Kate Tillery-Danzer, Author at Get Involved. Make Friends. Enjoy Motherhood.

Summer Camps, Activities and More!

May 4, 2015February 21, 2018 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

Summer is just around the corner. Luckily, the Front Range is filled with fun for the whole family. From adventure camps to nature hikes to concerts in the square and movies in the park, this area is a haven for family-friendly frolicking.

MOD Moms get great discounts for many area camps and super-fun summer activities! Check out our current list, and stay tuned for updates. (Be sure to show your current MOD Moms card!)

GOLD LEVEL PARTNERS:

Boulder Indoor Soccer

Boulder Indoor Sports

Colorado Conservatory of Dance

Flatirons Gymnastics

High Peak Twirlers

Mountain Kids

Updated for 2018:

A minimum of 4 week commitment required (weeks do not need to be consecutive) Students provide their own healthy snack.

When: Tuesdays & Thursdays May 29th thru August 9th*
*Please note days your student will attend in comment section when you register on-line
Time: 9:30-12pm
Ages: 3-6 yrs
Cost: $40/day or $75/2 days a week

Start Your Registration Today!

***Mod Mom Members receive 15% discount on camp enrollment.

Sports Performance Center by FC Boulder

Whole Body Singing

Xtreme Altitude Gymnastics

SILVER LEVEL PARTNERS:

CATS Gymnastics

Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls

Updated for 2018:

Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls – 10% off total summer camp registration for Mod Moms; Multi-sport summer day camp for girls 5-14; June 4 – July 13.

Great Play of Superior

Shalom Baby at the Boulder JCC

Thorne Nature Experience

SPONSORSHIPS:

School of Rock – Broomfield

PERKS FOR MOD Moms:

BringtheKids

Rock Creek After School

Superior Learning Academy

Do you own a camp? Want to partner or sponsor with MOD Moms for your camp? Do you have a favorite camp or activity? Tell us about it.

More great summer activities

ABC Climbing
Apex Movement (parkour)
Art Underground
Boulder County Agricultural Heritage Center (Free, Open Fri, Sat, Sun 10am – 5pm). Step into Boulder County of yesteryear with a tour of an old farmstead
Chatauqua Meadow Music with Jeff & Paige (Fun family friendly hike followed by great nature-themed kid music. Monday evenings from 5:30-7pm. Meet by the Ranger Station for the short hike).
Clementine Studio
Louisville Community Park Movies in the Park (with food trucks!)
MidAir Adventures (Thornton)
Sunflower Farm
Tinkermill For the builders, the makers and the creators
Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center

Some fun area museums

Butterfly Pavillion (Westminster)
Denver Aquarium
Denver Art Museum (Kids under 18 are free everyday!)
Denver Botanic Gardens (upcoming free days)
Denver Children’s Museum (Denver)
Denver Museum of Nature and Science (upcoming free days: Sunday, May 31, Monday, June 29, Sunday, July 26, Monday, August 17)
Denver Zoo
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Longmont Museum
Railroad Museum
WOW Museum (Lafayette)

Bowling, mini golf and family fun centers

Boondocks (Northglenn)
Carousel of Happiness (Nederland) $1/ride!
Chippers (Broomfield)
Coal Creek Bowling (Lafayette)
Dizzy (Longmont)
Fat Cats (Westminster)
Gateway Park Fun Center (Boulder)

Water Fun

Apex Recreation Center (Arvada)
Bob Burger Recreation Center
Broomfield Bay
City Park Recreation Center (Westminster)
Erie Community Center
Memory Square
Paul Derda Recreation Center (Broomfield)
Scott Carpenter Park (Boulder)

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MOD Moms Volunteers of the Summer Months

November 5, 2016November 5, 2016 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

I blinked, and suddenly Fall is upon us. Crunching leaves, swirling winds, and a trail of wrappers from the Halloween candy stash. Before we know it, we’ll be setting our tables for Thanksgiving.

But, wait! Before we dive any deeper into Autumn, we have some amazing MOD Moms of the Summer Months to recognize. How did our little community ever get so blessed to be filled with so many wonderful and talented women?

June Volunteer of the Month: Sarah Zabel

If you’ve enjoyed a MOD Mom’s playdate (at Mountain Kids, Xtreme Altitude, Great Play, Monkey Bizness … and so many more!), you have Sarah Zabel to thank: she’s our Director of Monthly Events.

Sarah relocated to Colorado with her family: husband Jeff and their two boys, Will (7) and Ryan (3.5), three years ago. A planner by nature, Sarah researched and joined MOD Moms before the moving trucks ever left the West Coast. She knew she wanted to be plugged in to her new town right away. Before long, she began volunteering with our group.

“I always like to be involved in something in which I truly believe,” says Sarah. “A community of local moms . . . how great is that?”

In addition to her work with MOD Moms, Sarah assists several other local organizations as well. “I’m a school teacher currently staying at home, so I love to volunteer at Eldorado to get my classroom fix. I am co-coordinating the MOPS group at Ascent Church this year as well.”

When she’s not volunteering or organizing events, you might find Sarah working out at Lakeshore, hiking, reading, cooking “attempting Pinterest-inspired, home improvement projects” and watching her kids play sports.

Thank you, Sarah, for fitting MOD Moms into your busy schedule! We are so grateful for all that you do for our group!

July Volunteer of the Month: Cory Malloy

Cory Malloy, aka, the MOD Moms’ Big Event Planner, keeps our group festive and fun with amazing events like the ever-awesome Trunk or Treat, the Holiday Party, the Spring Egg Hunt, the splashing Broomfield Bay party, and our incredible private movie showings at AMC Theaters.

Cory and her husband Kevin have one “super-cool kiddo,” Finn who is in first grade this year. “We are your typical suburbia family juggling our jobs with running to after-school activities, keeping up with homework, birthday parties and games on the weekends.”

They stay active as a family bike riding, hiking, swimming, skiing/sledding in the winter. They also love getting out and exploring. “We have started to travel more with Finn this year, highlights were a Disney Cruise and RV trip to Mount Rushmore.”

Cory, an independent executive assistant, loves creating beautiful meals for family and friends. “I’m in love with food,” she says. She gets inspiration from the Food Network (“It’s my favorite past-time”), the MOD Moms Cooking Club, and through experimentation in her own kitchen. Cory also loves being outdoors — hiking, hanging out at the pool and walking. After a foot injury sidelined her running, she hit the trails at a more relaxed pace. “It’s my new obsession,” she says. “I’m averaging about 50 miles of walking per week.”

Thank you, Cory, for helping all of our MOD Moms families enjoy so many wonderful activities — and for sharing your delicious meals and treats with so many of us.

August Volunteer of the Month: Laurie Cook

Philanthropy is ingrained into the ethos of MOD Moms. As a group, we support three main philanthropic partners: Impact on Education, Community Food Share and A Precious Child. Laurie Gilden Cook has been a part of this mission and vision for philanthropic giving since the beginning of MOD Moms. She works tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to ensure that our annual drive for Crayons to Calculators along with other efforts are a great success.

Laurie, who lives in Superior with her husband Bob, their 11 year-old, Jack, and their crazy golden retriever, Cali, has been volunteering for her entire life.

“My own mom impressed on me and my sister how important it was to give back to your community. I don’t remember a time I didn’t volunteer,” Laurie says. “I’ve been involved with Big Sisters, I was the Philanthropy Chair in my sorority, I volunteered with Meals on Wheels and Literacy Volunteers of America, and I have spent much time volunteering at Jack’s school and with his Boy Scout Troop.”

For Laurie, the volunteer opportunities that she helps cultivate within MOD Moms are not just an important act of giving, they are a vital lesson for her family. “I want Jack to learn that it is his responsibility as a citizen to volunteer.”

Laurie, a former litigation paralegal and speech pathologist, keeps busy when she isn’t volunteering by staying active in her book club and the MOD Moms Cooking Club. “I am not a great cook but Cooking Club gets me to prepare things I wouldn’t otherwise try. The women in Cooking Club are fun to hang out with and the food they make is delicious!”

Laurie loves living in Colorado, but her heart is in Hawaii, you might find her dipping her toes in the sand there on vacation, locally, you might spot her around town on a Friday night enjoying some amazing Mexican food with her family and friends.

“I feel very fortunate to live in such a great community,” she says.

Thank you, Laurie, for helping MOD Moms families help others.

Volunteers of the Month

The MOD Moms Volunteer of the Month will receive a $25 gift certificate to use at OMNI Resorts, one of the many great MOD Moms partners. The gift certificate can be used at any of the OMNI restaurants, the Mokara Spa or the hotel!

MOD Moms simply cannot function without all of the dedicated, hard-working volunteers who make the events, clubs, playgroups, partnerships and behind-the-scenes stuff happen. Thank you to all of you fantastic women who help make this group a wonderful place!

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Summer Fun

June 28, 2016June 28, 2016 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

Still looking for something fun for your kids to do this summer? Check out some of the awesome camps and activities we’re highlighting here:

Great Play of Superior — (MOD Moms receive a 10% discount on enrollment and first set of classes) Spare your kiddos from a sunburn and fill up on active fun with Sanjana and her amazing team at Great Play. In addition to the always fun classes, Great Play is offering camp days for Juniors (ages 3-6) and Big Kids (ages 4.5 -10) as well as themed Camp Parties for both age groups as well! MOD Moms get a great discount, and the kids are sure to have loads of fun.

CAMP DAYS
Camp Junior, Ages 3-6, Tuesdays, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Upcoming Dates: June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, and August 16
The curriculum varies each week so each camp is fun and fresh!

CAMP PARTY DAYS
Camp Party Junior, Ages 3-6, Thursdays, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
June 23 – Super Hero Party
June 30 – Pajama Party
July 7 – Championship Day
July 14 – Carnival Party
July 21 – Super Spy Day
July 28 – Super Hero Party
Aug 4 – Princess & Pirate
Aug 11 – Championship Day
Aug 18 – Super Spy Day

Camp Party, Ages 4.5 – 10, Thursdays 1:00 – 3:30 pm
June 23 – Beach Party
June 30 – Olypmic Day
July 7 – Championship Day
July 14 – Carnival Day
July 21 – Beach Party
July 28 – Olypmic Day
Aug 4 -Carnival Day
Aug 11 – Championship Day
Aug 18 – Olympic Day

Camp Prices:
$35 each for non-members, $33 for members.
5-Pack Fun Pack: $150 for non-members, $140 for members.
10-Pack Fun Pack: $250 for non-members, $230 for members.

Kumon of Boulder — (MOD Moms receive a 10% discount). Help your child get ahead with Kumon’s fun and engaging approach to reading and math!

Camp dates: June 1 – August 15, 2016
Mondays (3-7pm) / Wednesdays (3-5pm) / Thursdays (3-7pm)

Students come to the center once or twice each week, and remain for approximately 30 minutes per subject. Daily assignments will be assigned for non-class days.

Tuition:
One child / one subject: $495
One child / two subjects: $945
Two children / one subject each: $945
Two children / two subjects each:$1,695

For additional information, email the Center Director at john@boulderkumon.com.

Mountain Kids (MOD Moms receive a 15% discount on classes and camps Mon-Fri that start before 4pm)

Super Fun and Super Active Camps for kids in Kindergarten – 6th grade

Upcoming camps:
June 27- July 1: Storybook Week
July 5-8: Master Chef
July 11-15: Wacky Week
July 18-22: Wild West Week
July 25-29: Mad Scientists
Aug 1-5: Future Olympians Week
Aug 8-12: Best Week Ever

Summer Camp Activities
Our Summer Day Camp is full of action, fun field trips, sports & arts. Gymnastics is offered twice a week (on Wed/Fri Jr. Campers & Tues/Fri Sr. Campers). Campers will also get to choose to participate in either a 1hr Dance or Ninja Zone class on Mondays. Plus, tons field trips such as: Open Swim, Anderson Farms, WOW Children’s Museum, ABC Climbing, Sunflower Farms, IMAX, Tours and so much more! Weekly swimming lessons are provided for our Jr. Campers as an option under the direction of the Lafayette Recreation Center. We average 4 to 5 field trips a week.

Camp Groups
Campers are divided into Jr. Camp (entering kindergarten to entering 2nd Grade) & Sr. Camp (3rd Grade to 6th Grade) to facilitate age appropriate activities and social interaction. Our Jr. Campers stay close to home travel only within Boulder County and the nearby areas. Our Sr. Campers on occasion have the opportunity to travel to Denver to explore bigger and more age appropriate and challenging field trips to keep them engaged and having fun all summer long!

Hours
Camp activities take place between 9.00am – 4:30pm. Children may come as early as 7:30 am and stay as late as 5:45 pm for no additional charge.

Tuition
Includes all activities and field trips for your convenience. Minimum enrollment of four weeks for the summer is required. Weeks do NOT need to be consecutive. Choose either full or part time tuition for each week of camp. We offer a 10% sibling discount!

Full Week $275 (4 to 5 days)
3 days $215 (choose any 3)
2 day $165 (choose any 2)
Camper Registration $75/ child

Thorne Nature Experience: (MOD Moms receive a 10% discount, enter code “MOD2016” upon checkout).

Get outside! Your kids can spend the summer catching frogs, getting muddy, biking down mountain trails, and exploring Colorado’s wild places with the Thorne Nature Experience Summer Camp!

Thorne offers fun, hands-on environmental “Camp Experiences” for children aged 3-15 in two stunning locations; Waterton Canyon in Littleton and in Boulder. Kids will have a blast practicing important survival skills, exploring forests and streams, learning about local plants and animals, and getting their hands on tadpoles, crawfish, grasshoppers, and more! Thorne’s experienced, CPR and first-aid trained instructors help facilitate student learning and appreciation for the outdoors while keeping them safe. Students complete the program with a newfound respect and awe of nature, increased understanding of the environment, and a desire to get back outside.

Flatirons Gymnastics

SCHOOL AGE CAMPS (K-12 years)
Road to Rio Camp ~ July 25-29

FULL DAY (9:00am-4:00pm) or HALF DAY (9:00am-12:00pm)
Choose 5 days or 3 days (you pick which 3 days!)
Siblings/Students enrolled in multiple camps save up to $25.00 per camp!
All camps are co-ed, unless otherwise specified. Child must be 6 years old, or have completed Kindergarten to enroll in school-age camps.

Pricing Info:
5 Half Days $250
3 Half Days $180
5 Full Days $350
3 Full Days $240

PRESCHOOL AGE CAMPS (3-5 years)
Road to Rio Camp ~ July 11-15
School Age Camp Details:

HALF DAY (9:00am-12:00pm)
Choose 5 days or 3 days (you pick which 3 days!)
Siblings/Students enrolled in multiple camps save up to $25.00 per camp!
All camps are co-ed, unless otherwise specified. All campers must be potty trained.
Pricing Info:

5 Half Days $250
3 Half Days $180

SUPER STARS CAMP ~ Girls Gym Stars Classes Only
August 1-5
Super Stars Camp Details:

HALF DAY (9:00am-12:00pm)
Choose 5 or 3 days (you choose which 3 days!)
Siblings/Students enrolled in multiple camps save up to $25.00 per camp!
Child must be actively enrolled in our Gym Stars Program to enroll in this camp.

Pricing Info:
5 Half Days $275
3 Half Days $195

Superior Learning Academy Super-fun kid-centered preschool summer camp. (Through August 31st) Weekly themes like Robots, Bugs, Space adventures and Superheroes!

Monday – Friday, 9am-1pm (ages 3-6)
Daily ($36/day) or weekly ($180 for 5 days), monthly or for the rest of the summer ($288 for two days a week, $432 for 3 days a week or everyday ($720 for 5 days).

Aftercare available (1pm-4pm, but limited spots available daily) $25/afternoon or a pack of 5 days for $90

Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center, Nederland

CHOOSE ANY DAY OF THE WEEK! WILD BEAR WORKS WITH YOUR SCHEDULE!
HOURS: Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
Shuttle service is available from Boulder, pick up at 8:00 a.m. drop off in Boulder at 4:00 p.m.
Summer Camps for children ages 5-15
Wild Bear Camps are from June 6-August 12

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. M-F in Nederland, Colorado and NCAR in Boulder each Friday
Shuttle Service is available from Boulder to Nederland
Choose any or all days of the week!
Pricing Information: http://wildbear.org/pricing2015/

NederRANGERS: 5 & 6 year olds (for the first time Wild Bear). Join other young friends to explore the forest, play, sing and make crafts with other campers with highly experienced Early Childhood Educators. This program includes trips to Mud Lake!

Mountain Rangers – For the Wild Campers who are 6-7 years old The Mountain Rangers head out to Mud Lake to explore this magical place and integrate the arts into their discoveries.

Wild Naturalists- For the Wild Campers who are 8-9 years old Venture out onto the surrounding Rocky Mountain forest, bring your camera and put on your water shoes to discover the water, the woods, and the mud. Try your hand at catch and release, camping and survival skills, and document the fun through creative lenses.

NCAR Fridays For ages 5-8, children meet at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder EVERY Friday and enjoy nature workshops in and around the local foothills. DROP OFF: at 8:30 and PICK UP: at 3:30pm at the “drop off” at the NCAR parking lot. Children access the trails surrounding NCAR as well as the famous Mesa Lab with exhibits and scientists who will help us to connect even more with nature!

Mountain Youth Adventure Program Summer Camps for ages 10 and older: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Nederland, Colorado. Includes Fly Fishing, Primitive Pathways and more!

Bear Cubs: Ages 3-5 with an Adult: Every Wednesday
10:30 a.m.-noon $15 per family (must be related). During the summer months, Bear Cubs is a parent/child workshop. Meet at the Mud Lake parking lot every Wednesday and hike with us to the lake. Venture on trails, sing with us and discover the many plants and animals who live in and around Mud Lake. Pre-registration is required.

*Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is accepted for payment at Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center.

And so many more great camp options in the area! (Add to our list in the comments section!)

Avid For Adventure

Colorado Athletic Club Sports Camps

Lakeshore Athletic Club Landsharks

The Butterfly Pavillion

Denver Museum of Nature and Science Camps

Denver Zoo Camps

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Spotlight of the Month: Jen Heieck

June 9, 2016 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

Let’s kick off the summer with a great big ‘Thank You!’ to May’s Volunteer of the Month, Jen Heieck.

Jen and her family moved to Colorado last year from Los Angelos, CA. Jen is both a stay-at-home mom to daughter Olivia (20 months) and a Rodan + Fields skincare business owner. Her husband Ted owns a Conference Calling company headquartered in CA. Jen keeps MOD Moms members connected through organizing the monthly happy hours and breakfasts, and helps the board in myriad ways.

“I was the VP of New Membership for much of the last year, which meant that I spread the word about MOD Moms to moms throughout the community (you may have seen our new brochure), and welcomed new moms to the organization (you may have had a phone call from me!),” Jen says.

Jen is a natural people-person and organizer. We are so lucky to have her energy, creative vision and positive spirit helping our members feel welcome each week! Like many of us, Jen joined our group to find a community.

“I joined MOD Moms just before moving to Colorado, so a little over a year ago. I knew that with Ted’s travel schedule it would be important for me to find my ‘village’ as quickly as possible, and MOD Moms helped to make that happen. Thanks to MOD Moms, I have never felt alone, even though I parent alone about half the time,” Jen says.

Jen loves meeting up with other moms for the monthly happy hours and breakfasts, and enjoys spending time with the awesome 2015 playgroup.

“MOD Moms has given much to me in my new life in Colorado, so much of my desire to volunteer is in wanting to give back to such a great organization. And I would love for everyone to be able to find their ‘village’, whether they just moved here or have lived in the community for years,” Jen says.

Thank you for all that you do to make this a great community, Jen!

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Spotlight of the Month: Vidya Jayakar

May 19, 2016 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

MOD Mom’s wants to belatedly shine the April Volunteer Spotlight on Vidya Jayakar, our new Director of Membership Cards. Vidya jumped right into the role creating new, personalized digital cards for all of our new and returning members.

Vidya and her husband Jai, both originally from South India, are long-time residents of the Superior/Boulder area. A computer engineer, Vidya is currently staying home with her two boys, Deeran (3.5) and Taran (10 months).

Vidya enjoys spending time with the 2015 MOD Moms playgroup, the Working Moms club, and the Philanthropy group. With her family, Vidya loves likes being outdoors — hiking, camping, gardening, and sampling great local restaurants.

Thank you for all that you do to make this a great community, Vidya!

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How to BBQ Like a Pro

May 6, 2016May 6, 2016 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

Summer is the perfect time to entertain, especially in Colorado. We have access to great outdoor venues and weather that opens up more space for entertaining than during the winter months. When I think of a summer BBQ, I think outside.

Everyone’s event space is different, but it always adds something special if you can enhance it a bit from the everyday norm. For a party that may linger until the evening hours, a great way to bring your space to life is add specialty lighting. This does not have to be anything expensive, you most likely have Christmas lights collecting dust in storage that you could re-purpose in this way. Whether you wrap trees or string overhead, the lights add an ambiance that will definitely increase the space value and make the event seem a bit more intimate.

Of course, every BBQ needs to have good food! A BBQ offers so many options of what to provide for your guests, or you can opt for potluck style. Whether you grill everything yourself or cater it from a nearby BBQ joint, it is one of the most straightforward menus.

I love to display menus for events like this, and one way I do this is by using chalkboards. I LOVE chalkboards for event planning and especially since they are still on trend with a lot of styles. Whenever I see a chalkboard on sale, at a garage sale, on a buy/sell group, I will usually buy it because they are so versatile for these occasions. I display the menu on a larger style chalkboard near the food.

If you are interested in using chalkboards, I feel obligated to tell you about the chalk marker, quite possibly one of the greatest new inventions! I don’t have the best handwriting, but chalk markers make writing on chalkboards SO much EASIER. You can buy chalk markers at any craft store. Trust me, if you have a chalkboard, you need some of these!

Signage goes a long way toward increasing the sophistication of an event. So, whether you use a chalkboard or create signage of your own it can definitely create that WOW factor for your guests.

For this summer BBQ, I used a combination of chalkboards and customized signage that I created and printed. You don’t have to be a graphic designer to whip something up and with a little practice; you would be surprised at what you can create. There is a free program called PicMonkey, that is super-easy to use. If you watch a few YouTube videos, you will be all set to create some simple signs. Of course, there are also plenty of printable party signs and enhancements that you can purchase on Etsy if you would rather go that route.

In addition to great food, I really love the look of a great table setting as well. You can certainly have a BBQ and just pull out a stack of paper plates, but there are also a lot of ways you can spruce up the event that don’t add a ton of cost. Now, this (pictured event) was a BIG party for over 100 people, so we opted for disposable tableware.

When planning your event, it is great to establish a theme or color scheme and choose the elements with this in mind.

We opted for a blue/gingham/rustic feel for this gathering. We covered the tables (because, they were those ugly plastic ones…) with white tablecloths to give us uniform look. Then I alternated pieces of colored burlap and blue gingham as table squares. For the plates, I found a blue gingham paper plate that matched perfectly with the color scheme. I wanted the table setting to feel a little “upscale” since this was an adults only event, but had to keep in mind the quantity of people.

I also knew that I wanted to incorporate the rustic style of mason jars. Now, as an event planner, I actually own over 100 mason jars. I know, kind of crazy! Hopefully your BBQ won’t require you to purchase quite so many, but they are a great investment and something you will use again and again.

**Buying Tip: Walmart actually makes their own version of mason jars and sells them by the case. These are the cheapest I have been able to find. In addition you can buy the traditional ones at Michael’s by the case with a 40% off coupon, which is also a good deal. You can also find mason jars at Hobby Lobby or online from spots like the Fresh Preserving shop.)**

We stuffed the mason jars with a blue handkerchief for a napkin and upgraded to the “fancy” silver plated plastic utensils. The combination really looked great!

The last touch to the tables was flowers! Did you know that you can buy flowers in bulk from Sam’s Club? You can! That is where we ordered these flowers! These arrangements were relatively simple to construct. For vases, we used a LARGE size mason jar. Then we stuck a combination of sunflowers and baby’s breath in the vase.

Keep in mind, you do have to order the flowers a little bit in advance to make sure they will have the quantity you require. To finish it off, we tied a bow of raffia around the top of the vase. Voila! Beautiful tables, complete.

For the drink areas, we set up a few tables and layered different drink dispensers. What do a mean by layering drink dispensers? Well, it makes the visual more appealing when items are layered at different eye levels versus having them all lined up in a straight line.

I will often wrap books (Harry Potter books work great for this!) in coordinating paper and use them to achieve different heights for a display.

We spiced up the store bought lemonade and tea by adding fresh berries as well as descriptive labels for each dispenser. To spruce up the front of the drink stations, we draped a burlap banner labeled “DRINKS.” I use this burlap banner all the time and just change the letter stickers (yes, they are removable stickers) on the banner depending on the occasion.

As the event comes to a close, I love to send guests off with a little something to remember the occasion. This is by no means necessary, but it is a nice gesture if you can fit it into your party budget.

In this instance, we decided to give each departing guest a small package of brownie bites. The brownie bites were from Sam’s Club and I packaged them in a small cellophane bag, tied securely with a blue gingham ribbon. They were displayed in a basket alongside a chalkboard (of course!) with instructions for guests to take one on their way out.

So, what makes a good party?

The people you surround yourself with, of course!

What makes a pretty party? Well, a lot of the details that I shared with you here today. By creating a subtle, but consistent color scheme or theme you can really turn even a simple BBQ into a coordinated event. I’m looking forward to the snow finally leaving for good, moving into my new home, breaking out my boxes of mason jars and having you mamas over for a mommy date!

Share your tips and tricks for a summer BBQ or what you loved from this post in the comments below.

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About Guest Blogger Jessica Diamond

I am so excited to be sharing a post with Mod Moms! My name is Jessica Diamond. I joined MOD Moms as soon as we relocated to Colorado last year. MOD Moms was instantly a great group of moms to connect with and share information. I am so looking forward to getting out to more events and meeting more awesome moms!

Since moving to Colorado, I have started a local resource blog, Mom Knows – Boulder County. I thought it was the perfect way to share all the information I was discovering, as well as to offer tips on a few areas where I already had some experience. I hope you’ll take a look and find it useful!

Before we moved to Colorado, I owned and operated an event/party planning business – Simply Perfect Parties. I started the business because I LOVE throwing parties and could really entertain everyday! With relocating, renting, trying to buy a house and getting the family settled here, I have not had the time to relaunch the business. However, I still think about parties all the time! Since we are headed into warmer weather, I am going to share with you some easy ways you can throw a summer BBQ that is sure to impress your guests.

To learn more about me, visit www.momknowsboco.com/about

Follow me on social media at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/momknowsboco
Instagram: @momknowsbouldercounty
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/momknowsboulder

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Spotlight of the Month: Tricia Dunham

April 28, 2016May 10, 2016 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

MOD Mom’s wants to belatedly shine the March Spotlight on Tricia Dunham, our Vice President of Registration extraordinaire.

Tricia works tirelessly behind the scenes at MOD Moms to make sure that all of our members (new and returning) get their memberships processed in a timely fashion.

It’s an often-hectic volunteer job, but Tricia handles it with great aplomb. She likes to stay busy and engaged in our community. Mom to boys Ronan (9) and Iain (6), Tricia works as a project manager for Healthcare IT, a hospital system. Additionally, she serves on the Open Space Advisory Committee for the Town of Superior, enjoys MOD Moms’ Working Mom’s Club, Wine Club, Book Club and Movie Club, while also making time to cheer on her favorite New England sports teams with her husband Sean and the boys.

Thank you for all that you do to make this a great community, Tricia!

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Activities for Tiny Travelers

March 14, 2016March 13, 2016 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

Spring Break is fast approaching and we are heading to Virginia. My travel companion is my 4 year-old daughter, Maddie, who will be embarking on her 12th and 13th flights. She loves to travel!

She will be armed with her backpack filled with activities and books to help her pass the time (when she gets tired of the people watching and chatting with strangers). The activities are a mix of exciting new things and familiar, comfortable things.

Her backpack will have a play dough busy box, five different busy bags with activities and art supplies, a kids magazine, her journal with stickers, some tiny fruit erasers, a few of her favorite books, and her favorite baby doll Aja.

A Busy Box

The play dough busy box is a 5×7 inch plastic box with a lid from the Dollar Store. It’s got two tiny play dough containers and a Coral Reef set of “Toob” plastic figures. I cut up some straws and pipe cleaners and put them in Ziploc bags. We did a Christmas version of this and it was a big hit on our last flights.

Busy Bags

The busy bags are great because they are small and thin. I attached a loop of ribbon, so that they are easy to grab out of the backpack. These busy bags have a mix of different puzzles and activities. Target’s Dollar Aisle is a great place to find these tiny treasures. I found foam tangram puzzles, sequencing puzzles, number puzzles. I also loaded 2 of the bags with different crafty supplies. Tiny colored pencils (from Michael’s Easter section), stickers a notepad, markers, scotch tape, craft sticks, pretty twine and some washi tape. I figure we might make some really interesting things with all these supplies!

(They can easily be tucked into your purse individually, so you can use them whenever your tiny traveler is feeling like they need something else to do.)

Journal, Magazine, and Paperback Books

We’re bringing new Maddie’s journal (with lined pages). We started one last year and it’s a fun book to look back on her adventures throughout the year. I usually write the date and a few words and she adds her special drawings, scribbles, paintings, and letters. We are also bringing our new National Geographic Little Kids magazine and a few paperback books. The magazine is a new one for us. It’s tiny and should be perfect for reading on the plane.

I hope some of these ideas are useful to you and your tiny travelers this Spring Break!

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Volunteer Spotlight of the Month: Kate Carter

February 19, 2016 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

“Thank you!”

It’s a nice phrase to hear once in a while, isn’t it? And really, do we say it often enough? Especially to the other women in our lives who build us up, who make us laugh, who bring us food when we’re housebound with sick children? I’m not sure I do.

MOD Moms is kicking off a year of gratitude in 2016 by recognizing some of the amazing women who make our lives better. Our Volunteer of the Month will receive a $25 gift certificate to use at OMNI Resorts, one of the many great MOD Moms partners. The gift certificate can be used at any of the OMNI restaurants, the Mokara Spa or the hotel!

To that end, we’d like to offer our first Volunteer of the Month award to Kate Carter. Shortly after moving to the area, Kate took charge of the awesome 2015 playgroup. Thanks for organizing and helping the 2015-er’s develop a great sense of community, Kate!

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The Date Box

February 13, 2016February 13, 2016 by Kate Tillery-Danzer

Has it ever happened to you? A rare date night (or morning or afternoon) rolls around, you grab your partner, kiss your kiddos, head out the door and then … you scramble for something to do?

“So, what do you want to do?”

“Not sure, what do you want to do?”

“Mmmm…”

…

Enter the Date Box.

Filled with 52 cards of interesting, fun, adventurous and/or romantic things to do, a few gift cards and a handful of great “babysitting coupons”, the Date Box is a springboard for quality time.

I created this for my busy husband for Christmas (thanks for the idea, fellow MOD Mom, Lisa!). And so far, when we’ve been able to find the time, we’ve enjoyed the way that it encourages us to try new things.

Some of the cards are simple (bowling, mini golf, hikes, and trail runs). Some require advanced planning and a few mouse clicks or phone calls (lectures and exhibits at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Fiske Planetarium shows, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival). Some are more active (rock climbing, scuba session, Unser Go Kart Racing). Some are free (sunset picnic at Chautauqua, walk around Harper Lake, stargazing). And some include our favorite standbys (Por Winehouse, Bittersweet, the Tattered Cover, and Barnes and Noble).

I’m a bit nerdy, so, my definition of interesting and romantic might not be your cup of tea, but that’s just it … a box like this can be tailor made for you and your loved one.

In fact, I like the concept so much, I’m making one for the kiddo.

What are some ideas for your date box?

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