Halloween Ideas

Halloween is just about here! We have plenty of ideas for costumes, gross Halloween party food, other spooky recipes and party ideas, fun crafts and more. So be sure and stop by FamilyCorner.com today for some holiday spirit!

The Pocket Disc - amazing crocheted frisbee

Have you ever seen these? They are called Pocket Discs. Little frisbee-type discs that are basically crocheted, they don't hurt if they hit you, are waaaay easier to catch, and soar through the air with ease! You can even play with these indoors. They are SO FUN. How many games of frisbee have been stopped cold when someone gets a hard disc to the face or ends up with a bloody lip? Won't happen with this amazing invention!

We have played with ours in the house, out in the yard, in the pool and when we went camping. Fair warning though, don't play with them in a lake as they will sink and you will lose it. Then you'll be really upset that your kids just lost the best family toy of the year. Luckily, my 11 year old was persistent and ended up finding it, yay!

I love the story behind this fabulous toy too, read this except from their website:

"Savanna Groft, a third grader at the time, was assigned a project at school. Her teacher asked her to crochet a round placemat as part of her handwork studies. Savanna’s initial efforts yielded a round disk, but because she had not added enough stitches, the disc curled under forming a small lip. This placemat of sorts sat on a table in her living room until Savanna’s friends, Hannah and Ellie came over to visit. On a whim, Hannah and Ellie’s dad, Chris, picked up the disc and threw it. It sailed across the living room and the Pocket Disc was born."

How fun is that? Check out their site to see all the cool designs, watch videos, read testimonies, and for a chance to win one of your own! Even if you enter, you should buy one right away. These rock and they are only $9.99! Go. Now!

Review: The Wilderness Resort

Thinking about waterparks as a vacation destination this summer? Or perhaps you're hoping for a cold weather getaway this winter? Check out my review on The Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. You'll love all they have to offer.


Read the review here

The Bheestie Bag really works!

In our Father's Day gift round up I mentioned several products, one of them was the Bheestie Bag. This bag claims to be able to revive electronic equipment that has been damaged by water, even those that have been submerged.

Well this weekend we went camping. My digital camera was sitting on the picnic table when hubby and I had to go up to the camping office for something. During that time it started to rain. The camera was unfortunately positioned directly underneath the heavily dripping end of the camper awning. And when I say heavily dripping, I really mean to say POURING. Needless to say my camera was drenched. I removed the batteries and memory card and dried off the camera with a towel. I couldn't put the camera in the bag immediately, I had to wait until we got home, which wouldn't be for several hours yet.

Once I got home I tried putting new batteries in, but the camera would not turn on. Devastation! So I placed the camera in the Bheestie Bag and left it in over night. It was in the bag for about 14 hours. I just took it out and put the batteries in and the camera turned on, took a picture, I can delete, go through saved photos, everything! It WORKS!

I'm really pleased with this bag. We've had several mishaps with electronics and water, I will definitely be holding on to this bag!

If you'd like to have your own Bheestie Bag, check out their website below. This is a $20 investment you'll definitely want to make. It saved me several hundred dollars just this weekend alone!

Get The Bheestie Bag



Men love their gadgets, now there's a way to make sure their favorite toys are protected from water damage!


BHEESTIE Bag(r) is a brand new innovation designed to 'dry out' electronic devices, from iPods to cell phones and even digital cameras, Bheestie has you covered.

You just drop the wet gadget in, zip and seal. Within 24-72 hours it's working as good as new.

Dads will be glad they have this on hand, especially when they have little ones around who tend to spill. And it's only $20.00, sure to save dads hundreds!

Check out the Bheestie bag at their website

Father's Day Gift Round Up

FamilyCorner has several ideas for Dad, including some fun Father's Day crafts that you and the kids can make at home. However, if you're looking to buy something for that special man in your life, here are some of the latest products that have "wowed" us recently.

iFrogz has introduced the new CS40s – headphones that have an unbelievable comfort level. We've tested them out here and we were quite impressed!

The “CS” stands for “comfort series” and they are the stylish new addition to the EarPollution headphone line by iFrogz. These lightweight, on-ear headphones are a great alternative to earbuds and other headphones that fit too tightly, and also feature ultra-cushioned ear cups for all-day wear.

The CS40s are currently available in five colors – white, black, blue, red and pink – for an MSRP of $39.99. Each pair has an adjustable headband and folds into itself for portability.

You can see them here.

Dads can get the most convenient shave possible with ShaveMate's Titan 6!

It's the first and only all-in-one razor for men and comes complete with shaving cream right inside the handle.

The Titan has 6 sharp blades surpassing the big name razors and making sure you get the closest shave possible. Now sold in Walgreen's stores nationwide, $9.99 for a pack of three disposable razors.

Visit their website for more info

Men love their gadgets, now there's a way to make sure their favorite toys are protected from water damage!


BHEESTIE Bag(r) is a brand new innovation designed to 'dry out' electronic devices, from iPods to cell phones and even digital cameras, Bheestie has you covered.

You just drop the wet gadget in, zip and seal. Within 24-72 hours it's working as good as new.

Dads will be glad they have this on hand, especially when they have little ones around who tend to spill. And it's only $20.00, sure to save dads hundreds!

Check out the Bheestie bag at their website

For hardworking dads, give them a gift for their office! Glass Atlas is a dome paperweight with a 360-degree satellite image of a specific region of the earth! It's great for traveling dads to give them a piece of home when they are far away. They can even be engraved!

You can pick your special spot for birthday, graduation, retirement, promotion or any occasion. These creative accents will inspire and engage the imagination! The presentation box is handcrafted from the scraps of log cabin construction. Each Glass Atlas paperweight is 3 1/2" across, 1 7/8" deep and weighs 1 lb. 5 oz.

Check out the available designs here


Design-forward, noise isolating, Wicked Little Buds provide an edgy look and great sound. Petite earbuds feature a semi-glossy finish and feature tiny Wicked Logos on the ends of each bud.

• Fiber-like cord enhances the aesthetic appeal and gold-plated tip prevents corrosion
• High performance buds provide spectacular noise isolation for an enjoyable listening experience
• Light weight form provides a "barely there" feeling for the ultimate in comfort
• Available in 4 stylish colors: Black, Blue, Purple and Silver
• 5.8 mm Driver, 20-20,000 Hz Frequency, 1.2 Meter Cord

Available at: EmpireBrandsInc.com, Amazon.com, Fry's Electronics, Airport Wireless, and other select international retailers. Priced at $29.99


Revolutionary solar and USB portable charger, Kiwi Choice: U-Powered also comes with a built-in flashlight and magnetic feet.

• Charge any mobile device while on the go - 11 connector tips included
• Charges using the sun, wall or car charger, and/or a USB port
• Features a built-in LED Flashlight and 3 magnets on back allows for sturdy connection to any metal surface and car
• 4 small LED lights on the back show simply how much power is stored in the device
• Power capacity of 2000 mAh, with a charging time of about 4 hours

Available at: www.kiwichoice.com. Priced at $49.99


SwiMP3.1G is a waterproof MP3 player with bone-conduction sound transfer technology.

• Patented Bone-Conduction Technology vibrates inner ear creating high quality music underwater
• Sleek design with strap clip allows unit to be attached to swim goggle or snorkeling mask
• Integrated MP3 Panel incorporates On/Off, Volume, Next/Previous Track, Pause and Shuffle functions
• 10-Hour rechargeable lithium-ion battery charges directly from a USB port
• 1GB of Storage – approximately 240 songs
• Compatible with Windows and MAC Mp3 or WMA files

Available at: Finisinc.com. Priced at $149.99


EZ Grill is a ready-to-use recyclable, convenient, portable instant grill! A perfect gift for tailgaiting dads.

• Portable and recyclable instant grill complete with foil pan, grill grate, stand and charcoal
• Instant all-natural charcoal included – NO additives, unnatural chemicals, fillers or lighter fluid
• Convenient clean-up means no mess
• Lights with one match and cooks for up to 1 ½ hours

Available at: Wal-Mart, Safeway, Winn-Dixie and www.ezgrill.com
Priced at $4.99 for Regular Size (1.81 lbs); $9.99 for Party Size (3.31 lbs)


Gorillatorch is a flexible tripod mounted 65 lumen flashlight with magnetic feet to illuminate anything, anywhere.

• Famous Joby rubberized leg joints bend and rotate for numerous standing and mounting options
• Water resistant torch features a dimmer light operation and is powered by 3 AA batteries
• Magnetic feet create a powerful connection to affix and to most metal surfaces
• Great for the home, car, outdoors and almost any other activity requiring bright light
• Available in Blue, Gray, Yellow and Orange

Available at: Joby.com and various other international retailers
Priced at $29.95


solBAT II is a solar powered back up battery and charging device. Perfect for the outdoorsy dad who likes to camp, hunt or fish.

• Works with almost any handheld USB powered device
• Simple two light design – red means charging, green means it’s powering a handheld device
• Charges handhelds at the same rate as a wall charger
• Two suction cups make it easy to attach to a window or windshield
• When fully powered it will charge a cell phone twice

Available at: Scosche.com Priced at $29.99

Chocolate Chip Cookies (with a twist)

Recently we added this tasty recipe for Chocolate Chip Espresso Cookies. If you like mocha flavor (coffee and chocolate) then you will love this.

Printable version of recipe available on our site.

Go here for the recipe!


Be sure to visit our boards to find more cookie recipes or share one of your favorites with our community!


(photo and recipe courtesy of Amanda's Cookin')

Review: City Select by Baby Jogger

Can baby strollers be cool? Take one look at the City Select version by Baby Jogger and you will wonder why you ever asked that question in the first place. Be forewarned, this stroller is a splurge, but somehow it mixes functionality with chic design in a way that actually might inspire you to take your baby out more often! One thing to keep in mind: this is a cruising stroller only and not a jogger.

The City Select has got "quick-fold technology" that makes it fold flat in one super easy step. The best part about this stroller is the fact that it actually allows you to customize the model to fit your family's needs—so it starts as a single capacity but easily expands to a double so no need to buy a second stroller, which will help take some of the sting out of the $499 price tag.

Or maybe it'll make you feel better to know you are carting your kids around in the stroller that is loved by such celebrities as Julia Roberts and Salma Hayek. But good luck finding one—Baby Jogger strollers go quickly and stores are often sold out.

Be sure to visit our section on your baby's first year. You'll find parenting tips, safety tips, and much more.

May newsletter

Our May newsletter has been issued! New crafts and recipes, great for Mother's Day. Check it out!

Click here to see the newsletter

Great Wolf Lodge: Fun in any weather!

Waterparks are all the rage these days. Suite style guest rooms, family friendly entertainment, and full service indoor water fun, what's not to love? Wisconsin Dells, in south-central Wisconsin, has been hailed the "Las Vegas" strip of water parks, hosting a variety of indoor and outdoor slides, rides, and good, clean family fun. 


It doesn't matter if it's the middle of summer or the dead of winter, visiting a water park provides splashing family entertainment all year long. 


See our review of The Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells here.

Save Money and the Environment

We all want to do our part to be eco-conscious but "green" companies often present us with a choice: be Earth-friendly or wallet-friendly... never both. The reality is that prices at the average retailer are just plain lower than at eco-friendly businesses. Until now.

For those of you who shop online (and who doesn't?), there are coupon sites galore. But just in time for Earth Day, two coupon sites, UltimateCoupons.com and Tjoos.com, have introduced a special green section. And with discounts up to 50% off at popular green retailers, shoppers can easily save money while helping save the environment, Be green, save some green-- everyone wins.

Earth Day stands for working together to create change—and online shoppers can make a big impact on the global economy by committing to support environmentally-conscious businesses.

http://www.ultimatecoupons.com/coupons/eco_friendly_coupons.htm
http://www.tjoos.com/Holiday/29/Earth-Day/

Be sure to check out our Earth Day section for crafts, recipes and lots of Earth friendly ideas!

Easter Egg Cake

If you're looking for a last minute idea for dessert for Easter Sunday, try this super easy, fun to decorate Easter Egg Cake!

Printable version available here

Easter Egg Cake

You will need

your favorite box cake, any flavor
yellow and green food coloring
white icing (recipe below)
green, orange, yellow, and pink decorator gel
white decorator frosting
decorating tip
gumdrops
silver non pareils
round cake pans

Note: This cake uses one round cake pan. Therefore, you can make two Easter egg cakes, make a double decker Easter egg cake, or make cupcakes with the remaining batter.

Prepare cake mix as directed. Pour half the prepared batter into round cake pan and bake as directed on box. Allow to cool thoroughly before frosting and decorating.

Prepare the white icing by following the recipe below. When finished, remove 3/4 cup of the frosting to a seperate bowl. Add a two drops of green food coloring to the small bowl and stir until thoroughly mixed. Add three drops of yellow food coloring to the large bowl of white frosting, stir thoroughly.

White Buttercream Icing

16-ounce package confectioners sugar
6 tbsp butter or margarine, softened
3 to 4 tbsp milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt

In a medium bowl, with mixer at medium-low speed, beat all ingredients until the icing is smooth and of easy spreading consistency. Add a few drops of red food coloring, 3 for light pink, 6 or so for dark pink.

Prep
When cake is COMPLETELY cooled, cut a straight line, off center, down the cake so that you are removing a rectangular piece from the center of the circle. (See photo) Place rectangle at the bottom of your cake platter, position remaining half circles together to form oval. Place above the rectangle as if sitting on it.

Decorate
Using the green frosting, carefully frost the rectangle. using the yellow frosting, completely cover the "egg". Smoot frosting with a flat cake spreader or a smooth butter knife.

To decorate the cake, simply pipe designs in zig zags, swirls and lines across the cake with decorator gel and decorator frosting. Use non pareils to dot across the cake's surface. Use decorator gels and dot in alternating colors along the decorator frosting piping. Cut the ends off of gumdrops to decorate the top of the cake (see photo). Line gumdrops along the bottom of the green "grass".

You can decorate the egg however you please. Use a different color for the frosting if you prefer. Creativity is the key!

Visit our Easter section for lots of fun crafts and recipes!

New Rides from Radio Flyer

Everyone remembers Radio Flyer, famous for their wonderful red wagons. If you never owned one, chances are you rode in one or pulled one at some point in your life! Well now, Radio Flyer has added to their arsenal of indestructible toys by rolling out the Scoot 2 Skate and the Smooth Rider, ridable toys ranging from age 3 through the tween years.


The Scoot 2 Skate is ideal for younger children who are just learning how to ride a skateboard. There's a removable handle that allows children (ages 3-8) to ride the skateboard like a scooter until they are ready to remove the handle and go it alone!


For older kids, there's the Smooth Rider, a retro-style scooter perfect for kids 9 and up, and it's even strong enough to hold teens, and even a goofball dad if he dares! 


Dominic, my 11 year old, easily glides down the street on the Smooth Rider and really enjoyed trying out this fun new scooter. Out of the box they were simple enough for my kids to put together on their own as well. The Smooth Rider has a folding feature, which came in quite handy when Dominic left it at a friend's house and had to carry it home while riding his bike!


These two new riders are definitely worth a look. More information below:

Radio Flyer Smooth Rider

PRODUCT OVERVIEW: With high performance features and a cool, classic design, the Radio Flyer Smooth Rider scooter is perfect for cruising around town with friends.

Experienced riders will appreciate the ultra-smooth, ultra-comfortable ride delivered by the extra large 170 mm wheels and precision ball bearings. The Smooth Rider also comes equipped with:

1.    Wider and longer deck for easy foot placement

2.    Hand and footbrakes for added control

3.    Classic retro look

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS: 

·      Extra-large 170mm wheels

·      Classically-styled wood deck

·      ABEC-5 high performance ball bearings

·      Hand and foot brakes for added control

·      Adjustable handlebar

·      Foldable handle for easy storage and portability

The Smooth Rider is available at retailers nationwide for the suggested retail price of $99.99.

Radio Flyer Scoot 2 Skate

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:

Aspiring skaters will ride with confidence on the Scoot 2 Skate from Radio Flyer. This beginner skateboard is a 2-in-1 value that offers two ways to ride:   

1.    Scooter mode: teaches kids how to balance and control in scooter mode

2.    Skateboard mode: the handle removes completely allowing full skateboard functionality once riders are ready

The product also has an authentic skateboard look and real skateboard trucks in both riding modes.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:

·      2 ways to ride: scooter and skateboard mode

·      Wood deck with non-skid surface on top

·      Cool skateboard graphics underneath deck

·      For ages 3-8 years old

Scoot 2 Skate is available at retailers for a suggested retail price of $39.99

Spring Cleaning That Won't Take All Day

Daylight savings has come and gone, soon enough Spring will have sprung. If you've been putting off doing your Spring cleaning because you don't have 25 uninterrupted hours to devote to it, don't worry. Start with the basics and once those are finished, you can move on to things like waxing the floors and dusting the ceiling fan (who looks up there anyway?). Following is a list that will only take a few hours but make a big difference in feeling like you've accomplished something. Implementing some of these quick cleaning tips will help jump start your spring cleaning efforts.

1. Change out the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. This is a very important task that needs to be done twice a year—it takes 5 minutes but will save your life.

2. Clean your windows. Spray them with window cleaner (easy homemade cleaning solution: 1 part hot water, one part white vinegar) and then wipe them down with old newspaper. Seriously. It really does prevent streaks.

3. Disinfect all garbage cans by spraying all-purpose cleaner on the inside and outside, then wiping down with a clean cloth.

4. Clean your microwave. This is a simple task that usually doesn't get accomplished with enough frequency: heat up a mug of water with a few lemon slices in it for 3 minutes. Let stand for another 3 minutes. Wipe down walls of microwave with a clean, damp cloth.

5. Wash all pillows and bedding—most pillows can be machine-washed and this eliminates bacteria and mold.

For plenty more cleaning tips and ideas, visit FamilyCorner's cleaning section!

Should You Buy Your Kid a Cell Phone?

According to a recent report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 66 percent of kids own a cell phone. Are you part of the remaining 34 percent and you're wondering if you should just go ahead and buy one or stand your ground and not give in the pressure? This is a divisive issue with some parents who firmly take the pro-technology stance—and there are certainly arguments in favor of giving your child a way to call 911 at any time or to receive calls from parents. On the other side of the fence are the parents who don't see the need and worry that once the kids get phones, they will start texting like mad, running up enormous bills that the parents then have to pay.

Here are some commonly-held positions you may want to consider:

• "You can have it when you can pay for it." Take the onus off yourself and put the responsibility firmly in the hands of the child. 
• "You can have one but it's prepaid and for emergencies only." Start small—give them a chance to prove they can handle the responsibility and see how it goes. 
• "You can have one when you start driving (but of course you can't use it while driving)." The safety feature of being able to track them using GPS is a major contributing factor to this school of thought. 
• "No cell phones for children in this house." Hey, you're the parent and if you decide you don't want your kid to have a phone, then they don't get one. End of discussion. 

What are your thoughts?

Teaching Kids About Money

Simple fact: Kids who are taught about money grow up to be adults who manage their money well. But for those of us who feel intimidated by the subject and don't really know where or how to start, take heart. Start with these steps and get your kids on the road to financial freedom. They won't realize the importance of this now but they will thank you later.

Start with allowance
Kids respond to concrete examples so decide on a weekly amount and begin the process of understanding how the world of finance works: take them to the bank and open a savings account. Let them use their money for all discretionary spending, thereby teaching them about the concept of saving for large purchases. They want something but don't have the cash? They can't afford to buy it. That is a valuable lesson, start the teaching early!

Read more ideas on starting and maintaining an allowance for kids.

Risk vs. reward
Introduce the idea of working for things that you want with extra chores. A house cannot run efficiently unless everyone does their part, and there's usually no money changing hands for that. However, you may choose to assign a dollar value to additional household chores outside of their normal responsibilities and let kids work for the money. Also, talk to them about not just things they want now, but planning for the future (college tuition, vacations, etc).

Balancing a budget
Talk to your kids about what a budget represents: freedom to be in charge of yourself and your life. Start to teach them that part of every person's life is work (which they will now understand because they have chores) and what "living within your means" means. Draw up a budget and see what they can afford and consider using your family budget as an illustration: you don't have to go over every purchase with them, just give them the broad sense of what your monthly budget looks like.

Giving back
Teach social responsibility early by including charity in your conversation you're your kids about money. Help them find a worthy cause and start donating to it! Consider volunteering for the organization if they have that opportunity for kids and make it something they will embrace for their entire lives because when you give to charity, you are really giving to yourself.

You might also want to read about how to make saving fun for your child. Armed with the right information, you can teach your children their financial ABCs.

Preventing Dog Bites

While it's certainly not summer yet, warm weather is upon us and that means more outside time for your kids.

Summer is the time when most dog bites occur, and children under age 15 are the most likely victims. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 400,000 children each year seek medical attention for dog bites. In recognition of National Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 21-27, promoted by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the U.S. Postal Service and the CDC, American Humane urges parents and dog owners to learn how they can help keep their neighborhood children safe.

"Any breed of dog may bite. And even family pets, not just dogs that are unknown to a child, have the potential to bite," said Dr. Bill Torgerson, DVM, vice president of Animal Protection Services for American Humane. "Relationships between kids and animals can be so positive and meaningful - on both sides - it would be tragic to discourage that because of fear. At the same time, the worst thing that could happen is for a child to get hurt."

Read more of this valuable advice here

Reusable Water Bottles: SIGG's Alternative to Plastic

What can we say about the lowly disposable plastic water bottle that hasn't already been said? You know the adverse affect it has on our environment (millions of water bottles get thrown away each year), you know the quality of water usually isn't any higher than tap, you know the cost is prohibitive. But thankfully, there are alternatives.

SIGG has been in the business since 1908 so they know what consumers want and have delivered. Their bottles are 100% pure aluminum which is virtually unbreakable and also recyclable. Also, the SIGG bottle does not leach BPAs!

Their product line features bottles in many sizes with over 100 designs so every member of your family can stay hydrated in style. The best thing about these bottles is that they they're "taste neutral" meaning you can have lemonade one day and coffee the next and there won't be any lingering taste or odor. And of course there's the celebrity factor: these bottles have seen toted around by everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Jennifer Garner. Prices start at $17.99.

This review provided by FamilyCorner.com staff member, Josefin O'Brien.

Be sure to check out our Earth Day section full of crafts and recipes!

World’s Largest Water SlideAThon

I wanted to share with you this super fun event that benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters. On March 26-27, 2010 all 11 Great Wolf Lodge locations will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Record for the longest distance traveled on waterslides over a 24-hour period.

Great Wolf will accept donations to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters - and the company will match the amount collected up to $50,000. The King’s Island, Pocono Mountains, and Kansas City Lodges will host Grand Opening Celebrations (including the Guinness attempt), where the winning families of the recent First Families Sweepstakes will be the first to count toward the Guinness record at these properties.

FamilyCorner.com had the pleasure of visiting a Great Wolf Lodge location this past summer and it was a fabulous experience! We'll be sharing more info about that at a later date. Meanwhile, here's the press release for anyone who is interested in attending!

Great Wolf Lodge at Kings Island Unveils World’s First

Triple-Funnel Waterslide

Guinness Book of World Records Attempt in Late March to Celebrate New Slides at

Great Wolf Lodge Locations at Kings Island, Kansas City, and Pocono Mountains

MADISON, Wis. (March 4, 2010) -- Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.^® (NASDAQ: WOLF), North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, unveiled its first of three new waterslides this year. The Triple Twist^™, which opened today at Great Wolf Lodge at Kings Island, is a first-of-its-kind-in-the-world slide. New slides at two other resort locations will open by the end of March.

The Triple Twist is a five-story waterslide featuring a high speed drop into a huge funnel, followed by twists and turns, and two more funnels. Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City is scheduled to open its version of The Triple Twist on March 12, with Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains scheduled to open Double Barrel Drop^™ on March 26. The new Pocono Mountains attraction, which will be the first indoor waterslide of its kind in the world, is a six-story adventure that starts with a high speed drop into a huge funnel, a 450 degree turn into a dark vortex tunnel, and then a second funnel. All three new waterslides will include lighting and special effects to enhance the rider experience.

“We’re proud to continue leading the waterpark industry in new ride innovations, like being the first in the world to have The Triple Twist,” said Tim Black, executive vice president of operations. “This is only the start of a really big year for Great Wolf Lodge, and we’re excited to unveil these first pieces of the puzzle just in time for spring break,”

To celebrate these three new attractions, all 11 Great Wolf Lodge locations will participate in an attempt to break a world’s record on March 26-27. The Great Wolf Lodge “World’s Largest Waterslide-athon” will take place over 24 consecutive hours with one designated slide per resort. Every slider who descends the designated slide will count toward breaking the record for longest distance traveled on waterslides over a 24 hour period. The current Guinness World Record for this attempt was set in Germany in 2007 with a total distance of 843 miles.

Participants in the Great Wolf Lodge “World’s Largest Waterslide-athon” will be asked to donate $1, with proceeds from the company’s U.S. locations going to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the company’s charity of choice. Great Wolf Resorts will be matching each donation, up to $50,000.

The grand opening celebration and Guinness Record attempt at the end of March will include the three “First Families,” winners of a sweepstakes held earlier this year to promote the new attractions. The First Families of Great Wolf at King’s Island, Kansas City, and Pocono Mountains will be the first to have their rides down the slides count toward the Guinness World Record attempt at those locations.

For more information, visit www.greatwolf.com/worldrecord.

St. Patrick's Day Crafts & Recipes

St. Patrick's Day doesn't get the attention that many other holidays do, but that doesn't stop the creation of cute crafts and tasty recipes you and your kids will love! We have a variety of printables, crafts and recipes available in our St. Patrick's Day section.

Some ideas include:

Felt Leprechaun Hats

Pot of Gold Treat Holders

Simple St. Patrick's Day Wreath

Rainbow and Shamrock Cookies

St. Patty's Chocolate Covered Pretzels

To see all of our fun St. Patrick's Day ideas, visit FamilyCorner.com!

Top 10 of 2009

2009 was a great year here at FamilyCorner.com. Today we'll share the top 10 most visited from the entire year. It's quite obvious our craft and recipe sections are most popular, so we've included the top 5 categories here as well:

#1 - Kid's Crafts
#2 - Father's Day Crafts
#3 - Crafting for Grown Ups
#4 - Kid's Recipes
#5 - Halloween Crafts

Now on with the countdown of the top 10 most visited pages on FamilyCorner.com for 2009:




#10 - Fireworks Flowers
Dressed in the red, white and blue, these pretty coffee filter flowers look like patriotic fireworks. Make a bunch of these easy but beautiful flowers for your 4th of July barbecue or picnic.



#9 - Clothespin Magnets
Children love to display their artwork on the refrigerator. Dad is always hanging up phone numbers and slips of paper. And Mom, of course, has her own little notes, lists, and reminders. With the help of the kids, why not personalize a magnet clip for everyone in the family?





#8 - Halloween Costume Ideas for Couples
Finding Halloween costumes for couples has always been a challenge! Over the last few years I have seen many different ones at Halloween parties. Here are 80 ideas to get you started!



#7 - CD Crafts
Seems like everyone is saving CDs and using them for crafts. We had 100's of responses -- many for suncatcher, mobiles and ornaments. Our favorite suggestion for this disco ball submitted by Kellie of Fayetteville AR. We also have posted several other ideas including an ornament and a picture frame. Here they are!





#6 - Creative Valentine Mailboxes
Every Valentine's Day, in classrooms across the land, children collect happy little greeting cards with their favorite singer or cartoon character from their fellow classmates. But what are they collecting those cards in?



#5 - Frankenmallows
These adorable Frankenstein treats are easy for kids to make and are frightfully fun to eat! Make a whole bunch of them and wrap them in cellophane for a fun party favor or classroom treat.





#4 - Coffee Filter Flowers
Make a beautiful flower bouquet. These flowers are quick, easy, inexpensive and fun for all ages. Use your imagination to come up with your own varieties



#3 - 10 Edible Play Dough Crafts for Busy Little Kids
If your children are at the age of preferring to eat their art supplies while you are trying to teach them to expand their creative skills, you'll enjoy these perfect projects!



#2 - 9 Easy to Make Musical Instruments
Children love music as much as they enjoy making kid's crafts. Why not join these two creative forces and make one or all of these fun and easy musical instruments to encourage play and creativity.

#1 - Gross Halloween Party Food
Need some fun and disgusting recipes for this year's Halloween party? Kids will scream in delight at these gross ideas.




Thank you for making 2009 such fun, we look forward to sharing with you in 2010 as well!


The Staff at FamilyCorner.com