June 6th - Tomorrow - is free ice cream day at Friendly’s!  One free scoop or dish of ice cream tomorrow between noon and 5pm!

June 19th is National Flip Flop Day at Tropical Smoothie! Wear flip flops into Tropical Smoothie on June 19th and receive a free smoothie.

Disney World was recently doing a special for military families that would allow the service member to get into any Disney park for free. I have to admit; once I started hearing about friends’ plans to take their families I got a little jealous. I adore Disney World! I grew up in Florida so I was lucky to have been able to visit the parks often as a child. Unfortunately, the only park that I haven’t been to yet is the Animal Kingdom one. Hopefully I will be able to bring my family to that park at some point in the near future.

For those of you that haven’t been able to go yet – each Disney park has its own “theme” and personality. The main Disneyworld park has always been my personal favorite. I love the Splash Mountain ride and of course Space Mountain (loved that one since I was around my sons’ age!). My all time favorite ride at Disney is the Haunted Mansion over in the Liberty Square area. I know one of my husband’s favorite rides would be the Haunted Mansion (or the Pirates!) and Xander loves the Pirates ride also. He also liked “It’s A Small World” and the race cars. We had a good time when we went a couple years ago – we even got to meet Mickey and Buzz Lightyear.

Epcot Center has always been a great park also. I always loved visiting each “country” in their World Showcase and eating at the German Biergarten Restaurant or the great Mexican place. Oh! I also like getting chocolate crêpes in France! (I love food – can you tell?) Mexico also has a super cute ride that is a little reminiscent of “It’s A Small World” over at Disneyworld and Norway has the “Maelstrom” ride (which is awesome!).

Disney Hollywood Studio’s (which I’ve always known as “MGM Studios”) has two of the COOLEST rides in the world – the Aerosmith Rockin’ Roller Coaster and the Hollywood Tower of Terror. I LOVE these rides and can’t wait until Xander is old enough to come ride them with me.

Any trip to Disney is sure to be completely awesome. I wish would could go again soon but even with some the the great deals on Disney World Tickets that can be found in the area I doubt we can afford it right now.

Guess I have to just live vicariously through my friends and look at my photos instead.

Preschool aged kids are just “starting out” when it comes to reading. Here are some awesome books that every little one should have on their book shelf!

1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
2. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (Classic Seuss) by Dr. Seuss
3. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
4. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
5. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
6. Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
7. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
8. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
9. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (although, in the same sense this book upsets me as much as “teaches” me!)
10. This is the House that Jack Built (I adore this book!)

Some other books that we really love in our house are just about anything by Dr. Seuss (”Mulberry Street,” “One Fish, Two Fish …” and “Hop on Pop” are some of the favorites - can’t forget “Cat in the Hat” too!), “If You Give a Pig a Pancake,” and anything about pirates!

We love books here - we are all pretty ravenous readers! I’m excited for when Xander is older and I can introduce him to the “older” books like Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain, Strawberry Girl (a “Florida” favorite!) and especially the Harry Potter series!

As a graphic designer, I can appreciate a beautifully made digital photo card. Since I have a huge case of the “baby rabies” (i.e. Baby FEVER) I can especially appreciate super gorgeous digital photo birth announcements like the ones found at CardsDirect.

The type of photo cards I love are simple … think black and white photo’s with a scrapbook feel to them. CardsDirect has some beautiful examples of “simple” cards, but also cards for any other “taste” – super girly, artsy, floral, etc.

I really liked the “Girl Monogram” birth announcement and also the “Baby’s Name Framed Out” birth announcement.

One thing that I didn’t particularly care for was that there was no “related” type links on the card pages. I know some people (myself included) like to get matching cards for things like the baby shower, announcement and thank you cards and there didn’t seem to be an easy way to find the “match” on the website.

CardsDirect provides its customers with high-quality, reasonably priced, personalized cards. They have fast turn-around and a flat $5 shipping fee (within the contiguous US). You will find any sort of card you could dream up in addition to the baby announcements - including holiday/Christmas cards, invitations, sympathy cards and “thinking of you” cards. You can even find sets of assorted cards so you can stock up and be ready for any occasion.

I picked up a toy kitchen at a yard sale for about $30 a couple years ago. It’s tan and white (so it’s unisex) and pretty big - and my son loves it. He likes to “cook Mama breakfast” on the weekends and likes to dress up in his little chef outfit while he “cooks.” We got a small bag of “play food” when I bought the kitchen but some of it’s gone missing. So, I’m definitely in the market for some new food!

I did a search on Amazon and came across some play food by a company called “Melissa and Doug” who make awesome wooden toys for kids. I was under the impression that their stuff was pricey (judging by what I’ve seen at stores) but it’s really not too bad. I really thought that the Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Box was really neat! The “food” makes a realistic “crunch” sound when kids cut into it! This smooth-sanded, solid wood set in vibrant colors features a cutting board, rounded knife, and 8 food items that cut into 29 (large) pieces. I think this toy would be not only a great plaything for kids - but it serves a purpose also; teaching kids to cut … safely.

Kids need to PLAY more often - to use their imaginations! I am a huge fan of imaginative play and I really think certain toys (play kitchens, dress up, gardening “toys” and of course dolls/action figures) really facilitate it. Boys and girls can both get into toy kitchens (and even dress up!) so don’t be afraid to let your BOYS play with them also.

Be sure to check out the really neat wooden Sushi Kit from Melissa & Doug also! HOW COOL!!

What are your kids’ favorite imaginative play items?

I made this recipe last night for dinner - because I LOVE Calzones and figured they would’nt be too hard to make. I was so right - although, they were a little dry. I think perhaps next time I will add a little olive oil to the dough to make it a little more moist. Otherwise it was tasty!

Pizza Dough

The recipe I used was the “Astonishingly Easy “yeasty” Bisquick Pizza Dough” - but there are plenty out there.

I made a dough and a half for three people’s worth of calzones.

Filling (per calzone)

• 1C (or a little less) of Ricotta Cheese
• 2T Parmesan cheese
• 1/2C Mozzarella (add half into the mix and reserve the rest to sprinkle on top of the mix before you fold the calzone).
• 1T Italian seasonings (oregano, basil, etc.)
• Broccoli (or sausage, meat, pepperoni, etc.)

Mix up the filling and spoon into a rolled out piece of dough. Put some mozzarella cheese on top then fold it up. Bake for 25-30 minutes (keep an eye on it).

Easy and tasty!

Right now I am waiting for some (better) dough to “rest” so I can make homemade tortilla’s! I will post the recipe later!

I had some leftover bits of food and decided to mix it up and call it “Cheeseburger Mac” last night! That’s my huge issue lately - I meal plan, but not tightly enough and then run out of food money yet still need to cook. So, I end up needing to cook and not having one thing that it needs. But - the meal ended up okay, tasty even.

Here’s the recipe:

Cheeseburger Mac

• 1/2 Bag Egg Noodles
• 1/2 Bag of Organic “fake” Meat (the chopped beef wanna-be) OR 1/2 lb of regular chopped meat
• 2 inches worth of Velveeta cheese
• Grill seasonings
• 3T of Ketchup

Cook up the noodles then add everything else in. It was cheap, easy and tasty!

I’ve been wondering lately what to get my husband for Father’s Day this year. He and Xander do so much for me on Mother’s Day that I can’t really compete. I’m not entirely sure whether he will actually BE here on Father’s Day – so I have to plan accordingly.

He likes camping gear – so things like books on hiking, a nice North Face jacket and course willingness to go along with him are always welcome. He also likes good meals – so I could always just cook him something phenomenal for dinner. Xander likes to make cards so that’s at least covered …

If he is away a card/letter from Xander would be appropriate as well as some baked goods (like cookies or brownies). I’m not sure what the weather is like “over there” right now; but if it’s hot the cool down bandanna’s that are sold online (or easily made) are nice. A video gram perhaps from both Xander and I would be nice also.

Maybe I will just stick with the camping idea and get him a hiking guide and actually GO with him and not fuss when he wants to camp. I mean camp like not in the backyard either.

Money is tight this year – so inexpensive options are awesome. I know Father’s Day is supposed to be about the kids to their Dad but he’s an excellent father to our son and I want to show him that I appreciate that about him.

Well, whatever I do I’m not posting it on here – I will post it AFTER Father’s Day!

I used to have this saying that I shared with my friend Chrissy - “three year olds suck.” Well, since Xander has turned four I’ve had to adapt the saying. So, now I believe “four year olds suck” and here’s why. The hissy fits are horrible! We try and do everything “right” and limit television, limit games, have consequences for actions, naptime, “talking to” and everything else. We aren’t perfect parents but we, as all other parents do, want what’s best for our son.

Where this completely spoiled, on the floor howling banshee came from I have no idea.

He’s just not in “listening mode” anymore. You say anything to this child and he flips the freak out.

He is directly disobedient and then absolutely FREAKS when he has to pay for it. Case in point, him and his daddy were playing the Wii and he kept jumping up and down in front of his daddy, not sharing, not listening, etc. So - my husband turned off the game. I said “five minutes until bath” which he knows since Dora was on and she was singing her “We Did It” song signifying the end of the show. Well, he throws a screech-fit and throws himself on the floor. I know he’s tired. So, I calmly say - alright, turn off the television it’s time for bath. He walks up to the tv and gets sucked in the watching the damn “Jumparounds” (gawd I hate them!) and his daddy steps in.

Xander is told to turn off the television now or no bath tonight. Of course he ignores that and daddy turns off the television and says alright, no bath tonight.

TANTRUM!!!!!!!!

They are in Xander’s room and I think hubby is giving Xand a stern talking to. These fits are just ridiculous. We need to maintain the “no bath” tonight - hopefully hubby doesn’t promise him a bath.

I love summer! Summer brings warm (hot!) weather, waterparks, beaches, and just hanging out on the porch with friends drinking and talking. I always end up getting eaten alive by freaking mosquitoes though! What is it!? Do I have sweet blood or something? I swear!

So, I’m trying to find things I can put around my porch that will keep those stupid ‘skeeters’ away from me! Citronella candles smell awful and don’t really work for me. I hate bug spray smell but will obviously use it when I remember. But – alas, I don’t always remember. I think eventually I will get not only Swine Flu – but West Nile Virus. Bleh!

Anyway; I came across a product called Mosquito Magnet that promises to keep the bugs away. It seriously looks like a barbecue. But, it’s a trap for mosquitoes. Apparently, it works really well since the website has a ton of positive feedback on it. It’s expensive – but if the mosquitoes are really bad it might be just the ticket for getting rid of them.

Check out this video on YouTube along with the mosquito magnet reviews or you can click here to visit the website to learn how it works.