The Marin Scoop: January 2011

Jan 19th: "What's in your Tummy Mummy?" Book Review & Alternative Hanging Decorations

Cookie magazine

This week I share a book that may help children understand the prospect of a new baby entering their home, in a sweet and humorous way.

Also fun homemade ways to brighten up children’s room by using alternatives to traditional mobiles.

Don’t forget that ‘Studio4Art’ in Novato are offering a 10% discount when signing up for any of classes during January when you mention ‘The Marin Scoop’! Check out their website; www.studio4art.net/

Weekend Events

Saturday January 22^nd

Marin Country Mart from 9.00 am – 2.00 pm, 2257 C Larkspur landing Circle, Larkspur.

Marinwood Community Farmer’s Market from 9.00 – 2.00 am, Marinwood Plaza, San Rafael.

As the weather has improved check out the local farmers markets at Marinwood and Larkspur on Saturday mornings. There are pony rides adjacent to the market at Larkspur, and live guitar and harmonica music at Marinwood provided by Danny Newman.

Sunday January 23^rd

‘Breakfast with Enzo’ shows at 10.00 am & 11.00 am, Mill Valley Gold Course, 280 Buena Vista Avenue, Mill Valley, $5 per person; http://www.enzogarcia.com/

Every Sunday morning enjoy one of two different sets of accordion, guitar, banjo and musical saw sing song fun.

‘Story time with Christopher Smith’ at 11.00 am, Book passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera; http://bookpassage.com/kids-books-fairs

We love seeing Christopher on Sundays, it is a great way to spend Sunday mornings leading up to lunchtime, and the Book Passage has such a wonderful children’s book section! Christopher performs well-crafted story songs on the guitar and children (and adults) love to participate.

Book of the Week

“What’s in your Tummy Mummy” by Sam Lloyd

My son’s Grandma thoughtfully sent us this book to help our son understand my pregnancy and the prospect of a new baby entering our home in a few of month. A few of my friends are also in the same situation at the moment, so I wanted to share this fun book as we are finding it useful.

The book is written by Sam Lloyd, an author I have previously reviewed in this blog (Calm Down, Boris). I like his rhyming stories and brightly colored illustrations as they are humorous and have an interactive element.

The story starts with the mommy character jumping for joy and announcing the news that there is a lovely surprise in her tummy. “What is it?” her young son asks. “It’s very small almost too small to see.” To which he reply’s; “Mommy, is it a…flea?” and so begins the little boy’s guessing game. With each guess your child can lift up the flap of her dress to reveal what his guess would look like. “Mommy says it looks like me. I think it’s a Chimpanzee!” As her tummy grows larger the little boy’s guesses become more elaborate’ “I’ve got it now, of course! Inside your tummy is a horse!” and “It’s so big now, there’s no room anymore! Mommy it must be a…dinosaur?!”

At the end of the story it is time for the little boy to see Mommy’s surprise, a 3D pop up page showing mommy holding a baby with her son standing next to her. At first my son wasn’t too sure about this end result but his reaction is starting to change to a more positive smile and now giggle.

There are plenty of books out there about becoming a “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” which my son is showing mild interest in and this will probably change once he actually becomes a big brother. But what I like about this book is how it helps an ongoing conversation with your child about why mommy’s body is changing, through light hearted humor which I think is important!

Home Deco & Style - A Cup of Chic

When dressing a child’s room, especially a nursery, there is a tendency to buy the traditional baby mobiles that can sometimes be a little uninspiring. Creative alternatives can include hanging a bunch of colorful paper lanterns either above the crib (at a safe height) or in a corner maybe above an armchair.

Real Simple Magazine

Also small inflatable beach balls hanging at different heights work really well.

Living etc magazine

Find inexpensive craft items like butterflies from craft stores (Michaels have great ones) and stick them to ribbon or fishing wire and use them to drape around book shelves. Stringing shells together and hanging them from the ceiling or draping them are a fun homemade way to show off the treasures you collected on vacation.

Hawaiian flower necklaces make great decorations and flower shaped fairy lights look beautiful in girl’s rooms draped around shelves or along a mantelpiece.

I love these pink blossom fairy lights from Graham & Green.

Graham & Green fairy lights

Search consignment stores or discount stores like Marshalls’ home section for decorative bird cages that they can be filled with toy birds. Plain wooden bird houses can be decorated with pages from old children’s books and the cover can be opened flat on top as the roof.

I love bunting in children’s rooms and they are so easy to make yourself either using old vintage fabric or patterned paper. Get creative and make great eye candy for your children and yourself!

Cookie magazine

Weekly Calendar of Ongoing

Toddler Activities in Marin

Monday

10.00 - 10.30 am - Kid's Story Time Club, Pharmaca, 7514 Redwood Blvd, Novato

10.00 – 10.30 am – Book Babies, San Anselmo Library, 110 Tunstead Ave Town Council chamber

10.30 – 11.15 am – ‘Music Together of Marin’, The Parent’s Place, 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael

3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, 47 Tamal Vista Blvd

9.00 - 1.00 pm - 'Jack and Jill' indoor play space, 217 Western Avenue, Petaluma (every day)

10.00 - 6.00 pm - 'Jump n Bounce, 718 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo (every day)

Tuesday

9.30 – 10.45 am – Baby Bounce Story time – Larkspur Library, 400 Magnolia Ave, 1^st Floor

10.00 – 10.30 am - ‘Baby Bounce’ Story time at Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd

9.30 – 10.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (up to 24 months) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael (ON VACATION FROM JAN 17TH - FEB 1ST)

10.30 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (24 months & up) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael (ON VACATION FROM JAN 17TH - FEB 1ST)

10.00 – 11.30 am - ‘Play date for 2 and under’ at The Parent’s Place, 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael

(CLASSES ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT)

10.15 - 10.45 am - 'Music Circle', at The Parents Center, Heller's Store, 514 4th Street, San Rafael

(CLASSES ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT)

11.00 - 11.30 am – ‘Book Club Story Time’ at ‘Pottery Barns Kids’ store, Corte Madera Village

Wednesday

10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Indoor Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Suite 3, Novato (NEW START TIME)

10.00 -10.30 am – Music Together, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (Under 1 yr), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael

(CLASSES ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT)

10.00 - 10.45 am - Fun & Funky (age 2 - 4), Fairfax Community Center,

10.30 - 11.30 am – Adventure Club Drop in Play, MLK Gym, 610 Colma Street, Sausalito

11.00 - 11.30 am – Story Time at Giggle Store, Corte Madera Village

11.00 -11.30 am – Preschool Story time, Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd

3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, Corte Madera

Thursday

8.00 – 1.00 pm – Farmers Market, The Civic Center

10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Indoor Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Novato (NEW START TIME)

9.30 – 10.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (up to 24 months) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael (ON VACATION FROM JAN 17TH - FEB 1ST)

10.30 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (24 months & up) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael (ON VACATION FROM JAN 17TH - FEB 1ST)

10.15 -10.45 am – Toddler Story time (2-3 yrs), Mill Valley Library, 375 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley

10.30 – 11.00 am – Story Time at San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael

11.00 - 11.30 am - Story Time at Barnes & Noble, 313 Corte Madera Center

3.30 - 4.00 pm - 'Stories with Phil Sheridan', Sausalito Library, 420 Litho Street

Friday

10.00 – 10.30 am – NEW! Intro to Ballet, Women’s Club, 46 Park Road, Fairfax (until July 6^th)

9.30 – 10.15 am – NEW! Doodlers Craft Time, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

10.30 - 11.30 am - Story Time with Sara Sonnet, San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael

10.30 – 12.00 pm – Jumping Jacks, Strawberry Recreation District, 118 Strawberry Drive, 2^nd floor gym

10.30 – 12.00 pm – Free Playgroup (Under 5), Marin Head Start, 610 Drake Ave, Marin City

Jan 18th: New 'Batika India Bistro' Review & Stylish Reading Corner Ideas

Living etc

Add spice to your day by visiting a great new Indian restaurant that has just opened in Novato.

This weekend check out the Garden Railway at the Conservatory of Flowers and the opening of the Bay Area's only private children’s library.

I also offer ideas on how to turn areas of your home into stylish reading corners for your children.

Weekend Events

Saturday January 22^nd

‘Open House at Pratum Children’s Library’ from 10.00 – 6.00 pm, Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Frances Drake Blvd, Ross; http://www.pratumliteracy.com/

The opening of the Bay Area’s only private children’s library The Pratum Children’s Library is located in the center of the MAGC next to the rose garden. The public is invited to come and browse their large children’s book collection and 3,000 volumes on education and parenting. Todd Pratum will be giving an introductory talk about the importance of books and literacy for children at noon and 3.00 pm each day.

‘Chinyakara Ensemble’, 11.00 – 12.00 pm, Bay Area Discovery Museum, address, members $7, General Adult $14 & General Child $12; http://www.baykidsmuseum.org/programs-and-events/calendar/

Celebrate Southern African culture through traditional instruments and dance performed by the Chinyakara Ensemble.

Saturday January 22^nd & Sunday 23^rd

‘Garden Railway’ time, Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco, check website for opening times; http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/atconservatory/trains2011

The miniature Garden Railway is on display at the Conservatory of Flowers until March 13^th to celebrate the park’s 140^th anniversary. The railway recreates the gardens, lakes and landmarks of the park such as the Japanese Tea Garden, the de Young Museum, Stow Lake Boat House, the Dutch Windmill and music concourse, which have all made up the park since the 1870’s. Children will love the trains and trolleys zipping along the three separate tracks. There are also two additional railway displays specifically designed for children, which features everyone’s favorite Tank Engine, and another that recreates downtown San Francisco complete with cable cars, the Transamerica Pyramid and the sounds of the city!

Restaurant of the Week

Batika India Bistro, 868 Grant Avenue, Novato; http://www.batikaindia.com/

Open for lunch buffet from 11.30 – 2.30 pm and dinner from 5.00 – 9.30 pm.

Our family has been looking for a good local Indian restaurant for a while and we may have found one in downtown Novato.

“Batika India Bistro” opened on Grant Avenue just after Christmas, at the former Portelli Rossi location with its outside patio. Chief Anil Shahu is from Napal and his staff offers a friendly welcome to their new restaurant which is open for lunch buffet and dinner. They also offer a weekend champagne brunch for only $8.95. If you are a large group and have certain preferences in terms of mild or spicy food for lunch, Batika are willing to accommodate if called in advance. To celebrate their opening they are currently offering 20% discount on all entrées and take out until the end of the month and 15% discount throughout February.

The menu has various appetizers, soups and salads. We shared the vegetable samosa appetizer, which are pastry parcels stuffed with peas and masaladar potatoes. There are also commentary poppadums’ with three different dipping sauces (mint yogurt, pickle carrot with cauliflower and a tamarind) brought to your table.

The menu offers various chicken, lamb, vegetable and seafood entrée options, with a variety of rice, dal and Briyanis, with fresh tandoori breads. For main course we shared three entrées; the Butter Chicken which is a delicious pulled tandoori chicken with tomatoes, fenugreek, spices and a touch of cream, a mild Yellow Dal which is a mix of lentils tempered with cumin, shallots and turmeric in a soup consistency (our son particular enjoyed this dish). Also the Lamb Kashmiri Rogan Josh which was tender cubes of lamb with onions, tomatoes and blend of spices. The lamb was also very good but the after taste was too hot for me, but it was my husband’s favorite dish.

We also had side dishes of Saffron Rice, Sweet Mango Chutney and the Butter Naan which is leavened flat bread topped with onion seeds, cilantro and butter, perfect for mopping up the sauces.

Batika is a friendly and cozy environment and the meal experience left us feeling very satisfied and looking forward to sampling more of their dishes in the future, I especially want to try their kebabs next time.

Home Deco & Style - A Cup of Chic

We all love to cozy up to good book in our favorite chair, and story time with our children should also be an enjoyable experience in a comfortable area of the home. Create a fun reading corner in your child’s room or play room that evokes relaxation and a place to calm down before nap or bedtime.

Photo: 9ByDesign's 'Downtown Chic' book

Whether it is a beanbag or two next to a basket of books in a corner of the front room, or a row of cushions and favorite toys under a window, or a chic daybed with draped canopies, any space in the house can be transformed into a quiet place to cuddle up and read with parents or siblings.

Living etc magazine

Open forward facing bookshelves like this one from Pottery Barn Kids makes a feature of the book's artwork and adds colorful character to the room.

Pottery Barn Kids 'Maddison' book rack

Refresh an old chair or couch with layered blankets and mismatched throw pillows. Situate it next to a great lamp with a coffee table or book shelf and you have created the perfect cocoon to transport your children to story time.

Real Simple Magazine

Living etc magazine

Weekly Calendar of Ongoing

Toddler Activities in Marin

Monday

10.00 - 10.30 am - Kid's Story Time Club, Pharmaca, 7514 Redwood Blvd, Novato

10.00 - 6.00 pm - 'Jump n Bounce, 718 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo (every day)

Tuesday

9.30 – 10.45 am – Baby Bounce Story time – Larkspur Library, 400 Magnolia Ave, 1^st Floor

(CLASSES ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT)

10.15 - 10.45 am - 'Music Circle', at The Parents Center, Heller's Store, 514 4th Street, San Rafael

(CLASSES ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT)

11.00 - 11.30 am – ‘Book Club Story Time’ at ‘Pottery Barns Kids’ store, Corte Madera Village

Wednesday

10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Indoor Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Suite 3, Novato (NEW START TIME)

10.00 -10.30 am – Music Together, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (Under 1 yr), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael

(CLASSES ON HOLD AT THE MOMENT)

10.00 - 10.45 am - Fun & Funky (age 2 - 4), Fairfax Community Center,

10.30 - 11.30 am – Adventure Club Drop in Play, MLK Gym, 610 Colma Street, Sausalito

11.00 - 11.30 am – Story Time at Giggle Store, Corte Madera Village

11.00 -11.30 am – Preschool Story time, Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd

3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, Corte Madera

6.30 - 7.30 pm - 'Magic Dan' performs at Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd, Novato

Thursday

8.00 – 1.00 pm – Farmers Market, The Civic Center