Foundations Learning Academy Has A Lot To Be Thankful For This Year Part 2

At the beginning of November I sent an email to my friend at Foundations Learning Academy and asked if she would mind asking the parents and the teachers at her school what they are most thankful for during this month of gratitude.  I think it's really important to remember why we are thankful and hear what others have to say.  You can read what the teachers at Foundations Learning Academy love about their jobs in part one of this series and below read all about why the parents who send their kids to FLA are thankful for such a great center.  

“The care and affection that is given to our daughter. Thank you for always smiling and offering to hug or sit with her to make her feel loved and safe. She loves Foundations. ”

— Barry & Nicole B

“We are thankful for the caring, compassionate, and understanding teachers and director who take care of our children. ”

— Deanna G.

“Thankful I have such nice and welcoming people who work at Foundations. ”

— Stephanie.

“The staff is so caring, sweet, and patient. They are my kids second mom. We love them like family.”

— Erica S.

“My kids love to go to school and love and trust their teachers. I’m thankful for daycare providers I can trust. ”

— Brittany F.

“We are so thankful to have such reliable and loving care for our daughter when we can’t be there for her. ”

— Megan R.

“I am thankful for the one-on-one care and attention that all of the teachers show. They make it easy to leave him while I’m at work because I know he is being loved and spoiled. ”

— Aaron & Lindsey T.

“Our son loves it there and the staff seem to really care about him. He is also learning a lot. ”

— Monica & Jason D.

“I am thankful for the care and involvement in providing for our children. A great learning & caring environment. ”

— Bekah M.

“The peace of mind Foundations Learning Academy gives me. Knowing that my kids are safe and happy while I’m at work. ”

— Ali D.

“Mrs. Susan is amazing!!!”

“We are thankful our sons are in good hands when they cannot be in ours. ”

— Tynan's

“Knowing my children are properly cared for, learning and growing, getting on routine. Love, love, love, the precious moments app. ”

— Wendy W.

Little Mugshots | Create Happiness | 614 Mom

One of my favorite parts of social media is finding amazing people doing great things, that I otherwise probably wouldn't have found.  A few months ago, while doing my normal post bedtime browsing on Instagram, I came across an Instagram page called Little Mugshots.  I started browsing the feed and instantly fell in love, I knew I had to follow along with her journey and even more than that I really wanted to place an order.   Stephanie, the owner, offers hand-drawn paper-cut silhouette portraits as well as water color typography.  She is truly so talented and brought me to tears with the silhouettes she drew of my children - they will forever hang in our home.  

I can't even begin to express how deeply I fell in love with Stephanie's silhouettes of my children.  Some days are hard, the laundry piles up, the attitudes of little Eryn's running around my house (have you ever tried to discipline yourself?1? That's my life...daily), my constant need to make everything perfect for them, and everything in between.  Then I pause and I look at these beautiful, peaceful, amazing, children that make me laugh, cry, smile, burst with joy in these perfect hand drawn silhouettes hanging above my dresser, right above my jewelry box and I feel all sorts of pride and joy. These are my babies, and they are the reason I work hard everyday, and strive for perfection.  They deserve every last ounce of my energy.  I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that's truly how I feel every single time I look at what Stephanie drew for me.  I am brought to tears looking at my beautiful babies, and while I love her Instagram feed (and I REALLY do) I never knew I would feel this way every single time I'd see the artwork hanging in my home. 

Ordering was very simple - I ordered through her website and then emailed her profile pictures of my children and within a week she sent me proofs.  It was so easy and the quality is top notch.  

We are lucky enough to have Little Mugshots in our community because Stephanie was creating these one of a kind masterpieces for her friends and family as a hobby and once word got out she started getting so many requests she knew it was time to turn her hobby into a business.  Her husband, Anthony, is in the Army and currently their family is stationed in Columbus, which they love. They have two adorable children, who make occasional appearances on the Little Mugshots Instagram page, Josephine and Evan.  Columbus is home to them - they both grew up in Ohio and they met while attending Ohio State University.  They have lived in 4 different states over the last 10 years and know that Columbus may not be their forever home but that doesn't stop them from investing their time and energy into our community.    Our wonderful city has taken note of Stephanie's passion for her business and has been so supportive from her wonderful customers who love shopping local to fellow makers who have embraced another creative brain in our city - Stephanie is feeling the love.  

You can see some images of what she made for me below! I ordered an 8x10 of each child (and pre-ordered for the little one we are expecting shortly) and a Christmas ornament of each child.  I practically squealed when I saw that she also offered Christmas ornaments!!! 

“Above all else, I love what I do. I love creating modern heirlooms, I love connecting with people and customers, and I love having built a small business that can grow and move with me and our Army family. ”

— Stephanie Douglass

Juvly Aesthetics | 614 Mom | Lifestyle

Juvly Aesthetics offers cutting edge cosmetic services, with accessible pricing, a welcoming atmosphere, and highly trained staff, all right here in Columbus, OH. They offer a wide range of services from wrinkle relaxers, dermal fillers, body, face, and medical treatments.  You can get a better list of too the left and an even more extensive list on their website.  I can't wait to try some of their services so I can tell you about it first hand, and I have plans to do that after I have this baby! Hello, stretch mark therapy! ;-) Seriously I CANNOT wait!! 

Juvly was started right here in Columbus and has expanded to New York, Cincinnati and soon another location in Columbus.   They sell a top of the line skin care line that is a serious miracle worker.  I tried one of the hydrators that they offer and fell madly in love.  

I have extremely dry skin, and this fall and winter weather in Ohio have my skin a hot mess - that was until I tried a bottle of HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator .  Every morning after showering (which dries out my skin a lot - to the point that I can feel how dry it is, ouch)  I put some of this miracle product on my face and neck, I can instantly feel the change in my skin, I follow it up with my moisturizer as directed and of course my moisturizer has a good SPF (yours should too).  I've been using it for a few weeks now and I am loving the results, you can see the difference in my skin and I can really feel it.  It used to be that I would put on my moisturizer on my face and have to reapply two to three times in one day because my face would hurt due to the chronic dryness. Not anymore!! YAY!! My skin is soft all day and I'm more confident in my skin texture. I haven't worn foundation in weeks because I'm just loving my soft face - make up free! 

I can't say enough great things about Juvly.  The location is in the heart of downtown, with easy parking, and when you walk in you're immediately greeted by the sweetest staff who are focused on one thing - providing excellent care to their client.  The rooms are clean and cozy, it allows you to really relax and make the most of your time there. 

I can't wait to share with you about my journey with Juvly and the stretch mark therapy, but until then be sure to check them out for all of your skin care needs.  

Teacher Gift Guide

The holidays are approaching and we have a long list of people to shop for, kids, spouses, in laws, friends, and everyone in between.  One very special person that is most likely on that list is your child's teacher.  They spend all year taking care of our little ones making sure they are learning, staying safe, teaching them to good be friends, and so much more. 

I know that I have struggled in the past coming up with a gift for my daughter's teachers that they will truly enjoy. I don't want to get them a pack of lotion that they don't like the scent of and ends up in the back of their vanity, or thrown away.  It's a waste of my money and it's not a great gift if they don't like it. I've spoken with a lot of teachers and the general opinion is that they appreciate gift cards the most.  So I've came up with a long list of places that offer gift cards that also allows you to put some thought into it.  You may not know enough about your child's teacher to put them into a category of local lover, spa goer, or active, and that's okay - at the end I have a list of Obvious, Can't Go Wrong Gifts.   I kept it simple with only a few options in each category so it doesn't seem overwhelming, I promise you can't go wrong with any of these options.  I made sure to include something for every budget.  Where are my teachers at? What would you add to this list?  

To Help Them Relax

Blowout at the Blowout Bar 

Mani or Pedi at The W Nail Bar

Massage at Spa at River Ridge 

Float from True Rest Float Spa

Blowout from Blowdry Cafe 

Airbrush Tan from Bliss 

 

For The Active Teacher

3 class pass from Barre3

Ride pass from Cycle Bar 

Class Pass from Balanced Yoga

Holiday Pass from Cycle 614 

Barre Pass at Pure Barre 

Gift Card to Columbus Running 

Gift Card to GoYoga

For the Local Lover

Columbus Food Adventures Tour 

Columbus Brew Adventures Tour

Gift card to The Candle Lab

Membership to one of the many wonderful attractions we have in Columbus (you may want to ask if they have a membership before purchasing) 

Wine Club Membership at Camelot Cellars

Tickets to an OSU, Blue Jackets, or Clippers Game 

Gift Card to Simply Vague

Columbus Monthly Subscription 

Treats from a local bakery - Dough Mama, Mrs. Goodman's, Bake Me Happy

 

The Obvious, Can't Go Wrong Here, Gifts

                                                                                                                

Target Gift Card

Starbucks Gift Card 

Food Gift Cards - local restaurants that you think or know they love?  Tucci's, Paulie Gee's, Cameron Mitchell, Katalina's, Red Hook Grill, Third & Hollywood all come to mind.  We have an amazing food scene in Columbus so the options are endless. 

Easton Gift Card

Gas Gift Card 

*Tip: If you're getting a gift card to a place that provides a service - make sure it's enough to cover at least 1 service,even if it's the basic, nothing is worse than showing up for a mani and finding out that your gift card only has $5 on it.  

**This post is sponsored by Foundations Learning Academy but all thoughts and opinions remain my own. 

My Favorite Holiday Traditions

The holidays are my favorite, I love this time of year more than anything.  When I was growing up my Grandma Remy would always go all out for Christmas and I know that my love for Christmas comes from her love for Christmas and the joy she had around the holidays.   Sadly, my grandma is no longer celebrating Christmas on Earth with the rest of us but I am determined to make the holidays as memorable for my kids as she did for me.  I have taken some of my favorite traditions from my childhood, and added a few new fun ones that we love.  

Our Thanksgiving celebration is always so fun, and we make it extra special by creating our gingerbread house during our celebration. As the kids get older I see an annual gingerbread competition in our future! Nothing better than a little family fun! 

Thanksgiving weekend is filled with Christmas scented candles, Christmas movies, and decorating our house for our favorite holiday of the year.  We put the tree up, stay in our PJs, and sing Christmas music.  If everyone is feeling up for it we head to Easton to finalize Christmas lists and see the beautiful tree.  

Christmas Shopping Trip - Every year my grandma would take us to The Lee Middleton Doll Factory and let all the granddaughters pick out a special doll, we'd follow it up with Christmas shopping, and a fun lunch.  I have started doing this in two ways.  1. My husband and I do a date night, where we head to the toy stores, spoil our kids, and then head to dinner out together.  I buy a lot online to save money but we enjoy doing this shopping trip together, and it's fun for me to watch him spoil our kiddos.  2. My daughter and I also have a shopping day together.  She and I start with afternoon tea at Cambridge Tea House, followed by shopping for those she wants to shop for.  I love doing this with her and I'm so happy to carry on a tradition so special with my daughter.  I can't wait to do this with both of my daughters next year and watch them together as we make wonderful memories. 

Make A Gift - This tradition started with my mom, her sisters, and their spouses many years ago.  Every year they would draw names and whoever's name you got, you had to make a gift for them. You could buy materials but you absolutely could not buy the gift.  I always loved this gift exchange but was never allowed to be part of it, they had a rule that you had to be 16 years old to be allowed to be included, and by the time I was old enough they had stopped doing it. I never understood why.   So in our house we do a smaller version of this gift exchange, because we include our kids and there are only 4 of us. My husband, our kids, and myself draw names and then we make a gift for the person we get.  I am the only one allowed to know who has who, because let's be honest I'm the one helping both kids create their gifts.  This tradition is so fun, you get to see everyone's creativity, the hard work and thought that goes into every gift, and I love teaching our kids that money doesn't buy happiness.  If you give from the heart - that's what's matters.  

Christmas Cookie Party - Every year my mom would invite all of my cousins over to our house close to December 25, and together we would make sugar cookies, decorate them with way too much icing and tons of sprinkles, while singing Christmas carols and watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  Unfortunately, my kids don't have any cousins, with me being an only child and my husband having much younger siblings. That doesn't stop us from carrying on this tradition.  We invite some of our closest friends and their kiddos of course and decorate cookies, play fun games, eat way too much sugar and laugh until we cry. This is one of my favorite days of the year and I love that we have such great friends to spend it with.

Jam out to Christmas music in the car - This one is from my Pa, like my Grandma Remy, he is celebrating Christmas in Heaven now but every time, Little Drummer Boy, comes on the radio you better believe I am using the steering wheel as my drum and singing that song at the top of my lungs.  Embarrassing my kids a little and laughing with them a lot. We do something similar with a lot of other Christmas carols.    

Christmas Pjs - Every year my mom would let me open ONE gift on Christmas Eve, and every year I knew exactly what that gift would be....Christmas Pajamas.  A different pair every year but always very festive and fun.  She made me fall in love with this so much that I refuse to give up wearing Christmas Pjs as an adult, so even now as an adult with kids of my mom, my mom buys us ALL Christmas Pjs and I LOVE it!!! 

Those are all the big ones - we also watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas a lot, drive around looking at pretty lights, I wear red and dress up on Christmas Eve, we wear comfy clothes on Christmas, we have no rules on the holidays which basically means my kids eat way too much sugar and my husband takes a nap while laying on the playroom floor (haha - no seriously happens every year but he deserves it with as many toys as he has to put together),  Santa brings mom and dad stockings every year and I love seeing what my husband fills my stocking with, we have matching stockings from Pottery Barn and I am madly in love with them, we play board games on Christmas Day, we visit the Statehouse for their annual tree lighting in early December, we play in the snow if it's there, and we smile and laugh a lot.  

These are the moments I will remember for the rest of my life and I hope my kids know how much I love celebrating these moments with them.  I hope they find comfort in some of these traditions as they grow into adulthood and I can help them carry on some or all with their families.  

3 Reasons we are Thankful for Goldfish

Last week at our weekly swim lessons E and I noticed a giant turkey on the bulletin board near the front desk. Kids were eagerly writing down what they were thankful for on colorful feathers and placing them around the turkey. Of course, my kiddos wanted in on the fun so we headed to to the front desk where the feathers and pens were and we started discussing what made us thankful for Goldfish.  We each came up with one thing and I wanted to share them with you. 

1. "My teacher" - Emmalyn

Spending 30 minutes each week with Ms. Taryne is one of the highlights of Emmalyn's week. When I asked Emmalyn what made her most thankful for Ms. Taryne she said "She's very nice, Mommy. Its fun to be in her class, she makes it soooooo fun.  I love her" 

2.  "Swimming with Daddy" - Owen.  

It's no secret that my husband works long hours between his full time job and his start up that he is working so hard on, so we don't get to see him as often as we'd like (we are very proud of him though and love seeing him chase his dreams).  All of that means that when my kids do get some quality time with Daddy, they love it! Owen is thankful for Goldfish because it gives him 30 minutes of undivided Daddy/Owen time each week.  If you're looking for a great parent/me class, Goldfish is the way to go.  We love it so much!! 

3.  "The People" - Mommy

The people that work at Goldfish Swim School Westerville are some of my favorite people in the world.  My world can get a little crazy sometimes with working from home, two kids, being pregnant, and everything else so when I get my kids to Goldfish chances are I've forgotten something. I'm hoping this is just pregnancy brain but who knows, it could just be the start to having three kids. :-)  The wonderful people at Goldfish never judge, they just love my kids, smile and laugh with me about how wild my kids are, and understand and forgive if I forget the goggles or even a towel at home.  They've got my back and I always appreciate it.  Mindy, Tracey, Taryne, and Emma - I love you all! I am thankful for all of you! 

Foundations Learning Academy Has A Lot To Be Thankful For This Year Part 1

At the beginning of November I sent an email to my friend at Foundations Learning Academy and asked if she would mind asking the parents and the teachers at her school what they are most thankful for during this month of gratitude.  I think it's really important to remember why we are thankful and hear what others have to say.  Below are some of the answers from the wonderful teachers at Foundations Learning Academy - stay tuned for part two where I share what the parents are thankful for.  

“Enjoying each milestone a child accomplishes and how it makes them feel. It is as if they are my own little one’s moments of joy. I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of a professional atmosphere and family like staff. ”

— Ms. Tara M

“I am lucky yo be in a profession that I can personally touch a child’s life and give them the tools needed to be a successful adult. ”

“I am thankful for being given the opportunity to nurture and guide 12 precious little lives. ”

— Ms. McKenze

“The moment that you see a child grasp a concept or skill they have been working hard on. I love the pride they feel for themselves. I truly love my friendships with my coworkers and our families. ”

— Ms. Mary O

“Foundations Learning Academy has shown me how a daycare should run. I am thankful for my helpful and kind boss and staff we have here. ”

— Ms. Stephanie

Mama Monday | Krile Communications | November 2016

Being a mom is amazing and so much fun.  Every single day brings new joy, new adventures, and also new challenges - add running your own business to the mix and the days are even more exciting and the challenges get more complicated.  No one understands this more than Anglea Krile from Krile Communications.  

I sat down with Angela last week to discuss her business and all the fun things that come along with being a mom boss.  Angela is my type of human - she sees a challenge and she faces it head on instead of letting fear run the show.  Krile Communications was founded in 2010 by Angela, when she had a 1 year old and a 3 year old at home.  Can you imagine starting your own business as you're in the middle of the toddler years, potty training, and all of the other fun that comes along with the baby/toddler years?  I'm sure that some of you actually can because you've also been there - as have I.  It's not easy, but it is so worth it.  

Krile Communications is focused on one goal: Make the community great! 

When Angela launched Krile Communications, the one thing not on her mind - failure.  It wasn't an option for her, and it wasn't something she feared.  She is surrounded by a loving support system in her small town of Sugar Grove and knew that she could easily count on any of the countless family members to help out with childcare, or any other needs should it take her awhile to get her dream up and running.  Angela also had the unconditional support of her husband, Greg.  He never doubted her and in response to her telling him she wanted to start her own business he said, "of course you will and of course it will be successful"  :) 

“Our goal is to have really good clients, really good employees, and make the community great. ”

— Angela Krile

Krile Communications is a Central Ohio communications firm.  Some of their specialties include message development, marketing, and public relations.  The team at Krile focus on each individual client and investing themselves in their clients success.  They have many clients that you would recognize like Telhio Credit Union, Ohio Children's Hospital Association, Ohio Chapter of Academy of Pediatrics, Buffalo Wild Wings, and more.  

I asked Angela if there was anything she'd like to say to 614 Mom readers and she said "Don't be afraid to ask for help.  Moms are afraid they have to do it all themselves but they don't.  It's okay to ask for help" 

Mama Monday | MereDee Designs | November 2016

Mama Monday is quickly becoming my favorite feature on the blog each week, and it's because I get to share amazing local mom bosses with you and every week I'm reminded on how supportive our Columbus community is because you all tell me how much you love these mamas. 

This week is especially exciting because I'm sharing with you one of my all time favorite Mom Bosses.  I met Meredith at an Ohio Creative Collective event during the summer of 2015 and as she introduced herself and her business to the group I couldn't help but notice her bubbly personality that just took over the room.  Meredith has a heart full of unlimited love that she shares with everyone she meets.  You can't help but feel happy and inspired after an iteration with Meredith.  Meredith and her husband Drue live in Dublin with their kids Addison and Nolan.  With two active kids and a wonderful business of her own she is a very busy woman - somehow she manages to squeeze in time to teach dance classes at REFIT.  

“Most days when my little guy is off to kindergarten you can find me behind the sewing machine or at the post office mailing out some MereDee goodies! It’s more than likely I’ll have on a headband or an Ohio hat, so if you see me out and about, make sure to say hi!”

— Meredith

MereDee Designs is an online boutique that offers a full line of handmade accessories, jewelry, and home decor, made right here in Columbus, OH with love from Meredith herself.   Some of her featured products this holiday season include adorable patch work hats, flannel scarves, infinity scarves, beanies, nursing wraps, headbands, and necklaces.  I feel like everyday I am seeing a new product or new design on her Instagram page, and I swear I want to buy it all.  So my dear sweet husband you is probably reading this - any of Meredith's products would be great for Holiday gifts.  I especially love the Be A Light Beanie, all of the scarves, the infinity nursing wrap, the floppy hat and the Dash Pendant - so basically her full line.  :) 

MereDee Designs was born three and a half years ago when she had a friend that gave her some fabric and told her to "make something crafty with it."  She made a statement piece and headed to a clothing swap hosted by another friend, once word got out that she handmade these pieces others started to request items of their own and from there she's grown into what we now know as MereDee Designs.  The name "MereDee" comes from her Grandpa Mike who used to call Meredith, MereDee, and when she was naming her business she felt like it was only fitting to honor such a unique nickname.    Seriously, how amazing is that?  I love that story so much.  

Head to her site to order directly, Facebook or Instagram to follow along with her product updates. You do not want to miss anything from MereDee Designs.  

You can also find her at the following retail locations. 

Creatively Stated-Dublin
Chunky Armadillo-Short North Heart & Soul Handmade Market-River Valley Mall
Enjoy! Gourmet Gifts-Ashland, OH
City Limits Western-Massillon, OH
The District Boutique-Uniontown, OH

Ronald McDonald House | Volunteering With Kids | November 2016

I am so excited to be starting this new series with you, Volunteering With Kids.  My husband and I are passionate about teaching our children to give back to our community and we want to do that in fun, safe, engaging ways. It's also very important to us that we start this practice during the early years, so that it becomes a lifelong practice for them.  I've done a lot of research on ways we can help them learn while also giving back to our community, which after all is our ultimate goal and I'm excited to share with you what I've found.  

The Ronald McDonald House will kick off this series because it is a place that is so near and dear to my heart.  I love everything that they do and over the years my husband and I have volunteered there with our employers (funny I was volunteering with the CEO of Huntington one time and I didn't even know it - my husband had to tell me and I was the one that worked there haha), donated pop tabs and wish list items, and encouraged others to donate their time and resources here, but nothing is quite like volunteering with your kids.  I've noticed, over the last few years of doing this with our kids, that they genuinely love helping others and it comes so natural for them.  The questions they ask come with such compassion for others and I love that.  I love that they care enough to ask the question as well as being respectful while asking what can sometimes be a difficult question.  

The Ronald McDonald House offers many ways that you can get involved, and most are very family friendly. They have a published wish list you can shop from so that would be easy for the kids with the opportunity to talk to them about the needed supplies, why The Ronald McDonald House would need those supplies, and other questions your kids come up with.  You can collect pop tabs as a family and turn them in when your bag gets full, put snack packs together at home and then take them to the house, and if your child is old enough you can make a blanket with them for the house. The Ronald McDonald House puts those blankets in their welcome bags so the kids can have a piece of comfort while at the home.

 My family and I love to bake fresh, homemade, goodies for the home in one of the many kitchens they have in the dining area.  I've spoke with families who have spent time at the house and the fresh baked goods were always a welcomed treat after a long day at the hospital.  I know it's not much but if it helps one person smile, that's all that matters.  Volunteering at the house also allows my kids to see the people they are helping, and that can be very helpful in teaching children to give back.  Not because it makes them feel good or makes them feel bad for others but because it's takes a normally abstract thought (donating toys to other kids for example) and puts faces and personalities to the recipients and for kids that can be very beneficial.   

When we bake we typically bake a variety of items including 

Rice Krispie Treats
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Chocolate Chips Cookies
Brownies

These items are quick and easy to make in the two hour time slot as well as easy to bag in the individual Ziploc baggies they request you put the treats in, for easy and safe handling.  

Some easy ways to guide the conversation after volunteering with your kids include open ended questions so they can have the floor to share with you all of their thoughts.  First start by talking about what they did, what they thought about it, and how it made them feel. Let them guide the conversation and be willing and open to discuss any questions they may have.  The questions may be hard to explain, at times, but it's important to follow up your activity by having these conversations.  

Enjoy some of our pictures from our latest trip to The Ronald McDonald House.  You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram to follow their journey and be the first to hear about new and exciting things happening there.  

You can learn all about the super awesome shirts we're wearing here.