We’ve passed another milestone in my family.  Our youngest daughter graduated from college this year with a BS in Psychology and is now applying to grad school for Social Work.

This summer she spent time as a Nanny for some neighbors that’s she’s been babysitting for since they were infants – they’re now 10 & 11.  Our daughter has also been busy applying and interviewing for employment in the social work field.

Of course, applying for a professional position necessitated that she have the appropriate career style clothing to wear when going on interviews.

Fortunately, we have a Marshalls in town, located about 5 minutes down the road!

Marshalls is well known for their off-price shopping and offers incredible savings on women’s, children’s and men’s apparel.  We always manage to find whatever we’re looking for, be it shoes, accessories,  home goods or gifts for the grandkids.

Connecticut isn’t a very large state, and we actually have several Marshalls within a convenient driving distance of our home.

No two stores are alike as the vendors are ever-changing and they don’t have stringent guidelines as to how many items they purchase. It’s like visiting a whole new store every time!

As my daughter’s chosen field is social work, the position involves not only office work, but being out in the field.  She was able to put together several coordinating smart-looking casual, yet professional looking outfits.

Marshalls recently introduced their Shoe MegaShop which are being added to stores around the country. Customers are able to shop by style rather than size by finding their appropriate size in the boxes below the display shoe.

I scored a terrific pair of sandals by Aerosoles that I can wear for dress-down Fridays at my office!  Regularly $49.99, I got them for $24.99, a 50 percent savings!

Aren’t these just too cute?

Marshalls is one of the nation’s leading off-price family apparel and home fashion retailers with over 800 stores spanning 42 states and Puerto Rico.

For More Information: Marshalls

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista

OfficeMax’s “Get Organized for Back-to-School”

As a parent who has successfully processed two lively, challenging daughters all the way from pre-school through high school, and college, I’m well aware of the challenges and commitment it takes to launch the heirs apparent to what’s left of the family fortune after those college graduations.  You have to be one step ahead-of the-curve, all the way through those formative student school days and years.

OfficeMax was kind enough to share their kid-centric school supplies line, Schoolio-Von-Hoolio.

Appealing to the eye, the product line is certain to encourage any student to stay organized and on top of their game during the upcoming school semesters!

I recently had the privilege of being invited to participate in an exclusive webcast a/k/a “blogcast” for a special group of bloggers that was hosted by OfficeMax.  It featured the renowned organizational expert, Peter Walsh, Heather Wolpert-Gowron, and award-winning teacher, Ana Picazo, a well-known mom blogger, as well as two students.

Unfortunately, due to a prior commitment, I wasn’t able to attend the live presentation. Together, they discussed strategies, tips and advice from the real experts on how to organize and prepare students for back-to-school. Bloggers submitted questions and participated in a TweetChat with Peter, Ana and Heather.

I’d like to share with you a recap of Peter Walsh’s back-to-school organization tips that were discussed during the blogcast:

TIPS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR HOME
1) Find the Vision you Have for a Space
2) Make Organization a Family Value
3) Use the Right Tools for Great Organization

TIPS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR CHILD
1) Show that you Value Organization
2) Establish Clear Limits and Routines
3) Always ‘Finish the Cycle’ (Complete a Task)

TIPS FOR THE CLASSROOM
1) Establish Clear Routines
2) Involve Kids with Classroom Organization
3) Use Words, Pictures and Color to Help Organize

Feel free to connect with the blogcast host and panelists online:

• On Twitter: @Peter Walsh

• On Facebook: Peter’s Facebook Page

• On Twitter: @OfficeMax

• Heather Wolpert-Gawron: Tween Teacher blog

• Ana Picazo: Finding Bonggamom

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista

If you’ve ever been to New England, you may be familiar with the old Yankee saying “If you don’t like the weather, wait a second, it’ll change.” While we are fortunate to enjoy the variety of the four seasons, it is winter that challenges our creativity in keeping snug and cozy.

I recently had the opportunity to review a version of what might possibility be the hottest item this year to help conserve on your heating bills this winter!

The Slanket is a hybrid cross between a blanket and a sleeved robe.

• Measures :60″W x 95″L

• 100% Polyester Microfibers

• Machine Washable

• Oversized Sleeves

• 11 Color Choices

• Available in Kid Sizes

I often write my blog posts late in the evening after everyone has gone to sleep.  We’ve been trying to conserve on our gas bills, and the thermostat is normally set lower at night. Our home was built in the 1940s and my computer desk is near a window.  Although we do have thermopane windows it can get drafty.  I wrapped up in the Slanket one night and tried to type.  Since I’m petite, and the Slanket is bulky, I think it’s more suitable for using when trying to read or watch television.  I tried walking in it, but because of it’s length, would have been better off  wearing the Kids  size to maneuver around in.

There’s an interesting history as to how the Slanket was developed.  Check out their website, and put the Slanket on your list for gift-giving to family and friends this year!  It’s a great going-away gift for any new Grads who will be college-bound this coming fall!

For More Information Visit: Slanket

Moomette’s Magnificents Reviews is hosting a Giveaway!
The Slanket was kind enough to offer to send one new Slanket to  one lucky reader.   For a chance to win:

To Enter: Visit The Slanket and comment on this post, letting me know what your favorite color is and how you would use The Slanket if you won it.

Now for extra entries (each task will get you 1 extra entry):
~Subscribe to my blog via email through my Feedburner link (on the top of my left column)

~Add my banner button to your sidebar or add me to your blog roll.
~Blog about the contest on your blog, linking back to my blog and this post.

~Go Favorite or Fan me on Technorati (the link is on my left column if you scroll down) or both.

~ Follow Me on Twitter

~Tweet about this contest. (Comment separately with the URL of your Tweet)

Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

Entires without a valid email address, or those that don’t follow the Contest Rules will be disqualified. Winner to be chosen via Random.org

This contest will run until February 14, 2009 at approximately 11:00 pm.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

32

Timestamp: 2009-02-15 14:27:11 UTC

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista

It’s been a week now since the 3-day Wedding of the Season took place. I’ve put away the (so I thought) sexy little black Red-Carpet Runway dress that I wore. You know how you look forward to special events, and then after they take place, it’s like such a letdown that the big event is now behind you?

My youngest daughter, the college student, looked stunning in her boutique Jessica McClintock dress, and got many compliments. She’s turned into a real stunner. But I have to mention that we spent many long hours in the waiting room of dermatologist offices when she was in High School. She had tried every over-the -counter acne products and prescription medicines to try to clear up her skin.

Are you planning a wedding soon?  Perhaps you’ll be a bridesmaid this summer.

Oftentimes acne problems aren’t limited to just teenagers, and can manifest during pregnancy and even mid-life. If you find yourself looking for a solution, check out Get Acne Treatments.

Get Acne Treatments is dedicated to exhaustive and comprehensive research on all the best acne treatments. They systematically categorize products based upon the following criteria:

* Safety
* Efficacy
* Value
* Quality
* Company
* Customer Feedback

Their reviews are constantly updated, and their list of Top Acne Treatments changes frequently.

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista

It’s hard to believe that we’re almost through the summer and Labor Day is right around the corner! My youngest daughter starts her Senior year of college soon, so I’m still in the parenting Back-To-School mode. My readers know that “Rosie the Riviter” decided to move back home for her Senior Year, so rather than being an Empty-Nestor for the upcoming school year, I’m still in Mama-mode.

No longer am I worrying about having to go out and buy apartment basics for Rosie, such as pots, pans, bedding and furniture. Most of it came back safely with her when she moved back in. Some of these items disappeared via roommates and probably would have returned home had they been labeled properly. That’s where Dymo label makers come in handy.

With the whiff of Autumn, New England fall foliage and and Back-To-School on my mind, I’m flashing back to the days when I used to take the obligatory first-day-of school picture, and waiving good-bye to the kiddos on the school bus. Flashback further, and I’m the one going off to school for the first time.

My first day of school would have been 51 years ago! I was a “walker,” even in Kindergarten. We only went half-days. When I was in first-grade, we were dismissed for lunch, walked home, and then back to school again. There was no such thing as a cafeteria, and I would say 99% of the moms didn’t work, and were at home to greet us with lunch! I still carried a lunch box for snacks, and we hand-wrote our names on masking tape in crayon to distinguish Betty-Lou’s from Suzie’s. That’s where the kids today are lucky, and have all the options such as color labels to mark not only their lunch boxes, but also their backpacks! We didn’t even have backpacks ~ I can remember carrying all my books in my arms, or once, in a rubberized green carrying sack!

If you’re a mom making a Back-To-School list, don’t forget to add a Dymo label maker to that list. Buying all those school supplies once certainly adds up! Having to replace them because they weren’t labeled is something none of us wants to do!

Whether you’ll be waiving goodbye to the school bus, or home school ~ don’t forget to charge the camera battery for those First-Day-of-School photos!

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista

A new highlight of my Blog will be featuring and offering site reviews of WAHM (Work-At-Home Mom) eBiz ventures. I would like to try to offer a “Best Of WAHM Site Award” Banner to a WAHM who’s site has been featured.

It’s great to see so many young women taking the plunge and becoming business owners and self-employed. This was essentially not an option when I was younger!

I’d like to start out by letting you know about a young, WAHM who is venturing into the Virtual Assistant services field.

Erin Hall has recently launched her EH Virtual Assistant Services website. Proud mom of a toddler daughter, Erin and her husband are expecting their second child . Describing herself as a team player and Varsity College Lacrosse Letter Winner, Erin’s drive and determination are certain to assure this mompreneur success in whatever she sets out to accomplish!

A Virtual Assistant (or simply VA), is an independent contractor providing administrative, technical, or sometimes creative assistance to clients …Wikpedia

Erin holds a B.S. in Communication, concentrating in Advertising and Marketing, with a Minor in Business Administration. Erin is experienced in all aspects of the sales and marketing area, with extensive experience in the Advertising and Pharmaceutical fields.

A sampling of the services that EH Virtual Assistant Services is able to offer are:

- Marketing/Advertising /Cold Calling/Mailings

- Business Promotion/Event Promotion & Conference Planning

- Advertising Copy and Articles

- Press Releases

- Creation of Training Materials

- Consulting Services

- Travel Arrangements

As each business has a different budget and need, one can request a free initial consultation.

Please take a moment to visit Erin’s site and see what areas she may be able to assist you with in your business!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you would like the opportunity to be a featured WAHM on my blog, please drop me a note or comment to have your WAHM site or Blog reviewed and be considered for an Award Banner!

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista

I’ve been Tagged with a Meme by Kim, over at Accidental Mommies and What’s That Smell ! Kim is my new friend, and comments on my Mama Mentor Blog that she thinks she and I may be twins! I’ve often felt that way when I see other writers. I actually feel that way about Sue Reimer’s columns over at the Baltimore Sun. Sue is one of my all-time favorite columnists.

Tagging is a great way to network, meet new friends, and get acquainted with other bloggers!

So here goes on the tag:

Here are the rules:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1 ) What was I doing 10 years ago?

* I was working full-time; raising my family; going to college part-time to finish my degrees;

2 ) What are five things on your to-do list for today?

• Clean my house (sorta done)
  

• List items for my eBay Store & Shoppes Site (not done, too busy blogging)

• Organize my Bookmarks folder so I can find things on my computer (another day)

• Continue to research ways to try to retire

• Remember to eat

3 ) What snacks do I enjoy?

• A real weakness for white pistachios, and of course, anything divinely chocolate!

4 ) Things I would do if I were a billionaire?

• Quit my Full-Time cubicle job (in a heart-beat)

• Pay of all my debt

• Buy a vacation Condo down South where it’s warm! – a definite subject of a post to come!

• Buy a vacation Condo up North in Vermont – for ourselves, DD & fam

• Get my DH the motorcycle he always wanted but I never would ever let him get (maybe another boat, too)

• Hire a house-cleaning person

• Travel, for real, and not vicariously this time

• Donate to several charities I’m grateful to and fond of

5 ) Three Bad Habits

Only 3…. ( agree with you here Kim, only 3?)

• Opinionated

• Slacker in my house cleaning (OK, so I don’t entertain as much as when I was younger)

• I still bite my nails and pay a fortune for gel tips

6 ) 5 places I have lived…
(this is a real joke)

• my home town in CT where I grew up & graduated high school

• Longmeadow, Massachusetts (when I was a Freshman in College, but then left to come home and continue college in CT

• my home town in CT where I grew up & graduated high school

• my home town in CT where I grew up & graduated high school

• my home town in CT where I grew up & graduated high school

7 ) 5 Jobs I have had

• Desk Clerk in a Dry-cleaners

• Farm Shop Ice Cream Fountain Waitress – scooped ice cream up to my elbows (armpits, I’m short)

• Lingerie Sales Clerk in a Major Department Store

• Paralegal in various Law Offices

• Chief pooper-scooper of the cat litter box (this one’s a freebie & thrown in for good measure)

• Wife, Mom, Grandmother

And the lucky people I’m tagging next are:
* Vicki at Simply Vicki

* Shera at A Frog in My Soup

* Rox at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives

* Lynne at Sewing Mom

* First Time Dad

* Tina at Mummie Diaries

* Christine at From Dates to Diapers and Beyond

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista

Now that I’m a Baby Boomer, as I get older, I think spending quality family time together is important. This past Sunday was such an occasion. The fam arrived at 11:30 on the dot, all respectibly dressed. We headed South on the highway, straight towards the beach and Connecticut shoreline, my favorite spot!

Turned out my two DDs and Charming Son-in-Law treated DH and I to an early Mother’s Day holiday brunch at Water’s Edge, the Number 1 rated “Best Brunch in Connecticut”, and a belated Birthday celebration present for DH. We had a delightful time, and the Brunch was absolutely spectacular ~ no need for dinner that night! We had a waterside view table overlooking Long Island Sound, and the temps were in the 80′s for May! It was the kind of day we Connecticut folk like to say “you can see straight across” ~ meaning we could see the 12 miles across to Long Island.

I feel so fortunate to be living so close to my daughters and granddaughter (although DD #2, the college student is still at home – most of the time.)

If you aren’t able to be with your own Mom for mothers day, or would like to show your affection to your own daughter or daughter-in-law who may be a Mom herself, send a gift of Flowers!

I love receiving flowers and bouquets, and what makes it extra special is the fact that I can appreciate them now – while I’m still above ground!

Happy Mother’s Day to you all.

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista

Mother’s Day is May 11th this year!

Time to think about honoring your Mom, Grandmother, Mother-in-Law, favorite Aunt, Shut-Ins, Seniors or anyone else in your life who’s influenced you in a positive way.

My girls are grown ~ the oldest married with a daughter of her own and a son on the way. My youngest is away at college. We’ve become much closer now that they’re older, and we keep in touch daily ~ sometimes several times a day!

Oftentimes the most precious gift is that of your own company. Spring is here, the Robins are back, flowers are starting to bloom and the weather is definitely getting nicer….throw a garden Tea Party! Here’s a great recipe to re-connect, and share special memories or moments. Compliments of Teaporia ~ check them out, sample a new flavor of Tea ~ or find a unique Tea Pot or set for that special person in your life! They also offer excellent WAHM affiliate rep eBiz opportunities!

Cranberry Orange Tea Bread

2 cups flour
¾ cup dried cranberries
½ cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup Mott’s Cinnamon Apple Sauce
¼ cup butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
2 tsp grated orange peel

Combine flour, dried cranberries, sugar and baking powder in large mixing bowl. In separate bowl, mix together remaining ingredients.
Blend apple sauce mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Spoon batter into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350F 45-50 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes in pan before removing.

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista

Ok. I haven’t done any musings in awhile because I’ve been too dang busy maintaining my eBay Power Seller status and putting all my ducks in order building my new website & consolidating my eBay store and affiliate shops under one roof ~ Moomette’s Magnificents Olde Towne Shoppes.

I know, after seeing all those terrific WAHM sites on various traffic exchanges that all you sweet young things have built, it’s probably a piece of cake for you. You probably took all that HTML stuff in elementary school, high school & beyond.

Well, gram here has been learning it all on her own. At 2, 3 & 4 am in the morning when DH is sleeping, and the house is finally peaceful. You see, I’m still working at my FT cubicle job. Then, of course, there’s ‘lil Moomette whom I pick up after I get out of work until DD or charming SIL come to get her.

Well, I’m taking a break right now at 2 am from all that Photobucket & listing stuff, finding a new web host for my site, and working on the new blog template (don’t you love it? Thanks Shera, from
Sweet N Simple Design…more on Shera to come. I met Shera through Mom Pack ~ she’s such a delight!

Anyway. Where was I? Oh ya. You young gals. Well, let me tell you. After having 2 DDs, and doing the middle school, high school & college thing with them ~ Moms will find out they always have to be ahead of the curve. Want to stay in touch? The cell phone that you pay for gets put on mute. Then what? Learn to text message. They’ll think it’s their friends.

Still ignoring you? Learn to instant message. When something pops up ~ they’ll think it’s their friends and guess what ~ it’s Mom~ Here’s my AIM avatar:

My girls had to look at that on AIM while they were in college everytime they “talked” to me ~ which was only when they usually ran out of funds. And my screen name…let’s just say it started with the word “Money”! Hmpf.I digress…DD #2, took Spanish all through high school. So knowing I’d be online, she once put up her “Away Message” in Spanish after telling me she was going to a friend’s house. The “Away Message” said she was “at the beach”. Guess what? I took Spanish in High School. So I played her game and text messaged her cell phone ~In Spanish ~ that I knew where she was! That floored her & her friends. Again, one step ahead of the curve. And don’t anyone call me out for reading her Away Message.

Back to you have nothing on me. So, I’ve learned to text, instant message, and now HTML, FTP, Pop Server, SSB, Ping, Stumble ~ what-ever. There’s still a lot of learning to do, but don’t worry, I’m a Boomer & one of ours invented the Internet. Gram here is ahead of the curve, and when I finish building my site, they will come.

It’s almost 2:30 am. I know I ‘talk’ via the forums with many of you at this time of night. But I’m taking out my dentures, putting them in a glass, (thanks Suzanne) & turning off the lights now. (JK on the denture part, K?)

Recent College Grad? Shop Marshalls for Career Styles is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. I’m In With the In-Crowd – Updating My Fall Wardrobe at Marshalls
2. Marshalls Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence One Pair of Shoes at a Time
3. How To Shop For Boutique Childrens Clothes: Be A Frugal Fashionista