As you get older you learn so much about yourself and life in general and we all have little pearls of widsom that we want to pass down to our little ones.  If you don’t have the time to do this yourself, then Jaime Morrison Curtis has you covered with her Prudent Advice: Lessons For My Baby Daugher (A Life List for Every Woman).  In this little gem of a book she lists 500 lessons for little women – everything from advice on hem lines, places to see and things to do in a lifetime.  My very favorite advice is #171 “There Is No ‘Man’s Work’”.  Prudent Advice is a very quick read and a lovely keepsake.  These lessons are just important for you as they are your your daughters.

If you want something a little more personal, then try out Morrison Curtis’ My Prudent Advice: Lessons For My Daughter.  This is less of a book and more of a journal.  My Prudent Advice basically provides you with an outline and you fill in the pages with your own advice to your daughter.  I can’t wait to start filling in the pages with my own personal advice for my tiny dancer.

These books would make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift for your mom friends and sisters. We can forget the importance of passing on our knowledge and experiences to our little ladies.  It’s priceless.

When Pinhole Press reached out to me to see if I was interested in receiving a gift code to try out their new products I did not hesitate in saying “yes, please!”  Every holiday season I purchased cards that feature the Tiny Dancer so I knew I would order some cards but when I saw all the other fun products they had, I gave made some fun gifts – for others and for myself.

There are a number of photo printing websites that allow you to order cards, calendars and the like but Pinhole Press is one of the newer companies on the market.  What separates them from the rest are two main things:  (1) the clean graphic design that allows for the photos to shine and (2) the product offerings are more fun and creative.

Yes, you can order cards and calendars.  But you could also order wine labels, note pads, magnets, memory games and flash cards to name a few.  Since my refrigerator is covered with the Tiny Dancer’s latest art projects I needed more magnets to display her art – what better way to do that than with her adorable face?  I made many for myself but a few for stocking stuffers.  I also ordered two memory games as stocking stuffers.  What a fun way to learn a memory game with photos of great times we shared?

Uploading and ordering on Pinhole Press was very easy and I had my completed order in a matter of days.  I love every item I received and I can’t wait to share these goodies with my friends and family.  To get your items in time for Christmas be sure to order by December 15th and all orders over $50 receive free shipping.  You can place your order and browse products on PinholePress.com.

One of my favorite childhood toys were Legos. I remember building places for my little Lego people and I especially loved the funny little hats that my little Lego people wore. Fast-forward thirty years and when I had the Tiny Dancer one of the first toys I wanted to get her were Legos. I was happy to learn that since the time I played with them, Lego introduced a line of blocks for younger children – Lego Duplo.

Lego Duplo blocks were one of the first toys we bought for the Tiny Dancer because the beauty of Lego toys is that they are gender-neutral and they inspire creativity. Legos are a wonderful toy to entertain the imaginations of little ones while they play, explore and develop their multiple senses. The Tiny Dancer creates her own world with Lego Duplos and she can play by herself or with us. Sometimes I wonder who likes playing with the Legos more – my husband or the Tiny Dancer. When I was approached by Lego Duplo to buy more Lego Duplo sets for the Tiny Dancer there was no hesitation – I already knew that we were fans.

Courtesy of Lego, I purchased the Lego Duplo Read & Build Let’s Go! Vroom, Lego Duplo Read & Build Grow Caterpillar Grow! and the Lego Duplo Large Brick Box.

The Read & Build sets are a great way to interact with the little ones. Each set comes with a story book and lego pieces. As you read the story, you are prompted to build characters in the story. The Grow Caterpillar Grow! story tells the growth story of a caterpillar and her outdoor friends. Let’s Go! Vroom! allows kids to build vehicles like cars and planes. At the moment, the Tiny Dancer loves vehicles and animals so I focused on those two stories. She didn’t have any of the Read & Build toys her in collection but she really enjoys the stories. It’s a great way for us to play together and she could hear the story over and over and not get tired of it.

We already had some Lego Duplo sets so I also bought the large brick box so she could have more building blocks to add to her other sets. She has a great time with her papa playing with them but sometimes I’ll find her sitting in her room by herself just building stuff on her own. She’s two-and-a-half now and she’s starting to interact with her toys more and I love seeing her role play.

The Tiny Dancer loves her Lego Duplo sets and I’m sure we’ll keep adding to her arsenal of building blocks. She (and her dad) have years of fun ahead of them and the building and playing opportunities are endless.

You can enter for a chance to win $100 worth of LEGO DUPLO products! Here’s how to enter:
Step 1: Go to www.pinterest.com and log onto your account.
Step 2: Go to the Tend by Glam Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/TendByGlam) and click “Pin To Win” tab where you will be provided with the Contest image which you must pin to your Pinterest board.
Step 3: Fill in your email address and click “Submit & Pin”
Step 4: Re-pin the Contest Image to any Pinterest board, along with at least one (1) additional image from among a library of images available on the Tend LEGO DUPLO Pinterest board.

All steps must be completed during the Promotion Period to be eligible as an Entry. Sweeps ends November 30, 2012.

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

A few weeks ago I told you about the new LensCrafters Accufit™ Digital Measurement System and Virtual Mirror and LensCrafters was kind enough to send me a gift certificate to purchase glasses so I could try out the new features first hand. So, with gift card in-hand, I went to my local LensCrafters, in the Newpark Mall, to see what the Accufit™ Digital Measurement System was all about. I was greeted by Nicole the manager and Pooja an optician, two of the nicest, most helpful associates I have ever met.

The Eye Exam
To get the full experience I started off with an eye exam. The preliminary tests were run by Pooja and then I went in to see Dr. Chadha. It was one of the best eye exams I’ve had. It was just as thorough as the one my current eye doctor gives me but completed in half the time (I’ve been meaning to switch doctors because his exams would go on, and on, and on). Not only did the exam take half the time but Dr. Chadha actually explained more to me than my current doctor. She went over all of the test results, went over eye health and best practices. Dr. Chadha concluded the exam with giving me my prescription and suggesting the best lenses for my eyes.

The Selection
I was really excited about being selected by LensCrafters to get a pair of glasses because LensCrafters carries CHANEL. So yes, if you know me, you know that I walked straight to the Chanel section and picked out a few styles. I went with what I know I like – tortoise frames – but with different accents – bows, chain with leather and quilting pattern. Nicole was nice enough to bring me a pair of Tiffany red frames since she knew I was considering stepping out of my comfort zone and trying on some red frames.

After trying on a few pairs, Pooja and I concluded that round and cat-eye styles don’t work on me. More angular styles like square and rectangles work better with my features. Thankfully LensCrafters had the Virtual Mirror feature to help me narrow down my choices. The Virtual Mirror is a camera that takes a picture of you with a pair of glasses and you can compare up to 4 photos of yourself with glasses. Using the Virtual Mirror definitely cut the amount of time down that I spent trying glasses on because I could see clearly which ones I liked and which I didn’t.

I finally decided on a pair of Chanel tortoise shell frames that are shaped a bit like Ray Ban Wayfarer with an embossed quilted pattern on the arms. I love these frames. The reason I always opt for tortoise frames is because they work on me! Black is too severe and I didn’t find the right red frames to make me leave my tortoise habit. I’m also pretty loyal to Chanel when it comes to eyewear and my new frames are the perfect mix of nerdy chic. I can’t wait to wear them!

The Fitting
Pooja used the LensCrafters Accufit™ Digital Measurement System to accurately determine where my eyes would see through the lenses. By using the computerized Accufit™ Digital Measurement System the fitting was over before I knew it. Then I selected my lenses and was informed that my glasses would be protected by the One-Year Eyewear Protection Plan at no charge…so if the Tiny Dancer gets a hold of my new glasses, I can replace them just for $100.

I had a great experience at LensCrafters and I want to thank Nicole, Pooja and Dr. Chadha for taking such great care of me. Getting a new pair of glasses is a great way to update your look. Whether you go for something new, or something you know you love, glasses are the first accessory people will notice – so make sure you get something worthy of that honor!

LensCrafters offers a clearly different optical experience by helping you find your perfect pair of eyeglasses that allows you to see 5x clearer.

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

I love watching home makeover shows because they are so inspiring. It’s amazing what someone who knows what they are doing can do with a few thousand dollars. Though I like to daydream about making over my home it’s at times not realistic. I don’t have interior designers and carpenters knocking at my door – do you? And while you can’t hear enough what a fresh coat of paint can do, it’s a bit of a process no? I’m looking for practical easy ways to enhance my home without breaking the bank (or my back). I figured I must not be the only one who wants to spruce things up a bit so here are my easy ways to enhance your home.

The best way to enhance your home is to appeal to your senses. Here are my top tips to enhance your home – one sense at a time…

SIGHT
People by nature are very visual so don’t fight it. Your home needs to look nice and inviting.

• Tidy Up.  Clutter can literally drive you mad.  For me a cluttered house is a cluttered mind. It’s amazing how tidying up can make you feel better. But don’t stop there – that’s just the beginning.
• Play with lighting.  If you have dimmers, use them.  If not, buy some candles to create some mood lighting.
• Fresh flowers.  Nothing brightens up a room the way fresh flowers do.  I buy flowers at my local farmer’s market for $3!
• Hang a wreath on your door.  I’ve made a few and when the season changes, I swap out my wreath.  It’s the first thing you and your guests see when approaching the house and it makes the home really welcoming.  See some ideas on how to make a DIY Autumn Wreath, DIY Spring Wreath and a DIY Valentine’s Day Wreath.

SCENT
I’ve heard that scent is one of the strongest ties to memories – so think of happy times in your life and the scents that accompanied them (grandma’s apple pie, tropical vacation, etc).

• If you bought candles and opted for scented, make sure you choose a scent that you and your family will love.
• Glade Expressions® Fragrance Mist and Glade Expressions® Oil Diffuser – I was asked by Glade to give these two products a try and I really enjoyed them.  I opted for the Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice scent for the Glade Expressions® Oil Diffuser because I thought it was a yummy scent that was appropriate for the Fall season.  The scent of apples and cinnamon make me thing of pie, Thanksgiving and coziness so I put the Oil Diffuser in my living/dining space and in less than a days time the scent wafted throughout the house very subtly.  For the Glade Expressions® Fragrance Mist I opted for the Cotton & Italian Mandarin scent because chances are, if I’m spraying air freshener I want it to smell clean and that’s exactly what the Cotton & Italian Mandarin scent evokes.

TOUCH
You want the things you touch to feel good against your skin – and this time of year, you want to be warm!

• Invest in seasonally appropriate throws, area rugs and pillows for your living room.  This is a great way to add color (visuals) but make sure that they feel good to.

 SOUND
Sound can immediately put you at ease or agitate you.  Let’s go for sounds that make us relax.

• Play some music!  Turn off the TV and other appliances that make noise and put some music on. I always try to have some music in the background.
• If music is not your thing, you can get a noise maker or CD that plays the sounds of nature – I especially love the sound of waves crashing and the rain.
• Wind chimes!  My daughter loves these and if you’re in an outdoor space, hearing the wind chimes in the breeze is lovely.

TASTE
A tasty treat makes everything better!

• Make sure your pantry is stocked with snacks and/or ingredients that you can make into something delicious.
• Bake cookies (this is excellent for enhancing scent too!)
• For ideas on yummy dishes to make, check out my recipes for any occasion.

I hope you found these tips helpful and easy.  You don’t have to do everything at once – you can tackle one sense at a time.  Enjoy!

Glade Expressions® Fragrance Mist comes in a stylish holder that releases a longer-lasting, finer mist of fragrance. The gentle mist creates layers of true-to-life fragrance that opens up note by note. The artfully designed holder blends with your décor for a burst of fragrance that’s always out and available. Just squeeze to spray; then refill the holder with your favorite fragrance.

Glade Expressions® Oil Diffuser releases a long-lasting fragrance for up to 30 days without the hassle of electricity. The spill-proof oil diffuser infuses layers of true-to-life scents throughout even the most open living spaces. The trendy holder matches décor perfectly, making it a convenient and stylish home-fragrancing option.

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

I used to love practicing yoga and when I was pregnant I continued my practice and did pre-natal yoga everyday.  Yoga gave me a feeling of strength, calm and inner peace.  Once I had the Tiny Dancer I had to stop because my carpal tunnel got out of control and having my wrists flexed in downward dog or plank was not helping the situation – that and I had no time to go to a yoga studio to take classes.  Since then, my carpal tunnel is not as bad and the Tiny Dancer started Montessori school a few days a week so it seems the time is ripe for me to start practicing again.  When I was contacted by Earth Yoga Clothing to review their yoga clothing I thought it was perfect timing because I needed new yoga gear.

Earth Yoga Clothing was really generous and they let me choose the items to review so I opted for the Om Capri, Drop Tail Hoodie and Yoga Harmony Tee.  Last Wednesday was my first day back to class and I wore all three items.  I usually wear capri pants and a tee/tank for the class but I always start off with an outer layer until I warm up.

The Om capri pants were really comfortable and I loved the button detail in the back.  The Yoga Harmony tee was also really comfy and I loved that it was fitted because I hate when you wear a baggy tee and it ends up in your face in the downward dog pose.  The burn-out detail was really cool and the words on the tee get you in the mood for yoga.  The Drop Tail Hoodie was a different item for me – I’ve never worn one like it but I really liked it.  It was the perfect weight – just heavy enough to get you warmed up without overheating.  The vibrant purple color was really pretty and welcome change since I’m always in black.  I always put on another layer for Shavasana because I get cold in corpse pose (go figure) and the hood was extra long so I was able to pull it over and cover my eyes (awesome!).  I also loved that the tail is longer so my bottom was covered and I felt comfortable going to the farmer’s market in my workout gear without feeling self-conscious.

All of the items were really comfortable and you can wear them seamlessly from class to run errands.  The best part of Earth Yoga is that the fabrics are organic and sustainable, while also being affordable.  You can feel good about what you’re wearing while you achieve inner peace.   Namaste.

I haven’t bought a pair of new glasses in over two-years so when I had the opportunity to get a pair from LensCrafters and test out their website and fitting process, I said “yes, please!”

I usually have a pretty good idea of what kind of glasses I want to get before I even get to the store but this time I’m pretty open to style and color. After having the same kinds of glasses for the last few years (tortoise frames) I’m open to trying something new (maybe red?). The LensCrafters website has great new tools to help you start the glasses selection process so I jump started my search by checking out frames online.

I started the process by answering a series of questions about my style and preferences and LensCrafters came up with suggested styles and lenses based on the answers I gave regarding my face shape, style and lense preferences. I have to say that the LensCrafters site gave me some good suggestions. Nothing beats actually going to a LensCrafters location to check out the styles but the suggestions were a good start. If you don’t want suggestions and just want to peruse the product selections, you can also narrow down your search by choosing specific colors, shapes or brands.

Next, I chose my lense preferences and viewed the LensSimulator which was a great help. In the past when I’ve bought glasses sales people have listed all of the options I could add on my lenses and I usually just go for the lightest-weight lenses because my prescription is very strong and because all of the add-on features get pricey. With the LensSimulator you are able to see the results of added features on the lenses. After viewing the LensSimulator I know for sure that I want the LC Signature HD lense which also includes an anti-reflective coating.

The most exciting development I learned about on line is the Accufit™ Digital Measurement System – a measuring system exclusive to LensCrafters. If you’ve been measured for glasses you know that when you are ordering your lenses you have to try the frames on and the sales associate finds the place on the lense where your pupil lines up. Since human error can factor into this process, LensCrafters has developed the Accufit™ Digital Measurement System – a state-of-the-art digital technology that measures the relationship between your eyes, face, and frame to more accurately place your prescription in your lenses for clear, crisp vision. The Accufit™ Digital Measurement System takes the guess work out of perfecting your vision by providing measurements that are five times more precise than the manual method.

The last new feature that I can’t wait to try in store is the Virtual Mirror. Since I’ve been wearing glasses since the fifth-grade I’ve learned to wear contact lenses when I go frames shopping so that I could actually see what the frames look like on me! But if you don’t wear contacts, or forget to wear them frames shopping LensCrafters has developed the Virtual Mirror. AccuFit™ is fitted with a high-definition digital camera so the sales associate can take pictures of you wearing different looks from different angles. Then you can examine them side-by-side and decide on a style with better confidence. I can be really indecisive so this can help regardless of me wearing contacts or not!

I’ll be heading down to LensCrafters next week and I’ll follow-up and tell you how the Accufit™ Digital Measurement System worked for me. Until then, if you want to learn more check out the LensCrafters Accufit™ Facebook page to take a fun survey and watch a video of how Accufit™ works.

LensCrafters offers a clearly different optical experience by helping you find your perfect pair of eyeglasses that allows you to see 5x clearer.

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

When I was pregnant with the Tiny Dancer, I wanted to have everything personalized with her name on it but as you probably know, personalization and monograms can get expensive. So when I learned about Baby Be Hip, I was excited to get some things for the Tiny Dancer, and knew that I had a great source for baby gifts.

Baby Be Hip is luxurious online boutique for personalized baby gifts. From embroidered bibs, blankies, burp cloths, onsies, and even prepackaged gift sets- Baby Be Hip has every mom-to-be covered. You can buy items individually or in sets. If you purchase a set, often times the items come in a personalized bucket or tote. The gift selector option makes shopping for an expecting loved one fast and easy. The best feature however, is the price. You can get baby items personalized without breaking the bank.

Baby Be Hip sent me a personalized bucket to test out with the Tiny Dancer and she loved it. She loves pink and loves ladybugs so the bucket was perfect for her. She’s also very active and likes to put things in it – and take things out (I think as a result of her just starting Montessori school). The bucket is adorable enough to keep out and display and makes for a great storage option for toys and books. The fun polka dot bows make a cute finishing touch.

I know that from now on, whenever I want to buy a personalized baby gift I’m going to go directly to BabyBeHip.com.

Growing from a baby to a toddler is an important developmental milesetone for children. Kids learn to express themselves verbally and are physically able to do more on their own. I see this everyday with the Tiny Dancer – she’s fearless and always trying to do new things – by herself! When I received Now I Am Big! and I Can Do It Myself! from Abrams Appleseed, they could not have come at a better time.

Now I Am Big! and I Can Do It Myself! are the stories of a boy and a girl who celebrate growing taller and stronger and being able to do things on their own. The stories are both empowering and entertaining for kids and help them realize how much they have accomplished.

Written by Stephen Krensky and illustrated by Sara Gillingham, Now I Am Big! and I Can Do It Myself! are some of my new favorite books in the Tiny Dancer’s collection. The encouraging message along with the captivating retro-inspired illustrations make these books a new family favorite – for kids and adults. You can find Now I Am Big! and I Can Do It Myself! on Amazon.com.

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.