MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The start of school means the lazy days of summer are gone, replaced by car pools, sports practice, music rehearsals, homework and midnight science fair projects. That leaves little time for thinking about cooking healthy dinners or packing nutritious lunches for the kids.

But good nutrition doesn’t have to be difficult, time-consuming or scary. Tina Whetzel, owner of EatFit LiveFit + CrossFit Mt. Pleasant, is hosting “The ABCs of Nutrition,” giving individuals and families the tools they need to be healthy.

The event is 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 at EatFit LiveFit + CrossFit Mt. Pleasant, which is located at 1118 Park West Blvd. in the Park West subdivision in Mt. Pleasant. There is no charge and children are welcome to attend (the facility has a children’s play area).

Attendees will leave with quick recipes, ideas for healthy snacks and practical information about nutrition and its role in a healthy lifestyle.

“I want people to learn how to pair foods so they’re full and don’t overeat. I want them to learn that eating itself isn’t bad, but overeating and eating the wrong foods is the problem,” Whetzel says.

Attendees will be entered into a drawing for a week of free classes at EatFit LiveFit + CrossFit Mt. Pleasant. Also, anyone who later signs up for a one-on-one nutrition consultation will receive a discounted rate of $45 (versus $65).

For more information, call 843-475-2459 or e-mail Whetzel at tina@eatfitlivefit.com

About EatFit LiveFit + CrossFit Mt. Pleasant

Founded by personal trainer Tina Whetzel, EatFit LiveFit + CrossFit Mt. Pleasant combines exercise and nutrition into a program that helps people – especially women – learn how to eat and be healthy as part of daily living. EatFit LiveFit + CrossFit Mt. Pleasant offers group classes, personal training and nutritional information as well as exercise and nutrition programs for children. For more information, visit www.eatfitlivefit.com.

This Saturday, August 28, Wonder Works will host a day of truly local activities to celebrate 20 years, the new Charleston store expansion, and the city’s Green Business Challenge.

Starting at 11:00 am, customers can meet award winning local artists, authors, and craftsmen, such as Tate Nation, Clay Rice, Jonathan Miller, Julie Kube, and Christian Royal. Sing-Alongs with Jonathan Robinson, Little Picasso art activities, storytelling with Helen Dah Royal, free birthday gifts, and many other surprises, will occur throughout the day.

The day’s most exciting event will happen at 1:30pm at the newly expanded Charleston location. The “Ribbon Rush” will officially mark the Grand Re-Opening.

“It’s all about the kids and the community! So naturally they are the ones to break the ribbon! With out them we wouldn’t be here today! This is one way we can really truly thank everyone for helping us make that magic and wonder happen!” shares owner Christine Osborne.

Involvement in the City of Charleston’s Green Business Challenge led Wonder Works to install sustainable flooring and lighting systems, along with programmable HVAC systems in both locations. Existing plumbing fixtures were upfit to reduce water waste. “If Wonder Works can do this in the oldest strip mall in Charleston, anyone can – and we encourage other local business to also get involved.” says Wonder Works Green Team Leader, Stephanie Posda, LEED AP.

Established in 1990, Wonder Works is locally owned and have two family toy and gift stores. www.wonderworkscharleston.com.

Cross-post with www.newbymom.com

Just a few weeks ago, in the midst of our heat wave, we decided to do something crazy – spend the morning outside at beautiful Bee City. Located in Cottageville, not too far off the beaten path along the Edisto River and Givhans State Park, Bee City is a terrific educational facility equipped with classes (for groups of 15 or more) on the importance of honeybees, a petting zoo with domestic and exotic animals, and an indoor nature center with alligators, snakes, turtles and more. We arrived at 9 a.m. when the doors opened. It was still cool outside in the well-shaded petting zoo. The kids and I had a spectacular time with our friends petting rabbits, llamas, feeding lemurs, and watching the wallabies hop about. Inside the classroom we had a look at the inner workings of a honeybee hive through a special viewing wall. While we didn’t stay for lunch, the Bee City Café serves homemade lunch and dessert. A walk through the gift shop is a must so you can load up on all the fantastic honey products from the local colonies.

Bee City has special hours for the public and field trips, and the schedule changes from the peak summer months to the off season fall-winter-spring months. A quick visit to their website provides loads of helpful information: www.beecity.net. Through the end of August, Bee City is open to the public Tues, Wed, and Thurs 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Fri and Sat 9 a.m. -6 p.m. Admission is $4.00 per person ages 3 and older. Feed for the animals is not included, but is negligible for the fun and experience.

Join us at the Freshfields Farmer’s Market tonight, July 26th! I will be in the air conditioning at Indigo Books (pregnant women get that special treatment in this sort of heat )signing copies of Go Local Charleston, meeting new people, and gleaning more fun tips and activities for the next edition of Go Local Charleston. Also at the farmer’s market tonight is the Charleston Museum with fun games and activities for kids.

I hope to see you at Indigo Books from 4 – 6 p.m.

By Mary Middleton (Cross-post from newbymom.com)

As the summer days get warmer, searching for an indoor activity is necessary. This week we spent the morning at the Charleston Museum, America’s Oldest Museum. The Museum features a wonderful child-focused exhibit, “KidStory,” which depicts a child’s life throughout the ages of Charleston’s history.

Equipped with hands-on activities like microscopes, bird calls and identification, and sea shell identification in the natural science area to a miniature Heyward-Washington House with dress-up clothing, tea table with games and tea set, KidStory will entertain and educate children of all ages. Other exhibits in the museum, like the Natural History Hall, are sure to please, but are less hands-on; my kids love looking at the bird mounts and skeletons. Various toddler programs, kid-focused tours, and family programs round out the Museum’s offerings each week. The Charleston Museum is a very worth while adventure for the family!

Cost: $10/adult, $5/child (3-12 yrs), 2 and under are FREE.

The Go Local calendar is chock-full of events for the July 4th holiday, one of my personal favorites. Be sure to catch a fireworks show at one of our many favorite locations!!

Carolina Day 2010
Date: 6/27/2010, 6/28/2010
Time:
Location: Fort Moultrie

Details:

The National Park Service invites you to celebrate Carolina Day at Fort Moultrie on Sunday and Monday, June 27-28, 2010. Programs include musket firing demonstrations, period medical displays, children`s programs and a band concert. Admission to Fort Moultrie for is free on both days of this event.

Carolina Day, observed every June 28th throughout South Carolina, commemorates the successful defeat of British land and naval forces by Carolina and Virginia patriots on June 28, 1776. The triumph was the first decisive victory by the American Colonies in their fight for independence and prevented the British from gaining a foothold into South Carolina for another four years.

Artillery and musket firing demonstrations will be performed on both days by volunteers portraying the numerous units that took part in the 1776 battle. Eighteenth century medical displays will also be exhibited. For the Carolina Day finale at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 28, the 246th Army Band of the South Carolina Army Reserve National Guard will perform a free concert of patriotic and popular music.

Fees:
Free

Contact:
Dawn Davis
(843) 883-3123 x 23
Click here to email us for more information.
More Information:

Twitter moms is hosting a contest aimed at getting kids to continue their reading during the summer. I wanted to share this link and also emphasize that Charleston County Public Library system has a summer reading program that is stellar. There are reading milestones, as well as prizes that children receive for completing each milestone. My children both participate, and love it. Best of all, it’s FREE!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get an “I Can Read!” book. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Cross-post from NewbyMom.com

Posted June 21, 2010

Take flight this Summer at the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw. Charleston County Parks and Recreation (CCPRC) just launched their Thursday Summer Entertainment Series, an inexpensive, educational, and fun series for children and families.

This past Thursday, a bird handler from the Center arrived to James Island County Park to a crowd full of children excited to see a Barred Owl, the Eurasian Kestrel and the Harris Hawk. As a special treat, the Harris Hawk did a flight demonstration, flying just inches above my daughter’s head. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head as she felt the wind from the hawk’s wing pass by her!

The expert was patient and insightful, answering numerous questions about each bird. The crowd was enthusiastic filled with summer campers, young children and parents. We will certainly return for more CCPRC programs, and will make a special trip to the Center for Birds of Prey later this summer.

Cost: $4-$5 per child per event. For more information visit CCPRC’s Summer Entertainment Series.

I’m finally getting the Calendar of Events sorted out and the way I want it to look. I have to add more events from the Twitter RSS feed on the sidebar, but then we’ll be underway! This new Calendar Page will eventually encompass all our events and replace the static calendar page “Events in Charleston.”

Thanks for being so patient!