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 [...]
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 [...]
Deal of the Week: Genius Organizing- Totally Worth It!
by Karen on 1/05/12 | 0 Comment(s)
It’s the New Year, which means that everyone is energized about their resolutions from losing weight to streamlining their life. This week Doodle Deals is offering a way to start the New Year off right with 43% off a 2 hour in-home organizing and decluttering session. It caught my eye because it is being offered [...]
For crafty you- a list of my favorite craft stores
by Karen on 11/21/11 | 5 Comment(s)
I so badly want to be crafty. I want to make snow hats and wool felted animals…but I just….don’t. I have a full tote of craft supplies: stencils, pom poms, pipe cleaners and the ultimate necessity: glue gun. I just don’t have the motivation. But, I do have the motivation to aspire to crafting. And, [...]
Where to get used ice skates in Brooklyn
by Karen on 11/09/11 | 2 Comment(s)
Gliding on freshly zambonied ice, sipping hot chocolate at break time, spinning perfectly on point- well, now I am just dreaming. But what isn’t a dream is to find inexpensive ice skates in Brooklyn. Good Footing in Park Slope has new and used skates. (Used are mainly just available for children- as the store owner [...]
Favorite Resale Shop Still Hip Is Closing
by Karen on 10/11/11 | 1 Comment(s)
We were sad to hear the news yesterday that one of our favorite Brooklyn resale shops and meetup places, Still Hip, will be closing down at the end of November. I remember the first iteration of Still Hip: during one weekend we were invited to shop in the parlor of a brownstone: fun and funky [...]
Radiators- childproofing and safety
by Karen on 9/16/11 | 5 Comment(s)
Now that we are in September, those of us less inclined to the cold chill, have started our heat. That means steaming hot radiators and floor-to-ceiling scalding hot pipes. How do you child proof them and do you really need to? The short answers are: many ways, and definitely yes, yes! First: Is your landlord [...]
Looking For A Highchair? Here Are Our Favorites
by Karen on 9/12/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Ahh.. the gear when having a baby. Some parents love shopping for it and others can barely stand it. Either way, the selection out there is overwhelming. But, what do you really need? Living in NYC, the footprint might be one of your most important considerations. When I started writing this post, I realized that [...]
Best Book List For Ages 0-5 Years
by Karen on 7/27/11 | 2 Comment(s)
I know I’m not the only one who gets tired of reading the same book over and over at bedtime. Yawwwn……..zzzzzz. The Rusty Key, a new Brooklyn blog that is dedicated to all things Kid Lit, is helping me and you get over the book doldrums by sharing her favorite books for kids here on [...]
Organic Twin Mattresses: What to Look for and Where to Find them
by Serena on 7/20/11 | 3 Comment(s)
Mattresses are more than just foam, springs and cotton, they contain (surprise!) flame retardant chemicals, mercury, boric acid, and formaldehyde. Pretty disgusting when you think we spend (hopefully) 6 hours plus sleeping on that every night. What’s worse is that all non-organic mattresses from the U.S. are required to be flame retardant (enough so that [...]
Clothing to Protect Your Child’s Skin
by Serena on 7/19/11 | 0 Comment(s)
The heat is raging over here in Brooklyn and that means piling up the sunscreen and wearing sun hats to protect our kids’ delicate skin. However, with the sun being so strong one blistering sunburn or five non-blistering sunburns may lead to melanoma and skin cancer later in life (*stat provided by K & J [...]
BabyCakes on how to color frosting naturally
by Karen on 7/14/11 | 5 Comment(s)
Babycakes NYC on the Lower East Side is a destination for gluten-free, vegan, health-concious sweet lovers. It has been a hit destination for anyone with food allergies, dietary restrictions, and all things “special” and alternative, and that, of course, has attracted celebrities. The owner, Erin McKenna, has a book, BabyCakes: Vegan, Gluten-Free, and (Mostly) Sugar-Free [...]
Mini or Apartment sized cribs for small apartments
by Karen on 7/13/11 | 7 Comment(s)
The DaVinci Annabelle is another option and people love the small crib, but don’t like the flimsy mattress. (Around $189). We loved our Arms Reach CoSleeper. It is especially great for newborns and if you want to have your baby near your own bed. It has a lot of storage both below the bassinet and [...]
Organic Teethers: What to Look for and Where to Find Them
by Serena on 7/11/11 | 3 Comment(s)
Teething is not only painful for babies- it’s painful for us parents. The screaming, crying and anxiety of hearing your child hurt can be awful. How do you soothe your child? I have tried everything from frozen peas to cold rings, necklaces, blanket or other chewable teethers – some work and others don’t. The problem [...]
Sand: what you need to know
by Jill on 7/06/11 | 3 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 [...]
Northside Market: A New Artisanal Market Featuring Music, Food and New Products!
by Serena on 7/06/11 | 0 Comment(s)
We love checking out new products and goods for ourselves and our kids and now we have a new pop-up market to check out right in the heart of Williamsburg. Featuring artisanal and handmade goods, crafts, local musical acts and a DJ, Northside Market is an innovative new space to check out local and international [...]
The year’s top green toys
by Karen on 6/13/11 | 0 Comment(s)
For the past few years, Dr. Stevanne Auerbach, also known as Dr. Toy, has issued a list of the year’s top green toys and children’s products. Dr. Toy acknowledges in a press release that these green products represent just “a small number among all the choices of play products available, but we need to start [...]
What are the best, safest insect repellents?
by Karen on 6/01/11 | 8 Comment(s)
Remember the good ol’ days of your childhood summers? Bare feet, tube tops, Dr. Scholls and no mosquito bites? (So maybe I totally dated myself, but I do have a point…). Back then, our parents sprayed us with that awful smelling insect spray that was chock a block full of DEET. So, what’s wrong with [...]
Need a passport stat? Try Brooklyn Public Library
by Karen on 5/31/11 | 0 Comment(s)
The one place I refuse to go to in Brooklyn is the post office. It’s like hell on earth- you wait in a snaking, long line with other disgruntled customers, and then someone snaps. It always happens- and really can you blame them? The last time I did go to the post office was 2 [...]
Jumping for Jumpers this summer- kids and mom
by Karen on 5/22/11 | 0 Comment(s)
When we had some hot days this May (that seems ages ago now)- I was running around in this jumper designed by Calypso for Target. It is a steal at $24.99 and it soooo comfortable. At all the baby expos this month, I’ve noticed that jumpers have “jumped” in popularity in children’s clothes too. I [...]
Overload: Brooklyn Fleas, Food Trucks and Craft Markets
by Karen on 5/19/11 | 1 Comment(s)
There is an overload of great events in Brooklyn this weekend. Essential events for foodies include the debut of Smorgasburg in Williamsburg. This Brooklyn Flea newcomer boasts 100 plus food vendors and everything you need to get your kitchen in top-chef shape. Gourmands can not miss the Food Truck Rally that will gather famous food [...]
Affordable Art Collecting for families
by Karen on 5/04/11 | 0 Comment(s)
Someone told me years ago how one family started their art collection. Each person in the family started an individual “art fund” and as they would visit galleries, they would keep an eye out for affordable art they could buy. Because it was especially hard for the kids to save up enough to buy a [...]
Toy of the Year Awards go to….
by Karen on 4/27/11 | 2 Comment(s)
Birthday season is about to begin and that means finding gifts that are just right for that birthday girl or boy. In celebration, we are going to be posting award-winning toys over the next few weeks. This week we are featuring some nominees for the Toy of the Year Awards (TOTY), as presented by the [...]
Pumping: when, how and why
by Karen on 4/13/11 | 0 Comment(s)
I remember when my sister first pulled out her backpack-style breastpump, strapped on her bustier and the pump cups and turned the machine on- all while she was giving me some sisterly advice. To her, it was like nothing was going on…to me, it was like: Woah! what are all those tubes and how is [...]
Two CSAs have spots available
by Karen on 4/12/11 | 4 Comment(s)
When I first moved to Brooklyn, I was initiated into a whole new world of food coops, Greenmarkets and CSAs. Though the Park Slope Food Coop intimidated the heck out of me (and still does) and though the Greenmarkets have become a weekend ritual for us, I haven’t ventured out into the land of CSAs. [...]
