Playground for Parents

Free Disney Tickets!

You're generous, thoughtful, charitable, and you want to teach your kids the same important values.  But you just don't have the time to involve your family in community service right now.  I'm thinking you just need a little motivation.  How about up to EIGHT free tickets to Disneyland?!

"Give a Day. Get a Disney Day."   Volunteer up to eight members of your household to volunteer at a community service event of your choice, and you'll each receive a free ticket to Disneyland, redeemable until December 2010.   I just discovered this program tonight (thanks Gwendolyn!), and went onto the website immediately.  Simply type in your zip code, and PAGES of volunteer opportunities appear, from assisting at a doggie adoption, to feeding the homeless, to distributing Valentine treats at a senior center. 

From the Disney website:   "We want to inspire one million people to volunteer a day of service to a participating organization in their communities. So we're celebrating these volunteers' good works by giving each of them a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket to the Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort, free. There's no better time to make a dream come true for others and let us make a few come true for you."

Many of the events that sparked my interest were already filled (removing holiday decorations from a 60 ft tree at a local park! Cleaning a local beach!), so obviously this is a popular program, which is a good thing.  The activities have age minimums, and at least in my area, a lot of the stuff had a minimum age of 15.   But, by the time I got to page 26, I finally found a charity event that wasn't already filled, and that I, my husband, and our 8 year old could participate in.  It's going to be such a valuable lesson for her, a wonderful thing to do together as a family, and a super reward at Disneyland! 

It's a Small World afterall.

Los Angeles Holiday Playdate

Are you a mom?  Of course you are (or are soon going to be), that's why you're here (well, unless you just have way too much time on your hands and not enough friends).  Do you care about family homelessness and poverty?   Of course you do, because you know that could easily be your butt standing in the food line, instead of on the computer (immensely, throughly, undeniably) enjoying my blog.

This weekend, my oh-so-fabulous readers in Southern California, you are invited to attend a special Holiday Playdate on Sunday, December 13th, 3-6pm, at the oh-so-divine Treehouse Social Club in Beverly Hills.  And get this: admission is at least one pack of disposable diapers in lieu (I love spelling that word) of the $9 per child admission charge.  This event is organized by Help a Mother Out, and sponsored by Huggies, who will match donations diaper for diaper up to 3,000 diapers!  That's a lot of dimply baby booties.  Food, fun, AND a good cause.  A winning combination.

Click here for more details and to RSVP.

It IS the season to be jolly.  And generous.  Fa la la la la...

I Need a Hug

 

What kind of freakish mother needs a reminder to hug their kid, and what type of corny society needs a national day of recognition called Hug Your Kids Day?  I mean seriously, we have a day for everything, and now hugs.  What's next, cut your cuticles day? Actually, that one would be helpful - you haven't seen my fingernails. Ghastly.

 

OK, at what point in this post did you catch the sarcasm?  The answer to who needs the Hug Your Kids Day on July 20th is...WE do.  And just to prove it, I'm going to ask one simple question:

 

When is the last time you hugged your kid?

 

Nooo, not a tickle, not a tousle of the hair, swap on the booty, pat on the back, or that caress of the shoulder when you tuck them in at night - those are cute, but they don't count for the purposes of this event. Sorry!  I'm talking about a good, old-fashioned heart to heart/chest to chest, in the moment, silent, hugging embrace. The kind of hug that's beneficial to both you and that little recipient you birthed, that makes them feel safe and secure and loved without a word. It's saying, "you are my world," all in a squeeze.

 

Hmmm, forgot what that was like, huh mama?  Hey, no judgement here. I know what it's like to get caught up in the hamster wheel of life, feeling lucky to remember to feed the kids (is it me, or do these things eat ALL the time?!), let alone hug them. So consider this day a gentle reminder. And hopefully even the start of a new frequent behavior.

 

Hug Your Kids Day was started by Michelle Nichols. “I learned this lesson the hard way. My son, Mark, died suddenly from brain cancer in 1998, when he was only 8 ½ years old. I always thought I had unlimited time to hug him and spend time with him, but only eleven days after the doctors thought he just had the flu, he was gone, out of my hug’s reach forever.”

 

Below is a refresher on how to give good hug, from Mighty Mommy - just in case you know a lot more about how the game of little league baseball is played, than how to give an unsolicited embrace.

 

Now go get to hugging - make use of those arms for something other than hauling around laundry.

 

How to Give a Good Hug (from Mighty Mommy)

There are five basic steps of a good hug:

1.      Empty your head: Forget about bills to be paid, calls to be returned, and plans for next week.

2.      Empty your hands: Put down your car keys, cell phone, purse, and all the junk you-- like most moms-- carry around.

3.      Make eye contact: Get them to eye level, no matter whether they need to stand on a chair, or you need to stand on a stair.

4.      Make heart contact:  Tell them what’s in your heart, like “I love you. You rock my world. No matter what else happens today, I love you!”

5.      Squeeze!: Give them a hug that will last them all day. Squeeze them so well that when you part, you both say, “Now that was a hug!”

The trick to start hugging your kids and your spouse or partner every day is to hug them today. Don’t over-think and under-hug. Don’t tell yourself you’re too tired, or the kids are too busy, or it’s not the right time to hug your loved one. Hugs are like both vitamins and medicine. They can help prevent hurt feelings, and help heal them faster.

More Hug and Family Love Tips

1.      Hugging your family every day is a habit, like brushing your teeth. Do it every day and soon, it becomes routine.

2.      When your kids make a mistake, look hard for what’s positive. After all, it’s hard to be a kid. Children need encouragement, not discouragement.

3.      When your kids hurt your feelings by accident, learn to laugh instead of cry. When my younger son, Devin, was 6, he made me a birthday card that said “Happy Birthday, Mom. I wish you were donuts.” He explained that he loved me, but he loved donuts just a little bit more. At first I felt insulted, but I chose to laugh at the card -- and gave him a hug for valuing me so highly. Hey, donuts rock!

4.      What if loved ones are too far away to hug? You can call them, text them, send a card, send an email, send an e-card, or send cookies. What’s important is you’re reaching out on a regular basis to tell them you love them.

Hugs are fast, free, and non-fattening! They’re perfect for today’s budget- and-time-stressed moms, so hug your kids today. And don’t forget -- National Hug Your Kids Day is Monday, July 20th. Tell your friends. It will be announced on billboards nationwide, during Major League baseball games, and in Gannett newspapers. Our goal is to change the world’s families, one million hugs at a time. Join us -- and don’t forget to hug your kids.

National Hug Your Kids Day is July 20th.  To find out more about the holiday, the handbook, and see what’s going on in your city, head to www.HugYourKidsToday.com

 

Brooke Shields, Tupperware, Malibu...and Me

  

 

See that photo above? You'd never guess the event. Beautiful sand, surf, sunset, "s"elebrities (sorry, had an "s" thing going and couldn't stop). Give up?  It was a Tupperware party in Malibu, hosted by Brooke Shields. Yes, mamas, that's how we do all the Tupperware parties in California - with cabanas, and bartenders, and young men playing guitar.

 

Haa! As if. No, this was definitely a very special Tupperware Party, and I was there thanks to Jessica Gottlieb. I had the opportunity to meet other fabulous mommy bloggers and check out the latest cool Tupperware, all for a good cause. That's me with Brooke Shields. I'm the one on the left, in case you can't tell us apart. And yes, the photo is intentionally small because, quite frankly, it was shot waaay too close for my comfort. The event was held in support of Tupperware Brand's Chain of Confidence, a global effort to enlighten, educate, and empower women. I'm all about the girl power.

 

I'm also all about learning from my experiences. So, here are just a few things I learned from this one...

 

1)  I'm a big girl now, who can go to functions all by herself, mix and mingle, smile, and feel OK in my skin. This wasn't always the case. I have a big mouth now, but I used to be painfully shy. Sure, it's more fun to go to functions with friends. Makes a visit to the ladies' bathroom more entertaining too. But, I was still OK going alone and meeting new people. I hope I can somehow teach my daughters to be even more self-confident, to "command a room" and yes, even go to the movies by themselves - uhh, something I'm still working on. 

 

2)  It's really uplifting to our drained mama spirit, to have a reason to get a mani/pedi, apply make-up, get our hair done, and borrow some clothes (even when those clothes belong to my own mother, who is way sexier and more fashionable than I'll ever be). Whether it's date night with our husband, hanging out with our girls, or just going to the mall to stroll the baby around in some free air conditioning, sprucing it up a bit can do a lot for ones energy level and attitude. When my daughter was younger, I used to dress up just to go to playgroup. When you're looking frumpy outside, you'll often feel frumpy inside.

 

3)  Don't eat beans for lunch the day of a special event. I'm relieved to say there were no "incidents," but seriously, it wasn't worth the risk. Unfortunately, I thought of this after I had already finished my meal. And while I'm on the subject of food - if you go to an event hungry (hey, I'm out of practice, and was rushing to nurse the baby, get ready, give instructions to the sitter, etc), stand inconspicuously near the kitchen where the servers are going to first appear with the trays of food. If you're standing in the middle of the crowd, down on the beach, the freakin' tray is empty by the time it reaches you.

 

4)  Tupperware has come a long way. These are not your mama's containers. And that swag bag was pridddy nice. Remember what I said would happen if I were famous? THIS is what I'm talking about.

 

5)  The waves crashing, the sun setting, the smell of the ocean, the open bar...all reminded me that I REALLY need a vacation. Desperately.

 

 

 

FREE Donuts on National Donut Day: June 5th

 

This Friday, June 5th is National Donut Day.

 

There's a "Day" for everything, but this one I can actually appreciate (Square Root Day, not so much).

 

In celebration of this important occasion, Krispy Kreme is offering one FREE donut per customer, no purchase necessary.

Then, when you're good and thirsty from that donut, head on over to Dunkin' Donuts, who is offering one FREE donut per customer with the purchase of a beverage. 

 

Check their websites for store locations.

 

My plan: 1) take the kids with me to get a donut, but tell them they have to save it for later, 2) Distract them until bedtime, making them forget about the donut, 3) Eat their donuts in addition to mine. Afterall, it was my idea.

 

FREE Ice Cream!

(photo from Haagen-Dazs.com)

 

First Ben & Jerry's. Then Baskin-Robbins. And now Haagen-Dazs, not to be upstaged, is joining in on the free/cheap ice cream offer. On May 12th, enjoy a FREE scoop of any Haagen-Dazs Bee-built ice cream flavor, between 4-8pm.

 

Where in the heck is your local Haagen-Dazs?  Good question. Check the website to find the answer.

 

Unfortunately, they don't have a location near me. Anywhere further than five miles is going to require more than one free cone. Guess I'll be venturing back to Baskin Robbins in time for this Cali heat wave this week - they are currently offering their soft serve ice cream cone for only 88 cents. My family and I got soft serve recently, and the thing is HUGE. Knowing how expensive Baskin Robbins normally is, I was expecting a cone fit for my kid's barbie doll.  I was very pleasantly surprised. Almost couldn't finish it all. Almost. The downside is they only have vanilla soft serve (what's up with that - no chocolate?!). The upside, like I said, is that it's only 88 cents.  Low enough for your kid to buy his own, and thereby appreciate it even more.

 

STILL waiting on an offer for free garlic noodles from PF Changs...free potato skins from TGI Friday's...free artichoke spinach dip from Cheesecake Factory...In the meantime, I'll be enjoying my ice cream, which by the way, taste even better when it's cheap or free.

 

FREE 2-Piece MEAL From KFC!

 

Yea, I know I mention Oprah quite a bit on my blog (like on this morning's post - ha!). Here's yet another good reason:

 

"The Oprah Winfrey Show" Kentucky Grilled Chicken 2 Piece Meal Coupon!

 

Get 2 pieces of grilled chicken, 2 side dishes, and a biscuit, for FREE! HURRY mama! You can redeem the coupon until May 19th, BUT you can only download the coupon from the website until May 6th!

 

Coupon can be dowloaded four times. Hmm, that takes care of dinner through the weekend.

 

Sorry Dads - free meal not available on Mother's Day. Looks like you'll have to choose another, um, fast food restaurant to treat mom. Good luck with that one.

 

Click here for the free meal:  Oprah's KFC Coupon

 

 

Teacher Appreciation Day AND Week!

 

They do what many of us can't. OK, I'll speak for myself - they do what I, personally, could only do for a very big paycheck...and a four hour work day, lots of vacation time, and a small class size - like three students.  Our children's teachers, those heroic human beings who love, educate, discipline, and nurture our always well-behaved, well-mannered, angelic eager learners. Uh, yea. Can't think of any job that deserves a day of appreciation more, expect maybe mother's, and we get ours this month too.

 

Teacher Appreciation WEEK begins Monday, May 4th. Teacher Appreciation DAY is on Tuesday, May 5th. Don't be confused. If you're celebrating the day, it's on Tuesday. If you're feeling really grateful and want to acknowledge teachers in some meaningful way all week (if I were a teacher, you could give me different flavored homemade cookies each day, and your child would receive an automatic "A"), you have Monday through Friday.

 

Make sure the other students and parents in the classroom know it's National Appreciation Week. Join forces and get the teacher a collective gift like classroom supplies, a fabulous lunch, a nice hefty gift certificate, or organize the students to all write a letter of appreciation. Do something different each day, like bagels in the teacher's lounge on Monday, clean their room on Tuesday...you get the idea. 

 

Use your imagination. Get creative. It doesn't have to be expensive, but I'd stay away from the "#1 Teacher" mug (I mean, really, how many of those can one person use?).  More of my unsolicited advice: I also wouldn't just go buy something for the teacher, and have your kid give it to them. Involve your child - ask him what makes their teacher special, why they appreciate him, and what they'd like to do. Unless your child responds that they want to take their teacher with you on the next family vacation, consider their ideas too.

 

Have fun! Oh, and if you actually don't appreciate your child's teacher, because he or she really needs to consider a change of profession, then it's a great time to acknowledge your child's coach, tutor, or their instructor for an extracurricular activity.

 

 

How did it all begin?

From National Education Association (www.nea.org)

 

"The origins of National Teacher Day are murky. Around 1944 Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodbridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day.

NEA, along with its Kansas and Indiana state affiliates and the Dodge City (Kan.) Local, lobbied Congress to create a national day to celebrate teachers. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day for that year only.

NEA and its affiliates continued to observe National Teacher Day in March until 1985, when the NEA Representative Assembly voted to change the event to Tuesday of the first full week of May. The actual date, therefore, varies from year to year."

Need to spark those creative juices and come up with a creative gift? Check these out.

In the Community

• Run congratulatory messages on electronic signs outside banks or other businesses, or on billboards, banners or storefront signs.
• Offer teachers discounts on purchases made on Teacher Day.
• Invite all teachers to a reception in their honor, hosted by the mayor, school board, school administrators, Chamber of Commerce or other group.
• Invite teachers to a before-school "coffee, juice and pastries" salute at a local grocery store or other business - or even in a school parking lot (think tailgate party!).

In School

Consider the following actions that may be taken up by a school volunteer organization:

• Hang a sign on each classroom door saluting, by name, the teacher within.
• Have National Honor Society, Student Council or other student groups furnish punch and cookies for the teacher's lounge on Teacher Day.
• Give teachers candy, apples or other food gifts with appropriate notes attached (e.g., fortune cookies with a note about how fortunate the school is to have a teacher of such high caliber).
• Provide balloon bouquets and flowers for every teachers' lounge.
• Set up a lunchtime "Relaxation and Rejuvenation Spa" on Teacher Day, where teachers are treated to hand, foot, back and neck massages, perhaps while being serenaded by a student or parent playing a mellow cello.

For more ideas, visit the National Education Association (www.nea.org)

 

 

And to all you magnificent teachers out there, THANK YOU!!

 

International Free Comic Book Day!

 

Ultra-cool jobs that some ultra-cool moms I know do for a living:  play professional beach volleyball...and still win after having two kids (hi Annett!); teach pole-dancing to moms seeking to bring their sexy back (hi Monique!); own and operate a comic book store (hi Portlyn!).  Well, you're not going to see me playing beach volleyball in a bikini, because the sight would burn your eyes as if you looked directly at the sun. You won't witness me pole-dancing, unless you want to see a reenactment of that old "True Lies" movie with Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. BUT, comic books are safe for me! Ha! I think it's just the cutest job. I mean, really, how many moms do you know that own a comic book shop?  What I bet you DO know is a kid or grownup that loves comic books, especially FREE ones!  Get yours this Saturday, May 2nd.

"Brave New World Comics in Los Angeles' Santa Clarita Valley, will be one of 1000+ stores participating in the international comic book holiday known as Free Comic Book Day. Yep, you read that right: FREE comic books! This is the 8th year that the comic book industry has gone all out, and if you have even a passing interest in the world of the 'funny book', this event is definitely for you. Portlyn, who co-owns the award wining joint in the SCV with her husband Atom!, says "Comic books are amazing! They are fantastic tools for helping get your kids to read, and this event is just plain FUN!". Brave New World will have "literally thousands" of free books on Saturday, as well as art lessons, creator signings, gaming demos, the 'Wheel of Prizes', games, music, and more! Plus, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life team is holding a fundraising bake sale during the event. "Get here early, and plan to stay awhile," continued Portlyn, "it's fun, it's free, and there's something for the whole family."

When:     SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2009

Where:    Find a store near you: www.FreeComicBookDay.com

Why:        Because comics are funnier than mom and dad

 

31-Cent Scoop Night at Baskin-Robbins!

 

Gee, based on my posts this month, you'd think I was obsessed with food or something. Ha! And when it's CHEAP, somehow it taste even better. Thank you, Baskin-Robbins, and thank you sunshine in California.

 

"Families can head to select Baskin-Robbins stores nationwide to enjoy a kid-size scoop of ice cream for just 31 cents during a fundraiser benefiting the National Volunteer Fire Council's National Junior Firefighter program."

 

When:  Wednesday, April 29th

Time:  5pm-10pm (sounds like an after-dinner treat to me. Or better yet, I can go after the kids are asleep, and not worry about sharing when they ask for "just a taste!")

Cost:  $0.31 for a 2.5 ounce scoop

Why:  Because ice cream is good for you. Because you deserve it.  Because you can pay for it out of your kid's piggy bank. OK, do you really need a reason?

 

A great deal, for a worthy cause (what do scoops cost normally these days, about $20?). 

Save me a place in line!