The 2012 Ultimate Blog Party at 5 Minutes for Mom is well underway. In fact, it ends TONIGHT! This year they boast a whopping $21,200+ in prizes to be awarded!

The #UBP12 is a HUGE giveaway event that happens once a year. I know I’m a little late to the party, but there’s still plenty of time to jump in and enter!

You’ll want to hurry to 5minutesformom.com to enter! You can click the link or image to be taken directly to the starting point.

Be sure to come back and tell us what you win!

Good luck!

Now that spring is in full force it is time to switch wardrobes once again to get into the spring fever! And remember that fashion is not just something for people – dogs also can sport the trendy look with a number of fashion items. Spring is a transition season that can be a mixture of cold and warm temperatures, not to mention a few sprint showers and storms! Spring provides versatile temperatures and seasons to dress yourself and your pooch to the nines as you show off your funky and trendy personality! Take a look at some of our favorite spring fashion trends for your furry, four-legged friends!

HATS

Hats for your dog are a great way to accent any outfit for your pooch, while showing style and sass!  In addition, hats can also protect your dog’s eyes from the harsh UV rays of the sun.

For Her: Show off your dog’s femininity with a stylish, fufu hat. This hat screams old Hollywood with a trendy flare of today. Any sassy female dog will feel ultra special donning this unique, girly hat.

COST: $50  Available at: Posh Puppy Boutique

COLLARS

If you find that your dog does not want to put up with being dressed in clothes and hats you still have an option to help your pup be fashionable. Collars are a great way to show some style without the hassle of getting your dog dressed in clothing and accessories and there is a vast variety of this doggy must-have.  Collars can be girly, funky, retro, Goth and even hardcore! These are some of our favorite collars!

For Her: Polka dots and geometric prints are the hit fashion this spring, so allow your precious four-legged princess to strut her stuff in this amazing polka dot collar. She will be the center of attention when you take her out to the dog park.

COST: $29  Available at: Doggie Couture’s Shop

For Him: Nothing is trendier than going green – and what a better way to do that than by sporting this durable, eco-friendly dog collar, complete with reflective strips. Perfect for late night walks and it will look amazing during the day as well.

COST: $25 Available at: Doggie Couture’s Shop

RAIN BOOTS

April’s showers do bring in May’s flowers, and a lot of fun for your dog to play in puddles! Give your dog the extra protection with these adorable rain booties! Perfect to protect your dog’s precious paws from the cooler temperatures and rain, plus it will keep his, or her, feet dry and clean – a plus for once it is time to come back inside of the house!

For Her: Protect her delicate paws with these fashionable rain booties – your dog will feel special and comfort with every step she takes.

COST: $31.99  Available at: All Dog Boots

For Him: Give your pooch the joy of splashing through puddles and keep his feet clean and dry with these all-weather boots. They are soft and durable to help protect his paws and your carpet through anything Mother Nature brings your way.

COST: $27.99  Available at: All Dog Boots

JACKETS

Just because the temperature is cooler does not mean you have to stay cooped up inside. Give your dog the warm and insulation of these gorgeous jackets and hit the road! There is nothing like fresh air, but just as you would protect yourself from the climate temperatures now you can do the same for your favorite four-legged friend!

For Her: Embrace everything that is spring – flowers galore and pretty pastels. Your dog will look as beautiful as the season while she receives extra warmth to protect her from any uncomfortable weather changes.

COST: $14  Available at: Etsy.com

For Him: Give your dog the protection of a windbreaker with this sleek, soft shell jacket. Perfect for added insulation against cooler temperatures and the wind.

COST: $79.95  Available at: Altrec.com

Susan Wright is a veterinarian with over 10 years experience and an expert on dog bark collars. Susan authors articles on the proper care of dogs and tips to make life with the furry pets much easier.

Summer time is fast upon us, and that means it is time to make summer plans! Country music fans will be pleased to know that summer 2012 has some big-time offerings when it comes to catching shows by their favorite country music artists. Want to know what’s on the roster? Here are country music’s hottest summer 2012 tours:

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw. Two country powerhouses join forces for this summer’s Brothers of the Sun Tour. The tour will hit the ground running in Tampa Bay on June 2, and will continue through major stadiums throughout the country, and will feature opening acts by Jake Owen as well as Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Taylor Swift. This country/pop crossover star’s Speak Now world tour is perfect for those who are slightly on the fence about country. That’s because not only is Swift a country music phenom, but she’s also a mainstream chart-topper. What’s more is that her shows are sure to be appropriate for fans of all ages.

Lady Antebellum. This is another crossover group that is sure to please a variety of fans with their Own the Night World Tour. Darius Rucker and Thompson Square will be joining them to create an unforgettable concert experience.

Brad Paisley. Named for its large-scale modern visuals, Paisley’s Virtual Reality Tour is sure to be a crowd pleasure. This tour is already in full swing, and getting rave reviews. It also doesn’t hurt that The Band Perry and Scotty McCreery are the show’s opening acts.

Country Throwdown 2012. If it’s variety that you want, then you can’t go wrong by booking tickets to the latest show in a tradition of rowdy country concerts. The summer 2012 lineup includes Rodney Atkins, Gary Allan, Justin Moore, Eric Paslay, Josh Thompson, and Sunny Sweeney. The tour kicks off in May, and tickets are cheap, so get yours now.

Blake Shelton. Experience CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year up close and personal (or from afar) by scoring a ticket to see a show in his upcoming Well Lit & Amplified Tour. Shelton’s Superbowl XLVI performance with his wife Miranda Lambert made him an even hotter commodity than ever, and his show will certainly not disappoint.

Miranda Lambert. This Grammy winning artist has decided to take her show on the road with the On Fire Tour. You can be guaranteed to find a show in a major city near you, as Lambert will be performing from coast to coast and North to South, all over America.

As you can see, this summer is full of country music goodness. Plan carefully and prepare yourself for a summer you won’t soon forget.

About the Author: Burl Freuden loves country music and will be following at least 2 of these tours this summer. When he’s not looking for tour updates and current events pertaining to his favorite artists, you are likely to find him searching for a free ringtone or two for his phone.

Any first-time parent who has ever taken the time to read the entirety of What to Expect When You’re Expecting understands that creeping feeling of “am I really up for this?!” It seems that the list of must-do’s, should-do’s, and cannot-do’s is never-ending, and with all of that information swimming around in our heads, it can be nearly impossible to sort through it all and identify the plain truth of what’s REALLY important. Even more unsettling is the fact that some baby care tips can cost a lot of money . . . and, dare we say it, they don’t even seem necessary. So, how can you do what’s best for your baby while snubbing all of the unwarranted baby care hype? Save yourself some money by debunking these baby care myths:

Fancy movement toys. This is in reference to all those expensive walkers, bouncers, and other learn-to-walk toys on the market. These days, clever marketing gurus do a great job of convincing us that our babies are somehow not going to learn how to walk (or reach other milestones) as efficiently as they could without “proper stimulation” from toys like this. That’s poppycock. Babies have been learning to do things on their own since the dawn of humankind, and they will continue to do so without those artificial means. What’s more is that studies show using these aids can actually stunt a baby’s natural learning process.

Brain stimulation. Similar to the movement aids, brain stimulation toys are very expensive, and are touted to give your baby a one-up when it comes to developing intelligence. Babies need adequate mental stimulation, of course, but you don’t have to rush out and buy a fancy toy to do that. Just make sure your baby have plenty of sensory experiences to learn from.

Name brand products. Many new parents make the mistake of thinking that expensive name brands are automatically higher quality (and therefore necessary). Before you fork out the big bucks for name brand, read the labels and compare the expensive brands to the store brands. You might be amazed to find that store brands often have the exact same ingredients, at a fraction of the cost.

Medicine. This is another case of name brand confusion. Generic over-the-counter medications are the same as their name brand equivalents. Save your money.

Having a baby is expensive as it is. Ease the financial burden while staying true to your desire to be the best parent you can by debunking these costly baby care myths.

About the Author: Nana Sigmund is the mother of twins and would have gone broke had she invested in all of the “necessities” that really weren’t. When she’s not taking care of her growing boys, she can be found sipping the oolong tea she loves from www.goldenmoontea.com while trying to read a few pages of her favorite books.

The Paralympic Games are an inspiring and exciting series of events, featuring elite athletes with disabilities from all over the world. The fourteenth round of Paralympic Games, scheduled to take place between August 29 and September 9 of 2012, will be held in London, England. If you plan on attending the 2012 Paralympic Games, then there is no better time to start preparing for this awesome experience than now. Here is a visitor’s guide to the 2012 Paralympic Games:

The categories. This summer’s line-up includes twenty different sport competitions. These include parlympic cycling (road and track are two separate events), horseback riding, football, judo, power lifting, athletics, boccia ball, rowing, goal ball, archery, shooting, sailing, tennis, swimming, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, rugby, swimming, and fencing. Be sure to check the sport competition schedules before the event so that you can plan your itinerary and catch all of your favorite sports.

Venues. London’s Paralympic Games will take place at a number of venues in the Olympic Park area, as well as in some venues across the other side of London, and some outside of London altogether. These locales include Copper Box, Eton Manor, the Water Pole Arena, the BMX Track, the Velodrome, the Basketball Arena, the Aquatics Center, the Riverbank Arena, and the Olympic Stadium, among a long list of others. Again, because these locations are spread out, careful planning comes into play if you want to catch all your favorite games.

Transportation. With all the ground to cover, it is important that you know how to get from point A to point B. As part of the paralympic bid, London’s transportation department, Transport for London, has planned to provide access to the games by way of over ten different railway lines, which will carry roughly 240,000 people per hour. Preparation involves expanding on already existing lines, and may even require the construction of a new cable car system that extends across the River Thames.

Where to find more information. The best place to find everything you need in order to plan your trip is the London Paralympic Games website, London2012.com. There you will find interactive maps, a detailed list of venues and locations, the event schedule, and even virtual tours.

As you can see, there is a whole lot to consider when planning your visit to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London – namely, which games to see and how to get to them. Don’t fret. Through ample research and careful planning, you can make the most out of what is sure to be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

About the Author: Cory Selle is a huge sports enthusiast and enjoys watching the Paralympic games as much as the Olympics. When he’s not tracking his favorite sports he can be found writing about general health, disabilities, yeast infection and candida issues, and health insurance.