MaltaMama - Family Fun Things to Do | Malta, NY, Saratoga County

This Friday, Nov. 4th is the 2nd annual KidGiving charity event at TreePaad in Malta.  I am honored to serve on local non-profit To Love A Child; an organization does amazing things in Haiti, Zimbabwe and here in the US.  In addition to providing necessities to underprivileged children and families around the world, we also through some pretty awesome events! 
Friday is our 2nd annual KidsGiving at TreePaad in Malta.  I really hope you will come to this event and show your support for this organization and our community. 

Tickets are $12 per child, $8 for kids 2 and under.  Price includes unlimited play at TreePaad for two hours!  In addition to the normal TreePaad fun, KidsGiving will feature a silent auction, bake sale, pizza, balloon art, face painting, crafts and other games and prizes. 

Tickets available at TreePaad
or by calling To Love a Child at (518) 859-4424
See you on Friday!

We went to this Halloween Bash last year at really enjoyed it.  Tons of fun for the kids.  In addition to the obvious trick-or-treating, there are vendors to peruse, games to play and lots of other neat activities.
Admission is only $4 per child, but FREE is even better!

Enter to WIN tickets for up to five children!
You have until noon on Thursday, October 27th to enter. 
Leave a comment here on SaratogaMama and let us know what your favorite Halloween candy is! 


The Children's Guide Halloween Bash
Saturday, October 29th from 11am-2pm
Afrim's in Albany

We went to this 'bash' last year and loved it!  An indoor trick-or-treating event with tons of activities for the kids.  Admission is only $4 per child, but free is even better! 

Enter to win tickets by noon on Thursday, October 27th! 
Leave a comment hereon SaratogaMama letting us know what your favorite Halloween candy is!  See you there-

Clifton Park Center has a Halloween Costume Contest on Friday from 6pm-9pm.  There will be three age categories and three winners in each.  Winners will receive gift certificates and the grand prize winner will receive free wings for a year at Buffalo Wild Wings.  (like anyone needs that many wings!!)

Wilton Wildlife Preserve has two family events this weekend.  It the weather is nice, enjoy nature at the beautiful Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park! 

Fall Foliage Hike on Saturday from 10-11am
Art Exploration on Sunday from 10-11:30

Kids Book Signing at Green Conscience Home & Garden

Also on Saturday is a children's book signing event at Green Conscience in Saratoga.  Event starts at 11am.  Children's book author Ruth Ann Smalley will be signing her latest creation: "Sheila Says We're Weird", which came out last June.

This Sunday from 1-2pm is a Discovery Day Family Program at The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls.  The museum is very neat and If you  haven't explored downtown Glens Falls yet, it's worth a trip.  Lots of nice boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants. 

Have a great weekend everyone!  See you around-

I'd like you all to meet Sandra Debus, member of the WRLIS Campaign Team for the Round Lake Library.  She is here to share some important information about upcoming budget cuts that could seriously impact the library we all love! 
                            _______________________________________________________
Your Library needs you now, more than ever!  The proposed 2012 Town budget cuts $60,000 from the Library funding, a cut of more than 20% over this year’s funding! 

In preparing for 2012, the Library has already slashed expenses to meet expected funding levels.  With $60,000 more to cut, the only option remaining is to eliminate 27 hours of operation, which will be split between the two buildings. This was not a decision that was made easily by the Trustees! 

The Library was thrilled to be able open full time in July 2010, as it helped meet the needs expressed by the users.  It just feels wrong to have to cut them back only eighteen months later!  We are currently open 10-8 weekdays and a few hours on Saturdays, but will now have to cut a day and a few hours from both locations.

We believe that you can help!

If all the Malta moms banded together, we could convince the Town Board to restore the funding.  We need Moms and Dads to attend Board meetings, question Malta political candidates about their support for the library, and write letters to the editors of local newspapers.

We also need everyone to vote YES on the Library ballot proposition on Election Day.  Voting YES lets the people decide instead of the politicians. Be sure to check the back of your ballot for the Library proposition.

For more information on the Library Vote, pick up a copy of our FAQs at the Library or call the election hotline at 518-768-1897. 

To receive the Library newsletter and calendar of events, log on to the website at www.RoundLakeLibrary.org, and click on “newsletter.”

Thanks for supporting Your Library!

Many of you attended last year's KidsGiving event at TreePaad and I'm excited for the 2nd annual KidsGiving this year on Friday, November 4th from 6-8pm!

KidsGiving is an amazing event for a number of reasons.
1.  It's an opportunity to teach our kids about children around the world who need our help
2.  It's a fundraiser to support local charity To Love A Child
3.  KidsGiving is a Kids event at a Kids location!  You already know your children will have fun at TreePaad, so why not go and support a good cause? 

Get your tickets!
Tickets include an Unlimited Play Pass for 2 hours!
$12 per child (or participating adult)
$8 (for kids 2 and under)
Includes unlimited play in Fort Ballocity, LazerTag, SpiderZone, Jumpshot and Rock Climbing
Tickets available at TreePaad
or by calling To Love a Child at (518) 859-4424
Credit Cards Accepted

Other Event highlights include:
Crafts, Kid’s Auction, Food and Beverages, Bake Sale, Balloon Art, and Wilton Kiwanis will be on hand with additional games and prizes to promote their “Reading is Fundamental” Program.  I can't wait to see a lot of you there!

Is your husband losing his “man room to the nursery?”  Is your little one becoming a big kid but still has a little kid’s room? Is your play room more like a dumping ground with no room to play? 
As you may already know, I recently I worked with Dawn DiLorenzo at Locust Grove Designs to do a virtual makeover on Robby’s room.  I enjoyed working with Dawn and now it's your turn!

Dawn wants to help you give your nursery, kid’s room or play room a little lift!  Today through Friday, November 4th, visit and LIKE Dawn's Locust Grove Designs Facebook page.  Then leave a comment (or even post a picture) on Dawn's wall or on this post and let her know what you would change about your baby’s nursery or kid’s room, or even a playroom.

The winner will be drawn at random and will receive a one-hour internet consultation on redesigning and updating your child's nursery, big-kid room or playroom. If you've ever wanted expert advice on what to do with your space, now is your chance to get it for free!

How to Enter:
- Visit Locust Grove Designs on Facebook and comment on the wall or on this blog post and tell us what you'd change about your nursery, kids room, or playroom.  (you must be a fan of LGD on Facebook to enter)

You will then be automatically entered to win the One-Hour internet Consultation! 
Enter by Friday, November 4th! 

View some before and after pictures of Dawn's work! 

From preschool programs and summer camps to mama-&-me classes, and Parents Night Out events, Tiny Tots Early Learning Center has a huge offering of services!

The school's primary mission is to foster a love of learning in each student. Their programs weave both artistic and practical disciplines into everyday academics.  Students learn to follow their curiosity, to think creatively, and to work both independently and cooperatively with others.

I know several mama's that send their children to preschool at Tiny Tots and they have all wonderful things to say about the programs.  Great news,  there are still open preschool spots in their three class levels, 2/3, 3/4 and 4/5's.  The website is updated with all the availability and program details. 

The mama-&-me class offerings are great!  Baby-tween is from 9 months-18 months; an often forgotten about age group.  Everything Round serves the 18 month-3 yrs group, and Open Class Enrichment is for ages 2.5-4. This program is like attending preschool with your child!  Great opportunity to help your child prepare and play an active part in their learning.  Find out availability and full class descriptions here.

On Saturday, October 15th, drop your children off from 6-9pm for a Mama Night Out! 

Tiny Tots Early Learning Center
Exit 8 Plaza- 1536 Crescent Rd.Clifton Park, NY 12065 
(518) 371-2034 

This weekend is the semi-annual Encore Kids Consignment Sale at the fairgrounds in Ballston Spa.  This sale is huge and can be overwhelming.  I always advise hitting the consignment sales without kids if you can!  
Sale Dates:
Friday: 9am-7pm
Saturday: 9am-2pm (many items are half price)

After consigning on Friday evening, head downtown BSpa for First Friday.  Lots of activities around town and stores stay open late.  Bundle up for the last outdoor movie in Wiswall Park - Despicable Me.  

Saturday is an art event at the Saratoga Battlefield that sounds interesting.  That is if your kids enjoy art... mine don't, yet!  
Sunday is the Fall Festival at Grant Cottage.  

Sometimes jobs really stink, but this particular task of mine stunk in all the best ways.  I was contacted by Tracie Groff, a Malta gal and independent Scentsy Consultant to see if I'd be interested in doing a review and giveaway of some Scentsy products.  I gladly obliged!  After tweeting "smell you later" to Tracie, she thankfully put my poor-taste humor aside and came over with some products. 

Tracie left me a Scentsy Basket Party, which is a bag filled with more aroma's than one nose could possibly handle!  You could be sniffing for days, and I was.  Contained in the 'Basket Party' bag was other goodies to try out;  A travel scent tin, hand sanitizer, room spray, a plug-in Scentsy Warmer and I'm probably missing something. 

To be honest, I was a little skeptical of Scentsy before I tried it.  I'm not a scented candle lover, and I am very particular about what scents I like.  After a few days with Scentsy though, I was really impressed! 
- Scentsy Warmes use a low-watt bulb to slowly melt the wax
- No flame, no smoke and no wicks
- Over 80 different scents to choose from
- Scents linger pleasantly in the house, but are not overwhelming

I was so impressed the with Scentsy warmer that I was "sampling" (pic above) that I ended up buying it, and a couple more scent bars to go with it. 

Another very unique item Scentsy makes is called  Scentsy Buddy.  Each Scentsy Buddy comes with a a Scent Pak and makes the buddy smell SO good!  Though it says for ages 3 and up, Angie loves our 'Lenny the Lamb' and I think she feels at home whenever she smells him.  Lenny is soft and cuddly and a really excellent quality stuffed toy.  You can switch out your scent pak anytime, but they will last smelling good for several months. There are several other buddies to choose from too, including a frog, lion, elephant, pig, monkey and more! 
 
Want to win this adorable Scentsy Buddy -  Sasha the Bear?
By the way, 100% of the proceeds of this bear go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities

Here's how to enter (4 chances to win):

1 Entry - Visit Tracie's Scentsy Site and comment here about what product you'd most like to try

1 Entry - 'Like' Tracie, MaltaMama & SaratogaMama on Facebook and leave a separate comment here that you do

2 Bonus Entries - Host a 'Basket Party' with Tracie for two additional entries!  (see details below)

Enter until Monday, October 10th 10pmEST - Good luck!

What is a Basket Party?
The idea behind the 'Basket Party' concept is that if you were interested in hosting a Scentsy party, you could either have Tracie come to your home, or you could bring the party to them!  Carry your own Scentsy display basket for 10-14 days and share it with as many people you want.  Take orders, get rewards, smell good! 

Email Tracie to book yours today!  scentsfromtracie@gmail.com