Archives for 2023

Family Floralia Workshop

GETTY VILLA

Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 11 am

Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 11 am

Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 11 am

Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 11 am

Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 11 am

Discover the blooms, textures, and fragrances of history during this all-ages Roman garden workshop. To celebrate the ancient season of Floralia—which honors the Roman goddess Flora—explore the Villa gardens with your family, discover beautiful flowers, and then make seed balls to bring home and grow a garden of your own. This is a free, drop-in program.

Credit: Getty Villas.

Fostering a child is a very rewarding experience, but it can also come with some financial challenges. From the cost of supplies to unexpected expenses, becoming a foster carer is likely to increase your monthly outgoings. The good news, however, is that with the right financial planning, you can make fostering a more financially sustainable experience. Keep reading for some tips on budgeting and saving as a foster carer.

Create a Budget

As a foster carer, you will be entitled to an allowance from fosteringpeople.co.uk based on the age and needs of the child and your personal circumstances. It’s also possible to work while you are fostering, although you may want to consider working part-time or other flexible arrangements that allow you to make your foster child the number one priority. Whether your income is a fostering allowance alone or a combination of an allowance and salary, the first step is to create a budget. Understanding how much money is coming in and going out each month will make it easier for you to make informed decisions about where to spend and where to cut back.

Look for Ways to Cut Expenses

There are several things you can do to reduce your expenses when fostering. For example, you may want to shop around for better deals on household utilities like energy, broadband, or insurance. Or you can buy supplies in bulk – for example, buying food or supplies for younger kids like nappies and formula can be much cheaper if you buy a lot at once. Go through your regular expenses and cancel any that you no longer need, while looking for cheaper options on the rest.

Buy Second-Hand

There’s nothing wrong with getting deals on second-hand items for your foster child – and with buying and selling online becoming more and more popular, there are plenty of places where you can find excellent deals. For example, you can use Facebook Marketplace or eBay to kit out your foster child’s bedroom with all the furniture they need at a fraction of the price of buying brand new. Shopping around is a great way to find second-hand products that are as good as new.

Collaborate with Other Foster Carers

As a foster carer, it’s good to get involved with the community in your area, which often means attending groups or communicating with other foster carers online. While having access to people who are going through the same things as you can be great for emotional support, you can also turn to each other for practical support, too. For example, if a few foster carers in your area need new clothes for your foster children, organising a clothes swap is a great option. Plus, it’s a great way to teach your foster children more about sustainability, and why ‘new to you’ is sometimes just as good, if not better than brand new.

While foster carers in the UK get a generous allowance to cover the cost of fostering, being frugal is always wise. By keeping these tips in mind, you can make your allowance stretch further while still ensuring your foster child has everything they need to thrive.

April 1 at 10:00 a.m. – What’s It Worth?

• John Moran Auctioneers & Appraisers, in partnership with the Laguna Art Museum, invites the public to have up to five items professionally valued. Appraisers at John Moran Auctioneers will provide a verbal valuation of your treasures. Please find a full list of items that may be valued and more information at this link.

April 2 at 10:00 a.m. – Jean Stern Presents: The Historical Development of Watercolor Painting

• In this illustrated lecture, Curator Jean Stern will trace the history and development of watercolor painting. Mr. Stern will define various water-based media and discuss such variants as watercolor, gouache, and tempera. He will review the historical evolution and show that water-based paint appears in ancient art dating back to the cave paintings of pre-historic societies. Also discussed will be the many forms of water-based media through history with examples from ancient civilizations including Medieval, the Renaissance and into the Twentieth Century. More information can be found at this link.

April 15 at 6:00 p.m. – Spence Collection Artist Panel & Pizza Party

• Join the Laguna Art Museum for a discussion on the artworks donated by Stuart Spence and Judith Vida-Spence to Laguna Art Museum. Co-moderated by artist, writer, and professor, Tom Lawson, and LAM’s Curatorial Fellow, Rochelle Steiner, this panel will include artists whose work is currently on view at the museum. Together, they will engage in discussion about the artistic community that evolved in Southern California in the late 1980s and 1990s; their wide-ranging artistic approaches that are both conceptual and personal; and the critical support of the Spences and others at that time. More information can be found at this link.

April 22 at 11:00 a.m. – Earth Day Celebration: Storytime & Beach Cleanup with Project O

• Join the Laguna Art Museum and Project O in celebration of Earth Day. Rich German, founder of Project O, will commence the celebration with story time by reading My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan, followed by a presentation and book signing by German and his book Blue Laguna, and wrapping up the day will be a beach cleanup. All supplies for the cleanup will be provided, but feel free to bring your own work gloves. Please wear appropriate clothes & shoes for beach cleanup. More information can be found at this link.

April 30 at 2:00 p.m. – My Hero: The Art of Healing

• Unlock the healing power of creativity with MY HERO and the Laguna Art Museum. Included with museum admission, guests will enjoy art, poetry, music, dance and short films to celebrate the art of healing. MY HERO is a nonprofit, educational project that empowers people of all ages to realize their potential to effect change in the world. More information can be found at this link.

Credit: Laguna Art Museum.

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM, Inc.) has announced three event series coming to Downtown Santa Monica this spring. Following the success of its initial launch in 2022, the 626 Night Market Mini Series returns to Santa Monica, bringing the iconic Southern California food festival to the city on a smaller scale monthly beginning in March and running through May 2023 on select Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 10 p.m. The markets bring together some of the most unique eats Southern California has to offer, featuring approximately three dozen food, merch and craft vendors. An alcohol garden will be available for attendees 21 years and older. The market is open to all ages and free to attend with advanced ticket reservations.

Spring programming at the Promenade continues with the Conscious Market on Saturdays, March 4, April 1 and May 6 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hosted in partnership with Fit Girl Club LA, the markets feature a collection of elevated brands and sustainable products from over 40 local businesses with a zero waste and self-care focus. Local fitness studios will offer free fitness classes. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat, towel and water for maximum enjoyment. Complimentary healthy drinks and snacks will be available for sampling. 

Grab your dancing shoes and dance like no one is watching during free Silent Disco Fridays on Fridays, March 10, April 14 and May 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. Get your groove on to one of three live DJ sets with a personal light-up headset and unlimited dancing at this outdoor party. No matter your age, all are invited to experience a fun evening dancing under the night sky. 

WHEN: 

626 Night Market Mini Series: 

Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 10 p.m. 

March 4 – 5 and 18 -19 

April 1 – 2, 15-16 and 29 – 30 

May 13 – 14 and 27 – 28 

Conscious Market Series: 

First Saturday of each month: March through May 

Saturdays, March 4, April 1 and May 6 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Silent Disco Fridays: 

Second Fridays of each month: March through May 

Fridays, March 10, April 14 and May 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

WHERE: 

626 Night Market Mini Series: 

Lot 27, 452 Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401 

Conscious Market Series: 

1351 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 

Silent Disco Fridays: 

1300 Block of the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401 

REGISTRATION: 

Events are suitable for all ages, admission is free but advance registration is required.

626 Night Market Mini Series: 

To register, please visit 626NightMarket.com/Mini. 

Conscious Market Series and Silent Disco Fridays: 

For more information and to register, please visit DowntownSM.com/events-calendar.

About 626 Night Market 

626 Night Market is inspired by the famous open-air nighttime bazaars of Asia, where people come together to eat, drink, socialize, and be entertained. Established in 2012, the large-scale market is named after the 626 area code region of San Gabriel Valley, northeast of Los Angeles. The iconic Californian festival features 250+ food, merchandise, crafts, artists, games, live concerts, and entertainment attractions in an epic event that appeals to all ages with up to 100,000 attendees per 3-day weekend. The flagship event is held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. Two additional event locations were added to meet popular demand: OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa in 2014 and Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton in 2018. 626 Night Market aims to unite and empower the community by serving as a platform for showcasing local talent including performers, chefs, and entrepreneurs. For more information visit 626NightMarket.com, or follow on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or Twitter. 

Credit: DTSM, Inc.