Beautify Your Heart: Tips to Protect Your Heart Health
Monday, January 19, 2009
February is Heart Health Month and Metamucil and Women's Health have partnered to encourage you to get your cholesterol screening and learn healthy habits for a beautiful heart.The partnership is called the Beautify Your Heart program and is aiming to reach 100,000 women to get their cholesterol screened and will also donate $100,000 to WomenHeart to help fund heart disease education and patient advocacy programs. "Desperate Housewives" star and heart health advocate Brenda Strong was the first of 100,000 women to get screened.
You can visit www.BeautifyYourHeart.com to:
- Pledge to get a cholesterol screening
- Find a cholesterol screening location in your area
- Learn heart healthy lifestyle tips and recipes
- Enter the "Beautify Your Heart" sweepstakes for a chance to win a heart makeover getaway for you and your friends
On the Net: www.BeautifyYourHeart.com
Labels: health, sites, tips, women
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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The SpringPad Makes Organization Easy
Monday, December 22, 2008
If you are anything like me, you have tried a whole slew of online organizers and have subsequently let them fall by the wayside opting instead to use pen and paper for your organizational needs. As much time as I spend online, from blogging to social networking, you'd think I'd be able to catch onto online organizing like a pro, but that's just not the case. In fact, I have resisted e-organizers at all costs. I do, however, believe I've been sold on one that takes organizing to another level: the SpringPad, a free online organizational tool that is by far the best of its kind I've ever seen or used.
After getting an eye-opening tour of the SpringPad by Spring Partners CEO Jeff Janer and using the SpringPad myself I can personally give it a resounding thumbs-up, especially for busy moms and bloggers like me who need tight organization to make it through the day with all important tasks completed.
Creating to-do lists and daily tasks -- the most essential for me -- is extremely easy to do, and once you have created them, the SpringPad automatically populates the tasks into a calendar that you can either print or refer to online. Additionally, you can schedule email reminders so you will remember the tasks you so diligently put in your calendar. One of the most useful tools you can use, though, is the SpringPad share tool. This is how it works:
- I have set a task I want to share with you. It's set for Tuesday, December, 23, 2008 and says Visit TheMomSalon.com. All you have to do is click the Spring It! link below and it will automatically load into any list you designate so you'll remember to visit TheMomSalon.com tomorrow. Sign up for your SpringPad and give it a whirl.
The SpringPad also has several lists (called springpads) already created that help make your life easier such as a weekly meal planner, a christmas card log, babysitter handbook, and medical tracker among many, many more springpads. With everything the SpringPad offers, it is a great way to get organized in the new year. Plus, it's free, and I love anything that's free!
-Jennifer James, Editor
On the Net: www.springpadit.com
Labels: moms, reviews, sites, tips, women
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Mommy Madness Season 3
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
I like to think of myself of a guru who keeps up with everything the Web has to offer in the mom space, but I must say, I had no idea about the Mommy Madness webisodes on LifetimeTV.com. Guess I'm not a guru after all.
The weekly series "Mommy Madness" stars Angela Hoover, a mom, comedian and part-time bookkeeper who just moved to Vegas with her two small children and lovable husband! I watched nearly all of the archived videos and they are quite funny, light-hearted, and entertaining. Take a look:
-- Jennifer James, Editor
On the Net: www.mylifetime.com/mommy-madness
Labels: moms, parenting, shows, sites, women
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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5 Tips for Shopping Safely Online
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Tomorrow is Cyber Monday! Savings and sales will abound at e-stores all over the Net. When you're shopping online make sure to exert caution as you're making your online purchases. Here are some helpful tips from our friends at McAfee.1. Do your homework
- Take time to research the Web site -- are they legitimate, do they have a customer service number or email, correspond/contact them before making a purcha
se. - Read the Web site's Privacy Policy to learn their policy on sharing your information with others.
- A good e-tailer will permit you to return items and get a full and immediate refund without having to jump through a lot of hoops.
- You are protected by the law and liable only for $50 if your credit-card number is stolen and used.
- With credit cards, you can dispute fraudulent charges and by law your liability is limited. But with debit cards, the money comes directly out of your account and getting the cash back can be difficult.
- Encryption is key to secure Internet purchases. Secure sites have a key or closed locked displayed in the Web browser.
- Another way to know if a site is secure is by checking the URL address. It should begin with https://, not just http://.
- Also, check look out for Web sites which are certified for security. Though no company can guarantee 100% safety, McAfee SECURE Trust Mark will give consumers the best chance of never having their personal data stolen when shopping online. We are daily scanning and testing for more than 10,000 vulnerabilities and have done 20 million scans to date.
4. Make sure your PC has comprehensive security software
- Consumers should make sure they have up-to-date, comprehensive security software like before they do any online shopping. This will greatly reduce the risk of contracting a virus or some other form of malware and help them avoid identity theft at dangerous Web sites. Two examples are McAfee Internet Security Suite or McAfee Total Protection.
- Ensure that that the charge on your credit card matches what you agreed to pay. And while you're at it, check your package as soon as it arrives to make sure you received everything you are being charged for.
Finally, remember to make McAfee's free online search tool, SiteAdvisor.com your first stop when searching for gifts this season. SiteAdvisor's easy-to-use green, yellow and red ratings will ensure your online shopping experience is safe and secure.
Labels: bloggers, sites, tips, women
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 11:30 AM,
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What Will You Do with Your Minute? A Giveaway!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Thank you to all of you who participated in the giveaway. Entries are now closed and we will be giving a "One Minute to Move It" gift pack to all of you who have entered thus far. Thank you so much for getting involved and taking one minute to move it!
If you had one minute to help make a difference in your world, what would you do?
That's the question McDonald's is asking kids and families as it launches "One Minute to Move It" -- a global children's well-being program designed to encourage kids to see what a difference a minute can make. It is all about inspiring kids to take one minute and make it even more meaningful. Whether skipping, dancing, coloring or singing, one minute can inspire activity for thousands more minutes to come. One Minute to Move It, which is being launched this Friday, November 7, has a boost from the spontaneous and energetic characters from the new "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" and the new Happy Meal featuring these characters -- all to empower kids to create a minute of joyful self expression.
Also starting this Friday, November 7, the fun continues online at http://www.happymeal.com/ where kids and families can find suggestions for online and offline activities, track their "minutes moved" and enter special codes found on the delicious Happy Meal choices of lowfat Milk Jugs and Apple Dippers to enrich the activities on the site. The site also features an inspirational 30-second video with Olympian Shawn Johnson, which airs this weekend through November 16 on Nickelodeon, Nick.com and Nicktoons. Visit happymeal.com next week to see the video.
You can get one of 35 "One Minute to Move It" gift packs which each includes a complete set of the new "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" Happy Meal toys and a $20 Arch Card. For your chance to receive a pack:
Labels: children, contests, giveaways, moms, parenting, sites
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 6:17 PM,
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Gamer Moms Have New Online Community
Monday, November 3, 2008
Are you a gamer mom? If so, we have created a brand-new community just for you called Gamer Moms Club. It's a social network much like the Mom Bloggers Club where you can meet mothers just like you who are also gamers, and by gamers we're not suggesting you play for hours on end and have no "in real life" friends. Instead, gamer moms play casual online games such as Cake Mania 2 or they really get into it and have Level 70 druids on World of Warcraft. Whatever your level or interest there is something there for you!On the Net: www.gamermomsclub.com
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 10:18 AM,
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Sara Lee Creates Returnships -- So Smart!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Many moms have done or are doing the whole flextime, part-time, opting out, opting in dance and oftentimes find themselves wanting to return to the workforce full-time after their children are old enough to spread their wings a bit. This decision is too often fraught with obstacles, especially for moms as they tend to remain out of the corporate world longer. To counter this, Sara L
ee has created an internship-like opportunity for experienced mid-career professionals to re-enter the workforce following an extended leave. Sara Lee's CEO, Brenda Barnes created the program; she has her own unique return-to-work story, having left PepsiCo North America as CEO in order to raise a family before being tapped by Sara Lee.
Program Objective
The Returnships @ Sara Lee (SM) program is designed to attract experienced mid-career individuals who have been out of the workforce for a number of years and who are interested in returning. Sara Lee believe this is a largely unrealized potential pool of talent; a pool consistent with our consumer profile.
Designed as internships for experienced professionals, Returnships allow candidates to re-engage with the corporate world through flexible, meaningful work and to "test the waters" prior to exploring permanent -- not necessarily full-time -- roles.
Candidate Profile
Candidates should possess the following qualifications
Education
Minimum BA or BS; advanced degree desired but not required
Years experience
Minimum 5 -- 10 years professional experience; Likely 3+ years out of the workforce
Career level
Mid-level professional in functions/roles such as marketing, sales, human resources, legal, finance, operations, ta
x, treasury, internal audit, IT
Interest
Initial 4 - 6 month "Returnships" with interest in potential permanent (possibly flex/not full-time) position; Minimum 20 hours per week for four to six months
Additional Leadership Experience
Not-for-profit, community, school, etc. leadership roles desired but not required
ee has created an internship-like opportunity for experienced mid-career professionals to re-enter the workforce following an extended leave. Sara Lee's CEO, Brenda Barnes created the program; she has her own unique return-to-work story, having left PepsiCo North America as CEO in order to raise a family before being tapped by Sara Lee.Program Objective
The Returnships @ Sara Lee (SM) program is designed to attract experienced mid-career individuals who have been out of the workforce for a number of years and who are interested in returning. Sara Lee believe this is a largely unrealized potential pool of talent; a pool consistent with our consumer profile.
Designed as internships for experienced professionals, Returnships allow candidates to re-engage with the corporate world through flexible, meaningful work and to "test the waters" prior to exploring permanent -- not necessarily full-time -- roles.
Candidate Profile
Candidates should possess the following qualifications
Education
Minimum BA or BS; advanced degree desired but not required
Years experience
Minimum 5 -- 10 years professional experience; Likely 3+ years out of the workforce
Career level
Mid-level professional in functions/roles such as marketing, sales, human resources, legal, finance, operations, ta
x, treasury, internal audit, ITInterest
Initial 4 - 6 month "Returnships" with interest in potential permanent (possibly flex/not full-time) position; Minimum 20 hours per week for four to six months
Additional Leadership Experience
Not-for-profit, community, school, etc. leadership roles desired but not required
On the Net: www.saralee.com
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 8:33 AM,
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Get a Wake-Up Call From Ellen
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Ellen Degeneres and One a Day have teamed up to remind women how important it is to schedule your annual mammogram. In a creative push to educate women about breast cancer prevention you can go to OneaDay.com and have a free personalized phone call from Ellen DeGeneres sent to their friends and loved ones to advise them about the simple things they can do to help support their own breast health. I scheduled a call for my mom. In fact, she received hers this morning and called to say how "cool" is was. Here's how it works:-Jennifer James, TMS Founder
Labels: causes, moms, sites, women
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 9:19 AM,
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Click to Empower Victims of Domestic Violence: You Can Make a Difference
Monday, September 29, 2008
It is amazing to us how rampant domestic violence is in America's homes. One in four women have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. Women and mothers, in particular, are oftentimes scared to death to break away from violent husbands and boyfriends and instead opt for more abuse in order to keep their home life "stable" for the children. National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is next month and the Allstate Foundation and "Ugly Betty" star Anna Ortiz have joined forces to help women break the chains of domestic violence. The Allstate Foundation is imploring women and men to "Tell a Gal P.A.L." - Pass it On, Act and Learn - about domestic violence and how economic empowerment can lead to a safe future for survivors.
Through a partnership with the non-profit organization Dress for Success, select A
llstate agencies across the country will collect nearly new purses and professional bags now through October 3. The donated items will be distributed to domestic violence survivors and women in need to outfit them with confidence they enter or re-enter the workforce and get back on their feet financially.
Visit http://www.clicktoempower.org/ to learn more about what you can do to help yourself if you are in a domestic violence situation or help a gal pal. There you can also enter to win an Onna Ehrlich designer purse donated by Anna Ortiz.
llstate agencies across the country will collect nearly new purses and professional bags now through October 3. The donated items will be distributed to domestic violence survivors and women in need to outfit them with confidence they enter or re-enter the workforce and get back on their feet financially.Visit http://www.clicktoempower.org/ to learn more about what you can do to help yourself if you are in a domestic violence situation or help a gal pal. There you can also enter to win an Onna Ehrlich designer purse donated by Anna Ortiz.
You can also help spread the word about help for domestic violence victims by taking one of their web badges and putting it on your blog. We've put it on our sidebar here at TheMomSalon.com. We encourage you to also help women in need by doing the same. Every little bit helps.
Labels: causes, moms, sites, women
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:00 AM,
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Share Something Sweet and Help Children in Need
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Ferrero Chocolates (love them!) has partnered with Share Our Strength, a national organization that strives to end childhood hunger in our country, for the second year of Share Something Sweet. Share Something Sweet is a partnership that strives to get the entire nation involved in erradicating childhood hunger. Although we are the richest country in the world some children go to bed and wake up with empty tummies. Ferrero Chocolates and Share the Strength have pledged to do something about it. According to Share Our Strength 12 million children are at risk of hunger, which we must say is startling and totally preventable. Share Our Strength works with a network of community groups, activists, and food programs to ensure that children have healthy and nutritious food where they work, play and live.
Ferrero Chocolates has already donated $150,000 to this worthy cause and now you can help hungry children, too. If you log on to Share Something Sweet and use it to "send something sweet" (that is, a customizable e-card), Ferrero will donate another $1 per e-card sent, up to $10,000. So easy! And for every person that joins the Ferrero Facebook page, "Ferrero Lovers Unite," Ferrero will donate another $1 to Share Our Strength (up to $1,000).
We are getting in on the action! Send us your email address at editors (at) themomsalon (dot) com and we will send you an e-card and help feed a hungry child.
Labels: causes, family, moms, sites
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:54 AM,
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New Site: TheOnlineMom.com
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Technology is advancing at breakneck speed and parents need to be well-armed in their knowledge of the latest tech trends for kids and teens. Our children, even though seemingly more knowledgeable at their age than we were as kids, are also at greater risk of danger, especially as the world gets smaller through technology and criminals have found ways to seduce youngsters via the Net.
A brand-new site, The Online Mom, helps parents stay current on the latest tech geared to kids and keeps them abreast of possible dangers lurking around cyber corners. One of the greatest appeals of The Online Mom, however, is it also talks about the advantages of technology for children; it's not all gloom and doom about technology on The Online Mom, which we appreciate.
On TheOnlineMom.com you can read articles written by tech experts explaining various technologies and e-trends such as social networking for children and the appeal of YouTube. Additionally, you can download a free guide to protecting your children online and join The Online Mom Leadership Council to learn how to educate your community about technology for children.
On the Net: www.theonlinemom.com.
Labels: sites
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 3:10 AM,
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Official Google Blog: A fresh take on the browser
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Google, you sly deveil, you. Now that everyone has settled in and started using Firefox religiously and Internet Explorer 7 on occasion, you come out with your very own Open Source Browser, Chrome. Thanks! Now yet another thing on our plate to sift through.
Don't get us wrong: We will be downloading the new browser and taking it for a spin today with millions of others. Google promised that Chrome will run faster and be more streamlined than other browsers. That's always a good thing. We just hope none of our sites look like a mess in Chrome. Keeping fingers crossed about that. We'll update this post after we've given Chrome a try.
Official Google Blog: A fresh take on the browser
Update: 4:43 PM: Well, we downloaded Chrome and we love it. Everything is bigger (although we're sure there is an option to minimize font sizes, but the default look is great), the tabs at the top showing every site you're on and is very simple to see and use (better than Firefox), plus because Chrome is Open Source, all of our Firefox bookmarks automatically converted. We're impressed. You should definitely download it and give it a try.
Labels: sites
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 1:59 AM,
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Dancing Meatballs: Entertaining Kids on a Budget
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Keeping children occupied and entertained can be an expensive undertaking, especially when there are a plethora of costly options from which to choose. Dancing Meatballs, a Web site founded by two Wharton business school graduates, is dedicated to finding inexpensive family activities in Chicago, New York, Philadephia and anywhere and posts local daily picks that will provide endless entertainment for the kids without breaking the bank. To get their picks right in your inbox every week you can sign up for their free newsletter.
On the Net: http://www.dancingmeatballs.com/.
Labels: sites
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 11:49 AM,
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Divine Caroline's Love! This Site Award
Friday, August 29, 2008
Divine Caroline is launching a new viral initiative to recognize excellence in women's Web sites and blogs: Love! This Site Awards.Eighteen winners will share $4000 in cash prizes and will also be recognized on DivineCaroline.com. Nominations and voting has already kicked off with very impressive candidates already in the starting blocks racing toward getting the most votes. In addition to nine winners who represent categories from parenting to travel there will also be editor's picks that also win.
"The Love! This Site Awards are a natural follow-on for DivineCaroline, a site that gives real women -- not just bloggers -- the opportunity to publish like real pros," said Kate Thorp, CEO and co-founder of Real Girls Media Network. "We're here to raise the voice of all women, and we can't wait to see what the community has to share and what sites it singles out." Thorp adds, "As one of the few sites talking about every aspect of adult women's lives -- from relationships and style to careers and home life -- DivineCaroline is honored to recognize the achievements of these influencers."
Labels: sites
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 7:18 AM,
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YadaHome.com: A New Type of Web 2.0
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Social networks are a dime a dozen these days. Some are really creative and inventive and others, eh, not so much. There is a new social network on the scene, though, that is sure to make parents, particularly moms, stop and take notice: YadaHome.com. At first glance YadaHome doesn't appear to be a classic social network, although you can create a profile, join groups, and meet members, but the homepage is beautiful enough that it draws you into exploring beyond its opening page. And in all honesty it is a treat to explore on YadaHome. They have literally thought of everything a busy mom needs at her fingertips from coupons, shopping deals, and delicious recipes to listings of local events and even fun stuff like games and horoscopes.
The main attraction at YadaHome, though, is the user page or dashboard.They have designed a virtual fridge where you can create and print shopping and to-do lists, fill
out important dates on your calendar, list emergency and everyday contacts, keep a journal, upload family photos, and read your YadaHome email. There are even more features on your virtual fridge; you have to see it to really appreciate it. The YadaHome.com virtual fridge is the most creative aspect on a site we've seen in a long time and is a real reason to sign up as a member.Arguably YadaHome has a ways to go yet to become a more polished site with greater interaction between members and offering more features such as a greater selection of local events and local guides, but for a startup they are definitely on the right track and are well worth bookmarking because of their attention to detail and creative elements.
On the Web: www.yadahome.com, Twitter: @YadaHome
Labels: sites
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 5:46 AM,
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PC Magazine's Pick: DailyLit
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
PC magazine recently published a list of the Top 100 Undiscovered Web sites of 2008. One that really stood out to us was Daily Lit.Daily Lit allows you to read books one bit at a time and each installment is delivered to your inbox on a schedule you create. So, if you've never read Little Women, for example, you can do so in bits and pieces, 255 pieces to be exact and it's all free. Some of the newer titles cost a nominal fee, but there are a whole host of classic to contemporary, romance, and women's fiction books to choose from along with a variety of other categories.
We especially like Daily Lit because they understand that busy people don't have a lot of time, but reading a book in bit-sized portions can help someone get through a classic book they would otherwise labor through.
Labels: sites
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 12:02 AM,
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New Content Aggregation Site: TODDL3R
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
There is a new network of sites called the LOUD3R network that aggregates information based on topic, but claims they take a different approach to content discovery by using semantic searches and people to find topic-based content all over the Web.LOUD3R sites are created by assembling a source list of websites and a semantic glossary of terms that teach the content engine how to identify the best news stories, photos, videos, and other content from hundreds of Websites related to a particular topic. We use a combination of human editorial input combined with semantic software to assemble all the best content, from a web-wide perspective, for any given topic. The technology learns from user behavior, allowing the site to react to the community's interests and preferences. We sift through the bad, so you don't have to. (source)
Properly meshing brilliant people and smart technology is a win-win on all fronts. The LOUD3R network will probably become a force to be reckoned with in the coming year, but only if they ca
n succeed at creating viral buzz about their network and convince fickle online users -- like busy moms -- that their network is indeed better than the rest. That's a monumental task, but certainly doable.The LOUD3R network allows users to create their own profiles, add content and share it with the community and has two sites you might find interesting: TODDL3R, which brings together the best content around the Net about parenting and PREGG3R, which is, of course, a compilation of the best content about pregnancy.
posted by The Mom Salon Editors @ 6:37 AM,
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