Blogs & Tips

Leverage can help you manage gift cards and loyalty and rewards programs. It’s completely free and takes less than one minute to create an account. Leverage offers a wide-range of features such as the ability

Here are twelve ways you can make money from home, whether you work outside the home or you are a stay at home parent. For example, open your home as a dog or cat boarding place for your friends. Call around to

This article by a daycare provider explains the monetary aspects of quitting your job and starting a daycare in your home. She even has paperwork you can download for free. She explains the real and hidden costs

Read a compilation of all the great parenting advice that we received from readers over the years. Some people put a cowbell on their kids' door. Just don't count on hearing a knock before you hear the worst

AllowCard.com is a great alternative to allowance. Allowcard works like a debit card. It teaches tweens and teens money management in a safe online environment. Parents can create up tp 35 parental controls. The

Dogster.com is like MySpace.com for dog lovers and their owners. You can create a pet profile, participate in photo contests, find dog-friendly businesses and parks, create dog blogs, and meet other dog lovers and

I just had a mammogram - and it HURT ( I know, you would never believe that I gave birth with no meds I'm such a wimp!).  A friend of mine told me about the Blossumz gel pad that I can put into my

Do not fall for ipoddownloadspro.com - it is a scam.  It looks legit and you will find some reviews that recommend it but even these "reviews" are scams.  It suckers you into to thinking

This website MommySavesBig is very helpful to find printable coupons for retailer, restaurant, grocery, pet food, etc. etc.:  GNC, Target, Walgreens, AC Moore, CVS, Pampers, etc. and many more to print from

My favorite blog is Spilling the Beans and her review of a new, safer bumper for kids is great.  The new Cozy Wedge is a wonderful new option for some of us that truly get this wierd feeling about traditional

We all know green tea is soothing and a great warm drink to have any time of day. But did you know it has many health benefits, too? It has an array of antioxidant properties and some say can ward off diseases like

We have used this product for years. It used to be called Rhuligel.  It is absolutely terrific at stopping the itching of mosquito bites and rashes (like poison ivy and such).   Band Aid recently

I read this tip in FamiyFun magazine and I thought it was worthy of sharing.  To make birthday parties go more smoothly, the writer suggests  scooping ice cream into cupcake bake cups on a cookie

Whether you're single or married with kids, one of the greatest mysteries in household chores is how to fold fitted sheets into neat piles.  Thanks to Queen of Crafts and Homemaker, Martha Stewart, here

To avoid clutter and misplacing important information in the kitchen, I created a Family Binder that organizes everything from Emergency Contact Numbers, Class lists and Takeout menus to School Directories

I've been so busy with life in general that I sometimes forget to STOP and smell the roses.  This week I did and finally updated our "baby books".  I know, my kids are hardly little tikes

Information about natural family planning. Education and training for dads and moms on family planning method. Family planning understood as prevention of pregnancy. It is also important to speak to a family planning

I just came across this adorable baby book ("My Family, My Journey") written specifically for adoptive families by Zoe Francesca. The book features two family trees which I think is a wonderful, visual

Find article on how early pregnant wife can experience pregnancy symptoms and signs. Find top 8 early pregnancy symptoms and signs. If you and your spouse have been trying for a baby, you may wonder about the earliest

It can seem like a catch-22 when you're trying to establish a good credit rating.  No one wants to give you credit without a credit history and without credit you can't establish a credit history. 

From my money-saving ezine: With gasoline prices soaring these days, it dawned on me that I should actually do the math on some of the trips that I make, especially the trips I make in an attempt to "save money."

I thought I would post this cautionary note about Motherhood Maternity's return policy or rather "no return policy". If you are buying a gift for a friend or yourself please be aware that you will

With the need for BPA free bottles and sippy cups, who can even remember which ones are good and which ones are bad?  I found a cheat sheet that lists all the ones that are safe to keep. So as you go through

Did you try to blow a candle out, but blew much more? Did the kids get a hold of and get it all over the carpet? Well have no fear... you can get it out! Follow the link and you will be on your way to restored belongings

I have used SurveyMonkey.com at work, but my husband had the great idea that it could be used personally as well. SurveyMonkey lets you design surveys with many different types of questions and then either email

Want to clean out some old toys and clothes, but hate to just throw them away?  Make sure those items go to someone who can really use them.  Why not consider donating them to your local Domestic Violence

What could be better than flowers and a brunch in your honor on Mother's Day? Forget the card and the lines at restaurants. Do everything from scratch this year. Have the kids make their own cards and make breakfast

"I'm only 28 years old and my hair is thinning!" says my girlfriend and in fact since high school it was obvious. Hair loss for women can happen for many reasons-hormonal changes due to pregnancy

Did you know that your local Extension Service typically offers a low cost soil testing service?  In Massachusetts, you can send a soil sample to UMASS Extension and get a comprehensive soil test for $13! 

If you and your spouse are planning to have a baby, an ovulation calculator is an excellent tool to help you increase your chances of a successful conception. To understand how the ovulation calculator works, it

Set up a feng shui-friendly home office, or desk area at work, to enjoy the positive energy that's out there. By incorporating elements from the Ancient Chinese philosophy, you can attract good luck and have

Did you know that Papa Gino's has printable coupons on their website?  They even have one right now for 20% off a delivery order!  Take a look and print off some savings for those busy nights when

A Mother's Day gift basket, though conventional, is still a popular gift option. While you can easily make one up by putting together some goodies such as perfumes, candies and flowers, you may find it easier

From my money saving ezine comes this great and simple idea. Why didn't I think of that? Save a lot of money with a battery tester. I went into a battery store and bought a little black 2" x 2" battery

This is a really good article on the pros and cons of coupons. I have used coupons all my life, and wouldn't dream of going to the market without them, but many of my friends think it is a waste of time and

Here is a dowloadable and printable worksheet to examine all the little hidden costs involved in summer camp. You can use it to compare several camps directly on each item, and as a total cost. Then you can get

Here are ten ways to tame summer camp costs. For example, some camps will give you a discount if you pay in full early in spring. Another is try to convince your kids to go to the same camp. Most camps give a discount

This is a great quick read with tips to protect your identity. For example, lots of stores ask for your phone number at the cash register. I always say no, but most people just give the number, not thinking it can

This is a great article that I came across on Msn.com. The article has numerous tips on how to cut down costs on basic things such as food, clothing, child care and more. For example, for cutting down on food, the

Playing for Keeps is a great organization that focuses on the importance of play. You will find different resources for parents, educators, and the toy industry which all relate to play. The parents section has

 How green conscious or smart are you? Test your level of green knowlege and efforts at this National Geographic site. Who's the Green champion in your family? Involve the entire family and lead the way

A great way to show your love of animals and get rid of old linens, without trashing them, is to donate them to your local animal shelter. Linens are needed for bedding, grooming, etc. And hey while you are

I had no idea postage will be increased in May.  This article from the United Postal Service explains the increases and changes they are making.  The significant changes are in the areas of shipping

Baby acne is a term used for the acne that affects babies three to four weeks after birth. Baby acne is not the same as infantile acne, which affects older infants over three months old. Find out the myths about

Check your daily, weekly, and monthly horoscope here for free. There is also a Children's Astrology and Horoscopes section where you can find information about your child's eating and sleeping habits, socialization

Since I discovered a tick burrowing itself into my 4 year olds back the other day - I've become a bit more vigilant on the Lyme Disease topic.   Here's a list of useful tips to get you started

I'm a school teacher by profession and I must admit I'm ashamed that I didn't answer all these questions correctly!  I learned a lot.  This is a noggin stretcher for sure...and you'll be

Whenever possible I try to be aware of the companies I buy from - making sure they are trying to preserve the environment.  I'm not uber crazy about it, I just try to make less of an impact to show my kids

I love entertaining outside and found this great product from Recycline called Preserve - this all recycled product is just what I've been looking for.  They even have personal products and kitchen ware

I have a wonderful tip for anyone that has a pet and needs to get that smell out of the carpet or rug. You mix half and of water and rubbing Alcohol together and spray on the spot and when the rubbing alcohol