Child Identity Theft - Yup, It's a Thing.

When I first started blogging, the first thing that every member of an older generation said to me was "Why are you putting so much information about your children on the web?" Being a KNOW IT ALL (tail end) Gen-Xer, I just rolled my eyes at them... But 8 years later, many people whom I've never met know more about my kids than members of my own family, and I have gone back and asked myself if maybe I've shared too much.

While bloggers with older children start thinking along the lines of not wanting to embarrass their kids, the thing that I've never thought is the kind of very personal information I put out on a regular basis. Birthdays, pets' names, places we've been to - not just things that may lead to classroom taunting, but things that may lead to a more personal assault; Identity theft.

Kids are 50x more likely to have their identity stolen than adults.

A few months I was asked if I would be interested in being an ambassador for the company Identity Guard in regards specifically to their kIDsure program, which teaches parents how to make sure their kids are not at risk for identity theft. My first reaction was "What? Why would someone want to steal a kid's identity?" but upon more research I realized that kids have a shiny new Social Security number that's not actively being monitored... and I realized just why this is such a silent, and growing epidemic. 

my copy - too much info!! Bankrupt at Birth by Joe MasonWhile young kids of today can't say this, I remember getting my social security card around the age of 15 - just before getting my first part-time job as a Holiday Gift Wrapper at a local toy store. "Back then" SS numbers were used mainly for tax purposes - if you were not paying taxes, you didn't need one. Now it's part of the paperwork all parents do before even leaving the hospital when their babies are born. It actually wasn't until the year 1990 that Congress mandated all children get assigned a SS number before they turn one. I remember wondering why a baby would need a SS number - but soon realized it was asked for regularly... and without thinking twice, I've given my kid's valuable number out. 

There is tons of talk in the blogosphere on keeping your children safe on line from sexual predators, but we need to think a step past that and also be concerned about identity predators. In fact, since the explosion of social media, identity theft has not only become more widespread - but easier for the thieves. Since our kids are not actively applying for car loans or credit cards on a regular basis, sometimes we just don't realize their identity has been stolen until years later. Can you imagine your child applying for financial aid for college or their first personal phone plan to learn that they are over $100,000 in debt to bad loans for multiple credit cards and defaulted car loans? This happens. And it's scary.

So what can parents do about this?

The book Bankrupt at Birth, by Joe Mason, lists a few things to think about and be aware of when it comes to protecting your, and your kids identity.

• Keep an eye out for notices claiming that your child has been pre-approved for a credit card or loan. Don't discard it as a mistake, but call and make sure that no one has tried to get the approval using their SS number. 
• When asked to give your child's SS number on forms at the dentist, doctor or for a sports program, ASK what they use it for. Follow-up with questions about measures they take to keep the information secure and flat out ask if there is another number you can provide instead. Because of HIPPA and privacy acts surrounding our medical records, we automatically assume information that we give our doctors is secure, but realize that medical offices don't always have high-end, hack-proof security and/or employees that go through extensive security screenings and background checks. 
• Use hard to decipher passwords. I know they can be hard to remember - but don't use birth dates, dogs names or simple words for your passwords. Bankrupt at Birth recommends thinking of a sentence that you can remember, then make an acronym out of it. For example "Beth works at 8 on Mondays" can be a password of "BW@8oM" using letters, capitals and numbers to make it hard to be hacked. 
• And lastly, keep an eye out for things that don't seem right. Did you know that a popular identity scam is the "jury duty" scam? Someone calls you, saying they are from the sheriff or the local "jury commissioner" saying that they are going to be issuing a warrant for your address for failure to respond to a jury duty summons. The majority of us immediately argue that they never got this summons, and that it must be a mistake, which leads the person on the other end to ask for information to help you prove your innocence. Information that would be needed in these cases - information like your birth date and Social Security number...

These are just a few actions to take to help protect yourself. While nothing is fullproof, taking simple actions now is better than having to try to fix the problem when it's discovered years later. If you are interested in learning more about these facts, and other ways to keep your family safe, I urge you to get a copy of Bankrupt a Birth at www.ismykidatrisk.com.

For more information on Child Identity Theft and prevention, Is My Kid At Risk is a great resource. Things you will find at the site include: 

• Quick Start Guide to Child ID Theft: The consequences of child ID theft are staggering. Get all the facts you need to know.

• Risk Factors Worksheet: Review the Risk Factors to see where you can eliminate some risk for your kids.

• Bankrupt at Birth: eBook Excerpt: Get a glimpse into a new book whose authors are on a mission to end child identity theft.

• Child ID Theft Safety Tele-class: Author of the book, Bankrupt at Birth, teaches you about child identity theft and what you can do to help protect your kids. 

• Free trial of Identity Guard®†: Get a FREE 30-Day trial of Identity Guard®

• Subscription to Child ID Theft News: Subscribe just by registering your email address

*disclaimer: This service and the book Bankrupt at Birth were provided to me for review at no charge. In addition I received monetary compensation. All opinions are my own.

That squealing you hear? It's because the My Little Pony App is now available in the iTunes Store

Today, the My Little Pony app “Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day,” became available in the iTunes store. I was lucky enough to sit next to the PR person for Rukus Media at the Clever Girls Collective CleverTech Brunch during BlogHer and she was nice enough to send me a free download of the game. 

This is a little video I shot of Zoe today, as she was anxiously awaiting the download of the game. Please note, this is what she had on today - I did not change her outfit for the taping of the video. 

Seriously. 

The game is cute. It's a read-along story book with interactive games mixed in. I may never get my iPad back. 

Also note - there is another My Little Pony "Pro" game available in iTunes. This one is NOT for kids. I think this one is more for the Bronies of the world. 

The app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch is going to be available on iTunes for $0.99. My Little Pony fans, young and old,  can also tune in to the animated series “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM EST and Fridays and Mondays at 1:30 PM on The Hub TV network.

Hair down to there

Photo from Petula Pea PhotographySo, just in case you didn't know this about me, I obsess. Yes, yes, I know it's a surprise for all of you, but when I get something in my head, I obsess about it non-stop. A few months ago my hairstylist at Detour Salon in Encinitas showed me the hair extensions that she was getting put in later that week. I was intrigued. I thought extensions were only for Paris Hilton and the Real Housewives. But then she started pointing out all the other girls in the salon that had them in...and I began to obsess. See, I love trying out new beauty trends. I've done spray tans, sugaring, waxing, eyelash extensions, Latisse, Shellac nails and a crackle pedicure...anything that can make something longer, fuller, shiny/bright and/or 10 lbs skinner I have tried. 

Yes, I am a product/service whore like that.

So extensions?! I NEEDED them. 

As luck would have it, a few weeks later a woman who had seen me speak at the San Diego Social Media Symposium came to me asking if we would be interested in doing a SDMOMfia Blow Out Bootcamp event at Detour Salon. Little did she know that I had been a client (and huge fan) of the salon for the past 4 years - and I jumped on it! I mean who DOESN'T want to learn how to get those Victoria's Secret Supermodel curls? After chatting back and forth, they asked if I would be interested in modeling and trying out hair extensions - they would put them in for me that night and I could model the new procedure during the event. I was thrilled...I may finally have the long, thick hair that I've spent years, and possibly thousands of dollars in products, trying to achieve. 

I've had them in for 1 1/2 weeks now and I can tell you that I love them. I'm thrilled with not only the length but the thickness of "my hair." But I have gotten a few questions that I thought I would answer:

 - How did they put them in?

Unlike the individual extensions that you always see half grown out on Brittany Spears, these ones are a band of hair that is sewn into my hair about 1/2 way down the back of my head. They use my real hair to sew the band on, and then a tiny metal clap is used to secure the hair.

Did it hurt?

No - but I will let you know that I have an abnormally high tolerance to head/hair pain. I always joke that my head was desensitized after years of having to have massive tangles combed out of the back of my head. 

Is it human hair?
Yes - from Europe. But it has gone through a huge process to clean it and sanitize it. Here is more information on the actual extensions: www.nxshair.com

Can you wash it and brush it as normal?

Yes. I wash it in the shower with my normal shampoo. I'm just careful when washing it.  When I brush it, I have to use a boar's hair brush. 

Does it itch?
A little. Not enough that I would get them removed. And let's be honest, I'm not sure if it's the extensions that itch or the constant talk of head lice being found at Lucas' school that's causing my head to tingle.

How long does it last?
According to the information on the hair, the piece will last 4-6 months. I do have to go in every 4-6 weeks to get it tightened. 

 Will it ruin my hair?
I really hope not. :) I've been told no. The clamps are not permanent and can be removed without damaging the hair. Which is why they can remove the piece and tighten it.

Final Thoughts:

I will admit that that I was worried about it. For about a week, NOT ONE PERSON mentioned it. While on one hand I thought it meant it looked totally natural, the paranoia in me took over and I kept thinking that it looked really bad/fake and no one wanted to tell me that it looked like I had plastic Barbie hair. Not to mention that Zoe kept stroking it while singing songs from Tangled...I was getting a little nervous. Then it happened - someone commented on how long my hair had gotten, then a few more people noted about how beautiful and thick my hair is. And now? I'm hooked. And tossing my head around a lot. 

*If you would like to see what all the other SDMOMfia Mama's said about Blow Dry Boot Camp at Detour Salon, please check out the post here. If you want to join the MOMfia at one of our fun events, "like" us on Facebook and keep an eye out for our next great event!

Monday Confessional: Get Your Sparkle On!

A few weeks ago, Zoe came home from a trip to Barnes and Noble with Dad clutching a little sparkly book featuring a jeweled castle on the cover. Unbeknownst to Jason, he had just introduced our innocent little girl to the wonderful world of BARBIE and all that she has to offer. Which, these days, is a marketing push that rivals that of a Disney princess.

Now, I was a Barbie girl. I have memories of being 10 and having elaborate Barbie playdates with my friends. I actually still have a few "special Barbies", in boxes, that I will never open. I always loved that pinkalicious plastic doll, and even friended her Facebook persona last year.  

So when Zoe demanded that I read Barbie and the Diamond Castle book 50 times in a row, I was (secretly) a little pleased. But the book just didn't make sense, and there were major plot holes. I know, it's a Barbie book for Christ's sake, but it made me wonder...Later I Googled the title and realized that the book didn't stand alone. That it was just one tiny piece of the Barbie and the Diamond Castle empire, yet I still couldn't really grasp what we just inadvertantly stumbled upon. 

Since the "Diamond Castle" is an older DVD, the dolls and accessories that go hand-in-hand with the movie are harder to come by these days. All we could really find is the movie's single "Connected" on iTunes - a song (also featured in the tween movie Aquamarine) that I have now endured listened to about 5,000 times. But for the newer movies, the aisles at Target are chalk full of dolls, dresses, books, stickers and play areas themed to match, with the newest edition to the collection being Barbie: A Fashion Fairy Tale.

The movie starts off with the simple message that even Barbie has bad days. First she is fired from her movie for questioning the motives of the director and his inclusion of Zombie peas in the classic "Princess and the Pea" story. Then, not moments later, she is heartlessly dumped by long-time beau Ken via a cellphone call. With her good friends there to support her by taking her iPhone from her and telling her she is not allowed to "call, email, text or tweet Ken" they offer to take her to Melrose for an Ice Blended and a mani/pedi to get her mind off her troubles. But Barbie wants to get further away and takes off to Paris with her dog, Sequin, to visit her Aunt Millicent at her Parisian fashion house. 

{Yes. I'm telling the truth. THIS IS HOW THE MOVIE STARTS.}

During her romp in Paris, Barbie tries to save her Aunt's failing business, rescues the "Flaries" (They don't have wings but they fly around spreading flare!), meets fashion designing dogs and of course (SPOILER ALERT!) saves the day while Ken makes a grand romantic gesture to fix the misunderstanding of their break-up. With Barbie dropping words like "redonculous" and the Flaries exclaiming it's time to "Get your sparkle on!" this movie is really a sign of the times that our daughters are growing up in.

Okay, yes. It totally IS mindless blather. But the underlying messages of this movie and the Diamond Castle movie are positive and do promote a sense of "girl power." While there are male characters in each of the movies, they are never there to "save the day" - that's Barbie's job. With themes that talk about working hard to achieve your goals, following your passions and, of course, the power of having great girlfriends, I have to say I'm pretty impressed with the Barbie movies so far. They may be a bit stupid, but let's be honest here, they are straight-to-DVD fare aimed at 3-6 year old girls. And I have to say that the songs are fun, catchy and completely appropriate for 3 year olds to sing without you having to worry that they they, or an older sibling, may have to ask what "Gin and Juice" or Daisy Dukes are. That being said, the song may still make your ears bleed by the 25th time on repeat... 

So there you have it. It's Monday November 8th and my confession: I like Barbie Movies. And I totally downloaded this song... because you know what? There IS magic in cashmere! Oh, oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh, oh!

*Disclosure: Mattel, or the studio who produces the Barbie movies did NOT contact me and ask me to review this movie. This review was of my own accord on a purchased product b/c I felt that I needed to share that Barbie says "redonculous."

Review Week: CACAO Loving! Mayesa Cacao drink

It's almost embarrassing that our kids know the Starbucks menu as well as we do. I'm sure I'm not the only one, and it's more just a sign of the times, but since they were little they also have gotten a little chocolate milk treat at "Green Mermaid" as Daddy and Mommy get a much needed pick-me-up. Of course, kids don't understand "treats" and they want chocolate milk all the time...that's why I jumped at the chance to try the Mayesa drink. A healthier alternative to chocolate milk? My kids will think they've finally broken me down and will allow chocolate with breakfast? SCORE. Also, the women that started this company are local moms - and you know I'm all about supporting my local mamas!

You may have seen Rock On Mommies' Theresa's daughter Ellie's reaction to the drink. I won't lie - that was the SAME reaction I got here from both the kids and my husband. The only issue I had with it was the fight that broke out over who got to drink the last one in the fridge. Theresa mentions that the product is made with hemp, which I know, you immediately start thinking of Cheech and Chong. But don't worry, your little ones will not suddenly be shoving chips in their mouth while staring slack-eyed at the TV. It actually contains a Hemp Protein, which is not a psychoactive and is not a drug. In fact, Hemp protein is a great source of Omega 6 and Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s), and a complete source of Essential Amino Acids (EAA’s). Also, if you are thinking "green", Hemp is a great crop for the environment requiring little water, no pesticides or herbicides and has no GMO contamination. So there we go!

Now to the good part! The nice, ladies at Mayesa are letting me give a 4-pack away!

Since it's Halloween week and we all have chocolate on the brain, leave a comment below (by Friday 10/29 at 5 PM) letting me know what your fave chocolate treat is - and the winner (chosen at random.org) will get to indulge without all the guilt.

Tweet out: "@HipMamaB is giving away @drinkmayesa http://ow.ly/30sWf " for an extra chance to win!