Home Of Gayle Greene

itsgayle — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:25:03 +0000

As hot as it has been around here, the back to school supplies have been showing in the office stores and back to school clothes are ready to be bought in department stores.

As a mom, you want to make sure your kid(s) are safe and healthy as they head back to school. Here are 10 tips to make sure they do just that.

1. Remind your child that she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.

2. Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.

3. For bus riders – Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.

4. For carpoolers – All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age- and size-appropriate car safety seat or booster seat.

5. For bike riders – Always wear a bicycle helmet, no matter how short or long the ride.

6. For walkers – Make sure your child’s walk to a school is a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection.

7. Most schools regularly send schedules of cafeteria menus home. Review the menu and pack lunch on the days when the main course is one your child does not like.

8. During middle childhood, youngsters need supervision. If youare unable to watch your child in the morning/walk them to to school and/or be with them after school — hire someone that can.

9. Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework.

and

10. Set aside ample time for homework.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Airwear blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, visit http://airwear.twittermoms.com/about.

5 Must-have Fashionable Pieces to Pack for Every Weekend Trip.

itsgayle — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:39:09 +0000

What are your summer plans? If they include any day or weekend trips beware of one big pitfall — overpacking.

To avoid bringing too much you can bring along these 5 key pieces that will get you from beach to a summer soiree without skipping a beat.

1. Basic Blazer – Blazers are my favorite rotating wardrobe staple. Wear it over dresses, belt it over a dress, or pair with jeans and a tee for a more casual look. Try a lightweight material — perfect for the spring and summer months.

2. White t-shirt

One of my favorite wardrobe essentials is a basic white tee. A v-neck is great to pair with a statement necklace and a skirt or throw it on under that blazer for a quick and classy look.

3. Statement Necklace

Speaking of a statement necklace, try a metal or black update of a timeless classic or add a pop of color with some bright bling and pack more punch to a basic ensemble.

4. Little Black Dress (AKA LBD)

The Little Black Dress is and always will be the most versatile and basic item in your wardrobe. Pick a cotton style – great for summer (or any time of year).

5. Dark Rinse Jeans

Pick a fit that flatters your body style – but always in a dark rinse which looks more expensive. Boot cut and straight leg styles tend to be very versatile.

Remember, pack light and have fun!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Gap Outlet blogging program to be eligible to win a $20 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

10 Tips for Being Fashionable on a Budget

itsgayle — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:52:58 +0000

I was inspired to write this post by a great contest from Twittermoms and Gap . These days, it is hard to be a fashionista. Stores are shuttering, and you barely have the money to put gas in the car. But you don’t have to dress like a bag lady!. Use these ten tips to look like you spent the big bucks (but didn’t)

1. Outlets, outlets, outlets. Visit the outlet stores and/or malls – places like Gap Outlet and The Banana Republic Factory store have great deals and great selection. Sign up for their e-newsletters to get 15% off your 1st purchase.

2. Think consignment. Do some research and find out which vintage and consignment stores near you carry name and designer brands. Pick one or two key pieces to match with your existing wardrobe.

3. Avoid impulse buys. If you need a new dress for an office party, don’t end up buying a skirt. If you are still thinking about that skirt a week later, maybe rethink it.

4. Do your research. If a department store has a garment, a lower-priced boutique may have it for less. This is especially true for trendy pieces.

5. Shop in your own closet. I bet there is something in there you either haven’t worn (ever) or haven’t worn in a few years.

6. Do a clothes swap with your friends. This is a great way to get rid of your “trash” and find some “treasures.”

7. Browse discount stores like H&M, T.J. Maxx and Target. These places are especially great for accessories like hats, belts and handbags.

8. BOGO = BFF. Be on the lookout for buy one get one and buy 2 get one free promos run by malls and stores.

9. When you purchase a “key” garment like a tank top, cardigan or skirt – make sure it is in a neutral color like black, brown, navy, taupe, gray, beige or white. That way, other pieces will be easily matchable.

10. Learn how to sew (or find a friend that does). Do you have a stash of pants that need to be hemmed and shirts that have lost buttons like I do? See if you can trade another task with a crafty friend. I’ve offered to do some marketing for a friends WFH business in exchange for her fixing my mending projects.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Gap Outlet blogging program to be eligible to win a $20 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

5 things on my ‘Honey-do’ list that never get done.

itsgayle — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:20:44 +0000

Everyone has one. A honey-do list. You know, the list of things that you want your husband or significant other around the house.

The thing is, with a house and family and jobs and every day life..the list just gets longer and longer and some items need to get prioritized and completed (childproofing the kitchen cabinets with a toddler in the house) and others just don’t get done.

With that said, here is our list of things on the “Honey-Do” list that never get done:

1. Hang new kitchen curtains. We have old, dirty, lace kitchen curtains that conveyed with the house when we bought it. I am pretty sure that the previous owners did not replace them either, as the owners before them bought the house in the 1970′s and did not change a thing.

2. Replace mirror and light in downstairs and master bath to match the guest bath. My husband started this project about 6 months ago and that’s why the guest bathroom has a light fixture and mirror from this century. He actually has the items necessary for the other bathrooms, they just need to be installed/hung.

3. Replace kitchen countertops. We have those lovely avocado green countertops cerca 1970. They are ugly and crack and stain easily. We already know what we want to replace them with material-wise, just need someone to do it.

4. Hang new chandelier/ light fixture in dining room. The last time I was in Home Depot, I spotted the ” chandelier” we have – standard basic deal for a whopping $40. Faux brass, ugly.

5. Remove woodburning stove that we never use. Someday, I would love to actually use our fireplace. Our neighbors have a roaring fire going in the wintertime and that makes me jealous! ; )

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and ServiceLive blogging program to be eligible to receive $100 in ServiceLive Bucks. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Tips For Planning A Fancy Nancy Tea Party

itsgayle — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:44:59 +0000

We love Fancy Nancy in our house. Seriously, even our 3 and 1/2 old son likes Nancy! Our two favorite books are “Fancy Nancy: Poet Extraordinare!” and the first, “Fancy Nancy.”

I got a great idea from Twittermoms about hosting a Fancy Nancy Tea party.

So how can you have a great party and be fancy just like Nancy? Here are a few ideas:

- Have a bin/box of accessories (boas, beads, clip on jewelry, ring pops). Go wild at the Dollar Store!
- Serve fun tea. Add strawberries or raspberries to lemonade for a freckled/jeweled results
- Make sure to use “fancy” toothpicks in sandwiches, cut the bread into interesting shapes
- Give your guests bubble wands.
- Buy paper or foam crowns from the craft store and have each guest decorate their own. Have a contest for “Fanciest Crown.”
- Like Nancy, be a poet. Each guest should make up a rhyme about another guest’s name like “Rad Dad” or “Likey Mikey.”

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get a Fancy Nancy prize pack. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” (include this link: )

My Most Triumphant Outlet Shopping Story

itsgayle — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:28:27 +0000

Once upon a time, there was a woman who coveted a Coach bag. That woman was me.

One day, I went out to my local outlet mall (which happens to be a 5-10 minute drive from my house, I know you are jealous) in seek of the holy grail — a Coach bag. I had my daughter with me, who thankfully–was asleep in the Ergo for most of the adventure.

Potomac Mills, the outlet mall in question, promotes itself as the largest outlet mall on the East Coast so this was not a small undertaking. I stopped in some other stores along the way to Coach, namely the Banana Republic Factory Store at which I scored a pair of pants which I wear once a week to work for $7 and a cute wrap blouse for $5. Deal!

Finally, I reached the Coach store. I poked through “bargain” racks and boxes of wallets and purses hanging along the wall. In the back, I found it. Yes, it was a pastel, Easter blue bag but it was a Coach and it called to me. And, best part– it was only $25 marked down from $225. Seriously, I double checked with one of the sales associate to make sure the price tag wasn’t switched or something. But it was the real deal. Success!

And, Yay! I am able to offer my readers a 15% off $100 coupon to Gap Outlet and 15% off $100 to Banana Republic Factory Store (Be sure to head to your Gap Outlet or Banana Republic Factory Store before May 10th to use it!)

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Gap Outlet blogging program to be eligible to get a $20 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

10 Little Things that Lead to a Happier, Healthier You

itsgayle — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:31:16 +0000

As summer is approaching and we can’t hide underneath layers of clothing, more and more people (including myself) start thinking about how to lose some pounds and get healthier. As well as being able to participate in all of those fun summer activities. A great contest with TwitterMoms and Tropicana got me thinking about some tips that may help in your achievement of a happier, healthier you.

1. Don’t diet. Diets by definition are temporary and therefore, do not work. If you are lucky enough to lose weight on a traditional diet, you will most likely gain it back. Instead, change your lifestyle. If you change the way and what you eat, you can keep those changes for the rest of your life.

2. Purge the junk food. By eliminating temptation, this makes eating right much easier. Go through your pantry and fridge and get rid of the junk. And do your best at not bringing any more into your house.

3. Healthy snacks = a fuller, happier you. Stock up on items like whole grain crackers, nuts, juice boxes and dried fruits. Also make a stash of these available in your desk drawer at work.

4. The truth about carbs. All carbohydrates are not created equal. The easiest rule of thumb is try to buy items that are marked whole grain and avoid white carbs such as regular flour, etc.

5. Cut down or eliminate the caffeine. As addictive and tasty caffeinated beverages may be, in the end they affect your sleep and in some cases, increase your appetite. If you are a big soda fan, try seltzer water mixed with juice as you may find you like the carbonation. Instead of coffee, try herbal tea as an alternative.

6. Facts about fat. Although you should obviously avoid transfats like unsaturated fat and trans-isomer fatty acid, you should make sure to include “healthy fats” in your diet. Healthy fats are essential fatty acids. Make sure you are getting your omega-3 and omega-6 fats. These can be found in flax oil, nuts, and seeds.

7. Water, water…everywhere. Make sure to stay hydrated and drink a lot of water throughout the day.

8. Just breathe. Be sure not to take shallow breaths as that type of breathing won’t get sufficient oxygen into your body. Breathe deeply from your diaphragm to ensure your cells are well oxygenated.

9. Eat your veggies. Vegetables are rich minerals and vitamins that are essential to your health. Plus they are a natural internal body cleanser.

10. Make an appointment to exercise. Make an important appointment for yourself — to workout Schedule it at a specific time and place. Exercise should be as important as a meeting with your boss or doctor’s appointment

Do you want to get on track to a healthier, happier you? I have a special TwitterMoms Juicy Rewards code to get you started: TWMOM-READR (worth one Juicy Rewards point – that’s up to $5 in savings)
**This one-time use code is valid for new accounts ONLY. Must be entered within 6 hours of creating your account. Limit one new account bonus code per new account. All accounts must be created and all codes entered by June 30, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.**

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tropicana Trop50 blogging program to be eligible to win 6 free Juicy Rewards points and a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

10 Tips on Organizing and Managing The Family

itsgayle — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:38:13 +0000

I don’t know about you, but keeping my family on the same page is hard work. It is certainly helpful to have a plan.

Here are the 10 things we use in our household so we can make sure not to miss events and help our family “flow.”

1. Calendar it! Maintain a family calendar. Sometimes, like in our family, you need 2 systems. I keep all family appointments and activities logged in my IPhone and we use a wall calendar in the kitchen since it is a place where we all congregate.

2. Chore Chart. Set up a chore wheel or cleaning chart. No matter how old your kids are, getting them involved in keeping the house neat and tidy early will benefit your family in the long run. Invest in a kid’s sized rake and shovel for your kids to help out with shoveling and yard work.

3. The holidays. The holiday season inevitably brings more stress and worry than most of the year. There is so much to coordinate, organize, and prepare. Not sure about you, but I seem to make the same recipes for each holiday every year. I have made a master holiday binder with tabs for each holiday and have recipes in each tab as well as activities and a reminder for where the decorations are.

4. Have a goal. Get together on a family goal. Discuss what one thing your entire family would like to achieve together. This could be something like “Having a Monthly Family Night” or “Plan a family vacation to Disney.”

5. Watch your work load. Don’t take on additional responsibilities lightly. Sure, making brownies for the school bake sale does not seem like much work, but add that to the carpool and the sleep over, etc. and you have for a frantic family.

6. Weigh “Return On Investment” (RIO). One of the best decisions we have made this year was to take our daughter (age 1) out of scheduled music classes. It was eating up an hour a week, and the teacher was constantly sick so we were always making up classes. Instead, we found a local coffeehouse that has children’s entertainers who perform. It was a much more flexible atmosphere giving us a choice of at least 5 events a week.

7. Now versus later. Assess which tasks need to be performed now versus what can wait. We constantly have a list of house-related items that need to be completed. We discussed what was important to each family member and made a decision that all of the toys were being moved out of the living room/front entryway (Horray!) to downstairs. Even though it was a LOT of work clearing out the part of downstairs that used to be the office…the fact that we call all get through the front door without tripping is an achievement. A lower priority is replacing our kitchen cabinets and countertops.

8. Never go to the store without a list. Not only does this make sure you don’t forget an important item, but this helps from avoiding impulse buys.

9. Plan ahead for visitors and family vacations. Don’t wait until the last minute or that will hurt you in the end. Make sure you meal plan and do the grocery shopping a week ahead of when the houseguests arrive, and if you have the time, make a meal or 2 ahead. Same with vacations, start packing a week ahead so that there is no rush and you can make sure nothing is forgotten.

10. De-clutter your family room/play room. We use see through bins with labels. The kids love being able to sort through their things and have a “home” for each toy. We have a bin for legos, a bin for cars and trucks, a bin for action figures and dolls, etc. Less time trying to find something =more time for play time.

This post is part of a blogging contest from the TwitterMoms community. There is a chance this post could be randomly selected to win a $50 Target GiftCard, so wish me luck! For more details, you can view the contest page here

Free Screening of “How To Train Your Dragon”

itsgayle — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 01:06:51 +0000

Thanks to TwitterMoms, I just found out that Paramount is holding special morning screenings of How to Train Your Dragon for moms this Friday, March 26th, in theaters across the country! If your kids are in school, and you’d like to check out the show before taking them, this would be a great opportunity. Or if your kids start spring break this Friday– bring them!

Here is a list of cities where you can find a screening

Special morning screenings for moms will be held this Friday at 10 am in these cities:
* Chicago (suburbs only)
* Denver (Douglas County, Boulder Valley, Littleton)
* Los Angeles (Inland Empire ONLY)
* Miami (Broward County)
* Minneapolis (Rosemount & Bernsville Egan)
* Orlando (Orange County, Brevard, Volusia)
* Portland
* Sacramento (Stockton, Lodi & Vacaville Counties)
* Salt Lake City (Weber, Toolele & Murray Counties)
* Tampa (Mantee, Sarasota, Hernando & Citrus County)
* Washington D.C. (Prince Georges County & Spotslyvania)

Check your local movie listings for info about times and locations for these special screenings. This is a brand new 3D adventure from Dreamworks! The reviews are scorching HOT!

Daily Ring Post

itsgayle — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:16:29 +0000

Many of my friends and co-workers have noticed I wear a TON of rings. I thought it might be fun to take a pic every day and post it.

Here’s today’s

(Yes, I need a mani badly)