You know a broken record. The way it plays over and over again. And you kind of want to throw it against a wall. Wait. You do know what a record is, don’t you? Please, don’t make me link to Wikipedia! So, the sound of a broken record is not unlike the voice of one of my children asking for candy while we are waiting in the checkout line. “Mommy!” “Mommy! Candy!” “Mommy, I want that candy!” Spin. Rinse. Repeat.

Little kids think money grow on trees, don’t they? Kids think that Mom or Dad can buy them ANYTHING. I’m not speculating about this, only stating a stone cold fact. I’m sure you’ve been in the checkout line when your preschooler asked for candy. It doesn’t matter to your preschooler that she just had lunch before coming to the store. Or that you don’t want to buy the candy. Or that you haven’t budgeted for buying any candy on this shopping trip. No, your preschooler simply wants the candy. And that’s that.

So, how do you teach your child how to save their nickels and dimes rather than spending them? PNC Bank wants to help you. PNC Bank has created a savings account especially designed for young children. “S” is for Savings is a children’s savings account offered by PNC Bank. Through “S” is for Savings, your child will learn about the value of money by playing fun and interactive activities. The activities on “S” is for Savings allow your child through play to learn about spending, sharing and saving, and the value of things that he might want to buy with that money.

“S” is for Savings can help parents help their children develop strong financial habits from an early age. This children’s savings account will establish a firm financial educational foundation for children aged 3 to 5 and the concepts can be used by children up to age 8.

Knowing that parents are their child’s first teacher, ”S” is for Savings is designed to be played by the parent and child together in a “lap-learning fashion.” By playing the interactive games with a child, the parent can teach financial basics, like how to save money and what to buy with that money.

In PNC Bank’s online banking experience you and your child can set goals for saving, sharing, and spending in the “S” is for Savings Learning Center. “S” is for Savings,  part of PNC’s Grow Up Great financial education initiative, is based on Sesame Workshop’s lesson “For Me, for You, for Later: First Steps to Spending, Sharing, Saving.” PNC’s Grow Up Great program is a $350 million, multiyear initiative that began in 2004 to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for financial success in school and life.

How does it work?

• Parents can start an “S” is for Savings account for a minimum deposit of $25 with no service charges for account holders under 18.
• Parents can create a separate login and password for their child’s savings account to keep it separate from the parent’s bank account at PNC Bank.
• Interest will accrue on balances starting at $1.
• A bilingual kit (English/Spanish) for parents and caregivers is available from PNC Bank, pncgrowupgreat.com, and sesamestreet.org.
• The “S” is for Savings kit includes a children’s activity book and an original Sesame Street DVD featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster, and other Sesame Street friends learning about the financial basics of spending, sharing, and saving.

My Review of “S” is for Savings by PNC Bank.

The Musings from Me family had the chance to play “S” is for Savings. I logged in to www.pnc.com/sisforsavings where I was able to create a Username and Password for my son. Once we got the business-y stuff out of the way, it was time to play.

Who did we see when we arrived? Cookie Monster! Elmo! It’s always fun to see old friends, isn’t it? The first tabbed screen — “Stuff for Kids” — showed that my son had $25 in his account and asked him “How much money do you have?” Cookie Monster told him that his money was in three jars — Saving, Sharing, and Spending. He could click on each jar to see what was inside. I liked this feature as kids have a hard time imagining what $5 is like if they can’t see it.

I was interested in checking out the second tabbed screen “Learning Center.” In this parent section, there are about 10 “Learn about” financial topics to choose from. Each topic gives you a talking point to start a conversation with your child. Also, included are examples of ways your child can spend money he has saved.

I like the way you have four options for explaining a topic like “Spending” to your child through the Learning Center. You can talk to them about it, listen to a sound clip together, watch a video showing a kid using money,  printing out a worksheet, or listening to a tip from Elmo. The four buttons can be clicked by the parent or the child.

While your child can “play” with his money on “S” is for Savings, you can decide how much money will go in each of the three jars. This service is a great way to help a young child understand money in a fun way. Perhaps, the next time I am in the checkout line, my child will tell me why I shouldn’t buy him a candy bar!

I was compensated for this post. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

I always plan to post a Wordless Wednesday, but when do I remember that I need to post? Thursday, of course! I’m either late or early for next week. Better late than never…my Wordless Wednesday…our Pirate Adventure in Ocean City, Maryland. What a great day!

Hoist the mainsail! Shiver me timbers!

My Mother's Day Gallery for Everyday

I like to think of myself as a rock. Steady. Not prone to bursts of emotion. The one with the clear head who rises above it all. The truth is that I am cool under pressure. I can be relied upon to get it done in a crisis situation. But, show me a Hallmark commercial and I melt. So my toughish exterior is just that…an exterior.

It’s not just commercials that get me going. In fact every time I walk up the stairs in my house, I tear up. There in pride of place is my Mother’s Day Gallery. Except that my “gallery” is not just for Mother’s Day…it is for every day. A set of most unique Mother’s Day gifts!

On three special days, I received the most precious of gifts from my three children. All three poured their little creative selves in to a most precious hand and foot print masterpiece. What is absolutely awesome about these hand and footprints paintings is that each shows the character of my children. I want to take a moment to thank their preschool teachers. Can you imagine the time it takes to get a group of feisty, fidgety 3-year-olds to stay still long enough to do this? Ahem. But, back to their creations…

My older daughter is an independent, out-of-the-box thinker and I love how she used her feet on her painting. Makes me think of all the times she has been a trailblazer in our family. She’s the oldest child in our family and the oldest grandchild on each side of our families. She does EVERYTHING first…and wouldn’t have it any other way.

My younger daughter’s creation is a hand and footprint flower on a hessian cloth. I love the dark green of the cloth in contrast to the light purple hand print flowers. And it’s a little foot…a foot as a leaf…how cute is that?? She took so much pride in her painting and was insistent that I only open her Mother’s Day gift on Mother’s Day morning. No sooner. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Except that she brought the wrapped gift to me every day for about a week. I was DYING to open the gift. She would say “Mommy, you can’t open it…until MOTHER’S DAY!” I could see that it was a rolled print of some sort. By Mother’s Day morning I tore in to that wrapping paper…like, well, a 3-year-old!

My son’s creation is very like him. Big, bold, and in charge. He gave his masterpiece to me on Christmas. He was the only one of my three to go to a church preschool. I treasure his hand print wreath. He did a good job, didn’t he? You can’t see the red berries very clearly, but I am impressed by how neat he was. His teachers made sure that we not only had a wonderful memento from our son, but also a Christmas decoration for years to come!

Wondering what to get mom or grandmom for mother. How about a memento of family memories? YesVideo is a service for turning those old videos in to treasures that you can watch today. You can even buy a YesVideo gift certificate for the special mom in your life.

Want to learn more about YesVideo?

• Twitter: @YesVideo
• FB: http://fb.com/yesvideo
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/yesvideo
• Google+: http://gplus.to/YesVideo

I was compensated for this post. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

A few months ago, I received a mystery package. The package was actually two envelopes stuffed in to one large padded envelope. The contents were shiny and new. The envelopes bulky. I know I never requested them. But, I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. I don’t know who the package was from. All I know it was a stack of DVDs. Thank you mysterious sender!

As I looked through the stack, I noted which ones I had seen and which ones I hadn’t. Eat Pray Love was one I had seen before. Since I already had a copy, I recently gave away the extra copy of Eat Pray Love to a lucky reader. At the same time, I gave away a copy of Just Go With It to another fortunate reader. I like to spread the wealth, if you will. I had a giveaway set up for a few CDs so I popped the soundtrack for The Big C in to the winner’s prize pack. Let me tell you that my winner was thrilled. In fact, all my winners were excited about their prizes!

But, I’m still left with a number of DVDs. What should I do with them? I could watch them. I’m sure I would love Damages: The Complete Third Season. I always love seeing Glenn Close in movies. In Damages, Close plays litigator Patty Hewes. Hewes is either in battle with or an ally of Rose Byrne, Campbell Scott, Lily Tomlin, and Martin Short. Sounds like a great show, but rather than hang on it I want to let one of you have the chance to watch it. So…

I want to share Damages: The Complete Third Season with you. I have the DVD for one lucky reader!

Winning is easy. First, leave a mandatory comment. Second, leave one or more of the optional comments. Remember, you must leave the mandatory comment for the other comments to count. Oh and don’t forget to leave your email address in the comment. so I can contact you if you win!

Mandatory Comment — Leave a comment.

• Subscribe to Musings from Me by reader.

Optional Comment — Leave a comment.

• Follow @MusingsfromMe on Twitter.
• Like Musings from Me on Facebook.
• Tweet this giveaway and leave a link to your tweet: @MusingsfromMe is giving away Damages on DVD! Enter for a chance to win! http://bit.ly/ICLtQP #giveaway
• Like Jill MusingsfromMe on Facebook.
• Stumble one of my posts that is not a giveaway. Use your Stumble toolbar or use the Share button that is placed to the left of the post.

I was sent Damages on DVD to facilitate my review. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The giveaway ends May 16, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The views expressed in this post are my own. Links are to my amazon affiliate account. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

For as long as I can remember one of my children has had opinions. I can remember as an infant that this child would not take a pacifier. She would take a bottle, but only when the bottle was offered to her a third time. That’s right, she wouldn’t take a bottle the first or second time offered, but only when I would offer it to her a third time. Yep, this kid was in control. Not me.

As a toddler and preschooler, my child would not under any circumstances wear any of the clothes I chose for her. Battles would ensue. Wars would start. Tantrums would begin and really never end. Until I came to a realization. As if I had been hit on the head with a brick, I realized that she needed choices. The battles dies down. The wars ended. And the tantrums subsided for the most part. Why? Because I let her choose her own clothing.

I don’t know about you but I love seeing fashions for children in stores or at the mall or even online. I can scroll and peruse and take a gander at fashions for kids. Boys or girls clothing. Little or big kids. Special occasion or everyday. Seeing kids clothing is just super cute, isn’t it?

Recently, I discovered a site showcasing not only children’s clothing, but designer children’s clothing. The site — la-di-da — is home to a large numbers of designers of children’s clothing.

As I perusing la-di-da I happened upon the cutest little monkey. Who can resist a monkey logo and especially a monkey logo for children’s clothing? Not me, obviously! Appaman has a range of rugged boys’ clothing. You know the type of clothing that just looks great on your little guy. Jeans that are roomy, but not baggy. And a cool windbreaker. Both items are gray, which is perfect for my little guy who likes to get dirty.

I only had to glance at Imps & Elfs to know that I needed to click on the link. Names make the company, am I right? Imps & Elfs have a very unique range of baby and toddler clothing. I say the range is unique because the clothing has a certain spirit that is unlike other children’s clothing companies I have seen. Imps & Elfs have cardigans, two-piece sets, shorts, and tees for boys and girls. Some of the styles are gender neutral, which is always awesome when you have two children close in age, but one is a boy and the other is a girl. The grays, blues, and yellows are muted so that boys and girls can both wear some of the pieces.

This post was brought to you by your friends at la-di-da. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

Let the Tips On Trips And Camps team of advisors help you find the perfect camp

Summer is nearly here. I can almost taste it. This year of pickups and drop offs and homework and projects and band concerts and sports practices and games is drawing to a close. It wasn’t that long ago the school bus picked up the kids for the first day of school.

But, summer will start in a few short weeks. Are you ready for summer? Vacation planned? Your flight and hotel may be booked, but what about the rest of the summer? For working moms and dads, the summer is a long stretch of time. Camps and other activities for kids, tweens, and teens can fill a much-needed void.

As you plan for what to do for childcare for the long, hot summer, check out Tips On Trips And Camps. What is it? Well, Tips On Trips And Camps is a free service that provides expert advice on overnight camps and trips for kids, tweens, and teens aged 8 through 18. The site is a quick and easy way to find the best summer experience for your child.

All camps and trips are screened by Tips on Trips And Camps’ staff. The site provides online resources as well as expert advisors who can guide you from beginning to end of your camp search. You can call 1-866-222-TIPS to speak to a camp advisor.

Tips On Trips and Camps can guide you to the many and varied options for summer experiences for your child including:

• language study/immersion
• wilderness expeditions
• teen camps and tours
• sports and specialty camps
• sleepaway camps
• creative and performing arts camps
• academic programs
• camps for kids, tweens, and teens with special needs

For more information…

• Visit Tips On Trips And Camps.
• Call 1-866-222-TIPS to speak to one of the camp advisors.
• Register here to be sent information on camps and trips.
• Like Tips On Trips And Camps on Facebook.

This post was brought to you by your friends at Tips On Trips And Camps. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

Me and my crew at Thanksgiving

December was a blur. So was January. No, I wasn’t overwhelmed by the holidays. Nor buried under a mound of Christmas wrapping paper. I am hazy about February and March as well. The holidays were long since over by March. So no holiday excuses apply. As I reflect back on the last four months, all I can say is “I survived!”

After the rush-rush of the start of the school year, I took on a series of assignments. The assignments sounded right up my alley. I knew the project would be open ended. I liked the idea of steady work. I can’t describe what I did as I am still under contract, but suffice it to say I yearned for the challenge. I knew I would improve my skills in many areas. Perhaps not “mad skillz” but skills none-the-less.

The work was exactly what I needed. It was like a writing bootcamp. I had to hone my writing skills, get to the point quickly, and learn how to research on a dime. I was stressed much of the time. Frazzled the rest of the time. Invigorated and inspired at the same time. I proved to myself that I can write quickly and speedily and get to the point. Sure, there were a few missteps a long the way. More than a few moments where I wasn’t sure I could think of another thing to write.

As I look back I see that I was so busy that there was no time for writer’s block. I simply had to get the projects done. And get them done quickly. I dug deep to find words. I searched hard for resources. I crafted words. I wrote hard. I got it done. Proud of myself and proud of what I accomplished. Too bad I can’s show you samples, but oh well. It was a learning experience like no other.

My birthday is Saturday. I’ll celebrate with family as always. I pick a theme…a dinner out, an outing to Medieval Times, or even a trip to see the Space Shuttle at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. But, this year’s theme is different…this year I’m having a Super Hero Birthday!

My birthday celebrations over the year have run the gamut from…

• The pitch and putt party when I was 9…wore a long dress to play mini golf…we lived in New Jersey. Why the long dress? It was the 70s and quite honestly the 70s and, particularly, fashion in the 70s have a lot of answering to do. Ahem.
• As a child growing up in England, my parties were far more simple…always held at home…Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Pass the Parcel or Hot Potato, Freeze Dance, a Balloon Drop, and a very English lunch of finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, and birthday cake.
• As a tween and teen I loved taking a few friends to a local Chinese restaurant in the town of Wilmslow in the county of Cheshire, England…this address sounds so very English, doesn’t it?). I felt very grown up treating my friends and paying the bill for my birthday meal with a pre-written check from my parents. We were even able to walk to the restaurant as my town was very small.
• Once I hit adulthood, my birthday parties have mostly been dinners at restaurants with family or outings to local places.

This year I’m doing something different. This year we are all going to see The Avengers.

The 20-something me would wonder what got in to me. Super Heroes? Marvel? You don’t even like action movies? Why do you want to see that??? But, the 40-something me loves that The Avengers is a movie we can all see from my youngest child to my oldest child. I love a good family film. I love a good Super Hero movie, too. I loved Iron Man and Iron Man 2, so I know I will love The Avengers.

Want to get your Super Hero on?

• Go to the Marvel.com Avenger’s site.
• Print your favorite Avengers posters.
• Learn what goes on behind the scenes.
• Not a comic book reader or an Avengers devotee? Find out who is who, here.
• Catch a first look at The Avengers with stills from filming.
• And of course don’t forget to Like The Avengers on Facebook…
• …and follow @Avengers on Twitter.

Also, if you love a good children’s book and who doesn’t, check out an innovative new book for kids that is part of an equally innovative and intriguing platform for book publishing, Roger Nix, President at Six is the work of illustrator, Bill Robinson. Robinson is trying to get Roger Nix, President at Six published on Kickstarter.com, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. He’s almost there. Won’t you help him? You can donate to help him get his children’s book published.

I was not compensated to write this post. I’m a lover of movies and entertainment and of course, all things Disney! The views expressed in the post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

The beach is THE best place to vacation. How do I know this? I polled a representative group who overwhelming told me that the beach is THE best vacation spot. Of course, none in the group I polled was over 18. None would be willing to pay for a beach vacation. And all are my children, but…they are a hard group to ignore!

We’re in the fortunate position of having a number of awesome beaches in driving distance from our home. One beach city in particular has always piqued my interest. I have never visited this beach, although I know many friends who have. What beach is this? Virginia Beach!

As a mom who not only blogs about travels but has a hand in planning fun vacations for her family, I wanted to find out why everyone raves about Virginia Beach. My first stop was to find out about the beaches, of course.

I found out that the beach areas of Chesapeake Bay, the Resort Area, and Sandbridge comprise the 35 miles of Virginia Beach.

• Campers, bikers, and runners will love exploring the Chesapeake Bay Beach. This low-key alternative is adjacent to the First landing State Park.
• Those who want access to live music, street performers, outdoor cafes, and a busy boardwalk will love the main Resort area of Virginia Beach.
• In the southern part of Virginia Beach is Sandbridge, which features ocean-view homes and condos. Those visiting Sandbridge will be struck by the quiet and relaxed atmosphere.

There is of course more to Virginia Beach than just the sandy beaches and ocean waves. I learned that there is plenty to keep you occupied when not swimming and surfing.

• Fishing and golf are just two of the many sports/activities that you can try when visiting Virginia Beach.
• When not sunning yourself on the sandy beaches, why not try your hand at parasailing or jet skiing? Or, for a more relaxed time, why not take a boat tour.
• History buffs need look no further than local First Landing State Park where our forefathers lived, or perhaps a visit to the Adam Thoroughgood House would be in order.

Since Virginia Beach, VA, is in driving distance of major cities, like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Richmond, it is the ideal destination for a family vacation. From sunning to sailing to sightseeing, Virginia Beach has something to interest every member of your family.

For more information on what Virginia Beach has to offer to you:

• Check out VisitVirginiaBeach.com.
• Like Virginia Beach, VA on Facebook.
• Follow @VaBeachCVB on Twitter.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach blogging program. For more information on how you can participate, click here.