Weekly Update

Diaper Duty

Site Author — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:28:36 +0000

Wish you could wave a magic wand and make traveling with babies and toddlers easier this year? This season, Diapers.com is making life and holiday travels of moms and dads a little easier by allowing parents to ship their baby essentials directly to their holiday destination. With the help of the nation’s largest online retailer, parents can travel with just a few baby basics on hand and have everything else they need for their holiday visit shipped directly to grandma’s house. Even better? They guarantee door-to-door delivery in just 1-2 business days. There's still time left for travel this week! Find great products and special offers (like free shipping on orders over $49) here: Diapers.com

Greatest Show On Ice

Site Author — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:30:52 +0000

You had to expect it. The smash hit High School Musical series is now a show on ice, literally! Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour skates into the LA area this holiday season. Tickets are already on sale. What a great gift for the entire family!

SOUTHLAND SHOW SCHEDULE

STAPLES Center: December 18-21, 2008
•    Thursday, December 18th, 7:30 PM
•    Friday, December 19th, 11:00 AM and 7:30 PM
•    Saturday, December 20th, 12:00 PM , 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM
•    Sunday, December 21st, 12:00 PM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM

Honda Center: December 23-28, 2008
•    Tuesday, December 23rd, 7:30 PM
•    Wednesday, December 24th (Christmas Eve), 6:00 PM
•    Thursday, December 25th, (Christmas Day) 6:00 PM
•    Friday, December 26th, 10:30 AM and 7:30 PM
•    Saturday, December 27th, 12:00 PM , 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM
•    Sunday, December 28th, 12:00 PM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM

Long Beach Arena – January 2-4, 2009
•    Friday, January 2nd, 7:30 PM
•    Saturday, January 3rd, 12:00PM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM
•    Sunday, January 4th, 12:00PM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM

Ticket Prices: $65.00 Front Row/ $40.00 V.I.P./ $25.00/ $20.00/ $16.00
To order tickets by phone or online: 213-480-3232 or 714-740-2000 or visit www.highschoolmusicaltheicetour.com

Memorable Yet Affordable Ski Vacation

Site Author — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:48:10 +0000

If you're planning to hit the slopes this winter but afraid of how the economy is going to affect your plans, follow these tips for putting together a fun, yet affordable ski vacation.

1. Avoid the peak holiday periods. Lodging prices around Christmas, New Year’s and President’s Day are often double during peak seasons. Air fares are dramatic: a Sunday to Sunday round trip from Chicago to Denver currently averages $250 for most of the 2009 ski season, but a whopping $1,000 for the Christmas-New Year week.

2. Book early, especially if you fly. Most winter fares to Denver or Salt Lake City are historically at their low point until the end of October, at which time they will gradually start increasing. Shop travel sites as well as the direct airline web sites. They each allocate a specific inventory of discount airfare seats, and once that inventory runs out, the same flight might be cheaper on a travel site than on an airline site, or the opposite. This being said, don’t panic and book something just because “2 tickets left at that price” is on your screen; it’s often no more than a marketing gimmick.

3. Lift tickets can also equal substantial savings when booking early. Discounted lift tickets are typically available until mid-November. For example, a Dual Mountain TransFour Card, offering four days of skiing at either Copper Mountain or Winter Park, Colorado (blackout from December 27th to December 31st ), can be purchased at any Christy Sports front-range locations or online at www.passwagon.com for $209. This is a 30 percent savings in comparison to ticket window prices.

4. Factor in all transportation costs, including airline baggage fees. When booking your flight, make sure that you consider the airline baggage fees that will be associated with your ticket. You might find a cheaper airfare on a particular airline, but once you add in the various fees, it may not be the cheapest option. If you are bringing your skis from home, be aware of the oversize/overweight fee policies.

5. Rent Equipment and save extra baggage fees. Rather than bringing your skis/board from home, consider renting high quality equipment from a local shop at your resort destination. It can save you money if you make a rental reservation ahead of time rather than renting upon arrival. It also ensures they will have the equipment you need.

6. Call lodging properties directly. Many offer a direct booking discount, and generally know the property better than the central reservation systems. By talking to someone at the lodge directly, it is more likely that a “deal” will come out of the conversation. This person will also do a better job of matching you with the right kind of unit for your personal needs. Also, don’t overlook older properties. They may not have all the plush ammenities, but they can be very comfortable, close to the lifts, and much more affordable!

7. When dining out, call the restaurant and ask if they have a “bar menu”. The portions are hardly smaller, yet much cheaper. It’s a very popular option amongst locals, and the seating area usually offers great ambiance.

These helpful tips are courtesy of Christy Sports (www.christysports.com), one of the largest ski and snowboard retailers in the Rocky Mountain region, with shops at nearly every resort so check them out first!

New Twist On An Old Favorite

Site Author — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:37:15 +0000

Sock puppets get a new twist with this wonderfully compact and complete kit called Sockett Kit. Founded by dedicated visual artists and art therapists, Tiger Candy Arts developed these innovative projects to allow the expression of anyone's creativity. The kit came with a surprisingly abundant amount of crafty items and embellishments (much more than we needed) so we created four puppets. It included four "socks" already prepped to make the puppet mouth. The kit also came with a carrying case that could be decorated. It was fun to create and then exciting to watch the little ones put on a show. Animal puppets doing HSM, but what do you do? Find these great kits here: www.tigercandyarts.com

Recycling-The Dirty Little Secret

Site Author — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:15:46 +0000

Did you know that if you recycling your water bottle with the lid attached, it will more than likely be tossed directly into the trash? It's a shameful secret you might not know. The time it takes to remove the cap - no, the cap isn't always made of recyclable material - is time "wasted" by the sorters so the entire bottle is put into a pile on the way to the dump. From now on remember to separate the bottle and lid, or better yet, cut back on your use of plastic water bottles. There are so many conflicting reports out there and the levels of plastic recycling have gotten even more confusing. Try to find a BPA-free (Bisphenol-A is the plastic that degrades right into your beverage or food with overuse) until the dust settles over the use of plastics in reusable containers. We like this CamelBak version available at rei.com.

It's Your Duty As A Citizen

Site Author — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:20:30 +0000

I like to keep this site and its content on the light side, but allow me this rant, I believe it needs to be said. I was watching an early morning chat show and became outraged. The host was interviewing several women of various ages about the candidates and the issues. There was a middle aged woman who actually said, "I don't like either candidate so I will not be voting." What? Not voting? What planet was she from? Voting is not only our right as a woman but our duty as a citizen. What kind of example is she setting for her kids? Women, in this country, were only granted the full right to vote less than 90 years ago and there are women alive today who were refused the opportunity to vote in even local politics. There are other countries today that still do not allow women their voting rights. Not vote? Get your head out!

There is no excuse to not vote. You can vote in the comfort of your own home with an absentee ballot. You can register online for free at Justvote.org

Help for Little Bums

Site Author — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:10:10 +0000

Well, bums that get diaper changes on a regular basis. Tired of trying to imagine how many wipes end up in the landfills? We just found these great little cloths by Bummas. These are so great because they can either take the place of a wet disposable wipe or they can dry off babies bottom after using a wet wipe. This cuts down on diaper rash without creams or ointments-another bonus for delicate skin! They are re-usable, eco-friendly, highly absorbent and chemical free. They are perfectly sized and the pack comes with enough to always have one handy. We use them as bath time wash cloths and at meal time as well. Stop using a wipe (that comes with perfumes and dyes) every time and try these little Bummas. For more info: bummas.com

Dairy-Free Products You Need to Try

Site Author — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:18:28 +0000

We've recently gone somewhat dairy free in our house. For allergy reasons, of course, but we also decided to try some new products that we normally wouldn't consider a staple in our kitchen. To replace our cereal milk, we tried Almond Breeze® from Blue Diamond (don't get me started on why we don't have soy-based products in our stash either). This replacement is lactose, gluten and cholesterol free. While nothing can replace the actual flavor and texture of true cow's milk, these products received four out of four thumbs up. The chocolate was the big favorite-surprised?

We also decided to try the Blue Diamond Nut Thins® crackers in our snack bag for Kindergarten. They are tiny but packed with taste. Made with natural California almonds and nuts, they are wheat-free and gluten free. We really enjoy the variety and flavors and anything that makes "snack time" selection easier for me wins my vote!

Find out more: Blue Diamond Growers

Who Says You Can't Go Home?

Site Author — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:46:20 +0000

Ok, so it is a Bon Jovi song...but I did go home recently and I agree, you CAN go home. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't go to my parent's house, but to the city where I spent 13 of my 18 years at home. I live in a large city now and the town I visited is extremely small. Only a few of my close friends still live there and going back brought a flood of memories. My house (our last and favorite historic military housing) was in between tenants so I got to wander through it and look for my initials in the closet which no doubt has been painted over several times by now. Of course, anywhere we moved my mom was able to make it a design home, but it looked smaller and the yard would've made my dad cringe.

The town was a refreshing change from the craziness of LA. Things moved at a drastically different clip and progress has come slowly. I rather enjoyed it that way. If you are planning a trip "home" consider yourself lucky to have lived there no matter what. A town's personality is a reflection of the people and if you lived there, embrace the past.

Zebags-New Eco Fashion Bag

Site Author — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:22:26 +0000

A bag with a rich history and it looks great. These Zebags come in several sizes but the original is perfect for toting along to the market, playground, beach, gym or work. It's perfect for all the stuff we need throughout the day. Each Zebag is handmade by a group of Artisans in Kenya. Since they incorporate hand weaving into their everyday lives, each bag takes roughly 2-3 weeks to complete. The income the bags bring enables the families to gain economic independence and alleviate poverty.

Find your bag here: zebags.com