Cookies and Ya-Ya’s

Next Tuesday, the well known author Rebecca Wells (Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood) is entertaining her Bainbridge Island fans by doing a reading of her new novel, The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder, in our local Bainbridge Performing Arts center. My Kids’ Cookies is very excited to be providing cookies for this sure to be entertaining evening.  If you happen to be on Bainbridge Island on July 14th at 7:30 pm, come grab a cookie and a seat, sit back and here a story the way it should be heard.  By the author.

Fourth of July – Never take it for granted

This Saturday, America once again celebrates the birth of our nation, usually with fireworks, parades, picnics and gathering together with family and friends.  But let us always remember the reason for the celebration.

“…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

As Americans, we have rights that so many people around the world can’t even imagine having; freedom of speech to express our thoughts and opinions on blogs like this with no repercussions; opportunities that are only limited by how hard we’re willing to work.

Read the Declaration of Independence with your kids and remind them of how very fortunate we all are to be Americans.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Bainbridge Island SAVE OUR TEACHERS Rally

My Kids’ Cookies is happy to support the Bainbridge Schools Foundation at their “Save OUR Teachers Rally” to help the Bainbridge Island school district fund salaries of the 17 teachers that have had their positions eliminated due to state budget cuts.

My Kids’ Cookies is donating 25% of all proceeds from the event to the Foundation.

When: Saturday, June 13th from 10 to 11:30 am
Where:  Waterfront Park, Bainbridge Island

Come enjoy the gorgeous weather we’ve been having and help the Foundation in their worthy goal.  Sun, cookies, and helping our community.  It will be a great day!

A simple recipe for good will

Last Friday, a group of 10 women baked close to 300 corn muffins for the Soup Kitchen which was offered in downtown Winslow the following evening.  Within minutes, the assembly line was organized and on a roll as everyone picked a task then got to work.  With the local television station, BITV, recording our evening, we made quick work of our chore.

After a record time clean up of my commercial kitchen, the remaining volunteers got to sip champagne and enjoy some savory appetizers and sweet cookies while we told stories, got to know each other a bit better and enjoyed some new artwork hanging on my shops walls.  By opening my kitchen to this fundraiser (which was pulled together with donations from many locals and local businesses), I helped with an event that benefited hundreds in our community.  I was happy to be involved.

Corn Bread Baking Party

The sun is shining and it looks like Bainbridge Island and the Puget Sound area are going to be enjoying a spectacularly lovely Memorial Day weekend.  I’m starting it off on a great note by hosting at my cookie shop a Corn Bread Baking Party for a dozen volunteers.  Our busy busy hands, mixing bowls and wooden spoons will be baking corn bread for 200 which will be thoroughly enjoyed tomorrow at Soup Kitchen http://bainbridgesoupkitchen.blogspot.com/.

While some may think that bringing a ‘Soup Kitchen’ to a community such as Bainbridge is odd, the community feedback has been great for the organizer of this event.  Offering a helping hand and creating a sense of community is a noble effort in any town.  Tonight we’ll fill the air with the wafting fragrance of corn bread and sounds of laughter.  And tomorrow, downtown Winslow is the place to be from 5 to 7pm for free soup, cornbread, lemonade, music and fun.

Gold Party A Success

Last week I had a gold party at my cookie shop.  About 2 dozen people showed up with their baggies of tangled gold chains, lonely earrings that didn’t have a partner, and out of style pieces.  A local jeweler, Blue Heron Jewelry, set up their tools of the trade and weighed and valued everyone’s gold and gems.  Everyone went home a bit richer and laughter permeated the air as we sipped delicious wine from Victor Alexander Winery and nibbled on cookies.  The best part of the evening, though, was that our local charitiable organization Helpline House walked away with $255 in donations of cash and gold sale proceeds.  That will buy a lot of food for their pantry and help those on Bainbridge Island that are having a hard time in this economy.  Thanks to everyone that participated and were so generous.  Paying it forward is a good thing.

The Saturday Morning Date

Back when I was single, the Saturday Night Date was something to look forward to. Sleep late on Saturday morning, get your errands done, maybe exercise, relax for a bit. Then a long shower and time to primp and preen so you look your best. Dinner out, maybe a movie, or dancing. Lots of fun, no clock ticking about what time you had to be home, and usually an expensive night, relatively speaking.

Then I got married and had kids. No more sleeping in on Saturdays (or any day). Errands are done all day, every day. Exercise is what you get from raising two children 16 months apart. What is relaxing again? My idea of a Saturday Night Date was the kids asleep by 8pm so my husband and I could watch a movie at home on the sofa. Comfortable p.j.’s and falling asleep half way through. Very inexpensive evening.

Around when my children started school, I discovered the Saturday Morning Date. Since everyone was up so early anyway, we’d load everyone up in the mini-van and head off to get coffee and bagels. Then we’d garage sale. I’d give the kids a budget, say $2.00 to spend, and I found that my husband and I could actually get some time to chat as we’d browse through other people’s cast off treasures. The kids always found something they liked and for the small investment, I was having the new version of a date.

Especially now in this economy, there are multiple reasons why the Saturday Morning Date works. By giving them a budget, the kids get to go ’shopping’ and you’ve put them in charge of their choices. You might find something perfect for your home at a huge discount compared to retail shop prices. You’ve gotten out of the house for a very inexpensive family outing. You’ve got time to catch up with your spouse, wander your town and see other poeple’s gardens. Maybe you’ll run into some friends who have discovered this new economical form of dating. You don’t have to pay a babysitter. And when you get home, the kids have new toys to play with, all of which can resold when you have your garage sale.

Give it a try now that spring is here and garage sale signs are beginning to pop up. It’s the new affordable Saturday Night Date.

Soup Kitchen on Bainbridge Island

Even on Bainbridge Island, a community known for its affulence, there are lots of people struggling to feed their families. A friend has stepped up to meet this need in a creative and inclusive way. She’s hosting a Soup Kitchen event on Saturday, May 23rd. Check out her blog for details. I’m happy to be involved by hosting the cornbread baking marathon the night before at my shop. Go ahead,  borrow her idea and help your community.

WheresGeorge.com – check this site out

I got a one dollar bill in my shop yesterday with a bright red stamp on it that reads “Track This Bill www.wheresgeorge.com“  This site is a United States Currency Tracking  Project.

Once you’re on the site, you enter the bill’s serial # and where you received it.  The site will give you the history of where the bill’s been.  It also allows you to enter where you received the bill.  Once the bill leaves your hands, you can track your bill and see how money travels around the country.

Something fun for your kids to do with lots of cool links to other sites about money.  If you get a bill with the red circle Track This Bill mark, take a few minutes to enter our information.   Keep it going.

Have fun, help your community and make some $$$

My Kids’ Cookies is hosting a party on May 12 to support Helpline House – a local agency that offers an umbrella of social services to Bainbridge Island residents.

We’re offering free wine (compliments of Victor Alexander Winery) and cookies (compliments of us).  A wonderful local jeweler, Blue Heron Jewelry, will be on hand to buy your old gold jewelry.  They’ll weigh and value your old gold and gems and write you a check that night.  And we’re hoping that those attending the event will donate a portion of their ‘gold windfall’ to Helpline House.

So, the next time you’re putting on some jewelry, glance in your jewelry box and see what old pieces you no longer wear, or stray earrings you only have one of.  And think of hosting your own ‘Sell Your Gold and Support Your Local Charity’ party.  Everyone comes out a winner.