Grand Opening of H&M at the International Plaza Mall

There has been a lot of buzz circling around Tampa’s International Plaza Mall, as shoppers anxiously awaited the grand opening of the clothing store, H&M and H&M Kids. For individuals who have never been to H&M or even heard of it, it is easily defined as a store that gives you more “Bang for the buck!” This store has something for everyone and every budget. As stated on H&M’s Facebook Page:

“Offering fashion and quality at the best price, H&M offers a varied assortment for the entire family, including concepts for ladies, men, teenagers and children.”

Don’t get me wrong, customers will find pricier clothing articles throughout the store, but there is an abundance of selection for everyone’s budget and everyone’s different fashion styles.

Before I divulge on the grand opening I have to commend the H&M staff for how calm and collected they were with such chaos going on around them. Everyone I talked to was friendly and helpful, even with a huge crowd that was non-stop. I was able to speak with H&M representative Tony Everett, as he kindly took some time out of his big day to walk me through the kids store and tell me about some of the reasons why this store is so fantastic, and what it means for the Tampa Bay community.

When discussing what makes H&M a great place to shop for kids, Everett pointed out the unbeatable prices (one being an adorable girl’s holiday dress for only $10) as well as informing me that H&M has a “Basic & Conscious” clothing line. He stated “These items are made of 50 percent organic cotton blend,” and that, “ H&M is proud to be able to cater to the various lifestyles that their shoppers encompass.”

At the International Mall, H&M opened a kids store in addition to their regular store, providing clothing from babies to adults and to males and females. Everett explained that H&M is truly “A one stop shop for the entire family.”

As for what the opening of these affordable fashion stores means for Tampa Bay, Everett enlightened me by saying, “It means great things. The other day we had a special opening for the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay in which we were able to give them a catered, mini-shopping spree as well as donate $2,005 to their organization.” It was refreshing to see the genuine smile on his face as he spoke about that evening and the impact this store can have on our community.

Now onto the details about the grand opening and advice on how to attack this shopping spree with the least amount of stress possible:

Let me first say, if you plan on visiting the store this weekend, be prepared for lines. Lines to get in the store, to try on and to check out. If you absolutely cannot handle waiting in lines, I suggest holding off visiting the store until the weekend is over. Be advised though, the opening sales are WORTH THE WAIT! If you have even the littlest of patience, I encourage you to check it out before the weekend and sales are over.

Pros:

• $10 off purchases $50 and more coupons: People in line received this coupon, which allows shoppers to save a little (or buy a little more…). I am not sure if these will be available the whole weekend, but stapled to the receipts were also a $10 off gift card.

• Opening sales: H&M is already reasonably priced for the most part, and adding these sales on top is a shopper’s bank account dream! This is a great time to get holiday shopping done, because as stated before you can find something for everyone! Some of the sale highlights I saw were: $35 pencil skirts for $10, $35 sweater dresses for $15 and kid’s tops and dresses for $5-$10.

• A gracious return period: Why is something that every store has listed as a pro? Because you can skip the dressing room line, make your purchases and if they don’t work out, you have 30 days to return them (BIG time saver)!

Cons:

• Lines: After asking around most people said it took them about 20 minutes to get into the store. The check out lines seemed to take around the same amount of time (mid-day). Lines are expected at grand openings, so it seemed like most customers did not mind, and it was apparent that H&M did everything they could to speed it up.

• Temperature: If you go, wear layers or something breathable. This will not only help you try stuff on without going into the dressing room, but I assure you it gets a little toasty as the bodies fill up in there.

• Sales prices: Be careful when you choose the items that have the opening sales prices. Customers told me that items that were on sale racks did not always have the sales tag, and when rung up, they would sometimes register as the regular price. Before you walk away, be sure to check your receipt and make sure you are getting the sales price on the correct items.

Tips for Parents:

After speaking with multiple parents, it seems as though the key to staying sane during the grand opening weekend is to leave the kids at home. After seeing a few moms try to maneuver their way through the lines and crowds with strollers, I can confirm it does not look enjoyable for any party involved. So do yourself a favor and hire a babysitter for a few hours while you shop ‘til you drop!


For more information on H&M visit: http://www.hm.com/us/

Childhood Friends Leave Struggling Michigan Town to Fight in Afghanistan

“Deeply emotional. . . . a fine documentary by an experienced and talented filmmaker.”
— Robert Mackey, The Huffington Post

Following President Obama's announcement of executive action to help veterans of the U.S. armed forces, POV presents the U.S. television premiere of Where Soldiers Come From on Thursday, November 10th (check local listings).

It wasn’t long after Dominic Fredianelli, a sensitive, artistic high school graduate in a remote town in northern Michigan, signed up for the National Guard that his buddies started following his lead. In exchange for just one weekend of training a month, they would earn a $20,000 signing bonus and much-needed college tuition support. Before he knew it, 10 friends were in the group. They knew there was a chance that they’d be sent to war sometime during their six-year stint, but, as Cole Smith, Dominic’s best friend said, “I wasn’t really doing anything; my buddies had already joined. . . . I figured, ‘Twenty Gs, one weekend a month, let’s do it!’”
 


Thus begins director Heather Courtney’s new film, Where Soldiers Come From, which paints an intimate portrait of these friends’ four-year journey from teenagers stuck in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to soldiers in Afghanistan. The documentary will have its national broadcast premiere the day before Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at 9 p.m. on PBS as a special presentation closing the 24th season of POV (Point of View). The film will stream in its entirety on the POV website, www.pbs.org/pov/wheresoldierscomefrom, Nov. 11 – Dec. 11.
 
American television’s longest-running independent documentary series, POV is the winner of a Special Emmy Award for Excellence in Television Documentary Filmmaking,an International Documentary Association Award for Best Continuing Series and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers’ 2011 Award for Corporate Commitment to Diversity.


Shooting in vérité style, Courtney focuses on three of the friends — Dominic, who takes art classes and paints large murals in the abandoned buildings that belonged to a once-thriving copper mining industry; Cole, the comedian in the group; and Matt Beaudoin (“Bodi”), who has a history of military service in his family and is proud to serve his country. They change from carefree teenagers who spend their days swimming in Lake Superior and drinking at bonfires to soldiers getting hit by homemade bombs in Afghanistan and combat veterans dealing with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd).
 


Where Soldiers Come From starts in Hancock, the friends’ and Courtney’s hometown. The director films the guys and their families in their everyday lives, revealing the economic realities that contribute to their decision to enlist and creating poignant portraits of a community and its people.


“Where Soldiers Come From is an American story about growing up and trying to change your situation without privilege or resources,” says Courtney. “It’s about the people who fight our wars and the communities and families they come from.
 
“I felt it was important to follow these guys for a long time before they ever became soldiers so that the viewer would really know them and their families,” she continues. “For these young men and their loved ones, the war doesn’t end when they come home. I hope my film can help people better understand the war at home — the one that affects the parents, girlfriends and loved ones left behind when soldiers are deployed and the one that continues when they come back and try to start their lives again.” 
 
Where Soldiers Comes From is a production of Quincy Hill Films and ITVS.

About the Filmmaker:

Heather Courtney, Director/Producer

Heather Courtney is a director and producer whose documentaries, including award-winners “Letters From the Other Side” and “Los Trabajadores/The Workers,” have aired on PBS and screened at festivals worldwide. For her most recent project, Where Soldiers Come From, she returns to her hometown in rural Michigan to follow the lives of a group of friends before, during and after their National Guard deployment to Afghanistan. Courtney was named one of Film Independent's Top 10 Filmmakers to watch. She recently received the prestigious United States Artists fellowship and has received grants from ITVS and the Sundance Documentary Fund, among others.

Lindsay Olives Gears Up for Holiday Giving Program, Pledges $3,000 Donation

Lindsay Olives will launch a holiday giving program and contest November 1 called Lindsay’s Santa Cause. The purpose of this holiday program is to get families, youth groups, schools and churches involved in the spirit of charitable giving. Lindsay Olives will donate a $3,000 prize to the winning class, youth group or sports team, to name a few.
 


“We at Lindsay are committed to promoting peace, prosperity and giving during the holiday season,” said Jennifer Fuchs, consumer marketing manager at Lindsay Olives. “There are so many people in need in these difficult economic times, especially during the holidays. Santa Cause is a wonderful way to help food banks and involve kids and parents in the spirit of giving, which leaves a lasting impression all year long.”


According to news sources, 40% of federal funds have been cut from food programs across the country this year (food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries). Food banks are in dire need this year, and Lindsay is hoping to help.


The Santa Cause program is comprised of two elements. The first is a canned food drive where Lindsay Olives will invite youth groups nationwide to collect canned goods for their local food banks. Participating classes and groups will compete to win a $3,000 grand prize for the group that donates the highest percentage of cans. 
 
The second component is a Buy One, Give One effort, which will allow members of the community to help food banks, even if they are not part of a youth group, team or class. For each can of Lindsay Olives that a customer purchases from November 1-December 31, 2011, Lindsay Olives will donate a can to a food bank. Lindsay Olives will match customer purchases up to 25,000 cans.
 


Santa Cause Details
Participants in the canned food drive contest will be entering to win $3,000 to be used for the group purchase of equipment, supplies or to fund a program, which is Lindsay’s way of giving back to the community. Students can begin collecting cans November 1 and must deliver all collected cans to a food bank of their choice by December 20. 
 
“We know that many schools and organizations are also in need this year, and we hope this $3,000 donation will benefit the kids and the programs they are a part of,” said Fuchs.
 


To be eligible for the contest, groups can enter at www.LindsayOlives.com/holiday beginning November 1. All groups must enter online by December 31. Groups can consist of 45 members or less. Each group should collect a receipt from the food bank where they donate their canned goods and email, fax or mail it to Lindsay Olives for verification of the donation.


Buy One, Give One Details
Lindsay Olives is also holding a Buy One, Give One program so that those who make purchases can also give back to food banks. For each can of Lindsay Olives purchased, the company will donate a can to one of several food banks around the country. Lindsay Olives asks that purchasers for the Buy One, Give One program visit www.LindsayOlives.com/holiday and enter the UPC code from their can or cans of olives. This will ensure that Lindsay tracks their purchase and matches their purchase with a donation. 


As a company, Lindsay Olives values the idea of giving and sustaining life, which is symbolic of the olive branch. This idea inspired Lindsay Olives to launch the canned food drive contest.
 
Supporting Resources
For more information and official rules, visit www.LindsayOlives.com/holiday

Mom Social Group Registration Now Open!

Small fry society (sfs), a social activity program for Tampa Bay area mothers and babies under three years old is set to launch its second term on November 16th.  Members will once again come together at various locations for weekly one and a half hour distinctively themed “socials” to include breakfast/lunch. The term includes one Girls’ Night Out, a moms-only event featuring entertainment, light bites, cocktails and giveaways.  The Girls’ Night Out is open to moms and moms-to-be not already members of sfs and it provides a taste of the events, people and giveaways involved in the program. Over 50 people attended the October 25 Girls’ Night Out hosted by Neiman Marcus featuring cuisine by Datz, Mommy Juice Wines, Shutterbooth photos.  Diapers, wipes, formula and other donations were also collected at the event for local non-profit Alpha House.

Like the previous term, socials will include something for everyone, from food to fitness to photos to fabulous freebies and more.  There are a few distinct changes to the upcoming sessions.  The term now includes weekday and weekend socials to accommodate working mothers.  There are also two packages now available to suit busy schedules—three socials plus Girls’ Night Out or the full program which includes six socials plus Girls’ Night Out.  The socials are all hands-on and allow the women and babies to connect with each other, the community and the businesses participating in the program in a unique way—interactive, in an intimate setting, amongst old and new friends.

Small fry society continues to provide promotional opportunities to support local businesses’ marketing efforts to the growing family demographic. 

Registration for smallfry society’s second term is now open. For more information and to register for the programs, please visit www.smallfrysociety.com.

Social Mom Lisa Marie's Weekend Suggestion: 3rd Annual Legends Tour Championship

If you are looking for an outdoor family activity that the whole family will enjoy, then plan to attend the 3rd Annual Legends Tour Championship at the beautiful Island Course at Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort this weekend. Event activities will kick off on Tuesday, November 8th with golf clinics but continue all weekend through the main event, The Legends Tour Open Championship, on Saturday and Sunday.

Publix and Kraft Foods are co-sponsoring two new features this year. First, the Healthy Living Expo will feature a select number of wellness and lifestyle vendors offering advice and samples from 8am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Set alongside the Island Course, fans can also take a "Birdie Walk" and visit various checkpoints for vendor samples. Once they visit all of the checkpoints, fans can then redeem their passports for a free t-shirt at the Legends Tour merchandise tent. The Birdie Walk is open from 10am-2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

To announce the partnership between the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida and the Legends Tour Open Championship, several Tampa Bay area girl scouts participated in a golf clinic with players from the LPGA at the Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor. Girls had the opportunity to learn about golfing basics, improved their game and asked questions of LPGA Legends Jan Stephenson and Dawn Coe-Jones. The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida is the official charity of the Legends Tour Open Championship and 100% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. Children 17 and under and all military personnel with ID gain free entrance every day.

The weather is forecast to be wonderful this weekend so make plans now to get outside with your family!

For more information about the Legends Tour Open Championship, please visit http://www.thelegendstour.com/ and for more information about Innisbrook, visit http://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/

Number of Children Suffering from Food Allergies Increasing

As we all prepare for the holiday season, we are reminded of a growing segment of our population: children suffering from food allergies. A food allergy results when the immune system mistakenly identifies harmless food protein (an allergen) as a threat and attacks it. You can have a food allergic reaction from consuming minuscule amounts of the problem food. One in 13 U.S. children has a food allergy – that’s roughly two in every classroom – and nearly 40 percent of those children have already experienced a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction. Children with food allergies also are two to four times more likely to have other related conditions, such as asthma and other allergies, than children without food allergies.

Living with food allergies presents a considerable challenge. Many common allergens – such as peanuts, milk, eggs, tree nuts, wheat and soy – are key ingredients in other foods, and so even the strictest vigilance in avoiding problem foods cannot always prevent an allergic reaction. From the constant stress of finding safe food and carrying emergency medicine to the fear of unforeseen contamination and experiencing an allergic reaction, food allergies have a serious impact on quality of life. In a recent study, nearly 70 percent of parents of children with food allergies said it impacted their child’s quality of life, preventing them from eating in restaurants or attending social events like birthday parties for fear of encountering the allergen.

Awareness, education and training are crucial in keeping those suffering from food allergies safe. The increase in the number of children being diagnosed with food allergies means that learning to live with food allergies is a way of life, not just for the families of those afflicted, but for schools and other venues where children can be exposed to allergens. More information about keeping students with food allergies safe is available at www.allergyready.com which is home to “How to C.A.R.E. for Students with Food Allergies: What Educators Should Know,” a comprehensive, interactive online course about food allergies and anaphylaxis designed specifically for school personnel.

As it stands today, there is no cure for food allergy. For those affected, strict avoidance of the allergen is the only means of preventing a reaction. However, a cure is within our reach.

In April 2011, the Food Allergy Initiative, the world’s largest private funder of food allergy research, convened a group of the world’s leading food allergy researchers and thought leaders to discuss current research and the future of food allergy treatments. The group determined a course of action that would bring a portfolio of pharmaceutical-grade therapies to market that would represent effective treatment for the majority of those suffering from food allergies.

The next step in the process is to complete a large-scale registration trial of one of the therapies currently being researched – oral immunotherapy. Oral immunotherapy has proven safe and effective in a number of clinical trials. To complete this trial, additional federal funds – a total of $9 million per year for three years – will be needed. Currently, the cost to society of food allergies exceeds a half billion dollars each year. The economic burden of food allergies coupled with the fact that a cure is close at hand demonstrates the need to move swiftly, efficiently and effectively to fund research to find the cure.

Additional information about food allergies and advances in food allergy research is available at www.faiusa.org

Article By:

Michelle Todd

How to Have a Stress-Free Daylight Savings Experience with Your Children

Back before you were a parent, the end of daylight savings was a welcome relief to pitch black mornings. An extra hour of sleep is more valuable than gold, especially post parenthood. Enter Sweet Bundle of Joy who doesn't share your affinity of snoozing and also has a set, circadian rhythm that doesn't magically readjust over a weekend. Your baby doesn't care that Uncle Sam dictates a useless time adjustment every six months.

As if parenting weren't already the hardest thing anyone has ever done in the history of doing things, we must deal with the time change and our children. Here's what will happen, if you're new to fall-back with children: they wake up after the same number of hours of sleep. So if Junior typically wakes up at 7:00 am, you'll now have a 6:00 am early riser after the change. Start gearing up for that adjustment now with these six easy tips.

1. Extend bedtime a little later each night.
Folks who prefer to rip the band-aid off may just push through a few tough days and move bedtime forward a full hour immediately. Older children can handle a change like that a bit easier. But if you you have a baby or toddler, I recommend pushing bedtime back by ten or fifteen minutes for a few nights. This will take some discipline, but establishing a solid bedtime routine and sticking to it is not only important for your sanity, but for your child's health, too.

2. Expect grumpy toddlers for up to three weeks.
Again, the younger the child the longer it will take to adjust. According to multiple studies, poor or inadequate sleep causes irritability, stress and anxiety. No big surprise there. Pile on top of that an inability to verbally communicate and you've got a cranky young child on your hands for days, if not weeks. Just brace yourselves and prepare to expect some rocky terrain.

3. Reduce other variables to focus on sleep.
Kids do really well when they have time to hone in on one skill or hurdle at a time. If you're potty training, pull back on the reins for a while to let the lack of sleep pass. Trying to concentrate while sleep deprived makes you ineffective and irritable -- and the same goes for Junior.

4. Get room darkening shades or curtains.
Kids sense morning like sharks smell blood; the tiniest crack of daylight can wake even the hardest young sleeper. Keeping it dark in your child's room will encourage more sleep in the morning, something you'll want all year round. If you're not a fan of drapes, grab online coupons for custom blinds from sites like CouponSherpa, and outfit your windows with tailored dressings on the cheap.

5. Consistency is key.
It's tempting to give in to Little Darling when she pitches a fit for candy at the grocery store. If you give in to her demands, she'll just ratchet up the decibels on your next visit. That same principle applies to adjusting your clocks back. Stick to later naps and a later bedtime to avoid prolonged pain. According to Kim West, social worker and sleep coach, children will adjust to your age-appropriate sleep requirements when you are consistent. This means having the exact same routine every night and responding in the same way to your child's testing.

6. Minimize exposure to artificial light.
There's solid evidence that exposure to artificial light limits the production of melatonin, a key hormone in regulating the sleep/wake cycle. This goes for TV too. Cut the pre-bedtime cartoons and opt for relaxing, sleep-friendly activities like reading or puzzles.

Ashley Grimaldo comes from a long line of penny pinchers and enjoys blogging on money-saving tips and advice for frugal-minded parents. She lives with her husband and three children in Bryan, Texas. Ashley has been featured among such media outlets as Redbook, The Chicago Tribune, Time.com, and CBS News-Houston.