Tuesday’s mini playdate was a success! Why mini? Well, because there were 10 kids missing. Whoa, right? But families go on vacations, kids get sick, and important errands must be run. Such is life during the busy summer months. But I’m looking forward to getting together with more of our group in the next week or two :).

So back to Tuesday. The weather was just fine and it didn’t rain. The weather predictions have been so inaccurate lately, but I just knew that the day I’d host an outdoor playdate, it would rain. Mother Nature, thankfully, was on my side. She brought over her two little darlings and she came over to hang out. It’s been a month or maybe two since we’ve last seen each other, so it was nice to catch up. On the menu were donut muffins and sugar cookies that I baked Monday night, grilled burgers and hotdogs, fruit, juices and Starbucks VIA.

The kids had a blast playing together and there were definitely some favorite toys. The Super Soaker and Triple Hit Baseball toy. You’d think the Craftsman truck, right? There were so many toys, that it was only natural for some of them to sit, but they will be played with the next time we get together.

Lily was a fearless little diva, plopping into the pool in her clothes, as soon as she arrived. Jonah showed us his expert bug catching skills, and Jayden wore that poor Super Soaker out. It was a good day! Many of the toys featured in our playdate have been reccomended on Kmart’s Playdate Place blog. Check them out!

I don’t want this post to get too photo heavy, so I put together a little video of clips and photos from the day :).

More photos on Flickr…

This post has been sponsored as part of a social shopper campaign by Kmart and Collective Bias. I have been compensated for my time and efforts in sharing this experience with you. All opinions (if expressed) are always my own. Read my full disclosure policy here.

© Sophistishe 2011 | Permalink | 27 comments - Let's chat!

So it’s almost time for the playdate that I’m planning and I’m so excited and kind of worried. The weather forecast for next Tuesday is 83 degrees with a 20-40% chance of rain, depending on the source. Depending on the severity, it won’t be a big deal since the kids will be in and out of the kiddie pool. *bites nails* So tomorrow, I will be doing some last minute shopping for food and snacks. Monday, I’ll bake a few things if I have the energy, and then fun will be had on Tuesday!

So what toys did I choose for our playdate? Oh, just a few goodies ;).

Nylabone Frisbee, My first Craftsman, Colored Jumbo Chalk, Grow to Pro Triple Hit Baseball , Super Soaker Thunderstorm, Grow With Me Roller Skates, Hardshell Helmet and Pads (I exchanged this for the Thomas & Friends toddler version)

Since time was of the essence, I ordered everything online and planned to pick up as many of the toys I could at my local Kmart. Four of the toys were ready for pickup the same day that I placed my order. One of three other toys arrived at my door a day after, and the other two arrived a few days later. Picking up my order was easy. Kmart had everything bagged and sitting at the lawaway counter for me. All I had to do was show my I.D. and order confirmation number and I was good to go. I should mention that my local Kmart isn’t crazy busy, so I can stroll in there and shop in peace.

Everything’s unboxed and ready to go. The Power Wheels Truck is assembled, charged, and ready to cruise! I know Jayden is going to be so excited to splash, run, jump, and roll with his friends this Tuesday! Here’s to hoping that Mother Nature plays nice!

Have you checked out Kmart’s Playdate Place yet? It’s a great resource for playdate planning with articles that make you go, hmmm.

:)

This post has been sponsored as part of a social shopper campaign by Kmart and Collective Bias. I have been compensated for sharing this experience with you. All opinions (if expressed) are always my own. Read my full disclosure policy here.

© Sophistishe 2011 | Permalink | 2 comments - Let's chat!

Playdates are something that I never considered attending until being introduced to a group by a friend. I mean it wasn’t an organized VIP play group, so stop rolling your eyes, but just an awesome group of local friends getting together with their kids :). We usually gathered once a week or as often as schedules allowed. Sometimes we’d all bring a dish, snack, or a special toy or activity that the kids would enjoy. The kids played so well together and I think the dates were great for Jayden who is used to playing alone, with Greg and I, or occasionally with the neighbors (as of this month). As an only child, it is so important for him learn basic social skills (even if socializing isn’t my forte) and how to share with others. Oh, and the playdates were also a great way for us moms to have some adult stimulation.

It’s been a while since we’ve last met for a playdate and I have been entertaining the idea of hosting a playdate next month. Me, host a playdate? It just doesn’t seem real. Well, I guess I’m a big girl now. Browsing Kmart’s Playdate Place has really got me excited about hosting! I first stumbled upon Playdate Place when their Twitter Team retweeted one of my playdate posts. Curious, I clicked through to their site and fell in love with the design and concept! Playdate Place is a great resource for playdate planning. It features helpful articles on topics like multi-age playdates, timing trips to the park, and frugal outdoor playdates from some great parenting experts like blogging duo, Ronnie and Lamar Tyler :).

In addition to great articles, Kmart Playdate Place offers perks for being a member. Perks include special deals and discounts on great toys and weekly (one toy) and monthly (grand prize collection of toy) giveaways! Becoming a member of Playdate Place is free, so signup to stay connected!

Some toys from the Playdate Place toy collection that I think the kids would enjoy are the Power Wheels My First Craftsman Truck, Step 2 Easel for Two, Little Tikes Get Out ‘N’ Grill, and Fisher-Price Grow to Pro Triple Hit. They’d be able to be little adults cruising in the truck, get crafty on the double sided easel, flip some burgers on the grill, and brush up on their batting skills! I’ll be shopping for some of these toys, so stay tuned on how we put them to use at the playdate that I’ll be hosting! Whoa, gotta let that sink in. Somebody pinch me!

Do you participate in playdates? What are some of the kids’ favorite toys, activities, and snacks? Do you take turns hosting or do you meet somewhere local like the park?

This post has been sponsored as part of a social shopper campaign by Kmart and Collective Bias. All opinions (if expressed) are always my own. Read my full disclosure policy here.

© Sophistishe 2011 | Permalink | 2 comments - Let's chat!

Today, I’m missing “Wednesdays”. Haven’t had one since last summer due to life changing events and tight schedules. Here’s a repost from exactly a year ago. Sometimes I still get the “playdate jitters” as I continue designing my life element by element…

Before giving birth to my son, I never thought much about playdates. But after he was born and the months began to fly by, I started to realize that my boy was growing up. He needed to be around others so that he could learn from them, grow up with them, and embrace childhood together as friends.

Thinking about it all gave me an uncomfortable feeling because that meant that I had to interact with other moms. Moms who would be older than I and more advanced in their lives. Moms that may possibly turn their noses up at me because I’m not on their level.

Some playdates go totally wrong.

I’ll just stay at home.

All of these thoughts swarmed through my head at once.

How would I connect with moms who shared my same interests and ambitions? How would I connect with moms who would accept me for who I am in the midst of what I thought to be my imperfect life?

Luckily I found a group of girls who I am fortunate to have in my life. Surprisingly they all blog or did at one point in time. We all have much in common, we agree, and we respectfully disagree. We are of various ages; twenties and thirties, me being the youngest but not at all the oddball. Each Wednesday get-together is like therapy. We are able to talk and listen (it’s my nature to listen), sip coffee and enjoy a potluck brunch while the kids play.

The kids, they get along so well. I remember our first playdate. We were welcomed with hugs. It felt like home. Jayden walked right on in, grabbed a toy, and smiled at the other children. He exchanged hugs and kisses too. He obviously gets his social genes from his dad.

I honestly don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for our Wednesdays. I’d probably feel all alone and sheltered, still waiting for things to be perfect enough for me to mingle with other moms. My son would still be waiting to splash in the mud for the first time.

Do you attend playdates? Have you ever been apprehensive about attending them? How’d you find your group?

© Sophistishe 2011 | Permalink | 10 comments - Let's chat!

Jayden appears to be a little ashy in the photos. It’s sunscreen. It’s so hard to rub that stuff in!

More photos on Flickr…

© Sophistishe 2010 | Permalink | 8 comments - Let's chat!

Last Wednesday, our play group headed to the beach. When we left, the weather was lovely. We had taken our jackets off. We were ready for some fun in the sun.

As we got closer to the lake, oh boy did things change! The weather seemed to be 10 degrees cooler than it had been when we left and the breeze surely did not come with ease. The conditions certainly weren’t ideal for beaching it…

Continue reading at coNectar…
I’d love to read your comments there, too :).

© Sophistishe 2010 | Permalink | No comment - Oh, I see how it is...

Before giving birth to my son, I never thought much about playdates. But after he was born and the months began fly by, I started to realize that my boy was growing up. He needed to be around others so that he could learn from them, grow up with them, and embrace childhood together as friends.

Thinking about it all gave me an uncomfortable feeling because that meant that I had to interact with other moms. Moms who would be older than I and more advanced in their lives. Moms that may possibly turn their noses up at me because I am not yet on their level.

Some playdates go bad.

I’ll probably have to answer questions I wish I didn’t have to.

All of these thoughts swarmed through my head at once.

How would I connect with moms who shared my same interests and ambitions? How would I connect with moms who would accept me for who I am in what I thought to be my imperfect life?

Continue reading at coNectar…
I’d love to read your comments there, too :).

© Sophistishe 2010 | Permalink | No comment - Oh, I see how it is...