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Local Events, Info and Savings for Grown-ups and Their Kids
Springfield Moms E-Update         March 18, 2009            
In This Issue
Ask the Allergist: Hello Spring!
Local Food Cravings
Baby Corner: One Mom's Story
Scuba 101: Sponsor Article
Dad's Eye View: The Laundry
Upcoming Events
Quick Links
 
 
 
Dollar_Sign NEW COUPONS
Access coupons on Mom'sChoice
 LOCAL Business Directory.
 
View and
print the pdf of ALLcoupons.
 
Welcome NEW sponsors: Koke's KidZone Consignment Store $3 off;
Kicks' Family Entertainment (Buy one get one free) Jack Robertson Lawn Care (free estimates and rain gauge), Sunil Suthar's Champoinship Martial Arts (2 free classes), Sylvan Learning Center (1/2 off evaluation. )  
Midwest Steals and Deals offers $5 classifieds and a kids' coloring contest.
 
We have 10 pages of coupons to print and share with your friends and co-workers!
  Access here.   
 
Share Your Tips
 and Win!
 
 Win In March
 Two Give Aways!
 A Family Fun Basket compliments of Jack Robertson Lawn Care. 
 
Also, send in a baby or toddler tip and you'll have a chance to win the book "No-Cry Potty Training Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley.
 

 
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Greetings!
 
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Babies are a blessing, and Springfield Moms is proud to support the mission of the March of Dimes as they work to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Their March for Babies Walk is a month from today!  Click here for ways you can help.   
 
Exciting News!!  Just around the corner is the Springfield Moms website makeover. Keep an eye on your inbox as we debut our new streamlined look along with an EASY Search option (among other new features) to make it faster for you to access, print or email our content.  
 
Take our new poll and vote on which kids' store you'd most like to see in Springfield.  Take Poll Here.
 
We are proud to welcome two new Bronze Premium Sponsors, both offering year-round family fun!  Kick's Family Entertainment Center (access their new Buy One Get One Coupon here) and Adventure Dive and Travel, learn more in their feature Scuba Diving 101 article.
 
Enjoy the first day of spring this Friday!
 
Kim Leistner Little
Founder and President of Springfield Moms
News You Can Use!  Link Now.
THE DOLLAR STRETCHER
 
 
ASK THE ALLERGIST: Environmental Allergies
 
With spring just around the corner, seasonal allergy sufferers will begin to experience the beginning of allergy symptoms.  Learn more about the causes and strategies you can use to alleviate your symptoms in Dr. Renu Govindaiah's article here.   
Local Food Favorites: Are Yours Here? 
 
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Our Question of the Week from January was:  "What local favorites are must-haves for visiting friends and in-laws, or just for YOU?" Here are some of the delicious responses we received.  Read list here.
Baby Corner: One Mom's Story
 
"I remember the first day I felt her kick. The first time I felt her hiccup. The first time I saw her beautiful face in the sonogram. The first time I touched her hand. It's a moment when time stands still and life takes on more meaning.  Read Krista Hillyer's touching story of their Ava's miracle birth here.
FEATURE SPONSOR ARTICLE: Scuba 101
 
Ever wanted to learn something new and exciting ... as a family? Springfield Moms bronze sponsor Adventure Dive & Travel has the learning opportunity for you!  Read more here. 
DAD'S EYE VIEW: The Saving Grace of Laundry
 
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"I'll admit laundry can be a tedious chore, yet at times folding my kids' freshly laundered clothing can stir up nostalgia for days just recently departed...."  Read columnist Dan Naumovich's laundry thoughts here.
What's Happening!  Upcoming Events 
 
 
 
 
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Don't miss the FETCH! activities at the Children's Discovery Museum in Normal. This is a great family escape just 50 miles north.  Every week is a new theme!  The week of March 17th through 22nd, check out Chicks Celebrate National Agriculture Week in the FETCH! Lab with baby chicks. For more information, click here.  
 
 
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Tickets on sale NOW for The American Girl Fashion Show, which will be held on April 24, 25 & 26th at the Springfield Hilton.  All proceeds benefit the Children's Miracle Network.  Click Here for more information on tickets and the event.

 
 Last chance for Pancake and Sausage Breakfast at Lincoln Memorial Garden.  Hungry for home-made maple syrup and a hearty breakfast?  Call and make your reservations for March 21 or 22ndPhone: 529-1111.
   
  
Springfield Ballet Company's "Swan Lake" this weekend March 21 and 22nd.  Enjoy Sweets with the Swans after the show for photographs, autographs and treats for $5.  Buy Your Tickets Now!  Info here.
 
 
UIS Friday Night Star Party on
Friday, March 27 from 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
UIS Campus Observatory. Contact John Martin:  217-206-8342 or visit: http://www.uis.edu/astronomy/about/starparties.html. Free and open to all ages.  NO reservations required. An evening of fun and astronomy at the UIS campus observatory. The event happens weather permitting (must have a clear sky).  Call 217-206-8342 after 7:00 p.m. the night of the Star Party to check on the weather.
 
  
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Fitacular Fun Fair
on Saturday, March 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The Junior League of Springfield and St. John's Children's Hospital, in cooperation with www.springfieldmoms.org, are partnering with White Oaks Mall to host this FREE children's health and wellness eventTo get your kids ready, print out the Spectaular Fitacular Sheet, which tracks their eating and exercising habits for two weeks and can be submitted the day of the event for a prize.  Download the worksheets and event details here.
  
Business Connections Day on April 2nd at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.  Come Join Springfield Moms at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Business Connections Day.  Come by and see our new website!  We look forward to showing off our new look to the business community.  Click here for more event details.
 
 
 
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Black Rep Theatre Arts Workshops, April 4th, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.  Click here for details.  Cooperative Games: In this fun and playful session, develop cooperation, creative self-expression, quick thinking, positive behavior skills, self-confidence, conflict resolution and imagination through cooperative and improvisational games. Free.  To register call: Carol Manning at 217.558.8929 or email: Carol.Manning@illinois.gov
 

SAVE THE DATE!  Vanity Fare.  Saturday April 4th, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Vanity Fare returns to Café Moxo (next door to Shoetopia between 4th and 5th on Adams Street in Spfld). Learn fashion tips on the latest styles in clothing, shoes, and eyewear, get advice from a cosmetic surgeon, learn about whitening your teeth from a local dentist, get new hairstyle ideas, and discover the secrets of good makeup application from a cosmetician. Enjoy wine, appetizers and a massage or a quick nail color change, too!
 
 
cheeseburger soup March for Babies Walk
April 18, 2009 at the Illinois State Fairground, 801 Sangamon Ave in Springfield. Walk Distance: 2.5 miles. Registration Time: 9:00 a.m. Start Time: 10:00 a.m.  Click Here for more information.
 
 
 
Illinois_State_Fair 
The 3rd Annual Charity Portrait Series offers participants one 10 inch keepsake print and one of three possible photography sessions. The sponsored charity of the month will receive a $100 donation from each session. Appointments for the Charity Portrait Series are available during regular business hours, during the month of the given charity's sponsorship.
 
The following charities and their specified months are as follows:
March, Elizabeth Ann Seton
April, Southwind Park
May, Animal Protective League 
June, Kidzeum 
 
  
 
Whats_Happening_IconWhat's Happening is updated every week with the latest fun for you and your family!  Bookmark this page.  
Thank you to all of our Premium Sponsors.
 
Adventure_Dive_Travel 
 
Our featured Premium Sponsor this issue is Adventure Dive & Travel. 
Don't miss their FREE Scuba Trial coupon!
 
 
   
 
GOLD SPONSORS
 
SILVER SPONSORS
 
 
Springfield Racquet & Fitness Center
 
 
All the best,
 
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