|
|
|
I'll be back on Monday, but in the meantime, why don't you check out these other sites that don't appear to be taking a vacation? They mostly feature recipes and craft projects that I don't have the time or attention span to accomplish, but there are some cool 4th of July projects in here for those who are feeling ambitious:
The Parsley Thief - not only does this site feature beautiful food photography -- it's written by another Fairfield County mom!
Hello My Name is Heather - This lady is so crafty it makes me almost sick. Lucky for her, her crafts are cool and mod and the ice cream/pretzel combo she's featuring today looks delicious, so I will forgive her. This Is Not Going to Help - This Fairfield County mom offers nothing in terms of crafts or cooking (my kind of girl), but she will make you laugh!
Design Mom - I'm a huge huge fan of this site run by Gabrielle Blair, a Westchester mom who manages to dig up the most beautiful items for babies, children, moms and the home. Check out her 4th of July post. I'm loving the political magnets she's featuring and plan to stock up on some to give as gifts this election year.
Martha Stewart - Well she used to live in Fairfield County so she deserves a spot here and as much as I love to hate her, I have to admit there are some cool 4th of July projects and recipes featured here. The image above is stolen directly from her web site, but it gives you an idea of a project that might be fun to do if you actually have a spare minute this weekend.
That's all for now...Happy 4th of July!
Thanks so much to everyone who entered the Napa & Co. gift certificate giveaway by referring a friend or becoming a new FairfieldCountyChild.com subscriber. The winner is Jenna B. of Danbury who referred a bunch of friends (Thanks, Jenna!). Stay tuned for more Subscriber Specials and if you haven't already signed up as a FairfieldCountyChild.com subscriber, just click here so you can participate in the next Subscriber Special. I'll be announcing another one next week and a bunch more throughout the summer.
In the meantime, thanks again to Napa & Co. for making this giveaway possible and to those of of you who referred your friends to FairfieldCountyChild.com!
So I went to a great party last night for a friend's birthday. I left with a nice buzz and a cute little goodie bag filled with delicious cookies that I gobbled up on the car ride way home. Life was good.
This morning as my daughter and I polished off the remaining crumbs, I noticed a sticker on the bag pointing me to The Goodie Bag Girls. It turns out it's a business run by two women from New Canaan who will save you the time and effort of putting together goodie bags for your next party by doing it themselves.
They do personalized goodie bags for kids' parties, adult parties, corporate events and showers and you can see on the web site that they're all tastefully done with themes to suit any occasion or age.
Thanks to StamfordTalk.com for two more fun weekend activities... read more by clicking here. If you're not familiar with StamfordTalk, it's worth a visit. It's full of random gossip and news that's fun to read even if you don't live in Stamford. Think of it as our own super local version of TMZ or E!...enjoy!
Soon it will be even easier to find the best kids' events and activities in Fairfield County. I'll be unveiling an event calendar that will help you efficiently map out your family's plans with a quick glance at the months ahead. If your business or organization has an upcoming event to share with the FairfieldCountyChild.com community, please contact me.
I don't know about you, but I'm so confused and frustrated by all the information out there lately about all the dangers lurking in my child's toys, bottles, pacifiers, etc. And then there's the issue of dangerous chemicals in other household and cleaning products. I've spent a small fortune on "safe" products recently, but still I feel like there's a lot I don't know.
So, thanks to Lynn Blank of Stroller Strides for organizing this free, educational event for parents on July 31, 2008 at 7:30 pm in Rowayton. It's sponsored by Healthy Child, Healthy World and you'll walk away with five simple solutions to leading a life with fewer chemicals, toxins and hazards in your home.
Dr. Lori Storch-Smith of Bay Street Pediatrics in Westport will talk about the importance of having a healthier, greener home for yourself and your children.
If your child will be between the ages of 22 and 32 months come September and you're on the lookout for a great social activity for him/her, Organized Playgroups should be on your radar.
Here's how it works: A group of 8 children within this age group gather every Friday from 9:30 and 11:45 am at one of the participating families' homes for a structured playgroup that's run by two trained early childhood educators. Each family takes a turn as "host" over an eight week period. Organized Playgroups has been running programs like this with over 300 families in the towns of New Canaan, Darien, Rowayton and Greenwich and now they're looking to expand to surrounding towns. The mission of the program is to to provide children with a play-based positive experience that will develop their cognitive, physical, social and creative skills.
Visit www.organizedplaygroups.com for more information about the Organized Playgroups curriculum which includes music enrichment and Spanish language instruction. Organized Playgroups was founded by Veronica Ponce (shown above) who I guarantee you will love the moment you meet her. She holds an AS Degree in Early Childhood Education from Norwalk Community College, a BA in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut and a master's degree in Early Childhood Regular and Special Education at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City (To read more about Veronica, click here).
As a FairfieldCountyChild.com reader, you're entitled to $100 off your child's tuition for the Fall program, so please contact Veronica for more information and tell her I sent you. She's in the process of organizing a Friday group and its general location will be based on where she finds the most interest. So if you have an existing playgroup with a couple members, why not add some structure and learning to it through this great program?
Organized Playgroups, LLC vponce@organizedplaygroups.com
* This is a sponsored recommendation from Organized Playgroups, LLC. For more information on Sponsored Recommendations, click here. Photo above courtesy of Organized Playgroups.
Learn how simply referring a friend to FairfieldCountyChild.com can earn you a well-deserved dinner for two at Napa & Co. Click for details.
A few months ago I posted an announcement about Firefly After Hours Pediatrics in Stamford ( click here to read). Since then, I've had the opportunity to try out Firefly and it lived up to the glowing write-up I had written earlier (whew!). My daughter came down with a nasty flu in March and after a few Exorcist-style vomitting sesssions, my husband and I decided to take her to Firefly.
She was treated by Dr. Silverstien who was very patient, even at 10:45 at night. He helped settle her stomach and our minds (I admit we are typical, nervous first-time parents who must have been a little annoying at that hour, so thanks Dr. S!). So that's my personal endorsement, but I also wanted to announce that Firefly now accepts most insurances, including Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Connecticare, HealthNet and as of July 20, 2008, Cigna will also be accepted.
Psst.. if you live in or near Darien, do yourself a favor and check out this great new site, AllAboutDarien.com. The name says it all, people. No one can tell you about a town better than someone who has lived there for years and who is a true insider. That's why when I considered posting an announcement about the upcoming Darien Sidewalk Sale on July 11th and 12th, I decided against it. I'm leaving you in the trusty hands of Nicole Lyons, the AllAboutDarien.com founder, for information about this and many future kid-friendly events in Darien.
In case the prospect of UP TO 70% OFF items in over FIFTY-FIVE Darien stores isn’t enough to make you cancel your ferry rezzie for the weekend of July 11th, perhaps the prospect of a 2-day carnival throughout Darien will be …?! To follow is a more specific breakdown of times and locations for fabulous family fun (face painting, big bounces, and more) over the Sidewalk Sales weekend ….
It’s A Bounce Bonanza (”Bounces” are those enormous, blow-up, multi-child enclosed balloon/trampolines)
10am-3pm on Friday July 11th and Saturday July 12th
Locations: Fairbanks Photo, Noroton Heights Shopping Center, Dey St between Uncle’s Deli and The Sugar Bowl
Super Slides
10am-3pm on Friday July 11th and Saturday July 12th
Locations: Grove Street, Darien Sport Shop, and Goodwives Shopping Center
Face Painting and Caricature Drawings: TBA
…. and of course, don’t forget the LIVE family concert with The Bossy Frog Band
Saturday July 12th at 11:30am
in the lot behind 1020 Boston Post Road
(which is the new building where Lucy and Gofer Ice Cream are located)
See you there, and happy Shopping!
It's time for the next FairfieldCountyChild.com Subscriber Special! This time - with a twist. Thanks to the generosity of Mary Schaffer, the co-owner of Napa & Co. in Stamford, I have in my possession a gift certificate for dinner for two (a $200 value) to her fabulous restaurant. Napa & Co. is one of my favorite Fairfield County grown-up restaurants (more on why later). To be entered in a drawing to win this gift certificate, all you have to do is refer one friend to become a FairfieldCountyChild.com subscriber. Here are the guidelines: If you're already a FairfieldCountyChild.com subscriber: - Just send this link to a fellow Fairfield County parent and ask them to become a subscriber as well: http://tinyurl.com/59aprw
- Be sure to remind them to put your full name in the box that says "How did you hear about us?" in the registration form.
- All registrations must be received by midnight on Tuesday, July 1st (this is the extended deadline).
If you're not yet a FairfieldCountyChild.com subscriber: - Click here to subscribe http://tinyurl.com/59aprw and then pass the link along to a fellow parent in Fairfield County who might appreciate the perks of being a FairfieldCountyChild.com subscriber, including giveaways like this one and receiving exclusive discounts and private sale announcements, news about upcoming events for kids and the inside scoop on the hottest new shopping and dining for kids in the area.
- Be sure to remind your friend to put your full name in the box that says "How did you hear about us?" in the registration form.
- All registrations must be received by midnight on Tuesday, July 1st (this is the extended deadline).
On Wednesday July 2nd, I'll pick the winner from the list of referrers and new subscribers and announce that person here. It's my way of saying THANK YOU to those of you who are spreading the word about FairfieldCountyChild.com!
Good luck! To read more about Napa & Co., visit www.napaandcompany.com and be sure to check out their wine classes, great menu full of local and fresh ingredients, and just a reminder that every day between 3pm and 6pm it's Happy Hour at Napa & Co. with reduced priced wines. Needless to say, this is not the kind of place to bring the kids, but for a fun night out with your other half or a group of friends, Napa & Co. is your place.
Napa & Company
75 Broad Street, Stamford 203.353.3319
Thanks again to Napa & Co. for this generous donation!
I am a HUGE fan of INC. magazine for a few reasons. A) My sister used to work there so I've met a lot of the writers and they are amazing talented people that inspire me and my entrepreneurial efforts with each issue they publish. For anyone out there who owns a business, I highly recommend you get yourself a subscription. B) They do cool stuff like The Best Lemonade Stand in America Contest .
If your kid is between 5 and 12 years old, they're eligible to win a $1000 savings bond and $200 worth of school supplies. Plus they'll be featured with photos on www.INC.com. To win, they'll need a kick ass lemonade stand a mom or dad to fill out the online contest form (that's YOU!). For rules and more details, click here. The deadline is September 3, 2008. Good luck!!
Sorry I have a bum shoulder at the moment, so can't type much today.. here are a few weekend reminders. Enjoy the official start of summer!
I have a favorite ice cream spot, but it's in Mystic -- a little far from home. I love it because the ice cream is delicious and you really feel like you're going back in time when you enter the doors. Everything just smells and tastes like Summer at the Mystic Sweets Shop. Now that my daughter is old enough, I'm on the lookout for a place in Fairfield County that's just as wonderful to bring her, so I'm turning to you. I've found two places that are good for very different reasons (see below), but they are not my favorites: - Dairy Queen on Summer Street in Stamford. If you don't mind a little dinginess and a super long line on hot Summer evenings, then DQ is the place to be. Their Blizzards never disappoint and you can't go wrong with the soft serve.
- And on the total other end of the fancy spectrum is Gelatissimo Artisan Gelato at 26 Forest Street in New Canaan. Here you'll find a beautiful, sparkling interior and delicious authentic Italian gelato. Their web site is still under construction at www.gelatissimo.net but you can read more about Gelatissimo by clicking here.
Please hit COMMENTS below to add your favorite ice cream spot in Fairfield County. Tell us why you and your kid(s) love it and the general location. You can post anonymously or use your name. Either way, thanks!
A few months ago I wrote about my friend Melissa Smith of Kindermusik in North Stamford ( click here to read) and on Monday my daughter and I start her Peekaboo I Love You class. There are still a few spots left, so if you're looking for a great weekly music class for your child (up to 18 months), please join us! For more information and other class schedules at Mrs. Smith's Studio for kids up to age 7, click here. Hope to see you in class!
Come to the Maclaren Showroom in South Norwalk this Thursday, June 19 th to receive your special FairfieldCountyChild.com discount and for another free kids' concert - this time with CJ Wood of Music Together. CJ plays guitar, drums, and a little piano. Suggested ages are 6 months – 5 years (or anyone young at heart). It's a great time to buy a new stroller for yourself or to give as a gift and to have some fun with the kids at the same time.
You can also enter to win a raffle with a great prize for Mom and baby. It's a travel bag full of products for both that includes six all natural bath and beauty products infused with essential oils.
This concert is all part of Maclaren's new kids' activity series so stay tuned for more details about upcoming events at the Maclaren Showroom. For any questions, please call 203.354.4437.
The concert begins at 10:30am at 10 Marshall Street in South Norwalk, right near the Aquarium.
*This is a sponsored recommendation from Maclaren. For more information on sponsored recommendations, click here. Image above courtesy of Maclaren from 5/15/08 concert with Ellen Watermelon. Discount applies to in-stock items only. Just mention this announcement to receive your discount. Certain exclusions apply.
I first came across artist Kelly Demarco of Darien when I read about her current show at Darien Sport Shop. Her beautiful watercolors will be on display there on the mezzanine level through the Summer. You can also view her work at www.paintstudioandgallery.com, but check back again soon because she's updating her Web site this week.
Not only does Kelly teach painting classes for adults, but for kids too and her Summer program is about to begin. See the schedule and class descriptions below. Classes are for all ages because Kelly teaches to each individual's level.
Mural Painting
Week of June 30th , July 14th, July 28th, Aug 11th
Week long camp running Monday thru Friday from 9am to 12pm or 12pm to 3pm. Students will work as a group to research, plan and paint a mural. Each child will leave with their own 24x24 canvas piece of the mural that will be displayed as a whole somewhere in Darien. Please bring lunch and a cold drink and ice pops will be provided. Painting attire is required. Materials provided.
Studio Session
Week of August 18th
Week long camp running Monday thru Friday 9am to 12pm or 12pm to 3pm. Students will work in the studio from a photograph to develop painting skills. Students will need to bring canvas, brushes and paints in their desired medium. Please bring a lunch and a cold drink. Ice pops provided. Painting attire is strongly recommended!
Mural Painting held at the studio. Plain Air held on location…you'll receive a call the day before to let you know where to meet. Space is limited! For more information call 203.803.5273 or email kdemarco@optonline.net.
I love Tilley Park in the heart of Darien. It's a great little place to bring the kids for a stroll around the pond or a picnic. This Friday, come to Tilley Pond for a FREE concert from 6pm-8pm.
It's part of the Darien Revitalization Initiative's Jazz Fridays program. Kids and adults are invited to attend, but for the latter, there will be a wine tasting with Wine Port of Darien (nice little bonus, right?). For more information and directions, visit www.darienmainstreet.org or click here.
(image above courtesy of Google images)
Recently I've been proud to feature several new "guest bloggers" here on FairfieldCountyChild.com - Manager Mom and Always Home and Uncool. You know you love 'em... they're funny, refreshing and not afraid to say it like it is. Their reflections on parenthood in Fairfield County are silly and sometimes not so PC, but it's fun to lighten things up around here sometimes, right? I approached them about guest blogging because I am totally impressed by their witty ways, but now it's time to hear from more of you. If you're a parent with something to say or if you have a business, blog or Web site that might be of interest to FairfieldCountyChild.com readers and you'd like to share it with this audience through a guest post here, please drop me a line at fairfieldcountychild@gmail.com with the following information: - Name and contact information
- What is your area of expertise (ie. Are you a super-savvy mom who has a knack for uncovering new stores, restaurants or activities for kids in Fairfield County? Or do you have a business that parents in Fairfield County should know about? In other words, why would FairfieldCountyChild.com readers want to hear from you?)
- Please provide writing samples if possible
This is a fun way to promote yourself or your business and a way to broaden the reach of FairfieldCountyChild.com. The more contributors on FairfieldCountyChild.com, the more valuable a resource it becomes for parents. I look forward to hearing from you! Contact me at fairfieldcountychild@gmail.com
Here's to all the Fairfield County dads! If you're still looking for something special to do this weekend for dad, please refer to this guest post from local dad, Always Home and Uncool.
|
