Business Woman: Leslie Grant, President and “Mother Hen” 

Description of Business: Leslie Grant wanted a better way to keep up with what her children were eating (or not eating) every day. She took one of the most basic food nutrition guides out there—the “food guide pyramid”— and broke it down into component parts. Then she creatively designed a chart (not anything like those awful food pyramid charts) that could be placed on the refrigerator. Leslie knew it had to be functional, educational, and fun for children. She put it to work on her home fridge where the entire family could see it every time they made a choice about what to eat and voilá, the Chickin Feed Nutrition Tracking Board was hatched in 2007. The Chickin Feed Nutrition Tracking Board works by providing two identical food columns with movable magnetic chicks. Children are involved in tracking their food choices by determining What They Need to eat and then they move their chicks to What They’ve Had to eat column. It becomes a very effective “game” for moms and children. The Chickin Feed Nutritional Tracking Board comes in a variety of colors (to match your kitchen) and costs about $30.00. Other accessories and line extensions items available.

Wendy’s personal note: I don’t have children but was so impressed with Leslie and the chart when I first learned about it that I purchased one for my sister who has a four-year-old daughter who’s a finicky eater. I’ve always been impressed with the fact that someone can take a basic idea (in this case the food guide pyramid) and make it better, easier, educational, and fun.

Web Site: www.chickinfeed.com     

I had the opportunity recently to finally dine at one of the restaurants at the Ritz-Carlton, Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia. We dined at the Linger Longer located in The Oconee Clubhouse of the Ritz-Carlton Lodge. Not knowing anything about the restaurant when I made reservations I asked the reservationist to recommend where we should request to dine within the restaurant. She suggested and requested the chef’s table—with no guarantee that we’d get it. But we did and it was fabulous. It’s in the main dining room (vs. the bar dining room) and is located nearest the open chef’s kitchen. We had an excellent waiter, exceptional wine, and a visit from the chef during the final course of our dinner. I started with the half dozen water oysters Rockefeller and then had the 6 oz. Black Angus filet mignon with the creamy gorgonzola mac n’ cheese (okay I really splurged on the mac n’ cheese). There are plenty of incredible salads as a possible second-course selection…but our two courses plus wine and a plate of complementary chocolate varieties for dessert (to share) topped off our cravings for anything else. So the entire dinner was perfect and we had plenty of time to linger longer. Enjoy it with friends which is exactly what we did. Check it out at Linger Longer, Ritz-Carlton Lodge.

At each The Home Depot store, customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs, and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk (and I’ve personally seen collection boxes in the exit vestibule of my local The Home Depot). The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.

For more information on their CFL Recycling Program or Eco Options, visit www.homedepot.com/ecooptions.

Why is it important to recycle CFLs or other fluorescent light bulbs?

CFLs or other fluorescent light bulbs thrown into the trash are usually sent to a landfill or incinerated. These disposal methods will lead to releases of elemental mercury into the environment through breakage and leakage.  There is also the potential for exposure to mercury from broken fluorescent light bulbs thrown in a dumpster, trash compactor, or trash can.  Approximately 670 million fluorescent light bulbs are discarded each year in the United States. These discarded bulbs can release approximately 2 to 4 tons of mercury per year into the environment. Once in the environment, mercury can be converted to an organic form that accumulates in living organisms and contaminates the food chain. To prevent the release of mercury, the fluorescent light bulbs should be taken to a recycler before they break. Recyclers can recover the mercury and other components for reuse. – Source: www.epa.gov.

Click The Fresh Market to find locations in your area.

• Clothing under $100
• Computers/computer equipment under $1,500
• School supplies under $20

Georgia has also scheduled a separate tax-free holiday for the purchase of energy-efficient appliances (priced under $1,500) for October 1-4, 2009.

For additional information visit Georgia Department of Revenue – 2009 Sales Tax Holiday

Additional Tax-Free Shopping Resources:

Find a Tax-Free Holiday in a State Near You

My CMA (Cover My “Assets”) – Consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine.    

Click to view a Target Heart Rate Zone Chart by Age Group.

Dogwood Restuarant, 565 Peachtree St., Atlanta  404.835.1410. Dinner: Tuesday – Friday 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 pm and Saturday 5:30 p.m. -11:00 p.m.

POST NOTE: 6-17-2011 – We were so sad to receive an e-mail from our friends at Dogwood Restaurant letting us know that they’ve closed. We so enjoyed the many times we dined there and wish Chef Shane Touch, Scott Black and the entire team continued success in their future endeavours.