The Marin Scoop: February 2011

Feb 26th: New Art Class, Dr. Seuss, Peter Rabbit & Elmo Events and 'Adore Home' magazine

A great new art class starts this Friday in San Rafael with Jumping Jack’s Rosie Wendell. Your kid’s favorite characters are celebrated around Marin this weekend, look out for Dr Seuss, Peter Rabbit and Elmo story times on Saturday.

Also I share a great new online magazine called “Adore Home” and a British designer called Michelle Mason who makes beautiful interior and giftware.

Weekend Events

Friday February 25^th

‘Art for You and Me (Jumping Jacks)’, from 9.30 – 11.00 am, San Rafael Community Center, Club Room 5, 618 B Street, San Rafael; http://eplay.livelocally.com

Jumping Jack’s instructor Rosie Wendell is introducing her new art class this Friday with a free preview session. Rosie will lead the parent/guardian participation class through a variety of art and crafts experiences each week.

Saturday February 26^th

‘Who Reads? We Read! Dr Seuss Storytime’ from 9.00 – 11.00 am at Target, Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, Novato, free; http://reading.target.com/

Bring the kids to your local Target store to enjoy giveaways, coupons and hear Dr. Seuss favorite stories. In partnership with NEA’s ‘Read Across America’ to honor D.Seuss’s birthday.

‘Peter Rabbit Appearance’ from 10.00 – 12.00 pm, Pottery Barn Kids, Corte Madera The Village, Corte Madera, tel; (415) 927-3558

Have your picture taken with Beatrix Potter’s lovable Peter Rabbit and enjoy some classic stories to get us in the mood for springtime.

‘Happy Birthday Elmo’ at 2.00 pm, Borders, 588 Francisco Blvd West, San Rafael; http://www.borders.com/online/store/EventView

Celebrate everyone’s favorite furry friend with music, story time, crafts, games and more.

Sunday February 27^th

‘Free Day’ from 11.00 – 5.00pm, Charles M. Schultz Museum, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa; www.schulzmuseum.org

Free admission all day at the Charles M.Schultz Museum; home to Snoopy and the Peanuts gang.

A Cup of Chic – Home Deco & Style

Adore Home Magazine

A friend introduced me to a great online magazine called Adore Home, a new Australian home and lifestyle magazine. Their third issue is a special British inspired edition full of inspirational finds for your home. If you find something you like, the link provided will take you directly to the specific website. Take a look and enjoy; http://www.adoremagazine.com/

Adore Home magazine

I love the modern spin on the iconic British items featured in the magazine such as the Union Jack pillows and the classic stamp featuring the Queen’s profile, which the Royal Mail has allowed to be turned into beautiful rugs, which are almost too nice to walk on!

Adore Home magazine

The magazine features great ideas for modern children’s rooms like this eclectic toddler’s room and Circus inspired boy’s bedroom, with a great red and white striped teepee!

Adore Home magazine

Michelle Mason

This issue has made me very nostalgic especially with the run up to the Royal wedding and I wanted to share a British designer’s website that features wonderful items for the home such as pillows, tea towels, mugs, tea trays and bunting with British themes such as the red London bus, Piccadilly Circus and Tower of London. Take a look at Michelle Mason’s website; www.michellemason.co.uk

Michelle Mason pillow

Michelle mason tumblers

Michelle mason tray

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

10.30 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ (24 months & up) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

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

10.15 - 10.45 am - 'Music Circle' (walkers up to 3 1/2), at The Parents Center, Heller's Store, 514 4th Street, San Rafael

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

3.30 – 4.15 pm – ‘Doodler’s Craft Time, Terra Linda Clubroom, 670 Del Ganado Road, San Rafael

Wednesday

10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Indoor Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Suite 3, Novato

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

10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (walkers up to 3 1/2), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael

11.30 - 11.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ (infant to walkers), The Parents Center, Heller’s, 514 4th St, San Rafael

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, 47 Tamal Vista, Corte Madera

Thursday

8.00 – 1.00 pm – Farmers Market, The Civic Center, San Rafael

10.00 - 12.00 pm - 'Indoor Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, 70 Digital Drive, Novato

9.30 – 10.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks' (up to 24 months) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

10.30 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks' (24 months & up) at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael

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, Sausalito

Friday

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

9.30 – 10.15 am – Doodlers Craft Time, Terra Linda Club Room, 670 Del Ganado Road, Terra Linda

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

Feb 16th; Chinese New Year Events & Vinyl Wall Deco Ideas

It will be a wet and stormy long weekend for President’s Day but if you brave the weather you will see the gorgeous floats in the Chinese New Year Parade through San Francisco on Saturday. There will be some colorful indoor fun at the Bay Area Discovery Museum to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Monday.

Also get creative indoors this week by transforming a room with fun vinyl wall decorations!

Weekend events

Saturday February 19^th

‘Chinese New Year Parade’ from 6.00 – 8.00pm, starting on Market street, goes up Geary, down Post and ends on Kearny at Columbus;

Over 100 beautiful floats will participate in the Chinese New Year parade full of elaborate costumes and firecrackers. A crowd favorite is the Golden lion which takes a team of over 100 men and women from the martial arts group; ‘White Crane’ to carry through the streets of San Francisco; www.chineseparade.com

‘Concert for Kids’ from 10.00 – 11.30 am, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 Depot Street, Sebastopol, $5 per person; http://sebarts.org/index.php/calendar/

Dennis Hysom & friends present a magical, musical morning of literature-inspired songs from Wooleycat’s Musical Theater (www.wooleycat.com)

Monday February 21^st

‘Chinese New Year Festival’ from 9.00 am – 4.00 pm, Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito;

BADM photo

Celebrate the year of the rabbit at the museum’s annual Chinese New year celebrations. Create a Chinese kite, listen to ‘The Year of the Rabbit’s story time by author Oliver Chin and make your own sweet pastry. See performances by the Chinese Performing Arts of America and the demonstrations by the Dragon Lion Horse dance team.

http://www.baykidsmuseum.org/programs-and-events/festivals-and-events/chinese-new-year-festival/

‘A Cup of Chic’ – Home Deco & Style

Vinyl wall designs can transform a plain wall in a bedroom, a simple mirror or can be used on plain canvas purchased from an arts and crafts store. They are easy to use and a much cleaner alternative to using a stencil. These are some of my favorite designs.

‘Bouf’ is a French company that offer giant sized wall decals that look like artist impressions of your children’s favorite objects such as an underwater scene or a bright red fire engine, and the items can be personalized. Check out their website for robots, spaceships, animals, dinosaurs and much more! www.bouf.com/buy/latest

Bouf

Use letters to personalize a bedroom with your child’s name or words such as “Dream” or “Princess” etc. This picture features vinyl letter stickers from an English company called “Rockett St George”; http://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk/wall-stickers-204-c.asp. They also feature simple and beautiful designs like tree branches, butterflies, clocks and bird cages to use in your front room, hallway or even on white goods like your refrigerator or washing machine!

Rockett St George

Another interesting company is “Design with a Z” which offer decorative wall stickers by talented designers from the US and all over the world. Their fun modern graphics include sports themes, robots, princess castles even pet paw marks. Their resin acrylic mirrors in love heart shapes are a cute detail for girl’s rooms. Their glow in the dark decorations, chalkboard and white board stickers are also great fun for kid’s rooms.

Design with a Z

On a tighter budget simple abstract dots can be arranged in various scenes around a room to highlight a bed, a door frame or mantelpiece as shown in this picture. Various stores like Giggle or Goodnite Moon in Corte Madera stock them in various colors. I also used them across three large plain canvas hung in a line on my son’s wall.

Living etc mag