Watch out! Dinos! (well, eco-friendly ones)
by joy on 8/22/10 | 0 Comment(s)
Last year we started receiving Sprig toys for birthday presents. I had never heard of them before, but it seems everywhere I look now, someone has one on the playground.
You might have seen them too. There are the very popular eco-trucks that dig and dump in the dirt and the funny large-headed figures with their [...]
Wow! Another resale shop opening! AND they pick up your stuff
by Karen on 6/30/10 | 0 Comment(s)
On the heels of Lulu’s Cuts and Toys announcement this week that they are opening a new children’s resale (and some new) shop, another one announces it too is opening! That’s great news for families. There can never be enough resale shops- especially since Brooklyn is rumored to have had the most babies born in [...]
Recall: Step2 buggies
by Karen on 5/15/10 | 0 Comment(s)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Step2®, today announced a voluntary recall of 2.5 million buggies: The Step2® Push Around Buggy™ and Whisper Ride Buggy™. You should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
So why is it being recalled? A pin attaching to the yellow knob on the [...]
Park Deli: fresh flowers, vintage toys and yes, skateboarding lessons
by Paula on 5/14/10 | 0 Comment(s)
Valentine Leung and Michael Sclafani are the co-owners of Brooklyn’s super cool and fantastically multi-purpose Park Delicatessen where in addition to selling skateboards and lovely flower arrangements in hand painted cans, you can also pick up a patchwork baby quilt ($275) with a matching pillow ($46) as well as bibs ($18) and baby clothing. Valentine, [...]
Sand: what you need to know
by Jill on 5/04/10 | 0 Comment(s)
My kids happily play in the sand – beach or sandbox – for hours at a time. Now that Jenn has outgrown the sand-eating phase and is almost out of the sand-throwing phase, it’s fun for all of us. I have always rolled my eyes at my friend who won’t let her daughters play in [...]
Top of the Shop: Green in Bklyn
by Karen on 4/21/10 | 2 Comment(s)
This is the second installment of our new feature called “Top of the Shop”. It’s a weekly look at a shop in Brooklyn and its 2 top selling items and then my favorite 2 top items. I hope that you see some new shops to visit or old shops that you might have forgotten about. [...]
My favorite fabric store is moving
by Karen on 3/31/10 | 0 Comment(s)
Purl Patchwork in Soho has been my favorite fabric store ever since I moved to NY (going on 10 years now!). I love all their chosen fabrics, from tiny robots on sea blue to bold fuschia polka dots with jaguars. Plus, the women in there can answer any sewing question you have. They have a [...]
Top of the Shop: Brooklyn Junior
by Karen on 3/30/10 | 2 Comment(s)
I am starting a new feature – called “Top of the Shop”. It’s a weekly look at a shop in Brooklyn and its 2 top selling items and then my favorite 2 top items. I hope that you see some new shops to visit or old shops that you might have forgotten about. Let me [...]
Bklyn Designer showcase and Spring Fling arrive on the same date
by Karen on 3/30/10 | Comments Off Comment(s)
Bklyn Designs, an exhibition of designers of all cool things made and designed in Brooklyn, announced today that it will take place at St. Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO, Brooklyn, May 7-9. See www.bklyndesigns.com for a complete listing of exhibitors and events.
On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9, they will have programming dedicated to families and a [...]
Kids Clothing Swap with book signing and playspace this weekend
by Paula on 3/25/10 | 0 Comment(s)
Nothing says spring like a refill on my Nasonex prescription and an overwhelming desire to GET ORGANIZED. If your apartment is bursting at the seams with clothes and toys your kids have outgrown, swap them out for stuff you need at Nairobi’s Knapsack this Saturday. Gently used infant and children’s clothing sizes 0 to 8 [...]
Kid and Toddler Bike helmet ratings
by Karen on 3/17/10 | 0 Comment(s)
Spring has definitely sprung and I have put our snow boots away for good, at last! It’s time for bikes and scooters and that means protecting our kids from falls. Brooklyn has some of the worst sidewalks of all the boroughs. We do love our blue slate sidewalks, but, oh, how it heaves and cleaves. [...]
How To Make Play Doh
by Karen on 3/16/10 | 3 Comment(s)
Doh! by Rebecca of eensies.com
Little ones and playdoh go together like peanut butter and jelly. Sure those little yellow containers say non-toxic, but your nose keeps telling you otherwise. Make your own and you know exactly what’s going into your dough, and it’s a great way to spend time with your sweetie. Well, you’re in [...]
Passover Craft: Frogs, frogs, frogs
by Karen on 3/15/10 | 0 Comment(s)
If you celebrate Passover then you know why frogs are important. Frogs were one of the ten plagues that Moses imposed upon the Egyptians to convince the Pharaoh to release the enslaved Jews. It took ten plagues for the Pharoah to relent. During the plague of the frogs, Moses sent hoardes of frogs from the [...]
Art Projects to do at home
by Karen on 3/09/10 | 0 Comment(s)
There are plenty of days that I wish I had an art project I could do with the kids- and a guiding hand to take me through it. Well, I have found help. RADkidsART is the brain child of Rick Anthony Diaz, who has been a teaching artist in New York City since 1995. Rick [...]
Cool Map Games for Kids
by Karen on 3/03/10 | 0 Comment(s)
Are you searching for a fun way to teach geography to your kid…and maybe brush up on it yourself?
Here are a few that I really like:
Rethinking Schools’ Map Game
This map game is easy to follow. Just drag a country’s name to its proper place. I admit I made quite a few mistakes- EEEK! If you [...]
How to Clean Toys, Backpacks, Shoes and…just about everything!
by Karen on 2/28/10 | 2 Comment(s)
Real Simple Magazine had 2 articles on how to clean everything from cotton to backpacks. I found them incredibly helpful. Here are both articles melded together.
Both written by Sarah Stebbins
How to Wash Cotton
Made from the fluffy fibers of the cotton plant, most cotton fabrics are preshrunk, so “you really can’t mess them up,” [...]
Brooklyn Women’s Exchange: Unique Handmade Gifts
by Karen on 2/16/10 | 1 Comment(s)
If you haven’t been to the Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, this is your reminder to put it on your list of “to dos”. Brooklyn Heights Blog posted a video that Brooklyn Independent Television made about the Exchange, relaying its history and showing all the lovely handmade items they sell. They sell everything from handmade childrens’ [...]
Recall: The Princess and The Frog Necklaces
by Karen on 1/31/10 | 3 Comment(s)
Cute movie, sickening necklaces. Truly sickening. 55,000 necklaces, made by FAF inc, have been recalled since they contain high levels of cadmium. Cadmium is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. The necklaces were sold at Walmart for $5 and were manufactured in China (who would have guessed?!)
Consumers should return [...]
Putamayo Christmas CD
by Karen on 12/21/09 | 0 Comment(s)
If you celebrate Christmas, you usually have a small collection of Christmas music. My parents favored Neil Diamond, Manhattan Transfer and Whitney Houston. (Yes, a collective EWWW! is permitted here!) I couldn’t wait until I got older and could build my own little stash of Christmas music. But, honestly, I have never, ever bought one. [...]
Toy Swaps
by Karen on 12/07/09 | 0 Comment(s)
Question: Have you ever wanted to get rid of your old toys (without contributing to landfills) and get new ones (without paying money)?
If you are like most parents, your answer is “YES!”
Answer: Go to or start a Toy Swap!
Mommy Poppins and I had two Toy Swaps this weekend to help parents exchange toys. Both [...]
