We have some housekeeping to take care of before our Big Blog Party begins... There are a few giveaways that still need to have their winners announced and here they are:







The winners of the SmartKnit Kids Seamless socks are:

Mama of 3
Gahome2mom
Sara&Alex






The winner of the products from OOKISA Haircare and KUMAARA Skincare is:

Michelle

- Coach Jenn of PersonalFitCoach.com



Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Junk Drawer?

So, be honest…do you have a “junk” drawer? That drawer that accumulates all the stuff you just don’t know what to do with? We have one in our kitchen. I have tried to clean it out and live without one but somehow junk is attracted to a drawer like a magnet. So, is it so bad to have one? I started to think about it from an organizational perspective and this is what I decided:

• The junk drawer keeps me from needing to find another home for all that “junk”. Identify what is in your junk drawer…things you occasionally use? Mine has birthday candles, a jar opener, name badge lanyards. Do I really need these things? Probably not, but having them on hand when I do is convenient.

• The junk drawer gives a default landing zone when my family doesn’t know what to do with something. This actually eliminates clutter. Instead of little things laying around, my kids will find something and put it in the junk drawer. Since I go through and clean it out monthly this works well to keep miscellaneous “junk” from cluttering up surfaces in our home.

• A junk drawer doesn’t have to be disorganized. You can use sandwich bags, drawer dividers, envelopes- all types of things to keep the “junk” organized. You don’t want to open a drawer to a discombobulated mess- that doesn’t help you keep track of anything.

Just remember that a junk drawer (or basket or whatever you use) does not have to be a mess. You can keep the stuff together without giving up the convenience of a catch all drawer.

Happy Organizing!

Melissa


Posted by Melissa of Multitasking Mama

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

It's almost here!! We are so very excited that our very first Blog Party is just around the corner.


When: Monday, June 1st through Monday, June 15th

Where: The Brand New Pink Lemonade
www.pinklemonadeoflife.com

Why: To Celebrate our Re-Launch



Details can be found at our Party Page.

Please grab yourself a button HERE and post it proudly on your blog.

We Hope To See You There!



Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

What is your idea of the perfect family summer vacation? Is it laying on the pool, enjoying a good book, sipping something fruity and icy while the kids and their swim toys spend the afternoon in the pool? Maybe it's strolling through historic towns, looking for antiques or artisan wares. Ask the kids and they're going to tell you that their idea of a good time would be spending several days at a world-class amusement park, riding the rides, splashing around a water park and eating lots of "fun food".

Wouldn't it stand to reason that the perfect family summer vacation could include all of those things? But of course you're thinking that such a place exists only in our imagination... Not true! That place is Kissimmee, Florida!

It's true - in Kissimmee, you can make everyone in your family happy. Mom will love the shopping in Historic Downtown Kissimmee, Dad will enjoy the great golf courses and fishing and of course, the kids will love the rides offered by world-class theme parks such as Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. Everyone in the family will love a horseback outing, riding the zipline at Forever Florida's Zipline Safari even an airboat ride!



Whichever you choose, it’s not too late to start planning your Kissimmee vacation.

Thankfully, Kissimmee is giving away three (3) weekend getaways (3 days/2 nights) for two (2); and two (2) week-long vacations for four (4). Drawings will be held on or around 4/1/09, 5/1/09 and 6/1/09. So enter the sweepstakes before it's too late!

Founders of Coupon Sherpa and FreeShipping.org introduce free shipping iPhone app that allows users to access free shipping codes and price discounts for online purchases

[Ft. Collins, CO] – Commerce over mobile devices, such as iPhones, is booming in the United States. With this in mind, the founders of Coupon Sherpa and FreeShipping.org have introduced an iPhone application that allows users to find coupon codes for online shopping and make purchases off their iPhone.

The app, which is free and available at the iPhone App Store, is also ideal to conduct a price comparison and see if you can get a better deal online versus an in-store purchase. The free shipping app features coupon codes for price discounts as well as free shipping deals from participating merchants. Users can search by store or category.

“A rapidly growing number of people are making purchases online through their mobile devices, so it makes sense to give them an app where they can get coupon codes for discounts and free shipping offers,” said Luke Knowles, who founded FreeShipping.org with his wife, Maisie, and Coupon Sherpa (www.couponsherpa.com) with his brother, Jesse Knowles. “This app is especially convenient when you are in a store and you want to know if the price there is good, or if you can find a better deal online. The only drawback to buying something online is shipping costs, and our app gives you free shipping coupon codes so you can save even more money.”

Knowles is building a cluster of businesses centered on frugal living. Launched in December 2007, FreeShipping.org is a one-stop destination for consumers to find online retailers that offer free shipping deals. The site, which now includes more than 1,500 name-brand stores, allows visitors to search by brand or category. Among the major retailers on FreeShipping.org are Victoria's Secret, Macy’s, Target, Bloomingdale's, Kohl’s, Sears, Best Buy, Old Navy and Nordstrom.

Knowles debuted Coupon Sherpa, which is also free and available at the iPhone App Store, in April. Coupon Sherpa allows iPhone and iPod Touch users to access in-store coupons from their mobile device and present that coupon to the cashier at the participating merchant. Finish Line, Zales Jewelers, Coldwater Creek, Gordon’s Jewelers, CompUSA and Jackson-Hewitt are among the retailers that offer coupons on that app.

The new free shipping app is essentially a mobile version of FreeShipping.org, Knowles says.

“We are changing the way people use coupons. We believe this is the future of shopping,” Knowles explained. “The free shipping app is a perfect complement to Coupon Sherpa because the free shipping one is for online shopping and Coupon Sherpa is for in-store purchases.”

###

Created by the founders of FreeShipping.org (www.freeshipping.org) and Coupon Sherpa (www.couponsherpa.com), the new free shipping iPhone application gives users access to a variety of free shipping codes and price discounts from participating merchants.

Bernard Rudofsky (1905 – 1988) was a noted architect and structural engineer, but what few people know, is that this architect changed the fashion world.

Rudofsky spent many years designing and building structures in Europe and later spent decades as an academic serving at Yale, MIT and other universities. He also authored 10 books, covering the subjects of architecture, design and travel.

But it was his work as a social commentator and critic of modern day cultures that led the way to his best selling book Are Clothes Modern. This book is an essay on contemporary apparel of the 1940’s and it eventually led the way to the advent of today’s modern day sandals.

In 1944, Rudofsky’s book became the subject matter of an exhibit at The Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was through this exhibit that the public first saw what was considered, at the time, REVOLUTIONARY sandal designs.

Rudofsky believed that the, so called, “modern contemporary” apparel and footwear were actually not modern or contemporary, but were rather restrictive, even deforming to our bodies and feet, much like the body transformation practices of ancient cultures.

Appearing, of course, in this exhibit were Rudofsky’s “alternative” designs. These designs incorporated his “freedom and lifestyle” concept. The clothing most certainly freed the body, but his sandal designs not only freed the foot, they also opened the eyes and minds of those who loved fashion. As a result, Rudofsky’s sandal designs soon enjoyed tremendous commercial success while launching a “sandal revolution”.

Rudofsky designed 3 to 4 collections a year while his wife Berta ran the company on a day to day basis and together they ran their company “Bernardo” for a number of years before eventually selling it. By that time the sandal revolution was in full swing. Bernardo, the company they started together, became the country’s most successful sandal company throughout the 1960’s and 70’s.

Recognizing Rudofsky’s work and contribution to the sandal world, Rudofsky was credited for the advent of the modern day sandal by Harper’s Bazaar magazine in an article appearing in March of 1967 entitled “Rat-a-Tat-Tat Shoes on the March”.

Published in 2003 was the biography Lessons from Bernard Rudofsky written by Andrea Bocco Guarneri. This biography chronicles Rudofsky’s life, his works and contributions to design and fashion.

In 2007 The Getty Center in Los Angeles, in association with Architekturzentrum Wien in Vienna, launched the opening of an exhibit entitled Lessons from Bernard Rudofsky. This exhibit opened in Vienna during March of 2007, then traveled to Canada before opening at The Getty Center in Los Angeles on March 11th 2008. This exhibit not only chronicled Rudofsky’s life and work, it led the way to a second biography, Lessons from Bernard Rudofsky Life as a Voyage.

As documented in both biographies as well as the exhibit, Rudofsky’s concepts, theories and criticisms are as relevant today as they were in the 1940’s. The same is true for his sandal designs, which have stood the test of time. He not only designed the traditional flat sandal construction, that Bernardo is so famous for, but three of his original sandal designs are still amongst Bernardo’s top volume styles each year. These styles, the Miami, Mistral and Milly are a testament to Rudofsky’s design genius. Over 60 years later these designs are discovered each and every year by new generations of young woman believing they have just discovered the “latest fashion” and the truth is, they have.

“Bernardo is a living legacy of Bernard Rudofsky. We’re very proud, and honestly humbled to be the current stewards of the brand.”

-Trae Smith, President of Bernardo Footwear L.L.C.

Biographical references from:

Bernard Rudofsky A Humane Designer by Andrea Bocco Guarneri, Published by Springer-Verlag Wien New York

Lessons from Bernard Rudofsky Life as a Voyage Co-Curators Monika Platzer, Architekturzentrum Wien and Wim De Wit, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles.

Harpers Bazaar March 1967, Rat-Tat-Tat Shoes On The March Page 201 & 202, Credits Bernard Rudofsky for the advent of women’s modern day sandals.

Kate Voegele's sophomore release, A Fine Mess, is now available! The Mike Elizondo (Maroon 5, Natasha Bedingfield) produced album features the single "99 Times" and is currently streaming in full on Kate's MySpace page. Like what you hear? Amazon MP3 is offering a great deal to grab the entire album for only $2.99. Follow these simple instructions to get the discounted tracks from Kate's album page on MySpace.

Philanthropic Travel is a growing trend in the US and abroad. 40% of people when making travel plans prefer to travel responsibly! Today, you can take your philanthropy on the road: traveling to make a difference in the world and contribute to international nonprofit organizations. Philanthropic travel is the newest way to combine your travel interests and the issues you care about. From saving elephants in Botswana to benefiting an orphanage in Cambodia, travelers can give back to the communities they visit and still enjoy the pleasures of a luxury trip put together by Elevate Destinations (www.elevatedestinations.com), leaders in the Responsive Travel movement.

Elevate Destinations has developed sustainability guidelines for each destination they visit to create awareness and provide their clients with the opportunity to better understand the environmental, socio-cultural and economic needs of the places they visit. The company was founded by Dominique Callimanopulos, who began traveling around the world even before she was born. Throughout her travels, she was conscious of the inequities between travelers and native communities. This perspective became the subject of her academic interest and career.

Her anthropology thesis at Wesleyan University focused on the impact of tourism in the Seychelle Islands. It inspired her travel and international involvement with many non-profits and philanthropists. Dominique saw the opportunity to combine the singularly exciting travel she enjoyed with giving back to the communities she visited.

Elevate Destinations developed from this vision. Every ElevateDestinations trip benefits environmental preservation and community development. Our people are committed to Elevate Destinations' mission and are selected for their ability, knowledge and integrity.

Famed PGA Golf Instructor Tina Mickelson Delivers Golf Instruction Videos to Worldwide Consumers on the Web through Youreeeka Digital Media Platform

Youreeeka, an innovative, turnkey, pay-for-access Internet distribution platform, is excited to announce its partnership with renowned PGA Golf Professional, Tina Mickelson, to distribute her exclusive golf tips and instruction videos to worldwide golf enthusiasts via the Internet.

With Youreeeka, golfers of all ages and skill levels can now step-up their games in the privacy and comfort of their own homes by streaming Tina’s valuable golf tips to their computers. Additionally, they can download the video golf tips directly to their iPhones or iPods while on the golf course, or wherever they may be. Anyone can access Tina’s golf instruction videos at www.tinamickelsongolf.com.

The Youreeeka Affiliate Program allows other golf professionals, enthusiasts, and anybody who has a Web site or blog spot to make money by featuring the Youreeeka player on their sites. By simply adding the embed code to their Web sites, they can share in the revenue of Tina’s online video sales whenever a user makes a purchase through that site. Becoming an affiliate is easy and accessible to anyone by creating a free Youreeeka account at Youreeeka.com.

”I had so many requests for private lessons, but I was unable to accommodate all of them, and many of these requests were outside San Diego,” Mickelson said. “I wanted to make my teachings and philosophies available to everyone. The Internet is an ideal way for golfers to improve their skills and fundamentals because they can have access to these golf tips wherever they are. At the same time, because Youreeeka also features a secure PCI-compliant payment gateway, it allows me to easily deliver, display and sell my exclusive video tips on any Web outlet while preventing them from piracy.”

Tina Mickelson's unique presentation and delivery of the fundamentals of golf make it easy for golfers of all levels to make progress in their game and shoot lower scores. As a result, the game of golf suddenly becomes a lot more fun. She has put together several packages of golf instruction and video tips designed to help golfers improve in all areas of the game. Consumers can choose to purchase her entire video or select a combination of specific golf tips that address their individual needs or challenges.

“When we learned that Tina was looking to take her expertise to the Internet, we knew that this was a perfect ‘match play,’” added Lenny Magill, creator, founder and CEO of Youreeeka. “www.tinamickelsongolf.com is the first golf site, created by Youreeeka, enabling viewers around the world to purchase and view professional instruction videos on the Web in a secure environment and while receiving the highest streaming video quality available anywhere today with no decrease in speed or quality.”

About Tina Mickelson

Tina Mickelson has been a teaching professional since 1991 and has been a PGA Class “A” Member since 1994. She is recognized around the world as one of the truly great golf instructors. Tina’s passion for teaching the game drives her to reach audiences around the world through the Youreeeka Internet distribution platform.

She is currently the Golf Ambassador at the Santaluz Club in San Diego, CA and also serves as a Golf Ambassador for Callaway Golf. She works with both The Santaluz Club and Callaway Golf to help inspire golfers of all levels to develop their own passion for the game, instill proper fundamentals in a way that is fun and easy to understand, and to appreciate the many benefits the great game of golf has to offer.

Tina has authored and contributed to a number of published columns, including a weekly, nationally syndicated column, “Professional Golf Tips with Tina Mickelson.” She also helped edit Dr. Deepak Chopra’s book, Golf For Enlightenment. Tina has been seen on the Golf Channel covering the Champions Tour and has appeared on various instructional shows such as Golf Channel Academy and Academy Live. She has also been seen on CBS Sports covering the LPGA Tour. Tina’s unparalleled passion for teaching the game makes her highly effective with corporate outings and individual students alike.

About Youreeeka

Youreeeka’s patent-pending embeddable Flash Player offers content owners, producers and affiliates a complete, Web-based distribution platform with a secure PCI-compliant payment gateway. This innovative platform allows anybody to easily deliver, display and sell their proprietary digital content on any Web outlet (including Web sites, social networking sites and blog spots) in a virtually theft-proof environment. For more information, visit Youreeeka.

In a downward spiraling economy, people look for others to take the blame. Finger pointing solves little. Now, more than ever, we need to take responsibility for our actions. We need to understand that our current actions affect more than our present situation. Our actions today reflect as models for our children.

As president of the University of the Ozarks, I receive a variety of communications from students' parents. I am surprised when they seek out the president on behalf of their sons and daughters. I expect college students to speak for themselves. I believe responsible children grow up to be responsible adults, and this world needs responsible adults to lead, guide and influence us.

Teaching begins and ends with parents, so here are six positive recommendations to instill responsibility in your children:

1. Build Work Ethic
When I was nine-years old, I took over a newspaper route, a route I kept until I entered college. I was proud to be a miniature entrepreneur. My 72 customers waited anxiously for me to deliver their daily newspaper. My customers depended upon me, and if I let them down, I let myself down. That newspaper route helped me grow into being a responsible adult with a strong work ethic.

2. Assign Household Chores
Responsibility can begin at an early age. Assign children routine tasks to complete around the house. The following chores involve nothing unreasonable or barbaric: make the bed; tidy the bedroom; carry out the trash; empty the dishwasher; mow the yard; rake leaves; dust, sweep, and mop (not mope).

3. Encourage Saving Money
When children earn money, insist they save some of it. The savings can be for short-term purchases like video games and clothing, or toward long-term goals like summer camp and college. When children save their own money, it gives the purchase special meaning.

4. Adopt a Pet
When something depends upon us, we become responsible. Pets - from goldfish to golden retrievers, turtles to gerbils - require regular and reliable maintenance. But lessons of responsibility are not learned if Mom or Dad becomes the one who cares for a neglected pet.

5. Foster Reflective Thinking
The power of reflective thinking dates back to Socrates. The concept is a simple one: the more we think, the better we learn. Children make good decisions and bad decisions. As adults, we can help them think about why they did what they did, and how the consequences affect them and others.

6. Model Values
We are children's role models. We are models of honesty and truthfulness, examples of ethical behavior and integrity. We are the superheroes of ordinary life, and our heroics are as powerful and protective as our fictional counterparts. We teach that dishonesty and deception have unpleasant consequences, that unacceptable behavior is unacceptable. But we cannot be worthy examples if we do not model proper values ourselves. Be diligent. Children are watching.

Rick D. Niece, Ph.D., author of Side Yard Superhero, currently serves as the president for the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AK. He along with his wife Seree, work to provide intellectual and cultural enrichment for the 675 students of the University, preparing them for graduate school and professional employment success as well as establishing lifelong values. For more information, please visit www.RickNiece.com.

Would you like to have a copy of Side Yard Superhero, Rick's autobiographical novel about himself as a paperboy in small town DeGraff, Ohio?

We have two copies to give away to two lucky readers!

There are several ways to enter - here are the rules:

Please note: Your email address MUST either be in your comment or available on your blogger profile or your entry will NOT count!! **

* Leave us a comment on any post here at Pink Lemonade (be sure to comment on this post & let us know where you commented).

* Become a follower on Twitter. Leave me a comment to let me know your twitter name (if you are already a follower, leave me a comment with your twitter name).

* Become a fan on our new Facebook page. Leave me a comment to let me know your Facebook name.

* Subscribe to our RSS Feed or sign up to receive Pink Lemonade by Email. Leave me a comment to let me know you. If you are already a subscriber, leave me a comment and let me know.

* Blog about our contest on your blog. Leave me a comment with your post url.

* Place our new and improved slideshow widget on your blog (it's toward the bottom of this page in the far right column - just click "get widget" at the bottom of the widget [under the heading "Grab our Widget"]). Leave me a comment with your site url.

There you have it! Six very simple ways to enter our contest - how easy is that? Complete rules can be found on our Contest page.

This contest ends Thursday, May 28th at 11:59pm (pdst) so don't wait - make sure you've gotten all six entries before it's too late! Please note: entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to drawing a winner.



Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

Last week's lucky winners are listed below...









The winner of the Burparmor burpcloth for Dad's is Meredith from The Merry Death







The winner of the O Organics Italian Gift Basket is Amy from TJ and Amy Pugmire











The winner of the book: The Little Book on Meaning: Why We Crave It, How We Create ItCortney









Congratulations, I will be emailing you shortly!! Have a wonderful and safe long weekend!

Looking for a way to spice up your Memorial Day barbeque and break out of the traditional pasta or potato salad mode? The Western Pistachio Association recommends incorporating pistachios into your Memorial Day meal for a tasty, yet healthy option.

Nuts like pistachios have immense health benefits and are an easy way to improve cholesterol levels and reduce the effects of stress according to recent research conducted by Penn State University and the University of Toronto. In fact, pistachios are a great source of protein and potassium and provide more dietary fiber than any other nut.

The below recipe for an arugula, “pickled” strawberries, candied pistachios and crumbled blue cheese salad by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein is a great way to add some piazza and nutrition to your Memorial Day celebration. You can find Michelle’s recipe along with other celebrity chef’s pistachio recipes on the Western Pistachio Association’s website westernpistachio.org.






Yield: 4 Servings

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 tablespoons water

1 cup Pistachios

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon brown sugar

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

1 bay leaf

2 cups strawberries, stemmed, cut in quarters

4 cups Arugula, cleaned

¼ cup crumbled blue cheese

½ cup olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper


Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 350°F.


Heat the sugar and water together. Toss the pistachios into the mixture. Spread onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes. Remove and season immediately with sea salt. Allow to cool.


Remove from the pan, chop into small pieces.


Heat the brown sugar and vinegar with the bay leaf. Place the strawberries into a bowl over another bowl filled with ice. Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the strawberries and allow to cool. Remove the strawberries from the vinegar; reserve the vinegar for another use.


To Serve:

Combine the Arugula, cheese, strawberries with the olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Place on 4 plates, top with the candied pistachios.


Nutrition Facts:

(Amount per Serving): Calories 520, Total Fat 44g, Saturated Fat 7g, Monounsaturated Fat 28g, Cholesterol 5mg, Sodium 760mg, Potassium 560mg, Carbohydrate 27g, Dietary Fiber 5g, Protein 9g

A revolution is taking place among girls and women who are working together to tear down stereotypes and pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacle. The brainchild behind this movement is Gretchen Cawthon, creator of “Girls Can’t What?” www.girlscantwhat.com, a community website that motivates girls to succeed at doing anything they set their minds to, including raising a million dollars to benefit women charities.

From being one of the only girls to make it on the 6th grade boys basketball team to learning to walk again at 14 after being hit by a drunk driver, Cawthon is used to achieving goals and overcoming obstacles she was told couldn’t be done. She created “Girls Can’t What?” to share these personal experiences along with amazing stories and interviews from truly inspirational women.

Now Cawthon is on a mission to raise $1 million to benefit nonprofit organizations that help women. She’s created fun and hip t-shirts that feature her trademarked girl character breaking down stereotypes – everything from taking on the role as a football player to working as a construction worker. 20% of proceeds from the sales of the online store will be donated until $1 million is raised to support women's nonprofit organizations.

--Leading Natural Medicines Provider Launches Product in Stores Nationwide--

Los Angeles, CA - May 15, 2009 – Athletes of any age, active boomers and do-it-yourselfers can finally find real, natural relief from sore, tired muscles. Hyland's Inc., a leading provider of natural over-the-counter medicines, announces the launch of the new Hyland's Muscle Therapy™ product line, an arnica-based medication line that includes Arnica 30X, Muscle Therapy Gel with Arnica and Muscle Therapy Strips with Arnica. This product line is now available in natural food retailers and select food, drug, and mass retailers nationwide.

The number of health conscious Americans continues to grow, but with over 4 million sports-related injuries reported annually, and countless more that are not reported, also increasing is the number of people suffering from activity-related pain. The Hyland's Muscle Therapy line offers consumers safe, natural pain relief from joint pain, muscle soreness, bruising, stiffness and swelling due to overexertion or injury.

"Our newest product line, Muscle Therapy with Arnica, aims to relieve the muscle soreness and pain of our active consumers," explained J.P. Borneman, PhD., chairman and CEO of Hyland's, Inc. "In three forms - a topical gel, quick dissolving strip and quick dissolving tablet - this line is especially convenient for our customers who lead busy, on-the-go lives, providing them access to effective relief so they can keep moving and stay involved in the activities they enjoy."

Hyland's Muscle Therapy products are all-natural and do not contain aspirin, acetaminophen or salicylates. There is no fear of drug-to-drug interactions with Muscle Therapy, allowing the products to complement each other and other medications. The products are also free of side effects, so anyone suffering from muscle or joint pain can recover quickly and stay active.

Hyland's has also launched a Muscle Therapy Facebook page. Fans of the product line,
and of all Hyland's products, can join the online group, have their muscle therapy questions answered, meet friends and upload their own photos and videos of their favorite exercise and sports moments. Fans will also be able to enter the page's future online contests for a chance to win free Hyland's products. Search "Hyland's Muscle Therapy" on Facebook. For more information on arnica, visit www.arnica.com.

Santa Rosa, Calif.--Levi Leipheimer, the reigning and three-time Amgen Tour of California champion, is the instigator and patron of a new fundraising cycling event, Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo, on October 3 in Sonoma County. The primary beneficiary of the ride will be the Tour of California.

Levi Leipheimer, a resident of Santa Rosa, Calif., said, "This King Ridge GranFondo is the perfect way to show everyone what myself and many of the best cycling teams in the world have known for years: Sonoma County is a cycling heaven! There's nothing I enjoy more than showing off my training grounds to other cycling enthusiasts and sharing that passion for the bike."

Three different ride options, one of which includes the stunningly beautiful King Ridge Road, will take place in the golden light of fall in Sonoma County. The turning leaves, soft vineyards, tranquil valleys, and spectacular views of the rugged Sonoma coastline create an ambience of romance and adventure as participants pedal through some of the most glorious cycling country in the USA.

GranFondo, which means 'great endurance' in Italian, is a traditional out-of-season ride in Italy. In other countries, France, for example, it has another name: 'randonnee cyclosportive,' which translates as 'sporting bicycle tour.' The full ride, the GranFondo, is 103 miles. In addition to this, there are two shorter, easier routes: a 65-mile MedioFondo; and a 40-mile PiccoloFondo.

Locals will recognize from the King Ridge part of the name that Levi's GranFondo takes a challenging route, which is why the MedioFondo and PiccoloFondo routes are planned too. Riders looking for a nice flat course may opt for the PiccoloFondo that stays in the charming valley floors. A moderate day's pedal in beautiful countryside can be had in the MedioFondo, while those looking for the kind of terrain that Levi seeks on his hard training days will find it on the mountainous King Ridge GranFondo route.

The event raises funds for the Tour of California and an animal charity in Sonoma County. Registration is open now at www.levisgranfondo.com.

About Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge GranFondo

The event is a Bike Monkey production, with Levi Leipheimer as the patron. The ride is organized with the collaboration and support of the City of Santa Rosa and the Santa Rosa Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Bike Monkey publishes a print and online magazine www.bikemonkey.net, as well as produces a series of mountain bike and cyclo-cross events in Sonoma County and around the Bay Area.

Text messaging at the dinner table, in the classroom, at the beach, while driving, and everywhere else has become common practice for teenagers across America. Face to face conversations have become a chore and more parents are growing concerned that not only are their child’s grades suffering, but they are also missing out on valuable real-world experiences. Understanding the need to educate teens on texting responsibly, Predicto Mobile, the largest premium mobile service content provider, has put together a few tips for parents looking to stage an intervention with their text-addicted teens.

1. Have “the talk” – Opening the doors of face to face communication is a big step. Sit them down and express your concerns about the negative affects constant texting is having on them.

2. Help them find a hobby – Many teens use texting as their default solution to boredom. Instead, encourage your child to pursue other activities that they may enjoy, like painting, acting, reading, or athletics.

3. Limited Text Plans – By limiting the number of texts your cellular plan has, you reduce the number of texts your child will be able to send. Limited plans do run the risk of overage charges so make sure your child knows the repercussions of over-texting. If not…

4. Let them foot the bill – If your child texts so much that you end up with thousands of dollars in cell phone charges, having them help pay for part of the bill will teach them responsibility. Texts don’t grow on trees.

5. Film them in the act – Bust out the video camera and film your child every time you catch them with their heads down and their thumbs a blaze. Once you gather enough ‘evidence,’ play them the tape. Allowing them to see how much they are missing may be enough to open their eyes.

6. Text-free zone – Allow certain times where phones aren’t allowed, such as dinner or family outings. This helps teens control how much time they put into texting and when.

7. Avoid the extras – Call your carrier to block third-party applications on your child's handset. Think of it as a V-Chip for the phone. Explain to you children – ringtones, games, apps – they all cost money and can contain explicit content. If an explanation doesn’t cut it, take control and limit the programs and features your child can and cannot access with their phone.

So who is Predicto?

With more than 1.8 million visitors per month, PredictoMobile™ is one of the fastest growing premium mobile services, challenging Americans to predict the right answer to a wide range of pop culture questions, with possibility to win prizes along the way online and via their mobile phone.

Washington, D.C., May 15, 2009 — Increased physical and psychological distress during pregnancy is a significant risk factor for both mom and baby during and after birth. But according to a new study, mindfulness-based yoga can decrease these potentially dangerous risk factors. Mindfulness-based yoga is a combination of Iyengar yoga, a form of postural yoga, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, a relaxation and stress management program. The results of the pilot study appear in the May/June issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN), which is published by the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).

"The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Yoga During Pregnancy on Maternal Psychological and Physical Distress,” by Amy E. Beddoe, RN, PhD; Paul Yang, MD, PhD; Holly Powell Kennedy, CNM, PhD, FACNM, FAAN; Sandra J. Weiss, PhD, DNSc, RN, FAAN and Kathryn A Lee, RN, PhD, FAAN, covers a seven-week mindfulness-based yoga group intervention involving 16 healthy, pregnant women who were between 12 and 32 weeks gestation at the time of enrollment.

The article describes how women practicing mindful yoga during their second trimester reported significant reductions in physical pain, while women in their third trimester showed greater reductions in perceived stress and anxiety.

"Childbirth preparation is extremely important at all stages of a pregnancy,” says AWHONN Executive Director Karen Peddicord, RNC, PhD. "Nurses can use this new knowledge to extend the traditional goals of pregnancy education to reduce pain and anxiety through more than just basic relaxation techniques.”

The article concludes that the preliminary evidence supporting yoga's potential efficacy for reducing pain and stress, particularly if started early in the pregnancy, should serve as a starting point for future research.

About JOGNN
The Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN) is the bimonthly peer-reviewed journal of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.

About AWHONN
The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is the foremost nursing authority that advances the health care of women and newborns through advocacy, research and the creation of high quality, evidence-based standards of care.

AWHONN's 23,000 members worldwide are clinicians, educators and executives who serve as patient care advocates focusing on the needs of women and infants.

A leader in professional development, AWHONN is the first and only association to be awarded the designation Premier Provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for innovation and excellence in Continuing Nursing Education.

In 2009 AWHONN celebrates its 40th anniversary of promoting the health of women and newborns. Founded in 1969 as the Nurses Association of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the association became a separate nonprofit organization called the Association of Women's Health and Neonatal Nurses in 1993. For more information, please visit us at www.awhonn.org.

Celebrity Chef Art Smith and the "Love Your Veggies" campaign team up to aid parents in keeping their kids healthy by demonstrating ways to make eating vegetables more enjoyable. The following video offers Art's kid-tested recipe ideas for parents



Art, formerly Oprah's personal chef, is also a cookbook author, television personality and two-time James Beard Award recipient. Art believes his greatest gift to the community at large has been his philanthropy - Common Threads - the non-profit organization founded in 2003 that teaches children about diversity and tolerance through the world's great cultures and foods.

Iconic Labs is a newly founded, California company dedicated to delivering premium beauty products directly to the consumer, cutting out the pricey middleman.

The brand just launched OOKISA Haircare in late 2008 and KUMAARA Skincare this month, two lines that rely on the premise;

* Modern beauty should combine advanced science with the benefits of natural, indigenous botanicals.

* Modern Beauty should be accessible and affordable for all.

Based out of LA and San Francisco, Iconic products offers high quality, cutting edge formulations to their consumer, at affordable prices via the ingenuity of the Silicon Valley.

The seasoned and committed beauty industry experts who founded the brand, joined forces with the best and brightest tech people to create a truly unique online platform for their product lines.

Launched in late 2008, OOKISA products are infused with Folliactiv™, a complex of scientifically-advanced vitamins, botanicals and amino acids proven to revive follicles and promote an optimum environment for thicker, fuller looking hair. The line is also infused with Hana-Senzai Energy Blend, a mélange of Eastern botanicals that includes: White Peony Tea, Japanese Citrus, Camellia Oil, Rooibos Red Tea, and Water Lily.

Sold exclusively online at www.OOKISA.com, this haircaire line is paraben-free, colorant-free, hormone-free, sulfate-free and cruelty-free.

Kumaara, launching this month, is a new skincare system formulated with Linefactor®, a scientifically advanced growth factor protector, inflused with potent certified organic berry blend of Indian Gooseberry, Goji and Açaí antioxidant super-fruit extracts. Avail exclusively at www.Kumaara.com, Kumaara integrates a number cutting edge ingredients such as, Dermaxyl, a potent Oligopeptide that stimulates increased collagen and elastin production; Matrixyl 3000, a proven Tetrapeptide designed to lift and firm skin for effective wrinkle reduction; Oligogeline®, a red seaweed extract that forms a protective, moisturizing layer that encourages skin cell renewal; Actiflow®, a P0lysaccharides-rich compound that lightens under eye circles by reinforcing the skins capillary system; and EyeSeryl, a Tetrapeptide that enhances skin elasticity and smoothness while significantly reducing under eye puffiness in as few as 15 days.

We have a surprise pack containing something from each line for our lucky winner this week!

There are several ways to enter - here are the rules:

Please note: Your email address MUST either be in your comment or available on your blogger profile or your entry will NOT count!! **

*Pop on over to either www.OOKISA.com or www.Kumaara.com and check out their products. Come on back and leave us a comment about why you would like to try their products.

* Become a follower on Twitter. Leave me a comment to let me know your twitter name (if you are already a follower, leave me a comment with your twitter name).

* Become a fan on our new Facebook page. Leave me a comment to let me know your Facebook name.

* Subscribe to our RSS Feed or sign up to receive Pink Lemonade by Email. Leave me a comment to let me know you. If you are already a subscriber, leave me a comment and let me know.

* Blog about our contest on your blog. Leave me a comment with your post url.

* Place our widget on your blog (it's toward the bottom of this page in the far right column - just click "get widget" at the bottom of the widget [under the heading "Grab our Widget"]). Leave me a comment with your site url.

There you have it! Six very simple ways to enter our contest - how easy is that? Complete rules can be found on our Contest page.

This contest ends Wednesday, May 27th at 11:59pm (pdst) so don't wait - make sure you've gotten all six entries before it's too late! Please note: entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to drawing a winner.



Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

Few things in this life are as frustrating as working hard to look better, firm up or slim down and, after a few weeks -- or a few months -- of eating right and exercising STILL having nothing to show for it! But take heart; often it's just the few, simple things we do to "kick start" our program that can make all the difference.

And let's not forget: progress shows up on the inside first and the outside second! All that hard work and effort is creating a healthier, heartier, stronger you, even if you can't see it right away. With spring nearly over and beach weather almost here, sometimes we just need a pre-summer "booster shot" to make sure that our outside catches up in time for bikini season.

The following 4-Step Guide will help you find the hidden saboteurs in your current diet and fitness plan and help you overcome the spring plateau to find you facing summer with a brand new you -- inside AND out:

• Step 1 – Hit the "Reset" Button: When something isn't working, it's insanity to keep doing what isn't paying off. If the scale isn't budging, if your pants still feel the same around the middle, if you know you've been trying your hardest and nothing is simply working, stop beating your head against the same brick wall and start all over again. That's right; hit the "reset" button. Treat tomorrow like the first day -- not the 101st -- and use this time to reexamine how you're approaching whatever system you've been using. Don't see it as a failure but as a new opportunity to reinvigorate and reexamine your current plan for cracks and leaks to see what might be going wrong.

• Step 2 – Write it Down: The best way to start from scratch is to go back and start writing down everything you put in your mouth for a few days. You may or may not have done this at the beginning of your program but, if so, do it again. Oftentimes we work so hard at the basics -- setting the alarm, exercising, cutting out one food group, etc. -- that we let other bad habits slip in, forgetting that our after-work out smoothie has more fat grams, sugar and calories than breakfast and lunch combined. It is often these systematic saboteurs that can derail an otherwise healthy fitness plan and the only way to properly identify them is to see them, in black and white, in a Food Diary.

• Step 3 – Give it Up: If, thanks to Step 2, you notice that those granola bars you've been nibbling on for breakfast are packing a whopping 340-calories and 16 grams of fat, not to mention 23 grams of sugar, try something else for a week and see if you notice a difference in either your weight or the fit of your pants. If you do everything the same and, one-by-one eliminate or replace one item at a time, like a sugary-sweet "healthy" granola bar or a calorie and fat-packed "health" smoothie, you have probably just identified your plateau culprit and by eliminating or replacing it you will see more and more progress as the weeks go by.

• Step 4 – Switch It Around: Lastly, the body doesn't respond well to routine. By that I mean the Law of Adaptation states that if you do the same thing, at the same pace, at the same time, for the same length of time every single day, even if it's something absolutely great for you like walking around the block six times or riding your bike for 35-minutes, your body WILL adapt and the exercise won't be as effective. It's always good to keep your body, and the Law of Adaptation, on their toes by switching up your workouts, your pace, your duration, even your mealtimes to keep the body active, your metabolism perky and your diet and fitness goals on track.

As you can see, as hard as you work, if you're not paying attention to those little details they can easily sneak up and derail all your hard work and effort. But fear not; now you have the tools -- four of them to be exact -- to be alert and vigilant for these fitness foes and diet disasters to look and feel great anytime of the year.

©2009 Wendy Chant, author of Conquer the Fat-Loss Code

Author Bio
Wendy Chant, author of Conquer the Fat-Loss Code, is a certified personal trainer and a specialist in performance nutrition. She holds a bachelor of science degree in medical science and nutrition science. A champion bodybuilder, she opened her own training center, ForeverFit® , in 1998.

For more information please visit http://www.joinforeverfit.com/.

Rachel Zoe, celebrity stylist and guest editor at Piperlime, dishes on the three must-have sandal trends for summer. Visit Piperlime for the season’s best wedges, flats, platforms and more in a range of price points.


~ WEDGES: Rachel is all about wedges. “They’re great because they give you that extra height.”



RACHEL’S STYLE TIP: “I’d love to see these with a black or denim mini. They’re great with a cover-up or swimsuit too.”


~ FLATS: “Designers keep coming up with new ways to make flats bold, sexy and fun,” says Rachel.



RACHEL’S STYLE TIP: “Stray from black and add a pop of color. These are great with shorts.”


~ PLATFORMS: Sky-high. And versatile too. “Platforms are perfect for the girl going from work to a night out.”



RACHEL’S STYLE TIP: “Wear these during the day with dark skinny jeans or your favorite little black dress for the evening.”