Back for 2008 is our all new Halloween Costume Coupons and Deals section with special offers and deals from over ten Halloween Merchants including Costume Express, Buy Costumes, BabyCenter Store, Halloween Express, Anytime Costumes, Costume SuperCenter and more. We have many exclusive deals for you including free shipping offers and the ability to search for the best kids costumes, toddler costumes and other Halloween party supplies and favors for the whole family.

See The 2008 Halloween Costume Coupons and Deals

On, September 27, I will bike 50 miles to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay (BBBSMB) in my eighth Rodman Ride for Kids.

This will be my ninth year as a “Big”—and my most challenging so far. My “little brother” Dion has faced numerous issues stemming from his refusal to identify participants in a crime he witnessed out of fear of retaliation. As a result, the victim then implicated him in the crime, and without a strong advocate, he began to fall through the cracks of the juvenile justice system. At one point, he was actually minutes away from being incarcerated until he turned 18. During this difficult period, Big Brothers Big Sisters was invaluable to Dion, his mother and myself as we worked to ensure his safety and well-being. I am happy to report that Dion is now on a path to stability.

Like Dion, most of the kids in the BBBMB program do not start life on an even playing field or have access to the resources that we often take for granted. They need our help.

Over the past seven years, I have raised more $50,000 through the Rodman Ride for Kids, 100% of which has gone to match kids with mentors and support their relationships. Currently, 2,500 active one-to-one relationships are managed by the organization—and another 500+ littles are on the waiting list. Sponsors cover the overhead for the bike ride so that 100% of your donations go directly to BBBSMB.

If you are interested in supporting me please (before this e-mail get buried) please take a few seconds to click through to make an electronic donation. All contributions are 100% tax deductible and any amount you can give is appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Online Donation Form at Kintera

When the folks at Polliwalks sent me some samples of their latest kids shoes, I at first was not sure how they were different from Crocs, but I quickly noticed that all of their shoes come with the front in the shape of a duck, alligator, frog, or lady bug. These plastic clogs are great; my kids were pretty excited that their shoe had an animal “face” and to discover that their new shoes incorporated animal tracks into the treads. They has a lot of fun at the beach trekking around in the sand just so they could make their own prints! Developed by a couple living in Newburyport, the small 5 person team has managed to create a product that’s fun and unique. Poliwalks are great for the summer as they’re waterproof, clean easily in the washing machine, and the soft foam allows for an easy slip on or off. I also like Polliwalks environmental focus, in the production of the shoe, no material is wasted and excess plastics are used in other parts of the shoe. I would definitely recommend Polliwalks to any parent with kids up to 12, they make a fun, practical gift.

I love to ski, but my feet are always cold due to poor circulation. For years, I used to buy boots that were too big to give me the wiggle room that I needed, but this really took away from performance. Also, the disposable heaters really get in your way. However, along with warmer boot liners, the latest Hotronic M3/M4 Ski Boot Warmers made a huge difference for me and have brought the fun back to skiing. Hotronic’s have a heating pad that goes under your foot bed in your ski boot which is then connected to rechargeable battery pack. The system keeps your feet warm for hours. I am currently testing out the redesigned Hotronic Power Plus M3’s which work very well and don’t have the same memory problems that plagues older Hotronic models.

Read the full Hotronic M3/M4 Review at Bobby’s Best.

Reduce Your Junk Mail in Time for the Holidays

If you are frustrated by all the junk mail that you receive and just throw away, here is a two step remedy which will help reduce your unwanted mail and spare a few trees. The two biggest sources of junk mail are from catalogs and credit card pre-approvals.


Credit Card Opt-Out   www.optoutprescreen.com
Run by the credit card industry, this service will reduce the pre-approvals you receive by about 80% after a few months. It’s mandatory for the large issuers to purchase this list.

DMA’s Mail Preference Service   www.dmachoice.org/MPS
All large catalog mailers must update their records against this opt-out list every few months and add you to their do not mail list if your name is included. Remember to do this for each person living at your address. Registration lasts five years.

You can see more tips like this at the Bobby’s Best Tips and Tricks Page