Win a Family 4-Pack to Disney On Ice Princess Classics & Discount Code!

Disney On Ice presents Princess Classics

Denver Coliseum
March 30 – April 3, 2011

This enchanting adventure is an amazing journey to the magical lands of Disney’s classic fairy tales. Travel to a kingdom under the sea, an enchanted French castle, an Arabian palace and more! With special guest Tinker Bell, enter the worlds of your favorite Disney Princesses – Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and Snow White – and see their dreams come true as this royal skating extravaganza brings magic to Denver!

Opening Night Discount Code!

Save up to 13.50 per ticket (on the $26.50 price level) with discount code: DEAL 13

Enter the code in the “Advance or Promotion Ticket” box at: www.Ticketmaster.com/DisneyOnIceDenver to get opening night tickets for only $13.

Valid on Wed. March 30^th only; excludes VIP seating; Additional fees may apply.
Redeem through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or at www.ticketmaster.com/circuspartners.
Denver Coliseum Box Office opens March 14.

Ticket Prices: $15.50, $20.50 and $26.50. VIP tickets $42.50 and Front Row tickets $72.50, available in limited supply. Additional fees will apply.

WIN a family 4 pack!

Enter here to win 4 tickets to the opening night show on Wednesday, March 30^th at 7:00 p.m. D eadline: March 25, 2011.

Hospitals, Heart Conditions and Tiny Miracles

One week ago today, my husband Jamie entered Good Samaritan Hospital. The three days that ensued were among the most frantic and stressful of our married lives.

Jamie had originally set a doctor’s appointment to undergo some routine testing for the chest pain he had experienced during aerobic activity. Almost immediately he was admitted into the Clinical Decision Unit as the doctors forged forward for a diagnosis and treatment.
No abnormalities showed up on his EKG nor on the other tests the doctors performed so they decided he should spend the night for monitoring and then put him on the treadmill at 7 a.m. the next morning.

If you’re not familiar with sluggish Jamie in the morning, that alone might have killed him.

Sure enough as his heart rate rose, the chest pain began. The problem is,

Number of children abused or neglected in Colorado rises

The number of abused or neglected children in Colorado has risen over the past three years, even as the numbers in other states have declined — with 36 children killed by abuse in 2009, up from 27 in 2007.

After a dip between 2006 and 2007, the rates of confirmed child abuse and neglect in the state have increased: from 8.3 per 1,000 in 2007, to 8.6 in 2008, to 9.1 per 1,000 in 2009, the latest year for which statistics are available.

In 2009, 11,339 of Colorado’s 1.2 million children were maltreated, 641 more than the previous year, according to data collected by the Colorado Department of Human Services child welfare division and provided by the Kempe Center, which treats abused children.

During the past two years, 1,236 additional children were abused and neglected compared with 2007.

It is not uncommon for more children to get hurt by adults when a

Colorado Mom on a ‘kidproof’ Mission

It can be a scary world out there for kids and their parents, but thanks to a new company, Kidproof Colorado, strides are being made to ease the stress.

Kidproof, a household name in Canada, is now America’s leading provider of child safety education classes according to Megan Galgano, owner of Kidproof Colorado.

Galgano, a teacher and mother of three, and her husband, a business man, brought Kidproof to Denver and now have 12 classes on topics like bully proofing, cyber safety, babysitting and Stranger Smarts.

Kidproof is different from other safety companies in that they have a proactive and preventative focus, and the classes are filled with role-playing and games, so kids retain the information.

“We believe crime is preventable if people have the necessary knowledge to recognize potential danger and listen to their personal alarm.” Galgano said.

Kidproof is committed to providing families with child safety resources, and their team is continuously developing new

School choice: Let go of the stress

If you’ve got kids – which presumably everyone reading this does – then at one point or another you’ve had to deal with the daunting task of picking the best school for your child. When I was a kid in Michigan in the 1960s and ‘70s this wasn’t an issue. You either went to your neighborhood public school or ponied up for private school. Done. Parents and students had no choice in the matter. So much has changed. In Colorado, students can attend any public school in the state if there is room available (which in the best schools is a very big “if”).

The argument in favor of school choice is that parents can pick out the type of school that will be the best match for their child and that a little competition between schools will boost performance and quality across the board. There is still much debate about the effects of school choice on the quality of public schools overall. Regardless of your views on this, choice is here to stay.

So, how do you pick the best school? Is it vital to understand your child’s learning style? How the heck do you understand how a preschooler learns? Is a 4-year-old who sorts peas into neat piles while dressed up as a fairy a kinesthetic or a visual learner? Is it ridiculous to even ask this question? In a way, yes. Turns out the latest research says there is no evidence that matching learning style with educational

Win an Obermeyer Jacket, SolVista Ski Passes & Great Spring Break Deals!

It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over.

The ski season, that is. That’s why I’m thrilled about a fun giveaway promotion Mile High Mamas is offering. Ski wear industry leader Obermeyer wants to send your child to Spring Break in style and is offering up one of their cutting-edge I-Grow jackets as a giveaway.

Let’s face it: outfitting our growing children is a non-stop process. That is why I LOVE the concept of Obermeyer’s innovative I-Grow system, which features a simple and unique way of increasing the life of a child’s garment longevity. By simply snipping the colored threads, the parent can lengthen the sleeves and cuffs up to two inches. Absolutely a brilliant idea.

As a bonus, SolVista Basin is always throwing in a family four-pack of night skiing passes!
Be sure to scroll down and enter to win this great giveaway!

Spring Break Deals and Happenings at Colorado’s Resorts

Talk about perfect timing: March is Colorado’s snowiest month, creating ideal conditions for spring break. But even better than the powder are all the great bargains on lessons, lodging, concerts, and ski passes. Some resorts are even offering free skiing and 2-for-1 passes with resort reciprocation. Check out these great deals and happenings at some of Colorado’s resorts:

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

3rd Night/3rd Day. Buy 2 days of lodging and 2 days of lift tickets and the 3rd night and 3rd day are free. This

Your opinion: Was the teacher in the wrong writing her “lazy whiners” blog?

A high school English teacher in suburban Philadelphia who was suspended for a profanity-laced blog in which she called her young charges “disengaged, lazy whiners” is driving a debate by daring to ask: Why are today’s students unmotivated — and what’s wrong with calling them out?

As she fights to keep her job at Central Bucks East High School, 30-year-old Natalie Munroe says she had no interest in becoming any sort of educational icon. The blog has been taken down, but its contents can still be found easily online.

Her comments and her suspension by the middle-class school district have clearly touched a nerve, with scores of online commenters applauding her for taking a tough love approach or excoriating her for verbal abuse. Media attention has rained down, and backers have started a Facebook group.

“My students are out of control,” Munroe, who has taught 10th, 11th and 12th grades, wrote in one post. “They are rude, disengaged, lazy whiners. They curse, discuss drugs, talk back, argue for grades, complain about everything, fancy themselves entitled to whatever they desire, and are just generally annoying.”

And in another post,

Denver Zoo’s Asian Tropics exhibit will bring visitors closer to animals

Four-year-old Aila Benavidez says her favorite thing about elephants are their trunks and big footprints.

Aila and her mother, Kirsten Benavidez, who visit the Denver Zoo every few months, will see twice the number of the big animals when the zoo opens its Asian Tropics exhibit.

“I applaud them,” Kirsten Benavidez said. “I’m happy they look out for the best interest of animals.”

The zoo is at the halfway point in the completion of the $50 million exhibit, which covers 10 acres on the zoo’s southern edge.

During a tour this morning, Craig Piper, president and CEO, described what the exhibit will look like when it opens in the spring of 2012, and how the exhibit will support conservation projects around the world.

“Elephants and other animals in Asia are at a crossroads,” Piper said.

There are less than

Event Round-up: A BugaRythm party, Airplanes & More!

Saturday. Get into the groove at “BugaRhythm,” a funky party at the Butterfly Pavilion. The day of dance and music features live performances, including a piece by Westminster’s own Ballet Nouveau Colorado, and lots of sweet tunes provided by Radio Disney. In the exhibit areas, kids can learn about the music of invertebrates: hissing cockroaches, singing crickets and dancing butterflies. Make crafts and play games, too, and don’t forget to get up close with some of the Pavilion’s creepy-crawly residents. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster; 303-469-5441. Admission is $8.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors age 65 and older, $5.50 for kids ages 2 to 12. For more information, including a full schedule of events, visit butterflies.org.

Saturday. Airplane fans will go sky-high at the 7th annual Rocky Mountain Aeromodeling Expo at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. The show brings together model-airplane hobbyists demonstrating the daredevil feats and craftsmanship of their mini-planes, along with other aeronautical activities—peek into the museum’s open cockpits, see a jet-engine demo and check out cool model helicopters. Kids can make a free model airplane to take home, too. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd.; 303-360-5360. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors age 65 and older, $6 for kids ages 4 through 12. Visit wingsmuseum.org to learn more.

Saturday. Garbage is great at “Trash to Treasures,” a free family day at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History. Learn how to turn ordinary, everyday rubbish into useful objects and works of art: Plastic bags, bottle caps and toilet paper tubes all get an earth-friendly makeover. While you’re at the museum, check out some of their latest exhibits, like “Modern Life: Exploration, Innovation, Pollination” and “Evolution: Here and Now.” 1-4 p.m. Saturday. University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, Henderson Building, 15th Street and Broadway, Boulder; 303-492-6892. Admission is free, but a donation is suggested: $3 for adults, $1 for seniors and kids ages 6 to 18. For more informaion, visit cumuseum.colorado.edu.

Sunday. You’re never too old for a birthday party, not when you’re Buffalo Bill Cody. Celebrate the legendary showman’s 165th birthday at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. The festivities begin when a group of Buffalo Bill lookalikes cut a cake for everyone to enjoy. Afterward, guests can roam the galleries and visit with costumed volunteers who will share stories of Bill’s life. The grand finale is the annual buffalo-chip tossing contest—as always, it’s a real competition, with kids and adult divisions chucking chips for prizes. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, 987-1/2 Lookout Mountain Road, Golden; 303-526-0744. Admission is free. Learn more at buffalobill.org.

Through Sunday. Lace up those saddle shoes for the 4th annual Rocky Mountain Balboa Blowout, a three-day swing-dancing contest, clinic and concert. Kids are welcome to join the fun: Live music and dancing nightly, with showcase competitions and guidance from instructors. This year’s Blowout features Laura Keat and Jeremy Otth as instructors, both of whom have appeared on “Dancing with the Stars.” After the kids go to bed, night owls can keep swingin’ at late-night dances until 4 a.m. 9 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Denver Turnverein, 1570 Clarkson St. Admission is $25 for adults, free for kids age 14 and younger. Saturday’s dance is $5 for kids. 6:30 p.m. to midnight Sunday. The Rox Room, 2nd floor of Lodo’s, 1946 Market St. Admission is $15 for adults, free for kids. Find a full schedule and learn more at balboablowout.com.

What Songs Are in Your Breakup Album?

Hubby and I had lunch at The Yard House recently. (OK, more like *every* day, but who’s counting?) The Yard House, with 50 zillion beers on tap, none of which we can have over lunch, also blasts classic rock incessantly over their loud speakers. And while I have nothing intrinsically against classic rock, and there certainly are many AWESOME classic rock songs out there – let’s face it… there are also some REALLY cruddy classic rock songs that somehow co-exist in the same universe with Led Zeppelin and The Who.

That day was no exception. One crappy song after the other played throughout our burger-and-salad meal, till finally we hit the motherload.

Amie by Pure Prairie League.

I nearly fainted. “Argh! I hate this song. The only ‘Amy’ song in the whole entire world and I am forced to listen to THIS garbage over and over my whole entire life.”

Bryan totally agreed. “This song belongs on The Soundtrack of My Own Personal Hell.”