Music in Highland Park

Who else was counting down the weekends until Pittsburgh's Reservoir of Jazz Concert Series continued?! Our family appreciates the outdoor venue at Highland Park. Here are a few pointers to better enjoy the concert experience:

• schedule enough time for parking unless you'll pedal to the park
• bring portable chairs or blanket
• prepare a picnic with dinner/desserts or support local food vendors (such as Franctuary!)
• arrive for part of the concert or a short duration
• remember scooping baggies if you're bringing a friendly canine 

Afterwards, check out the group line dancing led by Summer Soul Line Dancing located near by the water fountain. The energetic leader blasts music and his voice to explain the fun, dance moves. Apparently this is the 5th year running, without missing a Sunday in August during all of these years! The dancing begins at 7pm and we saw participants of all ages.

Any other tips to enjoy music in the park? 

Memorable Memorial Day

Image source.

We honored Memorial Day by attending the Annual Memorial Day Celebration at the Soldier's & Sailors Museum in Oakland. 


It was special celebrating the day while observing the opening ceremony, enjoying admission to the museum and viewing the time capsule's contents.


Based on our visit, we would recommend visiting later in the day at next year's event. When we arrived in the morning, the children's activities were not ready for usage - the bouncy house was still deflated with an unknown time for its readiness.


How did you and your family honor and celebrate Memorial Day?

Strollers... so many!

SINGLE CAPACITY:

1. Click-It Universal Stroller
2. Jogging Stroller
1. Consider perks: Rain protection coverage; Fixed vs. pivoting front wheel; Movable sun shade; Electronic gadgets (such as pedometer); Easiness steering
3. Umbrella Stroller
1. Think of options like the size of storage areas; inclusion of movable sun shade; weight and portability if condensed into a back-pack carrier, height of steering handles, ability to lock wheels, etc.

DOUBLE CAPACITY:


The jogging and umbrella strollers are available for two children, too. Below is a neat stroller just for 2 children: 

1. Stand or Ride Stroller

What strollers do you recommend or favor?

Go Bananas!

I was so excited to enjoy an early morning shopping trip to Giant Eagle this week. Have you ever stumbled upon the shopping carriage of discounted bananas? We bought 11 bananas for .99! The bananas were surprisingly not bruised or over-ripened. 

After I returned home I forgot that we had recently purchased a bundle at our warehouse grocer... oops! Ideas that I embarked upon with the extra bananas include:

1. Chocolate chip, whole wheat, banana bread... yummy!
2. Smoothie preparations. You could purchase a few ounces of these frozen bagged products of various fruits but we saved a lot of money creating our own pre-smoothie blend, or cut into smaller sizes are perfect summer treats for toddlers!

After they froze on the cookie sheets, we placed in freezer plastic baggies for storage.

What are your fruit tips for bargain buys that help your family eat healthier?

Parks and Recreation Celebration

Happy National Parks Week! Hopefully you can find a nearby park to access and enjoy this week.


Post a comment and share where you visited!

Love Libraries!

Happy National Library Week! There are awesome resources (such as books, online programs, movies), workshops, classes and concerts sponsored by libraries in Pittsburgh. 

How are you celebrating this week of awareness and recognition? What do you love about your libraries?

Spring Flings

We forgot to enjoy annual treats at Rita's last week on the first day of Spring.


Despite many e-mail offers and mailed catologues, our family purchased affordable seed packets at...  Family Dollar (4/$1), Big Lots, Giant Eagle, and Lowe's. 


Already we've planted many seedlings... 

Some of the cooler weather crops were started in our outdoor garden such as lettuce, radishes and beets. Thankfully asparagus, a few melons and mint have returned.

It has been enjoyable with warmer weather to begin using chalk on cement walkways, decking and bricks. Plus blowing bubbles, spin wheels and decorating crafts together are never ending fun!

How have y'all celebrated the beginning of Spring?

Celebrating Black History Month

February is Black History Month. Local libraries, parks and television programs have a lot of options to help our families celebrate and become educated about black history. 
Carnegie Library created a list of children's books that help to create "what a wonderful world." Additionally WQED is airing phenomenal glimpses into Pittsburgh's history. I recently watched Wylie Avenue Days and learned about the development of Wylie Avenue, Hill District, and the intrusion of Mellon Arena. The Hill District hosted several places where musicians thrived. 
There are other events scheduled in the area, so check out the Trib's Listing and events sponsored by PNC, Citiparks' Exhibit: A City Of Rhythm: A Tribute to African American Music in Pittsburgh."


How are you celebrating Black History Month?

Carnegie Museum on Thursdays

Thanks to a generous grant from The Jack Buncher Foundation, there is free admission in February and March at Carnegie Museum of Art & Natural History on Thursdays after 3:30 p.m. 


Have you enjoyed free admission with your family yet? What exhibits did you and your children most enjoy?

Count down to Kid-A-Palooza!

Have y'all marked your calendars, yet? Two and a half more weeks until the 12th Annual Kid-A-Palooza on February 25, 2012. A few of the sponsors are Giant Eagle and 100.7 Star Pittsburgh.


Last year's event was held at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.  Yet, no details are available online about the events whereabouts or time frame. I sent an inquiry though the site and have not heard yet. 


I am not sure the variance in ticket prices between Giant Eagle and online.


Hopefully our family will be able to attend and yours too!


Have you attended Kid-A-Palooza in the past... any memories or suggestions to share?

Recommended Furniture

After a girlfriend asked me about necessary furniture for her child-to-be, I was inspired to create a chronicle list of furniture. Here it goes...

1. Rocking or gliding chair: used during pregnancy and beyond.
2. Bassinet: Safely holds baby while asleep in our room. We used a bassinet 3 - 4 months.
3. *Boppy pillow: used since birth. One of our postpartum nurses recommended the use of pillow while seated (as a cushion) and episiotomy site is still healing. The pillow also served as a prop, secure holder for naps, neck support for caregivers, etc.
4. *Sling: a must have for babies
5. Swing: we used a mechanical one until month 6 because of decreased interest. The swing outdoors is still being used!
6. Crib: Safely holds baby while resting and sleeping in child's room. We began to use around 4 months after birth. 
7. Bumpo chair
8. Jumping devise: we trusted a stand-alone device better than the "above the door" contraptions
9. Kicking Coaster 
10. Baby gate
11. Walking toy
12. Butterfly chair
13. Vehicle for children 
14. See saw
15. Play furniture: kitchen, tool set, art easle, etc.: 
16. Toddler's Recliner
17. Ottoman: contain soft corners and versatile storage
18. Toddler bed
19. Stepping Stool
20. Potty Chair

* = though technically not furniture, they securely hold children

Items that are furniture related that did not make the list, include...

1. Mobile: though they add an element to decorating, our child was not entertained by them)
2. Diaper Genie

P.S. A post later this month will focus on strollers!

What would you add or remove from the list?

Child Friendlier Shelves

It took me several months to learn that placing softer, child-friendlier items on the lower shelves benefited our family. A few examples include...

The kitchen's pantry provides endless activities for reorganizing, stacking, sliding items and more. Lighter weight items include Jello or pudding boxes; Ramen noodle packages; small soup containers; herbs or spice bottles; and other light-weight ingredients.

An antique bookshelf used to display a clock, trinkets, DVDs, pictures frames and now a more child-friendly version stores books, stuffed animals, storage containers, etc.

A third example relates to precious scrapbooks in our guest's bedroom. Instead of my primitive style of storing scrapbooks on the bottom shelves, with a bit of rearranging the more appealing books for children are located on the lower shelves. Such reorganizing helps to prevent children's exploration of delicate scrapbooks, and welcomes their curiousity towards more age-appropriate materials.


Here is a final example, with a photo. Our fireplace is not in working order so it was remodeled to store toys. 

Toy storage plus decorations for Valentine's Day!

What storage solutions do you suggest?

This Little Light

It was enjoyable spending the day with family and enjoying activities in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. One of the exciting events available in Pittsburgh was complimentary admission to the Carnegie Science Center. Other cool happenings included Many Hands, celebration at CMU, ideas from Sewickley's Patch, Events listed by CBS and visiting August Wilson Center on 1/17.


How did you remember MLK?

Making Meals

Perhaps you have heard several offers while being pregnant, to receive meals postpartum? A quick search online yielded these, organizational sites.

• Meal Train
  
• Meal Baby
• Take Them A Meal

Joining one of these websites could help lessen the load of coordinating meals... both on the receiving and giving sides. 

I thought of meal options to give a family:

• Pot pie
• Soup or stew
• Casserole
• Salad
• Quiche
• Pasta
• Healthy, fresh sides of fruits and/or vegetables 

How were your experiences using websites to coordinate meals? What other meals do you suggest giving?

Surprising Store With Organic Options

Where can one afford to purchase certified USDA Organic Foods for your family? 


It is so exciting to have discovered a surprising store with fabulous deals on organic foods. Check the expiration dates and consider whether your family will consume the food prior to then, or is concerned with expired foods.


Big Lots has a small yet, amazing selection of organic foods for our child. From pureed fruits to cartons of milk, the organic options are more affordable then purchasing at local grocers.


Do you have any unusual stores that you recommend for purchasing organic foods for your family?

Caring Goodies

Maybe you know of friends or strangers who have endured extended stays at the hospital? Check out this list of caring goodies then create your own package to share. 
Some ideas include...

• Cough drops
• Slippers
• Robe
• Ear plugs
• Lip moisturizer
• Battery operated candle
• Magazine
• Book
• Package of soft tissues
• Snacks
• Newspaper
• Journal
• Word puzzles
• Prayer Shawl
• Digital photo album

What else would be caring to include in a hospital package?