Are parents obligated to pay college tuition for their kids to attend college? Should parents pay for college or should college students be responsible for paying college related expenses including tuition, with or without their parents help? The question of who pays for college continues to be a controversial (sometimes heated) debate between kids planning to attend college, and their parents.

Parents, are you responsible for paying your kids college education or not? If parents are supposed to pay for college, how much should parents pay towards tuition, books, housing costs, transportation, gas, insurance, food, clothing, entertainment and miscellaneous expenses for college? Where do parents draw the line between helping kids attend college and not jeopardizing their savings and retirement accounts? To say that your retirement plans are more important than your children’s college funds is putting it mildly.

The all too common belief some people have that it is somehow a parents obligation to pay for college, as if parents “owe” their kids a paid-for college education, reeks of unrealistic expectations and a sense of entitlement in today’s society. Parents who cannot afford to pay for their kids to attend college, or choose not to pay some or all college expenses for their own personal or financial reasons, are almost made out to be bad parents.

These parents are accused of not loving their kids, not wanting their children to be successful in life, and not worthy of being called parents amongst other things. Loving your children has nothing to do with who is going to pay for college, or a parent’s desire for their kids to become successful, independent adults. In an article entitled “don’t pay your children’s college education”, the writer aptly points out that paying for college is not about love, sacrifice or devotion towards kids. There is much more to it than that.

So, parents have to pay for college if they have the money, right? Wrong. “How am I going to pay for my college education if my parents won’t pay, can’t afford to help, or refuse to fill out the FAFSA?” is a common question.

Who Pays For College?

Opinions on why parents should pay for college vs. parents who should not pay for college vary, as expected. Even “personal finance experts” can’t seem to agree. Words like should, must, have to, obligation, responsibility and similar terms used by college-aged kids expecting their parents to pay for all college expenses with little or no “skin in the game” themselves is ludicrous. I have yet to find a parenting manual that states parents must pay for their child’s college education, whether parents can afford the costs or not.

Don’t get me wrong, education is important. Many parents already do what they can to ensure their kids get a great education until high school graduation. But, parents do not owe their children a college education. Parents paying for college is not a kids “right” to a free ride through college, but is a parents choice to decide whether to pay or not pay for any part of their kids higher education, how much, and on what terms.

You can take loans for college but not for retirement. Even financial expert Suze Orman says it is financially irresponsible and downright dangerous for parents to basically write a blank check from the bank of mom and dad to pay for their kids college education, or take out a second mortgage to pay for college. IF parents can afford to pay for college and choose to do so, then by all means pay for your child to go to college to whatever degree you are financially able to do so, without sacrificing your savings account or retirement account.

How to Pay For College

Planning ahead towards college costs with money set aside in a 529 plan for your kids education is a smart option for parents, if they choose to and can afford it. Parents can also help their children look for scholarships, federal grants, student loans and sources of “free money” for college. Do not allow your children, or society in general, to guilt-trip or demand that you pay for your child’s college education if you cannot afford to pay or choose not to pay for your kids to go to college. It is entirely up to you, the parents.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I read this article suggesting the “federal government and the schools consider it the family’s primary responsibility to pay for the child’s education”, wrongly implying that parents are legally required to pay for college. Let the whining and moaning commence. Parents who have college-aged kids have already fulfilled their responsibility to their kids education throughout elementary, middle/intermediate and high school. The article about the federal government even suggests kids who have Christian or religious parents should hurl scripture quotes from the Bible at parents in order to manipulate or coerce parents into paying for college.

Should parents pay for college or should parents make kids find a job and work through college to help themselves get a great education? A parents legal and moral obligation to care and provide for their children ends when kids reach the age of 18 and they are considered to be adults in the U.S. While parents have an obligation to care for minor children and provide them the best education possible, parents are not obligated or responsible for adult children. Unfortunately, many parents continue to pay for and enable their grown kids anyway.

If you are a parent researching information on the advantages and disadvantages of paying for all or some of your kids college education, carefully consider and bookmark these devil’s advocate articles on who should pay for college, and who should not pay and how helping pay for college can lead to trouble. The decision is ultimately yours, so choose wisely, unless you don’t mind eating cat food in your elderly years. The book The Best Way to Save for College-A Complete Guide to 529 Plans by Joseph Hurley comes highly recommended by finance expert Suze Orman.

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When planning a modern wedding, who pays for what? In decades past, because of the old tradition of dowry, the bride’s family traditionally paid for most or all the wedding costs. “Traditionally”, around the 17th or 18th century, the brides mother and/or father would pay for everything needed for the wedding and reception, including the venue (location of wedding/reception), bridal gown, music, flowers, venue, food, bar costs, gratuities and anything else. Then they also give a generous wedding gift to the happy newly married couple. However, times have changed.

Nowadays, it is very common for the bride and groom to pay for all or most wedding expenses themselves, or to more evenly split the wedding related expenses among both sets of parents. Why have the traditional rules of who pays for what in weddings changed, and how should engaged couples, parents and families deal with the more modern view of wedding etiquette in relation to the wedding budget and the question of who will be paying for the cost of the wedding?

There are a variety of reasons for the change from traditional to modern in regards to wedding planning and the budget. One reason is that people are choosing to live together before marriage for a period of time, deciding to get married later in life and are more financially established in their careers at the time of their wedding. Another reason is that there are more women working than ever before, compared to the ancient, archaic time period of women staying home “barefoot and pregnant” while men worked outside the home, so brides nowadays are often able to help pay for their own weddings. A third reason is the rising costs of weddings and the increased financial burden placed on parents who may not be able to afford paying for their son or daughter’s expensive dream wedding.

I am a firm believer in tradition, traditional values and beliefs, but I also believe in living within your means and adults paying their own way in life. There is often a big difference between the “traditional” division of wedding expenses and what people/parents can legitimately afford to pay without going into debt, or using their life savings or retirement accounts to pay for a wedding. Hence the numerous emails that continue to fill my inbox from mothers and fathers whose son or daughter is planning a wedding they cannot afford, and the sometimes manipulative tactics used to get the parents to pay more than they can afford.

Since writing the “who pays for what” article in answer to a disabled mother’s problem with her daughter demanding she pay more of the wedding than she could afford, the emails and questions just keep on coming. This time, rather than restating what I’ve already said on the subject, I decided to provide a variety of helpful links to online articles talking about Who Pays For What in Weddings as reference points for brides, grooms and parents.

Note: References to “traditionally who pays” are not rules written in stone but are merely guidelines for creating a wedding budget and determining who pays for the wedding. Sometimes the traditional wedding planning checklist needs to be modified for financial reasons. Brides, grooms and families should understand that your own personal finances will dictate what type of wedding/reception you can have, and who ultimately pays for what is entirely up to you and your families and their ability to pay.

Modern Weddings – Who Pays For What?

Engaged couples should first sit down with both families soon after announcing the engagement to work out the details of the wedding budget and who will pay for what. Without further ado…

Bridal Guide Magazinesays, “If you’re lucky, your families will approach you and your fiance’ to let you know what, if anything, they plan to contribute to your wedding. If your parents don’t initiate a conversation, you will need to, and the sooner you do it the sooner you can start hammering out a realistic wedding budget.”

“After announcing their engagement, the bride and groom sit down and estimate what they’ll spend on the wedding, probably after finding a reception site and making general decisions about theme, style, time of day etc. They then approach their parents and after describing what they’ve decided on so far, say gently, “We were wondering if you would be able to pitch in for any of the costs.” The parents may look at the budget and say, “We’d like to pay for the reception food and the flowers” for example. They may also offer a set amount they’ll contribute. If their parents say they can’t afford to contribute, or only offer a small amount, the bride and groom say, “Thank you for considering,” and perhaps have to revise their budget or find creative ways to pay for the wedding.” Read more here about who pays for what.

“64% of bride and grooms are breaking with the age old tradition of the brides parents footing the bill, by paying for their own wedding. With less than 18% of couples preferring to stick with tradition and allowing the brides parents to pay for the wedding and only 13% of the bride and grooms parents joining together to pay for their children’s big day. With nearly a thousand couples polled the results came as no surprise, confirming the steady shift in the way society views individual responsibilities, with financing for your own wedding being no exception.” Read more here about poll study results on who pays for modern weddings.

“Tradition was not financially kind to the bride’s family. Fortunately, at least if you’re looking at the situation from the viewpoint of that family, times have changed. Rather than burden one family with practically the entire cost of a wedding, it is common practice these days for both families—and sometimes the bride and groom—to share expenses. The best way to decide who will pay for what is for both families (or all the families that apply) and the couple to sit down together and have a frank discussion about what each party can afford to contribute.” Read more here about couples and families paying for weddings and wedding loans.

“Get together with every single person who might contribute to the total cost of the wedding. That means all parents, you and your fiancé, and anyone else with a financial interest (may you be so lucky as to have an eccentric and wealthy aunt). This is the fastest way to find out how big you can dream. More and more often today, weddings are paid for by a two-family counsel—and more than 60 percent of brides and grooms are paying for at least part of the costs as well. This makes it pretty clear that the old rules of divvying up the wedding bills simply no longer apply.” Read more here on traditional vs modern wedding planning and costs.

“Gone are the days when a wedding means the bride’s father stands with an open palm awaiting a bill for all the expenses. Although traditionally the bride’s family was responsible for most (if not all) of the wedding finances, today’s perspective is one of practicality and a general respect for individual outlooks and varying alternatives. Wedding etiquette has evolved to take a host of variables into account. Current day ideologies embrace doing what works best for each couple and their family. No one should feel obligated to accept a financial burden, and couples should understand who will be paying well in advance of the selection process. Keeping everyone’s comfort in mind will allow for a wedding that is both spectacular and affordable.” Read more here…

“Forget the archaic rule that says certain people have to pay for certain things. The bride’s parents need not take out a third mortgage to pay for the wedding, and the groom’s parents are not off the hook either. Besides, the two of you might even be covering a good chunk of the expenses yourselves. The best way to work it out? Sit down with pencil, paper, and calculator and figure out what you really want and can afford. Keep in mind that informal weddings are usually smaller (and therefore cheaper), and formal weddings tend to be larger (and therefore more expensive). Here’s a list of the traditional costs for everyone involved — but remember, these “rules” are made to be broken!” Read more here…

“The most contentious subject for any wedding (and one that, without a doubt, will cause the most arguments) is money. Now you’ve set your budget you need to guide yourselves through the murky waters of working out who’s responsible for paying for what. Whilst traditionally the bride’s parents used to pay for the majority of the wedding, these days with a multitude of different familial circumstances it’s not so cut and dried. The costs may be divided equally between the two families. The bride and groom may choose to pay for the wedding themselves. The bride and groom may pay for majority of the costs with both families contributing towards elements that they’d like to help with, eg. the flowers, transport or cake. The two families may offer to contribute a certain amount towards the wedding, to be spent as the bride and groom wish. If either or both sets of parents are divorced a compromise can usually be found using a mixture of options.” Read more here…

“These days, the cost of a wedding makes a year at Harvard and Yale look affordable. How are you going to scrape together the bucks so you can have the bash you want? Put that idea about sticking up the Federal Reserve on hold. You have options — legal, time-honored, respectable options. The kind of options that, unless you’re in the habit of bouncing checks, won’t land you behind bars. Here’s a rundown of some of them, plus their pros and cons. Keep in mind that a combination of two or more may be how you end up getting your wedding paid for.” Read more here…

“Nowadays, the cost of even the most modest wedding can be astronomical, but times are changing (phew!) and often the family of the bride, the couple themselves and even the groom’s family can contribute to costs. A wise father will set his budget as early as possible and advise the couple as to what he is able, and prepared, to spend. Then there can be no misunderstandings and the couple are able to budget accordingly and decide where their priorities lie.” Read more here…

“There was a time when the Father of the Bride was essentially expected to hand over a blank check in order to cover almost all wedding expenses. That was during an age when marriage was the ceremonial transferal of responsibility for (and possession of) the bride, from her father to her husband. She usually came with a really neat dowry, like two donkeys and a sack of lard. While many still count on Dear-Old-Dad (and Mom!) to foot the bill, most contemporary couples are dealing with a more complicated set of rules, or lack thereof. This is due, in part, to the fact that many couples are getting married later in life and therefore are more financially stable when they do; and also because a greater number of women are enjoying successful and lucrative careers than was the case in previous generations.” Read more here…

“Weddings can be elaborate and very expensive or they can be fairly simple and affordable. The decision about a wedding budget is one that needs to be made by the bride and groom and their families-together. While tradition dictates that the bride’s family covers most of the expenses of a wedding, that tradition is not necessarily relevant today. Particularly with marriages that occur after the bride and groom are educated and established, many of today’s weddings are primarily financed by the bride and groom themselves. In other cases, the traditional divisions of responsibilities for wedding expenses are more flexible than ever.” Read more here…

Are you getting married soon? Have you initiated the “money talk” with your parents yet? Who will pay for your wedding, reception and/or honeymoon? Are you sharing costs equally? Are you paying for your wedding yourselves or are you and your families splitting the costs in some way?

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Vampire Academy is an ongoing series of six vampire-based fantasy/romance novels by USA Today and New York Times best-selling author, Richelle Mead. The Vampire Academy series of books include titles such as Vampire Academy (Book 1-2007); Frostbite (Book 2-2008); Shadow Kiss (Book 3-2008); Blood Promise (Book 4-2009); Spirit Bound (Book 5-May, 2010) and Book 6 with a to-be-determined title scheduled for release in December 2010.

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school. It’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rosemarie “Rose” Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Vasilisa “Lissa” Dragomir, a Moroi Vampire Princess.

They’ve been on the run for two years following a horrible incident, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s, a large castle hidden in the deep forests of Montana, the very place where they’re most in danger. Rose and Lissa each become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi, the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires, make Lissa one of them forever.

Vampire Academy Books

Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy (book 1) introduces guardian-in-training Rose Hathaway, her training teacher Dimitri Belikov, her best friend Vasilisa Dragomir, and Lissa’s new boyfriend Christian Ozera. Rose is 17, a student at St. Vladimir, extremely opinionated, and very tough! Dimitri is in his mid-twenties, from a small town in Russia, the assigned guardian to Lissa, and a school-wide guardian at St. Vladimir’s.

Lissa is 17, a moroi, royal, the last in her bloodline, and is currently waiting to see what magic she’s specialized in. Christian is a moroi, 17, a fire-user, an only child, and a St. Vladimir social-reject. Dimitri is assigned to train Rose to prepare her for the Senior Year Field Exam. But as Rose’s training gets underway, Lissa starts to worry about things, and finds she’s falling for bad-boy Christian Ozera.

Although Christian can help keep Lissa mentally stable, it is Rose and Dimitri’s job to keep Lissa physically stable. So when Rose gets shot with fear after running 12 miles with Dimitri, she runs even more to see what has traumatized Lissa. After 30 minutes of having to calm Lissa down, Rose, Lissa and Dimitri stuff themselves inside Lissa’s room to reveal a fox with its throat cut open, lying on Lissa’s pillow. With Rose burning with anger, she wins her first fight in class and suspects a fellow student, Mia, of killing the fox.

When students start antagonizing Rose and Lissa about the fox, one of the taunters, Ralf Sarcozy, finds himself on fire in the middle of class. After all possible fire-users are considered, it’s discovered that it is lonely Christian who performed the offensive magic. As a way of trying to figure out what’s going on between Lissa and Christian behind closed doors, Rose meditates and is able to “get into” Lissa’s head.

Afterward, Rose has a little run-in with male-royal, Jesse. As a way of getting back at Mia for some issues, Rose starts telling rumors to Jesse about Mia’s family. Right when things start getting heated and intense between Rose and Jesse, Dimitri walks in and threatens Jesse about Rose. After an outburst from Rose, a training session the next day, and a few “romantic” moments between Dimitri and Rose, it was time to get ready for Queen Tatiana to visit the school.

Once the excitement dies down, and Rose has an almost-fight with Mia, Rose finds it difficult to sleep. When Rose goes to talk to Dimitri, they find Lissa in her bathroom with a butchered rabbit in the trash. After the hall matron gets worked up, they discover a note was left for Lissa, threatening her “identity”.

As classmates start up with their comments about Rose and Lissa again, Lissa has finally had enough and starts taking things into her own hands. After a few days go by with romance continuing between Rose and Dimitri, and a few other exciting and interesting things unfold, Rose finds out she’s going on a shopping trip! But when Lissa tries to pull out a pair of shoes to show Rose, not only are there shoes in the bag, but a dead dove as well.

After everything gets cleaned up, Rose discovers that this shopping trip actually serves another purpose: she’s to be Dimitri’s partner in guarding Lissa to help Rose prepare for the future. While Rose is shopping with Lissa, they come across a rose-shaped necklace that happens to be too expensive. Once everyone gets back to the school, Rose breaks her ankle on a rotted bench, and has to be rushed to the clinic.

Although Dimitri finds Lissa passed out from cut wounds on her wrists, Lissa decides she wants to be on her own for a little while. At a school dance, Rose’s friend Mason gets Ralf and Jesse to reveal how some sex rumors got started. Also, Rose has a run-in with Mia which ends in Mia screaming with a bloody face, and a broken nose. After Rose finds herself under a spell, from a necklace, Lissa gets abducted by Viktor and his Strigoi-turned niece, Natalie.

Vampire Academy Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy has an interesting relationship between the characters, in my opinion. Rose and Lissa are bonded, so Rose will always know how Lissa is feeling, and what she’s thinking. Good-girl Lissa falls for bad-boy Christian, proving that opposites attract. And teenage-rebel Rose develops feelings for older, self-controlled Dimitri Belikov.

I love that Rose has a mind of her own. She’s not falling, stupidly, in love with someone just because of what they are, like Bella does in Twilight. She’s a typical teenager having feelings of attraction for someone she knows she’s not supposed to. She’s not some prissy girl who’s scared of everything. She’s down to fight and will instigate it; even if it’s between animals and not “humans”. What I like about Lissa, is that even though she’s supposed to be the more self-controlled and reserved one between Lissa and Rose, she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty either!

These characters are so much more realistic and well-thought out than some books I’ve read. You have typical teenagers talking smack, girls trying to ruin each other’s reputations, jealousy over popularity, people spreading rumors, etc. Richelle Mead does a fabulous job of telling a story based on fantasy, but keeping it somewhat realistic too.

One thing that helps a lot is, since Rose is bonded to Lissa, Rose needs to literally see what Lissa sees. Richelle sets up the transition so well that you know when points of view are going to change between Rose and Lissa, then back again. There may be a couple confusing parts to when the point of view is changing from Lissa to Rose, but not many.

The only parts of the book that I was getting pretty confused about, was when Richelle does her flashbacks. Instead of using 15 chapters to tell a story and then continue it, Richelle just flashes back to an event that happened between Rose, Lissa, and a teacher; it’s the whole reason for the story, basically.

In one chapter, Rose is sitting in class, and something triggers a flashback. Somehow you go from Rose in a classroom, to 3 people freaking out in a random location. So I had to reread the page to figure out what was going on. But it’s definitely not like you’re totally lost and have no idea what’s going on. Sometimes you know you’re in a flashback, sometimes you get confused, but the confusion is definitely worth reading this book!

It is an INCREDIBLE book, and I’ve already recommended this one to the Co-Owner of the Hush, Hush fansite, Rebecca. It’s not the generic story of vampires and all that nonsense. Richelle keeps to some old parts, but adds some new, and some in-betweens. She keeps to the undead, vampire-staking and no sunlight: Strigoi, but adds the idea of “living” vampires, who wield magic, and who die like a human would: Moroi. She also brings back the idea of Dhampirs: half-vampire, half-human. Only, instead of the Dhampirs killing other vampires, they GUARD the Moroi from the Strigoi.

Vampire Academy is amazingly well-thought out, and I love this book so much I feel like I’m giving too much away! You won’t be disappointed with the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead like with some other Vampire books!

Guest post review written and submitted by Heather P. If you’re on Twitter, you can follow Heather P and engage with her and fellow Vampire Academy fans, Hush, Hush and Twilight book fans.

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For people that drink as much coffee as we do, our recent experience with a single serve coffee maker in our hotel room during our Chicago vacation created temporary disappointment. I can only guess as to why hotels choose to provide hotel guests with one-cup coffee machines versus one that brews more than one cup of coffee at a time, but we weren’t impressed.

The moment we checked into our hotel room and saw the tiny coffee making appliance sitting on the counter at the hotel we stayed at, we knew we weren’t going to make it through our entire vacation trip with that silly looking coffee maker. We made a beeline to the nearest store and bought a cheap, black 12-cup automatic coffee maker that was sitting all by itself on a discount clearance shelf for just ten dollars.

We also bought our favorite coffee creamer, two large coffee cups that only cost 99 cents each, and a decent size container of our favorite brand of coffee and coffee filters. We couldn’t help but laugh when we read the front of the coffee maker provided by the hotel, where it claims to be a two-cup coffee machine that comes with pre-measured coffee pods. The only way it would be possible to get two cups of coffee from that machine would be for us to use cups from a little girl’s toy tea set. Simply ridiculous.

Top Ten Best Selling Coffee Makers

Even though the automatic coffee maker we bought during our vacation doesn’t appear anywhere on the list of best selling coffee makers, we were pleased with the results even with the slow brewing time. We’ve been talking about replacing the lousy Proctor Silex coffee maker we have at home for a better quality machine, and since we donated the one we used during our trip to the kids, we’ve been checking out coffee maker reviews and ratings for all the different kinds of coffee makers.

Apparently, single serve coffee makers like the Keurig coffee maker are a growing trend amongst many coffee drinkers as a way of reducing their caffeine consumption, but we would just switch to decaf coffee if we were concerned about caffeine addiction problems. We’ve never been espresso/cappuccino coffee drinkers, and hot tea never appealed to me, but we do love the taste of great coffee brewed at home.

You might think that the amount of coffee we drink everyday might lead us to buy a large commercial type coffee maker, perhaps one that brews upwards of 100 cups of coffee at a time, but that would be overkill. We’ve read review articles on various types of coffee makers that brew 10, 12 or 14 cups of coffee at a time for comparison purposes, and even checked out ratings on Consumer Reports.

What is the Best Home Coffee Maker?

Trying to compare coffee makers for personal home use versus industrial sized coffee makers appropriate for business offices became somewhat frustrating. All we wanted to know is, What is the best home coffee maker on the market today? Until we began our search for a new coffee maker, it hadn’t occurred to me that there are so many brands of coffee machines to choose from! DeLonghi, Cuisinart, Gaggia, Braun, Krups, Saeco, Capresso, Bunn, Sunbeam, Senseo, KitchenAid, Black and Decker, Mr. Coffee, Coleman, Jura and Zojirushi are the brands that come to mind. That’s a lot of competition for coffee makers, and each wants to be considered the best.

After reviewing customer reviews and online ratings for coffee makers, it became clear that deciding which coffee maker machine was the best is just a matter of opinion and personal experience. There also appears to be a certain amount of hype surrounding some coffee makers which caused some doubt in our minds as to the reliability and trustworthiness of some online reviews. However, if you’re interested in an honest, unbiased review of the Keurig Special Edition B60 Single Serve Coffee Maker, I can personally vouch for the source.

A few years ago we had a Bunn coffee maker that worked like a champ until it was dropped and broken, and even though it can be a bit pricey, it was our favorite over all the other brands. The fact that a full pot of coffee was brewed and ready in two minutes flat was just one of the reasons why we chose the Bunn. That old saying “you get what you pay for” probably rings true when it comes to buying a good quality coffee maker.

Types of Coffee Makers

I certainly wouldn’t attempt to convince anyone that one brand of coffee maker is better than the other, because there are many factors to consider in the selection process. Whether you buy an automatic drip coffee maker, manual drip, French press/Plunger Pot, stove top percolator, espresso/cappuccino/latte machine or pod coffee maker, consider your personal preferences of what you need your coffee maker to do and what features are important to you.

Should it have programmable settings? An automatic on/off safety feature? Brew interrupt/pause feature? What is your price range? Color preference? Amount of available space for the coffee maker? Do you need a space-saver undercabinet type coffee maker? Do you need a single or dual cup model, or perhaps a family size standard coffee maker with 8, 10, 12 or 14 cup options? Once you decide what features and options you want in a coffee maker, choosing the right one for your home or office becomes much easier.

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Although 72 percent of Americans have fillings, caps or crowns and one in six had a dental emergency during the past 12 months, most are not prepared to deal with dental care emergencies, according to a recent survey conducted by Majestic Drug Company, a leading provider of oral care products.

Interestingly, in the national survey of 1,000 Americans, those with a lower income (less then $35,000) were more likely to have had a dental emergency in the past 12 months (vs. 14 percent of those who make $100,000 or more).

Of those who had a dental emergency, 23 percent involved a loose crown or cap, 10 percent involved a lost filling, while 72 percent said their dental emergency involved something else.

Among those who had a dental emergency involving a loose crown/cap or a lost filling, 67 percent immediately went to a dentist, and 14 percent looked for a temporary solution to purchase, while 19 percent did nothing at the time.

“You keep medical supplies on hand for cuts and bruises, but what about your teeth? It’s important to be prepared for a dental emergency in case one happens, especially if  the emergency occurs on a weekend or holiday when your dentist isn’t available,” according to Brian Gold, D.D.S., who practices in Monticello, NY.

Dental emergencies can range from a dislodged cap/crown or lost filling to a knocked out tooth to pain or a cracked denture. Majestic Drug Company explains some common dental emergencies and suggestions for treatment.

• Knocked out tooth. If you knock out a permanent tooth try gently replacing it into the tooth socket. Do not scrub the tooth clean—you can damage the fibers needed for reattachment. If that doesn’t work, place the tooth in a glass of milk to keep it moist. Get to a dentist immediately.

• Mouth pain. A throbbing pain from a toothache may indicate an infection and a dentist should be consulted as soon as possible. Tooth sensitivity can be combated by the use of desensitizing toothpaste such as Sensodyne. Irritation from mouth sores can be alleviated by the use of specialized oral pain relief products such as Orajel.

• Lost filling. Rinse out the cavity with warm water. Apply a temporary filling product such as Dentemp O.S. which can be made into a ball and pressed firmly into the cavity.

• Cracked or broken denture. According to Dr. Gold, all denture wearers should have a spare pair to use until the other is repaired. If not, it is good to keep on hand an emergency denture repair kit such as the D.O.C. Emergency Denture Repair Kit for an emergency involving a denture.

• Dislodged cap/crown. Apply a temporary dental holding product such as Dentemp O.S. and gently replace the crown onto the tooth.  Make sure you get a proper fit.

• Irritation from Braces. Sharp wires can be coated with special dental orthodontic wax to protect your gums.

Remember, temporary dental solutions are just that—they are temporary. Make sure to seek professional assistance from your dentist as soon as possible.

Health ‘Bites’: 8 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Teeth

Oral health is often the window to your overall health. Evidence has supported the link between poor oral health and such conditions as stroke, premature birth and diabetes. Other conditions, such as HIV/AIDS and osteoporosis may show preliminary signs in your mouth, before other areas of the body are affected. Also, some of your daily activities or habits such as smoking or using chewing tobacco can affect your oral health. Therefore, it’s wise to pay attention to your teeth and gums.

Brian Gold, D.D.S., Monticello NY, and consultant to Majestic Drug Company, a leading provider of oral care products, provides this valuable insight into oral hygiene.

1. Survey shows Americans unprepared for dental emergencies. Although 72 percent of Americans have fillings, caps or crowns and one in six had a dental emergency during the past 12 months, most are not prepared to deal with a dental emergency, according to the survey conducted by Majestic Drug Company. It’s wise to have a product such as Dentemp O.S. on hand as a temporary repair for loose caps or lost fillings.

2. Bulimia and acid reflux can destroy tooth enamel. Bulimics are often able to hide the disorder from others but not from their dentist.  Enamel erosion is a major sign of bulimic behavior. And acid reflux, whereby stomach acid flows into the esophagus and mouth, can cause tooth and gum erosion (possibly requiring tooth extraction and expensive restorative dental care).

3. Soda and citrus drink overuse can be caustic to tooth enamel. The average American drinks more than 53 gallons of soft drinks each year, more than any other beverage including milk, beer, coffee or water. Phosphoric acid in soda and citric acid in citrus drinks can cause tooth enamel corrosion and the sugar can cause cavities.

4. Excessive chlorine in swimming pools can erode tooth enamel. This can make your teeth more sensitive to heat and cold.

5. Many people don’t know they have bad breath. Dr. Gold suggests this test: Using dental floss or a tongue scrapper, sniff either the floss or the scrapper. If your mouth is clean, you won’t have a telltale smell.

6. Infection and trauma can cause tooth enamel defects. Nutritional deficiencies during infancy, antibiotic use such as tetracycline, high fever, and trauma can all lead to tooth enamel irregularities such as pitting.

7. Eighty percent of Americans over the age of 35 have some form of gum disease. It can range from simple gum inflammation, called gingivitis, to serious disease that results in damage to the bone.

8. One in four adults age 60 and older has lost all of his/her teeth. A good oral hygiene program should include twice daily brushing, flossing, eating a balanced diet, limiting between-meal snacks and regular visits to your dentist for professional cleaning and oral exams.

How to Make a Dental First Aid Kit

Nearly every household has some sort of a first aid kit filled with bandages, antiseptic, ointments and the like. But how many people plan ahead for dental emergencies?

“You keep medical supplies on hand for cuts and bruises, but what about your teeth? It’s important to be prepared for a dental emergency in case one happens, especially if the emergency occurs on a weekend or holiday when your dentist isn’t available,” according to Brian Gold, D.D.S., who practices in Monticello, NY.

While an emergency dental kit can never replace the care of a dentist, it can ease the pain and discomfort until you get to your dentist. Majestic Drug Company suggests keeping the following items on hand for a dental emergency and placing them in a convenient container for easy access.

• Temporary dental cement such as Dentemp® O.S. which can be used to temporarily replace a filling or secure a crown.

• A dental pain reliever that contains benzocaine or oil of cloves such as Orajel.

• Sensitive teeth can be treated with special toothpaste such as Sensodyne or Sensitive.

• Ibuprofen such as Advil or Motrin can ease the pain from the affected tooth.

• Keep soft dental floss such as Glide or Reach on hand.

• For anyone with dentures a denture repair product, such as D.O.C® Denture Repair Kit, is a must-have.

• Tweezers

• Gauze

For additional information please visit Majestic Drug Company at www.majesticdrug.com.

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What are some cheap and fun things to do during family vacations to Chicago? Anyone who has been to Chicago during the winter months knows that taking a Chicago vacation requires bundling up with warm winter clothes to offset the cold, blustery, freezing temperatures and winds from the Windy City. There are a lot of fun and cheap things to do in and outside of Chicago, indoors and outdoors, including things to do in the suburbs for families, kids and adults of all ages.

Looking for fun things to do in Chicago during the summer or winter? Chicago has a lot to offer tourists and vacationers throughout the year with favorite places including museums, parks, indoor and outdoor swimming, golf courses and mini-golf courses, family entertainment centers, live theater, ice skating, comedy clubs, festivals, art galleries, restaurants, working farms and orchards, amongst thousands of other Chicago attractions.

Whether you take a vacation to Chicago in the spring, summer, fall or winter months, make sure you plan your itinerary to include the popular places in downtown Chicago and in the suburbs north, west, east and south of the city. Coupons, discount tickets and pass cards like the Go Card help a lot to reduce the overall costs of a vacation trip and tours around Chicago, or anywhere else you want to go.

The Go Chicago Card provides unlimited, FREE admission to 30 top tourist attractions, activities, tours and museums with the card, with a savings of up to 55% compared to the cost of purchasing individual tickets. See as many of the best attractions as you want for the number of days chosen for a very low price. Go Cards are available in single and multi-day increments and come with a full-color, pocket-size guidebook included. Vacations to Chicago don’t have to break the bank!

Things to Do in Chicago and Surrounding Chicago Suburbs

There are thousands upon thousands of children and family activities to do in downtown Chicago, in the suburbs and outskirts of the city, but a list of some ideas of the most popular destinations will help complete your vacation itinerary.

Haunted Trails in Joliet
1423 North Broadway (Rt. 53) in Joliet, IL – (815) 722-7800
This open year-round family entertainment center features go-karts, laser tag, rides, games, miniature golf, batting cages, restaurant and a picnic grove. Birthday parties and group package options for up to 2,000 guests are available.

Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Centers
7759 South Harlem Avenue in Burbank, IL 60459 – (708) 598-8580
This open year-round family entertainment center features 100s of games, rides, award-winning miniature golf, Go Karts & Batting Cages, Restaurant/Party room featuring karaoke. October Haunted House information can be found at (www.frightmarehauntedhouse.com). Birthday party and group packages are also available.

Hollywood Park, Crestwood Family Entertainment Centers
5051 Cal Sag Road in Crestwood, IL 60445 (708) 389-7275
Award-winner! Features miniature golf, Hollywood Speedway go-kart track, arcade games, indoor bumper cars, indoor children’s playland, rock wall & Hollywood Memorabilia on display, Café-Pizzeria.

Kidswork Children’s Museum
11 South White Street in Frankfort, IL 60423 (815) 469-1199
KidsWork is a fun, interactive educational experience for kids ages 0-8, with two floors of exhibits including theater, art room, tot spot, pet vet and more.

Odyssey Fun World
Located at 19111 South Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park, IL 60477 (708) 429-3800
Games, Laser Tag, Batting Cages, Soft Playland, Miniature Golf, Go-Karts, Bumper Boats, Inflatable Park and much more.

Chicago Indoor Racing – Addison
Located at 2381 W. Army Trail Road, Addison, IL 60101 (847) 941-9400
Chicagoland’s most exciting indoor European Kart Racing and entertainment facility with 105,000 s/f of space, featuring CyberSport, Clark’s Café, meeting & event space for groups of up to 800 guests, and a multitude of alternative entertainment options.

CyberSport at Chicago Indoor Racing
Address is 2381 W. Army Trail Road, Addison, IL 60101 (847) 941-9400
Located inside Chicago Indoor Racing, CyberSport is a multiplayer game that blends bumper cars, lacrosse and basketball into an alternative to racing for groups of 10 to 400.

Enchanted Castle Restaurant & Entertainment Complex
1103 S. Main Street, Lombard, IL 60148 (630) 953-7860
Premier entertainment complex with 60,000 square feet of fun! Indoor go karts, laser tag, bumper cars, games, mini golf, Kid’s Quest Softplay, future Sir Bounce-A-Lot Jumpland, special events, and 625-seat restaurant with karaoke.

Safari Land
701 W. North Avenue in Villa Park, IL 60181 (630) 530-4649
Family entertainment center featuring Illinois’ largest indoor roller coaster, Kiddie go-karts, bumper cars, Tilt-A-Whirl, Monkey Jump, Merry-Go-Round, and hundreds of video & redemption games. Activity-based fees apply.

Wagner Farm
1510 Wagner Road in Glenview, IL (847) 657-1506
Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview is am 18.6 acres farm and a popular destination for locals and tourists. Families, adults and children alike learn about a real working farm. The farm is open to the public, offering educational programs for all ages, and special events throughout the year.  Public hours are Monday – Saturday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.  Admission is free on those days (unless there is a special event) and a farm story time is featured at 4:00 pm each Thursday.

The Mitchell Museum
3001 Central Street in Evanston IL (847) 475-1030
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian portrays the Native American cultures of the Woodlands, Plains, Southwest, Northwest Coast and Arctic. Closed on Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Thursday 10:00 am – 8pm. Sunday 12pm to 4pm.

The Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
The Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center has 3.5 miles of trails for walking and education. The schoolhouse contains interpretive exhibits and hosts events. It is located at 9800 Willow Springs Road, Willow Springs IL (708) 839-6897.

Mayan Adventure Indoor Water park at the Holiday Inn in Elmhurst has 24,000 square feet of water activities for all ages. It’s located at 624 N. York Road, Elmhurst IL (630) 279-1100 or (877) 426-4386 The Mayan Adventure Indoor Water park is Chicagoland’s first indoor water park with 24,000 square feet of wet and wild fun for all ages. Kids, adults and families will have lots of fun slipping down the body and tube slides and landing in the plunge pool. Toddlers will delight in the interactive water station. Game room, poolside café, bar and more!

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
2001 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg IL (847)843-3900 or (888) 935-6878
Journey through time to the age of chivalry and knighthood. Feast upon a scrumptious banquet and cheer your own knight to victory in the tournament of games.

Want some fun activities outside of the Chicago area? Chicagoland tourists should also keep in mind the many exciting attractions, water parks, theme parks, venues and hotspots just across the Wisconsin and Indiana state lines. The Wisconsin Dells in WI, Horseshoe Casino in Hammond Indiana and the Fair Oaks Farms in Fair Oaks Indiana are three more children and family activities to be enjoyed while vacationing in and around Chicago. The Horseshoe Casino is located at 777 Casino Center Drive in Hammond IN – (866) 711-SHOE. The address and phone number for the Fair Oaks Farms is 856 North 600 East in Fair Oak IN – (877) 536-1194.

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This is a book review guest post of Hush, Hush: The New York Times bestselling book by Becca Fitzpatrick. The “Hush Hush” novel is a very popular book among teens and young adults, including a Hush Hush fansite “Fallen Archangel” at fallenarchangel.com and a Youtube video trailer.

In Hush, Hush, Nora Grey meets Patch Cipriano. Patch is mysterious, attractive, a bad boy, and the school’s newest transfer. Nora is brown-haired, smokey-eyed, an only child, and a columnist for the school’s eZine.

In the biology class they share together, Patch seems to know way too much about Nora; things not even her best friend, Vee Sky, knows. But when the tables are turned, and the biology assignment requires him to talk about himself, he refuses to budge. Patch’s nonchalant attitude leaves Nora frustrated with mixed feelings. While her teen hormones cause her to be attracted to Patch, something else, deep down, tells her she needs to be afraid.

When a mysterious shadow appears in Nora’s room, and a man wearing all black and a ski mask shreds her friend’s car, she looks to Vee for comfort, and winds up meeting Elliot Saunders and his best friend Jules at a local diner. While Jules seems to act strange around Nora and Vee, Elliot warms right up; confessing he just transferred from Kinghorn Prep to Coldwater High.

During the gym class that Nora winds up sharing with Elliot, she finds Patch spying on her and learns that Patch has some inhuman talents. After Elliot invites Nora and Vee to the Delphic Seaport with himself and Jules, they find out they weren’t the only ones there. When Jules strangely excuses himself, Nora finds she’s ditched her friends to ride the newly renovated Archangel, with Patch. While on the ride, Nora finds she gets launched from the car and falls; only to discover she is still safely strapped in the car at the end of the ride. Although Nora was hoping Vee would be around to give her a ride home, she discovers that Patch is her only option.

When Vee and Nora go on a shopping trip, Nora gets the feeling that someone is following her. In an attempt to uncover who the culprit may be, Nora and Vee swap a few items, and Nora watches as Vee walks out of the store with a few of her things; pretending to be Nora, of course. While the intention to disguise Vee as Nora was meant to be good, the outcome isn’t so great. Nora has to call 9-1-1 and have Vee taken to the hospital. When Nora goes to visit Vee the next day, Nora uncovers the strange coincidence that the man, who was wearing a ski mask and shredding her car, is the exact same person responsible for putting Vee in the hospital!

While Nora is at the library doing some research a few days later, she finds out that Elliot was a suspect in a murder case at Kinghorn Prep. After her discovery on Elliot, Nora finds that she is strangely being brutally bribed into going on a ski trip with himself, Vee, and Jules for Spring Break. Although Vee ignores Nora’s attempts to warn her to stay away from Elliot and Jules, the message doesn’t get through till things are a little too late.

Once Nora finds out that Vee is with Elliot and Jules at a party, Nora decides that she has to rescue Vee from them. Nora arrives close to the location that Vee told her, but finds they had already left, and Nora must call Patch for a ride home. On the ride to Nora’s house, Patch’s car ironically dies out, and they find themselves in a hotel trying to avoid the storm outside. As Nora finds herself touching the V-shaped scars on Patch’s back, she experiences flashbacks into Patch’s past. Not only does Nora find out she is the descendant of a Nephilim named Chauncey, she uncovers Patch’s true intentions towards Nora, and the fact that Patch is actually a Fallen Angel.

After they talk and realize that something isn’t right about Jules, Patch drops off Nora at home to do some research of his own. Once at home, Nora finds herself in a life-or-death situation with Patch’s ex-girlfriend. As Patch arrives to save the day, Nora receives a mysterious phone call, demanding her presence at the school. There she is confronted by Jules, who reveals his true intentions to Nora.

What I love about Hush, Hush is the complicated relationship the characters share with each other. When you think you know what’s going to happen next, you have no idea! You get thrown for a loop so many times you can’t even keep track of them all!

When it comes to a Prologue, most books don’t need them. Although some authors use the prologue to talk about events that happened in previous books in the series, Becca Fitzpatrick’s prologue for Hush, Hush actually serves a purpose! If you don’t read the prologue to Hush, Hush, you won’t understand the real significance of Jules’ character, and why he is so important to the story.

Another thing that I like is that when certain words, like Nephilim, are used in books, most of the time you’re left guessing what it could possibly mean! Becca Fitzpatrick does an awesome job telling you what certain words mean, by using the dialogue of the characters. Crafty!

When it comes to attention-getters, some authors can’t seem to remember what their teachers taught them in school! I don’t like reading books where it takes ¾ of the book to REALLY get started! Although I’m a huge fan of the Twilight Saga (TEAM JACOB ALL THE WAY!) Stephanie takes up quite some time just getting things started! But Hush, Hush!? Who would’ve thought that using Human Reproduction on the first page and a jerk-of-a-guy on the next would equal success! YEY!

Despite the fact that Hush, Hush is getting more and more attention, its cover has already won five awards! Thanks to James Porto who took the amazing shot using Drew Doyon to depict Patch, Hush, Hush won: Best YA cover, Best Male-only Cover, Most unique cover, Best debut cover, AND cover of the year!

Although I’ve already read Hush, Hush 4 times, and let my cousin-in-law borrow it, I plan on reading it over and over again once I retrieve it! Thanks Becca for writing such an amazing novel! Oh yeah, and in case you haven’t noticed, I have nothing to complain about Hush, Hush; only compliments!

Hush Hush Book Youtube Video Trailer

Click here to view the embedded video.

Guest post written and submitted by Heather P. If you’re on Twitter, you can follow Heather P and engage with her and fellow Hush, Hush fans and Twilight book fans.

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What is the best way to flirt with a teenage girl you like, without coming on too strong, if you are a teenage boy? Sometimes teenage guys say stupid things to girls and end up regretting it, especially if the dumb thing said leads the girl to slap the guy in the face.

Young guys in the process of becoming a man sometimes learn valuable lessons the hard way, and learning what things not to say to a girl they like or have a crush should rank very high on the list of learning “how to talk to girls”.

A young, 17-year-old teenage guy contacted me the other day, telling me the story of meeting a teenage girl at a dance that he took a liking to. Unfortunately for him, this young lady didn’t appreciate his attempts to make conversation because of his comments about her “healthy body”.

In other words, this girl was “hot”. Classic hourglass figure, big bust, narrow waist and nice, shapely hips and legs. Get the full picture? He liked her body and wanted this girl to know he liked her (and her body). A lot.

Here is the context of the email message I received:

“Dear Lin,

My name is [removed] and I’m 17 years old.  I discovered your website and thought you might have some good insight on an experience I had involving a girl’s image of her body. She was a girl I had just met at a dance a few weeks ago.  We talked for a good half hour and seemed to be hitting it off.  We even exchanged email addresses.

Then, things suddenly went downhill.  I commented that she had a “really nice, hourglass figure”. I thought she would take it as a compliment but instead she became deeply offended.  I went into damage control mode and tried to clarify my comments but I think I only made things worse when I used the term “healthy”. With a look of complete disgust, WHAP!, she slapped my face and departed.

She had a classic hourglass figure – large bust, narrow waist, shapely hips/legs. I guess she had interpreted “hourglass” as meaning big/overweight/full figured. Why can’t girls embrace their curves?”

Now, I must admit to having a good laugh when I first read this email message, but we also shared some laughs together with subsequent email exchanges. Poor guy said something stupid to this teenage girl that he thought would be taken as a compliment, but quickly learned the hard way to think before he speaks.

This young man had read the article about girls and female body image and the pressure to be thin in society, and felt the girl he had just met had issues with her own body image. To be clear, I certainly do NOT advocate the fact that this young lady slapped this guy across the face, because of the numerous articles I’ve done about abusive relationships – including teenage abusive relationships.

Abuse of any or all kinds is wrong, unacceptable and should never be tolerated. Capiche?

Here’s my response:

“Hi [name removed],

No, no, no. You’re thinking of the situation with this girl from the perspective of a guy, not of a girl. I don’t know a single girl/woman who feels flattered by a guy she’d just met telling her how hot her body looks, hourglass etc. Especially since she just met you. Any time a guy mentions to a girl or woman about her body and how good she looks, she immediately (and I mean immediately) realizes the guy is checking out her assets. Girls/women know that guys are visual beings, but we don’t like or appreciate it when men/guys make a point of telling us about it. It’s not that she has a poor body image, nope. It’s that she doesn’t want her “healthy body” scanned and critiqued by guys…

There’s a reason for the old saying, “My eyes are up HERE not down there” because of guys constantly checking out a girl’s chest, butt, hourglass figure etc. Girls don’t like that. Guys at dance clubs or nightclubs (stereotypical construction workers) that are staring…and ogling at women’s “assets” are typically thought of as sleeze balls, disgusting pigs and ignored. Slapped sometimes, lol. Plus, chances are this girl already knows she looks good, fit and healthy. There’s no way out of it, no damage control, because she already has it figured that you’re all into her body (and how her body likely turns you on) and she’s not the least bit interested in continuing a conversation with someone like that.

Here’s an example: Say you were at the same dance and some girl you were dancing with and barely knew at all tells you “you’ve got a great looking package from what I can tell with those pants you’re wearing”. I mean, seriously, how awkward would that be?! You would immediately know that she’s checking you out like that and coming on (really) strong with a sexual connotation. Someone you just met. Girls hate that.

Guys are going to check out girls bodies and how “healthy” they look and how fit they are. Girls don’t typically mention things like what you said to her. Women/girls notice a guy’s body too, but we usually keep it to ourselves, so as not to make the guy feel uncomfortable (like being put under a magnifying glass). Don’t ever put yourself in the situation of [being like] typical sleeze balls who act stupid with their guy friends, ogling and pointing out girls “assets” and making an a$$ of themselves trying to look cool and hip. You’ll get thrown into the sleeze ball category, and perhaps slapped. Again. Guys that say those sorts of things are believed to be “interested in one thing only” and you know what I mean by that. Girls don’t like it. Lesson learned?”

I realize there are exceptions to what I replied to this young guy. Some girls/women don’t mind at all when their ass-sets are ogled, stared at and “admired”. Some teenage girls and grown women even encourage such exchanges with guys they meet. Some women/girls accept these things as compliments and aren’t bothered by them at all. Obviously, this young girl was very upset by the things he said to her and she let him know that his “compliments” were inappropriate and he made her feel uncomfortable.

In his follow-up email, this teenage boy admitted to being “guilty of staring at her chest, further agitating her” in response to the quote “my eyes are up here, not down there”. He now understands that there is an art to flirting with girls and getting a girls attention, without coming across as crass or rude.

Teenage boys need to learn how to talk to teenage girls appropriately, so I suggested he search online for articles about conversation starters; what to say to girls and things NOT to say to girls; how to approach girls; how to flirt with girls (without using stupid pickup lines) like what is discussed in this article at Men’s Health on dating tips for guys.

Guys? Do you have a similar story you would like to share with this man, so he doesn’t feel like he’s the the only one who has ever gone through this? Ladies? What suggestions or tips would you add to help enlighten this young teenage guy for the future? Besides don’t get slapped again. He already knows. Make your suggestions or leave your comments for him below.

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Since my husband and I are both American Idol fans and live in Texas, north of Dallas, it seems only fair to reveal which contestants made it through to the Top 24. The Dallas American Idol auditions were shown on American Idol already last week, but inquiring minds are curious to know which Texas contestants made it through the Hollywood round in hopes of becoming the next American Idol mega star. American Idol spoiler alert!

Ever since Paula Abdul left Idol, and now Simon Cowell is leaving after season nine, whether or not AI will last much longer remains to be seen. Personally, I don’t enjoy watching the audition phase, with all the singer-wannabe’s and moron’s acting like fools, but at least we’ve got a few contestants from Texas that made it to the list of Top 24 according to the leaked spoilers. Some of the auditions are funny and others are just stupid.

Then again, nearly everyone has heard about the song Pants On The Ground, fanned the page on Facebook and had the song stuck in their head for days.

As with previous seasons of American Idol, spoilers and lists of contestant names have been right and this season is no different. JoesPlaceBlog (www.joesplaceblog.com) has the complete list of American Idol’s Season 9 Top 24, including links to contestant MySpace pages, Facebook, audition videos and performance videos for those who are interested.

Here are your 5 American Idol Texas contestants who are in the Top 24 of Season 9:

1. Lacey Brown, a 23-year-old from Amarillo, TX
***Previous Hollywood contestant from Idol Season 8

http://www.myspace.com/laceybrownmusic
http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_…ng_lacey_brown/

(David Duke, a 23-year-old from Waxahachie, TX was previously on the top 24 list but was removed and replaced with another contestant that is not from Texas)

2. Casey James from Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

http://www.myspace.com/caseyjames3
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Casey-James
Article about Casey James Band

3. Alexander “Alex” Lambert from North Richland Hills, TX
(no relation to Season 9 runner-up Adam Lambert)

http://www.myspace.com/handsthathurt
“I’m Yours” YouTube Video
“Tired of Waiting” YouTube Video
“Twist and Shout” YouTube Video
“Barney (the purple dinosaur)” YouTube Video

4. Paige Miles, a 23-year-old from Houston, TX

Interview with Fox4

5. Todrick Hall, age 22, from Plainview TX

Mjsbigblog (www.mjsbigblog.com) pointed out that Todrick Hall is a controversial character, taking money from parents and claiming their kids would be a production that was later canceled. Ruh Roh! It’ll be interesting to see how Todrick does on Idol with this hanging over his head.

http://www.myspace.com/todrick_hall
http://www.youtube.com/user/todrickhall

The Top 24 American Idol finalists for Season 9 will be officially revealed on February 17. We’ll be watching these Texas hometown hopefuls and rooting for them all just like we did with Kelly Clarkson, and since I’m from Chicago originally, we’ll be keeping a close eye and ear on the Chicago-land contestants this season too on AI.

Texas Idol fans, who are you rooting for this season? Do you personally know any of these Texas area Idol hopefuls? Care to wager a good guess as to who of these Texas contestants you think will make it to the Top 12 or higher? Who gets your vote so far?

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Taking a vacation in Chicago is one of the best places for travel, with so many things to do during the summer and winter months, there is no chance of ever running out of fun things to do in Chicago for cheap. Chicago is by far one of my favorite vacation hot spots since my kids and grandkids live there, and since I used to live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago years ago, visiting my old stomping grounds will be a treat.

We’ve had a good time during our inexpensive Staycation vacations, but this year we decided we really needed a getaway vacation where we can fly to Chicago and enjoy the Windy City and its many attractions. Planning a cheap vacation trip to Chicago includes finding good deals on hotels, car rentals, air fare, discount event tickets and finding as many free activities as possible. When it comes to planning a vacation to Chicago or anywhere else, cheap is good, but free is better.

Deciding where to stay in Chicago, where to eat, where to park if you’re going to spend time in downtown Chicago or surrounding cities, and where all the hot spots are in or outside of the city are things that must be decided. Picking what hotels or motels we would consider for our visit to Chicago was easy with Hotels.com, and since I used to live there I know what neighborhoods are good or bad, and what areas to avoid at all cost.

Vacation to Chicago For Cheap

Chicago is well known for having many of the most popular restaurants, entertainment, shopping, transportation options, concerts and dance clubs, museums and year-round events that vacationers to Chicago can always find stuff to do for the whole family to enjoy. Even though my kids aren’t really “kids” anymore, we’ll still plan things to see and do that my grown children and the grandkids will enjoy that are either cheap or free, since we don’t want our vacation to Chicago to be a financial hardship for their budget as we run around town together.

Finding cheap round-trip airfare to Chicago and back wasn’t a problem at all because we had plenty of accumulated air miles on Mastercard that we used for our plane tickets, so flying to Chicago was basically free. We checked out local Chicago-area hotels online that were close to our final destination spot, searched for discounts and promotion codes, and managed to find a good quality, 4 star hotel at the right price and in a nice area.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t trust hotel ratings or “star” factors distinguishing a 5-star hotel from a 3 or 4-star hotel because anyone (including hotel owner relatives and friends) can post a good or bad rating to make the hotel/motel appear to be ranked better than it truly deserves. My husband looked at a few inexpensive hotels in and around Chicago and nearby suburbs on Google Maps with Street View and quickly realized we don’t want to stay at those hotels. Ever.

Tip: Make sure you don’t unknowingly choose to spend your vacation staying at a hotel that charges “by the hour”. Planning a vacation for cheap is one thing, but those kinds of hotels are not where we want to stay for a minute, let alone an hour or an entire vacation trip to Chicago or elsewhere.

Things to Do in Chicago

There are lots of fun things to do in Chicago that are dirt cheap or free, for families with kids, singles, married couples without kids etc. Here is a short list of 40 things to see or do in or around Chicago including Chicago Museums, with many attractions and events offering free days, coupons or deep discounts on admission.

1. The Art Institute
2. Field Museum of Natural History
3. Museum of Science and Industry
4. Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
5. Shedd Aquarium
6. Adler Planetarium
7. The Chicago Historical Society
8. The Magnificent Mile
9. “Sue” & the “Underground Adventure” at the Field Museum
10. Chicago Cultural Center
11. Garfield Park Observatory
12. Ride bikes along Lake Shore Drive
13. Chicago Children’s Theatre
14. McCormick-Tribune Ice Rink
15. Lincoln Park Zoo
16. Brookfield Zoo
17. Wrigley Field
18. Navy Pier
19. Grant Park
20. Chicago’s Historic Water Tower
21. Willis Tower Skydeck (formerly Sears Tower)
22. Six Flags Great America
23. Chinatown
24. Greektown
25. Harpo Studios to see Oprah!
26. Taste of Chicago
27. Chicago Beaches
28. John Hancock Building
29. Planet Hollywood
30. Civic Opera House
31. Millennium Park
32. Botanical Garden
33. Butterfly Museum
34. Buckingham Fountain
35. Chicago Air & Water Show
36. Chicago Blues Festival
37. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
38. Lambs Farm
39. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
40. Dave & Busters – Eat, Drink, Play

With so many things to do in Chicago and surrounding cities, two hot spots no one should miss out on is Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza and Chicago style hot dogs. Chicago is famous for having the best hot dog and deep dish pizza, and those two things are on our “must do” list during our vacation to Chicago.

Chicago Vacation Packages

After checking out a number of vacation package deals for our Chicago getaway trip that includes the flight, hotel and rental car, we actually found the best deals for this vacation by simply going to each website individually. Discount codes and promotion codes advertised online were either bogus or already used when we started planning our vacation, so we won’t waste time looking for those anymore.

Vacations to Hawaii or similar getaways offering great package deals for all inclusive vacations, such as a resort vacations, might be well worth the extra effort trying to find those special package deals. The total cost of our vacation to Chicago including hotel stay, airfare, car rental and gas, money for food and entertainment etc is one of the cheapest vacations we’ve ever planned and not one penny of the whole trip to Chicago is being paid for with a credit card.

One very cool bonus with the Chicago-area hotel we chose through Hotels.com is that it has a kitchenette in the room besides other amenities like free internet access, to save money on eating out by fixing some meals in the hotel room kitchenette. I don’t know if I would call this vacation a “frugal” vacation or not, which would probably mean driving to Chicago instead of flying, but it sure has turned out to be a lot cheaper than we expected when we decided to take a getaway vacation to Chicago.

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