5 Minutes for Mom's Annual Mother's Day Giveaway!

Exciting news! 5 Minutes for Mom is celebrating motherhood in fine style with their annual Mother’s Day Giveaway. They are offering up some truly fantastic prizes during this two week event, so click over and be sure to join in on the fun!

100,000 playspaces in 100 days!

KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding and creating play spaces within walking distance for every child, has embarked on a nationwide mission to help communities build playspaces. This proves critical for those many children living in neighborhoods without playgrounds or playspaces, or unable to use existing ones because of rundown conditions or dangerous neighborhoods.

We live in a too small apartment and if it wasn't for the fabulous parks around here, I would have gone off the deep end long ago; I am always eagerly listening in when I hear other moms talking about cool kid spots they've found. There is nothing to match fresh air and a safe, fun area where kids can release their apparently limitless supply of energy.

KaBOOM! believes that play has a purpose and unstructured play in particular helps make children happier, fitter, smarter, more socially adept and creative. So how can we help make this a reality for kids in less fortunate neighborhoods? Mom Central has teamed up with KaBOOM! to help map online 100,000 playspaces in 100 days.

Here's what counts as a playspace: a playground, field, a skate park, roller hockey rink, lake, dog park, community center, basketball court or ice rink - any place where kids can engage in unstructured play for free or a nominal fee.

A playspace listing on KaBOOM! consists of an address or cross street and a description, one photo and one rating. KaBOOM! has made creating this playspace listing easy: either a quick fill-in on their website or even easier - a twitpic from your cellphone.

For every play space entered into the KaBOOM! database on behalf of the Mom Central team, $1 will be donated to Jumpstart, a non-profit that brings at-risk preschool children and caring adults together to improve literacy. It's something to feel doubly good about!

Moreover, we all stand to benefit as all the playspaces with their photos and ratings will be available to us as we go on road trips this spring and summer, to visit relatives, or on vacation. You can go online and find cool places to take your kids to play- near the grandparents, the hotel, or off the highway to break up a long drive.

This Post Courtesy of Mom Central.

Plant A Virtual Flower And Win An Eco-Friendly Electrolux Washer And Dryer!

It's true, I don't have a whole lot of fun doing laundry. I find it a pretty thankless and never-ending task, and I shudder to think of how much water and energy our daily laundry loads consume. I imagine many other moms share these sentiments, so I was pleased to hear that Electrolux and Kelly Ripa have teamed up to take out some of the drollness - and the waste - of doing laundry with their introduction of an eco-friendly front-load washer and dryer in a truly vibrant shade – “Kelly Green.”

The new limited edition shade, an upbeat green designed to pack a visual punch, was inspired by the great outdoors and self-proclaimed eco-Mom Kelly Ripa. Here’s a quote from Kelly herself: “I love green … the color green and the act of living green,” said Ripa. “What better place to make a simple, every day difference than in the laundry room? Kelly Green is a gorgeous shade, and just by using the new Electrolux high-efficiency washer and dryer you can save energy and use less water. How green is that?”

Just in time for Earth day, Electrolux kicks off its virtual flower garden campaign to drive awareness and raise funds for Global Green USA. Starting today, when you go to http://www.electroluxappliances.com/ and plant a virtual flower for a friend, Electrolux will donate $1 to Global Green USA to support their healthy green schools initiatives across America. Everyone who logs on to the site and plants a virtual flower will be automatically entered for a chance to win a new eco-friendly Kelly Green front-load washer and dryer!

In addition, Mom Central will be giving away one eco-friendly “Kelly Green” washer and dryer set to a member of our community! To enter, simply go to http://www.momcentral.com/blogs/win-a-kelly-green-electrolux-washer-a-dryer.html and (1) tell us which flower you planted on the Electrolux site and (2) share your own “laundry tips” for saving time and energy. Mom Central will pick one lucky winner in a random drawing from all entries received!

So, what are you waiting for? Go plant your flowers! You'll not only be helping the Global Green USA initiative, you could also be on your way to owning an eco-friendly new washer and dryer that will seriously jazz up your laundry room!

This Post Courtesy of Mom Central

A Staple For Every Medicine Cabinet - But Keep It Current!

So far this week on the injury front, my daughter has been struggling with a nasty hangnail for several days and today she fell at the park and grazed her knee; I have a paper cut on the side of my forefinger and I have a newly minted scrape across the top of my hand after my temperamental cat took a swipe at me this evening. There always seems to be a reason I need to head for the medicine cabinet and dig out the NEOSPORIN®, as even minor cuts and scrapes can become contaminated with dirt and germs, which may cause infection.

Pre-parenthood, I was awful at staying on top of expiration dates and I had first aid supplies that were years past their usefulness. Once I had Pudding Pie though, I became more diligent (neurotic) and I now stay on top of tossing unused and expired medicines. I encourage you to do the same. It turns out that 40% of homes have an expired topical antibiotic in the medicine cabinet, an important issue as some products may lose their effectiveness once they reach their expiration date.

I recently received a tube of NEOSPORIN® + Pain Relief Ointment and a tube of NEOSPORIN® + Pain Relief Cream, and the newly available NEOSPORIN® NEO TO GO!® First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Spray. I really like the cream because Pudding Pie strongly dislikes any kind of ointment, and I am very excited about my handy little NEOSPORIN® NEO TO GO!® Spray. It is a wonderfully convenient way to clean and disinfect cuts, and I love that it also offers pain relief. We put it to use for the first time today when Pudding Pie took her tumble at the park, and grazed her knee. Pudding Pie was so fascinated by our fancy first aid gadget, she forgot to fuss about her knee!

This review courtesy of Mom Central and Johnson's

Helping Teens Learn Financial Responsibility

Pudding Pie has some years to go before she hits her teens or even her tweens, but I have friends who are parents to kids in these age groups, and I am witnessing them struggle with the delicate balance between giving their kids some financial independence while at the same time protecting themselves from getting an unwelcome surprise when they check the balance in their bank accounts.

Today our tweens and teens want, indeed expect, access to plastic. However, things go south quickly when these well-intentioned but inexperienced young adults overspend their set allowances - and this is especially true right now with practically everyone feeling the economic pinch.

To help balance the desire of our kids with the balance in our checking accounts, Discover Card has come up with a truly innovative debit card called Current by Discover Card, designed especially for kids ages 13 to 18. The Current Card helps us teach our kids how to manage spending.

Like car companies that allow you to set the maximum speed limit on your teen's car, Current by Discover Card puts parents in control by letting them set (daily, weekly, monthly) spending limits, block certain merchant categories (like ATMs and liquor stores) and track teen spending online or through email and text message alerts.

Plus, because it's a debit card product, the card stops working when the limit is reached without incurring any additional fees, which protects teens from overspending.

As parents, we have the responsibility to discuss wise spending habits as a family and Discover Card has created an online resource, to help us talk with our kids about managing and spending money, and the importance of setting limits.

The Current by Discover Card provides kids with access to money in the way they want it while still giving parents what they need - independent spending by their kids without debt or incurring hidden fees. No more unwelcome surprises on your credit card statements!

Review courtesy of Mom Central

Celebrating 50 Years Of No More Tears!

JOHNSON'S® has been a bathtime friend for a long time now - it was there in early childhood when my sisters and I would get loaded into the tub and get sudsed up by mom, then spend ages creating spectacular shampoo 'up-dos' for each other in our tub salon. Today, JOHNSON'S® is still part of daily life, only now I am sudsing up my sweet Pudding Pie and teaching her how to make her own impressive updos. JOHNSON'S® is indeed an old friend; there's something about the smell that transports me back to childhood. I guess for me it will always embody the sweet smell of innocence and when Pudding Pie is just bathed, I can't think of a nicer smell!

Pudding Pie working on her 'updo'.

JOHNSON'S® has introduced two new products to help celebrate its 50th Anniversary and continue the tradition of bathtime fun: JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash and Johnson's® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash. I was asked to review the products and blog about them on behalf of Mom Central and JOHNSON'S®, and I am thrilled to do so!

Pudding Pie loves the new HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash from JOHNSON'S®. She thinks the easy and convenient pump-and-foam feature is marvelous. I have to wrestle the bottle away from her because she just keeps pumping out the foam! This specially designed bottle allows moms the flexibility of using only one hand to dispense the product while also providing substantial lather for cleansing. This new, gentle cleansing product contains mild ingredients and the updated JOHNSON'S® NO MORE TEARS® formula that utilizes new science and technology from JOHNSON'S®.

Quick Facts about JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE Foaming Wash

· JOHNSON'S® is the #1 choice of hospitals
· Designed to help avoid common skin problems caused by cleansing before they start
· NO MORE TEARS® formula is as gentle as water alone to the skin
· Designed to be gentle enough for newborns
· Soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and allergy- and dermatologist-tested
· Rinses easily
· Suggested Retail Price: $4.89 for 9oz

The Baby Bubble Bath & Wash from JOHNSON'S® has added a new dimension of fun to Pudding Pie's bathtime adventures, and we have created some impressive bubble 'storms'! This product contains an all-new formula combining the NO MORE TEARS® extra gentle baby wash formula with big, bath time bubbles. The new, dermatologist- and pediatrician-tested formula is gentle enough to use everyday and is clinically proven mild for both baby girls and boys.

Quick Facts about JOHNSON'S ® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash
· Contains the NO MORE TEARS® formula, which is as gentle to the eyes as pure water
· Soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and allergy tested Dermatologist and pediatrician tested
· Rinses easily
· Gentle enough to use everyday for both girls and boys
· Suggested Retail Price: $3.99 for 15oz

Review courtesy of Mom Central

Disney Fun For The Whole Family!

These days, it isn't easy to find wholesome entertainment options that will keep everyone in the family happy and hanging onto the edge of their seat. This is why Feld Entertainment's Disney On Ice live touring performances - which feature iconic Disney stories, characters, and music - are so appealing. Audiences are in for a high quality, fun experience that the whole family can enjoy together. And . . . Mom Central has partnered with Disney On Ice to provide a special family ticket package offer!

Interactive Disney On Ice shows feature exciting action, romance, comedy, athletic world-class skating, beloved Disney characters, and favorite Disney songs to which kids can sing and dance along. Their rich colors, costumes, bigger than life atmosphere, music, lighting, choreography and humor all contribute to making the experience one that builds childhood and family memories for years to come.

Mom Central and Disney On Ice are excited to extend the following special family offers:

Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels*. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Gold Circle Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other restrictions may apply.

Offer #2: A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public - just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats.

Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM code are as follows:

Houston
Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey
April 15-April 19
Dallas/Ft Worth
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
March 18-March 29
Sunrise/Miami
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 26-April 5
Toronto
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 18-March 22
Kansas City
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
April 1-April 5
Denver
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
March 12-March 15
Phoenix
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
April 9-April 12
Chicago/Rosemont
Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic
Sept 8-Sept 13

To learn more about Disney On Ice shows touring the country this year, visit http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/ and visit ticketmaster.com to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM.

The Greatest Show On Earth Delivers Again

The circus is coming to town - and it could be to a town near you! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, a.k.a 'The Greatest Show On Earth' has come up with some new shows to dazzle and delight fans. ZING ZANG ZOOM features high energy, illusions, music and dancing, and Magical Zingmaster Alex Ramon, will have you gasping in disbelief at the grand illusions that he performs. The interactive family experience merged with traditional circus acts promises to be an unforgettable experience!

If you have magical memories of the circus from your own childhood, you will surely appreciate the importance of passing down these cherished memories and the tradition of experiencing Ringling Bros. as a family, to your children.

And, if you did not get to experience the magic of the circus earlier in your life, check out the two exciting offers below - there has never been a better time to begin the tradition! With the economy affecting many families, the value of a night out at Ringling Bros. is high, as the experience includes the All Access Pre-show, a fun opportunity to meet circus performers and dress up in clown costumes, which happens one hour before each performance.

Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels**. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Circus Celebrity Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other Restrictions May Apply.

Offer #2: A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public - just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats.

Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM discount code this spring are as follows:

Newark/East Rutherford/Uniondale/NYC

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM

March 5 - April 13

Offer not valid on performances from April 10 - 13 at Madison Square Garden

Washington D.C./ Fairfax, VA/ Baltimore, MD

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top

March 18-April 19

Philadelphia

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM

May 13-May 25

Phoenix

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM

June 24-June 28

Houston

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top

July 15-July 26

Anaheim/LA/Ontario

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM

July 8-August 2

San Francisco

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM

August 12-August 23

Dallas/Ft Worth

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top

July 29-August 16

Sacramento

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM

August 27-August 30

Kansas City

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top

September 16-September 20

To see which Ringling Bros. tour is coming to a town near you, visit http://www.ringling.com/, and visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/ to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM.

Spread the MOM code around to your friends and family near these cities. All they need to do to join in on the fun is visit http://www.ringling.com/ and type in their zip code to find the shows and purchase tickets online with the code.

Oh, and that's not all - to help start the family traditions early, the Baby’s First Circus program allows babies to receive a free ticket voucher that can be exchanged for a free ticket to any Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance, anytime, anywhere. There's no expiration date on this voucher either - what a deal!

Pudding Pie is 2!

The Big Day is here - Pudding Pie is officially a toddler! She's had a splendid day so far, but we've kind of made her birthday a week-long celebration. Right now she's riding the wave of an ongoing session of presents, cakes and birthday fun and I think it's all kind of old hat. There's more to come though, the partying has just begun!

I thought I'd make a little note of the things I love about my two-year-old today:

I love the way she tells me she's hungry:"Need food!"
I love the way she snuggles into her towel after a bath and tells me "niceandwarm mommy".

I love the way she sternly scolds our fractious cat, then scurries to me for safety.

I love the way she grabs hold of her doll and tenderly plants a kiss on her forehead.

I love the way she sits riveted while I read her stories.

I love the way she says "Bless You Mommy" every time I sneeze - I sneeze a lot!

I love the way she says "Excuse me!" when she burps.

I love the way she insists on doing everything for herself, even though this doesn't always go as planned.

I love the way she says "That's OK" if she drops/spills/breaks something.

I love the way she believes that Mommy kissing her 'owees' will make them "all better"

I love the way her curls bounce around her face when she walks.

I love the way she thinks getting a haircut is a fun thing to do.

I love the way she grabs hold of my camera and says "Say cheese!"

I love the way she says "Oh Man" instead of Amen when we pray.

I love the way she makes me feel like a Very Important Person just because I'm her Mom!

Happy Birthday Pudding Pie!

Winter Fun for the Entire Family

Some years ago, I went on a ski trip to Switzerland. It was my first time skiing and, while my awkward attempts to learn the sport were probably a little trying for the instructor, they were good fodder for the locals. Eventually though, I did get the hang of things and I had the time of my life. I remember that vacation with fondness; there is nothing to beat the 'happy-tired' feeling you get after a day filled with outdoor fun and adventure.

I've always thought a trip to a ski resort would be a fabulous family winter vacation and, after hearing about Park City Mountain Resort in Park City, Utah, I'm more determined than ever to plan such a getaway.

No matter what type of skiers or snowboarders you have in your family, Park City Mountain Resort has something for all levels. From the tween who wants to spend all day in the terrain park, to the adults who want to ski Jupiter bowl, to the youngest getting on the lift for the very first time, Park City offers family fun and adventure. Prior to taking a trip, families can even print one of the Family Mountain Tours that make it easy for a group with varying ability levels to navigate the mountain together, taking the guess work out of where to go next.

In addition to its industry-leading Kids Signature 5 Program that guarantees no more than five kids in each class, Park City also offers great off-mountain activities. The Alpine coaster, one of only three in the U.S., is a gravity propelled ride, twisting and turning through the mountains on a mile-long track. At Gorgoza Park enjoy lift-served tubing on seven different lanes or mini snowmobile rides around a designated track for kids ages 5 to 12 years old. Best of all, the historic town of Park City has over 100 restaurants and bars located just 35 miles from the Salt Lake City International airport, making getting to Park City easy. The town also once served as the home of the winter Olympics and still has a fantastic bus system to make it easy to get from place to place.

Visit the new "The Adventure" blog where you will find helpful insights from Moms who have visited Park City before on topics from packing, to eating, to planning the perfect family winter vacation. At the blog, readers can enter the drawing for a Family Winter Vacation for four (two adults and two kids, 12 and under) to Park City, Utah, including 3-nights lodging, 4-days of lift tickets and ski/snowboard school for the kids. This one is too good to miss, I'm heading over there to enter myself - you should do the same!

Review courtesy of MomCentral