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Gift Yourself a Flip and Avoid Family Photo Shoot Headaches

2010-01-17T22:43:00.003-06:00

By Karen Vazquez

When I had my first baby almost 6 years ago, my husband came home one day with a new, $1300 Sony video recorder. In theory, it was great - it captured the moving pictures on these little mini-DVDs. We'd never miss a moment! We'd have great montages of our kids as they grow! Happy ending, right? Well, not so much. Turns out that the Sony software didn't get along with our Windows OS, resulting in the awesome movies we captured being stuck on those cute little DVDs...a known bug preventing the files from being transferred to the computer. Since then, I've had a bad taste in my mouth about buying a new movie camera. Since we stopped taking videos with the Sony - too frustrating - my husband has been itching to get another video camera. He was hell-bent on getting an HD one, to work out our shiny new HD TV. I decided to ask Flip if I could borrow a Flip for review, and test it out before buying (disclosure: I didn't pay for the Flip; it was in my possession for 3 weeks.They agreed, and I was so excited when that little camera came in the mail.

They sent me a white Ultra HD Flip. It is pretty small - it fits easily in my purse and is slightly bigger than a deck of cards. There are literally four buttons on it - Power, Record, Trash, and Play. The camera was unbelievably easy to use. Because of its small size, my initial movies came out a bit shaky, but once I realized what was happening I started to stabilize my arm and the images were steady. The real test came when it was time to download the movies to my computer. The Flip has a little USB connector that flips out of the side of the camera...you plug the camera into the USB port and it automatically downloads the software and drivers required. I didn't find the software user interface to be as intuitive as the camera itself, but it didn't take me too long to figure out how to download the movies. Within 15 minutes of plugging the camera in, the $199 Flip had functionally surpassed the $1300 Sony (in my experience). The movies were safely on my computer's hard drive.

The biggest benefit that I see in FlipShare - and I can't believe they don't do more marketing around this - is that you can take a "snapshot" based on a single frame of a movie. So where my regular camera hesitates a millisecond and misses the shot, the Flip can just record the whole photo session and you can select the specific frame that captures your image. Do you have any idea how much easier my holiday card photo shoot just got?!?! Last year we took over 300 pictures of our 3 boys - not kidding - and this year we took about 3 minutes of video. Avoiding that headache alone makes this camera worth the $199 I paid for it (I bought one after returning the loaner).

One of the advertised selling points of the Flip video camera is the FlipShare software, which allows the user to assign movies to "Flip Channels". Once you've entered the email addresses of people with whom you want to share videos in that channel, they will automatically be notified when new videos are added. In theory, great idea. However, in my experience, recipients are frequently unable to view the videos. I got complaints from people on work computers, home computers, old (92), young (30), savvy, and clueless - all were at various points unable to view the videos, for varied and/or unknown reasons. Thankfully, FlipShare makes it really easy to upload videos to YouTube (or others). So the sharing is still easy, even if I had to go a secondary route.

Things to be aware of as you think about buying a Flip: my husband really wanted to get an HD camera. But the thing we didn't think through until after having the camera in hand is that unless you have a high definition DVD burner, the only way to view the movies on the HD TV is to save the movies you want to watch to the camera (if you've already downloaded them to the computer and cleared space on the camera), and connect the camera itself to the TV (i.e., you can't burn a DVD in HD. Or I can't, anyway). It is easy enough to save movies back onto the camera for that purpose. Also, the HDMI cord to connect your Flip camera to your HD TV is not included with the camera. It costs around $70. The HD moview were spectacular on the big screen.

In the end, after returning the loaner camera, I bought myself another Flip UltraHD - in black. I leave it in my purse and take video of the kids almost every day, even if only for a few seconds. Of course I haven't yet gone through them all to compile a highlights movie....but because the videos are so easy to share, my family is able to see the kids grow without having to wait on my organizational skills to come around. When I do finally sit down to organize, I'll have tons of footage available.

Karen is a freelance writer and stay at home mom who tries to get out of the house with 3 boys (ages 4, 2, and newborn). When not breaking up fights over cars and trains, she blogs at NYC Moms Blog (www.nycmomsblog.com). With career experience in marketing, fashion, and publishing, she enjoys product review assignments that enable her to voice her often strong opinions in a socially acceptable manner.

2009-06-03T01:10:00.000-05:00

By Karen Vazquez

Riding the A train to work one day, I saw a poster advertising flip-flops that would give a workout as you walk. Since I never get to the gym...

Click here to read more...

2009-06-02T13:06:00.000-05:00

A plant based Cream Cleanser from EcoStoreUsa.com that got a reluctant greenie like me all excited about cleaning with the kids. Hands down one of the best cleansers I've used!

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A First Birthday Rubber Ducky Party

2009-05-27T00:34:00.002-05:00

By Lisa Kothari

The classic rubber ducky makes a darling first birthday party theme for one-year-olds! Looking for some ducky fun?

If you are planning on hand delivering your invitations, give your guests little rubber duckies with tags attached that provide all of your party details. You can also write this information directly on the rubber duckies. Alternatively

Your party decorations can be any colors that you like, but yellow most certainly should be one of them. You may also want to use blue and white (for water). Buy balloons and streamers in your color scheme and hang them all over the party area. You could also buy a rubber ducky Mylar balloon for the birthday kid's special seat!

Set the table in your chosen colors, and mix them up. For instance, you could have a blue tablecloth and yellow plates. Place rubber duckies all over the table as well. If you have one large rubber ducky, place it in the middle, and tie two or three balloons to the ducky for added festivity.

Purchase a bubble machine and have it blowing bubbles at the front entryway of the party for everyone to walk through; move the bubble machine around as needed. You could also hang a plain shower curtain at the front entrance that the guests must pass through to get into the party area. This would be fun.

Make sure to have party music playing, such as the "Rubber Ducky" theme from Sesame Street and "Splish Splash, I was taking a Bath." This will get your guests in rubber ducky mood.

If older kids are attending, have them do a craft when they arrive. They can make rubber ducky hats or rubber ducky puppets. For the hats, provide the kids with plain sun visors and have them use googly eyes, markers, and stickers to create their ducks. For the puppets, give the kids yellow or orange socks and googly eyes, foam beaks, and feathers for decoration.

Have the kids make Play-Doh rubber duckies out of a mound of yellow dough. Also have a few additional colors on hand, such as orange and red.

For games, play Rubber, Rubber, Ducky as you would Duck, Duck, Goose. Also play Pin the Bill on the Ducky.

For the food, buy a rubber ducky cookie cutter, and cut all of the food out in this shape. You can make rubber ducky sandwiches, sugar cookies (the kids can decorate these!), and gelatin ducks. Serve little dry cereal snacks and call them "duck feed." Put the duck feed into little silver buckets, and have the kids can eat it out of these little pails.

For favors, send the kids home with little plastic pails filled with bath time fun: little bath bubbles, bath confetti, miniature washcloths that expand with water, little bars of soap, bottles of bubbles, and small rubber duckies. For babies, a soft rubber ducky bath toy would be a great choice.

Photo Credit: by Mrs. Raggle - http://www.flickr.com/photos/raggle/3163752268/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lisa Kothari is the founder and president of
Peppers and Pollywogs, a kids' party planning company that provides parents with ideas, entertainers, and interesting web-based tools (customized rhymes and cards for your invitations!) to make kids' party planning easy.
She has recently written and published
Dear Peppers and Pollywogs, What Parents Want To Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties which is available at
Amazon.com (use buy it now button below) and Peppers and
Pollywogs.

FitFlops: My Footwear Uniform for Summer

2009-05-01T01:00:00.001-05:00

By Karen Vazquez

Riding the A train to work one day, I saw a poster advertising flip-flops that would give a workout as you walk. Since I never get to the gym, I figured it would be a perfect way for me to assuage my guilt while retaining my relatively low-stress fitness life.   I decided to get my paws on a pair and try them out.

The Product: The kind of FitFlops I got are the black WalkStar. .. they look like regular flip-flops, although perhaps a bit more sturdy. The sole is thick, about 1 inch or so, and flat – there isn't a heel to speak of.

The Fit: On the website, it is recommended that you buy the ½ size up, since they run small. The first pair I tried was an 8 and really felt too small. . . not really too long, but a bit too short (height-wise).    However, the 9s were definitely too big – they had way too much extra sole visible beyond my toes.   Vanity got the best of me and I stuck with the 8s, which as it turns out was the right choice – the strap stretched so the height didn't feel tight after a few wearings.

The Test: I had read on a review site that one person wore them a lot the first day, and was actually sore the next day (and was quite angry about it; seemed weird to me, because didn't you buy them to give your muscles more of a workout?). Although I didn't feel bad for that person since the "warnings" on the packaging are quite explicit about possible muscle soreness and includes recommendations to break your muscles in slowly, I did decide to only wear them for short trips. In Manhattan, that isn't hard to do – we walk everywhere. I used them for the .1 mile walk to the local Duane Reade, but not for the 1 mile round trip to my son's preschool that I usually have to walk extra-fast for since I'm always running late.

The Feel: Fitflops don't feel quite like regular flip-flops – the "Y" strap on the top part of the foot comes back farther (closer to the ankle) than other flip-flops I've tried, so they don't have quite as strong a rebound "flop". I definitely prefer their fit to the classic loud flip-flops – they feel more secure and are definitely less noisy. They feel quite padded, which I guess isn't surprising since the padding is the engineered material.

The Results: Well, you won't confuse me for the model in that first advertisement I saw – her butt is definitely more toned and significantly more shapely than mine. But, I do think that my legs look a bit more toned than they were before I started using them regularly. The FitFlop has definitely become my go-to "all around" shoe to wear around the house, on errands, and short walking trips. They have replaced my mary jane Crocs as my default shoe, which is saying a lot since I have been shouting from the rooftops about how comfortable my Crocs were since I first got them. I have never regularly used flip-flops before – the space between my big toe and second toe has always been irritated by them . . . but I find the FitFlops are actually quite comfortable. The "core board" the sole is made off makes them feel cushiony.

The Verdict: I love my FitFlops. For flip-flops, they are a bit pricey for me (they retail for $40, which some people wouldn't bat an eye at. .. but I do most of my clothes/footwear shopping at Old Navy and Target, where you just won't find a $40 flip-flop). However, I wear them all the time and they seem to be well made as they are holding up extremely well with heavy use. The possibility that their claims might be true and that I'm burning extra calories just by wearing them is worth a premium as well – a small price to pay to feel like I may be making a difference in my health.

Where to Get Them: Go to http://thefitflop.com/ and click "Where to Buy" to find the closest retailer.

2009-03-28T02:00:00.000-05:00

Moms New LOVE is here...V-Fusion new flavors are here and check out other ways you can use it for...

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Eco Store Cream Cleanser

2009-03-25T11:54:00.002-05:00

Going Green is hard for me. That means letting go of certain brands that I love to use whether it is for my home or for personal use. And I guess you can say that I am also clueless in where and what to begin with.

I recently received a plant based Cream Cleanser from EcoStoreUsa.com and it sat there for a long time. It took me a long time to try it, because just like what I had said…it is hard for me to let go.

So finally after Sommer’s of http://www.greenandcleanmom.org/ little twitter messages I decided to just do it. But before that, I had to start reading the bottle first. Only then when I realized…Oh, it’s not a body or facial cleanser! It says to “Use on vitreous enamel baths and basins, white goods, stainless steel, chrome, tiled, and laminated surfaces”! OH! Can you blame me for thinking that it is a body cleanser judging from the picture of the bottle?

But Oh! Wow! “NO NASTY CHEMICALS” drew me closer into reading more. It just dawned on me…for once I don’t have to corral my little one when I am cleaning the tub. See, I'm a little obsessed about cleaning…but I especially hate cleaning around the kids because of strong fumes and the hazard of having a toddler licking on anything she finds interesting. My 3 kids always begged (yes, I did say beg) to help me scrub the toilet or the sink. But having to worry about finding extra gloves and such is just another big task to take on top on a big task at hand.

So for once I invited my daughter to come and clean the tub with me! It was fun and the tub looked great! I can’t tell you how thankful I am to have received this product. It would’ve been one of those that I would have ignored and still buy my lemon smelled toxic hidden fumed cleansers.

A few months back I wrote about “Green Makes Me Blue” and even asked readers to help me simplify ways to start. With reviewing this product, I’m starting to see the correlation of taking care of my family’s health and ourselves is truly part of being green. In that case…I’m going and trudge along with the rest of the smart ones who has started their journey already. Maybe, you’ll come join me too!

I have got to try the rest of EcoStoreUsa.com products!!!

2009-03-22T02:25:00.000-05:00

Guest Poster Karen Vazquez zeroing in on Dexbaby's new product Milk Bank Breastmilk Storage System

Click here to read more...

2009-03-09T21:13:00.003-05:00

Contest Giveaway: A Year's Supply of Campbell's Soup!!!

2009-03-09T18:17:00.003-05:00

A bowl of Tomato Soup and a Grilled Cheese Sandwich is still my favorite combination since childhood. This is actually one of the popular ones I've heard from people when I sent out a Twitter and Facebook query on what's your favorite Campbell's soup.

I sent that query awhile back in January when I was invited by Campbell's to join them in learning more about Campbell's and their products but ultimately, they gathered us Mommy Bloggers so that they can learn from us. After all, we are mostly the main family care giver when it comes to filling those hungry tummies.

One thing that I loved is hearing and seeing that Campbell's is making strides when it comes to nutrition. They have now come up with 25% lower sodium in some of their soups and that is huge! I've tasted the new lesser sodium Chicken & Stars and it is as delicious! So, now thanks to Campbell's and Weber Shandwick, I am now able to share the soups with you.

Warm-up any lunch with a year’s supply Campbell’s® Chicken &Stars kid's soup (reduced sodium) and a Campbell’s thermos. (a year’s supply is 24 cans) retail value at $45.71

How to play the contest: Follow the 2 easy steps below

1) You can choose to do any of the 3 listed below....

Use the button to Twitter (add hashtag #campbells)
or Use the button to Facebook about this contest.
or You can simply post the banner (shown above) in your blog. Right Click the banner to save, upload and link theMomViews.net or copy the html code to imbed:
<a href="http://www.momviews.net"><img border="0" src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/momviews/soupcontests.jpg">
or Email 3 of your friends about this contest with a link back here and CC'd to momviews[at]gmail[dot]com - Subject: Campbell's Contest

2) Then you must comment below and provide proper links (blog urls or Facebook).

Contest will run for 2 weeks and will end on March 23rd. Good Luck!

MilkBank Breastmilk Storage System - Product Review

2009-02-17T11:34:00.001-06:00

By: Karen Vasquez

Between my three children I have been lactating for over 3 of the past 5 years (and counting). I have spent many an hour in empty offices pumping and storing breast milk for later use…needless to say I have tried many of the milk storage products on the market. As I am currently not working, I only have to save up for a rare night out and an upcoming overnight trip. I pump about every other day but don't have an ongoing need for lots of frozen milk. I've also never had an overabundant supply, so making sure every drop is saved is important to me.

Dexbaby, maker of the MilkBank Breastmilk Storage System (http://milkbank.com/vacuum-storage-system), asserts that traditional storage methods such as bags and bottles trap oxygen when sealed. This exposure to oxygen apparently impacts the nutritional value and the flavor of milk. The idea is that if you can get rid of the oxygen before freezing/storing the milk, the milk will be more nutritious and fresher (which presumably tastes better). Basically, the system consists of a little hand pump and hard plastic containers that store the milk. To use, you put the milk in the container after pumping, put the top on the container, attach the pump, pump out the air, and then put the container in the fridge/freezer. The storage containers are compatible with nipples, so you can just defrost the milk and put the nipple on the storage container for feeding.

What I liked

I love the idea of using the storage container for feeding…I have spilled SO much breast milk by trying to pour it from the floppy freezer bag to the bottle. Saving a transfer is hugely appealing, and it was so easy to use…just thaw the milk and put on the nipple top (vented so baby doesn't take in air while feeding). The bottle collars are a spiffy orange color, a pleasing (yet admittedly totally superficial) addition to the blandness of my other bottle/storage options. Also, the collar is rubber, making twist to open or close easy to do. Since I find frozen milk storage bags are awkward to stack/store, it is nice that the MilkBank containers are stackable for efficient usage of freezer space (they don't seem to be designed to be stackable, but it is possible to do - they're just not particularly stable). Also note that the bottles are free of phthalates, PVC, and BPA. My baby has never rejected frozen breast milk so I can't say that MilkBank-stored milk tastes better than bag stored milk, but if you believe their studies, it does (http://milkbank.com/clinical-reports/). Certainly, I couldn't see any freezer burn on the milk the way I have with plastic storage bags.

What I didn't like so much

The cost…right now there are about 30 bags of varying amounts of milk in my freezer. A 3-pack of MilkBank's 2.5 or 5 ounce storage containers goes for $9.99 at Babies R Us (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3369025) ...for me, that would be about $100 tied up in my freezer. At the moment, I'm hoarding milk for a night away with the girls, but usually I wouldn't keep so much milk in there. (Of course, the MilkBank containers are reusable and can double as a bottle…from that perspective they're not much different than Dr. Brown's, which I also use.) Also, although the concept of the pump is easy, it is hard to know if you're doing it right or if you've pumped out enough air (the directions say "3 to 5 pumps")...some visual confirmation of success would be nice.

The bottom line

Did I mention that I'm inexplicably in love with the orange tops? I'm at a crossroads where I need to buy some bottles, and I think I will get some more of these storage containers and nipples. For my relatively infrequent use, the dual purpose containers are a great fit I just can't stand to lose any more drops of my precious breast milk.

V8's V-Fusion - This Mom's New Love!

2009-01-30T17:38:00.073-06:00

I was lucky to be invited by Campbell's / V8 (thru Weber Shandwick) in joining a Campbell's Mom Blogger Event in their Headquarters @ Camden, NJ. There I found my new love! Acai Mixed Berry V- Fusion. Imagine giving your children the vegetables they need in the form that they love! By the way, you guys will be the very first ones to check this tv commercial out. This was exclusively sent out from Campbell's to those who attended the event and now I'm sharing them with you :-) My most favorite part was making a smoothie out of it right there at the Campbell's Kitchen. Here is exactly what I made my smoothie with:

1 cup Lemon Flavored Yogurt
1 cup Frozen Blackberries
and 1 cup Acai Mixed Berry
Blend and Serve....It was delicious!

During lunch we were also served food that were made from Campbell Ingredients. My 2 favorites were:

V-Fusion Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Acai Mixed Berry

V-Fusion Berry Cupcake (picture below, actual one that I ate after taking apic with my iPhone)- V8 Fusion was used instead of water or milk on a cake mix and the glaze on top was made with the V8 Fusion as well. It was pretty and delish!

To read more of my experiences in the Mom Blogger Event, come and visit my personal blog @ http://www.SugarMyBowl.com - I have some great videos during demos and taste testings.

And below is the copy of the Product Fact Sheet on V-Fusion. Check out the new flavors below:

V8 V-Fusion^® 100% juice is an innovative 100% juice blend that delivers vegetable nutrition that tastes like fruit. Made from a delicious assortment of vegetable and fruit juices, V8 V-Fusion juice combines colorful vegetables such as purple carrots, yellow tomatoes and red beets with fruits like strawberries, mangoes or exotic berries. Each 8-ounce glass of V8 V-Fusion 100% juice delivers a full serving of vegetables and a full serving of fruit (½ cup of vegetables and ½ cup of fruit) and contains powerful antioxidants A, C and E. Plus, it has no added sugar.

New! Goji Raspberry
A delicious blend of vegetable juices and fruit juices including raspberries and the trendy flavor of exotic Goji berries. Look for Goji Raspberry on shelves this spring.

110 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0mg cholesterol, 70mg sodium, 500mg potassium, 27g total carb, 24g sugar, 15% vitamin A, 100% vitamin C, 10% vitamin E

New! Passionfruit Tangerine
A bright blend of vegetable juices and fruit juices including passionfruit and tangerine creates the perfect thirst-quenching juice. Look for Passionfruit Tangerine on shelves this spring.

110 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0mg cholesterol, 70mg sodium, 600mg potassium, 27g total carb, 24g sugar, 15% vitamin A, 100% vitamin C, 10% vitamin E

Acai Mixed Berry
A delicious blend of vegetable juices paired with fruit juices including the exotic Brazilian Acai berry and blueberries.

110 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0mg cholesterol, 70mg sodium, 240mg potassium, 27g total carb, 26g sugar, 15% vitamin A, 100% vitamin C, 10% vitamin E

Pomegranate Blueberry*
A wonderful blend of vegetable juices and fruit juices including pomegranate and blueberry.

100 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0mg cholesterol, 60mg sodium, 280mg potassium, 25g total carb, 23g sugar, 15% vitamin A, 100% vitamin C, 10% vitamin E

Strawberry Banana*
A vibrant blend of select vegetable and fruit juices including strawberry and banana.

120 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0mg cholesterol, 70mg sodium, 250mg potassium, 28g total carb, 25g sugar, 1g protein, 70% vitamin A, 100% vitamin C, 15% vitamin E

Peach Mango*
A sunny blend of vegetable and fruit juices including peach and mango puree.

120 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0mg cholesterol, 70mg sodium, 210mg potassium, 28g total carb, 26g sugar, 1g protein, 20% vitamin A, 100% vitamin C, 10% vitamin E

Tropical Orange
A lively blend of vegetable and fruit juices paired with pineapple and orange.

120 calories, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0mg cholesterol, 80mg sodium, 290mg potassium, 28g total carb, 25g sugar, 1g protein, 80% vitamin A, 100% vitamin C, 10% vitamin E

*Also available in light versions that contain 50 calories per serving and ¼ cup of vegetables and ¼ of fruit per 8oz glass.

Available in 46-ounce bottles at supermarkets and mass merchandise stores nationwide. V8 V-Fusion Pomegranate Blueberry, Peach Mango, Strawberry Banana and Acai Mixed Berry also are available in portable 12-ounce bottles at convenience stores and in vending machines. Suggested retail price for a 46-ounce bottle is $3.99; suggested retail price for a 12-ounce bottle is $1.69. The nutritional information contained in this fact sheet is based on data as of January 2009.

See Kai Run is a step away in to spring!

2009-01-30T16:25:00.045-06:00

Who can resist these absolutely adorable new spring line from See Kai Run? These new styles will be available by February of 2009 so get ahead and step in to spring with them.

According to their press release:

"Highlights include a sophisticated black sandal with a row of white polka dots that can be dressed up or paired with jeans, as well as a bottle green sandal for girls with yellow and leaf green accents. In all, See Kai Run will introduce 14 new styles in its first walker line, sized three through nine. And by popular demand, it will also bring back four styles from previous collections in a new line known as See Kai (re)Runs.The Smaller^® soft-soled baby bootie line sized from zero – 18 months will feature 17 new styles.

The new spring collection will be available for purchase at retailers, as well as online at www.seekairun.com beginning February 2009. Retail prices starts at $32. To view a sneak peek of the new line now, please see our Web site at http://www.seekairun.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?display=action&emptyoverride=yes&template=SKRTemplates/SKR/spring_09_collection_peek.html"

And go visit and enter the See Kai Run Free Shoe Giveaway!!!

2009-01-18T03:05:00.000-06:00

In this day and age, tech gadgets are getting smarter than ever...See the list of the newest tech products for the family in mind. Drool alert!

Click here to read more

Traditional Valentine's Day Party

2009-01-14T05:57:00.003-06:00

Written By: Lisa Kothari
Ms. Kothari is the founder and president of Peppers and Pollywogs, a kids' party planning company that provides parents with ideas, entertainers, and interesting web-based tools (customized rhymes and cards for your invitations!) to make kids' party planning easy.

She has recently written and published Dear Peppers and Pollywogs, What Parents Want To Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties which is available at Amazon.com and Peppers and Pollywogs. See below to purchase.

If you are planning a Valentine’s Day party this year, your mind has probably already turned to planning a hearts-galore celebration. This party can take place either at home or in a school, daycare, or playgroup setting.

If the party will be in a school setting, make sure all of the kids have created a crafty box or bag to hold all the valentines they will be getting. This is an exciting moment in the school day, and a big part of Valentine’s Day fun for kids.

For a Valentine Invitation, use red construction paper, doilies, red pipe cleaners, and pink and red glitter to make and decorate large hearts that can be delivered to your guests. If you are hand-delivering the invitations, you can send them tied to candies or a red balloon to kick off the festive party.

Another idea to decorate your heart-shaped invitations: adorn them with red hots, conversation hearts, and red licorice. They will be yummy!

For Decorations:

    * Fill your room with red, pink, and pearly white balloons. Add in a few thematic Mylar balloons for added fun.
    * Hang a banner that says, “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
    * Place Cupid figurines throughout the party area.
    * Hang festive pink, white, and red streamers.
    * Use a red table cover for your party table. Cover it with heart confetti, conversation hearts, and Hershey Kisses to add festive confetti.
    * Use pink, red, and white plates, cups, and utensils. As a pre-dining activity, have the kids draw hearts on their cups and napkins.
    * Have a big stuffed animal in the center of your table with a few balloons tied to one of his plush arms.

For Activities:

    * Make large tags with words on them that relate to Valentine’s Day, such as “heart,” “flower,” “chocolate,” etc. Place these tags on the guests’ backs so they cannot see the word written on the tag. Have the other party guests give them clues until they guess what word is on their back.
    * Have the kids make their own Valentines. Provide all of the materials needed (paper, confetti, glitter glue, markers, crayons, etc.) for kids to design and decorate party Valentines.
    * Exchange Valentines. This would most likely be a classroom activity.
    * Bake a batch of heart-shaped cookies and have the kids decorate them with pink frosting and candy toppings.
    * Play Pin the Bow on Cupid.
    * Have a Heart Ring Toss: make a large heart about 25-30 inches wide, and create a face on it using craft items or candies. Fasten arrows to the back that stand out to the kids for easy for tossing. Make rings out of pipe cleaners, and have the kids toss them on the giant heart. The kids who gets it around the target wins a chocolate!
    * Place conversation hearts in a jar and have the kids guess how many are inside.
    * Hide Hershey’s Kisses around the party area, and give the kids two minutes to find as many as they can.
    * Play Musical Hearts: make a red paper heart or a stuffed animal heart. Have the kids stand in a circle. When the music plays, instruct them to pass the heart. When it stops, the person directly to the left of the person holding the heart is out. The game continues until there is only one person left holding the heart. Give the winner a small box of chocolates.
    * Play “Can You Please be my Valentine, Please Smile:” Have the kids sit in a circle, and designate one guest as “it.” This child must go up to a person in the circle and say, “Can you please be my Valentine, please smile.” Without smiling, the child being asked must reply, “No I cannot be your Valentine, I cannot smile.” If he smiles, he becomes “It” and the game continues.

Create a Valentine Scavenger Hunt. Use these creative clues surrounding all things Valentine for inspiration:

    * Red Rose: Red and perfect, smells pretty too, and comes before those violets blue.
    * Heart: Shaped like two swans’ necks paired together, it’s brimming with joy always and forever.
    * Valentine: I may be red or pink, come in an envelope or a box, never mind it’s what this day is all about!
    * Chocolate: Whether milk or dark, filled with caramel, nougat, or cream, I am a part of every Valentine dream!
    * Candy Hearts: Whether pink, green, or blue, with a hard crunch or two, share these with your friends to learn their feelings true.
    * Candle: Strike a match and watch me flicker, quickly I alight and shine forth light.
    * Stuffed Bear: Soft, plush, and darling to hold, I am all yours.
    * Poem: A few lines here and there, but my few words will pack a punch and leave you with no more than a care.
    * Cupid: I shoot my arrow with a bow to make your heart grow!

      Hide these items throughout your home or party area so the kids can uncover Valentine’s treasures.

For the Party Menu:

    * Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make small sandwiches, cut-up fruits, and red Jell-O Jigglers.
    * Make Valentine’s Roll-Ups: place strawberry cream cheese, lunch meat, lettuce, and a slice of cheese into a flour tortilla and roll it up.
    * Make a heart-shaped pizza with lots of yummy toppings. Pepperoni and red pepper are two good Valentine’s Day choices.
    * Make chocolate fondue and have the kids dip fruit, small pieces of cheesecake and pound cake, and marshmallows in it.
    * Make Valentine’s Rice Krispie Pops: Make a batch of Rice Krispie treats, roll them into a heart shape, and place a Popsicle stick inside. You also may want to dip one side in milk chocolate.
    * Mix one package of cherry Kool-Aid and one package of strawberry Kool-Aid with sugar and water. Add one frozen can of orange juice and lemonade. Mix until the juices are thawed. Finally, add in one quart of ginger ale for a frothy Valentine’s Day drink.

For the Goody:

Make a Valentine’s cup by cutting out hearts from red and pink construction paper and gluing them onto a white paper cup. Fill it with all kinds of festive candies, heart stickers, a blinking heart necklace, lip gloss, etc.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Dear Peppers and Pollywogs, What Parents Want To Know About Planning Their Kids' Parties - $9.95

Hybrid Mom partnering with HSN - Press Release

2009-01-10T10:45:00.002-06:00

St. James, New York January 5, 2009

HSN to Offer Products Created and Developed by Moms under the Moms-for-Profit Trademark, in Partnership with Hybrid Mom Consulting & Media Group.

Interactive multichannel retailer, HSN, has signed a strategic partnership with Hybrid Mom Consulting & Media Group to market products produced by today's moms. The arrangement includes a presence on both HSN and hsn.com and will support the entrepreneurial mom who has dedicated her professional life to
developing quality products, while still being there for her family.
The partnership, programming, and content will seek to empower moms via compelling and true-to-life stories. HSN and Hybrid Mom are committed to assisting these companies in a manner they only dreamed possible. Products sold on HSN will have been created solely by the mom members of Hybrid Mom, and hsn.com will feature a custom-designed storefront featuring the products.

"This is an enormous opportunity for Hybrid Mom, for our vision and most importantly, for the moms we support," said Stacey Smith, President and Co-Founder of Hybrid Mom Consulting & Media Group.

"We are continually searching for ways to help moms achieve their dreams and many of those dreams have to do with developing businesses that allow them to create products while staying home with their children in order to enjoy two critical aspects of their lives: family and work. To have HSN believe in our mission and put their faith behind our moms is incredible," she added.

The partnership will begin with an online storefront on hsn.com on January 12th and appearances on HSN on January 12th, 22nd, and 29th (check local listings).

For more information on Hybrid Mom Consulting & Media Group or to subscribe to the Hybrid Mom magazine, visit www.hybridmom.com or www.hybridmomconsulting.com
If you are a mom-owned business and create a product that you think would sell on HSN, please click here and submit our application to be considered!

About Hybrid Mom Consulting & Media Group

Hybrid Mom Consulting & Media Group is dedicated to supporting and championing a new generation of moms-those who seek to redefine their roles and enhance the quality of how they work, play and live, without sacrificing their families. Hybrid Mom Consulting division provides mom-owned businesses with access to highly qualified, career-trained mom consultants. This unique partnership enables moms to have the freedom and flexibility to enjoy their profession and experience the rewards of family life. Hybrid Mom Media is dedicated to today's Moms. These women are no longer choosing between a successful career or a successful family life, but rather integrating their many aspirations for the purpose of achieving a balanced life. Hybrid Mom magazine and hybridmom.com's editorial content reflects a voice of friendship, rather than an expert and focuses on the "real world" of this new generation of Moms. Hybrid Mom provides insight and intelligence, practical tools and strategies to guide today's Moms in their quest to work, play and live without sacrificing their families. Hybrid Mom is published quarterly.

Let's all do our part in promoting the Hybrid Mom Revolution!

Contact: Stacey Smith Direct: 516-236-1784 Email Media Relations

For more information on Hybrid Mom... http://www.hybridmom.com

Hybrid Mom Consulting & Media Group

Stacey Smith

Co-founder, CEO/President

email: stacey@hybridmom.com

phone: 1-877-792-7487 x123

Hybrid Mom Consulting & Media Group

Allison Rubin

VP, Consulting Division

email: allison@hybridmom.com

phone: 914-420-1601

If you are a mom-owned business and create a product that you think would sell on HSN, please click here and submit our application to be considered!”

Chicago Game and Toy Fair

2008-12-30T02:51:00.000-06:00

Chicago, IL - We were there again this year to scour for the newest and best in the show, but this year we were even part of it! MomViews.net had a media booth and were excitedly promoting our newest local site launch (ChicagoMomViews.net) We gave away some great prizes from our sponsors: Hakia, Leapfrog, Hasbro/Playskool, See Kai Run, and Nintendo. Thank you sponsors and thank you for our readers who came and passed by to say hello.

Read More On Our Sponsors

Check The Newest and Best Games & Toys of the show!

Green Your Holiday Video and Contest!

2008-12-22T02:19:00.003-06:00

Green Your Holiday from Chicagonista Mavens on Vimeo.
Contest: Join in and share with us on what you are doing (or what you did) to Green Your Holiday and win a Green Your Home Kit courtesy of sponsors like Method and many more...

To participate:

Watch Video above to its entirety for ideas.
Send us "your own" original video or a short article(w/ minimum of 2 reasonably sized images) via email. Send to: momviews(at)gmail.com Subject: Holiday Contest.
For bloggers, don't forget to mention your blog name and url if you'd like us to link back to you.
All entries must be sent in by January 3, 2009, winners will be announced a few days following.Winners entries will be posted in MomViews.net and Chicagonista.com.
Sorry, but we will only send prizes within Domestic US, but would love to receive your entry anyway if you would like to just share your ideas with everyone else.

We would also appreciate it if you can imbed this contest button in your blog/site. You may either right click on image and link back to MomViews.net or Chicagonista.com or just copy and paste the html code below:

Click to watch and join in on the contest

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! and Win!

2008-12-11T00:30:00.000-06:00

Like most kids, my boys are so fascinated with playing cars. I have actually dedicated a big tub of toys that are just cars, planes, boats or trains. So you can imagined how excited they were when were invited to a new destination store called Ridemakerz in Schaumburg, IL @ Woodfield Mall by Maria Bailey (Thanks Maria!) of BSM Media.
The store is smartly designed where you can first start by picking the car’s body and will take you on to customizing it with lights, sounds, engine, decals, and finally the car certificate of title that can is with your child’s name and info. Along the way, the kids get to actually work on building their own cars with the help of a very kid-friendly staff.

Maxine Clark the founder of Build-A-Bear collaborated with entrepreneur and Ridemakerz CEO Larry Andreini in up-starting this Build-A-Car company. Both of these great minds seem to have the magic touch as Reuters reported that RIDEMAKERZ(R) Wins ''Retail Store of the Year''

According to their website, Ridemakerz mission is:

"Kidz of all ages love cars of all kindz. Cars represent freedom, self-expression and most of all, FUN. In garages, automotive workshops and customizing studios from Pasadena to Daytona, America’s love affair with the automobile continues, as car enthusiasts and gearheads do what we’ve done for decades – take one of the greatest machines ever invented and make it even greater. We soup it up, trick it out and in the process transform a utilitarian necessity into a thing of beauty, a work of art, a real RIDE. This uniquely American art form, this passion for expressing our individuality in chrome and paint, this universal love of cars, is the fuel that drives all of us full-throttle to a destination called FUN!"

The boys left happy and smiling all the way home and now you too can win one for your kiddo! Please follow the entry form directions to win a $75.00 gift certificate redeemable at any Ridemakerz or on their online store Ridemakerz.com.

Contest ends on December 18, just in time to receive your Christmas present for yourself or someone else.

Epson, How Do I Love Thee?

2008-12-01T06:54:00.002-06:00

Let me count the ways. Well, you've heard of the term "smart phones", now you'll hear "smart printer"! Okay, I admit --- anything “techy” gets me excited!

I actually already own 2 printers that I love and use all the time, so I am quite familiar with the networking features on printers and great color printing like what my Minolta QMS 2300 Laser Printer have and the Scanner/Copier/Fax/Printer All-In-One features that my HP Office Jet G85 has.

But after reading more about the Epson Artisan 800, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. So as soon as I received it, I went ahead to hook it all up without waiting for my husband which is what I normally do when it comes to any installations. It was very easy to install and using it is quite simple.

First of all, the printer itself looked SO sleek! It has a beautiful 7.8” touch panel that lights only the buttons you need to get the job done, and it has a 3.5 inch LCD for viewing. With 4 computers in this household, we love the WIFI idea that you don't have to go to a particular computer to print stuff anymore.And much to my son's escitement, it even lets you enhance your photos before printing. But besides the Print / Copy / Scan / Fax features, it does everything else but makes a venti cappuccino. I can only hope.

Here are some other cool features:

• Full-Featured Scanning and Copying: The Artisan 800 features 4800 dpi resolution (48-bit color) and the Artisan 700 features 2400 dpi resolution (48-bit color), for high quality scanning of images and documents with brilliant clarity and accuracy. Both all-in-ones also offer standalone, one-touch color and black and white copying with a wide range of easy-to-use options such as the ability to scan to a computer, memory card or USB flash drive, easy photo reprints and enlargements up to 400 percent, and a convenient fit-to-page printing feature. They even offer background removal for crisp, clean copies of text documents. Both models include OCR software for converting documents into text users can edit.

• Standalone Photo Capabilities: Both Artisan models have card slots that are compatible with all popular memory card types5 for printing photos without a computer or transferring files to or from a computer. Plus, users can print directly from a digital camera or mobile phone with the PictBridge® connection. Additional photo printing options include print-by-date, custom picture packages, photo index sheets, and passport and photo IDs.

• Restore Faded Photos: Artisan all-in-ones can easily restore color to old, faded photos with or without using a computer.

• Creativity Made Simple: Included software allows users to create and print personalized CDs/DVDs, greeting cards, elegant invitations, beautiful photo calendars, photo books, and more.

• Shared Use at Home: Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking are built in for sharing with all users in the home. An optional Bluetooth® photo print adapter is also available for printing from cell phones and other mobile devices.

• Flexible Paper Handling: Both models print borderless photos in popular sizes, including 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", and letter. They also feature a paper cassette with two paper trays that eliminate the need to switch between plain and photo paper. In addition, two-sided printing is built-in and can be automated with an optional duplexer6.

• Smart Ink System: The Artisan series feature convenient individual ink cartridges that can be changed in as little as five seconds and replace only the color needed. In addition, innovative technology conveniently combines color inks to produce black when black ink is low to extend printing.

Cartridges are available in two sizes to match users' printing needs."
But more importantly, the printing is beautiful. The colors were vivid and definitely a higher quality of any other inkjet printers that I’ve tried. And one smart thing about the ink cartridges too is that you can buy the colors in separate packs unlike most inkjets that all colors comes in one cartridge. So if one color runs out, you'll have to change the whole cartridge. And did you read about creating and personalizing your own CD/DVD! Didn't I tell you this is one smart printer?!

The Artisan 800 exceeded my expectation and I can't wait to play with it some more. It seems as though I’ll be chucking both of my printers for this one!

Top Finds @ Chitag

2008-12-01T06:11:00.005-06:00

By: Molly Katholi

From our media booth at CHITAG (Chicago Game and Toy Fair), We had the opportunity to preview the hottest, latest and greatest toys and games. There were so many fantastic exhibits run by fun and enthusiastic people it was hard to choose our favorites, but here are our top finds.

Bloxes. Blocks + Boxes = Bloxus! A Chicago based company that sells building blocks made of interlocking pieces of corrugated cardboard, folded together. They are both lightweight and exceptionally strong. And, since they can connect on all six sides what you can build with them is unlimited! Check them out at www.bloxes.com

Zillio. The woman behind this fabulous toy is Kay Emerson. A former engineer who designed the toy with a specific purpose - to provide all children with a fun and powerful way to see, touch, and understand basic math concepts. Sounds too good to be true? Well, check it out at http://www.zilliogames.com/ to see what we saw - a toy so gorgeous that you are drawn in and a game so fun to play that not one of the children seemed to care that they were learning math.

Lo Yo! This game is an ingenious combination of strategy, risk, memorization and luck that is a guaranteed new addiction. It is a simple set up with complex layers of play that would make it fun for two or four players for years to come. Take a peek at http://www.loyogame.com/.

Kijani. Even their website http://www.missionkijani.com makes you take notice This game not only has a zero carbon footprint due in part to its soy based ink and recycled board and box, but the mission of the game is to help two children successfully carry a rare rainforest tree back to Kijani and save it from extinction. Each move is based on your ability to answer ecological questions. Talk about a mission!

Catch My Drift. This is charades with an urban twist. Even we had to wait to get a chance to talk to the creator of this game - people would not stop playing! This game tests whether you really know slang words and whether you are using them accurately. Just picture your family sitting down in teams to try and guess the urban word for house (crib) or Wednesday (hump day). For more examples check the game out at http://www.slanguagegamez.com/.

Animoes. This game is targeted for the 3 and up crowd and is really designed with small children in mind. Adorable animal pictures are accompanied by rules that require children to act like animals while they wait their turn. Fun, educational and does not require your children to sit still! http://www.animoes.com/

Bike Buddy. My back spasms in pain every time my son asks to ride his bike. The Bike Buddy, invented by two moms in Portland, resolves that problem. It is a harness that goes all the way around your child with two handles in the back. You have a supportive hold on your child while they learn to ride a back. Safety without the back ache. You can see how it works at http://www.bike-buddy.com/

3D5. The ultimate tic-tac-toe where you must be the first player to place 5 of your marbles in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. With a collapsible game board design this game would be fun to play on a basic level with children or use the free space marbles to really drive an opponent crazy.

Check back with us for more detailed reviews on these products coming soon!

City-Chic Eleven Shoes

2008-12-01T05:49:00.002-06:00

Who doesn’t love great shoes?! Comfort and city chic style are what I’m looking for when buying children’s shoes and Eleven seem to be after my own heart. They have the look I want for my kids and they are very comfortable, most especially with my very picky 5 year old.

As soon as Eleven sent us a pair of the Luc shoes, my son was willing to try it on. He’s not one to like any change of shoes, but he was hooked on it as soon as he tried it on. I love how he looked perfectly great wearing his all leather Luc with his shirt and tie school uniform but yet the padded insoles and durable rubber sole kept my very active son happy.

According to Eleven's website:

“We believe in providing children the perfect shoes for every occasion, sophisticated and functional. Eleven’s impeccably made shoes all feature soft leather uppers, and flexible, durable rubber soles for superior traction. The cushioned insole makes each step a comfortable one, and all shoes feature easy on and off Velcro or zipper closures. Eleven’s shoes are available in whole sizes 9-3, perfect for toddlers through early school age kids (ages 3-8).

Eleven found a fan in me!

What Tech Savvy Families Want - 2008

2008-11-28T02:33:00.011-06:00

In the generation of Smart Phones, we can no longer tolerate hard to use gadgets. What we’ve chosen are what we call Smart Gadgets. No fuss. Turn on and it does everything you expect it to and more.

Chumby – www.Chumby.com
$ 179.95 Price quoted from the Chumby site

A friendly little Wi-fi computer that does practically everything except make you coffee. Digital clock + internet radio + games+ digital picture frame + many more!

I actually have my flickr photos pulled up as well as my google email, calendar, and even my twitter and facebook photos all loaded up too! I learned to not place this by my bedside, because I end up playing with it for hours on end.

This is perfect for teens and up! Specially great to buy for college kids too.

The Flip Video Camera – www.flipvideo.com
Starts $129.99 to $229.99 Prices quoted from their site

When you have kids, the video camera is a must. But the last thing you want to carry is another bulky and cumbersome video camera. I wish I've had this all along. Now that I've received one, I can't imagine how my daily running around kids would be without it.

Compact, easy to use (no need to even read any directions), and easy to download. And most importantly the quality of the videos are great! This is perfect for any age...even my 5 year old knows how to work it!

Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro – www.logitech.com
$129.99 Price quoted from Logitech

The best and clearest webcam I’ve ever owned. The videos are razor sharp thanks to the Carl Zeiss® lens! The high quality microphone also records voice and sounds that are very crisp and clear.

Also very easy to use and handsfree. It easily mounts on any laptop or you can simple let it sit on its own. Perfect to use when calling families from afar. Great gift for your college kids too!

Epson Artisan 800 – www.epson.com
$299.99 - Price quoted from Epson

It is like having your own Kinkos at home. Seriously! Yes, that's what Techmamas said and I happen to agree! This All-in-One Wi-Fi printer not only prints, but it can scan, fax, and also a copier. It even prints on CDs! How cool is that?

Easy to install and easy to use. And it looks beautiful sitting in your counter. Finally, a printer not only so smart - but very sleek! For a more in depth review of this printer, you can find that here.

Nintendo Wii Gaming System and Wii Fit – www.nintendo.com
Approx. $370 bundled price

Jen (our other Editor) called it the newest crack! And yes, I can attest to this kind of effect on people.

If you need your family to get moving, this can get you started at the comfort of your very own home.

Not only are the games engaging, but the healthy results that you get out of it is a major plus! You'll learn how to practice yoga more effectively, and lots of other balancing games. 40 games altogether!

Amazon.com Widgets

Epson, How Do I Love Thee?

2008-11-20T06:55:00.000-06:00

Let me count the ways. Well, you've heard of the term "smart phones", now you'll hear "smart printer"! Thanks to One2One Network and SVMoms, I am so excited that I got picked to do a review on the new Epson Artisan 800 All-in-One printer. Okay, I admit --- anything “techy” gets me excited!

But after reading more about the Epson Artisan 800, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. So as soon as I received it, I went ahead to hook it all up without waiting for my husband which is what I normally do when it comes to any installations. It was very easy to install and using it is quite simple.

First of all, the printer itself looked SO sleek! It has a beautiful 7.8” touch panel that lights only the buttons you need to get the job done, and it has a 3.5 inch LCD for viewing. With 4 computers in this household, we love the WIFI idea that you don't have to go to a particular computer to print stuff anymore.And much to my son's escitement, it even lets you enhance your photos before printing. But besides the Print / Copy / Scan / Fax features, it does everything else but makes a venti cappuccino. I can only hope.

Here are some other cool features:

"• Full-Featured Scanning and Copying: The Artisan 800 features 4800 dpi resolution (48-bit color) and the Artisan 700 features 2400 dpi resolution (48-bit color), for high quality scanning of images and documents with brilliant clarity and accuracy. Both all-in-ones also offer standalone, one-touch color and black and white copying with a wide range of easy-to-use options such as the ability to scan to a computer, memory card or USB flash drive, easy photo reprints and enlargements up to 400 percent, and a convenient fit-to-page printing feature. They even offer background removal for crisp, clean copies of text documents. Both models include OCR software for converting documents into text users can edit.

• Standalone Photo Capabilities: Both Artisan models have card slots that are compatible with all popular memory card types5 for printing photos without a computer or transferring files to or from a computer. Plus, users can print directly from a digital camera or mobile phone with the PictBridge® connection. Additional photo printing options include print-by-date, custom picture packages, photo index sheets, and passport and photo IDs.

• Restore Faded Photos: Artisan all-in-ones can easily restore color to old, faded photos with or without using a computer.

• Creativity Made Simple: Included software allows users to create and print personalized CDs/DVDs, greeting cards, elegant invitations, beautiful photo calendars, photo books, and more.

• Shared Use at Home: Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking are built in for sharing with all users in the home. An optional Bluetooth® photo print adapter is also available for printing from cell phones and other mobile devices.

• Flexible Paper Handling: Both models print borderless photos in popular sizes, including 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", and letter. They also feature a paper cassette with two paper trays that eliminate the need to switch between plain and photo paper. In addition, two-sided printing is built-in and can be automated with an optional duplexer6.

• Smart Ink System: The Artisan series feature convenient individual ink cartridges that can be changed in as little as five seconds and replace only the color needed. In addition, innovative technology conveniently combines color inks to produce black when black ink is low to extend printing. Cartridges are available in two sizes to match users' printing needs."

But more importantly, the printing is beautiful. The colors were vivid and definitely a higher quality of any other inkjet printers that I’ve tried. And one smart thing about the ink cartridges too is that you can buy the colors in separate packs unlike most inkjets that all colors comes in one cartridge. So if one color runs out, you'll have to change the whole cartridge. And did you read about creating and personalizing your own CD/DVD! Didn't I tell you this is one smart printer?!

The Artisan 800 exceeded my expectation and I can't wait to play with it some more. It seems as though I’ll be chucking both of my printers for this one!

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2008-11-20T04:59:00.000-06:00