Classes at Twirl!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

NEW Winter Classes and Free Previews! Now Enrolling!

New Winter Classes & More!
Now Enrolling! 

YES! Winter is here, and now that we are all back into the swing of things, enrollment is in full swing for kids classes! From music to cooking classes, we have you covered and many are filling up already.  We are excited to be partnering with two new folks - Umbrella Tree (offering a host of kids classes for ages 18M+) and Ciara with Moving Minds (toddler and preschool ballet classes.) Dates and Descriptions below! Information can also be found on our schedule at at www.twirlcafe.com. Got questions or feedback, just email us at info@twirlcafe.com!

Umbrella Tree www.umbrella-tree.com

FREE PREVIEW Class - Wednesday 1/8/14, 10:30 to 11:15  

Parent & Tot Art Class 
In this class series, toddlers explore art through a variety of materials and themes. The theme for the winter series is Five Senses. Each week your young artist will learn self-expression through the use of either sound, sight, touch, smell or taste. Materials will be provided. Art class can be messy, please dress for the mess! Class size limited to 10 students.

Ages: 18 months to 3 1/2 yo
When: Wednesdays, 1/15/14 - 2/12/14, 10:30 to 11:15 
$100 for the five week series

      
Little Cooks Class
In this class series, we take the kids on a culinary adventure, exploring different flavors and seasonal produce. Preparing and serving snacks, with the guidance and support of our instructor and parents, is a natural way for children to learn cooperation, hone their fine motor skills, and discover math. We use fresh ingredients and try to source organically and locally. Cooking class can be messy; please dress for the mess!  Class size limited to 10 students.
Ages: 2 1/2 to 5 yo
When: Wednesdays, 1/29/14 - 2/26/14  4:00 to 4:50PM 
$115 for five week series
Register at www.umbrella-tree.org or info@umbrella-tree.com.

Ballet with Ciara  www.movingmindsdance.org

FREE PREVIEWS Wednesdsay 1/9  2PM (pre-k) and 3:15PM (tots)

Dance Adventures Toddler Ballet (Ages 2-3 Years)
Together we'll engage our vibrant imaginations through creative movement and the basics of ballet. Beginning with principles of BrainDance, we use multi-sensory ways explore concepts of dance throughout each class and progressively weave in the fun and structure of introductory ballet. Parents and caregivers are welcome to join!

Ages: 2-3 Years
When: Thursdays 1/16 to 2/20, 3:00-3:15PM
$110 for the series

To Register: http://goo.gl/3a7lBJ
Small Class Sizes, Spaces are Limited

Ballet Explorers Preschool Ballet (Ages 4-5 Years)
Building off the foundations of creative movement and basics of ballet, we'll continue to inspire our imaginations while learning greater coordination and new techniques. Still beginning with principles of BrainDance, each class explores dance concepts while honing movements we know and learning more from the world of ballet.
Ages: 4-5 Years

When: Thursdays 1/16 to 2/20,  2:00-2:45PM
$110 for the series

To Register: http://goo.gl/3a7lBJ
Small Class Sizes, Spaces Limited


Smart Cookie Tutoring  www.facebook.com/smartcookieabc123
 Petite Monet Monthly Pre-K Art Workshop
These fun filled hands-on classes emphasize both giving your child tools to explore their creative expression and fostering developmentally appropriate academic skills through artistry. Children discover their abilities through the use of a variety of different mixed media and crafts.  Each class will introduce a new topic / skill and inspiration & energizing music will help focus students while encouraging them to express themselves freely in a safe, supportive environment.  Classes are led by Smart Cookie Owner, Alicia Lowen - Mom, experienced elementary school teacher and personal tutor.


Ages: 4-5.5 Years Years
When: Thursdays 1/9 to 2/13,  4:30-5:30PM
Drop ins Welcome (space available basis).
Please RSVP to smartcookieabc123@gmail.com or 
To Register: http://goo.gl/oBGf28
$20 per session
* Workshop Occurs every 3rd Thursday 4:30-5:15PM * 

Sunshine Music Together  www.sunshinemusictogether.org

Mixed Age Music Classes (0-5 Years)
Together we'll engage our vibrant imaginations through creative movement and the basics of ballet. Beginning with principles of BrainDance, we use multi-sensory ways explore concepts of dance throughout each class and progressively weave in the fun and structure of introductory ballet. Parents and caregivers are welcome to join!


$195 per 10 Week Session.  No Drop Ins.

Monday 9:30 AM Jan 13, 2014 10 weeks Summer Rognlie Trisler
Monday 10:30 AM Jan 13, 2014 10 weeks Summer Rognlie Trisler
Monday 11:30 AM Jan 13, 2014 10 weeks Summer Rognlie Trisler
Tuesday 9:30 AM Jan 14, 2014 10 weeks Summer Rognlie Trisler
Tuesday 10:30 AM Jan 14, 2014 10 weeks Summer Rognlie Trisler
Tuesday 11:30 AM Jan 14, 2014 10 weeks Summer Rognlie Trisler
Thursday 9:30 AM Jan 16, 2014 10 weeks Summer Rognlie Trisler
Thursday 10:30 AM Jan 16, 2014 10 weeks Summer Rognlie Trisler
Friday 9:30 AM Jan 17, 2014 10 weeks Suzanne Fiore
Friday 10:30 AM Jan 17, 2014 10 weeks Suzanne Fiore
Friday 11:30 AM Jan 17, 2014 10 weeks Suzanne Fiore
Friday 3:30 PM Jan 17, 2014 10 weeks John Ackermann
Friday 4:30 PM Jan 17, 2014 10 weeks John Ackermann


Thursday, November 15, 2012

QUIRKY KIDS SNACKS FOR FALL!



Do you know a person who loves fun and quirky kids snacks? Ok, it's a no brainer. I am pretty sure everyone love snacks. Creative snacks are a fun way to get your kids involved in the cooking process, and to try new things.  At Twirl Cafe we’ve got a love for the fun and creative foods. Here's a roundup of our top 5 kid snacks we've stumbled across.

#1 SPOOKY Lips. Try this delicious and healthy snack simply made with sliced apples, sunbutter and marshmallows! This is a Twirl favorite we served up this past Halloween.



#2 Peanut Butter Spiders. Your Preschooler will love making this no bake recipe, and adding the legs! Plus lots of protein for a healthy filling snack.


#3 Apple Stuffin Muffins

 These are delicious and perfect for your little one after a fun day at preschool. They ooze of a crisp sweet apple and have a soft delicious texture. Let your kiddo help stir and dump while making these! At our house we keep a small folding stool in the kitchen so it's easy to grab.


#4 Pumpkin Waffles. Perk up your cold wet morning with this delicious harvest time breakfast. It is guarantees a great start to your day. If you love waffles you will love this.


#5 Gluten Free Honey Pumpkin Bread

What, you say? Gluten Free! This will make your mouth water. It is a delicious snack that says its fall and those who are minding the gluten can enjoy too!


What other snacks do you love? Share them with us at info@twirlcafe.com, on our facebook page or through commenting below!

At Twirl we have a seasonal selection of delicious snacks and meals for truly kid-friendly dining where Mom and Dad don't have to sacrifice flavor,  like our seasonal butternut squash and goat cheese salad, or our pumpkin spice chai and salted caramel lattes - all while your kiddo romps around our contained playarea.  PLUS we offer free admission Happy Hour from 5-8PM Thursday-Satuday, so join us for dinner!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

November News and Events


Check out our recent Newsletter for more information on what is going on at Twirl Cafe!


November Events

Stella + Jack: Kids Designer Consignment Sale
THIS Thursday, November 8th 4-7PM *free play 
Grab a complimentary glass of champagne and come shop designer brands from Stella + Jack at a fraction of the price - all while your kids play! Clothing for ages 0-10 years!

Friday Family Movie Night

THIS Friday, November 9th 5:30PM-8PM *free  
We'll play a G rated movie upstairs on the wall, while you hang with your kiddo or enjoy the company of friends downstairs over coffee (or wine!). Kid Friendly Popcorn Snack Bar and Dinner Specials. Movie starts at 6PM. Movie: Cinderella

SUGAR BLUES: Steps to Curb Cravings

Wednesday, November 13th, 7-8:30PM *free  talk 
Mark your calendars for this one, Moms only. If you are wondering how to stop reaching for the Halloween candy, Mikki Kingrey will share a few simple steps to help get rid of the Sugar Blues! Play area open for 'Whine Wednesday', so bring your spouse or sitter to watch the kids. Talk is upstairs, no kids please. RSVP to mikkikingrey@gmail.com

Art Workshop: Storytime and Turkey Craft

Friday, November 16th, 9:30-10:30AM *free w/admission
Teach your little ones about the spirit of Thanksgiving. We'll read a few stories and do a cute turkey-themed craft project.  We'll provide the supplies. *Free with Play Admission, all age welcome.

All of our Special Events and More are Listed on our Online Calendar Check out our recent Newsletter for information about upcoming News and Events.

Click Here


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Win a 2 Month Membership! Take this Quick Survey


Yes, We Need Your Feedback!

Twirl Cafe Customers of recent and past, we need your help! We are trying to improve our event offerings as well as bring to you some new options, like Parent's Night Out, this winter. Whoopeee! That means you drop of your kiddos and we feed and entertain them while you go on a date night.  We'll return them to you happy and tired.

We need your help to get there.  Tell us what you think about Twirl Cafe, our recent events, and options for Parent's Night Out in our quick survey and we will enter you in our raffle to win a 2 Month VIP Membership.  Make sure you follow the directions at the end of the survey to get entered!

 


Thanks for your Help and we look forward to seeing you in the cafe soon!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The Farmers Market and Your Kids!

Wondering how you can get your little ones excited about eating healthy fruits and vegetables? The Queen Anne Farmers Market is held every Thursday, just steps away from our front door here at Twirl Cafe.  Get your kids out of the house, let them browse the market, and then join us for dinner, snacks and a play time (free after 5pm!)

Here is a great tip from local health coach, Mikki Kingrey about making your visit to the farmer's market even more beneficial!

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Look For The Greens!
Each time I go with one of my children to the grocery store, they get to pick out one fruit or vegetable that we will try for that week.  Now that we are back to the farmer's market we are bringing this game to Queen Anne each Thursday.  It is a fun way to keep my kids engaged in food choices we make and get them invested in something healthy.  They think it is more fun, or at least more interesting, when we prepare it and seem to be more willing to taste it!

Next time you are walking up to the farmer's market, what is one new food you can try?  Perhaps this week you can grab one of those dark green, leafy vegetables.  They are the foods missing the most in today's diets.   When I first started eating these dark green veggies, I started with kale.  I heard all the time about how it is the super vegetable of all the greens because of the high level of nutrients per calorie.  Although, I did feet a little overwhelmed with what to do with it once I had it, so, I made kale chips. 

Kale Chips Recipe: 
Simply take the kale leaves of the stalk, tear them into chip-size pieces, place in a bowl.  Drizzle some olive oil and a little sea salt and mix well.  Place the leaves on a cookie sheet in the oven at 275 degrees for about 20 minutes, turning them half way through.  Remove when crispy.  Eat like chips!

Nutritionally, greens are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc and vitamins A, C, E and K. They are crammed with fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Whenever possible, choose organic. But eating non-organic greens is much better than not eating any greens at all!
 
Next time you visit the farmer's market, which green veggie will you try?

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Mikki Kingrey Coaching | Holistic Health Coach | 206-790-5709 | www.MikkiKingrey.com | mikkikingrey@gmail.com | Facebook



Wednesday, May 9, 2012

WIN 1 Year VIP Membership WIN a BALANCE BIKE


We're Celebrating Mom's Week May 14-19th!

WIN THIS!
Wonderworld Balance Bike
For every $10 spent at Twirl Cafe win one entry into our raffle! So, the more you spend, the better your chance of winning! Contest will go until May 19th and the winner will be announced at the Mom and ME Brunch on May 19th between 10 and 11:30AM! So join us for breakfast, playtime, and find out if you won! Plus we will be raffling off a VIP Membership to Twirl Cafe (1 year of unlimited Open PLAY!)




Ways to Earn More ENTRIES!!
  1. EAT lunch or dinner with us! More you spend, the more entries you get! Hint: Check out our Special Events Calendar!
  2. COME to one of our Special Events! We'll be giving out entries!
  3. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, and Comment on one of our Facebook Posts! Include "Want My Balance Bike" somewhere in your comment, and we'll write your name down, and throw it in!
  4. SIGN UP for our Newsletter! All NEW sign ups will automatically get an ENTRY.
  5. JOIN US with your family for our Mom and ME Brunch on Saturday, May 19th and automatically get 1 ENTRY!   RSVP and get an EXTRA entry!!
  6. WATCH on Facebook, as we will be posting FUN and EASY ways to earn entries!
THANKS FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS!


Contest Fine Print:
You DO NOT need to be present to win, winner will be notified via phone or email after drawing. If winner does not respond in 24 hours, a new winner will be drawn.  Drawing will be held on May 19th at 11AM at Twirl Cafe. The balance bike is the Classic version, made by Wonderworld and retails for $90.00. All entries left in the cafe must have name and phone number OR Email. Provide your email if you would like to get our Cafe Newsletter and Updates. We do not sell or share your information with anyone else.  If providing your phone number, it is only so that we may reach you!






Thursday, December 8, 2011

Apps that Parent's Need (and not the food kind!)

Do you have a smart phone, and wish you could take it to its full potential?? Here is your chance.  As a working Mom of two,  I greatly appreciate it when I can find a good, wholesome iphone app that helps make my life easier.  I mean who doesn't? If I am going to have a cell phone attached to my right hand, it might as well be doing something FOR me.  Here is a quick review of a few cool apps that can be found on my iphone!  And by all means, please share your favorites!!

OFFER UP - Cost: FREE

This app is great for the parent who is ready to part with all of those outgrown toys and clothes.  I tried it out myself and found it incredibly EASY! As a newly started company, this app revolutionizes the way you post your junk on Craigslist!  Hold up that adorable dress that your child hardly ever wore, and the app helps you snap a picture, type in a short description and post it on their website where other Offer Up users can check it out.  Then, when someone wants to buy it, they can  make an offer!  To make things even sweeter, it will help you post on Craigslist too - talk about a time saver!

BABY CONNECT - Cost: $4.99

Although not free, if you want an app that will document every drop of pee and minute of sleep your child has, this is for you.  A friend turned me onto this app and I have to say, its been a life-saver! Essentially, this app is a living journal of what your child does all day, from the basics (eat, drink, poop) to milestones, activities, moods and more! 

The best part about this baby log app is that it can be shared across several 'caregivers.'  For me, that's been my nanny, my mother, and my husband!  If your not careful you can get carried away with this one, but for me its been a great way to communicate my newborn's feeding and nap schedule with my nanny throughout the day so that I can run home and breastfeed when able. The app operates by syncing with your  other caregiver's phones and will push notify you when entries you specify are added.   Plus, this app can create graphs, charts and email summaries of the data.  So next time when your doctor asks you how many pee and poo diapers your child has on average, you can actually answer with confidence...oh joy!

BABY MONITOR - Cost: $2.99

This one is sort of a no-brainer.  You are on vacation... you don't have a plug that reaches far enough...or you are at a friends house and just need to lay your little one down in the next room for an unplanned nap.  This app operates like a baby monitor by calling another phone you specify when it detects noise, at a level you specify.  You can actually set this one to play back your own voice recording at the first sign of noise,  although this seemed to me somewhat silly and useless.  The app  has a nice look and feel and it's super user friendly.  The best part, you can turn it on and have it play a song or lullaby (or white noise) from your music library so your wee one can drift peacefully to sleep.  In the past, these apps have made me nervous as I found they didn't always work well or had to constantly be reset when the phone rang, a text message came in, etc.  Although you should always periodically check on your child, and never leave them out of earshot, I found this monitor app worked much better and consistently than previous ones I've tried.

TOCA HAIR SALON - Cost FREE

This is just silly.  You have a toddler and you are trying to get through your conversation with your spouse (let alone your meal) at a restaurant and your 2 or 3 year old is done eating...now what? This app is what! My sister found this little gem and it keeps them busy for way too long.  With a name like Hair X-Mas, you know its going to be good.  This app let's you shave, grow, paint, and blow dry Santa's beard or a nice little Christmas tree.  Lots of tools to play with, lots of action, your toddler will love it.

EPICURIOUS - Cost: FREE

Not sure what to make for dinner? You are not alone. I can often be found standing in the middle of the grocery aisle (likely blocking someones way) staring at this app.  When you are not sure what to make, you can quickly and easily sort and filter through 1000s of recipes with pictures and reviews.  You can even specify particular ingredients or dietary restrictions to narrow down your conquest for the perfect meal. With a click, you can add it to your virtual 'shopping' list so you can cruise through the store with ease and worry about more important things like your child having a grocery store meltdown.  If you pay a little extra, you can buy the full version that syncs with your online account, making sharing among computers and other iPhones a cinch. 

IWRITE WORDS - $2.99 OR FREE (lite version)

If you are worried about the screen time your preschooler is getting on your ipad or iphone, you can actually feel good about this one!  This little program helps preschoolers trace and learn their numbers and letters.  In small steps, this app shows them the direction their finger needs to follow, and when they get it right, little icons drop down to play with.  I was skeptical when I saw my older nephew playing this one with ease, but sure enough, my daughter picked right up and loved the fact that she is writing real letters and numbers.  There is a free version, but if you want to avoid your kiddling trying to click on all the ads and such, spend the 3 bucks and download the full version. 

PANDORA - FREE

So this one is a given. Not only do we use it to stream music in the cafe, but I dock it in my kitchen when my daughter and I need to do a little dance while cooking dinner.  You choose your favorite song or a genre, and it will continue to play music that is similar to it! Great for music lovers who don't want to manage itunes accounts.  Best part? It's FREE! At least if you don't mind listening to a few Ads.  Or, pay around $10 for the year to get endless ad-free play. Here's our

Twirl Favorite Pandora Stations:

Adele (wind-down)
80's Disco Party (or, toddler dance party)
Christmas Classics (get festive)
Pink Martini (cocktail parties, or maybe you just want to feel suave)
Indigo Swing (cooking in the kitchen)
Caspar Babypants (kids need a sing along)
Jack Johnson (chillin with da kids)
Ocean Waves Radio (nearing nap time, kids are high strung, your nerves are high)
Today's Hits (feeling out of touch)

RUNNER'S UP:

Walk Score: App that tells you businesses within walking distance of your location, great for traveling!

Still Tasty: Find out how long those leftovers are good for (both in the fridge and freezer), then have it alert you when its time to toss!

Amazon Fresh: Now you can order your groceries for next day delivery, virtually anywhere?!

TELL US YOUR FAVORITE APPS!