Things to Do This Weekend: Labor Day Weekend!

In Part I, Professional organizer Deborah Gusoff gave us tips to make our mornings run smoothly. Now, she helps us make our afternoons with our kids more organized and hopefully, a more relaxing time together:

The After School Routine

• Establish a routine for tasks such as emptying the lunch box, handing over notes from school, homework, putting the backpack on its designated hook, etc. If you have a middle-school or high-school child, you may want to designate an "in box" or specific area for him to put all school papers that need your attention. Your job is to make sure you look at that area each evening! Once you've signed the permission slip, homework, etc., put it in your child's backpack to ensure it gets back to school the next day.


• Decide when homework is to be done. Some kids like to get it out of the way and then have the rest of the afternoon/evening to play or hang-out, while others need some down-time after school before starting. Discuss this with your child before school starts, and agree on a plan.


• Determine what extra-curricular activities your child will participate in. Trying to manage your children's busy schedules can be challenging; trying to fold their lives into your already busy life can be downright difficult. The first step is to figure out how may activities you are willing to let your child take. Questions to consider include: If you have more than one child, should you stagger, alternate or consolidate their activities? How much school work do you anticipate your child will have this year and how will after-school activities impact that? (For example, a sports team that practices every day after school and has a game every weekend is a much bigger time commitment and will interfere with studies more than a one-hour per week art class). Are there certain activities you consider non-negotiable in which your child must participate (i.e., CCD or Sunday School)? How many activities can you afford to pay for this semester and do you need to purchase any equipment or supplies?


• Once you've answered the questions above, sketch out what a sample week will look like. Make a grid listing each day of the week across the top; on the left-hand side, list times, by hour, from school dismissal until evening. Pencil in activities your kids are considering. Be sure to include travel time if needed. Be sure to include your own activities so you don't commit Johnny to karate lessons at the same time you have your yoga class.

Continue reading "Tips For Organizing the School Year: Part II" »

Parents of young children are familiar with that most engaging and slippery of childlike characteristics: enthusiasm. You wake up one day to hear your child say, "I want to play the flute!" Happy to support such initiative, you run out to sign the child up for lessons. The next week, the flute lies dormant in its case, as your child has moved on to new infatuations like horseback riding lessons or karate. The fickle young brain has struck again.

But, say your child does make it past that stage and actually sticks it out with a chosen instrument for a couple of weeks or even months. Then, a new challenge awaits: practicing the instrument. Indeed, most parents dread practice more than their child. For, it is very often the parent who is there enforcing the practice time, making sure it gets done. Just how do you get your child to practice?

Montclair resident John Werner signed his son Liam up for trumpet lessons when Liam was younger. While John says that it is important "not to push too hard to practice," Liam took to the instrument and soon branched out into piano, bass and mellophone as well. "We built benchmarks for him," says John. "We weren't that formal about it. But, we would say, 'If you want a new horn next year, we need to hear more practice.'" This gave Liam the push he needed.

Continue reading "Practice Makes Perfect" »

Have a talented kid who is a fan of Broadway, showtunes and old standards?

Seeking Actors and Actresses of all ethnicities for a fast-paced musical review set in the style of the old Frank Sinatra supper club. With a unique mix of old standards, Broadway classics and modern favorites the Reachable Stars review is out to showcase the best of the best in local talent. Partnered with the HK Community Fund, Inc, Vintage Gold Productions is dedicated to putting on top flight entertainment for a cause. So if you are, or your child is, interested in using your/their talents to make a real and lasting impact, come down and audition!

PREPARATION
Please prepare a short vocal audition for our production team. The directing staff does ask that your choice of song be of the style of classic Broadway, big band standard or modern show tune as that best matches the style of music for this production. Please choose a piece that gives the best insight into your performance abilities. You will also be asked to participate in a cold reading from the script and may be asked to do some light movement, so wear comfortable shoes. At your choice, you may also bring a head shot and resume, though this is not necessary. Please bring your appointment calendars on that day so that you are prepared to state any rehearsal conflicts you may anticipate.

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
Rehearsals will begin in September and continue for four weeks. The rehearsal time is tight, so work will have to be done at home in preparation for rehearsal. Because time is tight be prepared to make a commitment and make rehearsals a priority over other extra-curricular activities.

FOLLOW-UP
All persons who have auditioned will receive the results of the audition within a few days. You are encouraged to ask for feedback on your audition after the cast list is announced if you have any concerns or questions. If selected you and a parent/guardian must attend a mandatory meeting to take place on Wednesday evening, September 15th (time and location TBA).

Continue reading "Reachable Stars Musical Review: Actors and Actresses Needed" »

Less than one week (or two in Montclair) until school starts. In an effort to make your life easier, we've gathered some important information about the upcoming school year for you:

Bloomfield Public School
School calendar 2010-2011
School starts on Wednesday, September 8.
Transportation schedule.

Glen Ridge Public Schools
School calendar 2010-2011
School starts on Tuesday, September 7.
Back to School Nights: View calendar here.

Continue reading "The 411 on Baristaville's Public Schools 2010-2011" »

With the number of overweight and obese children in the U.S. tripling over the past three decades, preventing childhood obesity has become a serious concern in this country. So much so First Lady Michele Obama is making it a top priority with her Let's Move campaign. And Jamie Oliver flew over from Europe to teach American school kids about healthy eating habits.

Now, Clara Maass Medical Center Foundation is taking on the challenge. On Sunday, September 26, the foundation is hosting the Lifeline Challenge to Healthy Living in Branch Brook Park. This walk/ride event raises money to help fund the foundation's efforts in bringing nutrition and exercise programs to Essex, Bergen, Passaic and Hudson county schools, empowering children and their families to make healthy choices.

Continue reading "Are You Up for the Challenge?" »

Studio B was created in May 2010 by Marcy Thompson, Cultural Affairs Director for Maplewood, and Jenny Turner Hall, a local writer, as a way to tap into the creative network of artists in the community. It's an event series that, so far, has offered screenings of No Impact Man at The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, Carpools For Cannibals, a performance by local writers, August's outdoor screening of The Wizard of Oz at Memorial Park Ampitheatre and the upcoming screening of Star Wars: Episode IV.

Now Studio B wants to offer something for children.

Celluloid Candy is a film series for tweens (ages 10 and up) and their parents. Don't expect Hannah Montana or any other Disney movie, this film series will show classic youth-cinema or films with substance. Celluloid Candy was created by the women of Studio B: Marcy Thompson and Jenny Turner Hall, along with film director and writer Maggie Greenwald.

These Maplewood moms wanted to offer kids the opportunity to see quality films that offer valuable and thought provoking lessons, have positive role models and are classics that are a joy to watch. Maggie Greenwald explained that they felt that there isn't good media for kids, especially in the tween age range available: shows and film that have positive girl characters, a diverse cast or focus on more than dating. And as a mom to two girls I completely agree. My oldest is 6 1/2 and I'm finding it really difficult to find shows that are appealing to her that aren't too mature. This is why I'm thrilled to be a part of this film series. Barista Kids, along with the HK Community Fund are proud sponsors of Celluloid Candy.

In addition to the movies, they will end the series with a film festival featuring the work of local teens, which will be juried and awaarded prizes.

The opening movie will be Spellbound on September 26.

The proposed line-up is:

Continue reading "Studio B Presents Celluloid Candy" »

We were at a nearby beach playground when a mom let her 4-year-old pour filled buckets of sand from the top of the slide down to the bottom--over and over again. Of course, sand crashed into my 3-year-old who was slow to get off the play equipment. He cried.

The mom stood right there watching. If she hadn't been present, I would've asked her child to stop it. But what do you say when a parent so obviously allows her kid to do something you'd never let her child do?

I bit my tongue that time. I figured my kid would learn to get off the slide a little faster. My general rule is to get involved when someone is getting hurt--whether the parent is present or not. This time, the kids at the bottom of the slide were fine.

Continue reading "Parenting Other Peoples' Kids" »

I've always loved going back to school. It is a time of fresh starts, new routines, and most importantly--new clothes.

I remember almost every "first day of school outfit" I wore up until I graduated high school. From the little white Peter Pan collar shirt and plaid skirt in kindergarten to the Doc Martins, ripped fishnets and Ozzy Osbourne t-shirt I wore the first day of high school--they each were carefully chosen for the beginning of a new school year.

Do you choose a special "first day of school outfit" for your kids?

Continue reading "Does Your Kid Have a First Day of School Outfit?" »

The Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program gives kids a chance to fly high every year. Now the EAA is offering an historic flight experience in its restored B-17G Flying Fortress "Aluminum Overcast." One of only 14 Fortress's still flying, this aircraft is an icon of the Allied strategic bombing effort that helped turn the tide of battle in World War II. Unlike reading a history book, you can actually fly a mission back in time and feel the might of this magnificent machine, just as those brave young men did more than 60 years ago. The visit is part of EAA's 2010 "Salute to Veterans" tour and celebrates the 75th Anniversary of this special aircraft.

Harry Parsons, leader of the local chapter and Bloomfield father of two, says that people of all ages can fly. "There is no age limit of any kind, we've had infants and nanogenarians!" Check out the video above of a kid and his grandfather, a WWII veteran.

The cost to fly isn't cheap, but it would be a great thing for a family to do together:

Continue reading "Fly in a B-17" »

Being a professional de-licer is a pretty lucrative job these days. it seems that lice is rampant in these parts--thankfully bed bugs aren't--yet. Anyway, Montclair's original Lice Lady, Susan Kaufman, has moved out of Baristaville and passed the comb over to Suzanne McDonald.

I spoke to Suzanne yesterday and got the lowdown on lice. Those nasty critters made their way onto heads all summer and Suzanne has been working non-stop trying to rid kids of the buggers. She warned that if the lice isn't taken care of before school starts that there will be another big infestation at the end of September.

Continue reading "There's a New Lice Lady in Town" »

You know how on an airplane, they tell you that in the case of an emergency where oxygen is needed, that you should put the mask on yourself first and then your children? Well Baristanet (the Mamas) went first and launched a new design this morning and we (Kids) are being helped next.

Barista Kids won't change as much, but we will look more stylish and have new features that will make it easier to get the most comprehensive news, event information and parenting discussion in Essex County. Like a good makeover, we will look like us, only better.

Our changes will happen on October 1--so stay tuned!

Registration for fall classes at the Montclair Little Y began on Monday. Meanwhile, the brochures for everything from tennis lessons to dancing school are piling up in my mailbox. Every year at this time, I wonder how many classes my preschoolers should take. I don't want to overschedule my kids. But is it possible to underschedule them?

My sister-in-law puts her kids in soccer twice a week. I asked her, "Why soccer?" She said, "Doesn't everyone do soccer?"

Meanwhile, my best friend doesn't sign her 4-year-old up for anything. She says preschool costs more than enough. Most of my other friends do at least one organized activity from Taekwondo to private music instruction.

Researchers have recently stated that kids aren't overscheduled. Kids who do up to 20 hours of organized activities (this pertains to big kids, of course) tend to be more well adjusted than kids who don't do anything at all.

But what about the youngest ones? How much stuff should a 4-year-old do? I have to figure it out soon. Around here, kids' classes--especially the ones at the Little Y--fill up fast.

Everyone will tell you to prepare for the Terrible Twos, but I'm here to tell you that 3-year-olds are so much worse. At least in the Gilmore house. With both of my daughters, their third year caused me the most grief. But my youngest has really turned my world upside down. I'm having to see my hairstylist every three weeks to cover all the damn grays I have now, and I can tell you what she did to cause each and every one. That big one right in front--I got that one the time she decided to bite into the glow stick she received in a goody bag, getting a mouth full of neon liquid. The little one that pokes straight up at my part--I got that one when she decided to climb and jump, knocking her front tooth loose. It's just another sign I can add to my list of things that make me old.

Listen, I love that cute little spitfire--I do. But she's lucky she is so cute and loving. Those attributes are her saving grace--a survival mechanism. It's just that since she turned three, she exhausts me. Everything is a battle. I want to put her hair in pigtails, she wants it down. I choose a dress, she chooses a skirt. I do the unthinkable and forget to let her pour her yogurt drink into her cup, and she freaks out and wants an entire new yogurt drink to start all over.

Being a teacher, I took all the child development classes that explain why children behave the way they do. I've read all the parenting books on how to speak to children so they listen. I currently teach preschool and use my best teacher voice with the kids and it always works. But there is something about dealing with a three-year-old (my three-year-old) that I can't manage to do right.

The thing is, my daughter is very passionate. When she smiles, her entire face brightens up. When she laughs, her entire body convulses in chuckles. When she hugs you, she squeezes you full of love. But when she is angry, watch the &$%# out.

She doesn't turn four until next summer in June. I am trying to be strong until then....I just pray I make it out alive.

The long, lazy, relaxing days of summer are rapidly winding down. Before you know it, school will be back in session. To keep some of that calm, relaxing carryover from summer, organization is key. Professional Organizer Deborah Gussoff gives us some tips to make our lives easier:

The Night Before

Planning ahead is a guaranteed way to make the off-to-school routine a smooth one. Unexpected events are known to occur (the alarm clock didn't go off; the dog got loose and had to be retrieved before you could leave the house); the more you can do ahead of time, the less hectic and stressful your morning will be.

• After your child completes his homework, make sure the assignment, as well as any books that need to go to school, are put back into the backpack.
• Create a designated spot for the backpack (i.e., a cubby or hook near the door) and make sure it is returned there each evening.
• If you don't already have a hook that you return your keys to each time you enter the house, now's the time to grab a hammer and nail! Knowing exactly where your keys are pre-empts a frantic search in the morning.
• Check the schedule for the next day and assemble any necessary items (i.e., sneakers for Gym; the book borrowed for Library; equipment for an extra-curricular activity) and place by the door or in the backpack.
• If your child brings lunch to school, make it as you're cleaning up from dinner. If your child purchases lunch, make sure lunch money is assembled in the evening to avoid spending precious morning time running around trying to find exact change. Even better, if you can, pre-pay a week or month's worth of lunches so you don't have to worry about it daily.
• Have your child select the next day's outfit before bedtime. This will give you ample time to wash a favorite shirt if need be.
• After you clean up the dinner dishes, set the table for breakfast. Put out plates, glasses, cereal bowls, silverware and daily vitamins or other medications.
• Can't move without your morning java? Consider a coffeemaker with a timer. You can set it to brew at a specific time, giving you a little extra motivation to resist hitting the snooze button.
• Stock nutritious, portable snacks like granola bars and cheese sticks for days when you're running really late.

Continue reading "Tips For Organizing the School Year: Part I" »

The award-winning Columbia High School Marching Band invited parents, district staff and friends to its preview performance at Ritzer Field last week. Under the direction of CHS Director of Bands Peter Bauer and student drum majors Jonathan Schneider and DeShawn Gray, the band and color guard showcased the music and drills that will be seen at Columbia football games and at competitions they will enter throughout the year.

In August, Maplewood Memorial Park transformed into Kansas with a free outdoor screening in the park of The Wizard of Oz. Now, the Maplewood Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the Maplewood Village Alliance, and Studio B are offering another great movie under the stars--Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Bring the family, a picnic, some lawn chairs and enjoy the tale of "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...." on Friday, September 10. The film will be projected on an inflatable 16' x 9' screen.

Continue reading "May the Force Be With You" »

From the Farmers' Market is a series on Barista Kids brought to you by Alison J. Bermack the founder of Cooking With Friends.

There's no need to wait until Halloween to have some carving fun. How about taking a paring knife to a pepper, cranberry bean pod or purple eggplant? That's just what we did the other day after a trip to the Millburn Farmer's Market. The kids got instantly excited when they spotted the Gina's tent (apparently Montclair's very own Gina's Bakery is opening a location in Millburn) welcoming them to the market with free samples galore. And sample we did.

Moving on (with full tummies), my daughter eyed the cranberry beans while wandering through rainbow-colored bins of vegetables. Holding one up for us to see, my little one's face lit up as he recalled the whimsical sea creature from his favorite book One Lonely Sea Horse. Believe it or not, my son has been looking for these red-spotted, camouflage-patterned beans to make into sea serpents. You see, inspired by Joost Elffert's Play with Your Food, we'll often create animals and sea life out of various fruits and vegetables. With only a few cloves or beans for eyes, we've transformed a banana into an octopus and a ginger root into a big clawed lobster. It's an excellent activity while waiting for dinner.

It was with this beautiful serpentine cranberry bean that we discovered our purpose at the market this week. And so we roamed tent to tent, looking not for perfect vegetables but for attention-grabbing ones: Peppers with interesting folds (to become a scrunched up mouth on a funny face), u-shaped eggplants (for diving sharks) and bunches of okra (for silly soldiers). In a short time, we had mounds of unusual looking vegetables and we were poised for an afternoon of play-with-your-food fun.

Continue reading "From the Farmers' Market: Food Play " »

It seems that every town does it differently, but most of them do it sooner than Baristaville--letting families know who their child's teacher will be.

In Glen Ridge kids meet their next year teacher on the last day of school. And at Oakside Elementary in Bloomfield they were given the info on the last day of school. In SOMA a friend tells me that they usually aren't told until the Friday before school starts. I thought it was bad in Montclair, we usually get told by the end of August. I've heard from some Montclair parents and teachers in the district that they will start to mail the placement letters today--but I'll believe it when I see it.

Do you know who your kid's teacher will be this school year? Are you happy about it?

Glen Ridge dad and children's author Daniel Kirk has been offering a download of his catchy songs every month since September 2009. We told you about his Halloween themed song last year. It's the end of the summer and the end of the Song of the Month Club, so this month's song is appropriately titled Carousel Horse, which reminds me of Martha's Vineyard.

If you haven't been downloading Kirk's songs every month, you're in luck, all 12 songs are available for free downloads. In addition to the free music, there has been a monthly book contest too. Kirk is giving away the biggest prize of all this time--a box of 25 autograph titles from Daniel Kirk's collection. To enter, email Daniel here and tell him why you think you should win. The best entry received by September 30, 2010 will win.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend with your family? Check our Upcoming Events calendar for all the details. While your at it, make sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know and get great deals.

The first thing to do this weekend is to click here and purchase tickets to our Back to School Bash.

Do it now--you'll be happy you did.

Did you do it? Okay, here are our top picks...

Continue reading "Things to Do This Weekend: August 27 - 29" »

Have you been to Turtle Back Zoo lately? When I first started going about 5 years ago with my oldest daughter, it wasn't much to look at. However, if you've been there lately, you know that it's wonderful. The grounds are beautiful, there's a carousel, playground, face painting, and a nice collection of animal exhibits--my girls love the red panda. Now thanks to The Zoological Society of New Jersey it will soon have an aquarium.

The Zoological Society of New Jersey is celebrating its 35th anniversary - "the coral anniversary" - by donating an aquarium exhibit to the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. Expected to open this September, the aquarium will feature several tanks filled with exotic sea-living species from tropical locations around the world as well as a Scarlet Ibis bird exhibit. Last night, they offered a sneak peek to the press to show off how excited they are to acquire the aquarium and to get the word out that they need sponsors:

Continue reading "Turtle Back Zoo (& Aquarium)" »

Yetunde Daniels Rubinstein, a former admissions officer at Fordham University and currently a guidance counselor at Westfield High School, has spent the past 10 years working with high school seniors and their families as they explore their college options. This is a first in a series that will follow Baristaville high school seniors on their path to college.

For everyone involved - students, teachers, siblings, parents and pets - the arrival of the final year of high school is quite a momentous occasion. For many seniors in our area, September marks the start of twelve months of transition to college. As these young people navigate this unique period -- fraught with highs, lows and everything in between -- they often come to uncover so much about themselves that by the end of this year, they've transformed. Good, bad or ugly, this year is a very important step in the maturation process. Despite what they may tell you, high school seniors need help navigating these uncertain waters.

Continue reading "Endings and New Beginnings: Welcome to Senior Year!" »

Last night local students performed "I Want To Know What Love Is" with Foreigner at the Wellmont.

If you couldn't attend the concert, here's your chance to catch some of the excitement:

Continue reading "Local Students Perform with Foreigner" »

Baristaville has many bakeries, but only one that is completely peanut and nut free and that's Bella's Bakery in Millburn. And when I say completely peanut and nut free, I mean it in the strictest way. Owner and chef, Janet Antico, makes sure that all of the ingredients that go into the yummy treats come from a peanut/nut-free facility, from the flour to the chocolate, which she orders from the Vermont Nut Free Company.

This is a dream to a parent of a peanut allergic child. And it makes a kid who can rarely eat from a bakery super happy. My 6-year-old daughter has a severe peanut allergy. When I told her we were going to visit Bella's Bakery in Millburn so I could write about it on Baristanet's Food page, she was thrilled. After she binged on sweets, she was happy to give Barista Kids her review:

Continue reading "Bella's Bakery: A Kid's Review" »

UPDATE: We have our winners.

When Foreigner takes the stage at the Wellmont tonight, they won't be alone. A little local talent will be joining them on stage. And they might even show the band a thing or two.

Members of the Montclair and Glen Ridge High School Choirs have teamed up to sing with the iconic 80's rock band during the band's performance of their classic number one hit, "I Want to Know what Love Is."

What started as a conversation between Baristanet and The Wellmont, turned into this great opportunity. Baristanet's Daily Editor Erika Bleiberg organized the event in a very short amount of time and tonight, she can sit back (or rock out) and enjoy what she helped bring together.

Catherine Geller, a junior at Glen Ridge High School, was the first person to get the news that Foreigner wanted to sing with them, and she was stunned. "I said, 'What? a famous band wants to sing with us?'" She immediately tried to contact her chorus teacher, but the teacher was away on vacation. When she finally got in touch with her Choir Director, Jessica Sartori, Geller said Sartori's reaction was "'No way. This is crazy.'"

Sartori admits being "super excited" when she found out. "I'm a big 80's baby." And her play list proves it. "They're already on my ipod," Sartori said of Foreigner. Of course, all of her students were excited, too. "They're thrilled. They've never done anything like this before."

Who has?

Continue reading "Foreigner is No Stranger to These Kids" »

As Autumn and the Jewish Holidays approach, I am actually looking forward to the cool weather so that I can use my oven once again. It has been way too hot to turn that thing on. I love to bake and especially like to bake with my kids. In addition to the modeling cooking and baking together provides, it also creates what I hope will be lasting memories of family rituals around the Jewish holidays, something I never had.

Saying I did not grow up in a religious household is an understatement; I went to my first Passover Seder in my early twenties at a boyfriend's home. Until I went to college in the midwest, where there were relatively few Jewish people, I rarely thought about being Jewish--I was a New Yorker. Then the antisemitic wave happened on campus, things like rigging the breaks on a Jewish day camp bus and swastikas on the Jewish frat houses. I was forced to think of myself as Jewish and I felt conflicted.

Continue reading "Embracing Judaism Through Food" »

If you missed the New Jersey State Fair this year, never fear. The St. Sebastian's Fair is coming to town this week. The best part: This festival is in our back yard.

Every year, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church hosts this Italian feast. Kids can ride Donald Duck and the Berry Go Round while adults eat zeppoles and sausages under the food tents. Rides are affordable, and the corn dogs are good.

But the highlight of the affair is St. Sebastian himself, see left. He was killed during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire--in the year 288. Our Lady of Mount Carmel received their St. Sebastian statue 84 years ago from Cerami, Sicily. Their Saint hits the streets procession-style on Sunday, August 29, at 3:30 pm from 94 Pine Street in Montclair. St. Sebastian arrives at the fair right around 5 pm.

If you see him, it's customary to yell, "Viva San Sebastiano!"

If you don't see The Saint, you can still get in on the fun. This fair in Montclair starts on Thursday at 5 p.m. Keep reading for more details.

Continue reading "A Fair in Montclair" »

From the Farmers' Market is a series on Barista Kids brought to you by Alison J. Bermack the founder of Cooking With Friends.

Sometimes it's just nice to be in the kitchen with girlfriends. Sure, the kids can wander in and out, with curious looks and taste all they want. But I need some girl time when I can get it and at this time of year, there's nothing like cooking up a good old fashioned batch of farm fresh tomato sauce with a friend or two.

Tomatoes are everywhere, and good ones for that matter. This year's Jersey farmers are producing sweet beauties - heirloom, beefsteak, grape, plum - you name them. I've had such an abundance of tomatoes from my CSA, farmer's markets and various farm stands that it would be nearly impossible to not make sauce. Got tomatoes? Just gather some farm fresh garlic and basil and get cooking a big batch (or two or three) of sauce. Invite a friend who has been away and use the time to catch up. There couldn't be a simpler sauce to prepare or a more ideal food to make with someone else.

Continue reading "From the Farmers' Market: Summer Tomato Sauce" »

Every year, we hit the L.I.E. and head out to Fire Island. It's our pilgrimage, complete with natural bug spray, organic mac and cheese and ear plugs for me. All week, we are in Fair Harbor in the same house rental.

The days before going on vacation are always stressful. Will my three preschoolers need their swimming shoes for the sand? Probably not. Will the neighbor mind watching the dog while we're away? She didn't. And someone needs to check on the cat. Check. The chores of going away for seven days are tiresome. But they are done with hopefulness. After all, we're preparing for some much-needed family time and relaxation.

But is it relaxing to hang out with three little kids minus the luxuries of summer camp and TV on demand? It's not relaxing when the kid wake up at 6:30 a.m. like they always do when we're away from their comfort zone. In other words, vacation can be daunting. I've only been a parent for four and a half years, and I'm still getting the hang of it. The other nine years I've been coming out to Fire Island were totally carefree.

I'm still learning how to keep my kids--and myself--happy. Here are a few things I do before going away. And if you have tips, please share.

Continue reading "Vacation: With the Kids" »

A host of new faces will greet Millburn's students when they return to school on September 7.

Around 30 new or repositioned teachers and administrators have joined the town's schools, including new head Peter Mercurio at Wyoming Elementary and Kenneth Frattini, the new Vice Principal at the Middle School.

The new teachers were back in the classrooms this week to learn about the town's education system in an orientation program covering everything from technology to suicide prevention awareness training. The program also includes an introduction the library resources, special education support and strategies and a session on local history.

Continue reading "Millburn's New Teachers Learn the Ropes in Orientation Program " »

Paper Mill Playhouse is running a video dance contest in celebration of its production of Hairspray, which will open on September 22. Contestants were challenged to come up with a new, original dance move to the music track "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray. This all went on on Paper Mill Playhouse's Facebook page.

Today they announced the eight finalists:

• Chris Beard of Pennington, NJ, age 18. Dance invention entitled, "The Coif and Party."


• Isabella Bucci of Morris Plains, NJ, age 14. Dance invention entitled, "The Hairspray Bottle."


• Ryan Campbell of Stirling, NJ, age 16. Dance invention entitled, "The Neck Breaker."


• Allison Edelstein of Livingston, NJ, age 15. Dance invention entitled, "Tracy Time."


• Rorey Furey-King of Montclair, NJ, age 14. Dance invention entitled, "The Frame."


• Elena Knitel of Fair Lawn, NJ, age 13. Dance invention entitled, "The Sewing Machine."


• Phil Sloves of Fair Lawn, NJ, age 18. Dance invention entitled, "Galloping Bat."


• Mike Yosen of Whitehouse Station, NJ, age 20. Dance invention entitled, "The Prom Shuffle."

Continue reading "So You Think You Can Do the Watusi?" »

I became a New Jerseyan twice, in the two ways most people do. I was born in NJ, and was a native of our fair state from day one; I also moved to New Jersey after stints in Pennsylvania and New York, and did the paperwork that made me a resident of NJ (when I turned in my NY license at the DMV in East Orange, they still had my license number on file from when I'd first passed my driving test back when).

My son had to take a more circuitous route to join our ranks. He was born in Texas, to a birth-mom who had been matched with my wife and me through a domestic adoption agency. Because every state has its own laws governing inter-state adoptions, we had to wait several days after his release from the hospital to get approval to fly him out of Texas; and even though we brought him straight to Newark International Airport and our home in Maplewood, he still wasn't a Jersey Boy.

In fact, he wasn't even officially ours.

Continue reading "Flying to Texas, Bringing Home a New Jerseyan" »

Another school year is about to begin - to me, the real start of the New Year. Regardless of how many children you have, or how old they are, the beginning of the school year can be hectic and overwhelming.

There are still about two-three weeks before school begins. Now is a good time to take stock of what you did over the summer and start gearing up for the big day. One of the most effective ways to avoid chaos and bring peace of mind to the uncertainty of newness is through the use of routines. Routines create a sense of security for children because they know what is expected of them and what will come next. Routines are also a great way to help children become self-sufficient, and isn't one of our primary goals as parents to help our children become responsible and independent?

With two weeks to go, now is the perfect time to get back into the swing. I recommend that you introduce a few "school year" routines per week every week until school begins. Think about which routines will make the biggest difference in your household and start with them. This will give you all more time to practice those. Let's look at some areas of life where routines can make a difference, but before enumerating them, please make sure that you only work on a few at a time and think of ways to institute routines in small steps over an extended period of time. Starting with too many, too fast is a certain path to frustration and failure.

Continue reading "Back to School Advice From Patty Dow" »

UPDATED: We've added more camps.

The end of August and the beginning of September is tricky for working parents. Summer camps are finished, but school hasn't started. What to do with the kids when you have to work? If you live in Montclair, you're really scrambling for coverage, because school doesn't begin until Monday, September 13. Most Baristaville schools are closed for Rosh Hashanah. If you aren't observing the holiday, you may need coverage as well.

If you have family who will watch the kids, you're lucky. A babysitter is another option, but that will get really expensive.

Luckily, there are some cheaper options out there:

Continue reading "What to Do After Summer Camp and Before School" »

NJ Monthly Magazine has just released the full list of NJ's Top Public High Schools for 2010. We told you that Millburn made the top spot last week, but now we get to see how other Baristaville schools ranked.

• Glen Ridge moved up one notch from the number five spot to the fourth spot.
• Montclair fell down nine spots from 85 to 94.
• Columbia High School (Maplewood & South Orange) improved, moving up from spot 89 to 75.
• West Orange fell from its 114 spot to 128.
• Bloomfield fell from spot 181 to 226.

For the full list, click here.

Our Back to School Bash is really coming together. We're working really hard to make it a great event for families of all ages.

We've made it easy to purchase advance tickets. Click here and order them at Brown Paper Tickets and mark the date on the calendar!

Barista Kids Back to School Bash
Who: All ages.
What: A super fun party to celebrate going back to school. Bouncy houses, live entertainment from Mr. Ray and School of Rock Montclair, fun activities, yummy treats to buy and much more!
Where: Soccer Domain, 14 Depot Square, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Sunday, September 19 from 2 pm - 5 pm.
Cost: $5 in advance / $7 at the door / Babies 12 months and under Free. Order online here.

WINNER: Congratulations to BloomingMom, the winner of the owl backpack from The Sewing Loft.

If you have a kid starting preschool, then we have the backpack for you.

The Brown Belly Owl backpack is super cute and the perfect size for a preschooler. It's handmade by Heather Valentine. A former designer in the garment indsutry for 20 years, Heather decided to do her own thing and launched The Sewing Loft two years ago.

The Sewing Loft offers handmade, limited edition products. Heather's two daughters (ages 10 and 6) are her critics, giving her their opinion on her designs and offering up ideas, so you can be sure that kids will like the collection. What was once a dress, becomes a backpack--the collections are designed around post-consumer products using a combination of scraps, felt, upcycled and repurposed fabrics, along with a few new fabrics.

The Sewing Loft is generously offering one lucky Barista Kids reader a Brown Belly Owl backpack. I'll be honest--it's my favorite in the collection. We have a thing for owls here at Barista Kids.

The enter keep reading...

Continue reading "Giveaway: Owl Backpack From The Sewing Loft" »

When Brian Lerner, 16, set off for camp this summer unlike his fellow teens, he didn't board a bus or hop into his parents' car. Instead he got on a plane and traveled thousands of miles from his hometown of Maplewood to Ethiopia, a place that was all at once foreign and familiar to him.

"One of my main impetuses for going was that my 5-year-old sister is Ethiopian," Brian explained. "And it was definitely important to me to go and understand the world that she came from. Still, though, the chance to go and make such a meaningful difference in that world was the driving force behind my trip."

Brian's fellow campers and he didn't share a language. And their backgrounds and experiences couldn't be more different. Brian will be starting his senior year at Montclair Kimberley Academy where he's a member of the chess club, competes on the debate team and plays baseball. His fellow campers are orphans. And they're living with HIV/AIDS.

Continue reading "Maplewood Kids Have a Worldwide Camp Experience" »

Maplewood based photographer Joy Yagid captured all the Back to School items to be had in SOMA.

More than 50 children from Maplewood and South Orange have participated in a week-long theater camp that was essentially a gift from an enthusiastic and talented Rutgers student (and her band of friends).

Shona Roebuck, a theater student at Rutgers, was watching the devastating destruction in Haiti and rather than just give money, she says, "I started trying to think of a way I could use my talents to help this cause." She came up with the idea of putting on Willy Wonka with local kid talent. When she held the auditions in June, she expected a couple dozen campers, but more than 50 kids showed up--she didn't turn anyone away. Campers were asked to learn their parts over the summer, before camp began on Monday, and for the most part, everyone did. "What surprised me about the experience so far is how hard these kids are all working and have worked before the camp. They all came in knowing their lines and music and I can tell have worked tirelessly at home to perfect them," says Roebuck. During the camp, the kids have alternated between rehearsing, making costumes, learning how to do makeup, and rehearsing some more.

The proceeds of the show, which come from a $50 fee for all campers and $10 tickets to see the show, will go to UMCOR, the relief arm of the United Methodist Church.

Continue reading "Willy Wonka to Benefit Haiti" »

You are invited to our first ever Barista Kids Back to School Bash!

All summer long, we have been working on bringing your family a really fun party to celebrate going back to school (or having one last hurrah before hitting the books)--whichever way you look at it, it will be fun.

Mr. Ray, Baristaville kiddie rocker, will get the party started thanks to Park Street Academy who is sponsoring his show. After years rocking with Bruce Springsteen, Matchbox Twenty, and Meat Loaf, Ray Anderson became Mr. Ray and has been entertaining the preschool set ever since.

School of Rock Montclair will then perform a concert that will end the party with a bang. If you've been able to catch their summer concerts at Just Jake's, you know the students of School of Rock can rock.

Continue reading "Barista Kids Back to School Bash!" »

The PJ Library is like a Jewish "Book of the Month" club for kids and it's absolutely free. This award-winning Jewish family engagement program was created by the Harold Grinspoon, a real estate entrepreneur, as a way to strengthen the identities of Jewish families and their relationship to Jewish community through books. The PJ Library offers free, high-quality Jewish books and music each month to families raising Jewish children ages six months to 5 ½ years old in more than 125 communities across the United States and Canada.

Families in Baristaville can enjoy the benefits of The PJ Library through the MetroWest program. Children living in Essex, Morris, Sussex, and Northern Union counties can receive a FREE age appropriate Jewish content book or CD at their home every month. In addition, parents receive a monthly E-Newsletter with more information about the books and local happenings in the Jewish Community. Kids must be 6 months - 5 1/2 years old to subscribe. The program is also available to special needs children over the age of 5 1/2--just email Andrea Bergman, The PJ Library Coordinator, to discuss the appropriate age level.

Continue reading "The PJ Library: Jewish Bedtime Stories & Songs for Families" »

Get those mini cycling enthusiasts in gear and head over to the Hilltop this Saturday for Essex County's first ever kids only bike race. Ideal for both new and experienced riders, The Hilltop Grasshopper Bike Race for Kids is a fun and friendly competition on a specially prepared course including both smooth roadway and a winding trail through the woods. Kids in kindergarten through 8th grades can blaze their trail through Hilltop Reservation come 9:00 am Saturday. Start times and course lengths vary by class, which are determined by age for both the boy and girl divisions. Prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each class, but, not to worry, all little racers will receive an award for participating.

Presented by Essex County Parks Department and the Hilltop Conservancy, the race is open to all those who love to ride, wear a helmet and have a fully functioning bike (which must pass mechanical inspection on the day of the race). Waivers signed by a parent or guardian are required in order to participate, and an adult must be present during the race.

Off to the races? Get all the details on the next page.

Continue reading "Ride On, Little Grasshopper " »

I couldn't miss my cousin's wedding. I was going--I just had to work out a few kinks first. Like, the wedding was in Oklahoma. And the airfare was $350 per seat. And even if I could afford it, taking three little kids 1300 miles away for a long weekend sounded like torture.

So I booked a four-day trip--solo. I told myself to be happy and relaxed about this rare opportunity. But still, I was eaten up with guilt for leaving them. I was nervous to be so far away for so many days. I don't know what I thought might happen--I just knew it couldn't be good.

I asked local parenting expert Patty Dow for advice. As a life coach and parent educator, she wisely reminded me that guilt is part of the territory of parenting. "The trick is not to let it stop you," she added. I forged ahead. I put my husband and babysitter in charge. I hoped they wouldn't forget to feed the baby--or the dog. I took Dow's tips to heart before I headed to the airport:

Continue reading "Vacation: Without the Kids" »

If you'd like to experience one of the very talented members of the Columbia High School class of 2010 in action, head over to St. George's Episcopal Church on at 1 pm on Saturday, August 21 for a vocal recital that's open to the public.

Amanda Grafton, who is headed to the Manhattan School of Music in the fall, will be performing 13 songs for her Senior Graduation Recital. The recital will include pieces by Schubert and Puccini, and all pieces performed will be classical arias and art songs, according to Grafton. Grafton received the 2010 John A. Plumer Memorial Scholarship Award from the Maplewood Glee Club. Grafton will be majoring in vocal performance and opera at school, but she wasn't always sure that she would be studying music in college.

"Going into my junior year [of high school] I decided I would need to choose whether I wanted to pursue fine art or musical theater," she said. "I visited musical theater programs and felt like as much as I loved musical theater, the part of it I loved most was singing." She then found a voice teacher who could help her further her education, and "completely fell in love" with classical music and opera as she continued her studies.
"This summer I've spent [time] learning as much as I can about music history, theory, and ... opera, and through my recital have prepared some repertoire for college," Grafton said.

Continue reading "Amanda Grafton Says Goodbye to CHS With a Song" »

I'm kicking my kids to the curb come September. This year they are on their own to make it to school and back.

They're old enough (I think). I've taught them to look both ways before crossing the street (although I've never actually seen them put that into practice). And, I can spit and practically hit the school from my front doorstep so I'm pretty confident they'll make it.

We gave it a trial run at the end of last year. It was going wonderfully until I was informed by my son Vovie's teacher that he was behaving like a lunatic on the way to school. So it was with a heavy heart that I called an end to the experiment.

But this is a whole new year and, hopefully, a whole new Vovie.

Continue reading "Hit the Road, Jack " »

Has seven-year-old Michael ever announced, "Mommy and Daddy, I want to compose music like Mahler or Beethoven"; four-year old Emily voiced her concerns about global warming or three-year-old Aiden memorized and recited house and license plate numbers and asked you how these numbers were selected?

If your child popped these types of comments or questions on you, your immediate reaction may have been to:

A. Ask your child to repeat the information because you are sure your brain imagined or misheard it.

B. Think, "Wow, even though I only scored a 533 on the mathematics portion of my SATs, my kid is a genius!"

C. Experience an anxiety attack after you mentally calculated your contributions to that 529 plan.

After the jubilation of producing a genius wears off, you may wonder if your kid is legitimately advanced or gifted.

Continue reading "The ABC's of Gifted Children" »

Turnpike Tikes Trips is a series on Barista Kids by Ronda Kaysen, editor and publisher of Turnpike Tikes, a blog and weekly email about great stuff to do with the kids in New Jersey.

Rock out to DJ Lance Rock and his goofy Yo Gabba Gabba buddies next Friday. The kid-rock sensation is giving two live shows in Bethel on August 27 at 1:30 pm and 5 pm.

What more can I say? It's Yo Gabba Gabba. If you're kids are as nuts about Yo Gabba Gabba as the rest of us they'll go bananas seeing Brobee, Foofa and Flex live. And, to make things even more exciting, Rapper Biz Markie (remember him?) is scheduled to make a special appearance.

Continue reading "Turnpike Tikes Trips: Yo Gabba Gabba" »

Teenagers in Baristaville (and former Barista Kids) are packing their suitcases and getting ready to leave their homes for college. For most, it will begin a period of "firsts". The first time on their own, the first time having a roommate, the first kegger.

It can be scary and even scarier for parents.

Maureen P. Tillman, L.C.S.W., is the founder and director of College with Confidence, a comprehensive psychotherapy service, with offices in Maplewood and Morristown, that supports parents and young adults through the college experience. She recently contributed to the College Edition of U.S. News and World Report titled Break That Hovering Habit Early. She shares some words of wisdom to say to your child to help make this transition go as smoothly as possible...

Continue reading "Launching Conversations: Tips For Parents of College Bound Kids" »

"Don't talk to strangers!" It's something that almost every parent says. We teach our kids rules to keep them safe. When our children are old enough to venture out in this big world without us, we go over a list of "dos and don'ts" and hope they follow them. But do they?

NBC is looking for parents of children in our area, who are at an age to play outside alone or be left home alone for short periods, to participate in a program to be broadcast nationally. Your child will be put to the test. If you're interested in participating, send a description of your family (age and gender for each child) and contact information here. Filming is set to start early next week.

(Photo: Wikipedia)

Since having my second child I have become patently aware of just how easy I had it the first go round. Not to discount the travails of first-time parents. Those were some tough days. And yet now that I'm responsible for the well being of two little creatures, I often find myself marveling at all that free time I must have had before, when there was just one little one demanding my attention. But somehow I don't remember those days as being free and easy and filled with plenty of downtime as I waited for the next feeding or nap time to wrap up.

One thing I do clearly recall is how important it was to find others who like me, were new to this whole parenting thing. And, thankfully, there are plenty of organizations and opportunities out there designed to do just that:

Continue reading "Going Beyond Mommy & Me in Maplewood" »

Slimfast, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, juice fasts, Weight Watchers...most women know of these diets. Some are considered healthier than others, but they all are meant to help you get thinner. You may be happy with the results, but does dieting send a bad message to your daughter?

In a conversation I had with some friends, we started talking about which diets work. One friend had lots of success with Jenny Craig, another swears by Weight Watchers, one likes quick crash diets, like the Cabbage Soup diet. I hate dieting and try to eat healthy, organic food in appropriate portions, but I too, have caved by drinking Slimfast to shed some pounds quickly.

Then we started thinking. Is all this dieting good to do in front of our kids? Some worried that if their daughters saw them drinking their meals out of a can, they might be creating food issues down the line. On the other hand, another mom thinks that we've gotten so PC around our kids. She thinks, like anything else, dieting teaches that sometimes we have to reel in the excess. In a day where childhood obesity is at its highest, is it really wrong to have children see you diet?

(Photo: Flickr/Clean Wal-Mart)

Millburn High School has once again been ranked number one in New Jersey Monthly Magazine's biennial list of the best high schools in New Jersey. Back in 2008, Millburn High School first made its way to the top of the chart among the 322 high schools in the state due to its outstanding student performance on standardized tests (average SAT score of 1868) and its student outcomes -- the high number of students who attend college.

The rankings are compiled exclusively for New Jersey Monthly by the Polling Institute at Monmouth University and are based on data reported by the schools to the Department of Education for its most recent New Jersey School Report Card--covering the 2008-2009 school year. The rankings take into consideration such factors as school environment (class size and student-faculty ratio, for example), student performance (standardized test scores), and student outcomes (such as how many kids are college-bound).

Continue reading "Millburn High School Ranked Number One in State " »

WINNER: Congratulations to south end ella, she is the winner of a Go! Go! Sports Girl doll. Enjoy!

I was never much of a doll girl. I did go through a Barbie phase when I was 10-years-old, but it was more because I loved to make my own outfits and just needed a clothes hanger. As a mom to two girls, I haven't really pushed the doll thing on them and they haven't really asked for them. I guess my problem with many dolls is that they either don't seem like very good role models for girls (Bratz dolls) or that the majority of them are blonde, blue-eyes, fair skinned girls. So it was with much happiness that I found Go!Go! Sports Girls.

Go! Go! Sports Girls dolls were created by Jodi Norgaard. Jodi has always been involved in sports and for many years coached "Girls on the Run", a program which encourages girls to make healthy choices in life through running. While working with young girls, Jodi had an idea. "I realized there was a need for a positive doll for girls that would be age appropriate, proportioned properly and sent a positive message about a healthy lifestyle - physically, mentally and emotionally - through sports." And so Go! Go! Sports Girl dolls were born.

There are currently eleven girls in the collection and each plays a specific sport. Through the Dream Big Toy Company, Go! Go! Sports Girls were created, "as a fun and educational way to promote self-appreciation and the benefits of daily exercise, healthy eating and sleeping habits, self-esteem and overall healthy life-skills among youths 3-12 years, regardless of race and socioeconomic class." Each doll has the words "Dream Big" embroidered on its tummy.

Jodi was kind enough to send my girls a Taye doll, the basketball player, to play with it and they love her. She even comes with her own basketball which she carries in a backpack.Jodi is being very kind by offering one Go! Go! Sports Girls doll of choice to a lucky Barista Kids reader.

To enter keep reading.....

Continue reading "Giveaway: Go! Go! Sports Girls Doll" »

Until recently, it was a given that twin children would be placed in different classrooms starting in kindergarten. Principals all around Baristaville split up twins--even when parents pleaded to keep them together. Conventional wisdom in the educational world is to separate the kids to foster their independence.

All that changed when outgoing Governor John Corzine signed off on Law A-1671, commonly called The Twins Law. Since then, parents--not principals--have had the power to decide whether their multiples will be in the same classroom. This has been a hot topic on the message board Montclair Parents of Multiples for ages. It's especially timely now that students are being assigned to teachers for the new school year.

Continue reading "Should Twins Stay in the Same Classroom?" »

From the Farmers' Market is a series on Barista Kids brought to you by Alison J. Bermack the founder of Cooking With Friends.

If you get to the farmer's market extra early, you may be lucky enough to grab a bunch of zucchini blossoms before they are nabbed by someone else. These bright yellow flowers caught my 5-year-old's eye the other day at the Bloomfield Farmer's Market, where I found a dozen for a bargain-basement price of $3. They weren't to display in a vase, although they are pretty enough, but rather to cook and eat. A big fan of zucchini sautéed in olive oil, my son was particularly fascinated that he could eat the striking yellow flowers emerging from the end of a budding zucchini. So, I promised to cook our beautiful bouquet that afternoon and introduce him to an exotic (yet relatively common) new food.

Fried, sautéed or stuffed, we're lucky to have an abundance of these delicacies all summer long! You can get creative and use them for soups, frittatas or quesadillas. Serve them simple with ketchup or get fancy and offer them to friends as an appetizer with a ginger soy dipping sauce. Even the kids will love them.

Back at home, after lightly breading and pan frying the blossoms, I plated them with a side of ketchup, as if they were golden chicken tenders. I carried them out to a small gang of kids, each of whom hungrily sampled away. Upon taking his first bite and noticing the airy consistency, my five year old skeptically took a second bite before deciding they were delicious enough to gobble five in a row. Even his friend, a somewhat selective eater, dove in. "It tastes like chicken," summed it up pretty well from my
10- year-old as she sampled the zucchini fritter. I decided to let them name our new farm fresh favorite, so move over chicken fingers. . .here come Blossom Fingers!

Continue reading "From the Farmers' Market: Move Over Chicken Fingers" »

As I shop at Target and Staples for back to school supplies, preparing my first-grader for that all important first day, I realize the most basic supply cannot be purchased. Not even at a discount. It's yoga. I teach Kids Yoga at several summer camps and throughout the school year. Yet, when preparing my child and family for important milestones, I often forget to keep it simple.

As a reminder to all of us ever-busy Moms and Dads, here are a few simple elements of Kids Yoga that can become the essential back to school supply:

BREATHE - It all starts with the breath. Sit with your kids, in criss-cross-applesauce or an easy cross-legged position. Find a favorite pillow, blanket or rug. Make it comfy for your child--you too. Inhale and Exhale. That simple. Try to breathe in through the nose and out through the nose. Add some vocals. Kids love to make noise. Inhale quiet, Exhale Aaaahhhh, or Ooooooo, or EEEEeeeee. Add some arms and move a little. Inhale arms reach up over head. Clap hands together. Exhale hands together come down in front of your heart.

This is the start of a Sun Salute. I often tell my students, let's bring a little sun into our hearts to warm up the love. Kids love to answer questions. I like to ask, "What's in our hearts?" Kids always know the answer....."LOVE!!!" This is a great way to talk with your child about who they share their love with. Listen carefully, their answers may surprise you and warm your heart too.

Continue reading "Kids Yoga: A Basic Back-To-School Supply" »

Last Tuesday at The Maplewood Rotary Club's weekly meeting at Cryan's in South Orange, Allison Hayes spoke about her summer exchange experience in Japan. Allison grew up in Maplewood and graduated from Columbia High School last year. Her visit to Japan was through The Rotary's Youth programs, specifically the Exchange Program.

More than 8,000 young people each year have experiences like Allison's through Rotary Youth Exchange. These exchanges connect people all over the world in enriching experiences in an opportunity of a lifetime for many of these kids.

Every year, the new President of Rotary International comes up with a new theme. This year's president, Ray Klinginsmith, decided on the theme "Building Communities, Bridging Continents", which he explained, at the meeting, is meant to help outsiders understand the mission of Rotary. "I searched for words to describe the passion, the creativity, and the generosity of Rotarians. And as I sought the right words, I kept in mind that Rotary is a spirit of service as well as an organization of Rotary clubs, and that we need to share our core values of service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership with other people and organizations. I considered many words and phrases. The four words I finally selected to convey Rotary's current mission and highlight our achievements describe what Rotarians do best, which is Building Communities - Bridging Continents."

The Rotary Club wants you to attend a meeting to see what Rotary is about at any of its Tuesday night meetings at Cryan's at 6:30 pm. The Youth Programs are for ages 12 and up.

Check out some photos from Allison's experience after the jump...

Continue reading "Local Student is Bridging Continents" »

Did you watch Live Aid in 1985? Were you lucky enough to attend? I was 12-years-old and thought it was the coolest concert ever. It was the first time I saw U2 and it started my lifelong crush on Bono.

The kids of School of Rock Montclair (many who are the same age I was when Live Aid aired) are paying tribute to Live Aid. Eli Seger, age 12, and Jacob Frank, age 14, will represent The School of Rock Montclair at Live Aid Remade, a show celebrating the 25th anniversary of 1985's Live Aid concerts, at The Gramercy Theater in NYC on Thursday, August 19.

Live Aid Remade will feature performances by School of Rock students of songs from the original Live Aid concerts in Philadelphia and London, which were organized to raise money for African famine relief. Ticket sales from the Live Aid Remade show will be donated to Music For Relief, a non-profit organization established by the rock band Linkin Park, which seeks to bring the music community together to raise awareness and funds for victims of natural disasters. The proceeds from Live Aid Remade are going towards the organization's efforts in Haiti.

Continue reading "Montclair Tweens in Live Aid Remade" »

There's never a dull day at the Renaissance Faire where adventure reigns and fantasy rules. The faire is filled with plenty to do for all ages from the youngest children to those contending with Merlin in years. Begin the day by attending the welcoming ceremony as the Queen and her court enter the Shire. And as the Queen arrives, so do the famed outlaw Robin Hood and his Merry Men all of whom are more than willing to wreak havoc with the Sheriff of Nottingham and his silly laws. All throughout the day, visitors to the Shire can watch as the Queen makes the decision who to name as heir and Robin and the Sheriff battle for the affections of the fair Maid Marian.

Between acts, the entertainment never ceases. Brother Donald, in his hideout among the trees, will be sharing his many tales all suitable for the young lads and lasses. Performances of the humorous trials and tribulations of the Shire-folk are abound on the many theatrical stages with shows that are sure to have everyone giddy with laughter and merriment. Renaissance artists are constantly showcasing their skills in blacksmithing, candle-making, glassblowing and even falcon training as in Master Falconer Steve Hody's Birds of Prey demonstration. Among the trees and passages of the faire, games and rides are sure to delight children and adults alike. Wandering minstrels, magicians, and interactive actors will keep you on your toes and entertained at all times. Children will even get the chance to meet Robin Hood and choose between joining his Merry Men or the Sheriff's Guards.

So go join the fun at the New York Renaissance Faire! Step right into the fantasy and go dressed in your best Renaissance costume! Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.

Continue reading "Hear Ye, Hear Ye! It's the Renaissance Faire" »

This weekend you can visit your local National Parks for free. It's only on Saturday and Sunday, not a full week this time, but it's still free. We have two national parks in New Jersey that are less than 30 minutes away: Edison National Historic Site and Morristown National Historic Park.

Thomas Edison National Historic Site offers lots to do and learn with the family. Visit Glenmont Estate, and see where Edison lived, walk the grounds, listen to a cell phone tour, and children can earn their Junior Ranger badge. Check out this review and slideshow for more info.

Morristown National Historic Park offers our revolutionary past and facts about the events, people, places, and things in historic Morristown. Kids can also earn a Junior Ranger badge.

Continue reading "Visit a National Park For Free" »

This just in... The PA announcer of the NJ Jackals, George Ruthauser, is holding a one-day camp tomorrow at Yogi Berra Stadium which will teach you what it takes to be a voice of baseball.

From 10 am - 1 pm, Saturday, August 14, campers will each have a turn to go up to the booth with George and read a script over the intercom. Then you can announce whatever you want in your best sports voice: The NJ Jackals, favorite Major league team, your little league team or even give a shout out to a friend.

On Sunday, all campers will be introduced to the stadium and given a certificate of participation in a pre-game ceremony. Then, and here's the best part, one lucky camper will be chosen to go up to the booth with George and announce the entire game!

I lied, here's the really best part...

Continue reading "Jackals PA Announcer Fantasy Camp Tomorrow!" »

For the past five years Judith Lindbergh, a published novelist, freelance writer and photographer, has taught and mentored adult writers at the South Orange-Maplewood Adult School, which led to her creating The Writers Circle.

The Writers Circle brings together writers, of all levels, as a community. Last January, she decided to expand the program to include children after observing her son. Lindbergh explained, "I watched my own son, age 9, and his friends coming home from school with very rigid ideas about writing. I realized that what he was learning in school, however necessary for academic and standardized writing, was actually squelching his natural creativity. So I decided to use my personal background as a writer, former actress and dancer, to try to breathe life back into writing for children."

Lindbergh leads the children's writing workshops and says she tries to, "nurture self-expression, imagination and creativity above all else."

If your child is an aspiring writer, you can register for the Fall semester now. Classes will be held at Luna Stage in West Orange.

Continue reading "The Writers Circle For Kids" »

The day our first daughter was born, my husband joked that he wished we could implant a chip under her skin that would allow us to track her every move. Actually, I don't think he was really joking.

His wish is coming true, because there is now a GPS tracking device that you can clip on your kid's backpack, belt loop or fit in her pocket. It's not as sci-fi as implanting it under her skin, but it will do the job.

Secura Trac offers The SecuraPAL (Personal Automated Locator)®, a small device that fits into your child's pocket or backpack. "It uses the global positioning system satellites and the mobile phone networks to pinpoint your child's location and and report it back to the SecuraTrac network."

The SecuraPAL is meant to be a safety device when you visit a large place, such as Disneyland, in case your child gets lost. It can also be used for elderly people who may get disoriented and lost. But think of the possibilities. You can hide one of these suckers in your teen's backpack or purse and know her every move. He's broken curfew? No worries. You can drive to his exact location and bring his butt home. Is she at that bad boy kid's house instead of at the library studying? Show up at his doorstep in time to stop any frisky behavior about to occur.

This is every helicopter parent's dream!

Consignment shops are great, especially when they offer good quality children's clothing. Milk Money consignment shops do just that and they save you money when back to school shopping.

I have been a regular customer at Milk Money in Montclair since my oldest daughter was born. Not only have I scored beautiful dresses, sweaters and jackets, but I've consigned all the baby gear and clothing my girls have outgrown.

Milk Money Montclair is gearing up for its Grand Re-Opening. New owner, Andrea DelleChiaie has taken over the store and is excited to share some changes, spruced up decorations and the fall/winter collection with you.

Continue reading "Back to School Shopping at Milk Money" »

Turnpike Tikes Trips is a series on Barista Kids by Ronda Kaysen, editor and publisher of Turnpike Tikes, a website and weekly email about great stuff to do with the kids in New Jersey.

It's history buffs meets drag racers at the Annual Ducky Derby at the Historic Village at Allaire this Saturday. For $3, anyone with the racing bug can race a little rubber ducky down the Mill Pond stream in the village.

"Everyone is a winner," says John Curtis, the village's director. Participants win a prize just for taking part in the race - and everyone gets to keep their ducky -- but the racer with the fastest rubber ducky wins a stuffed duck.

Continue reading "Turnpike Tikes Trips: Allaire Historic Village" »

I only run when chased. Maybe I wouldn't be so scared of this hot sport if I'd had access to a confidence-boosting program like Girls On the Run. It's geared to all girls--not just track and field stars. So kids like me--who have interest but no skill--can take to the road. Of course, future Jackie Joyners are also welcome.

GOTR, a registered non-profit, is open to third through fifth graders only, read our spring story here. Coaches use the power of running to teach kids about self-respect and healthy living. Girls meet two days a week for 10-weeks to train for a 5K event. Another branch of the organization is called Girls on the Track, for sixth to eighth grade girls.

This year's season is starting soon around Baristaville. Check the next page for listings.

Continue reading "Girls On the Run Start New Season" »

Have you ever wondered why some women wouldn't think of eating sushi, drinking soda or smoking cigarettes during their pregnancy but then give formula instead of breast milk once the baby arrives? This pre-baby versus post-baby health concern is a curious phenomenon.

Last week was World Breastfeeding Week and with it the accompanying stories of health statistics, challenges and guilt. Having worked with hundreds of women individually and in workshops discussing the challenges of cooking, I have gathered some pretty enlightening anecdotes regarding how women feel about their role at home and in society around the topics of breastfeeding and cooking.

Interestingly enough, the decline in breast feeding and eating healthy by cooking at home have a similar history. With breastfeeding, women wanted more freedom or were told by society/the media and big business (formula companies) that they wanted more freedom. Many women gave up the nurturing, bonding and healthy act of breastfeeding and opted for formula. Many gave birth and were not even asked if they planned on breastfeeding--it was just assumed that they would use formula and their chests were routinely taped up so as to avoid having their milk come in.

Continue reading "Take Back the Kitchen And the Boobs" »

What happens when four accomplished performing arts educators with a long history of working together collaborate to create a new company? The Crossover Project, the latest addition to Montclair's innovative and active arts scene, is born.

What is the Crossover Project? The brainchild of Christian Ely, Sharon Stephens, Raegan Bliss Wood and Terrance Kennedy, the Crossover Project is a company of 21 student actors, singers and dancers who are challenged to "cross-over" or utilize all three core disciplines of acting, singing and dancing, no matter what each individual's original strength is. Students audition or join by invitation, and there is a tuition fee.

Sharon Stephens, Managing Director of the Crossover Project, teaches at the Rosa Parks Arts High School in Paterson. Says Stephens, "We named this project the Crossover Project very intentionally. Our belief is that the artist will have a core discipline of modern dance, voice or acting. And the artist will be pushed to explore the elements of the other discipline."

Continue reading "The Crossover Project Presents An Odyssey" »

On Saturday, August 14, ORNG INK will present Inkalicious, an art party in The Valley District.

The Valley Arts District is located in the old industrial core of the Valley neighborhood on the Orange/West Orange border. Artists of all ages come together to perform, create, and work in the arts. ValleyArts, Inc. makes this possible. This nonprofit organization's mission is to grow and maintain a vibrant arts district in the Valley Arts District and to create cultural and artistic opportunities for local residents of all ages.

One of those opportunities is through ORNG INK, a youth driven, interdisciplinary art and design studio created by high school students in Orange, New Jersey. ORNG INK provides studio, retail, exhibition space, and mentoring for young artists all year long for free. Director Lorena La Grassa shares, "I feel proud of every single kid that comes to us with the will of participating and being involved in our activities and I am happy to be able to offer an after-school safe environment for children in the local community free of charge."

Continue reading "ORNG INK Presents Inkalicious" »

Dora the Explorer turns ten this month and is celebrating with an hour long movie titled Dora's Big Birthday Adventure, which will be followed by a mini-documentary about the show featuring Salma Hayek, Soledad O'Brien, Anderson Cooper and many more.

If that wasn't enough of a celebration, Dora will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange today.

Actually, Dora is, and will always be, 7-years-old, but it's the 10th anniversary of the first Dora the Explorer episode, where the first animated Latina character on TV in a leading role won the hearts of kids everywhere. Today, Dora has made her way into the homes of over 100 million children around the world.

Continue reading "Dora Celebrates Turning Ten " »

'Tis the season for grilled corn and burgers. We've been invited to a few family get-togethers involving kids, parents and cocktail shakers. We've hosted our fair share, too. After surviving the belly laughs and meltdowns, I wondered how I could encourage the former and limit the latter.

For more fun and less fuss, I came up with these rules for surviving local backyard BBQs.

Continue reading "Rules for Backyard BBQs" »

It's time to start shopping for back to school clothes, shoes, backpack and supplies. According to the National Retail Federation 2010 Consumer Intentions and Actions Back to School survey, the average American family will spend $606.40 on clothes, shoes, supplies and electronics, compared to $548.72 last year, and close to the $594.24 in 2008.

I am lucky to get beautiful hand-me-downs from a friend, which saves me lots of money each year, but it's still not cheap to dress two girls. It's the shoes that cost so much.

How much do you plan to spend for each child this year?

Continue reading "How Much Will You Spend On Back to School Shopping?" »

From the Farmers' Market is a series on Barista Kids brought to you by Alison J. Bermack the founder of Cooking With Friends.

This past Monday, my girlfriend and I set off on an adventure with our kids to the Maplewood Farmer's Market. We gave the kids the freedom to explore, allowing them to choose farm-fresh ingredients to bring home and then cook together that afternoon. With no set plan in mind, they wandered from stand to stand. It didn't take long for the plump blueberries to spark their idea to make blueberry muffins with a golden honey buttery glaze. On the car ride home, I plotted a recipe that they would soon follow to create a sumptuous, bed and breakfast-worthy treat.

We all had a particularly good time at this compact but well stocked market. Replete with a pickle guy (Dr. Pickle), a high quality meat, fish and bread vendor (Hoboken Farms), three farm stands, a nut and dried fruit company (Gourmet Nuts and Dried Fruit), freshly squeezed lemonade and even a cupcake stand (A' La Cupcakes, LLC), it was a true one-stop shopping experience. Our girls gobbled down a few too many pickle samples, which I am embarrassed to admit, resulted in a passerby noticing that we were making a lunch out of someone's samples. I didn't feel so bad though since my five year-old gave the pickle guy a fair amount of business with his almost bottomless capacity for pickles-on-a-stick.

Continue reading "From the Farmers' Market: Blueberries and Honey" »

They're baaaack! But the real question is where have they been?

I mean how it is possible those little mystery critters went out of style? They're oh so soft and cuddly. They are really fun when you wiggle their little feet. And they are happy, happy, those Monchhichis.

Nothing, in fact, is as happy as a Monchhichi - or delivers as much joy. And, so, I was delighted this past Easter when my daughter found one in her Easter Basket. Not from the Easter Bunny. Not even the Easter Bunny could pull this one off. No, this was a feat only my sister could perform.

Continue reading "The Return of the Monchhichi" »

There are great events this weekend and the weather will be much more enjoyable with temps in the 80s and lower humidity. We've put together some great itineraries to please all types of families. Check August 7 and August 8 listings for all the details:

For NYC Loving Families:

Saturday, August 7
9:30 am - Start your morning with art at The Met. If you're a Bank of America cardholder, admission is free for all cardholders, as part of BOA's Museums On Us program.

2 pm - After you've taken in all the Picasso you can, take the family over to Lincoln Center for it's Out of Doors Family Day celebration. Enjoy concerts, puppets shows, and much more.

Sunday, August 8
4 pm - Take the family to Brooklyn for the Celebrate Brookyn! Ezra Jack Keats Family Day Concert, featuring Elizabeth Mitchell and Brady Rymer. My daughter will perform a couple of songs onstage with Elizabeth Mitchell and her family band. Find me and say hello if you go!

Continue reading "Your Weekend Itinerary" »

WINNER: Congratulations to Generically named Mike. He is the winner of the Becopotty. Happy potty training!

Part of being "green" is trying to reduce the amount of plastic you bring into your home, which can be difficult with children. Bottles, high chairs, toys, potty seats--it's a challenge to find them in non-plastic form. I still have the plastic potty from IKEA that my youngest used. I hate to throw it out, but who really wants a used potty seat?

Enter the Becopotty, a potty seat that isn't plastic and is actually good for the environment.

Made of bamboo and rice husks left over from farming, the Becopotty is biodegradable, which means when your toddler is finished potty training, she can plant it in your garden, throw in some seeds and watch them grow. Poop in in then plant it. Not only are you keeping something out of the landfill, you can grow your own veggies with your kid's potty.

TrendyKid, retailers of the Becopotty, are generously offering one Becopotty to one lucky Barista Kids reader.

To enter keep reading....

Continue reading "Giveaway: Becopotty" »

The Summer of 2010 is almost over, but The Fresh Air Fund still needs loving host families. The McElroy family, from Maplewood, shared their wonderful experience hosting a little girl with us a couple of weeks ago. It was a positive experience for both 6-year-old Gianna from Brooklyn and the family of 5.

Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18-years-old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12-years-old and stay for either one or two weeks. Kids who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.

The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open, outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.

If you're interested in hosting a child, The next trip will take place from August 10 - 20. Get more information here or call 1.800.367.0003.

Columbia High School senior Emma Gordon won a national grand prize and a national first place for a poster she submitted to the AAA 66th Annual Traffic Safety Poster Program.

Emma's poster was selected from thousands of entries in the nationwide competition. It took grand prize in the senior high category for Digitally Enhanced/Graphic Arts Posters and first place for best poster in the senior high category. Emma is holding the award, which she received at the awards reception, in the photo at left.

"My family belongs to the NJ Automobile Club and I just happened to notice the 66th Annual Traffic Safety Poster Contest announcement in one of last year's issues of the AAA Traveler," said Gordon. "I had an idea for a digitally-enhanced submission and thought it would be a great way to utilize the skills I acquired while taking Ms. Malhotra's Computer Graphics course in my sophomore year at CHS." Emma asked Ms. Malhotra (pictured above holding the winning poster) for assistance and sponsorship and worked on it during her lunch break and after school.

Ms. Malhotra shared how proud she is of Emma. "She came up with a great concept, developed a plan and showed a level of commitment that paid off." "Ms. Malhotra was extremely helpful as I was working on the poster and I am deeply grateful for her support in this endeavor," added Emma, who intends to major in Graphic Design in college and plan to apply the monetary winnings that accompanied the awards towards my college expenses pursuing that degree."

See Emma's award winning poster after the jump....

Continue reading "CHS Student Wins National AAA Poster Award" »

With his sister away at camp, this week is dedicated to my six-year-old son, A. As he put it, it would be a week without getting his hair pulled. For the grownups, it looked to be a week without sibling rivalry, the predominant drama in the home.

A. has developed a fixation with car models, and which one is the fanciest. Echoing and embellishing on what we've told him, he'll look at a Ford pickup and say, "That lady must hate Chevvies," and he will ask questions that are beyond me, like, "Mama, which is fancier, a Pontiac or a Hyundai?" My scant knowledge of the automobile hierarchy peaked before the arrival of Lexuses and Accrias, as he calls Acuras, but I muddle through.

I suggested we go for a test drive. If he was going to love cars so deeply, maybe he should experience something less mundane than our Honda and Subaru. I ran the idea past him, and his face lit up.

So on Monday, after discovering that DCH Audi in Millburn was open til 8:30, we had an early dinner and headed off on our adventure. My husband thought it was a weird errand and opted to stay home. I had discussed how I should spiff up a bit from my work-at-home-mom look, to appear more like an Audi driver, but time was of the essence. A quick lick of lipstick and an application of mascara would work, A. agreed.

Continue reading "Taking the Boy For a Spin" »

If you haven't taken advantage of the endless free events in New York this summer, this weekend is a great time to do it. Lower Manhattan has some seriously cool and kid-friendly stuff going on all day Saturday.

Rather than drive the car and battle the parking gods, drive to a ferry dock in Jersey and take the ferry in. It'll add another adventure to the day and take a little pressure off the driver.

Start the morning at 11am Rector Park West in Battery Park City (which is conveniently close to the ferry dock.) Bring a blanket and sit along the Hudson River as storyteller Charlot Lucien spins traditional Hatian tales to stir the imagination.

Continue reading "Turnpike Tikes Trips: Free Music and Stories in NYC" »

Every Friday, I take my family to the farm. We say hello to the pigs, chickens and cows. We fend off feisty geese. Then we walk into the barn where we take as much food as we can carry. We pick just-harvested produce like carrots, greens, beets and potatoes. Larry the Cow provides us with one pound of beef per week. We also get a fresh chicken.

"Are we gonna eat that chicken, Mommy?" my four-year-old asks as a rooster crosses our path on the dirt driveway.

"Not that one," I say.

I wanted to take the middle men--and metal shelves--out of our food supply. I wanted to know where the animals we ate came from, including how they lived and died. I learned that Larry the Cow was blessed before he was slaughtered. Moved by the advice of Michael Pollan and Alice Waters, I love cooking these non-processed, local eats. It's not cheap at about $165 per week, but being a partner in a farm is more fulfilling than walking down the aisles. I used to spend the same at the grocery store to feed my household of six.

So we drive 55 minutes down Route 80 to Howling Wolf Farm every Friday--looking forward to every trip.

For more details, click to the following page.

Continue reading "How Far I Go for Organic Food" »

The South Orange-Maplewood Adult School has posted its fall catalog online! A print version will be mailed out to members of the community shortly, but if you see a particularly appealing class that might fill up quickly, use the online-enrollment option to secure your spot.

There's great classes for kids of all ages being offered: kids from grades 4 and up can sign up for a juggling class taught by professional juggler Eric Wenoker; teenagers can enroll in a sewing class where they can learn to make a skull and cross bone pillow; and younger children (grades K-3) and parents alike may be drawn towards a class titled I'm a Super Hero! where their inner Superman or Wonder Woman can really shine. There are also SAT-prep courses, parent/child swimming lessons, and "cooking with kids" classes being offered.

You can explore the course offerings here.

Lily Oberman, a sophomore at Northwestern University, is a Maplewood resident and Barista Kids intern.

(Photo: Flickr/EloCTre)

Millburn kids and their parents enjoyed giveaway hotdogs and popcorn while digesting important safety and crime prevention information on National Night Out last night, August 3.

Parents learned about fitting children's car seats, responsible driving and/or had their blood pressure checked while their youngsters waited in line for face painting or let off steam with Moon Walks, hula hoops and dancing. Information from DARE (Drugs and Alcohol Resistance Education) was available and officers from the Fire Department attended with a Fire Safety House, giving kids a practice run in calling up the emergency services and escaping a smoke-filled house.

Continue reading "Millburn Families Turn Out For National Night Out" »

If you can't stop them from having sex, at least you can market to them.

That seems to be the latest strategy of some apparel companies. This month Motherhood Maternity will introduce its exclusive new collection of Disney-themed clothes for expectant mothers. The new line of t-shirts and sleepwear hits stores August 12 with a collection of onesies for newborns to soon follow. Then moms-to-be and babies alike can dress in Disney.

But is The Mouse really meant for maternity? Of course, it's more than just Mickey. The clothes feature Winnie to Pooh and Minnie, too. But should expectant mothers look like the children they will soon be responsible for raising?

Or should they look a little more like the pregnant women imagined by Forever 21? The store has just debuted its line of pregnancy apparel, Love 21 Maternity, for the fashion-conscious college student. This, I presume is their target audience given the store's name. I could be wrong, but if you are or try to be forever 21, maternity concerns would be best left out of the equation.

Continue reading "Maternity-Wear for Teens?" »

Originally scheduled for Sunday, August 1, Maplewood Community Pool's Family Fun Day ended up not being so fun because of bad weather. They attempted to pull it off, but the threat of thunderstorms and the rain kept people at home.

Maplewood resident and dad of five, Louis Toledo sent this pick of the empty pool.

No worries, the family fun day has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 7.

Continue reading "Maplewood Community Pool Family Fun Day Rescheduled" »

Similiar to Chase's Community Giving Contest on Facebook, Kohl's Department Store is offering Facebook users a chance to vote for the school of their choice to win $500,000 as part of their 10th anniversary celebration of Kohl's Cares. Twenty schools with the highest votes will receive the money for a total of $10 million.

All you need to vote is to have a Facebook account and "like" Kohl's. You can cast up to 20 votes, but are only allowed to cast 5 of them to one school.

With all the budget cuts public schools are facing, they could really use half a million dollars. Baristaville schools are starting to get votes. Search here to find your school and vote away!

Nursing mamas are pumped up this week--a week to celebrate and promote breastfeeding. It's World Breastfeeding Week. From August 1 - 7, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and breastfeeding advocates in more than 170 countries worldwide will be celebrating breastfeeding for the 19th year with the theme "Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Baby-Friendly Way."

Breastfeeding is best for baby, we know that, but it doesn't always come easy and not all women want to or can do it. There are many reasons why: lack of support from doctors, hospitals, family and society, cultural views, lack of support in the workforce and many more. If a woman doesn't get off to a good start, nursing becomes difficult and often a mom turns to formula.

In America, it's okay to show boobs in a sexual way--heck, it's often encouraged, but many people act as if a woman is being obscene if she nurses in public.

Continue reading "Happy World Breastfeeding Week" »

After six months away from Barista Kids, I am back. I finished a big book project (Redemption, Random House, 2011) that wore out my emotions but taught me about forgiveness and hope. All the while, I was lucky that this website was in such capable hands--my partner Georgette Gilmore's--during my working vacation.

As I polish that manuscript and usher it away to the printer, I find myself wondering what I want to be when I grow up. I've been a mostly part-time, sometimes full-time freelance writer for 11 years. Do I want to go back to that? Writing can be a wonderful, decadent exercise in isolation and self-loathing. Should I take some time off to spend with my kids? Yes, definitely, I should. But I'd make more money working at Starbucks. Maybe I should try something completely different.

Continue reading "Mom at a Crossroads" »

Imagine what it must feel like to go to school without the things you need - like pencils, notebooks or even a coat. Now image what it must feel like to be one of 500 economically disadvantaged children who had the opportunity to 'shop' for the things they needed for school on Sunday, August 1, at B'nai Shalom in West Orange, NJ.

Thanks to the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Essex County Section, 500 children from Essex County got to do just that with the help of 300 volunteers and a 'department store' full of school supplies and clothes.

Continue reading "National Council of Jewish Women (Essex County Section) 2nd Annual Back 2 School Store" »

I don't know about you, but I cannot believe August arrives on Sunday. Before you know it, the more relaxed, less scheduled summer will be over.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend with your family? Check our Upcoming Events calendar for all the details. While your at it, make sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know and get great deals.

Here are our top picks:

Continue reading "Things to Do This Weekend: July 30 - August 1" »

Looking for a family activity this summer that blends the technological with the great outdoors? Why not try geocaching? Part real world treasure hunt, part online tracking game, geocaching has grown in popularity since its inception in 2000. There are now participants in 225 countries worldwide.

Just what is geocaching? The name, derived from the words "geo" for earth and "cache" for a hiding place is an activity that involves stowing away and searching for caches or "treasure". These caches can take the form of "micros", really small caches, or larger boxes that contain trinkets and other loot for finders.

Participants find the location of caches by looking online for the GPS coordinates and then using a GPS device as simple as the one found in many phones to go in search of the caches.

Jersey has three Geocaching chapters. Madison resident John Neale, president of the Northern New Jersey Cachers, weighs in on just why this activity is so appealing for adults and children alike. "Kids catch on fast to geocaching. They get very excited in the buildup to finding a cache, and once that cache is found, kids want to move on to the next search! It becomes very addicting!" Kids love the trinkets and other inexpensive jewelry or toys in the caches that can make great trading amongst friends. For kids, opening a cache is like opening treasure!

Continue reading "Finding Treasure in...Baristaville" »

Many adorable kids were entered in Maplewood's Little One & Co's Facebook page model search contest. I'm glad I wasn't a judge. Owner Hahn, with the help of others, made the hard decision and chose these six cute kids.

(From top left, clockwise: Julia Ebner, Julian Bock, Annabel Callahan, Gabriel Bock, Jordan Juter and Donovan Moreno.)

Youth Consultation Services is New Jersey's leading non-profit provider of comprehensive mental health and education services for children in need. YCS serves a racially and ethnically diverse population, largely from urban areas and among the poorest families in New Jersey by maintaining over 70 programs - ranging from beds for over 400 children in group homes and shelters, to special education schools and autism programs, to addiction counseling and family preservation services, to foster care services and community outreach. Based in Newark, NJ, YCS has schools, groups homes and program throughout the state, including The Sawtelle Learning Center, in Montclair, for children ages 3 - 21 on the autistic spectrum.

With over 3,000 children benefiting from YCS's services, funding is a must. Montclair husband and wife, Brian Saltzman and Alma Schneider, have created fundraising opportunities to help the organization.

Continue reading "Poker & Birthday Gifts: Fun Ways to Help Kids" »

With a crowd of zoo patrons gathered in front of the Penguin Coast exhibit at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo today, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that the names of the two new African Penguins are Cookies and Cream. The names were selected from hundreds of suggestions that were submitted by visitors and fans of Turtle Back Zoo over the last month.

National Night Out is a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. For the past 27 years, towns and cities all over the country have participated in the event, which is designed to "heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back."

On Tuesday, August 3, people all over the country will participate in National Night Out.

This year, South Orange is really going all out to make this a fun family event. In addition to the public safety fair, there will be a Kids Zone featuring a bounce house, dunk tank, fire truck tours, face painting, kids activities with Mr. Kaesshaefer (South Mountain school Phys. Ed. teacher) and more. Live music from Aisle Five will entertain the whole family.

The night ends with an outdoor screening of Shrek.

South Orange National Night Out
Who: All ages.
What: The "27th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), is a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. There will be Public Safety Fair, Live music from Aisle Five, an outdoor screening of Shrek, Kids Zone, Fire Truck tours and much more!
Where: Meadowland's Park (Flood Hill), South Orange, NJ.
When: Tuesday August 3 from 7 pm - 10 pm. Shrek starts at 8:30 pm.
Cost: Free.

Other local towns will also be having a National Night Out of their own....

Continue reading "National Night Out " »

Not in a good way.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has just issued new rules regarding the treatment of this pest, which might be a cause of relief to some parents and distress to others.

The pediatricians' group found the pest has become resistant to some forms of treatment, possibly making it even harder for parents to rid their children of the insect. But the AAP remained committed to its position that schools should not ban children from attending class and should abandon their "no-nit" policies.

With school age children the hardest hit, according to the Wall Street Journal, reporting an estimated 6 to 12 million cases of head lice a year in the US, mostly among children 3 to 12 years old, should they all be forced from school? Over the course of their schooling, your kids will likely come face to face with this tiny but terror-inducing critter, and while it's a lousy situation, should it affect their education?

Continue reading "Lice Rule" »

Today at Turtle Back Zoo, County Executive DiVincenzo will announce the names of the two new African Penguins that arrived from Denver as part of a penguin species survival and breeding program. Over the last several weeks, the public was invited to name the two newest members of the Zoo family in a contest. The winning names will be revealed at 1 pm at the zoo.

Take a guess. What do you think they will be?

Back in the days before kids, my husband and I went out a lot. Whether it was a romantic dinner at a great restaurant or a fun night with friends at a bar, we enjoyed going out and spending time together.

After kids, those feelings didn't change, but it became more difficult. We don't always have the energy to stay up past 10 pm. (Who am I kidding?--9 pm.) Also, getting a babysitter can be a challenge and then there's the added cost of paying them, which really adds up. However, I think it's really important to make "date night" a priority, even more so when kids are in the mix. Romance can be pushed aside when you're changing poopy diapers daily.

We haven't always been good about sticking to our goal of getting out a couple times a month, but I'm vowing now to be firm. I secured a sitter and we're going to the outdoor screening of Moonstruck in Montclair presented by the Montclair International Film Festival. What can be more romantic than sitting on Church Street under the stars watching Ronny carry Loretta to the bedroom?

Do you make date night a priority?

Sesame Place is no spring chicken. The Sesame Street-themed amusement park turns 30 on Friday - if you're not feeling old yet, the show turned 40 last November. To celebrate the big day, the amusement park is going all out with a birthday celebration dinner and fireworks. The dinner is sold out, but the fireworks are open to all.

The park geared toward the younger crowd - ages 2 to 10 - with lots of activities for little kids. It's both a dry park and full-blown water park with a rambling river, Bert & Ernie's Slip and Slide, a Rubber Duckie Pond, a splash castle and a raft ride. So don't forget your swimsuits and towels because unless you're kid is totally water averse, he'll want to get very, very wet. There are plenty of dry rides, too, like Cookie Mountain, Ernie's Bed Bounce and, of course, Elmo's World.

Sesame Place is about an hour and a half from Baristaville. You could make it into a very long daytrip, especially if you've got super nappers in tow. Or, if you're in the mood for a mini-vacation, make a weekend of it. Head down Friday afternoon for the fireworks, stay overnight at a nearby hotel get a full day in on Saturday. The park offers hotel packages with 48-hour notice, so if you get cracking now you can line something up. The park also sells two-day passes at $53 a pop.

Continue reading "Turnpike Tikes Trips" »

On Thursday morning at Millburn Public Library, your kids can enjoy a free rockin' concert by Presley and Melody. The husband and wife duo put on "interactice concerts" locally and often include their girls, who call themselves "The Baby Dolls" on stage.

Presley and Melody
Who: Children 3 and up.
What: A musical show for children.
Where: Millburn Free Public Library, 200 Glen Avenue, Millburn, NJ
When: Thursday, July 29 at 11 am in the Meeting Room A.
Cost: Free. Registration required. Call 973.376.1006 for information. Click here to register.