Style on a Dime!

Spring is here and so are the deals! This season we have been surprised to see that our boy’s racks are just as full as our girl’s racks. While the swim suits take up most of the seasonal spotlight, the shoes, hats and other accessories are in high demand and are highly desired by our customers. 

Parker is showing off his Janie & Jack T-shirt with Old Navy denim shorts. His fun & bright Nike shoes are a fun trend in kids clothing this season! His whole outfit from head to toe was less than $20. Come and browse the racks at greenberries for your little one this spring.

Tips for igniting creative thinking in children by Jen Lara

In the US, we tend to wait until our students are in college or graduate school to explicitly teach creative thinking.  In fact, most collegiate programs save these valuable courses for their entrepreneurial & business majors or their engineering students.  Why save this rich form of thinking for only business and engineering students?  Why wait until students are 18 years or older to ignite and foster creative thinking?

The past and current research shows the prime time to enhance creative thinking is in elementary school, followed by middle and high school.   

On May 8th,2014, Jen Lara will lead a workshop on FosteringCreative Thinking at Greenberries.  Thisinteractive workshop, designed for parents and their allies, will delve intothe five main attributes of creative thinking, plus will share practical,evidence-based strategies that can be immediately used with children and teensin order to grow and foster their creative thinking skills.

In the meantime, consider practicing a few of the tips suggested by researcher-psychologist Kyung Hee Kim.  Her groundbreaking research (released in 2010) discusses the decline in creative thinking skills in the US. 

http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/10/the-decline-of-creativity-in-the-united-states-5-questions-for-educational-psychologist-kyung-hee-kim/

Tips for igniting creative thinking in children:

1.    Travel – Seeing new scenery and different cultures opens up a child’s perspective.

2.    Allow alone time – Creativity research shows that children, like adults, need “incubation” time to allow creative ideas to grow and simmer.

3.    Find a mentor – Longitudinal research shows that most creative individuals have at least one or more key mentors in their life.  If your child is passionate about an interest, why not find them a suitable mentor?

4.    Encourage curiosity – Asking questions, seeking answers, and allowing time to wonder are all part of the human experience and enhance creative thinking. 

5.    Teach in non-traditional ways – Creativity thrives in non-traditional school (or home) settings that promote open-ended projects, child/student choice, and the ability to follow one’s interests.

See you on May 8^th for more!

Jen

The Benefits of Chiropractic Care during and after Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman’s life. But it also is a time of great stresses, both physical and physiological. First, your body undergoes dramatic changes, especially your abdominal muscles, your spine and pelvis. Second, your body’s nutritional needs increase and expand. Every system in your body experiences marked changes, affecting the growth of the new life, but also profoundly affecting EVERY cell in the mother’s body.

greenberries is very excited to be hosting a free discussion about the importance of chiropractic care and what it can offer to you in this intense transition for your body. Click this link to RSVP today to be a part of this opportunity. This discussion encompasses how chiropractic care prevents, and alleviates pain, encourages mobility and mechanical function and may make Labor quicker and easier. Additionally, we will discuss what your body needs to optimally feed your baby and your body and prepare your body for life after delivery.

About half of all expectant mothers will develop lower back pain some time during their pregnancy.  With the average weight gain of 25 to 30lbs, you will find your center of gravity shifting and causing additional stress on your lower back.  Many women have found relief to their lower back pain and have had easier deliveries by receiving chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy.  Scientific studies have found that spinal manipulation carries no increased risk to the mother or baby.  Chiropractic care is also helpful after delivery as your body starts to tighten up those loose ligaments that developed during your pregnancy.  It is important to make sure your joints are aligned before your muscles return back to their pre-pregnancy state.  Don’t forget to have your newborn baby checked while you’re at it.

Dr. Baron is a 1981 Graduate of National College of Chiropractic. Additionally, he holds a BS in Biochemistry and Human Anatomy Sciences, a Certificate in Applied Clinical Nutrition and Certification in Webster Technique.

Dr. Baron has been in practice since 1981. He received his board certification in Chiropractic Orthopedics in 1986 and is one of only 3 board certified Chiropractic Orthopedists in the Baltimore-Columbia area. In addition to back, neck, and extremity problems, Dr. Baron specializes in functional medicine/therapeutic nutrition, women’s issues and pregnancy. Dr. Baron takes special interest in the many facets of pregnancy, working closely with Midwives, Doula’s and OB’s to facilitate healthier more comfortable pregnancies. He is certified in the Webster Technique. Webster technique is a safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function for pregnant mothers. Including those presenting breech, posterior and vertex.

 He has authored several clinical publications, was a contributing author to “Fundamentals of Chiropractic Diagnosis and Management” by Williams and Wilkins and has taught both undergraduate chiropractic students and Doctors in the orthopedics Board Certification program as well as junior college students in the area of anatomy and physiology.

Guest Post: 6 Ways to Take Amazing Easter Portraits of Your Kids – Without Losing Your Sanity

Take your portraits before Easter Sunday. 

Don’t try to take your children’s Easter portraits on the same day as all of your other festivities.  Leading up to Easter, pick a lazy Saturday or Sunday with pretty weather, get the kids dressed up in their Easter outfits and take them outside.  Last year, my hubby and I chose to take our little ones to our family’s favorite trail for these photos.

Think ahead and be creative. 

For instance, I knew plastic Easter eggs filled with dried black beans would hold their attention long enough for me to capture a few still shots like the ones pictured above.

 

Don’t expect them to sit still for you for long.  Let them be kids (be sure to give yourself enough time to do laundry before Easter Sunday). 

After sitting for me for a few shots, I let them run loose for a little bit and do as they wish.  In the above shots, when I wanted my girl to stand still for a minute, I drew her attention to the stump and asked her how tall she would be if she stood on it.  She couldn’t resist.  Do something similar with kids to slow them down for a minute.

Don’t forget to capture the details. 

For this close up of my girl as well as the image of the Easter basket, I shot from above and moved in for a closer view.  I love that I documented her long lashes (I’m so envious!) as well as her Easter basket (mine from my childhood), the detail on her dress, and her Mary Janes.

Stage your own Easter egg hunt.

Instead of taking pictures of your kids at a crowded Easter egg hunt, have your very own private hunt with filled or unfilled plastic eggs.  My girl (3 years old at the time) was content to search for her favorite colored eggs over and over and over again, giving me plenty of time to get the shots I wanted.  She didn’t even need them to be filled with candy (we’ll see what happens this year!).

Be ready to improvise and, no matter what, have fun!

You will probably have expectations going into your shoot, but at some point, your little ones most likely won’t go along with your plans. It’s important that you’re ready to improvise and capture what unfolds.  After all, you want to have fun - otherwise they’ll never sit in front of your camera again!  More than anything, you want to capture your real life moments and the happy memories you make as a family. 

For instance, in the above images, my son let me know that he was d-o-n-e with our shoot, so we threw him up on my husband’s shoulders.  He was content and I was happy to capture his love for riding on his daddy’s shoulders along his cute little bow tie.

Have fun and good luck!

Jennifer Krafchik, owner of Jennifer K Photography, has been a wife for 9 years, a mama for four, and and a professional photographer for three. Capturing life through her lens is one of her greatest obsessions and she looks forward to sharing this love with you each month. Keep up with her life as a mama to two little monkeys as well as her latest work and promotions by following her blog and Facebook page.