Are you and your girlfriends looking for something new to do instead of the “typical” home party? Look no further than a sex toy party! One company in particular – Passion Parties – offers the ultimate adult sensual products party in North America. Hosting a party is both free and fun.

How it works is this. An independent representative from the company comes to your house (or wherever you are hosting the party) and sets up a table display. This table display shows off a range of items from the company – they may range from most popular to more “high priced” items. The rep will talk about the items and even allow you to try out some of the “lotions and potions” that are available. The rep will also demo some of the toys that are available for purchase. Don’t expect a “free show” though – just expect to learn how they work and what “spots” they are supposed to hit.

All Passion Party home shows are for ADULTS ONLY – 18+ so be sure to find a sitter (or your significant other) because as per law no children can be present.

Sex toy parties began in the 1970s, and became increasingly popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The marketing practices of sex toy parties have encouraged alternative sexual practices. The popularity of sex toy parties has suggested to be related to self-help and self actualization.

According to research studies conducted by scientists such as Debby Herbenick and Michael Reece of Indiana University, sex toy representatives are often asked for advice on sexual health, and many have a background working in sex education, health, education, or sexuality.  Some romance companies do permit males at their sex toy parties although most of the reps I’ve spoken to would rather have the party “Ladies Only.”

Wanna learn more? Check out 808Diva and book your show today! Natasha’s husband is retired military – which is why I am sharing her awesome business!

Anyone who has ever loved an animal knows how powerful and healing its presence can be.

Specially-trained therapy animals are a tremendous help to military families recovering from war and separation at our Operation Purple® camps and retreats. These families have sacrificed so much, and they struggle with uncertainty and other stress.

Therapy animals—including cuddly cats, loving dogs, gentle horses, and others—help military families break down barriers they can’t themselves. These nurturing animals provide a sense of calm for adults and kids often surrounded by stress. And they lend a feeling of “home.” They allow service members to reconnect, talk more openly about their fears and needs, and solidify fragile bonds with their spouses and children at our camps and retreats.

Please help more military families heal from the physical and emotional wounds of war through the comforting presence of therapy animals today.

Donate to the cause!

Learn more about Operation Purple® here!

May is not only the month that brings spring flowers; it also celebrates families with National Family Month, Universal Family Week (May 12-18, 2013) and Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12)!

KidsPeace, a private charity founded in 1882, created National Family Month. This month-long celebration helps raise awareness and highlights the importance of family – kids, mothers, fathers, relatives and caregivers – and encourages supporting one another. National Family Month also provides an opportunity for families to share special time together, to develop or renew relationships, and to remind everyone about the importance of family involvement in raising healthy, confident kids.

Underscoring the importance of family, the International Society of Friendship and Good Will proclaimed the second full week in May as Universal Family Week (May 12-18, 2013). And of course we celebrate and honor mothers, motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers on families and society on Mother’s Day, which falls on Sunday, May 12, this year.
Joining in the month long celebration of families and mothers, The Jim Henson Company’s adorable PAJANIMAL characters have a number of fun family activities created to encourage and support family togetherness.

In celebration of Mother’s Day on May 12, Sprout will air two family-centric Pajanimals episodes on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12. “Missing Mom and Dad:” At bedtime, Sweet Pea Sue misses Mom and Dad and wishes she could sneak into their bed where it feels so “warm and safe.” The Pajanimals travel to The Night Sky where The Moon comforts her and tells Sweet Pea Sue that her parents are very close by and will always be there (if she needs them). And the episode, “Mom is Amazing!:” Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and the Pajanimals have decided to help Mom with her chores, but they quickly realize that Mom does A LOT of chores for the family. Not sure what to do, the Pajanimals travel to the Night Sky, where The Moon tells them that just recognizing all that Mom does and offering to help her is a great gift not just for Mother’s Day, but any day.

Pajanimals are also offering a free Mother’s Day Coloring Card, which can be downloaded and printed, allowing kids to add their own personal artistic vision to the card (and a photo, too)!

During the month of May, Sprout will also air a special on-air spot for its Kindness Counts campaign featuring the Pajanimals.

Sprout’s Kindness Counts campaign helps parents teach young children the importance of kindness and encourages children to perform random acts of kindness such as helping, sharing, making a new friend, etc. The Kindness Counts website features a Kindness Counter where families can document these kind acts with the goal of reaching 1 million acts of kindness.
Additionally, www.sproutonline.com offers fun Pajanimals’ themed activities for the entire family, including:

• Printable Pajanimals Bedtime Activity Cards which parents and kids can use to learn about and reinforce healthy bedtime routines!
• Fun family games like Sweet Pea Sue’s Heart Catcher — this fun, online game keeps kids and parents on their toes as they try to catch all of the falling hearts by moving the basket left or right; and Pajanimals Adventure Game, which takes the whole family on an adventure with The Pajanimals, including a visit to Jerry the Bear’s house in the Friendly Forest!
• Craft projects like Big Blue Sea Felt Aquarium, which instructs families on how they can create an indoor aquarium out of felt; and Apollo’s Night Time Memory Game, which helps families to create their own special memory game to play again and again.
• Easy recipes the whole family can make and enjoy, including CowBella’s
• S-moo-thie, Apollo’s Moon and Stars snacks and Sweetpea Sue’s Horseshoe Bread, a sweet snack that’ll be fun to make for mom on Mother’s Day.

So grab your little ones and go check it out!

Jim Henson’s Teeny Tiny Dogs is a puppet preschool series that follows the hilarious shenanigans of four teeny tiny dogs, Dinky, Butch, Butterfly, and Polly, during their day at doggie daycare. Despite their teeny tiny size these four furry friends have BIG FUN and invite the viewers to join their playful pack. This classic canine comedy puppet series is produced by The Jim Henson Company (Sid the Science Kid, Dinosaur Train) and created by Howard Baker (Rugrats).

Integrated into Jim Henson’s Teeny Tiny Dogs is an inspiring 21st Century educational curriculum researched and developed by the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center: How to be happy! The GGSC’s curriculum introduces cutting-edge practices, including mindfulness, gratitude, awe, hope, altruism, and compassion— an all in one, HAPPINESS curriculum. Preschool is the perfect (and crucial) age to start learning how to cultivate happiness skills and our teeny tiny dogs model and discover all of the ways that kids can cultivate happiness into their daily lives.

Preschoolers and their parents are going to have a rolling, romping, digging, tail chasing, dog-piling fun time with their new puppy pals in Jim Henson’s Teeny Tiny Dogs! It’s time to get happy and play with Teeny Tiny Dogs!

The “animatic” for this new show can be previewed over at Amazon! This animatic is only a step in the shows development process that is used to reform the look, tempo and story of the series.  An animatic is a colored storyboard with voiceover.  There are a couple of scenes with the new puppet character Dinky because the final series will be a puppet production.  This is not the final show!  The completed show will star lots of Henson puppet dogs! Watch it here – hope you enjoy!

Love eating healthy but hate the whole “planning” part? Well, one of my favorite websites – eMeals – has come to the rescue again!

Slow Cooker meal plans are the perfect answer for your fast paced life. Home cooked meals made fast and fresh – with less cost – and more leftovers! eMeals is a wonderful site that can seriously help your family. Getting started with eMeals is easy; you just choose a meal plan based on your eating style, your family size and even your favorite grocery store! Then, each week, your meal plan arrives in your inbox complete with seven simple, creative, family–friendly dinner recipes. Each includes an entrée and side dishes. Along with the meal plan, you’ll receive a detailed grocery list organized by section and coordinated with the weekly sales at selected stores.

The two new Slow Cooker plans are:

Slow Cooker Classic
Enjoy comfort food and the tastes you love with the benefits of Slow Cooking…classic-style. Features family-friendly recipes that are simple to prepare. Ideal for busy cooks, picky kids and hungry families.

Slow Cooker Clean Eating
Get all the benefits of Clean Eating with half the effort. Merge your busy schedule and a healthy lifestyle with the natural, fresh ingredients of the Slow Cooker Clean Eating plan.

I’ve been using eMeals for a couple years now and love the plans they send!

You can try them too and save 15% by using the coupon code “SLOW”

Check out the sample recipe below from the Slow Cooker Clean Eating Family Plan that uses Lemon Chicken Thighs [recipe] make a delicious pasta dish that comes together in less than 20 minutes.

Don’t forget – Check out eMeals and use coupon code “SLOW” and save 15%

This recipe is one of my favorites from eMeals!

These new Slow Cooker meal plans will simplify meal planning and make home cooked family meals possible, no matter your schedule. For the Slow Cooker Family Meal Plan, we recommend a 5- to 6- quart slow cooker. For the Slow Cooker for 2 Meal Plan, use a 3- to 4- quart slow cooker. As a general rule of thumb, make sure your slow cooker is at least half full for safe cooking.

**If you plan on using this recipe and the followup Chicken & Brocolli Pasta Toss, save about 4 chicken thighs.

April is the month of the Military Child

The official flower of the military child is the dandelion. Why? The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it’s almost impossible to destroy. It’s an unpretentious plant, yet good looking. It’s a survivor in a broad range of climates. Military children bloom everywhere the wind carries them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, planted swiftly and surely. They’re ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands, and new friends.

Experts say that military children are well-rounded, culturally aware, tolerant, and extremely resilient. Military children have learned from an early age that home is where their hearts are, that a good friend can be found in every corner of the world and in every color, and that education doesn’t only come from school. They live history. They learn that to survive means to adapt, that the door that closes one chapter of their life opens up a new and exciting adventure full of new friends and new experiences.

In Ahmet Zappa’s first picture book for children, Because I’m Your Dad, a dad like no other promises to give his kid a childhood like no other. Whimsical monster characters bring the silly and sweet scenes to life and keep the book universal. The book’s ending, a moving tribute to the author’s father, guarantees multi-generational appeal: “Because I’m your dad, I will do all of these things for you and more…because that’s what my dad did for me.”

Both a tribute to his happy childhood and a promise to his daughter, Halo, for a one-of-a-kind relationship, “I wrote this book for anyone who is a father, has a father, or hopes to someday be a father,” says Zappa.

A perfect book to read on Father’s Day, or any day!

Ahmet Zappa is the son of late rock musician/composer Frank Zappa and, as he puts it, “My awesome mother, Gail.” Ahmet grew up with a learning disability and now writes books to help children discover how wonderful reading can be. Through his production company, Monsterfoot Productions, Ahmet has developed several television shows and movies, including the recently-released Walt Disney Pictures feature film “The Odd Life of Timothy Green.” Ahmet, Shana, and their daughter Halo live in Los Angeles, CA under a rainbow with their three fur goblins: Sandwich, Luna, and Figgy. For more information, visit him online at www.ahmetzappa.com.

Dan Santat is the author and/or illustrator of many books, including Oh, No! and Oh, No! Not Again! by Mac Barnett andAlways Lots of Heinies at the Zoo by Ayun Halliday . He is also the creator of Disney’s animated hit, “The Replacements.” Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, a rabbit, a bird, a cat, and a dog. Visit him online at www.dantat.com.

Take a look at the exclusive book trailer to get a sense of this monster tale and hear Zappa rock out!

My friend Melissa is the QUEEN of information! She was posting all these awesome links on her Facebook where service members (and even family members!) can find money to go to college (now that this pesky “sequestriation” is actually happening!). So, I figured I’d copy them down for you all and share them!

Having a college education is SO IMPORTANT. That simple, little (*coughexpensivecough*) piece of paper could mean the difference between being gainfully employed after military separation or living in a van down by the river.  so here are some places that will help you get the money you need for your higher education.

Check out these resources:

• National Military Family Association
• Salute to Spouses – Financial Aid
• Beyond the Yellow Ribbon – Scholarships
• ThanksUSA Scholarship Program
• Military.com Scholarship Finder

Already finished with school and working to pay off your debt? Learn more about student loan forgiveness or cancellation!

My Big Kid is on spring break this week – so I don’t much want to be bothered with complicated meals!

Dinners:

1. Corned Beef, cabbage, carrots (because we totally missed St. Patty’s Day!)
2. Smothered Chicken – with Spinach, Mushrooms and 3 Cheeses
3. Bang, Bang Shrimp (copycat recipe) / Pasta
4. Crockpot Spicy Cashew Chicken (copycat recipe)
5. Mini Bisquick Chicken Pot Pies
6. Loaded Nacho Grilled Cheese Sammies
7. Easy Mediterranean Pizza

Please share your meal plan!