Category: Member Discounts

Nannies/Sitters – Join Our Community for FREE!

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

 

Hi everyone! It’s Laura back with my latest video. Nannies and sitters, this video is especially for you!

(Parents – the next episode of our “Working With A Nanny From A-Z” series will be published next week.)

Did you know that if you are offering childcare in the Puget Sound region, you can join our community totally FREE?

Many nannies and sitters think you have to pay a membership fee to access the tools and resources we offer on our site. Previously, we did test a monthly membership fee for nannies but scrapped that idea early last year due to the COVID pandemic.

I know that many of you nannies are super busy so I made a short video explaining the benefits of joining our community. Click here to check it out!

One membership benefit that is becoming more and more popular is the personal support that we offer childcare providers in our community. Our team can help you find a family, understand nanny industry standards, and even talk through issues you may be having with your current family (important to note that we don’t provide legal advice). All of this is included with your membership!

Ready to sign up? Click the button below:

Click Here To Join Today!

Scroll down to check out the video and if you found it helpful, please subscribe on YouTube and share with your friends. Also, please take a moment to check out the other videos we have published on YouTube.

I’d love to hear any comments about how I can improve these videos as well as your ideas on topics you’d like to see me cover in the future.  Just comment below.

Don’t forget, you can reach me directly via email by clicking here or by calling/texting (425) 243-7032 if I can help you.

Continue reading “Nannies/Sitters – Join Our Community for FREE!” →

Year in Review by Melissa the Princess Nanny (and Member Discount to Ring in 2021!)

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

 

I can’t think of one person who is sad to see 2020 go. It’s been a trying year for us all. Thankfully, a new year brings a fresh start!  Here is a message of hope from a member of the Nanny Parent Connection community “Nanny Melissa” aka, Melissa the Princess Nanny – reminding you all we will get through this together.

It’s the most wonderful time of year again! Then again, with everything 2020 brought, saying that it’s the most wonderful time of this particular year isn’t a big stretch. Last year was a really rough year for many, many people. To top it all off, most of us had a very different holiday season.

My family of four (including our puppy, Princess Buttercup) spent the time quietly at home, away from our loved ones, which we view as just one more sacrifice that we are more than willing to make to get to better times again. That doesn’t necessarily make it easier, though.

“We have been enjoying the beautiful city parks Seattle has to offer while social distancing this year”

 In 2019, I was a busy full-time nanny and homeschooling Mom to a kindergartener. I was cosplaying as a hobby and form of therapy to help me work through my anxiety and PTSD, which led to me performing at kid’s birthday parties as Disney princesses on the weekends. In short, I was busy and it was a promising year!

Continue reading “Year in Review by Melissa the Princess Nanny (and Member Discount to Ring in 2021!)” →

Member Discount Alert: Amazing Balloon Arrangements for All Occasions!

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

 

It’s been interesting to hear the ways people are trying to make birthday celebrations during COVID times a little more cheerful – especially since we can’t celebrate with our friends and family like we would in a normal year.

And don’t even get me started on the time-honored tradition of blowing out birthday candles with COVID concerns. My favorite GIF to send to friends this year is below – very fitting for this crazy year!

balloon arrangements

 

I have heard a lot about drive-by birthday celebrations, which I think is brilliant. i have heard of some families going over the top with more birthday gifts than they would normally buy. One family I spoke with went all out on a fancy rainbow cake that they admitted they would never be able to finish up (but it’s all about the presentation, right?).

There was a time when I would go all out with themed parties (think a snake cake with the Reptile Man…)

… Or a volcano cake complete with dry ice in the funnel to look like smoke paired with a mad science themed birthday party.

balloon arrangements

Honestly, my bandwidth is not there right now (hello, distance learning and general anxiety about the state of the world), even for making those extra fancy cakes.

So, with limited bandwidth and no option to host friends, how could we make birthdays feel a little more special this year for the kids?

Continue reading “Member Discount Alert: Amazing Balloon Arrangements for All Occasions!” →

Seattle’s Seven Favorite Holiday Things

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

 

There is so much to love about the holidays in the Seattle area!

We love finding new ways to create lasting memories and also begin new traditions each year, or find new and unique shops for finding that perfect gift. Some are nice to check out a time or two, and some have become favorite outings or shops that my family looks forward visiting to annually.

This year, I chatted with dozens of NPC members, friends, and neighbors to come up with Seattle’s FAVORITE Holiday Things. I wanted to hear about the traditions, shops, events, and activities that people enjoy this time of year.

So, what are Seattle’s Favorite Holiday Things? Here is what Seattle residents are buzzing about this year:

Favorite Thing #1: Fun with Trains…and Boats!
Santa Train out of Snoqualmie

The Santa Train has been a favorite tradition for families in the area since 1969. Hop on the train at the North Bend Depot for a quaint ride to Snoqualmie. While there, check out the Snoqualmie Depot for a visit with Santa Claus. Our family has gone before and it’s really fun! Enjoy cookies and cocoa or coffee on the Museum’s restored railway kitchen car and visit local shops and attractions before the train ride back to the North Bend Depot.

favorite holiday things Continue reading “Seattle’s Seven Favorite Holiday Things” →

Best Santa Photos in Seattle – Only a Few Slots Left!

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

 

santa photos

Braving the long lines and limited parking at area shopping malls so that our children can sit with Santa for 60 seconds or so has been a tradition in our house. A tradition that truly isn’t that enjoyable for my husband and I nor our children. The whole experience can feel rushed and “cheap”.

So, I set out to find a less chaotic and more magical experience for our family. I found something amazing that I wanted to share with you and your family. But hurry, there are limited spaces and they are booking up quickly! Continue reading “Best Santa Photos in Seattle – Only a Few Slots Left!” →

DISCOUNT ALERT! The Secret Formula for Keeping Kids Room Organized

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

clean your room

Raise your hand if you wish you had more organization in your life!

Now raise your hand if you don’t have the bandwidth or mental capacity at the end of the day to:

  • Pick up after your children
  • Try to determine what toys, books, etc. that the kids no longer use
  • Measure walls and floor space
  • Research bins and organization systems
  • Buy said bins and systems
  • Install said systems
  • Organize small toys and knickknacks
  • Go on Goodwill runs

You get my point 🙂

My older boys have never been able to keep their room clean – until now. What’s the secret? Read on to find out!

Continue reading “DISCOUNT ALERT! The Secret Formula for Keeping Kids Room Organized” →

Win A $50 Amazon Gift Card! Share Your Funny “First Day of School” Story

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

 

Most kids are back to school now (did you hear the collective high fives from parents all around you?!) and despite the best laid plans, things don’t always play out the way you had envisioned.

amazon gift card

My oldest started out middle school this year by forgetting his lunch, and having his school bus run an hour late. We drove him to school and then had to drive back to school again to bring his lunch to the office. His lunch never connected with him – thankfully, I made him stash some emergency cash in his backpack which he used to buy his meal!

This part was not necessarily funny (though I am chuckling about it today), but it was funny when my husband came downstairs to find him fully dressed, even with coat, backpack and shoes on A FULL HOUR EARLY, just staring at the wall contemplating his first day of middle school 🙂

We would love to hear funny first day of school stories from YOU! Please submit your stories in the comments below. We will select the top five stories at the end of this week and have community members vote on their favorite between September 16th and 20th. The story with the most votes will win a $50 Amazon gift card!

P.S. Don’t forget to include your Facebook profile name at the end of your story so that we can contact you if you’re the winner!

No purchase necessary. Contest open to all residents of the State of Washington. Contest submissions must be received by 11:59pm PST on September 15, 2019. Winner will be chosen and notified between September 16 and September 20, 2019. Contest offered by Nanny Parent Connection LLC – 4730 University Way NE, Suite #104 – Seattle, WA 98105. 

Awesome New Tool for Families and Providers in the Seattle Area + FREE Giveaway!

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

 

A friend and I were chatting several days ago and we found that we had both fallen into a routine of easy, predictable, same old outings with our kids. We had our favorite parks and playgrounds and planned to visit them with our kids several times each week.

I decided it was time to up my game and find some new things to do!

seattle's child app

Sooo, I was pretty thrilled when I found the new Seattle’s Child app. Where has this been all my life?! I didn’t have to search multiple places to find upcoming activities relevant for families. I didn’t need to make a sticky note list of cool things to check out later (that I would probably lose anyway).

With this app you can find current events which conveniently link to websites, put an event on your calendar with the push of a button, keep track of favorite events or activities, AND you can open it up while out and about and find nearby areas of interest in real time. And this only scratches the surface!

Continue reading “Awesome New Tool for Families and Providers in the Seattle Area + FREE Giveaway!” →

Exclusive Discount Offer from the Pacific Science Center – May 2019 ONLY!

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

 

When you are a family (or nanny) with kids in Seattle, it’s crucial to have plenty of great indoor places to take them when it’s too rainy or cold, or when the air quality isn’t great. And to have a good plan in place for school-aged children with camps during the various breaks during the school year. Or just to change up your regular day to day routine!

The Pacific Science Center is our go-to place out of the hundreds of indoor play options around the area. It’s relatively close to our house, it’s clean and the staff are really friendly and helpful, and it’s one of the few places that can entertain my kids spanning the ages of 1-11 years. Also they have coffee (for me), and dinosaurs (for my kids) for the win!

pacific science center coupon

Honestly, these things alone are enough to make us absolutely love this place. Not to mention, there are so many great hands-on exhibits there for the kids to check out. I realized the last time we were all there that I probably could be getting even more value out of our annual membership there. (Upon exploring this, I could be getting A LOT more out of membership!!)

Read on to the end to find out how to redeem your FREE PASS from the PacSci!

Continue reading “Exclusive Discount Offer from the Pacific Science Center – May 2019 ONLY!” →

Alderwood Mall Funtastic Playtorium: Review

Posted on by Laura Scoccolo

 

The Mr. took our three year old boy and 13 month old twins (boy and girl) to the Alderwood Mall location of Funtastic Playtorium yesterday. He wrote this great post about what the kids (and he) enjoyed the most. Check it out!

playtorium

Last week, Laura worked out a 15% off Beat the #SeattleSmoke discount with Funtastic Playtorium. I decided to take the three little kids to visit their Alderwood Mall location yesterday. I also wanted to see how easy it would be to redeem the discount.

If you read my post about the Top 12 Things to See and Do at the Woodland Park Zoo (from the kids’ perspective), you may recall that I developed the following rating system for the kids to use:

👍👍 – Awesome, amazing, “the coolest ever”

👍 – Pretty cool, “I’m tired of this Dad.”

🖐 – Okay, meh, “Wow, look at this – a leaf!”

The twins only can say “uh-oh”, “dadda”, and “momma” so no “thumbs up scale” with them. Instead I determined their level of interest in an activity based on whether it seemed to capture their attention or not.

We utilized the same rating system for our visit to the Playtorium.

Continue reading “Alderwood Mall Funtastic Playtorium: Review” →