| Springfield Moms E-Update December 3, 2008 |
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| Share Your Tips & Win |
Stay tuned for Annual Reader Survey Prize Winners!
Congrats to Kim Bridges of Auburn who won 4 tickets to the Springfield Ballet Company's The Nutcracker Ballet!
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Registered Reader |
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| Greetings!
 Thanks to all of you who filled out our Annual Reader Survey. What a great response! More than 545 people shared their opinions. We will use that information in 2009 to keep Springfield Moms your favorite "Go-To" resource on the web.
In these tough economic times, it is so important to support our area businesses. With that in mind, we compiled a  Local Shopping Guide with all of our favorites. Remember these businesses as you make your holiday purchases. Register to be included on the email list of one of our newest sponsors, The Wardrobe, to receive timely information about their sales, special events and their prize drawing ending December 31st. Enter Here.
Finalizing plans for your kids over the winter school break? Don't forget to check out our Winter Break Day Camps listing. We continue to add new listings so check back.
Enjoy the start of the holiday season!
Kim Little
Founder and President of Springfield Moms |
| LOCAL SHOPPING GUIDE |
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Discover the best shopping Springfield has to offer from our Springfield Moms sponsors. Review our list for gift ideas, pampering packages, food and drink goodies, children's activities and so much more. Help us support our sponsors who help keep Springfield Moms current for you.
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| Family Traditions and Teacher Gift Ideas |
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 Family Traditions are not just for the holidays, but this is a fun time of year for rituals and special traditions! Enjoy these suggestions as you start planning for your upcoming holiday season. Also on the HoliDaze page, check out our Teacher Gifts to Make Them Smile. |
| Holiday Safety Tips |
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Parties, presents, lights and decorations are magical. However, they can also be dangerous for curious toddlers and even older children. Check out our Holiday Safety Tips from The Parent Help Line and The American Red Cross on our Child Safety page. We also have the latest Toy Recall websites to check. |
| In the Kitchen with Easy Cookie Recipes |
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Pull out those kid-sized aprons and head for the kitchen for cookie baking time! Feeling more adventurous? Work together to make an old fashioned Gingerbread House with all the candy trimmings. Most important? Have fun. Recipes here. |
| The Book Nook Holiday Style |
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With the sensory overload that takes place this time of year, regain your sanity and sit down and read with your kids. It is a wonderful way to calm everyone down and bring some peace and quiet back to the household.
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| What's Happening! Upcoming Events |
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WTAX News Radio and Marine Bank are teaming up to give a new book to every kindergarten through second grader in the Springfield School District 186. Donate a book now through December 12th. Drop off at any Marine Bank branch in Springfield, any Springfield Wal-Mart, Allied Waste and Little Flower School.
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 6th at 2:00 p.m. and at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 7th at 2:00 p.m. Ticket Information here.
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.
 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! 
The Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery Holiday Store is now open 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.
Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center "Snowflake Study." Sunday, December 14th from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. This afternoon of wintertime hiking, snowflake study, nature gift-making and holiday cookie-baking is available for children ages 6 - 9. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Call 529-1111 to register.
Westside Stories. Right now! Today - December 5th, take advantage of huge holiday sales at Westside Stories, located on Plaza Drive in The Gables, near Veterans Parkway and Greenbriar Drive. Prepare your home for the holidays with new furniture, lighting, artwork, pillows, area rugs, accents and more.
Register on their website for upcoming events and specials and be entered into a prize drawing for a gift certificate. Deadline Dec 31, 2008. ENTER HERE!
Treasure! Exhibit Downtown. Come visit the Treasure! Exhibit at 9 S. Old State Capitol. All proceeds benefit Kidzeum, the new children's museum coming to Springfield. More here.
Don't Miss the Design Ideas Store in a new location at the old CVS building on MacArthur (Town and Country Shopping Center). Open now. All proceeds go to local charities. The Parent Place is holding a raffle entitled "Home for the Holidays." Prizes include: a Wii, Wii Fit and the American Girl Doll of the year, Mia, and more. Tickets sell for $5 each or 8 for $25 and are available from Board Members or the Parent Place office. The drawing is December 15, 2008 at the Parent Place office. Learn more here.
Mark Your Calendars! First Night Springfield. December 31st: Kids Area 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Springfield High School's Annex area. FREE kids crafts, entertainment and more.
 What's Happening is updated every week with the latest fun for you and your family! Bookmark this page. |
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Save $475 or more!
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Access coupons from our Mom's Choice Directory. You'll find deals and complete info about these LOCAL businesses.
NEW! Welcome Bella Milano ($5 off $25 order OR a complimentary appetizer), The Wardrobe, 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 (one free week trial membership), 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 Chiropractic and Wellness Center ($20 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! |
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Thank you to our Premium Sponsors.
Featured Premium Sponsor of the Month
Healthy Kids Healthy Future is an exciting, brand new exhibit gallery (housed on the first floor of the Children's Discovery Museum), which inspires children and families to adopt healthy behaviors in a unique and unquestionably hands-on children's museum setting. Visit over winter break!
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Enjoy the start of the holiday season! Check out our HoliDaze pages for ideas, articles and more.
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
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