All of us have forgotten to tape an upcoming special on television.  And if you are as busy as most working moms, you probably haven’t taken full advantage of your Tivo because you rarely get a moment to watch the tv to instantly hit the record button when something outrageous happens. 

Here comes YouTube.com to the rescue.  I knew all about YouTube and how you can upload a video to try and get your 15 minutes of fame.  Not interested in that.  But not until recently did I realize I could search an event that I missed and mad that everyone saw it but me, ie, Michelle Obama on The View, Yolanda Adams belting out “Reach Out and Touch” as a contribute to Diane Ross at the Kennedy Honors and Rosie O’Donell losing her mind on the View the day before she left the show.

Next time you find yourself unable to check out the latest clip because you are at the office working on your latest big deal, go to YouTube.com after a hard days work and catch up with the rest of the world.

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5 Reasons To Buy a Paper Shredder 

As an individual, you may wonder if you actually need to purchase a paper shredder for your own personal use. The answer is, quite simply, YES. Today’s world is rife with identity theft, credit card theft and other fraudulent activities. Now is the time to invest in your privacy and security. There are many reasons to buy a paper shredder, here are just 5:

1)Identity Theft: Almost 9 million people per year have their identities stolen in the US alone, with over 50 billion dollars stolen per year. This epidemic crime can be curbed dramatically by removing the physical documentation the thieves use to get their information, and shredding has been proven to be the best way to do this.

2)Credit Card Theft: Credit card numbers and even passwords can be taken from documents in the trash. Even papers torn by hand can be easily put back together. Many thieves and drug addicts frequent personal and business trash cans and dumpsters to find this kind of information. Shredding helps ensure that this won’t happen to you.

3)New Laws: A provision to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), requires destruction of any confidential employee information, even if you only have one employee such as a nanny or a handy man. You can open yourself up to lawsuits or even prosecution if you do not comply with these new privacy laws.

4)Recycling: Our environment is certainly a timely concern. But did you know that shredding actually facilitates recycling? As a matter of fact, you can actually be paid modestly by recycling companies for contributing to save the environment.

5)Peace of Mind: With so many risks involved in not destroying sensitive documents, buying a personal shredder is an easy call to make to give you assurance that your identity, privacy and money are secure. It’s a trend for a reason, and that’s because shredding works to help bring protection and security to the things most important to you.

A household or office shredder is becoming as necessary as a dishwasher or refrigerator in terms of household appliances. Nothing is more important in today’s age of identity theft and fraud, than protecting your identity and investment. The question is not really if you should purchase a shredder, but when.

Shredders are available in a variety of price ranges, with a variety of functions, including large and small capacities, space saving units, straight or the safer, cross-shredding system and even several lines of shredders that keep style in mind. It’s definitely not a "one-size-fits-all" industry, but one that conforms to the needs of consumers.

The market for shredders, including commercial and personal shredders tops $350 million a year, and growing. As the need for protection grows, so does this upward-moving industry. As a matter of fact, shredders are the fastest growing segment in the overall office products industry. From individuals to multi-national corporations, there are shredders to meet the needs of anyone seeking financial security. So find the right shredder for your needs and bring it to your home or office. It’s by far the best way to protect yourself and your family from the real dangers of theft and fraud.

Jeff McRitchie is the director of marketing for MyBinding.com

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Massage

If you are like me, every time you get a great massage you say to yourself, “I deserve and need to have a massage every month.”  Days after the euphoria of therapeutic hands soothing your body from the outside in, reality sets in and you quickly dismiss to make the $80 plus commitment every month to continuously receive the great massage you deserve.

Well ladies, we have no more excuses because Massage Envy (www.massageenvy.com) is helping massage become a luxury that many can afford.  With over a 1000 locations across the country, Massage Envy’s theme is “Get a great massage that fits your busy schedule and budget.” 

Although I had to reschedule my first massage (that only cost $39) because of my demands as a busy working mother, I was amazed that I was able to book an appointment at the last minute on a Friday at 9pm, when my kids were fast asleep and I could begin to completely wind down from the work week.  "We have lots of therapists, lots of rooms, lots of hours and lots of locations.  So customers can literally pop into any location and get a massage," says John Leonesio, founder and chief executive of Massage Envy.

Massage Envy adopted the health club membership system, requiring a monthly membership fee.  The $49 monthly membership fee includes one massage every month, and each massage after that is $29. "Most of the members will come two to three times a month," Leonesio said.  

Wherever you decide to go for your monthly massage, think of those necessities that up until a few years ago were not part of your budget that you’ve since made room for, i.e., cell phone, Tivo ®, daughter’s swim lessons, husband’s golf addiction……Welcome to my world. J