Tale as Old as Time

When I was younger, if you told me I would one day be able to watch my favorite classic Disney movies on a DVD, let alone in 3D, I would have told you that only in my wildest dreams could I imagine that to ever be true.

Now 20 years later, I received a chance to revisit my childhood, as a flood of nostalgia consumed me as I watched the magical story of Beauty and the Beast dance across my television screen more vivid than ever! As I watched, my dreams that have been hidden in the back of my mind under a pile of cobwebs of me wearing a huge yellow glimmering ball gown as I gracefully walk down the mile long twisting staircase to meet a prince suddenly came rushing back to me. Not only could I not believe I ever gave up my dream of having talking and dancing house décor, but I also could not believe my eyes when I saw how the animation looked on Blu-ray 3D.

For anyone who has seen this movie prior, I highly suggest watching it again. Like most Disney movies, there are the quick jokes and comments that are geared towards adults that you may not have picked up on before. Also the animation is better than any of us could have ever imagined when we watched it for the first time in 1991.

More importantly, your kids will love the 5 disc 3D Blu-ray combo pack! Now that they are growing up with more advance technology, Disney has made the necessary changes in their classics to fascinate the new generations. This combo pack includes activities and extras that will entertain the new viewers and even the older ones as well. I do have to say there are a few dark parts in the movie that may scare the little ones, so if your child scares easily be sure to watch it first and see if it is appropriate.

All in all, between the beautiful music that will have your family singing for weeks as well as the fun story line that will have your kids imagining your dining ware is dancing around your house, this is a must see for all ages!

And if you find yourself longing for your childhood dreams of being a princess and having a vast library at your disposal, don’t be shy to throw on your daughters play crown or dance around your house to the soundtrack…We all need to feel like a princess once and awhile!

Annual Head Start Awareness Month

On Wednesday, October 19, Hillsborough County kicked off the Annual Head Start Awareness Month at a celebration at the County Center. October has been designated as Head Start Awareness Month. This year’s theme, Young Minds Need a Head Start, emphasizes the program’s focus on child development and early learning. Head Start/Early Head Start is a child and family development program for low-income, working parents of children ages zero through four.

Members of the public joined with dignitaries, elected officials, agency partners and parents to honor local Head Start trailblazers including Jan Platt, Ann Porter, Doris Reddick, Delia Sanchez and Claudia Silas. Evangeline Best gave the keynote address. Head Start children led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance via a prerecorded segment.

Lakeshore Learning Materials generously donated lunch for all attendees.

Every year around the December holidays, Head Start/Early Head Start reaches out to local businesses and the community for donations to help provide every enrolled child with a gift for the winter holiday. Please consider donating new, unwrapped gifts for needy babies and children (six weeks to five years old). Your charitable contribution to this annual holiday appeal can make such a difference. For more information about this program, please contact Laura Rice at 813/272-5140 ext 3106.

Hillsborough County’s Head Start/Early Head Start Program, a division of the Department of Family and Aging Services, is a four-time nationally recognized Program of Excellence by the National Head Start Association and is a three-time federally reviewed Gold Seal Program. For more information on programs and services offered call 813/272-5140 or visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/headstart.

Caption for baby bonnets photo: The Expectant Parent Program offers free child care, training, nutritional and support services, health and early intervention services as well as parent activities for First Time and Teen Moms. For more information, please contact Monica Wiggins at 813/272-5140 ext. 3193.

Your Pie Restaurant Review

I am always looking for new child friendly dining options that are tasty, healthy, fresh and fast.  We recently checked out Your Pie, located in South Tampa, and were quite pleased with our experience.  Whether it’s pizza, paninis or salads you are seeking, everything is personalized and made to order. We definitely wanted to try the pizza and were greeted with many choices, even from the start of our culinary adventure, including the dough.  They offer a child’s size and adult size individual pizza, which is great, especially for those parents who like adventurous, non-kid friendly toppings, like me. We were presented with classic white, whole wheat or gluten free hand tossed dough options for our personal pizza.  It’s nice that there is something for everyone here and a child who might have allergies doesn’t have to feel left out because they can’t enjoy what their friends are eating.

Next you pick your cheese and your toppings, and soon after, a steaming hot personal pizza is delivered to your table.  While you wait, each child is given a piece of dough to play with, which is of course a big hit.   I went with a whole wheat dough, fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, basil, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and fresh basil pesto.  Within minutes, my pie was gone and I was one satisfied customer.  The kids liked their pizza, but especially enjoyed the very cool soda machine that dispenses over 120 flavors, many which I didn’t know existed, like grape Sprite.  For dessert, you can choose from yummy gelato and sorbet flavors.  Each kid’s meal comes with a small drink and small gelato so it’s a great deal. 

Your Pie is planning on adding kid friendly activities in the back of their space, which I thought is an important element for a successful family pizza place.  When kids are done eating before their parents, they get bored, loud and start running around.  Marie Mosely, co-owner of the South Tampa franchise, mentioned the possibility of installing a Wii station, which I know will attract many.  For the young adults looking to unwind, Your Pie has a full wine and beer license, as well as a bar area with a large screen TV. 

Your Pie is in good company as there are a lot of great pizza choices in South Tampa.  There is no doubt though that the food here is fresh, healthy, quick and unique, so I wish them all the success!  I definitely recommend checking out Your Pie as a fun family night out with the kiddies.  You will not be disappointed. 

 Your Pie:

2219 South Dale Mabry Hwy

Tampa, Florida 33629

Mon - Thu 11am - 10pm

Fri - Sat 11am - 11pm

Sun 11am - 10pm

Written by Ellie Hirsch, a.k.a. The Mommy Master™.
Mommy Masters™
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Together we can master motherhood!™

S.A.F.E. TIPS FOR PARENTS AND TEENS DURING NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK

Every seven days, 68 families needlessly have to bury a child before his or her senior prom and college orientation. If you divide the total number of hours in a year by the number of teen driving deaths, the outcome is one teen driving tragedy every two and a half hours in the U.S. That is why National Teen Driver Safety Week was enacted by Congress in 2007 and takes place the third week of October each year.

It’s a known fact that car crashes are the leading killer of youth, America’s most precious resource, ages 16 to 19, as more than 3,500 teenagers are killed each year on U.S. roads. In an effort to lower those numbers, Tire Rack Street Survival <http://www.streetsurvival.org/> , a national non-profit teen driver program, has committed to saving lives nationwide for nearly 10 years by teaching young drivers the skills they need to stay safe and ‘arrive alive.’

As National Teen Driver Safety Week kicks off October 16, Wade offers the following S.A.F.E suggestions for parents and teens on the road:

• Study the Basics: Teach your teen how to perform a quick vehicle maintenance check to ensure everything is working properly. Teen drivers should know where their spare tire is located, what to do in emergency situations and the importance of staying current with the oil change schedule, as outlined in the owner’s manual. Are the car’s tires inflated correctly? Is there sufficient tread depth on the tires to insure a safe stopping distance should an unexpected distraction occur? For correct tire inflation specs and for more tire-related information go to www.tirerack.com <http://www.tirerack.com> .
• Agree on Limits: Remember, your teen’s license is not about your convenience – it’s about his/her life.
• Set limits on your teen’s driving, particularly in high-risk situations such as prom night, social outings and especially in inclement weather.
• Do not let your teen ride with a young driver that has less than one year’s driving experience.
• Remember, the greater the number of teens in the car, the greater the level of distraction.
• Form a Plan: Have a clear understanding of where your teen is driving at all times, who he/she is riding/driving with and what route they intend to take. Confirm check-in times with your teen so he/she can provide updates to their plans.
• Establish a Backup: Sometimes teens make mistakes and get themselves into situations where other teen drivers have been drinking and they feel stranded. Make sure your teens have a responsible adult they can call, with a code word, if they feel they shouldn’t be driving, or are riding with another young driver who is driving recklessly or under the influence. Safety first, questions later.

“Having teens behind the wheel doesn’t have to be a terrifying occurrence for parents,” said Matt Edmonds, vice president, Tire Rack. If you prepare young drivers with the knowledge and training they need to anticipate and understand how to deal with dangers on the road and their vehicle’s capabilities, they’ll have a much higher chance of avoiding an accident.”

Tire Rack Street Survival schools are conducted by local members from regional chapters of the BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA), the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), Porsche Club of America (PCA) and others. The community-run program enrolls local students in neighborhoods across the country and teaches them to improve their driving competence by learning to control their vehicle through hands-on experiences in real-world driving situations in their own vehicles; all with an experienced coach at their side.

Community leaders or concerned parents interested in requesting a Tire Rack Street Survival school in their area can request one at www.streetsurvival.org <http://www.streetsurvival.org> or by calling (864) 329-1919.

About Tire Rack Street Survival®

Formed by the BMW Car Club of America Foundation (www.bmwccafoundation.org <http://www.bmwccafoundation.org> ), the Tire Rack Street Survival® safe teen driving program (www.streetsurvival.org <http://www.streetsurvival.org> ) was launched in April 2002. Tire Rack Street Survival® is built upon the premise that 'safe driving is learned by doing', and teaches students to avoid accidents by thinking and looking ahead. Tire Rack Street Survival® is unique in that it offers students instruction in their own cars so that they learn the limitations of themselves in their everyday vehicle.

A Pair of Endangered Clouded Leopard Cubs Come to Tampa's Local Zoo!

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo has welcomed a pair of endangered clouded leopard cubs to the Asian Gardens exhibit area. The 6-month-old felines, a male and female, were born in March in separatelitters at Nashville Zoo and Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

l of just 69 clouded leopards in 24 North American AZA-accredited institutions.

Clouded leopards are native to Southeast Asia, found in forests and rainforests. They are known for being skilled climbers and can even ha

ng from tree branches by their hind feet. Another distinctive feature of clouded leopards is their long canine teeth, which are longer in proportion to body size than those of any other wild cat species.

Interestingly, clouded leopards are not a “type” of leopard as their name implies, but are a separate species of wild cat, as is the snow leopard and leopard. The name clouded leopard is derived from the beautiful cloud-shaped spots with dark outlines on their tan coats.

The charismatic cubs weighed only about a half pound each at birth, and were hand-raised together by zoo keepers of the two AZA-accredited institutions. Clouded leopards are the smallest of the “big cats,” weighing 30-50 pounds in adulthood and measuring about five feet long (including the long tail).

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo has been a member of the clouded leopard SSP for nearly a decade. The former familiar residents, two female felines named Maddie and Tenchi, recently relocated to the Denver Zoo for their golden years. The Zoo has also supported a conservation research program known as Wild

Aid – the Thailand Carnivore Project, a non-invasive study of Thailand’s wild cats including the clouded leopard.

About Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is operated by the Lowry Park Zoological Society, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in education, conservation and research. Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and has been named the No. 1 zoo in America by both Parents magazine (2009) and Child magazine (2004). The Zoo is located at 1101 W. Sligh Avenue in Tampa, one mile west of I-275 (exit 48) and is open seven days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with extended hours on select nights during special events. Zoo daytime admission prices are: adult - $23.95, seniors (60+) - $21.95, children ages 3-11 - $18.95, and children 2 and under are free. Daytime admission is value-priced to include unlimited amusement rides. Parking is free. For more information, visit LowryParkZoo.com.

Fun Product Reviews and Great Discounts!

The following reviews were written by one of our Super Social Mom's, Rachel, who is currently 9+ months pregnant expecting her third child. The family is looking forward to welcoming the first baby boy to the world in the few weeks. We wish all the best for the family and can not wait to meet the newest edition. Thank you for being a great Mom & one of our Social Moms!

Stephen Joseph Pink Quilted Frog Backpack

This backpack is perfect for a busy preschooler. There is a hidden pocket inside and a zipper pocket on the outside to hold treasures.  The magnetic snap is easy for little fingers to manage and there is a loop on the back to hang in a cubby or on a hook. The colors are vibrant and appeal to all ages. I love that it is completely machine washable. We will be looking into getting it monogrammed with our last name so both girls can use it.







Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine is happy to offer our readers and followers a special discount code
for 25% off your order when you use TPBM25
October 4 - December 31, 2011

www.stephenjosephgifts.com






Sew Plain Jane Capes



We absolutely love the Sew Plain Jane capes. We received one to review that my daughter decorated with the included pieces and personalized with the glitter glue also included. Then, the following weekend we attended a superhero birthday party and my other daughter received one as a party gift. Thank goodness we have two or they would be fighting over who gets to be the superhero constantly. The capes are well made and the perfect size for my two year old and my four year old. The stick on pieces are very sturdy and have excellent adhesive. The capes also come with masks for the perfect toddler ensemble. They are reasonably priced at $6.50 for the cape, $10 for the decorating kit and $1.25 for the mask. You can just purchase the cape and use your own stickers at home or there are lots of other choices of already completed capes for $8-$9. You can find the capes pictured and many more at www.sewplainjane.com.


New Leaf Cleaner

 

I love this cleaner! Newleaf all-purpose cleaner smells wonderfully like peppermint. I feel comfortable letting my children help me clean with it while supervised because it doesn’t have any harsh chemicals that could be accidentally sprayed into eyes or mouths. It works just as well if not better than the chemical laden cleaners I have been using for years.

Ingredients: water, vinegar, saponified organic oils (organic coconut oil, organic olive oil, organic jojoba oil),peppermint essential oil blend, organic aloe vera, rosemary extract, sodium carbonate, tea tree oil

Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine is happy to offer our readers and followers a special discount code for 15% off your total order when you use tbp1011

October 4 - November 4, 2011

www.newleafclean.com

Is the Economy Killing Fatherhood? Advocate Reveals Ways to Be A Better Father in Trying Times

Tom Watson knows what it’s like not to have time to spend with your kids.

"It used to sting me when I was working hard at building my business and I’d hear my kids talking about me," he said. "One would ask the other to see if I had time to play with them, and the other would tell him not to bother, because he knew I’d be too busy. It was like a knife in my heart. With the economy as tight as it is, I know that I’m not the only father with the same issue. These days, many fathers are either unemployed and working hard to find work or they are working two jobs or more just to make ends meet. Either they don’t have much time for family, or they just aren’t in the mood for family because they are despondent or feeling helpless as a provider."

But, it doesn’t have to be that way, according to Watson, author of the autobiographical Man Shoes: The Journey to Becoming a Better Man, Husband & Father (www.manshoes.net). Watson’s tips for dads in a tough economy include:

Share Time – Don’t spend time with your kids, because that term makes it sound like you are giving away time that you could be using for other things. Share time with them, because sharing indicates that you both get something out of that time. It’s important for your kids to know that you aren’t paying attention to them out of obligation, but rather, because you need to be with them as much as they need to be with you.

Make a Schedule – Stability and security are important to kids, so set up a time every week that is just for them, and do your best to make that time on your calendar immovable. Give them something they can look forward to on a regular schedule and it will show them how important they are to you and help you build a trusting relationship with them.

A Little Time is Better Than None – If you’re working two jobs or work out of town and commute home on the weekends, they will understand if you don’t have a lot of time to spend. Even if you can only block out a couple of hours every week, that can be enough. As long as you keep to the schedule and don’t let them down, that time will be as valuable as if you spent the entire weekend with them.

Don’t Plan Big – Parents who work a lot sometimes feel guilty about neglecting their kids, and they cater to that guilt by making big plans with their kids on a regular basis. They feel that doing something lavish and expensive will somehow be seen as a payback to their kids for not seeing them often. The pitfall is that the bigger the plan, the bigger the expectation. The truth is, kids don’t care. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or make big plans all the time. It could be as simple as going to the park to fly kites and eating a brown bag lunch together, and most kids would be happy with that.

"Life is a choice and the person you choose to be is in your control. No matter the hand you may have been dealt, there are no excuses," Watson added. "I grew up as an orphan and I acted out a lot, because I lacked the guidance of a family until I was finally adopted," he said. "And even when I found stability with my adoptive parents, the Watsons, it took some time for me to settle down. Having shoes on my feet, clothes on my back and food on the table were all good things, but it wasn’t those things that soothed me as a child. It was the time, love and attention I received from the Watsons that put me back on course and that’s what every child needs. While it may seem to some that working hard to provide for their families is their primary responsibility as a father, that’s just not so. Children are adaptable and can do without material things more easily than they can do without the love and attention of their parents. If my experience meant anything to me, it showed me that it takes more to be a dad than to just bring home the bacon. It’s not enough to just do for your children – you have to be with them, too."

About Tom Watson

Tom Watson is a survivor of child abuse, upheaval and 13 foster homes, so he learned how to overcome adversity at an early age. Later in life, Tom was faced with heartbreaking tragedies which threatened to destroy him. He drew from previous life lessons to persevere and show that new beginnings are possible at any age or stage of life - no matter what obstacles get in the way. These principles and their applications are chronicled in his new book Man Shoes: The Journey to Becoming a Better Man, Husband & Father (www.manshoes.net).

Help Us, Help You! Give Us Your Feedback, And Be Entered In Our Contest!

Hello TBPM Readers!

As the year comes to a close, we are reflecting and brainstorming on how we can better our products and services to all of our readers. Although we may not be able to please everyone, we absolutely want to try. Currently, we are working on how to improve our Tampa Bay Parenting Blog and would really like to hear any feedback you have. We have created some questions we would for you to answer, and feel free to give any additional advice or comments. To show our appreciation for the time you take to help us out, you will be entered in a raffle to win tickets to view the beauty and history on the Old Hyde Park Home Tour on December 4th. In order to be entered, you are required to be a “Follower” of our blog as well as give feedback in the comment box below the blog post. Thank you for your support of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.

Questions (Feel free to answer one or all of the questions below):

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