Paper Culture Eco Stationary

 

Have you ever heard of Paper Culture?  It' not just another stationary company.  It's an eco stationery company on a mission!

They don't just talk the talk, they walk the walk.  At Paper Culture, they are on a mission to provide modern stationary with clean lines, bold colors and fresh typography.  Yet, more importantly, they understand the responsibility to promote sustainability and use exclusively 100% post consumer recycled paper.  This means that no new trees are cut down to produce your cards or envelopes.

Now, I've reviewed other stationary companies before, but I've never seen any of them have such a positive commitment to the environment like Paper Culture. They plant a tree with EVERY single order and work hard to offset their entire carbon footprint. In fact, they have already planted 300,000 trees to support this mission!  Also, I was very impressed how they used minimal packaging when they shipped the notecards to my house.

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The people at Paper Culture also understand that women are super busy (and we need about 3 more hours in each day), so they have a FREE Mailing & Addressing service. Through this service, they will stamp, address and mail your cards for FREE. You pay only the cost of the stamp. That's a huge time saver, isn't it?

So, let's get to the good stuff.  Here is some of their stationary...

A friend of mine is having a baby soon, so I thought it would be nice to get her some notecards to use after the baby is born.  These orange bears make me so happy, and I think she'll be tickled pick to see these for her new family of 3! They are nice and thick and the orange color is so vibrant.

This is just one of the 1000's of designs available on the site.  So, head on over to the Paper Culture Website and see what they're all about.

May 18th: Art Museum Day

Happy Friday!

Are you following Local Fun for Kids on Facebook? If so, you may have seen that 171 Museums are celebrating Art Museum Day on May 18th, 2013! 

Find all the details about this and other activities on my National Fun Calendar.

Are you doing anything FUN this weekend!

Play Ideas from the Kid's Co-op

Thanks for coming to this week's edition of the the Kid's Co-op where you'll find lots of creative inspiration from blogland. Have fun browsing, or link up your own kids activities, crafts, projects, and other family friendly ideas!

5 Facts About Soccer For Kids

Last night, I finally got the chance to go to my first Philadelphia Union soccer game with my family. There were tons of families at the game and the weather was absolutely perfect.  I played soccer as a kid, but now that my son is in love with the sport, I've been learning so much more about the game and really enjoying it. 

The Philadelphia Union stadium is really modern and I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. We were in the corner towards the top, but we had a great view of the field.  Sometimes, it can get overwhelming to take young kids to a huge stadium, but PPL Park is the perfect size and parking is convenient too.  It's also really pretty at sunset.  Look at the pink and purplish colored sky! 

Another benefit to a smaller stadium is that we saw so many friends. We didn't plan on meeting up with anyone, but over the course of the night we saw 4 different families that we knew.  This made it really fun for the kids because they had a chance to watch the game with their buddies. Plus, my husband and I got to chat with some of our friends too.

I think I may have mentioned this before, but my 7-year-old asks TONS of questions. Most of his questions are about the environment, geography and sports.  We have been reading lots of science and sport books trying to quench his thirst for knowledge.  If you have a little soccer lover in your house too, here are 5 facts about soccer to chat with your kids about.

1) Why is soccer good for kids?

According to KidsHealth.org, everyone can benefit from regular exercise. Soccer is a great way for kids to get active which will help them: l

• have stronger muscles and bones
• have a leaner body because exercise helps control body fat
• be less likely to become overweight
• decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
• possibly lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels
• have a better outlook on life

2) How long have people been playing soccer?

"People around the world have played soccer-style games for centuries. Games similar to soccer were played in China more than 2,000 years ago. Such games were also played in ancient Greece and Rome. When Pilgrim ships first sailed into the harbors of Massachusetts in the 1620s, they discovered Native Americans playing a soccer-like game called pasuckuakohowog, meaning "they gather to play ball with the foot." (source: U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany: Soccer)

3) How much would it cost to buy a famous soccer team?

Real Madrid, which posted revenue of $650 million during the 2011-12 season, is worth $3.3 billion, more than any team in the world. Manchester United is worth about $3.17 billion and you would need a cool $2.6 billion to buy Barcelona’s soccer team. (source: Forbes)

4) What is FIFA?

FIFA is The Fédération Internationale de Football Association. It is an association governed by Swiss law founded in 1904 and based in Zurich. Their mission is to 'Develop the game, touch the world, build a better future.' (source: FIFA) 

5) When kids play soccer, is it all about winning?

No. Multiple countries across Europe, including the U.K., have adopted the no-score policy at the youth level which clearly it hasn’t hampered their competitiveness or talent pool. Canadian soccer player, David Edgar supports not keeping score in youth games. He says "at that age it’s just about the fundamentals and skills..." (source: The Star)

Soccer is an art not a science and the game should be played attractively as well as effectively. Soccer is a game of skill, imagination, creativity and decision- making. Coaching should not stifle, but enhance those elements.

-  Bobby Howe

A Peek into My Mother's Day

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
- Henri Matisse 

My husband and I have been together for almost 12 years, so I don't know why I was surprised by the special Mother's day he planned for me. It included some of my favorite things: my kids, coffee, brunch, flowers, and one of the best local places.  I want to share some snapshots from throughout the day.

Last November, I attended a media event at Longwood and received a yearlong pass to the Garden. We have already been back 3 times since then, and every single time has been wonderful.

The photo above is of my son in the Children's Garden at Longwood. I can't believe he's seven. Seven is a great age. There are so many things I love about him, but the one thing that has always stood out to me is the way observes the world. As a mom, it's such a gift to see your child figure things out.

He's probably one of the most empathetic people I have ever met in my entire life.  He absolutely loves sports, but sometimes, I think he's going to be a Sociologist when he gets older.  I really admire the way he is so in tune to other people's feelings and just takes things in stride. 

People from around the world flock to Longwood Gardens throughout the year.  For kids, the Children's Garden is a destination unto itself. There are so many things to touch and little nooks to explore. These pink flowers were absolutely magnificent. They almost appeared too perfect to be real, but they were 100% natural.   

My 5-year-old has a great appreciation for nature (and dirt) so you can imagine how much he loves this place.  When  he found out we were going to the garden on Mother's Day, he excitedly said "This is the best day ever!"  

I'm enjoying 'five' because he says the funniest things and I know these moments won't last forever.  He is finishing up preschool and becoming a big kid.  He's still my baby and likes to snuggle all the time, but he wants his independence too. It's a turning point for both of us, but a happy one. 

These are some of the gorgeous flowers I saw inside the Conservatory at Longwood Gardens.  I'm glad I can show you this photo because no words would do them justice.

It was such a gorgeous day.  I am extremely grateful that my husband and kids knew exactly what makes me happy.  Sunshine, family, and flowers. Ahhh...

First Annual Backyard Barbecue Bloghop

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Yesterday, I celebrated Mother's Day with my husband and sons.  It was a beautiful, sunny day filled with love, food and flowers.  I'll share some photos with you tomorrow, but, now, it's time to hit the Backyard Barbecue Bloghop!  Are you ready?

Grilling vegetables from the garden and chatting with friends at the pool are just a couple of my favorite summer time activities. There are so many things to love about summer. In honor of this season we love so much, I've teamed up with some friends to share family friendly recipes, activities, and crafts.  

Please link up below all of your summer-time ideas below.  The linky will be open through July 13, so be sure to come back later in the summer to share more of your great summertime posts!

  The Backyard Barbecue Bloghop is brought to you by:

All Done Monkey, Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes & Mud Hut Mama

With wonderful co-hosts: The Squishable Baby, Creative World of Varya, Kid World Citizen, Something 2 Offer, (me) Local Fun for Kids & Rainy Day Mum