Holiday Decorating Chat - Dec. 2nd

Join LancMoms.com on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd at 2:00PM for a very seasonal Live Chat - decorating for the holidays on a budget. Designers Annette Kennedy-Bowman and Lee Ann McCall of Kennedy-Bowman & McCall Interior Design will introduce creative, cost-effective ideas for decorating this holiday season, as well as answer your design dilemna questions.

Simply log on to LancMoms.com at 2PM on the 2nd and the chat will take place on the site's Home Page.

LancMoms.com Recipe Finder

Are you tired of your same old boring dinners?  Would you like to try something new?  Check out LancMoms.com new recipe finder, where you can search for all types of recipes.  From appetizers to desserts and comfort food to healthy choices, you can find it all right here.  So the next time you’re looking to dress up your chicken, check us out!  (See "Recipes" at the top of the page)

Holiday Cookie Contest

Get in the holiday spirit and compete for fabulous prizes in the Lancaster New Era's seventh-annual Holiday Cookie Contest! Just send your favorite recipe in three categories: Family Recipe, Incredibly Easy and Ultimate Chocolate. Kids ages 8 to 17 can compete in the Kids' Creations category.

Entry fee is $5 per category; $12 for all three categories. (The kids' category is free.) All proceeds go to the Children's Miracle Network, and you'll get a free cookie cookbook just for entering.

For full details, and to enter, go to http://www.lancasteronline.com and type in the keyword "Cookie Contest." Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21.

Good Luck!

Holiday Gift Guide

Are you looking for the perfect gift this holiday season?  Look no further than LancMoms.com to find ideas for everyone on your list, and maybe even something for yourself.  Simply click on the Holiday Gift Guide Icon, located on the right side and the top of the Home Page, and browse through the list of gifts. Your ideas can then be neatly compiled on a printable list by adding each gift to your "cart." Merry shopping!

Become a Card-Carrying Member

If you carry a "LancMoms Card," you have access to great discounts on products and services throughout the Lancaster area. It's simple and free. Just present your card to participating businesses; a list can be found by clicking on the "LancMoms Card" link at the top of the Web site. You can also receive your official card on the "LancMoms Card" page by clicking on "Get your LancMoms Card" link. Membership has its privileges!

Mom of the Month

Do you know a great mom? Then why not nominate her for LancMoms's <!-- m -->Mom of the Month. The chosen Mom of the Month will be featured on the website and also win these cool prizes:

- $100.00 gift certificate from Just for Kids Furniture
- $50.00 gift certificate from Parkhill Jewelers
- $50.00 bouquet from Neffsville Flower Shop that will be send to the Mom’s house
- A gift certificate from Domino's Pizza

To nominate a great mom, just fill out the form located under the "Nominate a Mom of the Month" tab located in the upper right hand corner of the website. Also please be sure to let the mom know she is being nominated.

We know there are great moms out there...let's hear about them!

LancMoms.com 101

Forums

(Forums is the place on LancMoms.com where members can share information, introduce themselves and ask questions. You can submit or "post" messages within this space, as well as review replies.)

To post within the forums:

• Make sure you are logged-in
• Click on the “Forums” tab at top of page
• Locate forum category that best describes your topic and click on it
• Click “New Topic”
• Title and write your post
• Click “Submit”

To answer a post:

• Make sure you are logged-in
• Click on title of post
• Write a reply
• Click on “Submit”

Calendar

(The Calendar feature contains events that may be of interest to moms and their children. Before adding an event, please double check that it does not already exist by clicking on the date in question.)

To add an event to the calendar:

• Make sure you are logged-in
• Click on “Create Content” on the right hand side of site under your user name
• Click on “Add Event to Calendar”
• Write a title and description of event
• Enter date and time of event (be sure you enter military time)
• Click on “Save”

Private Messages

(The Private Messages function allows members to privately communicate with other members through the site's email system. Your identity and email address remain unidentifiable, unless you choose to share it with others.)

To write a Private Message to another member:

• Make sure you are logged-in
• Click on “Forums” tab at top of page
• Click on “User Control Panel”
• Then click on “Private Message” tab
• Click on “Find a Member”
• Select member(s) you want to send a message by clicking on the box next to their names
• Click on “Select Marked” at bottom of page
• Click on “Add” button
• Write title in Subject line
• Write your message to user
• Click on “Submit”

To see messages:

• Make sure you are logged-in
• Click on “Forums” tab at top of page
• Click on “User Control Panel”
• Then click on “Private Message” tab
• Click on “Inbox”
• Then click on your message

Photo Album

To add photos to your album:

• Make sure you are logged-in
• Click on "My Account" at the top of the page
• Then under "Gallery 2" click on "album: your username"
• It should tell you that your album is empty. So click on "Add a Photo"
• Under "File" you can browse your computer for a photo
• Then add a caption if you like
• Finally click on "Add Items"

Blogs

A blog is like an online diary or journal. People blog about particular subjects or sometimes keep an ongoing blog about whatever is happening in their lives. A blog is not a place to ask questions or create a dialogue with other members. Please keep in mind that your blog will be available to all members for viewing. Some interesting parenting blogs include: www.alittlepregnant.com

To start a blog:

• Make sure you are logged-in
• Click on “Create Content” on the right hand side of site under your user name
• Click on “Blog Entry”
• Title your Blog
• Write the text to your Blog
• Enter your Blog by clicking on the “Save” Button