Here is a little crossover from my other coupon codes site - but I couldn’t resist.

All the girls around here positively swoon over the stuff at Limited Too. I have to admit - it is cute.

But for moms - it is even cuter when it is on sale. So when I saw this I knew I had to post the coupon here as well.

Take it or leave it - but if you shop through this link you will get 25% off your order:
Take 25% off at Limited Too

Expires 8/25/2008

UPDATE: This promotion has expired but you may want to check out the latest Limited Too Coupon which is set to expire on October 6, 2008.

Kids Activities: Give Up or Continue?

My kids are involved in many activities. Between the four of them we find ourselves at ballet, soccer, swim team, instrument lessons, playdates, math club, and more that I must be forgetting. In addition the activities tried and abandoned trail behind us. In our home, there is never a shortage of things to do, but a definite shortage of free time. As a parent, I like that the kids are involved in sports and activities. I have even offered parenting advice on extracurricular activities

My rule about kids activities used to be simple. I made the kids commit to a season (because I had to pay the bill) and then they had a choice whether to continue.

The problem that I am now facing is that the kids are now growing tired of some of the activities that they have done for years. Take instrument lessons for example. As parents, we have invested in the instrument and the lessons - not a cheap endeavor. The kids have built up their skills and play their instruments well. And now they are ready to call it quits. My parenting question to you - do you let them call the shots at this point?

Let’s talk sports. Say your child has been playing soccer for years and now they are pretty good at it - you, as a parent, see talent, definite potential. One fine morning your child announces - no more soccer, I want to play baseball (or football or badminton). What do you do?

My approach to parenting is very practical so this change of direction jostles my senses. “But you are so good at soccer (or guitar, or the ukulele)!”, I argue. Meanwhile, I am thinking, “And I spent so much money on those d a r n lessons.”

So, tell me, what parenting tips do you have for me when it comes to kids activities and the decision to give up or continue?

It’s that time of year again! The school year is just getting over but the folks at Apple are thinking ahead. And why not? An Apple computer or laptop makes a perfect graduation gift. And if you are considering an Apple computer for your student for the fall NOW is the time to buy.

An Apple computer just NEEDS an iPod to go with it. Like Oreos and milk - you can’t have one without the other. And if your student buys a Mac computer between now and September 15, he/she will receive a free 8 GB iPod Touch or 8 GB iPod Nano.

This is a fabulous deal - you all know that I use my iPod Touch as PDA. I just can’t believe that Apple is giving one of these away a free iPod Touch with a computer purchase! The iPod Touch goes beyond just an entertainment device. It is so useful for organizing schedules, contacts and making notes. With built in wi-fi capabilities it is a virtual pocket computer.

Here is the link that will save you a bundle:
Buy a Mac for college and get a free iPod touch. Order online and get free shipping.

Buy Mac computers get free iPods. Good Deal.

Parenting Tips: Extracurricular Activities - How much is too much?

Spring used to mean showers and may flowers - but in our family it signals the beginning of spring sports. If your schedule is anything like mine - the day picks up pace around 3:00 pm. The kids come home and the driving begins. I know I am not alone.

I have always been a firm believer in afterschool activities. It builds kids self confidence, fosters teamwork, and gives them an outlet for all of that pent up energy. The trade off is the ever important down time that children also need. In my case building down time into our schedule is almost impossible. With four kids that have different interests, each one individually has something to do just about everyday. And if we have to take one child to an activity, then everyone must come along for the ride. (You know I will post one of my parenting tips extolling the virtues of carpooling very soon!)

The problem that I see with extracurricular activities is not the activity itself, but the young age at which sports change over from something fun to participate in to something very serious and competitive. Practices quickly go from being once a week, to twice, thrice or more per week. And since “everyone” is participating - you must too to stay in the game.

My kids don’t seem to mind the schedule at this point. They enjoy seeing their friends and being outside in the warm weather. But it does take a toll on parents especially moms. All the afternoon driving means that dinner must be prepared or at least planned for early in the day. In our house school comes first - but when spring is in the air, it is hard to corral the kids into getting their homework done before the activities start. And don’t forget the cost. Each sport or extracurricular activity usually carries a fee for the program itself, along with an added cost for uniforms and equipment.

If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed the following list may help you out:

10 Parenting Tips for Managing Extracurricular Activity Overload

1. Determine your available time and budget and limit your children to one or two activities each.
2. Set up a carpool with one of your child’s friends if you can.
3. If you find out that your child will have more than one practice on a given day even if they are not at the same time, pick one to attend and skip the other. The coach won’t love you for it but keep your child’s best interests in mind. Perhaps you can alternate weeks for each sport.
4. Make sure school work doesn’t suffer. Just as you schedule your child’s sports practice on your calendar, you should also add homework time to the calendar.
5. If your child seems to tired to attend practice one evening don’t push it - but make it clear that you cannot routinely skip an extracurricular activity once you have made a commitment to attend.
6. On busy evenings try to free up your own time to devote to your kids. Make dinner ahead of time if you can. (check out these posts on vegetarian slow cooker recipes and slow cookers in general for some good ideas)
7. Participate by watching. If you are permitted to watch your child’s practice. Stay. It may not seem like it but your child will feel proud to know that you were there cheering him/her on.
8. Recognize when something isn’t working out. Everyone makes mistakes. If you or your child chose a sport or activity that he/she hates, and you’ve given it a good try, maybe you just need to write it off. If you feel strongly about sticking with it, then it is not unreasonable to ask that he complete the season and then choose something else in the summer or fall.
9. There will be days that you will not have any downtime. Make sure to compensate by taking the following day at a slower pace.
10. Sleep is important. Make sure that your children are getting enough sleep. This will help them keep in pace with their busy lives.

I have been posting quite a few parenting tips about permanent markers lately. So, I write this at the risk of becoming known as the permanent marker blog.

It seems that my four year old daughter refers to permanent markers as “pregnant” markers. It took us a while to figure out exactly what she meant when she asked to use the pregnant markers. But after much guesswork we were able to decode the situation.

And then it dawned on me - my daughter is truly wise beyond her years. While markers are hardly pregnant, pregnancy is certainly permanent.

A good lesson to remember for the teenage years.

And one more phrase to add to “my favorite words“.