So now that the message from the kids is over, the real thing I want to tell you about this week is a fantastic photo sharing site! Phanfare.com.

Now you may have noticed that I am a photo junkie. Whether well behaved or not, I do think that my kids are, of course, gorgeous and harass them to no end with a camera as I gather photos, document their every move, growth spurt or giggle, put their pictures on gifts, annoy the relatives with frequent updates, the works.

I had been searching and searching for a photo web site that would compliment their angelic faces and I finally found it about a year ago and I have been in love ever since.... I introduce you now to Phanfare.com.

Phanfare.com is a wonderful photo sharing web site designed by two dads (really bright, computer savvy dads) who were unhappy with the traditional web-sharing experiences they found for themselves. They have created a product that will make sharing your photos a fun and exciting experience, rather than a frustrating and time-consuming nuisance. Check out the features that make the site so great!

First the mommy point-of-view:

* It's REALLY fast and fun: you can upload photos faster than your two year old can hit cancel.
* The designs are clean and classy so your albums look professional and reflect your style and taste.
* It's VERY easy to use and easy for your family to use-- no passwords or sign-in requirements unless you want them, so your family & friends can view at will.
* Phanfare saves all of your pictures at their true size until you quit the service, at which time they send you CDs with your pictures on them! So, when your computer crashes with all of your pictures, they are professionally backed up and safe!

Details for the more computer-savvy, technologically interested parents:

* Drag and drop individual photos, or whole folders of photos at a time.
* Phanfare's upload tool sends photos to your website from your computer in the background while you design and edit captions, no waiting between uploads.
* Your receive your own web address yourname.phanfare.com.
* Password protection is available but not necessary (when Grandma has a hard time).
* Design options for albums are classy, cute, or simple depending on your mood.
* Easy photo editing tools: red eye, cropping, size, rotate, exposure, etc.
* Photos are saved at their original size, and can always be downloaded back to your computer-- so if your computer crashes, everything is SAVED!
* You can still order prints, gifts, etc. through links to Shutterfly, Kodak Easyshare Gallery and Snapfish.
* You can actually print quality photos from the site with no advertising interference or size change, and your family and friends can download, print, and use original size and quality photos from the site
* Albums stay on-line as long as you keep the service and when you terminate services, they will send you DVDs of your images!
* Phanfare now supports video sharing as well as photo sharing. You can drag and drop clips taken with your digital camera directly into Phanfare and they will automatically convert them to Macromedia Flash for easy viewing on the web.
* There are great web slideshow capabilities that offer faded transitions and the Ken Burns effect between the images. You can choose music to play with your slide show. And your videos can be included right in the show.
* Phanfare supports hosting images and videos into forums and blogs. If you sell on Ebay, you can include a video or image right into your auction.
* Phanfare recently added the ability to use Phanfare for all your photos and videos that are good enough to keep but not good enough to show others. You can selectively hide a photo or video so that they do not appear on your personal website. With this new ability to suppress publication of certain photos and videos, you can use Phanfare to shoebox your entire collection, giving you the peace of mind of knowing that your entire collection is backed up.

** Best of all? There is a 30 day FREE trial available so you can SEE if you like it first!

Fun Families Wanted!!

Next July 12th, a group of 40 French students will be arriving in the Hudson Valley area for a 3 week visit. They aren't interested in tours and hotels. They want a different experience...they want to stay with you, live an american life for 3 weeks.

Hundreds of open-minded families have welcomed international students since World Exchange, a non-profit student exchange organization based in Putnam Valley, started coordinating visits in 1985.

Visitors are mostly high-school students, ranging from 15 to 17 years-old. They come fully insured and with plenty of pocket money to spend. They are pre-screened and selected by our partner organization overseas. They are willing to share their culture, values and practice their English.

Nothing much is required from the host families: just the warmth and enthusiasm to share their life for a couple of days. They do not need to speak French. They do not even have to have kids. Several families with toddlers, kids, pre-teens and teens have experience and enjoyed the experience. Even families without kids have found this a valuable experience.

World Exchange provides transportation to/from the airport to meeting points in our area. We also provide for the student an overnight trip to Manhattan. By the end of the homestay, everyone is invited to a farewell party.

The students are anxiously waiting to find out who their families will be. If you want to consider volunteering, please contact us at: World Exchange, www.worldexchange.org, 1-800-444-3924, or email msklaar@worldexchange.org.

For Kids Only and the SPCA of Westchester to Host "Spring into Action" in Briarcliff Manor on Sat., June 3rd. Join us for a Free Street Fair along North State Road to Benefit the SPCA of Westchester!

For Kids Only childcare facility and the SPCA of Westchester will host its second-annual free "Spring into Action" street fair along North State Road in Briarcliff Manor from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2006. There will be dozens of events-- including a Dog Wash, Bake Sale and Pet Photography-- all of which benefit the SPCA of Westchester's homeless animals.

Other participating North State Road organizations and sponsors include Billy's Auto Repair, Briar Bagels, Briarcliff Garden Center, Briarcliff Yoga, Ann Guerra, DDS, P.C., NTNY Hair & Tanning, One-Two-Three Dinner, Prestige Auto, Salon Alicia, SBS Business Solutions, Telstar Wireless, Terra Rustica and Young Wonders.

At the SPCA, there will be many wonderful activities including an Adopt-a-thon and Kids Day that will include games, crafts, food, fun and more. Come adopt your new best friend!

For Kids Only will feature a Car Wash, Bake Sale, Pet Photography, and Doggy Day Care and Training Tips. To schedule an appointment to have your pet photographed, please call Wendy Masserman at (914) 923-1889.

• Terra Rustica restaurant will host a Dog Wash in its parking lot.
• WFAS-FM will broadcast live from 2 to 4 p.m. at One-Two-Three Dinner (one of EssentialMom.com's great advertisers) where "make and take" meals will be featured.
• "How Does Your Garden Grow Workshops" will be held at Briarcliff Garden Center.
• Briarcliff Yoga Center will conduct a Free Yoga Class between noon and 1:30 p.m.
• Ann Guerra, DDS, P.C. will offer Free Dental Screenings between 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.
• Briar Bagels will offer a Free Bagel and a "Bone" for your dog.
• NTNY Hair & Tanning will be donating 10 percent of its proceeds from the day's sales to the SPCA and will offer Free Doggie Treats.
• Young Wonders Day Care Center will be holding an Open House.
• At the Police Station, there will be Fingerprinting for Kids, Car Seat Checks and Animal Awareness Tips.
• Telstar Wireless will be offering reduced rates on Razor Phones when an individual adopts any animal from the SPCA in the month of June.

For Kids Only, located at 577 North State Road, is a childcare facility that offers a variety of programs for children ages three to 12 years. Its programs blend educational activities with opportunities for free choice.

Founded in 1883, the SPCA of Westchester, Inc. is a not-for-profit humane organization chartered as the primary animal cruelty prevention and intervention agency for Westchester County. Each year its agents investigate over 1,000 cases of suspected animal abuse, resulting in steps to correct the problem if evidence of cruelty is found.

Currently, the shelter is equipped to house over 150 dogs and cats, and its Simpson Spay/Neuter Clinic, offers low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations in an effort to help people keep their pets healthy. Each year the animal shelter adopts more than 800 homeless companion animals into loving new homes and reunites another 300 lost pets with their families. The SPCA never euthanizes an animal except in cases of terminal illness, extreme aggression or the inability to maintain a reasonable quality of life in a shelter environment.

email: gretchen@essentialmom.com

phone: 914.523.1352

web: http://essentialmom.com