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A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | |
It May Still be Winter but Love is in the Air! | |
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Rain, mud, snow --be aware and safe wherever you are.
February is Heart month and Dental month, also Fungus Month. No matter your genetics, good health can benefit from personal choices, and where does that begin? You got it: the family!
Last week Dr. Casey Means discussed food in schools and the family and how we can create cross-influences between the two.
This week we feature an article by our local and very knowledgeable nutritionist, Jill Troderman. If you would like to increase your knowledge of food for the best health, and also learn about the "Vampire" ingredients (not just bad, but dangerous) to avoid, read her article. Better yet gather together some friends and take classes with Jill. The month of February is a great month to give the gift of quality food for health.
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Valentines! Making your own is fun! If you're stuck inside on this rainy day, get creative! Gather ribbons, colored paper, markers, crayons, glue, scissors, noodles, etc. Here's a bit of inspiration and clever puns. Have a fun weekend making valentine cards.
Love you a latte, Parmalee
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Ask Yesenia: Celebrating Love with Simple Acts | |
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by Yesenia Gomez-Carrillo
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and I love that we have a holiday dedicated to showing people we care about how much we love and cherish them! As my daughter grows and begins to understand the holidays more, we want to create family traditions with her that make her feel loved.
For us, we like to show love with random acts of kindness —like my husband brewing coffee in the morning, handling the grocery runs (which I don’t enjoy), or sending a thoughtful message. It’s making dinner, eating together, sharing our day, offering cuddles, building pillow forts, and dancing together.
There are so many ways to show love and celebrate love. As we think about our Valentine’s traditions, we envision a day filled with fun and no pressure —enjoying a love-themed dinner, sharing what we appreciate about each other, taking a long stroll together, and carving out quality time as parents –like talking over a cup of tea, having a cozy movie night.
We also value moments of self-care, like reading a book, taking a bath, or going for a walk. I am excited to start our own Valentine’s family traditions that are meaningful and true to us.
Dear Yesenia, The holiday rush has barely settled, and my kids (5, 9) are already asking what I’m getting them for Valentine’s Day. They would be happy with any gift I would give them, but I don’t really want to give them more stuff. When I explained that Valentine’s Day is about showing love, not just giving things, they weren’t convinced. I’d love to teach them that love doesn’t always come in the form of presents. Can you offer some ideas to make it meaningful without the usual gifts? Kristin
Read Yesenia's suggestions > > >
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Jumpstart Your Heart Health
with a Walking Program
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Heart disease can strike at any age. In honor of American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day, now is a great time to learn about your risks and the steps you can take to protect your heart health. The top three risk factors for heart disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. Half of all adults in the U.S. have at least one of these risk factors.
“Exercise can help manage all three of these conditions by improving both blood pressure and cholesterol, and acting as a healthy habit and distraction while trying to quit smoking,” says Melissa Mellady, exercise physiologist at Northwestern Medicine Executive Health and Northwestern Medical Group. Read more > > >
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by Jill Troderman, Holistic Family Nutrition
"Health is a super hot topic these days with the potential nomination of RFK Jr. However you feel about that, food and drink toxicity is real! I wrote this blog about aspartame, mostly found in diet sodas, over 10 years ago and it is more relevant today than ever before. I am shocked these products are still in production. See what you think. I’d love to hear your thoughts of this." Read the article > > >
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Find more events on the
February Calendar
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Gabby’s Dollhouse Meowseum Discovery Day at MOD, Saturday 10am – 5pm, February 8, We’re paws-itively excited to be part of Gabby’s Dollhouse Meowseum Discovery Days in partnership with DreamWorks & ACM. Enjoy our extra sparkly painting class at 10:30am, pounce into a meow-gical scavenger hunt, enjoy purr-fectly fun crafts and more! It’s going to be a paw-some good time! Details
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Mountain Community Theater 2925 Season Tickets on Sale, Our 2025 season includes: “Steel Magnolias” ~ “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time“ ~ New Works Weekend ~ “The Adams Family”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Details
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Jeri Ross will be discuss her deeply personal memoir “See You in the Sky: A Memoir of Prison, Possibility and Peace” Thursday, February 6, 7pm, “See You in the Sky: A Memoir of Prison, Possibility and Peace”, is a story of childhood trauma and parental incarceration, shared by millions of sons and daughters of the incarcerated across the country. It offers hope for all families affected by incarceration and for anyone who decides, at any age, to seek a more meaningful life. Details
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Fungus February First Friday, Friday, February 7, 5 – 8pm; Free Admission 11am – 5pm, Get to know Santa Cruz’s WILD SIDE at the Museum of Natural History. Nerd out on your night out during monthly after-hours events, featuring rotating themes, vendors, and activities.
Morel less interested in mushrooms? Come to the Museum to learn Spore about mushrooms than you ever thought possible! February’s First Friday offers a fantastic array of all things fungi. From mushroom glassblowing artists to fungal taxonomy experts, we’ve got so many activity stations packed under one roof there won’t be mushRoom to move! Details
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Valentines at the Library, Saturday, February 8, 2 – 4pm, Love is in the air at the Boulder Creek Branch Library! Join us for a family friendly Valentine’s themed party featuring crafts, games, refreshments and a ton of fun for kids and their caregivers. A Valentine’s Day theme story time will be presented at 3pm. Details
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ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE CRAFTS, Friday, February 14, 5:30 – 8pm
Tired of the same old Valentine’s Day routine? Get tickets for an evening of distraction and creativity at Abbott Square Market’s “All You Need is Crafts” event. Get crafty and unleash your inner artist with simple embroidery, decoupage, bonus retro mall photos and more. Tickets are VERY limited! No love or romance required. Details
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Guided Walk: Big Basin: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow through April 5, February 8, 11am - 12pm, Details
Are You Game? Board Games for Adults (18+) in Felton Branch Library, 2nd Saturdays, Feb 8 – Dec 13, 12–5pm, Details
Crafty Teens, 2nd Wednesdays 4:30-6pm, Teens are invited to craft, relax, and socialize. Details
Skate the Civic, Mondays 6:30 – 9:30pm, Details
Paint and Play Saturdays, Saturdays 10:30am, Details
Science Saturdays, Saturdays 1 – 2pm, Details
Introduction to Wood Shop at Fab Labs, February 22nd & 23rd, 2pm – 5pm, Details
Afternoon STEAM: Minecraft, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 4 - 5:30pm
through May 13, Details
Great Expectations Parenting Group for Parents/Caregivers of Neurodivergent Children, 3rd Saturdays, 1:30-2:30pm, Details
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The Nature Club for Grades 6-8, Saturdays, February 8, March 1, April 5, May 10, The Museum’s Nature Club invites young explorers (6th-8th grade) to discover local habitats and learn about the living world around us! Guided by Museum staff, kids build a connection to nature through hands-on activities, observation, and new friendships. Details
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Valentines at the Library, Saturday, February 8, 2 – 4pm, Love is in the air at the Boulder Creek Branch Library! Join us for a family friendly Valentine’s themed party featuring crafts, games, refreshments and a ton of fun for kids and their caregivers. A Valentine’s Day theme story time will be presented at 3pm. Details
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Contra Dancing at Live Oak Grange, Sunday, February 9: Newcomers’ intro 2:30pm, dance 3 – 5:30pm, Come kick your heels up contra dancing at Live Oak Grange with some amazing local talent and fun and friendly dancers! Great fun for families with tweens and teens! Details
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Little Discoverer Infant/Toddler Fridays, 10:30-11am, Make Fridays memorable with MOD’s Infant Toddler Class—a fantastic blend of play, exploration, and social experiences. Programming changes weekly offering magical experiences for you and your child. Free with daily admission and no pre-registration required, Ages 0-3 years Details
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Valentine’s Day Card Craft, Tuesday, February 11, 3:30 – 5pm, Show you care with a handmade card for friends, family, or even yourself! Join us in La Selva Beach and create your own Valentine’s Day card using ready-made supplies, whether for someone special or to decorate your space. Detail
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Zentangle Art, February 8, 10 – 11:30am, The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join Certified Zentangle Teacher Lisa Hoesing for an introductory workshop and monthly meetup to practice the method. Details
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West Cliff Valentine’s Outdoor Market, Saturday, February 8, 10am – 5pm, Join Us for an Unforgettable Outdoor Valentine’s Market Experience! Discover the charm of our outdoor market, featuring unique artisans and mouthwatering food trucks, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the ocean. Details
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Câmbio Story Time & Community Art Project, Monday, February 17, 11am – 2pm, Join us for a fun and inspiring celebration of storytelling, creativity, and community connection! Local author Taylor Lahey visits the Museum of Discovery to share his heartwarming book Cambio, the tale of a child who grows up transforming his neighborhood by trading trash for bus tokens through a city program.
Community Mural from Recycled Clothes – Help us bring the beautiful mosaic illustration from Câmbio to life by creating our own community treasure from recycled materials! Bring up to 5 pieces of clean used clothing and receive a FREE signed copy of Cambio. We’re especially looking for > > > Details
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Introduction to Wood Shop at Fab Labs, February 22nd & 23rd, 2pm – 5pm, Introduction to Wood Shop is a two-part course on the essentials of a functional woodshop and general woodworking. This course includes an overview of woodworking techniques, safe tool operation, and maintenance and will culminate in hands-on experience with shop tools while participants work through select projects. No experience is necessary. Details
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Family Concert: Peter And The Wolf, Sunday, March 2, 2pm, The Santa Cruz Symphony presents Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Peter and the Wolf.
This popular performance will sell out. Get your tickets now. Details
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Parenting Workshops, These parent workshops offer outstanding skills, tips and support in our parenting path. We are fortunate to have these resources. Even if everything is going well, it's good to know what's available! February
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