Featured Blog Posts (54)

Does anyone know where to buy "Broccolini" here? I had it for the first time at the Citrus Club in Orlando along with a fabulous filet mignon. I have been dying to have it again but I am having a little trouble finding it here in Ocala. For those who may not know what Broccolini is: here is how Wikipedia explains it :)

"Broccolini is a green vegetable similar to…

NOVI, Mich., Dec. 28, 2012 – Thinking about how to make the most of 2013?  Learning Care Group offers these recommendations that will make a lasting difference for the whole family:          

1. I will prioritize family time.  Balancing…

Though most kids won't start classes for another week or so, August seems to trigger the psychological end of summer. The focus shifts from lazy days in the sun to preparing for the upcoming semester, which also includes loading up on necessary supplies.

According to the National Retail Federation, the average family of K-12 students will…

As children blossom into young men and women, most insist on planning and running their own lives. Parents worry about all the basic essentials for their kids’ independent living, like housing, eating properly, staying warm, being careful at night and more. But most parents forget to teach their youngsters one of the most important lessons of all – financial responsibility. The resulting turmoil can spell disaster for a child’s future.

Consider this: The average young…

Marion County Public Schools once again offers its unconditional summer meal program to local students.  The Summer Food Service Program provides nutritionally-balanced meals without charge to any student who wants to eat. This year, from June 11 – August 2, the following 22 central kitchens are providing meals on various schedules to 16 satellite locations throughout Marion County:

·       Belleview Elementary

·       Belleview High

·       Blessed…

The countdown has begun and parents all over the United States are tackling the age old question: How on earth do I keep my kids busy during the summer without breaking the bank? Vacations and overnight summer camps can be expensive...believe me, I've checked! Here's my list of cheap and money-saving activities for kids this summer.

1. Free Bowling

Yes, that's right FREE bowling through the summer, two games per child per day. That's over…

This week we went to the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo in Gainesville at the Sante Fe College. We went with our homeschool group this week and there were lots of other schools there as well. I honestly was afraid it would be very crowded. I was pleasantly surprised that even though there were several other field trips in there it was nice and spacious. It was also a nice experience because unlike larger zoos you were up closer to some of the animals. The price was very reasonable. It costs $5 for…

There is a free service offered by the Early Learning Coalition, Child Care Resource and Referral, that can assist you in finding quality child care that will meet your family needs.  You may contact us at 352-369-2315 to complete an interview.  The interview can take up to 30 minutes to obtain all of the information needed to help you locate child care.  Once the information is obtained, Resource and Referral will be able to generate referrals for you to local child care providers that meet…

Applications of interest are now being accepted for the Pre-K/VPK (voluntary pre-kindergarten) program operated by the Title One Office of Marion County Public Schools. This full-day program takes place during the normal 2012-2013 school year and is not related to Summertime VPK programs.

Applications are available at participating school sites, the Title One Office (306 NW 7th Ave. in Ocala) and online at …

The first thing you'll do upon entering Legoland Florida is walk up to the nearest oversized Lego model and touch it: Is it really made out of those little plastic bricks that are as much a part of American childhood as skinned knees and ice cream cones?

The answer is yes. And thankfully, they're all glued together to withstand abuse from the rambunctious kids and curious parents who will be visiting Florida's newest theme park, opening Oct. 15. Situated in little Winter Haven, 45…

My little guy is so in to dinosaurs right now. We are actually starting a dinosaur study in our homeschool this week. I thought that a trip down to Dinosaur world in Plant City would be perfect to start with. We had a blast. Other than it being very muggy that day he had a wonderful time seeing all the dinosaurs.The cost is not as much as a lot of other amusement parks. It cost us a little under $40 to get in for the three of us. That is all day admission to come and go as you please. If you…

Going back to school can be scary for anyone (just ask your kids), yet by earning an education, you'll be able to better provide for your family and create a more fulfilling life for yourself.

Of course, it's easy to see why embarking on such a decision may be overwhelming at first. Here are some tips to making sure the transition goes as smooth as possible.

1. Set Achievable Goals

Whatever you decide to study, whether it's an…

Today was the last day of pre k for my little guy. He didn't even want to go to school. ;) I thought I was so excited. No more driving that drive every day twice a day within three hours of each other. No more having to get up early in the a.m. if we didn't want to. We can now go and do as we please. I was thinking I was ready.

But as I waited in car line today for the last time I realized this was such a bitter sweet moment. It started to sink in that this was it. He was…

When summer begins, children jump for joy and parents cringe with the thought of entertaining their children for the long summer months. Summer has been long thought of as vacation time, but for parents of young children, without school, preschool and activities, summer can seem like a chore instead of relaxation time. We know from early childhood expert and theorist, Erik Erikson that primary aged children are balancing between two developmental dilemmas: a sense of industry versus a send…

For many, Memorial Day's unofficial start of summer means grilling, pool parties and kids wildly happy to be at the end of another school year. For John Drengenberg, a safety expert and dad in suburban Chicago, it's a dangerous time for the law of unintended consequences, especially in the backyard.

The electrical engineer by training is the consumer safety director for Underwriters Laboratories, the independent, nonprofit product safety testing and certification organization. He's…

Like thousands of college students this time of year, Northwestern University freshman Jim Sannes can't wait to spend time at home this summer.

Sannes, 19, is looking forward to relaxing and "just being around the surroundings I grew up with, the same house I grew up with. It will be a nice feeling." He grew up in Kasson, Minn., 350 miles from Northwestern's campus in Evanston, Ill.

But after nine months away, campus and the place where college students grew up may seem worlds…