LEGO Store - Grand Opening

LEGO Store
Grand Opening Celebration
October 3rd - 5th
Mark your calendar for the Grand Opening Celebration
of the new LEGO Store in THE PLAZA, LOWER LEVEL outside of JCPenney

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and on Wednesday, the entire audience of The Ellen Degeneres Show will be filled with 300 breast cancer survivors and their families. Ellen, will be kicking off ELLEN FOR THE CURE campaign, which will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure® for the third year in a row. For the entire month of October Ellen will be trying to raise funds to help find a cure. It can be done. Her does her first guest, 8-year-old KATIE GOLD, who has been trying to raise $10,000 for breast cancer research by selling lemonade and gift baskets! (She’s already raised $800!) Then, Ellen will be joined by SUZANNE SOMERS, who is herself a survivor. They will discuss her encouraging story of how she beat the disease, and Suzanne will also share some secrets to staying positive from her book, “Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness.” Plus, her next guest toured with the Jonas Brothers all summer and has become a teen sensation in her own right -- actress and singer DEMI LOVATO will keep everyone’s spirits high with a rousing performance of her song “Get Back”! Then in true Ellen fashion she has a HUGE surprise for the audience, and trust me, this will be a show that you won’t want to miss!

Boston or Bust!

We are counting down the days.... The Chester County Moms Blog team is headed to Boston on October 10th and driving there compliments of BlogHer's GM Car Pool. We will be twittering and blogging the entire ride to Boston and of course the whole weekend.

Follow us:
twitter: ChescoMoms

Hoilday Photo Shoot with CR Photography

C. Raysor Photography is now booking Holiday Mini-Sessions!

This time of year, I am sure you’re starting to think about your holiday cards,
and what picture to use for your card. Book your session with C. Raysor Photography
and let an experienced photographer make this the least stressful thing you do for this holiday season!

There are 2 packages to choose from:

Package 1
Session and Prints Package - $149*
30 minute portrait session
1 8x10 print
20 4×5 prints of one image to include in your Holiday Cards
Session and File Package

Package 2
30 minute portrait session - $149*
1 8x10 print
High resolution image on CD
This will allow you to use the image in creating your own cards

*Prices do not include PA Sales Tax of 6%

Call 484.888.2643 or email Chrissie at: infoATcraysor.com (replace ”AT” with the @ symbol)to book your holiday photo session!

If you forward this information on to your friends and they book a session and mention your name, you will EACH get 1 complimentary 8×10 print from your sessions!

Catching up with old friends...

Sunday was a yucky rainy day, but a perfect day for staying in a watching a DVD. Lucky for me my daughter had a super fun birthday party Sunday afternoon at Bounce U and she wore herself out. We were not home for long before she was asking to take a nap. Gotta love that!

My husband and I watched Sex And The City while the kids were napping. I saw it on opening day with 20 of my girl friends. We got all dolled up and hit the town after.. Downingtown, that is. It was a big night out for 20 moms with toddlers.

My husband always watched the series with me on Sunday nights. Pre-kids, I was so Carrie. Shoes, bags, clothes...Good times! Good times!
Anyway.. in fear of having to turn in his "man-card" if he saw the movie in the theatre, he waited for the DVD release to watch in the comfort of our own home. He went out this morning and got a copy of the DVD. I am SURE he told the clerk that waited on him that the DVD was a gift for me. Just to save face.

When the theme music played during the opening credits. I was talking and he shhh'd me. He actually shh'd me! He was totally into the movie from the first word spoken and was just as happy to see the girls back together as I was.
The "wedding" scene was a really intense moment for him. He was talking back to the TV like he does while watching football. Too funny!

All and all, it was a great day and a relaxing afternoon for us. I definitely recommend the movie, even if you never watched the TV series. The intro brings you up to speed on who is who in the movie.

Click here to place your delivery order online.
*FREE DELIVERY: $150 minimum order. Order must be delivered by 9/30/08. Limit 1 use per household. May not be combined with select offers. Limited Delivery Area.

Lend a helping.. paw!

The Chester County SPCA is able to fulfill its mission and provide service in a variety of areas through the support of many generous donors.

If you are able to contribute any of the following to The Chester County SPCA, please contact the front adoption office at office@ccspca.org or call
610-692-6113 x 226.

Cleaning Supplies
Laundry Detergent and Bleach
Cleanser and Scouring Pads
Dishwashing Soap
Dust Pans and Brushes
Brooms, Mops and Buckets
Window Cleaner
Squeegies
Sponges
Rubber Gloves

Office Supplies
Copier paper
Scissors
Batteries - AA and AAA
Pens
Large Mailing Envelopes

Pet Care Supplies
Rawhide Chews
Washable Dog and Cat Toys
Stainless Steel Dog and Cat Bowls
Dog Bicuits
Cat Treats
Heating Pads
Dog and Cat Brushes and Combs
Kitty Litter (non-clumping)
Pooper Scoopers
Towels and Blankets
Wash Cloths
Newspaper

Chester County League of Women Voters Voter Registration..

Register to vote as well as receive important information on voting at the Chester County League of Women Voters registration table.

Saturday, September 27th and Saturday, October 4th

11:00am-5:00pm

In front of KB Toys near the Food Court

The League of Women Voters is a non partisan, political organization whose purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences government through education and advocacy. The League is a grassroots organization with national, state and local chapters which parallel the levels of government.

Build & Grow Workshop at Lowe's

Build a Firetruck at Lowe's FREE Build & Grow Workshop for kids.

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Lowe's - Downingtown (Rt. 30)
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required. Click here to register online.

Show us what's inside!

Seventh Generation, a leading brand of green cleaners, laundry detergent, dishwashing soap, diapers, baby wipes, recycled toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels, is urging regulators for more "ingredient transparency". In other words, for other companies to actually tell us what ingredients are in the products we buy for our families! Seventh Generation believes in full disclosure!

Go check out their Show What's Inside website for some fascinating information, a great Label Reading Guide (that you can download to your desktop or mobile), and some ways to take action.

And, you may also want to check out Seventh Generation's main site for some great product coupons!

Get the look...

Glam Give Away

ReNu MultiPlus® is partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® by creating 40 limited edition pink CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements contact lens cases* to be given away exclusively online during October. Bausch & Lomb will also donate up to $400,000 through sales of its ReNu MultiPlus solution. To learn how you can help—and win one of Bausch & Lomb’s super glam cases—visit ReNuCares online.
*Lens case valued at $350-compliments of Swarovski.

Green Shopping Tip: Remember the Bag!

Whether you've made your own sacks from recycled t-shirts or purchased totes that support a good cause, the reusable bag is a shopping must have. Amassing a collection of eco-friendly bags is the easy part--remembering to bring them every time you go to the store can be tricky. Be prepared for spur-of-the-moment sprees by storing extra canvas or hemp bags in your bike basket, office cubicle, and the trunk of your car. Stash a small reusable produce bag in your purse or briefcase so that if you decide to swing by the farmer's market on your lunch hour, you won't have to juggle your fruit to avoid the ol' plastic bag.


Source: The Sierra Club's The Green Life

Steal a Cookie from Kashi!

Go ahead, steal a cookie!

Why? Because Kashi's cookies are good and good for you. So you get whole-grain nutrition along with chocolatey, chewy satisfaction. All you have to do is sign up here, and they'll send you one free Oatmeal Dark Chocolate cookie.

Yummy!

Read all about it...

Please join us as we welcome Kelly, the newest member of the Chester County Mommy Blogger team.

Kelly is a Chester County mother of 2. She grew up in West Chester, but left to attend college in the Happy Valley (Go Penn State!) and returned with a teaching degree and married her high school sweetheart. Kelly started blogging as a way for her family and friends to stay up to date with her young family. She is both a member of The Philly Mommy Bloggers and Chester County Mommy Bloggers. Kelly is an avid reader and loves a fun night out with her book club and hopes to introduce fellow Chester County Moms to some great reads not only for themselves but for their children too.

6 Reasons to Stop Drinking Bottled Water

By Seth Czarnecki, Nubella News

Americans' addiction to bottled water has exploded. In 1976, only 350,000 bottles of water were sold. Today, more than 9.4 billion bottles are sold each year, equaling more than $12 billion in sales. However, more people are beginning to question the need for and benefits of bottled water. In fact, certain groups, like Think Outside the Bottle, say our country needs to break its bottled water addiction.

Here, six reasons why you should kick the plastic habit.

1. Water and oil do mix. Although these two liquids may not get along in the kitchen, oil powers the bottled water industry. The Earth Policy Institute estimates that it takes up to 1.5 million barrels of oil to power the plants that make the plastic for the bottles-that's enough to power 100,000 cars for a year.

2. Natural spring water? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that as much as 25 percent of bottled water comes from municipal sources, a.k.a. tap water. Be sure to check the label and cap of the bottle. If it says "from a community water system" or "from a municipal source," it originates from tap. What's more, the water doesn't always come from the branded source. For example, the water bottled for the Deer Park brand (which originated in Deer Park, Maryland) is taken from counties in Florida and Pennsylvania.

3. Bottled water doesn't go green. The interesting paradox that exists in bottle water consumption is the image it portrays as being healthy and clean, but it is anything but good for the environment. In California alone, approximately a billion plastic bottles are not recycled, according to the California Department of Conservation (CDOC). What's even more troubling, the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) says that plastic water bottles have a litter rate of about 30 million a day.

4. Bottled water gets a pass. Despite astronomical sales, bottled water plants go relatively unchecked. The FDA, which is responsible for regulating bottled water, admits that "bottled water plants generally are assigned low priority for inspection." The FDA does not require disinfection of bottled water, nor does it have a confirmed E. Coli and fecal coliform ban, which means, unlike tap water, bottled water is permitted to have small amounts of these two potentially harmful bacteria.

5. There's something in the water. The water you're drinking may not be as clean as you think it is. In 2007, the FDA recalled Jermuk bottled water sold in California after finding trace amounts of arsenic, a naturally occurring chemical that can be toxic at very high levels. Furthermore, controversial chemicals called phthalates, which may disrupt the production of testosterone and other hormones, can seep into bottled water over time, according to research conducted by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

6. Support for the tap. Contrary to popular opinion, tap water isn't necessarily healthier than bottled water. After conducting an extensive, four-year review of the bottled water industry, the NRDC concluded that bottled water is not any safer or cleaner than tap water. If taste is the issue, opt for home filters. Depending on your needs, you can choose to install one on your refrigerator or on your faucet or you can simply store a pitcher of filtered water in the fridge. Ultimately, filtering your own tap water can save you money and help the environment.

So, whenever possible, use your own refillable BPA-free plastic or metal water bottle. It's better for your health and for the environment!

Make it a Green Halloween!

In 2007, Corey Colwell-Lipson, mom of 2 girls, launched Green Halloween in Seattle. Her mission was to make Halloween both healthier and more earth-friendly, without sacrificing any of the fun for the kids! This year the initiative is expanding nationwide, and their website is FULL of fantastic ideas to help you green your Halloween!

First, you can make your halloween handouts a little bit more green. Here are a few ideas:

1. Here are some green treat ideas: Organic juice boxes, Organic apple sauce snack packs, Organic fruit leather, Boxes of organic raisins or other organic dried fruits, Trial size packs of dried veggie chips (like Terra Chips), Spooky S'mores Clif Kids Organic ZBar, Organic granola/breakfast bars, or Trial/snack sized bags of organic cookies, crackers, or popcorn (like Snikiddy or Annie's).

2. Or, you could hand out some non-food items such as: Adhesive "bandages" with pirate, black cat and other fun themes, Barrettes or other hair things, Bean bags (homemade), Charms, Coins, Confetti (biodegradable, water-soluble), Cookie cutters - mini, soy-based crayon "rocks", Fake jewels (lead free), Fortunes, Jokes, Seashells, Seed packets, Stickers, Temporary Tattoos (recycle-themed), or toothpaste.

3. If you really don't want to give up on handing out candy, maybe you could consider giving certified organic, all natural candy. The Green Halloween site has some excellent suggestions for brands that offer organic candy.

If your child does collect candy on Halloween, here are some ideas:

1. Invite the Halloween Fairy to come to your home: Talk about how the Halloween fairy turns candy into magic fairy dust and so needs as much candy as she can get her hands on. Explain that if a child leaves his bag of candy outside on the porch, the fairy will gladly come to take the candy, and because she will be so grateful for the help with her fairy-dust-making, she’ll leave in the candy’s place a very special gift. Some parents make the exchange while their child is brushing their teeth, others wait until their child is asleep. Either way, make a big deal of it! Act surprised! You may also want to consider letting your child keep a small amount of candy and leaving the rest out for the fairy. Please don’t donate your leftover sweets to charity, though. Other people’s kids don’t need the candy either.

2. Have a candy trade: let your kids trade their candy towards other little gifts or give them a “pumpkin point” for each piece of candy they collect. Use pumpkin points to “buy” a toy or do a special activity with your child.

3. Let them choose a limited amount of candy to eat (for example, one piece for each year your child is old). In many cities, the leftover candy can be recycled and turned into compost! Just be sure to remove candy from its wrapper first.

Tip for parents: Model healthy choices. Remember that your children look to you for cues. When you take good care of yourself, others and the planet, your child is bound to follow in your footsteps. When you show your children that having a Green Halloween can be just as fun (if not more so) than one that is not-so-healthy, your children will be more likely to go along with the changes and may find themselves loving every minute of it.

Sources: Kiwi Magazine and Green Halloween

Going Green.. Welcome Shannon to the team!

In our efforts to "Go Green" we are so excited to welcome fellow "Mommy Blogger" Shannon from "You Ott 2 Know" to The Chester County Moms Blogging Team...

Shannon, is a Chester County mom of 2 beautiful girls. She came to the area as an undergrad at West Chester County University. The blogging bug bit Shannon in early 2008 and she has been posting away ever since. Shannon is a member of both The Chester County Mommy Bloggers and The Philly Mommy Bloggers. When not blogging Shannon loves to spend time with her husband and daughters camping, hiking and enjoying the fresh air. Shannon is deeply passionate about going green, organic eating and the environment. She feels going green is something that can be done by everyone in small steps through education and dedication. She hopes to share tips on very easy ways to make more environmentally friendly choices in your own life without breaking the bank. Click here to be directed to Shannon's personal blog.

Horn Plumbing to the rescue!!!

The past few weeks of my life have been issue after issue after issue. Today I get both kids down for a nap and go into my bathroom to take a shower. I turn on the water. It is cold. 5 minutes later still cold. Hmmm... I let the water run for awhile and it wasn't getting hot, not even getting warm. Ugh! Great just what I needed. A broken hot water heater. I called my husband and asked him if he took a cold shower when he got ready for work earlier this morning. He said he did. I asked why he didn't tell me and he said he just thought he took a super fast shower and finished before the water had a chance to warm. Headshake, eyeroll, sigh.

I called Jenn to vent and laugh over my streak of bad luck and she told me to call Horn Plumbing. She said they are reliable and she refers them to everyone. Works for me. I hung up with her and called right away. Betty answered and asked me if my hot water heater was gas or electric. I told her.. it was white, I knew that. She laughed and walked me step by step of finding the information she needed to get my appointment scheduled. I called at 3PM so she wasn't sure if she would be able to get someone out to me right away. I was bummed but figured someone would be out first thing in the morning. 15 minutes later the phone rang. It was Betty from Horn Plumbing and she was calling to tell me Nick the Plumber was on his way. He arrived just before 4PM. Not even an hour after I called and within a few minutes he had my problem diagnosed. I had a faulty thermostat. Not a big deal or cost to fix. Finally some great news! Thank you Nick the Plumber!

So..if you find yourself standing in the shower with no hot water or need a reliable plumber the Mommy Bloggers at Chester County Moms recommend Horn Plumbing!

304 National Rd. Suite 100
Exton, PA 19341 Phone: 610-363-4200

Buy a Cookie, Save a Life!

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This year, help Lord & Taylor support the launch of the highly-anticipated children’s charity, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, by stopping by any Lord & Taylor store starting September 13* and purchasing an all-natural chocolate chip cookie. All proceeds from each $3.00 treat go directly to helping fi nd a cure for pediatric cancers. It’s a delicious way to make a difference.

*Dates subject to change