Blog Posts

Grow It Yourself

8/15/2018

I am all thumbs and none of them are green, but I've always wanted a garden. The idea of walking out in your own yard and grabbing homegrown tomatoes sounds amazing. The only thing stopping me was time and well... knowledge. I can kill a plant just by looking at it! So for years I've just gazed longingly at other people's gardens, too scared to try it myself for fear of wasting time and money when I failed. But last year found out about locally owned company Grow It Yourself, which is designed for people just like me! Owner Noam Oshry has been gardening his whole life and realized that he could use his skills and passion for gardening to help others learn. Grow It Yourself is like your own personal gardening support system, helping anyone grow any garden they wish in a easy way and without any prior knowledge. It's such a great concept, and really needed for gardening-challenged people like me. And now is the time to contact Noam as fall season planting starts in the next few weeks so if you would like to get fall/winter crops NOW is the time to get your garden installed.

Here's how it works: Grow It Yourself first finds out exactly what you're looking for and provides a quote. Then they come right to your yard and build a raised bed in the size you want, where you want it. They provide the wood frame, special fabric to prevent weeds, healthy soil mixed with organic compost and any plants that you've custom ordered.

But they don't just leave you to fend for yourself, Noam helps guide you along the way as you watch your garden grow before your eyes. His goal is to give you the confidence and know-how so that you can indeed "grow it yourself". They've set you up to succeed by not only offering personalized care as your garden grows but also by building their raised beds from high quality long lasting materials, made to last for years with little maintenance.

There are so many reasons to take up gardening, especially with the support of a professional where you have a much better rate of success. Noam finds it really rewarding to help people as they responsibility source their own food, learning an essential, life giving skill. It's also very therapeutic to work in the dirt and use your hands to grow what you eat, getting time away from smart phones and being out in the fresh air. This is such a great investment for families especially since quality time is hard to come by. Instead of spending money at the mall, you can get outside with the kids, learning as a family how to water, plant, and harvest. It makes that moment when you sit down to dinner incredibly special when you've tended to that vegetable from beginning to end, and creates a sense of gratitude around family mealtime. I mean... can't your just imagine your kids faces when they pull out their first full grown carrot and help you cook it up? The pride that comes from doing something yourself is like no other. “You will be amazed by how much fun gardening can be, and the pride you take in sharing healthy food nurtured by your own efforts” is a phrase that Noam says gets him out of bed everyday.

Just listen to this mom and client on why gardening with Grow It Yourself has been great for her family:

"I was so excited to have my home garden put in. It's very important to my family to grow what we eat and enjoy watching nature provide for us. I couldn't have asked for a nicer guy to do the work and share his wonderful gifts of helping families find that gardening can be easy. I recommend everyone get a grow it yourself garden. Next one will be the herb garden!"

What if you already have a garden but you'd like to take the next step and don't know how? Grow It Yourself also offers rain barrels, wood stands, composters, and small raised beds for edible herbs and medicinal plants. We all know a long hot summer is coming, and that rain barrel will come in handy!

Here's the best news of all - Grow It Yourself is happy to offer a 10% discount for any kind of vegetable garden just for SoDu Parents!

To take advantage of it, just email Noam at growityourself2015@gmail.com. So go get excited about your new garden by checking out some of the gardens Owen has made on the Grow It Yourself facebook page here.

There is nothing stopping you from having your own garden, thanks to Grow It Yourself. They give you everything you need to do it on your own, from start to finish. So why not get a quote today at growityourself2015.com? You've got nothing to lose and a ton of delicious veggies to gain!

FCC Disclosure for bloggers: I received payment in exchange for this blog post. The post is written by me, and contains my own opinions.

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Family Preschool

8/8/2018

1 Comment

Are you looking for a cozy co-op preschool, where as soon as you walk in you notice how the place is bursting with happy kids, ready to explore and learn? Do you want a place with 48 years of experience guiding young minds in a forward thinking, child led approach? Would you like a participatory atmosphere, where parent involvement is essential in the school, and you get to have real input and ownership in your child’s education? Family Preschool is all of this and more. I can speak personally about this preschool, as both my children attended in their early years and I substitute teach there. I can’t speak highly enough of Family Preschool as a parent and educator.

Family Preschool's mission statement says it all: “How children feel about and see themselves is the basis upon which they build all other relationships and take on the tasks of childhood. Family Preschool (FPS) is committed to offering a preschool experience that builds a child's self-confidence and independence, thus enhancing self-esteem. Our program recognizes the individual differences in needs and development among children. Through a carefully structured and flexible environment, the program encourages the unique social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of each child.”

The school was founded in 1970, and has been on the forefront of childhood education in the Triangle ever since, while still maintaining a loving, inclusive but close-knit community. In 1987, they became one of the first preschools accredited by
the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is a member of Parent Cooperative Preschool International. In 2007 Family Preschool moved from their previous church location to the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ERUUF) campus. (While the school has always been located in church facilities, it is non-sectarian and retains autonomy over curriculum choices and their approach to education.) The campus is a combination of rooms for the different ages, who engage with their peers but also have chances to play and learn with other ages.

The children are separated into several classes, lovingly renamed each year after animals and bugs that kids adore. The classes are gender-balanced to ensure a proper amount of socialization, behavioral growth, and peer modeling. The FPS school day is from 9am - Noon for ages 2-5. The school year runs from September through May, with many opportunities for socialization throughout the summer months.

Why choose a co-op?
Family Preschool is a true community for the 21st century, connecting families and forging lasting friendships and support networks.
* Children bond with not only their parents but caring adults working alongside them in the classroom.
* Parents get a special chance to observe and interact with their child and their peers during the school day. This was invaluable to me, to get to see my child at play, learning and growing, and to be part of that experience.
* Parents can see firsthand their children’s daily growth and development at school.
* Co-ops are able to have a low adult-to-child ratio.
* Parents get opportunities to learn valuable parenting techniques firsthand from experienced teachers.

What are the responsibilities of a co-op?
* Parents assist in the classroom as a Helping Parent 1 to 2 times a month
* Each family works on an ongoing co-op project
* Participation in work days for school maintenance and cleaning
* Assisting with and contributing to fundraising events

What classes and ages does FPS cater to?

The Parents Morning Out "Duckling" program for one year olds is a one, two, or three day option for the youngest set. The littlest ones should be 1 year old by the start of the year but not yet 2 years old. Only six children are enrolled for each day, and the ratio is 1:3, as the FPS teacher is present, but also a parent co-op volunteer. The low ratios and individualized attention is something hard to find in larger schools, speaking from personal experience as my kids have been in former schools where they disappeared into large groups.

The program gets even more fun for 2 year olds in the "Treefrog" program, just as they’re exploring their independence. One group of 8 children meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (3-day program), and a separate group of 8 children on Tuesdays and Thursdays (2-day program). Each group has the same teacher, who is assisted each day by a helping parent, making the ratio 1:4.

FPS is very proud of the unique theme-based curriculums that the 1 and 2 year old classes follow. "Family Preschool follows the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) recommendations for curriculum, which supports an approach to learning based on the constructivist theories of Piaget and Vygotsky. In this model, teachers plan activities designed to promote children’s reasoning and problem solving skills. The children are also encouraged to design their own activities where the teachers are active participants."

As the FPS children get older, they age into the exciting program for 3 and 4 year olds, where they share the large classrooms with three staff teachers and two “helping parents” that volunteer as part of their co-op hours. Family Preschool is one of the only preschools in the area using the project approach model. What is project based learning? "During a project, teachers guide students through in-depth investigations of real-world topics. There are three distinct phases in project work.

Teachers establish what children already know about a topic and the children share their experiences through personal narratives. During this time, children’s questions and wonderings are recorded.
The class investigates the topic using books, art projects, manipulatives, experiments, guest experts, and field work. Throughout the project, children and teachers record observations, collect data, and represent what they learn by posting it in the classroom.
Teachers and students prepare for a culminating event during which the children become experts and share with others what they have learned. This usually involves guiding parents on a classroom tour of their project work, performing a song or play for a parent audience, and/or inviting parents to a project-related community event."

Three year old children attend school four mornings per week, Tuesday through Friday, while the older four year old children attend all five weekday mornings. Each teacher in their separate room has a mixed age gathering of 8-9 children who spend gathering and snack time together. The rest of the day, the kids are welcome to roam around the many stations in all three rooms, and play together when outdoors.

At Family Preschool, the snacks are healthy and safe for all children, adhering to their Allergy-safe for All Children policy which is unique among preschools in the area. Food items containing medically-documented allergens are not brought into the school for snacks for any children, including food brought for special celebrations. Children in the older classrooms may stay for a “Lunch Bunch”, which is an optional additional hour each day for a small added fee, where they bring their own lunch from home. These lunches do not have to adhere to the allergy policy, but strict precautions are in place to avoid exposing any child with allergies to the problematic food. I know this firsthand as the mom of a child with a life threatening food allergy.

Play and learning truly is child led at FPS, where they are given appropriate time at all ages for free play. Option include sensory tables, art provocations, dress up, puzzles, science projects, and more. Gathering time is held for 2-5 year olds in their classrooms, where they may tackle the current theme by reading books about the subject, having discussions, or learning songs. Ample time outdoors is an essential part of the day for all ages. The playground is full of well maintained wooden structures for exploring, from slides and swings to climbing walls and sandboxes. The oldest pre-K children have frequent field trips throughout the year, and are gently encouraged as they gain skills they’ll need in school both in and out of the classroom.

How to apply:
FPS is currently accepting applications for the 2018-19 school year. Applications should be submitted electronically here (where you can also find additional information on the lottery).

Where they are:
Phone: 919.402 .1500
Family Preschool, 4907 Garrett Rd, Durham, NC 27707

You can find out the latest happenings at FPS on their facebook page here.

I really can't say enough about Family Preschool.
We truly treasured our time there, in the early years that are gone before you know it.
Please stop by for a tour to meet the amazing teachers
and see firsthand the learning and growing that they foster in this special place.

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Anna Carson Dewitt Photography

7/31/2018

5 Comments

Ever had your true spirit captured in a photograph? Not that fake smile we do when we say "cheese" but the real deal grin that sparkles from within? Anna Carson Dewitt Photography specializes in real life portraiture that takes precious moments and commits them to film. Anna says "When I take your picture, I witness the things that make you interesting, tender, strong, and loving, and reflect that beauty back to you in photos that you’ll keep forever. The most important audience for my photos? Your children, fifty years from now."

Anna is truly talented - I say this from personal experience with her cool, calm and collected manner in a photo shoot during a tornado watch! You see, we had planned to get some shots of my kiddos but little did we know how the weather would turn on us. Time was not on our side and I wasn't sure how it was possible for her to get anything with the wind whipping around but when the results came in I was amazed. Despite the blustery day, she wrangled my two kids into some amazing shots where she really captured their spirits, from cuddly and sweet to silly and sassy. You can see two of my favorites from that day on the left!

If you want to see her most recent shoots, check her out on facebook here.

Anna uses her skills behind the camera to really make a difference. Earlier this year she had portrait sessions to benefit paying the school lunch debt in Durham down. This weekend she does something equally as special and giving. She's holding Durham Tiny Sessions to support the Texas Civil Rights Project 's efforts to reunite immigrant families. You can get amazing one-of-a-kind shots of your family while helping other families in need - what better reason do you need to have portraits done?

The fundraiser takes place this Sunday August 5th, from 4p-7p in downtown Durham. Anna believes deeply in this cause. As she explains, "As of today, as many as 700 immigrant families remain separated by the US government, despite the July 10th deadline. It's going to take a massive mobilization of skilled professionals and resources to get these children back to their parents-- let's raise some money for the lawyers and advocates who are working around the clock to make it happen. I know you all have been hugging you children extra tight lately-- come hug them in front of my camera! I came to know of the Texas Civil Rights Project when I was in Rio Grande Valley a few weeks ago, and they are tireless, profoundly compassionate professionals with deep roots in the Texas struggle for immigrant rights. You can explore their work, listen to their briefings, and check out their financials here: https://texascivilrightsproject.org"

The Tiny Sessions are super-short, super fun photo sessions for kids, families, or headshots. They last five minutes (really!) and cost $75 for the session your choice of three high-res digital images, with the option to buy more. Yes! Five minutes! It can be done! I can attest to how quickly Anna can get special shots. Signup here and do it soon before she's booked up for this great cause!

Anna is truly skilled with a variety of subjects. Her website portfolio showcases her portraits of everyone from newborns, families and children, to couples, wedding and maternity shots. Her headshots are stunning and she even features photos of small businesses at work and makers crafting. For her standard full length shoots, the packages include a 60-90 minute session at your home or someplace you love, and the full collection of hand-edited, high resolution images with print release, downloadable from a private online gallery. For more on how it works, head here.

If you can't make the special fundraiser on the 5th she also has mini sessions Saturdays and Sundays until September 16th. These sessions will take place at Leigh Farm Park on Saturdays, and Downtown Durham on Sundays. The fee is $195 for the 20 minutes session and your choice of twelve high-res images, downloadable from a private online gallery. Full details and signup right here on her website.

If you're looking for special photographs that capture a moment in time for eternity,
you can't go wrong with Anna, a true artist of the lens.
I urge you to book her now before your kids get any older!
You can get in touch with Anna at any time
via email or by messaging her on her facebook page.
But wait... there's more!
Would you like to win a mini-session
from Anna Carson Dewitt Photography
just for SoDu Parents Posse readers?
Then scroll down to the end to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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AR Workshop

5/1/2018

3 Comments

Want something new to do for a moms night out? Need a special, one-of-a-kind gift? Check out AR Workshop in Brightleaf Square. It's a boutique DIY studio offering classes where you create custom pieces, lead by experienced instructors. AR stands for Anders Ruff, taken from the names of the two female designers who wanted to create something new for all the crafty people out there back in 2010, and the company has exploded with popularity ever since. AR Workshop is the only studio in Durham that allows each class participant to make their own piece exactly as they want it. They offer hundreds of options, from classic to trendy. You can choose anything from pillows to canvas signs, porch decorations to holiday wall hangings, lazy susans to necklace holders. The possibilities are endless.

I got to try out an AR Workshop and wanted to share my experience with you because it was so much fun and I left with such a special momento for my family.

The interior of the studio is very welcoming, with a retail space where you can purchase ready made decor if you don't have time for a workshop. They also offer parties if you want to come in with some buddies! We had a great group of people, and even though I didn't know anyone at my table at the start, I made fast friends with them. Some were newbies like me, others were experienced in the art of it. We all had a ton of fun. Adding to the fun is their BYOB option, so I grabbed some brews from nearby Clouds Brewing to enjoy as I worked.

I chose the lazy susan and wanted to paint it blue to match my kitchen. We sanded down our wood then I decided to water down my paint so I could still see the wood grain. You get to pick from a slew of colors, and the instructors really helped me choose just the right hue.

Then we put tape on the backside of the sticker that we use to create the stencil. That way the little pieces won't peel off after we paint.

Next I painted my sign in the colors I wanted after I got some help choosing just the right complimentary colors. This part was my favorite because it was so exciting imagining what it would look like when done.

Here's the finished lazy susan after I touched it up (the instructors helped me here too). I absolutely love how it turned out and it looks perfect on my dining room table.

I can't wait to go back for another workshop - I even got a punch card for frequent visits. I would love to arrange a special SoDu Parents Night Out for us! Here is the schedule if you want to see what's being offered and when - there's even a special Mimosas for Mom's Mother's Day workshop!

But don't just take my word for it!
Look below to enter a contest for a free workshop, valued at $65.50!!
And just as fun, SoDu members get a super discount of 15% on classes -
just use code SODU15 when you register online through May 31st!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC required disclosure: In exchange for a blog post, I was given a complimentary workshop in order to try out the services. Some of the content, such as the images, are provided by the pardner for my use. I give permission for this blog post to be used in perpetuity by the pardner as they wish. May seem silly, but legally I gotta say it. Congrats for reading the fine print!

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Flip4Kids! foreign language immersion summer camps

4/4/2018

13 Comments

Flip4Kids offers a traditional camp in a full immersion setting and you can choose from Spanish, French, or Chinese. The camps are for 4 - 13 year olds and run from 9am-3:30pm at Rashkis Elementary in Meadowmont in Chapel Hill. Each day, children begin by practicing the words and melodies to one of Language Workshop for Children's happy songs. Then it's on the first lesson - Spanish, Chinese, or French - with lots of interactive games. Afterwards it's time to enjoy a day full of music and movement, indoor and outdoor games, cooking, and arts and crafts activities. And Flip4Kids works with campers of all skill levels, so if you already speak another language at home, or if your child is in a dual language program at school but could use some brushing up on skills, or just would have fun practicing their vocabulary, it's a wonderful place for beginners and fluent children alike, as well as anybody somewhere in between!

And it's amazing all the wonderful things they do in just one week at Flip4Kids, as Katy wrote over on Stir Crazy Moms Guide to Durham, "a recent Spanish camp involved a visit to Kidzu Children's Museum, the fire station, the post office, Harris Teeter to practice grocery shopping, and a Mexican restaurant (where they had to order in Spanish). They also had a visit from a police officer, made tortillas and cookie houses, observed earthworms, learned songs and more. Sounds like a great week to me!!"

Hurry - camps end when July does! If the rest of your summer is already booked up, they also offer classes of all kinds during the regular school year. For more information on their camps and classes go here: http://www.flip4kidsnc.com/classes-and-camps/.
And read on for a chance to win a summer camp FOR FREE!

It's common knowledge that raising your child to be multilingual has a world of benefits. Kids who speak more than one language have been proven to be better at problem solving, switching between tasks is easier, have improved memory, better social skills with a wider range of peers, a greater appreciation for our diverse world, and the benefits continue with age, including increased earning potential and slower cognitive decline. But despite how important and beneficial it is, when SoDu mom Hao Nguyen and John Gaskin were looking for ways for their children to experience and learn other languages outside of their blended family, there were very few resources out there. They could speak multiple languages in their own home, and have some exposure in certain daycares, but outside of visiting other countries, few opportunities arose locally. This search led them to discover the Language Workshop for Children® and Thibaut Technique®, which they incorporate into their business, Flip4Kids! At Flip4Kids (Foreign Language Immersion Program) they teach Spanish, French, and Chinese to little ones starting at 6 months old through classes and camps.

Watching children learn a language is like seeing a spark light up in their eyes to Flip4Kids' founders. Hao remarks that she is "always amazed at how talented kids are at learning another language. As you glance through the pictures and videos, you'll also see that the students were great at helping each other out, explaining things when a friend had a difficult time understanding what was going on, and just being a good friend. No matter how many times I see it, I still get goose bumps when I hear a student answer and communicate in a 2nd language! We all know that learning a new language makes us smarter, but what I love about watching kids as they learn a new language is that they begin to live, see, and understand the world differently."

It's important to note that there is a precious window of opportunity in childhood where they have the greatest capacity for simultaneously learning and retaining multiple languages. Flip4Kids takes full advantage of a child's natural love of play with "vocabulary-building songs, games, and activities to emotionally engage children in the natural process of language learning. Native-fluent teachers use props, visual aids, movement and humor to expose children to the language through a sound-rich environment. Children learn naturally by first hearing the sounds of the target language, then understanding, and finally speaking. Instead of using translation, children are fully immersed in the language." This technique has been finely honed and mastered over the past 40 years and is proven to be a success.

Check out the videos of the camps on their facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Flip4Kids, as well as all the pics of happy kids having fun while learning. It made me wanna go back to being a kid and enroll tomorrow!

You already knew how important it was to help your child learn a second language, and now your know that Flip4Kids is the most fun, proven way to do that. So what are you waiting for? A deal? You got it!
Hao is happy to offer her fellow SoDu Parents Posse members a discount on any Flip4Kids summer camp or class. Camps only run until the end of July so enroll today! Just mention SODU under the payment part of the registraion form and you'll get 10% off!

But wait! She also is generously donating a FREE week of full day language immersion camp ($325 value) at Flip4Kids to a lucky SoDu Parents Posse member! In order to be eligible to win the contest, you must follow the rafflecopter giveaway instructions below - the more you do, the better your chances!

Don't forget that even if you don't win, SoDu members automatically get 10% off any classes or camps, just mention SODU when you enroll!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC required disclosure: In exchange for a blog post, I was given a free summer camp by advertising sponsor (aka pardner) so that I could sample their services. Some of the content, such as the images, are provided by the pardner for my use. I give permission for this blog post to be used in perpetuity by the pardner as they wish. May seem silly, but legally I gotta say it. Congrats for reading the fine print!

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