Welcome to issue 7 of emommieNews.  It's been a busy summer at emommies.net.  I hope all of you are enjoying your summer.  I know how it can seem like the summer is the busiest time of the year.  Between vacations, camp, family reunions and swim lessons, there isn't enough time left to catch your breath.  Just remember to enjoy every minute because school will be starting before you know it and then it's a whole new kind of chaos.

While everyone has been out enjoying the beautiful weather, I have been slaving away at my computer making emommies.net even better.  (Actually, I'm not really slaving away.  I've been having a great summer at the pool with my 3 girls)  Try to make time to check out all the new things going on at emommies.net.

I want to take a second of your time to welcome our newest MommiesClubs.  The MommiesClub of Atlanta and The MommiesClub of Orange County.  Our first MC Chapters in Georgia and California!  The Atlanta leader is Tamara and she's created a Yahoo!Group for the chapter at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mommiesclubatl.  The Orange County Leader is Melanie and you can find them at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MommiesClubofOC.  If you live in these areas and are interested in joining, check them out!  They'd love to have you and you're sure to have tons of fun!

If you would like more information on how you can contribute to emommieNews, e-mail me at Noelle@emommies.net

Toys

• Burger King and Alcone Recall of Two Kids Meal Toys
• Inca Imports Recall Stuffed Bears
• Toy Feeding Sets Recalled by Imperial Toy Corp.
• Toy Kittens Recalled by DSI Toys
• Preschool Toys Recalled by Chicco USA Inc.
• Remote Controlled Toy Race Car and Galileo Weather
• Thermometer Recalls
• BRIO® Recall of Toy Baking Sets
• Push'n Pop Toys Recalled by Raymond Geddes & Co. Inc. of Baltimore, Md.
• Spin Master Toys Recall of Water Rocket Toys
• Fisher-Price Recall of Basketball Sets
• Unilever Home and Personal Care USA Recall of Snuggle® Teeny Bean Bears Included with Fabric Softener

Infant/Child Product Recalls

• Safety 1st Recall of Cabinet and Drawer Spring Latches

• Fisher-Price Recall of Portable Bassinets

• Infant Seat Pad Recall

• Hand Trucks and Baby Walker Recall

• Educational Kits Recalled by Advantage Publishers Group

• Peg Perego USA Recall of High Chairs

• Velcro Wallets Recalled by Raymond Geddes

• Inglesina USA Recall of Child Table Seats

• KB Toys Recall of Activity Gym Toys

• Gymboree Recall of Baby Boy Bodysuits

• Century Recall of Multi-Use Strollers

• Battat Recall of Beanbag Cushions

• Swings on Backyard Gym Sets Recalled by Hedstrom

• Activity Rockers Recalled by COMBI International Corp.

• Changing Tables Recalled by Child Craft Industries

• Evenflo Joyride Infant Car Seat/Carrier Recall

Household Products

• Hand Trucks and Baby Walker Recall

• Kole Imports Recall Contact Adhesive

• Wood Strippers and Cleaners Recalled by The Flood Co.

• Remote Controlled Toy Race Car and Galileo Weather Thermometer Recalls

• Glue Guns Recalled by Sears

• Home Soda Machines Recalled by Drinkmaker of Sweden AB

Clothing

• NIKE Recall Jordan Trunner Cross-Training Shoes

• Boys' Vests Recalled by Saks Incorporated

Sports

• Acetrike Children's Bicycles Recall

• ATV Winch Kit Recall

• Bicycles and Bicycle Components Recall

• Proteus Paint Ball Masks Recalled by JT USA Inc., of Chula Vista, Calif.

• Giant Bicycle Forks Recalled by Giant Bicycle, Inc., of Newbury Park, Calif.

• Padlocks and Cable Gun Locks Recalled by Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

• Mountain Bicycles Sold at Toys R Us Recalled by Dynacraft

• Scuba Buoyancy Compensator Devices (BCDs) Recalled by Sheico PKS Inc.

Appliances

• Kenyon International Inc. Recall Portable Butane Stoves

• Atico International USA Inc. Recall Percolators
  Krups Recall Coffeemakers

• BSH Home Appliances Corp. Recall Thermal/Microwave Ovens

• Vermont Castings, Majestic Products Recall Space Heaters

• Maytag Recall Electric Ranges

Yes, you've guessed it.  We've evolved some more!  The growth that we've seen at emommies.net is exciting.  I'll get right down to it so you all can check it out!

• We've done away with the Point System.  It's purpose was to get moms to contribute to emommies.net.  It wasn't working.  So, it's outta here. 
• emommies.net Business Services is a new feature offered by emommies.net.  I was shocked to learn that some online companies charge $195 for 3 months of advertising or upwards of $500 for web page development!  How in the world are moms who own their own small business supposed to afford these prices?  And another thing, why are so many people advertising the big companies?  I suppose it has something to do with the fact that the big companies can afford to do it.  Well, check out emommies.net Business Services to get info on affordable alternatives to big money advertising.  We would much rather have your ad on our site than the big business.  We also offer graphic and web design for a price that the small business owner can afford.
• emommies.net Mailing List has changed.  I used to send out the newsletter via Yahoo!Groups but I'd end up spending tons of wasted time trying to upload the newsletter and it would never look right anyway, so I've decided to use a new mailing list.  All Yahoo!Groups members and registered emommies received an email notifying them of the changes and how to go about adding themselves to the new mailing list so that they don't miss out on this awesome newsletter.  If you aren't on the mailing list and would like to be, then go to http://www.emommies.net and fill in the mini form to add yourself to the list.  Then just follow the directions in the opt in email to finalize the subscription.
• Our message boards are even NEWER!  Coolboards no longer hosts free forums so we are now using Aimoo!  I really like this one because there are no pop ups!  Right now though, they are a little slow.  Partly because of being new and partly because it's summer.  Stop in and introduce yourself.  We've also added a section for past and present teen moms.  So check it out!  emommies.net Message Boards
• Live Customer Assistance!  That's right, now you can chat live with me if you find you need assistance.  Look for the Human Click logo on our main page as well as our MommiesClub page.
• Join the emommies.net webring!  This is a great way to increase traffic to your site.  You can join if you have a site that was created by a mommie, or caters to mommies.  For more information, visit emommies Webrings.

[From A Human Click Chat Session at emommies.net]

Do you have any advice (or know where I can find some) on how to talk about sex with a 4th grade girl?  My friend's daughter is in 4th grade and my friend wants to be prepared.

Although this didn't officially come in as a letter to the editor, it's in the same spirit.  A request for advice from a loving mother.  

I however am not in the least qualified to answer  it (my oldest isn't even 6 yet), so I am sending out a request to all you moms who have been there done that.  Help us moms who have yet to experience the "talk".  You can e-mail me directly with your comments or visit our "Hot Topic" section and submit your response there.

Thanks,
Noelle

Do you have a question or comment for the emommies.net editor?  If so, I'd love to hear from you.  Send your letters to Noelle@emommies.net.

• Welcome
• Feature Article - A Teen Mom's Story
• Attention: Recalls
• What's New?
• Letters To The Editor
• Romance Tip
• May Contest
• Hot Topic
• Humor
• Craft Corner
• Recipe
• MommiesClub ~ Playgroups
• emommieAward Winner

These are some definitions I've come across recently.  Most are from Sanity Central which is an awesome website.  They will have you ROTFL in no time.  Take a break from parenting and check them out!

FAMILY PLANNING: The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster.

SANDBOX: "Storage place" for kitchen serving utensils.

STERILIZE: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby's pacifier by licking it off.

TWO-MINUTE WARNING: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

WEAKER SEX: The kind you have after the kids have worn you out.

Do you have a bit of humor that you would like to share with other emommies?  If so, visit emommiesSay and click on "Humor" for more information. 

Fingerprint Dominoes

You'll need:
package of plain white 3 X 5 index cards
ink pads
ruler
fine-line marker

Using the ruler, draw a line through the center of 28 cards.  Then, using the inkpad, have your kids make fingerprints on the "dominoes" in the proper domino patterns.   See example below.

And viola.  Not only do you have a fun craft, but now you have a game too!

Do you have a craft idea that you would like to share with other emommies?  If so, contact Noelle. 

Krispy Cheese Balls ~ Great to do with kids!

You'll need:
2 tbsp grated cheese
2 tbsp butter
¼ cup flour
¼ cup Rice Krispies

Mix all ingredients well and form into little balls.  Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes.

Do you have a recipe that you would like to share with other emommies?  If so visit our Recipes section for more details.

When planning events for our playgroup, we have tons of things to
consider. These things include availability of other members, location of the
event, age appropriateness and advanced notice. Without them you will have a
hard time getting a "good show" at your events. What’s the fun if you are the
only one there for your group?

When finding out who is available when, it’s best to think about the
majority of your group. If you have 30 members and 19 of them can make events
best in the evening that seems like the best time to schedule. Remember, you
cannot please everyone at once. Its best to remember you are not superwoman.
You should think about who has access to a car if the family shares a car.
Sometimes you can connect a carpool to an event as well. Its best to make a
question list to find out what works best for everyone.

The location is very important as well. Think within a 15-20 minute drive
and centering the event on majority of your members. This does not have to be
every event. Just make sure that at least a few of them can be close enough
that they can all get there around the same time. Again, ask your members if
location is important to them. They may not mind driving a half hour to a
coliseum, zoo, or theme park. Depending on the event some people will drive
further for more of a guarantee that their child will be happy at the event.

When checking for age appropriateness of an event, ask the event
coordinator at the event what ages enjoy that event mostly.  Ask parents what
kind of things their children enjoy. If it’s an in-home event such as a
regular "play date" then if your finger-painting it can be adjusted to fit
the needs of all ages. The age factor would need to be considered for a tour
of a candy factory, going to a ball game, etc.

Make sure that you give enough notice for all your members needs. Usually
if you have the day planned out a month in advance that works. Then you can
tell them later, like a 2 weeks notice what the events details are. I try to
have a set day for the events such as our birthdays. The last Saturday of
every month can be a set day. Then you can say, well we will be at here this
time. It gives you an added stretch of time to plan last minute. Try to make
sure that 2 weeks is the furthest away. Rain days and cancellation days can
be planned at the same time so that your members can know what happens if it
is canceled and will keep that day in mind.

As long as you plan with your group in mind, your events will be a
success. For ideas you can look in your local paper, on the web, ask other
mom's, call tour groups, etc. If you still can't come up with something, there is
a zoo in almost every big city, theme parks, movie days, family picnics, even
a jr. Olympics with potato sack races etc. Just think fun and ask for
opinions. You can never go wrong.

emommies.net is proud to offer help to moms who are interested in starting or joining playgroups.  You can find more information about this in our MommiesClub*  section. 

Whether you're an experienced scrapbooker or just a beginner, this site has tons of stuff for you!

Do you have a nomination for the emommieAward?  If so, check out our Award section for details on how to submit your nomination.

Can you answer these three questions about your significant other?  1 - What is their favorite all time food?  2- What is their favorite all time movie?  3 - What is their favorite all time board game?  Sometimes, as we grow to know someone, we overlook the small stuff.  Try to spend time this month, learning the answers to the little questions.  Then, use that information to brighten a bad day or celebrate a happy moment.  Your conversations don't always have to be about the state of the union or the political unrest in the Middle East.  Sometimes it's uplifting to celebrate the simple things in life.

Do you have a romantic tip that you would like to share with other emommies?  If so, contact Noelle.

emommieNews is the official Newsletter of emommies.net.  The opinions expressed in the above articles are not necessarily the opinions of the founders.