decide to approach her. In that time, she actually got up and went walking with her 4 kids to a candy store. I decided to take a walk around the mall just to "make sure" this mom was the one and sure enough, no one else stood out to me. I told my kids that if she was still there, we'd wait for her and then surprise her. Well, you can guess that she WAS still there, because after she came out, I walked up to her and said "excuse me mam" (lol, we laughed about that because mam is just such a silly thing to call a younger woman). I do get nervious, so I'm sure I rambled some stuff that made no sense to her, but some where in there, I mentioned what I was doing and handed her over the money to go shopping! 

When she was done, we spent a good 45 minutes talking and she is just such an awesome person! She totally deserved this and I'm glad she happened to be there when I decided to do this!

[pictures and her story coming soon]

checking in

Yesterday at my 10 yr high school reunion pic nic, I had a girl from my graduating class come up to me and tell me what a good idea Project SAHM was. I felt rather embarrassed because I have had $150 waiting in the bank to surprise a mom, and I haven't done it. But it meant a lot to me that she took the time to let me know that this idea was inspirring to her and her friends in AZ. That was my goal, but never really knew if anyone was actually looking at the blog, fallowing the stories.

When I started this in November 2006, I was really determined to keep up with it. Now, almost 3 years later, I wonder where the heck the time went!? Like most, we just get going with life and time just slips on by! But there are no excusses! Just got busy!

So, last night I was thinking about the reason I started this. I think when I explained it 3 yrs ago, some people got mixed sigles. Like "why should just sahm's get something" or "why clothes". I've really come to realize that I can't really make everyone happy, that's just how life goes.

Why SAHM's over working moms? No reason, except that I'm a sahm and that is the group of woman I decided to target. I respect and admire working moms. We all do what we need to do in life and no one "group" is better than the other, IMO.

Why clothes? Because I wanted it to be something fun! I could have done food or something to help out the house hold, but what's fun about that? LOL. I wanted to pamper woman! Give them something fun to shop for and if the woman I surprise are anything like me, they haven't been shopping for a new outfit in a long, long time! So, that's why I chose clothes.

So I am back and I can't promise I'll do a wondful job of keeping up, but I do promise that I'll try lol! I'm human, I forgot, I get busy, ect.

It's on my calendar...TOMORROW I WILL do my next surprise!! So, come and take a peek back at how it goes!

{shame on me}

My gosh, I am really sucking it up when it comes to this blog and doing the ProjectSAHM! I still have my $150 to surprise a mom and I need to do that soon! I'm planning on doing my next surprise on Oct 2nd! So those who actually check this blog anymore...check back!

{A BIG Thank you!}

I got a donation from Rebecca Frahm last month for $150!!! Enough to do our next Project SAHM surprise! Thank you for your generous donation Rebecca and thank all of you who have donated to make this project possible!

{Meet Nicole}

Wow guys it's been a long time! Nicole has lost my email address and while I was waiting for her to get her story to me, I had deleted her pictures off my camera on accident :( She sent me a picture of herself and her story, so with out any further waiting...here it is...

What a wonderful surprise for at the end of the day.  My name is Nicole and I have been married to my husband for about 1 1/2 years.  I have a 8 month old daughter Aubrey, (my pride and joy).   I worked while I was pregnant and knew that I didn't want to stay home as a mom.  I wanted to be a mom just not be the only thing that I did.  When my daughter was born in March and I saw her, I knew that I couldn't go back.  I had a hard time leaving her with anyone, even family.  In the first two weeks after she was born I was faced with a good case of postpartum. My husband would leave the house around 6, and not get home until around 7.  We lived with my family at the time and so I wasn't alone, but there is nothing like having your spouse with you.  I always looked forward to him being home.  At this point I looked for a very low part time job that I could use to help me with the postpartum and still be a mom, I get to take her to work with me sometimes :)  My husband has started school this fall and he is gone even more now.  But Aubrey and I go walking the malls to get out and get away.  That evening my husband and I went to the mall and walked around to see the new game that came out that he wanted.  We walked out without buying it and I made him go back and get it.  He doesn't get things either... that is when Melissa and Tammy approached me.  I was very leary at first, this is a hoax and there is a catch in here somewhere.  When I heard that she was on channel 5 the High 5 part, it kind set my mind at ease.   I still couldn't believe it.  This was a very good blessing.  I hadn't gained weight with my pregnancy... it all came after.  So like so many moms, I had nothing would fit.  You live with the one pair of jeans, (the rest sweats) and the five t-shirts that you switch between.  There is nothing like putting on a new outfit that fits and makes you look wonderful.  I was able to get a white 3/4 sleeve shirt, a red sweater jacket, a black skirt and a necklace and earings set.  Melissa has a wonderful idea.  Everyone needs a moment to fill special, and she helped me with mine.  I feel blessed to be one of the moms that Melissa spotted.  Thank you.

Nicole Jordan

Oh too funny!

My little sister just IMed me and said that during her church today, Nicole {our last surprise} got up in one of the meetings during "the good news minute" and told everyone what had happened to her. My sister was in total surprise when she said "hey that was my sister". I guess Nicole lives in my apartment complex!!! SMALL WORLD! Well Nicole, I hope you enjoyed your surprise and we can't wait to hear a little about you!

Oh what a night

It's 10:40, and Tammy and I JUST got back (well Tammy is on her way home to Bountiful) from surprising our mom. The malls close at 9:00 here...so let me tell you what happened lol.

Tammy and I (and my kids) drove my husband to school and went to the South Town Mall to surprise some one. It was 6:00 pm, so it was a little harder finding a SAHM. During the day time, it's easier because if a mom is at the mall, she is most likely a SAHM because if not, she'd be at work right? Well...so Tammy and I walked around. I first needed to change a $20 into two $10's, but no one would do it. We decided to find Tammy's husbands ex-wife who works there. She did it with no problem. Thanks!

We then headed off. We were on our way up the elevator and saw a mom, a man who I'm sure was her hubby, and her three kids. Perfect...she was the one. Because this was Tammy's first time coming with me, I made her do the talking LOL. (You know you loved it Tammy!). She was nervous, but let the mom know what was going on. We took her picture and sent her off to shop. Tammy, the kids and I went to eat, did a little window shopping, and then headed back to wait for her to show her new out.

In the mean time, I felt really weird...almost like I was going to pass out. Tammy claims my face wasn't looking very good. I took my kids to the bath room and when I came out, two mall cops were looking at me and then approached Tammy and I as we were sitting in the kids play area. They asked us if we were part of the project stay at home mom and we told them we were. I guess the people were a little weary (and excuse my spelling, I'm known to NOT know how to spell) of the whole thing and gave the money back. We were told next time to call the mall security before we did a surprise, so that anything like that happened again, they would be able to tell the mom that it was legit and we aren't trying to scam anyone.

Tammy and I feel horrible that she wasn't able to get something for her self, and if you read this...We are so sorry! This project is truly just to say "thank you" to all the stay at home moms! To give them a little something for THEM that they might not be able to do very often. But that for sure got us thinking about how to approach the moms to let them know we are for real and legit!

So, the story doesn't end there. Because this was Tammy's first time coming with me, she was super excited to surprise some one. We dropped my hubby and kids off at home and decided to head to another mall. It was almost 8:00pm, which only left us with a little under an hour. We went in and there were no moms. Of course, most moms are home putting kids in bed! We asked one mom and she looked at us like we were crazy and didn't say much, and walked away. We did find a mom with a cute little baby sitting down, so we asked her. She was in-fact as SAHM. She was more then happy to go shopping, so we sent her off (her story and pictures to come later).

So here's were the fun starts. Tammy and I leave, just tired and ready to go to home. We get to my car and I had locked the keys in the trunk! oh my, oh my! I tried to call my husband, but because he was just in class, his cell phone was off. Tammy called MY phone and it was IN the car! I called my husband (later I found out about 14 times LOL)...no answer. Call mall security and they can help.  Called the number I had for my sister...she didn't answer. Called my husband again...no answer. I finally get a hold of my sister, who tells my husband (we live right by each other) and he has to WALK (or more like run) to the mall to unlock the door. THANKFULLY we live pretty close to the mall, so it wasn't THAT long of a walk, but really...what a night! We are both tired and exhausted! 

So, to end that big rambling mess....we sure hope that the mom we surprised had a good time and we are sad that the other mom didn't get the chance to get a new outfit!

and we're back!

Thank you to the people who have helped pass the word on again! I have just gotten enough to do my next surprise!! yay! how fun! I'm going to take some friends and do the surprise TOMORROW! Fun times...so be ready for some pictures and stories in the next week. Also, I "may" be recording the surprise, and if I do, I'll for sure be posting it (well that is if the mom will let me). Thank you all again for your support!

Our new home!

I don't know WHERE the last 8 months went! I sit here in awe that It's been that long since I've last blogged at Project SAHM! I have missed it. I miss seeing the looks on the girls faces when total strangers approach them with $150 for a new outfit! It's been to long. I wanted to give the blog a new look...I like it SO MUCH more now! So WELCOME! Lets surprise some STAY AT HOME MOMS!!

Come on guys!

Alright guys...It's been just about a month since my last surprise! The donations are slowing coming in, but where did everyone go? I think it's time to surprise another great stay at home mom! What do you think?!! Keep spreading the word, and hopefully we'll be able to do it again soon! Thanks for those who have fallowed Project SAHM thus far....it's been fun!