Posted by: marvelousgirl on: April 29, 2009
It is all about discounts and downgrades this Mother’s Day, as consumers are scaling back purchases wherever possible. All holiday-related categories will experience massive declines and total sales are expected to drop a whopping 14.7 percent, to $12.9 billion, according to industry research firm IBISWorld.
“The economy is staring at a very steep, downward trajectory,” explained George Van Horn, senior analyst with IBISWorld. “With the economic picture so unclear, gift giving just isn’t in many household budgets – even if it is for mom.”
Those who do make purchases are staying away from department stores and speciality retailers (i.e. jewelers, florists, consumer electronic stores, etc.) and are instead opting to shop in discount outlets. The data also shows a strong trend of shoppers downgrading their gift purchases to smaller, lower-priced merchandise and services. The reality is that consumers will choose to make a home-cooked meal for mom rather then spend big in a fancy restaurant.
“This Mother’s Day we are seeing the reality of how difficult the situation has become,” said Van Horn. Two years of economic decline is being squeezed into one year’s reduction in spending.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: April 28, 2009
Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP) and husband Matthew Broderick are expecting twin girls via a surrogate, according to Entertainment Weekly…and the both Parker and Broderick’s reps confirmed the news.
Apparently they’ve been trying to expand their family since the birth of their 6-year-old son James, but have been unsuccessful.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: April 28, 2009
A teen girl, 17, vanishes after walk on the beach during spring break at Myrtle Beach. Where is Brittanee Marie Drexel? Watch Nancy’s exclusive first primetime national interview with Brittanee’s mom:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9efO2r8u6I]Posted by: marvelousgirl on: April 28, 2009
Just when you thought Susan Boyle was amazing, little 10-year-old Hollie Steel gives her a run for her money on this week’s Britain’s Got Talent…check it out!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOeWz2k4tTI]Posted by: marvelousgirl on: April 26, 2009
Remember the 2002 best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, Lovely Bones? Well, those of you who read the book may be happy to know that it’s being turned into a movie – with an awesome cast:
Director: Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings)
Characters
Susie Salmon: Saoirse Ronan (the young girl from Atonement)
George Harvey: Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada)
Jack Salmon: Mark Wahlberg (Lars and the Real Girl)
For those of you who don’t know the book, it’s about Susie Salmon, a 14-year-old girl who was raped and murdered by her neighbor George Harvey. But, as fans know, the details of the gruesome crime are secondary to Susie’s life in heaven, as she narrates what happens to her friends and family — and her killer — after her death.
The film is expected to be in theatres this December.
Interesting fact: Lovely Bones was reportedly drawn from the author’s raped in college. She wrote about the crime in the 1999 memoir, Lucky, and was instrumental in putting her attacker in prison.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: April 26, 2009
International SOS has launched a new Web site to communicate important information regarding the swine flu outbreak to members of the public and the media. The site, available at http://urgent.internationalsos.com, provides updates on the situation, travel recommendations and answers to frequently asked questions that those in California, Texas and Mexico, or traveling to these areas, may have. The site will be continually updated as new information on the situation becomes available.
Currently, the Web site covers important topics including:
The latest updates on the outbreaks in the U.S. and Mexico
Symptoms of the swine flu
Recommendations on travel
What those who currently are or have recently returned from the affected areas should do
Latest available information on medical interventions
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: April 25, 2009
Bea Arthur, an emmy Award-winning actress best known as star of the hit TV comedy “Golden Girls,” has died at age 86, entertainment news websites reported on Saturday. Arthur died of cancer at her Los Angeles home, according to celebrity website TMZ.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: April 24, 2009
A new study shows that nearly nine out of 10 parents have bought unsafe toys for their babies. To help parents understand the most common dangers facing their baby and what they can do to protect against them, the Home Safety Council offered several tips.
Safe Sleep Tips
Research found that an alarming number of new parents put their babies to sleep in cribs with potential suffocation hazards, including: blankets (68 percent), bumpers (47 percent) and stuffed animals (34 percent). Follow the tips below to create a safe place for your baby to sleep:
Put babies to sleep on their backs. Keep pillows, blankets and toys out of cribs. Do not hang anything with strings or ribbons over cribs. Mobiles should be removed once the baby starts to sit up.
Keep baby monitors and other cords a safe distance from the crib.
Put a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm near the bedrooms. A CO alarm will tell you if the gas level is too high.
Make sure to have working smoke alarms inside or near every bedroom. Test each smoke alarm every month. Put new batteries in your smoke alarms at least one time each year.
If your smoke alarms are more than 10 years old, replace them with new smoke alarms.
Practice fire drills to make sure everyone can wake up to the sound of the smoke alarm.
Use a baby carrier that leaves your hands free in case you have to crawl under smoke or go down a safety ladder to get outside.
In a fire, go to your meeting place outside. Call the fire department from there. Do not go back inside for any reason.
Nursery Safety Tips
Children can choke on small things. If something is small enough to fit in a toilet paper tube, it is not safe for little children. Look in every room of your home. Pick up small items like buttons, coins, jewelry and small toys.
Never leave the baby alone on the changing table, even for a second. Always use safety straps on high chairs, changing tables and strollers.
All pictures should be secured out of reach. Don’t hang pictures or other heavy decorations directly over a crib.
Keep cribs, beds, chairs and other furniture away from windows.
Install a baby gate at the nursery door.
Replace all door stops that have removable caps that can pose a choking hazard.
Safe Bathing Tips
Many new parents don’t realize babies can drown in as little as one inch of water. In fact, one in five (20 percent) new parents surveyed didn’t know they should never leave their baby unattended in the bath tub, even if there is no water in it. Follow the Home Safety Council’s advice to keep your baby safe while bathing:
Drowning can happen very fast. Most of the time you will not hear someone drowning. Stay within an arm’s reach of young children when they are in or near water.
Hot water burns like fire. Set your home water heater at 120 degrees F or just below the medium setting to prevent burns. Use a water thermometer to test bath water. The water temperature should be no more than 100 degrees F.
Babies and young children have delicate skin. Install special tub spouts and shower heads that prevent hot water burns.
New and expecting parents can test their safety knowledge online by taking the Home Safety Council’s “New Parent Know-How: Baby Safety Quiz.” After completing the quiz, parents can visit HomeSafetyCouncil.org/babysafety to learn what they can do to create a safe haven for their growing family.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: April 24, 2009
The overnight star from Britain’s Got Talent, Susan Boyle, recently got a makeover.
With her eyebrows waxed and her hair colored, the judges of Britian’s Got Talent are apparently not pleased with Boyle’s new look. They were hoping to cash in on her average look and angelic voice.
What do you think of Susan’s makeover? [polldaddy
Susan Boyle’s new look
