My Gym open house

If you are looking for a great activity this fall to get your little one, (or you) out to socialize and exercise, you should check out My Gym.  Saturday, August 28th is a Fall open house. Drop in anytime between 10 and 5 to meet the staff and try out the facility.  I promise you'll be impressed! They have all sorts of activities, games and interactions to stimulate and motivate your tiny tot up to 9 years old! There are parent participation classes as well as kids day out opportunities through out the year.
The fall schedule will be available along with raffles and giveaways. My Henry loved it, and I can't wait to take him again!! Hope to see you there!

Vehicle recalls of some popular cars in our area

Consumer Reports has the details for the first set of vehicles recalled this week:  Mazda, Nissan and BMW, with the second set soon after for GMC, Buick, and Saturn.  If you own one of the recalled vehicles be sure to get it in to your local dealer to have the issue fixed right away! Any questions should be referred to your dealer, or go to the manufacturer's website for toll free numbers or detailed information.

online resource for ADHD

Do you have a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD? Then you may want to go to Consumer Reports Health.org
where there is a Parent Power Toolkit for parents with children diagnosed or potentially diagnosed with this frustrating condition.  There is a symptom checklist, an overview of what to expect from the doctor's office visit, and various perspectives from different places in the medical and mental health fields regarding treatment and diagnosis. You can even subscribe to this section of their web page receiving instant updates as soon as they are available.  Having a child who potentially could be diagnosed with this same condition I found this to be a great resource to answer a lot of my questions.  The general population seems to have a mixed opinion on a lot of the information out there, but there is not much support for these families that I have found.
If you have a child with ADHD, how do you cope? What has worked best to keep your child from causing conflicts at home and school? Do you manage? or medicate? What is your best, trusted resource that you have found? Post comments on my blog or facebook page. Or email me:  wichitacitymom@gmail.com

http://www.groupon.com/wichita/

Today's Deal of the Day from Groupon is my favorite place to shop for kids: Hannah Banana.
Find the cutest clothing at deep discounts lightly used.  Boutique brands, department store brands, and nationally known brands like Gap, Old Navy, Gymboree, Hollister and Abercrombie at a fraction of the price. Stellar customer service (wink wink), personalized and unique. Consign your prized outgrown possessions and make money to buy more! You will love Hannah Banana, and especially this deal.
Click the link to purchase today's Groupon.  I am an affiliate publisher of Groupon. By purchasing through my Wichita City Mom link, you support my website! Thank you and happy shopping!!

Breastfeeding Week

August 1-7th is World Breastfeeding Week. This week marks 20 years since the "10-Steps to Successful Breastfeeding" was implemented into all maternity facilities. 28% of all Maternity health care facilities have implemented this program in the past 20 years, and organizations are working on making this percentage higher.
As a former nursing mom, I am a complete advocate for nursing, and for "extended nursing" (past 6 months). Now, I realize that nursing isn't for everyone, but nothing can compare to the health benefits of a Mother's milk. New studies come out frequently that further support this fact both for nursing in general and nursing past 6 months of age. Lower rates of obesity, heart disease and some cancers to name a few.
Even though nursing your child should be as normal as giving them a bottle, it still remains a controversial subject when it comes to how long, and where publicly allowed. I nursed whenever, where ever, but always made sure I was discreet and respectful to those around me. I don't agree with stepping into a bathroom stall to nurse, but sitting in a corner booth at the back of a restaurant with a concealing blanket or nursing cover should be more than socially acceptable. Pumping milk and putting into a bottle when on the go is also an option if you aren't comfortable or skilled in juggling modesty and a hungry baby.
If you are an expectant Mom and are deciding on whether you want to nurse or not, I encourage you to talk to other Mom's, and do the research on some of the health benefits both for you and for your baby. Most importantly, do what feels natural once the baby arrives, and don't force it. Some babies have to be taught how to nurse after born, and sometimes it will take a lactation consultant to help you through it.
Nursing is a beautiful bonding experience only between mother and child. It is something you will always look back on and appreciate that you did.
(Watch soon for a giveaway for a nursing cover from Missy Me.)

Imagine That Groupon

My kids favorite place to shop, Imagine That Toys, is today's Groupon. $20 for $10. I imagine these will disappear fast so get in on this one quickly!

Find Today's Daily Deal on the Best in Wichita!

Summer Book Review

I'm so excited that I was one of 50 bloggers who got the chance to get an advance copy of Joshua Becker's new e-book: "Inside-Out Simplicity: Life Changing Keys to Your Most Important Relationships". Joshua Becker calls this the "book I was afraid to write". I have to say after reading it, I am so glad that he did!  Author of "Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life", and Blogger of Becoming Minimalist.com has gone inward to help you achieve a life of spiritual, emotional and relational simplicity.
Living a life of "minimalism" is a fairly new idea to me, but one I feel coincides with where my family is in life, and aligns well with my moral and spiritual beliefs. If you aren't familiar with it, this book gets real and to the basics on what a "Minimalist attitude" towards life and relationships should be all about. External clutter, our internal motivations and how they drive how we relate and deal with others in our lives, are the core principles of this book.
Bullet points prepare you and then solidify his points on why you should feel and live Simply making this a generally easy read. Change begins with ourselves first, and he spends an ample amount of time working on some good life principles we all should follow. Over-emphasis that happiness cannot be bought or found in a store is probably wise in our material-obsessed society that focuses on the latest celebrity trends.
I especially appreciated his views on marriage and child relationships, especially his 15 things that children can (and should) value more than material possessions. His point that less toys add to more creative play and that an excessive amount of toys just gets in the way of the good ones, have me ready to clean out the toy room!
I was inspired by his point on the effect of Humility in marriage. An essential building block, says Joshua, is the ability to admit that you are not perfect, that you will make mistakes, and that you will need forgiveness. Writing down the three things my husband does better than me is something that I will put into use often.
The idea of wanting less, giving more, and just being content with what we have could revolutionize our society if not our world. If you are tired of chasing empty dreams, and feeling unfulfilled with what our culture and media tell us we need in this life, get this book today and begin the change to a better way of living. Even if you don't go all the way with minimalism, even changing just a few ways of thinking could make a huge difference inside-out.
Read Joshua now on his website becomingminimalist.com, and follow him on Facebook.
Click here to view more details

Mom businesses unite!!

If you love to get in on trendy, fun, locally-made items from Mom businesses, then you need to get out this Saturday, August 7th to the "LOL End of Summer Craft Fair".  67 booths featuring local hand-crafters, consultants and Mom-based businesses at the Sedgwick County Extension Center (21st and Ridge Rd.) from 7a.m - 3p.m. Saturday. Tiffany Wadley, who makes adorable tutu's and tutu dresses, and a Scentsy Consultant will be there featuring her products, and I'm sure there will be some other great things you do not want to miss! Organized by the Lord of Life Lutheran Church there will be a huge raffle featuring prizes from Beau Monde, Alter Ego, Big Sky Party Rental, and Hampton Inn to name a few! Raffle money raised goes to fund youth and V.B.S. supplies and activities.
 Hope to see you there!
W.C.M.

Make a Difference in Classrooms

In celebration of back-to-school, Elmer's glue is pairing up with Wal-mart, and Adopt-a-school to donate to classrooms in need.  For my blog-post and a virtual donation of a bag of school supplies, a $10 donation (up to $10,000) will be made.

Thank you Wichitaonthecheap.com for "bagging" me. I am bagging:  Stu at themarryblogger.com  Beau at somethingedible.com Dan at Lifeinakidzworld.com and Jerrod at Manogamymovement.com

Guys, follow the rules below to help out schools in need!! 

 

ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES

• Copy and paste these rules into your blog post.
• Create a blog post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.
• Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.
• Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.
• Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
• Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by August 12, 2010).
• Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation