I saw this offer and thought it would be a great idea for all of you with kids going off to college.  You could get them a prepaid MasterCard and not have to worry about them using a credit card and getting themselves into trouble.  Although I normally recommend all cash, for older kids, these may be a better way to help them learn to be responsible with a safety net in place just in case.  Get it FREE when you click HERE!

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I don’t know how well you will be able to see the picture above but my girls are all about clues and treasures.  One day, I had the idea to send them on a hunt to find a treasure.  I drew pictures of different places in our house and put an X on the spot where they were to look.  Each clue led them to another clue until they were led to look under my bed and find 2 yummy suckers.  They thought it was so cool and my 5 year old then went and made a hunt for her daddy with a little help from me.  You can make it as complex or as simple as you need to depending on the age of your kids. 

When I was little, I always thought it was so much fun to make forts!  I knew my little girls would think it was so fun to have one of their own.  I just pushed back all the chairs from our formal dining room table and laid blankets all over it.  They put their favorite toys and lovey things in it and spent most of the morning in and out of the fort.  All it cost me was a few minutes of clean up but was well worth it for the amount of time that it kept them occupied.

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Do you have any quick, easy and free ideas to keep your kids entertained?

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Reading Cinemas offers some affordable and convenient family options. Locally, every Sunday is Family Sunday at the concession stand. For only $4, families can enjoy a family-size tub of popcorn with unlimited refills plus a FREE Nestle Candy of their choice. All day Sunday, everyone can purchase a hot dog for only $1.

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Every week, Reading Cinemas, at most locations, present the “Crybaby Matinee”. Relax and enjoy a movie without worrying about unexpected tantrums or feedings in the dark. They keep the lights dimmed, the sound volume down, and the movies coming, and provide a baby changing table and stroller valet for the convenience of parents. They charge regular matinee admission for adults and children under 5 get in free! What a great idea!!! Click HERE for locations, film titles and the dates this is offered.

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Locally in July at the Valley Plaza 16

Valley Plaza 16- Tuesdays at 1:00pm:

• July 6   KNIGHT AND DAY
• July 13 TOY STORY 3
• July 20 GROWN UPS
• July 27 ECLIPSE

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MyDFWMommy in collaboration with Pampers is throwing a Twitter "Viewing" Party in celebration of Pampers’ new series, "Welcome to Parenthood".  The Welcome to Parenthood Twitter "Viewing" Party will take place Tuesday, July 13, at 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT; and will last 1 hour! The party will be full of prizes! $50-$100 gift cards and more!  Make sure to watch the first three videos before the party, so you can join in the discussion!

The Twitter party will be using the hashtag: #PampersParenthood.  Make sure to follow the Party Hosts: @PampersVillage and @mydfwmommy beforehand to be able to see the chat.

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More info about the Pampers Village Episodes:

Capturing the real experiences and emotions behind three couple’s journeys through various stages of parenthood, Pampers® diapers, the world’s leading diaper brand, takes us along for an unforgettable ride in the honest and entertaining Web-based series, “Welcome to Parenthood, ” which will premier on Pampers.com and can also be viewed on the official Pampers Facebook page.

The 14-episode series, follows three sets of parents, all raising children at different ages and stages of development, as they experience the challenges, fears, excitement and joys that come with holding the title of Mom and Dad. Each five-to six minute episode is also filled with practical advice and key takeaways from the featured couple as they try to tackle different parenting milestones from baby proofing their homes to potty training their toddlers!

If you have never attended a Twitter Party, here is some helpful information to get you started!

• If you don’t already have a Twitter account, sign up for one at Twitter.com. It’s simple and a great way to connect with other moms.
• Make sure you are following the party hosts- @pampersvillage, @mydfwmommy
• Answer the questions tweeted out by the party hosts to enter the giveaways
• Keep up with the conversation by searching for the party hashtag (#PampersParenthood) and make sure you include it in your tweets as well

It can be helpful to use a site like tweetchat.com to help keep track of the conversation! (It will look somewhat like a chat room!)

*By posting this I have the opportunity of winning a prize from Pampers.

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PlanningFamily.com is a relatively new website that is all about helping families navigate their way through the crazy times of starting a family. By signing up and registering on their site,  you will receive access to Free Baby Stuff, Interactive Tools, Expert Articles and Videos plus Week-By-Week Pregnancy and New Baby Emails.

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I know that when I started our family, I felt like I needed all the help I could get, just to understand what was going on with the baby growing inside me…and then what to do when that baby came out of me. They don’t come with instruction manuals attached to the umbilical cord and I was grateful for much of the fantastic info that I received from loving people that wanted to help me. This site sounds cool and kind of a one-stop-shop for valuable info. Register today!

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These savings coupons just came available on Coupons.com for $19 off Regular Admission and $7.00 at Knott’s Soak City. These are great savings for a fantastic family vacation!

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My parents are coming from Virginia to visit next week and we were looking around for some fun things to do while they are here.  We decided to go to the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park but in my search, I found a great deal for you on tickets to SeaWorld!  Especially if you live out here in CA, trips like this can be done in a day making them much more reasonably priced.  Here are the details straight from the Sea World website:

“Now through December 31, 2010, when U.S. residents purchase a full-price adult admission, children ages 3-12 receive a ticket to SeaWorld for only $5.00. 100% of the proceeds will be donated by SeaWorld to a wildlife conservation project of your choice.

Click here to get started.”

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Although this is mainly a frugal site, I love being able to bring you other bits of info and resources that have to do with being a wife or mother.  I have been trying very hard lately to focus more on my husband and children knowing that they are what truly matters.  I am a firm believer that the best way to provide a strong and loving home for my children is to make sure that my husband and I have a strong marriage.  From that comes so many other things that are vital to raising strong healthy children. 

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When children know that their parents love each other, work together and are truly a team, they are much more secure.  There are so many reasons for children to be insecure in this world and their home life should not be one of them. 

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Having a strong marriage also helps tremendously with discipline.  When mommy says no in our house, my oldest, Marley, knows better than to go ask daddy.  She tried a couple of times and quickly learned that we were on the same page.  Even though we might not always agree on decisions, we have made it a rule to make sure and see if the other parent has already given an answer and that is what we stick with.  If we disagree, we will talk about it later on.  

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I am sure we would all agree that our marriages now are not the same as when we first got married.  We had only each other to please, no children to take care of, less stress, possibly more money and any other differences.  The good news is that we can be just as happy and in love as we were back then, it just takes a little more work.  I was contacted by an author named Kathi Lipp, who wanted to give away some of her books on my site.  When I read the title, I was sold, “The Husband Project, 21 Days of Loving Your Man- on Purpose and with a Plan”!  She even sent me the cutest bookmarks that say “My Husband is a Hottie!”  She sent me a few copies to give away at seminars AND, I have 3 to give away on the site!

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THE GIVEAWAY- This giveaway is now closed but still make sure to check out Kathi and her great books!

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HOW TO ENTER- Fill out the form below one time for each entry you complete.  The winner will be drawn at random on Tuesday June 8th and contacted by email.  They will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.  This giveaway is limited to readers in the US only. 

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Entry #4 is to go to her website www.kathilipp.com and sign up for her newsletter and receive a free copy of her e-cookbook “THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MANFOOD – HOW TO DRIVE YOUR HUSBAND WILD WITH PASSION BY IMPERSONATING BETTY CROCKER.”  Seriously, that is an awesome title too!

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As you know, last week was a super crazy one for me!  I had the stomach flu and had a ton of other things to keep up with.  At the end of the week was my youngest’s 2 year old birthday party.  We had a party at the park with some of our good friends whose little girl is only a few weeks apart from our Addi.  We decided on a lady bug theme since they are our little ladybugs! 

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My friend made the cutest invitations on black cardstock with little red wings that were held in

place by a brad so they could swing open.  She let her kids make black thumbprints all over the wings for the spots which made them super cute.

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We got together that week and made ladybug sugar cookies for party favors.  We just made large round cookies, frosted them with red royal icing and then used chocolate chips for the spots.  We put them in clear bags and tied them with several different black, red and white ribbons.  At the party we tied balloons to each one of them for the kids to take home.

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We just did some simple grill out food with hot dogs, etc and we made tea, strawberry lemonade and water.  My friend did most of the food and my part was to make the cakes for the girls.  I made each one of them their own ladybugs so they could blow out their candles.  I did them each different flavors too so there was a choice.  I had such a great time doing it!  It is something I love to do but have not had time to do lately at all:(  We had a great party and it was so nice to have it at the park so both of our houses were still intact when we got home!

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Mother’s Day is one of my favorite holidays of the year. Growing up, I remember making all sorts of little crafts for my mom…seeds in pots, handprint pictures, etc. She would always squeal and react in just the right way that would make me feel as if they were the most

special gifts she had ever received… and I would feel so proud to have given them to her.

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My mother taught me how to be a mom…she modeled the servant’s heart of Christ when she cooked three meals a day, washed all my clothes, helped me clean my room, took me to ballet lessons, piano lessons, tennis lessons, etc. She listened to me when I was hurt by others and was/is my biggest fan and advocate to others(next to my hubby). She taught me a few tough lessons of life when I got out of line a few times and I thank her for it. She can pray down Heaven and she has such an unwavering faith in the Lord. She is the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman and someone that I want to be.

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Now that I am a mommy to three of the most adorable children ever created, (next to all of your precious little ones, I know), Mother’s Day has become such a precious time with my kiddos. I received the most adorable picture yesterday from my five year old, Chandler. It was a picture of a flower with his little handprint as the petals of the flower. His preschool teachers…who are amazing and so appreciated…attached a precious poem to it that brought tears to my eyes. Cameron, who is in 2nd grade, brought home today a specially decorated brown paper bag that is housing his latest creation for me. He can hardly stand it, he says, but he is going to wait to give it to me. He has hidden it in our front closet and I am on strict orders to “Don’t look, Mommy!” My little 2 year old girl has no clue what is going on…she just yells, “Mama!” at 6:00am in the morning because she just can’t wait to start her day with me. I try to make sure that I show the same special delight and attention to them that my mom showed to me because I realize just how important it is for them to have that.

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I am realizing more and more on a daily basis that Life is slipping by faster and faster. At some point I had the epiphany that things were not going to slow down. They just speed up as kids get older and Life requires more. You simply have to cherish each moment…even the stinky ones…because they all go together to paint the picture and tell the story of your life. My life..and my family’s life…is so much greater, though, because of my mom and I celebrate her this weekend!

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We would love to hear some of the lessons that your moms have taught you along the way! Leave us a comment as we celebrate all moms this weekend!

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One of our readers, Casey, passed along some valuable information about a recall on certain infant medicines.  You can get all the information HERE, and I have included the table from their website with all the products included.  They are also offering refunds or replacements for affected products through a simple form HERE. 

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Here is the table on their site with all the varieties and NDC numbers that are part of the recall.  Thanks Casey for making sure we all knew!

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By far her favorite would be

	Insect Lore Ladybug Land for only $17.27 or maybe even the
	DuneCraft Outdoor Garden Kit – Hummingbird Garden Kit for only $19.85.

Both are eligible for free super saver shipping as are many of these great activities.

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Get free general admission to participating museums on the first full weekend of every month when you use your Bank of America ATM, credit or check card. One free general admission. With over 100 museums included all across America you can locate one HERE.
Dates

• May 1 and 2
• June 5, 6
• July 3, 4
• August 7, 8
• September 4, 5

Thanks MummyDeals!

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Frugal Fridays is here again.  Below are some great finds from this past week to start you off.  Please link to all the best deals you have found this week in the linky below or in the comments section.  There have been some great ones for sure!

Here are some great FREE events: 
April 24th – Your child can make a spring picket fence at Lakeshore- Details HERE 
April 24th – Your child can make a bird feeder at Lowes from 10-11am- Details HERE
April 26th – Free pretzel at PretzelMaker- Details HERE
April 27th – Free Breakfast Melt at Participating So. Cal. Subway Stores- Details HERE
April 23rd or 30th- Get free fries with purchase at McDonalds with coupon in SoCal and some parts of Nevada- Details HERE

Thanks MomsFunMoney!

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Michaels- FREE Mother’s Day Bead Event Make-It Take-It
Saturday, May 1 1pm-2pm, Gem Earrings and 2pm-3pm Glass Bead Bracelet
Sunday, May 2 1pm–3pm.  Purchase a mug with markers and turn it into a work of art. Join us and learn how to make a personalized mug for mom.

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There is another great summer movie program for kids and this one is FREE!  Thankfully, this one DOES include a Bakersfield, CA theatre!  Here are the details as listed on their page.  You can also find participating theatre’s and movie schedules near you HERE.

“REG’s Free Family Film Festival is Now Showing!

We have planned a fun-filled summer of select movies for kids and parents. Regal has proudly offered this free summer fun since 1991. Oh, did we mention that it’s FREE!

Selected G or PG movies start at 10:00am every Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and are limited to theatre capacity.”

Bakersfield Stadium 14
9000-G Ming Avenue
Bakersfield ,CA 93311
661-663-3042

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