Everyone knows that apples are good for you.  One of the great things about apples, besides their great taste, is that you can get them pretty much year round.  There are usually many apples to choose from in the produce section, with each one having its own unique characteristics.  You now have two more great apples to add to the list of choices; Lady Alice and Junami.

The Lady Alice apple is a Washington State original that has a nice sweet flavor with a bit of tartness.  While I haven’t tested this yet – they are suppose to be slow to brown after cut.  I really liked this apple – it was firm and had a great flavor to it.  It would be great in salads, including one of my favorites, waldorf salad.   The season for the Lady Alice apple is February through April so you should be able to find them soon – try either Kroger or Meijer.

The Junami apple is a HELLO! kind of apple – it’s flavor is big and so is the crunch.  I really liked this apple, especially for snacking.  This variety of apples come fromSwitzerland and is a cross between Ida Red and Maigold with Elstar, combining the best qualities of both.  The season for this apple is January/February so you may still be able to find these at your local Kroger.

Both of these wonderful apples come from the Rainier Fruit Company.   You can find more information on the Rainier Fruit website, including some yummy recipes and the locations that carry the apples by clicking here.

Disclosure:  I received a free sample of these apples to facility the review.  All opinions are honest and my own.

Has your child ever been a victim of bullying? If you child has not directly been effected maybe you know some who has been bullied.  It is pretty common these days, comes in many forms, and effects kids of all ages.  I know that my son’s school does a pretty good job of educating the kids about what’s right and wrong when it comes to how to treat your fellow classmates.  Everyday they recite the “pathway to peace” right after the Pledge of the Allegiance.

Here is your chance to ask the expert your questions about bullying.  Tara Michener, the founder of Professionals Against Bullying, along with others, will answer your questions on how to deal with a bully.  You can submit your questions through Wednesday, January 25^th.  We’re taking questions here: http://live.freep.com/Event/Reader_QA_Dealing_with_a_bully   The answers will be posted on Friday.

You can also read Tara’s guest column in the Detroit Free Press here she says students would benefit from having a more consistent anti-bullying message in schools.

Detroit Mommies was offered an exciting opportunity to participate in Nissan Motors Holiday Quest campaign.  I jumped at the chance.  I would get to drive a 2012 Nissan Quest for a few weeks during the 2011 holiday season and Nissan would also make a contribution to a charity of my choice.   What an amazing gesture on their part!

I feel like I’m driving Santa’s sleigh.  We have used the large cargo area to take donations to the local Salvation Army and will be delivering some toys to the Snowpile Toy Drive that Detroit Mommies writer Christina and Shannon of Glamorous Moms are hosting this Saturday.   That’s just a few of the ways we have found so far to help out during the giving season.

We are also using the Quest in our everyday routine.  It is a sweet luxurious ride with heated seats, seating for seven and tons of cargo space.  I really like how the vehicle handles.  It has a surprisingly tight turning radius.  Of course, my son’s favorite feature is the theatre system with wireless headsets.

We still have more than a week to put the Quest to good use.  We have lots of fun things planned, but the best part of all this is that Detroit Mommies gets to make a charitable contribution to a charity of our choice!  In addition, there are more fun things planned for readers in the very near future as part of this campaign –– STAY TUNED FOR THE DETAILS!!!!!!  Let me just say that Nissan is showing their giving spirit in a generous way! For now you can follow me in my travels on twitter using the hashtag #HolidayQuest

Nissan provided a loan of the Nissan Quest for this program, a gift card for my family as we use the vehicle, and a contribution to a charity of my choice in my community.

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks will waive vehicle entry fees and boat launch fees on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 for its “Appreciation Days” program.
All parks and interpretive facilities are open on Thanksgiving Day. As a special, added treat, the following programs will be held during “Thanksgiving Appreciation Days”:

Kensington Metropark near Milford/Brighton:

“Farmer for a Day,” will be held on Friday, November 25 from 10 am to 3 pm, Farm
Center. This program is offered to children interested in working on a farm. Kids, ages 7 to 15 years, will work alongside our farmers cleaning stalls, feeding animals and working on other daily or seasonal chores. The program is designed to be both educational and fun. Fee: $30 per child and preregistration is required. For additional information, please call 1-800-477-3178.

“Chickadee Chow-Down,” – Friday, November 25 at 1 pm in the Nature Center. In winter, a variety of songbirds will actually take sunflower seeds from your hands. Bird seed will be provided for this short walk along the nature trails. Fee: $3 person. Preregistration required. For additional information, please call 1-800-477-3178.

Oakwoods Metropark near Flat Rock:

“Walkin’ & Talkin’ Turkey,” Friday, November 25 at 1 pm, Nature Center. Take a leisurely stroll and learn about the wild turkeys that inhabit the park. Free. Preregistration required. For additional information, please call 734-782-3956.
The 13 Huron-Clinton Metroparks, located within the five-countySoutheast Michigan region, are: Delhi Metropark, Dexter-Huron Metropark, Hudson Mills Metropark, Huron Meadows Metropark, Indian Springs Metropark, Kensington Metropark, Lake Erie Metropark, Lower Huron Metropark, Metro Beach Metropark, Oakwoods Metropark, Stony Creek Metropark, Willow Metropark and Wolcott Mill Metropark.
For more information, call the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority at 1-800-477-2757.

Briarwood Mall invites area kids and parents to kick off the holiday season with Santa at the mall’s annual holiday celebration on Friday, Nov. 11 from 6-8 p.m. Santa’s arrival will feature live reindeer and musical performances by Voices in Harmony and Sweet Adoline’s International.

Briarwood Mall has joined forces with the American Red Cross and Salvation Army this holiday season. The American Red Cross and Briarwood are encouraging families to send heartfelt messages of thanks to service members, their relatives and veterans. Through the Holiday Mail for Heroes program, kids can participate in card-making activities at Briarwood Mall between Nov. 11 and Dec. 11, and Simon mall personnel will take care of the mailing.

Briarwood is also pleased to welcome the Salvation Army’s Beyond Bells. Beyond Bells brings almost 60 hours of entertainment to Briarwood Mall during the holiday seasons in lieu of bell ringers.  Musicians will perform beginning Friday, Nov. 11, at various times in the Macy’s corridor. SAI alumni will fill the halls of Briarwood Mall during two-hour increments to raise funds for the Salvation Army.

And no holiday celebration is complete without Breakfast with Santa. Families can join Santa for a breakfast full of pancakes, sausage, juice or milk on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 8:30- 9:30 a.m.

Wow, life has been a bit crazy lately!  I moved to Florida and started MiamiMommies.com. So, I now own this site and MiamiMommies.com and couldn’t do it without Christina and Kathy!

The transition has been amazing to say the least and nothing has gotten in the way of my ever so busy schedule.  It has just gotten busier!

Since moving to South Florida I have had the opportunity to be on the Lifetime television show The Balancing Act.  They are located in Pompano Beach, which is quite close to where we moved.

I was asked to come film two segments in one day for the show.  That may not seem like a lot if you’ve ever done a segment for a News station, but these segments are quite different than a live segment.  I had two scripts to memorize before filming.  I quite honestly couldn’t sleep the night before filming because I was so worried I would forget a key word about the products I was presenting on the show.

To make a long story short, I completed the segments, had to do a few retakes because I DID forget a few key elements that I was speaking to… was so nervous I couldn’t for the life of me remember the word “cord”…seriously?!

In the end, I had fun and was told my segments went very well.

Would you like to watch?  My The Balancing Act segment airs on Lifetime Television November 4 at 7am EST.  I am presenting a product called the iRest by Rain Design.

Here is my intro, which one it airs will turn into the entire segment:

On October 28, 2011 the Statue of Liberty will celebrate its 125th Anniversary. Officially called Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, the statute was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States in 1986 to mark 100 years of independence.  The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.

Here are a few fun facts about the Statue of Liberty:

1. The face of the Statue of Liberty measures more than 8 feet tall
2. The Statue has a 35 foot waistline
3. Total weight of the Statue is 225 tons
4. Total height from the base of the pedestal to the tip of the torch is 305 feet, 6 inches
5. There are seven rays on her crown, one for each of the seven continents
6. The exterior of the Statue is copper – the light green color is a result of the natural weathering process of copper

For more facts on the Statue of Liberty please visit:  http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

Kumon, the world’s largest after-school math and reading enrichment program, will be offering open houses and a chance to win one of 12 Kumon Tuition Scholarships, valued at $2,000.00.

WHO: Participating Kumon Math & Reading Centers in the Northeast Region CT, DE, KY, ME, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, and VT)

WHAT: The “Kumon Scholarship Sweepstakes” is taking place throughout the month of October, and will award 12 students with $2,000 Kumon Tuition Scholarships. Participating centers will be hosting Educational Open House Events where all families are welcome to attend and fill out an entry form for the contest. Families will also have the opportunity to learn how Kumon’s enrichment program for children ranging from preschool to high school prepares students for high school, college and beyond.

WHEN: The Sweepstakes will be taking place throughout the month of October.

Open House Events: Saturday, October 8, 2011 & Saturday, October 15, 2011 (Times will vary)

WHERE: Participating Kumon Math & Reading Centers. To find a center near you visit:

http://www.kumon.com/GetStarted/FindACenter.aspx

WHY: Enter the Kumon Scholarship Sweepstakes and give your child the gift of education that will last a lifetime. Sign-up for a free-placement test, receive educational information to help your child advance his or her skills in math and reading, and develop a love of learning through the Kumon Method of learning.

CONTEST DETAILS:

No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes only open to legal residents of CT, DE, KY, ME, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, and VT who are 13 years and older. Ends 10/31/11. To enter and for official rules—including odds and prize descriptions—visit a participating Kumon Learning Center. Void where prohibited.

On Saturday Oct. 8th and Sunday Oct. 9th, the Ann Arbor Masonic Lodge #262 and the Golden Rule Masonic Lodge #159 will be providing a free child identification program. The program will be conducted between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm on Saturday and 11 am and 4 pm on Sunday. The program will be held at the Sears Store of Briarwood Mall, located at 900 Briarwood Circle in Ann Arbor. This is being done as a part of the Sears Safety Weekend Event.

Each child that goes through the process will receive a dental impression kit that can be done at home as well as a CD containing a photo, video, digital fingerprints and their vital information. Parents or guardians of children who participate must be present and fill out a permission slip for the child to receive this service. Children who have already received the service are encouraged to repeat the process every two years to keep the information in the completed packets current.

The Michigan Child Identification Program provides the family with everything needed for the Amber Alert System and since 2005 several thousand Michigan families have received this valuable service. The program is also considered one of the most comprehensive programs of its kind by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

For questions or more information about the event you may call 989-466-3087 or consult the Michigan Child ID Web Site at www.michiganchildid.org.