Blogs & Tips

This is a great resource on drunk driving and underage drinking. It has a lot of good resources for parents as well as teenagers. There is also scary facts and stastics related to underage drinking. If you are a

This article explains the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit and tells you how to maximize the benefits of both. The article also identifies common types of tax deductions and tax credits, including

If you're looking to both freshen up your DVD collection and weed it out, check out SwapaDVD.  It's from the same people who run PaperbackSwap. Here's how it works: you post DVDs from your collection

If your child has a favorite shirt that he/she has outgrown, or an athletic jersey that has special meaning, a great way to keep it out of a storage bin is to create a pillow out of it. Cut the sleeves short

Take your spare change to the nearest Coinstar kiosk-you can use the locater feature on the Coinstar Website to find the kiosk nearest you-and exchange your spare change change for great gift cards at no charge

Are you tired of listening to the same songs over and over again? Did you know that XM Satellite Radio has a a channel just for kids? It is called simply XMKIDS! It plays new and family friendly music. You can sample

Paul Brant, a 70 year old man from Indiana, recently walked into a Dodge dealership and bought a brand new Dodge Ram truck with $26,000 in spare change he had saved. This the second time Brant has done this. In

A mom invented iHearSafe earbuds because she was worried about the effect of iPods on her kids’ hearing.  They can be used on any music player and limit the volume to 80 decibels.  Lowering the volume

Being cooped up in the house during the winter makes me start thinking about Spring cleaning. Here are some great guides to homekeeping and cleaning that you can read now to get ready for spring cleaning! Real

This article tells you how to decaffeinate the tea of your choice quickly, easily, cheaply and without chemicals. You can make your own healthy, delicious decaffeinated tea any time, any place with no special equipment

Do you hope to continue nursing after going back to work? Or are struggling with the working, pumping, and breastfeeding juggle? Take a look at these books. One is very practical, the other more anecdotal support

Are you ready to reorganize some of your closets, cabinets or storage areas? Did the holidays bring even more stuff into your home and right now it has no place to go? Take a look at some of these organizing guides

Author Naomi Wolf wrote an essay last year for the New York Times Book Review called “Wild Things,” where she critiqued some of the bestselling young adult books aimed at teenage girls. Refering to

I have to sing the praises of one of the best websites out there for parents with kids in diapers. 1800 Diapers, or Diapers.com is a great resource for parents sick of spending a fortune on diapers, wipes, formula

I know everyone is promoting going green and I think it's a good idea.  Sometimes it costs a little to get going but the savings in money and natural resources make it worth it.  Here's a few

Okay, I'm a big fan of U2 and the Rockabye Baby Lullaby Renditions - I even listen to these tapes when the kids are OUT of the car.  Check out Bob Marley, too.  You will love it!

My daughter recently donated some of her hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that makes hairpieces for disadvantaged children. I had heard that you could donate hair to this organization but didn’t

I just found this cool website about parenting tweens. It has resources and articles about peer pressure, latchkey  kids, early dating, chores, family values and more.  There are many different authors

We don't have many closets in our house and when we moved in, I was obsessed with making what we had work. So I looked around at every affordable closet organizer system to best use our limited space. I

If you love the Company Store, bookmark this site and check it daily for amazing deals! Friday items are "extra special" and last all weekend long. Example past sale items include Giant Hanging Letters

Toast the New Year with a Glass of Champagne New Year's Eve is a great time for a glass of bubbly. But I happen to enjoy champagne for any special occasion. Try mixing champagne with a much-loved mixer, juice

Did you get a new computer for Christmas? You'll want to keep it from becoming so infested with malware that it is no longer usable. The good news is that not only is this easy; it can be done for free. The

Today more than ever it is important to remember to take care of our environment. You will find on this website many great tips that can make your family part of the green team. Some of the tips include using baking

Need some inspiration to succeed in your new year's resolutions, or in any of your business or personal endeavors? This is a "blog carnival" which gives a little snippet of many different blogs about

This is absolutely my favorite portrait studio. I can't say enough good things about them. They have my pictures ready the same day, friendly and experience photographers, and low prices are just some of the

The author recommends medicines and treatments every household should have on hand during cold and flu season. Be prepared when illness strikes.Put together your own recovery kit to treat the symptoms of cold and

The author recommends foods every family should have in their pantry and refrigerator during cold and flu season. These nutrition-packed, easily digested and quickly prepared foods can help you and your family stay

I was recently asked to throw a luncheon for a friend who is having her second baby in a few months. Because it was her second child, she did not register for anything and was adamant that she did not want people

My favorite present this year is my Timbuk2 laptop messenger bag.  I got the Commute version, they also have the  Laptop Messenger.  If you lug around a computer, these bags are worth it. 

If you're saving for college (or thinking about starting) using a 529 Plan, take a look at this 529 savings credit card from Fidelity. It contributes 1.5% of your purchases into your Fidelity 529 Plan (up

Every year after the holidays, I tend to buy a few more decorations for the house on sale.  The problem is, I usually forget I bought them next year!  So, I use a checklist so I know exactly what I have. 

A simple and inexpensive way to store your Christmas / Holiday lights is to use the flaps on all those cardboard boxes you probably have lying around the house.  Cut the flaps off cardboard boxes and make

I know that the last thing you probably want to do is shop right now, but venturing out now will save you time and money next year!  Every year, I try to get to the drugstores right after Christmas to snag

Here are some great books for Moms: • “1001 Activities for Kids in Tight Spaces” by Carol S. Kranowitz • “Baby and Child Care” by Dr. Benjamin Spock • “Birth to Five&rdquo

Here is a list of ideas to make dressing kids a little easier: • It’s easier to dress infants in clothes with snaps rather than buttons. Avoid onepiece outfits that you’ll have to pull over their

Ever go to the playground and discover that your child has potentially met their bestfriend? I have many times and wanted so much to exchange numbers with another mom, but didn't have a pen or paper along

We all face the naming decision differently. Some couples throw a yellow legal pad on the kitchen counter and use it to toss ideas back and forth. Some wives and husbands work each in their own corner, and only

I have a six year old so tattling is a big thing at our house. Every day when he comes home from school, I hear about what so and so did, and why he doesn't like them anymore, etc. I've tried listening to

If you have a little girl that is learning to use the potty, this is a great website for you. You can print out a free Dora the Explorer potty training chart as well as stickers, there is also a potty training calendar

I found these great photo tips in the Parent & Child magazine. I thought that I would share them, since digital cameras are very popular these days.  Here they are: 1) Keep the camera at eye-level with

My son is only six years old and I haven't even thought about sending him to college one day. I know that with the cost of college education, the earlier you start saving the better. The website has a lot of

Denise wants to be your online personal trainer. She will come up with a free success plan just for you with fun and fast workouts, and she also help you tone your muscles without ever going to the gym. I am personally

I like this magazine a lot. I get it in the mail every month, but it also available to read online. The magazine has lots of great articles related to different ages. The articles cover a wide arrange of topics

This site tells you how to end relationships graciously and gracefully. The author outlines specific break up do's and don'ts. Specific strategies for breaking up with a lover as painlessly as possible are

This site tells you where to meet the kind of men you want to date. It emphasizes meeting men with shared interests and values in places you already go on a regular basis. The author also lists specific strategies

This is a great website. It is full of organizing and cleaning ideas that even the whole family can get involved in. Set aside at least two hours once or twice a week for cleaning. Write down all necessary tasks

OK, for years people have been telling me to buy something for the bottom of my shoes so I can walk on snow and ice without the gripping fear I always feel. Finally, someone told me about Yaktrax, and I love them

If you live in an area where it snows you know all about slippery sidewalks, porches, and driveways.  I mix a bag of clay cat litter with either rock salt or regular table salt and then sprinkle it on everything. 

I just found out about this book Be Nice (Or Else) by Winn Claybough, a motivational speaker. It sounds great, and has a perfect 5-star rating on Amazon, which I've never seen before. The book teaches why and

Looking for information about dealing with negative people (see previous tip) I found this advice column dealing with career, workplace and ettiquette questions. There is a huge list of topics so you don't