Get cool at Blaine's Lakeside Commons Park

Get cool in Blaine this summer. The city runs a fantastic park along in the heart of The Lakes development near 109th and Radisson Road.

The park is free for Blaine residents (who show proof of residency with a driver’s license). For non-Blaine folks, the fee is a $5 parking permit. Or, opt for a $25 season pass. It’s a pretty good deal when most splash pads charge per person.

Lakeside Commons Park has both a splash pad and a sandy beach. There’s also a picnic pavillion, concessions stand with kayak rental, and playground. The only thing it doesn’t have is shade.

The three-year-old park was busy on the 90º-plus day I went with my sister and our kids, but because there’s so much open space it didn’t seem too crowded. We appreciated the grassy area around the splash pad and north of the beach because it gave people room to spread out. We camped out there and made forays to the beach. Who wants to bring a stroller in the sand? Next time I will bring a sports umbrella, however, so that we have some (man-made) shade.

The splash pad doesn’t have all the tricks many do — there weren’t any buckets that dumped gallons of water or giant mushrooms that sprayed water. Instead they rely on simple fountains. The experience is like running through a bunch of spinklers.

As moms, we appreciated that the beach was roped off into two areas (shallow and deep) making is easier to tell the toddlers what their boundaries were. 

The splash pad and beach is a bit of a trek from the parking lot. You’ll either want to pack really light (which is tough on a beach excursion) or you’ll want a stroller. 

Have fun!

Lakeside Commons Park 

3020 Lake Parkway, Blaine 55449 

(3/4 mile down Lakes Parkway off Radisson Road)

HOURS:

Beach: 10am to 8pm

Splash Pad Hours:10am to 6pm

Park Hours: 5am to 10pm

Boathouse: Monday thru Wednesday, Friday:  1pm to 6pm; Thursdays:  Noon to 9pm; Weekends: Noon to 6pm

Canoe and Kayak Rental: $7/hour

More information at:

http://www.ci.blaine.mn.us/index.cfm?id=900797

I feel like a bad mom

I’ve now worked on three major house projects: two new construction and one remodel. I can tell you, the remodel was much tougher.

It could be because of the little one. It was a lot easier to spend all my time at the new house when I didn’t have to worry about a toddler breathing in nasties and stabbing herself with a nail. Plus, I had to plan my work schedule around her naps and bedtime. That doesn’t leave a lot left over for painting and tile work.

I wound up feeling like a bad mom.

I was always dropping my toddler off at someone else’s house for the day — or weekend when I had a lot of stuff to get done at the house. She got to bed late too often. She missed naps. And she started to eat junk food. Once you start, you can’t go back.

Plus, both the hubby and I were just plain exhausted all the time. And crabbiness goes hand in hand with that. It’s tough to play or have patience with a cranky kid who runs off to hide when you suggest a diaper change after you spent all day hauling garbage out of a house. You just want to fall into bed the minute you get home. And you wish she could just turn off too. But she needs to be led through her nighttime routine, have three stories read to her, and be cuddled with first.

I haven’t had time to wean her from her nuk, and I certainly haven’t been able to potty train her. And we didn’t have a party or do anything for her 2nd birthday. Bad mom. That’s me.

I tried to do the best I could, but I still ended up feeling awful. Not that those negative feelings helped the situation at all.

I guess that times like these are when folks say you need to have given enough love to your child that it pulls you all through the rough times. And I’m sure this won’t be the toughest time I have as a mom, right? We’ll see how those teens years go.

Now that we’re done with the house (mostly), I’m determined to make it up to her.

It’s time to plan a birthday bash. To spend all day with her every day again. To take her to the park and for long walks. To replenish her love reservoir. Because, I do love her so deeply.

I hope she knows.

Try cloth diapers out; use a diaper service

Want to try cloth diapers out?

Taking the jump by purchasing a couple hundred dollars worth of cloth diapers isn’t an easy thing to do. What if you end up HATING it? What if it really is a hassle like all those doomsayers have told you? What if it just isn’t convenient and doesn’t work out for you?

I love cloth diapers, and I’d like to see you try them out. So here’s what I suggest:

Use a cloth diaper service.

Yes, there are cloth diaper services these days. Isn’t that just wonderful?! In fact, there are two right in the Twin Cities and another in southern Minnesota. I was tickled pink the other week to see these diaper services splashed across the front page of the Star Tribune variety section. In case you missed the story, click here http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/112823874.html.

It wasn’t too long ago that the same newspaper reported that the last cloth diaper service in Minneapolis was closing. But folks want cloth diapers these days, and they want easy options. We want to be able to save money and not contribute to overflowing landfills. And because of that, new businesses have started up.

All Things Diapers, based out of Blaine, was started by a husband and wife duo who used cloth for both of their children. “We truly believe that everyone can use cloth diapers, and our mission is to make them both convenient and cost effective,” said owner Patti Cross. She and her husband offer a three-day trial for only $10! The prefold package is then $10.50 a week, or use SoftBums Echo diapers for $30 a week. Parents place the wet diapers in a diaper pail; if it’s a pooper, shake the solids into the toilet, but you don’t have to scrub them. Customers pick their own delivery day, and can opt for once or twice a week at no extra charge. There is also a package for folks who want to use both cloth and disposable diapers. The company will also work with your daycare, and provides a list of daycares that that accept cloth diapers.

All Things Diapers prides itself on being green, using bicycles or hybrid cars for delivery and line-drying diapers when weather permits.

All Things Diapers

(Cloth Diaper Delivery Service & Cloth Diaper Baby Store)

12064 Central Ave NE,

Blaine, MN, 55434

(763) 439-1973

www.allthingsdiapers.com

E-mail: allthingsdiapers@yahoo.com

I love the slogan for Do Good Diapers, based out of Minneapolis: “Let Do Good Do the Dirty Work”! Owners Peter and Kathy started the company while searching for a diaper service when baby Elliot was born. Most of their customers pay $20 a week. Prices range from $18 to $24 a week and are based on the number of diapers you use. The cost for twins is $24 — which sounds pretty cheap to me! The trial package is $20 for one week; if you decide to continue, the $20 is applied to your future bill. Do Good Diapers combine cotton pre-fold diapers with either the water-proof Pro-wrap velcro or Thirsties Duo covers. They also provide the Snappie (today’s version of the diaper pin), the diaper pail and deorderizing discs.

Do Good Diapers

3134 California St. NE

Minneapolis, MN 55418

(612) 990-2183

dogooddiapers.com

Email: DoGoodDiapers@gmail.com

Want to see cloth diapering in action before you commit? Monthly Cloth ‘Nappie’ Hours have been set up at two local stores that cater to moms. Stop in for a quick 10-minute demonstration, ask questions and get a hands on cloth diaper demo at either Peapod’s or Bellies to Babies. All attendees will receive a coupon for $10 your first invoice from Do Good Diapers.

Peapod’s Natural Toy and Baby Care (Thursdays):

• February 10: 4 - 6 PM

• March 10: 4 - 6 PM

• April 14: 4 - 6 PM

• May 12: 4 - 6 PM

• June 9: 4 - 6 PM

Bellies to Babies Maternity Consignment (Thursdays):

• January 27: 5 - 7 PM

• February 24: 5 - 7 PM

• March 24: 5 - 7 PM

• April 28: 5 - 7 PM

• May 26: 5 - 7 PM

• June 23: 5 - 7 PM

In case you’re not convinced yet, did you know that on average, cloth diaper users save $661.44? That’s something to crow about!