Summer is around the corner and naturally, parents are thinking about swim lessons for their kids. And that’s a good thing, because drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second-leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of 14 in the United States, according to the CDC. These are harsh statistics, but the good news is formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%. We may talk about these statistics more in summer, when families head to waterfronts and pools, but it is important to remember the need for water safety never ends and parents should always be thinking about it for their kids. In fact, USA Swimming launched a campaign recently called Saving Lives is Always in Season in an effort to pr...
The choice to undergo breast surgery, or any cosmetic procedure, is deeply personal. And for the right person, it can also be totally rewarding. As you do your research, you likely have found that there’s no shortage of information online—but it sure can be time-consuming to parse what’s useful (and factual) from what isn’t. To guide you on this journey toward renewed confidence, Denver board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Buford has published a free, one-stop guide with all the information you need. Here are 7 of our favorite takeaways from The Boob Job Bible: Your Ultimate Guide to Breast Surgery. Important Things to Know About Denver Breast Augmentation 1. Not every plastic surgeon is equally qualified. Screen potential surgeons by asking questions and watching for red flag...
When your kids get (or act) too old for an Easter Basket – but you still want to give them something fun, might I suggest the Table Mountain Farm’s Mallow basket. It is made with all Colorado produced things featuring Table Mountain Farm’s Goat Milk Caramel sauces (Vanilla Bean, Cinnamon Vanilla, Whiskey and Salted Chocolate) plus Magical Mallows Peeps! The basket is just $29.99. My daughter was most excited (she got hers early) to create some caramel coffee drinks with a floating peep! Elitch Gardens Will Open! Exciting news for thrill seekers – Elitch Gardens has gotten approval to open this summer. The capacity will be limited to 3,200 per day (about 18% capacity) and some covid protocols (yes, that means face-masks). The park will open to pass holders on April 24 so hurry ...
April Fool’s Day is almost here. Last year during the height of the pandemic when we were in homeschooling toilet-paper-shortage lockdown, I recruited my friends to text my kids, asking them about their toilet paper crafting company. At first, they were understandably confused but after a while, they started to see the humor in it and had a blast pitching various creations. Here are some other awesome April Foll’s Day ideas! 25 April Fool’s Day Pranks, Recipes and Ideas! 1. My kids have never forgiven me for the year when I bought some succulent strawberries and dipped them in sugar…only to find out it was salt. 2. Put fake dog poop or a fake spilled drink on their tablet or shoes. 2. Speaking of salt, sprinkle a bit of it on your child’s too...
Hang on to your hats and secure all loose articles – The thrills are back at Colorado’s only combination theme & water park. Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park has been approved by City and State officials to open for the 2021 season with new health and safety guidelines. Elitch Gardens will open to Season Pass holders on April 24th and 25th and the public on May 1st. “After having to be closed all of last season, all of us at Elitch Gardens are extremely excited to be able to once again deliver the kind of outstanding family fun we’ve been known for over the past 130 years,” said David Dorman, Elitch Gardens General Manager. Health and Safety Protocols At Elitch Gardens, the health and safety of the guests and team members are the top priority. The parks COVID-19 suppress...
I started hiking with my kids when they were six weeks old with a mom hiking group in Denver. Not only was it an amazing way to connect with other moms, but my kids developed a love of the outdoors from an early age. I was able to continue carrying them until they were almost 30 pounds because they were comfortable in the backpack. Our best advice? Teach them while they’re young! If you’re looking for inspiration about where to hike in Denver, scroll to the bottom. 10 tips for hiking with babies in Denver 1. Check the age and weight recommendation of your pack or front carrier before taking your baby on a hike. Our pack had a 6-month, 15-pound minimum, and, although we put our daughter in earlier, we stuck to trails that were smooth to avoid jarring her head and neck. Before yo...
There is lots and lots of video gaming these days. Parents tell me how they feel torn because their child does not have any after school sports or activities where they see friends, so video gaming is where they connect with their friends. Yet, they worry about the sheer amount of hours — 3, 4, 5 hours. Parents tell me about the “decision fatigue” they are seeing with their kids now during Covid. Their children say how they are worn down and giving up on trying to find alternative things to do besides video gaming (or shows, social media, etc.). Parents feel worn down as well. And the truth is, of course, options are limited right now. I feel it these days now that the cold and rain has arrived in Seattle, and there are so few places to go to do something inside given Covid. Th...
They were young and old, single and married, King Soopers customers and employees and an officer first on the scene. The youngest was 20; the oldest 65. And, according to Boulder mom Rachel Walker, Colorado’s latest mass shooting hits way too close to home. “The thing is—King Soopers in Table Mesa wasn’t just a grocery store. For the past 18 years, it’s been my community center. It’s where we shop, where we run into friends and teachers and our doctors. It’s the equivalent of a small-town post office. And for someone as chatty as I am, a trip to the store was almost always guaranteed to be a super fun excursion where I’d see friends.” She says before the pandemic, her kids would run through the store helping get stuff for their cart—as kids d...
The morning after the shooting, 11-year-old JJ Whitmer wanted to do something to honor those whose lives were lost. He proposed handing out flowers to employees at King Soopers stores in Brighton and Commerce City. He purchased dozens of carnations in a variety of bright colors and roses and paid for them with money he earned from dog-walking. When JJ told the florists his plan to give a flower to every store employee, he was offered a generous discount at both stores. As he handed out over 70 flowers, he shared the same message to employees: “We just wanted to let you know you’re appreciated. Thank you for being here today. It must be hard.” Gratitude was the response. “It brought joy to a sad day,” his mom, Jody Witmer, said. Even during the saddest of times, let’s reme...
Spring is springing and now is the perfect time to find ways to celebrate Earth Day in Denver. There are lots of ways to gather safely in-person or online to discover ways to learn about and protect our beautiful planet earth. Check out our list of activities including in-person events and volunteering and online events, with options for kids, families, and parents. Participate in everything from tree planting and cleanups, to art projects and wildlife viewing, to interactive online events. Please note: Most in-person events listed require advance reservations. Wear a mask, follow social distancing protocols, and adhere to safety guidelines for each event. Contributor: Joan Gregerson, Green Team Academy. Earth Day 2021 Events in Denver School Tree-Planting Events April 17 &...
I used to go over to the mall sometimes on an overcast Sunday – to see what deals they have and to walk around. I did this last weekend. What a mess! Everyone else was there. And while the stores have a limit to the number of people in a store – they line up outside each store. Some of the lines were 30+ minutes just to get in the store! And it made the mall very crowded. Has anyone else experienced this or was it just because it was it just this particular Sunday afternoon? Host Your Own Easter Egg Hunt or Gathering. Enjoy the fun of an outdoor Easter egg hunt and party in a socially-distanced way with these fun ideas. Outlets at Castle Rock Easter Egg Hunt. From March 22- April 2 Hop on down to the Outlets of Castle Rock. There is a Kids Scavenger hunt – stop by Cu...
We are waking up to another nightmare in Colorado: 10 people were killed yesterday, including one police officer who was the first to respond to the scene at a King Soopers in Boulder. A store that I, and many of you, have frequented. This year-long pandemic has brought about many emotions and fears and deep wounds resurfaced yesterday as yet another shooter targeted our beloved state. We are the birthplace of horror. Columbine. Then Aurora. The list keeps growing. It made me think about a few years ago when parents were stunned into silence following the shooting at the STEM School Highlands Ranch in Littleton, Colorado. Half a million kids did not attend school because of this new threat. Instead, fear, shock and the inability to truly process what this ...