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Past Talks
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Oct.20.2009 1:00pm ESTDealing with Mean At All Ages and Stages
Tues, Oct 20 at 1 pm ET: Rosalind Wiseman, author of "Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and the New Realities of Girl World" - newly revised - is here to talk about mean behavior, however and wherever it shows up in our and our daughters' lives.
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The Forum
Vent Here: Sometimes You Just Need to be Heard
Vent - it's the first step in feeling much better. We've all been there - you'll find some shoulders to cry on here too if you need them.
LATEST POSTED BY: BrandieI'm SOOOOO tired of spam. I get it on my blog. I get it on twitter. I deal with it on facebook. And now here? Ugh. Why do people spam? I don't get it. It's so annoying. It is definitely not a good way to make friends and all it does is annoy people.ViewJanuary.3rd.2012
Living on a Budget
Budget. The dreaded B word! But it doesn't have to be scary any more! Come get encouragement on how to stay on budget, navigate family finances and give tips and advice you have learned!
LATEST POSTED BY: Kayla SWorth it or not: A shopping Guide SmartMoney.com - We've all been there, standing in the aisle of a store, spending way too much time weighing the small differences between two similar products. Will the more expensive umbrella really perform better? When it comes to a laptop bag, is $120 too much, too little, or just right? Here's some help. Each month, SmartMoney Magazine looks at sets of two similar consumer products, and assesses the better buy. This year, we looked at a wide variety of goods, including blenders, deep fryers and Digital SLR cameras. To aid in your holiday shopping, here are seven suggestions: http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/family-money/worth-it-or-not-a-shopping-guide/ViewDecember.16th.2011
Healthy Moms, Healthy Families
As mothers, we're always paying attention to health issues--our families' as well as our own. This circle is dedicated to keeping everyone we love healthy--including ourselves!
LATEST POSTED BY: Deborah15 Ways to Eat Healthy Without Breaking the Bank.... I am very committed to eating really healthfully and feeding my family as much nutritious food as possible. Many people complain to me that they can’t buy fresh, organic food because it’s too expensive. It’s interesting to me that 100 years ago we spent twenty-five percent of our disposable income on food and now we only spend ten percent. Furthermore, we’re actually consuming more food than before, while getting fatter and sicker. But I do think we’re starting to make the connection that we have a lot of cheap food in this country, and that cheap food has hidden costs—to our physical bodies, as well as the environment. To read on: http://www.positivelypositive.com/2012/01/30/eat-well/ViewFebruary.2nd.2012
Shortcuts to Dinner
We all want to feed our families great meals. We all want to save money, and be healthy. But sometimes, you just don't feel like cooking. This circle is devoted to shopping wisely and planning ahead so that a good meal can be ready quickly when you need it to be.
LATEST POSTED BY: Kayla SInstant-read thermometer a must have USAToday.com - What's the best present to give the cook who has everything? The one thing they don't have, and the one thing both chefs and food safety experts say they desperately need — an instant-read thermometer. "It's something you can be pretty sure most people don't own, or if they do own one, they don't own a very good one," says Jack Bishop of America's Test Kitchen, a popular cooking show on PBS. Old-fashioned meat thermometers rely on metal actually expanding and turning the temperature dial. Digital instant-read thermometers use electronics and are faster and generally more accurate. The instant-read digitals use slightly different technology than a regular digital thermometer, so be sure to look for ones that say they are instant-read. Older dial thermometers take "forever" to register the temperature, says Bishop. And they're not always accurate. But a quick-read thermometer can make your food taste better and help you avoid killing your guests from a food-borne illness. Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, has "a drawerful" of food thermometers because they're always being handed out at conferences she attends. One night she decided to test them all "and the only one that gave me a meaningful reading was the instant-read," she says. Asked if she actually uses them, she says "of course I do. The other night for dinner we were making New Orleans Cajun Whiskey Sauce for bread pudding, so we had to make sure it got up to 160" to kill any possible salmonella in the egg yolks. Out came the thermometer and the dinner party finished with a flourish and no worries that anyone would end up in the hospital. The thermometers, costing anywhere from $20 to $89, pay for themselves, says Bishop. "If you buy a 50 lb. roast for the holidays, do you really want to overcook it?" he asks. Continue: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/safety/story/2011-11-29/The-perfect-gift-for-any-chef-an-instant-read-thermometer/51473068/1ViewNovember.30th.2011Green Families
Green families are families who are trying to reduce their use of the Earth's resources. Whether you are light green or super green, this is the place to discuss what green living means to you and our planet! And to also share tips and ideas so that we can all be a little more green!
LATEST POSTED BY: Kayla SMIT project tries to turn trash into a game CNN - Here's the problem with recycling: It's boring. But maybe it doesn't have to be. A Boston company called Greenbean Recycle is trying to make the act of keeping bottles and cans out of the landfill into a fun, competitive and engaging game for students at MIT. The new company, which won an innovation prize this week from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, has converted a beefy recycling machine on MIT's campus into a point tabulator of sorts. When students approach the high-tech trash can to dump in their recyclables, they punch their phone number on a touch screen. A bar-code reader in the machine counts the number of cans, bottles and the like that the person has dropped off - and then uploads that data to Greenbean's website. Recyclers can track their progress online, and even engage in competitions with fellow students. "We want to be like the Zynga of recycling," said CEO Shanker Sahai, 38, referring the maker of such social games as "FarmVille." Competitions between fraternities at MIT have been particularly fruitful, he said, with the houses trying to compete against each other to get the top spot on an online recycling leaderboard. Continue: http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/09/mit-project-tries-to-turn-trash-into-a-game/?hpt=hp_bn6ViewNovember.14th.2011Obama Mamas
If you are head over heels for the Democratic ticket, join us!
LATEST POSTED BY: BrandieThe White House's Big Earth Day Announcement by Josh Loposer http://www.greendaily.com/2010/04/22/the-white-houses-big-earth-day-announcement Want a a free home energy upgrade courtesy of the federal government? As part of the White House's official Earth Day festivities, Vice President Joe Biden unveiled the "Retrofit Ramp-Up," a plan to dole out $452M in energy retrofits to 25 communities across the country. Using funds set aside by the Recovery Act, contractors will literally be going door-to-door to offer Americans a chance at a free energy-saving upgrade. The only problem is that you have to live in one of these 25 privileged communities. Lucky for me, my town made the cut. Did yours? (mine didn't make the cut - bummer - but I think this is great! And I know we have lots of Michigan moms on here - the State of Michigan is listed so you'll have to let us know if you get to participate in this!)ViewApril.22nd.2010Election 2008
A round up of information surrounding the 2008 United States Presidential Election.
LATEST POSTED BY: BrandieJanuary 20, 2009, will mark a momentous occasion in American history as we swear in our first African-American president, Barack Obama. The youth appeal of the Democratic senator from Illinois was evident this election season—Obama gear was almost as likely to be sported at the play ground as at the water cooler, and over one million children voted blue in Nickelodeon's online 2008 Kids Pick the President "Kids' Vote". Clearly, the new generation is cutting their teeth on political awareness—and living through history. While they may have years to go before they can cast their first real ballots, you can still help your kids stay excited about democracy in action during this landmark inaugural week. The swearing-in of our 44th chief executive of the United States will be far more meaningful to children if they understand what to expect. Starting in 1937, Inauguration Day has been slated for January 20th. Traditionally, the ceremony takes place around mid-day on the steps of Washington, D.C.'s United States Capitol and actual involves the administration of two oaths—that of the president-elect and the vice-president-elect. The oath of office requires the president-elect to affirm or swear to execute his office staunchly and "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution. The formalities are followed by parades, an inaugural speech and balls to celebrate the occasion. Read the rest here: http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Political_Party_Celebrate_the/#ViewJanuary.20th.2009WeJustGotBack: Family Vacations
WeJustGotBack.com is an authoritative online guide to family trip-planning. The site features reviews of kid-friendly hotels and resorts, expert planning advice, readers' travel tips, destination insider guides, vacation deals, and more. Subscribe to our newsletter to hear about resort specials and exclusive, money-saving offers. Our family travel content appears regularly on MSNBC.com, Frommers.com, and WomansDay.com.
LATEST POSTED BY: Erin OApps to Keep Children Happy By MICHELLE HIGGINS WITH Christmas upon us and New Year’s just around the bend, many families are contending with long road trips and crowded flights. All those hours in the car and at the airport are bound to bring out tantrums in toddlers, squabbles among siblings and the familiar “I’m bored” from tweens. To help stave off meltdowns and keep the children entertained, I asked a range of experts, from professional toy-reviewers to travel-savvy mothers, for the best apps for iPads and iPhones. As a parent who is prone to guilt attacks when my own daughter spends too much time in front of a screen, no matter what its size, my aim was to find that sweet spot that falls somewhere between the ruthless thrill of hurling birds at pigs and the rigor of dividing fractions. I’ve also thrown in some unplugged options. Below are top picks organized by age. Ages 1 to 4 Elmo Loves ABCs, for iPad, $4.99. (Now on sale for $1.99.) Frequent encouragement by Sesame Street’s favorite red fur ball keeps children engaged exploring the alphabet. Why it’s a travel hit: Elmo’s shrill voice may drive you — and seatmates — nuts if your child doesn’t wear headphones (in which case, it’s better for car trips than plane rides). But with loads of songs, more than 80 video clips, 75 coloring pages and interactive games about letters, this app pays for itself in entertainment value, said Jamie Pearson, co-publisher of BestKidsApps.com. Plus, the fact that your children are learning the alphabet reduces the guilt when they won’t put it down. Memory Train, for iPad and iPhone, $1.99. Focus and concentration are rewarded in this memory game that doles out badges and peanuts to children who help Spacey the Elephant recall colors, shapes, numbers and other objects spotted from the train. Why it’s a travel hit: It’s engaging and fun. And because the app is visually based, it can still be played with the sound turned off for young children without headphones on long flights. Read more: http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/travel/apps-to-keep-children-happy.html?hpwViewDecember.22nd.2011
Gifted Children
This is a place for parents of academically advanced children to find resources and support.
LATEST POSTED BY: NettazigHow do you know if your child, especially a toddler, shows signs of being gifted? My 25 month old has known his whole alphabet for a while, can count from 1-10 forwards and backwards, knows colors and pretty much all shapes, even ones that aren't "typical" (like octagon, rectangle, oval). And just recently, he's started identifying states on a map....I think he is up to 40 or so now, in just a couple of weeks. It almost seems like he doesn't forget a thing, and remembers a lot of things from the first time he learns them....starting to wonder if he might have somewhat of photographic memory! Are there any resources for how to raise a child you think might be gifted? He seems to love to learn constantly, and I'm not sure what kinds of things to introduce to him next....I don't want him getting bored or start to feel I'm shoving anything on him. I prefer for him to learn new things through play, rather than rote, so info geared in that direction would be great. Thanks in advance!ViewJanuary.19th.2011
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