Thoughts.. – Page 5 – Rockland NY Mom

Out of Time…

Posted on July 29, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Reviews, Specialty Items, Thoughts.., We're Having a Party .

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

I am very type A (in case you hadn’t figured that out yet). I like to do things, lots of things, and all on my own. There are times that I have bitten off more than I can chew and still somehow pull everything off. There are times that I have to leave something by the waist side and the only person that it matters to is me, because no one ever even knew that it was supposed to have been done.

I am never more crazed than during the end of the year. Not only am I a teacher who has final exams and paperwork and meetings to complete, but both of my children are born at this time. Exactly seven days apart. I will go into more detail on my crazy planning stages and the things that I have done for them this year in a later post, but this one is specifically about (E)’s highchair.

One thing you may want to know about me is that I also love old stuff… well sturdy stuff… I constantly search for old furniture, they just don’t make it like they used to. I prefer to buy old and refurbish than waste money on new (unless is upholstered, that makes me a little nervous). My favorite pieces are those that I have found and given new life to, even when it took me several months to find the right drawer pull to match a set I had…. But I digress…

I had two highchairs, one Graco one that matched my other baby stuff and also a wooden Eddie Bauer chair that was a hand me down from a friend. I used one in the kitchen and one in the dining room. With the addition of another child though I had to put the leaf into my kitchen table and all of the sudden the Graco one was too big for the space. Glad to remove some stuff (crap) from my house I sold the highchair and made some room by replacing it with the Eddie Bauer one which is sturdier and has a much smaller footprint… The only problem was that I never liked the color of the chair being a light wood, it did not coordinate with my kitchen décor.

A before picture, see the test strip, that’s when I chickened out…

So, being the type of person that I am I purchased some chalk paint and decided to paint it myself. I did a test strip one night, but then I ran out of time to work on it. Well, next thing you know I am two weeks away from (E)’s first birthday party and she has a partially painted high chair for her first birthday party. UNACCEPTABLE! I had no idea what to do and since (A)’s birthday was before hers I knew I didn’t have enough time to paint it, even as crazy as I am. So I did what any good manager would do, I outsourced.

I have been a big supporter of Underground Finds & Furniture because I really don’t think that they make furniture the way that they used to anymore. I hate walking into a furniture store and feeling like a strong wind will knock down a dresser. I love the old lines of pieces even if I don’t love the finish. I have so many older pieces in my home, which I have repurposed in one way or another (in fact just this week I got in trouble at the local Habitat for Humanity Restore where you can find old sturdy furniture that others donated). That is exactly what Mary does. She takes old pieces and gives them new life.

Knowing that I wanted a distressed finish for this piece I called Mary and got a quote for having it painted white, with some dark distressing ( I love that old world shabby chic look, which of course just happens to be the theme for the first birthday party). The price was so much more than reasonable so I agreed to have it done. Mary had it painted and back to me within 3 days and it’s beautiful! It is exactly what I had envisioned when I first set out and purchased chalk paint. Mary painted it and tried out some of the distressing and then sent me some pictures for approval. At first she and I decided that it needed a little less dark wax (there is a fine line between distressed and dirty looking) but after she tweaked the recipe it came out amazing! I am so glad that I didn’t try to do it myself, because I am not sure that I had the time or patience to get it looking just so! It coordinates so nicely with my kitchen and also my party theme (see pictures).

A close up of the craftsmanship. I absolutely love this aged look (if you aren’t a fan, Mary has clear wax as well).

Here is the chair with the custom new cover that I ordered from Etsy (sewingsillysister).

The side view of the chair.

A picture of the chair in action, from (E)’s birthday bash.

Overall I am so very pleased with the whole process. Mary was so sweet with tons of communication. She made sure it was exactly what I was thinking of. It was done in a super timely fashion (thank goodness because I didn’t have a chair for her birthday unless it was!). It is also well done. You can see the time and effort that Mary put into the chair with each stroke or brilliantly placed waxing. I love it and I highly recommend her services.

Have an old piece that you love, but it doesn’t go with your décor? Looking for something special and having difficulty finding it? Contact Mary at : mdm441@gmail.com or on her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UNDERGROUNDfurniture.

5 Facts About 529 Plans…

Posted on July 28, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Money Momma, Thoughts.., Uncategorized .

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.

Saving for college tuition is a thought that makes most parents break into a cold sweat. For a child born in the last 5 years, it is estimated that the cost of that child’s college education will be something around $250,000. And that’s for a public school. While some people are fortunate enough to be able to afford that easily, the vast majority of parents will need to have a savings plan in place very early if there is a desire to help children pay for higher education. There are various ways to save for college, such as traditional cash savings accounts, trust accounts, and bearer bonds. But, today one of the best ways to save and invest for a child’s higher education is with a 529 plan. In fact research shows that more and more parents are opting for 529 plans over other savings options. In response to several inquiries that we have received, this month RocklandNYMom’s own Money Momma will explain 5 facts about 529 plans.

1. The best part about a 529 plan and what makes them so popular is that they grow tax deferred. This is a really big deal when it comes to saving up a large amount of money. With most other types of savings accounts, the government taxes the money earned. (This is a general statement. How and what the government taxes depends on the investment itself). These taxes are a fee the government collects in exchange for earning money in our capital markets. For most savings accounts they collect this fee all throughout the life of the savings account. A 529 plan is permitted to grow in value without having to pay this tax fee to the government. Theoretically, this tax treatment allows the account value to increase at a faster rate than if the account was subject to taxes. In other words, it’s a really big deal.

2. 529 plans have plenty of investment options to pick from. The right investment option typically depends on the age of the child as well as the guardian’s risk tolerance. For example, a child who has 10 years before they enter college can take on more risk than a child who enters college in 2 years. The reason for these differences is that if the account loses value in the market, there is still plenty of time in the 10 year scenario to earn that money back. If the account loses value in the 2 year scenario, the money may be needed before the account can recover what it lost. A good rule of thumb is that a market cycle is 5 years. If there is more than 5 years before college, appropriate risk should be considered in order to have the best chance at returns. Growing the account is the #1 priority when there is a considerable amount of time before the money is needed. As the child gets closer and closer to the time these funds will be used, preserving the account becomes the #1 priority and risk should be reduced.

3. One of the most misunderstood facts about a 529 plan is what happens to the money if the child chooses not to attend college. If the child does not go to college, the money comes back to its owner, most likely the child’s parents. The money is not lost or given up but there will be a tax and/or penalty assessed for the privilege of not using this money on college education. This possible penalty and tax however should NOT be a reason to turn away from a 529 plan and here’s why. The contributions made to the plan through the years are not what is taxed. It’s the investment earnings that will be taxed and those would have been taxed somehow along the way anyway, regardless of how the money was spent. At Flesher Financial we help clients every day figure out what the penalty cost would be of not using the money in a 529 plan. While there is cost, it’s generally not a high as people think. Also keep in mind that a 529 can be used for trade school or re-gifted to another family member should the designee choose not to attend a traditional college setting. There are provisions in place for those who save too much money as well (what a fantastic problem to have!). The bottom line? Money not used for college tuition is returned to its original owner.

4. It is instinctual as a parent to put your children’s’ needs ahead of your own. It may sound hard to believe but when it comes to saving money for the future that probably isn’t the best strategy. It is very important to have your own retirement plan in place prior to putting money away in any type of college savings plan. There are all different types of loans and scholarships available to help pay for college education but there is nothing of the sort available to fund retirement. If there is not enough money put away for college the money can be borrowed. If there is not enough money put away for retirement, it can be a very frightening experience.

5. Finally, the correct 529 plan to choose depends on what the tax rules are for the state you live in and the fees associated with that 529 plan. For example, at the time of this writing, New York state gives its tax payers a $10,000 per family income tax deduction on contributions to New York state 529 plans as long as the contribution is being made by a plan owner. Flesher Financial Services works with clients to weigh the costs and benefits associated with different plans and choose the one that is right for that family.

Further questions about 529 plans can be sent directly to the Money Momma at Jamie@flesherfinancial.com, NYMoneymomma@gmail.com, or 917-647-8267.

The Party of a Lifetime- Community Project

Posted on June 25, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Good Cause, Thoughts.., We're Having a Party .

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

If you read my review of Art Adventure (here’s your chance) then you know what a wondrous, magical place it is. A free safe environment for kids to explore their creativity in a myriad of ways that I wouldn’t allow in my home simply because I can’t fathom having to clean up after it. When I heard that they had donated a party to Gabi for her “No More Chemo” party (Affectionately renamed a “Yay Gabi” party) I was over the moon. What could be better???

The answer is simple, if several other super talented and awesome people donated their talents as well.

When I walked into Art Adventure on June 7 I was literally speechless Setup was already underway, and right from the start I was amazed. I like balloons as much as the next person, but have often thought of their uses as limited…. Not anymore. Confetti Party Decorating outdid themselves, at the entrance were two balloon towers with princesses on the top. “Gabi Rocks” was spelled down the sides. On top of a nearby bookcase were a balloon Cinderella (yes completely made from twisting balloons), and a little wand with a heart at the top for Gabi to carry around. Scattered around the venue were each of the other Disney Princesses atop their own little balloon stack. Oh how I wished it was my party! After meeting and speaking to Laurie, I no longer think that balloons are boring or limited in any way. I love what she does with these balloons she is truly an artist.

The Cinderella Baloon Laurie Twisted for Gabi.

Gabi receives the Balloon Wand.

As set up continues, people keep stopping in to drop off their contributions. Delicious chocolate chip cookies from Colleen Kirby of My Sweet Thyme www.mysweetthyme.com were the next item to arrive. They were so good (not too soft, not too hard, with loads of chips in them), it was really difficult to keep the kiddies (and adults) away!

Then came Gilda Burke from Jolirose and her magnificent cake. Given a few ideas (literally, princess and Dora) she was able to create a masterpiece so beautiful that we had to force Eric to cut it, no one wanted to ruin its perfection. The kicker? It was so mouthwatering too, even the fondant which traditionally tastes like plain play dough or nothing at all. I ate my fondant too!

The unbelievable fairytale “Dora” cake.

The generosity of those involved has left me in shock. I am so happy and proud to be a part of this community of special people. Some of these special people have donated the following to Gabi.

The beautiful custom giant banners were created and donated by Creations by Dawne https://www.facebook.com/CreationsByDawne.

Treasures by TeresaAnn stepped in and created a little mermaid light block as her gift from the community. Theresa even went one step further and is doing a fund raiser open to all in her honor now. For each beautiful light block purchased from the signature Gabi line will result in a 20% donation to Gabi’s Gold Fund. The fundraiser can be seen on Gabi’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GabiNationTotallyRocks

Treasures by TeresaAnn can be found at https://www.facebook.com/TreasuresbyTeresaAnn

As this party was a special one for Gabi and her family it was only fitting that a professional photographer be there to capture the moments on camera. Migdalia Valdes offered her services right away and couldn’t wait to be part of the day. Migdalia is a true artist and really captured the essence of who Gabi is. Migdalia Valdes Photography can be found at www.migdaliavaldes.com

Dance Central also contacted us and donated free dance classes after reading Gabi’s story on our website and learning how much she loves to dance.

When Gabi enters art adventure I hold my breath. I can tell that others are as well. We are all anticipating a reaction, but not sure what. (It’s a lot of responsibility to throw the party of a lifetime.) While most children would be slightly overwhelmed by so much attention she handled it like a mega star with tons of red carpet experience.

Gabi enters with the grace of a movie star (look at those towers too!).

Gabi is so smart. Our princess never missed a beat, she jumps right in and gets down to business. She is one of the most polite children I have ever encountered, asking politely if she can work at a station or if she can have a little help. Her classmates welcomed her right in, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the fun.

The kids decorate the blackboard for Gabi.

(R) makes her mark on the souviner t-shirt made for Gabi.

Gabi is gentleness and kindness epitomized. She moves from station to station with her parents and friends. She is in her element, she paints naturally as if she was born with a paintbrush in hand. Each station is more fun than the next, with the culmination being the chance to pop balloons with a stick and create one of a kind paintings (so fun!). I don’t think that Gabi stopped to breathe. She smiled through the whole party (yesss!) from ear to ear. So did her friends :o)

Gabi paints.

Gabi shows off her handiwork.

(H) pops a baloon filled with paint!

To read Gabi’s story (click here) will break your heart. To hear how a community came together to give her the party of a lifetime will restore your faith in humanity. It all started with a preschool, an email and a lot of heart. I am so proud to be a part of a community that cares so much for one another and our children, that we pull together to help one another out. An amazing day was had by all and I know that we can’t thank you all enough.

Here is a listing of the amazing vendors who donated their services to Gabi’s “No More Chemo” Party. To check out their work simply click their names!

Dance Central

Jolirose Cupcakes

Treasures by Teresa Ann

Confetti Party Ideas

My Sweet Thyme

Creations by Dawne

Migdalia Valdes Photography

To Work or Not to Work…

Posted on June 24, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Money Momma, Thoughts.. .

As many of our readers are aware Jamie our Money Momma was recently asked to write a piece for Flexjobs about how parents can prepare for re-entering the workforce. This month I will repost her article by linking you to it (with their permission of course). The article appeared here. ENJOY!!!

To get started on your situation and see the complete list of tips or purchase the custom flow chart that includes a one hour consultation, contact Jamie Flesher at Jamie@flesherfinancial.com or 917-647-8267. Visit our under-construction web page soon. Flesherfinancial.com

Daycare Dilemma

Posted on June 2, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Money Momma, Out and about..., Thoughts.., Uncategorized .

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

Whether it’s full time work because of need, full time work because of desire, part-time work, or flexible schedule, at some point almost every parent experiences the question of what type of childcare is best for the family. Most of my friends and the parents who I speak to have crossed this hurdle at one time or another. Some have gone through it more than once, realizing that their current arrangement doesn’t make the most sense when they add another child to the mix or have a change in schedule. As a new parent or a veteran with years of experience, choosing the right childcare arrangement can be very overwhelming. Many parents don’t know about the various options available to them.

This piece is meant as a resource to shed some light on the different options available to parents and the benefits of each. The hope being that it will aid you in being able to sort out which type of childcare works best for your family. Local families can also reference our childcare directory which offers choices in each of the categories discussed.

In YOUR home (Nanny or Au Pair) –

No age requirement
Light Housework (laundry, meals for kids)
Au Pair (lives with you), flexible hours (nights/weekends)
Nanny (can live with or out), set hours
Very personalized, they are YOUR childcare, they don’t take on other clients.
Your home, comfortable and safe.
You pick and choose classes or activities for your child to attend (at an additional cost).
Nap at home
Control over what children are eating.

In-home (small daycare in someone’s home)

In a home, so often very comfortable.
Food prepared for you and covered in cost.
Flexible hours.
Usually smaller numbers
Some follow curriculum, most complete crafts etc.
With other children, so offers socialization.

Childcare/Learning Center

Children can often begin around 6 weeks of age.
Follow a curriculum.
Hours mimic those of a parent’s job from roughly 6:30-6:30
Food is included
Many have extended hour programs if needed.

A great guide that I found that has questions you should be asking before choosing a childcare is http://www.dccda.org/referralquestions.shtml there is also a local resource called Childcare Resources of Rockland that you can reach out to if you are feeling overwhelmed.

A special thank you to Cultural Care Au Pair, Here we Grow Childcare, and Julie Cappuccilli for their help during the research portion of this piece.

Pocketbook Policies

Posted on May 8, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Main Page, Money Momma, Thoughts.. .

Think about the number of purses and pocketbooks you own as a mom. I quickly counted the other day and my collection totals 23 pocketbooks in various styles, colors, designers (from Louis Vuitton to Target), and of course, uses. A closer look shows that the pocketbooks seem to fall into 3 categories: everyday use, purpose driven, and finally special occasion. Each category of pocketbooks has its own purpose and we carry them accordingly. We would not want to carry a formal evening bag to take our children to the park. That would make no sense. Your finances should be treated similarly. Each category of money has its own purpose and therefore should be treated accordingly. This month, the Money Momma explains what she calls the Pocketbook Policies; a guide to viewing your money in terms of function, just like your purses and pocketbooks.

-Written by Jamie Flesher, New York’s Money Momma

The Everyday Pocketbook (Purse #1): the bags that get the most wear and tear and we use them often (this is a diaper bag for me).

This is your checking account. The money in this account gets used on a daily basis. Paychecks typically come in and regular monthly expenses; mortgage/rent, food, car payments, household bills etc. come out of this account. What is unique about purse #1 is that the money ebbs and flows on an almost daily basis. Money is constantly flowing in, and constantly flowing out.

The Purpose Driven Pocketbook (Purse #2): fashionable computer and work bags, gym bags, beach bags etc.

This is the savings account or safety net, that hopefully has 6 -12 months’ worth of expenses being housed (see “How Prepared Are You?”). Even if the account does not have a full 6 months, it is still the account that gets used when there is some type of large expense coming up, such as a home renovation or loss of a relied upon paycheck. This also applies to your vacation or holiday club accounts. Money hangs out earning a little bit of interest and just waiting until it is needed. If money is coming out, it’s for a very specific reason that is not part of your everyday spending. Was there a loss of a household paycheck? In that case, slowly pour the contents of the purpose driven pocketbook, into the everyday pocketbook, until that income is replaced. What is unique about purse #2 is that if you put a dollar in, you will get a dollar out. There is no investment risk in purse #2. This is simply an interest bearing savings account.

The Special Occasion Pocketbook (Purse #3): the dressy bags we bring out only once in a while for events such as weddings, parties and date nights

This is your investment account that holds assets that can fluctuate in value such as stocks or bonds. 401K accounts typically fall into this category of pocketbook. I call this the special occasion pocketbook because it rarely comes off the shelf. Money that is put into these types of accounts is money that is going to be there for at least a five year period (that’s an estimate) without any need to be withdrawn. What is unique about purse #3 is that it’s the only one of the 3 that has risk. If one dollar is put in, it’s not guaranteed that you will get that dollar back out. Stocks don’t always go up in value and therefore there will be periods where this pocketbook actually goes down in value. That is why I advise clients to leave it on the shelf for 5 years. On average, that is how long it takes to move through a full market cycle and see an increase in value.

The key to making the Pocketbook Policies work is to know how much money should go into each purse. To begin this process you should create and track your monthly budget. This will help you to get a better idea of how to save and make realistic changes in your spending. The Money Momma’s firm, Flesher Financial Services, has a special formula that we use to help figure out which purse should have which funds based on your family’s specific needs. Jamie Flesher can be contacted at nymoneymomma@gmail.com, or 917-647-8267 for any questions regarding the Pocketbook Policies or assistance getting your financial purses set up.

Remember, submit specific topics you would like to see the Money Momma address to nymoneymomma@gmail.com or RocklandNYMom@yahoo.com.

Stroll Through a Magical Secret Garden…

Posted on May 7, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Out and about..., Reviews, Thoughts.. .

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post as I was invited to Lightscapes. All opinions expressed are my own.

It’s been a long winter. I have read and written countless articles about how to occupy a toddler indoors, and how anxious we all are to explore the outdoors once again. The spring has been a bit of a drag too; an unpredictable time where it has been 75 degrees and beautiful one day followed by a random hail storm in April. I don’t know about you, but I am dying to get out of the house!

I like many other moms have started booking excursions in hopes that the weather will cooperate with me. Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon Lightscapes. Having been to the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze this past fall I was super excited when I heard that the creators of the project were creating a similar attraction for the spring. If you recall my post on the Blaze (click here) you will know that we enjoyed it thoroughly. (A) loved all of the different shapes and sizes of the creations. We did as well. Given the great time that we had at the Blaze, I had high expectations for Lightscapes.

I was a little nervous about a few things before hand, which included the late hour (first show starts at 8 so that it is dark), the tricky weather (boy did we luck out), was (E) too young? The first show was a perfect time for us to get in, and have a good time, have a conversation about what we saw in the car, and for the kids to fall asleep on the way home. Some parents had their kids in their pajamas already (smart) so that they were ready when they left. The weather was agreeable and warm (thank goodness), we all had light jackets on and were quite comfortable. (E) was certainly not too young. At 9 months she was pulling herself more upright in the stroller to strain to see the lights. She was captivated from the first rainbow to the last flower on the road. She really enjoyed trying to touch the bubbles and was even cooperative when we tried to take a few photos.

Lightscapes did not fall short of my expectations, it exceeded them. Lightscapes is like a stroll through a magical secret garden. The artists have painstakingly created a world of wonder with many everyday items. Incorporated in the beauty is also a lovely mix of music as well as a butterfly maze, and the bubbles at the entrance (a fan favorite). (A) loved walking along the path and shouting out the different animals and shapes that he saw. Upon closer inspection we started talking about the supplies used to create the beautiful shapes as well. By the end of the walk, he was very excited to announce that the flower was made out of a bottle, and wait wasn’t that a bowling pin??! We delighted in running through the butterfly and bamboo maze (D) hiding around the corner and popping out to catch (A) unaware. When we got to the main building and saw the vines growing up the façade, we had a nice conversation about why vines grow upward.

The walk takes about an hour start to finish, depending on how long you spend checking out each display. I brought my jogger stroller based on my experience with The Blaze, but might have been happier with the Baby Bjorn this time. There is one point where the path gets very narrow, and you cannot bring the stroller into the butterfly maze. At the end of the walk you can purchase some refreshments (black and pastel, cookies, gourmet local ice cream, etc.) and/or some souvenirs (blinking fairy wings, light up swords and more). We really enjoyed our visit to Lightscapes and (A) has been talking about it for days.

I have to apologize for my pictures, you know how motherhood is. Everything was packed, and when I got there the camera battery was dead. I have added the official link to Lightscapes (click here) as my pictures do not truly do it justice, but they do show my story, and the joy that my family was experiencing, if you want to see how truly wonderful it is, you will just have to go and see for yourself!

(A) rides on (D)’s shoulders as we enter. That big arch, is actually a giant rainbow!

Some of the beautiful flowers, look closely, can you see what types of everyday items were used??

A path of beautiful mushrooms, even by cell phone they are beautiful!

Some magic comes to life!

A selfie in front of the main building!

Family shot!

It Takes a Village…

Posted on April 30, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Good Cause, Out and about..., Thoughts.., We're Having a Party .

GABI’S GOLD FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES

“NO MO CHEMO PARTY DONATED BY ROCKLAND COUNTY’S ART ADVENTURE STUDIO”

Partners with Rocklandnymom.com to give 3 year old cancer patient Gabi Olivo the party of a lifetime

ORGANGEBURG, NEW YORK – Gabi’s Gold Foundation today announced their partnership with Art Adventure Studio in Orangeburg, NY as well as Rocklandnymom.com BLOG to give 3 year old cancer patient Gabrielle Olivo a birthday party experience to celebrate the end of her very intense chemotherapy treatments given to fight Neuroblastoma. The nonprofit organization has graciously accepted Art Adventure’s party donation and has proven that smiles happen when a community pulls together!

A pre-school scholarship awarded to Gabi from Busy Bee Play School director Ric Rabinowitz started the ball rolling. “Gabi was immediately welcomed into the class by the other children and it was the one place she could go where no one noticed cancer,” says the foundation’s Chief Financial Officer, Jamie Flesher. “Gabi loved being with the other children, and parents were thrilled to welcome the Olivo Family into the Busy Bee family.” Gabi is only permitted to attend school when her immune system is not being knocked down by her treatments. With her most difficult treatments having just been completed (a stem-cell transplant) and her immune system rebooting, it was clear that she deserved a party with her Busy Bee friends.

Alysson Burgos, co-owner of Art Adventure in Orangeburg quickly came to the table to offer to throw Gabi a NO MO CHEMO party in her studio, a donation, at no cost to the family or the foundation. “Of course when Jamie approached me my answer was yes.” said Alysson,“We are honored that Art Adventure was their venue of choice and cannot wait to see the look on Gabi’s face when we give her the most fantastic party we can.” According to Jamie Flesher, the recently opened Art Adventure was her unequivocal first choice for the party stating, “The staff is amazing. The studio is amazing. Gabi loves art. This is the place for her celebration, no question about it.” With the venue set, all that was left to do was organize the smaller details, Jamie went home that night and immediately emailed Rocklandnymom.com blogger, Megan Johnston. Jamie says of Megan “She knows the Rockland community better than anyone. I just wanted to know what she thought of the idea and if she had any suggestions.” Touched by Gabi’s story and having recently lost her own father to cancer, Megan offered free advertising on Rocklandnymom.com’s site for any contributors to Gabi’s NO MO CHEMO party. She also quickly began to reach out to local cake bakers, banner creators, and crafters to see who would be interested in participating. “The offers were flying in and still are!” says Megan. “I am so proud to be a member of such a compassionate and giving community. I knew they would step up to the plate.”

Donors so far include:

Art Adventure
Create By Carrie
Creations by Dawne
Jolirose Cake Shop
Treasures by TheresaAnn
A photographer

Gabi’s NO MO CHEMO party (affectionately being re-named a Yay Gabi party since she is too young to understand chemotherapy) will take place this June when her immune system is strong enough to allow her to be around her friends. Her entire Busy Bee class will be invited thanks to Art Adventure’s generous donation.

ABOUT GABI’S GOLD FOUNDATION/NEUROBLASTOMA

Gabrielle Paige Olivo was a typical sweet and adventurous two year old who loved all things princess, Dora, and her ballet class until August 2013. Two and a half weeks before her third birthday, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a particularly rare and aggressive form of nerve cancer that affects only children.Since diagnosis Gabi has undergone 2 life threatening surgeries, 6 rounds of chemotherapy, a stem-cell transplant, and radiation. Over the next 6 months, she will receive 5 rounds of immunotherapy and 6 months of oral chemotherapy. Her foundation seeks to raise funds for Gabi’s treatment and research as well as raise awareness about this rare disease. At this time, there is no known cure for Neuroblastoma.

Read Gabi’s story at www.facebook.com/GabiNationTotallyRocks

Donate to Gabi’s treatments and research http://www.gofundme.com/4nmdlg

ABOUT ART ADVENTURE

Art Adventure offers art instruction to children and young adults. We strive to offer exciting and enticing courses that will appeal to our students while providing intensive educational instruction. Using various mediums and fun themes, students are introduced to the world of art by artist Eric Stormes, a teacher who is certified in both New York and New Jersey, and who has extensive experience art education.

Art Adventure can also host your child’s unique birthday party,private events and offer after school programs for grades K through 12 at our studio.

For more information on Art Adventure and their programs visit: www.artadventureny.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/artadventureny1.

ABOUT ROCKLANDNYMOM.COM

RocklandNYMom.com is a reference for Rockland County Parents. Megan Johnston, a Rockland native, mother of two, teacher, and coach, as well as the CEO and Editor of the site. RocklandNYMom.com has a calendar of events as well as directories for children’s classes, birthday party information, photographers, specialty items, crafts, camps, childcare and other services. Johnston offers insights as to many items that may be useful to parents at any age. On the BLOG portion of the site Megan gives you a sneak peek of the services provided by many of the directories listed as well as crafts you can do with your children, birthday party advice, and so much more!

Check it out at www.rocklandnymom.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rocknyom .

ABOUT BUSY BEE PLAYSCHOOL

Busy Bee is a family owned and operated preschool that has been keeping children of Rockland as busy as bees since opening its door in 1983.

Busy Bee is a play oriented multi-age developmental preschool dedicated to providing students and families with a memorable early childhood education and experience. With our “hands-on-minds-on” approach our dedicated staff has created a program that fosters children’s growth socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically.

The goal of our program is to create a fun environment that encourages the individual growth of each child through play and hands on exploration and experimentation. It all works together to develop the foundation which prepares each child for a lifelong love of learning.

For more information on Busy Bee Playschool visit: http://busybeeplayschool.com/

Despite it all, Gabi is always smiling, always happy. A truly inspiring angel.

If you are interested in helping out or donating to Gabi’s cause please contact: Jamie Flesher JFlesher@gmail.com or Megan Johnston RocklandNYMom@yahoo.com

The Renovation Rollercoaster

Posted on April 24, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Playroom Project, Thoughts.., Uncategorized .

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

We have all been there…. We have a project that we have been DYING to do around the house. It would be so great if…. I only need so much money… wouldn’t it improve our living situation? What about how much value it would add to the house??? How can I convince my spouse that this is a good idea???

My playroom project is no exception to this pattern. In my case I didn’t have to convince my spouse, he was already on board. I had great ideas and was so very excited to choose each item. I had it all set, I had picked out each and every detail painstakingly….

And so it begins. We are at the top of our game. We got the go ahead and the plans start. So optimistic about the outcome, we start having people come in and give estimates. We do our research and choose the best person for the job. There are so many possibilities… what can be added? What colors to use? What textures? What types of materials? We create a Pinterest board, ask friends and family to work with us on ingenious ideas to personalize the space…

My Pinterest board looks nothing like the real room. Like many other busy moms I first tried to do the bulk of my decorating online. I think that this is a big mistake, and a time waster. I could have pinned rooms that I liked, and moved on from there, but picking out a couch and carpet from an online source just didn’t work out.

The project starts and you change your mind because they can’t install the material that you have chosen, something is on back order, you saw the couch online and it was NOT as pictured when you went to check it out.. Now what? Your budget is slowly being BLOWN to smithereens (what budget, let’s get real, you didn’t know how much carpet was going to cost, and who knew you paid for the padding extra???). Why don’t cabinets come in the sizes I need? You want how much money for a custom cabinet in a playroom?

I had everything set, until I went to look at some of the items in person. Oh and might I mention, having to change it all basically doubled my budget. I am not sorry that I did it, I learned a valuable lesson. Most of my other renovations have been need based so I haven’t had this much time to decide on things before. It has never really been for FUN. I did learn some valuable lessons from it. Nothing beats the real thing. Go in person or you will be unhappy. I also found amazing local cabinet makers (after calling several) who worked with me and had reasonable pricing.

The windows go in, followed by the flooring and the furniture, things are looking up. You can finally remember why you started the project to begin with. Friends and family start returning their finished masterpieces, you can hang the decorations on the wall. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

That is where I am today. The carpet is in, the couch is in place. The custom camera throw pillows are adorable. I have mounted the chalk and dry erase boards and the kids are loving it. The first part of the cabinets are in (minus the trim and doors) and I can start to put things away. (A) and (D) even slept on the pull out bed already. When (A) plays he wants to go into that room. Wants to watch a Disney movie on his own TV. Additionally, I have a room to put guests in when they come to visit instead of on my couch. I am starting to breathe again and love watching the kids play through the kitchen window while I cook or clean up.

My roller coaster is starting to wind down and I can see the line of passengers waiting to get on ahead of me (I actually think it’s the endless list of other projects to complete in the house). But knowing where to start is half of the battle. I learned to budget 25% more than I originally thought and found some great ways to save money. I also learned where I am willing to cut costs, and where it is just not worth it (cabinets, carpet, couch).

This is the last “Peek” you will get before the project is complete (mid-May). I am loving it. I will also list all of the people that I used for those who may have similar needs, unsponsored. I just believe that if you find someone good, you should go with it and pass along their information.

The room is cleaned out, windows changed, ceiling painted, and heat source added.

(A) and (E) enjoy the new carpet after it is installed.

(A) lounges on the new sofa bed adorned with the super cute camera pillows I found on ETSY.

The storage/media hutch construction begins….

Stay tuned for the finisned product! Including the amazing letters our family has been sending in!

Sanctuary…

Posted on April 2, 2014 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Crafts and More Crafts, Playroom Project, Thoughts.. .

Like many mothers, I always knew I would have kids. I knew I liked kids, and having them was just something to check off of my endless lists. There were a few things that I would come to realize when I had children that I was completely unprepared for.

1. Just how much you could love someone you had never “met”.
2. How hard it would be to leave them and go back to work.
3. How amazing it is to see the world through their eyes.
4. How awesome it is to just sit and watch them.
5. The unbelievable amount of crap that comes with them.

I have read countless articles about all of the above topics, and I promise to elaborate on each of them at some point in the future but today, I would like to focus on #5.

(D) and I were married in 2004, we waited 6 years to have children. The planners that we are we needed to have all of our “T’s” crossed and “i’s” dotted. We needed the house, my masters (I got two), his MBA, paid off cars, the dog, the whole deal. Before we had children we swore that our house would remain organized, neat and clean (HA!). We even had a little sanctuary, in the form of a sun porch off the back of our house, which was outfitted with lovely resin wicker furniture, and a ceiling fan. It looked out on our nice sized, quiet backyard. It was the perfect place to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, or a cold beer. A great setting for a long catch up phone call with a friend who had moved away.

Fast-forward, to 2014. (D) and I now have two children and two dogs. Mess comes with kids, I know that, and I love every moment of it. I would not trade Motherhood for anything in the world. However, I am tripping over toys in my living room, and spend more time “picking up”, cleaning, and washing than sipping coffee, beer or talking to those long lost friends.

Then there is my sanctuary. It has become a catch all, and transition area. Items that belong outside but we needed to store for the winter, shoes, party items from BBQ’s I never quite finished organizing. It’s sad really.

I have often thought of what I should do with this space, and recently came to a decision while attempting yet again to confine the toys to the corner of the living room that we lovingly call the “garage”. It would make a fantastic play room. (D) and I have discussed for two years now trying to find a space for the kids to play and keep all of the toys, often resigning ourselves to the fact that the basement project will have to wait; but will be great when we do it.

My father had suggested using the sun porch for a playroom several times, and each time I dismissed the idea. It was just recently that I realized he was right. It’s on the same level with the house, in close proximity with the main living space. The door can remain open and the kids would be close enough to feel safe and keep an eye on, while giving Mommy (and Daddy?) a space for herself (obviously to a point). A great plan.

My father loved photography, and I wanted to dedicate the room to him, and at the suggestion of a very smart Mommy from my Warwick, NY Facebook group, the room will be themed in his honor. I will be posting updates to show you all of the progress made in the room that will once again be a sanctuary not just for me, but for my children as well.

My sanctuary turned into a “catch all”. Sadly, I don’t even have pictures of its glory days. This is my “BEFORE” picture.

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