Nesting Magazine

2 Nesting • Summer 2012 nestingmagazine.com

Spring 2012

FAMILY •HOME •WELLNESS

NestingA Local Resource Guide for Moms

FREEPlease take this issue with you!

Serving Maryland’s Anne Arundel, Howard and Queen Anne’s counties

How to Shop at a Consignment Sale or Store - page 4 You Can Have Quality (Green) Family Time - page 12Kid-Tested Birthday Parties - page 16Rain Gardens Put Precipitation in its Place - page 20

2 Nesting • Spring 2012 nestingmagazine.com

Nesting R

Publisher Kim O’Brien

Creative Director Barbara Ahlgren Dodge

Contributors Kristy Christman, Nina Fisher,

Stephanie Nevin Account Executive

Cassandra Alls, Erin Cassell

Distribution Manager Kernan Bussiere

Editorial Consultant Cory Place Communications coryplacecommunications.com

Advertising Design Consultant Jennifer Goodman, JGoGraphics

jgographics.com

Published quarterly by Feather Publishing

P.O. Box 613, Crownsville, MD 21302 Phone: 410.923.2310

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: nestingmagazine.com

The acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement by Nesting of

products or services. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement or

listing that is not in keeping with the policies or standards of this publication. Feather

Publishing assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertisements. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any part of Nesting by any means without permission is strictly prohibited.

Nesting is a registered

trademark of Feather

Publishing.

Cover photograph of Zoe Cassell, age 3, by Catherine Pelura, KC Photography.


1. Shop With a List: When I’m

out shopping it’s hard to remember

what my kids already have. Does

your child have tons of tops but no

bottoms? Does your daughter need

sneakers but no dress shoes? Write

down the books they want. Are they

missing a Harry Potter? If so, do you

know which one? If you’re a new

mom and shopping for equipment,

definitely make a list!

2. Look Up and Down: When

shopping for clothing, check the

racks that are holding sizes both

larger and smaller than your child’s

current size. Many brands size their

clothing slightly differently. You

know if your child is bigger or small-

er than the “norm.”

3. Be Brand Savvy: You need

to know how much an item would

cost if it were new so you can tell

if you’re getting a deal on it used.

Some of the best deals to be found

are for the middle and high-end

brands. A Lilly Pulitzer dress at a

consignment shop may seem pricey

at $30, but that dress new is $70

©iStockphoto.com

How to Shop at a Consignment Sale or Store By Mimi Shea

Some consignment shops are actual stores that sell gently-used items. Others are short-term, seasonal events that are run by volunteers. Here, 8 tips to help you be a smart consignment shopper.

or more. If you’re unsure about a

brand’s retail price, use your smart-

phone and look it up.

4. Bring a Cut-out: If your child

won’t be shopping with you, trace

his or her foot at home, then bring

the tracing cut-out with you. As

with clothing, shoe sizes can differ

by brand. A tracing can help you

determine whether or not the shoe

will fit.

5. Look Before Buying: Most

seasonal sales and shops are careful

about what they accept. Still, it’s im-

portant to take a good look before

you buy. Most consignment shops

don’t allow returns. But if you get

home and do find a missing but-

ton or a stain or tear, don’t be too

disappointed. Remember, the item

is used and you got a great deal, so

don’t sweat it!

6. Wait For a Sale: If you’re in

a store, ask when the next sale will

be. If you’re at a seasonal sale, learn

when the discount days are. A con-

signment shop’s amazing deals are

even more amazing at half-price! But

if you find a unique item or particu-

larly needed size, it may be better to

strike while the iron is hot. If you

wait, that coveted item will likely

be gone.

7. Ask About Gift Certificates:

Most consignment shops and sea-

sonal consignment sales sell gift

certificates. My favorite baby shower

gift to give is a consignment sale gift

certificate. That way the new mom

can shop for the items she didn’t

get at her shower, and buy them at a

great price.

8. Volunteer: This won’t work

with a shop, but if you regularly at-

tend a volunteer-run seasonal sale,

you may want to become a volunteer

there yourself. You’ll be able to shop

early and get first dibs on all the

great items. Plus, if you have items

you want to sell, you can usually

earn a larger commission on your

consigned items.

Mimi Shea is the owner-operator of the Wee-Sale Children’s Consignment Sale and the She-Sale Ladies, Juniors and Home Décor seasonal consignment sales. For more information, visit Wee-Sale.com or SheSaleConsignment.com.

nestingmagazine.com Spring 2012 • Nesting 5

CON

Find Great Products for Your Family!

Shopping

IGNMENT

Support Your Local Advertisers & Save!

GREEN PRODUCTS By Stephanie Nevin

As a fairly new mother of twins, I’m actively seek-

ing natural products

that will do the job in our

home, whether it’s to clean, pre-

vent, treat, etc. The products I use — and

sometimes share with my children — need to be safe

and effective.

Here’s my list for springtime pro-tection and safety.

Avoiding Bug Bites: The prod-uct I choose for preventing mosquito and other insect bites is BiteBlocker for kids. The ingredients in this insect repellent are mainly food-grade and are listed by the EPA as being of minimum risk. The even better news is that the U.S.

Department of Agriculture found BiteBlocker to be as effective as a 15 percent concentration of the chemical DEET, and unlike many insect repellents, BiteBlocker is long-lasting, providing protection for anywhere from four to eight hours. The company that makes BiteBlocker also makes BioUD, which repels both ticks and mosquitoes and is an alternative to Perme-thrin, a common chemical pesticide. For more informa-tion on BioUD and Bite Blocker, visit homs.com.

Cleaning the House: I like the Fields Organics line of organic,

non-toxic cleaning supplies. The brand carries everything

from a green tea floor clean-er to a lavender multi-

purpose cleaner. (The products come in travel

sizes, too.) The Fields

for your family


Mother’s Helper

Nesting Support

Organics products are plant-based, phosphate-free and biode-gradable. I also use the Seventh Generation products, especially

their Free & Clear All Purpose Cleaner. The prices are reasonable and the products are found in most nation-

al supermarket chains.

Playing With the Kids: ImagiPLAY has an array of ecologically re-sponsible wooden

toys; their products are non-toxic and the company only produces products that use materials and processes that show respect for the planet. ImagiPLAY’s toys are fair trade and made from renew-able and sustainable materials. The company’s motto is to

“inspire the imagination.” My personal favorite toy: the Count-ing Octopus Puzzle.

A great website for green products and information is healthychild.org. Healthy Child Healthy World’s mission is to ignite the movement that empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals. Check it out, and enjoy green shopping.

Stephanie Nevin is a mother of five. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley.

888-432-6547

Kim O’Brien CHT

410-923-2310 www.annapolishypnosisandwellness.com

Annapolis Hypnosis & Wellness

Private, Group and Corporate Sessions Available

• Management of Anxiety & Stress

• Weight Reduct ion

• Smoking Cessat ion

• HypnoBir th ing

By Kristy Christman

Here are just a few examples of kid-approved, earth-friendly activities you can do at home with items you already have around the house.

Make a “Family Sign” Have the kids hunt in the yard for nature’s finest sticks, twigs, rocks and leaves. Use the items to write your family’s name and secure the letters to a piece of cardboard, such as from a shipping box.

Write Your Family’s StoryGrab some paper and sit together as a fam-ily and write your story. Be creative and let your kids’ imaginations run wild. Maybe you’re a family of superheroes, or maybe you live on the moon. You and the kids can come back to the story over and over and add adventures to it.

Draw Your Family TreeFind a nice-sized piece of cardboard or paper and use markers to draw your fam-ily tree. Write in the names of your family members from each generation. This is a great way for your children to actually see their lineage. The activity also serves as an opportunity for telling stories about when you were a kid and sharing informa-tion about your grandparents and great-grandparents.

Start a Family Nature Club Take a walk around the neighborhood and

You Can Have Quality (Green) Family Time


The Stay-at-Home Survival GuideField-tested strategies for staying smart, sane, and connected while caring for your kids

“The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide speaks volumes without being preachy, overtly tongue-in-cheek or feeding the ‘Mommy Wars’… There’s support throughout the book that is relative to all aspects of motherhood, whether you are a SAHM (stay-at-home mom), WAHM (work-at-home mom), or a mother re-entering the workforce.”— Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine

“Becoming a stay-at-home mother shifts your entire world, and Melissa Stanton gets it. This intelligent, sensible, hands-on guide will help at-home moms navigate the rocky waters of time, money, self-image, self-esteem, sex, friendship, and everything else.” — Ericka Lutz, author of On the Go With Baby

“Thanks to this book [stay-at-home moms] have somewhere to turn when-ever [they’re] feeling a little lonely, under-appreciated, or overwhelmed.” — MomCentral.com

Don’t Stay Home Without It! stayathomesurvivalguide.com

Featured by the Associated Press, The Baltimore Sun, ABC News, TheMotherhood.com and other media.

Available at bookstores and on amazon.com.

By Melissa StantonSeal Press/Perseus Books

“Perfect for ... any mom who has felt she has the best job in the world, and the worst job in the world, all within a two-minute timeframe.”— MamaSpeaks.com

“A terrific resource [with] plenty of practical advice.”— Washington Parent

Kristy Christman lives in Pasadena with her husband and their three little boys. She is a registered nurse and children’s book author. To learn more, visit BeHappie.net.

see what nature has in store. Bring a notebook and have your children draw pictures of what they see.

Keep a Seasonal Journal Your kids can look back at your fam-ily’s seasons journal throughout the year to see nature’s amazing changes.

Stare at the Sky Lay outside on a blanket and look up. Talk about the shapes the clouds make or, if it’s dark, gaze at the stars. This is a great time to talk to your children about the planet and ways that each of us can protect it.


Feet on the Street

Fairy Tale Princess Parties Make Dreams Come True:If fairy tales and princesses are the latest fad in your house, then this party-to-you will be a dream cometrue. Professional vocalist Lawren Bowen will dazzle your little princess with a royal performance. Choose from Princess Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel or Princess Rapunzel. Party packages include dress-up time, a tiara craft and “Bibbidi Bobbidi”

beauty time. A royal crowning ceremony and song will make your party memorable, as will the birthday princess’s special gift and picture with the princess. I had Sleeping Beauty come to my third birthday party and it was a hit. My friends are still talking about that party. The princess parties range in price depending on the package you choose. Book your party two months in advance because the princesses are in high demand! For more information or to schedule your royal gala, visit fairytaleprincessparties.biz.

Roll Up ‘N Dye To Get Your Groovy On: If you’re looking for a unique party idea with a green “twist,” then this is the party for you. Erin Cassell, owner of Roll Up ‘N Dye, created this party idea through her own love of tie-dying, and she is the tie-dye party specialist. Roll Up ‘N Dye provides everything you need and they only use professional-grade dyes that

Nesting’s column about fun stuff to do with kids, as recommended by a kid!

These Parties Will Come to You! By Lucy O’Brien

Some of my best birthday memories are the parties we had in my own backyard. There are so many unique party options today, but these are my favorites:

Lucy O’Brien loves parties. She was assisted in writing this article by Nesting publisher Kim O’Brien (aka: her mom).


won’t bleed or fade over time. The company also provides instructions and all the supplies needed for each

guest to create a tie-dye t-shirt masterpiece: shirts, dyes, gloves, tables, special textile detergent. Roll Up ‘N Dye takes charge of the set-up, pack-up and clean-up. (Another plus: The party’s main activity creates the party’s party favor!) Tie-dye parties are great for children of all ages and fun for adults, too. Roll Up ‘N Dye also does baby showers, workshops, summer camps and fundraisers. The party usually lasts about three hours for 15 participants. For pricing and information, call Erin at 443-790-3631 or visit rollupndye.com.


Exquisite & Unique Royal Parties

Choose from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty,

Ariel, Belle or Princess Rapunzel

Lawren Bowen www.fairytaleprincessparties.biz

443-254-0154

Making Dreams Come True!

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princess and guests.

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Rain gardens. What a delightful sounding feature to add to your home’s landscape — native flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees growing in a shallow depression, attracting birds and butterflies. Hidden behind the beauty, however, is a very serious function.

A proper rain garden captures precipitation running from roofs, driveways, sidewalks and other im-permeable surfaces, allowing the wa-ter to soak in rather than drain into storm drains and local waterways. The garden’s soil and plants absorb pollutants in the water — including fertilizers, oils and pesticides — and keep them from reaching streams,

rivers, and ultimately the Chesa-peake Bay. These gardens also create valuable habitats that far exceed the wildlife-hostile swaths of herbicide-ridden lawn.

But here’s the funny thing about a rain garden: If you construct one properly, most people won’t recog-nize it as a way to manage storm wa-ters. Instead, the garden appears as a thoughtful and pleasing landscape that complements the rest of the property.

Creating a rain garden isn’t difficult, but planning before putting shovel to dirt is critical to success.

Put Precipitation In Its Place ... by creating a rain garden at home

By Nina Fisher


Here’s how you can get started: 1. Assess your site, noting natural drainage patterns. Stand outside during a heavy rain (raincoat option-al). Notice which way the rain sheets across the property, where it soaks in, and if it moves off your property into a neighboring lot. Take notes. You may want to sketch the bound-aries and use arrows to indicate wa-ter flow. For those inclined toward precision, use a to-scale property map.

Based on your inventory, determine where most water is leaving the prop-erty before fully soaking in — basi-cally the low spots in your yard. This is where you want to construct your garden(s). The type of soil underly-ing the area will affect the garden’s size and success. Very sandy soils will not hold water for long, whereas sticky, clay-rich soils may pool water for extended periods. Clay-heavy soils, in particular, require the addi-tion of some sand, topsoil and com-post to improve drainage.

2. With the inventory complete, the fun begins. Design a garden that’s sized to capture a significant amount of the runoff. Generally the larger the area drained, the larger the garden. Al-though the garden can be any shape, curved shapes tend to look more natural. The “Rain Gar-dens Across Maryland” report ref-erenced on page 22 offers a variety of templates in the appendix. Use

a long piece of rope to outline the shape on the ground so you’ll have a visual sense of the garden before digging in.

3. Once you’re satisfied with the shape and size, shovel out a depres-sion that is 4 to 8 inches deep with gradually sloping edges. Use some of the extracted soil to create a berm on the downhill side of the depres-sion. The top of this ridge should be equal to the soil height on the uphill side of the garden. If the soil requires enhancements, you may need to dig a bit deeper to accom-modate the topsoil, compost and sand that you’ll be mixing into the existing soil.

4. As a general rule, when selecting rain garden plants, go native. Native plants are acclimated to Maryland’s soil and weather conditions, are more likely to thrive, and generally require less care. Before consult-ing the list of plants endemic to this area, make sure you know how much sun your garden receives each day during the spring and summer. Select plants of various heights, tex-

tures and colors that create interest and com-plement one another. Plants generally look better clustered (at least three of one species planted in a group).

Any plants, includ-ing trees and shrubs, considered for the garden should tolerate periodic wet conditions. Plants growing on the berm will experience dryer soil

Continued on the next page

Continued from the previous page

than those in the depressed area. As you select plants, place the pots in their proposed locations, which will give you a good sense of how the garden will appear once planted. It’s a whole lot easier to move plants around at this stage. Keep in mind that the garden may appear sparse at first, but you need to anticipate each plant’s growth.

5. Dig a hole that is double the width of the pot and keep the soil level of the pot even with the surrounding ground level. Gently loosen the root ball with your fingers to stimulate root growth; once planted, firmly tamp down the soil around the plant to elimi-nate air pockets. Water the plants and keep them moist over the next several weeks as they become established. Mulch the garden if you want a more finished look, but put down only a couple of inches of mulch and keep it away from the plant stems.

6. Grab a lawn chair — and a cold drink — and admire your work.

Nina Fisher is an Annapolis-based freelance writer.

Let it RainRainscaping.org provides

general information on rain

gardens and lots of references.

Be sure to download the

document “Rain Gardens

Across America,” which is a

terri�c resource for creating

a home rain garden, and

likely the only resource most

homeowners will need. The Rain

Gardens Across America Native

Plants List provides detailed

information about a variety of

plants and recommendations for

accommodating speci�c light

and soil conditions.

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