Article by Disney FamilyFun Magazine

It’s almost time to celebrate our nation’s birth! Here are the latest July 4 ideas from Disney FamilyFun magazine – all new this year and in our June/July issue.

* Confetti Launcher: Fireworks happen only after dark, but this craft creates a pop of color any time of day. Kids pull back on the string to release a shower of tissue paper confetti, then gather it up and refill the launcher again…and again…and again.

* Hand-some Tee: With a design fashioned entirely from palm-and-finger prints, this tee will be the talk of eagle-eyed revelers.

* Wig and Tutu in One: Powdered wigs are so 1776. Celebrate the Fourth in 2010 sporting a crazy red, white, and blue pompadour. Or, if you prefer, wear the tulle creation as a tutu.

* Spirited Bike Spinner: Old Glory won’t be the only thing blowing in the breeze this Fourth. Made from a strategically snipped and bent plastic bottle wrapped in tape, this colorful bike accessory twirls in the air as your kids pedal.

* A Patri-botic Centerpiece: Do U need a GR8 helper 4 yours picnic on the 4th? Well, this is one can-do robot. His recycled-can head holds a hair-raising array of utensils, and a clear container belly keeps cookies safe from eager little hands until it’s time for dessert.

* A Star-spangled Welcome: This bunting-inspired paper wreath will look as snappy as a salute on your front door.

Follow @familyfun on Twitter and become a fan of Disney FamilyFun on Facebook!

Over the past few years, we tend to keep most holidays, birthdays and special events fairly simple. Father’s Day is no exception. Unless my husband really needs something in particular and has held off buying it for himself, we tend to honor him with homemade gifts – usually in the form of food. That old saying, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” is very much true with my dear husband. He loves his favorite dishes and desserts and is quite content to enjoy Father’s Day with the family and a fully tummy! Every man will be different though and in case you are shopping on a budget this year, check our Disney FamilyFun Magazine’s homemade gift ideas:

Dad’s the man, so treat him with extra-special Father’s Day cards, Father’s Day foods, and Father’s Day gifts fit for a king:

A Grate Gift for Dad. This clever trio is a tasty way to honor the King of the Grill on Father’s Day. And who doesn’t love dessert (they’re cupcakes!)?

Formal Greetings. Even if the dad in your house isn’t a shirt-and-tie kind of guy, he’s sure to love this stylish Father’s Day card.

Crafty Computer Frame. We’ve all seen decorative mouse pads, but what about the computer itself? This monitor frame, made from craft foam and dotted with photos of your family, will turn Dad’s home or office computer into a much more colorful — and endearing — place.

DisneyFamily Fun Magazine has some nifty ideas for homemade gift ideas for Dad on Father’s Day. Besides the above , they have Daddy Duct Dollars, Dad’s Throne, Luggage Tags for Dads who travel a lot, and plenty more that may just inspire your kids own creativity.

For more Father’s Day fun and fare, visit www.familyfun.go.com/fathers-day/ or check out the latest issue of Disney FamilyFun – on newsstands now.

Lest we forget Father’s Day coming up, here is a shopping resource as well as some top Father’s Day gift ideas. It is nice to have idea presented isn’t it? Especially for hard to buy for Dads or hard to please Dads

Milo.com is a shopping resource you should check out for new ideas for Dad. This site should to save shoppers time, money and sanity by helping them find exactly what they’re looking for, at a price they want, in a store nearby. On Milo.com, consumers get the best of both worlds – the online shopping experience, with product details, user reviews and more; and the in-store experience, so they can pick up what they want right away and not have to wait for shipping – a plus for the last minute shopper.

Milo.com even tracks the in-store availability of more than 2.8 million products at over 48,000 retailers in real-time. So, whether Dad wants the latest tech gadget, a shiny new tool, or socks without holes in them, Milo.com will help his family find a gift he’ll love, at a price they’ll love, at a store nearby.

Some of the top searched for items this year range from $20 to $500 and include:

* iPad
* 4 burner gas grill
* Schwinn Gateway bicycle
* Rolling Stone’s Exile on Main Street CD
* Panasonic Lumix camera
* Garmin Forerunner GPS
* iPod Touch
* grilling thermometer
* gadget charging station
* adjustable grill light
* Leatherman multi-tools
* waterproof digital camera

Any of those on your gift list this year?

Happy Mother’s Day from The Fashionable Bambino!

Tulips by Vera Kratochvil

Invisible Mother…..if you’re not a mom pass on to your friends who are!

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, ‘Can’t you see I’m on the phone?’

Obviously not; no one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I’m invisible. The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??

Some days I’m not a pair hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m a clock to ask, ‘What time is it?’ I’m a satellite guide to answer, ‘What number is the Disney Channel?’ I’m a car to order, ‘Right around 5:30, please.’

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude – but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She’s going, she’s going, she’s gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others, all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, ‘I bought you this.’ It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription: ‘To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.’

In the days ahead I would read – no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals – we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, ‘Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, ‘Because God sees.’

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, ‘I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who shows up at a job that they will never see finished to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I reall think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, ‘My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.’ That would mean I’d build a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, ‘You’re gonna love it there.’

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Share this with all the Invisible Moms you know…I just did.

The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.

This is beautiful and makes a ton of sense. To all the wonderful mothers and fathers out there.

A friend passed this on to me without an author being named, however, according to my research this originates from Nicole Johnson’s novel, The Invisible Woman (W Publishing Group, 2005). Website at www.freshbrewedlife.com

In honor of Mother’s Day, Cocodot.com is offering 3 FREE Mother’s Day cards when you register! To refresh your memories, I posted about Cocodot.com on Earth Day, here’s an excerpt:

Two LA moms were inspired after feeling frustrated by the lack of options for well-designed, high quality online invitations. Laura Shanahan (formerly the creative director at Bobbi Brown) and Amy Neunsinger (famed fashion and lifestyle photographer, shoots the Target campaings!) joined forces to create CocoDot – the hottest new eco-chic entertaining solution.

Cocodot’s invitations and greetings are easy to send and have attracted A-list entertainers such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Courteney Cox, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who have all joined the Cocodot craze and have made their parties “greener” by sending a Cocodot invitation for their most recent soirees.

A Cocodot subscription would be a unique Mother’s Day gift to give. With Cocodot, Mom will look like she’s hired a graphic designer without hardly lifting finger! So will you if you choose to send you mom a special greeting from their select Mother’s Day cards.

Cocodot has easy-to-use customization tools to help create the perfect card showing mom how much you care. You also have the option of uploading mom’s favorite song to create a truly special and personalized greeting.

The gift of Cocodot is also ideal for anyone who loves to entertain – now at a special launch price of $49, give moms an unlimited use Cocodot subscription so she can communicate all year long and in style.

Thought you’d want to see some cheaper Easter clothes for some more last minute ideas…

From egg hunts to family picnics, we know that want to have the perfect outfit for that special family occasion and at an affordable price, right? This Easter Walmart’s Faded Glory line has comfortable and casual options available for every member of the family. With plaid and floral print dresses paired with lightweight denim jackets and cardigans for women & girls, and bright colored polo shirts and button ups for men & boys – all at great prices – even the Easter bunny is sure to be impressed.

I was vaguely aware that Walmart was carrying clothing made out of organic cotton and was pleasantly surprised at the variety they are offering through their Faded Glory line.

Here area few of their casual dress options for girls:

Organic Cotton Dresses

Price only $10.00

Price only $10.00

Regular Cotton Dresses:

Price only $10.00

Price only $10.00

Some outfits for boys:

Faded Glory – Boys’ Organic Cotton Raglan and Yoke Tees, 2 Pack

Price only $8.00

Faded Glory – Boys’ Button-Down Shirt and Graphic Tee Set

Price only $10.00

Faded Glory – Boys’ Cargo Shorts with Canvas Belt

Price only $10.00

Faded Glory – Boys’ Elastic-Waist Cargo Pants

Price only $7.00

These items are all from www.Walmart.com and prices and availability may be slightly different in each store.

Easter is only a week away and to be honest, it hasn’t even been on my mind very much. We have briefly discussed our Easter meal, but that is about it! If you are like me, then perhaps you need some last minute Easter ideas, especially about where to shop for those new Easter outfits.

We received word on an Easter promotion that began nearly a week ago, but it isn’t too late to get on the last minute ideas or savings. Again, these are just ideas that appealed to my eye and are not at all an exhaustive list of what there is available, so be sure to take a look for yourself at the website links (in red).

Girls Dress Shoes

These are toddler/youth white and silver dress shoes. http://www.6pm.com/petit-22018-toddler-youth-white-silver Price: $91.95 (Pretty pricey for shoes, but I liked the looks of them!)

All Styles – including Pazitos, Shoe Be Doo, Amiana Kids and more!

Up to 65% off

http://tinyurl.com/ygh3xlh

Boys Dress Shoes

Deer Stags Kid’s Gabe Infant/Toddler/Youth Black Dress Shoes Price: $17.99

All Styles – including Deer Stag, Bass, Hip, Shoe Be Doo and more!
Up to 60% off

http://tinyurl.com/yhmpzl3

Young Girls & Boys Dress Clothing

Biscotti White Toddler Cardigan Price: $29.99

Halabaloo Dot Embroidered Dress with Pretty Butterflies Price: $39.10

This is a pretty pink infant dress called Sweet Potatoes. Price: $16.30

Seersucker Shorts Set for Infant Boys. Price: $20.70

Kid’s Checker Vest. Price: $28.75

Kid’s White Polo Shirt Price: $18.40

All Styles – including One Kid, D&G Junior, Scoop Kids, Lilly Pulitzer and more!

Up to 65% off

http://tinyurl.com/yaaf35v

Have you found any other stores that carry wonderfully cute, dressy clothes suitable for Easter? Please feel free to share them with us! Or just share where you have purchased dressy clothes in the past or where you would like to buy them in the future.

These cute little Animal Cable Clips would make great gift toppers or stocking stuffers if you are starting your Christmas shopping for 2010 during the after Christmas sales, which is something I did for the longest time.

What’s special about these Animal Clips?

• All-purpose cable holders
• Adds personality and charm to any dull workspace.
• Organizes your cables thereby protecting your equipment
• Hook and loop attachment for versatility.
• 30 designs to choose from.
• Kids love them! A great way to make your kids organize their gadgets.
• Can be used for USB flash drives, cables, ear bud headphones, etc…
• Easily removable

I have to agree that kids love them, especially almost two-year-olds who tend to find everything and anything. A certain almost two-year-old took our animal cable clips off the desk where they were “managing” some off our office equipment cables. We have yet to put them back up. They were definitely working at holding three cable cords, until he found them though. My husband thought thicker cables work better. For example, our phone cords were too thin and the animal’s mouth did not “bite” down hard enough to hold the wires in place.

These nifty little critters are very inexpensive costing only 55 cents for purchases in quantities of 1-4. For quantities above four, the price is discounted and discounted again when the amount is 10 +. The Animal Cable Clips may be purchase in many species of animals at CableOrganizer.com

If you look at the ad at the top of this page, you will see that CableOrganizer.com is also offering a discount on purchases. You might have to refresh the page to see Cable Organizer’s ad. Perfect timing for a New Year’s purchase!

Happy New Year from The Fashionable Bambino! Isn’t it amazing that we are starting a new year? Time seems to go faster with each passing year.

So are any of you making any resolutions this year? I gave up on resolutions long ago. I haven’t been very successful in the past. But please feel free to share yours with us, perhaps we’ll get inspired!

Enjoy your long weekend, especially if you are blessed with the extra time off to spend with family.

Merry Christmas from The Fashionable Bambino! We hope that you and your family enjoy feasting on great food and spending quality time together!

Do you have any favorite Christmas traditions? If you do, please share what you do to make Christmas a special time in your home.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday!