Must Have Monday: More Fun Stuff

I love these Recycled Industrial Plastic Cuffs from Uncommon Goods.  I’m a big fan of the cuff bracelet and when you can combine your accessories with going green, that’s a win, win situation in my book!

Keep your iPod safe with these adorable Neoprene iPod Cases.  These a definite must have item!

Check out these RECYCLED FLIP FLOP MATS fresh from the Flip-Flop Factory.  What a neat idea to help keep your house clean!

No more burnt fingers with these this Silicone BBQ Glove.  Great for grilling outside or for use indoors during the winter season.

Tags: , bracelet, case, cuff, flip flop, glove, ipod, mat, Must Have Monday, neoprene, oven, plastic, recycled, silicon

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Must Have Monday: Baby Themed Items

As you are reading this post, I am most likely at the hospital giving birth to little baby boy #2!  So that is the reason why I’ve chosen baby themed items for today’s “Must Have Monday” segment.

Stroll’r Swivel’rs
Holds purses, diaper bags, shopping bags and more Swivels 360 degrees Great value! 2 hooks included Versatile! Can be used in nursery, bathroom, almost anywhere

Fisher-Price: Crawl-Along Drum Roll
Whether sitting or crawling, baby can make exciting things happen with the Crawl-Along Drum. Sitting babies can tap the bongo drums for fun music, sounds and lights. And when they’re ready to crawl, the fun’s ready to roll! Baby can chase the rolling drum while music, lights and fun rewards encourage movin’ and groovin’. Drum plays four fun songs and features colorful spinners, busy activities and dancing lights to delight baby. Measures 4.6″H x 5.5″W x 11″L. Requires 3 “AA” batteries, included.

Britax Regent Youth Car Seat - Huntington

Designed for larger child passengers, this forward-facing car seat holds up to 80 pounds and is chock full of comfort and safety features. Features: Four shoulder slots for a closer fit Belt holders keep belts aside for boarding Removable, washable fabric cover Belly pad for comfort and protection Mesh storage pouch/cup holder Flexible Latch System Patented Versa-Tether Comfort foam and EPS protective foam Tangle-free, polyester 5-point harness Patented HUGS system One-pull front harness adjustment Forward-facing position For children 1 year and 22 lbs. up to 80 lbs. li

Maclaren Twin Techno Stroller 2007 - SkyBlue

Features: 5-point harness Removable/washable seats Hoods and rain cover included Lockable swivel wheels Ergonomic handles Shoulder pads Carry handle Storage pockets on back of hoods UV treated viewing windows on hoods UV treated sun visor Extendable leg rests Height adjustable Comes standard with boots Comes standard with head huggers Detachable bottle holders.  Suitable from birth. 5 seat position.

crib rail teether

Soft, FDA approved non-toxic material clings to Baby?s crib rail without messy adhesives. Plastic pieces snap easily onto the crib rail. Four 1-foot sections take the bite out of crib teething accidents. Clear plastic material complements all crib finishes. Includes four 12″ sections Made of clear plastic Easily snaps onto rail.

Elaine of Her Big Idea Blog and Social Network has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

Tags: baby, britax, crawl along drum, crib, fisher-price, maclaren, must have, purse holder, rail, regent, stroller, stroller hooks, techno, teether, twin

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Happy 4th of July and Thank You Military for Your Sacrifices

To most people the 4th of July is a day off from work, a chance to go to the beach, have a picnic or barbeque with friends and then top the evening off with some fireworks and a few beers.

Yet, I must urge everyone to take a few minutes to reflect on all those men and women who have served our country and who are currently serving in our military. Please remember all the sacrifices they have made.

I can’t even remember the last time my husband, a Naval Aviator, was home for the 4th of July holiday. A few times his absence was due to his deployment schedule and other times because of “workups,” where they’re training for deployment. Many birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and special occasions missed for the protection of our country and our friends overseas.

On his second deployment he even missed the first seven and a half months of our son’s first year. Many of our son’s “firsts” were captured on 30-second clips of video so I could send via email out to the boat where my husband yearned for more and more moments of his newborn son’s life.

Now that my husband is on “shore duty” I know he won’t deploy in the next few years. But I’m reminded daily of our independence just about every morning at exactly 8 a.m.  I hear the “sound of freedom” as my husband calls it. The rattling of my house and the roar of F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets firing up their engines to start the day’s training exercises.

I’m happy to say this 4th of July we will be spending time together as a family enjoying the holiday and joyfully awaiting the birth of our second son.

Thank you to the men and women of the military, we wave our flags proudly because of you.  And to all, happy 4th of July, please stay safe!

Elaine of Her Big Idea Blog and Social Network has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

Tags: 4th, 4th of July, f/a-18, fourth, independence day, july, navy, sacrifice

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Celebrity Chef and Author Giada De Laurentiis: The Face of a New Italian Gourmet Line

I’m a huge fan of the Food Network. And one of my favorite shows on that network is Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis. Just like the title of her show indicates, Giada demonstrates how to makes simple Italian food that the home cook can easily replicate for their friends and family.

Giada and Academia Barilla, a branch of the Barilla pasta company, recently launched a line of co-branded, specialty food items for distribution in gourmet stores nationwide and in its online store.

This is Barilla’s first-ever gourmet celebrity product line. It offers food connoisseurs an authentic taste of Italy. Products include: Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Sicilian Hand-Harvested Sea Salt with Fresh Lemon Zest, and Giada’s Tuscan Herb Mix. De Laurentiis personally selected all products.

Giada is a very inspiring and hard-working woman on the go. In addition to Giada’s two Food Network shows, she is a co-host of NBC’s Today Show, and author of three New York Times best-selling cookbooks. A fourth cookbook, Giada’s Kitchen, will be in bookstores nationwide in Fall 2008. She is the granddaughter of famed Italian movie producer Dino De Laurentiis and legendary actress Silvana Mangano.

The celebrity chef has also recently added the title of “mother” to her distinguished resume. Giada gave birth to a daughter, Jade Marie De Laurentiis Thompson born on March 29, 2008.

I might have to check out these new products by Barilla. I would love to try the Tuscan Herb Mix. Yum! Which product sounds good to you?

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

Tags: academia barilla, Barilla, cooking, food network, giada, Giada De Laurentiis, italian, nbc, today show

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Show 014 - Interview with “A Dozen Invisible Pieces” Author Kimmelin Hull

On Wednesday, July 2 at 11 am Pacific / 2 pm Eastern on the HerBigIdea Internet Radio Show, I will chat with “A Dozen Invisible Pieces and Other Confessions of Motherhood” author Kimmelin Hull.

The very eloquent Kimmelin grew up in the Seattle area, and now lives with her husband and three children in Montana where she teaches childbirth and parenting preparation classes She has an undergraduate degree in creative writing from the University of Puget Sound, a Physician Assistant certificate from Saint Francis University, as well as Lamaze Childbirth Educator. She is a freelance writer for Montana Parent magazine.

We will chat about: why she decided to write her book, “A Dozen Invisible Pieces and Other Confessions of Motherhood”, the themes covered in the book, about her internal struggle with balancing home commitments and career, her decision to leave the medical profession to become a mother, author and teacher to new mothers. We’ll also chat about what she has done to promote her new book and how she got her book deal.

Please visit Kimmelin’s website at: http://www.DozenInvisiblePieces.com and her blog at:  http://kimmelin.wordpress.com

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

Tags: A Dozen Invisible Pieces and other confessions of mothe, author, balancing career, book, book deal, children, Her Big Idea, HerBigIdea, hull, inspire, interview, kimmelin, mompreneur, Podcast

Posted in Authors, Inspirational Women, Interviews, Podcast | 1 Comment »

Promote your Business with VistaPrint Must Haves

About a year ago I discovered VistaPrint and was impressed by its quality and service. I have picked out a few items that I believe are “must have” items to promote your business.

Business Cards

Make a great first impression with a quality business card.  From my experiences I have learned that it is best to purchase business cards in smaller quantities such as 100-250.  How tacky does that look when you cross out your old email address to write down a new one?  We’ve all experienced it.  It’s a fact, from time to time email, phone number, addresses and website URLs change.  Maybe you’ve been thinking about adding your LinkedIn address to your business card, now’s the perfect opportunity. Get 250 premium quality, color business cards FREE! Order today! Click here.

So you don’t have a blog or business, that’s okay, they make perfect mommy cards, play date cards, or personal cards to give out to your friends and family!

Self-Inking Rubber Stamps

FREE Rubber Stamps

This deal is perfect for just about anyone!  Avoid a mess with this convenient rubber stamps. Choose from 10 different designs and personalize up to 3 lines of text.

Car Door Magnets

Free Car Door Custom Magnet

Get this free custom car door magnet for your ride.  It’s a perfect way to brand your small to mid-size vehicle with a personal or business message.  Your logo and information is printed on a durable, high-strength 9”x12” magnet.

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

Tags: business, business card, custom, door magnet, HerBigIdea, must have, promote, promotion, rubber stamps, vista print, vistaprint

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The Jolie-Pitt Foundation Pledges $200,000 to “Women for Women International” Program in Iraq

Of the recently reported $1 million donated by the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to help those affected by war, I was happy to see a pledge of $200,000 going to the Women for Women International’s program in Iraq.  This money will benefit 300 women, and more than 1,000 children in Iraq.  The donation will allow women to invest in the health, education and nutrition of their children.We all remember when Angelina visited Iraq twice in the past year.  All the media was concerned about her going to a war zone and being possibly pregnant, and in fact she was.  On these trips  she learned that, “…educational support programs for children of conflict are the best way to help them heal,” said Ms. Jolie.

As a former teacher and an optimist, I know that with education anything is possible. Teaching children how to read can help them escape their harsh realities by immersing themselves in the fantasy world of a book.

Women for Women International was founded in 1993 to help women overcome the horrors of war and civil strife in ways that can help them rebuild their lives, families, and communities. Since 2003, its Iraq program has provided immediate and long term economic solutions to more than 4,000 women and works with organizations and governing bodies from the grassroots up to the highest levels of leadership to address the needs of Iraqi women and families.

According to a Women for Women International report on Iraq released earlier this year, over 70% of the 1,500 Iraqi women interviewed said their family cannot afford to pay for the necessities of daily life. One Iraqi mother said, “If I was the president of the country, I would make filling the stomachs of the people as my utmost priority.”

A Women for Women International-Iraq representative said, “This generous donation will help these women who suffered to get a better life for them and for their families and will ensure that their children will have a better future. We believe that stronger women build stronger nations. The support we are receiving from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will save lives and help us to build a strong future for the children of Iraq.”

The donation to Women for Women International is part of a $1 million commitment to support the education of 8,000 young people from both the United States and Iraq impacted by the recent conflict.

Learn more about Women for Women, please check out the video and for more information on how to help the women of Iraq please go to: http://www.WomenforWomen.org

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

Tags: Angelina Jolie, baghdad, Brad Pitt, children, donation, education, inspiration, inspire, international, Iraq, iraqi, Jolie-Pitt Foundation, women, women and war, Women for Women

Posted in Inspirational Women, News, Video | 1 Comment »

Inspirational Book “Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned”

I came across this newly-release book called Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned (Wiley, $19.99, hardcover) by Cathy Scott.  This seems like an interesting summer read for the pet lover that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking. 

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina led to the largest animal rescue effort in history, with approximately 15,000 pets saved. Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned choronicles Katrina’s four-legged vicitims. 

Pet owners had to make the heart-wrenching choice to abandon their pets in the floodwaters and leave them behind to fend for themselves.  Cathy also follows the stories of many pets from rescue, to rehab, then reunited with their familes.  She also writes about selfless efforts of strangers and as well as inspirational pet adoptions.

Cathy, an accomplished writer, traveled to New Orleans at the request of Best Friends Animal Society Magazine to document the plight of pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina. She quickly became a rescuer as well as a reporter.

More than two years after the levees broke, the world is still drawn to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and its impact. This horrific event caused the people of New Orleans to lose everything imaginable, from family and friends to possessions and pets. However, in such dire times, the best in human nature often prevails.

Check out this inspirational read!

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

Tags: Animals, author, Best Friend Animal Society, book, Cathy Scott, Hurricane Katrina, inspiration, inspire, Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned, Pets

Posted in Authors, Inspirational Women | 1 Comment »

Show 013 - Interview with My Plate-Mate Owners & Her Big Idea Social Network

Check out my interview with mothers, Paige and Michele, who are co-owners of My Plate-Mate spill guard feeding gear for toddlers, seniors and those with special needs. 

The mission of My Plate-Mate is to offer it customers a unique self-feeding product. As a learning tool, My Plate-Mate assists in promoting independence and self-confidence in all users no matter their age or limitation. Michele and Paige understand the importance and joy that comes from being able to share a meal with family and friends. My Plate-Mate will bring back this positive dining experience and eliminate the frustration and mess.

You can listen to the live Internet Radio Show hosted on BlogTalkRadio every Wednesday at 11 am PDT / 2 pm EDT.  If you missed the live show, you can access the show’s archives at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/herbigidea or right here at http://HerBigIdea.com/podcast-archives.   

Also, please check out my article on PoshMama Online Magazine and Social Network.  This week I wrote about the Entrecard and my experiences with this free advertising and networking site.

And speaking of networking site, I have created an online social network just for Her Big Idea listeners and readers. The network can be found at  http://herbigidea.ning.com/ or your can reach this new online community by linking through HerBigIdea.com. 

I have created a place where women bloggers and business owners network, promote their businesses, bounce ideas off each other and support each others’ ventures and adventures. This is a private network so only women who invited by another member or who are screened via a questionnaire are allowed to join.

Please sign up today to be one of our inaugural members and remember to invite your friends!

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

Tags: big idea, bloggers, BlogTalkRadio, business, entrepreneur, Her Big Idea, HerBigIdea, inspire, internet radio show, mompreneur, my plate mate, Podcast, promote, social networking, womanpreneur, women, women-in business

Posted in Inspirational Women, Interviews, News, Podcast | 2 Comments »

Must Have Monday: Summer Gifts and Must Haves

Now that summer is officially here, I have compliled some great summer gifts and must haves to keep you accessorized till the fall.

For your next outdoor BBQ, check out this Chef’s Choice Custom Apron by Exposures (Miles Kimball Company)
They’ll transfer your Black and White, color or sepia photo directly onto a professional-quality apron as a 6″ x 8″ vignetted image.  Personalize up to 25 characters in black block or script font. The apron is machine-washable and features adjustable neck strap and two pockets to keep utensils within easy reach.

Chef’s Choice Custom Apron, regularly: $29.95 but now only $24.95. If you would like the apron personalized with one line of text add just $5.

The Modular Shoe Box Photo File : This summer I want to go through and organize my boxes and boxes of mixed up mementos from various years. Earlier this week I was doing some organizing and found a box that had pictures and medals from my high school track days mixed in with ticket stubs from my trip to Europe and a happy first Mother’s Day card from last year.  There is no way those memories should be in the same box! 

What better way to keep everything organized than these Shoe Box photo files, art files and magazine files from Exposures. You’ll never have a hard time keeping your newest summer memories organized in these great storage boxes.

The exclusive Shoe Box photo files, art files, and magazine files not only organize and protect, they also simplify your life while enhancing your home. The Library of Congress takes great care in preserving its artifacts…so should you. Exposures has been designing museum-quality storage for twenty years. The beautifully simple colors and textures really pull your home and office together.  These boxes are perfect for safekeeping important documents, memories, photos, magazines and precious children’s art.

These boxes range in price from $19.95 to $24.95.

Turn your those digital images from your latest vacation into a beautiful Travel Memories Book.

Make your vacation memories last a lifetime by creating a personalized book of travel photos and stories. Exposures has partnered with SharedBook to bring you this exclusive keepsake. Create your very own personalized Travel Memories Book ONLINE! Unlike other photo book products, here you can include all of your stories as well as your photos of your trip. You can even include stories and pictures from friends and family and select only the ones you want in your finished book. Professionally-printed book includes 20 full-color pages. Preview Sample of the Travel Memories Book - Black Hardcover
Now this is really cool part…Exposures can create your book for YOU!! It’s called their White Glove Service! Just upload your photos or mail them a digital photo CD and they will make your Travel Memories Book. This great service for an additional $19.95 fee.

Imagine if the book took you 3 hours to create (we all know it would take longer), that’s only$6.65 per hour that they charge for creating the book. It is SO worth it to pay that additional fee on top of the reasonable $39.95 they charge for the beautifully bound book.

Please stay cool in this Summer heat! 

And go Fresno State Bulldogs!  Good luck in the NCAA’s College World Series.  Since Cal State Fullerton was knocked out earlier in the tourney, I’m rooting for my local team.

Elaine of Her Big Idea has an Internet Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio and writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.

Tags: apron, boxes, Bulldogs, Fresno, memories, Must Have Monday, photo, state, storage, summer, travel

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