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October is, by far, my favorite month of the year… Sweater season gets ushered in by the cooler weather, trees are adorned with colorful leaves, candy apples and cider make their first debut of the year and the Yankees are in the playoffs.
There is no doubting the fact that I’m a sports junkie. After all, my first word was baseball. I’m passionate about several things, but baseball and hockey top the list. Major League Baseball has been running the same postseason commercial for the last million or so years… The theme of the advertisement is “you can’t script October,” meaning that anything can happen in playoff baseball.
From Don Larsen’s perfect game, Reggie Jackson’s three homer game to Aaron Boone’s walk-off homerun against the Red Sox (please don’t remind me of the 2001 playoffs)… it’s true, you can’t predict what’s going to happen in baseball. So last night, my boyfriend, Bill, and I went to Game 4 of the ALDS (That’s the “American League Division Series,” for all you Mets fans that aren’t sure what the playoffs are!).
Last night’s game was speeding right along. Neither the Yankees nor the Orioles were doing much offensively. It was a 1-0 Orioles game going into the bottom of the sixth. Luckily, Robinson Cano was able to get the Yankees’ first RBI of the game to tie it up at 1 going into the seventh. At this point it was 10:30pm. I remember looking around and seeing tired faces of moms, dads and school age children.
Eventually the game went into extra innings… 13 of them to be exact. Not a single person (that I could see) left the game early. It was [almost] reminiscent of the real stadium. Everyone was on their feet each time the Yankees stepped up to the plate. The one thing, besides the game itself, that stuck out to me was this little boy, who was cheering right along with the best of ‘em the entire game. He couldn’t have been more than 7 years old.
The game ended well after midnight, but there the little boy was, sulking in defeat after the game. He and his parents stayed for the entire game! I wondered how tired the little boy would be at school today. If he’s as tired as I am, shame on his parents.
That being said, I can’t say that I blame his parents. When I was in school, my parents allowed me to stay up for sporting events. I never really had a “bedtime,” mainly because I loved to sleep. There were several school days where I was sluggish because I stayed up watching sports the night before, but you know what… I enjoyed myself.
When I was in high school, the Yankees played their first game in Japan. I woke up at some obscure hour in the morning just to watch the game. It was unforgettable, but I thought I was going to die of exhaustion during math class. I always wonder how parents decide when late is too late. If the little boy was at home last night instead of at the game, would his parents have made him go to bed or did they want him to witness legends in the making?
“But mom, it’s only the sixth inning!” What would your response be if your child said this to you on a school night? Personally, I’d let my child stay up to watch the game and bet on him falling asleep on the couch before the final out.
Hello readers, as boring as it may be, I’m going to start out by introducing myself to you all…
I’m Brittany and I’m the newest addition to the Hudson Valley Parent family. About 4 months ago, I was hired as the Editorial Assistant. I must say, I really love working here at HVParent. Our entire staff is great and so much fun to be around.
Since I came on board, I’ve worked a lot with our social media sites. If you’re not already our friend on facebook, I hope you’ll take a moment to join us (shameless plug… I know).
Now for some boring background about me… I’m originally from North Carolina. I moved to New York 6 months ago to be with my boyfriend, Bill. Bill and I met through my baseball-focused, radio show I used to host called “A Show of Their Own.” The show is now archived online, but I’ll spare you the shameless plug.
Prior to HVP, I worked as a high school basketball, softball and volleyball coach… which transitioned me to sports-talk radio and now logically to working for a parenting publication! Working for HV Parent is a combination of everything I love: writing, editing, interviewing, videos, photography, social media, even some graphic design! Not to mention, I get to think up crazy ideas for new things to offer our readers!
Now, I’ll admit, I’ve been putting off blogging for a while. I have several blogs of my own, but couldn’t decided on an angle for this new HVParent blog of mine. BUT I finally figured it out.
Since, I made you read this long blog all about me, I guess it’s time for me to unveil my new blog and what exactly it will be about (drum roll please….)
Gym Class Hero will focus on living a healthy lifestyle. I’ll discuss everything from sports, weight loss, activities for the kids, nutrition… anything. I recently lost 120 pounds… yep 120! I’m still 30 pounds away from my goal weight and cannot wait to share my journey with all of you. I’m a sports nut and have had some great experiences I want to share with (y’all) you all. My goal for this blog is to have something for everyone… mom, dad, kids, grandparents, etc. I hope you’ll continue reading my musings and comment away!
Thanks for reading,
Brit
A fun and inspiring craft for you and your little one. Enjoy creating this tissue paper jar… tissue paper will become bright and colorful with blinking fireflies inside and behind the colors. Children will enjoy being hands on with this project. Encourages fine motor skills and as always solidifies the bond between parent and child. The kind of bond that forms from working one on one.
Recommended for ages 4 and up 
{{Supply List }}
* Jars from your recyclables * Modge Podge * Left over tissue paper
* Hammer and Nail * Left over spray paint * Pipe Cleaners * Glow in the dark Pony Beads *
{{ Step #1 }} Parent Step – Hammer 6-8 holes in the lid of your jar, spray paint and set aside to dry.
{{ Step #2 }} Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge on your jar in small sections at a time so that your glue doesn’t dry while you are working. Let your child rip, tear, and apply tissue paper to the section that has been modge podged. Help your child smooth out their tissue paper if needed by applying another layer of modge podge over top. Repeat until entire jar is covered.
{{ Step #3 }} Let your child thread a pipe cleaner with your glow in the dark pony beads, making sure to leave 2 inches on each side free of beads. You will need this area to twist handle onto jar. While your child is doing this, take two pipe cleaners and twist the ends together creating one large pipe cleaner…
{{ Step #4 }} Bend your child’s beaded handle into a “U” shape and with one hand hold it onto the lip of the jar.
{{ Step #5 }} Take the pipe cleaner your lengthened and while holding beaded pipe cleaner with one hand… take your other hand and wrap the longer piece around the entire jar 2xs and weave in. Be sure to leave the area your child did not bead out so that you can fold it up and twist around itself.
{{ Step #6 }} Fold up un-beaded ends and twist around itself, this secures your handle to the jar.
{{ Step #7 }} Enjoy! let the little one stay up a little later and enjoy going into the yard on an adventure. I have seen fireflies early this year, so keep your peepers open. When there are no fireflies, place an electric votive candle inside and take a dark adventure walk with your child through the yard. Point out all the differences between the things you see in the dark with those that you see in the day.
Electric votives can be purchased in the candle section of your local craft store. These items are flameless and safe for little ones. Just turn them on, place them inside, and enjoy!
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Connie Cobbler: Toy Detective
“Author James DeSalvo has penned an engaging mystery for young adults in his intelligent and humorous new work Connie Cobbler: Toy Detective. The titular sleuth is a private eye and a soft toy doll, who has retreated from the limelight of her successful television acting career after a tragedy on the set. Connie and her amusing cast of characters are reminiscent of Strawberry Shortcake, that 1980s dessert-themed doll and her gaggle of friends. In Connie’s case, she is friends with an assortment of Pastry Pals, including Tiffany Tart, Priscilla Pie, Debbie Danish and Tracy Turnover.”
from the ForeWord Clarion Review
I already love this guy, James DeSalvo. His website is sketchy, his book has little bio information, and he is keeping his private life a mystery. Is this brilliant marketing or just a busy schedule? His blogs run no more than a sentence or two, and chronicles more or less the frustrating steps to self-publish. While we don’t know anything more about this fellow than he lives in Fishkill, I like how he has fashioned this story with character names like Tiffany Tart. Join all of us at the next HV Parent Cover Kids Event and meet this mysterious new book author who writes like this, “Unable to save her friend and spurred on by grief, Connie Cobbler turned away from show business and became a hard boiled, root beer swigging private detective, dedicating her life to protecting the toys of Toy Town.”
I gotta meet this guy. Ttyl, mj
Meet James DeSalvo at our Cover Kid event, Poughkeepsie Mall, Sunday, April 10; and at Middletown’s Galleria on Sunday, May 1 from 11 am – 3 pm.
I never considered myself a geek. I never rush out to buy the newest things as they come out.
But I had an uncle who was a gadget guy. He had this fetish for buying every new coffee pot that came out. He would call my mom to take a drive with him so they could share some time together. She was his baby sister. And then he would manage to stop at the store to buy the new coffee gadget that just hit the shelves. He’d ask my mom not to tell my aunt about his new purchase. It was a brother and sister secret. I am sure when he died my aunt was shocked when she opened his personal storeroom.
But getting back to trying the newest “stuff.” With the advent of the iPod2, I began looking at what everyone was talking about. Since my son works in the PC world, I searched for tablets that use android technology.
When my son and I went shopping on Black Friday I ended up with an android Smart Phone. It helped that it only cost me one cent. Now I am on a roll…because I get to play on this small screen that pretends to be a computer. In many respects it doesn’t work well for me…the screen is too small and my sight is not that good. But I pushed on. Great to get apps that show instant weather updates…with all the snow alerts. I love seeing bits and pieces of the upcoming movies as well as the latest news.
Now I am really on a roll and ready for my next toy. In fact, the tablet market saw me coming.
As I write this I am sitting at the kitchen table with my Motorola Zoom tablet “linked” to a Bluetooth key board, listening to NPR’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” using the Tune-In app that lets me key in to any station in the world.
Not sure if you would call me a geek, but whatever I am, I am having a ball.
It’s Monday. The hardest day for me to get myself going. But I had one of those weekends that reminds me how fortunate we are to live in one of the best places in the country. I went on a “mom” retreat, something we tend to talk about, but rarely act on. This weekend, two other moms and I finally acted on it, and in a state of ‘glee,’ headed up the Thruway to Woodstock for an overnighter. Now, Woodstock has this ironic place in the world of tourism for probably being famous for ALMOST being the host town for the famous concert, and business owners don’t help with all their concert paraphernalia for sale in their 1960′s-theme shops. But, sorry to spoil the fun, but it was held in Bethel, a few miles to the west. (Thank you, Mr. Yasgur). But, I digress. We did the traditional massages which were heavenly, had a wonderful brunch and then got onto Route 28 West to the largest kaleidoscope in the world. Yes, you read right: the largest kaleidoscope in the world. (http://kaleidostore.com/largest.htm)
Built in 1996, it features such an amazing creative collaboration between a kaleidoscope artist, a pioneer in the ’60s psychedelic movement, and a musical score from a local musician who worked with Bob Dylan. The kaleidoscope is built into the silo of an old barn in the town of Mt. Tremper, and it is a feat of engineering with its three 37 foot high mirrors, weighing 2.5 tons each. We saw the ten-minute psychedelic show literally on our backs, eyes glued to the ceiling, and watched colorful twirls and spins of the patriotic-themed show. But the reason I mention this is the ticket price - $5 per person. Easy on the eyes AND the pocketbook.
Before we headed back down the Thruway, back to our families and reality, we stopped at the Country Store, a part of the Emerson Resort and Spa complex — just steps away from the kaleidoscope. (http://www.emersonresort.com/) There we found ourselves feeling rested and ready to resume our everyday life again. Breaks from routine are almost required as a parent, and I can’t wait for our next ”mom’s retreat.” TTYL, mj
I recently saw this game on a newsletter I receive, The Daily Grommet, and had to have it. I contacted the PR department and pretty soon I was in possession of my very own game called Jishaku.
It is a game unlike any other. The goal is to get all of your pieces on the board first. The issue is this: the pieces are very strong magnets. They kind of look like rocks and are actually called “stones” in the game. The board is an enclosed eggcrate (like the one that goes on your bed) with 22 – 23 “wells” or spaces to put your stone.
The game is easier said than done. Once you get a few magnets on the board they seem to develop a mind of their own. They jump around and they also jump up unexpectedly and attach to each other. When it does that, you have to pick up all of the magnets that stuck together and put them in your hand…(sigh). My son beat me repeatedly I must admit. He seemed to get the hang of how they behaved. Me, I just kept picking them up… The whole family tried it out and we had a great time laughing at each other as the stones came flying up off the board and into our hands.
I say, pick up Jishaku. It will give the family lots of fun and laughs.
Jishaku is recommended for kids 14+ and retails for around $19.95. It can be found on the web. It is also sold at Barnes & Noble.
The staff at Hudson Valley Parent receives a lot of parenting products to review, so many that sometimes we can’t get to them ourselves. We were lucky enough to receive this review of The Tony Hawk: SHRED game for X-box 360 from a staff’s family member. His conclusion? This game is worth a look. Sounds perfect for snowy days because you have to get up and move around instead of just sitting with a controller. I’ll let our reviewer explain:
“SHRED is a great simulation-type skateboarding game. The setup of the wireless board took only minutes, while the calibration took another 2 minutes or so. Not being a skateboarder, I found this game to be very user-friendly. The controller board was easy to stand on, while realistically bending and turning as an actual skateboard would do. The 4 sensors located around the board allowed me to perform “grabs” and “ollies”, along with some more advanced skateboarding tricks. The tutorials and training modes during setup allow for some practice and understanding of the game play while you get the feel for the board. You can watch the practice videos and tutorials as many times as you need to feel comfortable playing the game.
I played for a little more than one hour without even realizing it. It is quite addicting when you see the player on-screen imitating your every move on the board while skating through exotic skate parks. Also, this game proved to be a surprising workout as I was visibly sweating after the hour of game play. I’d recommend this game to anyone looking to have some fun, burn a few calories, and simulate skateboarding without the risk of injury.”
What did you like about this product?
1. Tutorials – not being a skateboarder I was able to pick up on the tricks quickly.
2. Controller Board – the controller board is as realistic of a skateboard as you can find without wheels. The board was simple to set up and easy to use.
3. On-screen graphics – the player I chose to ride as me imitated my every move while cruising through beautiful skate parks and amusement parks. Very realistic!
What did you dislike about this product?
1. Calibration – Calibrating the board can be potentially difficult if you are not deliberate with the actions on the board. I had no trouble calibrating but my girlfriend did have some trouble following my game play.
2. Tricks – Some of the tricks are a little difficult to perform and took a while in the skate park for me to complete them even though I was doing what the tutorial said.
3. Saving – If you do not chose to sign-in and save your progress, the board needs to be calibrated and setup as if you’ve never played before.
Would you recommend this product to parents? Yes or No
YES!
*Please note that Tony Hawk: SHRED is rated “E” (Everyone – content that may be suitable for ages six and older) by the ESRB. Players can also visit Tony Hawk: SHRED’s interactive website at www.shredgame.com and learn how to master over-the-top skate and snowboarding gameplay tricks and explore new game info, soundtrack details, dozens of training videos, talent bios, gameplay tips and more. Tony Hawk: SHRED is available for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Nintendo Wii™.
The number one exercise program for new moms is Stroller Strides, and they’ve arrived in Dutchess County! This unique exercise program is considered “specialty mom fitness”, and incorporates fun exercises with your baby and stroller. Each class consists of power walking, with intervals of body toning, using resistance tubing and cardio. The classes are designed for all fitness levels and they welcome babies as young as 6 weeks. The instructors weave songs and activities into the class to keep the babies happy and entertained.
The program inspires moms to reach their optimal health and well-being, and is also tons of fun. Karen and Kristen are the instructors at the Poughkeepsie Galleria location, and they are dedicated to helping mom’s achieve their physical and emotional potential.
Stroller Strides is offering specials for new members so don’t delay. If you are a new mom and you made a fitness resolution for 2011, Stroller Strides can help you reach your goal. For more information call 914-406-5394 or visit them on the web.
An artist's rendering of Scenic Hudson's red barn at Long Dock in Beacon, NY, where Mill Street Loft will offer arts programming to the community.
Mill Street Loft needs your vote on their project to establish a multi-arts community education center to be housed in a red barn renovated by Scenic Hudson at its Long Dock Park in Beacon, NY.
Mill Street Loft has applied for a Pepsi grant and will be in the October voting cycle at refresheverything.com. By voting for this idea every day in October you will help Mill Street secure the $50,000 grant that will make it possible for them to reach thousands of children and adults through the arts.
The voting period is October 1-31, and we need YOUR vote every day. The average winner of the Pepsi grant needs 3,000 votes per day! YOU can make the difference.
Spread the word. Encourage others to join the Mill Street Loft facebook page (Riverside Arts: Beacon) and to join the email list at www.millstreetloft.org for updates and news.
Please register to vote at www.refresheverything.com.
Brittany L. Morgan
craft2gether
Discount Diva
hudsonvalleykim
Country Mouse
Jennifer Colucci
jpakenham1
WhatLeslieLikes
mjblogz
Tenise Wall, LMSW
Stephanie
terrietalk
timesavorsolutions
