Looking for part time work? These family friendly businesses offer a great way to connect with other parents and have some extra cash. Here are some local businesses looking for a little extra help.
All Fired Up
Want to get in touch with your creative side?
All Fired Up has a relaxed, fun atmosphere where our customers feel comfortable creating not only beautiful art pieces but also wonderful memories with family and friends.
If you enjoy helping children and adults reach their full creative potential, All Fired Up might be the place for you. Click this link to learn more and download the application for yourself!
College Nannies and Tutors
Richmond | Glen Allen is currently accepting applications from responsible, outgoing individuals for a variety of childcare and tutor positions. We offer flexible scheduling and a wide selection of jobs to fit your skills and preferences. Find out more here.
Dream Dinners
Satisfy your inner foodie.
Dream Dinners in Midlothian has openings for day, evening and weekend shifts. Marketing and Special Events Coordinator positions also available. Please send email to Midlothianva@dreamdinners.com for more information.
Hip to be Round
Love meeting other moms and have great style?
Hip to be Round is searching for energetic and conscientious Sales Associates / Key Holders, working 10 – 20 hours per week. The right individual will become part of an exciting company offering both a challenging and rewarding work environment. More information here.
Richmondmom
Want to work from home?
As Richmondmom continues to grow, we’re seeking motivated moms or dads who love to make friends and meet new people. If you have a strong sales or marketing background and desire something that offers lots of flexibility for busy parents, this commission based position might be just what you’re looking for. More information here.
Romp n Roll
Seeking part-time instructors, birthday hosts and membership desk associates at our Midlothian, West End, and Mechanicsville locations. Apply at rompnroll.com/application.
Guests are welcome to tour the facility, try a fitness class or stop by for a workout. Guest fees will be waived for the day, and donations to the VCU Massey Cancer Center will accepted. All donations will go directly to this organization. There will be special Group Exercise classes scheduled throughout the day, including many Les Mills’ classes and MAC Kids’ Club will be open from 8:00am-5:00pm. The Sweet Frog mobile truck will also be onsite and donating a portion of all sales to the Massey Cancer Center as well.
MAC will donate $50 to the Massey Cancer Center for each new membership received on Saturday, March 14th. All Guests will also be entered into a drawing for a free one-month Silver Level Family Membership at MAC.
Midlothian Athletic Club is a full service health club with group exercise classes, cardio & free weight equipment, personal training, tennis, racquetball, basketball court, indoor pool, outdoor water park and Kids’ Club. MAC, located at 10800 Center View Drive, is locally owned and operated.
If you need any further information, please contact Chrissie Callis at (804) 330-2222 (ext. 304) or chrissie@macrichmond.com.
Midlothian Athletic Club Open House
Saturday, March 14, 2015
10800 Center View Drive
Meet Ellen Shepard, Co-Chair of The Dandelion–Linwood Holton Elementary School’s Outdoor Classroom.
[photo courtesy of Little House Green Grocery]
RichmondMom Cheryl
How would you describe what is you do when it comes to teaching kids about growing and eating healthy food here in RVA–and beyond?
Dandelion Co-Chair, Ellen Shepard
We have tried to get students from age four to eleven outside to learn about good soil, planting seeds, taking care of their plants, harvesting, and eating. We often ask students which fruits and vegetables they like to eat. From their list, we plant vegetables appropriate to the season with a mix of vegetables with the most votes – along with one or two the students may not have tried – or even heard of. We try to plant a mix of leafy and root vegetables so students can see and taste a variety of vegetables. We have been fortunate to partner with Bon Secours, Chefs to Schools, Edible Education, and parent chefs who help prepare the food students grow.
What was the catalyst that made you decide YOU personally needed to take action?
I wanted my boys outside more. Linwood Holton Elementary School is in the City of Richmond but sits on quite a bit of land. We saw that space as a real opportunity to build an outdoor classroom. We want the outdoor classroom to be a place for kids to explore, investigate, and have some fun.
Please tell us a bit about how you got started…
The school had raised garden beds that weren’t being used and parent Susanna Raffenot said we should do something about that. That was six years ago. We have been working to get kids outside ever since. It is very important not to have just a parent project. This needs to be a teacher, parent, and community supported project with strong support from the principal. We spent a year developing plans and attending neighborhood association meetings. You will have a much stronger project if you have broad support. You will need that support to sustain your project after the initial excitement of construction. Have a co-chair. Susanna Raffenot has done the budgeting & fundraising, teacher toolkits, student guidebooks, human sundial, informational signs, cookbook, newsletter articles, and more. It is much more fun and sustainable if you share the work. Learn from others! We probably visited ten well established school gardens to see how it could be done.
What is the goal of your work with The Dandelion?
Our goal is to provide students with an enduring foundation and beautiful environment in order to enrich curriculum, promote healthy food choices, develop social skills, and strengthen community ties.
What do you feel has been accomplished so far?
I hope students have a greater appreciation of the natural world and their connection to it. Students’ enthusiasm, passion, and curiosity are wonderful to see. I hope students will keep that with them.
Fellow Co-Chair, Susanna Raffenot
I think it’s great how students cycle through the whole garden ecosystem from VPI to 5th grade. Early grades focus on planting, eating and getting the basics. Older grades do compost, tree planting and pollination or a butterfly garden to learn of the importance to the whole system and how it works together.
What makes you proudest personally about your affiliation with the group(s)?
Fellow Co-Chair, Susanna Raffenot
The 200+ tree/shrub planting that has transformed what the grounds [at Linwood Holton Elementary] look like. They provide definition – all which you can really see now that they are filling out.
Dandelion Co-Chair, Ellen Shepard
The invitation to visit the White House gardens is something I will never forget.
I have to look at pictures to believe it really happened. Five fifth grade students were invited to go and my son was in fifth grade so we were able to have that experience together.
The First Lady did such an amazing job of making the students feel comfortable that my son felt confident enough to ask her for an interview for the school newspaper.
What’s next on-deck?
We are working hard to document what we have done with classes so it is easier for teacher and parent volunteers to incorporate into classroom learning.
How can others get involved?
Whether it is health and wellness interest, or a desire to protect the environment, there are many, many ways to get involved. If you are interested in starting a garden at your child’s school, talk to the principal and your child’s teacher. Start small. You will be responsible for maintaining what you start.
How does your family feel about what you are doing?
“Gardens are good and kids can eat the food. If no one works on the garden, the kids can’t eat the food from the garden.” —Will Shepard
Ellen, thank you so much for your commitment to such an important cause…and for being a RichmondMom with a mission!
It’s time for the 5th annual Richmond Mom Prom! Pull out an old prom dress, bridesmaid attire, or pick something up from your local thrift store (or go all out, nobody’s gonna stop you)! Get ready for dancing, giveaways, a tacky dress contest, most glamorous award, and a prom queen will be crowned!
Tickets are $50 at the door and your ticket includes dinner and a fantastic night of dancing your socks off! All proceeds will benefit The Fanconi Anemia Research Fund in the names of three Midlothian children, Jacqueline (grade 2) and Alex Vandermeys (grade 6), and Sean McQueen (grade 8).
From The Fanconi Anemia Research Fund website:
“Fanconi anemia (FA) is one of the inherited anemia’s that leads to bone marrow failure (aplastic anemia). It is primarily a recessive disorder: if both parents carry a defect (mutation) in the same FA gene, each of their children has a 25% chance of inheriting the defective gene from both parents. When this happens, the child will have FA. Scientists have now discovered 16 FA or FA-like genes. These genes account for over 95% of all known FA patients. Some patients do not appear to have mutations in these 16 genes, so it is anticipated that additional FA genes will be discovered in the future. FA occurs equally in males and females. It is found in all ethnic groups. The current median lifespan for a patient with FA is 33 years, although there are now patients living into their 30s, 40s and 50s. Though considered primarily a blood disease, it can affect all systems of the body. Many patients eventually develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at a very early age. FA patients are extremely likely to develop a variety of cancers and at a much earlier age than patients in the general population. Patients who have had a successful bone marrow transplant and are therefore cured of the blood problem associated with FA still must have regular examinations to watch for signs of cancer.”
Call up your girlfriends and make this very a very special evening for the incredible local families who have children suffering from this disease.
Richmond Mom Prom
Saturday, March 21 at 7:00pm
Salisbury Country Club
13620 W Salisbury Rd, Midlothian, Virginia 23113
Tickets sold at the door & cash bar.
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It’s not that I don’t like cooking; I do, actually. It’s just the frequency. Dinner happens every. Single. Night. And usually, I’m short on time. And ideas. There is an ideas issue too… and then of course the ingredients.
So basically, dinner takes more time, energy, and brain power than I have on a Thursday night when I get home from work at 6:30…my husband is already half way out the door and my 3rd grader is saying something about some paper I need to sign, and at least the kindergartner needs to be bathed and the 2 year old just wants me to hold him.
In short: I needed this moment I’m having right now.
It’s noon on a Friday morning and I have the next 3 busy weeknight meals ready to go. My kitchen is virtually untouched from when I cleaned it last night.
I have Lemon Chicken with Feta, Beach Street Shrimp Scampi with Pasta and Outlaw Chicken Marinara all waiting to be popped in the oven or heated on the stove top (by my husband before I even get home from work) right when I need it. Over all, my meals are 400 calories and under, made with fresh ingredients, no preservatives or additives and came out to under $5.50 a serving (that’s cheaper than McDonalds) – plus, there’s no mess in the kitchen and no wasted ingredients.
The secret to my spectacular display of domesticity?
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked in, but everyone was really friendly while showing me the ropes. It’s part cooking show, part assembly line, and it’s a surprising amount of fun.
Garlic I didn’t have to peel myself
A station is set up for each meal – fresh ingredients are completely laid out at each station and the directions are super simple to follow (they even color coded it). I zipped up to the first station and was done with my first dinner in just about 10 minutes; no washing, no chopping, no prep work -and my favorite: no clean up! Each station is kept super clean by the staff (which is great for me because I’m a notoriously messy cook). Moms, retirees, people going solo and groups of friends bustled around the store laughing and talking and assembling meals… but it didn’t seem over crowded at all; it was actually quite inviting, the employees seemed to know everyone by name (yep, kinda like Cheers).
Dream Dinners makes it easy to customize your meals, which allowed me to go easy on spices I knew my kids won’t eat, and add a little extra cheese or garlic. The portion sizes were reasonable too; in fact we might get more than three servings out of the Outlaw Chicken Marinara. On the top of the bag sits your heating instructions so you don’t have to remember anything (except what’s in your freezer, but don’t worry, you’ll get a sheet of paper and a fridge magnet for that too).
Beach Street Shrimp Scampi
Want fries with that? Dream Dinners has stocked the freezer full of great sides to go with your recipes – purchase your recipes as is or add a side dish or two. Need a fast breakfast? It’s in the freezer. Dessert? Got that too. You can even pick up a few meals from last month’s menu, freshly frozen and waiting for your dinner plate. If you’d like to sign up for next month, the menu is waiting for you and you can schedule your next visit and get an email reminder when it’s time to come – they even let your rate your meals online so if you loved something (or didn’t) it will tell you the next time it comes up on the menu.
So here I sit, already loving life, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to love it even more on Wednesday night when a fresh and healthy dinner is waiting for me when I get home.
Will I go back? You bet! I love that I can try different meals without being stuck with a ton of left over ingredients, and I get to avoid that deep depression I get when I find a bag of mush in the crisper that contained some sort of vegetable I bought… Besides, the February menu has Parmesan Pesto Salmon with Cheese Crisps on it… sign me up!
Live in the West End but don’t want to miss out on fresh dinners? Have meals made by Dream Dinners staff delivered to the Daily Grind, select a Thursday 3:00 pm session and use the password ‘short pump’ (case sensitive).
Dream Dinners just opened in their new location
12006 Southshore Pointe Rd.
Midlothian, VA 23112
804-739-6442
Visit Dream Dinners online to check out the menu and book your time.
Dream Dinners provided me with 3 meals so I could come out and give them a try. The opinions, and subsequent Dream Dinners addiction, are all my own.
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Leave it up to the makers of Stella & Dot to come up with an totally fashion forward alternative to the traditional charm bracelet. This unique and fun line of personalized jewelry is focused on keeping what matters close at hand and close to your heart.
The brand new collection, KEEP Collective is launching January 29th and you can get a first look and place your orders at the KEEP Collective Social Event at Hip to be Round on January 31!
These personal keepsakes are perfect gifts for new moms, friends and grandparents but really — you’re going to want one for yourself too.
Build your one-of-a-kind piece with the help of Kerry Knight, Independent Designer for KEEP Collective.
While you’re there, we hear Hip to be Round has some pretty unbelievable sales happening so you’re going to want to bring a pregnant friend or two to shop around.
Enter below to win one leather keeper and a charm of your choice!!
The winner will be announced at the KEEP Collective Social.
]]>KEEP Collective Social
Hip to be Round
3124 W. Cary Street
Saturday, January 31
2:00 – 4:00pm
Beach Babies… actually in the ocean! I didn’t bribe them for this picture.
Greetings from Myrtle Beach!
Like us, you may be soon heading to (or recently returned from) some time at the beach with your family. Seriously, we are really having a great time in spite of with our six- and four-year-old! I am sitting here on our balcony, enjoying my cup of coffee and listening to the sound of the waves crashing. It really is quite beautiful.
For those of you about to embark on your beach journey with small children, I feel compelled to share some words of wisdom. Recent beach-returners, chime in! These are the rules I’ve learned so far.
- Getting lost and almost running over a family of ducks will only make you appreciate arriving at your beach destination that much more.
- The number and volume of backseat sibling spats will increase the longer you are lost on the way to the beach.
- For new swimmers, pool trumps ocean. This will result in your daughter constantly whining, while you’re on a gorgeous beach, how she wants to go to the pool. Concentrating on the sound of the ocean helps offset the whining only slightly.
Ahh the alluring pool.
- For moms and dads, ocean trumps pool. Your dream of a laying down on a towel and reading on the sand All Day is just that. YOUR dream. Be prepared to fight for it.
- The kids’ love of the iPads and pool trump mommy’s desire to lay on the beach. Thus more whining. See #3 above.
- Sand? What sand? All those times your son demanded to go play in the sand? Forget it. The biggest sandbox he can imagine is now right in front of him, and he whines to go the pool. {Yes, this is a repeat of #3 but it bears repeating because… WTH!?}.
- The kids won’t behave better just because you’re on vacation. You still have to be a parent on vacation. Bummer! Setting rules, establishing limits, and enforcing time-out still apply, oh my! But…
- Your kids’ wonder will make it all worth it. Like my son asking, “Is the ocean made of soap?” and…
- Bribing the children to stop crying, to play, and to try a new swimming move is OK. You’re on vacation! Let the dollar bills fly, y’all! Make it rain!
- You can’t make all the people happy all the time…. but everybody will be happy at least some of the time and that is terrific! You’re not at home and that rocks! And you’re at the BEACH. With a POOL! That you can swim in even at night if you want!
As long as you know the rules up front, you’ll have a great time! I’m already dreaming of our trip to the beach next year!
]]>This event brings together breastfeeding mothers, their families and community advocates to highlight the critical importance of breastfeeding for the current and long-term health of our mothers and children by participating in a synchronized “latch on” at the Virginia State Capitol.
For more info, visit http://richmondmom.com/2014/07/21/latch-on/.
]]>The Big Latch On which kicks off World Breastfeeding Week which raises awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding the first 7 days in August every year.
For more info, visit http://richmondmom.com/2014/07/21/latch-on/.
]]>If every child was breastfed within an hour of birth, given only breast milk for their first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding up to the age of two years, about 800,000 child lives would be saved every year.
-World Health Organization
Attending a latch on event isn’t about making a statement, it’s about, celebrating mothering, creating a community of support, meet other breastfeeding moms and getting yourself comfortable with breastfeeding too.
Breastfeeding mothers of all ages and nursing stages can meet at these two locations:
Midlothian’s Big Latch On
Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center
Saturday, August 2
at 9:30am – 11:30am
Starting in New Zealand in 2005, the Big Latch On continues to grow as communities join in. In 2013, 14,536 women and their children came together to breastfeed simultaneously during the Big Latch On.
The Big Latch On which kicks off World Breastfeeding Week which raises awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding the first 7 days in August every year.
Note: The Midlothian event is affiliated with the Big Latch On and attendees who latch on at 10:30am and breastfeed for one minute will be counted as apart of the global Big Latch On.
RVA! Latches On
Virgina State Capital Building
Saturday, August 2
at 10:00am – 11:00am
Now in its third year, RVA Latches On! has benefited from the support of all three Richmond area hospital systems: Bon Secours Richmond, HCA Richmond, and VCU Medical Center.
This event brings together breastfeeding mothers, their families and community advocates to highlight the critical importance of breastfeeding for the current and long-term health of our mothers and children by participating in a synchronized “latch on” at the Virginia State Capitol.
Note: This is not affiliated with the Big Latch On event and will hold an independent count of mothers who latch on without a requirement for duration.
More Quick Links:
Breastfeeding Resources
When Breastfeeding Sucks 13 Things to Try