Recycled Bottle Bird Feeder

 

Supplies

1-liter soda or water bottle

Sharp knife

2 wooden spoons

Small eye screw

Twine or string for hanging

 

Instructions

Start by drawing a 1/2-inch star on the side of a 1-liter bottle, about 4 inches from the bottom. Rotate the bottle 90 degrees and draw another star
2 inches from the bottom. Draw a 1-inch-wide circle opposite each star.

Use a knife to slit the star lines and cut out the circles (parent’s job). Insert a wooden spoon handle first through each hole and then through the opposite star.

Remove the bottle cap and twist a small eye screw into the top of it for hanging.

Finally, fill your feeder with birdseed, recap it, and use a length of twine to hang it from a tree.

 

Attending Fairs and Festivals with Kids

It’s fair season and they Bay Area has some wonderful events coming up! Families will have the opportunity to enjoy rides, shop small business vendors, and enjoy a wide variety of fair food.  If you want to enjoy a fun day out with your family a little planning in advance can go a long way. Here are some tip to maximize a day of fun with your family.

-Pack a bag with supplies for yourself and your children. Be sure to include a small first aid kit, wet wipes for cleaning small messes of children’s faces, sunscreen, hats for protection from the sun, hand sanitizer, and a reusable water bottle. Keeping a reusable water bottle that can be filled up at water fountains allows you to save money and stay hydrated.

-Wear comfortable shoes! The whole family should wear closed toe shoes made for walking.

-Bring cash. Having cash on hand will make it easier to stick to a budget and avoid ATM fees. Many fair vendors will only accept cash.

-Keep a close and watchful eye on children at all times because it is easy to become separated in large crowds.

-Establish a family meeting location. If you and your children should get separated at the event, establish an area easy to get to where you can meet.

-Consider parking in advance. If free parking is not available, make sure you include the parking in your budget so you do not have to miss out any fun at the event. Check out a map of the area and you might be able to find parking in a reasonable walking distance. Another option is public transportation which will usually save on gas and parking costs.

-Take breaks for young children. A full day of walking is exciting for them, but stop once every hour or so to sit, rest so they do not “run out of fuel.”

-Be safe on rides by obeying the regulations posted and using all of the provided safety equipment, such as seat belts and restraints.

Get Ready for Summer Easter Basket

If you would like to make your kids a creative Easter Basket that won’t leave you stuck with another useless basket, put their Easter surprises into a beach bucket.Here are some clever things to add:

Themed Easter book

Dollar bills scrunched up instead of grass

Water Gun

Sidewalk chalk

Bubbles

Happy Easter!

Celebrate Mama Brentwood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hope Desroches, 925-848-5966 hope@everythingkidsguide.com

CELEBRATE MAMA!® IN BRENTWOOD

An event and marketplace for mamas of all ages & stages!

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What: Celebrate Mama!TM BRENTWOOD, CA The 5th annual Celebrate Mama!TM is happening in Brentwood Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at Sand Creek Crossing on Sand Creek and Hwy 4 Bypass. Locally sponsored by Everything Kids Guide, Raleys Grocery Store, John Muir Health, The Jumpy Bunch, and Everything Brentwood; the event offers one-stop shopping for mothers in East County. The free festival in coordination with Pregnancy Awareness Month will offer a wide variety of Mother’s Day gifts, pregnancy related resources, rides and activities for the entire family, mother and child workshops, live entertainment, and pampering services especially for mamas of all ages and stages.

“Moms, dads, grandparents and children are encouraged to come,” said Klaudia Kenny, sponsor of the event. “Join us for a fun filled day of music, giveaways and activities for the whole family to enjoy,” she continued.

The free event will be held at Sand Creek Crossing, with a large array of information, ideas, and ways to make mom feel special. “We’re opening up the festival to those who want to help a special mom feel good from the inside out,” explained Hope Desroches, event coordinator. “We’re showcasing everything from parent and baby classes, to relaxing massages, to much-needed ‘mom-time’ ideas and resources available in the community.”

In addition to all things pregnancy, baby, and mother related, the event hosts a huge amount of family fun and entertainment. The whole family will enjoy live music, free bounce houses, water bubbles (walk on water), pony rides, petting zoo, game truck, trackless train, and much more.

The free event is geared towards getting something sensational for the mother in your life while keeping it fun for the whole family. Come by Celebrate Mama! and enjoy the collaborative efforts and wonderful gift ideas of East County. “This Celebration is the perfect place to find the perfect gift for mamas of all stages and ages! Come out and see for yourself!”

What: Celebrate Mama!

When: Saturday, May 11th, 2013 11:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Where: 2400 Sand Creek Rd, Walnut Creek

Food, Entertainment & Fun

Exclusive Mama Marketplace

FREE ADMISSION

Learn more about this event and Celebrate Mama Brentwood CLICK HERE

Celebrate Mama Walnut Creek Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hope Desroches, 925-848-5966 hope@everythingkidsguide.com

CELEBRATE MAMA!® IN WALNUT CREEK

An event and marketplace for mamas of all ages & stages!

———————————————————————————————————————

Walnut Creek, May 5th 2013. Everything Kids Guide presents the 3rd annual Celebrate Mama! This event is happening in Walnut Creek Sunday, May 5th from 11:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Ygnacio Plaza in Walnut Creek, at Sports Basement. The free festival will offer a wide variety of Mother’s Day gifts, crafts for children to make and take home, and pampering services especially for mamas- of all ages and stages.

“Everyone in the family is encouraged to attend Celebrate Mama!” said sponsor Lynne Dahl. Families will enjoy great activities like live entertainment, with new shows every 45 minutes, mom and baby workshops, pony rides, fair-style petting zoo with over 40 animals, pony rides, trackless train rides, and spectacular bubble display! The first 300 mothers will be given a free goodie bag with coupons, samples, and exclusive promotional giveaways from the event’s sponsors and vendors. New mothers can enjoy privacy in our nursing and changing station.

The free event will be held inside Sports Basement and in their parking lot. There will be a large array of information, ideas, and ways to make mom feel special. “We’re opening up the festival to those who want to help a special mom feel good from the inside out,” explained Heather Smith, event sponsor. “We’re showcasing everything from live music, to relaxing massages, to much-needed ‘mom-time’ ideas.”

Publisher of Everything Kids Guide, Hope Desroches came up with the idea when she realized there was no one-stop shopping for Mother’s Day information and ideas. “We’re bringing together doulas, lactation consultants, family birth professionals, child development experts, massage therapists, photographers, pre- and post-natal fitness experts, specialty services, and chic styles for Mom all in one place,” The event has become much anticipated in the Walnut Creek community, and will be growing in its third year.

The free event is geared towards getting something sensational for the mother in your life. Come by Celebrate Mama!™ and enjoy the collaborative efforts of local parents and find wonderful gift ideas. Hope Desroches says, “This Celebration is the perfect place to find the right gift for mamas of all stages and ages! Come out and see for yourself!”

What: Celebrate Mama!

When: Saturday, May 5th, 2013 11:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Where: 1881 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek

Food, Entertainment & Fun

Exclusive Mama Marketplace

FREE ADMISSION

Learn more about this event and Celebrate Mama Brentwood CLICK HERE

Damsel in Defense

My name is Trish Romandia and I am honored to represent an amazing company, Damsel In Defense.We sell personal protection products, especially designed for women, but have products that men like also. Damsel in Defense started in Idaho in September of 2011 because 2 women became friends at a mom ‘s group and both had a concern: their safety!

So many of us have the mindset that “it won’t happen to me”, I know I did before hearing about Damsel in Defense. Things do happen, we need to be aware and be prepared! Not walk in fear but walk confidently  knowing we have a way out if ever in a threatening situation.
Crime has gone up and one of the reasons? Cell phones! Women especially, walk around looking at their phones and texting instead of walking with a purpose and walking confidently  looking around them for signs of trouble. We need to change our thinking! Take a self defense course, learn how to become more aware, how to better protect yourself.
When I do an in home party or business presentation, I talk about the different situations that can come up, how to spot trouble, what an assailant looks for in a victim. Don’t be a statistic, learn now what is available to you and your loved ones. It could save your life!
Trish Romandia

Independent Damsel Pro#4
Pearl Director

Skin Care Tips from Dianne Glasmacher

MEN
Tools for “Homme” Improvement!
“Whether he wants to look good for a sales meeting, a romantic interest or just himself, today’s man is finally realizing he needs proper skin care.  Whether they work outside or in the office, men can have clean, healthy skin with little effort.  Don’t just shave your skin…cleanse it.  Need toning?…condition it.  Have itchy razor-burn skin?…refresh it.  Have dry or sun-damaged skin?…protect it.  Many skin care companies provide products that multi-task and meet specific needs and wants for men’s skin.”
This is for a woman to suggest to her man to try products that he can feel comfortable with, that are not girly.  Or maybe for a single dad that reads your publication.
TEENS
“Many teens, especially girls, don’t realize the benefits of taking a few moments to take care of their skin – unless they have a specific condition.  Speaking to the girls, no amount of make-up can “make-up” for neglected skin.  Wearing make-up is a quick fix to hide imperfections and dress-up the face, even for adult women.  Taking care of the skin itself first can prepare a better “canvas” to show off your features and colors – and you use less!  You might find you like your new healthy skin and use a little lip gloss and mascara only.  Or go naturale – make-up free skin can be beautiful, too!  Even simple quick steps can dramatically change the condition of the skin – and begin a life-time of healthy skin that you won’t have to “fix” later with expensive invasive procedures or dramatic surgeries.”
I don’t know if you have advertisers for injections or plastic surgeons. I can adjust the words to reflect “an alternative choice to…”, if you prefer.
WOMEN
“Did you know that even oily skin benefits from night time hydration?  People with oily skin have over-active oil glands and can leave a film on the face in the morning.  Dry skin does the opposite – under active oil glands leaving the skin especially dry.  While we sleep, we lose moisture.  That’s why we way less in the morning!  Each condition over or under compensates for that loss.  Oily glands shout “we’re losing moisture, get moving!”.  Dry glands moan “we can’t do it! We don’t have the resources!”  Applying a night moisturizer in the appropriate formula can balance out the skin and leave it SO soft for dry skin and just right for oily skin.  For sensitive skin, its a trial and error, unfortunately.  Like food allergies, figuring out what you can and cannot use takes more effort; even if you find just one product you can use and like is euphoric, right?  Moisturizing combination benefits and balances as well for the moisture loss.  Normal skin?  Well, they are rare but blessed and many don’t need or want to do anything.  Just keep an eye out because someday…    Applying a night time moisturizer is my second favorite skin care product I use.  I love the feel in the morning.  Try it and see if you can tell the difference!”  Next: Solve the Mystery! What’s killing my skin?
Dianne Glasmacher
Trusted Skin Care & Beauty Consultant for 30 years/Senior Consultant
Teaching women and their families how to have healthy skin and financial independence
Jafra Cosmetics Int’l
The Power to Transform Lives
call: 510-248-4439 (Fremont)

Plan Your Vegetable Garden

It might be too early in the year to bring out the tomato plants, but it is a good time to start imagining the possibilities of a home vegetable garden with your family. Planting a vegetable garden is an easy activity for kids who are supervised and it can give you a chance to spend more time together and spend less money at the grocery store.  As gardening is known to be natures natural meditation, it’s no surprise that involving children in gardening can help them to relax, express creativity, and feel a lasting sense of pride.

Now is a good time to start planting seeds! Watching the sprouts come from the dirt is very exciting for kids.

Here is a selection of some of the easiest and best vegetables to grow with kids.

Pumpkins – They like to see pumpkins grow. They will learn that pumpkins start out green and turn orange as they ripen.

Zucchini- Let children experience eating a zucchini flower. They will learn about male and female flowers and fertilization.

Carrots – Children enjoy picking carrots out of the dirt to discover how big they got.

Cucumbers – If you want to try something new and have the space, you can grow a cucumber tunnel. Setup the frame of the tunnel the way you want and let the cucumbers climb on the structure to cover it

Potatoes – A favorite activity in the fall is to dig in the dirt to find as many potatoes as you can. Children get excited each time they find a new potato in the ground.
If space allows, now is also a good time to plant fruit trees in Contra Costa County. Below is a picture of my children with two of ten fruit trees we planted yesterday.

Attend the Total Wellness Expo!

With 2013 in full swing, many people are already hitting road blocks on their new year’s resolutions. Don’t be discouraged! Join Everything Kids Guide and Barton Chiropractic for a fun, motivating, and rewarding event! The Total Wellness Expo is a place for people in the community to enjoy free health screenings, sample healthy food, meet local wellness practitioners, and enjoy live entertainment. Admission is free and you will leave feeling inspired.

Total Wellness Expo

Feb 9th, 2013

Offices of Barton Chiropractic

1251 Monument Blvd, Concord

I Love You Craft

Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion for crafts—after all, nothing says you care like a gift that’s homemade.

This is a sweet craft your loved ones will appreciate because it will tell them “I Love You” in sign language every time they look at it.

How to make it:

Construction paper for background
Construction paper and trace the child’s hand and cut out
Heart shaped doily or heart cut from construction paper

1. Trace child’s hand and cut out
2.  Glue hand to the background
3.  Gently curl the middle two fingers down and glue to the heart
4.  Present it to your Valentine.