Balancing schoolwork with sports practice, play rehearsal, and club meetings complicates any youngster, pre-teen and teen’s life enough without the added burden of getting sick. The dual risk of the seasonal flu as well as the 2009 H1N1 virus, makes this year’s flu season especially complicated.

For millions of parents around the world, the day does not end with the school bell. There are still pictures to be painted, songs to be sung and games to be played. This all adds up to keeping children happy, safe and out of trouble. But, parents have to steer away from going overboard.  My own girls were actively involved in after-school activities such as Brownies, dance lessons, religious classes, and sports.  Parents should keep in mind that in order to keep your children healthy, everything should be in moderation:

After school is not baby-sitting
After school activities thrive only if it is backed by sufficient parental involvement. What would a soccer match be without parents cheering their little heroes from the sidelines?.

Research and choose
Instead of convenience being the decisive factor, find out things that will interest your child. Once you select a program, get the fine print and find out what you have to contribute.

Free time
Many children attend piano classes, followed by ballet and squeeze in some time for play dates in between just before they rush home in time for bed. This rigor is too much for a child. So, go slow.

When to quit
Often, parents enroll their child in an activity to discover that he may not be the prodigy they thought he would be. This is the time to let go. Your child may not become the next wonder-kid. But, let him cultivate an interest that he enjoys. Remember, happiness and fulfillment are all that matter.

To help spread the word about flu prevention, former American Idol finalist Danny Gokey has paired up with The Clorox Company to launch I Don’t Want to Miss…, a national campaign designed to get kids and their teachers involved in flu prevention.

Danny Gokey - American Idol Finalist

Now in its second year, the program features a contest that invites school musical groups, like glee clubs, show choirs, etc.  to develop a video performance of a song written by Berklee College of Music student Will Wells on what they don’t want to miss out on if they were home sick and why prevention is important. The winning school will win a music class led by former American Idol finalist Danny Gokey!

For each entry submitted, The Clorox Company will donate $100 (up to $10,000) to the Sophia’s Heart Foundation, a charity founded by Gokey in honor of his late wife, Sophia, and dedicated to helping children achieve academic success via musical training and restoring musical dreams in children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children and teens over 6 months and up to age 18 get flu vaccinations. In addition to vaccination, the most important step in flu prevention, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and washing hands often play an important role in prevention.

Visit the Clorox page on Facebook to learn more about this creative and informational challenge. For the first 100 groups to submit, the teacher will receive a wellness care package from The Clorox Company.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Clorox and received $20 thank-you gift certificate.

Clorox & Danny Gokey Team Up – I Don’t Want to Miss … is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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2. The “O, MY” in Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy: How to Prepare Your Child For Surgery – Book Review
3. Triaminic Thin Strips – Coupon

Cheap Insurance For Young Drivers

I work in an office and sit in a cubicle next to a mom who has a teenage daughter.  The daughter is 16, and recently obtained her driving learner’s permit.

It’s amazing how quickly time goes by, as my oldest daughter has had her driver’s license for 10 year now.  My friend visits me and gives me the daily run-down of how this little exercise is going.

Connecticut recently enacted a law that requires parents and/or guardians of teenagers with learner’s permits to also attend drivers education classes.

Now that one of my daughter’s is married and over the age of 25, her auto insurance premiums have decreased.  However, I’m still left with one daughter at home, and am footing the bill for her young singles auto insurance.

Young drivers can find cheaper insurance and compare auto insurance from a variety of companies online. Youthful drivers are able to quickly locate the cheapest rates online compared to the old method of contacting each insurer directly for a quote.

There are a multitude of companies offering cheap insurance for young drivers.

Even if they’re considered high risk drivers due to a lack of driving experience – the key is just to seek these companies out.

As a parent, I certainly had seen my insurance rates increase when my daughters were newly licensed.  In Connecticut, drivers-education retraining classes are frequently required for multiple offenses.

You may ask why can the cheapest insurer differ for each young driver?

Several factors have an impact on rates:

• location; driving record; gender and type of vehicle coverage

New drivers who have not had their license for at least three years may not qualify for the 20% good driver savings.

If you’re the parent of a soon-to-be youthful driver, or current teenage driver, keep these things in mind and mention them when shopping for affordable auto insurance:

• A short commute to work or school

• Honor Roll or good grades in school (may need proof)

• Higher deductibles when adding physical coverage to a vehicle

• Drop or eliminate unnecessary coverage such as “collision” if the vehicle’s value is insignificant

• Consider recurring automatic checking or savings account bank withdrawals from your account to reduce billing fees

• Pay premiums up-front  in advance for 3-6 months or up to one year in order to avoid billing fees.

If you’re like me, we want peace of mine and won’t fall asleep until we hear the sound of the car-door slamming in the driveway at night.

Clorox & Danny Gokey Team Up – I Don’t Want to Miss … is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes – Review & Giveaway
2. The “O, MY” in Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy: How to Prepare Your Child For Surgery – Book Review
3. Triaminic Thin Strips – Coupon

Big Eye Dummies

Most children love animals and ‘Lil Moomette is no exception.

As a matter of fact, it’s ironic that my husband and I had a dog before we had our girls, and ‘Lil Moomette’s parents had a dog and a cat before ‘Lil Moomette was in the picture.

Actually, my husband and I were fur-free for awhile, but we now have a lazy, fat, almost 12-year old house-cat.  Whenever the grandkids come over, The Cat will tolerate the kiddos for only so long, and then retreats to someplace yonder.

All dogs are “Mutley,” (even though the poor dog is actually a purebread Black Lab!)

I’ve had the opportunity to review the new line of designer plush dolls aptly named “Big Eye Dummies.”  Milton The Cat is now part of our family.

Each doll comes with 2 sets of interchangeable eyes and mouths, along with its own back story. Made of fabric, the eyes and mouths come gently sewn down, but just need to be cut by an adult and the threads removed, at which point the mix ‘n match fun begins!

Big Eye Dummies are designed and created in New York City by David Lipson, a professional Animation Producer and Director.  David has worked on TV shows, including Word World (PBS), Lizzie McGuire (Disney Channel), Schoolhouse Rock (Disney), and shorts for Sesame Street (PBS).

Says David: “Big Eye Dummies offer several major innovations to the plush doll market, such as using high quality thread to hold them together instead of staples or nails. Another breakthrough was filling them with fluffy soft stuffing instead of rocks or bricks. Focus testing has shown that these improvements seem to really enhance the ‘cuddle and snuggle’ factor for children.”

Big Eye Dummies have received Creative Child Magazine’s Preferred Choice Award.

Big Eye Dummies have been tested by independent American Laboratories and comply with the European and American Toy Safety Standards.

Another benefit is great creative fun at Grandma’s house, or homeschooling, daycare or pre-school fun!

These plush dolls are just way too cute and cuddly and would make an adorable Birthday or holiday gift, not only for children, but tweens, teens and adults too!

Recommended Ages: 2 and up

Suggested Retail: $19.99

Available at: www.BigEyeDummies.com and specialty toy and gift stores, high-end children’s boutiques, design gift shops, and museum stores.

For More Information Visit: Big Eye Dummies

Moomette’s Magnificents is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of one (1) Big Eye Dummie Plush Designer Doll.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Big Eye Dummies and leave a comment about another fact that wasn’t mentioned in this post and why you’d like to win a Big Eye Dummie Doll.

Now for extra entries (each task will get you 1 extra entry):

~One Extra Entry: Add my banner button to your sidebar or add me to your blogroll, and come back here and leave the link (I will be checking)

~One Extra Entry: Blog about the contest on your blog linking to my blog and the site

~ One Extra Entry: Become a Fan on Facebook and let me know your name in a separate comment.

~ One Extra Entry: Follow Me on Google Friend Connect (right sidebar) and leave your name in a separate comment.

~ One Extra Entry: Follow me on Networked Blogs (right sidebar) and leave your name in a separate comment.

~One Extra Entry: Favorite Moomette’s Magnificents in Technorati and leave your name (I will be checking) in a separate comment  (the link is on my right sidebar).

~ One Extra Entry: Follow Me on Twitter and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment.

~One Extra Entry: Tweet about this contest (Retweet button at bottom of post), and come back to this post and leave the URL link to the Tweet so I can check. You may Retweet once per day until the end of the contest, but please leave a separate comment for each Retweet, along with the permalink

Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until July 14, 2009 at approximately 11:00 pm.

Winners are chosen by Random.Org, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

*Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

*Include your email if it’s not enabled.
*Open to USA and Canada Only
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.

Clorox & Danny Gokey Team Up – I Don’t Want to Miss … is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes – Review & Giveaway
2. The “O, MY” in Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy: How to Prepare Your Child For Surgery – Book Review
3. Triaminic Thin Strips – Coupon

We’ve all been hearing quite a bit lately about the importance of family values.  It seems that whenever you turn on the television or open a magazine, there are sound bites and articles galore.

My children are grown now, but I didn’t need to be constantly reminded of  “family values” when my husband and I were raising them.  It was just something we did.  When the kids were little, my husband worked late hours ~ yet we always sat down to eat dinner together as a family.  I often referred to it as “continental style” ~ meaning that in Europe, the dinner hour is frequently at 8 or 9 pm, as opposed to earlier times here in the United States.

Sitting down to dinner together and eating a well-balanced healthy meal gave us the opportunity to connect as a family with one another and share our day.  Studies have proven that families who dine together maintain healthier lifestyles and are more apt to make wise choices and decisions in their lives.

Sara Evans and Libby’s Vegetables celebrate “Get Back to the Table Month.” Although school is back in session and after-school activities oftentimes make sitting down as a family difficult, perhaps a continental-style dinner hour once or twice a week might be possible for your family!

Visit http://www.getbacktothetable.com/ for some terrific ideas, recipes, shopping tips, contests and more information about Getting Back to the Table. You’ll also be able to download Money Saving Coupons!

Clorox & Danny Gokey Team Up – I Don’t Want to Miss … is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes – Review & Giveaway
2. The “O, MY” in Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy: How to Prepare Your Child For Surgery – Book Review
3. Triaminic Thin Strips – Coupon