Boo to the Flu

For years, my kids and I would get vaccinated against the flu, while my husband didn't. He heard the false stories that the vaccine can make you sick, and despite my telling him time and again that it wasn't true, he still wouldn't get vaccinated.

Finally, a couple of winters ago, he got very sick. His doctor confirmed that he had influenza and even told him it was rare to see that in their practice since most get vaccinated now.

I had to do my wifely, "I told you so," of course, and now he gets vaccinated every year. And while his story had a good outcome, sadly, for others the consequences of not getting vaccinated can be tragic.

Families Fighting Flu, a non-profit organization made up of parents who have lost a child to the flu, partnered on the Say "Boo!" to the Flu program to help educate families about the importance of flu prevention.

As part of the program, Visiting Nurse Associations of America is hosting flu vaccination events across the country. Click here to see the tour schedule.

You'll also find tips, videos, activities or more on the site, all designed to educate the public on flu prevention. Click here to check it out now. Stay well!

The Tear Thief Will Steal Your Heart

I'm fortunate to have children young enough that they still enjoy my reading to them (just don't tell my son's friends that *smile*). Every now and then, we'll happen upon a book that stands out above the rest...one that is timeless and will forever be remembered.

The Tear Thief by Carol Ann Duffy, and illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli, is one such book. This 32-page hardcover published by Barefoot Books is filled with magical illustrations and soothing prose.

The Tear Thief collects the tears of children all over the world and keeps them in her special silver sack. There are children who cry over small things with crocodile tears, but the tears of real sadness hold the most worth.

One girl who cries such tears of sadness happens upon the Tear Thief when she catches her reflection in a puddle (the only way to see her). Readers will follow this girl along in her journey with the Tear Thief and will learn just why these tears are collected and what the Tear Thief does with them.

My kids were riveted and now count this book as one of their favorites. Here are a few examples of the whimsical illustrations and the lovely way Duffy tells this story (click to enlarge):





Beautiful, isn't it? Click here for more information and/or to order. Just be prepared to have a tear or two of your own stolen. :)

Going Green

"It's not easy being green" has a whole new meaning in today's generation. In a recent Mom Central survey, 81% of Moms said they consider themselves to be "green." But with the hectic lives us moms face, putting our beliefs into action can be a difficult thing.

Clorox Green Works understands this and thus created a new site called 30 Days to Natural to help us in our efforts.

The first step? Planting a virtual daisy on the site. Easy and fun and it gets you in the spirit of helping the environment. You can even click on all the daisies in the field to see other participants and what day they're on. Consider it your personal field of inspiration!

You can sign up to have tips emailed to you or sent to your mobile phone. Simply click on "tools" to register and access these helpful resources. There's also a kitchen checklist with tips on making your kitchen more natural that you can print out.

Click on "diaries" to watch videos of other moms who are on the 30-day journey, and even upload a video of your own. Here's one video from mom Shelley, who has also embarked on the Greenworks 30 Days to Natural project:



Whether its recycling, using environmentally-safe cleaners, or walking/biking instead of driving when you can, the site offers many helpful suggestions in easy-to-follow, daily steps.

30 Days to Natural finally makes it easy to be green!

Lands' End Review and Giveaway

If your area is anything like mine, the temperature is dropping fast. We've already had to put our heat on in the evenings and I've been caught outside, unprepared for the cold, a few times already.

Now, thanks to Lands' End, I'm ready for the cold with my new Women's Windfall Snow Sport Jacket.

I am in love with this jacket! I have two coats, one dressy and one bulky, so I tended to avoid both when out and about my regular day. The Windfall jacket, however, is light, sporty and trendy.

But don't let the word "jacket" fool you because it will keep you warm without the heaviness that comes with other coats. The Polarthin™ insulation inside gives you the warmest protection without bulk.

It has a temperature rating of -5°/5° Fahrenheit. Over heavy layers, this Windfall Snow Sport Jacket will keep you warm in -5° weather; over a light layer, in 5° weather.

Other features include:

• Fleece-lined, zippered outer pockets
• Multiple inner pockets for MP3 player, cellphone
• Exterior ski-pass attachment

I can't wait to go sledding with my kids in it!

Here's a little peek of the jacket in black:



And it comes with a hood that easily tucks away into a button-up fold in the back:





Click here for more details.

In addition to the jacket, Lands' End has SO much to offer. I'm thinking of ordering a pair of their Women's Windfall Gloves to match my jacket.

Want to win something fabulous for yourself from Lands' End?

Thanks to Lands' End, one lucky winner here will receive either a Women's ThermaCheck 100 Half-zip Pullover or the Women's Sherpa Fleece Half-zip Pullover, in the color and size of your choice.

Check out the wonderful features of each:


Women's ThermaCheck 100 Half-zip Pullover, the world's only permanent antistatic fleece:

• Exclusive antistatic treatment resists static cling, static shock, lint and pet hair
• Permanent antistatic finish never washes out
• Famous ThermaCheck softness is still here
• Lightweight ThermaCheck 100 Half-zip is ideal for layering and cool-weather exercising

Women's Sherpa Fleece Half-zip Pullover, Land's End's thickest, coziest fleece:

• Feminine fit
• Cotton/jersey lined for comfort
• Half-zip style looks great and helps regulate body temperature
• TEMPERATURE RATING: 0°/10° Fahrenheit. Over layering pieces, this Sherpa Fleece Half-zip will keep you warm in 0° weather; over a light layer, in 10° weather.

Be sure to click the links for each to learn more, see all of the fabulous color choices, and even try it on a virtual model that you can create to match your shape and size.

To enter, simply leave a comment with your favorite choice of the two (you can always change your mind later). For a bonus entry, blog about this contest on your site with a link to this post and to Lands' End. Then, leave a separate comment with your link.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 pm EST, Thursday, October 30. Winner will be selected at random via Random.org and will be notified via email. Winner has two weeks from the time of notification to claim their prize, or the prize will be forfeited.

Good luck!

Let's Talk Turkey

I am blessed enough to be married to a man who loves to cook. And he is unfortunate enough to be married to a wife who hates to cook. :)

While I make fresh meals from scratch every evening for our family, it's definitely a chore for me. It's not that I'm a bad cook. My family has always been happy with the meals I prepare. It's just that I'd rather stick pins in my fingers than have to be in the kitchen cooking.

There is one time of the year, though, when my husband relieves me of my kitchen duties and that's Thanksgiving. Every year he makes the entire meal, sans the mashed potatoes (because I happen to make those really well). How lucky am I to have a husband who does the Thanksgiving cooking?!

And we have yet to have a bad turkey (dry, undercooked, etc.). All of our guests always rave over how well he cooks it.

He did make the classic mistake the very first time he cooked a turkey, though. Yes, the dreaded "leaving in the giblets" error. He even knew about that possibility and thought he'd checked well enough, but he didn't know that there were giblets in both ends.

Thankfully it didn't affect the turkey at all. It was just as perfect then as it has been in the years since.

How about you? Do you have a tale about your quest for the perfect turkey? If so, head on over to Electrolux Appliances , click on "Kelly Confidential," and submit a picture, story, and/or video about your experience.

Whether it's your dog eating your turkey before your guests could, dropping the turkey on the way to the table, or smoke billowing out of the oven, Kelly Ripa and Electrolux want to hear from you.

By submitting your story, you'll automatically be entered to win a sleek, new Electrolux wall oven or range that features a Perfect Turkey button!



The Perfect Turkey™ button from Electrolux uses a temperature probe to precisely control cooking, along with a convection system that gently browns the turkey while sealing in the juices, giving you perfect turkey, every time. This first-in-class feature may just revolutionize the holiday cooking experience!

It's comforting to me to know that this Perfect Turkey button exists. Should my husband ever not be able to take on cooking for Thanksgiving, I can have Electrolux come to my rescue!