The folks at Gymboree have recreated their play and music center experience for the home market with their first ever DVD release. They know all pre-schoolers love to dance, sing and play. Kids will imagine they are “the very brave” animals in the jungle and will love every minute! $9.50 Available at Gymboree locations or at Gymboree.com.
Under the Mystic Sea CD Review
Beloved folk singer Maria Sangiolo makes a big splash with her third family CD. Maria, a Parents’ Choice award-winning children’s recording artist, incorporates an eclectic mix of musical grooves, singing the blues for sharks, swinging with penguins, and rocking out in a “Power Shower,” all while bringing listeners’ awareness to ocean-friendly living and respect for our blue planet. $15.99 MariaSangiolo.com
Blue Moo CD
Put a nickel in the jukebox and enjoy the swell sounds of the 1950’s and early 60’s with bestselling songwriter, author and illustrator Sandra Boynton- from her newest hit, Blue Moo: 17 Jukebox Hits from Way Back Never. In this zesty family-friendly CD, Boynton celebrates the ‘50s and the carefree, irresistible backseat music that she grew up with. (Rounder) $9.99
810 Zone
Leawood
Town Center Plaza
913.469.ZONE
Kansas City
Country Club Plaza
816.268.ZONE
Its should come as no surprise that this restaurant is filled over the noon hour with tables of men wearing suits. Boys of all ages love their sports radio, sports heroes, sports memorabilia, and sports on the big screen. The 810 Zone restaurants are a perfect blend of all of these things!
My boys cant get enough of the 810 Zone because of the computer screen/TVs found at the booth tables. The chef could take an hour to prepare our food and Id still enjoy uninterrupted conversation with my husband as they take turns controlling the buttons. Five minutes, then its your brothers turn is all I have to say. They never get around to the jumbo placemat with crayons and puzzles!
Congratulations to the folks at KC Hopps, the restaurateurs behind the 810 Zone, for coming up with a kids menu that makes concessions for older children. Their Small Bites menu ($5.95) includes chicken tenders, hamburgers, cheeseburgers and mac & cheese. What I hadn’t seen before is the idea behind their Big Bites section ($7.95) which includes a 4 oz. Even-Better-than-Dads steak, a quarter slab of ribs, a grilled chicken breast and a turkey wrap. All of kid’s menu entres, big or small, come with sides (fresh fruit, fries, broccoli, green beans, mashed potatoes or salad), drinks and ice cream.
We were in our post spring break diet mode so both my husband I ordered salads, easy to do with eleven tempting choices. I needed an explanation from by husband about the namesake of mine, but thoroughly enjoyed my Don Denkingers Goat Cheese salad ($10.95) in spite of this former 1985 World Series umpire (Sorry St. Louis). In fact, much of our conversation revolved around his explanations about whom many of the various dishes were named after. Its a fun menu filled with unique and delicious appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches and pasta.
When you’ve met your future spouse while living in a dorm named after Coach Naismith, you cant resist ordering the Naismith apple pie ($5.95). Bonus points for the readers who know why Coach Naismith should really have a peach cobbler named after him rather than an apple pie?
Check out their website at KCHopps.com.
Atmosphere: A huge hit with our team
Kids Menu Prices: $5.95 – $7.95 for a full meal deal
Adult Menu Prices: $6.95 – $16.95
Food Quality: Delicious!!
Busy Body Book
The Busy Body Book’s award winning grid system made it the favorite organizer of women nationwide less than a year after its launch. After reading this accolade, I had to see it for myself because I’m one of those busy moms who are absolutely dependent on a written calendar. When my husband asks me what I’m doing today, I answer in all honesty, “I don’t know. Let me check the calendar.” I’m also one of those people who are not at all interested in making the technological leap to the palm pilot. To me, palm pilot means writing myself a note on the palm of my left hand!
This book helps busy moms organize and coordinate everything from doctor appointments, school meetings and activities to their professional and personal commitments. The key to this spiral bound planner is the grid system. Family members’ names run across the top of each page while the days of the week run down the side. This system allows family members room to organize, review and coordinate their activities with other family members’ schedules. Conflicts are easily spotted because of the grid layout.
Other features worth mentioning:
-Unlike most planners, this one is a 16 month organizer.
-Plenty of room to keep lists or take notes next to each week’s dates eliminates the little pieces of paper that clutter up our lives!
-The back of the planner includes room for appointments and plans for the following year; something my planner system has yet to incorporate!
-Removable shopping lists on perforated pages let mom create grocery or gift lists.
-Deep pockets hold important papers, invitations or receipts.
-A special bookmark keeps mom on the right page at all times.
-Finally, it’s portable! It’s big enough to organize your family, but small enough to carry with you on trips, errands and to family activities. What a great way to teach your children the importance of organization and of respecting the family schedule as they begin to make plans for themselves!
Where can you find your very own? Amazon.com or busybodybook.com.
Music CD Reviews for Tots
February in Kansas City means a chance of ice and plenty of cold temperatures. Heat up the TV and DVD player with a little music, rhythm and dance and one of these toe-tapping CDs & DVDs!
Nursery Tap Hip to Toe Volume 2
The newest title in this award-winning DVD series is now available! These charming, funny and touching rhymes introduce children to the performing arts through word play, rhythm, rhyming and dance. Eye-catching costumes and sets hold the attention of viewers as the visually exciting and creative images flash across the screen. Children will be entranced with the creative dance adaptations of the world’s most beloved rhymes.
Tarzan
Music from the Broadway Musical
Edgar Rice Burroughs introduced Tarzan to the world in a 1912 issue of “All Story Magazine.” The character was an instant sensation. Since then, he has been featured in 26 authorized novels and more than 44 motion pictures, including Disney’s 1999 film. Oscar and six-time Grammy Award winner Phil Collins composed five songs for the 1999 film and makes his Broadway songwriting debut with Tarzan . He wrote music and lyrics for nine new songs for the Broadway production, in addition to his film score.
Maya & Miguel CD Series
Madacy Latino, a leader in children’s musical products for the Hispanic and English speaking markets, has partnered with Scholastic Media to produce and market branded music products based on the top-rated Maya & Miguel series on PBS KIDS GO! The initial releases Maya & Miguel “Best Friends,” “Party! Fiesta!” and “Favorite Radio Hits” are the first in a series of musical delights that will have even the littlest music fans singing along!
Charlotte’s Web
Music from the Motion Picture
Three-time Oscar nominee and Grammy Award-winning composer Danny Elfman’s inspiring score for the live-action motion picture includes the original song “Ordinary Miracle,” sung by Grammy Award winner Sarah McLachlan. Eighteen songs make up the soundtrack for the motion picture that stars Dakota Fanning and the voices of Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, John Cleese, Robert Redford, Kathy Bates, Reba McEntire and Thomas Haden Church.