Kudos for Frisco Kids

I hope all my mom readers had an excellent Mother's Day! My kids treated me well, not fighting too much, and giving me some wonderful homemade gifts and coupons. I planted flowers, prepped my garden for vegetables, enjoyed a home spa day with mani/pedi and scrub (all done by my daughter) and then home-made dinner by her as well (salad and grilled cheese sandwich).

I wanted to share some news that made my Mother's Day even more special. Frisco Kids was recognized by Red Tricycle as one of their "best favorite family travel blogs we love." Given that Red Tricycle is an awesome website, I was thrilled to be included - especially with the other fabulous blogs they chose. Check them out!

Also amazing, is that FamilyFun Magazine included Frisco Kids in their "go to guide" in their May, 2013 article on traveling to San Francisco. It's on page 58 for those of you get the magazine.

Tips for Kids Traveling Alone using the Unaccompanied Minor Airline Program

My kids do a lot of traveling, but they've never traveled on the plane alone. Until now. I just booked my daughter on a cross-country flight to stay with her best friend for a week.

If you're considering sending your child on a flight alone, here's where to start.

Kayak.com has a list of airline fees, which includes unaccompanied minor fees. You'll see that the fees vary a lot according to the airline, ranging from $25 on Alaskan Airlines (one way), to United's $150 fee one way. That's in addition to the airline ticket. Some charge by the kid, some charge by the family, and some change the rate depending on the flight length. Of course you'll want to confirm the rates with the airline as well.

When you start looking into flights you'll want to ask yourself these questions:

Coming Up: Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive - May 11

Every year, the postal carriers run a food drive. This could not be easier for you! Put out a bag of food along with your mail (if you have any outgoing mail) on Saturday, May 11, 2013. They will take your bag and bring it to a local food bank.

They're looking for nonperishable food items (not in glass containers) like: canned meat, fish, soup, juice, veggies, pasta, cereal, peanut butter and rice. Nothing expired.

So you don't forget, get that bag ready NOW and leave it by the front door so you trip over it every day until Saturday.

Coming Up: Gilt City Warehouse Sale

You probably know the flash sale site Gilt City. They're having a warehouse sale in San Francisco (1290 Sutter Street) on May 18, featuring  designer brands, including men's and women's fashions, home accessories, kids goods and more. Prices are up to 90% off retail.

Sadly, you have to pay to enter! Cost is $10, but you do get some drinks (prosecco, vodka and coconut water - all designer of course!) and snacks with that, plus live music to get you in the mood, and a photo booth. Also sadly (or not) - you can't bring the kids. But you'll only get entrance for two hours, so babysitting (or spouse sitting) shouldn't set you back much. And don't forget your credit card. Your cash is no good with them.

Get tickets ahead of time, and choose mid-morning, afternoon or late afternoon shopping. Let me know what you buy!

Coming Up: Access to Adventure - for kids with disabilities

This weekend, head to Golden Gate Park for Access to Adventure, an exploration of recreation opportunities for children with disabilities. They'll have live music from the Honey Belles and Jeannie and Chuck's Country Roundup, plus activities. Sign language interpretation will be provided.

Mobile Rec will also be there from 10:30-2, with the rock wall, BMX bikes, skateboards nad Freshpark ramps. Not sure if this is accessible for all kids with disabilities.

When: Saturday, May 4 from noon-3
Where: Golden Gate Park Music Concourse Bandshell (between the CA Academy of Sciences and the deYoung Museum)
More info and preregister: to preregister, call Support for Families at (415) 920-5040. For info call the Inclusion Center at (415) 206-1546.
Volunteer: call Ramona McGary at (415) 831-6334 or email ramona.mcgary@sfgov.org

More Bay Area Camp Ideas

A few days ago I posted about some awesome Bay Area camps. I wanted to add a few more to that list.

Youth Spark Summer Camps by Microsoft - emphasizing technology and creativity, these camps focus on digital movie making, storytelling, digital photography and making video games. take place at Microsoft stores (one theme per week). The bad news: the parent/guardian has to stay IN THE STORE during the camp. So no dropping off and going to work, to Peet's Coffee, to the grocery store or to clean the house (as if!).
Where: Bay Area locations with in-store theaters, including Palo Alto, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Corte Madera
When: varies by store. For example, Palo Alto's camps run through August, for 2 hour sessions (each week is a different theme/time). You sign up for a week at a time.
Who: Ages 8-13
Cost: Free
Additional info: finding the info you need is a little tricky on their website. Pick your store and look for the "Register Now" bar on the right side after scrolling down. That will pull up the dates/times/details. It doesn't look like a link, but it is. Then use the calendar function to find out when the camps are running, and details. It's easier going once you get to that page.

Star Wars Camp - This isn't a freestanding camp, but rather a blueprint for how to run your own Star Wars Camp. For those homeschooling readers out there, or parents who have their kids home in the summer, it can also provide some ideas for you to do with the kids too. LucasFilm came up with a Star Wars camp kit where you can make your own Star Wars camp with movie-related games, crafts and activities. And it's free!

Laurel Street Art Camp - this arts camp features pottery, glass fusing, mosaic, soap making, glass painting, polymer clay and weaving projects.
Where: San Carlos
When: 6/17 - 8/30/13 - sessions run one week, and they're 3 hour sessions; some sessions already have wait lists
Who: Grades 2-7
Cost: $245-295 per week

Gailileo Camps - learn to be innovators and explorers with this kids. Themes this summer include
Medieval Adventure, African Safari, and the Art and Science of Circuses, Rides and Carnivals. The themes are created in cooperation with Klutz, the de Young Museum, the Tech Museum of Innovation and the Chabot Space & Science Center.
Where: 38 campus locations including the Peninsula, East Bay, South Bay, San Francisco and Marin
When: Dates vary by location; full days, though Pre-K and K can by half day.
Age: Pre-K through 8th, broken up into appropriate age groups
Cost: $25 discount through May 31, using code 2013INNOVATE. One week starts around $399 but discounts for additional weeks

Some other Frisco Kids camp posts:

Frisco Kids summer camp guide - from 2013

Care package ideas for overnight camp

How to save money on overnight camp supplies

3 mid-summer camps to consider

This post is sponsored by Gailileo. All opinions are my own.

Unique Mother's Day Gifts

Trying to figure out what to get your mother for Mother's Day (or ideas of what the partner/kids could get you)? Here are a few ideas of goods made BY moms (well, two moms and one daughter).

Chocolate - Food writer, cookbook author and chef Monica Bhide teamed up with Co Co Sala to create these delicious chocolates seasoned with flavors like jasmine, curry and cherry blossom. They're coming to you from our nation's capital, so order soon! They'll be on sale May 1-6.

Monica Bhide and Co Co Sala bring to you chocolates flavored with flowers and spices.

Laura Madrigano City Charm - I own several of Laura's bags and a scarf (and have given her bags as gifts). They're beautiful, unique and well made. See them here.

Laura's famous for her flowers.

The scarves can be worn a number of ways and are very cozy.

Dori's Jewelry Breaking the Chains through Jewelry - Help end child slavery in Ghana with beautiful beaded jewelry made by a 12 year old U.S. girl, who is selling the jewelry as her Bat Mitzvah project to help build a school in Ghana to redeem child slaves there (how is that for a run-on sentence?). Buy on Etsy or get a custom-made item. More info on her blog.

Support mothers in Ghana who want to provide an education for their children. You can do so through Dori's jewelry .

This custom bracelet/necklace set was designed and beaded by Dori.

Want to buy something from Amazon? Amazon has a special Mother's Day section.