Tampa Bay Parent

Helio Castroneves has won this season’s Dancing With The Stars. Nothing against Helio, but I wanted Mel B to win. Maybe it is from the Spice Girls fanaticism of my youth, who knows. Mel B really did shake it like she was having a good time. This season of Dancing was filled with more drama than a Maury Povich Baby Mama(Maury does DNA testing for guest about every week.) After Cheetah Girl, Sabrina, was voted off it just didn’t feel the same anyway. Granted I did not know much about the Cheetah Girls before she came on the show, but she should have been a finalist. Disney can take some pointers and make “High School Musical: The Dance is On” for whatever High School Musical is next in their series. It has become amazing how much dancing and musicals have been in the movies and television lately. I definitely like that. Anyway, congratulations to Helio on his win.

Next season’s Dancing With The Stars has some big dancing shoes to fill.

Tomorrow is the day that online retailers really expect holiday shoppers to shop and shop. Forecasters have been saying that is going to be a low shopping season. Because of this ,you can find lots of deals online from online stores fighting for your business. There will be online specials that start early so be sure to check out your favorite online store early.

Also, this is not the time to go crazy with credit cards. Remember that there is a bill attached to these purchases. Smart shopping includes making a list of what you are going to buy and trying to stick to the list. On the list it would be a great idea to show the max you are willing to pay for each item add it all the item prices together. This is so you have a rough idea of what all that shopping will cost you. I’m not trying to bust your holiday shopping bubble, but as we know from the housing market bubble ,a bubble can go bust before we know it. So, shop wisely, and get lots of deals.

Today I was too late for some black Friday deals. I woke up in the middle of the night when my little girl was coughing and then gave her some cold medicine, but I made the mistake of going back to sleep. When I woke up, finally, it was 8:40. We left the house around 9:15, but as most Black Friday shoppers know it was too late for some sales. I did get a vacuum that was on sale at Target and also a vibrating back massager from Walgreens. So all was not lost for my Black Friday.

Well, during the holiday season there are going to be some sale here and there. And there now with internet there is Cyber Monday, when many online store have online shopping deals and discounts. Hopefully I don’t wake-up to late for those deals.

Ever watch a parade a wandered how cool it would be to part of the event. Well, now you can know first hand.

The City of Clearwater is looking for parade participants, exhibitors, and crafters to participate in Clearwater’s Holiday Parade and Downtown Festival on Saturday, Dec. 15 in downtown Clearwater.

Groups such as scout troops, church groups, or businesses are needed to participate in the parade, if interested please contact Amma Marfo, (727) 562-4828.

Price for exhibitors and crafters is $15; please bring your own table. Exhibitors and crafters interested in being part of the downtown festival should contact Amma Marfo, (727) 562-4828.

Source: clearwater-fl.com

The city of Sarasota is hosting a dance party at the Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail on Friday, November 23, 2007 8pm – midnight. School verification must be presented in the for of school indentification or progress report.

“DJ Chino will play the hottest music from hip-hop to reggaeton. Admission is $13 in advance or $15 at the door and includes soft drinks and snacks. One dollar from every ticket sold in advance at a high school will be given to that school.

The dance party will include an exciting giveaway. One lucky person will win a free iTouch. ”

So after the all the the shopping on Balck Friday teens can get their groove on. According to the press release, the Sarasota Police Deparment will be providing security for the event.

Source: Sarasotagov.com

Florida State University senior from Dunedin was named a 2008 Rhodes Scholar winner.

Joseph S. O’Shea, Dunedin, is a senior at Florida State University where he majors in philosophy and interdisciplinary social science. A Truman Scholar, junior year member of Phi Beta Kappa and a USA Today Top 10 All Academic First Team member, he is the student body president at Florida State. He has also been a leader in state and community activities in Forida and started a free health clinic in the Katrina-ravaged Ninth Ward of New Orleans. He also founded the college-based Global Peace Exchange, modeled after the Peace Corps. Joe will do the M.Phil. in comparative social policy at Oxford.

Source:RhodesScholar.org

There has been a lot battle of the use of embryonic stem cells. Many ethical issues have been cited in the use of stem cells that have left people on both sides of the issue greatly dissatisfied. Scientist have now been making breakthroughs that should appease both sides of the issue.

“Scientists have made ordinary human skin cells take on the chameleon-like powers of embryonic stem cells, a startling breakthrough that might someday deliver the medical payoffs of embryo cloning without the controversy.”

Source: yahoo News

Today would be a great day to begin cooking for Thanksgiving. Many great cooks have already began cooking their Thanksgiving meals. Martha Stewart told Emeril Agassi last week that she had already begun preparing parts of her Thanksgiving meal. Thanksgiving meals are a feast with sides and stuffing and deserts galore. With all that goes into preparing the meal, it is no wonder that meals are being prepared in advance of the day.

If you need a little help in getting started there are many recipe and food web sites out there to help.

• Allrecipes.com has become a favorite among cooks looking for an idea of what to cook or trying to find the recipe to there favorite dish.
• Foodnetwork.com has to be on the list of resources
• Martha Stewart She has some Thanksgiving recipes that you will might like

Beanie babies are going for 1 cent on
Amazon.com

Yeah it is unbelievable. People were going crazy for these things a decade ago and now you can be some of them for 1 cent. Now these are independent sellers that were listing their products on the Amazon.comweb site that for 1 cent. The shipping on some these beanie babies cost more than the beanie babies themselves. As of the time of the writing of this post the shipping was $4.99. The product prices do change from time to time. I was just so amazed that I had to share.

Unless you have been linivng under a rock you have to know that Hannah Montana is coming in cocert tonight at the St. Pete Times Arena in Tampa. Hannah Montana tickets have been sold out and there have been lawsuits and contest surrounding these sould out concerts. But for those that have tickets ,tonight is the night that these Hannah Montana fans have been waiting for.

non-ticketed parents and guardians will have the opportunity to stay at the St. Pete Times Forum free of charge in the meeting room located in Channelside Room at Shots. Channelside Room at Shots is located in the southwest corner of the building under Gate A on the Chrysler/ Jeep Plaza.

This room will give parents and guardians the assurance that their children will arrive home safely and in a timely manner. Channelside Room at Shots will open at 5:30 p.m. and close after the performance has ended. No ticket is needed for access to the waiting area. Note: Waiting area is not in view of concert.

Source: St.Pete Times Forum

How much do you dislike you kids old school or even there current school? Is it enough to start a blog about. Well according to a news report one mom is being sued by her daughter ex-school because of things she said about them on her blog.

New School of Orlando Inc. sued Sonjia McSween to stop her from publishing and talking about the school and force her to pay damages.

Now there things like freedom of speech that is what many would cite in this situation. But there are other things like libel and slander.

The lawsuit, filed in October, says McSween posted “false and otherwise libelous remarks” alleging that students were belittled, exposed to “extreme stress” and “dictatorial conditions.” Among other things, she also alleged that the school told parents how to run their homes and threatened them for speaking negatively about the 120-student school.

The kindergarten-through-eighth grade school alleges that McSween deliberately told unflattering lies, causing enrollment to drop. It alleges defamation, libel, slander and interference with business relations.

It is for the courts to decide if the blog crossed the line on those issues. This is a case that is definitely worth following. Any rulings in this case is sure to have some effect on bloggers everywhere.

Source:tbo.com

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spanked the Atlanta Falcons yesterday in Atlanta. The Buccaneers had a 31-7 victory against the Buccaneers. The Falcons have not been the same since Michael Vick was suspended from the NFL for dog fighting. This Sunday, November 25, 2007, the Buccaneers take on the Washington Redskins at home at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The game starts at 1pm and is scheduled to air on Fox.

Shall we dare say that the Buccaneers are going to the playoffs. Yeah it is going to happen this year and I am happy for them. It really was not looking to good for Jon Gruden these past few years and I would hate to seem him let go the way the Tony Dungy was. GOOOOO Bucs!!!

Last year T.M.X. Elmo was a favoritie among parents and kids. The toys flew off the shleves faster than you can blink. Mattel has released T.M.X. Elmo Special Edition more than a year later to capture some of the same excitement that the orginal T.M.X. had last year.

T.M.X. Elmo Special edition is still available online and in some stores. It was much worse a few years ago when now T.M.X. Elmo unavailble anywhere, but ebay and other online auction web sites.

The Wiggles will be performing in many many Florida cities this month including Tampa. This Saturday, November 17^th at the St. Petersburg Times Forum in downtown Tampa.

Discover how to make “Fruit Salad” and “Crunchy Munchy Honey Cakes”. From way “Down Under”comes the #1 childrens entertainment name in Australia – THE WIGGLES! Sam, Murray, Jeff and Anthony will have children singing, laughing and dancing to wonderful tunes about numbers, food and favourite animal friends, all the things that are important to children!

Joining them in their adventures are special guests: Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword. Millions of children all over the world cant be wrong, so get ready to do the move they call The Wiggle Groove.


The Wiggles Tour Tickets


According to the group W.A.T.C.H.(World Against Toys Causing Harm) these are the top ten toys to aavoid buying or letting your children play with. Some of these toys have been recalled, but many have not. These toys are on the list for various reasons:from choking hazards, to high levels of lead.

Top ten worst toys:

• GO DIEGO GO ANIMAL RESCUE BOAT
  Warnings: None
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR LEAD INGESTION INJURIES!
  
• STICKY STONES
  Warnings: “Choking Hazard. Small Parts.”
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING AND INTERNAL INJURIES!
  
• JACK SPARROW’S SPINNING DAGGER
  Warnings: “CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.”
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR EYE AND OTHER IMPACT INJURIES!
  
• DORA THE EXPLORER LAMP
  Warnings: “THIS IS AN ELECTRIC LAMP – NOT A TOY! TO AVOID RISK OF FIRE, BURNS, PERSONAL INJURY AND ELECTRIC SHOCK, IT SHOULD NOT BE PLAYED WITH OR PLACED WHERE SMALL CHILDREN CAN REACH IT.”
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR ELECTRIC SHOCK AND BURN INJURIES!
  
• LIL “GIDDY UP” HORSE – SASSY PET SAKS
  Warnings: None
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR INGESTION OR ASPIRATION INJURIES!
  
• SPIDER MAN 3 NEW GOBLIN SWORD
  Warnings: “CAUTION: DO NOT poke or jab with sword. Sections are made to stick together in the extended position and will not easily collapse if jabbed into an object, individual or animal”, and other warnings.
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT INJURIES!
  
• HIP HOPPA
  Warnings: “Not suitable for children under 36 months. This toy should be used with caution since it requires great skill to avoid falls or collisions….”, and other cautions and warnings.
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR HEAD OR OTHER IMPACT INJURIES!
  
• B’LOONIES PARTY PACK
  Warnings: “CAUTION: FLAMMABLE MIXTURE. Do not use near fire or flames”; “Not a Gum. Do not chew or swallow”, and other warnings/cautions.
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHEMICAL INGESTION AND BURN INJURIES!
  
• MY LITTLE BABY BORN
  Warnings: None
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR CHOKING INJURIES!
  
• RUBBER BAND SHOOTER
  Warnings: “Small Parts Choking Hazard”; “FOR TARGET PRACTICE ONLY! DO NOT AIM AT PEOPLE….
  HAZARD: POTENTIAL FOR EYE INJURIES

For additional information about these toys and their associated warnings you can visit the W.A.T.C.H. web site. With the many reported recall of toys this year more parents and grandparents are paying attention to the toys that they purchase for their children. Along with the W.A.T.C.H. web site you can also visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site for additional information on recalled toys and other products.

The Fisher-Price Smart Cycle is a hit with parents and with kids. It include 2 things that parents will love :exercise and learning. Children will enjoy it because it has fun interactive games. For parents that have little couch potatoes that just don’t want to get off the couch , this is one way to fit in the much needed exercise that they need. The Smart Cycle is designed for children 3-6 years-old. Parents can buy optional cartridges that includes educational games with some of your child’s favorite characters, including: Dora, Diego, Hot Wheels, and Barbie.

CPSC received a report of a 10-month old boy who strangled on the changing table’s restraint strap that was hanging down into Kolcraft’s “Sesame Beginnings” Travel Play Yard where the child was located.

Twelve different Kolcraft play yards are included in this recall. All of the play yards have raised changing tables with a restraint strap that forms a loop beneath the changing table, posing a strangulation hazard to a child in the play yard.

In addition to the strangulation hazard with the changing table restraint strap, one play yard also has a raised cradle that rocks back and forth. A child can roll and get trapped against the side of the cradle in the Contours 3-in-1 Play Yard. If that happens, a child can suffocate. Kolcraft has received 45 reports of children rolling to the side of the rocking cradle attachment.

The Consumer Product Safety commission web site has more information about these recalled items.

Consumers should immediately stop using the changing tables and rocking cradle and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a free non-looped replacement strap for the changing table and a free repair kit to secure the base of the cradle. Consumers should immediately cut off and remove the existing changing table restraint strap. Consumers should always remove the raised changing table and cradle or bassinet before placing a child in a play yard.

A free repair kit for the rocking cradle will be sent to consumers separate from the replacement strap.

For additional information, call Kolcraft at (888) 655-8484 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kolcraft.com

Some of these play yard were sold as far back as 2001. Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site to see if your baby’s web site is one of the recalled play yards. As a reminder, whenever you purchase a used product make sure to check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s web site to see if the product that you purchased was part of past recall.