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 Local Events, Info and Savings for Grown-ups and Their Kids
Springfield Moms E-Update         October 7, 2009            
In This Issue
Halloween Classroom Party Ideas
Orthodontic Health Month: How Young?
Baby Corner: Financial Planning
Trinity Lutheran's GREEN TEAM
Environmentally Friendly Halloween Craft
Fun Links and News You Can Use
Upcoming Events
Quick Links
Share Your Tips
 and Win!
Congratulations to Maya Borski and Travis Blaney who each won an Edwards KidSafe Legal Plan "Family FunPack."

There's still time to win 4 tickets for the Darwin the Dinosaur show on October 16th.  Send us your "burning questions" by October 10th for our What Do You Think? poll on the home page, and we'll enter you into a drawing for tickets.

Stay Tuned!
  Our Annual Reader Survey is coming in November...exciting sponsor prizes and we'll celebrate our 5th Anniversary! 

Email us and be entered to win our prize drawing!

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ENJOY THESE NEW COUPONS ...

Piper Glen Party Room: 50% off Holiday Party Rooms!

Midtown Tire & Auto Services: promo $20.95 oil change and FREE tire rotation!

Corkscrew Wine Emporium:  New Text Club for special savings.

Dance Creations Dance Studio: Free T-shirt with new registration.

Free Orthodontic Exam at McDaniel, Sternstein & Aleman.

20% off Canvas Art and Photo Stretching at Capitol Blue Print, Inc.

Sprout Fitters: $15 off and more.

L.Chic: $5 off any sale item.

Bella Milano: $5 off coupon.

25% off Eyeglasses at Vision Care Associates.

John M. Piershale, CFP, 2 Hours FREE Retirement Planning.

Cara Mongolian Authentic Stir Fry. Buy one, get one half off!
 
10% off at Food Fantasies.

$20 Off New Patient at Optimal Chiropractic & Wellness.

$3 off at Koke's Kid Zone
or $5 off at The Kid's Closet.



Access all our business sponsors on the Mom's Choice Directory.

shopping cartNEW! Mom's Choice Picks  favorite online retailers with product picks you'll love. Browse & Buy
Greetings!

Kim and her girlsIn our quest to make information easy for you to access, we have bundled our most popular listings into a new "Mom's Faves" on our navigation bar on the website.  These are the directories, guides and posts you recommend to your friends and check back with regularly. We've finally put them in their own section.  Enjoy!

It's not too late to Win 4 tickets to Darwin the Dinosaur.  Send us your ideas for our weekly "What Do You Think?" poll question, and we'll enter you in a drawing for this fun upcoming event.  Deadline for entry is October 10th.

The weather is cooling off, and kids everywhere are deciding what to dress up as for Halloween.  Enjoy our Fall Family Fun Guide. Plus read Allison Klint's fun and affordable Classroom Party ideas below.

Thanks to your continued reader support and the popularity of the website, our sponsor list keeps growing!  Please welcome Midtown Tires & Auto Services, Piper Glen Golf Course and Dance Creations Dance Studio.  Enjoy money-saving coupons for all three of these businesses (and more!) on our Mom's Choice Directory.

Please forward on to your friends.  We love to welcome new readers.

Kim Leistner Little
Founder and President of Springfield Moms
HALLOWEEN CLASSROOM PARTY IDEAS: Get'em Here!
Halloween class parties
Need some simple and SPOOKtacular ideas for Halloween Parties?  We've got them here. Halloween is just around the corner. Don't let it sneak up on you! Here are a few simple and fun ideas for classroom Halloween parties.

Read idea guru Allison Klint's article here.
 
 
OCTOBER IS ORTHODONTIC HEALTH MONTH: What Age Is Best For An Orthodontic Consult?
orthodontist consultDr. Jason Aleman from Springfield Moms sponsor McDaniel, Sternstein & Aleman responds: "The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children by the age of 7 years old should have an orthodontic evaluation. There are certain types of problems that may be addressed before all the permanent teeth have erupted. There are definite advantages to correcting these problems early; however, visiting an orthodontist does not necessarily mean that treatment may begin."  Learn some of the typical problems that might be addressed early in Dr. Aleman's article here.

BABY CORNER: Financial Planning for Baby 
Baby CornerWhen making the decision on when to have children, there are many considerations to take into account. Especially whether you are financially prepared to have a baby.  Check out some basic info in Christine Netznik's article here.
TRINITY LUTHERAN "GREEN TEAM" MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR SCHOOL
Green TeamThe Green Team recycles many items at Trinity Lutheran School including paper and plastic. They also encourage families to bring in hard to recycle items including juice pouches, rigid plastic lids, zero balance gift cards, glue sticks, Frito Lay wrappers and Nabisco wrappers.

Your school can do this too!  Read the story about the Green Team's remarkable efforts here.
TRY THIS FUN "GREEN" HALLOWEEN CRAFT FOR A UNIQUE TREAT
Green Halloween Crafts
The "Trick" to a Unique Treat! Recycled Chunky Crayons. Kids are amazed at what these crayons can do, and you're helping to keep the crayons out of the landfill.  Happy Halloween and Happy Creating! Try this one at home: directions here.
Fun Links and News You Can Use! Check It Out.
What's Happening!  Upcoming Events 
 

This Saturday, October 10th: Family Photo Special at Terry Farmer PhotographyDetails here.



Continuum of LearningContinuum of Learning Roundtable on October 13th at 5:30. The public is welcome!  Details here.





YMCA BirthdayYMCA 135th BirthdayBring the family and come celebrate!  The YMCA's 135th Birthday Party & Fall Family Festival is on Friday, October 16 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.  Free family fun!  The whole community is invited to enjoy carnival games, DJ, face painting, swimming, give-a-ways and much more!



Sangamon Auditorium Family SeriesDarwin the DinosaurSangamon Auditorium: Darwin the Dinosaur on October 16th at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets still available.  Corbian Visual Arts and Dance combines the telling of a heartrending story with a truly unique and innovative theater experience where electroluminescent crayon-like creatures light up the stage in a blackout setting. A performance the family will talk about long after the show ends!  Details here.



popcornBeauty and the BeastOrder Tickets Now for Beauty and the BeastOctober 9-11 and 16-18, performed by the Springfield Theatre Center.  Ticket info and your free popcorn coupon here! 


Haunted Hayride


10th Annual Extreme Haunted House Hayride
at Riverside Park: Four weekends in October (Friday/Saturday nights).  Prepare to be spooked!  Details here.



Carve for Carillon pumpkin
Like to carve pumpkins?  Do you and your kids have a creative eye and a steady hand?  Mark the Date! Carve for the Carillon on October 10 and 11thDetails here.


March of Dimes Celebrity Auction


March of Dimes Celebrity Chef's Auction
:  Come out for a good cause and enjoy fine dining and fabulous auction items.  October 13th at 6:00 p.m. at President Abraham Lincoln Hotel.  Details here.




storytelling festivalOnce Upon a Prairie Storytelling Festival on October 16 and 17th.  All activities are free including "Cookies and Milk" Family Story Hour - Free cookies and milk for kids at Cafe Moxo.  2:00 - 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17th at Café Moxo, 411 East Adams, downtown Springfield.  For a full festival schedule, link here.


Jack-o-lantern Spectacular
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
at Washington Park: October 16 and 17th.  Come during the day and marvel at the details.  Come at night and enjoy the special effects of thousands of pumpkins lit up and decorated.  Kids can wear their costumes!  Details here.





Ghost Train



Ghost Train at Monticello Railway Museum
: October 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31st.  Ghost Train features a trip through the Haunted Box Car and a train trip through Haunted Hollow.  After the train ride, visitors walk through the Haunted Box Car which is located just north of the Depot. The Haunted Box Car is a railroad version of a haunted house, with twisting dark corners, spooky scenes, and ghouls lurking just around the next corner. More details here.









Where the Wild Things Are


Where Are the Wild Things? 
The Illinois State Museum Knows!  Enjoy their annual Halloween Fun Event on October 25th at noon at the Illinois State Museum.  More details here.





Halloween Hustle Family Walk on the Wabash Trail: October 25th at 5:00 p.m.  Details here.


Central Baptist Church
Every Sunday at Central Baptist Church.  Kids 2:52 is a family-oriented, kid focused, value driven program geared for kids ages pre-K through 5th grade.  Come join us!



Downtown Springfield  Farmers Market  The Market will be held 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays through October 31.  (Located on Adams Street between 5th & 3rd streets in downtown Springfield.) 
 
 
Steve Dove Family Fun PicnicFREE Fall Family Picnic: October 24 from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Bridgeview Park on Lake Springfield.  Save the Date!




Halloween

Halloween! Saturday, October 31st.  4th Annual Costume Contest at HALLOWEEN AT THE MARKET!  Registration starts at 10:00 a.m. Contest begins at 11:00 a.m.  Prizes for winners in three age categories: Ages 0-2, 3-6 and 7-12.  FREE crafts and entertainment from 10:00 -1:00 p.m. Jewel the Pirate will be there to greet the kids from 10:00 -11:00 a.m.  Come join us.



Zara's Think First eventSave the Date!
  Zara's Collision Center is hosting a "Think First" safety seat checkpoint on Friday, November 6, at their 3117 Wide Track Drive facility in Springfield from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.  It is free and open to the public.  Details here.



Save the Date!
  Grand Opening Celebration for My Friends Discovery Center on Saturday, November 7th. Learn more here!



ConnectED PairsConnectED Pairs has their 2010 schedule online.  Invest in your relationship today and sign up for a weekend retreat or a half day workshop for next year. Read about a Springfield Mom's helpful workshop experience here.



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Westside_StoriesWestside Stories October SALE
October 1 - 31st, 25% off the already below retail price on all in-stock merchandise. Details here.







Vision Care Associates50% off Frames Sale at Vision Care Associates on October 22nd.  Details here.



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.
 
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Adventure Dive and TravelCOUPON: Come in for a FREE Scuba Trial. Includes complete instruction and use of equipment, come see and learn about scuba today! $35 Value. Must print Springfield Moms coupon and be age 8 - Adult. Expires 11-30-09
 
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Best,
Kim

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Kim Leistner Little
Founder and President
Springfield Moms
springfieldmoms.org@gmail.com