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

Where can you send your kids (ages 5 and up) for a couple hours each night for one week during the summer where they'll have fun and a safe and positive environment?  If you're thinking grandma's house, you're wrong!  I'm talking about Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church in Ballston Spa.  This year FBC of Ballston Spa (my church) is hosting an evening VBS program called High Seas Expedition that starts on Monday, July 26th and goes to Friday, July 30th.  Time is 6:00-8:30pm and the suggested donation is $5 per child.  I'm on the planning committee and will also be leading the music portion of VBS.  If I were you, I would pay the $5 just to see and laugh at me in my 9th month of pregnancy teaching 80 kids songs and dance moves, yes, I said dance. 

In any case, I am posting this information because I think VBS is a great and fun learning experience for children, regardless of your faith or religious association.  At the very least, you can enjoy a week of evenings free to grocery shop, eat out, catch a movie, etc.  Register here online or email me for more info: colleen@maltamama.com.  Have a great weekend and don't forget to enter the giveaway!     

I love buying locally-grown and/or organic produce whenever possible.  With the summers picking season upon us, farmer's markets galore, and Wild Thyme's Pick Five program, it's now easier than ever!  

If you haven't already been to Wild Thyme Whole Food & Tea Co. in downtown Ballston Spa, here's another reason to try.  In addition to their great selection of natural and organic grocery, household, and beauty items, they have an awesome program for purchasing produce!  For $15, you get five units of fresh, all organic, and mostly local produce.  They get shipments Fridays and Saturdays, so the stock will be best on those days, but they have the special available all the time.  The photo above is Robby at Wild Thyme picking out bananas and the bottom photo is my $15 haul of produce.  I'm very impressed with how much I was able to purchase!  Cherries, five pears, three bananas, lettuce, spinach, and spaghetti squash.  I highly doubt that if I went to Price Chopper or Hannaford I would be able to get all this (organic) for just $15.  Plus you can feel good that you are both supporting local farmers and a cool local store like Wile Thyme!  The owner is Jill Lyons and she is super friendly and a real expert in organic everything.  Find Wild Thyme on Facebook as well.  Now, who knows what to do with spaghetti squash?

I'll admit it, I'm a lousy gift-giver.  I don't want to be, but I'm such a last minute person, that I often leave gifts to chance... or to a quick stop on the way to the party.  Today being Tuesday seemed like an apporpriate amount of time before Father's Day to put out a quick gift guide.  Why would you listen to my gift suggestions when I just got through saying I was a bad gift-giver?  I'm not sure.  I'm forcing myself to think about it early, and maybe we can together think of something great for dad!  
Comments are cruicial here.  Help a mama out and let us all know what you're getting the dad or dads in your life!  

Idea #1:  Takeout and beer/wine or other favorite beverage.  It's fun to go out to dinner, but takeout is also great if you know what your man really loves.  For example, my husband likes the hottest and spiciest dish at any Indian restaurant.  (I prefer Little India in Saratoga)  I've gotten a nice takeout feast for him in the past and it's been a fun way to enjoy a great meal without the arrangements of going out.  Also nice, a growler at a brewery such as Davidson's in Glens Falls or Olde Saratoga Brewery in Toga. 

Idea #2:  Buy you, I mean HIM a cool picnic blanket like this one on Amazon and from Idea #1 get some takeout and do a picnic in the park.  Bring your bugspray and maybe even a little wine for the occasion.  Kids can be invited too, but one of you go easy on the wine! 

Idea #3: Tickets for he and a friend to Saratoga Brewfest

Idea #4: P90X: Get Ripped in 90 days.  This is kind of a joke gift because if my husband ever got me a gift like this, I would be very upset.  Guys don't think that way though!  They'd probably be flattered that you have faith in their ability to "get ripped".  It's a seriouly great workout though, I've tried it. 

The suspense that once was the construction next to McDonald's on Route 67 in Malta is no longer.  My mouth was watering over the possibilities of a cafe, coffee shop or bakery!  I drove by early Wednesday morning and saw the big red check mark that is part of the Verizon sign being hoisted into place and thanked Dunkin' Donuts for still being in business.  Malta is seriously lacking in places to eat! 
If you're for some reason still without a cell phone, want to upgrade and committ to seemingly life-long Verizon contracts, or need to complain about your current iron clad Verizon contract, look no further!  I'll be two doors down at Dunkin' Donuts enjoying an iced coffee and a manager's special donut.  That is until someone finally decides to open an eatery in Malta! 

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  This post is an FYI, basic info that you may not need now, but could find helpful at some point in the future. 
If you are in need of childbirth education, post-partum healthcare, doula services, breastfeeding assistance, etc., check out these links to area hospital courses and BirthNet, which is a local resource.  This is by no means a fully comprehensive list, so if there's something you know about but don't see, let me know.   

Saratoga Hospital
Glens Falls Hospital
Seton Health
Ellis Hospital/Bellevue
BirthNet
Bradley Method (a link to local instructors)
Hypnobirthing resource
Capital Region Doulas


This should give you a good start on finding childbirth eduction should you need it.  Please let me know what is missing!

Sell by, Use by, expires on, best before, refrigerate after use, etc. 

These are all phrases you'll find on most of the food you purchase at the supermarket.  It's confusing and especially with kids you don't want to risk eating any foods that might be spoiled.  My cousin sent this link to me and I thought it was worthy to pass along.  This USDA Food Labeling Fact Sheet provides answers to lots of questions about food safety. 
 I hope you find it interesting.  Here's to keeping us all safe and healthy!  (and chocolate is healthy in my book)