IRS Mileage Reimbursement Increases as of July1

The IRS has announced an increase in the mileage reimbursement beginning July 1, 2011 through to the end of the year. In recognition of recent gasoline price increases, the IRS made this special adjustment for the final months of 2011. The IRS normally updates the mileage rates once a year in the fall for the next calendar year.
For more information the link below will bring you to the article on the IRS website.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=240903,00.html?portlet=6

Wanted: Nanny Plus . . .

When Families Need More Than Child Care

     It's a challenge when families want more than a highly qualified experienced child care provider. They want a nanny who can be a household manager, a nanny who can be a housekeeper, a nanny who can be a personal assistant - they want a nanny who wear a number of hats and still take great care of their children.
     Busy families need reliable help on a number of fronts so it's not surprising that they look to their nanny for some of this help. Most experienced nannies have the skills needed to assist with some household duties along with caring for children. This becomes part of the normal nanny routine - children's laundry, children's meals, keep kitchen clean and tidy, dishes, organize and pick-up toys, maintain children's bedroom areas, sweep kitchen floor after meals, vacuum playroom, etc. There are nannies who have developed other skills over the years that allow them to include additional duties to help their employer family.
  

Summer Science Projects

Summer is a great time for bringing out science projects. Here are a few that will energize your budding scientist! Enjoy!

Father's Day Ideas

Are you looking for some fun crafts and gifts for Father's Day? Check out these websites for some fun ideas.
http://familyfun.go.com/fathers-day/
http://www.makingfriends.com/dad.htm
http://crafts.kaboose.com/

Fitness Party

Being Active is Fun!

Several years ago Family Fun Magazine had a great article about encouraging healthy fun. The Fitness Party was their focus. Of course, I tweaked it to meet our needs but the essentials are all here. The following is how we hosted our own party!

Summer Scheduling: Keeping the Balance!

Keeping the Balance!

Summer schedules are usually full of fun exciting outings, activities and events. I confess I love the variety that comes with the spring/summer season, but I also believe that keeping an eye on balance is a good idea. Just like the school year it can be easy to overload the schedule and overwhelm the children . . . not to mention overloading yourself. So when making plans remember that downtime to just hang out and really play is important. Spending time outdoors in the early morning before the heat and humidity hit is a great way to start the day. Depending on the age, stage and temperament of the children you'll want to consider how often you plan an outing or special event away from home. In my experience it's fun to have several at home activities that are special events unto themselves, sprinkle in some playdates with school friends to add variety, a fun outing and you have a balanced approach to the summer schedule.

Here's a sample of what I mean:

Home Safety

June is Home Safety month. Check out this website for childproofing your home at a variety of ages, home safety checklists, safety basics by age, product recalls and so much more. You may find a little check around the house will pay off in peace of mind.

http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-spotlight/childproofing-your-home/