simple.green.organic.happy.

Category: Family, Parenting

  • SO Big.

    SO Big.

    dogwood

    The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more.

    -Ralph Waldo Emerson

     

    Two years ago on Arbor Day Cass came home clutching a stick, its fairly-freshly cut end wrapped in a wet paper towel and covered with foil.

    “We have to plant it,” she said, and launched with a list of reasons why trees are important.

    (Trees are important, but that’s a post for another day.)

    Jeff stuck it into this planter, where our driveway meets the steps down to our house. It just existed there, a stick, much like you’d expect a stick thrust into dirt would do.

    It was quietly unfurling life beneath the surface; the next spring greenery emerged. I was amazed. Then the deer got to it, and we pretty much figured that was that.

    But this year it fairly exploded, considering its humble beginnings, and now the leaves are turning colors and preparing to fall.

    You never know where beauty will come from.

    You never know what lies beyond what you can see.

    You never know what will move you, touch you, make your heart ache over the passage of time.

    Fall and winter are historically a difficult time for me, but they are necessary. The more arctic the winter, the more vibrant the spring; the more beautiful the foliage the following year. It’s a time for lying dormant, for resting, gathering energy, setting down roots.

    I’ve been squirrelly lately; I’m spread too thin. I feel like I never get any real rest: even while sleeping, my brain is always working.

    I normally dread the coming of the cold months, but I need them this year. The time to recover, find my footing, so I can become stronger and explode with activity once properly replenished.

    I love how reframing a situation can make a huge difference. The mind is a funny thing.

    I love how a stick can become so much more than a tree. Miracles upon miracles.

    Thank goodness Cassidy insisted we plant her sad little stick. At the edge of our driveway is a fiery, tenacious dogwood. And in my soul there is newly-planted hope.

     

     

     

     

  • Sesame Place Spooktacular!

    Sesame Place Spooktacular!

     

    You’ve never seen a street like Sesame Street before. Everything happens here. You’re gonna love it!
    -Gordon

    You’ve never seen Sesame Street like this before.

    I got to hit Sesame Place for The Count’s Spooktacular… and it was freaking spectacular.

    Part of it is getting to be there with kids the right age. I went with my daughter Cassidy, and also with my niece Eva, who’s 2 and sooo into everything Sesame Street. She was beside herself just seeing the decorated water tower and the parking lot signs designated by character.

     

     

    I loved seeing her face riding the carousel the first time. This is what it’s all about, folks.

     

     

    The place was all spooked up… but not in any way scary. Just enough to get the kids all excited about Halloween.

     

     

     

    Kids were encouraged to come in costume for the fun of the thing, and also for the trick-or-treating stations strewn throughout the park. They gave out candy, but also toothbrushes, juice boxes and non-sugary snacks, which was nice.

     

     

    The water rides were closed— one day I’ll actually get to go on the water rides— but the other rides were open. I think they enjoyed the non-ride fun more, though: the push-carts, enormous rope wall thing (I have no idea what that is called) (UPDATE: it’s called Nets N Climbs), little playgrounds. No lines, for one thing.

    There was also Halloween-specific stuff going on; an Abby Cadabby hay maze, another maze through the Count’s Castle, pumpkin decorating. And face painting. Face painting isn’t Halloween-specific but this seemed a good place to mention it 🙂

    My favorite part was being ON Sesame Street itself. This is not new.

     

     

    And of course getting my picture taken with MY favorite character, BERT.

     

     

    DRESSED AS A PIGEON.

    We had cupcakes with all the other media people invited for the day. Eva yelled at me because I didn’t give her a fork. That girl has manners, y’all.

     

     

    And then we were lucky enough to have Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, Elmo, the Count, and Cookie Monster come hang out, dance a bit and pose for pictures.

     

     

    Then we walked the park a bit more for souvenirs and to get ready for the big parade. Photos opps abounded.

     

     

    FYI: go find a good place for the parade way earlier than you think you need to. We sat a little bit back, and Eva nodded off before it came. Which was a little bit disappointing for us adults, who were totally riding the high of being with a kid at Sesame Place, but OK. Baby girl had a full, happy day.

     

    That’s my baby brother Robbie (I know, blame my parents), and it was his first trip to Sesame Place, too.

     

    If you have the chance, you totally need to get yourself to Sesame Place for some Spooktacular fun! It’s $20 off when you buy your ticket online and totally worth the price of admission; if you’re on a budget I do highly suggest packing a lunch. You can be stamped leaving the park and then return.

    Also, good news for those with allergies: Sesame Place now boasts a new line of allergy-friendly dining initiatives, including personalized service and more menu options.

    2013 Season Passes to Sesame Place are on sale now!

    With a Season Pass you can enjoy unlimited admission in 2013, plus FREE unlimited admission during 2012 The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular.

    Season Pass Members enjoy the following benefits (some restrictions do apply):

    • 30% off in-park food and merchandise
    • Free parking
    • Discounts on admission for guests
    • Exclusive character Meet and Greets,
    • Exclusive Pass Member events
    • More!

     

    October 20th and 21st: Abby Cadabby’s Fairy Pumpkin Party

    Help everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends celebrate Abby Cadabby’s birthday with her very own Fairy Birthday Party! This hour long party includes an all‐you‐care‐to eat dinner buffet, singing, and dancing with your Sesame Street friends. What birthday party would be complete without singing Happy Birthday to the Fairy‐in‐Training! Dinner is at 5:00pm and is by reservation only. Children under 2 are free.

    October 29th and 30th: The Count’s Halloween Party

    Take a break from all of your Halloween fun at The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular and enjoy the new dinner menu at Dine With Me! Celebrate Halloween with a terrific all‐you‐care‐to eat dinner buffet plus singing and dancing with all of your favorite Sesame Street friends at their very own Halloween Party! Dinner is at 5:00pm and is by reservation only. Children under 2 are free.

    October 30th: Halloween Costume Contest

    Come dressed in a Halloween costume to compete in the annual costume contest at Sesame Place! Registration will begin at 10 a.m. in front of Monster Rock Theater and there will be competitions for boys, girls, and families. All of the contests will take place at Monster Rock Theater and winners will be posted at the Welcome Center. All winners will be invited to be special guests in the Neighborhood Street Party Halloween parade.

    More details and ticket info at sesameplace.com.

    Disclosure: I received 4 Sesame Place passes free of charge as a representative of the media. All opinions are my own. Also, how adorable is my niece?

     

  • Let’s #GetUnreal with Our Candy

    Let’s #GetUnreal with Our Candy

     

    Candy, Candy, Candy
    I can’t let you go
    All my life you’ve haunted me
    I love you soooooo…
    -Iggy Pop, “Candy”

    It’s October, and my favorite holiday is nigh.

    For me, what makes Halloween awesome is the costumes. I love dressing up, the freedom to be as ugly and ridiculous as I wanna be. I also love going door to door and talking to all the people who live in the neighborhood across the way.

    For the kids, those things factor in too, but let’s face it: for them it’s all about the candy.

    What’s in the candy can be super scary, though. Artificial flavors, artificial coloring, HFCS… all stuff you really don’t want your kids putting into their bodies.

    And the thing is… they don’t make the candy taste any better, they just make it cheaper to produce.

    Have I ever mentioned how much I loathe the idea of cheap? Yeah, I think I have once or twice 🙂

    Vote with your dollar. Buy things of value.

    UNREAL candy looks like those familiar standbys: Milky Ways, Snickers, M&Ms, peanut butter cups; only made with quality ingredients.

    • Without the corn syrup,
    • without the partially hydrogenated oils,
    • without the GMOs,
    • without the artificial flavors, colors and preservatives,
    • key ingredients needed to be responsibly sourced,
    • dairy needed to come from pasture raised cows with no antibiotics or added hormones
    • and with 40% less sugar per serving on average.

     


     

    I like this and I don’t even like Milky Ways.
    Wait, 100 less calories? Here, give me another one.

    —actual quote from one of the moms at our Unjunked movie night

     

    More UNREAL candy stats here.

    I already knew my friend Kristin liked UNREAL candy bars, as she’d been praising them on Facebook. I wanted to see if kids would like them, or if handing them out to trick-or-treaters would be the social equivalent of being that family that gives out apples or trail mix.

    So, we assembled a bunch of kids and parents for a multi-family Unjunked movie night: watching The Sandlot, eating air-popped popcorn and UNREAL candy. Everyone got a goody bag with one of each of UNREAL’s offerings.

    And… it was a hit.

     

    I especially love the colors of the not- M&Ms. Much like organic clothing, the shades are muted and pretty.

    I am not especially crazy about the colors in these photographs. Sorry guys, I should have brought my real camera.

    Look, I’m not going to ask you to be that family that hands out toothbrushes or pretzels at Halloween.

    I’m not going to say kids shouldn’t ever have candy. Or chocolate.

    I’m going to ask you to consider the little-to-no nutritional value of candy and chocolate. And wonder why we’re ok with straight up unhealthy stuff like artificial anything on top of it.

    UNREAL isn’t expensive, but it costs a bit more than junk candy. I think that’s OK. It serves to remind us that most candy is junk, and not really suitable for giving our kids.

    UNREAL is a treat that you don’t have to feel guilty about.

    It helps that it’s really tasty, to adults and kids.

     

    What do you usually give out to trick-or-treaters?

    Are you trying to unjunk your kids’ eating habits?

    Disclosure: this is a sponsored post through Global Influence. All opinions are my own.