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My baby is now a preschooler, but stick around for video and written reviews of the best baby, toddler and preschool products out there. Because even when as they grow up they're still our babies! And if you're a new Mama, check out my archive for fun and funny video reviews of the baby products that saved my life in those early months at home with a wee one.
Babies Gotta Read More! Check out my blog, Mama Act for more about my life as an unfamous, unceleb mama-actress.
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Nickelodeon Storytime Live at Radio City Music Hall. Little bit scary to meet the costumed characters. Really really thrilling to see the show! First trip to the theater. Priceless. Thank you MSG.
The Bean loves to put on a tutu and dance. Frequently she insists upon Christmas Music which is a little weird in late March but who am I to argue. The tutus and accessories at Posh Little Tutus are springy, girly and cotton candy sweet. Posh Little Tutus range in size from infants to size 12, come in all the jelly bean colors of the rainbow, and are made in chiffon and traditional premium tulle. Each tutu comes with lots of coordinating accessories (including fairy wings!) so whether you’re looking for that perfect outfit for a princess party, a costume for a first ballet recital, a magical present, an enchanting flowergirl dress, or a special portrait outfit, you’ll have your little peony dressed from head to toe.
In the video above, my Little Bean is sporting the Little Miss Daisy Sweet Baby Tutu (pictured in the infant size below) and matching hairclip. This is the poofiest fullest tutu skirt Posh Little Tutus offers and I gotta say, it’s adorable. And to this tomboy, there’s nothing cuter than a tutu over pants.
If you’re looking for the perfect springtime tutu, ride on a zephyr to Posh Little Tutus and enjoy browsing. And thanks to Kelly the gal behind Posh Little Tutus, just in time for Spring one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win your choice of either the pink crochet hat pictured above (which fits up to size 12 months), the infant headband pictured below, or the daisy hair clip the Bean is flouncing about in the video (which fits up to age 6). Want to enter? Read on!
To Enter the Posh Little Tutus Hair Accessories Giveaway
***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did! Maximum of seven entries per person.
Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Monday March 29th and ends on Monday April 12th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Tuesday April 13th, Random.org will select the winner, and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!
Disclosure: Posh Little Tutus provided me with the tutu and hair clip seen in the video and the hair accessory for the giveaway winners. I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.
Update! We have a winner! Random.org says “ 20″ Congratulations Emily! Thanks so much to everyone who entered!
So I’m a theater person. I think the magic of the theater is a real and true thing. Wonderful opportunities to take your kids to see live performances abound around the country, and New York City has some of the best of the best. It doesn’t matter if it’s a zillion dollar production on Broadway or a Shakespeare Festival under the stars or children’s theater at your local library. The productions your young kids experience will transform them. Their imaginations will blossom. Their cast of pretend playmates will grow. And the world will open up to them in a new and just a bit more magical way than it did before. So put down that wiimote and get out there and see some theater.
If you’re lucky enough to be in New York City for Spring Break, forget about “Jersey Boys” and check out the best of what NYC has to offer for kids!
The New Victory Theater - This hip kids theater on 42nd street is the place for the best in Childrens’ Theater. The coolest in entertainment for kids, from all around the world, eventually finds its way to the New Victory. From now until April 4th you can see (this sounds so cool I can’t even believe it) 46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes by the cheeky, hilarious Australian company, Circa. With tickets as cheap as $12.50 for nonmembers, you can’t afford not to go!
Symphony Space - So much more than symphonies. I lived two blocks from this amazing venue for years before I had kids and never quite realized how extensive their family programming is. Between now and May you can take in San Francisco’s hit group The Sippy Cups (described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “the illegitimate offspring of The Cat in the Hat and Joey Ramone”) complete with comic stunts, giant balloons, puppets and confetti; The Gustafer Yellowgold Show which combines music and animation for a truly unique multimedia performance (”…a cross between ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Dr. Seuss, filtered through the lens of the Lower East Side,” says Time Out New York Kids); and The Cuyahoga Youth Ballet’s production of “Fancy Nancy” inspired by the books by Jane O’Connor.
The 52nd St. Project - A theater group that is dear to my heart. The goal of this amazing non-profit is to pair the children of the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City with professional theater artists to create original theater. The kids engage in a 9 week play writing class culminating in a 3 day Off-Broadway production of their work performed by some of the theater industry’s best actors. I have seen several of their productions and they are truly wonderful…touching, heartfelt and hilarious. Not only that, they’re free! This Spring’s offering, “ME FIRST! The Pioneer Plays” is taking place this weekend, March 26th - March 28th at the The 52nd Street Project’s Five Angels Theater, 789 Tenth Avenue (between 52nd & 53rd Streets) on the 2nd Floor. Call 212-642-5052 for reservations.
and of course…Radio City Music Hall - Because sometimes you just need to see the Wonder Pets dance around on stage. Nickelodeon’s “Storytime Live” runs from March 31 to April 4th at Radio City, and if you buy tickets through this link (or coupon code DORASM) you can get 30% off on select performances. Also featured in this musical adventure are “Dora the Explorer,” “The Backyardigans” and “Ni-Hao Ki-Lan”.
For once, I don’t have much to say. With due credit given to my friend Katie, city dwellers…meet your child’s new toy kitchen. You know and I know that we ain’t got room for those giant kitchen sets from Pottery Barn or Land of Nod. And honestly, when you could have this absolutely exquisite little pine kitchen, complete with shelves to store food and dishes, a sink, a stove, and oven and a fridge…handmade in the good old US of A (in my husband’s home state of New Hampshire no less), why would you want any other? Liam’s Kitchen from Willow Toys is simply perfect. At 22″ wide, you can’t say you don’t have room for it. This play kitchen is finished with lavender oil (non-scented finish optional). Guaranteed for life. Free shipping. Great for boys or girls. And I’d guess that the sink holds real water…wouldn’t you? What’s not to lust?
OK so apparently I am the very last Mom in America to learn about Boogie Wipes. Sue me. We are in the midst of the third bout of Preschool Plague in nine weeks (yeah, even I can calculate that’s one plauge every three weeks) and apparently the World Phlegm Reserve has taken up residence in my Sweet Bean’s schnoz. And forgive me the 8th grade vernacular, but it totally sucks. It’s a gorgeous weekend. We are inside and feverish and increasingly grumpy and I now challenge any of you to a “Name That Wonder Pets Episode” for thousands and thousands of dollars. I can tell you what they’re gonna save in two seconds. It’s getting desperate.
I was trolling the baby aisle at Duane Reade on Friday stocking up on Baby Tylenol, when I spotted Boogie Wipes. I had reluctantly been wiping the Bean’s goopy nose with diaper wipes which I knew was horrid but desperate times… Basically Boogie Wipes are hypoallergenic wipes made with saline to gently remove those cemented-on dried boogies that you know and hate. I chose the “Fresh Scent” because grape-scented Boogie Wipes kinda seemed weird to me (then again I am not a six year old boy, and I bet they love them). It’s lovely and light, and I’ve been using them nonstop for three days, and the Bean has had no irritation from them. I see on the Boogie Wipes site that they also come in a menthol scent for extra stuffy noses. All this to say, Boogie Wipes are my new best friend and something that your snotty baby’s definitely gotta have. Join the Boogie Bunch to get a coupon worth $1 off your next purchase of Boogie Wipes. You’ll be glad you did.
No one gave me anything to say this. I tried these on my own. Also good for spit-up, vomit, poo and drool.
One of the best perks of writing this blog is that I get to preview so much amazing music for kids! In my efforts to expose the Little Bean to as much music as possible over the last two and a half years, I have become acquainted with the world of “kindie music” — independent music for kids that is being creatively, intelligently and lovingly created outside of the studio system (ie. Nickelodeon and Disney) around the country. According to my kindie rock friend Ashley from The Jimmies, kindie music is more of an organic, grassroots approach to childrens’ entertainment that results in much more creative music because the music makers aren’t bogged down by research and development teams and ad execs. Love it! And from what I’ve listened to, the variety of music out there is just as expansive for our kids as it is for grown-ups!
I’m so happy to pass on four more cool CDs for kids to you–each one as unique as the artists who made it. And stay tuned, there’s a chance for you to win these four wonderful offerings at the end of the post!
Since I Gave My Heart Away by Meg Boscov - Meg Boscov’s whimsical cd mingles the world of Winnie the Pooh with sweet standards to create a delightful musical experience. Full of fancy, “Since I Gave My Heart Away” has a playful buoyancy perfect for a sunny Spring day. Whereas many of the kids CDs I’ve heard so far mix folk and rock sounds for the short set, this album has more of a light classical sound. Many of the lyrics come from A.A. Milne, and they have the sense of wonder and mystery in growing up that we all remember from the Hundred Acre Wood. “Since I Gave My Heart Away” will add wonderful variety and depth to your kindie music mix.
Wake Up Songs by the Flannery Brothers - I became a fan of the adorably nerdy brothers from Maine after listening to their debut CD, “Love Songs for Silly Things.” Their latest offering, “Wake Up Songs” is a fantastic counterpoint to all those lullaby CDs in your collection. If you’re anything like me, when your toddler wakes you up at an ungodly hour, you fill their bowl with chocolate cheerios and plunk them in front of “Sesame Street” while you sneak another hour of sleep on the couch. I guarantee you that “Wake Up Songs” will have you whistling while you cook up fair trade coffee and whole wheat pancakes for you and your wee one. Well, maybe not really…but it sure will put a smile on your face as you pop that frozen waffle in the toaster. I said it before and I’ll say it again, the Flannery Brothers remember what it’s like to be a kid. From fascination with the “blue sky moon” to loving to ride your bike, they have a handle on what kids find fun.
I’m a Rock Star by Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights - This is a CD with a sense of humor and I love it. The Little Bean decided she wanted to be a rock star after listening to the title track, and when it comes on, she grabs the first thing she can find (even, on occasion, a magic marker) and turns it into a guitar. And, “More Cowbell,” inspired by the SNL skit starring Christopher Walken, is genius. “I’m a Rock Star” has charm and chutzpah and makes me smile. Cool bonus — in the CD insert, after each set of song lyrics is a little suggestion for parents and teachers for additional activities or discussion inspired by the song. Very nice.
Mama Mac by Mama Mac - Mama Mac is the most recent addition to our music library, and I gotta say she’s perfect for rainy day indoor dance parties. I love that the name Mama Mac comes from lead singer Amy Elkins’ volunteer role as the purveyor of Mac and Cheese to her childrens’ preschool. The songs are eclectic and cheerful and incredibly singable. The Little Bean is a big fan of the opening track “Bongo Baby” and has taken to calling the entire album the “bongo CD.” The second track is a sweet and really practical song called “Bye Bye Boo Boo” that teaches kids to make a butterfly with their hands and send boo boos flying when they come around. And “Family” (lyrics: “I love my family. I love my fam-i-ly….”) is the Bean’s new anthem. Mama Mac’s songs are active, encourage creative movement and will be a hit for boys and girls alike. Just a neat assortment of tunes from a woman who was a Lilith Fair finalist.
You can buy each of these CDs at the links provided above, but one lucky Babies Gotta Have It reader will win all four! Want to enter? Read on!
To Enter the March Kindie Music Roundup Giveaway
***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did! Maximum of seven entries per person.
Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Tuesday March 16th and ends on Tuesday March 30th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Wednesday April 1st, Random.org will select the winner, and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!
Disclosure: These artists provided me with review copies of their CDs and copies for the giveaway winners. I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.
Update! We have a winner! Random.org says “ 28″. Congratulations Mary Beth I! Thanks so much to everyone who entered!
Looking for a unique baby shower gift? Had it up to here with dime-a-dozen rompers and hooded towels? The 2010 Cool Mom Picks Ultimate Baby Shower Gift Guide is out. And it’s awesome. Not only does their selection feature lots of personalized baby gifts, handmade baby gifts, and green baby gifts…because they’re Cool Mom Picks they’ve got lots of discount codes too!
So swing by Cool Mom Picks and browse their selection of over 100 baby shower gifts to suit every price range. When you’re indulging in those teddy-bear-shaped frosted cookies and guessing how many jelly beans are in the baby bottle, you’ll be so glad you did.
Digital cameras are amazing. Unlimited, instant photos of your little prince or princess. Upload them and in seconds they can be dispersed to grandparents, aunts and uncles, and 600 of your closest friends on Facebook. Easy. Versatile. No more film. But in my case anyway, no more film often means no more prints. I try to edit the photos, cull the best, and upload them to websites for safe keeping and sharing and printing. But more often than not the pictures sit in dated folders on my computer for months.
So what’s a proud Mama to do with all those super cute pics of baby? Check out the new Studio Books from American Greetings PhotoWorks. I recently created one entitled “Little Bean: The Toddler Years.” It arrived today and it’s beautiful. Choose from any of a number of photo book sizes and design templates, upload your photos, choose page layouts and start creating. The program suggests default layouts but you can easily change the number of photos and arrangements on each page. Photo Works estimates that the creation of books will take half an hour to an hour, depending on size and how much you shuffle your photos and try out different looks. Mine took a bit longer, but I’m kinda particular when it comes to my photos, and I really enjoy the arts-and-craftiness of the project. I’ve made photo books before from different sites and this one was comparable. I’m now using a Mac and I found the photos were much easier to upload and format in Safari than Mozilla. But the interface on the web is pretty easy to use and there are lots of attractive design options
The finished product is just gorgeous. Of course, it helps that it features beautiful pictures of the world’s most adorable child. The photos are crisp and clear, the pages are thick and shiny, and the quality of the book itself is very nice. I have made a couple of these books for great-grandparents and grandparents and even for Daddy on Father’s Day last year. Take it from me, the grandparents love ‘em. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are on the horizon. For a surefire hit, consider a Studio Book from PhotoWorks. You’ll be glad you did.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Greetings PhotoWorks and received a free photo book to facilitate my review.
Snakes and Lizards are just the latest. From the beloved giant whale to a conservatory alive with butterflies, come discover the many adventures a city baby can have at the Museum of Natural History in NYC.
The Bean and I got a sneak peek at the Lizards and Snakes: Alive exhibit that opens officially at the museum on Saturday March 6th and runs through September 6th. We hob-nobbed with the gila monster, gawked at the veiled chamelon, and kept a safe distance from the fourteen foot Burmese python that was three times bigger than the Bean. The enthusiastic group of kids from the Goddard Riverside Head Start Program, however, were completely undaunted. They got nose to nose with the big squamates and enjoyed every minute of it. As a side note, I think the Little Bean was genuinely concerned that the gekos who were plastered on the glass at eye level needed to be rescued by the Wonder Pets. But honestly, many of the exhibits, particularly those for the big creatures, are floor to ceiling glass, with the lizards and snakes right there at kid’s-eye level. And as you can see in the photos these lizards are not just lying in a lump on a rock. They are active! Your kids will truly get up close and personal with these amazing critters.
My Little Bean talked about the lizards and snakes and the bugs they eat for the rest of the day. She had a blast. Kids love adventure, and the American Museum of Natural History provides adventure galore for kids young and old. Just check out the awesome assortment of exciting childrens events the Museum has scheduled for March:
A Night at the Museum Sleepovers
Friday, March 26, 5:45 pm – Saturday, March 27, 9 am
$129 per person, $119 members
Ever fantasize about roaming the halls of a museum after dark? Want to see if the dinosaurs really do come to life when the moon is full? Test your valor when journeying through the darkened hallways of the Museum after hours. Meet live animals such as hawks and falcons; participate in arts and crafts projects like origami making; watch an IMAX movie; check out the Butterfly Conservatory; listen to bedtime stories; and explore the Museum with only a flashlight in hand. End the night sleeping under the whale in Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, beneath famous dioramas in the Hall of North American Mammals, or among the geological formations in the Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth.
Global Weekends
From the Motherlands to El Barrio: New York’s Latino Immigrant Experience
Saturday and Sunday, March 20 and 21, 1–5 pm
Free with Museum admission
The story of the ancient Silk Road is, in part, a story of immigration and of the cultural exchange that occurs at the borders of immigrant communities. Through performances, interactive workshops, conversations, and films, this family-friendly event focuses on Latino communities in New York City while drawing parallels between immigrant experiences throughout time. Highlights include performances by the Coatlicue Theater Company, which will weave part of the Mayan creation story with stories of migration; Los Pleneros de la 21, a leader in the resurgence of Puerto Rican traditional music in New York; Samba Nation Productions, will bring rhythms of Brazilian Carnival; and Tahuantinsuyo, a pioneer folk music group from the Andes.
Saturday, March 27, 11am–noon and 1–2pm
$10 adults, $8 children; Members’ tickets are $9 adults, 7$ children
Welcome to the world of the predator! Get an up-close look at a Golden Eagle, python, and bear cub in this special live-animal presentation featuring wildlife expert Andrew Simmons. Wild, Wild World is a children’s program that offers a unique learning experience, bringing live animals to the theater. Past shows have included birds, bats, and wolves.
I love Robeez. I have from the beginning. Since this post is just for fun, I’d like to share a video from the past: almost two years ago here’s what the Little Bean and I first had to say about Robeez.
I’ve always been a fan of Robeez’s Soft Soles collection, and their Mini Shoez line is just as delicious. Mini Shoez look like “real” shoes in an very sweet way and are designed for babies ages 3 to 18 months (sizes US 2 - 5). All Mini Shoez feature soft premium leathers; flexible, cushioned insoles; easy-to put-on design; and non-slip, water-resistant soles. If your baby is crawling, cruising, or just beginning to walk, Robeez Mini Shoez are a great choice for you. And I cannot over-emphasize how important that ease-of-putting-on factor is in a baby shoe. It is an exquisite kind of torture to try to shove a precious chubby little infant foot into a shoe that just doesn’t want to budge. The makers of the Mini Shoez know this, thank goodness.
And did I mention that Robeez has a new Eco Collection made from green products such as organic cotton, recycled rubber, recycled leather (I didn’t even know recycled leather existed!), and water-soluble inks? Yahoo! Robeez of all kinds make wonderful and unique baby gifts. I should know. I got two pairs.
So here’s the real just for fun part. Cuz the folks at Robeez are so darned cool, they sent me a drool-worthy pair of their Flower H&L Boots from the Mini Shoez for girls collection in a size 3 (6 - 9 months) pictured above…and I’m giving them away to you. There is nothing cuter than little boots on babies. Nothing. Want to enter? Read on!
To Enter the Robees Mini Shoez Giveaway
***Want extra chances to win? After you have made your first entry as described above, do anything listed below and leave me additional comments for each one letting me know what you did! Maximum of eight entries per person.
Your email address will remain private and not be shared with anyone. Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses. Must be 18 or older to win. Giveaway begins on Tuesday March 2nd and ends on Tuesday March 16th at 11:59 Eastern Standard Time. On Wednesday March 17th, Random.org will select the winner, and I’ll email you immediately. After my daughter called Larry the Cable guy the last time she did a drawing, we have decided to take a little vacation from her choosing the winner. Random.org is in no way as cute and unpredictable as my daughter, but it is much more efficient and does not use any pieces of paper, even recycled ones. I am sure you will understand. Thanks for entering!
Disclosure: Robeez provided me with this pair of shoes at no cost for me to give away. I was not compensated monetarily, and all views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.
Update! We have a winner! Random.org say “ 15″. Congratulations Jennifer! Thanks to all who entered!
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