Most of us are over scheduled and something has to give. Unfortunately, all to often, that something is a nice meal as we rely on drive thru, take out and microwave meals.

Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way.

More than likely you have a slow cooker somewhere stuck way back in a cupboard, maybe still in the box.

At one time, it's true, most food that came out of the crock pot tasted the same but years of experimenting and perfecting the recipes has changed that.

Less than 15 minutes in the morning and my hints and you can come home to a delicious home cooked meal. At most add a salad or bread and dinner is served.

Here are some things I do to make it even quicker and easier.

• Buy thin skinned potatoes that you don't need to peel- red, new, etc...



• I use the frozen pearl onions instead of chopping onions myself- just dump them in frozen.



• Baby carrots are peeled and washed and can often be found for a dollar a pound or less.



• I keep browned ground beef or turkey in the freezer and when we need to eat on the run just dump in the seasonings in the am for taco meat, sloppy joes, etc that are good to eat in shifts.



• Before freezing chicken, pork or beef cubes have it cut in the size you need for specific recipes so you can again just dump and add your other ingredients (can use frozen if it is b/s in bite sized pieces).



• cream of soups make great gravies- and if you add a pkt of onion soup mix it gives a delightful flavor for pot roasts etc.



• tapioca pearls will thicken up a stew nicely and you don't have to do anything but take the lid off and stir then spoon it out when you are ready to eat.
  

Here is a recipe that makes 2 completely different meals.

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
6-8 new potatoes
1/2 to 1 bag frozen pearl onions
1 bag baby carrots
2 apples, peeled and sliced
1/2 to 1 cup apple cider or apple juice
1 large pork roast- double whatever you usually use
salt, pepper, garlic powder and rosemary to taste

Place all vegs in the bottom of the crock pot or slow cooker, mix them up. Put pork roast on top and season. Pour cider or juice over all. Cover and cook on low 8 hours.

With the second half of the roast make pulled pork- using 2 forks, shred the meat and put back in the crock pot with the juices and enough of your fave bbq sauce to make a wet sauce.

Heat for 30 minutes to an hour while you eat and get the kitchen cleaned up then put in fridge and whenever you want you have some seriously delicious bbq sandwiches best served on a sturdy roll with coleslaw.

Sherry


Posted by Sherry of Loon-atics In The Kitchen

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

- and why it's so important to their health

recent study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons showed that 52.8 percent of outdoor shoes and 61.6 percent of indoor shoes were too small for the child wearing them. With Back to School season approaching, and children everywhere in need of new shoes, Rack Room Shoes is releasing its essential list of ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ to help parents find the proper fitting shoe and save their children a lifetime of footwear-related spine, back and foot problems.

“Often parents don’t take the time to have their children’s foot properly measured,” says Cris Bremner, Marketing Manager for Rack Room Shoes, a Charlotte, NC-based retailer who operates 378 stores across the country. “Parents need to check not only the length, but width and depth as well. Just because the shoe physically fits onto the foot, doesn’t mean that it’s the right fit.”

Dr. Russell G. Volpe, a Professor at the Department of Pediatrics and Orthopedics, New York College of Podiatric Medicine/Foot Clinics of NY, who also has a private Podopediatric practice in New York, says a bad fit will negate all benefits of a good shoe. He stresses that “finding the right fit is essential.” In addition to spine or back problems, poorly fitting shoes can cause hammer toes, ingrown toenails, calluses, bunions, abnormal gait or misalign growing bones. “Luckily,” Dr. Volpe adds, “these problems are easily preventable.”

Other Do’s and Don’ts from Rack Room Shoes and Dr. Volpe:

DO check for proper length, width, depth. Check the fit of the shoe with the child standing. Make sure there is approximately a thumb’s width distance between the end of the longest toe and the toe box, and room the size of a pencil between the top of the heel of the shoe and the foot.

DO make sure there is minimal up and down slippage on the heel area.

DO find shoes with flexible soles, not rigid ones.

DO ensure that the shoe can “breathe.” Recommended shoe materials include leather, canvas or newer mesh materials while synthetics such as plastic for the upper are not.

DO try to understand what kind of foot your child has. Take a look at their old shoes – do you notice that certain areas are more worn out then others? Wear on the medial (or outside) side of the heels suggests "rolling in of the ankles" and a consultation with a foot specialist for possible shoe inserts or orthotic is recommended. Children with signs of medial wear or wearing of the upper part of the shoe inward slightly off the sole area should be in shoes with stiffer back and sides. High-tops may help as well.

DON’T hand down shoes from one child to another. Each child creates individualized wear patterns in a shoe and inappropriate use of another child’s shoe can place undue stress on a child’s feet.

DON’T forget to measure your child’s feet often. Children’s feet grow in spurts and they will require a size change in their footwear every three to four months.

DON’T use flip-flops, CROCS or sandals for sports use or heavy play activities. These shoes are fine for a day at the beach of a visit to the pool but they are not adequate or protective enough for even moderate physical activity.

While price is an important consideration, don’t make it the deciding factor when purchasing a shoe. “Try to find the best quality shoes possible as they offer better cushioning, support and protection, which are essential,” says Dr. Volpe. “Cheap, poorly made shoes are often lacking the proper support and flexibility necessary to sustain the extreme activity of an active child.” Bremner adds, “Parents often think that good shoes aren’t worth spending money on because children’s feet grow so quickly. Rack Room Shoes strives to offer parents quality, brand name shoes at affordable prices. We don’t want them to have to sacrifice quality because of the price.”

Want to keep up with KSM on their tour with Mitchel Musso? They have just launched a new website that combines Twitter, Facebook Connect, Google Maps, Flickr and YouTube enabling fans to track both artists’ every move on the road. Watch live videos, communicate with other fans across the country and stay up-to-date on Mitchel and KSM’s whereabouts. Head over to http://www.blogger.com/www.mitchelksm.com to check it out today!

Among the many highlights on Black Gives Way To Blue, the highly anticipated new album from ALICE IN CHAINS, is a special guest performance by Elton John. The two rock legends collaborated on the album's stunning title track, "Black Gives Way To Blue," a heart-stirring tribute to Alice In Chains' late lead singer Layne Staley. The album arrives in stores September 29.

"We were thinking about adding piano to the track and a friend suggested we call Elton," recalls guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell. "I remember laughing and saying, 'Yeah, I'll get right on that.' But I decided it was worth trying and wrote Elton an email explaining what that song means to us -- that it's a real, raw openhearted song for Layne. We sent him the track and got a call shortly after saying he thought it was beautiful and that he wanted to play on it. We were blown away. Elton John is a huge influence on me as a songwriter and having him on that song is an amazing honor for us."

"I've long been an admirer of Jerry Cantrell and when he asked me to play on 'Black Gives Way To Blue,' I was very flattered and couldn't resist," says John. "It was a great recording session with Alice In Chains for a beautiful song. "

About the collaboration, Cantrell says, "Elton was finishing his Red Piano run in Vegas, so we flew there and hung out for a few hours. Walking into a studio and seeing the sheet music for that song on Elton's piano made it meaningful on so many different levels. The whole experience was pretty magical."

BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE is Alice In Chains' first new studio release in more than 10 years. The quartet (guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and guitarist/vocalist William DuVall) recorded the album with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters) at Studio 606 in Northridge, CA and Henson Studios in Hollywood.

The full track listing is as follows:

1. "All Secrets Known"
2. "Check My Brain"
3. "Last Of My Kind"
4. "Your Decision"
5. "A Looking In View"
6. "When The Sun Rose Again"
7. "Acid Bubble"
8. "Lessons Learned"
9. "Take Her Out"
10. "Private Hell"
11. "Black Gives Way To Blue"

Over the course of their remarkable career, Alice In Chains has garnered multiple Grammy nominations, sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, wrote and recorded 11 top 10 hit singles and stood atop Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart with two No. 1 records.

Tour dates are as follows (additional shows to be confirmed):
Sept. 4 - Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Sept. 5 - Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
Sept. 7 - Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
Sept. 8 - New York, NY The Fillmore
Sept. 11 - Nashville, TN WBUZ Buzzfest
Sept. 12 - Indianapolis, IN X-Fest
Sept. 13 - Dayton, OH X-Fest
Sept. 15 - Toronto, ON The Opera House
Sept. 16 - Cleveland, OH House of Blues
Sept. 17 - Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
Sept. 19 - Chicago, IL House of Blues
Sept. 20 - Milwaukee, WI The Rave
Sept. 21 - Minneapolis, MN First Ave
Sept. 24 - Seattle, WA Moore Theater
Sept. 26 - Portland, OR Roseland Grill
Sept. 28 - San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

www.aliceinchains.com

Ever notice that a day in your life often times has nothing to do with you at all!? It’s true, and you know it! From sun up to sun down you play many active and often times exhausting roles – nurturing mother, activities coordinator, on-time taxi service, Kama Sutra Love Goddess, chef, housekeeper, dog walker, dedicated employee, and the list goes on and on. All of which leaves little or no time to focus on – YOU! And, as we know all too well, if you’re frazzled and feeling unbalanced, it’s safe to assume those around you feel it too. If mom isn’t happy, no one is!

If you can relate, then you only need to carve out 3-5 minutes to practice Marlise Karlin’s 3 Breath Awareness. Marlise is a person just like you and me who focuses on rebooting people so they can get back on track, and the journey of life can become more enjoyable and balanced again.

3 Breath Awareness is an extraordinary tool that allows you to reboot yourself and access the well of limitless knowledge within you in moments. It is something that can be utilized many times a day and will always deepen your connection to your true essence, and to live in balance throughout your day.

How to Experience 3 Breath Awareness:

• Practice first with your eyes closed. You can be standing or sitting. Close your eyes. If possible, listen to peaceful music or sit quietly in silence.


• Allow any tension in your body to be released with each breath you take.


• Breathe very deeply. Breathe so deep you can feel the air as it moves throughout every cell in your body.


• With each breath feel yourself relaxing even more.


• Place your awareness within yourself.


• After the 3rd DEEP breath, sit in the awareness. Continue breathing and looking within.


• Maintain this inner focus for 1-3 minutes or longer. The level of stress you were in when you began will determine the length of time needed to feel this shift in consciousness.


• With your eyes still closed, notice if you can feel what has changed. Often, people say that even the air surrounding them has a different quality. Many feel the enlivened energy stream as it moves within them, often in the form of a tingling sensation in their hands or the top of the head and throughout their body.


• Then, open your eyes while holding onto the stillness you have just moved into. When you take action from this state of ‘being’, it will enhance all the outcomes you are looking for, as well as greatly improve your state of mind in the moment.

For more information on Marlise Karlin & her Practices, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.marlisekarlin.com.

“Helping children develop a love of learning for a lifetime” is the reason behind the Brainy Baby line of products. Brainy Baby’s Left Brain and Right Brain DVDs are the flagship products of the Brainy Baby line. The Brainy Baby Right Brain DVD introduces right brain concepts such as creativity, intuition, and imagination while the Brainy Baby Left Brain DVD introduces left brain concepts encouraging a child's analytical abilities. Left Brain uses bright visuals to introduce concepts such as logic, patterns, sequencing and more.

The Right Brain DVD includes creative imagery (such as ink blots and clouds transforming into familiar objects), color recognition (by way of deliciously gooey paint), and patterns (from nesting shapes to 3-D objects). The Left Brain DVD introduces patterns and shapes in colors of red, black, and white. Language is explored with letters of the alphabet, followed by simple words and voice-overs offering the equivalent in Spanish and French. Numbers are presented in sequence using interactive questions such as “How many do you see?” Parents will get a kick out of watching their toddlers respond to the visual feast before them with pure enjoyment.

Created by a team of early childhood educators and using a time tested and proven method of introducing and reinforcing preschool concepts, Brainy Baby DVDs have won more than 60 awards and offer a highly effective supplemental tutorial for parents who have children entering kindergarten. “We are constantly hearing from parents that kids are learning at an early age” says Dennis Fedoruk, president of Brainy Baby. “It’s all about teach and repeat, teach and repeat, and then review. Our DVD’s emulate this teaching method. That’s how children learn.”

Other Brainy Baby titles that introduce and reinforcement infant and preschool concepts are:
· 123’s
· ABC’s
· Shapes and Colors
· Art
· Music
· English
· French
· Spanish
· Peek-a-Boo®

About The Brainy Baby Company

For 15 years, The Brainy Baby Company has been a pioneer and leader in DVDs, Books, Games and Toys for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. The award-winning line of videos, CDs, books, games, and toys introduce educational subjects such as letters, shapes, animals, art and music. Brainy Baby® videos feature multi-ethnic children, toe-tapping original music, nursery rhymes and instrumental classics. In fact, Brainy Baby DVDs have won over 60 awards including Dr. Toy’s Top 100 Best Children’s Product, the Dove Foundation’s Seal of Approval, Parenting Magazine’s Top Videos of the Year, and more. For more information about The Brainy Baby Company, visit www.brainybaby.com

Summer vacation is almost at an end and the little ones are enjoying their final days in the swimming pool. Besides prickly fingers and water-logged ears, parents should also be looking at their child’s teeth!

If your child’s teeth are turning yellow or brown, it might not be cavities or gingivitis, but a common condition known as “Swimmers Calculus” - Repetitive exposure to pool water chemicals which cause yellowish to brown deposits to form on the teeth.

The yellowish to brown deposits are similar to common plaque or tartar that form on the teeth but tend to be much darker in color and thus give a very unsightly appearance. The deposits are a combination of a protein contained within saliva as well as calcium phosphates, magnesium, fluoride and carbonates. The chemical makeup of the pool water is believed to chemically alter these, leading them to deposit on the teeth.

Dental researchers reported last month that competitive swimmers - - those with structured programs that keep them in the water for more than six hours a week -- sometimes develop brown spots on their teeth. These stains have been reported in swimmers as young as 5 years old who maintain intensive training schedules, according to the researchers, Karen J. Rose and Clifton M. Carey.

The spots, called swimmers' calculus, are yellow to dark brown and occur most frequently on the front teeth, Rose and Carey said ...

The folks at Cozi.com have put together a list to help you get ready for your kiddos to go back to school. Here are the top five tips to make your school year begin on a less stressful note:

Get a Jump on the Back-to-School Shopping List

• Organize and access back-to-school supplies you have and which ones you need. Do it early at least one month before school starts because last minute planning will increase stress.
• Find out if the classroom teacher will request specific supplies before you shop.
• Have a fashion show from your kids’ current wardrobe to see what fits. Purchase important pieces first like jeans/pants, shoes and cool-weather jackets.
  

Routines 101

• Two weeks prior to the start of the new school year decide on bedtime and wake up times, when to leave for school and return, homework times, music, practice, etc.
• Get the house ready: Set up one area for backpacks, shoes, coats and lunch sacks for easier mornings; Decide where you’ll store school papers and homework; De-clutter kids’ rooms to start the new school year fresh; Decide with your child when and where homework gets done.
• Do a dry run of a typical morning and instead of driving to school surprise the kids with a trip to the beach, Water Park or breakfast.
  

Avoid the Food Fight

• Have your child make a list of favorite lunch foods. Refer to it each week as you grocery shop.
• Agree upon breakfast and lunch ahead of time because it will avoid stress in the morning when your child doesn’t like what you prepared for breakfast or their lunch box.
  Your child can do the pack lunch! Designate three areas in the fridge or cupboard that contain acceptable lunch foods and have your child pick one from each. For example, one area holds pre-made sandwiches, another holds fruit and veggies, and another holds snack bars, nuts and crackers.

A Little Coaching Goes Along Way

• Get the brains working again by continuing reading to your children or make sure they are completing their summer reading list. Mix in some math facts and vocabulary or spelling tests to get the children thinking again.
• Help your child gain the confidence to meet new friends. Role-play as a classmate to help your child introduce him/herself and suggest a game.
  Have an End-of-Summer party to mark the change.
  

Calendars 101

• Organize the back to school season with a family calendar that the whole family can access and update. Even elementary-aged children can be involved with reviewing the week’s schedule and adding events and activities.
• Meet with the whole family in early August to put scheduled events on the August and September calendar.
• Don’t just schedule work, practice, lessons and appointments. Block out time for family fun and family outings.

Cozi.com is a great way for families to organize their activities - go check it out and help make this school year the best it can be - and best of all, it's free!

Tokio Hotel checked in with MTV's Buzzworthy Blog straight from the video shoot for their new single "Automatic." The guys provide a sneak peek into the cinematic desert-backdrop in South Africa, discuss where they recorded the album and recall Bill's seriously bad night. Check the clip out here and stay tuned for the official video coming soon.

If you're a parent, chances are you have heard of The Wiggles - and no matter what your feelings are toward the Aussie "Fab Four", you have to admit that the kids LOVE them (and we here at Pink Lemonade do too!). Not only are The Wiggles great entertainers, they include a real early-childhood curriculum into their music and fun so you can feel good about letting your kiddos rock along to their silly fun. We actually met them back in 2007 and can tell you that they are genuinely just as nice in person as they appear on the screen, which is something to applaud.

The group recently broke their former ties to Disney where their show appeared during the Playhouse Disney programming on The Disney Channel. As of Monday, August 24th, they are now hosting their own three hour segment on Sprout,the channel dedicated to preschoolers.

Since the departure of original Yellow Wiggle, Greg Page, the group decided to return to its roots of early childhood/preschool songs which they had strayed from in later years (although we adults enjoyed their songs just as much as the kids!). Now that they've re-focused on the younger set, the fit for them on Sprout is perfect.

Sprout's Wiggly Waffle can be seen weekdays from 6am - 9am EST.

When the the girls and I tuned in on Monday, eagerly anticipating the arrival and, truly expecting to see three hours of Wiggles shows, we were treated to many between show fillers of The Wiggles (who happened to be in studio and taking live call-in's that day), along with all of Sprout's regular programming. We were delighted to have a fun way to start our day before we headed off to the stressful school day ahead.

Since then, however, I do have to say that I can't quite seem to put my finger on the exact air time of the show - it doesn't appear to be on (on the West Coast) at the 6-9 slot, I did however happen to turn on the TV today at 11:15am and there were our Wiggly Waffle friends - so I'm still not clear on the broadcast time here, although it appears to be 9-12. We are thrilled that the Wiggles shows are, once again, airing on US television and have set our DVR to automatically record them daily - we are hoping that some of our favorites such as the "Lights, Camera, Action" series will be shown too.

We are so happy that we can once again dance along and sing along to our favorite kid's entertainers - although my kids are now technically "tweens", the contagious fun of The Wiggles is a nice change from The Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana constantly booming from their bedrooms.



- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

Whether commuting to work, jet setting on a vacation, or even if you’re cautious about catching a cold en route, the Sure Fit Transit Cover is the newest must-have travel accessory to protect your children from getting sick.

The Sure Fit Transit Cover keeps a barrier between you and your seat making you feel protected every time you board a plane or bus and is made from stretch suede with an easy and effortless fit. Portable with a convenient pillow pocket, machine-washable, and designed to fit almost any plane or bus seat, you’ll want to bring one on every trip—and for only $14.99 you’ll be able to afford to.

Sure Fit is sold nationwide at Bed Bath and Beyond and www.surefit.com

For the Family On-The-Go:
Stroller—check, blankets—check, toys, bottles and binky—all check. The family who has everything, complete with an agenda for their trip will love these machine-washable covers. Protecting not only your family from germs on the seat, but also the seat from your family—with juice box spills and turbulent tummies, you won’t have to worry about leaving behind a mess.

Wendy Atterberry, an editor at The Frisky.com (http://www.thefrisky.com/), contends that, despite being the “simpler” sex, there are still lots of things women don’t understand about men. Below is Wendy’s Top 10 List:

1. What is so hard about asking for directions?
2. Why do you need a gadget to unlock your car door?
3. What is it about “Star Wars”?
4. And the “bro hug”? Hug it out or don’t hug it out, you know?
5. When you keep one seat between you and your buddy at the movies, are you saving room for the holy spirit or what?
6. Why are you so hung up on the bitchy girls?
7. If you want to break up with us, why don’t you say so?
8. Forget about putting the seat down, why don’t you ever change the toilet paper roll?
9. Why do you ask for our number if you have no intention of calling?
10. Seriously, do you not smell that?

The Frisky.com is the website celebrating everything that matters to women 18-34. Wendy Atterberry grew up in Japan, Korea, and Germany, and recently moved to Manhattan after a seven-year stint in Chicago. She moved for a boy, but thinks there could be worse reasons to move to New York.

To see the entire story as it is posted, please go to http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-10-things-women-dont-understand-about-men/

Photo courtesey of http://www.thefrisky.com/

The search for fun, innovative activities for kids during the dog days of summer is over. Henkel, a Fortune Global 500 company dedicated to making people’s lives easier, better and more beautiful with its brands and technologies, today announced the launch of the Henkel Helps Create! Kids’ Art Contest. Children ages 2-18 are invited to dig into their crayon boxes, watercolor palettes and art supplies to depict their unique visions for creating a better world, and to upload their creations into the virtual art gallery at http://www.henkelhelps.com/Public/FlashIntro.aspx for a chance to win travel awards and cash prizes. Artistic submissions will be judged by online visitors and the Henkel Celebrity Judges, who include contemporary artist Romero Britto, Fancy Nancy author Jane O’Connor, Sotheby’s Auction House Print Specialist Courtney Booth and Anelle Miller, Director of the Society of Illustrators.

“At Henkel, we’re thrilled to launch this exciting new contest for our youngest friends, who see the world as one that they can help shape and improve and are the catalyst for making our world a better place,” said Natalie Violi, Director, Corporate Communications. “The Henkel Helps Create! Kids’ Art Contest is a perfect opportunity for children to illustrate and share how they would create a sustainable future, and for Henkel to showcase their innovative efforts nationwide.”

Immediately following the contest submission period, the Henkel Celebrity Judges will evaluate the entries by age group to select four Grand Prize winners. The winners will win a trip to New York City in November for an art gallery event showcasing their submissions at the renowned Society of Illustrators and a cash prize of $1,000 to be used toward their future education. HenkelHelps.com will also invite consumers to vote on finalists to determine four Voter’s Choice Winners who will be awarded $500 each toward the purchase of art supplies. All Grand Prize and Voters Choice Winners will be announced on the contest Web site on October 8, 2009.

To learn more about the Henkel Helps Create! Kids’ Art Contest, please visit http://www.henkelhelps.com/Public/FlashIntro.aspx, join our group on Facebook and follow the latest contest news on Twitter @ henkelhelps.



About Henkel:

Henkel markets a wide range of well-known consumer and industrial brands in North America, including Dial® soaps, Purex® laundry detergents, Right Guard® antiperspirants, got2b® hair gels, and Loctite® adhesives. Visit www.henkelna.com for more information. Henkel has been committed to making people's lives easier, better and more beautiful for more than 130 years. A Fortune Global 500 and Germany's most admired company according to a recent Fortune survey, Henkel offers strong brands and technologies in three areas of competence: Home Care, Personal Care and Adhesive Technologies. Each day, more than 52,000 employees in 125 countries are dedicated to fulfilling Henkel's claim "A Brand like a Friend.” In fiscal 2008, Henkel generated sales of $20.8 billion and adjusted operating profit of $2.1 billion.

About Henkel Helps Create! Kids’ Art Contest:

HenkelHelps.com invites children to submit their artwork in four categories by age: Budding Artists (ages 2-5), Creative Kids (ages 6-9), Crafty Creators (ages 10-13) and Talented Teens (ages 14-18). Children are encouraged to use any arts and crafts tools at their disposal to put their visions on paper, and may also include a short caption with their artwork. Entries must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian and may be uploaded in JPG file format at www.HenkelHelps.com. Submissions will be accepted from August 2, 2009 through September 13, 2009 at 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States who are 18 years of age or older.

Celebrated as the gold standard of children's educational television, the Emmy® Award-winning series Between the Lions returns for its ninth season this fall. Continuing its commitment to introducing the joys of reading and key literacy skills to children ages three to seven in an entertaining way, 10 new episodes premiere Monday, September 21 on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

This season, the literacy-loving lion pride--Theo, Cleo, Lionel, and Leona--discover books and stories covering widely diverse topics--from jobs and construction vehicles, to wind and weather, to seasons and celebrations. Each subject is introduced through catchy songs, lovable characters, and wonderful books, such as Night Shift, which highlights the many important jobs carried out in the wee hours--from street sweeper to security guard.

"This season illustrates the unparalleled variety of stories and skills that our series introduces to children," said Executive Producer Judy Stoia. "From non-fiction to folktales, music videos to poetry, live action to Greek myths, Between the Lions represents a truly remarkable diversity of text genres and characters unmatched by any other children's series on television."

During these new episodes, the Lions also break out of the library for some off-the-page adventures. Cubs Lionel and Leona discover the swirling wonders of nature during a boat ride down the river, and the whole family heads to Alaska to learn all about salmon. Alaska native children are featured in several episodes throughout the season, introducing viewers to letter sounds, vocabulary, and their unique communities.

In addition to an animated special, other new elements of the season include several new characters such as "The Beetles," who wow viewers with their rousing rendition of the book Beetle Bop, and the rap duo "Hip-Hoppopotamus and Rhymosaurus." An all-new band, "Phlounder" (not to be confused with another Phishy group), rocks out the song "It's a p-h!" Also joining the regular cast list are beloved "dinos" Velociraptor and Brachiosaurus, who demonstrate several strategies that help viewers read difficult words. These sure-to-become favorites are woven in with returning faces and segments including Arty Smartypants, Cliff Hanger, Opposite Bunny, Joy Learno, and more.

"With this fun and lovable cast, Between the Lions takes advantage of how television can demonstrate and teach all the critical elements of literacy, including letter recognition, phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension," said Chris Cerf, Executive Producer for Sirius Thinking, co-creator and co-producer of the series. "These characters, songs, and stories directly respond to the challenges and needs of children learning to read in preschool and early elementary classrooms today," added Marie Antoon, co-producer and Executive Director of Mississippi Public Broadcasting. "We know it has made a difference in children's lives in Mississippi."

Between the Lions Takes Pride in Proven Success Stories:

Research has proven the impact of Between the Lions, including a recent study, which demonstrated that preschoolers at risk for reading failure made significant gains in reading skills after using an educational curriculum based on Between the Lions. Another study found that kindergarten students who viewed the series significantly outperformed non-viewing peers and gained skills at a faster rate.*

For more information about Between the Lions, including stories, games, and parent and teacher resources, please visit pbskids.org/lions.

About Between the Lions:

Between the Lions is a multimedia educational initiative created to help children ages three to seven acquire beginning reading skills and a love of reading. Built around a curriculum that incorporates the most recent scientific research in literacy instruction, each episode features an engaging variety of animation, puppetry, live action, and music. The series is part of PBS KIDS Raising Readers, a national reading initiative focused on helping children ages two to eight, especially those from low-income families, to build their reading skills.

Between the Lions is produced by WGBH Boston, Sirius Thinking, Ltd., and Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

Between the Lions is funded in part by The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Education's Ready To Learn grant, and by the Barksdale Reading Institute. National corporate funding provided by Chick-fil-A, Inc.

ABOUT PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!:

PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community outreach programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child's total well-being, PBS's children's media and family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS online (pbskids.org), PBS KIDS GO! online (pbskidsgo.org), PBS Parents (pbsparents.org), PBS Teachers (pbsteachers.org), PBS KIDS Raising Readers and literacy events across the country - leverage the full spectrum of media, technology and community to build knowledge, critical thinking, imagination and curiosity. Empowering children for success in school and in life, only PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! have earned the unanimous endorsement of parents, children, industry leaders and teachers. PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 356 public television stations, serving more than 115 million people on-air and online each month.

* Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania Study, 2007-2008 University of Kansas Study, 2000

Rite Aid has announced a new online savings program at http://www.blogger.com/www.riteaid.com where customers can save with coupons they can print just by watching short informational videos on select products.

The Video Values program was created by AdPerk, a leading provider of strategic video marketing solutions for retailers. Customers can click on the Video Values image on www.riteaid.com and watch videos for select products. This gives them access to exclusive coupons and savings.

Videos can be viewed by brand, category or manufacturer. Customers can watch videos about select products available at Rite Aid and print related in-store coupons totaling up to $130 in savings. They also receive a $5 Rite Aid Bonus Coupon when they earn 20 video credits. Some videos are worth multiple credits.

New videos and coupons will be offered and updated on an ongoing basis. Customers choose which brands and products interest them. The more videos they watch, the more they save.

Early participation includes Rite Aid vendors Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, L’Oreal, Johnson and Johnson and Wyeth, as well as major brands including Olayâ, HUGGIESâ, AVEENOâ and Alavert®.

“Whether it’s in stores or the path our customers take to get to stores, we’re dedicated to creating an exceptional shopping experience,” said John Learish, Rite Aid Senior Vice President, Marketing. “This launch of Rite Aid Video Values reinforces our commitment to customers and brands. It’s both a fresh offering for consumers and an accountable sales tool that allows brands to understand the direct impact their video has on sales.”

AdPerk is the leading provider of strategic video marketing solutions for retailers. Focused on helping brands deeply engage consumers in a measurable way, AdPerk facilitates environments where brands can index their video and connect it with interested consumers researching purchase decisions online. AdPerk video solutions deploy video, information and value to millions of opt-in consumers to help them make informed choices. Headquartered in San Francisco, AdPerk is committed to raising the bar of traditional advertising methods. For more information about AdPerk, visit: http://www.blogger.com/www.adperk.com.

Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with more than 4,800 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia with fiscal 2009 annual sales of more than $26.3 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s Web site at http://www.blogger.com/www.riteaid.com.

Beat the heat with a refreshing chardonnay from Chablis. Below are two wine-friendly recipes to elevate your summer entertaining: Cappuccino of Tomatoes & Mozzarella and Mussels with Chablis.

Recommended Pairing: Chablis Premier Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2007

Ingredients (yields two servings):

4 sundrenched tomatoes
Ciabatta bread
1 ball of buffalo mozzarella
1 glass of milk or single cream
2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Lemon zest
Basil leaves
Clove of garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Chablis wine

Method:

Toast the ciabatta bread and cut it into thin slices.
Peel the tomatoes and then blend them with the garlic clove, some salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

Pour the tomato purée in a glass.

Dice the mozzarella and blend it with the milk or single cream. If you can't get enough froth whisk it a bit. Add the lemon zest at this stage.
Set your oven to 400 degrees and drop two separate tablespoons full of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano on a non stick baking tray.
Wait till they have melted and start to brown a bit, take them out they will bring some crunchy texture to the dish
Plunge the bread sticks into the tomato purée, cover with the mozzarella froth and add a bit of pepper and basil.

Ingredients (yields four servings):

Fresh mussels
1 onion
4 shallots
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
A bunch of parsley
A bunch of coriander
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Chablis wine

Method:

Wash and clean mussels.
Add two tablespoons of olive oil to a deep pan and brown the onions and shallots without caramelizing them.

Add the mussels and mix.

Add the thinly sliced peppers and mix.

Add Chablis wine.

Place the lid onto the pan the steam will cook the mussels.

Stir a couple of times for even cooking.

Now there is no real timer for this recipe but the eye. Once the mussels are open they are cooked (please don't try to open the closed one and if they remain closed throw them away).

Pour the mussels in a large dish and serve.

Chef Gordon Ramsay of “Hell’s Kitchen” stopped by “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last night to talk about the new season of the show, his recent family vacation and to also give his taste buds a treat with a sample of Jimmy’s famous marinara sauce. Check out the video below to watch Jimmy sit on the edge of his seat as Ramsay critiques his signature dish and ultimately describes it as “Actually F**ing delicious!”



Kimmel serving Chef Ramsay a plate of his famous marinara sauce. Photo Credit (both photos): ABC

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” airs weeknight’s on ABC at 12:05 am/ET.

Steve & Bonnie Pfiester to lead About Face Boot Camps

The chic Costa d’Este Beach Resort, owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, is offering three new, health-inspired “About Face Boot Camps” led by celebrity fitness trainers Steve and Bonnie Pfiester. The three-day programs are designed for guests ready to lose weight, get in shape and change their life forever.

Steve Pfiester, who co-starred on ABC's summer weight-loss hit show “Fat March,” is a trainer for the Country Music Television (CMT) soon-to-air new weight-loss reality show, “Bridal Bootcamp.” His wife Bonnie is a fitness columnist, fitness model and lifestyle coach. When not traveling the country this dynamic duo make their home in Vero Beach, where they are co-owners of Longevity Fitness Clubs.

“About Face Boot Camps" are planned for Sept. 11-13, Oct. 16-18 and Nov. 13-15, 2009, with prices starting at $499 per person, based on double occupancy. The three-day wellness weekends include:

• Two-night’s accommodations in a Modern Studio
• Low-calorie, gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus protein smoothies
• Seminars on Exercise, Metabolism & Weight Loss and Diet & Weight Loss
• Boot Camp on the beach, Butt Camp lower body workout, Extreme Abs and core training, Kickboxing and Stretching & Injury Prevention
• Cooking class with Chef David Rodriguez of Costa d’Este Beach Resort
• Kayaking Excursion and/or Obstacle Course Excursion at Longevity, an obstacle course featured on the set of the new CMT reality show “Bridal Boot Camp”
• Sunset power beach walk

Guests can also enjoy this invigorating retreat individually, with single occupancy rates from $599 for the entire weekend.

“With society growing more and more health conscious, we wanted to offer our guests the chance to enjoy a luxury getaway while at the same time learning the skills necessary to alter their habits for the better,” said Awilda Rivera, the resort’s general manager. “Give us three days of your time, and the Pfiesters will change your life.”

Costa d’Este Beach Resort, which opened in June 2008, is a stylish, oceanfront oasis on Florida’s Treasure Coast, located just two hours north of Miami. Facilities include 94 luxurious guestrooms and suites, the gourmet Cuban-fusion Oriente restaurant and bar, European-style Spa at Costa d'Este, fitness center, infinity edge pool and hot tub, and Cabana Bar. On weekend nights, a disc jockey spins poolside, creating a hip vibe for drinks and dancing under the stars.

Costa d’Este is operated by Benchmark Hospitality International. To make a reservation for the “About Face Boot Camps,” see a professional travel agent, visit www.costadeste.com or call toll-free 877-562-9919.

National Back-to-School Report Finds Parents Plan to Volunteer in Schools, Reconsider Public vs. Private School, and Shop Smarter for Supplies

As families prepare to go back to school amid economic woes, a groundbreaking new study finds that parents, worried about the economy and education cutbacks, are planning to pitch in with greater volunteerism and shop smarter for school supplies. Many are also reconsidering what type of school their kids should attend.

Issued by GreatSchools, a national independent education nonprofit, and Harris Interactive, “The Economy’s Impact on Back to School” report finds that nearly two in three parents (64%) believe that, because of the recession, it more important for them to volunteer in the classroom than before. Many parents are taking the need to volunteer to heart. A majority of parents (53%) plan to volunteer at their child’s school this year versus 44% last year – an increase of 20%. This trend is most pronounced among African American parents, 60% of whom plan to volunteer (up from 23% who say they volunteered last year).

Despite their strong interest in volunteering, however, parents may still remain an untapped resource. According to the report, nearly half of parents (49%) list the lack of opportunities offered by teacher or schools among the main challenges they face to being more involved in ensuring their child receive a quality education.

“As American families prepare for back-to-school season in this economic climate -- when family, school and state budgets are tighter than ever -- there is a silver lining: parents,” said Bill Jackson, founder and president of GreatSchools. “With their profound ability to influence their children's academic success and contribute to their children's schools, this report shows that parents hold the potential to be the new economic stimulus package for education in America. This report is a wake-up call to parents and teachers alike to clearly communicate on ways they can work together.”

The study also highlights several key findings about the level of parent confidence in education and how parents are navigating back to school in a struggling economy. The findings include:

Parents are concerned about school cutbacks and some are rethinking school choices -- More than three in five parents (61%) believe the quality of education will suffer because of school cutbacks. Regardless of whether their children now attend public or private school, nearly one in four parents (24%) are rethinking the type of school their children should attend going forward. This trend is most prominent among lower-income urban and suburban parents.

Parents may not be fully prepared for the start of school – While most parents (93%) plan to buy school supplies ahead of time, fewer than half focus on the content of their children’s education and reducing distractions prior to the start of school. Only 47% of parents find out which subjects their child will be learning, 39% have their kids start reading more often, and 33% cut down on TV and video games.

Parents are addressing economic difficulties by shopping smarter for school supplies – With 74% of families expecting their economic situation to worsen or stay the same, a majority of parents (nearly 90%) plan to take cost-saving steps when shopping for school supplies. These steps include reusing old supplies (57%) and delaying purchases until after school starts so as to only buy what’s truly needed (26%).

Inspiring Action: The Great Parents Pledge

Today’s report follows the launch of The Great Parents Pledge, GreatSchools’ social media initiative that enlists parents to commit to greater levels of involvement in the coming school year. The GreatSchools website also features rich content on preparing for the back-to-school season, including tips on avoiding the summer ‘brain drain’, a shopping guide for affordable school supplies, and a back-to-school quiz to help families get off to a smart start.

About GreatSchools

GreatSchools is an independent nonprofit organization that improves education by inspiring parents to be involved.

Parents choose GreatSchools to connect with each other – to find the right schools, share stories and advice, and get their parenting questions answered. Over the past 10 years, GreatSchools has empowered and inspired millions of parents to support their children’s education. In the past year alone, more than 35 million people – approximately one in three K-12 households in the U.S. - visited GreatSchools (www.greatschools.org). With hundreds of thousands of ratings and parent reviews of schools nationwide, GreatSchools is the paramount parent-to-parent education community.

A Webby Award-winning site, GreatSchools is now expanding its reach and impact with its College Bound initiative, a new program that will provide structured online and offline training, mentoring and community resources to unlock the power of parents in guiding their children’s success in school and beyond. GreatSchools is supported by numerous foundations and corporations, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Robertson Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation. For more information, please visit http://www.greatschools.org.

Meet the home boys. Fox Reality Channel tosses convention out the window with its groundbreaking new, one-hour, 10-episode original series, Househusbands of Hollywood, which premiered Saturday, August 15th at 9p/8c. Cooking, cleaning, child rearing and the dynamics between real couples has never been this entertaining.

Five Hollywood men defy traditional marital roles by staying home to run the household while their wives head to work. It’s a new family arrangement. Fox Reality Channel follows these men as they struggle to juggle day-to-day household duties while managing their egos.

The Househusbands of Hollywood are:

• Billy Ashley: Former professional baseball player with the Los Angeles Dodgers, married to celebrity makeup artist Lisa Ashley. Now a stay-at-home dad of their two pre-teen daughters, Alexa and Sophia, he also helps manage his wife’s cosmetic lines, Lisa Ashley Beauty and l.a.girlfriend.


• Danny Barclay: A one-time pre-med student – turned aspiring actor, married to college sweetheart, Katherine Barclay, an attorney at a Hollywood law firm.
  · Darryl M. Bell: An actor, best known for his role on the TV sitcom, A Different World, plays house with longtime partner actress Tempestt Bledsoe, formerly of The Cosby Show.


• Charlie Mattera: Once known as “The Gentleman Bandit,” now married to a prominent psychologist to the stars and spends his time at home raising their baby son, Ryan. An aspiring actor/screenwriter, he also serves as co-executive producer and co-creator of the Househusbands of Hollywood original series.


• Grant Reynolds: A former Marine Corps sniper, married to Jillian Reynolds of Fox Reality Channel’s American Idol Extra, FOX NFL Sunday and FOX 11’s Good Day LA. Currently an actor and stay-at-home dad of their 2-year-old daughter, Ruby.

You can learn more about the househusbands and watch unaired footage at http://www.foxreality.com/househusbands. You can also get twitter updates and the inside scoop directly from the househusbands at http://twitter.com/FoxReality.

In addition, fans can also get news about Househusbands of Hollywood and all other Fox Reality Channel original series’ by adding Fox Reality Channel on Myspace and becoming a fan on Facebook.

Fox Reality Channel’s Househusbands of Hollywood is produced by Marilyn Wilson Productions Inc., with Marilyn Wilson, Scooter Pietsch, Lisa Bernstein and Charlie Mattera serving as executive producers and creators.

Found some great start-up and wind-down exercises. Check them out:

If you have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, an energizing Pilates routine may be just the thing to jumpstart your internal alarm clock. This workout will get you going even before you get out of bed. Or, if a harder surface is desired, use the space at the side of your bed—you don’t even have to change out of your pajamas! These five Pilates exercises will lengthen you, stretch you and help “align” your day.

Rest of the article HERE

At the end of the day, it can be difficult to transition out of work mode. These five yoga-based exercises (plus a relaxation pose) will help reduce tension and improve flexibility. Try it first thing after work or right before you go to bed, whichever works best for you. The workout begins with a few strengthening poses and ends with several stretches and a relaxation pose for stress relief. Focus on your breath and create a relaxed and serene environment—light some candles and turn on some soothing music. This workout is guaranteed to make you will feel stronger, more relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep.

Rest of article HERE

Have a great week everyone!

Coach Jenn of PersonalFitCoach.com
Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

It is time for back to school and back to the craziness of the daily grind. Sometimes when we get distracted by the busyness of life and the chaos of activity, the thing that suffers is the quality time we spend with each other.

How can you make sure that you have time for each other, despite the obligations and opportunities pulling at our families from all directions?

1. Make family time as routine as brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. Schedule it in or it won't happen.


2. Use your time in the car, going from one activity to the next, to converse about important topics- what is happening at school, what your kids think about current events, etc.


3. Eat meals together. Research has shown how important family meal time is. Don't sacrifice togetherness for convenience.


4. Establish family rituals and traditions. This can be as simple as a bedtime ritual or first day of school tradition. These are the type of activities that bind families together.


5. Get everyone's input and cooperation. Explain why it is important to you to spend time together. Have the kids suggest activities they would enjoy doing as a family.

We only get our kids for a little while. Make sure that the busyness of everyday life doesn't interfere with establishing quality, meaningful relationship.

Happy Organizing!

Melissa


Posted by Melissa of Multitasking Mama

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Greenpeace Applauds Kimberly-Clark For Setting the Bar Higher for Tissue Products with Stronger Global Forest Policy

Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Kleenex, Scott and Cottonelle brands, today announced stronger fiber sourcing standards that will increase conservation of forests globally and will make the company a leader for sustainably produced tissue products. In turn, Greenpeace, which worked with Kimberly-Clark on its revised standards, announced that it will end its “Kleercut” campaign, which focused on the company and its brands.

Kimberly-Clark has set a goal of obtaining 100 percent of the company’s wood fiber for tissue products, including the Kleenex brand, from environmentally responsible sources. The revised standards will enhance the protection of Endangered Forests and increase the use of both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified fiber and recycled fiber. By 2011, Kimberly-Clark will ensure that 40 percent of its North American tissue fiber is either recycled or FSC certified -- a 71 percent increase from 2007 levels that represents 600,000 tones of fiber.

Also by the end of 2011, Kimberly-Clark will eliminate the purchase of any fiber from the Canadian Boreal Forest that is not FSC certified. This forest is North America’s largest old growth forest, providing habitat for threatened wildlife such as woodland caribou and a sanctuary for more than one billion migratory birds. It is also the largest terrestrial storehouse of carbon on the planet, storing the equivalent of 27 years worth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, the revised standards reinforce Kimberly-Clark’s long-standing ban on use of wood fiber from illegal sources; adds a preference for post-consumer recycled fiber; and supports expansion of recycling initiatives and the identification, mapping and protection of areas that have the potential to be designated as Endangered or High Conservation Value forests.

Talented songstress Esmee Denters takes us behind the scenes as she prepares to head back into the studio. Watch as Esmee puts in a quick warm-up session with her vocal coach, Dave Stroud, before laying down the vocals for an acoustic version of her single "Outta Here."

With time in the mornings at a premium and a need to come up with a better breakfast before school or work than Pop-Tarts and cold cereal during the week (not that there is anything wrong with that occasionally) we’ve taken to making foods for the freezer that they can just heat and go with in the mornings.

I prefer to have a variety so instead of just making a huge batch of pancakes or waffles this week and a couple loaves of bread worth of French toast sticks the next. I like to do several varieties once a month. Since several of them use a lot of the same ingredients it really is time-effective to do it this way. A lot of the ideas I get from the freezer section in the supermarket.

I package each in serving sizes or with waxed paper in between and then put them in large Freezer bags or containers. Everyone then grabs whichever they feel like that day and heats it for themselves except Ian, we make his since he’s only 2 1/2.

While you can buy these pre-made they are pricey and you can’t control the ingredients. Some of the things it is nice to have on hand that you can easily make yourself are

Breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, muffins, granola or granola bars, pancakes, waffles, French toast or French toast sticks, sweet breads (slice and wrap individually), flavored instant oatmeal (you can whir half the oats up and add sweetener, spices, dried fruits and powdered milk.

You can easily make enough breakfasts for your family for a month or two in 3 or 4 hours for a fraction of the cost of buying them out or even the pre-made equivalent in the market

Most of the time I just use basic recipes, Maybe add chocolate chips or fruit to the waffles or pancakes or look for something new to get inspired, but if you want specifics just shoot me an email or leave a comment and I’d be happy to provide them.

Breakfast sandwiches
Makes 2 dozen

12 English muffins
12 Bagels
24 eggs, scrambled or baked in a rectangular pan to you liking (can do a little soft since they will be reheated) then cut them about the same size.
24 slices cheese
Ham, bacon, Canadian bacon, sausage patties or combination if desired.

Toast the muffins and bagels in the oven (low broil for a about 4-6 minutes, watch carefully)
Divide the eggs evenly and put one portion on half of the bagels and half of the English Muffins.
Add meat then cheese, top then wrap up (I use the really cheapy plastic sandwich bags the foldover kind) and put in a larger Freezer bag til needed.

*Sometimes we use other breads like croissants or biscuits. They all work equally well.

Try it and let me know what you think- or if there is anything your family loves that you can or want to know if you can make up ahead - if I don’t know I can for sure find out, and I am always looking for new ideas. Just email me @ dddiva62 at gmail dot com or leave a message here.

If you are anything like me mornings are not your best time, but if you spend just a few hours once a month preparing, you can feel really good knowing you got your family off to a nutritious start to their day.

If anyone is interested, next time I do one (shortly) I would be happy to show you step by step how to accomplish this in 3 hours

Sherry


Posted by Sherry of Loon-atics In The Kitchen

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Eco-friendly and sustainable clothing line D6; which stands for Degree Six, a reference to six degrees of separation -- that every human is at most six steps away from each other on Earth; announces their launch with a realistic approach to being green. Made in Los Angeles, CA the apparel line for men and women is sustainable without compromising quality nor style.



The Debut Collection consists of tees in a variety of silhouettes including V-neck, crewneck and razorback tanks as well as booty shorts, hoodies, sweats, tank bras, shirt dresses and more. Focusing on two issues they believe to be most critical, carbon emissions and water conservation, D6 doesn’t plan to save the world but they intend to try. By using specialized processes in the fabrication including fabric dyeing to the use of environmentally friendly, sustainable alternatives such as bamboo to conscious shipping methods involving recycled shipping materials and hybrid delivery vehicles, D6 will greatly reduce their carbon footprint and hopes to positively influence all those they directly, or indirectly reach.

The creative force behind D6 is designer Cassie Stevenson, a native of Portland, Oregon, who was always inspired by the natural beauty of her surroundings. After moving to California where she studied at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), Cassie noticed a large gap in the marketplace for a modern and versatile green line. Always passionate about the environment, the dynamo seized the opportunity to combine her passions to create a line of sexy, stylish and sustainable clothes.



D6 believes that fashion can co-exist peacefully with the environment, and plans to practice this belief every day. “My vision is to provide comfortable, high-quality, sexy styles that everyone feels good wearing, while promoting awareness to our environment and practicing the greenest process possible. D6 will continually strive to find more sustainable options for every aspect of our business, as well as provide the highest quality of fabrics and production.” says Stevenson. As such, simple yet impactful elements from D6’s letterhead, hangers and fabric trims to their hang-tags are not only custom designed, but more importantly, recycled. All manufacturing and production of D6 materials and garments takes place in Los Angeles.

Fabrics used by D6 are extremely exclusive and chosen not only for their green qualities, but for their versatility, softness and comfort. Their signature fabric is Bamboo Sorona, which is made from Bamboo and Sorona® which is a renewably sourced polymer made partially with agricultural feedstocks instead of petrochemicals. D6 also works with Hemp, Organic Cotton and Recycled Polyester for select styles with trims such as organic cotton drawstring and coconut buttons. D6 is available at select retailers and online at http://www.blogger.com/www.d6clothing.com.

Enjoy fine food, snappy cocktails, and exploring restaurants, farmers markets and subject of the hour - street food? Then you should give RESTAURANT CITY a whirl.

Restaurant City (made by Playfish) is an online social game where you can open your own restaurant and enjoy the trials and tribulations of dealing with menus, guests and overflowing restrooms all the while employing your friends as waiters and chefs.

It's one of the top 10 most popular games on Facebook with over 10 MILLION people having installed it so far in the past 3 months .. that means 10 MILLION restaurants have opened in 3 months. One's not lacking for choice of eateries. Here you can try it out directly on Facebook http://apps.facebook.com/restaurantcity/?pf_ref=x1035

And with a wealth of different decorations, furniture and equipment to choose from you can make your mark with a completely unique restaurant. You can visit your friends' restaurants too and even trade ingredients with them to help you create a menu.

give it a whirl .. it's a ton of fun. You can find it at http://www.playfish.com/?page=game_restaurant if you don't have a Facebook account

New online tool streamlines school volunteering process as more parents step up to the plate

Parent volunteers expect to play a larger role than ever this fall as schools across the country grapple with staff cuts and tight budgets. Whether helping keep peace in the school lunchroom or manning the dunking booth at the Halloween carnival, parents can rely on VolunteerSpot (www.volunteerspot.com) — a free, easy-to-use online tool that takes the hassle and headache out of coordinating volunteers and encourages everyone to get involved.

With just a few simple clicks, VolunteerSpot enables anyone to organize a group, no matter the size, to sign up for any activity — from reading to the first-grade class to staffing the football concessions stand to attending parent-teacher conferences. Organizers can mobilize parent volunteers with an easy e-mail sign-up invitation, and parents can volunteer for tasks with a simple click on an online calendar. No registration required. Automated e-mails remind folks of their commitments and schedule. No more mass “reply all” e-mails, late-night phone calls, dreaded clipboard sign-up sheets or confusion over exactly who will be doing what.

Teachers, parents and administrators across the country are singing VolunteerSpot’s praises and find the site inspires greater involvement to help fill the gaps.

"In these times of limited resources, you can be certain that VolunteerSpot will be used by our staff and parents to help with activity organization for the next school year, including fundraising,"” says Linda Mora, principal at Laurelwood Elementary in San Jose, CA. “"The word goes out, and the volunteers sign up. It's that easy. Student success is built by a community of caring parents, teachers and staff — and using VolunteerSpot allows us to get the needed volunteers in just a fraction of the time."”

"You made it so easy for our parents to sign up to help and saved me many hours worth of e-mail exchanges and fussing with spreadsheets to fill the schedule,"” notes Amanda S., the Recess and Book Fair Coordinator at Eanes Elementary School in Austin, TX, and a VolunteerSpot devotee. "The teachers, parents and all PTO event chairs love those automated e-mail reminders!"

VolunteerSpot also includes helpful tools for organizers looking for a little creative input or just plain inspiration, including free eBooks and an active blog featuring ideas and user suggestions for successful event planning. Head to VolunteerSpot.com to see how it works and learn more about how DOING GOOD Just Got Easier for schools in your community.





ABOUT VOLUNTEERSPOT:

Based in Austin, Texas, privately held VolunteerSpot.com is a free Web-based organization tool that automates volunteer scheduling, sign-ups and reminders. Founded by Karen Bantuveris, a management consultant and mom, who found that traditional school volunteer coordination methods could be time consuming, frustrating and caused good people to drop out or simply not bother. VolunteerSpot’s easy to-use interface saves time, streamlines communication and makes it simple for more people to get involved.

VolunteerSpot is perfect for coordinating groups for anything — PTA/PTO activities, school volunteers, pledge drives, tournaments, service projects, mentoring sessions, group campouts, music festivals, Girl Scout cookie booths, book fairs, swim meets, food drives and more. ... VolunteerSpot, DOING GOOD Just Got Easier!

http://www.volunteerspot.com/
http://twitter.com/VolunteerSpot

Ashley Tisdale stopped by AOL sessions to record intimate performances of "It's Alright, It's OK," "Hair," "Hot Mess," "Masquerade," "Tell Me Lies," and "What If" off her new album Guilty Pleasure. The pop songstress also answered questions about her sophomore release, meeting Michael Jackson and staying in touch with the rest of the High School Musical cast.
Guilty Pleasure is available on iTunes now.