If These Moms Can’t Find It, They Invent It

EIGHT years ago, Tamara Monosoff came up with an invention that she was sure mothers like herself would appreciate: a device that prevents children from unspooling toilet paper from the roll. But she had no idea how to transform the concept into a marketable product

When she turned to the Internet, “There was nothing — no road maps, no anything,” recalls Ms. Monosoff, who lives near San Francisco and was education director for the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships for President Bill Clinton.

Fast-forward to today, and the term “mom inventors” yields about 290,000 results on Google. There is Ms. Monosoff’s own Web site, Mom Invented, which supports aspiring “mompreneurs” and licenses and sells products under the Mom Invented brand, a Good Housekeeping-like seal of approval. Other sites include the Mogul Mom, where mothers can satisfy their inner Edison by reading posts like “How Do I Get My Product in Stores?” and “Don’t Get Burned By Your Light Bulb Moment.” Not to mention the dozens and dozens of online stores, like the Busy Mom Boutique, that sell mom-made products. 

Article From: The New York Times

How to choose the best natural gas contract: Minding Your Money

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Choosing a natural gas supplier this winter is easy, as long as you keep in mind that the wholesale price of gas is low -- and is going to stay low for quite a while.

This month's wholesale commodity price is the lowest December price since 2001, making the regulated price of gas bought through local utilities just as much a bargain.

The near-term future is just as consumer-friendly.

The average commodity price over the next 12 months is surprisingly low, about $3.41 per 1,000 cubic feet, or 35 cents per 100 cubic feet.

Consumers in Ohio have two choices for natural gas. They can choose an unregulated independent supplier or they can buy gas through the utility that delivers it to their homes: Dominion East Ohio or Columbia Gas of Ohio.

Those plans carry variable rates that change monthly. Independent suppliers offer variable and fixed rates.

Here are some basic tools to help you decide whether to stick with the utility's monthly variable rate or look for a fair price from an independent supplier. 

Read More From:  www.cleveland.com

Last-minute buyers top off stronger shopping season

Among them was Len Boswell. He started his shopping at 6 a.m. at Starbucks and later in the morning was at a CVS drugstore in Decatur, Ga., picking up candy and a neck pillow for his wife.

"I should have done this a couple of weeks ago," acknowledges Boswell, 68, a director of book publishing at a nonprofit.

Taubman Centers, which operates malls across the country including The Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey and Beverly Center in Los Angeles, reported almost-full parking lots at some malls by 10 a.m., earlier than last year. Apparel, electronics, perfume and jewelry were among the biggest sellers. Many stores in Taubman malls reported that Friday seemed to be the busiest day of the year, Taubman spokeswoman Karen MacDonald said.

Macy's in New York's Herald Square — which has been open around the clock since Wednesday and is closing at 6 p.m. Saturday — was packed with shoppers at late morning.

Stores are expected to ring up $469.1 billion during the holiday season, which begins Nov. 1st and runs through Dec. 31st. The final week before Christmas can account for up to 20% of those sales. Retailers tempered their expectations heading into the season because they worried that Americans weren't ready to spend in the weak economy. But sales have been so brisk during the two-month period that the National Retail Federation, the industry's big trade group, upgraded its overall sales growth forecast a full percentage point to 3.8%.

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