Thousands of once loyal moms have taken to the web to protest Amazon’s recent announcement that they are making unexpected changes to the company’s “Amazon Mom” program. It would be an understatement to say that these limitations are creating quite a stir; from Amazon’s own online forum to many articles and blog posts across the web, moms across the country are making it clear that they feel dumped by Amazon.

So, what’s next for the tens of thousands of families who have come to lean on Amazon Mom for free shipping and member discounts on the products they need most?

Enter ShopRunner—an online shopping program that is coming to the rescue of busy moms and dads with a little love and free 2-day shipping through a limited time offer.

Starting at 7 am ET this Thursday, Feb. 23, ShopRunner will offer 100,000 moms or caregivers the following:

• Free 90-day ShopRunner membership through a simple online sign-up
• Any participating mom who makes a purchase of $50 or more within the initial 90 days will receive an additional 12 months of membership at no cost
• This means moms can get  15 months of FREE 2-day shipping, free and easy returns, and discounts across a constantly growing network of 60 retailers, including Toys ‘R’ Us, Babies ‘R’ Us, Drugstore.com, American Eagle, Sports Authority, Petsmart and Lord & Taylor, among many others

ShopRunner recognizes the need for today’s families to have tools that help save them valuable time and money, and we encourage you to invite your readers to sign up for their own ShopRunner membership at www.ShopRunner.com!

For full details on the promotion, visit www.ShopRunner.com.

Fuel Saving Tips from Chevrolet

Tune Up: A properly tuned engine can improve fuel economy about 4 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Fixing a serious issue – such as faulty oxygen sensor – can boost mileage up to 40 percent.  And don’t ignore a service-engine-soon light.

Pump Up: Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. Under-inflated tires can lower fuel economy by 0.3 percent for every one pound-per-square-inch drop in the pressure of all four tires. Do not rely solely on the tire pressure monitoring system to detect an under-inflated tire – it’s best to check tires with a good gauge once a month and check your owner’s manual for more information.

Unpack: Carrying unneeded cargo makes your vehicle work harder and use more gas. The EPA says an extra 100 pounds reduces fuel economy up to 2 percent – even more in smaller vehicles. A loaded roof rack cuts fuel economy by up to 5 percent. About a quarter of each gallon of gas goes toward overcoming wind resistance, so when cargo rides on top of the vehicle, fuel economy is reduced. Even empty ski/snowboard and bike racks can affect aerodynamics, so remove them when the seasons are over.

Slow Down:   While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph, according to the EPA. Every 5 mph over 60 mph is like adding an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas.

Avoid Idling: A car gets 0 mpg when the engine is idling: While it does take a small amount of fuel to restart a vehicle, 15 minutes in the drive-through can burn through a quarter of a gallon of fuel. So that dollar menu is more like a $2 menu.

Chill Out: Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in city driving.

Put it in Overdrive: Using an overdrive gear on the highway reduces engine speed, saving both fuel and engine wear.

Roll ‘Em Down Around Town: Air conditioning reduces fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent. Avoid using the air conditioner by rolling down the windows at speeds below 40 mph. At speeds above 45 mph, wind drag uses more fuel than running the A/C.

Unclog: It’s hard to run if you can’t breathe. Older cars without fuel injection and computer-controlled technology can lose 14 percent of their fuel economy because of a dirt-clogged air filter, which also can damage the engine. A clean air filter improves acceleration. An air filter full of dirt makes the engine work harder and can let in impurities that damage the engine. Replacing a severely plugged filter improves fuel economy by up to 14 percent, according to the EPA. In modern cars, replacing a dirty or clogged air filter improves acceleration performance

Use the Right Oil: Because oil reduces engine friction and friction makes an engine work harder, using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of oil improves fuel economy by 1 percent to 2 percent.

Plan your Trips: Taking your kids to soccer or swim classes? Grocery shopping?  Plan routes and timing to avoid heavy periods of traffic congestion.

Cap Check: Loose or poorly fitting gas gaps not only can trigger a “check engine light” warning, they send 147 million gallons of gasoline into the air as vapor every year, according to a report by the Discovery Channel. A missing or poorly fitting cap can reduce fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent.

New American Library is proud to announce the publication of REAL MOMS LOVE TO EAT: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous by healthy lifestyle and nutrition expert Beth Aldrich (January 3, 2012; Trade Paperback Original; $15; ISBN: 978-0-451-23558-9).

Certified Health Counselor and Food Expert Beth Aldrich suggests a new year’s resolution for all women: Have a love affair . . .with food! Instead of starting a diet, denying any pleasure for weeks only to go back to an old routine of eating and gain the weight back again, Aldrich’s revolutionary approach focuses more on what can be added to a diet rather than what should be taken away. Diets make everyone feel tired, empty, stressed and unfulfilled. In REAL MOMS LOVE TO EAT, Aldrich explains how to eat the foods we love with some tweaks—learning how to control indulgences, understanding why we crave what we do, and how to still enjoy our dysfunctional food friends (salt, fat and sugar) all with just a little makeover.

Excerpt from the book:

“Oh, food—how we love you, and how we fear you. How we desire you, and how we push you away. Food, you shameless flirt, you player, you tease. You could almost seduce us into an illicit affair. . . . Maybe because moms are so concerned with setting a good example or guiding their kids down the right path, we sometimes make ourselves feel guilty. We deny ourselves pleasure. But when it comes to food, this is a big, Oh, no, you don’t! Denial leads to obsession—the nasty kind where you can’t get that bad boy out of your head and then you binge. Instead, when you give yourself the license to love a variety of foods, experiment with an array of flavors, and lighten up on your self-righteous have-to-eat-100-percent-healthy-and-be-perfect-all-the-time side, then you can give yourself permission to love—food and anything or anyone else. You find a new balance. You find your own personal way of healthy eating. Fear leads only to ruin. Denial leads to deprivation. Controlled indulgence, on the other hand, leads to freedom.”

Just a few of the many busy-mom-friendly tips readers of REAL MOMS LOVE TO EAT will learn include:

• Make it All About YOU: Remembering the pleasure inherent in early food experiences can make food seem like a friend, not an enemy. Beth teaches readers how to have a loving relationship with food and recapture the pleasure, showing them how to change their perspective on food-for good. Out with the guilt and in with the happy-tasty-delicious! This book will provide the tools needed for moms to feel more energetic and still look great in those skinny jeans!
• Get Naked with Raw Foods: Every bite of fresh, scrumptious, whole foods can increase vitality, energy and contribute to the health of the planet. Raw foods are easy to prepare and make your mouth sing. You’ll be asking the sales clerk, “May I get a smaller size, please?” in no time, when you get on the whole-food wagon.
• Tame your Cravings Dragon: If you’re yearning for sweets and processed baked goods, odds are your cravings dragon needs to be tamed. By consuming nutrient-dense whole grains, such as quinoa, whole-grain toast with sesame butter, and oatmeal, that dragon of yours will turn into a pussycat in no time.
• Hungry for More Lovin’?: In addition to the easy-to-follow steps outlined in Beth’s 10-part plan, there’s 21 days of lick-the-back-of-the-spoon, sample menu suggestions, complete with lifestyle recommendations and recipes including, Balsamic Broccoli Salad, Harvest Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup, Lime-Crusted Spiced Salmon, Cocoon Chicken and Apple Cobbler Du Barbi—and yes, you can have a piece of chocolate every day—Beth insists upon it! Find out why.

In 2007, Beth was filming her PBS TV series; and on an off day, she volunteered to work on the special Cool Globes project for the City of Chicago. On the way to filming, she was involved in a serious car accident; while in the hospital, she  reevaluated her life and career. Money and success suddenly seemed trivial compared to the health and well-being of her family. She realized that most of the joy she felt came from two things: health (of her family, herself, the planet) and pleasure (enjoying everything that the wonderful world has to offer). While recovering from her injuries, she saw an advertisement for the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in New York City and she knew this was the place to launch her next endeavor. It was there that she learned the idea of integrative nutrition—nutrition that could transform life itself—and she studied and became passionate about holistic health counseling through the teachings of IIN founder Joshua Rosenthal, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Barry Sears, Geneen Roth, and Deepak Chopra.

Inspired by her natural health training, Beth wrote her new book, REAL MOMS LOVE TO EAT. No matter a person’s health and weight loss goals, this book takes the boring out of eating and incorporates more fun in daily meal planning with a 10-week plan that allows busy moms to eat what they like, lose weight, and still look amazing. REAL MOMS LOVE TO EAT is not your typical diet plan, but a healthy lifestyle plan that can be followed for life.

About the authors:

Beth Aldrich is a healthy lifestyle and nutrition columnist for Diet.com, SocialMoms.com, HotMomsClub.com, 30SecondMom.com and RealMomsLovetoEat.com and she also delivers healthy living and nutrition presentations and classes across the country. Aldrich is the founder of For Her Information Media, LLC (FHI) established in 2003, with productions such as the PBS TV series “For Her Information” (aired in 60 cities nationwide including syndication in Turkey and Israel), radio shows “A Balanced Life with Beth Aldrich,” and “Real Moms Love to Eat with Beth Aldrich,” and the online magazine and newsletter, FHI Online.

Aldrich is also the founder of Restoring Essence Nutrition, LLC and a Certified Holistic Health and Nutritional Counselor through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). Aldrich received her education from Columbia University’s Teachers College and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. She is also a contributor to Power Moms from the Chicken Soup for the Soul series (Simon & Schuster 2009). Aldrich lives in Chicago with her husband and three sons.

Eve Adamson has co-authored and written over fifty books,  including The New York Times bestsellers Naturally Thin, The Skinnygirl Dish, and A Place of Yes by Bethenny Frankel. Adamson blogs about food, yoga and travel. She lives in Iowa.
Giveaway

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All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Toy Fair 2012
By Tecca Tech Lifestyle Editor Jennifer Jolly

The ten hottest toys to inspire, educate and wow kids (and parents) over the next year.

I could get in some serious trouble at the Toy Fair. While they don’t allow children on the miles-long show room floor, big kids like me touched, tapped, poked, prodded, played with and yes, even broke, plenty of toys all on our own.

The biggest take-away this year, toymakers are betting that you and/or your kids already own (or will soon buy) an iGadget (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad). The price of admission to many of this year’s must-have toys is a touch of tech.

Here are my top ten “editor’s choice” picks:

1. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn AppTivity Monkey

Ages: 6 months+

In Stores: July 2012

Price: $30

This is a plush toy with an iPhone or iPod touch case embedded in its belly. Download the free app and then place the smart device in the monkey’s case, where it is well protected, so your child can interact with an app by squeezing the monkey’s paws to learn about numbers, letters, colors, and more. Even without an iGadget, kids can listen to songs and phrases.
2. Master Moves Mickey

Ages: 2+

In Stores: August 2012

Price: $70

Move over Elmo, Master Moves Mickey is taking it to a whole new level with his music and moves! In the latest feature plush from Fisher-Price and Disney, Mickey Mouse is dialed up in his freshest dance gear and ready to get down with a whole new set of 15 break dancing moves. With a signature handstand, Mickey’s moves are hotter and hipper than ever! He even teaches you how to bust a move on your own.

3. VTech- Switch & Go Dinos

Ages: 3-8
In Stores: Fall 2012
Cost: $16

Here’s an interesting twist on the ole’ Transformers idea. It’s a toy car that turns into a dinosaur, with a built-in LCD screen for customized animation, dinosaur and vehicle sound effects and educational dinosaur facts. In dinosaur mode, action buttons trigger interesting facts about each dinosaur as they come to life to exclaim up to 30 expressions, such as, “I’m a herbivore. I chow down on plants.” and “They call me spine-lizard because of the long spines on my back.”

4. The Nat Geo WILD ANTEATER BUG VAC by Uncle Milton

Ages: 5+
In Stores: Fall 2012
Cost: $30

I’m all about getting kids outside to explore, play and learn about the world at large. This toy is perfect for that. At the touch of a button concealed under this Baby Anteater’s “Tail”, you can quickly and safely collect and observe live ants and other small critters. Then, you can remove the Baby Anteater’s “belly” and a look at the bugs inside via built-in microscope. When you’re finished with the close-up observation, kids can safely release the critters back into their environment. No harm, no fowl, no “ew” factor for squeamish moms who aren’t so crazy about those creepy-crawlers.

5. Activision Skylander’s Giants

Ages: 6+
In Stores: October 2012
Cost: $TBD

Skylanders broke ground bringing perennial child favorite’s  - action figures  - into the videogaming world. So, it’s a toy and it comes to life when you put it on the “Portal of Power” and it appears in a video game. New features unveiled at the Toy Fair include bigger, better and monster-sized Skylanders’s Giants and action figures that light up when they get near the Portal.

Skylanders Giants is slated for an October 2012 release date on the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. No price has been set as of yet, though the original Skylanders game retails for $69.99.

6. Mattel’s Digital Camera Barbie

Ages: 6+
In Stores:
Cost: $50

Barbie dolls have come a long way since the days when they were pitched mainly as wife material for a matching Ken doll (sold separately). You can buy Computer Engineer Barbie, Chef Barbie, and even Doctor Barbie. And soon … Digital Camera Barbie?

The new offering from toy giant Mattel is exactly what it sounds like — a Barbie doll that doubles as a digital camera.  By pressing Barbie’s belt buckle, your child can turn on a lens hidden in Barbie’s back to take up to 100 photos. Photos can be viewed using a screen built in to Barbie’s shirt or uploaded to a computer via an included USB cord. With a retail price of $50, she may very well be the weirdest possible way to introduce your girl, aged 6 and up, to the world of digital photography.

7. Mattel’s AppTivity Line:

Ages: Varies
In Stores: May/July 2012
Cost: $20 (for different sets)

Matchbox cars are a childhood staple of boys and girls alike. But forget about playing with them on rugs and on plastic roadways. Matchbox cars are about to leap into the 21st century thanks to Mattel‘s new AppTivity line.

Once you download the required app from the app store, your child can use the AppTivity toy — in this case, a special $20 AppTivity Matchbox car — to interact with your Apple product, driving the car on a virtual roadway.

The AppTivity line hopes to appeal to kids of all ages with versions of the most popular iOS games such as Fruit Ninja, Cut the Rope, and Angry Birds.

8. Hasbro Nerf Lazer Tag

Ages: 8+
In Stores: August 2012
Cost: $40 (single blaster) $70 (sets of two guns)

Nerf blasters are a favorite around my house, and many a weekend you’ll find my husband, daughter and I battling it out with shrieks of laughter. Now, Hasbro is taking it to the next level, a gun with slots for your iPhone or iPod touch. The gadget becomes the player’s sight and a heads-up display. Let the full-on lazer tag begin. The on-screen display shows crosshairs, targets, and a radar of opponents’ locations within 250 feet. But what’s even better than a videogame: up to 24 people can play at once.

9. Smart Lab’s Recon 6.0 Programmable Robot

Ages: 8+
In Stores: Now!
Cost: $70

Here’s a great toy for the budding rocket scientist. The Rover is a toy, a robot, and a tool for learning. A child programs ReCon 6.0 to navigate specified courses that can deliver a treat to a pet, surprise a family member with a personalized message, carry a soda, guard a bedroom or just dance. The Rover teaches early programming, basic math and problem solving. No computer required. It also comes with a microphone, speaker, LCD screen, cargo hold, headlights and triangular track system, similar to all-terrain vehicles.

10. Regal Elite Force Flyers RC helicopters

Ages: 10+ (indoor) 14+ (outdoor)
In Stores: May 2012
Cost: $50 for indoor flyers, $100 for outside

Put in the hands of a child, this new RC helicopter than you control via power pack on the back of your hand will dazzle, wow and awe. I couldn’t stop crashing the darn thing. Still, it’s one of the coolest toys I saw all week.

The new Force Flyer is controlled, literally, by a wave of the hand. To pilot the Force Flyer, you need to first strap a wearable control pad onto the back of your hand. You use your thumb to control the speed of the helicopter’s rotors and thus the helicopter’s height (it soars up to 100 feet). Turning your hand in either direction tells the helicopter to turn in that same direction using the glove’s built-in accelerometer similar to that in a Wii remote.

The crash-resilient (I should know) helicopter comes with a battery that you can recharge via USB. Unfortunately, you only get about 10 minutes of play time out of a full 20 minute charge — enough for a child with a short attention span.

Supposedly, these little Force Flyer helicopters have been built to last. Tech journalists have been doing nothing but crashing the things all week long, and they’re still buzzing.

Note: Tecca writers Fox Van Allen, Randy Nelson and Marielle Moon also contributed to this report

Thanks to Gift Cards Rock I am giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to Applebees!
Courtesy of Gift Cards Rock! an online community for people who love to give and receive gift cards. You can also get more gift cards for any holiday at your grocery store.

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All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Our 206th Dad in the Limelight is James Hudyma. I want to thank James for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.

1)      Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

Look up, waaaaay up!

I’m not as tall as the Friendly Giant, but with two children at home (4 and 18 months) and Grade 3 students at school, I feel like a giant. Tallest of all is the tremendous responsibility that comes with being a dad and a teacher. At school I work in loco parentis and at home I am parentis loco. Kids are always looking up at me but more importantly, they’re looking up to me (seeBeing a Dad). How did I get to this place?

In 1995 I dropped out of college to tour Canada as a guitarist with various bands. My only responsibility was to show up and play well. Luckily, I had a lot of success; unfortunately, that success had no value in the real world. Then I turned 25.

I grew up in Nipawin, a little town in Saskatchewan. My life plan was simple: become a teacher, get married, and have kids. When I turned 25 I wasn’t even looking in the domestic direction. I didn’t have any money or decent work experience. It was time to grow up.

I used my few years of experience at the U of S to get a job working with adults with special needs. My boss was a beautiful young woman who was way out of my league. Now she’s my wife (and still the boss). How did that happen? In short, I grew up.

2) Tell me about your family

My wife and I waited to have kids. After two unstable years teaching in Saskatchewan, we moved from Saskatoon to teach in Grande Prairie, Alberta. As soon as we signed our permanent contracts, we started family planning. I was so excited to be a dad. Unfortunately, we lost our first child. After time and healing, we tried again.

Our daughter was born just over 8 weeks premature. We spent the first sleepless month of her life in the NICU worrying. Coming home from the hospital was very emotional. All these years and our home finally had a baby. Then the baby grew into a toddler and all hell broke loose.

To say our daughter is challenging would be a huge understatement. Along with behavioural challenges and chronic insomnia, she is also visually impaired (see A Different View). Despite our tribulations, we wanted a second child and after my wife taught enough days for a maternity leave, we started trying before we changed our minds.

At 23 weeks with our second, my wife began early labour. Luckily, labour was halted and our humongous son was born slightly overdue and very healthy. Although healthy, he was so long his hip didn’t develop properly in the womb. After 10 months of intensive physiotherapy, our son is able to walk.

Grande Prairie is a hectic city. With oil and gas, our city has continued to boom as if the recession were just news from another country. Money comes fast and easy. Raising kids in this environment is very stressful. With big money comes harder drugs, faster vehicles, and less responsibility. Boys drop out to make insane money in the patch. Girls marry young, have large families, and live off of their husbands’ oil money. Will our kids buy into this culture? We hope not.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

Because I waited a long time to become a dad, I wasn’t used to working around someone else’s schedule.  As I mentioned earlier, my wife and I are both teacher and therefore work the same days and the same hours.  We lived very me-focused lives.  When babies were added to the equation, it rocked my world.  In short, my greatest challenge has been moving from selfish to selfless.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

You have to take care of yourself when you can.  Eat healthy.  Stay active.  If at all possible, get some sleep.  A dad can’t give proper care and attention if he’s unhealthy and exhausted.
5) Seeing that you (or your position) are in the limelight, how have you come to balance parenthood and outside life? If you are currently not in the limelight per se, please still answer this in regards to how you balance parenthood and outside life.

As a teacher I deal with children all day.  I instruct, guide, correct, praise, and manage behaviors all day.  When I get home, I need to do the same things with my own children.  It can be very overwhelming.  Learning to balance home and school has been very challenging.  I’ve learned to be more efficient at school so I don’t have to bring work home.  In order to avoid bringing home to work, I try to arrive 30 minutes before the students arrive to get centered.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

I have an amazing group of dads I interact with on Twitter and Facebook.  Mostly, we keep each other sane by sharing the lighter side of parenting but every once in a while we reach out in order to deal with the darker side.  It’s great to have that support.  They’ve taught me that I’m not alone and that if you need help, ask.

In my local community, most of my friends are also parents. I’ve learned a lot from watching how they deal with their kids.  They’ve also taught me the importance of getting out once in a while, whether that is on a date with your wife or a night out with friends.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

Parenting is hard work. When illness hits, it’s even harder. When your kids are going through a phase, it’s even harder. If you have a behaviourally challenged kid or a kid with a disability, it’s even harder. No matter what kind of kid you have, parenting is hard work. In a moment of despair, it’s okay to question whether or not you made the right decision when you planned (if you planned) to become a parent.
What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

I was able to be there for the births of both my children.  It literally brought me to tears.  Aside from those two momentous days, my most memorable experiences have been watching my kids learn to communicate.  It astounds me when I finally get to hear what is going on inside their minds.  My daughter’s vocabulary grows daily and my son is just learning to talk.  Very exciting.

If you have any questions for James, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

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About the Book

101 Stories Celebrating Special Times with Family and Friends… and Recipes Too!

Food is an expression of love — both the romantic kind and the comforting kind between family and friends. With its savory, sweet, and sometimes spicy stories, this delightful collection will sprinkle in laughs, warm hearts of readers, and stir up memories that certain aromas and tastes always bring. Readers will relish the stories on how love and food together played a flavorful part in life. Some recipes included too!

Purpose of the Books

After 15 years of bringing real people and their stories together to touch the lives of others, Chicken Soup for the Soul® has gone beyond the bookstore to become a world leader in life improvement. Chicken Soup for the Soul is home to the largest catalog of user-generated, life-changing stories. Through books, movies, DVDs, online resources and other partnerships it brings hope, courage, inspiration and love to hundreds of millions of people around the world. Chicken Soup for the Soul authors and readers belong to a one-of-a-kind global community that shares advice, support, guidance, comfort, and knowledge.

About the Company 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, publishes all the latest titles in the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series which are distributed through Simon and Schuster, Inc. Since 1993, books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series have sold more than 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages. Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing also licenses the right to use its famous trademark to high quality licensees through IMG, the world’s premier licensing agent. The company is currently implementing a plan to expand into all media, is working with TV networks on several TV shows and is developing a major Internet presence dedicated to life improvement, emotional support and inspiration. In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century. For more information visit: http://www.chickensoup.com/.

Facts About The Reach of The Books

• Total retail sales of Chicken Soup for the Soul branded merchandise have topped $1.3 billion.
• The Chicken Soup for the Soul book series of over 200 titles has sold over 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages.
• In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul became the best-selling trade paperback series in the history of publishing.
• Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of the world’s most well-known brands– 88.7% of the US public not only recognizes the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, but knows what it is (source—Harris Polls).
• Chicken Soup for the Soul holds the world record for having the most titles on the New York Times bestseller list at one time.
• Chicken Soup for the Soul receives millions of monthly media impressions, with cross-promotion relationships in place with top media brands like King Features, Woman’s World, BeliefNet and others.
• Many of the world’s leading consumer brands have looked to Chicken Soup for the Soul for co-branding opportunities, including American Idol®, Coke®, NASCAR®, Marriott®, Campbell’s®, Arby’s®, Golf Digest® and others.
• Time Magazine called the Chicken Soup for the Soul series the “Publishing phenomenon of the decade.”
• In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century.
• In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul and dick clark productions entered into an agreement to develop a television series based on the brand.

My Take On The Book 

As a part of the award winning Chicken Soup for the Soul books, this book does a great job at continuing the tradition of great motivational and inspiring stories that readers have come to expect within these books. What I loved about this book was all of the talk about Food and its connection to the relationships that we have on a daily basis. I also loved the recipes that were in this book and am looking forward to trying quite a few of them in the near future. Your mouth will be watering by the end of the book as you read through the stories.  The stories were heart-touching and made you simply smile and feel the joy in their experiences. I encourage all of you to read this and stop the rumbling in your stomach!

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Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until February 25, 2012 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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In honor of National Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 13-19), Master Lock is doing a variety of things to encourage folks not to give up on their New Year’s resolutions to stay fit and active. At the same time, they want to use this week to encourage consumers to commit small acts of kindness by committing one of their own. During that week, Master Lock will be surprising consumers in 6 different markets across the country and simply handing out completely free locks along with a little nice, inspirational note.
They will also be hosting giveaways during this week on their Facebook page.

Today I want to talk give Tribute to some great people who have shown kindness in their lives :

There are so many examples of people who have shown kindness and selflessness in their lives. If I was to think of one person who lived this day in and out it would have been Mother Theresa.

On a more local level there is a amazing woman in our community who has taken her life to be instrumental in the changing of our community in particular for our low income residents changing our Food Bank into something is so much more than just food. She also has made giving something that the whole community has embraced, not only adults, but moreover the children of our community, my daughter being one.

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Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until February 24, 2012 at approximately 11:59 pm Eastern.

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Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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In honor of National Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 13-19), Master Lock is doing a variety of things to encourage folks not to give up on their New Year’s resolutions to stay fit and active. At the same time, they want to use this week to encourage consumers to commit small acts of kindness by committing one of their own. During that week, Master Lock will be surprising consumers in 6 different markets across the country and simply handing out completely free locks along with a little nice, inspirational note. They will also be hosting giveaways during this week on their Facebook page.

Today I want to talk about Having a Healthy and Safe 2012:

There are so many things that one can do to be healthy and safe and this year I am taking some steps personally to make sure that I am staying healthy and I am working on trying to make sure that I teach my girls some important lessons in safety as well.

For me, I have been truly trying to look at ways to eat healthier this year. I am packing more homemade lunches and eating more fresh foods. I am also trying to uphold the resolutions that I mentioned earlier this week and exercising more frequently. This is not always easy to uphold, but I want to do this not only for myself but also to show my daughters the importance of living a healthy life.

In regards to safety, one of the things that I want to work out with my whole family soon is a family emergency plan so that we all know what to do no matter what happens. Thus, if we have a fire, a tornado, flood or whatever other situation that might occur, the kids know what to do and where to meet so that if we get separated they will know where our family spot is.

So these are only a few things that I am hoping to do to have a healthy and safe 2012, but I would really like to hear from you. What are you planning to do to make 2012 healthier and safer for you and for your family?

I look forward to your comments!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Our 205th Dad in the Limelight is Chrus Efessiou. I want to thank Chris for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

I am an entrepreneur and business leader.  In the past 20 years I have founded, co-founded, developed, and managed multiple successful enterprises in the healthcare industry—all the while being a committed and present single parent.  I have built each company and my career as a whole on the belief that people need to be respected, consulted, mentored, and empowered to bring out the best in themselves. Presently I am the founder, president, and CEO of SRxA-Strategic Pharmaceutical Advisors, and I am also honored to be a visiting professor and guest lecturer at numerous academic institutions, including George Mason University’s School of Management, and Northeastern University. As an entrepreneur  I am also an advocate for small business, and serve as member of the Management Committee of the Small Business Council of the United States Chamber of Commerce, and I am a frequent  keynote speaker on various topics, nationally and internationally. Of recent, I have been in the limelight as a result of my new book with the title CDO Chief Daddy Officer which recently made the Amazon Best Seller List ranking on the top 7% of all Kindle Editions.  CDO Chief Daddy Officer is the review, examination and application of transferable business skills to the business of parenting.
2) Tell me about your family

Until 3 years ago, I was a single dad to a lovely daughter who is now 24 years old and who plans to get married to a wonderful young man next year.  Juliana, my wife and soul mate of 3 years, is the mother of 3 daughters ranging in age from 27 to 40.  She, too, raised each of these fine individuals as a single mom.  So I am delighted to say that since Juliana and I met 5 years ago, we have singly and collectively been able to enjoy life as we never knew it before; a life of love, respect and care for one another and for our children.  What is more is that our four daughters, each of whom is a profoundly self-confident, loving, companionate, and successful woman refer to one another as their sisters and to us as their parents.  It all happened on its own early on, but to this day each time I hear it, it takes my breath away.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

The largest challenge and even larger reward of my life has been raising my daughter.  Her mother and I separated when she was 7-years-old. Two years later my ex-wife informed me that she was moving out of state and taking my daughter with her.  I was devastated with the news since my daughter and I were incredibly close and in my mind I was gearing up for a potentially ugly custody battle to prevent the father-daughter separation from happening. When I explained to my daughter of her mother’s impending plans and asked my daughter how she felt about moving away from me, she answered “she can move wherever she wants to but I am staying here with you.”  With these simple words I was launched into the single parenting of a young pre-pubescent girl with no experience or manual for the most important job of my life, I stuck with what I knew best which was developing and running a business, and I discovered that the same skills critical to success as a business leader, seamlessly transferred to parenting. The results exceeded my wildest expectations.  Today, nearly 17 years later, I see my parenting as the single largest success of my life.  Last year, at the urging of my daughter and my wife, I set out to write this book in the hope that my experiences and the way with which I dealt with the challenges of fatherhood would motivate and inspire other fathers to do the same.  Judging from the readers’ reviews on Amazon, it does appear that the readers agree with my point of view on parenthood.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

I must stress that my advice is not that of a professional or a parenting expert but simply the advice of a father who walked down the path least traveled and was met with a successful outcome.  With that in mind, I offer the following in no particular order:

• Parent by Example.  Show your children (don’t just tell them) what to do or how to do it.
• Be an emotionally available and physically present father
• Understand that being professionally ambitious and a loving, engaged father are not mutually exclusive
• Communicate with your children.  This means having a discussion not a monologue
• Demonstrate Leadership and Be the leader of your children and your family
• Demonstrate and Teach the value of Accountability
• Demonstrate and Teach the value of charity and anonymous giving to the less fortunate
• Demonstrate and Teach the value of fiscal responsibility
• Mentor, Mentor, Mentor

5) Seeing that you (or your position) are in the limelight, how have you come to balance parenthood and outside life? If you are currently not in the limelight per se, please still answer this in regards to how you balance parenthood and outside life.

I always felt that my purpose as a person and as a parent was to work hard to provide the best I could for my family.  Many of us lose sight of the importance of this and are often consumed by our work to the exclusion of our family life.  Too many of us get an “A” as professionals and an “F” as parents.  It is all a matter of priorities.  I never wanted to be an absent father who was successful professionally, for I never wanted my daughter to know me as an acquaintance.  I therefore made it a priority to be available for anything and everything that was important to her and that I considered my greatest success. Most of the times I was physically present, but I was always there emotionally.  While I have been privileged to be able to regulate my own schedule most of the time, I understand that many parents are not afforded the same flexibility because of strict work obligations, travel or other factors.  In these cases, use all means available to you to make your presence known to your child.  If they are in a school play or soccer game and you are traveling overseas, send them a text message just before the walk on stage wishing them luck and telling them that you are thinking of them and you are proud of their accomplishment. And don’t forget to tell them how much you love them.  Believe me, they’ll understand.  Your text message will not substitute your physical presence but it will provide the essence of your emotional presence.  Furthermore, in doing so you are part of their daily wants and needs.  It is far better to do that, than to call them after the event and ask them how it went.  Remember, children have very long memories.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

There are many fathers out there that are terrifically engaged in their children’s lives.  They know what is important to their children.  They know what music they like, who their friends are, how school is going, what is causing them pain and what is making them happy. Every father I know who does this, undoubtedly has a close relationship with their child. That is not an accident.  Unfortunately, I also know too many fathers that are aloof and detached from their children’s lives. People who do not know details about what makes their children happy or sad.  Those are also the same fathers who are usually most critical of their kids.  They are the ones who would readily admit that they don’t know what is going on with their children.  Fatherhood and parenting take work.  Closeness in a family does not come from sharing DNA;  It is the product of loving, nurturing and caring.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

Like most fathers, I raised my family based on what I believed was right.  I was a parent first and a friend later if that was possible.  I remember many times when my daughter and I did not see eye to eye.  In those cases I always explained my position and the reasons why I’d arrived at those decisions.  When all else failed we agreed to disagree. I never had a problem not being liked by my daughter.  Not being respected by her was unacceptable to me, and I never traded respect for popularity because that is always a losing proposition.  Through it all, I always treated her with the respect I want to receive from her and as a resulted I earned it.  She is now 24 years old.  A thoughtful, loving, caring, unentitled young woman who is phenomenally successful professionally.  What is more is that, she is a fine human being.  What else could a parent ask for?
What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

There are too many of them to mention.  A great many are outlined in my book. If I had to name one however, it would have to be a “Thank You” note she gave me the day she graduated college, in which she thanked me for 30 things I’d done for her.  Much to my surprise, I did not remember a great many of them but it is significant that she noticed things which I thought unimportant.  I have attached it here for your perusal.  Once again, this is proof that children have incredibly long memories, and it is incumbent upon us as fathers to make those memories count.
If you have any questions for Chris, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

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