Funny thing happened when I announced I was quitting advertising to focus on Mommy Shorts full time— I got a call from a company asking me to do their advertising.
Not freelancing for an agency creating the advertising, actually working directly with the company. Kind of like Mommy Shorts was the agency.
Did I want to do that? Initially, I wasn’t sure.
But then… I really liked the brand (it’s a much needed line of over-the-counter remedies designed specifically for pregnant women called healthy mama)… AND I figured out a way to include all of you guys!
Here’s the deal.
I created three healthy mama print ads (they’ll be running in magazines like Fit Pregnancy and Pregnancy & Newborn starting in April) and now…
They’re offering up $750 to the Mommy Shorts reader who comes up with the next headline in the campaign.
I told healthy mama my readers are smarter and funnier than I am, so don’t disappoint!
Here’s the brief (that’s what we call it in the ad world)…
THE BRAND: HEALTHY MAMA
Remember when you were pregnant and got that crazy back ache in the beginning of your third trimester? You googled “what can I take for a back ache while pregnant” but that sent you to a community board on Baby Center with random unqualified people giving varying misinformation about drug ingredients you couldn’t even pronounce, right?
Well, healthy mama is trying to change all that. They’re on a mission to create a prenatal category you can easily find on one shelf. They’ve just launched a new line of over-the-counter remedies specifically designed to be the safest* for pregnant and nursing women. The products tackle common pregnancy symptoms like heartburn, lack of sleep, pain relief, nausea and constipation— but with fun names like “Tame the Flame”, “Move it Along” and “Shake that Ache”.
Because even if the sight of salmon makes you want to hurl on your cankles, this is still a happy time, right???
Healthy mama is backed by the American Pregnancy Association, FDA accepted and made in the USA. It’s currently being sold at babiesrus.com, Buy Buy Baby, healthymamabrand.com and coming soon to Drugstore.com.
THE MESSAGE:
Pregnancy might be beautiful but it is definitely not without it’s unfavorable side effects. From exhaustion to stretch marks to nosy comments from strangers. The healthy mama campaign aims to open up an honest dialogue about what women go through while they are expecting, giving moms-to-be a reason to laugh at their circumstances together.
(I wrote that myself. Don’t I sound official?)
THE ADS:
THE ASSIGNMENT:
I am reaching out to all my readers to come up with the next headline in the healthy mama campaign. Please follow the structure of the headlines already created (i.e. “We can’t ______________________ but we can help you deal with almost everything else.”)
Use your personal experience and go as far out there as you would like. We want the headlines to be funny, honest, and relatable.
As an example, here’s a fourth headline I REALLY want healthy mama to run:
THE RULES:
1) You must be a healthy mama facebook fan to enter. You can “like” their page by clicking here.
2) Leave your healthy mama headline in the comment section below. You can enter a maximum of three times.
If you’d like to promote on twitter, facebook, pinterest or instagram, it won’t help your chances but we’d appreciate it! Please use #healthymamaheadlines.
I’ll be posting some of my favorite headlines next week and the winners will be announced on April 2, 2014. You must enter by April 1, 2014 at 6pm ET. The winners will be selected by both myself and healthy mama based on which headline we would like to use in the ad campaign.
For the official contest rules and regulations, click here.
THE PRIZES!
GRAND PRIZE:
• $750 Visa Gift Card plus the chance to have your headline appear in a nationally run print and digital campaign
• healthy mama products valued at $100
2ND PLACE:
• 1 Diono RadianRXT Car Seat ($350)
• $100 Visa Gift Card
• healthy mama products valued at $75
3RD PLACE:
• $50 Visa Gift Card
• healthy mama products valued at $50
Thanks to everyone for being part of my advertising team. And a big thanks to healthy mama for trusting me to do this!
GOOD LUCK!!!
——————————————-
This post was sponsored by healthy mama. That was pretty obvious, I think. I’m very excited to be working with them!
* No medication is considered 100% safe during pregnancy and nursing.
We can’t paint your toenails for you, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from pooping on the delivery table but we can help you deal with almost anything else!
We can’t help that your in laws hate your favorite baby name, but we can help with almost everything else!
We can’t guarantee you will fit in the restaurant booth, but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t stop you from crying during the movie, but we can help you with everything else.
We can’t go through the labor pains for you, but we can help you deal with almost everything else!
We can’t wear the V-strap for you, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t get you up once you’ve bent down, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from pooping in the stirrups but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t stop your baby chute from gushing like a fire hose while nursing, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you remember where you left your keys but we can help you with just about everything else.
We can’t stop total strangers from giving you all that oh-so-“helpful” parenting advice, but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t stop the baby from kicking your ribs, but we can help with everything else.
We can’t help you pop all those zits, but we can help with everything else
We can’t stop everyone from telling you to “sleep while you can” but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you squeeze behind the steering wheel but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t help you put your panties on but we can help you with almost anything else
We can’t stop your vivid xxx rated dreams but we can help you with almost anything else
We can’t stop your sister in law from getting drunk at your baby shower but we can help you deal with almost anything else!
We can’t give you a night of deep, restful, comfortable sleep, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from having to pee six times a night and annoying people telling you ‘it’s to get ready for the baby’, but we can help with almost everything else!
We can’t wear your compression socks for you but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t give you a pot of gold so you can stay home indefinitely with baby, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t hold your hair back while you are throwing up, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t pop your belly button back in, but we can help you with everything else.
We can’t stop your older child from sliding off your disappearing lap, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t shave your legs for you, but we can help you deal with everything else!
We can’t make that first trimester go by any faster, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t have your baby for you but we can help with almost everything else
We can’t help you pick up that cookie you dropped, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
Everything (whoops!)!
We cant make every non-pregnant person in your life less annoying but we can help you deal with almost everything else!
Everything (whoops!)!
We can’t make your husband agree with your top picks for names, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t hold your hair back for you, but we can help you with everything else!
We can’t stop your MIL from telling you how huge all her babies were over and over again but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from randomly gagging during your boss’s presentation but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop your coworker from reheating their curry seafood leftovers but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t explain why you can smell EVERYTHING but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop those freaky dreams but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t stop the uncontrollable crying because of the cute puppy on TV but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t stop your boobs from leaking, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop anyone from saying “you better enjoy (insert activity here) before you can’t anymore” but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t make ‘those’ comments any more appropriate, but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t save you from soul sucking fatigue, but we can help you deal with everything else.
We can’t help your boss understand that you’re already busy building bones and teeth today, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t stop that one friend from buying the most hideous outfits for your baby to wear, but we can help you deal with almost everything else!
We can’t stop people from giving you advice you didn’t ask for, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t make your rings fit, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t stop your mother-in-law from pretending to know EVERYTHING, but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t make someone give you a seat on the bus, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you find those keys you lost thanks to pregnancy dementia, but we can help you deal with anything else.
We can’t stop your husband from turning up the heat, but we can help with almost anything else
We can’t shave those newly unreachable places for you but we can help you deal with almost anything else!
We can’t stop your pants from splitting open when you bend over, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t make maternity clothing be both affordable AND flattering, but we can help with almost everything else!
We can’t make those pelvic exams feel less like a spelunking expedition, but we can help with almost everything else!
We can’t make waddling look more dignified, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t keep you from bumping into things (and people) with your belly, but we can help you deal with everything else.
We can’t stop you from dropping bombs in public, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t keep your armpits from getting dark but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t prevent your body from sprouting some wicked belly hair, but we can help you with almost anything else.
We can’t stop you from bellydancing when you’re trying to sleep, but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t help you see your lady bits, but we can help you with everything else!
We can’t stop you from crying at the drop of a hat, but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t help you reach your toes but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t make your husband smell better, but we can help you deal with everything else.
We can’t save you from embarrassment from passing gas in public but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from puking up everything that passes your lips, but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t stop you from eating your weight in pastries, but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t make your boobs stop feeling like someone punched you repeatedly, but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t stop your husband from calling you “preggo-saurus” but we can help you with almost everything else.
My worst part about all three of my pregnancy would be the lightning bold feeling down bellow. My husband says my gas!
We can’t help you squeeze your feet into THOSE shoes anymore, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t deflate your sausage toes, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t make people give up a seat for you on the bus, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t get the ultrasound goop out of your belly button, but we can help you deal with almost anything else.
We can’t stop your husband from talking, but we can help you deal with almost anything else!
We can’t make your favorite jeans fit around your pregnant belly but we can help you deal with almost everything else!
We can’t stop your mother-in-law from giving you unwanted advice, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t keep the kicking away from your most sensitive areas, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We cant stop your husband from talking, but we can help you deal with almost anything else!
We can’t change how much everything suddenly smells, but…
We can’t make your wedding ring fit during the third trimester (or stop the looks you’ll get from the lady at the drug store when she sees a bare ring finger next to that belly), but…
We can’t shrink the grapefruits/cantaloupes/watermelons that have gradually replaced your breasts, but…
We can’t baby proof the house for you , but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t have someone surround you with pillows every night but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t take that horse pill of a prenatal vitamin for you, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help that you are unable to drive because your belly is so big but we can help you with everything else
We can’t make them give up their seats for you, but we can help you deal with almost anything else!
We can’t get the ice cream from the store for you, but we can help you deal with almost anything else!
We can’t help with your pre-snack snack, but we can help with everything else.
We can’t help you stop gagging when you brush your teeth, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
You CAN stop the games from happening. Hahaha
We can’t help your husband not gain sympathy weight but we can help you with everything else.
We can’t help you avoid being weighed all the time, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you out of the bathtub, but we can help with almost everything else.
We cant hold your pee when you sneeze, but we can help you deal with almost ecerything else.
We can’t stop your husband from wanting some when your 9 months pregnant….
We can’t help you put on your shoes but…
We can’t stop the wallpaper peeling death farts ,but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t keep you from melting down when you find out there is no more ice cream in the freezer, but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t stop your nipples from burning but we can help you with almost anything else
We can’t stop your husband from making jokes about attaching a winch to the bed but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t tame your terrible two while you are also crying from dropping your pen, but we can help
you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t hand you and ice pack for your lady parts before and after birth, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t make the five pounds you gained last week disappear, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t help you sleep on your stomach but … (with a picture of a very pregnant mama draped face down across a row of chairs with the belly hanging down between two seats)
We can’t help you sleep on your stomach but … (with a picture of a very pregnant mama draped face down across a row of chairs with the belly hanging down between two seats)
We can’t make your mother-in-law love your baby name choice, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t paint your toenails for you, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t make nonalcoholic wine taste good, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from growing sideburns, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop that random stranger from telling you their horrifying birth story, but we can help with almost everything else!
We can’t tie your shoes, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop that smell, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop those untimely sexual urges, but we can help you deal with almost everything else. (“sexual urges” or “x-rated thoughts” would work.)