Christmas Shopping: 10 reasons to avoid Black Friday sales and save money

Before the Thanksgiving turkey timer has popped up, folks are thinking Black Friday ads. Every store promises the best Black Friday sales. But where's the allure of waiting in a frigid parking in the middle of the night for a cheap TV only to be trampled by fellow TV seekers? (hint: none). Here are 10 reasons to boycott Black Friday plus still get great deals on Christmas gifts [VIDEO].   Christmas Shopping: 10 reasons to avoid Black Friday sales and still save money

Mama June, Honey Boo Boo, pregnant Pumpkin spur weight loss debate

 If you can't get your fill of Mama June Shannon and her weight loss, she'll be back for season two of "From Not to Hot" on WEtv. But don't hold your breath: the reality TV star fessed up to the fact that her "makeover" was exaggerated. Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon nabbed the spotlight with her pregnancy and engagement. The 17-year-old used her gender reveal to start trouble with "Honey Boo Boo" Alana Thompson too.  Mama June, Honey Boo Boo, pregnant Pumpkin spur weight loss debate

Jana Duggar shows weight loss at Joe Duggar wedding: 'Counting On' courtship?

Poor Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell--their wedding prompts more speculation about Duggar family members than the happy couple themselves. Case in point is Jana Duggar. Does it look to you like the "19 Kids and Counting" daughter had big weight loss recently? "Counting On" episodes and Instagram show her steadily shrinking. And that seems to suggest a new romance for the #Reality TV star.   Jana Duggar shows weight loss at Joe Duggar wedding: 'Counting On' courtship?

'This Is Us' Chrissy Metz fuels weight loss feud in 'Kardashian' latex dress

NBC celebrity Chrissy Metz did the unthinkable. The overweight star of "#This Is Us" wore a plus-sized latex dress to the MTV Movie & TV Awards in May and did the snarky comments and weight loss [VIDEO] hints begin. In fact, they haven't ended. Folks are still fussing that she's advocating obesity in her red rubber frock. The truth is Ms. Metz was just "Keeping up with the Kardashians." But it proves that issues surrounding plus-size women are bigger than meet the eye.   'This Is Us' Chrissy Metz fuels weight loss feud in 'Kardashian' latex dress

Save money on Halloween giveaways and Christmas stocking stuffers at back-to-school sales

Hate back to school shopping? Then why not make it multitask, shopping for holidays, too? Shop back to school sales for Halloween, Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, birthday presents and other holiday gift-giving. Save gobs of money and time.

Get cool candy alternative Halloween treats at back to school sales. Stock up on stocking stuffers for Christmas. Who says you have to give candy at Halloween?  Buy super cheap pencils, stickers, crayons, glue sticks, pencil sharpeners and pass them out for trick-or-treat. Or give healthier back-to-school snacks: fruit snacks, granola bars, crackers and popcorn.

Who decreed that stocking stuffers must cost a lot? Sure stores would like you to think that $10 is cheap but we tightwads know you can fill Santa's sack much more affordably. School supplies make awesome, inexpensive stocking stuffers. Fill kids' stockings with markers, scissors, calculator and other useful stuff. Shop back to school sales for pencils, glue sticks, notebooks, markers, crayons, scissors, pens, activity booklets, coloring books and craft sets. Throw in some Free Printable Coloring Pages from my blog here.

Back to school sales are a good place to find cheap gifts for holiday toy donations. Do you participate with Operation Christmas Child? Think BTS sales for shoebox fillers. Or use them for grandkid goody bags or travel kits or Easter baskets...the possibilities are endless! I made travel bags for my twin 2-year-old grandsons when they moved to Louisiana. Their parents said these cheap little goody bags literally saved everyone's sanity on the 21-hour trip!

Oh and if you  have a little extra to spare, buy school supplies and donate items to a school to distribute.

NeNe Leakes rejoins RHOA with big weight-loss: What's reality TV star's secret?

A newly slimmed down NeNe Leakes returned to "Real Housewives of Atlanta" since calling out Phaedra Parks for "playing dirty." Rumor has it, Parks won't be back, and her behavior toward castmates Kandi Burruss and Porsha Williams is reportedly the cause. Leakes must be feeling pretty fabulous after her big weight-loss makeover. The reality TV star says she's ready to take on another "RHOA" nemesis -- Kim Zolciak-Biermann -- with Parks gone.   NeNe Leakes rejoins RHOA with big weight-loss: What's reality TV star's secret?

'Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller mocks Mama June but covets weight loss makever

The sharp-tongued Abby Lee Miller of Lifetime "#Dance Moms" is headed to prison for fraud. But she took time to throw shade at fellow reality TV diva Mama June on her weight loss. However, after mocking June Shannon's transformation, the ex dance coach was ready to cash in on the former "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" star's fame. Since her gastric bypass surgery, Miller is hoping for another reality television show like "Mama June: From Not to Hot.".   'Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller mocks Mama June but covets weight loss makever

'My 600-lb Life' Tracey Matthews' husband enables obesity, but not weight-loss

 Why would an otherwise loving spouse refuse to assist his morbidly obese wife in getting healthy? TLC's "My 600-lb Life" explores this conundrum. Bedridden, 605-lb Tracey Matthews has life-threatening cellulitis and lymphedema. Her husband, who is so willing to enable her obesity, refuses to support bariatric surgery. Why does Anthony balk at helping with weight-loss -- the one thing that could save her life? It could be the baffling, cunning relationship between addiction and codependency.  'My 600-lb Life' Tracey Matthews' husband enables obesity, but not weight-loss

Kim Zolciak-Biermann boasts hot body, weight loss, forgets plastic surgery

Poor Kim Zolciak-Biermann boasts an amazingly body but a faulty memory. She flaunted her curves in a series of Kardashian-worthy beach vacation pics. When asked how she looks so good, the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star credited everything but the biggest reason -- plastic surgery. The reality TV star boasted diet, exercise, and weight loss and neglected to mention her tummy tuck, boob job and possible butt lift.   Kim Zolciak-Biermann boasts hot body, weight loss, forgets plastic surgery

'My 600-lb Life' Gideon's story: sleep, weight loss fail more than laziness?

 My 600-lb Life' Gideon of season four is one of the most complicated cases of morbid obesity that viewers have ever seen. Some details of his story are sadly commonplace. Two unusual features are that after gastric bypass surgery, the 650-lb man has no trouble with the diet, but he also sleeps all the time, even more than he did before surgery. It's derailed weight loss. What's behind Gideon's story could be more than just laziness. It might be a dangerous trifecta of depression, sleep apnea, and lack of calories.  'My 600-lb Life' Gideon's story: sleep, weight loss fail more than laziness?

Soleil Moon Frye flaunts weight loss after 4th baby: How 'Punky Brewster' got body back

Former child star Soleil Moon Frye, known as the spunky "Punky Brewster," wears many hats as an adult. The health and parenting guru is mom to four kids after the birth of baby Story in May. The former child star debuted a 26-lb postpartum weight loss and shared secrets on calorie counting and portion control to get the pre-baby body back.  Soleil Moon Frye flaunts weight loss after 4th baby: How 'Punky Brewster' got body back

Mariah Carey gives weird weight loss tips that are fails on many levels: kids don't try this at home

Mariah Carey boasted that she keeps thin by superhuman willpower and a strict two-food-only diet. She isn't confident enough not to photoshop pics to erase fat. The reality TV diva was cagey about actual weight loss and cosmetic surgeons speculated that it was more plastic surgery than diet and exercise. The "Mariah's World" star claims to follow a rigorous diet that no one else can follow. Mariah Carey brags about weight loss eating two-food diet: guess what's on menu?

Octavia Spencer weighs in on Donald Trump, her weight loss shows obesity can be deceiving

Octavia Spencer weighed in on Donald Trump and Election 2016 and the actress looks remarkably thinner than she did as the chubby cook Minnie in "The Help." Spencer attributed part of that weight loss to the supplement Sensa for which she was a spokesperson. That relationship ended but Spencer continues to appear smaller. Is the minier Minnie really losing weight or are looks deceiving? Is it down to the odd way movies and TV camouflage and accentuate weight for roles? One way or the other, clothes, or at least film costuming does make the woman. Octavia Spencer weighs in on Donald Trump, her weight loss shows obesity can be deceiving

'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood blasts STFU as boob job, plastic surgery fail hits raw nerve

What "Teen Mom" Amber Portwood was aiming for with plastic surgery and what she ended up with proves the Rolling Stones right--you can't always get what you want. Portwood went for a Marilyn Monroe mommy makeover complete with boob job, tummy tuck, facelift, new eyebrows, Botox, platinum blonde hair, the works--but walked out looking like she was dressed for Halloween as some weird manga cosplay caricature. When critics told her so, Amber took to social media to send a general STFU message.    'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood blasts STFU as boob job, plastic surgery fail hits raw nerve

Jeremy Vuolo to ask Jinger Duggar to marry him: 'Counting On' Duggar girls plan wedding

 Its been official for a few months: Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo are engaged. But the next episode of TLC's "Counting On" hints that Vuolo will make it officially official and ask Jinger to marry him. He's been seen ring shopping and mom Michelle Duggar and sister Jessa Duggar Seewald went with the soon-to-be bride to New York City. Jinger also went on a wedding planning trip recently though Jessa said the proposal surprised Jinger. Rumors suggest it will be a destination wedding which doesn't really fit with the Duggar family's ultra-strict courtship and church wedding protocol. In fact a few things about the Jinger-Jeremy relationship don't fit the family plan.  Jeremy Vuolo to ask Jinger Duggar to marry him: 'Counting On' Duggar girls plan wedding

Michelle Obama surprising weight loss tips: FLOTUS says health not weight trump obesity

When first lady Michelle Obama spoke to Ellen DeGeneres recently, she appeared to have lost weight. In fact, she seems to have gotten steadily thinner since the first inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2008. Did she heed the advice of Dr. Keith Albow who in 2014 famously suggested she shed a few pounds? He claimed the first lady's "Let's Move" and healthy school lunches initiative would seem less hypocritical if she wasn't overweight. Mrs. Obama, who advocates cleaning up kids' diets, has shared some rather shocking weight loss ideas of her own.    Michelle Obama surprising weight loss tips: FLOTUS says health not weight trump obesity

Drunk driving mom found passed out and breastfeeding a baby

What is the matter with parents who recklessly endanger their kids?? Today's mommy fail--police found a mother breastfeeding a child on the side of the road--passed out cold drunk, behind the wheel of the car! Apparently, Melissa Rae Tomesh decided to follow the example of Lindsay Lohan on parenting. The hashtag read #drunkdrivingwhilenursing. It's hard not to be sarcastic about the many levels of stupid behavior people think to get up to. Do you have to spell it out for them? Drinking, driving, breastfeeding--which two of these don't fit?  Drunk driver mom found breastfeeding and passed out charged with DUI, child endangerment

Recycled trash crafts for kids: Barney Bag for collage art learning centers

Barney the bouncy purple dinosaur celebrates his 24th anniversary this year. In 1992, PBS adopted the character into the series Barney & Friends. As a homeschool family, we didn't watch much TV, but there was one take-away from the show that we used in preschool learning centers-- the Barney Bag. Make cool collage art and recycled trash crafts for kids with the helpful Barney Bag. Here's a Q-and-A to get started.  Recycled trash crafts for kids: Barney Bag for collage art learning centers | Examiner.com

Harambe gorilla killing: Cincinnati Zoo mom Michelle Gregg not guilty of neglect

The Cincinnati Zoo mom Michelle Gregg whose 3-year-old son fell in the Gorilla World exhibit is not guilty of child neglect reported CNN Wire on June 6. But a lot of people blame her for the gorilla killing. They want criminal charges pressed against Michelle Gregg in the death of Harambe, a rare silverback gorilla. 500,000 people have signed a "Justice for Harambe" petition against Michelle Gregg. There's a Facebook page devoted to getting Michelle Gregg prosecuted. But investigators cleared Michelle Gregg of child neglect. Her defenders offered to start a fund to help but the family declined. They asked that any donations be made to the Cincinnati Zoo in honor of Harambe.  Harambe gorilla killing: Cincinnati Zoo mom Michelle Gregg not guilty of neglect | Examiner.com

Science activities: Trash art, ecology lessons, environmental science projects

 Earth Day is celebrated in April but really every day should focus on caring for the earth. Here are summer science activities to teach outdoor ecology lessons and environmental science projects. Use science activities for end of school parties, summer enrichment, summer school or summer camp.



Start ecology lessons by gathering recycling from around the school. Each classroom typically has a box for recycled materials. Collect paper, cardboard, Styrofoam, plastic bottles, milk jugs, pill bottles, boxes, juice boxes, milk cartons, egg cartons, ribbon, yarn, wrapping paper, bows, plastic containers and other home or school recycling. Science activities: Trash art, ecology lessons, environmental science projects | Examiner.com