With Earth Day being celebrated globally today, SodaHead.com, the web’s largest opinion-based community, polled its users to find out sentiments on topics surrounding the environment, recycling, organic products and hybrid cars. Some of the results are pretty interesting. I would have thought by this day and age that more than 38% of people would recycle all the time. So it shows we have a long way to go yet. Check out the following infographic for more eye-opening statistics.

You may not know this but Target has been celebrating Earth Day with their employees and customers since the 1970’s. It all started by handing out free tree’s of all things and has grown from there. In fact, according to Target in 1972 the first of what we know to be a recycling center was opened in a Target parking lot in Missouri. Bet you didn’t know that? Since then Target has been celebrating regularly each year  In fact you can read all about their celebrations in years past by visiting: http://abullseyeview.com/the-history-of-earth-day-at-target/

So what does Target have in store for Earth Day 2012?  Well, to further support their reusable bag program that was started in November 2009 (For every reusable bag you use during your shopping trip at Target you receive a 5-cent discount) they will be handing out 1.5 million reusable bags at stores nationwide.

Make sure you stop by your local Target store this Sunday April 22, Earth Day & pick up a bag. Every little bit helps.

I eat a lot of salad and this is one of my most favorite types. I didn’t even hear about this recall until today so I know there are others who still haven’t’ heard about it.  As an expecting Mom or a Mom with young children Salmonella is one of the last things you want to deal with so I hope you’ll share this info with anyone who may not know about it yet.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause foodborne illness in a person who eats a food item contaminated with it. Symptoms of infection may experience fever and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain. The illness primarily impacts young children, frail and elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. Most healthy adults and children rarely become seriously ill.

Recall Details

April 14, 2012- Dole Fresh Vegetables is voluntarily recalling 756 cases of DOLE® Seven Lettuces salad with Use-by Date of April 11, 2012, UPC code 71430 01057 and Product Codes 0577N089112A and 0577N089112B, due to a possible health risk from Salmonella.

The salads were distributed in fifteen U.S. states (Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin).

The Product Code and Use-by Date are in the upper right-hand corner of the package

The UPC code is on the back of the package, below the barcode.

No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall. This precautionary recall notification is being issued due to an isolated instance in which a sample of Seven Lettuces salad yielded a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test collected and conducted by the State of New York.

Retailers and consumers with questions may call the Dole Food Company Consumer Response Center at (800) 356-3111, which is open 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (PDT) Monday – Friday.

To see the original recall release: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm300414.htm

There shouldn’t’ be too many of these packages left around considering the use by date is April 11, 2012 and these refrigerated salads tend to spoil fairly quickly BUT it’s better to be safe than sorry and check your refrigerators.

Lack of access to books and educational materials is a major problem in the United States, especially in underprivileged communities. And, forty-two percent of children in the United States — more than 30 million — live in low-income households and don’t have age-appropriate books at home or at school.* Cheerios recognize access to books as one barrier to literacy development, which is why after 10 years it continues to distribute quality books inside boxes to children nationwide.

Can you believe those statistics? Scary isn’t it? Growing up in an area like Metro Detroit I’ve seen and heard for myself just how much these underprivileged communities need our help. We had a chance as a family to check out the books that are available in this years boxes of cheerios & we loved each and every one of them. It really pains me to know that there are families and children out there that can’t experience something as simple as the joy of reading together. Over the past few years I’ve realized myself just how expensive books can be & I can only imagine for those going through hard times that books probably make it last on the list. That’s why I wanted to make sure to share this important info with you, in hopes that you might look for these specially marked boxes of cheerios and share a special moment with your children, or if you have the means, even donate to help another family.  Please keep reading to learn more about this awesome program.

Celebrating 10 Years

Worms, monsters, zebras and hippopotamuses are only a few of the imaginative children’s book characters to appear in specially-marked Cheerios® this year as part of the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories® program. Through the program, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this spring, Cheerios distributes six million bilingual children’s books from award-winning authors free inside cereal boxes.

Actress and mom Jennie Garth kicked off the anniversary celebration back in March, called ‘Breakfast & A Book’ at a special reading event with the Mayor of Los Angeles to encourage parents and kids to read together.  Similar events will be happening in cities across the country over the coming weeks. You can find out more info & see where at: spoonfulsofstories.com

To help put books into the little hands that need them most, Cheerios will also give 50,000 children’s books and $300,000 to First Book, an award winning literacy nonprofit.

This year’s in-pack book offerings, all of which are from award-winning authors, appropriate for children ages three to eight and from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, are:

•  Peeny Butter Fudge, by Toni and Slade Morrison and illustrated by Joe Cepeda
•  Mostly Monsterly, by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Scott Magoon
•  Noodle & Lou, by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Arthur Howard
•  If I Were a Jungle Animal, by Amanda Ellery and illustrated by Tom Ellery 
•  Hello Baby, by Mem Fox and illustrated by Steve Jenkins
•  Can I Just Take a Nap?, by Ron Rauss and illustrated by Rob Shepperson

Learn More & Help Support This Effort

Learn more about Spoonfuls of Stories, the “Breakfast & A Book” events, this year’s in-pack books, or donate to First Book by going to: www.spoonfulsofstories.com.

Text to Donate

You can also use short code 20222 and text Books2Kids, a $5 donation will be made (and will appear on the primary subscriber’s cell phone bill), providing two new books to a child in need.  Standard messaging rates will apply.

^{Disclosure: I received the above books to help facilitate this information & learn more about this program, no monetary exchange took place. All opinions are my own.}

Are you correctly using the right car seat for your child’s age and size? You may be surprised how many parents and caregivers think they are – but are not.

The US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 1 through 12 years old. Based on NHTSA crash data in 2010, on average, almost 2 children (age 12 and younger in a passenger vehicle) were killed and 325 children were injured each day. This fatality rate could be reduced by half if the correct child safety seats were always used.

New NHTSA Website

To educate parents and caregivers about NHTSA’s car seat recommendations for children from birth through age 12, today, April 10, 2012, NHTSA is launching a new Web site, safercar.gov/therightseat, along with new public service announcements in partnership with the Ad Council.

How To Videos, Recall Info, Ratings

When parents and caregivers visit the website they can find out if they have their children in the right car seats. The site also features important information on car seat use and installation such as: How-to videos, recall notifications, and NHTSA’s car seat ease-of-use ratings.

^{Click Picture to Enlarge}

Find Local Help With Car Seat Use

Get local help with car seat use and selection from Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians: http://1.usa.gov/RightSeatLocator

The Pregnant Woman’s Guide to Buckling Up

http://www.safercar.gov/parents/UnbornChild.htm

Connect Online

For more information on child passenger safety visit facebook.com/childpassengersafety and follow the campaign on Twitter @childseatsafety

Spread The Word

Please forward this information to any parents you may know by using the “share” buttons below this post. Help parents know for sure their child is in the right car seat – and help save lives!

LOS ANGELES, CA (April 10, 2012) – Doron Ofir Casting and a Major Cable Network officially announce the nationwide search for pregnant women with big personalities to share their stories while they are expecting. The epic casting company behind Millionaire Matchmaker, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Drag U and Jersey Shore are looking for expectant mothers to take us on a journey through the sometimes irrational, decidedly demanding, high maintenance wonderment of pregnancy.

Now casting the humorous and crazy side of pregnancy! For the first time ever, enthusiastic mothers-to-be and their significant others will get the opportunity to express themselves and everything that they go through when expecting in the ultimate video diary through these life changing moments.

“I think women are the most beautiful when pregnant, it’s with respect and curiosity I chose to explore the madness behind the glow” says Executive Casting Director Doron Ofir.

Females and their partners who appear to be between the ages of 21-35 and want to take part in this brand new docu-series should apply online at www.pregzillascasting.com

If selected, the couple will receive an episodic stipend of $5000.00

Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) an importer of Safety 1st products, who are well known for offering a variety of popular baby-proofing items have voluntarily recalled their Push ‘N Snap Cabinet Locks as of March 22, 2012. (as seen on the left)

Young Children Able to Disengage Cabinet Locks Allowing Access to Cabinet Contents, Posing Risk of Injury Due to Dangerous or Unsafe Items.

With around 900,000 of these locks on the market they have received reports that 200 of the locks did not adequately secure the cabinet, including reports of damaged locks. The firm is aware of 140 children between the ages of 9 months and 5 years who were able to disengage the locks and gain access to the cabinet’s contents. In three of the reported incidents, the children who gained access swallowed or handled dishwashing detergent, window cleaner or oven cleaner, and were treated, observed and released from emergency treatment centers.

Model Numbers Recalled

This recall includes Safety 1st Push ‘n Snap Cabinet Locks manufactured from January 2004 through February 2012 with model numbers 48391 and 48442. The model numbers are printed on the back of the product and on packaging. You can view the original CPSC release to see exactly how to locate and identify the recalled model numbers: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12136.html

Remove Locks, Call For Replacements

Consumers should immediately remove the recalled locks from cabinets and contact DJG  toll-free at (866) 762-3212 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.djgusa.com for a free replacement Push ‘N Snap lock.  

Please make sure if you remove your locks that you store dangerous items out of your child’s reach immediately as we all know how fast accidents can happen.

Report Unsafe Products!

If you have a problem with a product please remember to report it. Your reports, even if you think the matter is a simple one are what encourage companies to make voluntary recalls like this one. Your report could save someone’s life.  Report any unsafe product at: http://www.saferproducts.gov/

DORON OFIR CASTING ANNOUNCES THE NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR AMERICA’S REAL MODERN FAMILY

LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 12th, 2012 – Doron Ofir Casting, the epic star making casting company behind Millionaire Matchmaker, Jersey Shore and Nashville Star officially announces the national search for America’s real Modern Family.

A major television network is seeking the nation’s most entertaining, MULTI-GENERATIONAL and/or EXTENDED MULTI-CULTURAL families.

Over the years, TV has brought us different examples of family. Leave it to Beaver, The Brady Bunch, All in the Family, The Cosby Show and now Modern Family; they redefined stories of the American family. Isn’t it time TV represented a real American modern family?

“My ideal family will be a cast of characters that live near one another who regularly get together for Sunday dinners, BBQs, and birthdays. The kind of family everyone wants to spend time with because they are the most outrageous and fun”– Doron Ofir, Executive Casting Director.

We are seeking diverse families with an array of dynamic personalities, real drama, and a penchant for hilarious comic relief. Despite the dynamics, differences and dramas, love and acceptance conquer all in the true definition of a real modern family, just like the Keatons, the Seavers, the Ricardos, the Tanners, the Huxtables, or even the Addams.

Is your family’s last name the next great television sensation?

Casting applications can be found at:

 www.MyModernFamilyCasting.com

Imagine a life where you couldn’t access even the most basic, every day nutrients for yourself or your children–what would you do? Millions of moms around the world wrestle daily with this issue.

Future Fortified has been created to help. A campaign of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Future Fortified enables millions of women and children around the world to gain access to the essential nutrients they need. Seeking to ensure that pregnant women, new mothers and their young children receive the critical nutrients they need for health, growth and development.

Future Fortified is investing in innovative and cost-effective approaches to improve nutrition, specifically Home Nutrition Packets–small single-serving packets filled with a combination of vitamins and minerals to sprinkle into a child’s or mom’s meal such as a simple bowl of rice.

At less than three cents a packet in countries such as Kenya and Bangladesh, this is an affordable way for low-income mothers around the world to get essential nutrients into their children’s and their own diets. All it takes is a sprinkle of the packet in their meals a few times a week. 

How Can You Help?

Take your first steps and connect with Future Fortified online at their website to learn more: www.futurefortified.org, their Facebook page and on Twitter at @futurefortified

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Future Fortified. To thank me for my contribution, Mom Central donated $20 to the Future Fortified campaign.

When creativity is practiced every day, kids become the critical thinkers, problem solvers, and leaders in the classroom, and they´re better prepared for professions of the 21st century.

Crayola wants every child to be creatively alive, so they´re inviting parents "Inside the Crayon Box," for a special live chat with celebrities and trusted parenting experts that will inspire and spark ideas to expand your child´s creative thinking. If you find yourself looking for new ways to inspire your children to express their ideas and build their creativity, you´ll want to join us to learn and share!

The first "Inside the Crayon Box" live chat is Wednesday, March 7 at 9 p.m. EST. Join Crayola and musician, children´s author and mom, Lisa Loeb for a 45-minute live streaming video chat on the Crayola Facebook Page. Lisa, best-known for her number one hit "Stay (I Missed You)," will share as personal stories, practical advice and ways she brings a little creative play into every day for her daughter. We want to hear from you – participants can ask Lisa questions during the event, too!

Topics to be Covered During The Chat:

• Why Does Creativity Matter? Creativity is not about who´s the best artists or becoming an architect. It´s a way of thinking that encourages kids´ original ideas and develops their confidence.
• Growing Up Creative. Lisa will share stories about growing up in a home where creativity was encouraged.
• Simple Tips. Easy Ideas. Like most moms, Lisa juggles a lot. She´ll share simple, easy ways she sparks her daughter´s creativity as part of their daily routine.

To learn more about the tools from Crayola that make it easy for parents to help children develop their creativity www.Crayola.com and like Crayola on Facebook!

Also, be sure to check out Lisa’s book Lisa Loeb’s Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs (Sterling Children’s Books, 2011) available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Sing, laugh, and play with pop Lisa in this fabulous collection of ten of the silliest songs ever. Fun activities, games, and recipes accompany whimsical songs. Take Lisa’s Silly Sing-Along with you wherever you go and get the high-spirited good times started. Includes a 10-song CD recorded by Lisa!

Disclosure: Info provided by Crayola through Myblogspark.