Free & Affordable Fun

Archive for the ‘children’ Category

Guess who is losing weight?

Posted by: on: March 16, 2013

So guess whose lost some weight, yes me. It’s only five pounds but hey it’s better than last week. I’m just really stoked that I am losing. Because I’m so excited I’m going out to BJ’s well only because I have a mystery shop scheduled there tonight. But I’m excited I’m super focused because I want to be able to run toughmudder and run other events. My little motivator, Ky, has been encouraging me every morning and working out with me.
I have found some great apps that are supporting me through my workout. Pandora for some awesome workout music and Nike Training Center. NTC gives me workouts and times to complete the workouts. It’s totally awesome. Maybe I should go back to running track give me something to do, well we will see, I need to focus on toughmudder.

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Dating and being a Single Mom

Posted by: on: March 7, 2013

At times I hate being a single parent. I really wish I could be married and go to my husband just to talk and not have to go through the dating process. But I’m single and a mom. So I need to get my panties out of a bunch and take care of my baby girl.
My most recent stressor is Ky acting out, a lot. I work with parents everyday on how to correct their children’s behavior and my kids behavior is getting out of control. She is only 2, so she is expressing her self and saying things she does. Of like or do like, but it’s how she is saying it that is bugging me. Demanding I do something. Maybe it’s because I’m tired from parenting other people’s children all day and now I have to rear my own child, but whatever the reason I have to do it or she will become one of those terribly spoiled children that I work with on a daily basis.

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Need Help Paying Bills

Posted by: on: September 14, 2012

I started this blog about two years ago, on blogger, because I was trying to find resources initially for myself because my money was on a strict diet but later on for my clients.  I am a case manager and I
work with, not for, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and my clients normally have situations where they need help with basic resources or may want to take their kids places and can’t
afford it.  So I search for things, places, resources or whatever to help these families. Well, there are tons of families I can’t reach personally and you, the reader, may know someone in Cali particularly in the So Cal area that may need bill or rental assistance.

I found an excellent site that can help with providing information on where to get assistance  with paying your bills.  I listed a few of the organizations below and a link to the site.  Enjoy !!!! 🙂

Glendora Welfare Association – This agency only supports Glendora California residents, and it can provide them with financial assistance for paying their rent. It is only offered in an emergency, and residents can only apply for help once. (626) 857-1181.

<strong>Catholic Charities</strong> runs a rental assistance program known as Older Adult Services and Intervention System, or OASIS. Case managers will work with residents, with a focus on seniors, in helping them avoid evictions, find more affordable housing, or pay rent, deposits, or down payments for a new home or apartment. 1531 James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90015, telephone number (213) 251-3400.
<strong>Special Service for Groups</strong> may be able to help people with HIV or AIDS Call (323) 432-4399 and <strong>Aid For Aids</strong> http://www.aidforaids.net/ are some resources that can help with housing assistance, help paying rent and utilities, food and groceries, and a pharmacy program to help with some over-the counter medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements.

<strong>Beyond Shelter</strong> is another organization that will help with rent, moving cost, and basic services. You can check out their website or call them at (213) 252-0772.  The goal of Beyond Shelter is to get people beyond public services, homelessness, and poverty.

Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels Charities Program provides emergency assistance. They can provide food aid to people in certain Los Angeles zip codes. In addition, they also offer financial assistance when funding is available and conditions are met. They can provide money for paying rent, utility and water bills, bus tokens, and other financial aid such as funds for paying for prescription drugs and work permits. The programs are targeted towards low income individuals. 213-680-5225.

St. Joseph Family Center, which is based in Gilroy, provides qualified individuals with emergency financial utility bill and rental assistance. Utility payment assistance is available with a 48 hour notice and day bus passes or gasoline vouchers may be also available. Emergency food may also be available. 408-842-6662

The Salvation Army, which has locations throughout LA County including in Santa Monica and Huntington Park, offers numerous assistance programs. Programs offered include utility and rent assistance, and help for medications. 323-587-4221. Additional Salvation Army offices are also located in Compton, Whittier, South Central Los Angeles Office, and Lancaster California. Click here to learn more on the services offered.

Toberman Neighborhood Center (located in San Pedro in Los Angeles County phone 310-832-1145) runs programs including utility bill help, personal goods, holiday assistance, and emergency food.

St. Margarets Center (phone 310-392-8701) provides advocacy and counseling, food, rent and utility bill assistance to people who live in Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lennox and Westchester California.

Brownson House Community Center offers hotel vouchers, food, help for paying energy bills, and other aid. Dial 323-266-3130

The Hollywood California region is supported by the Social Services at Blessed Sacrament. They can direct individuals to rental programs and other financial aid. Call Blessed Sacrament at (323) 871-8042.

West Angeles Community Development Corporation – Apply for financial assistance and grants which may be offered for low-income people who live in South Central Los Angeles and immediate surrounding area. Services include utility bill assistance, rent help, and bus tokens. Landlord/tenant mediation services are also offered for housing issues, including evictions. 3045 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, 90016. Call (323) 733-8300

Glendora Welfare Association – The agency provides emergency financial assistance, free food and shelter to only Glendora California residents. Glendora, 91741, call (626) 857-1181

Special Service For Groups – Older adults can get advocacy, child care, emergency food, HIV/AIDS services, personal goods, holiday assistance, and other services. 605 W. Olympic Blvd., Ste. 600, Los Angeles, California 90015, phone (213) 553-1800

L A County CSS – Florence/Firestone Service Center – The non-profit center provides financial services CalFresh, emergency food, and a wide variety of other services for older adults in the Florence/Firestone area. The center also houses and coordinates other assistance programs. 7807 S. Compton Ave., Los Angeles, 90001

Disabled Resources Center Inc. –People with disabilities may get help. 2750 E. Spring St., Ste. 100, Long Beach, 90806, phone (562) 427-1000

AFL-CIO Community Services Department – Union members in Los Angeles County can get utility bill assistance as well as information and referral to other financial assistance programs, such as rent, housing, and mortgages. 2130 W. James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90006, (213) 985-2000

Chinatown Service Center – This human services organization offers advocacy, free or low cost legal services, family planning services, financial assistance, health services, mental health services, and WIA programs. 767 N. Hill St., Ste. 404, Los Angeles, California, 90012, dial (213) 808-1733

Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center – Seniors over 60 and disabled can apply for services. The programs adult day care, government benefits assistance, case management, congregate meals, legal counseling,  home rehabilitation/repair services, home delivered meals, mutual support groups, prescriptions, tax preparation information, telephone reassurance, a senior ride program, and transportation money. 22900 Market St., Santa Clarita, 91321, call (661) 255-1588

City Of Santa Fe Springs Neighborhood Center For Social Services – Residents over 50 can get assistance including legal counseling in the form of advice, help with tenant/landlord disputes and many other issues. In addition, financial help may be offered for utility bill assistance for customers of the Southern California Edison and the Gas Company. 55 Pioneer Blvd., Santa Fe Springs, California 90670, phone (562) 692-0261

St. Ferdinand Outreach Center – Apply for utility bill and electric assistance from the Gas Assistance Fund (GAF). 1040 Coronel St., San Fernando, 91340, dial (818) 365-3194

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a Federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills.  This is a national program. For further information look on your bill but you can also visit LIHEAP.

There is a ton of organizations that are available to assist you with diffrent services a person just needs to take time and research.  If you have any questions about assistance with something in particular such as housing, energy, water, or gas bill.  Send me a message and I can probably guide you in the right direction for resources.

***Information provided by Need Help Paying Bills****

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We love Art!!!

Posted by: on: August 21, 2011

Art can be free and fun.  Children 5 and under get to know the world through their senses.  So it is up to us as parents to help them develop their senses and teach them about the world around them.  There are several museums that allow entrance into their facility for free on certain days and/or sign up for a kid membership.

LACMA free general admission to anyone 17 and under as well as one accompanying adult.  The NexGen program that LACMA offers also host art classes.  These art classes are free and fun.  Below are LACMA art classes day and time and what class they will be offering.

Crazy About ColorAugust 7, 14, 21, 28
What colors are you crazy about? Artists like Mark Rothko or Sam Francis loved to play with color in their paintings. Be inspired by their work in LACMA’s permanent collection to express yourself in bright and bold artist-led workshops.
LATCC | Free, no reservations
We Want Pie
September 4, 11, 18, 25
Join us on Sundays for programs designed especially for families. Make art, explore the museum, or join a bilingual gallery tour. Most of all—have fun. Enjoy A Slice of Pie on September 18.
North Piazza | Free with general admission
Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Long Beach Museum of Art is another place to visit and get in FREE. LBMOA offers free admission Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and every Friday is free thanks to generous support from the L.A. County Arts Commission

In addition, the LBMOA offers free FREE Family Artmaking Workshops every Sunday in the Summer from
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Ralston Family Learning Center.  There are two more classes left August 21 and August 28

Another great art museum for free class is J. Paul Getty Museum Center and Villa.  They have exhibits made by kids for kids, they have art detective cards, that gives children the opportunity to find the art in the museum from the cards and so much.  The Getty offers drawing classes, family adventures, art festivals and so much more so visit their site and plan a visit.

Make time for your child and go make some art.

If you don’t have time to go to these places art can be quite affordable at home.  You can buy chalk from the dollar store and allow your child to do chalk art on the sidewalk or purchase crayons and a sketch pad.  “Babies are born marvelously primed to receive and respond to sensory stimuli” so lets help are children explore those senses.

Here are a few arts and crafts that can be done with your little one’s at home.  Enjoy!!!!

Play Dough

Cooked Version: This cooked recipe will yield a batch of play dough for your favorite little person. To make it, you will need the following:

  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ cup salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • Food coloring

Combine the above ingredients and cook them over medium heat until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a ball. Cool and keep the dough in an airtight container.
To play, give your child a small wad of dough and show him how to roll the dough into a ball or pat it on the table to make a flat pancake. Older children may enjoy the use of manipulatives to make clay play interesting—things such as a small rolling pin, plastic cookie cutters, plastic straws to poke holes, and even a garlic press to make strands of dough.
Peanut Butter Play Dough: This dough is edible, however be aware that peanuts can cause allergies in some children and eating wads of dough could be a choking hazard. Always supervise young children around play dough. To make this peanutty dough, you will need the following:

  • 2 cups peanut butter
  • 6 tablespoons honey
  • Nonfat dry milk
  • Cocoa or carob for chocolate flavor (optional)
  • Edible treats for decorations such as raisins or baking candy decors (optional)

Combine all the ingredients into a bowl and mix, adding the dry milk until your mixture reaches the consistency of play dough. Add the cocoa if you want a chocolate flavor. Enjoy the feel and taste of this fun modeling material.
Finger Painting: Finger painting is fun and easy with instant pudding. Just mix according to package directions and you’re ready to play. Try using a cookie sheet, as this smooth non-porous surface is perfect for baby’s finger tracks. If you want a permanent picture, place a sheet of white paper over your child’s painting and press down lightly to make a print. Let this dry and hang for the family to admire. No need to worry about this paint—it’s edible!
For more arts and craft ideas just Google toddler art projects.


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