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Family Hour

The world moves faster than ever before in history, which is why it is more important today to turn off the television sets and set the DVR to bring everyone together for at least an hour of family time, doing a variety of things for an inexpensive quality time without sitting in almost silence in front of the plasma.  Families need time to nicely get loud together, playing, and being active.  Family game nights and puzzles are a tradition Hasbro Games once advertised and are still ultimate opportunities to come together today.  Walmart and Target stores always have deals on board games or card games as a far cheaper alternative to today’s prices to take a whole family out to dinner or to the movies; a game is usually $10 or less in many cases for games and puzzles.
Every family is different so games may not be for every family or fun sometimes but not each week; so another fun family activity is getting outside and playing football, tennis, baseball, soccer, etc. Sports are a lot of fun and an excellent way to get in the recommended one hour of physical activity daily. On the other side, some sports are very costly at retail prices like tennis and baseball. Bats and mits are very expensive in athletic stores; however, Ebay and Amazon sell new and used equipment at affordable prices to get every family member playing outside together. Check out these incredible deals on tennis rackets and baseball gear to save a whopping amount of dough on each person so you can have fun at the park or in the backyard.
Books are still one of the greatest inventions ever. Even fiction and SyFy adventures tell their stories through imagination and truth as they indicate the times written in: by the glimpse into the future, the vocabulary, and the nature of the story itself. Books pass down history and knowledge and are available in some many categories, families can browse together to hone in at least one story every so often to read together like in fireside chats and bedtime stories as families once did, in what seems, so long ago now that we have movies and sitcoms. Reading novels naturally facilitates intelligence, helping it to grow through the years and infest this desire to learn to help kids and adults alike appreciate knowledge for school and career to move forward at a progressive pace. Search Ebay, Amazon, thrift stores, and the local library to choose books of all genres and lengths for the family to read aloud as one unit bonding. Family time is important whether it’s a pricy vacation or free book from the town library; it’s the relationship that counts.

Story time doesn’t always have to be solely from books but also from relatives as well. Pull out those family photo albums, videos, and share stories about where the family came from, genealogy, and some fun, silly stories as well. Every family can be traced back centuries ago, have war tales to tell, and older relatives still alive to tell you about all the things over the years before the children were born or even their parents. Every photo has a story, every outfit worn back then, or place once often visited has something connected to it.

The television isn’t always bad and can on occasion be good for the family together to watch the Super Bowl, a weekly show, and of course movies. Netflix, Red Box, OnDemand, HBO, and rentals make it convenient to watch together laughing, discussing, or holding on tight in scary scenes. Movies do limit the talking with one another so they are not an appropriate choice every night but alright once or twice a week in addition to other family gathering activities such as those mentioned and are cheaper than buying everyone in the family popcorn and a ticket stub at the theater.

Grab all the family and the husband, hide the remote, and pull out a deck of UNO cards or a football and get playing together, under the sun, or under the stars.

Posted in discounts, Family Fun, Online shopping, ShopforMom, Shopping deals, Uncategorized.

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St. Patrick’s Day Deals and Fun

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, but does anyone know why? Well, the day was originally held in honor of St. Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland, however as the Irish immigrated to new lands, the celebration was carried across the globe and is now a day to celebrate Irish culture and the mythology of luck and good spirit. Now, you know. Okay…what to buy?

ELECTRONIC STUFF

Newegg.com is having a huge St. Patrick’s Day Sale.

St. Patrick’s DayThey have discounted prices on components, electronics and more. http://promotions.newegg.com/neemail/mar-0-2011/stpatrick17/index-landing.html?nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3668349&SID=

LEPRECHAUN DOG COSTUME

http://www.partybell.com/p-10773-leprechaun-dog-costume.aspx

What? Its on sale… $11.83 plus tax and shipping.

Click here to view larger image

OVERSTOCK.COM

Overstock.com is having a St. Patrick’s Day sale.   								        	http://www.overstock.com/65845/static.html?TID=D:MOD_A4 For today only Overstock.com is offering significant savings on things that are green AND through today, you can get free shipping on your whole order, so if you are a big fan of green, this is a great deal as they have linens, tableware, jewelry, clothes and more all in beautiful shades of green.

SHARP 42″ 1080p LCD HDTV from Dell.com $449.99 ($500 savings)

This is an incredible savings off of a great TV, through a reputable website. Customers give this television 4.4 out of 5 stars saying that the picture is great and most customers are very pleased with the TV for its low price and large picture size.

SHOP IRISH ONLINE

ShopIrish.com You can get everything Irish you ever thought you wanted from ShopIrish.com, The Irish Import Shop and The Irish Shop

Traditionally Irish things are, tea, dark stout beer, biscuits (cookies), sausages and potatoes, these stores also offer lovely dinnerware, linens, clothing and beautiful jewelry.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CRAFT FROM KABOOSE.COM

Leprechaun Hat for Chips

Difficulty: Average

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
  • 1/2 gallon Round ice cream container, clean and dry (you do not need the lid)
  • 2 or 3 sheets of Green construction paper
  • 1 sheet of Yellow or Gray construction paper
  • 1 sheet of Black construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Pen
  • Double stick tape
  • Large circular object (however wide the construction paper is)

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. Trace around the large circular object on the green construction paper with the pen.
  2. Cut out the circle.
  3. Use the double stick tape to adhere the circle to the bottom of the ice cream container.
  4. Cut a piece of green construction paper to fit around the container. You may need two pieces of construction paper or be able to piece them together.
  5. Use the double stick tape to adhere the construction paper around the container.
  6. Cut a strip about 2″ wide out of the black construction paper.
  7. Cut a 4″ square out of the gray or yellow construction paper.
  8. Cut a rectangle in the middle of the gray construction paper about 1 1/4″ x 2″. Discard the little piece of construction paper. Hint: Fold the square into fourths and cut a square out of the middle of the folded area. Open up the square.
  9. Check positioning of the black band by laying it around the hat about an inch above the brim. Cut off any excess construction paper where it meets in the back.
  10. Lay the gray or yellow (buckle) over the black band as shown in the photograph. Once the layout is satisfactory, tape in place.
  11. Add green tortilla chips, if available, and get ready for your feast. (From www.kaboose.com)

THINGS TO DO WITH THE KIDS TO CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY

This is a holiday which can be a lot of fun for you and the kids.

1. Make shamrock sugar cookies by using shamrock shaped cookie cutters or a plastic knife to create your own shamrock designs.

2. Dye dinner GREEN, using green food coloring dye, potatoes, pasta, eggs and any other light colored food green for a green dinner, Irish meal.

3.  Do a pot of gold hunt, by hiding chocolate foil wrapped coins and collect their own pot of gold.

4. Serve a traditional Irish meal, such as potatoes and beef or lamb or shepheard’s pie

Posted in discounts, Easy Meal Planning, Family Fun, Holiday Meals, Last Minute Deals, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom.

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Be Pampered and Save on Massages!!!

We post many articles about saving money on products for the kids and family like diapers, food, strollers, and wipes but not often enough do we come to save money on just Mom.  Moms work hard all day whether they work outside the home, inside the home, or a full time mother at home taking care of the family and keeping the house in as many pieces as it is supposed to be.  You definitely deserve a calming break away so we found a few ways to save some money on massages and special spa treatments to unwind and be pampered without diaper duty and cleaning up puke.

Groupon is soaring across the nation in marathon pace. The deal-giver website has sponsored the Oprah show and been mentioned on top shows ever since like the Today Show recently. Visit groupon.com and search the local metro area to find deals close by to purchase right away and enjoy before the steep discounts expire. In the O.C. of Southern California, we found this deal in Murrietta, CA: $39 for an unlimited week long pass to all the massage sessions and spa services your body can handle at an elite hotel spa! This pass normally costs $249, so you get a $210 savings break, it’s a real steal for sure and an excellent value for all you get and plenty of time away from the stress at home of bills and moody teens. Sign up your email to receive special emails about the latest deals in your area to jump on them before they’re gone, probably for good.

If you have a smartphone, download the Groupon App from the marketplace on Android phones and the iPhone to quickly search places and deals from your phone while in line at the grocery store or in the dentist’s waiting room.  The app is free and works well when you just want to do a quick search or to pass the time for a flight delay.

Living Social is moving up the ranks as well, and works similar to Groupon with deals that only last for the day andthen they are gone if you don’t purchase them before time is up. The company will send you emails everyday of all the deals closeby to help you pamper and save without the kids screaming in your ear.  Also save money on dining at fine restaurants where the children wouldn’t even want to eat at; a place without cheap burgers and pasta or American cheese.  They also have a smartphone app.

Dealbase.com is a travel site to help you save money on airfare and hotels, and like most on vacation, they want a hotel they can relax at and enjoy a nice day at the spa; DealBase helps you do that in many cities around the country near and far.  We found a basket of deals in one search and they are to relax for.

For the busy Moms who love real deals and the ultimate convenience, there’s an app for that. Look through the Android Market or on the iPhone and search “massage” to find plenty of free apps that offer you a free massage anytime you want–by using the vibration from your cell phone. Use your smart phone for a neck massager, who’da thunk it, huh?

Well at least it’s free. Or you can pay $2.99 for the full version, that does additional features such as…such as…? Maybe the paid version has a better vibrator or prettier interface, who knows?

If you don’t trust your Droid phone to do the job well, there is another option, luckily.  Through the grapevine it has been said that local massage therapy schools often offer specials from their studying pupils to perform massages on customers so the students may get the ultimate hands on experiences with real clients in the real world to learn more by working in an actual session rather than on one another.  Many clients admit that massages from the school’s student body are actually very good and an excellent deal compared to the prices of an upscale massage parlor.

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How to Help Japan and Disaster Preparedness

I am sure that most of you are as shocked and devastated by the tragedy in Japan as am I, this terrible string of events not only has affected a vibrant country, but it has reminded us of the frailty of all life and circumstance. This has also been an opportunity to discuss empathy for others and disaster preparedness with my children. While my kids are too young to fully understand the magnitude of this natural event, they do have fears regarding random acts of nature. The best way to alleviate fears is to discuss them and to get you and your family as prepared as possible, in the event that a natural tragedy.

DONATE TO THE RED CROSS

The Red Cross is a national organization with International branches that provides aid and relief to disaster victims and

the general public. It is good to know their information and have it handy should a disaster occur in your community as they are often the best resource for safety, shelter and provisions during a crisis. If you have the means consider donating to the rescue and rehabilitation efforts in Japan by making and online donation to Japan’s Red Cross or text 90999 to give $10 to the aid relief workers in Japan.

BUY VIRTUAL CROPS

Online game provider Zynga has partnered with Save The Children, Japan to offer special virtual goods that are available in FarmVille (buy radishes) in CityVille (buy sweet potatoes) and in FrontierVille (buy Kobe beef) you can buy these virtual items and 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Save the Children, Japan who is providing relief efforts to those affected by aftermath of the earthquake and Tsunami.

DONATE ON FACEBOOK

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The Causes Facebook

page has a  Helping Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Victims page where you can donate in increments of $10, $25, $50,$100, $500 to help support relief efforts. They have information and video showing the devastation in the affected areas to help educate the public about the need of these victims in Japan.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

What are the things that you will need to be prepared for a disaster, should something happen where you were unable to leave, get supplies or contact anyone in the event of an emergency. The FEMA website has an Are You Ready? Page that gives very specific instructions, tips, lists and guidelines to follow in the event of any emergency. Please browse the website for more detailed instructions, but FEMA suggests that you have a plan and prepare an emergency kit. Below I have copied the list, so that at the very least you can prepare these items in a sturdy, sealed container.

EMERGENCY KIT

Supplies Home Vehicle Work
Adhesive bandages, various sizes Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
5 ” x 9 ” sterile dressing Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Conforming roller gauze bandage Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Triangular bandages Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
3 ” x 3 ” sterile gauze pads Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
4 ” x 4 ” sterile gauze pads Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Roll 3 ” cohesive bandage Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Germicidal hand wipes or waterless, alcohol-based hand sanitizer Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Antiseptic wipes Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Pairs large, medical grade, non-latex gloves Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Tongue depressor blades Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Adhesive tape, 2 ” width Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Antibacterial ointment Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Cold pack Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Scissors (small, personal) Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Tweezers Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Assorted sizes of safety pins Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Cotton balls Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Thermometer Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Sunscreen Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
First aid manual Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic

Non-Prescription and Prescription Medicine Kit Supplies

Supplies Home Vehicle Work
Aspirin and non-aspirin pain reliever Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Anti-diarrhea medication Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Antacid (for stomach upset) Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Laxative Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Vitamins Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Prescriptions Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Extra eyeglasses/contact lenses Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic

Sanitation and Hygiene Supplies

Item Item
Washcloth and towel Form checkbox graphic Heavy-duty plastic garbage bags and ties for personal sanitation uses and toilet paper Form checkbox graphic
Towelettes, soap, hand sanitizer Form checkbox graphic Medium-sized plastic bucket with tight lid Form checkbox graphic
Tooth paste, toothbrushes Form checkbox graphic Disinfectant and household chlorine bleach Form checkbox graphic
Shampoo, comb, and brush Form checkbox graphic A small shovel for digging a latrine Form checkbox graphic
Deodorants, sunscreen Form checkbox graphic Toilet paper Form checkbox graphic
Razor, shaving cream Form checkbox graphic Contact lens solutions Form checkbox graphic
Lip balm, insect repellent Form checkbox graphic Mirror Form checkbox graphic
Feminine supplies Form checkbox graphic

Equipment and Tools

Tools Kitchen items
Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries Form checkbox graphic Manual can opener Form checkbox graphic
NOAA Weather Radio, if appropriate for your area Form checkbox graphic Mess kits or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils Form checkbox graphic
Flashlight and extra batteries Form checkbox graphic All-purpose knife Form checkbox graphic
Signal flare Form checkbox graphic Household liquid bleach to treat drinking water Form checkbox graphic
Matches in a waterproof container (or waterproof matches) Form checkbox graphic Sugar, salt, pepper Form checkbox graphic
Shut-off wrench, pliers, shovel, and other tools Form checkbox graphic Aluminum foil and plastic wrap Form checkbox graphic
Duct tape and scissors Form checkbox graphic Resealable plastic bags Form checkbox graphic
Plastic sheeting Form checkbox graphic Small cooking stove and a can of cooking fuel (if food must be cooked) Form checkbox graphic
Whistle Form checkbox graphic
Small canister, ABC-type fire extinguisher Form checkbox graphic Comfort Items
Tube tent Form checkbox graphic Games Form checkbox graphic
Compass Form checkbox graphic Cards Form checkbox graphic
Work gloves Form checkbox graphic Books Form checkbox graphic
Paper, pens, and pencils Form checkbox graphic Toys for kids Form checkbox graphic
Needles and thread Form checkbox graphic Foods Form checkbox graphic
Battery-operated travel alarm clock Form checkbox graphic

Food and Water

Supplies Home Vehicle Work
Water Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Ready-to-eat meats, fruits, and vegetables Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Canned or boxed juices, milk, and soup Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
High-energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, low-sodium crackers, granola bars, and trail mix Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Vitamins Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Special foods for infants or persons on special diets Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Cookies, hard candy Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Instant coffee Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Cereals Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic
Powdered milk Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic Form checkbox graphic

Clothes and Bedding Supplies

Item
Complete change of clothes Form checkbox graphic
Sturdy shoes or boots Form checkbox graphic
Rain gear Form checkbox graphic
Hat and gloves Form checkbox graphic
Extra socks Form checkbox graphic
Extra underwear Form checkbox graphic
Thermal underwear Form checkbox graphic
Sunglasses Form checkbox graphic
Blankets/sleeping bags and pillows Form checkbox graphic

Documents and Keys

Item Stored
Personal identification Form checkbox graphic
Cash and coins Form checkbox graphic
Credit cards Form checkbox graphic
Extra set of house keys and car keys Form checkbox graphic
Copies of the following: Form checkbox graphic
Birth certificate Form checkbox graphic
Marriage certificate Form checkbox graphic
Driver’s license Form checkbox graphic
Social Security cards Form checkbox graphic
Passports Form checkbox graphic
Wills Form checkbox graphic
Deeds Form checkbox graphic
Inventory of household goods Form checkbox graphic
Insurance papers Form checkbox graphic
Immunization records Form checkbox graphic
Bank and credit card account numbers Form checkbox graphic
Stocks and bonds Form checkbox graphic
Emergency contact list and phone numbers Form checkbox graphic
Map of the area and phone numbers of places you could go Form checkbox graphic

This list covers the basics, but you may want to have family photos, important documents, external computer hard drive and other essentials ready to grab and add to your box at a moment’s notice.

The Red Cross actually sells already prepared emergency preparedness kits. http://www.redcrossstore.org/Shopper/Product.aspx?UniqueItemId=3

TALKING TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT EMERGENCIES AND NATURAL DISASTERS

Finally, you will have to have the cooperation of your children to make a solid disaster plan. This is hard to do when they may be fearful of the subject, while I was a little disappointed that I didn’t readily find a good book on the subject, I did find a great interactive tool on the FEMA website for kids. http://www.ready.gov/kids/home.html This site guides kids through preparing for a plan and kits for disaster awareness, for the younger ones, the Seasame Street gang comes on board in a great video that explains emergencies to the younger kids. http://www.sesamestreet.org/ready.

Make sure your kids know, their first and last name, phone number, address and the full name of both of their parents.

So I hope these ideas helped you talk to your kids about disaster planning, help a country in need and get you better prepared in the event of an unexpected crisis.

Posted in Family Fun, health and nutrition, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals.

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Time for Spring….SHOPPING!

Well with Spring only one week off and our already sleep deprived selves missing the hour that daylight savings has robbed, the only thing we can do to is shop. In our neck of the woods we are already feeling the warmer weather. And as soon as the sun comes out at our house, we get crazy and pretend its almost summer. Usually that’s a bit of mistake, cause when we jump in our above ground pool to discover that its still pretty freezing, its a little miserable, but who cares its almost spring. So how do you ring in Spring?

PLANTING

This is actually the perfect time to purchase Spring plants and vegetables to grow in your garden. If you have never done this, today is a good time to start, if you already have a great garden, its time to spruce it up.

Nothing Tastes as Sweet as HomegrownI am really excited about planting this year and I am really a brown thumb, so don’t go thinking I have any kind of gardening skill, I simply don’t. But I get so excited around this time of year, attempting my garden (yes, from scratch again as I inevitably will kill my poor garden). BUT! I love starting fresh every spring. My favorite things are fresh herbs, tomatoes and citrus fruits from our garden. And this year I vow to conquer the nasty tomato worm! (where do those nasty bugs come from?) But, sweet fresh food from your garden will really add life to pasta, meats and sauces. Yum! I found this great site Garden.com it has a great selection of gardening needs at really reasonable prices and you can shop online. Browse around and have fun and make sure to check out their online outlet.

CATERPILLERS

What? You ask? Well, around this time every year is a good time to watch caterpillars make their transition to butterfly. This is one of the most enriching science and nature experiences you can share with your child. The Butterfly and Nature Gift Store has a large selection of at home science experiences where you and your child can see a caterpillar become a chrysalis and then a butterfly as well as dwarf frog kits, Venus fly traps and any other natural wonders your child may be curious about. Medium Butterfly Rearing Kit - butterfly kitDwarf Frog Habitat

WHALE WATCHING

March is a great time for whale watching as the whale pod are migrating to and from their breading grounds. Since a lot of baby whales are born in December and January, March is a good time to see mother and calf on the open waters. WhaleWatching.com offers a lot of whale watching excursions that are located relatively near any city in the country. You need to be near a sea port to access whale watching boats, however, if you live inland, planning a nice weekend getaway around whale watching makes the experience even more enjoyable for the kids.

Orca Whale breaching the water

SPRING CRAFTS

Both Kaboose and Disney’s Family Fun have great ideas for Spring crafts and activities. Such as bug crafts, food recipes and Spring excursions.

Try this Spring fresh salad for lunch or dinner al fresco in the great outdoors.

INGREDIENCE

A splash of citrus and tangy Dijon mustard transform everyday greens into a sophisticated summer salad that’s not just your garden-variety side. For added crunch, toss in some sliced mushrooms, radishes, cucumbers, shaved fennel or homemade croutons.

  • 1 head romaine lettuce

Dressing:

  • 1/3 cup (75 mL) vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp (50 mL) lemon juice
  • 2 tsp (10 mL) chopped fresh thyme (or 1/4 tsp/1 mL dried)
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
  • 1/4 tsp (1 mL) each granulated sugar and pepper

Posted in Uncategorized.


Baby Wearing, Co-sleeping, Home Schooling oh my!

There is a large population of parents who subscribe to the total natural parenting experience, which includes, baby-wearing, co-sleeping and homeschooling their children. Each parent has a different style of parenting and each child is unique. I was curious, however, about some of these natural parenting techniques. I did wear my babies when they were little, co-slept because it was easier. I must confess, I would have to be heavily medicated to home school (kidding). That’s because I’m not really that great at following a strict teaching schedule.  However, I could learn a thing or two, so I went to find the best of all these crazy natural parenting techniques.

BABY WEARING

TheBabyWearer.com has a great article about the Benefits of Baby Wearing for beginners. Some of the benefits are bonding with parents, hands free breast feeding, carrying, sleeping, cleaning. Also children are learning more about their world strapped to a parent than they do alone in a crib.

AllModernbaby has just about every baby carrier you can imagine. Their prices are pretty standard, in the $50 to $100 range, but if you think about it, baby carriers are less expensive than strollers, they are washable and you can use them for more than one kid. However if you are looking for a deal on baby carriers, I would find which one you like and wait for it to go on sale (or buy a comparable sale version) or try Esty.com or Ebay.com for different prices and varieties. My favorite for my kids was the mei tei carrier, but you will want to find your perfect fit and style as each body, child and family has different preferences and needs.

CO-SLEEPING

I also admit to co-sleeping with my little newborn. With my first it was to be as close as I could be to my child, with my last it was to be able to do midnight feedings as fast and efficiently as possible so I could go back to sleep…oh and be as close as possible of course :-).  I was a little worried about just sleeping with my newborn, although they have fallen asleep on my chest many a time, I did want to make sure that I had a safe place for my wee ones to sleep in the bed with us.

I found that the First Years Co-Sleeper was the easiest to use with very young children as I always felt that they were safe beside me. Walmart sells them for $39.00. After the first nine months we transitioned the babies to a crib beside our bed and at 19 months to their own room, but my five year old still sneaks into the bed every night so make your own rules and choices regarding co-sleeping. The Natural Child.org has great suggestions and reasons to support co-sleeping.

HOME SCHOOLING

Homeschool.com is a great online resource for all homeschoolers. This site pretty much offers everything you need to know to start your homeschooling adventure. The great thing a homeschooling option is that it gives the parent control over the level of education their child receives as some public schools in America are sadly lacking. With idea of homeschooling children growing in popularity, many communities of homeschoolers have banded together and have provided alternative school options. Homeschooling is also a great resource for parents with exceptionally gifted or special needs children.  While I may not be jumping in to homeschooling (just yet), I did notice that the website offers freebies like a free curriculum , free printables and field trips. Even if you don’t want to homeschool full time, you can utilize some of these resources to help aid and support your child’s education. This additional teaching is great for both parent and child as you can be assured that you are enriching your child’s learning experiences. 

So here are some more natural parenting techniques, products and services that help aid parents in their quest to be the best parent they are capable of being.

Posted in Family Fun, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals.

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Hot Deals for the Week

Well for this week I have found some fun discounts, so lets get to it…

KIDCRAFT FIRE RESCUE SET $69.99 plus $5 shipping

The KidsCraft Fire Rescue Set which normally sells for over $100 elsewhere is being offered through Woot! Kids. I love this set because it is made of wood and therefore any of us who are trying to take a more natural approach to parenting would be happy. It is also a great creative play structure for little boys. Girls have lots of creative play opportunities with doll houses, Barbie’s and dress up. But boys are pretty limited to cars, action figures and legos when it comes to creative play. So to see a nice imaginative set that has a roof top basket ball hoop, three story fire pole and a dog house is exciting.

KidKraft Fire Rescue Set

PINK RADIO FLYER, BIG FLYER $34.99

The Pink Radio Flyer, Big Flyer is a fun big wheeled trike for girls. They also offer a discount on the red one as well, for a little more money at $56.00. I have fond memories riding my big wheel around town. This is a great deal if you are looking for a fun outdoor riding toy for your kids.

Radio Flyer 79S Big Flyer

JOANN’S FABRICS 40% OFF

Joann’s fabrics is offering a 40% off selected fabrics and craft supplies. Also if you spend $50 the shipping is free. A lot of cute character prints in soft fabrics are available at a fraction of their original cost. This is a fun idea if you are collecting things for Easter baskets and you want to make a soft Spring throw or pillow cases. Also having the craft supplies 40% off, such as scissors, glue, stencils and stamps is great because instead of loading the kids Easter baskets up with candy, you can load them up with crafts instead.

30% OFF DIAPERS AND WIPES AT AMAZON MOM

Sign up for Amazon Mom and get 30% off selected diapers and wipes you can also save 50% off of selected baby skin care products. This is a great discount opportunity for moms as Amazon has selected our often used and needed products and has offered continued discounts on them. It is free to join and for the saving you will receive, I would highly recommend joining.

never run out of diapers again

TOTSY

I just discovered Totsy.com which is really cool. Like Hautelook.com, Totsy scans the internet for special deals and offers them on their site. Again, you have to participate in their free registration, but you can really find some incredible savings by using the site. For example today I found:

KIDCRAFT WOODEN PLAY HOUSE

In keeping with my natural parenting theme this week, I thought this was an incredible deal on a wooden playhouse.  The house is three stories tall, made entirely of wood and comes decorated and furnished. This is such a great deal at only $153.85 (down from $299.99) however the shipping is a tad pricey @ $65.00. But if you are shopping for the whole set, fully furnished and made by a reputable brand, even at around $200.00 this is still a good deal.

Another Totsy find was Blue Celery canvas lunch bags for only $6.35 plus shipping (down from $16.50) these cute canvas bags are great for kids lunches and are made from 100% cotton, which is washable and fall right in line with simple natural parenting style. They come in a few different designs all with bright bold prints our kids would love.

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WALMART: PINK and BLACK COSCO 5 POINT CAR SEAT: $39.00 plus free shipping, site to store

Walmart is offering this pink Cosco 5 Point Carseat Cosco - Scenera 5-Point Convertible Baby Car Seat, Pink In Bloomthey also carry it in black Cosco - Scenera 5-Point Convertible Car Seat, Black SanteeFor only $39.00 plus shipping (or free if you have the item shipped to your local Walmart). These car seats get great reviews and are an amazing price. We actually have an older version of this car seat for our second car and I like it better than our Britax, because it is really lightweight and portable. I find it easier to move around and take on airplane trips and in cabs. The only drawback is, its not quite as plush, but certainly plush enough for a car ride.

Posted in coupon codes, discounts, Family Fun, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Shopping deals.

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What to Give Someone (or Someone’s Baby) who has Everything

Okay, I have the unique pleasure of shopping for a new mom who literally has everything in the world. This creates a level of stress for me, because I am not sure what I should bestow upon her unborn child at the baby shower this weekend. Forget the diaper cake and other gadget necessities, I believe that those were probably bought the day they came home with the ultrasound announcing it was a boy. So, this leaves me trying to find a gift by being creative and ingenious. It is hard to buy gifts for people who have everything or who have a third, fourth or um, tenth child as inevitably the hand-me-downs floweth in those households. The last thing any parent really wants is more clutter to deal with. So I found some fun websites that offer unique gift ideas for those situations where you find yourself needing creative gifts.

THE CORNER STORK

view larger pictureThe Corner Stork looked like it had some very clever, unique gifts, such as as sock octopus, soft plushes, rag dolls and baby jewelry. The items listed are reasonably priced and offer some unique ideas that are not too crazy or trendy for your more conventional family and friends.

THE NAP NANNY

The Nap Nanny is a unique gift used by stars, such as Sandra Bullock. These cozy beds are great for newborns and young infants to help them sleep and keep them safe when they are not in their parent’s arms. This is a great invention, as finding a comfortable place for your baby to sleep or sit while keeping them safe is always a challenge.

LOLLIPOP MOON GIFTS

Sterling Silver Jingle Bells Anklet BabyLollipop Moon has an amazing selection of gifts in all different price ranges. They offer everything from frilly tutus to outdoor play structures. One could literally get lost in this site because it offers so many unique and diverse products. I simply love shopping here. Lollipop Moon keeps up with the fashion trends for moms, babies and families and they pride themselves on always having something unique to offer.

FRUGAL FUN

Some of us simply don’t have the extra cash to bring the most remarkable, most unique gift any parent has ever seen. So, we need to be a bit more creative in order to give a unique and valuable gift. Four Hats and Frugal blog offered some great advice on giving gifts that were meaningful, but not costly.

Service Gifts: Make a handmade (or store bought) card that offers your services to the new mom. For example: make a gift certificate that gives them laundry services every Monday afternoon, for 3 loads of laundry, washed and put away for a month. Offer meals for a week, either by cooking them in the new family’s home, making them at your home and bringing them over or preparing them ahead of time and freezing them in ready to eat portions and containers. These cute fun containers can be bought at a dollar store and used to freeze meals for the whole family.

Family Fun Baskets: Instead of just diapers, create a basket that the whole family may enjoy, once the baby gets there. If the mom and dad are a couple and parents for the first time, you might want to put a movie package together with movie rental gift certificate, popcorn and snacks. If the family has older kids, think of creating a basket that has drawing materials, snacks, books on becoming a big sibling…etc. Most of these items can be bought at the grocery store or a dollar stores, without costing too much. Just remember make your package look festive and unique.

TRIED AND TRUE FAVORITES
Almost every baby in the world loves Sophie the Giraffe. This simple teething toy, while pricey at $17.99 and more, is a favorite of moms and babies. Something about the simple durable design made of organic rubber stimulates a babies sense of sight, sound, feelings and taste. Made of a food based paint and organic rubber, the manufactures encourage babies to explore Sophie with their mouths, fingers and minds.

GUND BABY BLANKET

Gund Baby 24" Blanket
The Gund Comfy Cozy 24″ Baby blanket (sold through Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Gund-Baby-Comfycozy-Lopsy-Blanket/dp/B0012XRTK8 ) is a must for babies. Made of soft fabric and sized to nestle nicely next to baby while they sleep, this blanket is safe and comforting for babies and young children. My daughter has a giraffe Gund Comfy Cozy blanket and to this day, will not sleep without it. This a nice gift for a baby shower as, like my daughter, the child can grow up with a little bedtime pal.

So here are some ideas to hopefully get those creative thoughts flowing in order to find the gift for someone who simply has everything.

Posted in Baby clothes, discounts, Family Fun, ShopforMom, Shopping deals.

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Organic Toys and Green Living for Spring

On the heals of my minimalist parenting blog, I wanted to explore some other natural parenting techniques that might be fun and exciting new ways to view our rearing of children.

Since Spring is around the corner (um..thank goodness!) I have highlighted some organic and green toys and products that introduce us to the organic, green, healthy living lifestyle.

ROSIE HIPPO

F524Rosie Hippo.com is an online shopping site that provides organic, wooden, educational and creative play toys that are reasonably priced and provide a natural play experience for your children. Along the lines of a minimalist parent, organic parenting is also about connecting with simple natural environments to elicit a child’s own natural wonder and curiosity. Wooden toys are favored among organic parents, because they are simple and provide the stepping stones to imaginative play and exploration.

CRUNCHY BUNCH

Bamboo Mini BowlsCrunchyBunch.com has some amazing sales running on just about anything one would need to create an organic oasis for your child. The bamboo bowls pictured are only $8.50 each and are made out of sturdy, long lasting organic bamboo.Maya Wrap - MamaBaby Sling Or the ring sling pictured to the right for only $30.00. Check out the site to find some amazing deals on organic stuff from all over the world.

HAZELNUTKIDS

Hazelnutkids.com is another shopping site offering natural, earth friendly organic and wooden toys for babies and kids. Right now they are running a CABIN FEVER promotion of 25% off all games.

PLAY STORE TOYS

Playstoretoys.com definitely subscribes to the minimalist ideal of parenting, which endorses buy high quality items that add maximum value to your child’s life. Play store toys use four criteria when adding a toy to their shopping site, each toy must fit this criteria before it is represented by the store. The toys must have a high play value, integrity, quality and low impact on the environment. The site has a wide assortment of toys and provides a one stop shop for any minimalist, environmentally conscious or organic parent.

EARTH FRIENDLY DOG TOYS

Ecoanimal.com has environmentally friendly, organic toys for your pet. And we all know that our little furry kids are just as important to our lives and lifestyle as our human kids are. Ecoanimal uses recycled plastics, organic cotton, biodegradable kitty litter liners and more. This site is worth checking out, especially if you have brought a new fur baby home recently.

MAPLE GRACE

Maple Grace

MapleGrace.com is a store that provides natural, organic, non-toxic goods for children and home. Everything from baby to bedding has been tested and approved to be either organic, non-toxic and natural and have a low impact on the environment. This is a great site if you are considering a green make over for your home.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S GUIDE TO GREEN LIVING

Television Buying GuideThe Green Guide provided by the National Geographic website gives a comprehensive look at green living and ways one can start to convert to a greener lifestyle. With everything from a home make over to changing over to solar energy. This is very fun an interesting reading for anyone who is considering going green.

GREEN LIVING

http://www.green-living.com/ is a website that offers everything a green home would ever need. Everything on the site has been approved and is considered eco-conscious and has a low impact on the environment. They offer cookware, linens, cleaning supplies, paints and everything one could ever image they needed to convert their home into a green living space.

While these websites are just the tip of the iceberg for converting your home to a more organic, green environment that follow some of the minimalistic values, they do provide an easy way to start your efforts at becoming a greener, cleaner and healthier family.

Posted in Baby clothes, Family Fun, health and nutrition, Online shopping, ShopforBaby, ShopforMom, Uncategorized.

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Becoming a Minimalist Momma…Sort of

Don’t get me wrong, I love to shop. But in surfing some mom shopping blogs this week, I discovered the strange and unknown world of minimalist parenting. At first I was in shock and horror, until I read further and started to agree with most of what I saw.

While I don’t believe it is in my DNA to go whole hog on the idea, I do want to embrace some of the concepts. I am going to run down a few of the ideas for you (at least the ones I like) that have been inspired by blogs such as….

THE MINAMALIST MOM

This a blog that gives advice about how to live a minamalist parenting lifestyle.

And so does, this website…

MINIMALIST KIDS

Here are the concepts…

REDUCE CLUTTER

One of the misconceptions I had about minimalist parenting is the idea that children would be deprived of toys. I thought about these poor toyless souls, ambling about the house, direction-less and in dire need of plastic, flashing, sound enhanced fun. However, when I actually thought about how many toys my kids had, I confess I realized that most were just filling boxes in their rooms and not really played with that often. A lot of the toys are missing some pieces are have too many pieces to bother playing with at all and often, my kids are ambling about house direction-less anyway…so…hmmm.
The aim of miniamalist parenting is to increase the peace and maximize your time so that it can be spent in ways that are enriching to you and your family. Think about how often you are picking up stuff (bending down repeatedly and putting away) and how many times a day you do it to keep your sanity. What about clothes, dishes, toys, books, things laying around…how many times a day do you move it, clean it and otherwise spend your day occupied by it. When I sat down to do a rough calculation I freaked. Well, imagine not having to spend as much time doing the cleaning, putting away and organizing.
reSPACEd is a cool blog that helps you find better ways to organize the clutter and rethink your possessions.
Minimalist parents encourage buying wooden simple toys (um, having a hard time committing to that one) or spending money on one large quality item. If you need additional toys for Christmas or birthdays, think of renewable resources, consumable items or things that won’t continue to clutter homes and lives.
There are some great ideas on The Green Baby Guide
The Eco-nomical Baby Guide
Some ideas include wooden toys, recycled toys, ways to rethink toy clutter and consumerism. It also gives ideas for creating a more peaceful environment for your children.
Some of the minimalist concepts highlighted throughout my research were things such as….
TURN OFF THE TV
Since the majority of children get their materialist inspiration from commercials programmed to play on their desires, they become obsessed with what they need to have, versus, treasuring what they already own. By providing DVD’s, computer movies and going to the library to check out books and movies, children can avoid the subliminal messages that are created to help promote capitalism and consumer spending.
DON’T OVER SCHEDULE
While providing outside enrichment for your kids is vital, they don’t need soccer, dance, baseball, art, playdates, park visits etc. If you feel like you are hauling your kids from one event to the other, chances are you have overtaxed their schedule as well as yours.
Instead, think of the one thing that your child is really good at or loves and encourage them to enjoy building on their passion for that subject.
Get your kids out in nature, doing simple, naturally inspired things and help them slow down and just observe, listen and participate in the world around them. These are skills that will help them combat stress later in life.
CONSIDER GIVING CONSUMABLE GIFTS

In addition to your big ticket item or as rewards for good behavior, grades etc, give  homemade, consumable/reusable gifts such as play dough which can eventually be throw out or composted. Biodegradable art supplies, such as hemp paper, beeswax crayons, recycled pens.  And give the gift of experiences, such as a special trip or outing versus a plastic, loud, toy of the month.
Homemade Play Dough

makes about 2.5 Cups

1 1/2 cups of flour
3/4 cups of salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 TB vegetable oil
1/2 TB cream of tarter
*food coloring – I use the liquid kind

Mix all of the ingredients into a saucepan. Add the food coloring to your liking. – Children can help with this step

Adults only –
Set your stove top to medium-low (about a 2.5 on a glass top stove). Stand by the pan and stir occasionally. When the batter look is gone and the ingredients start staying together when you stir (5-8 minutes), remove the pan from the heat. Lay out some wax paper and scoop play dough onto the wax paper. I can usually start kneading right away, but make sure that you check the dough for heat – you don’t want to burn yourself!

Another great site is

Becoming a minimalist which is a blog that helps to highlight to perspective on minimalist parenting and lifestyle.

While I am not ready to live with only a bowl, a spoon and a chair and nor am I ready to baby wear all of my children (yes, I read about a woman who has never owned a stroller, has four children and wears two of them at a time….NO THANKS!) Even though I love to babywear, I can’t think of wearing more than one kid at a time. 🙂 More on that in the next blog…

I am ready…to um….think about starting to live like this….hey, its a step.

Posted in Family Fun.

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