(Long Island, N.Y.) Prom season is around the corner and it’s the time many teen girls get obsessive over body issues. Long Island mom Linda Frankenbach created fitsmi.com, the first website offering community, expert advice, behavior modification tools and coaching to teen girls struggling with weight. As a teen growing up in West Islip, Linda struggled with her weight and her mom tried to help her but lacked the information and the tools. Finally a neighbor was able to help Linda, so this issue is close to her heart.

Linda, who now lives in Bridgehampton, was a pioneer in cable television and part of the leadership teams that launched Cablevision, HBO, Comedy Central and Court TV. Her original idea was to create a weight loss TV network but as she researched the media resources available for weight loss, she discovered that teen girls were an undeserved population. She realized the best way to reach this age group was online so Linda enlisted an A team of television executives in collaboration with medical experts to create fitsmi.

The website is free and offers a wealth of invaluable information that is not included in school health classes. Medical consultants include obesity doctors, registered dieticians, certified physical trainers and adolescent psychologists. There is also a companion site fitsmiformoms.com offering expert guidance for moms on how they can best support their children battle obesity and live healthier.

Linda stresses that it is not about dieting, but about making lifestyle changes that can be continued throughout a lifetime. Teens are still developing and can’t be treated as adults, but also the approach is very different than with younger children where the parents still exert a lot of control.

If your teen wants to get healthier and slim down, here are 10 inspiring tips from the Fitsmi coaches:

1) MODEL HEALTHY HABITS. Actions speak louder than words (and Dads listen up, apparently your eating and exercise habits have more influence on teens than mom’s). Don’t keep nutritionally bankrupt foods in the house. Remember, you are a role model at all times. Are you eating a healthy dinner? Eating slowly and mindfully? Appreciating your food instead of wolfing it down? Drinking water instead of soda or other sugary beverages?

2) DON’T NAG; DON’T TIPTOE: Be honest with your child if you or your pediatrician is concerned about your child’s weight. Don’t be afraid to talk about it or bring it up, but then you have to let go and not nag. Tell them you’d like to help them make changes in their life IF that is what they would like to do. Your role is to be their cheerleader and strategic supporter (i.e. providing rides, $, or opportunities if they want to get fit, learn about nutrition, etc.) when they are ready to move forward. Be prepared to seal your lips if, after your empathic and carefully worded discourse that you’ve sweated over for days, they then proceed to lie on the couch and eat a whole pizza in front of you.

3) MAKE HEALTHY EATING CONVENIENT AND TEMPTING. Do what you can to make eating healthy easy to do around your house. For example, buy Attractive Containers and Fill Them Full of Bite-Sized Colorful Fruits and Vegetables. Looks count! When your kid opens up the fridge, they should see bright colors, chunks of ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables in easy-to-grab, transparent containers.

4) ORGANIZE ACTIVE FAMILY ACTIVITIES– Modeling positive habits includes exercise so suggest spontaneous or planned active and fun family activities such as Frisbee in the backyard, dancing together in the living room, playing Wipe Out on the Xbox, riding bikes to the movies, ice skating or a Fall outing to climb a mountain together!

5) EAT HEALTHY TOGETHER. Don’t single out the child with the issue. Make changes in the way the entire family is eating. Try to have as many family meals together as you can. There was one study that reported eating at least 3 meals per week as a family is the minimum to help build a teen’s self esteem as well as a starting goal for healthy meals.

6) COOK TOGETHER. Get teens in the kitchen too and prep healthy meals together at least once a week.

7) BE AWARE OF YOUR CHILD’S TOTAL WELLBEING. Be mindful of how your child is doing holistically, not just in terms of his/her weight. Be sure to address issues of anger, depression, anxiety and loneliness, with a therapist if necessary. Working on other issues to make their lives better can take some of the pressure off of comfort/emotional eating and can also improve your child’s self esteem. You can help your child feel better about herself by cultivating her talents and strengths. Children with higher self-esteem are more inclined to take care of themselves. So encourage your teen to follow his/her passions and support them. Beat boxing? Rap? Painting and shredding t-shirts into seemingly unwearable forms? Go for it!

8) MONITOR HOW OFTEN YOU CRITICIZE YOUR CHILD. Remember to love your child unconditionally, especially when you feel like saying a gazillion critical things about them. Your love matters, it really does.

9) DON’T REWARD WITH FOOD. Find ” treats” that aren’t food such as a long-awaited ski trip. Have celebrations that aren’t centered on food.

10) REMEMBER IT’S NOT ABOUT DIETING. Deprivation only works in the short term. The goal is to change how your child thinks about food and create healthy eating practices for a lifetime.

So, don’t measure your teen’s success merely on how much weight she loses. Other things you can look at may be the amount of time she spent being physically active and not watching television, an increase in endurance (for example, biking for a longer distance or jogging for a longer period of time), or a week of making nutritious snack choices instead of cookies and a soda.

(Long Island, N.Y.) Hippity Hoppity Easter’s on its way… and that means you’re probably hot on the trail for Easter basket goodies. I recently learned about a fun new program launched by Mattel—a great way to go easy on the sweets and stuff their Easter baskets with what they really want…TOYS!

Here’s the scoop: The chocolate bunny has been an Easter tradition for over 200 years but the future of this holiday icon is… well, melting. This Easter, Mattel, the Endangered Chocolate Bunny Commission (ECBC) and celebrities like Chris Harrison, Stephen Collins and Kate Flannery, have come together to Save The Bunny with a special hare-raising and entertaining PSA—view here.

The idea is help protect the endangered Chocolate Bunny this Easter by loading up your basket with more playful toys from kids’ most favorite Mattel brands such as Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher Price and Thomas and Friends …thus saving the bunny! Rise up, springtime shoppers and answer the call to save our nation’s bunnies. (And by giving the bunny a break and nixing the chocolate, you just might be saving on your next dental bill, too!) Instead of hunting all around town, you can download printable coupons directly from the site that can be used at Target, Walmart, K-mart, Toys ‘R Us, and lots of other locations. You’ll be ‘hoppy’ to know that Mattel is donating $25,000 to Save the Children charity to help make the Easter season more playful for kids around the country.

Oh yes, about the prizes: Visit www.SaveChocolateBunnies.com for a chance to win Mattel toy prizes daily, throughout the month of March and make your Easter basket rock with fun toys…not innocent bunnies! Oh and one lucky winner will also receive a $4,000 Grand Prize.

(Long Island, N.Y.) In March of 2006, Miller Place mom Karen Torres received a life-changing phone call. Her father, Patrick Mapleson, a state Department of Transportation worker, was struck and killed by a distracted driver while working along the highway.

We are all guilty of it: reaching in your bag to find some gum, answering a call on your cell, eating a bagel on the go…the list is endless.

Karen has now made saving lives her mission. She travels all around Long Island sharing her father’s tragic death in hopes to inspire drivers to stay focused on the road. Her powerful message will change how you drive and how you view other drivers. I am proud to call her my friend and since meeting her, I am extra careful when I am driving (with my precious cargo in the back seats!) and my phone gets tucked away in my purse. Whatever it is…it can wait. There is just too much at stake.

I caught up with Karen in hopes she can inspire you, too and learn from her tragedy. Please, read on…

What exactly is “distracted driving” and why is it so deadly?

Anything that diverts your attention away from the roadway while you are driving is “distracted driving”. With so much technology available at our fingertips, I feel people are focusing more on what they can do while driving instead of what they should be doing, which is just drive.

Texting has become such an epidemic among motorists. People don’t realize that texting requires such a significant amount of our attention. You have to look at the screen, think about what you’re going to say and then your mind has to tell your fingers what to type.

According to statistics, the average text message takes your eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. With the environment constantly changing while we drive, how can you expect the roadway to look exactly the same when you look back up and why has this become such a priority over driving?

Motorists have to worry about distracted drivers every minute of every day and innocent people are losing their lives because of this deliberate, dangerous, selfish choice!

After a tragedy, many people become paralyzed by their loss. What made you spring into action to help save lives?

After my father’s death, I had such a strong desire to share his story. I have turned my tragedy into a learning tool to help prevent others from making the same mistake and hopefully saving lives along my way.

Your story is so powerful. How do the teens react after hearing your presentation?

I hand out evaluation forms at the end of each class. Most of the students say that having me share my personal story really makes them realize “WOW” this can really happen. A lot of them tell me they never realized just how dangerous distracted driving is or how many different types of distractions there are. The best ones to read are the ones that say “Thank you for saving my life”.

If there’s one main takeaway you try to leave drivers, what is it?

The next time you go to take your eyes off the road ask yourself “Is this really worth losing my life over or can it wait”?

How important is it for parents to educate their teens about distracted driving?

Parents have a huge influence on the way their teen drives. Parents need to understand that their children are in “Mommy & Daddy” driving school for the 1st 16 years of their life. They mirror what we do. If you speed, talk on your phone, text or drive under the influence, how can you expect your child not to pick up your bad habits? We can’t always say “do as I say, not as I do”.

As our teens become new drivers, it’s crucial for parents to educate them on distracted driving before they pick up any bad habits when they drive.

According to statistics, teens ages 16-20 have the highest fatality rate in the nation. I believe with early education this number will come down. It’s up to this generation to change the next!!

You are so dedicated to spreading awareness to this concerning issue. How can a parent help facilitate a visit by you to their child’s high school or driver’s education class?

If anyone would like to find out more information about my presentations, they can email me at kt4dad@aol.com.

(Long Island, N.Y.) I don’t usually do follow-ups to spotlights but there is an exception to every rule. A few years ago I wrote about Sonny Grosso From Bad Guys to Butterflies and after connecting on Facebook, I still do find Sonny Grosso rather fascinating. He’s charming, warm, and multi-talented. Instead of looking back on his long list of exciting accomplishments (he was in the security, protection and investigation business for over 30 years), Grosso continues to look forward and carving out quite a creative path as an author, lyricist, and singer. Not to mention, he heads up the safety and security for Adventureland, a fun and popular amusement park in East Farmingdale. I reached out to Grosso once again to find out what this (very multifaceted!) fella is doing these days. (It’s a lot!)

First things first. You recently won a big contest. Congrats, Sonny. Tell me a little about it.

Friends of mine, Tino Maiolo (Radio1NewYork.Com), Rocky Milone (International Talent Magazine) and Andrew Earl Singer (International Talent Magazine) had asked me if I wanted to be featured in the premier issue of their magazine. Being as shy as I am, I said “YEAH”! Soon after, they ran a contest for the best Christmas/Holiday song. They took thousands of entries and narrowed it down to 25. I was one of them and the voting began. I had just finished recording a Christmas CD called “A Sandy Christmas” where I performed some of my favorite Christmas songs. A portion of the sales is going to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy, hence the title. I entered my rendition of “The Christmas Song” originally done by Nat King Cole.

Were you shocked that you won?

The contest was fun and nerve wracking at the same time. There was a little controversy and a contestant had to be disqualified, which kind of took the fun away for a bit, but YES, I was pleasantly shocked and amazed. I have to thank all those wonderful people who took the time to vote each day. It’s always heartwarming when people appreciate our God-given talents. It was a great Christmas present to my family and even me.

Tino Maiolo interviewed me on his radio show, my son was listening and beaming with loved ones and I think he was as shocked as I was. Very cool experience! You know the feeling Janene. I read the accolades people send you for your talent and wit in your writings and postings on the web, TV, Bella Magazine, LI Exchange, etc. YOU are becoming a major media icon. Well deserved too!

Aw, I’m blushing…but thank you. You have a solid social media presence. What are your thoughts about Facebook and what benefits do you get from having such a strong network of online friends and family?

Ya know Janene, it’s funny. Prior to 2010, nobody ever saw me on Facebook. I didn’t get the whole thing. I thought it was a venue for cheaters, weirdos, etc. Back when we first met, I had just written and published “The Butterfly and The Dinosaur” and was looking to promote it. Someone had suggested Facebook. Two years later, I have thousands of friends from all over the world. I’ve been blessed to reunite with friends and family I had lost contact with, and have been able to showcase my talent. Facebook allowed me to meet you Janene!

Of course, first and foremost is my “Thought for the Day” which I post every day, every eight hours. They are a simple, direct and positive “thought” aimed at making the world a more peaceful, positive and loving place. People are scared. The infiltration of media in our lives, focusing mostly on explosive and scandalous stories, has everyone closing their eyes and eventually their minds and hearts. I have people publicly and privately tell me how they cannot start their day before they read my thought. It’s truly God and His Angels working through me and I not only accept it, I love it. I’ve always been about helping people. My Mom always said I was “generous to a fault” and I always answered, “There’s no fault in being generous.”

If you take the time to build a friend base and then watch their posts, it is so obvious to see that everyone is going through similar joys, sorrows, fears, depressions, etc. Once we realize that, once we realize that our own pains and joys are not unique, we can begin to help each other again. Hurricane Sandy proved that! We are all we have on this great planet called Earth. We can either save it together or destroy it separately! I say save it!

Wise words! I see you have added a lot to your resume since we last chatted. I’d love to learn about your latest/greatest projects.

Well, let’s see. After winning the Radio1NewYork.com contest, they have asked me to host a once a week, hour long radio show. We are working out the details and format as we speak. Very exciting.

International Talent Magazine is doing a feature on me in their February Special Valentine’s Day Issue. Also very exciting!

I will be at La Bella Vita Ristorante on February 14th where Tino Maiolo will present me with an award and a check for winning the contest. I may even sing a song or two!

I’m going back to Charlie Marotta at the Northshore Sound Studio and record another CD. This time it will be love songs, some nice music to snuggle and listen to.

And…I’m being interviewed by the nicest, prettiest and most down to earth reporter ever! Sorry folks, she’s happily married and happily a Mom!

Hahaha, how sweet! I’m so disappointed I missed you this summer at Adventureland. I was hoping to finally meet you when I visited with my family—we had such a good time so next summer for sure! How long have you been working there and what exactly do you do?

I know! I was disappointed too. This season for sure. I’ve been there going on 12 years now. I head up the safety and security for the Park. I am thoroughly involved with the management and help with promotions, press releases, media, etc. Also (here comes another shameless plug), you will hear me sing the opening song and closing song every day from opening day through the last day of the season.

It’s truly one of my favorite places in the world. The excitement, the noises, smiles and laughter of the kids, the smell of popcorn and the sounds of the rides and screams bring an immediate smile to my heart. We have made improvements and modifications every year since 2009. New rides, games, some cosmetic surgery here and there, new buildings, WIFI stations, television sets on the patios, all for your comfort and all very exciting. It’s Adventureland’s way of saying thank you to everyone who comes and visits us year after year.

Adventureland is a great place to bring the family, a great place to work! It’s the only public attraction I know of that doesn’t charge to park and doesn’t charge admission. Parents can bring their kids and get them POP bracelets for them to ride and they can walk, watch, take pictures and create memories that will last forever. All at a great daily price or season pass price. I can bet you remember your kid’s faces right this moment from that day? Am I right?

You are so right, they had a blast. Okay, your goals for 2013…go!

To stop cursing at the Giants and Yankees! Ha, only kidding…..sort of! Seriously, I want to get back to promoting my book “The Monster Down the Block”. I published it in 2011 but never really got it out there. It’s a fun story about three mischievous kids, bored over summer vacation, who pull a prank on the cranky old man down the block (the Monster). The prank backfires and what follows is a series of tense and comical moments, all leading up to a life’s lesson learned by all the characters, as well as the reader.

I will see where all this building notoriety as a singer brings me. I always believed that we have to follow the path God puts before us and trust the process. People seem to enjoy my singing and have been so gracious in their notes and comments. I want to keep pushing my song “Heaven’s Phone”, (Available on iTunes, Reverbnation, CD Baby, Amazon and YouTube). It’s a song I wrote for someone very special who was having a difficult time missing her Mother and others in Heaven. Simply explained, it’s a reminder that all you have to do is pick up Heaven’s Phone and call anyone in Heaven. If you believe they can hear you then you can believe that you will hear them. Personally, I use it every day and have for years!

I will keep posting my Thoughts for the day on Facebook of course, (Salvatore Sonny Grosso) and we will see what happens with the radio show. Maybe a daily show, call in show, talent showcase show. As the Internet is, the possibilities are endless.

Anyone you want to mention and/or acknowledge before we wrap this up?

Oh yes! First of all, I thank God for the talent, the guidance and for bringing me down this path. In no particular order, I thank YOU Janene for this opportunity once again. You’re a class act. Mark Zuckerberg for the whole Facebook thing, my Mom for playing Sinatra, Dino, Darin, Mathis, Doo Wops, etc. all day long and for teaching me what life was and is all about, my father for so many things but especially for giving me four tickets to see Elvis in 1972. That performance changed my whole concept about music and performing. Rob Rush and Rick Eberle for giving me the radio bug. All my crazy, wonderful Facebook friends and earth friends, a very special Ladybug, my sisters and my whole family, my son Sonny (“The Clone”), everyone who has ever made me laugh, cry, stand tall, shrink back, Adventureland for allowing me the time to keep working on these projects and my Guardian Angels for watching over me and helping me beat cancer. The best is yet to come!

For more information visit Sonny at www.dinomish.com, Twitter @sonnygrosso, reverbnation and iTunes and of course Facebook (Salvatore Sonny Grosso)

(Long Island, N.Y.) One of my favorite dining hotspots here on Long Island has a special New Year’s Eve deal for early birds and night owls. Monsoon Asian Kitchen and Lounge, an amazing Asian-themed restaurant in Babylon Village is a stellar spot to ring in the New Year. My most recent dinner there (a date night with my husband!) was incredibly delish. The vibe, the service, the food and drinks–everything was beyond spectacular so if you’re on the hunt for somewhere fab to go with family and friends (or just the two of you!) I highly suggest Monsoon.

The restaurant has made a huge splash on the Long Island restaurant scene and I was blown away by the creativity and full flavor of Chef Michael Wilson’s dishes. I left already longing to come back. From the appetizers to the decadent desserts—the cuisine was simply flawless. Even the cocktails have a clever flair. Their Green Tea Mojito is truly refreshing and there’s also an extensive selection of Sake. If you haven’t chosen a spot to celebrate yet…you’re welcome!

Here’s the details. From 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., there is a $21.95 three-course sunset menu special. Until 9:00 p.m., the entire a la carte menu is available. At 9:00 p.m., the menu is a special four-course $75 price fixed dinner (below). From 10:00 p.m., DJ music and dancing begins with a midnight Champagne toast for all.

Monsoon’s Four-Course Dinner menu Selections ($75)

1st Course: Miso soup OR salad

2nd Course: Monsoon roll of Maine lobster, spicy tuna, avocado jalapeño *Edamame dumplings with mushroom sake broth (LOVE THESE!) *Duck bun with chipotle, shredded duck and hoisin *Bibb lettuce wraps with chicken, coconut and Thai peanut sauce *Skirt steak yakitori with Korean kalbi marinade

3rd Course: Kung pao monkfish with Szechuan chili sauce *Miso glazed black cod with baby spinach and spicy eggplant *Millionaire’s curry crab of colossal lump crabmeat, curry, pea shoots, chili and egg *Sweet and sour chicken with pineapple, tempura, sweet peppers and snow peas *Shaking beef of filet mignon (STELLAR!), shishito peppers with sweet soy glaze *Grilled ribeye with soy, shishito peppers and crispy carrots *Old style pad Thai with rice noodles, chili, peanuts, tofu

4th Course: Chili chocolate flourless torte with mint ice cream and raspberry sauce*Crystalized ginger cheesecake with caramel sauce and chocolate *Ice cream trio (YOU MUST GET THIS!) with Chef’s selection of flavors house-made and soft-serve

MONSOON ASIAN KITCHEN AND LOUNGE
48 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon
631.587.4400 www.monsoonny.com

We’re shining a light on local small business owners to help make this holiday season merry and bright.

(Long Island, N.Y.) The very first time I got a ‘wow’ wearing gym clothes was this past summer when I sauntered in the kitchen feeling rather confident in my new gym outfit. My husband actually did a double-take. Wow-worthy, flattering workout wear? Yep, and it’s called Apifeni. This new clothing company is truly different-you just feel slimmer and thinner, longer and curvier.and dare I say hot?!?!

Their proprietary ShapeTech Waist technology supports the core and provides incredible coverage – women wearing our clothes can bend over, lunge, sit cross legged and take inversions like headstand without having to worry for even a second about the bottom showing or their tummy popping out of their pants. “I designed Apifeni because I was unsatisfied by everything else available – low rise pants are simply not a great fit for most women’s’ bodies,” says Danielle Dobin, creator and chief executive officer of Apifeni. “They slip down, they create a bulge around the waist and if you bend over, whether to exercise or to pick up your child, it’s likely that half your bottom or at least your thong/underwear will show.”

If you’re looking for a last-second gift, or better yet, something to buy yourself to get you motivated to hit the gym (and turn heads!) in 2012, then read on. I caught up with Danielle to chat about how her bright idea took shape.

What made you decide to start your own fitness clothing line?

After I had children, I found existing activewear to be unflattering and not at all functional. Low rise yoga pants simply exacerbated any issues around my core and I disliked being unable to bend over – whether at the gym or simply to pick up my child – without exposing too much from behind! I began to notice women all around me constantly hitching up their pants in cardio class, while running errands, at the market and especially in yoga/barre/zumba classes. I was inspired to create a collection of active wear that would encourage women to feel self-confident, not self-conscious and Apifeni (pronounced “epiphany”) was born!

In a nutshell, Apifeni blends high-performance activewear with compressive shapewear resulting in the most flattering, comfortable & supportive activewear available.

How did your friends and family react when you told them about your idea?

They were shocked! I had spent my professional life as a corporate lawyer at one NYC’s largest law firms and then in real estate investment and development so creating a global activewear brand was hardly a natural “next move” for me! However, once everyone tried our original prototypes they became complete “apifanatics” – our biggest fans. My sister, who is a very successful business woman along with my mom, truly mentored me through this entire process. My incredible girlfriends in LA, NYC, Westport & Washington have been our best brand ambassadors.

What was the most challenging part of starting your own company?

It wasn’t starting a company that was difficult as much as creating a line of clothing that so equally balances aesthetics and function. I wanted to create a line that bridged the gaps between traditional activewear, innerwear/shapewear and stylish sportswear…it was critical that we source the perfect fabrics to really make our line work. I took various trips abroad, worked with multiple pattern-makers and developed a strong relationship with the management of our factory – we actually sew all of our garments in the USA!

The entire idea behind our line is to embrace the modern woman’s lifestyle…so that our customer need only change her shoes, not her clothes, and confidently wear the same Apifeni outfit throughout her day. Our clothes are designed to transition from drop-off to the gym or a yoga/pilates/zumba/barre class to lunch to cocktails and beyond. I’ll frequently pair our leggings with a ruffle tank for yoga and then slip on a pair of boots & a flow cardigan and transition to lunch or dinner out. We like to say that our Vinyasa Capri is equally perfect for Pilates and preschool drop-off!

Your clothes make a great gift for any gal–moms, aunts, wives, friends-even yourself! How can we buy it?

Apifeni is not available through traditional retail stores. Instead, we sell online through www.apifeni.com and through a talented network of Apifeni Style Directors nationwide. Our Style Directors show our collection at in-home trunk shows in communities across the United States, from Boulder to Boca Raton.

Next week, I will actually be in Long Island for a trunk show in Hewlett with our brand new Nassau County Style Director! We also offer free shipping off of our website and gift certificates are available on our site and through our Style Director. An Apifeni gift certificate is the perfect stocking stuffer!

Entrepreneurial women who are into fashion & fitness can explore the idea of joining our sales team on our website as well.

You and I first spoke early this past summer when Apifeni was just launching. Did you ever expect to grow so quickly? What’s been the best part?

Our growth has truly been explosive! Our clothes have been embraced by top editors – Allure, SELF, Shape, the Washington Post and countless fitness & mommy bloggers- who are raving about it – even Oprah – there’s a feature in January’s O Magazine! We’ve been on local news stations across the country and we’ve sent orders to just about every state and to buyers as far away as Singapore! New Style Directors are joining us every day and we are excited to grow our team even further. It’s been an exceptionally wonderful experience to be the force behind so much economic activity and so many new jobs – from helping promote manufacturing here in the US to empowering all of our Style Directors to run their own fashion businesses.

We are 100% woman owned and we donate a portion of proceeds from every sale to Women for Women International, an incredible organization which empowers and supports women survivors of war all over the world. We even purchase offsets so that all of our shipments to customers are carbon neutral. Unlike most other activewear brands which are either public companies or owned by private equity funds, Apifeni is 100% woman owned and I like to think that it shows with regard to our company values and the way that we run our business.

(Long Island, N.Y.) Ok, so this is the one thing that baffles many of us during holiday season: office gift giving. What to give, who to give, how much? Or what if your cubicle neighbor hands you a gift and you have nothing for her? Awkward! These are the very things that can make you look for a hiding spot at the holiday party.

To help steer clear of embarrassing or tricky holiday gift snafus, Vicky Oliver, author of five bestselling books on personal branding, etiquette, and career development offers her best gift-giving tips. Oliver is a leading career adviser and image consultant in Manhattan and if you follow a few of her simple guidelines below, it’s easy to sail through the holidays without a single faux pas.

Let “power hierarchies” guide your way.

Whether to give or not to give depends a lot on your position in the office “power hierarchy.” For example, people who work “under” you and routinely serve you at work–your assistant or the receptionist, for example–should get a small gift as a gesture of gratitude. Likewise, if you have a supervisor or boss, it’s customary to “go in” on a larger gift with several coworkers, to express thanks, loyalty, and solidarity.

Use your heart and be sensitive.

You don’t need to give gifts to all of your coworkers unless you work in an office of five or fewer people, where leaving one person out would hurt his or her feelings. However, if you have a team member or coworker who has been particularly helpful or supportive to you this year, a card expressing that and a small gift is entirely appropriate, even if you don’t do the same for others. Be tactful and discreet when singling out one special person for a thank you gift.

Give to helpers and service people.

In addition to your immediate helpers in the office, be sure to acknowledge support staff in your office building, including the doorman, mailroom person, perhaps a frequent courier you know by name, the night or weekend cleaning person, and others who make your everyday 9-to-5 life easier and more pleasant. Always give cash in a pretty envelope accompanied by a heartfelt, written message of appreciation. These people often make minimum wage or close to it, and a $20 bill goes a lot farther than a pair of gloves.

Don’t overspend.

The rule of thumb for office gifts is that they be inexpensive. It’s poor etiquette to spend, say, $50 on a bottle of eau de toilette or a designer scarf for a coworker, because chances are she’ll buy you chocolates and then feel embarrassed. If you have a lot of gifts to give out, try to stay under $20 for each. Some ideas include: a gift card to Starbucks, monogrammed notecards, a cookbook, a bottle of wine, a gourmet food item, a gift certificate to a favorite lunch spot, a potted flower, or a two-drink voucher at the local watering hole.

Keep a few “anybody” gifts handy.

What if someone gets you a present and you didn’t get one for him or her? That won’t happen to you because you’ve already gone to the corner CVS or Duane Reade and stocked up on fistfuls of fashionable finds. A drop-dead eyeglass design might be copied and recopied until it shows up on the reader magnifier shelf of Duane Reade or a CVS. Comb the aisles of discounter chains before the holidays and then invest in some upscale wrapping paper. Watch these “generic” gifts transform into the world’s most glamorous (and inexpensive) presents. Your recipient won’t know that you didn’t shop ahead just for her or him.

Institute a “Secret Santa” policy at work.

If you’re concerned about whom to give to and how much it’s all going to cost, go to your friendly HR person and ask them if your company might consider instituting a Secret Santa policy–where everyone buys ONE person a gift. (You draw for who buys whom gifts.) This can save you a lot of money and is ordinarily considered to be even more fun too, as there is a “luck” element in whom you draw and a shared sense of camaraderie.

Vicky Oliver’s books: 301 Smart Answers to Tough Business Etiquette Questions and her latest, The Millionaire’s Handbook: How to Look and Act Like a Millionaire Even If You’re Not.

(Long Island, N.Y.) The fall television season is loaded with lots of hot new shows to keep tabs on– and it’s really hard to keep up. If you’re a parent, it’s tricky to squeeze in any time for yourself-including TV and exercise time. If you want to slim down your belly before the holidays roll in, why not multitask? Yep, your time spent in front of the television can be prime tummy time.

“Good, strong, flat, shapely abdominal muscles don’t just happen by doing a few ‘crunches’ before you end your workout,” says Pamela Bruno, certified personal trainer and nutritional specialist at Evolusion Fitness in Miller Place. That’s right, you have to work for them. We have all seen the same commercials about a million times, so she suggests using that TV downtime to tone up.

Ready to get started? Bruno offers these tips:

Most TV shows have at least 2 commercial breaks. Each commercial break has at least 3 commercials. Every time a commercial break airs do a different exercise for each commercial. Only do 3. This way you will do 2 sets of abdominal exercise for each of the 3 areas of your abs to be worked.

UPPER AB MUSCLE: Feet Anchored Sit Ups: Anchor your feet under a couch or TV stand. Place your hands alongside your face, leading with your shoulders; touch your elbows to your knees. Repeat through commercial. (If this is too difficult: Extend arm out by legs, sit up and reach towards your feet as you sit up, or crunch up each time, by lifting shoulder blades as high off the floor as possible. NOTE: as you return back to the floor, round your back on the way down.

LOWER AB MUSCLE: Straight Leg Raises: Lying on back, place arms at your side, wrap your hands around and slightly under rear. (This will supply back support) With legs straight and together, raise toward the ceiling and lower slowly and controlled until you are 2 inches from the floor and repeat for entire commercial. Do not allow feet to touch the floor until the commercial is over. (Too much on lower back? Lower the legs to a more comfortable level or do entire exercise with knees bent in toward chest.

SIDE OBLIQUES: Side Lying Oblique crunches: Get on your side and sit up on forearm. Place other hand behind your head. With bottom leg anchored on the floor, lift top leg up to meet elbow. There should be a slight raising and lowering of upper body to meet your leg at center. Pause at top for a second and repeat throughout commercial. NOTE: This exercise will require 2 commercials to get both sides.

Consistency is the key. Make this into a 3-4 times a week routine, coupled with healthy food choices, and you can have strong, flat abs by holiday time.

(Long Island, N.Y.) They say every dog has his day, but our furry friend got three! Our August Lake Placid getaway was unlike any vacation we’ve taken in the past. We went there to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary-and we didn’t go alone. With the kids, the grandparents, and the dog in tow, it was the most memorable multi-generational road trip ever taken. Ok, maybe it’s the first multi-generational road trip we’ve ever taken.but it won’t be the last and here’s why.

We headed to The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort. Haven been to Lake Placid a few times (I truly love it there!) I always walked by the resort and was curious about it. The property right in the heart of the Olympic village– located on Main Street and Mirror Lake.

The accommodations: We stayed in the (absolutely perfect in every way) Lakeside Specialty Room. It was over sized, immaculate and upscale. The bathroom was a tad smallish for what I prefer, but the shower (an area I tend to over-scrutinize) was newly tiled and renovated. The room evoked a warm Adirondack charm; stone fireplace, very spacious, attractive decor and bedding. What I really loved about being on the ground floor: Open your patio door, gaze out to the lake and enjoy nature’s show. The lakeside view and prime location of room #115 is spectacular.

The hotel offers a large number of suites and specialty rooms depending on your needs. For example, The Skylight Suite, ideal for a small family retreat has a room for the kids, The Algonquin Suite is double-chambered with a private balcony overlooking the lake and a whirlpool tub for two. There are also kitchenette options and a condo that sleeps up to eight with an upstairs open-loft bedroom, a full-efficiency kitchen and a private entrance. Additionally, there are allergen free guest rooms (the first floor in the North wing) where the rooms have bamboo wood floors, Hepa-silent air filters, chlorine filters on the shower-heads and many other features to ensure allergy suffers an enjoyable time.

Environment friendly: The Golden arrow is known as Lake Plaid’s “green hotel.” They have implemented several creative, environmentally-friendly initiatives and are the only resort in the U.S. to have received a five leaf status in the Audubon Society’s rigorous eco-rating program. The resort also has a restaurant (that offers many locally grown foods), a private beach on the lake, indoor pool and health club, among other amenities.

The resort gives guests the opportunity to actively participate in their sustainability programs during stays. In each guest room is a recycling bag. Guests are asked to place all of their recyclable materials into these bags so they can separate them and make sure they are properly disposed of. There’s also VIP Parking for Green Vehicles–Premier Hybrid Parking is a permanent parking spot only for guests who travel here in a hybrid vehicle. The spot is prime parking right near the front door.

Pet friendly: My parents (and dog) stayed on the third floor (designated for pets) in a deluxe king room. I was worried that the pet-friendly rooms would not be very human friendly, but the room didn’t at all smell like, well…dog. It was fresh, clean and updated-and boy was my dog digging the accommodations. And I love this: For each pet that visits Golden Arrow, 10% is donated annually to the local Humane Society. This amounts to thousands of dollars each year which directly benefits the hundreds of animals that pass through the doors of the local shelter each year.

Kid Friendly: Honestly, the lake was the star of the show and the kids were drawn to it. If you want to explore the shoreline, Golden Arrow provides complimentary rowboats, canoes, kayaks and paddle boats. At the crack of dawn, my son headed for the lake for an early morning dip. All we had to do was roll out of bed and get comfy in an outdoor patio chair steps away from the private white sand beach. And what an amazing way to spend the morning. While the dog basked in the early sunlight and the kids frolicked in the lake we ordered room service and dined on a farm fresh breakfast outdoors steps in front of our room. It was heaven on earth. At night, we headed to the indoor pool for some last-second swimming before bed. There’s also a sauna, a steam bath, and two whirlpool tubs.

Too bad summer’s coming to an end already. If you can squeeze in a last summer hurrah, this is the place. For the fall, you might want to check out their Family Farm Tour Weekend (September 7-9 2012) an all-inclusive weekend, tour farms local to Lake Placid and the Adirondacks, and learn more about the benefits of the Farm to Fork Movement.

Adult-friendly: Having everything you need in one place makes it so easy to kick back and enjoy your family vacation. As soon s you walk off the property, you are right in the heart of town and everything is in walking distance-like activities, shopping, entertainment and food. The resort’s restaurant, “Generations”, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ate there a few times and enjoyed the farm-to-table fare. Under the direction of Executive Chef David Hunt, the menus feature many foods that are grown and raised locally-and after chatting with him for a few moments, I could tell he pours his heart and soul into his dishes. His goal to keep it as local and fresh as possible, showcasing the many wonderful farms and products that are grown, raised and cultivated in New York’s Adirondack region.

Overall, I have to say, it was probably one of the most relaxing vacations I have ever taken, mostly because there was just nothing I had to worry about. Everyone was with me and everything I needed was right there at the resort. And a quick glace outside our window-it was a lakeside Shangri-La. If you can swing some alone time and want to reconnect as a couple, you can book a Gondola Cruise on Mirror Lake -very romantic!

If you plan to get a jump-start on next summer’s fun, this is a wonderful (and affordable) place to regroup and reconnect as a family. And if you’re starting to plan your holiday getaways, I assure you, the destination is magical come wintertime.

Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort
2559 Main Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
(518) 523-3353
www.golden-arrow.com

(Long Island, N.Y.) Now’s the perfect time to seal the bond and squeeze in some quality family time. Here are some creative suggestions to help you clock-in and strengthen your connection. (Psst: Every second you spend engaged with the kids–counts!)

Catch the Wacky Jax — the newest revival of the classic Chinese jacks, is a great way to bond over a retro toy that we played in the (non-digital) dark ages. Teach the kids the classic way to play, or make up their own rules as they go.

Tell a twisted fairytale. Make up your own creative endings to well-known tales. Throw the Big Bad Wolf’s mom in the mix-sure, why not?

Start an impromptu jam session. Rock out together with Music Together’s Super Play-Along Set. Shake your “Chick-itas” and cue the applause.

Inquire within with the help of Loaded Questions-the classic game of who said what. There are no right or wrong answers. Ask something cool or funny like, “If you were a professional wrestler, what would your ring name be?” Tsumommi?

Slip in some outdoor fun with Jumbo Bananagrams–144 waterproof, three-inch square tiles packaged in a funky giant yellow banana-shaped tote bag. Race against each other to build giant crossword grids and use all their letter tiles. No pencil, paper or board needed!

Plan a random act of kindness. Pow-wow around the table and brainstorm some ways you can surprise a friend or neighbor with a sweet and unexpected gesture. (It’s very exciting!)

Start slacking! Strike the perfect balance with The Funline by Gibbon Slacklines. You may have seen slacklining in Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime show being done by a professional. No worries not all slacklining is that extreme and my kids and I love it! Slacklines are safe, typically set up over pads or grass just a foot or two off the ground. You will need to find two trees about 10-15 feet apart to set it up. Once you find the perfect spot, it’s easy to get going!

Play Telestrations–the game that takes the sketch and guess fun found in today’s popular online games and brings it into the family room. Think telephone game – sketched out, and well, you get the picture. Everyone plays at the same time as multiple words get passed around, and players simultaneously draw what they see, then guess what they saw.

Make it The Greatest Day Ever, a new matching game where you can cruise around with the kids in a race around the board that was developed to bring the greatest day ever to life for any kid.if they play their cards right!

Camp out and build a Base Camp Shelter, by Backyard Safari Outfitters. It’s a cool camping kit with everything to set up shelter and rough it in the great outdoors also known as your backyard.

Break out Duo Pop, a new way to connect with family and friends for fun-filled, fast-action, heads-up gaming on an iPad. Multiple players compete to be first to pop their Duo Pop Poppers, then correctly answer questions to win. Apps available for Duo Pop include Saturday Night Live – The Game app, Highlights Hidden Pictures, Guesstimation and more.