July 2009 Archives

According to Family Circle magazine, the average family spent $594.24 on back-to-school shopping last year. The magazine offers these tips for this year's shoppers:

Saving on Books

• Buy back-to-school textbooks at Half.com. Or save up to 85% by renting used textbooks from Chegg.com-- then returning them at semester's end. Bonus: A tree is planted for every book borrowed.


• To save money on books for school, join the library (September is Library Card Sign-Up Month).


• Or, check out a book-sharing site: Booksfree.com: $11/month to borrow two paper backs at a time or AmericasBookShelf.com: $12 annual fee, plus $3.50 for every borrowed book.

Saving on Clothes

• Clean out your kids' closets to figure out exactly what fits and what doesn't. This way you KNOW exactly what they need rather than what they WANT. While you're cleaning out the closets, fill up a bag with clothes and donate it to your local Goodwill to be a part of Family Circle's Back to School Clothing Drive. The goal is to collect 5 million pounds of clothes so that every kid can go back to school in style. For more information go to: www.shopfamilycircle.com/goodwill.


• Before a mall trip, establish a budget that won't be budged just because your daughter has found the "perfect" pair of jeans or a pretty backpack. Parents should still have veto power over all purchases, even if it is the child's own money.


• If your child is required to wear school uniforms, organize a "swap" with other parents to save money on purchasing new sizes.


• Ask for a student discount at the register some stores offer this for students-- J. Crew offers a discount if you show student ID.


• Don't buy an entire new wardrobe before school even starts. Kids, especially girls, are fickle and will change their minds before the temperature drops enough to wear fall clothes. By the middle-to-end of September, things will start to go on sale too.

Saving on School Supplies

• Before running to your office supply store, raid the family junk drawers and home offices. You will find extra highlighters, notebook paper, binders, etc. left over from previous school years that you forgot you had (At the same time, get all of the spare school supplies in one place to make this easier next year).


• Stick to the list that the school provides before the first day, or wait until the end of the first week to see if your kid gets more specific instructions. If the teacher absolutely requires something, she will let you or your child know.


• Buy in bulk. Warehouse stores like BJs, Costco, etc. have supplies like pens, paper, glue sticks, etc. that will save you money, and the hassle of going to the office supply stores, on the first night of school each year.


• Become a member of a store's discount program. Once you sign up, they let you know about sales and offer exclusive insider coupons.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

If you're running out of fun summer reads, check out What Do You Do With a Kangaroo? by Mercer Mayer and The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams. These two texts are great for young kids, ages two to six. Both books involve repetition and get the kids joining in on the refrain.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

I was laughing louder than my three kids while reading Mayer's book out loud. The illustrations remind me of Winnie the Pooh, with their pastel colors and soft lines. The young female protagonist of the story mirrors my own four-year-old daughter, so it is a book that I've enjoyed reading again and again.

Williams' book is adventurous and spooky. Even though it's just a children's book, it reminds me of childhood memories of haunt and fright. The content is age-appropriate and the suspense provides fun entertainment. The illustrations by Megan Lloyd are a real treat as well. She fills the pages with rich fall tones of red and brown.

Share one of your favorite kid's books here. Tell us why you love it.

Written by guest author Trudie Mitschang:

Trudie Mitschang

Guest Author

My son, who will start middle school in a few weeks, still believes in Mickey Mouse. During a recent trip to Disneyland I fully expected him to exhibit general disinterest in the more magical aspects of the Magic Kingdom, but his wide-eyed excitement upon seeing the smiling, world-famous rodent was clearly genuine. Imagine my surprise when he cut in line with his little sister to take his turn at a photo op. I didn't have the heart to tell him what my seven-year old has been trying to explain for the past two years: Mickey really is just a guy in a suit.

Written by guest author and former major leaguer Jack Perconte:

Jack Perconte

Parents of athletes often think that the better players are mentally stronger than weaker players are. My experiences of playing sports for many years and coaching youth for many more have found that this is not necessarily true. The difference comes with the fundamentals. There is absolutely no substitute for the correct fundamentals in sport.

Recently, I wrote an article where I explored the answer to this question, "What is the secret to mental toughness in an athlete?" To make a long story short, I arrived at the conclusion that the secret was that players who could perform the correct fundamentals of a skill were the toughest mentally. Of course, talent and God-given athleticism have a big role but without ever learning the correct fundamentals of a skill, they have little chance to be as good as they can be.

Last night the kids and I went to the circus - first time for me since about age 9, first time EVER for the kids. Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey was sort of like I remember from the 80s, but with a lot more glitz and glam.

As an adult, I was so curious about the circus family lifestyle. Can you imagine living out of a motor home year round? During the day when I visited prior to the show, I could see kids out splashing around a kiddie pool, pretty much like any other kids on summer vacation. (except for the fact that the pool was among a hundred or so motor homes next to an elephant enclosure holding eleven elephants)

But for my kids, the show brought up different questions like, "Does this mean magic is real?" and "OMG! Is that guy going to catch on fire jumping through that burning ring?"

And my favorite of the night: "Why are those guys naked?" (flesh-colored body suits) :)

Simply Cakes, etc...Bakery owner Richard Medina likes baking outside the box. The Riverside business has seen its share of unique cake requests including dual pug-shaped wedding cakes for a dog loving couple and a bleeding heart cake congratulating a surviving heart donor recipient.

On Monday, August 3 at 10 p.m., The Learning Channel will air the premiere episode of its new series, "Ultimate Cake Off," featuring Simply Cakes, etc...Bakery as one of the competitors.

Hosted by chef Michael Schulson, owner of Atlantic City restaurant Izakaya, the episode will feature Medina, co-owner Gregg Zimmerman and two assistants competing against people from two other bakeries.

In the show, competitors have nine hours to create a cake at least five feet tall with moveable parts. Judges include Margaret Braun, a sugar artist based in New York, and Leigh Grode, owner of Cake Divas bakery in Los Angeles. The winning cake design gets a $10,000 cash prize and goes on display at a marquee event at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

"The theme for the cakes was sharks - and it had to be in a positive light," Medina said. "Our cake had shark and sting rays coming out of all this corral."

The day of the competitions however, started and ended with technical difficulties for Medina and his crew.

"It was so frustrating," he said. "One thing after another went wrong."

The cake featured a water tube up the center that supplied bubbles. About 2 ½ hours into the competition it broke and a quick repair was attempted. The cake topper was a shark fin that rotated. During the initial photo shoot of the completed cake, the motor rotating the fin burned out. Finally, the motors that made sharks move in and out of the corral stopped working as well.

"We had backup batteries, but we couldn't get it to work," Medina said. "We found out we'd be on the show only six days before shooting. We were a little over our heads."

Despite the difficulties the group experienced, it was still fun to create a true-to-life replica of edible sharks.

"My favorite thing about this business is that I'm creating art that you can eat," Medina said. "People will pick up their cake and say, 'Oh I don't want to eat that!'

"I'll say, 'But that's the best part.'"

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey's "Zing Zang Zoom" opens tonight at the Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario. I got to visit with Asia, one of the 11 elephants that will perform tonight while she got a bath.

Who knew elephants were so CUTE?! She loved getting sprayed down and scrubbed, even closing her eyes and sticking her tongue out a bit when the brush felt especially good. She's bathed daily, fed, plays and gets nearly daily pedicures.

Here's an average weekly shopping list for the total of 54 elephants cared for by Ringling Bros.:

• 4,000 pounds or 30 cases of red apples


• 3,000 pounds or 60 bags of carrots


• 700 pounds or 18 cases of bananas


• 38,000 pounds or 700 bales of hay


• 2,500 pounds of sweet feed


• 700 loaves of whole wheat bread

Asia, a female elephant weighs about 8,000 pounds. Females average 8,000 to 10,000 pounds. The mail Asian elephants (all Ringling Bros. elephants are Asian), weigh in at 10,000 to 12,000 pounds when full grown.

Despite their size, they are very agile and graceful when they move.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

As moms, we tend to share our opinions from A to Z and everything else in between. Whether it's about which sunscreen works best or how the President is doing, we're ready to provide a comment about it.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

If you think professors and teachers know it all, think again. The true keepers of wisdom and knowledge are everyday moms. One might opine that Pampers are better than Huggies because of such and such. Another will give a brilliant explanation about how the meat from Vons tastes better than the meat from Stater Brother's.

I was driving home after picking up the kids from day camp the other evening and for the four hundredth time my daughter asked me to tell her everything I know about volcanoes. Then the boy wanted to know all about that deep part of the ocean with the weird creatures where divers can't reach.

Do everyone's kids LOVE hearing about geology, storms, space and stuff like that? I swear they are riveted whenever I dig deep for the 10th grade earth science knowledge. Thank God for the Discovery and Learning channels. It seriously got us through our recent road trip to the Texas hill country.

The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids, Volume 3 just hit book stores and it looks like it's got a ton of fun facts (and they are probably a lot more accurate than my hazy memory). Here's an excerpt:

Many Moons

• A week is roughly the length of a phase of the Moon--7 days, 9 hours. (See "Why the Week Has Seven Days" on page 14.)

• Years ago, Native Americans kept track of the seasons by observing the Moon. The tribes gave each full Moon a name to describe conditions related to weather or activities of daily life, such as planting, harvesting, hunting, and fishing. These include January's full Moon, the "Sun Has Not Strength to Thaw Moon" (Algonquin); June's full Moon, the "Fish Spoils Easily Moon" (Wishram); July's full Moon, the "Moon When Limbs of Trees Are Broken by Fruit" (Zuni); and December's full Moon, the "Moon When the Wolves Run Together" (Cheyenne). (See "Many Moons" on page 10.)

Fun Activity: The second Monday in October is Native Americans' Day. Find out about the Native Americans who once made their home in your area. Maybe they still do. Write facts about them on strips of paper 1 inch wide and 5 inches long. Glue or tape the strips together to form a chain. Use it as a decoration for a Native Americans' Day party.

• Myths and legends about eclipses abound. During a lunar eclipse, for example, ancient Egyptians believed that a mythical pig had swallowed the Moon. According to Mayan folklore, a jaguar had swallowed the Moon. In China, people believed that a three-leg toad had devoured the Moon. (See "Something Is Eating the Moon and the Sun!" on page 28.)

Fun Activity: During a lunar eclipse, Earth blocks light from the Sun, forming a shadow in space. The darkest part of the shadow, where all of the Sun's light is blocked, is the umbra. The lighter part, where blockage is only partial, is the penumbra. Observe a partial lunar eclipse and make sketches of where the umbra and penumbra fall. If you have a video camera, you may be able to record the Moon's movements through the umbra and penumbra.

For more projects and tips for kids, visit Almanac4kids.com and download our free 13-chapter Activity Guide chock-full of entertaining and educational projects that correspond to or complement the articles in the Almanac for Kids.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Sometimes we get so busy with our lives that we forget to make time for our own mom. Our kids, spouse, work, and home cry out for our attention at every moment of the day. My kids literally demand all of me. Whether it's help on the potty, a sippy-cup refill, or a story to read together, it's never ending. Likewise, the laundry piles are toppling over and the dishes are all but jumping out of the sink themselves.

So, when my mom comes for a visit, it's easy to put her on the back-burner. She doesn't mind because she sees that everything is crazy and responds by helping me out while she's here. I love when Mom comes because my stove always gets cleaned and she teaches my middle daughter how to fold laundry.

According to Parents magazine, more infants are born in August than any other month. If you have a little one about to make a grand entrance, here's a numerical account of what to expect during the first year:

- 122 hours reading to your newbie

- 503 miles strolled with baby

- 10 inches grown

- 61,000 smiles flashed by your sweetie

- 156 baths given

- 1,440 hours of sleep lost

- 3,120 diapers changed

- 2,460 bottles filled

Cute!

Article by guest author Jeanne Gehret, M.A., author of three picture books for children with ADHD:

September 13-20 is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Week. When I mentioned this to the mother of a child with attention problems, she laughed. "I wish I only had to think about ADHD one week a year," she said. "For us, it's a year-round concern. I guess this refers to when it's uppermost in our minds because of starting school."

Jeanne Gehret

I agreed. More than any other time, September's when we parents of kids with ADHD establish the accommodations necessary for our children to survive and thrive in school. In truth, however, our efforts continue all year long. As the parent of a child with ADHD, you can help your youngster transition comfortably and successfully into a new school year by asking yourself these four questions:

What new people or routines will my child encounter this year?
How can I prepare my child to do well in each setting?
How can I help the adults in each setting deal effectively with my child?
What can I do at home to support my child's educational goals?

In answering these questions, here are some suggestions.

Ten ways to help make school great this year for your ADHD child:

1. Meet the teacher(s) as early in the school year as possible. Establish yourself as the child's advocate who has your youngster's interests at heart and is willing to cooperate for the best academic experience. Mention previous classroom accommodations and techniques that worked. Even if your youngster has an individualized education plan or 504 plan, don't hesitate to mention the highlights. This helps teachers use effective strategies from day one, even if they haven't had time yet to sort through documentation.

Guest article by by children's educational psychologist Charlotte Reznick PhD:

For some kids, going back to school at the end of summer can be traumatic. Anticipating a new teacher, classmates, grade, or school can trigger fear, anxiety, and depression--not to mention very real physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, and insomnia.

Charlotte Reznick

Fortunately, your child has a whole toolbox to draw from--in her own imagination. Here are six imagination tools parents can use with young children to relieve "back-to-school-itis."

Teach her to balloon breathe. With her hands around her navel, have her breathe slowly and deeply into her lower belly so it presses into her hands like an inflating balloon. The Balloon Breath has dramatic calming effects and facilitates a waking state of focused concentration and receptivity to positive suggestions. This one tool makes all the other ones easier.

Visit his special place. This is a safe private place within your child's inner world where he can work out problems or take a mini-vacation from stress and worry. He can invite a wise Animal Friend into his special place to talk to and help him, or he can even dig for a treasure box there that contains the antidote to his fear.

Draw the fear. Putting an image on paper: (1) makes her fear of separation realer and less frightening than keeping it inside, and (2) makes her fear less likely to grow because there is a concrete picture to work with. Once she has a picture, she can talk to it, find out why it's trying to scare her, strike a bargain with it, surround it with a soothing color bubble, and so on.

Talk to his symptom. When a child suffers from a worry headache or stomachache, these three questions can help eliminate the pain. Have him do deep balloon breathing (diaphragmatic breathing), then ask: (1) What color is it? (2) What shape is it? (3) How heavy is it? After more breaths, ask him again. Continue to breathe and question in rounds. His pain will likely change or disappear. If it doesn't completely go away, ask the ache what it wants him to know, do, or understand to release any more bits of pain.

Picture the future. Artwork is also an effective starting point when you're working with clear end-goals, like getting a good night's sleep or reducing a fear. Have your child draw two drawings--how things are now and how she'd like them to be. Hang the picture in her bedroom; this is a great reminder of her desired goal and the first step toward getting there.

Encourage drama. For kids whose nature tends toward drama, acting out their worries and troubles is a wonderful way to release them. Let them play it out--with puppets, with their bodies, with anything their imagination suggests. It's amazing what creative solutions come up when given free reign.

Charlotte Reznick is a child educational psychologist, an associate clinical professor of psychology at UCLA, and author of a new book, The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success (Perigee, 2009, $14.95).

Because these have been VERY popular books in our household, I wanted to share this week's Tagged! episode on the Barnes & Noble site, www.BN.com/Tagged. Mary Pope Osborne of the Magic Tree House series is the guest with host Molly Pesce and special guest Charlotte - 7-year-old Osborne daughter - participates as well.

They'll talk about the newly released A Good Night for Ghosts, the 42nd adventure in the series. Here about the inspiration behind the tree house, the introduction of Merlin and how the input of children has helped shape the series from the beginning.

Check out Tagged! here.

I found a great shopping site that earns cash back without using a credit card for those of you getting to work on the back-to-school shopping. Check out ebates.com. Most stores offer 2 to 3 percent cash back and it includes the biggies like Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, etc.

Written by guest author Trudie Mitschang:

Trudie Mitschang

Guest Author

People tell you childhood years fly by and encourage you to enjoy the fleeting days of Christopher Robin and Pooh. I know I've tried, but in my mad-cap rush to get things done and race through my to-do list, entire days disappear in a blur of activity - I'm inexplicably proud of the fact that I can band aid a boo boo, clean up spills, make snacks and text a friend all at the same time. Then, like you, I catch myself operating at warp speed and vow yet again to simply slow down. But have you noticed that when you pause long enough to catch your breath you practically get run over by all of the other people who are in a frantic, pointless rush?

After the piece on the Riverside dancer with Cystic Fibrosis ran last week (read it here), I received an e-mail from a Florida family with a 5-year-old daughter who has CF.

"Our youngest daughter, Zoe, is five and has CF. She too fights everyday for her life. Fortunately she's healthy right now. My wife has a CF friend that is down to about 24 percent lung function and considering transplant. We are huge advocates of CF awareness and work hand in hand with our local Cystic Fibrosis Foundation chapter to both raise funds for research and promote awareness.

"If you have a few minutes today, please take the time to view Zoe's video montage linked on the RH sidebar of her web page attached below. It's really great and very worth watching.... promise! It's viewing is actually quite widespread... from former President Bush to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah (who have a son the same age as Zoe with CF and actually wrote to us) to many in between. Feel free to pass along our best wishes to Adam and feel free to share Zoe's web page as well! We are in a race against time and our children's lives depend upon awareness."

Visit Zoe's Web page at http://zoeforlife.blogspot.com.
Be sure to watch Zoe's slideshow on the right side of the Web page.

San Bernardino County Museum's Curator of Paleontology Eric Scott will talk about the Rancho La Brea "tar pits" in a lecture, "Rancho La Brea: Old Pits, New Finds." The lecture, free with museum admission, will be on Saturday, August 16 at 2 p.m. at the museum. The following weekend Scott will lead a field trip to the George C. Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries on Saturday, August 22.

2002/The Associated Press

The famous pits are one of the richest concentrations of land-based animal fossils from the Pleistocene Epoch - the Ice Ages - anywhere on Earth. Scott, former chief excavator at Rancho La Brea's Pit 91 dig and a researcher for three decades, will include never-before-seen photos and information from the newest discoveries.

"These fossils, dating between twelve thousand and nearly forty thousand years in age, have given us an amazingly complete and detailed snapshot of ancient life during the final peak of the last Ice Age," Scott said. "Now, brand-new discoveries from previously unrecognized deposits are yielding fascinating new fossils that are changing many long-held perceptions of the site, while cutting-edge analytic tools are gleaning exciting new information from old bones."

Admission to the museum costs $8 for adults, $6 for students or seniors and $4 for children ages 5 to 12. For more information call 909-307-2669 or visit www.sbcountymuseum.org.

The Idyllwild Arts Foundation has received a National Endowment of the Arts grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The $50,000 grant will cover the salary of a full-time Parks Exhibition Center Manager at the Idyllwild Arts Academy from July, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

The manager develops, installs and maintains all aspects of 16 annual temporary and permanent exhibitions that involve 505 students, visiting artists and faculty for the Parks Exhibition Center and Eymann Sculpture Garden, which serve both the Idyllwild Arts Academy and Summer Arts Program.

"With over 1,000 works of art created annually by students, visiting artists and faculty, exhibitions could not happen without an experienced professional in this position," said Bill Lowman, president of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation.

When Redlands resident Cynthia Capen attended an afternoon Mass in May 2005 at The Holy Name of Jesus church in Redlands, she didn't know it would change the course of her life for the next four years.

Recently diagnosed with colon cancer and caring for her dying parents, Capen was looking for spiritual comfort at a time of personal crisis.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

That's when Father Tony Ricard, a priest visiting from New Orleans, walked into her life wearing Michael Jordan shoes, a Mickey Mouse watch and a rat's-tail hairdo.

"He came into my life at a time when I needed inspiration," Capen said. "It was the first time in years I'd been that tuned in at a Mass."

Now, 4½ years later, she is in the final stages of filming and editing a documentary on Father Tony. She has 246 hours of footage, has spent about $160,000 and is searching for the final $6,000 to $10,000 needed to finish the film and submit it to the Sundance Film Festival by the Sept. 2 submission deadline.

See a video of the documentary film's process here.

Brand Model and Talent Agency is holding its 2009 Model Search August 1 at The District at Tustin Legacy. Unsigned guys and girls ages 15-25 are invited to participate in the event and finalists will compete for a one-year contract with the full-service agency.

The judging panel will include Greer Wylder of Greer's OC, Mona Shah of Moxxe PR, Don Bartolo of 944 Magazine, Patty Brand and Linda Robirds of Brand Model and Talent Agency, and travel and fashion photographer Joe Regan.

Where: The District Stage (in front of Borders), The District at Tustin Legacy, 2437 Park Ave., Tustin

Timeline
Open call event, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 - Contestants turn in applications, judges snap photos and review applications from 10 a.m.-2p.m. Finalists will be announced at 3:30 p.m.
Runway exercise, Wednesday, Aug. 5 - Finalists can take part in a runway exercise at Brand Model and Talent Agency.
Fashion show, 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 - Finalists will participate in a live fashion show featuring clothes and accessories from Tilly's, Madison Bleu and Angelic Boutique. Makeup and hair will be done by ULTA's cosmetics. The winning models will be announced at 7 p.m.

For more information visit www.brandmodelsearch.com.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

The smell of dust has never been so sweet. You open up the warped and faded storage bag to retrieve that old tent and the memories come flooding in. Thoughts of hot chocolate and S'mores around the fire-ring fill your mind. So do the spooky campfire stories about ghosts and goblins.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

I especially enjoy my childhood memories from beach-camping. The food tasted so good. I'm not sure which was better, the smoky flavor of eggs and bacon or the salty ocean breeze in the background. We loved playing on the beach all day long and walking up the tower of never-ending wooden steps to a cold piece of watermelon or a chilled beverage. We frequently gathered up a wad of quarters and walked or biked to the camp-store for frozen fruit bars, the kind with real fruit in them. Remember those? The long days ended with glorious sunsets overlooking the majestic Pacific.

Riverside resident Dianne Bright became a stay-at-home mom about five years ago. As the diaper- and cartoon-filled days passed, she realized she needed to find a way to feel connected to the outside world.

Terry Pierson/The Press-Enterprise

Mariposa Kisses blogger Dianne Bright, 33 of Riverside, blogs as her daughter decides it's play time at the family home.

Soon after she created Mariposa Kisses, an online blog about motherhood, children, faith, food and a variety of other topics.

"I started using online forms of communication and media more," Bright said. "I'm at home ... Without my online connections I'd feel lonely. Knowing other moms are reading my blogs makes me feel valued and appreciated."

Moms are taking over the social networking world sharing their experiences and opinions on anything from politics to products, according to Internet watchers.

In 2006, they made up 11 percent of the users on social sites such as Facebook and MySpace, according to the "21st Century Moms" report released last month by online parenting network BabyCenter. Now moms make up 63 percent of users.

Marketers have responded accordingly, monitoring popular blogs and launching mom communities such as Warner Bros. Television Group's MomLogic, a mom-themed online community.

In response to the upswing, consumer marketing research company Nielsen Online monitors between 10,000 and 13,000 mom blogs, tracking trends for its "Power Mom 50" list that includes the top 50 mom bloggers in the country based on traffic, Twitter followers and several other indicators.

OK, so what qualifies as "Mom Jeans?"

The clothing phenomenon, satirized on the web and on TV's Saturday Night Live, has resurfaced. The best definition we can offer is... "those baggy, high-waisted, not terribly flattering pants that Mom wore to family picnics."

Recent sightings of MJs:

--Ultra-hip Scarlett Johansen was photographed in jeans that climbed waaay past her midriff.

--Though she shed her Dallas Cowboy-friend, Jessica Simpson doesn't appear to want to give up the double-waisted, loose-fitting jeans she wears while off-camera.

THE ASSOCIATED JEANS

"They're comfortable," said First Fan Barack Obama of his jeans

--And even President Obama got caught up in the fray. When he threw out the first pitch at the All-Star Game last week, his baggy jeans were mocked by TV and web pundits as a male version of MJs. His response: "Those jeans are comfortable For people who want a president to look great in tight jeans, I'm sorry." (To be fair, President Bush was often mocked, too, for his penchant for comfy "Crocs" shoes.)

So do you have a pair of MJs in the closet? Has this wave of sightings made them suddenly hip? Let's hear from you, Mom! And you, too, Dad. Are your jeans of the "relaxed fit" variety?

Lake Elsinore Outlets just updated their LEO Kids Club activities for the month of August. Here's what's going on:

Wednesday, August 5: STORY TIME & COLORING with the Lake Elsinore Library.
Friday, August 7: ANNIE BANNANIE - Through the magic of balloons and audience participation, children learn the value of persistence while helping Annie create silly fun.
Friday, August 14: TROPICAL WIND CHIME CRAFT - Color a wood wind chime in bright sunny colors.
Wednesday, August 19: STORY TIME & COLORING with the Lake Elsinore Library.
Friday, August 21: UNDER THE SEA - Create an underwater-themed 3-D mobile.
Friday, August 28: FISH PINWHEELS - Design a fish pinwheel craft project.

Activities are every Friday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and every other Wednesday from 11 a.m.-noon.

For more information call 951-245-0087 or visit www.lakeelsinoreoutlet.com.

Is homework out of control? Some parents think so and many school districts across the country are thinking about following the "10-minute rule" created by Duke University psychology professor Harris Cooper. The rule says kids should get 10 minutes of homework for every grade level. That's 10 minutes of homework each night for a kindergartener and 50 minutes for a fifth grader.

The rule has been endorsed by the National PTA and the National Education Association. Most fifth graders I know have several hours of homework each night and in some cases, it's so extreme, the parents are doing projects for the kids (shhhhhhhh!) because there's just not enough time in the evenings to get it all done.

Parents seems to be split on the issue with some saying homework provides necessary repetition students need to learn a subject and Mom and Dad should step up to the plate and provide all the support needed. Others believe too much homework steals time from childhood activities kids should be free to pursue.

There's got to be a happy medium in there somewhere. Maybe this 10-minute rule could do the trick.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but back-to-school season is upon us once again. I blinked and summer vacation was nearly over. Now if someone would tell this heat wave that summer's over...

We've got about three weeks until most schools get back in session, so I'm finding school clothes, backpacks, supplies and after-school plans on the brain with increasing frequency.

Last year it was Spiderman, Ironman or Transformers for my youngest and High School Musical, Hannah Montana or anything with butterflies for the oldest. Somehow we've moved on to Tony Hawk, Star Wars, iCarly and anything with animals.

Last year I bought all kinds of school supplies and realized soon after that the kids didn't need them (except for working at home). So we ended up donating most of the stash to the classrooms. I'm guessing that kind of thing will be even more appreciated this year.

There are back-to-school checklists all over the place, but here's yet another that will hopefully help moms and dads at least START the year out organized and ready to roll.

The Big Stuff

Am I forgetting anything? Please let me know if I am! And, if you have tips for parents about shopping, getting kids ready for school, packing lunches or anything else, please share.

Riverside resident Adam Young thought his professional ballet dancing career was over when his health began failing from cystic fibrosis complications.

Then Riverside City College dance department professor Mark Haines approached him with the request that he be the school's guest artist for its summer showcase.

Adam Young

Although he had to give up professional ballet three years ago, he recently got back in the studio choreographing and working with students preparing for an in-studio concert that will be held in the school's Huntley Gym on Saturday and Sunday.

"My need for continuous oxygen was not a problem as I could walk the room freely with my 50-foot line of tubing," Young said of his experience working with the students.

Admission to the shows is free and donations will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Despite being diagnosed at age 1 with the genetic disease that causes abnormally thick mucous to form on the lungs, Young was still active growing up and was able to stay relatively healthy into adulthood.

At 25 years old, his doctors informed him that he was at 28 percent lung capacity and required a lung transplant.

"Without the necessary surgery I would only have two to three years left to live," Young said. "Needless to say, this information was not easily received, which led to a two-year depression that both family and dance have since helped me overcome."

Now 28 years old, he is still hoping to be the recipient of a living lobar lung transplant, which could extend his life at least another 10 to 15 years if his body accepts the transplant.

This type of transplant requires two donors -- who may experience diminished lung capacity for a bit, but will recover full capacity -- who match his A-negative blood type and meet all the other health criteria.

Dance Summer Showcase
Where: Riverside City College, 4800 Magnolia Ave., Huntley Gym, Room 102
When: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free ($5 donation suggested)
Information: 951-222-8000

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

It's integral that we teach our kids to behave responsibly. One element of that includes good follow-through. When our kids receive gifts, we should encourage them to write thank-you notes themselves. By letting them pick out the card or by designing their own, they are thinking through who bought them each particular gift. If they are young, you may choose to write most of the thank-yous while letting them pick out a couple of special ones. This trains them to form the habit from an early age.

Written by guest author Maura Ammenheuser:

For those of us taking extremely low-budget staycations this summer, it's tough to beat Costco for entertainment.

Maura Ammenheuser
Guest Author

I ventured into Costco one day last week on a grocery run. My kids and I found free entertainment in the form of the woman demonstrating a blender/food processor/chopper appliance that according to her schtik would do everything but vacuum our carpets. On our first pass, the kids were only interested in the itty bitty cups of "ice cream" she mass-produced for samples. She said something about fruit and ice but I was too busy slurping to listen. So were the kids. They loved the stuff.

About 25 children and their parents stood barefoot in the Redlands Community Center on Saturday morning following the instructions of Afro-Brazilian dancer Linda Yudin of the Viver Brasil Dance Company.

Eric Reed/The Press-Enterprise

Kids and their parents participate in dance with Los Angeles based Viver Brasil at the Redlands Community Center Saturday.

After a few directions, the conga drum players began to beat a steady tattoo and the group tested their newly learned Samba Reggae moves seen during the annual Carnaval.

"We're making a positive vibration," Yudin told her students. "We'll push into the world all of this beautiful, positive energy."

The Viver Brasil Dance Company hosted the third workshop in the Redlands Music Association's yearly Redlands Bowl Children's Summer Festival workshops. The series continues on Tuesdays and Saturdays through Aug. 11.

Think your gym or park has the best pickup basketball in the Inland area?

Let us know!

Contact Aaron Burgin at 951-375-3733 or aburgin@PE.com with the name and address of the community center or park where you play and the days and time of best games.

--The Press-Enterprise

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Have you ever met a worry monster before? You might wonder what I'm talking about, so I'll reword my question. Have you ever met a mom before? Let's face it Moms, we're worry-warts down to the core. We can't help it. It's second nature to think through every possible scenario, which makes us efficient at paying the bills but not so good at relaxing and lowering our blood pressure.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

While it's reasonable for us to be cautious, it's ridiculous to be consumed by worry. We should make intelligent choices to protect our family, like locking the doors at night, closing first-floor windows, and storing dangerous house-hold items in safe places. We can also be smart when we're out and about, by holding our child's hand while crossing the street, teaching her to ask us first before accepting candy from a stranger, and having her stay close by while at the mall or at a theme park.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Some stores and restaurants are just not kid friendly. And that's okay of course because you'd expect for certain places to exclude kids. It's ironic, however, when you receive an unfriendly scowl or a glance of disdain at a place that you'd expect to be kid-friendly.

AMC Entertainment and the Autism Society have teamed up to provide Sensory Friendly Film showings of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and G-Force at AMC Ontario Mills 30.

Autism often comes with sensory challenges such as hypersensitivity to light or sound. In order to provide a comfortable setting for children with autism, the movie auditorium will have lights brought up and the sound turned down.

Families will be able to bring their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Audience members are also welcome to walk, dance, shout or sing.

Where: AMC Ontario Mills 30, 4549 Mills Circle, Ontario
Contact: 909-476-1234

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
When: 10 a.m., July 25
G-force
When: 10 a.m., August 1

Written by guest author Trudie Mitschang:

Trudie Mitschang

Guest Author

We live in a feel good society that encourages the pursuit of happiness and self fulfillment. We delight in stories of people past their prime who take risks and succeed against the odds, like the 90-year old who gets a college degree, or the universally inspirational Dara Torres, the 41-year old mom who became an Olympic swim champion. Just last week on America's Got Talent, a weathered-looking Midwest grandma wowed the crowd with her stand-up comedy routine, and you'd be hard pressed not to root for her. The message of the day it seems is "it's never too late so go for your dreams!" But a headline I recently read made me question the wisdom of that philosophy.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

"Mommy, do the elves help Santa make the toys?" my four-year-old daughter asked. I answered, "Yes, they do," feeling a little bit dishonest. I was wondering how much longer she and her other two siblings would believe in Santa Claus.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

I get a similar feeling when I talk to my son about how cool it will be when he loses his first tooth because then he'll "get to put it in a cute pillow and get money for it." I'm not quite sure how he'll respond when he finds out that the tooth fairy is just a myth, but I think he'll come through unscathed.

Students of a city-sponsored weeklong youth opera camp and adult master class will perform Saturday at 2p.m. at the Cesar Chavez Community Center in Riverside.

The concert is free and open to the public. The 30 participating youth and adults will be performing selections from "Hansel and Gretel" and "Barber of Seville."

Manual Aybar, artistic director for the Riverside Lyric Opera, is directing the camp. Mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman of the Los Angeles Opera is working with the youth and adults.

"Singing is our first instrument, and one that rewires the way we face the day," Guzman said. "When kids and adults reach inside and sing from the bottom of their hearts, they tap a well of emotions that is liberating and courageous."

During the week of camp, students have been involved in high-energy classes in vocal instruction, acting and movement.

Where: 2060 University Ave., Riverside
When: 2 p.m., July 18
Cost: Free

By Dave Carpenter
The Associated Press

CHICAGO -- Over the river and through the recession to grandmother's house they go. The lingering recession is forcing cash-strapped parents to cancel camp for the kids. Instead, they're being packed off to their grandparents'.

For 5-year-old Ashlyn Preston, this summer's agenda includes familiar activities such as swimming and cooking. But this time, there are no counselors, canoes or costly registration fees -- just grandma and grandpa.

The hundreds of dollars a week that would have paid for camp are being diverted to more essential needs -- groceries, electricity and house payments.

A Positive
The arrangement shifts the child-care burden to grandparents, many of whom enjoy the extra time with their grandchildren. The kids' parents save money and get some time to themselves. And the grandkids get more love and attention, and better food.

Forty years ago this month, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the surface of the moon. In honor of Apollo 11, the Taco Bell Discovery Science Center is hosting a day of celebration with activities that could inspire the next generation of space explorers.

Visitors to the Science Center Monday July 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. will launch seltzer rockets, watch a special short 3D features from teh 2008 animated film, "Fly Me to the Moon" and explore the exhibit dedicated to Aldrin.

Aldrin's new book children's, "Look to the Stars," will be read during story times throughout the day.

Parents and educators are also invited to learn about the starting a Future Scientists and Engineers of America club at their school or organization.

Where: 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., July 20
Admission: $12.95, adults; $9.95, children ages 3-17
Information: 714-542-2823, www.discoverycube.org

Potter is back for another round and we want to know what you think "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."

Submit your own "instant" review here.

The circus is coming to town - and it's not your Mom and Dad's circus. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's "Zing Zang Zoom" will be at Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario Wednesday, July 29 through Sunday, Aug. 2.

In addition to all the traditional acts you probably remember from childhood, there are magic and illusion scenes. At one point an 8,000 lb. elephant disappears and later a clown is transformed into a tiger.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

The Romashov and Skokov Troupes

"Zing, zang, zoom are the new magic words - not abracadabra," said Andy Perez of Feld Entertainment, the show's producer. "It's a really good description of how this show moves."

In addition to the quick pace and flashy illusions, this year's circus has an all-access pre-show. Visitors can bring their cameras and try on costumes, meet the performers and get up close and personal with the elephants.

"In these days of posting photos on Facebook, it's a great place to create memories," Perez said. "The circus is one of those rare places these days where you can take the entire family and they'll all have a great time."

This is the first time "Zing Zang Zoom" has been at the Citizens Business Bank Arena.

It's such an intimate setting, I think you'll feel the breeze of the trapeze people as they go by," he said.

Where: 4075 Concours, Ontario
When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday (doors open one hour prior for each show); 7:30 p.m., Thursday; 7:30 Friday; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $15-$65
Parking: $8
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com

Lawmakers are considering modifying the state's infant safe-surrender law, extending the time period for anonymous surrender from three days after birth to 30. The bill was authored by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Newark, who said he wants to expand the life-saving law.

The bill has passed the Assembly and is being considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed three past attempts at extending the safe-surrender time frame.

The current law was initiated by Debi Faris of Yucaipa in 2000. As founder and director of Garden of Angels, she has buried 85 Inland infants since 1996. The Yucaipa-based nonprofit group holds services for babies who have died after being abandoned.

In 2000 she urged former state Sen. Jim Brulte, R-Rancho Cucamonga, to author the current safe surrender law. Since it's inception in 2001, 279 California babies have been safely surrendered - 44 from Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

"When this law was created it was created only to be used as an emergency law," Faris said.

She worries that 30 days may be too long to leave babies with parents who may not care for them properly. She pointed out that there are other options such as foster care and adoption and that the current law also has a two-week cooling off period in which parents can reclaim their children if they change their minds.

Torrico hopes that extending the time period would give confused mothers more time to consider their options. His bill includes provisions to educate mothers about the safe-surrender law, to let local agencies rather than counties designate safe-surrender sites, and to protect the sites from being dangerous for a surrendered child before discovery.

Press-Enterprise reporter Philip Riley contributed to this report.

Share your thoughts here.

Susan LaScala

By Susan LaScala, RN-C
Family Nurse Practitioner

You have a friend in crisis. She has cancer and is going to the hospital weekly for chemotherapy treatments; or she has a 3-year-old daughter and has just delivered twin baby girls; or she has just delivered a premature baby. Any number of scenarios fit the bill. They may not be life or death, but there are countless ways life gets disrupted.

The most common reaction to such situations is for you to call and express your feelings - "Congratulations on the babies! But twins! You poor thing..." or "I'm so sorry to hear about the illness..." Then you automatically say into the phone, "What can I do to help?" Your question is heartfelt and sincerely meant, but probably, ultimately, not going to be helpful to the person in crisis.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

After listening to our kids' whining all day long, isn't it time we moms took a break? For a much more relaxing kind of wine, check out the Winery at Canyon Crest in Riverside. If you've met the owners, Kevin and Carolyn Craig, you know that you're in for a treat. The ambiance is classy and relaxed and the prices are reasonable.

By Erica Shen
The Press-Enterprise

Local youth will show off their abilities to sing, act and dance at a talent show Saturday. Teen Talent Challenge is set for 2 p.m. in the community room of the Murrieta Public Library.

"People can expect local talents to be performing," librarian Joyce Brown said by phone. "It's an opportunity for the kids to show off their creativity."

The competition, open to students in sixth through 12th grades, will include categories such as singing, dancing, acting, juggling and instrumental performances.

Brown said this is the library's first time hosting a talent show. The event is meant to coincide with the theme of the library's summer reading program for children and teens, "Be Creative."

Brown said the event is getting a good turnout with a number of students already signed up. The top three finishers will receive $100, $75 and $50 prizes.

Applications to participate in the show may be picked up and filled out at the library through Thursday(7/16). Performances can include up to seven people. Each performance will be allowed five minutes. There should be no profanity, excessive violence or offensive material.

Teen Talent Challenge
When: 2 p.m. Saturday (7/18)
Where: Murrieta Public Library, 24700 Adams Ave.
Info: 951-304-2665cq
To perform: Register at the library by Thursday

Reach Erica Shen at 951-763-3466, or eshen@PE.com

Article by Clinical Child Psychologist, Robert Belenky PhD:

It's possible to raise a good kid without calling in outside expertise or pushing pills. Raising a child well can actually be a pleasant experience for parents and children alike. Bringing up a child need not be a difficult, worrisome thing to do. One has only to take a deep breath, relax and enjoy observing silently as the baby transforms itself into the man or the woman that it was intended to be. And, along the way, we may notice the emergency of a very good kid.

Robert Belenky

Here are six suggestions for raising a well-adjusted and happy child without melodrama, an advanced degree or the help of chemicals:

1. Celebrate the right behavior, when your child does it. But no gushing. Be merely saddened when the wrong thing bursts forth from your child, and keep that sadness in moderation.

2. Expect that kid of yours to do the right thing -- or to want to do the right thing, anyway. Assume honesty. Be prepared for occasional disappointment, but at least celebrate good intentions. When you say something -- especially when you demand something -- really mean it and expect your child to hear you. Be firm but not dictatorial. Avoid threats, especially empty ones, and shun verbal and physical brutality.

3. Strive neither to bribe nor deprive. Your child should do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do, not in order to win the right to watch television, to eat a sweet desert, or to avoid a spanking.

4. Err on the side of generosity. Don't worry about being conned. Of course you will be conned now and then. All kids con their parents sometimes. Call the child's con, but stay the course: provide honest praise freely where appropriate, kind words where possible, and a sprinkling here and there of wit, stories, good food, sweet deserts, and fun and games. None of these should be in response to anything in particular that the kid does or doesn't do, but they should be offered simply because the spirit moves you.

5. A brief hug is sufficient. Holding onto your child for too long may become emotionally sloppy and make the poor kid feel like a baby. But better even than a hug (whether brief or sloppy) is to talk with your kid, not necessarily with sage advice but simply because it is great fun to talk with a child (even yours). And talking with a child means just that: talking with a child. That means both of you. Let the miniature person get a few words in edgewise, then respond. That is what we mean by "conversation." It is a give-and-take sort of thing.

6. Take that kid of yours very, very seriously. But avoid the long-face, solemnity thing. When your child tells you about an achievement, a victory, a challenge, or a defeat, listen carefully with a sympathetic ear, learn as much as you can, and respond honestly. A few words will usually do, or even an expression on your face that says what you feel can suffice.

Retain your sense of humor. But don't force yourself to be light or funny if you don't feel light or funny. If things go well, the child will eventually come to see him or herself as part of something very large -- the community and, indeed, the entire world. In a nutshell, provide your child with encouragement and positive experiences seasoned by pleasure, and you'll find yourself with a kid who's an even greater member of society than you could have hoped..

Robert Belenky, PhD, is a clinical child psychologist, now retired. He has worked with children in several countries and is the author of five books.
The most recent is "Tales of Priut Almus: Participant Observation in a Russian Children's Shelter." Visit him at his website: www.robertbelenky.com

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Being a good example is challenging but important, especially since our kids frequently model themselves after our behavior. They listen with the keen hearing of a bat, except of course when it's time to come downstairs for dinner. Since our children generally tune in to most of what we say, we need to be careful to use appropriate words in front of them.

Back-to-school shopping is already just around the corner, so here's a scoop on a deal. The Children's Place is starting a promotion tomorrow (July 14) that will last through Monday, July 27. I always hit this place for BTS shopping because they have amazing deals and cute stuff. So here's the promo - spend $30 and get a new backpack for $7.50. (half price). Happy shopping!

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

"To be, or not to be, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles..." and yadda-yadda-yadda. Shakespeare was going somewhere deep with his philosophical question of existence in Hamlet. My question as a mom of three small kids is way more simplistic: "To caff or not to caff?" I've gone back and forth you know, switching between caffeinated coffee and decaf. I've concluded that I really do need at least one cup of strong caffeinated coffee to make it through the morning. By the afternoon, I'm pretty good with a tall glass of ice-filled coke.

Disney HD has an upcoming made-for-TV movie, "Skyrunners" that needs some kid actors and auditions are coming up in the Inland region.

Empyre Casting is looking for kids ages 9-15 who can read short scripts on camera (provided at the audition). It's a non-union job and kids who are selected to work will be compensated $150.

Auditions are Sunday, July 12 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the All That Dance Performing Arts Center at 15320 Central Ave., Chino. Participants must be available for potential call-backs on Thursday 7/16, as well as the shoot dates of 7/20-22.

For more information call 966-774-9994.

Written by guest author Debbie Yocum:

Debbie Yocum
Guest Author

Any trip can take a lot of planning but with 6 kids in tow, it can be an even greater challenge. We have done the houseboat trip a few times which can be a lot of fun but can be a lot of work too. It is almost as much work as being at home except you are on the water while you cook your dinner, fold your laundry or clean your floors (which are always dirty no matter what).

According to the BabyCenter's newly-released "21st Century Mom Report" there are seven types of moms and we all fall into one or more of these categories. Here they are:

1. Social Mom: Social media is mass media.
2. Media Mom: Naptime is the new primetime.
3. Gadget Mom: Today's moms not intimidated by technology.
4. Mealtime Mom: Family dinner takes priority.
5. Eco-Mom: Saving the planet starts at home.
6. Dr. Mom: Almost a physician
7. Power Mom: Empowered and choosing balanced.

The report findings are the result of a two-part tracking study conducted with NovaQuant in 2006 and 2009, as well as a series of 18 in depth surveys conducted by BabyCenter United States between January and June of 2009.

The report's finding showed that motherhood is a time of great transformation for women in terms of products, brands and other consumer-related practices.

Get a dose of the creepy crawlies at Taco Bell Discovery Science Center's "Bugs Alive Weekend" July 25 and 26. As part of the summer exhibition, "Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home," the science center is teaming with community partners for bug education, as well as tips for improving the environment.

Here's what's going down over the weekend:

• Entomologist and educator Dr. Sue Van Vorhis Key will show her "Traveling Insect & Arthropod Zoo."


• Orange County Watersheds will give kids a hands-on demonstration of small steps that can make big improvements in the quality of our water supply.


• A Girl Scout camp trainer will offer tips and interactive demonstrations.


• The Santa Ana Fire Department and the Orange County Fire Authority will offer info on fire prevention.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

As I raced off to my step class, already ten minutes late, my husband allowed the kids to run out to my car for one quick kiss. I begrudgingly puckered up my lips as each one of my three kids excitedly reached their necks up to my window. My youngest could hardly reach my lips, which made me stretch my neck out like a giraffe to reach hers.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

Me, a perfect parent? Yeah right. I'll take "pretty good" any day. But, you've seen them. You know exactly who I'm talking about. Meet the Perfs, the family that has it all together. Even when it's raining out, the sun shines over their freshly painted house. Their luxury cars are always spotless. Their clothes all look professionally dry-cleaned; even the baby's sleepers are pristine.

Parents Magazine has tips for moms and dads hearing, "I'm bored," over and over now that we're at the mid-summer vacation lull. Here are 24 tips for cheap fun that'll give the kids something to do:

1. Bike parade - Have the kids decorate their rides with streamers, stickers, flags and more and they can cruise up and down the street while parents applaud.
2. Local heroes - Tour your local police or fire station.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

Farmer's Slider combo

Farmer's Slider comboThis summer menu item is not a bite-sized snack on a dinky bun. It's a downsized version of Farmer Boys double cheeseburger with lettuce, pickles and a generous amount of dressing. A $5.49 combo includes fries and a small soft drink. I found the portions satisfying and enjoyed the flame-cooked flavor of the beef.

To learn more about mini-burgers and their big impact on the fast food industry, click here.

--Fielding Buck
951-368-9551

By David Yorke, Guest Author

I've written three children's books on the following topics; bullying, gossiping, and childhood obesity. The first was recently published. It is called Billy the Bully Goat.

My views on how to deal with bullying have changed over the years. I used to have a typical male point of view, which was to just punch the bully in the nose.

However, after observing today's bullying, I realize that it's not just one bad apple, but many and they often act in packs. In addition, the bullying is more on an emotional level than a physical one.

So, my view now is more wholistic. If a child is being bullied, I believe that child must seek the advice of some adult in his community that he or she trusts. That adult should seek the advice and support of other adults in the community including teachers, administrators, coaches, friends, and parents.

Together the community needs to make the victim feel comfortable and safe and the perpetrator needs intervention from those adults in his or her community. We've moved away from getting involved with problems we come across in our communities. Either because we don't know how to handle the confrontation or we're fearful of the repercussions.

My book Billy the Bully Goat shows how positive interaction can create a special place for all who live in it. The world has changed so much. I'm not sure why, but we as parents have given up a lot of our responsibilities. We either expect the schools, the children, or the media to guide them through what has become a very complicated life.

I believe each one of us, especially parents, must take responsibility for every child in our community. To the children, we should be a guiding light not a friend.

We can be friendly, but our primary concern should be to create a safe and positive environment in order to deal with all the complexities that the journey of life has to offer.

And that journey doesn't just end at 18.

Sculptures of beloved Dr. Seuss characters are going on temporary display in the Children's Zoo section of the San Diego Zoo.

Theodor Geisel, the author/illustrator known to the world as Dr. Seuss, was a resident of nearby La Jolla. Geisel's widow Audrey is a patron of the arts and the zoo.

The six- to eight-foot bronzes include the Cat in the Hat with his umbrella; Sam-I-Am with his plate of green eggs and ham; the Lorax standing on a tree stump; Yertle balancing on a tower of turtles; and the Grinch with his dog Max.

Take a look here.

--Fielding Buck
fbuck@PE.com

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE

If you're a REAL retro traveler, a vintage Airstream trailer is the only way to go.

With the economy in neutral (maybe even reverse), more folks are traveling the old-fashioned way this year. You know, pack up the kids, load up the station wagon .... er, SUV...and heading for the hills. Or the lake or the campground or just down to Escondido to see Aunt Fern and her cockapoos.

All this road-trip hubbub makes me nostalgic for the family travel of yore. Pack up the Airstream trailer, pull out those fold-out maps from the Auto Club and wrap up those baloney sandwiches!

Do you have any photos of your family trips of years gone by? Got any road-trip stories to share...even that one where Uncle Rick got treed by the raccoon? Then share them with the Momarama crew.

Post your memories in the comments area. Or send your photos here.

The Auto Club says more and more people are staying home during this holiday weekend. That means more grilled burgers and back-yard gatherings...and fewer trips to far-off destinations.

How is your family spending your holiday weekend? If you've got clever ideas, post a comment to share with other momarama-watchers.

If you're stuck for ideas, have a peek at this list of Inland SoCal events.

Or search for local events in your area here.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY
NORCO
Fourth of July Country Jamboree, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Community Center Park, 3900 Acacia, Norco, free, 951-270-5632.
RIVERSIDE
Fourth of July Spectacular, 7 p.m., Riverside Sports Complex. Live concert, fireworks at 9 p.m. 1000 Blaine St. $4. 951-826-2000, 951-826-2000, www.riversideca.gov
La Sierra Park Aerial Fireworks Show, 9 p.m. 5215 la Sierra Ave. Free. www.riversideca.gov

THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE

Bam, pow, etc.

Mt. Rubidoux Aerial Fireworks Show, 9 p.m. Saturday, 4706 Mt. Rubidoux St. View from surrounding streets. 951-826-2000, www.riversideca.gov
July 4th Patriots Concert, July 4, 7 p.m. Saturday, White Park in downtown Riverside, near Ninth and Market Streets. Fireworks. Free, VIP tickets, $25, 951-781-0251. www.thephilharmonic.org
TEMECULA
Star Spangled Fourth of July Parade, 10 a.m., Old Town Front Street, traveling north from Second Street to Moreno Road.
Fun in the Park and Fireworks Show, July 4, 2-10 p.m., Ronald Reagan Sports Park, 30875 Rancho Vista Road, http://ci.temecula.ca.us
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
BIG BEAR LAKE
Fireworks Show, July 4, 8:45-9:15 p.m. on the lake. 909-866-4607
FONTANA
Red, White and Cruise, 2 p.m. Auto Club Speedway, 9300 Cherry Ave., Fontana.
REDLANDS
Fourth of July Concert, 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. Fox Event Center, 123 Cajon St., Redlands, $15, 877-264-4950.
Redlands Community Fourth of July, 11 a.m. Sylvan Park, corner of Colton and North University. Parade at 3:30 p.m. Fireworks show, 6 p.m. University of Redlands Stadium. Neil Diamond and Donna Summer impersonators. $7-$10. 909-748-0637
SAN BERNARDINO
Fourth Of July Glow Foam, 9 p.m. Asu Fox Theatre, 399 N. D St., San Bernardino, $15.

Thank goodness for my bookworm son. At age 10, he gets lost in a good read for hours at a time and keeps himself amused on long summer afternoons with the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series or, when those run out, anything remotely related to "Star Wars."

My 7-year-old, on the other hand, while a competent reader, lacks the bookworm gene. She asks me to read to her, but resists my efforts to train her to amuse herself with a good book for more than five minutes at a time.

Maura Ammenheuser
Guest Author

Given her lack of literary enthusiasm, I am surprised - no, flabbergasted - by the biggest hit, bookwise, of the summer for my daughter: a volume of poetry.

We're not talking Dr. Seuss, either, though like any other kid she's absorbed a heavy dose of "Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham." Rather, my girl is suddenly enchanted by Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear and Vachel Linsday.

On our last trip to the library - outings we've made with increasing frequency as I desperately seek the elusive tome that will capture my daughter's unaided attention - on impulse I picked up "The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis." Caroline Kennedy compiled this little volume, and details in its introduction how her mother and grandparents so loved poetry that they encouraged, or demanded, their children to memorize certain examples. This lovely book debuted in 2001 but it took me until last week to find it in the public library. Seeing as the last poem I read was "Paradise Lost," back in college some two decades ago, maybe I'm overdue for dose of rhyme and meter.

The Kennedy collection contains plenty of English-major material from Shakespeare, Byron and e e cummings. But it also includes a delightful chapter of kid-friendly poems - so kid-friendly that my daughter actually warmed to them faster than my book-devouring son.

My daughter was hooked when she recognized "The Little Turtle," by Lindsay, part of which she had memorized this winter as part of her first-grade language arts curriculum. Being an animal freak, she also quickly fell for "Teddy Bear's Picnic" (by Jimmy Kennedy), "Three Ponies" (Arthur Guiterman) and "The Owl and the Pussycat" (Lear). My son, meanwhile, adored two selections I read to him, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's classic, "Paul Revere's Ride," and "The Land of Counterpane" (Robert Louis Stevenson).

Our culture bombards children with visual images from movies, TV and video games. Despite limits on "screen time" in our house, my children have learned to rely on passive electronic media as their first resort for entertainment. Our society abbreviates the English language to accommodate texting, among other technical conveniences (will our kids forget that "for" is actually a word and not a numeral?).

Given all this, I'll take a little literary victory whenever I can. My daughter still isn't satisfied curled up on the couch - alone - with a book. But the last time she was bored, she sprawled across my desk as I worked, whined a bit - then spotted the Kennedy anthology and pulled it toward her. For a whole 30 seconds, she reread "The Little Turtle," reciting as she went, with a sing-song-y tone in her voice and a smile on her face.

I may turn her into an English major yet.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

The words majestic and intoxicating come to mind when I reflect upon my most recent dream vacation. With three small kids, you might assume it would have been less than perfect, but it wasn't. Every day spent in paradise was like being pasted into the pictures of a vacation brochure.

Dianne Bright
Guest Author

The flight to Maui was idyllic and relaxing since each of the kids had a generous supply of coloring books, card-games, and snacks. I hardly heard a peep out of them as I read my neglected copy of Stephanie Meyer's Breaking Dawn. Meanwhile, my husband oscillated between some peaceful shut-eye and the occasional perusal of Andrew Doughty's Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook.

Upon landing, we all sipped our favorite Starbucks beverages and enjoyed the refreshing coastal breeze from the airy exterior of the Maui airport. We instantly soaked in the blissful feelings of paradise and relaxation as we awaited our Ford Flex rental car. Shortly thereafter, we were off and coasting. Our eyes were pleasantly overwhelmed, as we took in the vivid shades of green along the island's mountainous coastline. Our cameras could hardly keep up with the ocean's vast array of dazzling blues.

On the first day alone, we para-sailed, kayaked, and snorkeled. Our children met up with three large and friendly turtles that they later named Oscar, Tuck, and Greeny. Over the next few days, we hiked, sun-bathed, and built our fair share of magical sand castles. It wasn't about which shoes to wear, but rather about which beach to walk upon barefoot.

The Four Seasons Maui Resort at Wailea enchanted us with its refreshing pools, its scrumptious fine-dining options, and its glamorous spa. To help recover from the slightest tinge of jet lag, I enjoyed their recommended signature massage called the "Mele Wailea" which means "the song of Wailea." This particular treatment claims to "...capture the rhythm of the island." It certainly did that for me.

Each of our twelve uninterrupted and lazy mornings at the Four Seasons greeted us with majestic ocean views from our third floor balcony. We truly felt we had stepped into paradise. A reporter from the Seattle Times Express commented on the resort's grandeur, stating, "...I highly recommend staying at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea...I was lucky enough to stay there for two nights and can attest to its magnificence."

The seafood served on the island was fresh and uniquely dressed with a plethora of sauces while complemented with a delectable array of fruity side dishes. The strawberry daiquiris were dangerously good, as were the beautiful sunsets. The intoxicating power of the island made us want to serendipitously sell our house and move to Maui, so we could savor every last one of our god-given breaths upon its volcanic-rich soil.

Did I mention that we brought a sitter with us? The kids had a blast watching videos and playing games with their favorite parent substitute. And we actually had time for each other during the warm breezy evenings. Our favorite night-time endeavor was simply to stroll along the moonlit beaches. Likewise, we enjoyed numerous luaus at various resorts, which included lively music and dancing.

By the end of our dream vacation, we had absorbed an excess of vitamin D. We had also gained about five pounds each from all of the scrumptious foods we had consumed. We weren't quite ready to say goodbye to this celestial island that had temporarily robbed us of our cares and worries.

But, even the best dreams must come to an end. This one was exceptionally hard to wake up from because the images had all been so real. I could even feel the ocean's spray upon my face, which I soon realized to be my dog's gentle licks greeting me into a new day in the sizzling heat of the Inland Empire.

My upcoming vacation could never be quite as glamorous as this "Dream Vacation". But, it will be packed with the most important details of all: my loving husband and my three precious children. The truth is that we could go away to an island retreat or just stay at home as long as we're together. The most tangible and valuable aspects of my dream are true and I'm thankful that I get to wake up to them each and every day.

From our friends in the business department:

Maybe it's because people are feeling less pinched at the gas pump this year than they did a year ago. Or maybe it's just because Independence Day falls on a Saturday this year.

Whatever the reason, the National Retail Federation found in a recent survey that more Americans are planning to celebrate the Fourth of July in some way this year than in 2008. Based on a survey of more than 8,000 consumers nationwide, the retail trade group projects 62.6 percent of Americans -- about 144 million people -- will host or attend a cookout, barbecue or picnic.

That compares with 61.2 percent (139 million people) in 2008.

The survey also found that more people will attend a local fireworks or community celebration (42.7 percent vs. 40.2 percent in 2008). Other popular celebrations will include attending a parade (11.5 percent) and traveling/taking a vacation (11.4 percent).

While the federation does not project how much people will spend, much of the outlay will likely be on food for those cookouts (and fireworks where permitted), because many already own the patriotic paraphernalia that come with celebrations.

BIGresearch, which conducted the survey, concluded that 121 million Americans own a U.S. flag, 89 million have patriotic-themed clothing, 58 million own decorations and 25 million have bumper stickers or car decals.

Apparently most of that stuff will be recycled and reused this year, because only 14 percent of all consumers plan to purchase new patriotic merchandise for the 2009 holiday. And that's down from 16 percent in 2008 and 17.3 percent in 2007.

Gas prices are considerably lower than a year ago, but that doesn't mean they're not on the minds of consumers. At the time the survey was taken, June 2-9, 44.5 percent of respondents said they will change their Independence Day plans if gas prices shoot up around the holiday.

-- Lou Hirsh
lhirsh@PE.com