ADCAN Member wins INA Conference Scholarship Contest

Congratulations Alice Shaffer.

To read Alice's winning essay, visit her blog at Nanny Adventures.

The Nanny Financial Corner - How to have fun with a smaller budget!

The following article appeared in the March/April 2009 ADCAN Newsletter


The Nanny Financial Corner

by Alice Shaffer


How to have fun with a smaller budget! Having fun sometimes takes money, doesn't it? Well I have found 10 ways for you to have fun, look good, stay healthy and still save money. These cover areas from books, movies, exercising, dental care and sightseeing. Let us know what worked for you and what didn't.


1. Buying Books. Books are wonderful, but did you know that you can get them free at the library? Of course you probably do since you take your charges to story time and check out books. So why don't you check out books there instead of buying them at the store for $8-$25 each? You can easily save $100 dollars a month on books by checking them out at the library. Pull out your library card and make a visit today. Many times you can reserve the books online or get on a waiting list.

2. Trade books you’ve read for books you want to read! For the cost of postage, PaperbackSwap members receive credits for books they want by swapping books they’ve read. To get started you just need to fill out the registration form, submit 10 of your books you want to swap (using ISPN numbers) and you receive two credits free to get you started. You can use those credits immediately to get two books from someone else. Each book is worth one credit. Once someone requests a book from you, you mail them the requested book, and when they receive it - you get a credit. Then you can start requesting books you want, and others ship to you. All done through the PBS website, you print shipping labels and can even pay postage through their site. Drop in the mail or at the post office, and you’re on your way to reading some great books. You can also swap children’s books, and audio books. So start going through those shelves and boxes full of old books and make room for new ones. Easy as 1-2-3.

3.DVD purchases: You can go to www.dvdpricesearch.com/ and search for the DVD’s you want and where they are located for the lowest price. Also check out www.deepdiscount.com/, which has a large number of new and old DVD’s at discount rates. Checking out Amazon is a great idea too as they often have DVD sales (remember to shop through the ADCAN Amazon link). I recently purchased the entire Six Feet Under series for $60 and free shipping. At $12 a season, that is better than I could have found at any store. You can also swap DVD’s at SwapaDVD, a sister site to the above PaperbackSwap.

4. Movie Theaters: You can get a frequent movie goer card from AMC called MovieWatcher. You accumulate points each time you go to the movies. At certain levels you earn a free movie, free small popcorn, etc. Just remember it deducts points if you cash in for the free small popcorn instead of waiting for the free movie. Some theaters offer reduced rates before a certain time of the day. For instance, Tyson’s offers $6 movies before noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I have found myself going to a Saturday movie at 9:35 am and still have the entire day available. Other movie theaters may have similar programs.


5. Free DVD rental: Mondays are FREE DVD rentals at Redbox. They are normally one dollar for 24 hours. On Monday's they have a code to get one free. Make Mondays your movie night! You can look online for where the movie is available and reserve it. RedBox DVD rentals are available in many area grocery stores. Check their site for more information.

6. Dental plans: Do you need dental care but don't like paying full price? With Dentalplans.com You can pay around $135 a year and get up to 50% off services. This week I went to the dentist and had a panoramic x-ray done. They normally charge $120, but with the plan it was $62. For my three surface cavities I need filled, it will be $111 instead of $205. Right there I saved $150 dollars. I actually have two cavities so that will be a total savings of $242. That is almost the conference fee for INA. If you would like to look into the program go to Dentalplans.com and if you sign up please use my referral code of: 49S97A27. I will receive three free months for each person that signs up. You can also refer someone as well and start building free months too! How awesome is that! The coverage normally starts within three days. You can search to see if your dentist is on the list. If they are not, I can recommend a dentist in Mclean who is awesome and the new one I just visited in Bethesda.

7. Clothes buying: Never pay full price for any new clothes, make sure they are on sale. You can also look at thrift stores as many of them have new unused clothes. Someone I know bought a whole bunch of clothes off Craigslist for $30 and got at least four good outfits out of the purchase. Swap clothes with friends. If you have lost weight pass along your clothes to a friend or try to sell them in lots on Craigslist.


8. INA Conference: Take advantage of the early bird discount of 10%. Or write a 300 word essay on what it means to be a professional nanny for your chance of receiving a free conference fee. Get two or three roommates to cut down the cost of the hotel room. INA is offering a discount code for American Airlines to use for your flight as well. Go to INA for all the conference details.


9. Working out: Did you know that you could arrange with a few of your other friends to have group personal training sessions? A lot of personal trainers will do group sessions. So check this out in your area. This is a great way to work out and stay motivated.


10. Visit Washington DC for FREE entertainment. Did you know that there are 19 museums in the Smithsonian and they do NOT charge an entrance fee? Not many places in the US offer free museum entrance fees. Check out www.si.edu/museums/ to see what is available at your fingertips. You can take the metro to the center of DC to reach many of the museums. The monuments are also a great form of entertainment and history. You can sit on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and look out onto the Mall of the Smithsonian to watch the 1000s of people walking and visiting our wonderful Nation's capital. Visit www.nps.gov/state/dc/. This will give a listing of all the parks and monuments available in DC. Grab a picnic lunch and head outdoors.


Have other savings suggestions? We'd love to hear them.

INA Conference Scholarship Opportunity Offered to ALL Nannies

Here is your opportunity to have your INA Conference Registration Fee paid for.

For all the details, check out All Things Nanny.

The No-Cry Nap Solution by Elizabeth Pantley

Author Elizabeth Pantley has introduced her new book The No-Cry Nap Solution.

Will your child only nap in your arms, in a swing, or after elaborate rituals? Does your child take cat naps -- or none at all? Let world-renowned, trusted parenting author Elizabeth Pantley help you. She’ll guide you with the same sensitive expertise and gentle approach used in her other No-Cry bestsellers about sleep, discipline and potty training.

Research proves that daily naps improve health, mood, growth, intelligence and well-being. Yet children often resist the naps they need and parents don’t know how to make them happen. The results are fussy, crying babies and cranky, grouchy kids who also have trouble sleeping at night!In The No-Cry Nap Solution Pantley explains to parents of children ages newborn to kindergarten the importance of napping to both behavior during the day and sleeping during (and through!) the night. She then shares with you her gentle, loving child-friendly techniques--tested on families of all sizes and circumstances--and shows you how you can customize her solutions for your own family.

Pantley addresses issues such as children who resist naps, dealing with schedule changes, turning short naps into longer ones, helping a child go from needing motion for sleep to “stationery” sleep, nursing at naptime, daycare-related napping problems, newborn “in-arms” or “in-sling” napping issues, and much more.

Chili Recipe from January Meeting

Thanks to Deb Santamore for sharing this chil with us at our January Meeting. There were so many requests for the recipe, we've shared it with you all here. Enjoy!

Vegetable Chili

3/4 cup olive oil
2 zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch dice
2onions, cut into 1/2 inch dice
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 large red bell peppers, cored and cut into 1/4 inch dice
1 can (35 ounces) Italian plum tomatoes, with their juice
1 1/2 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, cut into 1 inch dice
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon dried basil
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian(flat leaf) parsley
1 cup canned dark red kidney beans, drained
1 cup canned chick-peas(garbanzo), drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup sour cream
2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
4 scallions(green onions) white bulb and 3 inches green, sliced on the diagonal

1. Heat 1/2 cup of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini and sauté' until just tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the zucchini to a large flame proof casserole or Dutch oven.
2.Heat the remaining 1/4 cup of oil in the skillet over low heat. Add the onions, garlic, red peppers. Sauté until just wilted, about 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the casserole, along with the oil remaining in the skillet.
3. Place the casserole over low heat. Add the canned tomatoes, and their juice, the fresh tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, basil, oregano,pepper,salt, fennel seeds, and parsley. Cook, uncovered, stirring often for 30 minutes.
4. Stir in the kidney beans, chick-peas, dill and lemon juice; cook for another 15 minutes. Stir well, and adjust the seasonings to taste. Serve with bowls of sour cream, grated cheese, and sliced scallions alongside.

Serves 8 portions.

Notes... I use Pam instead of olive oil and you can just use a pot or a crock pot. I don’t always add all the chili powder.. Better to start off with less and add then too much that you can’t take out.

This recipe comes from The New Basics cookbook by julee rosso & sheila lukins

Montgomery County Maryland Nanny Contracts

Kathy Webb at HomeWork Solutions has some great information and resources regarding the Montgomery County Maryland Nanny Contracts legislation requiring that domestic workers (nannies, housekeepers, maids, companions) be provided a written employment agreement effective January 18, 2009.

Nanny Contracts (also referred to as Work Agreements) are vital in our industry and there are many resources available to find one, including 4NannyTaxes.com.

Kathy will be joining us at our February 15 meeting (2:30-5 pm) at the McLean Community Center to discuss contracts with all attendees. Currently have a contract? Want to improve it? Don't have one and need to learn how to start one? Join us at this meeting and we'll answer your questions.

Please RSVP to this event by emailing us or call us at 866-841-9139 Ext. 2176

Penny's Candy Countdown

December first till Christmas
is the longest time of the year.
Seems as though old Santa
never will appear.

How many days till Christmas?
It's mighty hard to count,
so this little candy ribbon
will tell you the amount.

Remove a (candy of choice)
every night when the sandman
casts his spell.

And Christmas Eve will be here
by the time you reach the bell!


Supplies:

Hot glue, and glue gun
1 inch ribbon for the candy
a sewing needle
thread to match the ribbon
1/4 ribbon for hanging and attaching the bells at the bottom
small jingle bells
white paper for poem
red or green paper for backing
Candy of choice (individually foil wrapped) At least 24 pieces

You have to cut down the poem after printing and then attach it to either red or green paper before it is used on the candy ribbon.


To start, measure out your 1inch ribbon, for larger candy like Nestles Crunch Bells you need to cut a piece of ribbon 41 inches long. For candy like Hershey Kisses cut the ribbon 37 1/2 inches long. The 1/4 inch ribbon is to make the tie at the top and bow at the bottom, both need to be cut 4 inches long. You will need 3 small sized bells, needle and thread, and a hot glue gun. Before you start make a bow out of one of the 1/4 inch ribbons that you have cut.

After you have your ribbon cut, for the top you fold it over 1/4 of an inch, and again about 3/4 of an inch to make the loop to attach the remaining 1/4 ribbon to hang it. You stitch this across the back by hand.

At the bottom you make a double 1/4 inch fold, stitch it across, then keep the thread and needle intact.
Put the needle up through the center of the ribbon from back to front. Then take the bow you have made and put the needle through it, bringing the bow down next to the ribbon stitch through once (making sure you end up with the needle back out at the front of the candy ribbon again). Then take one of the bells, put the needle through the top of the bell and attach it to the bow, repeat with each bell.

Next you would take the poem, center it and hot glue it to the top of the candy ribbon. After I do this, I count out the 24 pieces of candy and place them on the ribbon so I can space them out evenly. Then I go back and glue them on one by one with the hot glue gun. After this put the other 4 inch piece of 1/4 ribbon through the loop you made at the top and knot it and your all done.

I hope these are easy to understand :) enjoy