Posts Tagged ‘Children’

More than ever, American parents are looking for unique baby names. Every year, the release of the most popular baby names list from Social Security reveals a growing trend in the U.S. toward more creative baby naming. While some of the new baby names are a result of parents recycling old classics (Emma, Sophia, Noah, etc.), many of the latest names are spinoffs from existing names.

On playgrounds across America, you can hear extreme examples of baby names.  Names like Brayden, Marleigh, Karley, Jaydan, Taniyah, and Charlee, far from being unusual, are becoming part of the norm. These are not just examples of a few “way-out” names. They can all be found on the newest list of the top 1000 hottest names in the U.S.

Why are parents picking names like this, which are likely to saddle a child with a lifetime of explaining how to spell a name? Most experts, including Laura Wattenberg, author of “The Baby Name Wizard,” believe the trend has its roots in society’s obsession with individualism, which took root somewhere in the 1960s. Parents seem to think that giving their offspring an unusual name will bestow individuality on the child. But what is the reality?

Most adults with highly unusual names seem to wish they had not been given something so strange to carry around. Based on comments in blogs and forums, people with names like Kash and Paityn frequently complain about having to spell their name every time they give it out. There are even instances where extremely unusual names, such as Jagger or Unique (both names on the top 1000 list for 2009) are said to create negative impressions with prospective employers.

As a parent, where do you turn if you want a distinctive, individual name for your child, but you don’t want to give them something like Mickenzee (another real one) to deal with?

The fact is, there are thousands of beautiful names, many that have existed for centuries that are available to parents who do a little digging. A good baby names website or baby names book is a great place to start. You will find lists covering every type of name imaginable: biblical names; traditional names; Victorian names; movie star names; floral names; baby names inspired by nature. The sources of inspiration are almost endless.

Another great source of baby names, often overlooked in this age of individuality, is family history. There was a time when names were usually chosen to honor an older family member. Sadly, that practice is largely gone. It is a shame, because there are many beautiful old names in our family trees, just waiting to be recycled. Classic names such as Rose, Louise, Eleanor, Kenneth, Dennis, and many others would sound classy and unusual today. And best of all, everyone knows how to spell them.

Guest post by Neil Street, co-publisher of  Baby Names Garden

These are just a few things that I have come across that I found helpful and had to pass along!

1. Kill bacteria on the inside of unfinished wooden toys by putting them in the microwave for 30 seconds.

2. Wooden toys can be wiped with a damp sponge but dry them immediately to avoid damage. Don’t soak them!

3. Clearing out clutter is a non-toxic way to prevent pest, dust mite & mold problems.

4. Bath toys are a breeding ground for bacteria & mold, especially those with holes in the bottom! (I HATE THESE!) Once a week throw bath toys in the dishwasher or submerge them for a few minutes in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts hot water.

5. To reduce mosquito breeding around your house, plant scented geraniums, lemon thyme, marigold, tansy, citrosa plants, sweet basil and/or sassafras. We have bad mosquitos in our yard so this is a great tip!

6. Relieve the itch from those pesky bug bites with an onion! Who knew that the sulfur in onions neutralizes the chemicals that cause the itch. Slice a yellow onion in half and rub one of the cut sides on the bite. The itching should stop immediately.

All deals are subject to change without notice. Please call ahead!

EveryDay:

Golden Corral
5730 Opportunity Drive
Toledo, Ohio 43612
Kids Special All day – every day, Children 3 and under eat FREE from the buffet with the purchase of an adult meal.

Fricker’s (Should be all locations, call ahead!)
Kids eat free everyday with the purchase of an adult meal

Monday:

Sidelines II
2111 Mellwood Ave
Toledo, OH 43613
Kids eat free from 5-9pm with the purchase of an adult meal. (Also half off Pizza)

Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill
512 West Drussel Drive
Maumee, Ohio 43537
Kids eat free from 5-7pm with the purchase of an adult meal.

Tuesday:

Max & Erma’s
7050 West Central Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43617
Kids 12 & under eat free with purchase of an adult entree. One kids meal per adult entree.

Ralphie’s Sports Eatery
5702 Monroe Street
Sylvania, OH 43560
Kids eat free from 5-9pm with the purchase of an adult meal.

Lone Star Steakhouse
5640 Airport Highway
Toledo, Ohio 43615
All Day Kids 12 and under eat FREE from the kids menu. Limit 2 free kids meals (one per child) per adult entree purchased.

Wednesday:

I have not found any yet for Wednesday only. Please see EVERYDAY above! Let me know if you know any!

Thursday:

I have not found any yet for Wednesday only. Please see EVERYDAY above! Let me know if you know any!

Friday:

I have not found any yet for Wednesday only. Please see EVERYDAY above! Let me know if you know any!

Saturday:

Steak ‘n Shake
5395 Monroe Street
Toledo, Ohio 43623
One free kid’s plate for every $8 spent. Dine-In only.

Lone Star Steakhouse
5640 Airport Highway
Toledo, Ohio 43615
11 to 4 pm Kids 12 and under eat FREE from the kids menu. Limit 2 free kids meals (one per child) per adult entree purchased.

Sunday:

Steak ‘n Shake
5395 Monroe Street
Toledo, Ohio 43623
One free kid’s plate for every $8 spent. Dine-In only.

Hooters
4782 Monroe Street
Toledo, OH 43623
Kids eat Free all day. (Limited Time call ahead!)

Kids eat CHEAP:

Olga’s Kitchen (Everyday)
5001 Monroe Street
Toledo, Ohio 43623
Kid’s meals for $1.99 after 4PM and just $2.99 before 4PM! Dine-in only, adult purchase required.

Spaghetti Warehouse (Monday)
42 S. Superior
Toledo, Ohio 43602
Kids meals are only $1.99 with adult entree purchase

Fazoli’s (Tuesday)
5855 Lewis Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43612
From 5 to 8pm, Kids meals only $.99 with purchase of adult entree / dine in only. *Please call ahead and verify.

Buffalo Wild Wings (Wednesday)
6710 West Central Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43617
Kids meals are $1.99

First off, you do not want to forget to print your $10 off your purchase of $25 or more coupon before you head out for this sale!The coupon expires on 7/24.  Here are a few deals! Visit That Went Well for a complete list!

Here are some of the best deals I found:

Purell Hand Sanitizer – $4.99 (limit 5)
Mail-in Rebate = $4.99
Final Price: FREE after mail-in rebate

Expo Fine Point Dry Erase Markers, 4 pack- $5.29 (limit 1)
Mail-in rebate (Visa prepaid card) = $5.29
Final Price: FREE after mail-in rebate

Office Depot brand Filing / Stacking Crates – $6.99 (limit 3)
Mail-in rebate in-store (visa prepaid card) = $6.99
Final Price: FREE after mail-in rebate

In the 10 years that Royal and I have been together, vacations were always almost impossible for us most of the time. Between work and family and life’s Delightful Chaos’,  we just couldn’t make it work. Now that R4 is 8 and Spencer is 3, it’s time they get the vacations that they are due!

A friend of mine works at the Great Wolf Lodge in Pocono Mountains, PA. While visiting my mom one year, he was able to get us day passes to use the water park. Spencer wasn’t born yet and we all had a blast! When we realized there was a Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky Ohio, only about an hour away, we knew we had to go!

I wrote to Great Wolf Lodge and told them about our plans to take a family trip there in the up coming weeks. They were very kind enough to offer us a discounted stay!

I have no idea why YouTube uploaded it in such poor quality!

There were many things that I was impressed with during our stay. Within the Lodge there are 2 places to eat. One is the Lumber Jack’s Cook Shanty which is open daily for a family style breakfast. Each morning they had a giant breakfast spread.  Pile your plate with made-to-order omelets and waffles, hash browns, bacon, muffins, cereal, fruit and more. It is Buffet Style! All you can eat! And the prices? You are already thinking over priced and outrageous because it is within the Lodge right?  For myself, my husband and 2 children, breakfast was around $35. I was happy to see this for several reasons. Sure, we could run down the road to some nasty fast food place or we could also leave the property, go to a restaurant and pay the same price PLUS waste time driving, Gas, traffic etc. I was happy to get everything I needed AT the lodge.

The other is The Gitchigoomie Grill. The grill is open for lunch and dinner, and can prepare a meal to satisfy any Northwoods appetite.  Adults feast on appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, steaks, pasta and other specialties from the grill. The only thing that I was a disappointed with on our entire trip was my french fries at the Grill. The meals come with chips but my husband and I wanted french fries. It is $1.50 to substitute and you really don’t get many. At first I thought it might have been isolated to that one meal but we ate several there.

One of the things I swore to the cashier I would mention on my blog was a simple but lifesaving find for me personally. I have naturally curly hair so going to a water park with no hair ties is a real issue for me. In my rush to pack I forgot them! I walked into the gift shop and  asked the cashier what was the tiny chance that they had hair ties? Wouldn’t you know, they HAD THEM! Not even junk ones. A name brand, an 8 pack was only $1.69! This was one of those small details that I was happy someone thought of.

They had a few areas for Toddlers but Spencer wasn’t really interested in much of it. All he wanted to do was keep watching the bucket tip. We were not able to do much as a family because we had to keep switching off with Spencer. My personal opinion would be that this location is more fun with children 5 and over unless you have more than 2 adults or someone to watch a smaller child. We did have a BLAST though!

My Personal Suggestions for the Lodge:

• Towels were scratchy. This included the room towels as well as the park towels.
• No place to hang swimsuits to dry in the rooms. Clips in the shower perhaps?
• Switch to turn balcony lights off. We didn’t sit out because it attracted the bugs.

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Check out current Great Wolf Lodge Deals through November 2010!