Chester County Moms

Twas the Night Before Christmas - Mom Style!

2009-12-23T23:00:00.000-05:00

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the abode,
Only one creature was stirring, she was cleaning the commode.
The children were sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of X-box 360 and IPODS flipped through their heads.

Dad was snoring in front of the family TV
With a half-constructed bike propped up on his knee.
So only Mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, 'Now what's the matter?'

With toilet brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs and saw an old man
All covered with soot, which fell with a shrug'
'Oh great,' muttered Mom, 'now I have to clean up the rug.'

'Ho! Ho! Ho!' cried Santa, 'I'm glad you're awake---
My gift to you was especially difficult to make.'
'Thanks Santa, but all I want is time alone.'
'Exactly!' he chuckled, 'so I've made you a clone.'

'A clone?' she muttered. 'What good is that?'
Now run along Santa, I've no time to chat.'
Then out walked the clone, the dear mother's twin,
Same hair and same eyes, the same double chin.

'She'll cook and she'll dust, she'll mop every mess,
You'll relax, take it easy, watch the Young and Restless.'
'Fantastic!' mom cheered, 'My dream has come true!'
'I'll shop and I'll read and I'll sleep the night through!'

From the room up above, the youngest did fret.
'Mommy come quickly----I'm scared and I'm wet!'
The clone replied, 'I'm coming sweetheart.'
'WOW!' the mom smiled. 'She sure knows her part.'

The clone changed the small one and sung him a tune
As she bundled him up in a blanket cocoon.
'You're the best mommy ever---I really love you!'
The clone smiled and said, 'I love you too!'

The real mom frowned and said 'Santa , no deal!
That's my baby's love that she's trying to steal.'
Smiling wisely Santa said, 'To me it's so clear,
Only one loving mother is needed right here.'

The mom kissed her child and tucked him in bed,
'Thank you so much, dear Santa, for clearing my head',
Knowing time goes too fast ,and it won't be too long,
That her children will no longer need her cradle nor song,

The clock on the mantle then began to chime;
Santa whispered to the clone, 'It works every time.'
And with the clone at his side, Santa said,' Goodnight
Merry Christmas, dear mom, you will be all right!'

NORAD tracks Santa

2009-12-23T21:03:00.000-05:00

All the preparations for this year are in place. NORAD is ready to track Santa again this year. Click here on Christmas Eve to track St. Nick on his magical flight around the world!

The Great Pumpkin Carve

2009-10-22T13:14:00.001-04:00

Falling temperatures and leaves can mean only one thing – it’s time to mark your calendars for The Great Pumpkin Carve held on the grounds of the Chadds Ford Historical Society!

At 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 23rd, the artists will begin carving huge pumpkins, which are grown at S.I.W. Vegetables in Chadds Ford by H. G. Haskell and friends. At nightfall the pumpkins are lit and a team of three judges are ready to tackle the difficult job of choosing winners among 70 hauntingly carved masterpieces. Thursday, October 23rd, 5 to 9 p.m. - Local artists carve huge pumpkins on the grounds of the Chadds Ford Historical Society. Winners announced sometime after 8:30.

Friday, October 24th 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, October 25th, 5 to 9 p.m.- Candle-lit carved pumpkins, with winners identified, cover the Historical Society grounds.

All three nights - family fun, good food live music, and hay rides! Admission is $5 per adult 18 and up, children 7 to 17 are $3 each, and those 6 and under are free; CFHS members free with membership card. Hay rides $1. Parking in the meadow beyond the CFHS Barn Visitors Center headquarters building.

Suggestions:
* Please wear sturdy walking shoes and plenty of layers.
* Bring a flashlight.
* Please leave your dogs at home.

National Popcorn Month

2009-10-01T10:22:00.000-04:00

October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month, a time to honor America’s favorite magical, munchable maize. You seldom need an excuse to grab a handful of these simple kernels of goodness, but a month long celebration gives you plenty of time and justification to try new recipes. Whether you make it sweet, savory or salty, plain or pumped up, you’ll join your fellow Americans in consuming some 16 billion quarts this year.

October is chosen because it marks the triumphant end to the labor of the spring and summer months. As farmers head into the fields to gather the crops, families and friends gather to celebrate this beloved snack food.

Why do we love popcorn? How can we not? Popcorn is the fun food we eat when we’re happy. It’s the surprise food with “before” and “after” pictures that would make a Hollywood starlet cry for a makeover. It’s the science experiment food kids are entertained and educated by as it miraculously changes from kernel to fluff in an instant, hard to soft, non-edible to edible. It’s the simple pleasures food that reminds us to slow down. And it’s the economical food costing mere pennies per serving.

Popcorn also is a whole grain, which makes it a good-for-you food. As a whole grain, popcorn provides carbohydrates and fiber to the diet and is naturally low in fat and calories. That’s good news for your waistline. It’s an ideal in-between meals snack because it satisfies, but doesn’t spoil your appetite.

Yet when all is said and done, popcorn is simply a great tasting food. Surprise your family and friends with a popcorn treat today in honor of National Popcorn Poppin’ Month. For tasty recipes, fun facts, popcorn trivia and more, visit www.popcorn.org.

Be Kind to Humankind Week

2009-08-24T10:03:00.000-04:00

August 25th – 31st is “Be Kind to Humankind Week”. Be Kind to Humankind Week (BK2HK) is the annual celebration of kindness that is recognized globally from August 25th-31st each and every year. It is basically a week long holiday. Of course we suggest practicing kindness daily, but this is the week you can take it to the next level. The week consists of seven days, each with it’s own unique theme, have a look at each day below.

The Days:

Show them that you care -Sacrifice Our Wants For Others Needs Sunday

Drive Courteously-Motorist Consideration Monday

Spread kindness, one heart at a time-Touch-A-Heart Tuesday

Offer a helping hand-Willing-To-Lend-A-Hand Wednesday

Treat others well-Thoughtful Thursday

Come together-Forgive Your Foe Friday

Say something nice-Speak Kind Words Saturday

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) at Calvary Fellowship Church

2009-08-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

What is MOPS?

MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, an international organization that exists to encourage mothers who have children newborn – Kindergarten.
It’s a place where moms have the opportunity to make new friends, share experiences, laugh together, and learn trusted principles pertaining to womanhood, marriage and parenting. MOPS also provides opportunities for social outings geared specifically for preschool aged children and their mothers.
MOPS recognizes that the years from infancy through kindergarten are foundational in a mother-child relationship and are filled with unique needs.
MOPS groups gather throughout the United States, Canada, and numerous other countries to meet the needs of more than 100,000 women each year! The women you meet at your local MOPS meeting may not all be of the same age, background or lifestyle, but they’re all in the same season of life with a shared desire to be the best mother they can be.

How do I Join?

If you are interested in joining this incredible support network of women, there are a few things to take note of:

Calvary Fellowship Church MOPS meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, September – May.
Meetings begin at 9:30am and end at 11:15am. Children can be left in the care of the Wonderworks program at 9:15am.
An annual fee of $25.00 registration fee is required that goes to MOPS International. This secures your membership and entitles you to a one-year subscription to MOMS SENSE a bi-monthly magazine and the book “ Life on Plant Mom : A down to earth guide to your changing relationships” by Lisa T. Bergren. The Calvary Fellowships Church MOPS group also has a fall & spring semester dues that cover the meeting expenses. The dues are $42.00 for the fall (6 meetings) and $56.00 for the spring ( 8 meetings ).
Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost hinder you from participating! We exist for the community of moms around us, and we want to include everyone we can!

To register or learn more about Calvary Fellowship Church (CFC) MOPS contact one of our coordinators, Sharon Fleet or Rachel Fair at CFCMOPS@yahoo.com or visit our church website.

REGISTRATION is now open!

** ChesterCountyMoms.com is not specifically affiliated with any playgroups, Moms groups, or Parenting Organizations. If you are interested in advertising your group on ChesterCountyMoms.com, please feel free to email us at chestercountymoms@gmail.com

Chester County Mid-Summer Restaurant Week

2009-08-01T17:03:00.000-04:00

Barnaby's of America - West Chester
Brandywine Prime - Chadds Ford
Farmhouse Restaurant - Avondale
La Locanda Restaurant & Bar - Edgemont
Landmark Americana - West Chester
Molly Maguire's - Phoenixville
Pietro's Prime - West Chester
PJ Ryan's Pub - Phoenixville
Riverstone Cafe - Exton
Ron's Original Bar and Grille - Exton

For more info please visit www.dineinpa.com

Photography 101 with Caitlin Domanico

2009-07-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome back to our series on *EDITING*. All mini-tutorials are for using Google's program, Picasa.

Today we will be discussing fill Light.

Sometimes you take the perfect picture, upload it onto your computer, and realize, "it's just a little too dark". Here's where fill light comes in. Load your photo into Picasa. Click fill light. Adjust the slider until you get the desired level.

I guarantee this one will keep you occupied!

Topic next Thursday: converting to black and white

Until then, happy shooting!

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) at Calvary Fellowship Church

2009-07-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

What is MOPS?

MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, an international organization that exists to encourage mothers who have children newborn – Kindergarten.
It’s a place where moms have the opportunity to make new friends, share experiences, laugh together, and learn trusted principles pertaining to womanhood, marriage and parenting. MOPS also provides opportunities for social outings geared specifically for preschool aged children and their mothers.
MOPS recognizes that the years from infancy through kindergarten are foundational in a mother-child relationship and are filled with unique needs.
MOPS groups gather throughout the United States, Canada, and numerous other countries to meet the needs of more than 100,000 women each year! The women you meet at your local MOPS meeting may not all be of the same age, background or lifestyle, but they’re all in the same season of life with a shared desire to be the best mother they can be.

How do I Join?

If you are interested in joining this incredible support network of women, there are a few things to take note of:

Calvary Fellowship Church MOPS meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, September – May.
Meetings begin at 9:30am and end at 11:15am. Children can be left in the care of the Wonderworks program at 9:15am.
An annual fee of $25.00 registration fee is required that goes to MOPS International. This secures your membership and entitles you to a one-year subscription to MOMS SENSE a bi-monthly magazine and the book “ Life on Plant Mom : A down to earth guide to your changing relationships” by Lisa T. Bergren. The Calvary Fellowships Church MOPS group also has a fall & spring semester dues that cover the meeting expenses. The dues are $42.00 for the fall (6 meetings) and $56.00 for the spring ( 8 meetings ).
Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost hinder you from participating! We exist for the community of moms around us, and we want to include everyone we can!

To register or learn more about Calvary Fellowship Church (CFC) MOPS contact one of our coordinators, Sharon Fleet or Rachel Fair at CFCMOPS@yahoo.com or visit our church website.

REGISTRATION is now open!

General Coupon Pointers

2009-07-13T10:30:00.000-04:00

You're ready to rock and roll with your coupons! There are only a few more tips that you need to know before you start saving big. They are:

Read the Coupon's Fine Print
You want to walk into a store brimming with confidence about your coupons. One of the ways to do this is to educate yourself. Read the fine print on the coupon. Does it say "do not double?" Are you able to use one coupon per transaction or one per item purchased? When does it expire? How many items do you have to buy to use the coupon? What specific item and size of that item is the coupon for? Knowing exactly how your coupon may be used can help at the checkout in case one won't go through, or your cashier raises any questions. You can provide a knowledgeable response because you have done your research!

Know the Store's Coupon Policy
Stores should have their policies available at the customer service desk. Many stores also have their policies available online or can email you a copy if you request one. Just as it is important for you to read your coupon's fine print, it is equally important that you know your store's coupon policy. Do they double, and if so, how high? Is there a limit on how many coupons they'll double? Do they accept printable coupons? Do they accept competitor's coupons? These points are crucial for you to be aware of when planning your grocery lists!

Double Coupons
It is becoming fairly common for stores to offer some sort of double coupon policy. Be sure to confirm how your store's policy works before planning your shopping list. Many stores will double coupons up to 99 cents. This means that any coupon from $.01-$.99 will be doubled at face value, for instance a $.99 coupon would be worth $1.98 off of your purchase. Some stores will only double up to $1, meaning that the highest amount you can save is $1.

Remember That Your Time is Valuable
A popular saying on many coupon websites is "YMMV" which stands for "your mileage may vary." Simply put, that means you might be able to use a coupon at one store, but get hassled when you try to use the same coupon at another store. Stores will sometimes refuse to honor a coupon. Does that mean they're right? No, not necessarily. You can always ask for a manager or call the corporate office. Keep in mind though that your time also has a price and there will always be another sale. Before escalating into an angry coupon tirade, ask yourself if it's worth it. More than likely, it's not. Smile politely, take your coupon back, and know that another good deal is just around the corner.

Coupon Stacking
A great way to save big bucks and many times get items for free is to shop at a store that allows "coupon stacking." Some stores will allow you to use ONE store coupon stacked with ONE manufacturer coupon together on ONE item! Walgreens is one store that lets you stack coupons. There are many opportunities for free products when you match a Walgreens circular coupon with a manufacturer coupon.

Bottom line: The more you educate yourself about your coupons and the stores that you are shopping at, the more successful you will be!

Devon posts regularly on her blog, www.mamacheaps.com. When she is not blogging or designing personalized candy wrappers for her store, Winterwood Press, she is spending time with her husband and her 9 month ol

2009-06-26T11:40:00.004-04:00

Pennsylvania Dutch Folklife & Fun

2009-06-26T10:27:00.000-04:00

The 60th Annual Kutztown Festival

June 27 - July 5, 2009

9am - 6pm

Kutztown Fairgrounds, Kutztown, PA
Route 222 between Allentown and Reading, PA

Win A Free Overnight Trip For Your Family To The Kutztown Folk Festival!

Check out the Entertainment Schedule!

Click here for a $2 off admission coupon

Bring your family to enjoy the finest in traditional crafts, food, music and folklife. Fun for all ages! 200 of Americas finest traditional craftsmen. Fascinating demonstrations and treasures you can take home ....

Visit America's largest Quilt Sale. Over 2,500 traditional quilts, handmade by local quilters. Experience the exciting quilt auction of the top 24 prize winners on the second Saturday.

A wonderful experience for children! Delightful baby farm animals, puppets, make-and- take crafts, hay stacks and mazes, story time, singalongs, and hands on fun.

History unfolds before your eyes. Folklife, farming and gardening, churches and weddings, PA-Dutch dialect and folklore, spinning and weaving, country cooks, blacksmiths, furniture, candles, and more...

Mouthwatering PA-Dutch Food! Tantalizing family style feasts, ox roasts, sausage sandwiches, pies, pastries and lots more! Non-stop entertainment. Live music and dancing, comedy, country auctions, parades and bands. Fiddling, storytelling and historical seminars and traditions.Witness a 19th century hanging or take part in an old-fashioned cake walk.

The best examples of Pennsylvania Dutch and early American folk art and crafts are found in the outstanding works of 200 of the nation’s most skilled artisans.

Included in this year's festival will be fine furniture, miniatures, pottery,clothing, musical instruments, hand-painted art, iron ornaments, weavings, brooms, baskets, florals, hex painting, jewelry, leather, cut paper art known as “scherenschnitte,” Pennsylvania German calligraphic writing called "fraktur", beeswax candles and more.

Click here to visit the festival blog.

Frugal Finds Friday: Getting Control is Key

2009-06-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

The other day I pulled out my favorite pair of jean shorts. I was shocked at the condition they were in. Paint splattered down the front. Errant strings hung down like a warped version of Daisy Duke's country attire. I wondered when they had gotten so bad?

I thought of a bazillion parallels to life. We get so busy. One day, we open our eyes and it may be paper piles, cleaning, weight, or finances that have gotten out of control. Or maybe all of the above. Remnants of past good intentions are hidden in a messy drawer or a box in the basement. Systems that once controlled your life are now in shambles. What's a person to do?

First, take stock of the situation. Just how bad is it? How far are you from your goal weight? How far are you from your desire to be out of debt? How quickly can you get your house clean? How big is that mountain? If you don't know, then how are you going to do anything about it?

Click HERE to read more!

Sarah Peppel is a Frugal Living columnist at the Phoenix and runs the following blogs: DIY Frugal and Genesis Moments.

Surf Sweets Review & Giveaway

2009-06-26T02:07:00.001-04:00

As moms, we know that filling our kids up on unhealthy treats and sweets isn't the best thing in the world! But every now and then our little ones want a sweet treat...or better yet...they deserve one! But in a market full of treats made primarily with high fructose corn syrup and truck loads of sugar...what's a mom to do? Is it possible to reward our little sweeties with sweets of their own and not feel guilty about it?

You bet!

There's an incredible organic candy & natural company called Surf Sweets...they are making some of the yummiest gummy candy around! We were able to try out some of Surf Sweet's most delectable treats...and let me tell you...they are incredible! Don't think for even one minute that you have to sacrifice on flavor or taste just because they're organic and all natural! Surf Sweets has hit the jackpot! Some of our favorite Surf Sweets products are the Gummy Swirls (SO scrumptious) and the Sour Berry Bears (Mmmmm)!

You've gotta try them!

All of their treats are made with natural sweeteners and organic ingredients such as Organic Fruit Juice and Organic Cane juice...they are Vegan, Gluten Free, contain Vitamin C and are made in a Nut-Free facility (yay)! And last but not least...they do not contain GMO's or corn syrup!

So...our little ones can snack on yummy treats and all of us mamas can sit back and relax knowing that they are eating natural, organic & quality treats!

Surf Sweets even has little 9 oz. packets of Gummy Bears - perfect for tossing in the lunch boxes, packing for a picnic or even giving them to all the local neighborhood kiddies who will be over all summer long!

Surf Sweets products can be found at local retailers and organic markets. Click HERE to see if you have a retailer carrying Surf Sweets near you! You can order them online as well.

Want to Win a Prize Package full of Surf Sweets treats and a free Surf Sweet t-shirt?!

All you have to do is email us at contests@chestercountymoms.com (Subject Line: Surf Sweets) or leave us a comment below with your email address so we can contact you if you win!

Want extra entries?

Follow us on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway! Leave us a comment below or an email letting us know you tweeted!
Follow Surf Sweets on Twitter too! Let us know you are following their tweets in a comment below or send us another email!
Become a Fan of Surf Sweets on Facebook! Tell us that you are!
Become a Fan of Chester County Moms on Facebook too! Remember to tell us for your extra entry!

This contest is open to US citizens only. Contest ends at midnight (EST) on June 30, 2009. The winner will be chosen randomly...so make sure you give us your contact info so we can let you know if you won!

Photography 101 with Caitlin Domanico

2009-06-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

"OMG I love your pictures, what kind of camera do you use?"
Part Three
Are you ready for the latest installment of "OMG I LOVE YOUR PICTURES"?

I really feel that this is one of the most important tips, but it is very intimidating for people to begin to use. Would I make you do anything TOO hard? No! Just relax and read on.

Soak up natural light when it's available.

Turn off your flash.

I know, it's hard to do, but do it. If lighting is low, then use your arms as a tripod and prop your camera on a steady
surface. No surface available? Draw your arms in tightly, hold your breath, and take the photo. If you are using an SLR and know a bit more about the technical
end, boost your ISO, widen your aperature and/or adjust your shutter speed. There is nothing like a beautiful portrait lit by a window. Skin tones are more natural,
colors are more true, and there are no harsh shadows and flash spots.

Check out these examples:

Flash~ could have been so much better! (or will require much more editing)

No Flash~ sigh...so pretty!

Have you mastered all of these techniques and still want more from your photography? Stay tuned for next Thursday's topic- editing software for all budgets.

Until then, happy shooting!

Have questions, or want to book a session? Head over to www.caitlindomanico.com!

Time for a facelift!

2009-06-25T01:33:00.003-04:00

With our 1 year anniversary approaching, we thought it was time for a little nip tuck. We appreciate your patience as www.chestercountymoms.com will be offline until noon on June 25th so we can work on the finishing touches.

We are really excited about our new look.. Stay tuned!

Real Estate 101 with Craig and Gina Wiley

2009-06-24T21:03:00.000-04:00

Staging Tips

Having curb appeal and preparing your home for buyers is one of the most important steps in the selling process. Below are some staging tips that won't break your bank!

First impressions are EVERYTHING! Keeping your lawn watered in warmer months to maintain a healthy green color, planting flowers along a walkway or around a lamp or sign post, and/or placing attractive flowerpots on the porch are all good ideas. Make sure your trash cans are out of sight and there are no toys left outside.

The front door is the place that could be examined the longest, here's why.... the buyer is usually standing with the REALTOR as he / she is unlocking front door. In reality this takes only a minute or two...but while the agent is fumbling around with the lock box and key, the buyer has nothing better to do than to look around. Make sure your doorway is clean, fresh and inviting. Look in the corners of your doorway for unexpected cob-webs or dirt and clean it! Shine your door-nob, door-knocker, and door-bell if applicable. Hang a seasonal wreath to brighten up the entrance way. These may seem like insignificant things...but they do catch the eye of the buyer waiting to get inside your home.

Ok..so they made it past your beautiful entrance and what do they see? Here are some things to think about as you prepare your home to sell.

De-personalize. We've all heard this term, but what does it mean. It means, pack up all your family pictures and put away your heritage artifacts. You don't want buyers to ask themselves what kind of family lives in this house....you want them to imagine themselves in your house.

Satisfy their sense of smell! There is nothing that is going to turn potential buyers off more than a "smelly" house! Get rid of any odors. Use air fresheners, candles, bake cookies before showings. Do whatever it takes to make your home smell nice and don't forget closets, bathrooms and the basement. If you have a pet it would be wise to remove it and things like cat litter, dog crates ...etc during showings.

De-clutter. When selling your home, less is more! Pack away all of the things that you don't need. Clean off the kitchen counter-top, put away all the appliances. Show off the counter-space and closet space. If you think you have too much furniture in a room...you probably do. Put some in storage. Remember the way you live in a house may be very different from the way you showcase your house to sell.

Make minor updates. Replacing light fixtures, switch plates and outlet covers is an inexpensive way to freshen up your home. Also minor things like new hand towels in the bathrooms and fresh flowers throughout your home sets a pleasant environment. If you you recently bought new carpets of if your normal practice is taking off your shoes before coming inside...by all means leave a note asking the buyers to do the same. Believe it or not...it has been our experience that buyers respect the owners wishes and are very impressed that the owners care enough to leave a note with this request. It shows that the property was well taken care of.

Things you may forget but are important. Make sure that your front door key works easily. There is nothing more frustrating to a showing agent and their clients than not being able to open the door. This is particularly important because most times sellers will get a key made to put into the lock box. If the key is not cut perfectly it will cause trouble when trying to open the door. Perhaps you will want to hold onto the new key and put the original key into the lock box assuring a smooth entry into your home. Another thing that is important is to create a clear path to your electrical box, heater and air conditioning units. Make sure they are wiped clean and cob-web free. Red flags will go up to potential buyers if the systems in your home look as though they haven't been serviced or cleaned in a long time.

Get feedback from someone that will tell you the truth! Find a friend or relative to walk through your home and give you honest feedback. Then make changes that are necessary. Remember that living in a home is a lot different than showcasing your home to sell.

With all of our listing agreements we offer a free home staging consultation that will provide you will great tips and ideas on staging your home to sell fast. Staging a home doesn't have to break your bank account. You can stage a home on any budget and in some cases you can pay the costs of staging at settlement!

Coldwell Banker Preferred
390 Waterloo Blvd., suite 101
Exton, PA 19341
Office 610-363-606
Direct 484-881-6066

craig_wiley@comcast.net
gina.wiley@comcast.net

"Teamwork makes the dream work!"

2009 DARC Discount Ticket Prices

2009-06-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Purchase discount tickets at Downingtown Area Recreation Consortium
114 Bell Tavern Rd. Downingtown, PA 19335
Hours of operation are: M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM

CASH ONLY!
For more information call (610) 269-9260 or visit www.darcinfo.com

Adventure Aquarium
Adult (13 and over) - $15.00 - DARC Savings $ 6.35
Child (2-12) -$11.00 -DARC Savings $ 6.07

Baltimore Aquarium
Adult (12 – 59) -$20.00 DARC Savings $ 4.95
Senior (60 & over) -$19.00 - DARC Savings $ 4.95
Child (3 – 11) -$12.50 -DARC Savings $ 2.45

Dorney Park
Adult (48” or taller) (valid 5/23-9/7) -$31.00 - DARC Savings-$ 8.99
Child (under 48” age 3+), Senior (62+) -$19.00 -DARC Savings -$ .99

Dutch Wonderland
General (3-59) Sr. ticket available at park -$27.00 DARC Savings -$ 3.95

Hershey Park
Adult (9-54) -$41.00 - DARC Savings-$ 10.95
2 & under free
Child (3-8) Senior (55-69) -$29.00 - DARC Savings -$ 1 .95
Early Season: (5/3- 6/30; Sun-Fri) -$31.00 - DARC Savings -$20.95
Groups of 20 or more only (6/30-8/20):$31.00 DARC Savings-$20.95

Knoebels
Weekday, Regular (48” or taller) -$26.00 DARC Savings -$ 3.50
Weekday, Child (under 48”) -$16.00 -DARC Savings -$ 3.50

Philadelphia Zoo
General Admission (2 and over) -$14.00 -DARC Savings $ 4.00

Sesame Place
24 months & over Free upgrade for 2nd day during season -$43.00- DARC Savings $11.72

Six Flags Great Adventure
Regular (3+) (Theme Park and Safari) -$29.00 -DARC Savings $35.19
Hurricane Harbor Water Park -$18.00 - DARC Savings $16.99

Click here to visit the DARC website for additional savings and community day trips.

Day of Fun at Dutch Wonderland

2009-06-23T08:36:00.000-04:00

DUKE's (surprise) Birthday Party

Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park
June 24th
1:30pm at Duke's Lagoon

SHHHH! It's a surprise! Everyone's favorite dragon is having a birthday party at Dutch Wonderland, but he doesn't know it! Join the Princess and Knight of Dutch Wonderland and all their friends as they give DUKE a party to remember. Expect treats, games, music and lots of fun, but don't let the secret slip! DUKE will be so surprised to see you!

Click here for more information or call 1-866-FUNatDW for more details.

Tasty Tuesdays - Kids in the Kitchen

2009-06-23T00:00:00.007-04:00

Since we've all been glued to the Food Network channel each Sunday night rooting of our own local Katie Cavuto on The Next Food Network Star, I thought it would be fun to round out June's BBQ themed Tasty Tuesdays post with a delicious recipe from their website! And get this...round up the little kiddies, because this recipe is a fun one for them to help out with too!

Kids will love to help assemble these delicious kabobs! These can be broiled or cooked on the grill for a delicious meal!

Hoisin BBQ Steak-on-a-Stick

Ingredients:

Pineapple Salsa:

1 cup diced fresh pineapple
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1/2 cup diced cucumber
2 teaspoons rice vinegar, optional
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1 1/4 pounds boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut 1-inch thick
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Salt, optional

Directions:

Special equipment: 4 (10 to 12-inch) metal skewers*

Combine Pineapple Salsa ingredients in small bowl. Set aside. Preheat broiler....or get the grill started! Combine ketchup and hoisin sauce in a bowl. Reserve some of the sauce in a small bowl and set aside. Cut beef steak into 1-inch pieces. Thread beef pieces evenly onto 4 (10 to 12-inch) metal skewers. Season kabobs evenly with pepper. Place kabobs on rack in broiler pan so surface of beef is 3 to 4-inches from heat (you may also cook these on the grill). Brush beef generously with some of reserved sauce mixture. Broil 7 to 9 minutes for medium-rare to medium "doneness," turning once and brushing with remaining sauce mixture. Season beef with salt, if desired. Serve kabobs topped with Pineapple Salsa.

You can also add pieces of veggies or fruit in the kabob too...chunks of red onion, peppers, tomatoes and pineapple can be skewered in between the meat cubes which might add some gorgeous color and lots of yummy flavor!

Cook's Tip: 2 beef shoulder top blade (flat iron) steaks (8-ounces each) may be substituted for top sirloin steak. Broiling time remains the same.

Cook's Tip: For easier preparation, use peeled, cored and sliced fresh pineapple available in the supermarket produce section.

*Note: This recipe calls for the use of metal kabob skewers...but if you don't have them, you can substitute them with simple wooden kabob skewers that you find at any local grocery store. Just remember to soak the wooden skewers in water prior to using them...this is to prevent burning them on the grill or in the stove.

And...if all else fails...what kid wouldn't LOVE these kabobs?

That's right...donut hole kabobs!

All you need to do is get a variety of donut holes from you favorite donut shop...then let your kids skewer them onto a kabob skewer! Ta da! Yum!!!

Coupons, Coupons, Everywhere!

2009-06-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, so you want to use coupons to save money. You know the lingo, you know to wait for a sale, but where can you find good coupons?!

Good coupons are EVERYWHERE!

Types of Coupons
Some of the different kinds of coupons out there include:
- Inserts: Manufacturer coupons found in the newspaper inserts in the Sunday paper
- Printables: Just as the name suggests, these are coupons that can be printed off of the internet. Many stores are leery of accepting these (some actually have written policies rejecting them). That is because they are frequently targets of fraud, through reproductions, barcode altering, etc. Make sure you know your store's policy before trying to use them.
- Tear Pad: Coupons found in the store on a tear pad usually located right near the product they are advertising
- Catalinas: Coupons that print out of the little machines next to the register at grocery stores, drug stores, etc.
- Peelies: Coupons found on the actual product that you peel off to use
- Hang Tags: Coupons that hang from the actual product (most common on bottles, such as wine)

Next week's topic: Coupon Stockpiling

Devon posts regularly on her blog, www.mamacheaps.com. When she is not blogging or designing personalized candy wrappers for her store, Winterwood Press, she is spending time with her husband and her 9 month old daughter.

Real Estate 101 with Craig & Gina Wiley

2009-06-21T15:52:00.006-04:00

Home Warranty & Homeowners Insurance .....

What is the difference?

Homeowners Insurance covers...

Personal property, furniture, clothing, jewelry, etc up to some value.Structure and contents of the home.

Your living expenses if the home is not in living condition due to natural disaster.

If someone gets injured on your property (slipping on the icy driveway) and if you are sued, you are covered by homeowners insurance.

It protects you from a variety of event, including fire, lighting, tree-falling, burglary and storms.

Home Warranty covers...

Repair and replacement of major appliances such as heater / cooling system, water heater, refrigerator, dishwasher, range, oven etc. Plumbing and electrical systems are also covered.

Coverage is generally effective 30 days from the date of buying the policy. Be aware that claims can be denied for various reasons, such as maintenance negligence. A claim that is covered could mean the difference in paying thousands of dollars for repair or a deductible of less than $75.00!

A Home Warranty is an incentive for buyers!

If your home is on the market, you may want to consider purchasing home warranty for the lucky buyer. Talk to your REALTOR about your options. This can be a very nice incentive for potential buyers and will give them peace of mind in buying your property.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home and you are not already working with a real estate agent....allow us to protect you!

We are offering a FREE ONE YEAR HOME WARRANTY (valued at $435.00) to anyone that buys or sells a property and is represented by Craig & Gina Wiley of Coldwell Banker Preferred. Keep the warranty for yourself, or use it as an incentive while selling your home....the choice is yours.

Contact us directly for more information.
Craig & Gina Wiley
Coldwell Banker Preferred
390 Waterloo Blvd, Suite 101
Exton, PA 19341
Office 610-363-6006
Direct 484-881-6066
Craig_Wiley@comcast.net
Gina.Wiley@comcast.net

“Teamwork makes the dream work!”

Next Food Network Star - Tonight at 9PM

2009-06-21T06:59:00.000-04:00

Don't forget to watch West Chester's own, Katie Cavuto on The Next Food Network Star on Food Network tonight at 9PM.

Click here if you want daily nutrition tips and recipes. Katie is a contributor for the blog and it is a great resource for everything healthy!

Click here and get to know Katie and Healthy Bites…

Family Fun at The Delaware Beaches

2009-06-21T06:15:00.000-04:00

Headed to the Delaware Beaches this summer? Check out our complete guide to fun, family events at the Delaware Beaches.

Rehoboth
Click here for a complete guide to events in Rehoboth.

Click here for info on Downtown Rehoboth

Tanger Outlets Complete Store Guide - click here for info on AAA discounts, store promotions & coupons.

FYI- the parking meters have increased to $1.25/hour.

Dewey Beach

Click here for a complete guide to Dewey Beach events

Historic Lewes

Click here for a complete guide to Historic Lewes

Bethany Beach

Click here for a complete guide to Bethany Beach.

Fenwick Island

Click here for a complete guide to Fenwick Island

Slaughter Beach

Click here for a complete guide to Slaughter Beach.

Ocean City, Maryland

Click here for a complete guide to events in OCMD.

June 21 - August 23 Ice Skating ShowsCarousel Resort Hotel, 118th St. Exciting ice skating shows nightly by professional group, Next Ice Age. Free & open to the public. 6:30 p.m. Anna Wagner, 800-641-0011. www.carouselhotel.com.

June 29-Movies on the Beach & More-27th St. Beach Every Monday and Friday evening enjoy games and movie on the beach with our new 16-foot projector. Each week a general audience movie is presented free of charge. Bring a blanket and enjoy the night beside the ocean. Games and activities begin at 7:30 p.m. Movie starts around 8:30 p.m. www.ococean.com.

June 30th -Family Beach Olympics-27th St. Beach Each Tuesday evening features a variety of contests for all ages. Events may include sand castle contests, tug-of-war, relays and more. All activities are free and are offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. www.ococean.com.

Assateague Island - Visit the Wild Horses, Camp, Hike, Bike...just wear bug spray!

“Fee Free” Weekends this Summer at Assateague Island

For the following weekends, entrance fees will be waived:

June 20-21 (Father’s Day weekend)

July 18-19

August 15-16

Junior Ranger Program for kids over age 6

Family Activities at the Jersey Shore

2009-06-20T05:59:00.001-04:00

Headed "down the shore" this summer? Check out our complete guide to all things Jersey Shore.

Avalon
Click here for a complete list of events in Avalon

Stone Harbor
Click here for a complete list of events in Stone Harbor.
6/28/09 - Sunday's at The Stone Harbor Farmer's Market -95th Street - Water Tower Parking Lot
6/28/09 - Ron Jaworski Fit Festival
6/29/2009 – Eric Dasher Magic Show Stone Harbor Firehouse Parking Lot- bring a beach chair or blanket. Begins at 7pm. For more information – 609-368-6101

Sea Isle City
Monday & Wednesday Nights-Free Summer Concerts Under the Stars, sponsored by Sea Isle City and the Tourism Commission, 7:30-9:00PM, 609-263-TOUR
Click here for a complete list of Sea Isle City events

Wildwood
Click here for a complete list of Wildwood Events.
Thursday Nights- Boardwalk Family Fun Nights Parades, clowns and music on the Wildwood Boardwalk. 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.609.523.1602 or http://www.dowildwood.com/

Ocean City, NJ
Click here for a complete list of events in OCNJ
Family Nights 7:30pm to 9:30pm on the Boardwalk .
Ocean City, NJ Ocean City Chamber

NJ Links:
NJ Division of Travel & Tourism
New Jersey Shore
Official Website for State of NJ (check traffic conditions & weather)

While visiting Cape May County, check out a blog written by our friend Elizabeth Norton, AKA.. The Party Planning Professor. Elizabeth is a contributor to the New Jersey Moms Blog, NJ.com and is our favorite NJ shore " Mom in the Know". She is very excited to share her insider tips on all things Jersey shore.

We want to see your best NJ Shore pictures. Email them to us at sarah@chestercountymoms.com July 1- August 31st. We will post the photos to Chester County Moms and ask our readers to vote on the best photo. One submission per family. Stay tuned for details.

Regal Cinema Free Summer Movies

2009-06-19T14:17:00.002-04:00

Free Family Film Festival Starts June 23rd

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE REGAL WEBSITE FOR ALL THE INFO
Downingtown Stadium 16
100 Quarry Road
Downingtown ,PA 19335-3062
610-518-3404

When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE!Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

Save some money and buy your tickets at the DARC office on Bell Tavern Road. New Price- $7.50 per ticket with no expiration! ($1.50 surcharge for first 10 days of select films). CASH ONLY!
Click here for more info on purchasing discount tickets.

Chester County Balloon Festival

2009-06-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

If floating above the rolling hills of Chester County sounds like your idea of heaven, head to the Embreeville Athletic Complex west of West Chester on Rt 162 to board a hot air balloon---or just to admire the sight of them. On Saturday, June 20th, starting at 3:00pm, there will be craft vendors, food vendors, a Kids Fun Zone and live music from Main Stage. And, of course, Hot Air Balloons of all shapes and sizes arriving and preparing for the 6:15pm ascension. Be sure to hang around for the fireworks at dusk.Come for the weekend and explore Chester County's many attractions. Balloon Festival Admission is Free! Parking Donation $5.00 per car .

Chester County's Classy Mommy's Fave Five?

2009-06-18T15:45:00.008-04:00

Still searching for a gift for your Husband or Dad for Father's Day? Well search no further. Our friend Classy Mommy, has compiled a list of sure to please gifts. Click on the links below for information on the goods and special discount offers. There are lots more awesome Father's Day gift ideas listed at Classy Mommy. Click here to visit the webste.

Digital Brag Book

Acer Mini Computer

Charging Valet
Handprint Frame

Diaper Dude Diaper Bag

BBQ Tool Set

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) at Calvary Fellowship Church

2009-06-18T14:06:00.010-04:00

What is MOPS?

MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, an international organization that exists to encourage mothers who have children newborn – Kindergarten.
It’s a place where moms have the opportunity to make new friends, share experiences, laugh together, and learn trusted principles pertaining to womanhood, marriage and parenting. MOPS also provides opportunities for social outings geared specifically for preschool aged children and their mothers.
MOPS recognizes that the years from infancy through kindergarten are foundational in a mother-child relationship and are filled with unique needs.
MOPS groups gather throughout the United States, Canada, and numerous other countries to meet the needs of more than 100,000 women each year! The women you meet at your local MOPS meeting may not all be of the same age, background or lifestyle, but they’re all in the same season of life with a shared desire to be the best mother they can be.

How do I Join?

If you are interested in joining this incredible support network of women, there are a few things to take note of:

Calvary Fellowship Church MOPS meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, September – May.
Meetings begin at 9:30am and end at 11:15am. Children can be left in the care of the Wonderworks program at 9:15am.
An annual fee of $25.00 registration fee is required that goes to MOPS International. This secures your membership and entitles you to a one-year subscription to MOMS SENSE a bi-monthly magazine and the book “ Life on Plant Mom : A down to earth guide to your changing relationships” by Lisa T. Bergren. The Calvary Fellowships Church MOPS group also has a fall & spring semester dues that cover the meeting expenses. The dues are $42.00 for the fall (6 meetings) and $56.00 for the spring ( 8 meetings ).
Scholarships are available, so don’t let the cost hinder you from participating! We exist for the community of moms around us, and we want to include everyone we can!

To register or learn more about Calvary Fellowship Church (CFC) MOPS contact one of our coordinators, Sharon Fleet or Rachel Fair at CFCMOPS@yahoo.com or visit our church website.

REGISTRATION is now open!

2009-06-18T11:21:00.000-04:00

Photography 101 with Caitlin Domanico

2009-06-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

"OMG I love your pictures, what kind of camera do you use?"
Part Two

No matter if you use film or digital, point and shoot or an SLR, here is another easy tip that will make your photography pop.

Shoot, shoot, shoot, repeat, repeat, repeat. Let your finger "dance" on the shutter release button. Photography should be fun, relaxing and exciting.
Too much thought and too much technicality can put a damper on your hobby if you don't enjoy the ride. In the year 2009 many of us are shooting only in digital
format which allows us to upload the pictures on our computers and delete all the "bad" ones. You don't have to settle for "okay" shots.

To Mike, Lilly, and my defense....this was at the end of a two hour session in the sun! :)

::cue the music and applause::

Yahoo!!

Check in every Thursday for Photography 101 with Caitlin Domanico!

Until then, happy shooting!

GREASE is the word!

2009-06-17T06:28:00.000-04:00

Nominated for 2008 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The one that you want is back! GREASE, Time Magazine's 2007 pick for '#1 musical of the year,' is rockin' across the country in this new production direct from Broadway. Take a trip to a simpler time of poodle skirts, drive-ins, and T-birds. 'Bad boy' Danny and 'the girl next door' Sandy fall in love all over again to the tune of your favorite songs: 'Summer Nights,' 'Greased Lightnin'' and 'We Go Together' as well as additional songs from the hit movie: 'Grease,' 'Hopelessly Devoted to You' and 'You're the One That I Want.' So throw your mittens around your kittens and Hand Jive the night away with the show that'll make you want to stand up and shout, 'A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop A-wopbam- boom!' GREASE!

GREASE, starring American Idol, Taylor Hicks and Chester County's own Matthew Schmidt will be at the Academy of Music from July 7th - July 19th. Click here to purchase tickets.

We are giving away 2 tickets to the show on July 7th at 7:30PM. The winner of this contest must be a resident of Chester County. This contest will end on July 1st. The winner will be notified via email and has 24 hours to respond to the "You Won!" email. The winner of this contest will pick up their tickets (with photo ID) at The Academy of Music Box Office on the night of the show, July 7th. The FREE tickets are only good for the opening night show on July 7th. This giveaway does NOT include transportation, parking fees, food or drink. To enter please leave a comment below or email contests@chestercountymoms(dot)com and note GREASE in the subject line.

Want a few more chances to win?

(1) Extra entry - Join the Chester County Moms Group on Facebook (make sure to let us know GREASE is the word!)

(1) Extra Entry - Friend ChescoMoms on FB and update your FB status to...Chesco Moms are giving away a pair of tickets to see Chester County's own Matt Schmidt in GREASE at the Kimmel Center on July 7th". Click on this link and enter to win. http://tinyurl.com/km2ru5

(1) Extra Entry - Follow @ChescoMoms on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway! (DM us and let us know Grease is the word! Just remember to include this is a contest for Chesco Residents in your tweet.)

(1) Extra Entry - Blog about this giveaway! Don't forget to link Chester County Moms in your blog post (email* us so we know about your post don't forget to include your URL.)

1) Extra Entry - Put the Chester County Moms button on your blog (let us know the URL where we can find it...and if you have it already...just let us know via email*...it still counts!)

Get Crafty - Applique Necktie Tee

2009-06-17T01:00:00.018-04:00
Here's a quick and easy project you can do- and just in time for Father's Day! Here's the best part- no sewing is required!!!.

Necktie Tee Instructions PDF

Necktie Tee Template PDF

Check out my video below for a demonstration on how to make the applique tee.

K.C. is the Owner of The Diaper Bag Wrangler and contributes "Get Crafty" video posts.

Meet the Philly Phanatic at The Winner's Circle in Exton (FREE EVENT)

2009-06-17T00:55:00.000-04:00

Thursday, June 18th
7-8PM

The Winner's Circle
(Routes 30 & 100 in theWhiteland Towne Center)
143 West Lincoln Highway
Exton, PA 19341
610-524-2424

Click here to check out the Winner's Circle family friendly meal deals.
Winner's Circle Sports Grille - Come for the Food and Stay for the Fun at the BEST Sports Bar & Restaurant in the 'burbs! Serving Exton, Downingtown, Chester Springs, Malvern, West Chester, Edgemont, Newtown Square, Media, the Main Line and all of the Philadelphia suburbs. Recognized as one of the best restaurants in Chester County and Delaware County PA.

Benefit for La Mancha Animal Rescue at Iron Hill.

2009-06-16T15:51:00.007-04:00

Visit Iron Hill in West Chester on Wednesday, June 17th from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., and 20% of your bill (excluding alcoholic beverages) will be donated to La Mancha Animal Rescue located in Unionville. La Mancha Animal Rescue is saving for a new run-in shed and your generosity is deeply appreciated.

Click Here to print your coupon. Iron Hill is located at 3 West Gay Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380.

Thank you for your generous support!

Chester County Utility & Housing Assistance Program

2009-06-16T14:57:00.004-04:00
Help paying your utility bills, rent or mortgage is available.

If you qualify*, one month of your utility bills and rent or mortgage may be paid by the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

Chester County residents who have become unemployed or had their work hours cut since October 2008 are especially encouraged to apply.

To find out if you qualify for assistance, please contact the agency nearest you:

Catholic Social Services: 610-344-7028 (Coatesville/Downingtown area)
Community, Youth and Women’s Alliance: 610-384-9591 (Coatesville area)
Kennett Area Community Service: 610-925-3556 (Kennett Square area)
Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center: 610-932-8557 (Oxford area)
Phoenixville Area Community Services: 610-933-1105 (Phoenixville area)
Open Hearth, Inc.: 610-792-2982 (Spring City/Pottstown area)
Salvation Army: 610-696-8746 (West Chester area)
Salvation Army Service Extension: 610-383-0868 (Other Areas in Chester County)

*Chester County residents only. To qualify, utilities, rent or mortgage payment must be in arrears or due within 5 days;all other resources must be used up; you must live in the residence and be responsible for paying for the utilities, rent or mortgage; assistance must guarantee 30 more days of utility service or continued stay in the residence. Utilities include electricity, oil, gas, coal, firewood, sewer and water. The maximum amount of each assistance payment is one month’s utility usage, one minimum delivery of oil/coal/firewood, one month’s rent or one mortgage payment. Effective until December 31, 2009.

We would like to thank Speaking From The Heart Inc., of Exton for providing us with this valuable information. Speaking From the Heart provides Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapy as well as Special Instruction to several hundred birth to three year olds in the Chester and Delaware Counties of Pennsylvania. Click here for more information.

Tasty Tuesdays

2009-06-16T11:51:00.005-04:00

Tasty Tuesdays: Backyard BBQ Edition

This week we're continuing to give you great ideas for your backyard BBQ's!
Light up and grill & invite people over...these recipes are scrumptious!
And the best part about all of the recipes below - they're simple, easy and quick!
Ahhh...three words all moms love to hear!

There's something for the beef lover, the poultry lover and the seafood lover too!

BBQ Scalloped Potatoes
Easy BBQ Ribs
Orange BBQ Chicken with Grilled Vegetables
Grilled Swordfish with Papaya Salsa

And of course...everyone's favorite summertime desserts - NO BAKE!
Frozen Chocolate Souffles
Grasshopper Squares

All recipes were provided by Kraft...for more recipes, tips and ideas for your backyard BBQ, click HERE.

Real Estate Reality with Craig and Gina

2009-06-16T07:00:00.003-04:00

Your Local REALTORS® Are Here To Help!
Craig & Gina Wiley
Coldwell Banker Preferred
Evaluating Schools

Usually, whenever a family selects a new home, one of their main concerns is the quality of the local school system. As parents of four children, we understand this concern.

Whether you’re thinking about moving to a new school district or just want to know how your current one ranks, the information is at the tip of your fingers. In addition to some of the Pennsylvania’s best school districts, Chester County also has private and charter schools to consider. For a list of all schools in Chester County with links to their websites, click here. To see school statistics or compare schools in Chester County click here.

Since this is such an important concern with most families, we would like to ask our readers… what is most important to you in choosing a school for your children?

Summertime…How will this affect getting our home sold?

In some places school is already out, others it will be in a few short days. With summer come kids running around the house, vacations, family gatherings, and more hours of daylight. And you want to sell your house during all of this chaos? Many people make their move during the summer for obvious reasons. It doesn’t interrupt the school year, there is a larger selection of homes to choose from, corporate relocations, etc. But how can I get my home sold and move before school starts again?

Here are a few suggestions:

· Hire a REALTOR® to sell your house and manage your transaction so you can enjoy vacations, picnics, etc. without worrying doing everything yourself.

· Prepare the house before it goes on the market so that it is in excellent condition. And please, fix all of the little things because buyers notice! If you don’t have the time, schedule a handyman for a few hours. (As a courtesy, we offer a free consultation from a professional home stager to all of our sellers.)

· Price your house to sell from the first day it’s on the market. Houses are still getting multiple offers and selling in less than 30 days. Yours could too! However, the market doesn’t lie about pricing and for some people it just may not be the right time to move.

· Schedule your house to go on the market or make a price reduction and then GO ON VACATION! Does anyone really like preparing for buyers to come through their house? Probably not. So prepare it once, hop on a plane, and let your REALTOR ® get your home sold. With modern technology, we can usually do everything necessary to get an agreement completed over email, fax or phone.

· One last thing, while a last minute appointment or knock on your door is inconvenient, it just might be the buyers that purchase your house! If possible, try to accommodate their request.

We would like to make a useful contribution to the Chester County Moms blog. Please send us your comments and questions!

Our next post will be on Friday, June 19, 2009.

Craig & Gina Wiley
Coldwell Banker Preferred
390 Waterloo Blvd, Suite 101
Exton, PA 19341
Office 610-363-6006
Direct 484-881-6066
Craig_Wiley@comcast.net
Gina.Wiley@comcast.net

“Teamwork makes the dream work!”

Low Cost Rabies Vaccine at CCSPCA

2009-06-16T01:16:00.002-04:00
The Chester County SPCA is sponsoring a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic on June 17th from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the shelter at 1212 Phoenixville Pike in West Chester.

The one-year vaccines, which cost $7, will be administered by Dr. Shannon Stanek, DVM. State law requires rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats over three months of age.

All pets brought to the clinic should be on a leash or in a carrier. Appointments are not necessary. For additional information, call 610-692-6113 or visit www.ccspca.org

Get Crafty - tips for the "sewing challenged"

2009-06-15T15:24:00.007-04:00
Not everyone is handy with a needle and thread. I always have friends asking if I can hem a seam or repair a soft toy that is torn. If you have anything made of fabric that needs mending, try Fabri-Tac.

Fabri-Tac is a permanent, WASHABLE fabric adhesive. It is non-toxic and dries clear. You can find it at all craft stores in the adhesives aisle and at Wal-mart in their craft department. It's about $6.99 for a 4oz. bottle (tip- use your 40% or 50% off an item coupons for AC Moore, Joann's or Michael's and save a few bucks!)

So the next time you have a shirt or doll that needs repairs, run a small bead of Fabri-Tac along the tear, press together and voilà- no sewing required. Check out the video below for a demonstration on how to apply the adhesive.

K.C. is the Owner of The Diaper Bag Wrangler and will be contributing "Get Crafty" video posts.

How to Get Things Free or Cheap Using Coupons!

2009-06-15T10:00:00.001-04:00

My reader's always want to know: HOW do you get things for FREE using coupons?

There is one main strategy that you need to use in order to get things super cheap or free with coupons. The trick is to wait until items go on sale, and then pair that sale with a coupon.

Learning your store's coupon policy on coupon doubling will make your dollar stretch even farther. For example, let's say a certain brand of sour cream is on sale for $1. You have a coupon for $.50 off of that brand's sour cream, and that store doubles coupons up to and including $.99. Your coupon will then double to $1, and there you go, free sour cream.

There are entire websites that dedicate their entire existence to coupon match-ups. Coupon users from all over the country contribute to weekly match-ups that pair a store's ad with current available coupons. My two favorite sites for coupon matchups are A Full Cup and Be Centsable's Grocery Gathering!

I write weekly coupon matchups for Acme Markets (Pennsylvania)! You can find them on my website (www.mamacheaps.com) or at the above link for The Grocery Gathering!

Next week's topic: Different Kinds of Coupons

Devon posts regularly on her blog, www.mamacheaps.com. When she is not blogging or designing personalized candy wrappers for her store, Winterwood Press, she is spending time with her husband and her 9 month old daughter.

Ryan Madson visits The Winner's Circle in Exton

2009-06-14T23:54:00.006-04:00

The Winner's Circle
Routes 30 & 100 in theWhiteland Towne Center
143 West Lincoln Highway
Exton, PA 19341
610-524-2424

Winner's Circle Sports Grille - Come for the Food and Stay for the Fun at the BEST Sports Bar & Restaurant in the 'burbs! Serving Exton, Downingtown, Chester Springs, Malvern, West Chester, Edgemont, Newtown Square, Media, the Main Line and all of the Philadelphia suburbs. Recognized as one of the best restaurants in Chester County and Delaware County PA.

Get Your Real Estate Questions Answered with Craig and Gina!

2009-06-14T07:00:00.008-04:00

Do You Have Real Estate Questions?
Your local REALTORS are here to help!
Craig & Gina Wiley
Coldwell Banker Preferred

We’re here to help you. When was the last time you turned on The News without some “expert” making negative comments about Real Estate? Can all of the doom and gloom really be true? Not necessarily in Chester County. We’re here to provide you with information about what really matters – the local market and how it impacts your future decisions. In our first post we are providing information on the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit and Interest Rates.

Could you be a “First-Time Homebuyer”? In general terms if you (or your spouse) haven’t owned a residence in the past 3 years, you will probably qualify for the current tax credit. Click here to learn more about the $8,000 tax credit that is available for purchases before December 1, 2009!

Economy turning around? Maybe and when it does you can bet interest rates will turn with it. They may not go up to 18% like buyers faced in the 80’s but they are likely to rise and this could make the difference in the affordability of the home. If you are considering a purchase, now is the time to act. To see the difference even a small change in the interest rate makes on your monthly payment just click here for a mortgage calculator.

Open Houses? For a list of open houses in your area this weekend (or any weekend), just email us at craig_wiley@comcast.net To see pictures and a description click on our spotlighted open house this Sunday from 12pm – 3pm. This spacious new home is just waiting for the right buyer to put on the finishing touches. The builder is ready to sell, so stop by if you’re in Exton!

Ideas / Questions - We’re open to your thoughts on topics for future posts. Feel free to leave comments or contact us directly with your ideas and questions. We hope you will find our posts interesting and helpful.

Our next post will be on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

Craig & Gina Wiley
Coldwell Banker Preferred
390 Waterloo Blvd, Suite 101
Exton, PA 19341
Office 610-363-6006
Direct 484-881-6066
Craig_Wiley@comcast.net
Gina.Wiley@comcast.net

“Teamwork makes the dream work!”

Elmwood Park Zoo Benefit at Iron Hill - Phoenixville

2009-06-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

Visit Iron Hill Brewery in Phoenixville on Tuesday, June 16 from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., and 20% of your bill (excluding alcoholic beverages) will be donated to the Elmwood Park Zoo. Click here to print your coupon.

Iron Hill Brewery is located at 130 E. Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460. Click here for directions.

Thank you for your generous support.

2009-06-13T23:57:00.001-04:00

Getting to Know The Next Food Network Star finalist Katie Cavuto

2009-06-13T07:00:00.001-04:00
Last week, we introduced you to West Chester's own Katie Cavuto, one of the 10 finalists on Season 5 of The Next Food Network Star.

We've since had the opportunity to talk with Katie and interview her about her culinary background as well as her experiences on Season 5 of The Next Food Network Star (The Food Network's show documenting their search for new Food Network personalities and talent) and her wildly successful business, Healthy Bites, based in Philadelphia. It's been a huge pleasure to meet Katie and talk with her about her career!

You may already know Katie. She has been appearing on local television news programs such as Fox, CBS, and NBC for the last 3 1/2 years. Katie's culinary point of view is what she calls "Green Cuisine". She believes strongly in local food that is healthy for both your body and the planet. She thinks a "whole foods" approach to eating is best and feels that processed foods should be eliminated from your home as much as possible.

We asked Katie what type of show she would dream of doing for the Food Network should she win the title of The Next Food Network Star (we're rooting for you, Katie!). Her passion would be to travel around the world teaching people about how foods go from the farm to your table (whether at home or at a restaurant). She'd love to showcase what foods are seasonal and how foods grow. People tend to have a detachment from food and it's sources, and highlighting how easy, delicious, and rewarding it can be to eat locally would be really educational.

Katie grew up right here in West Chester. Her culinary inspiration comes from her 100% Italian family. Her maternal grandparents had a luncheonette and her paternal grandfather was a butcher and had an amazing garden. It was completely organic and he tended to it so meticulously and lovingly. Katie also credits Chef Shawn at the Goose Creek Grill, where she worked for several years, with being a inspiration and mentor to her. She actually credits him with giving her the push to go to culinary school.

Katie's culinary education is extensive. She graduated from Johnson and Wales with a B.S. in Culinary Nutrition. This is a unique program that is not offered widely. Her curriculum focused on healthy eating techniques with emphasis on spa nutrition, sports nutrition, etc. Katie then went on to get a Masters of Clinical Nutrition from Tufts University where she also became a Registered Dietitian.

Katie came back to the area as a Clinical Dietitian at Graduate Hospital. Her Healthy Bites business was born as Graduate Hospital was closing it's doors and Katie decided she wanted to focus on her love for "Green Cuisine" as part of her career. Enter Katie's husband, Andy. Andy is an entrepreneur who helped Katie start her own business almost 2 years ago.

Healthy Bites is Katie's culinary consulting business and she offers a variety of fantastic services. Katie has an organic meal delivery service and is currently delivering more than 100 fresh meals per week. She also does in-home consultations, grocery shopping consults, meal plans, etc. The best part about Healthy Bites is that Katie will personalize services to each unique person/family and tailor her recommendations to your needs.

During our interview, Katie answered some of our reader questions for us. Here are the questions we wanted to know and Katie's responses:

1. In these economic times, what is your best advice for using healthy and organic ingredients that are still affordable?

Katie's biggest advice, especially in this season, is to have a backyard garden. A $1.00 seed packet can yield an abundance of food for you and your family. You can garden even if you have very little space. Many foods will grow well even in small container gardens.

Katie also believes that eating seasonally will keep your costs down. She uses the example of buying raspberries in the winter..... If you buy raspberries in the winter, they are going to be sold to you at a premium because they are not in season here and would have had to been shipped from long distances (also not good for the planet) just to reach your market.

Joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or frequenting your local farmer's market are Katie's suggestions for buying high quality foods at reasonable prices. Often, you can find produce for the same or less than grocery stores in these venues.

2. Andrea wants to know your best advice to Moms that want nutritious, organic meals for small children that they will actually eat?

Katie suggests making your own baby food. It's really important that baby food is pesticide and chemical free and packaged organic food can be really expensive. It's really simple to make your own baby food. Just steam the fruits and vegetables and then freeze in individual portions in an ice cube tray. When you make your own food, you can introduce kids to unique ingredients and combinations such as beets and pears or apples.

3. Shannon wants to know what your favorite vegetarian meal is?

Katie's favorite vegetarian meal changes all the time with the seasons. Right now, she is really enjoying a salad with Rainbow Chard. Use Rainbow Chard (you can mix in some romaine too) and add walnuts, carrots, baked tofu and beans topped with a soy ginger vinaigrette. Katie likes to use edamame in her salad or you can mix 1/2 beans and 1/2 edamame.
We had a great time talking to Katie and could have talked to her all afternoon! Be on the look out for our next post discussing our time at Katie's viewing party for the Season Premiere of The Next Food Network Star on Sunday. We had so much fun. Also, we have a great Food Network giveaway to share with you all as well as a delicious recipe from Katie, so stay tuned!
Make sure to tune in each Sunday night at 9pm to the Food Network to watch Katie on The Next Food Network Star!

Please Touch Museum Book Fair

2009-06-12T11:34:00.000-04:00
On Saturday, June 13th, you can support Please Touch Museum® by shopping at Barnes and Noble!

Please provide your cashier with voucher number 535856 at check out and the museum will receive up to 25% of the total value of your purchase.

All proceeds will support the museum’s literacy programming.

Ask Shelby: Balance

2009-06-12T07:00:00.000-04:00
As we mentioned, we are proud to be featuring our brand new monthly column "Ask Shelby" featuring expert advice from Chester County based Marriage and Family Therapist, Shelby Riley. Here is our installment for June!
------------------------------------------

Shelby,

My husband has so many "hobbies" and activities, I feel like he's never home. He's a great husband and dad, when he's around, but sometimes I feel like I'm a single parent. I don't know how to talk to him about this. I don't want to seem like a nag, or a "ball and chain" but I miss my husband and I want him to WANT to spend time with us. How do I get him to hear me?

Signed, Missing My Man

Dear Missing My Man,

So many women are resonating with your dilemma! On the one hand, you want your husband to have interests and activites outside of the family to enrich his life. On the other, it would be nice to feel like a prioroty to him and have some real quality time to spend with him. It's the hot word of the decade, "Balance."

Not to stereotype too much, but women tend to complain and criticize when we share our thoughts and feelings. Blame biology, blame socializing, but whatever the source, men will tell you they are the ones who feel blamed when we want to "talk about the relationship." Our inner thoughts and feelings are, "I love you, I miss you, I would like to have more fun time together as a couple and as a family." What comes out of our mouths is, "Company softball? But you just went golfing last weekend! And fantasy football starts in two weeks! Am I EVER going to see you and get any help around here?!"

Think about your words as your hands. The desire is to pull him in closer (think hands on his collar, playfully pulling him towards you with a smile). What you don't want is to make him run screaming (think hands shoving him in the chest forcefully) or to make him feel trapped (think hands wrapped around his ankle and leg pulling him to stay).

When things are calm and he's not headed out the door to one of his extra-curriculars, start a conversation by telling him how much you enjoy his company. Talk about why you think he's a great husband and dad. Tell him you like that he has interests and passions outside the family. Explain that it feels like time is so limited and that with your busy schedules, you miss him. Ask him (with curiosity and deep listening, not with blame and resentment) if he feels pulled in too many directions. Let him know you'd like more time together to have fun. Women often phrase it as "I need more help around here." It's not too motivating to give up fun for a long list of chores at home. The help and chores will come, but that comes after you've found a way to strike a balance of time. Talk about your hope that you can find a good balance as a family for time together and time to pursue individual interests. No blame, no yelling, so snide comments.

Most importantly, after you decide how you can make more time for each other and the kids, make sure when he does go off to softball or to have a beer with guys that you filter all resentment and all reproach out of your voice when you tell him to go and have fun.

Good luck!

Yours, Shelby

**Remember to check out Shelby's website, Family Help Today, for a variety of useful information for couples, individuals, families, and kids. You can also find out more about Shelby's AWESOME e-books on her site.

2009-06-11T23:29:00.000-04:00

Photography 101 with Caitlin Domanico

2009-06-11T11:20:00.002-04:00

We are so excited to welcome Chester County Moms, newest contributor, Caitlin Domanico. As an on-location natural light photographer. Caitlin, specializes in "capturing the art of daily living". She will be contributing a Photography 101 post weekly. Learn more about Caitlin and view her work at www.caitlindomanico.com.

"OMG I love your pictures, what kind of camera do you use?"
Part One

No matter if you use film or digital, a point & shoot or an SLR, here is an easy tip that will make your photography POP!

Change your angle.

Photograph a pet from floor level.

Photograph babies and children at eye level.

Shoot something from above.

Play, have fun...the possibilities are endless! Check in every Thursday for Photography 101 with Caitlin Domanico!

Until then, happy shooting!

Making Cents With Mama Cheaps

2009-06-10T23:05:00.002-04:00
This Week's Topic: Learning That Coupon Lingo!

One of the most common questions that I am asked is: "I don't understand what your coupon abbreviations mean. How do I know where to find the coupon you're writing about?"

Get ready for a crash course in Couponing Terms!

When I write about deals that I find at the store using coupons, I will typically write the coupon similar to this: $.75/1 RP 4/5.

Translation: I used a coupon from the April 5th Red Plum insert. Its value is 75 cents off of 1 item.

Here are some common coupon related abbreviations:
SS: SmartSource insert
RP: Red Plum insert
P&G: Proctor and Gamble insert
Unilever: Unilever Insert
DND: Do not double
DNT: Do not triple
YMMV: Your mileage may vary (what works for one person at one store may or may not work for you)
B1G1/BOGO: Buy one get one
WYB: When you buy
OYNO: On your next order
OOP: Out of pocket

Next Week's Topic: Where to find coupon match-ups for your favorite stores!

Devon posts regularly on her blog, http://www.mamacheaps.com/. When she is not blogging or designing personalized candy wrappers for her store, Winterwood Press, she is spending time with her husband and her 9 month old daughter.

Swami Baby Boutique Giveaway

2009-06-10T23:02:00.005-04:00

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Don't you just love when children are dressed to impress?! Chic, hip and stylish clothing with functional designs...I think all moms can agree - that's where it at!

That's why Swami Baby Boutique is such a great clothing line - for moms and children!! Swami Baby Boutique is a clothing line for infants and toddlers (and their mamas too) designed to give a voice to our wise little ones.
Katie Holley, a yoga teacher and mother of three, began to see that kids already possess much of what we as adults are striving to achieve; they have the innate ability to live in the present, to take time to enjoy life, to be aware of their surroundings, and to be direct.

That's why she created a line of babywear and gifts that reflects the natural teacher, or swami, that children can be if we just listen. Swami Baby not only strives to give this wisdom a voice, but also acts as a calming reminder for adults to relax, enjoy themselves and take life one baby step at a time.
One the cutest little designs that Swami Baby Boutique offers is the Elements T-shirts - designed to reflect aspects of the world around us and show off your child's inner spirit! Got a spunky one on your hands - why not get the "Wind" Elements t-shirt for them to wear. Is your child as laid back & cool as a cucumber, then you might want to get them the "Water" Elements t-shirt. Not only are the t-shirts soft & made from the finest quality organic cotton...but they make an adorable little statement when you're out and about! The moms at the park will rant and rave! And on the "mom-side" of things - they wash up to perfection when they go through
the laundry! What more could a mama ask for?!

So...do you want a chance to win a t-shirt from Swami Baby Boutique?

All you need to do is browse around the Swami Baby Boutique shop...come back here and tell us what t-shirt you'd pick out if you win! Don't forget to leave you email address so we can contact you if you win!

You can also email us your entry as well if you prefer that method instead. Just email us at contests@chestercountymoms.com and enter "Swami Baby" in the subject line.

This contest is only open to residents of Chester County, PA. Contest ends June 23 at midnight and a winner will be randomly chosen and contacted on June 24 to claim their prize.

Downingtown Native Tours With Broadway Musical

2009-06-09T23:18:00.003-04:00
Downingtown Native Tours With Broadway Musical
Story by Francine Fulton, feature writer for the Community Courier, courtesy of Engle Printing & Publishing Company

Many aspiring actors spend years waiting for that big break, working odd jobs and spending time auditioning for parts of all kinds.

For Matthew Schmidt, a 2003 graduate of Downingtown High School, his big break in show business came early when he was cast to be part of the national tour of the Broadway musical,"Grease." Schmidt, a member of the Actors' Equity Association, performs in the ensemble and is understudy for the characters Doody, Roger and Eugene.

Schmidt earned his bachelor's of fine arts degree in musical theater from the Pennsylvania State University in State College in May 2008. In college he starred as Huck Finn in "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and as Frankie Epps in "Parade"

"I graduated last May and went to New York for the summer," Schmidt said during a phone interview from Seattle, Wash. "I started auditioning around and, after my Penn State showcase, a casting director saw me and I auditioned for her. I had three auditions (before I got the part), which is quick in the Broadway world.

"I found out in mid-July that I got the part," he continued. "The entire show wasn't cast until two weeks before rehearsal and rehearsals started at the end of October."

The play opened in Providence, R.I., and then traveled down the East Coast when Schmidt's family, including his parents, Frieda and Marty Schmidt, got to see him on stage in Baltimore. The traveling theater group then moved to the West Coast, performing in Tucson, San Diego, Los Angeles, Costa Mesa and Portland.

Schmidt said that most of the actors travel together from city to city by bus or airplane and they maintain a hectic schedule of performances.

"Typically, Tuesday through Friday we have evening shows at 7:30 or 8 o'clock. Then on Saturday and Sunday we usually have two shows - a matinee and an evening performance," Schmidt said. "The weekends are the really hard days. It does get to be a grind sometimes doing the same thing every single night, but we have a great cast, which keeps it fun. With 'Grease,' it's all about who is on stage with you."

Incidentally, Schmidt shares the stage with "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks, who plays the role of Teen Angel.

Since he was cast in the play, Schmidt was called on to perform as the character Doody on several occasions. "(As an understudy) you have to be prepared (to go on). It's scary and exciting," he said. "The first time I went on (as a main character) I found out one hour before I had to go to the theater."

Schmidt began his acting career with the Troupe of Acts at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Exton. He played leading roles in musicals at the Downingtown High School and Barley Sheaf Players in Lionville, and was a member of the Downingtown High School Chorus. He was also on the high school varsity wresting team and played in the Downingtown High School Marching Band when it traveled to Pasadena, Calif., in 2001 for the Rose Bowl Parade.

"I started singing in the church plays when I was a freshman in high school, but I didn't get serious (about singing) until junior year when I started taking private (voice) lessons," he said. "I always loved performing and enjoyed singing and I was always involved in theater one way or another."

Schmidt said he plans to pursue an acting career when his Broadway run comes to a close.
"I will end up back in New York and audition all over again. I would love to try to break into commercials or TV," he said. "When I was a senior, I wasn't thinking of going into music theater as a profession. It all fell into place for me. I was pretty lucky."

"Grease" will come to the Philadelphia area on Tuesday, July 7, through Sunday, July 12, at the Academy of Music. For more information, interested readers may visit http://www.greaseonbroadway.com/.

Chester County Moms.com would like to thank Francine Fulton, feature writer for the Community Courier, and Engle Printing & Publishing Company for this post.

2009-06-08T23:24:00.000-04:00

Winner's Circle Sports Grille
Routes 30 & 100 in theWhiteland Towne Center
143 West Lincoln Highway
Exton, PA 19341
610-524-2424

2009-06-08T17:21:00.002-04:00
We have received a few emails and comments from people having trouble viewing the community calendar. When I log on, I don't have a problem viewing it, but I think that is because I see the master calendar, not what is actually published. So would you mind taking a look at the calendar and letting me know(sarah@chestercountymoms.com) if you have a problem viewing, or if the events on Saturday are cut off. Also let me know if you are using Internet Explorer or Firefox to surf the web.

Thanks Ladies!

I don't know what is going on, but I am working on it and hope to get the kinks worked out soon.
-Sarah

Raising the Bar - Sneak Peak of The Season Premier on Monday, June 8th

2009-06-07T22:31:00.000-04:00

Season Premiere: RAISING THE BAR, airs Monday, June 8th at 10PM

“Hair Apparent” – In the dramatic season premiere, Jerry defends a barber charged with allowing his nephew to sell crack out of his barbershop, a crime for which the barber is now being tried. Marcus, under orders from Balco to “take the hard line” in prosecuting cases, refuses to give any leeway. Roz decides to start handling cases again, but her first one hits a snag that could ruin a woman’s life and the life of her son. Bobbi’s divorce proceedings get underway, but it’s not too long before she gets thrown a curveball. And Jerry gets ribbed about his hair during a party celebrating his birthday.

Extra.. Extra...

2009-06-07T14:14:00.001-04:00
We have an urgent request from the TV show Extra. They are on the lookout for a woman who is looking for answers to financial questions from an incredibly well known expert. I can't tell you who, but trust me, she's huge. Anyway - if you're having trouble with finances, recently lost a job and are trying to make ends meet or if your income has been affected by this crappy economy (whose isn't), please email Stacy Rollins at stacy.rollins@telepixtv.com. She wants to do the interview tomorrow so the sooner you reach out to her the better. Bottom line - your appearance with the famous finance whiz will air on national television.

Sneak Peak of The Closer Season Premier

2009-06-05T22:17:00.000-04:00

“Products of Discovery” – Monday, June 8, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) – TV-14-LV
The Season Premier of TNT’s THE CLOSER,returns with a high-tension case Monday, June 8th at 9PM. TNT will build up to the premiere of THE CLOSER with a 21-hour marathon of memorable episodes, beginning Sunday, June 7, at midnight (ET/PT)

2009-06-05T16:21:00.000-04:00

The Winner's Circle
Routes 30 & 100 in theWhiteland Towne Center
143 West Lincoln Highway
Exton, PA 19341
610-524-2424

The Next Food Network Star: West Chester's very own Katie Cavuto!

2009-06-02T20:55:00.009-04:00
Calling all foodies!

The Next Food Network Star (Season 5) premieres this Sunday, June 7th! And, one of the 10 finalists is a local woman named Katie Cavuto who was raised right here in West Chester, PA!
Katie Cavuto grew up in West Chester with her mother (Jeanne - a teacher at Stetson Middle School where Katie went) and father (Robert - owner of Carpets by Cavuto) as well as her three siblings. Her parents have been married for 35 years; they are very active at their church (St. Maximilian Kolbe Church).
Katie Cavuto was a gymnast since the age of three, and she competed through high school. She was on the Junior Olympic National team in 1997. She was injured several times and was not able to continue competing in college.
Years of competitive gymnastics sparked her interest in nutrition. She developed her passion for food and cooking at Goose Creek Grill in West Chester, Pa. She graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition and an Associates of Science in Culinary Arts. She went on to get her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition at Tufts University where she also attended the Frances Stern Nutrition Center and earned her degree as a Registered Dietitian.
Now, at the age of 30, she owns Healthy Bites, LLC out of Philadelphia – a company that offers in-home nutrition and culinary services, organic meal delivery service, and community/private cooking lessons. She has been doing this since June 2002, but she officially incorporated it in March 2008. Her idea of “Green Cuisine” is about feeding your body through the quality of the ingredients (organic, healthy foods) as well as decreasing your carbon footprint (buy locally and buy organic). It is her mission to use her knowledge and skills to show others how easy and fun it can be to live a healthy lifestyle. To Katie, a diet is temporary, but a lifestyle is lasting.
Visit www.foodnetwork.com/star to see behind the scenes of the show and Katie.
Sarah and I are going to be interviewing Katie on Thursday. Please leave a comment and let us know what questions you'd like us to ask her for you! We'll post all of her answers here on Friday! And, we just may have a special Food Network giveaway for you then too! Hint, Hint!
We can't wait to chat with her and get a behind-the-scenes view of The Next Food Network Star workings!

Leaping Lizzie Giveaway

2009-06-02T11:06:00.009-04:00

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Congrats to the winner!

Attention all lovers of custom made children's apparel!

Leaping Lizzie, a local Etsy shop owned Liz, specializes in custom made baby and girl's boutique apparel that is uniquely adorable...and better yet - affordable! Liz, an incredibly talented and passionate seamstress, has been sewing boutique clothing for quite some time! She used to sell all of her handmade clothing to a local children's boutique, she now offers her clothing to people all over the web through her Etsy shop! You can read more about Liz and her craft here. Her clothing is absolutely adorable...perfect must haves for little girls! One of the cutest things she makes is matching little girl and American Girl doll dresses! Any little Miss American Girl doll enthusiast would love these so much! Liz specializes in creating custom dresses, hand knit sweaters, gorgeous and family heirloom Christening gowns and many many more beautiful custom clothing creations. You can see just a sampling of her work in her shop, Leaping Lizzie.

Patriotic Stars Pillowcase Dress & matching American Girl doll dress

Liz loves doing custom work for her customers...sewing is her passion and no job is taken lightly! You can be sure you're getting quality handiwork when you order at Leaping Lizzie's! To see the Leaping Lizzie boutique, click HERE. Liz also takes custom orders via email and by phone. She has ready made clothing through her Etsy shop, but if you're looking for custom work and orders such as:
Hand smocked dresses
Heirloom Christening outfits
Matching sister outfits
Handmade sweaters for boys and girls
Matching American Girl doll outfits and more...
Liz welcomes you to contact her to discuss a unique design to be created just for you!

So here's the great news!

We simply couldn't just share this amazing shop with you without offering you a chance to win a beautiful custom design from Leaping Lizzie!

Liz has offered to create a custom little girl's sundress for one lucky Chester County Moms reader! The winner will be able to chose a sundress from her shop or create a totally custom dress from the fabric choices that Liz offers - you can set up a meeting to discuss a custom dress designs just for your little girl!

Also, Liz is offering all Chester County Moms readers a 10% off summer discount! If you place an order through Leaping Lizzie in June or July - Liz is going to give you a 10% discount off your custom order! To get the discount on your order, all you have to do is mention that you discovered her shop on Chester County Moms when you check out at Leaping Lizzie! The discount will be refunded via your PayPal order once payment is made.

Want a chance to win a custom designed sundress for your little girl?

To enter this contest visit Leaping Lizzie and leave a comment below or email contests(at)chestercountymoms.com telling us your favorite item from her shop! Enter "Leaping Lizzie Giveaway" in the subject line if you email.
The winner of this contest must be a resident of Chester County. This contest will end on June 10th. The winner will be notified via email and has 24 hours to respond to the "You Won!" email. The winner of this contest will be given Liz's contact info to design a custom sundress dress of your choice.
Want a few extra opportunities to win?

(1) Extra entry - Join the Chester County Moms Group on Facebook (make sure to let us know you would like to enter the Leaping Lizzie contest)

(1) Extra Entry - Friend ChescoMoms on FB and update your FB status to...Chesco Moms are giving away a custom designed sundress from Leaping Lizzie http://tinyurl.com/cwqg4q

(1) Extra Entry - Follow ChescoMoms on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway! (DM us and let us know you would like to enter the Leaping Lizzie sundress giveaway. Just remember to include this is a contest for Chesco Residents in your tweet.)

(1) Extra Entry - Blog about this giveaway! Don't forget to link Chester County Moms in your blog post (email* us so we know about your post don't forget to include your URL.)

(1) Extra Entry - Follow us at Chester County Moms (if you're already a follower...that counts too! Let us know via email*)

(1) Extra Entry - Subscribe to Chester County Moms Feed Blitz (if your already subscribe..let us know via email!* There is a link to sign up on the right side bar.)

(1) Extra Entry - Put the Chester County Moms button on your blog (let us know the URL where we can find it...and if you have it already...just let us know via email*...it still counts!)

*Our EMAIL - contests@chestercountymoms.com (Subject-Leaping Lizzie Giveaway)

Tasty Tuesdays

2009-06-01T23:08:00.005-04:00

As the warmer weather becomes more and more frequent, many of us will be spending our summer nights and weekends in the backyard together with friends and family. This favorite summer activity is almost always accompanied by a delicious meal on the grill with marinated meats and fresh grilled veggies!

Yum! Are your mouths watering yet?!

Throughout the month of June, Tasty Tuesdays will be about one thing: Backyard Barbecues. It'll be all about delicious menus and fun ideas that will hopefully inspire you to get out and grill! So...send out the invites...no one will want to miss your next backyard BBQ party!

This week, Tasty Tuesdays is bringing you classic warm weather dishes with an infusion of bold flavors!

A Midsummer Night's BBQ Roasted Tomato & Red Pepper Gazpacho
Grilled Chicken and Pork with Orange-Cumin Glaze
Pesto Potato Salad with Green Beans
Grilled Corn with Smoked Paprika Butter

...and a few more recipes to top off the meal - 6 Easy & Delicious Peach Desserts:
Parfaits
Cook chunks of peeled peaches in simple syrup until just softened. Cool and layer in tall glasses with sweetened crème fraiche and blueberries.

Shortcakes
Cut biscuits in half and fill with thin peach slices that have been tossed with sugar and a splash of vanilla extract. Top peaches with sweetened whipped cream.

Cobbler
Mix chunks of peeled peaches with brown sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Make a topping of granola and butter. Bake until bubbly.

Peach Melba
Poach fresh peach halves in Sauternes. Top with vanilla ice cream and raspberry puree.
Peach Kebabs
Marinate peach halves in honey, lime juice, and orange juice. Thread skewers through peaches and grill.

Sundaes
Cook small chunks of peeled peaches with amaretto and honey until thick. Serve over coffee ice cream in large goblets.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you have a classic recipe that always makes it to your grill every summer?
We'd love to hear about it!

In a comment, leave your recipe or a link to a recipe that you absolutely love or would like to try this summer.

And...happy grilling everyone!

This menu has been collected from various recipes found at Epicurious.

PrintArtKids: Masterpieces Immortalized

2009-05-29T05:58:00.000-04:00
Can't stand the thought of getting rid of your little Picasso's precious prints, but feel like they are taking over your home? There is a great, local company called PrintArtKids which can help you declutter while preserving some great memories!

The "brainchild" of a local mom whose house was buried under her sons’ artwork, PrintArtKids will transform your kid’s vibrant flower painting into Notepads, transform a homemade holiday ornament into this year's Holiday Card, or take a finger painting and make it a one-of-a-kind Note Card. Your children will be excited to see their artwork turned into custom pieces that will be used again and again!

Looking for a great gift for Dad? Upload your photos or artwork to www.PrintArtKids.com to create a never to be forgotten, one-of-a-kind present just for Dad (or Grandpa)! Place your order by June 7th to ensure your order will be shipped to you by Father's Day!

And, ordering is a snap! Either scan or take a digital photo of your print, and upload to your computer. Since it's digital, you can use your computer to make changes to the photos before sending off to PrintArtKids. Once you've digitized your child's masterpiece, visit www.PrintArtKids.com, select the item you wish to order from “Our Products,” then click on “Order Now.” Simply upload the image to PrintArtKids following the easy to use instructions to create notepads, holiday cards, return address labels and more! For an additional fee, PrintArtKids will even erase errant scribbles.

NBC 10 Show Mom's Morning Out Field Trip..

2009-05-28T14:27:00.005-04:00
Hey Mom's.... call the babysitter and get a group of friends together.....Anyone interested in going to see a live taping of the NBC 10! Show on June 3rd or June 4th?

Visiting the 10! Show is a really fun Mom's morning out. If you are interested please email your name, phone # and date (6/3 or 6/4) that you can attend to sarah@chestercountymoms.com. The show tapes in Bala Cynwyd and you have to arrive at the studio between 9am-9:30am. Space is limited so please email your info ASAP.

June 3rd: A performance from Andrew Lipke, Father's Day Fashions, Katie Cavuto will be on (she from Next Food Network Star)- a demo on sunglasses and Lee Daniels and Adam Rothenberg they will be talking about their new movie Tennessee

June 4th: The Anitque Road Show,a chef-author Janice Leiberman (talking about how to shop for a husband) Adventure Aquarium and John Debella with a pet up for adoption

FREE Ice Cream Day at The Parkesburg Walmart Supercenter

2009-05-28T01:18:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars and make plans to visit the Parkesburg Walmart Supercenter
on Saturday, May 30th from 11am to 4pm for FREE Ice Cream!

Available items : 1.57 fl oz. Dibs snack bag, 2.4 fl oz. Blue Bunny Aspen Frozen Yogurt Granola Bar, 4 oz Ben & Jerry's Flipped Out Cup.

1 sample per customer while supplies last

Celebrate the End of School with Goodies for a Graduation Party

2009-05-26T23:39:00.000-04:00
Break out the paper and the scissors! It's time to celebrate the end of the school year.

Click here for fun crafts, make it your self gift ideas, recipes, party ideas and more from Family Fun Magazine.

Tasty Tuesday - Class of 2009 Cake

2009-05-26T18:51:00.002-04:00
With another school year drawing to a close, you'll want to make sure your young graduate gets his just desserts -- such as a jelly roll diploma wrapped in a fruit leather bow.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

2 eggs plus 1 egg white
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Jelly
4 oz. cream cheese
softened 3 tbsp. butter
softened1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
Decorator's gel
Fruit leather

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 15- x 10-inch jelly roll pan with waxed paper and grease the paper well.

2. In a bowl, beat the eggs and egg white with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of the vanilla extract, then gradually beat in the sugar at low speed. Stir in the dry ingredients until well mixed.

3. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

4. Invert the hot cake onto a clean towel sprinkled with confectioners' sugar; remove the waxed paper. Trim the cake edges with a sharp knife (adults only) and roll up the hot cake and towel from a narrow end. Let it cool on a wire rack.

5. Unroll the cooled cake, remove the towel, and spread on jelly, leaving a 2-inch strip at one end plain. Reroll the jelly-covered portion of the cake.

6. In a bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, and the last 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and use to frost the cake.

7. Use decorator's gel to pipe "roll lines" on the cake ends and the class year or your child's name onto the unrolled portion. Finally, add a fruit leather bow.

Money Saving Tip - Joovy Caboose Stroller

2009-05-26T11:01:00.001-04:00
We received an email today from one of our awesome readers that wanted to share this Hot Deal with everyone. If you have a tip email sarah@chestercountymoms.com.

www.joovy.com is having a big sale on all of their Joovy Caboose strollers – I just bought the original Caboose in Appletree for $129, plus a FREE parent tray and FREE SHIPPING! If I had purchased it all through Babies R Us or Amazon, I would have spent $200 plus shipping.

This is the page that lists the sale prices: http://www.joovy.com/online_store/doublestrollers.php

Gluten Free Baking Demo at Wegman's

2009-05-24T23:36:00.002-04:00

Gluten-Free Baking with Elizabeth Barbone

Event Information: Gluten-Free Baking 101: Baking Demo and Book Signing
Elizabeth Barbone, author of Easy Gluten-Free Baking will teach you the ins and outs of Gluten-Free Baking. In two hours, you will learn:
· The basic gluten-free flours
· How to stock a gluten-free kitchen
· Essential tools to make gluten-free baking easier

And you’ll see Elizabeth demonstrate two easy recipes—banana muffins and chocolate chip cookies from her cookbook. Whether you are new to the gluten-free diet or have been living gluten-free for years, you’ll learn something new in this fun class!

Date: Tuesday, May 26
Time: 6:00 - 8:00PM
Address: Wegmans Downingtown1056 East Lancaster Ave.Downingtown, PA 19335
For more info please call: (610) 518-7800
Cost: $15 Tickets available at “That’s T.H.E Ticket” locations. Click here for ticketing info.

Memorial Day Savings at Grand Slam, Malvern

2009-05-24T00:23:00.000-04:00

Grand Slam USA
11 E Lancaster Ave
Malvern, PA 19355
(610) 647-6622

Memorial Day Specials
Indoor Mini Golf $4.00 a round (Save $3)
Laser Tag$4.00 per game (Save $3)
Dollar Dog Day$1 Hot dogs from 11am-3pm

Easy Grilling for Memorial Day

2009-05-23T00:41:00.006-04:00

Still stumped on what to make for all the guests coming over to enjoy the relaxing Memorial Day weekend?

Cookie Magazine has gathered some scrumptious & easy recipes to help you celebrate your holiday this weekend! These recipes are also great to consider if you're vacationing or even at the shore with friends and family for the weekend.

Simple and Easy Grilled Chicken

The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity—and its convenience: When you're ready for dinner, all the prep has already been done, far in advance.

Serves 4 to 6 | Total time: 30 minutes, plus time for marinating

1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
5 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces (or use whichever pieces you prefer)

In a medium-size bowl, mix together a marinade of olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Put the chicken pieces in a large bowl or resealable plastic bag, add the marinade, and cover the bowl or seal the bag.
Let the chicken sit in the marinade in the refrigerator all day or overnight. The longer it marinates, the better.
When you're ready to cook, turn the grill to medium heat.
Remove the chicken from the bowl or bag, discard any remaining marinade, and place the chicken pieces on the grill.
Grill the chicken until the breast meat near the bone registers 165° F and the thigh meat registers 180° F on a thermometer. If you don't have a meat thermometer, cook the chicken until the meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the chicken from the grill and let it sit 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Açai Power Popsicles

If you have a blender and want to make happy food—and give your kids healthy snacks - this is a great recipe! If they dislike milk and yogurt, it's a great way to sneak it in. With the weather warming up (finally!) and the long weekend approaching, these Popsicles will do double duty: be fun and healthy.

Makes 8 4-ounce Popsicles | Total time: 5 minutes, plus 6 hours to freeze

7 to 8 ounces frozen açai puree
3 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt
(the full-fat version tastes the best)
Honey-based simple syrup (recipe below), or agave nectar.

Let the frozen açai puree soften at room temperature for five minutes, then crumble it into a blender.
Add 1 cup of the yogurt to the blender and puree it with the açai until the mixture is smooth. If you like your Popsicles on the sweeter side, add honey-based simple syrup or agave nectar 1 tablespoon at a time.
Use the remaining 2 1/2 cups of yogurt to fill each of 8 4-ounce Popsicle molds (or small paper cups) two-thirds full. Top each with the açai mixture and use the handle of a spoon to swirl the berry puree into the yogurt. Stir just enough to get some streaks going.
Freeze the pops for at least 6 hours, or until they're solid. If you have trouble getting the Popsicles out of the molds, just give them a quick run under hot water.

Honey-Based Simple Syrup (optional)

Makes 2 cups

1/2 cup very hot water
1 1/2 cups mild honey

Pour the hot water over the honey and mix until incorporated.
Store the syrup in a clean jar at room temperature.

TIP: Frozen açai puree is available in most natural-food stores. If you can't find açai, you can substitute any other pureed frozen berry or fruit.

5 Tips For Busy Moms

2009-05-22T12:58:00.001-04:00
Millions of Moms are overloaded with responsibilities and distractions, and although they try to stay healthy from a physical standpoint by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep, they are only nurturing their bodies, but neglecting to nurture their minds and spirits as well.

Below are Five tips for Living Well from wellness expert, Marlise Karlin:

#1: Breathe Into the Moment: In the midst of a busy day, take a few moments to find stillness. Slow your pace, breathe deep, and refocus your attention away from the mind-chatter. Instead, reflect on what is most meaningful to you in life, and carry those inspirational thoughts with you throughout your day.

#2: Take Inspired Action: Being in constant reaction mode will leave you feeling exhausted & unfulfilled. After taking a moment of reflection and stillness, follow through with the necessary steps to achieve the goals you set forth for the day. If a disruption occurs, acknowledge it and look for a solution, rather than allowing it to derail you. Notice how your new focus helps you to stay on track with greater ease.

#3: Water Your Garden: Truly acknowledge the people in your life for the value they bring to you and the world. As with a garden, relationships need to be nurtured and appreciated. With even a sprinkling, the relationship will bloom – and the beauty of what is given will return to you tenfold.

#4 Be Aware of Your Attitude: Notice how you feel and how you radiate those feelings outward. If you have a positive attitude, people will not only gravitate to you, but it might even help change the attitude of others from negative to positive. If you are projecting love, generosity and hope, others may follow your lead. Realize how what you give comes back to you!

#5 Make Choices: Acknowledge that you have the ability to make choices that will keep you moving forward toward your overall vision, rather than letting other people, or life’s circumstances distract you from staying focused on what matters most. Choose what moves you toward your goals that give you the greatest rewards – inside and out.

“People are running at a hundred miles an hour, racing with the clock, trying to squeeze in ways to stay healthy and fit,” said Marlise Karlin. “It’s important to realize it only takes a few minutes a day to completely reboot ourselves by nurturing both mind & body to become more balanced and healthy.”

ABOUT MARLISE: Marlise Karlin is a person just like you and me who focuses on rebooting people by experiencing The Simplicity of Stillness. After a series of profound experiences shifted her perception of life, Marlise developed simple methods for people everywhere to reboot themselves so the journey of life can be more enjoyable. Countless people from every culture around the world have attended Marlise’s Programs and are attesting to the extraordinary benefits that her Stillness Sessions® have brought to their lives, from experiencing a sense of peace rarely felt, to finding balance and wellbeing, from releasing years of road blocks, to discovering what they really want out of life and how to create it. Marlise’s authentic personality allows her to connect with people at a real level to bring balance to their lives through The Simplicity of Stillness. See www.marlisekarlin.com

50 Great Places to take your Kids within 50 Miles

2009-05-21T21:39:00.001-04:00

developed by the
Upper Moreland Free Public Library

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Briar Bush Nature Center
12 acre park with bird observatory & preschoolers' discovery den.
1212 Edge Hill Rd, Abington
215-887-6603
www.briarbush.org

Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association
Aircraft museum and historic aircraft.
1155 Easton Road, Horsham
215-672-2277
www.dvhaa.org

Elmwood Park Zoo
Small zoo.
Ideal for young children.
1661 Harding Blvd, Norristown
610-277-3825
www.elmwoodparkzoo.org

Four Mills Nature Preserve
Trails on 51 acres, museum with child-oriented nature displays.
12 Morris Rd, Ambler
215-646-8866
http://tinyurl.com/c2y7ul

Freddy Hill Farms
Featuring miniature golf, a driving range, batting cages,
a farm zoo, homemade ice cream and fresh milk.
1440 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale
215-855-1205
www.freddyhill.com

Glencairn Museum
Educates visitors about the history of religion
using art & artifacts from a variety of cultures & time periods.
1001 Cathedral Rd, Bryn Athyn
267-502-2993
www.glencairnmuseum.org

Graeme Park
A colonial governor's residence.
859 County Line Rd, Horsham
215-343-0965
www.ushistory.org/graeme

Green Lane Park & Nature Center
Workshops, nature studies, hiking.
Rte 63 & Rte 29, Green Lane
215-234-4528
http://tinyurl.com/db587t

Hope Lodge & Mather Mill
In 1777 Washington's troops camped here after battle of Germantown.
House was Surgeon-General's Headquarters.
Mather Mill is a 200 year-old grist mill.
553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington
215-646-1595
www.ushistory.org/hope

Pennypack Farm
Learn about sustainable local food systems.
685 Mann Road, Horsham
215-646-3943
www.pennypackfarm.org

Upper Moreland Free Public Library
Providing access to diverse information, life-long learning,
and cultural enrichment.
109 Park Ave, Willow Grove
215-659-0741
www.uppermorelandlibrary.org

Valley Forge National Historical Park
Visit the historic Revolutionary War site.
More than 3,600 acres of rolling hills and well-worn trails.
1400 N Outer Line Dr, King of Prussia
610-783-1077
www.nps.gov/vafo

BUCKS COUNTY

Bucks County River Country
(Please check website or call for directions.)
Rafting, canoeing, kayaking & tubing outings on the Delaware River.
2 Walters Lane, Point Pleasant
215-297-5000
www.rivercountry.net

Carousel Village at Indian Walk
Enjoy a ride on antique 1890 carousel or 1/3 scale locomotive.
591 Rte 413, Wrightstown
215-598-0707
www.carouselvillage.com

Central Park
Park featuring Kids' Castle, an eight story wooden playground.
425 Wells Road, Doylestown
215-348-9915
http://tinyurl.com/cxdvja

Fonthill Museum
Henry Mercer's home - laden with treasures
from his travels plus his world famous tiles.
E. Court St & Rte 313, Doylestown
215-348-9461
www.mercermuseum.org

Giggleberry Fair Giggleberry Mountain, Discovery Land
and lots more at Peddler’s Village.
Rte 202 & Rte 263, New Hope
215-794-4000
http://tinyurl.com/cp2geg

Historic Fallsington
300 year-old village recreating early Quaker community.
4 Yardley Ave, Fallsington
215-295-6567
www.historicfallsington.org

James A. Michener Art Museum
Home to a world-class collection of
Pennsylvania Impressionism.
138 South Pine Street, Doylestown
215-340.9800
www.michenermuseum.org

Mercer Museum
Displays of furnishings, folk art & implements of Early America.
84 S. Pine St, Doylestown
215-345-0210
www.mercermuseum.org

New Hope & Ivyland Railroad
Authentic operating museum.
32 W. Bridge St, New Hope
215-862-2332
www.newhoperailroad.com

Peace Valley Park
Walk the beautiful shores of Lake Galena
or visit the Nature Center.
230 Creek Rd, New Britain
215-822-8608
http://tinyurl.com/djz87w

Ralph Stover State Park
45-acre park offering rock climbing, picnicking and fishing.
Stover Park Rd & State Park Rd, Pipersville
610-982-5560
http://tinyurl.com/cyxf49

Sesame Place
Experience Sesame Street together through
whirling rides, water slides, colorful shows & furry friends.
100 Sesame Rd, Langhorne
215-752-7070
www.sesameplace.com

Tyler State Park
1,711 acres of park roads, trails, and facilities along Neshaminy Creek.
101 Swamp Rd, Newtown
215-968-2021
http://tinyurl.com/dhftr4

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Picturesque setting with 13 historic buildings.
1112 River Road, Washington's Crossing
215-493-4076
http://tinyurl.com/dm5cwl

CHESTER COUNTY / WEST CHESTER

American Helicopter Museum/Education Center
Currently displays over 35 civilian and military
helicopters, autogiros and convertiplanes.
1220 American Blvd, West Chester
610-436-9600
www.helicoptermuseum.org

Brandywine River Museum
American art in a 19th century gristmill,
including paintings by 3 generations of Wyeths.
Rte 1 & 100, Chadds Ford
610-388-2700
www.brandywinemuseum.org

Springton Manor Farm
300 acre demonstration farm, animals and nature trail.
860 Springton Rd, Glenmoore
610-942-2450
http://tinyurl.com/c97bua

DELAWARE COUNTY

Brandywine Battlefield
Historic Site Encompasses 650 acres of
horticultural collections, rare plant specimens, ancient trees,
historic buildings, and extensive hiking trails.
1491 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford
610-459-3342
www.ushistory.org/brandywine

Longwood Gardens
1,050 acres of woodlands, gardens, conservatories, and fountains open year-round.
1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square
610-388-1000
www.longwoodgardens.com

Tyler Arboretum
A place where history, horticulture, and natural habitats come together.
515 Painter Rd, Media
610-566-9134
www.tylerarboretum.org

LEHIGH COUNTY

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Features world-class roller coasters and 22 twisting water slides.
3830 Dorney Park Rd, Allentown
610-395-3724
www.dorneypark.com

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

Crayola Factory
Color, draw, paint and create with the latest Crayola products.
30 Centre Square, Easton
610-515-8000
www.crayola.com/Factory

PHILADELPHIA

Academy of Natural Sciences
Dinosaurs, animal dioramas & children's hands-on museum.
19th St & Ben Franklin Parkway
215-299-1000
www.ansp.org

African American Museum in Philadelphia
Houses and interprets the life and work of African Americans.
701 Arch Street
215-574-0380
www.aampmuseum.org

Elfreth's Alley
Museum Considered oldest continuously occupied street in America.
126 Elfreth's Alley (on 2nd St between Race and Arch)
215-574-0560
www.elfrethsalley.org

Fireman's Hall
Firefighting equipment from 1730 to present.
147 N. 2nd St
215-923-1438
www.firemanshallstore.com

Fort Mifflin
Historic site of 1777 Battle.
Tour features weapons and uniforms.
Fort Mifflin Rd & Hog Island Rd
215-685-4167
www.fortmifflin.com

Franklin Institute Science Museum and Fels Planetarium
Multi-faceted hands-on Science Museum & Tuttleman IMAX Theater.
222 North 20th St
215-448-1200
www2.fi.edu

Franklin Square
History comes alive with mini-golf, a carousel, storytelling and more!
200 N 6th St
215-629-4026
http://tinyurl.com/ajbflt

Independence Seaport Museum
Interactive exhibits demonstrate early times. Also visit Naval Flagships.
Penn's Landing
215-413-8655
www.phillyseaport.org

Mummers Museum
History of the parades, from costumes to instruments.
1100 South 2nd St
215-336-3050
www.mummersmuseum.com

National Museum of American Jewish History
Exhibits featuring artifacts, documents and photographs.
55 N. 5th St
215-923-3811
www.nmajh.org

Philadelphia Zoo
Special features include children’s zoo, Big Cat Falls, and Primate Reserve.
3400 W. Girard Ave
215-243-1100
www.philadelphiazoo.org

Please Touch Museum
Unique, fun-filled environment for young children.
4231 Avenue of the Republic; Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park
215-581-3181
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org

NEW JERSEY

Adventure Aquarium
See sharks, seals, stingrays & other sea creatures. Ferry from Penn's Landing.
1 Aquarium Dr, Camden
856-365-3300
www.adventureaquarium.com

Battleship New Jersey
Learn what life was like for a battleship sailor.
100 Clinton Street, Camden
866-877-6262
www.battleshipnewjersey.org

Cowtown Rodeo
Cowtown is the oldest weekly running rodeo in the U.S.
780 Route #40, Pilesgrove
856-769-3200
www.cowtownrodeo.com

Howell Living History Farm
Workhorse rides, etc.
70 Wooden's Ln, Lambertville
609-737-3299
www.howellfarm.com

2009-05-21T13:24:00.003-04:00
I know everyone is already in holiday weekend mode-- and probably loving the weather-- but if you know someone who's looking for work, you have to tell them to watch NBC 10 news at 5 with Tracy Davidson, tomorrow(Friday) at 5:30. Tracy has a long list of local jobs that are available right now and will be showing them for a half hour.. Very cool that NBC 10 is trying to help people connect with employers..

For more info please click here to visit the NBC 10 website.

Eagleview - Concerts on the Square

2009-05-19T21:14:00.003-04:00

Pack up the family or hire a babysitter and head out for date night. Eagleview is hosting FREE Concerts On the Square, Tuesday evenings throughout the summer from 7-9PM. Below is the summer schedule. The dates have also been added to our community calendar.

June 2nd
Barley Juice (Celtic Rock) with special guest Amy Lavere

June 9th
Guggenheim Grotto (Pop/Folk) with special guest Caleb Hawley
June 16th
Big Package (R&B / Funk) with special guest fusionhouse
June 23rd
Jim Boggia (Singer/Songwriter) with special guest Graham Brown
June 30th
Cresson Street Vibration (Reggae) with special guest David Spencer
July 7th
Ben Arnold (Singer/Songwriter) with special guest Zach Djanikian
July 14th
Family Night - Mama Mac with special guest Scott Silipigni(kid's music starts at 7:00pm)
July 21st
Andrew Lipke (Singer/Songwriter) with special guest Papertrees
July 28th
Christine Havrilla (Pop Singer / Songwriter) with special guest Liz Longley
August 4th
Jim George (Rock) and Wink Keziah (Country Rock)
August 11th
The Large Flowerheads (Groovy 60s Music) with special guest Jim Stanson
August 18th
Works Progress Administration (Folk Rock) with special guest Adrien Reju
August 25th
Entrain - Fireworks at 8:30

Click here for directions. Click here for more information.

Healthy Kids Day!

2009-05-18T23:00:00.006-04:00
Please join us for the first Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Healthy Kids Day. Come and get ideas for great health from the nation’s top children’s hospital and its community partners. Ask experts about nutrition, vaccines, managing asthma, injury and prevention and much more.

When: Saturday, May 30, 2009, Noon to 5 p.m., rain or shine
Where: Mann Center for the Performing Arts

This celebratory event is free to the public, but tickets are required. Come and enjoy:

Concert performance by The Laurie Berkner Band featuring Susie Lampert, Adam Bernstein and Laurie Berkner, with special guest Bob Golden
Healthy food and drinks (while supplies last)
Children’s activities
Admission to Healthy Kids Day is free of charge, but you must register for the event. Seat assignments for the concert, including lawn, will be distributed at the gate on a first come, first served basis. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
For information, please e-mail us at healthykidsday@email.chop.edu or call our hotline at 1-877-HKD-CHOP (1-877-453-2467).
Visit the Mann Center for the Performing Arts Web site for directions. Check our Timeline of Events and Sponsorship pages for more.

2009-05-14T23:01:00.002-04:00

Family Fun Day at ACAC
Enjoy some relaxing fun-time with your family!

Saturday, May 16th from 12-4 pm

FREE and OPEN to the Community

Inflatable Obstacle Course and Bungee Run

FREE Carnival Games with Prizes.

AM 640 Radio Disney Road Crew on-site from 1:00pm-2:30pm
entertaining the kids and giving out prizes.

Bring your bathing suit and relax in our Activity Pool with Tumble Buckets, Water Slide, and zero grade entry-perfect for little ones.

For more info contact ACAC at 610-431-7000
1130 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA 19380

It's All About the Shoes!

2009-05-14T15:06:00.006-04:00
Did you know that Olly has a Shoe Donation Program???

Children's feet grow at such a great rate. Consider donating your kids' gently worn shoes at any OLLY location. However, outworn shoes should NOT be donated to this program. It is important that each child's foot is able to make its own impression (footprint) in the shoe footbed.

This is a not-for-profit program. OLLY will distribute these shoes to local charities where OLLY retail stores exist and will also work with charities and associations that distribute items overseas to children who are in great need of footwear.

And, here's another exciting tip for those wildly popular Crocs that everyone has (there are 5 pairs in my home as I type this)...... Olly participates in a recycling program for all Crocs shoes! Just drop them off in the store, and Olly will take care of the rest! Yay! No Crocs going into the landfills!

There are several Olly locations in the local area. Click here to see the store closest to you!

Too Good Not To Share

2009-05-13T10:28:00.003-04:00

You know when you get those annoying forwarded emails in your inbox? 99.99% of the time you just click the delete button before you even read the subject line? I know, I know...it's so bad. The only ones that even get the "second glance" are the ones from family members and friends who rarely, if ever, send forwarded emails. Well...let me tell you...today...I hit the forwarded email jackpot! Seriously! The contents of the email were so good...I decided to share it with everyone!

So...what was in that email, you ask?

The recipe for this:It's a scrumptiously delicious and delectable S'mores Cupcake.

You're very welcome.

One of my friends found a version of this cupcake recipe, but tweaked it a little to fit the ingredients she had in her pantry...the picture above is her creation...and here's the recipe for her version as well:

1 box Chocolate Cake Mix
1 container of Whipped White Frosting (*may need more if you make all 24 cupcakes...it all depends on what frosting tip you use...if you like lots of frosting, I'd use 1.5-2 containers)
24 Graham cracker sticks
24 jumbo marshmallows
2 Hershey candy bars

Make cupcakes as directed on the box. Let them cool and then frost them. Place a graham cracker stick into each one. Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and line the with the 24 marshmallows. Broil them until the tops are just golden brown. Put a marshmallow on top of the cupcake and top it with a wedge of the Hershey chocolate bar. There you go!

*giving credit where credit is due...my mom suggested making the cupcakes out of brownies for a more chocolaty treat!

This recipe got me thinking though...are there some other S'mores Cupcake recipes out there? One with marshmallow frosting, perhaps? I know...I'm totally out of control. But, someone else must be too because I found another recipe...and yes, it calls for marshmallow frosting.
And here's the recipe for the one above:

For the cupcakes
From Nabsico Graham Crackers
1 ½ cups of graham cracker crumbs
½ cup of flour
2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
½ cup of butter, softened
¾ cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
¾ cup of milk

In a small bowl combine the crumbs, flour and baking powder; set aside. Beat the butter and the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture with milk, beating well after each addition. Divide the batter into two muffin tins lined with 16 cupcake liners total. Bake at 350F degrees for 22-25 minutes or until done. **You can fill the liners 3/4 full...which might make less cupcakes...but the batter doesn't rise very high. Cool in pans for 15 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

Top cooled cupcakes with THIS marshmallow frosting. Sprinkle the frosted cupcakes with graham cracker crumbs.

Drizzle melted chocolate over the top. To do that...just melt a few Hershey bar pieces in a plastic Ziploc bag in the microwave...just a few seconds will do. Snip a tiny corner off the bag and squeeze the chocolate drizzle over the cupcakes.

The only thing you might regret about reading the contents of my "junk mail" is the 5 pounds you're now going to gain when you devour these!

2009-05-13T00:17:00.002-04:00

Click on the link above for AWESOME deals and steals!
Like $50 worth of printable coupons from KRAFT
and links to lots of FREE samples.

Tasty Tuesdays - Kids in the Kitchen

2009-05-11T23:51:00.007-04:00

Tasty Tuesdays: Kids in the Kitchen

Your kids are home from school and they're starved. Sound familiar?

It seems like each and every day there's someone hanging on my legs begging for a snack to hold them over until dinner time. But the big question is...what in the world should I feed them that will fill up their tummies just a bit and yet won't spoil their dinner? Ugh.

I want healthy snacks that I can whip up in a flash...and I want the kids to be able to help prepare them too! That's when I turned to Kraft Foods. They have an incredible slew of recipes for kids, safety tips for cooking with kids and even a few ideas on how to burst that lunch box monotony we so often find ourselves in.

Here's just a few recipes and ideas that you can add to your repertoire of after school snacks for your staaaaaaaarving children...

Fruit and Cheese BitesWhat you need:
18 Triscuit Crackers
1 packages (16 oz.) of Cheddar Cheese
3 fresh strawberries, each cut into 3 slices
1 kiwi, peeled and cut into 9 pieces

SLICE the cheese into small squares (to fit the cracker).

TOP the crackers with the cheese.

ADD the fresh fruit slices on top of the cheese.

Turtle Cracker CritterWhat you need:

1 Deli Style American Cheese Slice, quartered

2 Ritz Cheese Crackers

1 cherry tomato half

5 small carrot or celery pieces

1 stuffed green olive slice
STACK cheese pieces on 1 of the crackers; cover with remaining cracker to make sandwich.
TOP with tomato half, cut side down.

ARRANGE carrots around crackers to form 4 "legs" and a "tail." Add olive slice for the "head."

Berry Lemonade Slush

What you need:

Country Time Lemonade Flavor Drink Mix (dry)

1/2 cup water

3 cups ice cubes

1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
MEASURE drink mix into cap to 1-qt. line (1/2 cup). Empty into blender container.

ADD remaining ingredients; cover. Blend on high speed 10 sec. Turn off blender. Stir with spoon; cover. Blend an additional 5 sec. or until smooth, using pulsing action.

SERVE immediately. Store leftover slush in freezer.

Cookies 'n Creme Pudding Pops
What you need:
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) Jell-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
2 cups cold milk
6 Oreo Cookies
1⁄2 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping

BEAT pudding mix and milk in large bowl with whisk 2 minutes.

PLACE cookies in resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Use rolling pin to crush cookies.

ADD cookies and Cool Whip to pudding; stir just until blended.

SPOON into 9 small paper or plastic cups.

INSERT wooden pop stick or plastic spoon into each for handle. Freeze 5 hours or until firm.

All of these recipes would be great all throughout the summer too!
For more delicious kid-friendly, hunger bursting snacks from Kraft, click HERE.

Do you have a favorite kid-friendly snack you like to share with us?
Just leave a comment or link to your recipe...we'd love to have more great ideas from moms!

Kraft is also kicking off the season with Delicious Summer Savings! They are offering over $50 in coupons for your favorite Kraft Foods. Hurry over HERE to print them off. Quantity of coupons is limited...so don't miss out!

Brain Development & Immunity from Juicy Juice

2009-05-11T14:16:00.002-04:00

Every mom knows that when it comes to food and nutrition for our children, we only want the best!

We want products that help encourage their growth and development so they can be healthy, smart and active children. As moms, we spend countless hours researching products that we want to have in our homes - whether it's toys, books, or even snacks and foods - we only get one chance to make a positive, healthful impact while we raise our children.

That's why moms have come to love and trust Juicy Juice!For a long time Juicy Juice has been the leader in helping parents everywhere supply their children with 100% All Natural Fruit Juice. And Juicy Juice even encourages you to know what's in your juice! You can be confident knowing that Juicy Juice never uses added sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, colors or preservatives...their juice is truly 100% All Natural Fruit Juice. Now, that's something to make all moms smile!

Juicy Juice already has a substantial line of 100% Fruit Juice and Harvest Surprise juices - which are 100% fruit and vegetable blended juices - but they have just launched a new line of products promoting brain development and immunity! Juicy Juice Brain Development and Immunity Fruit Juices not only pack the outstanding flavor and goodness that you've come to trust, but they are enhanced with added nutrients!

Juicy Juice Brain Development Fruit Juice comes in delicious apple and grape flavors and is enhanced with DHA - an essential building block for proper brain development. And since your little ones' brain will triple in size by the time they're two, every chance that a mom can get to enhance that growth is key!

And because kids are exposed to millions of germs each year, Juicy Juice has also developed Immunity Fruit Juice enhanced with Vitamin C and Zinc to help boost and support their immune systems! It also contains Prebiotic Fiber to aid in their digestive health as well. Immunity Fruit Juice comes in delicious apple and berry flavors.

As soon as we heard that Juicy Juice came out with these new Brain Development and Immunity juices, we had to let our kids try them out! They loved them so much that we even took a few sips too! The verdict: They are delicious! As moms, we can feel completely confident knowing that these juices pack the flavor our kids love with the added nutrients they need.

But, just in case you still don't believe us...Juicy Juice wants you to try them out for yourself!

Click HERE to download your coupon to use on Juicy Juice products.

2009-05-10T12:07:00.001-04:00

Wishing you a relaxing and Happy Mother's Day!

28th Annual Wildfower Sale at The Brandywine Conservancy

2009-05-09T08:30:00.000-04:00
Gardeners can choose from a superb selection of low-maintenance, beautiful native plants at the Brandywine Conservancy's 28th annual Wildflower, Native Plant and Seed Sale, May 10 and 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This popular event offers a wide variety of regional plants and seeds that are suitable for sun or shade and all types of landscapes.

Natives plants are a great way to "go green" because they are adapted to the local growing conditions and require less water and intensive care in the garden. Many varieties will attract songbirds, hummingbirds and butterflies and are as useful for strengthening our local ecosystem as they are low-maintenance additions to the garden. Wildflower seeds which have been collected from the Conservancy's gardens and meadows and cleaned and packaged by garden volunteers will be sold.

For more information about the sale or becoming a garden volunteer at the Brandywine Conservancy, contact Mark Gormel at 610-388-8327.

The Brandywine River Museum is located on U.S. Route 1 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The museum is open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and students, and free for children under six and members. Group rates are available with advance reservations. For more information, call 610-388-2700 or click here

Frugal Friday: Quick, Cute, and Cheap Mother's Day Craft

2009-05-08T16:56:00.008-04:00

Ok, so it's 2 days until Mother's Day. Are you stumped for ideas for gifts for the special women in your kids' lives? You need something that's cute and you need it fast, right? And, let's not forget that it needs to be affordable!

Here's an idea for a super inexpensive, but very sentimental craft project that you still have time to have done by Sunday!

Here's what you need:

1 White Bathroom/Kitchen Tile ( I used 6x8 tiles that I found at Lowes for .58 cents each, but any size you want would work)
A few different colors of acrylic paint. I used acrylic because it was kid friendly and cleaned up easily with soap and water, while still being permanent enough to use with the tiles. (Each bottle of acrylic paint that I picked up at Michaels was $2.49 each)
1 Decorative Plate Holder (Our local dollar store has the 9" plate holders that I used in silver, gold, and black finishes. And, yep, they're just $1.00! )
Some paintbrushes
Use your creativity to make any design on your tile to tell Mom, Grandmom, God Mother, Aunts, etc. how much you love them this Mother's Day. I used my older daughter's handprint and my younger daughter's footprint, but their are a million ways to decorate the tile. You could stamp them, stencil them, have the kids paint on them, use sayings or verses ...... the options are endless.

We made 6 different tiles and they dried in no time. They look ADORABLE on their plate stand sitting on a kitchen table, a shelf, or a mantle!

Have fun.

National Train Day - May 9th

2009-05-07T17:38:00.001-04:00

Show your love for trains at 30th Street Station, from 10am to 3pm, on May 9th.

Click here to check out all the cool things at Philadelphia’s celebration.

Finds we found online...

2009-05-06T18:41:00.002-04:00
Do it HER- SELF workshops at Home Depot

FREEBIES from Walmart (Pull Ups, Toilet Paper & more)

20 FREE copies of your resume & 40 FREE business cards at Staples

Do you know of an awesome money saving deal or coupon code.. if so leave a comment or email sarah@chestercountymoms.com

Mother's Day Activities at Wegman's

2009-05-05T15:30:00.002-04:00

Make plans to visit the Downingtown, Wegman's and let your children create a delicious token of love for a unique Mother’s Day gift. Whether you want to bring your little cake decorators into the store or just take a kit home, it’s a great way to get the kids involved in making her day special. Choose from our Ultimate Chocolate or Moist Vanilla in-store cake or take-home cake/kit.

When: Saturday, May 9th

Time: 11am-3PM

Price: You purchase a cake in bakery department and Wegman's will provide all of the decorating supplies.

For more info please call: 610-518-7800

Tasty Tuesdays

2009-05-05T09:58:00.004-04:00

Tasty Tuesdays:
Mother's Day Brunch

Since most of us are moms here, it crossed my mind to come up with a different Tasty Tuesdays theme this week. But, let's face it, besides a "kid-cooked meal" consisting of a cold bowl of cereal brought to our bedside on Mother's Day morning, I think it's all safe to say - as moms, we do the cooking 365 days a year...Mother's Day included. That is...unless you've somehow managed to get the point across that on this ONE day of the year when Mothers are actually even acknowledged, you'd prefer not to be in the kitchen! Either way, scrumptious breakfast recipes come in handy all throughout the year...and these recipes are perfect for a Mother's Day Brunch or just a cozy family breakfast on a Saturday morning. And hey, even though you're a mom and hope to be treated this coming weekend with a lavish meal that is NOT prepared by you...maybe you want to treat your own mom to a wonderful home-cooked Mother's Day brunch!

Here are some great recipes to help you host a magnificent brunch - no matter what day of the year it is...

Nutty Pecan Waffles
Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Clone Recipe - Mmmmm!!
Sausage Gravy (for Biscuits and Gravy)
Eggs Benedict
For a list of different Crepe Recipes, click HERE.
Mimosas and More

So, whether you're the one preparing a Mother's Day spread or not...

We want to wish all of our Chester County Moms a very Happy Mother's Day ~ may it at least be filled with a little pampering!

And feel free to send your hubby's over here to check out these recipes...a subtle nudge and hint never hurt anyone!

Do you have a super breakfast recipe you'd like to share?
Leave us a comment or a link to your recipe.

Recipes above can be found at AllRecipes.

Eagle Chiropractic Hosts a FREE Wellness Workshop for Women

2009-05-05T08:39:00.000-04:00

National Moms Night Out Event at Pump It Up

2009-05-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Mom's Nite Out at Pump It Up in West Chester
Thursday, May 7th
5:30-8pm

Mom works hard all year long, so give her a break on National Mom's Nite Out. Dad or another caregiver can bring the kids to Pump It Up for a nite of bouncing, sliding, inflatable fun. Pizza and a beverage are included with each paid admission, so the kids will get back home exhausted and full. Admission is just $9.95 per child.

Children must be at least 34" tall to play. Socks and signed waiver required. Click here for more information.
Pump It Up
540 East Union Street
West Chester, PA 19382
(610) 918-9180

Ask Shelby: Mothers Day Question

2009-05-04T08:00:00.000-04:00
As we mentioned, we are proud to be featuring our brand new monthly column "Ask Shelby" featuring expert advice from Chester County based Marriage and Family Therapist, Shelby Riley. Here is our installment for May!

---------------------------------------------

Shelby,

I don't know what to do. Mother's Day is coming soon and I have a complicated relationship with my mom. I love her, but we don't get along well, and right now we're in a big fight and we're not speaking. Do I give her something for Mother's Day or do I ignore her because I'm still really hurt? I'm a grown woman--I hate to not know how to handle this!

Signed, Mad at Mom

Dear Mad at Mom,

I just had a client in my office last week who said, "I'm 52 years old and I'm sitting here whining about my mother." A lot of people have issues with one or both of their parents, and that doesn't always change just because we grow into adults. Relationships are complicated...relationships in our families of origin can be REALLY complicated.

The most important thing I hear from your question is that you love your mom. I love that you can be mad at her and stay connected to your love for her. It sounds like there is a part of you that wants to reconnect, a part of you that is still hurt, a part of you that is angry, and a part of you that recognizes your relationship is complicated and this fight isn't new or different for the two of you. It's okay to have good boundaries and protect yourself and still be open to showing your mom love. Think of it as a door to a room: you probably aren't going to close that door completely and cut her off, and you probably don't want to have that door wide open, because that would leave you open to more conflict and pain. You want to have the door open enough to give and receive love, and closed enough to protect yourself. That door can be cracked and slowly swing more open as you and your mom work on your relationship.

(Sometimes cutting off completely from someone is the right choice. If you are being physically, sexually or emotionally abused by someone who is unwilling or unable to change their behavior, complete cut-off can be the only thing that keeps you safe.)

Having good boundaries with difficult people means finding a way to be in relationship with them without making yourself available to be hurt over and over again by them. A therapist can be a great resource to help you figure out how to navigate your relationship with your mom in a way that feels healthier. There are also some great books...Extraordinary Relationships by Gilbert is one that I would recommend you read.

As for Mother's Day, if a phone call seems like it might ignite into another fight, and a gift feels inappropriate given the state of your relationship, acknowledge your love for her with a card. Speak from the part of you that feels love for her. Keep it simple and short. Don't let the angry part or the hurt part have a turn. Simply remind her that you love her and that you wish her a happy Mother's Day.

Good luck to you, and remember-- you are not alone. Lots of people will be struggling to decide how they want to handle Mother's Day and Father's Day. I'm sure you will find something that works for you,

Yours, Shelby

**Remember to check out Shelby's website, Family Help Today, for a variety of useful information for couples, individuals, families, and kids. You can also find out more about Shelby's AWESOME e-books on her site.

Wendell August - Personalized Mother's Day Gift

2009-05-03T22:47:00.000-04:00

Main Street at Exton
103 Woodcutter Street
Exton, PA 19341
(610) 363-2426
www.wendellaugust.com

Wendell August Forge is also offering a FREE handhammer metal station for the children that would like to come in and create a message for the piece. Extra fun while making a memorable keepsake for their moms and grandmoms. Happy Mother's Day!

Drumroll, Please!

2009-05-02T21:42:00.002-04:00

Well, we've wrapped up our Green Week giveaway contests as well as selected the winner of the Zing Zang Zoom Circus passes. So, without further ado... here are the lucky winners....

My Natural Bamboo Plush Panda: Kerrie Lyons

Bee-Eazy Bags: Jennifer Groben and Jennifer Redmile

Wool Worth It Bitty Bag and Accessories: Rachel Byerly

Lil Boo & Co. Boo Boo Cubes: Kate Hargrove, Steph, Caitlin, Chris Stulak, and Jen

Footprints Bamboo socks: Shannon Kamph

Soap-It Nuts: Laura Lunati

and, last but certainly not least, the winner of the family 4 pack of tickets to the opening night of the Zing Zang Zoom circus tickets is: Susan Ford

***Winners will be emailed within the next 24 hours to set up the exchange of your prize!

Internet Safety: Are you taking Proper Precautions?

2009-05-02T18:28:00.002-04:00
Our moms did everything to keep us safe as children, and still try even though we’re adults. And of course we say we would do the same thing, but are we? In an age of Internet social sites such as Myspace and Facebook we need to step up our instinctual mother hen routine and protect our children.

It isn’t unusual to see stories about teenagers running away to foreign countries to meet ‘boyfriends’ from Myspace or Facebook – and if you’re anything like me you’re shaking your head wondering, ‘Where are these kids’ parents?’ Maybe we should stop and take a moment to look over our own shoulders and ask the question ‘Am I putting my child at risk?’

The ability to network with people you haven’t seen since high school, or aunts and uncles on the other side of the country is wonderful and the immediacy of it all is astounding, but at what cost? These ‘relationships’ may seem like a great idea at first, and many probably are, but we need to know the ins and outs of sites such as these so that the personal information and pictures we all seem so willing to share remain just that, personal.

Social networking sites are fun and it’s great to relive memories of yesteryears, but knowing your profile is safe makes the experience more enjoyable. Both Myspace and Facebook allow you to customize your privacy settings. Did you know that? Do you know how to secure your personal pages? Take some time to navigate the site and learn what security measures exist and use them, you won’t regret it!

Next month we’ll have a ‘how-to’ section for securing your Facebook page…stay tuned! Until then do some research of your own and learn as much as you can – knowledge is power!

$25 Tickets to Bob the Builder Live

2009-05-02T01:21:00.003-04:00

Going green is not just for adults anymore. In "Bob the Builder Live! Spud's Big Mess, kids learn they can join in to help save the environment, too.
The show is about Bob and his team building the first-ever recycling center and wind farm in Sunflower Valley.

Bob the Builder Live: Spud's Big Mess, a new stage show featuring Bob the Builder and his crew, comes to the Academy of Music May 5-6. Patrons who use the promotional code "SPUD" when purchasing tickets online or by phone pay just $25 for any seat (excluding parquet and balcony boxes) at any performance - a savings of up to $17.50 per ticket!

Location: Kimmel Center, 260 South Broad Street, (Avenue of the Arts), Philadelphia, PA, 19102
Web: http://www.kimmelcenter.org
This offer expires: May 6, 2009

Use the promotional code "SPUD" when ordering tickets by phone at 215.731.3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or in person at the Kimmel Center Box Office at 260 South Broad Street in Philadelphia. Seating is limited.

Tracy Davidson - NBC 10 News at 5.. Awesome Info!

2009-05-01T21:01:00.003-04:00
I watched NBC 10 news at 5PM today with Tracy Davidson. Wow.. is she a wealth of information! Not able to watch at 5PM..? That is okay. She posts a recap of the show with links on her Facebook page. Become a fan of Tracy Davidson, click her to visit her Facebook page.

This is one of tips she talked about this afternoon.

If you are a Bank of America customer, you can get FREE access to the following places!

DATES: Saturday, May 2, 2009 and Sunday, May 3, 2009; first full weekend of each month through December 4-5, 2010

PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia:
African America Museum in Philadelphia (new) – beginning on June 19, 2009
National Constitution Center
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Please Touch Museum® (new)

NEW JERSEY

North Jersey:
Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art, Newark* (new)
Jersey City Museum, Jersey City* (new) – closed Sundays through September 2009
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City***
Morris Museum, Morristown (new)
Montclair Art Museum, Montclair
The Newark Museum, Newark***

South/Central Jersey:
Garden State Discovery Museum, Cherry Hill*** (new)
Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton (new)

DELAWARE

Wilmington:
Delaware Art Museum**
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, Winterthur

* Closed Sundays
** Program not available on Sundays
*** Check institution’s website for variable hours

Tasty Tuesdays

2009-04-28T13:00:00.005-04:00

Tasty Tuesday: Pack 'n Go Party Recipes

It's beginning to feel a little like summer out there (just a tad! Over 90 degrees in April??? Whaaaaa?!)!

But if your family is anything like mine, that means it's picnic and party season.
Whether your heading to a family reunion, a church picnic, a graduation or birthday party or even just a simple BBQ among friends...these recipes are sure to guarantee happy tummies and compliments! And they're super easy for 'on-the-go' traveling...a must have requirement for when you've been nominated to bring your signature dish to the BBQ!

Here's a few recipes to help make your party a hit!

Salads:

Layered Summer Salad
Garden Fresh Pasta Salad
Zesty New Potato Salad
Make Ahead Mexican Salad

Desserts:
Striped Delight
Frozen Cinco De Mayo Dessert
Quick Lemon Berry Trifle

Drinks:
Pineapple Punch
Sangria Punch
Mojito Lemon Lime Cocktail

Do you have a favorite "take 'n go" recipe?

If so...share it with us! Leave a comment or a link to your fave recipes! We'd love hear what you're bringing to the picnics and parties this summer!

All recipes courtesy of Kraft Foods.

Philadelphia Museum Week

2009-04-27T00:56:00.001-04:00
Monday, April 27 through Sunday, May 3
Greater Philadelphia’s museums offer countless opportunities for remembering, discovering, and learning. During Museum Week, April 27-May 3, over fifty regional museums offer the public a wide variety of special discounts on admission and museum store purchases. Celebrate this incredibly rich region: visit an area museum during Museum Week! Click here for more info.

The West Chester Helicopter Museum
has special Museum Week pricing this week.
Wednesday-Sunday
$5 per person.
1220 American Boulevard
West Chester, PA 19380
610-436-9600

Great new site for kids!

2009-04-26T17:07:00.002-04:00
Thanks to Chester County Mom, Shannon for this great tip on a new site called Planet Orange.

Planet Orange (http://www.orangekids.com/) is a new kids’ site from ING DIRECT. It’s designed to teach kids in grades 1–6 about money and responsibility (BORING!) in a way that’s engaging, interactive and most important—FUN!

Planet Orange doesn’t just teach about money, it shows kids how money affects their lives—now and as they grow up. It gives them good fundamentals so they can really “get” ideas about finance and responsible money management.

If you haven’t talked to your child about money yet, now’s a great time to have a kitchen table talk about it. You can even use Planet Orange to learn about money together.