Little Book, Big Noise

If you haven't heard about it yet, you will soon. Maybe you've even read a PDF version of it? We're dying to know what you think about Go the F&%* to Sleep! Here's one story from MomsToday, NBC.
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Local Nonprofits Partner on National Make A Difference Day - Oct. 23
On October 23, more than 3 million Americans are expected to volunteer on Make A Difference Day, the nation's largest single day of volunteering. Two local nonprofit organizations will be partnering to also make a difference in the lives of 1,500 less fortunate children in our community.
Cheerful Givers is planning a "Birthday Bag Blitz -- Kids Helping Kids " where mentors and mentees from the Kids 'n Kinship program along with Cheerful Givers volunteers will assemble 1,500 toy-filled gift bags which will be distributed to shelters and food shelves so that parents living in poverty can give their child a birthday gift.<
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I Love Thanksgiving
by Sharon MacDonell
Just when I thought we had no Thanksgiving tradition at all, my daughter taught me that tradition is simply whatever we do.
When I was a kid my mother rose early on Thanksgiving morning to wrestle with the turkey and jam it full of rosemary-scented stuffing before putting it in the oven. The house smelled of that heavenly rosemary all day long.
Back then we only had eight TV channels and all attention was on the one showing the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade, with its school bands and toy commercials. My siblings and I jumped up and down screami
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Checklist for Choosing a Safe Day Care

By Madonna Behen
Finding the right day-care center requires a balance of many practical issues: location, cost, hours of operation. And you of course also want a nurturing staff. "But bottom line, your child's health and safety is what matters the most," says Patricia Skinner, executive director of the Capital District Child Care Council, a resource and referral agency serving six counties in the Albany, N.Y., region. "After all, it doesn't matter how stellar the caregiver's interactions are if there's broken glass on the playground," she says.
Checklist for Choosing a Safe Day Care.
Lake Fun & Safety
It's that time of year--time to head out to one of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes (or to one of umteen thousands of lakes all over the country). Before you go, check out the downloadable guide below to safe swimming, boating and fishing from Conservation Minnesota. If you're worried about water pollution and contamination, you can go to CheckMyLake.org to find out whether lakes have been tested and what the results show.
Parent's Guide to Safe Recreation<
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Moms Dissing Moms
Do you sometimes feel that moms can be critical and judgmental about other women's parenting style and choices? Do you feel pressured to be the perfect mom? See what Liz Szabo, writing in USA Today, says about 'competitive parenting.'
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Gadgets on the Go

Must-have tech for your next trip
Are you planning a quick weekend getaway, a family vacation or a business trip? Here's a round-up of some nifty gadgets that can make traveling easier, more efficient and just plain fun.
Luggage Smarts
* Weigh, Don't Pay: If you can never seem to pack light or you plan on shopping during your trip, get a small digital scale to help you stay under the carry-on weight limit. The Travelon Ergonomic Digital Scale, for example, shows baggage weight up to 75 pounds on a backlit readout. It also includes a tape measure so you know when you'r
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