7:25 am today, with my home brewed coffee in hand (didn’t have time to stop at Starbucks) and a zip lock bag of granola, and all I muster are 2 seats in the 6th row for my daughter’s graduation ceremony in the school cafeteria. The ceremony was scheduled to begin at 8:15 am.

Ok, my carpel tunnel syndrome is flaring up as I flick my wrist for the 100th time. It is now 10:45, and we’re only through half.

Every 3rd quarter and 4th quarter A/B honor roll is called. Followed by the A honor roll. Spilt this up among 10 seperate classes, each teacher giving their own set of awards and honors. Next, follows the Presidential awards, physical fitness awards, music appreciation awards, budding artist awards, reading awards, etc. etc. etc. etc.

Can my husband and I sneak out now, or will we be noticed? The thought entered our minds, more than once.

Oh, wow, now I get to sit through a 25 MINUTE DVD picturing every kid’s baby picture … followed by their current picture. Oh, and I got to watch how the entire audience played a game “Guess who this is?” as every teacher’s baby picture was shown, then 3 clues given to identify the teacher, followed by another current picture of the teacher.

11:45 am, and the kids are dismissed to their own classrooms and we have to go upstairs to congratulate the teacher, and then sign our kid out so we can take them to lunch (so I’m told… every OTHER parent is taking their kid out for lunch, so “Mom, you can’t leave me alone with the teacher, I’ll be the ONLY one left in school”).

It’s now 1:05 pm; I am finally sitting in my office, blogging about my morning.

Don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly proud of my daughter. She won many academic awards, and just got STRAIGHT A’s this semester.

My husband turns to me and says, “You know what I got when I graduated, the teacher yelled, OK, time to clean out your desk, go home and enjoy summer break.” And that was it. Simple, straight forward and not burdening working parents for 4 hours during 1 morning.

Posted by Melody at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Thank you NASA. I finally can stop telling my daughter “Honey, I simply don’t make enough $$ at Catalogs.com to pay for the Virgin Galactic’s roundtrip ticket to space on SpaceShip Two. I should have married Virgin Chairman Richard Branson instead of your father.”

I’ve got to hand it to NASA. Their long awaited Shuttle Launch Experience will send my aspiring astronaut-in-training on the thrill of her life, and it will only cost me $38 for me and $28 for my daughter.

Unlike the Disney’s Mission: Space centrifuge ride, which is more about the 1.5G’s and the high sustained force from forward acceleration, this exhibit is BOTH stimulating to the senses but EQUALLY stimulating to the mind.

Designed with detailed input from a former shuttle pilot and other astronauts, the $60 million tourist attraction at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is designed to trigger an emotional reaction to U.S. human spaceflight. It also is designed to immerse visitors in the mechanics and history of America's space shuttle.
NASA has liftoff.

This summer, be sure to take your kids (of all ages). It’s not only fun but educational as well.
For more detailed information, visit The Kennedy Space Center.

Posted by Melody at 01:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My dilemma: telemetry ward this Memorial Day weekend, or the Beach with my husband and kids!
It truly is a tug of war on my emotions. I am dead smack in the middle of juggling my company, my husband, and my 3 kids while caring for 2 sets of elderly parents.

My Dad just fell, again, for the 5th time in the last 18 months. Each time my step Mom called 911. He’s stable but still in the hospital (out-of-town … requiring an airplane flight).

Do I drop everything, pay an expensive flight, and leave my kids and husband just to sit by his side in the hospital? Yes I want to be with my Dad, but honestly, I would prefer to go up with the whole family once he’s out of the hospital. Do I once again leave my husband (who has incredibly understood the last 3 times I dropped everything to sit by my Dad’s bedside) and sit for hours just reading a book, watching my Dad snooze in-and-out.

I am NOT alone. Nearly 10 million baby boomers are now raising kids or supporting an adult child while giving a financial hand to an aging parent, the Pew Research Center reports.

Are you “doing enough” to repay your parents for their sacrifices which they made while raising you?

Are you frustrated caring for 2 (sometimes 3) sets of elderly parents as they begin to forget things, fall, and get dependant on you?

Are you failing with your own children and husband by taking precious time away from your family to care for your parents?

Have you, TODAY, expressed your appreciation to your parents, and have you mustered enough courage to TELL THEM how special they are?

For all you baby boomers out there who have elderly/aging parent, my advice to you are this:

#1. Communicate your love: Take time to call (it only takes 3 minutes) and every word you offer will be cherished. Take time to send birthday cards and holiday cards - don't rely on the Internet. (I know it costs a ridiculously high $0.41 cents – but this postal rate rape is for another blog). Take the time to say, “I love you Mom.” “I love you Dad

#2. Plan, Plan, and Plan: Talk to your parents and find out ALL the details of their estate and health insurance policies. Do they have long term care policies, have they put money aside for at-home help, nursing home care, nurses aids, shopping assistants. Will the entire burden fall on your family if your parents are not prepared. What are your parents last wishes, how they want to be buried, what type of funeral arrangements and services they want. Do YOU have POWER OF ATTORNEY (financially and healthcare related) authorizing you to make medical decisions; and a living will outlining their wishes if life-sustaining medical care is needed.

#3. Exercise, take yoga, eat right and make yourself number one in importance.
Because too many people depend on YOU. Get a message, meditate, and go for a walk. TAKE YOUR VITIMINS. Get plenty of sleep. Get plenty of sex. It’s so important not to run yourself down, because then you will be of no use to your kids, your spouse, or your aging parents.

Walecia Konrad recently published an article in Money Magizine that listed many resources to help you with the Sandwich Generation problems.

Eldercare locator . This site, sponsored by the U.S. Administration on Aging, links you to the agency on aging closest to your parents' home; that office, in turn, directs you to a mother lode of local senior services. Also check out the Caregiver Resource Room (click first on Resources on the home page) for links to many caregiver tip sheets, including two focusing on finances. eldercare.gov

Check available benefits: National Council on Aging Go here to find out which federal, state and local benefits your parents qualify for. You'll be surprised at the number of programs out there - including those providing assistance with health-care and utility costs, as well as property tax relief - many available to middle-class families. benefitscheckup.org

Then check again: Government benefits you can also screen here for government benefits eligibility and get contact info for the programs you're interested in. It's best to fill out the questionnaires on both sites to ensure that you're not missing anything. govbenefits.gov

Medicare done better: Medicare This government site for people who qualify for Medicare is easier to navigate and more useful than the official site of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (cms.hhs.gov). Particularly helpful: an interactive tool for comparing Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, and tips for lowering costs in the coverage gap known as the doughnut hole. medicare.gov

Hired help
Find your navigator: Natl. Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers Go here for referrals to elder-care pros who can assess your parents' medical needs and finances and then identify local programs and services to meet those needs. Fees range between $50 and $200 an hour, and the initial assessment can cost as much as $300. caremanager.org

Locate a white knight: National Association of Social Workers At this site you can find social workers who specialize in geriatrics. socialworkers.org

Get daytime help: National Adult Day Services Association Search on this site for adult day care in your area. Click on Find an Adult Day Service, and then enter your city and state information. nadsa.org

Hire a good lawyer: National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Look up the attorneys near your parents who specialize in elderly issues, including estate planning, powers of attorney, health proxies and Medicaid eligibility. Federal and state government rules change constantly, meaning the books and Web sites you read on these topics may be outdated. naela.com

Their money
Hire a money minder: American Association of Daily Money Managers Especially helpful if you live far from your parents, a daily money manager will pay bills, make deposits, process insurance claims and handle other financial tasks that Mom and Dad may no longer be up to doing. Use this site to locate a pro in your parents' area. aadmm.com

Tap their home equity: Reverse Mortgages Reverse mortgages can allow cash-strapped older people to borrow against the equity in their home so they can afford to keep living there. This section of the AARP site offers a comprehensive guide to lenders, fees, pitfalls and other specifics. aarp.org/money/revmort

Free tax help: Tax counseling for the Elderly Your parent can get free income tax preparation and advice from an army of volunteers working for the IRS' Tax Counseling for the Elderly program. Find counselors near your parents using the locator function on the AARP site or check with your local library, senior center or IRS office. The IRS (800-829-1040) AARP (887-227-7669)

Their home
Weigh the options: CarePlanner This interactive tool, sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, can help you and your parent choose between different living options. careplanner.org

Nursing-home advice: Am. Health Care Association and Natl. Center for Assisted Living You'll get comprehensive advice and information here to help your parent choose and pay for a nursing home or an assisted-living center. longtermcareliving.com

More nursing-home tips: Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living This nonprofit advocates for high-quality assisted-living facilities and for the rights of residents. There's solid information on their site about how to choose a good assisted-living center. ccal.org

Seek out on-site care: Assisted Living Federation of America This site, sponsored by the industry's trade association, allows you to search for assisted-living centers by area and operating company. Click on Information Seeker, then on Finding a Residence. alfa.org

Hire help at home: National Association for Home Care & Hospice When your parents are frail but determined to stay in their own home, home health care can be the answer. This site explains the different types of care available and provides an agency locator to help you find services near your parents. nahc.org

Once again, the above links and sources of reference were By Walecia Konrad of Money Magizine. A magazine which I personally feel consistanly has well written and very informative information.

Posted by Melody at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

My daughter decides to go to sleep away this summer. First time ever. And suddenly, I'm bombarded with list afer list, form after form. I just recieved in the mail a detailed "Summer Camping Packing List -- down to the 18 pairs of underwear required!

I don't have time for this. So what does any normal, busy Mom with 3 kids and is working full time do? Go online, and within 2 hours ALL my camping needs have been ordered.

Let me give you some ideas:

Duffle Bag(s) - Extra large rolling duffle bags by Eddie Bauer.

Sleeping Bags - great bag from Sierra Trading Post which keeps you warm when the nights get cold – down to 20 F.

Canteens - forget the old fashion heavy metal, go with new age Water Bottle from Duluth Pack. . Strap the leakproof unbottle onto or into any daypack or expedition pack to create an integrated hydration system. Durable exterior is abrasion resistant and lightweight. Fully insulated to keep liquid cool for hours.

from Duluth Pack

Binoculars - $34.99, regular price $53.95.

O’Neill Rash Guard - protect your kids from the suns harmful rays. Keep them covered and protected all summer long.

Rainproof, water proof and wind resistant hooded poncho - $10.95 REGULAR PRICE $20.00

PRO FORCE® EMERGENCY SURVIVAL SLEEPING BAG
Compact Protection from Inclement Weather - the metallized lightweight bag retains up to 90% of your body heat to help prevent hypothermia or keep you dry in wet weather. Use the silver side as an emergency signaling panel. Hide or get found - you make the decision. Folds to pocket size and is reusable with proper care. $6.99 – a remarkably low price

>Bendable Reading Light - Do you want your camper to continue reading all summer long- then buy your kid a bendable light for reading in their bunk. Only $16.50

Two informative articles on summer camp can be found by linking below.

Summer Camp Tips by Julie Henry

Packing for Summer Camp by Mike Williamson

Posted by Melody at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Not a bad name, hug? This has been the name of our book club, which was founded one year ago. Yes, 18 middle-aged women gathered this past weekend for a girl’s only overnight pajama party. And yes, every one of us is married.

We had a blast. Food, wine, then bar hopping till 2 am. I felt like I was back in college. And then, as I crawled into bed at 2 am, I realized how VERY lucky I was to be out of the “dating/pick-up” scene and happily married.

What I saw in those 2 ½ hours was equivalent to bad milk boiling over a pot. Groping, salivating, cleavage, smoke, horrific looking gross men gyrating… NO Thank you!

To all us middle aged married women with kids …. Be thankful for what you have!

Posted by Melody at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I’m driving home tonight from Spiderman 3. I took my three kids (yes…on a MONDAY night because the school system has decided that with only 2 weeks left of school—why bother continuing to teach. No homework, no projects, no assignments).

Anyway, I’m explaining to the kids that the show that Daddy is at is very exciting, and that Catalogs.com is giving away this year at the ACCM Catalog conference a FREE video Ipod. My daughter immediately begins to whine. “Why can’t I have the iPod?”

I explain to her that really, it’s just a little something that hopefully will “inspire” a lot of business cards to miraculously find their way into a glass fishbowl.

My daughter then says, “Well, I sell my artwork. Can I enter MY business card?” I explain to my daughter that she doesn’t have a business card.

We precede home, pj’s, teeth brushing, etc. and I find her in her room preparing several business cards, with her name, address, email and a company name that she created.

Why do marketers, clients and even daughters go out of their way to win something free?

I’ll tell you why. It’s the same reason B*I*N*G*O and the L*O*T*T*E*R*Y still are going strong. It’s why Las Vegas is rocking like never before. It’s like a really ugly guy going into a bar, hoping he’ll walk out with Miss Universe (or close to it).

People want to gamble that they might be a winner!

So to all you catalog marketers, go to booth #332 and enter to win a Free video Ipod!

Posted by Melody at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My daughter decides to go to sleep away this summer. First time ever. And suddenly, I'm bombarded with list afer list, form after form. I just recieved in the mail a detailed "Summer Camping Packing List -- down to the 18 pairs of underwear required!

I don't have time for this. So what does any normal, busy Mom with 3 kids and is working full time do? Go online, and within 2 hours ALL my camping needs have been ordered.

Let me give you some ideas:

Duffle Bag(s) - Extra large rolling duffle bags by Eddie Bauer.

Sleeping Bags - great bag from Sierra Trading Post which keeps you warm when the nights get cold – down to 20 F.

Canteens - forget the old fashion heavy metal, go with new age Water Bottle from Duluth Pack. . Strap the leakproof unbottle onto or into any daypack or expedition pack to create an integrated hydration system. Durable exterior is abrasion resistant and lightweight. Fully insulated to keep liquid cool for hours.

from Duluth Pack

Binoculars - $34.99, regular price $53.95.

O’Neill Rash Guard - protect your kids from the suns harmful rays. Keep them covered and protected all summer long.

Rainproof, water proof and wind resistant hooded poncho - $10.95 REGULAR PRICE $20.00

PRO FORCE® EMERGENCY SURVIVAL SLEEPING BAG
Compact Protection from Inclement Weather - the metallized lightweight bag retains up to 90% of your body heat to help prevent hypothermia or keep you dry in wet weather. Use the silver side as an emergency signaling panel. Hide or get found - you make the decision. Folds to pocket size and is reusable with proper care. $6.99 – a remarkably low price

>Bendable Reading Light - Do you want your camper to continue reading all summer long- then buy your kid a bendable light for reading in their bunk. Only $16.50

Posted by Melody at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This year will be the first time ever that Catalogs.com has decided to exhibit at the largest catalog conference in the world. We went all out (so we thought) in purchasing a big booth, a fancy professional back-drop; we even hired a professional artist to create an image that quickly explained our company in a unique way.

A word to the wise you foolish marketers:

Establishing good contacts, determining potential clients needs and ultimately CLOSING THE SALE is far more important than elaborate trade show booths. My philosophy is this: As long as your exhibit is in “good taste” and is clean, clutter free, to-the-point, and filled with extremely knowledgeable sales people able to answer most questions, then it really doesn’t matter if you have a granite table top with hot running water in your booth, set upon silk rugs.

Please refer to the hilariously funny movie picture “Keeping up with the Stein’s”. I rather would NOT be obnoxiously ostentatious. Remember, as my husband always tells me, “The cheap dress makes you look thinner.”

Posted by Melody at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

How BBQ chicken wings lends itself to brainstorming session

Do you ever get in a “rut” and feel like nothing is progressing in business. The same old, the mundane, nothing new and certainly nothing exciting. Year after year of the same grueling monotony.

Well, as I report in today, and can proudly state that “My brain has been S H A K E N UP”.

Yesterday we had a brainstorming session. It was really cool. Six totally different types of business people, gathered in a room for 3 hours … following no set agenda. Simply “thinking outside the box” and figuring out how to create “new excitement” and “extra revenue.” There is something about licking BBQ sauce off your fingers while spurting out ideas that made the session perfect.

I awoke this morning, and instead of pulling the pillow over my head, hoping for just 5 minutes more of blissful sleep, I jumped out of bed. My mind racing, thinking which of the 10 ideas would we implement first. Which idea will send Catalogs.com to a new universe of success, profitability and stardom?

My advice to business executives … Invest the time (away from your office) and hold these brainstorming sessions. Surround yourself with people inside (and outside) of your company and think out-of-the-box more often.

I’ll keep you posted … Catalogs.com will be embarking on new adventures, and I, for one, am most inspired and excited!

Posted by Melody at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

True story … my best girlfriends from college just flew in from Illinois and Ohio… girl’s weekend out!

What do we do … shop till we drop. We visited EVERY beachside boutique and specialty store. My girlfriend says, “Leslie, you have to try these sandals on, they’re like bedroom slippers.”

After slipping the Bikini’s by Dexter on my feet and literally feeling like my feet were floating on puffy clouds, I had to have these shoes. I asked the sales person how much? She said “Only $64.95.”

I whisper to my girlfriends a secret, and we leave the store without the shoes.

Next, we go back to the hotel, go to Catalogs.com in the shoe category and I found the EXACT same shoes for $25.99 with FREE SHIPPING!!!!!! A savings of $38.96. With that savings, I think I’ll buy it in white AND tan!

Posted by Melody at 06:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)