Children's Party Planning Guide

When planning parties for little ones I often encounter parents that are at a loss as to where they should start. Some parents simply lack time to properly organize without becoming totally frazzled.  My advice for parents is to do what makes party planning the least stressful and the most fun for your family, especially the birthday child. Since 2009 I have had the privilege of helping countless families plan their child's birthday celebration.   From the very simple play party to the most extravagant birthday blowout,  my staff and I have helped to create the "par-tay" magic! As my favorite shirt says: "I LOVE Parties!  Nothing makes me happier than helping a parent create a day that they or their child will not forget.  Whether you are planning a birthday party at Amaya Papaya Play Lounge or another venue let me share my advice on planning the best celebration of your child's birth.

Who...        

            Who are you planning to invite? Maybe you want to have a close family-only event, or maybe you want to invite 25 children (and their adults) to the party. If your child has a BFF, make sure you include them. Sending invitations out four to six weeks out usually ensures a good turnout to your party.

What…

            What is your budget? Decide on a budget for your party. If you are looking to spend $100 or $1,000, you can create a memorable party for your little one. If you are looking at a venue to host your party, calculate the components of the party package within your budget. For example, at Amaya Papaya, some of our party packages include invitations, paper products and balloons, so you could deduct these items off. 

           
 What are you going to do? Themed parties can be so much fun! If your child has a favorite character, movie, or television show, you can use this to determine the theme. Discover your creative side to develop a theme, or you can peruse sites, such as Pinterest, to give your creative side a kick-start! In addition to a theme, you might want to add entertainment. Balloon artists, face painters, bounce houses, enrichment,  characters and a DJ might be fun to add to a party. Make sure you contact your entertainment at least 6 weeks out from your event; they might require a deposit. Certain venues, like Amaya Papaya, are the entertainment. If your budget is tight, put your extra money toward your food and drink. Your guests will enjoy your party better.

When…

            When will you start your party? One decision is weekday vs. weekend. On a weekend, more of your scheduled guests will be able to attend. For older children, a weekday party might be preferred; it stays clear of Saturday sports, rehearsals, etc. The time of day matters as well. If you plan to serve a meal, have your party during lunch or dinner times. If you are not planning to serve a meal, then plan your party between traditional meal times. 

Where…

            Where do you want to hold your party? Home parties can be less expensive and you are not confided to time restraints. Venues, like Amaya Papaya, can be fun, exciting, and they make your job a lot easier, especially the cleanup.  Local parks can be a fun place for a party. Make sure you contact the local Parks and Recreation Department to secure the location. When choosing to host your party at any venue, reserve your spot as early as possible to ensure you are able to get your desired time and location.

Why…

            Why are you hosting a party? Parties are supposed to be fun, so don’t forget the fun items such as: goodie bags for each guest, party games like a piñata or pin the tail on the donkey, and a fun playlist that gets the party going. Throughout the entire process, don’t lose sight of the reason you are hosting a party: to celebrate the birth of your child with family and friends. Make sure you take plenty of pictures to remember your fun!


I hope this advice has been helpful and that it makes your party planning stress free. This year for my daughter's 11th birthday she opted to have a party in our home in our backyard after having countless parties at Amaya Papaya over the years.  My husband and I planned every activity yet left room for alterations in the schedule. It was a fabulous day for her and her guest. My husband and I left the party happy also.

Captain America: Civil War Epicness

I had the chance to see an advanced screening of Captain America: Civil War.

The action was continuous from start to finish! My husband, daughter and I are huge super hero fans. We have seen every movie that Marvel has released over the years. This movie delivered what all of those movies of the past deliver and more! It was by far the best Marvel production ever! The stunts were epic. I think my heart palipitated through the entire movie! The roster of super heroes that joined the cast in this movie was a super hero fans delight. Each hero delivered on their individual character and we even got to see some huge surprises.  By far,  my favorite character was Mr. Chris Evans, Captain America himself. Ladies, this man in gorgeous (sorry, I had to say it, lol). I am Team Captain America...because his heart was in the right place, of course. 

This movie is a must see for the entire family however,  I will caution parents that there is some language to be mindful of(the movie is PG-13).

*The views expressed in this blog are those of Amaya Papaya's mom. I was not paid to review this movie. 

Mommin' Ain't Easy

Ok let's face it, we moms are our own worst critic. We spend our days taking care of little humans, trying to make sure we are the best parents possible and still at the end of the day some of us feel like we didn't do enough. Our not enough is not doing enough for our kids, not doing enough for everyone else and most of all not doing enough to take care of ourselves. Truth be told, we most likely meet the needs of everyone and every obligation except for those of ourselves. How many times have you bathed your child, brushed their teeth and made sure they went to sleep peacefully yet, you crash on the couch without a bath or clean breath? 

The past few weeks I've been feeling uneasy. So many things regarding motherhood in general, my community and my own parenting journey have had me on edge. I want to find answers, I want to be my best, I want to help as many moms as I can achieve peace. 

I've wondered to myself some of the following things:

1.) How do I create my tribe? 

I have friends. I do not have a best friend. I have friends but I don't have that group of friends that I call my tribe. I think one of the reason I'm in a constant state of oneness is because I'm an only child (disclaimer: I'm my mothers only child, I have siblings via my father however, I was raised as an only by my mother). Finding friends has always been easy. Creating temporary best friends hasn't been a problem....keeping a real long term female best friend has never happen for me. (Disclaimer: my first best friend passed away when I was 14. She's been irreplaceable) 

2.) How do I not feel guilty when telling people that I can't or that don't want to do something? 

I've mastered the art of saying no. In most cases,  I'm often a giver of no fucks.  Then there are those times when the guilt of saying no consumes me. This happens especially when those people I say no to are those that usually say yes to me. I feel selfish....but man, I'm usually saying no because I'm just so tired. 

3.) How do I help my child free friends/colleagues understand and not take personal me not wanting to participate in extracurricular activities...especially ones that take place after I've worked and mommed all day. 

I just want to go home, put my child to sleep after dinner and disconnect. 

4.) How do I protect Amaya from the crazy world? 

Yikes! I walk a thin line between being a mama bear and the mother of a free spirited child. I want Amaya to experience the real word but at the same time I want to protect her from the unfairness of the word too. I don't want her to experience heartbreak yet I want her to be tuff enough to deal if it should come her way. 

5.) Am I living up to my greatest potential? 

There are so many things that I want to achieve in my lifetime. There are so many people that I want to help. How do I achieve these things while also being fully present for my family? 

6.) Organization. 

How do I keep life organized when living life? One of my favorite sayings is: homes are not messy, they are lived in. How do we achieve complete organization while raising children? Will that mother come help me? Please? 

I believe that everything happens as it should. I guess that is what helps me during the times I feel so overwhelmed. I believe that God never puts more on us than we can bear. I just wish my inner self  would acknowledge this!

What inner dialogue do you have with yourself about mothering? 

Amaya's Dad on Potty Training

Potty training. Two little words that mean many things to parents. It could mean your little one is growing up. It could mean saving money on all those money-eating disposable diapers. For Mom, it could mean replacing a diaper bag with a change-of-clothes bag. For Dad, it could mean no more mall trips toting that lovely Disney Princesses Diaper Bag. It could mean breaking out in song; our drumming instructor, Mark, even has a song to sing that helps kids go potty! No matter what those words signify to you, they also mean consistency, effort and patience! 

When potty training your child, you have to be consistent with potty breaks. Have your little one sit on the potty chair with or without a diaper for several minutes each day. Don’t leave them alone; stay with them. Even if they sit there and don’t go, still praise them. We know how hard it is to have a 1 or 2 year old just sit still. My mom told me she set it up in the living room, in front of the TV to have me sit still, but that’s my mom! 

Be aware. When you notice your child is squirming, holding their private parts, or even squatting, get them to the potty fast! Become aware of the signs and help your child become aware of the signs, so they can begin to head to the toilet. After a couple of weeks of successful potty trips, it’s time to wear training pants (or underwear)!  My advice is to have your child wearing bottoms that are easily removed. Don’t put them in those farmer overalls that you need a college degree to unhook. Not being successful because your equipment is not setup for success is frustrating. Soon, you won’t even remember when they wore diapers! 

Be careful with incentive rewards. If you choose to use a reward system, it should be based on the day’s efforts, not on singular events. I was listening to a Freakonomics podcast a while back and a father thought he could use an economic incentive strategy to help his daughter potty train. He decided that he could reward her with M&Ms for successful bathroom trips. But, little did he know that KIDS ARE SMART. She figured out she could go and “tinkle” every 30 seconds and get a reward for each “tinkle.” Kids 1 - Dads 0. 

It’s a tough job, but its one that parents like you have been succeeding at for thousands of years. Look at the bright side; just think of all the funny potty stories you’ll be able to embarrass your child with when they reach adulthood. I remember when...well, I’ll save that story until Amaya is 21!

 *The information mentioned in this post are the opinions of the blog owner.....................

Use this potty training chart to help with your potty training success! 

Party Planning Guide

When planning parties for little ones I often encounter parents that are at a loss as to where they should start or simply lack time to properly organize without becoming totally frazzled.  My advice for parents is to do what makes party planning the least stressful and the most fun for your family, especially the birthday child. Since 2009 I have had the privilege of helping countless families plan their child's birthday celebration.   From the very simple play party to the most extravagant birthday blowout my staff and I have helped to create the "par-tay" magic! As my favorite shirt says: "I LOVE Parties" and nothing makes me happier than to help a parent create a day that they or their child will not forget.  Whether you are planning a birthday party at Amaya Papaya or another venue let me share my advice on planning the best celebration of your child's birth.

Who...       
            Who are you planning to invite? Maybe you want to have a close family-only event, or maybe you want to invite 25 children (and their adults) to the party. If your child has a BFF, make sure you include them. Sending invitations out four to six weeks out usually ensures a good turnout to your party.
 
What…
            What is your budget? Decide on a budget for your party. If you are looking to spend $100 or $1,000, you can create a memorable party for your little one. If you are looking at a venue to host your party, calculate the components of the party package within your budget. For example, at Amaya Papaya, half of our party packages include invitations, paper products and balloons, so you could deduct these items off your "to purchase" list.

            What are you going to do? Themed parties can be so much fun! If your child has a favorite character, movie, or television show, you can use this to determine the theme. Discover your creative side to develop a theme, or you can peruse sites, such as Pinterest, to give your creative side a kick-start! In addition to a theme, you might want to add entertainment. Balloon artists, face painters, bounce houses, characters and a DJ might be fun to add to a party. Make sure you contact your entertainment at least 6 weeks out from your event; they might require a deposit. Certain venues, like Amaya Papaya, are the entertainment. If your budget is tight, put your extra money toward your food and drink. Your guests will enjoy your party better.
 

When…
            When will you start your party? One decision is weekday vs. weekend. On a weekend, more of your scheduled guests will be able to attend. For older children, a weekday party might be preferred; it stays clear of Saturday sports, rehearsals, etc. The time of day matters as well. If you plan to serve a meal, have your party during lunch or dinner times. If you are not planning to serve a meal, then plan your party between traditional meal times.

Where…
            Where do you want to hold your party? Home parties can be less expensive and you are not confided to time restraints. Venues, like Amaya Papaya, can be fun, exciting, and they make your job a lot easier, especially the cleanup.  Local parks can be a fun place for a party. Make sure you contact the local Parks and Recreation Department to secure the location. When choosing to host your party at any venue, reserve your spot as early as possible to ensure you are able to get your desired time and location.

Why…
            Why are you hosting a party? Parties are supposed to be fun, so don’t forget the fun items such as: goodie bags for each guest, party games like a piñata or pin the tail on the donkey, and a fun music play list that gets the party going. Throughout the entire process, don’t lose sight of the reason you are hosting a party: to celebrate the birth of your child with family and friends. Make sure you take plenty of pictures to remember to have fun!

I hope this advice has been helpful and that it makes your party planning stress free. This year for my daughters birthday she opted on a destination party after having countless parties at Amaya Papaya over the years.  My husband and I planned every activity yet left room for alterations in the schedule. It was a fabulous day for her and her guest. My husband and I left the party happy also. 

Vision Board Planning for 2016

When I was a counselor one of the coolest things I did with my clients was to have them create vision boards. A vision board is a really simple craft project that helps you to reflect on goals you may have or things you may want to manifest in life. To create a vision board you gather pictures, single words or quotes that you would like to adhear to a board.

When I was in the preparation phase for Amaya Papaya I created a huge double sided vision board. The board helped me to organize my ideas about various play areas and the type of toys I wanted to have at my facility. This really helped me in establishing my vision for Amaya Papaya as a creative play space called a playlounge that mostly offered kid powered & classic toys. 

5 Benefits of a Vision Board

• Helps you to visualize your goals
• Helps you to set your intentions
• Helps you to gain inspiration 
• Help you to stay accountability
• It works!

Creating a vision board is simple and only requires a few simple items that you most likely have sitting around your home. Gather the items below, set your intention and start creating!

Materials needed
Blank piece of card stock or poster board (8x10 or larger)
Glue
Scissors
Various Magazines

To create a vision board follow these simple steps
1.) Set your intention, think about your goals and the things you want to manifest in your life.  


2.) Cut out pictures and words from magazines that related to your goals or things that you want to manifest in your life.

3.) Organize the cut outs how you would like to have them on your board.

4.) Glue the cut outs to your board


Putting your vision board to work


Once your board is created you can share it with your friends or keep it to yourself.   Ideas of sharing with friends are posting a photo of your board to social media and explaining your board in a post.  You can meet up with a friend or friends to discuss your goals and intentions. Talking about your goals can often times be therapeutic and help keep you accountable.  If you should decide to keep your board to yourself,  keep it in a place where you can see it and reflect on it often. The more you are reminded of your goals and have them organized the better it is to achieve them.  You can add items to your board over time if you would like or create a new board for various aspects of your life.

Join me on Sunday January 10 at 2:30pm or Wednesday January 20 at 3pm for a Vison Board Session for the Bomb Mom! At this session you will visualize your goals through guided meditation, set your intentions through a Bomb Mom discussion with Amaya Papaya's Mom, gain inspiration from other Bomb Moms, create a network for accountability and have fun! 

Be a Bomb Mom

Even as adult women, we have self esteem issues. We worry about what others think. We base our self worth on how much others love us. We are not happy with ourselves without face enhancers. Sometimes, we are a mess, yet we are ashamed to admit it. We live in a word where congruency is not accepted. 

I challenge you this year to post a photo a day of yourself. The photo can be with make up on or better yet, without. Under it use the hashtag #bombmom and post your emotion in that moment. Be truthful. Be congruent. Be beautiful. Be you. 

Join the movement to gain back our self confidence as women!  

Show your support for fellow #bombmom selfie posters. When you see the selfies posted be sure to LIKE them and even add a positive comment telling her why she IS a #bombmom.

Bomb Mom by @amayapapayasmom is a modern mama movement that supports mothers at all stages of their parenting journey. 

Bomb Mom is a community of women who honor a "no judgement" approach to uplift each other while navigating the maze of motherhood.

Running on E

Hello all. I'm back! I've taken a little break from my full social media sharing as I did not know how to express my feelings regarding the last few weeks.  For months I've been back and forth to the Dr. trying to figure out why I've not been feeling well.  I've had LOTS of blood drawn and have been poked in places that I never want to have poked again.  Last week I got a call from my Dr's. office who delivered some great news. The most recent test that they did came back normal! Awesome.  I'm relieved.  Now can I get back to my normally scheduled life? Not so fast! For the past year I've slowly gone from the girl that ran a 1/2 marathon to a girl that is afraid to run a block from home in fear of passing out.  A new normal is called for.  My body is talking to me and I need to listen.

Over the past few years I've not taken care of myself as I should.  Sound familiar?  Moms, why do we do this to ourselves?  I've allowed stress to get the best of me. When I should have said no, I smiled and said yes not knowing that saying yes so much would cause my health to slowly decline.  I've learned that sugars do not agree with my body, so the weekend binge of cupcakes while I'm working birthday parties are not a smart idea for me. Not eating enough, yep……….not eating enough causes my blood sugar to have crazy internal disco parties.  And for once my husband is right (joking), not drinking enough water has caused me on several occasions to be dehydrated, which I'm sure disguised itself as some other phantom of illness that I felt I had to endure.

Over the past few months I've made some changes to my diet, I've started a regimen of medication and vitamins that make me feel a heck of a lot better and I'm going to bed way earlier than I did in the past. Fibroids, cyst, anemia and no gall bladder are my frienenemies. As of right now we will need to live cohesively with one another. I will either complain or take care of us and move forward.  I have been stuck in this medical mystery mess for the past year.   I need to listen to what my body is telling me and stop trying to "figure out" what the deal is.  I've started strength training over the past few weeks and I'll begin running (ok…walking) again this week.   I've had to end a few friendships and limit my level of involvement in some organizations I belong to.   Running on E is no longer acceptable. 

Vision Board Planning for the New Year

When I was a counselor one of the coolest things I did with my girls was to have them create vision boards.  A vision board is a really simple project that helps you to reflect on goals you may have or things you may want to manifest in life.  When I was in the preparation phase for Amaya Papaya I created a huge double sided vision board.  The board helped me to organize my ideas about various play areas and the type of toys I wanted to have at my facility. This really helped me in establishing my vision for Amaya Papaya as a creative play space called a playlounge that mostly offered kid powered & classic toys.

Creating a vision board is simple and only requires a few simple items that you most likely have sitting around your home. Gather the items below, set your intention and start creating!


Materials needed
Blank piece of card stock or poster board (8x10 or larger)
Glue
Scissors
Various Magazines

To create a vision board follow these simple steps
1.) Set your intention, think about your goals and the things you want to manifest in your life. 


2.) Cut out pictures and words from magazines that related to your goals or things that you want to manifest in your life.

3.) Organize the cut outs how you would like to have them on your board.

4.) Glue the cut outs to your board


Putting your vision board to work

Once your board is created you can share it with your friends or keep it to yourself.   Ideas of sharing with friends are posting a photo of your board to social media and explaining your board in a post.  You can meet up with a friend or friends to discuss your goals and intentions. Talking about your goals can often times be therapeutic and help keep you accountable.  If you should decide to keep your board to yourself,  keep it in a place where you can see it and reflect on it often. The more you are reminded of your goals and have them organized the better it is to achieve them.  You can add items to your board over time if you would like or create a new board for various aspects of your life.

Today through next Friday at Amaya Papaya I will invite parents to create a vision board for 2015.  If you are in the area stop by to let the kids play and create a vision board for yourself.  If playtime at Amaya Papaya is not a part of your plans next week, set your intentions and create one for yourself at home! I plan to create a series of boards this week. My intention is to create a family board, personal board and business board. There will be some overlap as everything I do as a mom, wife and business owner make up my whole self and one would not be complete without the other.  Happy new year and happy vision board creating!

The Amaya Papaya Play Zone @ the Zora Festival of the Arts and Humanities

Amaya Papaya is sponsoring the PLAY ZONE for children 0-4 years old at the Zora Festival of the Arts and Humanities in Eatonville, FL, on Friday January 27, 2012 - Sunday January 29, 2012. The Zora Festival honors the life and achievements of Zora Neal Hurston, renowned 20th century writer, folklorist and anthologist. The Zora Festival is entering its 23nd year and the expected three-day attendance is 75,000 attendees. About forty percent of the visitors to the festival will come from outside the Orlando metro area.

This past January, Amaya Papaya - Play Lounge was honored to be one of the Zora Festival’s collaborative sponsors. As a sponsor, we provided the festival with it’s first Play Zone especially designed for kids 0-4 years old. We had the opportunity to meet a multitude children and families, serve our community by giving back and have tons of fun!! The Amaya Papaya- Play Zone was such a huge success that we have been asked to come back again next year!

I would like to invite you and your company to join Amaya Papaya for this awesome event by sponsoring an activity or an interactive booth for children and their families to play and explore. Your partnership would be an added bonus to the event and would provide great exposure for your business as well. The Amaya Papaya Play Zone will be located in the Hungerford Prepartory School gymnasium on Kennedy Blvd. The Amaya Papaya Play zone will be especially designed for kids 0-4 years old. The PLAY Zone will be divided into different stations for children to explore and play with their parents assistance.

I am requesting the assistance of local vendors and volunteers in the community to come out and be a part of this special event by volunteering your time at the various stations or for you to do a workshop, performance or interactive showcase at your own table provided by your business.
Examples of activities would be:
music performances(interactive musical performances with the kids)
entertainment (character greetings, magic shows, provide music, circle time leaders etc.)
craft/game tables
story time readers
mini workshops (computer, crafts, etiquette, etc.)

This festival is a great opportunity for your business or organization to give back to the community and market yourself as a community partner of an established event that has been happening in our backyard for 22 years! Your businesses is projected to be seen by 75,000 people over the 3 day event. You will have access to an audience of educated professionals who have an earned income of $50,000 or more; who are family-oriented and who are brand-loyal to ZORA! Festival sponsors.

If you would like to be a part of this opportunity by either volunteering at one of our play areas or by sponsoring your own play area/table please contact Yolonda at Amaya Papaya!


Thank you for your support of the Amaya Papaya Play Zone and the Zora Festival of the Arts and Humanities (ZORA! Festival)


Sincerely,

Yolonda Tyler
President - Amaya Papaya
Amaya Papaya - Play Zone

On the Move

Daily Specials

Mellow Mondays - Wear an Amaya Papaya t-shirt or purchase and Amaya Papaya t-shirt and get in for 1/2 off!

Terrific Tuesdays - Happy Hour 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. all kids get in for 1/2 off!

Wiggly Wednesdays - Wear an Amaya Papaya t-shirt or purchase and Amaya Papaya t-shirt and get in for 1/2 off!

After School Thursdays - Treat the kids to a visit at Amaya Papaya for a job well done. All kids 1-5 get in for $7.99 between 3 p.m.- 6 p.m.

Fun Family Fridays - Pay regular price for the first child and each additional child in the same family gets in 1/2 off!


It has been over a month since we opened the doors to Amaya Papaya and I am very grateful for the community that has welcomed us with open arms. We have had over 1000 children visit the play lounge and I look forward to meeting even more children and there families in the near future. If you have not had the chance to come in to PLAY we are open Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and on Friday from 11:30 a.m. -7 p.m. **We are open on Saturday's if we DO NOT have private parties or events booked.

****WE WILL BE OPEN THIS SATURDAY 9/19/09 FOR OPEN PLAY 1P.M. - 7 P.M*****

Not a Kids Gym

We have had many inquiries about the play lounge over the past month. With Amaya Papaya being a new concept in play places for the 5 and under crowd in central Florida we wanted to be sure that you could help us spread the word about OUR place and help the community understand just what going on here.

We are not a kids gym...we will leave that to the experts! We are a play lounge...simply put we are an OPEN PLAY indoor play space in which families can visit anytime during the day on there schedule without a reservation or membership. We are specifically for the little people 5 and under, which means you have no big kids running around and all of our toys are geared specifically for your infant, toddler and preschooler.
We have no video games or BIG play equipment that may be over stimulating for your child.

We do offer classes, however they are not those that you will find in your traditional enrichment class centers. We strive to offer classes that are unique and non-traditional. After much marketing, research, feedback and request(yes, we listen to YOU) we have decided to offer our classes on a drop in basis rather than committed scheduled classes until further notice. We have found that in a setting such as Amaya Papaya families need flexibility. Most of our classes will be offered on a drop in when you would like basis and will allow families to not feel the pressure of having to commit to a weekly session if they are not able to attend or need a break.

Our parties are fantastic, just ask our most recent party families. Our parties allow your little ones to have FUN in an unstructured environment. We can facilitate an activity if you wanted one... but we are sure that your party goers will be fully entertained during the entire party in our 7 themed play areas! Our parties range from doing it all your self, doing a little bit with our help or you simply doing nothing but showing up to party and letting us take care of all the details for you!


Grand Opening


Our grand opening was GREAT! We had over 300 people show up! It was so nice to be able to share Amaya Papaya with all of you. After months of preparation we finally got to have the PARTY that we had been dreaming of for 2 years! Amaya had a great time in her custom made tutu and headband. Thomas and I were amazed by all of the wonderful people that we met!

We would especially like to thank all of the LOCAL vendors that contributed to our giveaways and would like to congratulate the families that won prizes!

$25 Gift Certificate from Once Upon a Child
Laura W.

$25 Gift Certificate from Discovery Toys
Jodi R.

A Halloween Tutu made by Doodle and Goo:
Amy C.

Complimentary Session from Andrea Richburg Photography:
Jen M.

25% Off Gift Certificate from Andrea Richburg Photography:
Toshiko G.

50% Off Gift Certificate from Andrea Richburg
Melissa B.

Estate Planning Package from Murphy & Co.
Mandy P.

Complimentary Session Erick Hopkins:
Elizabeth O.

50% Off Portrait Session Erick Hopkins:
Lee-Ann H.

Free Amaya Papaya T-shirt:
Troy G.


Your Office Away from Home

Are you in search of a place where you can get some work done while your kids are entertained? Well look no further....Amaya Papaya is the perfect place for work from home parents, college students with young children or someone with a young child that simply wants to surf the web or read a book for a few moments. We have FREE wi-fi and plenty of toys to keep your child entertained while you work. Stop by your local coffee shop, bring the kids a snack and come prepared to get some work done. * ask for the wi-fi access code at the front desk.


Remember the importance of Play,

Yolonda,
Amaya's mom

More hours to PLAY!

Starting on Monday (8/10), Amaya Papaya will be open during normal business hours.

Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday-closed for private parties (open if no parties are booked)
Sunday- closed for private parties

Please be sure to check our calendar for schedules, play dates, parties, special Saturday hours and other COOL events!

* Please note - When Play Dates are booked, we may have a high volume of guests

Grand Opening celebration information coming soon!

Remember the importance of PLAY,

Yolonda
Amaya's Mom

Fruits of the Labor..

Things are taking a little longer than we anticipated but the finishline is quickly approaching! If you've ever had to assemble toys on Christmas Eve then you can appreciate all the time that goes into the entire preparation process. We're tightening all screws and disinfecting all surfaces. Our goal is to not only provide a kid friendly environment, but a clean one as well. A message will be forth coming on Monday with all the exciting details of our opening on Tuesday. I appreciate your patience throughout this lengthy process. We'll have a soft opening for the first month and a full grand opening celebration in the following weeks. I look forward to meeting your families.

For the most up to date information and insider views of the space

Become a Fan on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter


Remember the importance of play,

Yolonda
Amaya's Mom

The Possibilities and Anticipation

Every time Amaya and I visit Amaya Papaya she ask if we are bringing the toys over and if the kids are coming today. I gently remind her that Mr. Scott (our contractor; All Phase Construction) and his guys have to finish the build out before we can invite people in to play. She is very excited about all the possibilities that await her with the opening of Amaya Papaya.

Due to build out delays, our opening has been pushed back. I have now set a tentative grand opening for June 27, 2009. In the event that we are able to open before, I will keep you posted with the new date.

I am very thankful for all of your inquiries and well wishes about Amaya Papaya. It really helps me to know that there is a need for a place like this in our community. I will do my best to make sure that Amaya Papaya is a place that you will want to visit often and experience genuine organic experiences with your child.

Many of you have asked about ways that you can be involved with the evolution of Amaya Papaya. There are so many things to be done. If you would like to be involved in one of the following ways please contact me:

Like new Costume Exchange- do you have a dress up costume that your little one has not used since forever ago? We will give you 1 free admission coupon for each gently used costume that we are able to use. (we need 10 costumes)

Storytime reader- volunteer to read a book during our weekly story time. Time TBA.

Store setup- Are you good at putting furniture together? We will be setting up soon and would love to have a few people help.

Tell us about it! - Know of a cool item we should sell at Amaya Papaya?
Know of a cool program we should offer at Amaya Papaya?

Remember to PLAY!

Yolonda
Amaya's momfk

What does that mean?

As we take time to reflect on the importance of Mothering I would like to share with you my inspiration for the Amaya Papaya name and logo. AMAYA PAPAYA is a TERM OF ENDEARMENT FOR MY DEAREST DAUGHTER (and best business partner ever) Amaya, whom just happens to be so Fabulous and we LOVE her.

When I was pregnant with Amaya I dreaded the thought of getting STRETCH MARKS!! It was not until 2 days before I gave birth that the first stretch mark appeared, from that moment on they spread like wild fire! I was devastated (or so I thought, vain I know).

Once Amaya was born my favorite song to sing to her was MY GIRL by the Temptations. The first line was so true..."I got SUNSHINE on a cloudy day".... Amaya was truly my SUNSHINE in the mist of anything that I was going through as a new mom.

When Amaya began to speak she would ask me about the boo boo's on my belly. I would tell her that they where not boo boo's at all. I began telling her that the stretch marks where SUN RAYS that I was blessed with when she was inside my belly.

As I began to think of a logo for Amaya Papaya I thought that nothing would be more fitting than the SUNSHINE to represent Amaya and every other child that a parent has been blessed with.

Ask Amaya....she will tell you how she put the SUNSHINE on mommy's belly!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

The evolution of a new movement

It has been such a humbling journey creating and preparing for the opening of Amaya Papaya. I am delighted about the community forming around me and know that we are creating a space that will benefit all of us. I would like to thank everyone that has signed up to be on our contact list, spread the word about Amaya Papaya or provided support in some way to this project thus far.

At this time we have secured a space in the Casselberry Collection Plaza on Highway17-92(near Publix). It is a 2300 square foot space that is sure to be filled with positive energy and love. We are working with a local bank and we are now in the waiting stage to access the funds to finance the project.

Unfortunately due to the situation with the banks nationally, we have been delayed in beginning the build out process. Rest assured we will begin soon! We are working with a builder who has created plans for the space (I will upload the plans soon). We also have a complete list of equipment and toys waiting to be ordered or stored away waiting to be placed in the space as soon as the build out is complete.

I have met and talked to some awesome people over the past year that want to provide workshops, classes, retail items and other exciting services and/or products at Amaya Papaya. The services and/or products planned promise to be informative, eclectic,entertaining, beneficial and uplifting.

If you would like more information or want to be a part of the Amaya Papaya movement in some way, please log onto the website, sign up to be on the contact list or email me for more information.

Peace and Harmony

Yolonda,
Amaya's Mom

What's going on with Amaya Papaya

Hello my fellow Amaya Papaya supporters,

I am sorry that we have been out of touch over the last month and a half. It has been such a busy month with the Holidays, Amaya's Birthday coming soon and planning for Amaya Papaya. I am currently searching for a new building for Amaya Papaya. Hopefully we will secure a building in the Casselberry area soon. I am working with a pair of brokers who thus far are doing a wonderful job at providing me with information about buildings in the area. We have been successful in narrowing down the search to 3 spaces that I like a lot. Hopefully this week we can begin the process of securing the lease and preparing to make plans to open Amaya Papaya. I am so grateful thus far that I have made connections with so many people throughout this process and hope to continue meeting new and exciting people that are as excited about Amaya Papaya as I am.


If you are interested or know someone who would be intersted in teaching a class or volunteering to read during storytime please leave a comment or email me so we can talk soon.


Please continue to spread the word about Amaya Papaya "where kids play and parents lounge".

Peace and Blessings
Yolonda

Party

Amaya Papaya will be designed to fulfill a child’s dream celebration! Guest will have access to the “Play Lounge” and be able to enjoy a private or semi-private celebration. Amaya Papaya will be available to be rented for private use after hours or on Saturdays and Sundays. Amaya Papaya will also be a great space for baby showers, clubs, churches, organizations and businesses looking for a unique party space.

Amaya Papaya will provide a variety of party packages to meet your needs.

Party packages CAN consist of:

2 Hour Private Party or 1.5 hour semi-private party
1 Party Coordinator
1 Free Visit pass to Amaya Papaya for Party Child
Decorations ( birthday banner, plastic table cloth, balloons - optional)
Amaya Papaya branded paper Invitations or *Eco-friendly electronic Invitations
Generic solid color paper products or themed paper products (napkins, cake plates and utensils)
*Eco-friendly party favors/goody bags
Amaya Papaya branded paper Thank You cards or *Eco-friendly Electronic Thank You notes
Juice or water for children
Activity


Add ons - Amaya Papaya will partner with local vendors to offer:
Pizza
DJ services
Photography services



Party Times
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
(TBA)

Saturday
10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm, 4 pm-6 pm

Sunday
10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm, 4 pm-6 pm