Barista Kids » 2009 » July

Weekend Puppet Shows in Montclair

Georgette Gilmore — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Levine, local puppeteer, brings her puppets to The Edgemont Park Shelter House in Montclair every weekend in August. Each week will bring a different story and a different cast of characters.
There will be two performances of the shows and a special guest apperance by local juggler, Jen Slaw to entertain all ages.
Here are all the details…

August 1, 2009
Princess Moxie Puppet Show With Pen and Pudding Project
Who: Kids ages 3 – 7.
What: Jennifer Levine’s Princess Moxie Puppet show and art projects for children.
Where: Edgemont Shelter house at Edgemont Park, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Saturday, August 1 at 10 a.m. and noon.
Cost: $5 per person (Babies on lap free)
August 8, 2009
Princess Moxie Puppet Show
Who: Kids ages 3 – 7.
What: Jennifer Levine’s Princess Moxie Puppet with children’s concert.
Where: Edgemont Shelter house at Edgemont Park, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Saturday, August 8 at 10 a.m. and noon.
Cost: $5 per person (Babies on lap free)
August 16, 2009
The Miracle on Monroe Street Puppet Show
Who: Kids ages 7 and up.
What: Jennifer Levine’s The Miracle on Monroe Street is a puppet tale of mischief, danger and a miraculous rescue set at the turn of the 20th century on New York’s Lower East Side.
Where: Edgemont Shelter house at Edgemont Park, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Sunday, August 16 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Cost: $5 per person.
August 23, 2009
Ephrem and Raizel Puppet Show
Who: All ages
What: Jennifer Levine’s Ephrem and Raizel is a puppet love story for all ages.
Where: Edgemont Shelter house at Edgemont Park, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Sunday, August 23 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Cost: $5 per person.

Give Your Son an Unusual Name and Jail Could Be in His Future

Georgette Gilmore — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:00:00 +0000

There are so many worries when choosing your child’s name. You don’t want to offend an entire religion, hurt a family member’s feelings, or choose a name that is too common. But be careful when choosing a unique name for your son, because a new study shows that naming a boy an unusual name could land him behind bars.
In the professional journal Social Science Quarterly, Shippensburg University professor David Kalist says giving baby boys unusual or feminine first names makes them more likely to land in jail.
The study looked at 15,000 names given to baby boys between 1987 and 1991. The more unusual the name, the more likely that boy would turn to crime. Kalist explains, “Uncommon names are likely not the cause of crime but correlated with factors that increase the tendency toward juvenile delinquency.” Prior studies reveal that uneducated people tend to choose unusual names and spellings for their children.

According to Kalist, the top 10 “bad boy” names are Alec, Ernest, Garland, Ivan, Kareem, Luke, Malcolm, Preston, Tyrell and Walter.
Walter? Doesn’t really stir up the image of bad boy to me. So I asked Pam Satran, Montclair baby name expert and co-owner of Nameberry what she thought of this study:

“I think there are a couple of problems with it. For one thing, names have changed so much in the last 20 years that whatever experience a little boy named Luke or even Kareem had in 1989 is very different from what he’d have today. Parents have gotten much more adventurous with names, especially boys’ names, and kids are less and less likely to be teased for having ethnically-distinct, unisex, or even ‘oddball” names.
Their list of names is so strange that i can’t help but question other factors in their sample. Ivan? Who are these ‘bad boy’ Ivans they found? And Garland? Garland wasn’t in the top 1000 in 1990, which means there were fewer than 177 boys (I would guess far fewer) named Garland that year. So how many of those could possibly have become criminals?”

Does your son have an unusual name? Are you worried that he may turn into a bad boy?

Potty Training Part 2: Advice from Local Moms

Georgette Gilmore — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:00:00 +0000

As I wrote yesterday , I’m about to potty train my 2-year-old. In addition to speaking with a pediatrician, I also asked all the moms I know for tips. The advice ranged from structured plans with lots of positive reinforcement to a very laid-back, go-with-the-flow approach. (What kind of flow? That sounds messy to me.)
The most creative method of all involved a poopie sandwich that the child can eat. Glen Ridge mom of two, Julie Law, explains:

When it came to pooping, we made a reinforcement chart (building off of reinforcement schedule from pee training). We put up a different color construction paper and bought a whole new pad set of sticker characters, The Backyardigans worked for us.
We stopped rewarded peeing success altogether, and we made her a very special poopie sandwich whenever she successfully pooped in the potty. A poopie sandwich is two small discs of melting milk chocolate with a tiny dab of peanut butter in between.

Bernadette McLoughlin, Montclair mom of three girls, told me now is the best time to start. “Summer time is always the best time. You can let them run around naked for an hour a day.”
Glen Ridge mom of three, Anne Gorfinkle, told me to relax. Her pediatrician told her not to worry when her almost 3-year-old daughter wasn’t trained. “He said, ‘How many high school kids do you see in diapers? They all get there, but they go at their own pace, when they are ready, they will be trained.’ ”
My friend Annie has four children and had a very difficult time training her first two kids. Her third kid was much easier. Why? She had hired an awesome nanny who helped with the training. It’s a lot easier with two people tackling the job. She was also able to leave her potty training son home with the nanny to run around naked and work on going in the potty.
Bribery is a method that worked for Diana Weinstein, Glen Ridge mom of two. Her son wanted a toy, and she told him he could have it if he went on the potty. That’s all it took and he was trained.
It wasn’t that easy with my first daughter. I tried many of these methods, and it was still a struggle. What I should have done was relax, and that’s exactly what I’ll do this time around. Or, I’ll hire someone to do it for me.
What is your best potty training tip? Would you use the poopie sandwich method?
Photo by GoonSquadSarah

Post-Baby Bulge: One Mom Considers Tummy Tuck

Georgette Gilmore — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Morning sickness, gas, hemorrhoids, back pain and swollen feet are bad enough. Then you have to deal with what your body looks like after the 40 weeks are up.
Even if you get back to your pre-baby weight, you are often left with stretch marks and a saggy belly. This can lead to baggy shirts–maybe even, these jeans, to hide that pooch.
Anne Gorfinkle, a local mom of three is tired of the question, “When are you due?”. She’s not expecting anything but her 18-month-old to throw his peas on the floor. She has reached her goal weight and is slim, but three large babies have stretched her stomach out. She is considering a tummy tuck, but before she goes under the knife, she wants to give it her all at the gym…

“I never had this problem before. I could usually lose the baby fat with out too much drama. At 45, the case is very different. Baby #3 has left his mark. After being told by two plastic surgeons, a personal trainer and one gynecologist that I have a case of twin tummy and will never be able to get rid of it on my own without surgery, I found out how much a tummy tuck would cost here in New Jersey. It starts at $10,000 on up with surgery and recovery costs.
Eeeek, the price is so high! Not just monetarily, but physically and emotionally, too. There can be complications: infections and permanent scaring. These are things I would rather avoid.
I have three small children at home and if something went terribly wrong, what kind of legacy I would leave my family? My obit would read: “45-year-old woman dies of vanity.” Not what I am hoping for.
So to sum it up, I’m going to give Pilates a try. It is designed to focus on the core and nothing but the core. I would not describe myself as athletic in the least, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I will document my progress and see if it works. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Wish me luck…..”

Here is Anne’s before picture. Fingers crossed for Pilates.
Have you considered a tummy tuck? Have you had one?

Get Your Tickets to “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Now

Georgette Gilmore — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Tickets are on sale now for the Gas Lamp Player’s summer production of the musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. A cast of 71 kids ranging from kindergarten to 8th grade perform the play, which was originally written for a cast of six. You will see a chorus line of dancing blankies and musical notes, a flock of bridge playing birds who hang out with Woodstock, all of Snoopy’s siblings and many of the well known Peanuts characters.
Gas Lamp Players founder and president explains, “The mission of Gas Lamp Players is to nurture confidence, creativity and a sense of community through the performing arts. In our summer production, we make it a priority to involve kids of all ages, and find appropriate ways to showcase their talents.” Check out these talented kids at next week’s performances on August 6 and 7.
Tickets are on sale now. Keep reading for all the details…

“You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”
Who: All ages.
What: Gas Lamp Players’ summer program’s musical production of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”
Where: Ridgewood Avenue School Auditorium, 235 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, NJ.
When: Thursday, August 6 at 7 p.m. and Friday, August 7 at 2 p.m.
Cost: Tickets: $5 children / $10 adults. Advance tickets are available online here.

Potty Training Part 1: Advice from a Pediatrician

Georgette Gilmore — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Potty training. What a dirty job. My youngest daughter turned 2 in June and is showing signs of readiness. I dream of the day that I don’t have to change her poopy diapers. But if my first daughter is any indication, potty training won’t be easy.
This time, I called a professional. Dr. Anisha Khanna, from Khanna Pediatrics in Glen Ridge, offered the following advice:

There is no set age at which toilet training should begin. The right time depends on your child’s physical and psychological development. Between 18 and 24 months, children often start to show signs of being ready, but some children may not be ready until 30 months or older. Your child must also be emotionally ready. He needs to be willing, not fighting you or showing signs of fear. If your child resists strongly, it is best to wait for a while. It is important to be relaxed about toilet training and avoid becoming upset. Try to avoid a power struggle.
Below are signs that your child is ready:

Your child stays dry at least 2 hours at a time during the day or is dry after naps.

Bowel movements become regular and predictable.

Facial expressions, posture, or words reveal that your child is about to urinate or have a bowel movement.

Your child can follow simple instructions

Your child can walk to and from the bathroom and help undress.

Your child seems uncomfortable with soiled diapers and wants to be changed.

Your child asks to use the toilet or potty chair.

Your child asks to wear grown-up underwear.

Encourage your child with lots of hugs and praise when success occurs. The most important thing parents must keep in mind it that it may take weeks, even months, before toilet training is complete, so don’t get frustrated. Keep in mind, most children achieve bowel control and daytime urine control by 3 to 4 years of age. Even after your child is able to stay dry during the day, it may take months or years before he achieves the same success at night.

I wonder if Dr. Khanna makes house calls. Stay tuned for Potty Training: Part 2 tomorrow when local moms give us their best advice.
Are you a potty training pro or do you dread it like me?

“Summer Swagg” Dance Party at Unbelieva-Bills

Georgette Gilmore — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Unbelieva-Bills, the children’s entertainment center, now offers weekly teen dance parties throughout the summer. Called “Summer Swagg“, the dance parties are the inspiration of Montclair High School students and Unbelieva-Bills owner, Bill Dubiel.
Bill had the idea of making Unbelieva-Bills available as a fun venue for teens. He approached a group of teens eating popcorn at the snack bar and had a conversation with them. “After an engaging conversation I realized that they were my ticket for making this happen. With a little guidance and lots of support, I gave them the opportunity to take on this project and run with it.”, said Bill.
According to the students, “Mr. Dubiel is really ‘swaggtastic’ for letting us put together the Summer Swagg events.” In the photo, (pictured left to right), are Erika Joab, Izzy Elvins-Burrows, Bill Dubiel, Grace Powells, Maya Pitts, Danielle Davie, Zeba Sroya and Eric Bembridge.

These teens treated this opportunity in a very professional manner. The group immediately began reaching out to everyone. They used Facebook, text messaging and word of mouth to build excitement and sell admission tickets. They walked from one side of town to the other to deliver tickets. The first “Summer Swagg” party was held on July 16. The dance party was so successful, Bill and the teens have decided to make it a weekly summer event.
“Summer Swagg” Teen Dance Party
Who: Ages 12 – 16
What: Teen dance party night. Arcade games and food can be purchased separately. Police and security will be in attendance to keep everyone safe.
Where: Unbelieva-Bills, 310-312 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Thursdays, throughout the summer from 8 p.m. – midnight.
Cost: Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Cookie Decorating Classes Sweeten Up The Day

fran l — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Cupcakes with lots of thick, sweet frosting probably fall into the category I’d call ‘impulse purchase’ – and such was my happy fete this afternoon. I was captivated by a pair of square framed, lime green reading glasses over at CoCo An Experience, when I decided to step next door to Le Baker’s Dozen and mull it all over with a treat. That’s when owner Therese Baird told me all about the children’s cookie decorating classes – and the next one is this afternoon, at 2:00. There’s still time to sign up, but hurry! Section I, ages 5 to 8, takes place at 2:00 today (Wednesday). Section II, for ages 9-12, takes place tomorrow, Thursday, at 2:00. The cost is $25. By the way, you can buy cool things besides baked goods at Le Baker’s Dozen. The vintage aprons pictured here are only $12 each. By the way, click here to see those lime green reading glasses.

Why, you may ask? to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson’s lovely poem Rhodora,

‘…if eyes are made for seeing, then beauty is its own excuse for being.’

Here are the class details…
Wednesday, July 29
Cookie Decorating Classes
Who: Ages 5 – 8
What: Kids will learn the basics of preparing and decorating sugar cookies. They will roll and cut their own cookies, as well as make the icing to decorate them.
Where: Le Bakers Dozen, 206 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07043.
When: Wednesday, July 29 from 2 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Cost: $25. Download your registration form here.
Thursday, July 30
Cookie Decorating Classes
Who: Ages 9 – 12
What: Kids will learn the basics of preparing and decorating sugar cookies. They will roll and cut their own cookies, as well as make the icing to decorate them.
Where: Le Bakers Dozen, 206 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07043.
When: Thursday, July 30 from 2 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Cost: $25. Download your registration form here.

Giveaway: Magnets, Bookmarks & More by Smart Women

Georgette Gilmore — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:00:00 +0000

The founder and owner of Smart Women Company, Julie Hellwich, is one smart woman. She knows how hard it is to pick out a little gift for housewarmings, parties and thank yous. She solves the problem with her retro designed magnets, bookmarks and other witty things. From pencils printed with “Smart Women Mark Their Words” to notepads with the heading “Smart Women Make a List and Check it Twice” her products are useful and funny.
Thanks to Julie, Barista Kids is giving away three Smart Women gift sets–great for giving or keeping. You’ll get: The Smart Reader Set (bookmarks), The Magnetic Set (magnets) , and The Seal the Deal Set (bag clips).
To enter, keep reading…

Simply tell us about a smart woman you know in the comments section. Is it your mom, a friend, your wife or you? One person who replies to this post by 11:59 p.m. EST on Saturday, August 1, 2009, will be chosen at random to receive the Smart Women gift pack, valued around $50. Please post only once.
No purchase necessary. Starts Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 8:00 a.m. EST and ends Saturday, August 1, 2009, at 11:59 p.m.
Open to U.S. residents ages 16 years and older. Void where prohibited.

This Week’s Highlights: July 29 – August 4

Georgette Gilmore — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Where did July go? It seems as if school just got out, but there is only one more month left of summer vacation. If you’re looking for things to do to fill the long, summer days, check our calendar often. It’s filled with all the family events in Baristaville. Here are this week’s highlights:
See a Free Movie
July 29
Bring the kids to your local Clearview Cinema for their Cinema Kids Club.
Play Some Games
July 31
The Montclair Public Library offers Drop-In Games every Friday. No registration required.
See a Puppet Show
August 1
Enjoy a Princess Moxie puppet show at the Edgemont Park Shelter House.

Wednesday, July 29
Clearview Cinema Kids Club
Who: Rated G and PG movie fans.
What: Free family movies played every Wednesday and Thursday morning.
Where: Local Clearview Cinemas:
Clifton Allwood Cinema 6, 96 Market Street, Clifton, NJ.
Cedar Grove Cinema 23, 101 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ.
When: Wednesdays and Thursdays through August 20 at 10:30 a.m.
Cost: Free. Seating is based on availability – First Come, First Serve!
Friday, July 31
Drop-In Game Fridays
Who: All ages.
What: Drop-in and play fun board games with teen volunteers.
Where: The Montclair Public Library, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair NJ 07042.
When: Fridays at 3 p.m.
Cost: Free. No registration required.
Saturday, August 1
Princess Moxie Puppet Show With Pen and Pudding Project
Who: Kids ages 3 – 7.
What: Jennifer Levine’s Princess Moxie Puppet show and art projects for children.
Where: Edgemont Shelter house at Edgemont Park, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Saturday, August 1 at 10 a.m. and noon.
Cost: $5 per person (Babies on lap free)