Tis the Season....Activities

Boise Rake Our Parks. Volunteers sought Nov. 20 to help rake parks. Volunteers must provide their own gloves and rakes. Leaf bags will be provided.
For information, contact Jerry Pugh, Boise Parks & Recreation volunteer coordinator, via email or (208) 384-4060, ext. 319.


14th Annual Winter Garden aGlow at the Idaho Botanical Garden and see the dazzling display of nearly 250,000 sparkling lights and color artfully displayed throughout the holiday season. visit http://www.idahobotanicalgarden.org/


Winter Wonderland Nov 19th 5-8 pm Come kick off the holiday season as the City of Caldwell lights up downtown and along Indian Creek. The entire downtown will be lit with more lights than ever. This year's event is begger and better than ever. Festivities include carolers, kiddy train rides, live music, vendors, costumed characters, Santa and Mrs. Claus and a special guest appearance by Iditarod musher Trent Herbst and his sled dog team. Downtow retailers will be open late and will be accepting donations of toys and food for the needy. The tree lighting ceremony will be at 7pm.

St. Al's downtown Boise Festival of Trees
11.24.2010 - 11.28.2010
varies daily
Boise Centre on the Grove
http://www.saintalphonsus.org/Foundation-FOT-main.html

Nov 26th Canyon County Festival of Trees, "Christmas Bliss"
Please visit the website at www.canyoncountyfestivaloftrees.org for more information.


Boise Holiday Parade
Nov 27th visit: http://www.boiseholidayparade.org/

Meridians Farmers Market Holiday Bazzar every Saturday starting Nov 20th at Mountainview High School 10:00 am.

Red River Powwow Association is pleased to announce its 8th Annual Winter Social will be held on December 3rd & 4th, 2010 at Northwest Nazarene University’s Johnson Sports Center, 311 E. Dewey Ave., Nampa, Idaho. Everyone is welcome to attend and join us for this family event http://www.redriverpowwow.org

Festival On Ice
Imagine black–clad figure skaters draped in Christmas lights twirling across the ice! Fans of all ages will enjoy watching itty bitty 3-year-olds and national competitors perform at the Holiday Festival on Ice at 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 at Idaho IceWorld, http://www.cityofboise.org/IdahoIceWorld/

Middleton Chamber of Commerce Annual Christmas Parade and Events http://www.middletonchamber.org/ The Middleton Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 11th.


Christmas Festival in Star Dec 4th. 9am-8pm. Food, local school bands and choirs, Pictures with Santa Claus, Silent Wreath Auction to benefit the Star Elementary School extracurricular fund, Food/Coats Drive through Star OutReach; Star Lions Club Cookie baking contest and a Santa Helpers Fun Run... plus a whole lot more...Go to Star Chamber of Commerce on Facebook and soon to be on their website: www.staridahochamber.com

Another cool givaway

THese are so cool-I am so excited about the chance to win this product-check it out HERE at dawniemom reviews!!

Scentsy giveaway-huge-ends tonight!

Visit Here to check out this great Giveaway that ends tonight or check out Here to purchase some great Scentsy items yourself and see the cute new scentsy buddies!!

Grosgrain: The Reporter Frock Grosgrain Giveaway

This is such an adorable dress-I love green plus adore black and white together so ofcourse I think it's outstanding to see all three together. Check it out-it's so very chic!!
Grosgrain: The Reporter Frock Grosgrain Giveaway

Moving = exercise

Since the last time I posted my family increased by 1 and I wanted to share the news with you. After three daughters, we finally have a boy in our household. He is close to 4 months now and still growing-he's about 20 lbs now..HOLY MOLY!! So with this addition to the famiy-there is always an additional weight that is gained in the process. This last pregnancy I gained 45 pounds. I have aleady lost 30 of it and am working on getting the last 15 off and after that hoping to knock off another 15 that was still lingering from daughter #3. My sister teaches Zumba and I have recently had the opportunity to work out with her on her last visit and I can just tell you that it is my new favorite exercise. Since I have done alot of Ballroom dancing and modern dancing-the movement came really easily to me. It's exercise and dancing! The best of both worlds right? I just hit up Youtube daily and do me some Zumba everyday-and since starting it-I have already lost three more lbs in two weeks!! I'll take it!! So if you are in need of exercise and love to dance-Zumba just might be for you!

Here is some of my sister's zumba workouts: follow the leader samba
here is another of my favorites too waka waka

Sew Cute Shop Amy Butler Birdie Sling GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sew Cute Shop Amy Butler Birdie Sling GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Children and dancing-just my opinion

Okay so I will probably get a few negative comments with my opinion on this but really-Why spend money on classes for children under 5 when all you need to do is turn on some fun music and dance with your kids yourself??? Seriously-you get an exercise as well plus you get to find out how creative your kids are. Some dance classes are closed-which means they don't like parents to sit and watch. This way you actually get to watch your kids dance and spend quality time with them. Please don't put your youngster in a dance class to brag about their talent. I get really tired of hearing how someone has danced since they were 3 and so they are a talented dancer. If you see that your child has a natural movement to music and feel they show potential-please go ahead and put them in technical training classes when they are 8 maybe 7. This is the best age to start your children in classical ballet and really they won't be behind. This is the age where they can safely train their bodies and also they are a bit more mature to handle the repetitive motions that come with that training. But dance classes for kids under 5 are usually creative movement classes and are for just fun. I would put my kids in it for the sole purpose for them to have fun with a group of other kids-but they can get that playing a day at the park with friends. Now I am not telling you how do be the best parent for your children and you are going to do what you want anyway. But here are a few things that I hope you will listen to:

Please don't give your children false hopes by making them think they are a prima ballerina when they aren't yet. Please tell them they can do anything with alot of hard work and dedication!

Please don't pressure your kids to do dance because it's what you wish you could have done or it's something you love or because it's something "all" girls do. Please tell your child you love them no matter what they enjoy doing and give them the freedom to choose.

Please don't suffocate them with lessons and activities. Please allow them time to relax, rest and be a kid without constant scheduling.

And above all-Let your Kids be Kids!!