Matched in Manhattan - Brand New Lifetime TV Show That'll Have You Hooked!

I know I'm married and have two kids, but I have to admit, I am a sucker for dating shows.  I love everything about them - from making over a geeky looking girl to look like a babe, to those awkward first meetings, to love at first sight - there's nothing like a good old fashioned dating show to get some tips on how to attract a guy - or keep your current guy still interested.  That's why I can't wait for the premiere of Matched in Manhattan on Lifetime this Friday, January 4 at 9:30 pm ET.   The show features relationship expert and dating coach Matt Titus along with his wife, Tamsen and their friend Eddie as they attempt to match hopeless New York City singles in search of Mr. Right.  Matt offers some great tips on how to attract your mate, where to find him and how to clear out your apartment (or love shack) so that you don't scare him off.  So get ready - and have your date night in front of the tube this Friday night...you'll be glad you did!

Check This Out!!! Amazing New Site to Create Your Own Radio Station!

www.Jango.com

Moving to a New Neighborhood? Check out Street Advisor.com!

If you're looking to move to a new city or town with your family, wouldn't it be great to find out if the neighbors on the street where you're contemplating buying a house or apartment were actually friendly? Or, if the area has some great restaurants or shopping options for you and your family? Or if it's a really busy street even if you didn't notice the traffic whizzing by when you were at that open house? Well, there's actually a new site called Street Advisor that features real opinions from people living in the neighborhoods you may want to live in. Just enter in the block you want to find out about, and Street Advisor will instantly tell you if people in the area have shared their personal comments about how they really feel about living on that street. And, if you're currently living somewhere that you love, or loathe, feel free to visit the site to share your opinions about your neighborhood too. There must be a reason why you want to move...so let other people know the truth before it's too late! By the way, I happen to love my block so I'll be visiting Street Advisor soon to spread the love about New Rochelle! To return to Role Mommy, click here.

THE ICE PICKER

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Flip Video Camera & One True Media

I just discovered the coolest video camera that anyone, including your kids can use.  It's called the Flip and it's smaller and lighter than a regular camera, shoots video that are surprisingly great quality and, now here's the best part - when you want to screen the video, there's a USB connector attached to the camera - which means you'll never lose it and you can instantly download the video right onto your computer and then send it to friends and family.  And, if you want to visit a site where you can edit the video easily, add music, special effects and then upload it to YouTube or blogger or even your Tivo, then visit One True Media where you can easily create the coolest videos featuring you and your family.  Best part of all about the Flip - it's surprisingly inexpensive.   Check out the latest video I created in a matter of minutes - it's called The Ice Picker and it's pretty funny if I do say so myself!

The Easiest Muffins Under the Sun

For those of you that are loyal Role Mommy subscribers, you may know that I am averse to baking.  I hate the mess, the disastrous results from a cooking expedition gone awry and pretty much dissuade my kids from joining me in the kitchen to bake cookies because I despise the clean-up.  I've also burnt lots of cookies and cupcakes in my day but that is until now!  I've just discovered Betty Crocker's Chocolate chip muffin mix.  All you have to do is grease your muffin pan, pour the package in a bowl, add water, mix it together, pour the contents into the muffin pan, and within 20 minutes, you have delicious muffins that are only 150 calories a pop!  

I can't tell you how surprised my husband and my daughter were to walk into the kitchen and see that I actually baked something from semi-scratch - but alas, I did it!  Who knows, maybe I'll give cupcakes a whirl next - as long as Betty has a version that's the same as this miraculous muffin recipe, I'm game!  If you're in the mood to bake but don't have time for the mess or the stress, then visit Stop and Shop or Fresh Direct and pick up a batch.  Your kids and your hubby will be amazed by your newfound baking skills!  To return to Role Mommy, Click Here.

Visit a Brand New Site for New & Expectant Parents...The Cradle!

Check out a brand new destination for new and expectant parents, The Cradle(http://www.rolemommy.com/). The site offers a treasure trove of information, plus you can create your own profile and connect with other expectant parents on the web who are experiencing the same thing as you. And, if you visit the site today, you enter to win some of the most sought after baby products on the market from Bugaboo, Svan, Fleurville and more. The Cradle is still in beta mode so take a look and let us know what you think about this new site by sending us an email at beth@rolemommy.com. To return to our home page, Click Here.

Nintendo Gives Their Best Picks of the Holiday Season

Ever since I confessed my love of the Wii, I have totally felt the love right back from the folks at Nintendo (how cool is that?) They even invited me to the Nintendo World Store store in Manhattan (right near Rockefeller Center) and gave me a private tour before all the tourists and kids took over the place. I have to tell you - being upstairs on the Wii floor is totally cool - it's as if you're in your own private arcade and having the store manager explain everything to me was an added bonus - I actually found out new things about my brand new Wii! Did you know that the Wii can be connected to the Internet and you can actually download the news, weather, communicate with other Wii users, download classic Nintendo games (hello Donkey Kong) and participate in contests - I guess it pays to read the directions to the Wii after all.

If you're in NYC then definitely take your kids to the Nintendo World Store - who needs to stand outside looking at the holiday display windows in Saks when you can be playing Princess Peach or Mario Super Party 8 in their expansive digital arcade? Another interesting tidbit - the Nintendo World Store is the only place in the U.S. that receives daily shipments of the Wii. Now don't get all excited - during the holiday season, people line up at 4 am so they can be first in line to pick up the must-have gift of the year. That means by 6am, the shipment for the day is usually cleaned out. So if someone in your family is a night owl, now you know where you can go to pick up a Wii in the pre-dawn hours.

And, if you're still busy buying your holiday gifts this season, Nintendo has shared their top 10 game picks that are sure to be a hit with family and friends. So make sure you're on the lookout for these great toys and games - trust me - you'll enjoy it right along with your kids.

NINTENDO TOP TEN TOY & GAME PICKS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Wii: This is something you can buy that the whole family will enjoy. It’s the best video game experience out there, and it’s the best value too. It comes with Wii Sports, a collection of five sports games that anyone can pick up and start playing easily. Nintendo DS: You can give this as a gift to the kids to keep them quiet in the car or buy one for yourself. There are all kinds of games and software available, from fun adventures to brain-training games to keep you sharp. Super Mario Galaxy: The hottest game for Wii. It’s as much fun to watch as it is to play. And it even has a “Co-Star” mode that lets less experienced players help those who are more experienced. So the big kids can take control of Mario while the little ones – or even mom – play the sidekick. Wii Zapper: One of the best video game values you’ll find. It’s just $19.99 and comes with Link’s Crossbow Training, a fun shoot-the-targets game that will have everyone in the family taking aim at the TV screen. Master of Illusion: This game for Nintendo DS comes with its own set of “magic” playing cards. It’s like having a whole set of magic tricks in one box. Kids can learn the tricks and use them to impress relatives during the holidays. Mario Party DS: This game is like an electronic version of a board game. One person can play solo, or four DS owners can link up wirelessly even if they have only one game card. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day: This follow-up to Nintendo’s smash hit brain-training game has even more activities to keep your gray matter humming. Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day: This program does for your eyes what Brain Age does for your brain. It’s a set of fun exercises that work areas like peripheral vision. It’s a good gift for parents and baby boomers, or for young athletes who want to se the same kinds of vision-training techniques the pros use. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption: If you have a hard-core gamer in the house, this Teen-rated adventure for Wii is the way to go. The motion-sensitive Wii controls revolutionize the way the game is played and put players in the middle of the action. Wii Points card: Not sure what game to get your favorite Wii owners? Let them decide for themselves. Just like gift cards, Wii Points can be redeemed to download any of nearly 200 classic video games from the Wii Shop Channel.

Shout out to my new favorite TV Show...Brothers & Sisters

I've decided I have a new favorite TV show....ABC's Brothers & Sisters.  While I'm still a die-hard "Grey's Anatomy" fan, for me, "Brothers & Sisters" has officially become the best show on network television. Any series that features my favorite 80s stars (hello Rob Lowe), and Patricia Wettig from "Thirtysomething," throw in Sally Field, who was in one of my favorite tear jerker movies of all time ("Steel Magnolias") sprinkle in Calista Flockhart - who is actually more likable as Kitty than she was as "Ally Macbeal" and then surprise me at the end with Ken Olin, another "Thirtysomething" alum and there you have it.  The perfect ingredients for a show that has me hooked.  It doesn't matter that it's on Sunday nights when I'm completely pooped from the weekends' festivities.  I relish the fact that everyone is already in bed and I can curl up with my blanket and watch this delicious show.  Tonight I wept right along with Nora (Sally Field) as Kitty and Robert tied the knot. Loved the tension between the brothers, the humor, the guest stars (Chevy Chase and Danny Glover), Rachel Griffiths - who nails the frazzled working mom role to a tee and completely lit up when Ken Olin made his surprise appearance.   Something tells me that he's going to be sticking around for awhile and I couldn't be happier. So if you haven't checked out this show yet, it's time you tuned into Brothers & Sisters - this one's a keeper - the stuff that Emmys are made of.  

Young Collector's Art

Here's a great website where you can find gorgeous paintings or prints for you and your kids! Visit www.youngcollectorsart.com and you'll find unique works of art created by the father, mother and daughter team of Jerry, Miriam and Juliet Gliden.  This talented family has created young collector's art, a growing group of artwork that is designed to appeal to children as well as those of us who are young at heart.

Custom Made For Kids

Here's a wonderful gift for the holidays that your kids are bound to love. At Custom Made For Kids, you will find a high quality, hardcover personalized book for children ages 0-8 called The First Adventures of Incredible You. What sets this award-winning book apart from other personalized books is that it features full color spreads with original art work and rhyming text that incorporates the child's 20+ pieces of information flawlessly into the book. With Custom Made For Kids you can make your child the star of their own adventure and they will relish every minute of it! Create a customized storybook that features your child and you'll not only get them on the road to reading, but you'll be creating a keepsake that they'll treasure for a lifetime. Plus, if you order before December 7, you'll get 10 percent off! Just enter the code rm10 and you'll enjoy some pre-holiday savings! If you're still trying to figure out what to get friends and family with young children, then visit Custom Made For Kids today - they'll be thankful that you did! To return to our home page, Click Here.

NEW ROLE MOMMY RECOMMENDS CONTRIBUTOR...THREE LOVELIES!

Offering some great holiday shopping tips is our brand new contributor, Whitney Chianese, founder of Three Lovelies - a fabulous website to purchase gifts for babies, moms and the special women in your life. The holidays are here and shopping season has officially begun! In my opinion, the two biggest obstacles with holiday shopping are finding the time (I’m convinced the days go by faster in December!) and scouring for the perfect gift. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while shopping both in-store and online – the goal is to be efficient and have some fun in the process! CRUISING THE AISLES: 1. Create a game plan – shopping without a plan can leave you feeling lost. Create a list that includes stores, names of who you’re shopping for and the type of gifts you need. This will not only save time, but also reduce stress…especially if the kids are in tow. 2. Pack snacks – shopping on an empty stomach leaves you feeling lethargic and ready to throw in the towel. Pack healthy snacks such as a bag of nuts or a piece of fruit to keep you energized. You can also always grab a latte for a shot of caffeine and a dose of calcium! SHOPPING ONLINE: 1. Set a time limit – make a date with your computer and stick with it. Online shopping is a fabulous, time-saving tool, however, many people get sucked into cyberspace and find themselves browsing the web aimlessly. Limit your online shopping to a set period of time (one hour perhaps), this will make you stick to your goal and stay focused. 2. Visit a favorite designer’s website – many designer’s include a list of online retailers that carry their merchandise. Since these stores already carry a product line that you love, chances are good that they’ll carry other items that are right up your alley as well. 3. Explore the Blogosphere – blogs are an amazing resource for gift ideas. Many smaller businesses not only advertise on blogs, but are also discussed by blog members. Spend some time reading other people’s suggestions and I guarantee you’ll find some amazing gifts that everyone will be raving about. One final thought – a gift doesn’t always have to be a tangible item wrapped in a bow. Think about conversations you’ve had with family and friends in recent months - have they joined a new organization or charity, expressed interest in a new activity, talked about that one thing they’ve always wanted to do? It could be dancing lessons for someone who loves to dance or a donation to a meaningful charity, as long as it has meaning to the recipient. And to get your juices flowing, and maintain your shopping momentum, I’ve featured a few gift ideas from my website www.threelovelies.com - check out the photos above for a sneak peak!:

· For the new mom, these sweet long-sleeve tee sets with holiday inspired icons are sure to be a hit. · Women on the go will enjoy an exquisite (and spacious!) red python tote with faux snakeskin lining. · The “hostess with the mostess” can entertain with a sassy Zebra Party Tray. · And for a little holiday splurge, the bracelet featured above is a must-have in any woman’s wardrobe!

And as my holiday gift to you, please enjoy a 10% discount on ALL merchandise at www.threelovelies.com through December 31st! Just enter RMHOLIDAY at checkout. I hope these tips (and gift suggestions) help guide you through the craziness of holiday shopping and that you get as much as you give!

The Mac Book Pro

                     

Oh happy day!  I have talked about buying a Mac computer for years and yet for some bizarre reason, I've always shied away - perhaps it was the price tag or the fact that it was easier to purchase those Dells, Gateways and Toshiba computers but then when I brought them home and began tooling around with it, somehow the machine became slower and slower with each passing day.  Fed up with Internet Explorer and the way it always seems to corrupt my computer, I broke down and decided it was time to bite the bullet and hit the Apple store.  

I had a fabulous conversation with one of the sales girls, a graphic designer who showed me the ropes with all the macs and we decided I was a perfect candidate for the MacBook Pro.  And then I plunked down my credit card and a few moments later, I had entered the world of the Apple.

I have to admit - it is great fun - attempting to edit video and import music.  Plus, I love the keyboard and am totally hooked on the sticky note thingy that helps you remember your to-do list without having to remember where you wrote it down.

So if you've got plans to buy yourself a computer this holiday season, then I say give the Mac Book pro a whirl...let the kids play with your slow computer and you can relish the fact that you have a brand new toy of your own! 

DATE NIGHT...AN AMAZING NEW SINGER

I know that we normally recommend items that are terrific for kids and families, but any true Role Mommy knows that date night is imperative to a balanced life and sometimes, even on date night, you can discover something really awesome. Well last night, my husband and I went to a really cool restaurant in Northern Westchester (for those of you living near us, it's called Opus and it's in Armonk). As we sat back and savored some great wine and caught up on some much needed conversation, the band started playing and we were instantly hooked. The lead singer, whose name is Johanna, had this unbelievable voice - so incredible and different that in my opinion, she's destined for stardom. After dinner, we even left our table and sat at the bar to listen to some of their original songs and then we bought her CD and listened to it on the ride home.

So if you can tear yourself away from Radio Disney or the soundtrack to High School Musical, visit Johanna's website at http://www.johannamusic.net/ or to listen to her music, click here. Get the inside track on a performer who I'm convinced will be joining the ranks of Cheryl Crow and Natalie Merchant in no time flat. You heard it here first at Role Mommy, and we usually are on the cutting edge on what's cool for great moms.

Find Out the Calories in Your Kids' Fast Food Meals with Calorie King

Now here's a website I could totally use when I'm just about to place my order at the McDonald's drive thru window. Before you order that chicken nugget happy meal, consider the calories. Of course, out of sight out of mind - if you don't know how many calories those nuggets have then it technically doesn't count. Well, think again. Now fast food chains such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Taco Bell can also be HEALTHY with CalorieKing’s new – and FREE – CalorieKing Mobile. A quick search on CalorieKing Mobile, http://mobile.calorieking.com/, displays over 50,000 meals, fast food and chain restaurants items, all from any Internet-enabled mobile phone or smartphone. Here is an example of two different meals your hungry kid or teen could order at Wendy’s: Meal 1 Roasted Turkey & Swiss Frescata sandwich – 470 cal, 20 fat g. Baked Potato, Sour Cream & Chives – 320 cal, 4 fat g. Medium Coca-Cola soft drink – 213 cal, 0 fat g. Calories- 1,003 Fat- 24 grams Meal 2 5-piece Chicken Nuggets – 230 cal, 15 fat g. Chili – 220 cal, 6 fat g. Medium Minute Maid Lemonade soft drink – 11 cal, 0 fat g. Calories- 461 Fat- 21 grams So visit Calorie King today before you order that quarter pounder with fries and a diet coke of course - that jolt of reality will probably have you changing your order to a salad with fat free Newman's dressing in no time flat.

The Gal to Gal Virtual Walk For Stage for Breast Cancer Patients & Families

THESE VIRTUAL SHOES WERE MADE FOR WALKING!

Join celebrities like Kristin Chenoweth, Marg Helgenberger, Extra's Dayna Devon, Diane Farr, Jorja Fox, Mena Suvari, Lynn Redgrave, Molly Sims and more along with breast cancer survivors, angels and supporters on the first of its kind virtual walk with proceeds benefiting the Gal to Gal Foundation, assisting patients and families battling Stage IV breast cancer. Spearheaded by the hugely popular Design-her Gals custom stationery website, this innovative approach to fundraising during breast cancer awareness month gives any person around the world the chance to give back to an important cause without ever leaving their home, Starbucks' or office! All you need to do is donate $3, create your gal or an angel in memory of someone dear to you, write a few lines about why you're participating (or just write your name and hometown) get ready, get set, and start walking on a nationwide virtual walk that kicks off in Boston on Oct. 1 and travels to 31 cities, ending at the Golden Gate Bridge in virtual San Francisco on Oct. 31! Pre-registration is going on now, so Click Here and join the Gal to Gal Virtual Walk today. Plus, there are great giveaway items and a virtual goody bag being offered by dozens of the terrific sponsors involved like FTD.com, Yoplait, Lucy, Fodors, Rosa Regale wines and many, many more. And, if you want to find me, I'm Beth F. from Scarsdale, NY. So register today and get ready to virtually walk across the nation! You'll be glad you did!

Little Miss Tuffett

I don't know about you but whenever that first nip sets in and summer is officially behind us, I get a spring in my step because I know that it's not just fall, it's crafts fair season! There is nothing I love more than to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon strolling through aisles and aisles filled with one of a kind jewelry, floral arrangements for my kitchen (that I sadly have no room for anymore) and unique gifts and tchotchkes for my kids, friends and family.

On one recent afternoon while my kids were being entertainned by a puppet show and a face painter (no worries, my husband was supervising), my girlfriend and I zipped through one of the tents at the Lyndhurst Crafts Fair (a great outing for anyone living in New York State) and we stumbled upon Little Miss Tuffett. And what kind of wares does Little Miss Tuffett peddle? You guessed it, adorable footstools for babies, children and ladies too. Complete with a cozy seat, baby shoes, sneakers or even ballet slippers, Little Miss Tuffett makes the perfect one of a kind gift for any Miss or Mr. Muffet of any age who has a sense of style and whimsy! Click Here to order your very own tuffett today!

Mmmmmm Yummy - Whoopie Pie Recipe from Everyday with Rachel Ray!

I just received a fabulous recipe in my email box today. And it wasn't just any recipe..it was from the gals at Everyday with Rachel Ray! So even though I profess that I never bake and prefer store bought confectionary items, if Rachel Ray wants to send me a dish or two that is sure to please everyone in my family, who am I to refuse the offer?

Just in time for Halloween, the experts at Every Day with Rachel Ray are putting a seasonal spin on an old favorite with their mouth watering recipe for Whoopie Pies! So moms, if you've got a bake sale on the horizon, with the help of Rachel Ray and company, Role Mommy is here to give you the inside scoop on how to wow even the most finicky kid and the entire PTA.

Classic whoopie pies served with a twist – pumpkin-flavored cakes filled with heavenly cream cheese frosting! Every Day Tip: If you’re in the mood for a refreshing, cold treat – freeze the pies overnight. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (Makes 12) Prep time: 35 min Bake time: 10 min Ingredients: 1½ sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, 1 stick melted, 1/2 stick softened 1 cup packed light brown sugar 2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten 1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon plus 2 pinches salt 1 2/3 cups flour 4 ounces cream cheese, chilled 1 cup confectioners’ sugar Recipe: Preheat the oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the baking powder, the baking soda and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour. Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, drop 12 generous mounds of batter, spaced evenly, onto each baking sheet. Bake until springy to the touch, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter with the cream cheese. Add the confectioners’ sugar and the remaining 2 pinches salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; mix on low speed until blended, then beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spread the flat side of 12 cakes with the cream cheese frosting. Top each with another cake.

If you are salivating at the thought of these delectable whoopie pies, then make sure you head to the newsstand or supermarket in the morning and pick up this month's issue of Everyday with Rachel Ray - they've got a lot more than whoopie pies in there that is sure to please the appetites of every member of your family!

IT'S A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH MARY!

If you've been reading Role Mommy for a while, then you know I am a spur of the moment kind of gal. So when my husband told me he wanted to do something special with the kids, I let my fingers do the walking and I started surfing the 'net for great things for us to do. My tried and true Westchester sites are NY Metroparents, then Westchestergov.com and finally, the fabulous Essentialmom.com but what I found today was that unless everyone wanted to join me at the Lyndhurst crafts fair, it was going to be a pretty humdrum day. That is, until I zipped on over to Ticketmaster. I sometimes do searches on that site from time to time - plugging in my favorite musicals only to find that there are no seats available until nine months from now. But today, I decided to take my chances and I came up a winner!

While I initially attempted to score four tickets to "Grease," they were sold out but I decided to try a long shot. Mary Poppins - one of the toughest tickets to nab this year - but I figured, hey what do I have to lose? And so, I plugged in my request and as if I had one the lottery, they came back with four seats available in the Orchestra! I knew I had no time to waste - I gave them my credit card and we were on our way to Broadway!

The seats were phenomenal - dead center and ten rows back from the stage- I bet if we had purchased these seats a year ago we wouldn't have found ourselves sitting where we were today! The show was incredible - between the old songs, new songs, dancing, costumes, flying, walking on the ceiling and amazing moveable sets and trickery, we had a wonderful time. In fact, my daughter said that Mary Poppins was the best Broadway show she's ever seen. Mind you, she's only seen one other show, but still, I'll take it - especially since I plunked down a large chunk of change for a very enjoyable afternoon with my family.

Now if you want to go see Mary Poppins or another Disney show, you may be in luck. Visit New York Metroparents today for the chance to win free tickets. Or, if you're like me and have no patience, visit ticketmaster and give your favorite show a shot. Incidentally, I just learned that Hannah Montana tickets go on sale on September 25 at 10am for Nassau Coliseum. I don't know about you, but I have a feeling I'm going to be doing some damage in few weeks for that priceless gem. Unless of course, they sell out in an hour. And then, I'll be doing a search for another show, like "Grease" perhaps.

Kindergarten Countdown & The Tessy & Tab Reading Series

As my five year old gets ready to start kindergarten, I just found out about a fabulous book, DVD and magazine series that will help my little guy get ready to read! Dylan has begun receiving the Tessy & Tab reading series and kindergarten countdown DVD. Based on the six skills for early literacy, The Tessy & Tab Reading Club is the first kids magazine subscription that promotes early independent reading for preschool children. The magazines arrive in the mail twice a month with useful parent tools and fun learning activities. The great thing about this wonderful book and magazine series is that it offers something for every member of the family!

For Kids: They receive 24 advertising-free magazines addressed just to them! Plus, educational games and printable coloring pages available online.

For Parents: A comprehensive guide to building early reading skills at every age, useful tips with each issue and craft ideas & printable literacy activity sheets to do with your child.

For Gift-Givers: With a special message on every label and an email about each issue, it's a unique way to stay connected and make a difference in a child's life.

So what are you waiting for? If you want to get your kindergartener or pre-schooler to get on the road to reading with his or her very own magazine and book series, then visit the Tessy & Tab website and subscribe today!

Great Interactive Site for Girls - Bella Sera

If you have a daughter who is a Webkinz or Club Penguin fanatic, we've just discovered Bella Sera, a brand new interactive site that is sure to have your daughter and her friends buzzing about this wonderful virtual world for horses. When you purchase Bella Sera trading cards, you can visit their website and enter an imaginative, world of beautiful horses. Bella Sera cards can be collected, traded with friends and used to play fun card games. Each horse has a positive message for you to discover. Every card also has an activation code, which you can enter on this website to put your horses online in your very own stable. You can care for your horse by feeding it, training it, brushing it and building up its energy. Once your horse is groomed and fed, you can then take it to Bella Sara’s World where you can play games with your favorite horses. There are castles and forests, beaches and racetracks – everything a horse and a girl could wish for. So purchase Bella Sera trading cards today - your daughter will be thrilled that you did. To return to Role Mommy, click here.

Two Blue Peas

If you're on the lookout for one of a kind products for babies, then pay a visit to Two Blue Peas, a fabulous website creating by two marketing and web wizard moms who have managed to scour the internet for the most adorable products for little ones and have launched a terrific online site that'll make baby gift giving a breeze. From the cutest bibs, to precious outfits to a cozy lamb blanket that I plan to order for a good friend of mine who recently gave birth, you can be sure that when you send a gift from Two Blue Peas or order something for your own little prince or princess, they'll be the best dressed babes on the block. So visit the site today and tell them that Role Mommy sent you! To return to our home page, click here.

A REVOLUTIONARY WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT! DIET TELEVISION

If you've read my numerous confessions about dieting, exercise and my continual failure to shed the baby weight even though my son is about to enter kindergarten, well I think I've found the perfect place for those of us struggling with our weight and looking for the perfect solution to finally drop those unwanted pounds...DIET TELEVISION! A good friend of mine who's a nutritionist and a mom of three (and is always in great shape) just joined the staff and asked me to check it out. And so, this morning before the kids woke up, I gave it a whirl.

When you first enter the site, they ask you all kinds of simple questions about your eating habits and then within seconds they match you with the diets that will fit best into your lifestyle. Then, they create a mealplan for you complete with recipes! And, if you need some athletic inspiration, they give you tips on the best exercises that will help you lost weight fast, tone up that flab or give you a sexy butt - and the tips are accompanied by directions and photos!

Of course there's a video component too (hence the word Diet Television) and a Diet Television interactive community where you can add your photo and share tips on how you're managing to lose weight and even show your progress to your online friends. Plus you can input information about special events you want to lose weight for (like a wedding, reunion or big family event where your nosy aunt who always notices you've put on weight will be front and center examining the size of your cankles). The only element I'd like to have access to is the part where the chef comes to your house and cooks the meals for you on the spot, but then at that point, I'd have to wake up from my Oprah dream and snap back to the reality that is my own life.

So look no further - if you want to figure out the perfect diet plan for you, then visit Diet Television today! Best of all, access to the entire site is FREE!!!

Role Mommy Hits Sweden! We've Made the Brio Website!

Role Mommy has officially hit the international circuit! One of our essays, "My Gold Medalist" was just posted on the Brio website which offers essays from parents all over the world about how they're raising their kids. I love the fact that Brio not only offers great toys for tykes...you should check out their website which offers futuristic rail sets with cool little alien looking men that actually make noises! Take that Thomas the Train with your lead paint problems...Brio offers great wooden sets for builders and architects in the making and gives them the chance to bring their vision to life! BRIO Network is not your classic toy train set. It's an original world of Rail Play featuring imaginary creatures who live inside your computer. They drive super-cool vehicles around wooden train tracks. They can listen to their messages and interact in fun, new ways. Though the networkers are inspired by the computer world, you do not need a computer to play with them. Who knew - I thought those cooky webkinz had all the fun!

So visit Brio today and find out where you can get your kids an awesome train set that's interactive and educational and most of all, fun!!!

THE ART OF KNITTING 4 KIDS

If you recently read my post about my daughter's latest fascination with knitting, (click here to take a look), you'll be happy to know that if knitting is not necessarily your bag, there's a DVD on the market that will teach you the finer points of knitting. It's called "The Art of Knitting 4 Kids" and teaches, entertains and inspires your kids to knit and even make their own knitting needles! The DVD is for ages 5+ and even features a 7 year old who shows you how easy it is to become a knitting superstar! So visit the site today and order a copy for your child - then head to the yarn store and start knitting!

Great Site that Tracks Where Your Internet Buddies Are

Thanks to the Manic Mommies, who have turned me on to the coolest sites - like Gather, I have now been introduced to Frappr - a totally cool site that enables you to load a photo of yourself, give a shout out and get to know people all over the country. Leave it to Erin and Kristin to always have the inside track on the latest fun places to visit on the net. So check out Frappr and join our Role Mommy map - would love to see what you look like even if you don't have time to write! And do me a favor...don't just add your home town...share your email address so that we can keep you up to date on our fabulous finds!

Workit Mom

If you don't have any time to connect with your friends anymore because you're too busy working and staying up with your kids all night, well now there's a place where all your working mom friends can join and connect online! At WorkIt Mom you can upload your profile, just like MySpace but with people your own age and then interact with moms who are experiencing exactly what you're going through. Plus, they've got great interactive surveys you can take part in, profiles of working moms and how they balance it all (check out mine this month), and much much more. So if you'd love to get on the phone with a girlfriend to ask a parenting or work question but your kid starts screaming the minute you say hello, then join WorkIt Mom and connect with women just like you!

Organize Your Life with the MomAgenda!

If you're like me, then you probably have missed one or two birthday parties, or a conference call, or a lunch meeting because you wrote down the date on some random scrap of paper which disappeared within minutes. Well, you're finally in luck. With the MomAgenda you can "get organized in style" with the help of chic looking datebook that'll enable you to plan everyone's schedule and never miss an appointment again (unless, of course, you want to). A fellow role mommy turned me on to the MomAgenda last year and showed me how she's able to keep her three kids' schedules plus her own in this ultimate organizer for moms. So if you're completely disorganized (um, that would be me) or you're looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift, just click here and order your MomAgenda today!

Fairy Princess Designs

It's been a while since gift item has truly impressed me...in fact, the last time I was bowled over, I think it was when I received two adorable tee pees for my kids from Tee Pee For Me. Well, after perusing several products these last few weeks, I finally hit paydirt with Fairy Princess Designs! If you are looking for the perfect gift for your little princess, then pay a visit to Fairy Princess Designs pronto! They have the most precious custom designed tooth fairy pillows (how cute is that), custom signs, growth charts and decor pillows for the bonafide princess in your family. I was the lucky recipient of a tooth fairy pillow, which my daughter now has placed on her bed and it is absolutely gorgeous! Fairy Princess designs will even put your child's name on the pillow in this amazing display of pillow artwork. If you were a big fan of those adorable keepsake baby blankets you received when your child was an infant, then you definitely will love Fairy Princess Designs and so will your daughter! So don't delay, pay a visit and make a little princess very happy! Click Here to visit Fairy Princess Designs today!

Hilarious Snapsuits, Kids Clothes & Accessories at Wry Baby

So you've just given birth and have sent your mom out to the store to pick up some extra onesies since you've already blown through the stash you had before you went into labor - you know those boring snapsuits, they come in white, pale blue, pink and inevitably wind up stained with spit up or the remnants of a diaper explosion. Well now, you can put a dose of humor into your onesie collection, compliments of Wry Baby. The site, offers snapsuits, outfits, toddler tees, gag gifts, buttons and accessories that are sure to make anyone smile the moment their bundle of joy sports a Wry Baby signature item. My personal favorite? I Eat Dirt. I'm also partial to I Eat Paste for pre-schoolers, but either way, it's short, it's simple and it's perfect for the parent with a great sense of style and humor! Wry Baby also offers an exclusive line of outfits at Barney's New York. or to shop online at Wry Baby today, click here and place your order!

Sue Fabisch is Walmart Woman!

I just had the pleasure of speaking with Sue Fabisch - a hilarious singer/songwriter who is well on her way to superstardom and you can help her get there! Vote for this hilarious video in the CMT funny mom video competition!!! This is like American Idol but for moms...so vote for Sue today and make her famous!

Visit Baby Dagny For the Inside Track on Great Items for Little Ones!

Here's a great site if you're looking to buy the perfect baby gift for a new mom or get some must have items for your bundle of joy! Visit Baby Dagny™ (www.BabyDagny.com), the premier retailer of just cool baby stuff™. The website was founded in 2005 by Andrea McGinty, who was preparing to have a child of her own and had embarked on an endless search for unique baby products. Andrea quickly realized that most retailers carried the same products and that many great products were only being sold in small shops scattered around the world. Having just retired from It’s Just Lunch, a company she founded and helped grow into the largest dating service in the world with over 100 locations, she decided her next venture was to share the vast collection of unique baby products she found with others. Out of her search to find cool baby products Baby Dagny was born with one goal in mind: to bring moms and babies the most unique and useful baby products and gifts out there. So what are you waiting for? Visit the site today and start picking out some great goodies for babies! Please visit Baby Dagny online at www.BabyDagny.com for just cool baby stuff!

Dragonflies & Ladybugs

We just discovered a great online store for the cutest fashions for babies, toddlers and kids. It's called Dragonflies and Ladybugs and it was started in December 2004 by Robyn Johnson, a stay at home mother of two beautiful girls, Haylie and Lauren. The store developed out of the love of her daughters and her obsession in finding the latest fashions and trends at a great value.

Since their inception, Dragonflies and Ladybugs has grown to carry both national and international brands of children’s clothing including Baby Nay, BabySara, Beetlejuice, CachCach, Catimini, Chatti Patti, Le Pink, Little Mass, Jack and Lily, Meli Meli, Mish Mish, Pipsqueaks, Room Seven , Sweet Potatoes, and Za Za Couture.

Finding and selling unique styles and quality children’s clothing has become their passion and they strive to provide the HIGHEST quality and style in children’s boutique clothing to fit all personalities.

Robyn says she's committed to making the shopping experience as easy for her customers as possible - giving them the chance to enjoy the shopping experience from the comfort of their own home and office. The goal of Dragonflies and Ladybugs is to bring each customer fast and easy shopping with comfort and style in mind. Countless hours have been spent searching for the best manufacturers to offer customers quality, originality, comfort and ease. And it shows. From adorable outfits, to the cutest sweaters to hats and accessories that'll make your heart melt and even great diaperbags, visit Dragonflies & Ladybugs today and start shopping today for family, friends and yourself!

Greeting Flix

Finally, a website that helps me create an online video greeting of my family and I don't need to mail a single photo to anyone. As many of my friends already know, I don't ever send out holiday greetings of my family, so when I found out about Greeting Flix, I was thrilled because all I need to do is upload photos of my kids, place them in a template, select the friends and family I'd like to send it to and voila! off it goes and they get to see a cute video greeting that they don't have to contemplate throwing out three months after the holidays have passed. Heck - if you want to delete it after you see it, fine with me! Even better, if you want to make a DVD of your online greeting, you can do that too and save it forever! So get ready to pick out your favorite pix and pay a visit to Greeting Flix!

NEW DVD SERIES CAN TEACH YOUR BABY TO READ!

Calling all Type A Moms!!!

Do you think your little one is a genius in the making? Then do we have the perfect product for you...

The call for improved literacy in children is a critical national objective and early learning skills are essential to that success. To address this objective (Smart Kids®) Penton Overseas, Inc. has released the newly updated and expanded version of their proven and award-winning educational DVD program “Your Baby Can Read!” An early language development system for children ages 3 months to 5 years, “Your Baby Can Read!” includes five easy-to-use, interactive DVDs, five double-sided interactive sliding word and picture cards, one wipe-clean word card and one erasable non-toxic pen. This remarkable infant reading program, and its founder, Dr. Robert Titzer, have captured the attention of educators, researchers, parents and government agencies worldwide. “Your Baby Can Read!” was developed by Dr. Titzer, a prominent professor and expert infant researcher, as a way to give his daughter, Aleka, an early start in reading skills. The results were astonishing. By her first birthday, she could read more than 100 words. By age two Aleka regularly read 10-20 books a day and by age four, she could read at the 11th grade level phonetically, on par with a 16-year-old. “The results were so dramatic, I knew I had to bring this system to all families who want to give their kids a head start on literacy,” says Dr. Titzer. Based on years of Ph.D. research in Human Performance at Indiana University, his unique program is a natural method of teaching infants and toddlers the written word at the same time they are learning the spoken word.

Here’s what satisfied parents say about “Your Baby Can Read!” “My baby loved watching these videos and I was flabbergasted when I found he understood the written words when I showed him the word cards…These videos teach reading in the way babies learn best—by making it fun.” – Dr. Julia Moravcsik “Your Baby Can Read!” is engaging and fun for toddlers. The characters are easy for children to identify with and there is plenty of repetition to aid the learning process. The videos are a delightful addition to the tools available for parents who want to stimulate their child’s cognitive development.” -- Dr. Carolynne Manka “At exactly one year of age our daughter Aureilla started anticipating the spoken words on the “Your Baby Can Read!” videos. After we made flashcards, we realized she could actually do it! I felt as if my cat had started speaking!” --Jennifer Andison Studies prove that the ‘natural window’ of language development is 3 months to 5 years; while during that period, tens of thousands of synaptic connections are made each second in the brain, opening the door for increased learning capacity. The earlier a child learns to read, the more self-esteem and confidence they acquire, leading to better performance in school and beyond. A national panel of reading specialists and educators determined that most of the nation’s reading problems could be eliminated if children began reading earlier. The “Your Baby Can Read!” program has successfully taught thousands of infants to read through its fun and interactive teaching methods. “Your Baby Can Read!” teaches whole language and phonics using a combination of sound, sight and interaction. This multi-sensory technique helps a child grasp word recognition, leading to early reading success. Key to the program is teaching infants and toddlers the written language while learning spoken language, and as a result children learn phonics naturally. In addition to the DVDs and word cards, “Your Baby Can Read!” includes a complete overview of the program and parental orientation by Dr. Titzer, plus parent testimonials. Also included is the “Kids’ Club,” featuring songs, poems, and fun word games that enhance the child’s learning experience. “Your Baby Can Read!” is available for the incredible low price of only $79.95. For more information on “Your Baby Can Read!” please call 877-881-READ or visit www.yourbabycan.com.

Must Have Item For Moms & Babies...The Bottle Tamer

Now here is an item that I wish I had when my kids were little!

If you are busy parent on the go with a baby or a toddler, then you probably know how frustrating it is every single time you hand your munchkin their sippy cup and they proceed to throw it on the ground. Well, now you don't have to worry about bottle or sippy cup disasters anymore. A new company called Lil Bahbee has solved the problem that's been frustrating new parents for decades!

This simple, yet innovative concept began when the founders of Lil Bahbee grew weary of their children constantly dropping their sippy cups from carseats, strollers, highchairs and more. “Isn’t there anything to prevent this?” they asked themselves. Unfortunately there was not. So they decided to take matters into their own hands and design and manufacture a simple baby bottle strap that would make the lives of mothers everywhere, much easier. They call it The Bottle Tamer.®

The Bottle Tamer® is the perfect solution that keeps your baby from dropping or throwing their bottle or sippy cup to the ground. This technique has been proven effective to assure the sanitized needs for both babies and parents. The unique design not only attaches to most baby strollers, but also is compatible with several baby bottles and spill proof cups.

Celebrity moms everywhere (just to name a few), Katie Holmes, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Gwen Stefani, Melissa Joan Hart and Jaime Pressly have all recently been gifted the Bottle Tamer and many wrote back thanking the Lil Bahbee company for giving them something that's already made their incredibly hectic lives a little bit easier!

So don't delay - save your sanity and pick up a Bottle Tamer right away! For more information or to place an order, Click Here to visit Lilbahbee.com.

Great Writing Opportunity for Single Moms!

Single Moms: Let Your Voices Be Heard! The bestselling Cup of Comfort book series (Adams Media) is seeking compelling personal essays for an anthology honoring single mothers, who too often go unrecognized. We want true stories that read like good fiction and that both entertain and move readers for publication in an anthology honoring single mothers. Stories can be humorous or poignant or both, and must be original, uplifting, in English, typed, and 1000-2000 words. Authors must be at least 18 years old. Simultaneous submissions and some previously published material OK. $500 grand prize; $100 ea. all other stories; plus copy of book. No entry fee. Email (no attachments) to wordsinger@aol.com; include full name, mailing address, and phone. Submission deadline: 3/20/07. www.cupofcomfort.com

Congratulations Jen...Winner of The Pepper Kids Giveaway!

Award-Winning Shopping Tip For Busy Moms...

To make grocery shopping easier, I made a Word document highlighting the aisles of the store. You can usually get the list from the market customer service and then personalize it to your wants/needs in Word. We leave the sheet out each week and circle what is needed. By the time the weekend roles around the shopping list is made and we don’t forget the items we desperately need like toilet paper (after my 15 month old has rolled it all off the toilet paper bar). I love your site. Thanks for helping working moms stay sane! Jen

Ridgewood, NJ

The Pepper Kids...Great Online Shopping Site for Friends & Family!

We just found a fabulous website where you can easily order the most beautiful artwork, furniture, clothing and accessories for your kids and there's a section for moms too! At The Pepper Kids, they strive to bring you creative, unique and stylish items for baby and children. Offering an eclectic selection with a mix of local artists and celebrity designers, the site offering ranges from Designer Children's furniture and room decor accessories to Designer Aprons for Moms to Award winning music, toys, books and even yoga for kids. While perusing the site, I found it chock full of great items! I loved the section where you can send in a picture of your child's latest pre-school masterpiece and turn it into a piece of art! I know how much my kids love to show me their latest picture and this is a great way to preserve their masterpiece for years to come! Plus - there's even a section for moms and coming soon is their own Pepper Kids cafe where you can bake your own fresh warm bread with an easy BreadPack, the "I made it myself" International Cuisine Packages and the "Just like Real Coffee" with 1/4 of the Real Stuff !! How much do I love a site that pretty much takes the guess-work out of baking!

The Pepper Kids also offers beautiful accessories like ceramic wall plaques, the most adorable shoes for girls, storage solutions and more! So don't delay, visit The Pepper Kids where you'll discover a treasure trove of goodies for your family and your friends!