LipstickNLaundry.com Cutting Edge Mom Discussions

It seems that every time a huge disaster happens, whether it is the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, or the recent earthquakes in Haiti, we are reminded how vulnerable we really are. We then begin to think, “Am I prepared?” and of course the inevitable “what ifs”.

With that in mind, and to go with our episode on Disaster Preparedness, I found a terrific video that really helps you step by step to get prepared. You’ll also find a valuable amount of information on the website http://www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm that gives out plans and lists you can print out and fill in. GREAT info (watch our LipsticknLaundry episode for tips from that site!)

Here is the video, watch and let’s all be as prepared as possible!

Okay, got ya! He’s instructing you how to…GET HIS HAIRSTYLE??? PULEEESSEEE! Does he really think his hair is THAT COOL? Anyway, if you ARE interested in getting that slicked back, hard as nails, style, check out the video he made (is he using an entire can of hairspray or WHAT!?!) ))))))

The first Trailer for the Ridley Scott “Robin Hood” movie starring Russell Crowe has been released! It will hit theaters May 14, 2010 and looks like it will be a blockbuster! Here’s the Trailer:

To go with the show we’re doing on Easy Take-a-long appetizers, here are some great links to recipes!

Loved this one! It’s a new take on an old favorite! Instead of Rice Krispie Treats, try some Cornflake Peanut Butter Squares! The yummy recipe is at this link:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4599215_cornflake-peanut-butter-squares.html

And for Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes, Cowboy Kabobs and Artichoke Tomato Dip, try:

http://easy-appetizers.com/2009/08/easy-party-appetizers/

For “Make Ahead” appetizer recipes try:

http://busycooks.about.com/cs/appetizers/a/makeaheadappeti.htm

One website said unless you have hired help to aid you in serving your appetizers, stick to cold rather than hot.

I LOVED the look of this website and the recipes look really yummy:

http://www.donogh.com/cooking/appetize.shtml

Want a JUMP on the Black Friday After Thanksgiving Sales? Check out this video!

and some websites that might be useful:

www.blackfriday.info

www.theblackfriday.com

www.tgiblackfriday.com

www.dealnews.com

www.thanksgivingblackfridayads.com

The United States Preventive Service Task Force announced last week that it recommends against annual mammograms for women age 40 to 49 because, they say, the benefits of testing do not outweigh the “harms” and risks.
They still recommend doctors start screening all women over age 50, but with a mammogram once every two years instead of annually.
Women who are at a known high risk — for instance, women who tested positive for the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes — would not fall under the guidelines.

The task force also recommends against teaching breast self-exams for all women and said evidence was insufficient to recommend mammograms for women older than 74.
Check out the video:

So we had a past episode on drunk breastfeeding (you can see it in our Archived shows at the top). It was one of our most watched episodes to date!

Then it got me thinking…what about drinking at kids birthday parties?

Here’s the scenario:

Junior is having his 4th birthday party. Not old enough for a “drop off” party (at least not in MY eyes), so the parents stay. Sometimes just the mom, sometimes the dad. When my kids were that age, we were friends with most of our kids parents so they’d both stay.

The kids are playing pin the tail, maybe there’s a clown to keep them entertained. And…there’s dad in the kitchen, mixing up some cocktails for the parents. A glass of wine here, a beer there….what’s the harm, right? I’ve been to many kid birthday parties where this is exactly the case! But is there really harm?

Is it really okay for the parents to drink alcohol at a kids birthday party, or are they sending the wrong message?

Personally, I really don’t think it’s a great idea. I know, maybe I’m being a stick in the mud, but let’s be honest here. This is a KID’S birthday party. Having cocktails should be reserved for grown-ups night out, when you have a babysitter. There are plenty of other times for drinking.

Listen, I will certainly admit I like my glass of wine. But drinking has its’ place and a children’s birthday party, I believe, shouldn’t be one of them.
Like I said, maybe I’m being a bit conservative on this. But imagine if the birthday was a pool party? Then a parent REALLY needs to be aware!

Thoughts?

Let me first start by saying this: Meryl Streep! Enough said! At least that SHOULD be enough of a reason to see the movie “Julie and Julia”!

Amy Adams, who was so adorkable in “Enchanted” is good enough as the Julia Childs obessessed writer “Julie”, but it’s Meryl Streeps movie ALL THE WAY. It’s not just that Meryl gets Julia Childs’ mannerisms down to a tee (what else is new!) but she does it without being “cheesey”. You really believe you are watching the real Julia Childs. Not an actor “playing” at a role. Meryl IS Julia!

But, that’s not the reason why I love this movie. Why it really resonated with me.

I loved the movie because it was inspirational. Julia Childs was an inspiration to any woman! Think about this: She’d never taken a cooking class until she was 40! 40 people!!! She went into a male dominated profession at a time when woman just “did NOT do that sort of thing” and in her 40’s!!! Her first book was published when she was 48! And her t.v. show? I believe she was in her 50’s!

The inspiration: you are NEVER too old to start something new! Seek your passion! Do what you love! THAT’s what Julia taught me! So go see the movie. See it for Meryl. See it for inspiration. Just go see it!

Here’s the trailer:

We were featured on a show called “Show Me St. Louis”! It was a really nice little feature produced by Julie Triston. She made us look GOOD! Take a look:

Are Schools, and more specifically teachers, equipped to teach our children within the realm of all the social media? Or do our kids know more than the teachers?

I read one statistic that said more than 80% of schools block internet access to at least some social media sites. Isn’t that kinda like turning their backs on the very thing that they should be involved in? Furthermore, shouldn’t they then be utilizing these sites to engage their students better?

Instead of looking at the idea of using Social Media in the classroom as a negative, how about if schools and teachers started looking at it as a way to reach their students? A way that possibly these kids might actually enjoy learning?

Let’s face it, most kids think that the majority of their teachers are neither “with it:” (to use an old term) or have a clue! So what IF teachers were to get a bit more “clued in”?

from: http://socialmediaschools.com/schools-using-social-media-to-communicate-and-educate/2009/05/#more-549

When it comes to schools using social media, there are two main areas of discussion.
The first is that of communication; where social media is used as a tool for school administrators to communicate with parents, teachers, students and community members. In turn, these new online tools are also used as a way for parents, teachers, students and community members to voice their views and opinions back to school administrators and education officials.
The second area of discussion is that of education, where social media is taught and used in the classroom as a platform for sharing, learning, and growing.
The first area of concern (communication) is a no-brainer. Of course your school should be using social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr to keep in touch and communicate with the people in your “tribe”. Social media sites such as these are a great tool for school officials to have. The tools are free, easy to use, can be run by a single person within your organization, and best of all - your parents, teachers and students are already using these services.
The second issue (that of education), however, is a little trickier. It’s trickier because while social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are fairly straightforward when it comes to giving and receiving information, things get a whole lot messier once you start giving students these exact same tools and expecting them to handle them the way adults do.
I think social media curriculum in school becomes even more important at the high school level, when teens are thinking about the need for summer jobs and college.
Blogging in many companies is something that is expected now of its’ employees, so these students need to learn not only how to blog, but how to get their blogs seen.
So I am all for using Social Media in Schools.
Thoughts?
Original blog first appeared in http://lipsticknlaundry.com/