Have you heard of Sweety High? If you have tween or teen girls, this might be the fun you want them to experience as it combines online and offline life into a single game experience. It's full of many activities from earning virtual money to shooting original shows to publishing scrapbooks and much more. Signing up is fast and free. Sweety High also focuses on the safety factor by offering a controlled, filtered environment. It sounds like a creativity mecca for girls that I wished I had as a tween/teen!
For ages 8 and up, Sweety High provides a boutique arts and entertainment website driven by social networking, gaming and original content. There are even educational programs included to promote leadership, safety and community participation in a real world. Each member has to sign up in order to have access or view profiles, pictures or any other user content. Users under the age of 13 have to be verified by a parent's last four digits of a social security number or credit card. All generated content including all text is moderated in conjunction with CRISP THINKING's technology. Parents of girls under 13 are also given an account access to their daughter's profiles to be able to delete any content deemed inappropriate and e-mail updates are provided on activity. You can read more about Sweety High's security features here.
Know someone who needs a safer way to take a bath or do you just want some extra organization space or perhaps both? I'm sure my elderly parents could use something like this especially my father and his bad hip. The Butt Bench® is a sturdy, high-quality patent-pending bathtub seat made of natural wood. What is unique about this is it's a tub seat that supports your weight which makes it easier to sit, to bathe or to just relax while you crank up the heat and turn your bathroom into a sauna.
The Butt Bench® for me, has become a very useful storage ledge. I have had the Butt Bench® for three weeks and it has not moved from the shower because I was curious as to how the wood would perform under intense heat, water and general moisture. I thought it might crack or show signs of damage but I was wrong. It looks just as good as the day I received it. What is nice are they come with suction cups that have a little mobility from side to side to ensure proper anchorage. They sit strongly against the tile and the only way I can get them to release is to use my fingernail to pull the suction up. This assures me the fit is tight and an accidental fall won't ensue if the bench moves.
The Butt Bench® is available in:
Pine
Pink Pine
White Pine
12"
15"
Installation is a breeze:
The Butt Bench® is an all around handy product whether you need extra safety due to a health issue, want some extra comfort with a sauna-like atmosphere or want some extra storage. It's not too heavy to move either if you want the full use of your bath and fits nicely on top of the toilet (if needed).
The Giveaway: One reader will win their ownButt Bench®!
Return both Forms to Charles Rubner either by fax to (773) 857-1022 or by email toCharles.Rubner@rmhc.org
Once registration for the 2012 Chicago Marathon opens on February 1, the information you provide on the Charity Runner Form will be used for your Marathon registation. Your credit card will be charged the $150 marathon registration fee, and you will receive confirmation of your registration by both the Chicago Marathon and by Ronald McDonald House Charities.
If you have any questions about joining Team RMHC or would like any additional information not described on this website, please contact Charles Rubner at charles.rubner@rmhc.org.
NOTE: All Team RMHC runners must set a minimum $1,000 fundraising goal, and use their best efforts to achieve (or exceed!) that amount. Once registration for the Chicago Marathon closes, RMHC will have a limited number of post-close charity entries available. For these 'post-close' entries, the $1,000 fundraising commitment is a requiredminimum. More information and details regarding your fundraising commitment are included in the Team RMHC Waiver and Commitment Form.
At Tanger Outlets, they are taking discounts to the next level and want their fans to show them how they save at Tanger! All you have to do is snap a photo of an item (and the price tag) that you found for a great deal (a discounted price) at Tanger Outlets, and tweet Tanger us @TangerOutlets with the hashtag #RealDeal for a chance to win a $25 gift card!
Upping the ante, every month, Tanger will award one fan at random with a $25 gift card, just for submitting a photo of a deal via Twitter!
Here is a sample #RealDeal Tweet: Found a major deal at @TangerOutlets? TwitPic your biggest steal with #RealDeal for your chance to win their Treasure Hunter $25 gift card!
Getting healthy is an important step I started last year and it has paid off. Not only have I lost 30 pounds but my children are now focused on getting healthy and being healthy. It hasn't been as easy for my four year old but we're making strides and I know we'll get there. I've seen remarkable improvements in the choices from my eight year old as well as getting my oldest, 23, motivated into losing weight and getting healthy. Getting healthy is not something you can do overnight with a click of the switch as it's a mindset and a lifestyle change that involves work and commitment.
Some of the ways that I'm incorporating healthier eating and cooking include:
Again, it's not a snap of the fingers and it's done rather it's a step by step change of habits. I didn't remove all the cola and junk food at once and I haven't eliminated it completely. Rather I do allow some but it's about moderation. If I went cold turkey, they would have revolted so I ensured that I was starting on the right foot.
Second, I get them involved in the meal planning. I find out what they want to fix and let them help prepare the menu. I look up recipes and show them for their input. Sometimes we make a menu and they can color it to feel more empowered in our meal preparation.
Third, I have them help cook. What child doesn't like to cook and if they partake in the process, they might be inclined to eat.
Finding fun recipes such as vegetable animals where you can make shapes and add other vegetables can create some fun edible garnishments for that extra push to eat.
Cooking from scratch versus popping everything in the microwave is also healthier in my opinion. I control the ingredients and can select organic foods if I want. They have learned that cooking from recipes is healthier from my standpoint.
I also use products such as brown rice, whole wheat bread and foods that have been processed less to make them healthier.
Sneaky cooking is another option as there are great recipes that you can supplement items for to make the recipe healthier such as cauliflower, sour cream, and so forth. Sneaky cooking is a great way to get that picky eater something a bit healthier without them even knowing.
There are many ways to encourage children to eat healthier for the sake of their health now and the future. We have the ability to train them now for a lifetime of better eating if we lead by example. Simple things such as involving them in food planning, preparation and other fun activities will encourage them to eat healthier and stay healthier. We have a lot of fun experimenting and even when I can't get them to eat something I want, being sneaky is never off limits. A little hidden vegetables can go a long way!
Do you have a child between ages 5 and 12? If so, submit a 2-3 minutes video of you cooking a rice-based dish with your children and you could win $20,000 along with a $50,000 grant towards a cafeteria makeover for your child's school with Uncle Ben's Ben's Beginners contest! Check out more on Ben's Beginners on Facebook.
*Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Uncle Ben’s blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
I'm a firm believer that the best meals happen at home for many reasons. Now when I was working a lot, it was hard to fit that concept in but as I get older and wiser, I'm learning more reasons why what Publix is stating is so true. Not only do home cooked meals taste better but it's a great opportunity to get the family together for some 1:1 family time which is greatly missing in many families today. Publix is hosting The Best Meals Happen at Home event now (January 26th) until February 1st!
I'm a HUGE Publix fan because they offer such a huge variety of my favorite brands, organic brands and their own brands which are of high quality. I love the BOGO deals and the buy the name brand and get the Publix brand free opportunities!
Head out to Publix to experience some great savings on your favorite foods as well as some in-store coupons that will be good from today until February 1st. If you visit Publix BestMealsatHome online, you can sign up for weekly recipes and coupon offers that can help you save up to $200 this year. Not only can you save money but you can also check out some recipes Publix has to offer which I already did and shared. Check Publix out on Facebook for more tips and possible money savings.
I don't know if you ever tried any of Publix recipes but they are good! I love how they have the cooking demonstrations in the store.
Here is a quick and easy Crunchy Chicken Nugget Recipe:
Prep time: 15 Min Cook time: 25 Min Makes: 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups Cheerios® cereal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon mustard
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
Directions:
Heat oven to 400°F. Spray with cooking spray or lightly grease 13x9-inch pan.
Finely crush cereal. Stir together cereal, salt and pepper; set aside. In medium bowl, stir together milk, honey and mustard until blended. Dip chicken into milk mixture; coat with cereal mixture. Place chicken in pan; drizzle with melted butter.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until crust is golden and chicken is no longer pink in center.
Now the fun part, one reader will win a $25 Publix Gift Card! To enter, just complete the Rafflecopter form below and that's it!
Driving is a scary time anymore as it seems there are too many distractions on the road. Not only do you have to worry about what might be in the road or your own vehicle but you have to always be on the watch out for others. It's not easy trying to drive at times when you have your kids in the car because they also offer their own mode of distractions. Sometimes they just can't help themselves and require immediate attention. Being on alert is imperative when it comes to driving and watching out for others. Based on my many years of experience with driving and helping to teach one teen how to drive, here are my five inspired driving tips.
Slow down! That is for everyone! When you are in a hurry, not only will you possibly make careless mistakes but you might also get a case of road rage. I found that when I'm in a hurry, I tend to get angrier when I drive so I have learned to slow down. Slowing down is also safer from an auto standpoint. Having a tire blow out going 70 mph versus 60 mph can mean the difference between life and death.
Treat distractions as non-existent until you are safe. If the phone rings, wait to find out who calls. When you didn't have a phone, you still kept driving so there is no reason why a call can't wait. Same with text messaging as it's unsafe and in many states, illegal. There is nothing that can't wait until you are parked. If the kids are causing a problem that is taking your attention, pull over in a safe spot and deal with it. I've seen too many parents try to discipline as they drive.
Buckle up and use appropriate car seats for children. You always hear of so many people dying because they weren't properly seated in the car. It takes a click to buckle up and you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to prepare for anything.
Keep your distance and don't tailgate. Even if it's illegal to cause an accident, it doesn't stop people from slamming on their brakes if you are tailgating. When driving, always be on the look out for the other guy and it's one thing I really taught my daughter. You have to always watch to make sure someone is not going to swerve in your lane, make sure they are going to stop and so forth. Being on the defense is paramount to good car safety.
Drive for the conditions is what my parents always told me. I neglected that rule when in high school as I didn't realize the roads really did become slick with rain around curves and wiped out a telephone pole and a boat on a trailer not to mention my car. Hazards are everywhere so you have to watch and adjust for the conditions at all times.
Driving is a tough time especially for the young. When you are a mom, you have so many distractions battling for your time but when you are driving, paying close attention is the key to staying safe. No matter what, most everything can wait their turn. Keep the phone away from you to avoid temptation, talk to the kids about car safety, keep the car maintained properly to hopefully avoid things like tire blow outs and most importantly, buckle up!
*Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
I'm very very late in posting my Mamavation update but I've had a migraine that won't go away. It's an excuse but it's worthy enough of using trust me! I am a big Biggest Loser fan and this season's motto is "no excuses." Sometimes one just has to have one and it's mine this wee. I've done hardly nothing for two days and not being able to run is killing me!
I know I finally hit that magic point because I feel immense guilt for not exercising and when I see a commercial like the new Jack in the Box Jumaco, it makes me almost physically ill over how much food they are offering in the meal not to mention the unhealthy aspect of it.
Needless to say, I'm striving to get back to my Hawaii days and I'm soooooo close that I could almost scream in excitement. Although not a picture of my entire body, I can see my weight loss in my face and am happy with the progress of running and counting calories.
Special thanks to Scott for recommending the salmon oil for my knee pain as it's working like a charm!
Moving is a big deal as I know! I can't remember how many times I've moved but know it's well over 30 times. I've lived in Indiana, New Jersey, Hawaii, Georgia and many other places but I never lived in California. My older sister lived in Los Angeles for years and loved it. She used to move around a lot to come to think of it. When moving, I know from experience you want to hire someone that is good and trustworthy. Trying to find movers can be difficult especially since there are so many Los Angeles movers.
One thing I have done in the past is to get free quotes as you there really are variations in the price each movers will charge. The field of LA movers is immense and you want to pick a good Los Angeles moving company to move your precious belongings, memories and more. One thing I learned from my last move is the logging in of boxes is a good idea. It took a semi truck to move all of our belongings and I could not remember how many boxes on top of furniture we had.
Moving is not fun but there are many things you can do to help make it easier. A good planning (timeline) list is first and making sure you line up a good company is essential. I always keep out a box or two of essentials to make the trip easier as you never know what you might need such as birth certificates and so forth.
I'm a fan of just about any holiday although some might be more favorite than others. Valentine's Day was always so much fun as a child with choosing which Valentine Cardsto buy and who received which version of the card. As an adult, my tastes changed and I preferred the cards that had some style and professionalism with them. Granted my children probably don't know the difference but I do. When I look for Valentines Day, I look for variety and options which is why I love Tiny Prints.
This time, I'm focusing on classroom Valentine's Day cards because they are so cute! I have to admit that I do love the photo cards just because I get to pick the cutest of the cutest pictures of my girls to put on them. This is one of my favorites! One thing to note about the classroom cards is if you are planning on mailing them, they are too small for Postal regulation and thus will require your own envelope but what a great excuse to send a gift too!
I asked my two girls which cards they preferred and here is what they picked:
My older daughter couldn't decide but here were her three favorites:
Aren't they all cute? There are so many different ones to choose from whether you have a boy or a girl and want a photograph or not. The ages vary so there is sure to be a card for every child and even us big children!
Check out Tiny Prints for all your card and many gift needs! Follow on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest to stay up to date on the latest and maybe even some special deals!
*Disclosure: I will be compensated with free cards in exchange for this post but the opinions are of my own.
I started to write this post by starting out with who doesn't own a laptop anymore but I rethought that as I'm sure there are many people who don't. For those that do, you know what it's like to have a dead battery and what a pain that can be as it always seems to happen at the most inopportune time. I used to have a laptop where I had an extra battery and if I ever get back to traveling, it's definitely something I would look into. My daughter's battery was always running out and I never thought to buy another Apple Laptop Battery for her which now seems pretty simple to do since prices have also dropped.
Having that extra back up is a good idea no matter what you are doing as you never know when you might need it. Since laptops are so portable, it's not much weight to carry around either. I have a laptop and know that the battery life is pretty short and I can't remember how many times it has died on me because I forgot to charge it. Do you keep an extra battery around?
Anyone interested in a $15 Amazon GC & Free Light Sides Meal from Chilis Giveaway? If so, head on over to my Facebook page and just click "like" on the post!
I wasn't sure if it would draw much interest so if I get enough likes, I'll give them away via the random selection from all of the Likes.
Ready to get in shape? Enter to win one grand prize of a LifeSpan TR 1200-DT Desktop Treadmill ($1,999 Retail Value). I have a treadmill and it's definitely helping me lose the 30 pounds that I have since 2011. I also just tried the VitaCakes and LOVE THEM!
Ten runners-up will receive a 48-pack of the new 50-calorie Fudgy Chocolate Mini VitaCakes ($48 Retail Value).
It takes just 7 minutes to walk off a Mini VitaCake!
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