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Posts Tagged ‘Resources’

No Electricity? Meals & Food For Power Outages

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Preparing for the storm and wondering what meals you can cook for no electricity? If the power goes out, what is there to eat? You’re wondering about non perishable foods for power outages. With storms approaching and a possible power outage, thinking ahead about meals to make if you have no electricity can be a smart move amidst grabbing the obligatory bread and milk from the grocery stores. Today we’re making storm prep easier with several no-power-meal ideas.

Meals for power outages

Our readers are awesome. We asked them for ideas on what to make if we end up losing power due to a storm. They answered with a lot of creative suggestions.

We’re answering:

  • What meals can I cook without power?
  • What food should I buy before a storm?
  • What can I feed my family if the power is out?
  • And, we have a handy food for power outage grocery list!

This article includes:
What Meals Can You Make With No Power? Meal Ideas for Power Outages
Food for Power Outage Grocery List

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Oh baby! Free 3D ultrasounds at Greenville Tech in Greenville, SC

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Did you know you can get a FREE 3D ultrasound in Greenville, SC? Greenville Tech in Greenville, SC offers free 3D/4D ultrasounds. Spots are limited, and we tell you what you need to do to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

3D Ultrasound Greenville, sC
Photo courtesy of Greenville Tech

Expecting? Don’t miss our Guide to Baby, Maternity and Postpartum Care. It’s full of resources for families with new little ones like health care options and fun things to do with babies!

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Making Life Easier: Resources and Services For Families in Upstate, South Carolina

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Are you in need of services in Greenville, SC to help your family and you live your best lives? Maybe you are looking for resources to help you navigate a particular issue. We have compiled a multitude of lists and guides that will help you navigate your daily life a little more easily. Peruse our growing resources and services page as we work to help make life a little easier. 

Resources and services guide to the Upstate of South Carolina

Who Has KABOOM? Top Resources Voted By Our Readers

The KABOOM Awards are our annual best-of contest. The results give our readers a list of Greenville’s best resources and services.

Services and Resources for Upstate Families:
Reader-recommended and Researched

We have asked our readers and researched some of the best places for various services near Greenville, SC. Many of these services are things you would need during your daily life, and hey, we are all just trying to make life easier! Check out these reader-recommended reviews of services throughout the Upstate.

Reader-recommended places for kid’s haircuts.

Reader recommended nail salons near Greenville, South Carolina

Reader-Recommended Nail Salons in Greenville, SC & Spartanburg, SC

Where to do grocery pickup or delivery in Greenville, SC

Grocery Delivery Services in Greenville, SC

Services Near Greenville, SC

Get mommy and me manicures and pedicures at these upstate nail salons.

You can get free school supplies near Greenville, SC at one of these back-to-school events.

These local retailers are the Where to Buy School Uniforms That Fit Your Child.

These piercing studios in Greenville, SC are a safe place to get your kids ear’s pierced.

Growing your family can be expensive, but our information about parenting on a budget can help save you some money!

If you have a newborn, money can be tight! These 11 tips on Budgeting for Your Baby may be useful.

Have a little water lover? These recommended places are the Best Swim Lessons in Greenville, SC.

Have it all! Connect with your kids with ideas in our Working Parents Guide to Greenville, SC.

Women's consignment stores in Greenville, South Carolina

These women’s consignment stores will keep you on budget while staying in style!

Kids Consignment shopping in Greenville, SC

Buy or sell gently used clothing at these reader-recommended Kids Consignment Stores Near Greenville, SC.

Where and how to shop to save in Greenville, SC

Here is where to shop to save while you budget shop at these local retailers.


Family Resources & Guides To Greenville, SC

If you are new to the Greenville area or are in need of information about the Upstate, these guides and resources can help you navigate the Upstate a little better. Listings in these guides offer contact information, the services the company or facility offers, and links to their business page. These guides and resources are organized to make it easier for you to navigate, saving you a little time during your research!

The Ultimate Homeschool Guide to the Upstate, South Carolina.

Kidding Around’s Ultimate Homeschool Guide.

Special needs resources in Greenville, SC

Our Special Needs Guide for resources and services near Greenville, SC.

Guides and Resources for Upstate Families

Help your parents retire comfortably with Dan Hamilton’s Guide to Retirement Communities.

Use our KA Ultimate Birthday Guide to plan every aspect of your child’s birthday party

Need a reputable photographer? Our Ultimate Guide to 30+ Photographers near Greenville, SC will help you choose the perfect photographer for any occasion.

The KA Ultimate Guide for New Parents includes information on baby, maternity, and postpartum care near Greenville, SC!

Our Guide to Private Schools near Greenville, SC has over 30 schools that will give your child a premium education for your child that aligns with your values.

Looking for Charter Schools? Our Guide to Charter Schools near Greenville, SC has information about all of the charter schools in the Upstate.

Are you thinking about moving to Greenville, SC? Then our Guide to Moving to Greenville, SC has tons of information to help you find a great place to live, including things to do once you get here!

You will also find the best suburbs to live near Greenville, SC and why in our list of the Best Suburbs Near Greenville, SC.

Here is where you can buy local, farm fresh eggs near Greenville, South Carolina!

Have a kid who turns 6 this year? You HAVE to check out the Pepsi Party Pack your child will get for free from Pepsi of Greenville.


Piano Central Studios: The Benefits of Lifelong Music Making

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The budding young musician in your family is sure to fall in love with music at Piano Central Studios in Greenville, SC. For over 40 years, Piano Central Studios has been teaching music to students of all ages in the Upstate, working to instill a lifelong love and understanding of music into their students’ hearts and minds. In fact, it’s their stated mission to nourish hearts and minds with music-making for life!

Thank you to our sponsor Theresa Case, Owner at Piano Central Studios, for writing this article alongside us!

Piano Central Studios takes a fun and engaging approach to music-making. With classes and lessons for all ages, from babies to school-aged and even adults, it’s never too late in life to learn to sing or play an instrument. Plus, there are many positive benefits to taking music lessons. Learn more about Piano Central Studios and how owner Theresa Case’s vision is fostering a love of music-making for life.

Introducing Young Children to the Joy of Music: Kindermusik for Babies to Big Kids

Shake, jingle, and rattle! Young babies and children love making music.  In fact, music-making comes very naturally and easily to them. They instinctively respond to music, making sounds and dancing around.  The way they light up when they engage in music-making is magical. 

That’s why Piano Central Studios offers Kindermusik classes for young children.  Kindermusik is an interactive music and movement program for children ages newborn to age 7 which leans into this precious, innate love of music and makes it come alive for both kids and their grown-ups. 

Kindermusik is a delightfully playful way for kids to make music while exploring various instruments and learning to use their voices. During class, you and your child will sing songs, dance, rhyme, and play instruments, all while you grow closer together through the bond of a happy, shared musical experience. 

As they make music with others, these young musicians are also benefiting from a joyful, stimulating environment enriched with a variety of creative multi-sensory music activities. Plus, everything your child learns at Kindermusik can be applied and enjoyed at home throughout the week! 

What to Expect at Kindermusik

This rich musical introduction in the early years expands as children move up through the levels of Kindermusik, until in the last levels of the program, they are actually reading and composing music, along with learning to play the glockenspiel (pre-piano), the ukulele, the dulcimer, and the recorder.

Kindermusik classes are divided into age-specific, developmentally appropriate levels, from Level 1 to Kindermusik Musicians Years 1 and 2.  These classes are low-pressure and intentionally designed to spark your child’s interest in music while giving the foundational understanding and immersive experience needed to successfully transition to music lessons and instrument mastery. 

Cognitive and Social Benefits of Kindermusik

Not only will your child love it, but music holds such an important place in your child’s development. Music has been shown to enhance cognitive development, which is critical in the years before age 5. This age range is when 90% of brain development occurs! 

There are also wonderful social-emotional benefits that come along with making music with peers and parents. Your young children will make new friends as they bang on drums and shake tambourines, all while building a strong bond with you! 

So, if you want to instill a deep, lifelong love of music in your young child, then the Kindermusik program at Piano Central Studios is the perfect place to start.

Something They’ll Look Forward To: Music Lessons for Ages 6+

Group or Private Music Lessons for Kids

Piano Central Studios offers a wide range of options in music instruction, including lessons in piano, voice, band instruments, string instruments, guitar, and ukulele. Group lessons are available for beginners ages 6 to 9, or there is the option of private lessons for ages 6 and up. 

You’ll find convenient locations and a variety of scheduling options for music lessons at PCS.  Add to that great teachers, a motivating reward program, awards to earn in the Practice Space app, recitals, Performance Parties, and more, and you’ve got the kind of winning combination at PCS that’s sure to keep your child loving their lessons for years to come.

The Importance of Music for Self-Expression

As your children get older, they need a creative outlet that allows them to be creative and to express themselves. What better way than through music? Music is a unique and fulfilling outlet for self-expression, being able to sing or play an instrument is truly a gift you can give your child. 

In their music lessons at PCS, your child will develop a skill that is all their own, something special to them that will help mold the image of their “self”. They will then be able to share this piece of themselves with their peers through recitals, their school band or orchestra, and choir, if they choose. Best of all, the music skills and life skills they learn during their lessons will be something they carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Benefits of Music Lessons for Kids

There’s nothing more heart-warming than watching your child thrive and their confidence blossom as they make progress each week, grow in their ability to sing or play their instrument, or shine on stage at their recital.

In their music lessons, your child will develop self-discipline and time management skills that extend to other areas of their life, including academics and extracurricular activities.  Music lessons are also a kind of therapeutic outlet, giving your child a means to express themselves in ways words cannot.

And since mastering the skill of singing or playing an instrument takes time and perseverance, your child will also learn the value of patience and resilience, developing a positive growth mindset along the way.  The skills your child learns and the memories they make will become a cherished part of who they are and who they can become.

Never Stop Loving Music: Music Lessons for Adults

It’s never too early or too late to fall in love with music – for the first time or all over again.  You don’t have to live with the regret of quitting lessons when you were younger or always wishing you had learned to sing or play an instrument.  

And if you’re worried about how you’ll feel as an adult student, be assured that the teachers at PCS are as good with their adult students as they are with their younger students.  They’ll help you progress at your own pace, learning the music that will give the most joy and fulfillment and helping you achieve your musical goals.

As you venture into the world of scales and melodies as an adult student, you’ll find a sense of rejuvenation that only music can provide. Your music lessons become a journey of self-discovery, an exploration of your own capacities, and a reminder that growth knows no age. 

Benefits of Music Making for Adults

Not only is music an excellent hobby, but singing or playing an instrument also keeps your mind sharp, reduces stress, and enhances productivity.  As we age, we naturally tend to see a decline in cognition and variations in cortisol, but science tells us that a hobby like music can keep us healthy, happy, and sharp. 

In addition, singing or playing an instrument is a great way to unwind, relieve stress, and enjoy a creative outlet you might not have in other areas of your life or work.  If your child is in Kindermusik or taking music lessons themselves, you now have a different way to empathize, encourage, and bond with them over music.  

PCS loves helping adult students reclaim their love for music by taking music lessons and enjoying a life-changing hobby like singing or playing an instrument.

Music Right Now is Music For Life

Music for now and music for life.  This is the “why” behind all that Piano Central Studios does and hopes to accomplish for all of its students – from the babies in Kindermusik classes to their adult students in their 80’s to every age in between. 

So, whether you’re a parent who wants to kindle your child’s love of music or an adult ready to take music lessons yourself, you’ll find what you’re looking for at Piano Central Studios. The skills acquired, the memories made, and the love for music cultivated all come together to make your music lessons at PCS everything you hoped they would be and mean for you or your child.

Music lessons should be so much more than something to pass the time or check off the list.  At PCS, you’ll find that music becomes a lifelong gift that keeps giving the greatest of joy! 

Registration for Kindermusik classes or music lessons is available on the Piano Central Studios music lesson registration page.  You can get started anytime – even partway through the month!

Piano Central Studios
Greenville, SC
864.232.5010

Raising Relationships Podcast: Improving Connections with Young Children

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If you are a parent and a podcast lover, then the Raising Relationships podcast is for you! The podcast, created by the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association (SCIMHA), offers parents and educators extra support and guidance for building strong bonds with young children in their lives. The podcast also discusses the rise in preschool expulsion, and what parents and educators can do to reduce these numbers. Thank you to SCIMHA for sponsoring this article.

We spoke with Amaris Gibson (MA, LPC-A, IMH-E® Infant Family Specialist) who is co-host with Tiffany Stenson (Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Training Specialist) to learn more about the themes of the podcast. We also discussed why your child’s mental health and socio-emotional development is so important. The open discussion format of the podcast explores the realities and difficulties of raising and connecting with young children.

The Raising Relationships podcast artwork
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GCS Backpack Keeps Parents Connected in Greenville County Schools

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Do you ever struggle to keep up with all the information from your child’s school? GCS Backpack can help you navigate the school year! Grades, attendance, teacher information, and school calendar. It can all feel overwhelming. Greenville County Schools has an excellent solution with their Backpack app.

Here’s everything you need to know about the app to make this school year a little easier.

What is GCS Backpack?

Backpack is a resource provided by Greenville County Schools to keep students and parents updated. It can be accessed through a browser but is also available as an app.

Screenshot of Student Log-in page on GCS Backpack

Things Parents Can Do on Backpack

  • Easily edit emergency contact information
  • Check their child’s meals balance and add funds
  • Find their child’s school and teacher contact information
  • Enroll additional children
  • View available programs for their child
  • See their child’s grades and test scores
  • Check their child’s attendance and daily schedule
  • Stay informed about their child’s behavior 
  • Find a link to the school calendar

Student Dashboard

GCS students are assigned an email address and password when they are enrolled and have access to their own GCS Backpack dashboard. There they can view their class schedule, check their grades and test scores, and view their lunch balance.

Students can also use their Backpack GCS dashboard to access the educational apps they use for school.

Screenshot of the student dashboard in GCS backpack

Parent Dashboard

The parent dashboard has a wealth of information. Parents can view basically the same information as on the student dashboard but with additional features.

You can easily edit your child’s emergency contact information, pay on their meal cards, check their behavior and attendance, and enroll additional students. You’ll also find your child’s teacher’s contact information, their school’s contact information, and a link to the GCS calendar.

Have more than one child in GCS? You still only need one Backpack account. You’ll be able to access each child’s information easily from the main dashboard.

Creating an Account on the GCSBackpack app?

Parents can set up their own account by going to the GCSbackpack website and selecting the “I’m a Parent” option. You’ll need your child’s student ID number to add them to your account. At the end of the process, you’ll be prompted to contact your child’s school to complete your account.

GCS backpack parent sign in screenshot

GCS has a page on its website with information and a video with instructions on setting up your account. 


Back to School Guide to Greenville, SC

Getting ready for back to school?

Learn everything you need in our Ultimate Back to School Guide for Upstate Families!

(2023) Where You Can Find Free School Supplies Near Greenville, SC

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Did you know there are a number of community events giving away free school supplies in Upstate, SC? Do you know of a family who needs help purchasing school supplies this year? A new school year is almost upon us. For most families a trip to the store for new supplies is imminent. These events will distribute free back to school supplies, so you have one less thing to worry about this school year!

A recent study revealed that most families of school-age children in the US spend between $500-700 on new school supplies. This amounts to a whopping estimated 80.7 billion dollars! That’s a lot of composition notebooks!

This article includes:
Free School Supplies Events in Greenville, SC
Free School Supplies Events in Spartanburg County
Free School Supplies Events in Anderson County

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Budget Shopping: Greenville, SC Shops and Deals to Save You Money

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If you are budget shopping, Greenville, SC has plenty of places with discounts, deals, and savings programs to help you keep more money in your pocket. Use these lists of consignment shops to help with clothes shopping, tips for saving money on food, and lots more.

This article includes:
Budget Shopping for Clothes
How to Save Money on Groceries
How to Save Money: School and Education items

Where and how to shop to save in Greenville, SC
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Dan Hamilton’s Guide to Greenville Retirement Communities

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Are you a retiree looking for retirement communities in Greenville, SC? Or maybe you and your family have just moved to Greenville and have parents eager to follow you to the area? In this article, our Real Estate Partner Dan Hamilton shares some of the best retirement and age-restricted communities in the Upstate, comparing amenities and explaining buying and leasing options.

Dan Hamilton and his team of real estate professionals at Hamilton & Company offer unparalleled customer service to their real estate clients and free advice on living in Greenville to their community.

Hamilton 2023

Interested in buying or selling real estate in the Upstate? Contact Dan today to learn more. New to Greenville and want to learn more about the area? Check out Dan’s YouTube channel where he shares weekly real estate advice and Greenville news.

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Rent Musical Instruments From These Music Stores: Greenville, SC

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Have you been searching for instrument rentals from a local music store? Greenville, SC has several where you can rent instruments for your kids. Whether your child is joining an ensemble at school or taking private lessons, renting is a great way to try an instrument. We have compiled a list of places that rent student instruments across the Upstate to help you in your search.

This article includes:
Reasons to Rent Vs. Buy
Music Stores: Greenville, SC and Spartanburg, SC Instrument Rentals

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