Winter break is starting, it’s cold, and you and your kiddos will be cooped up in the house. Being Christmastime your budget is probably non-existent, yet you still want to plan some fun family activities that your children will never forget. It is possible, if you do a little research now.

There are many children’s gyms and learning centers that are offering free trial classes right now. Call your local children’s centers and see if you can bring your child to a trial classes. Call places that offer cheer, dance, gymnastic, karate, kids art, skate lessons, or any other place that offers lessons for children.

National centers currently offering free trial classes include Gymboree, Kindermusik, and The Little Gym. Many centers have age ranges that they cater too, such as 0-5 or ages 1-12, so be sure to ask before you schedule your free class.

Gymboree – From the Gymboree website click on “music & play”. Classes currently offered by Gymboree include:

• -Play & Learn ages 0-5yr
• -Music 6 mo-5yr
• -Art 18 mo-5yr
• -Sports 3 yr-5yr
• -Family 0-5yr
• -School Skills 3yr-5yr

Kindermusik – Classes currently offered include:

• -Family Time 0 & Up
• -Village Newborn to 18mo
• -Sign & Sing 6mo-3yr
• -Out Time 18mo-3yr
• -Imagine That 3yr-5yr
• -Young Child 5yr-7yr
• -Adventure Camps 0-7yr
• -ABC Music & Me 2yr-6yr

The Little Gym – The Little Gym offers classes for babies age 4 months to children age 12! Classes include:

• -Parent/Child Classes
• -Pre-school/Kindergarten Gymnastic
• -Grade School Gymnastics
• -Karate
• -Sports Skills Development
• -Cheerleading
• -Dance

These are just three resources available that offer a free trial class. Don’t forget to call your locally owned businesses and see if they also offer a free trial. Even with a non-existent budget, you and your child can have a blast on your holiday break. If you know of any other free activities for kids or just want to say hi, please leave a comment!

Gymboree is having their “Fill a Bag” sale! Everything is 30% off plus free shipping with NO minimum purchase!

Seeding Into Others,
Catrina

Gymboree Play and Music in Baton Rouge held their Winter Wonderland Holiday Party this past weekend. In addition to portraits I took of each kid with Gymbo, I took a TON of photos of these kids playing. They had such a blast and their laughter and happiness was contagious. Even my little girl had a blast climbing all over everything despite her many petticoats and poofy dress (which she was absolutely adorable in). These kids really love Gymboree, so if you aren’t taking your kid, look into it! Here’s a little bit of the action:

Gymboree is having one of the best sales I have seen from them in a long time!  They are having their Fill a Bag Sale.  Everything is 30% off.  But, you can also use the stackable code 111F3V9UV080247 to get an extra 15% off!  How cool!

For every $50 you spend, you will also get $25 Gymbucks to use on your next order!  And shipping is free!

So if you need some cute Holiday outfits still, you will want to go grab them!  Go here to shop online.  Or, you can go into a store. (Thanks for the reminder couponingtodisney)

Tiger Woods’ notoriety has certainly never been questioned. His every move has always been tracked mostly on the golf course. Now, his every move off the golf course has been well documented and analyzed. His apparent infidelities and lack of loyalty made me think of today’s consumer, who also has a certain predilection for playing the field and a wandering eye, just like Tiger has shown.

These days, more than ever, consumers are very fickle. Price is certainly the big priority in their decision making process and, in addition, luxury may be re-defined for the next little while. But brand loyalty has also taken a hit in recent years as consumers played the field more often depending on changing tastes, shifts in lifestyle and, of course, prices being lowered.

As a prime example of brand hopping, take the category that I describe as “preppy tween/teen”. Abercrombie and Fitch first captured that market’s attention with its sexy advertising and bold store design that ascribed a certain attitude to their target market and resonated for quite a while – until American Eagle Outfitters came along and basically copied the looks and styling for 30% less. One more step was taken by Aeropostale (today’s darling) by copying the same look and feel of that same assortment but at even lower prices based on constant promotions. Consumers have flocked from A & F to AEO to Aero especially as the economy started to sour and consumers realized there wasn’t much of a difference in the look and styling amongst the three mall giants.

Gapkids was a brilliant concept that separated itself from Gymboree and the European, more expensive and refined crowd of children’s retailers. While babyGap still reigns supreme in its market, the kids consumer has been placated more frequently by the similar stylings of Children’s Place and even sister company Old Navy. Casual, cute and rugged fashions are now available for less and the dilution of the Gapkids brand has not abated as yet.

The consumer, more than ever, has a strong dose of Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.). The lousy economy added fuel to this fire but it had been smoldering for a long time. Especially in the tween/teen segmentation, it is the norm. But we can make a case that at any age group, any demographic and any segment, the consumer is not as loyal and much more wary of what they are being offered than ever before.

There is no doubt that the explosion of online shopping and the overwhelming influence of the internet in terms of shopping patterns, shopping behaviour and the notion of comparison shopping within seconds, has affected the consumers’ psyche. Society now craves instant gratification more than ever. The consumer wants more quality and fashion at a much lower price than ever before. Store assortments turn over weekly at some brands (Forever 21 and Zara are prime examples, both from Europe) which means expectations are heightened for every other retailer.

Brands are becoming more about immediate satisfaction and fast fashion than about enduring quality and image. This is an important and subtle change. As long as what you have on looks great, people care less about where it’s from, how much it costs and/or how long it lasts.

So in reality, Tiger Woods’ behaviour is in lockstep with today’s consumer when it comes to brand loyalty. Unfortunately for the brands left behind, there is no pre-nuptial agreement to compensate for their unfaithfulness as there will be for Elin.

TheRetailTherapist

Gymboree has a great deal going on right now! Get 25% off EVERYTHING plus FREE SHIPPING (on all orders with standard shipment to the US)! Plus you can use Promo Code 111F3V9UV080247 to get an additional 15% off your order!

Sorry for the unexpected blogging silence!  Work and life has me hopping this month.  Not to mention that there are still pumpkins on my front porch….

Speaking of, YIKES – 17 days until Christmas!  Here are some  unique, fun and affordable stocking stuffer inspiration for all the great peeps on your list:

For Her

What gal doesn’t like fun, dotty accessories?  I love this belt from Boden (on sale for $32)!  It would look great with brown, black or any color!

And this dot scarf from Garnet Hill ($58) adds some fun to bundling up.

And speaking of accessories, this triple strand headband from Anthro ($32) would make a great stocking stuffer for any girl on Santa’s list:

I would love to hang these fabulous icicle quartz ornaments from Viva Terra ($44 for a set of 12) on little pine trees on either side of the front door.  Or even from a chandelier.  Gorgeous!

For the traveler on your list!  You would never overlook your bag at baggage claim or forget your passport with these awesome faux croc Ivana passport cover and luggage tag from Z Gallerie ($16.95).

For Kids

I just bought this Fair Isle Hat from Gymboree for baby spark! and we both love it (on sale for $11)!

For the chic-est baby on the block!  Check out these zebra booties from Layla Grace ($10).  So.Darn.Cute!

Wouldn’t this stag toothbrush holder ($8) from Urban Outfitters be so cute in a kids bathroom?  Gotta love useful antlers.

For Him

Can’t have too many of these.  And for $4!  Check out these nice fleece gloves from Old Navy:

This is totally random, but is your man as obssessed with shredding as much as mine is?  I thought of him immediately when I saw these shredding scissors ($8.99) from the Container Store.  No need for that bulky shredder by the trash can anymore! 

Check out this great off-season deal: 4 piece barbeque tool kit for $7.48 from World Market.

And of course, the good ole standby in our house for all stockings: Moose Munch by Harry and David.  Yummmmm.

I hope these ideas have inspired you!  Off to start decorating — merry merry!

Gymboree Sporting Green Lot, GK Elite Gymnastics Leotards, Eddie Bauer Red hooded Down Coat, New Catch Phrase Board Game, Helle Comfort Snake Croc Shoes, Land’s End & L.L. Bean Snowboard Snow Pants, Vintage Fisher Price Puffalumps Monkey W/Shirt Plush Doll, J.J. Cole Bundle Me, New Hanna Andersson Striped Rompers, New Trivial Pursuit Board Game, Lilac purple Bumbo Infant seat w/tray and more!!!!

Please stop by my store and check out the other great items I have listed!

Thanks for looking

My eBay items – qsell

NEW NWT Hanna Andersson Striped Romper Outfit 90 2T 3T NEW Hanna Andersson Striped Romper Outfit 70 6 12 M George Brown Corduroy Sport Coat Blazer Jacket Boy 4 5 The Sak Original Tan Handbag Shoulder Bag Purse Wallet JJ Cole Bundle Me Graphite Gray Carseat Stroller Cover BVLGARI BLV Pour Homme 3 4 oz Mens Cologne EDT Bottle Miss Spiders Sunny Patch Friend Singing Buggy Bunch Toy Groovy Girls Large Life Size Plush Doll Dance Walk With NEW Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary Edition Board Game NEW Etienne Aigner Black Leather 4P Wallet Key Ring Set Vintage Fisher Price Puffalumps Monkey Shirt Plush Toy Lilac Purple Bumbo Baby Infant Seat Chair W White Tray NEW BCBG Girls Blue Leopard Halter Dress Woman S Small Fossil Authentic Black Shoulder Handbag Bag Purse EUC Foot Mates Danielle Red Leather Mary Jane Shoes 9 5 M Cherokee Black Patent Houndstooth Shoes Girls 9 EUC Dana Buchman Woman Brown Floral Silk Blazer Jacket 22 Eddie Bauer Hooded Down Parka Long Coat Woman S Small OshKosh Genuine Kids Brown Leather Floral Shoes Girls 9 George Red Holiday Christmas Dress Flower Shoes Girls 9 R M L A Red Sparkly Holiday Christmas Bow Dress 4 4T Boutique Ugly Christmas Holiday Sweater Vest L Large Juicy Couture Pink Velour Off Shoulder Sweater L Large Tiara Ugly Tacky Christmas Holiday Party Sweater XL Storybook Knits Beach Vacation Fun Cardigan Sweater 3X Quacker Factory Knit Blue Nautical Sailboats Sweater 3X NEW Quacker Factory Nautical Stars Sweater Cardigan 3X NEW Weatherproof Jacket Coat Snow Suit Bibs Pants 2 2T Columbia Gray Lined Winter Snow Bibs Pants Boy Girl 7 8 Lands End Navy Blue Down Coat Woman M Medium 10 12 NEW Athletic Works Black Snowboard Snow Ski Pants 8 10 Boutique Holiday Christmas Pinafore Apron Dress 2 2T George Burgundy Velvet Holiday Christmas Dress Girls 4T B T BT Kids Plaid Holiday Christmas Dress Girls 2T Little Legends Red Mrs Santa Claus Dress Hat Girl 2 2T NEW B T BT Kids Green Holiday Christmas Dress 24 Month Gymboree Traditions Velvet Silk Rose Dress 12 18 Month Batman Gotham City Rescue Vtech VSmile Game Cartridge Stuhrling Original 1776 Continental Calendar Mens Watch Hanna Andersson Best Hooded Fleece Jacket Bugs 60 3 6 M Lands End Pink Winter Snowboard Snow Pants Girl 12 Bob The Builder Busy Day Vtech VSmile Game Cartridge

ONLINE, Today Only

FREE SHIPPING (no minimum purchase!)

PLUS 20% off EVERYTHING!

Toddler Girls Holiday Christmas Dresses – Several available, Dress Shoes, Vtech VSmile System & Smartridge Cartridge Learning Games, Stuhrling Original 1776 Men’s Watch and more!!!

Thanks for looking

My eBay items – qsell

Columbia Sport Yellow Navy Hooded Jacket Woman M Medium Sony DSC R1 Digital Camera 10 3 2 Battery Charger NEW NWT Boca Classics Polo Shirt Postcard Men XXXL 3XL Rare Backyardigans Pablo Sing Spin Singing Dancing Doll Two Lips Beads Embroidered Pump Heel Shoes Woman 9 Rare BVLGARI BLV Pour Homme 3 4 oz Mens Cologne EDT Bottle Miss Spiders Sunny Patch Friend Singing Buggy Bunch Toy Groovy Girls Large Life Size Plush Doll Dance Walk With Baby Gap Red Fleece Logo Hoodie Hooded Sweatshirt Boy 4 NEW Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary Edition Board Game NEW Etienne Aigner Black Leather 4P Wallet Key Ring Set Vintage Fisher Price Puffalumps Monkey Shirt Plush Toy Lilac Purple Bumbo Baby Infant Seat Chair W White Tray NEW BCBG Girls Blue Leopard Halter Dress Woman S Small NEW Joules Wool Pink Hooded Toggle Coat Jacket Girl 8 NEW Sealed Catch Phrase Disk Player Board Game Words GK Elite L S Maroon Competition Gymnastic Leotard S CS GK Elite Floral Foil Velour Unitard Leotard Girl M CM Huge Lot 23 Groovy Girl Dolls Horse Boy 81 Accessories Lacoste Nvy Blue Corduroy Sleeveless Jumper Dress Grl 8 Boutique Little Rascal Poinsettia Holiday Overalls 4 4T Sesame Street Elmo Zoe 3 Pc Toddler Bedding Bed Set The SAK Black Leather Shoulder Handbag Bag Purse Pink L Fossil Authentic Black Shoulder Handbag Bag Purse EUC Foot Mates Danielle Red Leather Mary Jane Shoes 9 5 M Cherokee Black Patent Houndstooth Shoes Girls 9 EUC Dana Buchman Woman Brown Floral Silk Blazer Jacket 22 Eddie Bauer Hooded Down Parka Long Coat Woman S Small George Red Holiday Christmas Dress Flower Shoes Girls 9 R M L A Red Sparkly Holiday Christmas Bow Dress 4 4T Boutique Ugly Christmas Holiday Sweater Vest L Large Juicy Couture Pink Velour Off Shoulder Sweater L Large Tiara Ugly Tacky Christmas Holiday Party Sweater XL Storybook Knits Beach Vacation Fun Cardigan Sweater 3X Quacker Factory Knit Blue Nautical Sailboats Sweater 3X Gap Madras Plaid Sport Coat Blazer Jacket Hat 4T 4 5 Gap ZigZag Zig Zag Stripes Sweater Dress Girl XS 4 5 Gymboree Whale Watching 10pc Outfits lot 12 18 24 2T 3T Hanna Andersson Plaid Holiday Dress Girl 110 4 5 6 Huge Gymboree Sporting Green 13p Outfits lot Grl 4 4T 5 Huge 17Pc Lot Old Navy NWT Shirts Jacket Jeans Boy 4 4T Polly Flinders Wool Holiday Cardigan Sweater Jacket 4T

hurry and get 30% off deals before tomorrow’s black friday sales!

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/asst_department.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302774671&ref=BGnav&Port=EMAIL&Ad=112509_Thanksgiving

Just like Craxy 8’s promotion, Gymborree is having a 25% off EVERYTHING sale!!  You can purchase online here or go into a store.  The ending date of the promotion is not listed.

Plus, for every $50 you spend in one transaction, you will get a $25 Gymbucks reward to use later!  It’s a great time to go and pick up your cute Holiday outfits for your kids!

Ryan went to Gymboree for the first time today. We went with my friend and her son who is the same age as Ryan, 14 months. It was cute because all the other kids were playing on the equipment and then there’s Ryan, he just wanted to play with the balls. He started with this little one that was like a beach ball, kind of small. Then that wasn’t enough, so he grabs this huge ball that looks like the one you use to do sit-ups. He was pushing it all over the place and he was so proud of himself.

The teacher would start at one piece of equipment and put toys on it to motivate the kids to play over there. All of the kids would walk over there right away, but then there’s Ryan, he just wanted to play with the balls. Gymboree is only 45 minutes, so when there was about 15 minutes to go, he finally decided to play on the equipment. He started with the one that had a ramp where they climb up, then over, and then go up a couple stairs, then turn around and slide down a different ramp. Well, Ryan just went up the first ramp and then he liked to slide back down. He also attempted to go over the bridge, but just stood on one end and hung out for a while. It wasn’t much, but he was finally enjoying himself!

I must say that our little man doesn’t like to share yet. Actually, I’m not sure any of them really wanted to share at any point today. Ryan isn’t really used to having anyone else grab his toys. He was playing with what looked like a hula hoop and would not share it with his friend, Natch. He would swing it around, walk with it, put it around his neck, but he would not let anyone else play with it.

At the end of our time together, the kids got to play under a parachute, while the moms lifted it above their heads and back down again. No, we didn’t suffocate them under there. Of course Ryan sat on the outside and just observed. Maybe he thought he might never get out from under the parachute! I think his favorite part was when the teacher was singing songs and blowing bubbles. All of the kids were grabbing the bubbles and trying to pop them. What kid doesn’t like bubbles, right?

Well, do you think Ryan was ready to go when it was over? Of course not! Suddenly Gymboree was the coolest place in the whole wide world! Well, don’t worry Buddy Cakes, we’ll go again very soon!

Stella enjoyed her first Gymboree class ever today. By letting her go until 15 months without being enrolled in a “structured program”, I let her become a delinquent, apparently. Well I’m making amends! Not really. Stella’s just incredibly active and we were getting bored. I thought it would be perfect for her.

She just turned 15 months old yesterday. But mainly because she’s been walking for so long and is so good at balancing and climbing and other physical feats, I took her to a class for 16- to 22-month-olds, rather than the one for 10- to 16-month-olds. The woman at the front desk told me they were pretty flexible with the age ranges of the classes, which made me feel more confident about it. We arrived a couple minutes late and I was flustered and wondering if we should even be there, but the staff really put me at ease.

Stella watched solemnly from my lap for much of the time. Two teachers went above and beyond to assure me that it’s totally normal for kids that age who are new to the program to simply watch the others at first. Stella definitely stood back. She seemed awed, fascinated and, while not at all upset, a little nervous. She did explore a bit. She walked up some plank that you are supposed to crawl up. She jumped off a platform, went to town on a giant rocking horse contraption, slid down the slide, kept throwing two balls overhand at the same time with one in each hand (with impressive form, a small thing but I so appreciated it), and approached a couple of kids in a friendly manner.

I was reminded again today, in looking at the slightly older toddlers, how lean Stella is. She’s just as tall as they are, but appears small because she’s so thin. Perhaps that’s why she already seems like such an athlete. After all, her triceps are more defined than mine! (Okay, that’s not saying much.) While her eating has received way too much attention, I’m starting to believe that her build has less to do with intake and more to do with her insane activity level. I was reminded today that her leanness serves her well. Stella climbed up on a teeter-totter, with seats on both ends and bars across the middle. She climbed up onto it, unfazed by its rocking motion, and sat right the middle with her skinny legs stuck through the slats, arms outstretched and holding the side of the teeter-totter behind her, moving side to side. The teacher said she’d never seen anyone use it that way before. What a trailblazer!

At the very end of the class, as Jimbo the puppet said his goodbyes to everyone, Stella got up from my lap, ran away on her tippy toes and pointed at Jimbo. She was finally comfortable, and it was time to go. Of course. I had to peel her off of the rocking horse.

This could be the beginning of a lot of gym time for Stella, and I am prepared to be alternately dazzled and supportive.

We stopped by a little coffee shop in Phoenix called Hob Nobs the other day when we got downtown early for a theater rehearsal. We chose Hob Nobs so we could thank them for donating coffee for a recent event at Lizabeth’s school. Once I stopped drooling over the mesmerizingly moist chocolate cake in the display case, I realized I was surrounded by intriguing paintings, photographs and glass art—even a wall nearly covered with stained glass that reminded me of my mother’s Tiffany stained glass collection. The art was so captivating that I forgot all about the cake. (Some ever so humble paintings just a few inches tall and wide were my favorites because they made me want to run right home and whip out my own paints and brushes.)

There’s another little coffee-house, Mama Java’s, we like to hit when we have a hankering for art and espresso or Italian sodas. (We discovered it when Lizabeth had dance classes almost daily at the nearby studios for Ballet Arizona.) Their walls offer a casual setting for a rotating display of paintings, photographs and more. I love this joint because for years it’s been a non-intimidating way for me to expose my children to diverse artwork and ideas. (They also make a mean iced Americano and have a back room wall plastered with posters for all kinds of cool things you might not hear about elsewhere.)

A trip to Mayo Clinic in north Scottsdale might not sound that appealing, but it’s another favorite haunt of mine when I’m in the mood for art. Their lobby features rotating displays of photographs and paintings, plus sculpture and even a volunteer piano player. I can get my art, music and walking fix all in one place. (The gift shop is fun too!) Plenty of other hospitals and medical facilities take pride in their visual arts offerings too.

When Christopher took photography classes at Scottsdale Community College, we discovered that their art building foyer often features displays of some really remarkable student art, and that the hallway is often lined with photographs by some truly gifted students. I’m planning to explore the art buildings of a few more community colleges, as well as the many art resources at ASU and our other state universities. (We always enjoy the exhibits inside the ASU Gammage lobby when we’re there to enjoy shows in the Broadway Across America series.)

I recall being struck by the artwork on display at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix—both massive paintings and compelling sculpture—back when our children were younger and Valley resorts made a popular place for poolside birthday parties. I’m also on the hunt for other hotel artwork since I suspect this is another unexpected place to find art in the Valley.

Most people hit the library in search of books but may not realize many libraries also feature interesting arts exhibits. We’ve taken in some spectacular paintings and photographs at the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix. (It’s just blocks away from the Phoenix Art Museum so you can enjoy double the fun!)

It’s also close to Margaret T. Hance Park (Deck Park), where you’ll find both the Irish Cultural Center and the Japanese Friendship Garden—both of which feature opportunities to enjoy visual and performing arts. (Check the Japanese Friendship Garden website for an Anime Cartoon Contest they are holding in conjunction with the Burton Barr Central Library.) The COFCO Chinese Cultural Center, located near Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, offers some lavish art as well.

Many cultural centers also offer annual festivals that include both visual and performing arts. Your child can enjoy a diverse selection of visual arts in a myriad of media during Valley festivals and fairs, which include the Tempe Festival of the Arts (coming in December) and the Fountain Festival of Arts & Crafts (coming this weekend).

When my children were just toddlers, I took them to Gymboree classes at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, where we also enjoyed impressive displays of everything from complex quilts to tranquil paintings. I’m told that students at the elementary school on site now display their artwork there as well. No doubt the Valley is full of temples, synagogues and churches full of unique works of art that we would really benefit from exploring further.

Now that my children are older, their tastes have turned more off-beat, so we appreciate funky little theaters and arts venues where we can find original art. One of our favorites is Chyro Arts Venue in Scottsdale, where photos, painting and mixed media works grace the walls (right above the sofas they move into rows for seating during theater or band events). Another favorite you might file under “alternative” is the art and theater scene at the annual Phoenix Fringe Festival.

We’ve even found art at the Arizona State Capitol—where children’s artwork exhibited by Young Arts Arizona, a non-profit organization that works with at-risk youth, lines the long hallway you can walk between the executive tower and the legislative chambers. We spent a lot of time there when I was a lobbyist in the non-profit sector. And, wouldn’t you know it, we found a mean grilled cheeseburger there too (although you have to sacrifice your cell phone reception to enjoy it, so that’s a mixed blessing).

Drop me a line in the comment section below and tell me about unexpected places to find art (and cheeseburgers) in your neck of the woods. I’d love to check them out too…

–Lynn

Coming soon: Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Art Awakenings, First Friday Phoenix