December 2016

YEAR IN REVIEW

The Montage Holiday Tree 2016

Oh, what a year it has been! 

The LBPC held many events throughout 2016.  Most notably were the Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Alta Park, the Gala and Silent Auction at Moulin, the Family Olympics at Moulton Meadows, Oktoberfest at the Woman’s Club, the 5th Annual Halloween Walk on Forest, and Mom’s Holiday Night at the Montage.  Of course, those events draw many people.  But, some of the smaller, fantastic events included our New Year’s Meeting Extravaganza at the Spice Merchants, celebrating Earth Day in the South Laguna Garden, several Mom’s Nights out and Strong(her) Workshops, the Sawdust Tree craft at Bluebird, as well as our Speaker Series and Baby Sign Classes.

Aside from just being a non-profit that provides events and resources for families in town, we are a charitable organization that donates to other amazing local causes.  We’re so proud to have made and delivered Valentine’s Day cards for the residents of the Glennwood House, raised over $4,000 for the Laguna Beach Youth Shelter, provided trunk loads of cereal boxes for the Laguna Food Pantry, collected bags upon bags of Halloween candy for our friends at Oak and Brooks streets, delivered pet food and supplies for the Pet Rescue Center, gathered leftover Halloween candy and made cards for our Military serving overseas with Operation Gratitude, and donated 169 wrapped toys to the Laguna Food Pantry for children receiving meals during the holidays.  It feels great to be a part of a group that so happily gives back to the community.  Thank you, LBPC, for your generosity this year.

For those who came out to volunteer throughout the year, the club owes you a giant “Thank You!”  We couldn’t have done it without your help. It’s the great volunteers who have helped to make us the “Best Moms and Dads Group” in Southern California in 2016. Kristin and I were overwhelmed by your support and we look forward to another incredible year in 2017!

Wishing you peace, health, and an abundance of happiness in 2017.  Happy (almost) New Year, LBPC!  

- Ali Del Rosso

UPCOMING EVENTS 2017

Strong(her) Workshop

When: Sat, Jan 7 (9-11am)

Where: Alta Park

Contact: Ali Del Rosso, alexandria_sue@hotmail.com

Join us at Alta Park for our first event of 2017 - the Strong(her) Workshop. Lori Aleknavicius and Kristal Minetzke are teaming up to put on this Strong(her) workshop. Strong(her) is designed to motivate, educate and empower women to achieve a fit, happy and healthy life!  

Learn More...

2017 Meeting Extravaganza

When: Thurs, Jan 26 (8-10pm)

Where: The Shop - 1020 S Coast Highway

Contact: Kristin Lewis, kristin@wolosonco.com

In true New Year's fashion, we will be hosting our kick off meeting for 2017 at The Shop. Join your LBPC friends as we begin planning for the year ahead.  

Learn More...

DECEMBER EVENTS

Mom’s Holiday Night at the Montage

What an amazing turnout we had for the Mom’s Holiday Night this year!  Close to 40 women stepped out in their holiday finest to join us at the Montage.  We sipped fancy french bubbly and laughed merrily in the lobby bar.  Spirits were high as we began the festive season.  And, to top the night, we took a fun group shot in front of the Jimmy Choo shoe tree.  Thank you to everyone who attended our final event of the year!

Holiday Night 2016

LBPC Small Toy Drive

There isn’t much more to say other than “Wow!” As a club, we donated 169 toys to children visiting the Laguna Food Pantry over the holidays.  Our goal was to provide the Pantry with 150 toys, which means that 19 more children received toys this holiday.  I hope you feel as proud as I do!

I’d also like to especially recognize our friends at Yolk.  Both a club member and shop owner, CY helped us to organize and fulfill holiday wishes this season.  Not only were discounts provided in store, but they so beautifully wrapped and collected toys for us.  We are so grateful for your help in making this year’s Toy Drive a huge success.  Thank you, again, Yolk!  


More information about Yolk (here).

AND, DON'T FORGET...

Birth Announcements

Have a new baby and want to share your excitement with the club? Email Ali Del Rosso at alexandria_sue@hotmail.com to have your announcement appear in our next newsletter.

Meals for New Parents

We offer a free meal to the parents of any LBPC family bringing home a new baby. Parents can choose from several restaurant and menu options. The Club takes care of ordering the food and delivering it to your doorstep.  Contact Elizabeth Hanauer (ehanauer@gmail.com) or Anya Daurskikh (anyazmievskaya@gmail.com) for details.

November 2016

The Season of Thanks and Giving

Here we are again at the crossroads between the season of thanks and the season of giving.  I hope your Thanksgiving table overflowed with gratitude and laughter.  And you were surrounded by those you cherish most.

LBPC Sawdust Tree

The holidays serve as a reminder of just how fortunate we are. We live in paradise where the weather is (nearly) perfect, our community is creative and unique, and families share in the joy of raising children in Laguna.  It sometimes feels unreal.  Yet, there are others so close to home with far less fortune; those that take to our shelters for food and services.  

It is why we have again chosen to hold a holiday Toy Drive for the Laguna Food Pantry.  For members of our community who struggle to put food on the table, a toy for their child may seem like a luxury.  Last year, the Parents Club collected and donated over 110 small toys.  And this year we are looking to serve 150 children.  We are asking for small donations, toys ranging from $5 to $10 dollars.  Of course, you are welcome to purchase a gift for more than one child.

Things tend to get hectic this time of year, but I hope you will remember a child close to home when out holiday shopping.  And thank you, LBPC, for your generous heart and for making this holiday special for those in need.

With gratitude,

Ali Del Rosso

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mom's Night at the Montage

When: Weds, Dec 7 (7-9pm)

Where: Montage - 31801 S Coast Highway

Contact: Ali Del Rosso, alexandria_sue@hotmail.com

Join moms from all playgroups on Wednesday, December 7 (7pm-9pm), as we descend upon the Montage in annual holiday style.  We will sip champagne and chat festively among friends. More>> 

2nd Annual Small Toy Drive

When: Now through Friday, Dec 23

Contact: Kristin Lewis, kristin@wolosonco.com

The holidays are a good time to reflect and consider those in our community in need. Please join the LBPC in our 2nd Annual Small Toy Drive for the children of the Laguna Food Pantry More>> 

NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS

Pie Baking Fundraiser

Freshly Baked LBPC Pie

In the beginning of November, 10 lovely ladies got together to bake at the Three Arch Bay Clubhouse (thank you, Elizabeth Hanauer).  Thanks to Kelly O’Brien for organizing and doing more math than an algebra student to get the portions right, we baked 
30 apple pies to for the holidays. 

We worked through stations of butter, sugar, and, of course, wine as we assembled and boxed these tasty treats.  Pies were sold to fundraise for 2017. LBPC is looking to have another year full of events and many thanks to the baking babes who came to help make it happen.

Next year, we will be taking early orders for holiday pies at some of our events.  You, too, can enjoy of a fresh pie and help support the LBPC!

Sawdust Tree Craft and Tree Lighting

It was great to see so many LBPC families at Bluebird for the Sawdust tree craft.  We made over 50 colorful ornaments to dangle from the branches of our very own LBPC tree.  

The children decorated an embroidery hoop and inside we placed a swatch of fabric from one of their favorite shirts.  They turned out darling!  A sentimental treasure to remember this year by.  The remaining fabric was cut and tied to a wool cord and used as garland (I can’t thank you enough Lourdes De Quillien, Jill Epple, and Kristin Lewis for your hours of labor and helping me complete it).

You can see the ornaments on the LBPC tree at the Sawdust Winter Fantasy Festival until December 18.  The club has 14 remaining tickets to the festival to be used on any of the remaining dates. They will be given out on a first come basis, 2 tickets maximum per family.  Contact Ali Del Rosso (alexandria_sue@hotmail.com) if interested.

When the festival ends, the ornaments will be available for pick up at Ali Del Rosso’s house (19 Pacific Vista).  And please come get them in time to be placed on your own tree!

Operation Gratitude

Lourdes, Sebastian and Dorian De Quillien

Following Halloween, the LBPC had the opportunity to participate in “Operation Gratitude.”  For the first two weeks in November, we collected candy at our playgroups and dropped our leftovers at Jen Leonti’s house. (Thanks, Jen, for volunteering.) In addition to the bag loads of candy we collected, we painted 50 cards in camo-green to say "Hi Soldier" and honor the men and women serving overseas.  Whether you donated candy or made a card, there’s no doubt that you helped brighten the day of someone far from home.  Our sincere thanks to all who participated!

AND, DON'T FORGET...

Birth Announcements

Have a new baby and want to share your excitement with the club? Email Ali Del Rosso at alexandria_sue@hotmail.com to have your announcement appear in our next newsletter.

Meals for New Parents

We offer a free meal to the parents of any LBPC family bringing home a new baby. Parents can choose from several restaurant and menu options. The Club takes care of ordering the food and delivering it to your doorstep.  Contact Nancy Fischer at nshehadey@yahoo.com for details.