Cubes & Crayons Coworking - Silicon Valley

C&C Reads: The Wretched Stone

The perfect story to remind us of the value of interaction over television and computers.

Title: The Wretched Stone
Author/Illustrator: Chris Van Allsburg

What we love: If you haven't yet picked up a Chris Van Allsburg book, you are missing out.  He is one of the most vivid childen's illustrators and profound authors around.  This book in particular caught my eye back when I was studying children's literature while getting my Master's degree.  We watch a happy crew of sailors who make music, tell stories and dance degenerate into monkeys when they pull aboard a glowing rock.  While to adults it may be a clear signal of the sign of the times, children engage in the high detail illustrations and a fanciful story.  A great story to remind all of us of the value of being with each other and maybe going a bit more unplugged in this "connected" world.  Can be read with children at all levels but highly recommended for 4 - 10 years.

Profile: Nonprofit consultant and Happy Mom

Cubes&Crayons Coworking meet Holly, mother of 15 month old Victoria and nonprofit and environmental consultant.  When not playing with her little one, Holly is out doing strategic planning and grant writing for such organizations as Golden Gate Prks.  Find out how she is getting it all done at Cubes&Crayons.

What brought you to Cubes&Crayons?

I found out about Cubes & Crayons through Blossom Birth where I had gone for new mother support groups after my daughter was born.  I needed a flexible child care option for days when my primary child care situation doesn't work (for instance, when they close for vacation) or on Fridays when I plan to be off, but get sucked into doing more work for clients and need a few extra hours child care.

What do you do for a living?

I'm a consultant.  I primarily do grant writing for nonprofit organizations, particularly environmental groups.  I also help with strategic planning and general organizational issues.  Two days a week I'm in San Francisco working with the Golden Gate Parks Conservancy to build the section of the Coastal Trail along the western Coastal Bluffs -- a nice change from working from home on my computer!

What is your favorite part of the Cubes&Crayons Community?

I'm haven't been there enough to meet a lot of the others, but the staff are really great and I love seeing what type of chocolate there is to be had in the breakroom!

Friday Morning Yoga - work out while your child plays

DROP-IN YOGA
(On Site Childcare Available)
 
Join us for an invigorating yoga work out.  Take a break from the hustle of the week and end with a fantastic workout.

When: 10am – 11am, Fridays REGISTER
Where: Cubes&Crayons, 154 E. Dana Street, Mountain View. CA 94041
Cost: $15/class; purchase a 5 pack for $70 (a $5 savings);  Take first introductory class for $10
Cash or check accepted in person or purchase pass online.

Dress comfortably and bring a yoga mat or towel.
On site childcare available at $9/hr for yoga participants during class.
Reserve separately through contact[at]cubesandcrayons.com

About our instructor: Hillary Easom has studied yoga for over a decade. Her asana practice started with Iyengar and later moved more toward Vinyasa, which primarily influences her teaching style. Yoga helped Hillary develop body and breath awareness that worked wonders during two pregnancies and childbirths. She also has embraced the spiritual side of yoga and continues to explore meditation and yogic philosophy. Hillary’s classes combine breath awareness and physical postures in an effort to open the body, mind and spirit to all that is possible. She aims to ensure that every student—regardless of age, fitness level or experience—finds something magical in the practice.

Heard in the "halls" at Cubes&Crayons Mountain View

People want to know what it's like to be part of Cubes&Crayons...here's what is heard around the "halls":

• Being at Cubes&Crayons is like an extension of my home.
• I love Sadia - she is amazing with the kids.
• I love that when I walk in I see books that I would have at home and that aren't seen at other infant and childcare centers
• Everything is so neat and clean and engaging.

C&C Reads: 5 Little Pumpkins

  Simple, well-known rhyme about pumpkins, perfect for the season

Title: Five Little Pumpkins
Illustrator: Dan Yaccarino

What we love: The first time I read this book with one of my daughters, I didn't know this was even a song and she called the pumpkins apple.  Despite our auspicious start, it became a favorite much beyond the Fall season.  The rhythmic text is engaging, and the bright illustrations are fun.  It becomes a great way to play games like "where's the ghost" on each page and identify picture such as the moon and the cat.  A delight for children from 6 months to 2 years.

Modern Mom: Can We really have it all!

While I posted this on my personal blog, it feels even more timely today, and so I share it to remind us all, that we are all working on that balance:

Over the weekend my "wife" had to quit to watch her nephew while her sister tutors.  And now I am scrambling to find a replacement.  My husband just returned to work from paternity leave and so I am back to conference calls hoping my youngest will map and my oldest will play quietly for a15 minutes.

I live by the belief that as a modern mom we can have it all, but sometimes that reality is far from the truth.  The goal towards flexible work options and retention of professional women in the workplace is improving.  It is a friendlier work environment for parents in general than it was thirty years ago.  I read an article on just this about how moms (or mums) in Australia are trying to make it all work.  And so the question remains, can we have it all?

Time Management for the Busy Parent

Doesn't 10 minutes a day all to yourself sound fabulous?  Find that some days the minutes tick by at a snail's pace?  Wonder how to get things done, have time with the kids, spouse, and more imporantly time for you! 

Capturing personal time is one of the hardest things for parents, and especially for mothers, to do. We focus on why we need to find time for ourselves and follow that with concrete strategies for getting that time every day. REGISTER

You will leave with:

• A plan for getting time for you
• Strategy for finding resources to help you with your plan
• Concrete list of goals for your time
• List of ways to get it all done or prioritize need versus want

Childcare available.  Members can book childcare online.  Non-members reserve childcare here.

SPACE IS LIMITED.

Join MF Chapman, work-life balance advocate, mom, and entrepreneur to work on your own balance. 

Kids Night Out - OR what to do on our date night in the Bay Area

While you may look at kids' night out as a fun event for the kids, it reminds my sweetie and I to do something nice for each other.  It's a win-win to have a great evening planned for your child (that you didn't have to plan) and some ideas for what you can do as well.   
Need some ideas of great romantic activities for evening or a saturday morning, check out our hot list below:

Providing "Green" Childcare in Silicon Valley

Cubes&Crayons Childcare in Mountain View has always been eco-friendly.  Being green was never a choice.  As a parent and business owner, I am especially conscious of the choices we make for our children now and in the future.  And now with rising gas prices and people becoming aware of their environmental impact i.e. carbon footprint, I am proud to remind people that Cubes&Crayons childcare is eco-friendly (and might I add, one of the few "green" childcares around.)

 

Cubes&Crayons Childcare in Mountain View has always been eco-friendly.  Being green was never a choice.  As a parent and business owner, I am especially conscious of the choices we make for our children now and in the future.  And now with rising gas prices and people becoming aware of their environmental impact i.e. carbon footprint, I am proud to remind people that Cubes&Crayons childcare is eco-friendly (and might I add, one of the few "green" childcares around.)

 

Thank you for Helping a Mother Out!

While I was in a meeting today, someone was asking me to explain Cubes&Crayons.  So I started with the basics, we have flexible office space with onsite childcare available for those who need it.  But the reality is that is just what sits on our marketing materials.  Cubes&Crayons is a community of caring professionals and entrepreneurs who are not just connected with each other, but also willing to pull together to reach out to others.

Last week we completed our 2nd diaper drive, launched by C&C member Elly, to benefit the Help A Mother Out.  Our community brought in over 3000 diapers!  Outstanding.  Thank you to all who contributed and spread the word.  Rumor has it Elly is still collecting donations, so bring them in and we will get them to the right place.  Read more about the beneficiaries.  We cannot say enough about the poor 8 month old wearing the same diaper for 2 days straight. 

Have your own passion you would like the Cubes&Crayons community to support?  Let us know.  Our community loves to rally to support other communities.