Studio3Music Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Miss Kim’

May
2

Things we love: Purple Café & Wine Bar

Posted in Bits and Pieces, Things to do, Things We Love

There is one restaurant in the Seattle area that resonates with almost every “type” of customer, from the casual lunch, to the eclectic date night, to the business outing – and that’s the Purple Café. Purple Café, owned by Heavy Restaurant Group, has expanded to four Purple Café satellite locations (all located in corresponding Studio3Music studios) of Kirkland, Woodinville, Seattle and Bellevue. In addition to the Purple Café, they added a little spice to the mix and introduced a Mexican cuisine restaurant, Barrio, to the Capitol Hill neighborhood and an Americana fare restaurant, Lot No.3, to downtown Bellevue.

One of my favorite questions to ask our Studio3Music families is where they enjoy a date night in the Greater Seattle area. The Purple Café is continuously referenced and the daydreaming begins as everyone rattles off their favorite menu dish and recommended wine pairing.

  • “Basil Pesto Pasta is divine!”
  • “The large wood table you can reserve at the Woodinville location. It really sets the mood for a gathering.”
  • “The Apple, Walnut, and Stilton Salad!”
  • “The way they help you choose just the wine you’re in the mood for.”
  • “The salted caramels. Melt in your mouth goodness.”

This year, we proudly partner with the Purple Café and encourage you to visit this savvy, distinctive, rustic-inspired restaurant the next time you are entertaining a date night, a luncheon after a Symphony Serenade concert, or a business meeting. The cuisine, the atmosphere and service are bar-none. The Purple Café, Barrio and Lot No. 3 all exemplify the very best of dining in the Pacific Northwest.

-posted by Miss Kim, a frequent Heavy Restaurant Group patron (always seeking a date night with a hubby and a little chicken marsala).

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Dec
2

Singing Scales

Posted in Bits and Pieces, Child Development, Education, Things We Love

Kate swinging Up, Up, Up, Up and Down, Down, Down, Down

Every parent does it. Every parent to some extent brags, compliments and shares in the excitement of his or her child. I do it. I do it ALL the time. I am so proud of my girls. I think they are genius children and that they really could do no wrong. I sing my child’s praises to friends, family and acquaintances.

In fact, I am about to do it now. My youngest daughter, Kate, has been in the Kindermusik program since two months of infancy. We started her in Family Time, then in Village and now she is a thriving Our Timer. I watched as her progression over the past two years finally came to a head just this last week. I had Kate flying through the air on my legs when I thought – I should do this to the Our Time vocal warmup – Up, Up, Up, Up, Up, Up, Up, Up like a rocket ship… and Down, Down, Down, Down, Down, Down, Down, Down like a shooting star. (I know you just sang this scale exercise as you read that).  It’s addictive and the kids LOVE it.

I introduced this concept of using our scale warmup as a gross motor activity and by the second go-round Kate was singing it by herself.  The next day she was playing play-doh when I overheard her taking the compound containers and stacking them as she sang her scales up and down. My husband whispered, ‘She really is starting to connect things’! He was right. Kate has mastered her scales and she is applying them without my guidance. How proud am I?! Extremely. I want to scream from the mountaintop that my two-year old is a Kindermusik prodigy (though I know this is still just the beginning of her Kindermusik education).

Knowing that parents bask in the little glories of their children, we, as your Studio3Music teachers, want to hear about these milestones whether big or little, whether you deem them inconsequential or bigger than the 2012 Presidential election – tell us! We encourage our Studio3Music community of families to share these tidbits with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/studio3music.

All geniuses dress this way...

We love our kids, your kids and our community of loving parents. Each child is so different and special in his and her own way, and finding the joy in one another’s growth is only part of the full Kindermusik experience.

My personal next step: getting Kate on video singing her scales. This precious little toddler voice will be gone before I know it. Plus, when she’s 18 and on her first date (yes, she’s not dating ‘til 18) we will remind her that she is every bit as precious to us now as she was when she was two singing her scales wearing only her diaper.

-posted by Miss Kim, who is proud of her children and her Studio3Music Kindermusik community.

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Apr
15

The Usagi Bond

Posted in Bits and Pieces, Family

The Puhrmanns got a dog!  After long last, we have finally decided to welcome a dog to the clan. Kenny, a retired Black Lab/Rottweiler service dog is a first for our family of four. Let me take you back to early March. My husband and I were attending a school district auction when a family at the table mentioned hearing about a 6-year old service dog whose owner, a single woman with Lou Gehrig’s disease, had just passed and her dog was in need of a forever home. He was trained, mature, calm and what the veterinarian deemed a ‘really good dog’. However; he had never been around children in a long-term situation.

Kenny and Hallie

We made arrangements with the rescue team to meet Kenny at our home, so both the rescuers and the dog could meet our family and see his potentially new environment. Kenny was brought inside after a short human meet & greet and the reality sunk in quick – this is dog is not leaving.

My girls were head over heels for him right off the bat. So much so that Hallie (4.5 year old) was seemingly ready to take Cesar Millan’s title of ‘dog whisperer’ moments after the first introduction as Kate (21 months) was happily using her supersonic squeal to welcome him. It was a bit overwhelming.

As I was trying to manage Kate, welcome Kenny, showcase our home and hold somewhat of a conversation with the rescue team – I asked Hallie to please take Kenny aside and give him ‘gentle pets’. What we all saw was nothing short of darling.

While the chaos peaked, it was met with the most endearing, genuine and memorable moments the rescue team had experienced and one that I was drawn to tears by. Hallie sat beside Kenny and started singing ‘Usagi, Usagi’ to him as she gently stroked his back. Within seconds, this 77 lb lab/rotty mix had rolled over to have her pet his tummy and as she ended her song Kenny flipped back over, she gave him a huge hug, he licked her face, she giggled and whispered, ‘oh, I love you too boy!’

I have experienced many moments in my five years of motherhood that rank right up there as immediate tear-jerkers, but this memory is forever etched into my mind as one of the most sacred. To date, I have now overheard Hallie sing ‘Usagi, Usagi’ to lull her sister back to sleep, to herself when she is tired and of course, to her new best friend Kenny.

There really is something about that rabbit in the sky. It keeps bringing families together in and out of snuggle time. You can listen to Hallie’s song here:

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and download it from http://play.kindermusik.com/.

-posted by Miss Kim and Hallie, who are hoping everyone has their own Usagi-type of bond.

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Nov
30

Off to Dreamland

Posted in Family, parenting, Things We Love

This reviewer has to tell you about the Putumayo World Music CD’s. How many times have you passed by the Putumayo World Music CD’s at Starbucks and wondered if they are really worth the money? Are they quality? Are they beautifully orchestrated? Are they really ‘all that’? Simply: YES!

A few months back, I received the Dreamland Putumayo CD. This is the most extraordinary collaboration of enchanting lullaby melodies on one CD. Artists such as: Carlos Santana, Lynn Morrison, Teresa Doyle and Erick Manana fill this CD with mesmerizing lyrics that span various cultures and languages. My daughter, Katelyn (now 16 months) was a difficult child to soothe to sleep. She would toss & turn and fuss about every 3 hours. At my personal wits end, I decided that I would turn on this CD just to see if we could lull into a sweet slumber. Hands down, the smartest decision I ever made. She immediately calmed down and actually now hums to the music.

I am so intrigued and engaged by this music that I’ll turn it on throughout the house during quiet time for all to enjoy. It also makes for the perfect long drive/road trip music. Now, that I’m addicted and believe in this music, I have picked up the Hawaiian Playground and the Latin American mix. I am delighted that a number of these CD’s are available for purchase through my Studio3Music teacher and on display at the Redmond Town Center studio for only $13.95.

I highly, strongly and wholeheartedly endorse and urge every parent to listen to the music. It is amazing quality and perfect for any child or adult looking for another musical outlet.

Check it out at http://www.putumayo.com/en/

-posted by Kim, enchanted listener and mother of two young, active girls.

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Apr
10

Time Out, Mommy!

Posted in Bits and Pieces, Things to do

When was the last time you took a moment for yourself? We blog, research, invest all our spare moments into the development and health of our children.  Over the weekend, as my mother was leaving she embraced me tightly and said ‘Kim, you are doing a wonderful job raising these children.  They are spectacular, well-rounded, adventurous, smart…but let’s remember that you also are important. And, that is something that when I was your age, did not do for myself.’

Her advice hit home and that night all I wanted to do was have a little Kim time (which is a challenge with a 9 month old and a 3.5 going on 10 year old).  However; the real challenge is what would I want to do with some Kim time? I could drink a coffee and read up on my latest gossip magazine,  I could clean and organize the house…(nope!), I could do a little work, or I could constructively do something that really makes me happy.  

You know what really lights that fire and stirs up my passion?  Volunteering…. Seriously it does! . In the past, I have walked in the Seattle Breast Cancer 3 Day twice, fundraised $5800 and put over 150+ miles on my soles. This time around I want to be on the other side and cheer on those as they did for me back in 2007 & 2008.

I strongly encourage all mothers, regardless of what your passion is, to TAKE A TIME OUT! A time out and enjoy this ride called motherhood. Enjoy and remember what it feels like to feel empowered and individual.  Remind yourself that a happy child needs a happy mommy!

-posted by Miss Kim, who encourages you to Take a Time Out!

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