It's almost upon us...the official start of the holiday shopping season. To help you plan your early morning escapades (or for me, my early morning online shopping!), here's a very handy web site:
http://bfads.net/
Happy browsing!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Raise your hand...
if your choice of beverage in the school cafeteria was chocolate milk.
Raise your hand again if you were not an obese child (we won't talk about what we've morphed into as an adult!)
I stumbled upon this little gem on Yahoo:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/should-chocolate-milk-be-offered-in-schools-544379/
Are you kidding me? Banning chocolate milk from school cafeterias? Chocolate milk (and strawberry milk, for that matter) was a staple in our cafeteria way back in the 1980s. And we were not fat kids.
But, then again, we had recess twice per day for a total of 45 minutes to an hour. We had gym class at least once per week. We played outside after school until it got dark. We played outside on the weekends. We all owned bikes, and used them frequently. We were ACTIVE.
Wake up nutritionists. Wake up school administrators. And, wake up PARENTS! The problem is not what's served in the school cafeteria. It's not the occasional cupcake or cookie to celebrate a classmate's birthday. And, it's not holiday parties that revolved around homemade treats and potato chips.
The problem, as I see it, is two-fold. And as full time working mom of three active, healthy-weight kids who eat a pretty well balanced diet, I think I've earned the right to speak out about this.
First, and foremost, many parents these days have gone soft on teaching good eating habits at home. Your toddler won't try veggies? Too bad! Keep trying until they do find something they like. "Picky eater" is the lamest excuse in the book. I have a "picky eater" but she knows she eats what she gets, or doesn't eat. And, don't let them rule the kitchen. You are not a short-order cook, and kids will generally NOT starve themselves to death because they are picky eaters. Eventually, most will eat those carrots or grilled chicken.
Second, kids are lazy. Yes, I said it. Lazy. Take away the DS, XBOX, computer, and TV. Buy them a bike or scooter for the weekends. Get them involved in SOMETHING physical during the week. Swim team and martial arts are great activities for kids that aren't into contact sports. So is tennis.
So, how about not depriving the kids who regularly eat well, who are active, and are a healthy weight for their age. Chocolate milk is certainly a better option then, say, Hi-C, and by far is not the worst offender at lunch in the fight against childhood obesity. Let the kids have those extra 60 calories, and give them an extra 30 minutes of recess time to burn it off!
Raise your hand again if you were not an obese child (we won't talk about what we've morphed into as an adult!)
I stumbled upon this little gem on Yahoo:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/should-chocolate-milk-be-offered-in-schools-544379/
Are you kidding me? Banning chocolate milk from school cafeterias? Chocolate milk (and strawberry milk, for that matter) was a staple in our cafeteria way back in the 1980s. And we were not fat kids.
But, then again, we had recess twice per day for a total of 45 minutes to an hour. We had gym class at least once per week. We played outside after school until it got dark. We played outside on the weekends. We all owned bikes, and used them frequently. We were ACTIVE.
Wake up nutritionists. Wake up school administrators. And, wake up PARENTS! The problem is not what's served in the school cafeteria. It's not the occasional cupcake or cookie to celebrate a classmate's birthday. And, it's not holiday parties that revolved around homemade treats and potato chips.
The problem, as I see it, is two-fold. And as full time working mom of three active, healthy-weight kids who eat a pretty well balanced diet, I think I've earned the right to speak out about this.
First, and foremost, many parents these days have gone soft on teaching good eating habits at home. Your toddler won't try veggies? Too bad! Keep trying until they do find something they like. "Picky eater" is the lamest excuse in the book. I have a "picky eater" but she knows she eats what she gets, or doesn't eat. And, don't let them rule the kitchen. You are not a short-order cook, and kids will generally NOT starve themselves to death because they are picky eaters. Eventually, most will eat those carrots or grilled chicken.
Second, kids are lazy. Yes, I said it. Lazy. Take away the DS, XBOX, computer, and TV. Buy them a bike or scooter for the weekends. Get them involved in SOMETHING physical during the week. Swim team and martial arts are great activities for kids that aren't into contact sports. So is tennis.
So, how about not depriving the kids who regularly eat well, who are active, and are a healthy weight for their age. Chocolate milk is certainly a better option then, say, Hi-C, and by far is not the worst offender at lunch in the fight against childhood obesity. Let the kids have those extra 60 calories, and give them an extra 30 minutes of recess time to burn it off!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
And so it begins...
It's not even Halloween yet, and already it's time to think about Christmas. Or so the retail world wants us to believe.
Target has begun to put out their holiday decorating goods, right next to the not-quite-on-clearance-yet Halloween merchandise. You can pick up a costume and a set of icicle lights in the same $100 shopping trip. Efficient, yes, but it's just not right! It'll be ok by me come next week, when the Halloween candy is on clearance.
CVS has offered their email subscribers a "sneak peek" at their Black Friday ad. I'm not sure how it's a sneak peek if you can order these items online at the stated prices, until November 1. Last I checked, November 1 was still almost 4 weeks before Black Friday. And, who's to say these are the actual Black Friday prices? Maybe I'll do some investigative blogging, and report back when the Black Friday ads are available for real. But, that's not the point of this entry. The point is, CVS is already talking about Black Friday ads, and we haven't even changed the calendar to November yet!
I love the holidays as much as the next non-Scrooge, but this is just crazy talk. I'm still trying to enjoy those last few weeks of true Autumn, before the trees are bare. It's still the season for scarecrows and pumpkins and regular season football. I'm not ready to write out Holiday cards, or shop for gifts, or put up the lights. I know I'm not alone. Please tell me I'm not alone!
Target has begun to put out their holiday decorating goods, right next to the not-quite-on-clearance-yet Halloween merchandise. You can pick up a costume and a set of icicle lights in the same $100 shopping trip. Efficient, yes, but it's just not right! It'll be ok by me come next week, when the Halloween candy is on clearance.
CVS has offered their email subscribers a "sneak peek" at their Black Friday ad. I'm not sure how it's a sneak peek if you can order these items online at the stated prices, until November 1. Last I checked, November 1 was still almost 4 weeks before Black Friday. And, who's to say these are the actual Black Friday prices? Maybe I'll do some investigative blogging, and report back when the Black Friday ads are available for real. But, that's not the point of this entry. The point is, CVS is already talking about Black Friday ads, and we haven't even changed the calendar to November yet!
I love the holidays as much as the next non-Scrooge, but this is just crazy talk. I'm still trying to enjoy those last few weeks of true Autumn, before the trees are bare. It's still the season for scarecrows and pumpkins and regular season football. I'm not ready to write out Holiday cards, or shop for gifts, or put up the lights. I know I'm not alone. Please tell me I'm not alone!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Target
I love Target.
But, I have to ask, what is it about that place that inherently makes me put $100 worth of merchandise in my cart? Do they emit some sort of basic math neuro-blocker through the air vents? Do they broadcast subliminal messages through the PA system? What's the deal?
It doesn't matter what's on the list. It could be cat food and school supplies. It could be shampoo and kids' underwear. Today, it was (several bottles of) juice, a bag (or two) of candy for my little one's Halloween party (and mommy's desk!), Ziplok bags, a small baby gift for a friend, hair conditioner for me and the girls, a cover for my new iPod touch, and a 12-pack of soda. somehow, I walked out with all of those items, PLUS and extra bottle of shampoo for the kids, some, um, feminine products, footless stockings for big girl's costume, and, oh yeah, a $25 Halloween costume for my indecisive almost 4 year old (I want to be a pumpkin. No, I want to be a witch. Mommy, I promise, I'm not going to change my mind again!). I did not get the iPod cover. Grand total: $94 and change. It would have been $100 if I had gone with the stretch pants over the cheaper stockings.
I'd like to say the easy solution is to just avoid Target. But, I may have withdrawal symptoms. I could send the hubby instead. But, he would choose Walmart, and that place has the same effect on him. So, what's a girl to do?
But, I have to ask, what is it about that place that inherently makes me put $100 worth of merchandise in my cart? Do they emit some sort of basic math neuro-blocker through the air vents? Do they broadcast subliminal messages through the PA system? What's the deal?
It doesn't matter what's on the list. It could be cat food and school supplies. It could be shampoo and kids' underwear. Today, it was (several bottles of) juice, a bag (or two) of candy for my little one's Halloween party (and mommy's desk!), Ziplok bags, a small baby gift for a friend, hair conditioner for me and the girls, a cover for my new iPod touch, and a 12-pack of soda. somehow, I walked out with all of those items, PLUS and extra bottle of shampoo for the kids, some, um, feminine products, footless stockings for big girl's costume, and, oh yeah, a $25 Halloween costume for my indecisive almost 4 year old (I want to be a pumpkin. No, I want to be a witch. Mommy, I promise, I'm not going to change my mind again!). I did not get the iPod cover. Grand total: $94 and change. It would have been $100 if I had gone with the stretch pants over the cheaper stockings.
I'd like to say the easy solution is to just avoid Target. But, I may have withdrawal symptoms. I could send the hubby instead. But, he would choose Walmart, and that place has the same effect on him. So, what's a girl to do?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Love-hate relationship
That's what I have with my new Wii Fit Plus.
Let me start by saying that it's a lot of fun. That's the love part of the relationship. I do, however, gravitate towards games that have me trying to better my previous performance, such as Bejeweled Blitz. :P With the Wii Fit Plus, I'm getting some exercise, while playing games to better my personal score. The games i've tried so far are only about 2-3 minutes long, so it's conducive to repeating the BONUS: I have an ultra-competitive husband that will try to beat my scores in the Wii Fit games (let's not tell him that he's getting some exercise in the process, 'k?). I have not tried all of the activities yet, but my favorites so far are hula-hooping and biking.
Here's the hate part: the balance board acts as a scale. And, the Wii calculates your BMI based on the height you input (I should have told it I am 5' 11" tall!). As if that's not bad enough, it morphs your Mii to reflect your weight. My Mii became a chubby momma. I hope she becomes thinner if I do!
Do I think this is a long-term fitness tool? Probably not. But it's a good start for someone like me, who hasn't exercised regularly in eons. And, it may even be a good tool for those in-between days for a more advanced work-out routine. And, most importantly, it's FUN!
Let me start by saying that it's a lot of fun. That's the love part of the relationship. I do, however, gravitate towards games that have me trying to better my previous performance, such as Bejeweled Blitz. :P With the Wii Fit Plus, I'm getting some exercise, while playing games to better my personal score. The games i've tried so far are only about 2-3 minutes long, so it's conducive to repeating the BONUS: I have an ultra-competitive husband that will try to beat my scores in the Wii Fit games (let's not tell him that he's getting some exercise in the process, 'k?). I have not tried all of the activities yet, but my favorites so far are hula-hooping and biking.
Here's the hate part: the balance board acts as a scale. And, the Wii calculates your BMI based on the height you input (I should have told it I am 5' 11" tall!). As if that's not bad enough, it morphs your Mii to reflect your weight. My Mii became a chubby momma. I hope she becomes thinner if I do!
Do I think this is a long-term fitness tool? Probably not. But it's a good start for someone like me, who hasn't exercised regularly in eons. And, it may even be a good tool for those in-between days for a more advanced work-out routine. And, most importantly, it's FUN!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Wow...I have followers!
Now I feel the urge to post more often. :) Unfortunately, that "busy mom" part of my "busy mom's diary" is getting in the way! I need to either work less hours or hire a personal assistant. Neither option is happening any time soon. One can dream, right?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Ebay, part 2
Now, apparently, is the time to shop for Halloween costumes on ebay.
My oldest girl, age 7.5 years old, is, much to my chagrin, a huge Hannah Montana fan. (Thankfully, not so huge of a fan that I'm obligated to take her to an overpriced concert!). She has decided that she wants to be Hannah Montana for Halloween. Ok, that's easy enough, and a little less obnoxious than the Bratz-inspired cheerleader costumes. But, I digress. We went into our semi-local Halloween Adventure store this weekend, and the blond wig alone (a necessity for my little curly-haired brunette!) was $6.99.
Enter the wonder known as ebay. I was on the site anyway, looking for the shipping information for the student who bought my old molecular bio textbook (which sold for $40.01). Since I was already wasting time at work, I decided to start my costume search. And, there it was, in the last hours of a 7 day auction, still waiting for a bid. It's NWT, and contains a skirt, top, belt, microphone, AND wig. Starting bid was $12.95. I bought it for $12.95. SCORE!!!!
My oldest girl, age 7.5 years old, is, much to my chagrin, a huge Hannah Montana fan. (Thankfully, not so huge of a fan that I'm obligated to take her to an overpriced concert!). She has decided that she wants to be Hannah Montana for Halloween. Ok, that's easy enough, and a little less obnoxious than the Bratz-inspired cheerleader costumes.
Enter the wonder known as ebay. I was on the site anyway, looking for the shipping information for the student who bought my old molecular bio textbook (which sold for $40.01). Since I was already wasting time at work, I decided to start my costume search. And, there it was, in the last hours of a 7 day auction, still waiting for a bid. It's NWT, and contains a skirt, top, belt, microphone, AND wig. Starting bid was $12.95. I bought it for $12.95. SCORE!!!!
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