This week I joined Tropicana Trop50 and Giuliana Rancic, founder of FabFitFun.com, for the launch of the latest new Lemonade and Raspberry L...

This week I joined Tropicana Trop50 and Giuliana Rancic, founder of FabFitFun.com, for the launch of the latest new Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonades.

During the event I had a chance to sit down and chat with Giuliana about why she's excited about Tropicana Trop50 drinks, her support for Dress for Success, and what's she up to next

What made you want to be part of the Tropicana Trop50 campaign?

Giuliana Rancic: I love that it's 50% less calories and 50% less sugar than other fruit beverages. So many people are trying to be healthy and watch what they drink, which is so important since many other types of beverages has lots more sugar and calories. It’s a fantastic beverage, especially for the summer.

During this event, for each new “like” of Trop50 on Facebook, 50 cents will be donated to Dress for Success. Tell me why that's important to you

Giuliana Rancic: I use to work with Dress for Success because I love the idea of helping these women. Now I still want to continue to support the organization. It's such a simple thing but has such powerful far reaching results.

Some of these women are moms. We need to help the moms, who can then help the kids and their communities. I love what the programs does.

So where's the next exciting place fans can find you?

Giuliana Rancic: This weekend I'm hosting the Miss USA Pageant. Funny back story about that. I tried out for the pageant. Twice! Now I'm hosting it. *laughs*


To further celebrate the new flavors, during Trop50's “World’s Most Fabulous Lemonade Stand” in Times Square visitors received free Trop50 lemonade refreshments, a fun photo booth experience, and tips from Giuliana.


Visitors to the event could receive mini-makeovers in the different booths setup. Some visitors had a person one on one style session with Giuliana. How cool was that?!


I ran into my dad blogger friend Mitch and we had fun posing in the photo booth and learning how our photo joined others uploaded to the Tropicana facebook page.

Of course we also enjoyed as much Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonades as we could get our hands on.

Make sure you try the new flavors of Trop50 Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonades varieties, which deliver the refreshment with 50 percent less sugar and calories, and no artificial sweeteners.

Each 8-ounce glass of Trop50 squeezes in a full day’s supply of vitamin C and is a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E.

Learn more, visit -

I've heard a lot of good things about using a tablet versus an iPad. When I recently had the chance to test out the Motorola XOOM, I was...

I've heard a lot of good things about using a tablet versus an iPad. When I recently had the chance to test out the Motorola XOOM, I was excited to see what features made this tablet better.

I joined a group of bloggers at Dashing Diva for manis and pedis to learned why the Motorola XOOM tablet is a must have accessory this year.

Each of the moms were given their own Motorola XOOM during our prep session. We followed step by step over the apps and features on our Motorola XOOM and allowed to test out how things worked.


We learned about the camera, internet and emails features and even watched a movie. While I worried about the weight (1lb?), I was impressed with how simple it was to find programs I needed and even to customize. Here is a breakdown of some of the other features of the Motorola XOOM tablet.


About - Motorola XOOM is redefining what a tablet experience can be as the world’s first device to run Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Google’s powerful operating system designed specifically for tablets and featuring the latest Google Mobile Innovations. Motorola XOOM also comes with support for Adobe® Flash® Player, allowing you to browse the web with full access to Flash sites, videos and games. Enjoy all of this on the Motorola XOOM’s 10.1” HD widescreen display, enabling HD video content that’s richer and clearer than ever before.

Beyond the Next Generation

Motorola XOOM is uniquely equipped to support an always evolving tablet experience. Offering 3G wireless access that can be upgraded to super-fast 4G LTE, and powered by a dual core processor with each core running at 1 GHz, delivering up to two GHz of processing power, Motorola XOOM delivers performance that’s twice as fast at web browsing as the leading competitor on the market today. Thin, light and powerful, it’s easy to hold, easy on the eyes and goes anywhere you do with the connectivity and performance to support the latest features, software and functions as soon as they’re released.

Surf. Watch. Play. Connect.

Motorola XOOM is the first tablet to feature the latest Google Mobile innovations, including Google Maps 5.0 with 3D interaction, access to over 3 million Google eBooks and Google Talk with video and voice chat. And as a gamer, you can experience Motorola XOOM’s rich graphics at lightning-fast speeds with games that leverage the built-in gyroscope and accelerometer.

Work with Ease

Motorola XOOM lets you stay connected to work from anywhere through the country’s largest 3G network from Verizon Wireless. You can check personal or Exchange corporate email, view calendars and even send meeting notices. Not to mention that information is brought straight to your home screen with live, scrollable widgets. Open documents, spreadsheets and presentations, edit them on a virtual QWERTY or the Motorola Bluetooth® Wireless keyboard, and send them back lightning fast.

Power Accessories beyond the Charger

Motorola XOOM has a wide range of accessories to expand its power and capabilities. The “smart docks” are no longer just a place to charge your device; they make Motorola XOOM a portable play and work station that fits your lifestyle. The Standard Dock can be used for watching video content or listening to music through external speakers as the device charges. The Speaker HD Dock allows you to send HD content directly to your TV or blast your tunes without attaching external speakers.

Create and Share

Motorola XOOM is ready to document your adventures. It includes a rear-facing 5 megapixel camera with flash that captures video in 720p HD. View and edit your photos and video immediately, then display them on the 10.1” HD screen or on any HDTV with HDMI connectivity. Post your creations straight to YouTube, Picasa, and Facebook® or engage with friends and family through Motorola XOOM’s front-facing 2 megapixel camera designed for video calling.

We were excited at see The Big Apple Circus Show, Dance On! It was our first time seeing a The Big Apple Circus performance! There was lots ...

We were excited at see The Big Apple Circus Show, Dance On! It was our first time seeing a The Big Apple Circus performance! There was lots to enjoy.

Note: I received media tickets to Big Apple Circus for review purposes. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

Here are some of the photos from our afternoon at the Big Apple Circus.

Many different acts during the show. My son loved seeing the goats ride on the backs of the pony's. In another act, white horses filled the stage. They were beautiful.


Besides the animal other acts included:

• A troupe of unicyclists and lasso twirlers from China.
• A group of Mongolian contortionists.
• Kenyan athletes who shimmy up a pole.
• And many more acts that are accompanied by live music by the Big Apple Circus Band

Even though this was our first time, my family had a great time seeing the The Big Apple Circus. We plan to see the show next time it comes to town.

If you haven't caught the Dance On! show yet, make sure to get tickets soon and take your family.

To learn more, visit - www.bigapplecircus.com

This Mother's Day many women will be celebrating that special moment they gave birth and started a new life as "mom". But for...

This Mother's Day many women will be celebrating that special moment they gave birth and started a new life as "mom". But for some women that birth moment is not cause for celebration but a moment of fear, confusion and even death.

Last year I wrote about what I learned about maternal health after attending a screening of The Crisis in the Crib. Sadly the issues of maternal health have not improved since then. A woman dies every 90 seconds from complications of pregnancy. 90% of deaths are preventable.

But thankfully more voices are being raised in spreading awareness. Once such voice is Christy Turlington Burns who will make a directorial debut in “No Woman, No Cry,” a documentary about maternal health, set to air this weekend on Own: Oprah Winfrey Network in conjunction with U.S. Mother’s Day.


I recently had a chance to meet Christy and watch a preview of her film “No Woman, No Cry,” The film follows the stories of expectant mothers in four countries—Tanzania, Bangladesh, Guatemala and the Unites States, as they face critical junctures in their pregnancies. “No Woman, No Cry,” explores the barriers millions of women face when trying to access critical care throughout their pregnancies and while delivering, along with the often simple solutions that could save their lives.


The film was touching on such a deep and human level. It starts with Christy sharing her own labor and delivery story which went smoothly until after the delivery when a complication happened. While Christy was able to get immediate care, she knows this is not the case for all women becoming mothers. Going through that experience inspired Christy to spread awareness of maternal health and it's surrounding issue.

After watching the screening I, along with a group of other bloggers took part in a short question and answer session with Christy. I learned that Christy deliberately chose to make this film independently. She wanted the freedom to tell the stories as honest and real as possible.

Instead of just focusing on one state or country Christy highlighted stories both domestic and international. The stories highlighted both the direct and indirect issues affecting women seeking care before and during their pregnancy. She wanted to put real faces that people can relate to.

One of the points stressed during the Q & A session is how important it is that women of all ages and stages of life try to educate themselves and becoming their own advocates. Women need to learn and if they want seeking alternative health options if traditional options aren't meeting their needs.

The film is connected to Every Mother Counts (EMC), a five-year outreach campaign Christy founded in 2010, dedicated to improving maternal health and reducing maternal mortality around the world by engaging the public, raising awareness and driving action.


In support of the EMC campaign, Starbucks will release ‘Every Mother Counts’, a companion CD of music inspired by the theme of motherhood and “No Woman, No Cry.” The artists and musicians include Carla Bruni, Rosanne Cash, Ani Difrnaco, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, and Gwyneth Patrow, among others. They contributed cover songs and original compositions, several of which were recorded exclusively for this compilation.

Make sure you tune in to OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Saturday May 7, at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT) and again on Mother's Day.

To learn how you can get involved and make a difference visit - www.everymothercounts.org

As a city mom finding a toddler friendly stroller hasn't been easy. While my son is a good walker, there are times when we still need to...

As a city mom finding a toddler friendly stroller hasn't been easy. While my son is a good walker, there are times when we still need to use a stroller.

Note: I received a product sample for review purposes. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

Some strollers are either too heavy and cumbersome to deal with while getting on and off public transportation. Other strollers are too flimsy and offer no real body support for the child. I was starting to get frustrated with my "toddler friendly" stroller search!

Then I attended a Maclaren 2011 Preview and learned about their Triumph Stroller (along with the rest of their stroller line). After the preview the Maclaren team sent me one for review.

My Review

I confess we took this stroller on a serious review. We used it in all types of weather, on all types of surfaces from streets to playgrounds to grassy areas in the park. I was greatly impressed with the performance and how sturdy the stroller was.

Some of the key points the stood out during my review

• The 'Ergonomically optimized" handles made it super easy to open the door with one hand and wheel the stroller in with the other. The handles had a comfortable and non slip grip
• Water resistant hood & Stroller cover. Lately in NYC the weather is different everyday. I can't stay inside because of snow or rain so having a stroller that ensured my son stayed dry and warm is a huge plus. I was impressed that the stroller cover fit lined up and fit sung on the stroller. No more wind and rain creeping under like with other stroller covers.
• Carry Strap for easy portability. Having a carry strap on a stroller is genius! I live in a walk up building so I liked being able to fold the stroller AND then slide over my shoulder for easy carrying so I could hold my son hand...and his toys. The carrying strap also made it 100x's easier to get on a bus. No more having to hold stroller and child
• Recline: Multi-position. To many others strollers force children to sleep sitting up at uncomfortable angles. But the Triumph seat can adjust for when my son sleeping to awake and sightseeing which was great.
• 5 second one hand fold. I confess I struggled to learn how to fold my stroller in the beginning. I was used to a one step fold of other strollers. But the Maclaren staff explained and demonstrated how the two step closing process is just as quick, it's also safer for your child since your ensuring it locks in place properly. Once I figured it out it was a breeze to fold and unfold when needed.

Along with those key points, I liked that the Triumph offered alot of width and height room for a toddler. I was surprised when my son sat down and his feet didn't hang out, like with another stroller.

He was also able to sit back and be comfortable without being squeezed because of a narrow stroller width. Even with the growth spurts my son is having I can see that we can still use the Triumph for a long while.

While I've always been impressed with the Maclaren's line of strollers, it was great to get a chance to review one in a real life setting with an older child. I can confidently say that the Maclaren line of stroller are made to last you from infant to toddler hood.

Maclaren's Triumph Stroller

The Maclaren triumph stroller is dependable, resilient and lightweight. This is durable buggy with stylish flare to meet the everyday needs of hectic family life. This is suitable from 3 months and comes complete with hood, rain cover and shopping basket. It has sovereign lifetime warranty, phthalate free and lead free.

Features:

• 5 point harness for added security
• Height adjustable shoulder harness
• Removable, washable seat
• Handy mesh shopping basket
• Updated Hubcap design on the 2011 Model
• Weight: 11.5 LBS
• Carrying Capacity - 55lbs
• New 2011 Colors: Carmine Rose and Crown Blue

Learn more, visit - www.maclarenbaby.com