Read this before you start shopping for Christmas.

Stores that are planning to close after Christmas are still selling gift cards through the holidays even though the cards may be worthless if there isn't another outlet nearby or even still in business to honor them. There is nothing illegal about the companies continuing to sell them.

Here's a partial list of stores we need to be cautious about:

Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide closing
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down specialty stores
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
GAP closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores; more to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing down
Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens and Things closing all stores
Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
Wilson Leather closing down all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stor~s
K B Toys closing 356 stores
Loews to close down some stores
Dillard's to close some stores

Lead and other chemicals in the water we drink

Pregnancy Nutrition by the American Dietetic Association


What's to Drink?



Pregnancy requires at least 64 ounces (eight 8-ounce cups) of fluid each day. Water is the most obvious fluid source, and often the most desirable, because it is rapidly absorbed by the body.

What's to Drink?
Water is the forgotten nutrient, yet it's the most indispensable of all. Without water, you'd survive just a few days, and your pregnancy would be in peril. Water helps your body cool off; transports nutrients and waste products; moistens the digestive tract and tissues; and cushions and protects your developing baby.


Fluids for Two
Fluid needs increase when pregnant, in part to keep up with an expanding blood supply, the bulk of which is water. Pregnancy requires at least 64 ounces (eight 8-ounce cups) of fluid each day. Water is the most obvious fluid source, and often the most desirable, because it is rapidly absorbed by the body. Milk, juice, and noncaffeinated soft drinks also count toward satisfying fluid needs because they contain water. So do certain solid foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Take it easy on juice, however. Juice is healthy, but it has almost as many calories as regular soft drinks.







Fluid Foods
As you may have guessed, fruits and vegetables contain the most water; fatty foods have the least.


Food Percent Water by Weight

Lettuce 95

Tomato 94

Broccoli, cooked 91

Orange 86

Apricot 86

Apple 85

Banana 76

Bread, white 36

Cookie 5

Vegetable oil 0


Water with a Twist
Sip on these variations of a glass of water:

Add lemon, lime or orange slices to a pitcher of water, and keep in refrigerator.
Mix 6 ounces club soda or seltzer with a splash of orange juice or lemonade.
Make iced tea with you favourite herbal tea bags.

Lead: A Heavy Metal
If you live in a house built before 1986, there's a chance that your home plumbing contain lead, which can leach into your drinking water. Even the newer copper pipes that carry water into homes may have lead solder at their joints.


Lead builds up in your body over time, posing a serious health threat. Unborn babies are especially vulnerable to their mother's long-term lead exposure, which can increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirths, and may result in long-term development problems, including brain damage and learning disability.


Lead sneaks into your life in other ways, too, some which you may not realize. For example, fluids allowed to sit in leaded crystal decanters become high in lead. Hot fluids, such as tea and coffee, can leach lead from lead-glazed mugs. Ceramic pottery with lead-containing glaze, usually imported, can add lead to your foods. And dwellings with chipping lead paint are high-risk places to live. Pregnant women should not be exposed to lead paint removal.


If You're Concerned About Lead
Get your drinking water tested. Contact your local public health department to see if they can test it.

If you suspect lead in your pipes, let the cold water run for a least a minute before using the tap water for drinking or cooking purposes. Running the water flushes out the water that's been sitting in the pipes, which may have a large lead concentration.
Opt for bottled water, which is typically lead-free.
Avoid dwellings with chipping lead paint or where lead paint removal is taking place.

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