Free Shockwave Games for Thanksgiving!

To reach out to these women and give “Thanks” during this holiday season, Shockwave, the original casual gaming destination and home to the hottest online games, is offering four free days of full access to the site’s 1,100 online and downloadable games!

November 26 to 29, all Club Shockwave games will be free for all Shockwave visitors. Some of the games that will be available include:

Avenue Flo: Avenue Flo is an exciting, hands-on adventure set in DinerTown, home of the Diner Dash series. Mysterious events are threatening DinerTown’s biggest wedding in history. As Flo, you will explore the town, interacting with neighbors that help you solve puzzles, collect missing items, and complete activities to set things right. Can you help Quinn save the wedding?

Link: http://dev.shockwave.com/gamelanding/avenueflo.jsp

Kung Pow: The city has ten lucky fireworks that can only be lit by the essence of a dragon. Keep the dragon from reaching the pearl by making chains of 3 or more and grabbing power-ups to harness their potency. Keep burning through the dragon to launch your fireworks, earn bigger rockets, get tokens, and earn trophies, like Laughing Dog or Roman Candle.

Link: http://dev.shockwave.com/gamelanding/kungpow.jsp3


Cards to Midnight: Use the cards to uncover a dark past in this hidden object adventure and psychological thriller!

Link: http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/3cardstomidnight.jsp

Just because new guidelines say most women don't need an annual pap...women and girls shouldn't put their health at risk

By guest author: Janine Sherman

With the announcement of the new pap test guidelines, it is worrisome that many women will now forgo their routine annual exam. These women believe that if they do not need a pap test, they do not need a gynecological exam.

Wrong! In fact, seeing a women's health care provider involves much more than cervical cancer screening.

4 key reasons women (and girls) should regularly see a health care provider, even if they don't need a pap test:

1. Teen girls need a first time. Gynecologists recommend that every teen girl should visit a women's health care provider for the first time between the ages of 13 and 15. This visit does not necessarily mean a girl will have an exam, but it can be a great opportunity for a young girl to establish a relationship with a provider prior to their need for an exam. This visit is also a great opportunity for education and counseling.
2. Any woman who is sexually active needs to have STD screening. Just this week, the Centers for Disease Control released the latest statistics concerning sexually transmitted infections, and the rate of infection continues to rise in the 15 to 19 age group. We need to encourage girls to be screened.
3. Any woman who is sexually active may need birth control. Teen pregnancy is a costly problem in this country, to the tune of 9.1 billion dollars annually. In addition, the second highest group of women who have pregnancy terminations are the over forty age group. If women are not seeing their health care provider regularly, these statistics may continue to rise since women will not be receiving the contraceptive counseling that they need.
4. Annual well women exams. The gynecologic visit encompasses much more than a pap test. Often a women's health care provider is the only source of primary health care a women under the age or 40 may see, and therefore, it is important that women continue to have these visits. At this visit, a women is screened for hypertension, assessed for risks of cancer and heart disease, and given a general health physical that includes a breast and pelvic exam. General health counseling also occurs at this visit, such as the need for adequate calcium intake to prevent osteoporosis. As we look at health care reform, remember that disease prevention is thought to be a key to health care cost containment.

Finally, guidelines are just that -- guidance for individual health care based on studying large numbers of people. A woman and her health care provider need to be the ones who make the decisions about how often to have a pap test. But, if a woman and her health care provider agree that they don't need pap tests every year, they shouldn't stop receiving all the other benefits of an annual visit to a women's health care provider!

Janine J. Sherman, RN MSN WHNP-BC, is a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner who specializes in the care of adolescent patients. She currently works in a busy OB/GYN office in Houston. Sherman is a former faculty member at the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. She worked at the Center for Immunization Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and has written numerous articles on a variety of women's health issues.

Top Five Favorite Child-Friendly Holiday Activities

The holidays are here and you know what that means? Lots of time for the kiddos to be off school!

In the spirit of keeping little hands busy during vacation time, we began several activities that have now become holiday traditions for our family. Here are the top five:

1. Count down to Christmas. Whether we use an advent calendar or just number magnets on the fridge, my children love counting down the days until Christmas. This becomes their first morning activity and starts the day off in a pleasant way.

2. Thankful trees. Before or after Thanksgiving (depending upon what time allows,) the kids and I cut out a tree trunk and leaves out of construction paper or foam pieces. On each leaf we write something we each take turns writing something or someone we are thankful for, then we put the tree together on a posterboard and hang it on the wall. All season long, it reminds us of what's really important.

3. Ornament crafts. Each year, the kids pick out an ornament craft to make and gift to family, neighbors, relatives, and so on. This usually occupies them for several days between making the ornaments and wrapping them-- and everyone loves to receive them!

4. Winter hikes. Whether we go tromping through the woods to get a glimpse of nature (winter is a great time for hiking as you can see through all the trees!) or strolling around the neighborhood to look at the lights, we all have a fun family time. Plus it a great way to excercise and keep those holiday pounds off.

5. Donation drive. Each year, we sort through all the clothes and toys, bagging up anything that is too small to fit or does not get play time. Then, we take the goodies to a donation center. This allows us to help those in need and to teach the kids the value of giving. It also helps makes space for the gifts they'll receive at Christmas!

What are your favorite holiday activities to do with your children?

Thanksgiving Bluelight Specials

Here's a sneak peek at K-Mart's Thanksgiving Bluelight Specials:

Bluelight Specials for 11/26-11/29 THURSDAY to SUNDAY from 1PM-6PM!

· Kids Route 66 Graphic Tees $3.99 (Reg. $7.99)

· Essential Home 7.5' x 9.5' Rug in a Bag $34.99 (Reg. $69.99)

· All Multi-Roll Wrap 50% Off (Reg. $7.99)

Also, don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win prizes every day. For more info & rules: http://tr.im/KmartBLS

What is your Black Friday plan of attack this year?

Not much surprise here, our Black Friday plan of attack includes left-overs, pots of coffee, and shopping!

Prior to the big event, though, there's lots of prep to do:

1. Scan the circulars, compare prices, and circle your desires!
2. Clip matching coupons.
3. Scour the internet for extra deals and coupons.
4. Map your course. (Determine what stores open first and where they are located in relation to each other.)

And my not-so-secret line of defense- Enlist the aid of your friends and relatives! Seriously, why go to every store when you can split up and conquer multiple stores at once?

What is your Shopping Strategy for Black Friday? You can write your own blog post for a chance at a Target Giftcard. Details here.

Top 10 reasons to stock up on Carmex® lip balm for the holidays

The holidays are a perfect time to stock pile Carmex® lip balm.

While Carmex came up with a gazillion reasons to stock up on Carmex lip balm, here are their top 10:

1. Thanksgiving Dinner. Lips treated with Carmex lip balm stay soft and pliable making it easier to open wide and stuff more Thanksgiving dinner in your mouth.

2. Fill Stockings. Carmex lip balm makes great stocking stuffers – there are 10 kinds of Carmex for everyone on your list.

3. Dessert alternative. A little dab of Carmex on the lips can mean less heft on the hips. . Heck, it’s almost as satisfying as a big slice of pie but without the calories! And with nummy flavors like strawberry, cherry and mint, who needs pie?

4. Santa and the reindeer. Put Carmex on the plate instead of cookies to keep their lips moisturized and protected from the elements as they fly across the sky. Plus, look at Santa’s belly and tell me he really needs the cookies.

5. Secret Santa gifts. Carmex is the perfect gift for Secret Santa exchanges and because it is such a bargain you can afford to give more than one!

6. Tis the season to kiss and be kissed. Don’t get caught under the mistletoe without Carmex. Whether a mistletoe or Happy New Year kiss is in order, Carmex makes lips more kissable because it moisturizes as it protects lips from chapping.

7. Advent calendar. Buy 25 sticks, tubes or jars of Carmex and make your own Carmex Advent Calendar. What better way to ensure that your lips stay festive every day?

8. Cough and cold season. Carmex prevents chapping when you have a cold or cough and the tingle makes everything seem better.

9. Tingle with the jingle. Every Carmex lip balm provides a tingle to tell you it is working. And if you use Carmex every day, you’ll keep dry lips away. To remind yourself, every time you hear the jingle of a bell, apply the tingle of Carmex.

10. Thank you gifts. For your hairdresser, teachers, doorman, nail technician, grocery bagger, party hostesses, your neighbors, boss, mailperson, and lawyer, everyone deserves and appreciates the gift of Carmex.

And, as if that's not enough reason, Carmex also has a super cute holiday treat for your loved ones: Send a virtual Carmex Kiss today at www.mycarmexkiss.com

Old El Paso Family Game Night Winner

Old El Paso El Tacodor Family Game Night winner...

by random order of PsychicScience.org...

#4
Random numbers generated November 21, 2009 at 5:58:56 by www.psychicscience.org

is...

Florida Girl!

Florida Girl said...
We play the classic Win, Lose or draw. We break out the whiteboard and the whole family has a blast :)
November 14, 2009 2:28 PM

Congratulations winner, be sure to check your email and send your mailing information to momdotcomnet@yahoo.com

Tips for Keeping Your Black Friday Budget in Check

We are a week away from the biggest, badest holiday shopping day of the year: Black Friday.

It's also the day we are most likely to blow our holiday budget way off the richter scale- leaving us to scramble later to pay the bills.

Stop! Don't suffer through the season because of one day of shopping madness. Use these tips to keep your spending reasonable and your budget in check:

1. Leave your credit cards at home and use cash. Scour the ads, determine what "must have" items you must have, then do the math. Add up the cost (assuming that you will be able to purchase all the items on your list) and add 10% for tax and overage. Take the appropriate amount of cash with you and leave your credit cards at home to avoid the temptation of over-spending.
2. Take snacks! Trust me, after getting up at 5 a.m. and shopping for hours, you will be hungry and very tempted to buy impulse purchases, such as candy bars, chips, and water bottles while you shop. Avoid this cash-draining catch by carrying a cooler with drinks in your car and a stash of snacks (such as peanuts and granola bars) in your car and purse.
3. Organize your coupons. If you plan to use them, sort them into envelopes with the store name clearly marked on the outside. It is easy to misplace a coupon during the frenzy- organizing them ahead of time will ensure you don't miss out on your savings.
4. Make a shopping list. It's easier to stick to purchases when you are checking them off a list. Try to make your list in logical order of where the items are located in the store, too, and you will not only save yourself a lot of steps, you'll be less tempted to grab impulse items in areas you should have skipped.
5. Take a like-minded friend. Have a friend who is on a tight budget? Buddy up as shopping pals. Agree ahead of time to help each other out. It's easier to say "no" to an item when your friend is encouraging you to.
6. Time yourself. Give yourself an allotted amount of time to spend in each store. Set the alarm on your cell phone or watch and then promptly head to the cashier when it goes off. You'll save yourself a lot of browsing time that could lead to financial disaster!
7. Take your gift list. Make a list of those you are shopping for and each time you make a purchase, notate it. It's easy to buy extra gifts when you don't realize what you already have purchased for that special someone. If you have it listed, you'll be less tempted to get more.
8. Watch the scanners. Often on big sale days, items do not ring up correctly. Pay close attention to the scanner as the sales clerk is ringing up your purchases and have them fix errors on the spot. It's more difficult to have them fixed after the receipt prints and you may be tempted to dismiss a few dollars verses standing in a long customer service line.

Above all, have fun, enjoy the madness, and remember that one day of bargain fun is not worth a season of stressing over how to make ends meet.

$2.99 Boys & Girls Turtlenecks this weekend at K-Mart!

Here's a sneak peek at some of K-Mart's Blue Light Specials for November 21 & 22:

- Home/All Frames 50% off (reg range $1-$29.99)
- Boys and Girls Basic Edition turtlenecks $2.99 (reg.$7.99)
- Home/All Cookware 40% off (reg. $6.99-169.99)

And... don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win in Kmart Bluelight Special Holiday Sweepstakes every day! For more info & rules: http://tr.im/KmartBLS

"A Taste of the West" Sweepstakes

Challenge Butter is sponsoring a fabulous "Taste of the West" Sweepstakes.

One Grand Prize Winner will win a 7-day/6-night trip for 4 people to the incredible Mountain Sky Guest Ranch (mtnsky.com) in Montana’s Paradise Valley, just North of Yellowstone National Park.

AND One First Prize Winner will win a $850 kitchen package from Spice Islands and OXO!

Sweet!

Get your entry in today at http://challengedairy.com/sweepstakes/index.html