Archive | August, 2012

Ride In Style: Quinny Maxi-Cosi Collection by Britto

31 Aug

Searching for the perfect stroller is a never-ending battle, especially when you live in a city where your stroller is your car.  Four years ago I began my stroller search.  I have gone through four brands  from a single, to a double, to an umbrella, and then finally back to a single with the best wheel board but none have looked as beautiful and stylish as the new Quinny moodd by Britto.  (more below image)

Quinny and Maxi-Cosi, Europe’s premier juvenile product brands, unveil a first-of-its-kind collection celebrating art and fashion in collaboration with internationally renowned artist Romero Britto on Thursday, August 23, 2012 in Miami, Florida. (Marc Serota/AP Images for Quinny and Maxi-Cosi by Britto)

On August 23, Quinny and Maxi-Cosi launched their new collection with Romero Britto at his gallery in Miami.  If you don’t recognize his name, you will surely recognize his art work as it has been exhibited in galleries and museums in over 100 countries, including the Salon Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition at the Carrousel du Louvre in 2008 and 2010. In a press release about the new line Romero said “Through my art I hope to inspire warmth, creativity and happiness. The Quinny and Maxi-Cosi brands are a perfect marriage to further spread optimism and happiness reaching even the youngest children.” When I asked my four-year-old daughter what she liked about the stroller she said she “loved the rainbow stroller because it has lots of colors”.  What’s not to love about the aesthetically pleasing colors and the adorable heart on the sunshade. (more below images)

Internationally renowned artist, Romero Britto, celebrates art, fashion and parenting at the unveiling of the new Quinny and Maxi-Cosi Collection by Britto Collection during a special event at Britto Central in South Beach on Thursday, August 23, 2012 in Miami, Florida. (Marc Serota/AP Images for Quinny and Maxi-Cosi by Britto)

Celebrity stylist Pilar Steinborntalks to moms about staying fashionable throughout parenthood at the Quinny and Maxi-Cosi Collection by Britto launch event on Thursday, August 23, 2012 in Miami, Florida. (Marc Serota/AP Images for Quinny and Maxi-Cosi by Britto)

To ride (or push) in style, the Britto Collection will be sold at Ideal Baby first from September- October and then at other Specialty Baby Retailers nationwide.  The Quinny moodd by Britto retails for $799.99 and is available in red, blue and black. The Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Seat by Britto retails for $249.99 and is available in red.  The Britto Collection also includes accessories: a parasol ($49.99) and sunshade ($29.99).

Sunshades! ADORABLE! image from Maxi-Cosi

Discloser:  I did not receive compensation for this post, nor did I see this stroller in person.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I have never used a Quinny stroller so do not know how it pushes.

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Animal and Monster Hands On The Loose

29 Aug

Every night we lay in bed making shadow puppets on the ceilings.  Some nights we make butterflies and other nights alligators.  The girls love them and sometimes we make a story with our shadows.  I was looking for birthday presents for my daughters friend when I came across Animal and Monster Temporary Hand Tatoos at Uncommon Goods.  Such a cute idea, now our hands can have animal faces for our bed time routine.  Not only would it be great for bed time stories but we can come up with puppet shows to keep entertained at restaurants, car rides, train-rides, where ever.  I will definitely be ordering these soon for my girls and to put in birthday cards for their friends.  So cute!

Image from Uncommon Goods

Image from Uncommon Goods

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Bug Off

21 Aug

With the summer ending, I plan on spending as much time outside as I can.  Last weekend we were at a friend’s house BBQing and  my youngest got eaten alive by mosquitos. When she gets bites they swell and she is constantly itching. She has scars from the bites she got earlier in the summer. She dislikes getting sprayed so getting repellent on her is difficult. I was at Buy Buy Baby last night and came across Bugables ® Mosquito Repellent Stickers (click on link to purchase).   Bugables ® repellent is formulated with 100% natural oils (Lemongrass, Geraniol, and Citronella) .  Each package comes with five stickers which last for up to two hundred hours and cover four to six feet of area per sticker (LivingPestFree).  Both of my girls love stickers and will have to try them the next time we spend the day outside.

Disclaimer:  I have not tried this product so am not sure how effective it is.  It is a great idea to keep repellent on the girls and am going to trying it next time we are outside.  All information in italics came from livingpestfree.com.

Back To School With Lands’ End and Momtrends

18 Aug

The start of school is just around the corner which means it’s time to shop for new backpacks, lunch boxes, and most importantly an outfit for the first day back.  To kick off the start of the upcoming school year and end BlogHer ’12, Momtrends and Lands’ End teamed up to create “Lands’ End University” offering “courses” featuring the latest gear, fashion, and food for the upcoming school year. Courses included:

  • Pants 101- All about the “iron knee” pant, made with a patch in the knee to make pants last longer.
  • Design a First Day of School Outfit with the latest fall fashion for kids. Check out photos of the outfits designed on the Lands’ End Facebook page.
  • Backpack Philosophy- All you need to know about backpacks and how much your child should put in them.  Loved the First
  • Hair and Make- Up School with Warren Tricomi and Revlon for a class(y) photo.
  • Fashion for Women- Plus- size fashion with Brittany Gibbons and the latest in women’s dresses from Lands’ End.  Attendees were able to try on two styles for sizing and will be receiving their choice for attending the event.

And lastly my favorite course, “Lunchtime”– If you have yet to buy a lunchbox for your child, check out Lands’ Ends Madbox (Designed by kids for kids! Fully insulated, Madbox lunch box comes with a rip-grip adjustable ice pack that focuses cold to the food that needs it (like yogurt) and leaves room-temp food (like crackers) alone- Lands’ End.com ).  For back to school lunch ideas, Chef Sam Talbot shared several recipes including an Almond Butter and Blueberry Sandwich (I will use Sunbutter for my daughter with Nut Allergies), a Turkey and Apricot Wrap, a fruit salad, and guacamole. All his recipes were healthy and could fill the cold side of the Madbox.  Happy Family was also there with their line of products which would go great in your child’s lunchbox or on the warm side of the Madbox.  They have a Kale, Apple, Mango pouch that my youngest devoured within minutes of my arrival home.  My older daughter LOVED the Sunny Buddies, sunflower butter and jam bites, which taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but are NUT FREE!  I am looking forward to filling their lunches with some of these great recipes and snacks.

For more about the event see the Momtrends Post.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.  I received a gift bag with products for completing all the courses.  This did not alter my opinions.  All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you to everyone who made the event possible.  It was a wonderful evening and a great opportunity to learn more about a brand I love!

The Day I Discovered My 2 Year Old LOVES Salad

8 Aug

I usually don’t eat at the same time as my girls because I am helping them eat, getting the bath ready, or cleaning up from cooking.  I also LOVE having my time to eat while the girls have a little TV time before bed.  Last week, I had made a taco salad with a homemade avocado dressing I made in my Beaba.  I finally sat down to eat when I saw my younger daughter climb off the couch and walk towards me saying “salad…I want salad mommy”.  She ended up eating half the salad.  I usually struggle finding a vegetable to go with meals but when I discovered she liked salad, I now put a side salad together for lunch and dinner.  Last night she only wanted salad for dinner.  Now I just have to work on my 4-year-old. 🙂

Avocado Salad Dressing:

1/4 cup low-fat sour cream

3/4 of avocado

1 lime, juiced

Cilantro, I didn’t measure, just kept adding as I tasted the dressing

1/4- 1/2 cup water, you can add more depending on what consistency you like

Salt,Pepper, & garlic powder to taste

Put all the ingredients in the Beaba and blend, adding more water and seasoning as needed.

 

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Girls, Get Ready to Sparkle With The Children’s Place Holiday 2012 Collection

7 Aug

Last week I attended the Momtrends preview of The Children’s Place 2012 Holiday Collection, expected to hit stores in September.  Attendees ate hors d’oeuvres, sipped on champagne, wine, or sparkling water while mingling with fellow bloggers. and learning about the fashion trends for the 2012 Holiday season.  The event got me very excited for the Holidays, even though it is August, it got me thinking about everything I love about the holidays: friends, family, parties, food, drinks and decorating cookies with the girls( I received beautifully decorated snow flake cookies for attending).

As I was putting my pictures together for this post, I realized I only took pictures of the girls collection which is full of sparkles and sequins.  My girls love to pick out their own outfits and when we shop the highlight is trying on clothes in the dressing room while putting together outfits in their very own “fashion show”.  I already know they are going to LOVE this collection and I found a few pieces I want to add to their closet. My youngest likes to look at pictures on my phone and she came across the pictures of the hats and boots and told me she wanted the pink as well as the purse, bracelets, and necklaces.

Every year I wait to the last minute for the girls Holidays.  Thank you Momtrends and The Children’s Place for giving me a head start in picking out their Holiday outfit.  Can’t wait for the collection to hit stores so I can start shopping!

Disclaimer:  I received a bag for attending the event.  This did not impact my opinions. All opinions expressed are my own.

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A Day Away at Atlantic Farms

2 Aug

After being cooped up in the apartment on a rainy day like yesterday, I am ready for an adventure out of the city.  A few weeks ago I was at the beach with the girls and on an overcast morning we took a ride to Atlantic Farms in Manasquan, New Jersey.  There is a little store with fresh produce and farm themed toys.  The store also offers bags of food for $3 for kids to feed the sheep and goats.  The farm is just the right size that the girls were able to walk all of it with their bag of food, feeding the animals along the way ( a few animals are off-limits for hand feeding).  After checking out the farm, go next door to Hinck Turkey Farm for a delicious Turkey Sandwich or Turkey Platter.  Atlantic Farms is about an hour and twenty minutes from the city and would make a great day trip on a weekday (heavy beach traffic on the weekends) if you are up for an adventure.  Check out some of our photos from our trip there. We can’t wait to go back!

Atlantic Farms
1506 Atlantic Ave., Manasquan, New Jersey 08736-1180, Monmouth Count

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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