July 28th, 2008 Lisa
Sometimes the best places to take your kids are not even “kid” places. Today I discovered a small nursury in Encinitas, California that I just adore, and I can’t wait to take my kids back. It’s called Weidner’s Gardens, locally owned and a little gem for our community. It has winding paths with all sorts of garden ideas, a small play area with grass and playhouses, and shelton ponies!!
Then towards the back are begonia fields where you can dig up your own plants and take them home. These are real, flowering begonias ready to spruce up your own garden. In my experience, I see that my kids love planting and seeing things grow, and this is a great way for them to contribute to their own garden. (Other seeds my kids love: carrots (which take about two months); sugar snap peas (which take only a week to poke out of the ground, and about 21 days to produce edible peas!); pumpkins (planted in spring for Halloween) — those are few ideas that I’ve done with my kids.
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May 25th, 2008 Lisa
That’s the motto of the New San Diego Children’s Museum which we visited for the second time today. It opened in May, and features an eco-friendly & kid friendly space in the Gaslamp District of downtown San Diego. It’s an excellent space, starting from the lobby which had to be designed by parents of young children; as you wait in line to check in, drop off your stroller, and get organized your kids can play on the plush beanbags (my two year old loves them) or on the bikes. Yes, bikes, in the lobby, INSIDE the museum. They are great — my five year old is still learning to peddle them, but I’d say anyone from 3 - 63 could ride these things. They are entertaining, they don’t go to fast (crashes remind me of soft bumper cars) and the kids love them.
Moving on from the lobby, there are three floors to explore with a kids theater (dress up cloths, stages, mirrors); The top floor has a mural-climbing-wall and a room filled with mattresses & foam tires to literally go “jumping on the bed.” This space has received complaints from parents of younger kids — it does get a bit hectic, and if you have a tiny-tot you need to be in there to supervise.
The museum also has a teen section and a great shop with creative products as well as many European brands. We spent a lot of time in the clay section - a block of clay, accessible tables and a few utensils occupy little minds for a long time. What I love about the clay area is that I rarely bring out clay at home — too messy — so it feels like a treat for my kids, and me (since I’m not doing the cleaning)!
Complaints - lack of parking (there’s a nice garage below, but only a few spots allocated to the museum and a less-than-friendly attendant), expensive parking and no strollers allowed inside the museum. These downsides didn’t bother me or my family.
I highly recommend a visit to the museum.
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April 29th, 2008 Lisa
One of my favorite clothing labels — for women’s fashion and maternity! — announced the launch of their kids line! Michael Stars will soon be making Mikey Stars, I can’t wait to see what they have in store for our tiny tots. There is a launch event at their Glendale store coming up May 10th.
For awesome tops, including great maternitees that I’ve worn and that I’ve purchased as gifts, go directly to the Michael Stars website.
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April 25th, 2008 Lisa
The second time around so many things seem easier - swaddling, breastfeeding, sleeping were the big three for me. But I also was easier; less tense, less worried (I still fretted, just not quite as much as with my first baby) and most of all I am able to stop and enjoy some of the wonderful parts of parenting my daughter. One of those being, birth announcements!
I discovered Heather somewhere online, and I absolutely love her work and her demeanor as a person. She’s a mom herself, and she’s running a design + paper business, doing it her way so that she nurtures both family and her business. She’s a product of the “opt-out” revolution: highly successful, educated women who are choosing to opt out of their career in order to raise their children; or, in Heather’s case, developing a business on her terms. (More on the opt-out revolution to come). It’s only appropriate that she be the first product I review!
Heather’s company, Peapod Announcements, produces customized birth announcements, cards, KIT cards, stationary and little things called Stork Bites, which are mini-announcements. Her work is absolutely beautiful. She designed my daughter Stella’s birth announcement, and I got many, many compliments on it. Here’s a glimpse:
Peapod has its own design look & feel, but you can customize your product if you want only certain colors, design elements and of course text. Generally they send one proof and you can make changes, but they have been very flexible with me when I need to make further changes.
Turnaround time is quick: even during the holiday rush, I’ve had my cards faster than many online sources. Price is way reasonable. I keep telling Heather she needs to raise her rates! Print quality is excellent, I usually go for the matte but I printed Stella’s birth announcements in metallic and love it.
My husband surprised me with a great mother’s day gift last year: KIT (keep-in-touch) cards. I had just made the leap from full time business owner to full time mother, and he sealed my new identity with this:
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