Vote to Give Back!

As many of you have heard, Family Time Magazine is giving back for the month of August!  Vote on which organization we should give back to.  For every Twitter follower we receive, we will give $1 to the winning organization.  Help us give back and spread the word!  Vote in the comment box and don't forget to follow us on Twitter to give back!  @familytimezine

Britany Banasiak:
March of dimes and and cancer reserch program would be good in my book!

Kristin Bardwell:
Maybe set up a fund for families in the colorado shootings. Or maybe donate to some mental health organization in honor of the victims.

Nakeisha BlackReign Young:
PADS22

Jessica Ramos:
Together We Cope or St. Vincent De Paul Society:-) But I do like the idea that Kristin about the funds going to families of the shootings.

Kiley O'Connell:
Any organization that supports and helps the troop overseas.

Marcella Martinez:
Feed My Starving Children

Margarita Anna Levasseur:
Families of SMA

Sammie Valadez:
Unity Community Center in Joliet

Shasta Lockwood:
Scleroderma Foundation. My mother has it and as of now there is no cure.

Debbie Ortiz:
Girl Scouts

Debbie Ortiz:
St. Vincent Depaul

Jennifer Terry
American Heart Association

Sammie Valadez
Helping Paws

Jamie
March of Dimes!!!

Help Family Time Magazine Give Back!

With your help there is hope!

Family Time Magazine is giving back!  From now through the end of August, we want to give back to an organization of your choice.  Please post your canidates in the comment box on this post for your organization to be in the running!  The deadline is Friday by 2:00 p.m. We will then have the readers(that means YOU!) vote from the list on our blog.  Starting next week, we will choose the winning organization and start giving!  For every Twitter follower we receive, we will give $1 to the winning organization. You also will be entered to win Raging Waves tickets when you follow.  Spread the word and help us give back! Follow @familytimezine to help give back!

Let us know that you shared this message and you will also be entered in a secret giveaway at the end of August!

HUGE Twitter Giveaway

Don't miss your chance to win Raging Waves tickets! Follow @familytimezine for your chance to win!

Fifth(and last) Challenge for Cirque Shanghai Tickets

The day has finally come!  We are choosing our winner for the 4-pack of Cirque Shanghai tickets by 2:00 p.m.!  Make sure you have completed all the tasks by 2:00 p.m. today for your chance to win!  Good luck and thanks again for your support!

1. Congratulate yourself on making it this far!

2. If you could be any superhero with any superhero power, what would your name be and what would your superpower be?  Post your answers on this blog post.

3. Have fun!



Fourth Challenge for Cirque Shanghai Tickets

We are making it through the homestretch! You guys can do this, believe me you have earned some pats on the back from us at Family Time Magazine! Tomorrow we will reveal our winner for 4 passes to see Cirque Shanghai at Navy Pier! Here is your fourth challenge!

1. Watch this sneak peak of Cirque Shanghai.

2. "Like" our Fourth Day Challenge on Facebook and post your favorite Family Time Magazine article from this year and why (also on our Facebook post).  There are listings of features on our website under the Articles tab if you can't remember names. http://www.familytimemagazine.com/

3. Have fun!

Third Challenge for Cirque Shanghai Tickets

Good morning everyone!  Thank you for participating in this week's challenges, and I can't wait to give away these tickets on Friday.  It's going to be a tough decision!  Here is your third challenge!

1. Pat yourself on the back for making it this far, or do a little dance.
2. Post on this blog post: Your favorite band of all time and why.
3. Have fun!

Second Challenge for Cirque Shanghai Tickets

Here is your second challenge for your chance to win Cirque Shanghai tickets at the end of the week!  Once again, you must complete ALL challenges to be entered to win!  If you missed a day, you may go back and submit late entries.

1. Follow us on Twitter @familytimezine

2. Include us in a creative Tweet if your own -- Don't forget to put @familytimezine after your Tweet so we can see it!

3. Post a comment on this blog about why you want to see the Cirque Shanghai performance.

4. HAVE FUN!

First Challenge for Cirque Shanghai Tickets

As most of you already know, we are giving away tickets to see Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon!  For your chance to win these tickets, you must complete all five challenges this week (one per day)!  Here is your first challenge:

1. Visit our Facebook page and "Like Us."
2. Click on our "Join our list" Box at the top of our page and enter your email address for our random drawing at the end of the week and to receive our weekly newsletter filled with goodies.
3. Post a comment on this blog post about your most embarassing moment...or your child's most embarrassing moment.
4. Have fun!

Check Out Bristol Renaissance Faire This Weekend

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, Wis., is ready to party like it's 1599.  According to Bristol's staff, this year is "Bigger, bolder and more boisterous than ever."

Ths year's faire site is a whopping 30 acres and offers 16 different stages for entertainment, a kids-only area (Kids Kingdom), and includes over 1,200 performers and artisans. The queen herself is there to visit with attendees as she guides you through a back-in-time journey to a warm, summer day in Elizabethan England.  Faire visitors will experience 16th century entertainment shows for children and adults, games, arts, crafts and endless choices of food.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Faire is bringing new acts into the mix, including the Seelie Players’ “Sirena: From Down Below We Sing,” an all-woman trio who sing like sirens (July 7-Aug. 19); Klaxton, a pipe and drum band (July 21-22) and circa Paleo, traditional folk music from around the world (July 14-15, 21-22).  Returning headliners include “Dirk & Guido: The Swordsmen,” MooNie the Magnif’Cent and aerial artist Lauryn Murray (July 7-Aug. 19).  Chicagian David Woolley and partner Doug Mumaw have been performing at the Faire for 22 years and are back again to entertain with their professional fighting skills.

Also back again this year, is an all-time favorite live action, fantasy-play game, RenQuest. RenQuest offers a new storyline while creating an interactive theatrical experience that challenges players to test their mental and physical skills. 

Other festival highlights:

Jousting tournaments

Mud beggars

A marketplace

Games and rides

Kids Quest

*Located on 30 wooded acres, just west of I-94’s Russell Road exit, near Kenosha, Wis.

*Open rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday, July 7 through September 2, and on Labor Day Monday, September 3.

*Tickets are $19.95 for adults and $9.50 for children.

*Advance ticket discounts are available at www.renfair.com or (847) 395-7773.

Win Twinkle Toes on DVD!

It's that time again! We are giving away another great DVD!!  In order to win one out of a secret number of DVDs, follow us on Twitter @familytimezine and tweet us your child's favorite pair of shoes and why! You will then also be entered for your chance to win Raging Waves passes for your family!!

Twinkle Toes: The Movie is an upbeat, fun-filled adventure that will make your family get on their feet and dance! Grace “Twinkle Toes” Hastings has a big secret...she has horrible stage fright!  Infront of anyone that isn't her fluffy friend Walter that is. As Twinkle Toes works toward overcoming her fear of stage fright, she makes some awesome friends at school who help her realize it's ok to be yourself!

For more information, please visit www.twinkletoesusa.com

Adopt a US Soldier

Choosing your Soldier

Thousands of men and women are enrolling themselves into the military, some without a choice, without contact with the outside world and without the support of a family. Adopt A US Soldier is a non-profit organization that helps connect soldiers with people who will show them support, love and kindness while they are in the service.  This program is active in over 100 countries and is ran solely by volunteers.

Without the support of someone to lean on, many soldiers suffer from depression, thoughts of near death, fear, loneliness and uncertainty. This is the reality for many US soliders who don't have family to return home to, don't receive "I miss you" letters from friends and don't have a welcoming home party to come home to.  A simple letter, gift, or photo can make a soldier's day from a million miles away.  Building a friendship for life can start with one simple step; a letter.

It's important to remember that you soldier may take time to warm up to you and you may not hear back from your soldier right away, or at all.  The mission is to send soldiers supplies and support they need, not to just gain a pen-pal.  The reality is, these soldiers need to be taken care of and the Adopt A US Soldier program provides an option called Project Frontline. Project Frontline gives you an opportunity to send a one-time note or care package to a soldier. You can send as many times as you want, but this is a great way to get started. You can also adopt more than one soldier.

Being a Soldier

If you are a US Soldier, here is your chance to get adopted. Go onto http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/ and fill out a soldier form to get your adoption started with a supporter. You can be paired with someone who understands you by including your favorite hobbies and interests. You also can include a list of items you may need or want such as a favorite snack, board game, clothing or book.

This is a great way to connect with someone from the outside world and to have your own personal support system.  It isn't required that you give thanks or write back, but it's greatly appreciated to connect with the person who is showing support.  This is a support system for you and you can use it however you would like.

Adopt A US Soldier, "Your Support Makes A Difference" at http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/