$5 Days at Zoo Miami

Happy 4th of July, everyone! My three-year old is excited that tomorrow is America's birthday. She asked me if we're going to have cake. A great way to celebrate could be to visit Zoo Miami since they are currently having $5 Days.

Free Museums

These are my two little ones loving life at new EcoDiscovery Center at the Museum of Discovery and Science. K. and A. are watching otters frolic around in the new tank. We arrived at the museum around 1 pm. The kiddos played, explored, touched, and watched the exhibits for over two hours. In the end, it was my husband and I who wanted to leave to go take a nap. :) Well, both whippersnappers did pass out in their car seats as soon as we drove off the parking lot. One great part of the museum visit was to see my children learn and enjoy themselves. But a huge bonus was that neither my husband nor I had to pay the price of admission. We use the Museums on Us program by Bank of America. If you have a Bank of America card, you get in free to many museums in our area the first full weekend of the month. This weekend coming up counts because it is the first full weekend in July. The museum is worth the money, even if you don't have a Bank of America card. But, if it's already in your wallet, why pay full price?

My Top 5 Favorite Spots for Kids

At Vista View Park when my K. was a toddler

Maybe it's because I'm in my thirties and I have two little ones, but as of late, I've begun to feel like I'm truly rooted in South Florida. Now, I've lived here for almost 25 years. It was about time, I guess. I was born in Nicaragua and that's where I lived the first decade of my life. That will always be where I'm from. But, like I said, I've realized what a great influence South Florida has had on me. It is such a part of who I am and I'm glad it is.
One of the reasons this place has a permanent spot in my heart is because it has so much to offer. My family and I enjoy visiting different places every weekend. The other day I started an album on Facebook with some of my favorite pictures of my crew and me enjoying the area. One of my friends asked for recommendations of places to visit. This gave me an idea. I decided to post my five all time favorite spots to take the kids. Here it is:

Little Java's Family Fun Center in Weston
Two of best things about this place is how clean it is and how friendly the staff is. Both of my kids could play here for hours. They never want to leave. The management/owners have done a great job lately of providing more activities for the kids who are a little older. They now have a bigger game room, a rock wall, and this week then are installing some kind of high ropes activity. I haven't seen it yet, so I'll have to update you. Or you could go check it out.

Young at Art Children's Museum in Davie
If you have kids, you already know that YAA has reopened in a new and fabulous building. This is like a child's paradise. There is so much to see and do that your kiddos will be thrilled and eventually exhausted from all the fun. Nap time, anyone? :)

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca
My kids love animals and plants. This place is so educational and enjoyable. They have an outdoor walking path and tanks with all sorts of marine creatures. Make sure you go in the gift shop because they have an interesting hands-on display and a short video about sea turtles.

Alvin Sherman Library at Nova in Davie
Many of my friends go for the activities, like story time. The activities are so good and so popular that it gets really packed during those times. We like to go when it's quiet. A. loves the little tables with crayons and papers and K. loves the computer games. My husband checks out CDs for the kids. Their selection is incredible. And my favorite activity is sitting by the big windows in the back in one of those really comfy, huge, floor-chair things watching my kids be calm (most of the time) and happy. (You do pay a small fee for parking.)

Vista View Park in Davie
This park is covered and they have a great selection of play areas for the kids. I love driving up to it and seeing all the colors of the play equipment. It also has a great section for children with special needs. Love that.

Top Ten Family-Favorite Restaurants

The four of us love to eat. My husband jokes that it's our number one hobby. Actually, it's no joke. We go out to eat at least a couple of times a week. I liked these links and thought you might like them too:

Family Dining Reviews
Kids Eat Free in Broward
Kids Eat Free at These South Florida Restaurants

I also wanted to share our Top Ten Family-Favorite Restaurants. We love these places because the food is tasty and kind of healthy. The atmosphere is welcoming to families with little ones, which means it's noisy, and the people who work there are probably friendly to kids. Oh, and by the way, they're all pretty inexpensive.

1. Pizza Fusion
2. Salsa Fiesta Grill
3. Shorty's Barbeque
4. Jason's Deli
5. Offerdahl's Cafe Grill
6. Tijuana Flats
7. Uncle Al's Sports Cafe
8. Chipotle Mexican Grill
9. Char-Hut
10. Lucille's American Cafe

A Full Day of Free Yoga Classes

In celebration of National Yoga Day, Weston Yoga is having a full day of free classes this Saturday. As I was searching around their website, I discovered that they regularly offer yoga classes for kids and tweens. I stared doing yoga in high school, but the way I look at it, the sooner you start the better. I can think of hundreds of benefits yoga can bring K. For example, patience, tolerance, flexibility, a better understanding of herself, etc. She's too young to start right now, but as soon as she's old enough, I will definitely be looking for a class. For now, I'll be the one going to Weston Yoga to take the restorative class. Every mom needs some restoration time.

This is the schedule of free classes for Saturday, January 23rd:
(Donations for the Humane Society of Broward County will be collected)

8:30-10 am Ashtanga
10:30 am-Noon Heated
12:30-1:30 pm Hatha - All Levels
2:30-4 pm Heated
5-6 pm Restorative

Weston Yoga
2600 Glades Circle, Suite 400
Weston, FL 33327
(954) 349-6868
info@westonyoga.com

Win Passes to Butterfly World ($50 Value)

Motherhood for me has been a transformation. One way I've changed is that I'm more open to the simple pleasures in life.
We took K to the park yesterday afternoon and as she toddled through the grass searching for her favorite blade, I realized that her curiosity and sense of humor are like my battery. Sharing her delight in bubbles and ducks makes me more relaxed and less guarded. Following her lead, I have the courage to be myself more often. Her babyness is inspiring.

What are some of your simple pleasures? What simple activities do you enjoy sharing the most with your kids?

I'd like to give you two passes for Butterfly World. Answer the question (s) and I'll let you know who wins the passes by Tuesday, Feb. 2nd. I'll choose using random.org.

Music for Munchkins

In my perpetual search of family-friendly activities that stimulate our little one's brains, I was thrilled to find Music for Munchkins. It's a program run by the Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra designed specially for kids. Some of the best parts of this concert series: they are free, take place early in the day, and are short (30-minutes). Even better, the concerts are followed by juice and Munchkin donut holes. Always a crowd pleaser. All concerts begin at 11:00 a.m. They are held at Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University in Davie.

I found this information on their website: Conductor Dr Lynn Luce, affectionately known as Dr. Mom, interacts with the young audience during the performance and teaches basic principle of classical music in a light-hearted fashion. The friendly Maestro has some tricks up her sleeve to entertain this special audience. These child-friendly concerts are sure to endear young listeners to orchestral music, cultivating the concert-goers of tomorrow.

Upcoming concerts:

Music for Munchkins- All-Star Young Artist’s
Saturday, January 23, 2010
11:00AM

Music for Munchkins- Ars Flores Rising Stars Alumni
Saturday, March 13, 2010
11:00AM

Music for Munchkins- Five-Star Chamber Music
Saturday, April 17, 2010
11:00AM

Sing-Along and Mom's Morning at Whole Foods

Whole Foods Plantation Store
7720 Peters Rd
Plantation, FL 33324
954.236.0600

Sing-Along this Saturday, January 9 from 11am to 12pm

Sing along with Brittney Coe, from the Mailman Segal Institute at Nova Southeastern University, as she plays children's favorite songs including, "You are My Sunshine", "Down by the Bay", "The Wheels on the Bus", and many more!

Please make reservations at Customer Service, class size is limited. 954.236.0600

Mom's Morning this Tuesday, January 12th from 9 to 10:30am

Moms will receive a free muffin and cup of coffee along with a coupon for a free five minute massage from My Massage Corner.

Pick up your coupon at Customer Service and bring it to the Juice Bar to receive your complementary treat.

Fun Run

How unoriginal is the fact that my New Year’s resolution is to start working out? I know. Blatantly unoriginal. But, boy, I REALLY do need to get myself in gear. First of all, my back has been killing me lately. The major culprits are the daily sessions of diaper wrestling, toddler chasing, and a fun little game we play called “Let’s Struggle to Get this Curios Kid Back in her Stroller.” You know that game. The other reason is that I know the only way teach a son/daughter to do something is to do it yourself. I want to K to lead an active life. Watching my mom sweat to Jane Fonda in her 80’s leotards definitely programmed me to value and enjoy exercise.
The other day I came across FLIPANY ( Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth). They provide affordable physical activity and nutrition programs for youth and their families in South Florida. This Saturday, they will be hosting the 4th Annual Memorial Heathcare Systems 5/10K Fun Run in Hollywood (You can also just walk it). The event includes an NFL PLAY 60 Zone open from 10am - Noon. Post Fun Run you can enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast sponsored by Whole Foods Market and prepared by Chef Ron Duprat of the Marriot Hollywood Beach Resort.

Get the year started on the right foot and put on your running shoes.