BlogginMomma.com

I recently came across a killer website that allows you to adopt different soldiers and their com padres overseas. I like it because you get to give a little back and make a solider’s life a little brighter. I took the surplus stuff I’ve been accumulating from CVS and the ECB game, as well as stuff I had lying around the house and am packing up boxes for Valentine’s Day. Yes, it’s a tad far away but honestly it takes roughly 3 weeks to get to them so by the time I pack and ship, it’ll be there on time.

I’ve also been cutting out coupons for candy and other items they request so I if I catch a deal on an item, it’s even sweeter.

Check the site out, but I’m warning you that you’ll get sucked in and want to adopt them all! New troops are added daily so be sure to visit often.

Who doesn’t remember those salt dough ornaments we made as kids. I know my mom still has the one I made in either Kindergarten or first grade. It is an orange Santa. Yup, I remember. He’s crumbly now and can’t go on the tree but she still has it. So…..why now whip some up with the kiddos for your tree, or even a mini-tree for them to decorate as they see fit!

Over indulgent mom here (ok on some things anyway) and Ant has a mini-tree complete with a train, just like daddy. His tree is decorated in gold balls, nonbreakable of course, and red bows. But if we have time I was going to make mini-salt dough ornaments with him. We have mini cookie cutters that would be perfect for the tree size.

Here’s the Salt Dough Ornament link if you’re game to tackle it.

Do you want to help our rain forests, animals, children, etc? Sounds like a lot of money and times doesn’t it? Wrong! One click is all it takes! Visit daily and do your part in fighting cancer, illiteracy, and hunger. And that is just the tip of the ice burg. I try to do this a couple of times a week at the very least, although my goal is to do it daily. Do your part!

Read the blurb below from the Child Heath Site for more information:

“The Child Health Site is dedicated to funding simple and very effective preventatives and treatments with the goal of robust child health around the globe. Your daily click funds the administration of Vitamin A to prevent life-threatening childhood illness and disease as well as one preventable cause of childhood blindness; the manufacture and fitting of children’s prostheses so that a child injured by a landmine or other accident can still walk, run and play and still has a fighting chance to be a productive contributor in his or her society as an adult; eye surgeries that can reverse one kind of childhood blindness; and HIV testing that will alert medical personnel that a mother may pass the infection onto her child at birth so that she can be treated and the newborn spared of this terrible disease. When you click, once per day, every day, you are helping to get these types of treatments and services to the children who need them most.”

I came across this post that seems like will be a great deal of fun to try with Anthony. I have the supplies on my list of things to pick-up as I’m out and about so we can have a good time. He really enjoys his arts and crafts – we just traced and painted fish yesterday. Note to self: get some washable watercolors too.

Doesn’t that look like fun?!

A direct quote from one of my mommy groups… Nick and I will have to check it out since we’re coffee junkies.

“I was just in this great coffee & ice cream house, called Monkey Paws, located in the new Publix plaza at Hwy 70 & Lakewood Ranch Blvd. Great place! They have big cozy leather couches, cable tv, free WiFi, great coffee, ice cream and the best chocolate chip & banana muffins I’ve ever tasted. The owner’s, April & Monroe Ranceful, are super nice and very interested in getting involved w/ the area mom’s groups and hosting an ice-cream social. The store phone is: 941-727-1591… Their website is: www.monkeypaws.com.”

I’ll post a review after we’ve been. I can’t wait!

Are you a coupon clipper? Do you just toss coupons in the recycling bin? Ever wonder what to do with the ones you don’t use or want? I have a perfect answer for you!

Our troops and their families can use expired coupons for up to 6 months AFTER (yes after) they’ve expired! What a great way to help them out with saving money and keep the paper out of our landfill. For the price of a little time and a couple of $$ you can send coupons overseas and make a world of difference for people that are making a difference for you! You can even encourage a few friends or family members to join in and split the cost of shipping.

Please separate the coupons into two piles “Food” and “Non-Food” and put theminto a labeled baggie. And, whenever possible, please send coupons that are not more than 2 months expired to allow the time for the coupons to be mailed, received and sorted, distributed, and still give the families plenty of time to actually use them.

The two overseas bases that I will be sending my cpns to are: Menwith Hill in the U.K. and Ansbach in Germany.

Menwith Hill
Family Support Center
ATTN: Coupon Connection Program
PSC 45, Bldg 20
APO, AE 09468

Ansbach
CAFAPACS
235th BSB
Unit 28614
APO, AE 09177

Here’s a list of overseas bases that accept coupon donations: http://www.ocpnet.org/

Ok so I had to do birthday favor bags for Anthony’s 2nd birthday. But only because my girlfriend reminded me. Duh! Thanks Jody!!

I took advantage of the sales they’ve had recently and spent about $5 per “bag”. Yes, that is a steep price but since I only had to make 4 of them (one being Anthony’s) I was ok with doing it. So now you are dying to know what is in them aren’t you??

Well…..first I didn’t use a bag. Why be wasteful, right? Instead I bought pencil cases at Target a couple of weeks ago – blue for the boys and pink for the girls. I then wrote their name on the top of the box so they feel super special. My mom had the brilliant idea of using a sharpie instead of painting it on, which was my first thought. Thanks mom! Thank god for other people and their brains

So now the filler:

• a box of Crayola crayons for 22 cents
• a box of primary colored modeling clay for $1
• 2-3 sheets of stickers ($1 per package but some packages had 2 in there and were broken up)
• a box of Crayola colored pencils for 88 cents
• a package of Crayola model magic (bought a package of 6 for 6.99 and had 2 left over for Ant to play with)

If Anthony is any judge than the other kids will love it! And for the icing on the cake, they’ll get to take a balloon home too.

I’m going to sign up for one class and see how Anthony likes it. If he does then we’ll get one of the package deals. I can’t wait!

For young learners interested in the sea and all it has to offer, Mote Marine Laboratory offers Mommy and Me at Mote programs. Learn about Mote creatures, including sharks, eels, dolphins, sea turtles, giant squid, manatees and coral reefs. Each week offers brand-new adventures for you and your child to experience!

Who: 2-5 year olds and Mommies (or caregivers)
When: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on select Thursdays and Saturdays** (9:50 a.m. sign-in)

** We are on a temporary break from this schedule for Mommy and Me Summer Camp. Come join us!!

Where: Meet at Whale Fountain Statue at the main entrance of Mote Aquarium
Price: Sign-up for individual programs or discounted session packages

Registration: Pre-registration required.
Program Schedule: *Fall/Winter schedule coming soon…*

Then use the back-to-school time to stock up on great deals on crayons, markers, paints, etc! I’ve been combing the isles and have picked up some great deals on the Crayola twistable crayons (AWESOME!!!), washable markers, finger paints, etc. These are all going in the art box in the closet to be pulled out when his current batch doesn’t hold any luster anymore. We’ll just continue to rotate them around and they’ll always be exciting then

Also great for leaving at the in-laws, packing in their take-a-long box, etc.

TCBY is offering .99 Waffle Cone Wednesdays! These fabulous frozen yogurt treats are 99 cents on hump day so be sure to see if your local store is doing it! Enjoy the frozen fabulousness after some fun in the sun or just as a treat out of the house with the kids. And for that price you aren’t breaking the bank! When was the last time you were able to say you could get a yummy treat like this for that price?