We’ve featured these services before on SeacoastKidsCalendar because…well, they rock. Enough said.
As parents, we know that one of the most challenging parts of the family’s day is “homework time”. Expressing the importance of academics to kids is right up there with “candy is bad for your teeth”—does not compute. Leslie Bowering, a devoted educator and the director of The Reading ‘Room’ for Kids in Rye NH is here to help parents and students discover techniques for making learning fun and interesting.
The Reading ‘Room’ Mission
The mission of The Reading ‘Room’ for Kids is to provide a calming and quiet academic learning environment for struggling students. Leslie’s teaching philosophy is built on the premise that each student is unique—and each student learns in their own unique way. The Reading ‘Room’ techniques and strategies are tailored to the needs of each child so that he or she can achieve every possible measure of success.
Skill-Building Sessions
Leslie provides 2-3 hour skill-building sessions purposefully designed to promote the joy of learning. Longer sessions allow your child a unique opportunity to place laser-like focus on their homework assignments that can be completed by the end of each session. Imagine! Stress-free dinner conversations! No more hectic nights rushing through homework assignments, studying for spelling tests, and completing research papers!
Session features include:
Family Involvement is Key
Family involvement is the cornerstone to a child’s personal schoolhouse of knowledge because it’s the family that determines how, why, where, when, and from whom their child will learn. A familial consultation is required prior to scheduling either homework and/or skill-building sessions, at which time we assess and discuss the academic needs of your child. An educational tutelage schedule will be created and agreed upon based on specific academic needs required.
The Students – Kindergarten to 6th Grade
Leslie caters to students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. We work in a calm, serene environment conducive to concentration where the room for learning can be truly endless. Consideration is given to the various types of learning styles (i.e. visual, tactile, physical, and verbal, to name a few) and we offer academic skill-building to small groups of three students in each 2-3 hour session. The multi-aged model is based on my experience that an older student will ‘perform’ for the younger student and the younger student will ‘look up’ to the older one.
The Reading ‘Room’ for Kids is a skill-building shop custom-designed for parents who prefer that their children continue to grow academically, physically, emotionally, and responsibly. Learning doesn’t end with the school day.
The Reading ‘Room’ For Kids
1247 Washington Road, Suite #5
Rye, NH 03870
leslie@thereadingroomforkids.com
For information on schedule and fees, please visit www.thereadingroomforkids.com.
No one understands a woman’s desire to be attractive in her own unique way better than a woman.
The team at Dr. Kimberly Marble’s office can appreciate your desires and understand your concerns regarding appearance. Dr. Kimberly Marble, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Core Physicians, combines outstanding clinical credentials with sound aesthetic judgment to make you look and feel your best. Carol Krasin, ARNP, offers a wide range of cosmetic services that can help you achieve the natural results you desire including:
Don’t forget to sign up for their newsletter for information on specials and discounts for services such as Microdermabrasion and Juvaderm! For a confidential consultation call 603-773-9904 or for more information visit www.drmarble.com.
Dr. Kimberly Marble
3 Alumni Drive
Suite 402 in the Medical Office Building at Exeter Hospital
Exeter, NH 603-773-9904
For just $30 you will receive incredible discounts at amusement parks, zoos, museums, mini golf, and much more. You will be getting discounts worth over $1,500 at over 100 New England family attractions, like Story Land, York’s Wild Kingdom, Edaville USA, and Canobie Lake Park to name a few! For more info on attractions, download or view brochure or click here to purchase now!
In most cases, the discount coupon offers a child, 12 and under, a free or discounted admission when accompanied by a paying adult. Offers vary by attraction. See below for a list of participating businesses or click here to read details on the great deals available!
When you purchase a Fun Pass you are also contributing to Breathe New Hampshire, a statewide organization that focuses on all matters that affect breathing, such as asthma, COPD, air quality, and nicotine addiction. Proceeds from your purchase will help the organization continue to provide programs and public awareness campaigns. Breathe New Hampshire also sponsors a statewide youth empowerment network composed of youth between the ages of 11 and 18. If you would like more information about the Breathe New Hampshire Youth Network, click here.
If you have any questions about the Fun Pass please see our Frequently Asked Questions page, email us at info@breathenh.org or phone us at (800) 835-8647.
Participating businesses:
New Hampshire
Albacore Park
Alpine Adventures
America’s Stonehenge
The Balsams Wilderness
Black Mountain Ski Area
Cannon Mountain Ski Area
Canobie Lake Park
Canterbury Shaker Village
Capitol Center for the Arts
Castle in the Clouds
Charmingfare Farm
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
Conway Scenic Railroad
Cranmore Mountain Resort
Currier Museum of Art
The Discovery Stop
Eastman Cross Country Center
The Fells – Historic Estate and Gardens on Lake Sunapee
The Friendly Farm
Funspot
Granite State Whale Watch
Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center
Gunstock
Hobo Railroad
Isles of Shoals Steamship Company
Legends Golf and Family Recreation.
Liquid Planet Water Park
Loon Mountain
Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
Mel’s Funway Park, LLC
Millyard Museum
Mount Sunapee Resort
Mount Washington Auto Road
M/S Mt. Washington Cruises
Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum
Mt. Mooselaukee Mining Company
MV Mt. Sunapee Tour Boat
New Hampshire Farm Museum
North Woods Rafting
Pats Peak Ski Area
Pauline E. Glidden Toy Museum
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf .
Polar Caves Park
Portsmouth Harbor Cruises
Ragged Mountain Resort
Rumble Tumble
SEE Science Center
Space Center
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
Stonyfield Farm Yogurt Works
Story Land
Strawbery Banke Museum
Water Country
Waterville Valley Ski Resort
The Whale’s Tale Water Park
Wildcat Mountain
Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad
Wright Museum of World War II History
YMCA of Greater Manchester
Maine
Carter’s Cross Country Ski Center
Funtown Splashtown, U.S.A
L/A Arts
Lost Valley Ski
Old Fort Western
Owls Head Transportation Museum
Portland Museum of Art
Portland Sea Dogs
Seacoast Fun Park
Seacoast Snow Park
Shawnee Peak Ski Area
Southworth Planetarium
York’s Wild Kingdom
Massachusetts
American Textile History Museum
Battleship Cove
Blue Hills Trailside Museum
Boston By Foot
Boston Duck Tours
The Butterfly Place
Buttonwood Park Zoo
Cape Ann Whale Watch
The Children’s Museum in Easton
Concord Museum
Davis Farmland or Davis Mega Maze
The Discovery Museums
Edaville USA
Essex River Cruises and Charters
Franklin Park Zoo
Jay-Gee’s Ice Cream and Fun Center
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Mass. Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
One Stop Fun
Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum
Plimoth Plantation and Mayflower II
Quinnetukut II Riverboat Cruise
Roller Kingdom
Ryan Family Amusements
Southwick’s Zoo
Stone Zoo
Verizon IMAX Theater at Jordan’s Furniture, Natick and Reading
Worcester Art Museum
Vermont
Billings Farm & Museum
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
Montshire Museum of Science
For more information on the Fun Pass, download or view brochure. Ready for fun? Click here to purchase now!
For more information on the Fun Pass, download or view brochure. Ready for fun? Click here to purchase now!
Breathe NH Fun Pass
800-835-8647
info@breathenh.org
Between shuttling kids to birthday parties every weekend and tracking down the *perfect* gifts, we’re busy moms! So any product that makes our life easier is top of the heap for us. How refreshing to find the Busy Mom’s Birthday Pack – brainchild of local stationery company Pop! Party Objects + Printed Invitations. The Pack includes a year’s worth of uniquely different birthday cards (12 in all) varying in style and age group, complete with fun, mix and match envelopes. And for only $25, they are less expensive than store-bought cards! What’s not to love?
Pop! Party Objects + Printed Invitations started a few years back when local resident and graphic designer, Alissa Holmes, set out to order eight custom invitations to celebrate her daughter’s first birthday. Finding it a challenge to receive the quality and style she craved without breaking the bank or meeting a minimum, she decided to take the project on herself. Friends soon took notice and asked her to design their own children’s birth announcements and party invites. The rest, shall we say, is history.
Offering a catalogue of stationery for children and their grown-ups, using original artwork, recycled papers and envelopes that, well, ‘pop’, Pop! Party Objects brings a fresh level of creativity and wit to designs that you’re sure to love. Looking for something specific? Alissa will work directly with you to create your design vision that’s uniquely special for any occasion. And the best part? It’s sooo affordable! Invitations, announcements, note cards and holiday cards start at just $2 per card. Swoon, we’re in love.
Looking to get your hands on these, pronto? You can find the Busy Mom’s Birthday Pack at Whirlygigs in Exeter and Goody Two Shoes in Portsmouth. Or, simply visit www.popinvites.com and contact Alissa directly. (PS: Card packs are under ‘Greeting Cards’ on the site). Happy Birthday indeed!



Photo Credit: Danielle MacInnes Photography
Want to win a free pack? Enter our “Busy Moms Giveaway” contest to receive a Busy Mom’s Pack of birthday cards designed by Pop! Party Objects + Printed Invitations.
Pop! Party Objects + Printed Invitations
603.770.7947
www.popinvites.com
pop_invites@comcast.net
Hey sports enthusiasts, have we got a deal for you! The University of New Hampshire Wildcat Kids’ Club is a fabulous opportunity for sports fans and families to attend collegiate athletic events affordably. Memberships are just $15 per child and allow kids to attend all ticketed sporting events throughout the year for free!
How does the Wildcat Kids’ Club work?
Each Kids’ Club Member will receive a free ticket to all General Admission sporting events including volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, women’s ice hockey and football. (In order to attend UNH football games, parents are required to purchase General Admission tickets to sit as a family).
Interested in the Men’s Hockey games? Each Kids’ Club Member will receive a $2.00 discount on reserved non-chair back seats at any men’s hockey game (limited quantity available).
What are the membership benefits?
The Kids’ Club is open to children ages 3-13 and each member receives these super-cool perks:
What are the Skills Clinics?
The Skills Clinics are a special opportunity to interact with the athletes, special guests and mascots and typically take place before or after a game. The popular Skate with the ‘Cats event held annually on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is always a hit—kids put on their skates and hit the ice with the men’s and women’s hockey teams and mascots, Gnarlz and Wild E. Cat.
Can’t make the game? No problem! Kids’ Club Members are always welcome to participate in the Skills Clinics regardless of game attendance. See below for a schedule of clinics.
I’m in! How can I purchase a Kids’ Club Member for my child?
Simply visit the Wildcat Kid’s Club webpage and fill out the official form and mail it in.
Where can I get information on game schedules and ticket availability?
Visit the UNH Wildcats website for game dates and times. To purchase tickets, choose your desired sport from the Ticket Headquarters drop-down menu in the upper right hand corner of the homepage. Kids ages 3 and under are free!
FYI: Tickets are also available on game day and this is generally the best way to purchase adult seats in order to avoid online ticketing fees.
Upcoming Skills Clinic Dates
Volleyball: The Kids’ Club Post-Game Clinic follows the UNH vs. Providence game on Sunday, October 24 starting at 1:00pm.
Men’s & Women’s Basketball: New to 2010-11! The UNH Basketball teams will host a clinic and autograph session for all Kids’ Club members in Lundholm Gym. Date TBD, stay tuned!
Men’s & Women’s Hockey: The annual Skate with the ‘Cats event will be on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 10:00am. Registration begins at 9:00am at the Whittemore Center Arena. Be sure to bring your cameras parents!
Gymnastics: TBD
For more information on the UNH Wildcat Kids’ Club, visit their website at www.unhwildcats.com or contact Melanie Brown at 603-862-4148 or e-mail melanie.brown@unh.edu.
Two words. Ah.Dorable. You know those greeting cards you see with the sleeping babies curled up inside a giant flower? That can be your baby! Local photographer Michelle Brewster of MAC Photography captures the essence of newborns and families and delivers keepsakes that rival none other.
We all book photographers for weddings (she does that, too!) and other special occasions, so it’s a no-brainer to document the most amazing time in one’s life—the birth of a beautiful baby! MAC Photography customizes each newborn session according to your tastes and style and photos can be taken in MAC’s downtown Portsmouth studio or in your own home. How does she get the babies all comfy and sleepy? Michelle works directly with moms and knows all the tricks to get those little ones into dreamland while molding them into unique poses that capture all of their teeny tiny attributes.
And, check out this Mother’s Day special running the entire month of May—MAC Photography is offering a complimentary newborn session to new moms with babies who are two weeks old and under (a $200 value). Are you about to become a grandparent or know someone having a baby? Wouldn’t this make a great gift? Newborns change soooo quickly and photos are a great way of remembering the “little” things, like their wrinkly fingers and the cute way their mouths form into an “O” when they sleep. Awwww.
Interested in booking a session? Absolutely. We agree. Even if your little one hasn’t arrived yet, contact MAC Photography to set up an appointment by calling (603) 373-8695 or check out their portfolio by visiting them at www.mac-photography.com.
MAC Photography
(603) 373-8695
info@mac-photography.com
Mother’s Day and Spa Gift Certificates have been perfectly paired together like peanut butter and jelly since the beginning of time, and there’s good reason for it. Because WE. LOVE. IT. Before having kids, getting a mani/pedi was just part of our routine. But now, as we look at our toes who are crying out for glossy polish and crave summer sandals, we wonder when/if/how we’ll find the time? It’s no secret that women love pampering. Warm soaks for our tired feet. Hot towels healing our overworked hands. And all the pretty, shiny, girly stuff that makes us glow from the inside out. Dads, are you picking up on any of this?
So, I’m at the Wingate (which just won Best of NH – Day Spa for the second year in a row!) sitting in a huge comfy leather chair getting a pedicure—hey, I had to scope out the place ahead of time for you! It’s school vacation week and the spa has been booked with mothers and daughters bonding over beauty treatments. How cute! In walks a woman and her 9-ish year old daughter for side-by-side mani/pedis. As I’m eating my “spa snack” of frozen blueberry yogurt topped with granola (again, eating this for reconnaissance purposes only), the two make themselves comfortable in their respective chairs and warm neck wraps. Soon, the whole room is talking fashion, makeup and celebrity gossip. God, I love girl time.
The Wingate Spa has also become the venue-du jour for Mom’s Night Out! Gather up three or more pamper deprived moms and the Wingate will set you up in a private room with champagne and hors d’oeuvres while receiving spa treatments of your choice (girlfriends, we are doing this). What about bridal, bachelorette, baby, graduation and birthday (for kids, too!) parties? Yep, same sweet deal.
So Dads, let’s recap:
1) Yes, we’d like a gift certificate to the spa for Mother’s Day (preferably one for services that has us gone long enough for you and kids to pick up the house and finish up the Honey Do list; and yes, you can get things done with the kids around, we do this every day). Check out this link for TONS of Mother’s Day specials on spa packages and gifts.
2) If you’re up for it, join us. Wingate has all kinds of treatments for couples (massages, pedicures, facials). As long as I get to go, the rest is gravy.
3) A manicure, pedicure or massage is great, but a facial would be *really* great. You think this youthful glow comes easy?
4) Program (603) 772-8400 into your phone and call Wingate whenever you say something stupid. I will forgive you. Happy Mother’s Day!
Wingate Salon & Spa
139 Portsmouth Avenue, Stratham NH (603) 772-8400
Looking for a great baby gift for a new parent, or even a great gift for yourself? We’re in love with the super functional (and fashionable!) baby slings by local company, Slings and Baby Things. Finally—a baby accessory made in super cool adult fabrics that doesn’t leave you looking like you just stepped out of a pac-n-play!
If you like the Baby Bjorn, you’ll love slings. They are way more versatile, comfortable and functional than the traditional baby carriers and not at all complicated to use. This company also offers slings with a nursing option that provides more privacy when you’re on-the-go. And slings aren’t just for newborns—they’re designed to be worn in different positions as your baby grows into a toddler. No idea how to use one? Slings and Baby Things has a great FAQ section on their website with helpful hints on choosing a sling style and instructions on how to wear them.
Slings and Baby Things sell a bunch of other uber-cute stuff like baby dresses, diaper cakes and nursing covers. All orders are custom made and offered in the trendiest fabrics including vintage and organic textiles. View their selection online at and score some sweet deals by following them on Facebook. Wearing a baby never looked so good!
Yay! After driving by the adorably named C’est Cheese a million times, I finally have a reason to visit this specialty store in North Hampton. My girlfriends have organized a wine and cheese tasting, which I’ve always wanted to do but never actually done (well, not formally anyways). It’s go time!
We’re all seated on tall stools and cozied up to the counter…let the tasting begin. Julie, the store’s sommelier and wine buyer has selected three white and three red wines for us to sample. As she begins pouring, Nancy (the owner of C’est Cheese and resident expert) offers us cheese that pairs perfectly with the wine selection, or so I’m told. I like wine, and I like cheese, but I know nothing valuable about either. Luckily for us, the two ladies are extremely well versed in both. Each selection of cheese (we tried 10 or more types over the course of the evening) and wine comes with a story about its origination, its unique traits and how it’s meant to be served. We’re given tips on how to identify the different tastes and aromas, and although we’re learning a ton (did you know brie doesn’t have to taste like a rubber tire?), the atmosphere is relaxed and fun.
C’est Cheese offers wine and cheese tasting parties Monday through Friday evenings which make for a perfect Parents’ or Girls’ Night Out. If you can gather up five to ten people, you have yourself a party. The cost is only $30 per person, although we dare you to leave without purchasing a slab of your favorite cheese or delicious wine. And C’est Cheese is keeping our budgets in mind—all the evening’s wine selections sell for $10-$18 a bottle and I ended up bringing home my new favorite cheese, Pecorino Papato, which only cost a little over $4.
C’est Cheese is also the perfect place to shop when entertaining at home or just hanging out with the family. The store is filled to the gills with crackers, olives, cured meats, pasta, sweets, preserves, culinary gadgets and…miniature toy animals? Yep, there’s something for everyone. In addition to the wine and cheese selections, the store sells “the best” frozen croissants and breads that you can bake up fresh in your own oven. Looking for a special something? C’est Cheese can put together the perfect gift basket for any occasion. Don’t feel like cooking dinner? The deli case is stocked with salads and ready-to-eat entrees that are made fresh every day right there in the store’s kitchen. Go ahead, take it home and pass it off as your own. We won’t tell.
Thanks for the fun times C’est Cheese, you make us smile!
C’est Cheese
122 Lafayette Road, North Hampton NH
(603) 964-2272



