Saturday Class Combo - And Sauna!

Saturday mornings before noon are a sacred time around here, and as a small business owner (of this blog, Tin Shingle, and Katie James), have always been used as a time to travel within projects without the distractions of work-week expectations and pings from the email inbox. It is for this reason that I've never signed up for a Saturday morning class - an adult yoga class for instance, or a kid music class.

Now that kids are in the life, Saturday mornings involve...stuff. Multiple rounds of breakfast, bathroom breaks, emergency grocery runs, "Saturday Morning Netflix" girl vs. boy negotiations, etc. So I've given in to the Saturday class mindset and signed up the family for Alice Sipple's Dancing Tree Yoga for Kids class on Saturday mornings. Take into account that this class is at All Sport, I wanted to be sure to take advantage of the offerings of a fitness club if we were going to be there anyway, so I double-dutied our yoga class to be a full morning at All Sport, with the end goal being sitting in the sauna.

Keep in mind - this is the "goal," so it doesn't always happen. The first week totally didn't happen, but the second week did, and it was awesome...Check this out (I'm normally not a schedule person, so this has been kind of fun bouncing between times):

Alice and her daughter.
10:30am: Kids Yoga! We all get to class - 4 yoga mats in tow just barely in time - and move like elephants, horses, chickens, with a few break dance moves from little ones. We hadn't planned for both of us parents to do it, but it was really quite nice.

11:30am: Snacks (ideally...if I remember to pack them...or smoothie from the juice bar), and walk the kids into the childcare room aka Kids Club and help them get excited about climbing the big jungle gym, scooting radio flyers, and engaging with coloring books.

12:00pm: Parents Exercise! Dad to the bike so that he can watch seven TV stations at once, and Mom to jog outside (yes, they do have very nice treadmills but I prefer running outside). Then back inside for the "Express Circuit" weight-machine routine, which at first was very scary until a nice trainer showed me how to work them all and gave me a chart and a pencil to check-off my routine.

Sauna at All Sport Fishkill
12:30or45pm (this is where it gets tricky with the time because Kids Club closes at 1pm on Saturdays): Sauna!!!! The ultimate goal of my morning is to sit in the dry heat of the sauna, completely giving my mind over to the extremely hot room without moving. And for being on the go all week long, sitting still is something that must be forced, but is possible if you feel and melt into the warm wooden benches and imagine that you are in Arizona. Once you give yourself over to the still, hot air, thoughts and ideas swirling in the mind can swirl into focus, and any brainstorms going on can get baked in, sealing their fate that they get completed in the coming week. In the sauna, what feels like fifteen minutes is probably only three. But so worth it.

12:50pm (pushing it with the time!): Write an email to myself with the ideas mapped out during the sauna (not doing this in the sauna as the heat would probably break the phone). Then shower in the nicely tiled private showers - if I remembered everything. During the second week, I did forget shoes and makeup, so I attended a birthday party right after this excursion in a dress from Echo, but with Saucony shoes instead of Fly Londons.

1:00pm: Slide into home base and pick up the kids from Kids Club. Then off to lunch somewhere in the area!

Disclosure: All Sport is a sponsor of this blog, but did not sponsor this post. This article is pure editorial. Review our Editorial Policy.

Juliana's Music Classes for a Holiday Class

Juliana's Music Together Class

Juliana's Music Together music and movement class is a having special 1-time only Holiday Class tomorrow, Friday and Monday at her Fishkill, New Windsor and Harriman locations. This is a program that my daughter and I have done for some time now, and are big fans. Her latest email says she still has space for some of the classes. If you're in Beacon, the Thursday class at the Fishkill location is the most convenient, but you've got options! I think the New Windsor location is near Adams for some grocery shopping after.

HOLIDAY CLASS SCHEDULE:

Thursday:  10am in Fishkill (Hudson River Performing Arts Center, 29 Elm Street Suite 205)
Friday: 10am New Windsor (Strictly Ballroom, 153 Temple Hill Road)
Monday:  10:45am Harriman (Terpisichore Dance School, 160 Route 17M)

To sign up, the class is $10 and you'll need to email her to save your spot: Juliana Bender music2gether@hvc.rr.com

Then in January, her regular semester for her Music Together program starts up. Click here for details.

Cupcake Competition and Classes at First Presbyterian Church


Yes, you read that right - a Cupcake Competition is coming to Beacon, and they are offering classes the day before! All profits will be donated to the First Presbyterian Church of Beacon NY, who has a new minister in town, Ben Larson-Wolbrink, who is looking to step up the involvement of his church in the community. You may have seen him give the dog blessing at this year's Beacon Barks Parade (2011).

The Cupcake Competition is on September 17th, 2011 from 9am-5pm at 60 Liberty Street, Beacon NY. Tickets are on sale now at www.shavkin.com and are $5 for adults, $3 for ages 4-13. You can also buy tickets at the door the day of the event, at which point they are $7 for adults, and $4 for ages 4-13. To view special demonstrations, you may buy a ticket for $10. Details are here.

You will see amazing displays of cupcakes, and designs you never thought possible. This is a professional cupcake competition with real "sugar artists". Over at 'PRENEUR, I suppose we'd call them sugar-preneurs.

Classes are available. The coordinator of this event is Diane Shavkin. For questions about the classes, email her at dshavkin@optionline.net, and see her website here.

Have fun!

Juliana's Music Together - Great Mommy & Me Class

NOTICE: If you are looking for Mommy and Me Classes in Beacon for your baby or toddler, see our Kids Classes Guide here at A Little Beacon Blog! It has over 50 classes from Beacon to Poughkeepsie. The music teacher featured below is included in that lineup!

UPDATE: Juliana continues to offer Music Together, as well as her own program at Juliana's Music Box.

I was introduced to the Music Together program by my babysitter who had gone through the classes with another family she sat for in Boston, MA, and she loved it. I'd heard of moms taking music classes early on with their babies when I lived in Manhattan, so I was ready to sign up.

Music Together is a franchised music program for babies, toddlers and kids, that is a "research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement," according to their description on their website. The teachers who teach it have invested in it as their business, and the one local to Beacon is Juliana's Music Together. Each class semester is based around one of the nine music collections Music Together has produced, and the only way that you can buy the CD is by taking a class. Each collection is based around a special instrument. With your registration, you get a CD of the collection, and a song book with notes in case you wanted to play on the piano or guitar. Juliana brings loads of instruments and other props to interact with each song, and there is never a dull moment.

After listening to the first CD we got (over and over and over), I can tell you that these songs are special. Ruby listens to them for breakfast, on road trips, and during emergency stroller meltdowns. She knows that they live in my iPhone, and now at 15months, will let me know she wants to listen to the songs by doing a version of singing "bababa" and pointing to the music-making phone. If we only sing the first "Hello..." from the first greeting song that is on every album, Ruby starts swaying her hips.

Juliana has classes all during the year, and they include all ages. Ruby started at 7 months, and was enthralled with the older kids, and with Julianna herself, as she is animated and expressionate during her teachings of rhythm to the parents, and while singing and dancing. It's really neat bringing Ruby as she grows, as she couldn't crawl at the beginning of her first semester, and by the end, was crawling. During the next set of classes, Ruby was going through the walking stage. When we sign up for this fall semester, Ruby is running, and I wonder how she will interact with the other kids, how she will get her own instruments, and how the scarf games will be different.

Sewing Camp for Kids - with Runway Show at Homespun

Holy Guacamole! How did I miss this? Must read the Events section more often at Beaconcitizen. Sewing camp for kids from Needle Arts Guild of Historical Hudson Valley, organized by Mary Ann Kronk (here is her direct blog). It's already started, but she's offering additional end of summer sessions. From the event posting:

"This summer camp is like no other camp being offered this summer!  You will learn to take proper measurements to determine your size/alter a pattern to fit you/read and understand a pattern/lay out a dress, jacket or shirt and put it all together. "

And, they are taking breaks for swimming. Perfect!

Preschool Program at Common Ground Farm

Another activity fir you and your 2-4 year old: Winter on the Farm at Common Ground Farm on the grounds of Stony Kill Environmental Center in Wappingers Falls on Route 9D just North of Beacon NY.
The program is for 2-4 year olds (but maybe I'll sneak in with my 9 month year old?). There are 4 classes where kids and their care provider will explore the farm, barn animals, the fields and the trees.
Here's the class info:

TIME: 10-11am, or 1:30-2:30pm
PRICE: $7/child, or $25 for all 4 sessions

JANUARY 28: Meet the Pigs!
FEBRUARY 18: Chickens and Eggs
MARCH 18: Wild Animals on the Farm
APRIL 29: Spring Into Spring

To register or for questions, email education@commongroundfarm.org

Gourmetibles Hosts Kids Candy-Making Valentine's Day Event (8-11 year olds)

Yum yum, don't miss this class! A great Valentine's Day activity. Reservations a must, as they have a max of 12 per session. Call Gourmetibles directly at 914-338-8498 by Friday, Feb. 8. See below for available class dates.


CANDY MAKING CLASS
A great event where kids will get to dip or mold and decorate a variety of treats for Valentine's Day! We'll enjoy chocolate fondue while we create. Dip pretzels, marshmallows & Oreos, mold chocolate hearts & sayings and heart lollipops. Decorate heart-shaped krispy treats.

This one-hour workshop includes all supplies, chocolate fondue to keep everyone energized and each child will take home a box filled with their own special candy creations!! All this for $24.00.

Date: Choose the date & time that works for you:
Tues. Feb. 8 5:30-6:30pm 8-11 year olds
Tues. Feb. 8 7:00-8:00pm 12-15 year olds
Sat. Feb. 12 3:30-4:30pm 8-11 year olds
Sat. Feb. 12 5:00-6:00pm 12-15 year olds
Location: Gourmetibles Goodies & Gifts, 494 Main Street
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Tuition: $24

Music Classes for Toddlers, Kids, Babies for Beacon, NY

Here is a collection of music classes for kids, toddlers, and even babies happening in or around Beacon, NY. I'll let you know with a *** sign if I personally have experienced the class and teacher and like:

MUSIC & MOVEMENT CLASSES
Juliana's Music Together: Music and Movement Classes for Young Children, Kids, Toddlers, and Babies.
My daughter started going to this class at about 7 months, and now my son has started at 6 months (with my daughter continuing the classes by age 3). Involves singing, playing with instruments, and free form dancing and moving. Juliana's Music Together is part of the world-wide program Music Together. Each semester comes with a CD and music book that has been composed around a theme, like Bongos, or Strings. The music is quite lovely. Locations include Fishkill (Hudson River Performing Arts Center, 29 Elm Street Suite 205), Newburgh and Highland Mills. Addresses and schedule are available here. Available for private parties.
www.julianasmusictogether.com

Miss Vickie's Music
Miss Vickie is a Beacon staple, and is very engaging and knowledgeable about her music. She is involved in several kids activities being offered in Beacon, and offers private music lessons. You should contact her to find out what she is offering when. You can find her in puppet shows, organizing pop-up concerts, and much more.
www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Vickies-Music/16075969061824

Gina Samardge
A Manhattan friend recommended this class to me, as she teachers in the City and in the Hudson Valley. Available for private parties.
www.ginasing.com

Renaissance Kids
They may have a class for your age group or toddlers, but seems to start at age 3. Here is a class schedule. Located at 1821 Route 376 Poughkeepsie, New York 12603.
www.renkids.org

Dutchess Community Classes
See if there is anything going on that fits your child's age via their class schedule link. They even offer playgroup organizing.
www.dutchesscommunity.com

Emily Music For Kids
According to her Facebook page, Emily Emerson "has 14 years of excellent children's programming for children of all abilities and families who love them!" Looks like she offers music classes for babies, infants and toddlers. The Toddler Tots class looks to incorporate movement like animals. Roar!
Emily Music for Kids Facebook Page