project you Pursue your passion one dream at a time.
A Role Mommnye Magazi 2012 Holidaze
The Real Housewives of
Hurricane Sandy Role Mommies who Use Their Blogging Powers to Give Back
Fundraising Tips for TWeens
plus!
The Perfect Stocking Stuffers, Tips for Having a Horny Holiday & So Much More!
Enter our 12 Days of Giving Contest for a chance to win some really fabulous prizes!
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Table of Contents 3 4
Editor’s Letter How it Works
HOLIDAZE 5 6 7 8 10 12 13 14
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“Tis the Season for Giving Holiday Etiquette Happy Horny Holiday Go-Go Gadgets White is Right This Winter What I Really Want This Holiday Season Something the Stuff With Ho Ho Ho - Oy
FUN STUFF 15 18
GIVING BACK
Getting the Kids to Give Back 5 Fundraising Tips for Tweens
Real Housewives of Hurricane Sandy What Do We Tell Our Children? I Don’t Have Time for Cancer
BETWEEN US 29 30 31 32 34 35 36 38
Something to Drool Over Beware Identity Thieves The New Fantasy Land Step into the New Year Fashionably Stay Fit over the Holidays Word on the Tweet 5 Stylish Jackets All Under $150 Annie Returns to Broadway
editor’s LETTER
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Happy Holidaze!
or many of us, 2012 has been a year of bumps and bruises in more ways than we could have ever imagined. We are all still reeling from the tragedy in Newtown Connecticut that claimed the lives of 27 innocent victims, including 20 school children and six educators. As we all hug our children tighter this holiday season, Love Our Children USA founder Ross Ellis shares tips on how to help your children cope. In the “Real Housewives of Hurricane Sandy” feature, we share stories of individuals who went above and beyond to help families still struggling to put the pieces of their lives back together after one of the deadliest storms in the Northeast destroyed homes and decimated communities. Plus, Dawn Sandomeno from Partybluprints shares her family’s personal story - revealing how the community of Belmar, New Jersey is working to restore their historic beach town. Plus, the amazing Leah Segedie, the founder of Mamavation whose online community has collectively lost more than 1000 pounds shares invaluable fitness and weight loss tips.
Our shopping section features fabulous outerwear fashion trends from GalTime, and stocking stuffers by Maria Colaco. Plus, Connect with Your Teens expert Jennifer Wagner is back sharing her holiday tech gift picks. Plus, the team at KidzVuz, shares how we can teach kids about the importance of giving back. This issue wouldn’t be complete without fantabulous entertaining tips from Partybluprints and a laugh out loud Yuletide definition from KidDictionary’s Eric Ruhalter. Plus, Primetime Parenting’s Esti Berkowitz shares the inside scoop on Walt Disney World’s brand new Fantasyland and Foodie City Mom’s Kimberly Coleman shares how she turned a Parisian vacation with her mom into an experience they’ll never forget. And Elissa Freeman provides a dash of seasonal humor plus Fifty Two Shades of Blue-ish author Karen Exkorn shares tips on how to have a horny holiday. There is something for everyone in this issue -- including an awesome 12 days of giveaways! So read, share and do what you love in 2013. This is Project You and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
Best wishes,
Beth Feldman Editor in Chief
HOW IT WORKS
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Found Project You on your favorite blog or on ProjectYouMagazine.com? Click on the magazine to read the articles in full screen, or use the triangles on the left and right to skim the pages.
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When viewing the magazine in full screen mode, you have a menu at the top to control your viewing options and a menu at the bottom to control what page you are on.
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The magazine is interactive, so all of the links are live. Seeing blue? Don’t miss the information, movies, and exclusive links we offer. Simply click on the blue lettering. ■
Pursue your passion one dream at a time. Editor in Chief Beth Feldman
Art Director Katie Schlientz
Managing Editor Jeanne Muchnick
Senior Editor
Danielle Feigenbaum
cover photos: ©www.istock.com/PinkTag
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Contributors
Esti Berkowitz April Bukofse Maria Colaco Ross Ellis Karen S. Exkorn Elissa Freeman Melissa Leonard Elizabeth Mascali Marin Milio Eric Ruhalter Saba Salehi Dawn Sandomeno Laura Schuffman Leah Segedie Jennifer Wagner
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RoleMommy.com
Role Mommy is an online community and events company dedicated to inspiring today’s busy parents to pursue their passion while raising a family. Role Mommy hosts online writing and career workshops as well as events that bring entrepreneurs, authors, parenting experts and bloggers together to share how they’ve reinvented their lives while raising a family. For more information, visit www.ProjectYouMagazine.com and www. RoleMommy.com.
Contact us
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Holidaze
Giving
WIN THIS!
©www.istock.com/Moncherie
‘Tis the season for
ut! Don’t miss o e lik Make sure to ! ok us on Facebo
Project You Magazine’s 12 Days of Giving Contest Entering is easy! Starting December 20th, share the daily Project You pinned post on your Facebook page . You’ll be automatically entered to win. Make sure to check back over the next few days... We’ll be giving away a different prize each day for 12 consecutive days! ■
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Holiday Etiquette
Etiquette expert Melissa Leonard answers our toughest holiday questions. Here’s how to keep the holidays happy:
Q. Who should you tip during the holidays? A. Anyone who provides a service should be tipped….the postman, sanitation workers (the rule of thumb is usually $20+ per person on the truck), recycling crews (same rule), hairdresser, cleaning ladies, nail salon tech (if you go on a regular basis), trainer at the gym, UPS driver (if you have lots of packages arriving throughout the year). With this said, cash is always best and most appreciated. Gift cards are a great alternative should you not have cash on hand and need to grab something as you run to pick up last minute items at the supermarket.
Q. How can you politely pass on the kiss underneath the mistletoe?
A. Ducking the kiss under the mistletoe can be one of those “AWKWARD” moments that you cringe at. Especially if the lips coming right at you belong Q. How can you encourage family to get along to an unsavory lecherous uncle during the holidays? h of your best friend. UGH! Just Establis Y N lf A. Family gatherings can often be difficult and full of drama, but e because a mistletoe hangs Yours during the holidays, it is always best to go into the gathering with above, there is no need to an open mind and leave all baggage, such as hurt feelings over pucker up. You can simply imagined or real slights, should be left at the door. Keep conversaavert the kiss by giving a friendly tions merry and bright and no matter what anyone says or if gossipy hug or giving your hand for a shake first, chatter begins, simply smile and bring it back to light subjects. No then locking your elbow so the lechermatter what anyone else’s child is doing, just smile and let someone ous intruder can advance no further! ■ else be “that person” when little Johnny acts out. You are responsible for you and your children only.
A. Regifting can be a slippery path to take, unless you are a regifting diva! This means, you have carefully marked the items given to you and know EXACTLY who sent them to you! You may always regift if you know it will NEVER EVER be seen by the person who gave you the gift. Only give a gift if you know it will fit the recipient or if it is right up their alley in taste! And of course, that the giver will never see that you didn’t care for their gift and passed it on. 6
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Certified Business Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant Melissa Leonard has worked with Fortune 100 Companies as well as private clients. Melissa received her business etiquette training and certification from the Protocol School of Washington. Melissa currently resides in lower Westchester County with her husband and two children.
©www.istock.com/kemie
Q. What’s the acceptable etiquette on re-gifting?
HOLIDAZE
Have a Happy Horny Holiday!
By Karen S. Exkorn
Six weeks. That’s what the holiday season is for most of us. It’s those six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. So why not turn those six weeks into sex weeks? Here are a few ways to have a happy, horny holiday:
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Engage in Naughty Nutrition
What are some sexy holiday foods to get you “in the mood?” My favorite is chocolate. The darker the better. Chocolate is a wellknown aphrodisiac that stimulates desire, because it contains two chemical compounds responsible for elevating moods and helping circulation to all parts of the body (including increased blood supply “down there”). The antioxidants in dark chocolate are great for promoting sexual vigor. So indulge yourself in those holiday chocolate bars, cupcakes and brownies. And if you’re worried about fitting into that sexy dress after consuming such yummy chocolate? Buy a Yummie Tummie!
Swallow Some Holiday Cheer
Wine that is spiced can be a potent aphrodisiac. Red Burgundy mixed with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and sugar is known as Hippocras aphrodisiac. White port is also a powerful aphrodisiac (much more so than red port), especially when paired with strawberries. And then, of course, there’s tequila. I haven’t found any research to confirm its aphrodisiac qualities, but I do have a number of girlfriends who will confirm it!
Play Strip Dreidel Just like eating a bagel, you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy a good game of Strip Dreidel. All you need is a dreidel, a partner (or two!) and a bottle of Manischewitz or Tequila. Just spin to win! You’ll get tipsy and naked in no time at all. You can either make up your own rules, or read my special rules at: FiftyTwoShades ofBlueish.com.
Have Happy Holiday Sex More sex means less stress, and because the holiday season can be filled with stress, I advise having lots of it. Sex, that is. The act of engaging in sex will actually get you in the mood, and after a sexy romp, your body will experience a hormone release that triggers the sense of relaxation and relief that you crave. Plus, there’s always the added benefit that sex burns calories—which works very well with your new naughty diet! ■
Karen S. Exkorn has just released Fifty Two Shades of Blue-ish, a parody of that “other” ever-popular tome. Exkorn is also author of the best-selling book, The Autism Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, Coping, and Healing—From a Mother Whose Child Recovered (2005 HarperCollins).
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project you By Jennifer Wagner
Go- Go Gadgets Not sure what to buy your teens for the holidays. Here are some gift ideas your teens will love:
Portable speakers BoomBotix Wireless Bluetooth Speakers are adorable for tweens. HMDX Audio: Jam Wireless Portable speakers come in many colors and great for any age. Both are small enough to carry around.
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Jennifer Wagner
Connect With Your Teens
eReaders These are becoming practically a necessity nowadays. The new Kindle Paperwhite is a great choice. Also check out the B&N Nook and the Sony Reader.
BassBuds Beautiful noise isolating in-earphones with Swarovski Elements that also include a microphone and MP3 controller. What a great gift for teen and tween girls.
HOLIDAZE
TomTom If you have teens that have reached driving age, a GPS device is a great gift. Not only will they love it, but you can worry less. Getting lost is not conducive to safe driving.
Two Hands
Images courtesy of vendors
The TwoHands iPad stand looks like two hands are gripping the tablet to hold it up. The stand is flexible so that in can be used with most tablets and eReaders in addition to the iPad. ■
Jennifer Wagner has been working with Millennials for years, mostly as an academic law librarian teaching students legal research. Her blog, Connect with your Teens through Pop Culture and Technology, helps parents keep up with pop culture and technology as a way of bonding with their teenage children.
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PartyBluPrintsBlog.com
White is Right this Winter! By Elizabeth Mascali and Dawn Sandomeno
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INSPIRATION: The Heavens – Soft, Glowing, Glistening VIBE: Peace, Joy & Serenity COLOR PALETTE: White, Muted Silver and a touch of Sparkle
HOLIDAZE
3 things to remember when gathering elements for your table: ● R emain true to your inspiration, vibe and color palette. ● S hop your home 1st – pull pieces that fit the bill from your cabinets, cupboards, and storage; then make a shopping list for remaining materials. ● Be creative and have fun. ■
Get the Look in 5 Easy Steps
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images ©partybluprints, inc
Create a foundation with your table covering and place settings: dishes, glasses, silverware and napkins.
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Build centerpiece using mercury glass candleholders of differing heights for interest and finial for the center. At the base arrange ornate mercury votives – insert LED tea lights.
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Arrange place card frames at each place setting.
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Fill in center of table with ornaments.
Hang oversized snowflake votive holders (fill with LED tea lights) or large crystal/ glass ornaments from chandelier.
Elizabeth Mascali and Dawn Sandomeno are party and lifestyle authors, bloggers, and social media hostesses. Their first book, PLAN TO PARTY, (Yorkshire Publishing) offers ideas from their blog andis a go-to resource for home entertaining. projectyou
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project you By Beth Feldman
What I Really Want This Holiday Season For the record, I would like to say that I do not buy into the hype of holiday gift giving. While I certainly buy presents for friends, family and loved ones, for me, this time of year should be about buying the things you secretly want but may never get...at least not this year. And trust me, I do not need another tight fitting sweater from Macy’s. So what’s on my wish list? Take a look and see if you can relate:
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A front loading washing machine. I’ve been waiting more than a decade for my top loader to finally give out and this past week, our washer sputtered through its last spin cycle. Time of death: Two days before Hanukah. While my Facebook friends recommended the LG front loader, it was a bit out of our price range, so we went for the Whirlpool Duet which was on sale and will hopefully not crap out on us since we did not purchase the 10 year warranty from PC Richards.
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New couches for our den. I love the Crate and Barrel couches we bought nearly seven years ago but so do my two feisty cats. Over the past three years, my poor cozy couches have taken quite a beating. The pillow cases and arms are ripped to shreds and if my son drops chocolate ice cream on it one more time, I’m going to lose my marbles.
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Granite countertops for our kitchen. When we first moved into our home, we renovated our small kitchen and opted for a glossy green formica countertop rather than super sleek granite. More than a decade later, I long for the day I can replace those outdated green tops with something way more sophisticated. If only a producer at HGTV would discover our family and re-do our kitchen for free. Dare to dream.
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A gas fireplace. We spend every night in our den and oftentimes, when I’m zoning out with my family watching “Anchorman” for the 20th time, I think about what the room would look like with a gas fireplace and a flat screen strategically placed above it. It would like damn good. Case closed. ■
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©www.istock.com/ Moncherie
by Maria Colaco
HOLIDAZE
Something to Stuff With Good things come in small packages after all so prove the same is true for that stocking that’s waiting to be stuffed.
1 Japanese Quince Classic Toile Pagoda Box Candle $34.95
These candles have heavenly scents and last for hours and hours. Even if you can’t escape for hours…
2 Classic Michael Kors - Chronograph Watch, Rose Gold/Navy $250
What’s the one thing you can’t ever get enough of? TIME! Stay on top of it with this fashion statement piece that goes with everything.
3 CWonder – Enamel initial cuff $48 Add your initial or those of your littles to these uber fun monogrammed bracelets from C Wonder.
images courtesy of vendors
4 Benefit- She’s so Jet Set $36 Because you are always on the move, Benefit comes to the rescue with the JETSETTER make up palette for eyes, cheeks and lips. Make sure to check out the ‘In flight’ manual for extra tips and tricks.
Maria Colaco
NewYorkMom
5 Marc Jacobs $35 What could say luxury more than Cashmere, Veuve Clicquot and Marc Jacobs? Brighten up the grey days of winter with these yellow fingerless gloves from Marc Jacobs. ■ projectyou
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project you By Elissa Freeman
’m not what you would call a really religious Jew. I don’t keep strictly kosher, yet my child goes to Hebrew School. I won’t bring bacon into the house, yet I don’t have a problem eating pork ribs. Yes, religion is full of contradictions, and one size definitely does not fit all. In fact, I would describe myself as a Jew defined more by ritual than by prayer. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that while I love to celebrate Chanukah, I also get a kick out of Christmas. Ever since I was a kid, we participated in the most acceptable way a Jewish family could when it came to Christmas. Each year, we would shlep to the mall and have our pictures taken with Santa, walking happily away with our prized candy canes. We would “ooh and ahh” at Eaton’s holiday windows and drive around the neighbourhood marveling at the twinkling house lights. Naturally, I have continued many of these traditions with my husband and daughter. Although at 10, she now deems the Santa photo “uncool.” In my house, we love Chanukah. There are games, chocolate gelt (coins) and a present for each day of the holiday. We light the menorah (candelabra) and play with our dreidels (spinning tops). Chanukah marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its destruction and commemorates the "miracle of the container of oil." According to the Talmud, there was only enough holy oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which is why we light the same number of candles on the menorah. 14
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As oil is a central theme to the story, Chanukah becomes a deep-fry fest – I am often stuffed with latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (super-powdery doughnuts with jam in the middle). Yet, once I’ve carefully stored away the menorah for another year, I eagerly dig out my special Christmas stocking, the one with my name written in green sparkly script. Even my husband and daughter have their own stockings. And on December 24, we make the trek to the local variety store and buy all sorts of fun, little gifts for one another. On Christmas morning, we wake up, open our presents and watch the fireplace channel. Then do what most Jewish families do who aren’t in Florida – we go to a movie and eat Chinese food. So what does this make me? The woman who wants it all? A religious turncoat? A Chrismakah convert? None of the above. I’m just a realist. For me, the themes around Christmas can resonate with anyone: joy, happiness and sharing. People are generally in a better mood. They throw parties and wear ridiculous sweaters. Plus, it’s the best time of year to buy a cocktail dress. In my own small way, I also hope my daughter takes away the serious lessons from our rituals: tolerance, awareness and acceptance. And if she wants a Christmas cookie after eating a latke, that’s fine by me. ■ Elissa Freeman is a mom, foodie, self-confessed pop culture junkie, and a 20+ year PR veteran who was recently named one of twitter’s Top 52 PR pros. You can follow her on Twitter at elissaPR.
©www.istock.com/GuidoVrola
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HO HO HO – OY!
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Fun Stuff KidDictionary Word:
By Eric Ruhalter
ASSAULT AND BATTER
(uss-ALLT AND BAH-tuhr) v : To be informed by your child at 8:30 in the morning that they’d volunteered you to prepare 40 cupcakes for their class’s holiday party that day.
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Getting the Kids to Give Back By Eric Ruhalter
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year’s behavior might have been. “There are people starving in China and India and right here in our very own country, but here, go plunder and burn a village in this hyper reality game…” While I don’t see any reason to completely deny my kids some of the spoils of our good fortune, I do want them to learn the value of giving back. So starting this year we decided our kids should do something that involved them motivating a group of their peers at school to make a difference for some organization that helps people in need. And we wanted them to do their own research, so they could see what types of philanthropic opportunities are out there,
I try to expose my children to the realities faced by their less fortunate brothers and sisters around the world all year long, and set a good example as a compassionate, caring, giving person. But then comes Christmas time where I undermine my yearlong efforts by, say, gifting them an Xbox Live game console, no matter how marginal that
The (d.a.) D List of: Things a Parent Can Do to Avoid Ruining the Holidays ● Don’t leave charred Santa Claus dummy smoldering in fireplace on Christmas Morning. 16
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● Refrain from supplementing Holiday Cookie recipe with PCP or any derivatives there of.
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● Do not Swap out Hanukkah candle for fire cracker when it’s grandma’s turn to light.
● Resist temptation to submit a Gift Swap gift that is dusted with arsenic
©www.istock.com/empire331
his morning my son and I were looking at the newspaper together and happened upon an article that detailed how much food a person on welfare must live on if they have no other means of stocking their cupboards. It’s not a lot of food. And were it my son put on this diet of poverty in his current state of finicky, it would not go well. Most of the food items in this bounty were things that make him reflexively gag and wretch. I can only hope that exposure to these circumstances is one way my kids might come to appreciate the good fortune they have. For many there is only “food,” not “food you like” and “food you don’t like.”
©www.istock.com/zeremski
fun stuff
and so it wouldn’t create any extra work for me. So they got on the internet and rather than gawk at videos of getting clocked in the nuts in one fashion or antother, or chortling at snarky ramblings of a smar-alecky orange, they found an organization right here in our town called “Color A Smile.” What this operation does is ask kids to make nice, happy drawings on 8x10 pieces of paper and mail them to their office where they are dispatched to soldiers or senior citizens or other people in need of some holiday good cheer. Eric And they brought this idea to their respective school princiRuhalter pals and they’re all setting aside a period of time when kids TheKid in their classes can make these drawings to be shared via Dictionary.com Color Me Smimle. They’re not saving the world by anyone’s estimation nor even feeding the hungry or clothing the naked but they ARE doing something that isn’t for them. They’re doing something for the sole purpose of brining a smile to the face of someone Eric Ruhalter’s book The Kid who needs one. Someone less fortunate than they are. And that’s a great Dictionary: Hilarious Words To start. Describe the Indescribable Things Part 2 of the plan comes Christmas morning when they come downKids Do is debuting everywhere in March from Sourcebooks. stairs and find their stockings stuffed with drawings by yours truly. ■
● Avoid temptation to reveal to holiday guests after dinner that what they just ate was reindeer.
● Refrain from giving your son the gift of an itchy new sweater inside the box for a Sega Playstation II.
● Refrain from giving your son the gift of an itchy new sweater, period.
● During a big family dinner, don’t draw any analogies between any of your in-laws and the stuffed dead bird on the table. projectyou
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n the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the awarding winning website and new app KidzVuz.com recently hosted a holiday fashion event for moms and daughters in NYC to help support K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations), a 25 year old charity which helps children in distressed situations. Over 90 tweens and their parents attended this fun filled holiday event where kids got
to review must have toys and fashions of the season. Several families who were directly affected by Hurricane Sandy were also in attendance, along with tweens who shared what they are doing in their own communities to help those who need it most. If you’d like your tween to help a child in need, here are five fundraising tips straight from the gang at KidzVuz:
Five Fundraising Tips for Tweens 1. Love thy Neighbor: Check in on an elderly neighbor, bake cookies or offer to help them with basic chores like putting the trash out or rake their lawn. 2. Small Change Adds Up: Organize a change bucket at your school, church, synagogue, gym or even apartment building and watch that change add up to make a meaningful donation to a local charity. 3. Make it Meaningful: Organize a crafting party by getting a bunch of friends together to make easy projects like duct tape wallets, ribbon barrettes, simple sew stuffed animals, and donate them to a local children’s hospital. 4. Make it Beautiful: Is there a local playground that could use your help? Or a community center or school that could use a clean up? Get a group together to clean up trash, rake leaves, and give a fresh coat of paint to create a play or learn space for other kids. 5. Connect Online: Find online resources for giving specifically for kids like GenerationOn.org, VolunTeenNation.org and DoSomething.org. They have projects specifically for kids.
If you have a child who wants to become a roving tween reporter, visit KidzVuz.com or download the KidzVuz app in the iTunes store and they can start sharing their personal reviews about toys, travel, fashion, restaurants and more! To find out more about K.I.D.S. and the amazing work they do on behalf of children nationwide, visit their website, www.kidsdonations.org. ■ 18
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5 Fundraising Tips for Tweens
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Giving Back
Real Housewives of
HURRICANE SANDY When Hurricane Sandy hit, women in the tri-state area lent instant support via blogs and social media, while others loaded up their cars with basic necessities to help communities in need. Â These truly amazing stories feature some of the women making a difference in the lives who need it most this holiday season. Check out these inspiring and incredible Role Mommies to learn how you can help!
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Giving back
Some of the volunteers who helped in Belmar.
Dawn Sandomeno PartyBluPrintsBlog.com
We have a home in Belmar and for the past 11 years, we have spent every summer there - my boys are in the ocean almost every day. We are there whenever we can be all year round. When Sandy hit, we were shocked at the amount of water and destruction she brought to Belmar. We prepared with sandbags and boarded up our windows. These were futile attempts to fight her. Knowing there was no loss of life in our town, we could only pray for others, and wait to be allowed back in to Belmar. Once the water receded, we emptied the entire contents of our home onto the sidewalk and street. It was loaded into a giant dump truck and carted away, along with the belongings of our neighbors. What was left was a mess, the house was covered in a black mud and it smelled horrible, dead fish, pieces of the boardwalk and furniture from our neighbors’ homes were strewn about our yard. It went on for blocks, it touched everyone, and at times it felt overwhelming. That is when the sun entered Belmar. Truck loads of volunteers from states far away, appeared each day. Helping hands, smiling faces and huge open hearts. Men and women who came, not knowing where they would
eat, sleep or what they would find, came to help. Honestly, the sun never warmed Belmar as much as these volunteers. Twenty of them from North Carolina, plus others, including the lifeguards from our street’s beach, spent the weekend at our house, helping to rip up the floor, remove the tub, toilet, appliances, and furnace - stripping it down to the bare studs. This job would have cost thousands, if we were lucky enough to have found someone who would do it. With the help of the volunteers, our house could now dry and be saved! That day the healing process started for our home, our family, Belmar and the Jersey shore. Anywhere there were volunteers, there was hope and healing. Help not only came in the physical world it came through the virtual one too. By sharing my story on Facebook and twitter, friends and members of my beloved blogger community reached out to their contacts. The Tide ‘Loads of Hope’ and Duracell ‘Power It Forward’ trucks came to the shore, a school district in Maryland adopted Belmar Elementary School, sending 52 boxes of new books and toys for its students, friends sent clothes, food, and donated money and two agencies I work with, Collective Bias and Hunter PR, are donating mold kits to families in Belmar, so that they can be sure their homes are safe for their children. projectyou
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project you Russo & Cathleen Marzullo Kimberly When Kim Russo and Cathleen Marzullo put a call out to the community asking for donations of coats, blankets, food and more to families whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, the neighborhood whipped into action and delivered bags full of basic necessities to Kim’s doorstep. Kim and Cathleen then drove out to Lindenhurst, Long Island where they met Andrew Martorano who took them around his community so they could meet residents affected by the storm and provide support to families in need. One of their most memorable encounters took place when a young boy
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stood shivering outside his home and Kim and Cathleen reached into their UHaul truck and pulled out a winter coat and a new pair of socks so he could stay warm during inclement weather. The Westchester, NY moms soon became the talk of Lindenhurst’s local church, Our Lady of Perpetual Hope and Andrew even sent this amazing letter to New Rochelle Patch offering thanks for their incredible gesture to families in need. Andrew called the pair the “Real Housewives of Hurricane Sandy” which ultimately became the title of this feature.
Giving back
Shari Von Holten Have U Heard
Hurricane Sandy hit our small community on Long Island leaving a trail of devastation. Thankfully, my family was one of the lucky ones – we lost our electricity and had some flooding on our first floor. Our community was left devastated. Homes condemned, businesses lost and cars now considered totaled. What could we do to help?
Helping friends to clean out their now destroyed homes was something that my husband and I did. Not just for
our friends, but for us, it was the only thing that made us feel useful during a time when we were all walking around in a daze. Offering up clothing to a family who lost it all, a hot shower to friends and a hot meal when we finally got a generator, seemed trivial. It was during this time that the only thing we all needed was each other, a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. We will get through the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy – together.
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Cristie Ritz King The Right Hand Mom
We were lucky that all we lost was power during the hurricane so we wanted to make sure we used our time to help rebuild. We gathered donations from people near and far and through social media discovered Rebuild Recover, a group that set up shop locally to collect all manner of things for struggling families. We brought bags and bags of coats, cleaning supplies, toiletries and food that our generous friends filled our car with. The folks at Rebuild Recover made sure families in New Jersey got everything they needed. Now that my kids are back in school, I’m helping gather funds to help restore our local primary school that lost everything to flooding and also lending my physical presence to do whatever is needed in towns along the shore. We may have been without power, but we refuse to be powerless to Hurricane Sandy. 24
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Amy Ecker
Broad Channel is a small neighborhood in Queens that is the only inhabitable island in Jamaica Bay. The families and individuals I have had the opportunity to meet are strong and stoic and are proud of their homes and many families are at different stages of rebuilding. The stories that struck me most were about the memories, including the wedding albums, scrapbooks and mementos lost. Hearing about the ocean surrounding and then entering their homes, with large debris banging against the exterior, and families’ terror that the house might fall apart at any time and the retired firefighter who told us he was never more scared than the night of the storm.
It is almost too difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the devastation. You are driving down the block and all is fine and you turn the corner and mountainous debris, damaged homes and totaled cars greet you. Having been to Broad Channel, Far Rockaway and Staten Island, it is hard to imagine all of the other places that continue to be mentioned and are as devastated, if not more so. Long Beach, Oceanside, Baldwin Harbor, Lindenhurst, Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Gerritsen Beach, Coney Island and the list goes on...
Giving back
To find out how you can help the community of Broadchannel, visit their Facebook page.
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Melissa Chapman & Corinne Ingrassia It Takes a Family
Corine Ingrassia grew up on Staten Island and Melissa Chapman became an islander when she married. When they had a chance to see first hand the impact Hurricane Sandy had on Staten Island and meet with people who had literally lost every material possession they owned; left merely the clothes on their backs-- they knew they needed to help. They are also bloggers; Corine writes complicatedmama.com and Melissa pens www. thestatenislandfamily.com. Â Together, they decided the best way to encourage people to get involved post26
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Sandy was to connect the community and volunteers directly with the families their donations would benefit. Their program  ittakesafamily.net truly personalizes the experience for all involved- the volunteers know that their time, effort and donation is immediately fulfilling a specific need for a specific household and the families sponsored suddenly have a new found support system and the sense that they are not alone and that this community of families is rallying around them rooting for them to get back on their feet. â–
Giving back
What Do We Tell Our Children? Tips on how to talk to your children about the horrific incident in Newtown, CT.
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By Ross Ellis, National Parenting and School Violence Prevention Expert
ug your kids, hold them tight, tell hem how much you love them. Shut the TV, unplug the Internet and spend a family weekend together. ● Keep your conversation and answers age-appropriate. What happened in Newtown will affect all kids in some way. Ask them how they’re doing and what they already heard. ● It’s okay for you to be angry, but do not get hysterical or fall apart. Your kids need to see you handling this calmly. ● If they ask why someone would do something like this, it’s OK to say you don’t know.
● While it’s okay to show your children your sadness, be comforting and love and nurture them!! ● Kids between ages 5 - 10 kids will be the most anxious. They worry and they’re very sad about it. Parents should reassure them, and explain to them that the police are in charge, that the school is going to be safer than it was before, and that this is a very rare event. ● The important thing is to recognize that not every child can do this in one conversation. It could be a minute or two and then just leave the door open and say we can talk about it tomorrow, or whenever you have more questions.”
● Although we don’t want to give children false infor- ● Parents should also be positive and reassure kids by mation, let them know that this doesn’t happen at every telling them we are safe. Parents should also be on the school and they will be safe. lookout for signs and symptoms of anxiety. Not only today ● It is critical to return to normal routines which can help or tomorrow but for some kids --even a week from now. If to minimize your children’s anxiety. As much as you want your child wants to avoid school, or is starting to complain to educate your children about what to do in an emer- of physical complaints, such as stomach and headaches, gency, not is not the time to do this as it will create more right before school, that’s a red flag. anxiety. Wait a bit.
● When they return home from school this coming week ● When kids head back to school, reassure them that and in the weeks to come be there for them. Ask how school shootings are rare and that schools are still safest they’re doing and try to make everything as routinely normal as it was before the horrible day in Newtown, CT on places. December 14th. ■ ● Parents should ask their principal for a copy of their school crisis plan. Schools should have an emergency plan that is readily available to parents explaining what Ross Ellis is a parenting, bullying prevention and cyber safety expert and the Founder and CEO of Love Our actions the school will take in various emergencies, as Children USA, the national non-profit leader of child well as how they will communicate with the parents dur- violence prevention. Ross writes for the Examiner and is a ‘go-to’ expert to MomLogic. ing an emergency. projectyou
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Blogger Jill Smith and her mom, Susan.
watch Click here to Jill’s story.
I Don’t Have Time for Cancer After testing positive for the BRCA1 gene, one woman takes measures to reduce her chance of getting breast cancer.
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s a little girl, Jill Smith played nurse to her mother as she fought breast cancer. She supported her through rounds of treatments and surgeries, and watched her fight the battle again, this time in her lungs. Smith was only 23 years old when her mother lost her 18year battle with cancer. It came to no surprise to Smith, now 32 and married with four children, when she tested positive for the BRCA1 gene. With her mother's history and her aunt developing breast cancer in her thirties, Smith pushed to have the genetic testing. What she was surprised about was the lack of information out there about her options. "The research on the gene isn't that advanced," Smith says. "Through my research, I found that doctors from different regions were reporting different things." As a carrier of the BRCA1 gene, Smith has a high risk of developing breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer. Not wanting to put her children through the same experience she had with her mother, she took a proactive approach. On October 12, Smith had the tissue in both of her breasts removed. The surgery reduced her chance of getting breast cancer from 80 percent down to 1 percent. 28
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"I can live with the scars," she says. "But I have four kids. I don't have time for cancer." Smith's children have a 50-50 chance of carrying the BRCA1 gene. When they get older, they will also have to be checked for breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. "I'm an experiment for my kids," she says. "I asked the doctors questions, and I found I wasn't getting the answers I needed. I'm doing the research. I'm doing this so my daughter can make more informed decisions down the road." While recovering from the surgery (luckily, Smith's tissue proved to be cancer free), Smith decided she wanted to create a support group for those who have the BRCA1 gene. She even shared her story with the local news. Although reports conclude that 10 to 15 percent of people are carriers, Smith found that many people came forward to her about carrying the gene. The overwhelming response spurred her to create a bigger online community. She started her blog, I Don't Have Time for Cancer, in an effort to try to build support and educate people about their options. â–
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Something to Drool Over
images courtesy of vendors
(But keeps your baby dry!)
Forget the bib! We love this cute, yet functional collection of onsies and tees from Simon Said and Co. The coloful designs on the Lycra fabric offer your baby some fashion-forward looks, while keeping the baby dry! Check out the full collection. â–
on’t keep w l ia r te a m Lycra ng, but li o o r d m o r f babies em dry! th p e e k l il w it projectyou
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Beware of Identity Thieves This Holiday Season
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By Beth Feldman
he holidays are here, and that means it’s time to watch your wallet in more ways than one. While you may not be aware of it, identity theft has grown exponentially in recent years, especially among kids. With many teens getting their first credit cards and consumers shopping online more than ever this holiday season, identity thieves are constantly on the prowl and ready to strike when you least expect it. Leading identity theft expert and author of the new book Bankrupt at Birth (www.bankruptatbirthbook.com) Joe Mason offers important tips on you can protect your family from identity theft all year round: ● Beware of TabNabbing: Cyber● Do not share private informacrime and malware is on the rise tion when making an online – there are new scams/viruses daily purchase: If an online shopping site + increase in online shopasks for your social security ping during holidays. One number or birth date, do Click here example is TabNabbing, not share that informato find out if this trick occurs when tion. They should only be your child is one goes to a corrupted asking for our credit card at risk. website and opens a new info. and do not need any tab. The thief sees that the additional information to infected site is inactive, then make a purchase. uses malicious software to create a ● Safeguard Your Personal Inforsite resembling a trusted site (like mation: Make sure your teen checks your online bank) and when you with you before sharing anything enter in your information, it goes personal online. Even “official” lookstraight to the hacker. ing emails can be a hacker, someone 30
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trying to steal their identity. ● Password Safety: Never make your password your name, PIN number, your birthday or too short. Never tell any of your friends your password and never carry your passwords with you.. ■
BETWEEN US By Esti Berkowitz
The New Fantasyland
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ven as an adult, I’ve always loved Disney World. After 40 years, those memories came flooding back when I got the chance to attend the grand opening of the New Fantasyland with my 75 year old mother and four year old son. New Fantasyland is the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom Park. In true Disney fashion, these new additions are presented with style and class with storytelling elevated to a new level. The elaborate touches can be found at every turn with attractions enhanced by new technology. One of our favorite rides was Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, where we rode in clamshells as the story of “The Little Mermaid” unfolded amidst a musical backdrop of songs from the classic film. Just outside the village, another Disney princess awaits in Maurice’s cottage with an all-new attraction, Enchanted Tales with Belle. Inside the Beast’s Castle, an animated life size Madame Wardrobe engages in conversation with guests. Across the stone gargoyle bridge from Ariel’s new home, the story of “Beauty and the Beast” is brought to life. We also fell in love with Disney’s new Art of Animation Resort which features a beautiful “Big Blue” pool where the voices of Dory and Nemo swim along with the guests. Learn more here. Entertaining visitors of all ages, you can always count on Disney to create memories that will last a lifetime and I for one, can’t wait to return with my entire family. ■
Esti Berkowitz blogs about how she found kosher food, a husband, and had kids after 35 at primetimeparenting. com. Esti is also a part of www. TrumpetingMedia.com, a social media events company that she started with three other New York area moms.
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Step into the New Year Fashionably! What to wear to usher in the New Year is never an easy decision here are a few tips from Fashion Designers April Bukofser and Marin Milio of AprilMarin Clothing: Make sure your “top ten tips” are
Fashion Designers April Bukofser and Marin Milio of AprilMarin Clothing.
AprilMarin is a young contemporary design collection, founded by mompreneurs and best friends April Bukofser and Marin Milio. Created out of a deeply rooted love for fashion and by focusing on the three loves in their life: family, work and fun, the design duo creates beautiful garments that are fashionable yet functional, classic yet fun. 32
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T I P looking fabulous when the clock
strikes 12 with Essie’s Midnight Cami, plus add a pair of AprilMarin fingerless furrypaws to stay warm and fashionable while showing off your Midnight Cami Mani!
TIP You can never go wrong with a basic black dress, our AprilMarin Cella Ruffle Sleeve dress is a perfect dress those unpredictable New Years temperatures. The gorgeous ruffle sleeve also gives you that fun and festive feel perfect for an intimate date or big New Years Party!
images courtesy of vendors
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New Years Eve is definitely a time to do away with all of your baggage… so leave that clunky handbag at home and opt for a small clutch to hold all of your New Years essentials. We love this Marc Jacobs gold clutch from the Neiman Marcus + Target collection available online and in Target stores.
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TIP New Years is always a night to feel and look special and there is no better excuse for a sequin dress than New Years Eve! We love this Rebecca Taylor Sequin Shift, it’s a fun and easy way to feel great and make a festive statement to ring in the New Year! ■ projectyou
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Stay Fit Over the Holidays By Leah Segedie
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e all come to points in our life when we look in the mirror and are not happy with what we see. Just remember that your weight does NOT define who you are. You define who you are, but if you want help losing weight, this is advice I would give a close friend. ● Activity. ● The 85% Rule. Whether you are sitting on the couch or running marathons, 85% of weight loss is nutrition. You can get as everyone can benefit from the use of a pedometer. Try to much activity as you want, but if you are not get a pedometer that counts “strides” instead of steps. They focusing on eating better, you’ll put all those are cost a little bit more, but are worth every penny. Put the calories back in your body very easily. The easipedometer next to something you use in the morning, like est way to start is adding in 1-3 servings of fresh your toothbrush, so you remember it. Every 2,000 steps is fruits and vegetables and a lean protein at every about a mile, so if you strive to get 10,000 steps every day meal. Avoid packaged foods as much as possible. you are getting 5 miles in. And lay off the booze. ● Heart Rate. When exercising, if you concentrate on activities that get ● Healthy cooking. your heart rate up faster, you don’t need to work out as long. Get some healthy conscious cook books. Most You can do a 20 minute workout, and you get better results people “think” they are eating healthy. They really have no idea of what healthy eating actually than walking for an hour. So you decide which you want. Do you want to workout longer at a slower pace OR workout is. And it’s not their fault because food markethard and fast and get it over with? Either is fine. The choice ing can make it very confusing. Marketers are is up to you. ■ stretching the truth quite a bit to get you to purchase their products. Your best bet is to do the cooking yourself. Get a really good cookbook with recipes you feel comfortable throwing together and start planning out shopping trips. 34
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Leah Segedie is the founder of Mamavation, an online community that has lost collectively 2,500 lbs. Leah herself has lost more than 170 lbs. over two pregnancies and is an inspiration to women all over the internet with her communities Bookieboo.com and Mamavation.com.
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Word on the Tweet My Fabulous Day at “The Talk.” Recently, I got to inject a bit of entertainment into my work day when I got to spend an hour tweeting live from the audience of “The Talk” on CBS. The one thing I can tell you about sitting in the audience of a live talk show is that you do a lot of laughing, a lot of smiling and a lot of clapping. And l have to say that between Sheryl Underwood, Aisha Tyler, Julie Chen, Sharon Osbourne and Sara Gilbert, the jokes are plentiful, the conversation is totally relatable and the laughter is non-stop.
By Beth Feldman
What I loved most was that I was able to engage with viewers during the show while sitting in the front row. My favorite moment: when the fabulous Sheryl Underwood grabbed my hand after the show and asked me if I had fun. How much do I love Sheryl? Let me me count the ways...
If you’ve never attended a talk show, I’d highly recommend it for anyone feeling down in the dumps. By the time you leave the studio, you’ll have a smile plastered across your face and a little I even got a shout out from host Julie Chen and spring in your step. No need for a gym memberwas featured in the same segment as Andy Cohen ship to get those endorphins going...just head to from Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live.” Sure, I was “The Talk,” sit in the audience and get ready to be just tweeting from my seat and Andy was weighthoroughly entertained! Visit their website to ing in on the latest “Real Housewives” drama, but it find out how you can be an audience member still was fun being the show’s official tweeter. and trust me, you’ll have the best time! ■
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5 STYLISH JACKETS— ALL UNDER $150 By Celebrity Fashion Stylists Saba Salehi and Laura Schuffman This article first appeared on GalTime.com
Seems like just yesterday we were rocking bathing suits, sarongs, and oversized sunnies, but now it’s time to think about sweaters and cold-weather coats!
1. Military: Military inspired jackets are back and bigger than ever! We absolutely love the cool and effortless look this type of jacket conveys. The foresty-olive green is also perfectly paired with the black clothes that take over our closets when it gets chilly. We’ve totally fallen for the leather sleeves on this number from Topshop (right), which add the perfect touch of toughness and texture. Pair your military jacket with simple skinnies for a casual look, or use it to dress down your evening dress or skirt. There are tons of styles to choose from at every price point, so get hunting! GalTime.com is a fast growing online magazine for women run by veteran journalists. Our experts have got you covered on everything from family to fashion, relationships to recipes, health to home. Don’t you deserve a little gal time? 36
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Don’t fret fashionistas! Your outerwear doesn’t need to be bulky, budget-zapping, and blah. Avoid the winter blues by topping off your outfit with one of these 5 styles… all under $150!
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2. Leopard: We think leopard is totally fierce! Because of its timeless, classic look, it can be worn at any age. Plus, it matches pretty much everything, which makes putting together your outfit a whole lot easier!
vest by Aqua is not only versatile, the color-blocking element adds the perfect dose of style. Throw it over your favorite long sleeve knits, or even over a tank top, without having to worry about overheating.
3. Jaquard: Jaquard is popping up left and right this season. As this jacket from Zara proves, black doesn't have to be boring since the intricate fabric adds depth to the look. This is a great trend to wear to the office with a pencil skirt or to dinner with a pair of leather pants. And bonus…because it is not too heavy, you can easily transition this look into spring with shorts or a mini.
5. Peplum: Peplum is the quintessential ladylike look of the season. It is impeccably chic and tailored and will transform your entire outfit headto-toe. The shape is playful, yet sharp! The key is to try on a few different brands and styles to find the right fit. Peplum should start at the smallest part of your waist and go right past your hip bone. The waist should fit snugly for the peplum shape to stand out. This blazer by JARLO may not be the warmest of our picks, but is definitely one of the most stylish. We love the unexpected lace in the back, which really makes it pop! ■
4. Faux Fur: When the temperature drops, what could a girl want more than a faux fur jacket to keep her warm and stylish? You can go faux in all sorts of shapes, colors, and styles. This particular
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Annie Returns to Broadway By Beth Feldman
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here’s nothing better than taking a trip down memory lane with the show that made you fall in love with musicals. I can still remember the first time I saw “Annie.” I was eight years old, I lived to sing and the moment those orphans took the stage, I imagined being in their shoes and dreamt of the day I would be singing “You’re Never Fully Dressed without a Smile” right along side of them. While my Broadway dream never came true (I do perform each year at my local synagogue so all is not lost), my daughter and I recently attended the star-studded opening of “Annie” on Broadway and loved every minute of it. The performances are stellar, from Lilla Crawford as the 38
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scrappy orphan with one of the most unforgettable voices we’ve ever heard, to Tony award-winner Katie Finneran as the devilishly drunk Ms. Hannigan, to the littlest orphan Molly, played by Westchester, New York scene stealer Emily Rosenfeld, we were blown away by the performances and left the theater with a great big smile plastered across our faces. I even broke into my own rendition of “NYC” right in the heart of Times Square until my daughter begged me not to embarrass her! At a time when our country sorely needs to put a little hope back into all our lives, “Annie” has returned to Broadway, just in the nick of time. To find out more and to order tickets visit www.AnnieTheMusical.com. ■
RoleMommy.com Role Mommy is an online community, events company and a resource for busy parents to rediscover what made them tick before kids. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, an entrepreneur, parenting expert or a mom in need of a good laugh, answers and inspiration, then RoleMommy.com is the perfect place for you.
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