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Springfield Moms E-Update November 19, 2008 
In This Issue
Winter Break Daycamps
Baby Corner Ear Infections
Tips for Holiday Survival
Grandma's House
In the Kitchen
Ask the Counselor
Facebook Wrap
Upcoming Events
Quick Links
Share Your Tips & Win
 
Drawings for this month's winner will be taken from all survey respondents! 
 
Congrats to Kim Bridges of Auburn who won 4 tickets to the Springfield Ballet Company's The Nutcracker Ballet!    
 
Congrats to our October winner, Jennifer Powers of Springfield.  She received a copy of Eat Well, Be Well, courtesy of the Prairie Heart Center for Living.
  
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Thanksgiving_basket  If you haven't filled out our 2008 Reader Survey yet, there's still time! Don't miss your chance to win amazing prizes including photo packages, gift certificates and event tickets.  Many thanks to our generous prize sponsors. 
 
Got 5 minutes? Take the Springfield Moms Reader Survey right now.  You have opinions, and we'd love to hear them. (The survey must be completed to enter our prize drawing.)  Click here to check out the fabulous prizes. 
 
Please know I am thankful for you and your continued readership, ideas and enthusiasm in spreading the word about Springfield Moms. (I am also thankful to be out of the baby diaper stage, but still wondering when my kids will eat dinner without spilling food everywhere! Thankfully, our two dogs enjoy clean-up duty.) 
 
Enjoy our many HoliDaze articles included here, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. 
Cheers! 
 
Kim Little
Founder and President of Springfield Moms
Winter Break Daycamps
kids crafting  Looking for a place for your child to enjoy over the holiday break from school?  Check out these locations with camp days that may interest your child.  We will continue to update this list as we learn of other options.  More here
  
Baby Corner: The Scoop on Ear Infections
SJCH Kids Health Check
 
Worried about your baby's constant ear infections as winter approaches?  Check out this helpful video provided through our Kids Health Check and St. John's Children's Hospital. See video here

Plan Ahead to Survive the Holiday Season
 
The official holiday season is rapidly approaching. If the thoughts: I just finished paying for the last holiday season, endless hours of waiting in line, and how am I going to manage this again came to mind, you are not alone. To help relieve some stress and ease anxiety, here are some tips from University of Illinois Extension writer Jennifer Hunter to help make the holiday season more manageable.  Read story here. 

Grandma's House: A Houseful at the Holidays
  In today's fast paced, highly scheduled world, family gatherings can be a rare opportunity for us to connect with each other. Creating an atmosphere that allows that to happen can be a challenge, but with forethought and planning we can make "A Houseful at the Holidays" a real gift for everyone.  Read Holly Schurter's story here. 
In the Kitchen with Michele Tungett 
 cheeseburger soup It's starting to feel a lot like ... you guessed it - the holiday season! Here are two delicious recipes this month for casual entertaining. Try out this Holiday Salad recipe and make copies because everyone will be asking you for it! Be sure to add Cheeseburger Soup to your menu rotation as well. Enjoy the soup with a Garlic Cheese Biscuit recipe I have been using for years.  For recipes, click here. 

Ask the Counselor
Preparing for the Holi-Craze
 
Do the shorter days and lack of sunshine have you anxiously anticipating the holiday season?  If so, you are not alone. As our days grow shorter and we fantasize about the perfect holiday gatherings, our list of things to do grows longer.  How do we maintain our sanity and the spirit of the season while negotiating this terrain?  Here are some practical suggestions. Read Becky Aud-Jennison's story here. 
Facebook Wrap by Christina Race 
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The Scoop on Facebook and Springfield Moms

Have you joined our new Springfieldmoms.org Facebook group yet? We currently have more than 200 members, and we'd love to include you on the list.  The group is a fun place to share ideas, ask and answer questions and "meet" other local parents.  We have recently added a "Question of the Week" feature that keeps the discussion boards moving. More here.

What's Happening!  Upcoming Events
 
 
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Enjoy savings during Community Days:  If you live in Sangamon, Logan, Morgan, Menard or Christian County, receive HALF-OFF adult admission the month of November! More here.
 
 
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Children's Miracle Network (CMN) RadioThon, November 20-22. Learn more about donating to the "Cares for Kids" Radiothon here where all proceeds stay LOCAL for area kids.    
FOT 2008
Don't Miss Memorial's Festival of Trees 2008, "A Winter Garden," which will be opening THIS weekend.  This is a holiday tradition for all.  Details here
 
 
cheeseburger soup
 
Pirates of the Caribbean at the Treasure! Exhibit Downtown.
Come visit the Treasure! Exhibit at 9 S. Old State Capitol and enjoy A Day at the Movies on Saturday, November 22nd. They will show all three Pirates of the Caribbean movies: 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.  Cost is $3 for admission plus a $1 extra for movie viewing.  Bring blankets and chairs for all three movies. Make a treasure chest souvenir! Snacks will available on sale, and all proceeds benefit Kidzeum, the new children's museum coming to Springfield.
 
 
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Ring in the holiday season with Springfield Ballet Company's production of The Nutcracker, sponsored by Solomon Colors and Carrollton Bank. The performances will be at Sangamon Auditorium on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. and at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m.  Order now!  Ticket Information here
 
 
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Don't miss our Holiday Open House Sale November 28th-Nov 30th, Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5,  Sunday 12-4. Buy one, get one HALF-OFF! Includes all Christmas ornaments, Stonewall Kitchen food items and Bath & Body. All jewelry and accessories will be 25% off.  Register on their website for upcoming events and specials and be entered into a drawing for a gift certificate. Deadline Dec 31, 2008.  ENTER HERE!
 
 
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Purchase your 2009 Illinois State Fair Holiday Mega Pass 
November 20 - December 21st. Only $50, save $10 and receive a free lanyard. Printable Order Form here.   
 

christmas cookies
If cooking isn't your thing, but you still want a fabulous variety of cookies or candy on hand for the holidays, head to one of the many area cookie walks. They are listed on our What's Happening Calendar.  Click on the December calendar, and check out December 6-7 and 13-14 for quite a few delicious options!

 
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The Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery Holiday Store opens Thanksgiving weekend, November 29th through December 23rd at their NEW location between The Dublin Pub and Burlington Coat Factory in the Town and Country Shopping Mall.  Bring your kids for their "top secret" Christmas shopping.  If you and your older kids want to volunteer a shift at this fun Nursery fundraiser, call 525-6800.


 
Whats_Happening_IconWhat's Happening is updated every week with the latest fun for you and your family!  Bookmark this page.  
Save $475 or more!
Coupon_scissors 
Access coupons from our Mom's Choice Directory. You'll find deals and complete info about these LOCAL businesses. 
 
NEW!   Welcome ConnectED PAIRS ($50 rebate on romantic retreats), Sylvan Learning Center (1/2 off assessments), Watts Pure Water Technologies ($50 off), Restore for Habitat for Humanity (10-15% off), Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum ($1 off Regular Adult Admission, up to 4 tickets), P.J. Hathaway Builders, Inc ($65 Home Service Repair coupon),  Springfield YMCA (10 FREE Fitness Classes), EyeCandy by Brandy (15% off), ChildRite Development, LLC (Children with Special Needs). 
 
Ace Hardware (10% off new Mythic Paint), Robert's Seafood (10%off), ShoeTopia ($5 off), The Back and Joint Center (free hydrotherapy trial), The Corkscrew ($1 Saturday Tastings), Prairie Heart Center for Living ($10 off any class or service), Tamara Burris, Interiors, Florals & Ideas (Free Consultation),  Adventure Dive & Travel (Free $35 Scuba Trial), Conant Chiropratic and Wellness Center ($20 off), Bryant Lawn Service (10% off) and Calhoun Carpet Warehouse ($50-$250 savings).  Photography discounts from Terry Farmer Photography and Kimberly Smoot Photography.
 
15% off at Food Fantasies, 20% off your first free home pick-up Dry Cleaning from Peerless Cleaners and more! 
 
Pet Coupons from Healing Hands Massage and Pet Sitting, The Pampered Pet Center, Nature's Select and more. 
 
We add new coupons weekly. Click here for a link direct to the printable pdf file of coupons!
Thank you to our Premium Sponsors.
 
Featured Premium Sponsor of the Month
Kimberly_Smoot_red_green
Kimberly Smoot Photography
New Location: 4525 West Wabash Ave, Suite B (near Bella Milano)
Springfield:  Studio Hours: Monday thru Friday 10-6 p.m.
www.kimberlysmoot.com Phone:  217.793.2164
  
Children.  Families.  High School Seniors.  Newborns.  Pets. 
COUPON: Receive a complimentary set of wallets ($40 value) with your wall portrait order when you mention this listing. 11-30-08 More here.

 
PLATINUM:
 
Best wishes to you and your family for a fun and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday.
 
Happy Turkey Day!
 
Kim
 
P.S. Help us reach more busy parents by clicking on the Forward email link. As always, we remain a permission-based email newsletter and a website that does NOT sell your email address to any third parties.  If you need to update your email address, click on UPDATE my PROFILE below. 
 
Kim Leistner Little
Founder & President