Thoughts.. – Page 4 – Rockland NY Mom

Head Over WHEELS For You Valentine!

Posted on February 9, 2015 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Crafts, Thoughts.., We're Having a Party .

Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Valentines day is special. Its a great time for kids and (A)’s school does so many cute things. The one thing I am not a fan of is all the candy. Its a common gripe of mine. As a cookie and candy addict myself (see my review of German Grocery and its amazing treats), I make every effort to teach my kids that sweets are a treat. They are not something that needs to be consumed on a daily basis, or in mass quantities. I try to teach them that it is actually more enjoyable to have one really good cookie than a bag of any old treat. In that same thought I try then to send in Valentines that do not include candy to the class each year. Here is what I came up with this year.

(A) really loves Hot Wheels Cars. So does (E) for that matter. They are small and fun and encourage imagination, and they don’t break the bank. So this year we decided to make Hot Wheels Valentines.

It actually took me a little while to come up with the phrase “Head over WHEELS for you Valentine!” I originally planned to do “Like you Loads!” but couldn’t find enough trucks to follow through.

First I created a template to use as the card. I used publisher and have uploaded it here for you. (A)’s school requires that the kids sign their own names if they can, so we left a space inside the hearts.

Head Over Wheels Valentine

I purchased the 5-packs of cars to use on them. I wanted to be able to attach them without ruining the cars, so we used “cold” hot glue. It doesn’t reach super high temperatures so it won’t melt the car wheels, but will hold for our purposes.

Here’s the class set!!!

That’s it! Hope you enjoy!!

My Au Pair

Posted on January 23, 2015 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Reviews, Specialty Items, Thoughts.. .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

There are what seems like a million childcare options available these days. Most of them outrageously expensive, and how do you choose between them? One that is often overlooked but can be most affordable (especially if you need many hours and have multiple children) is an au pair.

This is one of the options that I have personal experience with, and therefore it is near and dear to my heart. As a child I grew up in a one-parent household. My parents were divorced and my father traveled for his job. A teacher with 3 children at home my mother needed some help. We had some neighbors who had moved to the United States from France a few years earlier whom my family had become close with. They had an older cousin who wanted to come to the United States. It was arranged that she would come and live with us and help my mother to care for us in exchange for housing and some additional pay.

Enter my au pair Violin. She was awesome. She ate tomatoes like apples, wore heels every day and taught me conversational French. My mother didn’t have to worry about our before and after care because she was always there to get us on and off the bus. She helped us make meals, get homework done, work on projects, she was always there for us. I have one very fond memory of coming home after winning an award for crazy hat day and her happiness, ohhh that big giant hug. She was family. Who could love your children and care for them more than family?

Many people also think of having an au pair as being for the rich. In reality it’s one of the most cost effective childcare options. My family was not rich by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, if my mother had been forced to pay for before and after care for us, tutors, and also an occasional babysitter, it would have cost her much more money, especially because back then there was only half day kindergarten and my brother was 5. It is actually one of the most cost-effective childcare options.

Au Pairs provide so much more than childcare to your family. Au Pairs help with light household chores, laundry, meals and errands. The cost of an au pair is PER FAMILY, not per child, as with daycares and your children are in the comfort of their home if they are sick. No need to worry about who is going to watch them while you go to work until their fever breaks.

This weekend only, new families who register from January 23rd through January 27th will save $75 on their registration fee and $400 on their program fee. Families who select their au pair by February 23, 2015 will save an additional $500—for a total savings of $975! To qualify, families must welcome their au pair by October 2, 2015.

If you are interested in exploring this option of childcare and benefitting from this great promotion contact Michelle Mazzaro, a local childcare consultant. She can be reached at 845-558-5097 or visit mmazzaro@aupairnews.com Check them out on Facebook!

http://mmazzaro.aupairnews.com

Santa Sacs- A Christmas Giveback

Posted on November 7, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Christmas 2014, Crafts, Reviews, Specialty Items, Thoughts.. .

Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post, all opinions expressed are my own.

One give back mission that we are beginning this year will be centered around these custom “Santa Sacs”. I ordered beautiful classic sacs from Doodlebells, if you are interested order fast. Malorie has amazing turn around time (especially for such customized and well made items), but orders will fill up quickly and you won’t want to miss out.

The idea behind the sacs is that “Marvin” will bring them early with a letter from Santa which will provide us with directions. The directions are to fill their sac with older toys that they no longer play with or have outgrown. This will help to make room for the new toys that they will receive and give the kids the opportunity to decide what they can give up. They will then leave the filled Sacs out for “Marvin” to return to Santa. Santa will repair and clean up all of the toys to give to boys and girls who would like to have them this year. This way, removing toys from their collections has a purpose. I will schedule a “pick up please” appointment to have the toys taken away as a donation to those who would like and enjoy them (of course these toys are still in good shape and hopefully will bring joy to other little boys and girls).

I was looking for sacs that looked like they would belong to the man himself. I wanted them to be classic red and white, with “fur” trim, and to be personalized for each of my children. I used their monograms to make it more timeless. Malorie took my request and ran with it. She also had some pretty awesome ideas for other bags if you are looking for something more customized. Her abilities like her imagination knows no bounds. The results are shown below.

The quality of these bags is beyond compare. Much nicer than their mass produced counterparts. Having them made in a classic design means that they will be able to be used as the kids grow up and they won’t be too childish for quite some time.

I am so excited to debut them this year there is no doubt in my mind that these bags will be another magical reminder of the true spirit of Christmas.

To place an order with Malorie you can contact her on Facebook Click Here or you can check out her Website Click Here.

‘Tis the Season!

Posted on October 28, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Good Cause, Photo Obsessed, Specialty Items, Thoughts.. .

One of the things that I am most proud of on our site is our Photographers Directory. There you can find a variety of styles and price points, along side of these talented ladies (just a coincidence) you will find samples of the pictures that they took of my children or family and a full review. Some of what really impresses me about them is not only their talent, but their personalities, their hearts. I am happy to say that through our interactions I am able to call these artists my friends as well as my associates. Nothing could make me prouder to call them friends than this new opportunity. This season one of our participants STUDIO 3 reminds us what this time of year is truly about and provides you with an opportunity to tackle a few items on your to do list with panache.

“HOPE for Brian”…it’s a holiday MINI-session with a BIG goal and You can be part of it all!

Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Last year, during the holiday season I introduced you to Studio 3 Photography who took some unbelievable photographs of my family during one of their famous “Holiday Minis”. Don’t remember? Click Here. The piece and its corresponding article were a big hit, being printed in the local “Pearl River and Orangeburg Life.”

This year, not only are they offering their mini-sessions to you again, but this year there is a bit of a twist. They have decided that in the spirit of the season they will donate $50 of every session booked to the “Hope for Brian” fund. Brian is a handsome little ray of sunshine that the trio was luckily enough to meet during a session. Brian has a rare children’s disease called Atazia-Telangiectasia. Please read the following press release and even if you don’t book a session, consider joining me in making a donation.

Studio 3 Photography Mini-Session Press Release

“Imagine a disease that combines the worst symptoms of muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, immune deficiencies, and cancer. Children with A-T (Atazia-Telangiectasia) are usually confined to wheelchairs by age 10 and often do not survive their teens.” –www.atcp.org

“Did you know there are only around 1000 documented cases of Ataxia-Telangiectasia in the world? 500 of them live in the United States”

ONE is our neighbor.

He is 3 1/2 and his name is Brian…

“HOPE for Brian”…it’s a holiday MINI-session with a BIG goal and You can be part of it all!

What: Holiday MINI Sessions with a BIG goal

When: November 1st – November 8th

Who: “Hope For Brian” fund

Where: Studio Three in Sparkill, NY

Why: Because ‘tis the season to remember the people who allow us to do what we love every day and to help out where we can.

How: Register at http://studio3photographers.com/hope-for-brian/

For more information please contact Caitlin at Studio 3 Photography.

914-629-0068
caitlinfuster@gmail.com

Where to Find your Daycare Dollars

Posted on October 7, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Money Momma, Thoughts.. .

Disclaimer: This is an unsponsored post. This article is intended to be a general resource only and is not intended to be nor does it constitute financial advice. Any recommendations are based on personal, not professional, opinion only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For illustrative purposes only.

Navigating the financial world is difficult, especially when you add a new component to it like children, or the dreaded CHILD CARE! As discussed in some of our past posts by Jamie the ‘Money Momma’ child care can sometimes cost almost as much as you are making. This is sometimes even a deciding factor in how many children a couple may have, or whether or not a parent leaves the workforce. Fortunately, there are some systems in place to help young families with these costs, which Jamie discusses below.

Child care is one of the largest expenses that young households face when the primary caregivers are employed outside of the home. Despite the many different options we have now a days to choose from, cost of childcare continues to rank pretty high in terms of financial burdens of our parenting demographic. It is with that cost in mind that the Money Momma explains how to reduce your childcare expenses using an employer sponsored FSA (Flex Spending Account) plans or the US federal tax credit.

The cost of childcare is crippling for many, leaving us wondering where to find the money.

The first thing any dual income family should do after choosing the right childcare for their family is contact the company HR department and ask if “flexible spending for dependent care (FSA)” is offered as a benefit. Under federal law, this benefit allows a family to put away funds PRE-TAX from each paycheck into a special account, up to a certain amount per year, (currently $5,000 for married households and $2,500 for single filers but always subject to change). The funds in this account are then used to cover the cost of dependent childcare, as long as that childcare meets the necessary requirements. We discuss salary in pre-tax dollars but childcare is paid in after-tax dollars. The appeal of this strategy that is those dollars sitting in the special account will be paid directly to the childcare facility without the government taking taxes out first. This means that each dollar is actually worth the whole dollar. Contributing money to an FSA plan will also help reduce a family’s federal income tax bill.

If a company does not offer flexible spending for dependent care, parents may be able to claim the cost of childcare on their tax return under the “dependent care tax credit”. This Credit is available to people who, in order to work or to look for work, have to pay for child care services for dependents under age 13. A tax credit is kind of a cool concept and it acts just like a store credit (like those I always seem to have at Target). This is different than a tax deduction. If a filer has a $1,000 tax credit, he can use that to pay his taxes instead of his own money. The amount of any family’s tax credit for dependent care is based on many factors such as income, cost of childcare, and structure of the payments.

In few cases, a family will get to benefit from both an FSA plan and a tax credit (generally speaking, they cancel each other out). The rule is that the amount of childcare expenses claimed must be reduced by the amount that a family put into the FSA plan. If a family has to choose either the FSA or the credit, the FSA is usually the winner in terms of tax savings. There are some ways to benefit from both options if a family has more than one child. A finance professional such as Jamie, the ‘Money Momma’ can help any family determine how to make the most of their childcare savings.

Further questions about daycare dollars can be posted here or sent directly to the Money Momma at Jamie@flesherfinancial.com, NYMoneymomma@gmail.com, or 917-647-8267.

GiGi’s Playhouse and RYE PLAYLAND-Mark Your Calendars!

Posted on September 19, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Good Cause, Money Momma, Out and about..., Thoughts.., Uncategorized .

Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own, and those of Jamie the ‘Money Momma’.

As you know RNYM is dedicated to serving the community, specifically children’s causes. We are always happy to post a fun/walk/fundraiser on the site to benefit a children’s charity. I am at a loss for words for the outpouring of support that we received for Gabi’s Party, and the generosity of our community. It is truly amazing to see a community come together the way that it has.

One of the most amazing things about having kids is how much the definition of fun changes. All of a sudden the word fun is defined by watching someone else have a good time. Seeing our kids smile and enjoy life is by far the greatest reward there is in parenting. Then there are the great times where we get to combine fun with a worthwhile cause. It is with that idea in mind that on October 12, 2014 RocklandNYMom.com invites you to cheer on Chief Editor Megan Johnston and Financial Columnist Jamie Flesher as they take on a 5K run and 1 mile, kids included, inspirational walk through RYE PLAYLAND to benefit GiGi’s Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center. GiGi’s Playhouse services children and adults of all ages, each Playhouse provides educational and therapeutic programs at no charge to families; and in a format that individuals with Down syndrome learn best. All programs aim to maximize self-confidence and empower individuals to achieve their greatest potential.

By way of background, this is not just any charity to Megan and Jamie. GiGi’s Playhouse is of utmost importance to a little boy who is very special to us and all 4 of our kids. (O) is an adorable and sweet 3 year old with Down syndrome. He also happens to be a good friend to (A),(E),(R), and (S) since all the kids attend Busy Bee Playschool together. So we thought why not have some fun together at Rye Playland, support a cause that is special to us, and get our cardio in all at the same time? We also know that the day just would not be the same without our RocklandNYMom.com readers there to show their support in whatever manner they choose. We are running, walking, dashing to bring GiGi’s Playhouse to Westchester County. They are in the home stretch to their big grand opening. The goal is to build GiGi’s Playhouse for all kids, teenagers, and adults with Down syndrome. The achievement center will show everyone what individuals with Down syndrome can really do – the sky is the limit!

The gang gives (O) a group hug while playing after school.

To read more about (O) and his journey or support (O)’s team, click here: http://gigisplayhouse.donorpages.com/Race2014Westchester5K/TeamLivingtheDream/

To read more about GiGi’s Playhouse, click here:

gigisplayhouse.org

Where do you want to go today?

Posted on September 11, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Out and about..., Specialty Items, Thoughts.., Uncategorized .

Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love to travel, do to things. I would schedule every minute of each day that we are on vacation. RNYD, not so much. He would prefer to stay closer to home, and likes to relax (we balance each other well). Recently, (A) has asked about going to Disney (ok for almost a year now) but we were hesitant to spend the money since he and (E) were so young. We are thinking that this coming spring/summer would be a good time because (A) will be 5 and (E) will be 2. My crazy Type A personality wants to research and plan everything, I of course already have a Pinterest Board dedicated to it, but there is just too much information. I have so many questions. Did you know that you need to book your trip at least 6 months out so that you aren’t closed out of character breakfasts and other great opportunities??? I haven’t been to Disney since I was 13, I have no idea where to start. I am completely overwhelmed. That’s where Scott Walters comes in.

It seems so simple, but often deciding on where to go on vacation can become very stressful. There is an amazing amount of material available on the internet, from TV and so forth, but there are so many advantages of using a travel agent. In fact, all of the information out there may become overwhelming and daunting, especially if you don’t get to travel often. A good travel agent will start with a needs assessment to determine what kind of vacation style you have. This assessment will address important questions to aid them in their planning.

Such questions include:

Do you prefer all-inclusive resorts, cruises, theme parks, cities, the country, beach, mountains, maybe historical sites?
Do you travel with the whole family?
Would you like to get away for a romantic weekend?
Do you want to stay close by but still not be at home?
Do you want to travel with a group or do you prefer to be alone?

A travel agent will work WITH YOU to give you the best offer. Most importantly, a travel agent will understand your budget, and work within it to offer you an amazing experience at the best value. Scott is a full service travel agent with specialized training for Disney, Universal, Carnival, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and many land based resorts throughout the world. He has traveled throughout the US, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and China and offers you his expertise at no charge. He will even throw in a thank you gift for booking and have a referral program for friends, family and even enemies.

Feel free to call Scott at 845-558-1225, email me at scott@madhatteradv.com, or go to my Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/scottatmadhatter?ref_type=bookmark. He looks forward to working WITH you to make sure you have the vacation that will have memories to last you a lifetime.

Adventure Week Day 5- Constructing Memories at LEGOLAND Westchester

Posted on September 5, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Out and about..., Reviews, Thoughts.., Uncategorized .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as we were invited for the day to LEGOLAND Westchester. All opinions expressed are my own.

Friday, Day 5: LEGOLAND Westchester

For our final daytrip adventure (looking for some, click here) we decided to stay a little closer to home. Just a hop skip and a jump away in Westchester we are lucky enough to have an awesome place to spend the day. It took us just 20 minutes by car to get there and we were so excited. For his recent birthday (4years old) (A) received his first sets of LEGOs. From then on he has been obsessed. We have had to go to the store for countless sets that we need to construct. What could be more perfect for a culminating trip than a trip to a world of LEGOs?

Right from the get go it was amazing. You have an opportunity to pose for a silly LEGO picture that you can purchase as a reminder later on. We HAD to do that (photo obsessed??). Then you get to go inside and experience an interactive presentation on how LEGOs are made, you even get a small painted LEGO as a souvenir! From there the real fun begins. You get to go on a ride that had all of us engaged and smiling (ages 12 months to 30-some odd years old).

The family gets ready for our first ride. (Riders must be able to sit by themselves, I held (E) just for the picture)

Once through you have the opportunity to view and purchase your photos… You get to marvel at the creations of the masterbuilders throughout (I won’t spoil all of that for you by telling you what they are). It’s truly awe inspiring.

(A) plays with one of the interactive displays put together by the Masterbuilders.

There is much to do for so many different ages. It would be difficult to name them all so I will name those that (A) and (E) enjoyed the most. There is a really cool indoor playground that (A) could have run around all day. There are even giant rubber LEGO’s in there to play with. That is in the center of the other action, so you can always return to it. Circled around the room are some interactive play areas where you can build and test your creations for speed and stability (a little mature for (A) right now, but I am certain he will truly enjoy soon). There is also a play area for little ones that (E) really enjoyed, a play house with fun activities (even a little karaoke…), another cool ride, a special movie, and a ninja training camp. Oh yes and in case you get hungry, there is also a café.

(A)’s favorites… The rides, and ninja training camp, oh and he says also the playground (and the store).

(E)’s favorites… Climbing in the LEGO pits, and running around, also riding the masterbuilder creations.

As you can read, there is more than enough fun to keep you busy for hours (I believe we were there for 4 and a half, which was (E)’s limit but (A) would have stayed longer). What is great is that you can stay and revisit rides and exhibits as many times as you like. The lines were relatively short and there was a lot to look at while you wait.

When you are done running around you exit through the LEGO store, where they have so many different fun sets and accessories you can choose from (we assumed this in advance and saved a bit of his birthday money for him to choose a set to bring home). (A) chose the castle set and even RocklandNYDad (RNYD) got in on the action (being a big kid himself) purchasing a superhero set to play with.

What is super cool about LEGOLAND? They have a schedule of special events that happen all of the time that you can see. Including (but not limited to) a Star Wars themed day (oh my, that would be heaven) AND they even do grown up nights for big kids (like RNYD) so that they can go and play too. If you don’t have kids and would really like to check it out, make sure that you wait until one of those scheduled nights, adults are not permitted out without a child escort.

The Money Momma Responds- 529 Follow-up

Posted on August 26, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Money Momma, Thoughts.., Uncategorized .

Last month, we published a much anticipated Money Momma column regarding some useful information about 529 plans. Since so many of our readers were seeking additional information, this month we strive to answer questions regarding what type of investments are right for a 529 plan, especially for a resident of NY State.

The reality is that there is no single easy answer to this question. It mostly boils down to knowing that “it depends”. In fact, it actually depends less on what state one resides in and more on the current age of the student and the risk tolerance of the adult account owner. This means that the “best” investments are often different for every situation and every family. Flesher Financial Services can review any personal situation in detail and determine which investments are best for a particular 529 plan. However, here are some general guidelines to follow.

Your State:

Depending on the state of residence, it may be a good idea for tax break reasons to use a state run 529 plan. For example, New York allows 529 contributors to deduct up to $5,000 per person ($10,000 for married couples) in contributions to the plan. For most families this is a substantial deduction, especially since one does not have to itemize the rest of their deductions to take advantage of this tax break. So, even if nothing else can be deducted, these contributions can still be deducted from your gross income.

Age matters:

The number of years left to prior to a child entering college is an important factor when determining what the “best” investments are. If there are several years (5+) before these funds are needed to pay for college, a little extra risk can and probably should be afforded. When a child is younger, the primary goal of a 529 plan is to grow in value so that there is enough money to pay for college. This means taking on risk in an effort to reap investment reward. However, once a student gets closer to when these funds will be needed to pay for education, the primary goal of a 529 plan becomes preservation and risk should be reduced.

Comfort level:

Risk tolerance of the account owner, usually the parents, also plays a role. Even if aggressive growth is the goal of the 529 account, it’s not always symbiotic with the account owner’s ability to stomach account value fluctuations. If opening a statement to discover the account has lost 20% one year is something that sends your family into a meltdown, aggressive growth is probably not the best choice even if it numerically makes the most sense. Account value fluctuations are going to happen; it’s a fact of investing. But for those who feel extremely risk adverse, walking away from some upside potential may be worth it to avoid the potential for a larger account value swing.

As always, these are just general guidelines. Every situation is different and should be evaluated in detail prior to investment decisions being made. Contact Jamie Flesher at NYMoneymomma@gmail.com, Jamie@flesherfinancial.com, 917.647.8267, or comment below for more information about your family’s 529 plan investments.

Our “Adventure” Week 2014 Part I!

Posted on August 8, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Out and about..., Thoughts.. .

Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Our vacation for a week to Cape Cod was cancelled last minute and we had put the time aside for family. We decided to take our own advice and do a week of “adventures” from our day trips page. I will recount each of our trips for you to help you to decide if the trip is one that you might make with your family on your next “adventure.”

Our first trip was to the New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo, NY. We had a great time. It began this past weekend and goes through the end of September. I have wanted to take (A) for quite some time now, but was afraid that he was too young. He was a great age this year at 4 and from what we saw, it will be even cooler as he gets older.

(A) in time out, Renaissance Style.

There are several things you should keep in mind:

Go to your local Walgreens and pre-purchase tickets (they are $5 cheaper).
Kids 5 and under are free!!!
If you have a little one, bring your most maneuverable stroller as the roads are dirt and bumpy. There is plenty of room to get around there with one.
Bring your cash (the line at Ye Olde ATM was really long). Most places there also take cards if you forget so don’t fret.
If you plan to have one of those olde time family pictures done, I recommend doing that right away, it takes a little while for them to edit and print it, so much easier to do it and then go back later for your memory than to wait around for it with kids asking when you can move on.
Check the calendar of events they have some really neat things that they do (arrival of the queen by boat, jousting, magic show, to name a few). If there is one that you might really enjoy (or the kids) you want to make sure that you get there in time.

We winged it for the most part. As our kids are pretty young we opted to go and walk around enjoying the atmosphere, playing games etc. We didn’t think that they would sit really well for most of the shows. Some highlights??

(A) got to pet dragons both real and fake (little lizard dragons, and puppets). Really neat because he loves “How to Train your Dragon” which is really hot right now with his age group.

(A) gets to pet a puppet dragon.

(A) holds a REAL dragon.

Souvenirs: (A) purchased a shield and battle ax, and (E) got a flower crown, which we can bring with us next year.

(A) chooses his weapons.

My pretty maiden.

RNYD actually took an olde time photo with us ;O)
The Mead in Cider was delish!
Actors are so friendly! They stopped us several times to play with (A) and (E) and have cute conversations, they pose for pictures and in that heat too!

An actor stops to play with (A).

Great games to play for all ages (probably 3 and up). There were several that he was a little too young for, but in the future he cannot wait to play. (A) particularly liked the ping pong ball crossbow.

(A) and daddy with the ping pong crossbow.

(A) slays a dragon.

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