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 stop the congratulatory hugs that make your breasts feel like they’re being stabbed, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t deflate and reshape your ever swelling cankles, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop that fart coming out during your office staff meeting, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t turn your belly button back to an ‘inny’, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop your feet from growing two sizes, but we can help with just about everything else!
We can’t stop your boobs from leaking, but we can help with just about everything else!
We can’t stop you from waddling, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you remember to change from fuzzy slippers to sensible work flats before you arrive at work, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from growing a man-worthy happy trail during pregnancy, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from waddling like a penguin, but we can help you with everything else.
We can’t stop you from itching your belly like a madwoman, but we can help with just about everything else!
We can’t stop everyone from asking “When are you due?”, but we help you with almost everything else.
We can’t keep you from sobbing every time you turn on the Lifetime Channel, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t keep the numbers on the scale from going up, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can stop Braxton hicks from freaking you out but we can help with everything else.
We can’t explain how that woman didn’t know she was pregnant but we can…
We can’t stop people from asking if you’re really sure it’s a girl (even the third ultrasound isn’t doing that) but we can…
We can’t actually give you and epi for those Braxton Hicks but we can …
We can’t convince everyone there’s only one baby in there, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t keep you out of maternity pants, but we can help with everything else.
We can’t hold your hair back, but we can help with everything else.
We can’t finish the nursery, but we can help with everything else.
We can’t buy you a burger and fries at 2 am but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop people phoning after your due date and saying “haven’t you had the baby yet?”
We can’t stop the little guy from dancing on your bladder, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
My MIL did this!! She just showed up and then never left! She even jumped up to hold one of my legs! At that point I was too busy having a freaking baby to say anything, but I don’t think I will ever get over it.
We can’t stop all the unsolicited advice, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from wondering if everyone just thinks you’re getting fat but we can help with almost everthing else.
We don’t deliver enchiladas at 3 a.m. but we can help with everything else.
We can’t help you with your abnormally large protruding belly button, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you roll over in bed, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t narrow your list of baby name choices, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop your baby from performing karate moves in the middle of the night, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t paint the nursery for you, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t stop people from telling you “you’re about to pop”, but we can help with almost everything else.
And my favorite:
We can’t help you keep avoiding the mirror, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t provide the wheelbarrow to schlep your ginormous pregnancy boobs around, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t get the grandparents to leave the baby alone, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t tell you you’re wearing two different shoes, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t fire your co-worker for saying she knew you were pregnant by the size of your butt, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop your husband from grabbing a bite to eat en route to the hospital, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t make labor any easier but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
I like it!
We can’t stop your baby from dancing on your bladder, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t make the daddy feel the pain of giving birth but we can help with everything else.
We can’t give you that wine you’re craving,but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
Or fantasies!
We can’t help you trim back the wild jungle before your little one makes their grand entrance, but we can help with just about everything else.
We can’t stretch out your leg cramp in the middle of the night, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t help you shave your legs, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t stop everyone from asking if you’re in labor when you call them in the final weeks, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can help you remember where you put that, but we can help with everything else.
We can’t stop you from craving that cup of coffee/glass of wine but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t make you look like Gisele but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop the pregnancy nightmares, but we can help you with just about everything else.
We can’t help you when you’re too far along to get an epidural, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
Opps We can’t help you remember where you put that
We can’t stop people from saying, “You haven’t had thay baby yet!” But we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you from vomitting into ziploc bags in the car, but we can help with everything else.
We can’t stop people from asking you if you’ve had that baby yet but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t help you remember what you were doing, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you put on your shoes, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop the waddle but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can stop your baby from kicking you in the ribs but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t keep everyone from telling you their opinion about what you’re naming the baby, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t stop you rearranging the baby’s room every single hour, but we can help you with just about everything else.
We can’t stop your nightmares of the baby emerging like in Alien, but we can help you with just about everything else.
We can’t tell your creepy neighbor to stop telling you how sexy he finds pregnant women, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop everyone from asking, “OMG, TWINS! What are you going to do?” but we can help you deal with everything else.
We can’t keep your feet from swelling, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t help you sleep comfortably, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t replace your lost hair, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t stop the lady 3 blocks away from wearing too much stinky perfume, but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t help you shave your bikini line but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you with that waddle but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t stop the nausea, heartburn, aches, pains, oh wait! Yes we can!
We can’t help your husband feel a bit more sympathy for you when you complain of back pain, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop your husband from having worse pregnancy symptoms than you, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t make your pre pregnancy stilettos fit again, but we can help you deal with most everything else.
We can’t give you a massage and a margarita but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t help you touch (or see) your toes, but…
We can’t put your socks on for you, but…
We can’t make your partner vacuum, but…
We can’t stop people from asking, “Identical or fraternal?” but we can help you deal with everything else.
We can’t stop people from suggesting baby names, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
But we can help you deal with almost everything else…
We can’t stop the waddle but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t stop your two-year-old from jumping on your belly but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t carry the baby for you, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t stop the baby’s hiccups from banging her head against your cervix, but we can help with almost everything else.
We can’t Grandma from calling the baby “hers”, but we can help with almost everything else.
But we can help you deal with slots everything else
We can’t make yoga pants and slippers pass as business casual , but we can help you with just about every thing else.
We can’t stop you from scratching you increasingly itchy belly, but we can help you with just about everything else.
We can’t stop your stomach from looking like kiwi fruit, but we can help with just about everything else.
We can’t help you avoid the question, “You’re still here?” at work, but we can help you deal with almost everything else!
But we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t help you fit in your shoes but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t tie your shoes but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t stop your husband from being himself, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
I learned the joy of that test this week. Ugh! At least it wasn’t on a Monday!
We can’t give you a mute button but we can help you with almost everything else.
We can’t keep your husband from getting lost on a road trip when you have the urge to pee but we can help with everything else
We can’t stop your crazy inappropriate dreams starring your co-workers but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop them from telling you another old wives tale but we can help you deal with almost everything else
We can’t stop your teething nursling from using your boob as a chew toy, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you get up from that park bench, but we help you with almost everything else.
We can’t help you get rid of…um…whatchamacallit…er…oh right, pregnancy brain; but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t help you with your wobble walk, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t stop people from asking when you are due, but we help you with almost anything else.
Beth
We can’t turn your water into wine…
We can’t stop your feet from growing two sizes but we can help with everything else.
We can’t widen your chairs, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
We can’t invent anti-gravity undergarments, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
1. We can’t stop your crazy pregnancy dreams, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
2. We can’t create your baby registry, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.
3. We can’t read a million baby product reviews, but we can help you deal with almost everything else.