The Daily Grind of a Work @ Home Mom...

Preserve your Memories with Jordan Jade

If you're looking for me, I'll be the one with the camera.  Seriously, I'm THAT Mama, the one busy snapping pics from the side of the room or pointing my RCA Small Wonder at one of my kids as she does something undoubtedly brilliant.  So I have HUNDREDS, if not THOUSANDS of pictures, and dozens of videos.  They're right here, next to me.  In a box.  Keeping warm.  Gathering dust.

In this uber-digital age, we don't need film processing shops anymore.  However, we do need help organizing our thousands of images, finding a way to house our videos in a way that will allow us to view them easily.  Jordan Jade, a Montreal-based company, does just that. 

A long-time lover of photography, mommy-owner Elan Etinson combined her passion for photos with her background in multi-media to create Jordan Jade, a company providing photo and movie preservation for families and companies. Named for her two daughters, Jordan Jade creatively turns your photos and videos into so much more - keepsakes that will never fray, tear or yellow.  You know those hundreds of pictures you took on your last vacation?  Jordan Jade will create a DVD Slideshow, turning your still images into a compelling "movie."  Set to music, customized to suit your taste, this process will leave you with the perfect souvenir.  Dig out those old pictures and Jordan Jade will transform them into a "story."  This is the perfect gift for a milestone birthday, or to show at a special event.

Have a dusty old VHS or film recording taking up space in your closet?  Enlist the creative mom and her team to transfer it to DVD so your children and grandchildren will have the chance to view it one day.  Or simply have them create a customized Photo Book of your images, bound and organized and perfect as a gift or to complement a DVD.  As an avid photo-taker/movie-maker myself, I know the value of such keepsakes - and they're priceless.

For pricing and more info, email Elan or call 514-941-6650.  Oh, and if you tell her I sent you, she'll treat you extra-nice.  :)

The City is not as hot as The Hills

Ok, so I wasn't going to post about The City, MTV's newest crash site, but I have to.  I have to because in the unlikely event that any of these characters has a Google alert set for themselves (and who doesn't), I feel like I have a few things I need to get off my chest.

First, for you non-MTV watching readers (whoever you may be), The City is the spin-off to The Hills which is the spin-off to Laguna Beach.  So over the last few years, we've watched spoiled rich kids in Laguna become spoiled rich kids in L.A. become spoiled rich kids in NYC.  It's uber-interesting.  During the shows' runs, they've picked up new characters with which to make the spin-offs. 

So, fresh off the tail of Lauren Conrad comes Whitney Port, a California girl who moved to NYC to work at Diane Von Furstenberg and breathe life into yet another voyeuristic-type "reality" show that I now need like a junkie needs crack.  Whitney arrives, starts a relationship with a boy she met on a previous trip to the city, meets a new gaggle of girls, and drama ensues.  For deets, watch the show!

Ok - so here are my thoughts:

Whitney Port - Oh Whitney, I loved you as LC's sidekick on The Hills, but I'm not sure you're enough of a drama-magnet to hold your own.  I sort of liked that you maintained a tight-lipped behind-the-scenes type role before, but as the anchor, I'm not sure you'll make it.  I will say though, I admire the energy you put into your (typically) incredible style, though that ski-band you wore around your head last week was A-W-F-U-L, by anyone's standards.  Maybe it was cold out.  Oh, and that Jay character?  If it walks like a liar and it quacks like a liar...

Erin Williams - Erin, daughter of the bassist for AC/DC, is pretty much the ONLY character on the show I can say is cool.  She's down-to-earth, seemingly unaffected by the riches she undoubtedly has at her disposal, and not as worried about what everyone thinks as the others.  Her style is laid-back "downtown" and her boyfriend is Canadian.  Props, Erin, props.  

Olivia Palermo- From the moment this girl entered my living room by way of The City, I knew she would have the same effect on my stomach as eating bad sushi.  A self-proclaimed "social" (short for socialite - what the eff is a socialite anyhow?  How could this be a title someone wears with pride???), Olivia is making stomachs churn nationwide.  In fact, every time she speaks, I throw up a little in my mouth.  This girl is SO affected, so elitist, so obnoxiously vile and rude, I can't imagine she has one true relationship.  Olivia - don't smile, your face might crack honey.  And that gay cousin of hers - Nevan- seriously dude?  Are you for real?  You know that thing that people do for money in the real world called a job?  I know you think it's beneath you, but you and your Ferragamo footwear are homeless.  Also, in case you hadn't heard, there's a warrant out for your arrest.  (mug shot to the right).  Might want to deal with that.       

Allie.  Allie, I feel for you.  Really I do.  You're adorable (if in a stick-figure sort of way), seem to have a decent career in modeling, but hon?  HE'S CHEATING ON YOU.  Really, he is.  The signs are there, you see them as clearly as the rest of us.  He might be cute, but he's lying.  I'm sorry sweetie.  You'll meet someone else who doesn't keep lying even after his number is up.  That last episode was hard to watch, while he denied lied denied lied over and over and over past the point of belief.  Maybe watching yourself accept his lies on MTV will wake you  up.  Sigh...

So anyway, while it might seem like there's lots of dirty stuff going on in The City, the truth is, it was waaaay hotter in Cali.  I'm even sort of starting to miss Speidi...

Small Wonder

A more suitable name for a product there has never been.  Because the Small Wonder digital video camera by RCA is just that.  At least, in this house it is.

I got my first taste of the Small Wonder camera at the Hot Blogger Calendar photo shoot, when my good friend Jane so casually stuck one in front of my face.  I thought she was taking a picture of me, but she started asking questions, confusing me.  She explained that this tech toy was indeed a video cam, but it was so tiny, you'd never know it.

I was lucky enough to receive my very own Small Wonder to test.  Thing is, when I was chosen to test-drive one of these babies, the company had no idea how perfect a candidate I was for this mission.  You see, this camera is intended for the "technically challenged."  It's true that in almost 3 years since having kids I have never once picked up our family video camera, sensing that I'd never be able to figure out how to actually download the movies I made.  But here's the thing with the RCA Small Wonder - it's movie-making for dummies.

First favorite feature: It uses regular batteries.  So you won't miss a thing, since there's nothing to charge.

Second favorite feature: It's got five buttons on it.  That's it.

Third favorite feature: It takes like 2 minutes to download movies and it's super-easy to throw them up on YouTube.  

Fourth favorite feature: It's smaller than  my digital camera.  For real.

And if you need one more reason to get yourself one of the fancy-free digital video cams, check out this little video that I took at my daughter's music class last week.  I just happened to have my Small Wonder tucked in my purse...

      

Make Baby's Feet Smile in ShooShoos!

When you think about which of your kids' necessities you need to replace most often, what comes to mind?  I mean, I've been known to struggle with a onesie that might have seen better days, or stretch out a hat from two seasons ago, but the one thing I will never, ever put on my children if I have even an inkling that they're too small (or big) or not perfectly comfortable, are shoes.  Not only that, I won't let them wear ugly shoes either.  I'm just a bit funny like that.

So you can imagine my delight when I found ShooShoos, the most adorable soft-soled baby shoes my child has worn.  While the best thing for early walkers is bare feet, the next best thing is a perfectly-fitting, comfortable soft shoe for baby to find her way in.  In addition to the soft-soled shoes for older babies, ShooShoos also offers non-slip soles for younger babies.  You know, those slip-on leather shoes that makes life easy.  It doesn't hurt that these kicks are as aesthetically pleasing for Mom as they are comfy for baby.  

These guys aren't new to the party either.  Established in 1996 in Cape Town, South Africa, ShooShoos has been busy adding new colors and styles to their website in order to ensure they have something for everyone.  And at $19.95 for non-slip soles and $24.95 for soft-soles, they're totally affordable (kids typically need new shoes every 3 to 4 months so...).

And they want to share their shoes with you!  One lucky reader will be the recipient of the ShooShoos of their choice - simply visit their website and let us know which pair strikes your fancy.  For a second entry, blog about this contest making sure to link to both ShooShoos and The Daily Grind.  Want one more?  Subscribe to this blog's feed!  A winner will be chosen on Thursday, January 29th.  Open only to US residents.            

All's well that ends well... I guess?

I got a message today from the rep at Toys 'r Us corporate that the charges I never incurred on the credit card I never signed up for were indeed deemed fraudulent and that I was not responsible for any of them.  While I am relieved that this annoying situation is now done, I have to say that I don't feel like the toy chain and I will be getting back together any time soon, and I'm not feeling any better than I was a month ago when I last posted about this.

To make a long story short, I was fraudulently signed up for a Chase Toys 'r Us credit card while at the checkout counter in November, realized what was going on, told the cashier to cancel any and everything she may have signed me up for, paid in cash for my stuff, and left the store, annoyed.  A week later, my shiny new Chase Toys 'r Us credit card arrives in the mail, two weeks after that, a bill in the amount of $978.21. 

But I'm over all that.  My irritation is not about this scheme that occurred as a result of a desperate, unethical and criminal Toys 'r Us employee.  I'm annoyed at how it was handled by the major corporation.  Let me start by stating that it took the company almost TWO MONTHS to actually resolve this case.  Two months during which I exchanged emails with an alleged high-ranking employee over there (who was very helpful at first but neglected to respond to my final email on Jan. 5th in which I asked for some guidance since no one had a clue what was going on with the case), phone calls with an initially very on-top-of-it rep who since disappeared until I fished out her phone number and got her on the phone, a credit card company who transfered me from department to department in an obvious game of customer volleyball, and a few I'm-very-sorry's from people who might've been somewhat sorry, but would be glad to put the phone down.

In the end, the matter is resolved, I'm glad to say.  So kudos (I guess) to TRU for getting that done.  I just wonder if the tables were turned - say, a member of my family unlawfully acquired $978.21 worth of their merchandise - would they be so patient as to give me TWO MONTHS to figure it out?  Doubtful. 

So, Toys 'r Us, thanks for the voice mail that I'm not being held responsible for the charges I didn't incur on a credit card I never signed up for, but you won't be seeing the whites of my eyes in your stores again.  Matter of fact, I sincerely hope the CPSIA relaxes their rules on handmade goods because going forward I'm going to spend my money in places where my patronage is actually appreciated.  Small businesses that actually care about their customers.

 

Confused about CPSIA?

I was.  Not only that, you know when someone starts talking about something you just don't want to face so you walk away or change the subject?  I was doing that whenever anyone Tweeted anything CPSIA-related or blogged anything CPSIA-related.  It's not like I was turning a blind eye; I did after all send an email to my vendors ensuring that they're all in compliance.  But I didn't get after the ones who either didn't respond (appreciate that, btw) or did respond with "CPSIA what?  What's that?"  (For real, that really happened.)

I was sort of ignoring this whole ordeal because I was confused.  I mean how could any regulation be so poorly written?  How could it be so far reaching?  How could it include me?

Then I read an article on Forbes.com that did a great job of explaining, and I'm feeling a little better informed.  I mean, the writer, Walter Olson hit the nail on the head:

"...CPSIA is now shaping up as a calamity for businesses and an epic failure of regulation, threatening to wipe out tens of thousands of small makers of children's items from coast to coast, and taking a particular toll on the handcrafted and creative, the small-production-run and sideline at-home business, not to mention struggling retailers."

In case you missed my first post on this topic which essentially asked for your support, here's the run-down.  CPSIA is a regulation passed by Congress intended to prevent anything like the Chinese lead-in-every-toy fiasco that occurred last year, from ever happening again.  A good premise gone terribly wrong.  Come February 10th, any and every product intended for use by children aged 12 and under will be subject to expensive third-party testing.  And when I say everything, I mean not just toys, but clothing, towels, bedding, diapers, hair-bows, flash cards and sporting equipment.  Virtually every article produced for use by children under 12 will have to undergo this testing.  This EXPENSIVE testing.

But here's the thing.  Other than the obvious large companies who are equipped to deal with such regulations (and should be, especially when they are coming from China), there are so many thousands of wonderful hand-made products that make our children's wardrobes and toy boxes interesting.   Toys and clothes that contain no hazardous materials.  Books that contain paper and cardboard.  Handmade accessories.  All these items will need to be tested.  And as a result, tens of thousands of small businesses, businesses needed to buy food for families, to clothe children, to pay rent with - all these small businesses will be closed down, lest they be caught and faced with possible prison time or fines of $100,000.  All for selling a product that could not possibly contain any of the materials it is supposed to be tested for.

And all this during a time when the economy is in the worst down-turn since the 1930s.  Could this law suck more? 

And get this interesting tidbit - according to Olson's article, rumor has it the law enforcers are not looking to put small business in the gutter and likely will only enforce the regulation in visible places, like more major manufacturers.  The hand-made goods assembled in a mother's basement as her children napped won't likely attract the attention of the CPSIA (nudge nudge wink wink), but even so, they will be breaking the law each time they sell one.

Ahhhh, the sweet smell of liberty.

There is something SO drastically wrong with a law that is intended to keep lead out of our childrens toy chests, but actually keeps just about everything out of their toy chests, closets, bathrooms, and then some.

By the time all is said and done, so many family businesses will be put down that there will be no money to buy these over-tested items anyhow.

Fancypants Bakery

I love treats.  Or rather, my kids love treats.  And since I love to buy 'em, may as well be treats that are aesthetically pleasing, right?  If your family likes cookies or you like to spread fun and yummy indulgent gifts around, check out the beautiful cookies by Fancypants Bakery. 

We tried them and they're deee-licious.  The cookies themselves are shortbread and are crunchy and sweet and appealed to my kids as well as the adults in the house.  More importantly, each one is truly a small work of art.  Decorated to suit any occasion - holidays, weddings, new babies, birthday and more, Fancypants also offers custom-designed cookies.  You work with them and they will make your cookie to suit your needs.  I would love to give out Alex Casey Baby-themed cookies at our next event!

Parents of children with allergies - THIS IS THE PRODUCT FOR YOU!  Fancypants cookies are safe for people with peanut or tree nut allergies! There are NO NUTS anywhere in their bakery.  And none of their cookies contain ingredients that make contact with nuts.                                                                

The folks at Fancypants have generously offered to give away a box of 9 Valentine's Day cookies to one lucky reader.  Just visit their website and tell us your favorite design.  For an additional entry, subscribe to my feed (button to the right of this post)!  Want another?  Simply Tweet/blog about this contest!  A winner will be chosen on Friday, January 23rd.  Open to US residents only.

Caesar Salad - Hold the Anchovies & Raw Stuff

I found a recipe yesterday for Caesar salad that didn't involve anchovies or raw eggs.  I typically make un-creamy Caesar, with oil, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and parm cheese, but I was in the mood for a change and it was GREAT.  Let me know what you think:

Ingredients:

• 3 garlic cloves
• 3/4 C of mayo (I used Hellman's Light for way fewer calories/fat grams)
• 1tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2tsp dry mustard
• 3tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 C parm cheese (I use freshly grated)
• few tbsp's lemon juice
• 1/4 C olive oil
• Romaine lettuce
• Croutons

Combine all ingredients in a processor or Magic Bullet (!) except the oil.  Once it's all blended, add the oil slowly.

Great if you're pregnant and craving something close to the real thing!!!

Yield: 6-8 servings

theBalm

I'm a low-maintenance girl.  I mean, I am a mom who works from home so my daily beauty routine doesn't usually consist of much more than a little moisturizer, perhaps some blush, and the essential lip gloss.  So when I buy make-up, it has to be easy to use and not too glitzy.  In short, I want to feel pretty without too much effort.

Last week I tried a line of make-up called theBalm.   What first attracted me to this line was their tongue-in-cheek merchandising - for example, their homepage features an image of a 50's style woman saying "Do you know what it takes to be glamorous for your Daddy-O"?  Point is, theBalm offers products that will make you look and feel glamorous (no doubt for "Daddy-O"), but it's unbelievably low-maintenance in both its application and price.

Like a kid in a candy store, I've been playing around with my new make-up.  The first product I tried was the tinted moisturizer, appropriately called Balm Shelter.  Never used a tinted moisturizer?  Me neither.  Let me just say that without adding any volume to my face, the un-greasy cream melted into my skin in seconds and the tint added an even-ness to it (is that a word?).  I don't use foundation so this is the perfect solution for my imperfect skin.  Next I applied a tiny dab of Time Balm concealer, as-needed.  Over that, a little Sexy Mama translucent powder and my skin looked seriously fabulous.  

Like I said before, my m.o. is low-maintenance but I do love a healthy glow as much as the next girl.  Stainiac by theBalm offers just the right amount of that "oh, I've just run in and my cheeks are a bit flushed" look.  Just use a dab on either cheek, rub it in gently.  I would say if I were to choose one product to buy, this would be it.  But the Shady Lady shadow in pink champagne     worked perfectly too.  When the day is done, remove it with Balms Away eye-makeup remover.  Actually a cream-base, I was concerned that it would leave a greasy residue, my pet-peeve.  Surprisingly, after breaking up my make-up quickly and wiping off easily, it left my eyes feeling moisturized and conditioned.   

Ladies, theBalm is really something to talk about.  The packaging is adorable and the colors stay put.  Best of all, it takes ZERO skill to apply this stuff perfectly (thankfully).  And think of how impressed "Daddy-O" will be when he comes home from a long day at work to find his wifey looking so glammed up!

You can buy theBalm  on their website and at Sephora. 

Healthy Ideas for a Healthier Year

About a month ago, I attended a media lunch at Hammersley's Bistro in Boston's South End (great food, btw).  Sponsored by Stop & Shop, the idea was to give attendees holiday tips during this year's financially tight season.  Until then, I had never really given much thought to the effort that goes into getting people to shop at a particular grocery store.  That day I learned about how the store's Real Deal promotions work, as well as changes being implemented, including adding hand-held scanners to the stores, digital scales, family-friendly check-out lanes (no candy!), to name a few.  I also heard a little bit about how Stop & Shop is trying to help people in their never-ending quest to be healthier.     

 

The idea is to make it simple for families to shop for healthy foods without reading a million labels.  Following certain criteria, the folks at Stop & Shop labeled 3000+ food items with a Healthy Ideas logo, making it easy for you to make better choices in your shopping.  As an avid label reader, I know this gives me one more reason to hit S&S for groceries.  And if you want to take it one step further, the S&S website offers Simple Swaps recipes - ideas for making your family's favorite foods while cutting down on fat, calories, sodium, etc.   It includes hundreds of recipes, and I will say, they look good!

 

Truth be told, I have never really been dedicated to any one grocery store.  I tended to go where it was convenient - until my husband informed me of the enormous amount of money we were spending each month on groceries.  Really, it was astronomical by anyone's standards.  It was that same day that I met the people from Stop & Shop and since then, I've been traveling the 12 minutes to their nearest store which is new and HUGE.  My experience has been really great so far.  Our bills have come down (we're taste-testing the Stop & Shop brands - worth a try!) and I'm enjoying the friendly service (for real).  I highly recommend making a trip to S&S (and while you're there, try some of their brands, namely their organic Nature's Promise.  It's really good).