Laguna Beach Parents Club: August 2014

Back to School!

Are your kids going back to school? Maybe they are just starting preschool for the first time? Or, maybe you are lucky enough to have young ones still home with you whenever you want? Whichever, is your story, we know one thing here at the Parents Club...it's Fall Chili-Cook Off time! Get ready to prepare your best chili dish (or bring a side) and come hang out with a great bunch of folks on September 12th at Bluebird Park.

Parents' Night Out was an absolute blast and if you weren't able to make it, I'm sorry. The Ocean Brewery put out a wonderful spread of Buffalo Cauliflower, Salad, Mediterranean Flat-bread Pizza along with a banging D.J. and some tunes belted out from Parents Club's members at the Karaoke Mic. Scroll down for some pictures.

We have some other wonderful events in the works as well! There's a another artful Moms' Night Out tentatively scheduled to coincide with Art Walk on Thurs., Oct. 2nd and the Halloween Walk will be held on Oct. 23rd. More details to follow and to be posted to bigtent calendar soon.

Check out some of our volunteer opportunities:

Sponsorship Coordinator
2013 Playgroup Coordinator
Calendar Coordinator
Newsletter Coordinator
Families Helping Families Coordinator

Some of those holding these positions are busy caring for new babies or soon will be and we REALLY would like to keep these programs alive. For some other positions, it is just time for the torch to be passed.

Scroll down to see our many other upcoming events as well as pictures from our recent events and volunteer opportunities.

Exciting things are going on at the LBPC and we're so happy you're a part of it.

Upcoming Events

LBPC Events:

August Monthly Meeting

When: Thu Aug 28, 2014, 8–10 pm
Where: Christine Russell
3138 Bonn Drive, Laguna Beach, CA
Contact: Jennifer Leonti, 609-703-7697, jenniferleonti@gmail.com
Laguna Beach Parents Club's monthly meeting is Thursday, August 28st from 8-10pm.

Please join us for a beverage of your choice and some neighborly company. We'd greatly appreciate your involvement. We've seen a few new faces over the past couple of months and appreciate the new blood.

This month we will be focusing on final plans for chili-cook off as well as getting the ball rolling for the Halloween Walk.

If you haven't attended before this is what to expect at our monthly meetings:
A community gathering of local parents sharing a drink and "war" stories along with an update on LBPC events including an outline of where we're heading and where we've been. It's also an opportunity to shape future events, but there is no pressure to commit to any future events just by attending - at a bare minimum your presence is appreciated. We also typically include in our discussion community involvement such as what charities to support at future events and other local groups to team up with for events.

It's generally a nice night with some swell folks. Hope to see you there.

September Book Club

When: Thu September 11, 2014, 7:30–9:30 pm
Where: Wine Gallery, 1833 South Coast Hwy #110
Contact: Kim Mattie, kim.mattie@gmail.com

Join us for the May book club meeting!!

We'll meet at the Wine Gallery where we will enjoy some refreshments and discuss this month's book (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee). Food is available for purchase at the Wine Gallery. For a menu including food and drinks, go here:http://goo.gl/GQSzlC . For additional information about To Kill a Mocking Bird go here: http://goo.gl/Y5KEtK

Around Town:

Peapod Academy

When: 10:30 am – noon, recurs Every Thursday

Where: Laguna Beach Library

363 Glenneyre St Laguna Beach, CA 92651

The Academy has space for new cadets. Join some of the cutest babies in town and the adults of their choice at this Library story time. Little peas will enjoy songs, finger plays, board books and other cadets. Get to know others and help your child learn pre-reading skills. Free.

Kids' Art Studio
"Sept 21, Oct 19, & Nov 16
Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Drive
(949) 494- 8971; 2-4 p.m.; $7
children 12 and under free
Kids' Art Studio
Drop-in art-making activities at the museum for children and their families."
Details taken from:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/lbvcb/artscalendar_2014fall/#/1

Sunshine Readers' Pajama Storytime

When: 7–8 pm, recurs Every Tuesday

Where: Laguna Beach Library

363 Glenneyre St Laguna Beach, CA 92651

The first Tuesday of every month is a storytime speciality. Come listen to the best books read by a highly enthusiastic group of young ladies, the Sunshine Readers, National Charity League Volunteers. Punch, cookies (with parental discretion) and stickers follow storytime. Free. Pajama storytimes with crafts are held each Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm.

The Fun Times We've Had Over the Last Month:

Parents' Night Out!

Parents' Night Out was an absolute blast and if you weren't able to make it, I'm sorry. The Ocean Brewery put out a wonderful spread of Buffalo Cauliflower, Salad, Mediterranean Flat-bread Pizza along with a banging D.J. and some tunes belted out from Parents Club's members at the Karaoke Mic.

Our Grand Prize Winner for Best Wig! (Prize = a wonderful box of goodies from the Spice Merchant)

Big thank you to the crew (headed up by Tina Steincke and Jennifer Grzeskowiak) that got this event off the ground. Thank you to Allison Sladeck for taking photos.

We need your help!

Our parents club is 100% run by volunteers. It takes a lot of people to pull off our events, manage the calendar, monitor the website and keep everyone happy! Please join us at our monthly meetings to help keep with wonderful community organization thriving.

We VERY MUCH need help with the following:

Sponsorship Coordinator - This is a fun volunteer position that gives you the opportunity to meet local business owners who support our club. Duties include gathering and posting monthly "shout-outs" as well as gathering information from new sponsors, support for sponsorship sponsorship renewal

2013 Playgroup Coordinator - If you have a 2013 kiddo and would like to coordinate please contact crcaligurl@gmail.com. This is a great way to meet other moms and give back to this wonderful network.
Calendar Coordinator - We are looking to fill the position of calendar coordinator. This person will help keep the club members in "the know" about events going on in our community by posting their findings on our bigtent calendar. Huge thanks to the newly prego mama that has been carrying this torch!
Newsletter Coordinator- Looking to flex your writing skills instead of your coloring skills? Here's your opportunity.
Families Helping Families Coordinator- We offer a free meal prepared by a local restaurant to any LBPC family bringing home a new baby. The family can choose from several menu options. The Club takes care of ordering the food, picking it up and delivering it to the families doorstep. We need someone to coordinator these efforts as our current coordinator is expecting and will need a meal delivery herself:)

Thank you to those folks who have recently stepped up to continue to make this club go 'round.

Don't Forget:

Meals for New Parents

We offer a free meal prepared by a local restaurant to any LBPC family bringing home a new baby. The family can choose from several menu options. The Club takes care of ordering the food, picking it up and delivering it to the families doorstep. Yum Yum!

Contact Claudia Morris at claudia.newth@gmail.com.

Birth Announcements

Have a new baby and want to share your excitement with the club. Email jenniferleonti@gmail.com to have the announcement appear in our next newsletter.