Need to save some time + moola this year? 4 ways to save right now!

1. Chuck Starbucks - If you have a thing for frappes, you can buy a 4-pack at the market + a pint of ice cream. Blend. Homemade frappe heaven is what that is! Totally delicious + so much easier on your purse.
2. Cut off cable - You can watch a ton of shows on the network apps. And Netflix + Hulu is cheaper than cable. Period.
3. Park in the first spot you see - you know how much gas you waste circling the lot for a closer space? Pull in the first available spot. Save time. Save money. Get some exercise. 3 birds, 1 stone.
4. Razors - how much money do you spend on razors (for yourself + your hubby)? Well you could spend $1 buck/month with Dollar Shave Club, and they will deliver high quality razors straight to your door. That means you save time (because you won't have to drive to the store) and you'll save money (on razors + gas). BOOM! You do the math.

Feel free to share some of your money saving ideas too!

How to Teach Your Children about the Dangers of Drugs

Teaching your children about the dangers of drug use can be a sensitive subject. A parent who approaches the topic too aggressively could unintentionally make a child more determined to rebel and get caught up in bad crowd. If a parent avoids initiating a conversation about the subject, however, children will learn about such topics from other, less-reliable sources. Experts at Morningside Recovery Center in Newport Beach, CA have seen it all. Here are just a few of their tips for broaching the subject casually and engaging your child in a productive discussion about the dangers of drugs.

Bring up The Topic During Television Shows

With many modern television shows candidly discussing drugs, parents have an easy way into a conversation on the topic. Parents can start sitting in on television sessions with their children to get an idea of the types of shows they like to watch. If their television lineup consists of police cars and drug lords, concerned parents can easily open dialogue about drug usage. Other parents may opt to restrict what their children watch on television. Regardless, television – or other forms of pop culture - can provide an excellent jumping off point to open up the topic more fully.

Have a Mentor or Spiritual Advisor Visit Regularly

Having support from religious mentors such as Rabbis, Pastors, and Reverends can help keep children away from drugs. A respectable spiritual figure can sometimes explain the dangers of drugs in a calm, graceful, and non-threatening fashion. Sometimes, children are more receptive to hearing this information from an outsider compared to hearing a “lecture” from mom and dad. 

Meet Any New Friends and Acquaintances

Parents who are concerned that their children may become involved with drugs should monitor their children’s acquaintances closely. They should invite new friends and acquaintances over for dinner, especially if their children are exhibiting odd behaviors after they spend time with such people. Young people who are involved in drugs often show tell-tale signs. Some signs of drug use include ignoring curfew, coming home with red eyes, appearing disoriented, being disrespectful to one or both parents, and sleeping long hours. Of course, in many cases, these are just examples of teenagers being teenagers. But it’s important to be aware and take note of any major shifts in behavior – especially as new friends come into the picture. 

High school children often introduce each other to drugs. Therefore, parents must be assertive about the friends that come to see their children. In the worst cases, parents can forbid their children from hanging out with troublesome friends until their parents show up for a discussion.

Even when parents take all the preventative measures possible, it’s still possible that their kids will experiment with drugs at some point in their lives. The therapists at Morningside Recovery have met with recovering addicts from all different backgrounds. Sometimes parents can prevent drug usage, and sometimes they can’t. Do what you can to stay active and involved in your children’s lives to spot a problem before it’s too late. 

**This is a sponsored guest post.**

Back to School Pre-K through College Hop - $25 Staples gift card

Welcome to our "Back to School Pre-K through College" hop event

Hosted by LeahSay's Views & Planet Weidknecht

Event runs August 1st - 17th, ending at midnight.

Each of the participating bloggers will host their own giveaway with a minimum value of $25.

Here's what I'm giving away

I have always been a huge fan of school supplies. I love the smell of paper and nothing beats a brand new ink pen. That's why I'm giving away a $25.00 gift card to Staples!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please visit the bloggers listed in the linky below and ENTER for YOUR chance to win!

Real Seal Appeal - Collect seals and help schools

Everyone has been a victim of the budget crisis, schools in particular. Every year schools are scraping to make sure that they have the tools they need to teach our children. Education is without a doubt the foundation to success.  It is every one's responsibility to make sure that our children are given every opportunity to flourish.

Real Seal Appeal is a program that has been launched by Real California Milk to support schools in California.  The program will award up to $2 million dollars in cash, prizes, and books to California Schools. Every time you purchase a product with the Real California Milk seal on it, you will be supporting the 1,620 dairy families, who work hard for us each and every day,  and you'll also be supporting California schools.

Milk and dairy products play a vital role in child development.  It is very important that children have the right amounts of calcium-rich foods in their diet.

What can you do to help?

Collect: You and your family can collect the Real California Milk seal from items you purchase.  Send the seals to school with your child so they can be turned into his/her teacher. Every seal is like a sweepstakes entry, the more seals that are collected, the more chances for your son or daughter's school has to win.

Enter: Teachers submit the seals, along with a 3x5 card (with your name, school name and address, phone number, email address, grade, and number of students in your class). For every 100 or more seals you submit, you will receive either 25 free scholastic books or a $25 school supply gift card.
  
     Mail seals to:
     Real Seal Appeal Sweepstakes
     c/o Scholastic Inc.
     P.O. Box 711
     New York, NY 10013

Win: Up to $2 million in cash and prizes! Nine schools will receive cash awards + Wii Fit™  games for each child in the winning classroom!

• Grand Prize: 3 winning schools will receive $20,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every child in the winning classroom (up to 50)

• 2nd Place: 3 winning schools will receive $10,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every child in the winning classroom (up to 50)

• 3rd Place: 3 winning schools will receive $5,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every child in the winning classroom (up to 50)

• Runner Ups: 2,595 winning schools will receive $500 prizes

There are soooo many chances to win. Join the challenge! You have from 10/1/11 through 12/31/11 to collect as many seals as you can. Get your friends and family to collect seals from the dairy products they already buy. Ask the people in your community to donate their seals too, churches, neighbors,  sports teams, and block clubs. Everybody can help!

Check out the Real Seal Appeal site addition information and complete details. Follow Real California Milk on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

*Participating elementary schools in Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing.  The views expressed are the opinions of Just Say I Told You So!