CLAYTON, MO (April 24, 2009) Sixty-five new moms and moms-to-be from four branches of the military in 15 states across the nation will be showered with gifts between now and Mother’s Day as a part of the latest efforts of Operation Shower. Operation Shower, a non-profit organization run by two stay-at-home moms, produces and coordinates baby showers for pregnant and expecting military personnel and their families.

This Mother’s Day, Operation Shower has teamed up with Cloud B and thirty-three more sponsors to host green baby showers for expectant women whose husbands are currently deployed overseas. Thanks to many generous donations, Operation Shower will put smiles on 65 women’s faces when they open their special eco-friendly “Showers in a Box” containing gifts and surprises valued at several hundred dollars each; all donated by generous companies and people from across the nation.

“Becoming a parent is challenging enough when you have the hands-on support of your spouse, friends and family, doing that with a husband fighting in a war is something you can’t imagine unless you are in those shoes,” said Operation Shower co-founder Lena Morrissey.

“Putting on these showers is one small way that we hope gives the moms a special memory and shows our support for the sacrifices these dedicated women and their families make for our country.” added Operation Shower co-founder Kris Jackson.

Military moms-to-be in Fort Hood, Texas and Scott Air Force Base, Illinois will be celebrated at unit-wide and multi-unit eco-friendly baby showers on May 2nd and May 9th respectively. In addition to all of the amazing “green” gifts the moms will receive, Operation Shower is making sure the showers are as green as possible by using recycled paper goods and celebrating with real dishes, flatware, glasses and linens; creating centerpieces and décor items from gifts that will be used as giveaways; and sending keepsake invitations from Tiny Prints on recycled cardstock. Even the boxes and limited packaging materials for each of the boxes used recycled material and Operation Shower will be planting a tree via the Arbor Foundation in every baby’s honor.

Each mom will receive stylish, eco-friendly items from shower sponsor Cloud B as well as wonderful products and services from the following sponsors: Baby Blend Tees, Care.com, Childish Clothing, Cozy Cocoon, Flower Duet, Hug A Monkey, ImagiPLAY, Julian & Co, Kirby Ink, Moms on Call, MyBabyPlace, PeaceLoveMom, Resa Design, Sage Creek Organics, Sprig Toys, Sofia Bean, The Safe Sippy, The Ultimate Green Store, Tiny Tales and Vincent Shoes.

“Cloud B is excited to participate with Operation Shower to help provide these wonderful ladies with a baby shower that they deserve. Our products are designed to help children and their parents get a better night’s rest, and we are delighted to make bed time routines more relaxing and easier for these families. Cloud B truly appreciates the sacrifice that these men and women have made to serve our country, and we hope our contribution will help bring extra joy to this happy occasion,” says Nader Hamda, co-founder and COO of Cloud B.

Surprises will continue at the showers when the moms have the chance to win amazing raffle items from Anka, Angela Breckenridge Photography, City Sprouts, Jane Marvel, lillebaby and Micralite. W.N. Epstein & CO. donated shipping services for the showers and media sponsors include Clever Parents, Integrity, Lena’s Notebook, Stem, teensygreen and The Cradle.

May 2nd will be even more meaningful for the founders of Operation Shower. After showering more than 200 military moms-to-be since 2007, Lena Morrissey and Kris Jackson will meet for the first time at Fort Hood, Texas.

ABOUT OPERATION SHOWER: Operation Shower is a non-profit organization (pending 501(c)(3) status) created by the founders of Lena’s Notebook (www.lenasnotebook.com) and Clever Parents (www.cleverparents.com), two websites focused on parents and parenting, to recognize and honor the sacrifices military families make by producing and coordinating baby showers for pregnant and expecting military personnel and their families. For more information about the showers and to donate, visit the Operation Shower website at www.operationshower.org. In addition to the unit and multi-unit wide showers given in honor of Mother’s Day, Operation Shower sends “showers in a box” to expecting military wives throughout the year. Moms-to-be can submit themselves or be nominated to receive a box online at www.operationshower.org.

ABOUT CLOUD B: Cloud B is dedicated to helping children of all ages sleep better. Our philosophy is that every child deserves a sound night’s sleep for healthy development, Cloud B has become a trusted name with parents worldwide. Our award-winning products are developed in consultation with an Advisory Board of pediatricians and specialists with a single focus: to achieve a better, safer sleep for your child. Our devotion to innovation is matched by our passion for design and style. Cloud B uses only the finest materials to ensure the quality and elegance that your child deserves. Cloud B is also dedicated to providing less fortunate children the quality sleep they deserve through product donations and financial contributions to charitable organizations nationwide.� (www.cloudb.com)

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Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), a peanut processing company and maker of peanut butter for bulk distribution to institutions, food service industries, and private label food companies, today announced an expanded recall of peanut butter produced in its Blakely, Georgia processing facility as well as the voluntary recall of peanut paste produced in the same plant because these products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The company on January 13, 2009 previously announced the recall of 21 lots of peanut butter produced on or after July 1, 2008.

Today’s announcement and voluntary recall affect all peanut butter produced on or after August 8, 2008 and peanut paste produced on or after September 26, 2008 at the Georgia facility. The peanut butter being recalled is sold by PCA in bulk packaging in containers ranging in size from five to 1,700 pounds. The peanut paste is sold in sizes ranging from 35 pound containers to tanker containers.

PCA is notifying customers who received the recalled product by telephone or in writing, as well as through the news media and a toll-free 24/7 hotline number. None of the peanut butter or peanut paste being recalled is sold directly by PCA to consumers through retail stores.

“Today, the FDA informed PCA that new product samples in unopened containers tested positive for Salmonella,” said Stewart Parnell, President of Peanut Corporation of America.

The FDA has not yet confirmed the DNA fingerprints of these positive samples to match the strains causing the outbreaks of food borne illness in several states.

PCA is immediately stopping all production at the Blakely, Georgia facility and notifying its customers to recall and retain all affected product produced during these dates at this plant.

“We deeply regret that this product recall is expanding and our first priority is to protect the health of our customers. Our company has worked around the clock for the last week with federal regulators to help identify any potential problems. Our Blakely facility is currently not operating as we continue to work with federal food safety investigators,”Parnell said.

Customers should call 1-877-564-7080 for further instructions on what to do with the product or visit the company web site at www.peanutcorp.com.

Eating food contaminated with Salmonella can result in abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and fever. Most people infected with Salmonella develop the symptoms 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover with treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. For more information on Salmonella bacteria, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Website at www.cdc.gov.

Peanut Corporation of America is a family-owned and operated business since 1976 based in Lynchburg, VA and operating facilities in Blakely, GA, Suffolk, VA and Plainview, TX. The company prides itself on the quality and freshness of its products and strives constantly to maintain an environment in compliance with federal, state and local regulations and guidelines to provide a clean, safe product. For more information, visit Peanut Corporation of America’s Website at www.peanutcorp.com.

Read the recall on the FDA website: www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/peanutcorp201_09.html

Do you have a baby to buy for in your life? Pick up some great deals on fabulous ‘in-stock’ Gigi Blanki items. Lately, a few of their boutique clients were unable to take delivery of their Fall ‘08 orders, leaving the Gigi Blanki Co with an unexpected inventory of blankets. So, they are offering these “in stock” blankets to you at a very discounted rate! These blankets are made and ready to ship.

If you would like to purchase any of these, please email Heather at heathermrsgaston@yahoo.com with the style/s that you prefer. You will then receive a PayPal invoice. Once payment clears, your blanket will ship!

Here’s what’s currently available: 14″ X 16″ GIGI BLANKI size in Front Darling. Perfect for Stocking Stuffers!

Act fast – Once they are gone, they are gone!

Celebrate Oktoberfest with Vincent Shoes! 20 styles of cool Vincent kicks (including the ‘Dennis’ pictured right) are eligible for a 40% discount through this Friday, October 24th.

Quantities are limited so act fast! Use code: CP-OKTFEST-08 and click here to go straight to the list of shoes eligible for the discount.

Vincent Shoes is having a huge sale, so run – don’t walk – and pick up cool kicks for up to 75% off retail prices. The sale starts today and runs through July (or as long as supplies last).

Visit Vincent Shoes and go shopping!

Thirty-five reports of plush rocker toys tipping over and ten reports of bumps, bruises and lacerations has prompted the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with Tek Nek Toys Int’l to recall more than 120,000 Rock ‘N Ride Plush Rocker Toys. The rocker base can become unstable allowing the rocker to tip forward or backward.

Eight models of the Rock ‘N Ride rockers are included in the recall: brown pony, pink pony, pink unicorn, deluxe pony, deluxe bull, lil’ penguin, lil’ propeller plane and Clifford big red rocker.

“The toys have molded plastic rocker bases and were sold for children at least 18 months old and up to 65 lbs. A button on the toy’s ear, hat or dash activates songs and phrases when pressed. Rockers included in this recall have a date code from July 26, 2007 through December 29, 2007. The date codes are printed on a sticker inside the battery compartment,” according to the CPSC.

The rockers were sold from September 2007 through March 2008 for about $30 at Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, Target, Atwoods, and Pamida stores nationwide and Internet retailers from September 2007 through March 2008 for about $30.

Consumers should immediately take the rocker toys away from young children and contact Tek Nek Toys for a free replacement base.

For additional information, contact Tek Nek Toys toll-free at (888) 686-2728 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.teknektoys.com

Are you in the Raleigh/ Durham/ Chapel Hill area? Come support a wonderful cause and have fun with the whole family! The WonderGirl 5K & Fun Run celebrates the Girls on the Run organization and its commitment to helping make a difference in the lives of girls everywhere.

The WonderGirl 5K & Fun Run brings together the greater Triangle community to celebrate young girls along their journey to choosing healthy lifestyles
and adopting a strong sense of self.

Join the fun at the UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont in Chapel Hill as we gather for the 6th Annual WonderGirl 5K & Fun Run on Saturday, April 19th at 9:00am. The event consists of 5K run/walk, 1 mile Fun Run and a 200 yard dash. After the race, please join participants and volunteers at our finish line festival. This year’s festivities will include free food, drinks, games, music, a silent auction, and more fun activities for the entire family! Proceeds from the silent auction and race will go towards Girls on the Run of the Triangle. To register for the run in support of Girls on the Run on April 19th- please visit www.gotrtriangle5k.org

Celebrating Girls on the Run
6th Annual WonderGirl 5K & Fun Run
Saturday, April 19, 2008
UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont in Chapel Hill
www.gotrtriangle5k.org

Boston Mamas: Cake for a Crowd One big recipe, four cool variations to suit baby showers, birthday parties, or holiday events.

Coochicoos: Small Paul Does Furniture Check out new line of children’s furniture for Small Paul designed by Eric Pfieffer

Healthy Bump: A must have accessory to any new Mom’s wardrobe The Diaper Clutch is a fabulous handmade creation by Kristen Lemoine, owner and designer of AB Baby Boutique.

MomFinds: Toilet Training Guide Our favorite products to help move your toddler from diapers to big-kid pants in no time.

Moms’ Buzz: Sweet Savings, Coupons and Deals! It is a savings feast in our monthly deals special edition for September: lots savings, fanstastic coupons, and good deals from wonderful online boutiques mostly owned by moms!!

One Chic Mama: Deceptive and Delicious. A review of the book Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. It’s a cookbook that shows us how to sneak veggies into our dishes without the kids noticing.

If you are in or near Raleigh, NC, don’t miss the annual Patsy Aiken Outlet tent sale from Thursday, July 26th through Saturday, August 4th. Thousands of past season Spring and Fall items marked $5-$15. Also, the newest Spring ’07 line will be on sale at 35% off and Fall ’06 will be on sale at 50% off.

Hours are 9am – 5pm Monday – Saturday. 4812 Hargrove Road, Raleigh, NC 27616

Directions: From I-440, take Capital Blvd. Exit, go north about 4 miles. Turn Left on Spring Forest Rd. Left on Hargrove Rd. Patsy Aiken Designs is the 2nd driveway on the left.

Learn more on the Patsy Aiken website.

You may have read our recent story From the Fashion Runway to the Playground: Vincent Shoes featuring contemporary, simple and cool children’s shoes without all of the embellishments a lot of shoes trend towards. Now you can have stylish Vincent summer kicks and rain boots for 25% off.

FREE exchanges, and FREE shipping on orders of $75 and up, are still valid for these items so there are no “strings” attached. Shop away…

We’re convinced that half the reason we send kids to pre-school is the craft projects. It is far easier to send our little ones off than it is to have a decent supply of glue, glue sticks, construction paper, glitter, popsicle sticks, scissors, feathers, pom poms and whatever else. And who has the space to store it all? And clean up? Forget it, especially if you aren’t born with the ‘craft’ gene. And studies indicate that 40% of moms and 98.7% of dads are craft gene deficient.

Fortunately, there is a solution to all your craft problems courtesy of Fun Well Done run by the very clever, more on that, Jennifer Giattino.

Jennifer spent 10 years in the financial world before deciding to stay home with her kids. To help support her family, she hit upon the idea of creating self contained craft kits that contained everything needed to create a single craft project.

Today Fun Well Done provides kits for children 1 1/2 to 4 and 4 to 11. For the younger crowd, kits come in a very stylish box filled with all the supplies needed and easy to follow instructions (huge for Mom and Dad). For bigger kids, the kits include fun facts along with the project materials. All the kits come very nicely packaged in boutique-style gift boxes with all the trimmings. Kits can be purchased individually, in bulk for parties, or, as part of Craft of the Month Club packages which includes 2 crafts sent each month for 3, 6, or 12 months. Crafts can be purchased individually by season, age appropriateness, or by holiday.

Pretty clever, huh? We thought so and are happy to announce that Jennifer is joining Clever Parents as a contributor. Her monthly column is called Fun Well Done and will focus on craft projects you can do with your children.

There is no doubt that bunk beds are useful for space constrained parents with more than one child. Kids also love them and they’re good for many a Norman Rockwell picture of siblings talking themselves to sleep.

Like most good things; however, they do come with some potential risks. Every year there are thousands of accidents involving bunk beds and most are attributable to childish horseplay. However, there are a number of serious injuries resulting from faulty or poorly constructed bunk beds.

Happily the Consumer Product Safety Commission has some great information to help you prevent serious mishaps.

Bunk Bed Safety begins with taking care of the the four most common causes of injuries associated with bunk beds:

1. Guardrail spacing. Every year small children slip through the space between the guardrail and the mattress. If there is more than 3.5 inches between mattress and guardrail, add another guardrail board to fill the gap.

2. Not enough guardrails. Even if the bunk bed backs against a wall, make sure there is a rail along the wall to prevent small children from slipping through the space between mattress and wall.

3.Knocking down the top mattress. What’s the fun of sleeping on the bottom if not to kick the mattress of your sleeping sibling? Prevent the fun from causing the top mattress to fall, by adding extra slats supporting the mattress.

4. Buy the right size mattress. Seems like a no brainer, but many fail to buy a mattress that is appropriately sized to prevent gaps which can cause falls.

When selecting a bunk bed, the CSPC suggests:

1. Selection

Choose bunk beds that have:

a. Guardrails on all sides which are screwed, bolted or otherwise firmly attached to the bed structure.

b. Spacing between bed frame and bottom of guard rails that is no greater than 3-1/2 inches (89 mm).

c. Guardrails that extend at least 5 inches (127 mm) above the mattress surface to prevent a child from rolling off.

d. Cross ties under the mattress foundation which can be securely attached.

e. A ladder that is secured to the bed frame and will not slip when a child climbs on it.

f. A feature which permits the beds to be separated to form two single beds if you have children too young to sleep safety on the upper bunk.

And finally, choose a mattress that correctly fits your bed, whether regular or extra long.

2. Use

a. Always use two side guardrails on the upper bunk. Keep guardrails securely in place at all times no matter what the age of the child. Children move about during sleep and may roll out of bed.

b. Do not permit children under 6 years of age to sleep in the upper bunk.

c. Be sure crossties are under the mattress foundation of each bed and that they are secured in place even if bunks are used as twin beds.

d. Emphasize to children to use the ladder and not chairs or other pieces of furniture to climb into orout of the top bunk.

e. Teach children that rough play is unsafe around and on beds and other furniture.

f. Consider using a night light so that children will be able to see the ladder if they get up during the night.

3. Maintenance or Safety Repair

a. If spacing between guard rails and bed frames is more than 3 1/2 inches (89 mm), nail or screw another rail to close the space to prevent head entrapment.

b. Keep guardrails in good repair and securely in place.

c. Replace loose or missing ladder rungs immediately.

d. Repair or replace loose or missing hardware, including cross ties immediately.

Starting this weekend and continuing through the summer, March of Dimes will kick off WalkAmerica events in cities and towns across the country. Started in 1970, WalkAmerica, one of the largest and most popular walking events in the nation, raise money to support research and programs that help babies get a healthy start.

Last year 7 million walkers, representing corporate teams to families and individuals, raised $108 million dollars. This year there will be 1,100 walks in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Walks are typically 10Ks, but you aren’t required to walk the whole distance.

To help out you can sign-up your own family/friends team or form a corporate team with co-workers. Once you setup your team, WalkAmerica will provide you with all the information you need to get started fundraising.

Want to help the March of Dimes mission, but not a walker or fundraiser? No worries, you can still help out by buying from the companies that donate a portion of purchases to March of Dimes. Among them:

GUND, makers of all things Teddy Bear, is donating a portion of all Sweetness Bear sales to March of Dimes. For more information on the GUND Sweetness collection, visit www.gund.com.

There is no shortage of childrens t-shirts on the market these days. But in spite of the abundance, there isn’t much to like. It seems t-shirts come in one of several flavors: too commercialized, too cheesy, or too edgy for younger kids.

The challenge then is to find something that’s appropriate, but not turn them into a walking billboard for one of the media giants. After all, let’s face it, until they’re older, your children’s attire is your choosing and a reflection on your tastes.

Which is why we like the t-shirts from an outfit in Southern California called Havins Originals. Havins Originals is the brainchild of Vikki Havins and produces children’s clothing ‘heavily influenced by Southern California culture’, vintage design and rock n’ roll. We like the shirts because they’re decidedly non-mass market from graphics to print and cool in a way that doesn’t try too hard.

Plus, your little one will be comfortable. Vikki gets shirts from a vendor in Tennessee selected for the quality and softness of their cotton. The shirts are all custom dyed and vintage washed so no two are identical. According to Havins, “You will not find a children’s garment that compares, we guarantee it!”

Check out Havins Originals for a list of online retailers.