Water, wings and wild things

This was one of our favorite local FREE events last year.

Water, wings, wild things
Polk Naturefest 2009
Saturday, October 31, 10 am until 2 pm
Circle B Bar Reserve

Baby Einsteins Video refund offer

Baby Einstein DVDs, which were promoted as educational for babies but recently determined to be not-quite-educational, are going through a PR mess.

They're offering a $15.99 refund no matter the original purchase price on any Baby Einstein DVD purchased between 2004 and Sept 2009.

You just fill out the form on that page and tell them the date that you purchased it, and send in the DVD... up to 4 per household.

But this is only for people who already purchased these DVDs in the past. If you were to buy it today, it wouldn't be honest to list an earlier date on that form. I guess you may have to use your best estimate, if you can't recall exactly.

Offer is valid until March 2010."

The Baby Einstein™ DVD Guarantee - USA

Participation Guidelines

To participate, you must have purchased a Baby Einstein DVD between June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009.
If you are not satisfied with the Baby Einstein DVD you purchased during the period mentioned above, for a limited time beginning on September 4, 2009 and ending on March 4, 2010, you may exchange it for one of the following:

• One (1) Baby Einstein Book of your choice
• One (1) Baby Einstein music CD of your choice

- Or -

• One (1) coupon for 25% off the purchase of one Little Einsteins™ product. Redeemable with promotion code only at DisneyStore.com.

or you may return it, and we will refund the current retail value of the DVD ($15.99). To request your DVD exchange or refund (limited to four (4) per household), you must follow the steps below for each DVD returned (note: you may return more than one DVD in the same mailing envelope, but you MUST include a completed mail-in certificate or completed 8½x11 sheet of paper for each DVD you are returning) :
1. Package the DVD, in its original DVD case (if available), into a suitable mailing envelope or package.
2. Include the completed (hand-printed) request form below or an 8½x11 sheet of paper with your signature, name, address, telephone number and email address.
3. Indicate the DVD title you are returning and date of purchase.
4. Check the appropriate box on the exchange/refund request form found below or write in on your sheet of paper your choice of :
(a) An exchange for one (1) Baby Einstein Book OR one (1) Baby Einstein music CD. Please write in the product name or title in the appropriate space found on the refund request form below OR on your sheet of paper;
(b) A coupon for 25% off one (1) Little Einsteins™ product purchased online at DisneyStore.com; or
(c) A refund.
5. Submissions must be postmarked by March 4, 2010.
6. Mail to:

The Baby Einstein DVD Guarantee/Upgrade Offer
P.O. Box 3200
Neenah, WI 54957-3200
Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of your exchange or refund check. Returns must be sent in a suitable envelope or package with the necessary postage. Limit four (4) exchanges (including upgrades and discounts) or refunds per household or address during the return period ending March 4, 2010. Group submissions are void. Exchanges and refunds will not be mailed to P.O. Boxes. Check with your local post office for a street address. Exchange or refund rights may not be assigned or transferred. Requests not in compliance with all the terms of this offer will not be acknowledged or returned. All submissions are subject to verification. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment reserves the right to review questionable submissions. Any requests sent to the above P.O. Box for anything other than a legitimate product exchange or refund will not be acknowledged. Offer good in U.S. only. Void where prohibited, restricted or taxed by law. Inquiries to this offer received later than 30 days after the expiration date of March 4, 2010 will not be acknowledged. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment assumes no responsibility for lost, late, damaged, misdirected, mutilated, illegible, incomplete or postage-due mail. For inquiries, including if you believe you purchased your Baby Einstein DVD(s) for a different amount, please call our Customer Service Department toll free at 1-800-793-1454 (Prompt #5) or e-mail us at customerservice@babyeinstein.com.

Free Local Library events this weekend

• Auburndale library presents Famiy Fun time at 10 am, Saturday, October 24th. Make and take crafts, a moonwalk, inflatable slides, games and more.
• Winter Haven library presents, "Monsters vs Aliens" at 2 pm, October 24th. Refreshments available for a nominal fee.
  

Nanny 911 comes to town and tickets are FREE

Strengthening and Supporting Families Community Speakers Series
Stella Reid aka Nanny Stella, from Nanny 911 will be at the
Lakeland Center, November 7, 2009 2-3:30 pm..

Join Nanny Stella as she shares tips for successful parenting and family harmony! Bring your questions as Nanny Stella will be addressing the audience in a question/answer session!

The presentation is free, but you must have a ticket.
Call 863-519- 8900 ext 261 for more information.

Presented by Heartland for Children.

Local Halloween events

• Pumpkin Patch at Mulberry United Methodist Church; Mon.-Sat 10 am until 7 pm, Sun. noon until 7 pm. All proceeds benefit local and global missions
• Fall Craft Bazaar; Presbyterian Church in the Highlands, Oct. 24th 9 am until 2 pm; Handmade crafts, bake sale, food concessions and a fun zone for children.
• Trunk or Treat, Shepherd's Community United Methodist Church; Oct. 30th from 6-8 pm. Free Food, Bouncy slide, games, pony rides and a visit from Smokey the Bear.
• Trunk or Treat, First Baptist Church in Frostproof presents face painting, food court, inflatables, decorated vehicles for treats; Oct 31, 6-8 pm.
• Trunk or Treat, College Heights United Methodist Church in Lakeland; Oct. 31 6-8 pm, Candy, gifts, bounce houses and hot dogs.
• Family Halloween Party at Polk Museum of Art, Oct. 30, 4-7 pm, Cost is $5 per child, Trick or treat in the galleries, scavenger hunt, Halloween themed games, art projects and more.
  

Local Weekend Events

Fall fest at Polk State College
Winter Haven
Saturday, Oct 17th @ 9am until 4 pm
FREE
Over 160 craft booths, haunted house, Kid Zone with a magician, pumpkin patch and face painting. Musical groups and drama performances.
Also, PSC Emergency Services will host their Team Day with a mock competition.
Food and drink available.

Birthday Freebies

Since we have 3 birthdays this month (actually all on the same day), we have been getting some birthday freebies so I wanted to share what we have received so far and the information to sign up.

• Denny's Free Kid's meal and dessert with purchase of Adult entree; http://dennyskidsandparents.com/birthdayclub/
• Cold Stone Creamery one free ice cream creation; http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/birthday/birthday_club.aspx
• Moes Southwest Grill complimentary entree and a free kids meal; http://moes.kidsbirthdayclub.com/index.cfm http://moes.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W
• Rita's Ice buy one item get one free; http://www.ritasice.com/events-and-promotions/birthday-club.aspx
• Dairy Queen Buy one blizzard get one free; http://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/
• Arby's Free Shake with any roastburger purchase; https://arbysextras.fishbowl.com/forms/arbys/join.asp
• Chilis Free Dessert with purchase of any entree;http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/chlscrp/lp/join/join.asp
• Bds Mongolian Grill; Free Stir Fry Meal; http://www.gomongo.com/experience/joinClubMongo.php
• Grillsmith Free Meal with purchase of another meal;http://grillsmith.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&NoCache=True

Great website for finding pumpkin patches, corn mazes and fall festivals in your area

I wanted to share this website that lists pumpkin patches, corn mazes, fall festivals and more. It also has lists for farms for "you pick" fruits and veggies and for Christmas tree farms.



http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/FLpumpkins.php

Lakeland Fire Department Open House for Fire Safety Month

Lakeland Fire Department Hosts Open House on Saturday, October 10, 2009
LAKELAND— On Saturday, October 10, 2009, the Lakeland Fire Department is hosting its 4th Annual Open House at Station 1, located at 701 E. Main Street in downtown Lakeland. The event begins at 10:00 A.M. and runs until 2:00 P.M. The community is invited to this free event. The department will hold live demonstrations to include a vehicle extrication, rappelling, search and rescue using a canine and a simulated medical response. Apparatus and equipment will be on display. Firefighters will provide tours of the station, conduct

blood pressure checks and have fire safety information available. Refreshments will be served. The Open House is Lakeland Fire Department’s way of commemorating Fire Prevention Week which is October 4-10, 2009. This year’s theme is “Stay Fire Smart; Don’t Get Burned.” The Open House is a wonderful opportunity for the residents of Lakeland, young andold, to interact with the firefighters and to learn about the Lakeland Fire Department and the services it provides to the community.

Some free local movies this weekend

Bartow Library

Pix and Popcorn features "Monsters vs Aliens"
Saturday, October 10th at 2:30 pm.


Winter Haven Library

Saturday, Oct 10th at 2 pm

Enter the world of Bionicle at the Saturday afternoon movie, "Bionicle: the Legend Reborn"

Refreshments available at a nominal charge.

Cheap Halloween Decorating

I wanted to share some pictures after my boys and I got through decorating our front door for Halloween. I used crafts that they did at school last year as part of the decorations. They thought it was neat that I had saved their creations and they loved seeing them on our door and windows.

Bartow Library storytimes

Join us for stories, songs, fingerplays, games, crafts and movies! No preregistration is necessary. The groups meet once a week in the meeting room upstairs during September and October.

3-5 yr. olds
Wed., Sept. 9th – Oct. 28th
10:00 to 10:45 AM

6-8 yr. olds
Tues., Sept. 8th – Oct. 27th
3:30 to 4:30 PM

birth – 2 yrs. (Book Babies)
Thurs., Sept. 10th – Oct. 29th
10:30 to 11:00 AM

New Library Times for the Lakeland Public Library Main Branch

Preschool Storytime for 4-5 year olds
with Miss Connie, Storyteller & Program Director
Preschool Storytime, designed for 4-5 year olds, is an interactive program of stories, songs, finger-plays and more for you and your child to enjoy together!

Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. In the meeting room of the Main Library
October 20, 27
November 3, 10, 17, 24
December 1, 8

Toddler Time - TWO sessions offered
Designed for toddlers aged 2 & 3. Same program at each session.

Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the meeting room of the Main Library
October 21, 28
November 4, 12, 19, 25
December 2, 9

Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. in the meeting room of the Main Library
October 1, 22, 29
November 5, 19
December 3, 10

Mother Goose Time for Babies with Miss Connie, Storyteller & Program Director
Mother Goose Time, designed for babies, is a lap-sit program that gives you an opportunity to learn rhymes and songs to share with your baby.

Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. in the meeting room of the Main Library
October 1, 22, 29
November 5, 12, 19
December 3, 10

Some local October events to mark on your calendar.

October 23-Family Fall Festival from 6-9 pm at the Bartow Civic Center. Activities include a pumpkin decorating contest, costume contest, face painting, balloon artist, candy apple decorating and a haunted hayride. You must be registered to attend. For more info. call (863) 534-0120.

October24-The Polk County Leisure Services Division will host the 13th Annual Haunted Halloween Hayride and Happenings. This family event will be 5- 10 pm at Carter RD. park. Admission is $5 per person. Children 2yo and younger are free with paid adult.
For more info. call (863) 534-6911

October 29-The Crickette Club Halloween Parade and Carnival in Bartow. Parade begins at 4pm.

October 23-Downtown Bartow Art Stroll from 4-8 pm.

Halloween decorations and gardening

Yesterday we had a very busy day. In the morning we went to Jack's flag football game, by the way, his team is now 0-3 and Jack says they are now like the BUCS. (right now being like the BUCS is not a great thing though) After, the game we came home and starting working outside putting up outdoor Halloween decoration. Every year the boys are so excited to put up the light up skulls and ghost lights, of course, it is better when we go outside and see them lit up after dark.
While we were working in the yard, the boys thought that planting some acorns might eventually grow some more trees to give us shade so they got to work planting acorns all over the front yard. I will have to post pics if we get some new trees.

Freebies, Rebates and Sweepstakes

• Enter today and you could win a complete Best Friends' Club INK! doll line with accessories for your child, plus a library of Scholastic books.Welcome to Best Friends' Club, Ink. | Scholastic.com
• Get a free book when you mail in 1 Zyrtec UPC.
  
  Mail in one UPC from any Zyrtec product along with your name, phone #, email address and mailing address to:
  
  Zyrtec Book Offer
  557 Broadway
  PO BO 711
  New York, NY 10012
  
  Offer ends; 11/30/09 The book is a Children's book about allergies.
  

• Free Book with UPC from Pediasure. Get a free scholastic book when you submit a pediasure UPC.Send one UPC from any Pediasure product with your name, phone #, email address, and mailing address to:Pediasure Book Offer 557 Broadway P O BOX 711 New York, NY 10012
  

The book is "Gregory, the Terrible Eater" by Mitchell Sharmat

Offer expires: 10/31/09

• I got this email from Houseparty.com and Lunchables and thought I would share. Let’s Turn a Little Note Into a World of Difference.

  Help kids do their best.

  Remember, we can make a difference! Just promise to drop a note in your kid’s lunch at LunchNotePromise.com. Do that and we’ll give a free meal to a kid in need. Together, we can turn a little note into world of difference.

  Go to LunchNotePromise.com
  

After signing up, you will then have the chance to download a coupon for Lunchables or to download some notes to pack in your child's lunchbox.

• Call 1-800-490-9198 (during regular business hours) and request item number EPA420-K-07-001 to get a free copy of The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up! The book is provided by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Limit one per household