C.O.R.N

Written by Nikki Amara Myers

Close your eyes.  Now, think about corn.  What do you see?  What thoughts or memories come to mind? A favorite recipe?  A family tradition?  Butter and salt?  Summer days?  Picnics?  Yes, yes, and yes. All those visceral responses are correct; however, in the context of this article, you would be absolutely wrong as I was a few months back.

As some of you know, I love food and I enjoy cooking.  Finding new recipes for my own weekly menu planning is constantly on my mind.  Feeding my family healthy, delicious meals is a priority.  With that said, I was reading Emily Roach’s blog, Random Recycling, and she had the word CORN listed as a meal on her weekly menu planner.  CORN?  What the heck does that mean?  How is she going to create a whole meal using corn?  Knowing Emily, as well as I do, I know this IS possible but what is she going to make?  Could this CORN-thing be an acronym?  If so, what, what is it?  Reading further, I learned in Emily’s house, CORN represents a weekly CLEAN OUT THE REFRIGERATOR NIGHT.  Ah ha, yes, this makes sense now.  Accordingly, Emily found this inspiration from a wonderful post on Life as Mom’s blog.  In both instances, cleaning out the refrigerator nights provide opportunities to use leftovers as well as to clean and organize the refrigerator.  Brilliant. 

So, CORN has really taken its place in my weekly menu planning as it does at Emily’s house.  Once a week, I stand, usually listless, in front of my opened refrigerator making peace with whatever leftovers remain.  Sometimes, I reconstitute the leftovers into something interesting while other nights the leftovers are either simply combined with one another, if the flavors warrant, or they are individually plated, heated up, and served immediately to anyone hungry enough and hanging around the kitchen table.  These are the nights I chuckle silently because a lot of times I don’t even like to eat leftovers but I enjoy cooking so this is the price I pay for regularly cooking too much.  Eating, cooking, CORN, meal planning, the kitchen, and the opened refrigerator all have a special place in my day, in my week, and in my life. 

How do you deal with leftovers?  Are you one to cook just enough or do you typically have extensive leftovers in your refrigerator?  Have you established a CORN-ritual?  If so, please let us know what you do and if you have any tips or tricks to share. 

Enjoy your CORN either way – yellow, deliciously buttery with a hint of salt or clean and organized with enjoyable, reconstituted leftovers.  Whatever you do, make it fun, make it enjoyable, and always make it delicious.  


About the Author

Nikki lives locally with her husband and two children.  She is a self-proclaimed foodie, photographer, and blogger.  Now a SAHM, she was a school counselor and cast member of Joey & Maria’s Comedy Wedding for many years.  Nikki currently consults as a private, independent college counselor.  She also writes her own personal blog, Days With Us (follow her at www.dayswithus.com or @dayswithus).

100 FREE things to do with your kids this summer

Written by Nikki Amara Myers

My daughter’s first year of preschool ended last week.  Now what?  Camps?  Play dates?  Crafts?  Parks?  Adventures to here-and-there?  There are endless opportunities; however, finding the time to research and organize these activities can be time consuming.  Thank goodness for Sarah B., author of the wonderfully creative Digital Reflections, an incredible blog with a plethora of ideas, tips, and recommendations regarding crafts, digital scrap booking and discovering the ordinary.  I’m so glad I found Digital Reflections’ post as it was a healthy and wonderful reminder that having fun with my children doesn’t have to cost anything.  Creativity, planning ahead, and developing a back-up-plan will yield various opportunities to build a summer filled with weekly, or even daily, activities where you child will have fun, learn (without it being obvious), be inspired to try new things, and perhaps grasp that interesting and fun things to do are all around them, and that daily life provides an exciting canvas for them to paint. 

How many free activities will you choose to plan?  Ten?  Forty?  All?  It is up to you.  For me, if it’s not in the calendar it doesn’t get done so I’m planning ahead, making my list, and getting those soon-to-be adventures into the calendar.  Whether you go only with your children or you coordinate a group remember to have fun, document what you’ve done through photographs or words, share your experience, and continue to build a wonderful framework of fun for you child.  Happy Summer!

A big, huge thank you to Digital Reflections’ author, Sarah B., for allowing us to benefit from her wonderful summer suggestions.   Thank you, Sarah and Digital Reflections!  

100 FREE THINGS to do with your kids this summer

A little break from our summer activity to bring you a list of things to do this summer, that won’t break the bank, and if you are handy they will actually be FREE.  If you are keeping up with our summer you know I am all about keeping the kids from being bored, but also about enhancing their education in the process and bringing them back to nature.  

1.  Library - check out books that have IDEAS - give reason for further hands-on study (activity).  Reserve books through your online service at your local library that has items of interest for your child’s age group, how to make paper airplanes, science experiments, craft projects, etc.  

2. Library - STORY TIME - something about a different setting can break up the routine for the kids and it gives them something to look forward to.

3. Local Parks - go early, pack a lunch, bring a drawing tablet, and enjoy the outside before it’s too hot.

4. Take a field trip.

5.  Visit a fire department. 

6.  Play in the water - but aside from the everyday play in the sprinkler and kiddie pool - make games with the water.  Use the water with paint brushes and paint the fence (it dries clear), put food coloring in the water and stretch paper across a fence or fill water guns with this colored water and then they are really painting with water colors. 

7.  Build a fort - go to nearby woods, gather sticks, broken branches, etc. then build a fort or house.  This will provide days -worth of enjoyment both in the gathering/building/playing inside.

8. Take a nature walk (http://www.trails.com/catalog_product.aspx?productfamilyid=10509) - take along a journal, let the kids bring cameras, then go home, identify everything your photographed and create a nature book.  That’s a whole other day’s activity (paper, photos, glue, scissors, and notebook).  This is especially good if saved for a rainy day.

9.  Take an "Alphabet tour" - again camera(s) in hand, journals and letter guides for younger kids. Begin with the letter a (Apple street), b (building), c (coliseum), d (dairy queen), e (eatery)…you get the drift.  When you are done each child has a personal and creative alphabet memory book.

10.  Check out kid’s free days at your local museums.

11.  Make homemade ice cream (if you don’t keep heavy cream on hand you will have to buy it, but hey it’s still pretty cheap entertainment/enjoyment).  Make popsicles, smoothies, and ice-cream sundaes.

12. Go on a scavenger hunt – create one.  

13.  Host a neighborhood carnival (we're talking bean bag toss, eggs on a spoon races, and those kinds of games).  Each neighbor hosts a game/activity and gives out a snack/drink. This makes for a very fun day.

14.  Go to an outdoor concert (most towns/cities have a website where you can see what/when and which ones are free.)

15.  Check your movie theatre for free summer movies (usually morning showings).

16.  Go to the beach.

17.  Check out your local hardware store - they offer free kids club building projects.

18. Cook with your kids (my kids are still love to cook the evening meals with me) but let them plan it, be a part of the shopping and table- setting.  Make dessert!).

19.  Host a cooking party - invite some friends (your kids are not the only ones home and wanting something to do).  Have each mom bring a few ingredients and spend the day making cookies, treats, etc. (maybe you know someone who could use some extra love and attention - make a whole meal with these friends, let the kids make cards, and go make someone’s day brighter and happier).

20.  Teach the kids Frisbee golf.

21.  Go fly a kite (why not make them first).

22.  Do a sewing project together.  Make a picnic or story time blanket, apron, or summer dress.

23.  Make sock puppets - put on a puppet shows.

24.  Go outside for reading time.

25.  Make and blow bubbles.

26. Hide-and-find all the army men/dinosaurs/little people/cars/mini-animals, etc. in a sand pit - have an excavation.  You can even read a book about archeologists before or after the excavation.

27.  Play dress up.

28.  Have a tea party.

29.  Make an obstacle course out of your back yard and have races.

30. Play jacks.

31. Go fishing.

32. Go on a bike ride.

33. Camp in your back yard.

34. Melt and create with crayons.

35. Visit a local state park.

36. Go bowling (a lot of the alleys offer students 2 free games over the summer).

37. Plant a garden using seeds from your vegetables/fruits.

38. Tour local historic sites.

39. Make a star gazing map.

40. Teach the kids to knit.

41. Check with a local farm - offer to help feed the animals.

42. Set up a lemonade stand.

43. Set up hot wheels races in the driveway.  Have them make a trophy to give to the winning car.  At the next race, the new winning car gets the trophy.

44. Have a LEGO building contest (using x# pieces, only using blue pieces, creating something a certain height, create something that moves, etc.).

45. Make a doll.

46. Hunt for animal tracks - get a book from the library to help identify them.  

47. Have a dress up party (doesn’t have to be Halloween to wear those costumes).
 
48. Learn bird calls.

49. Use magazines to make mosaics.

50. Check your craft stores for make and take craft projects (Michael’s, Joann’s Fabrics, Lakeshore Learning Center, etc.).

51. Tour a factory.

52. Make musical instruments and become a 'home band' sensation! (Think pie pan tambourine, paper towel holder rain stick, and string and cereal box guitar).  Don’t forget to dress the part!

53. Make tie-die shirts, listen to some groovy tunes, and dance around the house.

54. Take a picnic to dad/mom/grandma/etc, and give them a nice break from their work day.

55. Make a tent or a fort in the living room.

56. Go to an Arboretum.

57. Make a bird feeder with pine cones and peanut butter (and bird seed of course).

58. Paint with fruit and veggies (and anything else you will let them paint with - think q-tips, old toothbrush, sponges, leaves, etc.).


59. Teach and play charades.

60. Have a "BORED" game day - pull out all those dusty games and let each child pick a game. If it’s nice outside, take them out on a picnic blanket.

61. Walk your neighbor’s dog.

62. Blow up Diet coke with Mentos.

63. Make silhouettes.

64. Check out local volunteer offerings.  Teach the importance of helping others.

65. Learn/Go Orienteering.

66. Make a compass. (Ties in to 65)

67. Gather friends and have a "clean" the park day.  Celebrate your good deed with a picnic and play time.

68. Sculpt with homemade SALT CLAY.

69. Collect Seashells - then sort by color/size etc.  Make a seashell necklace or use the shells to decorate an empty jar. (Adults should use the glue gun).

70. Play "I Spy" as you walk around your neighborhood.

71. Go to a farmers market.

72. Check with a local pizzeria to see if you can come in for a tour (they will probably want you to buy a pizza, so it may not be "free" - but fun!).

73. Check your newspaper for local summer festivals.

74. Make school related activities fun - create your own matching cards (I make mine using these cute digital supplies found here and here). Use macaroni for math reinforcement, make a clock with a paper plate, help with geometry by giving building tasks, etc.).

75. Learn (play) street games.

76. Make Taffy.

77. Make a checker board and your own checkers, and then play for a bit.

78. Make your own board games.

79. Make a Milk Carton Boat  and head to a pond.

80. Have a holiday party in July party and ask all the guests to bring donations for your local food pantry.

81. Participate in local Free Friday activities (see previous Parent Talk Matters’ post).

82. Have a major league team in your area - call about free kids tickets this summer.

83. Take a trip to tour your state capitol, local courthouse, etc.

84. Gather, paint, and make pet rocks.

85. Plan a theme week (keep checking back here for more details about our themes this summer).

86. Make freeze pops.

87. Have a pajama day; enjoy movies and popcorn (great for a rainy day).

88. Color.

89. Make a Wind chime.

90. Write your own poems.

91. Have a toy swap (pack up those forgotten toys and swap with a friend - kids love new "to them" toys as much as they love new toys.

92. "Play" school.

93. Make paper dolls for boys, for girls, or for the more advanced.

94. Travel around the world. Have English scones for breakfast, Chinese Stir Fry for lunch, Italian for dinner. Make a craft to go with each country, get a library book with photos of these places (maybe even see if you have a friend your child can become pen pals).

95. Have a switcher-oo day.  You send your kids to someone else’s house and their kids come to yours... kids LOVE this... just plan a few activities (you can choose from some on this list) and give them a great day as your friend will do with your kids.

96. Play tennis, soccer, kickball, football, etc.

97. Make slime.

98. Make glowing fireflies. - We get our glow sticks at Target's $1.00 bins and they come with 10, so it’s practically free.

99. Make a sandcastle. If you don’t have a sand box, gather up all sorts of containers and some water jugs and head over to your local park.  Spend the day building a great sand castle together.  Lots of kids will want to get in on the action so it’s a great social time, too.

100.  Enjoy an art lesson.

Most importantly remember the simplicity of childhood is found in the quality of the time spent together.  Enjoy each moment; create an environment of joy and excitement.  I am certain this summer will be one we all remember for a very long time. 

List complied by Sarah B. from Digital Reflections.

Now what?  With so many suggestions where and how do you start?  My advice: either have your child pick a number, and start there or find your favorite one-or-two and make a commitment to trying those out.  For me, I just need to start.  PUT IT IN THE CALENDAR and it will happen (that’s my mantra for everything).  I know everyone in my house will benefit from having a plan (some structure but with lots and lots of flexibility). What about you?  What are your favorite summertime activities?  How do you make your summer fun for everyone in your home?  



About the Author

Nikki lives locally with her husband and two children.  She is a self-proclaimed foodie, photographer, and blogger.  Now a SAHM, she was a school counselor and cast member of Joey & Maria’s Comedy Wedding for many years.  Nikki currently consults as a private, independent college counselor.  She also writes her own personal blog, Days With Us (follow her at www.dayswithus.com or @dayswithus).

After the Final Tag: A Reflection of the 2012 Spring Sale

Written by Nikki Amara Myers

Various areas of the sale.

Three days.  Three incredible days.  Last weekend was pulled together by an absolutely amazing group of volunteers who spent a heck-of-a-lot of time setting-up and moving tables, and organizing clothes, and toys, and shoes, and baby equipment, and books, and bedding, and DVD/CD’s, and greeting volunteers, consignors, and shoppers, and tagging, and pricing, and hanging (and the detangling of wire hangers), and folding, and unfolding, and refolding, and finding little tiny pieces of toys and games that go together, and hauling trash (and there’s a lot of it) to the dumpsters.  The list of things that were successfully done is endless.

Clothes and puzzles.

An enormous amount of work goes into preparing, to organizing, to leading and to implementing the Parent Talk Sale.  This is the 6^th sale I’ve attended; however, it was the 1st sale I’ve been at from start to finish.  What I witnessed was magic.  I saw the space empty and watched its glory unfold.  I have a new appreciation for how hard the Co-Chairs, the Sale Committee, and all the volunteers have to work to make the sale a success.  It takes many incredibly dedicated people to execute the sale in the manner it has been done for years and years.  This IS a well-oiled-machine, and it’s impressive how everyone knows exactly what to do, when, and where.  Volunteers come in.  Things get done.  It’s truly amazing.  A big, humongous, gigantic heartfelt thank you to Seema Meloni and Beth McCarthy, the Sale Co-Chairs, for their leadership, all their hard work and dedication, and their exceptional way of making everyone involved in or attending the sale feel so loved, so appreciated, and so taken care of.  Thank you, ladies!

As the hours passed, the space was transformed into what I always remembered.  The tables were in the correct spots.  The signs were starting to be hung.  The boxes were specifically located as they have always been in the past.  The once blank canvas is now transitioning into the beloved sale, which we all know and love.

Early shoppers waiting in a very long line.

Observing the happenings of Thursday, Friday and Saturday was fascinating.  Most everyone knew what to do.  People were willing to help each other, to train, to teach.  New volunteers were welcomed and given tasks.  People were genuinely asking: what can we do?  There were hugs.  There were cheers.  There was a collective love for the sale that was worn on everyone’s sleeves.  Being one that loves the sale, I enjoy being a part of and sharing these experiences.  The sale seems to tap into a part of all of us that wants to be appreciated, to be needed, to be part of a team, to know you’ve made a difference.  Volunteering at the sale, or some other Parent Talk event, allows you to connect with so many different people that perhaps you may not have met otherwise.  It grants you a wonderful opportunity to be a part of something big, of something meaningful, of something that benefits our community.  If you haven’t volunteered before think about trying one of the many volunteer opportunities Parent Talk has to offer throughout the year. 

This year’s sale brought in a lot of wonderful donations (thank you!) and incredibly nice items to be consigned (thank you!).  So many people volunteered and went above-and-beyond what was expected.  Kindness and generosity were every-present.  A special thank you to those shopping the sale that also provided many random-acts-of-kindnesses as you just jumped in to help with whatever was needed.  Thank you for hauling trash to the dumpster, or for bringing large trash bags of various items to Goodwill or to your homes for storage, or to those folks who helped other shoppers carry large/heavy items to their cars.  It is these acts of kindness that also need to be recognized and acknowledged.  We see you being nice, being kind, and being wonderful human beings.  Thank you-thank you.  What a wonderful way for all of us to celebrate that kindness lives and breathes all around us. 

Donations and Quality Control Center.

The Spring Sale yielded so many incredible treasures.  I hope you found what you were looking for or purchased lots and lots of stuff (because you couldn’t resist).  You contributed in so many ways to the success of the sale and this incredible fundraiser.  Thank you for your generosity.  Thank you for volunteering.  Thank you for shopping the sale, and for bringing your friends and family, and for waiting in such a long line (it was an impressive line this year).  The sale wouldn’t happen without you.  Please mark your calendars as the fall sale is scheduled for Saturday, October 20^th, 2012 (same time, same place).  

All the toys and games.

Shoppers-in-action.

About the Author

Nikki lives locally with her husband and two children. She is a self-proclaimed foodie, photographer, and new blogger.  Now a SAHM, she was a school counselor and cast member of Joey & Maria’s Comedy Wedding for many years.  Nikki currently consults as a private, independent college counselor. Follow her @DaysWithUs.

SALE UPDATE: Inside the Pod and Volunteers Needed

Written by the Sale Committee

Is your baby girl a fashionista-in-training?  If so, she may need these adorable Kenneth Cole onesies.  We have four onesies packaged together; one pink, one white and pink, one gray, and one striped.  They will compliment any outfit (cute pants, ruffled skirt, frilly shorts). 

“Kenneth Cole” you say?  He makes shoes or something like that?  You’re right, he does. 

Curiosity builds. 

Why is he famous?  Glad you asked. 

“After establishing the Kenneth Cole name as a prime designer of women's shoes, Cole branched out into women's wear, menswear, accessories, and even jewelry. With his clothing described as ‘Prada for the people,’ he brought simple yet chic styles like black wool three-button suits, slick loafers and subtle ties to the workingman. Cole is also known for his socially conscious brand of marketing, as he often pairs clothing ads with charitable messages dealing with causes like AIDS and homelessness” [excerpt taken from www.infomat.com and www.askmen.com, links to article above].

Another great donation is a boxed set of 6 brand-new, with-the-tags-on, fashion socks for a 3-6 month old girl.  These are great socks because they resemble little Mary Jane shoes.  So cute, functional, and a great deal. 

Both items will sell quickly. 

Remember, the Sale is Saturday, May 5, 2012.  Mark your calendars.  Secure babysitting if needed. Volunteer (yes, we STILL need volunteers).  Tell all your friends.  Encourage others to come.  

HELP: when help is needed

Are you ready to help?  Think about your response.  Get ready.  Yes, you are, now take action.  The Parent Talk Used Clothing, Toy and Equipment Sale, which is rapidly approaching, needs an additional 15-20 volunteers for the 1-3 pm and 1:30-3:30 pm shifts.  It’s understandable that these specific volunteer shifts are not the most popular because the Sale is basically over.  Most of the bargains have been found and purchased.  All the set-up is done.  All the coffee and chocolate has worn off, and the excitement is now shadowed by exhaustion. 

It’s time to clean up.  To bring accumulated trash to the dumpster.  To help the charities gather all wanted items (and there are a lot of them).  The floors need to be swept.  The tables put away.  Trucks need to be loaded and driven to Dover.  Volunteers often just do whatever needs to be done so everyone can go home.  There is an incredible amount of work to be done during these shifts.  To state the obvious, these tasks can take a long time with few hands; however, the work could be done exponentially faster if we had an abundance of help. 

If you enjoy the Sale and love all the bargains you find for your children, then please consider volunteering for an extra shift during either the 1-3 pm or the 1:30-3:30 pm shifts.  You, your partner, and your friends are all welcome: come together.  Help IS needed; therefore, please help.  Your kindness will be noticed and recognized. 

To volunteer for one of these shifts (even if you are already scheduled for another shift), please click here.  

The NOT-SO-LIVE Pod Cast: A View From Inside the Parent Talk Donations Pod

Written by Nikki Amara Myers

A HAIKU
The pod is filling.
Elmo and Bumbo inside. 
For sale on May 5th. 

The pod is filling quickly with treasures of all kinds .  It would be hard to describe each and every donated item but let me tease you with a few items recently delivered to the pod.
We have a yellow Rody:  this is a great item.  I’ve had one for my children since before they could sit up.  ISIS  introduced the Rody to me.  It has been a favorite item in our home for a while now.  My children gently bounced on Rody as infants with parental  assistance, and as they’ve grown they play with it differently.  They bounce and jump on it.  They ride on it.  They pretend to feed and care for it.  They bring it to the veterinarian for boo-boos, they put removable stickers on it for being a good-Rody. They hug it and have fun.  It makes them giggle and happy.  I’m glad we have a Rody and you will be too if you purchase it  at the Sale.
Other great finds include a small children’s outdoor or indoor slide, a Big Bird stuffed animal, a purple Bumbo seat, and an adorable Elmo stuffed animal. 
As always recommended and encouraged: come, shop, volunteer, donate, consign. 


Learn how by visiting our Parent Talk Sale page!

About the Author

Nikki lives in Needham with her husband, Rick, and their two young children.  Now a SAHM, she was a high school guidance counselor and cast member of Joey & Maria's Comedy Wedding.  Nikki occasionally works as a private, independent college consultant as she loves working with adolescents and their families as they navigate a sometimes challenging developmental stage.  Self-proclaimed foodie, photographer, and now new blogger and tweeter, Nikki enjoys capturing her world one-click, one-post, and one-tweet at a time.  Follow her @Visual_Guidance