Homeschool for free: Milk and Cookies at State Theatre in New Brunswick

For a while now, I’ve wanted to let you all know about free (or almost free) resources for homeschoolers, especially for those of us in New Jersey. I have four children, and ours is a one income family, so finding cool, fun and education programs that’s not too expensive can be a challenge.

This month, we attended our first Milk and Cookies performance at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. Storyteller Diane Macklin had us engaged in her tales, getting us to make all sorts of animal and nature sounds or hand gestures. The younger crowd loved it – and as a fan of good storytelling – I loved it too. I was afraid it might be too simplistic for my older kids, my 10 and 9 year olds were some of the older ones in the audience, but even they participated, enjoying the show.

My tween, especially. I know how she thinks, what her strengths are, were her passions lie – that’s one of the great gifts of homeschooling: you know your child intimately. My Susan is a storyteller: whether it be writing, oral or using her Webkinz to act out her imagination, she’s good at spinning a good tale. I hope that watching a professional storyteller such as Ms. Macklin plants a seed in her heart of how she can use her gifts in the future.

If you are a New Jersey homeschooler, check out the Milk and Cookies series at the State Theatre.

And, in case you are wondering, they really do give the kids free milk and cookies before the (also free) show. Snacks and stories, can’t beat that!

Stop and Shop speaks with bloggers

The other day on Twitter, there was chatter regarding companies that understand how to communicate with bloggers (#getit). Add Stop and Shop supermarket to the list, because they definitely Get It.

Today Stop and Shop hosted a luncheon at The Frog and the Peach restaurant in New Brunswick (which was lovely; how nice to be served at a table with white table cloths) for a bunch of us bloggers. I mainly attended because I wanted to see my New Jersey Mom Blog friends, and I love any gathering that involves food, but after the PR reps from Stop and Shop launched into their pitch, I realized I was at my first official Corporation-Wooing-the-Blogger event.

I’m not much for product reviews. Book reviews and tours, that’s more me. Food, recipes, and frugal living, not so much. I’ve had fleeting thoughts of starting a product review blog, but I can’t see it happening, not unless I put the kiddos in school and I was totally bored with nothing to do during the day. No time for a product review blog right now.

You know me: I’d much rather talk about human trafficking and poverty. I’m all about letting you know that Stop and Shop donated $209 to the Community Food Band of New Jersey, presenting a check to blogger Liz Thompson, of This Full House. Remember the Blogging Out Hunger campaign last year? That’s where my heart is, and I’m going to be dragging as many bloggers as I can to participate with me. The next one is in September, by the way. Let me know if you want to participate! *wink*

Oh, one more thing: I want to give a special shout out the great ladies with 360 Public Relations. They obviously know their stuff and they spoke our language. Most impressive was the gal (Angela?) who kept referring to the fact that I’m a home schooler. 360 Public Relations gets it too. My kids had a blast eating pizza, decorating cookies and crafts while I played with the grown-ups.

Thanks, Stop and Shop – and Peapod – for introducing me to the PR pitch. Woot!

Does this mean I’ve finally arrived as a (mommy) blogger?

Fun at Liberty Science Center

I’m tired, so this is a cheat. Pictures of our visit yesterday to Liberty Science Center, a day the home schoolers took over.

I think they were supposed to point those hoses at the machine, not at each other. Ah, well. Next time maybe they’ll get it right. Maybe.

Here is a fine example of sharing. Ha. What you don’t see in the picture is my boy smacking his kid sister’s hand out of the way. Oy. It’s tough being three going on four with so many big kids hogging all the cool stuff in the science museum.

On the way home, I realized I didn’t get a group shot in the science center; my camera had just enough battery life for one more shot.

Fun day. Now sleep! I need to recharge MY batteries. (Ha! Good one, Monica.)