Probably the most common question I get from clients trying the programs I represent is, “Help! I’m gaining weight! Am I doing something wrong?” Personal Trainer and creator of Turbo Jam, Chalene Johnson, wrote an excellent article on this very topic. I thought it would be a great one to share for Weight Loss Wednesday. Enjoy:

This is a common phenomenon with any new exercise program, Turbo Kick, Turbo Jam, Hip Hop Hustle, you name it! It’s especially common (and temporary) with intense strength training programs like ChaLEAN Extreme or Tony Horton’s P90X.

The motivation to start a new exercise program is almost always to lose weight. However, what most personal trainers know and most at-home exercisers do not, is that a new exercise program often can cause an immediate (and temporary) increase on the scale. (Notice I didn’t say weight gain! I’ll explain.) This common increase in the scale is also the reason why perhaps millions of people start and then quickly quit their resolution to get fit.

The temporary weight gain explained:
When someone starts a new exercise program, they often experience muscle soreness. The more intense and “unfamiliar” the program, the more intense the muscle soreness. This soreness is most prevalent 24 to 48 hours after each workout. In the first few weeks of a new program, soreness is the body trying to “protect and defend” the effected or targeted tissue. Exercise physiologists refer to this as delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS.

This type of soreness is thought to be caused by tissue breakdown or microscopic tears in muscle tissue. When this happens the body protects the tissue. The muscle becomes inflamed and slightly swollen with fluid retention. This temporary retention of fluid can result in a 3- to 4-pound weight gain within a few weeks of a new program. Keep in mind that muscle soreness is not necessarily a reflection of how hard you worked. In fact, some people feel no signs of muscle soreness, yet will experience the muscle protection mechanisms of water retention and slight swelling.

Most people are motivated enough to put up with this temporary muscle soreness. Yet, many, especially those who really need immediate weight loss to keep them motivated in those first couple of weeks become discouraged and quit!

When I worked with a group of 70 test participants during the development stages of ChaLEAN Extreme, this happened. Who was the most upset and discouraged? You guessed it… the women! I’m happy to report with absolutely every single woman (and man) in our group, the weight increase was temporary and never lasted more than 2 weeks before they started to see a major drop in the scale. However, these people had the advantage of working with someone who was able to explain to them why this was happening and assure them the weight would come off if they stuck to the nutrition plan and stayed true to the program.

For those of you who are following the ChaLEAN Extreme phase plan, keep in mind that when you start each phase, your body will be “in shock” again. Don’t be surprised or discouraged if you experience a temporary gain on the scale the first week of each phase.

My own personal example of this is running 10K’s. I don’t do it very often, maybe 1 or 2x a year. Even though I run on a regular basis, when you run a race you push much harder. It’s natural for me to be “insanely” sore the next day. Its also very common for me to see the scale jump 4 pounds the next day from forcing fluids post race and the resulting DOMS. Even though I know the cause of it, it’s still a bummer. We’re all human and hard work should mean “results”. Hard work equals results, but our bodies are amazing machines and they know how to protect us from hurting ourselves. Soreness forces you to give those muscles a break Ultimately you will lose the weight and you will change your metabolism in the process.

The key is understanding that this is a normal and temporary and stick with the program!!

When to be concerned:
If you experience a significant weight gain (exceeding 5 pounds) which does not begin to decrease rapidly after the second week, guess what it is??? I’ll give you one hint… you put it in your mouth and chew it. You know it! Your food (or calorie laden beverages). Newsflash friends.. exercise doesn’t make you gain weight. Consuming more food than you burn makes you gain weight!

So if after two weeks you are not losing weight, have gained weight that’s not coming off, it’s time to take a close and honest look at your food intake. It’s time to find out what you’re burning in calories each day. Have your RMR or BMR tested. This can be done for less than $50 and the information is invaluable. It takes out the guess work. Google “hydrostatic body fat testing _______ ” and insert the name of the big city you’re closest too. Companies that do HBFT also do BMR testing. Knowledge is king.

I’m gaining weight, but I’m sure it’s muscle:
Possibly, but if you’re following ChaLEAN Extreme correctly, you should be losing fat and gaining muscle and the fat loss should be much more substantial than the rate at which you can physically put on muscle. This is even true for they guys. Of the 70 plus people in my test group, every single one of them lost body fat and gained muscle and not one of them gained weight. I believe the average weight loss after 4 months was 28 pounds with many people losing 40 plus pounds. Even the men, who as you can see put on a lot of muscle, were seeing huge drops in the scale. We tested their muscle composition at the beginning and at the end and 100% of the participants maintained or gained muscle while achieving substantial weight loss. That’s the key to keeping weight off long term, i.e. muscle. Muscle burns fat. But you’ve heard me say that before.

Moral of the story:
Be patient young grass hopper. You’ll be lean and mean in no time!

- Coach Jenn of PersonalFitCoach.com

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Disney Parks today announced a new program that celebrates the spirit of volunteer service with a simple proposition: “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”

Disney hopes to inspire families to volunteer in their communities during 2010 through this first-of-its-kind program. One million people who perform volunteer service for a participating organization will receive a free one-day admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park.

While the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program kicks off Jan. 1, right now guests can learn more about the program and how to get their free one-day admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park by visiting www.DisneyParks.com (for the United States and Puerto Rico) or www.DisneyParks.ca (for Canada).

In the past year, guests have been celebrating all sorts of special moments in their lives at Disney parks – from birthdays and anniversaries to reunions and graduations – as part of the “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign.

“In 2010, we want to recognize and add one more reason for celebration: the contributions people make to their communities every day,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We want to inspire 1 million volunteers – people who will invest time and energy to make their own communities and neighborhoods a better place.”

To enable people to sign up for an eligible volunteer project, Disney is working with HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest volunteer network. Part of Points of Light Institute, HandsOn Network has 250 on-the-ground volunteer action centers across the country and connects volunteers to more than 70,000 nonprofit agencies that need their help.

“Wherever we live, our communities need our hands-on help to thrive,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute. “We are thrilled at this unprecedented effort by Disney Parks to help mobilize 1 million volunteers into action. ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ has the potential to reach so many families and instill the volunteer spirit in a new generation.”

Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ fits perfectly with our long history of supporting and participating in volunteer efforts. It’s a great way to honor guests who are making a positive contribution to their communities.”
Starting Jan. 1, 2010, guests can go to www.DisneyParks.com for the United States and Puerto Rico or www.DisneyParks.ca for Canada to search for volunteer opportunities available in those areas through HandsOn Network and sign up for a day of volunteer service. Many of the opportunities will be for projects that entire families can participate in together.

To raise awareness for grass-roots community volunteerism and the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program, Disney VoluntEARS joined local volunteers in cities across the United States and Canada today. Work projects involving 1,000 volunteers were coordinated by HandsOn Network in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami, and across Canada – in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Vancouver.

Joining the Sept. 29 effort were scores of volunteers from Southwest Airlines, which will also provide transportation for a 20-city tour that will take the Disney Parks volunteer message to major cities across the United States this fall and winter.

“Southwest Airlines strives to make a positive difference in the communities we serve, from protecting the environment to supporting a local cause,” said Linda Rutherford, vice president of Communications and Strategic Outreach, Southwest Airlines. “Southwest employees give back both locally and nationally through volunteerism, with individual and personal efforts, serving together as teams or through companywide efforts. The opportunity with Disney unites two companies that are devoted to the spirit of volunteerism.”

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day details:

Must pre-register and sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at www.disneyparks.com. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com in the United States and Puerto Rico. In Canada, see www.disneyparks.ca.

About HandsOn Network

The volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, HandsOn Network is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers that reach more than 83 percent of the nation’s population and extend to 10 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating scaled impact. In 2008, the network delivered approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service.

Can you believe it is almost October? I sure can't! Time goes by so fast! With October upon us and the inevitable chill in the air, at least here on the East Coast, it is time to start getting organized for fall. There is a lot that goes on in the fall, especially in preparation for the holidays. But, there is also a lot of maintenance and care that needs to take place around your home. That is what we will focus on today.

~Get out the fall yard tools. Fall is the time to break out the rake and the shovel. You will need to rake up the falling leaves so they don't keep your grass from getting moisture from dew and rain. And, you need the shovels to dig up the old annual plants so you are ready to start fresh in the spring.

~Perform maintenance on appliances. Fall is a good time to vacuum and clean the air conditioning units as well as change the filters, as you won't be needing them anymore. If you use window units, it is time to take them out of the window or put a protective covering on them and make sure that the windows are sealed to avoid drafts when the cold air arrives.

~Evaluate your decorations. If you are one of those, like me, that like to decorate for every season, it is a good time to get out the decorations and purge the ones that are beginning to show wear and tear. You can only hang the old scarecrow outside so many Halloweens before he is ready to retire from being exposed to the elements.

What else do you need to do to get ready for the change of season? Make your plan now so nothing gets forgotten or skipped over.

Happy Fall!

Melissa


Posted by Melissa of Multitasking Mama

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Ready for some excitement in your lunchbox?

I've posted before on ways to get away from the same-old, same old and bento certainly does that and more.

While in some cultures the parents (mainly moms) compete to make the most elaborate lunch for their child, for the most part bento making is becoming popular and more mainstream in different parts of the world for reasons other than status. Waste free lunchboxes and a chance to be creative are two of the main reasons I started. Plus, there are so many cute accessories you can buy. ;-)

Here is a short definition of bento or obento that I had posted previously on my food blog.

Obento is the Japanese word for packed lunch in a box and depending on where you look there are different rules for packing a bento box.

One is that each meal is 4 parts grain, 3 parts protein, 2 parts fruit & veggie, 1 part pickled veggie or dessert.

Another would be that each box has to have each of 5 colors- red, yellow, green, light & dark.
Yet another would be 1/2 grain, 1/4 protein, 1/4 fruit & veggie.

I am going to go with the definition I most prefer, and that is a variety of (mostly) bite-sized food that is arranged in a way that is pleasing to the eye as well as the taste buds. Food art, if you will.

That being said, while we try to be a little adventurous with our eating, we have American palates so the bento boxes that I pack are definitely made with our tastes in mind.

Food is cut into bite sized pieces and arranged attractively. It can be anything from simple leftovers to hot-dog octopus or sushi or... the combinations really are endless.

Another thing I love about bento is that I can make it the night before (SO NOT A MORNING PERSON) pop it in the fridge and just have to set it by the door before the littles leave.

Here is a sample bento I made for the littlest diva- it looks like a lot of food, and it is but realize that she is 16 and she shares with her friends. Everyone thinks it is an extremely cool and fun way to get your meal and they all love to sample what she brings. This was very simple to make- sure it takes a few minutes longer to cut the cantaloupe with a cutter or thread the ham and cheese on little picks but it makes it more attractive and it really isn't that much work.


Clockwise is ham and cheese threaded onto picks with pimento stuffed olives on the end. (I just used a simple lowfat deli ham and cheddar and butterkrust cheeses.)

Cantaloupe cut into flowered shapes.

Lowfat vanilla yogurt with frozen blackberries.

Wheat thin flatbreads- garlic and parsley flavor.

Orange flavored craisins in the center.

All of this is packed in an attractive bento box with some beautiful fall leaves for the design but if you don't have and can't afford special containers you can easily pack the same meal into any type of reusable container. You can see several other varieties and samples of our bentos here and get more detailed instructions here.

I hope this has inspired you to try your hand at making bento for your kids or even for yourself.

I'm always looking for new ideas- what do you do to make your lunches fun and exciting?

Sherry


Posted by Sherry of Loon-atics In The Kitchen

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

--Mothers of Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner, Nick Mangold and other NFC and AFC Moms Face Off to Get Fit By Super Bowl Sunday--

“The Dr. Oz Show,” the all-new daily syndicated show hosted by cardiac surgeon and health expert Dr. Mehmet Oz, is joining forces with the National Football League (NFL) as 20 moms of NFL players face off to get fit in “Dr. Oz’s Ultimate Health Challenge.” On Friday, September 25, two teams comprised of ten AFC and ten NFC moms, including the mothers of NFL players Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner, Nick Mangold and more, will take on each other to tackle their health issues as part of a national viewer challenge. The teams will be coached by former Tennessee Titans running back and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George and his wife Taj, of “Survivor” fame, recently announced as regular contributors to “The Dr. Oz Show.”

In six episodes airing this season, the moms will battle head-to-head to reduce major risk factors contributing to heart disease including their blood pressure, cholesterol, waist size and weight. “Dr. Oz’s Ultimate Health Challenge” kicks off in the first month of the NFL season and will culminate on February 5, 2010, the Friday before Super Bowl XLIV. Viewers can join the challenge starting with the first episode, airing Friday, September 25, and by following along on doctoroz.com.

“I’m excited to team up with the NFL, Eddie and Taj, as we are all committed to improving the health and wellness of America,” said Dr. Oz. “Collectively, we will coach and motivate moms and families everywhere while they get fit and celebrate their victories side-by-side with mothers from the NFL on the show and online.”

“Taj and I are thrilled to be participating on ‘The Dr. Oz Show.’ We believe in Dr. Oz’s mission to help people live healthier, better lives,” said Eddie George. “We hope through our involvement with the NFL Mother’s program, we can inspire others to challenge themselves and attain life-altering goals.”

While their sons tackle each other on the field throughout the football season, their mothers will battle off the field in a one-of-a-kind competition. The NFL moms participating in “Dr. Oz’s Ultimate Health Challenge” include:

AFC MOMS:
Deborah Johnson - Son: Jay Richardson - Oakland Raiders
Tammy Davis - Son: Brandon Williams - Pittsburgh Steelers
Sherri Clements - Son: Shaun Phillips - San Diego Chargers
Terri Terrell; Son - Laurence Maroney - New England Patriots
Therese Mangold - Son: Nick Mangold – New York Jets
Mary Gallery; Son - Robert Gallery - Oakland Raiders
Karen Barber; Son - Dominique Barber - Houston Texans
Laverne Suggs - Son: Terrell Suggs - Baltimore Ravens
Donna George - Son: Eddie George – Tennessee Titans (Retired)
Jackie Posluszny - Son: Paul Posluszny - Buffalo Bills

NFC MOMS:
Char McNabb - Son: Donovan McNabb - Philadelphia Eagles
Pauline Sharper - Son: Darren Sharper - New Orleans Saints
Jackie Randle El - Son: Antwaan Randle El - Washington Redskins
Michelle Green - Son: Bryant McKinnie - Minnesota Vikings
Diane Wells - Son: Reggie Wells - Arizona Cardinals
Constance Davis - Son: Anthony Adams - Chicago Bears
Gayle Jackson - Son: DeSean Jackson - Philadelphia Eagles
Venita Gyimah - Son: Ken Hamlin - Dallas Cowboys
Sheila Davis - Son: Danny Clark – New York Giants
Sue Warner - Son: Kurt Warner - Arizona Cardinals

In the end, only one individual and one team can win “Dr. Oz’s Ultimate Health Challenge.” The most successful NFL mom will receive the coveted title of MVP, and the winning division will take home the dream title of “Dr. Oz’s Ultimate Health Challenge” Champions.

The Dr. Oz Show” is an entertaining, high octane, multi-topic hour that is equal parts life saving information combined with an “embarrassment-free zone” sensibility where nothing is off limits or out of bounds. It's all about YOU - the viewer - and what matters to you, your family, your health and your well-being. "The Dr. Oz Show" is co-produced by ZoCo Productions, LLC and Sony Pictures Television.

“The Dr. Oz Show” is executive produced by Mindy Borman; Amy Chiaro is co-executive producer. The show is filmed in front of a studio audience in Studio 6A in New York’s legendary Rockefeller Center.

Follow Dr. Oz on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace

Singer/songwriter Tyrone Wells is the latest act to gain exposure on the hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy. His song “Sink or Swim” was recently featured in the promos for the sixth season premiere. Watch the commercial spot featuring “Sink or Swim” on YouTube, and then snag the track on iTunes. Listen to the track in full here. wm; qt.

Wells launched his career in 2003 with a number of indie releases. His fourth album and second major label release, Remain, is full of passion, with a lush production value that showcases his powerful voice. Remain, featuring the track “Sink or Swim,” is available now in stores and on iTunes. Visit his MySpace for more info and for tour dates.

Glamour Magazine joined forces with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation’s Love/Avon Army of Women to host a PSA video contest to help recruit one million women volunteers for breast cancer research.

Film students were asked to create video Public Service Announcements for the “Army of Women” cause. The Army of Women’s goal is to eliminate breast cancer by identifying what causes this disease and stopping it before it starts. This unique initiative teams scientists with women who may be interested in participating in breast cancer research projects– healthy women as well as breast cancer survivors. Since launching last October, more than 305,000 women have signed up, with over 11,000 participating in 14 breast cancer studies. Our goal is to recruit one million volunteers!

We encourage you to vote for your favorite PSA at http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2009/09/vote-now-and-help-find-a-cure.html. Voting starts today (Friday, September 25) and the winner announced on October 5th. Your vote will help the organization pick the video that will motivate millions of women to take the next step and sign up to join the Army of Women.

Get more information, and take the next step yourself by signing up at armyofwomen.org. And yes, it’s free to join!



“One Million Strong”
Finalists: Brent McHenry & Nick Wenger – University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts






“Walk in the Park”
Finalist: Courtney Thomas – University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts





“Million in the Mirror”
Finalists: Marc Parees & Ryan Silbert – New York University's Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television





“One Voice”
Finalist: Felix Thompson – New York University's Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television

The words manners and fun are rarely found in the same sentence. When you think of manners you often think of being yelled at to chew with your mouth closed, sit still, or keep your elbows off the table. While this method may be effective…it may not make for happy family meals (and lets face it, when you all finally sit down to dinner together, who wants to spend that little bit of together time yelling at each other).

Early on with our daughter we discovered a way to effectively teach her manners without having to yell or constantly reprimand. Princesses were her obsession, so we played on this. We talked to her about how a princess would act. We asked her if she wanted to be like a princess. When she replied that she did want to be like a princess, we proceeded to teach her how a princess acted (aka…good manners). In church, when our daughter wanted to sit all sprawled out in her dress, we reminded her how a princess would sit. At the dinner table, when she wanted to talk with her mouth full of food, we reminded her that a princess would never talk while she had food in her mouth.

Now you may be saying…that is great, but I have only boys, and they don’t really want to be a princess (or even a prince, knight or king, for that matter). The key is finding what they do like. If it is Thomas the Tank Engine, play on the fact that to be a really useful boy (or engine, whatever he wants) he needs to act a certain way. If their obsession is with super heroes, tell them that heroes don’t only have super powers, but super manners too.

Finding what your child likes and turning manners into something fun and positive will help the process of learning how to act much easier on parent and child, and dinner time may just end up being a much nicer experience. Just be ready for a dinner party full of princesses, super heroes and really useful engines.

- Christine

Posted by Christine of Random Thoughts With Chris

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Now you can get more Box Tops coupons on your favorite back-to-school brands at Sam's Club and maximize your earnings for your school. As a double benefit, your savings on these favorite brands will pay for your membership. At Sam's you can save over $40 on these brands compared to grocery store prices.

Participating brands include: Cheerios, Ziploc containers, Ziploc sandwich bags, Honey Nut Cheerios, Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fiber One Oats and Chocolate Bars, Nature Valley Bars, Scott Paper Towels, Huggies Baby Wipes and Kleenex Facial Tissues.

If you're like me, you find yourself clipping those boxtops every time we use a product that has one. If you're not familiar with the Boxtops for Education program, it's really simple - everyone at your school clips the boxtop points from eligible products and brings them in to the school. They're each worth ten cents for your school - it's just like free money for things the school really needs, like sporting equipment, art supplies or even a new playground if you collect enough!

You can even enter to win The Big Clip Sweepstakesfor a chance to win the Grand Prize of 500,000 Bonus Box Tops or one of two first prizes of 250,000 Bonus Box Tops!

To help you collect tons of boxtops for your school, we are giving away five (5) one-day passes and the first name drawn will also win a $25 Sam's Club gift card to use while you're there!

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!! - Giveaways are open to those with a US shipping address ONLY.

• Leave us a comment here at Pink Lemonade - share your best savings tip or the goal for the number of Box Tops you will try to earn for your school.


• 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). 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, October 1st at 11:59pm (pdst) so don't wait - make sure you've gotten all six entries! Please note: entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to drawing a winner.
- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

Zhu Zhu Pets are the hot new toy hitting store shelves this year just in time for the holiday season.

Of course, you're asking "What,exactly, is a Zhu Zhu Pet?" - well, a zhu zhu pet is a robotic toy hamster designed to delight kids (and really annoy pets). They're cute, just slightly larger than the real thing, they make some real hamster-like noises, and they do look like toy hamsters - that's about where the zhu zhu/hamster resemblance ends. They come in several colors (some true to life) and some, not so much - like lemon yellow, pink and black & white cow spots. In addition to the authentic noises, they also have a tendency to spout the words "Go, Go, Go!", to moo like a cow, and crow like a rooster - these things do make the kiddos laugh. When placed on a hard surface, they scoot around the floor on wheels, push a car, roll along in a ball (like a real hamster would) and can be attached to a plastic surfboard or skateboard to ride those along a hard surface.

The folks at Zhu Zhu recently sent us a zhu zhu pet playset along with quite a few hamsters so we could throw a party and test them out. We invited nine of the little miss's second grade friends from school and one Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago, our house was buzzing with speeding hamsters and funny little animal sounds.

The habitrail set took a while to figure out the best layout so we're glad that Mr. Pink Lemonade set that up before the kiddos arrived. As each child came in the door, they chose a pet, which they got to take home with them at the end of the party. The kiddos loved the pets! They were all enthralled with watching them maneuver their way through tubes and around the "rooms" of the playset. They laughed when a zhu zhu would drive the car (although, it wasn't very effective on carpeting - they eventually took the car over to the tiled entry way where it ran much better). Zhu zhus had a blast in their exercise ball which worked just fine on carpeting (they really do resemble real hamsters when they're tooling around in their ball). When the zhu zhu's are running around on the carpet, their movement is definitely realistic - they actually look like they're crawling around! (I found it a plus that they work just fine on the carpeting).

I was amazed by how long this toy held the interest of the kiddos. We scheduled our party to last for two hours and it held their attention for close to 90 minutes of it - a great feat in my book!

Every single kiddo that came to play definitely gave it a thumbs-up, in fact several said they would like to have their own playset for their zhu zhu. Little Matthew said that he would like to have some of these "because they're just like having a real hamster" - his Mom liked the fact that there wouldn't be the mess that a real pet would make.

Even after the party was over, this toy continued to be a favorite in my house for a good week or two (although interest has waned & now the cats have actually figured out how to turn these little guys on and enjoy watching them tool around their house). I'm impressed with this toy because this is one of the few toys that my oldest daughter (a special needs kiddo who's almost 13) has ever played with in the form it was intended - and she was content to play with it on her own without having someone sit right with her and help her.

Even several weeks after the party, little Matthew and his Brother came up to me at a Birthday Party to tell me how much they loved the zhu zhu pets and how Matthew had made a whole "Hampster-ville" out of cardboard boxes at their house.

All in all, I would give this toy an 8 out of 10. Mostly because because it held everyone's interest for such a long time. My only criticism is of the construction in a few spots - the garage for the car kept falling apart, so we eventually just took off the doors & lid and it was fine after that - the little plastic piece that must be attatched to the bottom of the hamster before it can roam around in the ball has somewhat flimsy tabs that bend over easily and have to be bent back up (eventually these will break off & I'm not sure the piece will be any good if the tabs break), it's also kind of small and is easily lost. Lastly, the ramp that the zhu zhu's use to go up to the spiral slide really needs another support in the middle of the span, we ended up propping it up with an empty pet box which did solve the problem.

So, if you're looking for "The" hot new toy this holiday gift-giving season, give the Zhu Zhu Pets some serious thought. Your kids will be thrilled and it's a toy that they'll continue to play with after the first day (which I can't say for many toys lately).

Check out the zhu zhu's in action in their commercial:



- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

Universal Orlando Resort, together with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, today revealed first-ever details about the incredible scope of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal also announced that the highly anticipated land will open in spring 2010.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters – and faithful to the visual landscapes of the films – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure will provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience complete with multiple attractions, shops and a signature eating establishment. This completely immersive environment will transcend generations and bring the wonder and magic of the amazingly detailed Harry Potter books and films to life.

The expectations of Harry Potter fans are high and Universal Orlando Resort is collaborating closely with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and the Warner Bros. Harry Potter brand team to ensure that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be an experience of a lifetime. The Harry Potter films’ production designer, Stuart Craig and art director, Alan Gilmore, in cooperation with a corps of artisans from Universal Creative are working daily to construct the most authentic Harry Potter experience possible. Guests will be able to sip Butterbeer in Three Broomsticks, buy Extendable Ears at Zonko’s and experience a state-of-the-art attraction that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life in a way never before imagined.

“All of the action and adventures of Harry Potter’s world will come to life here at Universal Orlando Resort,” said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be unlike any other experience on earth and we can’t wait to see the looks on our guests’ faces as they enter this rich environment.”

“Harry Potter continues to spark the imaginations of fans of all ages and we really have seen the anticipation continue to build for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” added Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “We are excited to share with fans a first glimpse into the truly enchanted world we are bringing to life with all of our partners at Universal Orlando Resort.”

From the front archway of Hogsmeade to the immensity of Hogwarts castle, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will feature the locations listed below:

• At the entrance of Hogsmeade, billowing steam and an iconic whistle signal the arrival of the Hogwarts Express into Hogsmeade station


• Across the way is Zonko’s, a joke shop with a collection of tricks and jokes, including Extendable Ears, Boxing Telescopes and Sneakoscopes


• Honeydukes is next door and full of treats like Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans


• The Three Broomsticks and adjacent Hog’s Head pub will feature traditional British fare and drinks including Butterbeer and pumpkin juice


• Across from the Three Broomsticks is The Owlery, where owls roost and await their next delivery


• The Owl Post sends letters with a certified Hogsmeade postmark and sells official stamps from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter


• Ollivanders wand shop is an incredible interactive experience where the wand chooses the wizard


• Completing Hogsmeade is Dervish and Banges, the magical instruments and equipment shop featuring Quidditch equipment, Triwizard apparel, Spectrespecs and Remembralls


• The first attraction, Dragon Challenge, features a twin high-speed roller coaster with many iconic elements from the Triwizard Tournament


• Next is Flight of the Hippogriff, a family coaster simulating a Hippogriff training flight over the grounds of Hogwarts castle


• Located in Hogwarts castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a thrilling new state-of-the-art attraction that uses entirely new technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before experienced


• Before exiting back into Hogsmeade, Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods is full of Ministry of Magic and magical creatures merchandise, Omnioculars, and even remote control Golden Snitches

“This Universal Creative and Warner Bros. team shares an incredible passion and commitment to making this destination an exceptionally immersive environment that will touch the lives of our guests,” said Mark Woodbury, President, Universal Creative.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is yet another way that fans will be able to experience and enjoy Harry Potter for many years to come,” said Diane Nelson, President of Warner Premiere, who is also responsible for overseeing the Harry Potter brand team worldwide. “The power of this brand speaks for itself, as the enthusiasm of our dedicated fans around the world continues to grow even stronger as we move into the future.”

Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park destination that places you and your family in the heart of pop culture’s most incredible and timeless stories – making you the superstar in a world-class adventure story and allowing you to discover your own inner hero. Guests experience two exciting theme parks – Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure as well as Universal CityWalk, a 30-acre restaurant, shopping and nighttime entertainment complex; and three magnificently themed on-site hotels – the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Flagship experiences featured in the theme parks include “The Simpsons Ride,” “Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride,” “The Incredible Hulk Coaster” and “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.” More information is available at http://www.universalorlando.com/.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

Harry Potter continues to be a global phenomenon. The series of books by author J.K. Rowling has been translated into 67 languages with more than 400 million copies sold in over 200 territories around the world. The films, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, have grossed more than $5.3 billion at the box office worldwide, making Harry Potter the largest-grossing film franchise in history.

# # #

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.

Virgin America and Le Tourment Vert absinthe offer you the chance to win a weekend at a Palms Fantasy Suite in Las Vegas with their Suite Surrender Promotion. Le Tourment Vert absinthe and Virgin America are committed to making your fantasies come true. The possibilities are endless and Sin City is certainly the destination to explore your wildest dreams. So pack your bags and enjoy Le Tourment Vert absinthe cocktails on Virgin America as you and a friend fly free to the Palms Casino Resort. To sign up go to http://flavorpill.com/absinthevirgin.

Winner will receive a flight for 2 from the nearest city that Virgin America flies to Las Vegas from along with a stay in one of the Palms hotel fantasy suites. Suite stay is valid one (1) weekend (contiguous Friday and Saturday) subject to availability. Excludes holidays and special events - Blackout days apply. Guest is responsible for own incidental charges and other applicable fees. Winners must be aged 21 or older.

Since May 1, 2009, Virgin America has been serving Le Tourment Vert cocktails feature the “Mile High Cocktail,” made with Le Tourment Vert, Sprite and a lemon wedge, complimentary in the airline’s First Class and Main Cabin Select – and for purchase in the Main Cabin.

Le Tourment Vert is a traditional French absinthe, hand-crafted in small batches by master distiller Bruno Delannoy, and made with anise, fennel, grand wormwood (artemisia absinthium) and aromatic herbs including rosemary, eucalyptus and sage.

Le Tourment Vert is imported from Distillerie Vinet Ege, located outside of Cognac, France. Distillerie Vinet Ege SA began importing Le Tourment Vert into the U.S. in late 2007 and it is currently available in the following markets: New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Portland, New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix and Miami. For more information, please visit http://www.letourmentvert.com/.

Thanks to all our readers who joined Pink Lemonade's Social Network (PLSN) since it began in June.

Our Social Network was an experiment designed to bring the readers of Pink Lemonade together to share ideas and support each other. I thank you for all of your support and the time you took to join.

Because of lack of activity, we are going be discontinuing this site as it appears today... but don't despair!

On October 1st, this site will become "Club Pink Lemonade" (CPL) which will be a paid members-only site!

It will still have the social network aspect if you choose to use it, but there will be lots of fun things that will be available only to the members of Club Pink Lemonade such as:

The Free Stuff listings that were so popular last year on our home site.

A Daily Household Tip to make life easier.

Giveaways for members only - you won't even have to leave a comment, just by being a member you'll automatically be entered into each and every members only giveaway.

Recipes and Holiday Ideas

Exclusive Articles

An extra entry into all of Pink Lemonade's Main site giveaways (comment will be required)

Plus much more! (feel free to suggest things you'd like to see)

If you're not already a member, pop on over and join now! Everyone who joins prior to our re-launch on October 1st will receive FREE MEMBERSHIP for the remainder of 2009 - plus, if you decide to continue, your membership will be offered at a discounted rate of $5.00 per month for the first three months of 2010!

Members joining on October 1, 2009 or after will be charged the $7.50 per month standard charge.

So, be sure to stop by often and see what new and exciting things going on this fall at the new, hip, fun, Club Pink Lemonade!

- Liz

Visit Pink Lemonade at: http://pinklemonadeoflife.ning.com

Happy Weight Loss Wednesday Pink Lemonade Fans. I'm not much of a cook, but I've been trying to seek out healthier recipes that my entire family can enjoy. Yesterday, I attempted some organic chocolate cookies with whole wheat. They were AWEFUL! So, that recipe is not the one I'll share for today. Here is a really tasty Asian chicken salad that even my picky eaters gobble up at dinner time.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon finely chopped, peeled fresh ginger
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 clove garlic, pressed
• 1 (8 ounce) package bow tie (farfalle) pasta
• 1/2 cucumber - scored, halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped red onion
• 2 diced Roma tomatoes
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 (6 ounce) bag fresh spinach
• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange segments, drained
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

DIRECTIONS

1. To make the dressing, whisk together the ginger root, rice vinegar, orange juice, vegetable oil, sesame oil, soup mix, sugar, and garlic until well blended. Cover, and refrigerate until needed.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the bowtie pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, and rinse under cold water. Place pasta in a large bowl.
3. To make the salad, toss the cucumber, bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, carrot, spinach, mandarin oranges, chicken, and almonds with the pasta. Pour the dressing over the salad mixture, and toss again to coat evenly. Serve immediately.

Until next week, have a safe, happy and healthy week ahead.

- Coach Jenn of PersonalFitCoach.com

Featured weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

That wiley Trix Rabbit just can't resist Trix Cereal - and now he has even more reason to love it. The traditional fruity flavors – raspberry red, lemony lemon, orangey orange, wildberry blue, grapity purple and watermelon have been swirled into a whole new type of fruity goodness in Trix Swirls Cereal.

Mr. Pink Lemonade is a big Trix fan and he loved the combinations of fruity goodness. Not only are Trix tasty, they are fortified with 12 vitamins and minerals, made from whole grain, Trix is also a good source of calcium – making Trix a fun and healthy way to start the day.



We have an awesome prize pack to give away to one lucky reader! This "Trix Swirl-eriffic" prize pack includes a box of Trix Swirls cereal along with a kid-size tie-dyed apron, a set of watercolor pencils, watercolor paints, brushes, a sketchbook and an art supply box.

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!! - Giveaways are open to those with a US shipping address ONLY.

• Leave us a comment here at Pink Lemonade & let us know what strange food combinations you, or someone in your family likes.


• 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). 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 Tuessday, September 29th at 11:59pm (pdst) so don't wait - make sure you've gotten all six entries! Please note: entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to drawing a winner.
- Liz

Posted by Liz of Pink Lemonade

Personal Fit Coach has partnered with Pink Lemonade to host a giveaway for the new Shake Weight. Here are the product details:

• Based on a new workout technology called Dynamic Inertia, which ignites the muscles in your arms, shoulders, and chest


• Works out your arms, shoulders and chest in just 6 minutes a day


• Instantly feel your arm muscles working and toning
  

An Independent Scientific Study shows that the Shake Weight™ causes over 300% more muscle activity than the traditional dumbbells of the same weight. This is a result of the unique motion of the exercise, isometric contraction of the entire upper body required during use of the Shake Weight™ and the rapid pace of the muscle fatigue caused by one unique movement. Watch the video at the company web site.



This giveaway will go through September 30th. Please do one or more of the of the following to enter:

- Become a Fan of Personal Fit Coach on Facebook
- Follow Personal Fit Coach on Twitter @myfitcoach
- Make a purchase from the Personal Fit Coach/Team Beachbody store for 10 extra entries
- Leave a comment that you have done one or more of the above here.

Two winners will be chosen at random and notified by 10/3/2009. Good luck!

Please note: This giveaway is hosted by Personal Fit Coach - comments left on this post do not count as entries for this giveaway.

Fans of pop sensation Esmee Denters will soon get a chance to see her perform live! Esmee just announced that she is joining pop-rockers Honor Society for most of their Fashionably Late Tour, starting on September 28th in Nashville, Tennessee. The tour will make stops all across the country until it wraps in late November. For all the details visit her Myspace page, or check out the full list of dates below.

Esmee's first single "Outta Here" is quickly climbing the charts. Buy it now on iTunes, and look for her debut album in early 2010.

Fashionably Late 2009 Tour Stops with Esmee Denters
9/28/2009 The Rutledge Nashville, TN
9/30/2009 Sonar-Club Stage Baltimore, MD
10/1/2009 School of Rock South Hackensack, NJ
10/3/2009 Diesel Pittsburgh, PA
10/4/2009 Blue Hill Plaza Pearl River, NY
10/5/2009 The Basement Columbus, OH
10/6/2009 Headliners Music Hall Louisville, KY
10/8/2009 The Marquee Tulsa, OK
10/11/2009 The House of Blues Houston, TX
10/14/2009 Martini Ranch Phoenix, AZ
10/15/2009 The House of Blues San Diego, CA
10/17/2009 The House of Blues Los Angeles, CA
10/20/2009 Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR
10/21/2009 El Corazon Seattle, WA
10/23/2009 The Venue Boise, ID
10/24/2009 Murray Theater Salt Lake City, UT
10/26/2009 Bluebird Denver, CO
10/28/2009 Granada Theater Lawrence, KS
10/29/2009 The Firebird St. Louis, MO
10/30/2009 Rave 2 Milwaukee, WI
11/1/2009 iLounge Pontiac, MI
11/2/2009 The Cambridge Room @ House of Blues Cleveland, OH
11/3/2009 20th Century Cincinnati, OH
11/5/2009 Backbooth Orlando, FL
11/10/2009 The Fillmore Charlotte, NC
11/12/2009 The Fillmore New York, NY
11/13/2009 The Note West Chester, PA
11/14/2009 Jammin Java Vienna, VA
11/15/2009 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA
11/17/2009 Studio JPR Montreal, QC
11/18/2009 The Opera House Toronto, ON
11/20/2009 The House of Blues Chicago, IL
11/22/2009 The Loft Atlanta, GA
11/23/2009 Workplay Theater Birmingham, AL

Are you the queen of the coupons? Are you obsessed with finding the best deal? Do you get a rush from getting a better deal than your neighbor? Are you in competition with your best friend and tend to brag about your cost cutting talents?

The Grocery Game and a major Los Angeles based television production company are seeking bargain hunters with big personalities for a new TV show. Casting producers are looking for people who are obsessed with living and entertaining well, but on the most frugal budget possible. We are looking for entertaining people with magnetic personalities who viewers will love to watch and, most of all, are driven by hunting out the best bargains from TheGroceryGame.com and TeriToday.com.

The Grocery Game has been asked to help find those people who are willing to share their compulsion of hunting down the best deal and for entertaining on a dime.

If you or someone you know would like to submit for this unscripted TV show please email the following info to BryanStinsonCasting@gmail.com!

Name:
Two Pictures:
City Located
Phone:
Email:
Describe your family:

Besides TheGroceryGame.com or Teritoday.com, list any organizations, groups, memberships, or websites that you use for your bargain hunting.

Please submit brief bio on how far you go to get the best deals. Also tell us how competitive you are and if any of your friends share your same passion!

Check out OneRepublic's new single "All The Right Moves." The powerful, drum-heavy track will appear on their forthcoming album, Waking Up, which is due out on November 17th. Visit OneRepublic.net for more info and upcoming tour dates with Rob Thomas.

With the economy the way it is right now, keeping excellent track of your finances is vitally important. If you are not on time paying your credit card bill, the late fee is only going to add to the balance. If you don't get that deposit in the bank on time, you are going to be facing potential overdraft fees. If you don't plan ahead for emergencies, you are going to be facing choosing between groceries or buying the fridge to store them in. How can you keep ahead of the game and keep your finances organized? Here are five tips:

1. Keep track. Document what is going in and what is going out. Too often, bounced checks, etc. occur because you thought the money was there. Don't assume, know. Most banks have the ability to track these things online. Take advantage of that. You can keep a notebook, a spreadsheet or use any of the myriad of software programs out there to assist you in keeping track of your spending and income.



2. Be conservative. Cut back on spending where you can, research for the best price and wait for sales. For instance, say you need a new computer. Find the store that is offering no interest for 18 months rather than just going out and purchasing from the store you "always" do. Brand loyalty can have a negative impact on frugality!



3. Follow through. Many times you can save money by submitting rebates, using coupons or discount cards and more. But you have to follow through. Get a small accordion envelope to keep receipts/rebate offers in and schedule time to go through and complete the requirements- be it once a month, once a week- whatever works for you. You may think you got a good deal but you didn't if you don't follow through and get that rebate money back.



4. Develop a budget. After you have started keeping track (point #1)you will have a much better idea of where your money is coming from and where it is going. Then you can set up a realistic and workable budget for your family (that should include a savings plan). Just like the keeping track aspect there are many different methods of budgeting. Find the one that works for you and...



5. Stick to your budget. All the budgeting preparation in the world won't help your family's financial situation if you don't follow the budget. For example, it is nearing the end of the month and my son joined a Lego NXT club. The dues come out of the miscellaneous portion of our budget. If I wrote a check for the whole amount we would go over for this month. So I talked to the leader and asked if we could pay 1/2 his dues this month and half next month. She is fine with that and my budget remains intact. Don't spend impulsively. Check your budget and make sure you have the money to spend before spending it.

Organizing your finances may be something you haven't thought of before but it can really go a long way in making your financial forecast look up!

Happy Organizing!

Melissa


Posted by Melissa of Multitasking Mama

Featured Weekly on Pink Lemonade Online Magazine

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and adventures that will be delighting Disney guests for years to come, at the first D23 Expo. Most notable among the announcements were the confirmation of an all-new Star Tours attraction and the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

“Storytelling is the DNA of Disney dreams and we’re always exploring new ways to tell new stories in new places,” Rasulo told a crowd at the Anaheim Convention Center in California before taking them on a "behind-the-magic" tour of their favorite Disney destinations.

Rasulo announced that a new 3-D version of the tremendously-popular “Star Tours” attraction will debut at the Disneyland Resort and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2011. Based on the iconic Lucasfilm “Star Wars” films, the attraction will include immersive new elements that will take guests to many familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.

For Walt Disney World in Florida, Rasulo outlined plans for the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom, vastly increasing the size of Fantasyland by 2013. Guests will soon be able to:

• Visit their favorite Disney Princess in her castle, cottage, or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast’s castle library.


• Be Our Guest and dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast’s castle.


• Fly with Dumbo high above brand new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent.


• Journey under the sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, in her very own attraction – also opening at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim in 2011.


• Meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow.

Rasulo provided updates on the multi-year expansion of Disney’s California Adventure including the new “World of Color” attraction slated to open in the spring of 2010 and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012 where guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its six acres of hand-carved rockwork.

Rasulo noted the progress of several other recently-announced projects including the three new lands coming to Hong Kong Disneyland by 2014; the Disney Dream, the new ship being built by Disney Cruise Line; the many diverse itineraries being offered by Adventures by Disney that take guests on 19 unique, once-in-a-lifetime guided vacation experiences; and Disney’s first family destination resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

Rasulo’s keynote presentation was only part of the D23 EXPO experience. Guests were able to discover:

• Never-before-seen models of upcoming Disney attractions.


• Up close and personal visits with Lucky the Dinosaur and Wall-E.


• A preview of the most advanced Audio-Animatronics figures ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering.


• Displays showcasing cutting-edge effects technologies that are being developed for Disney attractions, shows and venues.?
  

ABOUT WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are where families experience and enjoy the magic of Disney’s beloved characters and where dreams come true. More than 50 years ago, Walt Disney created a new kind of entertainment families could experience together, immersed in detailed atmospheres and vibrant storytelling. His vision now includes a collection of five of the world’s leading family vacation destinations - Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.; Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan; Disneyland Resort Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France; and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, located on Lantau Island. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts includes the world-class Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, with nine resorts and more than 400,000 members; Adventures by Disney, a guided group vacation experience to some of the world’s most popular destinations; the World of Disney stores; and Walt Disney Imagineering, which creates and designs all Disney parks, resorts and attractions.

Cooking sensation Rachael Ray took some time away from her day-time talk show to give late-night talker Jimmy Kimmel tips on making budget sound spaghetti and meatballs in a special comedy piece “Cooking on a Budget with Rachael Ray.”

Check out the video below to find out Rachel’s unorthodox methods of saving money and how she managed to purchase all of the ingredients for only $0.89.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” airs on ABC at 12:05 a.m. ET/PT.

KSM have premiered the official music video for their single "Read Between The Lines." Watch Shelby, Kate, Sophia, Shae and Katie go glam and rock the title track off their debut album in this high-energy clip.
Read Between The Lines, the debut album from KSM, is available exclusively on iTunes now and will be in-stores tomorrow, September 22nd.

Tonight is the night we've been waiting for! Fall Premieres on CBS - How I Met Your Mother at 8:00 followed by the premiere of the new Accidentally on Purpose at 8:30. At 9:00pm the hilarious Two and A Half Men followed by The Big Bang Theory at it's new time 9:30.

I have to say that Big Bang is definitely one of the funniest shows on TV (maybe because Mr. Pink Lemonade is a deep-down a nerd just like Leonard and Sheldon) - After two full seasons, I have not seen an episode yet where I haven't been laughing out loud - I am definitely looking forward to what Leonard, Sheldon, Penny, Howard and Rajesh have in store for us this season (after all, the guys have been in the North Pole doing research and Penny really misses them). So, embrace your inner-geek and check out the season premiere of The Big Bang Theory tonight at 9:00pm - scroll down for a few BBT videos...



The guys return home from the North Pole:



And one of my favorites the quintessential "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock":



Penny's Christmas Gift to Sheldon:

Hearty Monkey Island Pirate Game Bounty A'plenty to be Plundered!

Each year on September 19, brigands and scallywags round the globe rule the day on International Talk Like a Pirate Day. And what better way to mark the occasion than by jumping into the celebrated Monkey Island® swashbuckling pirate games by LucasArts and Telltale!

On September 19, Telltale is making the premiere episode of Tales of Monkey Island® a FREE download on their website (http://www.playlikeapirate.com/) all day.

In addition, today through September 21, LucasArts is offering a virtual treasure trove of deals on several versions of The Secret of Monkey Island®: Special Edition titles, including:

50% off the iPhone and iPod touch version of LucasArts™ new The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition via Apples App Store

50% off The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition on Steam®, Valve Corporations delivery and management platform for the PC and Direct2Drive, IGN Entertainments digital download store

Best ye jump on these offers smartly before they expire!

LucasArts will also soon release a free elite version of The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPod touch as well as a sound board application for iPhone and iPod touch that features 16 witty and ridiculing sound-bites from The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition.

Taking place each year on September 19, Talk Like a Pirate Day was officially started in 1995 by two Oregon-based pirate lovers and has since become a pop culture phenomenon celebrated by would-be scallywags all over the globe. The event has evolved beyond simple pirate speech with people inserting piratey activities into their everyday life by eating, drinking, dressing, blogging, laughing, Tweeting, and gaming like a pirate!

The Monkey Island pirate game phenomenon all started in 1990 with LucasArts™ The Secret of Monkey Island, a graphical adventure PC title featuring an aspiring pirate named Guybrush Threepwood. The game was an instant critical success and has since spawned three additional titles, making it one of the most enduring videogame franchises of all time.

The new wave of Monkey Island excellence kicked off this summer with two new projects. Telltale premiered the Tales of Monkey Island game series on PC and Wii, in July, delivering a completely new epic storyline and swashbuckling flair that is unfolding across five monthly episodes, which are available for download on Tellales website, http://www.telltalegames.com/. Wii users can also download episodes individually from the Wii Shop Channel.

The Monkey Island celebration continued when LucasArts published The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, a completely re-imagined version of the first game in the series that adds updated high definition graphics, a re-mastered musical score, and full voiceover to the classic adventure game. The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition is available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PC via Steam and Direct2Drive, and iPhone and iPod touch through Apple's App Store.

About Steam
The leading online platform for PC games and digital entertainment, Steam delivers new releases and online services to over 20 million PC users around the world. For more information, please visit www.steamgames.com.

About Valve
Valve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996 and based in Bellevue, Washington. For more information, please visit www.valvesoftware.com

About Direct2Drive
Direct2Drive (D2D) is IGN Entertainment's digital download store (http://www.direct2drive.com and http://www.direct2drive.co.uk). Launched in October 2004, D2D allows consumers to conveniently purchase and download the latest premium PC games directly from the Web to their desktops.

About Telltale, Inc.
Telltale is the first and only studio to release interactive episodic content on a monthly schedule. Founded in 2004 by LucasArts veterans with decades of experience, Telltale has quickly become an industry leader, establishing the model for downloadable game seasons and releasing more than twenty games to date. Telltale's games have won numerous awards, including Adventure Game of the Year accolades from publications such as IGN, PC Gamer, GameSpy, and Adventure Gamers, and have been recognized by mainstream outlets ranging from USA Today, to The New York Times to Variety. Telltale currently develops and publishes episodic series on PC, Wii, and Xbox 360, with plans to expand to additional platforms and channels in the coming year. For more information, visit http://www.telltalegames.com.

About LucasArts
LucasArts, a division of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd., is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game console systems, computers and the Internet. Based in San Francisco, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was created in 1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his vision of a state-of-the-art, multifaceted entertainment company.

LucasArts and the LucasArts logo are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. ©1990-2009 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. ® or TM as indicated. All rights reserved. Nintendo trademarks used under license. WiiWare is available only through the Wii console.