Pass the Tide Please

Catching up should be an Olympic sport. It's amazing how much needs to be done in order to go away for a few days only to return to an enormous amount of catching up that needs to be done. If she's traveling and packing a family to go on vacation the work is multiplied prior to and after said vacation. This could easily discourage the occasional traveler but I've decided that if we make it into some type of sport we might gain a competitive edge. If your traveling solo,for business and leaving a family to fend for itself that still requires making meals that can and hopefully will be consumed while you are gone. Even though I did this before my last trip I still returned to some children who were thrilled they wouldn't have to eat ramen, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs and grilled cheese for awhile (their cooking repertoire. I was too happy to see them than to start the quiz on what happened to the food I prepared and left for them to eat. Packing to go out of town with kids is equally crazy as they could possibly need everything in their dresser drawers for some reason and then the laundry and work after returning home gets overwhelming. You're in a different world when traveling then returning to a place that still has that list of things to do from last week, like purchase a birthday gift for an upcoming party. This specific party came with a text invite. Ok I'm over the fact that some want paper and envelope to be obsolete. I for one love beautifully addressed invitations and letters but I have come to accept e-vites and online emailed party announcements. I ran into the mother of the daughter who was having this party (at the post office of all places) and found out that this was a full blown cake, ice cream, music and games kinda party. This surprised me as the text message made it seem like a much smaller deal. I never brought up the text-vite thinking it might be rude but I did give my verbal rsvp.

She tip

When she chops an onion, it won't be crying time again-if she puts the onion in the freezer for 10 minutes before cutting.

Right Now She Could Be:

• Pumping gas into her car
• Tuning a guitar
• Cleaning out a fish aquarium
• Pricing airline tickets for holiday travel

She Buzz Words

• Zucchini
• Algebra
• Hayfever
• Plunging

She could be a...

• Construction worker
• Used-car saleswoman
• Retail clerk at Gap Kids
• Driving instructor
• Photographer

She Baby

Zooming an airplane spoonful of food into her baby's mouth may soon be replaced with a spaceship. "Play With Your Food" is a new board game designed to help toddlers learn to eat (or play with their food). It comes with a spinner, plate, and cup that all coincide. For example, if the child's spin lands on the cow, and carrots are in the cow compartment of the plate, the child must take a bite of the carrots. Mealtime just got... longer. www.daydreamtoy.com

The initial issue of lead-paint poisoning has be- come a big reality for her. It was somewhat easy to collect any Thomas the Train toys, but what about all the other knickknacks her kids have acquired over the years? She needs to keep checking, especially in her daughter's jewelry box. Consumer Reports now has pictures of toy jewelry that have been recalled at www.consumerreports.org/safety/.

She surfs

• www.Thinkaboutyourdrink.com: Tips and tools to make the best beverage choice.
• www.healthgrades.com: A healthcare con- sulting company that rates and ranks area hospitals.
• www.walkstyles.com: Gives info on the
• "We Who Walk" national walkathon that happens in all 50 capital cities for 50 consecutive weeks and involves community leaders, politicians, and all who will walk.

She Fashion

Two fashion stylists (twin sisters Ruth and Sara) recently on the Rachael Ray show have a brilliant way for women to dress thinner with the clothes available in your closet. They hold the key to the universal fashion code by using proportions to slim any figure. There is a mathematical equation for this making a calculator her new best friend. Secrets like the best neckline for a woman is the V-neck and showing where sleeves should fall. De Vinci started using it in his art now todays fashion icons call it their best secret .She can change her wardrobe from frumpy to fashion at www.TheFashionCode.com

She computer safety

About two million laptops are stolen or lost yearly, many in airports. She has two options to keep her lap top safer. She can purchase Computrace LoJack for laptops which offers a theft recovery team. Or try a new free program called Adeona which allows you to track you computers whereabouts and if she owns a Mac it will take a picture of the thief. www.adeona.cs.washington.edu

• Get more She Prep at www.ShePrep.com