Bowling: AMF Summer Unplugged

Summer is upon us.  I am sure your kids have complained that they are "bored" or "there is nothing to do."  I have always kept my child's schedule semi-structured during the summers because I believe children need to know how to fend for themselves--teach themselves how not to be bored sometimes.

Other times, I have planned some activity such as bowling.  My son likes bowling.  This activity is always a success.  He has gone to bowling themed birthday parties and also with family members.  I love the fact that the bowling alley will put up gutter shields to ensure the child knocks some pins down.  What a great way to build their self esteem and to enjoy playing bowling.  So, I was excited when I heard about the AMF Summer Unplugged, where there are some great deals to take your children to bowling.

Summer Unplugged- You can spare your kids from boredom (and the heat)! Two free games every day
for each child ages 15 and under registered in the Summer Unplugged program* (Shoe rental not
included, but they're worth paying for.). Sign-up here for free bowling all summer long!

*You can register up to six children in the program. If you would like to add more children, you will
need to create a new account using an alternate email address.

Summer Pass- Adults won't be left melting in the heat! An AMF Summer Pass is just $34.95 and
includes two games per day for the pass owner and up to three guests ages 16 and up. (Shoe
rental not included, but they’re worth paying for.) Sign-up here for AMF's Summer
Pass!

New for 2013:
• One simple sign-up, no coupons to be emailed or printed! Simply present your
membership card or your name at your local AMF center and you're all set to go!

• Also new this year for Summer Unplugged members is the "Stay and Play" option.
Additional games can be added for just $1.49! So if the competition is hot and the
weather is hotter, you can keep the strikes coming and stay cool for less!

The Summer Unplugged and Summer Pass programs runs through September 2,
2013. Members can redeem their bowling games every day from open until 8pm using their
membership pass, member ID, first name or other unique identifier.

With over 250 locations, AMF is where America goes bowling! Find an AMF Bowling Center near
you- http://bit.ly/AMFCenters.

FTC: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated in this post are my own.

Join Media Insiders for Great Rewards!

Participate in ground breaking research that focuses on the most popular technologies! Become a new Media Insiders Panelists for your chance to win a $10,000 Quarterly Grand Prize, $100 Tango Card Monthly drawings, and $25 Tango Card Weekly drawings! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends 9/30/13. To enter and for Official Rules, visit https://www.mediainsiderspanel.com/MediaServer/documents/MediaInsidersPanel-Sweepstakes-Rules.pdf

Must-Have Mobile Apps For Your Summer Road Trip

Summer is the perfect time for planning weekend getaways with the family, but instead of flying, many choose to hit the road! When getting ready for an adventurous road trip, you always want to be prepared and organized, especially when you're traveling with your loved ones. With the help of Smartphones, you can beat the stress of having to search for the next gas station or rest stop, and actually enjoy traveling on the road to your vacation spot.

GetPacked: packing list

When looking to hit the road this summer, it’s important to make sure no one leaves any essentials behind (all while making sure not to over-pack the car!) The GetPacked: packing list mobile app helps make packing for the whole family quick and easy.  With a checklist at the palm of your hand, you can choose from over 600 items to put on your list, with the ability to even add your own items.

Roadside America

Make the most of your trip by visiting unique regional monuments and museums along the way. A perfect way to break up the monotony of a long drive, the Roadside America mobile app helps you explore one-of-a-kind attractions nearby. The app even provides directions and detailed information so you won't get lost on your detour.

CheapOair

If you haven't booked a hotel—or have to make last minute changes to your travel plans—rest assure you can find a reputable respite with the CheapOair mobile app. Much like its popular website, the app provides user reviews, pricing information and the best deals of nearby hotels. The app’s 24/7 Live Chat option offers a CheapOair travel specialists is also available to assist in answering any questions or concerns you may have.

Gas Buddy

With the Gas Buddy mobile app, you never have to face the fear of running out of gas again. With this mobile app, users can get the best price per gallon around by using Gas Buddy, an app that displays nearby gas station prices, allowing users to choose the most affordable option in the area. You can also earn points by reporting updated gas prices for a chance to win a $250 gas card.

LocalEats

Driving for hours on end is sure to build up an appetite. While making your way through an unfamiliar city and looking for a restaurant the whole family will enjoy, the LocalEats app allows you to search through recommended restaurants that have been reviewed by local food critics. With so many restaurants to choose from across the country, the app filter restaurants by Top 100, cuisine, neighborhood, feature, savings, price range, hours, bar information, patio seating, vegetarian friendly, and more!

Expense Tracker

For road trippers on a budget, this is the best way to organize your expenses in a spreadsheet format. The Expense Tracker mobile app allows you to easily store your trip costs in several categories: client, expense type, and date. You can even export the data in CSV format, which can be used in a number of other applications.

License Plate Game

This fun app won’t track your journey with GPS or show you where to go, but it will make some of those long stretches of open road more fun. The License Plate Game mobile app takes the age-old license plate game to a whole new level, allowing for passengers (even the kids!) to avoid becoming restless on this memorable vacation and enjoy a classic game that can involve the whole family.

Monthly Focus: Wedding Series

Notley Tythe Barn. This barn is used for weddings and wedding receptions (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

During the month of April, there will be at least one post in regards to weddings and its details on a daily basis.  I will be sure to put in Monthly Focus as part of the headline.  We will provide guest posts, discounts, deals, to do lists, interviews, just about anything that has to do with weddings.  We will talk about wedding locations, guests, planning, cakes, dresses, fears, and wishes, and much, much more.


Weddings should be not stressful times for you.  Let us help you by giving you ideas and resources.  If you have any favorite wedding resources or topics, do let me know.  It  may be featured right here!

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‘Save Our Skins’ Campaign Aims to Educate Through Stories, Told from the Perspective of 3 Endangered Species

Coming just in time for Earth Day, Earthjustice is releasing a new viral campaign to educate the public about congressional measures that will put a strain on the environment and several species of endangered animals. Earthjustice, the renown non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the Earth and its resources, is using social media to personify three animals that have been threatened by a number of anti-wildlife legislation tactics: the gray wolf, the salmon, and the polar bear. Earthjustice launched the Save Our Skins

Among the many contentious issues surrounding the passage of Congress’ current budget bill are a series of anti-wildlife proposals that would strip Endangered Species protections for the gray wolf, expand offshore oil drilling in the Arctic that could harm the polar bear habitat, and take away water intended to restore rapidly declining salmon runs. Sadly, all three of these species are already struggling to survive: Polar bears live in some of the harshest conditions on Earth and are now being hit by climate change; salmon must fight their way past dams and irrigation pumps just as more and more of their water is siphoned off for human use; and wolves were slaughtered to the brink of extinction until recovery efforts in the 1990s pulled them back from the edge. Species like these three are amazing, iconic species that represent the very best of America’s great untamed wilderness. To lose these animals is to lose an essential part of America’s greatness.

To get the word out, Save Our Skins is more than just a petition; it’s a chance for the soapbox to be given to the animals themselves. As part of the campaign, each creature will share their daily adventures and trials on a personal Twitter account. Recognizing the importance of making the campaign appealing and sharable, the social media-savvy animals combine wit with real facts and emotion to state their case; from the swaggering, Chuck Norris-like gray wolf who likes to see steam coming out of his nostrils on a cold day, to the neurotic and painfully naïve salmon who is unaware of the fact that people appreciate salmon mostly as a delicious entrée. The result is a quirky cast of characters with a message that hits close to home.

Save Our Skins serves to iterate just how little the wolf, salmon, and polar bear ask for -- they just want a chance to live. All three are resilient creatures who did not survive this long just to have politicians put their existence up for a vote. Please help us get the word out about this vital issue by sending a letter to Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell. Earthjustice aims to send 37,000 letters telling Congress that we oppose these attacks on the ESA, and we need you to help us reach our goal! These animals deserve to be on this earth as much as the rest of us: extinction is not an option.

TAKE ACTION
You can make your voice heard by sending a letter to Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell! Click here

STAY CONNECTED
Be sure to follow all the animals on Twitter, and click here to tweet: campaign to reach out to the public via popular social media channels, such as Twitter and Youtube, and ask them to pressure Congress by getting in touch with representatives capable of bringing change. to send a pre-written letter or to write your own message.

• Follow the Wolf on Twitter
• Follow the Salmon on Twitter
• Follow the Polar Bear on Twitter

Check out Earthjustice on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news.

ABOUT EARTHJUSTICE
Earthjustice is a nonprofit environmental law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places and wildlife of this earth and defending the right of all people to a healthy environment.

Traveling for the Soul: My Version of Eat Pray Love

Food is a connector to life.  Food is used in happy occasions, as well as grieving occasions. It is an identity, often a common link amongst people.  People are proud of their cultural foods.  Even here in USA, we can find that foods vary from region to region, yet we share the same language and pop culture.  So, imagine when one travels outside the US.  Oh the variety—the beauty, the smells, tastes, and textures.

This summer, my son and I had the privilege to travel to the Middle East: Jordan and the Palestinian territories.  A civilization that is thousands of years old, a history filled with cultural achievements, the Arab society continues to thrive on food.  When you enter someone’s home, expect the hospitality to be equivalent to five-star hotel.  This is the treatment we received from family and friends. 

In Jordan, we had visited my husband’s family, his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews.  (Unfortunately, my husband couldn’t take time off work to come with us.)  One of the cities we stopped in Jordan was Aqaba, near the Red Sea.  It is a tourist spot for many domestic and international travelers.  Hubby’s family served us the local dish: Samak Asayadeyah (Fish and rice dish):

This is considered top quality because the fish is from the Red Sea.  Yup.  Imagine fresh fish.  Once you have tasted fresh fish, there is no way going back to frozen fish.  It is just not the same.  Your taste buds have experienced something out of the ordinary. 

Now in Ramallah, West Bank, there are lots of varieties of foods to choose for the taste buds to experience and enjoy.  A favorite dish that I had there was Stuffed Grape Leaves.  It is cooked with a rice mixture rolled in grape leaves with a little lemony taste.  I heart this dish as a child and as an adult.  Stuffed Grape Leaves is my all time favorite dish. 

The Old City of Jerusalem has a special place in my heart.  Not only for the richness of its history, but also for its religious meaning. Not only is it a religious place for Jews and Christians, but also for Muslims.  The Dome of the Rock and the Aqsa Mosque are must visit sites for Muslims, and even tourists who are interested in religious history.  Even to see different people of religious backgrounds walking the streets of Jerusalem is an awesome experience.

Just like Eat Pray Love, I have found Aqaba and Ramallah a place to eat foods that are a truly enriching experience.  I found love in Aqaba and Ramallah when visiting family and friends.  I found a city to pray in Jerusalem where the prophets and messengers walked the old city.

“This post is sponsored by TravelingMom.com. EAT PRAY LOVE ON DIRECTOR’S CUT BLU-RAY & DVD will be released on video November 23rd. I was able to preview a copy of the DVD. “

Similac Formula Recall – Infant Formula Recall - Parenting.com

By now, you probably heard about the Similac Formula Recall. However, for those who haven't or didn't, here is the link for more information:

Similac Formula Recall – Infant Formula Recall - Parenting.com

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Census 2010 --- Get Counted

Image via Wikipedia

 Dozens of wide-eyed children had a face-to-face meeting with Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer Tuesday morning as the U.S. Census Bureau launched its new campaign to help ensure children of all ages are counted in the 2010 Census.

The full Census occurs only once every 10 years, therefore a child born today will be in the fourth grade during the next national Census. Missing them this year means the child would spend their first decade of life with reduced health, education and community services because the federal government is unaware of the need.

"A complete and accurate count of our nation's youngest is critical to their health and education, and the future strength of our communities and labor force," said Robert M. Groves, director of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The federal government uses Census data to determine how to best distribute more than $400 billion in annual funds, including $26 billion earmarked for educational services and other programs to benefit children. Undercounting will mean some communities won't get the funds that they need.

Undercounting kids isn't new. Historically, the Census has missed young children at a significantly higher rate than other demographics, said Dr. William O'Hare, senior consultant and former director of the Kids Count program for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The 2000 Census missed approximately 750,000 children under the age of five, or about four percent of the total demographic. 

Today's event took place at Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1988, Mary's Center provides health care and other services to low-income immigrant families. Children of all ages were able to watch the new 2010 Census PSA featuring Dora and shrieked and clapped their hands as a life-sized Dora joined them on stage as a special treat.

Watch and share the Dora the Explorer 2010 Census PSA (in English and Spanish).

Maria Gomez, president of Mary's Center, said the children's reaction to the PSA shows it will be an effective tool in the campaign to make sure every young child is counted. She believes it will start a "ripple effect," where everyone who encounters the campaign will share the information throughout their communities. The end result will be a healthier community for children.

Visit the 2010 Census website to learn more about the campaign, download web buttons, facts sheets and more.

Time Travel

Image via Wikipedia

Remember that cool car Michael J Fox drove in the movie, ‘Back to the Future’, that ultra-suave time machine that allowed him to not only look cool on screen, but also impact events in past and future? On Sunday, March 14 at 2 a.m., we’ll be wishing we looked that dapper. Daylight Saving Time has more of a bewildering effect on our organism than anything else. It is mini jet-lag at its best.

Every year it’s the same old story. We switch the clocks, blink bleary-eyed out the window, and wonder why it’s still dark outside. We battle with our own instincts to curl up into the fetal position for one more round of sleep.

Let’s look at it positively. It is the one moment of the year in which we get to jump forward an hour with a simple twist of the clock. A minor inconvenience of modern life, Daylight Saving Time is meant to save energy. While most of our lives is spent on some level of clock combat as we try to beat more into our schedules, Daylight Saving Time has more to do with war than you might know.

Daylight Saving Time was first instituted during World War I in the United States to take advantage of the longer daylight hours for war production between the months of April and October. During World War II the time change was reinstated for the same reasons. Between the wars, the federal government allowed each State to decide whether or not to observe the time change. It wasn’t until 1966 that the Uniform Time Act standardized the length of Daylight Saving Time. During the Bush Administration, Daylight Saving Time was extended by four weeks after the Energy Policy Act was passed in 2005. By 2007, forty-seven and one-half states, with the exception of Arizona, Hawaii and the Eastern Time Zone of Indiana that do not observe the time change, got to spring forward in March instead of April.

If changing the clock gives you the blues, you are not alone. According to an informal poll on PowerofSlow.org, most people reported feeling groggy and disoriented for a few days after the clocks turn forward. According to research presented in the Journal of Applied Psychology in September 2009, job-related injuries soar right after Daylight Saving Time. Although it is intended to save energy, in some cases changing the clock costs people sleep, thereby leaving them lethargic and more accident-prone.

To ensure you keep a spring in your step, consider these tips to offset the effects of this year’s clock change:

1. Progressively go to bed a few minutes earlier a week before the clock change.
2. Be sure you get sufficient exposure to natural light. Your body’s circadian rhythm depends on it.
3. Not only the time change, but also the change in weather can affect your immune system. Eat vitamin-rich foods. A rule of thumb is to eat one thing in its natural state with every meal (yes, lettuce on your sandwich counts!).
4. Sleep with the shades up for a few days so it is easier to get up in the morning.
5. Research at the University of Sussex has shown that reading for just six minutes can reduce your stress level by sixty-eight percent.  Integrate some reading time into your routine before you go to sleep.

Our relationship with time impacts every other relationship we have. When we feel rushed and time-starved, we enjoy our lives less. Daylight Saving Time is a great opportunity to embrace the notion of time abundance, even as we seemingly ‘lose an hour’.  Time abundance is a mindset that says you have more than enough time to fulfill your ultimate purpose. Just know you are only temporarily without the hour this March because you get it back in October. Besides, if we are all still around in 2012, you get to jump for joy for a whole extra day on February 29^th. Now that’s reason enough to leap through the year!

~Christine Louise Hohlbaum is the author of The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World. http://PowerofSlow.org.

Side bar

Time Resources:

Time around the world:  www.worldtimeserver.com

Time-saving tips:  www.PowerofSlow.org

Virtual calendar:  www.google.com/calendar

Biological Age:  www.realage.com/