DIY Toddler Toys from Everyday Objects

Toddlers have an abundance of curiosity, a short attention span (when compared to adults), and an innate ability to uninhibitedly express themselves whenever the need strikes. One might say that toddlers excel at living in the moment. The good news is that this means you can make some DIY toddler toys out of everyday household objects that will attract and amuse your toddler. Obviously, parents will need to monitor their toddlers as they play with these “DIY” toys (just as they would if the toddler was playing with regular toys). Many parents have noticed this little “quirk” that toddlers have. … Continue reading

Picture-Perfect Mother’s Day

What are you asking for this Mother’s Day? A clean basement? Not if your husband’s idea of “cleaning” is tossing out all of your stuff. An expensive vacuum? Not if you have to use it more to justify the price. Breakfast in bed? Not if it means doing damage control in the kitchen until dinner. What about a peaceful day surrounded by the people whose existence affords you membership in the sweetest sorority on earth? This Mother’s Day consider cuddling up with your kiddos and enjoying a quiet moment with these picture-perfect holiday reads: The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our … Continue reading

The Mother’s Day Sales have Started!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Have you bought you mom a lovely gift yet? If not, then take advantage of some of the Mother’s Day sales that are going on right now. You can get something lovely for your mom without having to spend a fortune! Barnes & Noble has a “Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off” sale. There are a total of 81 titles of books to choose from including: Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou, Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, and many more. This sale will continue through May 13, 2013. Some Barnes & … Continue reading

Valentine’s Day Sales, Coupons, and Freebies

Valentine’s Day isn’t too far away. Do you have everything you need? If not, then you may want to check out these special Valentine’s Day sales, deals, coupons, and freebies. If Valentine’s Day is your very favorite holiday, then this is the blog for you! Quizno’s has a coupon for a free cookie. There is no purchase necessary. Just visit Quizno’s on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2013, and use the coupon. Yankee Candle has a limited edition Valentine’s Day candle. Get a True Rose Jar Candle or True Rose Tumbler Candler (and Hearts Jar Candle Holder) for $34.99. These are … Continue reading

Don’t Miss These Holiday Deals and Freebies!

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are filled with plenty of deals and tons of sales. It is the time of year when even people who dislike shopping will be doing it anyway, alongside the people who consider shopping to be their favorite activity. It’s no wonder that there are so many holiday deals, sales, and freebies right now! Here’s a few you won’t want to miss. Hallmark is having a “Keepsake Ornament Gift of Memories Weekend”. It will take place from December 7, 2012 through December 9, 2012. Buy 1 or more Keepsake Ornaments at the event and you … Continue reading

Insurance Blog Week in Review – Week of April 15-21, 2012

Every week, the Insurance Blog Week in Review gives you a quick and easy way to “ketchup” on everything that hit the blog in the past seven days. There can be anywhere between 12 and 14 blogs that will appear. What did you miss this week? My Quest to Find Affordable Health Insurance is Finished Finally! I have found a health insurance policy that I can actually afford! I review the steps from uninsured, (when I lost my job and my health insurance in 2009), to insured in 2012. The Insurance Podcast Roundup went up on April 16, 2012. This … Continue reading

Do Your Pets Factor into Your Holiday Plans?

Do you make your holiday plans around your pets? That’s an assertion that the Associated Press recently made in an article: pet owners revolve their late-December events around their pets. Examples given by the AP include taking holiday-themed photos of pets, using these or other pictures with the animal for seasonal cards, buying pets gifts (the article maintains that just over half of pet owners do this), and even creating special menus for the pet so it can have a holiday meal alongside its human family. There are two sides to this: one, in which a little holiday cheer is … Continue reading

My First Day on Atkins

I did not know what to expect from my first day on the Atkins diet. Would I crave the foods I wasn’t allowed to eat? Would I be hungry? What would the Atkins diet do to my allergies, and other health issues? I was about to find out. The Atkins book strongly suggests that you read up to the chapter that talks about the first phase before you go ahead and start Phase 1. I discovered this when I flipped directly to the chapter describing Phase 1, (which is also called Induction). Despite this warning, I must admit, I started … Continue reading

Mother’s Day in Review

Another Mother’s Day another dis by the Dyson fairy. Surprisingly, I am not at all disappointed by the snub. In fact, of the six Mother’s Days I have had the honor of celebrating with my daughter, this may have been the best ever. The day started out with a series of hugs, kisses, and this gem: Six-year-old: Happy Mother’s Day, Mommy! Me: Thank you, honey! Six-year-old: You’re the best Mommy in the whole world. Me: Thank you. I wouldn’t be celebrating Mother’s Day if it weren’t for you. Six-year-old: Yup. Me: I wouldn’t even be a mommy if it weren’t … Continue reading

Get the Kids Involved in Holiday Gift Giving

The other day my 6-year-old daughter informed me of her plans to raid her father’s coin container, so she could make my Dyson dreams come true for Christmas. I strongly discouraged her thoughtful, yet immoral plan, explaining that he had already gifted me with a vacuum cleaner a few years back and that I didn’t think he had $500 worth of coins in his container anyway. Still, the fact that my daughter actually thought of someone other than herself this holiday season got me thinking about ways parents can foster a child’s spirit of giving. Instead of choosing, wrapping and … Continue reading