One of my absolute favorite parts of working on this event has been seeing all the fabulous donations coming in from our parent (and grandparent!) community! Items such as:

• Martina B.’s homemade German Apple Tortes
• Tanya S.’s set of six placemats and matching table runner
• Tom S.’s “Tree of Life” garden art and set of granite cheese boards
• Diane B.’s Christening gown and beaded necklace/earrings set
• Grandparent Joan K.’s hand-knit sweater
• Grandparent Karen B.’s photography
• Susan J.’s “Understanding Men” workshop
• Dawn A.’s flower arrangements
• Two books illustrated by Carl A.

Come celebrate all this awesomeness on April 21st. Get your tickets today!

Parenting on the Peninsula is a monthly journal serving the San Francisco Peninsula and Silicon Valley. It’s sole purpose is to provide valuable parenting information to families with children of all ages. We are DELIGHTED to share that owner (and SPNS grandmother!) Joanne Bracco is offering one lucky family the chance to have their photo on the cover of this publication for an entire month! Parenting on the Peninsula will supply the photographer (location of the photo shoot is negotiable but must be local) and the winning bidder will get to keep all the digital images.

Fame awaits!

Prior to sending my older daughter to Kindergarten, I spent more time than I should probably admit looking at different lunchboxes. I wanted something with bento box-style compartments that was easy for a 5-year-old to open by herself. Enter PlanetBox!

PlanetBoxes are dishwasher-safe and 100% recyclable. Plus, PlanetBox is a local company (they are based out of San Rafael). We’ll be offering up a PlanetBox Complete, which comes with a PlanetBox, 1 set of magnets (Rainforest), 1 Big and 1 Little Dipper, and a Rocket Red Carry Bag (a $60 value).

Another household favorite hails from Massachusetts-based company snackTAXI, which offers reusable snack and sandwich bags in fun fabrics. They have donated one of each size (a $16 value). The snack size bag fits perfectly inside the snack pocket of the PlanetBox Carry Bag!

Need someplace to put all this cool lunch gear? Check out this jungle-themed backpack, courtesy of Mimi the Sardine (a $39 value):

And finally, no lunch package would be complete without a few books to help you come up with creative alternatives to the standard PB&J:

From Hornblower Cruises & Events we have two passes for any brunch, lunch, or dinner cruise aboard an elegant Hornblower Yacht (a $186 value).

More of a sports fan? How about two tickets to the Astros vs. Giants game on June 13, 2012? You’ll be right near third base with these Premium Lower Box seats! (Go ahead, check out the view!)

Or maybe you’re looking for a quintessential San Francisco experience? We’ve also got two tickets to Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon. Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon, the longest running musical revue in theater history, is a zany musical spoof of pop culture with extravagant costumes and outrageously huge hats (a $102 value).

• “McKenna,” American Girl’s 2012 Girl of the Year  (a $105 value)
• Two tickets to the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, August 24-26 (a $150 value)
• Square teak bistro table, courtesy of Tom’s Outdoor Furniture in Redwood City (a $495 value)
• A one-year family membership to the Exploratorium in San Francisco (a $90 value)
• A Keratin Smoothing Treatment, courtesy of Hair Fitness Hair Salon in San Mateo (a $250 value)
• $50 gift certificate to Cuisinett, a San Carlos favorite offering French comfort food

• three gift certificates for cuts at Trio Salon, a top Bay Area salon located in Burlingame (a $150 value)
• $100 gift certificate to Junior Gym of San Mateo
• $35 gift certificate to Gymboree
• $50 gift certificate to Cheeky Monkey Toys, an independent, family-owned and operated children’s toy store in Menlo Park
• $50 gift certificate to Zappos, plus a book autographed by the CEO
• 10 class passes to Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos. Undisputed Boxing Gym offers group classes and private training in a variety of disciplines, including boxing, kickboxing, Taekwondo, capoeira, yoga, and more.
• two family passes to the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito (a $110 value)
• four passes to Children’s Fairyland in Oakland (a $32 value)
• backpack and art treasure bag from Mimi the Sardine (a $50 value)
• hockey puck autographed by #10 Brad Winchester, courtesy of the San Jose Sharks (a $30 value)
• football autographed by #21 Frank Gore, courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers (a $50 value)
• private tennis lesson, courtesy of the San Carlos Tennis Club (a $75 value)
• $50 gift certificate to Sous Kitchen, which delivers fresh, chef-prepared meals to your doorstep

Huzzah!!

Have a child interested in learning lacrosse? Atherton Lacrosse offers camps, after school classes, and free lacrosse clinics for students age 5-14 at the beginner and intermediate levels. They have many locations on the Peninsula, including Belmont. Thank you, Atherton Lacrosse, for donating a $235 gift certificate!

We’ve also received a week of “Circus on Stage” summer camp, courtesy of Peninsula Gymnastics (a $170 value)! Activities include gymnastics, acrobatics, tumbling, circus acts, and choreography.

Cool!

• $50 gift card to The Office
• $50 gift certificate to Tiny Prints
• Gift certificate for a deluxe manicure/pedicure at Sky Nails
• $100 gift certificate to Mo Music
• $50 Boden/Mini Boden gift certificate
• $20 worth of gift certificates to Zest Bakery

Be sure to thank these donors (especially the local ones) with your patronage!