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April 30, 2008
The Banjo Man at Tree Top Kids stores
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One of our favorite local children's entertainers, The Banjo Man, will be making the rounds doing FREE musical performances at DC-area Tree Top Kids locations throughout the month of May. Here's the lineup:
Saturday, May 3: 11 a.m. at Cabin John Mall in Potomac
Saturday, May 3: 1 p.m. at Wildwood Shopping Center in Bethesda
Saturday, May 10: 11 a.m. at Bee Bop/Park Plaza in Severna Park
Saturday, May 10: 1 p.m. at Bee Bop on Forest Dr. in Annapolis
Saturday, May 31: Time TBA, at Fairfax Corner Center in Fairfax
Frank Cassel, aka The Banjo Man, is recommended in both editions of my book as a fun performer for kids' parties and special events. He also regularly brings his bluegrass-influenced children's music to the Takoma Park Farmer's Market, the Silver Diner in Rockville (Tuesday kids' nights), and Jammin' Java in Vienna. Check him out!
Posted by Sarah at 12:52 PM. Permanent link to "The Banjo Man at Tree Top Kids stores."
April 29, 2008
May 10: Mom's Day Out in Arlington
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The fabulous Jennifer Moore is offering her annual Mom's Day Out workshop for mothers on Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in Arlington.
I was able to attend last year, and I highly recommend it for two hours of uninterrupted self-care and replenishment! The workshop uses basic yoga postures (no experience necessary), breathing techniques, meditation and relaxation, reflexology, and massage. Cost is just $35 for pre-registrants. Just bring a yoga mat or a towel, a blanket, and two pillows. No cell phones, and no children!
Pre-registration is required, no later than Tuesday, May 6: 703.671.2435. Location is Bethel UCC (4347 Arlington Blvd.).
Posted by Sarah at 11:34 AM. Permanent link to "May 10: Mom's Day Out in Arlington."
April 28, 2008
Parenting workshops on the Hill: "Understanding, Preventing, & Addressing Challenging Behavior"
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Not too late to participate! Therapist Amy Hunter, LICSW, is facilitating a parenting workshop beginning TONIGHT and running for five consecutive Monday evenings, 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Capitol Hill. Perfect for those of you who live and/or work in the District.
The workshop series, "Understanding, Preventing, & Addressing Your Child's Challenging Behavior," will help participants learn some new strategies and share your experiences, with an emphasis on helping your child(ren) to manage emotions, enhancing your positive relationships, and developing an individualized plan. To learn more about Amy and download a flier on this series, click here.
The series is held at Healing Arts of Capitol Hill (320 G St. NE). For more info or to register, contact Amy Hunter at 202.544.9389 (voice mail), 617.571.6390 (cell), or via email at amynhunter-at-comcast-dot-net.
Posted by Sarah at 12:22 PM. Permanent link to "Parenting workshops on the Hill: "Understanding, Preventing, & Addressing Challenging Behavior"."
April 23, 2008
Contributors sought for "bump to baby" book
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Here's a chance to share your mothering experience and see your name in print: Teia Collier of Capitol Moms and DC therapist Julie Belgard are co-editing a book of baby stories, and are collecting tales from around the nation.
Teia tells me, "Every mom has a baby story--from finding out they are pregnant to the actual birth and beyond. These are wonderful, bonding stories, both funny and dramatic, and we realized that there are very few formats in which to share them. We are working on editing a book of bump to baby stories - particularly how you found out you were pregnant, how you told your partner/family/friends/boss....and then what came next."
The editors would love to share your story alongside their own. Email your submission to: bumpstories-at-gmail-dot-com.
Posted by Sarah at 11:21 AM. Permanent link to "Contributors sought for "bump to baby" book."
April 22, 2008
Shopping discount to benefit Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies
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Mother's Day is around the corner, and personalized stationary makes a great gift. This year you can support the good work of the national nonprofit organization Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMHB) by ordering from Amy Adele online.
You'll get a 10 percent discount, while a portion of your purchase goes to support the programs of HMHB. Just be sure to enter this code at checkout: nhmhbc.
Happy shopping!
Posted by Sarah at 10:34 AM. Permanent link to "Shopping discount to benefit Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies."
April 21, 2008
New meal delivery service on the local scene
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There's a new locally-owned, woman-owned meal delivery service on the scene that would be perfect for a baby shower gift certificate or a way to outsource some of what makes your own family's evenings so hectic.
DC-based Urban Tastes offers simple ordering through an online store, serving most of the Washington metro area. Each week, a rotation of five meals is offered to customers, along with three sides and a dessert. Meals are delivered once or twice a week, depending on your needs. And they say they are committed to using as many regional, organic products as possible. (I love that they offer vegetarian versions of their entrees, as well as suggested wine pairings from the Greater Washington Wine School.)
A welcome addition to local options for busy parents! For more info, visit their website or contact Megan Adams: 202.277.7251.
Posted by Sarah at 11:47 AM. Permanent link to "New meal delivery service on the local scene."
April 18, 2008
Weekend Watch: Saturday storytimes at Brookside Gardens
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It's a beautiful time of year make a day trip to Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland - especially since their Saturday morning storytimes are back this spring.
Geared toward ages three to six years, the FREE 30-minute Saturday storytimes run through June 14 and are held at 10 and 10:30 a.m. (two sessions). Each week a different seasonal story will be followed by a craft project. No advance registration required! Just show up to the children's classroom in the Brookside Gardens Visitors Center.
Posted by Sarah at 9:56 AM. Permanent link to "Weekend Watch: Saturday storytimes at Brookside Gardens."
April 17, 2008
Special discount on Our Kids membership
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It's your lucky day! Many thanks to the fabulous Our Kids for offering a special savings: DC BABY readers can take advantage of a one-time offer on a new Our Kids membership. Become a member by April 30, 2008 and use code DCB to receive $2 off the cost.
I gave the equivalent of a five-gold-star rating to the Our Kids weekly newsletter in both the first and second editions of my book. I'm a loyal subscriber myself, and I think it's just about the strongest resource around for finding DC-area family fun with children of all ages.
As I wrote in the Revised Second Edition of the DC BABY e-book:
The Our Kids email newsletter, founded in 1999 and owned and managed by DC-area mama Amy Miller, is chock full of current events for the whole family. It has received rave reviews in with coverage in the Washington Post, The Observer, and on WTOP Radio's "Mommy Track," among others.
For a modest annual subscription fee, you get a weekly e-newsletter providing by far the best and most comprehensive calendar of events, activities, and entertainment for children and families. Our Kids covers the District, NoVa, and suburban Maryland - so no matter where you live in the DC metro area, you're going to find this an indispensible resource. From storytimes and live children's performances, from kids' movies to seasonal festivals and holiday happenings, it's all covered - complete with web links and contact info to help plan your outing. Our Kids also offers great promotional offers and discounts on area shows and events, a classified section for buying and selling children's items, information about area consignment sales, summer camp/preschool/private school coverage, first-hand reviews of area attractions from a parent's and kid's eye view, rainy-day destinations, and so much more. OurKids.com - the website affiliated with the newsletter - also offers an accessible database of area resources for pregnant women and parents with children of all ages.
We have been subscribers since moving to the DC area, and it's the one publication we consistently turn to for checking what's going on in our neighborhood and for planning our family fun. Worth every single penny of the annual subscription - and then some!
Posted by Sarah at 11:19 AM. Permanent link to "Special discount on Our Kids membership."
April 16, 2008
Going online!: Info on DC-area childcare providers
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Whether you're part-time or full-time, there's nothing quite as important to working parents as the right childcare. According to a story in Monday's Washington Post, DC and Maryland will soon join Virginia in posting information online about childcare providers - which can make a huge difference in the ease of finding and checking the background history of daycares before choosing one.
True, making sure a provider is fully licensed and checking inspection records isn't (by far) the only research you need to do for peace of mind - but it's an important first piece of the accountability puzzle. Hurray for the District and Maryland making these records more accessible to local parents!
A few more good, general links about choosing childcare: from KidsHealth, the NNCC, Child Care Aware, and the AAFP. In the childcare/babysitters/preschool chapter of the DC BABY Second Edition e-book, you'll find more resources (including web-based) and local tips on this topic.
Posted by Sarah at 10:55 AM. Permanent link to "Going online!: Info on DC-area childcare providers."
April 15, 2008
Local pediatricians launch MommyDocs.com
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Check out this new online resource: Founded by Washington-area moms and pediatricians Dr. Jamie Freishtat (Children's National Medical Center in DC) and Dr. Rachel Schreiber (Family HealthCare Allergy & Asthma Specialists in Germantown), www.MommyDocs.com provides practical children's health advice. And plentiful doses of empathy.
Check their website for upcoming web chats with the doctors: The next is scheduled for tomorrow night, Wednesday the 16th, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. EST, on kids and seasonal allergies.
The site is full of interactive features such as podcasts on topics ranging from nutrition and sleep problems to separation anxiety and developmental milestones. You can read about childrearing challenges on their blog, or submit your own question to "Ask the MDs."
Jamie and Rachel appear regularly on DC's CBS affiliate,WUSA-TV/Channel 9 morning newscasts, and are baby health experts on The Bump. They also author a monthly column in Washington Parent magazine.
Posted by Sarah at 10:54 AM. Permanent link to "Local pediatricians launch MommyDocs.com."
April 11, 2008
Weekend Watch: Warm weather family fun
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Spring weather has arrived! Just in time for tomorrow morning's Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in downtown DC. And the anticipated re-opening of the carousels at many area parks, such as Clemy in Mclean. It's also the seasonal return of the longtime traditional Family Dance at Glen Echo Town Hall in Potomac this Sunday, starting at 3 p.m. (Note: Glen Echo park's carousel doesn't reopen until their big Family Day, set for April 26.)
Also be sure to check out the Post's "Going Out Gurus" column on the multiple free, outdoor events happening in the District on Saturday.
Enjoy!
Posted by Sarah at 10:52 AM. Permanent link to "Weekend Watch: Warm weather family fun."