JAK CHAT

Mom and Me. Mani x 3! Written by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Ah! Summer is winding down and back to school is either here, or just days away. As a mom, I always look back and think to myself "where did the summer go?" and it's that mad rush to prepare for day one of the school year. With four kids in four different schools, you can imagine the fun we're experiencing in our household...or not! One packed up, delivered to her dorm room, and ready to embark on year two of college; a high school senior; a middle schooler; and one still in elementary school. Trying to squeeze in a little "we" time, besides in the school supply aisle, before the first school bell rings was a priority for me, so off to the Klip Joynt on Racine's northside we went, 3 of us, to go prep our digits for back-to-school. When you walk in the door at Klip Joynt, instantly you feel a sense of style...a calm charming mix I'd say of Restoration Hardware, Pier One and Potter...

The Healing Power of a Friend. Woof! Sponsored by American Cancer Society's Relay for Life So often dogs help us through our darkest hours. Whether it is guiding the blind, protecting our family and property, or supporting those who are sick, they are by our side. They don’t judge, they don’t stray.  Instead they comfort us through our lows, and jump and sing with us at our best.  This loyalty is no more evident than a dog’s love and affection during the often grueling battle with cancer. “Dogs are more than just best friends. Nearly half of pet owners consider their dogs a part of their family,” said Tara Panasewicz, American Cancer Society’s Bark For Life Volunteer Event Leader. “Bark For Life is the canine counterpart to Relay For Life, a very family friendly movement.  Read more... Cancer patients often receive a great source of comfort from their pet during their cancer journey. This event celebrates our canine caregivers, just as we honor other family members who support the...

Buyer Beware. Seller Take Care. Safety tips for buying and selling children's items a garage sales.  Sponsored by Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare All Saints Tis the season for garage sales, yard sales, rummage sales, estate sales—you name it. There is no doubt about it; there is a financial benefit to these sales for both the seller and buyer. “Whether you’re buying or selling items for babies or children, we ask buyers and sellers to consider safety first," says Erin Donaldson, Coalition Coordinator, Safe Kids Kenosha-Racine. All Saints is the Lead Agency for Safe Kids Kenosha–Racine . Read more... Buyers “One of the best things you can do is to educate yourself before you venture out bargain hunting,” says Donaldson. Things to ask yourself. Is the toy/item age appropriate? Are there identified choking hazards? Many items at yard sales are older in age. Are you up to date about the most current safety recommendations for certain products, like cribs, toys, and sporting equipmen...

#3 at age 8 A "Little" Girl Named "Pink Stink" Written by Just Add Kids, Founder Paula Herrmann   Daughter #3 brushed past me this morning in the kitchen. Yah, so? We were able to look at each other eye to eye, meaning our eyes were level with each other. Rrrgh...another one growing up.   I don't like it one bit. Another daughter on the cusp of teenhood. Please stop now!   Am I being selfish, or do you feel like this as you watch your kids grow right in front of your eyes? Read more... It's funny, it seemed as though she stayed a little girl for so long and I kinda expected her to stay that way like FOREVER . There is a 5 year gap in between her and her next older sister (#2) and 7 years in between her and #1, my oldest.  As 1 & 2 transitioned into teens and now into young adults, Pink Stink, which is one of the names we dubbed #3 at birth, seemed to get stuck. She's always been on the petite side. When the older two would cause me distress, there wo...

Posture Matters               Sponsored by Sozo Chiropractic   Perhaps you remember your parents telling you to sit up straight and now you've found yourself telling your children the same thing. Is this just a right of passage from childhood to adulthood, or is there something more to this thing called posture? Read more...  Posture and the Young Child As soon as a child begins to stand upright, you can begin to look for signs of improper posture. Signs of head, shoulder or hip tilt can be seen as soon as a child is weight bearing.  Although this may seem early for a child to have misalignments to their spine, birth injuries and falls taken when learning to walk can already begin to affect their posture. Posture and the Pre-Adolescent With a child that is between the ages of seven and ten, misalignments to the spine are more than likely due to minor falls and injuries associated with certain activities. These typically include soccer or other sports, as well as injuries sustained ...

Heya! Written by Just Add Kids, Founder Paula Herrmann Got your attention? We've got a couple of announcements here that I am so sure many of you will be super-dee duper dee excited about. Who loves kid-oriented, family-friendly events? Who has come to our annual Just Add Kids EXPO!? Not only does JAK have one event to announce. We've got two! Read more...  It's been a long time a comin' and with a lot of inquiries as to when Just Add Kids would have another RESALE! event...it's baaaaack! Our last RESALE! drew 800 guests in the doors of Festival Hall in Racine in February of last year, with a line that had formed prior to the doors opening.  JAK is excited to produce its first event ever in Kenosha, with the event being held at the Kenosha YMCA. Registration for sellers of new/used baby equipment, children's clothing, toys/games, juvenile furniture, youth sports gear, etc. We also want to welcome crafters that create items for babies, kids, families, and ar...

Time Out for Mom... Yah, Right. Written by Just Add Kids, Founder Paula Herrmann   Prep work. That's the key phrase for the day. As I'm preparing to write this week's entry here, I'm looking for an appropriate image to accompany and hopefully grab your attention. My oldest daughter, looking over my shoulder curious as to what I'm looking at, snarls with disgust, "You're not going to post THAT on Facebook or anything, are you?!"   Let me be honest with you peeps, I actually have fond memories of a colonoscopy from years gone by. Call me nuts, but (no pun intended) hey, I'm trying to make light of an oh so common procedure, and she, well, she's a teen, and is just completely grossed out! Like I'm not? as I gulp down another 8oz of this delicious Nu-Lytely solution. Read more...   It was 2002, I had three kids, a 7 year old, a 5 year old and an infant of 6 months old.  If you have more than 2 kids, you can probably relate to the exponential w...