ZIP TIPS

Do Not Track Me on Internet

2012-01-18T19:33:00.000-08:00

The average person has heard of "cookies" and know that vendors and online sites track online visitors. But do you know to what extent? Did you know that Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Adobe and many other companies also exhaustively track your every move online?

Now as marketers, we understand the importance of this business practice to know what are an online surfers interests and preferences and hence, submit content and ads that appeal to them. As consumers, for some, it's an invasion. If privacy reigns supreme in your list of Resolutions, fear not. There are programs and FREE programs you can download to prevent sites from following your online

Believe it or not there are built-in anti-tracking features in Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla's Firefox, Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari web browsers. However, they have earned a reputation for being complicated and confusion.

Good news: a program called Ghostery is simple to download and use. Ghostery automatically blocks all tracking mechanisms issued by several hundred companies on an extensive list that includes two of the most expansive tracking networks: Google's DoubleClick and Microsoft's Media Network. It also stops Facebook from amassing data about every web page you visit that has a Facebook "Like" button.

Other well known programs include TrackerBlock or Adblock Plus. The latter is best known for its ability to block online advertisements from being visually displayed on Web pages. But it can also be configured to block tracking mechanism, and more users are setting it up that way.

In a recent survey of 668 TrackerBlock users, 87% of the respondents said the reason they use an anti-tracking took is because they do not want anyone collecting data about what they do online. It's all about privacy.

We, the BlogSisters, actually decided to download an anti-tracker for a different reason. As some of you know, we both have marketing backgrounds. The basis of marketing is to know everything about your customers. Online tracking is cost efficient and therefore it helps companies spend marketing dollars more wisely in creating and targeting ads. Online marketing is a burgeoning industry--it creates jobs. Something important to remember in this recession. But we respect a consumer's right to privacy. So why did we download an antitracker? Well Christine was experiencing regular computer failure or what appeared to be virus attacks from "adware". She was suspicious that it was tied to ads. In conducting research, she learned about programs to block ads and tracking.

She downloaded Ghostery. Then in the process, a page listed the level of blockage for each browser. It turns that the Internet Explorer had the least protection and others like Mozilla Firefox blocked most tracking. So Christine then downloaded Mozilla Firefox as another Internet browser. After using both Firefox and Ghostery, she has experienced zero virus alerts or the famous blue or black screen.

The downside. If you are a marketer, or blogger like us, then the Google ads we place on our blogs will not be seen. By clicking on those ads, we earn 5 cents each click. So in essence we are losing money by sharing this posting. Well 5 cents for a small blog is not a loss. We believe in helping people making their lives a little easier. We hope this helps!

How to Remove Ear Wax

2011-09-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

For a simple ear wax removal, what's the one word solution? It's not a Q or C. Not Q-tip or cotton swab. These actually push the ear wax further into the canal and cause damage to the ear drum. Cotton swabs more commonly known as Q-tip brand are for cleaning the outer fold of the ear.

The answer? WATER.

The best thing is just to let the water go in your ear (make sure the water is warm, as cold and hot water can cause you to have vertigo), and [then tilt your head to the side] and dump it out," says Brett Levine, MD, an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose and throat specialist aka an ENT). If earwax build-up is an issue for you, Dr. Levine recommends using an over-the-counter earwax remover that, when applied as directed, will help soften the wax so it washes out easier.

If all else fails, visit an ENT specialist. "Sometimes the wax is just very hard and the drops don’t help make it soft. An ENT doctor can [better] see what he or she is doing [in order to] suction, scoop or grab something that isn't washing out on its own," Dr. Levine says.

American Airlines offers Mobile Phone Boarding Passes

2011-08-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love technology that saves you time, hassles and paper!

Well American Airlines keeps adding airports to their list of mobile phone boarding passes.

Visit this link to learn how you can simply send the boarding pass from your computer to your phone.
http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/mobile.jsp?#mobile-boarding-pass

Life was just made a little easier!

10 Tips for Getting Hired

2011-05-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

It's a jungle out there with high unemployment and now recent college graduates applying for the same positions! Getting hired takes some skills and strategy. Here are Blog Sisters' 10 Tips for Getting Hired:

1- SHOWCASE YOUR EXPERTISE
While job searching, take some time (if possible) to donate your expertise to a local charity or organization related to your industry. For example, while Christine was working for a developer, she donated her time and expertise to revive the defunct American Marketing Association Miami Chapter. The initial meeting including guest speaker was a sensational hit. Her rainbow of organizational skills, marketing expertise, presentation and public speaking abilities and genuine passion for the field, caught the eye of the Director of Marketing for another organization. He soon contacted Christine for a job interview.

2- USE LINKEDIN to TARGET COMPANIES
Before sending your resume, check out LinkedIn’s Companies feature. Look at New Hires to see who just landed a job, and ask those employees how to target your approach. Now here's a golden nugget: You may also learn about job opportunities that aren’t yet advertised by talking with former employees listed in Departures. LinkedIn is a valuable resource. If you're not familiar with it, visit the site and explore and start connecting/networking with other professionals.

3- DO YOUR HOMEWORK
To attract the attention of a hiring manager, you’ll want to tailor your resume for each specific company. To do this well, you have to know the company well. So do your homework: review their website, read company reviews on Glassdoor.com, and follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

4- CREATE A DIGITAL FRIENDLY RESUME
With technology employed by more hiring managers, this means hundreds if not thousands of applicants are emailing and uploading their resume. Here's an important tip: have an extra version that is digital friendly. In other words, leave out the bullets, indentations and special fonts and characters. Many times a WORD format resume will be scanned and jumbled into one massive paragraph. When uploading to a website, use your digital version.

5- USE KEY WORDS IN THE RESUME
This is one of those tips that seems obvious yet only the regularly unemployed have learned this valuable lesson the hard way. Tweak your resume and use the same key words from the job posting. Again, hiring managers use technology to scan resumes. If your key words add up, you're one step closer to landing that interview.

6- NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK
This goes to the saying "It's not always what you know, but who you know". Check online and your local paper for various free networking events. In this social type atmosphere, it's easy to approach other professionals since you're all there for the same reason. Be prepared and have business cards with your name and contact phone and email! You can easily make them at home with templates from Office Depot (must have printer at home) or use a resource such as http://www.vista.com/.

7- PUT ON HAT OF HIRING MANAGER
Instead of focusing entirely on advice for job seekers, check out books and blogs for managers about how to hire. You’ll get a much deeper understanding of what hiring managers are looking for, which will help you improve your interviewing skills and market yourself better as a potential employee.

8- TAKE STEP BACK TO MOVE FORWARD
I actually took a job temping as a coordinator while my resume clearly showed I have management experience to a director's level. But when the well starts to run dry, you do what you have to do. The company that you are temping for will usually regard that as a plus. You have the experience and knowledge and need minimal training. This job soon led to a permanent one of a higher position matching my skills.

9 - BECOME A MENTOR
Similar to tip number one, this not only demonstrates your skills but follows a philosophy we learned from "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and that is--give what you need. If you need a job, give your talents to someone who will benefit and appreciate it. Mentoring a young student or professional has potential rewards. You may find new opportunities, new contacts, and if anything else, the act of mentoring is fulfilling. An absolute reward.

10 - ALWAYS FOLLOW UP
Another golden rule we live by, and not just after interviews, is to follow up. A phone call is acceptable but a better approach we recommend is a handwritten note on a professional notecard! It's a direct message, without coming across as aggressive, shows professionalism and your gratitude.

If you have followed any of these tips and if any have worked for you--share your story below by clicking on "comment".

Now go get hired!
BLOG SISTERS

10 Worst Things to Put on Your Resume

2011-03-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

With so many people unemployed and looking for jobs, the resume is still your first impression and most powerful weapon. However some applicants, in attempting to stand out from the masses, are turning to techniques that could hurt more than help. Also, some former techniques are now considered archaic. Example: "References Available Upon Request". Show the employer you are current with

Below is a summary of things you need to LEAVE OUT of the resume. For a detailed explanation, click here for a complete explanation by industry experts.

1. Unnecessary Details About Your Life
When applying for a job in the U.S. only include your name, address, email and contact information. Do not offer information such as your age, religion, political party.

2. Leave Out Jobs You Held as a Teenager
Unless you're in the business of saving lives, leave out the summer job as a lifeguard.

3. Headshot
Unless the application requires it for a specialty job where looks and appearances are part of the hiring protocol, do not add a photo.

4. Salary Expectations
This follows the age-old golden rule. Avoid mentioning salary expectations until the interview and even then, offer a range.

5. Don't Lie about Jobs, Responsibilities, Timelines
With today's technology, and your social security now tied to every job, this is also linked to government agencies for purposes of taxes and unemployment. It's easier now for employers to verify your employement through a number of private systems.

6. Things That Were Labeled "Confidential" in past Jobs
What happened in past jobs labeled "Confidential" should stay in your past. Never burn bridges by breaking that confidence.

7. List a Job even if you were Fired.
We know this is tough, but list it and be honest.

8. Overly Verbose Statements
Avoid the dramatic flair to make up for inexperience or a gap in unemployment. In today's society, it's more common to find new graduates taking longer to find jobs, or professionals who take a sabbatical for motherhood or other reasons.

9. "References Available Upon Request"
Get with the 21st century. Be proactive and have it ready! Employers will ask for it in application or interview.

10. TMI ("too much information")
It goes with out saying anywhere, never give too much information. Recruiters nowadays wade through hundreds if not thousands of resumes. A clean, succinct not overly jammed resume will get more noticed. Also, this aids with the increasing use of a scanner when key words are picked up electronically. Use the same key words from the ad in your resume.

Good luck Job Hunting!

Red Velvet Cup Cakes

2011-02-09T18:18:00.000-08:00

With hearts and Cupid fluttering around in anticipation of Valentine's Day, and tempting bright red and pink icing cupcakes that greet me at the supermarket, suddenly I felt inspired to dust off my bakeware and prepare the ultimate Valentine dessert--a Red Velvet Cake.

Mind you it has been over a year, except for the pumpkin pie every Thanksgiving, that I baked a cake. So my search for true love of cake and the rediscovery of baking and indulgence begins.

Upon my journey, I learned about the 7 Essential Ingredients for Velvet Red Cake.

The first misconception. Velvet cake is chocolate cake. Incorrecto. Velvet cake is a blend of cocoa and white distilled vinegar and buttermilk. The other essential ingredients are

1. The cake must have some cocoa, but not too much because it is not a chocolate cake.

2. The cake must have red food coloring; beet juice does not add the right kind of red.

3. The cake must have cream cheese frosting.

4. You must use high-quality ingredients, including White Lily flour.

5. Precise measurements and meticulous attention to detail are key for this cake; therefore, it must be made in small, easy-to handle, family-sized batches. (Mass-produced batter just doesn't cut it. Sorry, large-scale bakeries.)

6. You must use a hand-held electric mixer, not a stand mixer: Larger machines can over-mix the batter, which sometimes prevents the cake from rising properly
7. Red velvet cake batter needs vegetable oil, not butter or shortening. Oil yields a very moist cake.

Here is a recipe I found by Paula Deen from the Food Network for cupcakes--perfect for portion control:

•2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

•1 1/2 cups sugar

•1 teaspoon baking soda

•1 teaspoon salt

•1 teaspoon cocoa powder

•1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

•1 cup buttermilk, room temperature

•2 large eggs, room temperature

•2 tablespoons red food coloring

•1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.
Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

•1 pound cream cheese, softened

•2 sticks butter, softened

•1 teaspoon vanilla extract

•4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

•Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish; (personally I prefer no garnish)

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Garnish with chopped pecans, fresh raspberry or strawberry, or sprinkles.

Websites that Share Your Personal Data

2011-01-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

Here's a helpful tip we just learned about that can protect your privacy.

A website http://www.spokeo.com/ aggregates your personal information from third-party sources that share your age, personal income, value of your home, credit score, social and married status, etc.

Both Alicia and I checked into it right away and sure enough we were listed. The information is not always accurate as one tab indicated that there were two parents and a child in my (Christine) household. Since when did I get married and have children? The other information was frighteningly accurate.

To remove yourself from Spokeo.com, first find if you are listed, copy the URL page at the top, scoll down to bottom of the page and click on "Privacy". You will be asked to enter the URL page and your email so they can send you an email to verify that you want to be removed.

As a reminder: be careful what you post on Facebook!

How to Bake a Turkey

2010-11-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. Arrange an oven shelf in the lower third of the oven. Remove the neck and giblets from the body cavity of the turkey, reserving them for turkey broth (see turkey broth recipe). Drain the juices and pat the bird dry inside and out.

2. If stuffing, stuff right before roasting (see basic stuffing recipe). Return legs to tucked position, if untucked.

3. Arrange the turkey breast side up in a rack (preferably a v-rack), set in a heavy large roasting pan. Rub the turkey all over with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and place inside cooking bag. The Reynold's Turkey Cooking bags give you all the instructions. Follow it carefully, and you'll have one juicy turkey! Pour two cups of chicken broth into the bottom of the roasting pan to keep drippings from burning.

4. Transfer the turkey to a platter, leaving the drippings in the pan for the gravy and cover the turkey loosely with foil. Let the turkey rest for at least 20 minutes, preferably 30 minutes before carving.

Enjoy!

The Secret Ingredient to Perfect Gravy

2010-11-18T00:11:00.000-08:00

One day a waft of homemade cooking streamed from my neighbor's apartment. I was living, temporarily in a senior citizen community while my condo was being remodeled. The little old lady next door had her front door open and the screen door in place.

When I commented about the wonderful smell, she readily invited me in for homemade shrimp alfredo pasta. It was like grandma's home cooking. She could have been my grandmother. Well old folks love to talk and share their abilities and before I knew it she shared her entire recipe. In the process I learned of a secret ingredient for making thickened sauces-Wondra. It's a flour that does not leave clumps!

So here is my recipe for Turkey gravy.

I recommend making ½ cup gravy per person, since it is Thanksgiving. You need that much gravy to pour over everything, and for leftovers. So here is the formula:
For each cup of gravy, you will need 1 cup turkey or chicken broth, 1 ½ tablespoons drippings, fat or butter and 1 ½ tablespoons flour (preferably the instant kind, Wondra).

Here is a sample recipe for 4 cups gravy serving 8 people:

* 6 tablespoons fat from drippings in roasting pan, and/or butter or a combination

* 6 level tablespoons flour

* 4 cups turkey or chicken broth

After you have taken your turkey out of the oven, transfer it to a platter and cover it loosely with foil. While it is resting, put the roasting pan on the stove. Transfer whatever liquid is in the roasting pan to a glass measuring cup and let it settle. The fat will float to the top. Skim off the fat and measure it. (Save the liquid, as well, to add later.)

Add your turkey or chicken broth along with the Wondra instant flour to your pan drippings, stir over low heat and voila!

Thanksgiving Recipes from Capital Grille

2010-11-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

Capital Grille is a highly-acclaimed restaurant specializing in meats but their size dishes are equal rivals. Recently I received their newsletter with mouth-watering Thanksgiving recipes that are sure to impress your guests.

Click here for Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Smoked Paprika and Spiced Pecans.
Click here for Truffle Twice-Baked Potato.
Click here for Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta and Apples.

Cooking is fun during Thanksgiving!

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Smoked Paprika and Spiced Pecans

2010-11-11T13:44:00.000-08:00

Ingredients (serves 8-10):
Sweet Potatoes 4 ea
Heavy Cream 1 cup
Butter 1 stick
Kosher Salt 2 tsp
Candied Pecans (Recipe below)

Preparation :

1.Clean and peel the sweet potatoes.
2.Dice the sweet potatoes into 1” pieces
3.Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan.
4.Place the saucepan over medium heat and cover.
5.Simmer the sweet potatoes until tender (about 25 minutes).
6.Using a potato masher, mash all ingredients together.
7.Taste and add salt if necessary.
8.Place the sweet potatoes in a serving dish and top with the spiced pecans (recipe below).

Spiced Pecans
Ingredients (serves 8-10) Pecan Halves 2 cups
Egg whites, LG 1 ea
Smoked Paprika 1/4 tsp
Cayenne Pepper pinch
Sugar 1 Tbsp

Preparation:
1.Preheat oven to 300° F.
2.Whisk egg whites until foamy. Add sugar and spices. Mix well.
3.Using a fork, place in a single layer on a sheet pan (lined with foil or parchment) and bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Chef's Note: This recipe makes more Spiced Pecans than you will need for the sweet potatoes. They are a delicious garnish for salads and will hold for three days in an airtight container.

Truffle Twice-Baked Potato

2010-11-11T13:43:00.000-08:00

Potatoes are undoubtedly one of the most popular comfort foods in the world. Mashed, fried, au gratin, twice-baked—it’s hard to contemplate a preparation that isn’t comforting. Understandably, it might be difficult to envision the simple potato elevated to gourmet cuisine. But Chef Nuetzi has done it. Thanks to one of the most coveted ingredients on Earth: White Truffle Oil. When mixed with heavy cream, sour cream and parmesan, this twice-baked marvel is apt to steal the spotlight from your main entrée. A risk, we think you’ll agree, quite worth taking.

Ingredients:
Extra Large Idaho Potatoes 4 ea
Olive Oil 2 Tbsp
Kosher Salt 1 Tbsp
Sour Cream 1/2 Cup
Heavy Cream 1/2 Cup
Chives, finely sliced 3 Tbsp
White Truffle Oil 1 Tbsp
Reggiano Parmesan, finely grated 3/4 Cup
Kosher Salt 1 tsp
Black Pepper, freshly ground 1 tsp
Butter, unsalted 1 stick (cubed 1/4”)
Reggiano Parmesan, finely grated 1/4 Cup

Preparation :
1.Scrub potatoes well in cold water to remove any excess dirt.

2.Coat the potatoes with the olive oil and 1 Tbsp of the kosher salt. Bake potatoes in a 425°F oven for one hour, until a knife passes easily into the center of the potato. Allow potatoes to cool to room temperature.

3.Create an oval incision just through skin on top of potato and gently remove the skin. Draw a pattern of 1/2” squares through the flesh of the potato and carefully scoop out flesh, being careful not to break the skin of the potato.

4.Place chunks of potato in stainless mixing bowl and add the sour cream, heavy cream, chives, truffle oil and 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Mix very gently until just combined to avoid making the potato mixture pasty. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

5.Carefully place the mixture back in the shell, being careful not to pack too tightly. (The texture should be loose and resemble a dry potato salad.) Sprinkle top of potatoes with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and dot each potato evenly with cubes of the butter.

These steps may be completed up to 12 hours in advance. Store the potatoes in the refrigerator until ready to use.

When Ready to Serve

Bake the potatoes at 400°F for 15 minutes, until hot in the center and golden brown on top.

Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta and Apples

2010-11-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

A green vegetable is a must at Thanksgiving and you can jazz it up with another season favorite--apples.

Ingredients (serves 8-10)
Water 2 gallons
Kosher Salt 3 Tbsp
Sugar 2 Tbsp
Brussels Sprouts 2 Lb
Pancetta 3 slices
Granny Smith Apple 1 ea

Preparation :

1.Combine the water, salt and sugar in a large stockpot and place over high heat.

2.While the water is coming to a boil, place the Brussels sprouts in a colander and wash them in running cold water. Trim off the dark root portion and discolored leaves; cut in half.

3.Once the water has reached a boil, drop the Brussels sprouts into the water.

4.Once the water returns to a boil, cook the Brussels sprouts until tender (approximately 7 minutes).

5.Drain the Brussels sprouts and chill them quickly in ice water and drain well. Chef’s Note: This may be done up to 12 hours in advance.

6.Roughly chop the pancetta.

7.Place the pancetta in a cold sauté pan and cook over medium heat until brown and crisp.

8.Preheat the oven to 375° F.

9.While the pancetta is cooking, peel and core the apple.

10.Slice the apple into pieces equal to the size of the brussel sprouts.

11.Combine the pancetta, rendered fat from the pancetta, apple and Brussels sprouts in a large bowl and season with freshly ground black pepper.

12.Place all ingredients on a cookie sheet in a single layer and place them in the oven.

13.Roast the vegetables until apples are tender (15-20 minutes).

Defrosting a Turkey

2010-11-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving approaching in less than three weeks, and in case you might be hosting your first dinner, bookmark these tips on preparing for the big meal.

To start, here are tips on how to properly defrost a turkey. Remember, it takes at least one day to defrost. The bigger the bird, the longer to defrost.

1. In the refrigerator: Thaw the turkey breast side up, in its unopened wrapper in the refrigerator. Allow at least 1 day of thawing for every 4 pounds of turkey

2. In the sink: Thaw the turkey breast side down, in its unopened wrapper, in enough cold water to cover it completely. Change the water frequently to keep the turkey chilled. Estimate a minimum thawing time of 30 minutes per pound for a whole turkey.

Good Luck!

TOP 8 Alternative Uses for Coffee Filters

2010-10-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

As homemaker, mother of three children, and four furry pets, and essentially multitasker extraoridinaire, I've learned my own tricks and picked up valuable tips from other soccer moms, about the alternative uses for the versatile---COFFEE FILTERS!

So in David Letterman style, I'll list the Top 8 in reverse order:

8. Use for sewing projects. Coffee filters make a great backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

7. Make sachets. Tie lavender or other dried flowers and herbs in a coffee filter to make great-smelling bundles you can store in drawers and closets.

6. Diffuse the flash on your camera. Place a coffee filter over your flash to soften the brightness. You can also try putting coffee filters over lights or lamps to lessen the harshness of direct light when taking indoor photos.

5. Make a bouquet garnish. Tie up bay leaves, parsley, or other herbs in a coffee filter. Drop it in your stew or soup pot, and easily remove it when you're done cooking. Recipes often suggest cheesecloth for this process, but a coffee filter is an easy-to-find alternative.

4. Wipe off smudges. In a pinch, you can use to clean eyeglasses, camera lenses, televisions, and computer monitors.

3. Line flower pots. Place a filter at the bottom of the pot to prevent soil from leaking out of the drainage hole.

2. Save a bottle of wine. Broke the cork? No problem! Just place a filter over a pitcher and carefully pour the wine into it.

1. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they don't leave behind any residue.

Tips to Save Money at Starbucks

2010-09-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

Recently Starbucks announced that it will be raising prices. Don't worry, before you smash that eco-friendly Starbucks cup on side of your head and stars gaze around you, there is some good news.

Starbucks expects to maintain its popular $1.50 tall brewed coffee, but will probably raise the price of more labor-intensive and larger-sized beverages.

• Get a free Starbucks card that earns you free drink customization, free coffee and tea refills, and a free drink on your birthday.

• Keep your Starbucks cup and bring it back at any time for 50-cent coffee refills.

• Bring your own reusable cup and Starbucks will nick 10 cents off the price in recognition of your eco-consciousness. And as regulars learned long ago: If you order a tall drink and bring a very big reusable cup, you get some extra beverage for free.

• Use their free (for two hours) Wi-Fi to answer email, surf and connect online.

Some coffee frugalistas have figured out how to buy an iced latte if they don't have a lotta cash on hand. The trick is to order espresso over ice in a large cup and walk over to the buffet bar of condiments and milks. Skinny-minnies choose non-fat milk, or indulgers can pour from the carafe of half and half.

With the recession- induced, self-employed flocking to Starbucks for the free Wi-Fi, it's only going to grow in size. But a little courtesy goes a long way in preserving these high-priced coffee benefits.

• Go to the same store each time, tip the baristas well so they ignore your extended stay.
• Refresh your coffee every couple of hours (for either 50 cents or free, but still leave a modest tip).

• Don't take business calls inside the store.

• Don't sit in the comfiest chair or seize the best table.

Also realize that with free Wi-Fi is an invitation to high-tech scammers who now see easy pickings. At least, that's what some experts are warning. So be careful out there.

Speaking of internet, here's an insider scoop that is sure to cement some customers as statues at Starbucks locations and annoy others who want to sit, enjoy a cup of brew and get digital content.

Starbucks will soon launch an in-house Digital Network, being billed as a place for customers to share information, download the occasional free song and get free premium content. The company is teaming up with Yahoo! to allow Wi-Fi users access to sites they'd otherwise have to pay for -- such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. It will also feature content from USA Today, Zagat and others, as well as films from SnagFilms, which has an online library of more than 1,600 documentaries.

This could start another type of coffee war between customers!

How to Disable the new "Places" tool by Facebook to Protect Your Privacy

2010-08-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

Facebook is a technology phenomenon that has set the standard for social media. However, its latest tool "Places" is creating quite a commotion. Why? To begin Facebook has automatically added this tool to your account. Rather than announce it and offer instructions on how to "enable" it, they have forced this feature onto your account where the techie neophyte is unaware that "friends" could be posting your location on their wall. In other words, you could be at legitimate doctor's appointment, and a supposed "friend" could say that you're at the beach playing hooky. If you value your privacy, then you want to disable this feature. Instructions are further below.

What is "Places"? First a little background information in layman's terms to help you follow this technology so you don't feel like a dinosaur, even if you don't use Facebook regularly.

For starters, "Places" purpose is similar to another social networking site called FourSquare.com that was launched only a year ago and has grown in meteoric proportions.

Foursquare is a web and mobile application that allows registered users to connect with friends and update their location. Points are awarded for "checking in" at venues. Users can choose to have their check-ins posted on their accounts on Twitter, Facebook or both. As professional marketers, Alicia and Christine agree this is genius. It drives traffic to businesses and if a user has checked-in to a venue on more days (meaning only one check-in per day qualifies for calculating mayorship) than anyone else in the past 60 days, the check-ins are valid under Foursquare's time and distance protocols, and they have a profile photo, they will be crowned "Mayor" of that venue, until someone else earns the title by checking in more times than the previous mayor.

Obviously this is for people with a lot of free time who enjoy socializing with friends through their mobile phone. (According to recent reports, for the MY Generation, email is considered snail communication. Text messaging and other mobile phone applications allows them to be instantly connected. First there was "instant coffee" now it's instant connection and communication.)

TO DISABLE "PLACES" Tool on Facebook
Visit Facebook.com, click on account, and then "privacy settings." Then, at the bottom of that page, click on the word "customize settings." Under the category, "Things others share," find "Friends can check me in to Places," and select "Disabled." While you are there, review your other settings and make sure you are comfortable with them.

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What that Bar Code Really Means

2010-06-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Kellogg’s recalled about 28 million boxes of cereal because consumers reported an unusual smell coming from the packaging that could potentially make people ill. In order to help identify the specific products involved, Kellogg’s referred the public to the universal product code (UPC). That’s the official name for the pattern of black lines on the side of almost everything you can possibly purchase. Simply put, the bar code.

This code reveals our purchasing habits to manufacturers, retailers and credit card companies. Most complaints about the erosion of privacy through technology revolve around these little scannable designs.

What makes the bar code interesting is that the lines as well as the 12-digit code have meaning. The white spaces between the black lines are also meaningful. The bars are for machines to “read,” the numbers for us unsophisticated humans. We’ll get to the bars in a bit.

The first six numbers are related to the manufacturer and the type of transaction, the next five describe the product or item number. The last number is the checkdigit, which is used to validate that all of the other numbers have been read correctly by a scanner. The calculation for validation is elaborate (if you want proof, have a crack at it)

The first number, set off from the rest on the left, designates the general nature of the purchase; coupons, pharmaceuticals, or special pricing arrangements made within the store among other possibilities. The next five numbers, grouped together, are the specific manufacturer ID. The next three are called the family code, and the two digits before the checkdigit are the value code. The family code describes a family of products, while the value code designates the value or nature of a coupon.

Now, the bars. (This is a very general explanation of a mathematically complex system. If you seek greater detail, look here.)

Notice that there are four different widths of bar in any UPC code. Each of the four sizes corresponds to a value of one to four. So a black line followed by a white line followed by another black line is three “ones.” This is how all UPC codes begin. After this “start code,” every sequence of 4 line widths corresponds to binary code for one of the numbers that appear beneath the bars. The last three digits are once again three “ones.”

So let’s try to understand the UPC of one of Kellogg’s recalled cereals, 3800039132 3. First, note that Kellogg’s only provides 11 out of 12 numbers. Referencing above, we can determine that’s because the first number is always specific to the type of transaction that will be used to purchase the product. Since Kellogg’s doesn’t include that initial digit (set off from the rest, like the checkdigit), the recall is too broad to specifiy by transaction type. The five numbers “38000″ are Kellogg’s manufacturer ID number. The “391″ specifies the identity of the Kellogg product, and the “32″ is a value code that explains the nature of any coupon deals associated with the product.

Returning to English, this UPC is basically saying “I’m an 8.7 ounce box of Apple Jacks.”

Per this specific recall, other factors besides the UPC are necessary to help you determine whether a particular box of cereal is part of the recall or not. For more information, check out Kellogg’s Web site.

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Do Police Know Who to Contact in Case You're in Accident?

2010-06-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

More states' highway safety and motor vehicle departments are adopting an emergency contact information program for law enforcement to contact people you list in case of an accident.

The program was launched in 2007 with the help of a Tampa area mother who didn't find out her daughter was involved in a motorcycle accident until after she died.

Check with your local law enforcement for the emergency contact program. Let's say you live in one state and closest loved ones live in another state. With this program, they can be contacted.

The process is simple. Go to the Florida Highway Patrol website and click "Emergency Contact Information." Put in your driver's license number and birth date. On the very next page you type in the names and phone numbers of the people you want notified in the event of an emergency. It's a secure network that can only be accessed by law enforcement.

Check your state's highway patrol website to register.

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9 Foods that Relieve Nausea

2010-06-04T19:47:00.000-07:00

Apple
A little fiber goes a long way toward clearing nausea-inducing chemicals out of your system — but too much at one time can make you feel even worse. Throughout the day, snack on such fiber-rich foods as a whole apple (Gala apples are a good choice) and crunchy raw vegetables. Try applesauce or apple juice if you're having trouble digesting solid food.

Crackers
Foods high in starch — such as saltines, bread, and toast — help absorb stomach acids and settle a queasy stomach. Keep a handful of crackers on your nightstand; eating a few before you get out of bed may help ease nausea in the morning.

Ginger
Capsules of powdered ginger have been found to reduce nausea and vomiting. You could also try a cup of ginger tea, a glass of ginger ale (some people swear it works better if it's flat), a few gingersnap cookies, or a piece of ginger candy. Pickled ginger, the kind that usually comes with sushi, may also help.

Water
Small sips from a plain glass of water will help you stay hydrated — and avoid the headaches that often accompany nausea. Start out by slowly drinking tiny amounts until you feel you can stomach a larger amount.

Nuts
A lack of protein can make nausea feel even worse, so look to protein-packed foods, such as nuts — even peanut butter (as long as you're not allergic) — that are easy to digest. They'll quickly replenish your depleted energy and help keep your nausea at bay.

Chicken Broth
Chicken soup may make you feel better when you have a cold, but it's too heavy when you're nauseated. Instead try chicken broth to soothe your symptoms — the lower in fat, the better. Broth made from bouillon cubes may be your best bet because it's easy to prepare and less likely to spoil.

Sports Drinks
Most sports drinks contain the electrolytes sodium and potassium, which help restore an athlete's depleted nutrients. While you may not be up for sports, sports drinks can help even non-athletes feel better when they're suffering from nausea.

Banana
If your nausea is accompanied by dehydration, or if you have been vomiting, snack on a piece of this peel-and-eat fruit. Bananas can help restore potassium, which is often depleted as a result of diarrhea and vomiting. Doctors also recommend starting on "bland" foods like bananas when you're ready to eat solids again.

Sprig of Mint
The refreshing aroma alone may be enough to make you feel better, but actually chewing on fresh mint or drinking a glass of mint tea is considered an effective remedy for nausea

The Secret to Combat Nerves before Competition

2010-02-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

If you are watching the Olympics and the sensational speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, then you no doubt watched him yawn not once but twice, with mouth wide open for longer than a commercial break! Viewers automatically assumed he was tired. DEFINITELY NOT.

It's all part of his strategy to get more oxygen, relax his nerves and safeguard that adrenaline for the race! Apparently it worked, as he won bronze and a record -breaking 8 time Olympic medal for any winter Olympics!

Now why didn't we ever think of that before a race or competition! Have you regularly tried this technique? If so, click on "comments" below and share your story.

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How to type those cute symbols

2010-02-13T20:35:00.000-08:00

Blog Sisters presents one of those nifty tips that you always wondered about and never knew the answer.

Whether you're a wife smitten with her husband or a teenager bitten by the love bug, or a copywriter, if you want to know how to type those cute symbols (from keyboard) in an email or for writing a magazine article, here is your cheat sheet!

This should work in any Windows word processor, text editor, browser or email client. 1. Make sure your keyboard is in NumLock mode. 2. Hold down the ALT key and enter the number on the numeric keypad. (Note that many laptops have a blue FN key that changes a set of keys, also with blue numbers on them and usually in the 7-8-9-U-I-O area, into a numeric keypad.)
for ☺ 1
for ☻ 2
for ♥ 3 <===
for ♦ 4f
or ♣ 5
for ♠ 6
for • 7
for ◘ 8
for ○ 9
for ◙ 10
for ♂ 11
for ♀ 12
for ♪ 13
for ♫ 14
for ☼ 15
for ► 16
for ◄ 17
for ↕ 18
for ‼ 19
for ¶ 20
for § 21
for ▬ 22
for ↨ 23
for ↑ 24
for ↓ 25
for → 26
for ← 27
for ∟ 28
for ↔ 29
for ▲ 30
for ▼ 31

"Aaah, so that's how you do it!"

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Insider Secrets to Getting Your Resume Noticed and Read

2010-02-10T09:41:00.000-08:00

In this economy of double-digit unemployment plus the record-breaking pace of communication technology advancements, it's becoming harder than ever to get your resume read by a real person. Just like any company that advertises, it's about pushing through the clutter to get noticed. It's not easy. The following are some tips from Maria Hanson at LiveCareer.com along with our comments in parenthesis as both marketing professionals who have ridden the job search roller coaster many times and as hiring managers. Our tips landed us more interviews than the average applicant. Plus we added one more!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HR people are drowning in resumes, and despite their best intentions, many can't keep up," says executive recruiter Mike Travis.

Help your resume win the attention it deserves by following these up-to-date tips from industry insiders.

* "Keep it shorter, tighter, and more laser-focused," advises resume expert Louise Kursmark. "Resumes are by necessity becoming crisper and more to the point." With Twitter, texting, and a barrage of quick-hit multimedia messages, we're getting accustomed to the succinct. "Readers quickly lose interest in wordy resumes that don't get right to the point," she says. This goes for cover letters, too. [BLOG SISTERS: Not easy to do but true. That's why turning to a friend who knows how to write "succinctly" is very helpful. Ask him or her to look it over. Even if they just change a sentence or two. Our philosophy--keep tweaking, keep perfecting].

* "Show some humor or personality," says Jennifer Turner, of Talagy recruiting and staffing company. "I recently called a candidate, even though he didn't match any current positions, because his online resume title was, 'Smart and Funny Sales Guy.'" [BLOG SISTERS: Be careful with this one as it is easy to go overboard and is more subjective to the person reading it. We don't recommend anymore than the one liner as mentioned above.]

* "Make your resume read like a news story, not an encyclopedia entry," suggests Sam Levine, of The Buttonwood Group. Pop an eye-catching headline and lead on the top and be sure to include a summary of qualifications. [BLOG SISTERS: we agree. Just jazzing up the entire layout a little can make a difference]

* "Be results-oriented," advises Erin Riley, assistant director of career services at the Chapman University School of Law. Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments. Example: Instead of simply writing "Drafted OSHA appeal," she says, include results: "Drafted OSHA appeal resulting in 90% reduction of employer fine for employee's serious on-the-job injury." [BLOG SISTERS: yes, yes, yes]

* "Show what sets you apart," says Nancy Keene, a director of Stanton Chase global executive search firm. "I like to see some indication of personal interests. It's a good conversation trigger and provides some additional insight into who the person is."
Riley agrees. "It's an opportunity to make yourself memorable as an applicant," she says. While an actual Personal Interest section is not usually advised, you can find ways to integrate your interests into your resume. For example, you could list your volunteer activities to give hiring managers some sense of your passions. [BLOG SISTERS: we completely agree. An example: tell briefly how you apply your skills not just to your job but perhaps as a volunteer for a charity or your hobby club (book club, music band) This can be done in the cover letter instead of resume if you choose].

* "Use appropriate keywords," suggests Kursmark. Since machines are increasingly reading your resume before people are, give the tracking systems what they're looking for: the most significant keywords from the job description that fit your qualifications -- anything from degrees to programming languages and other specialized job-related skills. [BLOG SISTERS: this is probably the most important! With most resumes sent via job portals they are not necessarily printed out in the same stylized layout in which you sent it. The product on the reader end can be one page with one sentence linked to next with no paragraph spacing. Therefore using the SAME KEYWORDS as the job description is vital. ANOTHER TIP: in other words, we strongly recommend tweaking the resume for every single job application. It makes a huge difference. It worked for us when job searching and when hiring!]

* "Let others sing your praises," says Richard Deems, co-author of "Make Job Loss Work for You." "We add a section at the end we title, 'What Others Say.' Then we list five short statements, usually without attribution, that others have said about the person." Examples: "Sticks with it until the job gets done," or "The most creative, prolific employee I've ever had." [BLOG SISTERS: we love this one! It's a marketing technique we use in any business, small or large. Testimonials are a huge asset! While you don't have to include the name of the person on the resume, be ready to have that person's name and contact information on your reference list!]

* "If your name is difficult to pronounce, include your nickname," says Heather R. Huhman, president of Come Recommended. Like it or not, "Companies are more likely to call you for an interview if you provide a name they can easily pronounce," she says. [BLOG SISTERS: Christine learned this from experience. Her original last name was "Michalczyk". She can tell you stories of massive confusion, missed calls, and how she lost clients with a difficult Polish last name. While proud of her Polish heritage, she legally changed it to "Michaels". But you don't have to go that route. Another solution is to write Christine Michalczyk aka "Michaels". You should also mention this in your cover letter, "please feel free to ask for Christine Michaels"]

* Research company address and mail resume! This is a Blog Sister tip. Try to make every effort to research the company address and send your cover letter and resume via USPS Priority Mail in the red,white and blue envelope. This stands out plus it's tax deductible so keep those receipts. Even better, try to call the company and find out who the head of the department is for position you are applying. It's playing detective but you're increasing your chances of an interview.

The above tips do take time. So if you're unemployed, then we strongly advise you to dedicate at least eight hours a day to following these steps and you will definitely notice more interest from prospect employers!

If you have any questions for us--use the Comment form below by clicking on "Comments". Remember your question or comment won't appear right away. It will reach us first.

Take the free resume test to see if your resume has what it takes to make the cut.
And take America's #1 Free Career Test for help finding the best career for you.

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Super Bowl Half-Time Workout!

2010-01-26T20:05:00.000-08:00

The Snack Food Association (SFA) reports that Super Bowl fans consume 11 million pounds of potato chips and 3.8 million pounds of popcorn each year — but don’t let these stats get you down. On February 7, while everyone else loads up on potato chips, pizza and beer, sneak away during halftime and try this 30-minute Super Bowl Halftime Workout.

“I designed the Super Bowl Halftime Workout because it’s simple, and anyone — including families, roommates, or couples — can burn a quick 120 calories during halftime,” said Marta Montenegro, editor-in-chief of SOBeFiT Magazine and creator of the upcoming fitness DVD series MM21, available for purchase in March.

The 30-minute Super Bowl Halftime Workout consists of moves and circuits that work several muscle groups for an efficient strength/cardio workout. However, equally as important is the food we consume. Marta advises to watch portions, and replace foods like potato chips and dips with veggies and low-fat or Greek yogurt dips. And try popcorn minus the oil and butter; instead, sprinkle with chocolate powder or cinnamon for a sweeter taste. “You’re likely to eat more than half your daily food intake during Super Bowl Sunday, so get creative in the kitchen, continues Marta. “I make whole-wheat pizza with veggies and top with chicken for lean protein, and serve light beer to guests, if they don’t mind.”

This total body workout should be repeated three times for a total of 21 minutes. After each circuit, take a three-minute break and then repeat two more times. Total workout: 30 minutes.

1. Burpees (1 minute):
a. Start in frog position, then kick legs back
b. Return to frog and jump upward
c. Land softly with knees slightly bent

2. Knee Raises (1 minute)

3. Squats with Pulses (1 minute):
a. From standing position, go down and squat
b. Keep chest up, back straight, and knees at a 90° angle from floor
c. Hold at the bottom for 5 short pulses

4. Knee Raises (1 minute)

5. Push-Ups (1 minute):
a. Palms should be flat on floor and shoulder-width apart
b. Keep back straight

6. Knee Raises (1 minute)

7. Walking Lunges (1 minute):
d. Keep body upright, don’t lean forward
e. Back knee should be close to the ground

For more express workouts, visit SOBeFiT Magazine at http://www.sobefitmagazine.com/.

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8 Critical Things Your Auto Accident Attorney Won't Tell You

2010-01-13T18:13:00.000-08:00

If you live in the state of Virginia or Maryland (USA) you can order this book for FREE.
"8 Critical Things Your Auto Accident Attorney Won't Tell You".

If you live outside of these state, you can still order the book but pay $19.95.

If you have had an accident and worked with Auto Accident Attorney, share your story by sending an email to us at blog.sisters@yahoo.com or click on "Comments" below to share it now.

How to Handle a Freeloading Relative

2010-01-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

You may be in this boat or find yourself one day deciding "should I move in with my family?" or "Should I let my financially distressed brother/sister/relative live with me?".

First and foremost, only help that person as long as it does NOT put YOU into debt.

Next, have a very honest conversation about money and rules. If you're the one providing housing, talk about:
1- How much they should contribute each month (based on their income and looming bills to pay off; the person in need has to be willing to share those details).
2- Insist they have to pay on time.
3- Set a month or deadline. Why? Sometimes the person in need has week financial planning skills and may overspend or spend on unnecessary items. This can be frustrating for the person helping. Here is where the "deadline" may be helpful. If you see the person is working hard, paying off debts and moving forward, then certainly offer for them to stay longer.

CICK HERE to view VIDEO of these sisters' struggles and advice from financial advisor Mellody Hobson.

We hope this helps. If you're in a similar situation, share your story!

Watch Out for New Credit Card Fees!

2010-01-07T10:29:00.000-08:00

Consumers, beware of new and increased fees on your credit cards and checking accounts.

The enactment of the Credit Card Act of 2009 next month, brings good news and doles out bad news.

On the plus side, credit card companies can not increase your rate if you pay your balance within 60 days. However, this means lost revenue for the cc companies. Fighting back, they are creating NEW fees. These can include an annual fee if you never paid one, or increased annual fees, or a $1.00 charge each time they mail you a paper statement.

There's more! Our advice:
1- Be sure to read ALL those messages on the next statement and all the fine print if your credit card company sends any correspondence. In other words, it's time to do some refresher homework.
2- For comparison shopping, check with www.bankrate.com.

Click here to read more and view the video on Good Morning America!

Customized Photo Stamps

2009-12-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas we posted about these Photo Stamps and their popularity keeps growing.

99% of recipients would rather receive a physical card than e-card for the holidays. Its says so much--that you took the time to think of them for more than an e-second. So kickoff this holiday by sending holiday cards with customized photo stamps.

Beyond Christmas, you can upload your new company business logo to gain exposure and present a completely polished brand. If photography is a hobby of yours, then show off your skills and turn your best photo (black and white or colored) into your own postal stamp.

To answer your question: Yes! PhotoStamps is officially authorized by the US Postal Service. Use them like regular postage!

And if you're a Hewlett Packard customer--get Free Shipping!

This is a fun little project for you, the kids, the whole family.

Let the creativity soar!

Thanksgiving Food Safety Tips

2009-11-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

You're with friends, family feasting on a delicious Thanksgiving meal. Afterwards it's the tradition to watch American football on TV or play games. Suddenly you're flailing your arms not from shouting at the Quarterback who dropped the football but from stomach pains. No one wants to be sick or worship the porcelain God due to food contamination.

Here are some helpful safety tips in preparing the turkey and stuffing and as always, we learned something new!

What happens if you forget to defrost the turkey?
Which is better? To wash or not wash the turkey?
Which is safer? To stuff or not stuff the turkey?
Learn about "Turkey Resting".

CLICK HERE to watch the video and find out the answers.

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Get Black Friday Deals without Getting Dark Circles under Eyes

2009-11-22T11:09:00.000-08:00

Wait before you plan on skipping eggnog on Thanksgiving night and sleep in your clothes so you can roll out of bed and stand in line at retail stores at 4am to get ahead of the Black Friday squatters.

Save those dark circles under your eyes for a good time.
If you have a specific item in mind, typically electronics, here are some helpful tips this year so you don't waste your time and wish you got drunk on eggnog and slept in like normal people.

1. STUDY the circular for the fine print that appears next to an advertised "doorbuster deal" at the bottom of the page in this year's circulars.
It will either say "While supplies last," "Minimum 2 per store," "No rainchecks" or "All items are available in limited quantities." Is it a sleasy practice for a major retailer to only offer 5 items that is advertised in a nationwide circular? It is.

A quick scan through a few of this year's Black Friday circulars show quantities as low as a "minimum of 5 per store" on some models of large plasma and HDTVs and popular brands of home appliances such as a washer-dryer pair.

2. Beware of "derivatives". You heard of "refurbished". Well this time the key word is "derivatives". Some of the holiday electronics with those low sale prices are derivatives, models that have a few less features than a standard model in that product line. A report earlier this month in Consumer Reports called attention to HDTV models from Samsung and Sony advertised in Black Friday deals that appear to be "derivatives." The report said these one-off TVs "with unfamiliar model numbers" are usually cheaper than the standard model in their class.

Our recommendation is two fold:
a. Study the model you want. Write down the model # and ALL the features. When you get to the store, check the model number of the item itself and on the box.
b. Right before your purchase at the register (so you have the product and don't lose it to the hordes of shoppers), ask the manager to write on the receipt "This [item and model #] is not refurbished or a derivative", signed by manager with printed name. It will make them double-check before committing the company to a signed statement. This is one of our favorite tips that has saved us from buying either a refurbished or derivative item. And if we still wanted the item, we negotiated a lower price!!!

3. Don't order online on Black Friday. Often retailers don't have live inventory of their items and many customers waited months or sometimes received a different model. Wait for Cyber Monday--the biggest Black Friday online, after Thanksgiving weekend. Deals may not be doorbusting but the savings can still be significant.

4. Rainchecks are not waterproof. In other words, even if retailers offer rainchecks on items which run out on Black Friday, there is no guarantee you are protected and the item will arrive down the chimney by Christmas or post the New Year.

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What Was that Song on Dancing with the Stars?

2009-11-15T18:06:00.000-08:00

Do you ever watch a show and hear a song that sparks your fancy and you exclaim "What is the name of that song? I love it! I want it!".

Fans of the most popular family show can now download newly discovered songs from the hit show--Dancing with the Stars.

Here is a website that lists every song that was played this season. The website narrows it down to the couple that was dancing, and the show number it played. For example, if you enjoyed the music for Donny and Kym's Viennese Waltz in the Ballroom Round of the last show, here you have it.

http://www.puredwts.com/tag/dancing-with-the-stars-music/

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Why "Colonel" is pronounced "Kernel"

2009-10-19T16:43:00.001-07:00

The answer: it's French. Aaaah that explains it.

Well hold onto that croissant before you smash it. There's an Italian origin as well and it appears both have root in the current pronunciation and spelling.

But the French word colonel, amazingly for a French word, is pronounced exactly as it's spelled, with no r sound whatever. "Koh-lo-nelle"

The story begins with the Italian word "colonello", from Latin columnellus, the leader of a (military) column, and then was borrowed into French twice. The first time, it became "coronel" (koh-row-nelle) in French, possibly on the notion that it was from Latin corona 'crown' rather than columna.

The form "coronel" spread to English and Spanish before being replaced in French itself by a second borrowing from Italian, this time more correctly as "colonel".

The spelling, but not the pronunciation, of this second form then entered English, leaving us with "l" in the spelling and "r" in the pronunciation.

Now I know you were dying to get to the root of this mystery for years. Leave a comment!

Tips for Buying Used Car

2009-09-22T17:59:00.001-07:00

Used car sales are up as people shy away from pricey new cars.

My Blog Sister and I only buy used--one year old cars with low mileage to save a few thousand dollars. Why buy new when it depreciates the second you drive it off the lot? Well, new does have its advantages, especially if you're not sure how to spot a car that has undergone extensive body work after horrendous accident.

The trick is how to conduct the first initial inspection before making an offer.
Do you know if the car is a salvaged wreck? This is critical. While it's legal to resell rebuilt wrecks, it's also dangerous. One young man was killed when upon impact of an accident, there was no airbag. The steering wheel was filled with shredded paper.

CLICK HERE to view a news report by ABC News and the test they performed with local passerbys to see if they knew which of the five cars was the rebuilt wreck. The results will surprise you.

Bottomline, whenever buying a used car, follow these two golden rules and you'll drive off with a great deal and a "new/used" car!

1- Conduct a history report on the vehicle
2- Have a certified, professional mechanic inspect it for you

VERY IMPORTANT: Despite well-circulated , deeply-rooted information, used cars can NOT be returned within three days.

Share your tips or stories of buying a used car.

The Culprit Ingredient that Causes Weight Gain

2009-09-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

You've heard of this "flavor enhancer" also considered a toxin that excites. Well an "excitotoxin" to be exact. Found in many frozen, prepackaged meals (I.e TV dinners) and especially in Chinese food, MSG is the latest culprit for weight gain! Studies also show that growing number of Americans are becoming increasing allergic to the ingredient which can cause migraine headaches or palpitations.

To learn more about this ingredient known as monosodium glutumate, click here for an article by Margaret Furtado.

Bottomline, gradually change your eating habits, remove Chinese food (or those menu items laden with MSG) and READ LABELS for everything!

Great Tips to Preserve Food Instead of Throwing It Away

2009-08-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

Lifestyle expert Nancy Soriano recently shared these money-saving tips on extending the life of your food on Good Morning America. Americans waste $1,200 a year in spoiled or unused food. These simple tips go a long way in protecting your grocery budget.

If you're a mother with kids, you may recognize some of these tips, like using Lifesavers candies to catch the wax from birthday candles. My Blog Sister, Christine, said "these are the best tips yet that I've come across! Especially the one about turning soggy potatoe chips into Crispy chips, or how to keep a cake moist after cutting a few slices."

Freeze to Reuse and Save
There are many common foods and drinks that Soriano says you can freeze in order to save and reuse later. Take an ice cube tray and fill it with leftover wine. You can reuse the wine cubes to spice up your sangria or for cooking casseroles and sauces.

Freezing tomato paste is also a great way to save time and money. Many recipes do not call for an entire can of tomato paste. Instead of throwing the remainder away put the rest in an ice cube tray or in teaspoon or tablespoon drops between two pieces of waxed paper and freeze it. Later simply tear off the amount you need.

Dessert Short Cuts
In order to keep the ice cream cone from dripping through the bottom, Soriano suggests cutting up a marshmallow or placing miniature marshmallows at the bottom of the cone. It prevents the ice cream from leaking and is a sweet treat at the end of the dessert.

Use lifesavers to hold the candles in place on children's birthday cakes. The kids will enjoy the candy and it prevents the candles from falling.

Soriano says placing cookie dough onto a baking sheet does not need to be a sticky mess. Simply dip the spoon in milk before scooping the dough. It should easily fall off the spoon onto the sheet.
If you don't have enough batter to fill an entire cupcake tin, place a tablespoon of water into the remaining spots. This prevents rust from forming on the tin.

Make It Last: How to Keep Food Fresh
In order to keep a cake fresh for a longer period of time, place half an apple in the cake dome (or container to cover the cake). The cake will absorb the moisture from the apple. But don't leave the fruit in there too long, otherwise the apple will rot.

Here's an interesting one I'll have to ask my son to do a science project on: Storing cottage cheese upside down will help keep it fresh because it will slow the oxidation.

The next time you're wondering if an egg is still fresh, place it in salt water. If the egg sinks to the bottom then it is still fresh. If it floats to the top throw it away.

Household Items and Food that Can Do Double Duty
Food and certain household items can be used for multiple purposes, such as meat basters. Use a baster to make perfectly round pancakes every time.

Blog Sisters loves this one as we always have leftover pie dough: The next time you have leftover pie dough, coat it in egg wash and sprinkle Parmesan and Gruyere cheeses on top. After you bake it you'll have a delicious appetizer to serve.

Leftover coffee grounds are rich in nutrients and can help your garden grow, especially acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas. Simply spread the grounds around the plant and then work them into the soil.

With mosquitoe-infested, humidity-hugging-your-body weather like Florida, you can relieve the itch of a mosquito bite by putting undiluted white vinegar on the bite. You can also soften and fluff your sweaters by adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle. [Christine literally raced out the door to grocery store for this remedy].

Microwave Magic: Combat Stale Food
Brown sugar often gets hard after sitting in the cabinet, but Soriano says you can soften the sugar in the microwave by just placing it in there for 10 to 15 seconds. You can keep it right in the bag if you open it at the top to let it breathe.

The microwave can also combat stale potato chips. Crisp the chips by putting them in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds, and then let them stand for two minutes. Although not as good as new, the chips will have their crispiness back because the microwave draws the moisture out of them while cooking. [So that's the trick!]

The next time you need to peel a clove of garlic, put it in the microwave for five to 10 seconds. The skin will slip off easily.

If you have any similar tips to preserve food, and increase it's shelf life, share it here by posting a comment below! Or send us an email to Blog.Sisters@yahoo.com

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Back to College --Dorm Living Tips

2009-08-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

From the expert on lifestyle tips, Heloise shares tips for those 18.5 million students headed for college this semester, particularly those who will live on campus.

Off the bat she warns:

Vacuuming sheets and spraying them with Febreze is not as effective as washing them with soap and water. Remember the sheets absorb the sweat and bodily grime. Vacuuming is good for loose dirt but not washing.

Black nail polish hides scratches on your iPhone case.

If you drop your cellphone in the toilet, take out the battery, then blot the phone with a towel and blow dry.

For a quick dry of bras and panties, use a salad spinner.

Today's college-bound students grew up with working parents who didn't have time to teach them basic skills in cleaning, laundry, and cooking. So trial by error becomes the way of life for freshman students which often means bleached spots in favorite jeans or other permanent stains.

Some more dorm hints from Heloise:

Overstuffing the washing machine is a common mistake. Pack the machine loosely and remember not to use more detergent than recommended on the packaging. If you soverstuff a dryer, your clothes will take longer to dry and come out very wrinkled.

Don't lug a huge box or jug of detergent to the laundry room. It's too bulky and heavy to carry with your bag of dirty clothes. Instead, measure what you need into small plastic bags or yogurt cups.

Use dryer sheets sparingly and never with towels. (They can coat the fibers and reduce fluffiness--we never knew this). Don't add a sheet in the middle of a heat cycle because it can leave grease-like spots on clothing. Dryer sheets are good to stuff in smelly shoes, gym bags, drawers and closets.

Don't take your laundry home if the airline charges for checking luggage.

Turn the computer keyboard upside down and shake it every once in a while to get crumbs out. It will work better.

Clean the lounge microwave every once in a while by heating a large bowl of water with slices of lemon or orange for a minute or two. (Maybe this is for the reason you may not have cleanser readily on hand?).

Sip This for Breakfast to Curb Your Hunger

2009-07-30T19:40:00.000-07:00

If you often feel ravenous by noon despite a good breakfast, try drinking some of this with your morning meal: skim milk. We know it works. For Alicia's children it curbs their cravings for cookies and snacks and Christine's kittens love the milk that they fill up and stop chirping or meowing for more food.

In a small study of overweight people, those who drank about 20 ounces of skim milk with breakfast ate less at lunch than the folks who drank fruit juice in the a.m.

An Appetite-Dousing Drink
The milk drinkers also felt fuller and more satisfied after their morning meal. Most likely thanks to the whey and casein proteins that are in milk; they’re better at quelling hunger than the carbs in fruit drinks. Find out what the research says about milk and weight loss.

Other Hunger Crushers
If you don’t like the taste of milk, have lactose intolerance, or don’t drink milk for other reasons, don’t worry. There are lots of other ways to introduce lean protein into your morning meal. For example, try making this quick, protein-rich, milk-free smoothie: Banana-Cocoa Soy Smoothie.
Try these other appetite-taming strategies as well:
Eat big in the morning. Find out how it helps with cutting calories later in the day.
Fill up on fiber and healthy fats. Here’s how both help curb hunger.
Diversify your workout. These two types of exercise tame your appetite better than one.
Here’s one thing you definitely don’t want in your breakfast: high-fructose corn syrup. Find out how much people consume a year and why you don’t want any.

How to Get into the Crown of Statue of Liberty

2009-07-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

Over the 4th of July weekend, it was announced that the "crown" of the Statue of Liberty reopened to the public after closing since 9/11.

The "pedestal" was opened to the public, but the famous crown was closed off to the public.
While news reports today announced that a lottery system will determine the 250 daily visitors, there is another way to skip the wait-and-see game.

Check "http://www.statuecruises.com/" and look at "Crown access". You may make reservations - well in advance - to visit the Crown or the pedestal. Just read the instructions carefully. The price for the Crown Access is just $3.00 over the cost of the boat ride. Even in this economy staying home and visiting the National Parks is still a good deal.

Not able to make the trek to New York City? No problem, take a virtual tour with the family and learn the history about this American landmark. CLICK HERE.

How to Best Photograph Fireworks

2009-07-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

If you're like me you may have given up trying to take photos of those bright explosive fireworks. Past experience produced blurry lines of color that remind me of my three-year old's artistic renderings.

This year I really wanted to learn some tips or tricks to capture the memories with my kids and John, who's back from Iraq, for the moment.

I understand from my neighbor, a diehard of photography as a hobby, that you want to practice a little but even the beginner digital shutterbug can master this technique.

The two most important tools: a tripot and remote shutter release

Getting a Great Picture (according to my neighbor Bob)

These days, most digital cameras come with different settings. If your camera has a fireworks mode, then enable it.

If your camera does not have a fireworks mode, then adjust the settings on your camera. Turn off automatic focus and set the camera's focus to infinity so that it doesn't search helplessly for a subject in the dark.

If you don't have a manual focus control, then use the camera's landscape mode, which also sets this focus to infinity. The low light will encourage the camera to shoot at a slow shutter speed and capture the light trails.

Stabilizing the camera is key. You need support to capture a sharp image — free from the blur that results when you hold a camera in your hands. A simple, inexpensive, lightweight tripod is all you need, or simply prop your camera on a solid surface.

If the camera has a self-timer to trigger exposure, use it.

Invest in a wireless remote that will let you take the photo without touching the camera.
Get a wide angle on the scene. Use the wider end of your lens' range. If you zoom in too tightly, you'll have trouble knowing exactly when and where the fireworks are going to do their thing.

If this works for you, email us your pictures and Blog Sisters will post them on our blog for the world to see. Be sure to add your tips and suggestions.
Blog.Sisters@yahoo.com

Happy 4th of July!
Alicia for Blog Sisters

What those Labels on Fruit really mean?

2009-06-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder the purpose of those sticky labels on fruit other than annoy you in trying to remove it to eat that piece of fruit? What purpose does it serve other than identify the brand?

Well actually they do serve a purpose.

The small printed digits at the bottom are a code. First it is the UPC code and will tell the cashier if that apple is a Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp or Pink Lady. It's also important for you to know because not all apples are created equal for cooking, baking, or eating as a snack.

Second, the numbers on the sticker also tells how the product is grown or created. This has made news recently with the release of the new rules for “organic” labeling.

For conventionally grown fruit, the PLU code on the sticker consists of four numbers. Organically grown fruit have a five-numeral PLU beginning with the number 9.

Genetically engineered fruit has a five-numeral PLU beginning with the number 8.

Heading to the refrigerator now, I selected a kiwi fruit. On it "Zespri Green 4030 New Zealand". This means the kiwi fruit is not organic. If it's 84030, then it's genetically engineered, and if the number is 94030, then it means it's organically grown.

Many consider the organically grown to be better. Now I don't know how New Zealand grows their "conventional" kiwis. Maybe their conventional methods use less pesticide than U.S. That's probably part two in researching what you eat. But I have always loved kiwi fruit and so far my supermarket only offers the ones from New Zealand.

A stickier issue is how to remove those pesky stickers! Wouldn't you agree?

According to the Produce Marketing Association, some shippers have begun using stickers designed with tabs that make them easier to lift off--Yes Lift Tab! I vote for it. But how much more will that cost me?

Did you find this interesting or helpful? Post a comment below! Thanks for visiting!

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The Top 50 Most Dangerous Web-Search Terms in US

2009-06-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

It's happened to us and now we know why! My Blog Sister and I (or my children) have each entered search terms which lead to malware or spyware attacking our computers! This can cause you to lose everything on your hard drive or worse--hackers can steal your identity and sensitive information! (That's why it's important to back up your information).

For example, as a corporate executive turned full-time homemaker I entered "work from home". My older son entered "free music downloads". I also entered "printable fill in puzzles" to find quality activities for my children at no cost and thus save me the time and money for a trip to the local Walmart. Christine entered "Free e-cards". Many words on the list will not surprise you like "mp3". You'll also see popular names and brands like "myspace" and "hotmail.com". If you know the e-address (hotmail.com) then enter it into browser and NOT the search box.

Now we know better and will refer to this list of dangerous Web-search terms. So here is the list provided by security firm, McAfee. For a complete news report by ABC News, click here. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Update it by researching on your own.

THE TOP 50 MOST DANGEROUS WEB-SEARCH TERMS IN U.S. (per McAfee)
1. word unscrambler
2. lyrics
3. myspace
4. free music downloads
5. phelps, weber-gale, jones and lezak win 4x100m relay
6. free music
7. game cheats
8. printable fill in puzzles
9. free ring tones
10. solitaire
11. miniclip
12. make money
13. viva la vida (coldplay) lyrics
14. touch my body lyrics
15. love song lyrics
16. lollipop lyrics
17. my life (lil wayne) lyrics
18. weather.com
19. lowes
20. the price is right
21. kimbo slice
22. metacafe
23. hotmail.com
24. bebo
25. msn.com
26. music downloads
27. dailymotion
28. limewire
29. paper planes (m.i.a.) lyrics
30. no air lyrics
31. with you (chris brown) lyrics
32. snopes
33. wallpapers
34. free e-cards
35. text twist
36. bleeding love lyrics
37. no air by jordin sparks feat. chris brown
38. kijiji
39. mixed wrestling
40. zuma rossdale
41. paris hilton
42. pamela anderson
43. free compatibility reports
44. free people search
45. song lyrics
46. coupons
47. newgrounds
48. mp3
49. casey and caylee anthony
50. costco

Share your comments below!

Customized Hallmark Cards that will Tug Heart Strings

2009-05-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

The leader in Greeting Cards does it again! Hallmark has introduced customized, physical greeting cards and will even put a postage stamp and mail the card for you!

It's simple, it's easy, it's a wonderful solution to driving to the nearest card store, perusing a dizzying array of cards, sometimes squatting and cutting the circulation in your legs while reading, getting mad that more than one person is in your space in need of the same card...

Now it can all be done online--besides you don't want to send an e-card to a close friend or family member for special occasion. Sending a physical card with a customized message shows you care because you took the time to select the perfect card, you took the time to personalize a message and they won't know that Hallmark sent it for you!

Signs Your Computer is Infected with Virus

2009-04-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

Computer-virus infections don't cause your machine to crash anymore.

Nowadays, the criminals behind the infections usually want your computer operating in top form so you don't know something's wrong. That way, they can log your keystrokes and steal any passwords or credit-card numbers you enter at Web sites, or they can link your infected computer with others to send out spam.

Here are some signs your computer is infected, tapped to serve as part of "botnet" armies run by criminals:

• You experience new, prolonged slowdowns. This can be a sign that a malicious program is running in the background.

• You continually get pop-up ads that you can't make go away. This is a sure sign you have "adware," and possibly more, on your machine.

• You're being directed to sites you didn't intend to visit, or your search results are coming back funky. This is another sign that hackers have gotten to your machine.

So what do you do?
• Having anti-virus software here is hugely helpful. For one, it can identify known malicious programs and disable them. If the virus that has infected your machine isn't detected, many anti-virus vendors offer a service in which they can remotely take over your computer and delete the malware for a fee.

• Some anti-virus vendors also offer free, online virus-scanning services.

• You may have to reinstall your operating system if your computer is still experiencing problems. It's a good idea even if you believe you've cleaned up the mess because malware can still be hidden on your machine. You will need to back up your files before you do this.
How do I know what information has been taken?

• It's very hard to tell what's been taken. Not every infection steals your data. Some just serve unwanted ads. Others poison your search result or steer you to Web sites you don't want to see. Others log your every keystroke. The anti-virus vendors have extensive databases about what the known infections do and don't do. Comparing the results from your virus scans to those entries will give you a good idea about what criminals may have snatched up.

What is Craig's List?

2009-03-11T12:21:00.001-07:00

In case you have not heard of Craig's List--well now you have discovered the most sacred website for finding jobs, and used items for purchase and for selling your own goods. It's like eBay and CareerBuilder but it's FREE!!! The website is not graphically fancy. It's about the service and what if offes. In this recession, it's worth more than gold.

First, visit http://www.craigslist.org/
Then select the city where you want to find job, purchase an item or sell an item. To post a job or sell an item, you want to click tab on top left corner. After you follow the instructions, you have to check your designated email to make the ad live. When placing an ad, you can either give your email on the ad, or a phone contact number within the advertisement.

If you're selling an item, I strongly recommend pictures. "Pictures are worth a thousand words" and increase your chances of selling. Many people like myself skip any ads that do not include pictures. As a busy professional, I do not have the luxury to drive around town to see one item. The pictures are a helpful start and timesaver.

Maximize this site for your business or personal shopping and other matters. Beware of Scammers though--they are out there in full force. Read below for more information to protect yourself from insidious scammers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Warning: If you're selling an item, be careful of scammers. How to tell you're being contacted by a scammer? Here are the typical signs:

1- They will send a very polite email asking if the item is available. When responding, say yes but that you only accept CASH.

2-Anyone that offers to send their "financial agent" to view the item or even to send you a cashier's check WITHOUT VIEWING THE ITEM is a scam! How does this work? To explain it as simple as possible, if someone sends you a check, any check, and you deposit it and later withdraw those monies from your bank account, the checks result later as phony and therefore you are responsible for paying that money back to the bank. (While the check is "posted" to your account, it does not mean the check is valid. It takes your bank several days to verify the originating bank). I once responded to such an email as I described above "Unfortunately I can not meet with your financial agent, butler, chauffeur, housekeeper or mistress as I only accept cash. But I would be more than happy to send my financial agent to you--what is your address, please?" Speaking of deafening silence...

On another occasion, I received a call from an operator that assists the hearing-impaired (a deaf person). The interested "buyer" offered to mail me a check. I immediately responded that I was aware this was a scam and that he/should would be reported to the authorities as I would ask the company that translated to cooperate. I never received a call again.

3- For a job offer, if you are not called in for an interview, ask for the headquarter address including the city and state. Then check that state's website to ensure they exist. NEXT, check the Better Business Bureau website (http://www.bbb.org/). This will tell you whether the company has received any complaints about its business practice. DO NOT GIVE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT information before verifying this information. Scams often happen with companies claiming to hire mystery shoppers or Work-from-Home type jobs.

The Dr. Phil Show recently aired an episode dedicated to "How Not to Get Scammed". Read about it on my money blog.

Remeber, "it it's too good to be true", then it usually it is.

Why Hair Goes Gray?

2009-02-28T23:08:00.000-08:00

Years ago, when studying nutrition and physiology, I recalled listening to an audio from a presumed expert, that the more copper one absorbs through food and nutrients, that would slow the hair turning gray. But my question was: "Where does one get copper?" Unfortunately the tape player and car could not give me an answer. What foods contain copper? Does theory hold any weight now? Below is an article from WebMD about a chain reaction causing the hair to bleach and thus turn gray. Hmm, I though bleaching caused the hair to turn blonde? What do I know...What have you heard on this subject? SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM and leave a comment by clicking on COMMENT.

Why Hair Goes Gray
Study Blames a Chain Reaction That Makes Hair Bleach Itself From the Inside Out
By Miranda Hitti

WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Feb. 25, 2009 -- Scientists may have figured out why hair turns gray, and their finding may open the door to new anti-graying strategies.

New research shows that hair turns gray as a result of a chemical chain reaction that causes hair to bleach itself from the inside out.

The process starts when there is a dip in levels of an enzyme called catalase. That catalase shortfall means that the hydrogen peroxide that naturally occurs in hair can't be broken down. So hydrogen peroxide builds up in the hair, and because other enzymes that would repair hydrogen peroxide's damage are also in short supply, the hair goes gray.

Putting the brakes on that chemical chain reaction "could have great implications in the hair graying scenario in humans," write the researchers, who included Karin Schallreuter, a professor clinical and experimental dermatology at England's University of Bradford.

The study appears online in The FASEB Journal; the FASEB is the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

FREE Cosmetic Latina Bag

2009-02-22T18:20:00.000-08:00

Here's another Freebie offer for the first 1,000 entries.

Get a free black, cosmetic LATINA bag while quantities last. Enter these UPC codes where asked:

080878023011

080878023301

Good Luck!

The American Express Black Card

2009-01-22T11:47:00.000-08:00

Have you heard the rumors? Have you actually seen one? Well if you already SNOPED this subject then you're one step ahead of me. There's silver, gold, platinum and even the fuschia berry colored card for small businesses. But a black AMEX??

I had never heard of this ultra-exclusive card -- known officially as the Centurion -- until a friend of mine, a successful CEO, passed along an email. I emailed him back asking, "Is this true? Did you snope it?" His reply, "I have one". Well excuse moi!

In my Internet search, I stumbled upon a personal Web site dedicated to unveiling its secrets.

Some mystery person not employed by Amex spends his time singing the praises of a piece of metal (it's not plastic)? We just had to read on, if only to see how the other half lives.
According to the blogger at BlackCardSource.com, identified only as "Admin," the Black Card was rumored to exist years before Amex issued it in 1999 on an invitation-only basis. Now, apparently, people can actually apply, and an estimated 20,000 people in the U.S. have one.
I think I have better chance of winning the Lotto. Hmm, I should do the math on that one.

For starters, you have to be plenty rich or a celebrity to get one. To qualify for an application, you have to charge $250,000 in one year's time on another Amex card and pay it off. If you're deemed creditworthy, add in the $5,000 initiation fee and a $2,500 annual fee. (Never fear. If you're turned down, there are several very exclusive competitors.)
In other words, says "Andrew M" at Mahalo, you have to "spend like there's no tomorrow."
Cardholders, according to Admin, include Denzel Washington, Jerry Seinfeld (who reportedly received the first Black Card), Jessica Simpson, Kanye West and Sen. John McCain. (Apparently, a prankster at Zug called Amex pretending to apply for a Black Card on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama.)

What do you get with this card? A very high spending limit based on your income, 24-hour personal concierge service, private shopping at the world's most exclusive stores, special invitations to events like golf with Tiger Woods or the black-tie London premiere of the new James Bond movie, roadside assistance extraordinaire, free food, free airline tickets, and more.
They may be rich, but even Black Card holders aren't immune from tighter restrictions credit card companies have recently placed on their customers' spending. Admin says he's heard of Amex denying purchases when the Black Card is shown.

Do you have a Black AMEX? Have you seen one before? Tell us your experience by posting a comment!

Six Troubleshooting Tips for Perfect Gravy

2008-12-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

When it comes time to prepare this traditional sauce on Thanksgiving Day, even the most practiced home cook can be reduced to, well, gravy. Perhaps that's because making gravy feels like a test -- as if the results somehow measure our proficiency in the kitchen. Or that we think whisking up gravy should be child's play, although our own experiences have proved otherwise. Too proud to admit defeat, we improvise each year, following what we remember of mother's technique or a segment on the Food Network, and either end up with so-so gravy or with good results without quite knowing why. Gosh, don't you wish you took notes or TIVOed your favorite chef?

So what happens when you're finishing up at the stove as the family waits at the table in anticipation of a delicious meal and you find that your gravy falls short of expectations? Here are some simple solutions from Martha Stewart.com to six common problems.

Troubleshooting Tips:

1. If it seems greasy, use a fat separator to eliminate the problem. If you discover that your gravy is oily toward the end of its preparation, skim off as much fat as possible with a wide-bowled spoon.

2. If it's chalky or doughy tasting, make sure the flour has been cooked long enough: When flour is added to the pan drippings or butter, whisk constantly while the mixture cooks until it turns a deep golden brown and smells nutty. If the gravy tastes floury when you're almost finished, turn up the heat to maintain a rapid simmer for several minutes; thin it again with more stock or water if necessary.

3. If the gravy has lumps, strain it just before serving, using a fine sieve; discard any solids.

4. If the gravy is too thin, simmer it over medium-high heat, allowing the liquid to reduce. If it is still too thin, add a beurre manie: Make a paste of equal parts flour and softened unsalted butter, and add it a little at a time, whisking constantly, until the gravy thickens.

5. If it's too thick, gradually whisk a little stock or water into the gravy until it reaches the desired consistency.

6. If it lacks flavor, adjust the seasoning as necessary with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. If you use canned stock instead of homemade, the gravy might lack depth of flavor. Homemade stock, even made with chicken rather than turkey, will produce a superior gravy, so it's worth the effort.

Personalized Stamps

2008-12-14T21:35:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, if you don't have time for creating a personalized card or newsletter, you can still send a store-bought card with a personalized stamp. Imagine a stamp with a picture of the family, Fido (the dog) running with garland in mouth, Puss-n-boots (the family cat) nestled in the Christmas tree.

Personalized stamps are now available. Simply upload a photo of your choice, select quantity, and receive them in the mail. These are valid United States Postal Service stamps and voted Best Product by Business Week magazine. Create different stamps for each holiday or special occasion in your family--a wedding, birth of a child, first communion...

Visit Photostamps.com to get started.

Free Christmas Music Downloads

2008-12-04T21:26:00.000-08:00

Amazon is offering one holiday music mp3 download a day for the month of December. There's seasonal music for almost every genre--from classic to contemporary, pop to popular weird, and everything in between.

Happy Music Downloading!

Your Personalized Holiday Card and Newsletter

2008-11-30T17:11:00.000-08:00

The Internet age has solidified cyberspace and it's here to stay. We love the Internet. It saves time for a number of responsibilities--paying bills, shopping, research, communication with friends and family. Yet the Internet is still impersonal. It can never replace a handwritten note, a phone call, a pat on the shoulder.

With the holiday season upon us, Blog Sisters turns to e-cards for wishing a Merry Christmas to acquaintances. However, for close friends and family, we still take the time to send a physical card. Christmas is a season that represents more than a giving spirit. It's a physical holiday--one of people gathering to give thanks and show generosity in the form of gifts. Therefore, for us, a holiday greeting should be personal and personalized with a handwritten message where the recipient knows you took the time to think about them in more than an Internet second. With that said, we love to send greeting cards and each year they've become more personalized with photos from throughout the year. We include family events, vacations, staycations, and those insignificant moments to other folks that mean the world to us as a family.

With that said, Blog Sisters discovered this site where you can easily create a custom newsletter to send to friends and family around the world (of course this means starting now so there's time for your letters to reach recipient before Santa Claus does).

Hallmark.com is offering Christmas newsletter templates (for a minimal cost) so you can turn your holiday card into a personalized newsletter. Write your own introduction, share news on family events (son or daughter starting college this year, a new family dog, a fresh beginning after a divorce). Hallmark.com offers a demonstration. Choose from several designs, fill in the words and lots of pictures where designated and voila! Your recipients will be impressed!

Merry Christmas!

Free e-card websites

2008-11-24T14:52:00.000-08:00

With so many sites that offer FREE e-cards, we started collecting them to add to our blog so you can pick and choose the site and e-card that best suits your needs. Add this as YOUR FAVORITE for easy reference in the future.

If you know of other sites, please share it by clicking on COMMENT at the bottom of this posting and we'll be sure to add it to this posting.

CUTE PETS
The ASPCA offers these adorable pet e-cards.

ANY OCCASION/THEME

Hallmark.com offers a limited selection of Free e-cards and registration is a required.

The site also offers "Sponsored Free E-cards" where an advertiser will provide the free e-card at no cost. Naturally, their logo appears at the end of the e-card presentation.

BEN & JERRY'S ICE CREAM

Your favorite all-natural ice cream maker offers a few e-cards to Celebrate, say Thank You, or Congratulations. They also offer one Flash e-card. Click here to view them.

Email Chains--Fact or Fantastically Fabricated?

2008-11-11T14:06:00.000-08:00

If you have an email address and communicate with friends, then no doubt you receive a steady stream of email chains. Friends, family and two-or-three degree separaters that pass along email chains of tips like the secret mobile phone codes to ward off attackers, or the incredible story like the car covered in diamonds, or praising celebrities for heroic deeds.

How do you know which ones are fact or fabricated? Well if you have not heard of Snopes.com then you have now! Snopes is the resource to distinguish if a rumor is valid or full of bovine excrema.

For example, someone sent us this email about a poisonous spider that lurks in toilets and attacks the buttocks. Cheeky creatures...This would have been a great story for Halloween.

FYI NEW POISONOUS SPIDER IN THE UNITED STATES A spider bite...please read............. And you thought the brown recluse was bad!!! Three women in North Florida , turned up at hospitals over a 5-day period, all with the same symptoms. Fever, chills, and vomiting, followed by muscular collapse, paralysis, and finally, death. There were no outward signs of trauma. Autopsy results showed toxicity in the blood. These women did not know each other, and seemed to have nothing in common It was discovered, however, that they had all visited the same restaurant (Olive Garden) within days of their deaths. The health department descended on the restaurant, shutting it down. The food, water, and air conditioning were all inspected and tested, to no avail. The big break came when a waitress at the restaurant was rushed to the hospital with similar symptoms. She told doctors that she had been on vacation, and had only went to the restaurant to pick up her check. She did not eat or drink while she was there, but had used the restroom. That is when one toxicologist, remembering an article he had read, drove out to the restaurant, went into the restroom, and lifted the toilet seat.. Under the seat, out of normal view, was a small spider. The spider was captured and brought back to the lab, where it was determined to be the Two-Striped Telamonia (Telamonia dimidiata ), so named because of its reddened flesh color. This spider's venom is extremely toxic, but can take several days to take effect. They live in cold, dark, damp climates, and toilet rims provide just the right atmosphere. Several days later a lawyer from Jacksonville showed up at a hospital emergency room. Before his death, he told the doctor, that he had been away on business, had taken a flight from Indonesia , changing planes in Singapore , before returning home. He did not visit (Olive Garden), while there. He did, as did all of the other victims, have what was determined to be a puncture wound, on his right buttock. Investigators discovered that the flight he was on had originated in India The Civilian Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered an immediate inspection of the toilets of all flights from India , and discovered the Two-Striped Telamonia spider's nests on 4 different planes! It is now believed that these spiders can be anywhere in the country. So please, before you use a public toilet, lift the seat to check for spiders. It can save your life! And please pass this on to everyone you care about.

So are these "arachnius gluteus" genuine butt attackers? Snopes verified that the story is FALSE. Snopes dates the rumor back to 1999 and tracks its many versions. It also offers other logical explanations and supporting statements from reputable organizations.

Did you read the one about the gas tank symbol on your car dashboard? Where the handle of the gas pump indicates which side your gas tank is on your car so no matter if you're driving a rental or a friend's car, you'll know instantly which side the gas tank is on? Well before I Snoped this one, I went to my Hyundai Sonata and nope. Gas pump handle on dashboard showed right side and my car's tank is on left side.

So now you have a resource to determine if someone is pulling your leg or if you really should squat over the toilet vs. sit on toilet seat.

We know you receive those email chains--SO GO AHEAD--click below and LEAVE A COMMENT!

Free Subscription to KIWI Magazine-Moms meet Moms

2008-10-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

KIWI Magazine, Growing Family the Natural and Organic Way, is offering a Free online subscription when you register with Kiwi Online and agree to receive periodic promotions. The offer is part of a promotion to announce the "Moms Meet, a new meeting place for moms who want to raise healthy kids".

As a mother of three children, eating healthy or I should say "balanced" is important. I'm not an extremist by any means. By balanced I mean in "moderation". John and I try to prepare homecooked meals that are moderate in fats, sodium, and protein. Outside of the home, fending off the soft drinks and bags of chips loaded with trans and saturated fats and other processed foods is a constant struggle for most parents. The result: Child obesity is an epidemic in this country.

Thankfully, I taught my children to drink water and juices (no soda pop) and snack on fruits and carrots since they were young. If there is nothing else to drink but Coke or Pepsi at a school event or kid's party, they will drink it but they prefer fruit juices. We hope this carries with them throughout their lives so they grow healthy and strong.

Kiwi is a great education and support tool for parents, and mothers to lay a foundation for healthy habits. [Alicia]

Free Halloween Crafts

2008-10-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

There's still time left for kids to create their own Halloween masks, carve out pumpkins using templates, and craft their own decorations with these free tools by Hewlett Packard.

Carve a spooktacular pumpkin with a spider image, or create a scary black cat to hang on the doorknob or a scrapbook to treasure those memories for years to come.

Happy Halloween!

What is the difference between a brown egg and white egg?

2008-09-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

You never know what type of tips we'll post. From travelling with children to free magazine subscriptions, we now cover EGGS. We know you're burning with curiosity to find out the mystery behind this brown vs. white egg phenomenon. Well, Blog Sisters gave it a crack...

Recently I was grocery shopping, and despite the increase in grocery food and other items, I purposely made the decision to invest more in my health and do my part for global warming by purchasing some organic and fresh food. At the egg section, the organic brown eggs caught my attention. So this became my fascination.

Spending summer vacations with cousins and relatives in Quito, Ecuador (South America) I recall eating eggs that came from brown egg shells. The taste was distinct from the white eggs I ate in Titusville, Florida. The brown eggs tasted better. I can't describe it but it did. Why? Well I just learned the answer--how the chickens are raised and the food they eat. In general, however, there really is no difference between brown and white eggs.

Chicken eggs from various chicken breeds emerge in different shades because of pigments which are deposited as the eggs move through the hen's oviduct. The pigment depositions are determined by the chicken's genetics, with some breeds producing rich dark brown eggs, for example, while others lay snow white eggs. The eggs inside are essentially identical; there are no major flavor differences between chicken eggs from different birds, as the flavor is determined by the chicken's diet.

The color of chicken eggs should not influence your purchasing decisions at the market, as the contents of the egg are what counts. Chickens who eat free range, varied diets tend to produce healthier eggs, as their free range lifestyles allow them to consume the dietary minerals they need for their own health, and these minerals will be passed down in their eggs. You may also have noticed that farm-fresh eggs have very dark yolks, whereas chicken eggs from battery hens have much lighter yolks, indicating less nutritional value.

This explained why the eggs in Ecuador tasted better. It wasn't a matter of brown vs. white. The eggs from chickens in Quito ate a free-range diet. Strangely, the brown, "organic" eggs I purchased in Miami, did NOT have the same taste as the brown eggs in Quito. So now I have to learn more about "organic" processes here in the U.S. vs. free-range diets. If anyone knows the answer--please educate us by POSTING A COMMENT. Show us your "huevos" of knowledge! [Christine]

FREE Subscription to Que Vida Rica

2008-09-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

Adjusting to a new country and a new culture is challenging even for Hispanics. Acculturation while preserving family recipes and customs within the home is a prickly balancing act. General Mills is offering a free subscription to "Que Vida Rica" to help Hispanic women with the transition while tending to family. Coming to America is about dreams. The dream to work hard and get ahead. This offer can help make life a little easier in the U.S with recipes, tips and advice. It's as easy as preparing a new recipe, part American style and part Latin flavor, and inviting a neighbor.

SPANISH:
La mujer latina es central en la familia -su apoyo para sus hijos, sus padres y parientes. Pero la llegada a un pais estranjero es dificil. Esta oferta de General Mills, le ayudará en sus pasos para seguir adelante en este pais. Prepara una nueva receta, parte estilo Americano, parte su sabor, e invita a una vecina. Con otros tips y consejos, "Que Vida Rica" sirve como su apoyo para una vida un poco más fácil en Estados Unidos.

Subscríbete hoy a la revista "Que Vida Rica" para recibirla gratis!

FREE Pampers Potty Training Kit

2008-09-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Let's talk potty training! Blog Sisters has discovered a site by Pampers which offers a FREE Potty Training Kit.

We tested the offer to see if any purchase was necessary or if you have to jump through any hoops. Negative on both counts. The site only asked for address and if your potty trainer is a boy or girl. The site did not even ask for email, which is surprising. After you enter the "SUBMIT" button on the same page, the next window verifies your request and lets you know the kit takes 4-6 weeks to arrive. You then have the option to subscribe to Pampers e-newsletter and receive coupons and other FREE samples.

This helpful kit from Pampers Easy Ups Trainers includes:

A free sample of Easy Ups Trainers
High-value coupons
Fun stickers & coloring pages
Step-by-step potty training tips
Potty Progress Chart
Dora or Diego training trophy

Whether you're expecting your first child, or approaching the dreaded Wetsie Betsie stage, a little planning with help from Pampers, can minimize those pee pee accidents and keep you from getting "pooped" out.

If you have other helpful tips for potty training, PLEASE POST A COMMENT HERE and help new moms and dads.

Watch Movies for FREE on Internet

2008-08-15T18:46:00.001-07:00

I just learned from casual conversation with a colleague about a website that lets you watch movies for FREE online. So we checked it out and took it for a test drive.

The site is surfthechannel.com. They offer movies, TV shows, Documentaries, Kids programs, and Anime for free.

When visiting the site, I selected a movie, Jane Eyre. Then I received a message stating that STF (Surf the Channel) does not stream video but uses sites like You Tube, Megavideo and others. This was a plus because I was checking the site during my lunch break at work and streaming radio over the internet is not permitted since it uses extraordinary bandwidth.

So the link to view this movie took me to www.todou.com, a screen with foreign language--an Asian script, maybe Chinese, who knows. This had me a little concerned as I had never heard of todou.com. So I pressed the play button and the movie began playing. Then the bad news. The movie was choppy--as if it was streaming and repeatedly would stop and go every few seconds. My first assumption is that the company network could not handle this, if that makes sense--I'm not a techie person. So that evening, I tried it at home. Sure enough, the movie downloaded immediately and I watched it for several minutes (as a test) without interruptions.

The downside is that the movie appears on a 4" frame within my 15" screen. Not the ideal viewing for a movie with breathtaking or panoramic landscape like Dancing with Wolves. So Jane Eyre fit charmingly in the small space like music in a music box. I don't think I ever viewed a movie on a screen that small. I think the screens on airlines in first class are even bigger.

With the constant evolution of computers and televisions, perhaps there's a way to connect the two, to view these free movies on a large flatscreen TV. I'm not that advanced yet. Remember I just purchased my first LCD flatscreen TV. Television and entertainment systems are not the big tickets items in my household, obviously females rule this home.

So next time your flight is delayed for hours, find a quiet corner, sit back, stretch your legs, and pick the movie of your choice to pass the time. [Most major airports have wireless access to Internet].

IF YOU TRY http://www.surfthechannel.com/, please return to this posting and leave a comment about your experience.

$5 for Your Thoughts?

2008-07-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

9-19-08
UPDATE: Looks like this program was a success and reached a maxium number of responses. Unfortunately it is no longer available. Christine and I completed the survey as a test the end of July and we did receive a $5 bill (not a check) in the mail! Sorry for the inconvenience.

If you're interested in learning about new products on the market, both pharmaceutical and over-the-counter products in relation to your health, this survey may interest you plus you can earn $5.00.

Recently I went to the doctor and was scanning the library rack of pamphlets on drugs and health issues. I picked up one offering $5.00 for participating in an online health survey. Last night I completed the survey which took about 20 minutes. It appears the company behind the scenes is a pharmaceutical or distributor for Bayer and other products.

In the beginning, the survey will ask if you received this offer at a doctor's office or if it was passed along by a friend. If you answer doctor's office, you must have visited him/her within the last 3 days. Then the survey will ask for the zip code and phone number of your doctor. Results are confidential. It will take 6-8 weeks to receive your $5.00 check. Only one per household.

Is it worth 20 minutes of your time? Every person is different. I learned something about products that can help prevent a heart attack. What can you buy with $5.00?

Indulge on a pint of Haagen Dazs ice cream
Splurge on a Grande Mochachino Latte Matte whatever atte at Starbucks
Buy 5 lottery tickets

Go to http://www.healthysurvey.com/

Survey Pass Code: PCN833

Verification Code: 9060407

Survey begins 6-4-08 and ends 9-26-08.

Will Airlines Charge for Changing your Seat?

2008-07-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

Recently I heard a funny commentary on the radio about airline fees. With airlines ailing from increased fuel costs, many have spiked certain fees (such as fees for pets, unaccompanied minors) or instituted a new policy for purchasing inflight food soon to include the dry, stale pretzels. Now American Airlines is spurring the way for charging per luggage.

The comic commentator continued by forecasting a litany of fees:

Fee for selecting a seat
Fee for changing that seat assignment
Fee for requesting help in placing item in overhead bin
Fee for mocking flight attendants that "items in overhead bins tend to shift during takeoff and landing" ...

With dizzying changes, who can keep up? Here is a chart as of July 1, 2008 to help you check the latest fees from different airlines.

Your Airline Travel Butler

2008-07-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

If you're feeling the pinch or squeeze from the economy and still want to enjoy a vacation and fly away and leave the routine behind, Blog Sisters shares the following list of Airline websites as references for planning your next trip. Businesses that depend on regular travel for training, negotiating and to seal the deal will also benefit from checking these sites for cost comparison. We haven't booked any flights through these websites, yet. If you do, return to this blog and please share your experience.

accessfares.com sells discount first-class and business-class tickets for international destinations on most major airlines.

airlinequality.com offers extensive airline reviews and ratings.

Expertflyer.com - Expertflyer will tell you how many seats on a particular flight can be bought with airline points. It also tells you which seats are available for standby passengers. This is very helpful is you're a business traveler and you need to take an earlier flight and you want to know what you chances are of getting on that flight.

flightstats.com - FlightStats will show you flight information, delays and weather at thousands of airport around the world. The information is up to date. This is the most thorough Web site that I have found for flight information.

low-cost-airline-guide.com searches fares on budget airlines in Britain and Europe.

kayak.com compares and displays prices from across the Web, often finding deals other travel sites don't have. Kayak.com coverage surpasses that of Travelocity and Expedia.

vayama.com lets you book international travel on flights originating in the U.S. Includes fares from discounters ranging from posh L'Avion to no-frills Ryanair. Book four days in advance.

wegolo.com finds deals on about 75 budget carriers to 700 destinations, combining different airlines' outbound and inbound flights to get the lowest price. Flights from 12 states.

yapta.com lets you "tag" prospective trips on domestic carriers and sends alerts when fares drop. The site tracks prices even after you've bought your ticket, so you can claim any refunds or credits. Talk about managing your finances. This one is a keeper! Keep in mind this is not a website but a downloadable program to assist your search.

How to Get the Best Airline Seats on a Specific Flight for your Family

2008-07-03T22:00:00.000-07:00

Crammed in a less-than- 24”-wide seat with practically no leg room, only “knee room” along with your small children for two or more hours can be daunting and tiring. Especially after the whole check-in and security process. Aren’t vacations supposed to be fun and relaxing? Airline flights are no Disney adventure for a family but with a little planning and a new website that promises insider’s knowledge on all airline seats, you and your family can relax and have fun 12,000+ feet in the air.

SeatGuru.com offers specific details on every airline seat depending on the airplane model. When airfare shopping, find out the type of aircraft. Then flip to www.seatguru.com to learn which seats offer power ports to plug in a portable DVD player so kids can watch their favorite DVD movies. Not all aircrafts and seats offer power ports so the map is useful. The information even drills down to the different port types (AC power or DC power) and the type of plugs or adapters required.

Seatguru.com also color codes seats. Red or “poor seat” flags the seat as having several disadvantages such as no window, limited recline or legroom and reduced seat width. Yellow means “Be Aware” that the seat has one poor feature.

At the top of the page are icons such as a power plug to immediately indicate the aircraft has some power ports. A baby’s pacifier represents the availability of a bassinet and/or baby changer. Bulk head seats are not necessarily the best choice for small families that bring on a few carry-on baggage since there are no seats in front to store them. Also, if several families with children are traveling, then you definitely want to consult with seatguru.com. Remember, most airlines only allow 50-60% of the seats to be reserved by passengers. So even if your seat does not appear to be available, arriving early at the airport will increase your chances of getting your desired seat.

Enjoy the friendly skies in peace!

Parents-Don't Worry when Kids Fly Solo this summer

2008-06-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

Summer time ranks as the number one season when children fly the friendly skies solo. If you're a parent who is considering booking a flight for your child to fly solo for the first time, plan carefully to prevent those friendly skies from striking lightning.

Last fall, one mother in Maryland, Susan Cole, wanted to fly her 12 year-old son Danny from Baltimore Washington Airport to Houston so he could catch a football game with his dad. She assumed Southwest Airlines would let her son preboard. Not only did the airline not allow Danny to get on board before other passengers, but airline employees would not assist him in meeting with his father. Apparently the airline policy for escorting unaccompanied minors is limited to children ages 2 through 11. Once a child reaches the age of 12, he/she is considered a "youth" and not an "unaccompanied minor".

In researching various airlines we learned that policies for unaccompanied minors vary throughout the airline industry.

Compared to the experience mentioned above, both American Airlines and Delta Airlines will provide "unaccompanied minor" escort service for children ages 5-14. Teenagers aged 15-17 are allowed to fly alone but parents can request the "unaccompanied minor" service. However, American Airlines, does charge an extra fee for this special service. American recently raised their rates from $75 one way to $100 one way. Delta Airlines also charges a fee and raised their rates from $50 to $100 one way. Southwest Airlines does not charge an additional fee. Also, Southwest will accept unaccompanied minors as young as two years old.

Frankly, as a mother, I can't imagine sending off my three-year old to fly by himself in unfamiliar surroundings full of strangers. Maybe as we fly more often as a family he will grow accustomed to it so if the time came when he reached the age of 6 or 7, he might be more comfortable. But that's just my opinion [Alicia].

Here are some helpful tips to follow:

1- Check the Airline's policy for "Unaccompanied Minors" on their website and PRINT IT (I'm sure mother earth will understand as a mother you're protecting your family in this case). Christine used to work in the airline industry in reservations and customer service and shares first hand knowledge: The airline rep on the phone may not always remember the exact airline policy. Follow the instructions on the website. So if you get to the airport and in the event an airline employee gives you different instructions, YOU HAVE THE PRINTED policy to back you up.

2- Be sure to check whether you can book online or have to call Reservations directly. Some airlines do not allow you to book the reservation for unaccompanied minors online. American Airlines requires parents to call in the reservation (which unfortunately is an extra cost). Southwest Airlines will allow check in online for your child or youth but after you have completed the "age verification" process.

3- Book the first flight in the morning. Many airlines will not allow accompanied minors to change planes with other airlines or allow co-terminal changes, such as switching from JFK airport to LaGuardia. So if the first flight is cancelled, you still have a chance to have your child take the next non-stop flight. Nowadays, airlines will not allow unaccompanied minors to be booked on the last flight due to the possibility of flight cancellations or delays from bad weather or other reasons. Again, read the airline's policy very carefully on their website.

4- Bring proper documentation. Always bring at least two certified copies of the child's birth certificate, your driver's license, and if possible, a copy of the driver's license of the adult picking up the child at the destination. Sometimes airlines will not only want you to present a copy, they may ask to keep it with the child. Better to bring extra than just the minimum requirements.

5- Arrive early to airport and gate--at least 3 hours for domestic flights. There is a small mountain of paperwork to fill out when you arrive to the airport which is to be expected when releasing your child to the supervision of an industry. Do not hesitate to ask comments to be posted to your record, "my child is shy but loves to talk about Spiderman", to help airline personnel make your child feel more comfortable. On that note, however, please know some airlines, like Delta, will not administer medicine to children flying alone. These are important questions to ask if it's not mentioned in the policy. Along the same lines, to ensure the agent posted your comment to the record, call back again, and ask the next agent to read the comments. You would be surprised how often items are not posted correctly!

These tips should allow you to plan with ease and peace of mind. Enjoy your summer!

5 Secrets Hotels Don't Want You to Know

2008-06-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

Ideally, you want a hotel to be your home away from home when you travel, but you also want to get the best deal. Alicia and Christine share their knowledge based on business/leisure trips and from working in the hotel industry. If these tips work for you, share it with a comment!

Here's what you need to know:

First - You get the best rate by either calling the hotel's local number or checking a site like hotels.com. Don't call the 800 number, which usually links callers to an off-site centralized call-center. Instead of asking for the reservations desk, ask to speak with the manager on duty the general manager, or the director of sales. They have the authority to negotiate room rates. Except for Marriott hotels, Hotels.com can sometimes provide lower rates due to their popularity for extensive hotel listings and brand awareness globally. Check Hotels.com first then call the hotel directly.

Second - Room rates are more expensive in the morning. The best time of day to make a reservation by phone is right after 6:00pm. This is when hotels wipe out the no-show reservations that were unsecured by credit card. They then offer these rooms at bargain rates. In cities like NY or SF, this deadline it 4:00pm.

Third - Hotel rooms are infested with germs. Certain items in hotel rooms never get cleaned. Trouble spots include th TV remote control, telephone, and clock radio. Travel with a package of antibacterial wipes and clean these items when you arrive. You may have seen the recent news investigation on ABC Nightline.

Fourth - The lost and found is a great resource for cell phone users. If you use a cell phone, odds are that someday you'll forget to pack your recharging cord or lose it in transit. If you are staying at a hotel, ask if they have any compatible chargers in their lost and found. Recharging cords are the no. 1 item left behind in hotel rooms. Most hotels are willing to lend chargers from their lost and found.

Fifth - Rooms are available even when a hotel has no vacancies. In any large hotel, a few rooms usually are listed as "out of order" at any given time. The problems might be something as simple as a stain on the carpet or a chair that has been sent out for repairs. If you are desperate for a last minute room in a hotel that claims to have none available, tell the manager that you are willing to take an out of order room with a minor problem. (check to see how "minor" the problem is first).

Travel Easy with Children to Europe with "Ciao Bambino"

2008-06-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

Summer is here which means family vacation. Planning to go to Europe or Hawaii or the Caribbean for the summer with the kids? Here's a great site and resource for family-approved properties based on age ranges of the children. Ciao Bambino provides actual family reviews of properties, helpful tips and more. Ciao Familia! Bon Voyage.

FREE Kung Fu Panda resources

2008-06-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

In the Grecco household it's Kung Fu Panda mania. If you have little ones, you can impress them with instant Kung Fu Panda coloring sheets, activites and more. These Kung Fu Panda printables are all free, and are official printables from Dreamworks Animation Studios, the geniuses behind Kung Fu Panda.

Welcome to Zip Tips

2008-06-14T18:18:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Zip Tips. As you can see the board of directors in Minnesota (Alicia and her 3 children) actively participated in the graphic header and title. The beauty of blogs is that anyone can participate. So if you're wondering do Alicia's children have a MySpace or FaceBook--sssh. Not yet. Let's keep it that way until the family can afford a second computer.

As Alicia would say "Zippety Do Dah". Let's get going.