Super Size

One walk inside stores like "Bed, Bath and Beyond" remind me of everything I want, but don't necessarily need. Kitchen items are surrounded with the neatest gadgets and interesting food choices- like enormous bags of chocolate covered pretzels. Wireless stereo speakers, avocado slicers, potpourri warmers, candles, frames and Tide bleach pens are available for immediate purchase. But, many of these gadgets end up sitting in a drawer after one use; they get forgotten because they aren't really needed. This usually happens with the impulse buy. I purposely did not renew my Costco membership because I did not want the temptation of the impulse buy. Many shoppers can't get in and out of these warehouse shopping places without spending $100. You end up convincing your self you need things you don't because they seem reasonably priced and it's fun to shop there. Large sizes of some items are great, but I would really fill up my cart with enormous boxes of chicken nuggets, chinese potstickers, Lean Cuisines, fruit and nuts. Even though I knew my kids would not eat 5 gallons of cheese doodles I still bought them thinking it would be cheaper in the long run. It was not. Costco offers everything from eyewear to wild-caught salmon. I'm doomed and guaranteed to spend more before I even walk in the door. Now if there's a particular item I need, for instance they sell a great brie wrapped in phyllo dough and cranberries, I as my neighbor who hasn't been able to kick her Costco habit yet to get it or me. She does, and when I ask how much other stuff she bought she starts telling of a Ralph Lauren trench coat, a popcorn maker, ground beef and cereal. Then knowing that I'm writing this article she considers herself "busted" and walks away laughing, yet wondering why she really bought so much stuff.

Buzz Words

• Acorn
• Speaker
• Guacamole
• Lollypop

Right Now She Could Be:

• Sauteing Mushrooms
• Going to Yoga
• Writing her Memoirs
• Filling out school forms

She safe

She might hear about a recall, but does she check her own food supply to see if it really affects her? A recent Rutgers University Food Policy Institute Survey says 41 percent of Americans do not check. More than 100 foods are recalled each year. Most grocery stores alert customers about recalls on their website, as do brand manufacturers, plus she can log onto www.recalls.gov to do a full search of recalled products.

She food

Subway School Rewards helps put money in her child's school. Enroll now at www.SubwaySchoolRewards.com.

She treats

Before she sneaks a piece of bite-sized candy, she might want to know the hardcore caloric facts:

• 1 roll of Smarties = 25 calories, 60 Smarties = 100 calories
• 1 Dum Dum = 25 calories
• 1 fun-size box of Junior Mints = 80 calories
• 1 fun-size Snickers = 80 calories
• 1 fun-size Peanut M&M's = 90 calories
• 3 mini 3 Musketeers = 100 calories
• 1 fun-size Twizzlers = 160 calories
• 1 plain Hershey Bar = 210 calories

She kid stuff

Swimming goggles are a helpful swim tool but hard to put on and pull off. The straps pull at her child's hair. One mom, Karen Toby, has invented the solution. Gogglemate is a piece of fabric that fits around the swim goggle strap and stops the hair from getting caught, plus it floats. It's about $8 at www.gogglemate.com.

She's keeping track

She's generous in lending her books, DVDs, and even clothes. But she's not always so good at keeping track of where all her things are going. Here's a site that will keep track for her: www.MoochMuch.com

She sites

These sites will help her share those precious photos without requiring a purchase:

• www.Picasa.com
• www.Photobucket.com
• www.SmugMug.com

• Get more She Prep at www.ShePrep.com