Enter Montgomery County Patch Sites' Mother's Day Photo Contest!

Patch is celebrating great moms everywhere. Tell us what makes your mom so awesome and upload a photo for your chance to win awesome prizes.

  Is there anything moms can't do? From shuffling kids to practices and recitals to offering sage advice when their children need it most, moms accomplish superhuman feats every day.  In honor of everything moms do, we're celebrating awesome moms in our Montgomery County Patch sites with a Mother's Day Blogging Photo contest.  Share a favorite photo of you and your mom (Moms – feel free to upload your own photos, as well). Don't forget to add a blog post about why your mom is worthy of recognition not just on Mother's Day, but all year round. The winning photo and blog post will be selected at random by Patch's editorial staff. The winner will be awarded an amazing prize pack including gifts from: To enter our contest: Blog entries will be…

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Alyson D'Alessandro

10:02 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013

It's at the top of the page on each site.   more ›

Montco Moms Turn to Facebook to Consign

Local mothers exchange childhood toys, clothing and accessories using social media.

Moms have to do it all. From getting the kids to soccer practice, to scheduling every doctor, dentist and eye appointment, from school homework to dance recitals, it just never ends. Moms over the years have developed some unique ways of organizing it all. Thankfully, with tools like smartphones, Google calendars, and alarmed reminders, there are multiple tricks of the trade these days. Some mothers in Montgomery County have found a way to even use social media to their advantage, too. With Facebook, some 502 moms have found a way to consign online. It can be difficult to get around to all the sales, find clothes and toys on a budget and make the family dollar stretch, but with Montgomery County Kids Online Yard Sale, the sale is always in…

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Kids Consignment Sale This Weekend at Lower Providence Fire Co.

Tons of clothes, toys, books, videos, and more on sale this Saturday and Sunday in Eagleviile.

It's consignment sale time and that means you can stock up on the stuff you need for your ever-growing children. Tons of clothes, toys, bikes, books, videos, games, furniture and more are yours at great prices this weekend at Lower Providence Volunteer Fire Company, 3199 Ridge Pike in Eagleville. The sale starts this Saturday, April 20 at 8 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. The sale continues on Sunday, April 21 at 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. with everything 50% off on that second day. Over 180 families have contributed goods to the sale, making it one of the largest of it's kind in the area. Some of the items you'll find for sale include: Cash and credit cards will be accepted at the sale. Go to smartmomssale.com for more details.

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It's Mommy Market Time

Patch calendars are filled with local mommy markets and consignment sales.

Are you a mom, or are you planning to become one soon? Patch's March and April calendars are packed with mommy markets and consignment sales just for you. It’s a fact of life: Kids grow up. They outgrow toys, clothing, books, strollers, car seats and just about everything you spend your hard-earned money on for them. If your house is cluttered with these things – which may still have lots of life, just not with your children – consider signing up for a vendor table at one of these sales. Unless you plan to have more children, why not sell some of the things your kids have outgrown? At most sales, you set your own pricing, so you can quickly make some easy money to buy your kids new clothing and toys (or maybe for that trip to Jamaica you’…

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Montco Mommy

Losing It

One woman's weight loss plan comes up against a judgmental sales clerk.

Can you still call it baby weight if your baby is 3? I think so. There, I decided. It’s official. Well, whether it is official or not doesn’t matter. It’s still there. I think, like a lot of moms out there, I’ve tried it all. I’ve done nationwide, allegedly proven diet plans. I’ve purchased food, counted points, weighed in. In short, it was a lot of public embarrassment, but not a lot of results. Last week, while getting measured for my brother’s wedding, I think I hit an all-time low. I will say I’m pretty sure it was half my weight and half a psychotic saleswoman. So there I am, in the most uncomfortable situation known to a woman: in a bridal store dressing room, having to be fitted for a bridesmaid dress. It started when the saleswoman…

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Melissa Treacy

8:36 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I'm not yet desperate enough to break my leg. ;) But, I'll keep that in mind...   more ›

Whiz Kid: Alicia Haggard

The 10-year-old Marshall Street Elementary student is vaulting to the top.

Each week, Norristown Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these Whiz Kids. This week's honoree is 10-year-old Alicia Haggard. School: Marshall Street Elementary Accomplishment: Alicia qualified for the state gymnastics meet. Key to Awesomeness: Alicia has taken a handful of gymnastics classes since she was 4, but last year made the decision to pursue her training more intensely. “My favorite thing about gymnastics is that I get to move around, and I love tumbling," she said. "When I’m turning around on the bars, it feels like I’m flying.” This past fall, Alicia joined the competition team at Turner’s Gymnastics …

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Montco Mommy

Report Card-Related Stress Strikes Again

One mother struggles with her reaction to her child's first report card.

Report cards. Who needs ‘em? Oh, right, students. Parents. Teachers. OK, someone needs them. But, to be honest, I hadn’t opened one up in about …  well, let’s just call it a long time. But, last week, the same looming manila envelope sat threateningly in my son’s backpack. Bouncing home from kindergarten, the freckle-faced angel had no idea what was inside. It is one of those blessings of being just 5. He had no clue what was even inside this seemingly innocent paper product. But I’d had 13 years of practice. I knew exactly what could be inside. Without so much as cracking the seal on the envelope, my stomach had sunk. I was truly nervous to read its contents. I know what you are thinking. He is a kindergarten student. What could possibly …

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Grab and Go Kids Planner

Check out our picks for the five coolest family-friendly activities this week

From math and reading to the circus, and college tours to a cultural experience, lots of goings on for kids and families this week!   Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Where and When: Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St., Philadelphia; showtimes Feb. 16 to 20 Why go: Because it’s the circus! Price: $10 to $90   Math and Reading Family Night Where and When: Stewart Middle School, West Marshall Street and Selma streets; Feb. 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Why Go?: The event is a family celebration of math and reading! Price: Free   Ensemble Español - Tales of Spain Where and When: Montgomery County Community College, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell; Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. Why go: The event is a cultural experience designed especially for young…

Montco Mommy

Making a Martha-worthy birthday for your child

A mother is determined to make her children's birthday parties unforgettable

God has the devil. Superman has Lex Luthor. The Philadelphia Eagles have the Dallas Cowboys. For there to be a perfect balance in the world, for everything positive, there must be an equal negative to create a level playing field. If I had to pick my polar opposite, it would be Martha Stewart. I couldn’t be more different. I have a hard time keeping a clean house, let alone do I press my guest towels. I usually cook something out of a box or a can, and seldom even follow a recipe, let alone create my own. Regardless, it doesn’t mean that, as a mommy, I don’t want my kids to have the things I imagine Martha Stewart may create if she weren’t a robot. (Let’s face it; no human being can do all of those things.) One of the things I do try to go…

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Melissa Treacy

10:12 pm on Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Thanks, Brian. We also do musical chairs quite often, or sometimes freeze dance (play music, if the sound stops, they have to freeze), too. Have a fun time!   more ›

Norristown Patch's new Grab & Go Kids' Planner!

Valentine crafts and snacks; happy, healthy moms and babies; video games galore; and storytime for tots — pick and choose from this week’s array of events

Thanks for clicking on our new Grab & Go Kids' Planner! We've assembled a weekly calendar of child-friendly activities and new places to try out with children. Each week, we'll give you the info on the five best family activities or events for the week. You're time-pressed enough, so we're happy to do the research and find the best things to do and places to go, both locally and within reasonable striking distance.  Look for the kids’ planner each Wednesday, and help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips — just add them to the comment box. Even if you disagree with our picks, let us know. We want to hear from you! FAMILY BEST BETS OF THE WEEK • PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Where and When: Montgomery County-Norristown Public …