ZhuZhu MomSelect Twitter Party Win!

Last night I participated in the MomSelect #ZhuZhuPets Twitter party and my daughter won her own Zhu Zhu Pets™ hamsters!
 Follow both hosts on twitter.com:

• @MomTalkRadio (Maria Bailey, Founder of MomSelect)
• @resourcefulmom hosted the party.

Are you a mommy blogger and want to join? 

Virtual Step Up and Get Fit Challenge Update

The challenge is on and after only

ONE WEEK,

MaryAnn has lost 5.4 pounds!

Great job, MaryAnn! 

Colleen lost 1.5 pounds!!! 

Great job, Colleen!

Carrie lost 2.8 pounds!!!

Great Job, Carrie!

I've lost ..... 0!!!! Shame on me!  I was wrong!  I lost 2 pounds!

11.7 Pounds in ONE week total!

Give some support and look at the participant's blog:

http://momsjournel.blogspot.com/ <-- MaryAnn
http://miiandmywiifamily.blogspot.com/ <-- Colleen
The princess and the monkey <-- Colleen


Keep up the great work and you have a lot of time to be the ultimate winner!

Next week is prize day!  Submit your weigh in on Monday and the biggest loser wins!

Other participants have a blog?  Send it to me!

Didn't sign up and still want to, it's not too late!  Join us!

Neiman Marcus Gourmet Food Event $50 Off of $175 Expires 11/12/09

ONLINE ONLY Now through November 12

GOURMET FOOD EVENT

Receive $50 off* your select regular-priced online Gourmet Food
purchase of $175 or more with code GOURMET

*Online only. To receive $50 off, enter the promo code GOURMET in the promotion code box in your shopping bag during checkout. The value of your select regular-priced gourmet food order must total $175 before shipping and tax. Discount applies to select gourmet food merchandise total only. Does not apply to previous purchases, gift baskets, chocolates, boxed treats, or bridal registry items. Selected merchandise only; qualifying items will be designated on the site with an indication on their product page. Savings reflected at checkout. Value of discount will be distributed across regular-priced qualifying items in proportion to their value. Refunds for returned merchandise will be based on the discounted value of the item. Canceled items may disqualify order for discount. Not valid with any other discount offer, the NM Gift Card® purchase, or in store locations. Offer expires 11/12/09 at 11:59 PM CT.

Top Three Green-Living Tips & More

I used to not think too much about living greener until recently where I started changing habits to live a little better.  Just by looking at my own household and the volume of trash taken out, I knew I had to do something to help reduce the waste we produce not to mention going green can mean lower costs.  TwitterMoms and LighterSaferGreener is sponsoring this great awareness blogger contest for the top three green-living tips.

Thanks to my blogging, I was introduced to the Pur Water Filtration Pitcher which is a very obvious change to make to reduce wastes considering I would normally throw away at least five empty plastic bottles a day.  This change reduces waste, eliminates the growing expensive purchases of bottled water and provides a little control in what my family and I are actually drinking.  This is probably my biggest green-living tip.  The great thing about the Pur system is they have flavor cartridges to allow a little jazz in every glass of water.  Lemon is my favorite but they have other flavors that should appeal to anyone.

My second Green-Living tip is eliminating the need to use all those plastic shopping bags at the store and use the great recycled shopping bags that I picked up for free.  It's amazing how much you can actually carry in those bags which makes it easier to get back into the house.  I was reluctant to use them until my 21 year old kept needling me to switch as she works at Publix and loves the bags herself.  They fold up nice and neat and can be put away in the car for the next trip out.  The amount of waste due to these bags is unreal.  The only thing I used to do with the bags is reuse them for the small trash can liners which Target bags work the best for that task.  I found the bags from Publix and Walmart were useless and there was no point in not doing my part by switching. 

My third Green-Living tip includes purchasing as many organic fruits and vegetables, wherever possible, since that means a reduction in the number of harmful chemicals in the soils and our groundwater plus we get healthier food.

Other tips I use for living green:

• We participate in the school's Capri Sun Pouch recyling program where the school works with a vendor who exchanges the voucher for school for cash and they recycle the pouches.  They also recycle paper and newspapers.
• I avoid printing e-mails for work as I'm a telecommuter.  The documents that are not confidential, I let the girls draw pictures on the back.
• Use your local FreeCycle program from Yahoo.  Many products are reused thanks to this great program that allows communities to give and take items for free.
• I use energy efficient light bulbs that may costs a little more but they use less energy and require less changing.
• I use canned vegetables cans during the holidays to bake decorative homemade bread gifts.  The cans be decorated with left over Christmas wrap from last year and the ribbons and bows can be added to spruce up the presentation.
• I use past Christmas cards to make my own gift tags by layering other papers and ribbons and projects I print off my computer to personalize such as photos.
• We drink a lot of lemonade and with all those empty sturdy cans, I reuse them to start plants in late fall to be planted outside.

Want to get involved, learn more about what you can do or participate in the blog challenge? 


Go here:

20% Off EVERYTHING at CVS November 9 & 10

Well, the e-mail reads "everything" but the small print (below) shows otherwise.  Still, you might find some good bargains by using code 2DAY20 at checkout at http://www.cvs.com/.


Here's the small print:

*Offer available online only. Expires 11/10/09 at 11:59 PM EST. These products are not discounted: AeroGarden, Alli, As Seen on TV products, Beauty 360 products, Burts Bees, Conair Infinity, DS Laboratories, Epilady, GHT, Jitterbug, Kelemata, Kidco, LaRoche-Posay, Lierac, Lifetone Fire Alarm & Clock, LipFusion, Maxoderm, Medela, Medical Nutrition Products, Olay Pro X, Omnilux, OXO, Philips Heartstart Home Defibrillator, Rapidlash, Resperate, Rock Hard Weekend, Sinupulse, Skin Doctors, Vichy/Dermablend, Violight, Zanfel, Zeno. The 20% sale cannot be combined with another product sale running at the same time. You will receive the larger discount. Valid on nonprescription items only.

I'm Looking for Unique Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Calling out to all the mommy bloggers and business women!  I'm on the hunt for unique stocking stuffers for my family.  Ages from 2 and up.

Have anything neat or unique?  Please leave a comment!

Thanks!

One Year Anniversary Post Hospitalization

It's been ONE year since my precious baby almost died from a mysterous ailment that no one figured out what was going on.  She was born prematurely and was in the PICU for over a week and never had another issue until a couple of weeks post vaccinations.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, she developed asthma per the ER doctors.  We went on a roller coaster with the Army hospital until she crashed hard and was taken to the local children's hospital.  They ran test after test but to no avail.  However, she became healthy again and thankfully as my husband was in Iraq at that time. 

After his return, we took her trick or treating and she developed a cold.  It all went downhill fast after that.  The Army hospital didn't know how to tend to her as they didn't even have a pediatrician at the entire facility.  After HOURS spent, they finally had to take her to a children's hospital over two hours away in Savannah.  Luckily for us, we had the most amazing ER doctor ever and she owes her life to him.  The Army hospital and local children's staff who accompanied us to the other children's hospital (the local was full), saturated her heart and lungs with IV fluid to try to get her heart rate down from too much albuterol.  Her lungs started to collapse but they were able to resolve the heart saturation with no long term effects.

They ended up intubating her and it was touch and go.  Numerous specialists were called in and after many procedures, a swollen baby, she finally came out of it much to my sheer delight and joy.  It was a very trying moment as I had my then five year old at home still adjusting to her very new epilepsy that came out of nowhere within two weeks of the asthma for my then one year old.  This is sounding confusing now!

After a very long, drawn out story, I'm happy to say that she has not been in the hospital since February of 2009 and I've finally been able to treat her without crashing thanks to the wonderful doctors at the local children's hospital.  She started to croup two day's ago and my heart sank with fear.  I started the albuterol regularly on top of her twice a day Flovent and once a day Singulair and luckily it's passing ... shew!

Now if I can only keep away the flu and H1N1!

Power Foods To Help Lose Weight

Fitness.com has a list of 10 power foods to help you lose weight which is timely for our Get Fit Challenge.  Remember, the goal is to get in shape BEFORE the new year!  Here are the foods:

1. Tomato Salsa - This low-cal staple pumps up the flavor of everything from chicken breasts to scrambled eggs. "It's jam-packed with antioxidants, including lycopene, which may reduce the risk of some cancers, and beta-carotene, which may help fight heart disease," says Joan Salge Blake, RD, an associate clinical professor of nutrition at Boston University.   Eat It Up: Beta-carotene and lycopene are more easily absorbed by the body when consumed with a bit of healthy fat, so add some chopped avocado to your salsa-topped chicken. Or add salsa to Low Sodium V8 for extra fiber.   Nutrition facts per 2 tablespoons: 9 calories, 0g protein, 2g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0.5g fiber
2. Whole Wheat Pitas - Give your usual turkey sandwich a healthy upgrade by swapping the bread for a whole wheat pita pocket. If you put veggies in your sandwich, it's usually a few lettuce leaves and a slice of tomato or else the bread falls apart. "But with a pita, you can stuff it full of vegetables and still get a healthy dose of whole grains," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of The Flexitarian Diet. Just be sure to check the ingredients list: "enriched wheat flour" means the pita is an imposter. Look for the words "whole wheat."   Eat It Up: Go Greek by filling your pita with feta, hummus, diced cucumbers and tomatoes, arugula, and black olives. Or put a Mexican spin on your sandwich by adding low-fat refried beans, salsa, avocado, and chopped romaine lettuce. Rather have a snack? Make pita chips. Cut a pita into triangles, drizzle with olive oil, add a pinch of salt, and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or until crispy.   Nutrition facts per 1 large pita: 170 calories, 6g protein, 35g carbohydrate, 2g fat (0g saturated), 5g fiber
   
3.  Popcorn - "Because it's super-low in calories, popcorn is the perfect food for those times when you don't want to worry about portion size," says Sharon Richter, RD, a nutritionist in New York City. And it's loaded with fiber, which is crucial for staying slim. In fact, people who maintain a healthy weight consume an average of 33 percent more fiber daily than those who are overweight, according to research.  Eat It Up: Save calories (and money) by getting a basic air popper. One we like: Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Hot Air Popper by Presto ($25, bedbathandbeyond.com). Pop the kernels with a bit of salt and toss with nuts and raisins for a tasty trail mix.   Nutrition facts per 1 cup air-popped: 31 calories, 1g protein, 6g carbohydrate, 0g fat, (0g saturated), 1g fiber
   


4. Kale - This potent leafy green tastes like a slightly sharper version of spinach. Kale is rich in an antioxidant called kaempferol, which Harvard research shows may help lower your chances of developing ovarian cancer by 40 percent. "It's also a great source of iron and folate -- which can prevent birth defects -- as well as calcium and magnesium, making it a terrific choice for anyone who doesn't eat dairy products," says Dave Grotto, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life.  Eat It Up: Chop the veggie into thin strips and saute in a teaspoon of olive oil with chopped onions and mushrooms for five to 10 minutes. Or buy frozen kale to toss into stir-fries, soups, or pasta sauces.   Nutrition facts per 1 cup cooked: 36 calories, 2g protein, 7g carbohydrate, 0.5g fat (0g saturated), 3g fiber
   


5. Oranges - Apples get all the glory, but oranges are the unsung heroes of fresh fruit, says Susan Kraus, RD, a clinical dietitian at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. "They're very low in calories and a good source of potassium, fiber, and folate," Kraus says. Not to mention that a large orange has a day's worth of immunity-boosting vitamin C.   Eat It Up: Add orange slices to a spinach salad topped with goat cheese, chopped nuts, and some slivered red onion. Or blend 1/2 orange, 1 cup yogurt, and 1/2 cup frozen blueberries for a delicious, nutritious smoothie.  Nutrition facts per large orange: 86 calories, 2g protein, 22g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 4g fiber
   


6. Grass-Fed Beef  - It has 90 fewer calories and 11 grams less fat per 3.75-ounce serving than corn-fed beef. Plus, "it contains three times more healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, improve brain health, and lower your risk of heart disease," Grotto says. Grass-fed beef is also high in conjugated linoleic acid, a type of polyunsaturated fat that some researchers think may increase weight loss. Eat It Up: Look for meat labeled "100 percent grass-fed"; "organic" doesn't guarantee the cows didn't have grain. Make healthy fajitas: Grill a piece of sirloin or tenderloin, which is relatively low in fat, slice it thinly, and serve with grilled veggies, salsa, beans, and tortillas. Nutrition facts per 3.75 ounces: 125 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated), 25g protein, 0g carbohydrate, 0g fiber
   


7. Vegetable Soup - More than 70 percent of us don't eat the recommended three to five servings of veggies a day. An easy way to help meet your quota? Two cups of vegetable soup, says Blake. Plus, people who have a bowl before lunch consume 20 percent fewer calories during the meal. The combo of the broth and fiber-rich vegetables increases feelings of fullness, studies show.   Eat It Up: Check the sodium content on canned soup -- a healthy pick has 480 milligrams or less. Or make your own by sauteing 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 small chopped onion, and 1 teaspoon each minced garlic, dried oregano, and dried basil in a pot, Blatner says. Add 2 cups frozen mixed veggies and 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, bring to a boil, and simmer for 15 minutes. Puree half of the soup for a thicker, richer taste and texture. Nutrition facts per cup: 145 calories, 4g protein, 24g carbohydrate, 4g fat (0.6g saturated), 1.2g fiber
   


8. Plain Yogurt  - "Yogurt contains the perfect ratio of carbohydrates, protein, and fat -- the carbs give you instant energy, while the protein and fat are released more slowly, keeping you full longer," Kraus says. In a recent study, dieters who consumed three 6-ounce servings of yogurt a day lost 61 percent more body fat overall than those who didn't eat yogurt. The researchers believe that the calcium in dairy increases the activity of enzymes that break down fat cells. Look for yogurts that have at least 20 percent of the RDA.  Eat It Up: Mix plain yogurt with a teaspoon of cinnamon or top it with berries for an easy, low-sugar snack. Or use plain Greek yogurt for an extra protein boost in recipes that call for mayo or sour cream, like tuna salad, veggie dip, or salad dressings. Nutrition facts per cup: 137 calories, 14g protein, 19g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0g fiber
   


9. Mangoes - "Mangoes are loaded with polyphenols, which help to counteract the effects of chemicals in your body that can damage cells and increase the risk of cancer and heart disease," Blake says. Plus, the juicy fruit is a great source of fiber, potassium, and beta-carotene, which may help protect your eyesight and boost your immune system.   Eat It Up: Fresh mango can be a chore to peel and chop, so consider buying it frozen. Defrost in the microwave and eat, or add a few cubes to yogurt or oatmeal. You can even make your own sorbet: Puree 2 cups frozen mango, the juice from 4 limes, and 2 tablespoons honey in a blender until smooth. Top with a dollop of yogurt.  Nutrition facts per fruit: 135 calories, 1g protein, 35g carbohydrate, 1g fat (0g saturated), 4g fiber
   


10. Hummus - This delicious chickpea spread is a Mediterranean staple. Olive oil, the second ingredient in hummus, is probably the reason for most of the health benefits. "It slows digestion, helping to stabilize blood sugar, which keeps your appetite in check," says Mary Flynn, PhD, RD, an assistant professor of medicine at Brown University. Chickpeas are also a good source of protein, fiber, and iron.  Eat It Up: Store-bought hummus is fine, but watch portion size, Richter says. A regular-size tub can contain eight or more servings. (Those containing vegetables, like eggplant or red pepper, are usually slightly lower in calories). Spread hummus on sandwiches or veggie burgers, or mix with lemon juice and drizzle over a salad.  Nutrition facts per 2 tablespoons: 50 calories, 2g protein, 4g carbohydrate, 3g fat (0g saturated), 2g fiber
    

Personalized DVD Movie Christmas Idea Gift Example

My mother-in-law revealed she really liked the movie Julie & Julia so I wanted to share my idea as to how I will give it to her as a gift.

1. Package the movie along with a package of nice, gourmet cookies like the one's at www.madmacnyc.com (pictured above) in a great looking box.
2. The wrapping paper with ribbon accent allows you to get all Martha Stewart'ish with however you decided to decorate it.
3. In place of the cookies, you could purchase a cookbook such as the Visions of Sugarplums A Collection of Christmas Cookery for only $7 HERE to go along with the present.  Alternatively, if you want to spend more money, look into the prepared gourmet mixes like www.sistersgourmet.com carries.  They carry great looking gourmet mixes in wonderful looking containers.
4. If you prefer, you can make your own gourmet mixes and be more creative by making your own labels with your children as the model for the label. 

Amazon has the movie at $10!  Walmart has many new pre-releases for $10 so hurry and get creative!

 

Have a GGP Mall Property Near You?

At your local GGP Mall on November 27th and 28th there will be a special MerryGiving Give-A-Way.

Click HERE to find out if your mall is and if they are, sign up to get all the great specials via e-mail.

Some of the specials included money saving discounts and free offers at a variety of stores.

It's Holiday Head... not Bed Head!!

Hop out of bed and get to the mall early on Friday, November 27 and Saturday, 28 to get your Merry Giving Giveaways!

Spend $100 or more before noon and receive a $10 Shop Etc. mall gift card and a bonus subscription to Martha Stewart Living magazine. To redeem, bring your mall receipts to the Merry Giving Gift Zone.

They also have a Ultimate Party by Martha Stewart Living Grand Prize to enter by clicking here.

MUVE Dance/Exercise DVD Review

Dance yourself to fitness at home with MUVE the first spontaneous dance/exercise method!

MUVE is a fun, new and unusual way to dance. It's a spontaneous dance workout that is a complete break away from the current complex and heavily choreographed dance exercise videos on the market. MUVE loosens up the body and relaxes the mind. It makes you feel at ease and shake off your inhibitions on the dance floor.

There are 2 DVDs now available: Mellow MUVE #1 and Family MUVE #1 that are sold at www.muve.com.

Each DVD features 17 original spontaneous dance actions with a colorful cast of everyday people from age 7 to 87. A "MUSE" (lead dancer) and dazzling animated graphics supply guidance. The viewers follow loosely or create their own dance. All instructions are given visually only, so the music can be enjoyed to the fullest. The DVDs feature original music by top artists from Hawaii and the Pacific: John Cruz, Sister Roby Kahakalau, Sean Na'auao, Willie K. and Eric Gilliom as Barefoot Natives, Don Tiki, Te Vaka, Jroq".

The whole family can spend quality time as they MUVE together, a healthy alternative to sitting watching others perform on TV. Children to seniors can exercise together with the Family MUVE or Mellow MUVE DVDs. MUVE is never too hard or too easy, because MUVE encourages individuals to tailor their movements to fit their needs, faster or slower, bigger or smaller, to be just right for them. With MUVE people of all ages, shapes and sizes can exercise together!

Maggie Kunkel, the creator of MUVE who has been teaching the method in Hawaii for over a decade says: "No memorization is required and you can't do it wrong. MUVE is versatile, you can do it nice and easy and you can do it rough and hard. We are not striving for perfection, but for energizing the body and giving our busy minds a break. There's magic in music, it can move you beyond shyness straight into physical and mental joy. And when the dance is over, you'll suddenly realize: "Oh, I just had a workout, and it didn't feel like work at all!"

Dancing is an effective, all natural remedy in the fight against diabetes, heart disease, obesity, aches and pains, and not to forget, mental and emotional overload. As Ka'imi, a long time MUVER puts it: "I can start off feeling down, even tired or achy, and as I start dancing, all stress melts away. I surrender to the music and I feel joy. It's so easy, so simple, so fast. And afterwards, my whole being is more alive, I am breathing more deeply, I am relaxed, energy is running through my body, my mind is clear, my outlook is bright . . . and all good things are possible. All this from dancing to a song!"

See sample videos at http://www.muve.com/.

The Review:

I liked the concept of the program as it's a concentrated effort to encourage do what you want but just move.  It's nice that it's not rigid in terms of conforming to the moves required to feel like you "belong" and accomplished the task of exercising.  The casual approach is fun and light but being that I used to live in Hawaii, I'm a little partial to this!  This is an exercise program that your toddler would probably love to "help you" with since it's colorful, has playful music and again, not rigid with the moves.

My six year old did not like it and prefers the Wii games to workout to. Perhaps it's the lack of dance culture in her life that didn't allow her to like it but it is definitely a great workout and one that would appeal to dance enthusiast, the young and playful.  I also think this would be great for someone with limited ability to have stressful routines as it's more casual, at your own pace.



 

Christmas Magazine Subscription Deals & Ideas

Magazines.com has 31 titles for only $5.97 a subscription and you get 250 MyPoints points.  It seems to take awhile for a new subscription to start up so now is the perfect time to purchase the subscription so the person will start getting them in December or January.

Titles include:

1. Time - 19 issues
2. Sports Illustrated - 16 issues
3. Sports Illustrated Kids - 6 issues
4. Men's Health - 2 issues
5. Women's Health - 4 issues
6. Entertainment Weekly - 16 issues
7. Field & Stream  - 6 issues
8. Money - 5 issues
9. InStyle - 3 issues
10. Prevention - 4 issues
11. Car and Driver - 5 issues
12. Food & Wine - 5 issues
13. Runner's World - 3 issues
14. This Old House - 5 issues
15. Elle - 4 issues
16. Budget Travel - 5 issues
17. Fortune - 5 issues
18. Golf Magazine - 6 issues
19. Stylewatch - 3 issues
20. Elle Decor - 3 issues
21. Travel & Leisure - 5 issues
22. Road & Track - 5 issues
23. Metro Home - 4 issues
24. Bicycling - 3 issues
25. Essence - 6 issues
26. People En Espanol - 5 issues
27. Organic Gardening - 3 issues
28. Powder - 6 issues
29. Running Times - 3 issues
30. Sherman's Travel - 3 issues
31. Street Rodder - 5 issues

Great Pre-Releases for $10 at Walmart

Walmart.com is having a great sale when you pre-purchase some new movies not yet released:

• Star Trek XI (Widescreen)
• Night at The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Widescreen)
• Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (Widescreen)
• Angels & Demons (Anamorphic Widescreen)
• Four Christmases (Widescreen, Full Frame)
• G-Force (Widescreen)
• My Sister's Keeper (2009) (With Digital Copy) (Widescreen)
• Santa Buddies (Widescreen)
• Terminator Salvation (Widescreen)
• Julie & Julia (Anamorphic Widescreen)

 
Just click HERE to go to the page with the offers.

New Personalized Christmas Ideas

I just reviewed my regular mail from yesterday and opened a flyer from Photoworks.com announcing a new site along with free shipping using code HOLIDAYSHIP09.  I've used Photoworks before and haven't really thought about what knock out gifts I would buy this year yet but did like the inspirational ideas that I saw. 

The calendars are different from what I'm used to seeing as there are more varieties and choices to offer more of a you in each month.  They offer more than just one picture and it has a scrapbook feel to it. 

My photo card this year will be tough to decide since I have a 75% off coupon at Zazzle versus the multi-card options which I prefer.  I love these types of cards as they become keepsakes.  I've not ordered cards from them before so I have no idea on the quality. 

This is another one of my favorites that I almost bought last year but opted out.  I think I might try one this year just to see the quality.

This is a cute idea for home made baked goods:

With places like Photoworks and others, they allow us to almost look like the perfect Martha Stewart ... after all, who has to admit we didn't make it completely by ourselves??

What Do You Think?

My daughter works at a grocery store as a cashier so she's in front of hundreds of people a day.  Last Saturday, she had a high fever and was vomiting.  I called in on her behalf as she was too ill to talk.  We suspect possibly H1N1 but not for certain.  The manager insisted on speaking to her and insisted on her coming in regardless of a fever or vomiting.  He said he would send her home if too unbearable.  Having two children at risk for complications, I was appalled that this manager put aside the health of not only his employee but also the general public.

Would you be outraged if the store you frequented insisted that potentially H1N1 infected employees show up?  I'm just curious if I'm way off base even though the real news coming out is H1N1 is not nearly as bad as the media is hyping it up to be.