Great weekend ahead!!  I am looking forward to getting out and digging in the dirt.  I have already made one trip to the nursery and plan on going back this weekend to purchase the rest of my summer plants.  My kids came up with a great idea of each picking out a plant for themselves with the intentions they will be taking care of them through the summer.  I think it's a great idea!  I'll keep you posted on how they do.

A big Congratulations to winners of the $500 Westfield Trumbull Mall Style Lounge Shopping Spree Giveaway.  On Saturday, May 19, these winners will be treated to lunch at Ten Asian Bistro, followed by a visit to the Westfield Style Lounge with Stylist, Kendra Porter, to learn all about Spring trends.  One of these lucky ladies will then be chosen to receive a $500 Shopping Spree at the Mall.  Congratulations to Cara H; Dana A; Christel H; Laura C; Maura M; Alexis C; Suzanne S; Christina C; Stephanie J;  Cristina C; Karen M; Jen P; Patty M; Tina C; Tracey J.  

 
Congratulations also to Candice S.  She is the winner of a family 4-pack of tickets to see Blue Man Group Making Waves Exhibit at the Stepping Stones Museum for Children on display from May 19 – September 19.

Out and About – A Day at the Beach.  The Macaroni Calendar is packed with fun things to do this weekend.  If want to take advantage of the beautiful weather and are looking for something to do outside that is fun for the whole family, stop by “A Day at the Beach” in Monroe located at Great Hollow Wolfe Park from 9am – 2pm.  Activities include Face Painting, Studio on the Move Art Studio, A Cartoonist, Bounce Houses for kids of all ages, Fire Truck, Character Appearances and more.  Admission is $8 per child 2 Years and Up.   Proceeds to benefit “The Friendship Fund.”

Online Auction Fundraiser.  The Montessori Community School at Brookfield is hosting an online auction fundraiser to help raise much needed resources for their school.  The parents at the school have put together an awesome line up of items that anyone can bid on.  Some of these items include autographed books from popular authors including Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games, Tickets to Sporting events, Yankees and Mets included, Vacation Packages, Admission Tickets into Chelsea Piers.  The list goes on and on.  If you are looking for something different to purchase that will in turn help out a local non-profit school, log on to BiddingforGood, www.biddingforgood.com/mcsbrookfield  Some of these auction items would make great Father’s Day Gifts!! The online auction runs from May 14 through May 24th at 11pm.

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Lisa    

Here are some highlights from this weekend’s calendar.  Before heading out, be sure to check the calendar for a full view of all the events and activities that are happening.

Friday, May 18

Robin Hood, the Springtime Festival is in Guilford all weekend; Learn about Baby Birds in Ansonia; Two favorites, Beauty and the Beast and Seussical are being performed in Newtown; Teens are hanging out at the YMCA in Trumbull.  Click here to read about other events on the calendar today.

Saturday, May 19

Let’s go fishing and then Spend A Day at the Beach in Monroe; Today is for the dogs;  Learn to Speak Dog in Shelton; 3^rd Annual Strut Your Mutt in Newtown; Doggie Etiquette in Trumbull!! Celebrate the Zoo’s 90^th Birthday; Traveling Troupers Perform in Monroe; Blue Man Group – Making Waves Exhibit opens in Norwalk at Stepping Stones.  Click here to read about other events on the calendar today.

Sunday, May 20

GreenSpring Country Fair is today in Trumbull; Open House & Antique Cars are on Display in Newtown; You can find Heirlooms from the Attic in New Milford; FREE 4:00pm Movie, Red Tails, is at Edmond Town Hall’s Movie House in Newtown; Jazz Concert in Monroe.  Click here to read about other event on the calendar today.  

**Instructions on how to enter to Win 2 Tickets to Womanologie
are at the bottom of this article**

Womanologie, A Women’s Night Out, will take place on June 8^th from 7pm – 10pm, in the renovated Garden Room at Capellaro’s Grove in Bethel.   Grab your gal pals and come out and have some fun! A portion of the proceeds will go to the Everwonder Children’s Museum to be located in Newtown.

The Women’s Night Out event will consist of a Vendor Gallery featuring some of the ...

Each spring, I take inventory and replenish outdated items in the First Aid kits my husband and I carry in our cars.  I started carrying a kit that I put together myself after several incidents in which we grabbed anything we could find to wipe off scraped knees and cuts.  If you don't already have a customized First Aid kid for your family, following is a list of great ideas to start your own.

One super cute embroidered Zipper Pouch
Neosporin Wound Cleansing Foam for Kids
Neosporin Neo to ...

We all know how important sunscreen is, but thought I’d share a few tips and facts with you all!

While sunscreen is important to use year round, we tend to spend a lot more time outdoors in the sunshine during the summertime, so be prepared!

Create a morning routine for yourself AND your kids that includes a first coat of sunscreen. For my kids, I use a non-oily moisturizer with a 30 SPF on them after they brush their teeth each morning. Then before they go outside, I apply ...

Ingredients:
Bananas
Flour Tortillas
Olive Oil

Directions:
Place ½ of a banana in a flour tortilla.
Wrap it up like you were wrapping a present, so that the ends are somewhat sealed.
Cover the bottom of your pan with oil.
Wait for your pan of oil to get hot! 
Once the oil is ready, place tortilla wrapped banana in pan.  Once browned on one side, flip and brown, so that all sides have a golden brown color.
Let cool for a few minutes before serving.  Serve with ice cream and with ...