Enjoy the weekend… and if you have some time, enjoy some sales!

Aerie
American Eagle
Ann Taylor
Athleta
Banana Republic
Bloomingdale’s
Bluefly
dELiA*s
Endless.com
Express
Forever 21
GAP
Heels
HSN.com
Kohl’s
Lands’ End
LOFT
Lord & Taylor
Macy’s
ModCloth
New Balance
Nine West
Nordstrom.com
Old Navy
Payless
Piperlime
QVC.com
Sephora
Shopbop.com
Target
The Children’s Place
The Limited
White House Black Market
Zappos.com

Matthew and I hadn’t upgraded our mattress in years. It had been YEARS. I’ll admit it, when we were looking for mattresses before — we were looking for the cheapest. Plain and simple. We weren’t looking for anything beyond that. Which was kind of ridiculous. We weren’t thinking of the ultimate comfort and support. We weren’t thinking of a mattress that could genuinely grow with us. We were wrong.

As soon as I heard about Serta’s iComfort, I was in love.

Introducing the new iComfort Sleep System by Serta, featuring our Cool Action™ Gel Memory Foam – the world’s first memory foam infused with the support and cooling touch of Serta’s MicroSupport™ gel. This revolutionary new memory foam is designed to deliver superior pressure relief and more targeted support while sleeping cooler than ordinary memory foam. Plus, it is antimicrobial and dust mite resistant to help protect your mattress from potential allergens.

Hello LOVER!

But when it comes to my kids, I hate to admit this, but I’ve never taken the time to think about the quality of their mattresses either. They all sleep in twin beds, and all of their mattresses are hand-me-downs from family and friends. I’m ECSTATIC to be getting them all new Serta mattresses! I want mattresses that will last and grow with them… and are full with quality and comfort and support. They’re growing bodies need it more than anything!

We’re trying to figure out exactly what Serta we’re going to get, but we’re beyond excited to find their perfect match.

And… drum roll please!!

I’m excited to announce The Great Serta Mattress Heist on Facebook!

The Counting Sheep finally did it. They broke into Serta’s World Headquarters and have escaped with a Perfect Sleeper mattress. Sources close to Sheep #1 (and by that, we mean his Human Assistant who is terrible at keeping secrets) say that he and his accomplices, #s 5, 8 and 14, will soon be releasing clues as to where they are stashing the missing mattress. These clues are being released with one goal in mind – to prove to Serta that the sheep have outsmarted them with what they are calling “The Great Serta Mattress Heist”. (And, Sheep #1 has proclaimed public humiliation for Serta as he plans to reveal the hiding spot on live television!)

In response to this outrageous act, Serta is taking action and asking its Facebook fans to help them find and reclaim the stolen Serta mattress. Serta Facebook fans will have the opportunity to decode a series of clues left by the Counting Sheep, and uncover the hiding place of the Perfect Sleeper mattress. Serta will also offer weekly prizes, including plush Serta Sheep, Serta pillows and other tokens of comfort throughout the campaign. It’s going on NOW at Facebook!

Disclosure: I’m working as a Serta Ambassador

I was so concerned today when I heard about the segment that ran last night on ABC called “Laundry Detergent Pods Poisoning Children.” The segment specifically mentioned the Tide Pods, and how children have been mistaking them for candy.

As anyone can tell by reading my blog, I’m a loyal P&G consumer. I’ve been using Tide my whole entire life! It has always been the constant in my laundry world, and has gone through the evolution of life with me… baby, child, teen, young adult, woman, married and mother. Tide’s made my life easier by keeping my clothes clean and helping them last longer. I’m just a Tide lover and working with P&G and Tide over the last few years has been a dream come true for me.

I was actually involved in a focus group when Tide Pods were beginning to be born. I loved the fact that Tide was jumping into the single dose category and knew it would make a mom’s life (because that’s where I see things from) easier. When the Tide Pods were finally released and in-stores, I couldn’t WAIT to pop them into the laundry. It’s as easy as 1-2-3… you don’t even think about it! You pop and go. I officially made the switch from my liquid Tide to the Pods a month ago.

When I saw the news segment about the little girl eating one of the Pods because she thought it was candy, I felt awful. I felt awful for the little girl and for the mother. I’ve always felt that a brand and/or company is defined by how quickly they step-up and acknowledge when something needs to be addressed. My father is an entrepreneur, and my whole life he was taught his children that in business, the customer is always the most important person. I was extremely impressed today as to how quickly P&G and Tide addressed everything and I wanted to share their statement on my blog tonight…

Cleaning products are very much part of our everyday life and are safe when used as intended, but they must be kept out of reach of young children and pets. Unfortunately incidents do sometimes happen and we have seen some incidents of accidental exposures with the introduction of unit dose laundry detergent in the US.

As of the launch, we have employed our best learnings on how to inform our consumers about proper usage instructions and labeled the product in a way that helps consumers in safe handling the product. Since the launch, we have also improved the tub lid with a double latch closure and this lid will be available on several sizes in the stores as of July 2012. We are also looking into ways on how intensify our educational efforts.

We’ve been working with American Cleaning Institute to promote the instructions on safe handling, usage and disposal of the laundry detergents, and remind the public that cleaning products must be kept out of the reach of young children. The American Cleaning Institute has already taken a number of steps to reinforce this messaging.

Unit dose pacs are safe for their intended use, and they’ve been used by households across Europe for over 10 years. However, like any cleaning product, they need to be handled carefully and should be kept out of the reach of young children.

I’m happy – as a customer and mom – to see that P&G will be releasing a double latch closure in July. I keep all of my detergents and home cleaning products in cabinets above my washer/dryer, but I know not everyone is able to do this. I love that P&G has made improvements to keep making sure the are producing the best possible product for their customers.

He won American Idol Season #11!

From DAY 1 Phillip Phillips has been my favorite.  I have voted for him every single week.  I have sat watching every Tuesday night hoping he does well.  I have gotten nervous every Wednesday evening when it was results time.  There was one week Phillip Phillips was in the bottom 3, and I was crushed!

But that changed as the weeks went on. He became more and more of the American Idol heart throb and it was amazing to see him come into his own week after week.

But seeing him win last night…

… the best part for me was watching him become so emotional while he was trying to sing his last song, and then the only thing he could do was run over to his family and hug them.

As a mom, they touched my heart!

BRAVO Phillip Phillips!

It’s interesting how our memories ebb and flow.

And it’s very intriguing how on specific calendar dates,  people from the past show up and places come back and scents and sounds come alive… like a river after the rain.

Birthdays are especially good for memories.  And for a parent, birthdays are all the more, I think, conducive for the high tide of memories.

Yesterday, my daughter Audrey turned 34.  I remember May 23, 1978 like I’m standing in it today.  But the day, the date, even all those years ago, also creates a swirl of magical energy that brings back memories of my child from so many moments, so many days, all through these many, many years… all little pieces of her life’s great puzzle.

Audrey’s birthday had me thinking, smiling, remembering… and mostly, laughing.

Audrey is one of the funniest people on earth.  One look, one word, one line, one text message will belly-laugh me every single time.  Her wit, her observations, her timing, her reactions… lightning quick, impeccable, comedic genius.

This characteristic is the perfect contrast to Audrey’s deep, deep focus, vision, love of life and her people in it, determination, dedication, will, strength and drive to create, to become, to invite success to herself and everyone around her.  To be precise.  To direct.  I’ve watched wheels constantly turning in Audrey’s head, since forever.

Audrey is just like her Dad.  2 Perfect Geminis.

But anyway… yesterday, my laughter memories landed on a 4th grade note that Audrey had written to her Dad and me.  She had just begun her stint in what our little town-at-the-time called Middle Highway Elementary School.  This was a new concept in town… taking the 4th & 5th graders from each of 3 elementary schools and putting them all in one school.  Upper Elementary, if you will.

Of course, there was a Parents’ Night, Open House kind of thing early in the school year.

Audrey was excited for us to see her new school, and Barry and I were excited to attend.  We were to report to Homeroom, where we would learn some things about the new school from the Homeroom teacher, review some of our child’s work and find our child’s daily schedule to follow during the evening.

Sounded about right for an Open House.

But Audrey had gone a tad further with her precise, direct, hysterically funny hand-written instructions.  I remember trying to hold in my laughter as I sat at her little desk in Ms. Marcowitz’s Homeroom.

Of course, I saved Audrey’s schedule and note all the way from 4th grade, albeit a little worn with age…

Page 1

Page 2

It reads like this (exactly):

Dear Mom and Dad,

Here it is your very first Open House at My New School (Middle Highway Elementary).  I would like you to go in this order

1. Homeroom
2. Math
3. Lang. Arts
4. Socail {sic} Studies
5. Science

Also if you go by my locker my number is 194 it is right of set of set of lockers across from Ms. Marcowitz Room. I want you to relax. Don’t really ask a lot of questions. Well I really got to go. Bye,

Love
Audrey

P.S. Write back
P.P.S. 843 round to the nearest tens
P.P.P.S. Meet all my teachers
P.P.P.P.S Look at my mobil {mobile} and be proud
P.P.P.P.P.S. Don’t use the Lavs!!! If emergency I guess so
P.P.P.P.P.P.S. I Love You
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

I can see Audrey as a little 4th grader, the grand master of her own world even back then… letting us know exactly what she wanted us to do.

I can feel Audrey’s great love of learning and her pride in her work.

I can touch the love that jumps off the pages!

But most of all, I can hear her funny.  I can hear her laughing as she gives us a random Math problem, tells us to be proud of her mobile and warns us about the Lavs.

I can see Audrey’s eyes twinkling as she writes to relax and don’t ask a lot of questions… knowing full well, even as a child, that the parents in that particular town asked infinitesimal questions about teachers and levels and reading groups and math groups and what’s-the-highest-group and is-my-child-in-the-highest-group, etc., etc., etc.  Yep.  Barry and I could just relax!

I laughed back then at Audrey’s wit and wisdom.

And I’m still laughing today.

I love birthdays.  I love the ebb and flow of memories.

I love that Audrey came to us 34 years ago yesterday… because I haven’t stopped laughing since!

This year all four of my sons are playing baseball. William and Alexander are on the same team (pitching league), and Benjamin and Henry are on the same team (T-ball league). I have been nominated as “Snack Mom” because my husband is coaching both teams. We have games three times a week between all the boys, so I have to be ready with healthy snacks for 10-plus boys on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights.

There’s one thing I know about snacks for boys, it can get messy. Real messy. And not everyone boy likes the same thing, so you need a variety. This is where I come in…! I’ve got a little secret and a little different way of doing it this year, and I think the boys are going to be very happy (the coaches included).

I’m going to be “serving” all my snacks for the boys in my favorite Ziploc Brand product – Ziploc Brand Sandwich Bags.

That’s right. Each one of them will get their own Ziploc Sandwich Bag. This makes it easier for everyone. There will be no dirty hands going in and out of one container. There will be no fighting over who got more. There will be no boy-craziness.

Each little guy will get their own bag of orange slices and apple slices, a perfect healthy snack for the baseball season. For the boys who aren’t keen on the fruit slices, I’m going to prep a few bags of crackers and granola. This way everything will be kept fresh and stored perfectly. It’s the perfect baseball serving container!

I love that Ziploc Brand makes it easy for me as a mom to transfer and serve food under any circumstance, even a baseball field! My goal is to keep the boys eating healthy, and this allows me to do so. I’m “freshing-over” the boys during the baseball season – no more candy, donuts and cookies!

As many of you know, I recently teamed up with Ziploc Brand for the Great American FreshOver Project. With this I’m “freshing-over” my family’s meals and also hopefully inspiring you guys to do the same. As a part of this project, Ziploc Brand took a look at what cities eat fresh and why/why not. It was VERY interesting to read Ziploc’s “Fresh Eating” survey where they ranked the top-50 cities across the U.S. on whether their residents tend to eat fresh. I was excited to see two cities I live very close to – Hartford and Boston make it on the top 10 list! 

Hartford, Conn.
San Francisco, Calif.
Sacramento, Calif.
Portland, Ore.
San Jose, Calif.
Richmond, Va.
Austin-Round Rock, Texas
Boston, Mass.
Washington, D.C.
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

I’m doing my part to spread the word!

Are you??

Mama mia… !

When I’m traveling, I’m ALWAYS (always) wearing certain things.  One of those things are my GAP Drawstring Pants… they are my LOVES!

I love love love them!

They’re comfortable.

They’re cute.

They go with everything.

My day was filled with work things, but I’ll tell you… nothing felt better than being with my favorite people in the world last night!

My college pal and fellow blogger Suz Stephenson from Well To Do, You recently opened her own online boutique, and her stuff is fabulous. She has clothes, bags, scarves, jewelry and more – and I want one (or two) of everything.

Suz recently sent me a jersey knit striped loop scarf and it is now my go-to accessory! And I love that I’m perfectly on-trend when I’m wearing it… after all, Audrey says summer scarves are totally in this season.

I have the lemon/pink striped scarf and I love how bold it is – and also how it allows me to accessorize so stylishly and effortlessly!

Click here to view the embedded video.

P.S. Get Free Shipping in the Well To Do, You online store now through May 31st!

Win a loop scarf from Well To Do, You for yourself!

You have 4 ways to enter (the more ways you enter, the greater your chances of winning!):

1) Like the Well To Do, You Facebook page (1 entry)

2) Like the Mom Generations Facebook page (1 entry)

3) Follow @welltodoyou on Twitter (1 entry)

4) Follow me – @janehcouto - on Twitter (1 entry)

Then comment here to let us know the way(s) in which you entered. If you already like the Well To Do, You or Mom Generations Facebook pages, or if you already follow @welltodoyou or @janehcouto on Twitter, just let me know in the comments so I can include those entries!

Contest ends Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 5:00pm EDT.

Winner will be notified immediately and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.

Please make sure you leave a valid email address so we can contact you. Email addresses will not be used for any other purposes.

I’m marking it on my Mom Fashion Blog with 5 of my FAVE Fashion Picks (otherwise known as things I wish I could get for my birthday!)…

1. Louis Vuitton’s Artsy MM… I know this sucker isn’t going to be in my closet anytime soon, but OMG… I DO LOVE it! I’m such a LV lover, and this would fit perfectly into my Collection. (Honey, don’t worry – I’m not expecting this.)

2. Fishing Net Sweater… I love this classic look. Perfect with shorts and jeans and capris and just just about anything!!

3. Tommy Hilfiger Francine Espadrille… GORGEOUSNESS in a shoe. I’m in love with them!

4. Kensie Colorblocking Dress… I’m addicted to the color blocking trend. I think it’s fabulous and beautiful. I saw this dress at Macy’s last week and was ga-ga… they just didn’t have my size!

5. Gorgeous Cashmere Scarf… I love the colors in this scarf. It’s WAY MORE than I would spend on a scarf for myself, but it doesn’t matter. I still LOVE it!