Do you ever run across a site and see that it matches so perfectly with your kids, you almost wish you had thought of it yourself? When I saw this site, Smarty Crafts, that was my moment. My older one has more crafts and "projects" in her closet than she has clothes or shoes. It's astounding how involved she can get creating her masterpiece of the day (like there is only one). This site (founded by two moms, of course) is brilliant for several reasons. First, they offer a monthly subscription of kits full of crafts for your kids. Second, the kits are based on national kindergarten standards, so parents have the tools to play with their child in a smart & creative way, while helping them prepare for preschool and kindergarten. So if you're the expert crafty mom or the mom who can't stomach a trip to the craft store, these kits show up at your door fully organized every month. Each shipment includes 5 activities, instructions, parent guide and more. Each package also contains a quick "grab-n-go" kit to keep stashed in your purse. Find out more: Smarty Crafts

You're invited to join us for a Tweet Chat with Dr. Richard Selznick

When: Friday, June 26th 9 to 10 AM (PST)/12 to 1 pm (EST)

Where: Twitter (TweetChat.com #DrSelz)

Hosted by: @KathieLB featuring @DrSelz

About Dr. Selznick

One of the worst feelings a child can have is being discouraged in school. The sense of hopelessness that pervades can become almost insurmountable. This is the emotional experience for the child called the “Shut-Down Learner.”

The Shut-Down Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child, by Dr. Richard Selznick, describes a common, but poorly understood group of characteristics. Referred to as "Lego kids" or "high spatial children," such kids thrive with hands-on tasks that "load" on visual and spatial abilities.

Reliable statistics indicate that as many as 30 – 40 % of the population will experience mild, moderate or severe problems with core skills of reading, writing and spelling. A significant proportion of this population are spatial thinkers, people who excel when the task is more visually-based. This often leads to the shut-down learner, a child who is discouraged and fundamentally turned off to school. These shut-down learners can become very successful adults, if they are able somehow to get through school relatively unscathed. Typical Shut-Down Learner fields include architects, engineers, computer programmers, dentists, interior decorators, entrepreneurs and businessman, to name a few. There are many other fields that tend to attract shut-down learners

Now that summer is come, it's the perfect time to get some tools and advice for getting your child ready for the next school year. If you have a struggling student or a student that doesn't seem interested in school, please join us! At our chat with the author, we will be discussing the hallmark features of a shut down learner, early signs, classifications, programs, what works and more.

Hour will included Q&A and prize opportunities. RSVP with Mr. Linky below!

To Keep Them Up, Moving, and Having Fun

1. Alphabet Soup Game: This game is a fun spin off of freeze dance! For youngsters, every time the music stops they need to yell the next letter in the alphabet. For your older children, when the music stops have them find a partner and make their bodies into the next letter of the alphabet! You can start the game at A and go consecutively through the letters or start with Z and go backwards to make it more tricky!
2. Circle Chase: Have everyone sit in a circle! For youngsters, have the child chase the parent around the outside of the circle! For your older children, have three children chase at a time around their friends … Trying not to be passed by their friend behind them!
3. Color Tag: The game leader will yell out a color and a body party (ex: Toes on Red) and the children need to put their body part on that color! To make this game more tricky yell out two colors and two body parts (ex: Stomachs on Yellow, Elbows on Green)!
4. Freeze Tag: This is a classic! One to three children are it – Parents can play with younger children as their teammate – The three children that are it work to tag and freeze all of their friends!
5. Meow Mix Shuffle: When the music starts, the children all run around within the outlined play area. When the music stops they need to make a group of two. The next time the music stops they’ll have to find a group of three… then four… and so on!
6. Musical Hula Hoops: This is a fun spin off of musical chairs – but rather than getting out when there aren’t enough chairs, the children work to fit as many people necessary within the remaining hoop(s)!
7. Red Light/Green Light Challenge: Start out by having your children play Red Light Green Light but to make it more tricky -- switch the colors – Have blue mean go and yellow mean stop!
8. To the Line!: For this game, you’ll need to set up two lines approximately 12 – 15 feet apart. Children will split into teams and race from one line, to the other, and back! To make this more tricky you can add pillow-sacks, or even try three legged races!
9. Snowball Game: Why not!? Snow in the summer time!! You’ll need as many nerf balls as you have children – When the music turns on, the children are able to throw snowballs (nerf balls) at their friends, but when the music stops they have to pretend they are pillows and fall asleep!
10. Animal Relay: For this game, you’ll need two lines approximately 12 – 15 feet apart. Have the children move from line to line acting out different animals! They can be monkeys, snakes, giraffes, bears, frogs, cheetahs, elephants! You can even have them come up with their own animals

These fun games were brought to you by My Gym. To find a location near you: MyGym

The “Charm Your Mother and Save a Life” campaign has already raised more than $350,000 for the poorest mothers  and children on the planet --- all from the sale of what is fast becoming the collectable that people can feel good about gifting to mom in these hard economic times.

This opportunity has been made available from a unique collaboration between OneWorld Health www.oneworldhealth.org, the non-profit that provides life-saving medicines for the world’s poor and PANDORA Jewelry who created the OneWorld Health Charm.

For each charm sold, PANDORA donates $20 to support OneWorld Health's work. The charm features a distinctive water drop dangle, which symbolizes the hope OneWorld Health provides with every drop of life-saving medicine it develops for the poorest mothers and children on the planet.

Find a retailer near you

While I can't say that it's an official addiction, I do love Twitter. To tweet or no to tweet, is it right for you? There are so many great articles on the do's and don'ts, but we found a perfectly written one for anyone just thinking about joining the fastest growing social media site (according to everyone either on it or writing about it). Check out this article by the blog author "It's Just Gabe" before you consider setting up an account.

Another thing to consider is if you're doing it to promote your business or service or just want to socialize. Just like all communication, you get one shot at impressing people. Establish your Twitter brand prior to jumping in. Visit profiles to see what other people are doing. Learn as much as you can about it and then don't be afraid to get out there. List building shouldn't be your goal (again, read article above) and it's pretty transparent. Think you can go on and only promote your product and service, keep moving. If you like engaging, meeting new people you would have never come across in your field and making new connections this is your arena. See you on Twitter?

Nice job Carissa...should make us all think today!

preserve. protect. LOVE.
use it up. wear it out. HEED.
stupid americans.

A shout out to the runner up: Elisha from Facebookland

Consume too much now
Pay steep price with planet Earth
When she says all done

The third and final theme of the day: You choose between conservation and consumption!

Submit via contact us email below. Enter your name, location and poetry in an email. Contest time 2 PM to 3 PM (only one hour for this one too)! Feel free to tweet it!

Prize: Green Girl Jute Reusable Shopping Tote

So many great poets out there! Here are some great submissions. Happy Earth Day and watch for the third and final theme at 2 pm (PST)!

Almost anything
Can be recycled. Except
Excuses not to. 
 
Mother Earth gives life
To all that need it to grow
Treat her with respect.

Detractors will say
That regifting is tacky.
No, it’s recycling.

the earth while she weeps
the people they feast and drink
blind to her sorrow

Earth Day For Bloggers.

We Tweet It, And We Blog It.

But do we live it?

recycling letters

to relight the neglects cry

recently saves trees

The second theme of the day: RECYCLING!

Submit via contact us below. Enter your name, location and poetry in an email. Contest time 12 PST - 1pm (only one hour for this one)!

Prize: Two Packs of Lilypad LunchMates (Set of 5 Reusable Napkins)

Mother, you’re lovely

No matter what, but I say

You look best in green.

Hey everyone, send in your best Haiku. Enter your name, location and poetry below (from the email us link) for a chance to win a personalized reusable shopping tote (choose between pink, aqua or green).

Theme #1: Our Mother Earth

PRIZE 

We love Earth Day around here! For fun on April 22, 2009, join us here, on Facebook or on Twitter to watch for our fun give away EARTH DAY HAIKU CONTEST! We'll be doing three contests throughout the day, each one with a different Earth Day theme. Watch for the category and enter to win (instructions included with each category)! This is open to everyone (ahh, but sorry, restricted to US), and it is just for fun, so please remember that. Prizes will include eco-friendly products from Lilypad Baby.

(Cover our fannies legal tiny print: No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. We will not sell or use your entry information in any form but joining us at our Fan Page or following us on Twitter is just plain fun to do. Do it and tell your friends.)

How Often Should I Get a Massage?
Provided your doctor approves, regularity is the key to getting the maximum benefits out of massage. For women who aren’t experiencing severe discomfort, getting a massage as often as once every two weeks can make a significant contribution to your health and wellbeing, if time and finances permit. Even once a trimester can make a difference. For those with some types of severe pain, such as sciatica, more frequent massage is recommended.

Is Prenatal Massage Safe?
We have the experience and training necessary to ensure that all techniques used will be purely beneficial. In addition, we require a doctor’s note certifying that you are healthy enough to benefit from massage without compromising you or your baby’s safety.

What are the Benefits of Prenatal Massage?
Here are some ways that prenatal massage affects you, on both psychological and physiological levels:

• Stress reduction
• Promotes relaxation
• Reduces musculoskeletal strain and pain
• Increases blood and lymph circulation which boosts the immune system, reduces edema and blood pressure, and helps relieve varicose veins
• Contributes to the development of flexibility and kinesthetic awareness necessary to actively participate in the birth process

What are the Benefits of Postnatal Massage?

• Facilitates postpartum emotional, physiological, and family adjustments
• Promotes structural realignment of the spine and pelvis and reorganization of movement
• Helps restore normal walking patterns
• Prevents and reduces back and neck pain caused by newborn care
• Promotes recovery from cesarean birth, including healing of the incision
• Relieves muscle strain caused by childcare activities
• Expedites an overall restoration of pre-pregnancy physiology

This great information was brought to you by Kindle Massage, a premier provider of outcall pregnancy-focused massage in the greater Los Angeles area. For more information on mommy massages visit www.kindlemassage.com

I'm coming clean about something rarely speak about. I had been putting it off for months. Based on my family history, there's no way to avoid the annual mole check with the dermatologist. I dread that appointment more than any, and I mean that one too. I had a few areas of concern this year but then I got the biopsy call a few days after the appointment. It wasn't good. A few days later after a couple of long hours at the local cancer institute, I was missing a huge portion of my armpit fold. Yeah, not so fun. I also got the bonus giant scar to prove it. I did get lucky, it was benign, but the margins required for safety means I still can't lift my arm above my head almost six months later.

Have I changed my routine? You bet. I wear a hat and I rarely step out the door without sunscreen (btw, we just reviewed a fantastic new sunscreen). I have made it part of my morning routine. I have also gotten a little more diligent with my kids seeing how they have such a great family history right out of the gates.

Here's why I am telling you this. Learn from it. Make the appointment with your dermatologist and question every suspicious looking mole. Don't take "it's nothing" for an answer. If it concerns you, get it checked. You should have a baseline for your entire skin. Good dermatologists will keep accurate records of any abnormality and will be able to track it year after year. Find a good sunscreen and don't be afraid to use it. There are also great clothes and accessories with SPF protection. Skip the tanning indoor and out and embrace your natural complexion. Need help finding a good doc? Check here: American Academy of Dermatology

We've come to that point. The little guy climbs, explores, investigates and gets in to everything and anything. Nothing is off limits in his opinion. Oh, my, is he wrong. I don't blame him for his natural curiosity, but seriously, he's a crow with shiny treasures and a ferret with tiny objects. We have the everyday outlet covers, drawer hinges and door locks, but we need to get serious about some of the other areas. We found this comprehensive if-you-can-dream-it-they-make-it safety product line from Dream Baby. You can find any and every safety product you need.

When the traditional safety latch was conquered, this Cable Lock from Dream Baby was just what we needed. It is a combo lock to avert even the cleverest of toddlers. You can use it for any of the other cabinets that need extra protection, from cleaning products and medicine to electronics and spirits. This unique lock keeps it all safely locked away. Nothing can replace common sense and adult supervision, but when you need additional safety measures, this fits the bill. Find the entire line here: Shop4Kids.com

So last summer, on one of those days, we stumbled upon a new show about a little girl named Franny. We were instantly taken in by her adorable enthusiasm. She finds shoes in her grandfather's repair shop and they transport her to a magical adventure.  A pair of cowboy boots took her to the wild west for example. On her journey she meets people in interesting situations and she helps them solve problems. It's great exposure for places outside our own neighborhoods delivered in an educational but fun way.

We were very excited to hear that the series is now launching DVDs! Peace Arch® Home Entertainment will be releasing Franny’s Feet: Princess Franny on DVD on March 3, 2009. This first DVD has six episodes and lots of un special featuers. The DVD will be available for $14.99 SRP at all major retailers across the United States. Find the interactive site here: frannysfeet.com

Click Here to Watch A Clip! 

I would only pass this tip along to you if I had personally tried it. I did so yesterday and combined with my club card, I saved 28% on my grocery bill. It's super easy to do and I will continue to incorporate it into my weekly shopping prep. All you have to do is take out the coupons from the Sunday paper. Write the date on the top of the packets and follow that date with the date FOUR weeks from the current date. Put them away for a month and then use those coupons from the paper when you plan your trip to the store.

This is the trick about coupons. The manufacturers offer the coupon, you use it on staples and/or new items.  Typically the stores will mark down the product adverised within the next month so that you'll come in a buy it again. So, why not save the manufacturer's coupon until the store puts the item on sale?

Bread for example:

Regular Price: $3.79

Store club card mark down: $3.49

Coupon: $1.00 (doubled to $2.00)

Final Price: $1.49

Like I stated before, I tried it myself and of the 14 coupons I clipped, 11 were marked down by the store for club card users. So simple and every penny counts.

To go from the pickiest of eaters to the 26 lb guy who will eat us all under the table was quite a shift. In these hard economic times, adjusting to adding what feels like two new mouths to the family has also been a major adjustment. I like to provide healthy and organic (when possible) meals, so I am always looking for new tricks and ways to do it on a budget. This book is our new kitchen bible. The Everything Organic® Cooking for Baby & Toddler Book is just what we needed to find new and creative ways to make family friendly and healthy meals for our two little ones. (I can't wait until we are all eating the same meal-that does happen, right?) It is packed with 300 recipes to get your kids off to a healthy start. From basic beginner food to more complex recipes, we found several that got everyone involved. All of the helpful tips, guides, lists for pantry staples, glossary and meal planner sections are just the bonus. Find it here: amazon.com