I’m not a deal blogger. I don’t eat, sleep, breath deals. I click on deals that look fun for my family. I collect coupons and mostly use them when I grocery shop. I use a “deal” toolbar when I shop online. But, I don’t buy or have a need for 60 bottles of mustard. Aren’t those #extremecouponers intense with their need to clear the shelves of e very single item they have a coupon for? More power to ‘em, but for me I prefer a deal that is something that my family needs AND will be able to use.

As you know I am all about family time. I blog about finding time to be together as a family. I post photos to Facebook from our family trips. I tweet about family time by using hashtag: #seizingfamilytime. For me, it doesn’t matter what we do as long as we are doing it together. One of our favorite activities is going to events. As a blogger I get invited now and then to events like, Disney on Ice or the Ringling Bros. Circus. I like to take my family to fun, cultural, or sporting events.

This past summer we took my youngest to see Monster Jam at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Monster Jam is show I have wanted to see since I was a freshman in college. Why? Because I love the way one truck will CRUSH another truck. It’s awesome. Now, like any other family activity, we spend quite a bit of money on tickets, food, and souvenirs. While I have yet to find a coupon for food at a stadium, I did find a site for ticket deals. Who wants to pay full price for anything? Not me!

The ticket site is ScoreBig. On ScoreBig you can literally score big on deals. This site launched recently. You will find deals for sporting events, music shows, and arts and theater events listed on ScoreBig for 10%, 25%, or even 50% off the face value of tickets. Want to get in on the ScoreBig action? There’s a waitlist to join the site, but if you click on this link to my ScoreBig landing page you can bypass the waitlist. I know that you’ll want to know about the deals available in your area, like I did!

Additionally, anyone who comes through my page will have $10 added to their account. The $10 coupon you get when you buy a deal on ScoreBig will be applied automatically at checkout. So? What are you waiting for? Go check out the deals!

On ScoreBig posts deals you will find deals like…

• Ravens v. Jets tickets for the October 2, 2011 game in Baltimore.
• Spider Man theater tickets for New York City.
• Tony Bennett at the Staples Center in LA.

Some deals are close to ending while other deals are waiting for you to click and buy the deal. Here’s the link again to get in on the early bird action at ScoreBig AND score $10 off a deal near you!

Need more info on ScoreBig?

• Follow @ScoreBig on Twitter
• Like ScoreBig on Facebook
• My referral link so you can join the fun and find savings at ScoreBig

I was given a ScoreBig invitation link to share with my readers. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

A month or so before BlogHer the tweets about parties started in earnest. Invites. emails. eventbrite. evite. You name a format of invitation and everyone seemed to be getting it. Except me. I was a first timer at BlogHer. The big parties…the ones everyone talks about…I either didn’t get invited to these parties or I missed the window of opportunity to RSVP for a bunch of fabulous parties. I started to feel down about my potential BlogHer experience. How could I have fun if I wasn’t on the invite list for THE parties?

Last week I was asked by the American Association of Orthodontics if I would publish some tips on sports and teeth. As a mom of three kids, I know the importance of not only good, thorough dental hygiene, but of the benefits of orthodontia. My Teen just got out of braces. My Tween is in braces. Soon enough my Kid will get his turn at braces, too.  I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I am looking forward to the end of orthodontia for all three children!

Moms and dads need to teach kids good brushing techniques. But, what about protecting those smiles? My children played t-ball, soccer, and basketball. It wasn’t until my Tween started playing lacrosse that we started worrying about teeth. The lacrosse stick and ball seemed very hard. We bought a mouthguard right away. Teeth are too important to leave unprotected.

The AAO recently conducted a survey where they found that only 33% of parents make their children wear mouth guards during organized sports. Recently the AAO put on an event in a California middle school where Mia Hamm (see below for details on a giveaway) was able to talk about the importance of protecting our kids with the use of mouth guards.  To learn more you can visit  www.braces.org/miahamm or view this video of the event.

Tips for Injury Prevention

The American Association of Orthodontists wants you to know that simple and inexpensive protective sports gear – such as mouth guards – can make a difference in preventing sports injuries. Young athletes can protect their face and smile while playing with the following tips from the AAO:

• Wear a mouth guard. Mouth guards can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth injuries caused by a collision or fall. For athletes with braces, discuss with your orthodontist the best type of mouth guard for your sport.
• Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact, and should be worn for activities like biking, skateboarding and in-line skating. Visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website to learn helmet laws in your state.
• Wear protective eyewear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable to injury during sports like soccer, baseball and hockey.
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin. Hockey pucks, basketballs and racquetballs can do severe damage.

Also, keep in mind the following:

• Stretch before and after a game or practice. This can reduce the risk of pulling or straining a muscle.
• Be observant even as a spectator. Stay alert while watching a game to avoid foul baseballs and flying hockey pucks coming your way.
• Use good judgment. If an activity carries risk of dental or facial injury, gear up. Without it, a pick-up game of basketball or flag football could result in a trip to the emergency room.

Want to win a Mia Hamm prize pack? I have 1 prize pack to giveaway to one lucky reader of this blog. The prize pack contains: one signed by Mia Hamm Nike Soccer Ball, one kiddie book written by Mia Hamm, and one chapter book biography of Mia Hamm.

How to enter? You know the drill, but if you are new here… You must leave a mandatory comment to be eligible to win the prize. You must include your e-mail in the comment, so that I can contact you if you win. You wouldn’t want to miss a chance to win the prize would you? Once you have left a mandatory comment, you can leave one or more of the optional comments. Leave one comment for each entry.

Mandatory entry

Tell me something active that you do with your kids. Don’t forget to leave your e-mail address.

Optional entries — You must leave the mandatory comment for all other comments to count. Leave a comment for each optional entry.

• Follow me on twitter.
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• Tweet this giveaway: @MusingsfromMe is giving away a Mia Hamm prize pack from @braces! Enter to win > http://bit.ly/ktTPtq #giveaway #free RT?
  

I was given a prize pack to facilitate my review by the American Association of Orthodontics. The giveaway is open to U.S residents only. Giveaway ends July, 7, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

Our year is all about sports. In fall it is football and volleyball. In winter it is karate and volleyball. In spring it is lacrosse and volleyball. And in summer it is swimming with a little volleyball. With swim season ending July 31 and football practice beginning on August 1, we have absolutely no break from sports.

We keep uniforms washed, pads of all kids stored in sports bags, shoes thrown all over the makeshift mudroom in the garage, and cold drinks in the fridge. With three sporty kids and one sports mad husband, we go through many, many cold drinks. Cold drinks refresh and revive our kids. Hydration is a number one priority for our family.

Like other protective equipment, proper hydrating and fueling have a major impact on an athlete’s safety and performance, especially with heat waves. To help keep athletes safe and performing their best during the hot summer months, Gatorade and the NFL created “Beat The Heat,” an educational program focusing on the dangers of heat-related illness and the importance of taking the proper steps to reduce the chance of illness and injuries. This information is especially important for Moms because children have an increased risk of dehydration and exertion-related heat illness due to their size and other factors.

Our son is a new football player. His uniform and helmet is dripping with sweat at the end of a long practice. A sports drinks allows him to stay cool and refreshed during practice. Our girls play indoor volleyball. No heat issues, but both play all-day tournaments. A refreshing sports drink gets back in the game.

I remind my kids to bring a water bottle to ever sports practice and event. Water does not replace the electrolytes and sodium lost in sweat, so it isn’t enough to protect kids against the summer heat and humidity. The right sports nutrition and hydration, including Gatorade, can play a vital role in helping young athletes get the hydration and fuel they need to stay safe and perform their best.

You can help. Download a free Gatorade Heat Safety Kit found at www.nfl.com/trainingcamp. For every unique download Gatorade will donate $1 to “Beat the Heat” charities up to $20,000.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gatorade’s “Beat the Heat” campaign and received Gatorade samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Another comment from a forum that was long enough for a post! In answer to the question, do you use sunscreen, why, and what strength. If you want to participate in this discussion, join MomSpark Forum.

I had one very bad burn on my back as an 8-year-old and another serious burn on my back as an adult. Both times it was due to not applying sunscreen. I am a fanatic about sunscreen.

I have used different brands over the years. Here’s my take on sunscreen/sun exposure:

• I never used sunscreen on a baby less than 6 months. I limited sun exposure until the baby was over 6 months of age.
• Coppertone Baby is excellent for babies up to late elementary school age. Comes in the pink bottle. It is a thick liquid.
• For active kids, Banana Boat or Coppertone Active is excellent. It is thick, plus resistant to sweat. I reapply after swimming for a long period.
• When my kids were about 8, I started letting them sunscreen their arms and legs. I would do their backs and chest.
• With my tween and teen, I trust them to apply sunscreen.
• Each of the kids carries a sunscreen in their pool bag in case they go to the pool with a friend.
• The kids wore rashguard shirts on the beach and at the pool until around age 10.
• If you need sunscreen due to fair skin AND you are going to the beach, apply sunscreen before you go on the beach. Applying sunscreen to already sandy legs can result in uneven sunscreen coverage.
• Avoid spray sunscreens! The spray will not cover all areas. I find myself applying twice as much spray to be sure.
• Only use cream sunscreens. I like to see the cream on the children’s skin to know that I have covered each body part.
• We have a house rule that if a child refuses to use sunscreen the child does not go outside. No exceptions.
• The worst time of year for sunburn is April/May and September/October. At these times of the year, the sun can be bright but I don’t think about using sunscreen. Invariably one of the kid ends up with raccoon eyes.

I’ll be keeping this list of tips in mind as I prepare to travel to Ocean City with my family. The beach is a hit with my husband and kids. Not so much me, with my fair skin and ability to burn when near the sun.

We may not be hikers or outdoorsy people, but we stay active. Teen and preteen play volleyball. Kid plays lacrosse. All three kids are on the swim team. Dad is in a volleyball league. Mom — even I — works out at a health club. Some of us are more active than others…ahem.

One constant in any of our active activities is the value we place on safety. Whether it is wearing a helmet for lacrosse or skiing. Or wearing appropriate shoes for volleyball. Or getting enough sleep before a swim meet. We stay safe.

Underwriters Laboratories and Disney have a list of tips for summer safety — pool, water, and playground safety.

Keep your family safe by reading the following tips:

POOL SAFETY AT HOME
·    If you have a pool at home, install a fence. The fence should be at least four feet high and have a self-closing, self-latching gate that has a locking mechanism beyond a child’s reach.
·    Cut overhanging tree limbs and remove chairs or ladders from the pool area to prevent children from climbing over the fence that surrounds the pool.
·    Keep grates and drain covers in good repair and secured in place. Alert your family and guests to stay away from these devices, as the suction from drain outlets can be strong enough to cause entrapment of hair or body parts, which can potentially cause a person to drown.
·    Make sure you know infant and child CPR if you own a pool.

BE SAFETY SMART WHILE SWIMMING
·    Supervision is a must. Follow the 10/20 rule when you’re at the pool. The 10/20 rule states the supervising adult needs to position themselves to be able to scan the pool every 10 seconds, and reach the water within 20 seconds.
·    Always have rescue devices, such as UL-LISTED life preservers, nearby.
·    Flotation devices, toys and inflatable swimming aids are not safety devices. They are toys and can easily puncture and deflate.
·    Always drain wading pools after children are done playing. Infants can drown in just a few inches of water.
·    Have a telephone nearby and appropriate emergency numbers posted.
·    Remove all toys when you leave the pool. Toys may attract children to the unattended pool.Check out these guys…Timon and Puumba from the Lion King…in a video teaching kids how to stay safe while swimming during the summer, and all year long.

BEFORE INSTALLING A BACKYARD PLAY SET…
·    Make sure your backyard is large enough for playground equipment. The site must also provide good visibility and security. Before setting up equipment, look out for obstacles, such as the garage, tree branches, utility poles and wires.
·    Read and follow the manufacturer’s directions when setting up play set equipment. Be sure your child’s weight and age fall within the manufacturer’s recommended limits for the equipment.
·    Install protective surfacing, such as rubber tiles or mulch under the play set, at least six feed in all directions, to prevent serious injuries should a child fall.

BEFORE HEADING OUT TO PLAY…
·    Carefully inspect backyard playground equipment. Make sure equipment is anchored safely in the ground, all equipment pieces are in good working order, S-hooks are entirely closed and bolts are not protruding.
·    Check for spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs. These spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
·    Always supervise children on play set equipment to make sure they are playing safely.
·    Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, pet leashes or cords of any kind to play set equipment. If used improperly, they can be potential strangulation hazards.
·    Watch for potential trip hazards, such as rocks, tree stumps and concrete footings. Make sure you’re children are aware of them as well.
·    Do a sandbox check. Before letting your child dig in, rake through the sand to check for debris or sharp objects. Also, inspect for any animal contamination or insect problems.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Underwriters Laboratories. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I recently attended the Toy Fair in NYC. I keep remembering bits and pieces about the Toy Fair. The day was overwhelming…in a good way.

I knew the Toy Fair would be big, but never guessed just how big it would be. It was located on 3 floors of the Javits Center. I walked through about 80% of the exhibits. My choice of walking shoes was a good one. My decision to carry my laptop and a bag of books/work papers for the train rides was a bad one as I was dragging — literally — as the day came to a close. Plus, Amtrak has no wifi. Doh!

I saw as many vendors as I could. I left with 3 bags full of brochures and samples. Some products I passed by without a backward glance. Some products I stopped because I wanted to know more.

I spent quite some time chatting to a mom who created a line of dolls for girls who love sports. I chatted to Jodi Norgaard, the founder of Go! Go! Sports Girls dolls, about girls, sports, blogging, and social media. She very kindly gave me Suzi the Swimming Go! Go! Sports Girl. Once I arrived home from #ToyFair, my tween daughter took possession of the doll — she is a swimmer. The Go! Go! Sports Girls swimmer doll has a cute pair of flip Flops and adorable goggles. Best of all, Suzi the Swimmer is wearing a one-piece swim suit!

Go! Go! Sports Girls are a line of dolls for girls who love sports. The dolls are girl-shaped — no Bratz or Barbie silhouettes on these dolls. The dolls remind me of a girl doll I had that looked like me. I never see dolls for tween girls that look anything like tween girls, do you?

Go! Go! Sports Girls are available for golf, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, and many other sports. My girls love volleyball and swimming, so I knew Go! Go! Sports Girls would have two new fans! The dolls are available from the following online retailers: amazon, Sears, Target, Kohl’s, and Sports Unlimited. The dolls are appropriate for ages 3-12. I can tell you that teen girls also love these dolls, too!

Giveaway for Musings from Me readers! I am giving away one Go! Go! Sports Girl of your choice. Once I choose a winner, I will ask the winner to pick a doll. One comment = One entry. Enter now!

• For one entry, go to the Go! Go! Sports Girls website and tell me something interesting you learned.
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I was given a Go! Go! Sports Girls doll as part of my review. The views expressed in the article are my own. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The giveaway ends June 9, 2010, at 11:59 p.m.

It is the lot of the youngest child to spend hours at events and activities that he/she has no investment in. My son — our youngest child — has logged in HOURS at the following events:

• chorus concerts
• piano recitals
• band concerts
• Daisy, Brownie, Girl Scout bridging cermonies
• soccer, t-ball, basketball, and volleyball matches
• swim meets
• poetry readings
• plays and musicals
• school awards ceremonies

My son was a mere 1-month-old infant when he was taken to his sisters’ t-ball game. I recall covering his stroller in a blanket to make sure he did not get any dirt blown in his face or experience any direct sunlight. I have walked him miles along corridors and hallways in his stroller while his sisters were in classes and activities. As a toddler I could distract him with snacks in a way that did not work when he was a preschooler. At 4, he wanted to do the activity. Woe betide ANYONE who stopped him from coloring the outside of the shoebox for the Brownie Christmas gift boxes. He was a preschooler on a mission to crayon a shoe box, STAT.

He’s now a 1st grader with his own interests. He has tried his hand at soccer, music, t-ball, basketball, and now lacrosse. In the fall, we will have a tackle footballer in our midst.

My son is old enough to know when the activity is about him and when it is not. I try when I can to avoid taking him to the girls events. Some events I do take him to like band concerts as I think that the event is cultural and enriching. All-day volleyball tournaments are not a fit for him. I send my husband with the girls or I take whichever daughter has a tournament. He does not need to spend time watching match after match.

In a turn of the tables, I do make sure that his sisters come to his lacrosse games, preschool graduation, and soccer games. It’s only fair for them to support him the way he has cheered them on.

This weekend was an exercise in restraint for him. His sisters and dad planned a roadtrip to the Happy Volley Tournament at Penn State. I booked a hotel room for my son and I. I wasn’t sure if I would go or not. I wanted to leave my options open. I wanted to be able to cheer on each of my daughter’s during their matches. My husband helps coach both girls, so I knew he would be tied up in one gym while one of the girls played in another gym. I was torn. I wanted to go to the 3-day tournament soooo badly, but I knew that 3 days of volleyball is hard for an adult, but torture for a kid.

My son is active…very active. He needs to run and play. Sitting in a gym for hours is not a good move for him. I don’t have anywhere to leave him at home. 3 days is too long for both sets of grandparents. With no solution in sight, I decided on a compromise…my son and I would go for 2 days not 3. I would have him watch 1 match per day per daughter — so two matches per day. I would plan activities for the down time between matches. Note: My idea for a trip to BABW was a bust as there are no BABWs within 50 miles of State College, PA. The movie theater was a good plan, but my son if given the choice prefers to see a movie at the movie theater with the whole family. The hit of the trip? I let my son play catch with the Nerf football in the hotel hallway. Who knew that he would love throwing that ball around so much!?

I’m writing this post on the second night at the hotel. We arrived late last night. Today after a frazzled start we watched the tween’s match, then the teen’s match with lunch in between. My son found a friend to play with which meant we saw about 1/2 of another match …a bonus for me! How crazy is it to meet a boy from your son’s lacrosse team hundreds of miles from home?

After the bonus match it was back to the hotel for a quick shower for me and a quick TV fix for him before heading out to the tween’s team dinner. Even with the compromises it, the weekend was punishing. Would I do it again? I’ll make that decision next year. Will I bring my son again? I’m not sure. With each passing year, it is harder and harder to drag him to events that are not his own.

I am officially not an every day poster…too busy reading other blogs. I wonder if I should start posting my blog name on other sites as I sign guestbooks. Not sure if I want to open myself up to criticism and comments from others. Without a guestbook it feels as though I am writing just for me, which is the whole purpose…I guess!

This weekend has come together. We are staying at a Quality Inn, which is close to skiing. I have scheduled a lesson for all three children. James will have a private lesson and so will the girls. Still not sure if James will participate…or not. I’ll hope for the best. I think we will all be tired by Friday evening. We’ll ski Friday afternoon, then all day Saturday.

I said I would wait until the children were older–check–and I was exercising more–also, check. But, why I am so nervous that I will fall down and injure myself. I do not need a broken anthing!