DISNEY WORLDS OF FANTASY ON ICE

I am so excited to go to this show because I have a girly girl who is 11 but not too old for this show and then my son saw lightening Mcqueen on the commercials and he wants to go too which is so awesome that they brought the girly stuff along with things for the boys too.

Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy: Rev up for non-stop fun with four of your favorite Disney stories at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. Thrill to high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney/Pixar's CARS race across the ice. Dive into The Little Mermaid's enchanting undersea kingdom and experience the 'Circle of Life' with The Lion King. Then enter into the magical world of Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell and all her fairy friends as they make their world premiere on ice! From wheels to waves, Pride Lands to pixie dust, your family's favorite Disney moments come to life at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy with dazzling skating, special effects and beloved characters certain to create a lifetime of memories. Special Bonus! Disney Princess Pre-Show: Arrive up to one hour early to tour our dazzling display of gorgeous gowns. Complimentary to all ticket holders.

So the great news is the show is coming to the La Area this month and we have a coupon code to share wohoooooo!
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU!



 
 

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 for Monday through Friday matinee shows, or receive $4 off all weekend shows by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM.**
Los Angeles

I was given tickets to attend the show and post this offer on behalf of mom central and Feld Entertainment
December 17: 7:30pm December 18: 11:00am, 7:30pm December 19: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm December 20: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Ontario
December 30: 7:30pm December 31: 1:00pm, 4:30pm January 1: 3:30pm, 7:30pm January 2: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm January 3: 11:00am, 3:00pm
Anaheim
December 22: 7:30pm December 23: 1:00pm, 7:30pm December 24: 1:00pm, 4:30pm December 25: 4:30pm December 26: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm December 27: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
Long Beach
January 6: 7:30pm
January 7: 7:30pm January 8: 11:00am, 7:30pm January 9: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm January 10: 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
**Get 4 tickets for $44 Monday through Friday matinee shows, or $4 off all weekend shows by entering the code “MOM” at select ticketing channels. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional weekday tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Rinkside or VIP seating. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges and handling fees will apply.

Evenflo SmartSteps

I just received the evenflo products in the mail to try with the twins and they really love them especially the spoons and stackable bowls. The spoons were the right size and shape to help Maddie grasp the concept of trying to feed herself. Evenflo has kids and moms in mind because these products teach you the correct portion sizes in a fun way with the bright colored stackable bowls and the bright insulated cups. I like the new idea and I love the fact that they make labels to stick onto the bowls and cups so when my girls go to the church nursery they know whose cup it is. Now the only challenge they have is figuring out who is who with my twin girls Abbie and Maddie.
Here is some information about the Evenflo smart steps line from mom central:

As Moms we often find ourselves bombarded with either frightening childhood obesity studies or complex strategies to deal with perpetually picky eaters—all focused on healthy, nutritious eating for kids. Even at our own dinner tables, we often struggle to convince our kids there's more to dinner than plain buttered pasta and chicken fingers. And while we need to jumpstart our toddlers towards a lifetime of healthy eating, getting there can be especially tough given fussy eaters, busy schedules, older kids, after-school activities, and everything else that gets in the way.
Evenflo recognized this struggle at mealtimes and just launched a new Smart Steps line for toddlers, offering us a clever solution to foster lifelong healthy eating habits. Two favorites: an Insulated Cup designed to help toddlers transition to drinking out of a cup thanks to the soft spout that lets them sip confidently (with no spills!), and the Portion Plate teaching kids to know portion size, eat a balanced meal with its divided colorful sections and even challenges them to explore new food in a tiny "try it for the first time" cup (two peas will do!).
Smart Steps offers insightful, educational strategies for understanding how toddlers think about food, building on core guidelines that help nurture healthy eating habits developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Do you have a picky eater at home? Here are a few tips compliments of the Smart Steps website:

• Let your kids be "produce pickers" at the store. If they can pick out their own fruits and veggies – they'll be more inclined to eat them
• Invite your kids to prepare meals with you. All of that mixing, mashing and measuring will make them want to taste what they are prepping.
• Offer choices. Rather than ask "Do you want broccoli for dinner?" ask "Which would you like for dinner: broccoli or cauliflower?"

More tips can be found online at http://www.evenflo.com/smartsteps. On the site, you can also take the Smart Steps Quiz to determine your parental feeding style and discover where you fall on the Smart Steps Eating Arc.

Seriously check out the link below and you can download a money saving coupon for Evenflo SmartSteps products
http://www.momcentral.com/cms/22441/evenflo_smart_steps

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Evenflo and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

Sons of Anarchy on FX

Did you know my twins were on a show on the FX Network? Well if you did not know you do now. Abbie and Maddie made their small screen debut on FX networks The Sons of Anarchy as baby Abel who is the son of Jax(Charlie Hunnam). If you have not checked it out I have to warn you that it is a very adult program. Lets put it this way, it has a sopranos feel but it is in the world of the motorcycle clubs instead of the mafia. I had fun on the set with the girls and the stars who were super nice. http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/soa/ you can see pictures and learn about the show and if you want to find out where to see the episodes you have not seen like Abbie and Maddies debut in episode 2 of season 2 check out www.soaforums.com

Sams Club giftcard giveaway

Who wants a 100 dollar gift card to Sams? If you want one go to this blog and check it out to enter copy and paste into your browser since this program will not let me put a link in grrrrr http://3kidsandus.com/2009/my-evalues-shopping-trip-giveaway/#comment-57893 and check out www.samsclub.com to see the deals you can get

Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey

As warm summer days start to wind to an end in August, the time to pack up the knapsacks and head off to school will be here before we know it. Crisp fall nights will take over, and the days of riding bikes after dinner will be fond memories for the kids until next spring. With the school year in full-swing, fun family escapes from schoolwork offer tremendous appeal, for our children and for us Moms.

Feld Entertainment's Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey® live performances provide edge-of-your-seat entertainment for the young and young at heart. Also, Feld Entertainment has created savings offers available by using customer codes for the Mom Central community. These offers enable us to create lifetime memories experiencing the excitement of Ringling Bros. ® with our families!


While each touring edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is different, all feature amazing Asian elephants, fascinating tigers, family fun and so many thrills that you will be on the edge of your seat all night!

To enhance your night at the circus, you get two experiences in one. The All Access Pre-Show begins an hour before show time, live on the circus floor. The Pre-Show provides the opportunity for kids to interact with performers, try on costumes, and get up close and personal at The Greatest Show On Earth. My kids ADORED this part- it's free for all ticket holders and not to be missed!


Mom Central is excited to extend the following special family offers; look for the box marked "MC Promotion" when purchasing tickets:

* *Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels. Offer good on all weekday performances, which includes all weekday evening and Friday matinee performances; minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.
* *Offer #2: All weekend performance tickets will be $4 off the original price.
* Offer #3: Get the best Circus Celebrity, Front Row and VIP seats available – We have reserved seats in these sections just for you! Enter the code MOM. No discounts available on these sections.

* Not valid on Circus CelebritySM, Front Row or VIP seats and may not be combined with other offers including special Opening Night pricing. Other fees may apply.

The above offers are good in the following cities:

* Denver: September 30 – October 11, 2009
* Boston: October 14-18, 2009
* St. Louis: October 15-18, 2009
* Cleveland: October 21-26, 2009
* Rosemont/Chicago: November 5 – 29, 2009 *available for purchase on Sept. 8. 2009
* Auburn Hills: November 18-22, 2009
* Charlotte: January 27-31, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009
* Atlanta: February 12-21, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009
* Cincinnati: March 10-14, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009
* Dayton: April 29 – May 2, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009

Shows coming this fall & winter:

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Over The Top, an all-new live entertainment extravaganza featuring the ultimate tug of war between Ringmaster Chuck Wagner and clown eccentric Tom Dougherty over a magical top hat that controls the circus. When the Ringmaster dons the hat he conjures stupendous spectacles for his circus, like the stunt riding Royal Cossack Cavalry while the clown uses the hat to summon silly and whimsical acts for his circus, such as a cavalry of goats riding on ponies in a Barnyard Bonanza. They continue to top one another until the Ringmaster and clown realize that the magic of the circus is not in the hat but in the hearts of everyone. The show culminates in an amazing display of gigantic glowing rainforest flowers surrounding Chinese acrobats swinging on vines and propelling through the air. Over the Top is two circuses in one providing excitement for the whole family.

Audiences will see nearly 100 animals including flying dogs, Asian elephants that skip, hop, and groove, miniature horses, llamas, pigs, and even a performing porcupine. In a daring feat, the courageous Daniel Raffo stands eye to eye with a pack of powerful Bengal tigers. Circus celebrities help rev-up the motorcycle madness featuring one cycle on a high wire and seven speeding riders in a Globe of Steel. Extraordinary aerial acts fill the arena sky with a rare double-decker trapeze and the Bombastic Bouncers who combine gigantic inner tubes and awe-inspiring acrobatics in a high-energy performance never before seen in America. And with the audience's participation, this circus really goes Over The Top!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents ZING ZANG ZOOM®: Through the mystery of magic and the mastery of skill, audiences will be spellbound as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents ZING ZANG ZOOM®, a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular where family fun is no illusion.

Magical Zingmaster Alex and his assistant, the alluring Levitytia, lead audiences through a kaleidoscope of color and imagery revealing extraordinary worlds of fantasy, flight and phenomena that celebrates the uplifting spirit of the circus and wards off a cynical Mr. Gravity and his team of "heavies" who try to bring everyone down.

Be mesmerized when a four-ton elephant disappears before your eyes, and a gravity-inducing nemesis transforms across species into a ferocious tiger. Stand in awe as a dazzling trapeze artist performs a perilous, anatomically unimaginable one-arm speed-spin high atop the arena floor, and two formidable, female human cannonballs are blasted through the air in a daring, awe-inspiring display of bravery. Become electrified as the dangerous double wheel of steel, the gasp-inducing high wire and soaring gigantic swings defy both gravity and logic.

Fun-filled magic merges with traditional circus arts to create a world of infinite possibilities where apprentice illusionists levitate their parents with a wave of a wand, and audience spirits keep rising as the high flying circus is (literally) turned upside down. Perhaps the most magical of all, watch in amazement as an incomparable array of exotic animals including a herd of majestic Asian elephants, magnificent Bengal tigers and elegant Arabian and Friesian horses join forces with our human performers to create an experience that will surprise and delight Children of All Ages, rendering us speechless and reminding us that the magic of The Greatest Show On Earth® lives forever in our hearts and imaginations.

To learn more about Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey shows touring the country this year and to find shows in your area, visit the Ringling site. And don't forget to use the special discount code when purchasing tickets online!
In addition, we seek Mom Influencers to join us as Feld Family Activators (FFAs) and help us promote shows in these upcoming cities:

• Boston: October 14-18, 2009
• Cleveland: October 21-25, 2009


*Please note that these offers are also valid for Disney On Ice shows in select cities - visit http://www.disney.go.com/disneyonice/ to find a show near you.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Feld Entertainment. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Back to school means Lunchable to the rescue

Back to school time is here and I do not know about you but I like to send lunchables with my son. It is fast easy and nutritious. Now that lunchables have had a makeover using 100% juice and crust made with whole grain breads I feel that my kids are getting the lunch that they love and I feel less guilty knowing that they are getting something that is good for them but they dont know it. here are some of the flavors that they have from the lunchables web site http://brands.kraftfoods.com/lunchables/varieties.aspx

NEW Lunchables

* NEW Turkey + Cheddar Sub
* NEW Ham + American Sub
* NEW Turkey + Cheddar Cracker Combos
* NEW Ham + American Cracker Combo
* NEW Deep Dish Cheese Pizza
* NEW Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza

Lunchables
Lunchables with Capri Sun
Lunchables Value Twin Pack
NEW Turkey + Cheddar Sub

Turkey made with 100% turkey breast, Kraft 2% Cheddar and bread made with whole grain, these tasty subs come with Tree Top® Applesauce, Mini Nilla Wafers, spring water and Tropical Punch Kool-Aid Singles.
View nutritional info >
Check out some of our other varieties:

* Bring back the stack!
* Pack some fun on the run!
* Double your fun!

SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Watch for theis logo to find our better for you products.
FEEDING YOUR CHILD'S POTENTIAL

Get some quick tips from child nutrition expert Bridget Swinney, MS, RD.

VIEW


I have been sent a coupon from Kraft foods and mom central is giving me an incentive to post this review.

McAfee family security like a security Blanket

I do not know about you guys but I have a preteen or Tween as they call them and I know I worry about what she sees and what if she misspells a web address and she goes to some adult entertainment site? Well I now am armed with my family security blanket. Thanks to mom central and Mcafee for sending me the program for writing about this blog. here is some information from Mcafee.com about Mcafee family protection:
McAfee Family Protection protects children of all ages from exposure to inappropriate content, social networking risks, strangers, and other threats.

What you want to do: How McAfee makes this possible:
Protect your children from objectionable Websites Blocks up to 35 categories of objectionable websites and filters inappropriate content

Allow your children to view appropriate YouTube Videos By using key word filtering technology, objectionable content will be prohibited, yet permitting watching acceptable videos

Provide times your children can go online Allows you to manage the amount of time your children use the internet
Let your family enjoy instant messaging Monitors and records instant message conversations to inform you of improper dialogue or conversations with strangers

Allow your children to freely communicate with their friends Blocks unknown email addresses so children cannot communicate with strangers

Enjoy the benefits of social networking Records conversations on social networking sites so you can be aware of bullying, solicitation from strangers and if confidential information has been posted

Allow access to specific programs on your PC Blocks access to applications that parents feel are inappropriate
Make sure your family’s personal information remains safe

Prevents sharing of confidential information and keeps your PC safe from security threats that are commonly found in peer-to-peer file sharing

Ensure your children are having a safe experience online Provides you a complete view of all Internet and IM activity and can be used as a tool to teach appropriate online behavior

Know immediately if there’s a problem so you can talk to your child Receive email and/or text alerts instantly when intentional or accidental website access is attempted and when confidential information is posted

McAfee Family Protection is easy-to-use and built to empower parents to say "yes" to their children’s online interests while protecting them as they learn and explore.

Easy - Fast, simple set-up allows parents to start protecting their children within minutes
Empowering - Provides parents peace of mind while allowing their children to explore safely online
Complete - Protects children of all ages from inappropriate content, social networking risks, strangers, and other threats

Social networking sites open the door to cyberbullying, communication with strangers, and posting confidential information. McAfee Family Protection helps mitigate these risks by enabling parents to understand their children’s online activities and communicating proper online behavior.

McAfee Family Protection’s unique YouTube filtering technology prevents exposure to objectionable videos yet gives children access to ones that are appropriate. Parents on-the-go can be notified instantly by email and/or text message if their child has posted personal information on social network sites or attempted to access inappropriate sites.

With McAfee Family Protection, parents have peace of mind that their children are safe to learn, explore, play, communicate, and enjoy the Internet. You may install this product on up to 3 computers in your home.

System Requirements:
Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or higher
Microsoft Windows Vista (32-bit platform only) and Windows Vista Service pack (SP1) or higher
10 MB Hard Drive Space
800x600 or higher Screen Resolution
128 MB RAM
Active Internet Connection
Microsoft® Internet Explorer 7.0 or later
Mozilla Firefox 1.5 or later
For up to 3 PCs


I know we can't police them on the computer 24/7 but this is a tool to help us give our children the freedom to surf the net while giving us moms and dads a piece of mind.

Review of the Zing Zang Zoom Circus

OK so check it out, Last night I got to go to the circus. It was so much fun! My four kiddos had fun even the babies! Before the show we got to go down to the floor to check out the clown university and acrobats doing their thing, plus we got to see the elephant Asia paint her masterpiece before our very eyes! We did not get the opportunity to check out the clothing they had to try on because it was crowded but it was fun. They do that one hour before show time and I recommend that you go as early as possible to get the show experience.

The show was fun it lasted about 90 minutes and had one intermission. There was so much going on during the show my daughter didnt know what to focus in on when all three rings were in use. The songs were catchy for the show and still are in my head haha. I like the fact that the circus used their own band for the music as opposed to recorded music because it sounded better in my opinion. Some of the acts were really neat like the dog acts where the dogs were doing stunts and some were even in costume! That was my sons favorite part. They had the human cannon ball and of course some magic tricks that I won't tell because you guys have to go see it! I fully recommend going to see the show.

Celebrate the arrival of summer with the Mom Central Summer Giveaway Bonanza! Each week, Mom Central will post new giveaways just for Moms and their families on MomCentral.com. We'll have tons of great prizes throughout the summer for you and all members of your family. Some of our giveaways include:

• Hoover Cyclonic Bagless Upright Vacuum: This new vacuum from Hoover removes more dirt than other cyclonic bagless vacuums due to its patented wind tunnel technology and embedded dirt finder. With power controls on the handle, it reduces bending to get to those hard-to-reach places and easily moves from hard floor to carpet.
• Crayola Play Sand: Transform an ordinary sandbox with a splash of color or design colorful art projects with a 20 lb. bag of Crayola Play Sand. The sand doesn't stain hands and features an easy-to-carry handle to make transporting easy on Moms.
• Jeep Tandem Stroller: Built to accommodate your growing family, the Tandem Traveler Stroller features sun canopies, reclining seat backs, car-seat adaptors, and cup holders that will leave you feeling like the coolest mommy on the block.
• Razor Jr. Electric Wagon: Put a modern spin on the classic wagon with the Razor Jr. Electric Wagon. Traveling safely at 2-3 miles per hour, parents have assistance while cruising the block.


To join in on the fun, copy and paste this address into your web browser http://www.momcentral.com/gift-guides/summer-giveaway-bonanza-2009.html

or type in www.momcentral.com

Zing Zang Zooooom!

I am so excited. I was asked to be an ambassador to inform you guys about the upcoming Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus coming to our area!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOMSM

Through the mystery of magic and the mastery of skill, audiences will be spellbound as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOMSM, a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular where family fun is no illusion.

Magical Zingmaster Alex and his assistant, the alluring Levitytia, lead audiences through a kaleidoscope of color and imagery revealing extraordinary worlds of fantasy, flight and phenomena that celebrates the uplifting spirit of the circus and wards off a cynical Mr. Gravity and his team of “heavies” who try to bring everyone down.

Be mesmerized when a four-ton elephant disappears before your eyes, and a gravity-inducing nemesis transforms across species into a ferocious tiger. Stand in awe as a dazzling trapeze artist performs a perilous, anatomically unimaginable one-arm speed-spin high atop the arena floor, and two formidable, female human cannonballs are blasted through the air in a daring, awe-inspiring display of bravery. Become electrified as the dangerous double wheel of steel, the gasp-inducing high wire and soaring gigantic swings defy both gravity and logic.

Fun-filled magic merges with traditional circus arts to create a world of infinite possibilities where apprentice illusionists levitate their parents with a wave of a wand, and audience spirits keep rising as the high flying circus is (literally) turned upside down. Perhaps the most magical of all, watch in amazement as an incomparable array of exotic animals including a herd of majestic Asian elephants, magnificent Bengal tigers and elegant Arabian and Friesian horses join forces with our human performers to create an experience that will surprise and delight Children of All Ages, rendering us speechless and reminding us that the magic of The Greatest Show On Earth® lives forever in our hearts and imaginations.


Here is some information about the dates in the Greater Los Angeles Area and a coupon code to get some tickets from the flyer I have received:



*Use promo code MOM when purchasing tickets at Arena Box Offices, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-
745-3000. Enter code in the “MC Promotion Box” on Ticketmaster. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required;
additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Not valid on VIP, Front Row and Circus Celebrity
seats or combinable with other offers. Service charge, facility fee and handling fees may apply.
Come experience the all-new Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
playing the Greater Los Angeles area with your family!

A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU!
Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by logging onto
www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM.**

Show Dates:

 Anaheim



July
15:
7:30pm

July
16:
1:00pm,
7:30pm

July
17:
10:30am,
7:30pm

July
18:
11:30am,
3:30pm,
7:30pm

July
19:
1:30pm,
5:30pm

July
20:
1:00pm

July
21:
7:30pm

July
22:
1:00pm,
7:30pm

July
23:
10:30am,
7:30pm

July
24:
1:00pm,
7:30pm

July
25:
11:30am,
3:30pm,
7:30pm

July
26:
1:30pm,
5:30pm




Los
Angeles



July
8:
7:30pm

July
9:
7:30pm

July
10:
12:00pm,
7:30pm

July
11:
11:30am,
3:30pm,
7:30pm

July
12:
11:30am,
3:30pm,
7:30pm

Ontario



July
29:
7:30pm

July
30:
7:30pm

July
31:
7:30pm

Aug.
1:
11:30am,
3:30pm,
7:30pm

Aug.
2:
11:30am,
3:30pm,
7:30pm





So now that you know the dates, I have been given an opportunity for my readers in the Greater Los Angeles area or those who will be visiting around that time to go to see the show at the Honda Center in Anaheim(Formerly the Pond) July 16 @ 7:30pm if you would like to enter to win just drop a comment at the bottom of the post and I will put you in the drawing. The lucky winner will have their tickets at will call and will have a blast at this event since it is opening night :). Good Luck! I will pick a winner on July 6th. This is for a four pack of tickets.

There is an All Access preshow that starts an hour before showtime. You’ll head down to the circus floor to get autographs, clown around, walk the low wire, meet the stars of the show , try on a costume and even meet an elephant that paints!

Oc Register Insider

IF you read the Orange County Register there is a rewards club for subscribers only? It is called the Oc Register Insider http://www.registerinsider.com you look through the paper for the code words that are outlined with a ticket on the top of the ad.

I can update the secret words every day that I get the paper Thurs-Sun

Today June 14 2009 I found some old words in the paper and a new one:

Forum
Slide
composer

Real life advice for moms by moms

Hey Mommies!

There is a new website to help mommies learn as they go from real life moms just like you and me, it is called Mamapedia

www.mamapedia.com

What is Mamapedia about?


About Mamapedia™

Questions and parenting go hand in hand. From the moment you discover you’re pregnant and wonder "what should I be eating?" to the day your child packs for college and asks "how much spending money will I need?" you’re constantly in need of advice. And there’s no one better to get it from than the ultimate experts: other moms.

This, in a nutshell, is why Mamapedia exists.

Mamapedia is your lifeline to millions of moms who’ve shared their real-world wisdom through local Mamasource online communities over the past two years. We compiled their answers, organized them by stage, and made them instantly searchable. We invite you to bookmark Mamapedia to find answers in a pinch, and to join your local Mamasource community so you can share what you’ve learned on your journey. And don't miss Mamapedia’s ever-expanding range of topics, including household, money, health, relationships, and many other things that moms are talking about.

Parenting is a learn-as-you-go job. So is running a company. We welcome your feedback about Mamapedia and Mamasource.

Frosted Flakes Kelloggs Plant a Seed Semifinalists

Mom Central teamed up with Kellogg's Frosted Flakes back in January to let our community know about its Earn Your Stripes (EYS) field renovation program that aimed to renovate neighborhood sports fields across the U.S. Since that time, thousands of fields were nominated some with as many as 700,000 supporters! Those fields have now been narrowed down to 100 finalists and your vote will help determine the winning fields.

The semifinalist fields were chosen based on the feasibility of the field makeover, the location and age of the field, how often it gets used, how many events take place, what teams use it, the number of other athletic fields in the community, the demand, condition, and the impact a field renovation would have on the community.

From May 1st through the 31st, you can vote for your favorite semifinalist field at www.frostedflakes.com. Do you have a field in your area that got nominated or do you like one with a particularly compelling story? We found a playing field close to the Mom Central office! Those who nominated these fields described the conditions as having inadequate grass, equipment, uneven playing surfaces and other problems. These renovations will help to build community and provide better places for kids to stay active and play.

Breastfeeding Mommies or Mommies to be read this

Evenflo has a new and Improved Breastpump

yea its a take on the old one they already have out but the folks at Evenflo have listened to your imput and decided the Comfort performance pump needed to be updated. So here is a list of the improvements/changes they made to the pump to make it better: New for 2009

Improved cycle time from 38 to 57cpm (60cpm is the accepted norm for a suckling baby)

Vacuum performance is consistently near the maximum of 250mmHG. Productive vacuum at all settings between min and max.

Regulated power adapter provides more consistent vacuum levels and cycle rate throughout range

Dual performance – 2 individual pumps for better production allowing individual settings and overall increased vacuum capacity

More stable bottle stand to prevent possible spillage

All components are BPA free and contain less than 0.01% phthalates

ISO Compliance and International symbols on pump allow retail in Canada

Upgraded corporate packaging that is WHO code compliant and more appealing to Mom

Aesthetics improvement – color schemes are more appealing (lavender)
the information link http://www.evenflo.com/category.aspx?id=2

Wow I wish I was still breastfeeding so I can try this out myself. But check it out Guys and Gals, Evenflo gave me two breast pumps and 4 boxes of breast pads to give away to my readers so here is what I want to do, I will give two readers each a Breastpump and two boxes of the breast pads. Just leave me a comment to let me know you want in this drawing. Easy? Yea super duper easy! And also check out Mom Central because without them I would not be able to give these awesome gifts away:
http://www.momcentral.com/reviews/evenflo-comfort-select.html





I will give you guys until May 10th to enter the drawing by Midnight PST then I will notify the winner by May 13th via email so keep an eye out for my email saying You WON A BREASTPUMP YAY

KABOOM RAISE 100K FOR CHARITY

I think this is a cause that is worthy of Praise. The good folks at Mom Central and Kaboom wanted me to spread the word. Here is some information from http://playspacefinder.kaboom.org/teams/2761-momcentral and www.momcentral.com

KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding and creating play spaces within walking distance for every child, has embarked on a nationwide mission to help communities build playspaces. This proves critical for those many children living in neighborhoods without playgrounds or playspaces, or unable to use existing ones because of rundown conditions or dangerous neighborhoods.

Innumerable times, the local playground became a haven for me when my little kids were bouncing off the walls at home. Fresh air and a safe, fun area where kids could let loose and release all of their boundless energy often proved a sanity saver! KaBOOM! believes that play has a purpose and unstructured play in particular helps make children happier, fitter, smarter, more socially adept and creative. So how can we help make this a reality for kids in less fortunate neighborhoods?

Mom Central has teamed up with KaBOOM! to help map online 100,000 playspaces in 100 days. Here's what counts as a playspace: a playground, field, a skate park, roller hockey rink, lake, dog park, community center, basketball court or ice rink - any place where kids can engage in unstructured play for free or a nominal fee. A playspace listing on KaBOOM! consists of an address or cross street and a description, one photo and one rating.

KaBOOM! has made creating this playspace listing easy: either a quick fill-in on their website or even easier - a twitpic from your cellphone.

For every play space entered into the KaBOOM! database on behalf of the Mom Central team, $1 will be donated to Jumpstart, a non-profit that brings at-risk preschool children and caring adults together to improve literacy. It's something to feel doubly good about!

Moreover, we all stand to benefit as all the playspaces with their photos and ratings will be available to us as we go on road trips this spring and summer, to visit relatives, or on vacation. You can go online and find cool places to take your kids to play- near Grandma's, the hotel, or off the highway to break up a long drive.

Listerine Total Care

I was recently sent a sample of Listerine Total Care from Mom Central(www.momcentral.com) and Listerine. Listerine is a typical thing you will find in our medicine cabinet. Our kids use the listerine product for the kids and My hubby and I use the Adult Listerine.

Listerine Provides 6 benefits for your teeth in one mouthwash. And I can say it tastes great just like regular listerine!

Here are the facts: There are 6 benefits in LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash that give you a cleaner, healthier mouth:

• Helping to prevent cavities
• Restoring enamel
• Strengthening teeth
• Killing bad breath germs
• Freshening breath
• Fighting unsightly plaque above the gum line

No other fluoride mouthwash is more complete than LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE. Anticavity Mouthwash.
Product Instructions:

• LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE is intended for adults and children ages 12 and older.

• Vigorously swish 10 mL (2 teaspoonfuls) of rinse between your teeth for one minute and then spit out. Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after rinsing.

• To help prevent dental cavities and achieve a WHOLE MOUTH CLEAN™, LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE™ should be used twice daily after brushing your teeth for two minutes. Floss daily.
Flavor:
• Fresh Mint
Price:
• Suggested Retail Prices
• 250 mL (8.5 fl oz.): $3.19-$3.79 ( $3.12 - $3.49)
• 500 mL(1.5 pt.): $3.99-$4.79 ( $4.27 - $5.29)
• 1 liter (1 qt 1.8 fl oz.): $5.19-$5.89 ( $5.74 - $6.79)
Availability:
• LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE™ can be purchased at all food, drug and mass merchandise outlets.

For more information visit www.Listerine.com

Current by discover

Hey all

Discover is coming out with a new card. I know what you are thinking this is a credit card. but this is a card for teens where you can be in control of what they spend. Its a card designed to help teach responsibility.

here are some facts about the card:

Current SM by Discover® Card:
The Current Card is an innovative debit card for teens that helps them track and mange their spending while ensuring their money is safe. The card also helps parents foster financial responsibility in teens.

Current features include:

• Helpful Account Management Features: Parents can set spending limits, restrict merchant categories and track their teen’s spending through online statements, e-mail and text message alerts. They also enjoy the convenience of free, flexible loading options. Teens also can load their paychecks onto the card through direct deposit.

• Advanced Security Features: Current is protected by Discover’s $0 fraud liability, which means cardmembers are never responsible for unauthorized charges – online, offline, anytime, anywhere. Current cards that are lost or stolen will be temporarily suspended or deactivated, and cardmembers will be eligible for an emergency replacement.

• Financial Education Resources: Teens can learn how to spend smarter by logging onto the Account Center at CurrentbyDiscover.com. There they can view helpful articles on topics such as basic financial concepts, protecting yourself from identify theft, starting a savings program, and making your money go further.

In addition, Current by Discover Card also is sponsoring a financial literacy program across high schools nationwide through its Money Smarts Program, designed to help educate high school juniors and seniors on basic money management skills. The Money Smarts Program covers the basic concepts of financial literacy and correlates with national academic standards set fourth by the National Endowment for Financial Education.

• Meaningful Rewards: Teens are eligible for members-only in-store coupons and online discounts when they use their card at select restaurants, movie theaters and teen-friendly merchants. What’s more, parents earn Discover Cashback Bonus or Miles when they load their teen’s Current Card using their Discover Card.

• Low Pricing: Cardmembers pay a $5 monthly charge for each card, or save $10 by paying an annual fee of $50. Fees include four free ATM withdrawals per card per month.

And here are some stats about financial literacy:


Financial Literacy Statistics:
• National Council on Economic Education – 2007 survey found that only seven states require high school students to take a personal finance course.
• Jump$tart Coalition – 2008 biennial survey found that high school seniors correctly answered only 48.3 percent of questions about personal finance, which was lower than the previous year’s average of 52.4 percent.
• A study by the Center for Responsible Lending indicates that students account for about six percent of all overdrafts. This percentage results to an annual overdraft bill of $963 million for people ages 18 - 24.
• Networks Financial Institute at Indiana State University – 2007 study of K-12 teachers
o The majority of teachers - 8 in 10 - think it’s important to teach financial literacy in U.S. classrooms
o Only about half of K-12 teachers say they teach some form of financial literacy to their students
o According to teachers, financial literacy skills are lacking among young people in the U.S. and many say that their students need to be exposed to the basic financial skills to function in society
o Parents want their kids to be financially independent but don’t necessarily have the skills to teach them

So if you want to sign up for this card or would like more info www.currentbydiscover.com

Disney on Ice

It is that time of the year again when the lovable Disney characters skate their way into our hearts. On Mickey and Minne;s magical journey you get to go into the magical worlds of Lilo and Stitch, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan! Another one of the shows is the Disneyland Adventure where you will embark on a magical journey through Disneyland on ice! Then there is the 100 years of magic where you will see moments come to life from popular Disney films. There are just too many cool things to list about the shows but check out the site http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/ to find out more and when Disney on ice will be in your neck of the woods. While you are there you can take advantage of the deals below that mom central hooked us up with:


Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels*. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Gold Circle Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other restrictions may apply.
Offer #2: A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public - just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats.

Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM code are as follows:

Houston
Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey
April 15-April 19

Dallas/Ft Worth
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
March 18-March 29

Sunrise/Miami
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 26-April 5

Toronto
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 18-March 22

Kansas City
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
April 1-April 5

Denver
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
March 12-March 15

Phoenix
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
April 9-April 12

Chicago/Rosemont
Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic
Sept 8-Sept 13

To learn more about Disney On Ice shows touring the country this year, visit http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/ and visit ticketmaster.com to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM.

Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Circus TIME!

Oh My goodness I am so super excited that the circus is coming to town! As a child my mom took me to the circus every time it came to town and it was so fun! So I am going to take my kiddos to see this show! My friends at Mom Central gave me the news to spread to you about Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey. Here is what they said for me to pass along to you :

The newest production from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is the ZING ZANG ZOOM tour. The show features magical Zingmaster Alex Ramon, who had us gasping in disbelief at the grand illusions that he performed, and the amazing interactive family experience merged with traditional circus acts was remarkable. It brought back the magic of the circus from our own childhoods and reminded us of the importance of passing down the lifetime memory and tradition of experiencing Ringling Bros. as a family to our children.

With the economy posing a challenge for many families, the value of a night out at Ringling Bros. is high, as the experience includes the All Access Pre-show, a fun opportunity to meet circus performers and dress up in clown costumes, which happens one hour before each performance.

We are excited to extend the following special family offers:

· Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels**. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Circus Celebrity Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other Restrictions May Apply.
· Offer #2: A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public - just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats. Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM discount code this spring are as follows:

Newark/East Rutherford/Uniondale/NYC
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
March 5 - April 13
Offer not valid on performances from April 10 - 13 at Madison Square Garden

Washington D.C./ Fairfax, VA/ Baltimore, MD
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
March 18-April 19

Philadelphia
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
May 13-May 25

Phoenix
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
June 24-June 28

Houston
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 15-July 26

Anaheim/LA/Ontario
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
July 8-August 2

San Francisco
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 12-August 23

Dallas/Ft Worth
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 29-August 16

Sacramento
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 27-August 30

Kansas City
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
September 16-September 20


To find out more about ZING ZANG ZOOM or to see which Ringling Bros. tour is coming to a town near you, visit www.Ringling.com. And visit www.ticketmaster.com to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM.

But wait, there's MORE! They have a baby's first circus program for those under 12 mo of age and I am doing this for my twins where you get a complimentary circus ticket that never expires plus a certificate. If you have a child over 12 mo they will send you a free certificate. here is the info from the site http://www.ringling.com/

Baby's First Circus

Free Ticket for Baby’s First CircusSM
Moms and Dads! Children of All Ages!

Parenthood brings many wonderful firsts - your baby’s first tooth, your baby’s first steps... and of course, your Baby’s First Circus!

That’s why we created the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Baby’s First Circus SM program for parents and their newborns (up to 12 months old and living in the continental United States).

Sign Up Today and Receive:

* A free ticket voucher that can be exchanged for a free ticket to any Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance, anytime, anywhere. No expiration date!
* A very special personalized baby certificate, printable online!

Ringling Bros. celebrates children of all ages. Give a special gift to your older children - sign them up and they will receive a free personalized Ringling Bros. commemorative certificate.

Getting your free ticket voucher and personalized certificate is easy, so sign up today and prepare for a lifetime of fun with The Greatest Show On Earth®!

Johnson and Johnson 50th Anniversary!

I just gave my twins their very first bath together in the bathtub with the help of my dear husband. They had so much fun in the bubbles that I made with the new JOHNSON'S® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash(I received a sample from Mom Central and Johnson and Johnson). One of the girls decided she did not want to bathe, she wanted to do the butterfly stroke in the water while the other splished and splashed getting us soaked beyond belief. The bubbles stayed in the bath until we were ready to drain the water unlike other bubble baths that melt away within 2 min of being in the bath water. Plus the smell was Amazing!






Remembering back, I have always used Johnson and Johnson baby wash for my kids first baths and then some. And my mom always used Johnson and Johnsons baby shampoo and no more tangles for my hair because boy did my hair get knots in it!

Whether you use Johnson and Johnson's products for your baby or your mom used them for you, you know the quality of the product and the reliability of the brand. They are now celebrating their 50th anniversary for the no more tears brand! Additionaly, JOHNSON'S® introduces two new products to help celebrate its 50th Anniversary and continue the tradition of fun in the tub.

Check out the Johnson's baby channel on you tube http://www.youtube.com/babyYou can join in the fun of remembering back when you were a kid by posting a video sharing your experiences or you can join baby.com for free where you can gain extra resources for your baby.

Check out the facts about the two new products:

JOHNSON'S® BABY BUBBLE BATH & WASH
For years, JOHNSON'S® Baby products have been formulated to properly care for babies’ delicate skin. Now JOHNSON'S® is introducing Baby Bubble Bath & Wash for a fun and safe bath time experience. JOHNSON'S® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash contains an all-new formula combining the NO MORE TEARS® extra gentle baby wash formula with big, bath time bubbles. The new, dermatologist- and pediatrician-tested formula is gentle enough to use everyday and is clinically proven mild for both baby girls and boys.

Grounded in extensive scientific research, the NO MORE TEARS® formula found in JOHNSON'S® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash is ultra mild, resulting in a gentle cleansing product specially designed for baby’s unique skin, hair and eye needs. JOHNSON'S® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash is soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic, dermatologist and pediatrician tested, and is gentle enough for the newest babies.


• JOHNSON’S® is the #1 choice of hospitals
• NO MORE TEARS® formula is as gentle to the eyes as pure water
• Soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and allergy tested Dermatologist and pediatrician tested
• Rinses easily
• Gentle enough to use everyday for both girls and boys
• Suggested Retail Price: $3.99 for 15oz

JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® FOAMING WASH

JOHNSON'S® introduces a new HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash in an easy, convenient pump-and-foam form. The specially designed bottle allows moms and caregivers the flexibility of using only one hand to dispense the product while also providing substantial lather for cleansing babies. This new, gentle cleansing product contains mild ingredients and the updated JOHNSON'S® NO MORE TEARS® formula that utilizes new science and technology from JOHNSON'S®.

Cleansing with JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash is proven to be as mild as cleansing with water alone. Over time, baby soaps can cause dry skin or irritation. JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash is designed to help avoid these common skin problems before they start by gently gliding across the skin’s surface, effectively cleansing without causing irritation. Grounded in extensive scientific research, JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE Foaming Wash is soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested, and is specially designed for newborns. JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash is a mild and well-tolerated skin cleanser.


• JOHNSON’S® is the #1 choice of hospitals
• Designed to help avoid common skin problems caused by cleansing before they start
• NO MORE TEARS® formula is as gentle as water alone to the skin
• Designed to be gentle enough for newborns
• Soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and allergy- and dermatologist-tested
• Rinses easily
• Suggested Retail Price: $4.89 for 9oz

I am just in love with the foaming bath wash and the bubble bath and I know you all will love it too. try them out !

Kelloggs Plant a Seed

Embracing this spirit of making a difference, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Earn Your Stripes program has initiated a call-to-action for a national field renovation program that kicks off this coming Super Bowl Sunday with a commercial entitled "Plant a Seed."
The ad focuses on the role we all play in building stronger communities and making a difference in kids' lives. Because the Earn Your StripesTM program is about inspiring kids to be their very best, "Plant a Seed" shows that before anyone can earn a single stripe, someone has to plant a seed and help give kids places to realize their promise and potential.

The field renovation initiative will make over approximately 50 fields across the United States to help provide better places for families to stay active. Through this program, fields will once again become central and vibrant places of activity and community in cities and towns across the country.

To start the process of nominating your field in your community go to http://frostedflakes.com/#/plant-a-seed/

And be sure to look for the commercial during the Super Bowl :)