Food Critics and Customers Join on CHEWSY.

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Chewsy, the app that letscustomer’s review, rate and photograph individual food at restaurants acrossthe United States has enabled critics to write reviews creating greater valuewhen selecting a restaurant.  I like the Chewsyapp. However let me suggest it time to try GROWTH HACKING:
I encourage all customers, critics andregular view of this blog to include fresh prepared food photos from Wegmans,Whole Foods, Price Chopper, Wawa, Sheetz, 7 Eleven.  Ok, we know the fresh prepared food spacefilled with ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat food is booming.  Why not expand the scope, for the foodphotos?  Consumer maintain that many ofthe companies mentioned above offer restaurant quality food.  I agree with them. How about Delivered foodphoto’s Dominos is doing it. 
If you could use Chewsy to view a freshprepared meal from Publix, HEB, Walgreens or Central Market the choice ofWhat’s for Lunch? Or What’s For Dinner? Just might become easier.  Any one that’s been to Eatzi’s or Eatleyknows that fresh prepared high quality food is available.  Photos of daily special from thesenon-traditional retailers combined with reviews will complement the food andease the burden of answering; What’s for Dinner?
Foodservice Solutions® specializes inoutsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualifyadditional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging integrationstrategy.  Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visitFacebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

Research, Training Fuel Convenience Industry Growth Success

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BillBishop Jr. president of Willard Bishop presented findings from theNACS/Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council. Bishop identified five majorplatforms of opportunity for Convenience Stores.  Those five platforms are: Fresh Value Fast,Female, Friendly, Family Time, My Time and My Place.

• My Place: “It’s where I go. Friendly and familiar.” The appeal is that it’s a great place to start the day. This platform targets blue-collar workers and the morning shopping occasion. Most convenience stores address this platform successfully with a warm, bright and clean environment.
• Fresh Value Fast: This platform requires decent food for a good price. The environment is clean and modern. The target shopper is working adults, and the occasions targeted are breakfast and lunch.
• Female Friendly: This platform is a challenge as many women don’t find c-stores clean or safe enough, according to the research. To target this opportunity, retailers must keep their stores modern, safe and clean. And, that includes employees. “One woman said she felt ‘creeped out’ by the personnel in c-stores,” noted Bishop.
• Family Time: Retailers that target this platform provide weekend activities and are a place for parents to take their kids. The appeal is the opportunity to connect and offer something for everyone. The obvious target is families on a budget, and the occasion is a family treat.
• My Time: This involves being efficient, but not rushing. Allowing customers time to browse. It offers a break in the day.

Personalization,Customization, Family Meal Cohesion were second only to Cleanliness for timestarved consumers.  The continuedopportunity for retail and fresh food sales success within the conveniencestore sector of food retailing looks bright.
For international corporate presentations,educational forums, or keynotes contact: Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru atTacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions. His extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator,consultant, brand / product positioning expert and public speaking will leavesuccess clues for all. Facebook.com/StevenJohnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant ortwitter.com/grocerant

Are you Ready-2-Eat? Meals On The Go Up 38% Year Over Year at C-Stores.

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Stealth Competition no longer restaurants, grocery storesand supercenters this had better be your wake-up call.  The United States conveniences stores haveincreased in numbers since 2005 by 8,100 according to Nielsen. The US totalstore count as of August 4, 2012 stood at 148,764. 
Regular readers of this blog know we have documented thefocus of the convenience store sector on ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat freshprepared food.  Not only were sales on“meals on the go” up 38% year over year but total same store sales were upyear-over-year 4.90%.  That number againwas the best of any sector in retail foodservice.
Increasingly Convenience Stores are adding Drive-Thru’swhich are providing not only direct competition for restaurants but grocerystores as well.   C-stores withdrive-thru’s are making most stores items available including basics the ilk ofbread, eggs, milk and cereal along with ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat freshprepared food.  This is FRESH FOOD FASTand MORE.  Consumers are dynamic not staticand they want more and they like saving time. Convenience stores are becoming food retail giants. 
Foodservice Solutions® specializes inoutsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualifyadditional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging integrationstrategy.  Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visitFacebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

Apples Fresh for Fall are in Restaurants Now.

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Fruit is Fresh Fast Food and Apples are“better for you” and now can be found in C-stores and Restaurants cut, pealedor fried. Consultants at Foodservice Solutions® knew sales would boom if youcut the apple first; then placed it into a different channel sliced andpackaged sold as Apple Fries at Burger King and Fresh Better For You Wedges atMcDonalds. If you were raised in Washington State you might have known therewould be winners and they are the Apple farmer, the healthier consumer (kids)and the QSR niche via TOP LINE SALES & BOTTOM LINE PROFITS for all.
Winston Churchill once stated: “Howeverbeautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results”.
If you are not offering fresh fruit it isa strategy you should consider. Fresh Fruit is fast food that adds a consumerfocused qualitative authentic halo of “better for you” around the menu orproduct selection.  Apples Fresh FastFood are a multi-channel product consisting of traditional, prepared fresh,packaged that are either  ready-2-eat orheat-N-eat foods that are/can be portable; found in grocery stores, conveniencestores, restaurants, supermarkets, mobile food units and kiosk.
We are seeing each niche create its ownanswer for convenient ready-2-eat foods. When created the consumer in mind andthe halo of “better for you”  purchasesand increased frequency result. Utilizing traditional better for you food andfood products with a slight twist is one reason that the grocerant nichebooming around the world.
Success does leave clues, watch thisniche grow and provide each niche the lift it’s been looking for.  Consumers want better for you ready-2-eat andheat-N-eat fresh food more often than in the past by all age groups and incomelevels. 
Since 1991retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been theglobal leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson andFoodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerantor Facebook Steven Johnson

Food Retailers Digital Signage is a Must.

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Do you have a Smartphone?  Wellmost of your customers do. Visceral digital signage is all around us in factmost of your customer carry it with them all day long. Restaurants, grocerydeli’s and C-stores all need to migrate to digital signage in order to maintainconsumer relevance.
 Wal-Mart recently added digitalsignage to select end caps within their stores. I had a friend remark thatafter a recent visit to Wal-Mart she was impressed and please to see howviscerally attractive the store was. Digital Visceral attractiveness is now a contemporary standard inretailing.
British Petroleum is installing Digital Signage at the Pump and in thestore at over 1,000 units.   Digitalsignage is not an operationalefficiency it is now a required step in the consumer’s path of contemporaryprogress. The consumer is not static they are dynamic all retailers must keeppace with the customer.
Supermarkets, Convenience stores and Restaurants all must avoidunwittingly practicing Brand Protectionism and saying no to items that consumercomes to expect.  Visceral attractivenessis now as important as cleanliness and service. The Grocerant sector isleveraging digital informational tools to build a strong consumer base.
Success does leave clues and one clue we have picked up here atFoodservice Solutions is customers do not take a step back they are dynamic andmoving forward. Don’t let your brand unwittingly practice “BrandProtectionism”.”Since 1991retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been theglobal leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson andFoodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerantor Facebook Steven Johnson

Central Park Zoo MADAGASCAR 3 Special Event

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On October 16th Paramount Pictures MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE’S MOST WANTED debuts on Blu-Ray and DVD. To celebrate the release the Central Park Zoo is having a special FREE event (with zoo paid admission) on Saturday, October 20th at 10AM.

There will be face painting, arts & crafts, balloon animals and a free wig to the first 100 kids!


EVENT FREE WITH ZOO ADMISSION*

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apple seeds Zickity Wickity BOO! Halloween Bash on Upper West Side

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The new apple seeds on the Upper West Side will be hosting a Zickity Wickity BOO! Halloween Bash on Sunday, October 28th from 11:00am-1:00pm.

The party will feature free play in the indoor playground, a Songs for Seeds performance, glow-in-the-dark activities, a pumpkin patch art project, pizza and more! The event is free to fall class participants, members and infants under 6 months. Non-members are welcome for $8 per child. RSVP is required as space is limited.


apple seeds, Upper West Side location,
200 West End Avenue (between 69th and 70th streets)

Members and Fall Class Participants, email: RSVP@appleseedsplay.com
Non-members call: 212-792-7591

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New York Aquarium "Ascarium" Weekends

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Recently I wrote about The Bronx Zoo "Boo at the Zoo" and some of the activities families can enjoy on the weekend this month. But the Bronx Zoo isn't the only place where families can enjoy scary fun. The New York Aquarium will celebrate Halloween with the annual Ascarium festivities during the last three weekends of October 13-14, 20-21, 27-28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.


This Halloween, it’s a swash-buckling pirate adventure with nautical- and pirate-themed activities planned for aquarium-goers of all ages.

Ascarium activities include:

Haunted Sea-fari – Located in the aquarium’s Explore the Shore exhibit, visitors will step into the sunken ship of Captain Paul Looter and learn of his adventures. Guests will leave with an understanding of how important it is to protect marine habitats, the animals that live here, and fragile seashores. (Each Ascarium day, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Go in Character – Each child in costume (age 12 and under) will receive a free child’s general admission ticket with the purchase of one full-priced adult general admission ticket.

Spooky Storytelling – In “Pirate Tales,” storytellers will use audience suggestions to develop a fun-filled pirating tale that talks about pirate life, the high seas and marine life. Located in the Pavilion Tent (October 20 and 21, 11 a.m., 1 and 3pm.)

Terrifying Tunes – Performances by The Brigands, a four-piece band that performs nautical music, will take place on all Ascarium weekends. The dance group, the Dancing Pirate Gypsies, will perform during all shows and independently several times a day. Located in the Pavilion Tent. (11:30 a.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.)

Creatures of The Creepy Deep Workshop – Join an interactive exploration of the vampire squid, goblin shark and other bizarre creatures of the deep. Ocean View Room. (11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

Ghoulish Games – Various pirate-themed games will be available for visitors in the Ocean View Room. (All weekends, 11:30 to 4:30 p.m.)

Arts and Crafts – Kids will be able to create their own pirate ship hanging collage. Located under the Pavilion Tent. (Each Ascarium day, 11:30am -4:30 pm:.)

Trick-or-Treat – Children are invited to stop by Ocean View Room and Seaside Pavilion to participate in safe trick-or-treating fun. (Each Ascarium day, 11:30 a.m. to :30 p.m.)

For a complete schedule of Ascarium Weekends activities visit www.nyaquarium.com

Please Note: The Mommy Factor blog is participating in a sponsored ambassador program from the Bronx Zoo/NY Aquarium. As a part of this program we have received paid advertising compensation, a premium family membership and merchandise for placement of digital advertisements and specific postings related to programming.

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Preschool Lunch Packing Lessons with New Wave's Stainless Steel Container with Divider

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Now that my son is in a new preschool, I've had to learn to do some new and different things....like learning how to pack a lunch. I didn't need to learn before since my son's other daycare/preschool provided meals. Nice and simple. But not anymore. Now I had to learn how to pack a lunch each and every day.


So what have I learned these pass few weeks of lunch packing? Quite a lot.

First thing I learned is you need a good container. A good container helps you organize and keep your child's lunch worthy of eating. In the beginning I experimented with different containers and quickly found out you need compartment to keep the grapes away from the jelly sandwich. Or else your child wont eat grapes with the bread crumbs on them. I'm not kidding. My son doesn't like food that has bits of other foods on them.

The second thing I learned is the container needs to be a good size to fit both the lunch and then IN the tiny book bag. Again I learned the hard way. I wont go into details but trust me, no child wants to carry around an extra bag cause his snack can't fit in his lunch container.


The third thing I learned came as sort of a fluke. Usually I do all the prep and packing and then hand off to the bus lady during the morning pick up. Apparently my son wasn't please to be left out the process. I started noticing him coming into the kitchen while I was preparing and packing his lunch. At first I thought he wanted to make sure I added the snacks he likes instead of a yucky veggie. He's not fond of veggies right now. This was sort of true.

He did remind me which snacks to pack. Then he started telling me what type of sandwiches to make. Then he started wanting to help get items out the fridge. Pretty soon he was involved in the whole process from start to finish. At that point I learned my third lesson. Let the kid in on the fun. They want to be part of the process also. I'm sure when he take his lunch out at school, he's so excited because

That sandwich he's munching on? He helped make it!
Those snacks? He helped pick them out!
That container his lunch is in? He helped put the lunch in there!

Who knew that my learning how to pack my son's lunch could lead to such awesomeness?! I have to admit the containers I started using for my son's lunch did helped.


I used New Wave's Tinted Stainless Steel Food Container with Dividers. The dividers are great for snacks such as crackers, fruits, and veggies. But if your kid is like my son you'll probably never get to put veggies in them. The #304 food grade stainless steel containers are great for keeping my son lunch cool and are easy to cleanup and wash. The container are completely stainless both top and bottom with colored covers: Earth, Water, Summer

Do you pack your child school lunch? What lunch packing lesson have you learned?

Please Note: I received a product sample for review purpose. No other compensation was received. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

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Posted in: Blog, Review

Samsung SEW-2100W Wireless Baby Monitor Giveaway

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As I look at my son now I can't believe he's 4 years old. I still remember when he was a tiny baby and I sat by his side afraid to move. I wanted to be right there in case anything happened and he needed me.

Eventually I did have to move but that's when the parenting hearing started. If your a parent you know what I mean. You'd run back into the room because you think you heard a sound. Of course your child would still be sound asleep. Still you'd repeat this same scenario countless times over the day no matter how much the laundry needed to be done, dinner needed to be made or you just needed time to sit down.

For parents dealing with this issue I have a something for you. Let me introduce you to the Samsung SEW-2100W Audio Baby Monitor.


The Samsung SEW-2100W Audio Baby Monitor is part of Samsung's new Simple and Secure line of baby monitors. This audio monitor provides clear audio quality for up to a 900 ft. range. The monitor also has rechargeable batteries along with a low battery alarm to make your life easier. The SEW-2001w is built with the latest DECT Digital Wireless Technology for full and clear sound with a 1.8 Ghz interference free connection.

Now no more running around the home to see if you really heard what you thought you heard!

Set up is as easy as just pushing a button and you also can receive alerts if there are high sound levels or only hear sound from your baby's room if they reach a certain level, allowing you to concentrate on multitasking while he or she is taking a nap (let's face it, there's never rest for mommy and nap time is a chance to get stuff done!)

I bet by now you're thinking of where can you get your hands on one right? I'm sure you can buy from any major retailer BUT one lucky person can also win one right here. Like I said I remember those days of running into my son room every few minutes to check.

WIN The Mommy Factor giveaway!

WAYS TO ENTER:

For this giveaway I'm using the Rafflecopter form which is super easy! Go on and enter to win! Entries must be made on or before 11:59 p.m. October 26, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Posted in: Giveaway, Home

Why Should You Tweet if You Don't Have Many Followers?

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This was also posted on my business blog but I thought it may be helpful to some mom bloggers just starting up as well.  That's why I posted it here for mom bloggers to read as well. :)

Social Media is a new term to some businesses and bloggers who have not fully grasped the incredible potential of networking through Twitter, Facebook, etc...  Due to the fact that it's unfamiliar to some companies, they may not feel comfortable using the networks since they may have little or no followers.  However everyone has to start somewhere, even if it's at the bottom.  While it may feel uncomfortable tweeting or posting to a small (or no) audience, it's extremely worthwhile and the best way to grow your brand awareness on these websites.
Remember when you started your business?  Did you have a large client or customer base at that time?  The answer for most of you is probably, "No."  Every business has to start from the bottom whether it is creating and starting your business from the bottom or trying a new media strategy.  Just because you have no followers when you start doesn't mean that you can't grow that base.  Social Media is actually one of the best ways to promote your business for free.  (I know that grabbed your attention!)The two main reasons to create and use Social Media accounts would be:

• To raise your follower/fan count.
• To promote your blog or business to raise brand awareness.

Participation is key in networking and creating important connections.  Once you start your Twitter account, go ahead and do a search of an important keyword relating to your business.  Once you do that search you will see a number of tweets from others that contain the keyword you searched for.  Take a look through their tweets and see if any would relate to your business.  Do you have a solution to a question they are asking?  Do you have an idea that may assist them?  Are they a business that is similar to yours or an individual interested in the subject matter of your business?  Go ahead and follow them.  It would also be beneficial to reply to their tweet with a general comment about what they have to say or answering their question with your expertise.  When they see you followed them or replied to them, they will in turn follow you and most likely reply to what you had to say.  There, you had your first "twitter-sation." (My own word, thank you very much!)

Tip:  When you tweet others or reply to their tweets, provide value in what you have to say.  Throw something in there that will make them want to click on your Twitter profile and read about you. (And your business.)

Others will begin to find you from their searches and from re-tweets from other Twitter users.  That is why it is important to tweet (periodically) about your business or plug your latest blog post; when someone finds it interesting they will re-tweet you for others to see.  While it's important to plug your latest blog post or your business, do not do it regularly.  If you make too many posts advertising your business, your followers will think that you are tweeting solely to get them to see your page.  That may be the case, but you have to build a relationship with your followers first.  Let them see there is a person behind the Twitter name and let them get to know you and your business through tweets, re-tweets and replies.  You will want to connect with them on a more personal level and try to relate to them in some way, shape or form.  Remember, interaction is key in tweeting.
Tweeting very regularly will help to build up your "twitter personality", brand and credibility.  Especially if you engage your followers by commenting or asking an open ended question and if you post interesting information that may be beneficial to them.  If you do not have the time to tweet regularly it may be useful for you to use a program that will schedule your tweets. (My favorite program for this is Tweet Deck.)  You can also delegate Social Media tasks and tweets to a Virtual Assistant/Social Media Coordinator.  They will be able to take that uncomfortable task of starting a Twitter out of your hands and take care of that for you with their expertise.
Remember -- you should not tweet just for followers.  Tweet for yourself and your business, the followers will come to you.  Even though this all seems so cliche, it is all about the quality of your followers and the engagement between both parties.  It is not about the quantity of followers you have.

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Dunkin' Donuts $50 mGift Card Giveaway for National Coffee Day #DunkinNCD

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If you follow my tweets on twitter, then you know I'm always tweeting about starting the day with coffee. There's nothing like a cup of coffee in the morning. It wakes you up and soothes so you can start the day. In recognition of the power and love of coffee tomorrow is National Coffee Day and Dunkin’ Donuts is celebrating in a few different ways

• New Pumpkin Mocha and Pumpkin White Chocolate coffee and lattes. Available hot or iced, these two new, innovative flavors are available for a limited time at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide.

• Dunkin’ Donuts’ 16-ounce packaged coffee is available for only $5.99. For two days only, September 29 and 30, bring home America’s Favorite Coffee at a discounted price.

• Dunkin’ Donuts biggest Twitter sweeps ever. Beginning Friday and continuing through Sunday, fans can share with @DunkinDonuts on Twitter “How do you take your Dunkin’ coffee?,” using the special hashtag #DunkinNCD. Five hundred and ninety-nine (599) winners will receive a 16 oz. bag of Dunkin’ Donuts’ packaged coffee.

But wait coffee lovers! Before you run out and stockup make sure you download the new Dunkin’ Donuts App (iPhone, iPod touch and iPad )! That's right there's a Dunkin’ Donuts App!

Personally, as techie person I think that's a great idea. Now paying for food and beverages at Dunkin’ Donuts (throughout the U.S.) is now simple and speedy. Just scan your smartphone using a mobile Dunkin' Donuts Card in-store or at the drive-thru and done!

How cool is it that with the App’s mGift feature, Dunkin’ Donuts becomes the first national coffee retailer to enable people to send virtual gift cards three ways – text, email, and Facebook Connect.

To help you celebrate National Coffee Day tomorrow September 29, here's a short and sweet giveaway for a $50 Dunkin’ Donuts mGift Card!

WIN The Mommy Factor giveaway!

WAYS TO ENTER:

For this giveaway I'm using the Rafflecopter form which is super easy! Go on and enter to win! Entries must be made on or before 11:59 p.m. October 1, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Please Note: I will also received a Dunkin' Donuts mGift Card. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

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Posted in: Apps, Food, Giveaway

Shopilly's website launch & $200 giveaway

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Shopilly recently launched a service that allows consumers to take back control of their inbox! Shopilly builds a bridge between consumers and brands. It aims to solve the issue of having retailer emails flooding your personal inbox, which simply weren’t built for shopping emails.

With Shopilly, you can organize your shopping life at one central, visually elegant interface, stay connected to their favorite brands, and cut the clutter out of their personal inbox.


Shopilly automatically transfers all your shopping emails into your Shopilly inbox, where you can check your shopping emails without having to sort through them within your personal messages. This visual inbox lets you have a quick birds eye view of everything that’s going on in your Shopping life: promotions, confirmations, e-receipts.

Shopilly also gives users an email ID to use when shopping both online and in store. This ID lets users keep all their shopping transactions and receipts in a purchases folder. No need for users to hesitate anymore when they share their emails with their favorite brands.

Here's a cool incentive to try this new service out. On Tuesday October 9, any reader who joins Shopilly will be entered to win a $200 Amazon gift card!

To learn more and sign-up for the site visit: www.shopilly.com

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Where's My Water? "Frankenweenie" Inspired Level Pack

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Recently, Disney launched “10 Days of Frankenweenie,” a new free level pack for the hit mobile game Where’s My Water? Free.



Players of Where’s My Water? Free can jump-start their Halloween and get ready for the new Disney film release with this level pack featuring black and white animation, a new music score inspired by the film and a Sparky cameo!

“Frankenweenie” releases in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2012.

Download Where’s My Water? Free for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad at: http://bit.ly/WMWFree

Download Where’s My Water? Free for Android devices at: http://bit.ly/WMWFreeAndroid

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Posted in: Apps, Disney

Meet Carmelo Anthony at Rookie Kids USA Store Opening #RookieUSA #CBias

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A few months ago I was lucky enough to meet and interviewed Carmelo Anthony. I can honestly say he's a really cool guy and anyone who has a chance to meet him SHOULD. Matter of fact if you are in the NYC Metro area tomorrow Friday, October 12th 2012 you CAN meet Carmelo Anthony from 5:30pm - 6:30pm at the Rookie USA Store grand Opening at 808 Columbus Avenue @ 99th Street!

All day during the Rookie USA Store opening, there will be raffles and giveaways for prizes as well as Carmelo Anthony signing autographs from 5:15 - 6:15 with every purchase of Jordan/Melo gear from the Rookie store. PLEASE make sure you are one of the first 200 people who purchased an item from the Jordan/Melo clothing line and has a wristband to stand in line for the autograph. You don't want to miss your chance to meet Carmelo!


I hope some of my readers get a chance to meet Carmelo or at least win some cool Rookie Kids USA Store prizes. Make sure to tweet me while you in the store and let me know how much fun your having!

To learn more about Rookie USA visit their website, like them on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

Please Note: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Rookie USA #RookieUSA #CBias #SocialFabric. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.
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Posted in: CBias, Spon

Wellspring 5 Healthy Halloween Tips for Families

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As we get closer to Halloween, some parents worry about their children eating all those non-nutritive, high fat treats. Despite the challenge Halloween presents, it IS possible to celebrate Halloween and still stick to a healthy plan.

Here are 5 Healthy Halloween Tips for Families from Cari Coulter Registered Dietitian and Program Director of Wellspring Wisconsin.

1. Don’t buy candy weeks ahead of time. Even if it’s just two weeks before the holiday, and you ARE already at the grocery store, and the bags ARE on sale, resist the urge to make your purchase this far in advance. Buying your Halloween candy at the beginning of October extends the amount of time that these tempting little blobs of fat (treats?) are in your pantry and increases the likelihood that you will eat some (or all) before Halloween rolls around. 
2. Avoid purchasing your favorite candy. Technically, these are going to be handed out to other people so there is no need to buy the one that tempts you the most. If you are less likely to overindulge in Twizzlers than Smarties, than buy the former and leave the latter at the store. 
3. Keep the treats Wellspring friendly. While there are definitely a number of high fat candies that will take you over your 20g a day limit within a few bites, many candies and treats can fit into your plan. Most gummy and hard candies are fat free or very low in fat. You can also modify any Halloween themed recipes to be lower in fat than the traditional options. (See this month’s Newsletter recipe: Low Fat Caramel Corn). Focusing on hard candies can even decrease your intake further because they take longer to eat. 
4. Stay smart about leftovers. Still have an extra bag of candy that wasn’t handed out? Kids come home with three bagfuls of treats? Instead of keeping them around the house, choose some Wellspring friendly favorites, toss out the rest of them. You could donate them to a homeless shelter, but those higher fat candies really do not do much good for anyone. 
5. Limit the focus on food and candy. Halloween does not have to be all about sweets! Have your kids engage in fun activities like pumpkin carving, costume pageants, haunted houses, ghost stories, and other fun ghoulish games: Extra points if your activities get you moving!

This year, Wellspring – America’s leading provider of weight-loss camps for overweight young people, families and adults – wants to help families have an enjoyable Halloween because there’s nothing scarier than a post-apocalyptic sugar melt down!

To learn more about Wellspring visit - www.wellspringweightloss.com

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Posted in: Health

Shopilly's website launch & $200 giveaway

To contact us Click HERE

Shopilly recently launched a service that allows consumers to take back control of their inbox! Shopilly builds a bridge between consumers and brands. It aims to solve the issue of having retailer emails flooding your personal inbox, which simply weren’t built for shopping emails.

With Shopilly, you can organize your shopping life at one central, visually elegant interface, stay connected to their favorite brands, and cut the clutter out of their personal inbox.


Shopilly automatically transfers all your shopping emails into your Shopilly inbox, where you can check your shopping emails without having to sort through them within your personal messages. This visual inbox lets you have a quick birds eye view of everything that’s going on in your Shopping life: promotions, confirmations, e-receipts.

Shopilly also gives users an email ID to use when shopping both online and in store. This ID lets users keep all their shopping transactions and receipts in a purchases folder. No need for users to hesitate anymore when they share their emails with their favorite brands.

Here's a cool incentive to try this new service out. On Tuesday October 9, any reader who joins Shopilly will be entered to win a $200 Amazon gift card!

To learn more and sign-up for the site visit: www.shopilly.com

Like this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed or for email updates!

Where's My Water? "Frankenweenie" Inspired Level Pack

To contact us Click HERE

Recently, Disney launched “10 Days of Frankenweenie,” a new free level pack for the hit mobile game Where’s My Water? Free.



Players of Where’s My Water? Free can jump-start their Halloween and get ready for the new Disney film release with this level pack featuring black and white animation, a new music score inspired by the film and a Sparky cameo!

“Frankenweenie” releases in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2012.

Download Where’s My Water? Free for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad at: http://bit.ly/WMWFree

Download Where’s My Water? Free for Android devices at: http://bit.ly/WMWFreeAndroid

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Posted in: Apps, Disney

I never thought I'd say this but...shopping sucks!

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I know, I know...most people who know me very well probably had dropped jaws when they read the title up there, but it's true.  I'm starting to despise shopping! (Well, ok...I'm lying...only clothes shopping.)  Shopping for myself for everyday casual wear is so completely different, but when you're shopping for clothes for work, it gets frustrating. 

Let's start from the very very beginning of today. 

When I heard both my girls were going to my ex's house for the weekend, I was so happy. LOL! I love my kids, please don't get me wrong, but my two girls fight like crazy constantly and there's never a clean room or peaceful moment in the house.  As they left, I took my mom with me and we decided to go out for a little bit.
I work right off the New Jersey Turnpike about maybe 50 feet from the Holland Tunnel.  It's very easy to get to my office by going down the NJ Turnpike, but in the morning when I leave (8:30) there's A LOT of Holland Tunnel traffic that I just can't get past.  So, my mom decided to take a ride with me to my office but showing me a local way to get there instead of going down the Turnpike everyday.  So we took a ride there and I have to say....DUH! The freaking way she showed me to go is just plain common sense that I should have realized.  I felt like an idiot, actually. (Which happens often, it's not a new feeling for me.)
After taking that ride, we decided to stop at TJ Maxx. My mom wanted to see if she could get a dress for my birthmother's wedding, Alayna needed something nice for picture day on Wednesday and I wanted to look for some desk accessories for work and for some shirts for work.  I found some beautiful shirts that I absolutely loved, but when I tried them on everything was either too short, too fitted, too ugly on me or just made cheaply.  Out of 14 shirts I tried on, I walked out with two.  I hate when that happens.  I also didn't get any desk accessories; they hardly had anything. :(
So now I'm headed out to see a local town show that my best friend is a stage manager for.  Maybe at least I'll have some fun tonight, since my shopping day sucked.  Ha. At least I'm still childless for another day!

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Why Should You Tweet if You Don't Have Many Followers?

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This was also posted on my business blog but I thought it may be helpful to some mom bloggers just starting up as well.  That's why I posted it here for mom bloggers to read as well. :)

Social Media is a new term to some businesses and bloggers who have not fully grasped the incredible potential of networking through Twitter, Facebook, etc...  Due to the fact that it's unfamiliar to some companies, they may not feel comfortable using the networks since they may have little or no followers.  However everyone has to start somewhere, even if it's at the bottom.  While it may feel uncomfortable tweeting or posting to a small (or no) audience, it's extremely worthwhile and the best way to grow your brand awareness on these websites.
Remember when you started your business?  Did you have a large client or customer base at that time?  The answer for most of you is probably, "No."  Every business has to start from the bottom whether it is creating and starting your business from the bottom or trying a new media strategy.  Just because you have no followers when you start doesn't mean that you can't grow that base.  Social Media is actually one of the best ways to promote your business for free.  (I know that grabbed your attention!)The two main reasons to create and use Social Media accounts would be:

• To raise your follower/fan count.
• To promote your blog or business to raise brand awareness.

Participation is key in networking and creating important connections.  Once you start your Twitter account, go ahead and do a search of an important keyword relating to your business.  Once you do that search you will see a number of tweets from others that contain the keyword you searched for.  Take a look through their tweets and see if any would relate to your business.  Do you have a solution to a question they are asking?  Do you have an idea that may assist them?  Are they a business that is similar to yours or an individual interested in the subject matter of your business?  Go ahead and follow them.  It would also be beneficial to reply to their tweet with a general comment about what they have to say or answering their question with your expertise.  When they see you followed them or replied to them, they will in turn follow you and most likely reply to what you had to say.  There, you had your first "twitter-sation." (My own word, thank you very much!)

Tip:  When you tweet others or reply to their tweets, provide value in what you have to say.  Throw something in there that will make them want to click on your Twitter profile and read about you. (And your business.)

Others will begin to find you from their searches and from re-tweets from other Twitter users.  That is why it is important to tweet (periodically) about your business or plug your latest blog post; when someone finds it interesting they will re-tweet you for others to see.  While it's important to plug your latest blog post or your business, do not do it regularly.  If you make too many posts advertising your business, your followers will think that you are tweeting solely to get them to see your page.  That may be the case, but you have to build a relationship with your followers first.  Let them see there is a person behind the Twitter name and let them get to know you and your business through tweets, re-tweets and replies.  You will want to connect with them on a more personal level and try to relate to them in some way, shape or form.  Remember, interaction is key in tweeting.
Tweeting very regularly will help to build up your "twitter personality", brand and credibility.  Especially if you engage your followers by commenting or asking an open ended question and if you post interesting information that may be beneficial to them.  If you do not have the time to tweet regularly it may be useful for you to use a program that will schedule your tweets. (My favorite program for this is Tweet Deck.)  You can also delegate Social Media tasks and tweets to a Virtual Assistant/Social Media Coordinator.  They will be able to take that uncomfortable task of starting a Twitter out of your hands and take care of that for you with their expertise.
Remember -- you should not tweet just for followers.  Tweet for yourself and your business, the followers will come to you.  Even though this all seems so cliche, it is all about the quality of your followers and the engagement between both parties.  It is not about the quantity of followers you have.

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Shopilly's website launch & $200 giveaway

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Shopilly recently launched a service that allows consumers to take back control of their inbox! Shopilly builds a bridge between consumers and brands. It aims to solve the issue of having retailer emails flooding your personal inbox, which simply weren’t built for shopping emails.

With Shopilly, you can organize your shopping life at one central, visually elegant interface, stay connected to their favorite brands, and cut the clutter out of their personal inbox.


Shopilly automatically transfers all your shopping emails into your Shopilly inbox, where you can check your shopping emails without having to sort through them within your personal messages. This visual inbox lets you have a quick birds eye view of everything that’s going on in your Shopping life: promotions, confirmations, e-receipts.

Shopilly also gives users an email ID to use when shopping both online and in store. This ID lets users keep all their shopping transactions and receipts in a purchases folder. No need for users to hesitate anymore when they share their emails with their favorite brands.

Here's a cool incentive to try this new service out. On Tuesday October 9, any reader who joins Shopilly will be entered to win a $200 Amazon gift card!

To learn more and sign-up for the site visit: www.shopilly.com

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Where's My Water? "Frankenweenie" Inspired Level Pack

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Recently, Disney launched “10 Days of Frankenweenie,” a new free level pack for the hit mobile game Where’s My Water? Free.



Players of Where’s My Water? Free can jump-start their Halloween and get ready for the new Disney film release with this level pack featuring black and white animation, a new music score inspired by the film and a Sparky cameo!

“Frankenweenie” releases in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2012.

Download Where’s My Water? Free for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad at: http://bit.ly/WMWFree

Download Where’s My Water? Free for Android devices at: http://bit.ly/WMWFreeAndroid

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Posted in: Apps, Disney

YoYo’s Marvel & The Avengers Halloween Costumes for Kids

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Behold YoYo’s Picks for Halloween 2012! With so many kids watching their heroes on the big screen all summer, this Halloween, they’ll want to look just as super as Spiderman, Batman, Ironman, Captain America and the rest of the Avengers crew.


Don't forget when you stock up on these summer blockbuster Superheroes costumes, shipping is free with a purchase over $49.00

Other costumes ideas for families:

• Homemade Superheroes: Some of the best and most memorable costumes are the ones you make yourself. We’re crazy for Seedling’s ‘Design Your Own Superhero Cape’ craft kits and non- commercial costumes that let kids choose their own super personas.

• Monster High: This line of dolls and accessories is already a monster hit amongst tweens and will only pick up pace heading into Halloween. Fans can choose their favorite character and then customize their look – just like the guys and ghouls of monster high.

• Timeless Baby Costumes: While adults and older kids tend to follow costume trends, parents prefer timeless outfits for their little ones. Animals are a perennial favorite, as is the classic (and ubiquitous) orange pumpkin suit. We’re sticking with the classics as our bet for babies.

• Pirates & Princesses: Consistently two of the most popular categories on our site, we expect the enthusiasm for swashbucklers and beautiful maidens to stay strong through Halloween. These time-honored favorites are high quality and have year-round appeal.

To see more costumes visit - www.yoyo.com

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LeapFrog Halloween Spooktacular Contest for a LeapPad2

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For some families Halloween can really be a family-fun holiday where children collect treats, communities greet their neighbors, and even grown-ups play dress-up!


This month LeapFrog is celebrating the fun of Halloween with a Spooktacular Dress-Up Contest for a chance to win a LeapPad2!

To enter:

1. Take a picture of your child dressed up as any character.
2. Post your dress-up photos on this page by Sunday 11:59PM PST of each week. Make sure to tell us a bit about your child’s costume and what makes dressing up fun. Enter as many unique photos per week as you’d like!
3. Enter every week for more chances to win!

Winners will be announced each week on the Spooktacular Dress Up Fun facebook page. View contest rules: http://www.leapfrog.com/en/halloween_contest.html

LeapFrog is also providing Halloween learning tips and activities that explore skills built through pretend play, which is essential for developing fundamental skills—skills that children use on the playground, in the classroom, and throughout life.

Visit the LeapFrog site each week for Halloween ideas to spark imaginative play and learning at home. Fun activities include:

• Halloween Printables and Coloring Pages
• Halloween Games and Activities
• Halloween Tips and Advice

To learn more visit - http://www.leapfrog.com/en/leapfrog_parents/halloween.html

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Bronx Zoo "Boo at the Zoo" Weekend & Blogger Ambassador Program

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As any parent knows, a trip to the zoo equals tons of family friendly fun. My son and I have enjoyed many visits to the zoo to see the animals and enjoy seasonal activities. We LOVE going to the zoo! So when I was invited to be part of the WCS Bronx Zoo Blogger Ambassador Program, it was a perfect fit.

I'm excited to share up coming event for NYC Metro area families happening at The Bronx Zoo and The New York Aquarium. We've visited both places and there's always lots of attractions and activities for families to enjoy. This month both The Bronx Zoo and The New York Aquarium feature Halloween-themed family activities. Start marking your calendars now!


The Bronx Zoo “Boo at the Zoo” Weekends

Boo at the Zoo is currently happening at the Bronx Zoo for weekends (Oct. 6-8, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28) The Halloween-themed family entertainment and activities embrace the spirit of the season while highlighting wildlife and conservation.

Celebrate Halloween with safe, family-friendly activities including a haunted walk-through adventure – The Haunting at Habitat Mansion – and the spooky Hayride through Creepy Hollows headline the festivities and have been enhanced for this year’s Boo at the Zoo. Visitors will enjoy magic shows, musical performances, and costume parades in addition to traditional guest favorites including the hay maze, extinction graveyard, and seasonal craft workshops.

Children 12 and under wearing a Halloween costume will receive free general admission with one paid adult general admission. All Boo at the Zoo activities are included with the price of general admission with the exception of the hayride and haunted mansion. The Creepy Hollows Hayride and the Haunting at Habitat Mansion walk-through adventure are included with the purchase of a Total Experience Ticket.


Purchase 4 or more Total Experience Tickets online and receive a plush snake hat created in the spirit of Boo at the Zoo. Offer is good while supplies last.

For a complete schedule of Boo at the Zoo” Weekends activities visit www.bronxzoo.com

The New York Aquarium is also featuring "Ascarium" Halloween-themed family activities. I'll share more information about this in another post so look out for that!

Please Note: The Mommy Factor blog is participating in a sponsored ambassador program from the Bronx Zoo/NY Aquarium. As a part of this program we have received paid advertising compensation, a premium family membership and merchandise for placement of digital advertisements and specific postings related to programming.

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Tokidoki & Ju-Ju-Be New Bag Collection

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tokidoki, the pop culture brand meaning “sometimes” in Japanese, is partnering with renowned diaper bag company, Ju-Ju-Be, on a brand new collection in stores now.


Launched in 2005 and known for its fun features, the definitive Ju-Ju-Be ‘Super-Smart’ bag is about to get super cool. Each bag will have the outstanding quality and detail Ju-Ju-Be is known for, including crumb drains and mommy pockets, with tokidoki’s signature urban prints, “Iconic” and “TD Dreams,” throughout eleven unique styles. Included in this collection are backpacks, wristlets, totes, and messenger bags that will appeal to consumers of all ages.


Stand-out features of the tokidoki x Ju-Ju-Be collection will include its exclusive trims and embossed linings, as well as co-branded pull zippers. All products are antimicrobial and machine washable with Teflon®-treated fabric to reduce odor and help prevent stains from sticking. Other notable features include ergonomically curved straps, memory foam changing pads, plenty of compartments for organization, insulated bottle pockets for climate control, and all metal hardware.

The collection will range from $18.00 - $188.00, and can be found in department and specialty stores as well as www.ju-ju-be.com and www.tokidoki.it

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Posted in: Fashion

Harry Potter for Kinect Xbox Game Giveaway

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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is about to open its doors and welcome students for another magical year. One lucky reader of The Mommy Factor can attend the magical wizarding school in Harry Potter for Kinect, the highly-anticipated title that comes out on Xbox 360 on October 9th.


GAME OVERVIEW:

The all-new Harry Potter for Kinect video game exclusively on KINECT™ for Xbox 360® allows players to experience Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the wizarding world like never before! Through the innovative KINECT capability, each player can scan their face to create a wizard avatar in their likeness – and then play as their avatar in the game.

Utilizing controller-free and voice recognition technology available only on KINECT, players will attend Hogwarts, interact with professors, students and friends, call out spells to cast against opponents, brew potions, and even fly as they race on broomsticks to be the first to catch the Golden Snitch in a Quidditch match. Harry Potter for Kinect allows players, for the first time, to attend Hogwarts as part of the wizarding world.




GAME FEATURES:

• For the first time, create a witch or wizard character in your likeness that will become part of the gameplay through KINECT’s scanning technology.
• Experience unforgettable moments from all eight films -- from having your wand choose you at Ollivanders and being sorted as a first-year student at Hogwarts, to battling You-Know-Who in a climactic wizard battle.
• Cast spells at your opponents by performing the proper casting maneuvers and calling out spell names utilizing KINECT’s controller-free and voice recognition capabilities.
• Challenge a friend in competitive mini-games, or join forces against a mutual opponent in co-op games.
• Jump, duck and dodge the wild branches of the Whomping Willow, swipe at annoying and sometimes dangerous pixies, repel terrifying Dementors, swim among Grindylows in the lake, and shove opponents out of the way as you soar above the Quid

Ready to enter the giveaway and win your own copy of Harry Potter for Kinect?

WIN The Mommy Factor giveaway!


WAYS TO ENTER:

For this giveaway I'm using the Rafflecopter form which is super easy! Go on and enter to win! Entries must be made on or before 11:59 p.m. October 15, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Posted in: Gaming, Giveaway