Playgroup & PTA

Just a reminder that the Playgroup is back now that summer weather has less sizzle. Bring the kids and come to the park every Friday from 4-6pm!

Stephanie does a wonderful job at keeping the Playgroup going & making sure there are fun activities for parents and kids of Underwood Hills. You can help her by volunteering to host a Friday playgroup and chipping in $20 of annual dues to support playgroup events.

In other news, in case you didn't see the email or posting, the following was sent by Lauren & I am posting it here as a quick way to access the Amazon link she provided so we can all help to benefit our community's school: 

"As many of you know, E Rivers is operating out of the Powers Ferry campus at the former Sutton Middle School this year while the new school is built at the Peachtree Battle site. 

This temporary relocation will likely make some of our important PTA fundraisers less profitable for us and some we won't be able to do at the new campus. So we are looking for ways to continue to provide our students and teachers with the resources and support PTA provides in new ways this year. 

And EVERYONE can help with this one! If you would please use the following link anytime you shop (on Amazon) a portion of proceeds will go back to the school. So easy and such a great cause!! 

http://www.amazon.com/?tag=erivelesch-20 

Other ways you can help...get a key tag from Publix (let me know if you need one and I will drop one in your mailbox), clip Boxtops for Education, or use your Target card and designate E Rivers as your school of choice!! 

We appreciate your support."

Happy 4th of July!

I just want to say THANK YOU to those of you who petitioned for the holiday parade despite the low feedback (due to all the rain). It is a neighborhood favorite - brings the community together - and the kids really enjoy it. 

Thanks to Kim for sharing a couple of quick snapshots of the troops in their rain gear (below). 

Hope everyone had a wonderful, safe 4th of July! 

Summer Kick Off Party in the Park

Here's the flyer Stefanie shared from Jen Kramer and Molly Epstein:

Looks fun! Who's in? :) 

5/22 - Last Day of school

3-6pm

UH Park 

E Rivers History

Here's a link to a really cool history lesson about our community's school. :) 

Thanks for sharing it originally, Jenny!

Buckhead Spring Arts & Crafts Festival

This weekend is the Annual BSACF at Chastain Park. 

What a fun alternative to a traditional Mother's Day! 

There will be tons of artists, food, music, activities for kids and fun for the whole family. 

Here's some great additional info from their website about why the festival was created:

"The Buckhead Spring Arts & Crafts Festival is a two-day Atlanta outdoor event with an emphasis on the visual arts. Located in the largest public park in Fulton County, we set out with many different goals in mind: 1) Give back to the community through art; 2) Create a venue that emphasizes local and Georgian artists, so they have a show they can depend on in their own back yard; 3) Bring a festival to the folks in the northern part of Fulton county; 4) Create a festival for Artists by Artists, letting the artist have a voice in the creation and operations of the festival; 5) Create an art festival unlike any other in the City of Atlanta, bringing together outstanding local, regional and national artists. 

The Chastain Park area is rich with one of Atlanta's largest and most enthusiastic art buying communities. This event will feature up to 185 fine painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craft persons, glass blowers, jewelers and more! The Festival will also offer visitors the opportunity to view artist demonstrations, enjoy live entertainment, participate in hands-on arts activities, and enjoy festival foods and beverages.

The Festival benefits a scholarship fund for local artists administered by the Georgia Foundation for Public Spaces."

ABG - Imaginary Worlds

Y'all...did you know we have the coolest exhibit going on at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens?

It's called Imaginary Worlds and it's composed of grand, artistic, metal sculptures covered in living plants. It is a thing of beauty! Make a romantic date of it, bring a book, or show the kids...you won't want to miss it.

It is really a unique exhibit and families will love the whimsy of it all. Visit their website here for more info and a cool slideshow. 

6th Annual Art-B-Que this Mother's Day weekend!

Perhaps this graphic doesn't look like something you'd like to attend on Mother's Day:

But allow me to convince you why you should go to Art-B-Que this year...2 full days of live local music, really great handmade selection by 70+ artists and vendors in the artist market,  several food trucks and lots of other yummy treats including a Pulled Pork BBQ Contest and FREE admission! 

Located in Avondale Estates, a sweet historic hood similar to UH.  :)

Spring Social coming up at our park!

Underwood Hills Spring Social

Food, Beverages, Music, Giveaways and Games for the Kids

Date: Saturday, May 18th

Time: 4:00 to 8:00pm

Place: Underwood Hills Park

Rain Date: Sunday, May 19th, 4:00 to 8:00pm 

E Rivers Spring Picnic

There's a great event coming up at E Rivers, our neighborhood's wonderful

elementary school. 

Food trucks and good times - need I say more?

See the email content below from L Clayton: 

Join us this Friday at the E. Rivers Spring Picnic. View this email in your browser

FOR E.RIVERS ALUMNI AND CURRENT FAMILIES E. Rivers Spring Picnic this Friday E. Rivers Alumni and current families are all invited to join us for a final farewell to the current E. Rivers campus that will undergo demolition this summer. Mark your calendars to attend, reunite with old friends, and bid farewell to this space that holds many wonderful memories! DJ, Food Trucks and Concession stand will be on-site for music and dinner: http://www.wowfoodtruck.com/ http://www.happybellytruck.com/ http://www.kona-ice.com/ Date: Friday, May 10th Time: 5 - 8pm Location: E. Rivers Lower Field Please click here to RSVP.

The Craft Room - LEGO Workshop

The Craft Room is a cool little studio space in Underwood Hills based out of our neighbor's home. 

Here's some info from their website:

What is the Craft Room?

The Craft Room is a place where friends and neighbors of all ages gather to make cool stuff. It’s not an official “business” just a room above our garage where we love to gather people to create things.

If you’d like to bring a group over to do whatever (craft, mom’s night out, lego workshop, birthday party etc.), click here and let me know what you’re after. We can figure something out!

 The Gordon Family (Jen, Wyatt, Georgia & Jia)

This weekend Craig is hosting a workshop: build your own LEGO Dwarf to celebrate the DVD release of The Hobbit. I have very found memories of my mom reading Tolkien novels to me after dinner so this one is close to my heart! I always wanted to live in the Shire...

What a great idea & a fun way to bond with your kids. :) Thanks Craig & the Gordon family for hosting such a wonderful event!

RSVP HERE

Atlanta Botanical Gardens - A Neighborhood Gem

With the Winter Doldrums nearing an end (thank goodness!) it's time to play outside and enjoy some Spring weather. Daffodils and cherry blossoms are blooming and the kids are ready to run!

When's the last time you visited the Atlanta Botanical Gardens? Sprawling acres of manicured gardens just minutes away from Underwood Hills, the ABG is an Atlanta Landmark rightly so. We love visiting  each season (even in the Winter for their Light Spectacular) and Spring is no exception.

This weekend there are two kid-friendly events at the ABG:

FRIDAY (each Friday of the month) from 10:30-11am - "Garden Stroller Strut"- Short interactive tour of gardens with parents or caregivers

SATURDAY (March 9th) from 2-3pm - "Frogs, Frog, Frogs!" - Meet the garden frogs, hear their stories and participate in an art activity

See their website here for more information on both programs, including membership and ticket costs.

Annual Easter Eggstravaganza

One of our favorite family events in Underwood Hills is almost here! 

Come join the fun (and make sure you are signed up on Nextdoor Underwood Hills to RSVP and receive event updates.)

Date: Saturday, March 23, 2013

Time: 11 am 

Here are a couple shots from last year's event:

The Easter Bunny has even been known to make a guest appearance. 

Spring is a sweet, colorful reminder of new beginnings.

Watching determined children go on an egg hunt is a fun way to bring in the new season! 

Fire station open house this Saturday!

Don't forget the Open House at Fire Station 23 this Saturday, June 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.!!! Meet our firefighters and tour the firehouse! There will be food, music, and lots of fun for all ages. The Fire Station is located just south of FLIP Burger at 1545 Howell Mill Road.

Underwood Hills Social

This Saturday is the neighborhood social in the park from 4-8pm.  This is such a fun event! Looking forward to seeing everyone Saturday!

Todd and Corinne at the Park Social last year!

Hi Neighbors!

I am so excited to be given the task of continuing the wonderful blog that Azie started! She has left giant shoes to fill so I will do my best! Just a little about me- I am a SAHM of one beautiful and energetic little girl and one loud and energetic beagle mix, Sapphire. My husband and I moved to Underwood Hills 5 years ago this year! Time flies!
Let me know if there are cool things going on in the neighborhood and beyond and I will gladly post it!
-Lauren Kalen on Springer St.

Party in the Park

From Jenna:

Tell all your friends….

PARTY IN THE PARK

A benefit for our neighbor, friend, entrepreneur and former UHNA president, Danny Moore

Chili Cook-off  $5 to taste all the fabulous chilis or enter your own special chili

Kitty Wolf – Live and in concert at 5pm

Bounce House for the Kiddies

Come out and celebrate the playground’s 10^th birthday party

Can’t be there and want to help? Consider donating 2 quarts of chili (need not be present to win Prizes),

Sponsor the bounce house or the birthday cake, donate to the Danny Drive directly or contribute a prize to be raffled off!

To enter the chili cook off contact Molly Epstein or Jenna Schuh by Thursday

404-605-9003 0r 404-849-9971

To Do this Weekend: SALVAGE ATL

This coming Saturday ICE (Indie Craft Experience) is hosting an event aptly named Salvage ATL to showcase Atlanta's creative vintage curators. 

Event Info

Name: Salvage ATL

Time: 11am - 6pm

Location: Ambient Plus Studio, 585 Wells St SW Atlanta 30312

Admission: $5

Features: 40+ Booths full of Vintage Goodness, a Vintage Music DJ, a Vintage Photobooth a la Leah&Mark, the Good Food Truck Trike, King of Pops, Twist of Cane Confections, Free Craft Demos, and a PBR Lounge. Hello, Awesomeness! 

If that list-of-amazing is not enough, yours truly will be there representing {verdigreen} in the VERY 1st booth when you walk through the doors of this gorgeous must-see space. Please come support your neighbor (me!) and the strong ATLien indie community.

Happy Easter!

Just wanted to share how talented our neighborhood friend & photographer, Sandra of Through Sandra's Lens, is: 

This is her gorgeous natural photography from the UH Easter Egg Hunt that I purchased a digital file of so I could "scrapbook it" and turn it into an Easter card for family this year. It needed no embellishments, honestly, but I am an over-themer and prefer to adorn everything with sparkles. 

Live at the Plaza

Get yourself a sitter (or bring the kids & some crayons) and go to WPD for some free live music and delicious dishes. Check it out!

Westsiiiiiide!

Salvage Teaser

Just an FYI: We're going to have a fantastic event close by in a couple of weeks...take a look at the flyer below: 

I'll update our blog with more info as I have it. I'm excited to be involved in this project and would love the neighborhood's support. 

Collier Chiropractic

Disclaimer: I am not paid to "advertise" on our blog and it's not monetized, intentionally. 

I try my best to support the small businesses directly surrounding Underwood Hills so when I finally caved in and opted to seek Chiropractic care for my rib issue (second son kicked it out of place during pregnancy) I chose Collier Chiropractic despite Dr. Rivchun being "out of network" for my insurance. She came up with a reasonable payment plan and her location was convenient for my daily routine (next to Malaya & Publix). After a few visits I knew I made the right decision. The numbness, pain and discomfort are all gone and my range of motion is back to a healthy level again so I can literally breathe a sigh of relief with ease.

For parents, bringing the tots along is welcomed and Dr. Rivchun has a play area, animal crackers, and stickers for tots to enjoy. (And they do!)

Collier Chiropractic is running a Tax Relief Special: "schedule your first appt before April 15th & receive each service for $10.40...it's that EZ!" 

Contact her office for more information: 404.351.5933.

And really guys, do not delay if you have pain or tingling in your back. Thinking "oh this is just how it's going to feel" isn't the best method of coping. The longer it goes untreated the worse you'll feel & the more recovery you'll need -- I learned the hard way. It feels so good to be myself again. Thanks Dr. Rivchun! 

E Rivers Rising Kindergarteners

Sir Gregg of the Puppets

I've tooted our neighborhood's horn on many occasions...mainly because we have so many accessible resources here within our winding tree-lined streets. One of our hidden gems is a talented neighbor named Gregg who not only has his PhD in Materials Science & Engineering (I predict a Science Experiment at a future playdate!) but he is also a skilled puppeteer. 

Read that again: he is a puppeteer! Hello? How amazing for us parents!!?? A puppeteer in the neighborhood willing & able to perform at children's parties or playdates? YES PLEASE!

He gave us a sample of his material at the playdate Stefanie arranged a couple of weeks ago and my boys were "in laughs at first sight" at Gregg's superhero sock puppet. He involved the kids in making their own puppets and even had them running around the playground practicing their super hero skills. 

To contact him for more info and availability, email: greggvl@gmail.com

He gives UH residents a reasonable rate for a customizable puppet show & puppet craft so contact him today and support your neighborhood talent!

Easter Update

As you know, this Saturday is our Annual Eggstravaganza Easter Lunch in the Park. It's an event we look forward to every year as do our boys who thoroughly enjoy partaking in the Egg Hunt. 

This year our very own Sandra from Through Sandra's Lens will be there to photograph our bunnies in all their Springtime glory. What fun! I asked Sandra to submit a quick description of her services this weekend so we'd know what to expect. Here's what she said:

Sandra from Through Sandra's Lens Photography will be at the Eggstravaganza from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with a special Easter Themed Set.  Photos can be taken with just your child or as a family.  Images will be posted for viewing within 2-3 days after the event on our website www.throughsandraslens.com under the Client tab using the password "bunny".  Special pricing on prints for the neighborhood will be on display at the event and can be ordered via the online shopping cart.  I will send out an email to everyone once the images are posted.  

What a beautiful set! It's no secret I am a huge fan of Sandra's work and I can't wait for her to capture my family's moment this weekend.

Playdate in the Park & St Pattys Day Parade

I suppose if you've read the title there's nothing more to say.

Maybe I'm just lazing out since it's 11pm and I've been up frosting green cupcakes all night. We may never know.

Anyway on to bidnass, tomorrow is the weekly playgroup playdate in the park (say that 5 times fast) and this weekend is Atlanta's Irish Big Hurrah - the St Patrick's Day Parade. So start corning your beef and drinking your stout (?) ale (?) ok I clearly have no clue. Green beer perhaps?  The festival boasts the WORLD'S LARGEST IRISH FLAG and a kick-arse U2 Tribute band amongst other things. Irish dancing! Gaelic poetry! Kermit the Frog! (1 of those 3 things I made up and it's surprisingly not the latter.)

Also if you have a thing for kilts...not that you would *nervous laugh*...but if you DO then you'd probably enjoy the parade. 

Oh, kids? Yes...there's kid stuff too. Did I mention Kermit? He'll be there. And also, it's a PARADE. SO natch the wee lassies and laddies will love it.

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

Legoland Discovery Center

There's a new Sheriff in town...by the name of Legoland at Phipps. We are so excited to visit! My boys are a bit young for a full-blown Lego experience but Legoland Discovery Center may be a great new place to host parties and has a Duplo Village for lil' tykes. They even have a life-size lego house which I plan on checking out myself since I oft wished I could live in the lego homes I built when I was a little girl playing with my brother's hand-me-down legos. Is this something I should be sharing with a therapist?

Anyway I know Legoland is becoming the next big commercialized racket in terms of pricy theme park venues but it's nice to have a new alternative to the museums and bounce zones in town (and I also am a sucker for a Lego minifigure) so perhaps we'll see you there after the Grand Opening on March 17th. 

Playgroup Kick-Off

Yesterday was the 1st Playgroup at the Park of 2012. Stefanie organized, hosted (and did a fabulous job) and had Greg the Puppeteer, also a UH neighbor, do a show for the kiddies. The sun was out and the kids were eager to run since it had been raining all morning. 

The Friday at the Park Playdate (from 4-6pm, weather permitting) is a great way to meet your neighbors and have some parent/child socialization time.

 I admittedly haven't gone very often because my own two boys are a year apart and a bit of a terror on the playground in the sense that they run in opposite directions and climb 7 feet off the ground then take wobbly steps towards a slide or ring course whilst I have heart palpitations. But times, they are a'changing and my kids are getting older *tears* and listening better *knock on wood* so I plan to attend more frequently.

To answer a question from a neighbor last week, Stefanie is the Director of the UH Playgroup which encompasses all ages. All are welcome to attend the park playdates. There is an annual fee of $20 that provides members with snacks & other fun benefits.

 

Tawn is the Director of the Baby Toddler Playgroup which was originally formed out of the need for a separate baby-safe environment for the young & defenseless ;) to gather without the potential of stick-wielding 5-year olds knocking the crawlers out of the tunnel tube. (Next year, my own son will be a stick-wielding 5-year old so I plan to graduate him from the BTP.) 

These days the BTP is necessary for its original intent and also because with close to 100 members it is definitely its own entity. New parents are moving in and springing up all over UH. 

Both playgroups work together to make this neighborhood a place of friendship and fun for families. 

Irish & British Updates

How original is this free printable idea from Pumpkin Petunia's blog? I loved the novelty of a new, shiny coin when I was a wee lass.

And speaking of all things Irish (or British) have you all seen the Banged Up & Mashed truck parked on Collier and Defoor?  Well here's a link to a recent review of their Food Truck fare. I cannot wait to try them! 

Park Clean Up Announcement

From Jenna:

"Reminder - The UH Park Clean-Up is this Sunday afternoon followed by family kickball in the lower field. 

Please come out and support our neighborhood GREEN center!" 

Cheap Chic Canvas

If you are just half as obsessed as I am with displaying photos of your family then you'll find this information useful. There's a lil' company called Canvas People that is great for creating small canvas art out of snapshots. 

They offer a "free 8x10" (which you pay $15 total for due to shipping) on a monthly basis plus discounts on other larger canvas sizes. I get one per month it seems and our home is littered (but you know, in a good way) with mini canvases. 

It's nice because I won't feel guilty when I want to change them out for next year's shots and they also make wonderful gifts for extended family. 

Another inexpensive photo display idea is shown to the left - sorry, the photo is dark & grainy b/c of the overcast filtered light. I had two large white frames from Kingston's nursery that I was no longer using. I lightly sanded (or "distressed" them) then sealed them with a coat of poly. I cut scrap fabric and wrapped it around the existing cardboard backing. Then I glued a photo (that I printed myself in b&w) of some side profile shots I took with my iPhone. To finish, I glued gardening twine around the edge of the photo then framed and hung them in our mudroom. Quick, easy and cost effective! 

Memorial Park

We love love love our very own neighborhood park - Underwood Hills in da' houuuuse! - but for a change of scenery today we met at Memorial Park right down the road on W Wesley. It was a beautiful day for a romp through the park. Too bad my guy had to use the potty within minutes of arrival...luckily I was able to snap these shots before we left. I love living in a city with lots of green space - we get to enjoy the best of both worlds!

Reese

Cracker-Eating Trash Squirrel

Riley

Hunter & Kingston