Guest post: "Do these glasses make me look cool?"

Continuing with our belated back-to-school theme for this week I have a wonderful post from Lauren Horsley (@supermomcentral), aka Supermom Central. If anyone is a supermom (or super mom, which works too) it's Lauren. She never ceases to make me smile all the while amazing me with how cool a mom she really is. Here's her walk down the often awkward elementary-school memory lane. Enjoy!

"Do these glasses make me look cool?" My answer? Absolutely not!

I am a child of the 80's, and proud of it. I openly admit to high side-ponytails, even higher bangs, and a fingerless glove I fashioned out of an old lacy stocking. I rolled my pant legs. I had a matching neon colored scrunchy for every outfit. One time, for 3 weeks straight, I wore a stud earring in one ear and a hoop in the other.

But nothing, not even the stone-washed jean jacket and smiley faced mood ring, could put me to shame like my most dreaded accessory – my eye-glasses. I began wearing them in 2nd grade and knew immediately that no $60 pair of Girbauds was going to make up for the daily fashion faux-pas. I tried everything to rid myself of them. I “lost” them on purpose, then quickly “found” them when my mother threatened to dock my allowance for eternity to pay for new ones. I pretended to no longer need them, but one night of blurry TV talked me out of that. I hid them as often as possible and hoped no one would notice they're absence. But they did. And I did. I was blind as a bat without them.

My resentment of my glasses is painfully evident in this 3rd grade photo – can you see the indentations on the bridge of my nose? I yanked off the glasses just seconds before the picture was snapped but couldn't hide the evidence. Other times, I wasn't quick enough...



How I wish I could go back and chat with my sweet seven-year-old self. I'd tell her not to worry so much about the outside appearance – that healthy inner-vision is much more important. I'd tell her to focus on developing the art of being thoughtful, curious, kind and interesting. Because, in the long run, those character features would serve her much better than perfect facial features. And I'd tell her that boys who dig chicks in glasses are fewer and father between than boys who like permed hair, but WAY more gnarly.

I'd also tell her that in 6th grade she was going to get contacts, so just take a chill pill until then. That's right – chill pill. She'd know what I meant.

However, I wouldn't tell her that as the glasses disappeared, the pimple plague would hit, along with a long series of bad haircuts. Some things are best left as a surprise. ~Lauren

Time.com: "How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live"

If it weren't for gym magazines I may never know what's going on in the world. From the latest detox diets to Fall's must-have accessories, the gym is a plethora of useful information. But seriously, I do get the chance to read some really interesting articles when I'm lucky enough to grab a Time or Newsweek from the stand, and today is the perfect example.

Evan Williams and Biz Stone of Twitter

In a recent issue of Time magazine I found an article all about Twitter titled "How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live." Now, you don't have to extol the virtues of the latest 140-character communication craze to me--I'm already a big fan. But this article pointed out a few things I didn't know, a few things I hadn't thought about, and a few possibilities for the future that make you stop and think.

New to Twitter? Seasoned pro? No matter where you stand when it comes to tweets, DMs, @ replies and followers, you'll want to read "How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live" in its entirety. It may just change the way you think. And yes, it's a wonderful, wonderful web.

P.S. If you want to follow me on twitter you can find me here: @emihill. Tweet on! --Emily

"How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live" by Steven Johnson online at Time.com

Image of Evan Williams and Biz Stone of Twitter from Time. com

Is bedtime a seven-letter word in your home?

Today I had the fabulous opportunity to write a guest post for Petit Elefant, an awesome online magazine-style parenting blog, and because it took what little time and energy I had left last night to write it, I had little left for a post on freshly baked, a not-quite-as-cool-as-Petit-Elefant blog.

So instead of a super inspiring, original post I'm going to simply refer you to the one I wrote for Petit Elefant: "Bedtime, the seven-letter word"...and I'm going to throw in a little guilt trip as well. Here it is: if you don't comment I will think you didn't read it and I will cry and cry and cry myself to sleep tonight. Feeling the need to comment? I hope so!

Is bedtime a seven-letter word in your home? If you can relate to this excerpt from my post then it very well could be:

I think the only time I ever truly enjoy bedtime is when my kids are in the stage my youngest is in right now, the binky-blanket-book-bed stage. Just now I had to haul my three-year-old back to bed for the fourth time tonight. Oh, and here I am one sentence later and he’s back again…can you see my jaw tensing as I get up yet one more time to lead him back to bed in silence? And yes, I learned that trick from Super Nanny.

If that sounds familiar you'll want to read the post in its entirety. Bedtime is just three hours away...wish me luck! --Emily

Follow that blog: The Write Gal

Today features yet another fabulous blog I discovered while one of MomDot's America's Next Top Blogger competitors: The Write Gal. Christy from The Write Gal made it to the top three with Dore and me and only lost when I beat her to the phone to sing Tricia "The Star Spangled Banner." (Thank heavens Tricia didn't record my rendition of this historic song. The world is better off not hearing it!)

The Write Gal offers "advice about writing, shopping and everything else...(is there anything else?)" For many of us, shopping pretty much covers it though you could throw in a little reading and a few girls nights out. Christy loves to write and shop so blogging about both is a perfect fit! She is also a freelance business writer and consultant and a part-time college writing instructor in North Carolina. This girl is super busy! How did she have time to compete? Whew!

The Write Gal features reviews and giveaways, insights into motherhood, some fabulous Wordless Wednesday photos and, of course, a few grammar lessons for us all. I like variety in a blog and Christy's definitely has that!

You can subscribe to her blog and follow her on Twitter and even talk to her about her writing services.

Follow that blog: Dore's Diaries

Another fabulous woman I met via America's Next Top Blogger is Doré from Doré's Diaries, "an inside look into this thing [she] calls life." Doré and I were the final two in the competition yet remained friends through it all. In fact, she and I had an alliance from the get-go that started with a few text messages back and forth. Who knew those texts would take us to the finals?

Doré's blog is full of fun peeks into her life as a student (she'll graduate in December with her Bachelor's degree--go, Doré!), wife and mother:

I was born and raised in Central Louisiana and wouldn't want to call any other place home. I can do the whole girly dress up thing, but much prefer to just kick back in jeans and a T and be Me. Yes, I do have a country accent and I'm darn proud of it too!

She does have the cutest country accent--I've heard it over the phone! You can read more about her here.

Doré's Diaries has everything from her first Tackle It Tuesday (amazing transformation of her little boy's room) to her America's Next Top Blogger exploits to fabulous and fun giveaways. Along with subscribing to her blog you can follow Dore on Twitter.

Keep an eye out for us during MomDot's The Amazing Blogging Race--you better believe we'll be the team to watch because we'll be the team that wins! --Emily

We love Nature Days!

What does our recent visit to the International Peace Gardens have to do with a wonderful web wednesday? Well, I wouldn't have known about this fabulous place if I hadn't read about Nature Days on I Never Grew Up and Utah's Natural Kids, and I wouldn't have read those two blogs if I hadn't met Vanessa (@inevergrewup) on Twitter and then in real life. I love it when virtuality meets reality!

On Monday I met with a handful of other moms including Vanessa, Amber (@amberorme), Quinn (@createdybmom) from CreatedByMom.com and Vone (@EvonneSell) from Sell...Party of 3 at the International Peace Gardens in Salt Lake City. We let our kids explore nature (i.e. jump in the water, play in the mud, pick the dandelions and reorganize the pebble-filled paths) while we did a little chatting and kept tabs on our ever curious kids. The weather was beautiful and it was nice to have some adult conversation while my kids burned off some of their seeming unending supply of energy.

We are already looking forward to our next Nature Days. I can't wait to see where Vanessa sends us! (And maybe I'll arrive on time for the next one. Thank heavens Quinn was a tad late too...thanks, babe!) To catch the next Nature Days subscribe to both I Never Grew Up and Utah's Natural Kids. You won't want to miss it! --Emily

P.S. George absolutely LOVES his bike, which is similar to the ones you saw in the slideshow. You can find your own Boot Scoot Bike at CreatedByMom.com. They're AWESOME!!!

Follow that blog: Life Starring Ellie and Eve

Sorry for not posting yesterday but I'm still recovering from an exhausting week. I have that exhausting-week hangover and it's not going anywhere anytime soon! But for today's wonderful web wednesday I did want to feature a fun blog I discovered while participating in MomDot's America's Next Top Blogger (just one of the perks of being part of a virtual reality show).

Life Starring Ellie and Eve is written by Victoria Arya, a fierce online competitor multitasking stay-at-home mom who can be found in numerous places in the blogosphere. You'll have to read her professional bio--I lost track of all the blogs for which she writes!

Life Starring Ellie and Eve features reviews of fun, cool and trendy gear for babies, kids and moms. It also features glimpses into Victoria's life chasing after her two little girls. As her headers says, she's "one cool momma with a lot to say." Life Starring Ellie and Eve has fabulous giveaways, resources for moms and other fun features. It's a lot to take in but totally worth it!

You can never have enough review-filled, giveaways-galore, total-mom-humor blogs on your RSS feed so add Life Starring Ellie and Eve if it's not there already! --Emily

O Easter tree, O Easter tree!

Service is always important and especially so in an economic time like ours. There is no better way to forget yourself, your worries and your pity party than by serving others. And in today's world of "entitled" children, there's no better time for teaching our families the importance of service. It is an easy and wonderful way to remind them what's really important is not what you have but what you can give.

I recently had the opportunity to attend one of Mom It Forward's service projects. On March 28, 2009 Mom It Forward joined with Make and Takes to host a family-friendly service project benefiting The Christmas Box House in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Christmas Box House provides "greatly enhanced services to abused and neglected children and reflects a statewide model for delivery of best practice assessment and treatment services to victims of child abuse."

Inside the home is a large Christmas tree, which groups and individuals newly decorate each month. We had the month of April so a group of moms and children arrived on Saturday morning ready to craft! Marie from Make and Takes came with an arsenal of craft supplies provided by Provo Craft. We created tissue-paper chicks, paper Easter eggs, wooden Easter ornaments, tissue-paper flowers, styrofoam bunnies and various springtime pipe-cleaner designs.

Once our crafters were done crafting we carried the decorations to the tree and all the children helped strategically place them on the branches. (Okay, not so strategically but the effect was no less stunning!) The tree went from forlorn to fantastic in record time and the effect was very refreshing. Our kids gave that tree the Easter-y pick-me-up it needed!

After all our hard work glueing, taping, twisting and coloring we enjoyed the most decadent, scrumptious mini cupcakes from Cupcake Chic. I think I sampled all four flavors; my favorite were the ones that tasted like orange rolls--to die for! (A big thank-you to Cupcake Chick for donating the goodies...they were a huge hit!)

We had a really enjoyable time getting together with old friends, making new ones and thinking about someone other than ourselves for once. We are already looking forward to the next Mom It Forward service project. Until then we'll enjoy watching the slideshow from this one! --Emily

Bondville: Giveaway! myMonkeymoo stroller set

If you haven't read our past post about being featured on the super cool Aussie site Bondville, then it's high time you discovered this fun, fashionable and all thing hip and cool site from Stephanie Bond, a woman who knows great style when she sees it. (And I'm not just saying that because she likes georgie tees!)

She is currently having a fabulous giveaway on her blog. The myMonkeymoo stroller set includes a stroller pad and blanket that is "all chic-patterned fabric on one side and super-soft chenille on the other. ... The liner adapts to most strollers, is machine washable, and the blanket can double as a change mat." I love things that can multitask as well as I do and myMonkeymoo sounds like it not only multitasks but does it in style. No wonder Stephanie featured it on Bondville!

To enter the giveaway visit the myMonkeymoo website and comment on Stephanie's post with your favorite myMonkeymoo design. The contest ends at midnight (AEST) on Friday, March 28th. Read her official rules to see how you can earn even more entries towards the giveaway. This set is too cute to pass by, even with spring around the corner. Here in Utah I'd still go for the stroller blanket; it probably won't stop snowing until mid June at the rate we're going!

While reading about the giveaway check out Stephanie's blog. She find some of the most awesome, unique products and I've loved pretty much every company she's featured. Bondville makes it a truly wonderful web wednesday! --Emily

Are you "just a blogger?"

If you're reading this then you're already familiar with blogs. When I think about the Internet without blogs it reminds me of oft-asked questions like, "What did we do without cell phones?" or "How did we survive without the Internet?" Blogs make it a truly wonderful web, and on that note I wanted to repost MomDot's "I am just a blogger." Short, sweet and very much to the point. If you're a blogger, you will totally relate. Happy wonderful web wednesday!

I am just a blogger
by Trisha from MomDot (one of my favorite blogs)

I am just a blogger.

I am not a preacher.

I am just sharing an opinion.

I am not a teacher.

I am just trying to impart the little knowledge to some that may benefit.

I am not perfect.

I do not claim to be.

I am just trying to relate my own experiences.

I am opinionated.

I am outspoken.

I am human.

I am ethical.

I am aggressive and judgmental.

I do not care if someone doesn’t like what I have to say or how I say it.

I am unfair.

I make no excuses.

I am true to myself.

I am always right.

After all, I am just a blogger.



~Trisha

Amen, Trisha! Now, who wants to write one titled "I am just a mom?" Actually, I think quite a few of those have already been written... --Emily

Rookie Moms really is "more fun than wiping someone's tushy"

"This web site is inspired by our need to have at least one fun activity per day for our baby’s first year. Now we have over 1000!" If you're a new mom worried about coming up with fun things to do with your little one or ones, Rookie Moms is the perfect site. Heather and Whitney started the site to share their great activities with other moms--it's so nice when someone does the work for you, don't you think?

What I love about their ideas is they've been there, done that (or are doing it). They aren't just spouting the latest and greatest idea without having tried it first. Heather and Whitney are real moms with real ideas--things even you and I could pull off. If they're trying something new, they'll tell you about it. Take Heather's recent post "Shred away your own baby fat." In it she talks about her attempt to fight the remaining post-partum baby weight by joining the Shredheads. Curious? Read the post to find out just who the Shredheads are (and Heather's code name).

You can search their extensive list of ideas or browse activities by age (my favorite feature), type of activity and even metro area (sadly no Salt Lake City...yet). Plus the moms behind Rookie Moms have their own book, The Rookie Mom's Handbook: 250 Activities to Do With (and Without!) Your Baby. What can't these women do?

Even if you're not a "new" mom there are still plenty of ideas for you to do with kids of all ages. With spring break around the corner and summer vacation the corner after that, I have a feeling I'll be visiting Rookie Moms a heck of a lot more often! --Emily

Who does the ironing in your home?

This mompreneur spent last night ironing close to 15 of her husband's shirts because he "had nothing to wear" (yeah, right--he just had no clue how to iron) and then most of today trying to catch up on a long to-do list. Hence, no mompreneur monday post. But sometimes that's what a mompreneur has to do--put aside what she wants to do and focus on what she has to do. Sigh...

I'm off to get more done so I have time to write tomorrow's post later this evening. Let's just hope my husband can find at least one pair of clean socks otherwise he'll have no clean socks for work tomorrow since he's long forgotten how to do laundry... --Emily

EcoStiletto shows that "green" is the new black

Though I still have a long way to go I am trying to go green wherever and whenever I can. Yes, I have room for improvement (more like a 4-bedroom house) but every little bit helps and that's what I'm banking on. I'll be the first to admit my preconception about "going green" is probably not a fair one (cleaning products that don't really clean, an unsightly mini composter on my kitchen counter), but it is slowly changing as I come across more and more companies that are making going green a fashionable endeavor. Yes, "green" is slowly becoming the new black and sites like EcoStiletto are leading the movement.

EcoStiletto is an eco-friendly site geared toward women...but it's not about vegan heels. Their tagline reads: "Stiletto-size your carbon footprint and change the world, one small step at a time." Some of you may not know what the term "carbon footprint" means. Here's what CarbonFootprint.com says:

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.

Basically it's the effect your activities have on the environment. Going green is all about shrinking your carbon footprint and having as little negative effect on your surroundings as possible--at least that's my understanding.

But back to EcoStiletto. The site is all about changing your Ugg-boot-size carbon footprint to one that is either nonexistent or at the very least the tiniest of Manolo stilettos. The site features eco-friendly choices in a variety of areas including fashion, beauty, parenting and even entertainment. I love this quote from their About Us page:

We're not about guilt, we're about information. We're not about forcing you to change, we're about giving you alternatives. Because everyone wants to make a difference, but no one wants to give up the little things that we love. Making a difference doesn't have to mean making a huge change in your lifestyle. Sometimes it just means considering the alternatives.

Now that's sounds like change I can handle! Some of EcoStiletto's recent posts include Canopy Verde's eco-friendly bags, organic chocolate (I knew I loved this site!) and cool recycled toddler shoes from Pedoodles. One of my most favorite things is their Big List of Things That Suck, which highlights from A to Z things that are so not "green" (e.g., animal testing, BPAs, phthalates, and VOCs).

"EcoStiletto is for the woman who wants to do the right thing and still look good doing it." That quote comes courtesy of Kelly Rutherford from Gossip Girl. (I'm not into Gossip Girl but from what I gather, if Kelly endorses something it's worth taking note.) With EcoStiletto, going green has never looked so good! --Emily

What's all this about Facebook being forever?

Thank heavens for Twitter for without it I might miss a lot of things (haiku via a tweet is the best!). For example, I had no inkling of the recent uproar caused by Facebook's change in its membership policy. Heck, I didn't even know Facebook changed its policy! But apparently the company has and the new policy basically states they have a right to whatever you post, upload, write, do on Facebook indefinitely even if you deactivate the account. You read that right, indefinitely. (Sometimes it's not a wonderful web wednesday, is it?)

In FOXNews.com's recent article "Facebook Membership May Be Forever," they highlight the disturbing part of the new policy:

You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share Link on your website and (b) to use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising, each of (a) and (b) on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof."

And yes, you read that right too. Apparently Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted his defense of the change on his blog earlier this week and while it makes sense...I guess...it still makes many Facebook users a tad uneasy. The article goes on to talk more about what the new terms mean and a bit more about Zuckerberg's defense.

Another really great article is InternetNews' "Facebook Must Rethink TOS Stance" in which it brings in a few experts to discuss the issues related to the change in policy.

"As I read it, the TOS gives them the right to do whatever they want to with user's content," social media consultant Paul Gillin told InternetNews.com.

"This is like Google saying, 'Anything you post to Blogger belongs to us'. If Google or Wordpress did that, there'd be a massive revolt," said Gillin, who writes the weekly Paul Gillin's Social Media Report newsletter. "Facebook has got to change this."

Momlogic had something to say as well in its post "Does Facebook Own You...and Your Kids?" Sometimes the comments are even more interesting than the post itself! It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Never underestimate the power of Facebook users, Twitterers and bloggers!

What are your thoughts on Facebook's new policy? Did you know about it? Will you pull your remove your account? Or do you even care? --Emily

Photo by Carlo Nicora, shared via Flickr.

***UPDATE***

Apparently Zuckerberg has been made well aware of the dislike for his new membership policy. When I logged on to Facebook this morning this was at the top of the page:

Over the past few days, we have received a lot of feedback about the new terms we posted two weeks ago. Because of this response, we have decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised. For more information, visit the Facebook Blog.

If you want to share your thoughts on what should be in the new terms, check out our group Facebook Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.

Someone's listening somewhere. It will be interesting to see how the new new policy will read. Let's hope they do a better job the second time around!

love and chocolate

I am really trying hard to get a new post up every weekday but some days you're going to have to settle for a lame post like this one or no post at all. That's just how life works around here. I would love to have a bit more time to treat you to a true wonderful web wednesday post but instead I am spending the rest of my evening writing my guest post for Mom It Forward. The title? "Do you have a love affair with chocolate?" Writing a wonderful web wednesday post or writing about chocolate? wonderful web wednesday or chocolate? Not the hardest decision I've ever made!

I believe the post will go live this Friday while the Mom It Forward women are attending BlissDom. (Wish I were going but my husband still doesn't get this whole social media/networking thing and I doubt he'd like me heading back east for a women-only blogging-related conference.) I'll be sure and link to it if it does. The Diet Coke and chocolate are kicking in so I'm off and writing! Have a great Wednesday--and may it be filled with lots and lots of chocolate! --Emily

win a laptop from Mom It Forward's Gab & Give event!

Four Different Giveaways.
Five Amazing Prizes.
Thirteen Winners.
Four Ways to Enter: Vlog, Blog, Photo, or Comment.
One Great Purpose: To Mom It Forward!

If that doesn't pique your interest on this wonderful web wednesday, I don't know what will! Mom It Forward (aka #GNO in the Twitter community) is kicking off its first Gab & Give Event in a really, really big way. The giveaways are all about promoting service—-the mission behind Mom It Forward--and MomIF is having four different giveaways. Although you can enter all four you can only win once. Sigh...I know...but we all need to learn to share.

By the time you read this post one of the deadlines has already come and gone so you better get moving on the other three. Prizes include an HP laptop, HP Photosmart printer, Muvee Reveal movie editing software and an He's Just Not That Into You movie soundtrack or hoodie.

For more details and to enter the giveaway check out "Announcing MomIF's First Gab & Give of 2009!" Get ready to give service and gab about it! --Emily

must-have toy: Playmobil Security Check Point

Today's post reminds me of when you hear a funny joke or see something funny on TV (like the cell phone commericial where the mom mixes up the leftover minutes with the new minutes on the coffee table) and you continue to randomly chuckle over it for days to come. Hopefully this week's wonderful web wednesday will do the same.

Actually, it's not my post that will make you laugh but rather the latest must-have toy from Playmobil, the Security Check Point. I hadn't heard of this toy until a Facebook friend posted a link to the toy on Amazon.com. The toy itself isn't really that funny (see image). At first I actually thought it was the joke...Is there really a check point toy from Playmobil? Yes, yes there is. But the real humor is found in the comments at the bottom of the page. Dripping with sarcasm and full of wit I thoroughly enjoyed reading one comment after another. I had no idea Playmobil wouldn't be up to the task of teaching our children the reality of air travel. You better believe I won't be buying it!

Need a good laugh (and a chuckle or two later in the day)? Check out the Playmobil Security Check Point's comments on Amazon.com. Ah yes, it's a wonderful, wonderful web! --Emily

BlueSky Rocket and Bubby Boutique carry georgie tees!

It is fashion trend tuesday and readers of our blog know we use this day (and sometimes wonderful web wednesday) to make announcements related to georgie tees. Today we'd love to give a shout-out to the two newest boutiques to carry our line, BlueSky Rocket and Bubby Boutique. Bubby Boutique is the newest and has yet to add all our tees, but they have maternity up so far! (pregnancy does come before baby so it's fitting...).

These two boutiques offer wonderful items for mom and babies; you'll want to visit both because they carry a variety of different product lines. Help share the georgie tees love and visit BlueSky Rocket and Bubby Boutique today.

Look for another boutique soon to be added to the list. Hint: it's one we've featured in a past blog post. Plus, a fabulous showroom just launched in Los Angeles and we're in it! We'll be sharing the news with you later this week. Happy shopping! --Emily

pediped & Make-A-Wish; you can make it happen

Learning how you can support a cause is always a great way to spend a wonderful web wednesday so that's what we're going to do right now.

pediped Footwear, one of my most favorite children's footwear companies, has always been committed to giving back to the community. Even in this depressing and sometimes scary economy, pediped is making a very rare offer on its website. (Rare because this is only the second time the company has made such an offer.)

From December 17th through the 31st, pediped is reducing the price of select footwear and will donate 50 percent of the sales from these shoes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Angela Edgeworth, pediped's president:

We believe in the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the good work it does with children. We are blessed with healthy children and feel compelled to make a difference in these children's lives. We initially pledged $50,000, but thanks to the generosity of our consumers, we are confident we can double that. We've reduced the price of our shoes, something we never do, as a way to give back to our consumers while benefiting this worthy charity. We hope everyone shares in the spirit of giving this season. Goodness knows people need it now more than ever. We should be thankful every day for what we have.

This is the first time pediped has partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and through its fundraising efforts the company has already raised over $87,000, enough to grant the wishes of 12 children with life-threatening medical conditions. You can view some of the granted wishes and keep up to date on pediped's goal by visiting the Make-A-Wish page on their website.

This special online fundraising event is good only through the end of December. You can learn more about this fundraiser and view the select footwear at pediped.com. Trust me, you'll want to do some shopping. Not only will it support a very worthy cause but you'll be dressing your child in some of the most stylish, child-friendly, even podiatrist-recommended footwear around. Can you tell I'm one of their biggest fans? (You can see for yourself by searching "pediped" on BoutiqueCafe.com.) --Emily

One More Story, pleeeease!

"Just one more book, Mom. Just this many." This is where my toddler holds up four fingers to show he wants me to read just one more book to him before bedtime. But it seems we find little time during the day to read books and so I love the idea behind the new site, One More Story.

One More Story features an online library of children's books, from classic to contemporary. A child can use the mouse to click on the green button under a book's cover. When the book opens he can see the illustrations and listen as a professional narrator reads the story aloud. A text box highlights the words being read so beginning readers can follow along. One More Story's books even have original music for each book! The library includes books from ten different publishers and even has a few Caldecott Medal winners among the shelves.

One More Story also offers an "I Can Read It" mode for early readers. With the simple click of a button the sound is muted and your little reader can read the book on his own. If he doesn't recognize a word, he can click on it and the narrator will speak the word aloud. That is super cool!

Feel free to take a tour of the site before subscribing. A one-year subscription to One More Story is $44. That's less than $4 a month for a library consisting of just over 100 books! I'm all about books being a great gift for the holidays. What about a year's worth of books for the same price as that new video game? Sounds like a better deal to me! --Emily