Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Criss Cross Applesauce




It's here - my favorite season of the year - Fall! I love the crisp days, getting out to pick apples or heading to the pumpkin patch or corn maze. So many fun activities to do with children during the fall. Here are a few of my favorites.

Apples
  • Stamping - A fun simple activity with lots of options. You'll need paint (I prefer tempera with a little liquid dish soap added - helps with clean up), shallow container for paint and your paper (you could also use a gift bag, lunch bag or large craft paper which makes wonderful gift wrap too, use your imagination). Cut the apple in half. Cutting across the will give you the seed zone looking like a star while cutting along the stem line will give you a traditional apple profile. Dip apple into the paint and stamp onto the paper. Let dry. Children can add details to create their own apple masterpieces.
  • Homemade Applesauce

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Nanny Conference Day - October 23

  

SWEETER REWARDS
9th Annual Nanny Development Conference and Member Meeting!



Saturday, October 23
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Breakfast Goodies and Lunch Included in Registration

Twin Cities Professional Nannies, a nonprofit organization, presents a day of professional
and personal growth. This is an open event – great for parents, nannies and other childcare professionals alike. Inviteyour friends, family, and nanny peers. The day will include Amazing Speakers, Roundtables,Member Meeting, Networking, Door Prizes and More!
Register now and join us for:
"Sweeter Rewards"


Speakers:

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence


Celebrating 20 Years

Nannies from the Heartland celebrated 20 years of excellence with a gathering on Saturday, September 11 at Bryant Lake Regional Park in Eden Prairie. Since 1990, Nannies from the Heartland has been providing personal service to families and nannies in the Twin Cities metropolitan area with a staff of industry leaders and experts. 

Friday, September 10, 2010

12 Baby Websites for Every Parent


From brainy blogs to coupon offers, these sites are worth bookmarking.

Jennifer Frazier from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram presents a list that parents and nannies will appreciate. Follow this link to find out more: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/family/102457504.html

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Breaking News

By Mary O'Connor
Founder/President, Nannies from the Heartland

          I was extremely dismayed to hear this morning on local television news and read on a local online newspaper a story headlined, “Prison for Nanny/Bookkeeper.” The media stories report about a woman recently sentenced in St. Paul federal court for embezzling over $700,000 from her employer. The news states she was hired as a nanny and household helper and her duties included bookkeeping. This mix of duties is certainly not typical for a professional nanny. It was in her capacity as a bookkeeper that she committed the crime for which she was sentenced.
          The fact that news media are describing her first as a nanny and then as bookkeeper is misleading and smacks of

Employment Agreements

By Colleen O'Connor

Recently we asked nannies on our Facebook page what advice they wish they had gotten as a new nanny. Their responses were overwhelmingly about pay, benefits, and the “rules of the game.” All of the challenges the nannies mentioned would have been prevented if both parties had written and followed an employment agreement.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

CELBRATING 20 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

We have a very special event planned to celebrate 20 years of excellence! Nannies from the Heartland is sponsoring a community service event in partnership with Twin Cities Professional Nannies (TCPN) and featuring Cheerful Givers. We will be filling birthday gift bags for children of families living in poverty.
Everyone is welcome, particularly families with children of all ages. We will have children's activities as well as light refreshments. All you need to do is call or email us (see below) to let us know you'll be attending.


WHEN: Saturday, September 11, 2010
TIME: 10 AM to Noon
WHO: Families and Nannies
WHERE: Bryant Lake Regional Park Pavilion, Eden Prairie
http://www.threeriversparks.org/  
RSVP: Call 763-550-0219 or email 
info@nanniesheartland.com
Both TCPN and Cheerful Givers are non-profit organizations

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Tax Break Reminder

From Breedlove and Associates - www.breedlove-online.com


As we enter the busy fall season, we wanted to remind everyone about significant savings for families with childcare expenses: the Dependent Care Account (a.k.a. "Flexible Spending Account"). Companies that offer this tax-saving benefit to their employees typically conduct their "open enrollment" period during the final 2-3 months of the year - although often times it is not well publicized within the company. During this time, families can elect to have up to $5,000 of their 2011 childcare-related