Music for Autism Free Interactive & Innovative WindSync Concert in L.A Area March 18

Special Needs 

As readers know I love to share resources for free music for children because it's everywhere, you just need to know where to look for it. The latest example is a free Los Angeles area interactive concert for individuals of all ages -- both kids and young adults -- with autism and other special needs and their families that is planned for Sunday, March 18 at 1 p.m. in Culver City, California.

The upcoming no-cost performance featuring WindSync, a young and energetic musical ensemble injecting their own novel approach to classical music, is presented by The Help Group and Music for Autism and takes place at The Help Group Culver City Campus, 4160 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066. There is no charge but reservations are required to attend.

According to the event's organizers, this unique concert will be professionally performed bringing forth an enriching musical experience in an environment where individual differences are celebrated. The musical one hour concert includes three segments: Concert Time, Conducting Time, and Percussion Time. The best part is that concertgoers aren't just sitting enjoying the music, the audience will be  invited to actively join the experience with body movement and instruments that will be provided.

Meet the Houston-based WindSync Music Group

Reservations are essential and may be made any of three ways

     1. Emailing RSVP@musicforautism.org

     2. Visiting the Concert Calendar section of MusicforAutism.org

     3. Calling Music for Autism at 877-863-7473 ext. 1

Music for Autism is raising public awareness and enriching lives through autism-friendly, interactive concerts developed specifically for individuals with autism and their families. The concerts, held in the United States and United Kingdom, feature professional musicians, including Tony Award winners and Grammy-nominated classical artists.

Non-profit The Help Group is helps young people with autism and other special needs fully realize their potential. It is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive organization of its kind in the U.S. and is a recognized as a leader in the field of autism. A wide range of innovative autism spectrum disorder programs are offered each day to the 950 students ages 3-22 who attend its autism day schools.

My kids, hubbie and I are all musical playing multiple instruments. Some of us even sing! How about your family how do you and your children music into every day life?

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Twitter Parties Schedule this Week for Moms & Women Lots Going on February 20 - 26 With Prizes to Win

Twitter Parties

Updated 2/24/12

Here's this week's list of parties moms and women will enjoy -- lots of Twitter parties are already scheduled this week offering family-friendly prizes. Check back frequently because more events will be added as the week goes on and this schedule is updated with even more Twitter party links.

THIS WEEK

Monday, February 20

Let's Get Organized @Rubbermaid Winter 5-Day Twitter Party, Day 1: Quick Cleaning at 8 pm EST. Be sure to use @Rubbermaid and #Rubbermaid in your Tweets to be eligible to win prizes. No RSVP required.

Don't miss the #TryWindowsPhone #GNO Twitter Party at 9 pm EST on sharing moments. Hosted by @MomitForward and sponsored by @WindowsPhone . RSVP

Get in on the excitement at the Melissa & Doug Twitter Party at 9 pm EST. The #mdparty is sponsored by @MelissaandDoug RSVP

Tuesday, February 21

Come to the Baby Days at Walmart #SealyBaby Twitter Party at 12 Noon EST. Hosted by @Kolcraft. Opps to win great prizes. Details

Don't miss the #BrightFuture Twitter Party at 3 pm EST, hosted by @MomCentral with special guest @BrightFutureInt. Six people will have a $40 donation made in their names to BFI plus each will receive a music DVD featuring A-list celebrities. Details

Join the #StrutMoms @Clorox Twitter Party at 8 pm EST. RSVP
 

Join the Heart Health #CampbellSoup #GNO Twitter Party at 9 pm EST. Hosted by @MomitForward and sponsored by @CampbellSoupCo .  RSVP

Tiny Buddha Book Twitter Party at 8:30 EST. #TinyBuddhaParty is hosted by @partybizconnect with the chance to win prizes from @Lori_Deschene at the @tinybuddha. Details

Wednesday, February 22

Primrose Schools Family Dance-Off Twitter Party hosted by @MomTalkRadio at 8 pm EST. Prize: $25 Gift Card Follow @PrimroseSchools, @ResourcefulMom and @MomSelectAmy #Danceoff. RSVP/Info

Macaroni Kid Twitter #MacKidsTips #DrSmith Party 9 pm EST. Hosted by @SupahMommy and sponsored by @DoctorSmiths Diaper Rash Ointment. Prizes, giveaways and fun. RSVP


Thursday, February 23

It's a Healthy Living Equal Twitter Party at 12 Noon EST. Win prizes at this #EqualSucralose event. Hosted by @DebThompson and @KathleenHenage. RSVP

Office In-SPIRA-Tion #EXACTO Twitter Party at 1 pm EST. Hosted by @Somedayilllearn Prizes: two $25 gift cards, two $50 gift cards and grand prize of one $100 gift card. RSVP

Get in on the chat about Fitness at Home at the #GaiamTV Twitter Party at 8 pm EST. Hosted by @MomSpark with lots of prizes being given away: yoga prize bags with Gaiam yoga mats, gym bags and more. RSVP

Get your #TaxTime Questions answered at the @SentrySafe Twitter Part at 8 pm EST. Sponsored by Sentry Safe and hosted by @AllYou and @TaxGirl. WIN Prizes, No RSVP

Women on Their Way's Local Nation #WynWomen Twitter Party at 8 pm EST. Hosted by @MomTalkRadio. Prizes include digital photo frames, MinoHD Flip Video Cameras, Wyndham Reward Certificates and a week stay courtesy of Endless Vacation Rentals. Also follow @ResourcefulMom and @MomSelectMary.  RSVP/Info

You're invited to the @LibmanCompany Twitter Party at 8:30 pm EST. Use #Libman to join in the fun of hardwood floor care, cleaning tips and giveaway

The #Cravebox Make a Date Twitter Party at 9 pm EST.  Hosted by @SheSpeaks with prizes by @Cravebox. RSVP


Friday, February 24

Join the #VZWBuzzTwitter Party at 3pm EST for a chat about smartphones and the cloud. Prizes include Purple DROID RAZR by Motorola (+ $125 Verizon Gift Card) and a White Plantronics Marque M155 Bluetooth Headset.  RSVP

COMING SOON...

Thursday, March 1

The #TilexClean Twitter Party at 7 pm EST. Hosted by @SocialMoms offering $20 Amazon Gift Cards to 20 random winners (10 to those who Tweet about the party in advance & 10 to attendees of the event). RSVP

Friday, March 2

Shawn Galloway #FanJamSG Twitter Party at 9 pm EST. Hosted by @MomBlogSociety and @pamelamaynard with sponsors @ItsFreeAtLast and @EssexRetail. Prizes: Two $25 Amazon gift cards, one $10 Toys r Us GC and one $10 Amazon GC. RSVP

Twitter Parties are listed free of charge in this weekly schedule. If you'd like to add an event to the Mommy Blog Expert Twitter Party Calendar please email janis at janiselspas dot com with Twitter Party in the subject line & including all the details and links in the body of your message. 

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FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert does attend someTwitter Parties as a Guest. However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one. 

Family Gardening with Kids - Planting Tulips is Educational, Easier Than You Think and Fun Too

Gardening

Just a few weeks ago the world-famous Ground Hog in Punxsutawney predicted six more weeks of winter. Spring may still be officially a month away on the calendar. But, if what's going on in my garden right now is any indication, this might be the first time ever that reliable furry fellow is wrong. Granted I do live and garden in Southern California -- which has a warmer climate than some other areas of the U.S.  However, it is still a little early, even here a few miles from the beach, for tulips to start sprouting like the ones my kids and I planted last fall.

In Amsterdam, Holland living my dream of seeing tulips in spring

Tulips. They evoke such fond memories for me. As a Baby Boomer growing up on the East Coast I remember my own mommy planting a variety of bulbs, mostly tulips, along the front yard wall in fall. 

After a winter that usually included a lot of snow, it never seemed to amaze me -- despite enduring months of being frozen underground -- how these tulips would burst forth almost magically from the earth once the ground thawed, usually in March. 

From late April and into May and early June, mom's beautiful tulips were in full bloom. So my mother would cut colorful bouquets of homegrown tulips for me and my brother and sister to hand carry when we walked to school to give to our teachers.

Last fall, getting ready to plant tulip bulbs at home

As a mom with a family of my own many years later I have enjoyed gardening as a hobby for years both now that I have kids and before I became a mother. Gardening with your children certainly has got to be among the most educational and bonding experiences that parents and their offspring can reap mutual benefits from. 

Yet, all these years I'd never tried planting tulips primarily for two reasons. First, the thought of growing a flower from a bulb, rather than from seed or a plant, kind of seemed daunting to me. Second, I never dreamed that tulips would do well where I live now on the West Coast. 

I didn't realize it at the time. But, when Lowe's home improvement store chain, an exhibitor at BlogHer 2011, gave me some tulip bulbs in cute little burlap bags it reignited my childhood fascination and love affair with these fantastical spring blooming flowers. Not only can you buy everything to garden at Lowe's but they have a huge amount of resources and how to articles on their website including this one describing how to plant spring blooming bulbs.

Planting tulips: Here's a bulb right-side up in 6" hole

Planting tulips isn't as scary as you think I found out. It's simply a matter of digging individual holes for each bulb about 6 inches deep in fall before really cold weather arrives. Then, after you place each bulb in its hole with the end that has a slight point facing upward, you refill each hole with a mixture of soil and composted material to cover the bulbs. We did all that in September.

I've watered right after the bulbs were in the ground as well as a few times after that plus it rained periodically. Then, I promptly forgot about them. Imagine our family's glee five months after planting those tulip bulbs, when one of my kids discovered last week that those bulbs were all actually beginning to sprout. It was both an exciting and wonderous moment of discovery just like I recall from my early elementary school years many decades ago.

My tulips are now sprouting, breaking the soil right now

Just beginning to pop out of the dirt right now. That's where the tulips in my garden are at the moment. As the leaves begin to grow upward and begin to form blossoms that will eventually open I plan to photograph and document their growth on this blog. 

I invite you to join me for this journey as to watch as these seemingly lifeless bulb hopefully morph into a beautiful floral display in my yard.

Hope my tulips grow to be as pretty as these from the Farmer's Market

Did you garden as a child and/or do you enjoy gardening with your own kids? Have you ever tried growing tulips? If yes, please share some of your own experiences with them. If no, do you think you might try planting some bulbs yourself after reading this post?

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FTC Disclosure: As mentioned in this post I received some tulip bulbs from Lowe's to facilitate this review. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.