I am so crazy happy to introduce you to Turtle Town Daycare in Boca Raton. Melissa Durniok runs a Licensed In-Home Daycare located in Boca Raton that specializes in Toddlers! Our daughters have gone to school together for three years now, and I can tell you honestly, that if I had a toddler, there is no other place I would leave her! In fact, I have dropped my daughter off at Melissa’s house for play dates without any hesitation! (Those who know me, understand that I rarely leave my daughter anywhere, so that is a huge endorsement!).
Here is what Melissa has to say about Turtle Town:
“My name is Melissa and I have a MSW and have worked with children in social work my entire life. I ran a licensed in-home daycare in MA for 3 years before moving to Boca Raton. I have been open for 1 year now and currently have both full-time and part-time openings. I take children ages 15 months and older as I do a full toddler curriculum and activities. I have 4 play spaces inside the home filled with toys and educational fun.
Outside I have a full playground with many riding toys, water tables, play houses, toddler slides, a swing set and sand tables for fun.
I would love for you to come out and visit us with your little one to Turtle Town Daycare soon!
Melissa and her family have created a beautiful, comfortable and safe haven for her “Turtles” She provides her Turtles with fun, hands on educational activities everyday. She has gone above and beyond the licensing requirements to turn her home into a toddler paradise!
I am a geek, I know! I have been obsessed with all things educational & technological!
So what about Piano Lessons? Yup, There’s an app for that too!
Most Lessons on Piano Marvel have a video to introduce new skills.
I have been using Piano Marvel for the last couple of months to brush up on my piano skills. Lets face it, I was never that good. I took classes with a kindly lady. She made me do scales over and over and over and over and…… well, you get the idea. I wonder sometimes if she is still around, I am pretty sure she was in her 70’s back when I took lessons in the late 70’s. Yes, it’s been that long!
I came across Piano Marvel while searching some way to support lessons for my 8 year old, as well as spruce up my own skills. With music being left out more and more at school I wanted to encourage her to continue with lessons even when we can’t work them into our budget or schedule. As it turns out, I am obsessed by it! It is more than an app, it is a fully interactive software that makes piano learning fast and fun.
Piano Marvel allows students to learn progressively through different levels.
Each level has a PDF Method Book with an over view of everything you will learn. There are also videos on the lessons explaining the new concepts introduced in the lesson. This system is so comprehensive. It is being used not only by parents, but by piano teachers as another way to get their students engaged.
Each of the lessons have a backing track that plays with you so it doesn’t get so monotonous.
I love the instant feedback that the computer gives you too. The design shows you where you went wrong in the piece and you can work to bring up your score.
Piano Marvel shows you what notes you played wrong, early or late.
You can also work on songs in the library, so you have a repertoire that you can play. There is so much sheet music included in this program that I can’t image how much it would cost if you were to go out and buy it in books. The Library works much like the lessons, the songs are broken up into smaller sections that start out slow, so the student can perfect each section before combining them at speed.
Piano Marvel lets you track your students, children or your own practice time and award levels.
I love that the program allows you pull reports of how well your student is doing and how much they are practicing. These reports make it easy to reward your kids (or yourself) for doing such great work!
You can explore more about Piano Marvel, see some videos or take a tour by clicking here PIANO MARVEL You can also get a free trial account by clicking here: Free Account
Get a Discount
When you are ready to can sign up for the full benefits of being a Piano Marvel Student or perhaps you are already a Piano Teacher who would like to find out how to introduce this method into your own studio you will get $3 off a month by using the Promo Code PianoCyndi at check out!
What you will need
You need a Midi Compatible keyboard and high speed internet. We bought the Casio Privia px160 full size keyboard and I am so amazed by it! It feels like a real piano and sounds amazing. It has sorts of other sounds that my daughter likes to use while practicing just to keep things entertaining I guess, but for me the concert piano sound is perfect! It was the perfect choice for us with small condo living (volume control).
However you can find great keyboards for less just make sure that it has a midi in it. You can also start out with a mini keyboard, however keep in mind it won’t be long before you need the full size 88 key piano.
Let us know and we will place your Summer or Spring Break Camp information on our Find a Camp page!
How you can help keep this site running.
If you have found this site helpful and want to keep me writing please use the Donate Button on the right side of this page. This helps us pay for our domain, ip address and hosting, maybe even a cup of coffee as I sit at Panera searching for more free events. Some sites require membership fees in order to pay for their site. We really want this information to be free and available to all. Thanks for your support!
If you would like to learn more about our partnership opportunities Contact Us today!
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I wanted to share some fun news! I finally published a book! It’s little and a bit silly, but I think it’s cute. (My 7 year old likes it for what that is worth.) This project is certainly a learning experience! It is available on Kindle US and Kindle Europe now and I am working on the print version at the moment. The print version should be available for purchase within the next 3 weeks.
Have you ever had a pet that just seemed to cause havoc at every turn? Have you ever wondered what on earth your pet could be thinking? Baby Girl the Rogue House Cat explains all her crazy and funny actions in her new diary to help explain why cats do some of the things they do. I hope you enjoy her antics as much as I do.
If you have found this site helpful and want to keep me writing please use the Donate Button on the right side of this page. This helps us pay for our domain, ip address and hosting, maybe even a cup of coffee as I sit at Panera searching for more free events. Some sites require membership fees in order to pay for their site. We really want this information to be free and available to all. Thanks for your support!
If you would like to learn more about our partnership opportunities Contact Us today!
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Kids Choice is a dream come true for many families who are tired of running all over town picking up and dropping off the kids at multiple locations for classes.
Kids Choice also offers:
Birthday Parties Kids Choice is a easy pick for parents looking have a kids birthday party. Let the kids wear themselves out under the watchful eye of Kids Choice Staff and send them home worn out, full and extremely happy!
Parents Night Out Kids will get a chance to have some supervised non instructional fun on the gymnastics equipment, jump in a bounce house, eat pizza, and watch a movie.
Camp ProgramsKids Choice offers camp options for Days off from School, Winter Break Camp & Spring Break Camp. Campers will have a great time doing games, art and crafts, snacks, free play, movies, lunch (included for ¾ and full day campers), sports like karate, soccer, cheerleading, dance and of course, LOTS of gymnastics!
I have hit a huge mile stone today! I and am so honored, blown away and basically gob smacked that I have had over 46000 hits this year! Thank you all for seeing and acknowledging the work and love that goes into this blog.
However here goes the fund raising request for help: Once again it is time for me to pay the bills!
If you have enjoyed the blog and found it
Castaway Island at TY Park interactive pool ReviewTurtles at Gumbo Limbo Review
helpful, there is an easy way to help me pay for the ip address hosting. (about $300 a year). Just go to my site and hit the Donate button (paypal) on the right hand side to send a couple of dollars to keep the blog running. $1 or $2 could make a huge difference! Thank you all! Please don’t make me a do a public radio style pledge week (insert embarrassed giggle here).
Thanks to all of you for reading and supporting me and a special thanks to my family who puts up with me sneaking off to a quiet place to write a couple of times a week!
If you feel you are able, please Donate a dollar or two using the Donate Button on the Right hand side of this page (paypal) and share this with your friends.
Hi everyone, I hope you are all feeling the Fall Festivity, even though the humidity is still so high. We had dinner on the patio the other night and it was actually comfortable so we I am waiting for the change. We have a new adventure on the horizon, well on Saturday actually. We got a 4 by 4 community garden plot, i will be keeping all of you updated on our progress. With any luck we will be able to grow something edible! Wish us luck!
In case you missed it, we have a new sponsor, so please welcome Stella & Dot by Blair Critch. She is offering our readers a special discount so please check it out.
We had our first giveaway this week and Glenda from Fort Lauderdale was the big winner of a family four pack to the Coconut Grove Pumpkin Festival this weekend.
My Pick of the week is the Fall Festival and Scarecrow Contest at Flamingo Gardens. We love this event and have gone every year since my daughter was born. This would be my pick this week even if Flamingo Gardens wasn’t a sponsor! Here is a QUICK REVIEW of this event in previous years with some pictures of the amazing creations that entered in the contest.
The contest is this weekend and the scarecrows will be up for a few weeks so even if you cant go now, you can see them. Don’t forget to see Josh the Bear in his new amazing huge habitat. Did I mention admission is half price on Saturday? It is a good deal, and a great day!
Please take a moment to welcome our new sponsor Blair Critch with Stella & Dot.
Blair Critch Personal Stylist for Stella & Dot
Blair is a Personal Stylist for Stella & Dot. I felt an instant connection with Blair when she told me her story of how she was a stay at home mom for 5 years with her little ones. A friend introduced her to Stella & Dot and she fell in love. She originally just wanted to host a show and get free jewelry, but was told she should think about selling it herself.
In her own words “I took the look book to Chuckie Cheese and my friends dog eared every page.I decided to take a chance on me and possibly find something great that I could stay home for a little longer. What I did not expect is how much Stella & Dot gave me. I have flexibility to be there to take my kids to school pick them up, I choose the nights I want to work”
Blair has amazing talent, and considering that she is outnumbered at home with 2 very active little boys, fashion and girl time are important for a balanced life.
When I asked her what she loves most about Stella & Dot this is what she said “Fun & Fashion are two things I love, what girl doesn’t love a glass of wine and shopping. The best part is the financial freedom it has brought to my family and so many others. I love having a team of women that I help to inspire and train. I love sharing how Stella & Dot can help others to make some extra fun money, be a part time or even full time business as it has for me. Basically I get to help women decide how to shape and determine their lives and I love the joy that it brings.”
Exclusive Discount
Please check her website, if you see anything you like contact Blair with code word MOM to get 10% off your order.
Hello everyone,
Our new friends at the Coconut Grove Pumpkin Festival have offered to give away free tickets (A Family Four Pack) to their Fall Festival to one our lucky readers.
I have never been to this event, but have heard really good things about it. CLICK HERE for a better description of the event.
Since fall is one of my favorite times I thought it would be fun to hear about your families favorite fall traditions. Please head over to our Facebook Fanpage like the post about this offer, and tell us about your families favorite fall traditions. I will randomly choose one Family to win the Family Four Pack to the Coconut Grove Pumpkin Festival. Anyone who has shared their stories by 6 pm on Sunday 9/29/13 will be eligible for the giveaway.
Thanks for sharing your stories!
Make everyday a family day,
~Cynthia
CLICK HERE for your Week Ahead extremely long list of things to keep you and your family busy, learning, and having fun!
I am starting to load up the calendar for the Holidays already, so if you know of a great upcoming event you think should be on our calendar, please submit it though our website Contact Us page!
Our Fabulous Sponsor Flamingo Gardens has a great new deal out! $6 Saturdays! What a way to spend a cool(ish), (this is South Florida after all) Saturday!
I am so crazy happy to introduce you to Turtle Town Daycare in Boca Raton. Melissa Durniok runs a Licensed In-Home Daycare located in Boca Raton that specializes in Toddlers! Our daughters have gone to school together for three years now, and I can tell you honestly, that if I had a toddler, there is no other place I would leave her! In fact, I have dropped my daughter off at Melissa’s house for play dates without any hesitation! (Those who know me, understand that I rarely leave my daughter anywhere, so that is a huge endorsement!).
“My name is Melissa and I have a MSW and have worked with children in social work my entire life. I ran a licensed in-home daycare in MA for 3 years before moving to Boca Raton. I have been open for 1 year now and currently have both full-time and part-time openings. I take children ages 15 months and older as I do a full toddler curriculum and activities. I have 4 play spaces inside the home filled with toys and educational fun.
Outside I have a full playground with many riding toys, water tables, play houses, toddler slides, a swing set and sand tables for fun.
