Bloggin' Again

Whew .... summer is over. The kids are back at school. And now I'm hoping to do a little more bloggin'. For the first time ever, all three of my children are in school full-time. That means, once I leave my job in the morning, I've got hours to myself until they get home. Yeah! :)

But what does this mean for me? Does it mean I now have no excuse when everyone comes home at the end of the day and the laundry is still not folded and put away. (I do NOT enjoy housework AT ALL and will not do it unless I am forced to or am having company). Does it mean I should make a well-balanced meal every night because I now have the time. Nah!

Like many moms in my predicament, I'm searching for the next BIG thing in my life. I want to grow and learn and see what else I can do to challenge myself. I've had this conversation with many of my friends who are experiencing similiar feelings. I'll still be there for the kids/husband when they get home. I will still shuttle the kids from activity to activity and help them with homework. But I also know there's something more for me to do. Is it write a book? Start a website? Volunteer? Go back to school? I'm not sure what it is. I'll let you know when I figure it out.

What I Learned From "The Politeness Challenge"

My experiment is over. I took on "The Politeness Challenge'' for one week and and here's what I observed and learned :

1) Most people are polite.

2) Some people are rude and there's nothing you can do about it. Ignore it and move on.

3) People are not out to get me, or you. That driver who cut you off is not trying to ruin your day or get in your way or make you angry. Maybe he/she made a mistake or is truly a bad driver. Anger won't help. Let it go.

4) Smile at someone and they'll usually smile back.

5) I am polite most of the time. And while this project didn't change my life, it did make me think about how my attitude, demeanor and mood effects others.

Have a wonderful day!

Day Two : The Politeness Challenge

Day Two of "The Politeness Challenge" was, well, a little more challenging.

1) The cashier at the grocery store seemed annoyed that I plopped my full-food basket on the conveyor belt instead of emptying it out. I started to feel annoyed that she was annoyed at my innocent mistake. I took a deep breath, put a BIG smile on my face and, instead of saying a simple "hello," I looked her in the eye and asked how her day was going. She gave me a big smile back. She wasn't annoyed, after all. It was all my imagination. (Or she faked it) :)

2) I almost lost it with the customer service rep I was dealing with on the phone. I have an upcoming camping trip planned and was confused about something on my reservation so I called the help line to get it figured out. Immediately she was rude and condescending. Jeez. I just needed a little help, please. She kept insisting the info I needed was on the confirmation sheet, but I was looking right at it and it clearly wasn't. I have to admit I was on the edge, ready to go off, but I talked myself back .. most of the way. I did keep a little edge to my voice and probably could've been a little less reactive. It also could've turned into an ugly confrontation, which it didn't, thanks to "The Politeness Challenge." Oh yeah. At the end of the call I even said "thank you." :)

Today is a new day. We'll see how it goes. How are you doing? I'd love to hear. E-mail me at nancyflagg@933thedrive.com or check us out on Facebook (93.3 The Drive)

The Politeness Challenge : Day One

For one week, I'm going to be extra nice to everyone I meet even if they're rude or I'm in hurry and annoyed, I'll just put a smile on my face, finish my business with that person and be gone. And hopefully, I'll feel good about my behavior. It's all part of "The Politeness Challenge" that I'm asking everyone to try. Here's how the first day went :

1) I was super nice to the frazzled lady at the library and was rewarded with a slight smile instead of her usual frown.

2) I was empathatic and not impatient with my husband after a BIG accounting problem that wasn't ALL his fault. I felt badly for him so I showed my support for him instead of getting mad about the situation.

3) Instead of losing my temper with my 8-year-old daughter because she was taking FOREVER to get in the car so we could go to an appointment, I held my tongue and waited patiently. Nobody cried. That's all good. :)

How are you doing? I'd love to hear from you. Please share. You can e-mail me at nancyflagg@933thedrive.com.

The Politeness Challenge

Have you ever been so stressed out that you're rude to the cashier at the grocery store? Or road rage takes over because some guy in a sports car nearly cuts you off? Or you find yourself telling off a telemarketer who calls every night at dinner time? If you've said yes to any of these questions than I have a challenge for you.

It's called "The Politeness Challenge" and comes from an article I recently read in Ladies Home Journal. Author Holly Robinson vowed to spend a week being nice to everyone she met no matter what. This means she had to smile even when others were being rude. She had to show empathy and patience even when she was inconvienced. And she had to apprecate the unappreciated. I loved the article and how it made her feel.

Read the full story and then commit to "The Politeness Challenge." One week. No rants. No road rage. Sweet smiles. Kind words. Let's see what it does for us.

Are you ready? Yes.

Here's the link. Check it out and embark on this life-changing project. Please let me know how it goes. Happy day.

Are You Stuck In A Dead End Job?

If you're feeling bored and frustrated with your current job, you may want to check out this article titled, "Going Nowhere Fast." Generally, I think we all feel a little of that some of the time but if it's an overwhelming feeling that won't go away, then you may need to make a BIG move. Author Suzy Welch gives sensible, realistic advice that could get you back on track and motivate you to look for new opportunities.

http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Stuck-in-a-Career-Rut-How-to-Get-Ahead-at-Work

Romantic Restaurants in Peoria

My secret ambition one day is to write a fiction novel. I have high hopes I'll make it happen but until then I'm just trying to write every day. That's what professional writers say you have to do to succeed. So I've started writing online articles for a website. Check out my very first "published" article online. It may even help you find a romantic restaurant in Peoria.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2925758/find_a_romantic_restaurant_in_peoria.html?cat=22

I Should Get Out Of Town More Often.

For the past several days, I've been on my own, visiting my aunt in Maine and saying a final goodbye to my uncle, who recently passed away. It was a rather short trip but I always get a little apprehensive when I leave Bruce and the kids. What can I say, I'm a worrier. I worry about traveling by plane. I worry about the kids playing outside where cars speed down the street like it's a drag race. We also had to work out logistics as to where the kids would go after-school while Bruce was still at work. I'll also admit that I'm a bit of a control freak so leaving it all behind and letting go of the control can be a problem. Don't get me wrong. I know Bruce, my husband, can take care of everything but it's still a little unnerving.

Well ... let .. me .. tell .. you ....

I SHOULD GET OUT OF TOWN, BY MYSELF, MORE OFTEN.

Bruce kicked it into high gear. On Friday, he took the kids to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the Peoria Civic Center. On Saturday, he drove Lucas to a morning school event, mowed the lawn, then went to a rocket launch for our daughter's Girl Scout Troop. He took the kids to a movie and finished off the night visiting with our neighbors. On Sunday, he planned a hike and picnic with the kids and even rememebered to make sure Lucas finished his water-cycle project for school.

Then, today, I walk into the house and I was AMAZED. I'll admit that I expected clutter, dirty laundry, etc .

Nope.

The kitchen was spotless, laundry was folded on the table, the carpets were vacuumed and our bed was even made. I was astonished. I'm not saying that Bruce doesn't do these things while I'm here but ... well ... ya know ... he doesn't.(By the way, Bruce may not agree with that statement.)

Bruce even told me how much he and the kids missed me. I appreciated the gesture but I don't really believe it. They were too busy with all the fun activities and did just fine without me.

The very best thing on my first day back, so far, is the HUGE hug I got from my six-year-old son Logan when he walked into the house from school. My husband came home too .. just minutes ago. No hug yet from him. He's making himself a sandwich. :)

There's A New Rule In This House .....

"THERE'S A NEW RULE IN THIS HOUSE," I found myself saying (okay, yelling) last night. " YOUR FATHER AND I WILL MAKE ONE DINNER AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T EAT IT. I'M NOT MAKING THREE DIFFERENT MEALS EVERY NIGHT!!!"

I know I'm not alone when I say it frustrates me to no end when my kids won't eat what I make for dinner. Parents for years have dealt with this dilemma. It's how we react to this annoyance that sets us apart. I could yell and get angry and put them in their rooms OR I could calmly tell them that sometimes we don't get choices in life and we have to live with our decisions. i.e. Not eating now = being hungry at bedtime.

This latest outburst came about after my daughter said she didn't want soup for dinner. Who doesn't like tomato soup? Okay, my 8-year old daughter and six-year old son don't like tomato soup. But I also offered to make chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. It was then, after I pleaded with my daughter to make a decision that I felt foolish. "What was I doing," I said to myself. "This is crazy," I told her. "Soup is what's for dinner. Take it or leave it."

She left it.

As a child, I remember my mother making ONE meal every night. There were never any options. Even when she opened a can of salmon (It's like tuna in a can), mixed it with mayo and slopped a spoonful on my plate I ate it. It wasn't my favorite, although it always came with baked frozen french fries (yum) and peas (gross).

Don't get me wrong, like anyone else, I always had my favorites and looked forward to spaghetti and taco nights. But I don't remember complaining. I just remember eating. My mother might remember differently but for the sake of this story I was a perfect child who always ate what I was supposed to. :)

I realize this little tirade is laced with a bit of anger. But every night, it's a different child .. so I'm laying down the law. In the future, I won't react in an angry manner. I'll just look at whichever beautiful child is scrunching up their face and pushing away their plate and say sweetly, "Sorry. I can't help you. Remember, there's a new rule in this house ... "

A First For Everything ...

I experienced something for the first time last night. My first car accident. I was taking my six-year old son, Logan, to basketball and driving along Willow Knolls in Peoria. As I crossed the intersection at Allen Road someone in a BIG SUV turned into my little Honda Civic. It was a young kid, maybe he was 16 or 17. The SUV smashed into the side of the car, shattering the driver's side window. Fortunately, we were not injured. My six-year old son was in the back playing with a video game and didn't see it coming. I did, though, and that was one of the scariest moments.

I consider myself to be a defensive driver, always checking intersections to make sure cars are stopped at the red lights. I saw the guy sitting there waiting to turn. Then , as I made my way through the intersection, he just turned and I knew he was going to hit me and I knew I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't stop it from happening and that was frightening. The first thing that went through my mind was "Oh my God, I don't know what's going to happen here. Oh my God, Logan could get hurt. Oh my God, I could be really hurt" The kid wasn't going very fast because he was turning but "what if?" Of course, all the "what ifs" started going through my head later on when I returned home safely. I saw Logan's little blue blanket on my bed and I started to tear up, thinking about how the night could've gone had this guy been going faster. I know you can't live like that but I couldn't help it. Anyway, it was a frightening experience.

I could go on about how this made me realize I need to appreciate every moment I have with the people I love, but I already do that. Have a safe day!

Less ... Is More in 2010

I have too much stuff.

Too many clothes are in my closet (I haven't worn many of them in a year). Too many pairs of workout shoes sit on the rack (My husband tries to throw them out when I'm not looking). Too many papers clutter my desk at home. (I can't even sit down and work.) Too many small, plastic toys fill our closets and cover our basement floor. (You know what I'm talking about.)

Clutter will be the end of me.

I've got so much crap I'm at the point where it's stressing me out .. everyday.

And I know I'm not alone. Many of you reading this are saying to yourselves, "Argh .. it's so frustrating." Nearly everyone, at some point in their lives, has this problem. The question is how can we get rid of all the stuff.

I do try. Everyday I go into my office and throw away papers, move things around, and put items in drawers that are already full. I preach to the children that every one of their belongings should have a "home." I invest in advice that tells me to declutter one room at a time for five minutes. I watch expert organizer Peter Walsh on Oprah so he can advise me to get rid of an old item every time I buy a new one. I even got on flylady.com. I especially like this one. She told me to take a garbage bag, walk through the house and throw away 27 items. I don't know where the number 27 came from but I'm willing to try. After I do that, I'm supposed to take another bag and fill it with 27 items I want to donate.

Okay.

I'll do that today.

I'm also making other strides. I'm not renewing any of my magazine subsciptions. I, at one point, was getting 10 magazines a month (yeah, it got a little out of hand). I don't have time to read them all right away so they just sit there collecting dust. i.e. LOTS OF CLUTTER!

It's a start. So I'm hoping that once I create order in my office and in my home than I can create more order in my life. I'll let ya know how it goes.

Reaching Milestones ...

I love being a mom but I'm torn over how fast my three children are growing up. They're 9, 7 and 6 and, as the saying goes, time is flying by. Before my eyes, they are creating their own unique personalities and becoming more independent. Lucas is my peacemaker/pleaser while Lauren, my artist, is always ready to stir things up. Logan, my youngest, is a bit shy and loves to play any and all sports. They still need me, of course, but not as much as they used to, which is good and bad.

I miss the days when they were babies and would snuggle up and fall asleep on my chest. I fondly remember the way they wobbled across the room with their first steps as they made their way from mommy to daddy. And I still cherish some of their first words. One of my favorites is when Lucas, my oldest, would say "ya ya" as his way of saying thank you.

While I do sometimes wish for those sweeter, innocent days, I've also learned to embrace new milestones in our family. Just recently, my two oldest children reached a new one. And when I say reached, I mean it, literally. They can now reach the lower tiers of our upper kitchen cabinets which is where the plates, bowls and cups are stored. And so, there is our milestone.

Lucas and Lauren have now been granted the tedious job of unloading the dishwasher. Ahhhh. Let's me take a moment right now to celebrate. Ahhhh. I don't know if you realize how happy this makes me. I know it only takes 3-5 minutes but, as a child, it was my job and it was never-ending, just as it is today. I grew to despise it and I still do. So I'm celebrating the fact that it's NOT my job anymore.

Ahhh (By the way, I'm smiling) :)

And now, I wait for the inevitable .. for my youngest child to grow big enough to also share the job.

What comes to mind is the list of other jobs they can start taking over ... folding laundry .. sweeping the kitchen floor. The list will eventually grow endless. It's a fact, I realize, that will make me happy and sad.

Have a great day!

Post Oprah ... Holidays

It's been a while since I've blogged, but can you blame me? I've been very busy with my Oprah visit and appearance on her show. :) What an exciting month it's been. In case you missed it, a few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to score tickets to sit in Oprah's audience. Mo'Nique, who starred in the new movie "Precious," and Anderson Cooper from CNN were the guests. The guests/topics were okay. Oprah, though, was great! She talked to the audience and was very gracious, thanking us for making special arrangements to come see the show. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. I didn't get on TV or anything .. on that visit. You could see the back of my head in the audience. Oh yeah, and we had great seats. I went with three of my friends and we were seated in the fourth row. Then, last Thursday, I WAS on the Oprah show. A little over a month ago I was shopping at Woodfield mall with those same friends when an Oprah show producer asked if she could ask us some questions, on camera, about men's fashions. My very short bit of interview aired last Thursday. It was VERY exciting. Really .. how many people can say they were on the Oprah Winfrey Show? I can. :)

Now that I've settled into my national celebrity .. hee hee .. it's time to think about the holidays. Our big dilemma this year is whether we want to wake up on Christmas morning at our house(which we never do) or travel to my parent's house. Initially, we decided to begin our own family tradition by staying home, but then my 10-year old son said he wanted to wake up at Nana and Poppy's house because he wanted to be near all of his family, including his cousins. Aww. I was touched that he understands how important it is to spend special moments with family. Then again, I was looking forward to NOT having to pack up the van and the car topper with presents. It's still under consideration. First, we have to get through Thanksgiving. :)

Have a great holiday.

The Oprah Story - Part Two

Have I kept you waiting long enough? I know. That really wasn't fair. But I rarely get a chance to be dramatic and suspensful so I had to play it up. Okay here's the rest of the Oprah story :

On Tuesday, my friend Gretchen called to tell me the "The Oprah Show" called her regarding her weekend interview. (We'd both been interviewed by an Oprah show producer about what drives us crazy about men's fashions.) Gretchen specifically talked about how she really dislikes it when men don't properly groom (manscape) themselves.

It so happens that during the interview she mentioned that her husband (who is super nice) is kind of a hairy guy. So, when producers called on Tuesday, they asked Gretchen to send pictures of her hairy husband. I laughed and laughed. And then I asked if she was going to do it. At that point, she hadn't talked to her husband and didn't know if he was going to agree. She also had reservations about putting her husband on the spot and didn't know if it was a good idea, either. Since then, he's come around but has asked her not to send one specific picture she found (I guess it's pretty bad).

I'm still not sure if she's going to do it. What they want to do is use her voice and show pictures of her husband.

I also haven't lost hope .. I could still make the cut. We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

My Aha" Moment

I'm home sick today so I finally have time to tell you about my exciting story from this past weekend. I'm calling it my "Aha" moment (in a tongue-and-cheek kind-of-way)and you'll know why in a moment.

You recognize the phrase, right? Oprah Winfrey uses it all the time on her talk show and in her magazine when she's talking about a defining moment in her life in which she gains a new understanding of her purpose and goals.

So my "Aha" moment came this past weekend when I was walking through Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois. A friend and I were approached by a woman who said she was from "The Ober Show" and asked if she could ask us some questions on-camera about what drives us crazy about men's fashions. It was then I noticed the camera crew behind her. I asked her again, "What show are you from?" She said, "The Oprah Winfrey Show." I had obviously misunderstood her the first time. It was at that point that I had my "Aha" moment. My purpose and goal, at this point in time, was to get my mug on national TV. THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW!! Yeah!!

So my friend Gretchen and I stood side-by-side and answered questions about what drives us crazy about our husband's fashion sense. I think the term is "We threw our husbands under the bus" so we could get on Oprah. Yep, during the interview, I ripped on my husband's favorite fishing hat and all his hole-y TV-shirts. Gretchen talked about how it drives her crazy when men didn't properly groom (manscape) themselves. (Her hubby has a lot of hair.) Sorry, Mark. :)

Because I felt a little guilty about my comments, I immediately called my husband after the interview and told him what I had done. He told me "That's okay, honey." What a great husband!!!

Anyway, Gretchen and I thought we gave pretty witty and smart comments so we were thinking we'd make the cut. :) If we did make it on the show, it would just be a quick sound bite, but still ... it's national TV.

Then, yesterday, Gretchen calls me to tell me "The Oprah Show" called. I think I screamed a happy scream. "What did they say?" I asked.

And I'll tell you about that tomorrow ....

Halloween Decorations? Not at the Flagg house.

I'm depriving my children. Simply because I'm lazy. We're two weeks away from Halloween and not one decoration is up at my house. I keep telling myself that TODAY will be the day that I trudge down to the basement and search through the tubs of crap to get out the few decorations that I've got, including the HUGE Homer Simpson Dracula blow-up thingie. (Believe it or not, a neighbor gave us Homer.)

We don't even have a pumpkin. My kids don't seem to mind and haven't really asked but I feel like it's my job as mom to decorate for each "holiday."

So I make this promise .. TODAY you'll see decorations on my door and jack-o-lanterns in my window and maybe this weekend we'll even get those pumpkins.

A Taste Test : The Best Ice Cream Sandwiches

If you know me at all, then you know I am a little obsessed with food. I LOVE food! I love to eat it. I love to hear about it. I love to talk about it. I love to read about it. I love to watch it being cooked on the Food Network. I love to rip out new recipes. I LOVE food! So with that said, I want to tell you about a taste test I came across identifying the BEST ICE CREAM SANDWICHES.

I have fond memories of ice cream sandwiches. (Okay, I'll admit, that statement is a little weird.) As a child, my mom always gave me a quarter to buy an ice cream sandwich at school lunch. I remember one day I was standing in line, waiting with anticipation to buy my ice cream sandwich when suddenly my quarter slipped from my hands and rolled away, under a table, into a mass of feet. It was gone and I was so upset at the idea that I wouldn't get my ice cream sandwich that day that I started to cry. Not sob. My eyes began to water. I'm not sure who came to my rescue, probably a lunch lady. But someone saw how upset I was and gave me another quarter. I've always rememembered that moment. I don't know why. Maybe I never realized how much I loved ice cream sandwiches. :)

Anyway, I can across this taste test by Epicurious.com last month. Editors tasted 16 kinds of ice cream sandwiches. Here are their top top picks :

1) Turkey Hill Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Sandwich ($3.99 for six)
2) Nestle Super Sandwich ($2.50 per bar)
3) Julie's Organic
4) So Delicious
5) Good Humor
6) Carvel
7) Blue Bunny (I LOVE THESE, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE CRISP COOKIE)
8) Horizon
9) Skinny Cow
10) Weight Watchers

Mmmmmm .. who's in the moood for a little treat? I am!

Enjoy!

Ten Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You

Over the past year or so, I've heard rumblings around my neighborhood that a few houses have been broken into. It's kept me on alert. In fact, just this week, I saw someone riding around on a bicycle at 4:30 am. I understand that some people get up early to exercise but I wasn't getting that vibe so I rode around the neighborhood to see if anything suspicious was going on.

Just recently, our homeowners association also created a "Neighborhood Watch." It's not a bad idea considering the break-ins. My interest was peaked even more when I came across an article in a recent "Reader's Digest" magazine. The article is titled " Thirteen Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You."

I found the information helpful so I thought I'd pass it along. Here are the top 10.

1) Of course I look familiar : I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters or delivering your new fridge.

2) Thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week, While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3) I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters.

4) You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

5) Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up outside to see if anyone is home.

6) I almost never go into the kids' rooms.

7) I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

8) Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I check dresser srawers, the bedside table and the medicine cabinet.

9) A loud tv or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system.

There's more to this story. Reader's Digest has outlined 8 more things your burglar won't tell you. Check it out ...

http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/article-8-more-things-a-burglar-wont-tell-you/article156681.html

Why Winning The Lottery Can Be The Worst Thing To Happen To You

Okay, I don't really believe that winning the lottery would be the worst thing to happen to me. In fact, I think it would be great!! I play every Tuesday and Friday and have even organized a "Lottery Club" with my friends and family. I figure if I'm going to win, it would be more fun to hit it big with others, especially those willing and able to go on thrilling, exotic and expensive vacations.

So when I came across this article by an author named Myriam Bloomberg, I read through and then dismissed all 10 reasons why winning the lottery can be a very bad windfall.

1) Your life will get complicated and not in a good way.
2) Friends, long-lost relatives and charities will circle their wagons.
3) All of your relationships will change.
4) Mansions and six figure incomes are nice but upkeep is hell. I'll take the chance
5) You become a target for lawsuits. I'll get a lawyer.
6) Rounds of golf get old quickly. Then take up tennis. :)
7) You'll wonder if people like you just for your money.
8) Taxes. Again .. okay by me.
9) You'll probably get divorced.
10) You'll probably go bankrupt. What???!!!

Some of these things may happen, but again, I think I"ll take my chances. I've got my tickets for tonight's Mega Millions drawing. Do you? Remember .. you can't win if you don't play. (And no the Illinois Lottery did not pay me to say that.)

Back-To-School Shopping - Best Deals

You will hear a chorus of cheers (from the parents) and jeers (from the kids) this week as classes get underway. As always, there's lots to do before the kids get on the bus. Let me get my checklist:

Update immunizations ... check.
Buy school supplies ... check.
Make sure all shoes fit ... check.
Buy clothes .... nope.

I don't enjoy shopping for myself let alone three children who complain every time I tell them we have to go to Target. But it's usually necessary because the kids have either grown out of most of their shirts and shorts or everything looks a little ratty. So here I am, the day before school starts, gearing up for a few hours of shopping.

Usually, I examine all the local department store circulars to see where I can find the best deals and hit those places first. This year, though, I'm changing tactics. I've learned the "best deals" don't always wear well. You know what I'm talking about. Shirts that fade too quickly. Pants that shrink too much. The biggest problem is finding boys' jeans that won't end up with holes in the knees.

So you can imagine how happy I was to have read a recent article in Good Housekeeping. It was titled "Bargain Clothes That Last."

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tests products for their durability and this particular article focused on jeans and tees.

Great! That's just what we wear.

So here are the bargain clothes that last:

Boys jeans : Levi's 550 relaxed fit jeans for boys ($26) made of extremely strong denim and aced GHRI's tests (worth the bigger price tag). Basic Edition Boys' Jeans ($10) from K-Mart finished second. GHRI says to skip the boy's faded bootcut jeans ($19.50) at Old Navy.

Boys Tees : JcPenney's Arizona T-shirt ($9.50 - $10.50)is the winner among the boys tees. GHRI did says it shrank a bit so consider sizing up. GHRI says pass on the Basic Edition T-shirts for boys and girls at K-Mart.

Girl's Jeans : Girlfriend Bootcut jeans ($19.50) at Old Navy are sturdy and look great after loads of laundering. Basic Editions Flare Jeans ($13) from K-Mart are the best of the seven girls' pairs tested. GHRI said they're tough, well-made jeans that won't fade but may shrink a bit. Slim Stretch Girl's Flare Jeans at Walmart cost less than $10 each, and GHRI said the girl's pair performed better than the Levi's that cost two and a half times more. GHRI says to skip the Mossimo Supply Girl's Distressed Jeans at Target.

Girl's Shirts : JCPenney's Arizona Polo ($20) came in second for girls tops. GHRI said the shirts have good fabric strength and are true to size but did fade a touch after five washes. Lacoste girl's striped polo finished first but at a price of $55 each that's way out of our price range. As for tees, GHRI said Faded Glory boys' and girls' t-shirts from Walmart are priced just right for stocking up although look for a bit of shrinkage. GHRI says to skip the Arizona t-shirts for girls because they shrink and edge stitchng may unravel.

Happy Shopping!