New Safeway in Rockridge in Oakland, CA has good selection of organic and healthy items!

When I was pregnant and when my son was a baby,  I spent a substantial amount of time shopping at Whole Foods Market in Oakland, CA.  I loved going there several times a week to pick up healthy products to make delicious home cooked food!

As we are now on a budget, I am looking for places to shop where I can walk out without sticker shock!  My friends and I call Whole Foods whole paycheck as the prices continue to rise!

I have gone to Safeway twice in the last 10 days and I have been surprised at how many organic items I can pick up there!

Here is an example of some of the items I purchased at Safeway!

organic crackers  $3.49

organic pancake syrup, 0 organics  8.99

clover whipping cream  $4.99

clover organic brown eggs  $6.89

Three twins organic ice cream  $3.99

Organic strawberries  $5.99

Old Croc cheddar cheese from Australia  $5.99

Rachael Ray Nutrish Soup Bones for dogs, these are great for traveling


clover organic farms milk

meyenberg goat milk

Sukhi's lemon rice
Sukhi's tikka chicken masala
www.sukhis.com
My son loves these!

Open Nature Veggie Sticks


Halo Adult dog formula
Spots Stew
with salmon recipe




These are a few examples of items I have picked up and enjoyed with my family!  There are still some things I will go to other grocery stores in the area for, but at least I have choices now of where to shop!

Safeway
6310 College Avenue
Oakland, CA

I also LOVE the coffee beans at Cole Coffee across the street from Safeway!  I parked in the parking lot of Safeway on the roof and I had up to an hour of free parking!

Freshpet Select
roasted meals for dogs
My dog likes the tender chicken recipe

Tyke Explorers, starts again this October on select Tuesdays @ the Chabot Space and Science Center

My son enjoyed the Tyke Explorers program for a years at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, CA.

The program is on select Tuesdays.  The following is the Fall 2015 schedule:

September:  Solar System Science

October:  Kitchen Chemistry


chabotspace.org/tyke-explorers

Keller Beach @ Miller/ Knox Regional Shoreline in Richmond, CA

My son and I went to Keller Beach this afternoon at the Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline.  This was a great place to go with children on a warm day, especially during the week.  I haven't tried it yet, though I've heard this place gets super busy during the weekend.  My son loved picking up sticks and seaweed, playing in the waves, building a castle in the sand, and running around with the other children.

Dogs are not allowed at this beach.  Parking is limited.

Resources:

Keller Beach
@ Miller/ Knox Regional Shoreline
900 Dorman Drive
Richmond, CA
(888) 327-2757

Recommended Mexican Restaurant with a local flavor in Napa, CA - Las Palmas

I highly recommend the local restaurant, Las Palmas in Napa, CA for families!  They have Mexican food but also items like miso soup and even french fries.  We went there with friends and my son loved it!  The chips tasted super fresh and delicious!

Resources:

Las Palmas
1730 Yajome Street
Napa, CA
(707) 257-1514
Chef Juan Lopez

Robotics classes on Saturdays in Oakland, CA at Robotics For Fun

I stopped by the store Robotics For Fun on Friday to get my son a dragon kit.  I have walked by this store before and have always been curious about the kits in the window!

Finally, my son and I went in and he picked out a dragon kit, which he finished over the weekend!  He loved it!

Mention teaching kit for a $20.00 discount on their classes!

During an introductory robots class, children become familiar with basic robot design, construction and programming.  They also build their first robots, and learn the programming language to make them work.  The cost is $65.00.

Contact:

Robotics For Fun
2533 Broadway
Oakland, CA  94612
www.roboticsforfun.com
info@roboticsforfun.com

Telephone:  (510) 597-0772

A Brief History:

While teaching robotics classes at the Chabot Space and Science Center, Harvard University graduate Jutiki Gunter, was amazed by the excitement the children showed while building robots in his class.

Realizing how few educational outlets existed for children to learn robotics, Jutiki conceived the idea of creating a space in which children could build robots, and expand their math and science skills.

Robotics For Fun was established in 2004.  The program provides a year-round learning environment for children in all aspects of robotics.

Reading Blankets by JC Penney

I found comfortable, cozy, cuddling up for reading blankets from JC Penney for only 11.99.

ID# 7202015

To Foster A Love of Reading, Bring an Animal to the Classroom

There is something magical about watching a child read to a dog or cat!  Now, 4 Paws, and other similar programs, run a program called Readers of the Pack, which pairs trained dogs and their handlers with schools and libraries with the focus of improving kids' literacy through the simple act of having children read to a calm, non-threatening, non-judgmental dog.  The idea is that many kids, especially those who are struggling with reading, might be more comfortable with dogs than people.

Resources:

To Foster A Love of Reading, Bring an Animal to the Classroom
by Antonia Malchit

http://magazine.good.is/articles/animals-literacy

Why do public schools start so early -- it is still August!

Our local schools here in California all start this coming Monday.  It is still summer in my eyes!  It used to be that school never started until after Labor Day!  Many teachers here in California are due back at 7:45AM for professional growth and room preparation.

Bentology Eating by Design, Bento Box- Picked up at Whole Foods

My son had his last week of camp this week and I was trying to be creative with his lunch.  I went to Whole Foods and picked up a bento box by bentology eating by design.  It has a clever outer box, that has inside little boxes.  I even got a lunch recipe book when I was there too to temp my creative juices.

Doggy loves smallbatchdog turkey sliders for dinner! Son loves feeding the dog!

My son loves helping to feed the dog with these easy sliders.  I was so happy to I find these sliders my doggy loves and my son loves to feed the doggy! Plus, they are 88% turkey, 10% veggies, and 2%supplements and that's it! It is so easy, as they sliders just need to be mixed with warm water.  Then, use a fork to mix up!  Plus, my son feels like a doggy chef!

smallbatchdog is....

freeze-dried raw

locally made

responsibly sourced.

Recommended Family Friendly Sushi Restaurant in Alameda, CA - Sushi House Japanese Restaurant

My son loves the Sushi House restaurant in Alameda, CA.  It is located on the across from the water so it is easy to take a stroll by the beach afterwards.

They have a child size bento box, but my son loves getting different things and trying them all.  We do not give him raw fish.

I highly recommend this place, but be prepared to put your name on a list and wait, it is busy!

Resources:

Sushi House Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar
www.e-sushihouse.com
(510) 865-0999
2375 Shoreline Drive, Alameda, CA  94501


Open Hours:
Sunday through Thursday, from 11:00AM to 10:00PM.
Friday and Saturday, from 11:00AM to 10:30PM.

Big Break Regional Park

The next night, we went to a campfire presentation at Big Break.  Located on the Delta, close to where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers meet, Big Break is another park in the East Bay Regional Parks system.  It gets its name because a levee flooded the area near the park in the late 1920s.  Unable to pump the water out of the farm it had flooded, the area was declared a navigable waterway, and the nearby dry land became the park.

Here, the campfire presentation began during daylight.  The rangers and docents organized about a half-dozen different activities -- bird-watching, a game of tag, observations of Delta water under magnifying glasses to view water-life, observing animal bones and remains, a nature walk through the parkland, and (of course), smores-making.