What Should a 4 Year Old Know

I came across this blog post a few weeks ago, lost it and now found it again.
Here is my favorite point that I think often gets lost in our hectic, crazy and materialistic world. "Our children don’t need Nintendos, computers, after school activities, ballet lessons, play groups and soccer practice nearly as much as they need US. They need fathers who sit and listen to their days, mothers who join in and make crafts with them, parents who take the time to read them stories and act like idiots with them. They need us to take walks with them and not mind the .1 MPH pace of a toddler on a spring night. They deserve to help us make supper even though it takes twice as long and makes it twice as much work. They deserve to know that they’re a priority for us and that we truly love to be with them. "

I'm not trying to start a huge debate over staying at home with your kids vs. not, or insulting people who have no mother or no father in the picture.  We all make the best of our situations and do the best we can...but I know personally, I could get off the computer earlier and walk a little slower more often. 

To read the entire post go to A Magical Childhood then let me know what you think!

Yes, I'm Home. No, I Can't Pick Up Your Child

A great article and a reminder for parents on both sides of the work fence...while I don't find my friends and neighbors asking me to do things, I do find people at school asking for more help because they know I'm a sucker nice person!

I actually know very few true stay-at-home moms. By true I mean, that don't have something going on the side...seriously, only a handful. I work part-time from home & in the office with a super flexible schedule.

Check out Wall Street JournalHistory for a great article and let me know what you think.

You don't have to pay for cable...

This article does not suggest stealing it...just ways that you might be able to watch your shows w/out paying a ton of money. We have officially decided to get rid of our house phone and it almost seems logical for cable to go as well. I can't think of anything I really watch on tv that A. I really should be watching and B. that I can't find online.

Has anyone else gotten rid of cable (and I don't mean the, I've never had cable because I hate tv people...because I love to watch trashy tv!) and used tried any of the methods?

Go to Yahoo Finance to check out the tips.

PECO Rate Increase

So I'm sure most of you saw my Facebook post about my electric bill being much more than an I had anticipated so I decided to investigate. PECO is saying my actual usage is twice what it was last year at this time...infact, every month this year it has been twice what it was the year before. My husband and I are now checking our home to find out what the cause might be. While I was at PECO's website, I decided to check up on the rate increase scheduled for January of 2011. Here is what it says on their site.

"PECO has requested Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approval to increase electric delivery rates and natural gas delivery rates beginning January 1, 2011. The first electric delivery rate request since 1989 and only the second natural gas delivery rate request in 20 years, the increases will ensure PECO is able to continue to meet customer demand and ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity and natural gas."

Here is a stat they give as well "In the average home, 75 percent of electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These “phantom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCR’s, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances."

While we are still looking into the specific cause of our power being so high. There were a few tips, an e-engery audit you can do on your house and a few other resources that you might want to check into before January of 2011. Let me know how it works for you!!!PECO Customer Education for locations.

7 surefire ways to turn off your teen

Thankfully I'm not here yet...but I thought this was a great article. I remember being a teenager and just not feeling "right" about myself and taking that out on my parents. Hopefully I'll remember it when my kids are older too. I also like the survey that says tween girls want their moms to be more involved...I'll work on that one for sure!!!

Go to Yahoo to check out the article.

10 No-Cook Dinners To Beat The Summer Heat

I love hearing any and all ideas for dinners. Especially because I hate to turn my oven on during the summer...my favorite no cook meal is sandwiches and salad. So easy and tasty. My brother's favorite: McDonalds, no joke he just said it.

Check out Yahoo Health then let me know your favorite summer dish.

21 Things You Should Never Buy New

I think this list is prety good, especially baby and maternity clothes. My favorite is pets...don't buy a new pet, I guess they want you to buy old pets!

Yahoo Finance

Tricks to slash your grocery bills

Usually I think these articles are redundent...stock up on items when they are on sale, eat less meat, etc. I think this article is more detailed on how to effectivly creat a stock pile.

All You

Target Credit Discount -FYI

Target is planning to discount your Target credit card purchases by 5%.  Interesting...

Check out Yahoo Finance for more information.

Have a Laugh

I recieved this email today and thought it was cute.

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six father's will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and take either music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework,complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.

In addition,each man will have to budget enough money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives,
and send cards out on time--no emailing.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment
and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Emergency Room.

He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a school function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside,and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television
when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, adorn themselves with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished, and eyebrows groomed

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, backaches, headaches, have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings and church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.


They will need to read a book to the kids eachnight and in the morning,feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:30 am.


A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight,shoe size, clothes size, doctor's name, the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear, and what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if...
he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.


If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years...thankfully there are mother's!

World's Richest Moms

I was suprised that my name didn't make the list...but in honor of Mother's DayWorld's Richest Moms

How to Be a Savvy Cheapskate

I think this was a great article on Yahoo today. Let me know what you think.
How to Be a Savvy Cheapskate