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5.28.2013

the 'burbs battle

If you live in NYC long enough, it's bound to happen. Eventually, you will lose a friend to the suburbs.

And it might really surprise you. It might be the friend that you never suspected; the one who stayed out with you till all hours of the night (in your, er, younger days), the friend who should have been a model, the friend who by befriending you made you feel "cool" simply by being in her presence. A true friend who turned into an amazing mother and did it with style and grace and effortlessness.

Enjoying my friend's lovely backyard in Westchester


I've lived in the city for 13 years, and so far NYC is still winning, but the 'burbs are closing in on me in an uncomfortable battle for my friends, with the winner receiving a lawn mower and a swing set in the backyard.

It's not that I don't understand. Obviously, I know by now that when children come along, life changes in many, MANY ways. The friends who have taken the deep plunge into the suburbia pool have been seduced by more space, a yard, better schools, more space, close proximity to Target, more space. Did I mention more space? And while I certainly can't blame them, it does makes you stop and think.

Rethink.
Reconsider.


In my quiet moments (of which there are about 2 per day), I do sometimes wonder... what are we doing here anyway? Is there, in fact, a world outside NYC? Seems hard to imagine, though visiting their homes with all that square footage makes me "get it" a little more.

While I still feel as though we are here for the long haul, and that NYC is a fantastic place to raise little citizens of the world, I would say for the first time that I am open to the possibility of life outside NYC. Not the 'burbs, necessarily. The commute would kill Husband and all that extra space wouldn't be worth it if were just me and the kiddies.


Starting over somewhere completely fresh and new has its appealing qualities, though. And I suppose the allure of the suburbs was that next step for my friends. If and when we take that same plunge remains to be seen... but for now, I will enjoy hopping on the train for visits to a faraway land known as Suburbia. And inevitably, in that quiet moment or two on the train, I will think about what it would be like to have a lawn mower and a swing set.

5.16.2013

the essentials: a look inside my diaper bag




I know, I know. You've long awaited the day when this post would arrive. Well, here it is. Ladies, and the one gentleman reading this (Husband, out of obligation) -- a quick look into the organized chaos that is my diaper bag/purse:

Naturally, the essentials are there. First, one or two Huggies Snug and Dry diapers and wipes (because if we are out of the house, Vivi is guaranteed to poop. She's kind of known for it). On that note, I always bring a spare pair of leggings for both girls, on the off chance there is an accident. You only have to make that mistake once to never leave home without a spare, believe me.

My girls and their snacking... those children would eat all day if I let them. The little gals are big fans of Mum Mums (which we call Num Nums, just to make things confusing), and I never leave home without them.

I hold additional snacks in an Itzy Ritzy reusable bag to keep them separate and fresh. Love these designs!


Next up, having moved out of the Rookie Mom department, I now carry Band Aids with me at all times. These are especially necessary now that the weather is warming up and little arms and legs will be less protected.


Lastly... sunscreen. Late last summer I finally discovered a sun block lotion that I am very happy with it.  With SPF 30 and a zinc oxide to help it go on smoothly, Blue Lizard will be easy to grab when I need it this summer.


I'm neglecting to mention all the fun things like used tissues, sticky wrappers, banana peels, sticky things that I'm not sure what they are... trust me, you're lucky. :)

What's in your diaper bag?

***

The ultimate test for Huggies® diapers & wipes is in real life – from messy first birthday parties to playground play dates. Put the new and improved products, including Huggies® Snug & Dry Diapers with NEW SureFit Design and Huggies Natural Care® Wipes with Triple Clean Layers, to the test in and out of the nursery. Become an Official Huggies® Tester at Huggies.com/Tester.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Huggies® via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Huggies®.”

5.12.2013

mom + social + mother's day

Happy Mother's Day! I hope each of you mamas out there had a special day with your family (or perhaps at a spa by yourself!)

This week, I attended Mom+Social, a day-long event focused on the intersection of motherhood and social media, technology and philanthropy. Sponsored by The UN Foundation, Johnson and Johnson, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Baby Center and The Huffington Post, the gathering concluded Global Mom Relay, a 60-day online conversation connecting online moms and experts to share their personal experiences and causes they are passionate about.



To say I was moved by the day's panels is an understatement, and I wanted to share a few of the highlights with you:

Christy Turlington Burns spoke about Every Mother Counts, the campaign she founded to end preventable deaths caused by pregnancy and childbirth around the world. As an advocate for global maternal health, Christy also made a documentary film called "No Woman, No Cry," which captures what is a profound issue for women around the world, even right here in the United States (Every Mother Counts has just given a grant to a midwife in Florida). I actually stepped out of the conference midday so I could attend a conference call with Christy and Culture Mom Media, where she was kind enough to speak to a group of bloggers about her work with Every Mother Counts.

I was inspired by the stories of Fortunata Kasege, an HIV positive mother who told her story on behalf of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and Ines Renique, of Girl Up, a campaign which "unites girls to change the world." I can't wait to hear more from non-profits like Games for Change (a Facebook game for charity) and Charity Miles, an app which makes raising money as easy as using your own two feet. Jennifer Lopez (THAT Jennifer Lopez), and her sister, Lynda, spoke about the work of the Lopez Family Foundation, which provides telemedicine services in developing countries.

Lastly, the words of Robbie Parker, who lost his daughter, Emilie, in the Newtown, CT school shooting brought us all to our knees. Amidst unspeakable tragedy, he made a plea for all of us to be continually inspired by our children and to live in the moment. You can find out more about supporting the arts from the fund they began in her honor, the Emilie Parker Art Connection.

I urge you to check out the list of speakers from Mom+Social (too many amazing ones to recount!) and if a particular cause speaks to you, get involved! Blogging provides a unique forum for spreading awareness, and I am so honored to be able to share my insights with you here.  

5.09.2013

as a mother, where do function & fashion intersect?




I have to admit that there have been times, since having children, that I have dropped the ball. I'm talking about the picking-pants-off-floor-and-wearing-them-again ball. The "Did I put deodorant on? I can't remember" ball. I didn't say I was proud of this, mind you... I'm just in full confession mode over here.

Now, I try not to let this happen very often. I do the required upkeep so that I can maintain a sense of self beyond the world of Mommy, and thankfully, I've figured out a few tips and tricks along the way. First things first; when you're a mom, fashion must be functional. Everything must have more than one purpose to be worth my time, quite frankly.

Here's my first suggestion: Do you know about Chewbeads? This line of jewelry is chic, colorful and oh yeah, great for your teething baby. A mom-owned business, Chewbeads are made from non-toxic 100% silicone, and as is the theme of this post, I love that the line embodies fashion that has a function (helping soothe your baby!). And yes, it officially falls within the "Why didn't I think of that?" category.

I love the new designer tubs from Huggies. We all know wipes have many uses, and it's not just for wiping your child's bum (I love to use wipes as a makeup remover!). With the new designer tubs, you can pick out a fun design that will coordinate with your living room or nursery or bathroom, instead of the snore-worthy box that it's been up to this point. Here's just a little, simple thing you can do to take things up a notch.

My 7AM Barcelona bag is one of my favorites possessions, if we're still in first world confession-mode. I love the non-diaper bag diaper bag-ness of it all, and as a result, this item is truly fashionable while keeping you organized at the same time. In addition to tons of pockets and compartments for storing miscellaneous baby items, the material is easy to clean (believe me, I've tested this out) and just looks good (AKA, not like a diaper bag). It also comes with a handy changing pad and matching zippered freezer bag for good measure.

Here's to keeping the ball in the air, eh?

The ultimate test for Huggies® diapers & wipes is in real life – from messy first birthday parties to playground play dates. Put the new and improved products, including Huggies® Snug & Dry Diapers with NEW SureFit Design and Huggies Natural Care® Wipes with Triple Clean Layers, to the test in and out of the nursery. Become an Official Huggies® Tester at Huggies.com/Tester.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Huggies® via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Huggies®.”

5.04.2013

homemade with love

I fully expect to see beautiful photos of food when I open a cookbook. I prepare to be inspired by new recipes that will have me running to the grocery store for ingredients. I do not, however, expect to be moved. It's a pleasure to spread the word about Homemade with Love, the new cookbook by Jennifer Perillo, which encompasses all of these elements.

Perillo, who lives in Brooklyn with her two daughters, has long written about the positives of cooking from scratch, buying local and eating at home with family on her blog, In Jennie's Kitchen. And while the term "from scratch" is enough to scare the spatula right out of my hand, I certainly love the idea of it. Thankfully, Homemade with Love provides shortcuts (like two homemade all-purpose baking mixes) to make eating well simpler and less time-consuming. From one busy mama to another, thank you, Jennifer!

I've tried several recipes from Homemade with Love so far, including the chicken pot pie topped with her fluffy drop biscuits... delicious! I also will never buy pasta sauce out of a jar again thanks to Jennifer's easy peasy recipe using fresh basil, garlic and whole peeled tomatoes. Yummy flavor without the added sugar of jarred sauce, and super easy (and fast) to create. We also tried and loved the Smoky Corn and Bean "Chili"... once again, EASY and tasty (you may see a trend here... I like easy recipes).

It is the story behind Jennifer's motivation to pursue her love of cooking and creating recipes that really brings Homemade with Love together, though. Jennifer's husband, Mikey, was a driving force in her life, a partner who never failed to believe in his wife's potential and talent. When he passed away suddenly in 2011, Jennie writes that "the thread that helped me keep it all together was cooking." Homemade with Love is more than a cookbook filled to the brim with amazing recipes that celebrate the art of scratch cooking, it's a lesson on love and commitment, moving forward after tragedy and recognizing the simple joys of every day life.
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