With New Year's Eve only days away, I am beginning to panic. Am I the only one who is a last minute planner when it comes to holiday gatherings? So much goes into a successful holiday party—Will I have enough wine or spirits for my guests? Does the
presentation look nice? How can I make sure my guests get home safely?
Our friends at Fine Wine & Good Spirits are here to help with a fun “Holiday Entertaining Tips” providing readers with useful tips and tricks for
planning their holiday bash. Such tips as... Did you forget to chill the Champagne? Don’t
worry, we have a trick to chill your bubbly in just 10 minutes! Not sure how
much alcohol to buy? Take out the guess work with our quantity calculator. These tips and more are perfect for easing the stress of holiday party
planning!
Mason J.A.R. Apparel, is a home-based business and dream of local artist Jessica Ann Russell. Jessica used her love for art and fashion to create a line of hand-printed clothing on comfortable kid's clothing.
But WHAT IS IT?
I asked Jessica to send me a sample. I wanted to see what it was, how it would deliver and just the overall experience of this new-to-me product.
I received a box with a mason jar inside. It was very well-packed to ensure whatever was inside would be protected. The purple contents looked interesting and it even came with a cute label.
I opened the mason jar and pulled out an ADORABLE onesie! It was purple AND it had one of my favorite animals on it....an elephant!
Mason J.A.R. Apparel is clothing designed with a little one's comfort in mind. All onesies are 100% GOTs organic (GOTs stands for Global Organic Textile Standard) in a range of beautiful colors. AND printed with YOUR choice of playful block print.
Have you seen our Mom's Corner posts on Fridays on Facebook? This is just one way that we are supporting other local moms who are running their own businesses. In this post, we are excited to introduce you to Erin Daley, an independent consultant with Chloe + Isabel and mom of two! She's giving the world a little more sparkle by offering a gorgeous array of unique jewelry for all tastes.
A LITTLE Q&A WITH ERIN
Why did you start a career with Chloe + Isabel?
I’ve been in direct sales for four years and wanted to find a company
with a different approach. I researched socially-integrated companies
and came across Chloe + Isabel. I really liked the way the company is
run for the merchandisers and looks to empower them.
There is a lot of
support in our merchandiser community and we are given the tools to
build our business the way we want. The emphasis is not on “building a
team” like many other direct sales companies. You work hard to build your
business and you are able to move up to management. Take that and add a
gorgeous, high quality product that is fully backed with a Lifetime
Guarantee and for me it was a perfect fit.
What do you like most about working for yourself?
My favorite part
of working for myself is the ability to set my own hours to work around
my family’s schedule and being able to work from home.
What advice do you have for other moms who might be interested in
starting their own businesses?
Be realistic with yourself about how
much time you have to put into your business and your goals. If
you are honest with yourself from the start, you won’t be so hard on
yourself if you don’t always accomplish every single thing on your to do
lists.
GREAT PROMOTIONS FOR LVFF READERS!
Like Erin's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/chloeisabelbyerindaley,
and post that "Lehigh Valley Family Fun" sent you, and you could win your
choice of $25 off your order of $75 or more OR a pair of stud earrings!
Winner will be chosen on November 17th.
Book a "Pop Up" for November, December or January and you'll receive a free gift (at least a $35 value) at your party! Contact Erin at e.k.daley@gmail.com to book a date and mention "Lehigh Valley Family Fun."
Place an order using THIS LINK and you'll be entered to win All of the Hostess Rewards! Order must be placed using the link listed by November 17th. Be sure it says "Lehigh Valley Family Fun" as the Pop Up while checking out. Winner will be notified on November 18th!
BOOK A PARTY & GET IN TOUCH
And, just in time for your holiday shopping! The Chloe + Isabel Holiday Line launched on November 5th. So, now
is a great time to shop. Here is a link to the Gift Guide.
If you are like our family, you may have spent a day at a local orchard picking apples this fall. The royal galas were amazing this season! We picked more than 15 pounds of apples, and made homemade applesauce and apple crisps.
But, after the fun we were left with two, sturdy apple boxes. What's a mom to do? I noticed that we had a number of books that just didn't fit on the shelves anymore, so I decided to remedy that clutter issue by making book totes.
EASY DIY BOOK TOTE CRAFT
I used leftover paint from our girls' rooms and puffy paint to do the lettering. These super cute totes cost nothing to make other than my time.
My oldest daughter just loves Alice in Wonderland and the baby is a fan of Winnie-the-Pooh. If you are interested in making something similar, consider picking a quote from a favorite book or your favorite author.
Fall in the Lehigh Valley is gorgeous! (Though, as I am writing this it's about 84 degrees outside.) With the natural beauty all around us, fall makes for a great time of year for family photos and capturing special moments.
GREAT PLACES FOR FALL PHOTOS
Fall in the Lehigh Valley 2013, Jordan Creek (c) Smedstad
Here are few places around the Lehigh Valley that make for great photo backdrops.
Lehigh University: With the big trees and beautiful, old buildings, the university is a great place for candid and posed portraits.
Jordan Creek: Upon exiting the Lehigh Valley Zoo, you can forge the Jordan. This area is filled with fall foliage, a picturesque bridge and the water.
Ontelaunee Park: If you haven't traveled this far north on 309, it's worth it. I think this park would be a great place for outdoor shots.
Hawk Mountain: What could be more amazing than a family shot with all of fall's splendor behind you. The view and your photos would be amazing!
Strawberry Acres: A friend of mine had family photos taken here and they were so cute (and there was no charge to for them to do so).
Bridges: How about near one of the Lehigh Valley's covered bridges? That could make for a beautiful photo with a local-feel.
TIPS FOR TAKING FAB FALL FAMILY PHOTOS
I've seen local photographers charge from $75 - $200 for 1.5 - 2 hour photo sessions. If you can do this, I would recommend it. Ask the photographer to take a mix of posed and candid shots. Often it's the candids that make for the best pictures.
Coordinate: I love when families take photos in outfits that coordinate, yet aren't too matchy. Creams, browns and oranges. Jeans, boots and sweaters. Fall is usually a season filled with comfy, warm and stylish clothes.
Be natural: Just be yourselves ... let the kids play ... hug, kiss and be together. Ask the photographer to capture those real family moments.
Time it right: The natural light of early morning or late afternoon is often fantastic for photos. Avoid the outdoors when the sun is highest in the sky ... it'll make for unwanted shadows. I recommend morning, while the kids are "fresh" or after nap time.
When deciding whether to use a photographer, ask about how they deliver the final proofs. My favorite way to receive photos is on a CD, that way I receive all of the files and can upload (and order) from Shutterfly. Ask about getting exclusive rights to use the photos for personal use.
What other tips or advice do you have about fall photos? Are you planning a family portrait day in preparation for the upcoming holiday season?
We have been in the Halloween spirit at our house! It's such a fun time of year for silly crafts and time well spent with the kids. I've been into footprint paintings with my girls ... they grow up so fast and this particular craft also creates a special keepsake.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
1. Stretch canvas
2. Acrylic paint
3. Puffy paint
I painted the canvas orange and let it dry over night before painting the girls' feet and stamping it. I used puffy paint for some of the hair, the lettering and border art. All together, this project cost $4.99 (we had the paint at home already).
I've also seen a version of this craft on Pinterest that included arms and boots, as well as a decorative ribbon to hang it up.
What's more fun than decorating for Halloween? Actually making decorations for Halloween! Well, at least that's how we feel at our house. How about you? What sort of Halloween crafts do you have in mind for your family this fall? PINTEREST INSPIRED GHOST FAMILY
Like many moms, I troll Pinterest for ideas. Here is a ghost family painting that we did; it was inspired by some of the Halloween crafts that were pinned by other moms. Our last name is "Smedstad" which, obviously, we altered to be funny. A friend recommended the Deadstads, but that was a bit too morbid for our two and six year olds. WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THIS PAINTING
1. A large canvas; I bought ours BOGO at Michael's in Whitehall.
2. Acrylic paint, we used brown and off-white. You might consider pure white and black, too.
3. Puffy paint for lettering.
4. Circle sponge for polka-dots.
5. Paper towel for creating textured background.
4 EASY STEPS TO CREATING YOUR BOO-TIFUL MASTERPIECE
1. Paint the background, while still wet, take a dry paper towel and blot the paint to make a textured background. Let it dry for a few minutes.
2. Paint your border. Let it dry.
3. Paint your feet, your kids' feet and even your hubby's feet (if he'll let you). Press everyone's tootsies onto the canvas and let the prints dry.
4. Use your puffy paint to draw on the ghosts' faces and additional lettering.
(c) 2013 Smedstad
CREATE & SHARE YOUR GHOST FAMILY
If you and your family make a ghost painting, we want to see it! Post it to the Lehigh Valley Family Fun Facebook page.
Happy Halloween! Be safe & have a ghoulish season.
Lehigh Valley Family Fun wants to officially recognize thebest fall places in the Valley and we need your help. We've received many nominations from fans from across the Valley ... and now it's time for you to vote for the LVFF's Best of Fall 2013!
You can vote once per day, every day, now through 10 p.m. on October 5. You'll vote the same way our
readers placed their nominations:
1. Via our blog -- Just comment below with your votes
2. The LVFF Facebook page -- Post your votes in the contest comments
3. On Twitter -- Send us an @ message to @LVfamilyfunn or @LVfamilyfun2
CAST YOUR VOTES FROM THESE GREAT NOMINEES
Winners of the very first Lehigh Valley Family Fun 's Best of Fall will be announced the second week of October.
1. Apple Pickin': Strawberry Acres in Coplay OR We will accept write-ins
2: Pumpkin Patch: Sieple Farm in Bath, Grims Farm in Breinigsville OR Savidge Farms in Macungie
3. Corn Maze: Mazezilla in Saylorsburg, Grims Farm in Breinigsville, OR Sieple Farm in Bath
ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY TO VOTE
We
hope you have fun with this contest, share it with friends and
encourage others to vote, too, though it is not required. Follow the fun via our social channels and stayed
tuned for the announcement of this year's winners.
The 2013 winners will be recognized as a "Best of Fall," have their fall venues promoted via the LVFF blog and social media channels, and receive a logo to place on their websites, along with bragging rights.
OFFICIAL RULES Contest is open to fall-themed places and venues located within the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Venues or events located outside of the specified region are not eligible. Relatives of LVFF bloggers are not eligible to win. Contest voting will begin at 8 a.m. on September 21 and end at 10 p.m. ET on October 5. Votes will be verified by LVFF. Winners in each of the three categories will be notified the second week of October and winners will be announced the second week of October. LVFF has not received any payment or gifts in support of this promotion. No purchase is necessary to win. Voters must be at least 18 years of age or older. By voting, each participant agrees to these official rules. By participating in the Contest, each participant and winner waives any
and all claims of liability against the Company, its employees and
agents. We will be sharing this promotion on Facebook, however, the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
Lehigh Valley Family Fun wants to officially recognize thebest fall places in the Valley and we need your help. This is our last call for nominations for the very first LVFF's Best of Fall. Nominations for these three categories will be accepted until 10 p.m. on September 20.
GUIDELINES FOR NOMINATIONS
The
places that you nominate have to fit into one
of above three categories and be located within the Lehigh Valley. You can
nominate a location by commenting on this post, via the LVFF Facebook page or sending a tweet on Twitter to @LVFamilyfunn. WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN OCTOBER
Beginning September 21, you'll have a chance to vote amongst our top nominees until October 5. You'll vote the same way our readers placed their nominations -- via our blog, Facebook page or Twitter. Winners of the very first Best of Fall will be announced the second week of October.
We
hope you have fun with this contest, share it with friends and
encourage others to vote, too. Follow the fun on Facebook and stayed
tuned for the announcement of this year's winners.
Who will you nominate? Copy this "template" and paste it below in the comments section, then add your official nominations.
My Nominations Are ... Apple: Pumpkin: Corn: OFFICIAL RULES Contest is open to fall-themed
places and venues located within the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.
Venues or events located outside of the specified region are not
eligible. Relatives of LVFF bloggers are not eligible to win. Contest
voting will begin at 8 a.m. on September 21 and end at 10 p.m. ET on
October 5. Votes will be verified by LVFF. Winners in each of the three
categories will be notified the second week of October and winners will
be announced the second week of October. LVFF has not received any
payment or gifts in support of this promotion.
Neither had I but I had noticed a TON of advertising on Facebook. So, I knew I had to check it out.
Zaggora is stylish, technology-enhanced activewear designed to give you smart solutions to getting active. Whether it’s ramping up energy to get the most from your time at the gym or employing odor-absorbing fabrics to keep you looking and feeling fresh, Zaggora ensures that you’ll look and feel good while you’re working up a sweat.
And sweat I did! I wore my Zaggora pants everywhere! I wore them while cleaning my house, walking the neighborhood, playing with my kids and riding my bike. When I took them off, I was really sweaty!
Zaggora’s uses revolutionary ThermoFit fabric technology, which is designed to harness the body’s natural heat during activity in order to help increase core temperature and calorie burn.
Zaggora is the brainchild of Dessi Bell, who came up with the concept after she struggled to find an effective solution to lose weight and tone up in time for her wedding. After being disappointed with so many other products in her quest, Dessi decided to design her own product that would look good, be easy to use and give genuinely effective results for all women. After extensive research and experimentation with countless prototypes, Zaggora HotPants were born.
So, I took the 2-week challenge. I won't tell you my measurements, but after 2 weeks, I felt better, my clothes fit better and my overall appearance was better!
I have to say that I just LOVE my Zaggora pants! I feel comfortable wearing them wherever I go!
Don't believe me? See what these ladies had to say...
What do you like most about the fall? Is it the changing of the leaves? Pumpkin lattes? Football? For me, it's all of those things ... plus sweaters and boots, the crisp morning air, and fall family hikes and walks through the woods. GREAT FALL WALKS IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY
What we like most about Hawk Mountain: Amazing views and a great spot for a family photo! The habitat garden can make for a nice walk with your little ones.
What to know before you go: The hiking is very good, but much of it is very rocky and not stroller friendly. There is no place close by to eat, so be sure to pack snacks and water.
Appalachian Trail | appalachiantrail.org
Access point on 309, north of New Tripoli, PA
What we like most about the trail: It's quite and off the beaten path, and it's free!
Trail access on 309N
What to know before you go: We don't hike very long on the trail with our two little ones, and
will often walk the paved road that is near the access point, too.
That's a good walk and stroller friendly. And, there is a rustic inn and restaurant with good food near the trail, so you can make an afternoon of it!
Slatington Trailhead | delawareandlehigh.org/
Near Main Street, Slatington, Pennsylvania 18080
What we like most about the trailhead: It's stroller friendly, a good walk and nice views. There is also a little pizza shop near by that makes a good pie!
What to know before you go: It can get a little busy with bikers, families, walkers and pets. But nothing you can't handle!
What we like most about Hickory Run: Boulder Field is amazing! I could hardly believe my eyes when I first saw it and didn't realized we had something so incredible, so close to us, in PA.
What to know before you go: Wear sneakers or hiking boots! These rocks are serious business. Also, check out the waterfalls accessible from the Hawk Falls trail.
Where are some your favorite family hiking spots in the Lehigh Valley? What is the best place you've ever hiked?
Can you smell it? Fall is in the air in the Lehigh Valley! And, with a change in seasons comes a whole new host of family fun. We're fortunate to live in a region filled with great fall ideas and we want to hear which fall-themed venues are your favorites.
CALL FOR LVFF FALL FUN NOMINATIONS
This year, Lehigh Valley Family Fun wants to officially recognize thebest fall places and we need your help to do so. We're now accepting nominations for the "Best of Fall" in these three categories:
1. Apple Pickin' -- What is your favorite place in the Valley to pick apples?
2. Pumpkin Patch -- Which local patch is your family's favorite?
3. Corn Maze -- Which maze is simply a-maze-ing?
GUIDELINES FOR NOMINATIONS
The guidelines are easy: the places that you nominate have to fit into one of our three categories and be located within the Lehigh Valley. You can nominate a location by commenting on this post, via the LVFF Facebook page or sending a tweet on Twitter to @LVFamilyfunn. WHEN WILL THE WINNERS BE ANNOUNCED?
LVFF will accept nominations now through September 20. That's when the fun begins! You'll have a chance to vote amongst our top nominees between September 21 and October 5. Winners of the very first Lehigh Valley Family Fun's Best of Fall will be announced the second week of October.
We hope you have fun with this contest, share it with friends and encourage others to vote, too. Follow the fun on Facebook and stayed tuned for the announcement of this year's Best of Fall winners.
Who will you nominate? Copy this "template" and paste it below in the comments section, then add your official nominations.
My Nominations Are ... Apple: Pumpkin: Corn:
OFFICIAL RULES Contest is open to fall-themed
places and venues located within the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.
Venues or events located outside of the specified region are not
eligible. Relatives of LVFF bloggers are not eligible to win. Contest
voting will begin at 8 a.m. on September 21 and end at 10 p.m. ET on
October 5. Votes will be verified by LVFF. Winners in each of the three
categories will be notified the second week of October and winners will
be announced the second week of October. LVFF has not received any
payment or gifts in support of this promotion.
Join our friends at YoFresh for a great cause! When? Thursday Sept. 12th from
6 - 9 p.m. at YoFresh on Schoenersville Rd. in
Bethlehem for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley.
YoFresh will donate 10% of all sales to the PCFLV!
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Please wear your GOLD and
come support these children who are bravely fighting their battles! www.pcflv.org
Now that the kids are back in school, are you busier
than ever? Is your head spinning like mine? Well, if you are looking for
ways to keep the kids busy on the weekends ... here are a few FREE
events for kids this September.
Do you have any family-friendly events to share with
our community of readers? Please email them to events@lvfamilyfun.com.
We're happy to share your Lehigh Valley events on our community
calendar!
Kids Story Times at Barnes & Noble Tuesdays & Fridays at the Lehigh Valley Mall location View the entire calendar of events online.
Peas & Qs - Family Programming - 2+1 Math Rocks! Saturday, September 7, 11:30 - 12:30 p.m., SteelStacks ArtsQuest Center 2 + 1 is comprised of middle school educators who have developed and
present an innovative program called MathRocks! Their program combines
the music of classic rock songs with original lyrics and PowerPoint
slideshows to teach math concepts that range from basic counting to
algebra.
Kids Yoga at the Capital Blue Store Saturday, September 7, 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. Kids ages 4 - 10 are invited for a free yoga session at the Promenade Shops.
WoofStock Saturday, September 7, 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. Help
raise money to build a dog park in Allentown while enjoying food, music
and vendors. Event will be held at Cedar Beach Park. Rain date is
September 8. Find out more on Facebook.
Fall Festival in Werley's Corner September 14 - 15, 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. Farm
animals, pumpkin painting, small hay maze, music, food and more! This
annual fall event is hosted by the Weisenberg / Lowhill Township
Historical Society and is a nice time for the entire family.
Community Music School Student Recital Friday, September 27, 6:00 p.m. Listen
to students of Allentown's Community Music School play. There is no
cost. The recital will be held at 23 North Sixth Street, Allentown, on
the second floor.
Kids Discovery Expo at the Da Vinci Science Center Saturday, September 28, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This
day of fun and learning at the Da Vinci Science Center will be held
rain or shine. There will be refreshments, door prizes, petting zoo, and
more! The event is free and hosted Senator Pat Browne and
Representative Ryan Mackenzie.
"Touch a Truck" at Parkland Community Library Saturday, September 28, 10:00 a.m. to noon Bring the whole family to the circle in front of the library to check
out some of the coolest trucks around. We’ll have diggers, police cars,
an ambulance, and more for you to explore. No registration required.
Do you have any family-friendly events to share with
our community of readers? Please email them to events@lvfamilyfun.com.
We're happy to share your Lehigh Valley events on our community
calendar!
Have you visited the Capital Blue Store at the Promenade Shops yet? Recently, I took my two girls and we had a nice visit. After nearly 45 minutes, they were not ready to leave! We colored, read books and even played games on the Wii. While we were there, we found out about several free events for kids and families in September.
September 7 from 12 - 12:45 p.m.
Kids Yoga, ages 4 - 10
September 7 from 12 - 2 p.m.
CHIP 20th Birthday Celebration
September 10 from 1 - 2 p.m.
Story time in the Kids Zone
September 14 from 5 - 7 p.m.
Meet the Author, Jack MacCallum and his book The Prostate Monologues
September 21 from 1 - 3 p.m.
Healthy Tailgating for the whole family
September 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24 and 26
12 - 12:30 p.m.
Boot camp, low-impact workout for beginners September 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 6 - 7 p.m.
ZUMBA fitness classes, no charge!
Every Day in September
WalkingWorks from 12 - 1 and 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
All events are FREE of charge and new events are added weekly. Please register in advance. More information can be found on their website at capitalbluestore.com.
Head over to the Parkland Community Library for a month filled with fun!
PCL Teens
Tuesday, September 37:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Help to decide what YA books the library
buys, discuss what you’ve been reading, help prepare for activities and
programs, and have some snacks!
For those in grades 7 to 12.
Participants earn volunteer credit.
Night at the Movies
Wednesday, September 11
6:30 p.m.
Join us for a showing of Adventures in Zambezia.
Held in the Youth Services Room.
No registration is required.
Fall Story Times
September 18 to October 25; Story time registration begins August 26 at 10:00am.
For children from 18 months to 3 years, but younger and older siblings
may attend. An adult must stay with each child. Stories, songs, and
games are shared with the whole family. Registration is required.
Preschool Story times
Wednesdays and Thursdays1:00 to 1:30 p.m.
For children between 3 and 5 years. Parents must stay in the library but
do not have to attend storytime with the children. Stories, songs,
games and crafts are all part of preschool storytimes. Registration is
required.
Drop-In Story times
Fridays10:30 to 11:00 a.m.
For families with young children and children of all different ages. No registration is required.
Touch a Truck
Saturday, September 28
10:00 a.m. to noon
Back for its second year!
Bring the whole family to the circle in front of the library to check
out some of the coolest trucks around. We’ll have diggers, police cars,
an ambulance, and more for you to explore.
No registration required.
When my daughter was 15-months old, I gave her a tiny piece of a Girl Scout cookie that contained peanut butter. Two hours later, we were in the emergency room as she was covered in hives, eyes swollen and feverish. Since that day, I've been a mom on high alert.
Now that my daughter is in kindergarten, I worry even more about her elevated, potential exposure to peanuts. For all the peanut allergic (PA) families and non-PA families, here is a list of 52 healthy (and some not-so-healthy), nut-free lunch and snack options.
Please ... help keep our little, allergic friends safe. Together, we can all ensure the health and well-being of our kids. NUT-FREE LUNCH & SNACK CHOICES*
Apple slices
Seedless grapes
Tube yogurts (Go-gurts)
Cheez-Its
Cubed cheeses
Most pretzels
Raisins
Apple sauce pouches (Go Squeeze)
Jelly & Sunbutter (made from sunflower seeds)
Cream cheese & jelly sandwiches
Ham & cheese roll ups
Cheese & cucumber sandwiches
Turkey & cheese hoagie
Baby carrots & ranch dip
Golden Grahams
Cheerios (most varieties)
Dole fruit cups
Mandarin oranges
Motts applesauce
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish
Keebler Club Crackers & cheese slices
Berries
Bananas
Cucumber slices with ranch
Pirate's Booty popcorn
Fruit snacks
Celery sticks with sunbutter & raisins
Soy crisps (most varieties)
Mini-rice cakes (most varieties)
Danimal drinkable yogurts
Polly-O string cheese sticks
Ritz crackers
Nutri-grain fruit and cereal bars
Graham crackers
Fruit Newtons
Ritz Crackerfuls (most varieties)
Leftover spaghetti
Macaroni and cheese
Seapoint Farms shelled edamame with Dora on package
SWEETER & SALTIER NUT-FREE OPTIONS
Rice Krispy Treats
Oreos
Homemade brownies sans nuts
Fruit Roll-ups
Herr's ripple chips
Cheetos
Special K pastry crips
Teddy Grahams
Jello chocolate pudding cups
Chips Ahoy chocolate chips
Hershey chocolate kisses (non-holiday varieties)
Swedish fish
POP-tarts
Always read the labels for known allergens.
Many companies will list allergens in bold. Also, try to avoid foods that are made in or on shared equipment with peanuts. My daughter once reacted to pretzels made in a nut-factory, whereas she is normally fine while eating pretzels. Looking for more snack options? Check out this PDF from snacksafely.com.
Do you know what the Lehigh Valley's largest lake is? Have you ever heard of Leaser Lake? Neither had we, until we spent a fantastic afternoon there. Located in the northwest section of the Valley, Leaser Lake is a great place for a quiet canoe ride, family picnic or catching minnows with the kids.
Paddling on Leaser Lake
A couple of weeks ago, I had seen a sign near New Smithville that mentioned paddle boats and Leaser Lake. So, when we were trying to find something to do with the kids over the 4th of July holiday, we decided to Google it and find out more.
Several years ago, Leaser Lake was drained so the dam could be repaired. Earlier this year, the lake reopened for the first time in three years for trout season. This is also the first season for Leaser Lake Boats, Bikes & Bait (LLBBB), which provide rentals seven days a week to outdoor adventurers.
WHAT'S NEW AT LEASER LAKE?
LLBBB is located at 8912 Levans Road in Kempton just behind Wanamakers General Store (which if you haven't done so already, be sure to stop in. Their sandwiches are delish!). You'll want to first visit LLBBB to pick out your rental and then head to the lake.
Rental options include kayaks (single or tandem), paddle boards, canoes, row boats, fishing rods and bikes. Prices range from $5-$10 per hour for bikes and $20-25 per hour for boats. My husband and I rented a canoe and purchased lunches from Wanamakers, and spent quality time with our girls ... all for less than $50!
Coming later this summer via LLBBB ... yoga on paddle boards while on the lake! That sounds both awesome and slightly dangerous at the same time.
WHAT TO BRING TO LEASER LAKE
I'd recommend bringing a blanket and/or chairs to sit on if you plan to picnic; there are a few picnic tables, but we find it easier for our kids to have a place to sit on the ground, too. Water shoes, hats and sunglasses, and sunblock are a definite. It can be hot out on the boat with the sun reflecting off the water.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
There is no swimming at Leaser Lake and there's not much of a beach. It's simply a quiet place, away from all the hubbub of the busy community pools and more commercial lakes, where you can enjoy nature's beauty.
I'm just going to say ... I love the Lehigh Valley Zoo! While it's not the largest, most exotic zoo, it's local, enjoyable and offers a great way for my kids to explore, learn and play (i.e. burn off some energy). For the first time this year, we purchased the family pass. The annual pass is $99 and is good for one year from purchase. It basically pays for itself after three visits for a family of four.
AUGUST EVENTS AT THE LEHIGH VALLEY ZOO
August 2nd: The Lehigh Valley Business Group (LVBG) is sponsoring a free night at the zoo from 5 - 9 p.m. While there is no entrance fee, families are asked to register ahead of time and bring their free tickets.
August 3rd: Nocturnal Family Safari for families (kids must be 4+) from 5:30 p.m. - 9 a.m. Hike, eat and SLEEP with zoo animals! This sounds like a really great program; price starts at $30 for zoo members. Pre-registration required by calling 610.799.4171, ext. 238, 228 or 227.
August 5th - 9th: Summer Camps at Zoo for ages 11 - 14. Explorer camps is from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and offers a wide range of educational and fun-filled activities. Registration required and camp starts at $240 for zoo members.
August 15th: Summer Twilight at the Zoo from 4 - 8 p.m. with $1.00 hot dogs.
August 18th: Fifth Annual Run Wild for Wildlife Conservation, 10K, 5K and 1-mile family smart fun walk. Register via active.com.
August 24th: If you like margaritas, cheesburgers (in paradise) and Jimmy Buffett, this event at the Zoo maybe for you. Zoo in Paradise opens at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are available for $15.
DAILY ANIMAL FEEDINGS AT THE ZOO
If you're little ones like watching the animals, then feeding times will be a great experience for them to see. The penguins get their "fish on" every day at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the the mongoose lemur eats a 1 p.m. At noon on August 7, 17, 18 and 31 the alligator will be fed and the cute, lovable otter will get his (or her?) grub on at 12 p.m. on August 10, 11, 21 and 25.
For more information on what's going on at the Lehigh Valley Zoo in August or to register for any special events, visit www.lvzoo.org.
If you are like me, you don't always remember to be "green" all of the time. Sure, I support the initiative in theory but not always in practice. Yes, I am human too.
A friend of mine introduced me to a cool new reusable bag by Verdiva®, an innovative proven material that marries functionality with design. Verdiva® bags are made with the legendary strength of DuPont™ Tyvek® fabric, the strongest non-woven fabric, that is lightweight and machine washable too.
Stylish to carry an iPad
I wanted to try this bag out so I got one. Feeling a little silly taking only one bag with me to the grocery store, I decided to re-purpose it.
First, I used it to carry my iPad around. It was perfect!
Then I decided to use it for library books. My girls and I like to visit the local library and I thought this would be a perfect opportunity! We normally come out of the library with tons of books. And books can be heavy and different sizes, not to mention difficult to carry.
Did I mention how stylish this bag is? We walked out of the library and even my youngest liked carrying the "book bag!" And let me tell you how unusual that is!
I just love the perky color and design. We now have a great bag for the library and we know where all of the books go!
I can't wait to check out the other designs...perfect to differentiate between meats, dry goods and produce. It is nice that it is machine washable as I am always paranoid about the spread of bacteria. Washing between trips to the store is perfect!
Wegman's in Allentown has started to carry the Verdiva® bags as of May. So you too, can have a cool new bag like me!
I found this cool video to show how easily it folds up!
This is my new favorite thing to promote! It is a "Lehigh Valley Family Fun Favorite!"
Color, color everywhere ... The Crayola Experience (formerly known as the Crayola Factory) is still located at 30 Centre Square in Easton, but that's about the only thing that's the same. The renovated building offers a new layout, new activities and a nice, new cafe. Whether or not you've been there before, it's definitely worth a day trip!
FOUR FLOORS OF COLOR & MAGIC
On the first floor, you'll find ticketing and a huge, new store (some of you may remember the old store was connected to the Factory; the new store is where the former eating-meeting space used to be). From there, take the stairs or elevator to the second floor.
iPads are a great new activity!
The Art Alive room features tables of iPads for kids and parents alike, and today's theme was underwater. Once we finished drawing our octopus and sea turtles, something magical happened! The drawings leaped to an animated wall with all of the other sea creatures. I could have spent a full hour just in this room. It was a fantastic blend of art and technology.
Also on the second floor is the Crayola movie room which shows the audience how a crayon is "born." The show happens every hour on the half hour, and is much more clever, interactive and upbeat than before. My daughter and her friend sat through the entire show ... captivated by the presenter and her two, colorful sidekicks.
Waterworks & crayon boats
Floor three features a two-story playground, sidewalk chalk, activity centers, Doodle in the Dark (my favorite room!) and water works. From the playground area, take the stairs to the fourth floor to experience a real Meltdown.
The Meltdown floor doesn't mean it's a floor filled with crying kids. It's an entire space dedicated to melting crayons and turning the wax into a new art form.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
If you have any old Crayola Factory tokens lying around, they will not work in the new machines. However, you can exchange them at the ticketing desk for new Crayola Experience tokens. These can be used to get markers, make your own crayons, and snag some model magic in a larger array of colors.
The Crayola Cafe is located where the McDonald's used to be. It's bigger, cleaner and offers a decent lunch selection, including pizza, hoagies, Naked brand juices, hummus, fruit and colorful cupcakes.
I would recommend bringing a water bottle for the kids; there is a lot of climbing and dancing going on! Also, it's very busy. If you can get to the Experience on a weekday, just as it opens, you may have a better chance of avoiding large crowds. Here is more information on planning your visit to the Crayola Experience.
FUN FACTS ABOUT CRAYONS
Crayola crayons have been around for 110 years! The first crayons were made in 1903.
There are more than 200 different crayon colors, but only 13 label colors.
The label machine can label 180 crayons per minute.
DISCOVER THE CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE
All in all, each of the four unique floors is dedicated to bringing out
your child's imagination. Give yourself plenty time to enjoy each of the
activities. This is one place you won't want to rush through.
Watch this YouTube video and see for yourself what makes the Crayola Experience a truly wonderful experience for kids of all ages.
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