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
The Twirl Cafe blog features upcoming news and events for all things Twirl! For More Information about Twirl Cafe, Kid-Friendly Dining, or our Contained Play Space for infants, toddlers and preschoolers - Visit www.twirlcafe.com
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
WIN 1 Year VIP Membership WIN a BALANCE BIKE
We're Celebrating Mom's Week May 14-19th!
WIN THIS!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!!
- EAT lunch or dinner with us! More you spend, the more entries you get! Hint: Check out our Special Events Calendar!
- COME to one of our Special Events! We'll be giving out entries!
- 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!
- SIGN UP for our Newsletter! All NEW sign ups will automatically get an ENTRY.
- 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!!
- 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!
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!
Now Enrolling! Winter Mommy Matters Series!
Twirl Cafe is excited to host another weekly series of Mommy Matters, a dynamic workshop for moms of toddlers/preschoolers ranging in age from 18 months to 3.5 years old.
This engaging 8-week workshop is for moms who want to enjoy their lives while parenting a toddler and/or preschooler. Mommy Matters addresses the whole mom and in-depth tools for handling discipline.
We want to make sure you understand that Mommy Matters is not individual or group therapy. This group is not for individuals in need of greater services than a 12 hour psycho-education workshop can provide. We are happy to provide you with referrals for more intensive services if that is appropriate.
Registration Required. Go to www.mommymattersseattle.com to learn more.
Workshop Location/Details
Dates: Wednesdays, January 25 – March 21, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Location: Twirl Cafe, 2111 Queen Anne Ave North, Seattle, WA 98119. 206-283-4552.
Childcare: Available on a pre-paid or a drop-in basis. Information is available upon request!
Please Note: Babies up to 6 months are allowed in the workshop. Older babies and toddlers need outside care.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Creating Family Traditions
At
first glance, it's like something out of a J.Crew catalog...except
these are real families and traditions! This winter, we are excited to
bring our Twirl families the chance to preserve their special holiday
memories. My family and I sat down with Sarah and in 20 minutes,
created a unique snapshot of what our winter holidays are often about,
Scrabble, hot chocolate, and cozy family time. In my opinion, 20 minutes
was the perfect amount of time to try and wrangle a 3 year old and a 2
month old for a photo session. But that is the thing, it really didn't
feel like the traditional "smile at the camera" sitting. We had a blast
spending a few minutes together on the couch having a laugh and getting
silly.
I
am happy to extend this experience to others as we open up our space to
create a unique photography experience that will be a fun, timeless
gift for you and your family that gathers the essence of what 'family'
means to you. It's a chance to create and preserve tradition with your
family.
How it works
Bring in something that signifies your family’s holiday
traditions to show off in your mini session with Seattle’s premier child
and family photographer, Sarah Vasquez of Hope and Memory Photography.
For 20 minutes you’ll get
Sarah’s undivided attention while she captures you and your family in
the holiday spirit at Twirl Cafe. Afterward, you’ll receive 5-8 proofs in an online
gallery. Should you choose to purchase photos, you will have the option
of picking them up at Twirl on a designated day or having them mailed
to you… all in time for Christmas!
To Schedule Your Appointment:
Hope and Memory Photography, Sarah Vasquez
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Live Mural Painting at Twirl Cafe with Ryan Henry Ward!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Seattle Muralist Ryan ‘Henry’ Ward to Paint LIVE at Twirl Cafe
Come Watch a Seattle Artist in Action!
Date: May 26th , 2011
Twirl Cafe (2111 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle) is excited to announce that Seattle’s famed public muralist, Ryan Henry Ward, will paint LIVE at Twirl Cafe on Monday June 6th between 12PM and 5PM. Ryan Henry Ward’s whimsical and animal-themed art murals can be seen throughout the city in popular neighborhoods like Wallingford, Ballard, Capitol Hill, and SODO.
Twirl Cafe invites the media, elementary schools and preschools to watch him paint LIVE here in the cafe. Although the general public can drop by anytime, we are scheduling visits in 15-30 minute blocks for group visits. If you are interested, please contact Rebecca at info@twirlcafe.com to schedule an appointment.
Our play area will be closed during this time, but the cafe will remain open for coffee and lunch as usual.
Who is Ryan Henry Ward?
Ryan graduated with a degree in Art, Writing and Storytelling for Children from Fairhaven College in Western Washington. It was at Fairhaven that he began to focus on his writing, theatre crafts and painting. He has written and illustrated several books for loved ones, as well as illustrated children’s books authored and published by others.
Since June of 2008, Ryan has completed over 110 murals, and it is this body of work that he has become most famous for. Previous to becoming a public muralist, he had painted dozens of murals in private residences around the Pacific Northwest. He has created works in India and Thailand, as well as four murals in the Dominican Republic. Selling over 400 original canvases in Seattle over the past couple of years, Ryan's vision of creating primitive images with a dream like surreal quality has come to fruition... He wants the natural rawness of the painting process to show through his balanced, bright, and whimsical work.
* * *
For more information, please contact Rebecca Pelletier via email at info@twirlcafe.com
Seattle Muralist Ryan ‘Henry’ Ward to Paint LIVE at Twirl Cafe
Come Watch a Seattle Artist in Action!
Date: May 26th , 2011
Twirl Cafe (2111 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle) is excited to announce that Seattle’s famed public muralist, Ryan Henry Ward, will paint LIVE at Twirl Cafe on Monday June 6th between 12PM and 5PM. Ryan Henry Ward’s whimsical and animal-themed art murals can be seen throughout the city in popular neighborhoods like Wallingford, Ballard, Capitol Hill, and SODO.
Twirl Cafe invites the media, elementary schools and preschools to watch him paint LIVE here in the cafe. Although the general public can drop by anytime, we are scheduling visits in 15-30 minute blocks for group visits. If you are interested, please contact Rebecca at info@twirlcafe.com to schedule an appointment.
Our play area will be closed during this time, but the cafe will remain open for coffee and lunch as usual.
Who is Ryan Henry Ward?
Ryan graduated with a degree in Art, Writing and Storytelling for Children from Fairhaven College in Western Washington. It was at Fairhaven that he began to focus on his writing, theatre crafts and painting. He has written and illustrated several books for loved ones, as well as illustrated children’s books authored and published by others.
Since June of 2008, Ryan has completed over 110 murals, and it is this body of work that he has become most famous for. Previous to becoming a public muralist, he had painted dozens of murals in private residences around the Pacific Northwest. He has created works in India and Thailand, as well as four murals in the Dominican Republic. Selling over 400 original canvases in Seattle over the past couple of years, Ryan's vision of creating primitive images with a dream like surreal quality has come to fruition... He wants the natural rawness of the painting process to show through his balanced, bright, and whimsical work.
* * *
For more information, please contact Rebecca Pelletier via email at info@twirlcafe.com
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Mom and Me Night Out THIS Sunday! Get Your TIX!
Date: May 9th, 2011
FEATURING: MOM AND ME NIGHT OUT!
A night out for Moms and Tots!
In the spirit of Mother’s Day, Twirl Cafe is hosting an event just for Mom’s and their little ones (ages 0-7). This will be the ultimate evening play date! A great chance to celebrate MOM and build community.
The event will take place on Sunday, May 15th from 4-7PM at Twirl Cafe (2111 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle).
THE FINER DETAILS:
Tickets are for $28+ tax for Mom and Child. Individual tickets available.
Tickets and Event Website: http://www.twirlcafe.com/Mom_%26_Me_Night_Out_2011.html
Tickets Include:
Dinner and Drinks
Beer, Wine, and Champagne available for purchase
Lots of Milk and Goodies from Smith Brothers Farms
Glow in the dark Baby Disco, Parachute Play + Face Painting
Monitored Play Area Support by College Nannies & Tutors
Chair Massages with Laurie Swanson
Jewelry Display from Stella + Dot for your shopping pleasure!
Sweet Raffle Prizes, like 2 tickets to the Seattle Mom Prom, FREE play cards, and MORE!
Storytime with Tegan from Queen Anne Books!
Swag Bag, with discounts, including gems from Queen Anne’s newest Charley + May, City Mommy and Seattle Kids Dentistry
For more information, contact info@twirlcafe.com
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