sweet deal: cupcakes help CancerCare for Kids

All kids love cupcakes (even big kids like us!) so you know you're putting a smile on someone's face when you pass them around. göt2b takes the cake when it comes to doing good by participating in Cupcakes for a Cause Week. From September 20 – 26, bakeries and grocery stores around the country will be selling specially-decorated cupcakes and donating a portion of the sales to CancerCare for Kids, a program that provides free support services to children affected by cancer and their families. Here's how göt2b is sweetening the deal: 1) For every free e-Cupcake sent, göt2b will donate $1.00 to the cause (up to $10,000) and 2) For every new “like” on got2b’s facebook page, got2b will donate $1 (up to $1000) Plus, if got2b reaches 10,000 “likes” by September 30, got2b will donate an additional $1000! While you’re treating friends to cupcakes and e-Cupcakes, göt2b will treat your tired, limp locks to an instant volume makeover with its collagen-infused fat-tastic collection. The line, which features got2b fat-tastic root-boosting spray, got2b fat-tastic thickening plumping mousse and got2b fat-tastic thickening non-aerosol hairspray gives women a delicious feast for fine hair for thicker, plumper locks that are big on style! Visit www.cupcakesforacause.org for all the details.

The Ultimate Lifestyle Diet: Yes you can!

We all know dieting is not a trend, it's a lifestyle. But, c'mon moms, how hard is it to practice? You've got kids who only want to eat pasta all day every day and long hours that lead to grabbing a bite while you can and snacking when you shouldn't. Thankfully, Bariatric surgeon and weight loss expert Dr. Carson Liu releases his Ultimate Lifestyle Diet.

“Obesity is much about behavior, not just eating the wrong foods,” says Dr. Liu. “Most people view diets as a temporary and time consuming activity.” Dr. Liu’s Ultimate Lifestyle Diet recommends 10 easy, guilt-free actions that will make a difference for a lifetime. Dr. Liu points out that the best diet technique is to make multiple simple changes in behavior that will help move a person towards a better and healthier life. Here, his secrets to your dieting success...

1. Don’t eat packaged food that has the word Fructose or a chemical with numbers in the ingredients (that means, bypass the snack aisle at the grocery store).

2. Don’t eat food that is delivered to your house or through your car window (no more Sunday night Chinese food!).

3. Before shopping for food, eat a meal. Never shop hungry. (Easier said than done!)

4. Switch out sodas for sparkling water, candy for carob chips and high calorie snacks for nuts and fruit. (Limited nut intake, that is...)

5. Cook your own meals and reduce the portion size of bread, rice, pasta and potatoes. (Size does matter!)

6. Eat from small plates. (Ditto!)

7. Eat slowly using a child’s size spoon, knife or fork. (My kids might fight me for it but okay...)

8. Wait 20 minutes before having a second helping. (Good one!)

9. Don’t eat while watching TV. (It doesn't matter that all the prime time series premiere in a couple of weeks...)

10. Turn off your computer and or TV for one hour per day and take a walk. (Exercise will do you good).

For more information, visit www.drcarsonliu.com.

Decadent Dessert: Your Kids Will Love New Duncan Hines Decadent Cakes and Glazes

Typically, my kids won't eat anything "decadent". I've labored over complicated main dishes, time-consuming sides and fancy desserts to try to peak their culinary experience, only to find them making a sour face at the dinner table and claiming they are full. OK, maybe it's my cooking! But I decided to give Duncan Hines' Triple Chocolate Cake ($2.99) a try and see what they thought.

OK, you're thinking, "How can you go wrong with a boxed mix of chocolate cake?" To make things a bit more challenging, I decided to bake it without adding the eggs since my son is allergic. In trying to accommodate his allergy, I have found that most recipes that call for egg don't always need it.

The kids--who find mixing something in a mixing bowl more entertaining than the latest computer game--gave me a hand. After getting the mix into the pan, we topped it with the special fudge topping and set it in the oven. The batter even had real chocolate chips chunks in it! After about 30 minutes (maybe a little longer since I never have the right-size pan), it was ready. We didn't have one of the newly launched Decadent Glazes ($2.49--available in chocolate and vanilla, they're not as sweet as frosting and are easy to squeeze on your dessert) so we sampled it without.

Here's what the kids said:

Harrison, age 4: "I love it! It's so sweet. I like that it's soft inside!"

Ava, age 2.5: "I like the chocolate chips!"

Harrison: "Yeah, I like the chocolate chips too!"

After further discussion, we have decided to switch our standard cupcake recipe (we tote them to all the birthday parties so Harrison can have one when the other kids have their cake or cupcakes during the happy birthday song) for the DC mix.

The best part: The cake has zero grams of trans fat and no hydrogenated oils. Still, not as healthy as an apple but sometimes you just need to satsify that sweet tooth!

For more info, delicious recipes and to find out where to get Duncan Hines new Decadent Cakes and Glazes, visit www.duncanhines.com.

Party Entertainment: Let Your Kid Be a Rock Star

Good kids' birthday party entertainment is hard to find...but I found it! I booked Ryan Paulson, of "A Sing-along with Ryan," for both of my kids' first birthday parties as well as two holiday parties for the family network group in my apartment building. He is talented, experienced, great with kids, affordable and easy-going with parents. Now he is offering a brand new party package that's definitely worth looking into.

The Rock Star Party ($500 for 1.5 hours) is a full blown entertainment experience. Temporary rock tattoos, full size inflatable guitars for each child to keep and rock costumes give the feel of a real concert as Ryan leads the kids in classic rock songs from the Beatles, Van Morrison, Elvis and more. Along the way, Ryan teaches the kids how to be rock stars, instructing them on everything from how to play the guitar like a rock star, dressing like a rock star (complete with costumes for the kids to dress in) and the rock star voice.After the rock training is finished, the newly christened rock stars are given authentic rock stickers in recognition of becoming true rock stars.

Another plus: You can have an original song written for your child too. An accomplished songwriter and musician for almost 20 years, Ryan can craft a custom song about your child for any occasion. Just tell him a little about the child — what does she like, who are her friends — and he will write an original song all about him or her. And a recording of your child's song is a great keepsake too. (Add: $150 per song, plus an additional $50 for a recording). Book a weekday party and save 15% on any party package or service!

For more info or to book your child's best birthday party ever, go to www.ASingAlongwithRyan.com, call 646.373.5550 or email Ryan at RyanLukePaulson@gmail.com.

expert advice: Weleda offers tips from experts like you--moms!

As if Weleda hasn't helped enough when it comes to taking care of our babies. (I know I personally rely on the calendula diaper cream every time my daughter needs a little extra TLC.) But now the experts in baby care are providing insider tips and tricks for caring for newborns. The company's newly launched microsite is specially dedicated to moms like you who want to learn from one another the best ways to care for your baby. Share your own tips with others, and get great expert advice and unbelievable getaways too. Just go to http://usa.weleda.com/community/baby-tips/ for more info and enter to win a year's supply of Calendula Baby Care products--there are 50 prizes to give away! I don't even know why you're still reading...get to the site now and enter to win!

joyride: get your fix!

Moms all over town can relate: Sometimes you just really need a good cup of coffee.

I was walking home from Fairway last week and noticed a different kind of ice cream truck parked on Broadway. The inviting green outside and shiny cutting-edge kitchen equipment inside suggested that this was no Mr. Softie. I didn't have time to stop but a few nights later I noticed it again on 66th and Broadway and decided to check it out.

Joyride sells tart, frozen yogurt, made with a proprietary blend of all-natural and Greek yogurt. The two varieties include an Original, which is the regular frozen yogurt, and a Buzzed, which is the regular yogurt with an infusion of caffeine (but without the taste of coffee). So you can get the jolt you need without the bitter aftertaste--or the coffee breath! A plus: it comes with unlimited toppings including a wide selection of organic fruits, like strawberry, mango, kiwi, and raspberry, as well as other dessert-inspired toppings, like chocolate croquants (delish!), granola, and coconut.

But the Mr. Softies of the world aren't the only ones who should be shaking in their shoes. Starbucks will be getting a run for it's money too. Instead of stopping at your local Starbucks shop, a quick detour to the Joyride truck will offer a delectable selection of gourmet coffee from Stumptown Coffee Roasters, whose beans are roasted locally in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The truck offers a selection of coffee drinks, including espresso, cappuccino, latte, and iced coffee. Imaginative coffee specials are also available, such as The Jeffrey Paul -- a double-shot of espresso with MarieBelle hot chocolate, chocolate shavings, and espresso grinds, and The Flat White -- a New Zealand standard featuring a shot of espresso and fresh, organic milk gently heated. I had an out-of-this-world hot chocolate that would be a treat any day, no matter what the temperature outside.

Joyride is the collaborative effort of three young men in their twenties, who left academic lives and jobs to pursue their entrepreneurial spirit. David Belanich is a graduate of Middlebury College and a former PhD student in Political Science at Yale University; Lev Brie is a graduate of Columbia University and former PhD student in French and Philosophy at the University of Chicago; and Adam Belanich is a graduate of Dartmouth College whose field of study was Art. With a desire to leave the academic world and pursue something more exciting, the three partners decided to open up a food truck from which they could sell two things they all love: healthy and delicious dessert and high quality coffee.

Probably the most fun thing about Joyride trucks is finding them. It's sort of like the moving party that you have to seek out at a new location each week. To get the latest information about the truck's location, you can follow it on twitter (@joyridetruck) or look at the 'Find' link on Joyride's website (www.joyridetrucks.com). And when you do find it, get out there and get your frozen yogurt or coffee fix. You never know when it will turn up next!

expert advice: natural health remedies from Ellie Whalen of Sprayology

Ellie Whalen and her sister Patricia Connell started Sprayology to help people around the world regain their balance and improve their quality of life through natural health. Here, Ellie offers her inspiration for the brand, her favorite products, advice for moms, and more.

Prettyisprettydoes: What was the inspiration for Sprayology?

Ellie Whalen: "Sprayology was inspired by my own physical exhaustion and disillusionment. I am an extremely hard worker and thus burn the candle at both ends most of the time. This left my system stressed, weakened and totally compromised. I was prescribed 2 asthma inhalers multiple times a day, antibiotics seasonally, as well as signs of premature aging and low energy. All in all, I was burnt out nearly flat-lining. I took some time to educate myself about homeopathy to incorporate it in my daily life, which ultimately lead to the creation of Sprayology. Today, I no longer take any prescriptions or allopathic drugs. The power of homeopathy is remarkable."

PIPD: Why do you think there is a need for it?

EW: "Today’s world is full of physical, emotional and environmental toxins and stressors, which can knock the body off balance. Homeopathy helps to bring the body back to a functional balance and addresses not only symptomatic relief but also the root cause of wellness issues. In addition, the healthier we get our bodies on a daily basis the better suited we are when we need to go to the doctor. My doctor is always so impressed to see that I’m done with prescription medications. To get on my soapbox for a minute…our society has gone through an era of medicating and turned into a pill-popping culture. Thanks to the new laws requiring TV commercials to disclose the side effects of medicines, today’s informed consumer is more aware of the impact and possible negative effects that prescription medicine can have on our body. Sprayology has no side effects and no contraindications. It is safe, effective and affordable. It’s a natural solution for longer-term daily self-care."

PIPD: Which do you think is the most innovative product in the brand?

EW: "Honestly, all of our products and delivery systems are innovative due to our meticulous formulating beliefs. Homeopathy has been around for over 200 years and it is the second most widely used form of medicine worldwide. I would say Body Balance is the fastest acting. I’ve had women tell me right after they have sprayed Body Balance sublingually, they feel less pain from muscular aches and more energy and positivity. It’s because today’s woman is burned out and this is an immediate and all-natural way to address exhaustion without any stimulants."

PIPD: Is there one product you personally can't live without?

EW: "I have three that I never miss taking daily - SleepEase, Rejuvenation Plus and B-12 + Folic Acid. These three supplements keep me balanced, revitalized and rejuvenated to do what I do best: help others learn about the power of homeopathy and what it can do for them."

PIPD: What advice do you have for women who are hesitant to try it? What do you have to lose?

EW: "Sprayology’s products are all natural, FDA regulated, simple effective, safe and affordable. We also back all of our products and have accessible, wonderful customer service to answer any and all questions. Sometimes we have to explain to a customer to stick with it longer for results depending on the product but they always call back happy and ready to order more. We rarely have returns."

PIPD: Which products would you recommend for new moms and not-so-new moms?

EW: "We are an FDA regulated OTC medicine. All over the counter medicines suggest that pregnant or nursing moms consult a medical professional before use. That being said, my advice for women in general is to start with a homeopathic formula and vitamin formula that meets the most pressing issue(s) for her. She will find over time that she can shift all of her household medicines and prescriptions to Sprayology. If she is getting sick frequently, I would suggest the ImmunoBooster and the Daily Multi. If her sex drive is low, I would suggest Woman Power and B-12 + Folic Acid. If she wants to lose weight, I suggest Diet Power and Daily Multi. If she is concerned with bone density, I suggest Bone Builder and Daily Multi. There is something for every woman to get her groove back."

Get Ready for Gilt Groupe’s “Beauty Travel Essentials” Exclusive Offer Celebrate Beauty & Wellness this Season with a Special Sprayology Sale! Starting: Today, Thursday, July 15th at noon ET, Ending: Monday, July 19th at midnight ET. Go to www.GILT.com, Promotion: 35-38% OFF RETAIL PRICES.