MOM CONFESSIONALS

Recently I was invited to the launch party for Honest Company hosted by MomTrends and got a chance to meet the fabulously gorgeous Jessica Alba, one of the founders of this revolutionary company.  We listened to hear tell the story of her early days as a new parent and it echoed my very own experience.  I became a parent during the early uproar over BPA in bottles and remember the ignited fear within.   I began countless hours of research and at every turn I was more and more horrified.  Not just at the chemicals in everyday products we used but also at the high costs for products that were safer.  “I’ve spent way too many hours researching products and driving around trying to find safer, eco-friendly options for my kids,” exclaimed Jessica Alba, President and founder. “I knew that most people didn’t have that kind of time, nor the means to pay the premium prices. We had to make it easier.”  She teamed up with Christopher Gavigan, former Healthy Child Healthy World CEO; Brian Lee, ShoeDazzle.com founder; and Sean Kane, PriceGrabber.com executive, to launch The Honest Company, an eco-friendly line of family essentials offered through a monthly subscription service at Honest.com.  That’s a pretty amazing team for sure!  Healthy Child Healthy World was my go-to site for the most reliable information and still is.  Meeting Christopher Gavigan was inspiring.  He admits to being asked for product recommendations all the time but it took a LOT of nudging from Jessica Alba to give birth to The Honest Company.  We’re glad he came on board.

Created for parents by parents, The Honest Company founders say they are committed to making safe, sustainable products more convenient, beautiful, and affordable.  While one might be skeptical about signing up for a monthly subscription service, I can barely commit to a magazine subscription, I was pleasantly surprised at the flexibility.  The products are curated into personalized bundles that are automatically shipped every month, and parents can try a FREE Discovery Kit, that includes a sample pack of diapers and wipes, or trial-sized versions of the bath, skin and cleaning products.   If you like the discovery kit, you can continue to receive a customizable kit of FULL size products monthly.  It’s an easy process, and members at Honest.com can purchase a monthly supply of non-toxic stylish diapers competitively priced at less than $20 a week, and can also choose a monthly supply of the body care and home cleaning essentials for under $9 a week.  When it’s put in those numbers, it makes a lot of sense.

I really can embrace the Honest Family Essentials Bundle model where I can select 5 out of 14 currently available products every month.  My needs are always constantly changing, not to mention being a little commitment phobic, having the flexibility to choose the products I need for the next month is awesome!  While I am just transitioning my littlest one out of diapers, I have to say the Honest Diaper Bundle is so gorgeous I even contemplated waiting a bit longer on potty training.  Completely natural & non-toxic – made from chlorine-free, bio-based absorbent, and plant-based materials, these diapers are not only stylish, but also ultra absorbent with a premium fit.

As one of the founders of Trumpeting Media, we love brands that have a charitable arm, doing some Social Good.  I was thrilled to hear that a portion of every dollar Honest Company earns goes to their non-profit partner Baby2Baby. This worthy nonprofit supplies local families in need with essential baby gear and clothing for children up to age four.  We love it!

In these days where BUSY doesn’t even begin to describe a parent’s typical day, convenience and value speaks to us.  We welcome The Honest Company to make every parent’s life a little more manageable.

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Being Chinese doesn’t necessarily mean you are Chinese. No time is that more clearer to me than when it comes to Chinese holiday traditions. I am fortunate enough that my husband’s family is firmly routed in traditional Chinese practices and have embraced each year with more and more enthusiasm. Especially now, with children of my own, I want them to grow up proud of their heritage and love these traditions as much as I do. As much as I’ve learned over the years with my husband’s family I am still learning.

This year I have had to actually dig behind the meaning of many of the rituals I perform yearly as this American-born Chinese girl is hosting a Chinese New Year Party for my daughter’s class. It’s a little ironic, but I am appreciating this opportunity to more than just the motions and really understand the meaning behind some of these, sometimes quirky rituals. Even if I don’t believe in ghosts and spirits, I can’t help but be enamored with the richness, beauty and history of each routine.

For instance, cleaning the house prior to Chinese New Year prepares the house for good luck. Anything broken, considered clutter, etc should be thrown out. This would be our version of spring cleaning. This could come in quite handy when the kids are older. Perhaps inspire them to ward off bad luck and invite more good luck, so clean real good kids!

I love shopping for Chinese New Year decoration. Banners adorned with Chinese calligraphy, chun lian, are hung throughout the house to usher in prosperity in the new year. I love to find one elaborate piece for the front door and I’ve taken to adorning smaller ones on my kid’s doors. For my daughter’s classroom, I’ve adorned it with signage and a couple of marionette dragons, the symbol of the upcoming New Year.

I didn’t know this before, but any cutting during Chinese New Year is considered unlucky. Thank goodness I cut my hair earlier this week. You always want to look your best for the New Year, unfortunately my nails fell short on that part, but I can’t do anything about that until after. New red clothing is usually the order for the New Year but a more modern take is simply wearing red underwear. I guess this New York girl can swing that. Definitely avoid wearing white and black. Duly noted!

Chinese New Year is typically an ongoing celebration for the first 15 days of the Lunar New Year. The eve of Chinese New Year is typically celebrated with a family dinner of fish – the chinese word yu sounds like another chinese word yu that means more or surplus, and dumplings — which symbolize wealth because of their shape, similar to the ancient gold & silver ingots. For my daughter’s class party, I’m serving up pan-fried dumplings and spring rolls.

One of my favorite dishes served is Nian Gao. My aunt use to make it from scratch, similar to another familiar dim sum dish, Law Bot Goe, but sweeter. When dipped in egg and pan-fried it is a delicious treat. I’m sure there is some significance to this treat but regardless, I’ve come to look forward to this dish every New Year.

Another favorite holiday tradition I’m looking forward to introducing to my kids is watching the parade. Filled with fireworks and lion dances, it never ceases me just how beautiful it is to watch. This year I am excited to take my kids for their first exposure to this wonderful celebration. Luckily in New Year we are not short of this timeless celebration.  The fireworks tradition began with the legend of Nian, a ferocious monster that was afraid of the color red and loud noises. It is believed the noisy fireworks and firecrackers scared the monster. Now, it is believed the more fireworks and noise there are, the more luck there will be in the New Year.  While fireworks have become illegal in New York, we have found other ways to make a loud bang.  My daughter’s class will be popping their way through the New Year with some Throw Poppers.

The kids aren’t quite old enough to embrace the holiday tradition of receiving red envelopes but my husband and I have eagerly embraced being the “adults” in this giving ritual. Each year we have fun shopping for the perfect red envelopes to give our gifts in. I can even admit, each year you can see we’ve grown a little. First year were Sanrio inspired red envelopes, following year more Sanrio, finally evolving to cartoonish drawings and calligraphy of the symbolic year. Eventually we’ll evolve to more grown up red envelopes as if anyone cares. We’re a little sad this year that we have to refrain from this tradition, as we are in mourning for the passing of the matriarch of the family.

Yes each year I’m learning a little more.

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I know its been a while… a long while. I didn’t mean for it to be such a long hiatus… but that is LIFE. I don’t even know what to say or even where to start. But here I am, finally resurfacing… well, because I need to. Taking it day by day. So I’m going to try to put my emotions to words.

Even before my son was born, I lived with this silent fear of losing him. As different diagnosis’ came in, I was always convinced this was it. This was all before he was even born. That fear never went away even when he blessed us with his appearance. I’d even venture to say it grew even more with every moment I got to know him and fall in love with him. Always nagging there in the back of my head. Always making small prayers of thankfulness whenever we reach a milestone. Always making new goals and yet still ever afraid. I don’t talk to anyone about these fears, not even my husband. I feel its a burden only a mom should feel. It’s not to say I don’t have these same fears about my daughter, but in a much less extreme way. She isn’t tainted. In fact she’s rather pure, my clarity and my anchor when those fears have me gripping the edge of my seat.

I almost went over the edge recently. It’s no secret my little guy is a little clumsy and you might even be able to dismiss it to the craziness of a 2 year old boy. That’s what I always try to do. But he fell… down the stairs. and then he fell again… and again… and again. Nurse Mommy, muah, went a little crazy thinking he might have fractured his skull and called the doctor. Not for his advice but to let him know that I was taking him to the ER as I know he would have suggested himself. Sometimes I need that reassurance that I’m not that crazy Nurse Mommy. So my little man was sedated and had a CT scan where it was revealed, to us anyway, that he had an arachnoid cyst. It seems it was there last year on a previous, routine (another long story), scan, but no one mentioned that to us. It was the VERY first time we had heard this. And we were devastated because it was growing. GROWING and no one had ever told us it was there in the first place! I had to put that aside and just deal with this growing cyst. GROWING CYST.

If there was ever a true moment I’ve contemplated suicide, this was one of them. I just didn’t know if I could bear it. I know I wouldn’t because of Ava, but if I lost my beautiful Marcus who ran to me every time when I came home with such joy, I would rather die. I hope I don’t sound crazy, but it is the most unbearable pain to feel, the thought of losing your child to something out of your control and I just don’t know what I am capable of handling when it comes to my children. My sister always says God gives you only as much as you can handle and I want to scream. I’m not as strong as he thinks, especially when it comes to the two little people I love more than life itself. And yet I’ve found strength in increments.

I love my husband for his quiet calm. I was emotionless outside and dying inside and he just gave me my space. As we traveled from one doctor’s visit to the next, he let me be silent. But he picked me up when I broke down in the middle of a department store as we quietly tried to restore some normalcy to a week that was so not. He let me cry it out and then recompose myself and once again be silent. He tried to help as best he could. If you came to our house now, you’ll see he’s installed toddler level handle bars all over the stairs. While it has no bearing on his cyst, I think it made him feel better and me, safer. We’ve walked in quiet tandem. We haven’t told our immediate family because I just can’t form the words to explain how this is happening to their beloved little Marcus. In all of this, my husband also lost his beloved grandmother, the proud matriarch of the family. It was devastating to everyone and sharing Marcus’ condition with them would have been too overwhelming. It’s okay though… really it is. I won’t say it isn’t strange living in a house where his grandparents are clueless to his condition, although I think they have their suspicions that all may not be well — I mean after the ER my husband didn’t go to work for a week with doctors visits left and right, not to mention the hovering and spoiling of both kids… I’d like to think they are trusting us, as parents, to handle this our way.

As much as we’re hovering over him, we don’t want him to have anything other than a normal day, a normal life… just the way he loves it. We’ll dance to Fresh Beat Band with him and help him build his train tracks and endlessly say chugga chugga choo to his laughter and delight.

So there it is. Why I’ve been so MIA. But don’t worry, I’m picking myself up… and taking it day by day. Everyday is a gift and I will hug and kiss my kids as much as I can. I no longer care if my son sleeps in our bed until he’s a teen, he can stay as long as he wants. He can breastfeed until he wants to quit.

Life resumes as usual. I have been going to work and it really is my happy place. I spend it with new moms and their babies. Nothing gives me more joy than a mom successfully breastfeeding, whether its because I’ve helped her or her baby was a natural. I come home every morning to that same excitable, palpable welcome from my kids and maybe I might hug them for a smidge longer but it is business as usual once again.

Tonight I went to the launch party for Jessica Alba’s new company (baby), Honest Company, –just another bit of normal in my life — and I think she said it best, “My passion is my kids…” I just couldn’t help nodding my head.

I will no longer sweat the small stuff. I will relish in their joys. Because when things are out of your control, all you can do is take it one day at a time.

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Is it me or is this holiday season particularly chaotic?!  There seems to be not enough time for anything these days and yet… I still need a good party to celebrate the holidays!

This season I’ve picked up some fabulous tips from some seasoned party planners, Debi Lilly and Jane Buckingham, to pull together a Holiday Soiree for the books — in a pinch and on a dime!  I have to say I was incredibly impressed with the results!

Debi Lilly had recently introduced me to her line of new affordable products and decorations for Safeway and I went GaGa over them!  The nearest Safeway is a bit of a trek for me, but no more than a trip to Stew Leonard’s is and we do that trip all the time!  Totally worth it if you’ve got grocery shopping still to do after all it’s a one stop shop.  I know what you’re thinking… don’t grocery store decorations usually classify as kitchy?  Well when Debi Lilly stamps her name to it, you know you’re in for a quality, stylish product.  I mean really, finding mercury glass in your grocery store?  Amazing!

First things first, use what you’re already got! Look at all the decorations you already have and see if you can recreate or take a twist on things!  Although my only set of cloth dinner napkins have seen better days and already have made their appearance, maybe one too many times at my parties, I whipped out my new cordless Panasonic 360° Freestyle Iron and lickity split I was ironing out all the creases and wrinkles and using them as decorative accents under my dish display.

Revamp your traditional glassware by customizing each glass with debi lilly design™ Double Faced Satin Ribbon in Taupe.   Taking that cue, I filled my glass bowls with unused ornaments and tied a ribbon around it just like the photo.

Finding ready to heat food items saves loads of time and are amazingly delicious too!  We got a chance to sample their baby maryland crab cakes , and scrumptiously addicting bumbleberry tarts.

With a few easy to make changes, they don’t have to look like something straight out of a freezer box.  Don’t just defrost and put out.  Debi Lilly makes presentation the focus and just elegantly displaying them on a plate with some garnish really makes it look like a world class dish.

Running around like a maniac with not enough time to cook.  The fabulous people at Panasonic and Jane Buckinghan showed some great dishes that are real crowd pleases to make in something as simple as their Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker!  I know you can’t imagine much more than rice being made, but we made …. You can set aside, and push the button at just the right time, or even pre-set the timer up to 24 hours in advance for a perfectly cooked dish!  Time schedule needs to be more flexible?  They’ve got you covered with a stay warm feature that doesn’t dry out your meal!

If you’re looking to redo your kitchen and plan on doing lots of entertaining, I’d recommend checking out the new Samsung Dual Oven Range.  Operating as a single cavity convection range or a double oven with independent temperature control when needed, with 5 burners and a warming compartment, you have the flexibility to create and entire holiday menu or just a small meal without wasting electricity.

A final spin around the room with my cordless Panasonic 360 Freestyle Iron, I iron out wrinkles in my curtains and table cloths on the fly.  It even let me vertically steam cloth too!  Great for steaming out my holiday dress in a pinch too.  Everything was picture perfect!

For some great inspiration, follow Debi Lilly on Pinterest, my new obsession.  Want to follow me too? You’ll see me pinning loads on my next project for the new year — finishing my basement and creating my dream laundry room… I know, how domesticated of me…  To shop Debi Lilly’s new collection for safeway and check out more tips for the holidays, visit at: http://www.safeway.com/ShopStores/Debi-Lilly

For all those last minute jams you might get into before the party, check out Jane Buckingham’s new book, The Modern Girls Guide to Sticky Situations.

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Oh I am obsessed over my iPad and so are my kids.  A while back I was given the opportunity to review the LeapFrog LeapPad and we jumped at it!   A personalized learning tablet with a 5″ touch screen designed for kids ages four and up, it’s their very own version of an iPad!  We were hooked!  So much so it deserved it’s very own holiday post.  As the trusted leader in educational entertainment, LeapFrog has combined the latest technology, enhanced educational curriculum, and most entertaining characters to fuel a child’s learning in a durable form factor that mirrors popular adult tablets. LeapPad is revolutionizing the way children learn by offering the next generation in learning, digital reading and personal creativity.

Expanding on their already large library, they will now offer more than 100 learning game cartridges, books, apps and videos.  Frugal parents will love this! Expanding the fun across platforms, the existing library of Leapster Explorer game cartridges and apps is cross compatible with LeapPad.  If you’re like this family, we have tons of games already!

Unique to LeapFrog products, games auto-adjust so kids can learn at just the right pace – added value, each LeapPad book app is actually three books in one – offering each story at three different levels.  LeapPad even remembers a child’s progress from game to game and book to book to keep the content challenging and engaging and of course syncs with the LeapFrog Learning Path.  Kids can build a strong learning foundation with phonics skills, mathematics and spelling, and then take learning beyond the basics to geography, world languages, music, creativity, science and life skills such as brushing their teeth.  As they embark on new learning adventures, kids can also practice their writing skills with step-by-step guidance and a child-sized stylus.

Built with 2 GB of memory, LeapPad encourages learning on the go and inspires curious minds to imagine more with a complete suite of innovative creativity tools featuring a built-in camera and video recorder, microphone, as well as art, story, and photo studios. Adding even more fun, kids can stretch, stamp or draw on their pictures to create personalized snapshots. LeapPad’s Animation Studio teaches children how to animate beloved Disney characters. My daughter is obsessed with the Princesses & Mermaids Story Studio app!

With Story Studio, kids create their own stories all about them using the built-in camera, personalized artwork, and even their own voice. This new app offers kids the opportunity to create more than 27,000 story combinations, including imagining what they want to be when they grow up, building their own family tree and more.

We love the LeapPad so much we purchased several more as gifts for my nieces and nephews.  We love it that much!  Since the first day we recieved it, it’s hardly gotten a break.  In the first 2 weeks and we went through 4 battery changes.  Each set lasts about 2 days of non-stop play.  Can you say addicted!  My 4 year old has memorized the songs from the Letter Factory video and her penmanship has improved leaps and bounds after a few rounds on her PetPad.  She ends her days with an ebook that reads her to sleep.
When she’s not learning, she’s taking pictures and videos with the built in camera.  I love downloading all her art and seeing what pictures she’s taken when she thinks we’re not looking.  Best of all, LeapPad allows parents to easily and instantly share their children’s masterpieces with family and friends via email or Facebook.  I think that’s very media mom of me!

While some might think $99 is a lot for a kid’s toy, but it is so much more than a toy.  This is durable — been dropped a few times already, once even on concrete and survived — I wouldn’t be able to say that if it was my iPad that she dropped.  Downloadable apps are priced at MSRP $5.00 and up and game cartridges at MSRP $24.99. LeapPad is now available in green and pink, sold nationwide at major retailers. For details visit leapfrog.com/LeapPad.

GIVEAWAYS: Enter NOW!  From now until December 23rd 2011 you MUST visit this FORM.  ONE (1) lucky winners will win an award winning Tag Reader Gift Set including the Tag Reader and 2 Books!  For an additional (3) entries – 1st Option – If you follow me on twitter @momconfessional and re-tweet this giveaway (I just entered @momconfessional’s @LeapFrog #Giveaway and you should too! http://wp.me/pLvfH-1bE) – 2nd Option – If you “like” us on Facebook and share the giveaway with your friends.  – 3rd option – subscribe to Mom Confessionals.  DON’T FORGET to visit this FORM and leave a separate entry for each action. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses and must be 18 years or older. Giveaway ends on December 23rd 2011 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.

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You’ve seen the commercial with the kid running through FAO Schwarz… Any kids dream come true!  Filled with a spectacular selection of exclusive and timeless toys, exhibits and popular items sure to enchant children of all ages, FAO Schwarz Fifth Avenue is a year-round shopping destination for tourists and New Yorkers alike. The Holidays just aren’t the Holidays without a visit to FAO Schwarz.

MasterCard invited Marcus and I, armed with a MasterCard giftcard, for our very own private shopping experience just like the commercial! We had the entire store to ourselves granted it was at 7am in the wee morning, but who cares! It was the most amazing experience to date and I loved watching my almost 2 year old’s wide eyed excitement at every turn.  FAO Schwarz is huge to any child, but to a toddler, the magnitude was overwhelming!  Ending with a Toy Soldier Tour and cone full of candy, the baby and I were pooped!  The experience was… PRICELESS!

This sounds all so amazing and really it is!  Even more amazing is that ANY cardholder can partake in any of a multitude of opportunities to enjoy the things they are most passionate about, whether its travel, sports, shopping, culinary or arts and entertainment. MasterCard cardholders will have access to extraordinary experiences, exclusive offers and privileged access to not only make MasterCard their top of wallet choice but also bring a little more priceless to their life.

Want to book your very own Priceless FAO Schwarz VIP Experience?  Only MasterCard® cardholders can take a trip to the legendary Fifth Avenue flagship store and shop at their leisure before the store officially opens to the general public! Come experience the magic and time-honored tradition of shopping at Manhattan’s oldest toy retailer.  There are still many holiday shopping days to be had so book your VIP access at http://www.mastercard.us/priceless-cities/newyork/category.html?category=shopping

For more information on the program, including how to book, reserve and purchase these unique experiences and exclusive offerings, visit www.mastercard.com/pricelessnewyork.

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As quickly as kids grow, it seems like you’re spending money left and right to keep your kids in clothing period, let alone stylish clothing.  One of our favorite shopping destinations has always been H&M kids.  They have not only stylish but high quality clothing at an affordable price!  When they first began to license Hello Kitty, one of my daughter’s favorite characters, we were there constantly stocking up on everything from cute dresses, tees and other Hello Kitty accessories.  From there our love expanded to warm and luxurious hats and mittens for the cold New York winters.  H&M has always been my go-to for cute spring dresses and now adorable french inspired sweater dresses.

I was not surprised to learn that as a global company, they impose the strictest of standards with regard to children’s clothing.  Tests are carried out throughout the production process to ensure that these demands are met.  When one country changes their requirements, they make the change globally.  Just a few of these not so recent changes included:

• detachable hoods on outer garments, to reduce the risk of accidents if a child should become caught by the hood
• no drawstrings with loose ends around necks or hoods, to minimize the risk of asphyxiation
• buttons, ribbons and embellishments must be sufficiently durable to withstand use and washing
• all garments must be checked in a needle detector to detect any foreign metal objects such as broken needles, which may have mistakenly ended up in the
  garment during production
• no treatment with flame retardants, to take account of the sensitive skin of children

Sound familiar?  All recent news worthy issues that H&M has always been on top of!  It makes shopping at H&M a no-brainer!

When they challenged me to maximize $100 and come up with some holiday outfits for my kids, all I could think was, are you serious?!  Easy Peasy!  What did we walk away with?  My darling daughter snagged a gorgeous grey knit sweater dress with rosette detailing, two pairs of knit leggings (to keep those winter breezes in check), a pair of pink pearlescent ballet flats with bow detail and just for fun, some whimsical hello kitty bow barrettes. While my handsome, snagged a a rugged black wool jacket, dress shirt with tie and robotic jeans to go with his new fedora and wooly hat.  Pictures to come!  But here are some from our fun shopping expedition, the little man was really in his element!

GIVEAWAY:  To get your kids dressed in H&M Style this holiday season, the fabulous people at H&M are giving ONE (1) very lucky Mom Confessionals reader a $100 Gift Certificate and a 25% off VIP card good until June 30th, 2012!  To ENTER, from now until December 15th 2011 you MUST visit this FORM and enter (1) one of (3) ways – 1st Option – If you follow me on twitter @momconfessional  and @HMUSA and re-tweet this giveaway (I just entered @momconfessional’s @HMUSA Holiday Style #giveaway and you should too! http://wp.me/pLvfH-1b3) – 2nd Option – If you “like” us on Facebook and share the giveaway with your friends.  – 3rd option – subscribe to Mom Confessionals.  DON’T FORGET to visit this FORM and leave a separate entry for each action. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses and must be 18 years or older. Giveaway ends on December 15th 2011 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.

HOLD THE PRESSES!  There can only be ONE giveaway winner, but ALL readers can get 20% off a single item by signing up for H&Mʼs newsletter http://www.hm.com/us/newsletter.

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Just in time for your holidays, I was honored to co-host with Nancy Johnson Horn (The Mama Maven) and Esti Berkowitz (Primetime Parenting) an exclusive Media preview of LOFT’s inspiring charms benefiting St. Jude, before they officially went on sale last week.

The limited edition necklaces designed by Dogeared, represent the LOVE, JOY and HOPE of the patients at St. Jude.  Everyday I am thankful as St Jude’s motto “Give thanks for the healthy kids in your lives…” and as an RN I am touched by the children whose paths I cross with who are not.  They are some of the most extraordinary kids I have ever met.  These children deserve to live a full life and the research that is done at St. Jude gets us one day closer to that every single day.  If there is even a small contribution, “and give to those who are not.” I can make, I would.  Being able to make a purchase that does good means just as much to me as making a purchase that is good for one’s health, because it’s good for one’s soul.

These small charms are affordable and gorgeous for that special someone in your life, or even for yourself.  Each charm retails for $26 and five dollars from the purchase of every charm will be donated to St. Jude.  The inspiring charms are available for sale starting today, December 5th, in LOFT stores nationwide and on LOFT.com. To learn more about the charms and meet the children they benefit, visit LOFT’s Facebook page.

This marks the fifth year of ANN INC.’s participation in the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign – the hospital’s national awareness and fundraising campaign that brings together celebrities, media and corporations to ask shoppers to “Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not.”

Since 2007, the company has raised over $6.7 million for St. Jude through its ANN Cares® charitable initiatives. As part of the ongoing partnership, now through December 31st, customers who shop at LOFT and LOFT Outlet stores will have an opportunity to support St. Jude through an add-on donation during the check out process. Additionally, ANN INC. has committed to donate up to $100,000 from the sale of limited edition products benefiting St. Jude during the Thanks and Giving® campaign, including the three LOFT Cares charm necklaces.

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Welcome to cold and flu season…it’s time to get educated! In addition to offering medicine that is easy to understand (including their latest launches:  help, I have chest congestion and help, I have a stuffy nose), Help Remedies’ Medical Director David Pompei (Pharm.D) provides the below tips on navigating through the drugstore clutter and other useful information for surviving cold/flu season:

1. PREVENT yourself from needing to visit the drug aisle – wash your hands regularly, exercise, consider getting a flu shot; these basic public health measures do reduce the chance of getting sick.
2. IDENTIFY YOUR SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS. If you do get sick, avoid characterizing your condition using ambiguous terms such as ‘cold’ or ‘flu’. Instead, identify your specific symptoms; do you have a headache, does your body ache, do you have a fever, are you congested, do you have a runny nose, etc. and select product/s with active ingredients that focus on your specific symptoms rather than catchalls that may have medications that you don’t need.
3.  TAKE LESS. Take just the amount of medicine you need. If a small dose relieves your symptom, there is no additional benefit in taking more. Start with a moderate dose – if you need more you can take more, up to the recommended dosage per day.
4. ASK QUESTIONS. The drug aisle can be confusing at times, and the pharmacist is there to help you get the right medication for your needs.
5. DON’T OVERDO IT. While you’re sick, take care of yourself. Rest, use a sick day, drink lots of fluids (including that old remedy, soup).

Whatever (or whoever) ails you this season, Help Remedies has your gifting needs covered with a variety of stocking stuffers:

PROBLEM: You battled a gang of coupon-clutching seniors while negotiating a cart full of gifts through the line at Target’s.
SOLUTION: help, I have an aching body

PROBLEM: Your coworker’s feet are in bad shape after she insisted on wearing “festive” 5-inch stilettos to the office holiday party.
SOLUTION: help, I have a blister

PROBLEM: In an obvious attempt at payback for your misspent youth, the grandparents gave the twins matching drum sets.
SOLUTION: help, I have a headache

PROBLEM: Your brother-in-law’s bear-like snores are rattling the windows. And the family is in town for a week.
SOLUTION: help, I can’t sleep

PROBLEM: Your teenager is far too cool to wear a proper coat. Or hat. Or scarf.
SOLUTION: help, I have a stuffy nose

PROBLEM: Your sister-in-law’s five cats won’t leave you compulsively sneezing self alone.
SOLUTION: help, I have allergies

PROBLEM: Your husband lost the annual family football bowl and pouted for an hour in the backyard.
SOLUTION: help, I have chest congestion

Yes they are niftily designed, and come in cute little pods that I can’t resist but they are just as practical as they are smartly designed.  Personally I hope someone leaves me some help, I can’t sleep in my stocking so I can sooner acclimate to working the night shift.  For additional information on Help Remedies, visit www.helpineedhelp.com. Each Help product is $3.99 MSRP, available at Walgreens, Duane Reade, select Target stores, Soap.com, Pharmaca.com, and other retailers nationwide.

GIVEAWAY:  It’s getting nippy out there!  Just in time for switching into snow boots and helping your feet “weather the storm” or after you’ve insisted on wearing “festive” 5-inch stilettos to the office holiday party, we’re giving away FIVE (5) help, I have a blister kits!  To ENTER, from now until December 31st 2011 you MUST visit this FORM and enter (1) one of (3) ways – 1st Option – If you follow me on twitter @momconfessional and re-tweet this giveaway (I just entered @momconfessional’s HELP remedies #giveaway and you should too! http://wp.me/pLvfH-1a8) – 2nd Option – If you “like” us on Facebook and share the giveaway with your friends.  – 3rd option – subscribe to Mom Confessionals.  DON’T FORGET to visit this FORM and leave a separate entry for each action. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses and must be 18 years or older. Giveaway ends on December 31st 2011 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.

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As everyone knows, it’s been a super busy year for me.  Graduating from nursing school to starting a new job.  It’s not surprising to say the least that it’s been a while since I’ve spoiled myself.  The fabulous people at JC Penney wanted to remind me and my readers the importance of pampering yourself this holiday season.  But you don’t need a reason to pamper yourself!  It’s not just a season of giving, but a season of renewal.  So treat yourself, heck, spoil yourself because you deserve it!  Armed with a $50 JCPenney gift card, I checked out their newly launched WRAPT boutique filled with tons of affordable items that made my $50 really stretch.  Spoiling yourself doesn’t have to be something huge.  It just has to be something that makes you happy and glamorous!  For me, a girl who is always on the computer, I had to have the Bling bejeweled mini-mouse on sale for only $12!  Now I’ll be blogging in style!

Shopping for an impossible someone?  There are so many great gift ideas in the WRAPT boutique.  Something for the sweet tooth, the electronic junky, something for the too cool, and even something just to glamour-ize someone.  Just in time for the holiday shopping craze, all the prices a slashed to incredible deals!  So get shopping!

GIVEAWAY: The fabulous people at JC Penney is giving you the chance to win chance to win a pack of 3 Glamour Travel Bags, in addition to a Glamour Tablet Case (to gift, or keep for yourself!) from the Glamour line for sharing how you find time to keep yourself beautiful this holiday season.  To ENTER, from now until December 8th 2011 you MUST visit this FORM and tell us how you find time to keep yourself beautiful this holiday season.
For an additional (3) entries – 1st Option – If you follow me on twitter @momconfessional and re-tweet this giveaway (I just entered @momconfessional’s @JCPenney #Giveaway and you should too! http://wp.me/pLvfH-1a8) – 2nd Option – If you “like” us on Facebook and share the giveaway with your friends.  – 3rd option – subscribe to Mom Confessionals.  DON’T FORGET to visit this FORM and leave a separate entry for each action. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses and must be 18 years or older. Giveaway ends on December 8th 2011 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.

{ disclosure : Mom Confessionals received a $50 gift card to spoil herself, who really needs a reason for that? }

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