2013-09-09

Educated Nannies! Outstanding Minds + Excellent Care = Happy Families

Educated Nannies is a unique boutique nanny agency that specializes in matching college-educated nannies with great families. Do you need someone who can cook? Drive? Tutor? A Credentialed Teacher? Newborn Care Specialist? Potty Training Expert? Every family deserves a nanny who goes above and beyond, and they are proud to represent the top nannies in Los Angeles. Have you already found a nanny? They also offer a background checking service. Mention Jen’s List for a special discount!

www.educatednannies.com

 

 

Today in History

www.history.com/this-day-in-history

Star Trek premiered on television (1966)

President Ford gives unconditional pardon to Richard Nixon for any crimes related to Watergate. (1974)

National Grandparent’s Day

http://www.kids-list.com/Blog.aspx?blog=148

International Literacy Day

National Date Nut Bread Day

National Pet Memorial Day

 

 

Play and Grow Smart-er Tips

Nancy Pyne-Hapke, author of “Play and Grow Smart, A Guide Supporting Brain Development, Birth through Five,” has been giving tips to aid your child’s optimum skill development through proactive neuroscience-based activities every Sunday. These ideas come from scholarly sources to personal interviews, from the internet to periodicals to books.  

DEVELOPMENTAL Skill Definition, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL: bonding, building relationships, appreciating differences, self-esteem, self-expression, responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, curiosity, motivation, persistence, self-control.

THE CRITICAL WINDOW during which the circuits of the brain are being most heavily wired for “SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL: EMPATHY, ENVY” development is about 2 years – 9 years.  The more opportunity children have for positive social-emotional experiences during this critical period, the more efficiently their brains will work over the long run.

Some Social/Emotional: EMPATHY, ENVY tidbits, 5-year-olds and up:

*  BE EMPATHETIC and help your child understand and cope with strong feelings by giving her words to use when she is angry. Use ‘emotions flash cards’ utilizing your own photo creations (http://jenscopycatcrafting.blogspot.com/2011/03/so-how-are-you-feeling-today.html) or character faces (like these – http://www.nickjr.com/printables/rintoos-emotions-flashcards.jhtml).

*  PRACTICE empathy role-playing with facial expressions, skits and games (http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/empathy-role-playing-games-children-13541.html).

*  YOUR PUBLIC library has many books with engaging illustrations on the theme of coping with angry or sad or envious feelings – just ask your Children’s Librarian.

Next week – “Language/Vocabulary”

Comment to msmarm@roadrunner.com

 

 

Introducing THE WINSTON SHOW

A new kind of family entertainment available on your iPad, where you are the star and the main character listens and responds!

Get ready to 

CHAT with WINSTON about your favorite topic;

TEST your knowledge on a quiz show;

PLAY backstage in the costume department;

CHOOSE what stories the writers tell. 

Download it at http://appstore.com/toytalkinc/winstonshow.

Read about it at http://www.fastcompany.com/3015973/innovation-agents/pixar-vets-unveil-a-genre-busting-ipad-talk-show-that-talks-back.

 

Trying to Beat the Crazy Heat? Check out Brian’s Shave Ice in Tarzana

Brian’s Shave Ice & Boba has come to the valley! Featured in Los Angeles magazine and enjoying a 4.5 star Yelp rating on both stores, they import a Hawaiian-style frozen treat to the mainland-shave ice flavored with syrups direct from Hawaii, plus Dole whips, sugar-free shave ices, and great toppings and garnishes. And don’t forget the full Boba menu!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/brians-shave-ice-and-boba-los-angeles

Did you know the Pump Station is also in Westlake Village?

Whether it’s for Breastfeeding support, M&M classes, or to simply find answers for crazy questions that only a mom would understand, the Pump Station is a fantastic resource for people in the west SFV / Conejo Valley.

http://www.pumpstation.com/westlake village 

 

8 Ways Screens Are Ruining Your Family’s Life

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/04/ways-screens

 

 

Imagine turning a school bus into the ultimate mobile home

And it sleeps 6. Comfortably. With enough room for everyone to spread out in 225 square feet. What a ride!

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-estate/school-bus-turned-modern-mobile-home-article-1.1431101

 

 

New Childbirth Education Classes, Monday/Wednesday Nights in North Hollywood

We have just announced our new Childbirth Education classes at our beautiful Yoga facility in North Hollywood. Classes are led by Certified Childbirth Educator and Doula, Jaquelin Levin-Zabare.

One free prenatal massage included! Call the studio to register: 818-761-1705 or send an email to: info@yoganoho.com

9/11, 9/18, 9/23, 9/25, 10/2, and 10/7

7-9:30pm

$350 per couple

YOGA NoHo

5257 Vineland Avenue, NoHo, 91601

www.ibelieveinbirth.com

 

Check out Kidspace Children’s Museums in Pasadena for Birthday Parties

Kidspace is a great place to discover fun things with your kids. Did you know you can also book it for birthday parties and other private events? You can schedule a birthday party on a weekday or weekend, during the day or evening, and host it in one of three great Museum venues.

See more at: http://www.kidspacemuseum.org/birthdays

School’s back in – Looking for Something to “Shark” it Up?

Get up close with the ocean’s ultimate predators at the Aquarium of the Pacific for FREE during Shark Lagoon Nights on many Friday nights. Guests will have the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and see large sharks such as sandtigers as well as rays in the Aquarium’s Shark Lagoon.

Coffee, hot cocoa, beer, wine, desserts, and snacks are available for purchase.

Please note that while it is almost every Friday, some Fridays are excluded.

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/shark_lagoon_nights/

 

We all have had a teacher who’s shaped us, inspired us, even scared us, and whom we can credit with having empowered us to become who we are today

In his third documentary to look at education in America, Davis Guggenheim brings us “TEACH,” which asks the question: what does it take to be a teacher? Offering a rare glimpse inside four public school classrooms, Guggenheim invites us to follow the struggles and triumphs of America’s education system through the eyes, minds and hearts of its most essential resource: teachers. A two-hour special television event presented by Participant Media, “TEACH” is set to debut on the CBS Television Network on September 6th at 8:00 pm ET/PT, and on Participant’s new network, Pivot, on September 14th at 8:00 pm ET/PT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh_1Xuvrvo4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

 

Awesome ideas for your kids lunch

http://lunchboxawesome.com/

 

 

Busy mamas wanted for new BABY CLUB

Wednesdays from 2pm-5pm

Catch up on emails and work while your baby plays with other children a few feet away. Each session will include supervised free play, musical fun and story time. Parents enjoy complimentary coffee, local food delivery, free WIFI, and can arrive or leave anytime within the time frame, but must remain on site during their child’s stay. 6mo-18mo recommended! Call 310-362-3103 or email info@BooksandCookiesLA.com 48 hours ahead!

www.BooksAndCookiesLA.com

 

 

Your Jr. Chef/Baker can make Butterscotch-Pecan Blondies Bar Cookies

Good lesson in the magical, nutty-tasting, fragrant results of browning butter. After lining baking dish with foil, to browned butter, mix brown sugar, whisked eggs and vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients and toasted/chopped pecans. Scrape thick batter into pan, bake about 25 minutes, and cool for at least 30. Pull blondies out of pan with foil and cut into 24 – 2″ bars. Yumm-mee. Parental supervision.

http://www.chow.com/recipes/30804-butterscotch-pecan-blondies

 

 

Liven Up Any Space with a Hand-Painted Wall Mural

Bedrooms, offices, the lobby at work, your kid’s school, bathrooms, baby nurseries, your backyard…all great places to have a one-of-a-kind custom mural painted! the dream painter can create an oasis for you just about anywhere! Call 805-527-1744 for a free estimate!

www.thedreampainter.com

 

 

Great Plumber Lead

Even if you don’t need this info now, copy and save it for when you do! Call and mention Jen’s List for discount. Contact (818)833-5649 or email Anjplumbing@gmail.com. TONS of happy Jens List members have used ANJ including myself!

www.anjplumbing.com

 

 

Free Magic Show At Little Acorns Grow Preschool in Altadena

September 17th at 3pm-5pm

Join Little Acorns Grow at their brand new preschool in Altadena for a fabulous afternoon of magic and fun! Magician Arty Loon will entrain with magic, balloon sculptures and face painting. Located on the Renaissance Academy campus in Altadena. Limited space is available – so sign up soon!

Call 818-779-1099 or Email littleacornsgrow@yahoo.com. Sign-up online at http://littleacornsgrow.net/register.html.

http://littleacornsgrowclasses.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/magic-show-at-little-acorns-altadena/

 

 

Fatigue Facts: 5 Things That Make You Tired

www.womenshealthmag.com/health/taking-energy?cm_mmc=Twitter-_-WomensHealth-_-content-health-_-thingsmakingyoutired

 

 

Mint is ubiquitous

That means you can find it growing nearly everywhere. In its native areas, it’s a weed and can take over if you’re not careful. While keeping it tamed, use it to make a no-calorie refreshing drink – mint-infused water. Fill up a water jug, add a long sprig or 2 of fresh mint and refrigerate for about a day. And if you grow ‘chocolate mint’ from the nursery, even better. (Other places to add chocolate mint: cakes, cookies, icing, mousse, puddings, chocolate sauce, hot chocolate.)

http://www.wittyinthecity.com/2013/09/mint-infused-water/#comments

More with mint. If you like the flavor of mint chip ice cream, try this yogurt snack – finely chop several sprigs of chocolate mint, and stir with chocolate chips into plain Greek yogurt. Add chopped mint to potato salad. Add mint to the marinated cucumber/tomato/onion/sugar salad. Add crushed mint to bath water. Add spearmint to mojitos.

Different mint varieties. Choosing flavors.

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/mint/mint-plant-varieties.htm

Did you know catnip is in the mint family? Plant seeds as early as March.

http://www.smartgardener.com/plants/546-mint-catnip/overview

 

 

Parents – “You Can’t Make Me!”: How to End Power Struggles

FREE One Night Parenting Workshops:

-Discover proven ways to end power struggles

-Learn to respond effectively vs. react emotionally

SANTA MONICA

Tues., Sep. 17th from 7pm-8:30pm  

Santa Monica Library

1704 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, 90403

WEST LOS ANGELES

Tues., Sept. 24th from 7:30pm-9pm   

3685 Motor Ave. in LA, 90034

…OR BY PHONE

Thurs., Sept. at 7:30 p.m.

(206) 402-0100, PIN Code: 310147#

310-773-6635

www.ParentingThatWorks.net

 

 

Explore Under the Sea Adventures with OCTONAUTS LIVE at Westfield Topanga

September 17th at 12pm & 1pm

Westfield Topanga invites you to join Captain Barnacles & Kwazii from the hit children’s television series Octonauts on one of their biggest adventures yet! Explore under the sea adventures with two performances of “Octonauts: To Your Stations!” Shows will feature musical numbers & the chance to become an honorary Octonaut! Children in attendance will receive Octonauts certificates, creature cards fun, informative activities, & special prize giveaways!

http://www.westfield.com/topanga/

 

 

Top Ten Free Days at Museums

http://redtri.com/los-angeles/top-ten-free-days

 

 

Focus Group

Local market research company is looking for pregnant women (either their first, second or subsequent pregnancy) or women with no children who are trying to conceive to participate in a focus group about internet sites. The study will take place in Glendale on September 11th or 12th and each qualified respondent will receive $100 for 90 minutes of their time. Contact Robin at 818-366-1126.

 

 

Viridian Art Academy’s Fall Art Workshops in Tarzana

In addition to on-going Art Classes for Children, Teen and Adults, we have exciting fall workshops:

Monthly Figure Drawing Workshops for Teens and Adults; Halloween Painting Workshop on Oct. 20th for age 5 & up; Felt Friends Monsters- hand sewing Workshop Oct. 19th & 26th for age 7 & up;  Sewing Classes for age 9 to Adult.

818-774-0775

www.viridianartacademy.com

 

 

Parents’ Harsh Words Might Make Teen Behaviors Worse : Shots

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/09/04/218972701/parents-harsh-words-might-make-teen-behaviors-worse

 

 

Weelicious Lunches: Think Outside the Lunch Box with More Than 160 Happier Meals

Easy, healthy, and fun lunch ideas for every age! Determined to improve what kids eat both at school and on the go, weelicious.com founder Catherine McCord offers innovative solutions for quick, delicious, easy-to-make, kid-friendly lunch box meals that little ones and their older siblings won’t be tempted to swap. Filled with lots of great menu planning ideas; tips, tricks, and reusable product suggestions to make lunch fun; inspiring color photographs, advice on dealing with food allergies and so-called picky eaters; and more than 160 tried and true recipes, Weelicious Lunches takes lunchtime planning from hassle to joy!

http://www.amazon.com/Weelicious-Lunches-Think-Outside-Happier/dp/0062078453

 

 

Study: Yelling At Kids Comparable To Physical Punishment

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2013/09/yelling-at-kids-comparable-physical-punishment-study

 

 

Are you a hard working single mom whose teenager is starting to make the wrong choices in life?

A major cable network is looking for Single Moms who live in the Los Angeles area and raising a teen (12 to 17yrs old) that is heading down the path of destruction and despair. Our experts will help you and your teen find the right path to a better life.

* Has your child been arrested and now you’re worried you’ve lost him/her forever?

* Is your teen hanging around the wrong crowd?

* Is your teen out of control and you’re not sure how to turn him/her around?

* Have you been working 2 and 3 jobs and you don’t have the time or energy to control your teen?

If this sounds like you or someone you know then we want to hear from you. Please email a brief description of yourself and your teen and tell us why you need help. Include a picture of you both and your contact information to tvcasting@msn.com.

 

 

How Money Works! Tax Now, Tax Later, Tax Never of Saving & Retirement Accounts. FREE WORKSHOP!

Wednesday, Sept. 18th from 7pm-8:30pm

Educating families is #1 priority of OPES Financial Solutions.  OPES’s Provisional Vice President, Janet Li-Tall, will be showing on how money works on saving& retirement accounts. She’s a mother of 2 children and she’s a wealth and asset protector. She educates families on how to make and save money, reduce taxation and asset protection. Call (323)791-7078 or email jtall0812@gmail.com with your name & number to attend this FREE informative workshop. 10 spots left open.

www.opesfinancialsolutions.com

 

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