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.