[Jen's List] Tuesday-April 29

Tue Apr 29 08:17:20 EDT 2008

Attn: Pregnant Moms - The Ellen DeGeneres Show wants you!!
Ellen is filling her audience next Thur.(May 8th) with 1st time pregnant women(if you are pregnant with your second or third(4th or 5th for that matter!)...it's worth a shot) for mother's day. If you want to go, click on this link: http://www.momlogic.com/giveaways/ellen_giveaway.php - next to your LAST name put (jen's list). I saw the show last year and she gave away some really cool stuff!

A Pregnant Parking Privilege Proposal
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/devore-parking-handicapped-2005589-disabled-pregnant

Use care with nanny agencies 
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus23apr23,1,2598477.column?track=rss
I have to say, that although this agency is said to be in West Los Angeles, I have heard of this same thing from others of this happening the the SFV. Please be aware and be careful. 

Some great info on plastics
>From A Mother's Haven:
BPA - Also known as Bisphenol-A is an estrogen-like chemical in plastic could be harming the development of children's brains and reproductive organs.  It is found in #7 POLYCARBONATE plastics that are bottles, microwave ovenware, eating utencils and the plastic coatings used inside metal cans.  BPA interferes with hormones by simulating the action of estrogen. "An ingredient of polycarbonate plastic, BPA is one of the most widely used synthetic chemicals in industry today. It can seep from hard plastic beverage containers such as baby bottles, as well as from liners in cans containing food and infant formula." - LA Times article. 
Phthalates- "plasticizers" that soften PVC plastic (#3) into it's flexible form. Most cling wraps are made of PVC and traces of phthalates and another chemical called adipates can leak out of PVC when in contact with food, especially heated, fatty food.  Phthalates are suspected of interefering with hormones and the reproductive development of baby boys. Ditch all your polycarbonate bottles!  These are the #7 PC or PLA (polycarbonate/polylactide) bottles, also avoid #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride), #6 Polystyrene (better known as styrofoam).   When using plastics look for these safer plastics:  #2 HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), #4 LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), and #5 PP (Polypropylene). Safe bottles include BPA-Free Baby bottles like Born-Free and Think Baby (Medela bottles have always been BPA-free!) are #5 Polypropolyne.  They tend to have a cloudy or yellowish tint to them.  Also a great sippy cup option is stainless steel - like the Safe Sippy from Kid Basix.  

Read this too: http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/11/z-report-bisphenol-in-baby-bottles-and.html

According to Playtex their drop in liners, nipples and bottles are all BPA free.  
For a free sample go to the following link:
http://www.playtexbaby.com/bpafree/info.html
This is a link regarding their product info:
http://www.playtexbaby.com/bpafree/Product_Materials_Chart.pdf

Texas Hold'em Poker Challenge - Charity Fundraiser!
Valley based organizations, Grandparents As Parents and New Directions for Youth are looking for sponsorships, donated items for raffle prizes (gift certificates, baskets, unique prizes), and Poker Fans to attend their upcoming fundraiser. Grandparents As Parents' mission is to provide programs and services that meet the urgent and ongoing needs of grandparents and other relatives raising at-risk children. Grandparents as Parents, Inc. (GAP), was founded in 1987 by Ms. Sylvie de Toledo, LCSW, as a grassroots reaction to the rising tide of abandoned children created by the drug epidemic.  New Direction for Youth's mission is to provide comprehensive and individualized programs that assist at-risk youth to become productive, self-sufficient, healthy young adults & that create supportive, safe family environments.
Grandparents As Parents (GAP) and New Directions for Youth (NDY) Texas Hold 'Em Fundraising Event
www.grandparentsasparents.org ;www.ndfy.org 
May 17th from 7pm - 11pm
Canoas Banquet Hall, 18134 Sherman Way in Reseda
Participate in the tournament for a donation of $100 or attend the event and play other games (blackjack, craps, etc.) for $40.  Great Prizes, food and fun for two great Valley based charities. For information and tickets, please contact Madelyn Gordon, Executive Director - GAP 818.264.0880 or by email at madelyng at grandparentsasparents.org. 

Skin Spa Specials for Mothers Day

Mother's Nature $300

Rejuvenate your mind and body with a one hour full body massage with lavender body milk to help sooth and soften the skin. Warm lavender buds are used to melt away stress and help promote harmony, balance and peace. Followed by a 1 1/2 hour finest Radiant Facial with a Marine Mineral Mask. Your skin will be infused with vitamins, minerals, and collagen with the healing powers of the sea. You will be pampered and leave feeling all natural the way mother nature intended.  

Golden Goddess $250.00

You skin will shimmer in a golden hue after these decadent body treatments. A gold flecked apricot scrub gently buffs skin to a smooth finish leaving your skin feeling soft and supple. Followed by a mini facial to exfoliate and hydrate your face. You will then enjoy a one hour full body massage with our bronze kissed body oil and hot stones. Lastly you finish with a fragrant sparkling gold body dusting.

Skin Spa & Baby Spa
17401 Ventura Blvd in Encino

818-995-3888
www.skinspa.com

Protect Your Children and Your Assets FREE Workshop 
Your children can have story time with nursery school teachers at Storyopolis while Gerald Kane, father of 2 and "Estate and Trust Attorney," will help you make effective and responsible decisions for the general health and well-being of your family. Gerald L. Kane & Associates have devoted their practice to Estate Planning for the last 15 years having prepared more than 1,000 plans for California residents.
In this workshop, parents will learn:
**How to ensure that your children will never be taken out of your home and into the arms of strangers if the unthinkable should happen to you.
**How to choose who should raise your children in your absence.
**Who should manage your assets in order to provide income for your children if one or both parents pass away.
**How to avoid traps while providing financial support for children with special needs.
**How a Living Trust could Save your Family Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Unnecessary Probate Fees and Estate Taxes.
**How you can Protect Your Children's Inheritance from Divorce or a Lawsuit.
Registration is required. You can register online at www.estplan.com and clicking on the Storyopolis Seminar Tab  or call 818-905-6088
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Sunday, May 4th
Storyopolis - Studio City
12348 Ventura Blvd in Studio City

Focus Group
Needed for health Insurance focus group:  men and women ages 65 to 79 that have a HMO this is a Medicare replacement plan. Qualified pre screened invited participants would receive $85 for their  participation. All participants must show their health insurance card in order to be 
registered for the study. Date of this study is April 30th - HMO plans we are currently excepting are:
CareMore Value Plus
CareMore Touch
CareNMore Reliance
Care First
Citizen's Choice Care First
Central Health
HealthNet Seniority Plus
HealthNet Healthy Heart
Please call Vicki at  (818) 700-2815

Part Time Administrative Position at Calabasas Country Club
Administrative position with light accounting paying $13 to $15 per hour. Great written and oral communication skills. It may be part-time if that works for moms, like 9am-2pm or 3pm. Contact Kristin Charness, Assistant General Manager, Calabasas Country Club 4515 Park Entrada, Calabasas, CA  91302, (818) 222-8111/FAX (818) 222-3214

Jewish Big Brothers & Sisters 8th TOV (Tikkun Olam Volunteers) event
TOV & Jewish Big Brothers and Sisters are joining together to take part in a mitzvah related activity and then have a fun swim party!! 
Sunday, May 4, 2008 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM 
El Caballero Country Club
18300 Tarzana Drive, Tarzana (just off the Reseda Blvd - a few blocks south of Ventura Blvd)
The TOV events are designed to demonstrate how we can help heal the world (tikkun olam).  You will also connect you to a particular  mitzvah (good deed) project. This month you learn about how all Jews are responsible, one for another; (Shavuot 39a) In Hebrew they say: "Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Lazeh" And you will also learn whosoever sustains and saves a single soul, it is as if that person sustained a whole world. (Mishnah Sanhedrin  4:5) Remember to bring a bathing suit or something to swim in and a change of clothes. 
Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles was founded in 1915. Their mission is to assist underserved children, primarily from disadvantaged, single-parent homes, to achieve their full potential by providing "Excellence in Mentoring" through a myriad of programs and services. For more than 90 years, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (JBBBS) has enriched the lives of thousands of children throughout the greater Los Angeles area by providing excellence in mentoring.  JBBBS offers innovative programs and services that facilitate lasting mentoring relationships that provide measurable positive impacts and help children to reach their true potential. JBBBS provides a broad variety of innovative, highly regarded mentoring programs and services regardless of a family's ability to pay, including:
- Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters, one-to-one mentoring program for Jewish children 
- School-based mentoring, a non-denominational peer-to-peer mentoring program between high school and lower class students 
- Camp Max Straus, a non-denominational residential summer camp for underserved children 
- Sports Buddies and Arts Buddies, two separate weekend mentoring programs for all children 
- JBBBS Scholarship program 
- Witherbee Wilderness Training  
At Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles, they are proud of the legacy they are building in the community through Excellence in Mentoring.  The mentors and board members gain a sense of enjoyment, accomplishment, and appreciation derived from supporting an organization that develops lasting friendships, and makes a positive change in a child's life
To RSVP or get more information on TOV please contact Jonathan Boyer of The Jewish Federation Valley Alliance at (818) 464-3206 or JBoyer at JewishLA.org

Fabulous and fun cooking blog
Yummy, easy recipes from common cookbooks and altered for ease and taste.  Great for moms looking for kitchen fun. http://www.itsmelissaskitchen.blogspot.com/

Hairstylist that makes Housecalls! 
Harriet Helberg offers a full service salon at reasonable rates and you never have to leave your home and deal with traffic, parking or the rising cost of gas! She can perform all services, cut, color/highlights, blow-dries, perms, etc. and works all over the Calabasas/Malibu/Pacific Palisades/ Santa Monica and Brentwood areas. References/recommendations are available. Contact her at 310.890.5762 or 818.876-9190

The French baby-food maker
This compact countertop appliance multitasks as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster to prepare fresh, healthy meals for baby. It starts by steam cooking vegetables, fruits, meat and fish in less than 15 minutes, preserving their vitamins and flavors, then purees or blends them to the desired consistency. You can also use it to quickly reheat or defrost precooked foods. With it comes a 2 1/2-cup polycarbonate bowl, cooking basket, spatula and recipe booklet. The bowl and basket are dishwasher safe. 11" x 5 1/2" x 8" high. 
http://www.williams-sonoma.com:80/products/sku5279732/index.cfm?pkey=ggftthsmom

"Earth Totes"
Watch this!!!!!!!!! http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/media?id=6097624  
Katrina Andrews and friend Sheryl Steinman found a way to give back to the environment while teaching kids and parents the benefits behind reducing their use of paper and plastic.  "Earth Totes" offers great canvas grocery size tote bags that have a school (or business) logo on one side and a list of environmental facts on the other.  This has turned into a perfect way to raise money and awareness...
Just last week they delivered 800 bags to four schools who are going green. They are thrilled that the students of the schools that we have reached out to are jumping on this by creating environmental clubs, logos and slogans based around the bags. (a favorite slogan comes from a middle school in Washington State; "Are you brave enough to save the Earth?") They know that they are making a difference and that is what they are all about...They want to reach as many people as they can so that  they can help break the cycle of over using paper and plastic.  (Most people don't know that it takes over three hundred years for ONE plastic bag to degrade, and once it does, it turns in to a toxin. Or that it
takes 14 million trees to make the paper grocery bags that the US uses in one year alone!) All the canvas tote bags have a list of environmental
facts on the back (that are free) so that they can spread the word...For more info, please visit the website www.earthtotes.org

Good tips for flying with kids for anyone who has travel plans
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24240009/

MARKETING CONSULTANT AVAILABLE 
With over 12 years of advertising and marketing experience with blue chip companies such as Nestle, General Motors, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and 20th Century Fox Tracey Kostich is a motivated, results-oriented individual with expertise in:
Brand strategy and product positioning 
Complete project management 
Integrated marketing campaign development, execution and evaluation 
Financial analysis including P&L development and management 
Client/agency relationship management 
Direct response marketing 
Customer retention / acquisition via mail or on-line 
Media strategy and evaluation 
Web site development and management
Available to work hourly or for a flat project fee.  References available upon request. traceykostich at gmail.com. 

Escape the summer heat 
You know it's coming!  Beach bungalow available for short term rental in Silverstrand.  Silverstand is near Oxnard, about a 45 minute drive from the Valley.  It is a fairly quiet beach and the area is casual and laid back.  The house is small and charming, about 3 houses in from the beach. It has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath and is fully equipped (sleeps 5).  Guests provide linens.  The yard is completely fenced in. So, your little ones will be safe. Well-behaved animals are also allowed. Some weeks are still available. So, please feel free to contact the owner at sandeefosberg at socal.rr.com. to plan a great getaway that's relatively close to home. More details at http://www.vrbo.com/109522. Make sure to let me know you are a member of Jen's List to receive $100 discount for weekly rentals.
AND
WONDERFUL VACATION RETREAT -  OCEAN FRONT OXNARD BEACH RENTAL - Private home located on the famous Hollywood Beach.   3 bedroom 2 bath sleeps 8.  Spectacular Ocean Views from both levels year round. Step on to the sand from the large wooden deck where you can enjoy all your meals outside.   Or relax on the private garden patio. Great for entertaining.  Fully equipped kitchen, D/W +Washer/ Dryer, charcoal BBQ. Two car garage and carport. Walk one block to the marina for good restaurants and water activities. 
Contact: arlene at travelkleen.com

TMD Medi-Spa in West LA
They provide a variety of cosmetic skin procedures.  May 3-10  they are doing a "Mother's Day Madness" week where they are offering major  
discounts on some of the more popular procedures (ex., Botox,  juvederm, microdermabrasion...etc) and giving away gift bags containing product samples to the patients who come in that week. Free Consultations
RADIESSE       $625 for 1.3 cc syringe (Save $75!)
JUVEDERM      $495 for 1 syringe or $950 for 2 (Save up to $150!)
BOTOX             $9.00/unit (Save $1.50 per unit!)
MICRODERMABRASION    $75 for 1-hour tx (Save $50!)
THE Vi PEEL -  only $250 for 1 treatment or $475 for 2, everyday
Come in any time during Mother's Day Madness to lock in these incredible savings and get your treatment up to 90 days later! 
Open House - Wednesday May 7, 4pm to 8pm. Enjoy sushi, champagne and free mini facials! Plus, a drawing for a FREE Juvederm treatment.  
TMD Laser Clinic & Medi Spa
11053 Santa Monica Blvd in Los Angeles
310-312-1231
www.tattoomdla.com 

Find Cheap Gas!
Just enter your  zip code in the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) on gas in your zip code area. It's updated every evening.  http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx 

Hottest Mommy Blogger
Check out http://suedoenim.blogspot.com and get a humorous (sometimes snarky) look at mothering and daily life. Most importantly be sure to follow the link and Vote Sue Doe for Hottest Mommy Blogger. 
http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/44110/utm_source=bloggerschoiceawards&utm_medium=badge&utm_content=hottestmommyblogger

Makeup Artist Lead
Mandy Blaine has been in the business for10 years & has worked in film, L.A Fashion Week, magazine shoots, charity events, and weddings. As she quotes" Makeup is one of the luxuries of being a woman. It's about listening to what someone wants, and helping them to look and feel like the most beautiful version of themselves." Whether you are looking for a lesson is the art of makeup, or it is a special night that you want to feel glamorous, please contact Mandy via email at mandyalter at hotmail.com , or cell phone at 310-428-6103

"Swings n' Things" backyard wood playhouse/swingset
Get ready for summer! "TITAN TREEHOUSE-FORT"- includes 3 position 4x6 swing set with toddler bucket swing, belt swing, and Mega Rider 2-person swing.  Three position monkey bars, 12' yellow Turbo Slide, playhouse package with porch (door and windows) below, fort with connecting slide above.  Please contact Staci at stacilynn4 at yahoo.com or 818-398-3700

Personal Fitness Trainer Lead
Need some help losing those hard to shed, after-baby pounds?  Dipo Adegbile, CSCS is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and owner of Aleuge Fitness Training based in the San Fernando Valley. He has served in the fitness industry for seven years with the purpose of helping his clients maximize their physical potential resulting in a healthier body, mind, spirit, and life.  Dipo is committed to giving his clients the personal attention they need to help them reach their fitness goals.  Anyone that mentions Jen's list will receive 15% off any package of three months or more. Call 818-428-7310 or E-mail ioa141 at gmail.com today to schedule a free initial consultation and movement assessment. 

Roommate wanted for adorable NoHo Arts District House
Aundrelyn Knott's sister is looking for a roommate. She has a fabulous 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath house in the trendy NoHo Arts District. The house has lots of space for two people (2000 sq ft). It's unique in that it can be divided and completely closed off into two spaces for extra privacy. The roommate would have their own unfurnished bedroom and living room space. There's a very charming, securely fenced, private courtyard/patio with a peaceful water feature, large laundry room, dining room, living room and family room. There are mixed hardwood floors throughout, Sautillo tile floors in garden/bonus room and office. The house includes a refrigerator, stove, 2 fireplaces: one faux and one working. It's on a quiet residential neighborhood street within walking distance to all the new shops and restaurants at the NoHo Commons. She will consider 1 small dog only (she has 2 very sweet small dogs that live there already). She will pay for water, trash & gardener and is looking for a year lease. About Brooke (my sister):  She is 36, a Graphic Designer and painter who also dabbles in interior design as well. She has a very hectic schedule and is completely career focused. She'd like to find someone fun with similar sensibilities to share this great space with. You can call her direct - 213-220-4415. If you want to see pictures of the house go to: www.10801Hartsook.com

House for Rent
Gorgeous 4 bedroom/3 bath house in guard gated community in Thousand Oaks.  North Ranch area.  $3100.00 drebastian at charther.net or 818-880-8224

The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness.  Neither the information nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation.   You are receiving this email you previously subscribed to this email program, and if you wish to unsubscribe from the email list, go to www.jenlevinson.com
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