Wednesday, October 26, 2011

These are My Little Monsters


These are my little monsters. Don’t be scared!!! We made them from milk cartons, filled them with shredded paper, and hid some things inside like plastic bottles with shells so they have a cool sound…and then Duck Tape. My mom and dad taught me how to do things like this when I was little, reuse it, repair it, or refashion it. My childhood in rural Pennsylvania looks very different than my son’s childhood in New York City, his big back yard is one of several glorious parks shared with millions of people. We share our home with our community, too! As a family daycare provider, my goal is to “support the art of parenting in the greenest ways possible.”  Our playroom is filled with toys that are eco-responsible, and these “Milk Blocks” are a big favorite among my kids.

The Great Green Play Date for a Cause is our way of sharing our ideas and what we have learned as green explorers and creators. Healthy Child, Healthy World, our cause, has been a trusted guide. Their website and book are a reference and news source for me as I “vote with my dollars” to support green efforts in the marketplace. Every mom, no matter how much or how little she has to spend has a vote.  What’s really scary, as we prepare for Halloween, is how many monsters attack our kids in the form of artificial colors and flavors, GMOs , pesticides, herbicides, cheap, plastic toys, mounds of trash post-holiday. Making good choices is too often feels like a choice between two “evils.”

Our partnership with Green Halloween® has revealed dozens of safe, green, healthy ideas and inspires more daily as other parents, teachers, entrepreneurs and advocates creatively change the way we celebrate this tradition to be in harmony with our planet. We look forward to sharing our ideas as a revolution through play with your child. Sunday, October 30th at The Pump Station, The Great Green Halloween benefit is a collaboration of like-minded business determined to make a healthy world for every child. The best part of Halloween is all ages get to pretend, dress up, and confront goblins, ghosts and goons with a laugh and of course, eat candy!!! Vote with your dollars and join our cause!

Natalie Cronin-Reyes is the Founder of Tinker Tree Play/Care on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Deeply passionate about children and the environment, she has developed a number of charitable initiatives that support children’s health and ecologically sound parenting, such as “The Great Green Playdate for a Cause” and the “Be Brave Adventure Benefit” for the MaxCure Foundation. She is a featured artist and consultant for the Rug Bug Music Program, and served as the founding National Director of Child Development for Kidville until 2011. She resides inNew York City with her husband and son, and is thankful every day for the opportunity to “play” for a living.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Picture Day in the Park with Docuvitae! Nov 3rd

We are happy to bring to our Pump Station family another great Picture Day in the Park with Docuvitae! Get ready for the Holidays and book an affordable photo session with the award winning photographers of Docuvitae.

When
Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 from 10am to 2pm

Where:
Douglas Park in Santa Monica, CA.

How to Register:
Call the Pump Station in Santa Monica, CA, to schedule your session today! 310.998.1981

Sessions are only $129 (+tax) and include a web gallery and an 8x10 print or printable file emailed directly to youhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Learn more about Docuvitae: docuvitae.com

See Docuvitae's great shots from our Facebook gallery
Latch On Los Angeles



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Monday, October 17, 2011

How to Donate to Mother's Milk Bank

If you have an abundance of milk and would be willing to donate this life saving gift to the California Milk bank, there is currently a desperate shortage. If you can help, please contact the Mother's Milk Bank. Information is listed below.

The Mothers' Milk Bank of California, located at Valley Medical Center in San Jose, CA, is a licensed tissue bank that has been providing milk banking services for over 30 years. Since 1974, over 4000 donors have provided over 1.5 million ounces of milk to help babies survive and thrive. Last year alone, the MMB provided over 250,000 ounces of donor milk to babies throughout California and the West.

All milk banks are not created equal. Mothers' Milk Bank of California is non-profit 501(3)(c) organization, and a charter member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) Many milk banks sell donated milk to for-profit companies that process and distribute the milk. To guarantee that you are donating to a non-profit milk bank, make sure that they are a member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).  HMBANA Milk Banks are committed to:

  • Maintaining non-profit status
  • Providing community service
  • Offering reasonable prices
  • Ensuring the highest quality

Location Contact
Mothers' Milk Bank
Valley Medical Center
751 S. Bascom Ave.
San Jose, CA 95128
Directions
phone:(408) 998-4550
fax: (408) 297-9208
email: MothersMilkBank@hhs.co.santa-clara.ca.us
website: sanjosemilkbank.com/

More Resources
La Leche League International
Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin, TX
Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Triangle Mothers' Milk Bank, Wake Medical Center, Raleigh, NC
Mothers' Milk Bank of Ohio, Columbus, OH
Mothers' Milk Bank of Denver CO
Mothers' Milk Bank of Indiana IN
Human Milk Banking Assn of North America

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Lamaze Toys Available Online

Lamaze® Play and Grow Toys are pure awesomeness with brightly colored soft bodies and tons of sounds and textures. We know our Pump Station family wants toys that keep your little ones healthy, happy, and safe. Lamaze Toys are designed in conjunction with child development experts, to help with visual, auditory and motor skills development.

Not only do we love the toys because they are safe and great learning toys, but they're just plain cool and fun. The animals include the Lamaze link for strollers, car seats or high chairs. No more searching under the table, on the side walk, under the car seat because their best friend decided to be a flight test pilot Below are just some of the Lamaze Toys we carry. There are even more available in our Pump Station and Nurtury™ Stores (Santa Monica, Hollywood and Westlake)



Lulu in a Tutu


Stretch the Giraffe



Rusty the Robot



Mortimer the Moose



Freddie the Firefly



Captain Calamari



Peak-a-Boo Forest


Captain's Treasure Hunt