Westfield Family Fun Days

My friend Heliana is one of those moms who always knows all the good activities for the kids. She told me about Westfield Broward Mall Family Fun Days.
I am so glad we decided to go. The theme of the event was Paris. As soon as we got there, K. sat down and started working on her beret. I love when she works on arts and crafts outside of my house. She gets to practice her fine motor skills and develop her imagination, but I don't have to clean it up. Then she got her face painted for the first time. This in itself was an event. She wore that purple butterfly with beaming pride all day because it was imperative that her daddy got to see it when he got home from work. By 6 pm it was looking more like abstract art, but she didn't care.
At the Family Fun Day, they also had book readings, dancing, and snacks. My one year old's favorite part was snacking on pretzels, pop corn, and ice cream. He has very little interest in anything other than eating, running, throwing, and unrolling toilet paper when I'm not looking. 
The event was well-organized and it was relatively educational, if the kids payed attention to the books. Most of them didn't. There was a lot going on. It was definitely age appropriate and the entertainer was sweet and attentive with the kids.
The only downside to the whole thing was that it was crowded. I imagine once the kids go back to school it will thin out. I won't be enjoying it because I'll be hanging out with some inquisitive middle schoolers by then.
Oh! another great thing is that they separate the big kids from the little kids by holding different fundays at different times. Very clever. And it's all free! The next one is Wednesday, July 25 from 11:00 am to 1:00pm at the JCPenney Court.

Also, at the event, they gave me a savings card that got me 15% off The Children's Place. You also get other offers and discounts with the card. I wasn't supposed to spend any money, but I couldn't help myself. I mean the little pink shorts were right there.

This is from their website:
WFamily Days (2-5 yrs)
Every 2nd & 4th Wednesday
We ́ll travel to distant lands this month as we continue our theme of “Let ́s See the World!” Two books will take us around the globe as we explore many wonders far and wide. We ́ll also enjoy a healthy snack.

WFamily Days (6-12 yrs)
Every 3rd Tuesday
The fun continues for big kids! This month, they can let their imaginations go as they build their very own unique dream house out of graham crackers and then decorate it any way they want!

Lolliposh Upscale Consignment Sale

What: Lolliposh Upscale Consignment Sale and Bazaar
Who: All Ages
When: Saturday, October 16th, 9am - 2 pm
Where: Levin Gymnasium @ the Soref JCC, 6501 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation

I was a little nostalgic this evening putting K to bed. Before placing her in the crib, we hugged longer than usual. Part of the reason is that my baby shower was exactly one year ago. The other part is that the reality of her upcoming first birthday finally settled into reality for me today. Right after K's bedtime, I scrolled through my baby shower pics and relived that sweet day when so many people shared and gave special presents to our blossoming family.
These days, most of the gifts come from mommy and daddy. =) This is one of the reasons I'm always looking for quality baby/kids products at a great price and Lolliposh is one of my most successful finds to date. Lolliposh is an upscale consignment sale which happens about once every four to five months. They sell everything from clothes, to shoes, to toys, to furniture, etc. I went to the last sale and found adorable clothes from Gap, Children's Place, and Gymboree in excellent condition at incredible prices. If you are interested, you can also consign your clothes with them. It's a good way to make some extra cash.
I highly recommend this sale. In my opinion, it's a must-do for parents who love high quality at a low cost. Although they have special activities for the kids, I recommend leaving them at home, if possible. It gets super busy and it's so much easier to shop without them. That's just my suggestion. Also, make sure to get there as early as possible. I was shocked to see how early all "the good stuff" was snatched.

One more thing, you can win passes to the exclusive, private Friday evening (6 pm to 8 pm) pre-sale right here, right now. See and buy before everyone else!

Just answer the question in the comments section below:
What is your favorite brand of children's clothes or children's toys?
I'll announce the winner on Monday, Oct. 5th.

Back to School Fun at Whole Foods

What: Back to School Events
When: August (See below)
Where: Whole Foods (Plantation, Coral Springs, and Aventura)
How Much: Free

It's no secret that I'm a Whole Foods fan. And now that I'm a mom, forget about it! I love them even more. Check out the great back to school events they have going on this month at the stores in Plantation and Coral Springs:

Kids Club - Back to School Lunchbox Planning (Coral Springs Store)

Saturday, August 22nd and Sunday, Aug.23rd
11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Hey kids, be the envy of all your friends this school year. Learn hands-on how to make these tasty lunch solutions for any day of the week. Register now at customer service for each demonstration.

August 22, 11am - Chicken Wraps

August 22, 1pm - Yummy Hummus

August 22, 3pm - Nutty Buddies

August 23, 1pm - Party Pasta

August 23, 3pm - Loony Tuna

Back to School Taste (Plantation Store)
Saturday, August 29
12-3pm
Stop by our store and taste some great products perfect for back to school and also enjoy some kid friendly presentations in our café. To top it off My Massage Corner will be giving a free 5 minute massage with any $20 purchase in the store.
1-2pm • Parent/Child Sing Along
A music instructor from NSU's Mailman Segal Institute will be teaching us sing along songs your children will love.
2-3pm • Cookie Decorating with Cookies by Shar!
Join Shar, one of our local vendors, who will be helping kids decorate cookies for school.
If you would like to attend either of these presentations, please make reservation at Customer Service, class size is limited. 954.236.0600

My Green Routine

Who: Green Dwellers
What: Healthy Home Goods with Style
Where: Online store (also by appoinment in Plantation)
Phone: (954) 533-2295

K. had her friends over for a play date. Watching four nine-month-olds crawling and sliding their chubby hands on my floor, while reaching for the taste of a toy, made me happy. And it made me think, more than ever, how important it is to keep a healthy, clean indoor environment. I'm trying to use no chemicals when I clean. I'm sticking to baking soda, vinegar, castille soap, and essential oils. I use a book titled Green Clean and find it very helpful. Another great resource is Healthy Child, Healthy World. That's where I learned how to make the disinfecting castille soap cleaner I use for K.'s toys. A couple of months ago, I also discovered Green Dwellers, an online store that sells natural, non-toxic, eco-friendly products for the house and for our little ones. They have everything from soy candles to toys. The owner is an intelligent, stylish local mom named Mylene. She started out because she wanted to provide quality, earth-friendly products for her family. She also does green workshops where you can learn how to make more informed choices for your home while having fun.
Now that I'm a mom, I think more seriously about the products I bring into my home. Not just because I care about my health, my husband's health, and my baby's, but also because, hopefully, K. will be living on this planet for many years to come.

Wee Wiggle and Sing

What: Music and Movement Classes
Who: 2 to 5 years old
Where: Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, and Hollywood
How Much: About $88 for 8 weeks

I haven’t met Lisa, but after a long phone conversation and some email correspondence, I‘ve decided I already like her. Lisa is a music and movement teacher with some impressive credentials. She has been teaching for over 20 years and she is the owner and director of Wee Wiggle and Sing: Broward Music and Movement Classes. Starting this fall, she will be teaching classes in Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, and Hollywood. Registration begins in August. Her fee is about $88 for 8 weeks. I have been looking around for music lessons for K. and this is the best price I have come across so far. But beyond price, what I like about Lisa is that she has an obvious passion for teaching music to young children. For example, I found this declaration on her website, “I am strongly committed to my endeavor to teach effectively and use the best possible resources at my disposal. I am an advocate of classical music and art appreciation and dedicated to promoting its value in education”. Her mission is to provide quality music lessons at reasonable prices with no hidden fees and no pressure to buy extra materials. She believes a mom can find musical instruments throughout the house, like pots, pans, and wooden spoons. She’ll teach you how to make shakers so you don’t have to go out and buy them. It seems to me that not only the little ones, but also the parents, will get some valuable lessons on being resourceful and creative in this class.

Win a $40 Gift Card to Whole Foods in Plantation

What: Gift Card to Whole Foods in Plantation
Who: Readers of this cool blog
Where: 7720 Peters Rd, Plantation
How Much: $40

I started this blog because I love being a parent. It's a magical, crazy, beautiful, sometimes super difficult adventure. When I see other parents at the grocery store, park, wherever, I feel an immediate bond. Sometimes I wonder why I'm spending so much time on this blog, but then I remember how good it is to be connected to you guys, knowing that maybe you'll find something useful and it will help you have a better time with your kids, in one way or another. So, now, I want to hear from you. And I'm giving you a little incentive. It's the first prize of many, many more to come. Here's how you can win a $40 gift card to Whole Foods in Plantation:
In the comments section below, tell me what you think about Palm Tree Playground so far. Is it helpful/useful? What can I improve upon? What would you like to see more of? I'll randomly select a comment and announce the winner on Monday, July 20th. Good luck.

Music to my Ears

What: Billy Joe Bob, Children’s Musical Entertainer
Who: 1 to 6 years
When: Varied dates and times (see below)
Where: Libraries
How Much: Free

When I was six, my favorite activity, besides running in rainstorms and climbing mango trees, was lounging in my grandfather’s music room. We would sit together in delight as the sound of Vivaldi or Tchaikovsky bounced off the walls and landed in our ears. He likes his music LOUD. My grandfather owns over 1,000 CDs, records, cassette tapes, and reels. He’s 90 years old and likes to chill in the hammock of his tropical backyard listening to his iPod. With such an example, how could I not love music? And I want K. to love music. I know all the good stuff it will do for her brain. But more importantly, it’s one of life's sweetest pleasures.
So, I found out about some free, upcoming musical performances for kids and thought you may want to know about them. I haven’t seen either performer yet, but as soon as I do, I’ll tell you about it.

Billy Joe Bob
Billy Joe Bob has entertained children in South Florida since 1985. His show is very popular at preschools, public libraries, parties, and special events. This interactive show is for children ages 1 to 6. (I got that from his website)

Thursday, July 9 - Southwest Regional Library, Pembroke Pines, 11 am

Saturday, July 11 - Hallandale Beach Library, 3:30 pm

The Whole Picture

What: Mom Workshops and Kids Club Workshops
Who: All Ages
When: See below for specific times
Where: Your local Whole Foods store
How Much: Free

We did it back in April. We let our sweet, innocent baby scream her lungs out as we sat outside the door watching the monitor, pulling our hair out, biting our nails, our bodies twitching. It’s supposed to last three to four nights according to the doctor. It took K. one long week. Finally, something clicked in her brain and she figured out that we weren’t coming to soothe her. That was her job now. I can’t say that it was easy, but I can say that it was worth it. I didn’t read a book or attend a workshop for helpful hints on how to make the process run more smoothly. But it’s good that there is a workshop. See below.
In case you have not discovered all the free events for mommies and kids at your local Whole Foods store, this post is for you. In the upcoming events, you can figure out how to set a productive bedtime routine, score free coffee and muffins, and add some new, natural, family-friendly recipes to your repertoire. The kiddos can learn about sea turtles and alligators. And of course, it’s the perfect place to pick up some fresh, organic produce.

Plantation Store
Tuesday, July 14th
Mom's Morning Workshop with MSI
9:00-10:30pm FREE
Join Laurie Waldman, Coordinator of Infant/Toddler Programs at MSI's Parenting Place, for a discussion on "Bedtime Challenges." Explore various alternatives and strategies that provide nurturing approaches to the bedtime routine. This lecture will focus on children from birth- 5years.
Moms will receive a free muffin and cup of coffee along with a chance to relax and learn about different parenting techniques from the experts. Plus, relax with a free 5-minute massage from My Massage Corner.
Pick up your coupon at Customer Service and bring it to the Juice Bar to receive your goodies.

Coral Springs Store
Saturday, July 11th
Kids Club event - The Best Basic Potato Salad
3:00 p.m. FREE!
Attention all kids, make your own custom potato salad in our Café. The class is limited to the first 30 kids who register at our customer service desk.

Tuesday, July 14th
Mom's Morning
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. FREE!
After you shop, stop by the Cafe and have a cup of Allegro Coffee and breakfast pastry on us while supplies last.

Saturday, July 18th
Creature Feature with the Sawgrass Nature Center
1:00 p.m. FREE!
Every month, representatives of Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital come to Whole Foods Market Coral Springs to teach kids all about a live animal. This month's "Creature Feature" is the alligator.

Aventura Store
Thursday, July 9th
Mom's Morning Out!
9:30 -11am FREE
Moms of all ages are invited to take a morning off and relax! Starting at 9:30am, you are invited to pamper yourself in our café. Join Marketing Specialist and mother of two, Vanessa Hassele as she shares all natural, kid-friendly recipes to make with and for the kids! Stop by, and share your own tips and tricks with other Moms as you sample Allegro Coffee blends and freshly baked pastries. Then head over to Baby Posh Garage with your 25% Off Coupon and pick up something for the kiddies to soothe any mommy-guilt over taking time for yourself! All attendees will receive a 25% Off Coupon for use at Baby Posh Garage in Aventura. Bring a friend and you will also both receive a $10 coupon off a future Whole Foods Market purchase! Children welcome. Pre-registration is recommended.

Saturday, July 11th
Kids Club - Save the Sea Turtles!
9 - 10am FREE
Kids (aged 4 - 12) and parents are welcome to join us as we listen to a story about Sea Turtles and decorate turtle sun-catchers in honor of our summer-long support of the Sea Turtle Hatchling Program at the Museum of Discovery & Science in Ft. Lauderdale. Please make reservations at Customer Service. Class size is limited.

There are also stores in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, South Beach, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, and Wellington. Almost all of them offer Mom’s Mornings and Kids Club Events.