My Weblog

Hosting the Perfect Patio Party

Yeah, spring is finally in full-swing and after months of being cooped up indoors I am so happy that the days are getting longer and we can hang out with friends and family outdoors. I am certainly not alone as families across America start bringing the fun outside.

So here are a few tips on how you can make your outdoor space “party ready” and to pull together an outdoor party your family and friends of all ages will enjoy.

First, you want to think about organizing and cleaning your space. “Outdoor ready” means two things:

1. Getting rid of the clutter. It's time to clear the garbage – including leaves, broken outdoor toys and other debris. In our yard, the trashed outdoor toys was a big one as last years balls, Frisbees and water toys were all looking pretty sad. Also, remove any dead plants from the deck or surrounding garden, replace with new ones and make the area a nice little oasis with a few pots of flowers. Flowers go a long way toward turning your outdoor space into a relaxing oasis.
   
   
2. Cleaning. This means all of those obvious areas that guests can see – including the windows. Now, I know most of us avoid window washing if we can. In fact, I may take the prize for “window washing avoidance syndrome” as we have been in our house for almost five years and I finally got around to it. The reason I finally did it? My windows had reached a new level of disgustingness AND I found an easy way to do it! It's a new cleaning tool called the Windex's Outdoor All-in-One Glass Cleaning Tool. It's essentially a soap-embedded cleaning pad conveniently hooked up to a 4-foot cleaning pole. All you do is spray your window with a hose, wipe with the cleaning pad and rinse. You don't even have to wipe it dry. The pole allowed me to reach up to 11-feet from the ground and I was pleasantly surprised to see that when the windows dried they were completely streak-free. So forget about the costly cleaning crew, and forget the notion of window washing being a laborious task,… this great tool allows you to get a streak-free shine, in a fraction of the time. If you're interested in learning more go to www.windexoutdoor.com. The starter kit, which includes the pole and cleaning pad (which by the way, cleans 20 windows) is $14.99 and the 2-pad refill pack is $4.99. You can find the Windex Outdoor All-in-One in the glass cleaning section in most food, mass market, and do-it-yourself retail stores.

Next, you're going to want to spend a bit of time on the menu and food preparation. A little organization goes a long way as the more you do before the party day the more relaxed you are going to be and the more fun you will have. When speaking with your guests make a point of asking about any food restrictions so that all will have a stress-free meal. I also like to suggest potluck as the way to go for outdoor entertaining. It's always casual, you get a sampling of all sorts of different food (think smorgasbord!) and it's friendlier on the wallet.

Also, pay attention to food preparation. Outdoor grilling is prime time for handling raw meat and seafood and it's a good idea to protect yourself and your guests from spreading food-borne bacteria and germs. You can do so by using plastic gloves and look for ones that specifically say they are made of Nitrile, which is an FDA-approved material for food contact and handling. It's found in Playtex's new CleanCuisine disposable gloves. And the gloves also serve to protect your hands from the clinging odors of foods like onion and garlic. I also like that these gloves are designed with textured fingers for extra safety and control when using kitchen tools and the interior of the gloves are smooth for easy removal and they don't leave any residue on your hands. They're a great find!

Next is entertainment. There are all sorts of things you can do to entertain your guests from providing music, to activities like obstacle course races and balloon tosses, to the good standby of creating an outdoor movie theater in your own backyard. I think this is a great option because to me it epitomizes summer and it really is a great option for people of all ages. You can even create a theme by having each of the kids dress up in a costume of their favorite character in the film. And don't forget the essentials -- blankets or chairs for the lawn, citronella candles and of course no movie experience is complete without popcorn, which is a great way to bring family and friends together. Who doesn't love the smell of buttered popcorn?! Check out Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter Popcorn – it has the same aroma and taste from the movies – but it's made with 100 percent whole grain and it has 30 percent less sodium so it's a healthier snacking option. It's also microwaveable so it's easy and fast. Orville's Movie Theater Popcorn is available in grocery stores across the country and suggested retail is only $2.69.

I hope you have a terrific summer filled with fond patio party memories!

Cool Easter Basket Gifts That Will Get the Kids Hopping With Delight

I can't believe Easter is almost here! Like many moms, I will be scrambling around this week playing Easter Bunny, trying to pick up things the kids will love while not spending a ridiculous fortune on Easter baskets. This Easter my mission is to give the chocolate bunny some great company with a cool gift (versus more candy) that will last a lot longer than the sugar high of previous Easter's.

Video games, as you know, are more popular than ever, and assuming they are family friendly they can be a perfect high-impact small item that fits nicely into an Easter basket. I also think handheld video games are a great choice as they are a perfect travel companion which may come in handy on spring vacation or on roadtrip weekends now that we're all getting the itch to get out and about.

The first game I'd like to recommend is based on the great reviews of my three boys… It's the Pokémon Platinum Version video game for the Nintendo DS system. It's a great game for all ages even the “big kids” in their 20's and early 30's who grew up with Pokémon. My three guys, ages 9, 7, and 4 are really enjoying it and I love that they can each play at their own level and they don't need to have an understanding of previous games or storylines to play and enjoy it. I only wish I saved it for Easter! This new Pokémon version has some really cool features—a mysterious new distortion world where the normal rules of time and space don't apply. There is also a new Wi-Fi plaza which is essentially a virtual amusement park where players can play up to 20 people from around the world, and for the Pokémon enthusiast there are never before-seen forms of powerful Pokémon including Giratina Origin Forme. One of things I love is this game prompts players to read and I'm so amazed to see Mikey, my little first grader, reading it all so quickly. I also love that the Pokémon video game teaches players about strategy, good sportsmanship, friendship and responsibility. This particular Pokémon game (again, it's the Pokémon Platinum Version) was just launch a few weeks ago and it's already a really hot item. There have been more than 186 million Pokémon games sold around the world since it launched ten or so years ago and it's one of the most popular video game franchises ever. You can go to www.Pokémon.com for more information and the game is available for purchase wherever video games are sold. Suggested retail price is $34.99. Enjoy!

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My second recommendation is for the tween girl on your list. And it's a brand new item (in fact it just came out yesterday!) so if you get this gift the Easter Bunny is going to look like a really cool dude. It's the Hannah Montana The Movie video game from Disney Interactive and it's offered for the Wii, Xbox 360, Playstation and Nintendo DS. The girls are going to love it! Players can step into the secret dual life of Miley Stewart and Hannah Montana and embark on hometown adventures to complete quests that unlock hit-songs, concert stages, fashionable clothing and accessories. And for the really big Hannah fans – you can make an entire themed basket and throw in tickets to the upcoming movie which is coming out next week. The game is available in any store where video games are sold and for more information go to www.hannahmontanavideogames.com.

A Great Gift for the Do-It-Your-Selfer on Your List

It was funny, I did a segment on Better CT a few days ago and all the guys on the set flocked to check out to this new multi-tasking power tool. It’s the Dremel Multi-Max, a versatile and easy-to-use oscillating tool. Judging from the reaction, it would be a great gift for the man in your life. It has 12 accessories that allow you to grind, sand, scrape, cut, and remove grout which translates to taking on a huge variety of home improvement projects. If you want that ugly floor tile removed,… no problem. And why not regrout the bathtub while you’re at it so that you can finally have the bathroom you’ve been waiting for. It’s compact, ergonomically designed, easy-to-use and at $99.99 it is inexpensive, making it accessible to the everyday consumer. You can find the Dremel Multi Max at Lowes, Home Depot, Amazon.com and at other home improvement centers around the nation.

A Personal Gift that Does Good

 

A Great New Online Charity Giving Site

I have a few people on my holiday shopping list that seem to have everything and I have been racking my brain to try to figure out what to get them. I decided it would be much more meaningful to donate money ─ in their name ─ to a charity they love than to give them another cute but useless tchotchke. And there are sadly so many people in need right now that it feels like the right thing to do. I discovered a great new resource, www.capitalone.com/give), a partnership between Capital One and Network for Good, that has made it easy for me to make donations and to give a gift of meaning. This “no hassle giving site” allows Capital One cardholders (there are millions, and chances are you too are one!) to research, search and donate to over 1.2 million U.S. based charities. I was amazed by the range of charities participating, so whether it be the biggies (like American Heart Association), obscure organizations (i.e.: Forever Feisty Chinchilla Rescue) or highly specified local organizations (i.e.: Breathe California of the Bay Area) you are likely to find an organization that speaks to you or your loved one. I was also impressed that Capitol One covers the transaction fees thereby ensuring that 100% of the donation is delivered to the specified charity.

On a more selfish note, there a few other reasons why this might be a smart gift-giving option for YOU:

1. All donations are 100% tax deductible. You can't deduct a sweater or a gadget but this worthwhile expense benefits you too.
2. You can give a donation in any amount you desire, so it is totally tailored to your budget.
3. You can rack up some nice rewards points on your card… not a bad bene.
4. And conversely, you can use your rewards points, in lieu of money, to make a donation.

All the way around, this gift option is no-brainer and a true win-win for everyone!

Give the Gift of Choice

I read an interesting statistic put out by First Data, the company that is behind the scenes making gift card transactions possible, that 9 out of 10 consumers either gave or received a gift card last year. Gone is the stigma of this being an “impersonal gift"… I mean wouldn't we all rather be able to choose what we actually want anyway?! And this is a gift that fits any budget. A gift card is a great choice for any hard-to-buy-for-person and it can be used for a special something or for everyday purchases. And this year, with times being tough for many, consumers turn to necessities so gift cards may be especially appreciated.

A creative trend I've seen is to personalize a gift card by combining it with a small gift that really brings the possibility of the gift card to life. Conversely, you can use a gift card to accessorize and to therefore supplement a bigger gift. The possibilities are endless and here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Blockbuster: Any family would love to receive a gift certificate packaged with popcorn and candy for family movie night.
• Best Buy: For a business traveler on your list, package a noise cancellation headset with a certificate to pick out a DVD to watch on their laptop while traveling.
• Abercrombie: What teenage girl wouldn't love receiving a sweater with a corresponding gift certificate to shopping with friends?!
• Victoria Secret: If you're not sure what sexy little thing to pick out, give a lounge set then provide a certificate so that she can go do a little shopping.
• Starbucks: Pairing a coffee or travel mug with a gift certificate is perfect for most anyone on your list.
• An assortment: It would be fabulous to buy a wallet or purse then fill it with an assortment of small denomination gift cards: iTunes for music, Bed Bath and Beyond for a little pampering, Shell to help with travel expenses, Chili's/Macaroni Grill for a night out….the possibilities to personalize your gift is endless!

Pamper Yourself and Others You Love

Some of the best gifts are the kind people want but would not think to buy for themselves. As a mother of three young boys I don't have much time to pamper myself or to lounge around and I certainly wouldn't think to buy myself a spa gift. Why am I telling you this, you may ask? Because that changed last week after I received a wonderful 5-piece robe gift set from Bed, Bath and Beyond. The set includes the cuddliest, comfiest bathrobe and wrap I have ever felt, a hair towel, sleep mask and bath sponge. I love the robe, and did I mention that it is comfy? This little set of luxury has become a most welcome gift in my life. The spa robe gift set is available in white or pink, comes in ready-to-give packaging and it's a steal at only $40. It's available at any Bed, Bath and Beyond store (note, it's not available on the web) and it's the perfect gift for any woman on your list that would enjoy a little pampering. Start laying your hints now… and enjoy!

Don’t Let a Mess Spoil Precious Holiday Moments

I'm running around to a zillion activities at this time of year and the last thing I have time for is to rush home to change my clothes ─ or my kids clothes ─ due to that inevitable spill. A friend of mine told me about Tide to Go and I've been carrying them in my purse ever since.

She shared her story with giddy enthusiasm as she recounted a special birthday evening that was saved because she was carrying Tide to Go. She and her girlfriend were out celebrating their joint birthday when her friend had red wine splashed on her new white linen dress. In a superhero-like moment Karen took her Tide to Go out of her purse, cleaned the dress, and saved the night.

My examples aren't quite so glamorous but I am quite happy nonetheless when I can wash off food spills and clean up my kids grimy clothes on the run. And now Tide to Go comes in a new mini super-portable version (Tide to Go Mini) that has the same powerful stain fighting formula as the original but is tiny enough to easily carry in a small evening bag or pocket. I'm a huge fan of the product and I recommend that no purse or car glove compartment be without one. Make sure you have some on hand as you step out the door in your holiday finest and take note holiday shoppers ─ it would be a great accessory to a clothing gift item and makes for a great stocking stuffer too!

A Great Camera for the Teens and Young Adults in Your Life

I came across a very cool digital camera that is perfect for my teenage nephew and will be a great pick for any young adult on your holiday shopping list. It's FujiFilm's FinePix Z20fd Digital Camera. It comes in 4 luminescent colors, is small and very portable and it is perfect for this particular demographic because it makes uploading and sharing photos really easy for their social media lifestyle. It's also affordable ($159) so it could be the big WOW gift that doesn't break the bank. Here's the lowdown on some of the features:

• This camera has a unique "dual blog mode” that resizes both still images and videos to post to blogs and social media sites. If you've ever wrestled with posting your own pictures you will realize the very cool value in this feature.
• Users can "beam” their photos to another devise for easy sharing. I think we've all been in the situation where we take a group picture then everyone in the group decides they too want a pic so the poor photographer takes 10 pictures with 10 different cameras. Now you can take one good picture and simply beam it to everyone else. Amazing!
• There is a "roll it” feature with a new MPEG-4 movie recording mode which takes high quality video that is easily downloadable to the web.
• The Z20fd has its own hip social media web site, www.zspotnow.com, filled with information about contests and where people can share their photos, videos and comments.

This FinePix camera is sure to be a "fine pick” for any social media-savvy photographer on your shopping list. It's available at www.fujifilmusa.com and wherever consumer electronics are sold.

Great “Mom-Approved” Holiday Gifts for Everyone in the Family!

Are you nervous about the upcoming holiday spending season? It’s no secret, Americans are anxious about the economy, in fact, according to CNN Money.com, consumer confidence is at a 5-year low. So it’s more important than ever to be discriminating with our purchases and spend money on gifts that are high-impact and useful. Here are some cool, useful, time and money-saving gifts any mother would be happy to give or receive. Download my webisode...

The Pulse Smartpen by Livescribe I see why Popular Mechanics named the Pulse Smartpen the coolest invention of 2008. This slick high-tech pen, dubbed by my husband “The James Bond Pen,” is perfect for any student or professional on your holiday shopping list… or any chicken scratch bad note-taking writer like me. It actually records audio and links it to what you write so you quite literally never miss a word again. All you have to do is tap a word and you’ll hear what was being said as you were writing. My 4-year old has been having a grand time with “the talking pen” and I am absolutely amazed how intuitive and comfortable it is to use. Where was this when I was in college! But that’s not all… The pen comes with a USB connector so that you can transfer your notes to your PC or Mac computer, organize them, and share your notes and creations (it works for drawings too!) online for everyone to see, hear and play. You can even search for words within your notes and convert your handwritten notes into text. There are two versions: The 1 GB pen records over 100 hours of audio (retail price $149.99) and the 2 GB pen captures over 200 hours of audio and retails for $199.99. My hunch is the 1 GB will serve most people just fine. What the ipod has done for music and video, the Pulse Smartpen does for transcribing and sharing information. I love this innovative product. This gift is both practical and fun and you get to be the cool-mom-in-the-know who gave it. You can find the Pulse Smartpen at Target or Target.com. Happy writing!

PURE Video from Disney Interactive Studios My three guys know that video games are a weekend-only pleasure so Saturday morning the begging begins. About a month ago we got the new action sports video game called PURE published by Disney Interactive and developed by Blackrock Studios. It has become the obsession of the past few weekends, and I understand why. It’s cool ─edgy cool ─ and for me I love that it is rated E for everyone, with no violence whatsoever. The game is over-the-top fun. Kids (and my husband!) get to pick their own characters, build their own ATV’s and race across 7 of the world’s most dramatic natural environments. The massive jumps and outrageous stunts they perform are truly an adrenaline rush. I also like that the kids have a chance to be creative, building their own ATV from the ground up. My 8-year old self-described “scientist and engineer” has customized his own ATV. He makes a big deal of it, but the truth of the matter is, it was actually quite easy. Another cool thing is that each character has his or her own signature trick they perform and the game, having three levels, allows kids to acquire skills as they play. Kids can play alone or they can play with multiple players online. In my house this video game is a big hit, I only wish I waited for Christmas to give it to them. I should mention that PURE received the 2008 Game Critics Award. It also works on three platforms: The Xbox 360 ($59.99), Playstation 3 ($59.99) and Microsoft Windows ($49.99). You can find it at any major retailer where video games are sold.

iRobot Roomba – 500 Series Who wouldn’t want a little robot doing some of their household drudge work for them?! I think the iRobot Roomba 560 is quite possibly the coolest thing I own. Remember the Jetsons? (And if you don’t, I’m dating myself) … I rarely look as pulled together as Jane but I do get to put my feet up and enjoy my kids while my little robot (we affectionately call her Rosie) does the vacuuming I so hate doing. She is a great timesaver for me and has proven to moonlight as a great entertainer for my kids and Fritze, the cat. Rosie can be scheduled to clean anytime and she’s simple to use. Just press the clean button and my little robot does the rest. Amazing! She navigates the house, going around furniture, cleaning along walls, adjusting herself for carpet and floors and automatically avoids stairs and other drop offs. She also detects dirtier areas and responds by spending more time cleaning those areas, just like I would. I love my robot, I love my robot! The iRobot Roomba is one of five home robots currently available from iRobot. For additional floor cleaning, they also have the iRobot Scooba that preps, washes, scrubs and squeegees your hard floors, and the heavy duty iRobot Dirt Dog that helps keep your garage floors clean. And don’t forget their outdoor helpers, the iRobot Looj gutter cleaning and iRobot Verro pool cleaning robots. So if you too would like a Rosie, you can have your love ones purchase one at iRobot.com. The 500 series begins at $279.99. Start laying your hints now and tell anyone who'll listen that you’ll have more time to spend with them if they will be so kind as to get you a robot vacuum!

Fuji Films New Online Photo Site Moms love personalized gifts for themselves and for the grown-ups on their shopping list. I found a terrific new site called SeeHere.com that allows even the non-techno savvy to master the art of photo sharing, storage and the creation of all sorts of personalized photo gifts. The sites array of gifts go way beyond the typical calendar and mug, offering you the ability to make personalized canvases, plates, clocks, tote bags, puzzles, cards, mouse pads, keychains,.. you name it! It’s easy and if you’re like me you can use templates to keep it simple or you can design your little heart out. Additionally SeeHere.com lets users create their own personally designed photo web pages, photo blogs or photo gallery pages in just three simple steps. SeeHere.com also offers SeeHere Desktop, an easily downloadable desktop software that lets the user create the complete range of photo gifts and photo books, even when not online. This is wonderfully convenient for travelers and moms on the go. Then when you’re done with your creation you simply go online and the order is sent to SeeHere.com for processing. I am, for the first time in my life, ahead of my usual game in the holiday shopping frenzy. I have already ordered gifts for all the adults on the list. I’m thrilled at how easy it was and I think they’ll be much happier with their personalized gifts than the sweaters and candles they got last year. While I was at it, I ordered myself a couple of presents and I actually, for the first time, downloaded pictures from my camera and created a photo gallery of my kids to share. No more lame excuses for not sending pics to the relatives… I have finally entered the millennium, and yes, Joe and Ann, you will finally get the Dude Ranch pictures I’ve been promising you since the summer! Seehere.com is offering discounts for the holidays so it’s a perfect time to try their service. Have fun!

Couponchief.com I mention this resource here, in a holiday round up, because it’s the perfect resource to ease the stress of spending during the holidays. The truth is, it’s a money-saving resource for every day. Couponchief.com SAVES YOU MONEY by providing amazing coupons, deals and discount codes for thousands of online retailers, ranging from Zappos and Barnes and Noble, to Banana Republic and Bloomingdales (yes, you can tell who some of my favorite retailers are!). Before I go any further, in the spirit of full disclosure, I should share that I’m not a couponer. I’d rather spend more money than spend my time clipping coupons or going out of my way to save an extra buck. But…. The buck stops here. Couponchief.com is a no brainer. It's easy, convenient (available 24/7), efficient, and why pay full price when you don’t have to, especially in these tough economic times?! Here’s how it works: Before shopping at your favorite retail site, check to see what discounts they can offer you. Also, when looking for a particular product, take a few moments to learn what retailers are carrying it with a discount offer. When you find a discount offer you like, simply highlight the promotional code, go shopping and at check out paste the code in the designated box. It’s that easy. I’ve been using it for my shopping recently and it’s amazing to see how much $10 here and $20 there really adds up. Couponchief.com has over 12,000 valid coupons with almost 3300 online retailers so you’re very likely to find a discount for what you’re looking for. They also offer several features that allow users to comment, rate and validate coupons to ensure that consumers have the best deals at their fingertips. Couponchief.com also has a fabulous one-of-a-kind program that allows you to make money while you share. Now that’s a first,… getting paid to share! Pays-2-Share is the first incentive program to pay consumers to upload and share coupons with friends and fellow CouponChief.com users. Program participants earn 2% cash back on all purchases made from coupons they submit to the site up to a max of $25 per month per store. If you think about it, a little effort and kind sharing can actually give you some good spending money.

This the season to have less stress….

Happy holiday shopping!

I Can't Believe It's a Video Camera!!

The Kodak Zi6 Pocket Video Camera

I can honestly say it was love at first sight.... Here's a little background and you'll understand why: We are going on 2 years now of having no video of our kids because, sad to say, their just never seemed to be a convenient time to lug around our old clunker of a video camera. So when the battery died we never got around to replacing it. That's 2 years in the life of an 8, 6 and 4 year old.  Sure I have tons of pictures, but I've been increasingly sad that we don't have any recent recordings of their little voices, or of their funny jokes (that often make no sense!) or of the contageous joy of their laughter.

So when I saw this wonderful little pocket video camera I new that it was the solution I've been looking for. It's both small and light, so it finds a great home in my purse.. and it's easy, ridiculously easy.  As a side note I should also mention, it's cheap, only $179.  Even my frugal (read: cheap!) husband didn't wince. I am now the happy mom of three great little movies and, assuming my kids continue to cooperate, I will no longer miss out on recording those priceless moments. I'm thrilled with my new toy!!