Volunteer Opportunity at FISH Food Pantry Sat. Nov 21st

Due to the Mail Carriers Food Drive, volunteers are needed at FISH Food Pantry to help receive, sort and organize donations. Volunteers must be 18 years or older. Volunteers are able to come and go throughout the day. Usually the work will last until 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Please let Leslie from FISH know by Monday, November 16 if you can help, heavenlystuff@charter.net.

FISH Food Pantry

1150 Cave Springs Estate Dr.

St. Peters, MO 63376

636-447-5482

Around Town: All about houseplants at Parkview Gardens

This Saturday, November 7th, at 10:30am is a free informal class about the benefits of houseplants at Parkview Gardens.  There will also be sales!  1925 Randolph St. 63301

Around Town: Book Fair

(Information copied from stchlibraryfoundation.org/FriendsSummerBookFair2015):

Bargain Prices - Great Selection
Browse more than 250,000 hardbacks, paperbacks, records, magazines, sets and special collections. The annual Friends of the Library Summer Book Fair is one of the largest in the St. Louis area with the best prices! 

Hardbacks - $2.00	Children's and teen books - 25¢
Most paperbacks - 50¢  Oversize paperbacks - $1.00	Magazines - 10¢
Records, DVDs, VHS tapes & audio books individually priced.	Sets & special collections, reference materials, some rare books, & other special items priced separately.
On Sunday, books are sold for $5.00 a bag. Standard size grocery bags provided.

All books are sorted into popular categories to make it easier to find the items you want! Some of the most popular categories are: Cookbooks, Children's, Teen, Crafts, Art, Western, Mysteries, Science Fiction and Biographies. Children's and Teen materials are available in their own section on the sale floor.

Directions to the St. Charles Convention Center

One Convention Center Plaza
St. Charles, MO 63301
Exit I-70 at Fifth Street and go south. Turn right on Veteran's Memorial Parkway and the Convention Center is on the left. 

Around Town: Walking Club

The next session of the St. Charles Parks and Rec. sponsored Walking Club is Tuesday July 14th at Fox Hill Park, 3400 Kister Dr. 9am.  Pre-registration is required.  Call 636-949-3372.  It's FREE.  What a great way to meet some other walkers.

Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteer opportunity this Saturday 7/11.  

1.  Register by emailing Georgia@welovestcharles.com  

2.  Get a paint roller and/or paint brush.

3.  Put on some old clothes and show up at Jefferson Middle School 2660 Zumbehl Rd. this Saturday at 9am ready to do some work.

Around Town: July 4th Parade in St. Charles

This Saturday July 4th Americans celebrate Independence Day!  Did you know there will be a parade along Main Street in St. Charles?  Bring out your lawn chairs and enjoy the sights and sounds of floats passing by.  The parade begins at 10am in Blanchette Park and moves down Randolph to Kingshighway (right), left on Clark and right on Main Street.  There are some parking lots and shady spots along Clark by The Acadamy of Sacred Heart - get there plenty early to get one!

Fireworks will be on the St. Charles riverfront at 9:20pm on the 3rd and 4th.  More festival details can be found on this link.  Crowds not your thing?  Try getting in the spirit by singing along to some patriotic songs (click here for some song suggestions and lyrics and then pull the songs up on your favorite music streaming service).

Around Town: The Muny

The Muny is an outdoor theatre located in Forest Park with performances running through mid-August. Did you know there is a free seat section? You can go to any show for FREE (seating begins at 7:00pm and actual showtime is 8:15pm; park in the upper parking lot right behind the free seats)! My Fair Lady opens the season on June 15th and you can click here for the rest of the lineup and show descriptions.

To get to the Muny's home page for more information click here or call them at 314-361-1900.

Around Town: Free Summer Concerts

The St. Charles Municipal Bland plays free concerts Thursday evenings throughout the summer; June 4-September 6 on the riverfront (Frontier Park 300 Riverside Dr.).  Bring a lawn chair or blanket and use your bug spray too.  Click here for the full schedule.  The music starts at 8pm every Thursday.

Around Town: Wehrenberg Family Summer Series

Wednesday June 3rd is the start of Wehrenberg Theatres Summer Family Series.  Catch ten films for a dollar each playing on Wednesdays and Thursdays through the summer (last day is August 6th).  Seating fills up fast so be sure to get there early before the 10am start of the show(s).  Click here for the schedule.

St. Charles Parks and Rec Walking Club

From St. Charles Parks and Recreation:
"The 2015 Walking Club is structured to allow you to walk on your own or with friends and family throughout any of our City Parks and Trails.  We challenge you to complete 100 miles so register today to receive a log book. 

Along with logging miles on your own, you can also register to walk with a St. Charles Parks and Recreation staff member as a part of our group walking sessions offered one day each month through September, as follows:

Walking Club billboard artwork currently on display.

. Tuesday, May 12 -- 6:00-7:00 p.m. (Code: 100001-04)

. Saturday, June 20 -- 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Code: 100001-05)

. Tuesday, July 14 -- 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Code: 100001-06)

. Thursday, August 20 -- 6:00-7:00 p.m. (Code: 100001-07)

. Tuesday, September 22 -- 9:00-10:00 a.m. (Code: 10001-08)

Be sure to register online at http://www.stcharlesparks.com/.  To receive your log book, please use Code: 100001-01."

Craft Inspiration: Flip Flop Wreath

Use this photo as inspiration to create your own 'flip flop wreath'.  Flip flops (get size small) and silk flowers are available at a dollar store.  Looks like you will also need ribbon and whatever other embellishments you want like sparkly gems, words, sunglasses....Don't forget something to attach it all with like a glue gun or tacky or super glue.  These flip flops are sewn together which I think you could do without a needle, just poke holes and thread the ribbon in and out by hand.  
Have fun and if you are a support professional be sure to be inclusive in the whole process!  Arts and crafts are a chance to express ourselves and to be proud of what we've done, when we are empowered to do it.

Wellness Challenge via email May 9th-22nd

The "World Happiness Forum" is sponsoring a 14 Day Wellness Challenge.  Let me fully disclose I have never done one of these so if it goes poorly I apologize.  It seems pretty risk free though, enter your basic information including an email address (to skip the phone number use xxxs) and for 14 days, May 9th-22nd, you will receive an email of an activity to do that is healthy for your mind, body or spirit.  Click here to participate and be well!

Around Town: Craft Fair and Blessing Boutique

Craft Fairs are a fun way to shop not only because of the unique items you will find (and maybe be inspired to recreate yourself) but because of the opportunity to socialize.  Be sure to [support someone to] introduce yourself to a vendor or two and ask them a question about their craft work.  One upcoming craft fair will be at Harvester Church of the Nazarene 3115 McClay Rd. 63376 this Saturday May 2nd 9am-3pm.
Also this weekend is a "Blessing Boutique" clothing GIVE-AWAY for women!  The Blessing Boutique event is at Harvester Christian Church 2950 King's Crossing Street 63303 (94 and Jungs Station behind the Dairy Queen).  The hours are Friday 5/1 from 5pm-8pm and Saturday 5/2 from 8am-noon.

Time to Register for the Superhero Dash, 1 mile or 5K walk or run

Angela's family with some Superheros at the race in 2013.

On Saturday morning June 6th Unlimited Play is sponsoring a 1 mile or 5K Superhero Dash to raise money for accessible playgrounds.  I have personally participated in this event as a walker and as a volunteer; it is lots of fun!!  If you register before May 6th the entry fee is $30, after that it goes up to $35.  Click here for all the details and on the top right side of the screen is a "register" tab.  This year the event is at Brendan's Playground in O'Fallon; both courses are a flat single loop. 

Around Town: Potting Nites at Parkview Gardens

Here is an opportunity to do some planting with the help of expert advice as well as the chance to meet other people who garden too.  It looks like all you need is a pot(s) and money for whichever plants you pick out; and the willingness to get a little dirty I guess!  Parkview Gardens is at 1925 Randolph Street 63301 and the phone number is 636-946-7641.

Around Town: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for College Meadows Park on 4/20

A new park is opening on the campus of St. Charles Community College:  "College Meadows Park".  On Monday April 20th at 4:30 there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony and a disc throwing contest with the chance to win a free park cabin rental.  The park has a fitness trail that includes fitness stations and a fitness machine accessible to wheelchairs as well as a nine hole disc golf course.  Find the park near the west entrance of the campus 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Dr. 63376.  Click here for the event description in full.

Cardinals Opening Day 4/13

Monday 4/13 is "Opening Day" for the Cardinals because they play their first home game at Busch Stadium against the Milwaukee Brewers at 3:15pm.
Here are some ways to support/be a Cardinals Fan for Opening Day on Monday:
WEAR RED

ATTEND THE OPENING DAY RALLY  From 10am-2pm in Kiener Plaza (Downtown St. Louis); there will be live music, giveaways, and food and beverage to purchase.  It will be crowded and you will need money to park or to take Metro Link and avoid the parking hassle - either way be ready to do a lot of walking.
LEARN HOW TO DRAW A CARDINAL BIRD  Click here for directions and fun facts.

LISTEN TO THE GAME on the radio, KMOX 1120
WATCH THE GAME on KPLR 11; there will be interviews and ceremonies leading up to the first pitch so be sure to tune in before 3:15; invite some friends and make it a party!  GO CARDINALS!

Around Town: "Stomp" at the Fabulous Fox

Fans of rhythm and noise! This weekend, April 10-12th, "Stomp" is playing at the Fabulous Fox 527 N. Grand 63103.  Click here for the description, times and to purchase tickets.

Scrapbooking Deal

There is a great deal on scrapbooking stickers at Jo-Anns Mid Rivers right now; fifteen bundled sheets for $3.97 in the clearance aisle.  If you are going to shop for anything regular priced while you are there be sure to click on the link for a coupon.  Happy scrapbooking!

PS Here is a nice layout for an Easter page that would be simple to replicate, found on Pinterest:

Snow Day Activities

Staying in to stay safe and warm and looking for something to do?!

For a printable snow-themed word search click here.

Directions for making snow paint (it's kind of like puffy paint) can be found here.  You will need shaving cream and white school glue (and paper).

Click here to make a custom greeting card, it can be done in black and white to color in later or done in color.  If you are a DSP or HM don't forget to include whomever is sending the card on the creating of the card; get him or her over to the computer!

More ideas for a household TV break:  clean out a closet together; photograph or draw the snowy scenes that are out your windows; play tic tac toe; roll some white socks into a ball and toss around your "snowball"; [support someone to] call a friend and make plans to meet up next week when it isn't so snowy; make a special treat in the kitchen together; read out loud; exercise; listen to a radio program.