tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22 2009-10-15T16:19:25Z Movable Type 3.33 tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2593 2009-10-14T15:33:22Z 2009-10-15T16:19:25Z

Have you heard of the Halloween tradition of Trunk or Treat? It's a mash-up of the traditional trick-or-treating and tailgating parties. Need we write more to get you interested?

Isabel Trunk or Treat? We wrote about it a few years ago and now that we're heading towards Halloween, I want to put this on your radar. Hopefully there is one in your neighborhood. If not, perhaps organize one? A Trunk or Treat is a mash-up of the traditional trick-or-treating and tailgating parties. Instead of visiting houses door-to-door to collect candy, an event is organized in parking lots and the trunks of cars are set up like mini Halloween stations. Kids visit each car to collect candy in the safety of school and church parking lots. Here's a picture from Supermom-In-Training's family Trunk or Treat event last year. LOVE IT! If you participate in one, please leave your link below and we'll feature it on our home page under our "Reading List."]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2595 2009-10-14T13:47:23Z 2009-10-14T18:21:38Z

I just finished a heaping bowl of Three Lentil Chili after seeing everyone write about chili these days. Yes, it's the season and it's great. In fact, October is National Chili Month. Googling led me to a plethora of listings for Chili Cook-offs nationwide where you can participate or just eat your way through. Yes, it's that easy. Get to planning now.

Isabel Photo Copyright © 2009 This Week for Dinner. All Rights Reserved. I just finished a heaping bowl of Three Lentil Chili after seeing everyone write about chili these days. Yes, it's the season and it's great. In fact, October is National Chili Month. Googling led me to a plethora of listings for Chili Cook-offs nationwide where you can participate or just eat your way through. Usually the events are geared towards raising funds for the community and that makes them even more special. However, if there are none nearby, consider hosting your own at home. (You can even ask non-chili cook-off guests to consider a donation to a charity of your choosing instead of bringing a hostess gift.) Lemondrop has a tutorial on how to Host a Chili Bowl for easy reference. And, the talented Jane Maynard of This Week for Dinner had a call-out for chili recipes and includes her very own yummy-looking one, which apparently is EASY and her readers have replicated with success. Enjoy the Autumn!]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2572 2009-09-29T05:08:48Z 2009-09-29T06:49:00Z

Before the weather turns cold, you and the kiddos should go bust a move and have a dance party in front of your car's headlights.

Isabel Before the weather turns cold, go bust a move and have a dance party in front of your car's headlights. Plus, headlight dancing makes the sadness of the sun going down at an earlier hour more palatable. This idea is inspired by our hero Design Mom whose family staged an impromptu headlight dance party one evening a few years ago. Brilliant. Just make sure to have your camera ready and don't forget the radio set to your favorite dance music playing station. ]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2503 2009-08-19T07:41:36Z 2009-08-20T07:17:54Z

Still out of school and looking for activities? Instead of visiting your local firehouse visit your local police station.

Isabel Photo by Stig Nygaard My 6-year old son announced to me that his recent visit with his babysitter to the NYC Police Museum was the best day of his life. And, I had missed it. Of course, there will be other missed precious moments. But still. (And, really kid? Better than swimming with sting rays in the Caymans?) However, I overcame my disbelief quickly as I remembered that this certain police museum has preserved cell blocks and lets kids pretend play in them. And, my son happens to be obsessed with everything and anything police related. I really didn't want to hightail it downtown in the sweltering heat to revisit this museum. Then, I became inspired. NYC kids are always paying visits to the local firehouses. I haven't heard of any drop-ins at the local precinct, but why not? And, that's what we did. We visited our local police station and were welcomed by the Sargent who quickly gave us a private tour of the holding cells (very smelly though empty) and showed us the bullets to her gun (she kept her gun in its holster). My son? In heaven. Our plan now is to make unannounced visits to all the nearby precincts. Some kids like to visit the animals at the zoo. My kid likes to visit the jailbirds. ]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2502 2009-08-19T07:15:48Z 2009-08-19T14:22:52Z

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer by raising your own butterflies at home. The kids will love it.

Isabel Photo from Rookies Moms It's not too late to have your child raise some Painted Lady Butterflies in your home and then set them FREE. All you need is that the outdoors temperature is in the 50s (though you could keep them indoors during the colder weather, but NAH...set them free). We did this this summer and it was so much fun and educational. My son learned the importance of taking care of delicate creatures (all three phases: caterpillar, cocoon and newly-hatched butterfly) and the excitement of watching their development. After one week or so-- not to long for an impatient boy-- our butterflies were freed. And, we were not alone. Our friend, Whitney of Rookie Moms and her son, also raised some beauties. Our butterfly kit yielded over 10 butterflies, since it came with some "spares" which I guess is a-greater-than-normal result. (Or, maybe we're just superior at this stuff. **Snort.**) Our kit came complete with larvae, food and butterfly net. Just open the package and get thee to butterfly farming. Next up...frogs?]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2485 2009-08-07T15:59:32Z 2009-08-10T15:55:32Z

What makes you think of summer? The local County Fair is definitely one of the things for us.

Isabel Whoorl and Inchmark. Their county fair visits left us green with envy (yes, we're city folk). Photo by Philgarlic Photo by Benimoto Photo by Benimoto]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2464 2009-07-29T06:04:41Z 2009-10-29T11:10:35Z

This easy project is great to have handy for a too-hot or rainy day. And, yes it is perfect for the very young. No scissors or glue necessary.

Isabel on the beach during peak sun hours is not such a good idea. So, we're always looking for quick projects that can entertain my son, whose attention span is still a wee too short. Luckily there was a Michael's near our beach rental and we were able to entertain ourselves with this Martha Stewart puppet kit. But look at how cute these puppets are. Here's the whole cast of characters. Everything is supposed to come in your kit, but I suggest having a glue stick and double-sided scotch tape on hand as the sticky-thingies provided were just lacking. I'm looking to stock up on more kits to have handy on an extra-hot or rainy day. So far, I've found this one, also by Martha Stewart. Any others out there that I should know about? ]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2405 2009-06-26T13:08:09Z 2009-06-26T16:42:10Z

Now that heat waves are spreading throughout the country, you're headed to the beach or the lake, right? Have the kids pick-up some rocks and turn them into glow-in-the-dark fun.

Isabel We spent time collecting very large rocks, then washed them and by the time the witching hour rolled by (while I was making dinner), my son was captivated for 30 minutes painting our now clean and dried rocks. All you need is: glow-in-the-dark paint, paint sponges, and craft paper to protect your surface. We got this idea from Danny Seo, the nation's leading green-DIY expert. If you haven't visited his blog yet, please do. There are always easy-to-do crafts ready for you. The finished product? Eh. It didn't glow as much as I would have liked. But, it was a fun project for my kid nonetheless and he didn't seem to care about the glowing part. Me? My visions of a path lit by glow rocks faded. But I'm an adult, so I coped. Really it's more about the process than the end product, right? ]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2330 2009-05-27T06:08:24Z 2009-10-29T11:12:33Z

Get outside and discover nature. A new online tool helps you narrow it down to activities that are age appropriate and in your own area.

Isabel This weekend, I transplanted some plants, planted some new succulents in tiny indoor planters, and started growing some herbs on my windowsill. I did this all in an hour. My city kid didn't want to help out. But, he still saw me modeling good nature behavior, right? Well, I didn't do it for him, I did it for me, because I love to run my fingers through dirt. And, when the trees are bursting with greenery outside, my indoor environs just get jealous. So, today when I learned about the new site, Nature Rocks, I was extra excited and suggest you bookmark it right now. It's brought to you by some of the nation's leaders in bringing families and nature together – The Nature Conservancy (the world’s largest environmental nonprofit), The Children & Nature Network, REI and ecoAmerica. Not only does Nature Rocks have a great "Nature Staycation Guide," there's a useful activity suggestion tool to help you find ideas for you and your kids. It's coded so that you can find fun ways to enjoy nature with the youngest and oldest (even teenagers) of your children. Or, type in your zip code and, BAM, you have a list of nearby green sites to visit, hike or lay camp. If this is your type of activity, consider investing in I Love Dirt!. I keep it in my nightstand drawer to inspire me before I drift off to sleep. Next on the family agenda is one of the book's suggestions: build a "butterfly cafe" by planting the flowers that butterflies rely upon as food. That means butterflies on our terrace. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. Other ideas: * Go Letterboxing with your kids! * Make a Terrarium with your kids ]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2325 2009-05-22T13:09:26Z 2009-05-22T19:55:46Z

You can score some great vintage finds for your kids' dress-up closet all whilst enjoying the eye candy at a great antiques fair.

Isabel We've been inspired by Stefania of City Mama. Last weekend she visited an annual antiques fair in Southern Oregon and scored big. See, Stefania and her daughters collect "olden days" dress-up clothes and they scored the above-pictured hat and gloves (for $3!) to supplement their play wardrobe. We love the idea of a closet full of vintage clothing and accessories used for imaginative play. Now that we're into full-blown Spring and have several months of antiques fairs and flea markets ahead of us, consider making it a family outing. So many teachable moments about upcycling and craftsmanship are possible. Plus, there are plenty of distractions so that you can do a bit of shopping yourself.]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2313 2009-05-18T14:48:32Z 2009-05-18T17:01:20Z

With the warmer weather consider attending international festivals to introduce your children to the music, dance, games and FOOD of different cultures.

Isabel Italian Festival photo by Patrick Swint Our friend Cecily of Uppercasewoman, inspired us this past weekend. She attended not just one, but TWO, international festivals in her local area of Philadelphia. Her family had a smashing time at both the Italian Market Festival and the Greek Festival. Cecily's daughter getting her face painted With the warmer weather in full-gear, your local international festivals are great ways to introduce kids to other cultures' music, dance, food and games. Cecily mentioned that even though she felt like she was intruding on a community gathering at the smaller local Greek Festival, they let her daughter play the festival games, and she was able to enjoy the best souvlaki she's ever had ever in her life. Opa! Traditional dancing at Philly's Greek Festival Growing up as an immigrant child, the annual Portuguese festival in nearby Newark, New Jersey, was always source of great anticipation and a highlight for my family. And, I know it was very inclusive. We would have welcomed, much like the Greek Festival, Cecily and her family any day. These festivals are open to the public and the takeaway here is as you're planning your weekend family activities make sure you think out of the box and consider international festivals or street fairs. Some great resources to find out about International Festivals happening in your town or city (other than the newspaper, of course) are SavvySource and GoCityKids. ]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2309 2009-05-15T13:33:59Z 2009-05-15T22:00:55Z

Do craft and art supplies need to be hidden? We think not! Look further for inspiration.

Isabel We love everything about the way Katherine Marie organized her family's art supplies. It's so inspiring that I plan on doing the same this weekend for my son's crayons and markers which are currently stored in an efficient and see-through plastic container. The ubiquitous Anchor Hocking glass containers are so much prettier. If you're concerned about breakage, you can usually find plastic mason jars for sale at the Container Store or Michael's. Just an idea for organizing and bringing a little pretty into your life this weekend. [Via Crafty Crow] More Organization Ideas: * Organize your toys where you can see them * Organize your birthday card list * Organize Your Halloween Candy into Beautiful Decor * Recipe Binders: keeping recipes close at hand, beautifully * Beautiful Family Office Supplies: In the office; supplies can be pretty and useful]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2302 2009-05-13T17:59:57Z 2009-05-14T16:11:14Z

As summer vacation rolls in, we're keeping our eyes open for activities to keep little hands busy. We're big fans of pre-packaged DIY kits. To us it means you're more likely to get crafty.

Isabel kids' craft projects here. Personally, my family would do them more often if the crafts came packaged in nice kits where all you had to do was "unwrap & craft." It's the gathering step of a craft project that always prevents us from moving forward. (Probably makes a difference, too, that there are no Michael's or Joann's craft emporiums anywhere near us.) How did I learn this about myself? Last summer, we bought a great stitch kit by Egg Press to create your own doll (pictures above). We filled it with dried beans from the pantry. I had found it through one of my heroes, Design Mom. Photos by Soulemama Since then, I have been on the lookout for more "unwrap & craft" kits. I really want this flip doll kit that Soule Mama turned me onto. But alas, they are sold-out for now and too girly for my son. Though I have subscribed to the Umbrella Prints' shop feed to find out when a boy version of the kit become available. Because? Love this! Today, I'm buying a membership to the Project of the Month Club for my son for the summer. You can buy monthly, bi-monthly, quaterly, or 4-month-in-a-row memberships. Depending on how many kids you buy for and which plan, the cost ranges from c. $15 to $26 per project. There are different categories (and skill levels) to choose from, and the sample projects include: craft caddy, build-a-bank, sand art, game board, bird house, mail box, treasure box, pirate ship, race car, pillow kit, purses, jewelry kits, make your own perfume and more. Sweet! I'm selecting the Master Builders for my son, which is a category recommended for boys and girls aged 6 to 11. If you know of any other "unwrap & craft" kits or clubs, please let us know in the comments section. ]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2241 2009-04-15T06:00:09Z 2009-04-15T19:27:31Z

It's been a cold Spring so that means that the trees are tardy with their blooming. But don't you delay because Cherry Blossom season comes and goes very quickly. Make this the week you appreciate their beauty.

Catherine http://alphamom.com Photo by t_a_i_s It's Cherry Blossom season and it's super fleeting lasting just a couple of weeks. Go out of town or bury yourself in a project and Bam! the curtain has gone down. So please, please, please get thyself to a park and find ye some cherry blossoms to admire. In NYC, we are fortunate enough to have the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. (It's a shame but I grew up in Brooklyn and have never been during cherry blossom season. Confession over. It's #20 on My 40 Before 40 List.) The cherry blossoms are such a big deal at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens that they have a Cherry Blossom Status watch to let you know how the blooms are progressing. Luckily, several other cities are flush with Cherry Blossom trees and celebrations. - Washington D.C. - Macon, Georgia - Los Angeles (Balboa Boulevard in Van Nuys) - Philadelphia (Fairmount Park) - Newark (Belleville & Bloomfield), New Jersey - Seattle (located in the Quad at the University of Washington) If we've missed any, please let us know! If you visit, please send us pictures. ]]> ]]> tag:www.alphamom.com,2009:/last-weekend//22.2239 2009-04-13T15:51:12Z 2009-04-14T15:43:26Z

Spring and Autumn are the perfect seasons to visit the circus. It's not too hot or too cold under the Big Top, but just right for Mama Bear and her little ones. We've discovered a gem of one, the UniverSoul Circus.

Catherine http://alphamom.com Photo by Little Purple Cow Photography Spring and Autumn are the perfect seasons to visit the circus. It's not too hot or too cold under the Big Top, but just right for Mama Bear and her little ones. This past weekend we were treated to visit the UniverSoul Circus which we'd never heard of before. [/hanging head in shame] Yes, there are the requisite elephants, tigers and prancing horses, but there is so much more. Though geared to urban families, my night at the UniverSoul Circus may have been one of the most entertaining evenings I've had in the longest time as we watched acrobatics performed to the music of Kayne West, Beyonce and Soulja Boy. I much prefer that than listening to Enya-muzak any day! Luckily for you the UniverSoul Circus travels around the country with their young troupe of international performers from Gabon, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, China, and Dominican Republic (to name a few). Here's their calendar on Ticketmaster. As you can see they will be hitting major cities across the country. When you go, for the love of all that is fattening but worth it, please indulge in their world-famous funnel cake. And, be prepared to volunteer for their on stage SoulTrain dance line. Ha! Now it's your turn, please tell us about your favorite family circus experience. Or, link to your blog post in the comments section.]]> ]]>