We Love Our Company Kids Hooded Towel

Punky has a hooded princess towel, and since she's been taking swim lessons she's worn it quite a bit. That means that her 3-year-old brother, Bruiser, has become very, very jealous of the hooded towel.

Enter Company Kids.

Fortuitously, they offered me a hooded towel for review, and sent a robot version for Bruiser to try out. What happened when the towel arrived? What do you think?

HE LOVED IT.

Bruiser thinks of his robot towel as an actual costume, and has taken to wearing it around the house all the time, which is no problem as far as I'm concerned because it's the cutest thing EVER!

In addition, the towel is thick, plush, well-made and durable. It's gone through the wash several times now and looks as good as ever.

Company Kids has all kinds of hooded towels for kids, from caterpillars to angels to monsters to aliens to bunny rabbits. You can check out the full collection here. Prices range from $19.99 to $29.50.

And I highly recommend them.

Disclosure: I received a hooded towel from Company Kids to facilitate this review. My opinions, as always, are my own.

Holiday Gift Guide: Bayala from Schleich

Surely you're familiar with Schleich, the maker of animal and fantasy figures with bins that can be found in stores including Toys R Us, Target, and Michaels, among others.

We've been buying Schleich animals as stocking stuffers and small treats for the kids for years- My six-year-old daughter particularly loves the line of horses, while my son prefers the zoo animals. I love Schleich toys because they are so detailed and well-made- Each animal and figure will almost certainly be played with some day by my children's children. They're too nice to give up, even when the kids outgrow them! I also love them because they are great options for the kids' allowance money, or for small gifts on special occasions.

My six-year-old adores fairy tales, Harry Potter, and unicorns, and so it's not surprising that her latest obsession is with Schleich's Bayala fantasy world, which is populated by elves, fairies, unicorns and flying horses.

Check out Feya ($6.49), a fairy that Punky now takes with her just about everywhere...

If there's any Schleich creature that Punky likes more than Feya, it's Pegasus ($16.49), a horse with wings. My daughter is completely horse-crazy, so as you can imagine, Pegasus is like a horse that goes to eleven!

And finally, there's the piece de resistance, as far as my daughter is concerned... The UNICORN ($16.49).

Did you know that unicorns are real? I know because my six-year-old told me. She's been arguing about it with her classmates now for months! And this particular Schleich unicorn is only adding fuel to her already busy imagination.

Of course there are lots more fantasy figures in Schleich's Bayala collection- and I'll be telling you about more of them in the months to come.

In the meantime, to find a Schleich retailer nearest you or online, check out Schleich's store locator here.

Disclosure: Schleich provided me with these figures to facilitate my review. My opinions are my own.

Our PASS Card Experience, Part Six: The Most Important Financial Lesson My Parents Ever Taught Me. What's Yours?

This is a sponsored post written on behalf of American Express and the new PASS Card for teenagers. Our 17-year-old is using the card right now and I'm writing about our experiences. You can read Parts One, Two, and Three and Four and Five here.

Debt.

Plenty of my friends struggle with it, but I'll be honest: It's a foreign concept to me. And I have my parents and my husband to thank for that.

Growing up, it was ingrained into my very soul that you never, EVER, EVER, EVER rack up debt of any kind on your credit card. I knew that when I had a credit card of my own, as soon as I began making my way down that slippery slope of sending in a check for the minimum payment on my credit card bill (as opposed to the full amount that was due), very, very bad things would happen. That one small act would almost certainly eventually lead to me losing my job, my house, my friends, my family, my looks, and even my life, all because I had caught what to my mind was the equivalent of modern-day leprosy:

CREDIT CARD DEBT.

Uh, thanks, Mom and Dad.

Consequently, I have never not paid my bill in full each month. Ever. If I don't have the money to buy it, guess what? I DON'T BUY IT! Whee, life is so easy!

I now realize that I was incredibly lucky to marry a man who not only felt the exact same way about credit card debt, he took it a step further- We should do everything in our power, he told me, to make sure that the only thing we are paying off is our home. Period. End of story.

With that said, we don't buy anything unless we can afford to buy it outright. And sometimes, living this way has been hard. At one point, it meant that my husband drove a 15-year-old, junker Tercel with no air conditioning for an entire year until we could save enough money to buy ourselves a used SUV that could fit our entire family inside. And the man is one of the most popular news reporters in town, so you can imagine the looks he got from other drivers when they realized who the man inside that dirty hooptie was.

So yes-- I've had to swallow my pride a few times to live debt-free, and my husband has, too. But I can tell you now that it is so worth it! Talking to my friends who are literally slaves to their debt, IT IS SO WORTH IT! We sleep peacefully every night, knowing that even if the worst happened and my husband lost his job, we could make ends meet on very little money. We wouldn't be comfortable and we'd have to give up some things we love, but we could make our mortgage payment and we could pay our bills and we could put food on the table, and we would have no massive debts hanging over our heads to worry about.

The moral of this story? The most important financial lesson I hope to teach my own children is simply to LIVE. DEBT. FREE. Pay off your credit card month to month. And if you can't afford it? Don't buy it! Save up your money until you have what you need to buy what you want.

Now I'd love to know the most important financial lesson your parents taught you, or-- and this is when it gets really interesting-- Which lesson do you wish they had taught you about your finances? Did you have to learn anything the hard way? Discuss!

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty and the Beast on Blu-Ray

Coming out October fifth is one of my family's all-time favorite movies- the Three-Disc Diamond Edition Blu-Ray/DVD combo of Beauty and the Beast!

You have no idea how excited I was about this release. We've been watching the previews for this film on our other Blu-Ray discs and could see that the sound and picture quality had been upgraded to take our Beauty and the Beast experience to eleven.

Now that we've seen an advanced copy of the movie, we're not disappointed.

Are you one of two people in the world who've never seen this film? Here's a synopsis from the studio:

Set in and around a quaint French village during the late 18th century, Beauty and the Beast follows the fantastic adventures of Belle, a bright and beautiful young woman who finds escape from her ordinary life, and the advances of a boorish suitor, Gaston, by reading books.

Meanwhile, off in a castle in the distance, a cruel young prince is cast under the spell of an enchantress who turns him into a tormented beast, while transforming his servants into animated household objects.

In order to remove the curse, the Beast must discover a true love who will return his affection before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. When Belle’s inventor father stumbles upon the Beast’s castle and is taken prisoner, Belle comes to the rescue and agrees to take her father’s place. With the help of the castle’s enchanted staff, she sees beneath the Beast’s exterior and discovers the heart and soul of a human prince.

What really puts this DVD combo over the top is its special features, which include state-of-the-art picture restoration, pristine 7.1 Digital Surround Sound and hours of additional viewing experiences that include behind the scenes features, deleted scenes, enhanced music tracks, immersive games and more.

We especially loved the fact that this disc includes both the original theatrical release and a special extended version (because really, can you even get enough Beauty and the Beast?!) . You can also watch the songs in Disney sing-along mode, which my daughter really enjoys, and there are also several behind-the-scenes featurettes about the movie and the Broadway show, for true Beauty and the Beast aficionados.

You can pre-order your copy of Disney's Beauty in the Beast Three-Disc Diamond Edition on Blu-Ray and DVD now for just $24.99.

A Moon Dough Review

Sometimes the stars align and things happen just the way you want them to.

My three-year-old, Bruiser, has been watching the new commercial for Moon Dough and begging for a Moon Dough playset of his own.

The next thing I know, Moon Dough sends me an e-mail, asking if I'd like to review one of its playsets!

Heck yeah!

Moon Dough, for those of you who don't know already is hypo-allergenic and wheat-free, soft and marshmallow-like, and it does not stick to or stain material. Because Moon Dough never dries out, kids can use it again and again.

I was more than ready to get my hands on some because Bruiser loves Play-Doh, and Play-Doh gets incredibly messy. Could Moon Dough be our answer? We were about to find out!

One thing I'm glad I did was take the time to read the instructions on how to properly use it in the molds. While Moon Dough is light and non-sticky, it does crumble and you really have to pack it into the molds to make it come out the way you want it to- so it does take some help from me and some monitoring to make sure the mess doesn't get too out of hand.

That said, Bruiser loves the feel of the Moon Dough, and he loves helping me make shapes for his barn. It is a great, tactile creative play experience for him and he has played with his Moon Dough barn over and over again.

The bottom line? Moon Dough is a lot of fun, but don't expect a no-mess experience (no matter what kind of "dough" or "doh" you're using) and read the instructions so that you know how it's supposed to work.

Check out more information about Moon Dough and Moon Dough products here.

Modern Family: The Complete First Season Out Now on DVD!

The one series all my friends have been telling me to watch is Modern Family.

Everyone I know has been raving about this show, promising it's the funniest program on TV right now.

Now that Modern Family: The Complete First Season is out on DVD, I'm finally getting a chance to put my friends' claims to the test.... and they're absolutely right. It is hilarious, involving, and definitely "modern!" I'm having a lot of fun making my way through season one.

Here's a brief synopsis of the show, for those of you who are unfamiliar with its premise:

Come join the family for the hilarious and critically acclaimed breakout hit of the year! Featuring an all-star cast led by Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vargara, Julie Bowen, and Ty Burrell, Modern Family takes a refreshing and funny view of what it means to raise a family in this hectic day and age. Multi-cultural relationships, adoption, and same-sex marriage are just a few of the timely issues faced by the show’s three wildly-diverse broods. No matter the size or shape, family always comes first in this hilariously “modern” look at life, love, and laughter.

The DVD collection also includes extended and alternate scenes, deleted family interviews, the making of Modern Family, a gag reel and more!

Modern Family: The Complete First Season is available now on Amazon for $32.99.

Holiday Gift Guide: Glee: The Complete First Season

I hate to admit that until recently, I had never seen a single episode of Glee.

It seems crazy, given my history with musical theater and my love of high school dramas... but I don't like to watch a series unless I've seen it from the very beginning.

So you can imagine, given all the interest in the Glee series, I was SO EXCITED to get my hands on a copy of Glee, Season One on DVD!!

For those of you who (live under a rock and) are unfamiliar with the series, here's a quick synopsis:

GLEE follows a group of eager and ambitious students as they strive to outshine their singing competition while navigating the cruel halls of McKinley High. Although New Directions lost at Regionals, they now have their sights set on making it to Nationals and defeating their arch rivals, Vocal Adrenaline.

I have to say, this series is my new guilty pleasure and if you're looking for a new series to lose yourself in and you enjoy musicals and pop culture, this is definitely one to consider.

The DVD set includes the director's cut of the pilot, sing-along karaoke, several Glee Music Juke Box features, full length audition pieces, and tons of other special featurettes that every Gleek will adore.

Glee: The Complete First Season is available on Amazon right now for $34.99.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Glee: The Complete First Season to facilitate my review.

Nashville City Saver Coupon Book Giveaway!

Nashville-area readers, you don't want to miss this giveaway!

The Nashville City Saver coupon book is out (formerly the Citipass book) and it's chock-full of some of my absolute favorite Nashville-area restaurants and attractions.

Inside, you'll find coupons for restaurants including Whitfields, Ellendales, Copper Kettle, and Holland House (four of our all-time favorite restaurants in the city), as well as Yolos, Past Perfect, Famous Dave's, Qdoba Mexican Grill, and many, many more.

The fun stuff section has coupons for the Nashville Predators, Nashville Zoo, Regal Cinemas, Cheekwood, The Frist Center, and many more attractions.

You'll also find discounts to Sport Seasons, Electronic Express, Dick's, Ace Hardware, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, and lots of other stores.

Local schools and non-profits are selling the book for $25 per copy- If you've ever bought one, you know it's MORE than worth it- My husband and I buy one every year and often use the book for date nights and family outings. It's really a fantastic deal.

You can also buy a copy at www.nashvillecitysaver.com.

AND! Just to pique your interest, I'm giving away a copy of this year's Nashville City Saver to one lucky Suburban Turmoil reader.

To enter, just leave a comment on this post between now and Saturday, October 2nd, telling me which coupon in the book you're most excited about using. Be sure and leave your e-mail address in the comment so that I can contact you if you've won.

Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the City Saver for taking the time to host this giveaway.

Our PASS Card Experience, Part Five: Teen Currency

This is a sponsored post written on behalf of American Express and the new PASS Card for teenagers. Our 17-year-old is using the card right now and I'm writing about our experiences. You can read Parts One, Two, and Three and Four here.

Teen currency has changed quite a bit from when I was growing up.

As a kid, I had a debit card that could only be used to withdraw money from an ATM, and I had cash. That was it.

I remember when my debit card became a check card once I entered college (do you remember those heady days? It minimized ATM visits and check-writing, and I was so excited about that!), and for the first several months, I suppose the technology was still being ironed out because about every tenth time I used it, it would be declined, even though I had plenty of money in the bank, and I would be so embarrassed! To this day, I still have a little worry in the back of my mind that my debit card will be declined, although it hasn't happened in years!

I didn't get a credit card until I graduated from college and got my first "real" job. Credit cards, I had always been taught, were essentially of the devil, and I used mine with great caution. To this day, I have paid my credit card bill in full every single month. I can't imagine the alternative, to be honest.

Nowadays, of course, teen currency is totally different.

Debit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere, and many parents consider them to be far safer than cash. Most teens have a bank account, yet most teens have never written a check from it. And with the popularity of online shopping at teen magnet stores like Forever 21, plenty of teens also have credit cards, with their parents' blessing. After all, you don't want to use your debit card to order online because of the potential for hackers to steal your number, and all of the funds from your bank account.

My 17-year-old operated only in cash for the first six or so months after she'd gotten a job. She learned the hard way that it was a mess- She was constantly misplacing her money and it was tough to keep track of how much she actually had.

After that, she opened a bank account and since that time, she has been depositing half of her check into her savings every two weeks. I'm proud of her for doing that on her own-- It allowed her to replace her car within a couple of months after she totaled the one we had bought for her (she wasn't hurt, don't worry!) and she still had money left over in savings.

She still has trouble keeping up with her cash (not to mention her phone!) and that's why I'm very glad we have not yet gotten her a credit card. I'm also very glad about the safeguards on her new PASS card, which come in handy for forgetful or disorganized teens.

• If her card is lost or stolen, we are not responsible for fraudulent charges, AND American Express will replace the funds.
• Since the card is prepaid, she can only spend what's loaded on the card. There are no overdraft charges and no impact on her credit.

These safeguards allow her a safety net as she learns to use her first card responsibly. I also prefer her to have her gas and allowance funds on a card because it hopefully makes her a little less of a target, since she's not carrying much cash around.

And now let's get this conversation rolling!

What currency does your teen use? Has it changed from when you were a teenager? Are these changes good or bad?

An Umi Shoes Giveaway!

I always like to say... If they're good enough for Jennifer Garner's kids, they're good enough for mine!

Heh.

I'm talking about Umi Shoes, which both my children have been wearing since they could walk, and which are consistently some of my daughter's absolute favorite pair of shoes, both for comfort and style. (My son, frankly, could care less!)

Obviously from the picture above, plenty of celebrities have caught on to the power of Umi, and it's no surprise. Every shoe the company makes is tested for safety, durability, and meets strict standards for child-safe materials.

Once your child has a pair of Umi shoes, I can pretty much guarantee you'll be as addicted to them as we are. My daughter is particularly loving a pair of Umi Mary Janes she just received, which have rubber soles, allowing her to wear them in P.E. class without sacrificing her sense of style!

And fortunately for you, I'm giving away a pair of Umi shoes to one lucky Suburban Turmoil reader! You can choose between...

...the Orchid shoe in pink for girls (Punky has this pair),

the Adelaide in black patent for girls...

the Pilot in chocolate for boys...

or the Tiberius Lo in black for boys.

To enter, leave a comment both on this post and on Umi's Facebook page referencing this giveaway, between now and Saturday, September 25th. Be sure to leave your e-mail address in the comment here, so that I can contact you if you've won.

Good luck!

Disclosure: Umi sent me a pair of shoes for each of my kids to try out. My opinions are my own.

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue Out September 21st on Blu-Ray and DVD!

We try to have a family movie night once a week, so I'm always on the hunt for movies that the kids will love and the adults can stand! As any parent knows, that can be a tall order.

This past week, we all watched an advanced Blu-Ray copy of Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue, which comes out September 21 on Blu-Ray and DVD. On its surface, this might not seem like a movie that anyone but little girls could love, but if you've seen the Tinker Bell franchise, you know that these movies are waaaaay better than the average straight-to-DVD girl films-- and this third installment was no exception.

Here's a synopsis from the studio:

Before she was ever introduced to Wendy and the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell met Lizzy, a girl with a steadfast belief in fairies. Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue begins in summertime in the beautiful English countryside. An enchanting encounter unfolds when Tinker Bell is discovered by Lizzy, and as their different worlds unite, Tink develops a special bond with the curious girl in need of a friend.

As her fellow fairies launch a daring rescue, Tinker Bell takes a huge risk, putting her own safety and the future of the fairies in jeopardy. This action-packed adventure takes the fairies of Pixie Hollow on a daring flight to London to save Tinker Bell and all of fairy kind.

Like the Tinker Bell films that came before it, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue is full of absolutely beautiful, calming, intricate CGI animation. The soundtrack is wonderful and the story is compelling. The studio spared no expense with talent- the movie features the voices of Kristen Chenoweth, Raven Symone, and Lucy Liu, among others. I really enjoyed watching it and my 3-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter both loved it too. I totally recommend it for family viewing, or as a fantastic movie for your little girl to watch.

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue will be available on September 21st as a Blu-Ray/DVD combo on Amazon for $21.99.

Special DVD features include deleted scenes, a music video, a special preview of Disney's upcoming "Tangled" film about Rapunzel, and special games and activities.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this Blu-Ray disc to facilitate my review.

I'm Giving Away Four Tickets to Toy Story 3 on Ice in Nashville!

Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 visits Nashville from Thursday, Sept. 30, to Sunday, Oct. 3, for seven performances at the Bridgestone Arena.

I'm guessing your children loved Toy Story 3 as much as mine did- I can't wait to take them to the ice show!

Here are some facts about the performance...

• The show brings summer’s biggest hit to the ice and also includes memorable scenes fromToy Story and Toy Story 2 to create the ultimate Toy Story experience.
• It features state-of-the-art projection design that allows audiences to virtually shrink down to toy size.
  
• Innovative 3D technology uses the entire ice surface to create oversized effects and scenic elements that alter the audience’s perception of scale.
• There will be a special Performance for Ft. Campbell Families on Saturday, October 2nd, at which 8,000 military family members will attend a private, free performance of Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3. Clarksville businessman Jack Turner coordinated the effort to raise money to provide this free show to soldiers’ families. Gold Star Kids, children who have lost a parent in service, will attend a meet-and-greet with characters after the show.
  

Want to enter to win 4 passes to see the show here in Nashville? These passes are good either for opening night (Thursday, September 30th) or Friday morning (October 1st). To enter, just leave a comment on this post between now and Wednesday, September 22nd and tell me why you want to win the tickets! Be sure to leave your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you've won.

Good luck!

Disclosure: I received 4 complimentary tickets to Toy Story 3 on Ice in exchange for hosting this giveaway.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Out Now on Blu-Ray and DVD!

Behold! My daughter's new favorite film!

If you didn't get a chance to see Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time on the big screen (or heck, even if you did), be sure to watch it on Blu-Ray- This magnificent family film is not to be missed!

My entire family watched this one together, and while there was one scene that was a little scary for the kids (a man burned to death beneath a poisoned cloak) and quite a bit of fighting, Disney did an admirable job of making the whole thing a bloodless, gore-less affair. I didn't feel like it was too much even for my children to handle-- We are definitely Indiana Jones/Harry Potter/ adventure movie fans, and this movie was right up our alley!

Here's a synopsis of the film from the studio:

In the spirit of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films transport you to the mystical lands of Persia for this wildly entertaining, epic action-adventure. It‘s a race against time when a rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly teams up with a rival princess (Gemma Arterton) to safeguard a magical dagger that gives its possessor the power to reverse time and rule the world. Filled with death-defying escapes and unexpected twists at every turn – Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a fun-filled adventure that will keep your pulse pounding long after the credits end.

Special features on the 3-disc combo disc I reviewed include a look behind the scenes on the set of the film, a deleted scene, and "CineExplore: The Sands of Time, " which lets you take control of the dagger and use it to unlock secrets behind your favorite scenes. Turn back time and uncover over 40 spellbinding segments – including “Walking Up Walls”, “Filming in Morocco”, and “Ostrich Jockey Tryouts”- with this exclusive interactive feature.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is available as a 3-disc combo pack for $26.99 right now on Amazon.com.

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this movie to facilitate my review. My opinions are my own.

September Means Playtime on Our Backyard Discovery Playset!

August was a bad month around here.

It was the hottest summer anyone could remember in years. Consequently, we spent a lot of time indoors, and our new Backyard Discovery playset sat empty in our backyard, lonely and forlorn.

The kids would try to go outside from time to time and play on it, but with the oppressive heat, they never made it for more than a few minutes at a time.

And then September rolled around, and everything changed.

From out of nowhere, neighborhood children started showing up again in our backyard. The wall was climbed.

The slide was wiped clean by a few dozen passes from tiny backsides.

Countless imaginary games were created, with the playset as center stage. This month alone, it has been a pirate ship, a clubhouse, a store, and an orphanage.

Our swings have become the place to catch up on the latest 4 to 8-year-old neighborhood gossip.


And after holding out for a couple of months, my six-year-old finally scaled the climbing wall, all by herself. She's not one for climbing, particularly in her little lady dress-- but on this day, nothing could hold her back.

Honestly, I thought when we set up the playset in our backyard that it would get continuous play for a month or so, then, like so many of our friends' playsets, go largely unused.

That has not been the case at all.

Any time they go outside (which is any time the temperature is under 95 degrees and it's not raining!), the playset is the first, and often the last, stop.

In a world where too many kids spend most of their time indoors, watching TV, surfing the web, and playing video games, it's wonderful having such an extraordinary enticement for my children to spend their playtime outdoors. I feel so lucky, and based on our experience, I would tell anyone with kids that a playset is such a worthwhile investment.

Our Atlantis playset from Backyard Discovery costs far less than it looks, too! You can get it at Walmart for $599. If you've priced playsets, you know that's a great deal, particularly for a playset with so many features and a pretty wooden roof on the playhouse.

Backyard Discovery has plenty more beautiful playsets to choose from, whether you have lots of space and an expansive budget or... the opposite. Heh.

Stay tuned to this blog for more Backyard Discovery stories to come!

Disclosure: I am a Backyard Discovery Brand Ambassador and received a playset so that I could write about my family's experiences with it.

Our PASS Card Experience, Part Four: On the Subject of Allowance

This is a sponsored post written on behalf of American Express and the new PASS Card for teenagers. Our 17-year-old is using the card right now and I'm writing about our experiences. You can read Parts One, Two, and Three here.

Let's talk about allowance.

There are so many different philosophies on allowances for teens, from how much to how often, to what for.

I read once that allowance should never be given for work done around the house, but instead for good behavior, because giving allowance for work implies that "family work" should be paid, when really our children will grow up doing all kinds of unpaid "family work" for the rest of their adult lives.

That made good sense to me.

However, it was too late to put that into action with my stepdaughters. Currently, my 19-year-old gets no allowance at all- Once she graduated from high school, finished her first year of college and got a job, we decided that it was time for her to earn her own spending and gas money.

My 17-year-old gets $20 of allowance per week IF she cleans her room and bathroom. Personally, I think that's too high for the jobs (I still have to vacuum, mop the floors and clean the toilet- Blech), but that's what Hubs decided and often, she doesn't do the work or get the allowance anyway. She's making quite a bit of money working at McDonalds, so the incentive for an extra sawbuck a week apparently isn't all that strong!

Since we are trying out the PASS Card for teens, we decided to load her allowance onto the card each week if she does her jobs. This move has been brilliant. Of course, our teen would rather we pay her cash, but loading the allowance on her card gives us some insight into her spending habits. That said, I now think loading your teens' allowance onto a PASS card or debit card is a brilliant idea! Not only does it teach your teen how to use a spending card responsibly, it also gives you some idea of how your teens are spending their money, and whether they're falling into any pitfalls (like too much Forever 21 or Starbucks, for example).

As for my six-year-old daughter, we haven't really instituted a weekly allowance, largely because I don't want her to do chores for money, for the reasons I've listed above. When she goes above and beyond, though, we'll often give her change or a dollar bill or two. She talks often of saving for a pony "for as long as it takes," but every six months or so, she feels a wave of compassion and decides to give all of her allowance to our Compassion, International child in India. "I don't really need the money anyway," she said matter-of-factly when donating her allowance the other day, "and Asifa does."

For a six-year-old, I'd say she's doing pretty well with her finances! If she can learn the value of giving to others early on, it will be one of the best lessons I could have taught her.

And that's our allowance story- What's yours? I feel like I have quite a bit to learn in this department!

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Grill Kit Giveaway!

The popular assumption is that most grilling out takes place in the summer.

But here in Tennessee, a summer grill-out is a nightmare for the chef. It's already 95+ degrees out, the humidity's high and the mosquitoes are in abundance. Why on earth would anyone in her right mind stand out there in front of a hot grill?

Nope, FALL is the time for a cookout around here, and that's why I'm excited to host this awesome giveaway from Unilever and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray is the perfect complement to food on the grill, adding fresh butter flavor to your favorite summer dishes, along with 0 calories, 0g fat, and 0g trans fat per serving.

Try these quick and simple ideas to add great flavor to your favorite foods:

• For a savory seafood appetizer, grill clams until they open and arrange in a serving bowl. Generously spray the clams with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Original Spray and sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs. Serve with crusty toasted bread slices topped with Spray.

• For easy seasoned kabobs, just before grilling your favorite chicken, beef, seafood or veggie kabobs, spray with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Original Spray, then sprinkle with garlic powder and your favorite herbs.

• For a delicious buttery flavor, spray I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Original Spray onto hot corn-on-the cob just off the grill and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Spice it up by splashing on a little red or green hot pepper sauce!

• For a super-easy “Blackened” Steak or Chicken, spray I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Original Spray onto steak or boneless, skinless chicken breasts, then sprinkle with chili powder, dried herbs and black pepper and rub into the meat. Grill until the meat reaches desired doneness.

In order to put these ideas to the test, I'm offering one of you an I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! grilling gift pack, which includes:

• I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Spray
  
• Premium Non-Stick Grilling Basket
  
• Crate & Barrel Portable 4-piece Grill Tool Set with Carrying Case
  
• 8 Better For You BBQ Recipe cards (from the dishes you sampled at the event!)
  
• Better For You BBQ Newsletter with recipes and tips

I received one of these gift packs myself and it is NICE, y'all. You will be very happy-- We just got a new grill ourselves, and our new gift pack was absolutely perfect for it!

If you'd like to enter, just leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite way to use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray. If you follow @ICBINotButter on Twitter, you can have another entry- Just leave another comment telling me you're following them on Twitter now. This contest will run between today and Saturday, September 11th. It's open to US residents only. And don't forget to leave your e-mail address in your comment so that I can contact you if you've won.

And for more great grilling information from I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! check out this website!

Good luck!