{hot dish} baltimore ravens rule the roost at towson town center on friday

The Ravens Purple Caravan and 98 Rock will be rockin' Towson Town Center on Friday in anticipation of this weekend's playoff game. They're inviting kids of all ages to show off their purple spirit!

Expect tons of energy, fun and ... wait for it... giveaways.

You'll find the party  -- which includes kid-friendly refreshments, face painting and visits/photographs with Poe-- in the Grand Court beginning at 2:00 PM. The Raven's Caravan makes its appearance between 2:45 PM and 3:10 PM. Participants will also be treated to tunes by the Raven's marching band, the LARGEST band of any NFL organization.

The first 100 people to wear their Ravens purple and/or Ravens apparel at the start of the event will receive a free $10 mall gift card by visiting the M&T Bank table.

Find more information on the Towson Town Center website. And don't forget to wear your purple.

petit feet UGGs giveaway winner!

It was one of our BIGGEST GIVEAWAYS EVER. So many of you were excited about the UGGs giveaway sponsored by Petit Feet Footwear in Quarry Lake.

Wait a second... still haven't been there? Add it your shopping hit list pronto. Dressing your mini-fashionistas for holiday soirees? Make sure their feet are as tres chic as their outfits. With Petit Feet's fabulous collection of shoes in ALL kids sizes, you'll find the perfect pair--- in a kid-friendly shopping atmosphere. Translation? Bring the kiddos along. It's a can't miss. For more reasons to love Petit Feet, check out our original blog post.

And now for the winner....

Drum roll please...

5 things to know about the new ShopRite in Timonium

Angela Mirra is stopping by (cool) progeny today to share her experience touring the new ShopRite Grocery Store in Lutherville-Timonium. It's now a must-check-out on my list - especially with Thanksgiving food shopping just around the corner. How about you?

I can be a very inefficient shopper. I know it doesn't make sense for my schedule or for my veteran cart riding toddler either, but I have to admit that in my line of work I am always looking for certain ingredients or for a new favorite product.

I have the grocery store pyramid addiction. Hit one, hit the other, wait a day, and then hit the next. I guess I spend a lot of time around food and my son spends a lot of time singing, counting, whining, and eating while on wheels.

My first impression of ShopRite in Timonium was the usual: large aisles, big store, a bunch of standard ingredients... Until I took a tour with some of the staff members and then I was really able to see that they offered  much more than just standard. There are a ton of different ingredients and options here! Veggies are fresh, and often local. The bread is warm. The salad bar is crisp, and people seem genuinely happy with their job.

Not so "standard" after all.

just the right fit: petit feet in quarry lake is giving away a pair of UGGs!

Finding stylish shoes for the Bug was the bane of my existence. I distinctly remember a search for toddler size 7 rain boots last fall that sent me on a Charm City wild goose chase. My mother-in-law finally shipped us a pair from Chicago.

I wish I had known then about Petit Feet Footwear in Quarry Lake. We stumbled upon this family-owned gem last month at the aMuse Toys Sidewalk Sale. Not only is their selection of children’s shoes expansive, their shoes are tres chic. You won’t find a saddle shoe here. {Sorry, Grandma}.

Petit Feet specializes in European footwear for kids (think Naturino and Venettini) but they also carry mom favorites like Pediped and kid-favorites like Lelli Kelly. {The Bug calls her Lelli Kelly purple tennis shoes her ‘sparkle princess sneakers.’) This fall, Petit Feet brought in pint-sized UGGs -- much to the delight of their fans and customers.

tips for taking kids to sugarloaf craft festival

The Sugarloaf Craft Festival is back at the Maryland State Fairground this weekend. With fun & food enclosed in the Cow Palace, is a great 'beat the scummy weather' option for families. We had a chance to swing by this afternoon and have a few pointers:

1. Have kids in tow? Your first stop should be Randy's Candies -- a good old fashioned candy stand. Grab a bag of gummy bears for $3.50 and dole them out one at a time. You'll be amazed how much good behavior mileage you'll get. {{Good behavior incentive or bribery, call it what you will -- it works.}}

2. We established a 'hands in your pockets' rule before we even entered the building. With an assortment of ceramic artisans, I wasn't taking any chances. Although the Bug didn't actually have pockets to put her hands in, she understood that this was not a place to touch everything. When there was something that she could touch (say, a purse. The Bug has a serious purse fetish!), we simply gave her permission to 'take her hands out of her pockets.' And any time there was a huge open space, we let her run around and get some energy out.

pump it up with plum district

Have you heard about Plum District Baltimore? Plum District is a national deals site dedicated to providing fantastic daily steals for savvy moms and families. The Baltimore location recently launched -- and is all about offering deals and discounts from local mom-friendly businesses, products and services. Everything from health consultations to baking classes to carpet cleaning and kids products.

Since our inception - (cool) progeny has been centered around connecting local parents with local resources. Similar missions? You bet. Amy Hanna, Plum District Baltimore's regional manager, and I recently bonded over artichoke dip and chai tea lattes at Teavolve and decided to partner up. (cool) progeny will be an official blog partner and ambassador of Plum District Baltimore. {{You'll soon see their logo on our sidebar!}} This official partnership will help us make sure you're aware of the best deals around and we can connect our partners with their new marketing platform. Seems to me like it's a win-win for everyone. And the economy.

Plus, I love their mom-friendly vibe.

Today's deal? $15 for 5 free play sessions at Pump It Up in Owings Mills. That's 50% off the regular price. Why not head over to Plum District and snatch it up? You'll be a superhero to your kids AND have a ready-made, already-paid-for rainy day plan in your back pocket. I'd venture that a morning bounce adventure does wonders for an afternoon nap, too...

Another win-win.

Disclaimer: As a blog partner, I received this deal for free from Plum Distrct in exchange for sharing it with (cool) progeny readers. It was just too good not to share! I'll be featuring 3-4 of their deals each month. To keep up with their deals every day, be sure to like them on facebook and sign up for a free account and have a daily announcement delivered to your email inbox!

{hot} dish: little hands signing class in towson - registration deadline is 8/29!

Stories By Hand offers engaging "Little Hand Signing" story and song-based American sign language class for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their parents. And they're coming to Towson on Monday mornings this fall.

From September 12th through October 31st, families with up to three children can attend a fun and engaging class sign language class for just $130/family. The baby class (ages birth to 24 months with caregiver) meets at 9:30 AM. The preschooler class (ages 2-6 with caregiver) meets at 10:30 AM.

Why consider teaching your baby/infant/toddler/preschooler sign language? It provides another means of communicating with your child. Read our interview with Kathy MacMillan of Little Hands Signing.

The deadline for registering for either fall Towson class is August 29th. See the Little Hands Signing flier for more information. To keep up with all of the class offerings from Stories By Hand (they frequent MANY local libraries!), 'like' them on facebook!

the skinny on charm city kids club -- and a sneak peek at their grand opening fun!

Stacy Bekman Radz and Lindsay Klatsky are two moms on a mission -- and the founders of Charm City's newest kid hotspot, Charm City Kids Club. With a soft launch last week and their grand opening festivities this weekend, Stacy and Lindsay are excited to debut their family friendly oasis that caters to the younger kid crowd: infants through age 6. They were kind enough to answer a few questions about their new Lutherville-based business via email.

Tell us the story of Charm City Kids Club? What led you to pursue this idea?

We came up with the idea of Charm City Kids Club after we were dissatisfied with the options for young children offered in the Baltimore area. We both lived in New York City where there was a vast array of unique and fun children’s classes taught in child friendly environments. We decided that we were going to bring to Baltimore what many other large cities already had in place- an all in one children’s development center. We are taking our prior work experience as well as our expertise as moms of two and collaborating to create the perfect place for children and their families. At Charm City Kids Club, we are redefining the childhood experience in Baltimore.

What makes Charm City Kids Club different from other "kid friendly" places in Baltimore? What makes you unique?

Charm City Kids Club is the first place in Baltimore County to offer a one stop place geared towards children and their families. From the moment one enters CCKC, it is obvious that CCKC is a place for children and their families because of the bright colors and inviting atmosphere. CCKC offers educational and socialization opportunities for expectant parents and new parents through luncheons, dinners and special events with various speakers. These events will also allow parents to meet other parents with children in the same age group who share similar interests and concerns. CCKC also offers classes that include: parent/infant classes, interactive children’s music classes, art classes geared toward different themes, cooking classes geared toward different themes, science classes, book clubs, and infant and child yoga. CCKC also features birthday parties with a choice of over 10 birthday party themes. CCKC has an indoor play town for families to enjoy with a soft play area for the babies and a Whole Foods Mt. Washington Market and delivery truck, diner and theater for the older ones to play. In addition, CCKC has a retail area with high-end (yet reasonably priced) products for babies and young children. CCKC is the ONLY company in Baltimore County that provides all of these services in ONE location with easy access, convenient parking and high quality customer service.

We heard through the grapevine that you had hoped to open last fall. What were some of the challenges you ran into?

We wanted to find the perfect location that would be easily accessible from many locations, had ample parking and was on the main level to make things easier for parents and caregivers. Most importantly, we were looking for the perfect space that would appeal to the little ones.

What can parents expect when they visit Charm City Kids Club? What can kids expect?

CCKC is approximately 4700 square feet, clean, safe and child friendly and a place where a child walks in and says “this place is for me.” From the moment they walk in, they will be comfortable and happy with the bright colored walls, enthusiastic staff and super fun and beautifully painted play town. Parents will be thrilled that CCKC is located in a first floor building with ample parking and is accessible to both 695 and 83. CCKC is environmentally friendly, as the facilities were constructed using VOC free paint, cleaned using green products and will offer classes using recyclable materials. CCKC has a no shoe policy in the play town because our focus is being CLEAN and safe for little ones.CCKC offers a wide range of classes, events, retail selection and birthday parties so parents don’t have to take the same class over and over again. Our 1500 feet play town is in one self contained room so parents will feel comfortable bringing multiple children.

We're psyched about some of your upcoming classes. Which upcoming class are you most excited about? Why?

We are really excited about all of the classes that we are offering. We are offering great classes for children 6 weeks to age 5. One of the many classes we are really excited about is one of our music classes called Minishakers featuring music by Milkshake and other children’s favorites for children birth through age 5. Minishakers is a rockin music class that encourages kids to sing, play instruments and dance to live music. The class will feature music by Grammy nominated children’s band Milkshake as well as traditional children’s songs and adults favorites. The classes include songs, finger plays, bubbles, parachute and other exploration. Minishakers is not only an enjoyable class for children, but parents/caregivers will also have a great time! Not only do they have a great time with the class, all children enrolled in Minishakers will have the unique opportunity to experience an exclusive performance by Lisa and Mikel of Milkshake, who TOTALLY rock, in an intimate setting.

Entrepreneurial moms are always juggling. So we're curious - what's your day like since you've opened?

Our days are very busy!! We pack lunches for everyone, drop the older kids off at camp and take the younger ones with us to CCKC. We are up really early and stay up really late answering and writing tons of emails and planning events, parties and classes. We are extremely busy, but are enjoying every minute of it!

We're so bummed that we're going to miss your grand opening because we're out of town! Here's your chance to make us even more bummed -- what cool stuff are we going to miss?

We are so excited about our grand opening celebration which is on Saturday, July 30th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Some of the fun includes a performance by Lisa and Mikel of Milkshake at 11 a.m., delicious and nutritious food and make your own trail mix from Whole Foods Market Mt. Washington, and make your own smoothies from Happy Family along with samples, coupons and tons of great raffle prizes. CCKC will also be giving away many amazing prizes. Additionally, there will be grand opening specials. We encourage everyone to check out CCKC’s play town, buy some retail, sign up for classes or book a party! For more information about CCKC, please check out our website at www.charmcitykidsclub.com or email us at info@charmcitykidsclub.com.

Charm City Kids Club is located at 1500 Riderwood Drive, Lutherville, MD 21093. You can find them on the web, facebook or twitter.

koodie picks: the cow

Eli Knauer started his food blog, Adventures of a Koodie, last summer. One of his first blog posts was even a guest review of Broom's Bloom Dairy for us! Eli and his blog have been getting lots of attention lately! The 5th grader at Oakleigh Elementary School in Parkville and his blog have been highlighted on by local, national, and international media outlets, most recently by The Baltimore Sun.

Since his post of Broom's Bloom Dairy was such a hit, we've invited Eli back this summer to write a series of reviews for (cool) progeny about area ice cream/snowball hot spots. He checked out The Cow in Reisterstown last week... here's what he thought!

Last week I went to a ice cream place called "The Cow." When we got there, there was a long line and it took a long time. Even though it is a ice cream place since the name is "The Cow," there were more flavors of Italian Ice. They had custard, which is like ice cream but creamier. Flavors were chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. They had Italian Ice like Egg Custard, Fudgie brownie, and pumpkin pie.

They also had something called a snowflake shake, which was custard with any flavor Italian Ice. My brother, Owen, got a Peppermint Patty snowflake shake. I had a snowflake shake with the Italian Ice flavor Fudgie brownie. It was delicious! It was really sweet and cold. It was so good! I give **** stars for kid friendly and **** stars for food. I don't have a link because they don't have a website. Well, that's all. Bye!

Want to experience The Cow? You'll find it at 201 Main Street, Reisterstown, MD 21136.

first haircut: salon 36 kids

Many thanks to Julie at Salon 36 Kids for the Bug's fabulous new 'do.' Not only was Julie incredibly patient with the Bug (who was visibly nervous when we first arrived and wouldn't let go of my leg), she did a GREAT job. The Bug was even able to pick out her own DVD to watch during the haircut {{surprise! It was The Best of Elmo}}. By the time we got to the 'blow out,' the Bug had relinquished her grip on my hand and relaxed. The Pikesville area kid-catering salon is worth a drive for the friendly service, endless patience and fabulous cut. Cuts start at $22.

Need a kid friendly stylist? (cool) progeny reader Melissa Yuknar suggested Drew's Barber Shop on Harford Road, and reader Heather Sands suggested Floyd's 99 Barbershop on Boston Street.

Where do you take your kids?

(cool) tip: Be sure to check out Salon 36 Kids on Facebook!

cupcake adventure courtesy of Eversave Baltimore (+ giveaway!)

Have you heard of Little Hands Cookie Company in Randallstown? I've been dying to try them out. Created by a former Baltimore County Public School Teacher, Little Hands offers all sorts of mommy-and-me baking adventures, birthday parties and drop in baking and decorating fun.

So when Eversave Baltimore let me know that they had an ahh-mazing deal for Little Hands Cookie Company Today in honor of Mother's Day, I just had to let you know about it.

Today's Deal? A cupcake making class (for kids over 3!) where your little one can bake, decorate and take home six cupcakes in a custom (decorated by your kiddo) container for 50% off. All children under 7 need to be supervised by an adult -- but parents are free. That makes this the perfect Mommy and Me outing. $14 for an afternoon of fun is quite the deal. {{You can by the deal here.}}

Double bonus? Baking bonding time with out the aftermath clean up! That's the biggest hurdle of baking with the Bug. The flour that seems to spread into every available crevice in my kitchen...

One lucky (cool) progeny reader is scoring the deal for free, courtesy of Eversave. Want to take your kiddo? All you need to do is fill out this form. Want a second entry? Just let us know your favorite cupcake flavor by leaving a comment! You have from now until 5:00 PM on Wednesday, May 11th to enter!

We can't wait to give this class a try! And will be sure to post about it when we do.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was offered a free cupcake class at Little Hands Cookie Company courtesy of Eversave, in exchange for helping to get the word out about this deal. But c'mon. It's a such a sweet deal I would have shared it anyway! (Yes, pun intended).

the bug and e's excellent towsontown spring festival adventure

Mounbounces. Pony rides. Deep fried oreos. Sand art. Bag Pipes. Live Dancers. Painting and more. The 44th Annual Towsontown Spring Festival has something for everyone in the family - - and, as you can see, the Bug and her friend E had a fantastic time. You can catch the action today through 7 PM and tomorrow from 1 PM - 7 PM in downtown Towson.

Surgeon General's Warning: Exiting the family fun area may in fact cause PDOT3 (public display of Outrageous Toddler Temper Tantrum). This would be an excellent time to whip out a distraction (tempting snack, favorite toy, nuk). Or, in this ill-prepared mother's case, simply turn the child upside down and carry him/her. Change of perspective seemed to clear everything up.

the great cloth diaper change: a charm city mom's recap

We're thrilled to have Mel Cardell, a Charm City Area mom and North Mommies Area Group Moderator for Baltimore Mommies, share her experience at Baltimore's Great Cloth Diaper Change last Saturday. Hosted by Soft and Cozy Baby and Green Spring Diapers, this event aimed to join others happening around the world to set the world record for the greatest number of cloth diapers changed simultaneously AND to put a spotlight on using cloth diapers.A self proclaimed 'crunchie" mom, Mel lucked out at the change... read on to find out how! You can check out photos of the event on Timonium's Patch.com.

There were 41 other parents with their pre-potty-trained youngsters along with me and my 23-month-old son crowded into Hoppin' Tots Children's Gym on Saturday morning. It was neat to see so many "crunchies" along with me, but actually, there was a great mix of folks from all backgrounds, and all parts of Baltimore and beyond, too. What's cool is that in our area, we got to change our diapers at half-past noon. We were lucky. At some of the other 400+ locations participating in this event, it was the middle of the night (think Australia)!

At about 12:20 pm, things started getting serious. We all got our kids into position on our changing mats, stripping their trousers off, and tried to keep them from squirming away. Event organizer Anna Wong, the owner of Green Spring Diapers, counted down the minutes, then seconds, and then we were off! (OK, actually it was the diapers that were off.) We all had to change our babies into cloth diapers that were commercially available (no handmade up-cycled dishrag diapers were allowed), and the kids involved couldn't be more than 39 inches tall. My munchkin definitely qualified, but still seemed one of the older kids. He was very interested in walking around and checking out all the open diaper bags littering the floor.

I was grateful that my kid went from a clean diaper to another clean diaper, but once Anna uttered the words "Change Those Diapers" (the same phrase used worldwide), and the diapers came off, you could tell there were quite a few bottoms that were definitely ready for a fresh diaper. Whew!

Then the door prizes were announced. We didn't win anything, but didn't leave empty handed, either. We got a reusable cloth shopping bag with the Great Cloth Diaper Change logo and some valuable coupons and samples from some earth- and kid-friendly local businesses. And a handful of scribbled phone numbers of like-minded parents so we can set up some future playdates!

(just for moms) 10 reasons you should attend style at the station on thursday

Green Spring Station is partnering with Baltimore STYLE Magazine for their second annual, oh-so-mah-velous Style at the Station event on Thursday. The perfect reason to grab your gal pals and play hookie from mommy life for a shopping mini escape.

Here's why I think this is a 'must' for any mom, fabulous aunt, friend, grandmother's sister or second cousin's girlfriend who reads this blog:

10) Shopping. Fabulous shopping. TONS of deals from all of your fav Green Spring Station boutiques. Enough said.

9) Pick up some fabulous spring fashion tips from Stephanie from Bradshaw Styling (have you checked out her blog, Girl About Town?) and Heidi Slacum, the fashionista behind FRESH! Boutique. As you may have guessed, they'll be giving out the tips at FRESH! The boutique will be hosting a Julie Brown Trunk Show that day, too. Check out her summer collection ahead of time!

8) It's Misha & Co.'s debut! The jewelry store has new digs at the Station. Swing by and say hi!

7) My summer shoe selection needs some serious attention. Yours does too? Matava Shoes is having a Cole Haan Trunk Show as part of the April 14th festivities. Sweet. (PS - did you know that you can buy from them online now, too?)

6) Your bottle of Sérum Oléo-Relax from Kérastase is low -- or you don't own it. I swear by the stuff. And UNO The Salon is giving a 15% discount on all of their products. They just so happen to carry Kérastase.

5) Spring holidays are fast approaching and you just realized you have 3 graduation parties, 6 mothers day presents to buy (your mom, your mother in law, and all the grandmas in your life), three wedding showers and your best friend is having a baby. Forget about the gifts for a second - - that means CARDS for everyone. The Pleasure of Your Company will have all of your stationary needs covered -- plus 20% off of Scout by Bungalow, Cat Studio, MacBeth Collection, Graphic Image, Anna Griffin fabric collection, Lily Pulitzer and Jonathan Adler.

4) Live music. And the potential to nosh on the seared scallop appetizer and a bellini with your girlfriends at Tark's Grill. {{Note: DO ask for the bellini. You won't regret it.}}

3) Amazing giveaways at many of the boutiques. Who doesn't love something for free?

2) Wee Chic - A Baby Boutique is hosting trunk shows by Splendid AND Ella Moss -- two of this mom's favorite kid lines. Join Christy & Beth from the New York Showroom of Splendid and Ella Moss kids to preview and preorder your favorites from the July/August deliveries from these two iconic lines. Plus, Bridget is handing out mimosas and treats. Delish.

And the NUMBER ONE REASON TO ATTEND...

1) I can't go. I'll be out of town for work and need to live vicariously through all of you!

Green Spring Station has a full list of events/deals/giveaways affiliated with Style at the Station on their website. The fun happens this Thursday (April 14th) from 10 AM - 8 PM. Those of you who aren't up for playing hookie can leave the kids with the hubs and get your shopping on after work.

If you go, be sure to tell me all about it! Would love for you to upload pics to our facebook page, too.

(hot) dish: st. pauls school for girls has NEW mommy & me dance program and FABULOUS summer camp options

Have a little twirling ballerina at home? Then you'll LOVE these new summer opportunities from St. Paul's School for Girls' Dance Elan program. I had the pleasure of meeting Artistic Director Diane Webbert this evening at the TotSwap -- who is not only enthusiastic about the program, but really darn nice, too.

Personally, I'm excited about their Parent-Child Dance Me a Story Time program this summer for girls ages 2-3. It runs from 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM, Monday July 11th through Friday, July 15th. Designed to inspire appreciation for dance, the program explores classical children's stories, dance, cognitive listening skills, gross motor skills and imagery. All for just $30.

If your daughter is a bit older and is interested in beginning dance, the Petit Elan program might be for her! It runs from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Monday, June 20th through Friday, June 24th. This program is designed for ages 4-6 and runs $45 for the week.

But the BEST deals of all are their dance camps for girls ages 5-18. Each of these intense week-long dance camps are $400 each. If you visit the TotSwap this weekend and register while you are there at the Dance Elan table, the camps are only $300. Additionally, if you book the camp before May 1, 2011, you can receive before and after camp care for FREE. Did we mention that your camp fee includes a provided lunch?

The Children's Workshop
June 20 - 24, 2011
9 AM - 3:00 PM
Ages 5-10

A workshop designed specifically to develop students' love for dance. Daily instruction given in ballet and tap. Students also enjoy classes in musical theatre dance, jazz, hip hop, tumbling, French and yoga.

The Dancer's Boot Camp
August 15 - 19, 2011
10 AM - 5:00 PM
Ages 14-18

Join them for an intense week of classes designed to increase endurance, flexibility, and strength. Daily classes will be given in pilates, classical ballet, and Modern-Horton technique. In addition, classes will be offered in jazz, repertoire, and dance appreciation.

June Dance Intensive
July 11 - 15, 2011
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Ages 10-14

Join them for a fun and active week of classes designed to emerge students in the world of dance. Daily classes will be given in ballet and jazz. Additional enrichment provided through Hip Hop, musical theatre dance, and dance appreciation.

just for moms: JLBalt's spring boutique warehouse sale & girls' night out (we're sending one of you + friend for free!)

It's the time of year when the sun stays out longer, the weather gets warmer, and the deals get red hot -- thanks to the Junior League of Baltimore.

Shop for a cause at their annual Spring Boutique Warehouse Sale, featuring some of Charm City's favorite area boutiques. It's twice the size of the 2010 fall sale -- with 31 local stores participating and the number continuing to climb.

You'll be able to grab fabulous items for yourself and home, plus shop for the kiddos in the sale's expanded childrens' section. Wee Chic, Urban Baby Runway, J&M Kids' Boutique and The Monogram Shop will all have merchandise available for purchase.

"Children's apparel and footwear sales have always been excellent at the Boutique Warehouse Sale," said Caryn Dombrow from the Junior League of Baltimore. "Designer children's clothing from Wee Chic, Urban Baby Runway and The Monogram Shop really attracts a crowd, especially when it is discounted."

{{side note: The sale will have stuff for guys, too. But I'm planning to leave my husband at home. Free childcare. I highly encourage you do the same.}}

The sale is free and open to the public from 10 AM - 5 PM on Saturday, March 26th at Timonium Squaure (between Panera and Staples).

Need a little night out for yourself (and maybe a few friends?)? Check out the Girls Night Out Preview Party on Friday, March 25th from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Cocktails, nibbles and -- most importantly -- deals.

A perfect little mini-escape for those of us who need a martini and an amazing new dress.

Little detail? All proceeds from the event and sale benefit the Junior League of Baltimore, a volunteer organization for women interested in making a positive impact in their communities. Since 1912, the Junior League of Baltimore has been a driving force behind many of the initiatives and institutions that make our community strong.

Preview party sponsors and donors include co-host Baltimore Style Magazine, Fairgrounds Discount Beverages, Liberatore's Restaurant, Pasta Mista and Tres Bons Bons. Are the Italian scents wafting through your laptop or smart phone? Mine, too.

Tickets for the Girls' Night Out Sale Preview Party on March 25th are available for purchase in advance for $20/person. But guess what? We're sending one of you for free (plus a guest!). That means sips, apps and first dibs on oh-so-mah-vah-lous items for free.

Want to win the two tickets? Just fill out this quick online form. Want to double your chances of winning? Leave a comment telling us your favorite Baltimore area boutique!

You have until Monday, March 21st at 5:00 PM to enter. Good luck! And be sure to spread the word!

(cool) tip: Want to stay up-to-date with all of the event details? "Like" the Junior League of Baltimore on Facebook.

Winter's Sweet Spell

This is the last weekend to catch Maple Magic at Irvine Nature Center. (cool) progeny contributor Monica Wiedel-Lubinski shares why you and your family should check out winter's sweet spell.

Each February, we celebrate the return of another maple sugar season at Irvine Nature Center. We refer to it as "maple magic" because the sweet sap is gift flowing from the trees – one which can only be harvested in late winter. All the Native American legend and North American folklore is not enough. We need to experience the maple magic every year.

We carefully select a few trees, some of which are NOT maples, and put their "taps" in place. The taps are also known as spiles. Back in the day, these spiles were carved out of wood, though today they are metal or plastic. We trudge through snowy trails to check our sap buckets and share this miraculous process with our visitors. We even boil the sap down to make syrup in our old-fashioned evaporator (a fire-burning oven with a large, shallow pan on top). We search for tapped trees. We look for clues left by hungry winter wildlife like yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Visitors do a taste test to see if they can identify the real maple syrup from another sweetener, corn syrup (sorry, Log Cabin – you’re busted!).

As natural sweeteners go, golden honey oozing from a comb may come to mind. In fact, the honeybees that make this treat were introduced to North America during the colonial settlement. It was sap, not honey, that natives relied on to sweeten foods either by cooking food in sap or boiling it down to make syrup. Sap can also be boiled down to become sugar (and it makes delicious candy, too).



Truly special is the timing of the sweet sap. When the temperature changes and sunlight increases, that's the signal for trees to prepare for spring. The cue is cold, freezing temps at night with milder, 40 degree temps during the day. To gear up for spring, trees go into overdrive making sap. Tender new buds form tiny baby leaves with the help of the extra sugar found in sap.



Like blood to animals, sap is the life force of trees. But it is only sweet before spring arrives. Once the leaves are on the trees, other nutrients join the sap which makes it become bitter if boiled down. So the real secret is to collect sap in late winter before the buds open. And although you’ll hear the sap being called “sweet”, it’s only about 3% sugar and 97% water, which is why it must be boiled down to make syrup.


Soon maple sugar season will be over and sadly, spring will arrive. So let the maples cast their spell on you. Don’t miss maple magic this year!



Some 'sweet' stories you may want to check out with your tot:

Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola
Sugar Snow by Laura Ingalls Wilder

At Grandpa’s Sugar Bush by Margaret Carney

(cool) tip: Did you know that maple syrup is beneficial for your child's immune system (well, for everyone's immune system actually!)? It's an excellent source of zinc - - which our immune systems depend on for optimal function. And for the sweet craver in your life, maple syrup is 100% natural and 3 times as sweet as pure cane sugar with fewer calories. A little bit goes a looonnnggg way.

Monica Wiedel-Lubinski is the Director of The Nature Preschool at Irvine Nature Center. For more great ways to share nature with your children, visit www.ExploreNature.org or check out all of Monica's (cool) progeny Nature Play contributions.

designer consignment for pint-sizers: the lily pad of towson

What do a Hasbro miniature Shetland pony, Apple Bottom beadazzled jeans outfit, Gymboree and Papo d’anjo have in common?

You can find all of them -- gently loved and at a great price -- at The Lily Pad of Towson.

With thoughts of warmer weather springing into mind, you may be pondering picking up a few new staples for your mini hipsters - - or unloading some of their gently used items. Boutique consignment may be something to consider.

Sarah Weiskittel, founder of The Lily Pad, believes the biggest difference between selling your used items through a boutique likes hers or your other options is the effort a consignor has to put into the sale. When you take your items to a regional sale or have a yard sale of your own, you have to tag your own items, schlep them, and, depending on the sale, perhaps even try to sell them yourself. The Lily Pad will handle all of that. They will price,tag, hang and sell -- for you.

The price your items will obtain through a local consignment boutique will likely be much higher than what your items will net at a larger sale venue. The perceived down side? The consignor only takes 40% of the sale price when you work through a local boutique. Notice I said perceived downfall. 40% of a larger starting price most likely results in a larger cut for you, with less effort.

So what types of items does Sarah look for from consignors? Designer and brand name items.

"Some of the brands that sell the best at the Lily Pad are mini Boden, crewcuts, Lilly Pulitzer, Gap, Tea, Janie & Jack, Hanna Andersson, Eland and Gymboree," said Sarah. "We love the French and Italian designers such as Lily Gaufrette and Papo d’anjo. We also take some gear: highchairs, Pack-N-Plays, strollers, bumbo seats, etc. We only take these items as space allows, so we ask that consignors call to see if we have room for their items before bringing them to the store."

All consignment journeys through The Lily Pad start with an appointment. Interested consignors are asked to select thirty of their very best items, freshly laundered and laid flat (The Lily Pad uses their own hangers). It's also recommended that the items be ironed because they'll show better. A better show equals a better sale. The Lily Pad staff then selects the items from the consignors collection that they believe will sell. Trust them. They know their clientele.

After the item sells, the consignor receives 40% of the sale price - -and you have your choice of receiving your payment by check OR store credit.

Sarah's favorite item that's in the store right now? Hands down.. Butterscotch! The Hasbro FurReal Friends Shetland pony. It's more than three feet tall - - so any little girl will feel like she's going for a ride. She came in last week and is residing in the store window.

You never know what treasure you'll find at a local consignment store. One of Sarah's clients found her favorite hoodie.

Not one she fell in love with. One that had been lost.

"She pulled it off the rack and showed her Mom and said 'look mom this looks just like my favorite hoodie that I lost at school!' The mother looked at the hoodie and turned the tag over to find her daughter’s initials," said Sarah. "It was the EXACT same hoodie that the girl had lost! I just smiled and said, that’s Smalltimore for you! And of course I let her take the hoodie, on the house!"

(cool) tip: Thinking about consigning but don't know if the whole appointment process is for you? Every season, The Lily Pad runs a "Leave it and Leap" promotion. Just drop off any 15 items you'd like to sell with no appointment. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for details!

fab find: hunter wellies

So the big ice storm thankfully turned out to be a bust... but the heavy rains did leave us with {{wait for it}}: PUDDLES.

Is your tot ready to puddle jump?

The Hunter Wellies that all of us adults covet are now available for the pint sized -- locally.

{{Insert Happy Dance}}

Last fall, I scoured (and I mean scoured) every store I knew of for a toddler rain boot. I hit the local childrens shoe places, the department stores, the Targets in our areas... bust, nada, niente. My mother-in-law finally found a pair for the Bug in Chicago.

So imagine my delight when our friends at wee chic - a baby boutique let me know that they now carry the time-tested, oh-so-adorable Hunter Wellies? The centuries-old Scottish line is uber selective in terms of the boutiques they choose to work with, so this is a real boon not only to wee chic, but to all of us Charm City moms who want to keep our kids in unique, well-crafted and stylish clothes. (You can read more about why we love wee chic here.)

"Hunter boots have 150 years of development and history. They are truly waterproof and made for the way kids really play," said wee chic founder Bridget Stickline."We love them even more because they are absolutely fabulous. Any shoe that can be rocked with a skinny jean or a printed sundress and look equally as cool is A+ in our book!"

Function meet fashion. These boots are the gift that keeps on giving, as they'll survive hand-me-down cycle after hand-me-down cycle. Nab a pair in green, red, blue, or yellow and they'll go from your daughter to your son to your youngest daughter. (How many clothing items can we really do that with?)

Wee chic carries the boots in Kid's First sizes 8-13 for $50, and Original Boot sizes 1-3 for $75. Add the fleece inserts for $20 and you'll be set for next week's {{possible}} snow, too!

Which color is your favorite?

(cool) tip: check out wee chic's facebook page to get the wee scoop on this line!

image credit

(hot) dish: a yummy deal at little hands baking company, compliments of Certifikid

Just had to share this... our friends at Certifikid have a fantastic offer up for grabs for the next 54 hours ONLY.

The oh-so-fabulous deal? $25 gets you $50 worth of yummy goodness at Little Hands Cookie Company in Randallstown. What a perfect winter play date idea!

From Certifikid's website:

Little Hands Cookie Company, located in Randallstown, offers drop-in baking sessions where you and your little one can make up a batch of cookies using their gourmet, special recipe cookie mix! You can even have the most delicious birthday party in town! Little Hands offers drop-in baking sessions, birthday parties, field trips, and special events like tea parties and cookie parties in their store! On the calendar now - look for drop-in cupcake and pretzel-making in January, and “Hands and Hearts” cookie-making tea parties in February! Want to create that memory in your own kitchen? Stop by to pick up their tried-and-true cookie mix and baking tools to use at home!

Use your Certifikid deal toward any yummy fun that Little Hands Cookie Company offers – drop-in baking sessions, field trips, playdate baking, birthday party packages, retail items, or special event tickets!

What is Certifikid? It's a Groupon-like company that offers deals specifically serving families. What started as DC-area phenomenon has recently expanded to Charm City. Another savvy financial trick to add to your budgeting tool kit.

We can all use all of the deals we can get, right?

So ditch the blackberry/iPhone for an hour and get to stirring in the Little Hands Kitchen. Your psyche - - and kiddo - - will thank you.