The Apollo Circus of Soul is giving away a family four pack of tickets.

This is "an animal-free family entertainment event in the legendary Apollo Theater for the entire 2007 Holiday season featuring spectacular circus acts, live music, urban dancers, “American’s Got Talent” winners, singers, acrobats, celebrities and surprises."

Mom in the City members can enter simply by sending an email to contests@mominthecity.com with "Circus" in the Subject line.  The winner will be chosen on November 30th.

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Yesterday, I attended a Staples event for online media, “How to shop for tech gifts…when you don’t understand tech!” 

It was nice to put a face to the names of some women behind some of my favorite NYC area blogs/sites like SavvyMommy (who recently had her third baby and looks GREAT), Cool Mom Picks (Liz was very friendly, very cool), Alpha Mom (she really is an Alpha Mom – she doesn’t forget anything!) and Twins & the City (Paris is a very nice woman – I would join her group if I had twins).

It was also great to actually learn some technology tips. (I am so not a gadget girl!).  Also, who knew that you could get such cool things at Staples?!  Of the four areas covered (Digital Cameras, Digital Frames, Portable GPS and Laptops), I was most interested in the laptops and digital cameras.  I’m not a big digital photo frame fan because I find the shifting images distracting.  Currently, I don’t need a GPS because I don’t drive.  (Hopefully, that will be different this time next year.)  I already have a camera and a computer but I now know what I want when it’s time to upgrade.

As far as laptops, I learned the following terms:
-Integrated webcam: Many laptops feature an integrated camera conveniently located right above the screen that easily connects you to family and friends through the Internet.

-Bluetooth: This technology lets devices to share information wirelessly. Laptops with built-in Bluetooth allow you to wirelessly connect other Bluetooth devices such as cell phones, PDAs, printers and mice to conveniently transfer and sync data without an external adapter.

-LightScribe: To avoid the hassle of printing CD labels, look for a laptop with a CD/DVD burner with LightScribe technology. This burns your media, as well as text and graphics, directly onto the disc’s surface for easy labeling.

As far as digital cameras, I didn’t really learn anything new.  I did have fun playing with the Canon PowerShot SD750 (7.1 megapixel) though and I was happy to learn that it’s only $249…that’s pretty great for 7.1 megapixels. (I think that we paid that much for our 4 megapixel SONY a couple of years ago.)

In any event, you can find all of these gifts and more at  www.staples.com.

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Just in time for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I have some tips from Charles Stuart Platkin, author of The Diet Detective’s Calorie Bargain Bible: More than 1,000 Calorie Bargains in Supermarkets, Kitchens, Offices, Restaurants, the Movies, for Special Occasions, and More …

Candied Sweet Potatoes vs. Mashed Potatoes
A cup of mashed potatoes has 240-300 calories. Candied sweet potatoes, however, also contain butter - as well as brown sugar and sometimes even marmalade, honey, maple syrup, marshmallows and/or pecans, which can add up to more than 450 calories for a one-cup portion.

Traditional Turkey Gravy vs. Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is not the winner! Gravy is the right choice. Per half-cup, cranberry sauce has 180 calories compared with only 80 calories for traditional turkey gravy.
 
Baked Country Ham vs. Turkey vs. Prime Rib
You’re at the carving station of the buffet at your holiday party and you want to make the best choice. If you guessed the turkey is the best deal, you’re right - white meat turkey without the skin has about 193 calories for 5 ounces. A country ham is made with brown sugar, apple cider and red wine vinegar and has about 340 calories for 5 ounces. And forget the prime rib - it’s the worst of the three at 450 calories for a 5-ounce portion.

Pumpkin Pie vs. Apple Pie vs. Pecan Pie
The pumpkin pie is actually the best of the three, coming in at 270 calories per slice, but the apple pie is a close second at about 350. Pecan pie, however, is a dietary disaster at more than 700 calories. Whichever one you choose, definitely skip the whipped cream - it adds an extra 80 to 100 calories per serving. If you add a scoop of vanilla Haagen-Dazs ice cream to make it "a la mode," tack on another 270 calories.

Apple Cider vs. Beer vs. Wine
Apple cider has about 120 calories per 8-ounce serving, which is similar to many beers and wines. Alternatives: unsweetened iced tea with mint, water with lemon or diet soda.

Tips for surviving the holiday season with your waist intact:

Eat First: It may sound absurd, but if you are going to a holiday party, eat ahead of time. Plenty of people starve themselves before going to a party so they’ll have "room" for all the great food. They arrive - stomachs rumbling - and make a beeline for the high-calorie, high-fat appetizers and finger foods, easily eating more than a day’s worth of calories. Instead, try eating enough healthy food beforehand so you’re full before you arrive. You’ll have much more self-control around those tempting party treats.
 
All or Nothing: How many times have you heard, "I’ve already ruined my diet, so it doesn’t matter what I eat now." Who knows how the myth got started, but it can be hazardous to your waistline. The bottom line is, an extra calorie is an extra calorie - so eating a slice of pie shouldn’t give you an excuse to eat two more. Have you ever heard of cutting your losses? Well, the same rule applies to cutting your gains. It’s never too late to stop.

Strategize: You might think that planning what you’re going to eat beforehand takes all the fun and spontaneity out of the occasion, but that’s just not so. You’re probably thinking about what you’re going to eat anyway, so why not make it work for instead of against you? In fact, practicing good eating behavior at special events could actually make you feel more relaxed and empowered, not frustrated or disappointed. It gives you the sense of being in control of your environment instead of being lured into the dark world of overindulgence. So plan what and how much you’re going to eat at the event before you even get there - set limits and you’ll feel better.

Watch Out for Food Pushers: How many times has a family member or friend told you that you’ll spoil the party if you don’t partake in the food festivities, or that it’s bad luck not to have at least one slice of cake? Have your answer ready for those diet saboteurs. Mentally rehearse a few key phrases like, "Oh, no thanks. I couldn’t eat another thing." Or try the truth: "I’m dieting, and that piece of cake will throw me completely off track."   

Recruit Your Friends: Getting the support of your friends and family is not always easy, but it’s worth a try. Talk to them about the healthy changes you’re making and enlist their help. The idea is not to have them police your behavior but rather for them to empower you by being encouraging and enthusiastic about your new way of life.
 
Balance It Out: Looking for a guilt-free way to enjoy your favorite holiday treat? Try consuming fewer calories the day before and after the holiday. It’s basically a matter of calorie balance. By consuming 500 calories less the day before and after a holiday, you’re leaving room for 1,000 extra calories. So a rich holiday dinner can be balanced by a lighter meal the day after.
 
Trade-Off: Do a "trade-off." Eating more during the holidays can be offset, at least in part, by a moderate increase in daily exercise. Keep in mind that every 100 calories is equal to about 25 minutes of walking.

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Zoey from little biRd, a New York based personal styling and shopping company that focuses exclusively on children up to age 18, was kind enough to provide a list of the best places to shop for…

-Your baby: yoya, calypso enfant, bu and the duck, and lucky wang’s

-Girls and boys to age 9: crew cuts, scoop kids, and h+m

-Boys: kid robot

-Tweens: infinity, all dressed up, berkley girl, and little marc (They cut generously so adults can wear some of their larger sizes for a fraction of the cost of marc jacobs runway.)

-Other people’s kids: MoMA design store

and

-Other people’s babies: bonpoint

Happy Shopping!

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