This weekend in Bay Area: San Jose Holiday Parade

I just watched this on the news that there will be a holiday parade in San Jose tomorrow. This is supposed to be among the top 25 parade in America, and will be broadcast live on TV.
My daughter will be so excited knowing that Princess Aurora will be in the parade and Nutcracker will be performing.

San Jose Holiday Parade

This weekend in Bay Area: Hometown Holiday & Holiday Train

Hometown Holidays
Downtown City
Saturday, December 6, 2008
10am - 6pm
FREE
This weekend Redwood City is sponsoring holiday activities that will be fun for family. The kids will be able to play with snow, see Santa, watch parade, watch ice sculpture in the making, fireworks as well as seeing Caltrain's train in the evening full of holiday lights. The kids have been wanting to see snow for a long time. This is so much easier than driving 4 hours to Tahoe.


Caltrain's "Holiday Train" will arrive at Redwood City station at 6:15 pm.
It also will stop at several locations along Peninsula this weekend.
To see the full schedule, click here


Burlingame Holiday Open House
Downtown Burlingame
Sunday, December 7, 2008
2-7pm
FREE
Santa Claus, train rides, parades, carnival rides.

This weekend in Bay Area: Ghirardelli Holiday Lighting & Christmas at the Park65q

Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, November 28, 2008
2pm - 8 pm
900 North Point Street at the corner of Beach and Larkin Streets
San Francisco
FREE

• Live entertainment
• Santa Claus
• kids arts & crafts activities
  

There are 4 hour free parking on the street at the end of Van Ness Ave, close to Ghirardelli Square.

Christmas at the Park
Plaza de Cesar Chavez, on Market Street between San Carlos and San Fernando in downtown San José.
daily from Friday November 28, 2008 to January 1, 2009
9 am - midnight
FREE
If you are in South Bay, definitely check this one out.
Every year this 2 acre park is transformed into this winter wonderland of lights, musical and animated exhibits.

• Live entertainment
• Photo with Santa Claus

This weekend in Bay Area: Holiday Lighting & Winter Carnival

The annual building lighting at the Embarcadero Center, San Francisco starts today, Friday Nov 1, 2008.
Embarcadero Center
San Francisco
Friday, Nov 1 2008
FREE

• Ice Show and Building Lighting
• Winter Carnival
• (carnival games, interactive arts and crafts making booths, card making, balloon twisters, musical performances
• PLUS four (4) hours of free parking from 4:00 PM.

We had a lot of fun the last time we went. Lots of free food, vendors would hand out coupons. The kids could make holiday arts & crafts to bring home. My daughter made snowflakes head band, and holiday ornament. We met Santa Claus, watched ice skating performance. Then at the end, we would head out to nearby Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby to see their tall Christmas tree and Snow village collection and lots of Christmas light decoration.
You can check the pictures here.


PIER 39 Holiday Tree Lighting
Sunday, November 23, 2008
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
FREE

• live entertainment performing holiday traditions from Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa.
  
• face painting, letters to Santa, crafts, and photos with Santa.
• tree lighting will start at 5:30pm in the Entrance Plaza.

Tip: Get for an hour of FREE parking with lunch validation and 2 hour for dinner validation.
OR
Go to their Welcome Center on the 2nd floor, which opens daily from 10am-5pm & get 2 hour FREE parking coupon inside Pier 39 fun pack .
That's a saving of $14 on parking!

Trick-or-Treating at the Mall

The forecast for tomorrow in Bay Area is supposed to be rainy. It's just easier to do trick-or-treating at the mall. It's safer alternative than trick-or-treating on the street, and the kids won't get wet. Here is a list of trick-or-treating at the Bay Area malls:

Hillsdale Mall's spooktacular Halloween
Oct. 31, 2008, 5 pm-6:30 pm
Hillsdale Mall
60 31st Ave.
San Mateo
balloon making, magic shows, Mad Science Slime Booth, pumpkin decorating,
Trick or Treating

San Francisco Shopping Center Trick-or-Treating
Friday, October 31, 2008
3 pm - 6 pm
Westfield San Francisco Centre Shopping Centre
865 Market St.
San Francisco CA 94103

Serramonte Mall Trick-or-Treating
Friday, October 31, 2008
3:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Serramonte Mall
3 Serramonte Center
Daly City, CA 94015
Costume contest & parade, then trick-or-treating starting at 5:30pm.

Tanforan Mall
Friday, October 31, 2008
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
The Shops at Tanforan
1150 El Camino Real
San Bruno, California 94066
(650) 873-2000
Costume contest & parade. The site didn't mention any trick-or-treating though..

Stanford Mall-wide Trick-or-Treating
Friday, October 31, 2008
5pm-7pm
Stanford Shopping Center
680 Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto, CA 94304

Valley Fair Trick-or-Treating
Friday, October 31, 2008
5pm-6pm
Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Centre
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd.
San Jose CA 95050-6709

Westgate Mall Trick-or-Treating
Friday, October 31, 2008
5pm-7pm
1600 Saratoga Avenue
San Jose, CA 95129
Arts & crafts, live entertainment, balloons, even trick-or-treat bag is provided

If you are looking for other fun and FREE places to go this Halloween, go here.

This weekend in Bay Area: Day of the Dead (Diá De Los Muertos)

Here are free and fun activities for kids in Bay Area for this coming weekend:

Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead
Saturday, November 1, 2008
3pm - 8pm
downtown Redwood City
FREE

• Procession
• Arts & crafts
  
• Marigolds Flower Decorating
• Papel Picado Decoration Station
• Skull Cookie decorating
• Live entertainment

Diá De Los Muertos - Day of the Dead
Sunday, November 2
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Habitot Children's Museum
2065 Kittredge Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
FREE
We always have a great time when we go to Habitot. The place is small, perfect for younger kids.
Lots of hands-on activities, storytime, and it's free.
Another free day is Tuesday, November 4; 9:30 am - 12:30 am

This week: FREE Halloween events for young kids

My kids are afraid of those skeleton or ghost displays, so we won't do trick or treating on the street in the evening.
Here's what I found to be a great alternative, FREE, not-scary, plus safe activities to do for Halloween, especially for young kids in Bay Area:

Santana Row Halloween Family Fest
Tuesday, October 28 2008
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
FREE
face painting, puppet shows, arts and crafts

Halloween Costume Parade
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 7:00pm
Redwood City Public Library in the Children’s Room.
1044 Middlefield Road
Redwood City, CA 94063
FREE
parade, treats and a Not-So-Scary Halloween Program

Mentlo-Atherton High School Oct. 30 - Trick-or-Treat Street
Thursday, October 30, 2008
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,
Menlo-Atherton High School
555 Middlefield Road
Atherton, CA 94027
FREE
costume parade, arts & crafts, face painting, candy, prizes.

Burlingame Halloween Safe Streets
Friday, October 31, 2008
5:30 to 7:30pm
Primrose Road between Burlingame Avenue and Chapin Avenue
Burlingame, CA
FREE
It's their annual Halloween, the road will be closed off.
Live music, Costume Parade, Trick-or Treating, Story telling, Face Painting, Costume Contest

Trick or Treating at Whole Foods Market
Friday, October 31, 2008
3:00-5:00 p.m.
Whole Foods
1010 Park Place
San Mateo, CA 94403
FREE
Kids can trick or treat while you grocery shopping.

Hillsdale Mall's spooktacular Halloween
Oct. 31, 2008, 5 pm-6:30 pm
Hillsdale Mall, 60 31st Ave., San Mateo
FREE
balloon making, magic shows, Mad Science Slime Booth, pumpkin decorating,
Trick or Treating

San Francisco Halloween Festival
Friday, October 31, 2008
4pm to 11pm
AT&T Ball Park Parking lot A
FREE
I'm not sure if this one will be that kid-friendly, since it's mixed with adult entertainment, but it's supposed to provide arts & crafts, kids play zone, costume contests for the kids. You can also get flu shot there.

This weekend in Bay Area: Halloween events

Here are FREE and fun Halloween activities for kids this weekend:

Randall Museum's Family Halloween Festival
Randall Museum
199 Museum Way, San Francisco
Saturday October 25, 2008
10 am-2 pm
FREE, but small fees apply for food and most activities

• Halloween arts & crafts
• Live entertainment
• Trick or treat
• Pumpkin carving
• Puppet costume parade

Millbrae Halloween Carnival

Saturday October 25, 2008
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Location: Mervyn's Parking Lot
Parade begins at 2pm and ends with Trick-or-Treating down Broadway.

Foster City 2008 Halloween Festival
Saturday October 25, 2008
10am - 3pm
Foster City Recreation Center
Carnival games, a costume parade, live entertainment, food, family crafts, magic show.

Yerba Buena Gardens Halloween Festival
Sunday October 26, 2008
11 am - 2 pm
Children's Garden
Yerba Buena Garden
San Francisco
FREE
It's their annual Halloween events at Yerba Buena Garden.

• Live Entertainment
• Face painting
• Halloween arts & crafts
• Pumpkin carving
• Trick or treat
• Costume parade
• Zeum's Haunted House for kids in costume & parents

PIER 39's Pumpkin Pandemonium
Sunday, October 26, 2008
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Pier 39
San Francisco
FREE

• Kids can trick or treat throughout PIER 39’s Pumpkin Pandemonium.
• Face painting
• Halloween show
• pumpkin patch to pick their one free pumpkin.

Halloween Spooktacular
Saturday October 25, 2008
local Borders and Waldenbooks store
FREE
costume contest
storytimes
games, activities
kids get a FREE cookie if you purchase a drink

This weekend in Bay Area: Pumpkin Festival

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
It's annual Pumpkin Festival again this weekend at Half Moon Bay.
Come early, or else there will be traffic going there.
Lots of fun and free activities for the kids over there:

• Halloween costume contest
  
• the Great Pumpkin Parade
• pumpkin pie eating contests
• non-competitive pumpkin carving
• watch world-class pumpkin carver carving giant pumpkins into one-of-a-kind sculptures,
  
• climbing wall
• live entertainment
• scarecrow contest
• haunted house
  

October 18-19, 2008 9 AM to 5 PM
Main Street between Miramontes and Spruce Streets
Half Moon Bay
FREE

If you prefer to go to San Francisco, there are FREE fun activities for kids in Yerba Buena Garden area on both Saturday & Sunday. For detail, click here

This weekend in Bay Area: Family Day, FREE Museums admissions

Exciting and FREE fun activities for kids are happening this weekend in San Francisco:

San Francisco Family Festival
Yerba Buena Gardens
between Mission and Folsom and 3rd and 4th Streets
San Francisco
FREE
Saturday, October 18, 2008
11:00 am to 3:00 pm

• Fun hands-on science & art projects for kids
  
• Circus acts and balloon artists
• Climbing Wall
• Jump Houses
• Face painting
  
• Zeum Carousel (FREE carousel ride during this event!!!)
  

Plus,
MUNI is FREE for all children younger than age 18
10:00 am to 4:00 pm on October 18, 2008

FREE family event
downtown San Francisco’s Yerba Buena arts district
San Francisco
Sunday, October 19 2008
11-4pm
5 San Francisco’s top cultural destinations including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the new Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), Zeum and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival welcome families with a full day of free admission,
hands-on art activities
family-friendly performances. It’s an unprecedented opportunity for kids and their caregivers to experience all that has to offer, thanks to the generous support of Target.
MoMa
New Contemporary Jewish Museum
Zeum
Yerba Buena Garden

FREE admission to DisneyWorld or Disneyland

Starting next year (from Jan 1 2009 to Dec 31 2009), Disney is offering FREE ticket to DisneyWorld or Disneyland on your birthday.
If you already have a multi-pass or annual passholder, there's option to do the following:

* A birthday fun card in an amount equal to the price of a 1-Day/1-Park ticket* for you to use on your birthday for merchandise, recreation or fun activities at select participating locations at Disneyland® Resort; or
* A special birthday FASTPASS® ticket+ for certain attractions at the Theme Park you visit on your birthday; or
* A 1-Day/1-Park ticket for you to use any time until your next birthday.

That's at least a $59 savings.
go here for details.

This weekend in Bay Area: San Carlos Arts and Wine Festival, Fleet Week in San Francisco

For a fun, FREE activities for kids in Bay Area, check out the following events:

San Carlos Wine and Arts Festival
October 11 & 12, 2008
San Carlos Avenue (between El Camino and Walnut) and down Laurel Street from San Carlos Avenue to Arroyo

• Italian street painting
• Live entertainment
• Cookie decorating
• Face and pumpkin painting
• fingerpainting
• Wax hand making
• Magician

Fleet Week in San Francisco
October 9-14, 2008
FREE
It's the annual U.S. Navy festival in San Francisco.

• Watch the Parade of Navy ships, big and small (among them destroyers, frigates and cutters) sail from the Pacific into the San Francisco Bay.
• Live Music
• Meet Blue Angels

10/9 (Thu)	1 - 5pm	Blue Angel Survey Flights & Practice
10/10 (Fri)	12:30 - 5pm*	Air Show Practice & Blue Angels
10/11 (Sat)	12:30 - 5pm*	Air Show & Blue Angels
10/12 (Sun)	12:30 - 5pm*	Air Show & Blue Angels

*Blue Angels fly at 3pm

Melamine found in Chinese candy & coffee sold in the U.S

Melamine, chemical used to make plastics and fertilizers, was earlier found in powdered milk product in China, which had caused 4 infant death and about 54000 illnesses.
Now melamine has been found not only in milk product, but in others as well, even in candy sold in the U.S!

These products include milk, ice-cream, yogurt, confectionery such as chocolates, biscuits and sweets as well as any other products containing milk from China as an ingredient.
Last Friday, the California Department of Public Health warned consumers not to consume White Rabbit Candy and Mr. Brown coffee products because of possible melamine contamination.

White Rabbit candy vanilla-flavored, sticky, taffy-like candy is very popular in Asia. Sold in more than 50 countries. You can find this candy sold in Asian supermarket, such as Ranch99, and Marina in Bay Area, and sometimes at Asian restaurants. If you have this candy, it's better to just throw away for now.

The recalled products are:

• Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)
• White Rabbit Creamy Candies; 8-ounce and 16-ounce packages with white background.
• White Rabbit Red Bean Creamy Candies, 7-ounce package with red background.
• White Rabbit Coffee Creamy Candy; 7-ounce package with yellow background.
• White Rabbit Corn Flavour Creamy Candies; 7-ounce package with yellow background.
• White Rabbit Lychee Flavored Candy; 7-ounce package with red background.
• White Rabbit Assorted Creamy Candy (chocolate, coffee and coconut flavored); 7-ounce package with clear background.
• White Rabbit Mango Flavored Candy; 7-ounce package with yellow background.
• White Rabbit Strawberry Cream Candy; 7-ounce package with pink background.
• White Rabbit Candy comes in plastic bags with individually wrapped pieces of candy inside. All varieties of the candies have a picture of a white rabbit with a black background on the top of the bag.

Tomorrow: Free first Wednesday admission

Halloween is coming, there are lots of fun activities for kids for Halloween, and I'll post more about it later.
But first thing first, do you have fun activities plan for tomorrow yet?
Here are some FREE fun activities you can take your kids tomorrow:

Coyote Point Museum
1651 Coyote Point Drive
San Mateo, CA 94401-1097
(650) 342-7755
FREE on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
($5 admission to the park)

• Hands-on activities for kids (building magnetic sculpture, create a recycled masterpiece, examine a snakeskin)
• See honeybee up close
• River otter exhibit is always popular. Get here before 12:30pm to see feeding time.

Tip: If you have more time, check out the nearby playground, featuring monster slides, it's the best kept secret...
Note: there's an ongoing road construction check here for direction.

Exploratorium
at the Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 561-0399
FREE Wednesday, October 1, 2008

• Great hands-on exhibits that will entertain both kids and adults with over 650 exhibits.
• There's bubble stations,
  
• Light exhibits, where kids learn how to make different color using 3 primary colors
  
• Tap Lariet chain and see it become 'alive'.
• Checkout the optical illusion of the restroom wall, and toilet water fountain.

Our kids favorite was playing the sand wheels. While our 1 yo just loves dumping the sand on the wheel, our 4 yo used the stick and learn to make patterns using stick and whirling wheel.


If you are San Francisco residents, then you can get in here for FREE too:
San Francisco Zoo
1 Zoo Road
San Francisco, CA 94132
FREE to San Francisco residents only Wednesday, October 1, 2008 10 a.m. to 5 p.m

• See the tiger triplets, new addition to the zoo
  
• Get on the train rides
• go to Children's zoo for petting animals
  

This weekend in Bay Area: FREE Museums admissions, Dragon boat festival, and more...

Got Bank of America cards? Then you're in luck, because this weekend is the first weekend of the month, which means you can go to museums for FREE.
For a complete list of participating museums near your area, go here

Here are some of museums in San Francisco Bay Area that have fun activities for kids:

deYoung Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
94118
(415)750-3600
Saturday & Sunday October 4-5, 2008 9:30am - 5:15pm
There's a fun drop-in art activities for kids on Saturday.

The Tech Museum of Innovation
201 South Market St.
San Jose, CA
95113
(408)294-TECH(8324)
FREE with BofA card
Saturday & Sunday October 4-5, 2008 10:00am - 5:00pm
Great place for children and adults, lots of hands-on exhibits. There's also IMAX theater.

If you don't have BofA cards, not too worry, you can still get access FREE to this museum:

Asian Art Museum
Civic Center Plaza
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco
FREE
Sunday, October 5, 2008 10 am-5pm
Highlights:

• yoga class
  
• storytelling
  
• tours of the exhibits as well as building.

(Also free on every first Sunday of the month)

If you're not into museums, there are several fun activities worth mentioning :
Dragon Boat Festival
Treasure Island, San Francisco
FREE
Saturday & Sunday October 4-5, 2008
Racing begins at 8AM - 5PM.
Food and performances are from 10AM - 5PM.
Highlights include:

• Free arts and crafts activities and fun games for kids:
• (Create dancing dragons from chopsticks, make bracelets, face painting, fun games for prizes) Rock climbing wall for children & adult.
• Real Dragon Boat on land that you can see up close
• FREE shuttle from Powell BART station

Japantown Aki Matsuri (Fall Festival)
Japantown
Post & Buchanan Streets
San Francisco
FREE
Saturday & Sunday October 4-5, 2008 11am - 5pm
Highlights include:

• Taiko drumming
• Traditional Japanese festival dancing
• Children's games, bounce houses, and much more.

Spirit of Japantown
San Jose Japantown -- 5th Street and Jackson Street
San Jose
FREE
Saturday, October 4, 2008 10am-6pm

• Arts & Crafts
• Kids Activity Zone
• Car Exhibition
• Japanese food & products
• Entertainment
  

Los Altos Fall Festival

Saturday-Sunday, Oct 4-5, 2008 10:00a to 5:00p
South Parking Plaza, Downtown Los Altos

Los Altos, CA

• Arts & crafts
• Children's alley & Scarecrow contest
• Classic Car Show
• Live music

Which sunscreen is best for kids?

With so many sunscreen products out there, it's very confusing to choose one, especially for young kids. Which sunscreen is the best?
I have spent so many hours researching on this, since I have young kids with sensitive skin.
I hope this will help some of you readers out there.

Here's the general guidelines:

• Use SPF of 15 or higher
• Wear sunscreen if you will be exposed to the sun for more than 20 minutes, even in cloudy weather.
• American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies under 6 months be kept out of the sun altogether.
• Baby Center suggests "physical" or "chemical-free" sunscreen made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
• Wear hat if possible.
  

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) made an extensive researched on more than 1000 sunscreens, analyzed both the safety of the ingredients and the effectiveness of the products. According to the result:

..... 4 out of 5 contain chemicals that may pose health hazards or don't adequately protect skin from the sun's damaging rays. Some of the worst offenders are leading brands like Coppertone, Banana Boat, and Neutrogena.

So, beware of what you buy... If might have done more hazard than protecting your skin.

Here's the 10 recommended brands:

1. Blue Lizard (without oxybenzone)
2. California Baby (SPF30+)
3. CVS (with zinc oxide)
4. Jason Natural Cosmetics (Sunbrellas mineral based sunblock)
5. Kiss My Face ("Paraben Free")
6. Neutrogena (Sensitive skin sunblock)
7. Olay (Defense Daily UV Moisturizer with zinc)
8. SkinCeuticals(Physical UV Defense)
9. SolarSense (Clear Zinc for Face)
10. Walgreens(Zinc Oxide for Face, Nose, & Ears)

After reading the article, I have tried Blue Lizard and California Baby.
Both are great, easy to put on. California Baby is thinner than Blue Lizard.
If you live in Bay Area, you can find California Baby (#3 on the list) at Target and Wholefoods.
I have yet to find Blue Lizard sold on any store, but you can order online through Amazon.

This weekend in Bay Area

Grand Opening California Academy of Science
Saturday - Sunday
September 27-28, 2008
FREE on Saturday, paid admission on Sunday
Golden Gate Park
Check out the reopening of California Academy of Science this Saturday.
You can find out the video preview here.
Performances, activities and food will be at Music Concourse.

Live music and dance, sustainably-sourced delicacies from around the world, green technology demonstrations, and a wide range of art and recreational activities for the whole family.

Saturday

Circus Center
Capacitor
Chris Molla
Cotton Candy Express
Nigerian Masquerade Drummers
Red Panda Acrobats
San Francisco Ballet
SF Jazz Youth Orchestra
The Sippy Cups
Closing Act
Junkestra

Sunday

B Attitudes
Circus Center
Golden Gate Park Band
Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble
Loco Bloco
Nigerian Masquerade Drummers
Parangal Dance Group
Red Panda Acrobats
San Francisco Opera
Junkestra

Smithsonian Free Museum Day
Saturday, September 27 2008
FREE
To participate, all you have to do is sign up for an admission card on the magazine's link above. The printable card is good for admission for two persons.
Participating museums in Bay Area include:
Exploratorium
Hiller Aviation, San Carlos
Coyote Point Museum
Chabot Space & Science Center

This weekend in Bay Area

Circus in the Playground with Boswick the Clown
Saturday, September 20, 2008
11 AM to Noon
FREE
Dolores Park Playground
16th and Dolores, San Francisco
Circus at the Playground, featuring famous Bay area clowns Boswick and Twizzle, magical feats, juggling, face painting, comedy, tasty treats, and much more.

Family Day Kite Festival 2008
Saturday - Sunday, September 20 - 21, 2008
11 am - 6 pm
FREE
Marina Green, San Francisco
2 miles east of the Golden Gate Bridge.
A beautiful, open and well-established kite-flying venue, the Marina Green features steady breezes, easy access, public transportation and free parking.
Event Highlights:

• Kite-making activity for kids
• Kite-flying
• Contests for kite-making and -flying
• Professional performers flying high-tech and exotic kites
• Monster inflatable rides and climbing structure
• Hands-on, kid-focused activities
• Food and non-alcoholic beverage booths

PAMP Moon Festival
Sunday, Sep 21 2008
5pm – 7:30pm
Mitchell Park Bowl, Palo Alto, CA
FREE to PAMP Members / $5 per adult non-members.
The Moon Festival or the Mid-Autumn Festival is a popular holiday that is celebrated by children in many parts of Asia.
Highlight:

• Arts and Craft Activities for the children.
• Lantern Parade
• Free lanterns for children
• Lion Dance & Martial Arts performance
• Moon cakes and tea will be served.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial + Drawings by big sister

Found a great digital scrapbooking site, complete with tutorial on how to scrapbook using photoshop and free download on scrapbooking kits at ShabbyPrincess

Here's the first try on digital scrapbook:
Big sister's drawings

Consignment Sale in San Francisco

Saturday, Sep 12 2008
9am-3pm, closed 12:30-1pm.
$1 adult, FREE for children.
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco County Fair Building
( near Ninth Ave. and Lincoln Way. )
San Francisco

Need baby items?
San Francisco Parents of Multiples is having an annual consignment sale tomorrow.
It's great place to pick up clothing, strollers, car seats, cribs and lots more.

This Weekend in Bay Area

Sunday Streets San Francisco
Sunday, September 14, 2008
9:00am - 1:00pm
FREE
5 miles of San Francisco streets will be closed for traffic.
Lots of activities along the route, yoga, dance, hula, bike, roller skates.
Ride MUNI for FREE. See pictures from last Sunday Streets here.

Kids activities that will be offered:
Moon Bounce jumpy house
Yoga for Kids
lacrosse on JHP field
Soccer drills on JHP field
Ferry Building: Free Valet Bike Parking & Live Music FREE for 1 hour
Bicycle rodeo
Freedom from Training Wheels
Tours of Historic Pier 70 Every 30 minutes
Roller skating
Moon Bounce


Target Family Days
Sunday, September 14, 2008
12:00-4:00pm
FREE
Downtown Redwood City
The last one will be next month Oct 19, 2008.
There's music, circus, face painting, hands-on art projects, bounce houses & more!
We went there a few months ago, and the kids had a blast. We ate lunch at a restaurant nearby, then listen to music. The kids visited craft booth to make bracelets, hats, and spin color art, my daughter's favorite.

Playhouse Disney LIVE! Is Coming -- Get The Best Seats Now

Another great show coming to the Bay Area.
You can find the info here

If the screen asks for special promotion code, just enter "FUN". You
will be able to purchase tickets during the VIP ticketing period.

Idea for baby shower: Homemade Diaper cake

When our daughter's preschool teacher was having a baby shower last year. I thought I should make her something for the occasion.
After looking at so many different ideas, I decided to make a diaper cake.
There's a tutorial on how to make one from here.
She made a gorgeous diaper cake, decorated with roses made with coffee filter!

We were so impressed by how this elegant the diaper cake look, that we decided to give it a try.
Ours turn out pretty good too.
Our version was a 2 tiered diaper cake, 1 package of newborn size Pampers Swaddlers.
We didn't have mailing tube for the diaper stand. Instead, we used wine bottle tube packaging bought at Michael's..
And instead of using doilies and cardboard, we found this cake cardboard, which already has decorative pattern.

It was such a fun project, my 4 year old was helping me coloring the paper rose, rolling diaper, putting band over the rolled diaper, then rearranging the rolled diaper. She was so proud she could help making this diaper cake for her teacher.

Craft project: Homemade Playdough

We bought lots of Play-Doh at home, but the smell is just unpleasant, it's making me nauseous. So I started searching for homemade recipe, and below is the best recipe I found for making playdough:

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 salt
2 TBS cream of tartar
1 TBS cooking oil
1 cup boiling water
food coloring (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix the first four ingredients together in a bowl
2. Add oil
3. Add color into the boiling water
   
4. Pour boiling water into the bowl
5. Stir all ingredients in the bowl
6. Knead when the mixture cools

To store, just put in airtight container.
It's so simple, non-toxic, and the kids can help in measuring the ingredients and mixing (be careful of the boiling water though).
As for coloring, I added food coloring.
You can add Kool-Aid into the water for color, if you like Kool-Aid smell..

Easy Recipe: Healthy Homemade Fruit Sorbet

Here is an easy and quick desert recipe that every one in the family will like:

Healthy homemade Fruit Sorbet
Ingredients:
2 cups sliced fruit
2 Tbs fresh juice
pinch sea salt
honey (optional)

Instructions:

1. Spread sliced fruit in ice tray or baking sheet.
2. Freeze, uncovered, until frozen solid.
3. Once the fruit is frozen, thaw at room temperature for 5 minutes.
4. Add a small pinch of salt
5. Add honey if you like your sorbet sweeter.
6. Place in a blender with the orange juice and process until smooth.

You can make this sorbet with any combination of fruits (strawberry, peach, mango, etc) and juice (orange, apple, coconut, etc).
We made mango sorbet, strawberry sorbet, strawberry & blueberry sorbet.
Our favorite so far is mango sorbet with coconut water (pictured above).
As for coconut water, we used this.
The kids had a blast making it.
It's so healthy, sugar free, and delicious.

Pregnancy books

When I was pregnant, I was obsessed with reading about pregnancy.
These are the books I would recommend:
1. What to Expect When You're Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel











2. The Pregnancy Journal: A Day-to-Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy by A. Christine Harris
3. The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine












4. The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be by Armin A. Brott

This weekend in Bay Area

If you are looking to get away of the heat in Bay Area, why not go to San Francisco. The weather in the city is supposed to be in mid-70s.
Several FREE events this weekend in San Francisco:

San Francisco Opera in the Park
Sun September 7, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
This is an annual free outdoor concert. Bring blanket & food, and enjoy beautiful music & singing. This tends to be a very popular event, so come early to get the best viewing spot.

18th Annual Autumn Moon Festival Street Fair
Sat & Sun, Sep 6-7, 2008
Chinatown, San Francisco
Chinatown's historic Grant Avenue will become a pedestrian-only bazaar with live entertainment between California and Broadway, as will Pacific Street between Stockton and Kearny streets.
There will be street vendors, activities, arts and crafts, and food along the main festival route. The famous Dragon will close the festivities at 5pm on Sunday.

Asian Art Museum
Sun, Sep 7, 2008 10 am - 5 pm
200 Larkin St, San Francisco
This free admission is sponsored by Target first free Sundays.
Tours of the exhibits are offered at different times throughout the day.

If you are in East Bay Area, check this one out:
Kidsfaire
Sat-Sun, Sep 6-7, 2008 10am - 5pm
Alameda County Fairground, Pleasanton
We've never been to this one before, it looks like it'll be a fun activity for the kids to go to.
Here's a few of what to expect according to the website:
- Musical shows going on throughout the day (Strawberry Shortcake, Alvin and the Chipmunks, etc..)
- Ice Skating shows, Circus acts, the list goes on and on..).
- Activity booth for the kids (anyone wants to try scuba diving?)
- Princess Booth, making wands, fairies...
There's even a discount coupon from the website.