Fruits and vegetables for an entire year? Sign me up!

You all know I LOVE the Baby Brezza, no secret there.  In a world filled with tons of sometimes complicated choices for baby products, I am a huge fan of the Baby Brezza brand, namely their One Step Baby Food Maker because it makes life simple and it's affordable.  I mean isn't One Step music to a mom's (and dad's) ears?  The food maker allows you to make nutritious and delicious fruit, vegetable and meat combination meals in just minutes and with very little effort for your little ones.  It steams and blends automatically making your life easier and freeing your hands up to do the million other things parents have to do each day. 

I'm super excited to share that Baby Brezza Enterprises, the makers of the Baby Brezza One Step Baby
Food Maker, have launched an exciting sweepstakes for families just like yours! By simply adding the Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker to your existing registry, you'll have the chance to win fruits and
vegetables for your family for an entire year! To enter to win, add the Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker to your Baby registry, anywhere Baby Brezza is sold (Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Amazon for instance).  After you have entered, please send an e-mail to sweepstakes@babybrezza.com, including either the direct link to your registry or attach a scanned copy. Make sure you also include your full name, address, preferred email address and phone number. Entries will be accepted through December 31st, 2011.  For full sweepstakes rules and regulations, visit http://www.babybrezza.com/sweepstakes_rules.php.

Baby's napping? Food is cooking in the Baby Brezza?  Grandma's in town to watch the baby?  Mom's out shopping with the baby?  Now's the perfect time to enter to win a full year of fruits and veggies for the fam ($2500 value!).  Good luck!

EATS! American Grill--South Tampa's family-friendly gem no longer hidden!

 
This term of small fry society of course included a Girls' Night Out.  Last term we did it at Neiman Marcus and it was a lot of fun between the makeovers, style presentations, delicious food from Datz and wine from MommyJuice.  Buuuut I got a lot of requests from the moms to do a sit down dinner for the next GNO.  So, I went on a mission to find a truly family-friendly restaurant in South Tampa so that the moms could enjoy a night out without kids and husbands, but still think of the restaurant in the future as a destination for a family dinner out.  EATS! American Grill was kind enough to host our group of mommas and it did not disappoint!

EATS!  Just saying the restaurant's name is fun!  This restaurant serves up some of the best classic American cuisine in the area and it's absolutely family-friendly.  Think ribs, big salads and sandwiches, fried pickles and fried green tomatoes--mouth watering yet?  This restaurant has a lot to offer to diners with various tastes.  Also, did I mention they have full bar service?  Oh, and milkshakes!  I had a dirty martini and it was delish.  Besides the great food and libation, EATS has 10 HD televisions and features the local sports teams, the Bucanneers, the Rays, the Lightning and the Magic on the mainscreen every game possible.  They also accommodate the younger crowd by having at least one of the sets on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Disney, or a current video release of a movie.  I told you they were family-friendly!   The service was wonderful--I personally love when the server has your soda refill in hand before you even have to ask for it, who doesn't?

EATS is located at 4502 S. Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, FL 33611.  Go check it out for your next Girls' Night Out, date night and/or family dinner--very few places truly have something for everyone and this is without a doubt one of those places!

To shop now or later (or not at all), that is the question

Wow, it's been almost a month since my past post.  I could give you my laundry list of reasons why my posts have been absent--stomach flu, AML jr's bday, tons of house guests, work, etc. but what's the point?  I've been wanting to write, but I kept getting distracted--so many ideas but just couldn't find the time to type them out for you.  Papa Lusty has also been encouraging me to write as of late and he's right--I miss this, I miss you.  Whoooo I'm back!

So, here we are.  It's mid-November, the Christmas music has arrived, the cold weather has arrived in some of your cities, the winter colds and flu have arrived, the urge to eat more and more has arrived, some of our family/friends are soon to arrive/we'll arrive in our hometowns soon for the holidays aaaaand big shopping deals have arrived.  Amen for shopping deals!  Unfortunately, a better economic situation, bonuses and raises (for most), and new jobs have yet to arrive...that's why these holiday sales are more important than ever.

In our home we have one year old AML jr to think about for holiday gifts and I can't wait to buy her stuff for Chanukah, but I'm hoping to find the best deals possible.  I also want to buy Papa Lusty some gifts too.  I'm wondering how long to hold out to get the best prices on clothing, toys, tech stuff, etc.  With all the deals already out there, I wonder how much better the sales are going to get around Thanksgiving?  And with an increasing number of stores opening up at 10pm on Thanksgiving, along with the lowest prices come the longest lines to shop and check out, is it worth it?  Target is one of many stores opening at 10pm on Thanksgiving, which is making some people unhappy as it interrupts the holiday.  And what about online shopping--some of the same deals/better and saves a ton of time and hassle, right? 

This year I'm especially thankful for a fabulous daughter, husband, grandparents and dog, good health for me and my family, my family and friends in general, all the people and businesses who have supported small fry society aaaaaand I have to say earlier shopping hours and extra savings!  After tucking AML jr into bed, I will be one of those shoppers on a mission at 10pm searching for phenomenal savings in lieu of sleep and that extra slice of pie.  What's your plan?  Shop now and save time and some money and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday (and that extra piece of pie), shop on Thanksgiving and spend more time but save more money, or skip shopping altogether?

The Addams Family--Full Disclosure

I know you've been anxiously awaiting my review of The Addams Family.  I wanted to remind you that I love the theater.  I did an earlier post about seeing Motherhood The Musical and mentioned that I was an avid fan of seeing shows on Broadway when I lived in NYC.  So I was delighted to hear The Addams Family was coming to town this week at Tampa's very own Straz Center and I would have a chance to see the show and review it, as it's been on Broadway for quite some time and the show's run ends at the end of December (and I don't anticipate getting up to chilly NYC in the next two months).  I am at times skeptical when seeing the traveling tours of shows because I'm never quite sure what to expect--will the show be just like Broadway?  In this case, the answer is no..and that's an exciting thing!  And here's why....

It's a new story!  Per a recent St. Petersburg Times article, "All the changes stem from a rewrite of the relationship between Gomez and Morticia and their daughter, Wednesday. We found a story beat that we hadn't found before," Oken says. "Gomez gets caught between his kid and his wife, and ultimately he has to ask Morticia for forgiveness. It opened the door to a much stronger central narrative, which, I believe, makes the show work in a way it didn't before."  They also cut four songs, added three songs and substantially changed two other songs.

The show's theme is around love, believe it or not (Fester loooooves the moon, for instance).  As dark as The Addams Family is on the outside and seemingly is on the inside too, they all have a soft spot for someone in their lives.  Much of the story revolves around Wednesday's "secret" engagement to Lucas and through lots of twists and turns every family member seems to connect, disconnect and then connect once again with the people they love.  The story is something most of us can relate to--our love for our parents, significant others, children, friends--it is constantly tested by our actions/inactions.  Like Gomez's situation in which he's trapped keeping a secret for Wednesday from his wife Morticia, we can get caught in the middle between two people we love and risk losing one or both of those people (this is when forgiveness also comes into play).  As the songs in the show go, sometimes we discover that a "move toward the darkness" can be a  good thing in our relationships, embracing being "crazier than you" can make living a little more fun and feeling "happy/sad" at the same time is a the bittersweet emotion we have likely all experienced at one time or another (AML jr turns the big one next week--that's a perfect example of me feeling happy/sad).

The Addams Family is funny, sad, dramatic, sweet, cute and provocative at various times throughout the show.  Although I didn't see the Broadway production, I think the show flowed really well, the songs were catchy and enjoyable (plenty of finger snapping, don't worry!) and the characters were pretty perfect.  Wednesday's voice is phenomenal! Oh and did I mention the Carol Morsani Hall is beautiful and large--no complaining about not enough leg room in this theater!

I highly recommend going to see this show.  It's one-of-a-kind, just like The Addams Family!  It's in Tampa at Straz through Sunday October 23 and tickets are still available.  Stop snapping and go get your tickets!

They're creepy and they're kooky...The Addams Family

I am so excited to have the chance to see The Addams Family next Wed. night.  What's that you say?  You thought you could only see this show on Broadway in NYC?  Not anymore!  The show is traveling and it's in Tampa for only six days/nights--Oct 18-23 at the Straz Center downtown. 

For those who remember The Addams Family movie (yep, forget the show, I'm talking mostly to those of my generation in this blog post--Christina Ricci played Wednesday), this wacky and amazing family now stars on stage as a musical comedy.  The show was created by Jersey Boys authors and the choreographer is also from Jersey Boys (seeing a theme here?  I loved Jersey Boys--saw it in multiple cities).  This show appears to be one-of-a-kind, just like the family.

Per the Straz Center website, THE ADDAMS FAMILY features an original story and it's every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren't upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before -- keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents. For the official website, visit theaddamsfamilymusical.com.

How much is this going to cost you?  A lot less than you'd think, definitely not an arm and a leg.  In New York you'd pay upwards of $65-$150 or more for tickets.  But there are some great offers from Straz that make this show much more accessible, for the entire family, a date night or girls or boys night out.  So, for the date night/girls or boys night out, they are offering two tickets for $99 in price level one for the Tuesday and Wednesday performances next week, and hurry and take advantage of this offer because it ends this Sunday!  The promo code to use is ADDAMS99.  For those who want to make this a family affair, the show is recommended for ages seven and up and they have a Broadway Family Night on Wednesday, which includes one free child's ticket (under 12) with the purchase of a regular priced ticket and there are no seating restrictions.  Both offers are not applicable to prior to sales, cannot be combined with any other offer and are subject to availability and service charges.

This is worth hiring a sitter for in my opinion, or if your kids are older, bring them along.  Note: Malio's which is just steps away from Straz has a great weekday happy hour from 3pm-7pm M-F where you can get $5 food and $4 wine and martinis.

I promise to do a review of the show next week.  Until then, enjoy your weekends!

Due diligence, even for a 1st bday party

Bday party shopping

I'm a big fan of doing due diligence.  I do this with just about everything in life--potential personal and professional relationships for sure.  I like knowing what I'm getting myself into because I'm a planner (planner of parties, socials, life happenings in general). 

Today's personal due diligence project revolved around AML jr's first birthday party at the end of this month.  I realize AML jr won't remember her party at all, but I will, as will her guests and when she looks back at pictures I want her to see how adorable and fun the day was from start to finish, from decor to food to favors (Gramdma M is the most creative and resourceful when it comes to favors--thank G-d for her!).  So today I took to the streets and the internet to gather intelligence on party decor for AML jr's first birthday.  Her first birthday party theme is puppies because she loves puppies, namely her puppy Maddy whom she fondly calls "dee."  So, naturally, I was on the hunt for cute, creative and reasonably priced items to make her birthday special.  It took some time, but my efforts paid off in savings for sure. 

First I checked out the Dollar Store and found some adorable stuffed puppies (like the old Beanie Babies), perfect for an Easter-like egg hunt, but instead this will be a Puppy hunt.  They had lots of great stuff, but not much in the puppy department.  So, I moved onto Target.  Again, great prices and adorable Halloween costumes and yummy candy, but not much in the puppy variety.  I headed to Party City next, where I knew I'd find good stuff for the theme, but was worried about the prices.  I got cups, plates, napkins, table cloths, games and more.  But my research didn't stop there.  I immediately went home and looked on Amazon and Oriental Trading Co to see their offerings and prices.  And guess what?  I found the best prices and items at Party City.

I could drive myself crazy and go to more stores or spend additional hours on the computer looking for cheaper stuff or additional options, but time is money afterall!  Oh, and this is a one year old's birthday, not her wedding. I really feel like a got great quality at great prices.

So, if you're planning an event, any event, check out your options because you might be surprised which stores are the most reasonable and offer you the variety you are seeking.  And if you're hiring a planner, don't be afraid to ask him/her to do the due diligence and save you money and time!

Glow & Tell is just like show and tell, but for moms-to-be!

So, I now have an 11 month old daughter whom most of you have heard countless stories about on this blog, in person, by phone, etc.  I get asked all the time about my pregnancy from newly pregnant women and future moms-to-be and although I loved being pregnant, I don't really remember the day to day, more so the excitement and morning sickness the first trimester, the belly poppin' out somewhere around six months and meeting AML jr around 8 months.  I got to thinking how nice it would have been to have some kind of app that would capture the day to day or week to week in my pregnancy, something to capture my feelings and thoughts that I could look back at in the future after having the baby.  Basically like a baby book, except it's focused on the pregnancy and it's located online because who has the time to write things down anyway these days? 

I found the app (well, to be fair, someone told me about it and I just had to share the info)!  It's called Glow & Tell and it is focused on the mom and her experiences as her child grows within her.  Glow & Tell, created by Bayfront Baby Place in St. Petersburg, FL, is an interactive Facebook journal that delves into the ups, downs and in-betweens of the user's unique pregnancy through a series of weekly questions.  It features icons to express how you feel weekly, poses a variety of questions that progress as your pregnancy progresses and you can create a custom mommy book which is synced with your answers and can be downloaded at any point during your journaling experience.  Another cool function is that you can share the journal with your Facebook friends at any time or keep it private.  It is really the mom-to-be solution for keeping everyone important in-the-know.

You can use the Glow & Tell application today by visiting the Glow & Tell Facebook page.  After creating a short profile and establishing your personal settings, your weekly journal questions will begin. It's short, sweet and fun, so give it a try!

Deals of the Day

The best deal in town, and by town I mean Tampa Bay, is definitely the first term of bun in the oven bunch.  Only $125 for six socials and a Girls' Night Out.  Sign up here!

Google Offers has Fandango Movie Tickets for $5. Limit two per customer. Redeem tickets online at Fandango site.

Blockbuster Express coupons: Eight 1-night DVD rentals for free

At Blockbuster Express kiosks, get eight 1-night DVD rentals for free via the coupon codes below. (You can enter these codes online or at the kiosk itself; the codes don't stack, and each is only valid once per account.) These coupons are only valid on $1 titles. (Some newer releases cost $2.99 for the first night and are excluded from this offer.) Click here to find a Blockbuster Express kiosk location near you. The codes, each ending October 10:

• 1-night DVD rental via code "6550BW7"
• 1-night DVD rental via code "54DWTM6"
• 1-night DVD rental via code "63MAYB7"
• 1-night DVD rental via code "36ABDP4"
• 1-night DVD rental via code "63KRFT4"
• 1-night DVD rental via code "59SLRH4"
• 1-night DVD rental via code "46WHZS2"
• 1-night DVD rental via code "46NCCC9"

"All-Star" Early Childhood Collection of 10 Hardcover Books for only $25  -- Berenstain Bears, Goodnight Moon, Curious George, Paddington Bear and more!

http://www.fatwallet.com/book-deals/all-star-early-childhood-collection-of-10-hardcover-books/

Bonefish Grill Prix Fixe 3-Course Dinner for 2 for $39 

Best deal on this restaurant that I've heard of to date.

Teething is believin'

I am one of the lucky ones, meaning my child was sleeping through the night, six hours or more, by around six weeks.  Mind you, the first six weeks were nothing short of brutal.  AML jr is a night person, coincidentally like her mother, and most enjoyed the hours of 11pm-4am, waaaay past my bedtime.  I wasn't sure I'd survive motherhood during that first month and half, but I did and soon after she was sleeping six then eight then 10 plus hours a night.  What a relief and a joy!  A well-rested mommy and baby makes for a much happier mommy and baby, wouldn't you agree?  Now I can't even remember those all nighters or operating on virtually no sleep, I mean this.

For months I've heard the teething stories--fever, runny nose, sleepless night, etc. and I've been thankful that AML jr is not there yet, meaning she has no signs of teeth.  I also heard from people that the older the teething begins, the less painful it is and less symptoms will occur (wishful thinking?).  Once again I thought I'd be one of the lucky ones and somehow her teeth would magically appear without any suffering for her.  Buuuuuut last night the teething fairy appeared.  While enjoying a night in at a friend's place whose baby is just a month younger than AML jr the fussiness, drooling, chewing everything in sight and ear grabbing began...and then the dreaded waking up in the middle of the night happened a few times...and then a fever, runny nose and stinky diaper (understatement) this morning--signs of teething were everywhere.  I was prepared with the gum numbing gel, Tylenol, liquids and lots of snuggling.  But not being able to take away the discomfort and help her understand that in just a short time the pearly whites will take the place of the pain is tough to bear for us both.

I feel like teething is yet another rite of passage for moms.  Not only does it mean our little ones are growing up, but it's another test of our care, patience, love and among other things, willingness to accept that we could and should try hard to ease our babies' pain, but we cannot control/fix everything.  Yep, that means that no matter how hard we try to take away the suffering and console our babies, it may not be enough.  And that's where the guilt comes in--should I have/have not used Tylenol?  Should I have stayed home from work with him/her?  Should I have/have not gone into his/her room every time he/she cried through the night?  Should I have/have not given him/her that bottle feeding in the middle of the night?  I don't have all the answers, so like the rest of you, I'm just doing the best I can to care for my baby.  Teethin is believin...that this too shall pass.  At least from what I hear teething passes like so many other baby stages, and then we'll look back and realize it wasn't so bad afterall, and our babies won't even remember the teething fairy, but the tooth fairy on the other hand...better start saving now!

Deals of the Day--Rosh Hashanah style

Typically Wednesday is deal day, but today's a little different.  With the Jewish New Year around the corner, ie tonight, I have much to be thankful for, and certainly deals are something I appreciate everyday all year, buuuut today here's the deal...

I don't have coupon codes to share, I want to share my gratitude instead.  I just wanted to thank you for reading my blog, for taking time out of your busy days to check this blog out, for giving me your feedback, for supporting small fry society and bun in the oven bunch as a member, business partner, family member or friend.  Your support is invaluable.  I have to much to be thankful for--a fabulous family, health, a home, food on our table every night and a new business, and more.  I am thankful for a year of chaos, with highs and lows, that has taught me a lot about being a good mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and so on.  I am thankful to have been filled with laughter everyday, even on stressful days, since AML jr came along. 

May this next year be a sweet one for everyone.  xoxo

To turn or not to turn?

How many of you have experienced a screaming child in a rear-facing car seat and longed for the day when you could finally turn the car seat facing forward so you can see the child's face in your rear-view mirror and try to calm him/her, rub his/her leg for a minute to soothe the child, hand the child a bottle or generally see what the child is up to?  I know I have on many occasions! 

Well, you may need to take a seat for this one...some may have thought that the one year birthday or around 20 lbs was the right time to make the switch to the forward-facing car seat, BUT, it just isn't so according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.  In a recent article on Parenting.com, it cites that the AAP now advises parents to keep kids in rear-facing car seats until they are two or exceed the height and weight limit for the car seat, found on the back of the seat.  "Previously, the AAP advised parents to keep kids rear-facing as long as possible, up to the maximum limit of the car seat, and this has not changed. But it also cited one year and 20 pounds as the minimum for flipping the seat, which many parents and pediatricians interpreted as conventional wisdom on the best time to make the switch. The new policy clarifies the AAP’s recommendation, making age two the new guideline—a real game-changer for parents of toddlers." 


“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” said Dennis Durbin, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatric emergency physician and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and lead author of the policy statement and accompanying technical report.

In addition to the safety factor, you can hold off on the expense of purchasing a forward-facing car seat for a bit longer.  How's that for glass half full thinking?

Miss you!

Ahhhh it's been only a week since my last post, but I've missed you readers!  I was busy preparing for the first small fry society social, which was yesterday.  How was it?  It was a blast (not a blast in a glass--Jersey Shore style, but at minimum a blast in a sippy cup).  Despite the heat at the park, the yoga by Lucky Cat Yoga and food from Amore was awesome!  Who knew working out could be so relaxing and fun even with the kids crawling/walking around everywhere, and food could be so healthy and THAT delicious?  I made goody bags for everyone with yummy chocolates from Schakolad (they are the best, seriously and the owner Archie is the sweetest man ever) and raffled off Swaggies (so cute and usable wet swimsuit holders for the kids) and a signed book called "Domestic Commando" by Toni Carpenter (her writing is hysterical, buy the book if you're a mom, trust me).  A lot of fun was had by all!  I wish every Wednesday could be filled with such good times, good food and good people.

Ok, I know, enough about me and back to you.  What have you been up to?  What have I missed?  Besides a gazzilion awesome fashion events around the country and so many great tv shows back on the air.  Is there any show as funny as Modern Family?  I think not.

I know there are some amazing family-friendly events coming up this weekend in Tampa.  There's The Forgotten Children March of Tampa Bay on Saturday from 9am-2pm (food, bounce houses, face painting and much more and for a great cause), Board Games, Bubbly and Brew for us adults at Glazer Children's Museum on Saturday night--$5 off with code BBB and Sunday from 10am-12:30pm is Sunshine Sunday at Glazer Children's Museum--a special day for children with special needs and their families.  And don't forget, all month the Glazer Children's Museum is offering $5 admission in celebration of its first birthday!  This Saturday is also Museum Day sponsored by the Smithsonian, so you and a guest can visit a lot of museums around the country for free this weekend.  Hungry for more?  How about checking out the Food Truck Rally on Saturday at Hyde Park Presbyterian Church?  Yes please!

What am I missing? Besides you... :-)

Deals of the Day

Is it Wednesday already?  Indeed it is.  Today's deals are all fun and games...

Don't us adults deserve a little playtime too?  Well, you can have it!  Buy your tickets now to Board Games, Bubbly & Brew at Glazer Children's Museum on Saturday, September 24 and my readers can use code BBB to save 10%.

Glazer Children's Museum is celebrating their first birthday this month! As their gift to you, enjoy admission of only $5 per person now through September 30th.

PLUS there's a party going on right tere...and by there I mean Glazer Children's Museum.  After attending Board Games, Bubbly & Brew with the adults the night before, take the kids to celebrate the museum's first birthday on Sunday, September 25 from noon until 2pm at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The event is free and will be filled with games, cake, awesome Fit Kids Playground events, face painters, giveaways and more. 

Trade-in your old board games for coupons.  Big rewards for taking small actions=awesome.  We all have old games hidden away in closets with missing pieces, so why not pack them up and send them for free to Recyclebank for points toward valuable coupons?  Recyclebank is a site that enables environmentally minded people to earn points for rewards while taking “green” actions.  So let me get this straight--I send away my old stuff, help the environment and get to earn points to buy other stuff?  Sweet. 

Gymboree is offering up to 50% off towards select items.

Debate schmebate

Did anyone catch the Tea Party debate last night?  I had planned to, but ended up forgetting about it, funny enough.  I did watch the highlights on CNN afterwards, and it was pretty much how I expected it to be.  Venting, raised voices, sarcasm, attacks, with facts and statistics thrown in here and there.  Everyone complains about the problems and puts the blame on the current administration, but no one really has any solutions. 

The politicians talk and talk and talk, but has anyone been able to lower the unemployment rate after all this time?  And where is all this spending getting us, besides into more debt? And companies are still laying people off, so I wonder if things are going to get worse in this country before they get better.  Now that's really scary.  I realize they aren't superheroes, they are human beings empowered by us to represent us in political offices, but they really aren't helping matters.  More doing, less talking politicians! 

I'm not what I'd call a political person.  I don't regularly discuss politics outside my home and I don't get involved in political party activities.  But like every good American, I have opinions and now that I have a child I have even more concerns than ever about the economy, healthcare, the environment, etc..  I can't remember the last time I voted and truly 100% supported that candidate.  I often vote for the lesser of two evils (hard to choose really), which is sad.  At this rate, I'm afraid that 2012 will be no different...

As a parent, have you become more or less politically active?

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going (and thankful for it!)

Yes, I do happen to love Billy Ocean.  And admit it, you do too.  With his soulful songs that make you dance one minute and cry the next (there'll be sad songs, to make you cry...) we just can't get enough.  Ok, where I was going with this post?  Oh right, tough get going.

I cannot believe it's already September and there is so much to do.  Next week I announce the social calendar for bun in the oven bunch.  It's going to be such a fun program for moms-to-be!  But with bun in the oven bunch, I am essentially running three programs--small fry society for moms and babies, bun in the oven bunch for expectant moms and additional socials for moms and moms-to-be who join the full programs.  This is A LOT of work, but it's also a joy to do.  I am finally getting to plan events for the people with the toughest and most rewarding job in the world--parents!  Each day I come up with new ideas and share these thoughts with moms and moms-to-be and get excellent feedback.  It makes me feel I'm heading down the right path in terms of themes and opportunities to bring people together with each other and with local businesses.  In addition to planning out the socials and running the day-to-day business, I'm also a full-time mom, but AML jr certainly calls the shots these days.  She is my 10 month old little love that inspires me everyday with the simplest looks and moves she makes. 

Some may wonder how it's possible to work and be dedicated to your child/children, but just ask any of the millions of women out there who do it and you're likely to get the same answer--no sleep!  But in addition to no/less sleep, it also takes a willingness to know when to turn on and off--turn off the Blackberry at dinner, turn on the computer before the baby wakes up in the morning, turn off the light and get into bed when the rest of your family is ready to go to sleep, turn on the laundry machine while the baby is napping, turn off the TV so you can finish your work, turn on the car and squeeze in that extra errand and so on and so forth.  It's knowing when to do what to best suit your work and your family and how to ensure everyone feels 'loved.'  It's also knowing when to take a break from it all and do something nice for yourself, sometimes even as simple as getting into bed earlier or waking up earlier to have some peace and quiet.  I also highly recommend a monthly Girls' Night Out--Oct 25 at Neiman Marcus anyone?

I try to stay as positive as possible no matter what may stand in my way, and keep up my energy level.  I find that you really can pass on good energy.  How lucky am I?  I remind myself everyday that I am lucky to be an American, lucky to have my family, lucky to have good health (me and my family), lucky to be able to start a business, lucky to have people interested in my business, lucky to just be alive.  So when I'm feeling exhausted or the day just seems too tough to bear, I remember all the good things I have in my life and I press on.  I'm not saying it's easy all the time, but I find if you keep moving and don't focus on the negative things for too long that better things tend to pop up.  Oh, and I find Yogurtology is an excellent pick-me-up and it's never too early to eat it, in my opinion.

Deals of the Day

Deal of the year for moms and moms-to-be: small fry society or bun in the oven bunch term is only $199 for eight socials or Girls' Night Out on October 25th is only $20

Publix coupons galore, click here.

Fashion's Night Out is tomorrow.  Stores across many cities are offering fashion shows, styling and beauty tips, discounts, food, drinks, music and giveaways.  Here's a link the the Fashion's Night Out guide. 
In Tampa, in addition to International Plaza, also check out DKM accessories and Why Not Boutique for sales giveaways and new merchandise.
 
Baby Gap-up to 40% off, click here.

Amazon deal: Extra 25% off $20 Purchase of Select Products from Johnson's Baby, Neutrogena, & More: 12 Bottles of 15-oz Johnson's Baby Pure Cornstarch Powder, Lavender & Chamomile $15 

Sunday, Sept. 11 admission is free to Florida's state parks (except Skyway Fishing Pier).  Just bring a library book, library card or gently used family book to donate.  Click here for more info. 

 

EVENT OF THE YEAR: Girls' Night Out for all moms and moms-to-be--register now!

A little bit of this, a little bit of that on my mind

Welcome back, or if your long weekend is still going on, stop reading this and continue enjoying the time off.

Three day weekends are so delightful.  An extra day to get things done while others are vacationing.  The email inbox tends to be smaller and I find the time to take care of all those errands I've been avoiding for weeks.  Yep, my life is THAT exciting.  Still, I don't think it matters where you go, if you're together as a family, it's a nice day.  Okay, so Office Depot is no beach, but we still enjoyed being together and buying labels for Papa Lusty's homemade brew is kind of cool.

So, as we wrap up the holiday weekend and head into a four day work week, I wanted to pass on a few tidbits on my mind.

If you don't know by now, I'm excited to share that small fry society and bun in the oven bunch was featured in Sunday's Tampa Tribune in the Baylife section.  Here it is: http://www.smallfrysociety.com/uploads/Tampa_Tribune_Sept_4__2011.pdf   The reporter, Courtney, did an amazing job capturing what the programs are all about for moms, babies and moms-to-be, as well as local businesses (fun, education, socializing, partnerships, etc).  I really hope that the article will create some good buzz, and that it will get even more people registered and excited about the upcoming socials!

Don't forget that tomorrow is Target $2 Tuesdays at Glazer Children's Museum, which means $2 admission from 2pm-7pm.  This is a great deal, so I hope some people can take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the museum with their children.  Lines can start forming as early as 12:30pm, so bring plenty of water, bottles and snacks in case you have to wait a little while to get in.

Also, RIP Lee Roy Selmon who died this weekend

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills comes back on tonight.  Hallelujah! (I can't get enough of the Real Housevies, every single one of them)

Did you know Texas de Brazil gives you a complimentary dinner for your birthday?  Yeah, go get on that asap (sign up here)

Swaptember begins tomorrow and runs through September 30, 2011, Zoo, MOSI and Florida Aquarium members can take advantage of “Swaptember,” which provides free admission to each of these three attractions. All members of any of these attractions must have a photo identification and current membership card to enter for free.

Finally, Fashion's Night Out is this week (Sept 8).  I hope you get to enjoy the various events in your city.  In Tampa, here's a good place to find more info about the event: http://www.facebook.com/FNOTampaBay.

Yes, those are the kinds of things running through my mind tonight.  Enjoy the rest of your long weekend and the start of this shorter work week!

Yeoman's means heaven (except pronounced like YO MANs)

 
I am a simple girl.  I like good people, good times and good burgers.  I especially like people who are good to me when I walk into a pub that is convenient to my house with a 10 month old in a stroller.  Not surprisingly, not every place is kid-friendly, and every time we want to eat out we don't want to call a sitter.

Yeoman's is owned by South Jersey natives who moved to Tampa to escape the cold and grey skies of Jersey.  Yeoman's is literally on an island, Davis Islands (home to us and also Derek Jeter--don't gasp, we aren't exactly neighbors, nor have we ever seen Jeter).  There are several high points to Yeoman's, so allow me to sing their praises for a moment.

First, the location rules.  It's walking distance from our house and located across from a Blockbuster Express (dinner and a movie is our social life in a nutshell).  For those who have to drive to Yeoman's, it's right in the heart of Davis Islands and parking (free) is never a problem.   Next, their is outdoor seating, which in September might not seem exciting, but by November it will be lovely.   Also, the service is awesome.  The owner and her daughter take service with a smile to the max--they are fast, friendly and serve friggin' delicious  food (friggin'--shout out to Jersey).  Their beer selection is also top notch, they don't mess around when it comes to beers.  They have live music many nights of the week, TVs for game watching and plenty of space for your kid (strollers or pacing while he/she is whining).  Best of all is the value.  For $7.95 you get a big burger that is always cooked correctly and fries (substitute sweet potato if you like) .  This is the kind of neighborhood place where you never have to ask for a refill, extra napkins, or worry about getting dressed up. 

Like I said, I try to keep it simple.  We've made Yeoman's our go-to place for all of the above reasons and more.  If you haven't been and you live in or around Tampa, throw on your flip-flops, put on your baseball cap and go check it out.  If you have been before but you've opted for fancier burger joints lately, go back and visit your friends at Yeoman's.  They'll make it worth your while and you won't regret it or forget it (but don't forget to ask for the Yeoman's loyalty card).

Much love to you Yeoman's.  Let's be honest...see you next week.  :-)

The Porsche of strollers

I've heard many friends call certain baby products "The Porsche of," but now parents really can buy a Porsche stroller.  And why shouldn't the children of Porsche driving parents have a stroller of the same brand and prestige? 

Enter The Porsche Design P’4911.  The stroller's name evokes luxury and distinction, like the cars. Sweden-based designer Dawid Dawod is known for other amazing projects like recyclable jewelry, multi-purposes speakers, irons and a variety of decor iterms.  Porsche's latest designs include an AED limited edition watch, P'9522 luxury phone and Porsche Design hookah pipe.  I mean who doesn't need a Porsche phone?  The stroller is made of high quality materials like carbon fiber, aluminum, leather and ball-bearing wheels, is foldable and can be fit into any compact Porsche, and safety was a priority in the design as it is equipped with a front safety belt, which also enhances its sleek design.

I believe it when people say there is no such thing as over-spoiling a baby, but maybe there is?  Though we forget this when we're buying the "best of the best" baby items, which tend to be the most expensive the majority of the time, it's important to remember that your baby won't know or care about the brands of their products.  I mean certainly safety is a priority, and comfort is important too, but beyond that, does it really matter what branding is on your stroller, playmat, bottles and so on.   And if you're afraid your friends will judge you because you chose the baby product that is considerably less expensive and less fancy, but equally as safe, comfortable, and even visually appealing for your taste, then those friends need a lesson on "if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all."  And conversely, if you want to buy the highest end items, or splurge here and there for your baby, no one should judge you.  I strongly believe that what we buy our children (and ourselves) is our choice, based on our budgets and beliefs, and we don't need to feel guilty or justify anything to anyone.  If you absolutely feel the need to give a reason for your purchases, my mom always allows me to use her as an excuse--"My mom bought this for AML jr (and oftentimes she did)" or "My mom used this brand when I was kid and had a great experience, so I've decided to try it too (again, oftentimes this is the case)."  Again, Grandma knows best.

If you are curious to see how the wealthiest are spending money on their kids, check out the most expensive baby items meant for the rich toddlers.  The Swarovski crystal-studded toilet seat might be my favorite on the list.

Parent couple dating

I was just with a friend at lunch, let's call her "Mrs. L, the mommy with the two adorable girls under 5 who is a blast in a glass."  I knew I'd find some way to use blast in a glass (Jersey Shore reference).  I hadn't seen her in years, but we went to college together, both grew up in South Florida, both live in Tampa (glad she moved back here) and both have kids, so right there we have things in common. 


As we sat down at lunch it was comfortable from the start and we were catching up and laughing about the trials and tribulations of choosing a preschool, the differences between South Florida and Tampa, and meeting other moms and dads.  The last part is where I'm heading, so let's get right to it, parent couple dating in on my mind.  When you become a parent, all of a sudden you tend to see your single or married friends a lot less.  There are numerous reasons why we parents find ourselves "dating" in order to find other parents to be our new friends.  Not to replace old friends, I mean like Mrs. L said, you certainly can't, nor would you want to, replace college friends so easily (They know things about you that even your husband may never know!  What happens in college stays in college, right?  Oh wait, that's Vegas, eeesh,).

It's not that we want to talk about kids all the time with our parent friends, it's oftentimes quite the opposite.  However, it is nice to date parents in order to put together a support system, people who understand when the child you love with all of your heart is making you pull your hair out (or pulling your hair out on his/her own).  Parent couple dating involves meeting other people, who like you are men and women with potentially similar interests to you, but who also now carry the title of parent.  They understand why we often want to be home by midnight or earlier on date night in fear of our children waking up in the middle of the night, why we are regularly checking our phones for status updates from the babysitter when we're out, why choosing a preschool is so stressful, why we really, really needed that extra cocktail at dinner, why we miss our parents even though we just saw them yesterday, why our usual intellectual selves haven't read a book in a year but are caught up on all reality TV, and so on and so forth.  Perhaps parents just get each other, there is often an unspoken bond between parents around the world.  We're hoping that our parent dates will reveal similar interests in golf, wine, movies, vacation locations, etc.  And it doesn't hurt if the kids like each other too because it's nice to get together with other families.


So I'm taking my own advice.  I'm newish to Tampa and I'm putting myself out there.  I'm going on dates to find good fits for mom friends, dad friends for Papa Lusty, kid friends for AML jr and even doggy friends for Maddy.  Some may even be blind date setups.  I'm not saying it's easy.  It might seem awkward at first, but like going on dates with potential significant others, it's usually fun.  At the least, you'll get out on a Saturday night with other adults, eat without being interrupted and get tunes from Dora the Explorer or Fresh Beat Band out of your head for a few hours.  If you put yourself out there, you never know what good people and good times lay ahead.

And not to over-plug it, but small fry society and bun in the oven bunch are great places to meet other moms and moms-to-be, so join us!

Deals of the Day

Well people, I've got some great deals today.  Here goes...

Small fry society is the place to be: First and foremost, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't offer a deal on "deal day Wednesday" on registration for small fry society's first term. Sooo how about this....if you sign up with a friend, you both get $20 off registration!  This deal is good through Friday, September 2, so talk it over ladies, but don't wait too long or the deal will be gone.  When you register mention the "blog bring a friend deal" and you and your friend will receive a $20 reimbursement (or email your registration and we can do a separate cc transaction for the discounted amount, check is fine too).  If you've already registered and you refer a friend, you'll get a $20 credit for a future event, so no one loses!

Museum, zoo and aquarium oh my: Museum, zoo and oh my: Membership pays is an understatement here!  Sept 6-30: MOSI, zoo and Florida Aquarium members can take advantage of "Swaptember."  Free admission to each of these three attractions if you're a member of any of them.  Don't forget your ID and membership card.  Or if you're not a member of the zoo, there is always $5 Day  on Saturday, September 10 from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (due to this special discount, Zoo rides are not included with admission on $5 Day).


Beautify and no need to justify: Mani, pedi, wax in order?  Early bird specials at Crave until 1pm.  Call/email for additional details.

Music is my boyfriend: FREE music event at Hyde Park Village tonight and Rock the park Tampa tomorrow night in Curtis Hixon Park. And especially for the kids, JustMeMusic: 3 personalized songs for FREE

Yummy yummy in my tummy: Sept 6-10 participating Chick-fil-A^® restaurants are giving away FREE breakfast entrees.  Make a reservation online here.

School is back in session: Amazon has over 100 supplies under $5

Babylegs: 50% off site with code HALFOFF, click here

Grandma knows best

Sometimes it's hard to admit, but grandma generally does know best.  We are independent women and we have the motherly instinct, but we hit hurdles along the way that require a little help to get past.  Grandma raised you (and your siblings) and you turned out pretty well if I do say so myself.  In moments of frustration, exhaustion, confusion, etc. we turn to the grandma as a source of wisdom and calm.  And rarely does she disappoint (only when the baby has a tantrum that only a mommy can shut down does grandma gladly return the grandchild to you).  And what does a grandma ask for in return after giving their time, sage advice, energy and love?  Snuggles and smiles from her grandchild.  Pretty sweet deal if you ask me!

When AML jr was born Grams basically lived with us for a month.  She shared night shifts with me, and AML jr is a night person (like me and Grams).  She showed me how to stay on top of the laundry, cleaning, errands and general mommy stuff without going insane or collapsing from exhaustion.  Papa Lusty's mother, Grandma Ca, encouraged me to sleep while she watched the baby when we moved to NY, made us food galore to store in our freezer and babysat for our first date night out since having AML jr.  They also taught me about not feeling guilty, something we all need to learn about in this high pressure mommyworld.  We put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect wives and mothers, and there is no such thing.

I've learned that if you're complaining that you're asking for it, and by it, I mean interference.  And oftentimes the answer isn't always what you want to hear, but it is what you need to hear.  She does need to sleep in her crib, she does need to eat more solids, she does need to cry a little in the crib sometimes, she is ready for the next size, you do need to get out with your husband and leave her with a sitter, etc etc etc.  I discuss this stuff all the time with friends--Grandmas have been there done and out.  And despite new technology, new toys and strollers, new swaddling essentials, new feeding techniques and supplies, books, and all the other new stuff we supposedly "need" even though our parents didn't, Grandmas often have the answers and they cost a lot less than all those material possessions.

Simply put, Grandma knows best.  I didn't say she knows everything, who does?  She does, however, know a lot from experience and what she doesn't know she'll admit to you (both of AML jr's Grandmas love the Bumbo seat).  So, be sure to thank her for everything, as often as possible.  NOTE: National Grandparents Day is September 11.

If you like it then you shoulda put a bun in it...

I went for it.  I turned the song Single Ladies into Pregnant Ladies.  It's amazing how much hoopla there is around Beyonce's pregnancy.  The rumors have been swirling for years and now it's finally true.  She showed the world, or at least the MTV VMA viewers and the press, her bump and now her pregnancy is public.  Now everyone is buzzing about the bun!

I couldn't be happier for her and Jay-Z, but what is concerning to me is how much pressure has been on her for years to be pregnant and share the news with the world.  I mean hello people, she's 29, not to mention insanely busy!  These days women are having babies well into their 40s, long after they have established their careers and finances.  Every time Beyonce had the slightest belly (bloating anyone?), the press reported she was most definitely pregnant.  The woman said on several occasions she wanted to give her career all she had before starting a family.  It's not easy to manage a career and children, am I right moms? 

I think people forget that pregnancy can be a sensitive subject.  Not everyone wants to announce when they're trying to start a family, and not everyone wants to let the world know they're pregnant until months into their pregnancy.  There are health-related and superstitious reasons for keeping things private, among other reasons.  And even when the pregnancy is announced to the world, or to your family, that doesn't mean you owe anyone any additional info--sex of the baby, name of baby, etc, even celebrities don't have to share.

I guess what I'm saying is this, Beyonce (because obviously she's reading my blog now that her pregnancy is official), you don't owe us anything.  You and Jay-Z keep a quiet, private personal life, which I admire.  Let your bun in the oven be your business.  And that goes for you moms-to-be out there too.  To happy and healthy pregnancies for all!

Nanny: $200K, quality time with mom and dad: Priceless

Maybe you saw the WSJ article about the $200K a year nanny?  Maybe not.  Oh, and no, I'm not joking.

Some British nannies are being paid up to $200K/year, plus room and board and even a car.  Teachers are in demand (as they should be).  According to the article, there is big demand for teachers turned nannies to help with increasingly demanding schoolwork.  I've heard complaints from friends paying upwards of $50K a year, but that sounds like a real bargain compared to the $200K a year some are willing to pay nannies to care for their children.  Does the value and skill level of the nannies go up along with the price?  I mean will a kid be walking and talking at six months (eesh), know three different languages by elementary school and be the most well-mannered kid on the planet if one can afford a higher priced nanny?  I hope so!  How do you track nanny ROI...parents have their ways (business idea?  hmmm).

One "manny" mentions that the wealthy parents give too little time and attention to their kids.  He said, “There is as much neglect at the top end of the market as there is at the bottom.  The children are materially well off but emotionally neglected. These mums and dads are never there and they assuage their guilt by paying other people to look after them as much as possible."  The hard-working friends I know who aren't stay-at-home moms/dads still give plenty of attention, time and love to their kids, in fact as much as they possibly can.  They sacrifice promotions at work, social lives with friends, quality time with their significant others, etc. so that they can be with their children and be the best parents possible while still maintaining their careers.

We all do what we have to do to be good parents and good employees/employers.  Finding the balance is the key in everything.  Nannies play a pivotal role in many parents' and children's' lives, but they are not a replacement for parents.

Toni Braxton once said, "I'd lose my mind if I heard my kid call the nanny Mommy."  You might be able to put a price on childcare, but you can't put a price on TLC and memories between a child and his/her parents.

Deals of the Day

Today's deals are fun for the whole family!

Food: Word on the street is that Outback is giving away free steak dinners at 9pm ET tonight.  Click here for more info.  You will only have four minutes to fill out the form, so get ready.  Some exclusions apply.  Deal ends August 26 or after 1,000,000 redemptions.

Culture: On Saturday, September 24, Smithsonian Magazine is offering free general admission for two people to select museums s part of Museum Day. Hundreds of museums across the U.S. are participating.  Click here to find a participating museum near you. Limit one museum per email address.
  
And straight from the ladies at Whoa, Momma! Clean out your closets, get Aquarium tickets
Well, here's a reason to do some closet cleaning: Goodwill donors get free admission to The Florida Aquarium.  During September, each person who drops off clothing or household items at any Goodwill-Suncoast donation site will receive a coupon good for one free admission to The Florida Aquarium with each paid adult admission (up to three free tickets). The coupons are redeemable until Oct. 31.That’s a savings of up to $65.85, just for getting rid of unwanted clutter. Why now? Donations to Goodwill are especially needed in September, they say, because donations typically drop off after school starts.--Sharon Kennedy Wynne
Follow Whoa, Momma! on Twitter @WhoaMomma

Travel: Okay, so it's an unusual way to travel, but still! $125 (30% off) for a hot air balloon ride.  Click here to learn more.

Back to School: In preparation for the usual line children use in their persuasive efforts to get that new toy "But everyone else at school has one, no fair!" Mattel is offering 15% off sitewide.

I never wanted to be LIKED so much

When I was a toddler I was very shy, or so my mom tells me.  Hard to believe?  Yes, I think so.  By elementary school I was outgoing and ready to bring the fun (as a member of the safety patrol...mmm hmm I brought the safe fun).  Ever since then I've wanted to be involved, meet new people, plan events and generally be a connector for friends and businesses.  Just when I thought I had it all figured out in the corporate world and in my personal life...

Fast forward and now I'm a mom.  I'm not exactly shy once again, but this whole mommyhood thing is new and at times intimidating.  I'm wanting to meet moms and meet future bffs for AML jr, but who, what, when, where, why?  So many questions, so little time, so much anxiety.  We just want to go to places to meet moms and have lunch, do a different weekly activity that both me and the kid will enjoy, nothing too formal, nothing too expensive, once a week so it's not overly time-consuming, find moms with similar interests (grab some wine one night with just the moms sans kids)...we just want to be LIKED and LIKE others in return! 

MY EPIPHANY!  I've been planning events for seemingly my whole life, I can create this for other moms and their babies, and me and AML jr.  This is why I developed small fry society, since so many moms were wanting the same things as me and AML jr.  I found a variety of amazing businesses wanting to attract the family demographic, and now it comes full circle as I'm trying to attract the moms and babies and get them signed up for small fry society.

So, please do me a huge favor and share the small fry society website with your mom and mom-to-be network, or spread the word on Facebook or Twitter (or all of the above).  Even if they don't live in Tampa, they may know others who do.  And make sure you let the moms know that they don't need to bring a friend with them, I can be the friend!  No one will sit alone at lunch, no one will be seated at the kid's table, no one will leave without making friends for them and their children.  I'm ready to bring the fun!

I'm launching a new business...small fry society is here for you and your baby!

 

I know I had been hinting about a new business in the works, but I wasn't ready to share all the details just yet.  Well, today I am!  I am excited to announce that I am launching a business called small fry society, a six week activity program for Tampa Bay area mothers and babies under three years old.  Over a six week “term” mothers and babies will come together at various locations for weekly one and a half hour distinctively themed “socials” to include breakfast/lunch.  The term also includes one Girls Night Out, a moms-only event featuring entertainment, light bites, cocktails and giveaways.   

In creating small fry society, I developed socials that would include something for every mom and baby, from food to fitness to fashion to freebies and more.  I designed a program with moms in mind who look to enjoy different family-friendly activities from week to week with their young children.  The socials will provide a venue for moms to meet new people, receive advice from experts in the community, and experience businesses’ products and services in a unique way—hands-on, interactive, in an intimate setting, amongst old and new friends.

An equally important aspect to small fry society is that it provides promotional opportunities to support local businesses’ marketing efforts to the growing family demographic.  Some of the businesses I've partnered with in the first term include Neiman Marcus, Yogurtology, Lucky Cat Yoga, Amore, Nicole Geller Photography, Shari Mezrah “The Sleep Mom”, Color Me Mine, Jacqueline Spitaleri-Nutrition, Fitness and Lifestyle Expert, Lindsay Does Makeup and Baby Boundaries.

Please pass this email along to any mothers, expectant mothers, friends, family and anyone else in the Tampa Bay area whom you believe might be interested in learning more about small fry society.  I plan to extend the program to small fry society for working moms and bun in the oven bunch for expectant moms in the near future.

Registration for the first term of small fry society is now open. For more information about small fry society and registration, please visit www.smallfrysociety.com, call me or email me anytime.  Also, I have Facebook and Twitter pages, so please LIKE US and FOLLOW US (even if you don't live in Tampa Bay because some giveaways are good for anyone, anywhere)!

Thank you in advance for your time, support and willingness to spread the word.  It means so much to me!

Deals of the Day

Today's deal are all about celebrations.  Why?  Because the business I am about to launch is about moms and babies, and expectant moms, having a great time together.  Also, I have birthday parties on my mind....AML jr turns one in October--WOW!  Papa Lusty turns the big 30 in September.  I love birthdays, not my own, but celebrating others birthdays. 

Get your food and drink on without paying the hefty usual prices: Dine Tampa Bay begins this Friday and goes through September 2. The event offers diners $25, $35 or $45 three course dinners at some very popular and delicious restaurants.  My fave is The Palm--a classic and never disappoints.

For the bride, bridesmaid, traveler or for those who like sample size make-ups to try out: Urban Decay's Urban Bride is a decadent gift-ready box of travel-sized products designed to keep youlooking your best all day (and night, wink wink). The $24 box (normally $42) contains finishing powder, Urban Decay’s best-selling original formula Eyeshadow Primer Potion (full-sized) and Supercurl Curling Mascara, Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Midnight Cowboy, all Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray and Marshmallow Sparkling Lickable Body Powder.

Capture memories in a Photo Booth Rental: I need to find a use for this!  This LivingSocial deal is for a 4 hour photo booth rental in Tampa with unlimited 4x6 photos and free delivery and pick-up.  The deal expires this weekend. 

Allergies or cold/cough keeping you from the party?  Or a hangover making you regret bringing the fun to the party?  Walgreens takes 30% off branded items via coupon code "WAG30".  Shipping starts at 99 cents.  Deal ends August 20.  And when you buy, you're giving back...beginning February 1, 2011 through January 31, 2012, 1¢ from the purchase of every Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Product, up to $3 million annually, will support bringing preventive wellness services to local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund^TM.  The Walgreens Way to Well Fund^TM will provide free preventive health tests as well as other health and wellness services and education to local communities.

Pizza and movie party?  Um, that's pretty much every Saturday night for us.  Netflix is offering new members a free 1-month trial of its streaming service.  But don't forget to cancel the subscription before the trial is over or you will be billed for one month of service, currently $7.99 for streaming or $15.98 if you choose to add the one DVD out at one time to the streaming plan. 

It's all fun and games.  Head and neck massager, hammock, soaker slider, basketball return net or Halloween decor anyone?  Check out Hammacher Schlemmer's 65% off sale.

This one is random and off topic, but I like it.  Plant a tree, and help America's forests.  I planted tree number 52,294.  Ongoing at McDonald's Happy Meal, enter coupon code "M4JE-3YKW-7L7J" into the box at the top, and McDonald's will plant a tree for free.  They will plant up to 100,000 trees in partnership with Keep America Beautiful.

Networking in the social media-centered world

I always find it funny when I add friends on Facebook or accept a friend request and then I can see the person's friends, compare mutual friends and even add some of their friends.  It really puts the seven degrees of separation into perspective--forget seven, in many cases you can find people through one degree of separation through social media.


Recently, I've started using social media, namely Facebook, for business purposes (I've been using Linkedin and Twitter too).  I've connected with new contacts whom I've actually met in person and I've started listing my blog entries as my status.  I was surprised to see comments and likes from people I hadn't spoken to in years.  It's awesome really.

I am curious about social media networking etiquette.  Does it exist?  For example, I think if you're going to connect with friends of friends whom you have never met before, should you ask the mutual friend to make the introduction, or at least give him/her a heads up?  I think maybe yes.  I also believe you should limit messages to new contacts to just a few lines and save the witty banter/pitch for a personal email once you have the new friend's email--think of it as an elevator pitch.  Thoughts?  Finally, I think if you don't hear back from someone after you've added them three months ago, expect that they don't want to be bothered--this goes for friend requests you've sent and messages sent too (3 months, 3 tries, I like things in 3s).  Agreed?  I'm definitely a "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again" kind of person, but you also sometimes have to get the hint.  I'm interested to hear what others think.

It's a tricky virtual world we're living in, but some of the same rules seem to apply when it comes to networking.  Knocking on doors is like sending friend requests, sometimes we get ignored for one reason or another.  On the other hand, you never know who you might connect with and the possible partnerships that lay ahead, so it's worth a click to see what opportunities may lay ahead.  So, I'm going to keep typing away as I launch my new business...watch your inboxes and walls.

Movers and Shakers

I remember thinking when AML jr was just a few months old how fun it would be once she was moving.  I hadn't thought about that with moving comes falls, and that is quite the opposite of fun for us both.  I also didn't think about how once she started moving it would be a lot harder to get her to sit still.  Well, the day has come.  She started crawling a few months ago, and at first she liked crawling under couches and beds. EESH  Now the risky business really starts--she's pulling herself up anywhere and in any way she can, and likes to show she can stand up with only one hand on the furniture.  She is also slowly shuffling her hands and feet and is so proud of her moves.  I must admit, I am too.  I hate, however, the occasional falls, disappointment and frustration I can tell she feels when she falls or can't crawl around in a public place, and of course the tears.

The last week has been tough, as AML jr has a cold/cough and I've had so many meetings for my new business I plan to launch within the next week and she's had to come along to them with me.  I promise to share the details about the business just as soon as the site is up, I'm soooo excited to spread the word!  Anyway, while I've been chatting away with businesses, AML jr has been smiling away, despite the cough, but also trying with some success to get out of her stroller/off my lap and onto the floor to continue her standing/walking pursuits.

While I'm meeting with movers and shakers in Tampa and hoping to create business partnerships to benefit us all, AML jr is becoming quite the mover and shaker herself--literally and figuratively.  I call her my Partner in Partnerships, and Papa Lusty said she's my closer (he's right!).

Any advice for keeping my little love safe and unbruised and content at home and at meetings?  Feel free to chime in here.  So far all I've got is to keep the pads, pillows and playmats covering the wood floors in my home, and when we're out to bring plenty of snacks and toys to keep her busy, and of course socks so she can stand up whenever, wherever possible.  It also doesn't hurt that most of my meetings are with moms/moms-to-be/kid-friendly people--G-d bless those people and their patience and understanding!

Love thyself...continued...

I'm not suggesting we neglect our relationships with our significant others and our children, but take time for yourself and show yourself some lovin'.  And if you're a single lady, remember Samantha's famous line in a Sex in the City episode as she leaves Richard in a hotel room in AC, "I love you too Richard, but I love me more."  If you aren't being appreciated, take matters into your own hands.  If you don't get a pat on the back for your hard work at home and/or in the workplace, go get your own, in whatever form works for you.

I got to thinking today about what I do for myself as I sat with a new friend discussing her yoga business.  After working all day taking care of the baby, while also developing a business, keeping the house straightened up, cooking (sometimes), running errands and all the other to dos, what have I done for me personally lately (oooooooh ooooh ooooh yeah, as the song goes)?

Well, people, I'm no expert but I'm working on it.  Like my mother, I give myself downtime every night, after the baby goes to sleep, sometimes it's an hour at midnight or sometimes it's three hours when I'm really lucky, at 9pm.  I take what I can get, and I appreciate watching my mindless tv (you know you love Real Housewives too), sitting quietly and writing my blog, holding hands with my husband while catching up on "our shows," or starting a book (which I never seem to finish).  I have on my wishlist doing yoga, with the baby actually so we can both chill out.  Working out always gives me more energy and clears my mind--it's like pressing reset.

I'm a simple girl.  Put the kid down to bed, give me a big screen tv, a smore, a comfy couch and a snuggly husband and let's call it a night (a Saturday night, admittedly).

Daily Deals--back-to-school is cool

Wednesday is deal day, so here goes...

Lowry Park Zoo--did you know you get free admission on your birthday with an ID showing your birth date?  This offer will expire Dec. 31 of this year.  Zoos are awesome, at any age, and offer something fun to do this summer before school starts.  And if you visit Lowry Park Zoo, you just might meet its newest addition, the baby rhino that was born July 13.

Suave freebies--get a free box of suave products and coupons by signing up here.  I personally want to try out the dry shampoo.

Free kids meal at Crispers--kids under 12 eat free on Saturday with the purchase of an adult entree (kids eat free every other day for only 99 cents). 

Back-to-school sales tax holiday in Florida : Aug 12-14, with modified rules.  I hope this temporary tax break gets people shopping up a storm because it helps the economy.

Pens, Pencils, Post-its, Oh my: 100 school supplies under $5 from Amazon

$35 Tour of Tampa by segway via Groupon:  Whether you're coming here on vacation or you're a local, this sounds pretty fun, even if it looks a tad ridiculous.

$25 for 2 hour trapeze class in Clearwater via Groupon: Sign me, or you, up.  Doesn't this make you think of the Sex and the City episode?