Celebrate women this month by shopping a mom-owned business. If you’re pregnant, you’re going to want to check out the last business on this list.

March is Women’s History Month and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by supporting local female entrepreneurs and DMV business women. If necessity is the mother of all invention, these DC-area Moms know how to meet our local needs!  Read on to learn about some fantastic and creative DC Momtrepreneurs and you just may find one who makes your new favorite cake, can solve your family’s sleep or nutrition woes or create the bag you have been looking for. Read on to get inspired!

Some of Our Favorite Women-Owned Businesses around DC

Scout Bags

Scout Bags may be popular all over the country but the mastermind behind it all is DC Mom Deb Waterman Johns. As a Mom of four Deb understands how important it is to stay organized and have functional bags. As a Georgetown designed she knows how important it is to look good while schlepping the kids all over town. Scout Bags combines the best of form and function. Scout Bags releases hundreds of limited edition designs each year and many of them are hand-drawn. 

Online: Scout Bags

 

Mahogany Books

Mahogany Books

Black books matter! That's why DC Mom Ramunda Young (and Dad Derrick) founded MahoganyBooks. They have a brick-and-mortar shop in Anacostia and an online store with one of the most largest inventories of Black books online. The shop is open, but you can also request curbside pickup or conveniently shop online and have your holiday order shipped. MahoganyBooks is located in the Anacostia Art Center, home to a number of galleries, small boutiques and restaurants.

1231 Good Hope Rd. SE
Anacostia
Online: mahoganybooks.com

Mindful Return

Lori Mihalich-Levin knows how hard it is to be a working Mom in the DC Area. Lori created the Mindful Return Maternity Leave E-Course and is the co-host of the Parents at Work Podcast,. Her company, Mindful Return, also offers templates for expecting parents to develop Maternity and Paternity plans and courses specifically for working Dads and parents of kids with disabilities. The first year of motherhood is hard. Having someone who has been there, guide you through and develop a plan can help. 

Online: Mindful Return

Savor It Studios

Who better to support expecting, laboring and new Moms than another Mom? Michelle Cohen is a Washington DC birth and post-partum doula and yoga instructor who founded Savor It Studios. Michelle has helped countless parents in the DC area through the journey of becoming new parents from pre-natal yoga classes to helping Moms labor to providing post-partum support.   

Online: savoritstudios.com

The Sweet Lobby

The Sweet Lobby, based on Capitol Hill's Barracks Row, is known for both its classic as well as its globally inspired flavor incarnations and specializes in French macarons, madeleines, éclairs, shortbread, canelés and more. Owner Dr. Winnette McIntosh Ambrose is not only mom to two, she's also a two-time TV champ, having declared victory on both Cupcake Wars and Chopped. These award-winning treats caught the attention of Jill Biden last year when she shopped for Valentine's Day gifts.  

404 8th Street SE
Capitol Hill
Online: sweetlobby.com

Sticky Fingers

Sticky Fingers

DC Mom Doron Petersan is on a mission to bring tasty vegan treats to the masses. Her bakery, Sticky Fingers serves up guilt-free cupcakes, cinnamon buns and brunch that everyone enjoys. If you have any doubts about how delicious Sticky Fingers treats are know that they are the first vegan bakery to ever win Cupcake Wars All Stars. Have a little chef at home? As a Mom herself Doron knows how much kids like to help in the kitchen and her virtual baking classes are very kid-friendly! 

1370 Park Rd. NW
Columbia Heights
Online: stickyfingersbakery.com

Child's Play Toys and Books

Jamie Davis Smith

Owned by a DC Mom (and Dad) Child's Play Toys and Books is the place to go for the biggest selection of quality toys, games, art supplies and books. Staff travel the world to find the best and don't sell it unless they have personally played with, created or read the items on their shelves. Their enormous variety is perfectly curated include high quality, good value, fun toys to be cherished for years to come. Their very knowledgeable staff can made recommendations based on age, budget and interest.

5536 Connecticut Ave. NW
Chevy Chase
Online: childsplaytoysandbooks.com

Starlight Sleep Coaching

After too many sleepless nights with babies who thought it was time to party at 4:00 a.m. DC Mom Jessica Dodson knew there had to be a better way. She learned how to get her own children to sleep through the night and then started a sleep coaching business, Starlight Sleep Coaching, to help save other new Moms from the fate of needlessly spending months in a sleep-deprived haze. 

Online: starlightsleepcoaching.com

Labyrinth Games

When the kids have had too much screen time it's time to pull out a board game for some serious family bonding time.  Capitol Hill Mom Kathleen Donahue opened Labyrinth Game Shop after she could not find the perfect game for her son to bring to a birthday party. Since then, Labyrinth has expanded to carry everything from games for kids to sophisticated games and puzzles perfect for date nights at home. 

645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Capitol Hill
Online: labyrinthgameshop.com

 

Aspen Street Cakes

Teal cake with flowers
Aspen Street Cakes

DC Mom Lauren Cooper Allen runs two small businesses out of her Washington, DC home, Aspen Street Cakes and Lauren K. Cooper Food Styling and Photography. As a Mom of three, Lauren understands how important birthdays and other special occasions are. She can turn any idea into a masterpiece that's almost too pretty to eat.

Online: aspenstreetcakes.com

51st State Photography

DC Mom Cassandra Hetherington started 51stStatePhotography, a greeting card company featuring photographs from around the DMV, to showcase what makes our area so special. These cards feature everything from the colorful murals found around town to flowers found along the C&O Canal. 51st State Photography cards are the perfect way to send a note to a loved one or to include with a gift. They are sold at local markets and Shop Made in DC.

Online: 51ststatephotography.com

Epic Everyday

African-American Girl on Colorful Bed
Epic Everyday

When a couple of DC Moms got tired of seeing only fair-skinned princesses and could not find many images portraying Black and Brown boys in positive ways they decided to do something about it.  The result is Epic Everyday, a collection of backpacks, t-shirts, towels and more featuring kids in a range of mocha-hued skin tones and hair types. The “epic” in Epic Everyday stands for Empowered, Positive, Innovative, and Creative. When it comes time for the kids to buy new a new backpack, lunch box, towels or sheets look local first!

Online: shopepiceveryday.com

 

happyly

happyly was created by three Moms, Caitlin Iseler, Elizabeth Duall Regard, and Randi Banks, who live in DC and Alexandria. These friends wanted to take advantage of everything the DC area has to offer but spend less time planning. Their app has now grown to 30+ cities to help parents create customized experiences in their hometown, on daytrips or while on vacation. 

Online: happyly.com

 

Hooked and Loopy

Crocheted dolls
Hooked and Loopy

When DC Mom Sarah Potter looked around her child's playroom and noticed it was full of plastic she decided to take matters into her own hands and start crocheting toys. She started off small and slow but soon started Hooked and Loopy and now makes everything from crocodiles and foxes to Amelia Earhart's and RBGs. Hooked and Loopy can even make custom creations so your child can truly have a one-of-a-kind lovey. Tip: You can find Hooked and Loopy creations at Shop Made in DC, The National Museum of Women in the The Arts and other retailers throughout the area. 

Online: hookedandloopy.com

529 Kids Consign

Most Moms notice how quickly their kids grow out of clothing but Alexandria Mom Megan Polodosky decided to find a way to keep kids looking great in "gently used" clothing outgrown by other dressed-to-the-nines tots. Her answer is 529 Kids Consign which is now a thriving upscale children's and maternity consignment boutique that ships all over the country. Shopping at 529 is a great way to stay stylish while saving money and supporting a local Mom! 

22A South Royal St.
Alexandria, VA
Online: 529kidsconsign.com

 

 

Valery’s Wonderland Treats

Valery's Wonderland Treats

Valery’s Wonderland Treats are hand-crafted by mom and entrepreneur Valeriia Li in her Chantilly, VA home with a next-level precision.  From cakes and cookies to other delectable treats, these works of art are almost too breathtakingly beautiful to eat! Flowers, The Beatles, little fairy homes – even anime is not outside her ability to create the perfect, one-of-a-kind dessert for your one-of-a-kind celebration. It does take some time for her to gather ingredients and prepare your stunning creation, so Li does recommend placing your order at least 3-4 weeks in advance via Whatsapp

Online: facebook.com

Mai Health Now

Alexandria Mom Mai Trinh is a Wellness Speaker and Chronic Disease Expert who founded Mai Health Now years ago to help others live a longer and healthier lives. As a widowed working Mom of three, Mai knows how important it is for parents to take care of themselves - and how hard it can be be to actually make that work. Mai wants every parent to achieve optimal health so that they can be their best for the kids and enjoy themselves. She also knows how hard it can be to get kids to eat their veggies and has a plan for that too!

Online: maihealthnow.com

 

Pure Love Macarons

Let the food come to you with Pure Love Macarons. Mom-on-a-mission Kim Moehnke started this gluten-free bakery business after wrestling with food allergies in her own home. Pure Love Macarons is a home-based bakery that makes Paris look like it’s churning out knock-off macarons. 

Online: purelovemacarons.com

 

Mocktail

One DC Mom had enough of non-alcoholic bland drinks.  When Pauline Idogho was expecting she wanted to have just as much fun as her friends who were enjoying cocktails and the idea for Mocktail Club was born. Mocktail Club beverages ensure that everyone skips alcohol because of pregnancy, health concerns or because they are a designated driver can actually enjoy what they are drinking. Because Mocktail's flavors are based on Pauline's travels these drinks will also remind you of what it's like to be on vacation. Bonus: kids can upgrade from juice for a special treat!

Online: mocktailclub.com

We will always remember the “unprecedented times” of 2020 as being full of challenges. Yet, there are some silver linings to living through a pandemic. From finding the time to explore a new hobby to starting a new business venture, these DC parents and entrepreneurs found joy and success amidst the chaos. Scroll down to read their inspiring stories.

New Ideas Led to New Ventures

how to host a bonfire party

When two Maryland Dads unexpectedly found themselves home with their children once their jobs took a hit from pandemic-related closures they knew it was time to get creative. Chris McCasland, a sports and concert industry broker and restaurateur, and Michael Opalski, a senior restaurant industry salesman, wasted little time learning new skills. They put their heads together and  founded City Bonfires, a portable, reusable mini bonfire that you can take on all of your outdoor adventures or trips to your backyard. These small bonfires, created from a non-toxic soy wax, are perfect for making s’mores even if you don't own a firepit. Because they are made in Maryland each purchase helps support multiple local families.

Online: citybonfires.com

We Adapted and Looked Out for Each Other

Child playing at train table

Child’s Play Toys and Books is well known throughout the DC area for their well-trained and friendly staff. who provide highly specialized recommendations with children’s development in mind. Chief Play Officer and owner Steven Aarons never placed a large emphasis on the stores’ web presence since it is not as easy to provide the same type of personalized advice online, but the pandemic made providing alternative to providing in-person shopping a necessity. According to Aarons, “[w]e had our concierge calls up right away. And we had employees on their cell phones taking customers through using FaceTime, texting images, whatever it required, which we're still doing. This kept both long-time customers coming to Child’s Play and attracted some new customers as well,” ensuring that kids could keep learning and playing with “just right” toys when they needed it the most.  This new model meant that Child’s Play not only kept all of their current staff but needed to hire new staff to make deliveries. To fill this need Aarons went to the restaurant next door to Child’s Play’s flagship store in DC and hired servers who had been laid off because of the pandemic exemplifying what it means to support your community when they need it the most.   

Online: childsplaytoysandbooks.com

We Banded Together

African-American Girl on Colorful Bed

Cara Johnson-Graves, who lives in Bowie, Maryland, and her sister Jenae Johnson-Carr founded Epic Everyday with a mission. They wanted to elevate the visibility of mocha-hued boys and girls. They started selling brightly colored backpacks, lunch bags and totes featuring brown and black boys and girls. Once schools closed and travel stopped there was not as much interest in their school and travel collections. The sisters quickly pivoted and created a line of home goods and apparel so they could continue their goal of giving black and brown children more confidence. This move fostered more creativity and resulted in several great new products from hooded towels to sheets. Epic Everyday also joined with other small Black-owned business to help one another thrive during the pandemic. According to Cara “At EPIC EVERYDAY we believe that collaboration over competition is a win-win and promotes meaningful relationships. We have recently fostered new partnerships…from authors to artists, to offer giveaways and manifest a supportive tribe of goal getters.” The last year has proven that representation matters more than ever and Cara and Jenae are inspired to bring their message to even more families and they will be able to do this thanks to recently signing their first retail agreement with a toy store.

Online: shopepiceveryday.com

We Laughed In Spite of it All

The Great Zucchini, also known as Eric Knaus, has been making DC area children laugh at birthday parties and live performances for a couple of decades. Birthdays and the need for children to laugh did not end when the pandemic started. Children kept getting older and deserved to celebrate so Eric, who is generally low-tech, got a crash-course on Zoom and started offering virtual parties and shows almost right away. Virtual parties meant that more out-of-town friends, cousins, and grandparents could join the laughter. Without the pressures of having to travel, Eric could offer lower-cost online shows so that he could help bring laughter to all kids at a time they need it the most. Eric has also been using his Zoom shows to help kids in the DC area in need. He recently donated all proceeds from a performance to raise funds for an organization that provides books to low-income children and proceeds from another to help a family with two children who both need bone marrow transplants. Eric is currently planning a show for a little fan of his who was recently diagnosed with leukemia to help make getting through treatment a little easier.

Online: thegreatzucchini.com

We Found the Courage to Try Something New

DC Mom Cassandra Hetherington had dabbled in photography for a couple of years but found the courage to turn her hobby into a business during the pandemic. This year Cassandra had a lot of extra time on her hands to take photographs and think about what is important. Shortly after the pandemic started Cassandra started 51stStatePhotography, a greeting card company featuring photographs from around the DMV. According to Cassandra, “There is something liberating about a pandemic. Suddenly life is upended and you don’t feel scared to try because what’s the worst that can happen? Someone doesn’t like your greeting cards? That felt so scary a year ago but now it feels insignificant.” Cassandra now sells her cards at local markets and Shop Made in DC with no plans to stop once the pandemic ends.

Online: 51ststatephotography.com

Time for Baking Bread and Remote Getaways

Alexandria Mom Mai Trinh is a Wellness Speaker and Chronic Disease Expert who founded Mai Health Now years ago to help others live a longer and healthier lives. As a widowed working Mom of three, Mai had to shift overnight from being constantly on the go to staying close to home all day, every day. This meant more time with her kids, more time engage in self-care and more time to spend in the kitchen. Although Mai had always made fresh homecooked meals a priority, before the pandemic she had never had the time to perfect longer recipes that require more time and patience like making her own sourdough. Baking bread has now become a hobby that she plans on continuing well after the pandemic ends because “[i]n an uncertain world, baking bread is soothing, soft, warm and predictable if you do it right.” Mai also did not want to give up traveling during the pandemic so she traded in her passport for her car keys and found local cabins and farms where she could bring her children for socially distant weekends away to refresh and relax. Mai says she is grateful for the pandemic for helping her “slow down and find so many remote cabins [she] never would have found otherwise.” She has also discovered more ways to help her clients stay healthy and happy as well.

Online: maihealthnow.com

Milestones Meant More

Teal cake with flowers

Lauren Cooper Allen has run two small businesses out of her Washington, DC home for years while caring for her three children. Although she initially worried at the beginning of the pandemic if her businesses would survive both her cake company, Aspen Street Cakes, and her food styling company, Lauren K. Cooper Food Styling and Photography, have thrived. During the pandemic, many parents looked for ways to give their children an extra-special birthday since they could not have the party they wanted. Milestones like anniversaries and Christenings also took on more significance during a year when nothing was guaranteed and everyone needing something to celebrate. Lauren was able to help make DC area families celebrate and smile all year long with her gorgeous custom cakes. Lauren also started receiving more inquires than ever for her food styling and photography business once restaurants closed indoor dining and shifted to take-out delivery. Lauren was able to help local restaurants quickly upgrade their websites and menus. Lauren strongly believes in supporting her local community and offered to style and photograph food in exchange for costs and meals for her family for a couple of restaurants that were on the verge of closing permanently.

Online: aspenstreetcakes.com

 

Parents are More Resilient

Some parents will remember the pandemic for bringing them a new baby. Michelle Cohen is a Washington DC birth and post-partum doula and yoga instructor who is the founder of Savor It Studios. Michelle has helped dozens of new and expectant parents find a silver lining to welcoming a newborn under less-than-ideal circumstances. Not being able to support new parents in-person has been a challenge for both Michelle and her clients, but because of the forced shift to online support more new and expectant Moms have been able to attend Michelle’s prenatal and post-partum yoga classes. Michelle knows the struggles of new and expectant parents well and has seen first-hand the benefits of virtual yoga for stressed parents when there is “no commute time, no traffic, no struggle to get a baby out the door, no difficulty separating from the family.” Michelle also believes that having a baby during the pandemic will provide parents with experience and skills that will help them as their baby grows. According to Michelle, “[u]ncertainty, fear and worry is always a part of birth, and the pandemic has brought that out into the open so fully, but birthing people now have greater adaptability and can see and feel the strength and resilience that they possess, which are skills they need for parenting.”

Online: savoritstudios.com/

 

—Jamie Davis Smith

featured photo: iStock

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The magic of the holiday season is a gift that gives all throughout the winter months and not just beginning at Santa’s arrival. For many, the first unforgettable twinkle of the enchantment of a Portland Christmas begins with attending a Portland Christmas tree lighting ceremony. This year, COVID has changed the way your family will experience our local Christmas tree lightings. Many of them have gone online where they can be experienced in the comfort of your very own home. Find out which lightings you can watch every night of the week if you choose. Read on to find out more.

Photo: via Pioneer Courthouse Square

Pioneer Courthouse Square Tree Lighting & Sing Along

On Nov. 27, this time-honored tradition was broadcast in an hour-long special featuring a caroling sing-along with Pink Martini. Lyrics appeared on the TV screen so viewers could sing along from home. It is now available to watch online. Your family can enjoy it every day of the season from the comfort and safety of your home. 

Online: thesquarepdx.org

Lake Oswego Holiday Tree Lighting

This 40 plus year-old tradition includes watching the Mayor of Lake Oswego light the giant Sequoia tree that stands in Bigelow Plaza. This year, there will be no public tree lighting ceremony or parade. Instead, you can enjoy a virtual greeting card on behalf of the City of Lake Oswego, the Chamber of Commerce and the sponsor, Director’s Mortgage. Your family can watch an online viewing and enjoy “Company” from Lakeridge High School, “Windjammers” from Lake Oswego High School, and the talented community members who perform in the Millennium Concert Band as they give you a flavor of what you would have heard in person. The elves have told us that Santa will make a special guest appearance at the end!

Online: lake-oswego.com/Holiday-Tree-Lighting

Vancouver Rotary Foundation Community Tree Lighting

The Esther Short Park community tree will glow throughout the holiday season in downtown Vancouver. Concern about community health and Covid-19 have cancelled many community events including the annual Rotary Community Tree Lighting ceremony. However, the downtown will be aglow 24 hours per day with thousands of lights hung on a new tree for all to stroll or drive by throughout the holiday season through New Year’s Day Jan. 1.

Online: rotaryfestivaloftrees.org

Spirit of Christmas Tree Lighting
greshamoregon.gov

Gresham Spirit of Christmas

While there will be no live, in-person Spirit of Gresham Tree Lighting event, due to state restrictions on events to prevent the spread of COVID-19, you're invited to experience it virtually as through a special tree lighting video. Watch anytime and get in the holiday spirit. Your kids will love the annual tree lighting countdown with Mayor Karylinn Echols and Santa!

Online: greshamoregon.gov/Spirit-of-Christmas

Hillsboro Holly Days and Tree Lighting

Celebrate the holiday season at the annual Holly Days Celebration in historic Downtown Hillsboro. Although Downtown merchants will be open for business the rest of the event will be broadcast virtually this year to keep our community healthy. Filmed Nov. 21, your family can enjoy holiday music from Leah & Austin, a local favorite band. The Mayor will be joined by Santa and Mrs. Claus to light the tree. All this mixed in with fun things happening around Downtown including our annual Excellence in Downtown Awards and a cameo from a local celebrity.

Online: hillsborohollydays.org

 

Holiday Lights

Your family doesn’t have to miss seeing fantastic light displays in person. Portland has some amazing light displays going on around town. We’ve rounded them all up right here for you. Make sure to check websites for updated information and COVID safety rules before you venture out.

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—Annette Benedetti

With loved ones spread far and wide this holiday season, personalized and greeting cards are taking on a whole new meaning. Cardlet, a husband and wife-founded app takes sending your loved ones customized greeting cards to the next level with the magic of AR. Show the ones you care about how important they are to you with this service that requires zero trips to the store. 

AR Greeting Card

Cardlet is a physical greeting card delivery service powered by an app that helps you schedule, customize and order high quality greeting cards for an affordable price (starting at $6.95) with ease (delivered in 3-5 business days). Every card is enriched with a hidden AR experience that introduces a new dimension to the message it contains, including a feature that allows the card-giver to imbue their very own voice into the card. 

AR Greeting Card

As a new mom, Cardlet founder and CEO Jenny Sich was inspired to create Cardlet after forgetting to purchase a Father’s Day card. Confident that there should have been an app to help with that, she and her husband Matt Sich, a software engineer and Apple Worldwide Developers Conference attendee, set out to make greeting cards simpler and more meaningful with technology. This holiday season, as gift-buyers seek to avoid the stores, personalized cards delivered courtesy of Cardlet are a no-brainer way to connect with loved ones while staying home.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Cardlet

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Photo: istock

Many parents around the world are wondering what to do with their kiddos now that school is almost over and camps have been canceled. If you’re looking for ideas for kids and families, please check out some ideas below!

Ages 3-5: 

  • Painting by numbers. Around this age, learning numbers can give them a head start when they do start school. Painting by numbers is basically coloring books, but with numbers that match the corresponding area of the picture. You can paint by numbers using watercolor, color pencils, or crayons. Find great painting by numbers books online and even at your local bookstore.
  • Ready to read. These fun and educational by-age activities are great for beginner learners. Depending on their age and skills, you can find lots of fun activities for your kids. 
  • Sidewalk chalk. This outside activity is tons of fun for little ones. Take some colorful chalk and write and/or draw uplifting words and art for neighbors. Your child can certainly do this when no one else is around for safe distancing practice, but imagine the fun and delight your neighbors will have when they walk out of their front door! If you don’t have chalk available, you can make some at home if you already have the ingredients. 

Ages 5-8:

  • Gardening at home. Gardening is one of the most relaxing and rewarding skills you can teach your children. In fact, gardening is great for any age, gender, and experience. The easiest and most fun way of gardening is starting with seeds. Seeds grow into seedlings which eventually become larger plants that will grow into flowers or food. Seeds do take a lot longer than seedling plants but they are much more rewarding when you can track the progress of your seeds. 
  • Computer games. Since we live in a technical world, kids eventually will be using computers and technology. Most school-aged kids are already using computers at school. If you have a computer at home, this is a great time to teach your young learners some technology skills. Once they are in school, they’re required to do basic reading and other curricula on computers. Based on your own family routine, limit kids this age to up to 1 hour of online learning, whether through games or skill setting on Google Docs.
  • Writing letters and cards. Writing letters and greeting cards seems to be a lost skill. But some teachers across the country are still teaching young students how to write a proper letter and greeting card. This important skill can later be applied when kids attend birthday parties or need to write to a company for school projects. You can use whatever paper stock you have at home.

Ages 9-11:

  • Special interests. Around this age, your children probably already developed their own interests. Broaden their interests (within safety reasons) by having them go online for research or reading books.
  • Crossword puzzles and Sudoku. These brain-challenging activities are perfect for growing minds. Find easy ones that are appropriate for their age and skills.
  • Gardening advanced. If you have younger kids as mentioned above, their older siblings can also help with gardening. Have kids at this age write names of the plants on wooden sticks, paint clay pots, or even build small wooden planters with a parent’s help.

Ages 12 & Up:

  • Advanced readers. Kids around this age either already developed a love for reading, or are reading only when it’s required by the school. But it’s never too late to get your kids to enjoy reading. If you have an older child that’s struggling with reading a book from beginning to end, get them to read books of their personal interests. If they’re interested in a certain sport, find books about that sport. Interested in cars? Find books on how to fix cars or design cars. Interested in fashion? Find books and magazines that focus on fashion design, fashion merchandising or making clothing.
  • Graphic novels. Contrary to what you read when you were younger, graphic novels have really changed and evolved. Graphic novels or comic books are books that tell stories through art. Depending on the interests of your pre-teen and teen, graphic novels range from popular series to mainstream superhero books.
  • Upcycling projects. Upcycling is one of the best ways to reduce waste. With the world around us fighting climate change and trying to reduce waste, upcycling is both fun and ethical. Kids as young as 8 can learn to upcycle what they have around the house, in their neighborhood, and even at school. Upcycling is essentially taking what you already have and finding new uses for it. The best and easiest upcycling projects include garden projects and turning something old into new.
  • Random acts of kindness. When kids are a bit older, teach them that doing good for the world can have many benefits now and throughout their lives. When you do something nice for someone, it sparks joy for that person which they’ll think about throughout the day. In turn, it might even spark kindness from that individual to perform another random act of kindness for someone else. Check out Random Acts of Kindness platform for some wonderful ideas. 

I hope you all can find some peace and joy throughout this troubling time. Whether we are one individual, one nation, or one world, we’re all in this together.

 

This post originally appeared on Happymomblogger.

I am a mom first and foremost. I might not be a supermom, but I am constantly learning and growing.Topics I stand with are parenting, the environment, and living a healthy and happy lifest‌yle. I work at an elementary school and I have 30 years experience in the health industry.

The coronavirus pandemic is a strange animal. One moment we can feel the frustration of having to watch Frozen 2 for the 47th time this week, and the next we can feel grateful for extra time with the kids. For times when those feelings are overwhelming, there are things that Seattle families can do to help others and in return give ourselves a little peace of mind. From writing letters to seniors, to paying it forward with cupcakes and ice cream, to adopting a furry friend, here’s how you can make a difference in Seattle now.

Write Letters of Love

Letters of Love for the Elderly
Tinte Cellars

This is a project that will not only keep everyone in the family busy, but also serves as a creative outlet and a way to think of others. Join Teresa Spellman Gamble and Tim Gable, owners of Tinte Cellars is Woodinville, with their Letters of Love for the Elderly project. During this time of isolation, senior citizens may be feeling more isolated than ever. The Gables are encouraging families to pick up a pen (or crayon as the case may be) and create a homemade greeting card that can make someone’s day. Working with Northshore Senior Center, these cards are being distributed to senior communities in Woodinville, Bothell, Kenmore, Mill Creek and Kirkland. Learn more about the do’s and don’ts of this project here.

Mail your completed Letters of Love to:

Corey Lowell, Director of Senior Centers
Northshore Senior Center
10201 E. Riverside Dr.
Bothell, WA 98011

Send Emergency Cupcakes

Trophy Cupcakes

Trophy Cupcakes are not only spreading frosting, but they are also spreading love to hospitals, first responders, families without enough and lonely seniors in the form of delicious cupcakes with their Pay it Forward program. Here’s how it works: you buy the cupcakes, they do the delivery. Plus, when our world gets back to (somewhat) normal, Trophy vows to continue to donate a dozen cupcakes for every dozen purchased through this Pay It Forward program. You’ll be supporting a local business and underserved communities at the same time. Doubly delicious.

Adopt a Baby...Gorilla

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

If you thought your kids were wild, wait until you become a Digital ZooParent to a baby gorilla, Humboldt penguin or red panda. Families interested in supporting Woodland Park Zoo’s relief fund, that provides much-needed daily care to the zoo's many animals, can donate $40 to make their adoption official. In return, you'll receive a PDF adoption certificate, desktop wallpaper of your newest addition (can you say new Zoom background?), bragging rights in the form of a Facebook frame and online recognition too. The best part? No diapers to change this time around.

Check on Your Neighbors

Pixabay

Now is a great time to check on neighbors you haven’t seen in a while and find out if they need any assistance. Perhaps they are short on a few groceries or would really like someone to walk their dog. Or maybe they need their lawn mowed. Leaving them a gift of flowers on their doorstep or sending the troops over to pick weeds in the garden can help curb boredom and show them that you care.

Share a Meal

Atrium

As Chef Traci from Atrium Kitchen watched her booked events cancel due to COVID-19, she made up her mind to use this time to do something good for others by making fresh-prepared, nutrient-dense, nourishing meals and delivering them to home-bound seniors who are unable or fearful of leaving their homes. She has been making two “meal drops” every week since March 15 to home-bound seniors in Seattle, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill and Ballard, as well as to two shelters feeding the homeless. Here's how you can help. To start, if there is a home-bound senior in need, please connect Atrium Kitchen and they will add them to their delivery schedule. Second, if you are in a position to do so, they would value your contribution, as every bit helps.

Give a Little Kindness

glassybaby

A generous pledge to glassybaby's white light foundation means that over the next few weeks, when you purchase a glassybaby, $10 will go to support frontline COVID-19 efforts. The plan is to donate $70,000 to hospital worker relief efforts and food banks supporting our community. Sounds like the perfect time to add to your collection or send a hopeful message to a friend, right?

Seattle families can also act as a beacons of hope by participating in glassybaby's #littlelightsofgratitude, a nightly light display happening in homes around the Sound. Simply light a glassbaby or another candle at 8 p.m. and place it in your window for everyone to see. Light your candles on April 23 to honor nursing home staff and on April 26 to honor teachers and school support staff.  

Give a Little Bliss

Bliss Small Batch Creamery

Another local institution thanking local health care workers is Bliss Small Batch Creamery. They are letting our first responders know that they are seen, and that they care about them and appreciate all that they are doing every day. Bliss is doing that by packing up containers of ice cream and delivering them to local medical facilities, who get them to the amazing workers there. Here’s how you can help: buy a gift card for a friend or for yourself on Bliss’ website to redeem for ice cream in their shop at University Place, and Bliss will donate 50% of the sale of that card for those health care workers.

Send the Tulip Festival to Others

Tulip Town

COVID-19 has impacted lots of local traditions and events, including Skagit Valley's annual Tulip Festival. Turning lemons into lemonade, Tulip Town is currently offering tulip deliveries to local hospitals, nursing homes and other courageous members of the community with their Color for Courage program. For $15, you can send a bunch of tulips to help brighten a stranger’s day as they recover from this horrible virus.

Support Your Local Restaurant

Pay Forward Project
Pixabay

Some have estimated that local spending is down about 75%. So many local restaurants are operating on a shoestring budget in hopes of staying in business. They need our patronage more than ever before. Consider supporting a local business by buying a meal or two this week at one of your favorite restaurants. Many are offering free delivery too. You can also purchase a gift card now to use later when that restaurant opens up its doors again. The Pay Forward Project offers a variety of restaurant gift cards at one website location.

Donate Blood

Unsplash

Blood donation levels are low all across the country right now. The good news is that potential blood donors are exempt from stay-at-home orders in Washington. You have some time on your hands, right? Schedule an appointment with Bloodworks Donor Centers or the American Red Cross. Even those who have recovered from COVID-19 may be eligible to help those who are currently sick. Locations are pretty much everywhere, so it's easy to find one nearby.

Feed the Kids

FareStart
Pixabay

For 30 years now, FareStart has been “helping people transform their lives through food” and escape the poverty cycle. FareStart teaches life skills through their restaurants and meal-serving programs giving people practical work experience while giving back to their community. That includes a variety of social programs and schools, and just because schools are no longer in session, the lunch programs continue. “Your contribution is not just a gift to transform a person's life, it is an investment in a model for real social progress.”

Help Out a Hospital

Pixabay

During these crazy days of COVID-19, local hospitals can really use our help to fight the pandemic. Donations given go toward medical supplies and critical equipment. Here are some local foundations that will put your donation to good use:

Virginia Mason Foundation 

Children’s Hospital Foundation & Guilds Association 

Overlake Foundation 

Swedish Foundation

Island Hospital Foundation

Skagit Community Foundation

—Jeffrey Totey

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Every winter of my childhood when the wind whipped outside and the falling rain created puddles in the sidewalks, I would trudge through the door depleted from my two-block walk home from school. 

In the kitchen on those dreary days, my mom would spend the day cooking the most life-giving bowl of pasta to fill me back up. The noodles were usually penne, lightly colored with red sauce that tickled the tip of the tongue with sweetness followed by notes of tanginess. There was magic in that bowl of pasta. And the secret of its power was closely guarded as a sacred family recipe with roots stretching back to the old world. 

The secret was whispered from one great-great relative to another and smuggled across war-torn borders and oceans of migration to our suburban home where its magic wrapped me in warmth. So you can imagine my disappointment, when I found out the recipe—like this memory—was a big, fat lie.  

It turns out the magic came from a can. Specifically, Hunt’s tomato ketchup—the premium kind only, please.

“I will show you how to make it,” said my mom. “So you can know.”

I was in my 20s and ready, in her eyes, to have this old family recipe transmitted to me. 

Boil penne noodles. Open can. Pour sauce over cooked noodles. Have ready for when her overly-dramatic daughter falls through the door. Sure, my mom added a pinch of this and a dash of that, but she will swear to you that the origins of this recipe survived in her memory bank through wars. Okay, just one war that lasted many years in Vietnam that forced our family to cross perilous waters to a refugee camp in Malaysia. 

That’s the funny part of human memory and traditions—we all believe what we want as inalienable truth. During the holiday season, especially, our daily lives can get consumed with habits and traditions passed down from our parents and grandparents. In the intersection of memory, manufactured traditions and commercialized holidays, how do we decide what traditions are real and worthy of carrying on?

The holidays bring out a complicit stretching of truth, that with time can become memory and tradition. It’s a time to tell stories about a man with eight reindeer, who watches children and brings toys to the good. And it’s a time, more than any other, that we willingly suspend disbelief. My childhood home did not have a chimney, how did Santa get in? I asked my parents one Christmas morning when I woke to a stocking full of trinkets. 

He opened the window, my dad said. “Yes! Of course!” I exclaimed not thinking to question how Santa got through the window’s metal security bars. 

Every tradition needs a willing transmitter and transmitee. 

After the eggnog haze clears, it’s okay to take traditions off of their hallowed high shelf, examine their origins, and question their roles in your busy lives. 

The pressure to find a good family photographer starts as early as August and peaks in early December when inevitably, someone posts on social media in all caps a desperate search for a good photographer for their family’s holiday greeting card. Those cards with pictures of smiling people in perfect lighting was originally the idea of Louis Prang, who—surprise!—owned a printing business and needed to create a market for his business.

Let’s get real here: Taking those family photos is just as fun as going to the DMV without an appointment—someone always ends up crying or fighting. But those cards come every year like the OG Instagram, showing a filtered snapshot of an otherwise complex life. Our family stopped sending out holiday cards a few years ago. We decided the race to get them sent out didn’t make sense to us. The absence of this tradition in our life has yielded a little more time, a little less stress.

Sorry, not sorry, Louis Prang. 

Some traditions have commercial starts while others start from necessity.

Fifteen years ago, Helene Skantzikas, a food blogger, and her family had almost finished decorating their Christmas tree when they noticed one important finishing touch was missing—the star on top. The problem was they didn’t have one, so they put a hedgehog up there. Not just any hedgehog, a plush one named Hérisson, whose origins trace back to France. Every Christmas since, the hedgehog has reigned.

“I think he’s happy up there,” said Skantzikas. “But hilariously, people who see Hérisson have varied reactions, including really relating to him with an ‘ouch!’”

Out of necessity came a family tradition with a story that may continue to evolve. What version of Hérisson’s story will Skantzikas’ 8-year-old son tell to his children? Only time can tell.

Let’s go back to my mom’s steaming bowl of pasta, which she said she cooked even in the shack of a refugee camp. 

After the fall of Saigon to Communist power in 1975, millions of Vietnamese families fled the country, including mine. We settled temporarily in Malaysia while waiting for our permanent homes in the United States. Conditions were harsh and overcrowded, but one of the highlights, my mom said, was receiving care packages from foreign agencies including baby formula for me and, yes, cans of Hunt’s premium tomato ketchup.

The magic was real even if the story was not. 

Recently, my mom made the pasta dish again and presented it to my kids, ages 7 and 4. The way I saw it, I had a choice with my new level of awareness: To continue to string the line of this story for another generation or choose to stop it. 

I let them eat. I did not say a word, at least for now. Some traditions deserve more time for evaluation. 

Lynda is a creative person, a wife, a mom and half a CrossFit athlete. Just half, because rope climbs suck. Despite the shiny veneer, the cracks in her identity make her marginally okay. 

Much of your child’s holiday excitement probably comes from the gifts they receive. For you, too, it’s unforgettable to watch them joyously open their presents. However, as a grown-up, you know there’s more to this time of year than just gift-getting. Giving makes the season even sweeter—and it’s time for your kids to learn that lesson, too. Here are six ways to help them do so: 

1. Pack an Extra Snack. Let your little one partake in the holiday giving so they can feel what it’s like. Start by packing them two snacks in their lunchbox—one for them and one for a friend. Let them choose who to share a sweet with, then ask them after school how it went. They’re likely to have a good story, and they’ll start to see how good it feels to give to others. 

2. Start a Share Jar. If your child receives an allowance or your teen has a part-time job, show them how to divide up their cash. Put some into a savings jar, some into a spending pile, and then set some aside to donate. Now’s a great time to either start the donate bank or highlight it amongst all three containers—the season is for giving, after all. 

Once your child understands what it means to donate their cash, give them the power to choose where their money goes. For instance, if your kid loves a particular animal, you might be able to find a charity dedicated to preserving the species. Or, they might want to help another child through an organization like the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which provides once-in-a-lifetime experiences to kids with life-threatening diseases. 

3. Don’t Overdo It. You can’t expect your child to re-learn what they know about the holidays if you don’t change the way you present them at home. As such, you shouldn’t focus on the gifts as the main event of the season. Instead, stick to meaningful family traditions and cut down on the gifts you give. In terms of the latter, some parents stick to the want, need, wear, read rule, handing over one gift from each category, and that’s it.

Of course, it’s up to you to decide how big or small your holiday celebration will be. Just take a critical eye to everything you’re doing this year—does it take away from the holidays’ giving spirit? If so, change things up so that the holiday reflects your values. 

4. Volunteer Together. The holidays are a great time to take up a volunteer cause. We already mentioned donating money—and teaching your kids to do so. However, you might also give your time to help others, and your kids will certainly learn a lesson in partaking. Plus, engaging in charitable acts can spark a philanthropic streak in your children. Realizing it’s a fun and rewarding activity that they get to do with you will make it even sweeter. 

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities for kids of all ages. Teens and older kids might be able to help at a soup kitchen or food bank to prepare holiday meals. Even if you can’t bring little ones along for a Christmastime charity event, have them help you with another project. For instance, you could adopt a family or child in need and shop for them together. 

5. Treat Those Around You. Give your kids the chance to give to the people who mean the most to them. Perhaps they have a favorite teacher or neighbor to whom they would like to give a gift. It doesn’t have to be something fancy—your child could help you bake something, or they could draw a greeting card. Even the smallest token of appreciation will mean a lot to both the giver and the recipient. We bet after one round of giving that your child will want to make even more gifts to hand out—it feels that good. 

6. Be An Example. Finally, you can’t expect your children to become givers if you aren’t one yourself. You should model the behaviors that you want your little ones to replicate. So, don’t be shy about your volunteer pursuits or gift-giving this holiday season. Highlight how good you feel and, soon enough, your kids will realize they can reap the same benefits by being generous. 

Don’t stop as soon as the holidays conclude, either. You can’t expect kids to know how to turn on and off their giving spirit. Instead, inspire your kids to give back year-round, even when those around them don’t expect it. The smallest acts of kindness can have an indelible impact on the recipient. Your kids will only learn this by doing, and they’ll only start if you’re the example. 

So, make this holiday about more than just the presents under the tree. Show your family that it’s all about giving—and give them the tools they need to partake in the most feel-good activity of all. 

Jennifer Landis is a mom, wife, freelance writer, and blogger. She enjoys long naps on the couch, sneaking spoonfuls of peanut butter when her kid's not looking, and binge watching Doctor Who while her kid's asleep.  She really does like her kid, though, she promises. Find her on Twitter @JenniferELandis.

At the beginning of the year, Trader Joe’s announced plans to reduce the amount of plastic packaging used in stores and now you’ll start to notice some big changes taking place in the produce department

Even though most of Trader Joe’s plastic packaging already has the highest recycling acceptance rate, that’s still not enough for the eco-conscious grocery chain. As the company recently shared in this month’s Insider Trader Joe’s podcast, it’s beginning to take steps to go even greener, starting in the produce department. The first thing shoppers will notice is more loose, unpackaged produce.

“You’ll see it in our potato and onion section, and in our apples. We have more loose apples than we did before, and more loose potatoes and onions, too,”Jack, the category manager for produce at Trader Joe’s, explained to the podcast hosts. “But some things we need packaging on—it’s hard to sell loose blueberries.”

For those products, the company is testing out two new types of packaging according to Jack. One is a biodegradable and compostable cardboard-like material and the other is a recyclable plastic.

Trader Joe’s has created an ambitious plan to up its eco-efforts throughout the year, including removing unnecessary packaging, sourcing renewable and recycled packaging materials, choosing recyclable packaging, avoiding packaging made with harmful substances and educating consumers on best recycling and disposal practices.

In addition, Trader Joe’s new initiative includes reducing the number of solid plastic produce bags (such as potato bags), replacing Styrofoam meat trays with PET1 trays, replacing plastic greeting card sleeves with renewable, compostable ones, replacing plastic flower bags with renewable versions and getting rid of non-recyclable plastic and foil tea package pouches.

By committing to these new eco-friendly initiatives to cut down on packaging, Trader Joe’s is hopeful that it can eliminate more than one million pounds of plastic!

—Erica Loop & Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Mike Mozart via Flickr

 

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Moms have been around since the beginning of time, so it’s no surprise that there’s a lot more to the Mother’s Day holiday than just breakfast in bed and floral bouquets (although, we love those things, too!). Show mom how much you care by impressing her with these Mother’s Day fun facts … and flowers.

Raw Pixel via unsplash

In 1872...
The first Mother's Day in the United States was suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe, who is a pacifist, suffragette, and writer of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Her goal was to have a day where mothers could come together in the name of peace.

Petal Pusher
Mother’s Day sees around one-quarter of all flowers purchased throughout the year.

M Liu via Flickr

Caller I.D.
According to the Pew Research Center, more phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. In the United States alone, more than 122 million calls are made to moms on Mother's Day.

Give Me an 'M'
In most of the world’s languages, the word for “mother” begins with the letter M—German is "mutter," Hindi is "maji," and Lithuanian is "motina" to name a few.

Damon Smith

The Grandmother of Mother's Day
Anna Jarvis, a social activist and community organizer, founded the modern American concept of Mother’s Day in 1908. Ironically, Jarvis never married or had children.

Too Much of a Good Thing?
Soon after President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day a national holiday, it became so commercialized (like it is today) that Anna Jarvis, the holiday's creator, actually campaigned to have it rescinded.

L_Dawg2000 via Flickr

Get Carded
Roughly 65% of all greeting card sales happen during the last five days before Mother's Day. Us? Procrastinators? Noooooo.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?
You know all of those sweaters and cardigans that Mr. Rogers wore on his television show? Most of them were knitted by his real mother. Awwww!

Maddy Sager via Flickr

Medal Ceremony
After France lost more than 4% of its population in World War I, the government celebrated Mother's Day in 1920 by giving moms medals—women with five kids got a bronze medal, women with eight got silver, and those with ten or more got gold!

In Good Company
There are approximately two billion (yes, BILLION) mothers in the world.

Big Spender
Last year, the National Retail Federation estimated that shoppers would spend $23.1 billion (yes, BILLION again). That's about $180 per mama.

Gabby Cullen

Nom Nom
Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year for people to eat out. Yep, it's even bigger than Valentine’s Day.

Grammar Police
Mother's Day is written with an apostrophe before the "s" because it was intended to honor moms individually, not collectively.

Flower Power
The Carnations, which are the go-to Mother's Day flower, do not drop their petals. Instead, they hug them to the center, just like a mom does with her kids. Swoon!

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady

 

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Feature photo: IStock