Moms Buzz Tips for Busy Moms

Food in Season: Pecans!

2009-11-20T14:16:45-05:00

Yes, pecans is what you want to buy this time of the year. Although you can buy pecans all year round, it is at harvest season when American pecans are at their sweetest and buttery best!

So, it is now a good time to buy them all! Store them for down-the-road healthy snacking and holiday cooking coming up starting next week.

When buying pecans, you should keep in mind the following tips:

pecans stay fresher longer in their shells.
the lighter the shell color, the fresher the pecan will be.
when cracking the shells to get the meaty nut out, do so at the end of the shell, not across the center. the halves should slide out whole.
make sure you store them right if you plan to buy bulk. To keep them fresh, store them in airtight container in the fridge up to 9 months or in the freezer up to 2 years!

Enjoy pecans!

- The Moms Buzz

source: www.shopsmartmag.org November/December 2009 edition.

Office Gift Giving Tips and Etiquette

2009-11-20T13:33:57-05:00

I found this article about office gift giving which I thought would be nice to share with The Moms Buzz readers. These are useful and basic guidelines about office gift giving in case you have some doubt when shopping for your co-workers. It is targeted mostly to the working woman in an office, but the tips provided below can be certainly applied to other situations as well (i.e., neighbors, mailmen, etc.):

Unless you know the person's interests or hobbies, keep gifts as general and tasteful as possible - love this tip!
Avoid gifts that are too personal or "gag" gifts that people may find offensive.
Be careful about food gifts because of dietary restrictions or possible food allergies you may not be aware of.
Don't even think about spending more that the stated limit. Keep it equitable.
Avoid gift cards. They can give the impression that you didn't make an effort.
Be sure that your gifts are on time and nicely wrapped. This shows that you did make an effort.
If you have a close relationship with a co-worker, find a time and place away of the office to exchange gifts. If it's personal, keep it personal. - I like this one too!

Above all, remember what the holidays are about and especially what they are not about! Office gift giving is not about furthering your career or impressing the boss. It is simple act of appreciation and generosity that will be remembered for many holiday seasons to come.

- The Moms Buzz

source: www.fairfaxwoman.com

Holiday Gift Pick #1: Christmas Books for Children

2009-11-19T17:33:19-05:00

We were sent some books to pick and choose as favorites to recommend for our holiday gift guide and as gift ideas for this holiday season. By far, these are the ones that I really liked and highly recommend. They are perfect for bedtime or anytime stories for Christmas:

The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson: $16.99

"Far, far North, when the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest, Santa begins to prepare for his big night of giving. He gathers his reindeer, feeds them parsnips and berries, and polishes his bells and his sled. Then lovingly, he chooses toys for every child in the world. For Santa loves them all, and he knows what each child at heart wants most. Then, with the thrum of magic that makes reindeers fly, he spreads the Christmas joy and warmth throughout the world--as he always has -- and always will until the end of time."

The Nutcracker and The Mouse King: $18.99

"On Christmas Eve, Godfather Drosselmeier has arrived with gifts of marvel and enchantment for his young godchildren. Goddaughter Marie falls in love a bewitching nutcracker doll and claims him as her own. Yet when the clock strikes midnight, something terribly amazing happens to Godfather’s handcrafted toys…they come alive. Marie is swept off her feet on an incredible journey with the Nutcracker in this astonishing classic story by E.T.A. Hoffman. Critically acclaimed artist Gail de Marcken’s stunning illustrations bring this spellbinding tale to life."

Next week, we will give your The Moms Buzz holiday gift picks of Children's DVDs.

- The Moms Buzz

Deal of the Week: Neutrogena Holiday Offer - 25% Off & Free Shipping

2009-11-19T15:10:15-05:00

Neutrogena^® Holiday offering is about great discounts including 25% off orders of 3 items or more, free samples, and free shipping on orders $25 or more to celebrate the holiday season. Here is the deal itemized with no expiration date until the holiday season is over:

Free shipping on order $25 or more!
20% off on total purchase when you order 3 or more items!
Free samples with every order!

The Moms Buzz favorite Neutrogena's favorite products are Ageless Restoratives™ Total Skin Renewal, the Neutrogena^® Hand Cream and the Neutrogena Wave™ Power Cleanser. Put all three in a gift bag, and voila, you have a nice, affordable gift any friend would love! To enjoy this offer simply click here.

- The Mom Buzz

Holiday Tip: The Best AAs for Toys, Cameras and More

2009-11-18T17:00:29-05:00

These are three words parents do not like to read the day before Christmas, "Batteries not included!" The best way to tackle this inconvenience at the last minute is to buy your own batteries ahead of time, and also because some are better than others. Consumer Reports tested 17 different AAs, which is the size mostly used in the gizmos found in stockings, toys, remote controls, etc., and these are the best in their categories:

Best Lithiums:

Energizer Ultimate - $2.50 each.
Energizer Advanced - $2.25 each.

Best Alkalines

Panasonic Evolta $1 each.
Kirkland Signature (COSTCO) - 23 cents each.

Best Rechargeables:

Sanyo Eneloop - $3.75 each.
Sony Cycle Energy - $ 4.25 each. (The idea for rechargeable is cost effective since the cost goes down the more you recharge and use.)

Consumer Reports recommends to go with cheaper alkalines for items used less often, like flashlights, etc. - I like this recommendation!

- The Moms Buzz

Maclaren Statement to Customers In Light of Recent Recall Events

2009-11-17T11:49:48-05:00

I was sent this press release to share with The Moms Buzz audience in light of recent events regarding the recalls of certain Maclaren strollers. Please read:

Maclaren Statement to Customers In Light of Recent Events

SOUTH NORWALK, CT— November 13, 2009 - At Maclaren safety is at the heart of what we do because of the consumers we serve. It is with the youngest consumers in mind that we design our products with the utmost care and engineering, not only to provide a smooth ride but a safe one.

We regret that children have been injured while using our product and we acknowledge that parents may be upset or even angry. That is of our deepest concern and makes us even more committed to serve you better.

As many of you know we have voluntarily recalled our strollers in the United States and are providing hinge cover kits to remedy the problem. We fully understand that the recall has not been perfect and that consumers have had some difficulty requesting the hinge cover kits. Over the past few days we have improved our system and it is now better suited to respond to the needs of our consumers.

While the recall is only in the US market we are providing kits to any of our customers no matter where they may live.

Parents expect a Maclaren stroller to be of the highest quality and safe for use. Our long record of safety is why we are one of the most trusted names with parents around the world. We are confident that the action we have taken will rebuild and maintain that trust. Ensuring safety is crucial to the long-standing relationship we have built with parents for more than 40 years.

Our commitment to parents is to provide the safest stroller on the market. There is simply nothing more important to Maclaren than the safety of a child."

Neck and Pain Shoulder Relief Ideas by N2Shape

2009-11-16T14:17:08-05:00

Every now and then, we like to post fitness tips from Ellen Yates, the founder of N2Shape. Ellen always has excellent fitness tips plus secrets about her fitness programs she uses with her own clients. Here is what she has to tell you about neck and pain shoulder relief tips:

Did you know that you can relieve neck and shoulder pain with exercise? Not only can you strengthen & stretch those muscles to reduce pain but cardiovascular exercise will help to relieve stress that creates tension buildup and pain in these muscles. During my training sessions with clients, I ensure that my clients strengthen & stretch these muscles through various exercises and techniques.

What are those exercises and techniques?

a. Pushing & pulling routines
b. Less Weight is more.
c. Suspension Training - TRX.
d. Pilates.
e. Review of posture and ergonomics.
f. Strengthening of the shoulder, neck, and upper back area.
g. Cardio to release tension in these areas.
h. Strengthening the core.

If you are having issues with you neck and shoulders, she will be glad to show you a few exercises that will help you if you are in the Tysons, VA-DC area. If you are not in the DC Area, ask an instruction of your local gym to show you some of the exercises per Ellen's suggested exercises above.

Ellen Yates
N2SHAPE, Inc.
www.n2shape.com

- The Moms Buzz

Tips on How to Relieve Athletic Pain

2009-11-13T08:50:28-05:00

It hurts here and there, what's wrong?" That's what we asks ourselves when we have pain due to an exercise or a movement we did incorrectly. Here are some tips on how to relieve athletic pain that TheWeek.com has for us:

Locate the ache. “The area that hurts most is likely not the source of your pain.” Sore knees, for example, are often caused by weak hips. If you don’t find the source, treating aches and pains “means zilch.”

Correct the problem. You can treat tennis elbow, but the pain will keep coming back if you never perfect your swing. A sports trainer “certified in ‘corrective exercise’” can help pinpoint the problem.

Stay active. Too much rest “can lead to scar-tissue buildup.” According to the American Council on Exercise, keeping up a “low-intensity” exercise routine helps “stimulate” the healing process.

See a professional. A physical therapist can teach you exercises that “mildly stress the problem spot, repairing the damaged tissues.” Therapy can also uncover hidden problems that even MRIs miss.

Source: www.theweek.com/Outside

Sleep Deprivation Facts

2009-11-13T08:44:08-05:00

Aside from not feeling or looking your best, when you are tired, prolonged sleep deprivation can have health consequences. As busy moms, our days seem never long enough to cover all the things we need to accomplish during the day and we many time tend to take away from our dreamland hours!

When we sleep, our body recharges our vital systems, repairs hormones, and renews cells allowing us function at full speed the very next morning. So, when this renewal of our vital systems is disrupted by cutting off sleep hours, the consequences can be dire:

Memory loss. According to the Harvard Women's Health Watch, the REM stage of sleep helps the brain log new information, so not getting enough sleep or poor-quality rest can lead to forgetfulness.
Bad moods. Sleep deprivation can leave you irritable and impatient and may even lead to depression.
Premature aging. While we sleep our bodies renew cells and repair hormones, which aid to keep our skin bright and firm.
More colds. Sleep helps the body stock energy and boosts the immune system. When you are overly tired and sleep-deprived, your body is not as strong to fight off colds or even recover from other more serious illnesses.
Safety concerns. When you are not sleeping properly on a regular basis, your concentration, judgement and reaction time are impaired. Research has shown that losing just ONE hour of sleep can affect your alertness the next day by up to 25%!

My dear busy moms, good-quality sleep is what we need to give our loved ones the best of us. It always happens to me that I get easily irritable when I have gone to bed really late, past midnight two days in a row doing things at home. So, what I do is go to bed much earlier to recover those lost hours. I feel back on track when I have had 10 hours of sleep in one night. What a dream!

- The Moms Buzz

source: www.novahealthandlife.com

Deal of the Week: Lord & Taylor - 25%-40% off almost everything for baby!

2009-11-12T12:56:20-05:00

For those moms with babies you may want to check out Lord & Taylor's Baby Sale. Everything baby is 25- 40% off plus 15% additional with your savings pass, and free shipping if you buy online $150 or more. The sale is both in-store and online. Online prices reflect discounts already. But, use code NOV at checkout for the additional 15% off on sale and regular priced items. Free shipping is valid until November 16, 2009.

- The Moms Buzz

Healthy Snacking Tips

2009-11-11T08:36:13-05:00

There has been a rise in overweight children, which means that parents need to be proactive and take an active role in providing healthy snacks for their children. Below are some healthy snacking tips that I have found to be useful, easy to implement and effective:

Keep snacks small.
Don't eat snacks straight out of the package.
Snack only when hungry. not bored or "feel like it."
Limit sweet snacks such as brownies, cookies and candy because these are often loaded with empty calories and sugar.
Offer fruits and vegetables to complement.
Offer low fat cheese with whole grain crackers or pretzels.
Select snacks from the Food Pyramid.
Quench thirst with water, home made juices or low fat milk, not soft drinks.
Read food labels - if first ingredient is sugar is a big NO, NO!

For some saving tips on healthy snacking, visit here.

Happy healthy snacking!

- The Moms Buzz

Recall Alert: Nacho Cheese and Chili Sauce Dispensers Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

2009-11-11T08:28:47-05:00

Here is another recall you may want to be aware of in case you own one of these Nacho Cheese and Chili Sauce dispensers. Details of the recall are as follows:

Name of Product: Gehl’s HOT TOP2 Nacho Cheese and Chili Sauce Dispensers

Units: About 115,000

Manufacturer: Gehl Foods Inc., of Germantown, Wis.

Hazard: The dispenser’s fan blade can come into contact with the heater coil, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Gehl Foods has received 12 reports of the dispenser’s fan blade malfunctioning and coming into contact with the heater coil, including one report of a fire that caused property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall includes Gehl Food’s commercial nacho cheese and chili sauce dispensers with model numbers HT2-04 Single, HT2-04 Dual, and HT2-03 APS with serial numbers HT2 164500 through HT2 299689. The model and serial numbers are located on the back of the dispensers. “Gehl’s” is printed on the front of the dispensers.

Sold at: The dispensers were leased to commercial customers nationwide, including concession and food service establishments, from December 2003 through September 2009.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Food establishments and consumers should immediately stop using the recalled nacho cheese and chili sauce dispensers and contact the firm for a free repair by Gehl, or to receive a free repair kit to be installed by the customer.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Gehl Foods toll-free at (877) 440-4008 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firms’ Web site at www.gehls.com

Recall Alert: Maclaren USA Recalls to Repair Strollers Following Fingertip Amputations

2009-11-10T12:33:08-05:00

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Maclaren USA have voluntarily recalled strollers for repair due to fingertip amputations. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Details of the recall are as follows: Name of Product: Maclaren Strollers

Units: About one million

Distributor: Maclaren USA, Inc., of South Norwalk, Conn.

Hazard: The stroller's hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller's hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputations in the United States.

Description: This recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers. The word "Maclaren" is printed on the stroller. The affected models included Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.

Sold at: Babies"R"Us, Target and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled strollers and contact Maclaren USA to receive a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Maclaren USA toll-free at (877) 688-2326 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10033.html

Oprah's Latest Book Club News for Those Fans!

2009-11-06T13:18:57-05:00

As you know, Oprah's lastest book club pick was Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan. If you are a fan or follower of Oprah's Book Club, you will be happy to know that CNN and Oprah's Book Club are teaming up to bring you a discussion of "Say You're One of Them," a book of short stories about African children who face the unimaginable.

You're invited to join Oprah and Say You're One of Them author Uwem Akpan for an in-depth discussion simulcast LIVE from Oprah.com, CNN.com and Facebook on Monday, November 9, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. CNN's Anderson Cooper will be joining the conversation...so why not you?

RSVP now and you'll be able to download the entire first story in Say You're One of Them for free!

To register and join the live discussion, please click here!

- The Moms Buzz

Recall Alert: Children’s Art Easels Due Violation of Lead Paint

2009-11-06T12:21:48-05:00

Busy moms, here are the quick and dirty details of this recall on Children’s Art Easels Recalled by MacPherson’s Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard:

Name of Product: Young Artist Easels

Units: About 10,000

Manufacturer: MacPherson’s, of Emeryville, Calif.

Hazard: The chalkboard surface coating contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves a children’s art easel which has a chalkboard surface on one side and a white board surface on the other side. The item number is AA13301 and the UPC number is 082435133010 which can be found on the original packaging.

Sold at: Art supply stores nationwide and online from July 2004 through June 2009 for about $75.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumer should immediately take these recalled easels away from children and contact the firm to receive a free replacement chalkboard panel.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact MacPherson’s at (866) 319-5335 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s Web site at www.art-alternatives.com/recall or send email to recall@macphersonart.co

10 Questions to Ask Your Child About His School Day

2009-11-05T23:14:49-05:00

Most kids are excited to get home after school, but often time they do not feel like telling you everything about their day at school. On the other hand, moms are eager to find out how they did on school, and love to hear the details. To break the ice and engage smoothly into a conversation, here are 10 questions to ask your child about his day at school that I find extremely helpful. Not only that, these 10 questions can be used as guidelines; you can make up yours, modify according to your child's age, or even apply them to any of your child's after-school activities:

Tell me about the best part of your day.
What was the hardest thing you had to do today?
Did any of your classmates do anything funny?
Tell me about what you read in class.
Who did you play with today? What did you play?
Do you think math [or any subject] is too easy or too hard?
What's the biggest difference between this year and last year?
What rules are different at school than our rules at home? Do you think they're fair?
Who did you sit with at lunch?
Can you show me something you learned (or did) today?

- The Moms Buzz

source: www.scholastic.com

Deal of the Week: HalloweenCostumes.com - Up to 90% Off

2009-11-05T22:23:58-05:00

As they say, it's never too early to start thinking about next Halloween. HalloweenCostumes.com provides a great selection of sale costumes you are sure to find something for next year at an unbeatable price. Now, all of previously discounted items, some even up to 90% off, aPublishre an additional 20% off. Also don't forget to shop sale accessories for just the right items to complete your outfit. There is no better time to buy than now!

Clearance items are for a limited time so get them while they last. You won't find costumes as cheap as these anywhere else.

The Moms Buzz

Scarf Tying 101 - How to Tie Scarfs Plus Video

2009-11-04T07:05:21-05:00

I love scarfs! They make a wonderful accessory plus give you the protection you need around your neck in those chilly days. Although, now scarfs are used all year round! They come in different lengths and fabrics to go with the season and fashion, of course, and the tying of scarfs has now become almost a little science - there are so many ways of doing it that you need a guide or watch a video: To learn how to tie your scarf in many different ways, here is a wonderful guide by Labellush.com:

http://www.labellush.com/scarf-tying-how-to-tie-scarves.html

Or watch this wonderful video:

- The Moms Buzz

Holiday Positions Available at Gymboree

2009-11-04T06:48:05-05:00

Gymboree, the children's retail store, is looing for poeple to join their team for the holidays. If you want some extra cash for the holiday season, which comes in handy, you may want to give a thought.

If you love kids, fashion and delivering great customer services plus a generous 40% off employee discounts (whoohoo!!) and have fun in a dynamic environment with flexible hours (just what we need), contact Gymboree to apply.

- The Moms Buzz

Jordin Sparks Hosts Charitable Online Event for Teen Girls!

2009-11-03T23:31:48-05:00

This post is targeted to those busy moms with teen girls. Your teen daughter(s) may enjoy knowing that Jordin Sparks, American Idol winner, is hosting a charitable event for teen girls, "America's Biggest Sleepover."

America's Biggest Sleepover is an event created to bring together teen girls from across the country. The nationwide, online event will be hosted on November 7 on beinggirl.com, a site by Always and Tampax.

"America's Biggest Sleepover" will feature:
- An exclusive performance from Jordin Sparks
- Q&A with Jordin from beinggirl.com members
- Sleepover party tips including recipes, fun games and hairstyles

For every girl that signs up to participate on beinggirl.com, Always will donate $1 to the Protecting Futures program, which helps girls in developing regions stay in school, up to $25,000.

- The Moms Buzz