I don’t know what it is about the dirt but for some reason kid’s love it. My Tiny Dancer can’t get enough of it. As an adult, it totally grosses me out but so long as she’s not putting it in her mouth I feel like I should let her explore. There’s a small patch of dirt in our backyard and she can spend the afternoon just shoveling the dirt and pouring it between buckets. I don’t know what the fascination holds -maybe it’s part of that magic that we lose as we “grow up”. Whatever it is, when I saw this Dirt is Good campaign for a line of detergent in Singapore, I thought it was pretty brilliant. Enjoy!

Source

The week before last I wrote about how Skype helps me keep in touch with my parents, grandmother, sisters and aunts on the east coast. But, I actually use Skype for much more. I also have family in Canada and Italy and Skype is a huge cost saver because we can call or video call internationally – all for free. All we use is our internet connection and we have a digital family reunion.

Skype comes in really handy too when my husband is away on business. Unfortunately business travel is part of his job and he can be gone for a week at a time. The Tiny Dancer is at an age now where she feels her papa’s absence and asks for him so having a daily Skype call with my husband is essential. She gets to see her papa and we get to have a family moment if only for a few moments while he is away.

I also use Skype for my business. Since I have three websites, and all of the work I do is mobile, when I look for interns I open up the positions to people anywhere because the job is done all online. I conduct interviews for interns online via Skype – it’s the next best thing to a personal interview and much better than an phone interview. Once I have a team of interns together, I conduct meetings online. We catch up, go over assignments and answer any questions we may have. Sometimes, if I’m showing them how to do a new assignment, I can use the Share My Screen Skype feature and show them the process on my screen. If you’re doing a presentation you can have people Instant Message questions to you and you can transfer files right on the spot.

Skype is a tool that I use almost every day, either on my phone, tablet or computer. Whether it’s to keep in touch with friends and family, or to keep my business running it helps me stay connected.

How do you stay connected? Comment in the discussion box below for a chance to win gift cards and other fun prizes!

It’s time to say more and stay human. It’s time for Skype.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Skype via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Skype.

Whenever we get the chance, the Tiny Dancer and I have a dance party. She’s only two, but once she hears a beat drop she doesn’t stop moving – it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Right now she’s loving Rihanna’s Where Have You Been but I really don’t want her listening to music and watching videos that make me blush. So, I’ve resorted to going back and playing the songs that I danced to when I was a kid. Sure, those songs may have made my mom blush back then but standards have changed so that stuff seems tame today. This week’s gem of a dance party was set to the tune of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun. I hope you have as much fun dancing to this as we did…

It was a busy week at MISS and I’m just trying to get through it because the sooner the week is over, the sooner my vacation starts! Here’s the best news this week from the MISS Omni Media network…

MISS
Learn where to find fragrance samples for less than $10 – Beauty Baller on a Budget: How to Score Pricey Scents For Less Than $10

Get Eva Simons’ look from the Renegade video, listen to the remix of M.I.A.’s Bad Girls featuring Missy Elliot and Rye Rye, and see the new Lana Del Rey National Anthem video

Learn how to do a converse inspired manicure – Nails Did: X-Girl x Converse Chuck Taylor Hi

See what I wore to dinner one night – it involved lots of Chanel accessories! Mirror, Mirror: Birthday Dinner Date Night

Bijules opens her own Bijulesterie and House of Holland teams up with Superga sneakers

La Chanelphile

Chanel took The Little Black Jacket exhibit to Hong Kong -CHANEL The Little Black Jacket Exhibit in Hong Kong, Teaser

Elle US printed a beautiful editorial to celebrate Chanel’s Little Black Jacket exhibit -
Chanel Little Black Jacket Editorial in Elle US June 2012 Issue

Karl Lagerfeld is designing a holiday collection of cosmetics for Shu Uemura – Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura – Holiday 2012

If you want to smell like a freshly print book, now you can – Paper Passion by Geza Schoen, Gerhard Steidl, and Wallpaper*

Weren’t invited to Chanel’s Haute Couture show next Tuesday? Well, we can just look at the invitation – Chanel Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2012/13 Invitation

I heard about a video trying to get girls interested in science that was published by a European Commission circulating around Europe on NPR and I was intrigued. The video was getting some backlash for appearing too “girly” and having the opposite of its intended effect – that is, instead of appealing to girls to get into the sciences, it was pushing them away. As soon as I got to a computer I searched for this video because I had to see it for myself. It was worse than anything I could ever have imagined.

The opening is a mix between Sex In The City and Charlie’s Angels (I love both but I don’t see what they have to do with science – especially for young teen girls). It then shows the girls striking poses and laughing with shots of makeup and beakers interspersed between. Yes, you read that correctly. Make up – specifically nail polish, lip gloss, lip stick and blue eyeshadow.

There is so much I want to say about this video but I don’t want to sound like a raving lunatic. This video in a nutshell represents everything bad with marketing geared toward women. It’s the science PSA version of a pink sneaker for adult women. I wish I could have sat in on this pitch meeting to hear what the thought process was behind this. I would bet money that there were no women in this meeting – at least no women scientists.

WHY would you try to get young women to go into the fields of science with MAKEUP? Are you trying to tell them they can make the next great lipstick formula?? WHY wouldn’t you just highlight the many technological advancements that benefit health, living and the environment instead. WHY wouldn’t you show the many achievements of scientists and inspire young women to aspire to great heights? WHY must we throw pink on everything just because it’s aimed at people with ovaries. CAN WE JUST STOP!

You know how we’re trying to introduce science to the Tiny Dancer? My daughter is just learning to talk and some of the first few words my husband was teaching her were “math” and “science”. When I first heard it I thought it was cute and funny. The more I thought about it, the more I thought my husband is brilliant. We’re starting at an early age to introduce her to math and science – at first just with words, and later with actions and experiments. The main goal is to not let science and math be something that’s viewed as scary or hard. If she likes it and wants to do it, she can. Her having ovaries should have nothing to do with it her abilities. We sure as hell won’t be showing her videos young girls wearing too much makeup and giggling to get her to see that science can be wonderful.

I just came a cross this video of Sherly Sandberg on TEDWomen. If you don’t know who Sheryl Sandberg is she’s the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook and was recently named the first woman on Facebook’s Board of Directors. In the grand scheme of things she’s in the less than 15% of women executives in the United States. She recently spoke at TED Talks addressing the issue of women in leadership roles. The talk is only about 15 minutes long but is enlightening and inspiring.

For those of us with daughters it’s sometimes heart-breaking knowing that she will have more obstacles to success than her brothers or cousins. Perhaps if we teach them the skills and the strength, they can be the leaders of tomorrow.

When I moved to California from New York ten years ago it was a difficult decision to leave my big Italian family.  No more Sunday dinners, loud conversations and weekend get-togethers for me.  At the time, I even kept my NY cell phone number so my family could call me whenever they wanted without incurring long-distance charges.  Thankfully, as technology has progressed I’ve been able to keep in touch more with my family – namely with Skype.

I started using Skype regularly about three years ago when I got pregnant.  My family was not able to see my growing belly or new nursery finds in person but each week I would show them my ever-expanding profile and show them a new Hello Kitty product I found for my Tiny Dancer’s soon-to-be nursery.

Now that the Tiny Dancer is here – we use Skype at least once a week to keep in touch with Nonna (grandma), Zizis (aunts) and cousins.  At such a young age it’s hard to remember family that you only see four-times a year but with Skype, the Tiny Dancer knows all of her family because she gets to see them whenever we want.  The Tiny Dancer has learned nursery rhymes and games – all through Skype.  My mom has watched the Tiny Dancer open packages that she’s sent so she can see the Tiny Dancer’s looks of surprise and glee.  Whenever we connect on Skype the Tiny Dancer runs around showing Nonna all of her new toys, does her latest dances and most importantly sends blow-kisses to Nonna.

Nothing beats a real-life hug but Skype has given my family the next best thing by keeping our family connected.  We’re able to share moments and be together in a way that was never before possible.  Being so far away from family is difficult but Skype has made it so much easier for us to stay in touch and not feel like we’re missing out on important events.  Whenever I say, let’s go say hi to Nonna, the Tiny Dancer runs to the computer because she knows that’s where she’ll get her virtual kisses and hugs from grandma – until the next time we’re in New York.

Brand Statement:
It’s time to say more and stay human. It’s time for Skype.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Skype via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Skype.

One of my favorite desserts – summer or otherwise – is ice cream. I definitely have my favorite flavors – but I really haven’t met a flavor or ice cream dessert that I didn’t like. A new-comer to the market, Dreyer’s® Slow Churned Light Ice Cream is rich and creamy and can be enjoyed alone or in a dessert. Here are my top 5 ways to enjoy Dreyer’s® Slow Churned Light Ice Cream:

1. Good ol’ Sundae – Maybe you’re a banana split person, maybe you’re just a hot fudge, whipped cream and cherry person (that’s me!), or maybe you’re a top your ice cream with anything you can find person – whatever floats your ice cream boat, the good ol’ sundae is my favorite way to enjoy ice cream.

2. Ice Cream Sandwich – This is really popular with the little ones. What kid doesn’t like cookies? and ice cream? Whether you bake or buy your cookies, take two and spread some ice cream in between and you have a delicious treat. Roll the sides in some sprinkles or nuts for bonus points.

3. Milk Shake – When I was a kid, the only way my mom could get me to eat was with milk shakes. She would sneak an egg in the mix for extra nutrition. I skip the egg these days but I’m a sucker for a burger with a shake – anyday.

4. On Something Warm and Gooey – What’s better than plain ice cream? Ice cream on something warm and gooey like a brownie, cherry cobbler, apple pie, or fried bananas just to name a few. I can’t think of one dessert that isn’t good with ice cream.

5. Affogato – This one’s for the grown ups who love coffee. It’s very simple but decadently delicious. You take vanilla ice cream and pour hot espresso over it for pure heaven. I’m not a huge Italian dessert fan but this is my absolute favorite.

To make things sweeter, visit the Dreyer’s® A Reason To Smile Program and upload a photo of your ice cream smile to Dreyer’s® Facebook Page and for every photo uploaded, Slow Churned will donate $5 to Operation Smile. By the end of the summer, the goal is to give away more than 25,000 scoops of ice cream, capture 25,000 ice cream smiles and gift 500 surgeries/smiles to children in-need.

With the temperatures rising I hope you find plenty of time to enjoy the pleasures of ice cream in all of it’s different forms!

Brand Statement: Dreyer’s® Slow Churned Light Ice Cream is churned slowly for all the rich & creamy taste of regular ice cream, but with half the fat and one-third fewer calories. Now that’s a reason to smile. Give a smile with Operation Smile: https://www.facebook.com/DreyersIceCream

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Nestle via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Nestle.

I love the classic preppy look – for me it never goes out of style. When I came across the newest summer 2012 collection from Janie and Jack I wanted to get everything for the Tiny Dancer.  The collection is adorable and your toddler or child would look great in this sailing a boat, playing tennis or at a picnic – or they can imagine themselves doing those activities.  The coordinating accessories are like the icing on the cake and are the perfect finish to these picture-perfect ensembles.  As always, I wish some of these pieces came in my size.  How adorable is that retro jumper pictured above?!  You can purchase all of the items on JanieandJack.com.

When I was a kid, my mom was very crafty. She and her hot glue gun could do no wrong. And she didn’t stop there. She would paint ceramic decorations for every holiday and make candy & chocolate pops for our birthdays and holidays. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t make. So with these giant shoes to fill, I had to come up with something fun for my daughter’s Minnie Mouse-themed birthday party. And, I remembered my mom and her candy pops.

I tried to find Minnie Mouse candy molds but since it’s a copyrighted character it was impossible to find but I didn’t give up. While I was at the craft store I found a candy pretzel mold on clearance for less than $1 that was a bunch of round smiley faces. Trying to make do with what I had, I figured I could make polka-dot covered pretzel sticks and not paint faces on the circles.

While I was at the craft store I also bought the Wilton Candy Melts. The candy melts are very similar to the texture of chocolate but as a chocolate person, I have to say that I don’t love the flavor. It tastes very much like white chocolate which I hate but if you want to decorate in color then real chocolate won’t work unfortunately. That said, most people don’t have a deep-rooted hatred for white chocolate (which I don’t even think should be called chocolate) so you can feel safe knowing that it will be a crowd pleaser.

On to the pretzels, here’s what you’ll need:
-Pretzel Rods (be gentle with the bag you don’t want to use the broken ones though they make for good snacking while you’re making the candy pretzels)
-Candy Melts or Chocolate
-Pretzel Mold
-Small Glass Bowls (1 for each color you’re using)
-Small Spoons – I used espresso spoons (1 for each color you’re using)
-Frying pan filled half-way with water

How to make the candy pretzels:
1. Bring the water in the frying pan to a boil. When the water boils take it off the heat.
2. Put the candy melts in the small bowls and put the bowls in the hot water in the frying pan.
3. Stir the candy melts until they are completely melted.
4. Fill your mold according to the particular instructions (instructions may vary by design – if you’re layering colors you’ll have to do one color, set the candy and repeat).
5. After you’ve filled the candy in the mold, place the pretzel in the mold.
6. Set the candy in the refrigerator on a flat surface for 10-15 minutes.
7. Remove the pretzels from mold – if the candy is set it will come out easily.
8. Store in a cool, dry place and enjoy!

For more ideas on candy pops or candy covered pretzels visit the Wilton website.