Let’s Get Ready with Cedar Valley Publishing

When I was asked to review the ISafeBag (www.isafebags.com); I could hardly wait to receive it.  It was invented by an entrepreneur in the Chicago area after he heard a news story about a woman walking on the street at night who was raped by four guys.  He was so upset by this story that he decided to do something to help protect women and kids from abductors, muggers and rapists…and even your run-of-the-mill school yard bullies!  I love that he was inspired to take ACTION!!!

Essentially, the ISafeBag looks like a regular backpack but underneath a flap on the right strap is a rip cord that, when pulled, activates a LOUD alarm (equivalent to a car alarm) and a strobe light.  It will sound for two hours so it’s also wonderful for campers or hikers who are lost.  It works on two nine volt batteries and the weight and price of this back pack is similar to any other back pack BUT this offers PEACE OF MIND!!

Ironically, on the day it arrived, I had received an email alert that an alleged kidnapper was on the loose in our tiny community. I am not kidding! The alert contained a picture of a man who looked very familiar as someone we had all recognized as seeing before in our small town.  I work from home so I turned on our home security alarm.  When it was time to walk down to the mailbox, our lovely babysitter and neighbor (who we all love like a family member) Amanda (Photo by Heidi Kannenberg) wore the ISafeBag Sling Bag and pulled the ripcord.  

It’s LOUD and will definitely scare away a predator and get attention!  My girls reminded me that it will also scare away the coyotes who have been getting braver and braver, and the recent black bears that have been seen in our neighborhood too!   I just reminded the girls that it was not a toy, but a tool. 

So the ISafeBag isn’t just for back to school for kids and college students; it’s perfect for traveling, hiking, camping, biking and other outdoor adventures, the zoo, the park, shopping and any place you need a little extra PEACE OF MIND! 

We all love the ISafeBag!  Please share it with your loved ones too!

Smiles – Stacey

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary ISafe Bag for this review. No other compensation was provided.

This video is from CBS and HerInsight’s Own Jill Starishevsky.  A New York City District Attorney who is on a mission to give us tools to help our kids stay safe.  Please share this video with every parent!! Jill also is the author of another must have, My Body Belongs To Me, a book to fight kids stay safe from child abuse.  (www.mybodybelongstome.com)

Watch the Video Here

Recently, Barb was a guest on my radio show and we were discussing how her Baby Dipper would be perfect for special needs families.  Well, check out this review, by a mom of a special needs 5-year-old child: http://www.able2able.com/2010/06/review-giveaway-ends-78-increase.html

Let’s Get Ready to Help Brenda Novak and her amazing goal to break the $1 Million mark for her 2010 Online Auction for Diabetes Research. 

If you are a book lover like I am, you will find some amazing autographed copies from some of your favorite authors!! 

Bid often for a great cause and bid on a set of our books for your favorite child heading off to school this year!

Brenda will be giving away some incredible prizes to keep things fun and light, drawing from those who place bids each day, so definitely register and shop because everyone is eligible! There are some fabulous items that would make great gifts up for grabs, and with your help, we should break the $1 million mark this year.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE DIABETES AUCTION

It seems like this year just flew by! I’m off to the garage to hunt for all of my favorite holiday decorations, but before that I wanted to announce an exciting new contest I’m launching with Evenflo® Home Safety today. We are giving the gift of a home safety makeover (by yours truly) this holiday season to the most deserving family!

From December 1, 2009 through January 15, 2010 enter the Evenflo Home Safety Makeover Contest by telling your story, in 500 words or less, about how you can benefit from a Home Safety Makeover in the New Year at www.evenflo.com/homesafetymakeover.  The Grand Prize winner will receive a home safety consultation with me, Evenflo gates and other home safety products (valued at nearly $2,500!) tailored to their home and family’s needs. Five lucky runners-up will receive an Evenflo Symphony65^TM car seat, valued at $199, to help your baby stay safe on the road.

To jump start your safe holiday season, keep these tips in mind:

• Always anticipate the unexpected, and stay one step ahead of your little ones.
• Consider children’s ages and developmental stages. Baby-proofing is not a project you can do and forget about it. Be vigilant; continuously monitor your baby’s developmental stages.
• Gates can provide safety zones within your home where you can keep a closer eye on baby, while helping to prevent him or her from wandering into harm’s way.

Don’t forget to submit your story to www.evenflo.com/homesafetycontest by January 15, 2010 to win!

Alison Rhodes - “The Safety Mom”
203-210-7470
www.safetymom.com

Twitter: @safetymom

Interested in your child’s safety?  Sign up for our monthly e-mail newsletter “The Safety Scoop”
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101491876236

What you need to know about H1N1 and the new vaccines to keep your family healthy from Nurse Barbara Dehn.

If you think you may have the flu call your health care provider. Do not travel and do not go to school!

• Flu Symptoms
• A person may have some or all of these symptoms:
  • Fever (not everyone has a fever)
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Body aches
  • Headaches
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Sometimes, diarrhea and vomiting

The situation is evolving so quickly that nearly everyone has questions and is confused.

Here are a few key points:

• Right now, the only flu that is going around the US is the Swine Flu.
• Unfortunately, the number of serious cases is increasing
• Pregnant women and young children are at highest risk - 95 deaths so far and it’s just starting
• The H1N1 (swine) flu is more deadly than the regular flu

For more information, visit the following websites:
>> Center for Disease Control
>> Nurse Barb’s blog
>> Blue Orchid Guides

Top 5 questions and answers on flu vaccines

1. What flu vaccines are available now?

>> There is a Flu Mist - this is a nasal spray that protects against H1N1 (swine flu) and an injectable vaccine.

>> The Flu Mist is for: people 2 - 49 who DO NOT have any underlying health problems, health care workers, people who care for or work with infants & small children

>> The mist is Not to be used in pregnant women as it contains the live virus

>> The Seasonal flu vaccine is ALSO available now, though supplies are low, (because the manufacturers were busy making H1N1 vaccine)

2. Who should be vaccinated for H1N1 with the injectable vaccine? >> Pregnant women - (they are at highest risk of severe pneumonia)

>> Health care workers and emergency personnel like firefighters, police, etc

>> Children 6 months to 24 years

>> People over 24 who have chronic health problems such as asthma or a compromised immune system

3. How many doses of H1N1 will people need?

>> For people 10 and older, just one dose

>> For children 9 and younger 2 doses for H1N1

4. Can people get the Seasonal Flu and the H1N1 at the same time?

>> Yes, they can if they use the injectable vaccines. Not if they use either of the Nasal spray inhaled vaccines, as these contain the live virus.

5. What about Side Effects?

>> Good news, the side effects are similar to those of the seasonal flu vaccine, soreness at the site of the injection. Very few people have other symptoms, but those might be headache, muscle aches, not feeling well.

TO CLARIFY:
Because there are two different vaccines for two different kinds of flu (swine and regular), in addition to two different treatments, here is a simplified breakdown:

H1N1 (SWINE FLU) VACCINES

Nasal spray
For people 2 - 49

Injection
For people 6 months to 64 years
Ok for pregnant women
OK for people with chronic medical conditions

SEASONAL FLU VACCINES

Nasal spray
For people 2 - 49
Not for pregnant women

Injection
For people 6 months to 64 years
Ok for pregnant women
OK for people with chronic medical conditions

TREATMENTS FOR THE H1N1 AND SEASONAL FLU
Tamiflu tablets
Relenza oral inhaler

>> MORE SWINE FLU RESOURCES

iCurfew is basically an easy way for kids and parents to check in with each other, remotely. Kids use iCurfews to send their location to their parents in an email.

iCurfew is also great for parents who may be worrying about if their kids are where they say they are, and a great way to ‘pick me up here mom!’

App Features:

• Email up to 3 contacts with currently location.
• Link sends parent to Google Map showing current location.
• Easy for kids to use, just hit a few buttons.
• Customize message template. Kids can add their own message on pick up time, change of plans, etc.
• Kids can easily send their location to parents picking them up from sporting events and concerts.

Only $.99 !!!  Click Here to Learn More.

When I find a great site, I love to share!!! This one is near and dear to my heart – BrainFuel4Kids.com!

BrainFuel4Kids.com aims to help take your child’s learning to the next level. Research suggests key changes in diet, exercise, and sleep can enhance cognitive abilities, and BrainFuel thus offers sections like ‘Brain Food,’ ‘Healthy Brain,’ and ‘Brain Games,’ aimed at engaging kids and Moms alike. The site provides us Moms as much benefit as our kids, featuring a forum to give parents a chance to discuss what works and what doesn’t with our kids this school year. Some of my favorite features include:

• Explanations for our kids in answer to their complaints, “Why vitamins?!”: “The brain is the greediest organ in your body – greedier than the spleen or stomach, even greedier than the heart” and other “why!?” questions.
• Challenging games for kids from Lumosity.com, designed to promote quicker thinking, better concentration, and improved memory.
• Recipes that give your kids the right balance of carbs and protein, and help understanding those complicated nutritional labels.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of BrainFuel and received a lunch bag from California Innovations as a thank-you for taking the time to participate.

We had Lorie on our radio show and congratulate her on FOUR magazine spreads (!!!) - on sale now at your favorite supermarket and win her contest from Good Housekeeping Magazine!  Below is a note from Lorie:

I had to mention to my beloved blog readers to check us out in FOUR magazines this month! They are November issues but they come out in October, so they are all on the newsstands right now. When you’re checking out at the supermarket, you can thumb through and find me!

• Nov. Better Homes & Gardens, page 78 (cover headline “12 Smart Ways to Organize Your Closet”- also features our product, the Simple Division® Garment Organizers)
• Nov. 1, Family Circle, page 147 (cover headline: “Declutter Your Life”)
• Nov 3, Woman’s Day, page 100 (cover headline “5 Clutter Busters- They’ll Surprise You”)
• Nov. Good Housekeeping, page 180, “21 Ways to Make an Entrance” (about entryways)

Also note– I am doing a contest with Good Housekeeping right now where the big winner gets me in his/her house for two days with $1000 of products from the Container Store. Enter the contest here at http://budurl.com/ghclutter. Other prizes include memberships to our program, phone consultations with me, and autographed copies of my book The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life. The contest entries close on November 30, 2009.

I hope you like the articles! Thanks for sharing my joy!

Is Combining Play Dates and Alcohol a Good Idea?  I say NO to cocktails and juice box playdates!  If you want cocktail time, definitely have a Mom’s Night Out, without the kids!

The invitation reads “Mommy Cocktail and Baby Play Date: Bring your little ones over for a play date while the mommies have a well-deserved ‘refreshing’ drink.” You might also hear these gatherings described as “Juice Boxes and Wine Glasses,” “Wine and Whine,” “Tots and Tonic” or even “Booze and Babies.”

Combining play dates and adult drinks is a hot-button issue that often elicits strong emotional reactions and opinions on both sides of the spectrum.

 Click Here to read more…from BabiesToday.com