Recipe for A Healthy Marriage Infographic from Couples

FREE FRESCHETTA® By The Slice Pizza Event Coming August 4th!!

Free Freschetta by the Slice Event Coming August 4th!! 

 

Event Details:

Date - August 4th, 2011
What - FREE* FRESCHETTA By The Slice pizza event
Where - From the comfort of your own home

FRESCHETTA will be giving away thousands of slices of their delicious By The Slice pizza in a special live online event. The FRESCHETTA By The Slice pizza will be given away in 5,000 increments every half hour.

On Thursday July 28th, 2011 the website www.FreeFreschetta.com will be available for people to sign up for a reminder email and view a preview of the events to come with host Mike Rylander.

On August 4th the reminder email will be sent to those that signed up, and the event will be live at 11 AM on this day for all to sign up! This event is a great way to try out FRESCHETTA By The Slice and get to do so for FREE! On the day of the event there will also be fun, interactive contests where additional coupons will be awarded.

Also please note that the site will not be live until July 28th, 2011

* While supplies last. Offer valid 10/31/11. Maximum Retail Value: $2.39. Not valid with any other offer or promotion.

Many thanks to FRESCHETTA® for this promotion opportunity. I am a member of the FRESCHETTA™ FRESH CONNECTION™ Community. By sharing this event with my readers I have been entered into a giveaway for a chance to win FRESCHETTA™ FRESH CONNECTION™ only prizes.

Summer Sun Where Are You?

Summer Sun Where Are You?

So my calendar says that summer starts next Tuesday but the weather lately disagrees.  I am ready for some summer sun! This spring was the 4th coldest and 2nd wettest in history, easily making it the WORST spring in Portland history.

Even my counter top weather station thinks that summer will never arrive, here is what it gave me for today's forecast!

A few weeks ago we had three consecutive days in the 70's.  It was either wishful thinking on my part or I totally jinxed the rest of Portland but I took those nice days to mean that summer was on the way and I spent hours sorting through my daughter's room getting her closet and dressers organized for the impending sunshine and nice weather.  

I took all her winter clothes out of the top dresser drawers and moved them to the bottom and moved all of her summer shorts and skirty skirts (as she calls them) up to the top.  I took all the long sleeved shirts out of the closet and replaced them with her vast collection of girls dresses and tank tops.   I boxed up her boots, against her cries that she NEEDED her bugga bugga rain boots and her sparkly cowgirl boots, and replaced them with her sandal (floppers as she likes to call her flip flops) collection.

During our three nice days she couldn't get enough of her shorty shorts, skirty skirts and dresses.  I am pretty sure we went through at least three outfits a day.  She must have known that this was going to be her only opportunity to wear her summer sun clothes and so she tried to get them all worn in our short nice weather period. (although, I hear rumors that we might get to 85 next week!!!!)

I can never get enough of her in her adorable summer outfits, she loves to spin and twirl in her skirty skirts and dresses.  It is too cute!

I watch the weather every evening before bed just to see if I can get out one of her cute summer sun dresses to wear the next day.  of course she insists on wearing shorty shorts under her dresses so that she can still slide and play in the dirt with all her friends at "school" without showing her panties.

COME ON SUMMER SUN!!! WE ARE READY AND WAITING!!!

My Best Mother's Day Thus Far

 My Best Mother's Day Thus Far

Mother's Day is approaching fast (husbands and children: make sure you are prepared!!) and I am excited to have a day to sit around and do nothing (lol, like that would ever happen).  Really though, I am looking forward to adding another great Mother's Day to the ones I have had so far.

My husband and I have been married just shy of 12 years but we waited almost 10 years before starting our family.  My daughter is now two so this will only be my third Mother's Day.

My first Mother's day, my daughter was only 3 months so she really did not understand what was going on but thanks to my wonderful husband he made it special and memorable.  My daughter (with his assistance) colored me a card and she (with my husbands money! lol) got me a beautiful pendant with her birthstone in it.  Then we went over to my mother's for an afternoon BBQ.

Last year was also nice and I got to spend the entire day with just my husband and our daughter (my mom was working so we celebrated with her the following weekend).  We had a nice family day together and they got me a card and flowers.  Wiggle Bean was a little over a year old but I think that she still did not understand that it was a special day for mommy.

This year I am really looking forward to Mother's Day because Wiggle Bean is a little older and I think she will understand what the day means.  I have no idea what they have planned for the day but I am sure it will include a card, I should leave them a link to some of the really adorable Mother's Day cards available at Tiny Prints.

While my first Mother's Day will always hold a dear place in my heart, I am sure that this year's Mother's Day will be the best.

Just remember that even if your Mother's Day day does not go exactly as planned, you are a mother every day so every day you are loved by your child is Mother's Day and that is always the best!

**Disclosure: I received a Tiny Prints gift code for my opinions, which are my own**

The IRS is Finally Recognizing the Benefits of Breastfeeding

Last October the IRS ruled that nursing mothers will not be allowed to use their tax-sheltered health care accounts (FSA or Cafeteria 125 plans) to pay for breast pumps and other supplies.  The Internal Revenue Service came to this decision because they determined that breast-feeding does not have enough health benefits to qualify as a form of medical care.

Despite numerous studies, including one recent study that found it could prevent the premature death of 900 babies a year, showing that the antibodies found in beast milk could reduce disease among infants.  Another  large study, done by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, showed that children who are breastfed have a 20 percent lower risk of dying between the ages of 28 days and 1 year than children who weren't breastfed.

Apparently lowering the risk of SIDS and reducing diseases in infants is not "a form of medical care" but denture cream and acne cream is. 

The IRS has denied a request from the American Academy of Pediatrics to reclassify breast-feeding costs as  "medical care expenses" instead  it remained classified as “nutritional”.  The IRS stated that breastfeeding does “not have enough health benefits to qualify as a form of medical care” therefore breastfeeding expenses are not covered.

Following the October determination, to continue to exclude breastfeeding supplies, 13 members of the United States Senate and 34 members of Congress signed letters (one from each the Senate and Congress) addressed to the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Douglas Shulman, urging him to change the ruling.

I am please to announce that last week the IRS reversed their ruling.  This means that now Breast pumps and other lactation supplies are now tax deductible as medical expenses.

What does this mean for nursing mothers?  It means that families can use pre-tax funds from their flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts for these supplies.  If you do not have a FSA or HSA plan, you can deduct breast-feeding costs if your total unreimbursed medical expenses exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income and you itemize.

Finally a big step towards supporting breastfeeding.

Bloggers that Over Thirty Mommy Admires

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend's wish!

Thumbs Up to Over Thirty Mommy's Five Fabulous Bloggers

I am not sure if I am still classified as a blogging newbie, I have been working on Over Thirty Mommy for about a year and a half, but I feel that I am still a young blogger with so much more to learn.

Over the past year and a half, I have learned so much about blogging from some great bloggers.  While I have not had the pleasure to meet any of them in person (I would love to some day), I still feel that I have come to know them in some way.  Some day,  I will make it to a blog conference and would love to meet up with my fabulous five and many other bloggers that I have come to know through their blogs.

Over Thirty Mommy's Fabulous Five Bloggers (in no particular owner)

1. Jennifer James: Jennifer is one of those bloggers that is truly happy to help out other bloggers.  She founded a well known club for mom bloggers called Mom Bloggers Club (over 12,000 members),  publishes a great online magazine, Mom Blog Magazine and has a wonderful blog, The Mom Salon that are all full of tips and advice for novice bloggers like myself.    I would have to say that Jennifer is on the top of my Wish to Meet someday list.  I would love to thank her for sharing such great advice with other bloggers. While I am sure she keeps some trade secrets to herself, she always seems happy to give tips to anyone that asks.

2. Daddy Forever: It is so refreshing to get a Dad's perspective on parenting.  There are so many (great and wonderful) mom bloggers out there that sometimes it seems the dads are forgotten.  I came to know Daddy Forever by reading about his youngest son "Little Disney" and how he was coping with being diagnosed as Failure to Thrive coupled with contracting H1N1.  Daddy Forever lives, or as he states it " lives in Exile" in Oregon.  I am an Oregon Native so I love reading blogs that are local to me and know the area I am from. His blog tag line made me a loyal follower of Daddy Forever the first time I read it "Dad blog by a tech savvy dad with four geeky kids (1-10). This geek dad blog features reviews, giveaways, and parenting advice that will ruin your kid's life."  It made me laugh out loud in my office and I have had it bookmarked ever since.

3. 5 Minutes for Mom: Janice and Susan at 5 Minutes for Mom amaze me with the number of sites they operate and maintain.  They have a section of 5 Minutes For Mom dedicated to Directories where you can find  great information on Member Blogs, Mom owned Stores and websites owned by Moms.  It is a great resource that has lead me to wonderful sites and stores that I might not otherwise have found.  I first came to know 5 Minutes for Mom for their always fun weekly Wordless Wednesday posts, it is a great way to find and meet new blogs and bloggers (I even participate once in a while).

4.Shannon from The Mommy-Files: Shannon is another blogger that I look up to.  I have never spoken with her but I read her blog frequently to gain knowledge about blogging basics.  Her blog The Mommy-Files is so well organized, it is amazing.  I can not believe how far it has come since 2008, I can only dream of my blog being as popular as hers when I make it to 3 years. I have one daughter and find it exhausting, I have no idea how she manages three boys, a popular blog, writing for 7 other sites, scrap booking and baking.  I also really love the blogger swaps that she puts together for the different holidays, it is so fun to do exchanges with people that you do not yet know.

5. Sherry from Household Six - Military Wife and Mom: Sherry is a new blogger, she started her blog in early December and seems to be taking a short break right now while she starts a new Arbonne business.  While Sherry's blog is not one that I have gone to for tips and blogging advise but it is very important to me and I admire Sherry for another reason.  Sherry is my Sister-in-law, she is married to my brother who is deployed in Iraq right now.  Sherry is an amazing person, she works and takes care of their three children all while holding the family together while their father is gone.   Her blog Household Six, is a daily journal as a military wife and a journal written by their daughter, Tiffany, about her experience as a military teen.  It also includes resources for other military families.

There are so many others that I would love to feature but the list would go on and on.  Thank you to all the blogs and bloggers that I gain knowledge from (even if I have never spoken to you or made many comments on your blogs).

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend's wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Christmas Has Come and Gone

I can hardly believe that Christmas is over, it seems to have come and gone so fast. 

Since I am out of work this year, my husband and I decided to forgo exchanging gifts between each other and just focus on our daughter.  Our daughter did secretly get her daddy a gift and it seems Santa thought I was a good girl this year and brought me a beautiful bracelet.


One of the thing I did miss this year was all of the great chocolate gifts that my co-workers would bring me.  No one really likes HR but at Christmas a few of them were appreciative of all I did for them over the year and would bring me treats (they all know how much of a sweet tooth I have). 
Despite being unemployed, this year was the most exciting Christmas Season that I have had in a long time. 

Wiggle Bean will be two next month (where did the time go?) so everything Christmas was new to her.  She couldn't get enough of the lights and decorations.  We had to go down the Christmas aisles in every store we went to and she would get so excited.  On one visit to Kohl's we were walking by the decoration section and loudly exclaims, "WOW, Christmas Tree".  It was a very pretty white tree full of red decorations.  I asked her if she liked it and her response was a resounding "I LOVE IT".  There was a lady in the section (I could tell she was listening without trying to look like she was listening) and she just started laughing out loud. 

It was so fun to see how excited she got about everything, she loved decorating the tree so much that we decorated a smaller tree for her room and she decorated the tree at two of her grandparents houses.

We took her to Wyoming for a quick Pre-Christmas visit with Grandma and Grandpa. She got to enjoy the snow and loved it.  She was so adorable in her snow suit and I was thrilled to actually get to use it.

Goodbye Christmas, and hello 2011.  I look forward to what the new year brings.  I hope to find a job soon but I am loving being a Stay at Home Mom, it a ton of fun!

Are You Pair Savvy? How to pair Cheese and Wine.

Are you Pair Savvy?  I'll tell you now that I am not.  I have always wanted to know how to pair wine (or beer) with different foods and cheeses. 

Well guess what, they have an App for that! and just in time for all the holiday parties.

Pair Savvy is a user-friendly application that works on both iPhone and Android devices and allows users to search by cheese, wine or beer varieties based on personal preference. California cheesemakers make more than 250 varieties and styles of Real California Cheese, everything from bandage wrapped Cheddar to award-winning Brie.

Here’s how it works: 
Download Pair Savvy to your mobile device and you can select by cheese, wine or beer. If you don't have a compatible mobile device, users can still use the Pair Savvy site to find savvy pairings.

Pair Savvy will come up with a pairing that has a list of suggested cheeses, California cheesemakers and brand names they can purchase at retail.  So cool!

Some pairings even suggest fruit accompaniments, which is great when putting together a cheese plate or display.  Users can also save pairings and rate the pairings they have tried.  There’s even a “Surprise Pairing” option for the more daring at heart. 

This fun app is available for free download, just in time for holiday events.  A beautiful, perfectly paired selection of cheeses and beverages will make you the most celebrated host or hostess and the favorite guest at every party you attend. 

Real California Cheese Pair Savvy is available today to most smart phone users through their mobile browser.

For the iPhone:  Visit the App Store, search for “Pair Savvy” then download for free (available soon).

For Android users: Visit the Android Marketplace, search for “Pair Savvy” then download for free.

Better yet, Pair Savvy is linked to Real California Milk so the app will update automatically with no need to download future updated versions. 

Dairy products – including cheese – made with California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk and Real California Cheese seal, which certifies that the products are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms.  Ninety-nine percent of California dairy farms are family-owned. California produces more fluid milk, butter, ice cream, yogurt and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese, which is available nationally under the Real California Cheese seal.

** Disclaimer: I am sharing this information thanks to my membership at One2One Network.  No monetary compensation was received but I was entered into a prize drawing for posting the information**

Hershey®’s Pot of Gold gift boxes

Have people that are hard to shop for on your list?  Need a quick and delicious hostess gift?

Try Hershey's Pot of Gold Gift Boxes.  Who doesn't love chocolate!

I have so many people to shop for and will be getting many of the Hershey's Pot of Gold Gift Boxes to pass out at holiday parties.  I have a couple past co-workers that I know will love getting boxed chocolates for Christmas and they make excellent teacher gifts.  I am also thinking of leaving one in the mail box for our wonderful mail man, Bob, who endures my overflowing mailbox on a regular basis.

Who you gift boxed chocolates to?
A. Family
B. Friends/Co-Workers
C. Host/Hostess
D. Teachers
E. Service Providers (i.e. mailman, hairstylist)
F. Other – who did we miss?



**Disclaimer: By posting about Hershey's Pot of Gold I am entering a contest for a Hershey’s Pot of Gold prize pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.**

The Heart of Haiti

The Heart of Haiti collection is an array of handmade products for the home -- quilts, metalwork, ceramics, and paintings -- created by Haitian artisans. Each item is designed by a Haitian master artisan and produced by hand in Haiti from recycled materials.

Through the sale of Heart of Haiti products, artisans are able to earn life-changing income for themselves, their families, and their communities. The initiative is enabling artisans to repair homes, pay school fees, and feed and clothe their families. The income also allows them to have access to better nutrition, improved education and healthcare.

The Heart of Haiti collection has already led to employment of 350 artists in Haiti and has provided some financial benefits for an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people in the country.  Each item is designed by a master Haitian artist and made by hand in Haiti.  Each product is made from recycled materials.  The collection includes 40 different home decor items and accessories.  Products include vases, candleholders, serving trays, picture frames, mirrors, coasters, necklaces, clutch purses and more.  Most items fall in the $25-$60 range.


** Disclaimer: I am writing this post to spread the word about Heart of Haiti through a Mom Bloggers Club member program and that you will receive a Heart of Haiti pendant as a thank you.**

Hats Off to All Stay At Home Moms

I have to admit that before I had my daughter, I never put much thought into how hard stay-at-home moms worked or how much there really was to do.  I thought that it was all fun playing and lots of down time while they napped or played with their friends.

When I found out I was losing my job in July, I decided to take the summer off and spend it with my daughter I thought how hard can it be to play stay at home mom for a couple months, I will have tons of time to catch up on my blogging and do projects around the house that I have been wanting to do for years now.

Little did I know that being a stay at home mom is REALLY hard.  Maybe it will get easier as I figure out how to balance my time but YIKES.  Some days it is so stressful (she is really good at trying my limited patience) that I want to go get a job right then, any job will do.  But then other times, I couldn't imaging going back to work and wish I could be home all the time with her. 

I  love being home with my little girl but I know that me not working is taking a toll on my family's finances so I will need to get a job but  I am having a hard time coping with leaving her.  I am also having a hard time with not working, I have been working since I was 16 and it is difficult for me to depend on my husband to bring in the money we need.  Not that he can not do it, I just do not deal well with not feeling independent and pulling my weight in the relationship.

Since I am so terrible at the housework and can barley cook, I can not classify myself as a stay at home mom, I am simply unemployed person who spends the day with her daughter.

I have so much more respect and understanding for Stay and Home Moms and want to tell you, you are not paid enough for all you do!

Finding the Right Pair of Eyeglasses

I haven't always worn glasses, I have only been wearing them for the six or seven years.   That doesn't mean that I did not need to be wearing glasses it means that I was to self conscious about looking dumb in glasses to admit to anyone that I needed them or to ask my parents for them.

I knew that I needed glasses, I was having trouble in high school seeing the blackboard or projections, I could not read street signs (not that I drove yet) unless I was right up on them.  Basically, I could not see anything that was any distance from me.

To get away with not having to get glasses, I would sit closer to the front of the classroom so that I could see the chalkboard better and I would squint at street signs to make them clearer.  If you are asking yourself how I made it through the annual eye exams that my mom made us go to, I CHEATED!  I achieved this by memorizing the chart while the doctor was out of the room.  By doing this, I was able to pass the exam with flying colors and not have to get eyeglasses.  

After years of my husband bugging me to do something about my vision,  I finally gave in and admitted that I needed prescription glasses.  When we go to the eye doctor, he lectured me about not cheating on the exam and to be honest with the doctor.  For the first time I took the exam with out memorizing the letters beforehand (they really should give a different set of letters for each eye so that you do not just repeat them).  Sure enough, the doctor said I needed glasses to see distance.

I spent the next hour walking around the store trying on hundreds of pairs of glasses, critiquing each one and not liking any of them, I finally settled on a pair and ordered them.

I think the next time I am ready for a new pair, I will shop for glasses online.  GlassesUSA.com even has a Virtual Mirror program to find just the right pair of glasses to suit the shape of your face and if for some reason you do not like the pair you pick, they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

October was breast cancer awareness month and nearly every employee at GlassesUSA.com has been affected by cancer in some way, shape or form.  For the next couple months, GlassesUSA.com will be donating $1 from every sale of eyeglasses to a breast cancer organization. 

In addition to donating $1 from each sale, we're also offering a discount of 15% to our customers when they use the code: CancerAwareness

Be sure to "LIKE" GlassesUSA.com on Facebook to find out about sales and promotions, as well as great new styles!  

"Set a Place at the Kids' Table" with Frigidaire

 "Set a Place at the Kids' Table" with Frigidaire

Support Save the Children & a Chance to Win a Frigidaire Professional Range, a perfect addition to your kitchen for the holidays!

At any family gathering, it's easy to predict where the loudest laughs and silliest squeal will be coming from- the kid's table! Just like turkey and all the trimmings, the kids' table is a holiday tradition where good times rule. This year, Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner are asking everyone to set a place at their "virtual kid's table" for a child in need.

This great new campaign supports Save the Children's efforts and ensures that kids have access to healthy foods this holiday season and all year long. Starting today, at MakeTimeforChange.com, when you set a place at the virtual kids' table, Frigidaire will donate $1 to support Save the Children's work to help children in need in the U.S., as part of their $500,000 commitment to this worthy cause.

 ***Disclosure: I did not receive any form of compensation for this blogpost.  To thank me for my time, I have been entered for a chance to win the gift as part of the Frigidaire program.  Thanks to MomSelect for sharing this info!***

Back and Ready for More Fun

I took short blog break but I am back now and ready to start the fun again.  Thank you to the all wonderful sponsors and  my loyal readers for making my first blog event a big hit.  

I started Over Thirty Mommy last July as a way to vent about being a new "older" mom.  I love writing about Wiggle Bean and all of her accomplishments and shenanigans.  The natural course of the blog world led me to writing reviews and hosting giveaways for some really great products that are related to families and children.  

With one sister having just had a new little boy and the other being due in two weeks (or less), it seemed like a great idea to throw a Baby Shower Extravaganza event to coincide with the actual baby shower for her.  I was amazed how busy things got and how many wonderful sponsors would be so excited to join in the fun. 

Over a two week period, I posted reviews about 25 great products and hosted 20+ giveaways.  It was much harder and more time consuming than I ever imagined.  I have gained so much respect for those bloggers that host these types of events on a regular basis and totally understand why they team with other blogs and work together for these events.

I was exahusted after the last post went up on the 20th and other than promoting and announcing willers for the giveaways, I took a short blog break.  I want to apoligize for the break in posts and for the lack of personal posts lately.  I hope to balance the number of family posts with review posts in the future.

Now that I am refreshed and revived, I have some great posts coming up regarding organic baby/toddler foods but will not forget to post family stories for those readers that enjoy them. The things Wiggle Bean is up to these days will crack you up.  She is so literal and she at only 14 1/2 months old.

Stay tuned, there are more great things to come at Over Thirty Mommy!

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!!