Being Savvy: Activities, things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in New Orleans, LA

Top 5 things to do outside when the sun shines

by Kelly Leahy

We have a lot of sunny days to fill here in New Orleans. We also have quite a few downright HOT days. So here are a few ways to enjoy the sun and beat the heat.1. Get wet. There are a few free, public pools in the city run by the New Orleans Recreation Department. A tentative list of pools open for theis summer include Behrman, Harrell, Leman, Lyons, St. Bernard, Taylor and Whitney Young. They ... Read more >

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Preschool classes abound

by Kelly Leahy

Tuesday is list day here at Savvy Source. Today we are looking at what classes New Orleans has too offer preschoolers. This type of thing is helpful to keep in mind during the summer when regular preschool goes on hiatus or at least takes a couple of weeks off. 1. Ecole Bilingue offers four two week sessions for children ages three to eleven. Classes are taught in both French and English so ... Read more >

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Essential Summer Music

by Kelly Leahy

This summer, for the second year in a row, my daughters and I are spending quite a bit of time on the road. I've barely touched last year's playlists which already include my eldest's ecclectic tastes in music. What we have is a mishmash of New Orleans favorites, kid performers and random pop and rock songs. Nevertheless, this playlist says "summer vacation" to me whenever I give it a listen. ... Read more >

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Ten unmissable signs that it is summer in New Orleans

by Kelly Leahy

Last week Being Savvy looked at universal signs of summer so this week I thought that I would touch on signs of summer in New Orleans. A newcomer to the city might think that spring and summer blend together but there are discernable differences between the two. Here are ten sure signs that summer has hit New Orleans.You start turning up the television in the afternoon to drown out the ice cream ... Read more >

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The art of getting away without leaving town

by Kelly Leahy

I actively seek out quiet places in New Orleans; little trips I can take with a sleeping toddler in the backseat or places that feel so foreign that I could swear that I'm light years away from Orleans Parish. Going to these places serves a number of purposes but most importantily it enables me to introduce my children to new experiences and, quite frankly, reminds me of what life is like ... Read more >

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Fun in the shade, I need your advice and other stuff

by Kelly Leahy

Both of my daughters are blonde haired with blue eyes. Thankfully they have my skin and do not burn easily. This is good because I don't apply sunscreen most days. I know. I know. I'm killing my children but hear me out. Kids need sun. We all need sun.Ultra violet rays go through our skin and are processed into vitamin D. This keeps our bones healthy. A glass of milk can deliver 100 units and a ... Read more >

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The elephant in the parlor ... or little tips to keep sane over the next couple of days

by Kelly Leahy

There is no sense in me trying to ignore the obvious. The city is abuzz with Gustav. Though the name reminds me of strudel, I am having a hard time concentrating on anything else today. SO, with that in mind, I apologize for being one more blogger that's a little on edge. For today I thought that I'd compile a list of tips to help you feel in control of this hopelessly uncontrollable situation. ... Read more >

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Hunkering down on the road

by Kelly Leahy

Hey y'all. Chances are you are on the road today staying with friends, family or in a hotel out of town. I'm in Birmingham and after a long 14 hour trip yesterday, I'm not anxious to get back in the car. Before we left, I did a quick Google search for area attractions and I found the McWane Science Center. They currently feature a large dinosaur exhibit and there is also an IMAX theater. We will ... Read more >

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Returning Home

by Kelly Leahy

I am rather anxious to get back home, not that Birmingham isn't a happenin' place (ok, it really isn't) but home as all of my STUFF. It has my books and knick knacks. It also has clothes for my 11-month-old who I forgot to pack for (woe is the second child). So, for me it's either head home ASAP or hit the Super Walmart down the street. The problem is there is no info yet on returning. The ... Read more >

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The skinny on devacuation

by Kelly Leahy

As most of you know, Jefferson Parish opens up today at 6:00 am. Orleans will open at 12:01 am on Wednesday. Nagin has issued warnings that there won't be power and there might be tree limbs in the streets (can't be worse than the potholes). If you are interested, I've been following a couple of bloggers Uptown who stayed through the storm. Pistolette and Ernie both have good coverage on what ... Read more >

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Back in the city

by Kelly Leahy

We made it back into New Orleans early yesterday just after the blockades on the Twin Span were lifted. There were no ID checks as we entered the city and were pleased to see much of the debris already pushed to the sides of the streets.Our house is fine. It doesn't look like the wind was that bad considering what COULD have blown around our backyard. There are a lot of fallen branches and ... Read more >

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It looks like we'll survive after all

by Kelly Leahy

There are few things that will test your family more than a mass evacuation and a return to a city with a shortage of resources. The good thing is that we are used to it. The bad thing is that we are tired.There will be very little open over the weekend for preschoolers to do. However, if you are like me, there is plenty of yard work to be done. Toppled plants need to be salvaged and leaves need ... Read more >

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