RUUM American Kid's Wear Opens at the MOA

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HAVE YOU HEARD THE RUMMOUR?

It's true!  There's a new kid's fashion brand on the block--

RUUM American Kid's Wear!

What:  Come celebrate RUUM's Grand Opening at the Mall of America!  From the founders of The Children's Place, Ruum (pronounced "room") offers head to toe kids outfitting, exceptional quality, and great value. They have clothes for infants 0 through kids size 14.  Ruum collections are designed to coordinate easily and to cover all of a child's lifestyle needs.

At their Grand Opening enjoy surprise promotions, fun activities for kids, and free giveaways all weekend long including great deals for online and in-store purchases, Instant Win savings cards and bonus points on Ruum’s new loyalty program.  During the Grand Opening, Ruum will also kick off The Grand Ruum Sweepstakes, a month-long sweepstakes with daily winners and the grand prize of a $2000 Ruum gift card.

When:  Friday, March 22 - Sunday, March 24, 2013
During regular Mall hours
(Jamie will be there Saturday around 4ish--watch for her tweets)

Where:  RUUM's new store located at the Mall of America space S-214 (south side, second floor).

I will be receiving a swag bag at the Grand Opening event in exchange for promoting it via my social media channels.  I received no further compensation for this post.

Demand the Change for Children at Mall of America®

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WHAT:  Hundreds of Minnesotans will join advocates at Mall of America^® to rally against sexual abuse and the exploitation of children at Demand the Change for Children on Saturday, March 23. Organized by the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA), Demand the Change for Children is a call to action to raise awareness and strengthen prevention efforts of child sex abuse.  This family-friendly celebration gives a voice to those affected by abuse and focuses on the community’s ability to prevent abuse and exploitation.

The day will be packed with exciting and interactive activities including the opportunity to join the Women’s Drum Heart performance and zumba. There will be performances by the MacPhail Youth Choir, Rochester International Dance Studio, Heather Lyn with youthrive:LIVE! as well as soccer demonstrations by Tony Sanneh and the Tony Sanneh Foundation. Kids will get hands on with crafts including origami, quilt square and hero cape making. The Smooch! Project will also have a booth set up to snap photos of loved ones puckering up. This year for the first time, the event has added a new HOPE section where people can share their experiences and find out how to get involved in prevention efforts.

Sexual abuse of children happens at alarming rates. Demand the Change for Children is a grassroots collaboration of individuals and organizations working together to end the abuse and exploitation of children and advance prevention efforts by promoting healthy, respectful relationships and safe and supportive environments for all children. For more information visit www.demandthechangeforchildren.org

WHEN: Saturday, March 23
11:45 a.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE:  Mall of America - Rotunda

The Mother Baby Center

The Mother Baby Center at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis has been open for a little over a month. In that month they’ve delivered 310 babies (11 on the first day!), 12 sets of twins, and 1 set of triplets. What makes them so special?  Allina Hospitals and Clinics and Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota (two of the best hospitals in the area for high risk delivery and infant care) formally partnered to integrate their mother and baby services.

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Previously, critically ill and premature babies born at Abbot Northwestern were whisked through a ¼ mile tunnel to Children’s Hospital’s level 3 NICU.  Though the partnership boasted some of the best outcomes in the country when it came to caring for premature and critically ill infants, the separation between mother and baby at two hospitals created stress on both the babies and their families.  Now, Abbot and Children’s host their Mother Baby Center under one roof to provide the only birth center of its kind in Minnesota (and one of only a few in the country).
Having an average of 12 labor and delivery patients per day in its first month, The Mother Baby Center has the capacity for 5,000 potential births each year.  The design makes a seamless transition from delivery room or operating room to the NICU just steps through a skyway.  A neonatal team can be at a high-risk delivery in only 90 seconds (vs. up to 4 minutes with the hospitals separated).  All post-partum areas (including the NICU) are designed to keep the mothers and babies together as much as possible with areas for families to sleep at the bedside.
  I had the privilege of touring the Mother Baby Center just before it opened.  As both a pediatric nurse and a mother I must say I was impressed!  I kept walking around saying, “I wish I had this when I delivered my daughters,” and “I wish my unit had this/looked like this.”  The center is state-of-the-art as far as medical things, yet warm and inviting for families.
  They've thought of everything from spacious bathrooms to safes in the rooms for personal belongings, to sleep rooms for adoptive parents, to a party area for expectant mothers who can't leave the hospital to have a baby shower or birthday party.  For the staff, they've provided some of the latest technology to provide the best and most up to date care possible.   I just might want to have another baby so I can give birth at the Mother Baby Center!  Or maybe not...two kids is enough.  If you, however, are expecting or are planning on expecting in the future, you'll definitely want to consider giving birth there.  To find out more about the Mother Baby Center please visit their website at http://themotherbabycenter.org/.

Full disclosure:  I am a nurse in the PICU at Children’s Hospital.  All opinions are 100% my own.  Being an employee of Children’s does not affect my opinion as I do not work in any areas connected with the Mother Baby Center.  I received no compensation for this post.

American Girl Fashion Show® This Weekend!!

The Junior League of Minneapolis proudly presents the 12th annual American Girl Fashion Show®! 

The American Girl Fashion Show® is a fun-filled event for girls and their families, friends, and favorite dolls!  Celebrate the experience of being a girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful presentation of historical and contemporary fashions.  Enjoy refreshments, enter to win door prizes, and learn how clothing has changed over the years to reflect history, culture, and girls’ individual style.

When:  Friday, March 8, 2013, at 6 p.m. (Special Show)**
Saturday, March 9, 2013, at 1:30 p.m
Saturday, March 9, 2013, at 6 p.m. (VIP)
Sunday, March 10, 2013, at 1:30 p.m.

**Come see Nutty model in the Friday show!!

Where: The Capri Theater
2027 W. Broadway Ave
Minneapolis MN 55411

Each show will last approximately 2 hours, with time before, during, and after intermission to purchase souvenirs, raffle tickets and snacks/refreshments.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their dolls and wear their favorite American Girl® clothing.  A doll hair salon will be open for business before, during and after the show.  The doll hair salon is complimentary during the Special Show and VIP show.

All fashion show ticket holders will have the chance to win wonderful door prizes.  Raffle tickets will also be available for purchase.  Raffle prizes will include an assortment of American Girl® dolls and accessories, as well as fabulous prizes from local retailers.

To purchase tickets please visit the Junior League of Minneapolis website.  The tickets are selling out fast so get yours ASAP!

The American Girl Fashion Show® benefits the mission of the Junior League of Minneapolis and its projects that serve the Minneapolis community. Past projects include the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Free Arts MN and the Jeremiah Program. Current projects address the achievement gap. The Junior League of Minneapolis reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, voluntarism.

I received tickets to the American Girl Fashion Show and Nutty's model fee was covered in exchange for helping to promote the event.  All opinions are 100% my own.  American Girl Fashion Show is licensed from American Girl Programs.  All American Girl trademarks, names, and characters are trademarks of American Girl, used under license. All rights reserved.