Small Sprouts Blog

4 Bad Habits That Are Making You Sick~Frugal Mompreneur

2012-01-30T05:55:00.000-08:00

What happens when you don't sleep enough, skip breakfast, don't exercise, or hold grudges? Find out how these behaviors are harming your health.

What happens when I only sleep five hours?

The inside story: No one knows for sure why sleep is necessary, but there's no doubt that getting too little throws a wrench into your body's works. For example, studies show that a sleep debt lowers levels of the hormone leptin, which helps keep your appetite under control. Implication: Sleep too little, and there's a good chance you'll be soon overeating. Sleep deprivation also boosts levels of stress hormones, which prompt your body to send more glucose into your bloodstream. Too little sleep also makes your body less sensitive to insulin.

But that's just the beginning. Research shows that sleeping too little shuts down production of certain chemicals in the immune system that defend your body against germs. Shortchange yourself on shut-eye and you may want to have a box of tissues and cough medicine handy: A 2009 study found that people who sleep less than seven hours a night are up to three times more likely to develop a cold.

Other studies show that even modest sleep deprivation - cutting back from your usual eight hours a night to six hours, for instance - can turn up levels of chronic inflammation, which increases the risk for many conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, and osteoporosis.

Then, there are the immediate effects. When the alarm clock blares you out of a deep sleep, you're apt to start the day in a sour mood. As the day passes, you're also likely to feel dull witted and foggy. Some neurologists believe that one purpose of sleep is to give your brain a chance to build and strengthen the wiring between neurons. Studies show that well-rested people learn new information faster and have sharper memories. Short sleep reduces your reaction time, too, making you at risk for car accidents and other mishaps.

BOTTOM LINE: While some people can get by on relatively little sleep, most of us need seven to eight hours a night. Experts say one sign that you're getting adequate sleep is that you can wake up on time every day without using an alarm clock.

What happens when I skip breakfast?

The inside story: When you wake up after a long night's rest, your body has gone as much as 12 hours without a meal. That means one thing: You need fuel. More precisely, it means there's probably a shortage of glucose in your bloodstream. If you don't eat breakfast and head out the door with low blood sugar, one organ in particular won't be operating at full speed: your brain, which requires a steady flow of blood sugar to run effectively. And even a mild case of low blood sugar can leave you queasy and jittery. You may also feel less sharp-witted. Studies of school children have shown repeatedly that kids who eat breakfast have better memories and learn more than their classmates who don't.

What's more, blowing off breakfast is a set-up for pigging out later on. "Breakfast is important for keeping your appetite under control the rest of the day," says endocrinologist Suma Dronavalli, MD, of the University of Chicago Medical Center. In other words, skip breakfast and by noontime your groaning stomach will convince you to skip the salad and order a Dagwood-size sandwich, instead. Most people more than compensate for the calories they miss at breakfast by overeating at lunch and dinner - especially foods high in saturated fat, the kind that plugs arteries.

Meanwhile, breakfast skippers are also more likely to snack on junk food between meals. One study found that women who usually nixed breakfast were able to take off four pounds - simply by adding a nutritious meal in the morning. Eat breakfast regularly and you'll not only lose weight, but your blood sugar should shape up, too.

BOTTOM LINE: More than three quarters of people who lose weight and keep it off eat breakfast. Sitting down for the morning meal may also make you up to 50 percent less likely to develop insulin resistance, the problem that causes type 2 diabetes.

What happens when I spend the day sitting around?

The inside story: Remember that old saying "the devil finds work for idle hands"? Spending a lazy day on the sofa may not seem evil to you, but your body finds plenty of ways to make trouble with the sugar, or glucose idling in your bloodstream. Taking a walk or getting any other type of physical activity forces muscle cells to soak up glucose, which it uses to produce energy. On a day when you don't give your muscles enough work to do, glucose goes unused. Over time, a sit-around lifestyle encourages two major problems:

* Your body converts some unused sugar to fat. Build up too much and your butt, thighs, and belly will expand. The latter flab depository is the most worrisome; research shows that fat cells around the waistline produce chemicals that cause insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation, which promotes heart disease and other conditions.

* Having lots of glucose lingering in the blood increases levels of dangerous compounds called AGEs that damage nerves and blood cells. That's why high blood sugar causes diabetes complications such as blindness and kidney disease.

Getting up off the sofa and heading out the door for a walk can help you to avoid these fates, of course. Exercise is a reliable fat burner and research shows that physical activity lowers levels of AGEs, too - among many other benefits.

BOTTOM LINE: Sitting around all day may help you get caught up on your favorite cable shows, but it is also a set-up for bad blood sugar, weight gain, and all the problems they can cause.

What happens when I spend the day really angry?

The inside story: There's nothing wrong with getting angry - it's perfectly natural and healthy to get ticked off now and then. Staying angry is another matter altogether: It's terrible for you. Apart from wrecking your mood and alienating others, fuming all day can make it much harder to manage diabetes. Anger is a form of emotional stress, which causes your body to release adrenaline and other related hormones. One effect of these "stress" hormones is to raise blood sugar. Also, stress may make you indulge in bad habits, such as eating junk food, which can make matters worse.

There's more. Letting your anger boil all day can damage your heart. Do you get irked and annoyed now and then, but you're able to shrug it off? No big deal. But scientists now know that clinging to anger raises blood pressure. While that's not a big surprise, a recent Yale study found that people who tend to let their anger stew also have high levels of a substance called endothelin, which is known to trigger heart attacks by causing plaques in the arteries (clumps of fat, cholesterol, and other gunk) to burst open and form blood clots. Other research has found that intense, sustained anger can actually cause an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which can stop your ticker from ticking - permanently.

BOTTOM LINE: Day-long anger can be toxic, so find a way to let it go. Write down your rage in a journal. If a friend or family member made you mad, tell 'em. Or just go outside and scream - whatever helps you blow off steam.

Support Work At Home Moms & Dads~Made In America

2012-01-27T10:19:00.000-08:00

~Our products are made in the USA by fantastic stay at home Moms and Grandmas~

~Several of our competitors products are made china~

~Support USA made products-Buy Small Sprouts~

Another Happy Small Sprouts Customer!!

2012-01-26T07:47:00.000-08:00

One of the Cutest pictures we have gotten! Thank you Crystal for sharing it with us!

How To Find A Cheap Gym Membership~Frugal Mompreneur

2012-01-23T05:24:00.000-08:00

By Real Simple

The New Year comes with a blizzard of gym ads. Get in shape without spending huge sums. Here are nine ways which can save you nearly $600 in gym fees.

mediaphotos

Work Out With the Co-Eds

Many colleges and universities offer discounted gym access to alumni. Columbia University, in New York City, for example, charges $230 per year for recent graduates. That comes out to less than $20 per month!

Glow Wellness

Ask and Ye Shall Receive … Gym Deals

Scout out other gyms in your area and ask about discounts. Then, ask your gym of choice to match. Now’s the best time to search, since so many fitness clubs have January specials. (If you convinced the gym you’re interested in to simply drop its joining fee, you could save as much as $50 to $200.)

Nick Daly

Exploit Your Insurance

Some health plans provide discounts on gym memberships, so research yours. An example: Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Care First provides up to 60 percent off membership fees. You could save as much as $360 per year, if you usually pay $50 per month.

Vladimir Godnik

Mooch Off Your Company

Many companies offer gym deals for employees, as working out lowers health care costs. For instance, Prudential allows employees to save $20 per month off memberships at New York Sports Club.

Jupiterimages

Be Flexible (About How You Get Flexible)

Some gyms offer lower rates if you go at non-peak hours. These special rates often aren’t advertised, so ask.

Assembly

Vouch For These Gyms

The American Health and Fitness Association’s passbook costs $75 and contains vouchers for free admission to gyms, Pilates, or yoga in New York, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles. Depending on how often you work out, the $75 book could very well last you the entire year.

Group running cross country

Run With the Club

Runners clubs are overlooked gems. These organizations help you find races and provide a running community. Don’t worry about being Olympic-caliber; many clubs have events for beginners. Road Runners Club of America offers individual memberships for $25 per year, while the marathon group 50&DC Marathon Group USA costs $10 for a lifetime membership. Many Meetup.com running clubs are free, too, though some charge small fees.

Jamie Grill

Surf for a Workout (Without a Board)

Get your exercise on at home with free workout videos.

Courtesy of Lara Robby/Studio D

Use Workout Apps

Mapmyrun.com helps you find running routes, and its iPhone app tracks calorie usage and logs workouts. iPod Nanoo, Touch, or iPhone users can nab a personal training regimen from Nike for $29, which tracks time, distance, pace, and calories burned.

Stockbyte

The Bottom Line

If you follow these tips, you can save: $571/year*
If you invested this amount today and earned an 8 percent return, you would have $12,405 by retirement.**
*Savings if you buy the Nike + iPod Sport Kit instead of paying $50 per month to a gym. Comparable savings if you use a voucher book instead of a gym membership or join a university gym for a reduced fee.
**If you are 25 today and retire at age 65.

Give Your Princess A Great Ride! Small Sprouts Toddler & Booster Covers

2012-01-18T03:23:00.000-08:00

Ava looks so adorable in this black spirals hot pink cover fromSmall Sprouts

Looks like she is enjoying the ride

Thank you Lori for sending these to us of your adorable princess Ava!!

Spa At Home Recipes~Frugal Mompreneur

2012-01-13T04:27:00.000-08:00

Spa-At-Home: Recipes for Puffy Eyes and Dark Circle Remedies

By Maddie Ruud

With stress, age, and insomnia, it's no wonder your eyes look like they do. Every third commercial on television seems to advertise a new miracle eye cream or expensive remedy. The fact is, you can get the same (or better!) results at home, with common household ingredients, without the bother of sorting through the subtleties of the mass of products on store shelves, or shelling out a wad from your wallet.
Try these simple, at-home recipes for spa-quality eye treatments. You'll be amazed at, and rejuvanated by, the results.

At-Home Beauty & Spa Treatment Recipes

Green Tea Cucumber Slices

A variation on the traditional cucumber remedy, with twice the results.

Ingredients:

½ cucumber
1 green tea bag

Instructions:

Brew green tea, steep, chill. Slice cucumber and add to green tea. Refrigerate until cool. Place soaked cucumber slices over eyes for 10 minutes.

Potato Puffiness Cure Cream

Moisturize and soothe your eyes with this simple recipe.

Ingredients:

1/2 raw potato
1 tsp urea-free moisturizer

Instructions:

Peel potato, grate finely. Measure 2 teaspoonfuls into moisturizer, mix well. Apply liberally around eyes, cover with damp cotton pads or gauze. Let rest 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Sour Cream & Parsley Pillows

Reduces puffiness and increases circulation.

Ingredients:

2 tsp sour cream
1 tsp fresh parsley
2 squares cheesecloth

Instructions:

Chop parsley finely, mix into sour cream. Place half of mixture into the middle of each square of cheese cloth, fold into "pillows," put one on each eye for 10-15 minutes.

Easy Herbal Compress

A nightly treatment for ongoing eye care.

Ingredients:

1 tsp sage
1/2 cup water

Instructions:

Boil water, steep sage leaves for 10 minutes. Strain, separate water into two bowls. Soak two gauze pads or cotton balls in each bowl, and put one bowl in the refrigerator, then alternate application to eyes: 10 minutes warm, 10 minutes cool.
Alternatively, try substituting chamomile or dill weeds for sage.

Avocado-Almond Rinse

A rich masque for your eyes.

Ingredients:

5 drops almond oil
3 slices ripe avocado

Instructions:

Blend almond oil into avocado, smear around eyes. Rest 5 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Other Tips

For immediate relief of irritated eyes, mix a teaspoon of salt with 3/4 cup filtered water and flush the entire area.
If you know that you tend to have problems with puffy or dark-circled eyes, take extra care to avoid the things that irritate them. Drink plenty of water. If you work a desk job, take breaks of at least 60 seconds from staring at the computer screen every 15 minutes during the day.
The best cure for puffy eyes is the simplest, yet somehow the hardest to achieve: Get more sleep.

Another Happy Customer

2012-01-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

I love when customers send me pictures!

They sure look comfy!

Think before you "Like" on Facebook

2012-01-09T07:41:00.000-08:00

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during a news conference at Facebook's headquarters …

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Annie Scranton has a little problem.

The founder and president of New York City's Pace Public Relations is a successful and sober-minded individual, but when it comes to this one thing, she has a definite compulsion. It's the "Like" button on Facebook -- she just can't stop clicking it.

"I'm totally obsessed with it," says the 31 year old. "Just like a lot of people I know. My friends and I call it 'Like-Bombing', where you go online and like everything."

So it's a good thing for serial "Likers" like Scranton that there are more and more rewards for consumers who click that button.

Hotel chain Marriott, for instance, is currently offering prizes totaling 10 million reward points for those who Like its Facebook pages, including two grand prizes of a million points each.

Think of it as a social-media arms race among corporations, to see which can amass the greatest number of online followers.

"It's become a real competition between companies to grow the size of that number, and to have more fans than your rivals," says Matt Simpson, marketing director for Phoenix-based Bulbstorm, which develops social-media apps for companies such as NBC and World Wrestling Entertainment.
"Over the last year, we've been seeing more and more of it, and it's been driven largely by promotional applications like sweepstakes."

PROMOTIONS AND LIST BUILDING
If you "Liked" Toys 'R Us before Thanksgiving, for instance, you got a shot at a limo ride, a $1,000 shopping spree, and exclusive store access before its doors opened for Black Friday sales.
Travel site Expedia, meanwhile, hosted a 'FriendTrips' sweepstakes for those who Liked its Facebook page, offering voyages to one of 13 different destinations.

As a result, in the third quarter of this year, an average of 100 million "Like" buttons were being clicked on Facebook every day. That's double the amount of liking going on, compared with the same period last year.

Corporations are doing this for a reason, of course. They're building marketing lists, they're aiming to boost sales, and they're planting themselves in users' news feeds.

When Coca-Cola has more than 36 million Likes, and Disney has more than 29 million, they've assembled a ready-made audience that can be tapped at any time.

And here's a little secret: While companies are certainly happy to have you as a fan, what they're really interested in isn't you; it's your friends.

Because if you officially Like Starbucks, your friends see that you've liked Starbucks, and they become more likely to spend there as well.

"Friends of fans represent a much larger set of consumers than the brand's own fans," says Elisabeth Diana, Facebook's manager of corporate communications. "In fact they're 81 times the size of the actual fan base, so Likes are a way to reach those people as well."
The promotional pushes seem to be paying off.

Expedia's FriendTrips campaign, for instance, garnered 900,000 new Likes for the company. And while Marriott's contest is ongoing until the end of the year, its new Marriott Rewards Facebook page has already gone from zero to more than 170,000 Likes.

"We've surpassed all other hotel rewards programs in under three weeks," says Michelle Lapierre, Marriott's senior director of customer relationship marketing, taking a slap at rivals Hilton, Starwood and Hyatt.

LIKING, PHASE TWO
Of course, once you have an army of online followers, that's not the end of the marketing road. Then there's the question of what to do with them all.

That's why companies are now proceeding to Phase Two of the Like operation: Figuring out how to engage and entertain consumers on an ongoing basis, with a flurry of polls and quizzes and games.
"Collecting Likes by giving away prizes is a great way to build a fan base, but it's not the be-all and end-all of Facebook marketing," says Bulbstorm's Simpson, who himself won a 10-day trip to Hawaii from just such an online promotion.

"Savvy brands are starting to focus on things with more entertainment value, to keep you around longer than the seven seconds it takes to fill out a form."

Beware, though, that Liking something publicly makes companies keenly interested in who you are and where you're surfing.

Not only that, but Facebook is rolling out so-called 'Sponsored Stories' of such activity. In other words, if you officially like Target's Facebook page, your friend Jim might get a Sponsored Story in his news feed announcing that thrilling development. So if you're uncomfortable with your personal business being public, then maybe Like-Bombing isn't your best online strategy.

"Facebook 'Like' buttons are increasing in prevalence across the Web, raising serious privacy concerns for those who value the privacy of their online reading habits," says Rainey Reitman, activism director for the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation.

"This collection of information about one's Web browsing habits may violate many users' expectations of privacy. Our reading habits can be incredibly sensitive, and Facebook has a long history of playing fast and loose with user privacy."

Facebook reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission in November, agreeing to get users' permission before altering privacy settings and submitting to independent privacy audits for the next 20 years.

As for Pace's Annie Scranton, though, she has no plans to rein in her Like campaign - especially since it's brought her a number of new business prospects. So if you get Liked by her, don't be all that surprised.

"My business is inextricably linked to social media, so if I wasn't constantly Liking things, my clients wouldn't be happy," she says. "Even when I'm working, I'm on Facebook all day long. You can never do enough Liking."

The writer is a Reuters columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.

(Editing by Jilian Mincer and Linda Stern)

Freebies While Helping The Environment~Frugal Mompreneur Tips

2012-01-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

I recently received some great information for all you frugal moms from Nicole Boivin of ecofreek

ecofreek.com is a search engine that searches the web for free and 'for swap/trade' items people no longer need from over 45+ major sources, providing the most diverse and accurate results anywhere in the world.

Also included are items for trade like books, sports equipment, antiques, automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, CDs/DVDs, computers, property, seeds/gardening supplies, and lots more.

We also encourage people to exchange and re-use items though our search engine and also our 'places to give things away' section. Feel free to recommend new resources as well, they have a section we link to other environmental/green sites. Give to people in need.

I looked through the site and found this Ford Taurus someone wants to swap

I also found Blaze, adorable 8mo old pup, house and obedience trained, free to good home!

Lots of listings on this site. You will occasionally run into deleted listings still be picked up in the search engine, but otherwise it seems like a neat system Nicole has put together.

WINNER OF THE SMALL SPROUTS YOU CHOOSE GIVEAWAY

2012-01-02T06:05:00.000-08:00

The Winner of the Small Sprouts You Choose Giveaway is Carah Herndon!

Thank you all for the great participation!

~Stay tuned for another giveaway soon~

Big Day Tommorow For The Small Sprouts Giveaway

2012-01-01T05:49:00.000-08:00

Tommorow is the big giveaway day!

Very important if you have been participating to win

Please total your points and leave a comment on the blog or Facebook with your total points and a breakdown of each catagory before 6am Central Time

Points will be tallied and checked to determine the winner and announcement will be made tommorow!

Thank you all for the great participation

Small Sprouts You Choose Giveaway!!

2011-12-15T03:14:00.000-08:00

~REALLY BIG GIVEAWAY TIME AGAIN~

~THE WINNER WILL CHOOSE ANY 1 ITEM FROM OUR WEBSITE~
Small Sprouts.com or SmallSproutsBaby-Etsy Store

~How about a gorgeous stroller cover~

~A gorgeous Car Seat Cover~

~Diaper bag~

~YOU CHOOSE~

~Rules To Win~

Mandatory
1. Become a follower of my blog or let me know that you already follow. Come back and leave me a comment letting me know you follow. This will be verified.~

2. Go to my website, www.smallsprouts.com or Small Sprouts Baby Etsy Store, find what you like, then come back & leave a comment letting me know what you would choose if you win!!

Extra Entries:
BONUS 5 POINTS~If you have a blog, Blog about my contest and grab my Small Sprouts button off the side of my blog (copy html under my button & paste into your blog) Then return here and leave a comment letting me know you did so & the name of your blog to be verified. Button must be kept on your blog for the month of the giveaway. If you leave my button on your blog, you will automatically receive points on every giveaway we do. **Please note-Your blog must be an active blog with at least 100 followers

2. Become an email subscriber. This is found on the upper right hand side of blog. leave me a comment letting me know you did so. this will be verified. (1 point)

3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Please leave a comment with your twitter name letting me know you did so. (1 point per tweet) maximum 2 tweets per day

4. Become a fan on my Facebook, go to the upper right side of my blog to click on the fan box. Please leave a comment on Facebook & Blog letting me know you did so. (2 points)

5. Share this contest on your Facebook page and tag Small Sprouts. ( 1 point)

6. Send your friends to my Facebook page, every friend that "Likes" my Facebook page button and leaves a comment saying who sent them (Add 1 point for each friend)

** Please note that according to new Facebook rules, this is not a Facebook page sponsored contest. It is my blog that is sponsoring the contest

This giveaway ends January 2 , 2012 at 6am & is open to the U.S. only. Make sure that you leave your email address in your final comment. Leave a separate comment for every entry that you make so that these will count for you! Before contest end, You must comment on the blog giving a final total of points which will be verified.

Have fun and I look forward to announcing the winner of this great giveaway! You must claim your prize within 24 hours of winner announcement or forfeit the prize to the next chosen.

**Please note that winners choice must be within the regular customer parameters. All Bedding products are excluded from this offer. 1 item only, no extras included but you may purchase additional items like blankets, monograms, etc.,

Spots Still Open For Christmas Orders

2011-12-12T05:44:00.000-08:00

We still have a few spots open for rush Christmas orders!

We make adorable blankets in all shapes and sizes, add a monogram for a personal touch!

Great Gift Idea for that new Mom to be

Lots of Car Seat Accessories

More New Items From Small Sprouts

2011-12-09T05:35:00.000-08:00

Look at this adorable Owl set for your little girl!

We have a modified option for the London with some polka dots!

This set is ready to ship for the Baby Trend Expedition LX and Flex loc car seat

Our new Sports Edition Boy cover!

Order now and receive a free matching blanket for a limited time

Super Cute Dandy Light Pink Cover

Small Sprouts Limited Time Offer~Free Blanket

2011-12-07T05:29:00.000-08:00

As Winter Approaches, or is already here for some of you. I thought this would be a great time for a blanket giveaway!!

a great boot blanket to match your cover

Add a ruffle or a monogram for that personal touch

For a limited time, with the purchase of any Infant Car Seat Cover Package, you will receive either a matching travel blanket or boot blanket

Please email me for details on ordering, admin@smallsprouts.com

**This offer includes a "25x25" matching travel blanket or a matching boot blanket with the order of an infant replacement car seat cover package (slipcovers not included in offer) you may upgrade the offer to add a ruffle or monogram. You must notify me at the time of purchase to receive the offer. ***Some fabrics & Some car seat models do not apply to this offer

Make-up women love but men hate

2011-12-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

Neon lips, blue eyeshadow, shimmering glitter, and golden bronzers: This spring, some of the most dramatic looks we saw on the runways are making their way onto our faces. But not everything we dabble on pleases everyone. We had a hunch that some of our biggest beauty obsessions might be turn-offs for guys...so we went ahead asked. Prepare yourself: brutal honesty ensues.

ThinkStock Photos

1. Heavy foundation and powders: "The inch-thick powder is a huge turn-off," says Maxim senior editor Nick Leftley. "No guy wants to kiss a girl on the cheek and then find he¹s wearing foundation himself." A flaking face is one thing, but when your cheek becomes a palette of skin-tone colors, men pay attention...and not the good attention. "I'm always amazed to see women with two-tone faces, two apparently different shades of skin on the face, as if they apply makeup in the dark," says James Oliver Cury, the online editorial director at Maxim. "I'd rather see one greasy face than some sort of melanin imbalance. The nose should match the cheeks."

Getty Images

2. "Bumps": "I never liked, or knew of any other guy who liked, the Gwen Stefani "bumpit" look," says Henry Belanger, an editor at The Good Men Project. "Be wary of anything that makes your head look unnaturally large."

3. Neon lipstick: Most of the fashion world agreed that electric pouts were a beauty "do" this season. Some men, however, beg to differ. "Orange lips are definitely a departure from what we're used to and not necessarily something a lot of guys I know really respond to just quite yet," say fashion blogger John Januzzi of Lucky and the fashion website, Textbook.

4. Too-thin brows:"My pet peeve is overly plucked eyebrows," says David Swanson, Maxim's Features Editor."I mean, really? It's basically an advertisement that naturally you're hairier than Robin Williams. If it looks natural, we'd never have to wonder."

Getty Images

5. Bold eye-shadow: "I don't understand the revival of bright blue eyeshadow," proposes Maxim's Cury. "Is it retro? Is it purposefully over-the-top? To my eyes, it just looks tacky no matter how you wear it." Lucky's Januzzi isn't as bothered by color as he is by application. "Smoky eyes--when done right are great--very sexy and attractive but when done wrong they look a total mess," he says. "Seek professional guidance before trying at home."

6. Rosy cheeks: "As far as make-up goes, I think rouge is for old ladies," adds Good Men Project's Belanger. "I think guys generally prefer the kind of make-up you don't notice is there, and since there's a lot that guys don't notice I think women have a lot of leeway."

Getty Images

7. Two-toned lips:Remember Kim Mathers? She was almost as famous for her lip liner issues as she was for being defamed by Eminem. According to our dude survey, the pucker problem was more serious. "When I see thin lines drawn around a pair of lips, I think: Is this part of some gang initiation rite?" says Cury.

8. Glitter:"Women need to be judicious with it," says Cury. "It¹s like any good seasoning. You shouldn't shake it all over. It can overwhelm the main course." That being said, he's not opposed to a heavy sprinkle of cleavage glitter. Figures.

Resources: Yahoo:Shine

5 Weird Place To Find Coupons~Frugal Mompreneur Tips!

2011-12-01T05:31:00.000-08:00

I'm not exactly the poster woman for coupons -- particularly extreme couponing -- for a variety of reasons. Mainly, I just believe there are more time-efficient ways to save money.

Mine is not a popular view: Millions of Americans have turned to coupons to save money in this economy. Now, if you use a coupon for something you already need, that's one thing. But as we know, couponing has, for some, turned into an unhealthy obsession.

There's no limit as to how far some will go to dig up a buy-one-get-one-free offer; some aficionados are even said to be stealing neighbors' Sunday papers for their coupon inserts.

Now the folks behind CouponSherpa.com have created a master list of 52 places where you can locate coupons these days. Some, like newspaper inserts and online coupon websites, are obvious, but many on the list were rather surprising.
Here are the five weirdest:

1. EBay
Did you know that eBay sells coupons? I did a search and there are currently more than 78,000 items in that category -- some up for bids, but many available to "buy now."

There are several listings for batches of "100 grocery store coupons," many worth $1 off or more, with bidding for the lot starting at around $1. Even I will admit that's an interesting deal: If you find even 10% of the coupons worthwhile, that's money well spent.

But then I'm reminded by the compulsion when I see listings for 20 identical cereal coupons, which expire in about 3 weeks. You'll either need a lot of cereal lovers in your household -- or a big pantry.

2. Coupon Clipping Services
Too busy to clip your own coupons? There are actual coupon clipping companies that will do the work for you for a very small fee.

Popular examples include: The Coupon Clippers and Coupons By Dede. You can sign up to receive coupons in specific categories or from preferred manufacturers and retailers.

3. Coupon Trains
Coupon trains let you exchange coupons with others through the mail.

CouponSherpa explains how it works: "An envelope of coupons, usually 40 to 200, is mailed from the 'conductor' to the first person on the list. They remove their desired coupons and replace them with those of equal value and number before mailing the envelope on the next member of the train."

You can create trains with specific coupons for babies, pets, household products, etc. Shoppers look online to find passengers at sites like MommySavers.com and the message board at TheGroceryGame.com.

4. Airports
I would never have thought of this, but CouponSherpa says airports are filled with coupons -- you just have to know where to look.

They suggest coupon hunters check out discarded newspapers and magazines, then grab unclaimed coupons. Personally, my favorite airport coupon is the Southwest drink ticket ... which you can actually find on eBay selling at 4 for $3. A $20 value -- not bad at all.

5. Inside Packaging
CouponSherpa reminds us that coupons are often hidden inside frozen food and cereal boxes. And they're right! I just checked my box of Post Shredded Wheat (I know, boring) and -- lo and behold -- a coupon for one free Del Monte fruit cup, worth up to $1.59.

Resources:Yahoo Shine

Get Ready For A New Giveaway~See What Our Last Winner Picked!

2011-11-29T05:12:00.000-08:00

Our Big Small Sprouts Giveaway time is coming up again, so I thought it would be fun to show you what our last winner picked.

She wanted to match her baby bedding

So we matched her fabric to make this adorable car seat cover

Then she added a matching boot blanket and fancy handle pad, super cute!!

Stayed tuned for another giveaway very soon!!

Are You A New Mom?~Frugal Mompreneur

2011-11-26T10:21:00.000-08:00

If you are a new Mom, or almost Mom to be, you need to get this book! Baby Bargains, 9th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on Baby Furniture, Gear, Clothes, Toys, Maternity Wear and Much, Much More! (Paperback)by Denise Fields .

I wish I had heard about this book when I first started having children. Many of the money saving tips I learned on my own over the years, but this is a great resource if you are just starting out! Below is a outline of Chapter 3 in the book. I especially tuned into the chapter about "Dangerous Impressions" I have often said if I only knew then what I know now, I could have saved alot of money.

Chapter 3

Baby Bedding & DecorSix Sources for The Best Quality and Prices

113Cyberspace: Three Great Sites

115More than Sheets: The Four Basic Bedding Pieces

116Electric Blanket Warning and Seven More Safety Tips

121Looking for Mr. Good Bedding: Nine Shopper Tips

127Skipping the Quilt and Seven More Money-Saving Secrets

130Two Outlets For More Savings

131Reviews & Ratings of 37 Top Bedding Designers

132Dangerous Impressions: Marketing of Linens

136Chart: Bedding Compared

150Seven Mail Order Sources Saves 20% to 50% off

152The Bottom Line: Our Budget Saves You $800 to $900

Now I do sell custom car seat covers on my website, which I do believe is a great purchase as you go from child to child with the same car seat, that may be getting worn or your first was a girl with that cute pink car seat that you bought, but now your having a boy! Our car seat covers are washable for those messy times and spit up!

The Complete Guide to Body Language

2011-11-17T06:36:00.000-08:00

Studies show that people size you up within two seconds.
Consciously or unconsciously, they’ll take in how you establish eye contact, the strength of your handshake and the way you hold yourself. Even when you’re talking to someone you know, your message consists of more than just the words you say: It also includes the visual and vocal cues you send.
Whether you’re reviewing your salary with your boss or negotiating with the cable guy, it’s important to be aware of your body language, so you accomplish your aims instead of unconsciously turning people off or giving them the impression that you’re a pushover.
These body language tips will help you appear more confident and professional. Read the suggestions below to start making a better impression … instantly.

People will take you more seriously if you stand tall, which conveys confidence and status. You don’t need to be physically long and lean, but take care to stand erect and keep your shoulders back. It will make you seem taller and more sure of yourself.

When talking to someone, make eye contact in order to establish your trustworthiness, sincerity and confidence—but only hold their gaze directly for a few seconds at a time, which is as long as is comfortable for most people. The only exception? When you enter a room and want to make an impression. In that case, hold each onlooker’s gaze for a beat longer than is comfortable, then look away. This move conveys that you’re confident and interested in meeting others. When you’re speaking to a group of people, switch your gaze from one person to another every so often.

When in a casual conversation, crossing your arms may seem natural, but it actually indicates that you’re feeling defensive or guarded. Instead, slightly lean into someone to convey interest. Try to keep your arms open and relaxed at your sides—or in your lap or on an armrest if at a job interview. Feel free to occasionally illustrate your points using gestures. Resist the urge to fuss with your hair, fiddle with your jewelry or crack your knuckles, all of which are distracting and can make you seem nervous.

Being the first to reach out for a handshake shows that you are confident and unafraid to take the initiative. You shouldn’t let your fingers go limp, but the goal is not to break the other person’s bones, either. A firm grasp conveys your strength without coming off as overbearing. Limit yourself to one or two up-and-down shakes, then let go.

Don’t invade anyone’s personal space, which makes people feel uneasy and unwilling to stay and listen to you. Face the person directly, keeping about an arm’s length apart, and bridge the connection with eye contact.

When standing, you should avoid crossing your legs, an awkward position that suggests that you feel uncertain and guarded (or that you need a bathroom break). However, sitting with crossed legs is one of the most common positions in many cultures, and if you’re wearing a skirt, it’s recommended. Just don’t cross the arms at the same time: Sitting with both crossed arms and legs signifies that you have withdrawn from the conversation.

If you’re standing still, keep your feet planted slightly apart to convey a sense of confidence. (But keep them narrower than hip-width to avoid shifting your weight from foot to foot frequently, which indicates discomfort or disinterest.) When you’re walking, slow down your pace to seem calmer and more collected.
—————-

Body Language Myths

Now that you know what works, here’s a list of some commonly held body language beliefs that aren’t always true. Use these moves with caution—or not at all!

Staring Is Caring

Perhaps because many people believe that having shifty eyes shows that you’re lying, you may be tempted to stare fixedly at the other person to show that you’re honest and sincere. But, unless you’re gazing to indicate attraction, staring too long will actually unsettle your conversation partner, because prolonged eye contact can be read as a sign of aggression. What’s most natural is to look away briefly and then back again throughout the conversation.

“Prince Charles” Stance Shows Power

The heir to the British throne often stands with his hands behind his back. Because he is such an influential man, some people believe that imitating this gesture will make them seem powerful, too. However, research has shown that this position seems untrustworthy to most people, since it hides what the hands are doing.

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Moving Fast Is Best

Although speaking quickly and using swift, efficient gestures displays energy and enthusiasm, you can make a better first impression by using fewer, and slower, movements. This indicates that you are confident and in control—not excitable and eager to please.

“Steepling” Fingers Illustrates Intellect

This gesture—touching the tips of your fingertips together to create a steeple shape, often when you’re leaning your elbows on a desktop—is sometimes interpreted as a sign that you’re intelligently pondering an issue. However, that meaning is not obvious and may not come across to those unfamiliar with it. What’s worse, those that do know that interpretation of the gesture may suspect you of putting on intellectual airs.

Touching Demonstrates Dominance

You may have heard that those in power illustrate their control over subordinates by touching them as if they own them: a heavy hand on a shoulder or a condescending pat on the back are two examples. However, research suggests that it is in fact lower-status people that initiate touch, often to foster friendship with those of higher status. We’re all for making friends; just remember that a firm handshake is the best way to make a good impression. Keep any other kind of contact classy, respectful and work-appropriate.

Ellie Wilkinson-learnvest.com

The 3 Veggies with the Least Nutritional Value

2011-11-14T04:30:00.000-08:00

We're not here to demonize any form of produce. After all, every veggie has at least some nutritional value -- and we all need to include more vegetables in our diets, not less!

But if you're wondering whether to use iceberg or romaine in your signature summer salad, you may want to check out our list of the veggies with the least nutritional value:

1. Celery: Sure, you can nosh on 8 inches of celery for only 6 calories, but are you really getting any nutrients in return? The answer: Yes, but you'd have to go beyond an 8-inch stalk, which provides a mere 1.6 percent of our daily requirement for calcium and 2 percent of our daily requirement for vitamin C. It does, however, boast a decent amount of fiber and vitamin K. A better alternative: Carrots, which are loaded with eye-protecting beta carotene. Toss them into salads for a low-calorie crunch; braise them as a sweet summer side dish or slice them thin and add them to your favorite stir-fry.

2. Cucumbers: The cucumber is another low-calorie veggie. One cup of sliced cucumber weighs in at only 16 calories. But it's slim on nutrients, too. In fact, cucumbers contain 5 percent or less of our daily requirement for potassium, manganese, magnesium and vitamin C. On the plus side, cucumber extracts (not the whole cucumber) do have a number of disease-fighting antioxidant compounds, like tannins and flavonoids, says Registered Dietitian and Chef Consultant Michelle Dudash. A better alternative: Purslane, a peppery herb that's high in heart-healthy alpha linolenic acid (a type of omega-3). It's also higher in beta carotene than spinach. Toss it in salads, fold it into omelets or use it as a crunchy green on sandwiches.

3. Iceberg Lettuce: Iceberg lettuce is one of the most commonly consumed vegetables in the U.S., along with potatoes (as French fries) and tomatoes, but that doesn't mean it's the healthiest option. While iceberg is low in calories and offers some vitamins and fiber, other dark leafy greens contain much more vitamin A and C. A better alternative: Romaine lettuce, which offers much more beta carotene than iceberg. Use romaine in a traditional wedge salad with blue cheese crumbles, diced tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette, or layer it on turkey sandwiches.

Resources: Amy Paturel-Self Magazine

6 Ways To Let Your Kids Be Kids~Frugal Mompreneur

2011-11-11T05:55:00.000-08:00

1. Embrace the joy of goofing around. If you live in an area where you can let your child run amok with his friends outdoors, let him; if you don't, remember that just hanging with friends and neighbors indoors can be great too. I've recently adopted an open-door policy with the parents and kids in my building: The result sometimes necessitates that I wear earplugs and swill wine on a Saturday afternoon when the hordes descend, but the chaos and occasional showdowns ("You cheated!" "Did not!"-ah, the dulcet tones of 6-year-old boys) are far preferable to the eerie silence that descends when little kids are locked for hours in the world of Noggin or Club Penguin.

2. Limit kids to one or two activities per season. For her book The Overachievers, which chronicled the lives of hyper-competitive teens destined for prestigious colleges, Alexandra Robbins interviewed kids of all ages; she found some as young as 6 who complained of stress, and 8-year-olds who were carrying day planners. "Kids may have lots of energy, but they get as tense as adults would when they're overscheduled," Robbins says.

Some parents I know are taking the less-is-more idea a step further, at least temporarily. "One semester we took the girls out of everything," says Soledad O'Brien, an anchor and special correspondent for CNN and mother of four children under 8. With all the various activities of the older girls, "it was getting insane...and it was hurricane season for me, so I was traveling more than usual. I said, 'Screw it,' and took 'em out of all extracurriculars." O'Brien then substituted dates with her daughters: Once a week Mom picked up one girl, who got to do whatever she wanted-museum, bookstore, carriage ride in Central Park, lunch in the CNN cafeteria (a favorite). "One-on-one time is great, especially with four kids," says O'Brien. "And a child walking down the street telling complete strangers, 'I'm on a date with my mom!' is really sweet."

3. Encourage more human time, less screen and toy time. Our children are spending larger and larger chunks of time with stuff and less time with people. "Think about it," says Elkind. "Even with something as simple as a car ride...parents used to use car time to talk to their kids, and now the kids are watching DVDs in the backseat." Elkind also notes that the reason classic toys like Etch A Sketch, Mr. Potato Head, and Play-Doh are still popular is that they don't direct a child's play; they don't say, "Here's the story. Play with me like this." Instead, these simpler toys allow for more wide-ranging, creative experience. "A good toy is 90 percent child and only 10 percent toy," notes Linn.

4. Introduce computers with caution. Many childhood experts agree that the interactive quality of computers can be powerfully motivating for kids who are learning to read and write-and games can be just plain pleasurable, too. But, notes Elkind, computers are finding their ways into tinier and tinier hands. "There are these little computers and computer games for 6-month-olds now," he says. "Parents who say, 'Well, computers are part of our world' are right. But to them I say: 'Microwaves are part of our world too, and you wouldn't stick one in the crib of a 6-month-old.'"

5. Reclaim summer. The first week of summer, I took my son Henry up to a lake outside the city and assumed he'd do exactly what I'd done at his age: hunt around for frogs, stare at the dragonflies. Instead, I got "Boorring"; he couldn't wait to get back home to open his lemonade stand and make some bucks. Now, this kid has been Alex P. Keaton since the moment he heard the words Commerce Bank; still, I was appalled that he had so little concept of the pleasures of a lazy summer day. Maybe taking him on a tour of the New York Stock Exchange a few days earlier instead of going to a friend's swimming pool hadn't been such a hot idea.

And maybe it's time for all of us to stop thinking of summer vacation as an opportunity to burnish a résumé. Children and parents need that hiatus to recharge. As a bonus, if you relax over the summer, you're going to be rejuvenated in time for back-to-school. Says Julie Bell-Voorhees, "When else are your kids going to catch lightning bugs and learn to play games like Jailbreak with the neighborhood kids?"

6. Learn to trust your child. This may be the most important parenting rule of all, says Elkind. "Children are self-directed learners-they are naturally curious-and how they learn is through play." When Henry finally stopped hyperventilating about getting back to the city for his lemonade stand, he teamed up with another kid at the lake who taught him how to skip rocks. This being Henry, the rock skipping ended in some massive contest over who could find the flattest rock and skip it the most times...and at some point, betting was involved. But in this simple, time-honored pursuit, they were learning something about the natural world, something about the physics of water and stone, and something about companionship and cooperation. At least I think they were. And heck, even if they weren't, I didn't have to listen to my 6-year-old discuss gross versus net for an hour. Now that's a blessing of play.

As for me, well, this much I know: After a year of enrolling my sons in after-school programs to keep them busy, busy, busy, I'll be doing things differently in the fall. Sure, on a couple of days they will be out and about. And I admit it's sometimes tempting to schedule them away every day: Ah, the peace in my house until they show up at 6:30!

But recently I talked about a new after-school program with Henry, and he was quiet for a moment. First he asked if I would be playing with him. "No," I explained, "you'll be playing with other kids." Then he wanted to know if the program could be done at our house. "No," I said, "it's near school."

"Mama," he said to me finally, "that day is too long. And I am too short."

I think I know what he means.

By Judith Newman:Redbook

Sweet Potato

2011-11-07T04:48:00.000-08:00

As we come closer to Thanksgiving, I thought this would be a great post

HISTORY: Sweet potato has a rich history and interesting origin.
It is one of the oldest vegetables known to mankind. Scientists believe that the sweet potato was domesticated thousands of years ago in Central America.

After his first voyage to the Americas in 1492, Christopher Columbus took sweet potatoes back home to Europe. The crop was introduced into China in the late 16th century and spread through Asia, Africa, and Latin America during the 17th and 18th centuries.

It's hardy, has broad adaptability, and its planting material can be multiplied quickly from very few roots. It is now grown in more developing countries than any other root crop. ORIGIN: Sweet potato is not a potato; and, a yam and sweet potato are not the same.

Sweet potato is from the Morning-glory (Convolvulaceae) plant family. Its correct spelling is "sweetpotato" one word. As a crop it is totally different from a potato (Solanum tuberosum) and from a yam - "nyami" (Dioscoreaceae)..

Sweet potato has secondary centers of genetic diversity. These are geographical areas where the crop evolved separately from its American ancestors.

In Papua New Guinea and in other parts of Asia, many types of sweet potato can be found that are genetically distinct from those found in the Americas.

It's unclear as to how sweet potato got to the southwest Pacific. Some researchers believe European explorers took them there; others believe sweet potato was moved from island to island across the Pacific by indigenous people. Here's why some people in places like Louisiana, call sweet potato "yam."

"Several decades ago, when orange-fleshed sweet potatoes were introduced in the southern United States, producers and shippers desired to distinguish them from the more traditional, white-fleshed types. The African word nyami, referring to the starchly, edible root of the Dioscorea genus of plants, was adopted in its English form, yam. Yams in the U.S. are actually sweetpotatoes with relatively moist texture and orange flesh. Although the terms are generally used interchangeably, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that the label "yam" always be accompanied by "sweetpotato."

Resource: valariesaxion.com

Things Not To Buy At Home Depot~Frugal Mompreneur

2011-11-04T03:29:00.000-07:00

Getty Images

While plenty of customers “bleed orange,” Home Depot causes others to see red: The retail giant is known among contractors as the place where you’ll get the lowest price but sometimes the worst service.
Here are five product categories where trying to save a buck might not be worth the hassle. Further down, check out the list of five products that you should be looking for when snagging a deal at Home Depot.

1. Basic Hardware Items

Suppose your faucet leaks and you need a new washer. There might be a hundred replacement options that all look the same, but if you get the wrong washer, the faucet won’t work. Most people in this bind are better off paying 10 to 15 percent more at the local hardware store, where they’ll find a staffer who will meet them at the door, walk them to the plumbing aisle, and zero in on the right washer — and the same goes for screws, bolts, hinges, picture hooks, and other maddeningly tiny yet precise odds and ends.

More from CBS MoneyWatch.com :

What NOT to Buy at Walmart

4 Things You Should Buy at Target

4 Things Not to Buy at Costco

Time saved: a lot, especially if your local hardware store’s located within walking distance. “If the corner hardware has stayed in business, it’s because it’s staffed by very competent generalists,” says 19-year veteran builder Ben Walsh, president of Green One Construction Services in Portland, Ore. Local outfits tend to know what homeowners need, he says, and they stock accordingly. A spokeswoman told us that Home Depot does have trained greeters, but in our experience, those greeters don't get to every customer or walk them through the aisles.

2. Major Appliances

Home Depot does have some “top-notch, top-rated” appliances, including some models that it sells exclusively, says Robert Markovich, home & yard editor at Consumer Reports. However, “if you care about service, you’re going to want to go to ABT Electronics or the local independents,” says Markovich, pointing to an annual survey of more than 16,000 Consumer Reports subscribers who recently bought appliances.
At the local appliance store, you’ll get personalized attention from a salesperson who can explain, say, the difference between a manual-clean filter and a self-clean filter on a dishwasher (manual clean is high-maintenance but generally quieter). And unlike Home Depot, local dealers service what they sell — instead of pawning you off to a manufacturer’s 800 number.

3. Doors, Windows, and Trim

The wrong-sized doors or windows can bring a job to an expensive standstill, and fixing problems takes longer at Home Depot because “you never speak to the same person twice,” says Larry Roland of LRC Carpentry in Melrose, Mass. Roland, who buys lumber but not doors, windows, or trim from Home Depot, says he also gets better quality at a specialized lumberyard.

4. Kitchen Cabinets

A single 24-inch corner cabinet costs $107 at Home Depot and $117.99 at Ikea, but Ikea’s simple Scandanavian styles are “vastly more sophisticated,” says Julie Carlson, editor-in-chief of the influential decor and renovation site Remodelista.com. On a recent visit to her local Home Depot in the Bay Area, Carlson found the design of the kitchen storage units particularly depressing, describing them as “cheap stuff trying to look like hand-carved, baronial cabinets.” Ikea’s cabinets, by contrast, are inexpensive yet chic-looking, according to Carlson.

5. Cleaning Products

For a company that advertises itself as being environmentally conscious, Home Depot falls behind the times in the cleaning aisle, carrying products that are rife with toxic chemicals such as ammonia, sodium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid, with only a few safer options, like Martha Stewart’s Wood and Floor Cleaner. “The cleaning products section made me feel like I was contracting a respiratory disease just by strolling the aisles,” says Remodelista’s Carlson. By contrast, Target does a much better job of devoting shelf space to natural alternatives like Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, Caldrea, J.R. Watkins, and Clorox’s Green Works line.

5 Things to Buy at Home Depot

“More Saving. More Doing” — the home improvement retailer’s slogan since March 2009 — is catchy and accurate, if a little self-congratulatory: The word on the street, among professional contractors and home-improvers, is that The Home Depot usually has the lowest prices on home improvement supplies.
As the world’s largest home improvement retailer and the fourth largest retailer in the U.S. with $70 billion in annual sales, the company uses its clout to drive down prices, and, sometimes, to set a good example, too: the Home Depot was the first retailer to accept old compact fluorescent light bulbs for recycling, and is a leader in sales of responsibly-sourced lumber. Here’s how savvy buyers navigate the aisles:

1. Interior and Exterior Paint

“Overall, Home Depot is the place to go for paint,” says Robert Markovich, Home & Yard Editor at Consumer Reports, pointing to the May 2011 issue, in which Behr, the store’s in-house brand of paint, swept the top spots for paints and stains. Behr is also doing something else right: it is reducing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which the Environmental Protection Agency has linked to short- and long-term adverse health effects, in its paints. The paint’s ability to cover contrasting colors also eliminates the need for a primer, and less paint = less VOCs. Not to mention the time and money saved by not sitting around and watching that extra coat dry.

2. Framing Lumber

The home improvement giant sells more sustainably-harvested Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC)-certified wood than any retailer in America. For these efforts, the Natural Resources Defense Council called it a “progressive” company. Larry Roland, of LRC Carpentry in Melrose, Mass., who’s been in business for 30 years, says that Home Depot’s framing lumber is good quality and cheaper than anywhere else. Like most contractors, he likes being able to handpick individual 2 x 4s — as opposed to going to a lumberyard, where you order at a counter and wait by your car for the delivery. (And if you get knotty wood, tough luck.) For high quality doors, windows, and millwork such as interior baseboards and moldings, however, Roland always hits the local lumberyard. Why? See What Not to Buy at Home Depot.

3. Window Shades & Blinds

For plain white or neutral shades in a jiffy, and especially for windows that aren’t standard-sized, you can’t beat the ease of Home Depot, where they’ll cut down shades and wooden blinds on the spot while you shop, for free. (They also do this for lumber, but few people know about the custom-cut shades.) “It’s quite convenient, so I use those shades a lot,” says Naples, Fla.-based interior designer Jill Harrity, of Wood & Renkert.

4. Light bulbs

When it comes to their selection of energy-efficient light bulbs, Home Depot really shines. Their house brand EcoSmart — a line of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that use less energy and outlast traditional incandescents — “cost the least and did the best among spiral bulbs,” says Markovich of Consumer Reports. Home Depot stocks 37 different kinds of LED light bulbs, and 156 CFL bulbs — even black lights and novelty color-changing “party bulbs.”
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that a standard LED bulb lasts roughly 35,000 hours, vs. 8,000 hours for a CFL and 750 hours for an incandescent bulb. While other stores sell CFLs (Lowe's, for example, carries 41 kinds of LED light bulbs and 75 compact fluorescent light bulbs), Home Depot was the first retailer to accept old CFLs for recycling — a public service, since a broken CFL can release harmful mercury vapor into the environment. Wal-Mart, by contrast, does not recycle old CFLs.

5. Modern House Numbers

Even design snobs will slum it at Home Depot when it comes to Hillman house numbers, which cost $5.99 a pop and look a lot like the numerals designed by modern architecture ballast Richard Neutra — which go for eight times as much at Design Within Reach. Julie Carlson, editor-in-chief of the influential decor and renovation site Remodelista.com, wrote about the stylish numbers after hearing about this surprising find from one of her site’s readers. Which just goes to show: With approximately 40,000 different items in each store, there’s bound to be a little something for everyone.

Resources: Katy McColl

Designer Covers At Small Sprouts

2011-11-02T04:34:00.000-07:00

We offer designer covers here at Small Sprouts

Matching Boot cover

Matching Tent Cover

Designer stroller covers

Due to copywrite issues, we cannot advertise these by name. The pictures above are custom made from fabric sent in by the buyer, we can tell you were to buy the fabric you are interested in. Contact Small Sprouts for details