TAX DAY DISCOUNTS

Happy Tax Day 2009! (Time-Sensitive Tax Breaks & Freebies)
2
Thanks to Barbara and Smart Money for most of these great finds!
Relax and enjoy a stress-free day with some added tax-relief benefits!

This Tax Day list definitely beats last year’s list, though my favorite is still the free HydroMassage!
The list below includes national offers, but call ahead to be sure locations in your area are participating.
National Offers
Company/Link
Category
Details
McDonald’s
Restaurant
Various Promotions by Location.Examples:* Purchase one Quarter Pounder with Cheese or Big Mac on April 15th, and receive the second sandwich for a penny.* Free McCafe Coffee* Free Chicken Biscuit or Sandwich with Drink Purchase
Chick-fil-A
Restaurant
Visit a participating restaurant on April 15th and keep your receipt. The “Tax Relief Day Special” lets you return before April 30th to receive the same order for free.
Cinnabon
Restaurant
Free Cinnamon Roll Bites (regularly $2.49 for four) between 5pm and 8pm on April 15th.
Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery
Restaurant
Free scoop of ice cream on April 15th.
Taco Del Mar
Restaurant
“Taxes Suck, Tacos Don’t” promotion: Sign up online to receive a coupon for a free taco (regularly $1.89).
Papa John’s
Restaurant
Online Orders Only: Order a large cheese pizza with up to three free toppings for $10.40 (promo is valid through April 15th).
T.G.I. Friday’s
Restaurant
April 15th diners receive a $5 gift card when they spend $15 to $25. Earn a $10 gift card for a purchase of more than $25.
Bonus: Join the Give Me More Stripes promotion to receive a free appetizer, plus other discount meals and savings offers.
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
Restaurant
April 15th diners receive a 15% discount off of their total bill.
McCormick & Schmick’s
Restaurant
On April 15th,McCormick & Schmick’s is offering a $10.40 menu of entrees (regularly $16-$33). Each diner also receives a $10.40 “tax relief” gift certificate for a future meal.
Zazzle
Clothing & Gifts
Save 10.40% on all orders placed on April 15th. Enter coupon code TAXDAYZAZZLE at checkout.
QVC
Clothing & Gifts
Free Standard Shipping & Handling on all orders placed on April 15th. (Great deal if you still have your free IQDOU certificate.)
Jacuzzi
Spa
Save up to $2,000 on select models (sale is valid through April 15th).
HydroMassage
Spa
Free 10-minute massage on April 15th at participating HydroMassage locations.
Kimpton Hotels
Hotel
Tax-Free “Sweet Tax Relief Package” (valid throughout the month of April at select hotels).Package includes:* Deluxe accommodations* Sweet grab-bag filled with candy such as PAYDAY, 100 Grand and Sugar Daddy* Late check out, based on availability, so you can enjoy your tax-free accommodations to their fullest* Tax Included—the hotel will pay your room tax!* Plus, when you book the Sweet Tax Relief Package, dine at any one of Kimpton’s locally flavored, chef driven restaurants, located adjacent to each of our hotels, and we’ll pay the tax!
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Online Orders Only: 15% off all online orders placed through April 20th. Enter coupon code TAXED at checkout.

Wendy's 60th Anniversary - Check it out!

Wendy's
60th Year Anniversary is Wednesday, October 22nd.
All hamburgers will be sold for 25 cents, Cheeseburgers 30 cents, Fries 15 cents, and drinks are 10 cents!!! So, mark your calendars!

Do Good Day - October 28, 2008

***One Day, Millions of Do-Gooders"Make a Difference Day"-- the inspiration for this week's newsletter -- falls on October 28 this year. Not knowing much about this special day, I did some online research and discovered that every fourth Saturday in October, millions of people simultaneously make an effort to help others, neighbor to neighbor. According to the official "Make a Difference Day" website, making a difference doesn't require heroics. You don't have to deliver a truckload of clothing to the homeless, clean up a stream, or paint classrooms in a needy school -- though these are all worthy efforts. Instead, your deed may be as simple as spending the afternoon helping an elderly neighbor. Here are other simple but meaningful activities, conducted by real kids. You can try some of these with your child: •Care for neglected pets. The Junior Girl Scout Troop of Lemoore, CA, baked six dozen dog biscuits and collected 700 pounds of pet food and 300 pounds of cat litter for an animal shelter. •Share your artwork with seniors. Lauren Thompson, 13, organized a poster project so Arkansas nursing home residents could have artwork in their rooms. TIME TO SHAREHow do you teach your children to be generous? http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topics/getalong/getalong08

Online Grocery Shopping Tool

www.scottcommonsense.com
Then click on TOOL
Then Click on Grocery shopping list

This is a great tool and helps you organize your grocery list and make nots such as coupons, price, and if you can comp it at another store etc.

Restaurant Review website for your area

http://www.restaurantica.com/?utm_source=mypoints&utm_campaign=general&utm_content=bonusmail&utm_medium=cpa&visit_id=VoyGR4Vd5x10YDp7BO-w

Huggies and Walmart Baby Days

Stop by Baby Days September 6th-19th

Enjoy Funtimes at select Walmart Stores during Baby Days! Stop by your local Walmart and learn all about what's new and excitingfor you and your baby. There are new products, samples, activities. special offers and more all waiting for you! so mark September 6th through the 19th on your calendar because Baby Days is a must for all moms and moms-to-be.

SNEAK PEEK!

Two Exciting Offers only from HUGGIES®, exclusively at Walmart!
Huggies® brand wipes in reusable designer storage boxes
You have kids, so you know there are two things you can never have enough of: wipes and storage. For a limited time and exclusively at Walmart during Baby Days, you'll find your favorite Huggies® brand wipes in three stylish designed boxes that can be reused for storage. Collect them all now at the only place you can get them all... Walmart!
Special-edition Winnie the Pooh Book inside boxes of Huggies® brand diapers
Huggies® is introducing a new chapter in quality moments with your child! Inside boxes of trusted Huggies® brand diapers you'll only find at Walmart during Baby Days is a special-edition "A Bear-y-Good Neighbour" Winnie the Pooh Book that's sure to "bee" a big hit with your little honey!

I can Freeze that??

I Can Freeze That?
How to Freeze Eggs, Milk and Other Unexpected Foods
Has a good sale or harvest left you with more food than you can use now? No need to let it go to waste. Here are instructions for freezing some foods you may have never thought of freezing:
Eggs
Mix the yolks and egg whites together, and pour into an ice cube tray. Two cubes are the equivalent of one large egg.
Milk
Store in its original container, but pour out enough milk to allow for expansion—approximately a cup per gallon of milk. Thaw in the refrigerator, and shake well before using.
Butter
Store in its original container. Thaw in the refrigerator to use.
Bananas
Freeze in peel. Then, simply thaw and peel to use in smoothies and breads. Note: the peel will turn black, but that won't effect the quality of the banana at all.
Celery
Wash and chop to desired size. Then, flash freeze on a tray, and transfer to a freezer bag or another air-tight container. To use: add the frozen celery directly to soups or other heated dishes.
Tomatoes
Wash thoroughly. Then, freeze whole and unpeeled on a tray. Transfer to freezer bags once fully frozen.
Fresh Herbs
Chop finely. Then, place in an ice cube tray along with a small amount of water. To use: simply drop frozen cubes directly into heated dishes.
Nuts
Freeze (either in shell or shelled) in a freezer bag or another air-tight container.
Zucchini and Other Squash
Wash and chop to desired size. Then, blanch for three minutes; allow to cool; and freeze in an air-tight container.Do Not Freeze:Do not freeze these foods because their structure will deteriorate in the freezer. Some commercially prepared foods, such as already frozen potatoes, can be substituted in recipes that you want to freeze, since they are flash frozen and treated to maintain quality. If you want to freeze a food and you're not sure if it will keep well, wrap and freeze a small portion, then thaw and reheat. If the quality of the food is acceptable to you, go ahead and freeze the entire recipe.
FOOD
SPECIAL TIPS
DELICATE VEGETABLES
Lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, and cucumbers do not freeze well because their cell structure breaks down. You can freeze fresh tomatoes, but then only use them in cooked dishes like tomato or spaghetti sauce.
FRUITS
Watermelon, grapes, apples, and citrus fruits do not freeze well. Generally, any fruit with a high water content loses quality when frozen.
COOKED EGG WHITES
Cooked egg whites become rubbery when frozen. You can freeze them in a salad or sandwich filling if finely chopped and mixed with other ingredients.
MAYONNAISE
Mayonnaise separates when frozen. In a casserole, mayonnaise can freeze well. Use cooked salad dressings instead of mayonnaise.
POTATOES
Cooked and raw potatoes become mushy when frozen. Use purchased frozen potato wedges, chunks, or hash browns when making a casserole to be frozen.
FLOUR THICKENED SAUCES
These sauces and gravies separate when thawed. Freeze without the thickening agent, then add flour when reheating.
CORNSTARCH THICKENED SAUCES
These sauces and gravies thickened with cornstarch separate when thawed. Freeze without the thickening agent, then add cornstarch when reheating.
CREAM AND CUSTARD PIE FILLINGS
These foods tend to separate and 'weep' (moisture appears on the surface) when frozen..
COOKED FROSTINGS
Cooked frostings, like Seven Minute Icing, become rubbery and tough when frozen.
COOKED PASTA
If you want to freeze cooked pasta, mix it with a sauce or gravy before freezing. Plain cooked pasta becomes too mushy if frozen alone.
SALAD GREENS
The cell structure of salad greens is destroyed when frozen; do not freeze.
CREAM CHEESE
Cream cheese becomes crumbly and grainy when frozen by itself. It will freeze well when mixed with other ingredients, like milk or cream, in a sauce.
SPICES AND HERBS
Freezing can change the quality and strength of spices and herbs. If you want to freeze a highly spiced recipe, especially one containing cloves, paprika, peppers, and curry, add the seasonings during reheating. Season lightly when preparing the food for the freezer.

Back To School: Are we ready? Are we non-toxic?

I just read this article on Enviroblog and thought I would share.

Back to School: Are we ready? Are we non-toxic?
Just yesterday the letter came from our new school. Excitement turned to panic as I read the list of required items to bring on the 1st day. The many purchases we must make between today and the first day got me thinking – about a lot of things (and I’ll do you the favor of skipping the school funding bit). Chief among them is how to choose and find environmentally healthy products (without making it a full-time job) and how to ensure that our son’s classroom is not toxic. And as any parent knows, talking with school teachers and administrators about on-site changes has its challenges and, frankly, has quieted even this say-anything advocate.So I was pretty delighted when a quick trip around the green parent blogosphere simplified my job immensely. In hopes of spreading this wealth, check out these handy how-to’s and see if you, too, can make your back-to-school shopping a little less toxic this year:

Packing a lunch. I still haven’t recovered from the lead painted lunchboxes, and that was before I even had school-age kids.
So this one ranks highest on my list – it transports food, after all. Safe Mama has great product tips for avoiding lead and PVC, the two most likely unsafe lunchbox materials. And check SF Kids for Lunch Box 101, you’ll be fully informed about what to avoid and what to get.
Backpacks. Plenty magazine’s Daily Green Bit tells us to avoid PVC and buy recycled while you’re at it – for a gold star. Reusing one you have is best, of course, unless it’s made with PVC (you’ll know it is if the materials include vinyl or the recycling symbol lists a 3, V, or PVC).
School supplies. The Green Parent has great tips for saving money, buying green, and not buying at all – along with a solid review of green art supplies. And, as always, Green Mom Finds has a solid list of suppliers, including The Green Office’s super-easy affordably priced green student kit.In the classroom. Green & Clean Mom has some great tips for teachers to maintain a non-toxic classroom. And, strangely, our school asked us to bring hand sanitizer to share, so naturally we’ll bring some without triclosan.
You want it all? If you’re looking to go all-the-way green this school year, there are several everything guides to help you navigate the perils, like this one from the Center for Health and Environmental Justice, this other one from the Green Guide, or this super-thorough one from Nature Moms. There’s something for everyone, whether your thing is reducing waste, avoiding toxics, or ecoclothing.

$135 for doing a research study

This study is being conducted by Talaria, Inc., a small research and development company that creates health care training. We are developing this interactive software tutorial to provide infomation and support for patients with non-cancer pain. This project is funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).Participating in the study involves consenting to participate, filling out questionnaires, and viewing the tutorial online. The whole study takes about 6-7 weeks to complete. Your login ID and password will allow you to log in as often as you like, finishing as much or as little of the tutorial as your time allows. You will receive up to $135 for your participation.Jen MundtWellness Workbook Study CoordinatorTalaria, Inc.206-579-0485 <---Call this number to get in on this!Here is the link to the online info, you'll still need to call though.http://backpainstudy.talariainc.com/...)/Default.aspx

Organic Gardening newsletter

just fill out a short form.
http://www.organicgardening.com/newsletter/1,7685,s1-0-0-0,00.html

Johnetee Downing - Music and Books for kids

The official Johnette Downing WIGGLE WORM FAN CLUB.
Hey Parents! Is your child a wiggle worm? If your child is a fan of Johnette Downing’s music and books, he/she can be an official member of the Johnette Downing Wiggle Worm Fan Club and get a free packet of cool Wiggle Worm exclusives such as an Official Fan Club Member Card, photograph of Johnette, a Fan Club letter, music and book activity sheets and more! Children will also receive a "Members Only" quarterly email newsletter filled with music activities and games just for them! The Official Fan Club Member Card is their ticket to special offers, members only events and a behind the scenes look at the artist and her music. Don't forget to bring your Official Fan Club Member Card to Johnette's concerts and book signings. As a special thanks to fans, we have included a link below for a free downloadable song! So sign up your child today!
***** SPECIAL NOTICE *****
Due the large volume of Fan Club memberships, the Wiggle Worm Fan Club packet is now available in downloadable form. Please sign up for the Fan Club by including your name and email address below. Once you sign up, you will receive 1) a quarterly "Members Only" Fan Club e-Newsletter filled with fan news, fun facts, activities and special offers, and 2) a link for the downloadable Fan Club packet! Go Wiggle Worms!
Get your free music on Johnette's Store page
http://www.johnettedowning.com/fan_club.html

Reusable ice packs

Thanks for this great idea for a reusable icepack ( @homeec101)
http://www.home-ec101.com/quick-tip-reusable-ice-packs/

206 Things Kids can do this summer

This list was compiled by mom's on a site I frequent.

Here is a list of things to do when the kids get "bored" this summer:
1) ride bikes
2) roller blade
3) basketball
4) play board games
5) make a tent out of blankets
6) squirt with hoses
7) run through the sprinkler
8) jump rope
9) Visit a local museum
10) blow bubbles
11) make homemade play dough
12) play with play dough
13) press flowers
14) do crafts with pressed flowers
15) write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal
16) clean bedroom
17) Start your own reading club
18) clean bathroom
19) make a craft
20) draw
21) color
22) Plant a flower and/or vegetable garden
23) pull weeds
24) watch a movie
25) write stories
26) use binoculars
27) use magnifying glass
28) use microscope
29) bird watching
30) write a play
31) act out a play
32) Take a trip on a city bus
33) Take a drive in the country
34) Go fishing
35) make art on the front walkway with sidewalk chalk
36) play catch
37) play baseball
38) collect rocks
39) collect leaves
40) collect feathers
41) play Frisbee
42) make your own word puzzles
43) dust the house
44) brush the pet
45) write letters
46) read a magazine
47) play dress-up
48) play Cowboys
49) pick vegetables
50) play outside with the pet
51) build a fort in your rooms
52) build a fort in the backyard
53) do a jigsaw puzzle
54) go for a star-gazing walk
55) play on the computer
56) listen to a story or book on tape
57) Camp out in the backyard
58) do brain teasers (ie: crosswords, word searches,hidden pictures, mazes, etc.)
59) Bake cookies and give to the neighbors
60) prepare lunch
61) surprise a neighbor with a good deed
62) play store
63) prepare a "restaurant" lunch with menus
64) hold a tea party
65) Explore a different part of town
66) play with toy cars
67) play dolls
68) play house
69) chase butterflies
70) collect caterpillars and bugs
71) plant a garden or a pot
72) collect seeds
73) hunt for four-leaf clovers
74) learn magic tricks
75) put on a magic show
76) plant a container garden
77) sprout seeds or beans
78) make sock puppets
79) put on a puppet show
80) make Christmas presents
81) make homemade wrapping paper
82) make homemade gift cards
83) make picture frames from twigs glued onto sturdycardboard
84) crochet or knit
85) make doll clothes
86) sew buttons in designs on old shirts
87) run relay races
88) make bookmarks
89) take a quiet rest time
90) take a shower or bath
91) bathe a pet
92) feed the birds or squirrels
93) watch the clouds
94) enter a children's writing contests
95) check out local free entertainment
96) empty dishwasher
97) vacuum under the couch cushions and keep anychange found
98) write these ideas on pieces of paper and pick outone or two to do
99) whittle
100) whittle bars of soap
101) practice musical instruments
102) perform a family concert
103) teach yourself to play musical instrument (recorder,harmonica, guitar)
104) fold laundry
105) sweep kitchen or bathroom floors
106) sweep front walkway
107) sweep or spray back patio
108) sweep or spray driveway
109) wash car
110) vacuum car
111) vacuum or dust window blinds
112) clean bathroom mirrors
113) clean sliding glass doors
114) clean inside of car windows
115) wash bicycles
116) clean garage
117) play in the sandbox
118) build a sandcastle
119) work with clay
120) copy your favorite book illustration
121) design your own game
122) build with blocks or Legos
123) create a design box (copper wire, string, odds-and-ends of things destined for the garbage, pom-poms, thread,yarn, etc.)
124) plan a neighborhood or family Olympics
125) have a marble tournament
126) paint a picture with lemon juice on white paper andhang it in a sunny window and see what happens in afew days
127) finger paint with pudding
128) make dessert
129) make dinner
130) give your pet a party
131) paint the sidewalk with water
132) start a journal of summer fun
133) start a nature diary
134) have a read-a-thon with a friend or sibling
135) have a neighborhood bike wash
136) play flashlight tag
137) play Kick the Can
138) check out a science book and try some experiments
139) make up a story
140) arrange photo albums
141) find bugs and start a collection
142) do some stargazing
143) decorate bikes or wagons and have a neighborhoodparade
144) catch butterflies and then let them go
145) play hide-and-seek
146) create a symphony with bottles and pans and rubberbands
147) listen to the birds sing
148) try to imitate bird calls
149) read a story to a younger child
150) find shapes in the clouds
151) string dry noodles or O-shaped cereals into a necklace
152) glue noodles into a design on paper
153) play hopscotch
154) play jacks
155) make up a song
156) make a teepee out of blankets
157) write in your journal
158) find an ant colony and spill some food and watchwhat happens
159) play charades
160) make up a story by drawing pictures
161) draw a cartoon strip
162) make a map of your bedroom, house or neighborhood
163) call a friend
164) cut pictures from old magazines and write a story
165) make a collage using pictures cut from old magazines
166) do a secret service for a neighbor
167) plan a treasure hunt
168) make a treasure map
169) make up a "Bored List" of things to do
170) plan a special activity for your family
171) search your house for items made in other countriesand then learn about those countries from the encyclopediaor online
172) plan an imaginary trip to the moon
173) plan an imaginary trip around the world, where wouldyou want to go
174) write a science-fiction story
175) find a new pen pal
176) make up a play using old clothes as costumes
177) make up a game for practicing math facts
178) have a Spelling Bee
179) make up a game for practicing spelling
180) surprise an elderly neighbor or relative by weedinghis/her garden
181) finger-paint with shaving cream
182) collect sticks and mud and build a bird's nest
183) write newspaper articles for a pretend newspaper
184) put together a family newsletter
185) write reviews of movies or plays or tv shows orconcerts you see during the summer
186) bake a cake
187) bake a batch of cookies
188) decorate a shoe box to hold your summer treasures
189) make a hideout or clubhouse
190) make paper airplanes
191) have paper airplane races
192) learn origami
193) make an obstacle course in your backyard
194) make friendship bracelets for your friends
195) make a wind chime out of things headed for thegarbage
196) paint your face
197) braid hair
198) play tag
199) make a sundial
200) make food sculptures (from pretzels, gumdrops,string licorice, raisins, cream cheese, peanuts, peanutbutter, etc.) and then eat it
201) make a terrarium
202) start a club
203) take a nap outside on your lawn
204) produce a talent show
205) memorize a poem
206) recite a memorized poem for your family

Quick Tips

Button all buttons on clothing

and turn inside out before putting into the washer.

Fewer buttons will fall off and garments will fade less

if turned inside out.

Sunscreen Guide

You can also print this out from Cosmetics Database http://cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/ewg_sunscreen.pdf

EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Safer Sunscreens
BUY
• SPF 30 or higher for best protection.
• At least 7% zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for broad spectrum protection.

AVOID
• Oxybenzone or benzophenone-3: skin absorption,
allergies, hormone problems
• Spray and powder sunscreens: inhaling sunscreens can pose extra risks
• Fragrance: allergies, reproductive problems
• Sunscreen with added bug repellent: you can get too much of the pesticide in your body
• Coppertone, Neutrogena and Banana Boat: fewer than 5% of their products are recommended as safe and effective


TOP 6 SUNSCREEN TIPS
1. Protect kids!
Everyone is at risk from sun damage, but children are more sensitive to heat stroke and have
higher risk for skin cancer later in life when they get too much sun. Keep children under 6 months out of direct sun.
2. Avoid midday sun when intensity peaks. Summer sun is more intense between 10 and 4, also at high altitudes and in the tropics.
3. Seek shade or bring your own. Cover up with a shirt, hat, and UV-protective sunglasses. Remember that invisible rays can reflect up toward you from the ground, so you may still need sunscreen if you wear a hat.
4. Slop on sunscreen and reapply often. Put it on before you go out in the sun. Sunscreen washes off in water and can break down in the sun – reapply often.
Wear daily on skin not covered by clothing.
5. Using bug repellent? Apply it at least 15 minutes after sunscreen to cut down on the pesticide soaking through the skin.
6. Buy new sunscreen every year.


Start with our top picks list at cosmeticsdatabase.com/sunscreens.

TOP 10 SUNSCREEN PICKS

1. Blue Lizard (anything without oxybenzone)
2. California Baby (anything with SPF 30+)
3. CVS with zinc oxide
4. Jason Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas Mineral Based Sunblock
5. Kiss My Face “Paraben Free” series
6. Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock
7. Olay Defense Daily UV Moisturizer (with zinc)
8. SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense
9. Solar Sense Clear Zinc for Face
10. Walgreens Zinc Oxide for Face, Nose, & Ears


More than 1 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with skin
cancer this year. This number has steadily increased over the past 10
years. Sunscreen is more important than ever.
EWG’s Sunscreen Investigation found that of nearly 1,000 namebrand
sunscreens, only 1 of 5 provided adequate protection from
both UVA & UVB radiation with few ingredients linked to known or
suspected health hazards.
After 30 years of delay, the government has failed to set mandatory,
comprehensive sunscreen safety standards to protect consumers’
health. In August 2007 FDA proposed first-ever UVA standards for
sunscreen, but the rules are not yet final. In the meantime,
companies are making misleading claims about product quality,
and ineffective products crowd store shelves.
cosmeticsdatabase.com

How does your Sunscreen rank

How does your Sunscreen rank. At cosmeticsdatabase you can see if your sunscreen has what it takes to keep you safe.

http://cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/

Kids and swimming

It's summer time and it's time for swimming. Whether it be the beach or your closest pool.
It's time to get out there and SWIM!!

I read an article recently about swim safety with kids and I found it very interesting because it says that the experts actually discourage the use of water wings with your children. The reason is that it moves kids' center of buoyancy away from their midsections and makes it harder for them to use their arms.

It also says that taking your kids swimming early and often is the single biggest factor in helping them love water.

Don't forget to join in the fun and get your hair wet too. Enjoy your summer!!

Disney Family.com

I just read this great article from a DisneyFamily.com writer/blogger and wanted to share it.


Mom's Museum School
by DreamTeamAme
"I'm sorry. Our summer classes are filled. For all sessions," the lady at the regional children's museum added definitively -- sounding anything but sorry.
We've been shut out of the museum school summer classes for the past two years. Their popularity, coupled with alumni first-chance registration policies, makes signing up harder than scoring Super Bowl tickets.
"Mama, were we too late again?" Grace, 7, asks, with a disappointment flattening her voice.
"I'm afraid so," I said, feeling quite dejected myself.
Later that afternoon I bemoaned our museum school blacklist status to my friend Jennifer, who just happens to be an elementary school librarian.
"Oh, we never get in either," she assured me, then added, "So I just do my own."
She explained her simple "museum school by Mom" premise. With her kids, ages 4 and 6, she picks a theme and plans daily activities and projects around it.
The best part of this do-it-yourself plan is that you get to choose topics that are tailor-made for your kids and their interests -- dinosaurs, space, insects, mountains, trains, horses, fairies, travel, music, flowers -- the sky's the limit. Even better, you can set your own schedule. You can do it as casually as going to the library and checking out a few topic-specific books to enjoy, or really get into it by planning daily itineraries replete with activities, crafts and field trips. Online projects and ideas help bring it all to life.

Below is an example of five days planned around an "ocean" theme.
Mom's Ocean-Inspired Museum School
Monday, Shells
Book: Way Down Deep by Jan PeckActivity: Shell Painting

Tuesday, Sharks
Book: Smiley Shark by Ruth Galloway
Activity: Bake S is for Shark Cupcakes.
Game: Sharks and Fish

Wednesday, Boats
Book: Toy Boat by Randall de Seve illustrated by Loren Long
Activity: Build your own little Jet Boat.

Thursday, Fish
Book: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister and J. Alison James
Activity: Sticker Stories. Have each child draw a background of the ocean then supply a variety of fish and other sea critter stickers with which to populate your sea. Then invite them to share a story about their drawing.
Craft: Make Good Luck Gold Fish.

Friday, Beach Party"Beach" Picnic and Sunny Day Reading: Pack a picnic and blanket and head to the nearest body of water (lake, ocean, pool, or fountain) to enjoy an al fresco lunch and some more sea-worthy books in the fresh air:
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Out of the Ocean by Debra Frasier
What Lives in a Shell? (Let's Read and Find Out Science 1) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and Helen K. Davis

Do you know who your neighbors are?

Do you know your neighbors?

This site will help you know the ones
you need to know even better. Just put in your address & your
neighborhood map will pop up. Every place you see a red balloon or thumb tact is the home of aconvicted felon.Just hover your mouse over an icon & not only will the name come up, but also the crime they were convicted of.

http://www.felonspy.com/search.html

Free Car Care Guide from Car Care Council

Car Car Council is offering a free Car Care Guide.

Get your free copy of the Car Care Guide today!
This first-of-its-kind reference guide for motorists from the Car Care Council is now available to the independent aftermarket. Focus group research revealed that shop owners, counterpersons and technicians would find the guide valuable when discussing recommended maintenance and repair to their customers. Consumers interviewed agreed that they would trust information from a credible third party like the Car Care Council. The successful “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign has demonstrated motorists’interest in vehicle maintenance information and advice. The 56-page guide covers nine major service occasions and 12 component groups of the vehicle, plus service intervalrecommendations, a maintenance log and much more

http://www.carcare.org/car_care_guide/consumer.asp