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.

I just received this email from Amazon. I swear, can ANY company put out a product that doesn’t require a recall. I’ll have to go get the codes off the seat tomorrow when I can see and order the fix.

Greetings from Amazon.com.

We have recently learned that Britax, in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is voluntarily recalling certain Frontier Child Restraint Systems. Our records indicate that you have purchased one of the Frontier child restraint systems listed in this recall through the Amazon.com website and are therefore affected by this recall.

The recall involves models E9L54E7 (Frontier Red Rock), E9L54H6 (Frontier Rushmore), E9L54H7 (Frontier Pink Sky), E9L54M6 (Frontier Canyon), and E9L5490 (Frontier Sahara), manufactured between April 1 and September 18, 2008.

These items were sold between April 1st and December 15th, 2008 and are being recalled because if the harness straps are repeatedly loosened one strap at a time, then the harness strap(s) may become detached from the metal yoke located on the back of the child seat. If this condition occurs, the child may not be properly restrained, and in the event of a vehicle crash there could be an increased risk of injury.

Consumers are urged to stop using the recalled restraint systems immediately, and register for a free repair kit at www.frontierrecall.com. For more information, you may also call Britax 1-800-683-2045.

You may also find additional details about the recall in the NHTSA bulletin at: www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=08C010000&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true.

If you purchased this item as a gift for someone, please notify the recipient immediately and provide them with the information in the NHTSA bulletin concerning these safety issues

Don’t forget to give back this holiday season! I heard about a great concept this morning from Nick. He read on CNN yesterday that at a Starbucks someone started the pay-it-back concept. They paid for the person’s drink behind them and they in turn paid for the next in line, etc. It lasted through 50 people! What a nice pick-me-up during this crazy holiday season. Think about it next time you are out and give someone a genuine smile or a merry christmas. You may make their day.

I found this site yesterday – mokugift.com that plants a tree for a $1. You can email it to anyone and a tree will be planted in a country you select (or they can do it for you too). I planted a few trees for us, and then sent some out to the kid’s friends and their new second cousins as christmas presents from them. What a great, eco-friendly way to spruce up our earth and someone’s holiday

I’m hoping they’ll get a little wiser and allow you to select an occassion-specific card to use instead of a rather generic email, that may get over looked. Either way, it’s a great present for someone that has everything or a co-worker, etc.

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.”

is going on this week! Check out babycheapskate.com for more information on the *best* deal, etc. If you find a killer price on a Frontier (less than $249) let me know, would ya! That’s the seat I’m upgrading Anthony to.

I’m trying to be better about using reusable totes instead of paper or plastic bags. One of the biggest challenges is the initial expense of the re-usable totes, although the grocery stores offer ones for $1 around here and I’ve picked up a few free ones along the way too. I’m adding another one to my stable from Nature’s Bounty. To get a free reusable tote bag from Nature’s Bounty Health Supplements go here. Create a better planet for your little ones

Here’s a funny and very true article/Q&A on how to tell if you a stroller addict. I’m part of several boards and can tell how accurate this is. Personally, I struggle with the desire to obtain more strollers but so far am keeping it in check. Now diaper bags is a whole ‘nother story!

(Exerpt)

“Do you hide your thoughts and behavior from your significant others and loved ones?

Do you disguise your roving eye from your friends and family? Do you ever pretend your stroller is broken or sabotage them in order to justify purchasing a new stroller?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, then chances are you are a stroller addict like me.”

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?!