MomFinds.com Daily Web Blog

Thu Apr 24, 2008

Find the Right Swimsuit Without the Stress

We know, shopping for a swimsuit is pretty low on your list of ways to have a good time, somewhere south of potty training and doing five miles on the treadmill. But there are ways to make it less stressful. Before you give up or commit to the wrong suit, check out these tips we took from Amy Cafazzo, style expert at Marshalls.

When it comes to bathing suits, size doesn’t matter. It’s the fit that counts. Make sure your one-piece fits without puckering near the seams without any pulling at the straps, bust or crotch. Make sure the suit doesn’t dig in at the leg openings or the straps. If it does, go up a size or look for a suit with adjustable straps. Check out the coverage around your bust, move around to make sure you’re comfortable. If you’re pulling at the suit in the dressing room, you’ll be pulling at the pool.

Lands' End Swimsuit Lands’ End is legendary for its options in fit and style. You plug in your body type, size, the bra and coverage you want, even your anxiety zones and you’ll get a selection of swimsuits that meet your requests. It’s actually kind of fun. You really can’t go wrong with this bright paisley Tankini/Skirt Set ($89.50). It’s designed for comfort, coverage and lengthens your legs. The fabric even provides SPF 50 sun protection.

Ralph Lauren Swimsuit
Feeling a little daring, but not quite ready to bare your tummy? The good news is that the one-piece is in especially if it has an unusual touch like a single strap, keyhole or cut-outs like this Ralph Lauren suit ($117).

This season look for color, graphic prints, bold designs and animal prints, and if the suit promises to take off 10 pounds like this Miraclesuit® ($134) even better.

Merona Hipster Bikini Bottom
Finally, if you’ve lost your baby weight in time for beach season, congrats and celebrate with a two-piece. Look for one with ruffles or a belt detail like this Merona hipster bottom from Target ($17.99). You can pair it with the most flattering top for your figure and choose from many colors and patterns.

Posted by: MomSharyn on Apr 24, 08 - 12:00 pm | Profile

Tue Apr 22, 2008

Pre-Cycle Instead of Recycle on Earth Day

Category: Eco-Friendly How To

We know the mantra reduce, reuse, recycle. The last of the three seems to have caught on more than the first two. So some people use the term pre-cycle which means to pre-vent using something or to pre-think a purchase. Yes, this does mean basically the same thing as reduce and reuse, but it’s a little catchier. I’m sure many of you are already doing some of the following, but why not try to do them all? Here’s how:

Bring your own bag to the store. I expanded my own bag practice from grocery stores to places like Target and Marshalls, and I get some funny looks, but hopefully it will catch on. My favorite grocery totes are colored ones I got from Trader Joe’s for a couple of bucks. Here are some reuseable bags in creative prints and cool designs.

Carry around a reusable coffee mug and water bottle. It seems scientists are once again concerned that teeny weeny bits of bad things come from plastic water bottles, which is another reason to invest in Sigg aluminum bottles.

Use cloth napkins and kitchen towels. Paper towels are not essential to a kitchen. I have a cabinet full of tea towels, and a small hamper in the kitchen for them once they are really dirty. We have been living without paper napkins towels for years. If you don’t already have a bunch of cloth items stock up on basic organic cotton napkins and towels.

Now here’s one I have been attempting to for years but have yet to succeed. Bring your own utensils with you instead of using plastic ones. Sigg has a heavy duty set that comes in a cool case, but people may be scared if you pull it out in food court. I am going to try is to use a makeup brush case to tote silverware from home. Does anyone know of a better way to carry a fork around?

Want more eco-friendly ideas? Click here to learn how to reduce waste in kids’ lunches.

Posted by: on Apr 22, 08 - 12:00 pm | Profile

Wed Dec 26, 2007

Don’t Miss a Find! Add MomFinds to Your Homepage, Get Finds via Email and More….

Category: How To News

You love your MomFinds, but with the kids, the job, the fam and everything else stacked on your plate, it’s really hard for you to visit as often as you’d like.

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Posted by: on Dec 26, 07 - 8:00 am | Profile

Wed Dec 05, 2007

Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous: How to Survive the Holidays

Category: Books Holidays How To Top Five

This time of year invites indulgences of all kind. If you’re anything like me, as you eat that third cookie or go for another glass of wine, you think, “Come January 1st, it’s back to salads and the treadmill.”

Esther Blum is a nutritionist on staff at Dr. Perricone’s flagship Manhattan store. Esther isn’t one of those nutritionists who insists you subsist on bean sprouts and green tea. She fully admits she indulges in the occasional chocolate or martini. Her book, Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous, offers advice for how to get gorgeous skin, a fantastic figure, and peace of mind—all while living the good life. I asked her to give me her top five tips for moms this holiday season.

1. Energy levels can lag for busy moms. And women can be prone to depression when depleted. Sleep when you can. Nap on the fly. And eat lots of protein—especially wild Alaskan salmon. Protein helps make you feel full and fight carb cravings.
2. Keep your sugar intake down—it wears down your immune system. If you’re craving something sweet, have a couple of squares of dark chocolate.
3. Eat apples every day. The pectins stabilize blood sugar beautifully. In a study, people who ate three apples a day lost more weight than those who didn’t.
4. Get your veggies when you can. Add frozen organic vegetables to soup to boost their nutritional value. Or drink your vegetables. Have a V8 or visit a local health food store for a shot of wheatgrass.
5. Take Omega 3 supplements daily. It promotes good brain development and helps you keep your memory on track when you have baby brain.

Price: $15.61

Find it: amazon.com

Posted by: MomLisa on Dec 05, 07 - 9:00 am | Profile

Wed Nov 21, 2007

Black Friday Shopping Tips

Category: How To

Before you head out the door for some retail therapy on Black Friday, read these handy shopping tips from Consumer World.

1. Read the Ads: Your local newspapers will be full of ads and coupons, and Friday’s papers will have additional sales. To preview some of the items now that will be on sale on Black Friday, check out blackfridayads.com, bfads.net, blackfriday.info or blackfriday.gottadeal.com, sites with advance copies of store ads.

2. Evaluate the Deals: Check the advertised offers with Internet shopping robots, including the Price Checker in Consumer World, or the ones at Shopping.com or Shopzilla.com to compare what a variety of online stores charge for the same item.

3. Save with “Triple Plays”: To save the most, buy items at a good sale price, use percent-off/dollars-off coupons offered by many stores to lower that price even more, and look for items that also have a cash back rebate.

4. Be an Early Bird or Beat the Early Birds: Look for “doorbuster” deals for the lowest prices as early as 5am, typically lasting only until 11 am. Some Black Friday deals may also be ordered online for pick-up at the store, or for home delivery. Visit retailers’ websites in the wee hours of Black Friday to see if you can beat the crowd. Some stores may open on Thanksgiving Day or at midnight on Black Friday.

5. Save More with Price Guarantees: After you make your purchase, keep track of the price offered by competitors as many stores offer a price protection guarantee. You may be entitled to get back some additional money if the seller or a competitor offers a lower price before Christmas.

6. Check the Return Policy and Get a Gift Receipt: In case you decide later on that you don’t really need that plasma TV, make sure you read up on the merchant’s return policy and hang on to those receipts.

*Need help figuring out what to buy on Friday? Check out the MomFinds Guide to the Hottest Holliday Toys and SheFinds Guide To 2007’s Sold Out Holiday Gifts.

**Don’t feel like leaving the house on Friday? Don’t worry. We’ll have a ton of online deals to share with you bright and early.

Posted by: on Nov 21, 07 - 11:00 am | Profile

Tip of the Day: Holiday Cleaning Made Easy with Bounce

Category: For the Home How To Top Five

Expecting guests for Thanksgiving? Bring out those Bounce dryer sheets and whip your house into holiday shape with these easy cleaning tips you can do in seconds.

1. Stick a Bounce dryer sheet in the linen closet to help keep linens smelling fresh day after day. Or put a sheet in between the towels after the laundry so they will keep the linen closet and the towels smelling wonderful for your guests.

2. Put a sheet in the garbage can or diaper bin to tackle odors.

3. Dust your window blinds with a Bounce dryer sheet. The dust will cling to the sheet and will help to repel new dust from settling

4. Roll up a sheet of Bounce in your toilet paper roll. Each time you spin, it releases a little freshness into the bathroom.

5. When vacuuming, add a sheet of Bounce in the vacuum cleaner bag for sweeter-smelling sweeping.

Got a holiday cleaning tip of your own? Please share!

Posted by: on Nov 21, 07 - 8:00 am | Profile

Mon Nov 19, 2007

Holiday Shopping Tips: Be Safe When Shopping Online

Category: How To Shopping

As we swing into holiday shopping season, it’s worth a refresher on safe online shopping. While most credit cards will eat any fraudulent charges, it’s easier to avoid them in the first place. Some tips—courtesy of Yahoo —

1. Know Your Merchant:
For the most part, aside from small designers, we try to promote established businesses where we know someone at the company. We figure the better experience you have shopping our picks, the better experience you’ll have with MomFinds. If you ever do have a problem with a merchant— please shoot us a note—and we’ll see (no promises!) if we can put you in touch with a company rep who can solve the problem. No matter what, it’s a good practice to be familiar with the name or reputation of any company you’re dealing with. The Federal Trade Commission maintains a web site that provides helpful info for online shopping. You can also cruise the Better Business Bureau for a reputation check if you know where the company is located.

2. Protect your Privacy:
Check web sites to make sure there is a privacy policy posted, (you can see ours here) and that you’re comfortable with the way your personal information is treated under that policy. Look for seals from privacy enforcement organizations like TRUSTe or BBBOnLine. Be cautious if you’re asked to supply personal information not needed to make a purchase, such as your Social Security number or personal bank account information.

3. Get the Details:
Check for expected delivery dates, shipping and handling fees, warranties, return policies, and other important information. Look for an email address to write to (or a phone number to call) if you have a question, a problem, or if you need help.

4. Use a Credit Card and Safeguard Your Password:
It’s a good practice to pay with credit cards, because under federal law (and your credit card agreement) your liability for an unauthorized charge is limited to $50. When using a credit card online, look for an unbroken key or padlock (a graphical icon usually located in the bottom corner of the web page), or for a policy that indicates use of strong security technology such as SSL. This indicates that your credit card data is transmitted securely. You can also check that the address bar changes from http to https when you input your personal data.

5. Keep Good Records:
Make sure to print or save electronically any records related to your online transactions. This will help you keep track of shipping dates, shipping and handling fees, and other details of your transactions.

6. Beware the Counterfeits—Especially on eBay:
If possible pay with Paypal for your eBay purchases --- they’ll cover you in case of fraud. Check Counterfeit Chic and My Poupette for info on fake goods.

7. Use Extra Caution with High Value and Popular Items:
Certain types of items (e.g. computers, handbags, denim, jewelry, electronics, etc.) carry a higher fraud risk and require additional checking before completing the sale. Do additional checking, especially with popular items that tend to be sold out in stores. Be suspicious of deals that seem too good to be true. They usually are. A $49 Louis Vuitton bag shipping from China—are you insane??? eBay tells you how to spot a fake.

Posted by: on Nov 19, 07 - 12:00 pm | Profile

Holiday Entertaining: Top Five Open House Tips

Category: For the Home How To Top Five

I have hosted a holiday open house for around 100 people (kids, adults and Santa) for eight years. Here’s is what I have learned:

1. Evite: It’s not rocket science, but it saves a lot of time and trees. I make a few printed invites for some neighbors’ whose e-mail I don’t know and other (old) people who may not be familiar with Evite. Invite your neighbors. They will be more understanding about noise, guests parking etc. if they are included.

2. Servers: If at all possible hire people to serve. I have had the whole thing catered and done it all myself. It’s the most economical and enjoyable is to make the food myself ahead and then have other people serve it. If budget is too tight, try to convince a couple of close friends or relatives to be “buffet monitors” to keep things moving.

3. Cookies: People ask what they can bring, and I say that nothing is necessary. I tell the people that insist to bring cookies. I am kind of uptight about my buffet menu and don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by not serving their Aunt Matilda’s clam dip. But an eclectic mix of cookies works well. I have a table ready with pretty trays. Cookies are generally eaten on the later side of the party, so if people come at the end, their contribution can still be enjoyed.

4. Photos: Don’t take pictures. I assign a couple guests (who I know take good pictures) to bring their cameras. They upload their photos to their favorite photo sharing site, and then I send the link to everyone.

5. Gift Table: Set up a table near the front door for hostess gifts, with some post-its and a pen. I discretely label things that have no obvious tag. Inevitably we have a mystery bottle of wine or two, but in general we know who brought what. I don’t write notes for hostess gifts, but I do like to mention it if I see that person.

Do you have a holiday entertaining tip we should know about? Tell us!

Posted by: on Nov 19, 07 - 9:00 am | Profile

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