Suri Cruise has new shoes. Why is that noteworthy here on a parenting tips site? Not because the shoes are adorable. Not because they were featured on Oprah. And not because they belong to Suri Cruise, a celebrity baby - daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

Suri Cruise’s shoes are mentioned here because those cute ladybug shoes came from a small, upscale children’s boutique - Skimbaco.com owned by mompreneur and fellow blogger, Katja. Because of Katja’s hard work and dedication to her business the shoes were ultimately promoted by Tom Cruise on Oprah. What an accomplishment!

And it is this success that Katja achieved that should serve as motivation to all women, moms, and parents who are trying to make it on their own and raise a family at the same time. In Katja’s own words:

Why I want everyone know what just happened to me? So I can hopefully give people hope and inspire. There are so many mompreneurs and bloggers who are just waiting “it” to happen. “It” doesn’t “just happen”, you have to work hard, and only place where you might get is to be down and fear it will never happen - and then it will happen.

To read the whole motivational story about Suri Cruise Shoes, visit Katja at Skimbaco. And to get your own pair of ladybug mary jane’s just like Suri Cruise, visit the store with the same name - Skimbaco.

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So if you are anything like me, you are standing in front of your open kitchen cabinet staring at the rainbow of your investment in BPA inside and seriously debating whether you should throw every last one away.

But then what? Obviously, the bottles must be replaced. Kids need them for sports and school - and hey, you were supposed to be doing something good for the environment by buying reusable bottles in the first place, right?

So what replacements can you buy that are BPA free bottles? The last thing I want to do is run out and buy new water bottles, only to find out their are equally as dangerous. So, I have been reading up on the subject and this is what I have learned.

• First, single use PET water bottles - the kind you buy bottled water in (like Evian and Poland Spring) are meant to be single use only. Apparently this plastic degrades over time and is also difficult to clean. My take is that because of their disposable nature, even though they are recyclable, they are not the best choice for the environment. Yet they are very convenient.
• Polycarbonate bottles the clear, often colorful, hard plastic variety, are the kind to be weary of. These bottles may contain a harmful chemical. The ones that contain BPA may be marked with a number 7 recycling code or the letters PC or possibly both. Here is the confusing part - there apparently is such a thing as BPA free polyethersulfone. These bottles will be marked a number 7 recycling code but not the PC.
• A softer plastic bottle is made from a plastic called HDPE, usually marked with a recycling code of number 2. These bottles are generally not clear in color. At this point no health problems are known with this type of plastic. The same goes for bottles marked with a recycling code of number 5.
• Stainless steel seems to be the best alternative, with no leaching of chemicals at all.

Most of my information is from two articles that I read. One was called Freshen Up Your Drink on page 65 of the March 24, 2008 issue of Time Magazine and the other was from an article entitled A new focus on plastic ingredient in bottles and cans on page 10 of the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports.

OK - stainless steel bottles seem to be the way to go. One such brand is Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottles. I purchased one of these bottles and was very happy with it. The downside is that the stainless steel bottles are more expensive than the plastic variety. And if you have forgetful children, well, at this price you don’t want to be leaving these bottles behind.

Another brand of metal water bottles that I considered but ultimately rejected was Sigg. These bottles are popping up everywhere as an environmentally sound alternative to plastic water bottles. The Sigg bottles are made from recyclable and reusable aluminum. However, the inside of the Sigg bottle is coated with a lining. Does this lining contain BPA - the very thing that I am trying to avoid? The answer is unclear. This informative article at TreeHugger.com attempts to answer that question and even interviewed the Sigg CEO Steve Wasik. It seems that Mr. Wasik danced around that answer because the formula for the lining is top secret or “confidential” as he puts it. To his credit, Sigg did hire an independent lab to evaluate the water bottles and the lab found no detectable BPA in new Sigg bottles or in considerably used Sigg bottles that were 2 years old. This gives me some level of comfort but I still just want to know if the product that I am buying contains BPA or not. And this “confidential” stuff seems a bit shady and does not give me any kind of confidence.

Finally, I just saw an ad today for Camelbak BPA Free Better Bottles. Now it just so happens that one of what may now be considered a Camelbak BPA Full Not So Better Bottle is sitting on my shelf. Given the recent BPA awareness Camelbak has reformulated its own offerings. The Camelbak BPA Free Better Bottles are similar in appearance to the old polycarbonate bottles - meaning that they are made of a clear, colorful, hard plastic. But the new version does not contain BPA. They are actually made from a New Tritan material. Hmmmm. Call me old fashioned or once bitten twice shy, but since I have no idea what a New Tritan material really is, I am reluctant to try it. Who knows what health issues may surface with these down the road.

Do you now understand my confusion with BPA free bottles? I cannot even offer any parenting tips on which bottle to buy. To me, the best choice is the stainless steel bottle, despite the cost. Maybe tomorrow I’ll offer up some parenting advice on how to cultivate responsibility in children so they won’t lose their expensive water bottles.

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Last week I announced a new giveaway on this site - the Classic Caballeros Collection featuring two movies: Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros. (By the way - one of my parenting tips is to enter all family related giveaways! And time is running out on this one - the deadline to enter is midnight tonight!) This Disney DVD was newly released on April 29, 2008.

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to watch this Disney DVD myself. It has been a long time since I have watched “classic” Disney featuring old time favorites like Goofy and Donald Duck, so I found this DVD to be very nostalgic and eye opening at the same time.

The first movie included on this Disney DVD is Saludos Amigos. This film was originally released in 1942 - back when the world was a big place. There is a short clip showing Walt Disney and a team of eighteen cartoonists boarding a plane and heading south to the Latin American countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. I, as a parent, honestly enjoyed this brief history lesson the most. To see the world as it was back then, and to imagine the enormity of such a trip when world travel was still novel and foreign countries were still shrouded in mystery was very interesting. In fact, one of the bonus features on this Disney DVD was an excerpt from a CBC interview with Walt Disney and it turns out that the U.S. Government wanted to send Disney to South America as goodwill ambassadors. Disney refused under that pretense but agreed to go to gather material for cartoons - which is what he did. And the result is - Saludos Amigos.

But I digress. The movie Saludos Amigos is actually a compilation of four short films. Each film explores a different region of South America and presents the geography and culture of each place in an enjoyable cartoon that is not only entertaining but also educational.

The first short film features Donald Duck at Lake Titicaca located on the border of Bolivia and Peru. Here dwell the descendants of ancient Inca civilization.

The second film explores the Andes in Chile. Pedro, a little plane, has the responsibility of picking up a mail delivery. He must brave the elements that are typical to this region in order to collect his cargo and arrive home safely.

The third short film features cowboy Goofy who is transformed into his Argentine counterpart - the gaucho. As Goofy explores the Argentine Pampas he entertains the audience with the funny antics that he is famous for. Here is a short clip from this part of Saludos Amigos:

And the fourth segment of Saludos Amigos stars José Carioca, an animated parrot created by Disney for this particular film. Putting rhythm into the audience with a little Latin Samba, José Carioca takes us on a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The second feature on this Disney DVD is The Three Caballeros. I was less impressed with this movie than the first one. The beginning of The Three Caballeros is similar to Saludos Amigos where Disney characters go out and explore foreign lands. South America is featured as well as Mexico. And yes, this film combines both education and entertainment as well. However, towards the end on The Three Caballeros, Donald becomes a little “girl” crazy and a good portion of the movie is devoted to Donald’s infatuation with pretty women. What keeps it interesting to me is, again, the historical perspective. Donald’s exploits may not be politically correct in this day and age, but this film was made sixty odd years ago and what is pictured is a sign of the times.

These classic animated films make you appreciate the forward thinking of Walt Disney and all that he has done to make the entertainment industry what it is today.

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If you love it as much as I do - please feel free to copy the code under the button and display it on your site. And also let me know if you like it, too!

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It is time for a new Parenting Tips at NeenMachine.com giveaway! I have 3 copies of this Walt Disney DVD to giveaway: The Classic Caballeros Collection featuring 2 movies - Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros.

Explore Latin American culture with your children. These classic Academy Award Nominated films feature the antics of well loved Disney characters - Goofy, Donald, and Walt Disney! Released on April 29th, 2008 this Classic Collection DVD promises fun for all:

Embark on thrilling adventures to South America and Mexico with Goofy, Donald Duck and Walt Disney himself as they experience all the music, beauty and excitement Latin America has to offer. In Saludos Amigos, Walt and his team of artists, musicians, writers and animators say “Adios!” to the U.S. to explore the heart and soul of Latin America.

Entering the contest is simple - just leave a comment on this post. Something as plain as - “I would love to win this!” is fine. One entry per person, U.S. residents age 18 and over only, please. Click here for full contest rules.

As always, you get an extra entry for signing up to receive email updates from Parenting Tips at NeenMachine.com. (Never miss another contest!) And if you blog about the contest you also get another entry - just leave a comment with your post’s URL so I can be sure to count it.

Hurry, the deadline to enter is midnight on Tuesday May 6th!

Stay tuned for my in depth reveiw of this Disney DVD - The Caballeros Collection early next week.

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Don’t believe me? Check out the Baskin and Robbins website for all the details!

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Ever consider working from home…by clicking one of “Those Ads” ???
By Joe Grushkin, Internet Entrepreneur

Did you ever see one of “those ads” on the internet… you know, the kind that looks “too good to be true”… I mean, if it’s offering big money, little effort and freedom, it’s gotta be a scam, right??? No one makes huge, incredible money like that… no one has freedom to do what they want, when they want to…and working from home a few hour a day and enjoying your family without any concerns about money is just unheard of… if that is what you think…think again…

About 8 months ago, I was “surfing” around the internet and actually clicked on one of “those ads” and it kind of pulled me in… I was intrigued with the sophistication and simplicity at the same time. As I moved through the process, I found myself getting more and more excited about what this “business” had to offer, and then I came to the end of the process and it gave me the option to enroll, so I did!

I was amazed…no one called me to sell me on joining, I didn’t have to attend any meetings, I was told I didn’t have to call friends and family and it was totally automated online… so far, everything as explained was happening to me…and what I experienced made sense, I figured if it made sense to me, it would to others as well.

I figured that I would “pay my money to peek behind the curtain”, so to speak. What I found was way more than I ever anticipated.

I found a community of real people; moms, dads, grandparents, single parents and people in their early 20’s from all over the world who were offering advise, guidance and insights into how to succeed in this new business I just “bought”… I learned how to work 2 hours a day and earn anywhere from $3000 to $10,000 every week. I learn how to market on the internet, which is a skill I can now apply to any business, product or concept. I also learned, that “Those Ads” are sometimes very real!

You see, a person can only really see those ads when they are looking for them, something in their life has drawn them to the ad. As you read this, is there something driving you to consider this right now…??? The desire for more money time, freedom or to be with your family more…??? The challenge is, most people continue to get in their own way and block anything new and different from happening. So many people continue to (or painstakingly watch their spouse tirelessly) commute to a job that is just barely paying the bills, working for a company that doesn’t appreciate their efforts and kidding themselves that they have security in the future. By having your own home based business, you have total control, you will never miss a kid’s activity, you can be present in your family’s lives and own your future… not to mention the incredible tax advantages that can save you thousands!

My story isn’t done yet. I earned over $100,000 in my first 6 months, never called anyone on the phone to sell them on this business, didn’t have to prospect friends and family to do it and found a freedom that allows me to be where I want, when I want. I don’t have to travel, unless it’s for pleasure and I am part of a community of like minded people, who are all doing the same things in their live. This community has generated over $11 million in commissions in the first 8 months, and that is expected to double in the next 8 months. The question is…will any of that next $11 million be in your pocket?

If you or someone you know is being financially challenged by the economy, feeling the pressure to choose between raising their kids and making money or they are just “sick and tired of being sick and tired”…now might me the time to click on one of “those ads”… here it is…go ahead… give it a click…follow the process and see what the rest of us already know… www.SoSimple4u2.com

Wishing you the best of success, unlimited wealth and freedom…

Onward & Upward,
Joe Grushkin
Internet Entrepreneur

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U Go Grl Trading Cards is an excellent, self image building product for tween girls. You can read all about U Go Grl Trading cards here. But the fun doesn’t end there. LocaSmarts, the company of mompreneurs that created these innovative cards also carry other related products that moms love.

One such product is called “Get Fresh!” which is a line of “designer mood enhancing air fresheners” for the car. Sounds a bit psychedelic - but these fun air fresheners are so much cooler than the cheesy little pine trees that are standard car wash fare.

Let’s face it - the family minivan bus is not the sweetest smelling place. With busy kids snacking and leaving all kinds of wrappers, crumbs, and sports stuff in the back seat, my car is a veritable petri dish. (I often post parenting tips revolving around the family minivan because I spend a lot of time there!) The founders of LocaSmarts decided to fight back - for as many hours as moms spend driving around, shouldn’t the car at least be a pleasant place to be? Billed as aromatherapy for cars the “Get Fresh!” line is just that.

These air fresheners come in fun, hand-painted colors and designs. The choices of scents include

• Cheerful Strawberry
• Energizing Lemon
• Rejuvenating Kiwi Melon
• Refreshing Citrus
• Calming Lavender
• Soothing Vanilla

I gave the Calming Lavender a workout in my minivan - and I must admit that the fragrance was refreshing and not overpowering. The first two weeks obviously produced the most fragrance - and by 30 days there was no noticeable scent. Time to replace!

The “Get Fresh!” line of air fresheners are available in the automotive sections of national retailers like Wal-Mart.

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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.

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