Today, Carole Arsenault of Newborn Nurses shares some tips for staying healthy during the flu season:

“Expecting mothers or moms of young children have more than just themselves to worry about this flu season, particularly with the added threat of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. Pregnant women and young children are particularly susceptible to complications related to the flu.
We are learning more every day from experts who are studying these viruses. Here are some of the latest recommendations from the CDC to help protect yourself and your children.

Health care professionals recommend that pregnant women be vaccinated for both types of flu.

Getting your flu shots during pregnancy can help protect your newborn from these viruses.

Practice flu-prevention hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent the spread of germs. Teach these behaviors to your children.

Keep your home clean, especially high traffic areas such as keyboards and doorknobs. Open windows for fresh air as often as you are able.

Boost immunity by eating a balanced diet packed with plenty of fruits and vegetables. This is especially important for toddlers and young children.

Stay informed. The CDC website offers information and resources about the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu. The H1N1 page is being updated frequently.

If you or your child start to experience flu symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, chills, or body aches, call your health care provider for professional guidance.

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Image credit: CDC

I first met the lovely Isabel Kallman of Alpha Mom at the inaugural Pampers mom blogger meeting in Cincinnati and have since adored being in her company at every turn (most notably while interviewing Salma Hayek, talking all things blogging, and while wearing paper bags on our heads). Isabel is a smart entrepreneur, a kind friend, and always is thinking towards personal improvement, community building, and outreach to those in need. Fittingly, for the fourth in my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series – Isabel shares easy ideas for reconnecting with the spirit of the holidays through giving.

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From Isabel:

It feels better to give than receive.

And yet, our kids haven’t figured that out. It’s our responsibility to help them understand that adage.

I always remember the episode of Friends where Phoebe is struggling with whether to become a surrogate for her brother and sister-in-law. Phoebe’s mom steps in to help her in the decision-making process by giving her a puppy to care for for a week or so, with the caveat that Phoebe must give back the puppy soon after. Right about when a sad Phoebe is about to return the puppy, her brother falls in love with it and Phoebes spontaneously decides to gift it to him. She declares that as hard as it may be, it feels better to make another person happy with a treasured gift. (Of course, the requisite punch line is that the puppy wasn’t hers -- but her mother’s -- to give away.)

You get the point.

Developmentally, young children are selfish. It’s just who they are. As parents, we need to help them learn firsthand about the gift of giving and the joy it brings to others. And to oneself.

As adults, we too, often forget -- especially in the craziness of shopping and wish lists.

Here are some things you can do by yourself, and with your children, to donate your time, goods, and services during the holidays, hopefully to reconnect with -- as cliché as it may sound -- the spirit of the holidays.

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1. Begin the holiday season on Thanksgiving Day, not Black Friday. Thanksgiving is perhaps the best day of the year to model charitable giving. Local schools, shelters, and houses of worship throughout the country are already organized to feed the needy. We all are busy, but taking time out of your day to feed the less fortunate is a priceless gift you can give to your family and others.

2. Online shopping can help you give without costing you a cent. Ever heard of iGive.com or iBakeSale.com? These sites connect shoppers, retailers, and charitable organizations. There you can holiday shop your favorite retailers (like, almost all of them) and assign a percentage of your purchases to be donated in your name to your favorite charities. This is all without having to pay extra for your purchase. You pay the retail price of the goods, but the retailer pays the referral fee to the charity. Huzzah!

3. Donate your earned points. That is, the shopping points you earn and accumulate through your credit card companies and the frequent flier miles earned through the airlines. See, your loyalty is valuable.

4. Remember those not at home for the holidays. The holidays are associated with home and family. But as you know, for many that is not their current reality. Perhaps pay special attention to charitable organizations focusing on the military (e.g., Adopt a US Soldier) and hospitalized children (e.g., Toys for Tots).

5. Clean out your closet ahead of the season. You’re going to need the extra space to hide gifts and store new ones, right? So, kill two birds with one stone and clean out your closet and take your gently-used goods to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.

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Isabel Kallman is the founder and chief cook at Alpha Mom, a lifestyle parenting and marketing research company. She loves stilettos, comfort food, and reading books with her 6-year-old son. You can follow Alpha Mom on Twitter at @alphamom.

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Image credit: Power of Giving

Today, Kristin shares a review of the M. Lekkakos Spa in Wenham:

“When I lived in LA, I found that what most people consider life’s little luxuries back East were a necessity out West. For example, I always managed to find time for mani/pedis, I bought expensive sunglasses because they were not just a fashion accessory but mandatory eye protection (that I wore every day without fail), and with all the smog, I always found the time and money for regular facials. Facials are my favorite thing, but as a working mother of two boys, I find it near impossible to get them done these days. Plus, finding a good aesthetician is no small task.
I’ve experienced dozens of facials over my lifetime, and I have to say that hands down, M. Lekkakos Spa, located on the North Shore in Wenham, is the BEST OF THE BEST, in my book.

When I first arrived at the spa, after a 35-minute drive from my home in Arlington, I was taken aback by how discrete it was. Housed in what I can only describe as a small cottage, I entered the spa and was greeted by a very attractive and friendly receptionist. Throughout the spa there were a variety of skin care and makeup lines that I had never heard of but was eager to try. I made myself comfy in their waiting area and was soon greeted by owner and master aesthetician, Maria Lekkakos. The first thing I noticed about her was that she was not only beautiful, but completely organic in appearance. No heavy makeup, and her skin was glowing and radiant. Obviously, this was someone I wanted handling my face! Maria was full of energy and made me feel at ease immediately. She led me back to her room, where I was instructed to wrap myself in a warm towel, lay face up on the table, and get comfy under the blankets (which smelled great…don’t ask me why, but I notice those things). When Maria returned, she got straight to work giving me an ultrasound facial.

Maria’s ultrasound facial is her own creation. She explained that it is the perfectly balanced treatment for dehydrated, mature (crap, I’m in that category now?), eczema, rosacea, and acne prone skin. The facial lasted 90 minutes and in that time, I was massaged, cleansed, extracted, masked, steamed, and moisturized.

I think what I liked most about Maria’s approach was that she was not dedicated to just one line of products. She mixed two different lines of skin care: Thalgo (a line based out of Australia) and Sundari (a collection co-created by model Christy Turlington; I had heard a lot about this line but had yet to try it). These skin care lines are organic, bear minimal fragrance, and offer maximum results. My skin actually felt and looked plumped up from all the moisture contained in these products. I literally was glowing when I left, and that has never happened to me before. I actually refused to put any makeup on my face for two days afterward in order to maintain the feeling she gave me. Maria also was generous enough to give me some samples of the products she used so I could keep it up for a few days. I did breakout a bit a few days after, but to me, that’s a sign of a great facial because your skin is purging itself.

The spa prices at M. Lekkakos are comparable, if not a bit less, to what you would pay for a spa in downtown Boston. Winner of Best of Boston (2007) and Best of North Shore (2008, 2009), Maria is in demand; so much so that even celebrities who come into town for film shoots seek her out. Needless to say, she’s a busy woman, so book ahead. The spa offers everything from waxing and massage, to full hair care, makeup applications, nail care, and body care. My suggestion is to find the time, have your partner take care of the kids or arrange a sitter, and make the trip. The experience and results are absolutely worth it...and you deserve it!”

M. Lekkakos Spa | Salon | Boutique at 154 Main Street, Wenham; 978-468-9540

Last night I got all wound over Lynn Harris' article on Salon, which I'm covering on BlogHer on Monday. I started the post fifteen different ways, and no matter how I proceeded, I found myself on my high horse and riding. Standing on my soapbox and preaching, like the homeless guy who spouted whoremongers and hellfire on the Pentacrest at the University of Iowa in the mid-nineties.

It's something I sometimes do. I preach. I can't stand to see people treat each other with such disrespect. This isn't satire, this isn't comedy -- those comments are just MEAN.

I'll be offline for a few days to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. Please check out my piece on BlogHer on Monday, and enjoy your holiday. Go forth and let thee not be an ass.

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Read a review of Cat Ladies on Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews!

Today, Paige shares easy ideas for creating holiday tabletops with a twist:

“With just four days left until Thanksgiving, the holiday excitement (and stress) is beginning to set in around my house. I enjoy cooking, but truthfully, my favorite part of hosting Thanksgiving (or any party for that matter) is creating fun, beautiful, and sometimes unexpected tabletops. So with just days to go until the beginning of this year’s holiday season, here are some last-minute, easy ideas that will help kick your tabletop up a notch. Use one idea or combine a couple...and have fun!

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1. Nix the fancy tablecloth. Instead of spending a ton of money on a tablecloth, consider throwing a yard of home décor-weight fabric across a basic, inexpensive white banquet cloth (available everywhere from Target to Costco). Finish the edges of the fabric with fusible webbing to create instant clean edges with an iron. Check your local fabric store’s remnant section – you might walk out with a yard for under $10.

2. Arrange flowers with ease. For a super easy arrangement of flowers, stop by the grocery store and purchase a mixed bouquet (or two, depending on the size of your party). Unwrap the flowers and sort by type (mums in one pile, greenery in another, etc.). For each pile, trim the stem ends to the right height for its own vase (or glass or bottle). Use vessels in different heights and sizes and cluster them in the center of your table.

3. Use perfect poms. Not only are pomegranates super healthy, they’re perfect tabletop décor because of their great color and shape. Buy a bunch at the grocery store and place them on your table in a glass bowl. Break them open at the end of dinner for a light and sweet dessert option. Perfectly simple (and delicious).

4. Bring in the kid stuff. Rather than sending the children off to the requisite kids’ table, incorporate a “kid” activity directly onto your tabletop. Cover your table with art paper (roll paper works nicely), then place markers, crayons, and colored pencils in harvest colors in glasses down the center of the table or at each place setting. Then doodle away as you rest between courses.

5. Make it a family affair. Consider using family pictures to decorate your table (with frames and all). Place a small stack of paper and a pen at each place setting and encourage your family to record memories and the things for which they are thankful. Gather the slips of paper in a bowl and read them aloud at the end of the night as the tryptophan coma sets in!

Happy Thanksgiving!”

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For more décor related awesomeness from Paige, check out Mudroom Boston. You can also follow Paige on Twitter at @mudroomboston.

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Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I admittedly have a bit of a weak spot for creative and colorful educational toys (especially those under $10), so this weekend when Laurel and I picked up sticky mosaics (my go-to gift for elementary school aged kids) for a birthday party, I couldn’t help but say yes when she asked if we could buy this Orb Factory Mosaica toy. Produced by the same folks who make the awesome sticky mosaics, this compact tin includes 64 two-tone magnetic squares and an insert with suggested patterns (build right inside the tin to keep the tiles in place). Awesome for travel and also for encouraging spatial skills and quiet time at home, Laurel spent hours with this toy this weekend (Jon and I also couldn’t resist building a few patterns...), which allowed me to get to some much needed cleaning and organization in advance of hosting Thanksgiving.

This morning I grabbed a new bottle of saline solution and popped a disposable contact into my eye.

Immediately, THE BURNING! THE PAIN! I'M BLIND!   

(I just finished reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.)

Howling, I immediately began rinsing my eyeball with water, trying to float my contact out of my face, while Beloved, confused, grabbed the bottle.

"This isn't saline solution," he said. "This is activator."

OH JESUS! IT BUUUURRRRRNNNNNNSSSSSS!

Moaning, I found myself hopping up and down as I tried to convince my eye to open so I could attempt to scrape plastic off its burning surface. This did not go well. Beloved tried to get me to hold my eye open, but I was terrified he would poke his finger in my eye and then I WOULD HAVE TO KILL HIM.

Five minutes, about a gallon of water and a mini bottle full of real saline solution later, the burning began to subside, and I *think* my contact must have floated out in all the ruckus, because I don't see it or feel it anywhere, but of course this feeds into my ongoing paranoia that I have contacts stuck in my eyes at all times and just don't know it until the infection does truly blind me.

So if you see me on the street today, I'll be the one with glasses, no make-up and a giant, bloodshot left eye.

Hi, Monday. You bitch.

The other day when I was driving home, I saw the end scene of my novel. Today, I sat down and wrote the last 40 pages.

 

Many, many Fridays.

There are still a few scenes that I really want to include for which I haven't found a place yet. And the sentences -- oy, they're not good yet. And also? I think a bunch of the details don't yet agree. I haven't read the first few chapters in months. I can't remember some of the middle. So I'm nowhere near ready to let anyone but Beloved read it yet.

However, the rough draft is done.

 

I wish I had more to say, but I seem to be all out of words.

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Reviews for daring girls and Ivy-League seekers on Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews!

Audrey McClelland of Mom Generations is one of these women who is insanely busy and has a bajillion people in her life, but when you’re with her, you know you have her warm and loving undivided attention; she's a wonderful friend and I feel so fortunate that we overlap with some regularity at blogger events (I'm also sort of hoping Laurel marries one of her lovely sons someday...). Audrey’s charisma and keen eye for style have transformed her into a top fashion blogger, and I’m thrilled that today – for the third in my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series – Audrey shares ideas for getting the most mileage out of your favorite little black dress.

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From Audrey:

Holiday dressing is here! Invitations to parties and events and socials will start pouring in soon, so it’s a good time to get ready for the "What am I going to wear?" question. Most women automatically think they must run out and buy a bunch of new outfits, but ladies, I'm here to tell you to STOP. Put the outfits down. That's right...put them down.

I want to show you how you can take a basic black dress, otherwise known as the Little Black Dress (or LBD) and multi-task it. A simple, well cut black sheath serves as an excellent base (my pick is a DKNY Black Sheath Dress), and I'm going to show you how to rock the same LBD from a holiday gala, to a holiday work party, to a neighborhood holiday party, to a holiday party at your kids' school, to a night on the town with your partner or special friends.

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Holiday Gala

Here's the DKNY LBD heading to a gala. Toss on something glittery and sparkling with it; I recommend a fabulous sequined shrug or blazer. Pair it with a stunning pair of high black heels and silver jewelry that picks up the sequins in the blazer. Then have some holiday fun with a festive bag, such as an adorable ruffled clutch.

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Holiday Work Party

Now, let's wear the same LBD to a holiday work function:

Find a fabulous velvet blazer; I chose a maroon one because it looks very festive. High tall black boots keep the look feminine and dressy. And I decided to go with gold-colored jewelry; nothing too fancy, mix and match what you want... I chose a gold cuff, coin drop earrings, and a gold hoop necklace. (Note, all of this jewelry can be found at H & M and Torrid.com.) I found this beautiful black leather tote from Piperlime.com; it’s a functional work bag and classic tote for a mom.

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Neighborhood Holiday Party

Stopping next door for a more casually chic neighborhood holiday party:

For a neighborhood holiday party, you want to look good but be comfortable. I suggest a mid-heel; something a little bit more functional for a neighborhood holiday party. And on top? Well, I went with my staple piece, a DKNY sweater wrap. There's nothing more cozy than a sweater wrap and you'll be able to twist and tie and turn it as you see fit. Jewelry-wise, nothing is more classic than pearls, which add to the casual festiveness of this outfit. A simple black leather hobo is all you need because, after all, you won’t be far from home!

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School Holiday Party

Heading on over to your children's school:

I wanted to keep this outfit for a school holiday party classic looking. If you're heading to a school event for your child, it's most likely a holiday concert or a class party. I started by adding simple black ballet flat from Payless to my LBD. The cardigan shawl gives the ensemble an academic look and feel. Hip, chic, and elegant. Gold-colored jewelry works very well with the beige sweater, and the handbag is the same as that from the holiday work party ensemble. It’s a perfect bag for mom to toss everything (and anything for the kids) into.

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Night On The Town

Bringing you over to a night on the town with the special partner or friends in your life:

OK, now you're "allowed" to be sexy! In my opinion, there is nothing more chic than the combination of black and brown. Find some fabulous high brown boots and a delicious sheer black blouse. A sheer blouse over the DKNY LBD adds such a fun dimension to the outfit, and then pair it with an amazing beige kimono wrap for a stunning finish. All eyes will be on you, believe me. The diamond studs are the perfect addition to this outfit; nothing flashy, just that statement piece. And for your handbag, carry a simple brown leather clutch.

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Keep these different styles in mind as you're getting ready for the holiday party circuit, and work with what you've got -- it will save both your stress and your budget! Add on, layer up, feel beautiful...and work that LBD over and over and over again.

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Audrey McClelland is the founder/editor of Mom Generations, where she uses her fashion background to offer moms online fast and easy fashion advice and beauty tips. Audrey also is the Beauty/Style editor on Lifetime Moms and the co-founder of Daily Dose of Style. You can follow Audrey on Twitter at @AudreyMcClellan.