(To see other “Wordless Wednesdays” around the web, visit here, here or here.)

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In an earlier post, I mentioned that I would have my review & giveaway policies in writing before the end of the year. In early 2009, I’m going to be getting the site “tweaked” and there will be a separate “Policies” page. Meanwhile, this is what will be on that page…

For Mom in the City Readers

Giveaways:
Giveaways are open to US residents (unless otherwise noted on the post). Winners will be randomly selected by a random.org program. (I’m too sentimental to choose based on comments!) Winners are responsible for providing the requested shipping information within 3 days of notification. Otherwise, the prize will be forfeited.

For Potential Mom in the City Sponsors

Reviews:
Mom in the City has over 15 diverse reviewers with children ages newborn and up. We are interested in reviewing products geared towards moms and/or kids (ages newborn to five years old). Please note that we do not return samples. If you are interested in submitting an event or product for review, please email Kimberly (kcoleman@mominthecity.com).

Discounts:
Mom in the City is happy to offer relevant special discounts as a service to our readers. We are interested in discounts geared towards moms and/or kids (ages newborn to five years old). Please note that discounts must be 15% or more. If you are interested in offering a discount, please email Kimberly (kcoleman@mominthecity.com).

Giveaways:
Mom in the City readers love giveaways. (No matter how much/how little moms have financially, we all have one thing in common – we love to win!) As such, Mom in the City is interested in offering giveaways geared towards moms and/or kids (ages newborn to five years old). Please note that the total combined value of the giveaway must be $50 or more. Sponsors are also responsible for shipping the item(s) to the winner(s). If you are interested in sponsoring a giveaway, please email Kimberly (kcoleman@mominthecity.com). In your email, please indicate whether the giveaway will be open to: US only, US and Canada, or to International participants. Thanks.

(So…do you think that these “policies” make it clear that this site is primarily geared towards moms with kids ages newborn to five years old?)

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(To see other “Wordless Wednesdays” around the web, visit here, here or here.)

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Congratulations to the following Mom in the City newsletter subscribers who won the following contests:

-Holiday DVDs: Veronica Szymankiewicz
-Avon bundle: Deane
-Groovy Girls: Heather
-$50 Savings pass from 1-800-flowers.com: Tammy Lessick
-Disney TH!NK Fast package: jpkittie
-PopATot: Eloise Nurse
-Appreciation Party!: Stacy
-Baby Mozart DVD: Sara
-Polly Pocket™ Pop ‘N Swap and MyMeebas™: Landy
-Animal Crossing City Folk and Wii Speak Microphone Bundle: Kathy Conley

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Congratulations to the following Mom in the City newsletter subscribers who won the following contests:

-My Princess Academy: Valerie Mitchell

-Safe Sippy: Mary Jenkins

Enjoy!

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I’m thankful for many things in 2008. Here is my Top 10 (so far…)

1. Faith: Nothing is impossible with God.

2. Family: I’m so grateful to have a wonderful husband and kids whom I both like and love! I’m also very fortunate to have great relationships with the rest of our family, both immediate and extended.

3. Friends: The older I get, I have fewer but much more meaningful friendships – many acquaintances but a special, few friends.

4. Health (physical and emotional): It’s such a gift that I and my loved ones are in good physical health. Also, I don’t think that I really realized before how much of a treasure emotional stability is!

5. Education: Irregardless of what I choose to do at the various stages of my life, it can never be taken away.

6. Current Career: Being a parenting writer/blogger/speaker is the ideal job at this stage of my life. I basically get paid to live my life and share about it. How great is that?! I’m especially happy about some of the longer term relationships that I have built this year with moms and marketers – especially Nintendo (we’re a Wii family!); method (they’ve helped us to live a little bit more “green” AND they threw my 35th birthday party!); and Disney (they treated me to a fabulous weekend and - more importantly - listened to African American mom concerns regarding their brand).

7. Financial Stability: We’re not (financially) rich, but we don’t have to choose between gas in the car and food on the table. That’s no small thing in today’s economic environment.

8. Home: I’m glad that at the end of the day, there’s no place that I, my husband and our kids would rather be.

9. Learning to Drive: Although, I don’t especially love driving yet, it’s a great skill to have. It “frees” me in new ways.

10. Family Vacations: I love when we get to our destination! Both the family wedding in North Carolina and our off-season Jersey Shore getaways were great. (In addition, with all that there is to do living in NYC, it’s like we’re on “vacation” year-round!)

What Are You Most Thankful For This Thanksgiving?

(To see what other moms around the web are thankful for, visit here.)

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This will be my last post about my AWESOME Disney trip. I thought that I’d have more insider tips, but it turns out that many of the things that we experienced aren’t really available every day. (We all joked that it’s going to be difficult to go back to the Parks as “regular” visitors after being treated so “VIP” for those few days…)

I did pick up a few tips though:

-You can cut the wait time for rides with Disney’s FASTPASS. All you do is insert your Park ticket into the FASTPASS kiosk at the various rides. You’ll get a ticket with a return time when you come back and get in the FASTPASS line (which is a little to no wait time). Best of all, it’s totally free.

-You can leave your camera at home with Disney’s PhotoPass Service. Basically, professional photographers throughout the various parks will take pictures of you that you can claim online later. (You get the PhotoPass card -which has a unique i.d. number - from the first photographer and reuse it for the rest of the day throughout the Parks.) After your visit, you can order prints and/or various photo items online and have them delivered to you.

-September and January are the best (rate-wise) times to visit the Parks. Since there are less people, the rates are the lowest. They also offer various special promotions during those months (i.e. in September, there was a free dining promotion when you stayed at one of the Disney resorts…).

-You can find some of the best offers directly on their website.

-Don’t assume that you can’t afford Disney. A family of four can stay for as little (or as much depending on who’s doing the budget!) as $1700 which includes a Disney hotel, Park admission and airport pick-up.

And my favorite tip…

-Use Disney’s Moms Panel when planning your trip. You can ask specific questions on a wide variety of topics (including budgeting!) and they’ll get you the answers. (Laura S., a panelist who was with our group throughout the weekend, was like a walking Disney encyclopedia!)

In any event, I had a blast at Walt Disney World and I’m looking forward to returning with my family within the next couple of years.

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On Halloween, I wrote a post called method TREAT made me want to go buy a dishwasher where I shared that I couldn’t enjoy their smarty dish detergent in pink grapefruit because I don’t have a dishwasher at home. They were so sweet that they sent me some ‘conventional’ dish soap (actually four!) that I can actually use.

Unfortunately, I can’t share this with you as a giveaway. (With all of the giveaways that we’re currently running, I’ve more than exceeded my non-existent shipping budget!). They are reasonably priced ($4) though so you can get your own.

Something else that you can purchase (for yourself or as a great holiday gift!) is the method holiday bundle. It contains a bamboo aroma ring, potpourri ornament, mini soy candle trio, hand wash and reusable market tote for only $32 (regularly $53).

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I just read this post It Would Make Me Very Happy If You’d Read This Post on one of the blogs that I follow, Rocks In My Dryer. It’s a sweet gesture from a husband to his wife so I’m passing it on…

Basically, as a holiday gift, a husband and father is trying to put together a creative, little-to-no money gift for his wife. (They’re sending the money that they would normally spend on themselves to assist humanitarian efforts underway in an African village that he visited.**) So, he’s collecting a group of encouraging letters with bits of motherhood wisdom for his wife. This small idea has turned into The Mother Letter Project .

If you have a few minutes, please stop by the site and write a letter to his wife, encouraging her in her mothering journey. (I plan on writing one ASAP.)

**The fact that he’s sending their money to an African village is especially poignant to me at the moment. I’ll be sharing more about that in the New Year after I “iron out” some details with my super sweet, dear husband.

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(Just in case you’re not set for Turkey Day, here are some checklist items courtesy of Stop & Shop Consumer Advisor Andrea Astrachan. A link to Andrea’s monthly column online can be found here.)

- Put together your guest list and find out whether any of your guests have allergies or dietary restrictions.

- Develop a menu- include your traditional family favorites and search recipes for new, creative ideas to try.

- Assign side dishes to guests based on their specialties – and to lighten your workload!

- Think about your table and festive decorations. Will you need candles or a floral centerpiece? Our floral department and seasonal aisle have great choices.

- Create a complete shopping list based on your menu and number of anticipated guests.

- Divide your shopping list into “anytime” items and “buy later” items.

- Purchase your “anytime” items (decorations, beverages, canned and frozen goods) now. For other items, like fresh fruit and cheese platters, shrimp platters, fresh rolls and your floral centerpiece- wait closer to Thanksgiving Day.

- Buy your turkey in advance!

- A fresh turkey can be purchased up to a week ahead; just make certain that the sell-by date is no more than 2 days before you plan to cook the bird.

- If frozen, a 12-pound turkey will take 2 days to defrost in the Refrigerator; a 20-24 pound turkey will take 4 days.

- Remember to use a meat thermometer. It takes the stress out of properly and safely cooking the turkey. Just insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, where the leg connects to the body and remove the turkey from the oven when the temperature reaches 160 degrees F.

- Plan ahead if you’re having children at your home. Make fun activities available such as books, coloring books, stickers, toys and games- for convenience, you can pick up these items in our toy and book aisles while you food shop. And please remember to put all medicine and household chemicals in out-of-reach locations.

- Finally, stock up on sale items to save money. At this time of year, there are great sales on many staples and canned goods. I also pick up an extra frozen turkey because it’s priced right and lasts 6-9 months in a deep freezer.

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