In these tough times, many families are cutting corners and holiday trips are taking a back seat even more so during this Spring break. Like any other parents, I’m sure you’re looking for ideas to keep your kids occupied at home and out of trouble.

While computers and internet are a great resource, most parents are naturally cautious about letting their kids loose on the Internet. In actual fact, if you knew where to look, there is a lot of FREE and GOOD content available online. Let me just share a few here with you:
 

1. LEGO – Ideal for the Lego fan, your child can watch Lego comics and movies, play games and construct their own Web page to show off their creativity
2. Nick – Your child can pledge to save the world, play games, check out the latest news on SpongeBob or create a virtual life on Nicktropolis.
3. Pbskids – With games themed around Sesame Street, Clifford, Curious George, Arthur, Barney and other kid classics, your kids will have fun “interacting” with their favorite characters.
4. Cartoon Network Games – With more than 200 games featuring favorite cartoon characters, your kids can hunt monsters with Scooby-Doo, play Ninja Survival or follow the Path of a Jedi.
5. Funbrain – Part of the Family Education Network, the site provides educational activities for parents and teachers, as well as interactive games to help your kids with math and reading.
6. Funschool – This site, provided by Kaboose, is designed for elementary-age kids and offers free educational games as well as printable activities, coloring sheets and craft projects that will help your kids learn while having fun.
7. Hot Wheels Games – For car fans, Hot Wheels has dozens of vehicle-related games that let kids drive through mazes, race friends and solve puzzles.
8. Fortune Girls – beta website where tweens can try their hand at being fashion and business divas.

One of my favourite site to look for personalized gifts for kids is Frecklebox. My kids own a personalized placemat, colouring book as well as personalized story book from Frecklebox. If I had more money, I would definitely have bought a whole lot more.

Frecklebox has recently launched their new sticker collection, which is of course, personalized too. You simply tell them the name of the child and in an instant, the artwork is customized. The sticker selection offers 12 playful themes. Each theme features four designs and each order delivers one dozen stickers for just $3.95. Additional sheets of 12 are just $2.00 more. Frecklebox stickers make for adorable party favors and great gifts for any occasion.

Special for readers here: You can get 15% off your entire order by using promo code “STICKERS” at checkout. Hurry, this offer expires Friday, March 27.

AND WIN $5,000!!!

Here’s the scoop:

JustDoOne.org, the online community for sustainable living, today issued a global call for personal green solutions.  The Just Do One organization is collecting the best ideas for more sustainable living, summarized in three-minute YouTube-style videos, and sharing them free with the interested community worldwide.  The best video entry, as judged by the JustDoOne.org community and an expert panel, wins a $5,000 cash prize.

It’s pretty easy to participate. Do you teach and encourage your children to do things to save the environment such as recycle, turn off the lights when not being used, use canvas bags rather than plastic bags, use eco-friendly cleaning products, etc.?  If so, than pick your video camera or video phone and take a 3-minute video of your family/a family doing their part to save our environment. You can check out some videos which had been submitted for the contest by following this link – http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=justdoonecontest. The deadline to register is April 1, 2009

More information on the of the contest as well as the rules can be found here. Well, if you’ve always dreamt of being a member of Justice League, out to save the world, here’s your chance to make your dream come true.

Congratulations to

 Valerie M

for winning the $50 bundle giveaway from You Can Make This

Please email me your shipping address by using the Contact Form here. If the prize remains unclaimed by 6th March 2009, I will be doing a second draw.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Those who know me will know that I am a huge supporter of doing transactions online because the bulk of my time is spent on my laptop. Thus, I am pleased to introduce a homegrown Malaysian photo retail site called eoe online.

Though it is a norm in the UK to have photos printed online, it is still not a popular trend in Malaysia. Nevertheless, with the increasing rate of people going online, I foresee this service will soon become a firm favourite among many. Afterall, it’s convenient and time saving to do everything from the comfort of your home.

All you need to do is sign up for an account, upload the photos and order your print sizes as well as quantity. With the current promotion of  4R print at only RM0.30 and free delivery* for orders above RM35.00, this is definitely a wonderful deal that should not be missed.

Head over to eoe online and check it out for yourself. While you are there, do try out their Free and Functional Online Photo Album service to Store & Share your photos too!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Check out this iParenting Media award winning site  created by a stay at home mom, www.YouCanMakeThis.com. It provides downloadable instructions on how to make just about anything from children’s boutique clothing and jewelry, to handbags, home decor and more.  What makes the site unique is that these instructions are written by everyday moms who have an expertise in an area. They are written in a way that makes you feel you have a friend sitting right next to you, telling you what to do next. There are detailed instructions and step-by-step full-color photos so even the most “craft-challenged” person can make these items for their homes and families.

If you’d like to try out some products for free, you can sign up for their FREE newsletter. After sign-up, you’ll receive a link to your email inbox asking you to confirm subscription. Simply click on that link, and you’ll receive all of these product instructions pictured here, plus an online video and digital scrapbooking frames.  http://www.youcanmakethis.com/ycmt-newsletter.htm

WIN IT : Would you like to win a $50 bundle of even more DIY instructions from ? Here’s what you need to do to participate:

• Check out www.YouCanMakeThis.com and let me know in the comment section what you’d like to learn how to make.  You can learn how to make a Child/Adult Apron Set, Women’s Reversible Wrap Skirt, The “She Loves Me, She Loves Me KNOT” Handbag, The Reversible Patchwork Bucket Hat, Easy-Fit Pants, and Boys Ties.
• Three additional entries if you blog about this post (please leave your blog url) AND/OR
• Three additional entries if you subscribe to this blog via email (button on sidebar)
• Giveaway closes on 1st March 2009 and a winner will be selected using the Random.org number generator. Giveaway is open to everyone, regardless of location.

This is a heads up for all my UK readers. Roman Originals, a ladies apparel store in UK is now having a final clearance sale with many items going for under £7!!! 

I’ve got my eyes on the single breasted brown linen jacket below which is simply a must have for this season. And you know what?  Roman Originals is offering a promotion where customers can buy a jacket and get the bottom (trousers) FREE!!! I am talking about beautifully tailored jacket and trouser suits, in a delightful array of patterns, colours and materials. Isn’t that just such a unbelievable deal???

If suits are not your style, you can also check out the casual tops, must-have dresses as well as sophisticated evening wear at affordable prices. With 20% off and free delivery for orders over £75, this is definitely a sale you cannot miss!

For all you knitting and crocheting enthusiasts, here’s a heads up on a site you might like to check out. www.Quamut.com, Barnes & Noble’s how-to site, is offering any  of its popular knitting and crochet patterns for free. The handy, easy-to-use PDF format is normally priced at $2.95. You can now download the great variety of projects FREE OF CHARGE throughout the month of February!

From long fringed scarf, blue tunic sweater, and baby booties to cashmere dewdrops scarf, child’s ribbed mittens & hat, you are bound to find projects that suit your fancy. 

For knitting projects please follow the link: http://www.quamut.com/category/knitting_projects

And for crochet projects click here: http://www.quamut.com/category/crochet_projects

Happy Knitting & Crocheting ladies!