Nice Finishes First

You know that old saying "Nice guys -or girls finish last"? Even though we may wish it not to be so, in today's competitive world that phrase is difficult to contradict. On the occasion when someone proves it untrue - you can't help but feel inspired.

Such is the case of this weekend's guest on Family Matters, Dawna Stone, entrepreneur, media personality and winner of The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. She's successful, beautiful and extremely talented. We would be jealous but quite frankly, she is also a very nice person. Being nice has been the driving force of her life and career to the point that she has just published a book called Winning Nice, that describes her formula on how to avoid that kill-or-be-killed, winner-take-all attitude and still rise to the top.

Speaking of nice rising to the top, just posted on our podcast page is our conversation with John Grogan, nice-guy author of Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog. This nice little book ended up finishing first on the New York Times non-fiction best seller list in 2006 thus rewarding this first-time author a nice paycheck. Only one thing left to say - NICE!

Not Your Average Joe

Going grocery shopping is becoming a pricey adventure lately for the average family. Whether it's corn, wheat or dairy, just about every staple has seen a significant price increase. It's no wonder cheap is chic again. Did you know that September is National Coupon Month? Really! So, we invited Joe the coupon guy on the show this weekend, to share his secrets to saving money at the grocery store. Tune in to hear Joe's tales of saving serious cash and how you can too!
Why not celebrate with collecting a few coupons yourself? We're proud to partner with Vocalpoint community where moms across the country are saving money, receiving free samples and sharing their opinion on major brands we use everyday. Signing up is fun, easy and free - now that's something to commemorate this September.

Talk is Left Behind

Did you know the 5-year-old No Child Left Behind law is up for renewal this month? It should be on the top of the debate list for educators, parents, legislators and media across the country. Yet, we've heard very little about it - which is disappointing to say the least.

No matter where you stand on the issue, we as parents and tax-paying citizens all have a stake in our country's children and their education. It's an issue that deserves our attention especially as we gather at the obligatory parent's night at our local schools. Why not ask your child's teacher or principal their opinion on how the law affects your child's school? You may or may not be happy with the answer but is it not a question worth asking?

We talked about the issue and more last weekend on Family Matters Radio with Judy Molland, author of Straight Talk About Schools. If you missed it, you can listen to the podcast by clicking here.
The conversation about the law may not be as fun as the banter about Britney's performance at the VMA, but it means so much more to our children and our country.

Three Strikes for Mattel Toys

A third recall by Mattel has parents nervously pondering about the toys in their homes and the potential dangers they present to their families. It's no wonder many are vowing to check all the labels carefully to ensure nothing they purchase in future comes from factories of the Far East. Easier said than done.
Excessive lead levels, which can cause brain damage in children who may accidentally ingest the substance, is just part of an ongoing problem with products manufactured outside of the watchful eye of regulatory agencies.
Recently we spoke with infant development specialist Jill Stamm, about brain boosters- simple, science-backed ways to nurture your baby’s brain development. The best part is that you don't need plastic cutters to open the package. Listen to our podcast conversation with Jill here. To see the full list of banned toys, for full page pictures of the specific components affected, and to find out where to return them, click here.