"Pay What You Can" New Year's Party at SadieDey's Cafe

In an effort to include everyone in our community, we at SadieDey's, encourage you to bring your family to ring in the new year with us. Realizing that the holidays can be expensive for all of us, we would like to extend this invitation regardless of how much you can afford this year. If you can afford the suggested donation, wonderful! If you can donate more, to go to another family, super! If you really just can't swing the price, come by anyway and we or one of our generous families, will be happy to pay your way. Entertainment will include Asheba, facepainting and more! Come on guys! Let's have a fun time together and not worry about the pinch in our pockets. "Pay what you can" and enjoy the rest!

Limited tickets are available for this event so be sure to reserve tickets at the cafe anytime during business hours.

DETAILS:

Tickets are now on Sale for our 4th Annual
New Years Pre-Eve Party ''Reach for the
Stars'' featuring ASHEBA!

There will be live music, reindeer games, treats & hors
d’oeuvres for everyone, and a special 6PM countdown
to Midnight!

When: Thursday, Dec. 31st from 4:00 pm -7:00 pm

Where: SadieDey’s Café

WHO: Asheba, the Bay Area’s Best Children’s Entertainer!

Why: Cause New Year’s is a wonderful celebration for
the WHOLE family!

Ticket Prices: Suggested Donation of $10 per ticket.
Pay what you can, anything over and above will go to another
family's admission, who may not be able to pay full price.

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe, a play cafe in Oakland, CA . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

The Wizard of Oz – SadieDey’s Discount Offer!

The Wizard of Oz – SadieDey’s Discount Offer!

THE WIZARD OF OZ

NOVEMBER 14-DECEMBER 6, JULIA MORGAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Get 20% off tickets for this hot-seller!

Directed by award-winning Jon Tracy with musical direction by Phil Gorman, The Wizard of Oz takes you over that classic rainbow in a way you’ve never been before! With bungee-jumping monkeys, glowing orbs, clowning and classic shadow play, Dorothy’s dream is a musical spectacle of luscious layering in ensemble work, singing and story-telling.

FRIENDS OF SADIEDEY’S – HERE’S HOW TO RESERVE YOUR SEATS AND GET YOUR SAVINGS:

Go to the BOX OFFICE tab and select Purchase/Redeem from the drop-down menu.

Select The Wizard of Oz and click the PURCHASE TICKETS button

Choose your date and time/select and reserve your seats (please note the discount cannot be applied to Preview Night or Pay What You Can dates.)

Proceed to check out and when prompted, type in the code monkeys

Whoosh, watch $3.00-$5.80 per ticket simply fly away!

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe, a play cafe in Oakland, CA . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

SadieDey's Spooktacular Dance party with Ira Marlowe This Friday

It's time once again to come shake your bones at SadieDey's Cafe in Oakland. This year we are featuring the always funny and clever Ira Marlowe who's new CD "The Chills: Creepy songs for courageous kids" is getting Rave Reviews : http://budurl.com/vax9 "My First Haunted House" is all set up and waiting for toddlers to come and scare themselves silly (no gore, just fun). They'll be fun and treats for the whole family at our award winning playcenter and cafe. Tickets are available in the cafe or through this link: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/86123 Tickets are 7.50 each or 15.00 for the entire family.

Get your tix today. They'll be gone before you can say BOO!

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe, a play cafe in Oakland, CA . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

Organize a Stress Free Kids Party - My Submission to wikiHow

Organize a Stress Free Kids Party - wikiHow

How to Organize a Stress Free Kids Party

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit



FIRST: Assess what makes you and your child happy. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. They are in foreclosure right now probably from throwing all those overly elaborate parties. They may have had the most expensive party, but was it the most fun? Did the birthday boy or girl actually enjoy their day? Did mom look happy or was she screaming at the caterers? Evaluate what would make your child the happiest and what would allow you to enjoy this day instead of fretting and fussing.

Steps

1. HOW TO HOST THE BEST PARTY FOR YOUR FAMILY & STAY SANE DOING IT!
   
2. TIMING:Give yourself 2 months lead time if possible. Most party places book at least 2 months in advance and park reservations need to be made well ahead of time if you have chosen a popular park during the warmer months. If you have opted for a home party, you’ll need a little extra time to work out the details that party facilities will handle for you.
   
3. NUMBER OF KIDS: I don’t know anyone who follows the year of the child+1 creed. Invite your family, include siblings if you can afford to. Moms and Dads have enough to juggle without hiring a sitter on party day. For kids under 5 keep the list to 10 kids under 5. Older siblings and cousins will have their own thing going on and this will provide about 20 adults, which is a nice amount of friends that you will have time to mingle with. If you can enjoyably mingle with 40 adults go for it. You are a stronger woman than I, but don’t do it to show off. You’ll just exhaust yourself and end up crying in your punch bowl. Send out a save the date 2 months out and then an invite 1 month ahead. If you use Evite and don’t get a response, be sure to call personally. Not everyone is computer savvy.
   
4. LOCATION:I think the best parties cater to the whole family, not just the children. Don’t make Grandma & Grandpa drive 3 hours and then have to sit on a kid bench. Plan what will be fun for the birthday child and fun for the adults too. I hear so many parents talk about the dreaded parties they have to go to each weekend. Make them EXCITED to come to yours. If you choose the park, bring comfy chairs for your guests. For a home party, make sure you have ample seating and room to move around. For a party place, visit the facility and take a tour. If your party is mostly kids, go for the crazy kid play park, but if you have younger children and the number of adults will outweigh the kids, make sure you account for this in you choice of location.
   
5. FOOD:Keep the food simple. Provide your child’s favorite dish , order some pizzas, and have some healthy fruit and veggie platters. If extended family is coming and you have some favorite family dishes by all means cook it up. It will be a nice gesture, but again, don’t make this your focal point. Your focal point is your little one’s big day and he or she will want your full attention. They won’t want to share with a plate of flautas.
   
6. DECOR:I see parents spend WAYYYY too much on decorations that the children never even notice. If your child wants a Dora party, get her Dora plates, pink and orange balloons and a Dora cake. In her memory, she had a completely Dora themed party. She’s only paying attention while she is eating. The rest of the time she will be busy playing.
   
7. GOODY BAGS: Again I say use caution. I hate seeing 100 baggies of small plastic toys that will just end up in a landfill. Pick one thing that fits your theme and make it special. For my son’s train party I got the kids train hats with their names on them. The best way is to integrate having the kids make the favors. Have them paint a shirt, plant a flower, decorate a bouncy ball etc.. They will cherish their work and have fun making it too.
   
8. ENTERTAINMENT: Pick ONE. If you are having your party at a park, the play is mostly taken care of. To mark the special occasion setup one structured activity that makes the day special. There are plenty of books at the library with party games, or here are a few sites I found that have great games. Piñatas are always a hit, just don't get hit with the bat. If you are having a home party I would suggest a few more structured activities. Otherwise your hose becomes “The “Park” and could suffer some serious damage. Keep the kids playing party games and your home will survive. If you rent a party place, your bases are covered. You have already provided the activities and for the most part you do not need to spend on extra entertainment. You just did that. If you really want to have a clown, face painting, a singer, or have “Dora” show up check with the facility hosting your party. They should be able to get you a much better deal on added entertainment because they have deals with most party entertainers.
   
9. BUDGET:If you plan on providing entertainment treats, & a full meal for each guest you are looking at between 10-20 dollars a head. Times are tough these days and take into account what you can truly afford. You may find that an all inclusive party place will cost the same of a fully catered home party. The park party may cost the least but require the most logistical preparation and Mother Nature does not always look out for you. Do you have more money or more time? Can you let someone else handle all the details, or will you prefer to be included in all aspects? Be be honest with yourself and you’ll choose the best kind of party to celebrate your little one’s big day.
   
10. DON'T MISS YOUR OWN PARTY!: Here's my biggest point. These tips are not for the most elaborate party EVER!!! They are tips to help you remember what is most important. You gave birth, you adopted, you “helped”. In some manner you have a child and you kept them alive and well for the most part) and you deserve to celebrate. It's your party too and I want you to really enjoy your day and connect with how amazing being a parent is.
    
11. P.S: Let them eat cake, and for the one-year-olds,-let them MASH cake. You'll have that moment to remember for a lifetime :)
    

Tips

• If you decide to let a professional handle it all for you and you live in the Bay Area, please visit my website www.sadiedeyscafe.com. We offer full service, budget friendly party packages. Our Party HOTLINE number is: 510-459-3811

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe, a play cafe in Oakland, CA . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Organize a Stress Free Kids Party. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Wanna fun and easy way to raise $$ for your school??

I'm sure many off you attended your child's Back to School night as I did,and got the same report from your PTA, "It's gonna be a tough year and we really need help raising money to keep programs going. sigh." Whether your kids are in preschool or grade school, everybody's hurtin'. We have been hosting some great fundraising events at the cafe lately, and it occurred to me that this could be the perfect way to help out our local neighborhood schools and have some fun while we are at at. Here's the gameplan:

1. 
   You, or your fundraising representative from your school, contact our party coordinator to select an evening for your event. (510-459-3811)
   We will work together to pick a night and time where members of your school or daycare join us for dinner and playtime at SadieDey's.


2. 
   Announce your "Meet and Greet Fundraiser Night" to the parents and administrators of your school.


3. 
   Try to get as many parents and families as you can to join us for dinner and playtime on your designated night, and Sadiedey's pays you a percentage of proceeds that very night!

Your school not only gets a fun "Meet and Greet" event but you get to hand over a check to your school that you earned by enjoying a fun night out.

Be the Hostess and the Hero!

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

tangobaby: Give Cheeks a Chance TONIGHT

tangobaby: Give Cheeks a Chance TONIGHT

Hello Bad Sales People. I have some tips for you.

I was so shocked by how badly this saleswoman missed the mark with me this week that I've decided to give some tips to those people who would like to find success in selling me advertising (or anything else for that matter)

1. Research my business. At least read my website and have some idea what kind of business we are.
   
2. Spell my name correctly.
3. Ask for me-not the manager and not Sadie (my daughter)If you ask for the manager I will pretend that she has left for the day.
4. Spell or pronounce the name of my cafe with reasonable accuracy. If it's confusing, ask me how to pronounce it and maybe where the name came from. If you want my business I think this is a reasonable show of respect.
   
5. Praise my efforts. That's right. If you want me to believe in you- start with believing in me. Tell me what a wonderful place I have created and what a wonderful addition it would make to your publication.
6. Make an appointment! Or at least have the intelligence not to walk into or call a cafe for kids at lunchtime and think you will get anything but disdain if you ask for my full attentions while I am juggling staff, kids lattes, food and complete chaos.
7. If you come in unannounced, ask if this is a good time for me and If I would be able to speak now or schedule an appointment. If you just start talking without any consideration as to whether or not now is a good time-It won't be.
8. Walk in the door and say hello. Don't just stand with your glossy kit at the front gate and make me come to you.
9. Better yet-Order something. Whenever I try to make a connection with another business I buy something for goodness sakes. Sadie and I spent 100.00 on Piedmont ave. once while asking folks to pass out our fliers. We bought gifts, lunch, small toys, trinkets etc... If I want their patronage I will patronize them as well. I didn't spend over 5.00 in any one place but a gesture is a gesture.
10. Don't tell me that you've never heard of me before this week. Even if it's true this is not a way to convince me that your ad would have made all the difference. There is no silver bullet in PR and Marketing. If there was one book or magazine that magically reached all the customers that you would ever need we wouldn't have to look at ugly billboards and have all our shows interrupted all the time :)
    
11. DON"t tell me where I currently advertise. I know that already and showing me that you did your homework is creepy. Keep it to yourself.
12. If I decline, please don't say, and this is verbatim from my last peddler "Oh, so you don't want any new customers???" Passive aggression is not a sales tactic that generally works with me or anyone else for that matter.
13. Do have your facts, demographics, trends, and testimonials in order. Why would I pay you to advertise to less people than I currently have on my own mailing list. Perhaps I should sell you some advertising.
14. DO smile and be personable. I'm a mom and a businesswoman and if you don't completely piss me off first, I WILL listen to you and try to help you with your business just as many helped me with mine.
15. Do follow up. Send me a thank you for my time, an unsolicited tip, a twitter referral for goodness sakes. Just because I say no now, does not me that I always will. When I am ready for that ad, I'm calling the person who stuck with it and proved to me that they knew how to market themselves. That's who I will pay to market my business.

Hey, it's up to you. If you want to wander over, insult me, and do the minimal amount of effort in the hopes that I will turn over my hard earned $$ to you because I think your marketing is brilliant in spite of your lackluster presentation just ask yourself "How's that workin' for ya?"

I know I've let the bitch out with this post but if you can get through my sarcasm and disdain for the number of salespeople who made me nuts this week, I hope I have provided some useful tips from the viewpoint of a small business owner.

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

My Poo Poo Poll

I would like some input on the act of changing diapers in a restaurant..

Last week I had a full frontal while I was munching on a bagel at Noah's as the momma in question used the table next door for a changing station. Personally, I think its unhygienic for both baby and the poor person (this time me) trying to eat her lunch,(not to mention the next guy using that table next...). I'm thinking that I may be only a minority shareholder in this argument, based on the shear volume of baby butts I see each and every day ?

Babies poop and diapers need to be changed, that is a fact of life, but where we do it is the big question, or debate if you will. I always ask myself the following when posed with this dilemma:

Is there a baby changing station in the establishment I am visiting ? I always felt such loyalty for places like Ikea that not only had stations, but wipes too! These two little amenities could literally fix a broken day for a worn out mom like me just looking for some relief!

If there is no changing station, I would have to make some hard choices. I have laid my diaper pad in some pretty unusual places but "a momma's gotta doo what a momma's gotta doo". That being said, I used a mental checklist to figure out my strategy which went like this:

1. Never near food, mine or anyone else's. Period.
2. My minivan, definitely ok! (it became my traveling diaper station)
3. Inside the stroller seemed OK as long as we were not in a food establishment.
4. My friends rug WITH a changing pad AND permission was OK.
5. At the park? Sure as long as you are far enough away from picnickers.

At SadieDey's, we not only have one but TWO changing stations, as well as staff to watch older siblings for a few moments if needed. We keep our bathrooms very clean and try to do the same in our play space and eating area. However, changing diapers other than in the bathroom does not create a clean and healthy space for all patrons to enjoy. Do you agree?

If you don't, I would love to hear your side? Please answer any or all of the following questions:

1.Where is the strangest place you've had to change a diaper?
2.Does the age of the butt in question matter?
3.Does a number "One" or "Two" matter in your decision?
4.Does it make a difference whether or not you are in a baby friendly establishment?
5.Did you ever try a “sneak change” because you were too tired to pick-up the baby?

Please let me know if I can provide any other service that would make the changing station more convenient?

Have fun and lets see if we can find a way to make everyone happy. No Butts about it.

Momma Sue

I give up...

So here is the last of my installments of my Stress-Free Diet plan. As you can see, this one I managed to write a while back but never even got it posted till now. The bottom line is that it was a valiant effort but not a complete success. I bemoaned my failure to my mom who said to just keep trying. She said everytime she fell off the diet wagon it was hard, but if she didn't keep trying she would have weighed 300 pounds. Every attempt had some success and helped her refine what worked for her. I think my stress diet is the same. This kind of schedule was thwarted at EVERY turn but perhaps the act of trying kept me more organized than I would have been if I hadn't even tried. Family night stuck and that's the most important anyway :)

Day 3:

Start my new early work schedule and arrive at 7:30 for one hour of web work before setting up kitchen. Laurel rather calmly yells “Momma Sue-FIRE” Hmm. Seriously? I walk in and yes, we have an electrical fire where our oven is plugged in. The fire extinguisher is exactly where the fire marshall told me to put it. Thank G-d. I pick it up say out loud “Do you know how this works?” I manage to fling out the pin , grab the hose and shoot. Fire out! Cafe Saved? Adrenaline rushing. We clean up the mess, flip off the breakers till Jerry comes in to tell us what went wrong, I head to safeway for muffins since our oven is somewhat melted and get the cafe open running by 9am (ish). See what I mean about the unexpected. Who could have predicted my emails would not be returned because my place caught on fire?! The rest of the day is pretty calm compared to a a conflagration or 3 ring circus so I'm back on track again. I start writing a todo list and realize that some of my to-do's have already been DONE. What a rush. Maybe I (and thousands of other who got on facter than me) could be onto something with this schedule thing. I always had it in my head that

Day 7: It just keeps getting crazier. Is the universe against me having a routine? Does it completely go against everything that I stand for. I will continue this fight for empty space in my head (wait that did not come out right) I meant for an openness that is only possible when this damn to do list goes dormant. I have seen progress, albeit limited but I love a challenge. This leads me to day 7. Sunday. It was hell and here is why: I set my alarm early to make sure I have time for my 1 hour of computer time before setup. I did wonder why my hubby had changed his monitor setting to read 7:30 instead of 6:30. Oh well. Then the announcer on KFOG kept talking like it was nearly 8am. Good grief these guys are off too?? Wait a damn minute. Daylight-friggin-savings! I completely forgot and assumed my cook had too because she was not out front waiting for me and tapping her foot. Oh well, how can I yell at her when I did the same thing right? So I set up the cafe and then realize it's 9:15 and still no cook. I check messages, which I would have done during my :office: time but no matter. It's a call from her boyfriend saying she's been in a car accident and I quote “I'm guessing she's not dead since she told me to call you.” Good grief. I have no idea how she is doing and I've got to get a replacement. NO ONE answers the phone. I am on my own and the skies are grey. I'm in trouble. I call my hubby and say grab the kidlets, you're on register today. I'll train you as we go. This would not be pretty. My faithful knight arrives with cranky kids in tow and I give him a 5 minute training. We pull it off for a good half hour and Misty, my right-hand gal, comes riding in to save the day. She pulled a hard shift the night before I and I did not ask her to come but she's awesome and came in anyway.

So back on track....until,,, crazy lady comes back. I won't go into all the details here for the sake of privacy but suffice it to say that it was not a pretty scene. I had to throw out my first customer EVER! I even had to call our walking Beat officer to come give us a hand and then I remembered that he was out for a medical issue. Leaving a message for him worked anyway because CL heard the message and finally left. Luckily, hubby was still around and escorted her out the door. The whole thing was messy, and sad really and I was seriously off schedule which was what I was most upset about. I found out that my cook was OK and would be back in tomorrow. Thank goodness. Crazy customer was now gone and my shift was over. I finally got to my email and saw that Officer Albino, our very sweet and always helpful beat officer had died suddenly. SHIT. All I could do was sit and cry. For him, for his family and for my terrible no good very bad day. Rest in Peace Officer Albino.

Day 2:- Stress Diet Plan

Day 2:
Ok. In my office, in my jammies, no time for personal hygiene cause I'm on a mission. I check my roster of events and get to it. Bills, Paid, sales loaded, budget reconciled. I'm ahead of schedule (an odd feeling) and feeling groovy. I decide to take part in “how the heck can you use twitter for business?” Conference call from 10-11. Nice ideas, thanks Paula. 3Pm I look up from computer, decide I really do need that shower and head to Fedex to overnight Step Mom's birthday present (again this year). With my new organized life, I hope I will only need a 2 day turnaround next year. I like to set the bar high you know. PU kids in the torrential rain, meet broker at new proposed SD location for paperwork swap, let the kids run around 7000 square feet for a bit, and then scoop them up and head home. Hubby graces us with cheap taco Tuesday night meal from Rubios and we are back on schedule. Computer off, kids on lap, talk of school, events, dreams, finishing your veggies and should I give newest employee a raise. I'm trying to leave work out of family time but it IS only day 2 and this will take time. Seeing open slots ahead and feeling hopeful that I can FEEL done, even when there is so much more to be done. Something about having it written down and scheduled, means I don't have to have it flowing in front of my eyes like a giant rolodex to-do list every waking moment. It WILL be done at some point, and that seems to be enough to quiet the brain.

Day 1 of the 2 week Stress "Diet" plan

note: since I don't have time to blog everyday these may not be posted in real time but they will be in order, enjoy my pain.

Day 1:

I have my whole day laid out down to the hour. Laundry, marketing meetings, budget strategies, even enough time to veg out and watch LOST from 3 weeks ago (I can't look at mags in the grocery store or I might see a plot twist I have not gotten to yet) family movie time etc. I've got the plan and I'm ready. Bat Phone rings. Manager just called and needs me to come in today and take tomorrow off for an office day instead. I am instantly thwarted. I can still do this . Just switch the Tuesday schedule with Monday and I'm back in the game. Cut to-Home from work, trying to make dinner with frozen shrimp and a half bag of pasta, no milk ,no cheese, no veggies or any other items to make this into something I can pass off as a meal. Grocery night is not till Wed. Shit. Another change in plans. Call to hubby to meet me at TJ's at 6pm. We pick out prepared meals, get home by 7, turn on Madagascar 2, cuddle up and we are back on schedule. AND I now have Wed. night open since the shopping is done.

I'm putting my stress on a 2 week diet. plan.

So I was chatting with a customer about my thoughts on opening store number two. She was enthusiastically in support of my plan but said very directly that I”already looked like a was stretched thin.” It saddened me to hear that. I have so much I want to do in the world, learn guitar, speak Spanish, inspire my kids, open a new cafe, build a mommy relaxation empire! I can't already be at my limit? I can't stop here! Maybe , I thought, I just didn't have any lipstick left on at 3pm and so I did not look fresh and alert. Or maybe this perfect stranger saw my inner truth. That I was at my limit and if something did not give I had to stop dreaming of what would be next. That to me would be a fate worse than death.

So what was gonna give? Not my time with my kidlets. I want them to have more of my time not less. Time with hubby- see previous answer. Delegate everything? -not as easy as it sounds. Lucky for me I had a good friend come in who does so many amazing things and has 4 kids. His motto is schedules and rituals. Those 2 words might as well be water boarding and nails on a blackboard. Seriously, entrepreneurs are often wild thinkers. Wild thinkers do not like predictability. At least not this one.So what's an adrenaline junkie do to get a grip on her life so that she can do more more more? An experiment, that's what.

For 2 weeks I will attempt a time budget and keep you posted on my progress. To some of you who actually already live your life this way this may sound downright silly. Something that is familiar to you may not seem like a challenge but if you are a predictable, scheduled, bills always paid on time, ahead on your volunteer hours kinda gal, picture yourself running a cafe for kids where everyday is completely unexpected. Take a hold of your own terror at this moment, and know that that is how I feel writing out an actual schedule.

But it must be done. I am a brilliant multi-tasker. So brilliant that it masks the fact that I don't use my time well. I can take an order, pull a shot, and wipe down a table before you have decided what you would like to order. I can update, twitter, facebook, my blog, my website, order biz cards, schedule the employees and balance the books all while talking to the repairman who is fixing the broken freezer. But does that mean that I SHOULD do all of this just because I can. Am I doing any of these things well. And more importantly-I am NEVER EVER done.I used to think that if I just go a lil faster I will see the light at the end of the tunnel. The light shining over a Hawaiian beach, with my pile of cash, and Mai tai by my side. The tunnel is dim Jim, very dim.

I gotta have fun right now and not wait for that elusive, 100 mile, curvy, bumpy, detoured tunnel.So I have sat myself down and logged every home and work task that I have done in the last 6 months. I put together an average time for each, including moments of downtime, dates with my husband, and time with my babies. I have a bill time, and a social networking time, a grocery night and a date night. I'm getting up an hour earlier and getting home earlier too.I really don't know if I can pull this off but I have so much that I want to do so I'm trying a new approach and seeing if the benefits outweigh the terror, and the schedule.

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!

Yes, it is indeed contest season. Who knew that there even was a contest season? All I know is that every important rating of small businesses seems to have a "Winner" in March and April. I guess it's like being hatched. The great news is that SadieDey's is already a Winner. Well I think we are a winner even if we didn't win any contests, but when I saw that we had been voted Best Family Restaurant in the SFGate Baylist Competition I screamed so loud Sadie asked me to keep it down. What made it even better was that this was the first time we have been recognized as not just a play cafe, but a restaurant, which is what we are. We just trying to make the dining experience one where you can actually eat with kids under 5. We are still in the running for both local and national contests and, not to be greedy, but we'd love SadieDey's to strut her stuff here too. Many thanks to all of you who voted and who are still voting!


click me-SadieDey's still wants to win the Intuit Grant Contest (extended)

and me too- PLEASE get us the coveted Bay Area Parent Magazine stamp of approval
(click the right hand button and a cheat sheet appears just for you!)

SadieDey's Cafe

• Best Family Restaurant in The Bay Area

No Money . No time. How can Momma have some fun?

If you are not hit by this recession than you do not have a pulse. Or you saved hundreds of children and nuns in a past life and are being very well rewarded. The rest of us though, need to figure out ways to still have fun when even we can't even afford to "add fries to that".

I am so sick and tired of these lifestyle magazines providing cost saving ways to manage your stress and have more fun. What kind of budget are they on? What kind of drugs are they on? When they recommend a spa weekend getaway I know that the recession has moved them from uber- wealthy to still pretty darn wealthy. These editors are not speaking to me-"clinging to middle class with bloody fingernails". And I'm damn lucky to be here too. I am perfectly aware that our economic situation is not fun but it is also not dire, and for that I am thankful. Compared to most of the world we still live like royalty, but living here in the Bay Area does take the gleam off my crown sometimes as I too struggle to find ways to stretch any form of disposable income that I may come across under the couch cushion.

I am also sometimes as appalled by my weight watchers team leader's suggestions as much as the editors of lifestyle magazines. "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." -BULL. "When you want that cookie just take yourself on a long walk, meditate, or go shopping instead." Are you kidding me. A long walk with 2 kids fighting and screaming "are we there yet?", meditate (don't make me laugh) and cruising the bargains at Goodwill is not exactly soothing my soul. By the time I have tried any of these tricks I could eat the whole bag of those cookies!

I am scarce on $ and seriously scarce on time but I believe I do have an abundance of similar souls out there just like me. So for those of you REAL moms here are some quick fast tricks that work for me and maybe one or two of them could work for you.
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RELAXATION:
The trick is that we don't have much time for this so we've gotta make the most out of precious little.
1. 10 minute Bubble Bath. I get in for 10 whole minutes by myself with my favorite trashy mag and zone out. Sadie will then join me with her toy catalog. We read together I get her washed, get out and throw Dey in and we all emerge somewhat clean and somewhat rested.
2. 10 minute chair Massage at Whole foods. Mind you, I can't even afford to buy a head of lettuce at this place but I will stop in on the way home from the cafe and sign up for 10 minutes of heaven. It's not much but I does the trick. ($10.0)
3. Foot massage by my husband.-Obviously you need a loving partner for this one but it's free or maybe you can barter. I will offer to do an extra house chore if I can please get a few minutes on each tootsie. (cost-1 load of laundry)
4. A glass (or bottle) of 2 Buck Chuck. I'm not condoning alcoholism, but red wine is good for you remember? And in moderation a nice glass of chuck can smooth out the rough edges of a hard day. (Cost $2.00)
5. A call to mom
6. Giant ooey gooey melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookie. I'm sorry, but when the freezer breaks, the grinder overheats, your employee never shows up and the toilets clog again (wait that's my life) and you can't do anything but laugh at the absurdity of it all, nothing makes the stress go away faster than this drippy buttery goodness. It's not a long term fix but it can hold you over till you regain your composure and can solve your problems. (Cost-only 1.10 at SadieDey's Cafe)
7. Movie Night-Netflix has saved us hundreds in late fees previously owed to the Buster. The trick is to get a movie that appeals to a preschooler and to us so we can sit through it 37 times. I recommend anything Pixar. Make a big vat of popcorn and cuddle up. (Cost $14.00 per month)
8. Family Dance party. Movie credit music makes Sadie's heels kick up . I don't know what it is, but at the end of each movies she clears of the table and dances to the credits. We decided we might as well join her, so after movie night we turn off the lights, turn on the xmas lights and have a dance party. (FREE)
9. Sex. It's fun. If it is not free than there is something amiss in your relationship. It fits the 10 minute time frame. (just kidding sweetie...)


Excursions:
1. The poor man's snow trip. Back when we were DINKS we actually rented a cabin in Tahoe for the ski season. We were so spoiled. Our kids LOVE the snow but a Tahoe getaway is not in the cards. We don't want to disappoint the kids so here's what we do. We pile up everyone including Griffin the wonder dog, and head to Grass Valley. We stay at the Holiday Inn there which is very nice and allows dogs. We bring up lots of games and cuddle and watch movies. In the morning we head up 80 until we hit snow. We pile out, romp for an hour, pile back in and head to the Starbucks for cocoa. The kids ,and the dog, fall asleep on the way home and talk about the trip to the snowy mountains for weeks. They think we were there for days.... Don't you dare tell them otherwise. (Cost- $200.00 for gas, food, lodging)

2. Rock Climbing. Here's a fun night that we tried this Wednesday. We bought a 20.00 yearly membership to REI and let our kids go indoor rock climbing for an hour for FREE. We supported a cooperative business and got our kids some exercise and skill building. They got their choice of Power bar for a dessert and we called it a night. We'll be back on Wednesday's till they ring that bell! (Cost-$20.00 then FREE)


Now for my plug. Stop reading here if you don't want to read my own infomercial. SadieDey's was not come corporate plan to amass large amounts of money. Thank goodness or I would be really disappointed. No, it was because I needed a place that was fun for both me and my kids. I know in my heart pleasing a 3.5 year old and a 35 year old at the the same time was actually possible. I knew it needed a playspace for them and coffee for me and it could not cost a fortune. 4.5 years later from this initial epiphany it is all waiting for you:


Here's why SadieDey's is also a bargain: Rather than pay for expensive music & tumbling classes you can get everything your preschooler needs for 5.95 ALL DAY at our indoor playspace and cafe which includes but is not limited to:

• A Mother's Helper to additionally provide entertainment and fortbuilding
• Sing-A-long with Nanci and Friends
• Play-doh time with no clean up necessary
• Fine Motor and Gross motor play
• Dramatic play
• Early Development Socialization
• Full Service Breakfast lunch and dinner cafe with organic coffee
• Healthy, wheat free, gluten free menu options
• Homemade pastries
• Scrumptious Salads
• Big comfy Purple couch to sink into for a couple hours
• FRE wifi to catch up on life
• Sassy staff to make you laugh ;)
  

It's preschool with a latte at SadieDey's Cafe. Guaranteed not to break the bank.

Please post any cheap outings or relaxation tips you may have here too.

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

My Sweet Valentine's "Dey"

I know my last post re: Dey was about fibbing, but sometimes his sweet nature equally floors me. We play a game when I PU the kid from school: Mom says "Who had a good day?" kid chorus replies "ME!"
Mom says- "Who made a friend?", Chorus-"ME", Mom says- "Who ate their lunch, did their work, farted in class?", Chorus-"ME, ME, ME", giggle, giggle." (Sadie LOVES pottty humor)
Well the game usually progresses to "Who loves Mommy, Daddy, ice cream, tickles etc..."
Today Dey took over the game and these were his questions:
"Who loves Sadie?
who loves her squishy cheeks?
who loves her squishy tummy?
who loves to pop her little toes? (that's me)
who loves to make her laugh?
who loves to see her dance?
who loves to hear her sing?
who loves to see her act crazy?
who loves to see her make a friend?
who loves when she is sweet?
who loves when she is quiet?
who loves when she kisses her daddy?
who loves when she cuddles?

Who loves how much my sweet boy loves his little sister? ME ME ME!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

How my need for a latte and a jungle gym helped birth my 3rd baby!

Here's an excerpt from my entry the Intuit Small Business Grant. Let me know what you think:

How could I possibly see my 2 year old, who just darted behind the giant play truck, while nursing my newborn on a seat meant for a toddler tush, not a tush owned by a mom who just gave birth? This was the dilemma that fanned my entrepreneurial inner flame. There should be a place where a mom can keep and eye on more than one child at a time, where she can sit on a comfy couch, where the kids can play & everyone can have a yummy healthy meal. While we are at it this place needs some seriously strong coffee. Where was this heaven sent place? NOWHERE! That's where.

I was so determined to sit, and sip and visit and play that I built it myself. I found a business partner and got to it. My little girl's first year was literally spent in lawyers offices & construction meetings, and the Oakland Planning & Zoning commission knew us both by name. Did I mention that she insisted on nursing at every single meeting? How many times have you had to wheel and deal with a commercial broker with your blouse wide open. (Don't answer that.) After a year of designing, dreaming, begging, borrowing, & building, the doors to my play cafe were finally open. The first day that I saw a mom curl up on the couch , latte in hand, while her baby crawled beside her and her toddler played in view, I sighed and smiled. I had done it. My employees ask why I come in with my daughter on my day off. Didn't I want a break? I tell them I spent 150,000 for my admission and I'm sitting on this couch!

to read the full story go to http://tinyurl.com/adcct8

please rate this entry as inspiring, useful, or funny on the intuit site

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/ or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

Should every new business concept rename itself after 2 years?

When I hosted a table for SadieDey's at the East Bay Moms Preschool Resource Fair this past weekend I was struck by some of the comments that I heard. Misty and I would welcome folks to the table and ask if they had been to SadieDey's. They would either say yes, we love it or no what's that. Luckily we did not get any "yes and we hated it" combos. We did however find that when people who had not heard of us find out our address, a number of them reacted with a little squirm and said "Oh, you mean tumble & tea." This was not said with a smile and we got the message. Our next questions of course was "How long since you've been in?" Every "frown" had not been in for at least a year.-Whew. That gave us our chance to try to win them back. Misty and I looked at each other and realized we had a lot of work on our hands and I thought to myself-thank goodness we are changing names, otherwise the mistakes and growing pains of building tumble & tea may have stuck forever.

When Gina and I started drawing the blueprint for our dream there was no template to work from. There was no other open Play Cafe anywhere in Norther California that we could even look at for inspiration. It was completely trial and error, with a great big audience. Everyday we rearranged, reinvented, re-tasted, and revised. There was no other possible way to create our customers dream other than have them tell us what they wanted once we were open.

I've read that people's first reaction to any change or different concept is negativity. Over time our human nature allows us to try it out and either fall in love with the concept or stick with our initial distaste. People don't like change, plain and simple. This creates quite the emotional mountain to climb for innovators and entrepreneurs who want to bring something new and different to the public eye. Everyone knows what a play center is and how it works and what to expect. Everyone knows how to behave in a restaurant, that the food costs money and that it is cooked on the premises. Very few people knew what to expect from a combination of 2 such businesses, especially us.

After 1.5 years I bought Gina's share of the biz and decided we needed an even bigger overhaul to try to get the model closer to fine. New gates, new tables, new furniture, new POS systems, new menu, new staff, new manager, and as you know-new name.

And so I ask again, does every innovative business model need to rename itself in order to separate it from its awkward infancy. Does the widget factory have to rename once it figures our a better widget. I certainly don't think we are done changing and improving and I don't plan on rebranding every 2 years. Hopefully the first 2 years of lessons learned were the steepest and now we can continue to climb a little bit at a time.

Back to the moms who stopped by the booth...When we asked what kept them from coming back some said that there was no gate-well our new gate is working great. Some did not like the hardwood floors and had not even seen the carpet. Some did not like staff that had long since been fired. When we pointed out all that had been improved based on earlier suggestions they seemed excited to come on back in. I'm glad we may have won them back but for every mom we talked to there were a lot more that we didn't.

Tumble & tea will always be my first business baby and I'm proud of every stage. That we even got the doors open, that we are still open even during this recession, that we never stop and say good enough. I hope other small businesses are granted a grace period to figure out who they are and how they can improve. Otherwise we'll never get innovative businesses that take risks and hopefully provide a service that we didn't even know we needed.

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at www.sadiedeyscafe.com or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

We're on Eye on the Bay!

I got me a lil' fibber

Dey is now 6 and has always been such an honest little guy. Even when he tried to lie, his half closed eyes and smirk always gave him away and we were all laughing at his attempt at real deception. Well he has gotten better and I'm kinda stumped. The conversation goes something like this. Keep in mind that as any good mommy lawyer does-I don't ask any question that I don't already know the answer to.
Me,"Dey, did you do your work in class today."
Dey, "Yes mommy."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, mommy."
"Really really sure."
Yes, I'm pretty sure. (he's starting to slip about here on my third interrogation)
So did you or didn't you?
"I thiiiink I remember doing it (really losing traction now) I go in for the kill-
"Dey, did you do your work in class or not?"
Dey-"Well maybe I didn't today but I did yesterday."
Seriously? Some days I go straight in -did you do your work in class-yes, did you -yes, did you- yes, For sure-well maybe not all of it..

Must I ask 5 times to evoke truthfulness in a first grader? What is he scared of exactly? We make it clear that lying is sooo much worse than not doing your work. I'm not totally freaking out about this as I'm sure it's a normal developmental phase that he will emerge from, like poopy diapers and spit up, but I saw this show on 2020 on integrity and it was truly shocking and sad. They set up a hidden camera at a local bar and had a guy, very obviously, slip some mysterious powder into his date's drink. Only about 2 people made a scene and confronted the guy. Most looked away. I was so ashamed of humans. Where was their bravery and integrity? When did looking the other way when someone is in danger become socially acceptable?
This is why, although I believe my boy will grow up to be someone who stands up for justice, it is my most important job to get him on the right track right now. Lying is a skill I don't want my kids to master because I personally think that it is a stepping stone to the worse crime of indifference and cowardice.

Dey and I are in a testing phase for now and I just hope that I'm getting my message across, even at his young age. Being honest with yourself is probably the hardest lesson to learn much less teach, but I think this is the right place to start. I welcome any thoughts or suggestions that any of you other parents may have for me.

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe . Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at www.sadiedeyscafe.com or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!

What a fabulous way to ring in 2009!

Hey I don't think 2008 was a stellar year for anyone, so all the more reason to bring in 2009 with utter Joy. That's exactly what we did at SadieDey's for our 3rd annual New Year's Pre-Eve party. This may have been our third NY's event but it was the first one I got to truly enjoy and I have my new Event coordinator Misty to thank for that experience. Instead of rushing around as the frantic hostess, I poured some of my secret bubbly stash (shhh) and got to dance to Asheba with my kidlets and catch up with old and new friends. In other words I got to attend my own party rather than run it. I highly recommend this wonderful demotion to any of you hosting big parties in the new year. Try to get a chance to enjoy your party and see if you can find someone else to actually organize it. I'd recommend Misty but she's mine now so you'll have to find your own "party angel".

The best part of the night for me was seeing Miss Sadie, who has yet to participate, even minimally, in any sing-a-long event I have EVER taken her to, step up to the mic and sing her ABC's with her dad and her idol, ASHEBA. I could not even believe my eyes, or ears. This girl is completely nutso around friends and family, but totally shuts down in a crowd. I was so very proud of her for being so brave.

After every kid won a prize, all the meatballs and cucumber cups were gobbled, and the clock neared 6pm, we counted down to midnight (somewhere in the mid-Atlantic ocean I guess) and welcomed in 2009 with open arms and open hearts. Happy and Healthy New Year's wishes to everyone.

Susan Older-Mondeel is the founder of SadieDey's Cafe (formerly known as tumble & tea). Sue wanted a community place where she could enjoy her children and enjoy herself, preferably with a strong coffee in hand. Where was this common ground for children and the weary adults who love them? Well it was in her head and in her heart and now at 4210 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland CA. Check it out at www.sadiedeyscafe.com or call 510-601-REST (7378) SadieDey's Cafe-You've gotta eat, Kids gotta play!