BlogHer ’09: In Real Life

BlogHer ’09 is now open for registration!

This year’s conference is being held at The Chicago Sheraton & Towers from July 23rd – July 25th. Special room rates of $199/night is being offered to BlogHer attendees on a first-come first serve basis and registration fees are $198 for the entire conference including cocktail parties.

The theme will be In Real Life.

“One of the number one reasons we all attend BlogHer every year, whether coming for the first time or as an old-timer, is to meet our online community “in real life”. So after five years we think it’s a great time to celebrate the fact that our blogging, whether personal, professional or political, has brought us real work, real friends, real satisfaction and is most definitely a significant part of our real life!”

I remember last year when I decided not to attend the one in San Francisco and ended up pouting the entire weekend. Well, not this year. I’ve decided that if I want to be a serious blogger, then I need to start attending these events. I just didn’t realize how expensive they were!

Anyone want to sponsor me? Are you going?

WW: The Wheels On The Bus

Smart Shopping Tips

Last year, more than 25 million toys were recalled, many because of lead. The good news is that toy recalls have slowed down and, even better, new lead laws have been passed.

However, many of these laws don’t kick in until February 2009 or later, well after the holiday shopping season. And items with worrisome lead levels can end up on store shelves even if they’re not on recall lists. So what should you do?

ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, shares 4 safety strategies to make sure your holiday gifts are free of lead and other dangers:

• Know what toys to avoid. Steer clear of no-name toys and, regardless of your child’s age, don’t buy toys with small magnets, even if the magnets seem safely contained within the toy. Don’t buy metal jewelry, especially the cheap stuff, for young children or allow them to play with key chains or items with metal charms. If you have an infant or toddler who still puts almost everything in her mouth, don’t buy squeezable soft plastic toys or books. Unless it says “no phthalates” on the package, there’s no way of knowing if they contain the chemical or not.

• Buy according to a kid’s age. Look for manufacturer’s recommended age ranges on toy packaging. Age grading is more than a friendly hint. It can alert you to a possible choking hazard, the presence of small parts, and other dangers. And think twice before buying a toy with small parts for a child older than 3 who has a younger sibling. Keep all small round or oval objects, including coins, balls, and marbles, away from kids under .

• Check for recalls. Before shopping, stop by www.cpsc.gov, a government Web site, to see whether the toys you plan to buy (and the toys already in your home) have been recalled. Also, sign up for free e-mail notices of recalls at www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. And if a product you buy comes with a registration card, fill it out and send it in so you will be notified directly by the manufacturer if the item is recalled. It’s up to retailers to take recalled toys off store shelves but once a recalled toy is in your home, it’s up to you to keep it away from your family or return it ASAP.

• Be leery of drugstores, airports, and dollar stores. They’ve been known to carry flimsy plastic toys with dangerous sharp edges or small parts that can break off easily. Thrift stores, consignment shops, yard and garage sales, and eBay often have toys in excellent condition, but check to see that they’re well made and have no small magnets or parts. Wash the toys before giving them.

Plus, besides using coupons and snagging sale items, ShopSmart 5 money saving tips:

• Set a limit. If your kids are flooded with presents from family and friends every year, set a limit on what you spend, whether on one large gift or a few smaller ones. To make less seem like more, pick a toy that starts or feeds a passion, lasts longer and has multiple uses.

• Spread it out. Don’t give your kids all the gifts at once. Set aside some of the bounty for later, perhaps a snow day when they’re home from school.

• Be cautious with used toys. Little Tikes sturdy plastic playhouses, ride-on toys, playground equipment, and good-as-new video games are good finds at tag sales, outlets and online at a fraction of the original price. With a thorough scrub, they will look like new. But first, go to www.recalls.gov for recalls on toys. Then make sure they have no rough edges or parts that could break loose.

• Check out rentals. www.babyplays.com, you can get four to 10 toys per month, keep them until your child gets tired of them (as long as your membership is, and return them for a fresh batch for a monthly fee of $26.99 to $64.99. Toys for infants to age 5 come sanitized and assembled. All toys are third-party certified for safety.

• Look beyond the logo. Many popular toys are tied to TV characters such as Elmo and Dora the Explorer. Ask yourself, ‘If I took SpongeBob off this package, what do I have?’ If a toy has nothing to offer beyond the character, don’t buy it.

From ShopSmart, January 2009

Blog My Blog VI

How about another round of Blog My Blog?

For those who are new to this, here’s how it works:

I will start with a question/phrase. The next person that comments, please answer the question above you. Once you’re done, include a question for the next visitor to answer. It could be a general question, fill in the blank sentence, or a general topic you’d like to hear about.

Then the next commenter will submit their answer and then think up something for the next person. Keep in mind that this is a family blog, so please keep it clean. Please feel free to participate as much as you’d like.

Shall we begin? Here is my question:

What’s your favorite meal of the day?

The first person to comment should answer this question and then leave another question for the next person.

Have fun!

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