Author: trendymommies

Categories
Events

Buy My Halloween Candy? Ok!

Halloween is well over and for us it was postponed until this past Saturday night but we still HAVE ALL THAT CANDY!  For me I cannot have candy in the house (yes, I am weak and if a piece of chocolate is staring me in the face I will eat it) unfortunately, for my kids this is true too. I could not toss it all- that would be a waste.  So luckily I heard about many local dentists offering to buy the Halloween candy back and they then send it to troops overseas. They also give you toothbrushes as a reward. Sounds good to me!

We headed to local dentist Dr. Fawn Rosenberg of Lexington Smile Studio in Lexington. This is the 9th year the office has participated in the Halloween Candy Buy Back Program.

From Nov. 1 to 20, kids can go to the Lexington Smile Studio at 922 Waltham Street to have their candy weighed and traded for cash ($1 per pound of candy) . The candy is boxed up and trucked to Hanscom Air Force Base, to be distributed to troops serving overseas.

But would my kids go for it? Just look at the picture – they did!

Halloween Candy Buy Back Program
Categories
Events

No power and kids…still talking…

Even though we got our power back after the freak Halloween snow storm in New England, it was still a traumatizing event for us adults.  We were still talking about it today on 980 WCAP-AM!

Nopowerandkids

Categories
Events

No power and kids…still talking…

Even though we got our power back after the freak Halloween snow storm in New England, it was still a traumatizing event for us adults.  We were still talking about it today on 980 WCAP-AM!

Nopowerandkids

Categories
food

@Chopchopmag Lunch Boot Camp

Well I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again..you all know I cannot cook!

That is why I was so excited to be a part of this event Hosted by Mommy Niri – The Lunch Boot Camp at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts along with Chop Chop magazine.

Any tips, guidance and suggestions I am all for taking all of them.  Sally Sampson, editor and founder of Chop Chop magazine, a fun cooking magazine for families was there to talk about her cooking experiences with kids and food.  She writes about healthy eating and is the author of 20 cookbooks. She suggested to engage kids in the process and have them be part of the decisions on what to eat, prepare and cook. She said to show them a different way to add to sandwiches and soups and take advantage of any quirks they have with food and work them into a conversation, tasting or in preparation to help you make dinner. And oh yeah…. don’t worry about the mess…that is part of the fun!

Chef Jacobson, chef instructor at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts showed us how she made her wonderful carrot soup and veggie penne pasta salad. They also set out turkey and cheese for us to make our own healthy sandwiches but added tons of toppings for us to choose from like pears, arugula, cucumbers, hummus and nuts.  I made a mean sandwich!

Chef Jacobson also had some great tips like buy heavy for certain veggies or fruits, especially winter squash and grapefruit. Use lettuce knives or paring knifes when asking your kids to help with prep work. Anything kids can individualize is a hit like putting out multiple toppings for pizza.

I am loving Chop Chop magazine as it has lots of fun ideas and shared it with my kids and hope that they offer a mommy and me cooking class soon!

Trendymommies and @groovygreenlivi at Lunch Boot Camp
Chef Jacobson, Cambridge School of Culinary Arts at Lunch Boot Camp
Yummy yogurt toppings at @Chopchopmag Lunch boot camp
Veggies! @chopchopmag Lunch Boot Camp at The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts
Categories
food

@Chopchopmag Lunch Boot Camp

Well I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again..you all know I cannot cook!

That is why I was so excited to be a part of this event Hosted by Mommy Niri – The Lunch Boot Camp at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts along with Chop Chop magazine.

Any tips, guidance and suggestions I am all for taking all of them.  Sally Sampson, editor and founder of Chop Chop magazine, a fun cooking magazine for families was there to talk about her cooking experiences with kids and food.  She writes about healthy eating and is the author of 20 cookbooks. She suggested to engage kids in the process and have them be part of the decisions on what to eat, prepare and cook. She said to show them a different way to add to sandwiches and soups and take advantage of any quirks they have with food and work them into a conversation, tasting or in preparation to help you make dinner. And oh yeah…. don’t worry about the mess…that is part of the fun!

Chef Jacobson, chef instructor at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts showed us how she made her wonderful carrot soup and veggie penne pasta salad. They also set out turkey and cheese for us to make our own healthy sandwiches but added tons of toppings for us to choose from like pears, arugula, cucumbers, hummus and nuts.  I made a mean sandwich!

Chef Jacobson also had some great tips like buy heavy for certain veggies or fruits, especially winter squash and grapefruit. Use lettuce knives or paring knifes when asking your kids to help with prep work. Anything kids can individualize is a hit like putting out multiple toppings for pizza.

I am loving Chop Chop magazine as it has lots of fun ideas and shared it with my kids and hope that they offer a mommy and me cooking class soon!

Trendymommies and @groovygreenlivi at Lunch Boot Camp
Chef Jacobson, Cambridge School of Culinary Arts at Lunch Boot Camp
Yummy yogurt toppings at @Chopchopmag Lunch boot camp
Veggies! @chopchopmag Lunch Boot Camp at The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts
Categories
opinion

Lessons Learned: 4 days without power

Yes, I was like many New Englanders and others along the eastern shore that lost power in the October snowstorm.  But what shocked us the most was each day we were in denial – this must be the day we are getting our power back right? How long can it last? Growing up I do not remember not having power for so long and I survived the blizzard of ’78!
Here are the top three things I learned while living 4 days without power!

It could be worse – that’s right – our home was still standing –  we were just misplaced (and dazed) for those days, wondering where we would eat and finally after two nights of staying in the house at 43 degree temperatures we had enough. But where would we, a family of 4 stay?  Which leads to my next point…..

People are SO nice and are willing to help– Many people in my community offered to take us in, simply asking, “What do you need?” People welcomed us into their homes, cooked us food and let us have a warm bed to sleep in!

Kids are resilient – Of course while my hubby and I were all out of sorts our kids were having a blast. The first morning they noticed it was cold but then ran outside to play in the snow, followed by lunch and dinner at their friends’ and our neighbors’ house, a big sleepover in mom and dad’s bed and the next day a repeat of that with the addition of no school. It got even better the third day when we were invited to stay over at another friends house and they cooked us dinner! What fun! DID NOT PHASE THEM ONE BIT. Oh yeah they were cold those mornings but were having a blast!

Also, during this time the kids seemed pretty happy (while we, the parents mumbled under our breath about the lack of power!)  There was more family togetherness and really no complaints from the kids at all. But, the hubby still would like to purchase a back-up generator for the just in case…..next time….

Categories
opinion

Snow in New England Before Halloween?

Everyone is shocked by the itsy bitsy dusting of snow on the ground before Halloween.  It was a surprise but hey we live in New England so expect anything. Remember the April fool’s snow storm many years back?  As I was digging through the bins of hats and mittens early this morning I thought I am so not prepared as my kids don’t have winter jackets. The kids loved seeing the snow this early and they just wore a sweatshirt and a fleece jacket with some mittens.

As I look out of my window during this Friday lunch hour at the 40 degree mark here outside of Boston I am thinking of recalculating those Halloween costumes!

Categories
Products

Feather Extensions

Have your kids asked for a feather in their hair?   My kids begged for a feather extension in their hair for about three months.  So at the start of school we went to the salon and for $10 each they put a colored feather in their hair. The money went directly to charity so I thought why not. It reminded me of high school a bit but there were no chemicals involved just a tool to tread it in and crimp it to their hair.   Of course it did not last very long – only a few weeks so anytime we see a feather somewhere they want it. I prefer just clipping them on with a small clip so they can come out easily and they can change them whenever they want. Check out these sites where you can buy the crimping tools yourself and choose the colors you want!

Hair Feather

Donna Bella Hair Extensions

Hair Flairs

Categories
Events fashions

Clothing Swap – The Swap Soiree

I have heard about this trend before of swapping out clothes with friends but this is THE fashion event in the Merrimack Valley. Local gals – check it out and buy a ticket and attend! It is for a great cause and you could score a new outfit and/or some fun accessories for just the cost of a ticket. Here are the details.

The Swap Soiree is THE women’s clothing and accessories swap in the Merrimack Valley and is taking place on Thursday, November 3rd from 6:30-9 at Chester’s on 60 Island Street in Lawrence, MA.

It is brought to you by A Great New Look (Susan Kanoff, Fashion Coach)  and Monx Design House

Tickets are  $30 for General Admission and includes a Swap Soiree swag bag for the first 200 tickets.   You can trade in your unwanted clothes and accessories for new pieces!

The event is supporting two great causes—The YWCA domestic violence programs and Second Chances. The Pre-event clothing drop off will be at Chester’s, Wedesday, 11/2, 10am- 6pmChester’s, Thursday, 11/3, 9am-4pm.

For tickets go to Eventbrite

Check out the photos from last year!

Categories
opinion

Kids and cell phones and usage

Today on WCAP 980 AM we are talking kids and cell phones. How young is too young to have a cell phone? What about a recent study finding that cell phones used in shirts and pants pockets exceed FCC exposure guidelines and that children absorb twice as much microwave radiation from phones as do adults? Does texting lead to no conversations at all anymore?  We are talking kids and cell phones, texting and new technology. Listen in.

WCAP Trendymommies.com interview