The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Have You Saved Enough Fro a Rainy Day?

tjsmith — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:17:49 -0600

According to a recent report from TNS Marketing Research:

The report shows that many consumers, particularly in the UK, US, Germany and Mexico, currently lack the resources to meet an unexpected financial crisis like sudden car or home repairs or minor health related expenditures....

"...According to Peter Tufano of Harvard Business School, "These figures include more than just the unemployed or lowest income households. In many countries, there is widespread financial fragility with a significant number of seemingly middle-class consumers extremely vulnerable to sudden financial emergencies."

The report goes on to state that nearly half of the survey participants from the US, Germany and Great Britain would not be able to come up with $2,000.00 in a crisis, even if they tried borrowing from friends or family. More than half of the respondents from Mexico felt they would be unable to come up with the cash."

It appears, however, that we are on the right track. According to The Department of Commerce, Americans increased their rate of savings from 2.8 percent in August of this year to 3.3 percent in September. That's a marked improvement since June of 2005 when the Bureau of Commerce reported that the savings rate for U.S. households had fallen to zero.

At the time, the marketing pressure to spend and buy was white hot, and it seemed that everyone had made a windfall in Real Estate. Even the idea of equity in a home made people feel like they had access to plenty of money if they needed it. The depression culture of saving and spending only what you made had, all but disappeared from the common psyche. People were living paycheck to paycheck and using credit cards to fund what they couldn't afford.

Fast forward to 2009 and it seems that consumers have learned their lesson. Consumer spending is down and in spite of stimulous packages creating a short term illusion that they will return to the spending habits of the recent past, that seems unlikely in the wake of high unemployment and lowered credit rates, perhaps the change in the American Consumer will be permanent.

What have you saved for a rainy day?

BlogHer Beginners

How to book the best room in the hotel

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:32:33 -0600

Hello, my name is Chris and I am a hotel snob.

I admit it. My family and close friends know about my little secret: I am very fussy when it comes to selecting a hotel and a room in a hotel.

(St. Regis, New York)

Hotel rooms are not created equal. Lucky for me and other hotel snobs, TripKick.com which launched in May 2008, makes it easy for picky travelers to find the best rooms based on your preferences. This online service features a room-by-room guide of hotel rooms in 500 hotels in more than 27 cities. Keep checking the site because the number of hotels increases each month.

What makes a hotel room great for you? TripKick groups rooms according to criteria specified by you including room size, view, etc. If you specify your hotel room personality such as formal, romantic getaway, upscale business, elegant, TripKick will suggest hotels. How does it work? Well, if you are looking for a quiet room in the St. Regis New York pictured above, then TripKick recommends even numbered rooms which are quiet, interior facing rooms. If you want an oversized, junior suite at the St. Regis check out room 21. If you want a big bathroom at the St. Regis, you are in luck: most rooms feature oversized baths.

Some obvious deal breakers for hotel snobs are rooms with small bathrooms or rooms near noisy vending machines or near hotel renovation areas. What makes a room more desirable? The size of the room, proximity to elevators, or a great view. Travelers can add their own ratings to the TripKick website.

TripKick has only been around for a little over a year and it was once again named a "Top Website" by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Need daily updates? You can follow tripkick.com on Twitter.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Happy Holidays?

MommyWriter — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:39:46 -0600

When I was a wee one I counted down the days to my birthday and Christmas. It was great that my birthday fell so close to Christmas on November 19th. It was like I had a whole gift season. Not to mention I was the only child in my family (not counting some very distant cousins), can you imagine the gifts? Thanksgiving was great too, my aunt and uncle would drive up from Pennsylvania and we'd all spend the days together....those were the good old days.

Now, just the thought if the holidays is exhuasting. There's no excitement or anticipation to speak of. No "Christmas Calendars" with the days crossed off. No mountain of Christmas gifts under the tree to inspect every night for tell-tale holes in the wrapping paper. Instead I have to wonder how the I can stretch the money in the change jar to buy gifts for my family, my husband's family and still get gifts for the little one.

This will be the third holday season with my husband (the second with our little one), and the draining house hopping routine. Our apartment is way too small to even consider hosting the holidys at our place. So off we go. This is how it works:

My parents don't live far and usually host the holidays at their apartment. My grandparents are there, my aunt, and my uncles. The whole clan under one roof - all 7 of them. Then hubby, little one and I make 10. We usually stop by there first. We smile and give hugs. Everyone coos over how big the little one has gotten and the new tricks he has up his sleeve. Of course I have to say hi to my little sister (who's younger than my son by the way). We eat, listen to some witty banter; then before the seats have warmed under our butts it's time to get moving to our next stop-

My husband's father's apartment. Usually packed, and the side of the family I'm least familiar with. I smile politely and give hugs. We eat some more. My husband gets some male bonding time with his father. His family plays hot potatoe with the baby, and then we're shuffling off again.

If I'm lucky, this is the last stop. His mother' side of the family. This might be at her house in New Jersey (a trip across state lines) or her mother-in-law's house in Brooklyn. I'm more familiar with this side of the family. We have to do the customary hugs and greetings, game of hot potatoe with the baby, and eat some more - by this time I'm stuffed and have a bog full of leftovers.

There might also be a stop to the home of a close friend of my husband's involved in all this.

Finally we go home. We usually get a ride. Which is thankful, I couldn't survive nother trip on public transportation. The baby's exhausted. So am I. I'll be glad when the holidays are over.

Family Connections

Flat Stomach Workout - Stability Ball Dumbbell Chest Press

MissWall — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:42:18 -0600

Unfortunately many women think that when they are trying to lose weight and get a flat stomach they should not lift weights. However, the benefits of weight lifting for women are endless and lifting weights only helps increase your flat stomach results.

One exercise that should be a part of your flat stomach workout is the Stability Ball Dumbbell Chest Press. This exercise not only works your core muscles, but your chest, triceps, and shoulders as well.

When you take the benefits of the Chest Press - strengthening your chest muscles and therefore tightening your tricepe (getting rid of those flabby arms) while sculpting your shoulders without having to do too much shoulder work - and move it to the stability ball your get even more work done in just one move. Adding the stability ball to this exercise allows you to work your core muscles and work your flat stomach without having to do all those crunches at the end of you workout.

Take a look at the video below to see the proper form and technique and then add this exercise to your flat stomach workout.

This is my "mom body" not my real one

No excuses allowed... You too can write a novel this month

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:15:22 -0600

Thirty days and nights of literary abandon began November 1st. Over 70,000 aspiring writers have joined National Novel Writing Month. As of today, the collective word count according to nanowrimo.org is...drumroll, please...355,226,349 words!

No excuses allowed.

No outline yet. No time to edit. Don't worry. The goal of this month's literary extravaganza is to write, write, write. You can edit after the month is over. Just try to get 50,000 words in 30 days!

I love this idea because let's face it, if you didn't have someone pushing you to write and write some more, nothing would happen. NaNoWriMo gives you that much needed push to get writing and keep writing. Sign up to write your novel and give weekly word count updates here. The site also includes easy writing guidelines. Plus they do offer prizes.

Why write a novel this month? According to the clever folks at NaNoWriMo:

"Doing something just for the hell of it is a wonderful antidote to all the chores and 'must-dos' of daily life. Writing a novel in a month is both exhilarating and stupid, and we would all do well to invite a little more spontaneous stupidity into our lives."

I love a challenge. And a stupid--but harmless--one makes it all the more fun. I am only at 4530 words. Long way to go to reach 50,000. Come join me at NaNoWriMo.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Mommy's Multiple Mayhem

Twincere — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:45:51 -0600

These are my Professions: Christ Follower,Wife, Mom,Auntie,The Voice of Reason,Best Friend,Orthopedic RN, Taxi Driver, Laundress, Mediator & Referee, fledgling Blogger, & all relevant things in between. I blog about my frazzled life, being a Mom of Twins, contesting, spendthrifty-ness, recipes, menu planning, real stuff & issues that families can use and identify with.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

When the teacher is not looking

Sharnia — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:27:30 -0500

(prologue: I am Australian , my partner "Cowboy" and I have been going to a personal trainer (PT) for 6 weeks. You can read more http://chroniclesofsharnia-sharnanigans.blogspot.com

Tonight after training I began to realise the way you train when the trainer is away gives insight into what kind of a person you are.

PT has been away somewhere so Cowboy and I were business as usual even in the rediculous heat that has struck the one horse town.

Tonights session really showed how different the Cowboy and I are.

Let me illustrate the different personalities at play here through what happened tonight.

PT normally makes us run (or for me run/walk/run/walk) five laps of the oval.

Tonight I walked, jogged for a few metres, then walked hmmmmm say 3 or 4 laps.

Cowboy ran without stopping - 5. Exactly 5.

(important note: this followed a 12 hour working day where he was mustering or drafting sheep or other such cowboy lingo)

Then after the laps are completed we are to commence our individual routines.

For me this is 5 sets of ab crunches interspersed with oblique kicky things (not technical name)

I do this like a pro.

Actually to toot my own trumpet I am really getting good at these - despite, dear people the fact that my stomach muscles were cut open merely 10 months ago.... to reveal the Prince.

Sorry, off the subject to gloat.

So anyway the Cowboy is off to the grandstand doing squats and other such things to make him into a bulk of a man , or to do something for his knee which is dodgy.

He does it without taking a rest, a breath and I did not hear so much as a whinge about how hot it was, or the flies.

Maybe he was complaining and I just didn't hear him over my own complaints.

No, I know he doesn't. He just isn't the type.

I have not met this type of person before.

One who doesn't complain.

Cowboy is sort of a superhero.

We have to do 5 sets of everything.

So then there is me - running up and down a step for 25, then knee lift thingys for 25.

After about 3 knee lift thingys I decide poetic license is allowed with routine so I stop and go for a little stroll to the duck pond instead.

Meanwhile Cowboy is nearly having a cardiac arrest from the intensity he is building with his routine.

I leisurely stroll back and collect the weights from the car.

Admittedly, I then went on to do 5 sets of 25 weight thingys pretty well...

THEN.... Cowboy does his with much heavier weights - even with his little pile of rocks to count how many sets.

As for me I say to myself 1 set, 2 , set - Cowboy will say "How many are you up to?"

and I will say "This is my last"

I know I am only cheating myself.

I'm all about the shortcut, wagging, making it easier on myself - getting away with it when the teacher is not there kind've thing.

This is why we pay the trainer though.

I know this about me.

This is why we have hired help.

I was always the kid in class that wanted to do something naughty if the teacher had to go out for a bit, and there was always a Cowboy in the class that went on with their work.

Because their motivation and work ethic was so much better than mine.

Cowboy impresses me so much.

He is driven to achieve what he sets out to and never ever takes shortcuts.

If he says he is going to do something, he does it- no matter who is watching or who isn't.

He is true to himself, doesn't make excuses or EVER complain - I am absolutely baffled by him - but in awe.

I am an excuse making, whingy machine who is always thinking "How can I get out of it?"and then complain because the muffin top is not decreasing at the rate I desire.

Just writing that makes me feel like I am being hard on myself because I have been doing well - but just trying to illustrate the differences here.

Tonight I learnt what character traits come to the fore 'when the teacher is not looking'

it seperates the women from the Cowboys... that is for sure.

Writing Moms

If I Could Do it all Over Again

AmyMusings — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:05:09 -0500

Even though it’s a rainy day, I want to take a drive out to Ohio farm country, specifically to drive by our old house. I expect it to look the same — a little, two-bedroom farmhouse surrounded by mature trees. I had to have that house when I saw the 200-year old shagbark hickories and enormous oaks, the woods, the barn, the long cement driveway lined with peony bushes, the bird houses atop posts planted along the creek that divided our property from a soy field, farmed by a man who goes by the name of Wiley. Just Wiley. Like Cher, but 300 pounds, drives a combine the height of a two-story building and the width of the road, and wears only one outfit: a Carhart, t-shirt, overalls and boots. All the farmland that made up most of the radius of our view belonged to Wiley.

I don’t want to go inside. I just want to see the house again and remember how much I loved living there, especially this time of year, when the farmers are putting away their combines, moving truckloads of corn or soy beans to silos. Some of it they sell to the Champagne Landmark grain elevators in Marysville, nearly a half-hour away, where later it is loaded into railcars through a chute. Most of the harvest is stored in the farmers’ silos.

When word gets out that the price of grain is up, there is a line of trucks at the granary. That’s when the train whistles through Marysville more often. It is a comforting sound. The Midwest is providing, for the rest of the country and for export. When I used get stuck in Marysville behind a railroad-crossing gate to let long trains snake along the tracks that cut through town roads, I would count the railcars holding grain, and try to imagine where they were heading. To General Mills? To Kellogg’s? To ports? I liked to imagine children in China eating tofu from beans that grew out my window. [please continue reading HERE]

Writing Moms

BlogHer of the Week: Not Calm (dot com)

Elisa Camahort — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:14:55 -0500

Here on BlogHer we have lots of discussions of the pressures women are under. Some of it from the the outside, and a lot of it from the inside. It's amazing the hoops we ask ourselves to jump through, leaving aside the pressures from our families, our employers, media messages, and the infamous "they". As in "they say".

It is one of those "theys" that JeniJen from Not Calm (dot com) wants to push back against, on behalf of every woman whose birth "plan" didn't go, well, according to plan. And her message of acceptance and perspective is why we chose her post Don't forget the Arnica Montana; that's important too as BlogHer of the Week.

So, what's the conventional wisdom JeniJen finds not so wise?

Just this: "Your childbirth experience is the most important event in shaping your life as a mother."

The words of a childbirth professional who, in JeniJen's words, is a woman "whose life work is to support and help other women".

JeniJen acknowledges the loveliness of a wonderful birth experience, no doubt, but she also explains the most logical contradiction to the above sweeping statement:

Yes, a lovely birth is rewarding, and if you can get your hands on one, good for you. It really is wonderful and moving and powerful. But also? It's gravy. It's extra. It's lucky. It's not a good idea to get too attached to the idea of it hovering over and influencing your entire mothering career.

And, the clincher in my argument: Giving birth is not a requirement for becoming a mother, so how can it be the most important thing?

Exactly!

I'm not a mom, but JeniJen's post resonated with me because it travels well-worn personal blogging territory: Shining a light on feelings that often stay hidden in the dark. Offering solidarity and relief to those of us who don't feel the way "they say" we should. Whether those feelings are about childbirth, parenting or, for that matter, having children at all. JeniJen captures those feelings in prose that spans from irreverent to poignant. Leading up to what she wants to say to mothers everywhere. It starts this way:

A lot of the important things start off invisible; you wouldn't ever guess they are secretly a big deal until you're looking at them shining and waving to you from the rear-view mirror.

I don't want to give away the rest of JeniJen's lovely thoughts on what actually may be the most important events of parenting. We hope you'll read her post and understand exactly why she's this week's BlogHer of the Week.

Thanks to everyone for sending in your nominated posts. We urge you to remember to nominate individual posts, not entire blogs, and keep them coming! If you want to check out all the BlogHer of the Week posts, check out the BlogHer of the Week archive.

Best,
Elisa
For Elisa, Jory and Lisa, BlogHer Co-founders

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

The full Banquet at Vita's

Vita lingus — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:49:36 -0500

The full Banquet [ Vita's Healthy Banquet] - vitalingus - @ 01:04:pm

Ah the rigors and vigor of life/ Vita will always take us on
the grand adventure, that is our journey & the new frontiers.
When we are willing to take the journey we are open to the
other and the secret unexplored places of ourselves? Be it
in Riga Latvia, Kiev in Ukraine the windy city Chicago or
the 'ab-fab" luscious and seductive New York.

New exotic locales will offer new opportunities new ways
of being our essential self. So be chilled and relaxed in
the northern FALL or be open to a sublime & awe-inspiring
summer chill out, in sumptuous New York. We must all be
courageous, and GO as close to the edge as one can while
still screaming with pleasure and loving the journey.

This is essential to truly HAVE the experience to having a
lush and vital VITA/LIFE.. So love the present and be great

/grateful for the grand and gracious love that IS here and

NOW within one.. Within the self and the other is the best place to play

Be aware of the grandeur be present where one is right now. However we must remember love is always present when we are present..

We can and must examine the changes in ones self & taking
place worldwide. Be the sacred self.This is always us?It
is a divine time of refining our hearts needs. The sheer
exhilarating ?acceleration? of a full life is being
pumped, for a finer and fuller exquisite experience.

BE PART OF THE CHANGE TAKING PLACE WORLD WIDE.

OLD PARADIGMS AND THE REFRESHING NEW

We are ALL being asked to choose what reality and who's
reality, we wish to live.Certainly NOT "John and George's"
(No not the Beatles)

So over "winner takes ALL" that paradigm is so last 2000
years. Passe passe passe... Then we must consider do John
and George have any idea or understanding of best
practice and loving fully?? Hmmm...

We suggest NOT at Vita Management.They could possibly
do with some training in loving fully sharing the
resources and accepting another's ways. What a fancy
idea one could have a delicious high tea over that issue
or prey tell a comforting bowl of "Varenki"...

VARENKI
Vareniki are dough pockets filled with potato, or potato
and cheddar cheese, sauerkraut, cottage cheese.
Ukrainian vareniki are boiled and resemble to various
degrees Italian ravioli,or Chinese wonton or Jewish
kreplach. Vareniki MUST BE SERVED With onions and
sour cream.

INTERNATIONAL CONUNDRUMS AND GODDESS/GOOD MANNERS
Sorry back to John and George. ambitious idea really to
get them round to that old fashioned idea of good manners
love and comfort food... Maybe we leave that for another
life TIME....BUT IT CAN BE DONE!! IF WE CHOOSE TO

Seriously though are John and George the kind of people
you want playing at ones home with ones children?? I
think NOT they leave such a mess and obviously have NO
IDEA when to leave..." When we have won" we will go what
is that?? By international reports they could well end up
at the neighbors and cause a truly hideous mess and make
things worse than it currently is....

FUTURE GENERATIONS AND REAL ADVENTURES

What ?legacy are we creating for our children,and
the children who are yet to come??? What are their
needs what adventures will they experience..??

So BE FREE and OPEN to the other.. live the dream
and love fully. We must ALL remember our LOVE and
how we can trust it..BE on ones journey and ENJOY
the adventure one is ON ?.

linkww.ukraine.org/

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Can vitamin D help you fight the flu?

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:33:47 -0500

Flu season is normally a winter bug, but it came early this year with swine flu (H1N1) outbreaks even during the summer. Why does the flu come in the winter? I always thought it was because everyone was stuck in stuffy offices and classrooms instead of outside. Turns out that stuffiness factor is only part of the problem. New research links susceptibility with a vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun during the shorter days of winter. Here's the scoop from a post this week on the NYT.comblog Freakonomics:

"One big risk factor for flu infection is a lack of vitamin D. We naturally produce vitamin D when we’re exposed to sunlight, and as the days shorten in the winter, we produce less and less of it. That led these researchers to think that flu epidemics could be a sign of widespread vitamin D deficiency, due in part to decreased solar radiation. So it seems darkness makes the flu go ’round."

(image by Tony the Misfit)

I'm thinking this new research gives me an even better excuse to enjoy some sunshine and take that long walk during my lunch break. Even better, take a friend or your dogs along.
Note: I am not a medical specialist. Before you run out and grab some vitamin D supplements, please check with your physician.

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Is the New Frugality Just a Trend?

tjsmith — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:07:59 -0500

With the current optimistic news from the “experts”, (which I don’t believe by the way, because I don’t know how the economy recovers without jobs, what…ever), some people are already planning for a slow but steady economic recovery. So the question on the table is: Will it remain chic to save money? If or when the economy turns around, will Americans return to crazy spending habits?

Some people say yes. In a recent survey posted over at Daily Finance, they report the following:

“Retailers, manufacturers, and vendors said overwhelmingly that not all changes they’ve seen in shopping behavior this recession will endure. More than half thought that sticking to a budget would be a passing fad, while just under half think it’s a longterm consumer trend. But most lifestyle adjustments seem more likely to be short-term fads; more than two thirds thought Americans would start dining out more, buying more new clothes, vacationing further from home, and buying American-made products. The findings, Jones said, echo the group’s earlier consumer surveys.

A majority of respondents also said that money-saving adjustments made by consumers during the recession will turn out to be fads: buying smaller packages, bringing lunch to work, and trading down to cheaper brands. But some behavioral changes accelerated during the recession, like using store-loyalty cards, buying in-house brands, and using shopping lists. “In two years, we maybe moved five years down that path,” said Jones.”

Read the rest….

Did anyone else notice the respondents to this poll were all retailers and vendors? Of course they are going to hope people go back to the keeping up with the Jones’s mentality of the 80’s and 90’s. Let’s hope they are wrong.

Consumers making the change from financing their lives with credit to living within their means and saving for the future could arguably benefit everyone in the long run. Health care costs will go down due to less heart attack and blood pressure damaging stress. Fewer people will declare bankruptcy. Less wasteful spending means less waste, which means less resource depletion and perhaps a healthier planet. We have become a nation of stuff and the only people who truly benefit in the buy more stuff economy are the ones who sold us on the idea to make themselves rich.

It would be nice (however, unlikely) if the trend to repair the economy was geared a bit more towards developing healthier spending habits over encouraging spending for it’s own sake. Maybe our legislators would like to lead the way. Pork free diet, anyone?

So what do you think? Did your spending habits change? Will you go back to your old ways post recession?

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Geeky Mom: Will the Nook be a Kindle killer?

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:45:11 -0500

A few days ago I wrote a post all about e-books. Yesterday the Nook, a new e-reader with access to over one million e-books, newspapers, and magazines downloaded wirelessly was unveiled by bookseller Barnes & Noble for $259. (This price is so much better than the hefty $489 for the Kindle DX e-reader.)

The slim Nook can store as many as 1,500 e-books, newspapers, and magazines and with an added memory card you can keep up to 17,500. The cost for an e-book is about $9.99 and thousands of titles are free at the Barnes & Noble eBookstore. The Nook works on the 3G network and with WiFi.

The Nook features crisp B&W text. I haven't held a Nook in my hands, but after viewing the promotional videos I think the PR buzz is correct. I am disappointed that it does not feature color image/text of an entire book page. Full color pages would be so useful when viewing textbooks and books featuring rich graphics. (I predict digital textbooks are going to big the next big wave in e-books.) But it does have a colorful touchscreen at the bottom of the screen to help you select the book you want to read.

Features I like include the ability to make text bigger (5 different font sizes) and easily bookmark, highlight passages and make notes as you go. Also the E-Ink by VizPlex offers enough contrast (16-bit gray scale) so there is no glare or backlight making it easy on the eyes. You can adjust the screen lighting to fit the situation.

One of the unusual features of the Nook is you can share books from your nook with your friends for free for about 14 days at a time with the Nook's LendMe technology. The lending policy reminds me of the public library policy for lending e-books. All you have to do is send the book file to your friend's iPhone, iPod touch, laptop, select BlackBerry and other smart phones. Wonder how the book publishers feel about the free e-book lending? (More about the issue of intellectual property rights of authors in a SF Chronicle by Michelle Richmond.)

I'm a news junkie so the access to over 20 million newspaper subscriptions sounds great. Note that reading newspapers on the Nook is not free. I do love the NYT, WSJ, and Newsweek. Subscribing to them and a dozen more would be a huge temptation.

What's next on the horizon?

I'm waiting for the Apple's new e-reader tablet--an overgrown iPod. Unfortunately the Apple option won't be cheap at $700 or more when it is released in a few months. The price really turns me off because I was hoping this tablet would be a good choice for kids/teens, but at $700-$900 I am even nervous to carry it around in my backpack/purse. The Apple eReader-and-more is rumored to run iPhone OS and play MP3 audio files and videos. So cool. Just hoping the price drops soon.

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Grand Opening for Mom Audience Marketplace - Buy or Sell Mom-Appealing Products!

BeverlyCoggins — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:10:17 -0500

I'm very excited to announce the Grand Opening of Mom Audience Marketplace, where you can buy and sell products that appeal to moms.

Mom Audience Marketplace narrows down your search whether you're buying or selling. Our mom audience subscribers are looking for mom-appealing products - a great place to sell your wares. And, if you're shopping, we have products that moms want!

If you have a product to sell, you can get double exposure by listing your product on our Mom Audience weekly email, too. It's free!

For all the details, go to MomAudience.com.

Bev

Beverly Coggins
Owner, MomAudience.com, A Marketplace for Moms - List your biz, sell your products!
Organizing Expert, Speaker, Author of the 1-2-3...Get Organized series & blog

Working Mommies

Flu shots and you

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:44:24 -0500

Each year I get my seasonal flu shot. I never want to get the shot or the flu. I tell my kids it doesn't hurt, but they know better now. I get vaccinated because I am hopeful that developing immunity against the flu will help keep my family and friends healthier too.

This summer my son got the H1N1 virus. He was sick in bed for about a week, but because of an underlying health condition I am very grateful he did not become even sicker with complications from the virus.

I figure the healthier I stay, the better for my family. So that is why I've already had my seasonal flu shot and will be getting the H1N1 shot too.

I am not a medical specialist and this year's unusual flu outbreak is really a big mystery to me. I have plenty of concerns and questions about the shots. I found these articles helpful:

• WSJ.com article: Two Flu Vaccines, Lots of Questions

• Mayo Clinic article: Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza

• Chicago Tribune: Swine flu vaccines are safe and time-tested, experts assert

Check them out. And talk to your doctors for their recommendations about which types of vaccines are best for you.

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Supermarket Trick? Or Treat?

tjsmith — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:59:20 -0500

I was at the grocery store. It was a major chain store that I frequent because it’s close to my house. If I pay attention, use coupons and a discount card, I can usually manage to buy what I want for the week without going over my preset budget.

I was at the meat section, searching for sales. On the top shelf I saw a tag that said T-Bone Steak $4.99lb. Sometimes I crave this kind of protein and I always assume my body is telling me something I should know, so I took a closer look. And can you believe I couldn’t find a single steak for $4.99lb? I did, however, find packages with two steaks, two shelves down for that price.

Ah ha! I thought. There they are, but you have to buy two and that will put me over budget, so I will pass. The funny thing is that the sign for the low price was two shelves higher, where the porter house steaks (which look remarkably like t-bones) were sitting, priced at $10.99lb.

Hmmmm. Do you think maybe the store stacked the steaks this way hoping that I would pick up the waaaay more expensive porterhouse without paying attention to the price. I thought maybe I was just being paranoid, but upon closer examination I saw another shelf tag for t-bones for $5.99lb on the top shelf. I went on a serious search for those steaks and found only one, completely surrounded by (drum roll please) really expensive porterhouses.

At this point I walked away from the meat counter, fearful that the beef mafia my realize I was on to them and order a hit to protect their evil enterprise. Okay, maybe that’s a bit paranoid, but I will bet dollars to donuts, the shell game they are playing with the steaks is designed with hope that some folks will spend 10.99lb when they think they are spending $4.99lb and never see the switch.

It’s possible that this was all coincidental, of course, but I don’t think so. And it’s a good reminder to closely check both the price tags on your items and the receipt you get from the store.

More valuable insights available here…

Just my two cents...Happy shopping!

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Fear of Fuschia: Home Hair Color Anxiety

tjsmith — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:24:51 -0500

I haven’t wanted to go here. I am afraid. Yet it seems so excessive to spend over a hundred dollars to change my hair color, just because I struggle internally with two useless quirks that linger below the surface of what I hope is a confident facade. If I could find a cure for the joint curse of vanity and insecurity, I would be a wealthy woman.

I dislike my natural hair color. It doesn’t go with my skin tone and if that’s not a cruel twist of fate, I don’t know what else to call it. Unfortunately, the gray that is beginning to filter through the roots is not making it any better. So, instead of just a weird, kind of orange color highlighting my locks, now there are wisps of old age snickering in the background.

I admit to being conditioned by unrealistic media images of perfection when I view my own appearance. I understand that much of the insecurity I feel is bogus and that life will not magically become a dream princess existence of glamor, fame and global admiration if I can just perfect my hair color. But it will feel a little better when I look in the mirror and we can all appreciate the value of that deep inside.

The expense of using a professional is the only real matter for debate here. Sadly, though I realize the only thing worse than the hair color you dislike is the shade you may create if your amateurish effort to save money goes awry. And though there are products called “Hair Color Oops” on the shelf below the actual coloring products, they bring to mind visions of multiple processes, each creating something worse than the last until you are forced to spend six times as much money to go to a salon for repair before what’s left of your hairs falls out.

When I contemplate things that scare me, I go straight to the fountain of all knowledge, the gate of the universe, off to see the wizard and all. Yep, I turn on my computer and go to google search. That’s where I was directed to several sites that rate home hair color and offer tips to use it. For instance:

From About.Com

“The simpler, the better. At-home hair coloring is for people who simply want to go a couple shades lighter or darker or to cover gray. Anything more complicated than that should be handled by a pro. If it’s a new base color and highlights you’re after, go to a pro. If you have permed or relaxed hair, or if your hair is damaged, also see a pro, you don’t want to overprocess your locks.”

Read the rest

I also found this info from professional Antonio Gonzales:

“The best approach to handle your few grey hairs is to stay away from permanent color. Semi-permanent color is your best bet.

Permanent color is harsh because the ammonia in it lifts the natural pigment while depositing synthetic pigment as well. It also changes the overall feel of the hair and will leave a line of demarcation (the root line) after one month.”

Read The Rest

From Goodhousekeeping Magazine:

“The high cost of regular salon visits may create gray hairs faster than your hairdresser can conceal them. Want maximum coverage for minimum fundage? Use inexpensive at-home haircolor to stretch the time between professional colorings (or even replace them altogether). We tested nine formulas that claim to cover grays and not fade. We dyed swatches of graying hair with the brands’ best-selling shades, then washed and blow-dried them and exposed them to UV light to simulate a month of normal wear. See the winners and watch the experts at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute explain the results of the test”

Read the Rest

So I screwed up my courage and went to the store. I am one day from the paycheck and had to stay within a tight budget for ten days of groceries, mineral oil and pelleted feed for a horse, and a hair coloring product. I found the Good Housekeeping winner on sale and bought it for $6.73 out the door, using my store discount card. It is currently sitting on my bathroom counter waiting for the experiment this afternoon. I can almost hear a little scary background music wafting from that part of the house. Later today, I will let you know what happened…stand by….

BlogHer Beginners

Give your friends a hug today

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:46:27 -0500

In my blog I like to share bits about my life and interests every weekday. Some days I just can't write. Today is one of them. A best bud battled cancer courageously for a very long time and now she is gone.

Can't begin to put into words how much I miss her. She was the one with the hugs. When I didn't know how to say something, she knew how to put it into words perfectly. She was the one who could cook a dinner so mouth watering I wanted a permanent dinner reservation at her house. She was the one who was always prepared. You could always count on her... Even for silly things like having an extra Halloween pumpkin to give me when mine went missing. She was the one who gave me a boost when I felt defeated. Somehow she knew just what to say to convince me that I shouldn't give up on projects that seemed too difficult.

She was the one with a hug and a warm smile. In her honor, give your friends a hug today.

(image: Pink Sherbet Photography)

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

If mom is happy...

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:09:10 -0500

Ever feel like if you take time to shower, then your preschooler will never get into the right college?

(image: Cyron)

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but you know the feeling. And this mommy guilt is toxic. The truth: the more you accomplish on your to-do list does not guarantee you will be happier.

You know the drill. While you cook dinner/fold laundry/check homework, you still feel guilty about not spending time reading a book with your kids.

Chances are if you feel overwhelmed, then now is the perfect time to step back and figure out what you can do to recharge your batteries. I'm not talking about a once-a-month splurge on a mani-pedi or whatever. I'm suggesting you carve out small chunks of time every day to focus on you. Scary? Maybe. But if you take a few minutes to escape and search for beauty in your life, then you will feel better.

No big commitments like training for a triathlon are required. Grab your tennis shoes and take a walk. Or find that journal you loved years ago and start writing again. Even if you just sit down and meditate for 15 minutes in a quiet room, you will feel better.

Just like my mom told me: If mom is happy, the whole family is happier.

Looking for some motivation? Check out this book: Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too by Susan Callahan, Anne Nolen, Katrin Schuman.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Geeky Mom: Test the speed of your Internet connection

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:33:23 -0500

My Internet connection has been wimpy lately. So, to see if I am getting what I paid for I tried out a few broadband speed analysis tools that check my Internet connection. My favorite is Speedtest.net. Ok, I admit it, this proves I am mildly geeky: I thought the test was actually fun. It uses an entertaining interactive Flash interface. Speednet.com performs three measurements to determine the quality and performance of your internet connection:

1) Download Speed: Tests the speed at which your data is sent from the Internet to your computer.

2) Upload Speed: Tests the speed at which data is sent from your computer to the Internet.

3) Ping (Latency): The time it takes in milliseconds for a small piece of data to be sent from your computer to the Internet and back.

What are my test results? Am I getting what I pay for in an Internet connection? Well, that discussion is for another post. Stay tuned.

Depending on where you live, here are a few other testers you might want to check out:

• Broadband speed reports

• Speakeasy - Speed Test

• PC Pitstop Internet Connection Center

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

DIY: Fabric Storage Basket

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:20:30 -0500

I am fixing up my work/craft room so I was excited to find an easy DIY pattern for making storage baskets by jcaroline creative. I love the Peapod and Flora fabric too. Sewing directions for a small and large basket here.

(Image: jcaroline creative)

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Save a little, save a life

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:33:37 -0500

October is breast cancer awareness month. Now when you save a little on the basics you can help save lives. Harper Collins and Amazon.com team up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to offer the Everyday Coupon Book. The book costs only $19.99 and includes more than $500 in savings. The book also includes wellness tips including easy recipes and preventive diet tips. Coupons are good through August 2010.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world's largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.

The book includes coupons for products including: Tylenol, Tyson, Lean Cuisine, Lady Speed Stick, South Beach Bars, Centrum multivitamin, and Pampers.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Save a little, save a life

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:33:37 -0500

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world's largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.

The book includes coupons for products including: Tylenol, Tyson, Lean Cuisine, Lady Speed Stick, South Beach Bars, Centrum multivitamin, and Pampers.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Was this a good hair day?

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:21:58 -0500

We've all had bad hair days. If I can get away with it, those are the the days that I hide my hair under a baseball cap. The thing is, everyone knows exactly why I have the cap on.

Why is good hair so important? And why can't we convince our kids (and ourselves) that the stuff on top of our head isn't nearly as important as what is inside.

According to the Sundance Film Festival 2009 website: When Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” the bewildered comic committed himself to search the ends of the earth and the depths of black culture to find out who had put that question into his little girl's head!

So what does Chris Rock do next? He makes the award-winning new comedy/ documentary Good Hair that looks at the preoccupation with straightening hair.

Relaxants for hair, weaves and more for black hair are expensive. It's almost as if you can get addicted to the products that make straight hair. Who can afford it? Discussing why and how people turn their kinky hair into straight hair is almost a taboo subject. Which makes me wonder is straight hair really "good."

Our relationship with hair is a complicated one. Even when life is getting tough some women may choose their hair care over more basic needs. Says Rock in the Chicago Sun Times

: "You know Beyonce is going to spend five grand getting ready for the Grammys. But to know Kiki spends five grand to go to work for AT&T -- where she's only making $35,000 or $40,000, or whatever she's making -- that blew my mind."

In his documentary Good Hair, Chris Rock visits beauty salons, barber shops, hair manufacturers and wig merchants in his quest to understand how so-called "good hair" affects self-esteem and even sexual relations.Rock's candid look at the nine billion dollar African American hair business opens this Friday.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

A Brides Cookbook or Surviving the First Year Blog

njgeiger — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:26:51 -0500

The blog that goes with the website 'A Brides Cookbook or Surviving the First Year.' Whether you are a young bride or a bride who is much older, you will enjoy the recipes, entertaining tips, healthy eating tips and much more.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Making Ends Meet...How do you do it?

tjsmith — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:18:05 -0500

That is the challenge when you are upside down and trying to meet your expenses in addition to paying off debt. My goal is to be debt free in 3 years and I am stumbling a little less each day. I had a shock recently, though. I learned that in order to get ahead I actually have to live below my means so that I can save money as well as pay off debt. I mean, heck, I was having enough trouble working with the concept of living within my means.

As I have said before, I began by really tracking my spending, but the real challenge has been developing a budget and sticking with it. Erin Hufstetler at Frugal Living at About.com offers the follow great advice:

Be honest about your spending habits, and you’ll end up with a much more realistic budget.
Don’t forget to budget for fun; budgeting isn’t about total deprivation.
Don’t be afraid to change your budget; a good budget is always evolving.

Another thing I ran into, while trying to develop better habits was the slow leak expenditures such as:

That daily stop at Starbucks or “The Bean” or wherever. At work, my peers and I go for coffee as a team-building exercise daily. I go along for the social moment, but the trick is to learn that I can have that without actually buying a coffee I don’t need, since I already enjoyed the 2 cups I brewed at home before the commute.
Bottled Water. Ummm, I live in a country where the water is relatively clean. Travel brochures to the California area rarely tell you to avoid the water, though some reports indicate there can be bad stuff in there. I have compromised by installing a water filter on the tap and reusing water bottles. Arguably a greener solution than dozens of plastic bottles used every month.
Paying cash! When I actually took a close look at the interest and finance fees I was paying for using someone else’s money via the credit card, I almost threw up. My new policy is: if I don’t have the money now, I don’t need that item.
Eating out! I used to lunch with my coworkers daily. Even though we went to places that offered discounts and low costs, that money added up way too quickly. Now I pick a couple of meals to eat out each week (because social time is important), but I budget them in advance and stay within the lines.
This is an oldie but a goodie: Don’t shop hungry or depressed. Make a grocery list and stick to it. Utilize discounts and coupons whenever possible and try to plan meals and supplies around them. If it means making a quick sandwich before you head out to the store: make the sandwich!

I keep running into little obstacles in the form of habits that cause me to spend more than I need, or waste money I don’t have for something I wont use. What kinds of things do you do to stay within a budget?

BlogHer Beginners

Green Scout Report: The Definitive Guide To A Sustainable New World

Justine Suh — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:53:37 -0500

The guiding mission of the Green Scout Report is to serve as the definitive resource for understanding and benefitting from eco and sustainable business practices, as well as for gaining crucial information on innovations in eco-product design.

The Green Scout Report is a forum that provides knowledge and insight from the most inspired business thinkers and designers of the day, as well as a community of inquisitive individuals who are committed to engaging with ideas and each other.

Eco is the new reality. As we navigate the unprecedented challenges of today’s world, companies and individuals alike must think and operate in inventive ways to remain relevant in this bold, new landscape. More than ever, businesses need to be creative, efficient, and smart to compete on the eco-frontier.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Grocery Discount Cards: Big Brother Watching?

tjsmith — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:29:36 -0500

There are many different opinions regarding the data collected by grocery store discount cards. I have one from almost everywhere I have ever purchased anything. Where I live, there are only a few small grocers that do not have card programs. What this means, is that even if the stores raise the price, then lower it for card holders to arm twist you into using their cards, that is absolutely going to work on me. I simply can't afford to pay a higher price in support of my privacy. And as for the information they (them, those guys, big brother, whoever) is getting about my buying and spending habits, I can't really bring myself to care when I am trying to stretch forty or fifty bucks around my two week food budget. FOR EVERYTHING.

I am pretty sure Al Queada isn't behind the loyalty cards, and even though I am embarrassed to admit that I occasionally buy frozen jalapeno poppers to eat all by myself in an orgy of guilty pleasure, I doubt The Government or evil corporations are going to be able to use this information to enslave me. Granted, they might become more clever about advertising some products to overcome my feeble attempts at self discipline and a healthy lifestyle, but the final decisions I make about my diet are still on me. I am not going to blame Big Brother for using my discount card info to backmask my itunes downloads and force me into unwilling obesity.

According to some opponents of the discount card programs, the stores could be using the data mining to sculpt their customer base towards the people at the top of the socioeconomic ladder and making it harder for the poor to afford food. Where I live, the vast majority of shoppers are poor (immigrant farmworkers) or middle class families, with a relatively low population of the top tier kind of customer. If the store is really mining shopper info from the buying habits of the majority then I have nothing to worry about when it comes to how they price the goods in my neighborhood. Catering to the very few at the top and sending the rest of us to the smaller neighborhood markets for better prices is much more likely in my humble opinion, to cause that store to close than increase it's bottom line.

So when I go to the store, I use coupons and my discount card to get the best prices available that day. I pay attention to everything I buy and I compare what I spent to previous trips, in hopes of staying consistent or better yet improving my shopping habits towards gettting the most for my money.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Finding Balance While Raising Small Children: Is it Even Possible?

Shannon LC Cate — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:20:57 -0500

Balance has never been a one-shot solution for me. In fact, I'd say the best "tip" I can offer new moms is to remember that balance is a constantly shifting negotiation.

If there's one constant in parenting, it's change. This can be great--like when the baby finally outgrows the colic or the reflux or starts sleeping more than two hours at a time (I won't even offer you "through the night"). But it can also be rotten, like when teething sends your formerly easy-going angel into a 24-hour misery spiral. Or, to offer an example from my own household, when the toddler who is too young to really potty train learns to unfasten every kind of clothing she owns--fastened in every tricky way her parents can imagine--while simultaneously developing a fascination with the contents of her diapers.

My own balance tricks got thrown into perpetual motion last year when my family moved three hours away from my partner's place of work. Now she is gone three or four nights (and four or five days) per week, leaving our former routine in shambles. Since the former routine included her rising with the children when they awoke at the crack of dawn, and bringing me a wake-up cup of tea to bed three hours later, I have found the change to be a challenge, to say the least.

New nap schedules (that is, kids who have started refusing to nap), first-time school attendance and new expenses requiring me to work harder for money than I have in the first five years of parenthood have thrown me out of whack as well.

At the moment, I have reorganized my work schedule to fit within the narrow school hours of my older daughter. Three of her five school days a baby sitter watches her sister. The other two, I wing it. Sometimes I can work, other times, I spend the whole time reading Sandra Boynton board books and laughing over and over again at the same joke ("Hat!" my toddler declares, while putting something on her head that is NOT a hat.)

Balance these days is about sorting out what really, really matters from what just matters in a perfect world and most of all from what doesn't matter much at all.

I tend to get bogged down in things that don't matter at all. Arguments on the Internet for example, matter not one whit, but can consume my energy and concentration for hours--even when I'm not actually involved in them, but merely following along. Recently, I made some major shifts in how and when I use my computer and that has put things back in perspective.

Things that matter in a perfect world, but not all that much in the long-run are going to be different for different people. I do find that I need a certain level of physical order in my home. So I spend a little more time cleaning than some might find necessary. My house is never as clean as I'd like it to be, but the trick has been finding that sweet spot of acceptable, and keeping things from slipping too far in one direction or another from there.

What really, really matters after I set these lesser things aside is perhaps, obvious: quality family time. But as obvious as it is, it's amazing how often it gets put on the back burner if we all don't attend to nurturing it. And here is where, ironically, the new distance in our family has been helpful. The limits placed on our time together have really helped us clarify the importance of spending time together when we have a chance.

Balance now means a balance between one-on-one time for the various members of our 4-person family as well as all-together time. Our weekends have become predictable, but happy. The out-of-town mom spends much of Friday afternoon and Saturday morning on re-entry to parenthood, spending time with the kids and giving me a break from them. Saturday afternoons we all do something special together, if only walk to the park and a cheap restaurant for grilled cheese sandwiches. Sunday morning we all go to church and Sunday afternoon and evening is never-failing Date Night.

So far, it's been working for us for the better part of a year.

What works for you?

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Save the boobs and get a mammogram

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:00:21 -0500

If you are 40 years or older, it's time to save your boobs and get a mammogram. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women behind lung cancer. Without getting a mammogram, many women won't even know that they have breast cancer until it is in an advanced stage and more difficult to treat.

If you are 40 years or older, once a year mammograms are recommended as a screening tool for breast cancer. Be sure to check with your doctor for specific screening recommendations for you.

Too many mothers, daughters, and grandmothers have been through tough times fighting cancer. You can show support and raise awareness of breast cancer by wearing pink in October, breast cancer awareness month.

If you ever watch Hoda Kotb, a breast cancer survivor, on the Today Show you may have noticed she wears a pink ring made by a friend of hers with the word "Forward" on it. According to the NBC website: Hoda says she wears her Forward Ring as a reminder: "I feel safe with it on...And I also wear the ring just because I know that I'm in a big club with lots of people."

You can purchase the pink "Forward Ring" online at the NBC Store. For every Forward Ring purchased in 2009, a $2 donation will be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The ring is $5.

A message Hoda Kotb from the NBC website:
"As we enter Breast Cancer Awareness month, I have a message for those women who are in the middle of their fight with the disease: I know you feel like you're in hell now, but your life is about to get a whole lot better."

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

It's one of those days..

tjsmith — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:35:08 -0500

I am two days from the paycheck. I have around forty bucks left ’til then for everything and the temptation to pull out the credit cards is floating around the back of my brain like a mosquito you can hear but can’t see. And like the blood sucking insect, that credit card will do me nothing but harm if I use it.

I have chosen instead to do chores around the house. There are always chores. I can take out the garbage. Vacuum. Go through my bills (which works like a cold shower on the temptation to shop) and play with the dogs. I can go to the gym, but I wont. I only have a quarter tank of gas and don’t want to fill the tank until payday, so I will avoid driving.

Laundry! There’s some fun to be had doing laundry! Well, maybe not fun, but at least there is a warm sense of accomplishment when your clothes are all clean and sweet smelling.

I did ride horses this morning. It’s one of the things I can do without spending money out of pocket. All of my horse costs are budgeted in monthly. And with what I spend on their care, I bloody well better ride them as much as possible. I live on the property with the horses and I am really grateful for the priviledge I enjoy just having them in my life.

The truth is, I have a very high quality life that I appreciate every day. This recession, the debt I am struggling with and the stress of this lifestyle transition is nothing compared to what so many others are facing. And even though it sometimes seems difficult, that is largely a perception, floating a long way from reality. I am very optimistic about the future and it’s important to remember all of the great things we enjoy in our lives.

Last week we were surrounded by fire, but we survived and enjoyed a beautiful day today. I hope your day is beautiful, too.

TJSmith

http://Downturnliving.com

BlogHer Beginners

To make excuses for why your child hasn't done his homework, press 2

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:41:32 -0500

At least a few people working in public education still have a sense of humor...

Not sure if the answering machine message below is fake or real, but I do think it is very smart and, perhaps best of all, this message points out not so subtly how parents AND their kids need to 'wake up and smell the coffee.' Automatically blaming the school for all of their problems is just as ridiculous as this phone message sounds.

You can listen to the answering machine message on my

Momathon Blog post today. It was allegedly voted unanimously by the staff at Maroochydore High School, Queensland, Australia.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Downturnliving: Fashionably Frugal and Debt Free

tjsmith — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:14:47 -0500

Restructuring our finances makes good strategic sense in a tough economy, especially in the face of lowered wages, lost jobs and plunging portfolios, but perhaps, once we get over the shock, we can welcome the opportunity to make healthy changes in our lives. Perhaps we can enjoy a quality lifestyle without living beyond our means. Is it possible? Dare we dream of happiness and fullfillment without revolving credit?

Conspicuous consumerism is no longer the trend. We have entered the age of the new frugality. Downturn living embraces the wild idea of living within our means with enthusiasm, joy and a sense of adventure!

Pushing Towards Parity

DIY Bean Bag Chair

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:35:07 -0500

Kids and adults love to sink into cozy bean bag chairs. My favorites are the ones with interesting fabrics. Now you can create your own comfy place to read a book with the bean bag chair tutorial by Joanna Armour. Check out the tutorial here.

The sewing directions look easy. You only need 3 yards of lining fabric, 3 yards for the outside cover, hook and loop tape, and bean bag pellets. Great photos included to help you complete your project.

image: bean bag chair made by Joanna Armour with michael miller fabrics

You can check out more sewing projects at the Making It Fun blog by Michael Miller Fabrics. Thanks also to the clever editors at the blog Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh (home design for children) for featuring this sweet sewing project. You can view more cute fabrics for sewing projects at MichaelMillerFabrics.com

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Lions, tigers, and bears... oh my

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:37:17 -0500

Let me grab my ruby slippers because a good pair of shoes even on the worst of days makes a girl feel so much better.

image: Mykl Roventine

I'll admit it up front, the movie The Wizard of Oz still frightens me. It all started when I was a kid when even my older brother was afraid to watch the flying monkeys swoop down on Toto and Dorothy in the movie. The only reason I watched the movie as a kid was the fact my brother threatened to kidnap my Barbie doll collection unless I would watch the movie with him.

Fortunately I don't think about Dorothy stranded in the strange land of Oz very often. But just the other day my daughter noticed how much our new puppy with his long silky hair and twinkly eyes resembles Toto, Dorothy's beloved little terrier.

I am fine with that celebrity connection until I remember that Toto in the L. Frank Baum books was able to talk. Maybe this explains why some people think I am such a nut when I have lengthy conversations with my dogs. Please don't tell my dog trainers this bit of pet trivia because evidently personifying your dogs is never ever a good idea.

Toto was a fiesty, yet lovable dog in the Wizard of Oz. My pup is a wiggly, crazy insane, yet happy pooch. At his very young (and truly stupid) age, he acts invincible even when large unfriendly wildlife walk out of the woods and amble into my yard in the dark looking for handouts of the birdseed and garbage variety. There's no place like home...

Lions, tigers, and bears--which of these large wild animals normally seen just in a zoo does not visit my backyard birdbaths for a drink at midnight?

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Women Deserve a Living Wage

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:38:37 -0500

How many minimum wage jobs must a mom work just to afford basic needs such as food, housing, and health care? Sadly, many women working full-time jobs in America must also face the reality that even though they work full time they are still forced to live in poverty.

image: Evil Erin

If a mom works a 40-hour week and still lives in poverty, this is a problem we can't ignore. We all know about the minimum wage, but did you know that a minimum wage is not the same as a living wage? A minimum wage is a standard set by law, but it does NOT guarantee the worker will be able to afford basic needs such as food, utilities, health care and housing.

If a worker receives pay below $10 an hour and she (or he) does not receive benefits such as affordable health insurance, then the worker and her family members may decide not to get even basic healthcare such as vaccinations, mammograms, pelvic exams, and other screenings.

Employers that pay below a living wage force their workers to rely on food stamps and Medicaid. Plus that employer is probably not even paying their workers enough to rent an apartment.

A mom in Illinois would need to make over $15 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment according to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. In Illinois the minimum wage is $7.75 and will rise to $8.25 in 2010. That's why the The Good Jobs Chicago Coalition is pushing for wages of at least $10-$15. (You can hear more about living wage coalitions and grassroots organizers in Chicago at this Chicago Public Radio link.)

Mega chains receive tax dollars when they establish stores in a community. At a very minimum, I believe receiving these tax dollars should obligate them to truly help the community by offering a living wage. Sure, big box stores provide low-cost products, but the major problem of full-time workers living in poverty in America will never be solved by selling low cost items.

Will Chicago and other cities approve big box ordinances that would require Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot and other mega-chains to pay workers a living wage of at least $13 an hour and also provide affordable benefits?

Are you making a living wage? You can check out the living wage in your community or region using the Living Wage Calculator.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Classic Cold Remedy: Easy "Homemade" Chicken Noodle Soup

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:35:19 -0500

Fall officially starts today. Celebrate the autumnal
equinox with a heartwarming and cold-chasing bowl of homemade chicken noodle
soup.

Chicken noodle soup works double duty by minimizing the
symptoms and duration of a cold. If you are a busy mom like me, making homemade soup means improvising on Grandma's recipe. Turns out that if you start with a good broth such as Knorr's soup (the best chicken noodle brand according to
researchers at Nebraska Medical Center) you can add nutrient rich ingredients to make your own "homemade" version.

Check out my Momathon Blog post today for my super easy Chicken Noodle Soup recipe that you can personalize with a selection of healthy add-ons. (I included a listing of how each ingredient can boost your health.)

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Where did my money go?

tjsmith — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:13:12 -0500

Holy Excrement, Batman! Where did my paycheck disappear to?! I swear it was in the bank just yesterday and now it’s gone! WTF?

If this sounds familiar, welcome to my reality. I never used to
watch what I did with my money. Somehow, I magically assumed there was
enough and it would keep reproducing at need. I have made a decent
living since my early twenties (and no I am not going to say how long
ago that may have been.) I have rarely had to worry if there was going
to be enough money to pay the rent, unless, of course, I failed to
watch my spending. Then again, if I got in trouble, I just robbed poor
Peter, to pay that wretched Paul, and increased my debt load hoping
that would magically disappear as well. I failed to take into account
my lack of training in wizardry or witchcraft. I am certain I would
never have been accepted at Hogwarts.

During one of the more responsible periods of my life, well… maybe
not responsible so much as carefully supervised, I used Quicken to
track my household finances. I produced reports each month within the
program to account for expenditures and keep the bills up to date. Did
I mention this was under supervision? On my own, I have been far less
likely to pay close attention to my spending or credit card balances. I
have to admit, though that financial software, correctly used, is more
reliable than spell casting, at least that’s my experience so far.

So last year, when my financial life went South, along with a bunch
of other folks with the advent of the global recession, I was forced to
take a long hard look at my habits. You can imagine what depressing
exercise that turned out to be.

One thing I want to make clear is that I can’t classify myself as a
“victim” of the recession. I fit better in the group known as “gamblers
and spendthrifts who got caught.” I was over invested and underfunded
in real estate. I failed to save for that rainy day. I used credit like
an crack addict and supported (not really) a life style well above my
means. The only reason I got away with it for so long was our healthy
economy, and corrupt lenders. When the crash came, I was standing in
front of the bus and I deservedly got creamed by it.

So in picking myself up and trying to suture critical pocketbook
injuries, I have been forced to examine, analyze and rebuild my life in
a new model, hopefully one that both works in the present, yet can
weather storms in the future. And like the alcoholic or crack addict, I
will always, no matter how well I respond to treatment, have to
remember that those habits will come right back if I let my guard down
or become complacent about them.

Part of the healing process required taking a look at the path I
burned getting to the bottom of the drain. Examining how much of my
earnings I tossed away on meaningless nonsense drove me to recognize
that I was the living embodiment of what is described in step one of
the twelve step programs available to help treat addictions of all
kinds. As in: I had to admit that my life as it stood had become
unmanageable.

I found other helpful sentiments in the twelve step creeds. I can’t
seem to work the steps in order and have had to skip over a few. This
may be due to another trendy problem like attention deficit disorder or
something, but here are a few more plagiarisms from AA that I found
helpful:

Step four: Take a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself.
Step five: Admit to yourself, another human being and your personal deity the exact nature of your wrongs.
Step eight: Make a list of all you have harmed and be willing to make amends to them.
Step Nine: Make direct amends to people unless doing so would harm them or others.
Step ten: Continue to take personal inventory and promptly admit when we are wrong.

I am not an alcoholic and have never participated in a twelve step
program, but I have some heroic friends who have changed their lives
this way and it seems foolish to think we can’t all learn something
from their example.

I have a friend who lives a quality life on 30 to 40k a year. I will
tell her story in another post, but the point here is she would think
my earnings represented a fortune and I am ashamed to admit I have
nothing to show for the blessings I have been given but a large debt
that I will be spending the next few years paying off.

Having come through the fire of disaster, recognition, and initial
tactical response, I feel pretty good cruising onto the bumpy, winding
cart trail that represents recovery. This past year I have tracked my
finances using Money Dance for the Mac. I haven’t decided how effective
the software is overall, yet, but watching everything I spend has
helped me begin working within a budget, with occasional lapses of
course.

I am still in the early stages of paying down my debt, but in the
last year I have paid off 3 of four credit cards, short sold two
investment properties and lowered my monthly overhead by over a
thousand dollars by shopping smarter for things I do need and being
more careful about things I just want, but can’t necessarily afford
right now. I don’t drive as much as I once did to save on fuel and I
have learned a bunch of creative shopping tricks. I don’t use credit at
all. I am definitely on the wagon, there.

Life is short and it is important to enjoy every moment you can.
Thus, understanding the mistakes I have made, it’s possible to recover
without wallowing in self pity, or self flaggelation. The only
necessary new ingredients are self discipline and an appreciation for
the things that give life it’s quality to begin with, such as time with
friends and family, good health and happy activities to offset the hard
work required to earn a bit more and climb out of the pit.

I could recover quicker if I gave up fun, but then the quality of
life suffers, so I merely budget my fun and recognize happily that it
may take longer to find the surface again, but life will still be worth
living throughout the adventure.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

No Botox Beauty Mojo

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:50:20 -0500

I am at that age where I won't deny that I have considered Botox. I probably could use something... My "mature" skin with freckles definitely gets too much Rocky Mountain sun year around. I don't follow a complicated beauty regimen. I never find enough time for beauty luxuries with kids, pets (including a puppy) and a husband. Sleep is the one nutrient I crave and my face shows it.

Just heard a great tip to at least fake that healthy and rested look in photos: Raising your brows for a photo gives you the appearance of a instant face lift.

Sure, the temporary rested look is pure fantasy.
No worries. I say whatever works.

image: Wee-Peng

"All right Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Casual Fridays

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:13:00 -0500

You might have heard of the phrase: normal is just a setting on the dryer. It's also the title of a book by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Adair Lara.

Over coffee today, my friend Cathy quoted the phrase and shared the simple idea that our lives by nature are complicated and unpredictable. So why not just celebrate you and all your uniqueness.

image: le vent le cri

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Homemade Lattes

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:58:19 -0500

One of my favorite crafters, Lauren at Etsy, writes a cute blog called Lost Mitten. Today she writes a post about making homemade lattes:

"I do love my grande vanilla soy latte, but I've found a reasonable substitute that can be made quickly and easily at home! Not only is this a tasty recipe, but it will surely save tons of $$$. Plus, I can choose to use my own organic soy milk, don't have to worry about wasting a paper cup/plastic lid, and don't have to drive to the Starbucks to purchase one, so this is a much "greener" option as well!"

You can see Lauren's easy recipe at: Lost Mitten

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Easy DIY Fixes for Worn-Out Floors and More

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:02:41 -0500

I love my house, but if you checked out my tired wood floors and kitchen cabinets you might not believe me. This morning when I saw the clever folks at the Today Show tackle restoring worn-out kitchens, I nearly cheered out loud. (Yes, my life is really that boring.)

Here is the scoop on simple--and cheap--fixes to bring your beloved kitchen back to life: Go to this link:

Bring your home back to life with simple fixes - TODAY Home & Garden

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Tap Your Inner Girl Scout: You Can Do It

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:08:06 -0500

The title and the book cover art remind me of my childhood and my beloved Girl Scout badges, but this book is a self-empowering resource to help women of all ages realize their dreams.

According to Chronicle Books website:

"You Can Do It! is the vision of Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, a heroine of United Flight 93 and a woman who was an inspiration to all who knew her. Lauren's dream was to create the ultimate self-empowering resource, a book to help women of all ages realize their dreams. Inspired by her beloved Girl Scout badges, nurtured to publication by her family and friends—led by Lauren's two sisters, Vaughn and Dara—You Can Do It!is the merit badge handbook for every grown-up girl who's said, "I wish I could..." Jam-packed with practical advice, here is step-by-step instruction and kick-in-the-pants encouragement for achieving 60 exciting badge activities."

You Can Do It!:
The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls
$24.95 : Chronicle Books

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Paying Tribute to the Victims of 9/11

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:24:14 -0500

flickr image: di_the_huntress

September 11th will forever be a very sad day. We lost so many in the tragic attacks. Today marks the eighth anniversary of the attacks.

Americans are encouraged to honor the victims and heroes of the 9/11 tragedy by pitching in today and serving their neighbors and communities. Today marks the first-ever federally recognized 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. To find out more go to Serve.gov.

In the image above, visitors to New York look out at the site of what had been the World Trade Center.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

The Well Connected Mom

wellconnectedmom — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:31:05 -0500

Wellconnectedmom.com is a free resource for busy moms that reviews gadgets, websites, and other technology products. It's purpose is to decrease the learning curve of using technology while increasing moms' interest in technology.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

The Flu That Arrived Early

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:47:00 -0500

image: Lee Coursey

This summer when the sunny days spent at the pool never made me think twice about swine flu, my teenage son developed a sore throat, chills and a fever. I thought he had strep, but a trip to the doctor confirmed he had the flu. The week he spent feeling lousy was not fun for him or anyone in the house. I kept wondering if he would get worse. And I braced myself for caring for more sick people at our house.

We were lucky. The flu passed. My son is fine now. I know he missed out on a chunk of his short summer vacation, but he managed to squeeze a great deal of fun into the remaining weeks.

Frequent hand washing, sanitizing frequently touched household surfaces, loads of laundry, and quarantining my son seemed to help the rest of the house stay healthy. In the weeks that have passed since his recovery, I have stocked up on some necessities that would help out if the rest of us gets sick this fall.

Today I read an interesting article by Tara Parker-Pope in the NYTimes.com: Preparing for a Stressful Flu Season.
Check it out for helpful information on swine flu symptoms, flu shots, and tips on when to seek medical help for the flu.

- Well - Preparing for a

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

What Do We Eat When No One Else Is Around?

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:59:35 -0500

BusyBrain

Do our solitary snacks reveal something about our souls? Are your eat alone dishes a civilized meal or do you just find whatever works from your pantry? Do you eat differently when you are alone than when you are with someone? If you ever wonder what others are eating when they are alone, check out the new book by Deborah Madison and Patrick McFarlin: What We Eat When We Eat Alone: Stories and 100 Recipes

When I am alone I love a LARGE bowl(s) of cereal. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner---cereal is my favorite. If I have already had enough cereal for the day, then I make a salad and pile on the cheese, cashews or walnuts, and my favorite creamy peach dressing.

Makes me think that I could use a snack right about now.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

How Safe Is Your Metal Water Bottle?

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:41:42 -0500

Reusable water bottles are a green option. You probably feel good about using them. However, all plastic bottles are not equal. Some plastics contain BPA (bisphenol-A) and could pose a health risk. Thanks to consumers who demanded healthier baby bottles and water bottles, many plastic bottles are now BPA free.

You might think metal water bottles would be a good option. But before you shop, do your homework first. Did you know some metal water bottles have a plastic liner with BPA?

According to Lori Bongiorno's blog featured on Yahoo! Green:

"However, all metal bottles are not created equally. Aluminum bottles typically have epoxy liners, which may contain BPA and other unwanted chemicals. In the past, Sigg would not reveal the ingredients in its liners, claiming that it was "proprietary."

Now, the company admits that the epoxy liners in its bottles used to contain trace amounts of BPA. Sigg says it switched to a new "EcoCare" liner in August 2008"

Many aluminum bottles have epoxy linings, but some companies sell stainless steel water bottles that do not have liners and they are BPA free:

Kleen Kanteen
ThinkSport
Nalgene

The FDA has not banned BPA. However, citizens can take matters in their own hands in an effort to ban BPA. According to Sarah Newman at HuffingtonPost:

"The Chicago city-council earlier this year outsmarted the FDA, which continues to argue that BPA is safe, by voting to ban it. There is now pending legislation in California to do the same statewide."

BPA is currently banned in Canada, Minnesota, Conneticut and under scrutiny in several European nations. Why should you be concerned about BPA? When exposed to heat or wear and tear, the BPA in plastic can leach into foods and liquids. BPA is a synthetic estrogen found in some types of plastic and can create havoc in the human body's own hormones.

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

It's So Etsy: Sweetie Pie Tutu for Babies

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:40:11 -0500

Love, love this Etsy tutu:

Teeny, Tiny Sweetie Pie Tutu for ages newborn-24 months.

You choose the color. FREE coordinating soft headband. $16.75

The Juice, by Tropicana Trop50

Helping the Hungry Children

Chris--MomathonBlog.com — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:20:13 -0500

Did you know that 1 out of 4 people in a soup kitchen line is a child?

In this tough economy, every family is looking for ways to save money and stay within their budget. Often the second largest expense for families is food. Unfortunately lost jobs, reduced wages, and rising costs for things such as medical care and housing has made it difficult for many to buy groceries.

Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza at Oprah.com

have come up with a great list of five easy ways you can help feed the hungry:

Locate organizations near you that support the hungry. Find out what they need and help provide it.

Donate your time and volunteer at a food pantry/distribution center, a local soup kitchen, or a homeless shelter.

Go through your pantry and gather up canned and dried foods to donate.

Create or support a local canned food drive.

Purchase and hand out fast-food gift cards to homeless people. Buy extra cards to have on hand for spontaneous giving.

Read the entire Oprah article for more ideas and facts on how you can help the hungry. The good news: You and your kids can be part of the hunger solution and make a difference in the lives of hungry families.