Toms River Mom

Also, there is no stroller access.

As I was dumping another box of CapriSun Roaring Waters into the fridge, I noticed that the box had advertising on it about a TerraCycle Brigade.  What does that mean? I was wondering the same thing, so I checked it out.  There are many companies that are participating in the brigade, and it’s free to start it up.  All I did was sign up on their website.  I decided to join the CapriSun Pouch Brigade and the Candy Wrappers Brigade…both seemed appropriate with young kids.  So, if your kids drink CapriSuns or eat candy, save the packaging. When you get a lot, email me and I’ll come and pick them up or send them to me and we will  forward it along and raise money for the Kids Care Club of Ocean County!  Each shipment has to be 500 units or more!!

This summer my kids will be turning 2 and 4.  In order to show them how important it is for us to give to those in need, we made a request to our friends and family that was a little different.  If they were planning on bringing a gift for the girls, we asked them to bring school supplies from a list I received from a local charity that are needed for about two dozen children in our county.  After the party, when the supplies are boxed, we will bring them to the organization and hopefully fill these kids’ backpacks!

It doesn’t have to be for a birthday party – have a summer bbq and you can do the same thing! Use your imagination and have some FUN!

If you are interested in doing something like this, it’s very easy. Just contact a local organization (charity, church, park, zoo, etc.) and ask them what they need.  If you need any help or any other ideas – email me – I’m full of them! TomsRiverMom@gmail.com.

It’s time for us to make a difference in the lives of others.  So, some friends and I have started a Kids Care Club of Ocean County.  Through this club, we are going to have our kids start volunteering.  Yes, they’re young, but that’s a good thing!  If you’d like to get involved in any or all of our fundraisers or volunteer experiences – let us know!

Our first event will be a fundraiser for the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey.  We’re hosting a Baby Bottle Formula For Hope change drive.  This is how it works:  You get your kids a baby bottle and every time you have loose change you can give it to your kids to throw in their bottle for the entire summer.  When it’s full, or summer is over, check back to this page and we’ll let you know when to join us in our presentation to CHSofNJ of our bottles.  This way the kids will be so proud to give their bottle away to a group that needs it.  The more bottles – the better!  All funds go directly to foster care kids.

If you’re having a summer bbq, or a summer birthday party, get everyone involved!  As part of the invitation send them an empty baby bottle and have them do the same thing!  Their gift to your child will be a full baby bottle that he/she can donate.  You know your kids don’t need so many presents!!! Have their friends help the kids that do need it instead!

TRMom.com is starting a fun tradition for the kids of Toms River, we’re hosting the First Annual Toms River Trike-A-Thon to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  It will be held at Jake’s Branch Park on May 22nd.  It will be for kids who trike (or bike, or skate board, or scooter)  - if you think your child is able to ride around in a circle for a few minutes (as long as you want him/her to) then he/she can participate!  The course is around .2 of a mile.

DIRECTIONS: Parkway South to Exit 80. Stay to the LEFT at the exit. At the T Stop, turn LEFT. It’s up about a mile or so on the RIGHT. Once in the park follow signs for the ball fields.

Each child participating will need to raise money, which you will bring with you to the event or raise online.  There are a few ways you can do it.

1. You can click here to sign your child up online to email sponsors for donations.
2. You can just show up and donate some money to St. Jude’s at the registration table.  We’re hoping for $10 pp, but whatever you can donate would be very appreciated.

ALL money raised will go directly to St. Jude’s. And, of course, each child who raises $ will get prizes.

$35+ gets them a trike-a-thon t-shirt
$75+ gets them a t-shirt and stuffed animal
$100+ gets the t-shirt, stuffed animal and a back pack

The prizes will NOT be given out the day of the Trike-A-Thon.  I will contact you as soon as I get them and we’ll set up a pick-up time. But, each participant will get a sticker when they’re finished “racing.”  

Instead of having a schedule, the trike circle will be open for the event from 9:30 am until 2:30 pm.  Each 15 minutes a new group of kids will start their stretching routine with Danielle – our Zumba instructor. When they are finished you will get their helmets on, get them on their bikes and send them on their way (or go with them, whatever works for you). We will start a new group of kids every 15 minutes.  If you’re child does not want to stop after 15 minutes, he can continue on for as long as he wants. 

You do NOT have to be there at 9:30am – come anytime and stay as long as you like. Come with your friends & have some fun.  There is a fantastic playground with park benches as well as a nature center (a la Cattus Island) to enjoy with a cool tower at the top.  They have picnic tables set up and you can bring charcoal grills if you want to.  So bring your soccer ball, baseball, kite, picnic basket and sunblock — it’s going to be a great day! Even dogs are allowed – but kept on a leash please!

So far Kiddie Parties has generously donated Dora and Diego costumes for the day!   Ocean County College has donated bags for the event, the Blue Claws, Perk’s Variety, the New Jersey State Police,  Alison Kennedy with Lia Sophia and Bounce U have donated extra prizes for raffles at the event! Twisty Noodle has donated a very generous monetary donation for St. Jude’s – check them out, they are great!

We’ll have a raffle for the big stuff mentioned above.  We also got a lot of adorable little purses, coloring games, shirts, hats & much more donated.  We’ll have a table with that stuff on it also.  Have your kids bring a few quarters from their piggy banks and they can have some of that stuff too!  ALL money donated for these items also goes directly to St. Jude’s.

You can RSVP on the Fan Page on Facebook (TomsRiverMom.com)

ABC is looking for families with at least two children 3-17 years old to take part in the hit television series, Super Nanny – featuring Jo Frost, America’s #1 Nanny!

Now casting for Super Nanny, a hit ABC TV show!
Saturday, March 20th.  Open call from 11 am – 2 pm at the Garden State Discovery Museum

Join us at open call this Saturday, 3/20 from 11-2 or contact Elizabeth Santaniello.
Email: es@phillyfaces.com or call Elizabeth at 609.332.4212.

Email Instructions:
Please include your name, contact information, a brief family bio, with children’s names and ages.  Be sure to highlight the behavioral areas you would like Nanny Jo to help with most!

“How I Live a Healthy and Safe Life”

Every submission is a big help for Picatso and very special to Doctor Bernard. While not everyone’s artwork can be in the final calendar, select entries will appear on our website for the community to view starting in January 2011.

Theme:
The theme of the contest is “How I Live a Healthy and Safe Life.” Doctor Bernard has asked Picatso to make him a calendar for 2011. Picatso needs the help of all 4th graders in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Children should draw a colorful picture that shows how they like to stay healthy and fit. This might include sports they play, food they eat, or ways to stay safe while having fun.

Prizes:
The winners of the calendar contest will receive prizes from the Meridian Pediatric Network. Each winner will have their artwork featured in the 2011 calendar for a specific month and the grand prize winner’s art will appear on the cover of the calendar. Doctor Bernard will visit each winner’s classroom to recognize them. Each winner will also receive 10 copies of the calendar.

Deadline:
All entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2010 to be considered for the contest. Winners will be announced May 27, 2010.

Download the permission slip to send along with the art submission. All entries submitted must have parental consent.

Mail all entries to:

Meridian Pediatric Network Calendar Contest
P.O. Box 768
Neptune, NJ 07754

See website below for forms and rules.

Snowman Photo Contest

The Ocean County Parks & Recreation is holding its annual Snowman Photo contest.
Awards will be given for the most original and best traditional snowman and “Just for Kids under five”.

All snowmen must be built this winter season.

Mail your photo to:
Ocean County Parks and Recreation, 1198 Bandon Road, Toms River, NJ 08753
Attn: Active Recreation.

Click www.oceancountyparks.org for more information.

DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2010