Go ahead, raise your hand to be the room-mom, the book fair committee chair, the one who organizes the recess and library helpers...here's a tricky tool that make your new job so easy! VolunteerSpot is a free and simple online calendar sign up tool that makes it easy to schedule and sign up parent helpers at school, at sports, at Scouts...anywhere you coordiante a group of people. VolunteerSpot is quick to setup, volunteers signup with a few clicks, and it send automated reminder emails....so people show up for the spots they signed up for. Their free eBooks have terrific information for planning school carnivals, talent shows, parent-teacher conferences and fundraisers. Check it out - a Homeroom mom's must-have tool, for sure! http://www.VolunteerSpot.com http://www.VolunteerSpot.com

Women have a field day with NFL fashion By Michele Meyer, Special for USA TODAY The National Football League wants women to know: It has come a long way, baby — finally. Despite team-themed apparel sales rising 21-fold for women in a decade, America's top sports league realized it had fumbled. By offering women only men's jerseys — in rose, and fitted — it had dropped the ball by not taking gridiron girls seriously. "Ten years ago, our motto was 'Shrink it and pink it,'" says Tracey Bleczinski, NFL consumer products vice president. "This year we have as many products, if not more, for women as for men." These include denim skirts, rain boots and gem-blinged bangles. "Probably the only type of product we're not in right now is cosmetics, other than nail polish." Prices range from $13 for enamel to $3,500 for jeweled clutches. Not only have wares expanded (including to size 2XX), but so has the number of dames into games. Forty-four percent of the pigskin passionate are female, the league's 2011 research shows. "Our offerings reflect how robust our female fan base is," Bleczinski says. "We're looking for better ways to serve them." Read more: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/your-look/story/2011-09-20/NFL-ups-their-fashion-options-for-the-women/50483666/1?loc=interstitialskip

Summer time means cooking outdoors! Here is a easy recipe bringing and indoor meal outside ;) Enjoy and Happy Summer! http://karenbcookingmadeeasy.blogspot.com

I'm also working for this site. http://www.thewalkingdeadmegavideo.com/ as online workers

Disney upgrades, updates California Adventure Park ANAHEIM, Calif. — Like Cinderella, the Disney California Adventure Park has toiled out of the spotlight while its sister park, Disneyland, got all the attention. But just as in the classic Disney animated feature, for this second Walt Disney theme park located right next door to Disneyland, its prince has finally come. That prince arrives in the form of a $1 billion enhancement of Disney California Adventure — more than Disney originally spent to build the theme park 10 years ago. Yet, that investment is how Disney, the maestro of theme parks and owner of the world's most popular facilities, is hoping to dash some pixie dust on one of its rare missteps. Visitors during the summer rush will see, for the first time, more tangible signs of Disney waving its wand over a park that hasn't lived up to the company's standards. This year marks the fourth in a five-year plan to turn Disney California Adventure into a park that can hold its own, or at least proudly stand next to the 56-year-old theme park masterpiece designed by Walt Disney himself. A makeover of the entrance, as well as new rides, restaurants and shops are being unveiled this month, urging visitors turned off by the facility's rocky beginnings to step inside again. "People will be pretty amazed at how different it is," says Kathy Magnum, a vice president with Disney's Imagineering unit who is in charge of many aspects of the park's upgrades. The stakes for Disney are large. Amusement parks, part of the company's Parks and Resorts unit, are a significant part of Disney, accounting for 28% of revenue and 17% of profit last year. And Disney's theme parks have more employees than any of its other businesses. Besides, the parks are what give Disney the aura that makes it one of the most recognizable and respected brands in the world. Keep reading: http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2011-07-07-disney-california-adventure_n.htm

Food fails! 8 ways we're making our kids fat By Joy Bauer Bribing kids to eat their broccoli, banning sweets and offering too much 100 percent fruit juice can backfire on even the most well-meaning parents. Here are 8 feeding mistakes parents too-often make: Mistake 1: Telling kids to clean their plate For the most part, healthy young children eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. As a parent, you don’t want to mess around with their internal cues by encouraging or bribing them to “clean their plates” and eat past the point of fullness. Instead, provide small-moderate portions at meals and encourage your kids to eat until they are comfortably full. Teaching your kids to be “in tune” with their own hunger and fullness cues will allow them to have a comfortable relationship with food and avoid overeating as they grow older. Mistake 2: Offering sweet rewards Trying to get children to eat their vegetables can be downright frustrating – and parents often resort to bribery. Does this sound familiar? “Eat your broccoli and you can have ice cream for dessert.” But unfortunately, this technique teaches our kids that broccoli and other vegetables are “less appealing” because their consumption requires a reward. At the same time, this approach positions dessert as the prize, something to be valued over other foods. Plus, multiple studies have shown that, in the long run, preference for foods decreases when kids are given rewards for eating them. Bottom line: Keep dessert a separate entity versus the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Mistake 3: Serving up too many snacks Constant snacking throughout the day translates to calorie overload – plus, can leave kids uninterested in nutritious food (like chicken and vegetables) at mealtime when lunch or dinner rolls around. Try to stick to a consistent meal and snack schedule. Allow at least 2 hours between snacks and meals. No more than 2-3 snacks a day, and limit them to about 150 calories apiece. See the rest: http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/28/9057922-food-fails-8-ways-were-making-our-kids-fat

I have a friend named Izzy Rose who has a site for step moms called stepmothersmilk.com She started this blog a few years back and was asked to write a book based on her real life experiences that she had posted on her blog. Her book is called "The Package Deal" and is FABULOUS! Not a "how to" book at all, whos needs those, but an actual account of how she went from being a single woman to an insant family and step mom to two teenage boys. It is such a great read, I highly recommend it, not only because I know her, but because it is so relatable to every mom, not just step moms. I will write her & try to get her to join this blog, but if you go to her site, you can ask her to join also. If you have any step mom support groups in your area, she is wiling to do a book club web chat with you. She is so great! If any of you are from the Austin, TX area, she is in a step mom group there. ♥♥♥ to all of you!

Now and later: How to wear your summer wardrobe into fall By Stacy London Mid-August is that tricky time for shopping when pre-fall clothes are starting to hit stores while the weather outside continues to swelter. The key to buying pieces this late in the summer is finding clothes that can also carry through into cold weather. Not only will buying transitional pieces stretch the life of your wardrobe, it'll stretch your budget as well! I've chosen three trend-savvy but wearable pieces and styled them to work now -- and later. Patterned pants Now: I know these look tricky to pull off, and I wouldn't recommend them for women who carry their weight on their bottom half. BUT, we've created a user friendly and fun summer look that's a great alternative to shorts. When wearing a patterned bottom, keep the top simple and in a color palette that complements the pant. Also, fedora hats are still relevant and can be a fun completer piece to a casual outfit. Later: When transitioning these pants into fall, they may not be appropriate for day but can be a great addition to your evening wardrobe. Here we've added a black tuxedo jacket and simple white blouse for a modern and feminine take on menswear. And because we want this outfit to work for evening, add some killer heels and shine with sparkly jewelry like earrings or a necklace. Read more: http://thelook.today.com/_news/2011/08/12/7332669-now-and-later-how-to-wear-your-summer-wardrobe-into-fall

Hebrew National - come to St. Louis next time too!

Pregnancy~The Top Ten Things Not Even Your Mama Tells you There are books a million about what you are supposed to do while pregnant. But there is so much information that is withheld from all of the books.It's like a really cruel game and we all just like to watch the new person learn as they go. But not me,I'll tell you what your mama won't. Pregnant women; your smelling powers will become so heightened that you will be able to smell a cookie baking 30 miles away.Unfortunately, no one ever tell you that you will also be able to smell food burning in a wok in China, body odor from a homeless man laying out in the sun wearing his winter parka on a 100 degree day,your husband's dirty socks downstairs and dog shit from the humane society on the other side of town. Pregnancy~Top ten things not even your mama told you Photo courtesy of Google Mama; your morning sickness will actually be all day sickness; culminating in an all out, earth shattering, mind breaking alternating marathon of explosive diarrhea and projectile vomiting brought on by whatever may have happened to blow your direction that day.The White Castle burger that you had to have yesterday can quickly become the catalyst for simultaneous mass exodus of the bodily fluid kind. Thank God nothing like this happens on the birthing table. Mom; your skin will become so dry from hormones that your feet will itch to the point that you will literally rip flesh to quench the itch. That no amount of hydration, moisturizing or wishful thinking and praying will EVER bring your feet back from the grasp of the dry Sahara hell that is the new status quo of your feet. Mommy; The Linea Nigra is actually a landing strip so your husband can find his way back into the pregnant promised land, because, let's face it, there comes time in pregnancy where those "vivid" dreams and our own devices are all we are left with. A little point in the right direction never hurt anybody. Mother; your once beautiful and pert bosoms, will be replaced with over indulged,filled to capacity milk bags with what looks like a road map made of bulging blue veins. And that your sweet little pinky tip, glass cutting nipples will be replaced with flat saucers that look like a bulls-eye..and will NEVER revert back to their previous glory ( without the help of surgery). Mum; your labia will become so engorged with blood, that when you give birth your nether regions will look like Goldie Hawn's over injected collagen fish mouth in the First Wive's Club. Mami; the same outrageous hormonal highs and lows that make you smack a random passer by for looking at your baby bump will be the very same that make you cry when fly lands on your shoulder. Momma; you may have flatulence of the skunk killing kind. So horribly pungent and uncontrollable that you may get yourself barred from any women's functions that you previously belonged to. The Junior League does not appreciate those sorts of donations. Ma; your pregnancy glow is actually increased blood flow causing you to sweat like a fat whore in church. And that the increased hormones that cause the glow also bring with it increased susceptibility to acne (of the face, back & ass variety), increased cervical fluid ( the kind that could cause an unsuspecting pregnant woman to slip right off her stool if she weren't wearing her appropriated parachute pregnancy panties), hair growth in unsuspecting parts ( bearded lady , anyone?), and constipation ( talk about insult to injury) Mumsy; all the meticulous and copious amounts of time that you have spent over the years "landscaping" probably the very source of your pregnancy will become, at 9 months pregnant , non existent. That which once resembled the topiary of the Tuileries will no be more akin to an abandoned outhouse.And we all say that we are going to make our husbands shave us...and none of us actually ever do. There are more, many more, but I feel I have scared the first time mothers sufficiently for now.Happy procreating and remember, there is a 98% chance that you will vomit and or poop on the birthing table.

I'm new to The Motherhood. I've lost over 100 pounds on Weight Watchers. I am so thankful for it. I wish though I had this back when I first started. It would of been nice to have others who were on the road with me.

Five Thanksgiving apps you should gobble up (CNN) -- When someone says "Thanksgiving and apps," you probably think appetizers, not applications. It's not as natural a combo as, say, turkey and dressing or Detroit Lions and "losing in front of a national audience," is it? (We know -- those Lions are actually pretty good this year. Old habits die hard.) But in late 2011, if it exists, you can bet there's a host of mobile apps designed to help with it. And, let's be honest: Thanksgiving is a holiday with lots of moving parts. From ambitious cooking experiments to dealing with in-laws to mapping Black Friday shopping strategies, it can be a stressful day. Even if you're not a Detroit Lions fan. (Sorry ... did it again.) So, feeling prematurely full of holiday cheer, we've compiled a few apps that might help make your Turkey Day a good one. No need to thanks us ... just save us a drumstick. (Bonus: If, despite all this digital help, things go horribly awry, don't fret. Whether it's a scorched bird or a visit from Bumpus's hounds, you can still load up the family "Christmas Story" style, and head out for a Chinese feast or other dinner on the town, using apps like Open Table, UrbanSpoon and Foodspotting.) Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade The departments store's annual march through the streets of New York has become as much a part of the Thanksgiving tradition as pilgrims and pumpkin pie. While much of the app is geared toward folks actually attending the parade, there are features that can be helpful even if you're watching from home in a tryptophan haze. It provides a complete list of participants in the parade, along with their marching order, a history of the event and traffic camera video that shows more views than just those available on TV. If you happen to be in the crowd, it offers info like a detailed map, nearby dining spots and, perhaps most importantly, the location of public restrooms. Platform: iOS and Android Use: Make sure to not miss Snoopy Keep reading: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/22/tech/mobile/thanksgiving-apps/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

Fromhttp://gawker.com/5426168/ten-secret-santa-gifts-to-avoid-at-the-office ...Buying gifts for the forced merriment of the office holiday party is a tricky endeavor.  The problem with these gift-giving endeavors is that you may know next to nothing about the coworker whose name you select other than the department they work in and that they could really use a new winter coat, because the one they have been showing up in for the past five years is looking a little bit ratty. The gift should be personal to show you put some thought into it, but not so personal that you creep the recipient out. You don't want anyone thinking you were lurking on their Facebook page looking for ideas. The other problem people fall into is just getting some random piece of junk to fulfill their obligation to the random present pool. A good gift can not only win you a great ally in the office, but the admiration and respect of all your coworkers. Fuck it up, and everyone will laugh at you behind your back and talk about how your homemade fudge tastes like chalky cats hit. Here are 10 throw-away gifts that will be calling your name this Christmas time. Don't fall into their trap!  http://gawker.com/5426168/ten-secret-santa-gifts-to-avoid-at-the-office

Hi, New to the site for about a month or two, glad to have found this place to meet other moms, mother to a beautiful 8 month old daughter named Olivia

From The Dallas Observer: One Woman's Journey Through the Mommy Blogosphere to Gain Parental Prowess and Free StuffPeople talk about the "magic of birth" and the "joys of parenthood" and, yeah, in my 12 months of mom experience, that stuff's all totally real and exists, but that part's like the http://www.dallasobserver.com/related/to/Hallmark+Cards+Inc. movie part. And in between those Hallmark movie moments, there's a reality-show marathon.Sure, a baby is a gift. But it's also a giant poop sack. When I found out I was pregnant, people told me that when I had my kid, all of a sudden I'd "know what to do" because, see, my "instincts would kick in." But I have no faith in my instincts. I've lived in http://www.dallasobserver.com/related/to/Dallas+%28Texas%29 since I was a kid, and I still don't know what direction I'm going when I take the Dallas North Tollway South. And I'm pretty sure my instincts were the ones who told me I wasn't ovulating in the first place, so I'm gonna go on record and say my instincts are a bunch of lazy, untrustworthy bastards. And sure enough, when delivery day finally came a year ago and they handed me that bundle of joy, my instincts were like, "Peace out! Have fun with that." So I talked to my mom, but even she was pretty sure things had changed since 1980 when you'd give your kid "just a little whiskey" to help her fall asleep. I needed information from moms who were in the trenches right now, rock-star moms who were currently succeeding at the task of keeping baby happy. I'm pretty sure I found one a while back when I went shopping in the Super Target in Northeast Dallas, after being told that Target is where all the moms who know what they're doing shop; that's where I saw one of these rock-star moms in the wild. She saw me pushing a cart with a baby in it and, since I was doing a pretty good job of pretending to be a real mom (picture http://www.dallasobserver.com/related/to/Sigourney+Weaver in Gorillas in the Mist), she recognized me as one of her own and pulled her cart up to mine. Her baby sized up my baby. My baby waved. And then Target Rock-star Mom spoke to me and asked me out on a play date. http://www.dallasobserver.com/2010-03-18/news/moms-gone-wired-one-woman-s-journey-through-the-mommy-blogosphere-to-gain-parental-prowess-and-free-stuff/1

I wouldn't believe it but these have gone over like gangbusters TWICE for my kids (12,7) and husband.

KALE CHIPS

Ingredients
1 bunch kale
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Directions
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees.
With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt.
Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.

allrecipes.com

Originally Posted by Mommysjoy in Mommybloggers I made this sucker!!! And it tasted great!!  Check out my post on how I did it at http://www.mommysjoy.com/2010/02/22/colossal-ginormous-mamoth-rainbow-cake/ Great idea for a baby shower or birthday party!

We've been trying hard not to waste food here. I'm so proud of managing to a) finish off a bunch of leftovers and b) satisfy various picky appetites without having to cook three different meals that I had to post. Last night we had marinated flank steak. There was some of that left over, but not enough to make an entree. There was also some baby carrots, spinach and mixed greens left from last week's salad ingredients, along with bleu cheese bought for our Valentine's dinner. Last but not least, there was half a bag of corkscrew pasta--again, not enough for an entree for the whole family. Here's how the meal shook out: South Beach Dieting Mama: Mixed greens salad with sliced flank steak, bleu cheese and balsamic vinaigrette Picky Vegetarian-wannabe Girl: Pasta and baby carrots (with some cheese for protein) Eat-anything-except-most-vegetables growing boy: Sliced flank steak, pasta, and baby carrots Hard-working Dad: Pasta tossed with sauteed spinach, sliced flank steak, and bleu cheese. Nobody's dinner is actually all that interesting except for my husband's, but I was still pleased that everyone got a dinner they liked, the fridge got cleaned out, and I didn't have to do any extra work.

I love these croutons!  Here's the recipe, from http://giverslog.com/ . 

MIT 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_bn6