Team N.A.T.H.A.N. Rides Again

Hello friends,

I'm excited to announce that Team N.A.T.H.A.N (which stands for Nathan's Amazing Team Helps Autism Network) is ready to walk again this year. We're hoping to raise $2,000 to support the Autism Society. The Autism Society is a grass roots effort that provides support, information and financial assistance to those families affected by Autism.

Our Nathan is on the Autism Spectrum. He's considered "high functioning" and in his case, he is a Twice Exceptional (2E). This means he is gifted (in his case off the charts) and is on the Autism spectrum. This affects his test scores because while he can pass them all (gifted), he panics with time limits and has had to overcome challenges with writing and fine motor skills (autism).

You can find Nathan's Fundraising page at Team N.A.T.H.A.N. or you can click on the widget on the top right side of my homepage.

If you're interested in joining us to walk that morning, please send me a private email. This year we will have Easter Seals Day Camp fun and games, DomestiPUPS (therapy dogs), Star Wars Characters, Bounce Houses, a DJ, face painting and free breakfast. It's a big party for everyone and you are welcome to join us.

Thank you for considering supporting our team. Nathan is always so thrilled every time another person donates to his page. He can't believe people love him enough to give money to his cause.

Rebekah's Prayer

Last night, Rebekah wanted to pray for our dinner. We were eating up leftover Lasagna so we had the Parmesan cheese on the table, too.

She wanted to do, "My own kind of Come Lord Jesus."

It went something like this:

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest,

and bless our food and

thank you for the plants and trees.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Immediately, Andrew asks, "Did she just say thanks for the Parmesan cheese?" Nope, thanks for the plants and trees.

We all had a good belly-laugh.



Tips on Tuesday: Another Smartphone Warning

Here's another warning video for smartphone owners. We did try to find GPS locations from photos but couldn't make it work...but with another major news network confirming it, I have to believe it's possible to do.

If you have a smartphone, be sure to know how to set your privacy settings.

Be safe!!

Sparkle Farms Girls Bloomer Shorts Review and Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Does your little princess like to wear her cute dresses...then climb on playground equipment, sit on the floor to play cars (or dolls) or other activities? If you have a daughter like mine, she wants to be in her dresses all the time, but we constantly fight the modesty battle. I don't want her panties to show and she knows it.

We've often gone with wearing shorts under her dresses, but they can be bulky and leave her looking funny in the waist. I've also used leggings under dresses, but that gets too hot in the summer.

When I heard about Sparkle Farms, I knew I had found a winner of a product. They offer Bloomer Shorts for your active little girl. The shorts are fitted so your girly girl won't have bunches or lumps showing underneath her dress.

Here are some photos of Rebekah to show what I mean....

Rebekah climbing up onto the slide.

Sitting down shows the need for Sparkle Farms. She had her pink ones on this day.

Going to make it down the slide.

Once we're "arranged" on the slide, we look like a dainty girl again.

The packaging is only the start of the incredible Sparkle Farms experience. You get a pink pouch with the Sparkle Farms logo on it. Inside is a recyclable bag (again in pink) and inside the bag is the set of three Sparkle Farms Bloomer Shorts.

Then the shorts all have three little bling sparkles on them. They come in sizes 3-7 and the sizing runs true to clothing size.

Rebekah is totally in love with her Sparkle Farms. She tells everyone about them and insists on wearing them underneath all her dresses--even the ones that are ankle length.

Want to win a set of Sparkle Farms for your active little princess?

**Mandatory Entry**
Check out Sparkle Farms online and share where your princess would be doing when needing these the most.
PLEASE NOTE: You do not have to be a blogger to enter this contest, but you must leave a way for me to contact you. Use the anonymous comment form to enter and leave an email.
*You MUST do the mandatory entry! All bonus entries will be deleted if it's not done first!*


**Bonus Entries**
{Leave separate comments for each entry}
1. Follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect (current followers, too) {1 entry}
2. Subscribe to my blog {1 entry}
3. Follow Coolestmommy on Twitter {1 entry}
4. Follow Coolestmommy on Networked Blogs (Found on right sidebar) {1 entry}
5. Follow Coolestmommy on Facebook (Click "Like" on the right sidebar) {1 entry}
6. Follow Sparkle Farms on Twitter {1 entry}
7. Follow Sparkle Farms on Facebook {1 entry}
8. Add my blog to your blog roll/sidebar {1 entry}
9. Email three friends with the link to this giveaway inviting them to enter. Remember to cc me at coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com {2 entries}
10. Tweet about this giveaway {can be done once per day} {1 entry per tweet} You can use this:


@Coolestmommy Check out the Sparkle Farms Bloomer Shorts #giveaway you can #win. Ends 4/4 http://bit.ly/fhp7g8
**Rules**
•Giveaway ends Monday, April 4, 2011
•Winners will be chosen via Random.Org. and contacted by email
•Winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email or another winner will be chosen
• Open to addresses in the United States and Canada




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review and giveaway Disclosure.

WINNER: Baseball Stats Software

Congrats to #10, FrugalKelly who won the Baseball Stats keeping software from Stat*illac. She did choose baseball since she and her hubby both coach little league teams.

Thanks to everyone who entered. Be sure to enter my other giveaways. More coming in the next few days and weeks.

All I want for Easter is my 2 Front Teeth

Such a lovely day today that Nathan & Rebekah went out back to play on the swingset. About 15 minutes later, we hear crying. Rebekah came in bleeding at the mouth/lips and screaming and crying. She wouldn't let us get near her. When we got a look at the top teeth, I called the dentist who said, "How fast can you get here?"

Rushed her over and got some x-rays. The roots were not very deep and she managed to pull out the bulk of them out or twist them beyond recognition. The dentist numbed her up and pulled the teeth.

Note to Rebekah: When sliding down a rope, don't try to stop self with teeth.

The dentist said it would have happened in the next year, but it was hard to go from a baby look to big girl missing teeth in a few minutes. She's probably cuter now than when she had the teeth, but I'm still sad and want my baby back. Funny thing about life, often there's no going back.

I'm going to grieve her teeth tonight when she can't see me cry. I'm going to cry a few extra tears for the pain she went through and the fear while we were pulling the teeth. Sean & I are both good in a crisis, but I fall apart afterwards when it's ok to lose your cool.

On a happier note, she got to pick a BIG PRIZE from the prize basket (usually they get a small prize from the other basket). She chose a vintage Cabbage Patch doll that's probably a collector's item. But, no longer, within minutes, we had that doll out of the packaging and in her arms.

And now, with her numb mouth and missing teeth, she's eating ice cream for dinner. I hope she doesn't hurt too much during Andrew's play tonight (oh yeah, when it rains, it pours around here).

Our first true 'emergency room' trip. Not bad in 13.5 years of parenting. We visited the ER once with Nathan after the urgent care thought he might have pneumonia. But this is the first official emergency visit anywhere with a kid. I always thought boys caused more trips to the ER. Who knew our girl would be our first?

Now all Rebekah wants for Christmas Easter is her two front teeth.

Review and Giveaway: Brilliant Lenses Screen Cleaning Wipes

Do you ever have smudges on your screens?

 I don't know about you, but half the time, I can't even see my computer screen (or lower sections of the TV) through all the fingerprints, hand prints and smears. So I jumped at the chance to review a screen cleaner. Black Diamond Stoneworks and Brilliant Lenses are back with a product for all your screen cleaning needs.

From the website:

Brilliant screen cleaning wipes with SR-8 provides gentle, superior cleaning to any electronic screen and removes dust, dirt, finger prints and makeup while imparting an invisible, durable barrier that protects screens 50x more form scratching. Helps protect against re-soiling to keep your screen brilliantly clean! Screen Wipes are available in New York at Duane Reade, Southern California at Ralphs, nationally available at Walgreens and Ace Hardware.

I tried these right away on my laptop screen. There were sections that were not possible to see through because of all the fingerprints from my beautiful (yet slimy fingered) children. It worked so great I ran straight away to the desktop PC and now I can see both screens clearly.


This is a two part cleaning process. There's a wet wipe (which isn't very drippy wet, just moist) to clean the screen, then a dry cloth to remove moisture and finish removing smudges. It barely took a minute and I had safely cleaned my screens. I like the fact that it leaves a barrier to help protect against scratches as well as something to help keep the screen clean.

Would you like to try these Screen Cleaning Wipes?

**Mandatory Entry**

Leave a comment and let me know which screen in your house that most needs cleaning? PLEASE NOTE: You do not have to be a blogger to enter this contest, but you must leave a way for me to contact you. Use the anonymous comment form to enter and leave an email.
*You MUST do the mandatory entry! All bonus entries will be deleted if it's not done first!*


**Bonus Entries**
{Leave separate comments for each entry}
1. Follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect (current followers, too) {1 entry}
2. Subscribe to my blog {1 entry}
3. Follow Coolestmommy on Twitter {1 entry}
4. Follow Coolestmommy on Networked Blogs (Found on right sidebar) {1 entry}
5. Follow Coolestmommy on Facebook (Click "Like" on the right sidebar) {1 entry}
6. Follow screen wipes on Twitter {1 entry}
7. Follow screen wipes on Facebook {1 entry}
8. Add my blog to your blog roll/sidebar {1 entry}
9. Email three friends with the link to this giveaway inviting them to enter. Remember to cc me at coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com {2 entries}
10. Tweet about this giveaway {can be done once per day} {1 entry per tweet} You can use this:


@Coolestmommy  has a Screen Cleaning Wipes #giveaway you can #win. http://bit.ly/hKk7mE  Ends 3/21


**Rules**
•Giveaway ends Monday, March 21, 2011
•Winners will be chosen via Random.Org. and contacted by email
•Winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email or another winner will be chosen
• Open to addresses in the United States




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review and giveaway Disclosure.Sponsored by Tomoson.com

CLOSED: Baseball Software Review and Giveaway

Do you or your spouse coach a softball or baseball team? Do you coach Little League or select teams? If so, I found a great software to help you track your team (and individual player) stats.


Stat*illac has software for softball, baseball and football. I reviewed the baseball software, but did play around online with the sample of the softball software. It's very easy to use and the helps built into the software make it a piece of cake.


I didn't get to try this at a live game yet, but I immediately saw the benefit of being able to take a laptop to the game and instead of trying to track everything on paper, you put it into the computer as the game goes. You can even take notes on who your umpire was for each game which I thought that was good news because you could see patterns of how the various umpires call games.


The software was easy to download and a snap to use. The information you can put into the software (and get back out) was really amazing.


If you're interested in the software, you can download the software and input two sample games to see how it works. If you're as excited about the potential of using this software as I am...

Enter here to win a free copy of the complete Baseball or Softball software.



**Mandatory Entry**
Head over to Stat*illac and tell me if you would choose Baseball or Softball if you win. (This will be the software you receive.)
PLEASE NOTE: You do not have to be a blogger to enter this contest, but you must leave a way for me to contact you. Use the anonymous comment form to enter and leave an email.
*You MUST do the mandatory entry! All bonus entries will be deleted if it's not done first!*


**Bonus Entries**
{Leave separate comments for each entry}
1. Follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect (current followers, too) {1 entry}
2. Subscribe to my blog {1 entry}
3. Follow Coolestmommy on Twitter {1 entry}

4. Follow Coolestmommy on Networked Blogs (Found on right sidebar) {1 entry}
5. Follow Coolestmommy on Facebook (Click "Like" on the right sidebar) {1 entry}
7. Add my blog to your blog roll/sidebar {1 entry}
8. Email three friends with the link to this giveaway inviting them to enter. Remember to cc me at coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com {2 entries}
9. Tweet about this giveaway {can be done once per day} {1 entry per tweet} You can use this:

@Coolestmommy has a Baseball/Softball Stats Software #giveaway you can #win. Ends 3/14 http://bit.ly/dTWFKm



**Rules**
•Giveaway ends Monday, March 14, 2011
•Winners will be chosen via Random.Org. and contacted by email
•Winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email or another winner will be chosen
• Open to addresses worldwide


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review and giveaway Disclosure.Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Congratulations to my Cub of the Month

Imagine my surprise when I was at school collecting Box Tops and heard Nathan's name on announcements. The principal said it was for Cub of the Month, but I knew it was a mistake and she meant Cub of the Week since Nathan hadn't said anything about being Cub of the Week.

Well---I was wrong. He kept his charm for Citizenship at school and put it on his earplug case...and forgot to tell us. (Therefore, no photos of the event.)

We're thrilled to pieces that he was recognized for Good Citizenship for the whole month. It's such an honor just to get Cub of the Week. To be selected from that pool as the Cub of the Month--it's over the top.

Nathan has had a fantastic year and we are overjoyed that he received such a big honor.

Here's his button to show he was Cub of the Month.

Way to go, Nathan!!!