Author Archives 
Ach! Growing Pains
by Karen on 2/02/12 | 8 Comment(s)
We thought we were golden with our 3.5 year old’s sleep pattern: um, yeah, right! We have had lots of middle-of-the-night wakeups from nightmares and now- growing pains. When our son wails from the pain, I get it. I had them too. But, what I don’t get is what they are and how to help [...]
Utrecht Opens Its Largest NYC Store in Brooklyn
by Karen on 2/02/12 | 0 Comment(s)
There is no better time than the winter to set yourself up with some awesome art supplies and start a big project. Whether you want to paint, pound some clay or dye some fabric, the newest place to get your art supply bliss satiated is at Utrecht Art Supplies in Clinton Hill. This new outpost [...]
New Store in PLG Attracts Families From All Over
by Karen on 2/02/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Parents in Prospect Lefferts Gardens have been thrilled with the addition of newcomer Play Kids to their area. Since it opened, it’s not only locals that come: parents from Ditmas Park, Prospect Heights, Park Slope and even as far away as Carroll Gardens are making the trip. What’s the draw? Their stellar lineup of unique [...]
Reminder: BAM Kids Film Festival Tickets This Weekend
by Karen on 2/02/12 | 1 Comment(s)
We alerted you when the BAMkids Film Festival tickets went on sale on January 3rd- and here we are a month later, and the film festival is upon us! I just checked and, amazingly, there are still tickets available to the BAMkids Film Festival ! Honestly, I’m surprised. Usually, the week before the festival, the [...]
Belle of the Ball: Dads and Daughters Dance
by Karen on 2/01/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Has your daughter ever dreamed of being the belle of the ball? Her dream can come true this month- and you will be her special date! The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is debuting a Dads and Daughters Ball, a special evening where your daughter will have her very own special night with you. (Moms are welcome [...]
Chalkboard Paint Just Grew Up!
by Karen on 1/31/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Chalkboard paint has gotten a color facelift! Though we love to draw on a chalkboard as much as anyone, having a wall of dark grey in a room can be a bit….drab. Hudson Paint, a small paint manufacturer in the Hudson River Valley, has become the Pantone deck of chalkboard paint. Now, any chalkboard can [...]
Plenty of Reasons Not To Be Quiet in the Library: Events at All the Branches
by Karen on 1/31/12 | 0 Comment(s)
We love the Brooklyn Public Library with all it’s free activities and educational events- not to mention their popular storytime. Forget being quiet at the library- this weekend lions will appear and next weekend: musicians and dancers! This February, the central library and its branches are offering tons of cool programs like knitting for kids, [...]
DOE Announces New Elementary School Directory
by Karen on 1/30/12 | 0 Comment(s)
The Department of Education announced today that the new 2012-2013 Elementary School Directory is now available online here. The Directory includes information about the kindergarten application process and a list of elementary school choices by district. The kindergarten application period is open from January 9, 2012 through March 2, 2012 . All students entering kindergarten [...]
Voila! New Foreign Language Bookstore to Open Next Week
by Karen on 1/30/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Though we only hear about the death of independent bookstores in the rest of the U.S., it seems like here in Brooklyn, small bookstores not only survive, but thrive. Why else would a seasoned Manhattan bookstore open a location in Cobble Hill? Idlewild Books will open this Monday, February 1st, though passers-by will note that [...]
Want to Stop Arguing Over Who Does What? Or Money?
by Karen on 1/30/12 | 1 Comment(s)
Arguing with your partner over how to parent, money woes and in-laws is pretty standard stuff. But…. it’s exhausting. Who wants to argue over who did the laundry last time or why no one can stand the MIL? Wouldn’t we all rather waltz through these parenting tangles and spend the energy on having time for [...]
10 Most Common Car Seat Installation Mistakes
by Karen on 1/30/12 | 4 Comment(s)
I know I’ve made about 4 of these car seat installation mistakes and I’m pretty sure that I’m not alone. In fact, I know I’m not: studies show that 82 percent or 9 out of 10 car seats are not installed and used correctly. Even more upsetting? Crashes are the leading cause of death for [...]
Need an Ob/Gyn? Meet Village Obstetrics
by Karen on 1/30/12 | 0 Comment(s)
The chic maternity store, Bump Brooklyn, organizes after-hours events in their shop on occasion. Besides being free of cost, their events always seem to be free of any agenda too. In true community spirit, the owners of Bump invite respected businesses to come to their store and give a seminar or do a meet and [...]
Pregnant or New Parent with Burning Questions?
by Karen on 1/26/12 | 0 Comment(s)
If you are pregnant or a new parent and have some questions like “what is a doula?”, “how bad is this labor pain going to be?” to “do I need a carrier and how do I know which one?”- count yourself lucky! All those questions and more will be answered this Monday night at a [...]
Giveaway: I Know So Many of You Love That Little Yellow Guy….Gustafer
by Karen on 1/26/12 | 14 Comment(s)
The one time I went to a Gustafer Yellowgold concert, there were parents there that looked like regular rock band groupies. One father, who stood next to me in the back, sang all the songs about Gustafer, the small yellow cone-headed fellow, while his kids squished into seats up front. One mom and her daughter [...]
Help for Applying to Kindergarten and Elementary Schools
by Karen on 1/24/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Let’s just say that investigating and applying for schools in NYC is like crossing a raging river. (I’m trying to be optimistic here). Don’t despair! There are bridges for you so you can get to the other side of the process without losing your mind. Insideschools.org is throwing you a rope and hosting a free [...]
Want to “Raise a Good Sleeper”? We Have a Discount if You Do!
by Karen on 1/21/12 | 1 Comment(s)
Who wouldn’t want to raise a good sleeper?! Imagine this: a full night’s good sleep for you and your partner…. and upon waking, you find you have a cheery baby who has also had a good night’s sleep! Not that she is making any promises, but Dr. Janet Kennedy (aka the NYC Sleep Doctor), will [...]
The best places to sled in Brooklyn and NYC
by Karen on 1/21/12 | 6 Comment(s)
Snow! The forecast from weather.com is: “Through 3pm: Intermittent snow, sleet and/or freezing rain will change to a few snow showers around noon. About one inch of additional snow through 2:30pm.” All to say, that means we may have great snow for sledding! Our sleds are perched at our front door, snowpants washed and laid [...]
How to store (and back up!) your digital photos
by Karen on 1/20/12 | 6 Comment(s)
In my other life or increasingly, my former life, I was a photographer. So, I get asked a lot about how to store digital photos. Since so many of us are taking digital photos of our children, I thought this might prove of interest to you. Here is what I do: I make 2 backups [...]
Big Movies for Little Kids Start Up This Monday
by Karen on 1/20/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Nothing beats the cold more than a good movie and snuggling up to your …..baby, toddler or little kid! If you love classic movies and want to share them with your child in an actual theatre, then head out to the popular series Big Movies for Little Kids. This series, begun by two mothers, is [...]
Medications and Breastfeeding
by Karen on 1/17/12 | 9 Comment(s)
I was having problems with frequently choking and was prescribed some medicine for “silent reflux” by an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor. She said that the medicine was “fine for a nursing mom”…..without checking. I wasn’t convinced she really knew. I called my general practitioner to see if the medicine was okay for a nursing [...]
To Mothers Who Write: Get Out and Share Your Passion
by Karen on 1/17/12 | 0 Comment(s)
“Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating.” – The Holstee Manifesto. This is your moment. Take your incredible experiences of being a mother and share your writing with other mothers. A new course at PowderKeg, a community of women writers in downtown [...]
Giveaway! Tix to “The Amazing Max”
by Karen on 1/17/12 | 36 Comment(s)
“The Amazing Max and the Box of Interesting Things” is a magic show that we found entertaining: full of silly physical humor, stunning magic tricks and hilarious antics, we thought it was not only a great kids’ show but one for parents too. This isn’t a show that you ask, “How did he do that?!” [...]
Are you a Writer, Designer, Chef ? Small Biz Workshops!
by Karen on 1/17/12 | 0 Comment(s)
If you are the owner of a small business, or are thinking of starting a new business, there’s an amazing resource in Brooklyn for you: The Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network. It’s a small business development group that helps New Yorkers do everything from putting together business and marketing plans to figuring out how to [...]
Kids Can Try a New Language for Free
by Karen on 1/16/12 | 0 Comment(s)
If your child can say “nǐhǎo” and “gracias”, you might not worry so much about them saying “please” and “thank you” in English. This week and next, two language programs are offering the opportunity to give both Spanish and Mandarin a try with your tikes- for free! Lango Kids NYC Free Trial Mandarin Class It [...]
Some Pretty Great Lists to Get you Organized
by Karen on 1/16/12 | 0 Comment(s)
Are you a list maker? Some people love ‘em and others hate ‘em. I’m a virgo- which pretty much means I are doomed to make lists my whole life. But, I am glad- whenever I cross something off of my list- I feel soooo “together”- and I sure do need that feeling sometimes! If you [...]
