October is National Book Month.  To celebrate, we are giving away two great books that have been receiving great press: a hardcover of Tales From The Teachers’ Lounge (http://www.robertwilder.com/) and a paperback of Mommy Tracked (http://www.whitneygaskell.com/mommytracked.html).

Mom in the City members can enter simply by sending an email to contests@mominthecity.com with "Books" in the Subject line.  The winner will be chosen on October 31st.

No Comments »

1. Membership to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (http://www.cmom.org/): In theory this is one of my favorite things.  I recently purchased a membership as a pre-preschool for my oldest son.  (He’s one of those March birthdays, so he doesn’t meet the 3 year, 9 months pre-k guidelines.)  They have a bunch of great activities including circle times, arts and crafts, etc.  I would be remiss though if I didn’t tell you the two things that bug me about this museum…

a. They don’t allow food in the museum nor do they have an eating area.  Every mom (that I have spoken to about this) agree that this rule is insane.  Many moms (and I won’t name names!) break this rule and feed their kids in a quiet corner anyway. 

b. The museum can be super crowded on days when the weather isn’t nice outside.  It can be somewhat claustrophobic.  On one such super-crowded day, I saw a little kid with a runny nose wiping his nose and touching the various toys.  I tried to get to my son with the almighty wipes after he played in that same area, but it was too late.  Of course, both of my sons got sick for a week afterwards.  That was the day we got our membership.  I briefly considered asking for a refund, but I’m glad that I didn’t …overall it really is a great place and I’m sure that it will become one of my favorite things.

2. City Threads (http://www.citythreads.com/) Winged Guitar Double Layer Tee - Navy: I don’t usually get excited about kids clothes (in part, because they grow out of them so quickly or maybe it’s just because little boy clothes aren’t as cute/don’t have as much variety as little girl clothes).  However, there are exceptions, like this tee.  My oldest son has it.  It’s too cute!  As soon as the tee came in the mail, Michael opened it and declared it his "new favorite shirt".  When he puts it on, he says, "this is my rocker shirt", runs to get his toy guitar and puts on a rock show.  (Where did he get that?!)  In any event, the tee is not inexpensive (it starts at $48.50) but if your little one likes to rock (and you don’t mind getting comments about how cool your kid’s tee is from total strangers), you should get it.

3. Skip Hop (http://www.skiphop.com) Playspot: I was on the fence about buying this play area, but I decided to give it a try primarily for three reasons: 1. It was cuter than the alphabet coverings; 2. My wood floors are hard and I needed an area for my baby to start practicing his crawling; and 3. Initially, I though that I could find a better price than a $79 playspace, but after researching comparable EVA foam surfaces, I realized that this is a bargain price. Overall, I really like it and it has served its purpose.  Both sons like to play on it.  The baby is learning to crawl (although it’s primarily backwards crawling at this point).  Best of all, it is a soft spot for the baby to land when he does that toppling over thing that all babies do.  The only negative (that is product-related anyway) is that the surface scratches rather easily. The other "sweet negative" is baby related.  Now that Sean (my youngest) has learned that he is mobile, he’s all over the place…including off the Playspot, halfway under the sofa, etc.!  I tell you, babies find a way to scoot to where they want to get (which is usually the place we moms don’t want them to be…very cute though)!

4. Brightly Colored Nail Polish: I’m usually pretty conservative when it comes to nail polish colors…red on the toes, pink on the nails.  Lately though I’ve been trying new colors.  I only have them used on my toenails, because bright fingernails require too much upkeep for me.  Maybe it’s the after-baby effect.  After my first son was born, I lightened (highlighted) my hair.  With this son, I’m brightening my toes.  (Okay, maybe there’s really not a link there.)  Anway, it’s fun to experiment with a variety of shades.  Both my husband and I especially liked Huckle Buckle (a lavender shade). OPI’s Russian Navy and Golden Rules! are next on my pedicure shades list.

5. Apple Muffins from TJ Bakery & Cafe (http://www.tjbakerycafe.com/): They make some of the best apple muffins that I have ever tasted.  I warn you in advance that you may get addicted once you have one.  If you try hard enough though, you might even be able to convince yourself that they’re healthy (because of the apple chunks that you can see in the muffin) even though with their buttery smell and taste, you will know that they are not.  (Their cupcakes are also especially yummy.) Reserve this favorite for a special treat. 

6. Bowen’s by the Bays (http://www.bowensbythebays.com/): We rented a two bedroom private cottage at this reasonably priced Hamptons resort for a few days and had an amazing time. They had tennis, a swimming pool, a kids’ playground, shuffleboard, a putting green and much more.  What I really liked is that the cottage was fully furnished, including kitchen necessities which are great when you’re traveling with kids.  The owner, Eileen, was very friendly and helpful.  She directed us to the best family-friendly places to eat and suggested various attractions.  (We ended up going to the Atlantis Aquarium, which was a really great pick.)  Most of all, I enjoyed the fact that we could just relax as a family.  They had a shed full of games that you could take out.  We played board games together as a family at night and it was wonderful.  Our three year old beat me and my husband at Life (how humbling - he was getting money on practically every turn!) and he had the most real estate at the end of our Monopoly game…so of course, he had a blast.  The time flew by and my oldest son cried over the fact that we had to leave.  Already he’s asking, "When are we going back to The Hamptons?"  (We’re asking the same question!)

7. Hire My Mom (http://www.hiremymom.com/): Since according to the  U.S. Census Bureau, "over 5.4 million mothers put their careers on hold to stay home with their children", this is a much-needed site.  It helps moms find temporary and part-time work that the moms do from their own home offices.  Of course, I’m a big fan of moms working from home, so it’s great to see more businesses adapting to this movement.  (Note that membership is $99 per year or $29.95 per quarter.  I don’t especially like to pay money upfront for the possibility of getting a job, but I would make an exception in this instance.)

No Comments »

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  One great way to show your support is to get involved with the Gal to Gal virtual walk for stage IV breast cancer patients and their families, a digital charity event.  This project kicks off in Boston on Oct. 1st and travels to 31 cities in 31 days.  You can visit their site at www.galtogalwalk.org and read some of the stories from various people, including celebrities, who are lending their support to this event.  While there, you can choose to register for $3, create an avatar that resembles you, share why you’re joining the walk, "get ready, get set and start walking".

No Comments »

New For Baby (http://www.newforbaby.com/) is giving away a Sleep Gown Bundle - two must-have newborn essentials.

Choose from melon, celery and sky with these 100% combed cotton Comfort Sleep Gowns, featuring foldover cuffs to protect baby’s face from scratching, snaps at the neckline for easing dressing, and tagless for ultimate sleeptime comfort… 

Mom in the City members can enter simply by sending an email to contests@mominthecity.com with "Bundle" in the Subject line.  The winner will be chosen on October 31st.

New For Baby, the hip baby’s first wardrobe, offers 10% off unlimited orders to Mom in the City members with coupon code "

No Comments »

Everyone warned me about the “terrible twos” and I was pleasantly surprised at how easily they went by with my oldest son. No one warned me about the “power struggle to see who rules the house” threes. However, now that I have a three year old and mention the challenges (of course coupled with the joys), practically everyone with older children nods in remembrance. So, I’m not crazy…three is a crazy age. My husband (who just started teaching eighth graders/13 year olds) says that 13 year olds are the same way…it’s something about those number 3s! On the other hand, three is also an incredibly fun age…my son says the smartest things that really make me think and he is so creative…it’s amazing. I guess that every age balances itself out with its pros and cons.

On another note, Halloween is around the corner. My son wants to be an astronaut, which is totally fine. He also wants this super duper astronaut helmet that costs as much as the costume. (I’m not cheap, but $100 for a combination that’s only going to be worn once or twice is a little silly to me.) Since my husband and I can’t talk my son into being a ghost, we’re going to make him “work” for this combo. We set up this reward system for the next 25 days. He can get 2 stars a day based on the things that we’re working on in his character (respect and self-control). He has the potential to get a bonus star a day for “perseverance” (my son has perfectionist tendencies…if he doesn’t “get” something right away, he just wants to do something else). If he gets a total of 35 stars, he gets the astronaut costume. If he gets 40 stars, he gets the astronaut costume and the helmet. So far (all of two days!), it’s been going well. “Astronauts don’t talk back to their parents” “Astronauts don’t hit their little brothers.” “Astronauts… (Fill in the blank)”. I could get used to this “astronaut training”….

No Comments »

I just heard an interesting definition of leadership on the radio:

Confidence + Plan + Ability to get others to buy into your plan = Leadership

It makes me wonder…does that male sportscaster have kids? If so, are they toddlers?  I wonder who leads his household…

No Comments »

First of all, no, I didn’t get a car or a gift bag or anything like that at the Oprah taping.

What I did get was a reminder of how blessed I am to live in America.  (I was at the 9/11 show taping - "The Children of 9/11".)  Danny "the singing cop" sang two songs for us before the show began taping.  He sang "The Lord’s Prayer", read a poem about our country being fair and free, and then he sang "God Bless America".  Several audience members joined in.  "God Bless America, Our Home Sweet Home".

I had a few moments to reflect before the show started taping.  I do love America.  It’s not a perfect county, but it’s mine’s and there’s no place in the world that I’d rather live (visit, yes; live, no).  I definitely don’t think that we’ve arrived at our ideals as a county (just check out what’s going on with the Jena 6 case down in Louisiana) but I believe that we’re doing better.  I don’t even especially agree with the leadership direction of our country (even though I don’t agree with all of Bush’s policies, I still think that he’s a nice man at heart and would make a great grandpa…but that’s a sidenote).  Overall, I love that we live in a democracy and that when we vote (both with our ballots and our dollars), our opinions count.

Anyway, back to the show.  Children of 9/11 victims were on stage with Oprah and the focus was on the children being their parent’s legacy.  It was supposed to be an uplifting show, but I honestly felt drained from crying by the time that I left.  The kids were talking about how their parent’s deaths got harder each year as they got older/could understand more.  I was boo-hooing when parents told about how they had to tell their kids that their other parent was never coming come.  I especially lost it whan a man was talking about how he told his 3 and a 1/2 year old son (the same age as my oldest son!) that his mom had died and was in heaven, but that she could hear him if he wanted to say anything and the little boy said "I love you mom".  By that point, I was ready to leave and go home to my little boys to just hug them tightly (which I was able to do shortly afterwards).   

Overall, the show just reinforced the truth that life is a precious gift that can be taken away in a moment.  So moms, "Live Well" and "Love Life" (even on laundry day!).

No Comments »

GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOW (www.GazillionBubbleShow.com) is giving away 2 Family Four Packs of tickets.

"Take the journey of a lifetime and step into the “unbubblelievable” magical kingdom of FAN YANG’s GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOW! The first and only, interactive stage production of its kind, complete with fantastic light effects, lasers, and jaw-dropping masterpieces of bubble artistry, this unforgettable experience is not to be missed. Marvelous, mesmerizing and incredible, this amazing spectacle propels the audience into a delirious standing ovation.

Regis Philbin has said “Unlike anything you have ever seen before. The Gazillion Bubble Show earns its claim on the word spectacular.

Extended by popular demand, the Gazillion Bubble Show is now playing at NEW WORLD STAGES – 340 W 50^th St, NYC
For Tickets call Telecharge at 212-239-6200
For more information visit www.GazillionBubbleShow.com

*The first winner will be chosen at our September 25th Fall Family Happy Hour at MoonSoup.

**The second winner will be one of the Mom in the City members who sends an email to contests@mominthecity.com with "Bubble" in the Subject line.  The winner will be chosen on October 15th.

1 Comment »