Jack Gives Back: Earth Day 2013

Like most toddlers, our little Jack loves to make a mess!  And I have to admit, on most occasions even mommy has fun getting in on that mess-making action.  But this month, I was excited to teach Jack the importance of cleaning up in honor of Earth Day.  Today we all have the opportunity (or should I say responsibility) to give back in honor of our environment.  Whether you decide to start a composting project at your local school, visit a recycling facility with your family or plant a tree seedling in your yard, both adults and kids, we can all give back.

Goose Creek Park Cleanup Crew

One great opportunity is to participate in a community cleanup.  The Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association held their 8^th Annual Chester Creek Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday morning at four locations in the West Chester area.  At the family-friendly Goose Creek Park, we met a group of volunteers including area residents, college students, baby-wearing moms and dads with strollers.  After checking in with the site coordinator, we grabbed a pair of work gloves and trash bags and set off in different directions to clean the park and surrounding waterways.  We collected just what you’d expect…plastic bottles, cans, food wrappers…but I’m very happy and proud to say that the area we covered was overall pretty clean.  Proud as a Chester County resident to live in a community which values our environment, even getting a “thumbs up” from a motorist driving by who saw our team cleaning the park.  And I know it’s because of organizations like the CRCWA and their commitment to host these community cleanups, that our creeks and streams are clean enough to enjoy recreation, sustain wildlife and provide safe drinking water.  The CRC Watersheds Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to the protection of water resources and the natural environment of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creek Valleys, and the health, recreational, and quality of life benefits they afford the residents of this region. Supporting organizations like the CRCWA is a great way to teach our children the importance of cleaning up after ourselves, not only at home, but also out in our community.  Visit their website at www.crcwatersheds.orgfor upcoming volunteer opportunities. 

Get outside today, enjoy this magnificent planet with your family and create your own act of green.  Even if it’s something as simple as a litter collecting game where your kids spend the last five minutes at the park seeing who can collect the most trash…we can all make a difference!  To learn more about Earth Day and how your family can get involved, visit www.earthday.org

Jack thought picking up litter at our local village cleanup was a super fun game:)

Jen is a local, organic, stay-at-home mom who is teaching her son Jack the importance of giving back to their community. To read more about Jen and Jack, head over to Fishies of Hope or Jack Gives Back.

Car Seat Inspection Event at Universal Technical Institute in Exton (May, 18, 2013)

Mark your Calendars for: Chester County EMS Day Fair ~ May 19th, 10am-4pm at Brandywine Picnic Park

Chester County EMS Day Fair

 May 19, 2013 

10am-4pm 

Brandywine Picnic Park 

Fun in the park! What is there to do…?
Everything the park has to offer and more!

• Visit with over ten of Chester County’s EMS, Fire, and Police Organizations
• Meet EMS, Fire, and police personnel 
• View equipment and exhibits 
• Live Water Rescue Demo by Fame Fire Company 
• Vehicle Rescue Demo by Longwood Fire Company 
•  Learn Hands Only CPR 
•  Boo-Boo Bear Center Dunk the EMT/Firefighter* 

 *(All proceeds from the dunk tank benefits Kacie’s Cause, educating our youth on drug usage.)

Tickets –  $10.00 for an adult $6.00 for children 2-18 (children 2 under are free) include admission into the park and all you can eat buffet and drinks 11am-3pm  (additional charge for Ice Cream)

Special discount for EMS and Fire Personnel…show your ID at the gate.

 Visit: http://www.picnic.com for more information on the event.

Kelly from The Centsible Life Blog Shares Family Room Before & After Photos in Week #2 of our Home Renovation Series.

The second post in our Chester County Moms Home Renovation Series comes from Kelly Whalen, the founder of The Centsible Life, a blog where motherhood and money meet. Her goal is to help readers live well on less. Kelly is a Chesco Mom to 4, and loves that she can stay at home with her kids, and still pursue her passions for writing, personal finance, and social media. You can often find her on twitter and Facebook talking money and motherhood. 

I asked Kelly to tell us about her renovation project and this is what she shared…. 

We live in a house we affectionately (and sometimes not so lovingly) call “The Money Pit.” Every small issue we come across ends up being a huge project. Painting a room isn’t just painting the walls, it involves hours of sanding, replacing painted over outlets and lightswitches, and more.

About 2 years ago I got a bit by the redecorating bug. I had this idea that I could transform our dark and uninviting family room by painting the paneling, removing some shoddy DIY built-in bookshelves, and replacing the burgundy carpeting with something fresher and brighter. 

What started as a ‘simple’ project turned into gutting the room down to the studs. Oops! We joke that it all started because I removed the built-in shelves. 

It took us many months, and lots of labor to transform our family room from a dark and dated room to an inviting and bright family space, but it was well worth the wait. 

You can read more on Kelly’s blog about how she remodeled her family room (part 1 & 2)

Link to part one: http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/2011/11/before-after-family-room/ 

Link to part two: http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/2011/12/family-room-reveal-part-two/, 

and made a barn beam mantle for her fireplace wall. {http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/2011/12/barn-beam-mantel/}

• To view all of the home renovation projects featured in this series – click here
• If you are interested in sharing your home renovation project please click here. Your contribution to the series can be any room in your house, garden or patio.

Bobby Flay Book Signing at Malvern Wegman’s on April 26, 2013

Bobby Flay Book Signing

Wegmans is excited to welcome superstar chef and author Bobby Flay to the MALVERN store. Don’t miss your chance to meet Bobby and have him sign a copy of his latest book, Bobby Flay’s “Barbecue Addiction.” If you haven’t purchased the book yet pick it up at Wegmans for 30% the cover price.

	Wegmans Malvern Friday, April 26 6:00 – 8:00 PM
	Cost: Pick up your FREE book-signing ticket at the That’s T.H.E. Ticket located at the Service Desk. Hurry, space is limited! One ticket needed per family(2 adults and children).  Books must be purchased at Wegmans to attend book signing.

Chester County Breastfeeding Coalition Resource Fair

“IT TAKES A VILLAGE… COME MEET THE VILLAGE”
Chester County Breastfeeding Coalition Resource Fair

April 20, 2013 from 4:30-7:30pm
300 Lawrence Road, West Chester, PA

“Come check out the breastfeeding resources in your community!
Breastfeeding support services, complementary services, and breastfeeding friendly businesses and employers to provide information and come meet the community!

The event is free for the community and family friendly. Moonbounces are available for those 8 & under. There will also be a toddler-size moon bounce and activity area.”

For more information and a list of exhibitors, please visit https://sites.google.com/site/ccbreastfeedingcoalition/breastfeeding-resource-fair/resource-fair-exhibits

Elizabeth of NJ Digital Moms shares 10 Reasons to Heart New Jersey!

New Jersey is my home. It is where I was born and raised. It is is where I am raising. Sure, Jersey girls don’t pump their own gas but that isn’t the best part of why being from the Garden State is awesome. It is awesome for many other reasons. I have never lived in Pennsylvania so I can not compare but here are 10 reasons I love being a Jersey girl.

1. I can live on farm land and 10 minutes away from the beach. Can someone say paradise?

2. Those same kind of farms grow great fruits and vegetables. It has a spectacular climate for growing the best blueberry wine ever. Come on over and enjoy a glass with me. 

3. I live close enough to NYC, Washington DC, and Philly to not turn to timid. I love the rush of the city! I love how it makes me be open to many things and inspires me to think out of the box.

4. I live far enough from NYC, Washington DC, and Philly to not turn to tough. After I stay in the city for a few days I get stressed. This is how I know I was meant to be a Jersey girl. Give me Jersey, Give me Zen.

5. I know what it is like to party like a reality tv star, I just know how to do it with class! Snookie has got nothing on me.

6. The diversity of people in New Jersey makes me smile, smile big. Hispanic, Asian and Middle Eastern heritage, among other ethnicities, bring with them their culture that is ours for the learning. I love that in NJ we are not the same.

7. The Art: I love that New Jersey is thick with talent. Being on the outskirts of New York it is New Jersey that is home to many different kinds of art and this gives a great gift to my children. I truly believe art is a universal language and New Jerseyians speak that language well.

8. History: It is everywhere. New Jersey was one of the original 13 colonies. Everywhere I go a story can be told to me through architecture, museums, and lighthouses. I truly consider it amazing.

9. One day you can build a snowman from snow and the next day you can build a snowman from sand. It is in New Jersey that you can enjoy the sun, the surf, and on occasion the snow. Just the perfect amount of snow not too much, not too little, but just right.

10. Nothing has made me more proud of my state than the days following Hurricane Sandy. I have never seen politics been pushed as side, strangers come together, and New Jersey be so unstoppable. It was in late October that I realized Jersey strong was not just a saying. It is a lifestyle and that is why I love New Jersey so very very much!

All good things must come to an end but don’t just take my word for it that New Jersey is awesome come see for yourself. You are invited this summer to enjoy the Jersey Shore, to hike the jersey trails, to live the Jersey lifestyle. Come on in, the water is fine!

About Elizabeth: Elizabeth has been a reader and friend of the Philly Burb Moms sites for years but has always stayed true to Cape May, her home town. Hurricane Sandy rocked her world but didn’t get her down and actually has helped by starting a website that is yours for the liking so you to can enjoy the Jersey Shore. Get the latest deals to enjoy the Jersey Beaches at a discount at www.facebook.com/ccouponer ! Sandy is in the past and a bright sunny summer is in the future!

Chester County Mom Natalia Shares Her Fabulous Kitchen and Family Room Renovation

Wow! Where to start with our kitchen/family room project. We moved into our house almost 7 years ago and we’ve been working on turning our house into a warm, inviting home that reflects our family ever since. (well, at least I have with one, at times, reluctant husband)

(click on photo to enlarge)

We’ve tackled this project piece by piece and almost all of it has been a diy project. Shortly after we moved in we replaced our laminate countertops with granite because not only did I look like the look better, I loved the functionality. Being able to take hot dishes out of the stove and just pop them on the counter without worrying about finding a hot plate (which I never seem to have around) is very convenient. Then my husband and I put in the tile backsplash that you currently see by ourselves. It was one of our first projects!

A year later we decided that we really wanted our kitchen/family room area to be one large open space. We frequently have family and friends over and wanted the most space we could get out of this area since it seems like no matter what we try people always want to congregate in the kitchen. There had been a 1/2 wall separating the kitchen area from the family room that we tore down which then led us to re-do all of our flooring. So, while I was very pregnant with our 2nd son my husband bravely tackled removing our old carpet and linoleum tile and installing hardwood floor that would match the front of our house. He replaced about 750 sq ft of floor all by himself!  This was the biggest home improvement project that he’s ever undertaken and I have to admit he did a great job. The floors look beautiful and we love that our entire first floor is connected in this way.

(click on photo to enlarge)

So, we had our 2nd son in May and it was my first time not working so I think I obviously must have been looking for something to do because that summer I repainted all of our cabinets (that’s 42 doors!). I sanded, primed and painted every one with some help from my wonderful husband who by now will usually just give in to my crazy plans. So every afternoon while my son was napping I was painting cabinets. I have to admit that I would probably not take on such a big project again. It was a ton of work but I love the way they came out!

Finally, this past year we replaced our small island with a much larger 8 foot one that can accommodate up to 4-5 people comfortably. Although, we have a kitchen table that we eat at in our sunroom I found that we really spent almost all our time around that island. My older son would come home and unload all his homework onto it and I would be trying to prep dinner around everyone else’s stuff. Now the kids can be around the “bottom” end, snacking, doing homework, painting, whatever and I can be at the “top” making dinner. We chose a wood counter because we wanted some contrast and warmth against our white cabinets, same with the base. We felt like adding a large white base would just be too stark and we wanted something to draw your eye in.

I love the colors turquoise and yellow so there are splashes of both those colors all throughout our house and especially in the kitchen. The pops of yellow bring a cheeriness that I like to see in a kitchen and the blue reminds me of the outdoors and the sky. One of the books that have recently influenced my design aesthetic is The Things That Matter by Nate Berkus. I love the idea that your home should be filled with things that you love and that tell a story about you, so whenever I pick something up I try to use that filter to decide if it would fit into our home.

Natalia Beley has been easing entrepreneur’s harried schedules since 2011 when she began working as a virtual assistant for a busy equestrian sales rep. Her past experience working in the high stress New York fashion industry  has prepared her well to take on a variety of tasks, such as merchandising, inventory planning, sales analysis and assortment planning. In addition to a variety of retail skills she is prepared to take on social media management, email newsletters, excel spreadsheets, proofreading, editing and any other task you might want to throw her way! Natalia is married and is a mother of 2 wacky boys. She loves horseback riding and when she’s not at the barn she can found trudging up and down the hills of Chester County, PA in her running shoes. She is actively involved at Willowdale Chapel and believes that God has presented her with the opportunity to help small businesses. Check her out at www.nsbvirtualassistant.com.

If you are interested in sharing your home renovation project please click here. Your contribution to the series can be any room in your house, garden or patio.

Spring Scavenger Hunt for Little Ones

Longwood Gardens

Despite the lingering cold, signs of spring are popping up all over. Taking your little ones outside to look for changes in their yard or the nearby woods is one way to clear the cobwebs of winter away plus start a lifelong interest in nature studies.

Purple Crocus

Some signs are easy, like finding robins. Or, daffodils and crocuses.

Witch Hazel at Longwood Gardens

Others are more subtle like green buds on trees.

Bird watching in a tree house at Longwood Gardens

Sometimes you need to listen for the signs – the birds chirping as the sun comes up.

Scavenger Hunt List 

If you and your kids are not sure what to look for, this scavenger hunt is a great way to start. Take pictures as your kids find signs of springs and put together a book to help you find them again next year.

Spring Scavenger Hunt

• a seed
• something scented
• a new bird
• a yellow flower
• a purple flower
• a pink flower
• a bud on a tree
• a blade of grass
• the sound of Canada Geese
• turtles sunning on log

Resources for learning about nature 

• Birding by Ear 
• Handbook of Nature Study Blog and book, Handbook of Nature Study 
• My Family’s Favorite Nature Walks 
• Using Natural Materials for Art

Barb is a mom of 5 kids who spends her day keeping track of socks, stuffed animals, library books, and a 4 year old when she isn’t writing about all the frugality, gardening, cooking, and reading she manages to fit in between the chaotic moments. She can be found at A Life in Balance, Frugal Local Kitchen, or on Twitter with daily doses of life in 140 characters or less.

Women’s Reproductive Health at Every Age

This healthy post is provided by The Chester County Hospital and Health System. To learn more about women’s health, visit us online.

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With guidelines that have been changing about recommendations for gynecologic exams, it’s easy to see why we are all so confused – as if we need something else to worry about, right? Even though the new cervical screening guidelines recommend less frequent Pap tests, it’s important to realize that your yearly gynecologic exam includes more than just that test – breast, thyroid, heart, lung and pelvic exams are all included in your yearly check-up.  Read on, too, for information about The Total Woman, a special open house focused solely on women’s care.

“Visiting your gynecologist annually is the best thing you can do for preventive health,” Ob/Gyn Eduardo Mercurio, MD explains. “Even though the Pap test guidelines change, this doesn’t mean that the other tests during your annual exam should be left out.” Early education about any warning signs that your gynecologist may notice can make a big difference for your long-term health. Here are some problems your annual exam can uncover:

• Endometriosis
• Incontinence
• Ovarian cysts/cancer
• Uterine fibroids
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Pelvic/vaginal pain
• Prolapse of the uterus, bladder or rectum
• Sexual dysfunction
• Precancerous changes of the cervix
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

In this post, we’re breaking down the tests by age so you know what to have done and how often. These guidelines begin at age 18, so to all you moms – make sure your daughters are on track with these recommendations, too. Monitoring reproductive health is especially important in young women.

Ages 18-29

Clinical breast exam – every 3 years

Pap test/cervical cancer screening – starting at age 21, every 2 years

Pelvic exam – starting at age 21, yearly; younger than 21 and sexually active, talk to your primary care physician

Chlamydia test – yearly until age 25; 26 and older, get this test if you have new or multiple partners

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests – both partners should get tested before having sexual intercourse

Ages 30-39

Clinical breast exam – every 3 years

Pap test/Cervical cancer screening – every 3 years

Pelvic exam – yearly

Chlamydia test – get this test if you have new or multiple partners

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests – both partners should get tested before having sexual intercourse

Ages 40-49

Clinical breast exam – every 3 years

Mammogram – every 1-2 years

Pap test/Cervical cancer screening – every 3 years

Pelvic exam – yearly

Chlamydia test – get this test if you have new or multiple partners

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests – both partners should get tested before having sexual intercourse

Ages 50+

Clinical breast exam – every 3 years

Mammogram – every 1-2 years

Pap test – discuss with your doctor

Cervical cancer screening – every 3 years

Pelvic exam – yearly

Chlamydia test – get this test if you have new or multiple partners

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests – both partners should get tested before having sexual intercourse

Family History

If breast cancer is in your family history, genetic counseling may be an option to discuss breast and ovarian cancer risk. A breast MRI and ovarian cancer tests may be some other smart things to look into as well. Talk with your doctor about early screenings for anything else that may run in the family.

The Chester County Hospital’s Cancer Risk Evaluation Program is specifically designed for women who want genetics counseling information about their personal risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Contact The Women’s Specialty Center at (610) 423-4556 for more information.

A Night All About You

The Chester County Hospital is hosting The Total Woman, a special two-hour open house for women that introduces you to the many physicians and services located in our Exton Medical and Diagnostic Center.  Health screenings, pampering, a cooking demonstration and taste testing, wine and light refreshments add up to a healthy (and free!) evening focused on caring for you.  Bring your mom, sister, daughter or a friend to join in the fun.

Date : Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Time : 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm (open house format)

Location : Commons at Oaklands : 700 West Lincoln Highway, Exton, PA 19341

Registration : Please register by calling 610.738.2300 or click here

These guidelines have been adapted from www.womenshealth.gov.

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