I love entering contests. I mean who doesn't. One of my all time favorite sites on the web is Momdot.com, not only because they have fantastic giveaways, contests and so forth. But because there is so much information, and I mean sooooooooooooo much my eyes bleed out from being there all day and not getting any writing done because of it... (thanks momdot) by the way lol.

Many of my friends use skype, and I'm a tad uneasy to admit I don't have an account or even know how to use the site, though it appears totally cool because you can make calls to both landlines and cell phones for free!

My girlfriend T uses it by allowing her daughter to speak to her dad who lives many miles away, giving them the ability to communicate and see one another for no charge has helped to improve their bond and relationship. What could be better than that?

The way to enter is to visit momdot.com and read the instructions on the post which will tell you how you have a shot at winning a subscription to skype as well as a LOGITECH QUICK CAM PRO notebook camera to get you on your way.

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That's handy eh?

The next thing you do is blog about the giveaway like I'm doing now. Subscribe to feed momdot.com here.

Follow them on Twitter here, making sure you don't miss any contests or great useful information on parenting and more.

And above all Tweet Tweet Tweet this contest to get extra entries.

And that's it! So jump on board and enter this fab giveaway before it's too late. And who knows maybe I'll see you on Skype.

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• Cool Websites and Tools [July 4] (makeuseof.com)

There are not that many places to take the kids to play in the Fraser Valley. And the ones that are close by are geared with so many extras, taking the kids would cost an arm and a leg.

We have Castle Fun Park which is a blast for the kids. Go-karts, video games, fun games for smaller children, entertainment, and you can easily spend $50.00 or more in less than an hour there.

The nearest Go Bananas is in Chilliwack which isn't too too far but who wants to drive there?

Not me.

So when I came across JJ's Playzone, I knew I had to blog about it to let other moms and dads who might or might not know about it's existence. It's in Mission and if you are like me, we just don't go there unless we have to.

Not that Mission is bad. In fact quite the opposite. Mission has some beautiful greenery, some great lakes for fishing and swimming. They have wonderful parks for the kids to play at and some killer restaurants. Not to mention it's the home to the closest Silver City and IMAX to us.

It's also the home to JJ's Playzone

Open Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 4:00pm (with birthday parties being held) at 4:30pm. They aren't open for long periods of time like many other places but I guess they were getting so booked with parties and having to close the play place. They have now revamped their party schedule to suit every one's needs.

I like the idea of having a private party after 4:30 and the place all to myself and the kids. You don't get that at many other places and usually have to mix in your guests with other people's children.

Their prices are also decent. All prices are unlimited play within play hours / with adult supervision.

* Children walking and up $7.50
* kids not walking $4.00 or free with sibling ticket
* 6months under (free) 10 and up (free) moms and dads (free)

All prices include tax and they often have specials and group rates. (5 kids or more) $6.00 each or $60 for membership (10 visits)

JJ's is specially designed for children 0 to 6 years old, so if you have older children they are welcome but most likely not to play. Jay is in school during the day so taking Pickleboy somewhere to play like this is fantastic!

Birthday Parties are for a 2 hours period only. You have to book in advance as well as they book pretty fast. But the price is fair. $75.00 for minimum 5 kids + birthday child. Each child over that is an extra $12. That's not bad for 2 hours of fun all to yourself. You supply the cake and food.

Located unit b-3 32081 Lougheed, Mission Gate Plaza.
For more information regarding JJ's Playzone please visit their WEBSITE or call 604-814-2707 or email them.

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I got some news that my uncle's father passed away and immediately my heart began beating quickly and my palms grew sweaty. This is a typical reaction for me whenever the question of death surrounds me. Losing someone you love is never an easy situation to live through. And it got me thinking of ways to help prepare your child (my children) for the death of a loved one.

Death is a natural part of our life and children experience death and relate to it in many ways. So how can we prepare our kids for death?

How can we teach them to cope and understand?

The first step is not to be afraid to discuss death with your kids. Answer their questions openly and honestly (keeping their age in mind) as to how much information you give. Make sure the information is accurate and not misleading.

I remember when I was younger and my girlfriend's father passed away from Cancer. Her mother told her that her daddy was sick and God took him to heaven. We were seven at the time. My friend had nightmares for weeks thinking God was a bad person coming down and snatching people who got sick and taking them away. She was terrified to get a cold.

Be straightforward with your answers when dealing with death or illness and dying. Matter of fact is better. Daddy is sick and is going to die. Most children even from a young age experience death on some level will better cope and understand if you are honest with them.

Seeing a grasshopper get squashed. Losing a family pet. Or having someone they love no longer here anymore can affect children before you know it. Making sure your children are aware of death and what it means will lessen the fears they might have over their own demise or yours as parents.



Older kids can become fascinated with death. Not discussing it can lead to problems. When my husband and I lost our first child together, our son Jake was only seven at the time. He blamed himself because one day he wrestled with mommy and thought because of that he caused me to lose the baby.

Grief and guilt can surround kids along with their fears. Make sure to contact the school if your child has lost a loved one. One of the worst things is for a kid to go back to school with all these sad feelings and have nobody acknowledge their feelings. Keep up to date on their progress, making sure grades aren't slipping or fighting isn't happening. And counseling can also help if a child is grieving over the loss of a loved one.

What are some coping skills to help children in dealing with death?

Reading a book about death before it happens can help. Like the book below which is one of my favorites. It's sad and it's by Robert Munch called I love you Forever.



Books are a great way to experience together the emotional questions related to death with your kids. But there are also other ways to help kids cope.

When another girlfriend of mine husband passed away. She bought a bunch of balloons. She got her five year old and seven year old to draw pictures to daddy and write poems or letters. She filled the balloons with helium and attached the things the kids had done to communicate with their dad.

They went to the park and together they released the balloons sending them to their dad. This scenario is now repeated every year close to his birthday or when the kids miss him. It's a great way for the kids to say what they want so only their daddy can see.

My husband and I did the same thing with our son when we lost our child. Jake made a poem and wrote to the baby how sorry he was for not getting to know it. It was hard for me at the time as I was grieving badly.

But as a mother I forced myself to go along with it and actually wrote a poem to the baby myself. We released them in some old bottles we had, putting the notes and pictures inside and watching them float down the stream.

No matter what you do in helping your child cope with the loss or losing a loved one. Just remember each of us deals with death differently. Being honest and answering your kids questions will help put them at ease. Not showing any emotion might cause your child to think you don't care about the situation.

And the most important thing you can do for your child in dealing with death is teach them how to live, how to love and always respect the people important to them in their lives, because you never how long they might here for.

The books shown above can all be found at Amazon.com under their respective titles. You can also find more books at your local library, children schools or bookstore. If you partake in Random Tuesday Thoughts head on over to UN mom and post and post your link here as well in the comment section.

A sad day. Ed McMahon, best known as Johnny Carson's side kick for the tonight show, died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in California this morning after an array of medical problems, including Cancer.

I first remember Ed as a kid watching Star Search, a famous TV show that paved the way for shows like American Idol, Canadian Idol, So you think you can Dance and Britain's Got Talent.

Ed's run on the show was from 1983 to 1995 and was later taken over by Arsenio Hall who watched American Idol runner up David Archuleta win.

Over the course of his career McMahon did a ton of commercials, his voice easily recognizable and enjoyed. He became the lead presenter for the American Family Publisher sweepstakes.

Toward the end of his life it is said that McMahon unable to work after injuring himself, his neck and unable to work found himself in financial trouble and looked to foreclosing his $5 million Beverly Hills home. Donald Trump apparently offered to buy the home and lease it back to Ed to "Help out an American Icon" and that is what Ed McMahon was, whether you got his jokes or not.

And Ed fan or not, everyone knows or can recall him as Johnny's partner on the Tonight Show and for the robust introduction that took place every night before Johnny hit the stage. "Heeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!" became a legendary call out by Ed.

Ed served as a colonel in the United States Marines and ended up a fighter pilot. He served his country well before and after the war and with a smile that was infectious.

A game show host for Concentration, a tv show announcer, movie star and good friend to many. Ed's family say he settled his financial situation before his death and was at peace surrounded by those he loved when he passed.

It's a sad day for television and one of their greats. He will be missed by many. Goodbye Ed, I hope you are at peace and happier without suffering anymore.

Quotes from Ed McMahon over the course of his career


'Honesty is the most single most important factor having a direct bearing on the final success of an individual, corporation, or product.'

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

- Ed McMahon


'Johnny once described our relationship by saying we were as close as two people could be without being married.'
- Ed McMahon


Ed McMahon on the topic of rebuilding New Orleans:
'This is a city that’s had a terrible tragedy, but there’s an opportunity to build it back and build it back better. It could become a city that integrates rather than isolates, a city that inspires, a city that celebrates history and diversity and culture'
- Ed McMahon


“You can't imagine hooking up with a guy like Carson,” Mr. McMahon said an interview in 1993. “There's the old phrase, hook your wagon to a star. I hitched my wagon to a great star.”

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Well it is official. Jon & Kate from TLC's Jon and Kate plus 8 announced on their hit TV show Monday they have decided to separate.

I went to the TLC boards to read what others had to say about this because I don't watch the show anymore and I watched the short video clip.

Both Jon and Kate described why the break-up was happening. It's not good for their children to see them arguing and apparently they cannot be civil toward each other. Like anyone ending their ten year marriage would be when emotions are running hot.

I don't watch the show anymore because I don't agree with what TLC has done for this family, on that note I agree their greed has infectiously helped push this family apart, as many other readers feel the same.

What steams me more than that though is everyone and their opinions on the couple and the hateful words spreading through the Internet like a deep seeded virus hell bent on making them feel worse than they most likely already feel, and the gall people have in saying the things they do on a matter that doesn't concern them.

"It's easier to throw stones when you aren't the target!"

Here is what I posted on Kate's TLC blog about the issue...

None of us here, including myself have the right to judge you or Jon or anybody else for that matter.


I truly hope without the show and public eye watching you both of you will realize the love that brought you together to help create your wonderful children and no matter what anyone says you both know how much you love your kids. It's never easy being a parent, and being a parent on television is even harder. Many people keep saying poor kids, you guys are doing wrong by announcing your separation on live TV but it's what everyone wanted and why everyone tuned in so they could be a part of it like they have from the beginning.


Your children will give you both strength, and Kate I feel you are strong because part of being married is knowing and accepting you cannot change someone else's feelings and if Jon needs space then he does and you will go about what you do which is being a mother to your children and hopeful he will find his way back to you.


As for everyone else. Imagine your entire life on television for whatever reason, no one asks for pain or heart break to come to them, no one asks for media attention and none of us would know how we would react if we were living their lives in the spotlight, sure we can surmise and judge and throw stones or give support.


Truth is it doesn't matter. It's not our life. Perhaps the best thing everyone can do is turn the channel!


Posted by: JP Shaw @ Rants n' Rascals | 06/23/2009 at 03:26 AM

I feel sick inside, every web page I turn to has mocking, hate filled words, judgements on Kate as a mother or Jon as a husband. It's truly sad really that we as people cannot give this couple more support and wish them well, pray for them or hope they make it through.

It doesn't matter why they started the show on TLC. Shit if I had 8 kids, no money, a job I hated and was offered this amazing opportunity to give advice and information to other parents of twins and sextuplets then I would have probably jumped at the chance, too.

It doesn't matter why they continued doing the show, especially when as the years rolled by we saw more arguing, bitterness and frustration between both Jon and Kate and the children as well, whether it be contracts keeping them there, money to keep their house going or whatever the reason.

It doesn't matter they announced their separation on TLC for millions of people to see or that many of you feel they are bad parents for what they have done to their children by doing so on live television.

It also doesn't matter that Jon was happy about it while Kate wasn't. Shit if I were Jon I'd be thrilled to be getting my ass away from the show, out of the lime light. And if I were Kate I'd be sad about it for my kids, sad it fell apart and scared for things. They wouldn't be human if they didn't feel those things, whether we all agree or not.

Why?

Because it's NOT your life, my life or anyone else's

I wish them the best in life. I wish the kids a happy and healthy future. But let's face it as parents we all screw up from time to time, all our kids will most likely need therapy for one issue or another due to something we did or didn't do as parents ourselves. We are not infallible or perfect. It's an imperfect world.

So cut the Gosselin's some fucking slack!

Lord knows if it were me I'd beg for the same. So would you so don't lie!

It's Monday which means it's Mumbers time. Yep that is where I blog about a topic and numbers or mumbers on my brain.

This week I'm focused on camping because we are taking our boys (all three) my stepson included camping to Prince George, Barkerville in Quesnel and all down through Kamloops and Kelowna back home again.

It's the first time for us going as a full family. We've never had Colton overnight, let alone for a family vacation. I'm so excited!

Colton is turning seven this August and he's apparently just as excited as we are to spend time with his brothers, especially Jay who can't wait to see him.

It will be nice for Corky to spend some time with his son, and I will hopefully have a camera by then so I can capture the trip and scrapbook it for Corky to help him remember the good times we had together as his memory isn't doing so well these days.

22 pairs of socks we need to bring, since boys love to get their feet wet in creeks and streams.


87 bags of marshmellows to roast in front of the campfire. Who doesn't love roasting marshmellows?


6 extra blankets since it gets very cold at night when camping and although I don't mind being cold, the boys really hate it.


345 cans of bug spray because I'm allergic to mosquitos and so is pickleboy, I swell up like a balloon.


150 DVD's to bring to keep the boys busy watching movies at night if it happens to rain and we are stuck in the tent.


104,567,987 time outs I believe I will be giving to pickleboy if he doesn't start listening. You MUST listen when camping wild man!


4 bottles of spray on sunscreen since both pickleboy and DH are the whitest boys you've ever seen (translucent skin) and burn under 2 seconds if not covered properly.


567,876,945 pictures I will be taking of our trip provided I can either win or somehow scrape enough money together to buy a camera to help us enjoy the memories we are going to make.


1 fun filled and so excited I can't wait week we will be spending together as a family!

Visit Good Enough Mum for more Monday Mumber action.

Okay so everyone knows that Transformers 2 - revenge of the fallen is opening this week.

I cannot wait!

Yes I am a mom and I have boys so I guess it's only natural for me to excited about this movie, since my boys are just anxiously jumping out of their skins to go and see it.

But I am also a huge die-hard Trans fan and have been since I was a little girl.


I used to come home every day after school and watch the cartoons. Optimus and his gang of wheeling robots battling to save earth. It was way too cool back then. But now -- Now it's totally incredible as they are brought to life by Stephen Spielberg and Michael Bay.

Spielburg is known for his trilogy's like Indiana Jone, Back to the Future and has made more than two dozen films that have been labeled as critically acclaimed, many of which my boys have seen, like Monster House, Batteries not Included, E.T., Jurassic Park and so forth.

I went to Walmart and bought each of the boys Transformer 2 t-shirts to wear opening night and each of them has their favorite. Jay's is of course Optimus the leader of the Autobots, and Trace loves Bumblebee like his mom.

We have our tickets already to watch the matinee on Wednesday at 3:40 right after Jake gets out of school and we are taking my brother Shayne because he, too is a die hard Trans fan and cannot wait to see shit get blown up and watch as Sam and his family and friends along with Ratchet, Ironhide and others try to once again save earth from the Decepticons.

Landon is a bad ass. He is the leader of his friends who cause trouble in their small town and run wild doing what they want, whenever they want.

One night they run into a fellow student and convince him to jump off a high platform and something terrible goes wrong. As part of his punishment he is forced to help tutor underprivileged kids at their sister school and that is where he begins to fall for the ministers daughter Jamie.

Jamie is unlike any girl Landon has ever met. They've known each other since kindergarden but didn't run in the same circles. Jamie doesn't care what people think of her. She doesn't care and only sees the good in people. But Jamie also has a secret.



A Walk to Remember is a very sweet and touching movie that shows first love at its best. The lead characters Mandy Moore and Shane West play off one another well and I was mesmerized in watching them as their relationship with each other grew. The movie shows how falling in love with someone, one special person can help us to be better than we are.

Landon's journey helps him overcome odds with his friends and a father he never sees. He learns from his past and with Jamie learns to accept his future.

The sweetest moments in the movie: When Landon asks his mother to teach him to dance so he can dance with Jamie. When he names a star after her and takes her to the state line so she can be in two places at once, something that was on her bucket list.

If you haven't seen this movie you should. It's a classic love story, touching and wonderful. Get your Kleenex ready -- you will need it lol.

Music by Mandy Moore

Thank you for your interest in Rants n' Rascals.  Since May of 2008 Rants n' Rascals has been a source for parents, moms and dads and others come to for the latest product reviews, information on parenting, articles on special needs and more.  Our readers consist of mainly moms, some dads too and even those who don't have children at all.  Our readers are in varying age groups with most having more than two children.  

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Please submit all queries to cnjshaw@gmail.com.  My email is checked daily and you can expect a reply back within 24-48 hours regarding my interest in reviewing your product, along with my shipping information for you to send the non-returnable item for review.

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Winner should receive their product within 14 days of being notified they won.  Any gift certificates or promo codes must cover the cost of the product won and shipping charges.

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