Reviews - Kidding Around in Town

Adidas Kanadia TR 3 Shoes

2011-07-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

It is time for me to give you another one of my own personal tips. Ok, so I have been exercising for most of my life. In one way or another I try to stay in shape. I have done everything from Pilates to Yoga to Tae Kwon Do. I have done DVD's by Jillian Michaels, Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Attack and probably most other workout programs that begin with "Body" and are held at the Y. All of this to tell you that I have worked out in many different types of shoes and in no shoes at all. Well, as you know, I am Indian (from India) and I fit the stereotype to a T. I am short and small. Including my feet. This is why my husband says I like Adidas shoes. He says it is a small Asian thing. To that I say "whatever."

For the last 20 years I have held a fond memory of the Adidas Ozweego in my heart. That was my most favorite athletic shoe. I had a pair in high school, wore them out and could not ever find them (the same model) again. It has taken me that long to find another pair that I like as much. Keep in mind that I have owned athletic shoes that are $100+ so it is not a price thing. My husband even bought me a pair of Brooks a few years back. While I have liked the Brooks and expensive Nikes of the world I just never could find that feeling again. Until now!

I have discovered the Adidas Kanadia TR3 and lemme tell ya they are the bomb! Yeah, seriously. I love them for walking with the dog, playing at the park with the girls, hiking and most of all for working out in all of those "Body" classes in the gym. That is why I bought several pairs. They are cute and oh so very comfortable that you must try them! Hurry and get em' before they stop making them too!

Schik Intuition Razor

2011-07-07T06:06:00.000-07:00

Like probably every woman out there I thought the Schick Intuition razor was a total gimmick. In fact, had it not been for the free sample in the mail and the quick to follow vacation for which I needed a razor that would be "carry-on approved" by my friends in the TSA (you know I luv ya :-) ) I never would have even tried it. But I did. And I liked it pretty well. But the trip was short so I used it, came home, stashed it away for my next trip and forgot all about it.

Meanwhile at home I was using my usual razor, which I will not name because I only want to share positive comments, and still longing for a smooth shave. The shave I got with the Intuition but thought it was just the fact that the razor was new. Well, years later I have taken several longer beach vacations and I am here to tell you that I love this razor! It is awesome! Plus when you travel it is the only thing you need to take with you to assure yourself of a smooth shave every time. Until of course the cartridge runs out of the moisturizing border at which time you replace it. I have never liked a razor this much! And, they are not paying me to say this :-) Although some free samples would be much appreciated...

Indian Dance Lessons in The Dash!

2010-10-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about this find! Since Andira watched her first Bollywood videos (essentially at birth) she has been mimicking the Bollywood style of dress, dance and style. For whatever reason she and Inara have always loved Bollywood. That said, you can imagine my delight when I learned of a Bollywood style dance class for my girls!

Arya Dance Academy has decided to try and open a dance class designed to teach Bollywood style dancing to boys and girls in Winston-Salem! This is exciting for so many reasons! First of all, I am obviously psyched for my girls but this is significant of so much more. While Winston-Salem is a really wonderful place to raise children some people may consider it a little lacking in the area of culture. I, for one, have been in search of unique cultural experiences for my little ones. Indian dance class is just such a thing. If you are like me and in search of the same thing then help me support Arya in their efforts to open a permanent dance class here.

The classes are on Wednesday nights at the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem and are for children beginning at age 4. The 4 year old class is from 5-6:00pm and other age groups follow. There is a $50 registration fee which you will need to pay up front but you can come and try a class and then if you decide it is not for you they will refund your money without questions. Andira loves the class, dances and the teachers and she is a tough crowd. It is totally worth it! The average cost is $16/class after you decide to continue. Show how appreciative you are for another cultural activity for the children of the Triad to experience and either try the class yourselves or tell someone whom you think would be interested. We would be so sad to see the classes end due to lack of participation!

Saturday Morning Fun!

2010-09-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

This morning we tried out the story time at the Chic-fil-a on Hanes Mall Blvd in Winston-Salem, NC. Every Saturday in September this location is having story time for kids and free coffee for adults from 9-10am. For starters we were the only ones there! That is awesome for us since we have two girls who are very close in age who do not like rowdy boys…so why am I telling you about this?...Oh, because I want to be helpful.

Well, I highly recommend taking part in this activity if you have young ones who are up and would be interested in a story as you sip on your morning cup. We got there around 9 so the girls could eat something. As we were finishing up a young boy came around with silly bands for the girls which they loved and coffee coupons for us which we loved. He then invited us to the play area where he allowed the girls to choose stories and he read as much as they wanted. Then they played and pretty much had the entire play area to themselves! It was awesome!

Summer Camp Guide - Winston-Salem Area - 2010

2010-03-27T13:25:00.001-07:00

Summer is almost here! Last summer I spent so much time trying to figure out what was what that I missed out on a lot of great camps because by the time I filtered through the information to find what I was looking for everything was full. This year I decided to take matters into my own hands and do the work well in advance so that I don’t miss out! Here I have provided you with the info that I found. I am sure that these are not the only summer options for the little ones around here but they are what I was looking for and from talking to so many of you I think they will help you as well. As of April 1st all of these camps are accepting applications so find what suits your needs best and get signed up!

Most of the camps that I have found that are open to the general public only go down to age 2½. The YMCA is the best option for your young child (ages 3 months to 2 ½ years old) in terms of a camp. If it is pure childcare you need they have that too with hours from 7 am to 6 pm. At the Y they can also provide childcare in the form of a summer camp for your 3-5 year old with a different theme each week. The YMCA has many great camps for kids from ages 4 and up as well. My favorite may be the “All Sports” camp option because it is a week full of half days where your child will experience many different sports. What a great way to see what they like without having to sign up for an entire season! You can get details about the many different camp options at http://westforsyth.ymcanwnc.org/childcare/camp.php

I have not ever been to Clemmons Gymnastics but it has been recommended to me by a couple of people so I thought I would make you aware of this camp. This one is for rising 1st graders and up and is actually from 7am to 6pm daily. The tuition is $140/week and for the hours that is not bad! It starts on June 14th. For details visit http://clemmonsgymnastics.com/summerdaycamp.aspx

The Children’s Theatre has a several different themes for different ages ranging down to age 4. They look like a lot of fun and have both a half day and a full day option. For all details check their web site at http://www.childrenstheatrews.org/summercamp.htm

Another one of my personal favorites is the In Motion Dance camp which is open to kids 3 and up and you can opt for 3 days or a full 5 day week of half day fun. My daughters love to dance so we will be signing up for at least a week of this! They are also offering a dance class for 2 ½ year olds this summer which is a once a week deal but is great as an intro to dance! In Motion Dance camp and class details can be found at http://www.inmotiondancecenternc.com/summer.html?PHPSESSID=6cdc3f0a97e008143edfb2b9363d41e5

For you horse lovers you need to know about a horseback riding camp that is at Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center in Tobaccoville. The camp starts mid-June and lasts for 7 weeks. Anyone over the age of 3 ½ will pay $190 for 7 weeks of lessons. You can find all the details at http://www.riverwoodtrc.org/

In terms of flexibility it will be hard to beat Salem Gym where you can just even drop your kid off for the day. They have specialty camps, morning camps, lunch stuff as well as afternoon stuff. Salem Gym has it all! They take kids aged 3 and up and for more details you should go to their site at http://www.salemgym.com/

The Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem has a half day or a full day option and takes kids aged 4 and up. They have a different theme each week including “Opera Camp” and one geared toward music lovers. For details on The Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem’s camps visit their web site at http://www.childrensmuseumofws.org/pdf/camp2010.pdf .

SciWorks has summer activities in the half day category for your 4 and 5 year olds or full days for campers who are older. You can find details about SciWorks summer programs at http://www.sciworks.org/SciCamp.pdf

For your future chef’s the Young Chef’s Academy always has summer programs but their schedule is not up yet. Their web site is http://www.youngchefsacademy.com/stores/store_page.php?franchise_id=227 so if you are interested keep checking them out. I think they take kids 4 and up.

The NC Zoo also does have camps. They work by the day for $35 or overnight for the older children for $90. The hours are 9am to 2pm and the Zoo takes rising 1st graders and up. They open for registration on April 1st and I think they fill up fast so check out their web site for the different themes and decide which ones would interest your little one most http://www.nczoo.org/education/ZooCamp/zoocampprograms.html

Have a fun summer!

Spooneez

2010-02-14T05:03:00.000-08:00

You are at a restaurant with your little one and of course you have brought with you and arsenal of stuff. You have something for them to play with while the food is being ordered and prepared, some type of food they can feed themselves like maybe fruit slices and you have with you whatever you think they will eat as their meal. Whether you are lucky enough to have a child who will eat food prepared by the restaurant or you have had to bring food from home for them to eat one thing is for sure. What is the little darling going to eat with? Those restaurant utensils are much too big and you don’t want to have to wait for someone to bring you a spoon anyway. So you pull out your sandwich bag with the appropriate eating utensils for your precious little angel. As you pull the child size fork out of the baggie it rips and you think “that is going to be fun when I have to put this food covered fork back into the baggie which goes into my bag! There is another mess I can count on having to clean up.” Ewww! I get so tired of cleaning up food don’t you? This, my friend is exactly why you will want to “roll up the mess.” A Spooneez is a place mat, place to stash those dirty utensils and a cute little accessory all in one. You really need to check out their site to get the full picture. They even have a video to show you how it works!

I met Maythi Calvert several months ago and it was like we were old friends. She is just like you and me. Maythi and her business partner Robin are the developers of Spooneez. In addition to what you see on their site they are adding new patterns and new products like bibs and placemats soon! If you live in the Winston-Salem area you can find Spooneez at O’Baby Organics or Kari's Children's Boutique Resale. Maythi and Robin will be at the CBR sale which is February 26th and 27th - 9am-2pm and the location is where "If It's Paper" used to be off of Reynolda Road. I encourage you to go and see a Spooneez for yourself!

Gift the Bambino

2010-02-06T12:00:00.001-08:00

A friend told me about Lauren and once I saw her work I wanted to spread the word! Lauren Dillard-Shoffner is the founder of Gift the Bambino which is basically a cute and creative alternative to the diaper cake. The best way for you to see what I am talking about is to go to her site and check it out for yourself. The best part is that Lauren has offered to give the readers of the Kidding Around in Town web site a very special 10% discount at check out when you mention the site. http://www.giftthebambino.com/main.html

If you know someone who is expecting a little one her Bambinopops are sure not to disappoint! Order yours today! http://www.giftthebambino.com/sweettreats.html

A little about Lauren:

I am 27, married; living in Greensboro and have always had a love for entrepreneurship, kids and design. I am fortunate enough to have these ideas come together in the form of various businesses. A former children's party planner (KiddiEvents) and nanny, I am currently well into my second year of Gift the Bambino and the new owner of a small home day care and I am a web designer. Gift the Bambino came about after I attended a baby shower that used diaper cakes for centerpieces. I'd never seen them before anywhere else but later when I was in need of a new business idea, the thought of revamping and modernizing them was great! Since then, I have done countless cakes, custom and personalized orders, Bambinopops, the 'Lello Submarine (sandwich), cupcakes, muffins, the list goes on. I am always happy to take custom orders (about half our product styles are customer requested) and also provide quick shipping, or delivery on some local orders.

A Mural Artist

2010-01-21T19:10:00.000-08:00

Lee Anne Edwards is a mural artist in the Piedmont Triad who charges $25.00/hour and is willing to lock in a quote before she even starts! Here is what Lee Anne has to say:

My family moved from the suburbs of Chicago about 3 years ago. It was there that I stumbled upon painting murals. I was painting my sons' room and decided to give it a shot. Well neighbors loved it and requested my services and word slowly spread. Just as I was getting pretty consistent work my husband was offered a job here in NC. Once we got settled I attempted to start spreading the word here. However since the triad area is so spread out it is has proven to be more difficult than I anticipated. I have always loved art and have always been very creative so I would love to be able to continue. I have and do paint other things; t-shirts, tennis shoes, wall art, etc. But my passion is children's rooms. To see their little faces light up when you have created and painted something just for them gives me such joy. Check out her beautiful work. http://youniquedesigns.carbonmade.com/

Tyler painted the nursery before our first was born and it was and still is so special to both our girls. The theme is “Under the Sea” and there is a pink whale and a lavender shark and so many other cute creatures that we have been saying “good morning” to daily for almost four years now! What a special thing it is to have your child’s room painted in something so memorable.

LOVEPRINT by Camille Cesari

2010-01-20T07:15:00.000-08:00

Keepsakes by Camille Cesari

This is my favorite gift for a mother or grandmother yet! Camille will preserve your child’s fingerprint in silver or gold for you to wear around your neck forever! I am so excited about this gift that I think I am going to have to order several for myself, both grandmothers and even a great grandmother! Camille has been kind enough to offer a 10% discount to the readers of Kidding Around in Town if you mention the site on your order form. Check out her web site for all the ordering details!

Angela Gallagher - Yoga Instructor

2010-01-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

Angela Gallagher is a Yoga instructor for the Sara Lee Center for Women through Forsyth Medical Center. I heard about her from a friend of mine and the wonderful things she was saying about her made me want to see for myself. See I did. A few weeks ago I went to one of her “Mother Baby” yoga classes (Thursday mornings) and I have been excited to share what I have learned about her with you all since then!

Angela is an instructor who is unlike any other fitness instructor I have ever experienced myself or heard about from anyone else. The “Mother Baby” class I attended was amazing in so many ways. A class with babies one year old and younger is unpredictable at best. When the babies would fuss or cry during a certain maneuver instead of scowling at the mother or suggesting they take a break from the class she was so warm and would say something like “oh it looks like somebody doesn’t like this one, let’s try another move” which as we all know is so much more comforting. As the mother of a small baby you become so used to being viewed as a burden or a pain that it is nice to know that you can go somewhere and be fully at ease and focus on fun with your little angel instead of having to constantly apologize.

I also noticed that the mothers in attendance were so comfortable talking to Angela about various things. From a colicky baby to breastfeeding the women asked anything and she either had answers or said she would get them. It was obvious that I was not the only one who felt Angela was a long lost friend. What a wonderful place for a new mother to go to get out of the house, get some exercise, spend some QT with baby and get some encouragement from a person like Angela. This is a great start for a new mom.

Well, since I no longer have a baby who is under a year old I was hoping she would start some classes that I could participate in. She now has a “Traditional Yoga” class on Saturday mornings and a “Post Natal” yoga class on Wednesdays. Yay! You can buy a pass for just $68 and come to any combination of eight total classes. You can’t beat it!

Besides just being wonderful and sweet Angela has also traveled all around the world studying Yoga for over 25 years. She has been to India, Thailand and London to name a few places. Angela is certified to teach yoga and has some specific training like how to help cancer patients. When I asked her what it is she wants her students to walk away with she promptly replied “I want every person to feel good about who they are right now.” And believe me; she does a great job at this with every class.

I also wanted to mention that Angela is doing a “Yoga for Eating” seminar on 1/30 from 1pm-6pm at the Sara Lee Center for Women’s Health at Forsyth Hospital. The cost is only $25 and there are still a few spots left so hurry and sign up! I hope to have the sign up information posted here soon but if you are ready now then call the Sara Lee Center and they can take care of you. This promises to be a great class that you will remember for a lifetime.

My Kids Art on Canvas

2010-01-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

I ran across the coolest way to make your child’s art work last a lifetime! Now that my daughter is three and is drawing her first people, writing her first letters and actually making her first recognizable marks on paper I have been wanting to find a way to preserve these things. I got her to do a drawing with a little of everything in it for me to keep forever and I think this is the neatest way to preserve her work. Personally, I would even hang this up in my home because they are such cute not to mention original works of art!

My Kids Art on Canvas by Sabine Schoepke offers a way to make your child's art last forever by putting it on canvas. Sabine is offering a prize of a $50 gift certificate to someone who reads this blog post and leaves a comment. This is just about enough to get a FREE 8x10 canvas! The contest will last for one month and I will use random.org to generate a winner. All you have to do to win is leave a comment! I will draw a winner on February 10, 2010.

Here is what Sabine has to say about her work:
What parent does not have boxes full of their kid's artwork? And don't we all have a couple of favorite pieces we treasure? Here is a brand new fun way to display your kid’s art:
Preserve your kid's free-spirited artistry and display it like a true work of art. Twin mom Sabine Schoepke recently started http://www.mykidsartoncanvas.com/ . Here you can turn your child's artwork into a unique and sophisticated canvas art print. It personalizes a home and works as a decorative accent in even the most sophisticated setting – check out their Sample Gallery for some fun and creative ideas. It also is a great way to encourage little artists' creativity and boost their self-esteem. With many options (colors, frames, borders, personal captions, etc.) to choose from, it's a unique gift idea for grandma, mother’s day or simply great pops of color for any room. As a last minute gift-idea they also offer gift certificates and e-gift cards.

The Mother List

2009-11-21T15:53:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make you all aware of a web site I found where mothers can sell their old stuff like kids’ toys, furniture etc and/or buy things that other mothers are selling. Whitney Trujillo has created this web site and what I like about it is how easy it is to use and the fact that it beats the heck out of having a garage sale! I thought some of you may benefit from such a great web site! Below is the description that came directly from the site.

The Mother List is a place where things can be bought, sold or traded. In order to use any of these features, you must be registered. Registration is free. Once registered, browse the site. If you find something you like, you can click the “contact seller” link. If you have something to sell or trade, make sure you are signed into your account, click on the “List an Item” link and follow the steps. You can list features, upload pictures and set a price. Shipping will be decided between the seller and buyer and is generally not included in the sale price unless otherwise stated in the listing.

"Where The Wild Things Are"

2009-11-07T19:47:00.000-08:00

This movie is very age inappropriate and the Wild Things need deep intense therapy ( in one scene, one wild thing rips off another's arm). My youngest, Ethan, said "mom, why are they acting like this?" and when the movie was over, both Owen (10) and Ethan (7) said it was the weirdest and worst movie they had ever seen. I just want to warn anybody who is thinking about taking their little ones to see it.

I am just trying to be helpful to other mothers out there that would not want to be caught in the same predicament that I was in. My children learn from me and trust in me to be "SUPER MOM" and for me to be caught off guard by the movie I had chosen for not only them but their friends , it was just very hard to explain to them what they were watching or why I can even subjected them to see that type of behavior.

- Angela W. Campbell

A Belt A Child Can Open and Close?!

2009-11-01T15:03:00.000-08:00

Myself Belts

One of my closest friends alerted me to this slick invention in the children’s clothing arena. We were sitting in a coffee shop and talking about our little girls. I was talking about how I had sent her to school that day in a really cute pair of jeans that had a belt that went with them. My girl is the type that wants to wear the most complete possible outfit and she wants it to match to a tee. I would not otherwise have allowed her to wear that belt to school because it had a buckle closure that made me nervous since she is only three and I would not want her to have an “accident” because she could not get her belt off in time. Anna told me about these belts and I was sold! Not to mention they have kindly offered to give those the readers of KiddingAroundInTown a discount!

Here is what they are all about…

Sized for kids ages 2-10, Myself Belts help kids and moms by promoting independence. Praised by teachers, kids and parents, Myself Belts are a must have accessory! They help make a child’s (and parent's!) day a little easier and provide children with an "I did it by myself!" moment. No more droopy drawers and a frustrating problem is solved for both parent and child! Myself Belts are also available for teens/adults with hand dexterity challenges due to cognitive or physical difficulties. With a faux buckle, it looks like a traditional belt!

My sister and I (both inspired by motherhood) invented a must-have fashionable and functional children's accessory for kids ages 2-10. FINALLY, a belt closure designed specifically for young children! Myself Belts promote independence and boost self-esteem by allowing children to easily fasten and unfasten their belt on their own. Myself Belts are functional and fashionable, and have been featured on The Today Show and in In Touch Weekly as a favorite belt of celebrities such as Courtney Cox and Brooke Shields! Shaquille O'Neal's kids also love their Myself Belts and they retail for only $9.99- $15.95! Myself Belts can also be personalized for that special gift.

Thank you so much for your interest in Myself Belts- we are excited to be part of your site!

Exercise While Running Errands?

2009-11-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

The following post was written by my dear friend Gwen Brewer. Those of you who don't know her are missing out! This woman has a wealth of information on so many things but where she has helped me most is in making being a mom easier and more stress-free. I had the priviledge of working with her as her partner for many years and learned a lot from her in that time. One of the things she guided me toward was the purchase of a pair of MBT shoes. Since one of my main goals is to make the life of a mother easier I thought I would ask her to write a little something about these shoes. Read what she wrote and then check out the awesome deal you can get when you buy these shoes here in Winston-Salem, NC.

Time to start saving your pennies.

Working moms live by multi-tasking. Exercise is no exception. We need to get the most out of the limited time we have for exercise. That's why I saved up to buy a pair of MBT sneakers. MBT claims their shoes will burn calories, increase your muscle workout and improve your overall body aches (lower back, knees). The verdict.......... I love these shoes!

Whether I’m wearing them to exercise or just running around doing errands I can tell a difference. Several nights a week I walk/jog for an hour in my neighborhood. I had been doing this for a few months when I got my MBT's. The first time I wore the MBT's I could notice a difference. My legs felt exhausted that night. I still feel like I get a better workout when I wear them and even my shin splints feel better. So ladies save your pennies because these shoes are expensive but in my opinion worth it.

One final note- for a low cost boost to your workout buy a Weighted Belt. My belt is 4 lbs and it helps intensify your walk and works your stomach area. You can pick one up at Target starting at $15 or at any sporting goods store.

Gwen Brewer
Lewisville, NC.

IKEA?

2009-10-25T05:21:00.001-07:00

We had had these plans to go to “Boo at the Zoo” for weeks now so when we woke up yesterday to stormy weather with the promise of continuing storms through 4pm in Asheboro you can imagine our disappointment. Well, I called Dawn and she said “why don’t we go to IKEA?” Since she had told me of this IKEA/utopia before I did not hesitate with my “yes!” and we packed up and left.

So what is it with IKEA? I will start from the beginning.

As you arrive into the parking lot what you will notice is that there is “family parking” this is especially for people like you and me who have little ones and is particularly appreciated in the weather we had yesterday. It is right up front and as close as you can get to the building. – Winner

You walk into this huge building and are immediately greeted by the “childcare” which you will find is well above what comes to mind with the phrase “childcare.” This is a place with a ball pit, movie theatre area, arts and crafts and so many other toys that I could not possibly name them all! A kid’s dream! And did I mention that it is free? Yes, for free they will keep your child for an entire hour while you shop.

And they don’t just have furniture. They have lighting, bedding, Swedish groceries, table linens, stuffed animals for kids and oh so much more! I would have never known!

Right above this area is their cafeteria. They have great food, we got cooked salmon, lox, salad and pasta with meatballs to name a few things and on Saturday kids eat free! So for two adults and three children to get much more food and drink than we could consume the bill was $19.63! No joke! They also have a kid’s section in their cafeteria complete with child friendly cutlery, furniture and seating.

On every floor and possibly in every department there is a kid’s play station. This is a place for kids to play while you browse at the cool stuff they have in that department. I mean they thought of everything!

In the restrooms there are signs confirming IKEA’s commitment to being family friendly. They say they have things like bottle warming stations and baby food too! It is about an hour and a half of a drive but you could literally spend the entire day there! We did.

A Birthday Party at Funigan's?

2009-10-17T18:29:00.000-07:00

Here is what one mom had to say...

My 4 year old son and his friends got to experience his Birthday Party at Funigans. He had a blast of which is the most important aspect for me. Furthermore, I have a positive recommendation for hosting a birthday party there.

Funigan’s is a lively and active place (which fits my son’s personality) so if you expect a quiet more private gathering Funigan’s is not the place for you. Yet, your guests will have a private room in which to share pizza, cake, drinks and presents for one hour. Then your party will move to a table amongst all the activities. The use of this table is for one hour as part of a party package. I found it useful as a place to set belongings for you and your guests in addition to any left over pizza and cake. There are many activities for children of all ages some of which include bowling, rock wall climbing, arcade games, a soft gym play area and well as a gated toddler play area.

As part of a purchase of a party package, the birthday host receives a t-shirt, plenty of tokens for your guests to play games, the help from a party “ranger”, drinks & pizza. We choose to bring the cake and ice cream since our son had a particular request. The party package is for two hours which did go by quickly. At the end of the two hour period, we once again had to move our belongings to another table in the grille area. The shuffling of our belongings every hour was somewhat of an inconvience but certainly not a deal breaker from booking another party there in the future. We were having so much fun we ended up staying quite a bit longer to play.

In our experience, the staff was helpful and courteous. There is plenty for the children to do you won’t be at a loss for entertainment. Fortunately for us, on the day of his party, Funigan’s did not seem too busy so it was not hard to keep up with the kids running around. While having a conversation with another mother who had her son’s party at Funigan’s, she remarked about how crowded it was the day of his party. She spoke of it being very loud and difficult to carry on a conversation with another person. I could see how that could be annoying and especially hard to navigate through the crowd. Once again, I was thankful it was not too busy at that time. In closing, my son’s “fun meter” was revealing off the chart values, so I will not hesitate to book another Birthday Party there if he so wishes.

Cathy Christy
(Mom²)

How About a Birthday Party at The Children's Museum?

2009-09-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

Thinking about having a birthday party at The Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem?

I LOVE it when parents give their insight on things related to children, their clothes, products, shoes, schools etc. I especially enjoy it when a parent give insight on kid’s activities because as the mother of two young girls you can honestly save me a lot of trouble and headache if you have already done something and are willing to share the details of your experience. In the spirit of sharing I wanted to provide an editorial on a couple of experiences I have had at The Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem.

We have been on both ends of the birthday experience. When we were the attendees (us and our then 2 year old and 2 month old daughters) we attended a birthday party for a young man of three years old. Looking back now I guess they, like us, opted for the sooper-dooper ultra party experience where they provide everything, including the cake. They do have several choices for birthday parties ranging from $150-$300 and allowing 15 guests. The difference when you pay the $300 is that you literally have to do NOTHING. Just show up with your little angel and off you go. No kids’ activities or kids’ games, no favors to buy no clean-up or hassle, no nothin! Their $300 package includes the party room, admission for 15 kids, arts and crafts and story time, oh yes and how could I forget the cake! The party we went to was themed “Thomas the Train” and so the kids all got hats, neckerchiefs, and favors in the spirit of trains and train engineers. It was really cute and we had a ton of fun! Then after (and even before if you so desire) the kids run around and blow off some steam in the complete safety of this incredible child proof environment until their heart feels full and their feet can run no more. So anyway, we loved the party experience from the attendee viewpoint so much that we decided to go for it ourselves.

When our oldest was turning three I called The Children’s Museum and booked the deluxe sooper-dooper princess theme party for our princess loving princess. It was great! One thing that is always very important to me when doing things with my kids, especially things that are on the expensive side is customer service. The staff was the first thing we noticed and quite possibly my favorite. They were focused on us from the time we got there until the time we left. They carried our stuff (whatever additional food type items for adults and the ice cream and a couple of other snacks for the kids which was not included) in and carried our gifts out which was HUGE for us since when our oldest turned three our youngest was only 15 months old so we had our hands full most of the time. One thing that I wish I would have known was that the museum does get a little too loud for story time outside of the party room on Saturdays. The package includes some time for a story which I love and while they have a great place with bean bags etc to lounge around and read stories I think that since the museum is actually open to the public it is pretty loud in there on a Saturday and especially for three year olds whose attention spans not longer that a fly’s wings. I would have asked them to read the story inside the party room to allow for an acoustical advantage. But all in all no big deal.

Would I do it again? YES! The Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem knows how to do a kids birthday party right!!

What's So Cool About Tanglewood Park?

2009-07-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

Tanglewood—The Perfect Way to Spend a Day

Let me tell you what we did today. A few weeks ago me and a friend of mine who happens to be the mother of a little girl who is in my daughter’s class at Montessori School decided to have a play date at Tanglewood park. For those outside of this area Tanglewood is a park in Clemmons, NC that I think many of us mothers take for granted. For just $2.00 you gain entrance into the park giving you access to all of the playgrounds as well as viewing and feeding of many of the horses boarded on the premises and many other amenities. I can say with certainty that I have not taken advantage of this lovely place. So today we decided to meet at 9:30am (and in ordinary Shazana fashion this was 9:40 to me) at the playground by the train and start our date out there.The playground by the train is really nice and big and at that time in the morning it was not at all crowded. I met my friend and then another friend joined us and all three of our 3-4 year old daughters started to play. They were having so much fun swinging, sliding, and playing in the sand box that if the day ended here it would have still been worthwhile. My little one was red faced and panting by the time we decided to scoot closer to the pool and climb the train at 10:30. We got to the train and up the stairs they ran as all three pretended to drive, fix, and ride on the train that is stationed in the park. The girls did that for about half and hour and then we headed to the pool for their 11:00 am opening.

I have to say that we were met by a line that made me think, “oh no, we are in for a crowded pool.” Well, for my daughter and I to get in was $7.00 (bringing the total for the day to $9.00) and this was a pleasant surprise. Then we got in and headed to the locker rooms to change. The locker rooms there and big, nice, and clean so that is a plus and something that may help you with you planning. They have even have shower stalls if you would need to get cleaned up after swimming.

We walked out into the pool area and wow, it was pool perfection for three year olds. While there were a lot of people there I did not feel that it was crowded. There was plenty of room to accommodate all of the people and I did not feel uncomfortable at any time. They have an entire area of 2.5 foot water complete with buckets that dump water on your head, pipes that stream water from above and a mushroom for you to get underneath and play all right there in the same area! The water gets deep gradually so that even younger children would have a good time playing. Andira beat me into the water and she and Ali commenced their pool time play! It was so much fun that we stayed until 1:00! We would have stayed longer had I not had a hair appointment and had she not needed a nap. I can’t tell you how much fun we had!

I wish someone would have told me about this hidden treasure so I hope you take my advice and take advantage of the Tanglewood pool while there is still some summer left!

To Kindermusik or not to Kindermusik?

2009-07-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

I can actually offer some valuable insight about this particular activity. So, when our first girl was six months old we, like every other good and ambitious parent, enrolled the little sweetheart in her first semester of KinderMusik. Our teacher was Erin and I mention her name because we LOVED her. She was awesome. So needless to say we had a wonderful experience with our little girl who started before she could crawl and went for the next almost two years during which time she became an Olympic Sprinter. As far as kids’ activities go, this one definitely gets two thumbs up. She grew and learned so much there.

Then our second girl was born when our first was the tender age of 21 months and all kids’ activities came to a screeching halt. KinderMusik stopped for our almost two year old and it really never started for the baby. We or I should say “I” felt horrible. How could I deprive our second child of an experience that our first one gained oh so much from?? I must just be a crappy mom. Right? Well, now our baby is 18 months old and let me just say “NO!” I now know what I wish someone, including my own parents who made me feel guilty about it at every opportunity, would have told me back then when I needed a boost. Second children somehow make it on the steam created by the first ones and what I believe to be the Grace of God! Seriously, my second girl was doing things by nine months that my older one was not doing until she was two! Really. And this is by no means a crack at my oldest who is one very bright light in my life; this is just to make you feel better about the second child. I thought for sure that my second little girl would have less of a love of music and dancing as a result of her not being exposed to the music class her older sister was lucky enough to go to all by herself for two years. NOT! She absolutely loves music and dancing all the same.

So while I loved the experience give yourself a break if you are in those shoes. If your kids are at an age where you can take both of them and they won’t subtract from one another’s experiences then by all means take them both, but if you are more like I was (and believe me I tried) and one of your children requires too much attention for themselves then just let it go and stay home. Buy some children’s music CD’s and play them for the kids at home. Plus, they don’t serve wine at KinderMusik…

Family Night at Chick-fil-a on Knollwood Street in Winston-Salem, NC

2009-07-15T08:20:00.001-07:00

Tuesday night my 3 year old, Andira, has “dancenastics” at Salem Gym and my 18 month old, Inara, has gymnastics at the same place. Both of these events are every Tuesday at 6:00pm. Those of you who have children involved in activities at this time of the evening will appreciate this most.

What are your first thoughts when you are planning this evening? That’s right, I know one of you said it, “what are we gonna do for dinner??” Well, this is what we were thinking too. We have tried several different places that are fast, inexpensive and have something we know the kids will eat. Mi Pueblo worked out well since it was fast, cheap, and the kids ate. We also tried a couple of other places like Subway and El Dorado. Subway was OK but the kids did not want pizza that night so they wound up only eating olives which does not a dinner make. El Dorado was probably our least favorite for a number of reasons but mostly because for a Mexican restaurant it is pricey. Kids meals are $4.00 and up and I don’t know about you but when your kids eat as little as mine do I probably won’t spend that much on a meal for them to throw on the floor, rub between their fingers, and ultimately eat very little of. Mi Pueblo is not only faster but it is cheaper from the standpoint of a grown-up meal anyway.

Yesterday we decided to try out Chick-fil-a on Knollwood located at 391 Knollwood Street. Let’s just say that we will be back there again! The service was fast, friendly, and we all ate until we were full (and my husband had a grilled chicken combo and a 12 pack of nuggets) for under $16.00! That is 2 adult combo meals, 2 kids’ meals, and extra pack of 12 nuggets! And when I say the service was good I mean that the sweet girl from behind the counter, the one who took our order, came out to our table and refilled our drinks! I mean it. And if that was not enough then let me tell you about the balloons, masks, and face painting they had FREE for kids. Not to mention that if you go on facebook and “friend” them you will be able to see what their theme is for that week and if your child dresses up then they get to eat for FREE! I am working on getting the themes into my calendar for each week but if you read this before I am done then I wanted to tell you where to go. You could also call them at (336)-722-6058 if you prefer. The service and atmosphere rival a “fine dining” experience with a fast food price. You really must try them!

Free Storytimes at Lewisville Library and Barnes and Noble Bookstore

2009-07-08T20:56:00.000-07:00

Here in Winston we are so lucky to have many free activities for our children to partake in. One of my favorites is a good story time with a craft or some other activity as the finale. So far my two little ones (keep in mind one is 3 and the other is 18 months) have been to the Lewisville Library and the Barnes and Noble bookstore on Hanes Mall Blvd. Both of the sessions that we attended were in the morning at 10:00 or 10:30 because after that my children turn into miniature squashes in the progression of becoming pumpkins the closer it gets to their 12:00-12:30 nap time.

For starters, there is no need to rush since neither venue got overly crowded. This is always a plus for us since we seem to be screeching tires regardless of the occasion. The library seemed to have fewer distractions for the kids so from what I could tell more kids actually sat down and listened to the story from start to finish. That is not to say that we did not observe any of the more curious varietal of child at the library but given the more controlled environment I think that it was a best case scenario. At Barnes and Noble there is so much fun stuff to do that a child can more easily find their attention being grabbed by a stuffed animal on a display or a puzzle on a shelf; but isn’t this what we love about that place?? Just sayin’.

In the Lewisville Library the set up was so that all children sat on the floor and there were some available chairs for adults to sit in (my kids pay better attention if I sit with them so that is what I would recommend). In the bookstore the reader was on the stage in the back making it more beneficial for kids to sit on the benches so that the smaller ones could see.
Each venue had a craft associated with the story. Both were great. They made sunglasses at Barnes and Noble and a sun at the library. The fact that they did anything like that at an event that does not charge was enough to make me want to go.

All in all both were great and did I mention that they were completely, absolutely, undoubtedly, astronomically FREE?!?!?! So who can complain?