Santa at Southridge Mall
5300 S. 76th St.
(414) 421-5600
November 2 – December 24
10a.m.-8p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11a.m.-7p.m. Sunday, 9a.m.-5p.m. Christmas Eve
Santa will be waiting to have his photo taken with good little children during the holiday season at Southridge.
Santa at Brookfield Square
95 N. Moorland Rd.
(262) 784-4778
November 3 – December 24
10a.m.-9p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11a.m.-6p.m. Sunday, 10a.m. – 6p.m. Christmas Eve
A chance to get your photo taken with Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas
Santa at Mayfair Mall
2500 N. Mayfair Rd.
(414) 771-1300
November 10 – December 24
Times vary, check website for details.
Get photos taken of the kids before hitting the shops for the great holiday deals.
Santa at Bayshore Town Center
5800 North Bayshore Drive
(414) 963-8780
November 10 – December 24
10a.m.-8p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon.-6p.m. Sunday, 8a.m. – 5p.m. Christmas Eve
Get photos taken with the jolly old elf in the Grand Hall near the food court throughout the holiday season.
Breakfast & Lunch with Santa at the Zoo
Milwaukee County Zoo
10001 W. Blue Mound Road
(414) 771-3040
Enjoy a holiday breakfast or lunch at the zoo! Santa and Mrs. Claus will also have a special gift for each child.
9a.m. (breakfast) and noon (lunch) Saturdays, noon (lunch) Sundays
December 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 & 16
$13 per child or adult; $5 children 2 and under
Santa in Jolly’s Outdoor Gingerbread House
Catalano Square
corner of Broadway and Menomonee Streets
Receive a cookie from Jolly the Gingerbread Man and tell Santa what you want for Christmas during Christmas in the Ward, and also on the following weekend.
5 – 7p.m. Friday, December 7 & Saturday, December 8
$5
Breakfast with Santa
Pfister Hotel
424 E. Wisconsin Ave.
(800) 472-4403
Share a jolly breakfast with Santa and his elves in the festive Imperial Ballroom with a special gift awaiting each child.
9:30 – 11:30a.m. Saturdays
December 1, 8, 15 & 22
$29 Adults, $18 Children 3 to 12 years, 2 and under free
The flu season is here and if you haven’t already had a cold chances are you or someone in your home might unfortunately come down with something. In the U.S., more than 62 million cases of the common cold are reported each year. Being a mother of 6, I have had my share of caring for sick kids and I have learned the most important part of flu season is PREVENTION!!! Trying to prevent you or kids from getting sick is key! I have compiled a list of things you can do to try to prevent you and/or your children from getting sick. I myself follow these and encourage my children too as well.
TAKE STEPS TO TRY TO PREVENT GETTING SICK…….
Wash your hands….
There is a common misconception that you get sick from not dressing warm enough but…..You get sick for one reason and one reason only: GERMS. Bacteria and viruses make you ill by finding a way into your body through physical contact. Since most of your contact with the world happens through your hands, washing them can stop germs from making the leap from contaminated surfaces to inside your body. Get your kids to wash their hands. Yes, this one should be obvious. But it really can’t be stressed enough: hand washing is a crucial way to prevent germs from spreading. About 80% of infectious diseases are spread by touch. If kids are going to wash their hands, teach them to do it right. Experts recommend scrubbing hands for 20 seconds or so — as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. When warm water and soap aren’t available, use an alcohol-based sanitizing gel — just make sure to rub your hands together vigorously for about 20 seconds until the gel evaporates. You should demonstrate the correct way to wash hands. Also: Teach them to keep their hands away from their noses and mouths after touching anything that could be contaminated, until they can wash them properly.
Immunizations & Flu Shots….
Make sure your children are up to date on their shots. And make sure that everyone gets a flu shots. A lot of pharmacies offer them on a walk in basis. I just took my son in today to get a flu shot and his immunizations!!
Don’t touch your face….
Even if your hands are relatively clean, chances are some germs will find a way to survive there. The easiest place to transmit illness is through mucous membranes such as your eyes, mouth and nose. Keep your hands away from your face (and food) and make it difficult for germs to find you. Preach “The Three Nos.” Teach your child to avoid putting her hands near her eyes, nose and mouth, whether or not she thinks she’s touched anything suspect. This is especially important to prevent the spread of pinkeye, a common infection kids get … and spread. Perfect the Elbow Sneeze. Show your child how to cover up a sneeze by sneezing into his elbow, so he won’t transmit any germs he may be carrying to his hands. By the same token, consider replacing the bathroom water glass with disposable paper cups for a while. And get your child a new toothbrush after he’s been sick.
Make sure you get enough rest….
Experts recommend 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep per night (for adults), 14 to 15 hours a day for infants, 12 to 14 for toddlers, 11 to 13 for preschoolers and 10 to 11 for school-age kids, and try to fall asleep before midnight. It goes without saying that sleep is essential to staying healthy. Getting the right amount will help re-energize your child’s body and brain.
Avoid sick people…
Germs are everywhere, but they are particularly concentrated in people who are sick. Keep these people away from you and disinfect everything they touch. It’s impolite for your child to turn and run when he spots a sick child, but keeping him away from sick children can keep healthy. Ask parents if their children have recently been sick before inviting them over to play. Explain that your child has a weak immune system if they seem offended. Keep in touch with your child’s teacher and ask her to let you know whenever an illness seems to be going around in the classroom so you can keep your child home if necessary. Sending your young child to a day-care program with classes of no more than six children can also limit his contact with sick children.
Good Hygiene….
Have everyone sneeze and cough into tissues or inside their shirt or sleeve – not their hands.Step up your disinfecting. Even if you’re not germ-obsessed usually, now might be a time to focus more on disinfecting surfaces in your home. It can help prevent germs from spreading. What should you do? You could wipe off surfaces that your sick toddler has touched — like doorknobs, tables, and handrails — with a disinfectant. Many plastic toys can be thrown in the dishwasher, and many stuffed animals in the washing machine. If your sick toddler is suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, take extra care to disinfect the toilet, floor, and sink in the bathroom. That said, don’t make yourself crazy in your attempts to prevent germs from spreading. You don’t want to spend your days following your sick toddler around the house, spraying everything in her wake with disinfectant. Besides, it won’t work. There’s no way that you’ll be able to eradicate all of the germs anyway. Practice good diaper hygiene. Be especially careful with dirty diapers now — particularly if you have more than one kid wearing them. The changing table could be a spot where your kids exchange germs. So you could decide to use the changing table only for your sick toddler and change your healthy kid somewhere else. Keep the bathroom hygienic. While germs generally don’t live on towels very long, they can live long enough to make a healthy kid sick. So launder them regularly. You may even want to switch to disposable paper towels for a week to prevent germs from infecting other family members.
Fresh Air….
Try to have them play outdoors whenever it’s possible, Lots of fresh air – get outside as often as possible, but also have windows open in the house whenever practical.
Immunity-Boosting Foods….
Feeding your child a nutrient-rich diet can also help boost immunity and prevent sickness. Picking foods that are naturally high in antioxidants, vitamin C, zinc-fortified cereals, flax oil (a great source of omega-3 fatty acids) and garlic. If your kid isn’t eating the best foods, it’s not for your lack of trying—we know that. However. A nutritious diet does provide protection against a host of different health problems and helps keep your child’s immune system fighting off germs. You’ll get the most bang for your nutritional buck if you try loading your kid up with “superfoods,” or foods that are packed with multiple illness-fighting nutrients. Don’t allow sharing at meals. Mealtimes may usually be chaotic, with your kids regularly swapping silverware, cups, and food. For now, do what you can to prevent that. Eating a diet high in vegetables and fruit is a more effective way for a child to stay healthy; giving her water throughout the day keeps her immune system working efficiently. The healthy bacteria in yogurt can also stave off illness, so serve her a cup of low-fat yogurt once a day. Breastfeeding also helps a child build a strong immune system. Children who weren’t breastfed get five times more ear infections later in life than those children who were.
Multivitamins & Probiotics….
Some moms also recommend multivitamins for boosting a child’s immune system. Consult your pediatrician before giving your child a multivitamin, as some ingredients, such as iron, can pose risks for children when consumed in large quantities. It’s true what they say about vitamin C. Although it won’t cure a cold if your kid already has one, this vitamin can help ward off sickness in the first place. Unless your child is wolfing down the (hypothetically) recommended nine servings of fruits and veggies every day, consider having them take a vitamin C supplement. The miracle vitamin helps protect against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease eye disease and more. Probiotics are another immune-system booster.
Stop Sharing….
You might have spent years teaching your child to share, but he must learn when sharing is not a good idea. Rather than hanging communal hand towels in the bathroom, give each family member his own towel to use for drying his hands or use paper towels. Teach him to never put his mouth on a musical instrument that anyone else has used and make a rule against sharing drinking glasses or utensils, even at home. If your kid is young, you’re probably doing everything you can to teach her to share her things with others. When it comes to food and drink, though, rethink that policy. Contact with food is one of the top ways that infections spread, especially those that are spread through a sick person’s saliva. Try not to share any food or drink at your own house and train her to avoid sharing with kids at school who may be sick.
As a parent, when our children get sick, one of the first things we want to do is to run to the doctor, some people start dosing their children with everything in the medicine cabinet. Even physicians agree lately that prescribing antibiotics and other drugs is not recommended for children, however doctors sometime feel pressure by the parents to prescribe something even though he knows that the condition will disappear in a few days without drug intervention. Most ailments that affect children can be treated with over the counter medicine but many professionals are questioning the long term effects of giving synthetic drugs to a child at a very early age . Whether your child has a tummy ache or a stuffy nose, doctors say that old-fashioned home remedies are often the best way to help him feel better fast. These time-tested treatments rarely have side effects, cost next to nothing, and use items you probably already have on hand. Of course, you should always call your pediatrician if your child’s problem seems serious. But the next time your child has a minor ache or injury, I have found that these home remedies work best…..
B.R.A.T Diet….
Bananas, Rice, Applesauce & Toast. I usually always start with this!
Honey and Lemon Juice for a Sore Throat….
Lemon dries up congestion and honey provides a soothing coating. In fact, a recent study found that a spoonful of honey eased kids’ coughs even better than cough medicine. Mix together a tablespoon of each, microwave for 20 seconds until warm (not hot), and have your child swallow the mixture a teaspoon at a time. Caution: Honey is not safe for babies under 1 year.
Chamomile Tea for Colic….
Give it to your infant to relax her intestinal muscles and calm her down. Steep tea for four to five minutes, let it cool to room temperature, and then put one to two ounces in a bottle. Don’t give your baby more than four ounces a day so that she’ll be sure to have plenty of room in her tummy for breast milk or formula.
Baking Soda for Bug Bites….
The alkaline baking soda helps counteract the acidic swelling. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with just enough water to make a thick paste, smear it on the bites, and let it dry.
Cayenne Pepper for Nosebleeds….
This spice helps blood clot, and it has been used medicinally in cultures around the world. Keep your child’s head upright and pinch his nostrils together for several minutes. Then sprinkle a pinch of ground cayenne pepper on a moistened cotton swab and dab inside the nose on the area of the bleeding. It seems like it might sting but, surprisingly, it doesn’t.
A Bandanna for Headaches….
Wrapping several ice cubes in a dish towel will help soothe your child’s head pain (never place ice directly on his skin because it’ll burn), but it’ll be hard for him to hold it in place for long. To keep the towel-wrapped ice from slipping, press it against his forehead or temples and secure it with a bandanna tied at the back of his neck.
A Sock for Tummy or Neck Pain….
Instead of buying a heat wrap, make one by filling a sock with uncooked rice and tying it closed with a string. Microwave the sock for one minute or until warm, and place it wherever your child has pain. When it cools off, microwave it again.
Contact Lens Solution for Congestion….
For a child over 6 months, fill a bulb syringe with preservative-free saline solution, raise her head, and gently squeeze solution into one nostril at a time.
A Stick of Gum for Indigestion….
If your child is 4 years old or older, have her chew some gum when she complains of a full stomach after a big meal. The extra saliva she’ll produce will neutralize the problematic excess stomach acid.
Black Licorice for Constipation….
I have heard that eating black licorice will help constipation!
****414 Moms is compensated for this post and in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and Kleenex
Sprout Maternity and Baby Boutique Grand Re-Opening Celebration
Celebrate the stores grand re-opening with Sales, Fun, Food & Giveaways!!!
For more info visit Sprouts Facebook Page
Narrated by Milwaukee Downtown’s Public Service Ambassadors, this 40-minute tour acquaints riders with downtown landmarks and the most decorated scenes.
Awaiting riders will enjoy a Shops of Grand Avenue holiday favorite, an 18-piece animatronic symphony orchestra of bears, new holiday shops, and free cookies sponsored by Impark and hot cocoa sponsored by Wild Flour Bakery. Kids will also receive a holiday coloring book.
Nonperishable food items will also be collected for Hunger Task Force. As a thank you to families who donate, Stone Creek Coffee will provide one complimentary latte voucher for those that donate to the cause.
Tours operate Thursday through Sunday, November 16 through December 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.* The last bus departs at 8:20 p.m., so get there early to reserve your seat! Discounted parking is available in The Shops of Grand Avenue west parking garage for $3 until 10 p.m. when you present your Jingle Bus ticket stub. Enter the west structure from 2nd Street between Michigan Street and Wisconsin Avenue.
For more information: Jingle Bus
The annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival ornament is a one-of-a-kind keepsake. Great gifts for family, friends, co-workers and business associates, each year features an iconic landmark cast in pewter.
This year’s edition, twelfth in the series, features the Milwaukee County Courthouse sculpted by Andrew Schumann.
For more information: Holiday Ornaments
Admission is FREE!
Be part of an old-fashioned Christmas tree lighting ceremony and fireworks in the heart of the Historic Third Ward on Friday, November 30 starting at 5pm in Catalano Square (corner of Broadway and Menomonee).
Santa and his reindeer welcome the holiday season with fireworks, the Trinity Irish Dancers and more! Bring the kids and your mittens!
And much more!!
Small Business Saturday
Support Milwaukee retailers and shop the locally-owned businesses of the Historic Third Ward.
As part of Small Business Saturday, retailers will offer shoppers the opportunity to receive a complimentary gift with purchase.
Help make this the biggest day of the year for small business.
Some restrictions apply. One gift per customer, please.
For more information & For a list of participating businesses…….http://www.historicthirdward.org/events/shoptheward.php