Where Life, Love and Insanity All Come Together

Would you like to win a FREE copy of the "Spongebob Squarepants: Viking Sized Adventure" DVD?

Here is where you can access the Spongebob DVD Review, which is already posted on our blog, BUT we were lucky enough here at Every Kind of Mom to obtain a copy of  this new release for a FREE Giveaway...  thanks to Nickelodeon.

Spongebob Squarepants:  Viking Sized Adventure
(Released:  January 26, 2010)
Copies for Giveaway: 1

 Enter for a chance to win a FREE copy here!  Below are the details on how to enter.


To Enter:

Simply reply to this post with a comment!


Earn Extra Entries!

Earning extra entries is easy, you can...

• Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site, blog, or facebook (tell me where you advertised it and provide the link to me) 10 Extra Entries
• Follow everykindofmom on Twitter  5 Extra (IF you already follow let me know for extra entries)
• Subscribe to my Blog 5 Extra (IF you are already subscribed let me know for extra entries)
• Email your friends,family, or anyone you know with this giveaway link and carbon copy: contact@everykindofmom.com 1 Extra Entry per email address
• Tweet this giveaway link:  http://bit.ly/5yOMpy  and tell me
• Uses any of the share links at the bottom of this post 2 Extra (for each one)
• Post a comment on any other blog entry on this site, and come back and tell me where you did 3 Extra

Contest runs until March 21, 2010, 11:59 pm Pacific Time,
Winner will be selected by random on  March 22, 2010.  Winner will be posted on March 22, 2010
Giveaway Rules and Terms are found here:  Giveaway Rules

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I would like to share my opinion and personal experience with childhood obesity, and encourage feedback about this topic. 

While I will admit that childhood obesity is on the rise, I am extremely disturbed by the attention its getting — mainly because I always had a child who was (and still is, to a small extent) obsessed with food.

Instead of falling into the latest "fad" of what we are supposed to be doing about our children's health, I chose the path that I felt has always worked for generations

• Everything in moderation
• Keep them busy
• Distract them with something else when they start to go for a snack

I honestly don't believe that what the kids are eating has as much to do with how often they are eating and the lack of physical activity.  My oldest daughter was born chunky, and stayed that way until about 11 when she started "filling in" and growing taller as puberty began.  She was always active, not "fat" but always on the top end of the doctor's charts. 

Her father and I separated when she was 1 1/2 years old, and he took a different approach than I did:  he demanded she "eat healthy" and eat smaller portions — all the while, eating his food and the part of hers that he didn't think she should eat (not a great example of avoiding gluttony).    In fact, it caused her to remain constantly focused on food and only made her want food more.

It soon became a pattern after visits with her father, that she would hoard her food and sneak snacks into her room to eat in secret.  Once when she was 3, I even caught her hiding in her room, eating a stick of butter (UGH).  Keep in mind, this very same child has never drank soda or eaten candy (she doesn't even like it).

Her father pressed and pressed about her "obesity".  Nevertheless, I stuck to my guns.  His approach didn't work.  It caused stress eating and constipation, which he thought could be easily fixed with a prescription laxative. (I say NO to prescriptions whenever possible!).  Just so we are clear, this is not a dig against my ex-husband, its just an example of a person using  the current popular approach to food issues, without giving consideration to the individual child. 

I am happy to report that she is a very active, healthy and thinner 12 year old, who adjusted her eating habits on her own.  Her step dad and I have always encouraged her to exercise, and used other tricks to get her to think she was eating a lot — until she was old enough to figure things out for herself, in her own time.

Being a parent isn't just about making the rules for your kids, it isabout understanding their individual personalities and issues, and making adjustments where necessary.   Every child is different, and I have never had food issues with my other two children.

If you have a child who is moderately overweight or obese, please consider all approaches to a solution.  Teaching them about food, health and portions is great — but encouragement and distraction work wonders without any damage to their self-esteem.

How do you feel about Childhood Obesity and the way it is being approached in our society?

Please add your comment to this post and share with others!


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If you or any of your family have asthma or allergies, you may have been looking into buying an air purifier (or "room air cleaner").  If only one person minimally suffers, it may be as simple as putting it in their room for their personal time and sleeping hours.  As much as an indoor air purifier can help, however, there are several features and costs you should consider before you dive in:

• Air Filter Efficiency
• Purification Technology
• Noise Level
• Design/Style of Air Purifier
• Cost of Replacement Parts
• Warranty
• Electricity Consumption/Cost (!)

The first thing people look at, and what the sales person (or sales copy if on the internet) will focus on is the air filter efficiency, purification technology and noise level.   They rarely focus on some of the equally important factors when you on are a budget, like warranty, cost of replacement parts, electricity costs.  Though the "best" air purifier may technically function the best, it might not be the best match overall for you.

It is important to find the best match for your needs, and only you can decide what those are.  For instance if an air filtering device is works fantastic but is too noisy, this will eventually drive you nuts and you will stop using it.  If you neglect to factor in the increased cost of electricity, you may not be able to run it enough to make it worth your while.  Lastly, don't forget to check cost of replacement parts.  Sometimes these can cost more than the initial unit itself. 

Air purifiers really can make a difference in the quality of your air and how you are affected by it.  My daughter has mild-medium allergies, and sleeps and breathes much better with a small one in her room.

Do you have trouble getting your  school-age kids dressed and out the door?  Maybe even your pre-teen or teenager?  I will be the first to admit, that in addition to my Kindergarten and 1st grade sweeties, I have particular issues with my 7th grader who can supposedly dress herself.  For instance, I don't know on what planet any mother would let her child out the door in a short sleeve T-shirt while it's snowing.  So, I devised a plan for making sure my kids were organized and dressed appropriately, so I could get them to school on time with ease, and without a headache.  Here is what I did, and you can, too:

1. Create a Weather Spin Chart.  I created a special chart with the different types of weather in our area.  In each section, along with the weather description and correlating pictures, I have listed the appropriate clothing for that particular weather.  Every night I check weather after they go to bed and I set the pointer on the correct weather for the next day.   For whatever weather is in store, just one look at the chart lets them know what kind of clothing they are to be wearing for the day.  So if its pointing to winter weather with snow or wind, they can see that they'd better have their heavy coats, hats and mittens to go with it.  If it's pointing to a happy bright yellow sun, shorts are in order.  A cool blue wind with a sun would have a light jacket and pants on the chart, etc.  You can use your imagination for your chart and adapt it to your regions weather patterns, but it definitely teaches the younger children how to dress themselves better, and keeps the "I didn't know" excuses from perpetually flowing from the older kids' mouths.
   
   To create the chart:  You can either create a pie chart with graphics on the computer and print it out, or create one by hand on your own with heavy poster board or construction paper (can be a great family project for younger kids).  Draw pictures of your region's type of weather, like raindrops, a rising thermostat for warmer weather, low thermostat for cold, snow, wind (wavy lines), etc.  — or you can simple cut pictures out of magazines and  print pictures from your computer, then glue them on your chart.  Next, write the appropriate clothing for each type of weather, and if possible, laminate your chart (you can usually do this at your local office supply store).  You also will want to make an arrow to uses as your pointer, which can be made out of the same paper as your chart, and you can laminate the arrow pointer at the same time as your pie chart.  Then just make two small holes, one in the middle of the pie chart, and the other at the end of the arrow stem (the thinner part of the arrow that doesn't point).  Connect with a brad fastener to hold in place and your done!
   
2. Dressing in Style.   So you've got the type of clothes down, but the next battle is getting them to wear clothes that actually match.  When one of my children was 3, she would only wear red...  for 3 months straight.  I guess that wasn't so bad, because the clothes actually matched, but I didn't have all red clothes and that led to the same 3 outfits (who knew it would go on for so long?).  At 2 1/2 years, another child refused to wear any shirt except her tinkerbell pajama top, pelting out blood curdling screams every time I explained that it had to be washed.
   
   The solution?  A compromise.  My younger kids can pick out one item of clothing each night — either a top or a bottom.  It's one or the other.  This way my kids feel like they are expressing their own individuality, and I have the sanity of knowing they won't walk out the door looking like a bad set of drapes.

Whatever you need to do to make yourself more sane, do it.  You can use your creativity to show your kids who is in charge, without having to give ultimatums or endure daily conflict over the little things.  Happy moms have happy kids!

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Every Kind of Mom.com Rating: 5 out of  5 Stars 
 

Review:  Olivia...Takes Ballet

Nick Jr.'s "Olivia" series is putting out their second full-length Olivia DVD on March 2, 2010: Olivia...Takes Ballet. Lucky for me, I got to review it with my kids beforehand.

For those of you who aren't yet familiar with Olivia, she is a super feisty and fun character (based on acclaimed author/illustrator Ian Falconer's award-winning titles). Olivia is 6¾-year-old adorable young piglet powerhouse who uses her imagination to take her on extraordinary adventures that capture the hearts of young school-age and pre-school children. She is truly a tireless heroine who inspires kids maintain a positive attitude and follow their dreams. My kids literally fell in love with Olivia the first time they saw one of her episodes.

In this latest DVD, there are 4 new to DVD episodes, but they include 8 different endearing stories:

• "Olivia Takes Ballet"/"Olivia and Her Ducklings"
• "Olivia Runs a Carnival"/"Olivia Explores the Attic"
• "Olivia and the Anniversary Surprise"/"Olivia the Pet Monitor"
• "Olivia Goes Camping"/"Olivia Becomes a Vet"

In the title episode Olivia takes on an unlikely partner ( a football player!) for her pas de deux and entertains her whole class with a surprisingly graceful performance.  In the subsequent episode, Olivia comes home from the park and finds some extra visitors in her home — and with the mother and her ducklings being hidden by Olivia, the harder she tries to hide them, the more things go wrong.  The duckling episode had my kids giggling and smiling from ear to ear.

The other 6 stories are just as entertaining, and each of my kids had their separate picks for those they like the most... both settling on the ballet episode as one of their favorites.

Although the challenges are simple and pre-school sized, they are presented in a way that kids 7 and under can relate to.  This DVD extends beyond entertainment for just pre-school aged kids.  It is a sweet and uplifting boost of creative imagination that my kids truly enjoyed, and the Fashion show featurette at the end was really cute.  Love it!

Olivia... Takes Ballet scheduled release is on March 2, 2010 for a suggested retail of $16.99. 



Additional Details:

Special Features:  Olivia's Fashion Show Featurette
Title Copyright:  2010
Type:  Home Video
Rating:  Not Rated (US) G (CAN)
Genre:  Children's, Animated, TV, Education
Format:  Full Screen
Feature Running Time:  Approximately 95 Minutes
DVD Audio Status:  Dolby Digital Sound, English Stereo
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Today I cried... not because I was sad, but because I was happy.  Unlike the title may suggest, this post isn't about whether or not my child had good sportsmanship, because she always has — rather, it's about the day my daughter finally found the inner strength to let herself become a vital part of her team.

My oldest daughter is playing basketball.  She is 12 (7th grade).  She is kind, sweet and has the attitude of every kid her age... but not on the court. On the court she is not aggressive at all — not a quality that bodes well for team sports.  In fact, it is her personal strengths that I am so proud of (kind, unselfish, quick & smart) that used to "do her in" on the court.  She was smart enough to know that it was just a game, and never wanted to hurt anyone.  So, year after year, in every sport she participated in, I watched my child's natural talent become suffocated by her passive, carefree approach to the world.  Hence, my very tall and big-boned "perfectly adapted for basketball" child, was more of a space-filler instead of a daunting force.  Today, something magically changed.

What I saw today I have never seen before.  She wanted that ball.  She owned the ball — and everyone else on the court.  Arms up, snatching re-bounds, ball-stealing, hustling up and down the court, free-throws, you name it, she did it... and she actually fouled someone (accidentally, of course).  It was a moment of pure joy and relief.  For all the years my husband and I tried to nuture her and encourage her, push without pushing, and guide without overwhelming — it all came together,  just when I was beginning to think it never would.

Today I saw that kind and gentle girl become a young woman.  A young lady who was still kind, smart and quick, yet finally grasped the concept of what it really meant to use her strengths and truly become a part of her team.  I saw her self-confidence explode, and her face beam with pure joy.  She felt more personally empowered than any other time I have witnessed.  Today was the day she recognized her true potential, and had the sound judgment to put it into action.  Today my little girl was not so little anymore, and I am so very proud of her.

This just goes to show you that you should never stop encouraging your child.  The time will come for whatever it is that they are working on, and they will find success in their own time and in their own way.  It may take failure after failure to find the right path.  It may mean that with some challenges, they learn that a different path is better suited for them.  But whatever they do, if you stand behind your child and believe in them, they will ultimately succeed. 

On the day that they do, you may cry, too.  It's a beautiful thing to watch your child find who they really are.

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Can't get reservations at your favorite restaurant or want to spend an evening in?  You will want to make sure you choose dishes that are both delicious and easy to coordinate, so you can ensure you actually be able to enjoy them with your Valentine.  The trick to making a romantic meal for two is all about what you prepare, and how to time it.

Deciding what to make can be tricky because you want to make something special, but you also want to be able to enjoy it as if you are in a restaurant — sharing the meal together, and at the proper temperature.  This means hot food should be hot, without being overcooked by being warmed too long in the oven.  You will also want to make sure you spend minimal time in the kitchen, so you can enjoy the majority of your evening with your sweetheart.

So what should you cook?  I have laid out an entire meal plan that can be accomplished in less than 30 minutes, and that allows for enjoying every course from appetizer through dessert.  If you think any of the following sound good, see the Valentines Dinner Plan for the recipes.

Hot Stuffed Mushroom Appetizer
Candied Walnut Salad
Pan -Seared Herb Chicken with Chardonnay pan sauce (served w/ Roasted Red Potatoes and Steamed Baby Carrots)
Strawberry Cheesecake Minis drizzled in chocolate

I hope you enjoy your Valentines Day!


Links:  Valentines Dinner Plan 
             Valentines Gift & Flowers — Online Discount Codes

Whether you are looking for a discount on flowers,  a 'gift for him", or a "gift for her" — you are running out of time.  The closer you get to Valentines day the pricier things seem to become.  One way to still get a discount, however is to look for special discount codes on your favorite websites.

Right now many flower delivery sites are offering discounts, but they aren't on their main site.  You may find "free delivery" or a special price on roses, but sometimes you can get an even better price on flowers by utilizing a discount code.  The same goes for Valentines gift baskets, personalized gifts, and others..  You can easily get an extra 5-20% off just by paying attention to the Valentines ads on unrelated websites.

But what if you don't know what you want yet?  While the prices may go up on some things (like flowers), most of the discount codes issued are good until Valentines Day.  So, any special code or discount is unlikely to disappear.  But that doesn't mean you should wait until the last minute, because they may just run out of what you want to buy.

If you are still trying to figure out what you are doing for Valentines Day, here is where you can find discount codes and gift ideas, as well as a full meal plan if you want to entertain at home.

When you are looking to earn cash from taking surveys, it's hard to know which survey companies are the best for earning actual money.  Some are great for product testing, and others have great sweepstakes and prizes, but it seems very few pay cash for each survey.  This is not true with Opinion Outpost.  In fact, not only does Opinion Outpost credit your account promptly, but they are very efficient at cutting your check.

Though it says on their website that you can expect to wait 4-8 weeks for processing, I have never had to wait that long.  Just last week I requested a check, and less than one week later I had a check in my hand.  In times before that, I have never had to wait more than 2 weeks after requesting to cash in my survey points for payment.

Some people have beefs with this company because of the number of surveys they start, but are unable to finish because they are disqualified  (meaning, no pay).  I used to feel this way, too — until I realized I had not completed all my personal profile information.  Such is the case for many survey companies, as they need your personal details to know which surveys to send you.  After completing my profile,  I am rarely disqualified from any survey, and Opinion Outpost consistently puts more opportunties in my email inbox than most other legitimate survey companies.

If you are interested in taking surveys but have not yet registered for Opinion Outpost, you may want to register and give them a try.

You can also find other survey companies, including more survey info and online money-making ecourses, all for 100% free at FreeSurveyCenter.com