Mom on the Spot

February 9th is a big day for North Kitsap schools. That’s the day we get to get our vote on. If you have not yet received your ballot, you soon will.

From the NKSD Levy Home:

This levy is not a new levy. It continues a levy, approved in 2006, which expires at the end of 2010. The current level of State and Federal funding for education does not meet the needs of the District to provide the required services to the students. So the residents of North Kitsap are asked for their support at the local level to fill in the money to pay part of the cost of instructional programs, student support programs, and maintenance and operations support of the District. . The existing levy makes up nearly 20% of the overall district budget.

In short, if this levy does not pass, the North Kitsap School District would have to cut services by 20%.

You can visit the NKSD Levy Home to find out more information.

As politics and taxes go, there are always people on both sides making relevant and good arguments. As a parent whose children attend one of the North Kitsap Schools, I have a personal interest here.

At the very least – by February 9th… send in your ballot, and exercise the priviledge we have — to vote.

Have you made a decision?

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If you know me, then you know I like dancing. But this is not about me dancing… And if you know me, you may be aware of my adoration of coffee. You may (ormaynot) also know I frequent Central Market… I also adore Poulsbo Perk and the standard-issue Starbucks here in the Northwest…aaaand the bevy over other coffee sources we have in our fair county…

But I needed basil. I get my basil from Central. And also my wheat grass. But I don’t juice my wheat grass. I make cute gifts with my wheat grass… and take blurry pics of said cute gifts…

I digress.

I had to get some basil because I am on this mozzerella/feta/tomato/pesto grilled sandwich/pita kick, and the spinach wasn’t doin’ it for me. This warm melty goodness called for basil… yadda, yadda, yadda… from Central Market.

Where was I headed with this *scratching head*…

Well, there I was at the coffee shop there in Central Market (getting my double tall mocha with *just* a splash of raspberry), and my friend Sarah (may I call you “friend”, Sarah? Too bad. It’s out there. You’ll have to deal with the fall-out, I’m not takin’ it back. Nope. Are you on Facebook???) Aaanywho, Sarah said, “Hey. Have you seen the video on YouTube, ‘Where the Hell is Matt?‘” I was all, “Yeah. U-huh…”

She went on to tell me that her friend Rachel made a “Where the Hell is Rachel” video, but instead of traveling the world like Matt did – she (with the help of her camera-man brother Tristan) danced all around Kitsap… I was all, “I gotta see it!”

So I went home and got onto the Google and found the video. I want to share it with you, my fellow Kitsapians! Let’s watch Rachel travel Kitsap in December… dancing in all the places we’ve seen… on a trademark cloudy day… Enjoy! I know you will!

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It has been for me… for my family.

It makes me wonder, what do other families do during the busy holiday season to protect family time to keep some level of sanity?

Cuz that (“sanity”) wasn’t happenin’ for us this December.

I really do know what it would take… and this year it would have taken an ACT OF GOD. You know, something like adding 12 hours to every day of the month of December, or making it so sleep was no longer as important as oxygen.

If I didn’t have to sleep…

Too bad I love is so much.

And really December is no different than any other month, except for the present shopping, card mailing, party planning, Santa visiting, caroling, present wrapping, and cookie baking. Other than that, December is the same as any other ‘ol month… really…

Oh, and the 20 hour drive TO and FROM grandma and grandpa’s house…

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Mark your calendars!

The actors of Kitsap Children’s Musical Theatre have been hard at work… singing, acting, and dance-dance-dancing away at rehearsals… All for the their engaging performance of Scrooge the Musical the first two weekends in December!

KCMT has 2 full casts. In total there are 140 actors ranging in age from 4 to 20 years old. This group has been rehearsing since September in order to stage 14 performances over 11 days that will charm and amaze all who enter the North Kitsap Auditorium!

What a way to get in the Christmas spirit! Don’t be a SCROOGE… join the actors of SCROOGE the Musical and kick off the Christmas season. It opens tonight – Friday December 4th – 7 p.m. Other performances: Saturday the 5th and 12th at 3 and 7, Sunday the 6th and 13th at 2 and 7, and next Friday at 7. $10 advance purchase tickets are available at Liberty Bay Books and Poulsbo Dream Dinners or you can get them at the door for $12…

Be sure to visit KCMT.org for more information on this production and upcoming productions!

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It’s that time of year again. It is the time of year our we lose our minds.

No?

Cooking, and list-making, and cooking, and present planning (or shopping if you are on the ball like that and I hate you), card sending and pie buying making.

Not only is it a time of year we reflect on the things we are thankful for… it is also a time of year we do stupid things…

LIKE DECIDE TO MAKE RECIPES WITH PEELED CHESTNUTS.

That’s what happened to my family last Thanksgiving.

My brother-in-law found a stuffing recipe he wanted to make for Thanksgiving. The recipe (by Martha Stewart) called for boiled, peeled chestnuts.

*coughcough*

I used Twitter to document the peeling of the cursed boiled chestnuts:

• 8:28 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve: Attention fellow domestic goddesses: Marta Stewart has a flippin’ STAFF to peel her pounds & pounds of precious chestnuts! *fingers cramping*

• 8:40 p.m.: I mean, Martha Stewart. This is absolutely ridiculous.

• 8:51 p.m.: And now my thumbs are not only nail-less, but also paralyzed.

I sacrificed the sacred use of my opposable thumbs for this sad little pile of chestnut shells:

The stuffing was quite yummy… except for the chestnuts.

So. What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Are you going to be peeling chestnuts and rolling-out pie crust, or opening a box of Stove Top and peeling plastic off a frozen pie crust? I’ll give you one guess what I’ll be doing…

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Back in September I was given the opportunity to join Office Max in their effort to help erase teacher funded classrooms. Office Max joined forces with Adopt-A-Classroom to create the A Day Made Better Campaign. In an effort to spread the word, Office Max reached out to the 30 gals in the *mommy* blogging community to help get the word out. I feel privileged to have been one of those 30:

My role as a Max Mom was had several facets:

• to host a contest on my Jenny on the Spot blog for readers to be able to nominate a teacher of their choice for a $100 Visa gift card to use in their classroom… and CHOOSE the winner *that was HARD*
• to host a local party to raise supplies and/or funds for a local teacher
• to deliver “the goods” to the winning teacher
• to publish the story on Whrrl
• the opportunity to attend a local school when Office Max delivered one of their 1000 BIG surprises – $1000 of school supplies to one lucky teacher. Linda Willimas from Wolfle Elementary in Kingston was our local recipient. You can see that Whrrl story here.

But I really want to share the following story. Our delivery to Mrs. McClanahan at Vinland Elementary in Poulsbo. My friend Alli McDonald (author of No Time for Flashcards) and I joined blogger forces… and threw a party. Please click here to view that story on Whrrl… It gives a bit of explanation and background I am not adding here. Aaand pictures. I love pictures!

Did a look? It was fun, huh?!

Now. You have seen all the women, families and local businesses (Zero Gravity Athletics, Poulsbo Perk, Poulsbo Athletic Club & KCMT)  that contributed to the story you get to see here… The story of a deserving teacher and second grade classroom get’s surprised with a great big box of goodness!

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Halloween is such a fun time, but…

There are some safety tips to keep in mind as we wander in relative darkness, tricking and and treating in a quest for a full bag-o-candy. Safe Kids is a company I became acquainted with when a representative came and spoke at a mom’s group I was part of years back.

They provided valuable information on how to help keep one’s children safe at home and out in the community.

In July, I went to a blogging conference (BlogHer) and Safe Kids was there! I was so excited to see them! You bet I added myself to their email list!

I received one of their handy emails earlier this week. It included a link to their site on Halloween safety. It lists out the basics. Nothing extra-ordinary, just reminders. I recommend going over some (or all) of these points with your children before tomorrow night. Here’s the link: Keeping Kids Safe on Halloween on Safe Kids USA.

One point of note — add to or amend these tips as best fits your family. I disagree with the first bullet point, “always trick-or-treat with an adult until age 10″. My son is 10 and I am not ready to let him go it alone, but where we live and how we get our “goods” is not in a familiar neighborhood. We have an ecletic looking Halloween this year. My point is — give a few moments to revisit the obvious. A little reminder before the excitement takes everyone to a land of make-believe…

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It’s that time of year… corn maze season. It’s time to bring out the rubber boots, mittens, hats, umbrellas, and pick them pumpkins! Tis also the season to warm-up by the fire and make gallons of hot cocoa. And coffee.

A little treasure popped up in our community last year – the corn maze at Sunrise Hill Farm in Kingston.

I know there are many local mazes and patches… all of which have their own distinct fun and charm. We are so fortunate to have such great choices!

I would have to say that right now, the kind of fun at Sunrise Hill Farm is my favorite, and my children’s favorite. My daughter’s preschool went last week, and I am now home all toasty-warm after another afternoon of wandering a Sasquatch-shaped corn maze:

Read the rest of this entry »

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I decided to try a little series here.

“You Know You’re a Kitsap Mom When...”

But instead of leaving the observations to my own narrow experience, I opened up the topic to my trusted circle of friends on Facebook. Besides, is you don’t like what you read here, then I can coyly reply… “She said it, not me! Dude. Don’t shoot the messenger. Psh.”

Therefore, today I give you the first installment of “You Know You’re A Kitsap Mom When…”

My friend, Sheila from Kingston, submitted her observation:

You go to the park in the rain and play, A LOT. Then you eat soggy pb&j picnics just because there is not school that day.

Sheila is a local mom and blossoming blogger. You can follow her insanity here!

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On September 11th, I took my daughter Lucy on the Liberty Walk in downtown Poulsbo. She didn’t understand why we were there, but someday she will. I’ve been having lots of fun using a new-ish social app called Whrrl. Just click on the image below to follow the story with notes and pictures of our Liberty Walk in Poulsbo.

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