CLASSES & THINGS TO DO, KIDS

i9 Sports Fall Registration: Last Chance + Discount Code

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MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: EduHearts & Edu Life Consulting

EVENTS, KIDS, WEEKEND EVENT ROUNDUPS

The BEST Local Boca Halloween Events for Kiddos & Parents

KIDS, Modern FL Mom, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Outsmarting Your “Threenager”: How to Survive & Thrive

TRAVEL

Have a Wonder-FALL Season at Walt Disney World

Modern FL Mom, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Bloomingdale’s Boca Raton Fall Fashion Trends for Moms

KIDS, Modern FL Mom

Cause Oriented Mama Blogs I am Loving Right Now

September 21, 2016 Modern Boca Mom Leave a comment

I love blogs, especially MAMA blogs! There are two I have my eye on right now that are cause oriented and working to educate their audiences on epilepsy and celiac disease, respectively. There truly are mama blogs for everyone!

Boston mama of 3 (and my very own sister-in-law), Mary Torpey, launched a blog and Facebook page recently. They feature stories about magic food, epilepsy and happiness. Her goal is to create awareness, balance, joy and optimum health for kids with Doose Syndrome and epilepsy.

She regularly features recipes for the Ketogenic diet, a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that helps to control seizures in some people with epilepsy. It is prescribed by a physician and carefully monitored by a dietitian. It is stricter than the modified Atkins diet, requiring careful measurements of calories, fluids, and proteins.

My nephew is currently receiving diet therapy as a way to help control his epilepsy. And, it’s working.

VEGGIE SANDWICH!!!! This uses a pancake recipe from Ketocal 3:1, 12g Cindy's Kitchen Asiago and Cracked Peppercorn Dressing, 5g spinach, 15g cucumber. I add about half a gram extra dressing to allow for lost fat on little fingers 😍. So crunchy and fresh and filling! 3.75:1 ratio. — VEGGIE SANDWICH!!!! This uses a pancake recipe from Ketocal 3:1, 12g Cindy’s Kitchen Asiago and Cracked Peppercorn Dressing, 5g spinach, 15g cucumber. I add about half a gram extra dressing to allow for lost fat on little fingers 😍. So crunchy and fresh and filling! 3.75:1 ratio.

I think she is amazing and comes up with these culinary creations that follow ketogenic guidelines and satisfy my nephew…for the most part. 😉 Hey- any diet is hard!

www.ketogenicmama.com

Another favorite when it comes to cause-oriented mama blogs is…Celiac Mama!

A fellow South Florida mother just launched a website for parents of children who have celiac disease or gluten intolerance. It provides information and tips for making life healthier and easier for patients and families alike: celiacmama.com.

Jereann Zann created the website to educate families on what it means to be gluten free, manage anxiety, build confidence, and reduce cross-contamination. This is the danger zone where gluten-free foods can easily and innocently come into contact with foods. These can trigger health issues during snack times, play dates and weekend visits with grandparents.

Zann and her husband first learned about celiac disease in September 2014 when their daughter, Sophia, was diagnosed at age 2. Through her family’s journey of searching for a gluten-free lifestyle, they learned how to make their own baby foods and toddler meals. They are also able to travel with peace of mind and educate their daughter’s school, grandparents and friends along the way.

Besides learning that it costs the average family 2-3 times more at the grocery store to be gluten-free, they have also discovered other culprits. These include certain spices, art supplies and even some baby shampoos. They contain gluten and have been known to cause health risks to those affected by celiac disease.

Zann quickly notes that she is not a physician or a dietician. As a parent, she is dedicated to helping other families navigate through celiac disease and gluten free living.

www.celiacmama.com

I love these mama blogs! I hope you do too- be sure to check them out and share with those who you think could benefit. 🙂

KIDS, Modern FL Mom

NEW Walt Disney Animation Studios’ MOANA Trailer Released!

September 19, 2016 Modern Boca Mom Leave a comment

Exciting news MBMoms! Walt Disney Animations Studios’ has released a NEW MOANA trailer! The film, starring Auli‘i Cravalho (voice of “Moana”) and Dwayne Johnson (voice of “Maui”), opens in theatres in 3D this Thanksgiving!

Watch the NEW MOANA trailer below:

Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific. They discovered the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows why. From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people.

During her journey, she meets the once-mighty demigod Maui. He guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage. They encounter enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, she fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.

FUN FILM FACTS:

Filmmakers auditioned hundreds of talented young women throughout the Pacific Islands before finding the gifted Native Hawaiian Auli‘i Cravalho. She did not initially pursue the coveted role. The film’s Hawai‘i-based casting director recalled her singing performance from a video submission for a fundraiser/talent showcase. They asked Auli‘i to come in and try out. Three auditions later, including her first trip to Burbank, Calif., she earned the title role.
The diverse and dynamic team behind the film’s inspired music includes Tony®- and Grammy®-winning lyricist/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda. You might know him from Broadway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning and multiple Tony-winning “Hamilton” and the Tony-winning “In the Heights.” He is also a 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award recipient.
Three-time Grammy®-winning composer Mark Mancina created memorable scores for films like “Speed,” “Tarzan” and the Oscar®-winning “Training Day.” He also co-wrote songs, produced and arranged the score for Broadway’s musical production of “The Lion King.”
Opetaia Foa‘i, the founder and lead singer of Te Vaka, is a winner of numerous world music awards, including the Senior Pacific Artist award for his contribution to Pacific music.
Directors Ron Clements and John Musker made their writing-directing debut on the 1986 feature “The Great Mouse Detective.” They went on to write and direct some of Disney’s most beloved animated classics. These include “The Little Mermaid” in 1989, “Aladdin” in 1992, 1997’s “Hercules” and, most recently, 2009’s “The Princess and the Frog.”
Producer Osnat Shurer served as the executive producer of the shorts group at Pixar Animation Studios. While at Pixar, Shurer produced or executive produced a host of hit shorts, including the Oscar®-nominated “Lifted” (2006), “One Man Band” (2005) and “Boundin’” (2003).

For more information on the movie and MOANA trailer, visit: http://disney.com/moana; LIKE MOANA on Facebook; Follow on Twitter; Follow on Instagram.

MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Pamela Polani, Concierge Attorney

September 18, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is... Concierge Attorney at Law, Pamela Higer Polani!

Tell us a little bit about your background and what inspired you to become a Boca Raton concierge attorney…

Years before it became popular, I decided to become a “concierge” attorney, offering the highest level of personalized attention and customer service to my clients. I built a law firm around my motto, “Live Life to the Fullest, While Helping Others Do the Same”, for several reasons. One of which was due to my (then) young sons. I wanted my work to revolve around my life, not for my life to revolve around my work.

Likewise, why should clients have to take time off from their busy lives and work schedules to accommodate an attorney’s timetable? I often travel to clients’ offices or their homes, wherever it is most convenient for them, to discuss their legal concerns. This helps me keep a flexible schedule, so I can volunteer at my children’s school during the day, since I know I will be working that night. It also helps my clients know they are a top priority to me.

Balancing parenting and work with “traditional” law firm hours and a set location was not feasible or practical. Since most law firms did not see an advantage in having a concierge staff member, I chose to create my own path.

So now, I maintain a very flexible work schedule, focused on my clients’ comfort levels and needs, rather than what corporate America mandates. With the advent of electronic filing of court documents, my transactional work is nearly all virtually-based. This allows me to work anywhere and anytime I am near a computer. The 9-5 concept is a dinosaur and we all know what happened to them!

What challenges have you faced with your business?

When I first decided to use “virtual” offices, other attorneys scoffed at me, thinking somehow Pamela Polani’s work product was less professional than theirs. Also, as a woman, I realized my gender and looks do not always work to my advantage, undermining the significance of my message. One client mistakenly took me for a legal assistant and asked me to “fetch coffee”. I explained that since I spent more time studying than learning to cook, the coffee probably would not match his expectations.

I have also found that many attorneys, including women, and judges address me less formally than my male counterparts. Rather than fight ingrained beliefs, I embrace who Pamela Polani is and use humor to often diffuse a situation.

What’s unique about your firm and why should MBMom readers consider becoming your clients?

Most people hate working with attorneys for several reasons and are wary for retaining our services. I work diligently to end their preconceived perceptions on several levels. I know cost and value are two different things; most people value what I can do for them, but the cost can be overwhelming. I let my clients know that, unlike other attorneys, Pamela Polani does not charge for emails, telephone calls or other communications to ensure they always feel heard and that I am accessible.

I often provide flexible billing plans and make my mobile number available to clients, so they can contact me, as needed. Last, I provide nearly 20 hours (at least!) each week towards pro bono community service to different local causes to help keep our community as amazing as it is! Building trust and respect for supporting non-profits is just one more way to ensure people understand attorneys are here to help, not hinder, them.

What exciting things are coming up with your community service work?

In just two years since its creation, the Boca Walk is the #1 Walk to End Alzheimer’s for the Alzheimer’s Association in South Florida. With over 3,000 participants, we’ve helped the chapter raise more than $1 million dollars! This year’s Walk is taking place THIS Sunday, September 25th, in Mizner Park. Please go to End Alzheimer’s for more information.

What do you, Pamela Polani, love about living and working in South Florida?

I was born and raised in South Florida. My family loves this state and its residents. I have watched, in the past several decades, the amazing changes and growth South Florida has experienced and am excited to see us become such a powerful community in our nation.

We truly live in Paradise and I am grateful every day to wake up and share the experience with those I love and treasure!

Follow Pamela Higer Polani on Social Media:

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Website-Pamela Higer Polani-Attorney at Law

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

HOME & GARDEN, Modern FL Mom

Bar Cart Styling Tips from a Boca Mom

September 13, 2016 Modern Boca Mom Leave a comment

I have wanted a bar cart for a really long time. Probably since Mad Men started airing (it premiered in 2007 by the way…OMG). Now that we have a house with a formal living room versus a tiny one-bedroom apartment in NYC, my cocktailing dreams have finally come true! I treated myself to the Winslow bar cart from Z Gallerie for my birthday this year and dove deep into Pinterest to find the best bar cart styling tips. These were my favs…

Bar Cart Styling Tips:

1. Incorporate Flowers

Who doesn’t love fresh flowers? Ok, me. They are fine occasionally, but tend to be expensive and short lived in my opinion. I go for the silk variety and had this tulip arrangement made with resin that looks like water. (I have my own silk flower “lady”, Flowers by Aja, 561-866-3636).

Every styled bar cart that I liked included flowers, even my top inspiration Atta Girl Says.

2. Display Lemons & Limes

Every cocktail needs a garnish! Showcase real or faux lemons and limes in a pretty bowl or vase. It adds beautiful colors to your bar cart display and is really inexpensive.

3. Book It

If you need to create different heights, so your bar cart accessories can be seen better, put your cocktail books to good use (besides making cocktails of course).

I pulled books with different shapes and sizes out my library and used them to raise the flower arrangement on top of the cart, for example.

4. Show Off Your Crystal

When it comes to impractical (yet beautiful) glassware, crystal is at the top of the list. Display your prettiest, rarely used glasses on your bar cart for show and keep the everyday wine glasses in your kitchen cabinet.

Our wedding toasting glasses look mighty fine next to our Russian vodka and Dominican rum…

5. Shakers and Straws

Set out your cocktail shaker and put mini stirrers/straws in a shot glass (or regular straws in a pretty glass tumbler). When making cocktails you’ll want every tool at your fingertips!

Ohhh…so this bar cart is basically my cocktail tool box. I get it now.

Cheers Boca Moms!

Modern FL Mom, MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Sweet Memories Photography

September 12, 2016 Modern Boca Mom Leave a comment

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca Entrepreneur is...the founder of Sweet Memories Photography, Naomi Phelps!

I’m sure you saw #dailybocaavery’s back-to-school photoshoot and I hope you loved it (almost) as much as I did. Naomi is such a talented photographer and a lot of fun to work with. It was a pleasure to interview her and I’m excited to tell her professional story below!

Tell us a little bit about your background and what inspired you to start Sweet Memories Photography…

I was born and raised in the Virginia Beach area and in 2014, married my best friend, love of my life, and soulmate. He is my biggest supporter and the reason I quit my full-time job to focus on my passion: photography. Before marrying him, I was trying to balance a love life, a full-time job, and start my business. This proved to be challenging as I felt that my clients at the time didn’t really trust that I was 100% committed to them. It was a constant struggle and a lot of late nights. However, my husband believed in me and that success was just around the corner. He persuaded me to focus solely on photography. That’s when I truly believe my business got started and became as successful as it is today.

We recently moved to the Boca Raton area from Washington DC, so my husband could also fulfill his career dreams. Now, we’re working together to be in a place where we feel successful and love what we do! Although we don’t currently have any children, we have four fur-babies who are spoiled with love and snuggles, even when they don’t want it.

How did your Sweet Memories Photography start?

I stole my first camera when I was two (it was my father’s, so I’d like to say it wasn’t actually “stealing”) and I was always known as “the girl with the camera” throughout middle and high school. When it came to deciding what I wanted to study in college, my parents believed that photography was just a hobby. I persuaded them to allow me to go to a university three hours away in Northern Virginia under the pretense that I would study “communication.”

Within one semester, I changed my major to Photography and proved to them that it wasn’t just a hobby. It was a passion and a way of life. I interned with a Virginia Beach photographer to get my foot in the door. I practiced persistency by asking a wedding photographer to hire me for over a year before he stopped saying “no”. And, I worked with this DC photographer for over 3 years before branching out on my own.

There are always challenges in any career and I feel that every day is a new obstacle for me to overcome. Whether it’s finding creative ways to market my business, making my clients aware of the importance of photography and the quality of service, networking and making connections within the industry, keeping up with the newest technology, or just updating social media!

What’s unique about Sweet Memories Photography and why should MBMom readers consider becoming your clients?

I am so passionate about photography and creating beautiful artwork out of raw emotions and real moments. I love to “freeze time” for my clients so they always remember how they felt and they can share it with their friends and family.

During my sessions, I strive to make sure that clients feel comfortable in front of the camera, allowing their personalities to shine. I believe that every client can relate to me, as well as my other photographers, and this helps sessions and events go smoothly. It allows our clients to have fun, be themselves, and have amazing photos that will last a lifetime!

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

We’re running a special for Modern Boca Moms where anyone who uses the code “Modern Boca Mom” gets 15% any Sweet Memories Photography package. This includes newborns, maternity, family, seniors, engagement sessions, and even weddings!

We are also proud to be partnering up with Grandview Preparatory School for their back-to-school portraits! We are also now booking fall and Christmas sessions!

www.facebook.com/sweetmemoriesbynaomiphelps

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

What’s NOT to love??!! The palm trees, beach and warm weather pretty much all year round (which is a photographer’s dream– snow up north prevented me from doing a lot of sessions in the winter months), and just all the lovely areas for weddings and sessions! You can have the city as a backdrop, the beach, Mizner Park or even lush gardens! On a personal note, I can’t get enough guava pastries and key lime pie! And, we’re not far from the Bahamas (hello, mini vacations!).

Follow Sweet Memories Photography on Social Media:

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SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

EVENTS, MBMOMS-TO-BE

Mother of All Baby Showers to Take Over South Florida

September 12, 2016 Modern Boca Mom Leave a comment

All new Modern Boca Moms and moms-to-be, REJOICE! It’s that time of year again. It’s time for The Mother of All Baby Showers (MOABS) and we’re thrilled to share the South Florida event details with you!

Mark your calendars! This year’s Mother of All Baby Showers is on Friday, October 7th from 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at the Young At Art Museum.

You won’t want to miss THE mommy showcase event of the year. MOABS is bringing top notch pregnancy, baby AND toddler brands and experts ALL to one place, so attendees can learn about the latest products, services and trends for your growing family.

They are the first and biggest adults-only event of its kind focused on the growing family population in South Florida. The event is presented by Memorial Healthcare System.

The Mother of All Baby Showers offers a huge opportunity for parents to prepare for a new baby and get educated about the newborn through toddler stages. You’ll be able to learn some of parenting basics and research many consumer choices.

Two years ago, Modern Boca Crunchy Mom and I attended and had a blast. We learned a ton and I even had the opportunity to speak on a parenting panel.

Educational sessions will cover ‘Planning and Preparing for Baby’ and ‘What to Expect (and Not to) from Infancy Through the Toddler Years’. The Try It Before You Buy It area gives attendees the chance to interact with more than 50 maternity, juvenile and family-focused national and local companies.

The evening will also include mini spa treatments, tasty treats from local restaurants, The Mother of All Swag Bags and giveaways valued at over $20,000!

Mother of All Baby Showers Ticket Info

Tickets for the event are only $15 for regular admission ($25 for couples) and $60 for VIP admission.

Mother of All VIP pass attendees will receive a FREE Baby K’Tan SmartGear Diaper Bag (design/color vary per attendee/event), early access to event (5:30 pm), a signature swag bag, 5 meals from Born Foody, the number one meal delivery service for toddlers -Please note all offerings are 1 per VIP individual or couple.

Attendees can register here: www.themotherofallbabyshowers.com

CLASSES & THINGS TO DO, KIDS

Songs for Seeds Boca Raton: Your Kids Can ROCK OUT While Learning!

September 7, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

Let’s be honest. Our fair city is known for its NYC imports. Shake Shack, Junior’s Cheesecake (soon!), Flywheel… Now, you’ll find the popular Manhattan-based music program for children here: songs for seeds Boca Raton!

Founded in 2009 by the owners of apple seeds, NYC’s award-winning play space for children, songs for seeds features 45-minute classes led by a three-piece live band of musicians who encourage kids to sing, play instruments, and dance.

Local parents to two young boys, Tarah & Jordan Meyers, are the ones bringing this beloved music program to Boca Raton. When they lived in NYC, Meyers sent her two children to songs for seeds classes and LOVED them. Since moving to Florida, they have worked tirelessly to bring the educational and fun program here.

Meyers says, “There’s simply nothing like it.”

songs for seeds Boca Raton: What It’s About

Each week the children experience music, instruments and language from a different culture. Magnetic art murals are created by the children during a rocked out sing-along to well-known nursery rhymes, silly magic tricks are used to practice numbers and counting and a wheel is spun to reinforce the names and sounds of animals. By mixing original kids rock ‘n’ roll songs with adult contemporary music, the band is sure to please little ones (and their parents!).

And, everyone gets a FREE trial class.

We’re so excited to check out songs for seeds Boca Raton, held at Monkey Joe’s in west Boca! You can find their complete class calendar HERE.

Meet the songs for seeds Boca Raton BAND

ANSON – born and raised in Hawaii, Anson has been singing since the age of 12. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music in Performance. His background is in classical, opera, jazz, and musical theater.

FREDDIE – a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Freddie was born with music in his bloodlines. Freddie grew up in Miami’s heavily Hispanic Hialeah neighborhood, where the happy sounds of all genres of Latin music were the soundtracks that surrounded him day-in and day-out. He holds a Bachelors in Performing Arts.

SEAN – is a drummer, guitarist and singer who is passionate about music education. A South Florida native, he works as a performer and instructor when not busy at home with his wife and two young children. He will receive his Bachelor of Arts this December in Music with an emphasis in Historical Musicology.

Addressing the elephant on the blog: Yes, we are very sad that our former flagship music program, Musikgarten by the Beach, is shutting down in Boca Raton. But, we are also happy that Miss Diana is relocating to Miami with her family for a new position. Modern Boca Mom wishes them all the best! We are excited to now partner with songs for seeds, a new musical option for your family!

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by songs for seeds Boca Raton. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was compensated for this post, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

KIDS, MBMOMS-TO-BE

Now Available: On-Demand Car Seat Cleaning at Your Boca Raton Home

September 5, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

I love living in Boca Raton in 2016. Not only do we have on-demand car washes and maid service, but you can now schedule stroller, kid gear or car seat cleaning at your home with a simple phone call or web appointment!

We teamed up with local business Shiny Hiney when they opened in 2015. Launched by a local MOMpreneur, they are a mobile cleaning service for car seats, strollers, and kids gear. ‪They also offer car seat installation checks & assistance from certified technicians.

We didn’t get to experience their 5-star service until recently. Their team came to our Boca Raton home to give our stroller and car seat a little TLC. They needed it.

On-Demand Car Seat Cleaning at Your Boca Raton Home

It’s simple: You have dirty children’s gear. Shiny Hiney has the tools and expertise to clean it properly and safely. They’ll even re-install your car seat after it’s cleaned to make sure it’s used correctly.

You don’t need a big garage or cleaning area. You simply need a driveway or parking area for Shiny Hiney to set up their table and tent. Then they’ll get that car seat cleaning started!

House calls allot for 3 hours of Shiny Hiney time, so pricing varies. When I have them over again, I’m going to plan it during a play date, so they can clean multiple items for me and my friends in one shot.

My car seat has never looked better!

Disney has also made our stroller look like it’s been through a war. So, I was so excited to let Shiny Hiney do their thing to get it sparkling again!

I SWEAR it looks brand new. Thank you Shiny Hiney!

Make your at-home appointment with Shiny Hiney today! BOOK HERE.

“LIKE” Shiny Hiney Boca on Facebook (www.facebook.com/myshinyhiney) to catch their latest cleaning locations, promotions and offers!

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by Shiny Hiney. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was compensated and given a cleaning service free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

HOME & GARDEN, Modern FL Mom

Big Girl Bedroom Makeover in Boca Raton

September 5, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Back-to-school time this year was busy for soooo many reasons. #dailybocaavery started preschool at Grandview Preparatory School and our family spent much of the summer working and traveling, so I felt like we were still playing catch-up. I swear, I just needed one more week! In the spirit of positive change and to celebrate our daughter’s entry into “big kid school”, we decided to transition her out of her toddler bed and give her nursery a big girl bedroom makeover!

Boca Raton Big Girl Bedroom Makeover

The first update: the bed. The one we chose for our big girl bedroom makeover is from IKEA. It’s so cool! You can keep it as a twin/daybed/sofa OR you can pull out the section with the storage drawers underneath and it opens up into a Queen bed (2 mattresses stack on top of each other, so you just slide one over).

I can see it becoming a huge help when Avery starts having sleepovers or we need an additional guest bedroom.

BEFORE

AFTER

Big Girl Bedroom Makeover in Boca Raton — 3 big storage drawers– we replaced the knobs that came with it for pretty ones from Home Depot

The big girl bedroom makeover bedding I chose is from JCPenney. I had a heck of a time trying to find pink throw pillows to compliment the black, white and grey modern floral design.

I looked everywhere, but finally netted out at Amazon.com HERE and HERE. The pillow inserts were sold separately.

Big Girl Bedroom Makeover Decorations: Collaboration is key!

As for the decorations above the bed, I re-purposed two white shadow boxes that previously held “baby mementos” and had #dailybocaavery decorate unfinished wooden letters from Amazon in various shades of pink, grey and black. It was a fun project!

My husband spray painted the big arrow (from Target).

Big Girl Bedroom Makeover: Furniture

Thankfully, we didn’t have to replace a lot of the furniture in the room. I was able to move two pink wardrobes and a bookcase to other areas to maximize space and storage for our growing Boca girl.

Big Girl Bedroom Window Treatments

We upgraded the curtain rods to a sturdier model from Bed Bath and Beyond after baby/toddler Avery yanked on them too many times to count. She loved choosing the finials– glass balls in pink of course!

Quick View

Cambria® My Room

Big Girl Bedroom Makeover: Organization

We also designed a system for her school clothes utilizing colored drawers for each day of the week. It was so easy! I purchased 5 stackable shoe box drawers from the Container Store (in pink and purple of course). Then, I labeled each one with a day of the week in gold, metallic pen.

Every Sunday, our daughter is now in charge of putting a school uniform, underwear and socks into each drawer. Getting dressed in the morning has become much less of a struggle!

I also invested in storage floor totes from Target for toys and dolls and matching bins for our massive collection of stuffed animals.

I am very happy with the way the room turned out, but more importantly, #dailybocaavery loves it! The key to getting 12 hours of sleep out of our child each night was a bigger bed, apparently.

Money well spent!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase some of these items, I may be compensated. Please see this site’s Disclosure for details.

DINING, SHOPPING & BEAUTY, TRAVEL

Eau My! How I Spent my Birthday at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

August 28, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

So, this Boca mommy turned 34 in August. In my book, not exactly a major milestone year to celebrate. Coincidentally, the Eau Palm Beach in Manalapan (15 minutes north of Boca Raton) invited me to experience the Eau Spa for the first time. So, I scheduled my visit for my birthday weekend, kissed #dailybocaavery and the hubs farewell and had quite the amazing solo spa day…

If you haven’t been to the Eau Palm Beach yet, it’s simply amazing. You can’t visit the resort without indulging in their amazing ocean views. So, I started off my birthday spa day at their newest oceanfront restaurant (also, right by the pool): Breeze Ocean Kitchen.

Eau Palm Beach Breeze Ocean Kitchen

At Breeze Ocean Kitchen, I experienced a celebration of Floridian cuisine featuring Latin, Caribbean, Asian and American flavors while I enjoyed a tropical cucumber cocktail…and the amazing views.

I was initially concerned about sitting outside in the South Florida summer heat, but the roof of the restaurant closes and opens, so the sun is never bothering you and they have outdoor a/c!

Let’s just say I didn’t suffer while enjoying my crispy Key West rock shrimp appetizer, Maine lobster roll and key lime CAKE POPS. This lunch was indulgent!

HydroPeptide Active Body Scrub

After lunch, it was time to head to Eau Spa! Prior to my visit, I test-drove one of the products the spa regularly features, the HydroPeptide Active Body Scrub.

This mild exfoliator ($48), made of volcanic pumice rock and Tahitian black sand, is heavenly. You can be a little aggressive with your scrubbing, but it still leaves your skin in tact.

If you like to work out like me, it is definitely effective at making your muscles feel invigorated. It also contains peptides, like Pentapeptide-25, which releases energy as heat and has been shown to decrease fat and cellulite. AND the Acetyl Terapeptide-2 peptide, which has been proven to increase collagen and elastin, helping to lift and tighten the skin. Take THAT, thighs! I’d also recommend it prior to sunless tanning.

If I liked a product this much, I was sure to be in for a treat at the actual spa!

Eau Palm Beach Spa

It is a magical spa playground. First, my very own Spa Fairy had me make a wish in the spa’s wishing well. Then, she took me on a tour of the facilities and showed me where the snacks and ‘Scrub & Polish’ bar were.

And by snacks, I mean Jodi’s Cupcakes.

I was booked for a facial, so I changed into my comfy robe and slippers in the spa’s luxe locker room, grabbed a (complimentary) glass of champagne and curled up with a book in the cozy Relaxation Lounge until my appointment. Truly, that’s all I wanted for my birthday– to read the new Harry Potter book in peace while drinking some bubbly. 😉

In addition to facials, you can choose from an array of body and skin treatments that will leave you in a sheer state of bliss.

Massages
Body Treatments
Body Treatments Add-Ons
Skin Care

My facial was perfect and my facialist, Lorraine Ruggiero, was fabulous. She even remembered it was my birthday and brought in some extra cupcakes into my treatment room!

The blue light was very relaxing, by the way.

Last, but not least, it was off to the Bath Lounge! It’s quite famous, I’ve heard. My photos don’t do this place justice.

I spent my last 45 minutes soaking and reading on the heated lounge chairs. Heaven.

A huge thank you to the Eau Palm Beach for hosting me! What a wonderful way to spend your birthday…

What’s coming up at Eau Palm Beach’s Eau Spa?

On Saturday, September 10 from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., Eau Spa guests will have more than one reason to glow. The Forbes Five-Star spa is busy “nesting” in anticipation for some very special guests – moms-to-be. The inaugural event is in honor of expectant mothers and will offer tips about pregnancy-safe products, services, health and fitness.

Guests will be treated to samples of pregnancy-safe spa products; prenatal mini treatments; a mini prenatal yoga class; baby shower games and raffles to win spa prizes; a diverse panel of speakers on prenatal health and wellness; gift bags; and discounts on prenatal spa services. Participating vendors to-date include Comphy sheets, Redflower, FarmHouse Fresh and Luka cosmetics. Breakfast bites are included and children aged 5 and older are allowed free access to AquaNuts, the Resort’s over-the-top children’s programming.

Access to the event, which comes with a day pass to Eau Spa, is $25 with the donation of a pack of 120 diapers. The diapers will be donated to the Junior League of Boca Raton’s diaper bank. Without a donation, access to the event and spa facilities is $60.

Eau Spa is located at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa at 100 South Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. Reservations are required.

For more information or reserve a spot, please call the Eau Spa Fairies at 561-540-4960 or email concierge@eauspa.com.

Follow Eau Spa on Facebook @ILoveEauSpa, on Instagram @EauSpa and on Twitter @EauSpa.

Modern FL Mom, MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Robyn Elise Public Relations

August 28, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the founder of Robyn Elise Public Relations, Robyn Wellikoff!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to found Robyn Elise PR…

I grew up in South Florida and attended the University of Florida. After graduating with a degree in Public Relations, I decided to move to the media capital of the world: New York City. During my 14 years in the public relations industry, I have worked with a variety of iconic brands. These include Kiehl’s Since 1851, Coppertone, Cetaphil, Crest Whitestrips and more.

I loved the excitement of living in New York and working with such great clients to create successful public relations campaigns and launch new products. Whether working with the top magazines and television shows, celebrities or creating a great media event, I have always enjoyed understanding the right way to infuse brands into pop-culture conversations.

I got married to the most incredible man 12 years ago, had two amazing boys and moved to the New York suburbs. I was working incredibly long days, commuting into the city and traveling a lot. With only seeing the kids 30 minutes a day, five days a week, I wanted a change, both personally and professionally.

So you moved to South Florida…

I wanted to find a better work-life balance where I could be a successful mom, business owner and also be near family. I saw a need in the area to take the knowledge I learned while living and working in NYC with top-tier brands and bring that talent to South Florida.

Robyn Elise Public Relations, Inc. was started to bring brand awareness to both national and local businesses. I utilize my knowledge from working in the media capital of the world and offer my clients cost-effective pricing.

What’s unique about Robyn Elise PR and why should MBMom readers consider becoming your clients?

At Robyn Elise PR, I am able to work with a variety of different clients, both national and local, to provide them with a personalized boutique experience and national agency reach. We create a true partnership, always keeping the client’s reputation top of mind.

We help local businesses generate brand awareness and word of mouth buzz throughout their communities. Our team is dedicated to listening to and working with clients to determine their brand positioning, target audiences and communications strategies. Whether introducing a client to the media, engaging with followers across social platforms or creating “out of the box” third party relationships, Robyn Elise PR brings fresh energy to each campaign we create.

What new and exciting things are coming up for your firm?

Robyn Elise PR is growing and beginning to work with more South Florida clients. With a pulse on industry trends and great relationships with local media, we are excited to continue to help local businesses generate awareness.

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

Living in South Florida has provided me with the work-life balance flexibility I had been seeking. I can now conduct client meetings, engage in conversations with the media and also be there for my kids to do homework together or go to soccer practice. Previously, I was not able to do both and work always “won.”

Being able to run a successful business while also being a successful mom is a top priority for me and living here has opened those doors and made that possible!

Follow Robyn Elise PR on Social Media:

Instagram-Robyn Wellikoff

Twitter-Robyn Wellikoff

Email- robyn@robynelisepr.com

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

HOME & GARDEN

Is Now the Time to Buy OR Sell a Boca Raton Home?

August 28, 2016 Jennifer Gene

Summer has come to an end and your kids are finally back in school! With the extra 2 minutes you have in the morning, do you happen to look around your house and think, “I’m ready for a change, but is this a good time to buy or sell a Boca Raton home?” Your friends at drop off might think you’re crazy. But, it turns now that now is actually a great time!

In case you haven’t noticed, there aren’t many homes for sale in Boca Raton. In fact, there aren’t many in all of Palm Beach County. In June 2016, our median home price reached a year-to-date high, while the total inventory of homes available is still low. Traditionally, families want to be settled into their new home before school starts.

But not in Boca.

We have such a strong school district that families are comfortable moving during any time of year. If you’ve thought about listing your house, go clean out your playroom and get ready to sell!

Is Now the Time to Buy OR Sell a Boca Raton Home?

No one likes to be pressured into making a quick decision, especially a busy family. It’s hard enough juggling work, school and playdates. But, plan to move fast in the current Boca real estate market. Homes that are priced correctly (in line with recent sales and comparables) are taking less than 45 days to sell. Using a real estate professional to price, market and sell your home will make the process much easier and efficient.

Financially speaking, most of us need to sell our current house before we can buy our next one. Rest assured that closing on one and buying the next can easily be done. There are still some great buys in Boca! Working with someone who knows the market well will ensure you find not only a great investment, but a fabulous new home for your family!

From our NEW Modern Boca Real Estate Mom, Jennifer Gene: I traded in wiener whistles for binkies and use my poker skills to negotiate deals for my real estate clients. As a mom, I can relate to the young family looking to buy their first house. Or, to the parents looking to sell a home they raised their family in. Knowing what out-of-state grandparents want in a 2^nd home and understanding that rental properties can be both necessities and investment opportunities are key! I’ve sold over $10 Million dollars of real estate in South Palm Beach County while having 2 kids under two. And, I haven’t missed a bedtime story yet!

KIDS, Modern FL Mom

5 Back-to-School Tech Tips from TeachGeek Delray Beach

August 27, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

South Florida students back to school and will be faced with the usual responsibilities and challenges that come with a new school year. Those including: academic struggles, social pressures, extracurricular responsibilities, time constraints, and the most popular – dreaded technology!

“Going back to school can be stressful for everyone,” said Falon Velez, founder and president of TeachGeek Delray Beach. “By making sure your child keeps these five tips in mind as the new year gets started, there will be less stress, all-nighters and panic for student and parent!”

TeachGeek Delray Beach- 5 Tech Tips for Getting Your Student Ready for School

Updates! Be sure to update your operating system and apps, security software and browser applications. Make sure your computer is up to date with the newest systems. You don’t want to hit a roadblock where a missing update leaves you unable to complete assignments in a timely manner. Make sure your browser along with video and audio plugin updates are also completed. It’s almost a guarantee, this school year, you will need to play videos and if your Flash or Java is out of date, you’ll be wasting hours of time trying to figure it out.
Cleanup! Clutter can be more stressful than anything when you’re writing papers, working on presentations or projects, and doing homework assignments. Go through your computer’s filing cabinet folders such as downloads, documents, and pictures, and delete those files you no longer need. Organize the files you do need into newly labeled folders and subfolders (perhaps even dated) so that when you need to find something, it’s easy to do so. Also, be sure to remove any unused and/or outdated software and apps. By cleaning up and organizing your computer’s files and folders, you’re also making room for new files.
Tune up and Optimize! Make sure your computer’s hard drive is in good condition by running your S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) program, which will indicate any possible failures or errors with your hard drive. You’ll also want to make sure you have ample hard drive space and RAM (the energy that feeds the brain of your computer for more power), so you can run several programs simultaneously and efficiently. It’s a good idea to do this before the school year starts and before those “big” assignments start rolling in.
Do Your Tech Homework! Get a head start on familiarizing yourself with your school’s platforms used for class assignments, group projects, class updates, and even grading. Don’t wait until school starts to figure out your way around these learning systems. Most teachers post syllabi and assignments that may be due by the first day of class.
Backup…Backup!! This is crucial for everyone, but especially for students. How many times have we heard the story of how someone’s computer “died” right in the middle of finishing their 20-page paper or final project? And even worse… You take it to get fixed and those tragic words come out of the tech’s mouth saying, “I’m sorry, but your hard drive has failed and there’s nothing we can do to get your stuff back.” Don’t fall victim to this misfortune! Get an external drive, plug it in, and keep it on auto backup so every file on your computer is safe. If you want to take it a step further, back up to a cloud service. Being a student gives you many perks and one of them is getting loads of free cloud storage space. Microsoft Office provides most schools and their students with not only a free updated version of its complete Office Suite, but a whopping 1TB of storage on their OneDrive cloud account! Get it today!

About TeachGeek Delray

TeachGeek Delray Beach, a South Florida-based tech support and teaching company, makes technology, IT and computer devices understandable, relatable, and dare we say fun! Founded in 2015, this woman-owned business has helped more than 500 satisfied customers and completed nearly 1,500 jobs in cities stretching from Palm Beach County to Broward and Miami-Dade. While TeachGeek Delray offers a range of services including Training, Setup & Install, IT Help, Optimization & Repair, and In-home tech support, it is TeachGeek’s commitment to be kind, empathetic, empowering and clear in its communication to its customers and students that makes it truly unique. Learn more at www.teachgeek.co, www.facebook.com/teachgeek or by calling 561-336-0368.

KIDS, MBMOMS-TO-BE, Modern FL Mom, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Back to (Party) Basics! Introducing BasicInvite.com

August 24, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

If you’re reading this blog often, then I know you’re anything BUT Boca basic. Your child’s birth announcements, 1st birthday party— I’ll bet you went out of your way to make each invitation (and party) truly unique! But here’s where basic can get creative: BasicInvite.com.

You can now make as many custom, BEAUTIFUL invitations on BasicInvite.com as you like! Whether you have a baby shower to plan for, a birthday party on the way, even a wedding to plan, there’s a completely custom option for you.

I even saw that BasicInvite.com just released a gold foil lettering option. Swoon!

What makes BasicInvite.com different?

Almost Unlimited Colors – Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design, you can change the color of each element on the card to over 160 different color options. That way, you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail. A huge draw, especially compared to other online stationery companies!

Custom Samples – Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers the ability to order a printed sample of their actual invitation. You can see exactly how it will print as well as the paper quality before having to place an order for 500 invitations.

Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes – Basic Invite is just as colorful with their envelopes as they are with their invitations. Customers can choose from 40+ different colors when it comes to their envelopes. They can make their invitation stand out even before it is opened. All envelopes are peel and seal so the envelopes can be quickly and securely closed without having to lick a single one.

I dare you to go on the site and not create something. The invitations are just too gorgeous. Check them out today! https://www.basicinvite.com

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by BasicInvite.com. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was compensated for this post, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

KIDS, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Big Luvs Diaper Savings in the Sunday Paper 8.28.16

August 18, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

This Luvs diaper savings review was made possible by iConnect and Luvs. I was provided compensation to facilitate this post, but all opinions stated are 100% mine.

Boca mom coupon alert! Besides wine, home decor and clothes, do you know what I love saving money on most?

Answer: DIAPERS.

Big Luvs Diaper Savings #ShareTheLuv

There’s no way around it, parenting is crazy expensive! Yes, #dailybocaavery is potty trained during the day now, but I’m still shelling out diaper money for overnight use. So, I was thrilled to get the news that there will be big Luvs savings in this Sunday’s paper (August 28, 2016)!

Get your scissors out because there will be a high-value coupon offering of $2 off any one diaper pack. Use this coupon at any mass, discount or grocery store where Luvs Diapers are sold.

Additionally, in partnership with Ibotta, Luvs is also offering a limited-time $5 rebate on any boxed variety of Luvs diapers, 54ct. box or larger.

Softer and more absorbent than ever before, with large stretch tabs for easy fastening (KEY!), ultra-leakage protection and a money-back guarantee, Luvs Ultra Leakguards with Nightlock Plus™ provide the high-quality features baties and parents need for less cost than premium brands.

If you don’t happen to be a newspaper subscriber, download the FREE Ibotta app, available on iOS and Android, and search “Luvs” to unlock an exclusive $5 rebate!

Go shopping for your Luvs diapers at any participating store.
Verify your purchases by scanning product barcodes and submitting a photo of your receipt.
Save money and earn cash back! Your $5 cash back rebate will be deposited into your Ibotta account within 48 hours.

I’ll take savings any way I can get it these days!

Luvs diapers are available in sizes newborn through 6, feature fun designs in every pack, and can be found at mass, discount and grocery stores where baby care products are sold.

For more information on Luvs diapers, visit luvsdiapers.com or the brand’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

KIDS, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Have the Ultimate Boca Raton Back-to-School Photoshoot

August 14, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

My thinking before becoming a mom: “I’ll just have the yearbook company take my kid’s photo every year. Done and done!” My thinking after becoming a mom: “No single yearbook photo will ever capture the essence of my magical and perfect Boca baby!!!” Ok…I’m being a tad dramatic, but a new tradition has been born in my household: the Boca Raton photoshoot for back to school!

Oh yes, add it to our holiday and Halloween family photoshoot traditions, but there was no way I wasn’t going to capture the excitement of #dailybocaavery starting preschool for the first time.

Boca Raton photoshoot — www.facebook.com/sweetmemoriesbynaomiphelps

Preschool {chokes back sobs}!!!

Luckily, newcomer to Boca Naomi Phelps of Sweet Memories Photography somehow sensed my mommy anxiety and suggested we get #dailybocaavery dressed up in her new spiffy Grandview Preparatory School uniform and organize a Boca Raton photoshoot to commemorate this big change in our lives.

Naomi, formerly of the Washington D.C. area, has photographed over 90 weddings, countless engagement, family, newborn, and maternity sessions, and has documented corporate events with speakers such as Stevie Wonder, Maya Angelou, and Joel McHale.

The photos came out 10x better than I ever could have imagined.

Sweet Memories Photography Boca Raton Photoshoot: Back-to-School

We took Sweet Memories Photography all over Grandview’s beautiful campus and captured shots in places where #dailybocaavery would spend many of her days over the next school year.

Naomi somehow convinced our strong-willed daughter to smile AND look at the camera. No easy feat– I know this personally! She was truly lovely (and EASY) to work with on this Boca Raton photoshoot!

We even had the opportunity to take some great family photos during the shoot! We tried to dress to represent “The Pride” in red, white and blue.

Scheduling your own Boca Raton photoshoot with Sweet Memories Photography celebrating back-to-school is easy!

Contact her by clicking HERE.
Request the $299.00 Boca Raton Back-to-School package and mention “modernbocamom” for an additional 15% off! Package includes: One-hour of photography time at one location PLUS a minimum of 75 downloadable images through your own private password-protected online gallery. There’s no obligation to purchase prints (even though I often do), which I kind of love. One price = all the photos
Download your photos and enjoy them as much as we love ours!

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by Sweet Memories Photography. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was compensated for this post and received a complimentary 1-hour photoshoot, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

EVENTS, MBMOMS-TO-BE, MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: The Mother of All Baby Showers (MOABS)

August 14, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the founder of The Mother of All Baby Showers (MOABS), Amy Lundy!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to throw the “Mother of All Baby Showers”…

I am the founder and mother behind The Mother of All Baby Showers (MOABS) and went from running events for one of the biggest financial institutions in the world in NYC to launching my own business five years ago in Florida. I had my first child in 2010 and everything changed the minute she was born. While I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, it wasn’t until I became a parent that I found my real path—marketing and event production within the maternity and baby industries.

We now have a five year-old and 2 year-old and balancing work and family isn’t easy for anyone, so every day is a bit of a juggling act for me as well!

This business has allowed me to incorporate my personal and professional experiences into my everyday life, and it has afforded me the challenges and rewards I’ve always wanted out of my career. I often work while my kids sleep so I can be with them as much as possible during the day. Every day is different and I am always thankful.

How did you get started?

I started my business in Florida– Tampa Bay to be exact. It began as an upscale mommy and me program (Small Fry Society). Every six weeks, expectant and new parents experienced different activities, different businesses, while getting to know one another. It was social and educational and a lot of fun! Demand continued to grow and I had a lot of interest from parents who couldn’t always make the times of our “socials.” It was challenging to meet the scheduling needs of so many different parents. That’s when the lightbulb went off. I should create a larger annual event in the evening to accommodate both working AND stay-at-home parents.

The Mother of All Baby Showers was born out of a necessity to support expectant and new parents by providing education about products and services related to healthcare, safety, nutrition, travel, clothing, bathing, sleeping…and all the other necessities new families need!

Parenting these days is especially challenging because new products often pop up. It can be overwhelming! Also, new rules/recommendations go into effect year to year (think: no crib bumpers and car seat safety). For instance, car seat laws have changed recently. We do our best to stay up to date and provide experts that we know and trust to speak on the topic in person and online.

MOABS gives you the resources you need to make parenting, the toughest job in the world, easier and more enjoyable!

What’s unique about MOABS and why should MBMoms attend your events?

There’s nothing quite like The Mother of All Baby Showers. It’s an adults-only night out with tons of education, $20K in giveaways, spa treatments, 50+ unique products and services from local and national brands (including start-ups and well-established brands). Plus, we have amazing food and drinks! We provide so many options to explore and the experience is truly confidence-building.

We’d love Modern Boca Moms and Dads to attend because you deserve a night out that is all about learning and laughing. The event offers so much to do and see and it’s incredibly affordable. Tickets range from $15/ticket for a general attendee or $60 for a VIP ticket. This comes with an amazing Baby K’tan carrier, swag bag and earlier admission to the event.

What new and exciting things are coming up for MOABS?

MOABS continues to expand every year and we are excited to host all of you! Since 2012 we have grown beyond Tampa Bay into DC/MD/VA, NJ, Orlando and South Florida. This year’s South Florida event is sure to be a blast and valuable for everyone involved. We have new partners in virtually every category!

Next year, we will be adding new cities as well. Join us in person on October 7th in South Florida or online every day!

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

I’ve moved 10x in my adult life and the best decision I ever made was moving “home” to South Florida. I love it here because of the supportive community, the warm weather (who doesn’t?!), living close to family and old friends and meeting incredible local business owners with whom I can create collaborations. I truly know I am lucky to be a South Florida MOMpreneur. I encourage other MOMpreneurs to get in touch with me anytime if I can ever be of service.

Follow MOABS on Social Media:

Website-The Mother of all Baby Showers

Facebook- TheMOABS

Instagram-The MOABS

Twitter-The MOABS

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

KIDS, Modern FL Mom

Disney’s MOANA & ROGUE ONE Trailers Debut

August 14, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Great news movie fans! A new trailer for ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY and Disney’s MOANA debuted during recent 2016 Olympic coverage! Check out both TV spots below…

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

Lucasfilm’s ROGUE ONE, which takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, tells the story of unlikely heroes who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.

The cast includes Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, and Forest Whitaker. I know my family is eagerly awaiting the release of this film later this year!

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY arrives in theaters everywhere on December 16, 2016.

The Olympics is apparently prime time to release new trailers for upcoming movies. Walt Disney Studios also released the newest trailer for Disney’s MOANA starring Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho. Watch and enjoy below!

Disney’s MOANA

During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage. They encounter enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.

Disney’s MOANA sails into theaters on November 23, 2016, this Thanksgiving!

Visit the official ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY website: http://www.starwars.com/films/rogue-one; Like STAR WARS on Facebook; Follow STAR WARS on Twitter; Follow STAR WARS on Instagram.

For more information, visit: http://disney.com/moana; LIKE MOANA on Facebook; Follow MOANA on Twitter; Follow MOANA on Instagram.

CLASSES & THINGS TO DO, KIDS, MBMOMS-TO-BE

SOLD OUT #grandviewmoms Fall 2016 “Mommy & Me” Classes

August 11, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

The “Modern Boca Mommy & Me” Program (#grandviewmoms) at Grandview Preparatory School is still one of the hottest class tickets in Boca Raton! #grandviewmoms Fall 2016 class registration and dates are below.

PLEASE CALL 561-416-9737 ext. 1311 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

If you’re hearing about this program for the first time, here’s some background:

Each “Modern Boca Mommy & Me” class is held 3-5 times per month at Grandview Preparatory School and is specifically tailored to capture the attention and imaginations of children in two age groups:

Babies 6+ weeks to Walkers
Confident Walkers to Age 3

Classes will include a rotating schedule of activities including yoga, dance, movement and music– all offered by top notch Grandview Preparatory School Early Childhood faculty. Our program offers moms the chance to have their children learn and explore in a professional educational setting.

How great is that?!

Don’t know much about Grandview Preparatory School? They are an independent college preparatory, nonsectarian, coeducational day school founded in 1997 in east Boca Raton. Student enrollment is offered for Pre-Kindergarten (age 3) through Grade 12.

Grandview redefines ‘Preparatory’ with innovative learning experiences and focus on character and values. In class and beyond, Grandview students discover their talents, create their own path, engage in meaningful activities, and contribute to the community.

COST:

Babies Class Pass (Babies-Walkers, 8 classes/$15.00 per class) is $120.00 for September-December 2016 classes.

Toddlers Class Pass (Walkers-Age 3, 12 classes/$15.00 per class) is $180.00 for September-December 2016 classes.

Please use the link below to select and register for the fall session!

SOLD OUT #grandviewmoms Baby Class Dates (all at 10:30 a.m.):

6 Weeks- Walking

SEPTEMBER (10:30AM-11:15AM):

9/7 Music BABIES

9/21 Music BABIES

OCTOBER (10:30AM-11:15AM):

10/5 Music BABIES

10/19 Music BABIES (Halloween Dress Up)

NOVEMBER (10:30AM-11:15AM):

11/9 Music BABIES

11/16 Music BABIES

DECEMBER (10:30AM-11:15AM):

12/7 Music BABIES

12/14 Music BABIES (Holiday Edition)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SOLD OUT #grandviewmoms Toddler Class Dates (all at 10:30 a.m.):

Strong Walkers – Age 3

SEPTEMBER (10:30AM-11:15AM):

9/13 Music TODDLERS

9/20 Yoga TODDLERS

9/27 Dance TODDLERS

OCTOBER (10:30AM-11:15AM):

10/4 Yoga TODDLERS

10/11 Music TODDLERS

10/18 Dance TODDLERS (Halloween Dress Up)

NOVEMBER (10:30AM-11:15AM):

11/1 Music TODDLERS

11/8 Yoga TODDLERS

11/15 Dance TODDLERS

DECEMBER (10:30AM-11:15AM):

12/6 Yoga TODDLERS

12/13 Dance TODDLERS

12/20 Music TODDLERS (Holiday Edition)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Space is limited to 15 families for babies and 20 families for toddlers (per class). Please note: the “Mommy & Me Yoga” and “Dance” classes are only for children who are walking confidently on their own.*

“Mommy & Me Yoga” Class Description: With yoga as the foundation, this class will be filled with music and movement, games, and relaxation. We’ll bark in downward dog, moo in cow, and flutter our wings in butterfly, while we take a yoga journey that your child will never forget!

“Mommy & Me Dance” Class Description: This is a creative class for boys and girls with emphasis placed on musicality, locomotor movements, stretching and strengthening exercises, basic dance terminology and most importantly, FUN! Please wear comfortable dance clothing and either dance shoes or barefoot.

Please note that Grandview Preparatory School is a peanut and tree nut-free campus. For the safety of their students, we ask that you refrain from bringing any item that may include peanuts and/or tree nuts (including those items that are processed in the same facility). Thank you for your adherence to this policy.

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by Grandview Preparatory School. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

TRAVEL

Zipping Around Boca in the 2016 Mazda CX-3

August 9, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

For the first time in 12 years, I’m actively preparing for back-to-school and I’m EXHAUSTED! How does a 3 year-old need so many supplies? Mucho props to all the moms out there who have multiple kids…and school supply lists. Seriously, MAJOR KUDOS! Luckily, the week I ended up ordering uniforms and making (multiple) trips to Office Depot also happened to be the week I tested out the new 2016 Mazda CX-3.

What a zippy car! That’s what I nicknamed the Mazda CX-3 that week: Zippy.

2016 Mazda CX-3 Boca Mom Test Drive

Even though my bulky toddler car seat was a bit of a tight fit in this “not quite a car, not quite an SUV” subcompact crossover, we still managed to make it work and fill up the trunk space with tons of school stuff.

Plus, I didn’t feel guilty driving all over town (multiple times, mind you) because the 2016 Mazda CX-3 is engineered with breakthrough SKYACTIV® TECHNOLOGY. It delivers unmatched driving dynamics right alongside outstanding fuel economy.

Mazda Mom

This is not the first Mazda I’ve test-driven in the name of blogging. You can read several of my other reviews HERE and HERE.

I really like the brand and have not been disappointed by their different sized models.

You may have noticed that some of my photos in this post look a bit rainy. Well, that’s because it’s summer in South Florida and I couldn’t manage to time my shoot correctly. BUT, we all know that on the road, the weather can change in an instant. Mazda’s uniquely smart ACTIV AWD® system monitors conditions and adjusts your power to help give you ideal traction before wheels have the chance to slip. Safety first for my family!

The 2016 Mazda CX-3 has my favorite MAZDA CONNECT™ infotainment system with bluetooth and commander control knob.

It also has a killer leather interior that made me feel way cooler than the basic Boca mom that I am. 😉 Look- red leather!!!

All in all, I was a happy driver that week…albeit a very tired one. Thanks Mazda for letting me take one of your babies out on the Boca roads!

Hosted: Modern Boca Mom was loaned a 2016 Mazda CX-3 for the period of one week for consideration in this review.

Connect with Mazda on social media! LIKE on Facebook and Follow Mazda on Twitter to stay up to date on all of the latest car trends and special offers. #drivemazda

CLASSES & THINGS TO DO, KIDS, MBMOMS-TO-BE

Boca Beth El Early Learning Center: NEW Sensory Mommy and Me Classes

August 8, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

This Modern Boca Mom LOVES her a good Mommy & Me class. Lucky for my readers with babies or toddlers, Boca’s Beth El Early Learning Center is launching a NEW sensory Mommy & Me class starting September 6th!

Boca Beth El Early Learning Center Presents Mommy & Me with Miss Sam

A new take on Mommy and Me, this class puts and emphasis on sensory play. Sensory activities encourage exploration and facilitate learning organically. This program will provide your toddler with a sense of self as they grow and develop in the warm and nurturing environment that the Boca Beth El Early Learning Center provides.

A strong foundation will be set for these young toddlers as they learn to share, play cooperatively and respect their peers through stories, songs, music, art and movement!

Mommy & Me with Miss Sam Class Details:

DATES: Mommy & Me with Miss Sam classes start September 6, 2016. Two options are offered for different age groups.

For babies 12-18 months with parent or caregiver – Tuesdays from 11:00 -12:30 p.m.
For babies/toddlers 18-24 months with parent or caregiver -Thursdays from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

COST: $360 class fee includes 15 one and a half hour sessions. The first class is FREE!

REGISTER: http://bethelearlylearningcenter.tbeboca.org/beth-el-babies

About the teacher: Samantha Barhai holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Child Development and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration. She has taught at the Beth El Learning Center since 2014, and brings a unique sense of warmth and fun to her classroom.

Boca Beth El Early Learning Center at Temple Beth El Beck Family Campus is a place where children and families thrive in an atmosphere of friendship, curiosity, self-esteem, Jewish values, joy and respect. Where enriching education and stimulating curriculum lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Where each child’s individual potential is fostered and developed to be the best it can be. And Boca Temple Beth El Beck Family Campus is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certified education facility! This is not only beneficial for the environment, but for the children that learn and play there every day.

Please contact the Beth El Early Learning Center at 561-391-8901 for more information, or visit the website.

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by Temple Beth El. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was compensated for this post, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

FITNESS, MBMOMS-TO-BE, MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Prenatal and Beyond Fit

August 8, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the founder of Prenatal and Beyond Fit, Moji Doyle!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to start Prenatal and Beyond Fit…

I was born to a German mother and Persian father and was raised in Germany, England and France. I studied languages, law & economics at the University of Nice, France, where I also met my former husband. Since France was going into a recession, we decided to move to South Florida where his parents still reside today. With an international background, I worked for a technology firm in sales for over 4 years.

In the meantime, I had had my second child, working long hours and I didn’t want to have someone else raise my children. So when my youngest child, 13 months at the time, was diagnosed with a serious hip infection (he could have become crippled), I had to reevaluate my options. With a keen interest in health and wellness since the young age of 16 and the desire to help others, I decided to quit my corporate job and follow my dream to start up my own prenatal fitness business.

To my delight, I found that it was an untapped market, especially here in South Florida. It was super flexible, which was super important to me as a mom, and I could set my own hours and work around my children’s schedule.

I researched certifications extensively and other prenatal fitness businesses in the marketplace. I became certified as a Personal Trainer and Prenatal Fitness Coach in 2001 and shortly thereafter, the owner of a women’s gym offered me a position to teach prenatal fitness classes!

What’s unique about Prenatal and Beyond Fit and why should MBMoms become your clients?

What’s unique with Prenatal and Beyond Fit is that with my Pre & Postnatal Fitness Coaching (I offer in-home and via Facetime/Skype), I specifically target women who are trying to conceive, are expecting or have just had their baby. These are also women who would like to stay or get fit and be well prepared physically, mentally and emotionally for the big event or the postpartum period.

Since there is so much mixed information out there, new moms are often unsure what exercises they can do, and which ones they should avoid or modify as they become pregnant. Therefore, they stop exercising as soon as they are pregnant for fear of hurting their baby. With my expertise, I can give new and expectant moms peace of mind and teach them what they should be focusing on and what they should modify or avoid.

With my 15 years of knowledge in the field and experience as a mother of two, I’ve worked with hundreds of new and expectant moms. I’m also a contributing author and work closely with my clients’ doctors and midwives. Every workout is fun, safe and tailored to the client’s stage of pregnancy, fitness level and how a client is feeling on a given day.

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

Many expecting women today do not incorporate any form of exercise into their daily routine. My goal is to empower and educate as many women as possible to get or stay active before, during and after pregnancy. The benefits are not only tremendous for the mom, but also for the unborn child.

I’m continuously working on blog articles and exercise videos that are published to my website/blog and social media sites and I’ve been working on a number of e-books recently relative to diet and exercise. Even more exciting, I’m currently working on a project which will enable women to stay fit on their own from their smartphone or laptop.

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

I am a beach girl/mermaid at heart and feel very privileged to be able to take a short walk to the beach and watch the sun rise and set. The beach is my sanity and “therapist” and it brings me joy and peace. I love waking up early, to see the day unfold; getting a workout in before I train my clients, or ride my bike.

I have wonderful clients and friends and amazing children. I feel very lucky and I think waking up in a beautiful surrounding contributes to my happiness.

Follow Prenatal and Beyond Fit:

Website-Prenatal and Beyond Fit

Facebook- Prenatal and Beyond Fit

Instagram-Prenatal and Beyond Fit

Twitter-Prenatal and Beyond Fit

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

CLASSES & THINGS TO DO, KIDS, Modern FL Mom

Pete’s Dragon Coloring Sheets from Walt Disney Studios

August 5, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Disney’s Pete’s Dragon soars into theaters on August 12th and our family is getting ready. We even have some Pete’s Dragon coloring sheets to share via an easy download below!

We watched this awesome behind-the-scenes video with Elliott:

Then, we downloaded these coloring sheets to keep us busy (especially on rainy Boca days). You can download and print these Pete’s Dragon coloring sheets too!

Pete’s Dragon Coloring Sheets

Pete’s Dragon coloring sheets

About the movie…

For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley).

Oakes Fegley is Pete in Disney's PETE'S DRAGON, the story of a boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just happens to be a dragon. — Oakes Fegley is Pete in Disney’s PETE’S DRAGON, the story of a boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just happens to be a dragon.

Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.

Follow Disney’s Pete’s Dragon on Social Media:

Website: www.disney.com/petesdragon

Like us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/disneypetesdragon

Instagram: http://instagram.com/disneypetesdragon

Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/

Visit the official PETE’S DRAGON website here: http://movies.disney.com/petes-dragon-2016

PETE’S DRAGON flies into theatres everywhere on August 12, 2016!

Uncategorized

Handling the Outbreak of Zika in South Florida

August 5, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

With the recent news of Wynwood in Miami closing temporarily due to Zika in South Florida, many have been panicking and trying to find effective ways to ward off these mosquitos in our area. After all, Miami is only an hour away from Boca Raton!

Zika in South Florida: How to Protect Yourself

Rather than freak out and douse yourself in DEET, there are some organic alternatives to protecting your skin from this recent epidemic. Using natural ingredients is a way to take initiative and prevent your skin from being in danger of Zika in South Florida.

21drops®’s bug spray provides these proven insect repellent ingredients in their Bug Spray. In it, you’ll find: lemon eucalyptus, patchouli, and cedarwood essential oils, and Lemon Verbena and Rose Geranium hydrosol.

DEET can be just as harmful as bug bites themselves. It is imperative to look for organic solutions that still get the job done.

According to the CDC, children who are exposed to toxicity of DEET can suffer from headaches, seizures, and convulsions. DEET can dissolve glass frames and fabrics. This raises huge concerns of the effects it has on our skin over time. It is a serious thing to consider that DEET could do more harm than help. It is counterproductive to use a harmful toxin just to prevent being infected by another harmful pest. Even if there is Zika in South Florida…

Organic alternatives ensure that you are being protected from bite. It also benefits your skin by using pure, natural ingredients. Although you need to reapply more frequently when using organic ingredients, it is usually better than applying toxins directly to your skin.

The summertime should be a season of relaxation, fun, and enjoying the outdoors. Organic bug spray allows you to not live in fear. You can embrace Mother Nature’s beauty…even during a buggy Boca Raton summer.

MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: The Salt Station

July 25, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the founder of The Salt Station, Heather Veeravagu!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to start The Salt Station…

I grew up in South Florida and attended the University of Florida, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. When I started my engineering career, I had no idea where my journey would take me. But, I did learn that I liked the challenge of solving problems and developing solutions that made people’s live better.

After a few years, I met my husband and we moved around– we lived in Boston and Michigan, where I worked at a tech start-up and then at General Motors. After our first child arrived, we wanted to be closer to family and get back to the warm weather of South Florida. So, we came back to Boynton Beach, and our second daughter was born. At that point, we had two young children under the age of 2, so we made the decision for me to be a stay-at-home-mom with the girls.

I began looking for my next steps. My husband and young daughter seemed to always be suffering from terrible allergies and sinus problems. They were constantly sneezing, coughing, taking strong medicines and even missing school and work. I wasn’t happy having my family constantly on pills and sprays, but we didn’t think there was any alternative. Then, through a friend we came upon salt halotherapy as a natural alternative to treating allergies and respiratory conditions.

My husband and daughter started going to a center for treatments and almost immediately, they started experiencing significant relief from their constant symptoms. During one of our family salt therapy treatments, I decided what my next step would be: to open my own salt therapy center!

What challenges did you face?

The idea was just the first step. The challenges of finding a space, negotiating a lease and overseeing the build-out process were all new to me…not to mention, keeping up with my two daughters and their busy schedules. My mom-skills coupled with my engineering training helped me with problem solving, prioritization, time management and multitasking to get the job done and keep moving forward.

What’s unique about The Salt Station and why should MBMoms become your clients?

Salt therapy is a relatively new treatment in the US, but is well known and widely utilized in Europe to treat a variety of ailments through all-natural means. In addition to the positive benefits on your respiratory system, salt therapy is a great way to manage and relieve stress.

As you sit in the peaceful salt halotherapy treatment room, the salt micro-particles surround you and produce negative ions that have been documented to have beneficial effects. These negative ions help restore your sense of well-being and counteract all the positive ions given off by the pollution, stagnant indoor environments and numerous electronic devices that we are surrounded by everyday.

At The Salt Station, we offer salt therapy for the whole family in nature inspired rooms. In the ocean-themed children’s room, the floor is covered in pink Himalayan Salt, where the children play and adults can relax in Adirondack chairs outside of the salted area.

Our canyon-themed adult room is an excellent way to relax and unplug in our fast-paced world – all while receiving the benefits of salt therapy. Additionally, we are excited to offer one of the only salt beds in Palm Beach County in our forest-themed private room. The unique salt bed allows those with skin conditions to receive full skin exposure to the micronized salt during the 15-minute private treatment. In addition, the benefit to the respiratory system is the same as the 45-minute treatment in the adult room.

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

As a new and local small business operating in the holistic health space, we’re working hard to build awareness of and educate people on the many great benefits of salt halotherapy.

We’ll be around the town, spreading the word about The Salt Station at local events such as the Cobra Country 5K at Park Vista High School and the Vitamin Shoppe wellness fair. To show our appreciation to our community, The Salt Station is pleased to offer discounts to first time customers who may not have tried salt therapy before. We believe that the benefits of full body experience will be evident after just one visit. In addition, we are in the process of planning our Grand Opening event for this fall!

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

As a Florida native, I love the beach, the ocean and the sun! I value living near family and being able to spend holidays and regular days with the people most important to me. Sharing the uniqueness of Florida and the places I visited as a child with my daughters and husband is a fun perk as well!

I also appreciate meeting such a diverse group of people here in South Florida. In the short time that The Salt Station has been open, I’ve met people from all walks of life– busy moms with young kids, time-starved professionals, active retirees, and world travelers.

Follow The Salt Station:

Website- www.thesaltstation.com

Facebook- The Salt Station

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

CLASSES & THINGS TO DO, KIDS, Modern FL Mom

Disney’s Pete’s Dragon Soared Into Theaters August 12th

July 20, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, Disney’s Pete’s Dragon is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon!

I can’t wait to check out this adventure with my family…

“Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”), Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (“Cedar Rapids”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”).

Bryce Dallas Howard is Grace and Robert Redford is Mr. Meacham in Disney's PETE'S DRAGON, the adventure of a boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just happens to be a dragon. — Bryce Dallas Howard is Grace and Robert Redford is Mr. Meacham in Disney’s PETE’S DRAGON, the adventure of a boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just happens to be a dragon.

Disney’s Pete’s Dragon opens in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.

Download these Awesome Pete’s Dragon Activity Sheets!

Petes-Dragon-Activity-Sheets-2016

Follow Disney’s Pete’s Dragon on Social Media:

Website: www.disney.com/petesdragon

Like us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/disneypetesdragon

Instagram: http://instagram.com/disneypetesdragon

Modern FL Mom

The Scariest Day of My Boca Mom Life (So Far)

July 19, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Having my daughter was one of the happiest days of my life. It was honestly also one of the scariest. First babies are terrifying, aren’t they? Since then, even though Boca mom life has had its challenges, I haven’t had any majorly “scary” days…until recently.

You might have read about my recent thermography scan at The Wise Women’s Sanctuary in Lake Worth, FL. That post was rather personal and I didn’t post every picture from the scan. But, I felt compelled to share my experience with you. Now, I’d like to share what happened next.

“There looks like there could be a few trouble spots in your left breast. I’ll send in a prescription for a mammogram and breast ultrasound for you. Please make an appointment ASAP,” said my OB over the phone.

My heart sank. I had to sit down. I thought: I’m 33 and I need to go get a mammogram??

So, I called the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute and made an appointment for the following week. I tried to put it out of my mind. I had a summer vacation to plan and work to finish, so I could enjoy most of July out of state with my family (I try to avoid Boca mom life when it’s that hot out…)

What if I have cancer?

Of course I thought that. It was one of my first thoughts. When something shows up on a medical scan or test as concerning, your mind goes to the worst possible place. I was just grateful at that point to have gotten the Thermography scan in the first place.

I went to my appointment at the Lynn Women’s Institute (Boca mom life indeed– that place is really fancy), signed in and donned my paper dressing gown/top and headed in to the waiting room to wait my turn.

I was easily the youngest person there, which only added to my anxiety.

First up: mammogram. The technician looked at me funny and kept asking me why I was there. YEAH, I’M WONDERING THAT MYSELF TOO LADY.

Test results: Negative.

Next up: breast ultrasound. This time, I showed the technician my Thermography scan images, so she could target the areas that my OB was concerned about.

Test results: Negative.

I have never been more relieved in my life.

You better believe I’ll be getting future Thermography scans to monitor any changes in my body. And, I highly recommend the ladies at The Wise Women’s Sanctuary to take care of you. I kept them apprised every step of this terrifying process and they were so supportive and understanding.

Without your health, you have nothing. Be sure to take the time to take care of you.

xo,

Modern Boca Mom

TRAVEL

What to Pack & Expect on an Impact Travel Cruise with Fathom

July 19, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 2 Comments

When the Enactus team from Flagler College (full disclosure: I’m an alumnus of the Enactus team that is working on an independent impact project in the DR) reached out to me and asked if I might be interested in taking an impact travel cruise with Fathom Travel to the Dominican Republic, my first inclination was to say no. First off, I had no idea what impact travel was. Secondly, the cruise was only three weeks away.

How was I supposed to turn my life around that quickly to accommodate a 7 DAY CRUISE? I immediately started Googling ‘what to pack and what to expect on an impact cruise with Fathom’. But, I also decided I should invite some friends to join me on the adventure!

Impact Travel with Fathom — Courtesy AprilGolightly.com

Yep- that’s April Golightly and Essentially Erika (aka Modern Boca Crunchy Mom) with my best childhood friend, Rose. We all somehow convinced our husbands to watch our kids for the week (the youngest allowed on board is 8 years old) while we went off to do some good and make a difference in the DR.

This was our ship, the Fathom Adonia. You can expect to spend each night on board, even when you’re in port (which is so nice- you only have to unpack once!). It fits 704 passengers, so it’s a more intimate vessel. It’s beautiful and I truly enjoyed running into the same people over and over again onboard.

Your impact travel cruise will depart for Amber Cove/Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic from the Port of Miami, so it’s also an easy drive from Boca Raton, Florida.

But what is impact travel and why would you take a Fathom cruise to experience it?

Also known as voluntourism, impact travel according to Fathom is “a whole new category of travel: it’s travel with purpose. Travel that transforms lives. Sometimes including your own. Impact travel with Fathom provides the opportunity to build community with like-minded travelers, become immersed in another culture and work alongside its people to create enduring social impact.”

In the Dominican Republic, you have the opportunity to work side by side with local residents in programs that focus on improving the lives of children, families and communities. You can help to reforest different areas of the island. How about helping to build a concrete floor in someone’s home? You can help to increase the production of recycled paper for a co-op of single moms. There are also options to work on a water filtration project, help to teach families English or produce chocolate bars.

Up to three impact travel activities are included in each Fathom journey. We chose to participate in: Reforestation, Concrete Floors and Recycled Paper/Arts & Crafts. We had amazing experiences connecting with the Dominican people during each project and felt like we really made a difference in the lives of the people we worked with.

That didn’t mean our impact travel cruise was all work and no play. We alternated our impact travel activity days in port with some traditional tourist “stuff” as well!

Teleferico Puerto Plata Cable Car

In Puerto Plata, we took the Teleferico Puerto Plata Cable Car up the mountain to see the island. It was amazing getting to see how beautiful the country is from that height! It’s a fun, quick and easy ride up. Once you’re on the mountain, there is a park, restaurant and gift shops to explore.

Fun fact: The Dominican Republic’s giant statue of Christ the Redeemer, situated on the Isabel de Torres mountain in the north coast city of Puerto Plata, was recently named a sister statue of Brazil’s statue of Jesus, situated on top of the Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

27 Waterfalls (The Damajaqua Cascades)

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Northern Corridor mountain range and behind the long stalks of sugarcane lays a treasure you won’t find anywhere else in the world: 27 awe-inspiring pools, etched out of limestone, for tourists’ enjoyment.

Our impact travel group managed to swim, slide and jump off of seven of the falls before we were so hungry, we had to break for lunch…

Even though I was a bit scared going in, it was an amazing experience. You MUST NOT miss it if you visit Puerto Plata!

Brugal Rum Factory, Playa Dorada Beach and Fort San Felipe

From Wikipedia: Fortaleza San Felipe is a historic Spanish fortress, also known as El Morro de San Felipe and was used to protect the City of Puerto Plata from pirates and corsairs. It is located on a hill at the Puntilla Del Malecón, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean; its strategic location protected the entrance to the city’s seaport. The construction of the fort was commissioned by King Felipe II of Spain in 1564, and it was completed in 1577 by Don Rengifo de Angulo, the fort’s mayor.

We spent our last day in port:

Touring (and buying gifts at) the Brugal Rum Factory
Swimming and shopping at Playa Dorada
Visiting Fort San Felipe

We managed to do all of this in one morning with the assistance of our fabulous taxi driver we hired for the day. Request Valera in the port– you won’t be sorry!

Brugal rum aging- 1 bottle for each consecutive year

Onboard the Fathom Adonia

There is no shortage of great food, drinks and activities on the Fathom Adonia.

In our two sea days alone, I managed to take a Yoga class, Pilates class, two Mixology/Cocktail classes, a Wine & Paint class, saw a movie, sang karaoke and met with our cohort groups to prepare for and measure the impact of all the projects we participated in.

Yes! You actually get to see in black and white the difference you and Fathom Travel are making in the Dominican Republic! The cumulative numbers blew my mind.

On our last day, I even decided to splurge on a pedicure at the ship’s spa! You can’t beat a view like that…

If you spring for a balcony room, I encourage you to spend some time reading (or meditating) with this view.

What to Pack on a Fathom Impact Travel Cruise

Coffee tumbler
Waterproof sneakers. You will wear them if you do the 27 Waterfalls and during messier impact projects. Mine were Speedo brand and are available for purchase HERE.
Insect repellant (there is a Zika alert in the DR)
Long, lightweight pants. Jeans are too HOT.
Hat
Sunscreen
Backpack
Socks and flip flops (TIP: Keep your flip flops in your backpack if you do any activities where your sneakers might get muddy or wet)
Plastic bags for wet/dirty clothes shoes
Cash (Internet in the DR is spotty, so credit cards are not taken at very many places)
Wine (you’re allowed 1 bottle per person onboard)
Bottles of water (We brought a whole case and stashed them in our refrigerator onboard)
Camera
An e-reader
Workout clothes
Casual dresses for dinner in the dining room
Sandals (no heels)
Travel hair dryer
Small satchel/purse (for around the ship)
Swimsuits (pack multiple)

You can follow along with other people traveling with Fathom by following the impact travel hashtag #TravelDeep on your favorite social media channels. I can’t wait to make a difference with Fathom and my amazing travel buddies again!

Special thanks to Flagler College Enactus for helping to organize this life changing impact travel experience and my fellow travel buddies and bloggers, Essentially Erika and April Golightly for contributing photos to this post.

Sponsored: All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by Fathom Travel. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was given a complimentary 7 day cruise (not including taxes, fees, gratuities and extras) and cable car ride at Teleferico Puerto Plata but that does not impact my views or opinions.

EVENTS, KIDS, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

All Hail the Boca Birthday Girl at JoBella Girls Boutique!

July 11, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

When your daughter has a summer birthday and you feel like pool parties have been DONE to death, what’s a Boca mom to do? Celebrate your Boca birthday girl and her special day at JoBella Girls Boutique!

Held in the prettiest, pinkest store in west Boca, this air conditioned party is a little girl’s delight!

Your Boca birthday girl and her friends will learn how to make lip gloss, a sweet-smelling sugar scrub or a custom tutu under the direction of the store’s owner and founder, Jo Ann Penkalski and team.

Here’s how it works. There are several mix and match package options available for your Boca birthday girl, depending on the number of guests she’d like in attendance.

Tutu Parties for the Boca Birthday Girl

Party for 4 girls $150

2 different colors of tulle
Party host/s to assist
Freeze dance
Fashion show
Each girl will leave with their own hand made tutu
Special Princess Crown for the Birthday Girl
10 girls max
$20 for each additional girl

Add on items (4 girls):

$32 – Create your own headband – choose headband color and satin bow. $8 for each additional
$24 – Create your own lip gloss- one lip gloss per girl. $6 for each additional
$72 – Create your own Sugar Scrub Sundae (3 scoops). $12 for each additional

Parties may be held on Friday or Saturday evenings beginning at 6:00 p.m. with at least 1 week notice; 2 weeks if you require special tulle colors.

50% Deposit required at the time of booking. Must cancel 7 days before party to receive refund.

I love that you can bring your own food and drinks in and need close to zero decorations since the store is already so festive and girly.

This celebratory occasion calls for cupcakes and sparkling cider! Enjoy the party!

Book your birthday party today by calling: (561) 617-5334

9858 Clint Moore Rd C129

Boca Raton, FL

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by JoBella Girls Boutique. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was compensated for this post, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

EVENTS, KIDS, Modern FL Mom

Can’t Wait for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast?

July 11, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Then you’ll appreciate what just popped into my inbox…the new teaser poster from Walt Disney Studios for the movie, the live action version Beauty and the Beast! How gorgeous is this??

I love this film.

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the “tale as old as time” for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs.

“Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.

And the Beauty and the Beast cast is AMAZING

The film stars: Emma Watson as Belle; Dan Stevens as the Beast; Luke Evans as Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle; Oscar® winner Kevin Kline as Maurice, Belle’s eccentric, but lovable father; Josh Gad as Lefou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp; Golden Globe® nominee Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, the candelabra; Oscar nominee Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord; Oscar nominee Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, the mantel clock; and two-time Academy Award® winner Emma Thompson as the teapot, Mrs. Potts.

Directed by Oscar® winner Bill Condon based on the 1991 animated film, “Beauty and the Beast” is produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman with eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards® (Best Original Score and Best Song) for the 1991 animated film, providing the score, which will include new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as several new songs written by Menken and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice.

“Beauty and the Beast” will be released in U.S. theaters on March 17, 2017. Let the countdown begin!

Like the movie on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DisneyBeautyAndTheBeast

Modern FL Mom, MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: The Shine Collection

July 10, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the founder of The Shine Collection, Dianne Brickman!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to start The Shine Collection…

I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Syracuse University. I graduated with a degree in Retail Management and spent several years in New York City working in both marketing and management. I worked for iconic brands like Barneys New York, Nike and DKNY Coats. I loved the excitement of living and working in Manhattan, but when I met my husband, I relocated to be with him in Washington, DC.

We started a family and I chose to become a stay at home mom for many years. As our children grew up, I decided to launch a business that would allow me flexibility, but enable me to indulge my love of style and selling.

The Shine Collection started in 2013 with just one style, our Classic Tunic. I had been wearing tunics that I purchased from a website and found that I was getting compliments from women of all ages! I thought that if this style appealed to women in their teens to those in their 60’s, I wanted to make my own. I love that tunics flatter women of all ages and shapes. They can be worn over a bathing suit or with a pair of white jeans for a fresh, sophisticated look. Since the launch of the business, we have added additional styles (including lounge wear), but always kept the focus on casual fashion.

What’s unique about The Shine Collection and why should MBM readers purchase your clothing?

What’s unique is that all of our Shine Collection garments are designed with hand blocked cotton fabrics made in India. Hand block printing is an old Indian art form. It uses hand carved teak wood block that is dipped in natural dyes and stamped by hand onto cotton. The subtle differences in the fabrics add to the unique style making each garment, one of a kind, just like the woman who wears it.

The line is perfect for the South Florida lifestyle. Colorful, casual styles that can be worn to the beach or a backyard BBQ. With a boho, preppy style, The Shine Collection line appeals to the young and young at heart.

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

I’ve always had a strong commitment to giving back to the community. During the past year, I have participated in events from Miami to West Palm Beach. I am always on the lookout for ways to promote The Shine Collection and help raise money for local charities in the area. We are excited to support the community around us.

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

I am coming up on my one year South Florida-versary! The weather is amazing and we love taking advantage of the Florida lifestyle. Golf, tennis and hanging out on the beach is for us. Our motto is, “Beach days are the best days!” I’m glad we can combine Florida living with our working lifestyle as a family.

Follow The Shine Collection:

Website- www.theshinecollection.com

Facebook- The Shine Collection

Instagram-The Shine Collection

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

HOME & GARDEN, Modern FL Mom

Boca Raton Guest Bedroom Makeover

July 8, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

It’s amazing what a little color and styling can do to improve the look of a room. If you follow @modernbocamom on Instagram, you may have noticed that we’re working on redecorating our house this year (one room/space at a time). I’ve been lobbying for a Boca Raton guest bedroom makeover, but it was rather low on the house priority list because of the expense of our recent pool and patio renovation.

But when you happen upon an unbelievable Memorial Day weekend bedding sale, you have to go for it right?

Boca Raton Guest Bedroom Makeover: BEFORE

Lovely, but sooooo beige….

I hung up our silk floral monogram from our wedding…which I kind of dug. Most of our houseguest entertaining involves people who attended our 2011 nuptials, after all. 🙂

AFTER

We purchased new queen size bedding for the guest room from Sears (of all places!).
I re-styled the existing bedroom accessories.
I hung up my “works of art” from all the Wine & Paint Nights I’ve attended at the Boca Raton Children’s Museum on the walls.

It was easy, but made such a difference!

Boca Raton Guest Bedroom Makeover — So cozy! I really loved the layers in this bedding set…

What do you think? The room now has some nice color contrast (floor/furniture/walls vs. bedding & accessories) and looks much sunnier, in my opinion.

It also has its own bathroom and this not too shabby view, so we expect to have a good amount of visitors this coming winter.

Our living room renovation (which was a big one) and #dailybocaavery’s “Big Girl Room” are up next on my home to do list!

Happy summer (re)decorating Boca Raton!

Modern FL Mom, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Never Run Out of Water Again with ReadyRefresh℠ by Nestlé®

July 6, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

Thank you to ReadyRefresh ℠ by Nestlé ® for sponsoring this blog post. All opinions are my own.

Living in South Florida, having a steady supply of water at the ready is ESSENTIAL for my family, especially during the summer months. In fact, we have a mini bottled water fridge in our garage, so we are always ready to grab water whenever we head out (as long as #modernbocadad remembers to refill it!!).

Not only does it help keep us hydrated, but bottled water is a healthy alternative to soda and juice. Did you know that by replacing a single 12-ounce, 140 calorie sugar sweetened beverage with water each day for a year, you can cut more than 50,000 calories from your diet? I don’t know about you, but if there’s ever an easy way to cut calories, then count me in.

Since we started using our “bottled water fridge”, we’ve had to stock up more and more often. I’ve found that when cold water is convenient and ready to drink, we consume more. And if we run out…cue angry Boca mom.

But buying bottled water by the individual bottle means you’re spending way too much time restocking at the grocery store. Buying in bulk keeps your shopping trips infrequent, but those cases are so heavy, and big box stores are energy-sapping circuses. With that dreaded trip to the store looming, a sense of anxiety takes over. As your bottled water supply dwindles, you begin to hoard those last few bottles for your kids, your spouse, or even just a thirstier moment. This is a phenomenon referred to as The Fear of Running Out aka FORO—denying yourself and your family the bottled water they want just so you don’t have to go back to the store or add another inconvenience to your day.

ReadyRefresh^SM by Nestlé® believes that your hydration should never hinge on the inconvenience of restocking your bottled water supply. Having your favorite bottled water on hand, without hassle, keeps you in control of what you drink, and when. Because when you’re thirsty, you should get to drink your beverage of choice—not fall victim to Fear of Running Out.

The Fear of Running Out aka FORO is REAL.

Not just with bottled water, but other household items too! I personally feel FORO most with coffee pods and paper towels. 🙂 Nestlé even conducted a study about it. Some of the results they found included:

More than half of all surveyed (52%) experience FORO at least once a week.
69% of survey respondents run low on everyday household items at least once a week.
Nearly half of all full-time working parents (46%) surveyed say they ration or replace everyday household items with a less desirable alternative at least once per week, in order to avoid running out completely.

About ReadyRefresh

When it comes to your home, you want to feel confident that you are always making the best choices for you and your family, especially when it comes to health. Now there’s an easy way to bring a little more health into your home – ReadyRefresh – a customizable beverage delivery service that provides your family with a variety of leading bottled water brands in assorted sizes and flavors like Zephyrhills (still and sparkling), Nestlé Pure Life, Perrier, San Pellegrino, and Acqua Panna.

With ReadyRefresh there is something for everyone in the family! With just a few clicks, or a few taps on your mobile device, through ReadyRefresh.com, you’ll quickly customize your order for thirst-quenching beverages delivered right to your door.

I need this.

You can sign up for this awesome service HERE. Save up to $50 plus FREE delivery on your first order!

Have you experienced FORO yourself? We want to hear about it! Tag your thoughts on social media with #NoMoreFORO

Follow ReadyRefresh on their website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

TRAVEL

Make Every Weekend a Boca Holiday Weekend at the Waterstone

July 5, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

We live where you vacation. I love to say that to non-Floridians, especially when a summer holiday weekend is on the horizon. 😉 And now after our third visit, I’ve decided there are few places better to stay-cation during a Boca holiday weekend than at the Waterstone Resort and Marina.

Boca holiday weekend Waterstone — The views are to die for…

I mean, the daily champagne reception from 4-7PM should be reason enough in itself!

Like I mentioned, my family and I have stayed at the Waterstone Resort & Marina before, but Boca holiday weekend times are my absolute favorite because you get that little bonus day to enjoy the resort’s MANY amenities.

This visit, we were invited to bunk in a suite. It is so much easier when we have a separate snoozing space for #dailybocaavery, so us parents can hang out after she goes to sleep. Game of Thrones isn’t going to catch up on itself.

This room was so freaking beautiful. That bathtub…

Avery easily fell asleep on the suite’s pullout couch, snuggling with Morty, the Waterstone’s manatee mascot…

…while we enjoyed the welcome spread. Ok fine, we did share the cookies and milk with our daughter.

We had a big Boca holiday weekend itinerary ahead of us at the Waterstone!

First up: BREAKFAST

Whether you’re eating inside at Boca Landing or outside with a view, the Waterstone’s buffet breakfast has something for everyone.

You can also eat breakfast and lunch out by the pool or order food to bring up to your room. SO NICE when your kids need an a/c break.

Next up: POOL TIME

The Waterstone’s pool has a front row seat to the Boca Raton bridge and intracoastal waterway leading out to beautiful Lake Boca. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy a frozen cocktail or two with friends and celebrate a Boca holiday weekend!

The weekend we stayed happened to be Father’s Day weekend. Let’s just say that I scored major points towards my birthday in August with this fabulous stay-cation…

Next up: BOCA HOLIDAY WEEKEND BOATING

Our Boca holiday weekend at the Waterstone overall was absolutely amazing. But, I would have to say that my favorite part was renting and taking out their electric boat on Lake Boca. It was so much fun!

#modernbocadad was obviously the captain of our vessel (even though us moms sported the captain’s’ hats). We grabbed some drinks and snacks and hopped aboard!

The boat was really easy to maneuver (I promise- not complicated at all!) and we were even able to find a cool spot to let the kids swim around in the lake. It was hot, so they were really excited to cool off.

You can find more information about boat rentals at the Waterstone HERE.

After our boat ride, it was time to cool off in the pool and get ready for dinner. My mom’s Father’s Day gift to my husband was watching our daughter that night, so we could have an adults-only dinner at Boca Landing. However, we could have also very easily eaten as a family outside at Waterstone Bar & Grill.

Next up: GOURMET DINING

Ever eaten a lionfish? How about the freshest fish dip in South Florida? You can find it all at the Waterstone’s modern on-site restaurant, Boca Landing.

We indulged in so many wonderful dishes including a peanut butter & jelly cake finale (yum!) featured in the gallery below:

Lionfish from the lionfish derby that afternoon- really delicious!

The Waterstone's signature fish dip — The Waterstone’s signature fish dip

Father's Day cocktail — Father’s Day cocktail

It was hands down, the best Father’s Day weekend we’ve ever spent together. And that’s the best part– we spent it TOGETHER as a family at a beautiful resort close to home in our own little vacation paradise: Boca Raton. Thank you Waterstone Resort & Marina.

Sponsored: All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was given a complimentary weekend stay at the Waterstone, boat rental, food and beverage gift cards and dine at Boca Landing, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

To experience the various dining options at Waterstone Resort & Marina – A DoubleTree by Hilton, call 561.368.9500 or for more information visit www.waterstoneboca.com and www.bocalanding.com and find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

For reservations at Boca Landing, please visit Open Table at http://www.opentable.com/boca-landing-waterstone-resort-and-marina-a-doubletree-by-hilton.

EVENTS, KIDS

Disney’s The BFG Stomped Into Theaters

July 1, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

The talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg – finally unite to bring Dahl’s beloved classic, Disney’s The BFG, to life and it opens in theaters nationwide TODAY (7/1/16)!

Directed by Spielberg, Disney’s The BFG tells the imaginative story of a young girl and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. The BFG (Mark Rylance), while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country. Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part.

Giants like Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumber and Frobscottle. Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie, a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions.

The BFG brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams. Having both been on their own in the world up until now, their affection for one another quickly grows, but Sophie’s presence in Giant Country has attracted the unwanted attention of the other giants, who have become increasingly more bothersome. Sophie and the BFG soon depart for London to see the Queen (Penelope Wilton) and warn her of the precarious giant situation, but they must first convince the Queen and her maid, Mary (Rebecca Hall), that giants do indeed exist. Together, they come up with a plan to get rid of the giants once and for all.

“The BFG” opens in U.S. theaters on July 1, 2016, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of Dahl’s birthday. Will you go see Disney’s The BFG this weekend?

Celebrate Disney’s The BFG opening by downloading these fun activities below!

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Like THE BFG on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebfgmovie
Follow Walt Disney Studios on Instagram: https://instagram.com/disneystudios
Follow Walt Disney Studios on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios

MOMPRENEURS, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

MOMpreneur Monday: JoBella Girls Boutique

June 19, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the founder of JoBella Girls Boutique and design closet, Jo Ann Penkalski!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to start JoBella Girls Boutique in West Boca…

I grew up in Ohio and went to college at Morehead State University majoring in Finance. I began my career working for a bank in Lexington, Kentucky and a couple years later, I moved to South Florida. I currently live in Delray Beach with my husband Joe and our two daughters, ages 14 and 11. Up until I opened my store, I had been working in accounting and finance for my entire career.

“I loved the work that I did, but I was always trying to find that one business opportunity that would allow me be there more for my girls. I wanted to be able to pick my girls up from school, not the nanny. I tried many different business opportunities, but nothing seemed to work.”

About 2 years ago, I purchased a website that sold girl’s clothing, but I soon found that my site was just a needle in a haystack of retail sites and it took A TON of work just to get people to visit it.

I was still working full time and did not have a lot of time to work on the site, so after much thought and prayer my husband and I decided to open JoBella Girls Boutique. It seemed like a perfect fit for me and I am not sure why I didn’t think of it sooner. I have always loved little girl clothes and shopping for baby shower gifts.

Finding the perfect location was not easy. Rents are expensive and locations were not perfect in my eyes. We were looking in East Boca and Delray (as that is where we live), but nothing panned out. I happened to come across The Reserve Shopping Center in West Boca one day and thought: maybe this is the place!

As it turned out, this area had a great need for a girl’s boutique! So many of my customers have told me how glad they are they can finally shop close to home.

What’s unique about your boutique and why should MBM readers and their girls shop there?

My store is unique because not only do we sell clothing, we also offer in-store, interactive fun. Girls can come in and make their own tutu, lip gloss, bath scrub or headband.

This enhances the shopping and bonding experience with one another and creates a fun atmosphere. We also offer in-store parties for birthdays and gatherings.

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

We are planning our Grand Opening party for August 13th! We will have fun activities and prizes for kids and special savings for moms and dads! We are opening our boutique in the Reserve Shopping Center in Boca Raton on Clint Moore Road & 441.

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

We love South Florida for its warmth and sunshine and of course, the beach! I love that there is so much to do in the area and plenty of opportunity for my family.

Follow JoBella Girls Boutique:

Facebook- JoBella Girls Boutique

Instagram-JoBella Girls Boutique

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

KIDS

Boca Raton Tennis Birthday Party Theme

June 15, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

We all know that in our fair city of Boca, there’s no shortage of creative birthday party venues or ideas. That’s why when my friend Claudia threw her 3 year-old a Boca Raton tennis birthday party, I had to have her write about it for us…

Enjoy!

Each year, I seek out a unique birthday party theme that will encourage/support whatever sport/activity my daughter is currently into. Coming from an architecture/interior design pre-mommy career, I really enjoy creating one-of-a-kind themes and designs. This year, my “Boca Raton tennis birthday party” idea came about naturally.

My daughter developed a big interest in tennis (from the age of 2) after watching tennis competition videos of her older cousins from Peru, who compete around the world. I started researching and found out that Patch Reef Tennis Center was the only academy in Boca that will teach a toddler as young as 3.

She started taking tennis classes in February of this year and absolutely loved it from the very first lesson! Lucky for me, Patch Reef offers a 2 hour tennis birthday party package which includes:

1.5 hours with 3 tennis pros/teachers
Half hour food/cake cutting in their air conditioned party room

I decided to have all of the food and cake right on the courts so everyone stayed engaged and guests had the option to snack and drink at their leisure. Patch Reef provided a nice canopied area with tables/chairs for adults and 3 kids’ picnic tables, so all I had to bring was decorations, food and drinks!

The colors for the party were a combination of pink and lime green. The invitations featured adorable pink tennis balls.

Believe it or not, the food was from Costco and my daughter’s fondant cake with dulce de leche filling was from Whole Foods.

All 20+ kids were eager to play tennis and had a ton of fun! For most of the kids, it was their first introduction to tennis and they were very engaged.

I am thrilled that our Boca Raton tennis birthday party ended up as a successful theme to celebrate my daughter’s 3rd birthday!

MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: McDonald and Associates, PA

June 12, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the founder of McDonald and Associates, PA, Shannon Quinn McDonald!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to start McDonald and Associates?

I’m originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan and a midwest girl at heart. After graduating from law school, I started my career as a judicial law clerk before moving to California to work in entertainment law. California was beautiful, however, both my husband and I felt that when the time came to think about starting our own family, Florida was a better choice for a number of reasons.

Before having my daughter, I served as the General Counsel for a private equity firm located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. After much thought and consideration, I decided that starting my own practice would be a way to have more flexibility with my schedule and be able to spend more time with my daughter while still allowing me to do what I love – which is practice law. For me, I feel having this balance in my life makes me a better wife, mother and attorney.

“Being a mother gives a whole new meaning to the thought of time management, prioritizing and multitasking! I really never thought that I would have my own law practice, or even want to start my own practice for that matter – and now I am so happy I did.”

I also think it sets a great example for my daughter, who already seems to have some of my independent and spirited personality (Lord help me!). We now live in Boca Raton and our daughter just turned one!

I am admitted to practice in both Michigan and Florida and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The main focus of my practice at McDonald and Associates, PA is Real Estate Law and Business Transactions.

McDonald and Associates, PA is an active member in the South Florida community, belonging to several organizations including the Palm Beach County Bar Association, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Femfessionals Boca/Delray, the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce and the South Florida Irish-American Chamber of Commerce.

What’s unique about your firm? Why should our readers utilize your services?

At McDonald and Associates, PA, I work closely with my clients and take the time to build lasting relationships, understand their needs and be available as a resource for them in both legal and nonlegal matters. I understand the need for flexibility and accommodate my clients according to their needs.

Whether it’s a real estate closing or starting a new business, I want all of my clients to feel as though there is someone in their corner helping them navigate the best course possible. When it comes to buying your next family home, I know my fellow MBMoms appreciate when someone is looking out for your best interests and advocating on your behalf. The family home is most often the single largest asset a family will own, so it is important to have a closing attorney that is experienced and one that you can trust.

Further, I see more and more women managing or starting their own businesses and I want to be a resource for them, as there are many situations that arise when starting and running a business – I can attest to that! At McDonald and Associates, PA, I give all clients the personal and down-to-earth approach that I myself appreciate.

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

This month, McDonald and Associates, PA is the featured law firm at the June 29th (2016) SocialCraft event, which will be held at Baru located in Weston. It will be a great networking event for real estate professionals or those looking for investment opportunities in the South Florida Real Estate market. For more information, please check out their website: SocialCraft

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

For obvious reasons, especially coming from the Midwest, I love the beautiful sunny weather we enjoy down here all year long! Living in a place where many vacation is definitely something I appreciate and I love when friends and family come to down to visit us – which does not take much convincing during the winter months!

Follow McDonald and Associates, PA on social media:

Website- McDonald and Associates PA

Facebook- McDonald and Associates PA

LinkedIn- McDonald and Associates PA

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Father’s Day 2016: How to Celebrate & Elevate Your Boca Dad

June 12, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

ALERT, ALERT! Father’s Day 2016 is coming up fast on Sunday, June 19th. I think we’ve got a few rather genius ideas here on the blog to pamper your Modern Boca Dad on his special day or on another equally celebratory occasion later. So read on MBMoms and take notes!

A Manly Massage

Sponsored

Did you know regular massage therapy can help elevate dad’s well-being by improving his health, his mood…really his life overall which only benefits you, let’s be honest.

Boca dad Father's Day Massage Heights — Best view ever.

From now until June 20, 2016, receive a free elevation* when you purchase a $75 gift card at Massage Heights Delray Place! You can also buy your special guy a membership (from the kids, of course), which is really the gift that keeps on giving, offering dad a massage monthly for the next year.

*Offer not valid online. Free elevation does not include BioActive Peel or Active Therapy

Modern Boca Dad is extremely jealous that I have a mommy membership at Massage Heights Delray Place, so I think I’ve found myself the perfect Father’s Day gift this year!

Located on east Linton next to Trader Joe’s and Broken Egg Cafe, call 561-403-1100 to make your appointment.

Southern Style Grub

For those who followed Gary Rack’s Fat Rooster (the southern concept recently rebranded to Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen in Delray Beach, FL), the restaurant originally earned its claim by providing a brunch based around southern comfort foods.

MBMom just found out The Fat Rooster is flying south to RACKS Downtown Eatery + Tavern every Sunday for a POP up SUNDAY BRUNCH, Fat Rooster style, in the heart of Mizner Park!

Featuring items popular on the Fat Rooster menu such as southern organics biscuits, famous chicken n’ waffles and southern hash browns, the brunch also features bottomless mimosas & bloody mary’s. Sunday Brunch ‘Rooster style’ kicks off ON Father’s Day (and every Sunday thereafter) hosted at RACKS Downtown Eatery + Tavern from 10:30am – 3:00pm in Mizner Park! YUM.

Call 561-395-1662 for reservations.

Boca Dad = A Smooth Operator

Sponsored

If you just know your Modern Boca Dad would love to have smoother skin before heading to the pool or beach this Father’s Day weekend, then what are you waiting for? Make him an appointment (surprise!) or grab him a gift certificate to ‘look good and feel smooth’ at Waxing the City Boca Raton.

I’ve been singing their praises since Waxing the City Boca Raton opened (right behind Brewzzi’s in Glades Plaza) and know they take care of their male clients as amazingly well as they do their female. They’ll treat dad right.

Really, what more could you ask for on Father’s Day? Oh yes– if he invites you to join him for all of the above. 🙂

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by Massage Heights Delray Place and Waxing the City Boca Raton. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was given a complimentary full body thermography scan, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

CLASSES & THINGS TO DO, KIDS

Delray Baby in Lap Movie Experiences for Moms

June 12, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Check this out! A local mom got it together (work it girl!) to start hosting a Delray Baby In Lap Movie Experience with the newest feature film releases. I had heard about this being done in other cities and it being a huge success (and a lot of fun) for moms with little ones.

Delray Baby In Lap Movie Experiences are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. at:

Movies of Delray Baby in Lap Movie Experience

7421 Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach

(just off Hagan Ranch Road)

You can buy your tickets at the door.

PRICE: $6 for adults, babies free.

Meet other moms. Strollers are welcome!

Have something to sell? Email Angela DiCarlo at angelasemailis@gmail.com if you’d like to offer your unique products on a movie screen ad or on a vending table. Other moms have offered bibs, sleeping outfits and more. Your ideas and products are welcome.

Enjoy MBMoms!

MOMPRENEURS, TRAVEL

MOMpreneur Monday: Palm Beach Travel

June 6, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the president and founder of Palm Beach Travel, Annie Davis!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to start Palm Beach Travel…

I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and have lived all over the United States. I began a career in travel in the airline industry, after losing my younger brother to Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

I was the founding member of two airlines. After Jet U.S. was successfully launched in Detroit, Michigan, I moved to Chicago and became one of the founding members of Midway Airlines. After my career at Midway Airlines, I had the unique opportunity to join American Express as an elite Platinum and Centurion Travel and Lifestyle Consultant. In this capacity, I quickly rose to the exclusive Centurion Team 3, which worked with the top 10% of the American Express Centurion Card Members.

I married, became a mother of 2 and I enjoyed a great life while working full time as a luxury travel and lifestyle consultant for American Express in Miramar, FL. In 2013, American Express announced that it was closing its storefront travel agencies, and the same month, my children’s school abruptly closed their doors.

“I saw this as an opportunity to create new opportunities for myself, my family and my clients.”

This timing was extremely important. My two sons were starting a new school in Delray Beach and there was a storefront location available in the shopping plaza close to home. My experience and research at American Express gave me the confidence to become an entrepreneur and open a storefront travel agency in Plaza del Mar on the island of Manalapan.

All the tools I needed to open a business were available. The challenge was being able to find and utilize them to benefit a personal business plan that focused on families, instead of a large corporation.

As the President and Founder of Palm Beach Travel, a full service elite travel and lifestyle company located on the island of Palm Beach, I’ve been fortunate enough to have been recognized as the world’s only American Express Travel insider for the British Virgin Islands, and one of two American Express Travel Insiders for Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

What’s unique about your travel agency?

Our business model is unique because we have a storefront, but we also work digitally. Owning the storefront gives us a place to focus on travel. Clients can make an appointment to come in or we can work over the phone or through email. Also, my entire staff is made up of primary caregivers for their families.

We make sure they have the perfect work life balance to enhance their careers as well as their family time.

Why should MBM readers book travel with you?

Traveling with families can be challenging. Our team works hard to know where the best location is for your vacation, what room categories work best for families, who can guarantee connecting rooms and who cannot. We recommend having fun while surfing the web and then contact us to finalize your trip!

Do you have points or credit cards that you don’t know much about? We do! We can give you ways to maximize your travel experience. We also specialize in multi-generational travel. It can be a daunting task to try to organize travel plans for an entire family with many different ages and budgets.

Another unique area we special in is group travel. We work closely with many schools and know school schedules so we can effectively plan holiday cruises for your friends and family, but also your kids’ friends from school.

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

We are happy to announce that Palm Beach Travel has just launched a cruise department led by a fellow mom, Sharon Yale! We are also expanding our leisure travel department with the addition of Debbie Beckford, a former American Express agent, who is also a working mom.

We are also expanding our storefront! We have the opportunity to move into a larger location in the same shopping center in Plaza del Mar. Our new location will have 2,200 square feet!

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

I love working in South Florida. I can take my bike or golf cart to work almost every day. I can drop my kids off at school and organize my meetings around their schedules and needs.

There are always fun things for us to do as a family. Because I travel so much for work, it is nice to stay home sometimes and enjoy all that South Florida has to offer!

Follow Palm Beach Travel:

Website- My Palm Beach Travel

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

Modern FL Mom, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Why I Got a Thermography Scan as a Mom

June 1, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

The one thing we can’t take for granted in life, especially as parents, is our health. I am reminded of this each time I’m knocked off my feet by a bad cold or stomach bug and all the ‘balls’ that I am constantly juggling tumble down around me. Because women’s health and wellness is the core of their business, my friends at The Wise Women’s Sanctuary encouraged me to get a full body thermography scan to ensure my peace of mind.

What is a Thermography Scan, you ask?

Thermography is a radiation-free, state of the art screening procedure that uses heat detection (via thermographic camera) to locate areas of temperature differences in the body that could represent potential or current health issues. The most common scans are of the breasts or entire body.

Thermography has been used for breast cancer detection since 1956. It was cleared by the FDA in 1982 as an adjunctive procedure for breast cancer screening. There are over 800 studies published in peer-reviewed journals about thermography of the breast alone.

The closest thing I can think of to describe the thermography scan process is getting a spray tan without the spray tan. In fact, many of the poses that Connie at The Wise Women’s Sanctuary put me in to take my thermograms were totally familiar…plus you’re either nude or in a G-string, so there you go.

I went with the full body thermal imaging, including the breast health screening, which can help detect early signs of the following:

Abdominal Inflammation
Lymphatic Congestion
Nervous System Disorders
Vascular System Analysis
Muscular Disorders
Other Pathologies

You can also request a:

Vascular Screening
Thyroid Screening

Your thermographic scan images are then sent off to a company called Breast Thermography International (BTI) AND your physician. You can choose to send your report to your PCP or OB. You are encouraged to go over your results with your physician first and then BTI will set up a conference call to discuss ways to improve any areas of concern.

My issues? Check out this spine/neck/back. I would have to attribute most of that redness to lifting a 30 lb three year-old (which I have now tried to stop doing by the way).

The Wise Women’s Sanctuary recommended that I see a chiropractor and get some massage therapy stat. I scheduled appointments immediately and am consciously working on my posture (especially when sitting at my computer).

Another area where I need to pay attention? My feet. Apparently flip flops and ballet flats aren’t doing much for the ol’ arch support. Time to pick up some shoe inserts at CVS!

My breast scan also noted some areas to keep an eye on and I’ll need to schedule an ultrasound in a few months. Since I’m not scheduled to have a mammogram for several years to come, I’m so glad I found a screening that can help me identify potential problems before they become…well a problem.

If you’re interested in learning more or booking your own thermography scan, you can click HERE or give the wonderful MOMpreneurs at The Wise Women’s Sanctuary a call.

The peace of mind alone is worth it.

CONTACT: Connie: 561-330-0993; Kristin: 561-951-0404

7950 S Military Trl
Suite 103
Lake Worth, FL 33463

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by The Wise Women’s Sanctuary. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was given a complimentary full body thermography scan, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

HOME & GARDEN, Modern FL Mom

Boca Raton Patio and Pool Makeover

May 24, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

Since the day #modernbocadad and I moved into our “forever home” 2.5 years ago, we have been wanting to make over our Boca Raton patio and pool. Our pool was built in 1981 and while our ages may be close to equal, it was in much rougher shape than I.

See all those spots? No matter how hard we tried to clean them, black algae would constantly settle in, especially during the hot, summer months. The pool’s surface had worn away in many places due to its age and, in my opinion, was an eyesore considering it was a focal point of our house.

So, we solicited several bids for the resurfacing project and decided to work with Lee Johnson of Johnson Pool Plastering (954-804-5731/johnsonpoolfl@gmail.com) because they agreed to try to rehab the existing tile around the border of the pool. I loved it– it was retro! And, it was in surprisingly good shape despite a few missing tiles (which they happily replaced).

I was in this project for the long haul, thinking the pool resurfacing process would take several days or weeks. It was done in less than 72 hours.

Johnson Pool Plastering drained our pool overnight, gave it a little chlorine bath and scrubbed away the algae. Then, they re-grouted all of the tile and replaced the fittings around the jets and drain and patched potential crack/leaks.

By the end of the first day, a bonding coat was applied to the pool and we were waiting for it to dry. Watching this process was better than HGTV for us.

On day 2, Johnson Pool Plastering applied the surface we selected by hand.

We selected Blue Gem. Cool huh?

The end result? Beautiful.

Johnson Pool Plastering did amazing work. We hired a pool cleaning service to take care of the pool for the first several weeks. A new surface needs to be brushed a lot at the beginning and we didn’t want to take any chances. It was a good investment.

So once we had the pool finished, we toyed with the idea of redoing the deck (according to Lee, “everyone in Boca is doing travertine”). But, we ended up deciding to budget for it for spring 2017. Hey- you have to have some home improvements to look forward to, right?

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t move forward with a little summer Boca Raton patio makeover…

Boca Raton Patio & Pool Makeover

BEFORE

This Boca Raton patio setup did the job, but it was very basic. We inherited the wicker pieces from my parents and purchased inexpensive chairs and a nice grill at Home Depot when we moved in.

AFTER

What do you think?! Believe it or not, #modernbocadad built, painted and hung the outdoor TV cabinet himself. It’s basic plywood! He also sprayed all of our existing wicker furniture with dark brown Rustoleum spray paint. Instant “new” accent furniture!

We purchased this mount on Amazon.com and hung the TV, so you can watch it from anywhere on the Boca Raton patio.

The indoor/outdoor area rug and runners are Safavieh from Overstock.com. Hey- I had to find creative ways to hide as much chattahoochee deck as possible. 😉

I really wanted wood/teak patio furniture, so we found this fabulous set on a website I hadn’t heard of before: Hayneedle.com. It has so many cute things! The sectional can easily be moved in pieces for many different seating layout options.

Target has apparently dubbed this, “the summer of lobster”, so I was able to grab so many cute pillows and doormats with lobster prints on them to decorate (#modernbocadad is from Maine, so I have become a little obsessed with the tasty crustacean).

The table lanterns are also from Target and I found some river rocks and electric candles to accent them at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

And who could forget Mr. Swan? He’s from Amazon.com.

Now it’s onto our next project…the living room. I hope you enjoyed our Boca Raton patio and pool makeover. We certainly plan on spending our summer this year OUTDOORS!

xo,
MBMom

This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase some of these items, I may be compensated. Please see this site’s Disclosure for details.

MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Aria Marli Art

May 23, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the artist and founder of Aria Marli Art, Karim Aboud!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to start Aria Marli Art…

One of the very first memories I have from my childhood is of my parents painting and creating art. Some of my favorite moments were watching my mother slowly bringing a canvas to life and I remember thinking it was like magic! I’ve been in love with art ever since!

“Aria Marli is my daughter’s name and she is the inspiration and motivation behind everything I do.”

Born and raised in Miami Florida, I am a self-taught artist and graduate of Miami International University of Art & Design with a degree in Fashion Merchandising. After graduating college, I immediately entered the corporate world and unfortunately, had to place my artwork on hold. As an Account Manager covering the Caribbean territory for luxury brands Hermes, Bulgari, and Michael Kors, I was fortunate to have experienced the sights, sounds, and vibrant colors of many of the tropical islands, which has inspired my artwork.

How did Aria Marli Art get started?

Upon learning that I was expecting my first child, I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement. Like many new mommies, I spent hours searching online for artwork for her nursery and I wasn’t thrilled with what I found. I felt as though all the prints were the same and the artwork wasn’t personal enough.

While searching, I found a photo of a young girl that I absolutely fell in love with. It was a photo of a well-known mom blogger’s daughter and I asked her permission to paint it. One cart of painting supplies and two days later, I gifted her with the finished product. She posted it on Instagram and the rest is history! I have been painting children’s portraits ever since!

“I am now a stay at home mommy focused on raising my beautiful daughter, as well as sharing my gift of art with others while painting life’s ‘Little Moments’. “

Throughout my artistry, I’ve been fortunate enough to have painted portraits now for famous chefs, NFL players and a few celebrities.

What’s unique about your artistry?

I offer contemporary portraits painted on stretched canvas or on clear acrylic panels for a more modern look. The process for a portrait is simple! You send me a few of your favorite photos, we agree on a size and price, and I begin working on your special piece of art!

I’ll present you with a digital version of what your painting will look like before painting it and can make any adjustments such as removing items, changing colors, combining two photos, etc. All paintings are made with only the best acrylic paints on stretched canvas and your choice of satin or a high gloss finish to last a lifetime!

I also paint nursery art incorporating your current décor for a truly unique piece!

Why should MBM readers become your clients?

As a parent, one can agree they have almost every part of their child memorized. You know each laugh, each eyelash and the way their mouth curves when they smile. As your artist, I don’t sleep until every detail is exactly perfect and my client is satisfied.

This is what I offer in my shop: a piece of my heart, mixed with your imagination and my creativity, to produce a one-of-a-kind work of art!

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

Aria Marli Art is currently expanding to include pet and bridal portraits, as well as digital illustrations. What’s so exciting is that we can provide you the option of a framed print or a digital file of your illustration. With the digital file, you can print it as many times as you’d like or even work with various sites to use the image on mugs, cushions, shirts and more.

Custom nursery murals are on the horizon as well!

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

Having been born and raised in Florida, there is no other place I would rather work and live. I just moved to Boca at the beginning of this year and so far, I absolutely love it! My daughter just turned 8 months old and I am looking forward to getting out of the house more and exploring everything Boca has to offer!

Follow Aria Marli Art on Social Media:

Website-Aria Marli Art

Facebook- Aria Marli Art

Instagram- Aria Marli

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

Modern FL Mom, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Making Dad Feel Special on Father’s Day

May 23, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Father’s Day 2016 is less than a month away, and that special Sunday will be here before we know it. If there’s a special dad in your life, whether he’s the wonderful guy who’s been there for you every step of the way since you were little or your hubby and the father of your children, make sure you show your appreciation in the best way possible on June 19^th.

Father’s Day 2016 Breakfast in Bed

Dad does a lot for you and your family, so make sure he gets to relax on Father’s Day 2016 morning with a delicious breakfast in bed. Since it’s a Sunday holiday, he likely doesn’t have to head into work depending on his profession, so make sure he makes the most of his downtime. Wake up early and cook all of his favorites, whether it’s bacon and eggs or cinnamon rolls. If you don’t think you’ll be able to cook without him alerting to your deviously delicious plans, run out early in the morning and pick up bagels and coffee from his favorite spot. Sneak in and surprise him with some delicious eats and he’s sure to be set for a wondrous day of celebrating.

A Day Filled With His Favorite Things…

You don’t always have to splurge to make a big splash on a celebratory occasion. A day filled with Dad’s favorite things is the perfect way to ensure he has a Father’s Day 2016 to remember. Think of his favorite activities. Perhaps that means a picnic in the park complete with a pickup baseball game. Maybe the dad of the hour is a video game addict who loves a good round of Halo? Grab a new video game console and set him up for an hour of uninterrupted playing time where he can enjoy his favorite pastime (just make sure to pull him away for some quality time). Have all of his favorite meals ready to chow down on, from breakfast to snacks to lunch to dinner.

Customize Something Special

When it comes to Father’s Day presents, dads always seem to get the clichés—the thousandth tie, a funny card, and a pair of comfy socks. Want to make this occasion truly memorable?

Then find a gift that will become one of his favorite possessions. Take the time to design personalized Father’s Day gifts that will become a one of a kind mementos that he’ll treasure for years to come. Find something practical that reflects one of his favorite hobbies, put a special message on it or even just have his name inscribed, and voila—the perfect unique Father’s Day 2016 gift.

Think about what he likes to do. Is he a sports lover who never misses a big game from the comfort of his recliner in the den? Decorate the room to reflect his passions and find a personalized sports print that he can hang on the wall.

Put Your Feelings Into Words

Whether you’re celebrating your dad or your husband this Father’s Day 2016, it’s always a good idea to put your loving sentiments on paper and turn them into a tangible present. We only have one life to live, so if you have something to say, it’s always a good idea to say it.

Think about all the things your special guy has done for you, and express your gratitude. Sometimes we take our loved ones for granted or foolishly assume they know exactly what we feel, but that’s not always the case. Writing a heartfelt letter to a wonderful dad means showing him just how much of an impact he’s had on your life.

Plan a Family Reunion

If your dad is quite the family man and loves it when all of the extended family gets together, start organizing a special Father’s Day reunion to surprise all the loving daddies in your family tree. Your dad will love it, and your whole family will benefit, meaning it’s a gift that truly keeps on giving.

If you can’t pull everything together by Father’s Day 2016, plan a reunion for later in the year and let your dad in on the plans when June 19^th rolls around to really get him excited for the upcoming meetup.

DATE NIGHTS, DINING, GIRLS NIGHT

Banko Cantina Opened in West Palm Beach with Rooftop Bar

May 23, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

Banko Cantina, a new Mexican restaurant and tequila bar, opened last week at 114 S. Olive Avenue in downtown West Palm Beach. Originally home to the American National Bank, this 1921 landmark building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1997. I’m loving the repurposing of space!

Banko Cantina

The restaurant features a rooftop bar, lounge, private dining space and 130 seats in the main dining room. The restaurant’s second floor was designed especially for special events and the third floor has a partially covered rooftop features a 90-foot bar in the center along with a kitchen serving lunch and dinner from a select menu. The restaurant also features 14 60-inch televisions throughout for sporting events. I’m looking forward to football (soccer?) season now!

The restaurant is open seven days per week from 4 p.m. to midnight. Lunch will be served daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting on Monday, June 16. Happy Hour is served Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. Perfect timing, I say.

The restaurant features Northern style Mexican cooking. It turns out that Mexican cuisine consists of many different regional styles depending on the climate of the area. Northern Mexico’s desert climate supports a large livestock population that led to the region’s meat-based dishes. The ranching culture’s historical use of wood fire and outdoor cooking is what developed the distinct smoky flavors that are the foundation of Banko Cantina’s extensive list of locally inspired tacos, steak and mesquite-grilled skewers.

My mouth is watering.

The restaurant incorporates locally grown and harvested produce and fish when possible, varying with seasons. Desserts will be made in house. The restaurant also uses authentic imported tortillas from the Northern region of Mexico.

In addition to its extensive menu, Banko Cantina features handcrafted specialty cocktails including Passion Fruit Sangria and Micheladas, local and Mexican beer, and more than 30 tequilas. The restaurant will host tequila chef tasting dinners as well as “tequila tasting 101” classes to share their knowledge of the favorite spirit.

Modern FL Mom, MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Recess and Results

May 16, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the co-owner and Founder of Recess and Results, Beth Vazquez!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to start Recess and Results…

I graduated from Marymount University, MA with a BA in Health Fitness management and Argosy University with a degree in Sport + Exercise Psychology. I’ve been a certified personal trainer for 10+ years from the American College of Sports Medicine. Being a mom (and stepmom) forced me to become a master of time management in a way I never knew before. It also challenged me to commit my actions to reflect my priorities (Faith first, family next, then health, then work).

“Motherhood is the biggest blessing in so many ways, pushing my spirit, personal, and professional growth in ways that only God can.”

What is Recess and Results and how did it get started?

As a fitness professional, I recognized the need for AGE APPROPRIATE kids fitness programming about 10 years ago. Working in health clubs, I noticed children sitting in the kids club watching movies or playing videos games while their parents worked out and I thought “wow – what a missed opportunity!”

I started researching the area for kids fitness and was shocked at the state of affairs. Childhood obesity was at an all-time high, and for the first time ever, kids were predicted to not outlive their parents. TRAGIC! The experts were there encouraging a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity per day for ALL ages, but no one was listening.

The solution to me seemed so simple – PLAY with the kids! Don’t “preach” exercise and definitely do not send them to a boot camp class or give them dumbbells for Christmas. PLAY with kids and their friends and their natural instincts will kick in. After testing this theory, I saw it worked and found more research to support it. Kids are motivated by a few things; fun with their peers and the ability to accomplish/perfect physical activities (throw a ball, running faster, jumping higher, etc.). We put these ideologies to use creating Recess and Results and before I knew it, I had a small following of parents.

That turned into a following of fitness professionals wanting to learn more about kids fitness, which turned into educational workshops, which turned into official certification, which turned into curriculum development.

Through this process, my sister (co-owner) and I started realizing kids need more. Physical fitness is important yes, but kids’ spirits were also in trouble and were being smothered by the weight of the world. As Christians, we yearned for ways to speak life into kids, and to remind them they are beautiful and created for a purpose. Thus, Rejoice at Recess was born.

“As mothers, we also wanted to be able to provide a solution to moms who struggled with wanting to financially contribute to the family, but did not want to give up time mothering their children. Now we have a solid business opportunity for believers to teach at both faith-based and public partnering facilities, building healthy and happy bodies, minds, and spirits on their own schedules.”

What’s unique about Recess and Results?

What’s unique about our business is that we are the only Christian business opportunity focused on kids fitness. We know how important physical fitness is for all kids, both physically and mentally, and we combine education and fitness for all families.

Why should MBM readers consider becoming part of Recess and Results?

Recess & Results provides a low-investment, minimal overhead opportunity for entrepreneur-minded individuals with a passion for faith, family, and fitness, to earn a paycheck on their own terms. It is an amazing way to positively influence the lives of youth in the community, and creating happier + healthier tomorrows! We have all witnessed how technology and our fast paced lifestyle has impacted our children. No one can argue the need for increased opportunities for kids to learn and grow through physical activity. We provide the training and tools needed to be successful.

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

We are thrilled that we will be launching our mom + me program this fall, expanding the ways our owners can make money with their Recess & Results business!

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

The weather!! I love the sun – it gives me energy. I am able to be active outdoors with my family year round, and gain inspiration for new programs and games for RR from my time with them under the sun!

Follow Recess and Results on Social Media:

Website-Recess and Results

Facebook- Recess and Results

Instagram- Recess and Results

Twitter- Recess and Results

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

KIDS, Modern FL Mom

Teaching Teens the Basics of Driver Safety

May 16, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Learning to drive is a milestone that brings teenagers one step closer to adulthood. While this newfound sense of independence can be a time of excitement for teens, it also creates a lot of stress and anxiety for parents who worry about their child’s driver safety.

And parents have good reason to be worried. Did you know car accidents are the number one cause of death for teens? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,524 teen drivers and passengers were killed and 177,000 were injured in 2013.

May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month and to fuel discussion with your teen and promote driver safety…

Here are three important things you should consider for driver safety as your teen learns to drive:

Practice is Essential. Education and experience are the most effective ways of lowering accident risk. The usefulness of driver’s education and parental instruction can’t be understated. Instill good driving habits in your teen, like following the speed limit, buckling up, using turn signals and to avoid engaging in risky behaviors. Taking the time to teach your teen one-on-one can make a world of difference, and leading by example reinforces good driving behaviors.
No Distracted Driving. Driving can be dangerous, especially for inexperienced drivers, and distracted driving only compounds the risk. Encourage your teen to refrain from eating and drinking, using their phone and other distracting behaviors while on the road. Every second counts, so it’s important they stay completely focused on the road.
Statistics, Drive Safe Contract, Tips and Other Resources. Remember, you’re not alone in educating your teen. Making use of available resources will inspire confidence in them and you. Mercury Insurance has created a Drive Safe website, complete with tips and information that will help prepare your teen to drive, a drive safe contract, interactive quizzes and videos and other helpful resources. All of this knowledge is available free of charge!

SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Is Laser or IPL Treatment Best for You?

May 12, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

It can be quite annoying to have unwanted body hair, regardless of whether it’s a few stray hairs or a large patch. But, it can also be annoying to try to get rid of it and keep it away on your own. That’s because simply shaving it away only gets rid of the part you can see, which means that the hair will grow back quickly. If you really want to keep hair away for an extended length of time then exploring laser and IPL treatment options is a better idea.

Light and Laser Skincare Method Definitions

To begin with, you should have an understanding of the two main treatment categories mentioned above, lasers and IPL. IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is not the same as a laser treatment. Both use light sources, but IPL uses a “cooler” light source with a wider band. The specific light frequency used can infiltrate skin cells and encourage repairs without actually making any visible immediate changes to the surface of your skin.

Lasers, on the other hand, obviously use beams of concentrated light. Although you can thing of the difference in terms of cold and hot or in terms of blue and red light, the exact shades of light may vary across different laser and IPL devices. But laser beams do produce a lot of actual heat, whereas most IPL devices do not.

Full Body Versus Localized Area Treatment Methods

Another area where IPL hair removal differs from laser procedures is that IPL treatment devices with their wider beams of light can usually treat a bigger surface area in a fairly short amount of time. Although, both IPL and laser machines are becoming more versatile in terms o f parts of the body that they can treat. Nevertheless, laser treatments are generally reserved for removing small areas of unwanted hair with precise, localized laser beams. IPL machines are more likely to be directed at larger sections of skin during an appointment at a skincare clinic.

Both Treatment Types Slow Hair Regrowth

Both lasers and IPL treatment devices can slow down the rate at which your removed hair grows back. That’s because the beams of light actually get down below the surface of your skin, destroying the entire length of the hair, even the part that exists below the surface where you can’t see. It’s much like extracting the roots of a weed in the garden. The more you manage to pull out, the longer the weed takes to grow back. The same is true for hair treated with either lasers or IPL machines.

IPL Treatment May Require More Treatments Than Lasers

Although professional IPL treatment devices can treat a wider section of skin than most lasers, the IPL beams don’t have the strength and intensity that lasers have. That means that it could take several IPL treatments before all of your unwanted hair actually goes away. It also means that you could need more frequent regular maintenance appointments than you might if you were to have a laser procedure performed instead. So, you will have to consider that when choosing a treatment path.

HOME & GARDEN, Modern FL Mom

Handy App Help for Busy South Florida Parents

May 9, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

I look forward to one specific day every month. It’s the day that I book my regular Handy app housekeeper to clean all of the bathrooms in my house. I don’t mind doing housework (no seriously! As long as I have the time, it’s cathartic to me), but there’s something intimidating about deep cleaning three bathrooms all by myself. I need help!

Enter the Handy app.

I used Handy WELL BEFORE they reached out to me regarding writing about their services. In fact, I even think they were surprised that I knew the app hadn’t reached Delray Beach yet. Don’t worry moms, it’s in the works! They even recently launched a pool cleaning service. !!!

Since the app’s launch in 2012, Handy (www.handy.com) has become the United States’ fastest-growing on-demand home cleaning and DIY services provider: allowing users, through the intuitive Handy app or website, to instantly book trusted, fully-vetted cleaners or handymen, removing the stresses associated with housework and DIY.

Handy provides, on-demand and at competitive set prices, professionals for common (as well as specialist) household services: from home cleaning to furniture assembly; assistance in moving house to painting and decorating. Essentially, every MBMom’s (and perhaps every Modern Boca Dad’s) dream.

All bookings can be made online or at the tap of the Handy app in just three steps: users select their desired service; confirm their preferred time of service; securely pay online. Done. It’s so easy.

Payments are made through the credit card associated with the user’s Handy account. Prices are all inclusive of tip and all fees (although, I usually tip a little extra). Prices for Handy app cleaners cost an average of $35 per hour; handyman prices start from $45 per hour.

It is a personal investment in your home and your sanity that I think is worth the monthly booking. Why don’t you give it a try?

Download Handy by clicking HERE.

Sponsored: All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I received a complimentary cleaning session from Handy for review consideration, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

KIDS, MBMOMS-TO-BE, Modern FL Mom

7 Realizations About Being a New Mom

May 9, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

This past year as a new mom has been a whirlwind filled with exciting new memories, challenging experiences, and numerous life lessons. As I write about the “7 realizations about being a new mom,” I’m sitting in a salon getting a much needed pedicure and multitasking (as usual- haha!).

If you’re a mom, especially a working mom, you know how hard it is to do things you used to not think twice about – like run errands or schedule time for self-care or even write a blog. It has been way too long since I wrote a blog post, so here we go!

7 Realizations About Being a New Mom

Self-Compassion is essential. I’ve heard people joke about “mom guilt”, but had no clue it was an actual thing until I had my son. Of course, I had a vast amount of joy, excitement, and happiness about my precious baby boy. However, the mom guilt was present too. It made me question whether I was spending enough time with him, reading enough, playing enough, going outside enough, socializing enough, and the list goes on. It was especially intense when I first went back to work. When I left my son in the nanny’s care to go to work, I felt guilty and when I took time off to be with him, I felt guilty about not working enough. It was quite the double bind! Over time, I learned to set boundaries with that guilt and have a good handle on it now, but it can definitely get the best of you if you let it.
Have realistic expectations of yourself and others. The transition from a household of 2 to 3 is HUGE so it takes time to adjust. I love to have a clean and organized home, but after having a baby, I had to lower my expectations. Learning to accept my limitations and the fact that I couldn’t be everything to everyone all the time was not easy and I thank God for my husband’s active involvement! We quickly figured out that we needed to split up responsibilities, take shifts in the middle of the night, and pre plan meals for the week. We even decided to eat off of plastic plates for the first few months after he was born, LOL. One of the things that was helpful for me was to focus on all the things we WERE doing versus what we were not. After all, there’s only so much time in the day and it’s impossible to get everything done, especially if you value sleep as much as I do!
Be present and enjoy the moment. As an entrepreneur managing 2 businesses (Bayview Therapeutic Services and K2 Visionaries), I used to think time flew, but add a baby on top of it and it really flies! Since I own my own businesses, it’s difficult for me to completely disconnect from work when I’m at home. In order for me to focus on work when I’m at work and focus on my son when I’m with him, I had to up the ante with my support network (nanny, babysitters, and family). It really does take a village! I constantly check myself to make sure I’m fully present so I can experience all of the amazing “firsts” with my son.
Attaining balance is key. Notice I said attaining, not maintaining? The search for work/life balance has been an ongoing theme in my life. Since I’m super ambitious and love what I do for work, it makes it very difficult to stay in balance, especially after my bundle of joy arrived. I love spending time with my son, husband, family and friends as well. If one responsibility is overtaking the others, I take the necessary steps to reorganize and regain balance. I’ve learned that balance is not a stable thing and that both sides are always fluctuating.
Prioritize your couple relationship. The first few months after our son was born, we were in “survival mode”. Since all of our energy was going toward our little one, alone time as a couple time was the last thing on our minds. Once we found our rhythm as new parents, we were able to realign our relationship as a priority. We found good babysitters for date nights and had fun creating new memories together as a couple and as a family. In my practice, I’ve worked with countless couples who neglected their relationship after having kids and years later they were in my office complaining of disconnection, unhappiness, and some even on the brink of divorce. Those stories motivate me to ensure I create time for my husband and to nurture our relationship.
Self-care is a must. I’m in the profession of caring for others. Add a little person on top of that and my self-care can plummet to the bottom of the list. In order for me to be as effective as I need to be for my son, my family, and my clients, it’s VITAL that I schedule self-care. It’s amazing what a little dose of Florida sunshine or a walk outside can do for me and if I don’t make it to Pilates twice a week, I feel totally out of whack. When I really need a self-care splurge, a little retail therapy works wonders! Figure out what your self-care sweet spots are and make sure you schedule them.
Perfection doesn’t exist. There is a HUGE learning curve for first time parents. No matter how much I read and researched about being a new mom, I often wondered whether I was doing things the “right” way. I quickly learned through experience that the only right way is the one that works best for me, my child, and my family. This doesn’t mean don’t read and don’t prepare, it simply means to take your own spin on things and it’s ok if things don’t go by the book.

Since being a new mom, I’ve experienced the most profound love for another human being, which no words could describe. I’ve realized that being a new mom is the MOST challenging, yet MOST rewarding job ever. I’ve always had respect for mothers and parents in general, but that respect and admiration has increased 10 fold. I’m so grateful to call myself a mom and feel honored to be amongst this amazing group of women.

For women who are thinking about having children and being a new mom, I hope this inspires you. For all the mothers out there, I wish you a warm and happy (belated) Mother’s Day. Each day, each of you are truly inspirational in your own way!

Kate Campbell, PhD, the author of “7 Realizations About Being a New Mom,” is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who is passionate about helping people develop more satisfying and fulfilling relationships. She owner of Bayview Therapeutic Services, a multidisciplinary private practice located in east Fort Lauderdale and co-owner of K2 Visionaries, a personal and professional development company for mental health professionals. “Dr. Kate” is a relationship expert who works with individuals, couples, adolescents, and families. She also works with expectant mothers and couples as well as new parents navigating the transition to parenthood.

SHOPPING & BEAUTY

Massage Heights Delray: Memberships for Moms & More!

May 3, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

What mom doesn’t like to get pampered? I recently had to miss a good friend’s baby shower, so I had the brilliant idea to take her to brunch at Max’s Harvest (YUM) and a massage at the newly opened Massage Heights Delray Place. (Yep, in the Trader Joe’s plaza.) The short version of the story is: I loved it so much, I purchased a membership on the spot.

On the spot.

The long version is…well, I got 60 minutes to myself and a massage at the same time. It was pure heaven. And now I have one monthly massage or facial to look forward to! My friend also received a wonderful pre-natal massage and I’m pretty confident it was her favorite baby gift that she received. 😉

Massage Heights Delray Place

Massage Heights Delray offers therapeutic massages by trained licensed massage therapists that incorporate high quality essential oils. They only use superior products and have licensed skin therapists who perform skin care treatments like facials using Dermalogica products.

They consider massage part of a healthy lifestyle, hence the memberships. Your Massage Heights Delray licensed massage and skin therapist will work closely with you to understand your needs, listening closely to understand your lifestyle, state of health and individual requirements. Therapists develop a recommended regimen of massage therapy and skin care services just for you.

And with Mother’s Day around the corner (cough, cough SUNDAY), what better way to show mom that you care than by gifting her with a gift card to Massage Heights Delray? With a $75 gift card purchase, she’ll even receive a FREE elevation*. That means hot stone therapy, a reviving foot scrub, revitalizing face massage, skin enriching treatment, skin refining treatment or skin purifying treatment.

Routine therapeutic massage relaxes the body, eases your mind and improves your overall mood. Facial skin therapy improves your complexion and brightens your outlook. Just what you need after taking the kids to Sugar Sand Park or We Rock the Spectrum again.

Massage Heights Delray invites all Modern Boca Moms to take a tour, so you can see the benefits of massage from the Massage Heights family! Massage Heights Delray also offers introductory pricing so that you can experience the benefits of their services and hopefully inspire you to become a member like me…

MASSAGE HEIGHTS DELRAY PLACE
420 E Linton Blvd., Suite 804 Delray Beach FL 33483
561-403-1100 | www.massageheights.com
Delrayplace@massageheights.com

Sponsored: This post about pushy Boca parents was sponsored by Massage Heights Delray. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I have been compensated, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

Modern FL Mom, MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Rachel Sobel, Whine and Cheeze (its)

May 2, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...freelance writer, content creator and blogger Rachel Sobel of “Whine and Cheez (its)!”

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to start your blog “Whine and Cheez (its)”…

I was one of those weird people who picked a college major, stuck to it, and pretty much stayed in that industry (with a few slight tangents here and there) for my whole career. I decided to major in Public Relations about 5 minutes after I unpacked my shower caddy in my dorm room at the University of Florida (GO GATORS!), went on to get my masters at FIU and got my first job offer from a small boutique PR agency specializing in real estate, 8 minutes from my childhood home in North Miami Beach. My salary was embarrassing (no really, I’m pretty sure my 7-yr-old has more in her piggy bank than I made in a month), the hours were horrible and I learned more in that first year about client service and egos than I did over the next 10 years.

Life took me to the Northeast a few years later and I landed at another agency in Boston with a polar opposite niche in technology. I knew NOTHING about tech…I think I had just abandoned my AOL account for a Yahoo one, but they took a chance on me and it became my home for many years. I loved it, thrived, made amazing connections, learned a lot and unleashed my inner nerd. I would write a press release about a website security tool or pitch a reporter about infrastructure software and kind of feel like I had been possessed by a really smart chick who knew her ish.

I had my daughter a couple years into that job and it rocked my world. I was torn about maternity leave ending, but also actually looking forward to being amongst wicked smart adults and wearing clothes not covered in spit up.

“Becoming a mother definitely changed my perspective about EVERYTHING at work. I managed to create a balance that (mostly) worked for me and learned to leave stuff at work to be present for my daughter, but it was hard.”

When I moved back to South Florida more than a decade later, with a toddler in tow and a skill set foreign to the job market here, I took a couple years off from being somewhere full-time and instead dabbled in freelancing so my mind wouldn’t turn to mush from hours of the Disney Channel and Nick Jr. Little did I know that would set the stage for my current career move.

I caved a couple years ago and took a full-time, in-house gig with a local tech company and ended up hating it. All the while, I was still freelancing (more than ever actually) and launched my own mommy/lifestyle blog, Whine & Cheez (its). I eventually left this past November when I felt like I had an arsenal of work on the freelancing side and a rapidly growing readership for my own stuff. It literally changed my life. I am able to spend SO much more time with my daughter, have the ability to pick and choose the clients I work with, and am happier than I have ever been!

How do you juggle your blog and freelance clients?

My business is interesting because there really are two sides of it that don’t really intermingle. There’s my Rachel Sobel freelancing and there’s my own blog/lifestyle brand. They are very different beasts, but both serve a purpose in my life.

In South Florida, the overwhelming majority of people hiring freelancers for writing or PR are very consumer-focused. My experience is the exact opposite, Professionally, my sweet spot is in tech and B2B. While I was a dime a dozen in markets like Boston and NYC, down here it’s a little harder to find us.

Something inside me told me never to give up my freelancing contacts. I didn’t have this master plan about going off on my own, but I felt strongly about maintaining my contacts, finding new ones and maintaining a presence in the freelancing world. When I was working full-time, I had no intention of leaving. But things began to escalate so quickly, my misery was palpable and I just needed a change. I also had some of the challenges many of us have – I have a mortgage, and a child, and bills, and I like to go out to dinner whenever I want. I needed/wanted a source of income, but just didn’t want to work for anyone else a minute longer. The other thing I realized was that. I didn’t want to be a “PR Gal” anymore. I just wanted to create content. Period. Once I made that distinction, I literally sprung into action, got my hustle on and grew a small roster of clients I solely created content for. Holy Crap! This could work!

“When I realized I was basically matching my full-time salary writing and creating social media content, and could work from the comfort of my home in yoga pants and no makeup, I took the leap and became a solopreneur. I am a creative at heart, so thank god my husband is there to do things like set up an LLC, do my billing and tell me what steps I need to take to be a “real” business. Behind every great woman really is a great man.”

What’s unique about Whine and Cheez (its) and your client content?

People I create content for tell me that they love my voice and that I am authentic. I, Rachel Sobel, have a pretty strong personality and I’ve always been told that when people read my writing, they can hear me saying the words, see my facial expressions and arms flailing, and it feels like we are having a conversation. The brands who engage with Rachel Sobel to work with the Whine & Cheez (its) side are totally into my voice, not afraid of inappropriate jokes and some salacious language. That’s why it works.

The challenge for many writers is translating that skill to other more “businessy” areas of writing. I’m not saying I’ve mastered it, but I think I have a really strong handle on breathing some life into what has always been viewed as the “boring” writing. I love diversifying my writing and having the opportunity to dig into something super techie or business focused.

Why should MBM readers consider becoming your client?

Over the last two decades, I feel like I have truly amassed a ton of knowledge and experience to diversify my writing. I have written for startups with an office consisting of a card table and folding chairs and major companies with logos that cost more than my house. I pride myself on my ability to meld with different personalities and company cultures, understand your products/services and how to translate them into well-rounded and meaningful content. With every client, past and present, I build a rapport that manifests in my writing versus just serving as a contractor who may or may not deliver what you need. If you are hiring Rachel Sobel to write for you, I view myself as an extension of your brand and I take that very seriously.

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

From the freelance side, I have expanded my network so that I can take on fuller scope accounts that may want more than content. I am able to still churn out the content I am passionate about while I work in tandem with trusted Rachel Sobel partners to deliver the rest, without sacrificing quality.

With Whine & Cheez (its), I am experimenting with new content formats including video and podcasts. As a matter of fact, I am working on a few exciting collaborations with a couple of daddy bloggers I love, who are like male versions of me and I can’t wait to share that with the world! Stay tuned!

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

While I absolutely loved my time in Boston and NYC, being back in South Florida with my family and girlfriends is the best. I feel like I have my own little army of awesomeness – I guess it’s called a squad now. Whatever… I, Rachel Sobel, have one and it makes my life better everyday to be surrounded by unconditional love and support.

Plus, it’s pretty wonderful not to have to bundle up a child and push a stroller through snow to get to an overpriced grocery store and pay $12 for 4 rolls of toilet paper.

I’m home, doing what I love and it doesn’t get better than that, does it?

Follow Rachel Sobel & Whine and Cheez (its) on Social Media:

Website-Whine and Cheez (its)

Facebook- Whine and Cheez (its)

Instagram- Whine and Cheez (its)

Twitter- Whine and Cheez (its)

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

KIDS

Pushy Boca Parents: How to Deal at School

April 27, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Now that #dailybocaavery is in “school,” it feels like I’ve already encountered my fair share of pushy Boca parents. I have to be honest– it’s been a little shocking. During some instances, I’ve rolled my eyes and shrugged these pushy moms’ opinions off (and then ranted to my girlfriends). But other times, I’ve been shocked into literal silence.

I know we all care about our kids, but isn’t there a better way to make change happen or share your feelings with other parents who are in the same boat…or school?

I decided to poll some of the best teachers at Grandview Preparatory School to find out about their experiences and strategies for dealing with pushy Boca parents. Here’s what they had to say…

So be honest– have you had much experience dealing with pushy Boca parents in your careers?

Aileen Palmer, Director of Professional Development: Just a few experiences over the years and they are usually intense, time consuming and have very little to do with the best interest of the child’s education or social emotional wellbeing.

Susan Rose, Academic Support: We don’t have a problem with “pushy parents” per se, but we do find that parents of this generation, including myself, have a little trouble in the ‘helicopter’ department. We want the best for our children, and may go a little too far in helping them, rather than doing our real job, which is helping them grow into autonomous adults.

Sharon Michael, Kindergarten: I think in Kindergarten, I don’t really look at parents as being pushy Boca parents. I see them more as overprotective. My students are all coming in to class at 4 and 5 years of age. They are still their parents’ babies. I understand that and I try to start off slowly making the parents feel comfortable and as the year progresses, I try to persuade them to let go a bit and let their children have a voice and be able to make some decisions on their own.

What has been your go-to strategy to handle parents when they have intervened in an excessive way on behalf of their kids?

Aileen Palmer, Director of Professional Development: My go-to strategy is always to involve the student as much as possible. Even with young ones it is important to not only give them a voice, but a platform to use their voice. It is imperative that students learn to self advocate. Not only does it empower them, it empowers their parents and teachers.

Susan Rose, Academic Support: We don’t have one go-to strategy for working with our parents, since every family and every situation is completely unique. One thing we really stress though, beginning in 6th grade and sometimes before, is letting students be their own advocates. We want students to learn to communicate with teachers (directly and in email), when they have ideas, questions and concerns about their learning.

At what age should parents consider stepping back and letting their kids advocate for themselves in school?

Aileen Palmer, Director of Professional Development: As soon as the child is able to speak! A parent should always be there to support and guide, but the child should be involved at all times (unless the issue is of a sensitive nature).

A perfect example of kids speaking out on their own is our Equal + Empowered team. They recently won $9500 in philanthropic funding after starting an organization dedicated to raising awareness about feminism and the empowerment of all individuals. While parents helped to support them and practice their presentation, they achieved this accolade on their own.

Susan Rose, Academic Support: As young as possible! There are certainly small steps they can take from the time they start school. By mid 6th grade, we expect Grandview students to take over most of the communication with teachers about school work, homework, grades, etc.

When is a ‘pushy parent’ considered a positive thing?

Aileen Palmer, Director of Professional Development: In my opinion, never! Although the squeaky wheel gets the oil, it does not mean the wheel will roll forever. And when it needs more oil, you are back to square one.

If the parent and child and teacher work together on a plan, solution, or just a conversation, the ‘wheel’ will always be guided/aligned if you will…and run smoothly for much longer.

Susan Rose, Academic Support: I think the phrase “pushy parent” obviously has a negative connotation, so it would never be an positive strategy.

However, advocating for your child is a different thing. Parents are a child’s most important and consistent advocate. If they feel their child has an important need that is not being met, and a need that the student cannot or should not deal with on their own, it is a parent’s responsibility to go to bat for their child.

Sponsored: This post about pushy Boca parents was sponsored by Grandview Preparatory School. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I have been compensated, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Author Suzanne Kline

April 25, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...Delray author Suzanne Kline who recently wrote the children’s book Surf’s Up, Gizmo!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to become the author of Surf’s Up, Gizmo…

I am a Mom who has a passion for volunteering with children and giving back. Following a car accident that forever changed the direction of my life, I learned about the proven benefits of practicing mindful breathing and meditation while recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

I am a Delray Beach resident and children’s book author, mother to one son and grandmother to four awesome grandsons. I am also “Mom” to my pet service dog, Gizmo. For the past nine years, I have been a registered volunteer with Pet Partners, the nation’s largest pet therapy organization.

“I have witnessed firsthand many of the anxieties and challenges that impact and affect children’s lives. By finding ways to teach kids how to pause…take a breath…and take in what’s going on around them, whether through my books or in person, Gizmo and I help them deal with their stress and take charge of their lives.”

What ignited your love for writing and creating Surf’s Up, Gizmo?

I was a former mortgage company vice president until I suffered a traumatic brain injury in a near-fatal automobile accident in 2004. I realized the injury had forever changed the way my brain functions. Many of my “left brain” cognitive, technical skills that contributed to my business success were gone, replaced by creative, “right brain” skills that gave life to colorful stories and visuals.

“That change ignited my passion of helping children and enabled me to re-invent myself as a children’s author with the goal of writing books that are fun to read, while still being informative and inspirational.”

It was also during this period that I was reawakened to something I had learned as a young child from my grandmother in the practice of mindfulness and meditation. The suggestion to use meditation by my neurologist and cognitive rehabilitation therapist seemed natural to me and it really worked to help re-wire my Suzanne Kline brain—allowing me the ability to learn to read again.

By discovering the value of mindfulness in my own recovery, and how to link and teach mindfulness techniques to children to help them deal with any challenges they may face. Our kids already have the skills and resilience they need within themselves to manage life’s ups and downs. Learning to breathe and discover that inner resilience is the key to the secular, health benefits of practicing mindfulness.

What’s unique about your children’s stories?

Mindfulness and the practice of being mindful are growing practices among adults; however, it is equally important for children to be mindful and learn how to cope during life’s difficult times. Through Surf’s Up, Gizmo! I’m able to teach children as young as four years how to practice being mindful by using Gizmo, a Norfolk terrier, as a familiar and friendly face. This inspires and enables children to ease into the process without it overwhelming them.

Adults can benefit from what Gizmo teaches as well. While parents read to their kids, they not only learn ways to help their children ask questions or share worries so they can solve them, but also how to practice those same mindfulness techniques in their lives.

Why should MBM readers read your book to their children?

This book can help kids AND adults “surf” through life’s challenges. While the results and science behind mindfulness is complex and still being refined, the practice has been shown to help many people, including children. My approach is fun and colorful, while the book isn’t at all intimidating for children and is fun for adults to share with their kids. Both children and adults can benefit from what the book teaches and it all starts with five ocean breaths—mindful breathing is something we can all do easily and naturally!

What new and exciting things are coming up for author Suzanne Kline and the book, Surf’s Up, Gizmo?

Readers can look forward to even more adventures with Gizmo and his friends, including new characters and developments as the book series continues to grow. Gizmo and I have made appearances at elementary schools and we are becoming more involved with charity events and healthcare partnership opportunities as well.

Gizmo is soon to be released as a lovable custom plush toy, along with his best friend in the book, Molly the Dolphin and other Gizmo products to include a pendant and t-shirt. The new Suzanne Kline E-book will feature fun sounds, while revealing clues to the reader about the story line. There will even be Gizmo and Molly the dolphin music to help kids fall asleep and surf through any challenge they may face.

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

Both Gizmo and I enjoy going to our local Starbucks to write and we also enjoy going to the beach as often as we can to make the most of the beautiful weather in South Florida. It inspires me to continue with my book series and allows me to practice mindfulness by being around the ocean lifestyle. And, of course, it provides the perfect environment for Gizmo to do what he does best – Just Surf IT!

Follow Suzanne Kline and Surf’s Up Gizmo! on Social Media

Website-Surf’s Up Gizmo

Facebook- Surf’s Up Gizmo

Twitter- Surf’s Up Gizmo

Instagram-Surf’s Up Gizmo

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

KIDS, Modern FL Mom, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

100 Graduation Photo Ideas from tinyprints

April 23, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Your Boca kid DID IT! He/she mastered all their tests, turned in their homework, picked up some pretty sweet awards and now are on to the next phase of their lives—graduation.

Of course as a parent you’re proud and perhaps you’re thinking about telling the world about your grad in a special way that’s not only social media. According to tinyprints, graduation announcements are the perfect way to notify others about your child’s achievement. Why not set up a photo shoot that shows their bold, quiet or eccentric personality?

100 Graduation Photo Ideas from tinyprints

They’ve compiled 100 graduation photo ideas to help your vision come to life. Whether you want your Boca kid to wear their letterman jacket proudly or show off their one-of-a-kind prom dress, they’ve got you covered.

Click the image below for tons of graduation photo ideas and inspiration!

KIDS, Modern FL Mom, TRAVEL

Food, Dirt & Stains: How Ford Works to Keep Your Car Clean

April 23, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Eating while driving does not help to keep your car clean. And nearly 1-in-4 drivers are doing it, according to a recent poll from Ford.

And you know you’re guilty of snacking (or let’s be honest, eating an entire meal) on-the-go as a mom. That car line isn’t going to drive itself people! But when satiating hunger on the road inevitably leaves more than just crumbs on your new vehicle’s interior due to you or your ravenous children, it may begin to squash your appetite.

At Ford, engineers anticipate these “Oops!” moments and subject each and every material used inside Ford vehicles to a series of meticulous and unrelenting tests – splashing, scratching and stretching to see how well the material stands up against the tests of time and everyday mishaps i.e. you and your Boca children.

How Ford Works with You to Keep Your Car Clean

I recently had the opportunity to test drive a fancy dancy 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum Edition and it truly stood up to our family’s traveling test: a trip to Walt Disney World.

The Explorer had more bells & whistles than we honestly knew what to do with! The durable and quality interior fabrics were only the tip of the iceberg.

Seats that have built-in MASSAGERS (that are supposed to reduce fatigue, but feel darn good),

The dual-panel moonroof. Adaptive Cruise Control and collision warning with brake support. Funky ambient lighting. Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist (translation: the car pretty much drives itself on the highway). And all of the seats folded and/or moved out of the way with the touch of a button. This car is mighty.

It feels luxurious, but is made for traveling with kids.

How Ford Works to Keep Your Car Clean — Don’t worry…this was only pretend driving for #dailybocaavery

And lucky for us, the Ford engineers responsible for ensuring the durability and quality of their vehicles’ interior materials are also mighty and refreshingly, just like us…

They need a proper cup of coffee to start the day right, too. So they conduct the Soil and Cleanability Test where they splash a variety of substances, like coffee, directly onto seat fabrics to evaluate how well the materials can be cleaned post-drinking or eating while driving and their overall stain resistance. (Pro tip: black coffee has a “dye-like effect,” making a splash of cream or milk a wise choice for pothole-prone commutes and drinking/eating while driving.)
They wear dark blue jeans and know a spin through the washer doesn’t always prevent bleeding like the tag says it will. Which is precisely why Ford engineers run the Resistance to Dye Transfer Test, in which they rub denim standard swatches on leather seating materials, then evaluate the cleanability of the dye from the leather to keep your car clean.
They have pets and see firsthand the havoc furry friends can wreak on a vehicle’s interior door panel. The Five-Finger Scratch Test imitates the effect of fingers (or paws) on grain plastics by using a machine that applies varying degrees of pressure before scratching away. Materials with visible marks don’t make the cut.
They appreciate the great outdoors, but don’t always like to bring what’s outside in. So in addition to smearing dirt on fabrics to test for cleanability, Ford engineers also evaluate how materials react to insect repellent and sunscreen to help ensure drivers and their families can have fun without fuss.

Color me impressed! I wish every major product I was considering purchasing went through these kinds of tests! And came with massaging seats…still dreaming about those.

How is your vehicle’s interior holding up post-children and lots of eating while driving? Comment below about how you keep your car clean!

Sponsored: All opinions expressed in this keep your car clean blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was given the use of a 2016 Ford Explorer for the period of two weeks for the purpose of this article.

HOME & GARDEN, Modern FL Mom, TRAVEL

Boca and Broward Welcome the Washé App

April 23, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

As a busy working mom of an almost 3 year old, I have become a little obsessed with certain concierge-type services that allow me to increase my mommy multi-tasking abilities. Here on Modern Boca Mom, I’ve written about concierge pediatrician, Boca VIPediatrics, and the mobile car seat cleaning service, Shiny Hiney. Now, I’d like to introduce you to the Washé app.

What is the Washé app?

It’s a new mobile app that brings the car wash to YOU at the tap of a touchscreen. South Florida’s first on-demand car wash (currently available in Boca and Broward County), Washé app connects car owners with mobile car washers that come to your home, workplace, or even where you’re out lunching— eliminating the need to find time to wash your car(s) or wait in long car wash lines (especially during season, ugh).

I tried the Washé app service out on the Modern Boca Mom-mobile and I would have to equate it to “a spa experience for your car.” Because let’s be honest, yours is probably pretty disgusting if you have a child or have traveled up the Florida Turnpike recently…

They came, they saw, they shampooed the carpets and wiped down every surface in our vehicle. The Washé vehicle didn’t even need a water or electricity hookup. Everything was run out of the awesomely branded Washé van!

I booked the Diamond Wash ($120) and Washé arrived and completed the job in less than 60 minutes. It was awesome! My car sparkled.

The Washé app is currently available for free download on the App Store and via Google Play. Simply create a personal account to place your order and to track the Washé washer’s ETA. In minutes, a Washé service provider will arrive at your vehicle’s location, determined via your smartphone’s location services. You can also schedule the wash for a time convenient for you.

And psst…I hear that when you download the app, you’ll receive $20.00 off your first wash using promo code: washefb

I loved it! I’m definitely planning on booking them again. A clean car is a happy car…with a happy mom driver!

Follow Washé app on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sponsored: All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was given a free car wash for consideration on ModernBocaMom.com, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

KIDS, Modern FL Mom

Palm Beach Zoo CEO Issues Statement on Tiger Attack

April 23, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Palm Beach Zoo CEO & President, Andrew Aiken, Issues Statement on Death of Lead Keeper Stacey Konwiser from Tiger Attack

As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, I want thank everyone for supporting lead zookeeper Stacey Konwiser, her family and entire Zoo family. I appreciate the interest of our community to learn and understand all the facts and circumstances that led to the recent death of Mrs. Konwiser.

The facts as we know them confirm that one of our most senior and experienced animal experts who was highly qualified and a leader in her zookeeper position, secured a portion of the tiger night house with a tiger in it, and then entered that same portion of the night house after it was clearly designated as accessible by a tiger.

Under Palm Beach Zoo policy, zoo employees are never allowed to enter a tiger enclosure to which the animal has access.

Why or how this could possibly occur is the subject of five ongoing investigations, including our own. Over the next few weeks we will continue to meet with employees, OSHA inspectors, detectives from the West Palm Beach Police Department, Florida Fish & Wildlife officers, investigators from the USDA and our own internal investigative team to understand every aspect of this tragic loss.

RECAP: At approximately 2 p.m. on Friday, April 15th, Konwiser was involved in an incident with one of the Zoo’s male Malayan tigers. The tiger attack occurred off exhibit, in the tiger night house, which is in the back of the tiger exhibit where the public does not have access.

Konwiser was airlifted from Palm Beach Zoo. “[She] was preparing the night house for the evening routine, which includes cleaning and feeding,” said General Curator Jan Steele. Officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the tiger attack.

About the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society

As a private organization that does not receive government funding, The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches exists to inspire people to act on behalf of wildlife and the natural world. We advance our conservation mission through endangered species propagation, education and support of conservation initiatives in the field. Our commitment to sustainable business practices elevates our capacity to inspire others. The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is located at 1301 Summit Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information, visit www.palmbeachzoo.org

EVENTS, KIDS, Modern FL Mom

Fun Birthday Surprises for Your Teen

April 19, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

Fun Birthday Surprises for Your Teen

When your kids were little, planning birthday parties was a whole lot easier—balloons, cake, and maybe a bounce house combined for the picture perfect birthday bonanza. As the years go on, it gets a little bit harder. Every parent with a teenager knows the struggles on planning a birthday soiree for their increasingly independent child: you don’t want to baby them, and the feared “I’m bored” is always lingering in the back of your mind. You can impress your hard-to-please teen with any of these awesome surprises and make sure their party is a success in their eyes and for their friends.

Low-Key or Life of the Party

You need to take your child’s personality and preferences into consideration. Not all kids like a ton of fanfare on their birthdays, and may prefer to keep their celebrations low-key. Your child might be very social and want to invite 30 other kids, or they may keep to two or three best friends. Finding out their expectations before beginning the party-planning process will help you better budget and plan accordingly.

Some Proper Pampering

Most teen girls (and perhaps a few teen guys) would appreciate a bit of pampering, so turn their birthday into a spa-like experience. Take your birthday gal and a few of her best friends to a spa resort and let them run wild with their treatments. It could be a massage, a mani-pedi, or a facial. For teens who are constantly trying to assert their slow-moving emergence into adulthood, this is the perfect way to make her feel more adult-like in a healthy and fun way.

A Special Delivery

Teenagers are often overwhelmingly preoccupied with appearances and may shirk attention, but every kid likes a bit of special acknowledgement, especially on their birthday. If you want to make a long boring school day a little more action-filled, surprise your teen daughter with a surprise birthday flower delivery straight to her classroom. For the teenage guy, desserts or snacks are never a bad move. You’ll need to be sure to check with school officials before placing the order, but most high schools will allow outside deliveries with prior notice, at least in my local school districts. You know your child best, and if you think a classroom surprise would embarrass them more than please, you can always save the surprise deliveries for later when they arrive home from school.

A Once in a Lifetime Experience

A birthday party at the roller rink is so five years ago for your teen, but that doesn’t mean their birthday can’t be filled with activity. If your child is an adventure seeker, consider purchasing them and a few of their friends the chance to experience something new. Check out sites like Excitations.com to see what local adventures and experience gifts are available in your area. It might be something like a hot air balloon ride or a white water rafting trip. You should consult with your child and let them pick the experience they’d like to try. Something to keep in mind: if you plan to bring some of their friends, you’ll likely need parental approval and often a signature to allow them to take part in the adventure in question, so be sure to do your research beforehand.

An Upcoming Event

Check out Ticketmaster.com with your teen and see if there are any upcoming events that they’d like to see. If you know their favorite musical artists, you can probably handle the tickets on your own to pull off a surprise set of tickets to that new boy band or singer-songwriter he or she is obsessed with. Maybe your son is a sports fan to the extreme; you can really make his day with a pair of tickets to the upcoming game. Depending on your budget and the price of the event, you can decide whether you’ll make the excursion a family affair, buy two tickets for your teen and their boyfriend or girlfriend, or maybe a bunch of tickets for their friends to join in.

If you have a teen celebrating a special birthday soon, you can design some birthday surprises for your teen they’re sure to adore.

KIDS

Zoo Closed Temporarily After Beloved Palm Beach Zoo Keeper Dies

April 16, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

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I, along with so many other South Florida parents, was so sad to hear about the loss of the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society’s Lead Palm Beach Zoo Keeper, Stacey Konwiser.

If you haven’t heard the news, at approximately 2 p.m. on Friday, April 15th, Konwiser was involved in an incident with one of the Zoo’s male Malayan tigers. The incident occurred off exhibit, in the tiger night house, which is in the back of the tiger exhibit where the public does not have access.

As the investigation into Palm Beach Zoo Keeper Konwiser’s tragic death continues, the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society remains closed as it cooperates with West Palm Beach Police, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission and OSHA.

The male tiger involved in the deadly Palm Beach Zoo Keeper incident has recovered from a tranquilizer at the nonprofit organization.

Members of Palm Beach Zoo management met with staff early Saturday morning to mourn together. A note of support was read from Konwiser’s husband, Jeremy, who is also a Palm Beach Zoo Keeper. The Zoo is working with family members to establish a memorial fund in Konwiser’s honor.

The 38-year-old was a beloved member of the Palm Beach Zoo family, who had just passed her three year anniversary at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited organization.

“Konwiser had recently accepted a position with the FDA, looking at long-term career progression to get into U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. We were in the process of crafting another position to retain her,” Steele said.

This marks the first death of a human involved in an animal incident in the 60-year history of the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. Zoo officials made arrangements to move a wedding planned for Saturday night to another venue.

This is a very difficult situation for all Zoo staff, the Konwiser family and her extended Zoo family. They ask the media and public to respect the privacy of those involved during this difficult time.

The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society will remain closed throughout this weekend (April 16-17, 2016).

About the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society

CLASSES & THINGS TO DO, FITNESS, KIDS

I Wish I Could Go Back to Preschool

April 14, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

There’s a song from the Broadway show, Avenue Q, that I can’t ever get fully out of my head. It’s called “I Wish I Could Go Back to College,” and the song talks about how life was so simple when all you had to do was go to class and hang out with your friends. It’s pretty spot on.

I miss those days, but lately I’ve decided: forget college. I would much rather go back to preschool. The stakes are lower, the parental servicing top notch…and now there are so many awesome opportunities for the 3+ set in our area that you might just want to go back with me!

Preschool Perk #1: Hanging Out Upside Down (at Capoeira for Preschoolers)

Whenever my daughter encounters a padded floor, the first thing she does is try to do a headstand. There’s something freeing about hanging upside down when you’re 3 years old and now there’s a perfect class to teach them the proper way to do so at Capo Capoeira in Coral Springs, Capoeira for Preschoolers. The class actually goes up to age 6.

Capoeira is a centuries old martial art that combines Brazilian music and dance with self-defense. The ”combatants” don’t actually try to hurt or even touch each other. Although the advanced flips and kicks of capoeira demand training, agility and skills, anyone can have fun with it and “play” capoeira, including preschoolers.

We love the Capoeira for Preschoolers class times at Capo Capoeira in Coral Springs. They are held every day but Wednesday and Sunday. Check out the flier above for more details!

(Psst…they even have a class for moms! Capo Capoeira has an amazing class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. where most of the attendees are MOMS! Each person who joins really becomes part of an amazing group of friends who support and push each other. Don’t be nervous– you don’t have to be flexible or coordinated to do capoeira! Their classes, including Capoeira for Preschoolers, are for all levels and ages, and focus on improving strength, flexibility, and complete body conditioning. Capoeira music also includes African drums, which takes the energy of a “workout class” to a whole other level!)

Preschool Perk #2: Wearing Whatever the Heck You Want

Two headbands? No problem. Crazy color combos? Completely normal. Princess dresses or nightgowns worn around town? Can totally get away with it.

It’s good to be fashionably free at 3.

Preschool Perk #3: Falling Asleep Anywhere You Damn Feel Like

Regular naps are for suckers…uh, we mean TODDLERS. When you’re a preschooler, you laugh in the face of naptime. But when you’re tired, it’s on.

Whether you’re in the car, on the couch or near a floor, it’s all acceptable if you’re in need of a little snooze.

Can we please go back to preschool already?

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by Capo Capoeira. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I have been compensated, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

MOMPRENEURS, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

MOMpreneur Monday: Henao Glass Design

April 10, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...Claudia Henao, glass artist and owner of Henao Glass Design!

Tell us a little bit about your background, mommyhood and what drove you to start Henao Glass Design…

I am a wife, mother of two children, a boy and a girl (16 and 22) and a small dog. I have been a glass artist for 16 years and started my business Henao Glass Design which is based in Boca Raton’s Vintage Home Collective store.

It has been very challenging to combine work and family. When my children were little, 30% of my day was spent working with glass, which then turned into 50% once they entered school. Now that they are older and don’t need me as much, I am able to devote more of my time to art. I’m really grateful that my dream became my work and I never gave up on them.

“I think as mothers, we need to have something more than a family and a house to be complete. A passion, a dream, a vision that all our faith and respect can flow into.”

I originally started Henao Glass design in Germany in 2000 when my daughter, Andrea, was 4 months old. I participated in various seminars and workshops led by experienced artists in the glass business in Europe. It was neither easy, nor too difficult, because I knew many people in my town, so they helped me promote my work by talking to other friends and families about it. This was the easiest way to get the word out about Henao Glass Design and create a customer base.

What makes Henao Glass Design stand out among other glass artistry?

The service I offer to my customers is very personal. I always try to identify their taste and style when working on each project. I also believe that the energy, passion and love I put into my work is one of my strongest points. My passion for art and my self-taught spirit led to experimenting, mixing materials and techniques that always result in unique pieces. I enjoy combining colors, textures and forms, as well as designs in order to satisfy and surprise everyone with a piece they can truly call “their own”.

Why should MBMom readers become your clients and buy your art?

I’m certain that every single reader of yours has proven to be someone who enjoys art as much as the artist they acquire it from. Being able to share my joy and passion with such like-minded souls would be another step towards fulfilling my dream. As a glass artist, I offer everything including, but not limited to, handmade glass fusing, tiles, dinnerware, glass restoration, garden sculptures and stained glass.

What exciting things are coming up for Henao Glass Design?

I’m always excited for new projects, contacts, customers and experiences. Every day is a new page in my book, filled with surprises and excitement for me and everyone around me! I look forward to creating new relationships with my clients to fulfill their design visions while creating pieces with the work I love.

We are also having a really fun event at Vintage Home Collective coming up this weekend that we hope you’ll join us for!

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

South Florida is a very inspiring environment for me. Waking up to the beautiful weather, as well as the incredible variety in flora and fauna, are tremendously helpful when it comes to thinking of new projects and ideas. This adds a new experience to my life and my families after living in Europe with such a colder weather environment.

Follow Henao Glass Design on Social Media!

Facebook- Henao Glass Design

Twitter- Henao Glass Design

Instagram-Henao Glass Design

Pinterest- Henao Glass Design

LinkedIn-Claudia Henao

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

Modern FL Mom, SHOPPING & BEAUTY

7 Modern Ways To Banish Stress From Our Daily Lives

April 10, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

There’s so much going on in our lives these days, it’s easy to get stressed out.

Take a deep breath in, a deep breath out and let those daily worries drift away as we take you through some simple ideas to make life seem a little less hectic.

Here are seven modern ways to banish stress from our daily lives:

Color your worries away

Seven Modern Ways To Banish Stress From Our Daily Lives Colored Pencils — Who said coloring was just for kids? (Image source: Maxime De Ruyck via Flickr Creative Commons)

If you’re not aware of the coloring craze that has been taking over the nation recently, then where have you been hiding? Grown up coloring is ‘in’ and it’s a great way to calm your mind after a stressful day. According to certified art therapist Marygrace Berberian in this CNN article, “Coloring definitely has therapeutic potential to reduce anxiety, create focus or bring [about] more mindfulness.” So let your creative side out while your troubles fade away! You can find a range of coloring books filled with inspiring patterns here.

Get some Headspace

Headspace (Image source: Titanas via Flickr Creative Commons)

Everyone deserves a bit of ‘me time’, so when you’re next feeling super stressed, why not introduce Headspace into your life. This handy app makes meditation simple, and takes up just 10 minutes of your day – perfect for that train ride home or just before bed. Download this easy to use guide onto your phone or tablet and you can learn to meditate whenever the moment takes you.

Protect your phone

For a lot of us, we carry our whole lives on our phones these days. We’d be lost without them, so there’s nothing more stressful than that heart-wrenching moment when they accidentally drop on the floor. Never fear though, the masterminds at tech21 have developed a range of cases that provide the ultimate in impact protection for your phone. Using their unique FlexShock™ material, your device will be safe and sound from drops of up at 6.6ft! Check out their latest range of Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6 cases.

Listen To The Rain

Let your worries wash away with Rainy Mood (Image source: Pexels)

There’s something about the sound of rain when you’re tucked up inside that has a calming effect on the mind. Well now you can take that feeling with you wherever you go with the Rainy Mood app. Let the soothing sounds of raindrops drone out that office background noise when work or stress gets a little too much. Their Twitter feed is also full of inspirational quotes to help you through the day.

Wake Up On The Right Side Of Bed

This mood altering light is designed to make your wake up as peaceful and easy as possible in the mornings. The Bodyclock gently increases in natural light as it’s time for you to get up, helping to banish your sleep hormones and stimulate your awake ones! It’s the perfect gadget for boosting your mood and energy throughout the day. Find the Lumie Bodyclock STARTER 30 here and start your day right.

Send Your Stress Into Space

Banish those stressful thoughts from your mind with the help of Pixel Thoughts and the night’s sky. This website lets you fire your worries off into a star (not literally of course), then helps you to meditate and let your cares drift away as you watch the virtual star and your stressful thought fade into the distance. Visit the website and have a go for yourself.

Never Lose Your Keys Again

Trackr promises no more stress over lost keys (Image source: Pexel)

When you’re in a rush, you’re bound to lose your keys as you’re trying to leave the house. Eliminate this stress by getting yourself a Trackr, a coin-sized device that attaches to any item and will notify you when you’re about to leave your keys behind. Use the app to ring your lost keys and it will lead you straight to them! You can find out more about Trackr here.

Feeling chilled out yet? Try to add a few of these ways to banish stress into your everyday life and you will be worry-free in no time.

Modern FL Mom, MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Silver Unpolished Blog

April 3, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 3 Comments

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow Mommas.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...Rachel Cohen, writer and founder of the blog, Silver Unpolished!

Tell us a little bit about your background, mommyhood and what drove you to start the Silver Unpolished blog…

I’m a Northerner at heart, born and raised in Deal, New Jersey. After graduating from the George Washington University, I moved to South Florida on a wing and a prayer because the cold winters had finally caught up with me. I made a career for myself in the financial industry, but when my first son was born in 2006, I became a stay at home mom to Ben, now 10 years old and later to Harrison, now 8 years old.

“After many years as a full time homemaker, I began struggling with the daily grind of being a wife and mother. I knew it was time spread my wings and add a new title to my resume of life.”

I needed a healthy outlet to express the trials and tribulations of raising kids and juggling the umpteen daily tasks, while still keeping my sanity. I always had a passion for writing, so I figured the next logical step was to create a blog to share my stories in the hopes others could identify and relate.

Silver Unpolished LLC was launched in April 2013 to do just that. Using humor and humility, my goal has been to evoke emotion from others by writing truthful albeit somewhat “unpolished” tales of the ins and outs of such topics including, but not limited to Motherhood, Marriage, Friendship, Family, Fun, Food & Fitness. My dry sense of humor yields a lot of self-deprecation in my writing. I attempt to not take myself too seriously, although I know I am my own biggest critic!

What makes Silver Unpolished stand out among other blogs?

I strongly believe there is a need for individuals (I suppose in this case, moms in particular) to have an outlet to express themselves freely without feeling judged. There are a lot of “Mommy Blogs” out there that impart a “this is the right way to do it” attitude. I feel strongly we should embrace and support each other as parents (and women too) in a truthful way.

There is no right or wrong way to be a Mom (or wife, or sister or friend, etc.). We do the best we can and try to learn from the mistakes we make and we ALL make mistakes. There is strength in numbers and Silver Unpolished wants to increase the number of followers/ readers/ supporters who believe it’s OK to say it like it is and own their truth!

“If I can share my tales of successes and failures (and there are many failures and disappointments) with readers so that they too realize the goal is just DO THE BEST WE CAN, that is good enough!”

Why should MBMom readers head over to read Silver Unpolished?

I would love MBMom readers to become my readers as well because I think there is a need in the “marketplace” for a place to “go” online to laugh, cry, yell, scream, learn, grow and support one another. Sometimes you just need a good laugh or a good cry or a good in-between and I want people to know Silver Unpolished covers it all!

What exciting things are coming up for Silver Unpolished?

Silver Unpolished is getting a whole new revamp! The look of the blog is changing as April is the blog’s BIRTHDAY MONTH! I wanted a new vibe, but not a full blown makeover like “under general anesthesia and in the hospital for days on end type of makeover.” More like an unpolished “mini-makeover” like an “outpatient with conscious sedation to just feel refreshed and more alive!”

The website will have Silver Unpolished merchandise available to order including tanks, tees, sweats, visors and shot glasses all with the SUP brand logo! I’ve become more involved with local businesses to help promote their brands/businesses as well, but I have always stood by the idea of only writing about brands and businesses I myself use and feel passionately about. The blog was created out of need to express myself and not about making money. As the years have gone on, it would be wonderful to monetize and align myself with brand name businesses, but not at the expense of compromising my integrity! (no expense… no pun intended!)

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

Although I will always think of myself as a Northerner, I do love living in South Florida. The weather is fantastic and the quality of life doesn’t get better! When my kids say the word “orange,” I know they are true Floridians because they emphasize the “OR” sound. When I say the same word, it sounds more like the AHHHHrange! I guess it’s a classic case of some say tomato and some say toe-mahhhtoe!

I love raising my children in Florida and I do believe my family as a whole thrives here! It’s win/win for all of us!

Follow Silver Unpolished on:

Facebook- Silver Unpolished

Twitter- @SilverUnpolish

SilverUnpolished.com

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

Modern FL Mom, TRAVEL

I’ll Admit It, I Want a Minivan: 2016 KIA Sedona Review

April 1, 2016 Modern Boca Mom 1 Comment

I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m a 33 year-old (still cool, I hope) South Florida mom and I (really) kind of want a minivan. Yes, I only have one child, but man–if it isn’t the easiest darned way to get kiddos in and out of a vehicle. A minivan is also a great place to take a secret mom nap- FYI. The automatic opening doors…the La-z-boy seats…the dual sunroofs. I’m getting all hot and bothered thinking about it! I am of course talking about the KIA Sedona minivan. And MBMom has your 2016 KIA Sedona review…Boca mom style…

2016 KIA Sedona Review

Minivans have come a long way since our parents’ day. I mean, how sexy does this sound? Aggressive and refined, the 2016 KIA Sedona is your getaway vehicle and lounge on the go. The Sedona is comfort for everyone, fitted with high-tech gadgets, like the Smart Power Liftgate, and available second-row First-Class Lounge Seating. From the spacious driver cockpit to the versatile Slide-N-Stow® seats, the Sedona is intuitive control and flexibility that keeps pace with you.

Fitting 7 passengers comfortably in an automobile is no easy feat, but EVERY KIA VEHICLE I’ve reviewed so far has made space (including the trunk area) a priority. Look at all that room with the third row seating folded down!

The built-in entertainment system was a total win with our toddler (and a first for us) since we decided to head up to Disney World the weekend we tested out the 2016 KIA Sedona. Although, we quickly learned we’d have to set hard and fast rules for #dailybocaavery if we owned a vehicle with a DVD player. She wanted to use it even on short trips to the grocery store!

This minivan is also tech-centric. The 2016 KIA Sedona is loaded with cutting-edge innovations to help keep you in control like Blind-Spot Detection (BSD) and a Smart Power Liftgate that provides hands-free opening. Very handy if you have groceries or luggage (or a child) in your arms.

You can now confidently navigate tight spots with the available Surround View Monitor (SVM). Using four mounted cameras, the Sedona projects a 360° bird’s-eye view directly onto your in-dash screen. I loved this feature.

Let’s not forget the heated and air conditioned seat option.

Also, the stain-resistant fabric. That’s HUGE. The 2016 KIA Sedona’s interior cloth repels stains, odors, and static. Whether it’s spilled coffee or dried mud, YES Essentials^® advanced repel-and-release technology makes cleanups easy and drying time fast. The fabric even helps eliminate odors to maintain a cleaner, fresher cabin. YES!

I was a total SUV-only person until I experienced this luxurious minivan. You should definitely consider giving it a test-drive the next time you’re in the market for a new family vehicle. But, prepare for a mini (van?) identity crisis once you’ve fall in love! 😉

Learn all about the 2016 KIA Sedona Review on the KIA website. Connect with KIA on your favorite social media sites: Like on Facebook and Follow KIA on Twitter to stay updated on all of their latest car trends and special offers!

Sponsored: All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I was given the use of a 2016 KIA Sedona for the period of one week for the purpose of this review.

CLASSES & THINGS TO DO, KIDS

Jupiter STEM Program Gains Steam

April 1, 2016 Modern Boca Mom

A Jupiter STEM program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) has picked up some steam with its recent expansion in Downtown Abacoa with STEM Studio. STEM Studio, an extension of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach, opened to the public on March 11th in partnership with Bricks 4 Kidz. The 2,000-square-foot space now serves as a social hub for educational enrichment.

Lew Crampton, Science Center CEO said, “we are proud of our programming, which continues to evolve to the meet the needs of our community. STEM Studio is another step in our continued expansion plans. It will allow us to open even more minds to science. We look forward to bringing our well-known camps, planetarium shows, ‘Parents Night Out’ events, and so much more, to the residents of Northern Palm Beach County, Abacoa and beyond.”

Jupiter STEM Program

In 2012, the Science Center expanded its current venue from 20,000 to 30,000 square-feet, an increase of 50 percent of space for exhibits, classrooms and more. The $5 million expansion and renovation was the start of multiphase improvements. Currently, the West Palm Beach facility is working on improvements to the outdoor Museum Campus, including a multi-purpose education center, “The Conservation Golf Course,” community gardens, 25 interactive exhibits, an expanded outdoor main stage and much more.

STEM Studio is a collaborative community space managed by the Science Center and Bricks 4 Kidz. Both organizations, along with select community partners, will offer regular programming geared toward kids and families.

“Jupiter, and specifically Downtown Abacoa, is a booming community for kids and families,” continued Crampton. “We are eager to reach this audience on a more regular basis and look forward to partnering with other Downtown Abacoa businesses on special events and packages at STEM Studio.”

STEM Studio is located at 1209 Main St. Unit #112. The space will be open based on scheduled activities. For more information about STEM Studio and its events, please visit www.stemstudiojupiter.com, call 561-818-STEM (7836) or email info@stemstudiojupiter.c

Another favorite when it comes to cause-oriented mama blogs is…Celiac Mama!

Watch the NEW MOANA trailer below:

FUN FILM FACTS:

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is... Concierge Attorney at Law, Pamela Higer Polani!

Tell us a little bit about your background and what inspired you to become a Boca Raton concierge attorney…

What challenges have you faced with your business?

What’s unique about your firm and why should MBMom readers consider becoming your clients?

What exciting things are coming up with your community service work?

What do you, Pamela Polani, love about living and working in South Florida?<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-12580" src="https://modernbocamom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Shine_logo_final_300.jpg" alt="Print" width="1" height="1" />

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

Bar Cart Styling Tips:

1. Incorporate Flowers

2. Display Lemons & Limes

3. Book It

4. Show Off Your Crystal

5. Shakers and Straws

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Today’s featured Modern Boca Entrepreneur is...the founder of Sweet Memories Photography, Naomi Phelps!

Tell us a little bit about your background and what inspired you to start Sweet Memories Photography…

How did your Sweet Memories Photography start?

What’s unique about Sweet Memories Photography and why should MBMom readers consider becoming your clients?

What new and exciting things are coming up for your business?

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-12580" src="https://modernbocamom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Shine_logo_final_300.jpg" alt="Print" width="1" height="1" />

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

Mark your calendars! This year’s Mother of All Baby Showers is on Friday, October 7th from 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at the Young At Art Museum.

Mother of All Baby Showers Ticket Info

Attendees can register here: www.themotherofallbabyshowers.com

songs for seeds Boca Raton: What It’s About

Meet the songs for seeds Boca Raton BAND

On-Demand Car Seat Cleaning at Your Boca Raton Home

Make your at-home appointment with Shiny Hiney today! BOOK HERE.

“LIKE” Shiny Hiney Boca on Facebook (www.facebook.com/myshinyhiney) to catch their latest cleaning locations, promotions and offers!

Boca Raton Big Girl Bedroom Makeover

BEFORE

AFTER

Big Girl Bedroom Makeover Decorations: Collaboration is key!

Big Girl Bedroom Makeover: Furniture

Big Girl Bedroom Window Treatments

Big Girl Bedroom Makeover: Organization

Eau Palm Beach Breeze Ocean Kitchen

HydroPeptide Active Body Scrub

Eau Palm Beach Spa

What’s coming up at Eau Palm Beach’s Eau Spa?

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the founder of Robyn Elise Public Relations, Robyn Wellikoff!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to found Robyn Elise PR…

So you moved to South Florida…

What’s unique about Robyn Elise PR and why should MBMom readers consider becoming your clients?

What new and exciting things are coming up for your firm?

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-12580" src="https://modernbocamom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Shine_logo_final_300.jpg" alt="Print" width="1" height="1" />

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

Is Now the Time to Buy OR Sell a Boca Raton Home?

TeachGeek Delray Beach- 5 Tech Tips for Getting Your Student Ready for School

What makes BasicInvite.com different?

Big Luvs Diaper Savings #ShareTheLuv

Sweet Memories Photography Boca Raton Photoshoot: Back-to-School

Scheduling your own Boca Raton photoshoot with Sweet Memories Photography celebrating back-to-school is easy!

Contact her by clicking HERE.

Download your photos and enjoy them as much as we love ours!

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is...the founder of The Mother of All Baby Showers (MOABS), Amy Lundy!

Tell us a little bit about your background, motherhood and what inspired you to throw the “Mother of All Baby Showers”…

How did you get started?

What’s unique about MOABS and why should MBMoms attend your events?

What new and exciting things are coming up for MOABS?

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-12580" src="https://modernbocamom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Shine_logo_final_300.jpg" alt="Print" width="1" height="1">

SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

Disney’s MOANA

PLEASE CALL 561-416-9737 ext. 1311 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

COST:

Babies Class Pass (Babies-Walkers, 8 classes/$15.00 per class) is $120.00 for September-December 2016 classes.

Toddlers Class Pass (Walkers-Age 3, 12 classes/$15.00 per class) is $180.00 for September-December 2016 classes.

SOLD OUT #grandviewmoms Baby Class Dates (all at 10:30 a.m.):

6 Weeks- Walking

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SOLD OUT #grandviewmoms Toddler Class Dates (all at 10:30 a.m.):

Strong Walkers – Age 3

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

What do you, Pamela Polani, love about living and working in South Florida?

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?

What do you love about living and working in South Florida?