Low Cost Options for Children's Clothes

It is tough making ends meet these days. And, as we know, children grow out of clothes and clothes grow out of them quite quickly. What is the best way for saving money and still having your children well clothed? There are several options to consider.

Low-cost Retailers:

Target - This is my favorite retailer for kids' clothes. If they grow out of them quickly, get ruined or in some cases, just don't seem to fit well, then you won't feel guilty for spending too much money. And, the clothes are often cute and colorful!

Sears - They all used to have Lands End clothes, which I love. But, I think only a limited number of Sears stores carry this label now. They have good sturdy shoes.

Kohls - My next favorite retailer for kids. They often have mid-week sales and lots of basics like tops and tights or shorts. Good selection of almost everything and also carries shoes.

Walmart - I have bought the basics here too like t-shirts, underwear, socks etc. I don't seem to find as much as I do at Target, but there are definitely bargains to be found here.

Resellers:

TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls are all good for finding a few things here and there. But, since their selection is all limited on what they get in as overstocks, don't count on them for basics. I have found high quality shoes there though.

Consignment:

Since we don't have any local consignment stores, I don't often shop at consignment stores. But, I love the idea of recycling, especially when they are younger and there is little wear and tear. Please see a list below of some of the current consignment stores. And, most likely this is a market that will grow this year, so keep your eyes out for others...

A Wee Change - http://www.aweechange.com/ - in Walnut Creek
Grove Stree Kids - http://www.grovestreetkids.com/ - in Berkeley
Small Fry Shop - http://www.smallfryshoppe.com/ - in Danville
Chloe's Closet - http://www.chloescloset.com/ - in SF
Snickerdoodles - http://www.eastbaysocial.com/ - in Danville
The Kidz Shoppe - http://www.thekidzshoppe.net/ - in San Jose

Online Bargains:

Craigslist and ebay can give you some great deals on even new kids clothes.
http://www.craigslist.org/
http://www.ebay.com/

But, don't overlook http://www.overstock.com/ as well. They have lots of stuff and it is easy to search their site.

Other good options are http://www.hannaanderson.com/ and http://www.landsend.com/ when they have sales. I get high quality clothes through these sites when they have specials and buy for the next year, if the sale is seasonal.

Snow Activities for the Family

Now is the time to head out with your family and go enjoy the snow! We have recently had so much rain and snow, that it is a perfect time to enjoy it as a family! Whether you ski, sled, ice skate or simply build snowmen and make snow angels, it is great to enjoy the snow together as a family. It is another way to bond, get away from life's hassles and get some good exercise. Many resorts want families to visit and try to make it easy with daycare, low price ski tickets for young children and great package deals. You can find warm clothes either through consignment, Target or borrow from friends. And, to make some of the deals even better, you can rent a condo with another family or two and split the costs and make it very reasonable to stay overnight. It is a great family activity. See below some of the places to visit for snow fun below.

http://www.diamondpeak.com/ - I have not visited this resort, but it actually advertises that it is "your tahoe place for kids". Kids 6 years old and under ski for free and they have interchangeable parent's passes for $49 for the day. However, it is a bit further away and on the NV side.

http://www.sugarbowl.com/ - We visited this ski area prior to having children and enjoyed it then. It is one of the closest resorts and offer "signature kids' programs". Children 5 and younger ski free. This resort also advertises to have other snow activities such as sledding and snow play and snowshoe tours.

http://www.sorensensresort.com/ - We often drive by this resort on our way to ski at Mammoth and often want to stop. But, we have not done so yet. It is small, cozy and very appealing with its activities such as cross-country skiing, sledding and snowshoeing. They have cabins, a restaurant, a small gift shop and lots of open landscape for winter sports.

http://www.squaw.com/ - this world-class resort has not only great skiing, but lots of activities for non-skiers. They offer ice-skating, snow tubing, snowshoe tours and a wonderful top-of-the-mountain spa. It is a bit pricier than the other resorts, but with the amenities, it is worth it.

Other places to check out:

http://www.northstarattahoe.com/
http://www.sierraattahoe.com/
http://www.skiheavenly.com/
http://www.skihomewood.com/

Happy Snow Fun!

Presidents' Day Activities

This Monday is Presidents' Day and that means the schools are out and the kids are home. If you are having a hard time coming up with some fun activities at home, check out the following web sites that have some great ideas for projects that teach your children about the presidents while they have fun.

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/ - has coloring pages, word searches, putting the presidents in chronological order and fun facts about the presidents. This site is for school aged children.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/presidentsday/ - this site has crafts that are appropriate for preschool, kindergarten and elementary school children and includes lots of patriotic fun crafts.

http://www.alphabet-soup.net/hol/president.html - this site has word searches, a cookie recipe, coloring pages and some fun trivia.

http://fun.familyeducation.com/presidents-day/entertainment/32937.html - this site has puzzles, coloring pages and quizzes. It seems to be a great resource site for lots of holidays.

Enjoy your presidents' day with your children!

Peanut Recall Concerns

The news is appalling. The Peanut Corp. of America was forced to close both the Georgia and Texas plants due to the outbreak of salmonella in peanut products produced in its plants that is believed to have caused up to 600 to get sick, half of whom are children, and nine to actually die from salmonella-tainted products. After one of the biggest recalls ever, more information has been revealed about this company - rodent droppings, cockroaches and a leaking roof onto processing equipment. The company knew all of this and continued to process its products. It is believed that they also knew of the salmonella tainted products. Where is the moral compass in corporate America these days? It makes me realize that we all need to be our own food advocates which includes buying locally and organically instead of from the big manufacturers that allow such unbelieveable lack of quality control and extreme negligence.

For more information, see the latest article on NBC Washington: http://www.nbcwashington.com/health/resources/The-List-Peanut-Butter-Products-Recalled.html where they also have a link to the most updated FDA list of recalled products.

The fact that the Peanut Corp of America had to file bankruptcy this week is the only consolation in all of this. They claim the recall has hit them too hard economically...well, hopefully being hit in the wallet will teach this company not to be remiss in maintaining the quality of their product in the future and jeopardizing the health of the public.

Ongoing Parenting...

Just when you thought you had gotten through to your child or children on the rules and consequences of breaking them, they seem to challenge you again. It is always a surprise, especially when they get older and are supposed to understand the concept of cause and effect. But, the stages of development are many and beyond my relatively limited parenting expertise. But, as they say, parenting is a life-long role. It never stops. So, what do we do? We talk to friends with children and learn about their experiences and what they have tried. We read books (I am a big fan of books and have a wide collection of these!), we watch tv shows (sometimes helpful, sometimes not - Everytime I watch Super Nanny I think I have the most well-behaved children ever!) and we attend classes. I am including a few of these below, but it is only a partial list as we know. Good luck and never stop learning about how you can be the best parent ever!

Books:

Have a New Kid by Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman - http://www.booksreadall.com/books-Have-a-New-Kid-by-Friday-How-to-Change-Your-Child-s-Attitude-Behavior-Character-in-5-Days.html

I Break for Meltdowns by Michelle Nicholasen - http://www.amazon.com/Brake-Meltdowns-Exasperating-Behavior-5-year-old/dp/0738211672/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233503690&sr=1-1

Setting Limits with your Strong-willed Child by Dr. Robert MacKenzie - http://www.amazon.com/Setting-Limits-Your-Strong-Willed-Child/dp/0761521364/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233503651&sr=8-1

These books (and more on the subject) are available at Amazon.com.

Classes:

Parenting for Peace is a class taught in the East Bay which is supposed to be very effective. They have workshops, seminars and individual counseling. http://www.peaceparenting.org/

Putting Kids First online classes - http://puttingkidsfirst.org/parentingclassinformation.html

Positive Parenting in Ojai has a newsletter and book store that could prove helpful. http://puttingkidsfirst.org/parentingclassinformation.html

Life Matters - a good site for online classes, videos and other resources. Worth perusing. http://www.lifematters.com/parentn.asp

Online Articles:

Kidsource.com has quite a few articles to check out - http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/pages/parenting.general.html

More News on BPA

Most of us are quite conscious of green products and those that may have health concerns. And, we are very aware about BPA or Bisphenol A these days - the additive used in many plastic products to make them shatterproof - and the health concerns related to it. But there is a new study that not only shows it gets stored in the body, but stays stored for longer than first believed. The researchers now say that we are either getting BPA from many more sources than anticipated and/or our body is storing the BPA and therefore, cannot get rid of it as quickly as first thought. We now have alternative products available for us without BPA as well as some affirmation from the FDA on the potential dangers of BPA which are both huge steps. It is still amazing to me that the FDA errs on the side of conservatism when it comes to their reputation but not when it comes to the safety of our population and especially small babies. But, it has taught me not to assume the FDA knows all, but that I need to read and research on my own for the health of my family. For a great site on BPA free products, see the earlier post: Concern of BPAs.

Free Museum Days at Bank of America

It is nice when you don't have to do ANYTHING to get something for free. If you bank at B of A, this is true! They have free museum days the first weekend of every month through April. All you have to do is show your Bank of America credit card or debit card with your CDL. How easy is that?! We have not participated in this yet as I have always had plans the first weekend, but in March, we plan to take advantage of this great opportunity. There is a list of museums that are a part of this program - not all museums participate. But, still, there are a few big ones that make it worthwhile - Tech Museum in San Jose and deYoung in San Francisco as examples. Check out this link for more info: http://promotions.bankofamerica.com/museums/

Candy Buy Back

Have too much left-over candy after Halloween?? Who doesn't? And, let's face it, we end up eating it...so that our children won't have unfortunate results at the dentist...do we really need to add extra LBS to our current diet, especially knowing that the holidays are just around the corner? If you want to get rid of your candy and get a few bucks out of it while supporting the troops with the donations, check out this link that shows the participating dentist offices for a Candy Buy Back! Not bad, huh? For more information on these local events, check out: http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com/

Tagless May Inflict Rashes

There seem to always be new issues raised that lead to health concerns. On October 24, 2008 the Consumer Product Safety Commission sent out an advisory warning that they have received reports of rashes related to tagless "heat transferred" labels including brands such as Carter's. The raised label can irritate sensitive newborn and infant skin specifically. If you notice a rash related to tagless clothing, the CPSC advises to use the link - http://www.carters.com/corporate/tagless_message.aspx or visit the CPSC web site for additional information - http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09023.html.

Healthy Halloween Handouts

Healthy Halloween Treats are really a no-brainer. But, I think we are so conditioned to buy the candy we see in all the stores that I thought I would include a quick note on this...You don't have to be too creative to come up with these and more, but hopefully, this list will give you ideas and save you some time.

Crayons, stickers, colored pencils, colored chalk, bookmarks, fancy erasers, glow bracelets (can even be used while trick or treating!), temporary tattoos, tiny bubble bottles (one of our favorites) individual fishes crackers bags, fruit leathers and granola bars. You can even have a variety of things and include some candy to let the kids decide. Most likely the big kids will want candy, but the little kids will think colorful erasers and crayons and bubbles are more fun!

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Fun Runs with the Kids

We just participated in the Fremont Happy Fish Fun Run at Lake Elizabeth in Fremont yesterday and had a great time. It is a benefit run for the Guy Emanuele Sports Fund which supports children's after school programs. It is the 4th year and it was a lot of fun for the whole family. 4-6 year olds run a 1/4 mile and 6+ get to participate in a 1/2 mile race. It is all fun but they still make it realistic. The kids all feel like winners and get goodie bags with their ribbons. The adults can run 10K or run/walk a 5K. While mom and dad are running, they have a supervision area for the kids. They have a few booths and they have some entertainment. Check it out next year! Otherwise, look for the following upcoming runs to do with the whole family and get active in this passive and computer-using, tv-watching, video game-playing society!

Sun, Nov 2 -Apple Hill Harvest Run - http://www.applehillrun.org/ or 916-492-8966
Sun, Nov 9 - Monterey Bay Half Marathon and 3K kids fun run - http://www.bsim.org/
Sat, Nov 22 - Davis Turkey Trot - 5 and 10Ks and kids' fun runs - http://www.changeofpace.com/

For current running calendars with local events for family activities, check the following sites:
The Schedule - features running race schedule nationwide with additional resources and tips for runner.
Youth Runner Magazine
California Running Races
Run the Planet
California Track and Running News
with the Runner's Schedule Calendar
And a blog that is a great overall resource for runners: Complete Running and site for training and diagnosing aches and pains associated from running: Cool Running

Happy Running!

Pumpkin Patches Galore

Have you been to the pumpkin patch yet? Headed to Half Moon Bay for their annual pumpkin festival? This Festival is this weekend on Oct 18 and 19th from 9-5 on Main Street and with the many pumpkin patches on Hwy 92 on your way there. However, there are many people who head out to Half Moon Bay. If you are looking for something more local, check out this web site: http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/CApsanfran.php. We found a great patch - G & M Farms in Livermore. Not only do they have a ton of pumpkins, they have pony rides, a great corn maze, some good ol' cooking like corn on the cob and peach cobbler, a cow train ride and a fun corn kernal play box! Check it out or visit one of the other local areas. Happy Halloween!

Q-tips No Longer Recommended

I think all of us have grown up with Q-tips being used in our ears as kids to clean out the ear wax. However, these days it is definitely not recommended by the medical community and can lead to health concerns such as poor hearing and in rare cases, a punctured ear drum. I know that our pediatrician said "nothing larger than an elbow" should be put in the ear. I have to admit I do use a tissue on my fingertip on the outer part of the ear. However, I have never used Q-tips as there is really no control over how far we can push them in and I just don't want to do any damage. There are also over the counter kits to help with ear wax if there is a lot of build up or your doctor can remove it safely in his/her office. Here is an article from web MD to help provide you with some additional info. But, feel free to do your own research. That is always the best proof! http://blogs.webmd.com/all-ears/2006/01/earwax-good.html

Free Museum Day!

Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28 are free museum day at many museums around the nation! If you click on the link below, you can print out the pass good for 2 free admissions. It is sponsored by the Smithsonian. Enjoy a nice day of culture with your family! http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/about.html

Protecting Our Children against Sexual Abuse

No one wants to think about sexual abuse - a horrendous possibility. However, with a young soon to be 5 year old girl, unfortunately, this possibility has started to fill my thoughts. I would be torn apart if ever I put her in a situation to trust an adult who then not only took that trust away but violated her carefree disposition as all 5 year olds. I was thinking of researching a few sites when I saw an ad on CNN for this organization. This site seems very thorough - stats, local resources, articles and of course, prevention and programs. I found that the 7 STEPS TO PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN on this site: http://www.darkness2light.org/7steps/step1.asp is a great start as well as a good intro to the site. Other sites that I found: http://www.apa.org/releases/sexabuse/protect.html for the American Psychological Association and http://helpandhealing.org/PreventionProtectingKids.htm from the Rape Crisis Program in a county in OH, but the info is still relevant and important. It never hurts to be aware of the dangers of sexual molestation and abuse.

Common Sense Media Ratings

Ever unsure what the tv and movie ratings really mean? Sometimes a G-rated movie like Wall-e is not appropriate for 5-7 year olds while a PG-rated movie such as Bee Movie is ok for the 5-7 age group...and what do the ratings for TV programs really mean? It sometimes makes parenting difficult when you have to be educated on all the information your child sees and there is A LOT of information out there!

I found a site that includes movies (in theaters and on DVD), tv programs, games, music, web sites and books and uses the web site's staff, group of parent experts as well as kids for specific age groups. It is easy to navigate and understand. The basic rating premise is green for go, yellow for caution and red means stop. There are also age levels associated with the colors too as programs may be appropriate for 8+ but not 4 year olds. This site takes some of the guesswork out of the ratings and gives you more information before going to that movie or allowing to rent a DVD or buy a book. We as parents can't pre-read all our children's books or preview all their DVDs before they do. So, this site is very nice to reference when those opportunities arise! http://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Leaving a Legacy

Ever thought about putting together a Family Tree? There are many ways to do it these days. There is a software program called Family Tree Maker that walks you through the steps. There is a great book about writing your family history called Legacy by Linda Spence. There is a magazine too called Family Tree Maker by Ancestry.com which keeps you current on the resources and tips to save documents. Then, of course, there are Internet sites - http://www.geni.com/ and http://www.ancestry.com/. Each has its own pros and cons. Geni.com helps you set up a shared tree with networking features while ancestry.com gives you access to public records to help with your data gathering. These days it is easier than ever to save records, pictures etc. So, don't wait too long before capturing all of your wonderful family memories to share with your children! And, what about making it a family activity - get everyone involved and educated in making your family tree! Have fun!

Fourth of July Celebrations

It is hard to believe that the 4th of July is almost here! But, it is true. We are in the midst of summer and I can hardly believe it. Hopefully, you are heading somewhere fun and cool. But, if you are not, here is a list of the fireworks displays in the Bay Area so that you can bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the celebration! And, just so you know why we celebrate on July 4th (the Declaration was signed on the 2nd of July), here is a link to a summary of the historical events that led up to the July 4th celebrations. http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080701/sc_livescience/whenwasthe4thofjulyfirstcelebrated


SAN FRANCISCO - Fisherman's Wharf Waterfront, 9:30 p.m.
OAKLAND - Jack London Square, 9:15 p.m.
BERKELEY - Berkeley Marina, 9:30 p.m.
SAN JOSE - Discovery Meadow 9:30 p.m.
SAUSALITO - Waterfront, 9:15 p.m.
SAN RAFAEL - Marin County Fairgrounds 9:30 p.m.
VACAVILLE - Andrews Park, 9:30 p.m.
REDWOOD CITY - Seaport Court - Dusk
FOSTER CITY - Foster City Lagoon - 9:30 p.m.
HALF MOON BAY - Pillar Point Harbor - 9:30 p.m.

How to Keep Cool Today...

Trying to keep cool today??? Head towards water! There are plenty of things to do in Santa Cruz like the Boardwalk, the beach, Capitola and it is only about an hour away. But, of course, you have traffic, the effects of the fires (latest one was 50% contained as of this am) and still a high of 92 degrees, but you have a breeze and the water! In SF, where the high is only expected to be 85 degrees, Ghiradelli Square will have free ice cream sundaes at 4pm and there are plenty of stores, museums and parks to enjoy the day and stay cool. Or you could head to nearby Stinson Beach or Sausalito too for a picnic and great scenery. Other options: Half Moon Bay is always cool and the downtown Main Street is fun to stroll, grab a sandwich and window shop. If the kids need to play and splash in the water, the nearby beaches are happy to facilitate! Less obvious options: Alameda shoreline, Mountain View shoreline, Quarry Lakes, Fremont, Vasona Park, Los Gatos. There are also numerous parks with water elements - Campbell Central Park, San Ramon Central Park and many others. And, don't forget that Chabot Science Center has Family Day today...air-conditioned entertainment! Whatever you do, enjoy and keep cool!

Green Mom Finds on GE Foods

GE (or genetically engineered) foods, also called GMOs, are addressed on the green mom finds web site - http://greenmomfinds.com/. There hasn't been much written or reported on GE food, but it is really a huge industry. The top four items that are genetically engineered: corn, soy, canola and cotton. There are a few good DVDs and books on this subject. I have seen a powerful DVD called The Future of Food which was fascinating and scary all at once. The EU doesn't allow any GE foods nor does Japan. They are watching the US to see what the outcome of this GE will produce in a decade or more down the road....not such a good feeling to be the guinnea pig of the franken-foods! So, beware! And, more pesticides are used for GE foods. There is a good snapshot guide to GE foods on the green mom finds site which reminds you that organic foods are never GE foods so that once again, organics are the way to go if you want to stay away from GE foods. These days, we are all more educated and aware of the food we eat and the eco friendly way to grow and eat that food. Information is key. Keep researching and reading. That is the only way you can make the best decisions for yoru family.