Source: OceanSpray.com

SAVE $1.10 on TWO when you buy TWO BOXES any variety Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks. Download the printable coupon.

Please keep in mind that these fruit snacks are made with real apple, pear, and cranberry juice from concentrate. For a complete list of ingredients see the package.

These fruit snacks are not a substitute for real fruit.

Nutrition Facts Serving

• Size 1 pouch Amount Per Serving
• Calories 80 Calories from Fat 0% Daily Value* Total Fat 0g 0%
• Saturated Fat 0g 0%
• Trans Fat 0g
• Cholesterol 0mg 0%
• Sodium 25mg 1%
• Total Carbohydrate 19g 6%
• Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
• Sugars 12g
• Protein 0g
• VitaminA 0% •
• VitaminC 100%
• Calcium 0% •
• Iron 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

“I received this information and the coupon offer from Ocean Spray® through MyBlogSpark”

No related posts.

Source: dittoeffect

Lately, I haven’t shared a post about what was on my heart. I’m still enjoying my children, probably more than ever. I really didn’t think they could get any sweeter than when they were sweet precious infants, but they are growing more adorable each day. They say some of the funniest things and keep me smiling and believing that good still exists. For a while now, one of my 3 year-old daughters calls me her “Clever Mommy.” It so adorable because she gives me the tightest hugs and says, “You’re my clever Mommy and I love you.” One of the best feelings in the world is being loved by your children. Some days, I sit back and take all the loud raucous in: the sounds of kids attempting to share, the rumbling of toy cars across my wood floors, the repetition of a LeapFrog toy babbling in my ear, and the joy of laughter on my daughter’s lips.

Whenever, I pause to notice the beauty and spontaneity motherhood brings, I feel exhilarated and thrilled about our future together as a family. This past weekend was Mother’s Day and it felt good to be with my family. We went to Potbelly, a sandwich chain, but it was fine because I was with the people I loved the most. I really enjoy times when everyone is content and all of our needs are being looked after.

Although, I’m not the worlds greatest mother, I give my children and my husband my open heart. I love them tenderly and sincerely and I don’t ask for anything in return. Now I prioritize my day, with God first and my family second. I place my kids needs before work or any other task that I may need to complete around the house.

Usually, I let my husband put our children to bed so he can spend some quality time with them as well, but last night my girls came to be and said, “Mommy, we want you to read with us in our bed.” So I did. I slept very soundly, knowing that my girls love having Mommy in their presence. Cheers to all the moms and dads who are doing their best raising kids to be loving, hard working citizens.

Related posts:

1. Are you in favor of No-Kids-Allowed Bans?
2. Parenting and Discipline: Would You Spank Your Child?
3. Classes for Parents @greenberriesco (breastfeeding, cloth diapering, fitness, & more)

Welcome to the iPAD May-nia Giveaway!
We are giving away the latest iPad to one lucky winner!

Bee Savy Ipad Giveway

BeeSavy is a digital personal shopping assistant that pays YOU for serving you! BeeSavy searches the internet to obtain the lowest prices at the stores YOU love. The best part? BeeSavy also sends you cashback on your purchases you make when shopping through their links! Quick, easy, and profitable! Check out their site to learn more!

To get a chance to win, enter using the form below.

Mandatory Entry: Sign up for BeeSavy by clicking here

Related posts:

1. FunBites Review and Giveaway
2. Closed – Giveaway in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month: PINK TOGETHER
3. Review & Giveaway: @Pillsbury Frozen Grands! Biscuit Sandwiches and Pillsbury Egg Scrambles – CLOSED

Source: Sura Nualpradid, freedigitalphotos.net

How early do babies start learning? Immediately, babies are learning as soon as they exit their mother’s womb, so start engage your baby with dialog as soon as he or she comes home. Early exposure to language will help your child develop his or her own speech patterns faster.

When my daughters arrived home from the hospital, I was overjoyed. For 9 months I earlier waited for the opportunity to be able to talk to them about life and share the world with them. As I nursed, changed them, bathed them, etc I always talked to them about what I was doing. I would even ask them questions and answered the question before they were able to on their own. Throughout this engagement, they just appeared mesmerized my face and my moving lips. While  their own bright eyes looked expectantly and their ears listened intently.

Here are a few tips to help develop your child’s speech:

1. Talk to your baby, even before he or she is able to respond.

Babies love to hear the voices of their parents and are learning how to develop speech and their own words before they ever utter their first words. Even when alone with your baby/babies, talk to them as much as possible. It is not only comforting to your child but it is good for you as well. It will help you stay in a better mood.

What should you talk about?

• Anything. The easiest is to talk about what you are doing.
• You can talk about the weather,
• What you plan to eat,
• How much you love your child, etc.

2. Read to your child.

Regular Cleverly Changing readers are well acquainted with my love for reading to my children. Reading is so great because it broadens children’s vocabulary, acts as a bonding moment between parents and  the child, and has a calming affect on children as they get use to the patterns in your voice as you read. While you read to your baby, point to words and pictures and ask your child questions. Even before my girls were able to say words they knew how to point to pictures when they were asked questions about the books I read. As always, repetition deepens the impression so go ahead read books over and over, they will enjoy it.

3. Sing and play music.

Singing is not one of my talents, but I used to sing to my babies and they loved it. To over shadow my singing inadequacies, I often added a CD in the background to sing along to. If my baby was crying, the singing always changed their mood. Singing also helped diaper changing time go a little smoother. I also used to sing as I cleaned their gums in the morning and before I put them to sleep. When I didn’t have a song in mind I would sing the alphabets or my numbers. When singing about numbers I usually when beyond the number 10 until I reached 100. In fact, as I laid them to sleep in their crib I used to count to 100 each night before I left their rooms. If you’re trying to learn another language, this is a great time to play the audio of the language and let your child listen in as well.

4. Tummy Time Play.

As your baby grows. A few moments of tummy time while you’re watching is important.  Tummy time will help your child strengthen his or her muscles and explore new things. Even if your child is unable to move, the things he or she can see will be be different. Get down on the floor with your child/children and name things in their eye-view.

No related posts.

Source: Grant Cochrane, freeditalphotos.net

Bullying is not a new phenomenon, but it recent years it has become much more frightening for children. Parents should always lookout for signs of bullying. The old saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is untrue. Words can be daggers to someone else. We all know that bullying is a problem throughout the school year, but it can become a bigger problem at the end of the year when some children may seek revenge because they know they will not suffer the full consequences.

Bullying can have a devastating effect on the lives of children, their self-esteem, emotional well-being, and their health. As this school year draws to a close, I want to highlight some signs of bullying and list some steps you should take if you suspect your child is being bullied:

School Bullying

Lookout for extreme changes. Pay attention to changes in your child’s behavior regarding school, school work, and social activities. If you recognize radical differences in a negative direction, talk to your child and try to find out what is going on.

Take time to talk. Always keep the communications lines open between you and your child. Have an open door policy, where they can contact you whenever he or she really needs to talk. When spending time with your child on occasions, try to do more listening rather than talking. Develop a routine where you inquire about his or her day, friends, studies, and other concerns. Try to ask open-ended questions, which are not leading or suggestive such as:

(These are simple questions that will get your child talking)

• How was your day?
• Are you looking forward to the school-year ending?
• Are you looking forward to next school-year?
• What did you like most about this year, what did you like least?
• What would you have changed about this year?

If your child is being bullied tell him or her to:

1. Stay calm.
2. Tell the teachers and/ principal so they can also keep a close eye on your child and the bully as well.
3. Encourage your child not to let the bully see him or her upset.
4. If possible, teach your child to walk away.
5. Encourage your child to have positive friends.
6. Encourage your child to avoid being alone around the bully.
7. Develop a plan of action or role play with your child.

Cyber Bullying

If cyber bullying is occurring online, via text, email, or any other technical device investigate first. Try to find out what is being said and done. When applicable, alert teachers, try to meet with the bully’s parent/guardian, and alert other professionals such as the local police if physical harm is being attempted. If the teachers are not responsive and say, “There is nothing they can do,” contact the school superintendent, school board, etc. By now, schools should have an anti-bullying policy in place and if the school does not they should be encouraged to adopt one.

If your child is being cyber-bullied tell him or her to:

1. Show a parent/adult. (The parent will save the message and seek other adults to limit future messages). This a good time to increase your positive affirmations regarding your child. Encourage him or her and highlight the positive attributes his or she possesses.
2. Tell your child to stay calm.
3. Don’t reply to cyber bully.
4. Block the person from being able to contact him or her.
5. If you child has been bullied, get him or her help to learn how to overcome the situation.

Lastly, if you child doesn’t have to attend the last day of school, don’t force him or her to be there. It is also important to be well aware of the bullying laws in your state. BullyPolice.org is a website that reports state bullying laws.

Additional Resources:

Related posts:

1. Raising Swiper: Signs to recognize if your kid is the school bully?
2. First Trip to the Dentist – Do’s and Don’ts
3. You Are a Parent, Now What? Things to do with your 6-12 m/o child

Source: Worakit Sirijinda, freedigitalphotos.org

This year my family will take a trip to Great Wolf lodge, a family friendly resort and water park. I am excited about the trip and the break, but also concerned about my daughter’s Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and pool safety. As many of you may know, one of my daughters is living with Sickle Cell Disease, a genetic blood disorder. For many Sickle Cell Patients, they are advised not to swim in public swimming pools or cold-water pools.

Why does cold water pools affect Sickle Cell Patients?

Cold water pools can cause a person living with SCD to be in pain as a result of their blood sickling. Unfortunately, the cold water causes patients to need more oxygen in their muscles, which also decreases the amount of red blood cells the person has because cold temperatures  slows their blood flow and reduces oxygen from traveling throughout the person’s body. Additionally, this decrease in blood flow, causes their blood vessels to become smaller in order to preserve body heat. The lack of blood flowing throughout the SCD patient’s extremities triggers sickle cell pain.Therefore, it is recommended that people with SCD swim in warm indoor pools.

“Warm temperature causes reflexes to open (dilate) blood vessels and send more blood to the skin and extremities to shed heat. This re-distributes blood flow and may shunt blood flow away from parts of the body that need oxygen or need to clear the chemical waste of metabolism. Those parts of the body might then develop sickle cell pain. Sweating helps the body lose heat, but also may lead to dehydration, and dehydration is a common trigger for sickle cell pain. People can adapt to hot weather by keeping to the shade or air conditioning, by drinking a lot of fluids to avoid dehydration, and avoiding excessive exertion while taking frequent rest breaks” (source).

How warm does an indoor pool need to be?

At least 80 degrees. Patients with SCD can swim in indoor pools “if the water temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above. He/she should dry off immediately when leaving the pool and have a dry robe or towel on at all times. Sudden chills or temperature changes can trigger sickle cell pain. The student should be allowed to stop swimming on request. He/She should [always] be well hydrated before and during swimming” (source).

Do patients living with Sickle Cell always have sickled cells?

In sickle cell patients some cells will always remain sickled, but not all. Thus, extremely cold temperatures should be avoided because cold temperatures increase sickling which causes pain. Currently, research is being conducted by hematologists to understand and come to a consensus about the cause of pain that may continually occur in some sickle cell patients.

Additional Resources:

• Sickle Cell Anemia: A Parent’s Guide For a School-Age Child
• Pool Safety
• Parenting a child with Sickle Cell Disease

Related posts:

1. Sickle Cell Disease
2. Parenting a Child with Sickle Cell Disease
3. Tune in @2 EST. Today for a Live Symposium on Sickle Cell Disease

iStopDrop Cable Organizer in action

What I like most:

1. Cost effective
2. Easy to install
3. It works
4. Small and not obtrusive
5. Sleek design
6. Removable, if you want to place it in other places
7. Doesn’t damage most surfaces
8. Holds cables such as USB cables, laptop, cellphone, tablet chargers and network cords so it does not drop or fall behind a desk or table.
9. Made in the USA
10. Supports a small business

What would I change or how would I improve the product:

The product is great, but if I were the genius-mind behind it, I  would offer more colors.

Learn more about iStopDrop’s Cable Organizer

Overall, this product should be in every office and every college student’s dorm room. It’s so simple, it’s sheer genius.

To Order:

• Visit iStopDrop.com
• 2 Pack Cable Organizer / Holder is $5
• Free Shipping for orders over $5

Win it: (2 winners, ends May 31, 2012 at 12:01 am)

Each winner will receive a pair of iStopDrop's cable organizers

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review.”

Learn More about the Company: iStopDrop

The product was manufactured by a small business in Fremont, CA but all of the components and packaging are all assembled by hand. Also, all of the components are proudly made in USA. Please visit the site http://www.istopdrop.com for more information.

Related posts:

1. Review and Giveaway: Child Up Early Mathematics – CLOSED Learning
2. Review and Giveaway: Purex Complete with Zout-CLOSED
3. Review and Giveaway: “Taken” by Brock Eastman

Source: jannoon028, freedigitalphotos.net

Literacy is very important to me. I love to read and I taught my children to read early as well. I wanted my children to explore the world beyond their physical reach through books, so as babies I read to them often and even during their infant years they listened and looked at the book’s  pictures. At the age of 1 they learned their phonetics and remembered a few words. At the age of two they read a little better and now at three years old they are early readers who can comprehend the words they read.

How do you encourage a love for reading?

1. While your child is young, even a baby, point out words all around you. Words are everywhere, if you love words like I do, share that love with your children.
2. Show your excitement about new words by reading to your kids, even while they are infants. While my kids were little, I labeled common household objects that they could see.
3. Read creatively. For instance, I cook with recipes and show my children the cookbooks so they can read which ingredients we need to use. I show them words on their shampoo and lotion bottles, in magazines, and on TV. (We also learn new words with on my iPad with apps and look up words in a dictionary.)
4. Sometimes while I am cooking and cleaning in the kitchen, I sound-out simple words and allow my girls to create those words on our refrigerator with our Leapfrog refrigerator magnet set, which helps my kids learn how to create new words and learn word association. We started playing this game when they were 2 and they still enjoy it. I love it because it keeps them busy while I am getting things done.
5. Explore words in their environment. When we take our daily walk we read the street signs as we walk pass them. Whenever we see interesting posters or billboards, I ask them what it says and we discuss the words. I also write down simple words with chalk on our pavement and we hop from word-to-word like it’s a game (I write simple words and also draw pictures of the words as well so they can match them).
6. Read daily. We enjoy story-time as a part of our daily routine. I let each of my children choose 2 books and we read them together. Now, we usually alternate pages, so both will get a chance to read on their own.
7. When we play games, I let them help me read the instructions. I also let them type their names when on the computer, the iPad, or on their Innotab.
8. Another game we enjoy together is guess that letter game. Similar to “Eye-Spy” but it uses words/letters instead of objects. While we are reading I ask them to show or tell me the word that begins with the letter I say out-loud.
9. My sister-in-law told me about a really fun activity she does with her children. For the letter of the day, each child looks through the newspaper to find words that began with the letter of the day. Then they create a collage out of the words.
10. I also let my children see me reading and allow them to have their own quiet reading time as well.
11. Play the rhyming game with your kids and let them choose books about topics they are interested in.
12. Lastly, while we ride bikes together I teach them how to spell their name, their birthday, and other useful facts.

Source: Stuart Miles, freedigitalphotos.net

How does reading develop in a child 3-4 years old? 

My children showed an early interest in learning to read, but even if your child hasn’t shown this interest, you don’t have to worry. Here are some of the developmental stages for children 3-4 years old.

• The child should be able to recognize and say familiar words, such as the names of restaurants visited by the family often, street signs that he or she is familiar with, and names of their favorite cereal or boxed treat.
• If you read the same books often, your child/children should start recognizing common words.
• Children should start recognizing and be introduced to rhyming words and words that begin with the same sound.
• The tag system is great for this age group because the child should be able to hold a book, turn its pages,  say, and recognize some words.

How does reading develop in a child 4-5 years old?

• At this age children should already understand that words have meaning and are not just a string of letters.
• Children should be able to tell you a story from their memory.
• Children should be able to sound-out simple words and put the sounds together to say the word.
• By 5, most children should know their letters and sounds and their numbers from 1-10.

Overall, your child can learn a lot more if you expose him or her to more while they are younger. Learning is continual and there is nothing wrong with sharing the knowledge if your child wants to learn it. Just don’t force the information on him or her try to keep learning fun.

No related posts.

Kindle Fire Benefits for Moms

1. It’s a great way to read will multitasking
2. Functional and time-saying calendar apps
3. Fun learning apps that can even help teach you a new language
4. A great way to listen to music where-ever you are
5. Great android apps like Geoqpon can be downloaded
6. and much much more

Kindle Fire, Full Color 7″ Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi - MSRP: $199

Movies, apps, games, music, reading and more, plus Amazon’s revolutionary, cloud-accelerated web browser

• Easy to use
• Low cost, but highly functional
• Over 20 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, and books
• Thousands of popular apps and games, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and more
• Ultra-fast web browsing – Amazon Silk
• Free cloud storage for all your Amazon content
• Vibrant color touchscreen with 7″-wide viewing angle – same as an iPad
• Fast, powerful dual-core processor
• Light weight
• Supports public and private Wi-Fi networks or hotspots
• Favorite children’s books, graphic novels, and magazines in rich color
• Amazon Prime Members enjoy unlimited, instant streaming on thousands of popular movies and TV shows.
• Amazon Prime Members choose from over a hundred thousand books to borrow for free.

Here’s a review from Lisa with MobileTechReview

Giveaway starts on April 30, 2012 at 12:01AM EST and ends May 14, 2012 at 11:59PM EST. Open to the US and Canadian only; must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Who is ready for some techy summer fun? Enter to win a Kindle Fire below on the rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No related posts.

What is Klout?

Have you ever wondered what Klout is all about? Today, I share the buzz about Klout on ChipDizard.com.

Do you want to know:

• What Klout is?
• Why Klout matters?
• Whether or not Klout important?
• and How to build your score?

Check out my guest post “GOT KLOUT” to find answers to these questions and more.

No related posts.

Source: Stoonn, freedigitalphotos.net

Natalie Kocsis once said “The world is a playground, and life is pushing my swing.” To young children a the playground is their universe, a kingdom where they can rule solo or within a group. As parents, my husband and I love taking my children to playgrounds because it is free fun. A couple of months ago, I took my kids to a new playground and realized my children played very differently with me than they did with their father. When their dad takes them to the park their love to explore and try the play equipment often encourages their independence. Their imagination overwhelms them while they experience social exploration and new adventures on their own. On the other hand, with me, they want me to be an active participant and not just an observer. During this particular time at the park, something about my presence hindered their independence a little, and in some ways could have hindered their safety as well.  As a result of my experience, below I list parenting tips that will help children be safer on the playground.

According to the National Program for Playground Safety “Each year over 200,000 children are injured on America’s playgrounds* (source)

1. No Lap sliding

My girls no longer wanted to stay in the 2-5 year old playground section; instead, they wanted to ride the tall slides designated for older children. The only problem is they would not go down the slide without me. Indulging my children by putting them on my lap to slide down, unbeknownst to me, could have broken their legs. I remember sliding down and feeling my daughter’s rubber shoe-soles get caught on the slide, I quickly grabbed her legs and held her feet in the palm of my hands to keep her safe, which was the last time I gave them a ride on my lap while sliding. The experience was frightening and could have ended a lot worse. Then I found an article, which confirmed my fears: riding on slides while holding your child in your lap can be dangerous and break or fracture his or her legs according to Dr. Edward Holt, an orthopedic surgeon who has treated many of these preventable injuries.  In “A Surprising Risk for Toddlers on Playground Slides,” he shares the dangers and encourages parents to stop lap sliding.

2. Use Age Appropriate Play Equipment

My kids, like most, want to do what the “big kid’s” are doing. However, for their safety children should be encouraged to play on equipment for their age group so we as parents don’t need to hover over them and can give them the autonomy they need. Many areas in our adult world are not kid friendly so taking our child to a playground right for them is important. The playground should be a free zone for them to enjoy without being told “No” or “Don’t” a lot.

3. Don’t Use Wet Play Equipment and Dress Appropriately

Rain is sometimes unavoidable, but even if it is drizzling it is safer to take your child off of the play equipment. Water can increase a child’s injuries and make surfaces slippery and unsafe. Children should also wear clothing that does not contain draw-strings, which can get caught in equipment. Tennis shoes should be checked to make sure their shoe strings are always tied.

4. Always keep an eye on your child/children

In addition to looking at obvious external dangers when I arrive I  have to remind myself while watching my children on the playground, this is not the time to multi-task or read a book. This is especially important for parents of elementary-age children to remember. We should keep our eyes on our kids at all times. (Yes, as a parent I realize this is easier said than done, but it is the safest way for them to play).

Additional Resources:

• Kid’s Health “Playground Safety“
• Publications by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Dr. Holt’s video explanation regarding slide safety

*Reader response: Are their any tips you would add?

No related posts.

SAFETY FIRST

Many of the hotels in the area participate in the voluntary Find-A-Kid Wristband Program, very similar to the one on cruises, where each child 10 and under receive an identification wristband when they arrive.

THINGS TO DO

Of course if you’re going to the beach, one of the best things to do is chill-out and relax in the sand and water. Luckily, VA has 3 beautiful beaches, which is over 35 miles of fun and adventure.

Resort Accommodations, which give you the option to go camping, kayaking, fishing, bird watching, Para-sailing, etc.

Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center 717 General Booth Blvd. (757) 385-FISH

It is great to be able to play near the ocean, but even better to see the animals that live in the ocean. The Aquarium provides a window into marine life. It also has an IMAX center, summer day camps, play date with animals, seafood fest, and more.

Contemporary Art Center of Virginia 2200 Parks Avenue. 757-425-0000

Their art classes are recommended for ages 2+

Some other kids activities include painting, drawing, ceramics, crafts etc.

FREE/LOW COST ACTIVITIES

Check out their parks and wildlife (trials, waterways, state parks, etc)

Cape Henry Lighthouse & Memorial Park ($5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-12, opened and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. The light house is over 200 years old and is a great historic American relic.

Virginia Beach Amusement Park Admission to the park is free and ride tickets range from 70 cents to $1, but most rides require four to six tickets. Some of their rides include:

• Hurricane
• Music Express
• Comic Storm
• Inverter
• and Skyscraper

Oceanfront Festivals and Events Depending on which time of year you choose to go their will be a festival planned for your enjoyment. Some of the festivals include:

• Latin Festival
• FunkFest
• Blues at the Beach festival
• PANorama Caribbean Music Fest
• Craft Beer Festival
• and Festa Italiana

Historic Homes Virginia is a state with an abundance of rich history and historic homes that have been preserved. Some of the homes include: (Admissions prices range for $5 to $2 per person, see links for exact details)

• Adam Thoroughgood House (circa 1680)
• Lynnhaven House (1725)
• Ferry Plantation House (1740)
• and Francis Land House (late 1700s)

Military Aviation Museum If you’re fascinated by aviation history, this is the place for you and your family because this museum has one of the largest private collections of World War I and World War II era military aircrafts in the world. (Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and seniors and active duty military is $9.)

Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum This musuem is designed to help preserve wildfowl art, carvings, artifacts and photographs.The cottage is historically registered and was built in 1895. (Admission to the museum is FREE.)

Old Coast Guard Station Visitors are encouraged to learn more about shipwrecks, the coast guard, and World War II when they visit this museum. ( Admission to the museum is $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-18.)

Virginia Legends Walk Do you like visiting hollywood’s Walk of fame; similarly, Virginia has a legends walk that honors notable Virginians. This Walk is currently located in Virginia Beach’s resort area on 13th Street, between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Avenue.

Beach Street U.S.A. During the summer months Beach Street U.S.A becomes an art district with puppets, bands, jugglers, magicians and more, which can all be viewed and experienced by cruising along on the sidewalk.

Virginia Beach Farmers Market and Coastal Food Tours

and more

 ”I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach blogging program. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

About Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach entices visitors to “Live the Life” year-round! Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less for two-thirds of the U.S. population. For visitor information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800-822-3224) or visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com for online trip planning. For media information and digital images, click on www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com/pressroom.

Virginia Beach Resources

• More info on Virgina Beach:
• http://www.visitvirginiabeach.com
• http://www.visitvirginiabeach.com/visitors/things-to-do/
• http://www.beachstreetusa.com/
• Virgina Beach on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VirginiaBeachVA
• Follow @VaBeachCVB on Twitter

No related posts.

Gortons Tilapia

BENEFITS OF SEAFOOD

Seafood is a great source of Omega 3-fatty acids.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center “Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and may help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be important for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioral function. In fact, infants who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids from their mothers during pregnancy are at risk for developing vision and nerve problems. Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include fatigue, poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation.” (Source)

Gorton's Seafood Giveaway

Seafood lovers, Cleverly Changing has teamed up with great bloggers like Chic N Savvy Reviews to bring you a FREE seafood giveaway.

• 3 Prizes Awarded
  

• 3 different families will win 2 coupons for Gorton’s products of your choice

Open to US residents only, entries will be accepted from April 21 at 11:59pm EST and will end on May 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The winner will be chosen via the Rafflecopter, which uses Random.org. The winner will be contacted email, and given 48 hours to respond with your contact information or I will then choose a new winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No related posts.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

News stations across the US reported about a 6 year old being arrested and charged with with simple assault and damage to property after having a temper tantrum. The report describes a violent outburst: tearing things off the wall, throwing books, toys, and furniture (one which injured the school’s principal). The school chose to have the kindergartner arrested, charged, and left in a jail cell until her mother came to retrieve her.

When I heard the report, I felt the school needed to do something to protect the child, the other children, and adults in the classroom as well. Unfortunately, the school was not able to get in touch with the child’s mother so they called the police. Instead of calling the police a comprehensive assessment and crisis team should have entered the scene. The “tantrum” as described by reporters does not sound like a normal childhood tantrum. On the contrary, this child could be experiencing a violent psychological problem or have anger management issues, which should be evaluated and diagnosed by a clinical professional and not criminalized.

Violent mood swings can be characteristics of some of the medical disorders listed below.

• Bipololar Disorder
• Aspergers
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• An intellectual disability (such as mental retardation disorder)
• Intermittent explosive disorder
• Schizophrenia
• and others

After hearing the story, I wondered did this school have other options in this situation? Yes, below is a list of other actions that could have taken place.

1. Contact trained professionals within the school such as special education staff members or mental health specialist
2. Call a mobile crisis team to help defuse the situation
3. Or call the local mental health department (This school should already have plans in place to diffuse situations such as this one)

The arrest of this six year old child was a traumatic experience and could cause further problems.

1. From this experience the child is at further risk of suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
2. Unfortunately the other kids who witnessed their classmate’s violent outburst and arrest could also suffer from PTSD according to the DSM-IV™ Diagnosis & Criteria. “The essential feature of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor involving direct personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or other threat to one’s physical integrity; or witnessing an event that involves death, injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of another person; or learning about unexpected or violent death, serious harm, or threat of death or injury experienced by a family member or other close associate (Criterion A1). The person’s response to the event must involve intense fear, helplessness, or horror (or in children, the response must involve disorganized or agitated behavior.” (Source)
3. Additionally, the six year old is also at risk for other future adjustment disorders, authority issues, problems with going back into classrooms, etc

The child’s mother was aware of her daughter’s violent mood swings, so the first step of action should have been by her mother, to determine and record when the child’s mood swings occurred before it escalated to this point. Hence, this six year old was sending a plea for professional intervention and help to the other adults in her life. It is imperative that a clinician follow up and evaluate the child to get to the root of what is triggering her explosive outbreaks.

When I heard her story, I thought of Jani Schofield the seven-year-old girl living with childhood Schizophrenia. The Schofield’s, her parents, live a part to help protect their son when their daughter has violent outbursts and voices tell her to do bad things. Jani’s outburst came without warnings and it wasn’t until her parents took her to UCLA’s child psychiatric unit that she was able to get the help she needed.

I am sure no parent wants their child labeled with a disorder, but if there is a medical need then diagnosis should be given followed by treatment.

In this video Jani Schofield describes violent acts of hitting, kicking, outbursts, and throwing things.

The key difference between Jani and this child, is the Schofield’s realized their daughter’s behavior was not normal for a child. It appears that the parent’s of this girl are not getting her the help she needs.

*I felt compelled to write this post after reading comments and articles around the web that suggested this child needs a beating or spanking; on the contrary, this child needs to be diagnosed and treated, not abused.

This post was written in collaboration with Faith Davis, MSW,LCSW,LCAS-P

No related posts.

No child deserves to be abused. No child deserves to be in pain over these unfortunate circumstances, but abuse does happen and where children have no voice, one should be appointed on their behalf.

In February, I read an article in Essence magazine’s entitled, “Not My Boy,” by Jeannine Amber. The article shares the story of Darwin Hobbs, a well-known gospel singer, who was abused as a child by his stepfather. Hobbs, shared his story about how his stepfather “groomed” him by allowing him to watch inappropriate pornography videos, which eventually led to further sexual abuse over a period of time, until he had the courage to threaten to tell the police. Hobbs also discussed how his mother adored his stepfather and felt that he was essential to their care and well-being. His stepfather was nice, likeable, friendly, and a business man all characteristics that were not alarming or red flags to his mother. Hobbs also shared the phone call he had with his mother where he revealed to her that he was abused by his stepfather. He talked about acting out in school, feelings of shame, and years of therapy.

A couple of weeks later, I watched the story of Shelia Escovedo AKA Sheila E who is a world renown percussionist on the show, “Unsung.” Sheila E spoke about being raped at the age of 5 by a neighbor. Sheila E shared with her fans her story of pain and her continual struggle to thrive despite what happened to her as a child. She also, spoke about her foundation, Elevate Hope Foundation (EHF), which is “dedicated to providing abused and abandoned children an alternative method of therapy through music and the arts, and funding special services and programs that assist the needs of children using these fundamental methods.”

Then a month later, I heard “What Finally Made It ‘OK to Tell’,” an interview with abuse survivor and author, Lauren Book on NPR’s show “Tell Me More” and I knew I had to write my post. Book tells her courageous story of being abused by her female Nanny, she shades light on the “grooming” process and signs to watch out for. Some of her advice to parents which stood out to me was:

• Parent’s need to be aware of sexual abuse. It does exist.
• Parent’s need to be concerned if the child always wants to be around a certain adult and has no friends his or her own age.
• Parent’s should have open communication with their child/children
• Parents should always pay attention to how their child interacts with other children and adults.

She also spoke of her families upper middle-class status, their vulnerabilities and the secrecy that was at the foundation of her grooming process. Lauren Book also spoke about her abusers trial and conviction. One key part of her story that stuck with me was that she had an affinity for her abuser. There are times when we think of abuse occurring in a manner that automatically reveals itself such as the child not wanted to be around his or her abuser. Well, that may the case for some children, but more often than not, the abuser has befriended the child in such a way that the child has an affection for the abuser.

Unfortunately, sometimes people take a nonchalant attitude of “It can’t happen to me, in my family, or by someone I know.” But the truth is, maybe it could, just keep your eyes open and watch, at all times, know what behaviors are normal for your child and what behaviors you should be concerned about. Be watchful of an adult who gives a child lavish gifts for no reason. Of course, a situation of abuse whether sexual, physical, mental, or emotional can be shameful for the people involved, but what is even more hurtful, is if the child doesn’t get the help and intervention he or she needs and their entire lives he or she feels victimized and oppressed by a past that may continue to haunt them long after the abuser is no longer around.

One of my passions is being an advocate for children because I believe if us parents and caregivers took greater care to nurture, protect, and love our children unconditionally we all would have a better outcome on life and a better world to live in, we have to be voices for our children when they are silent. Remember abuse can happen anywhere.

WHAT ARE SOME WARNING SIGNS?

• The child may have injuries or visible bruises
• The child shows behavioral changes
• The child has trouble focusing and learning
• The child always is weary and believes something bad will happen
• The child may have a strange fixation with sex
• The parent is not attentive or caring about the child’s needs
• The parent lacks self control and cannot control his or her anger or stress
• The parent is not concerned about the safety and well-being of his or child
• The parent and child rarely communicate and avoid eye contact with each other
• The parent is struggling with mental issues/disorders.

*Please See the US Department of Health and Human Services website for a list of warning signs.

;

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED?

1. Listen. Give the person an opportunity to share what has happened.

2. Don’t ignore your concern. Let the child know you are concerned and care about their well-being.

3. Get Help.

• Contact your local Child Protective Services: Childhelp.org has a list of how to get in touch with various local chapters.
• Call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). If the child is in immediate danger call 911 and get the child to a safe location.
• Visit the website from Darkness to Light shares a comprehensive list of things you can do to help prevent child abuse.

No related posts.

Main Principles Taught

1. Toys cost money
2. To buy things you need money
3. One way to earn money is to work
4. Save your money so it will accumulate and you can purchase things you want or need
5. It’s OK to take initiative and be independent.
6. Purchase things you want on sale.
7. Think purchases through.
8. Moms and Dads will not always buy things just because their children want them.

One of the story line’s I like is at the end, “There’s a great place to go when you need money: to work.” My girls really enjoyed the story and wanted to hear it repeatedly.

April 19th through April 22 2012, people can download the audio from Dave Ramsey’s website for FREE.

Thanks http://mojosavings.com

If you like audio books check out StoryNory.com

No related posts.

Our Popsicle Stick Craft

I’m always looking for creative ways to entertain my children and recycle things at the same time. We constructed a craft that was both fun and functional. This craft was great because it was also an educational activity for my daughters.

What did it teach?

1. The first lesson was about patterns. I let my children pick which Popsicle sticks they liked best, from those chosen we created a reoccurring pattern. Each time I placed the next stick onto the container they had to guess which one came next. (As a result, I had to glue them all separately; otherwise the glue would dry too quickly).
2. Once all of the sticks were in place we counted how many we used to make the box.
3. This is also a great activity for children who are learning to identify their colors.

Materials Used

Materials Used?

1. Empty Clean container
2. Glue gun and glue
3. Popsicle sticks
4. Scissors

How to make the container?

We go through a lot of milk cartons so I wanted to find a way to recycle some of them. I found a great video from SimpleKidsCrafts.com. I would only recommend that you add the glue one-by-one for each Popsicle stick as you place it onto your container.

This craft looks great in my kid’s play room on their bookshelf.

No related posts.

They learn about different musical instruments. They let them explore and use them. They learn to discriminate sounds and textures through play, songs and activities the teachers do. Kids will learn to control emotions and express their feelings.

Instruments are the right size for kids. They can easily handle and do the activity with them. It’s a really fun program, where everyone bonds. There’s lots of smiles and laughter.

Go to www.kindermusik.com for more info, there you can book a free class to try or preview a class online.

More about Kindermusik

• Download Kindermusik music
• Kindermusik on Facebook
• Kindermusik on Twitter
• Kindermusik on YouTube
• Kindermusik.com

Thank you for your insightful guest post. Feel free to follow Montserrat Gonzalez on Twitter @montsegonzalezm. 

“This post is not a paid Sponsorship”

No related posts.

1. The Coupons app

The best part of about the Coupons app is that it tells you where the cheapest gas can be found. OK, we all know gas prices are ridiculous so I am supporting any app that will give me a little reprieve at the pump. This is also my go-to app whenever I am at the mall and need to buy clothes for my kids or purchase something tasty for us when have no other choice but to eat out. The app shares which deals are closest to your current location.

• iPhone Download
• Android Download

i.e. Here are the deals from today, I pulled up

2. The Michaels App

If you’re a regular reader of Cleverly Changing you may know that one of my favorite stores is Michaels. They really have the best most consistent coupons on the market. Thankfully, there is now an app for their coupons, which are usually 40% off of one regular priced item or 20-25% off of sale items. I usually use these coupons to purchase books and toys for my kids as well as crafts. However the store can be addictive so keep in mind that you need to stick to your list so you won’t over spend.

• iPhone Download
• Android Download

3. The Redlaser App

Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and several other stores price match. Just scan the bar code of a product and Redlaser displays the cheapest price, usually you have to speak with customer service to obtain the lowest price. It is worth it to me because I can buy more products within my local communities for low prices without hunting all over the internet.  Another benefit is that you are spending money on the product you want  at the price you and you are economically supporting the community you live in at the same time.

• iPhone Download
• Android Download
• Download for Window’s phones.

4. The Staples App

If you are a Staples Rewards member, hopefully you use your rewards card. The savings can be in the thousands if you have a small business, but I will have to explain the details in another post. This app sends you coupons and your reward bucks once they have been processed. The Staples app is one of my favories because I have trouble keeping track of lots of loose papers and coupons (yes I do have a coupon binder but it isn’t always practical to have it and my kids with me. The electronic coupons obtained by this app are easier to find and use.

• iPhone Download
• Android Download

5. The Groupon App

I mainly use the Groupon app for local entertainment deals. Groupon has lots of fun things to do for a cheaper cost. One groupon that I really loved was for a local hot air balloon ride. I thought it seemed so romantic and would allow us to have  quality fun cheaper.

These apps not only save you money, but they also save you time. Thus, I would assign these app a #winning hashtag because it is a win win every time.

• iPhone Download
• Android Download

Related posts:

1. I Tried It…CVS Savings
2. Picture Savings Tips – Free Offer Included
3. Things You Should Be Aware of When Buying Online

Dyson DC23 TurbineHead Vacuum

Free blogger event.

You will receive one link at no cost as a thank you for participating in this event.

Link options are: GFC, Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Vote (as long as it is a no signup or like required, example picket fence). G+ is not allowed as it is against google rules.

Prize: Dyson DC23 TurbineHead Vacuum (retail value $399)

The event dates: June 1 at 12:01 am to June 15 11:59am

What is required to join? 

• Post about the event with the button above linking back to this post. Feel free to copy paste this (below) along with the button.

Mom to Bed by 8 is excited to present the Housewarming Dyson Event from June 1 to June 15. This is a free blogger event and accepting signups now.

Join the Housewarming Dyson Giveaway event today, grow your readership and offer one fantastic cleaning tool giveaway!

• If you do not wish to post the announcement, send the $5 via paypal to goodnightmommyboutique@gmail.com with your email address and Housewarming Dyson Event in subject line or notes portion of the form.
• Once you have posted your announcement or sent the paypal payment, fill out this form.
• You will receive an email from me with 72 hours, confirming your participation. If you do not, please email me at teri@momtobedby8.com and I will check into it for you.
• Then around May 30^th you will receive another email from me with the html code for publishing the giveaway.  Note it is required that you publish the giveaway html in full to be included in this event. I will verify links on June 1^st around 8am central and if you have not done so, your link on the rafflecopter will be removed. This keeps this event fair for all who joins.

Referral prize: The two bloggers who refer the most people will receive a $10 Amazon e-code for your effort. Just make sure to add on your announcement that they should add your blog name or url in the referred by section on the signup form. This bonus will be paid the on June 2^nd after your referral links have been verified.

*IF YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS OPP. VIA CLEVERLY CHANGING, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW WE REFERRED YOU. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

No related posts.