Getting Fired from Daycare Ends Up With A Silver Lining

At the end of January, I was notified (via text) that we were being fired from our daycare and had two weeks to find a new provider.  OK, we weren't fired (but that is what I am calling it) but we were told that starting the 17th of February she would no longer be able to care for Wiggle Bean because she was having knee surgery and would not be able to chase after and pick Wiggle Bean up.  Since Wiggle was the youngest child in care (the next youngest was 4) we were the only ones that needed to find new care.  This made me feel like Wiggle had been singles out and rejected.

I was upset for a number of reasons.  First, We have overlooked many small things that have bothered us.  On more than one occasion, I convinced my husband that we should stick with her when he was fed up and wanted to leave.  Some of the things that bothered us were:

1. When Wiggle was on milk only, she did not seem to eat much but would eat a ton at home.  Some days she would only drink 4 or 8 ounces of milk the entire day.
2. We did not feel she was changing diapers often enough.  The same pack of diapers would last a week at home but would last almost a month at daycare.  She would come home at least once a week with her spare clothes on because of an "overflow (this has not happened once since we changed providers)
3. She would constantly take Wiggle on errands.  Now this was not a problem usually but she would rarely let me know when they were going to leave or where they were going to be so had there been an emergency, I would not have known where to find her.  That and I swear they went to the mall 3 times a week.
4. TV!  One of my main questions when interviewing was how much TV they watch and I was assured that it was very rare.  It seemed that when I went to pick her up they were always watching TV and I did not always approve of the show that was on.  Once I saw MTV Cribs and another time the daycare lady told me that Wiggle liked John and Kate plus Eight.  I gave her the benefits of the doubt, telling my husband that it was probably just how she wound them down at the end of the day before their parents came but it was to frequent for my liking.  Wiggle would either be in front of the TV, computer or stuck in an activity center when we picked her up.

My main concerns were how the major change would affect Wiggle, this lady has been her only care provider (besides us) and how was I going to find a new, qualified, provider in two weeks when it took me over 5 months and a dozen interviews to select our current provider.

Finding a new provider was not going to be easy.  I called a dozen providers in the area and not one of them had an open space for an infant.  Apparently the state of Washington allows for providers to take a higher number of kids if they do not take infants (under 2 years old).  More kids = more money for the provider.  For this reason many were no longer taking infants and those that were still taking infants were full with waiting lists.

We really wanted home care but since we were not having any luck we branched out to centers.  YIKES!  Those places are a fortune, I might has well have stayed home with her. I would have been working just to pay daycare expenses.

Then my receptionist, Jen,  made an off hand comment about her boyfriend being Wiggle Bean's new daycare.  He is co-owner of a popular Portland music venue, so he is a stay at home dad during the day.   I did not think about it much but after mentioning it to my husband it started sounding like a better an better idea.  Wiggle would finally have someone to play with that would be closer to her age and she would get more attention.

We started going there full time on February 15th and it has been a dream.  Wiggle is having a little trouble with the adjustment and some separation issues when I drop her off but she is happy and laughing within a minute of me leaving her.  She plays all day (not alone like she did at her old daycare) with her new BFF Liv.  They go to music class on Mondays, take wagon rides and go on trips to the park.

Jeff is the best Manny I could ever ask for.  He is so attentive to Wiggle Bean and does everything that he can to make sure she is happy and having a great time.  We (Jen and I) get updates throughout the day as to how our girls are doing, what they have eaten and how well they are getting along.

This might be the only time I ever say that I am so glad to have been fired.  I guess every thing does happen for a reason.

Review and Giveaway: Shushybye Sleepover Surprise book & CD CLOSED

 
Just before Wiggle's first birthday we started sleep training because I was ready to get more that 3 hours sleep at a time.  The first step was setting a routine (and sticking to it!).  I have read countless studies showing the benefits of reading to your children every day.  For this reason, we made story time a part of our nightly routine.  Story time is followed by song time.  When I was offered an opportunity to review the new Shushybye Sleepover Surprise book with song CD, I jumped at the chance because it incorporated both the story and song time of our routine.

About:  
(content received from Shushybye)

Shushybye: Sleepover Surprise is a bedtime picture storybook that includes a CD with music kids love.  The best part is, it's the kind of music that parents find themselves singing along with, too.  Shushybye is a land where its inhabitants (the Shushies) make magical dreams for little girls and boys.  The catch, of course, is if you want to dream you have to go to sleep.

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts 

Shushybye Sleepover Surprise was my first experience with the Shushybyes and I think they are adorable.  The Shushybye dolls are so cute.   The front and back covers of the book are glow in the dark and the CD is a great bonus.  Wiggle Bean is still a bit young for a book of this length so we only make it through the first song (which I already have memorized) and maybe 5-8 pages of the book before she gets restless.  I read through the book on my own and it is a great story.   I like that you can put in the CD and follow along with them reading the story (great for when your voice is just not up to a full story reading) or you can read the story at your own pace.  Over all, it is a great book and I love the song and read along features of the included CD.  My only complaint (and it will not be a problem once Wiggle is a little older) is that you can not fast forward the CD.  It would be nice to jump ahead to continue on where we left off the night before.  Again, this will not be a problem once she is big enough to sit through the entire thing.

 

Want to See the Shushybyes Live?

The Shushybyes Live Summer Dreamin' 2010 Concert Tour Featuring Michael North Performs Saturday June 12 In Washington DC At Jammin' Java, The Bronx Zoo On Sunday June 13 and World Café In Philadelphia on Saturday June 19!

Where to Buy
The full line of Shushybye products (and the only place you can get the New Shushybye Dolls) can be purchase from the Shushybye Shoppe.  You can also get a number of the books and CD's at Amazon. Also,  Walmart carries the Bedtime Stories and Songs DVD.

WIN IT!!!

Thanks to Shushybye and The Product Review Place , one Over Thirty Mommy reader will win a copy of The Shushybye Sleepover Surprise book and CD!

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older.

How to Enter: Mandatory

Visit the Shushybye website and leave a comment letting me know what your favorite Shushybye item is  .

 
Extra Entries:
You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

• Follow Over Thirty Mommy publicly (join followers on right-hand sidebar)
• Subscribe to Over Thirty Mommy via Reader or email.
• Follow Over Thirty Mommy on Twitter and tweet about this review/giveaway. (leave link to tweet)
• Grab my Blog Button, let me know in your comment where I can find it (3 entries).
• Comment on a non-contest post, let me know which article in your comment. (up to 2 entries)
• Blog about the giveaway on your site and link back to Over Thirty Mommy and Shushybye (leave a link to your post in comment) (5 entries!!!)
• Add Over Thirty Mommy to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a comment telling me you did so and under what username.  Add to Technorati Favorites (2 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Good luck!

Winner will be chosen via a Random Drawing.  Winners that I am unable to contact or one who does not claim their prize within 72 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize.

Giveaway ends midnight PST on Saturday March 6th


**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.   I received a copy of Shushybye Sleepover Surprise from Shushybye and The Product Review Place for my review purposes. This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.** 

Wordless Wednesday - Tiny Teeth

Not sure if I would title this "Strike A Pose" or "Cheese"

for more Wordless Wednesday go to 5 Minutes for mom

Rock Rhythm and Rhyme Color Songs CD Winner

 

 Thank you to all who participated in the Rock Rhythm and Rhyme Color Songs Giveaway.  We have a Winner!

 

Kelly said... 6

I follow you on twitter & tweeted. Kelly Deaton - (email removed for privacy) http://twitter.com/dkad23/status/8481567320

I am about to email you! Please respond within 72 hours! Congratulations!!!!! Many thanks to Rock Rhythm and Rhyme for this Review and Giveaway Opportunity. 

Review: Tommee Tippee Bottle and Sippy Cup

Tommee Tippee is the number-one brand of infant and toddler feeding products in Great Britain.  Beginning in late January, Babies“R”Us stores in the United States, and at online at Babiesrus.com/tommeetippee will now carry the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature and Explora infant and toddler feeding products.  In April, the collection will be available in Toys“R”Us stores nationwide.  Check out the product fact sheet to learn more about each of products now available in the USA

To read more about Tommee Tippee products, please visit the Tommee Tippee website.
Tommee Tippee is running a contest where you can win up to $4,000 in Babies "R" Us gift cards, see website for more info or click here to enter.

Wiggle Bean turned one almost a month ago and we are in the process of transitioning her from her bottle to a sippy cup.  I say process because we have been trying for some time now but she is resisting the change.   In hopes of finding a sippy cup that she will like and one that will does not spill, I have purchased three different brands of cups to "test" them out to find which ones work best for us.  They all say that they are spill proof but somehow, I still end up with milk and water all over the carpet and floor.  I would say they are more spill resistant that proof.

Explora Sippy Cups

About
(content received from Tommee Tippee)
Spilling is not a problem with the Tommee Tippee Explora sippy cup. The Explora products feature advance-flo valves, designed by a physicist to require almost no force to drink from, while still remaining truly spill and leakproof.  Each Explora cup is progressively staged with a specific grip to fit little fingers and unique spouts.  The complete range of Explora products includes sippy cups, straw cups, water bottles, drinking cups, independent meal sets, weaning bowls, food pots and utensils for children aged 6 months and
beyond.

Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts
Wiggle Bean seems to really like these cups, they are brightly colored and have an attached lid that covers the spout.  I have not had any troubles with spilling or leaking (except for the time I did not get the lid on all the way before she grabbed it, but that was my fault).  I really like that it is truly spill proof, I no longer have to worry about her spilling milk on the carpet in the car.  She can throw it down and not a drop gets out.  I still cannot get her to give up her bedtime bottle and drink her milk out of the Tommee Tippee cup but we are working towards it.

Close to Nature Bottle

About
(content received from Tommee Tippee)
In 2006 Tommee Tippee revolutionized the infant feeding market with the launch of the Closer to
Nature line of baby bottles and accessories.  The Closer to Nature bottle design offers a uniquely soft, super-wide nipple that naturally flexes and stretches like the breast.  The bottle is designed with an ultra-sensitive anti-colic valve that lets babies feed at their own pace with less air, vacuum build-up, and nipple collapse.  Nipples are progressively staged in slow, medium, fast and vari-flow rates to meet growing babies’ needs.


Over Thirty Mommy's Thoughts
My sister, who assists me with reviews for infants, tested this bottle with her new baby.  He is just shy of 7 weeks old and does not take a bottle very often.  With other bottles that he has tired, he usually ends up playing with the nipple more than he drinks the milk.  With the Tommee Tippee cup he actually drank the milk.  It took a minute for him to figure out how to get a good latch but once he figured it out, it was smooth sailing.  Normally when he eats he has issues with air bubbles and spitting up.  His first time using the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottle, he had no air bubbles and did not spit up at all.  When I asked my sister if this was unusual, she stated that it was and she was very impressed with the air valve.  She also really likes that there are not a lot of inner parts to the valve that needed special cleaning.  Her only concern was with the width of the bottle, it was difficult to fit into the bottle warmer.

Where to Buy
Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature and Explora infant and toddler feeding products are available exclusively at Babies“R”Us stores in the United States, and at online at Babiesrus.com/tommeetippee.


http://www.tommeetippee.us/?utm_source=ReferralSite-MomBloggersClub&utm_medium=Editorial&utm_campaign=TT-Launch




**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting. The products reviewed were provided free of charge from Tommee Tippee as part of a Mom Bloggers Club blog tour. This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.**

Rainbow Brite Review and Giveaway CLOSED

 Rainbow Brite is back!!!

Rainbow Brite is the next of the mid 80's toys to get a makeover and make a comeback.  

History of Rainbow Brite

Hallmark first introduced the Rainbow Brite brand about 25 years ago.  Originally named Wisp, Rainbow Brite made her animated debut in 1984 on a prime-time special, "Peril in the Pits,".  She, along with her white sprite Twink and flying horse Starlite, got their own show in April of 1986.   While the show only lasted one season, the Rainbow Brite dolls were loved by girls all over the world for many years.  Rainbow Brite dolls were originally made by Mattel from 1984 - 1986.  

Up up & Away attempted a relaunch in 1996 complete with an updated look (removing her trademark star) and all new "Friends".  

In 2003 Rainbow Brite was re-released by HotTopic as a 20th Anniversary doll.  The 20th Anniversary doll was replicated nearly exactly like the 1983 Mattel dolls. 

Return of an Icon:

Being revamped for her 25th Anniversary, her look has been updated.  She is taller and thinner (and looks darn good for her age) but her star has returned.  She is joined in Rainbow Land by her two friends Moonglow and Tickled Pink, and their companion horse friends Starlite, Shimmer and Sunriser. 

You can visit Rainbow Brite online at www.RainbowBrite.Com to view four new Rainbow Brite animated episodes. The animated episode Return to Rainbow Land explains Rainbow Brite's long absence from Rainbow Land.

Rainbow Brite fashion dolls are currently available at Target and are scheduled to be released at Toys R' Us later this month.

I was recently sent a set of Rainbow Brite activity CD's.  Each CD contains games, puzzles, coloring pages and a mini story about Rainbow Brite.

WIN IT!!!

Thanks to MomSelect, I have 5 Rainbow Brite activity CD's to giveaway to my readers.

How to Enter:
Leave a comment here about your favorite childhood toy or cartoon

Extra Entries:
You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

• Follow Over Thirty Mommy publicly (join followers on right-hand sidebar)
• Subscribe to Over Thirty Mommy via Reader or email.
• Follow Over Thirty Mommy on Twitter and tweet about this review/giveaway. (leave link to tweet)
• Grab my Blog Button, let me know in your comment where I can find it (3 entries).
• Comment on a non-contest post, let me know which article in your comment. (up to 2 entries for this one) 
• Blog about the giveaway on your site and link back to Over Thirty Mommy and Rainbow Brite (leave a link to your post in comment) (3 entries!!!)
• Add Over Thirty Mommy to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a comment telling me you did so and under what username.  Add to Technorati Favorites 2 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Good luck!

Winner will be chosen via a Random Drawing.  Winners that I am unable to contact or one who does not claim their prize within 72 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize.

Giveaway ends midnight PST on  March 5th

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and fail to include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.   I received the Rainbow Brite Activity CDs from MomSelect. This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.** 
 

Review and Giveaway: Yoplait Frozen Smoothie and Blender CLOSED

I am a big fan of breakfast.  I love all things breakfast, especially breakfast for dinner, mmmm BRINNER!!!

Unfortunatley, like most working adults, I rarely have time to make a full breakfast on work days.  I found smoothies to be a great way to get the breakfast I need and they are fairly easy and quick.  

My first experience with smoothies were with the bottled smoothies.  While they were good, they were just too small (like a smoothie shot) and expensive.  So I tried my hand at making my own.  I have been making fruit and yogurt smoothies for about two years now.  My smoothies consist of a selection of fresh and/or frozen fruits, yogurt, and juice.   While they are pretty easy to make, I am always looking to save time in the mornings ( I already have to get up at 5:00 in order to get things done to go to work).   

Yoplait Frozen Smoothies contain real fruit and chunks of frozen yogurt.  They are so easy to make (even a caveman could do it!!!).  Simply pour the contents of the package in a blender, add milk, blend and serve.  It takes less than two minutes to have a fresh, healthy and delicious breakfast.  

Yoplait Smoothies are available in three different varieties:

      - Triple Berry (strawberry, raspberry and blueberry) 

      - Strawberry Mango Pineapple  

      - Strawberry Banana

A package makes two smoothies and each smoothie contains a full serving of fruit and only 110 calories.  Yoplait frozen smoothies are an excellent source of calcium (when prepared with milk according to directions).

I tried the Strawberry Mango Pineapple smoothies.  The package says just add milk but I tossed in a fresh banana for an extra fruit bonus.  I found the finished smoothie to be, for lack of a better word, smooth.  There were no chunks, it was kind of foamy and very yummy!

Thanks to Yoplait and My Blog Spark I was sent a Yoplait Frozen Smoothie gift pack.  The gift pack included a coupon for a free package of Yoplait Smoothies and a single serve blender with travel lid.

Where to Purchase

The smoothies are available at most grocery stores in the freezer section with the frozen fruit.

Discount: 

To try these delicious smoothies yourself you can print a coupon here for $1.25 off coupon.

WIN IT!!!

One Over Thirty Mommy reader will win a Yoplait Frozen Smoothie gift pack.  The gift pack will include a coupon for a free package of Yoplait Smoothies and a single serve blender with travel lid. (like in the picture above)

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older.

How to Enter: (Answer the following question)
What is your favorite fruit smoothie to make at home or what flavor looks the best to you? (feel free to send along your recipe)

Extra Entries:
You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.

• Follow Over Thirty Mommy publicly (join followers on right-hand sidebar)
• Subscribe to Over Thirty Mommy via Reader or email.
• Follow Over Thirty Mommy on Twitter and tweet about this review/giveaway. (leave link to tweet)
• Grab my Blog Button, let me know in your comment where I can find it (3 entries).
• Comment on a non-contest post, let me know which article in your comment. (up to 2 entries for this one) 
• Blog about the giveaway on your site and link back to Over Thirty Mommy and Yoplait (leave a link to your post in comment) (3 entries!!!)
• Add Over Thirty Mommy to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a comment telling me you did so and under what username.  Add to Technorati Favorites 2 entries)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Good luck!

Winner will be chosen via a Random Drawing.  Winners that I am unable to contact or one who does not claim their prize within 72 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize.

Giveaway ends midnight PST on Saturday February 27th


**Disclaimer: I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.   I received a free coupon and single serving blender, as well as some of the information in this post from Yoplait and My Blog Spark. This is solely the opinion of Over Thirty Mommy. Other people may have different experiences with the product.** 

RECALL: Tiny Love Recalls Wind Chime Toys

Tiny Love Recalls Wind Chime Toys Due to Puncture and Laceration Hazards

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Wind Chime Toys
Units: About 600,000 in the United States and 200,000 in Canada
Distributor: Tiny Love Inc., of New York, N.Y. and the Maya Group Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif.
Hazard: The wind chime toy can be pulled apart exposing sharp metal rods, posing puncture and laceration hazards to the baby.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received five reports of babies pulling apart the wind chimes exposing the sharp metal rods, including a report of a minor injury to a 24-month-old baby who punctured his cheek with the rods.
Description: This recall involves wind chime toys sold separately, with the Gymini Kick & Play Activity Gym and Tiny Smarts Gift Sets. The toy produces the sound of a wind chime. “Tiny Love” is printed on a tag on the toy. The following names and item numbers are included in this recall:

Wind chimes sold with other Tiny Love Activity Gyms are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Toys R Us, Walmart, Target, Buy Buy Baby and TJ Maxx stores nationwide from February 2002 through February 2010 for about $8 separately, $22 for the Tiny Smarts Gift Sets and $70 with the Gymini Kick & Play Activity Gym.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled wind chimes from babies and contact Tiny Love to receive a free replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Tiny Love toll-free at (888) 791-8166 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.tinylove.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=974

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

Two Great Events Coming Soon To Over Thirty Mommy

Two fun events coming soon to Over Thirty Mommy!

1. In-depth look at Organic baby/toddler foods:  My husband and I believe very strongly that he foods our children eat greatly affect their physical and mental development.  For this reason we feed our daughter as much organic food as possible.  For things we can not get organic, we go natural.  We do this to avoid growth hormones, pesticides and preservatives in standard foods.

This even is not date specific and reviews/giveaways will go up periodically over the next few weeks.  Some of the reviews will be integrated in with the second event.

2. Baby Shower Extravaganza: March 8th - 20th:  My baby sister is pregnant and due to have her son in April.  I will be hosting a joint online and live baby shower that will  feature new, innovative and "must have" mommy and baby items (and maybe even some Daddy items).  Some reviews will feature items for infants but there should be at least a couple for toddlers.

I have been in contact with some great sponsors.  Both events are shaping up nicely.

If I have not contacted you and you are interested in in having your product or store featured in one or both of the events, please email me at over30mommy (at) gmail (dot) com.

Stay tuned, the next couple months will be full of fun and prizes!

Valentine's Day Swap

In December I took part in the Santa Blog Swap hosted by The Mommy Files.

I had a great swap buddy, Katie from Why Bother?,  and enjoyed it so much that I signed up to be part of the Valentine's Day event.

This time I was paired with Lindsay from Laughing Lindsay.  Lindsay is an education major.  She loves cupcakes, flip-flops, coffee, chocolate, beauty products, clothes, shoes, accessories, reading, listening to music, and blogging.

Aside from the coffee (blah!), we have very similar likes.  We both love chocolate, clothes, shoes and accessories! The main difference is that she is in her early 20's (without kids) and I am well "older" and with a one year old, have no time for reading. 

Lindsay was a wonderful swap partner. She took time to read my survey responses as well as visit my blog and read posts I have done to find out my likes.  She sent a wonderful box that contained a scratch and sniff card that smelled like chocolate (YUM!!!) a cute bear and book (she is an education major!!) for my daughter and a fantastic box of chocolates that contained White,  Dark and Milk chocolates because she knew that I loved them all.  I hid the chocolates in the back so that I would not have to share with my husband, they were really good.

Thank you Lindsay for being such a great swap buddy, I hope you like the box of goodies that I sent you.  My daughter and I had a ton of fun shopping for each and every item.  I might have gone a little crazy at the store picking things out.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Taxpayers Money Being Spent on Super Bowl Ad

I am not one to post or rant (at least on my blog) about poor government spending but this takes the cake.

Did you know that we (the taxpayers) are footing the $ 2.5 million dollar bill for a Super Bowl ad about the 2010 Census campaign?

Yes, $2.5 million for a 30-second blip about the census and that is only a drop in the bucket of the estimated $133 million advertising campaign.  The paid advertising is part of a $340 million campaign to promote the once-a-decade count.  Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Census Bureau was provided $1 billion but he total cost of the 2010 Census is estimated to be around $15 BILLION.

This year even Pepsi determined it was economically unwise to pay $3 million for a 30-second spot but leave it to the federal government  to take their spot.

Taxpayers are also footing the bill for a  three-month road trip by Census Bureau employees traveling in 13 buses and cargo vans with trailers. The tour will include parties informational sessions in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, a four day stint in Daytona Beach Florida for the Daytona 500,a trip to the Super Bowl,  at least 8 days in Las Vegas along with  numerous parades and festivals across the country.  In January they had stop in Arizona at College Football's Biggest Party, but I am sure they were there only for educational purposes. 

While they are to busy to visit 14 out of 50 states, the made sure to schedule visits to a Gun and knife show in Texas, the International Rodeo Finals in Oklahoma, and the US Snowboarding Grand Prix.  Not to mention taking in a few college basketball games including Missiouri Vs Kansas University, UNLV vs BYU and Iowa State vsKansas State.


At least the Emissions from the 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour will be offset by the Carbonfund.org.

In February 2009 President Obama said “We’re going to do something to strengthen the banking system," “You are not going to be able to give out these big bonuses until you pay taxpayers back. You can't get corporate jets. You can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers' dime. There's got to be some accountability and some responsibility.” in reference to the big bail out.

Apparently it is perfectly fine to purchase 13 special vehicles, take a trip to Las Vegas and go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers' dime when we are $12.3 TRILLION in debt and it is in the name of Census Education.

If the government can take possession of your house under the law of Eminent domain, why can't they just say, you are giving us a Super Bowl advertising slot.

OK I am jumping off my soap box now!!

RECALL: Children’s Toy Jewelry Sets Recalled by Playmates Toys

Children’s Toy Jewelry Sets Recalled by Playmates Toys; Charms Violate the Total Lead Standard

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Tiny Tink and Friends Children’s Toy Jewelry Sets

Units: About 252,000

Importer: Playmates Toys, of Costa Mesa, Calif.

Hazard: A cylindrical metal connector on a charm can contain levels of total lead in excess of 300 ppm, which is prohibited under federal law.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves charms sold with the Tiny Tink and Friends toy jewelry sets. The charm is attached to a cord using a metal ring and cylinder and included with the sets as a separate accessory that children can attach to the toy necklace, bracelet or key chain. The toy jewelry sets containing the charm accessory were sold in a variety of styles:

Item #	UPC #	Description
74634	0 43377 74634 8	Tinker Bell's Lil’ Tinker Bracelet
74641	0 43377 74641 6	Tinker Bell's Lil’ Tinker Bracelet
74631	0 43377 74631 7	Rosetta's Rosebud Key Chain
74632	0 43377 74632 4	Silvermist's Water Lily Necklace

Charms that have plastic tabs instead of metal rings and cylinders are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Retailers nationwide from November 2008 through November 2009 for between $6 and $8.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the charm and cord away from children, discard the items, and contact Playmates Toys for a replacement charm accessory.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Playmates toys at (888) 810-1133 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.playmatestoys.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=954

Note: CPSC was alerted to this hazard by the State Attorney General of California.