Twirl in the News and Classes to Boot!

Twirl was featured on the Queen Anne View blog this week.  Check out the news story here.

Sign ups are rolling in for our first Mommy Matters parenting class this fall, and we are getting excited about the many other classes we plan to offer onsite in our recreation room. 

Just Imagine! You arrive at Twirl in the AM with your toddler in tow.  She is rearin' to go and you are just trying to wake up, while sipping on your nonfat one-pump mocha.  She pulls you into the play area to explore, but when its time, our onsite childcare program steps in while you go upstairs to do some gut busting ab exercises in our 20 minute abs class.  Or maybe its a soothing hour of yoga?  Either way, you'll emerge feeling refreshed, and your toddler will be happy as a clam (with energy expended!)  The possibilities are endless.  Kids Yoga, Mom and Me workouts, Family Bootcamp are all classes in the works - as well as a host of other free activities that will be available with play admission.  Sign-ups soon -  so stay tuned!

Do you have any ideas on classes you wan to see? Email us offline! We would love to hear your feedback.

info@twirlcafe.com

Twirl partners with Mommy Matters parenting series!

We are excited to bring Mommy Matters to Twirl this fall! We will provide childcare options, while you attend an excellent 8-week parenting class that covers Gottman, Love and Logic, and other principles. Classes are for Moms looking for help and support with toddler through preschool age children. Learn from local parent educators, Melissa Benaroya and Robin Dowdy, as they lead Moms on the path to a better relationship (and a little sanity) with your little ones.

I just finished the spring Mommy Matters session and was excited to implement some new techniques to our house that have removed unwanted chaos and increased my confidence.  I also picked up some much needed support from other Moms dealing with many of the same issues. Yes, out-of-control tantrums can be avoided... and no, your NOT alone!

Check out the Mommy Matters website and sign up now for this popular series!

Father's Day Weekend + Beer Festival = Happiness for Dad

Father's day is upon us! For some Father's, this might mean a day full of "in-home relaxation" (watching the World Cup, tinkering in the basement, putting feet up) or it could mean a day full of activities outside the house. Either way, here is an event worthy of mentioning. 

Washington Beer Festival - St. Edwards Park
Does the Dad in your family love beer? This is a GREAT beer festival (and one we will be attending this weekend!)  Lots of local brewers, family-friendly, live music, special activities for kids - all at the scenic Saint Edwards Park.  The great thing about this beer festival (compared to the several I have been to with my beer loving husband), is that many of the brewers are on site pouring your glass, and available to answer questions about their beer.  The selection is also huge and LOCAL.  Weather looks like it will hold this weekend!

Location:
Saint Edward State Park
14445 Juanita Dr. NE, Kenmore, WA 98028

Festival Hours:
Friday, June 18, 4 - 9pm- 21+ only
Saturday, June 19, 11am - 9pm- All Ages
Sunday, June 20, 11am - 6pm- All Ages
 
Cost at the door:
$25 / person (includes 6 beer tokens); $8 for designated drivers
Parking: 
Take the FREE Shuttle from one of the listed Park and Rides; on site parking available but limited - fee is $15.
 
Bottoms up! And CHEERS to all the Dads, thanks for all that you do!

Lease is Signed! Our new home on the AVE!

I am excited to announce that the lease was signed today at 12:31PM! Thanks Mike Yukevich of Queen Anne Real Estate for help finding a good location and negotiating a great lease agreement!  Our new home is 2111 Queen Anne Ave N.  This is located on the top of Queen Anne hill, across from Safeway in the new Sweetbrier building.

Right on the Ave

Our space is approximately 2,000 sqft, and we are excited to provide a great multi-purpose space, cafe and espresso bar, lounge seating, and of course, a large play area!

Check out our very first customer, Bentley. This doodle is anxiously awaiting the big opening.

Build-outs are beginning soon!  Keep Twirlin'...

Play Structure Design in the Works!

Twirl is excited to announce that Kidtropolis of Virginia has been commissioned to design a creative play structure for our little ones to climb and explore.  

Kidtropolis specializes in furniture and interior space solutions for children, whether it be a custom nursery, bedroom, or playroom.  Check out their site for some cool pictures!

We can't share the final design with you just yet...  But we can tell you it will offer an organic Tree house feel, complete with a bridge and look-out.  We are looking forward to seeing all of those little monkeys at Twirl, late this summer!!

More soon...

Mother's Day Weekend Adventures!

Mother's day weekend is a perfect chance to celebrate yourself and your family! Here are a few great Mother's day adventures for the active family.

Rattlesnake Ledge Hike and Picnic

This is a perfect, 4-mile Round-trip hike, easily accessible off of I-90 (Exit 32). The trail is well maintained, and perfect for the beginner hiker. The trail, popular with kids, families and dogs, winds up the mountain through beautiful foliage. Once to the top, you will find yourself on a massive rock ledge, with (in my opinion) one of the most breathtaking view hikes in Seattle. Have a picnic at the top, or head back down to the trailhead and find a nice picnic spot in the park around Rattlesnake Lake. If it's warm enough, let your kids splash in the shallow water.
BONUS: Grab a delicious, sustainable tote lunch from Homegrown in Freemont to make your picnic day perfectly easy! With sandwiches like Turkey Bacon Avocado or Ham and Beecher's cheese, you will be in for a treat. All tote lunches come with the sandwich or salad of your choice, homemade popcorn, seasonal fresh fruit and a mini Mighty-O Donut in a reusable tote bag. YUM!

Hike Stats
Elevation Gain: 1,100 Feet
Distance Each Way: 2 miles
Time to Complete: 2 hours
Best time to go: 9AM to avoid congestion
Directions: Take I-90 East, Exit 32 (468th Street), turn right and follow road for approx 5 miles, parking and trailhead on the right.

Pike Place Market - Flower Festival

Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the market this weekend during the flower festival. Lots of flowers for Mom to choose from, plus Ciscoe Morris and other events. A trip to the market is great way to help your young ones identify and learn about all of their favorite (or not so favorite) fruits and veggies! They might even see a flying fish or two. Yes, it will be crowded, but duck into Lowell's for a salmon sandwich or casual lunch, while enjoying great views from any of the three floors!
BONUS: Swing by the Great Windup shop, located in the market center, and test out a large selection of windup toys your kids will be sure to enjoy!


Relaxation for Mom on Queen Anne

Go with a friend, or give yourself or partner a break and schedule a deluxe pedi at Mimisan on Queen Anne. Recline in their comfortable chairs, with a warm neck wrap and hot tea while you receive a blissful spa treatment that doesn't break the bank! Are pedi's not your thing? Try their wonderful facials, I guarantee you won't be disappointed! They also offer kid's services too, a great chance for some special mom and daughter time.

Classic Pedi: $38
Signature Pedi: $48
Pregnancy Pedi: $46
Kids Pedicure: $25

Bonus: Wander across the street to Queen Anne Mail & Dispatch and browse through an awesome selection of stylish shoes, bags, and clothes.

Thanks Mom's for all that you do!

Toys Everywhere

I woke up this morning amazed at the amount of toys we have collected in 1.5 short years. Our small living room is overflowing with toys. We have stuffed toys of all shapes and sizes, chewing toys, battery operated toys, push toys, riding toys, wood toys, puzzles, books, galore. And then of course there are the toys we wish we didn't buy that somehow become our children's favorites. Like the toys that don't have an off button, but happen to make a large amount of noise. Who thought that up?? Along the way we acquired a nice set of plastic keys that with every movement made a nice jingling noise, "just like Moms." It was novel at first, until I quickly realized the keys did not turn off, nor could I figure out where the battery was hidden. At some point they ended up in my car, and with every stop light and right turn, they jingled ...all the way home.

If I had to start all over again, I would have kept these few things in mind when toy shopping:

1. Don't buy anything that doesn't have an off/on switch. Even better, toys that have volume control are great. There will be days that you need to turn down the cow moo for sanity sake.

2. Stick with the simple stuff. One of my daughter's favorite toys is a classic that I remember from my childhood. Stacking Cups. They are brightly colored, you can put stuff in them, you can stack them up and, best of all, knock them down. The best thing is, they don't cost a fortune and are easy to store. Besides the obvious uses, my daughter uses them like a teacup, in the bath, in the sand, and as a vessel for small objects. It's great. Other classic favorites include blocks, stacking rings, and shape sorters.

3. Look beyond the toy. The kitchen is one of the best places to find new discoveries when your toddler needs something different to play with. I have found (as you may have too) that a wood spoon, whisk and some plastic bowls or Tupperware goes far with a cranky toddler at your feet when you are trying to make dinner. In our house, we made one drawer in the kitchen a "safe" drawer with an assortment of kitchen equipment that can be played with. Another great entertainer is a deck of cards. They can dump them out of the box, spread them around, pick them up. There is no guarantee 52 card pickup won't be involved. I would use a deck that is already missing cards. Remember, toys don't have to be bright and flashy and bought at Fred Meyer. Get creative. Sometimes the best attention grabbers are the ones that don't look like toys. Just remember to ensure it's safe for your child, and of course, provide extra supervision.

4. Books... I have a bookshelf of used books I bought at an auction when I was first pregnant. It was great because not only was it a donation, I had an instant collection. From the time my daughter was born, I put her on my lap and started reading to her. I was frustrated at first because she never wanted any part of it. I tried book after book, the flashy ones, the interactive ones, the girly ones. Nothing. One page in and she was wiggling away. It took me some time to realize it was the simple ones with 2-3 words and lots of pictures that she enjoyed most. I also realized that it wasn't always the book, but how I READ it. She liked it when I used her finger to point, or when I used my voice to accentuate words, or mimic the story in a silly voice. Bingo. So don't be discouraged if your toddler is a wiggly reader! Try singing the book and you might be surprised!

I would love to hear about your adventures in toys!