If you have a child or children three and under who aren't in school this is the place to be. It's SO worth it. I literally used it FOUR days a week for two years in a row. It was awesome. E got to play and socialize and I got to socialize with other moms from around northern Bergen county. I know it may seem kind of far from Glen Rock or middle Bergen but it's the best bang for your buck in terms of something to do with your kid on the daily that is fun for them and EASY for you. It's all enclosed, you can see your child from anywhere in the room, it's open rain or shine, free parking, etc. It was just so, so useful to me. Those other play places are great but the costs definitely add up.
I just got this email from Park N Play for the new season so I'm passing it along-
Hello friends of Park 'N Play!
September is here, school is starting and
the Park 'N Play Board of
Directors is getting ready to open for another
season of fun! Membership
for 2012-2013 will stay at $225 for a FULL SEASON
OF UNLIMITED PLAY. We
are offering our early sign-up discount of $25 for
those who get their
registrations in by Sept. 15th.
We will be accepting registrations at
our Ramsey Day table or mail your
form and payment to PO Box 712, Ramsey NJ
07446.
We're also hoping to have some "Meet-ups" at Finch playground once
the
older kids are back in school. Stay tuned, and make sure to "like" us
on
Facebook!
Enjoy the fall, we'll see you when the weather gets cold!
Please forward
this info to any friends that may be interested in playing
with us this
winter!
Thanks,
The Board of the New Park 'N Play
Friday, August 31, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Yoga Time
I'm putting this up because I know a lot of people who have gotten into yoga recently or want to do it but are nervous about checking it out. This sounds really fun if you're looking to check it out.
I got this from the Wayne Patch- http://wayne.patch.com/events/yogaparty-90-minute-asana-90-minute-fun
YOGA + PARTY
Thursday, September 20, 2012, 7:00 pm
Yoga has been taking the western world by storm. People are embracing this ancient practice and using it to lose weight, improve flexibility and reduce stress in their daily lives. However more recently, people have been taking this ancient practice and adding modern twists to attract the masses.
Big events such as Wanderlust and Bhaktifest are festivals similar to rock concerts for the yoga industry. They are held in several parts of the country at different time intervals and are quite the experience, but they can also be quite expensive and require time and money some people just don't have.
Bringing the celebration to you..
This grass roots movement is now happening on a local level as well. Studios and teachers are taking their own twist on these yoga celebrations by hosting similar events within their local communities.
The NYC based studio Laughing Lotus holds monthly yoga parties and events in the union square area ranging from Dance Parties to classes with live DJ's and even shows with yogic dance performances. Other metro area studios focus mainly on workshops and Kirtan (a that practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium and others) performances that tend to attract a particular audience.
Over the water in NJ, the movement is also alive. Teachers are working together to throw events outside of the studio environments. The Yoga+Party is a new community gaining some traction in north jersey. They hold monthly yoga events that start out with a class and then end with a DJ party. "We wanted to make yoga more accessible to the masses and attract new people, why not make it a party?", says Jeffrey Posner; Yoga+Party Event Organizer.
The next Yoga+Party event is scheduled for September 20th 2012 and will be held at Club Vibe: 92 Route 23 North, Riverdale, NJ, find out more information about Jeffrey Posner and the Yoga+Party by visiting his website.
Media Contact:
Jeffrey Posner
585-857-9642
I got this from the Wayne Patch- http://wayne.patch.com/events/yogaparty-90-minute-asana-90-minute-fun
YOGA + PARTY
Thursday, September 20, 2012, 7:00 pm
Yoga has been taking the western world by storm. People are embracing this ancient practice and using it to lose weight, improve flexibility and reduce stress in their daily lives. However more recently, people have been taking this ancient practice and adding modern twists to attract the masses.
Big events such as Wanderlust and Bhaktifest are festivals similar to rock concerts for the yoga industry. They are held in several parts of the country at different time intervals and are quite the experience, but they can also be quite expensive and require time and money some people just don't have.
Bringing the celebration to you..
This grass roots movement is now happening on a local level as well. Studios and teachers are taking their own twist on these yoga celebrations by hosting similar events within their local communities.
The NYC based studio Laughing Lotus holds monthly yoga parties and events in the union square area ranging from Dance Parties to classes with live DJ's and even shows with yogic dance performances. Other metro area studios focus mainly on workshops and Kirtan (a that practice involves chanting hymns or mantras to the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium and others) performances that tend to attract a particular audience.
Over the water in NJ, the movement is also alive. Teachers are working together to throw events outside of the studio environments. The Yoga+Party is a new community gaining some traction in north jersey. They hold monthly yoga events that start out with a class and then end with a DJ party. "We wanted to make yoga more accessible to the masses and attract new people, why not make it a party?", says Jeffrey Posner; Yoga+Party Event Organizer.
The next Yoga+Party event is scheduled for September 20th 2012 and will be held at Club Vibe: 92 Route 23 North, Riverdale, NJ, find out more information about Jeffrey Posner and the Yoga+Party by visiting his website.
Media Contact:
Jeffrey Posner
585-857-9642
Saturday, August 25, 2012
OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!
Rock Road in Glen Rock is fully open and functioning as of this morning!! It's been TWO sucky, long weeks.
If you see this and want to buy stuff at Shades of Soho today, I'm extending the 15% off through the end of business today at 5p in celebration of being back in working order.
So shop, shop, shop. And check us out at www.shadesofsoho.com!!
Call 201-857-2266 for directions. We are at 175 Rock Road in the CVS shopping plaza, between Gianella's Deli and the dry cleaners.
If you see this and want to buy stuff at Shades of Soho today, I'm extending the 15% off through the end of business today at 5p in celebration of being back in working order.
So shop, shop, shop. And check us out at www.shadesofsoho.com!!
Call 201-857-2266 for directions. We are at 175 Rock Road in the CVS shopping plaza, between Gianella's Deli and the dry cleaners.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Essentials
I've never shopped on Zulily. There are just too many of these discount sites and I can't be a part of them all. I've been strictly a Rue La La girl, especially since they've been doing the whole pay shipping once for 30 days thing. You pay shipping on one order and you have 30 more days to buy anything and it ships free.
BUT, someone told me Pack It bags are on Zulily right now. I had to check it out. WELL, I LOVE these bags and they have every size available on the cheap. I love them because I hate cold packs. They leak, they get lost, and they take up too much room. Basically they suck. I use the personal Pack It bag every single day. I have three- one for me, one for B and one in case he forgets to bring his home from work, we have an extra.
I just ordered a mini for him for school and a social one for the beach. The personal one is just too small for the three of us to have drinks and a snack in there. I've done it but it's a stretch.
Here's my link- http://www.zulily.com/invite/tsdk74535 - I should at least get some credit for telling you about these awesome bags. Joke. If you don't want to use my link- don't. Put "Packit", one word, in the search, without quotes and the page will come up.
They also have some other lunch boxes, food holders, and I saw Sweet Pea Maternity, which I will never need again, but LOVED when I was pregnant. I love the regular Sweet Pea stuff for the most part and the maternity stuff was totally my style.
Anyway- here's the Pack It site if you want to compare pricing. www.packit.com
BUT, someone told me Pack It bags are on Zulily right now. I had to check it out. WELL, I LOVE these bags and they have every size available on the cheap. I love them because I hate cold packs. They leak, they get lost, and they take up too much room. Basically they suck. I use the personal Pack It bag every single day. I have three- one for me, one for B and one in case he forgets to bring his home from work, we have an extra.
I just ordered a mini for him for school and a social one for the beach. The personal one is just too small for the three of us to have drinks and a snack in there. I've done it but it's a stretch.
Here's my link- http://www.zulily.com/invite/tsdk74535 - I should at least get some credit for telling you about these awesome bags. Joke. If you don't want to use my link- don't. Put "Packit", one word, in the search, without quotes and the page will come up.
They also have some other lunch boxes, food holders, and I saw Sweet Pea Maternity, which I will never need again, but LOVED when I was pregnant. I love the regular Sweet Pea stuff for the most part and the maternity stuff was totally my style.
Anyway- here's the Pack It site if you want to compare pricing. www.packit.com
Monday, August 20, 2012
A Zoo
Looking to do something fun in the last week before school starts? I doubt we'll be able to make it because we'll be trapped in our house doing potty training boot camp. I know you wish you were us. I can't imagine how much fun that's going to be. Keep us in your thoughts since we have a very busy 3.5 yr old who couldn't care less about sitting in his own poop. Anyway...
"Movie Under the Stars" is back in Glen Rock next week.
Families should bring their chairs and blankets to watch a movie under the stars with their neighbors.
On Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Wilde Memorial Park (Maple Ave, between Glen Ave and Rock Rd), the Glen Rock Recreation Department will present the fourth year of Movies Under the Stars.
This year's flick is We Bought a Zoo, starring Matt Damon. There are refreshments on site. Showtime is at dusk, likely around 8:30 p.m. Should it rain, the date will be rescheduled for Aug. 30.
"Movie Under the Stars" is back in Glen Rock next week.
Families should bring their chairs and blankets to watch a movie under the stars with their neighbors.
On Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Wilde Memorial Park (Maple Ave, between Glen Ave and Rock Rd), the Glen Rock Recreation Department will present the fourth year of Movies Under the Stars.
This year's flick is We Bought a Zoo, starring Matt Damon. There are refreshments on site. Showtime is at dusk, likely around 8:30 p.m. Should it rain, the date will be rescheduled for Aug. 30.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Girls Night Out
So I got an invite for a dinner out with some local girls. I rarely get to go to these dinners because they always seem to fall on nights that weren't convenient for whatever reason. Wherever there's food, I want to be, so I even got there early.
Dinner was set to be at Amano in Ridgewood. It's mostly a pizza place, but specialty pizza. I'm pretty sure it's called "Neopolitan Pizza", which, embarrassingly, really means nothing to me. It's smaller and thinner than regular pizza and they have A LOT of different combos. I like a lot of cheese on my pizza usually but this wasn't that kind of pizza. I'd have to call it more on the gourmet side. But I liked it. I really did.
Apparently, Monday nights they do a Buy 1, Get 1 free deal on pizza and paninis. There were six of us and we ordered four pies, which was more than enough. I'm not sure we even finished them all. We ordered their version of "plain", a vegetable one and their pepperoni. I had the plain and the veggie and they were both really good.
But honestly, anyone that knows me knows that for me, the best part, the part I wasn't even going to have, was their "Nutella pizza". What? Yeah. Nutella pizza. It looks like the dough from the regular pizza but it had Nutella and confectioner's sugar on it. Really? It was SICK. Thank goodness there were six of us or I could've inhaled the whole thing.
I do have to say, the service sucked. Our waitress was, how shall I say, less than enthusiastic about being helpful or caring that we ordered at 7:45 and didn't get our pizza until 8:45. And I'm not exaggerating. She basically said- hey, they're backed up in the kitchen because it's BOGO night. Tough shit. But it was fine- the only thing I needed to get home for was to get another episode of The Vampire Diaries in with my husband. Yes, we're obsessed and watching in marathon form. That's for another blog. Once we got our food she seemed to care a little more but by that time, it was too little, too late. Just pretend you care. That's what I would do if I was a waitress in that situation. I work in retail- I know what that's like. A little caring goes a long way in those situations.
Anyway- it was fine because I haven't been able to catch up with these women all summer for the most part. This has been my first summer working and I don't know where the time goes. This has really been the fastest summer of my entire life I think. I have barely been at the pool, where I've spent the majority of my past six summers. E has been in camp five days a week too and we just never seem to make it there. I would normally see most of these women there but we've all been busy and are kid-led these days. Some have two where before they only had one, one is about to have #2, some are working...So it is BYOB at Amano and while we were waiting forever for the pizza we got to get in some chatting, catching up, and definitely some laughs.
It's nice to finally get out with some girls from the area and get to know them better. I've been a little gun-shy about getting to know people in town or involved in town just because of getting burned in the past, having nothing to do with them. But, I had a really great time and look forward to getting together more often. I'll just have to plan to only get one episode of The Vampire Diaries in that night.
http://amanopizza.com/
Dinner was set to be at Amano in Ridgewood. It's mostly a pizza place, but specialty pizza. I'm pretty sure it's called "Neopolitan Pizza", which, embarrassingly, really means nothing to me. It's smaller and thinner than regular pizza and they have A LOT of different combos. I like a lot of cheese on my pizza usually but this wasn't that kind of pizza. I'd have to call it more on the gourmet side. But I liked it. I really did.
Apparently, Monday nights they do a Buy 1, Get 1 free deal on pizza and paninis. There were six of us and we ordered four pies, which was more than enough. I'm not sure we even finished them all. We ordered their version of "plain", a vegetable one and their pepperoni. I had the plain and the veggie and they were both really good.
But honestly, anyone that knows me knows that for me, the best part, the part I wasn't even going to have, was their "Nutella pizza". What? Yeah. Nutella pizza. It looks like the dough from the regular pizza but it had Nutella and confectioner's sugar on it. Really? It was SICK. Thank goodness there were six of us or I could've inhaled the whole thing.
I do have to say, the service sucked. Our waitress was, how shall I say, less than enthusiastic about being helpful or caring that we ordered at 7:45 and didn't get our pizza until 8:45. And I'm not exaggerating. She basically said- hey, they're backed up in the kitchen because it's BOGO night. Tough shit. But it was fine- the only thing I needed to get home for was to get another episode of The Vampire Diaries in with my husband. Yes, we're obsessed and watching in marathon form. That's for another blog. Once we got our food she seemed to care a little more but by that time, it was too little, too late. Just pretend you care. That's what I would do if I was a waitress in that situation. I work in retail- I know what that's like. A little caring goes a long way in those situations.
Anyway- it was fine because I haven't been able to catch up with these women all summer for the most part. This has been my first summer working and I don't know where the time goes. This has really been the fastest summer of my entire life I think. I have barely been at the pool, where I've spent the majority of my past six summers. E has been in camp five days a week too and we just never seem to make it there. I would normally see most of these women there but we've all been busy and are kid-led these days. Some have two where before they only had one, one is about to have #2, some are working...So it is BYOB at Amano and while we were waiting forever for the pizza we got to get in some chatting, catching up, and definitely some laughs.
It's nice to finally get out with some girls from the area and get to know them better. I've been a little gun-shy about getting to know people in town or involved in town just because of getting burned in the past, having nothing to do with them. But, I had a really great time and look forward to getting together more often. I'll just have to plan to only get one episode of The Vampire Diaries in that night.
http://amanopizza.com/
For The Win
Shades of Soho and all your local businesses, actually, need your help to win Bergen.com & 201 Magazine's "Best in Bergen". This is the easiest way to give your favorite local businesses a little boost and recognition so they can continue to thrive and flourish. We've won a few years in a row in the Best Home Decor store category and we want to win again! It's not being selfish, it's just wanting a little pat on the back for the hard work & excellent customer service we provide.
All you have to do is go to www.bergen.com/vote and in #60 put Shades of Soho Glen Rock/Norwood. If you want to put us in for Best Kept Secret, which I think is on the same page, feel free to add that in too. But the most important is Best Home Decor store at #60.
If you feel like putting me in as Favorite Local Celebrity I won't object to that either. I am a lampshade selling superhero....
We SO appreciate all your support. We couldn't do anything without the people who love us, vote for us and keep coming in to buy our stuff.
Our new website launched a few weeks ago too if you want to check that out- www.shadesofsoho.com
All you have to do is go to www.bergen.com/vote and in #60 put Shades of Soho Glen Rock/Norwood. If you want to put us in for Best Kept Secret, which I think is on the same page, feel free to add that in too. But the most important is Best Home Decor store at #60.
If you feel like putting me in as Favorite Local Celebrity I won't object to that either. I am a lampshade selling superhero....
We SO appreciate all your support. We couldn't do anything without the people who love us, vote for us and keep coming in to buy our stuff.
Our new website launched a few weeks ago too if you want to check that out- www.shadesofsoho.com
Monday, August 13, 2012
Birthday hair
Another year has come and gone...no, it's obviously not New Years Eve, so it must be that I had a birthday. The big 3-8. I don't feel what I imagined being close to 40 would feel like. I'd probably still wear body glitter if I had somewhere to wear it. I don't know that body glitter is worth it for work or school drop-off.
BUT, I do think pink hair is worth it. For everyday. Even at 38. Even if some might say I'm "old", I don't have to LOOK old. I don't know- I'd go into Salon Azano and see Melissa & Brittany, the hairdressers, rocking purple and pink hair and it just looked so...fun. I just didn't know what it entailed aside from it being permanent. As in, doesn't just wash out in one shampoo. It would grow out gradually like any all over color. I saw a picture of Katy Perry with an aqua colored head, that wasn't a wig, and I wanted to try. I just didn't know you have to bleach out any area you want colored, if you're a (natural) brunette. THAT scared me- I can't lie. When I think of bleaching out hair, I remember my best friend Ann and I taking a bottle of peroxide and making us both orange hair. I know that when I get highlights I'm obviously being "bleached" but I don't know- this was scary. But in my mind, "go big or go home" mentality was winning out and I thought, why not? I have no reason not to do it. Hair grows back which I learned when I cut off my long locks a few years ago in favor of more of a bob length do. I don't work in corporate America. I can't get fired. And I work in a creative business. So I took the plunge and did blue.
It wasn't the Katy Perry blue I had envisioned, but more like a dark purple-y blue. It was a bit shocking but really cool. I only did a little in the front and a lot underneath. I did it around Purim so a mom from E's school thought I did it for that. No, no. It was just for the hell of it. Then that grew out and I got bolder. I decided to do the whole top but this time in pink. Mixed with what was left of the blue, I got a little bit of both- the mix made purple in some spots and some was pink. Loved it.
This time, I went with just pink, whole top, and the color is perfect. But added this time, Don got new Eufora products into the salon that week. It's like the "couture" level for the Eufora line. I didn't even think they needed improvement. He used the Moisture Intense Shampoo & Conditioner & the Leave-In Repair Treatment. I have to say, I could totally feel the difference. My hair looked as smooth as glass. Like I had Keratin done, which I have not in like three years. It just felt so awesome I didn't want to wash it. This product line is a little more expensive than the regular line but you use less than with other products. I use their Bodifying Serum religiously and I've had the same bottle for more than a year. So yeah, you could buy cheaper stuff but it adds up if you run out of it once a week or whatever. I definitely encourage anyone in need of summer hair repair to at least just check out the product line at Salon Azano in Norwood. All the girls (and Don of course) are very knowledgeable on everything they use so it's not like you'd be left to just pick something and go. They want you to have what is right for your hair type. http://www.azano.net/
BUT, I do think pink hair is worth it. For everyday. Even at 38. Even if some might say I'm "old", I don't have to LOOK old. I don't know- I'd go into Salon Azano and see Melissa & Brittany, the hairdressers, rocking purple and pink hair and it just looked so...fun. I just didn't know what it entailed aside from it being permanent. As in, doesn't just wash out in one shampoo. It would grow out gradually like any all over color. I saw a picture of Katy Perry with an aqua colored head, that wasn't a wig, and I wanted to try. I just didn't know you have to bleach out any area you want colored, if you're a (natural) brunette. THAT scared me- I can't lie. When I think of bleaching out hair, I remember my best friend Ann and I taking a bottle of peroxide and making us both orange hair. I know that when I get highlights I'm obviously being "bleached" but I don't know- this was scary. But in my mind, "go big or go home" mentality was winning out and I thought, why not? I have no reason not to do it. Hair grows back which I learned when I cut off my long locks a few years ago in favor of more of a bob length do. I don't work in corporate America. I can't get fired. And I work in a creative business. So I took the plunge and did blue.
This time, I went with just pink, whole top, and the color is perfect. But added this time, Don got new Eufora products into the salon that week. It's like the "couture" level for the Eufora line. I didn't even think they needed improvement. He used the Moisture Intense Shampoo & Conditioner & the Leave-In Repair Treatment. I have to say, I could totally feel the difference. My hair looked as smooth as glass. Like I had Keratin done, which I have not in like three years. It just felt so awesome I didn't want to wash it. This product line is a little more expensive than the regular line but you use less than with other products. I use their Bodifying Serum religiously and I've had the same bottle for more than a year. So yeah, you could buy cheaper stuff but it adds up if you run out of it once a week or whatever. I definitely encourage anyone in need of summer hair repair to at least just check out the product line at Salon Azano in Norwood. All the girls (and Don of course) are very knowledgeable on everything they use so it's not like you'd be left to just pick something and go. They want you to have what is right for your hair type. http://www.azano.net/
This photo was done on August 3, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
In & Out of Control
This is a very stressful day. Even though it's Friday and it should be awesome, it's not. Why? Because our store, Shades of Soho, in Glen Rock is being negatively affected by major construction of the Main Line railroad in front of the store. The town didn't anticipate how lost people would get trying to follow the detour and now it means people get frustrated, turn around and go home. If people don't come, we don't make sales, and that's a scary thing when our store is our only source of income. The guys working on the railroad get paid no matter what. The police get paid. If no one can find us and buy from us, we don't get paid. Yet we still have bills to pay.
So, I challenge all of you consumers and possible customers to brave the detour, which isn't really all that difficult but if you're not familiar with the area can be a little confusing. I know- ramps were closed in Franklin Lakes trying to get my son to camp his first day and I ended up everywhere but where I wanted/needed to be. I was sweating. Anyway....
We're offering you 15% off ANYTHING in our store if you make it in today, tomorrow and while this construction is going on. They said two weeks. Well, I think I will die of anxiety if people say they can't get to us for two weeks. I'm not desperate, I'm just being honest. It feels totally out of control because, well, obviously, we can't control it. We put a sign up by one of the detour stations that we're still open during this yet we still got two calls that people were lost and going to come back another time. If you don't own a small business you may not understand, but that's like a dagger to the heart and a knot in the stomach. I'm thinking of putting a sign up at every station saying if you're trying to come to us to just keep following the detour. Yet, I'm not sure how well that will work either if the one closest to the store is there and people are still having a problem...
Also, during this time, if you see anything on our website you want during this construction and you want to call to do a phone order, mention this blog and you will get a discount on that stuff too.
Please check us out- a purchase from our store is a purchase for small business. Support your local small businesses because we deserve it. We give the best customer service around and make our own quality goods. In a time where everything seems to be outsourced, we're committed to being made in Jersey and doing the best job possible.
Thanks for your continued support. It's much appreciated. Lets try to make this a successful two weeks out of problematic and stressful situation.
www.shadesofsoho.com
201-857-2266
So, I challenge all of you consumers and possible customers to brave the detour, which isn't really all that difficult but if you're not familiar with the area can be a little confusing. I know- ramps were closed in Franklin Lakes trying to get my son to camp his first day and I ended up everywhere but where I wanted/needed to be. I was sweating. Anyway....
We're offering you 15% off ANYTHING in our store if you make it in today, tomorrow and while this construction is going on. They said two weeks. Well, I think I will die of anxiety if people say they can't get to us for two weeks. I'm not desperate, I'm just being honest. It feels totally out of control because, well, obviously, we can't control it. We put a sign up by one of the detour stations that we're still open during this yet we still got two calls that people were lost and going to come back another time. If you don't own a small business you may not understand, but that's like a dagger to the heart and a knot in the stomach. I'm thinking of putting a sign up at every station saying if you're trying to come to us to just keep following the detour. Yet, I'm not sure how well that will work either if the one closest to the store is there and people are still having a problem...
Also, during this time, if you see anything on our website you want during this construction and you want to call to do a phone order, mention this blog and you will get a discount on that stuff too.
Please check us out- a purchase from our store is a purchase for small business. Support your local small businesses because we deserve it. We give the best customer service around and make our own quality goods. In a time where everything seems to be outsourced, we're committed to being made in Jersey and doing the best job possible.
Thanks for your continued support. It's much appreciated. Lets try to make this a successful two weeks out of problematic and stressful situation.
www.shadesofsoho.com
201-857-2266
Dancing Feet
Well, unfortunately, the summer is flying by. I don't even know where it went. I didn't work last summer but still had to find ways to entertain my toddler so maybe it just felt slower. But since I've been working the weeks just seem to fly by before I even know what hit me.
Before we know it fall will be here. And maybe your child(ren) will be going to school. But if they're only going to be in school a couple of days a week or a half day, you need or want to find some extracurricular activities for him or her. That's the boat I found myself in last year. E was going to school three days but what to the other two days? He's not a sit around and just hang kind of kid. He needs constant activity. And once I realized that, school was booked on the other two days of the week. I needed SOMETHING. It also had to be something that wasn't "Mommy & Me". He was way over that stage at 2.5 years old and frankly, so was I. His behavior when I was in the classroom with him was atrocious. It was because he outgrew the classes. He wanted to assert his Independence.
I thought of ballet- not the first choice for moms of boys, I know. But I'll tell you why I did it. First- I didn't have to be in the class but there is is two-way mirror to watch the class. I appreciated that because I wanted to SEE him, I just didn't want to be IN there. Second, the natural choice seems to be sports. And sports are fine. But before he gets into all that, while I still get to make choices for him, I wanted him to try some activities that are different. Be exposed to the out of the ordinary.
I went looking for a school and believe it or not, I had a hard time finding one that would take boys his age or one who would even get back to me. I finally got to Wyckoff School of Dance and they accepted him no problem. He was in a class with four other girls that were half a year to a year older than him and he fit in beautifully. He was focused and on his best behavior the entire year. I was so proud. We're signed up again for the new year and very excited to go forward. I don't know if he'll do dance forever, but for now, he's really into it.
So, I just want to promote Wyckoff School of Dance and encourage anyone thinking of sending their boy or girl to dance class to try them out. And please use me as a referral (Tara Diamond-Kule) - I get credit for that!! But, obviously I wouldn't be promoting them if I didn't send my own kid there and think it's great. Credit or not, I think they're great.
http://wyckoffschoolofdance.com/
Before we know it fall will be here. And maybe your child(ren) will be going to school. But if they're only going to be in school a couple of days a week or a half day, you need or want to find some extracurricular activities for him or her. That's the boat I found myself in last year. E was going to school three days but what to the other two days? He's not a sit around and just hang kind of kid. He needs constant activity. And once I realized that, school was booked on the other two days of the week. I needed SOMETHING. It also had to be something that wasn't "Mommy & Me". He was way over that stage at 2.5 years old and frankly, so was I. His behavior when I was in the classroom with him was atrocious. It was because he outgrew the classes. He wanted to assert his Independence.
I thought of ballet- not the first choice for moms of boys, I know. But I'll tell you why I did it. First- I didn't have to be in the class but there is is two-way mirror to watch the class. I appreciated that because I wanted to SEE him, I just didn't want to be IN there. Second, the natural choice seems to be sports. And sports are fine. But before he gets into all that, while I still get to make choices for him, I wanted him to try some activities that are different. Be exposed to the out of the ordinary.
I went looking for a school and believe it or not, I had a hard time finding one that would take boys his age or one who would even get back to me. I finally got to Wyckoff School of Dance and they accepted him no problem. He was in a class with four other girls that were half a year to a year older than him and he fit in beautifully. He was focused and on his best behavior the entire year. I was so proud. We're signed up again for the new year and very excited to go forward. I don't know if he'll do dance forever, but for now, he's really into it.
So, I just want to promote Wyckoff School of Dance and encourage anyone thinking of sending their boy or girl to dance class to try them out. And please use me as a referral (Tara Diamond-Kule) - I get credit for that!! But, obviously I wouldn't be promoting them if I didn't send my own kid there and think it's great. Credit or not, I think they're great.
http://wyckoffschoolofdance.com/
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Blog away
Shades of Soho has been doing a blog and there's a new post I think (of course), you should check out! B is going to start posting on the regular so make sure you "Pin It", bookmark it, whatever- but you don't want to miss it!
Did you ever get dressed and just feel great the rest of the day because you know you looked good? Dressing yourself is very much like dressing your lamp. Giving your lamp a new look will certainly "make" the lamp, and most probably change the entire feel of the room. Read on and see what options you may not know you had when shopping for a lampshade.
To read more...
http://shadesofsoho.blogspot.com/2012/08/custom-lamp-shades.html
Did you ever get dressed and just feel great the rest of the day because you know you looked good? Dressing yourself is very much like dressing your lamp. Giving your lamp a new look will certainly "make" the lamp, and most probably change the entire feel of the room. Read on and see what options you may not know you had when shopping for a lampshade.
To read more...
http://shadesofsoho.blogspot.com/2012/08/custom-lamp-shades.html
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Art Explosion
Sometime back in 2005, B and I were walking around Garden State Plaza. There used to be an art gallery store next to Macy's, on the bottom floor, I think where GNC is now. We walked in because we saw these ginormous, five foot paintings of women's faces. All different women, one to a canvas. Each was unique and cool and we wanted them all. The gallery guy said the artist painted all his girlfriends. Lucky for us it seemed he had a lot of girlfriends. We picked one and bought it but I wish we could've bought them all.
Looks like he's having an event on Aug 9th so I'm copying the info here. His name is Hulbert Waldroup and he's so extremely talented. If you can go, I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
Looks like he's having an event on Aug 9th so I'm copying the info here. His name is Hulbert Waldroup and he's so extremely talented. If you can go, I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Reality Casting Call
I just saw this casting call on Patch and thought I'd pass it along- they're looking for Bergen County families! It seems like it could be fun if you're looking for your 15 minutes of fame! I can't do it but would love it if someone I know could. And hey- you get paid.
Here's the description from Patch:
Do you think your family has what it takes to be a reality television sensation?
If so, one casting company working for a major cable network has put out a call for local families to star in a new show about various parenting styles.
"I am looking for siblings in the NJ area who have different approaches to parenting to participate in a fun, family-friendly show for a major cable network, said casting director Nicole Plesset. "For instance, one sibling may be a strict disciplinarian while the other is a free spirit-type parent."
The show — tentatively titled "My Kids" — will explore the different parenting styles and for one day, the siblings will switch places and spend time with their nieces and nephews, Plesset said.
She's looking for families with kids between the ages of 4 and 16.
The show will film for approximately three days — likely for a weekend — and both families will be compensated.
Plesset and True Entertainment, the production company for the project were tight-lipped about which "major cable network" would air the reality show.
Anyone interested in learning more about the show can contact Plesset at mykidscasting@gmail.com
http://westwood-hillsdale.patch.com/articles/my-kids-casting-local-families-for-reality-show
Here's the description from Patch:
Do you think your family has what it takes to be a reality television sensation?
If so, one casting company working for a major cable network has put out a call for local families to star in a new show about various parenting styles.
"I am looking for siblings in the NJ area who have different approaches to parenting to participate in a fun, family-friendly show for a major cable network, said casting director Nicole Plesset. "For instance, one sibling may be a strict disciplinarian while the other is a free spirit-type parent."
The show — tentatively titled "My Kids" — will explore the different parenting styles and for one day, the siblings will switch places and spend time with their nieces and nephews, Plesset said.
She's looking for families with kids between the ages of 4 and 16.
The show will film for approximately three days — likely for a weekend — and both families will be compensated.
Plesset and True Entertainment, the production company for the project were tight-lipped about which "major cable network" would air the reality show.
Anyone interested in learning more about the show can contact Plesset at mykidscasting@gmail.com
http://westwood-hillsdale.patch.com/articles/my-kids-casting-local-families-for-reality-show
Monday, August 6, 2012
Come one Come all
The Glen Rock Newcomers & Neighbors group has a spiffy new website. I checked it out and it's really cool. For the first time ever, you are able to pay membership dues online, create a profile for your family, join groups, volunteer and RSVP for events. ALL ONLINE!! I think this is an awesome idea because as the person SLOWLY collecting checks for my 20 year high school reunion, people do things faster when they can do it online. It just makes things easier.
B and I joined the N&N group when we first moved here in 2006. We didn't have any kids so we weren't super involved but we did go to some DINKS (Double Income No Kids) events, the progressive dinner, wine & cheese events, etc. We even hosted the dessert portion of the progressive dinner the first year we were here. Didn't know that would mean like 60 drunk people in our house till 1a, but whatever. We survived. And it WAS fun. All the events were really fun, we met some cool new people, and it just helped get adjusted to what we consider "Mayberry" from a more urban area. It was nice just to know some people around town. I even got my friend Megan to join and she lives in Hawthorne. It's really nice to have the group open to neighboring folks too. I like groups that are inclusive to everyone so this is a total plus to me.
Once we had E, I did a few kid related events like a Holiday party, a playgroup, and a music class. There are so many fun activities the N&N group sets up for stuff to do with the kids. If you don't have a lot of time to seek stuff out to do, this is great because it's all right here.
Before we moved to Glen Rock, I actually looked at the town website and looked to see if there was anything like the N&N group. I was so happy to see it does exist. A lot of towns don't have one and I think they're missing something. It's just so helpful to new people to be able to acclimate and make new, lasting friendships in their "forever town". I definitely think it helps build a real sense of community.
Here is the site if you want to check it out and sign up!
http://glenrocknewcomers.com/
B and I joined the N&N group when we first moved here in 2006. We didn't have any kids so we weren't super involved but we did go to some DINKS (Double Income No Kids) events, the progressive dinner, wine & cheese events, etc. We even hosted the dessert portion of the progressive dinner the first year we were here. Didn't know that would mean like 60 drunk people in our house till 1a, but whatever. We survived. And it WAS fun. All the events were really fun, we met some cool new people, and it just helped get adjusted to what we consider "Mayberry" from a more urban area. It was nice just to know some people around town. I even got my friend Megan to join and she lives in Hawthorne. It's really nice to have the group open to neighboring folks too. I like groups that are inclusive to everyone so this is a total plus to me.
Once we had E, I did a few kid related events like a Holiday party, a playgroup, and a music class. There are so many fun activities the N&N group sets up for stuff to do with the kids. If you don't have a lot of time to seek stuff out to do, this is great because it's all right here.
Before we moved to Glen Rock, I actually looked at the town website and looked to see if there was anything like the N&N group. I was so happy to see it does exist. A lot of towns don't have one and I think they're missing something. It's just so helpful to new people to be able to acclimate and make new, lasting friendships in their "forever town". I definitely think it helps build a real sense of community.
Here is the site if you want to check it out and sign up!
http://glenrocknewcomers.com/
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Awesome Aardvarks
I've talked tons about Music For Aardvarks in Bergen County. They're awesome. They were great for E from when he was eight months old until he was about 2.5. Their fall registration is starting so I'm passing along the email I got yesterday from them:
Fall semester registration opens this Monday, August 6th at 2pm!
Hello everyone, we hope you have been having a wonderful summer! We have been busy building a new website, which you can check out at ahummusic.com. Our new site features a brand new registration system where you will be able to manage your enrollments and schedule makeups, we're pretty excited about it!!
Registration begins on Monday, August 6th for all families. Early bird tuition is $225 until Friday, August 17th. After August 17th, regular tuition is $245. Every class features two teachers: both a class leader and a backup guitar player. Each semester features a different Music For Aardvarks CD, which families receive at the first class meeting. Tuition for siblings enrolled in the same class is $150 for the second child and $100 for the third child. Siblings under 10 months as of the start of the semester are free!
Click here to view our Fall schedule.
Registration will open at 2pm on Monday, August 6th. We recommend that you create an account before Monday so you can enroll as quickly as possible and get the class of your choice. You can register for an account with us by clicking here: Registration.
Please bear in mind that this is a brand new system to us as well as you: don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions about registering your account, or registering for the Fall semester. Thank you so much, we'll see ya' soon!
Fall semester registration opens this Monday, August 6th at 2pm!
Hello everyone, we hope you have been having a wonderful summer! We have been busy building a new website, which you can check out at ahummusic.com. Our new site features a brand new registration system where you will be able to manage your enrollments and schedule makeups, we're pretty excited about it!!
Registration begins on Monday, August 6th for all families. Early bird tuition is $225 until Friday, August 17th. After August 17th, regular tuition is $245. Every class features two teachers: both a class leader and a backup guitar player. Each semester features a different Music For Aardvarks CD, which families receive at the first class meeting. Tuition for siblings enrolled in the same class is $150 for the second child and $100 for the third child. Siblings under 10 months as of the start of the semester are free!
Click here to view our Fall schedule.
Registration will open at 2pm on Monday, August 6th. We recommend that you create an account before Monday so you can enroll as quickly as possible and get the class of your choice. You can register for an account with us by clicking here: Registration.
Please bear in mind that this is a brand new system to us as well as you: don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions about registering your account, or registering for the Fall semester. Thank you so much, we'll see ya' soon!
Cindy & Sean
Friday, August 3, 2012
Pig races & bull riding Jersey-style
****Sorry for the layout here- I don't know how to fix it but you get the idea of what's going on and the link are clickable!***
It's State Fair time in NJ. I've actually never been to it because it's in Sussex and that's far for me to go not knowing if it would be my thing. BUT, I did just get an email from my friend Illanna asking me if I was going, saying she and another friend are, because they had a great time last year. So I thought it was worth a mention here. It's not easy entertaining these little kids of ours so if there's something going on, it's nice to know about. I'm not sure I'd want to do it in extreme heat but it's going on for TEN days. Take your pick. Their site is www.newjerseystatefair.org but I copied their Aug 3rd schedule so you can take a gander at what goes on there and see if it interests you.
It's State Fair time in NJ. I've actually never been to it because it's in Sussex and that's far for me to go not knowing if it would be my thing. BUT, I did just get an email from my friend Illanna asking me if I was going, saying she and another friend are, because they had a great time last year. So I thought it was worth a mention here. It's not easy entertaining these little kids of ours so if there's something going on, it's nice to know about. I'm not sure I'd want to do it in extreme heat but it's going on for TEN days. Take your pick. Their site is www.newjerseystatefair.org but I copied their Aug 3rd schedule so you can take a gander at what goes on there and see if it interests you.
Schedule for Friday, August 3
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