Restaurant.com Puts its Own Spin on Group-Buying and Presents a 90-Percent off Daily Deal ‘Flipped’ by CEO


As more savings-savvy consumers enjoy the discounts offered by group-buying sites, Restaurant.com announced today that it has launched its first-ever daily deal by offering consumers 90-percent off the site’s already discounted restaurant gift certificates. By visiting www.Restaurant.com/DailyDeal and using the promo code “WOW,” consumers will have only one day to save. The deal, which will make $25 gift certificates priced as low as one dollar, will only be processed once a pre-determined amount of hungry savers participate in the offer. 
          “We have been helping customers save money while filling tables in restaurants for over a decade. As daily deal and group-buying coupon sites launch onto the social commerce scene, more consumers have the chance to enjoy the local businesses in their communities,” said Cary Chessick, president and CEO of Restaurant.com and industry veteran. “We wanted to give our loyal customers and their friends and family the thrill of a fun, time-stamped, one-day mega deal, which lets them choose from any one of our 15,000 participating restaurant partners nationwide. We hope everyone has as much fun participating in the offer as we did creating it.”
Consumers can participate in Restaurant.com’s first-ever daily deal and watch the mass amount of savings unfold by visiting www.Restaurant.com/DailyDeal and explore the site by viewing one of the largest selections of restaurant discounts available on the web. In addition to the $25 denomination, the 90-percent discount offer is valid on all Restaurant.com gift certificate denominations, which include $10, $50, $75 and $100 certificates. For example, a $100 gift certificate that typically costs $40 is available for as little as $4 through the daily deal. To apply the savings, consumers simply use the promo code “WOW” at checkout.
The Restaurant.com daily deal site features a real-time counter that keeps track of the money participants have saved and the time remaining to take advantage of the unprecedented deal, which is available from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm PDT on Sept. 30. Participants are encouraged not to stress over whether enough people will participate in the offer to activate the 90-percent savings because Restaurant.com set the “flipping point” for activation to “one.”  In addition, the deal was promptly flipped when Chessick took it upon himself to purchase the first certificate once the deal went live.
          “In creating our first-ever time-stamped, group-inspired deal we set the threshold to ‘one’ because we wanted to ensure that everyone could celebrate the savings and take advantage of the offer,” said Chessick. “Restaurant.com is known for offering deals every day and for allowing diners to embrace the spontaneous and frequent nature that makes a dining experience social.”
          Once diners make their purchase though www.Restaurant.com/DailyDeal and apply the promo code “WOW” when prompted at checkout, the certificate(s) will be emailed to the buyer for printing and immediate use. Diners present their Restaurant.com gift certificate upon arrival at their chosen restaurant, which is then honored on-site and deducted from the total dining bill.
Restaurant.com has been in business for more than 10 years and while that may make us pretty ‘old’ in web years, one thing that never gets old is saving money on 35,000 gift certificate choices valid at great restaurants across the country. What could be better than enjoying a night out with friends and family and indulging in delicious food and quality service, all while supporting local restaurants and saving money? Now that’s a deal!” said Chessick.


About Restaurant.com
Restaurant.com is the trusted and valued source connecting restaurants and diners nationwide. The company offers savings at more than 15,000 restaurants nationwide with more than 35,000 daily gift certificate options. Restaurant.com brings people together to relax, converse and enjoy well-prepared and -served meals at affordable prices. To date, Restaurant.com customers have saved more than $500 million through the gift certificate program. Restaurant.com has operated since 1999 and is based in Arlington Heights, Ill.
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ZipLoc Right@Home Coupons & Other Free Samples



Signup for Right@Home and receive Ziploc coupons and other great offers and recipes in their inbox. Right@Home is the company that sends out those little coupon booklets that everyone loves getting! The signup is free and after you signup for the ZipLoc coupons, you can take advantage of several other offers if you're interested. This offer is for Females aged 25+ only. 


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Similac Formula Recall – Infant Formula Recall - Parenting.com

By now, you probably heard about the Similac Formula Recall. However, for those who haven't or didn't, here is the link for more information:

Similac Formula Recall – Infant Formula Recall - Parenting.com
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Last Chance To Print - Coupons.com Coupons


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Most Small Business Owners Anticipate Higher Revenues in 2010 vs. 2009, According to New Study by Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute

America’s small business owners are considerably more upbeat about the financial performance of their businesses than they were a year ago, according to The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute. Fifty-one percent of small business owners surveyed in June of this year anticipate their 2010 revenues will exceed their 2009 sales. A year ago, only 32 percent expected better financial performance in 2009 than the prior year.
 
The Institute’s analysis is based on a comprehensive study, The Guardian Life Index: What Matters Most to America’s Small Business Owners, which surveyed 1,200 small business owners with 2 - 99 employees across 12 key industry sectors, including: Accounting & Financial Services, Arts & Entertainment, Environmental, High-Tech, Hotels & Restaurants, Manufacturing, Personal Services, Professional & Technical Services, Real Estate, Retail & Wholesale Trade, Traditional / Discretionary Healthcare and Other.  In 11 of these sectors, small businesses comprise 50 percent or more of U.S. gross domestic product; in one case, Environmental, they represent a fast-growing component of an emerging industry.
 
The Institute’s findings reveal that America’s small business owners outperformed their own revenue estimates for 2009. When asked to look back at their businesses’ actual performance in 2009, 39 percent reported a revenue increase over 2008. However at mid-2009, only 32 percent expected their businesses to outperform 2008.
 
Many government officials and economists believe the nation’s recovery from the recession depends on small businesses; thus it’s heartening to see that small business owners have a positive outlook for 2010,” said Mark Wolf, Director, Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute.  “Our research indicates that small business owners are typically conservative in estimating the financial prospects for their companies, so this upbeat projection bodes well for the U.S. economy.”
 
In line with their promising financial prospects, 45 percent of small business owners say they plan to expand their business in the next 12 to 24 months.  This finding is significantly higher than the 38 percent of small business owners who foresaw business expansion a year earlier.
 
Looking at individual sectors of the U.S. economy, the Guardian Life Index reports that owners of Environmental companies (65 percent) and Traditional / Discretionary Healthcare providers (60 percent) have the highest expectation that their 2010 revenues will exceed 2009. In contrast, Hotels and Restaurants (58 percent), Retail and Wholesale establishments (57 percent) and Accounting and Financial Services firms (57 percent) have the highest percentage of small business owners who anticipate the same or lower revenues in 2010 vs. 2009.
 
In at least one sense, bigger appears to be doing better. Owners of companies with 10 or more employees have consistently higher expectations for improved revenues in 2010 than their smaller counterparts.  Forty-six percent of small business owners with two to nine employees anticipate increased revenues in 2010 over 2009.  In contrast, owners of larger businesses have the following, higher expectations: 53 percent (10-24 employees), 57 percent (25-49 employees) and 57 percent (50-99 employees).
 
“In the difficult economic environment of the past two years, the smallest of small businesses have struggled the most to maintain or grow their businesses,” said John Krubski, futurist and research advisor to The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute. “As companies reach a critical mass of 10 or more employees, they gain a level of stability and resourcefulness that helps them succeed, even in tough times.”
 
A detailed research monograph that further explains the findings is available at http://www.smallbizdom.com/research/research-monographs.html.
 
 
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Toastmasters International celebrates 25 years of women leaders

Toastmasters InternationalImage via Wikipedia
Communication and leadership tips for women in business from five women who served as International President of the 260,000-plus member organization

 Twenty-five years ago Helen Blanchard broke through the glass ceiling of Toastmasters International to become its first female International President. Since then, five women have been elected International President, and more than half of the organization’s 260,000 members are female.
This mirrors findings by the U.S. Department of Labor, which reported that women shared a record 49.96 percent of the labor force in October 2009 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2010). As women gain ground in the job market and assume leadership roles, who better to provide advice than the women who have led an international organization dedicated to teaching communication and leadership skills? Here are some time-tested tips from current and past female Toastmasters International Presidents to help women in business:
·         Accept the challenges. ”I accepted challenges that made me reach far beyond my comfort zone, time and again,” said Helen Blanchard in her memoir, Breaking the Ice. By going the extra mile and taking the time to prepare for challenges, Blanchard said you will earn the confidence of supervisors and likely land that promotion you’ve been looking for. Blanchard joined Toastmasters International in 1970, before the organization officially accepted women. She joined Toastmasters under the assumed name “Homer” and ultimately rose to lead the organization as its first female International President. - 1985-86 International President, Helen Blanchard
·         Work with change. “No matter how well we perform, regardless of our experience levels, we can continue to improve,” said Pauline Shirley. “Dramatic changes are taking place throughout the world. These changes are all-encompassing and happen at a more rapid pace than ever. It is essential that we constantly adjust to these changes.” Shirley’s advice: “In everything you do, strive to make a change for the better!” - 1994-95 International President, Pauline Shirley
·         Be a team player. Other people’s strengths will balance your weaknesses. Good communication is crucial. “Too often we work apart rather than together,” said Jo Anna McWilliams. “A team can work more effectively and accomplish something much bigger than a group of the same individuals working on their own. Effectiveness comes from the diversity of skills and individual personalities of others.” - 2000-01 International President, Jo Anna McWilliams
·         Face your fears and find courage. “As women, we are easily overlooked. As a result, it is imperative we be proactive in doing all we can to equip ourselves with the necessary tools to stand up and stand out from those around us. One of the most essential tools is courage,” said Jana Barnhill. “We, as women, are just as intelligent, just as capable, just as worthy as men to be successful in business. We just have to fight a little harder. In order to do that, we must have the courage, and the skill, to speak up. Don’t let a lack of confidence keep you from your dreams!” - 2008-09 International President, Jana Barnhill
·         Be an active listener. “To achieve your own personal brand of greatness and become an effective leader, you must listen, using your whole body. We need to listen to what someone says, and then we need to engage our brain to actually think about our response before speaking." - 2010-11 International President, Pat Johnson
 
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New Initiative Aims to Attract More Female Students to Fulfilling Career Opportunities

The WGBH Educational Foundation and ACM (the Association for Computing Machinery) together with NCWIT (the National Center for Women & Information Technology) have invited hundreds of female students from all over Massachusetts on Monday, September 27, to celebrate the launch of Dot Diva, a new initiative to create a positive image of computing for high school girls.  The event, at Microsoft New England Research & Development, includes an interactive fashion show, high tech music demos, an artbotics art installation, and local college Fair.  The Dot Diva initiative, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), is intended to increase the number of college-bound girls who recognize the power and potential of computing and computer science to achieve fulfilling career opportunities. 

            “Our aim is to show these young women that computing is creative, collaborative, and changing the world,” said Julie Benyo, Director of Educational Outreach at WGBH.  “Dot Diva enables us to offer young women a realistic view of computing that gives women the power to create and discover new things. It represents a two-year effort to create a “communications makeover” using extensive research and testing of messages that appeal to college-bound female students.”        
           
            “With the launch of Dot Diva, we are helping to deliver messages that illuminate the rich diversity of careers in the computing field – not just in technology companies but in the many industries that rely on computing technology,” said John White, ACM Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer.  “We need to attract young women as part of a broad-based workforce that is equipped with skills which are fundamental to ensuring future U.S. economic competitiveness and prosperity.”

The Dot Diva project was developed in late 2007 to address double-digit declines in enrollments for graduate degrees in computer science.  Despite some improvement in these enrollments since then, the number of computer science majors is still not meeting projected workforce needs, and women are particularly underrepresented in this field.  While many factors contribute to the low interest in computer science, misperceptions and negative images play a significant role.  Project leaders determined that underlying image issues stem from deeply rooted beliefs among young people, including a feeling that science is too hard, and over-exposure to media stereotypes of socially isolated programmers. 

            Relying on WGBH’s unique marketing and communications skills as well as its direct experience in transforming the image of engineering, project leaders produced a wide-ranging national outreach and communications plan to spread the word about the rewards and benefits of a life in computer science.  The team conducted a national online survey of more than 1,400 college-bound high school students, ages 13-17, whose overall gender and ethnic representation mirrored that of all incoming U.S. freshman.  The research revealed a significant gender gap in the attitudes of these targeted groups toward computer science, and the initiative shifted its focus to concentrate initially on girls as a special target audience.

            The event, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., is at Microsoft New England Research &  Development, One Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA.  For more information on the Dot Diva launch, visit dotdiva.eventbrite.org.

RESOURCE: Daily Worth Personal Finance Newsletter For Women


DailyWorth is a free daily personal finance email for women. It delivers practical tips, empowering ideas, and the occasional kick in the pants. DailyWorth tips cover self worth, net worth, saving, spending, earning, investing, taxes, entrepreneurship, financial feminism, and much more. More than ever, money matters to women. Women need to recognize their own self-worth and build their own wealth. Now women can take control of their finances by signing up for DailyWorth.
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Caribou Coffee's Specials

 

Hey coffee lovers!

Caribou Coffee locations are having a Buy One Get One Free hot and cold drinks this weekend, yup on Saturday Sept. 25th AND Sunday Sept. 26th.  Just bring a printout of the coupon featured, or you can even show it to them on your smart phone. 

Cup of Caribou CoffeeImage via Wikipedia


You're welcome.


 

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Apperang - Get Paid To Download Games & Apps

300250apper2.jpg
Apperang is a great new service that lets you earn money for installing the apps and games you normally have to pay for or get for free. If you've got an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, you should check this out. Here's some of the apps I see in my list: DailyBurn, Brain Trainer, iGarageSale Lite, Kingdoms at War, MyTown, Pocket Ants, Slacker Radio, WeReward, Movies, and more!

Here's how it works:
  1. Signup for Apperang
  2. Check your inbox (and spam folder) for the confirmation email
  3. Login and browse all the apps (may ask to allow java to run)
  4. Click "Install Now" on any apps you want.
  5. You'll be taken to the iTunes site and iTunes will launch
  6. Install the app in iTunes and Sync your device
Most of the apps are free and the average payout is $0.25 for installing. If an app isn't free, you'll get paid the cost of the app + around $0.25. For example, if an app is $1.99, you'll get paid $2.24. So even apps that cost money end up being free + you make some money!

The minimum payout is $1 and you can get paid via PayPal.
Signup then check out the FAQ: http://www.apperang.com/Info/faq.aspx
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Marlo Thomas is going digital

Join Marlo at the just-launched http://www.marlothomas.com MarloThomas.com in partnership with AOL -- a new site where Marlo will connect with and inspire women, sharing a laugh, and, most importantly, building a community of support so we can all keep dreaming and achieving!
And she wants to hear from you and tell your story - with video series such as Hero Next Door. Marlo will find and profile amazing women - just like you. Watch the first feature - about Lu Picard of Torrington, Conn. - and then tell Marlo about a fabulous woman you know. Nominate a Hero now by emailingheroes@marlothomas.com!

In addition to launching MarloThomas.com, Marlo's now on social media, too. Follow her Twitter account at @Marlo_Thomas and become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/MarloThomas.

Her active, personal participation on social platforms and her new site provides a great opportunity for two-way communication between Marlo and the community of people she has inspired over the years.
What can you expect from Marlo on MarloThomas.com, Twitter and Facebook?

· original content - stories, posts, videos, and photos
· great conversations, laughs and inspiration
· observations on popular culture and news
· entertaining clips of "Free to Be You and Me" and "That Girl"
· galleries of celebrity images
· family photos
· ...and a lot more
You can also subscribe to Marlo on YouTube at youtube.com/marlothomas to see new videos each week from Marlo where she will give advice, inspiration, laughs, and more.

When asked why she's going digital, Marlo says the answer is easy. "I want to step out from behind the one-way mirror of television and have a real conversation with women," says Marlo. "I haven't stopped dreaming; you shouldn't either! It's your turn: What should we talk about together?"

This digital effort coincides with the upcoming release of Marlo's newest book, Growing Up Laughing (available Sept. 28).

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Coupons and Samples!

New Coupons at Coupons.comNew FreeFly's Samples:

Designers Stewart+Brown Talk Eco Fashion 9/22

“Wicked Fresh! Tom's_logoWednesdays” Live Video Chat Series Finale


Participate in the LIVE online Q&A with Karen Stewart and Howard Brown and Get a Chance to Win One of Two $250 Stewart+Brown Gift Cards



When:               Wednesday, September 22, 2010 – 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m. EST

Where:              Hosted on Tom’s of Maine Facebook page -www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine – via the Live Chat tab

What:                Join the final installment of the Tom’s of Maine “Wicked Fresh! Wednesdays” live video chat series with Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, founders and designers of the pioneering sustainable clothing line Stewart+Brown. Get the insider fashion scoop about their fall fashion tips, balancing entrepreneurism with family, how they source their fabrics and much more. The Wicked Fresh! chat series is open to the public and questions for Stewart+Brown  will be accepted prior to and during the chat session on Facebook via the Tom’s of Maine Wall or Live Chat tab. Two chat participants will receive a $250 gift card to Stewart+Brown for some eco chic fashions for fall!

Who:                 Pioneering eco clothing designers Karen Stewart and Howard Brown of Stewart+Brown

Why:                 To celebrate the launch of Tom’s of Maine new Wicked Fresh! Toothpaste and Mouthwash line by showcasing wickedly cool individuals who are pursuing their dreams while inspiring goodness in others. Past guests for the series include Peter Facinelli (actor, Twilight and “Nurse Jackie”), Mandy Gonzalez (star of “Wicked” on Broadway) and Sophie Uliano (green guru and New York Times bestselling author of the “Gorgeously Green” series). Archived chats are available on UStream.tv.  
*Amazon affiliate
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Cellfire Coupons for Great Savings!




For Select stores Cellfire allows you to add coupons directly to your grocery savings card.

The coupons :
FOR USE AT KROGER, SAFEWAY (and their subs) AND SHOP ‘N SAVE
  • Green Giant® Frozen Boxed Vegetables Save $.60 Save $0.60 when you buy THREE any variety Green Giant® Frozen Boxed Vegetables. 
  •  Pillsbury® Crescent Dinner Rolls Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Crescent Dinner Rolls.
  • Refrigerated Pillsbury® Grands!® Biscuits Save $.30 Save $0.30 when you buy TWO any size/variety Refrigerated Pillsbury® Grands!® Biscuits.
  • TWO Pillsbury® Italian Meal Breads Save $.40 Save $0.40 when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Italian Meal Breads (Includes any Loaves, Breadsticks, Dinner Rolls, and Pizza Crust).
  • Progresso® Soups Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy TWO any flavor Progresso® Soups.
  • variety Nature Valley® Granola Bars Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor/variety Nature Valley® Granola Bars (excludes Nature Valley® Granola Thins).
  • Fiber One® Chewy Bar Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Fiber One® Chewy Bars OR Fiber One® 90 Calorie Chewy Bars .
  • Betty Crocker® Cookie Mix Save $.40 Save $0.40 when you buy ONE POUCH any flavor 17.5 OZ. OR LARGER Betty Crocker® Cookie Mix.
  • Gardetto's Snack Mix Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy any flavor 8 OZ. OR LARGER Gardettos® Snack Mix.
  • Kix® cereal Save $.75 Save $0.75 when you buy any ONE BOX Kix® cereal listed: Kix®, Berry Berry Kix®, Honey Kix®.
  • Cocoa Puffs® cereal Save $.55 Save $0.55 when you buy any ONE BOX Cocoa Puffs® cereal.
  • Green Giant® Frozen Bagged Vegetables Save $.40 Save $0.40 when you buy any variety 19 OZ. - 24 OZ. ONLY Green Giant® Frozen Bagged Vegetables.
  • Chex Mix® or Snacks Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy ONE any flavor 4.5 OZ. OR LARGER Chex Mix® OR Chex® 100 Calorie Snack.
  • Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® Cake Mix AND Betty Crocker® Ready to Spread Frosting Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy BOTH Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® Cake Mix AND Betty Crocker® Ready to Spread Frosting (any flavors/varieties).
  • Yoplait® Yogurt Cups Save $.40 Save $0.40 when you buy SIX any variety Yoplait® Yogurt cups (Includes Original, Light, Thick & Creamy, OR Whips!®) OR any flavor Yoplait® Original OR Light Smoothie.
  • Select Cheerios® Save $.75 Save $0.75 when you buy any ONE BOX Cheerios® cereal listed- Frosted Cheerios®, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios®, Banana Nut Cheerios®, Fruity Cheerios®, Chocolate Cheerios®, Cheerios® Oat Cluster Crunch, Yogurt Burst Cheerios®, Berry Burst Cheerios®.
  • Yoplait® Fiber One® Save $1 Save $1.00 when you buy any flavor Yoplait® Fiber One® Yogurt Multipacks.
  • Pillsbury® Savorings Save $1 Save $1.00 when you buy TWO any flavor/variety Pillsbury® Savorings® products.
  • variety Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy TWO any variety Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers frozen vegetables.
  • Betty Crocker® Box Muffin Mix Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy ONE any flavor/variety Betty Crocker® Box Muffin Mix or Fiber One® Box Muffin Mix.
  • Pillsbury® Sweet Moments(TM) Refrigerated Desserts Save $1 Save $1.00 when you buy any Pillsbury® Sweet Moments(TM) Refrigerated Desserts.
  • Nature Valley® Granola Thins Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor/variety Nature Valley® Granola Thins.
  • Yoplait Kids Zone Save $.75 Save $0.75 when you buy TWO any flavor Yoplait® products listed- Yoplait® Go-GURT® Yogurt, Yoplait® Trix® Multipack Yogurt, Yoplait® Splitz Yogurt.
  • Betty Crocker® boxed Potatoes Save $.50 Save $0.50 when you buy TWO any flavor Betty Crocker® boxed Potatoes (Except Potato Buds® and Betty Crocker® Pouch).
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LIBERTY MUTUAL TO KICK OFF “NATIONAL CONVERSATION DRIVE” IN CHICAGO

WHAT:           Liberty Mutual Insurance, the eighth-largest car and home insurer in the U.S., will kick off its “National Conversation Drive” at a day-long event at Chicago’s Millennium Park.  Members of the public will don movement-restricting “senior simulator suits” and wear special vision-impairing glasses to help simulate the effects of aging on driving ability; participants in the experience will also be asked to complete an online pledge to have conversations with their elderly parents and family members about senior driving safety, as well as transportation alternatives for seniors. 

Also on hand will be representatives from ITNAmerica and ITNChicago, Liberty Mutual’s partners in providing safe, alternative transportation to seniors; and the Macklin Intergenerational Institute, which consulted with Liberty Mutual and specializes in intergenerational awareness and acceptance.

WHO:             Driving safety experts and executives from Liberty Mutual
Representatives from ITNAmerica and ITNChicago

Representatives from the Macklin Intergenerational Institute
WHEN:           TUESDAY, September 21, 2010 from 9am to 5pm

WHERE:         Millennium Park
CHICAGO
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Help Save Lives with the National Seat Check Saturday/Child Passenger Safety Week



Each year, thousands of children are tragically injured and killed in automobile accidents. In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 and older.
The reason? Most parents and caregivers don't realize that their children aren't properly restrained in their car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that nearly 3 out of 4 car seats are not used correctly.
We're aiming to change that with National Seat Check Saturday on September 25.  As part of Child Passenger Safety Week (September 19-25), communities nationwide will have certified technicians available to provide hands-on child safety seat inspections and advice - for free!
You can find instructional videos, handy informational flyers, and links to product ratings and recall lists at  http://childcarsafety.adcouncil.org/
Additionally, the Child Passenger Safety Twitter account (@childseatsafety) will be hosting a Twitter party on Wednesday, September 22 at 2 p.m. EST. NHTSA experts will be available to offer information and insight on car seats and how to travel safely with children. Just use the hashtag #CPSweek to follow along and ask your questions.
For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week and to find your local car seat inspection station visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS or http://www.facebook.com/childpassengersafety.

New Free Samples From FreeFlys

*Disclosure: Am an affiliate

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In the Rough

If ever there was a sporting analogy for parenthood, golf is it. There are traps and hazards and obstacles and bad lies, misplaced shots and errors in judgment and bad bounces. Even the professionals have bad days and miss putts. It looks so darn easy on television, yet simply breaking even is a good thing.

Unfortunately, it seems that in my children’s eyes, I’ve gone from being a pro to having a serious handicap.

I remember how those eyes used to sparkle with awe, when the kids thought I knew everything. Oh, sure, my daughter caught on while she was still in diapers, but my son? He held out, God love him. Despite evidence to the contrary, including teaching him that beating a smoke detector senseless with a broom was an acceptable way to turn it off and that ironing clothes might be harmful to the environment, he steadfastly clung to the illusion that Mommy knew some things. 

Maggie Lamond Simone is the author of the book From Beer to Maternity, which captures the wit and wisdom of her adventurous life as a late-blooming adult, and then wife, and then parent, and through it she shares the intelligent and wonderful insights she’s acquired with the rest of us.

Maggie has been a columnist in Syracuse New York for the past 15 years.  Her columns have won six national awards, including four Gold awards from the PPA (Parenting Publications of America). The first was for an essay about breaking her daughter's leg, “so that's nice,” she says. “It was an accident.” Another was for her column about telling her son that she was a recovering alcoholic so that he didn't start off with the misconception that drunks are bad people; she’s a “very good person” when she’s not blasted. Her first national essay was published in Cosmopolitan, a coup which bought her a Golden Retriever named Decker, who is the subject of her children's book, LOSING DECKER

Her stories are included in Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution (2009), P.S. What I Didn't Say (2009), Chicken Soup for the Soul in Menopause (2008), Chicken Soup for the New Mom's Soul (2007), Misadventures of Moms and Disasters of Dads (2005), and Hello, Goodbye (2004).

Right now, she’s a mother, and that’s a tough act to follow.


Then he decided to play golf. I couldn’t have been more thrilled, because I love the game and hoped that at least one of the kids would love it too. I think my son was impressed with my knowledge as we watched tournaments on television, and was therefore comfortable when I suggested I could teach him to play. 

It could be argued, I suppose, that someone who has played a sport for 25 years and gotten steadily worse is probably not the ideal teacher, but of course hindsight is 20/20, isn’t it? I figured I could teach him the basics and send him out. Hey, it’s worked for me so far (“she said, somewhat defensively.”)

I got him some clubs and took him to the driving range. I took the driver in my hands and showed him exactly how to hold it. Left hand here, right hand here, pinky fingers here. Stand like this; keep your feet straight and your head and shoulders down so that you’re looking at the tee after the shot.

I then gave him a bucket of balls and said, “Okay! Go get ‘em, tiger! Drive away! Then we’ll play nine holes and I’ll have a golfing partner for the rest of my life! Woohoo!”

He looked at me adoringly and stepped up to the tee. His face beaming, ready to conquer this game that looks so darn easy, he took a swing. Then he took another. The ball wasn’t going very far. Eventually he turned to me and said, “Mom, what am I doing wrong?” I encouraged him to keep at it.

“You’re doing great, honey! It’s a hard game to master, but just keep at it! Practice, practice, practice!” All I needed was pompoms and a bullhorn.

And he kept at it. We played faithfully, and I kept telling him, “It’s okay, honey! You’re doing great! Look at how long Mommy has played, and I still can’t get it in the air!” This was beginning to lose its consoling effect. One day at the driving range, after a particularly frustrating bucket of balls, I saw a pro wrapping up a lesson. As he gathered his things and walked by, I asked for help.

The pro watched us swing a couple times, then stepped up to my son. “I’m going to change your grip a little,” he said, changing his grip completely. “And do you see how you’re standing straight ahead? I want you to pivot off your back foot so your bellybutton ends up facing where you want the ball to go. Plus, you have to see where your ball went, right?”

After the adjustments were made, my son started driving the ball 175 yards. He looked back at me with what may have been a glare. “Okay, okay,” I said tightly. “So the only two things I taught you about golf were wrong! I’m sorry! It’s not like everything I’ve ever said is wrong!”

With likely visions of smoke detectors and wrinkled shirts clouding his memory, he went back to driving the ball. The last thing I heard as I slunk away was the pro telling my son, “Hey, at least she didn’t tell you that mothers get a stroke a hole – hahaha!”

Then, “MOM!”

This I’ve learned:. Kids don’t necessarily remember how they got to where they are, but they’ll remember you were there for the trip.

It’s Me, Maggie is written by Maggie Lamond Simone, Write Maggie at maggiesimone@verizon.net
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