The east coast has been walloped by an insane amount of snow recently. While most of my friends are freaking out about the thought of having their kids home from school for the foreseeable future, I am actually enjoying the time that my kids and I have with one another. But, maybe that is also because I was proactive in planning activities for my kids once I heard the forecast included at least 3 feet of snow.

Games for kids can be fun and educational and after a little searching I was able to find some. The biggest challenge that I have is finding games for kids, educational enough to keep my 6 year old challenged but fun enough to keep my 3 year old interested. Here are my family's favorites.

I've been wanting to do a piece on hair color maintenance because I know I'm not the only one that's finding myself stretching the time between my hair color appointments. With all of today's expenses, it's hard to validate the cost of going to my hair colorist. Color treatments at the salon are such a splurge. And on average, hair grows 1/2" per month, which makes it all the more challenging to have constant, great-looking colored hair. We're always having to fight with showing roots, fading hair color and pesky gray strands. Ain't that right, ladies? Well, let's alleviate some of our hair color hang-ups! Here are 6 cool products we can use between colorings at the salon.

With spring right around the corner, it's time to ditch the winter parkas and opt for a lighter solution. Of course, you'll need a waterproof rain coat for those April showers, so why not invest in a fantastic option now while the price is right?:

Teething is associated with all kinds of scary, unpleasant side effects: fever, drooling, diarrhea, and overall infant crankiness. If you're currently in the throes of teething or expect to be soon, do yourself a huge favor and buy your little one a Sophie the Giraffe Teether.

Fuzzy soap may sound a little gross and unclean, but, in reality, using fuzzy soap during your showers and baths will have you feeling cleaner and more refreshed afterward! Fiat Luxe has created felted soap, a better alternative to the regular soap bar, and the mold-harboring body loofah (more about this in a bit). Tucked in naturally anti-fungal wool, the fragrant, felted bathing beauties serve as cleansing suds and a washcloth in one hand-held work of art. You would be pleased to know, too, that Fiat Luxe is among the growing number of bath & body companies realizing the importance of organics and therefore making a commitment to use natural ingredients. Aren't they artfully adorable?

Whether our dear groundhog friend saw his shadow or not, spring is on the horizon. And if you're anything like me, you can hardly wait to throw those shapeless winter parkas into storage in lieu of light cardigans, trendy flats and -- my personal favorite -- spring fashion dresses. Check out some great options that are sure to warm up your fabulous self!:

Tuesday is traditionally the day when new literature titles hit bookshelves, so that's the day when we'll give you all the information you need to pick up your next great read! Be sure to come back next week for an all new list. Read on for some of this week's most anticipated new releases.

Staying in tonight? Holing up on the couch for the weekend? You need a good movie on DVD! Check out our selection of the hottest new DVD releases, and be sure to come back every week for an all new list! Read on for this week's top DVD releases.

Music fans know that new albums typically drop on Tuesday, so that's also the day you can get hooked up right here with the hottest new music. We'll run down a list of the week's most anticipated new music releases. Remember to visit next week for a brand new list. Now read on for this week's hottest new music releases.

What do you reach for when you want to feel a little sexy (and what woman doesn't) ... lingerie or maybe a pair of strappy high heels? Sure, that's what we American women usually wear but European women are opting for red lipstick instead. In fact, Selfriges, a European department has seen a spike of up to 35% in the sale of red lipstick shades.

These ladies are choosing red hues from brands such as Chanel and Dior. So, why the surge in red lipstick purchases?

In an interview with Marie Claire magazine, David Walker-Smith, Beauty Director for Selfridges said: 'Red lipsticks are on the up because women want to feel sexy. It instantly changes your appearance, boosts, morale and sexuality'.

Those words couldn't be more true. I guess that's why many women have red lipstick in their makeup bag. So, If you're looking to update your look or just want to brighten your mood, check out these five red hot lipstick shades below:

Many of the clocks that you can purchase today are not only a way to get you out of the house on time for work or an appointment, they sometimes approach being works of art; and that's not a bad thing.

If it's important enough to hang on a wall in plain view, it ought to look nice. If you're in the market for a nice looking clock, read on, after the fold.

If you love to shop, news on the retail industry can be found here on a daily basis! Get your quick fix of current and emerging trends and news in the fashion industry, the technology sphere, the world of health & beauty, your home & garden, and more. Find out about intriguing and highly-anticipated product and line releases, as well as general retail business, too. We are here to inform and update! And, if there's anything you'd like to see more of, just shout it out.

Today's Topics:
Google goes fashion, Mary J. Blige & Malandrino, soda and pancreatic cancer, Keds and Alice + Olivia, red lipstick trend, beer is good for your bones, LG BD 570 and 590, and more!

Love 'em or hate 'em, chances are you've spotted the unlikely darling of the footwear world on the likes of Taylor Swift and company lately. Oxfords, those laced jazz-style shoes that never seemed probable contenders for fashionable find of the year in any recent era, have suddenly earned themselves a most-wanted footnote that not many could have predicted.

But how can you possibly pull off a shoe you can't imagine mingling with your wardrobe? Try one of the many styles we've dug up. You'll soon see that they aren't all of the same ilk - some are understated, while others adopt a glamorous, almost dressy approach you'd never expect. And if you love heels, well, there are options for you, too. Here, our picks:

If you think about your wardrobe, how old are your favorite pair of jeans? How old are those pants you're wearing? Right about now, you might be thinking it could be time for a new set of pants. This might especially be the case if the fading, fit, and style age you. So, for those of you who have even entertained the thought of new bottoms, you might like to know that there is a New York and Company promotion going on right now that will get you a free pair of pants with the purchase of any regular-priced pants! Buy one, get one free sound too good to be true? Well, it's not! You can even mix-and-match jeans with slacks, and so on.

I've counted about 125 different pant styles you can choose from in this New York & Company promotion. To keep you from feeling overwhelmed and to give you a starting point, I have separated out the five Top Picks as determined by shoppers, followed by a few additional Honorable Mentions. If ever you are going to buy new pants, now is the best time! When else will you have the opportunity to shop a BOGO sale of this exceptional a quality? I hardly know the answer there.

If you haven't invested in Uggs yet, you may want to do so. According to our faithful groundhog friend, Punxsutawney Phil, there will be 6 more weeks of winter, which means that you should invest in fashion trends that can be worn now and into spring. Thankfully, the new colors of Uggs fit the bill.