Disneynature’s Collaboration with the African Wildlife Foundation to Help
Save the Savanna during “African Cats’” Opening Week Heats Up Online!

BURBANK, Calif. (April 4, 2011) – Disneynature’s plans to work with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) to “Save the Savanna” have gone viral.
As the April 22 opening of the awe-inspiring “African Cats” approaches, Disneynature is tapping into the true power of social media by building awareness of its “See ‘African Cats,’ Save the Savanna” program. During the film’s opening …

I’m reaching out to you and your parenting-minded friends to let you know about a recent promotion that 21st Century Insurance has created to help the March of Dimes.
Do you like babies? 21st Century Insurance does too!  Tell your friends to give them a “like” and they’ll donate $1 to the March of Dimes – it’s that easy!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/21stcenturyinsurance

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed adventure. Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica (Penélope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the …

CONGRATULATIONS GO TO William McKinnley #6 and Christal C #12!!!!
In Adam Pertman’s newly-revised book, Adoption Nation, he explores the enormous changes taking place in U.S. adoption and across the world from his unique and multi-faceted perspective: that of adult adoptee, adoptive parent, Executive Director of the Evan B. Donaldson  Adoption Institute and adoption advocate.  As I can personally relate to several of these and more, I was most intrigued to find out what his book had to say.
Broken up into 3 large units with several chapters contained …

Brett and I love watching The Amazing Race.  We have enjoyed quite a few of the contestants but our favorites have hands down been Jet and Cord, the Cowboys.  The ‘boys first showed up on Season 16 where they came in second – they should have been first but that is a whole other story. We loved watching them that season because they were always honest, straight up, good at the challenges, and polite.  Of course they always wore their Stetson hats through out the entire race and even had …

Such fun – an 8.5 by 11 copy of a magazine all about Dora the Explorer!!!  Diego is in it as well.  We received a few different copies and the girls LOVED them!  They are filled from cover to cover with coloring sheets,puzzles, games, mazes, stickers, stories, cut outs, matching and more.  It was the best children’s magazine I have ever seen for really keeping them entertained.
You can buy the magazine on the stands or get a subscription.  It comes out 4 times per year.  To order a one year …

SAHMs and SAHDs better prepare now for a big, impending financial change, and unfortunately, it’s not a good one.
After October 1, the Federal Reserve is closing loopholes to last year’s CARD Act to further protect consumers from predatory credit practices. One big change will require banks to ask credit card applicants to report individual income, rather than the current requirement to report household income, to help assess applicants’ ability to repay debt. For SAHM and SAHDs with no income of their own, this …

Join me next week for Baby Week!!

I always look for fun, fresh ideas to do with my kids.  Written by Rebecca Cohen, a gardening and lifestyle expert as well as mother of 2 young children, Fifteen Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids offers a ton of fun, new and creative suggestions and activities that I might not have thought about before.
Fifteen Minutes Outside is a practical book chock full of ways to connect with nature, learn about the outdoors, and bond as a family.  Best of …

Another mom friend and I were listening to the woes of a mom with a 12 going on 20 year old daughter.  Later we looked at one another and agreed we were glad for our preteen girls and their much younger issues.  As smart moms though we know, we need to do all we can to have a good relationship with our daughters on a one on one basis now that will hopefully continue as they grow up and times may get a little tougher.
Helping girls foster high self esteem …

Pixar Animation Studios’ 13th Feature-Length Animated Film Features the Voices of Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters,
Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson and Robbie Coltrane
BURBANK, Calif. (March 28, 2011) – With a courageous and impetuous heroine leading the way, DisneyPixar sets out on yet another extraordinary journey—this time across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland in “Brave.” The big-screen adventure–the 13th feature-length animated film from Pixar Animation Studios—is directed by Mark Andrews (“The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “John Carter of Mars”) and Brenda Chapman (“The Lion King,” “Prince of Egypt”), and …

Bubbles ‘n Sunshine
P3
March 2011

If you have a picture up for Wordless Wednesday, leave your link below in Mr.Linky. Then you can head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom, Double Bugs,  The Not-So-Blog Blog,  Go Graham Go, Mommy Goggles, Momspective, Look What Mom Found – and Dad Too!, Mom of 3 Girls,  Life With Lisa , The Divine Miss Mommy,  Little Village Naturals, Mom Start,  Fairytales & Puppy …

One of the best parts about my job as a blogger is that I get to share the best parts of some of  my favorites old and new.
My latest find was Here Comes Peter Cottontail on DVD, just like I used to watch as a kid.  Originally released in 1971 and since remastered in High Definition, I have talked to a few people and they either never saw it or do not remember it, leaving me the fun of introducing it to not only my children but any adult who …

Watch for the What’s in YOUR basket? Bunny to start showing up with gift ideas for Easter baskets this year.

People who love puzzles will be excited to learn about the new game from Hasbro called Ji Ga Zo .  With a technological and fun twist on the classic jigsaw you can create a custom puzzle with practically unlimited solutions.
Product Description:
Ji Ga Zo is revolutionizing the puzzle category! This awesome puzzle has 300 pieces that you arrange to create any face — even your own! Start out with any digital image and upload it using the Ji Ga Zo software. The software figures out the …

I was given the opportunity to try out Fellowes P-12C Paper Shredder. It is a cross-cut shredder (black) with Safe-Sense Technology and folks, this thing is a Monster of a Shredder!!  It isn’t that it is so huge, although it is incredibly heavy.  It is what it can shred that earned it that nickname around our house.  EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink!  Even my husband was amazed and with hardware, that takes a lot!
Fellowes, Inc. recognizes the importance of minimizing risk of identity theft, one of the nation’s fastest growing …

With gas prices at the highest average ever for this time of year and airlines enacting new booking and travel fees, getting away from home and taking an affordable family vacation seems difficult, if not impossible. With some planning and researching you can prepare to save some money while traveling on a budget so that you don’t have to forgo your vacation. So go ahead, arm yourself with these tips and get ready to don those Mickey Mouse ears!
Use apps to your advantage: …

Fans want in on all the college basketball action this March, both at home and on the go – more than half will watch games online or using a mobile device this year.* Sam’s Club members can score incredible prices for everything on the ultimate fan’s shopping list:
þ  Bring the game into your living room and feel like you’re courtside with the highest quality HD for the best game time experience.  Sam’s Club’s competitive pricing has not gone unnoticed; they were named the retailer with the most significant drop in …

Dad made me a ‘castle’

And it’s mine…

It’s ALL mine!  Bwwaahhhh!
P3 3/2011 Texas

If you have a picture up for Wordless Wednesday, leave your link below in Mr.Linky. Then you can head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom, Double Bugs,  The Not-So-Blog Blog,  Go Graham Go, Mommy Goggles, Momspective, Look What Mom Found – and Dad Too!, Mom of 3 Girls,  Life With Lisa , The Divine Miss Mommy,  Little Village Naturals, Mom Start,  …

CONGRATULATIONS TO PAMELA  GARRETT #22
Well, it was The Power of The Ponytail over at The Motherhood today or in normal speak, a discussion regarding Cheerleading: It’s Pros, It’s Cons, Safety, and the many ways it can affect a girl’s life yesterday.  Leading the discussion was Nicole Lauchaire, VP Corporate Marketing and Communications for Varsity Brands. Varsity, the company that pretty much makes most cheerleading products and I for one really appreciated what she had to say.
“Cheerleading has seen a large increase in participation. There are at least a half million …

Water.
When you have plenty of it, you think nothing of it.
When you have very little or almost none of it, you think of nothing but.
The one thing every human must have to survive – pure, clean water.
The United Nations’ (UN) World Water Day is held on March 22 each year. Events are organized on or around this day to increase people’s awareness of water’s importance in environment, agriculture, health and trade.
This has hit home to me since returning home from China with P3.  Many of the orphanages …

Last month the Love Drop Team raised over $13,000 (and 3 iPads!) to help two little boys with autism receive a service dog. They were beyond touched, and we did this in only 1 month – that’s it. Everyone came together and gave a few bucks each to impact one family’s life. If you were a part of it, THANK YOU!  You can check out the final video of us showing up to their house here – it’s pretty cool.

This month we start all over again and rally behind …

It’s spring—the perfect time to de-clutter and organize your home. For parents, the challenge is to freshen up the house while also staying on top of everyday responsibilities like work, carpool and dinner. Involving your kids is a great way to get it all done without losing your mind.
Kati Chevaux, editor at Cozi.com, offers 5 tips to turn common spring cleaning chores into a family affair ~LOVE how this woman thinks, don’t you?
1. Refrigerator Clean-Out
o   What you do: Remove all food to do a …

According to a survey conducted by the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC), potatoes are America’s favorite vegetable (February 2009)! They are naturally packed with a nutritional punch and contain many vitamins and minerals that are vital to a healthy diet including fiber, potassium and Vitamin C. Potatoes are also low in calories and contain no sodium, fat or cholesterol which can help with weight management and reduce the risk of disease.
“For Americans looking to live a healthier lifestyle and follow the new USDA guidelines, Idaho® …

I was recently approached by a PR Rep who reminded me that…” motherhood – being a mom is no easy job! Actually, I think it’s probably harder now than it’s ever been. These days, it seems society frowns on letting kids play freely outside, and moms instead feel pressured to rush them from one organized activity to the next.
While there’s nothing wrong with organized activities, I think you and your readers would agree with us that kids also need to play, and that unstructured outdoor …

Want to Get ‘Scent Away’ to Napa Valley? How about San Diego, Miami, or Lake Tahoe? Enter the Pine-Sol® Scent Away Sweepstakes and Share Your Scent Story for a Chance to Win! Share your entry on Gather as well and you’ll also be entered to win a spring cleaning prize pack. Please share your story by March 25th on Gather in the comment field of this article for the chance to win one of five spring cleaning prize packs.
Here are the details…
GRAND PRIZE TRIPS:
From lemon kissed to …

I recently learned about the most wonderful candles, Bridgewater Candles. They are truly unique.  Let me share with you a little about the company that creates these fabulous clean burning candles.
Established in 1997 in Spartanburg South Carolina, Bridgewater Candle Company quickly became a leader in the candle market with a reputation for its clean burning candles, full fragranced products and passionate sales team. From fresh to warm and cozy, the scents create those special moments in life worth savoring. Furthermore, we are committed to sharing this warmth …

She’s growing up too fast.
P1 Our Backyard 3/11

If you have a picture up for Wordless Wednesday, leave your link below in Mr.Linky. Then you can head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom, Double Bugs,  The Not-So-Blog Blog,  Go Graham Go, Mommy Goggles, Momspective, Look What Mom Found – and Dad Too!, Mom of 3 Girls,  Life With Lisa , The Divine Miss Mommy,  Little Village Naturals, Mom Start,  Fairytales & …

I moved to Texas when I was 15 and my parents were always looking for fun, new places to go to eat.   Our next door neighbors became our friends and they knew all kinds of good restaurants. My Mom one day asked for a recommendation for some really great Chicken Fried Steak and could not believe the answer she got.  “Mattito’s”, Caroline said, it is a Dallas Mexican Restaurant and they serve the best Chicken Fried Steak.  You can order half with cream gravy and with Green sauce. Mmmm  …

As a teenager, I had flawless skin on my face… my zits were all on my back.  I should have realized then, it was a sign.  Then at 30, it all moved to my face.  I was already married and hoping to get pregnant but it did not look like it was happening.  Before long, we started infertility treatments and very soon I had my first Hot Flash.  At 31.  A whole lot of infertility treatments, an adoption, some more infertility treatments, a pregnancy, and some more infertility treatments later, …

Ingredients:
1½- to 2-lb. salmon fillet
1½ Tbsp. olive oil
1½ Tbsp. melted butter
2 Tbsp. Tone’s® Rosemary Garlic Seasoning
1 tsp. black pepper
Directions:
Combine melted butter and oil and brush on both sides of the salmon.  Sprinkle seasoning and pepper on both sides of the fish.  Place fish in a shallow baking dish.  Bake or broil 8 – 12 minutes (flip once).
Sound good?
According to the recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans from the USDA, new evidence supports increasing your seafood intake to around 20 percent of your protein per week. You and your readers can …

DESTIN • FORT WALTON BEACH • OKALOOSA ISLAND, Fla. – Mar. 7, 2011 – The search launches today to find ‘America’s Most Deserving Mom’ and Florida’s Emerald Coast challenges husbands, sons and daughters from every corner of the country to nominate their someone special for the title and official grand prize — a 2011 Buick Enclave, one-week stay for six in a luxurious Destin beach house courtesy of Southern Resorts, round-trip airfare and $1,000 spending money (www.facebook.com/floridasemeraldcoast).
From comedic to heartfelt, and tear-jerking to knee-slapping, …

Watching cashiers ring up purchases at the grocery store is becoming more painful every day. Unfortunately, things are about to get much worse, particularly for low-income consumers who don’t have ready access to discount supermarkets.
According to the United Nations, global food prices hit a record high in February due to upward-spiraling gas prices and stockpiling by importers. These factors are hitting the already volatile cereal markets. Wheat, corn, sugar and edible oils have seen the sharpest price increases in the last six months, with …

Do you remember these folk, The Baby Bunch?  Well they are running a fun Facebook contest where people are asked to tell what was their favorite childhood toy.  There will be 5 winners .  Each will get a set of their brand new product, the Birdhouse PJ.  The gift includes supersoft pajamas AND a fun toy, and the pjs come in sizes 0-6mo, 12-18mo, 2T, or 3Ts.
If you would like to see all of this cuteness for yourself, go to http://www.facebook.com/TheBabyBunch and take a peek!

…It wastes your time and annoys the pig!
Brett trying to teach 4yr old P3 Chess
(at her request) 3/11

If you have a picture up for Wordless Wednesday, leave your link below in Mr.Linky. Then you can head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom, Double Bugs,  The Not-So-Blog Blog,  Go Graham Go, Mommy Goggles, Momspective, Look What Mom Found – and Dad Too!, Mom of 3 Girls, The Divine Miss Mommy,  Little Village Naturals, …

CONGRATULATIONS TO #10 NADINE!
Thanks to everyone that participated.  Hopefully watch for more fun things from CSN!
I have some exciting news.  I have begun to work with the CSN STORES.com as a Preferred Blogger and I am really excited.  If you are not familiar with CSN, it is a huge site of some 200+specialized stores, primarily for the home but also including fashion, toys, etc.  Once I knew I might be working with them, I began looking around their stores and thought about some of the needs we had here at …

As a parent, you understand what it’s like when your child is sick. As a writer, you have the voice to tell your readers about an organization that improves the quality of life for children who’s sicknesses are actually life-threatening. Did you know that each year in the U.S., 27,000 children are diagnosed with a life threatening illness?
Give Kids The World (GKTW) is a non-profit organization that provides week-long vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families at a fanciful, “storybook” retreat in Central …

It was February and I had just agreed to review some Pediacare, medicine for children, when true to Murphy’s law, we actually needed those exact two medicines the Rep had sent.  Up until then, we had had an illness free school year – a first.  Ah well. Pediacare is not the brand we used before so we literally were trying it out.
Pediacare has been on the market since 1984.  Currently, they have medicines for Cough & Cold, Fever & Pain Relievers, Allergies, Infant Gas Relief,  and Gentle Vapors.  Each package …

CONGRATULATIONS JUDY & RUTH!!
When Brett and I got married, there were not a ton of things we both liked.  He liked Modern, I liked old fashioned.  He liked farcical comedy, I liked Romances.  He wanted the toilet paper over the top of the roll,I didn’t care.
But one thing we totally agreed upon (besides Star Wars and Star Trek) was Billy Joel.  The last concert we went to was to see Billy and while the seats stunk, he was as wonderful as ever.
Well it is hard to believe that 2011 …

Spring break offers the last extended break for children before summer begins. This year, think about different ways to celebrate this time off from school with a special trip, vacation or family planned activity that will elicit smiles from the little ones – big or small.
• Visit the Relatives For families that live a long distance away from other family members, spring break can allow for a surprise visit outside of standard holidays and get-togethers. This spring, consider surprising your family with a special visit …

Are you deciding where to take your kids for summer vacation or spring break? Let’s face it: choosing the right location can be stressful for both you and your wallet. In addition to considering your finances, you should also analyze other factors such as the age of your children and their respective interests. Here are some tips for choosing the right destination for your children. You can make every family vacation a memorable one with these simple suggestions.
Age Isn’t Just a Number
Some parents make the mistake of taking their newborns …

Let me introduce you to a wonderful new pop artist named Olivia Somerlyn. This San Francisco girl is currently unsigned but you can keep up with her on her Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/Oliviasomerlyn?sk=app_178091127385.  Listen to her current title, “I’m Just Fine”  You’re gonna love it!

CONGRATULATIONS #403 BARBARA
Thank you to everyone who participated.  Y’all are great!
Kroger is one of my favorite stores to shop. When they have their Mega Events and Cart Buster Sales, their prices really cannot be beat. Well, from 2/27 through 3/12 the Kroger family of stores  (which includes Kroger, Ralph’s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy) will be running a Cart Buster Sale. It’s not a …

We are happy to announce that the Marino Andriani LLC social media community is now live on Facebook and Twitter! To announce this launch, we will be hosting a giveaway where the selected winner will receive their favorite SparkleBee designed product!
Check out our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparkle-Bee-from-Marino-Andriani/141538819235849) to enter the exclusive contest to win your favorite MALLC designed products.
Members of the SparkleBee community will have a chance to vote on upcoming product designs, submit their own ideas, and participate in giveaways to win their favorite, fan-designed …

For several weeks now I have been using a new and unique toothpaste from Aquafresh.  iso active Foaming Gel from Aquafresh. FOAM. The foam is my absolute favorite part of the product.  My mouth feels so clean and my teeth do seem to begetting whiter.  I am going to leave you to the scientific information and such but just remember the FOAM!
New Aquafresh® iso-active® Whitening Foaming Gel is a breakthrough technology in toothpaste. Its revolutionary delivery system disperses the toothpaste quickly, penetrating those critical, hard-to-reach areas …

I wanted to let you know about a fantastic new program launched by Swap.com, the world’s largest swap marketplace, which facilitates donations of books & other media items to public schools across the United States. As educators face a scarcity of supplies for their classrooms and school libraries as a result of dramatic budget cuts in recent years, Swap4Schools <http://swap4schools.swap.com>  aims to assist them in procuring much needed supplies – for free.
To enlist in the program, school administrators, teachers, and librarians at U.S. public …

It’s the middle of the winter – the time of year when students experiencing learning difficulties and problems at school are at their highest. What is a parent to do?
Dr. Richard Selznick is a child psychologist and the director of the Cooper Learning Center, Department of Pediatrics, Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey. He is the author of The Shut-Down Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child. Dr. Selznick looks for certain signs in the child’s behavior that are often not …

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a very real household danger. If you want more tips about safety and poison prevention at home, text TIPS to 69866. It was anything but a happy new year in Los Angeles in January where one woman mourned the loss of her mother and grandmother — both who died from carbon monoxide given off by a gas oven door they’d left open to stay warm. A week later, 11 students in Vermont were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning …

Gas prices are soaring closer to $100 a barrel as trouble pours out of the Middle East. It looks like transportation is going to cost us plenty for at least the near future, but there are ways to cut back on costs. Follow the following 10 frugal fuel-consumption tips so you won’t have to leave the gas pump with a half-empty tank.
1. Use Your Smart Phone
There are plenty of money-saving apps dedicated to trimming everyday expenses, some of which include travel costs. The GasBuddy app …