Kowalski for School Board in LVUSD

I have worked hard to support Las Virgenes Unified School District as a parent, a volunteer, and an employee. That’s why I support Kiyomi Kowalski for School Board.

kowalski for school board and kidsKiyomi Kowalski and her two sons

Our family moved to Agoura Hills in 2010, intent on enrolling our older son, who was about to enter Kindergarten, at Mariposa School of Global Education. Because of the wait list and the way the timing worked out, he ended up at Yerba Buena Elementary School, as did his little brother. We were all happy there. Eventually I got involved in the school’s Parent Faculty Association, serving as its president for two years.

I love this school district and the community that has grown up around it. It’s hard to go anywhere in Calabasas, Agoura, or Westlake without running into a parent or a child we know from school or sports. We feel at home here. Las Virgenes Unified School District is our home. Because I feel so strongly about this great district, I have supported it with my time, my skills, and my money.

That’s why I am supporting and endorsing Kiyomi Kowalski for School Board in the election on November 6.

kowalski for school board insta frame

While I recognize that the current board members have been part of the evolution of LVUSD’s ability to offer robust, safe, and engaging educational opportunities for our children, I believe it’s time for adding “a bit of the new school to the old school.” She will bring a much-needed fresh perspective to the great responsibility of making high-level decisions for the entire district. These decisions affect the curriculum, the staffing, the well-being of teachers, the way the district spends vast amounts of money, and so much more. Kowalski is one of us: a parent, a professional, a passionate advocate for education. She also has rich experience as a lawyer who advocates for the underserved, and as a Marine who served our country.

kowalski for school board marine

I began my life of service 21 years ago today by stepping on the yellow foot prints at Parris Island for Marine Corps boot camp. I continue to serve our community and I’m excited to serve our children on the Las Virgenes School Board. Vote Kiyomi Kowalski for school board in 2018 and let’s bring a bit of new school to the old school!

I urge you to meet Kiyomi. You will find her to be warm, empathetic, interested, and caring. You will witness her infectious passion and her ability to speak with wisdom and information about the issues that affect our students and community. Read about her goals for the school district. She’s well-informed and equipped to make tough decisions.

You know how hard I’ve worked to support Las Virgenes Unified School District. Join me by voting for Kiyomi Kowalski for School Board on November 6.

For more information, to meet with Kiyomi, and to support her campaign, visit KowalskiForSchoolBoard.com.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

P.S. I take it for granted that people know how the LVUSD school board is elected, appoints a superintendent, and votes on big issues for the district. But I realize that most parents and voters don’t really pay attention to these things. If you have any questions about how it works, and want to know so you can make your own informed decision about how to vote, send me an email at kim@agourahillsmom.com, and we’ll chat. 

Save the Date: SIPurbia Wine and Beer Festival at Paramount Ranch – May 6

This one is just for Mom and Dad – to get ready for SIPurbia Wine and Beer Festival, book a babysitter and make sure your Lyft app is current!

USE COUPON CODE AHM FOR 25% OFF TICKETS!

An amazing beer and wine festival is coming to Agoura Hills! Right to one of the most beautiful and weird places around: Paramount Ranch! This picturesque area of open space with an old fake Western Town at its entrance is one of our city’s most iconic locations. The perfect place for an outdoor festival that will feature live music, good food, local businesses, and your friends! Plus, the proceeds will benefit The Bumblebee Foundation, which raises money for families dealing with pediatric cancer.

SIPurbia will feature UNLIMITED samples of craft beer and wine, delicious food, awesome live bands/DJs, lawn games, and a variety of vendors. There’s something for everyone, so gather your friends and come have fun! All tickets include a souvenir tasting cup, UNLIMITED samples of craft beer and wine, and live entertainment all day.

SIPurbia Wine and Beer Festival
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Paramount Ranch, 2903 Cornell Rd, Agoura Hills, CA 91301
3 p.m. – 7 p.m. (last call @ 6:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $40-$100 per person until 2/28.
Get 25% off if you use coupon code AHM – click here to purchase

Take this ghost town:

Add in some awesome breweries:

AND wineries:

…and live music, and delicious food from local restaurants like AHM favorite Fresh Brothers, and you get one heck of a party! Grab your cowboy hats, everyone! Are you ready?

cowboy hat

I am!

Agoura Hills Mom is a media supporter of SIPurbia. 

Some Awesome New Things: The Habit, Sunday Cats, and Vellabox Candles

New Things That Are Awesome!

vellabox candles

Vellabox Candles and Gifts

My family and I tried some new things recently and three of them were awesome enough to share with you here. Picture me curled up on the love seat with a tasty burger in one hand, an organic freezer pop in the other, enjoying the light from a flickering candle. (That’s not at all how it happened, but it’s the way I would like you to imagine me.)

The Habit’s Golden Chicken Sandwich

habit golden chicken sandwich

The Habit is a fast casual burger restaurant on Canwood between McDonald’s and Trader Joe’s. I have been there a few times since it opened a few years ago when the mood has hit me. It’s a little bit more newsworthy now because a new location will be opening at Thousand Oaks and Westlake Blvd, which means I’ll have two Habits to choose from when the mood strikes again.

habit agoura hills

The Habit announced its limited-time Golden Chicken Sandwich ($6.25) on October 5. It’s the first fried chicken sandwich the restaurant has offered, and this one comes “hand-dipped into house-made seasoned flour and buttermilk, fried to perfection and topped with a new spicy red pepper sauce.” Since I don’t like spicy things, I made my food taste-tester (my husband) sample this one. He liked it but would not give me any more details. So there you go.

habit agoura hills interior

I rate this entry awesome because The Habit is nicer than a fast food burger joint, serves up the food quickly, and prepares their “charburger” with a relishy sauce that gives it some extra flavor. Plus, they have soft serve ice cream for dessert.

The Habit Burger
29145 Canwood Street
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(818) 707-7300

Sunday Cats Freezer Pops

IMG_9025

Sunday Cats has nothing to do with cats, as a matter of fact. But when a box of the freezer pops came in the mail, my kids ripped it open and immediately assumed these organic freezer pops (the company calls them “freezies”) were treats for the cat. Sigh. I mean, the box did come with little cat-themed scissors…

boy with sunday cats

I did not pay him to pose like this.

Sunday Cats makes “the first organic and natural version of the pop! Real fruit juice, whole food electrolytes (perfect for those little soccer players), NO sugar, NO artificial flavors, and NO preservatives. Vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free.”

pineapple sunday cats

They come in watermelon, strawberry, and pineapple. Strawberry is super sweet, like a power-punch of very ripe actual berries. Watermelon is my favorite – refreshing but not too sweet. Pineapple actually tastes like real pineapple. Because it is.

I’m actually lucky I got to try one myself. The kids pretty much devoured these all by themselves.

Sunday Cats Freezer Pops
Order online. Box of 6, including shipping: $11.29

Vellabox

vellabox october

So, I still haven’t tried any of the subscription boxes of things and stuff that I keep seeing in my Facebook and Instagram feeds. Clothes, books, crafts, cooking supplies…meh. I just haven’t been interested. But then I read the description of Vellabox. It’s candles, you guys! I love candles! I mean I really love candles. This subscription service sends you candles! “We source the highest quality candles hand-poured by American artisans and combine them with a bonus lifestyle gift and a unique packaging style to create a memorable unboxing experience each and every month.”

And what an unboxing it was. I actually let my son open this one because to be honest, I had forgotten I agreed to review this thing, and so I didn’t recognize the name of the company. He didn’t do too much damage, and he really enjoyed opening the beautifully-wrapped candles. And then I enjoyed smelling them. For a long time.

IMG_9024

This box is the Vivere October box with a fall theme, complete with pumpkin spice granola bar. The big candle filled my house with a crisp apple-cinnamon scent and made everyone think I was baking something. Psych! I think a Vellabox subscription would make an excellent host/hostess gift for that family member whose home you’re crashing in for the holidays.

Vellabox Candle Subscriptions
Order online. $10-$30 per month plus shipping

I received complimentary samples from each company. All opinions are my own.