A Special Afternoon Tea for our Girls

A Doll Party hosted by Lola's Tea House!

130 Fifth Avenue

Pelham, NY 10803

http://www.lolasteahouse.com/

A doll tea party for little girls who often enjoy carrying their dolls with them wherever they go. Please bring your daughters, nieces, or granddaughters (with their dolls!) to an afternoon tea filled with fun and laughter.

Saturday, July 11th from 3-5pm

or

Sunday, July 12th from 3-5pm

Space is limited, so please call and make your reservations soon!

(914.738-2100)

Price: $20.00 per person (tax and gratuity not included)

Inside the Lives of Children Having Children

Chances are as high school students, many us knew of at least one story of teen pregnancy. According to ABC News, for the first time in fifteen years, the rate of teen pregnancies is on an upswing.

The Primetime event, Family Secrets, is something we won't want to miss. Burying our heads in the sand won't make this epidemic go away. Educating ourselves and having honest dialogue with our children is a more productive approach.

After you watch the show, share your thoughts with other Chocolate Chip parents.

Set your DVRs :

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

10pm-11pm

ABC

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=7862207

United We Serve.....Summer of Service

President Obama announced today that from June 22, 2009 to September 11, 2009, he is calling young and old to serve our communities in a summer of service.

Check out the new website http://www.serve.gov/ to view the First Lady's address on this national service campaign.

Mrs. Obama kicked off the initiative by building a playground in San Francisco. Here's a link to the article from Politico.com

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24042.html

What service projects will you participate in with your family?

Something for the Dads on Father's Day

Happy Fathers Day to all of our Chocolate Chip Dads!

We honor and celebrate you today for all you do to make our lives special and meaningful!

This special day requires a special post.  First check out what Dad-in Chief, President Barack Obama, has to say about fatherhood.

Here's a link to the video Responsible Fatherhood featuring the President and another special guest dad
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Responsible-Fatherhood/

The second is a link to the President's piece on fatherhood from Parade magazine
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31437363?GT1=43001

Lastly, from the Chocolate Chip archives....

Something for the Dads..... originally published 2/1/09

http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2009/02/something-for-dads-on-super-bowl-sunday.html


Daddy's Girl- originally published 2/4/09

http://chocolatechiponline.blogspot.com/2009/02/daddys-girls.html

May you be inspired today and forever!

Chocolate Chip Recommends....

As the Father's Day weekend festivities commence, may we recommend a trip to your local movie theater.

Imagine That (Nickelodeon): starring Eddie Murphy, Nicole Ari Parker and the adorable Yara Shahidi

A wonderful family comedy that shows what can happen when a dad allows himself into his daughters imaginary world. My entire family enjoyed it and yours will too.

Check out the website for e-cards and special awards for dad from the kiddies

http://www.imaginethatmovie.com/

Up (Disney Pixar): "The adventure of a lifetime" that begins after an old man loses his heart. The story is touching and the animation is AWESOME! Probably worth going to see this one at an IMAX theatre.

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/up/

Enjoy the weekend!

Happy Father's Day Dads!

Shower Yourself Beautiful!

Ten lucky Chocolate Chip fans have been selected to participate in the ultimate in-home shower sponsored by Suave Skin!

Even if you weren't chosen this time around, you still have a chance to Shower Yourself Beautiful! Chocolate Chip fans are invited to create a registry for a chance to instantly win your chosen prizes. You will also be automatically entered for a chance to win the ultimate at-home shower for you and your friends. Click on the link below to access the site.

https://www.ShowerYourselfBeautiful.com?track=ChocolateChip

While expectant brides and moms enjoy their celebratory showers, women everywhere -- including busy moms whose own showers have long gone – can shower themselves with small indulgences that make them feel beautiful every day. Actress and busy mother of four, Holly Robinson Peete offers her personal tips on how women everywhere can shower themselves beautiful this summer:

Love, Me
Send yourself some flowers -- especially if you already need to swing by the florist to pick up flowers for a wedding or baby shower. Seasonal summer flowers, such as lavender and sweet pea, are a budget-friendly way to pamper yourself and brighten up your home.


Slip Into a Delicious Fragrance
Wear an alluring fragrance that makes you feel beautiful. Skip perfume, which can feel heavy on skin in the summer, and try new Suave® Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Indulgent Body Wash. Infused with cherry blossom extracts and Vitamin E, this body wash leaves skin pampered and moisturized, with a delicious fragrance.

Book an Appointment with Yourself
Shower yourself beautiful by hosting an at-home spa day. Invite girlfriends over for manicures and pedicures and paint fingers and toes summer-inspired shades of sorbet. Once nails are dry, generously apply a moisturizing body lotion to keep hands and feet soft and smooth all summer long.

Schedule a "Tea" Time
Studies show that taking even a two minute break from your hectic schedule can reduce stress levels. Try this trick to add some relaxation to your daily grind. Instead of rushing through lunch, schedule a leisurely tea time for yourself complete with mini tea sandwiches and a cup of chamomile tea. Then get settled in a quiet part of your home or office -- free of distractions -- to start your summer reading list.

Shower Yourself Beautiful Every Day
Trade in your daily shower for a relaxing bath that’s fit for a queen! Transform your bathroom into a private sanctuary by lighting an aromatherapy-inspired candle and playing your favorite tunes. Be sure to use Suave® Naturals Lavender Vanilla Calming Body Wash. The soothing scent of lavender will calm your senses and transport your mind to a tranquil oasis.



Enjoy! You deserve it!

A Chocolate Chip for your marriage

September 18, 2007 marked the inaugural post and official launch of Chocolate Chip. Only personal friends received that message, but today I'm sharing it with the entire Chocolate Chip family.

There's no way I could know where each of you are in your faith journey, but as I approach my 13th anniversary next week, I share what has carried me through all these years.

It is my hope that you are blessed by this message and that it helps you to look at your spouse and your role just a little bit differently.

JB


9/18/07
During my study this morning I found something that hit me like a ton of bricks and my spirit is leading me to share it with you. This comes from the Life Application Study Bible and its commentary on the book of Ephesians, Chapter 6 in particular. It reads:

"The home and the church are difficult places to live the Christian life, because our real self comes through to those who know us well. Close relationships between imperfect people can lead to trouble-OR TO INCREASED FAITH AND DEEPENED DEPENDENCE ON GOD (emphasis is mine). We can build unity in our churches (and families- inserted by me) through willing submission to Christ's leadership and humble service to one another."

I think it says it all. I pray that we will continue to lift each other up as we build Christ centered families. Submitting to Him praying for increased faith, wisdom, and understanding not only during the difficult times but on a daily basis. I pray for humble hearts that lead us to repent to each other when we make mistakes and forgiving hearts that help us stand up when we fall.

In Jesus name, AMEN

SuperMoms Roundtable

Can I Have It ALL?

This is the perennial question of many working moms. The struggle between maintaining a great family life, raising successful children, sustaining a career, maintaining an active community life all while taking good care of ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually. Live one day in our shoes and you know this juggling act is NO easy feat. BALANCE IS THE KEY TO LIFE! Admittedly, achieving it has been my prayer for years!

If you're anything like me, you'll want to attend the SuperMoms Roundtable presented by
Go Red For Women® and sponsored by Balancing Life’s Issues.

The Host: *Traci E. Alexander
President of Mz. Mom, LLC, Professor Traci E. Alexander is an award-winning journalist, communications specialist and mother of two children

Contributors
Millie H. Becker President, Skyqueen Enterprises and mother of one child
*Sharon Epperson CNBC personal finance reporter and mother of two
Carolyn Glickstein Professional geriatric care manager and mother of two
Marian GryzloFounder and president of Think to Lead, LLC and mother of two
*Patricia Hayling-Price President of Exceed Now and mother of two
*Lynne Perry-Bottinger M.D., FACC Assistant professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University and Cornell University and mother of two

06/11/2009 8:00am -- 10:00am
Fee: $30/person by June 8
Location: Hilton Rye Town 699 Westchester Avenue Rye Brook, NY 10573

See below for an excerpt from website. A link to details follows:

The stress of motherhood is more than even some of the most prepared, organized moms can handle but add a 50-hour work week, not to mention being present in your other important roles as wife, daughter, sister, best friend, and showing up for yourself becomes a distant concept. It is easy to get out of touch with our feelings, our bodies, our perception of ourselves and miss even obvious signs that our hearts may be at risk.
Go Red For Women® encourages women to share with others to inspire conversation, compassion and a greater understanding of the important journey to heart health. At the SuperMoms Roundtable, hosted by Traci E. Alexander, we will do just that and get to the heart of the matter for working mothers.

This powerful event presents a panel of supermoms—from different backgrounds and stages of life, engaged in a candid discussion about life’s issues. You will have the chance to share stories of struggle, success and support and learn from one another and our featured expert, founder and CEO of Balancing Life’s Issues, mother of three and stepmom to two, Wendy Kaufman .

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3066901

*Kudos to my fellow Jack & Jill moms for their participation in this worthwhile event

See you there!

Kids Consignment Shop Blowout Sale This Weekend!

CALLING ALL SHOPPERS!!!

SWITCHKIDS, A HIP GREEN store for kid and baby stuff in Yonkers, NY, is having a huge sale this weekend in order to reduce inventory in preparation for their upcoming relocation to the Yonkers Waterfront. Winter clothing will be 50% off and spring/summer product will be 30% off of their ridiculously LOW prices.

This IS a recession friendly event:)

SwitchKids

http://www.switchkids.net/

1550 Central Park Ave

Yonkers, NY 10710

(914) 793-2490

Come in Saturday June 6, 2009
and mention their site for an additional 10% off

Special hours this weekend:

Saturday 6/6/09 and Sunday 6/7/09

12pm-10pm

Does the President's hair feel like mine?

How incredible is this picture! I received this email and had to share it with you. So simple yet so profound. Enjoy!

Obama bends over so the son of a White House staff member can pat his head during a family visit to the Oval Office May 8, 2009. The youngster wanted to see if the President's haircut felt like his own. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This little boy wanted to see if the President's hair felt like his.

Perhaps at the beautiful demonstration of a child's curiosity when we don't "shush" them.

Perhaps at the thought that this young boy could see part of himself in the President of the United States, for the very first time.

Perhaps at the humble way President Obama bent down. Perhaps all of the above.

A Night at the Museum

My family LOVED Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian!


What if your child could have their own night at the museum? Sounds impossible? Well they can! You can schedule a nocturnal expedition/sleepover at New York City's American Museum of Natural History!




Let's be clear upfront, this is NOT a recession friendly activity, but it is something to look forward to :)


Here's an excerpt from their website:

Imagine yourself traveling as a paleontologist on an expedition while watching Dinosaurs Alive! in the LeFrak IMAX Theater, exploring our live-animal exhibitions with knowledgeable Museum explainers, and challenging yourself with one of our fun Museum Quests. End your night by falling asleep in the darkened halls of one of the world's most famous museums.

As the doors close and the lights dim, you and your group will head out with flashlights in search of adventure. Find yourselves in the Hall of North American Mammals, staring down a herd of wild buffalo. Climb the stairs and you're in the Age of Dinosaurs, standing beneath a 65-million-year-old T. rex. Then, as the night comes to a magical close, settle down beneath the 94-foot-long blue whale, next to the Alaskan brown bear, or at the base of a volcanic formation.

Cost: $129 per person (Members: $119 per person)

Admission Price includes:
Evening snack and light breakfast
Cots for all participants
IMAX film
Take-home activities
Fossil exploration by flashlight
Live-animal special exhibition (seasonal)
Time: 5:45 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Open to: 8-12 year olds

http://www.amnh.org/kids/sleepovers/

Parents Do You Want to Manage Your Money Wisely?

New York Urban League

and the

Greater Hudson Valley Chapter of the LINKS

collaborate to host the

Citigroup Financial Connections Certificate Series for Adults
at the
Mount Vernon Central Library
28 South First Avenue Mount Vernon, NY 10550

2009 Westchester certificate Series

SATURDAYS June 6th, 13th, 20th 27th

10:00am-1:00pm (Refreshments Served (9:30am - 10:00am)

Workshops are Free!!

However You MUST Be Registered!

Call or Email
Diana B. Coleman with your contact information (212) 926-8000 ext. 147–

(Email) dcoleman@nyul.org

WORKSHOP TOPICS
I. Banking and Money Management
¨ Money in our Lives and how toMaximize use of Financial Services
¨ Checking Account Maintenance
¨ Identify Goals to Create a Realistic Financial Plan
II. $$ Mgmt: Saving and Investing
¨ Difference between Saving and Investing
¨ Understanding various Saving and Investing Products
¨ Introduction to Investments and Financial Planning
Important: We will not accept any new participants in the credit workshops. PRIOR to attending any CREDIT workshop you MUST attend session I or II (preferably both). By attending all sessions you get the most out of the series.
III. Spending and Credit
¨ ABCs of Spending and Credit
¨ Establishing Credit
¨ Maintaining Credit
¨ Credit Scores
¨ Identity Theft
IV. The Credit Landscape
¨ Expenses & Budgets
¨ Managing Credit Challenges
¨ Prime and Sub-prime Lending
¨ Predatory Lending / Practices
¨Bankruptcy – Updates