When my daughters were younger and birthdays or holidays were approaching, I can always remember scratching my head to try to find the perfect gift.

Whether a gift for my girls, or gifts for a birthday party for their friends or my niece, it was challenging to come up with something that would stimulate creative play and their young minds.

‘Lil Moomette is just at that age now where she likes to emulate her Mom ~ carrying small purses and a miniature play cell-phone that she tries to call everyone on (stimulating her vocabulary too!)

I’m delighted to have the opportunity to review My Mommy’s Tote.  This is a compact, take-along bag that will keep any toddler or pre-schooler  entertained for hours!  It’s jam-packed inside with enough activities to keep any child 3 and up busy!

My Mommy’s Tote is also a great activity toy for home schoolers or as a special activity toy for Grandparents to keep around when the grandchildren come to visit.

From the Back Cover
“My mommy is so busy, just like me!”

Cuter than a button, My Mommy’s Tote is a delicious interactive gift for mothers and kids, a die-cut cornucopia stuffed with marvelous adventures and surprises, endearingly written.

* There’s the clock with hands that move
* A maze to navigate
* A spin wheel for learning the alphabet and numbers
* A special pen to draw on the write-on, wipe-off board
* Mommy’s laptop, cell phone, and wallet with a removable credit card

In all, there are more than 75 objects and 30 activities where things lift up, slide out, unfold, flip open and beguile. The magic and discovery go one and on.

P.H. Hanson Has Three Children and Lives in New York City.

Recommended Age is 3+
Available on Amazon.com

The last two weeks of August are always bittersweet to me.  When I was dating my hubby, his family always took the last two weeks as a vacation at the seashore cottage they owned, and I was always invited to tag along.

Here in New England where we have 4 seasons, I can sense that fall will soon be upon us ~ I can feel and smell it in the cool night air.  The approaching fall season then means that winter’s not too far behind.

Along with winter come all the associated skin problems that occur when the heating season begins.  Fortunately, there’s good news for the millions who suffer with dry skin each year.

I recently had the opportunity to review Gloves In a Bottle, a revolutionary Shielding Lotion that works like an invisible pair of gloves.  I received a full-size 8-fl. oz./240ml bottle of the lotion.

If you’re not familiar with a shielding lotion, the product  provides the following benefits ~

“Shielding Lotions form a protective shield with the outer layer of skin and help keep out irritants and chemicals. They also allow the natural oils and moisture to remain in the skin so it can heal better. They are light and go on without a greasy mess.”

Shielding Lotion can prevent a costly trip to your dermatologist and keep your skin silky smooth all winter.

My brother is a professional photographer and spent many years working for Kodak in Rochester, New York.  I’ve seen first-hand what the effects of photography chemicals and the brutal winters of Rochester can do to one’s skin.

The chilling cold of the winter months can take a heavy toll on your skin. According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) figures, 81 million Americans all across the country will be looking for relief from dry, itchy skin this winter.

The traditional prescription for treating dry skin has been a cream or lotion with moisturizers in it, in an attempt to replace the lost moisture and oils in the skin.

The features and benefits of Gloves in a Bottle include:

*  Non-greasy, non-sticky lotion; rapidly absorbs into outer layer of skin.
* Works like an invisible pair of gloves.
* Prevents dirt and grime from penetrating the skin.
* Allows skin to breathe and retain its natural moisture and oils.
* Does not wash off, lasts 4 hours or more, and comes off naturally with exfoliated skin cells.
* Greaseless, non-sticky, fragrance free, hypoallergenic, completely safe, non-toxic and used daily by a   wide range of healthcare professionals.
* Prevents dry, cracked skin.
* Absorbs quickly, undetectable once absorbed.

Gloves In A Bottle lasts for up to 4 hours or more. After about 4 hours enough skin cells have sloughed off to cause the barrier to break down; for continued protection just reapply. Wash and dry your hands before re-applying.

When I applied the lotion for the first time, I immediately noticed that it was fragrance free, and glided on like silk.  Only a small amount was needed.

What further impressed me was that after applying it, I felt as if I had a spa experience!  If you’ve ever had your hands dipped in the parafin hot-bath after having a manicure, it forms a ‘glove’ on your hands that is then peeled off.  You’re skin is then baby-smooth!  This same feeling was achieved after I applied Gloves in a Bottle ~ without having to go to the spa!  It was simply amazing!

I’m a convert for sure!  If you’re a Baby Boomer, or someone who works with their hands, or just in need of a little tender loving care, give this product a try!  Gloves in a Bottle is available at CVS and Brooks.

If you’d like to try a sample of Gloves in a Bottle and are willing to post a review on your blog, send a request to petegrimaldi@earthlink.net along with your blog URL and mailing address.

Visit their website at http://glovesinabottle.com to locate the retail outlet closest to you.

You can tell it’s summer here in New England! There’s the sound of air conditioners running all over town. I haven’t seen my next door neighbors in ages ~ everyone is all cooped up inside, instead of sitting out on their decks!

What would be nice about now is to be sitting on a deck at a Courchevel chalet. I’ve been to Europe, but never to Courchevel, France.

I hope my blogging friends in the UK use Supertravel to book their holidays. Supertravel is a UK based company with more than 40 years of travel experience. With departments dedicated to organizing Ski and Golf holidays, you can be sure that your holiday will be arranged by a specialist. They can plan an itinerary agenda for you and have you out and about in no time visiting Meribel, France and St Anton, Austria for Luxury Skiing holidays.

If you travel with your family or a special group and woujld like to vacation in Luxury ski chalets, Supertravel Ski has luxury chalets in Courchevel & Meribel in France, and St Anton in Austria. With fantastic food and wine provided by your chalet host, you may never want to go home!

Ski hotels can also be arranged in the best ski resorts around the world.

Don’t forget to bring a camera and post pictures if you blog!

We all change our wardrobes according to the seasons, right? At least I do. In New England, we have 4 seasons, so that means I’m constantly switching my closets around.

Most women I know also like to change their hairstyles according to the seasons. In summer, I tend to go a little lighter. My spirits are usually more vibrant in the summer.

If you are a blogger, have you ever considered changing your template theme according to the seasons? I’m always on the lookout for cool wordpress themes for my blogs. My Moomettesgram’s Musings blog is a Wordpress blog, while my Moomette’s Mama Mentor blog isn’t. I’m considering switching it over, as I really love the flexibility that Wordpress has to offer.

I’ve been looking through all the neat free offerings at TopWPThemes.  Their choices are extensive ~ every color scheme and category imaginable!  There are all varieties of gardening, home-based business, family, technical and internet commerce themes. You can pick between 2-column and 3-column themes.  I’m certain I’ll come up with several that would be hard to choose.  The site offers Internet tools, resources, installation directions and support, as well as information on self-hosting.

Maybe I should hold a contest and have everyone help me decide?

Earth Day is April 22, 2008 this year.

The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970. That was the year I was a Senior in high school, the Vietnam War was raging, and it was a very tumultuous period. We all wanted to be Flower Children. My DH recalls Earth Day specifically as he flew out and back that same day from Connecticut to visit Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI where he ended up going to college.

The photo pictured above is one of my favorites that I took this past summer while on a camping trip to the Connecticut shoreline (come visit us!) I can’t imagine living anywhere that isn’t close to some type of water or anything nautical ~ specifically the ocean, but I’ll take a lake. Summer and Fall are my favorite seasons. I love the smell of the salt water, marshes, (my family disagrees with me here,) the scrub pine needles. I love the four seasons; scents of beach Rose Begosa; and sand between my toes. Nothing is more peaceful than falling asleep to the sound of lapping waves. Cape Cod, Massachusetts has got to be one of my favorite places on the planet. I prefer to think of it in the past tense ~ think “Summer of ‘42” ~ when it wasn’t so crowded, and “discovered”. You can’t beat Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard for tranquility. Ask Bill. I’m looking forward to perhaps some day camping there again with my family, charming Son-in-Law, ‘lil Moomette, and her soon-to-be born brother.

So much has changed since 1970. I’m a Boomer now, on the verge of retirement. Not only do I not look the same, but I know the earth isn’t the same as I remember, either. As an Analyst, my current FT profession is focused on Energy Conservation and heavily promotes Green Clean Products, Energy Efficiency, Fire Prevention, Environmental Protection, Recycling, Water Conservation and more. I am responsible for researching trends on a daily basis and keeping up with current events. What I’m seeing isn’t pretty.

Do something special this year in honor of the day. Save the Earth, for your children and grandchildren.

I’m excited to announced I’ve begun a new eBiz, and have become an affiliate for CREATE A CAN!

After researching many Work-At-Home companies, I really loved the creative & unique products that were available to offer you!

Create A Can products include unique and special themed Altered Gift Cans and Accessories that can be personalized ~Each can is carefully adhered with the design of your choice once it is ordered. Designs are printed on glossy paper and laminated to give a professional look that is long lasting!

Create A Can Offers Gallon, Quart & Pint Metal Cans along with several styles of clear cans and will ship right to your door!

Create A Can also offers many specialty items such as lunch boxes, oven mitt gifts, gourmet gifts and so much more – be sure to stop by and see everything we have!

So, if you have a special occasion coming up & you’re looking for something really different to get, or if you’re in need of some unique Fundraising ideas for your organization - check my site out!

Thanks for supporting another WAHM ~gram~