The 7 DAY CHALLENGE is quickly approaching… When is it you ask?

Remember, on a SURPRISE day in September, we will email you (if you are signed up for the challenge – sign up here) and announce the challenge has begun. At that point, you will not be allowed to spend ANY money for 7 days, or go to any kind of store (for those of you who think you can use gift cards -you can’t). Each day we will present you with a different kind of challenge or emergency to deal with USING ONLY WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND!

• You WILL need a 72 hour kit/Eprep Plan. That’s not a maybe, its a FOR SURE
• You will want your recipes printed (you may not be able to jump on the internet for a recipe)
• Make sure you have water stored
• Make sure you have a way to cook without power
• Inventory your storage and fill in the gaps of things you have forgotten to replace recently
• Make sure you are a fan of Food Storage Made Easy on Facebook -SO much discussion and learning goes on over there, especially during the challenge
• We will MAKE you use your long term storage – it’s not just for collecting dust you know. Do you have a Wondermill? They are on sale for one more week! Get one here.

A great way to make sure you are prepared for real life, AND the challenge, is to use the checklists and over 100 pages of information found in our Food Storage Made Easy Binder. The Binder is a downloadable file, so you can purchase it today, and get started RIGHT AWAY! Quit worrying about HOW to build your food storage, and just get started- we’ve done the hard work for you.

• The more you participate in the challenge, the more you learn, actually doing it really helps you learn
• You’ll have to modify some of the scenarios for your own family depending on diet, work schedules, marital status, kid status etc… We’ll try to be generic, but just relax and adapt
• Don’t skip out on work, or neglect important things just because you are doing the challenge -we can’t write “doctor’s notes” and excuse you from stuff
• Buying gas is up to you for the 7 days – if some of these things happened in real life, you wouldn’t be going to work at the same time using up gas etc…

Happy preparing! We’re so excited to SURPRISE you!

Remember that building a Food Storage is a PROCESS, so don’t get overwhelmed, celebrate your successes, and make goals to keep moving forward. Last year we learned a lot, and know that even REAL experts learned too. Wherever you may be, there is something you can improve on. If you plan on participating in the challenge here are some ideas to help you educate yourself, and get ready.

• IDEA #1 Go through the BabySteps and see where you may have holes in your preparedness plan and Food Storage.
• IDEA #2 Make sure you’re signed up for the Checklists, as they help you keep on track all year round. Along with bi-weekly reminders, you get a monthly Newsletter with tips, ideas, and great deals we find.
• IDEA #3 Get the Food Storage Made Easy Downloadable Binder. This 100+ page pdf helps you get organized with all 26 checklists, and all the best site posts, info, recipes and more.
• IDEA #4 Familiarize yourself with our Facebook Page. A ton of discussion, learning, and sharing goes on over there during the challenge. So come on over and get to know everyone and get used to how the page works before the challenge starts.

We’re so excited (well not REALLY), to do this again! We can’t wait to learn from each other like we did last year, and meet more of you on facebook – as that is where we do a lot of chatting about the days as we do the challenge.

Having conversions for things like powdered milk and powdered eggs on hand in your kitchen readily available is  A TREAT! Also, having cheese stored is a treat we know we would have a hard time living without!

Prize: A Set of Conversion Chart Magnets

WINNER: Rebecca Fryar (we’ll contact you soon to get you your prize)

(two more sets to come at the end)

Company/Website: Everyday Food Storage
Description: Crystal over at EverydayFoodStorage.Net has made her Powdered Milk Conversion chart into a slick kitchen magnet along with NEW charts for Magic Mix and Powdered Eggs! Now making your favorite recipes food storage recipes is even EASIER.

Prize: ONE case of canned cheddar cheese

WINNER: Amber Woodcox Coyne (we’ll contact you soon to get you your prize)

Company: Best Prices Storable Foods
Description: Creamy and delicious, REAL canned cheddar cheese that will store for 10-20 years or longer. A case contains 36 cans a $123 value.

Say Thanks to Our Sponsors, Please Visit their Sites

One of your family members calls you in a panic and says they need a treat for a party they are going to (they didn’t know about it, so don’t freak out at them!). You are stranded at home with no car, and can’t get to a store.

DEPENDING ON YOUR SCHEDULE… ONCE YOU MAKE THE TREAT YOU ARE OFFICIALLY DONE! IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A RESTAURANT TO CELEBRATE, OR EVEN JUST A STORE TO GRAB SOME STUFF YOU’RE FREE!

Sorry it’s an easy day! We’re TIRED!

• For this day, and ALL days of the challenge: no spending money, no going to stores, and no restaurants (until your treat is made).
• You have run out of fresh butter (you can use shelf stable alternatives)
• You have run out of eggs milk (you can use powdered)
• You have run out of fresh milk (you can use powdered)
• Make a delicious dessert
• Once the dessert is ready, YOU ARE DONE!

ADVANCED “FOLKS” (for anyone who feels up to it)

• Try it with no perishables or pre-made mixes at all

Each day we will be giving a prize to someone who provided feedback to that day’s challenge.  *Click here to see who won DAY 6′S PRIZE. To provide feedback on today’s challenge, do one of the following:

Make sure to read DAY 5’s facebook discussions and comments on the post to see what we all learned from having to pull cope with job loss, and water loss. (You can read it even if you don’t use facebook!)

When a natural disaster happens and computers with LOCAL external hard drives get crushed, or burned, having a safe back-up location for pictures, and files is GREAT to have (not to mention viruses and crashes).  Also, having lanterns and radios during earthquakes could come in HANDY for sure!

Prize: Annual Subscriptions to Mozy Online Backup

WINNER:Kari Brimhall (we’ll contact you at the end of the challenge to get you your prize)

(One more annual subscription to come at the end)

Company/Website: Mozy Unlimited Backup
Description: Mozy is a simple and safe way to back up all the important stuff on your computer. A copy of your data is stored in a secure, remote location for safekeeping, so that in the event of disaster your data is still retrievable.

BONUS FOR EVERYONE: Use coupon code SEPTEMBER to receive 10% off annual and biennial subscription this month. And special bonus for all MOMS, use this link to get a free t-shirt too!.

Prize: Emergency Dynamo Lantern Radio

WINNER: Tammy Thomas (we’ll contact you at the end of the challenge to get you your prize)

(36 Hour Emergency Candle still to come)

Company: Ultimate 72 Hour Kits
Description: Incredible new bright LED dynamo lantern which never needs batteries. This product can charge a cell phone and has a USB tie which can charge an MP3 player. The energy stored is used to supply the LED Lights, FM Radio, and Siren. The candle is a must in all survival kits. It lasts for 36 hours and has an adjustable wick. The wick can be drawn up and used as a mini stove.

Say Thanks to Our Sponsors, Please Visit their Sites

There has been an earthquake and you have lost some utilities

• For this day, and ALL days of the challenge: no spending money, no going to stores, and no restaurants.
• Your water pipe broke, and you have no water access
• The power has been cut off
• It’s the 2nd day of the earthquake, your fridge food has gone bad, but the food in your freezer has managed to stay cold enough to use
• You’re driving home from checking on a family member and the road is blocked with a bunch of large rocks from the earthquake, did you have a small car shovel (this is a very highly recommended item to store in your car)
• During the earthquake a beam fell on your computer(s) and crushed it. Did you have your data backed up in a remote location?
• Keep your family entertained all day with no power

ADVANCED “FOLKS” (for anyone who feels up to it)

• If you have a generator – it got CRUSHED!
• Unfortunately all fridges and freezers in your home ALSO got crushed!

REMEMBER, TOMORROW’S LIMITATIONS AND TASKS WILL BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. How long would you have lasted under these conditions?

Each day we will be giving a prize to someone who provided feedback to that day’s challenge.  *Click here to see who won Day 4′s PRIZE. To provide feedback on today’s challenge, do one of the following:

Make sure to read DAY 4’s facebook discussions and comments on the post to see what we all learned from having to pull cope with job loss, and water loss. (You can read it even if you don’t use facebook!)

Being prepared for a financial crisis is just as important, if not MORE important then a natural disaster (the chance of you losing your job is much higher.)  Also, when money is tight, remember doing fun educational activities around the house can be just as fun as a movie night out, or spending money on other activities.

Prize: Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover Book

WINNER: Jocelyn Robertson (we’ll contact you at the end of the challenge to get you your prize)

(Another copy coming at the end!)

Company: Getting Finances Done

Description: Learn how to get your finances under control with Dave’s Total Money Makeover and then come join me for my free program “12 Weeks to Fiscal Fitness” starting in September at my website Getting Finances Done.

BONUS FOR EVERYONE: Starting mid-September Getting Finances Done will be starting a FREE series called “12 Weeks to Fiscal Fitness.” Learn the secrets of how to get control over your finances and how to reach your financial goals with detailed step-by-step instruction. Sign up today!

Prize: A copy of Brite Music’s Safety Kids – Personal Safety digital set

WINNER: Amanda Arnold Hopkins (we’ll contact you at the end of the challenge to get you your prize)

Company: Brite Music
Description: A copy of Brite Music’s Safety Kids – Personal Safety digital set. This includes the songs in MP3 format, and the activity book in .pdf format ALSO –

BONUS FOR EVERYONE: Add discount code: 2080701 to receive 10% off your entire order, including sale items for ALL challenge participants.

Say Thanks to Our Sponsors, Please Visit their Sites

-MAKE SURE to get your family involved. Let them know it’s coming. Go over the family plan with them. Get them to commit to participating with you and learning along the way.  It could be a fun activity to do say…. TONIGHT!

-Print out this to do list. It’s a pdf we made for you that will act as your future “to-do list”.  Through out the week as you realize you are missing things, jot them down so that you can essentially create your own list of goals as you go.

-Have water stored. As we mentioned in our intro post (if you haven’t watched it yet, make sure you do) each day we will focus on a different reason why it’s good to have food storage. In other words it wont be a whole week of absolute mahem, but there may be a day or two you need water… ahem ahem.

Good luck, make sure you’re signed up and keep checking your emails or the blog.

For those of you who just can’t wait for some details on how it’s going to work… here is some insight

1. Each day you will receive an email telling you the basics of what type of emergency happened that day.

2. You then visit the blog for a full list of limitations and TASKS you have to do that day.

3. Through out each day, fill out the questionnaire on our blog and discuss what you learned on our facebook fan page FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THAT DAY’S PRIZE. Doing either of these things enters you to win, so don’t worry if you don’t have facebook.

4. At the end of each day – we’ll announce that day’s winners.

THEN REPEAT EACH DAY FOR 7 DAYS! ARE YOU READY?

At the VERY end we will still have LOTS of prizes for you to win as well. We’ll keep you posted on that!

We’ll see you soon and WE”RE SO EXCITED!

P.S. If you are like Jodi, and Julie’s husband and can’t seem to live without soda (they come from the same family)  make sure you have some stored! No spending money for 7 days means no big-gulps for 7 days, oh wait, did we just give another hint?

Pre-Challenge Giveaway

To kick-start us off on awarding all of our fabulous prizes, we have a little “pre-challenge” giveaway for you. Go and check out the list of over 100 prizes and sponsors of this year’s challenge.

THE WINNERS OF THIS GIVEAWAY HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED! TO SEE THE WINNERS CLICK HERE.

Prize
2 Food Storage Made Easy eBook Binders

How to Enter (one winner from each)

• Visit our Facebook Discussion page and leave a post telling us which prize(s) you want to win most and WHY
  AND/OR
• Fill out the short questionnaire below (hold the control or apple button to select more than one prize)

Today we are revealing the 9th piece of our Seven Day Challenge puzzle: FACEBOOK FUN AND SUPPORT!

Can you believe it’s almost September??? We have been working hard lining up some amazing sponsors for the challenge (check back Monday for the full list). Remember this is a learning experience for us all so we are going to be giving away prizes to those who come and share what they are learning.

We have decided to utilize our Facebook Fan Page to have an easy and safe environment to share our photos, videos, and stories about our 7 Day Challenge experiences. Each day that you come and contribute you will earn an entry into our daily giveaway. Check out this short video we put together to help you learn how to better use our Fan Page, especially with regards to the 7 Day Challenge.