MOM CONFESSIONALS

When I first began blogging it was mostly a way for my friends and family to stay up to date on what was going on with my family.  At the start it was all about our road to creating a family.  Little did I know that it would grow into what it is today.  Not only have I found a way to stay connected to my family and friends but I have made so many new ones along the way.  Blogging has created such a wonderful network of support and friends.  I love connecting with mom’s like me(even dads!) — imperfect, always trying to be perfect, wanting nothing but the best for their kids.  There are days the power of mom bloggers amazes me and other days I’m wondering why some people just don’t get it.  At every click there is a new friend waiting.  I hope you’ll join the Ultimate Blog Party and make lifetime connections of your very own!

To tell you a little about myself, I consider myself a mom of three:  Emma (deceased), Ava (almost 3) & Marcus (my little buddah baby).  I define myself not in terms of my career or my status in life, rather my children define me.  If you asked me to tell you about myself in a word, the first thing I’d say is I’m a mother.  By a very very close, almost tied, second – a wife.  I use to be hip, I use to be cool… but these days I could care less about my Jimmy Choo’s and more about the A’s, B’s & C’s in my kid’s lives.  My kids, by far, are way cooler than me.  In the past few months I’ve actually written more about myself than I usually do.  The best of the best posts would be:

http://momconfessionals.com/2010/01/the-first-of-many-confessionals/

http://momconfessionals.com/2010/04/the-value-of-life-part-i/

I would love to hear your comments and connect with you!

Oh and did I mention there are prizes to be won?!  Some of my favorite include:

USC17 – $200 apple gift certificate

US71 – A $50 Bear Bucks Card to Build A Bear Workshop.
Provided by: Liza Schwab

US112 – $50 Amazon Gift card
Provided by: Robyn ~ Our Homeschool Home
Follow here: RobynOHSH or Visit Our Fan Page: Robyn Our Homeschool Home

USC 3 – A $50.00 Target Gift Card.
Provided by: Peggy Gorman
Follow here: velvet1116 or Visit Our Fan Page: Peggy Gorman

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{ disclosure : media invited sponsored event, some samples received }

The Baby Issue hosted by Jayneoni Moore, founder of the Boom Boom Room Gifting Suites for celebrity moms in Hollywood to check out the latest and greatest in gear, debuted in NYC on Thursday.  I was lucky enough to be an invited guest and learn about some of the hottest new products on the market.  Some of the brands represented there included: Plum Organics, Aprica, Steri-Bottle, Zoli Baby, Sarah Chloe, Jack’s Harvest, Skip Hop, Turtle Toppy, Shutterfly, Scholastic, PUJ and SmartMom.

Highlights included checking out Plum Organics new collaboration with Boon, (a take on their innovative squeeze spoon, an attachable, re-usable and portable dispensing spoon that easily attaches to all Plum Baby spouted pouches to make one-handed feeding a snap (available August 1st in a 2 spoon + carry case).

We loved Steri-Bottle, sold in packs of 5 or 1o disposable & recyclable sterile bottles.  I can’t believe it’s been around since 2000 and loved by parents in the UK!  Why did I not know about this?  BPA and phthalate free, these bottles are perfect for traveling, when boiling or microwaving bottles are not an option.  If you’re as neurotic a parent as I and were sterilizing until the baby was off the bottle, this saves a lot of grief on the road enabling those moms would felt chained to their homes more mobility.

We were delighted to spot our favorite SmartMom Teething Bling at the show.  They were wildly popular at GREENBABY-NYC.  Stylish and practical, both my babes love gnawing on it.  We love not only the product but the brand and its company philosophy built on the ROWE – Result Oriented Work Environment method.  Any company that supports a mom’s working life without sacrificing our children’s well being has our support.

The japanophile in me has been dying to check out Aprica’s strollers.  It’s an umbrella stroller for sure, but such a stylish one with japanese known attention to detail written all over it.  I knew it wasn’t new to the US, but it’s absence made it new to me!  I can’t wait to give it a spin hopefully in time for our vacation to South Carolina…

I know Jack’s Harvest is suppose to be for babies, but I could not put down their mango puree.  When the co-founder trying to help, asked me if I wanted throw it out as I juggled arm-fulls of stuff, I frowned.  It was too good.  I’m no super mom who will try to make her own baby food and this was as close to fresh and homemade my babes will get.  I was thrilled to find out they can be purchased on my favorite amazon.com with free shipping!  You can bet M’s first  foods will include Jack’s Harvest – saved to my wishlist.

At a glance I normally would have overlooked Shutterfly… yep, I know all about you… but have you seen WINK?  It reminded me of those photo machines, sticker machines and polaroids.  Lover of all things cute and clever, I wanted to run home and make winks all day long… and I did… can’t wait to get my WINKS!

I wanted to kiss the lady who gave me my Turtle Toppy for my Infant Car Seat.  After I left the event, I was looking at my 3.5 month old son getting sun-ed all over despite all sorts of blanket maneuvering and I remembered that I just received the Turtle Toppy.  I quickly unpacked and installed it.  It completely shielded him from the sun and despite the intense heat outside, the many vents kept him cool.  It was so well thought out with pockets to hold things like diapers, keys, etc., completely reversible and machine washable.  As I walked through the city, and its been a while, but I forgot about all the grit that blows in the wind.  My sandal wearing feet were marked with dirt but the babe remained clean…  a toss in the wash and the grit will be gone from the Turtle Toppy too.

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{ disclosure : invited guest at event }

On Saturday, March 2oth, as part of Citibank’s “Our Promise to New York” events, they hosted a Kids Day at Citi Field.  My family and I were guests along with three hundred children from the Boys and Girls Club of America and local YMCA’s from all five-boroughs at this private once-in-a-lifetime event.  The kids were treated to a fun-filled day with games, arts & crafts, music with the Radio Disney team, meet and greet with Mr. Met himself as well as an exclusive private tour of the stadium.  They went all out with a full buffet of game day food such as Nathan’s Hot Dogs, Cracker Jacks, Salted Pretzels, Shake Shack Burgers and Fries,  and Ice Cream which kept the kids fueled for all the excitement.

I can’t speak for the kids but I was in awe of the whole event.  My favorite part was the private tour where we got to step onto the field, sit in the dugout, check out the private batting cages and even check out the player’s locker rooms with their designer urinals.

All in all it was an amazing day that my family and I won’t ever forget.  Even better, I know those 300 kids won’t forget either.  Seeing a large corporation take an invested interested in the children of New York personally touched my heart.  Years ago, my own father was a member of the Boys and Girls Club.  I’d like to think that being part of such a wonderful organization that helps to bring up the self esteem of underprivileged children like my father once was, helped pave the wave so that I wasn’t a child in need growing up.  It was such a delight watching all the kids running from activity to activity and dancing with the Radio Disney team.  It was hard even getting my own little ones to leave.  Kudos to Citibank for showing these kids truly a Field of Dreams…

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{ disclosure : invited to private blogger reception }

From Left to Right, Top to Bottom: LG Front Loader in new color – Chardonnay, LG LuV200 Close-Up, LG LuV200, LG Luv300 Close-Up, LG LuV300, LG Top Loader in Graphite

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to check out the new line of LG Home Appliances at the LG Clean House, an impressive display of all things LG including the staging items like their TV’s and Home Theater systems — I totally was eyeing their iPod compatible LG Network Blu-Ray Home Theater System.  Already an owner of their older LG Washer/Dryer Tromm line, what was then the latest and greatest in that realm, I was excited to see what new developments had come out of their R&D labs.  I had been sold on the economy of having a front loading washing machine, but over time I began to realize the advantages that I once took for granted when I previously owned a top loader.  Gone were the days that I could simply let a wash soak over night for extra deep cleaning.  Calculating the cost differentials, I guessed I could live without the over night soaking feature but the all new LG Wave™ Series has now made that cost differential inconsequential with thier state of the art Top Loader that boasts both high-efficiency and energy-efficiency at its best.  It uses 40% less water than traditional top loaders and saves over 51% of energy usage in the ColdWash™ option.  They really have thought of everything down to the LG Wash/Rinse Optimizer™ which automatically senses water hardness and detergent level and then adjusts the cycle length to maximize performance.  Traditional agitators in top-load washers are known for being rough on clothing but LG’s innovative WaveForce™ technology eliminates the agitator and moves the water in the tub so that it continuously penetrates fabrics with high-speed spinning for a thorough and gentle clean.

Appealing to the techy side of me, the same goes with their sleek looking line of new Vacuum cleaners for the US market.  Coming in two models, LuV200 and LuV300, it utilizes a dualforce suction that gives a wider cleaning range, not just centered like other traditional vacuum cleaners.  This state of the art vacuum cleaner utilizes a Dyson similar cyclonic action but with the added intuitive Kompressor technology combined with a  larger bin.  It compresses the dust intake to hold three times more household dust than non-compressor models and eliminates the mess sometimes associated with emptying the bin.

With LG’s Click ‘N Go™ wand (available on the LuV300 only), the vacuum’s radio-frequency wand allows consumers to control the unit remotely from the wand when it is detached from the base, making it easy to clean stairs, upholstery, and other hard-to-reach areas. Also included is a pet hair tool with an air-turbine powered horsehair dusting brush which is great for stairs and interiors, as well as removing pet hair from fabrics and carpets.

Both vacuum’s powerful engines provides superior suction power, picking up 99 percent of dust on hard floor surfaces and 70 percent of dust on the carpet, while the HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of allergens such as dust mites and animal dander.  The LuV300 is certified asthma & allergy friendly™ by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the oldest and largest independent non-profit organization dedicated to helping consumers and patients with asthma and allergic diseases.

Both the Washer/Dryers and Vacuums are available in Late Spring.  The LuV200 ($299 MSRP) incorporates all the same core functionalities of the LuV300 ($399 MSRP), aside from the Click ‘N Go feature, and includes a 30-foot auto-rewind cord, the industry’s longest auto-rewind cord length.  The LuV300 features the industry’s longest cleaning reach, with an extra-long 40-foot cord and 15-foot hose.

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{ disclosure : self paid ticketed event, no discount or incentives received }

Yes despite an aggravated pubic bone, nothing was stopping me from attending the BCM Biggest Baby Shower Ever ~ I now had a legitimate reason to attend!  Later I learned you didn’t even need to have one from the bevy of my blogger mommy friends who were in attendance.  Well I attended as a guest with my due date partner in crime and we had an amazing time!  This event was so so much fun and so well put together.  From the moment we walked in through the American Girl doors, we were competing in a game of BCM Bingo. Visit as many vendors you could and get a prize at the end if you do.    There was many to see, but a definite few that stood out to me. 

Right away I was thrilled to see the Bambino Mio Nappy set up close and personal.  Since I’ve been considering cloth diapering with the little one on the way, exploring every option was important to me.  I had, long ago, mentioned their revolutionary biodegradable liner which makes clearing poop on cloth diapers easier and less icky than many moms and dads can swallow…ahem, like me and my DH…I’d say a perfect balance for the metro parent who wants to be greener.  Since I’m such a sucker for european design, I adored the clean look and beautifully detailed covers.  I still have to try them to see if they pass the baby test, but so far they make the list for trial.  I also loved the nappy bucket which holds all those stinky diapers nicely until you’re ready to clean.  Nothing like pretty packaging aka design to lure me in.  

I had worked with the (RED) campaign in my previous profession and seeing anything (RED) makes me smile.  Not only is the color symbolic for luck in chinese, the project I worked on won many awards, but the concept driving the campaign made me a loyal follower.  The basic premises of (RED) is empowering the consumer to make a difference through their ordinary purchases.  If you were buying a shirt anyway, would you buy a shirt that helped to save a life, or just buy a shirt.  If (RED) is an option, I tend to make it my only option.  To my great surprise, Bugaboo has joined the (RED) campaign with their entire line now available in limited edition (RED) designs.

Oh the bevy of BPA-free bottles on the market!  I have so many to choose from now which is a refreshing change from the early days with Ava.  I happy to say even if my son turns out to be as picky as his older sister, he now has safer choices than she had.  While I’ve been leaning towards glass to be the safest possible.  I learned at the Born-free counter from their representative that he’d prefer plastic.  Not just for the weight but its safe, convenient and doesn’t break.  He’s tested this theory.  With an open mind… again… My eyes popped when I passed the MAM booth.  Yes more of that beautiful european design that caught my eye.  Upon further examination I was left thinking… my goodness my former nanny would have loved these bottles and I think they might have even passed the Ava pickiness test.  The bottle, cute as can be, also completely came apart in easy to wash pieces.  No need for special bottle brushes, even the bottom came off.  For even the nimblest of hands, like those of my elder nanny, she could wash them with ease with a regular sponge or even place gently in the top rack of my dishwasher which sanitizes quite nicely.  The nipple also aptly named “silk” like… felt very “silk” like and soft.

I definitely enjoyed seeing all the new products and updates to some classics like the UppaBaby system which informed me they have gone greener.  Starting with the organic bassinet which is lined with organic cotton and silky soft soy.  Many of their social efforts also made me smile, starting with donating functional but not A-grade strollers to charity, as well as allowing work-a-home opportunities for moms and heavy commuters. 

All in all a fabulous and fun event.  While we didn’t score big ticket items like strollers and stuff, both my girlfriend and I walked out with bags of swag.  I even scored a $250 Rosie Pope Leather Hobo Maternity Diaper bag for signing up for a Big City Mom’s Pass as I’ll certainly be attending more of these events in the future.   Later on I learned that I had come quite close to guessing the amount of diaper pins in a contest held by momslikeme.com – let’s see what the second prize entails!  Thanks for a great night BCM!

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{ disclosure : samples received and coupons for free products were given to guests }

This past weekend I hosted a Dr. Andrew Weil Baby House Party with some of my pregger and mommy friends.  With all the hype over the BPA controversy — which I hope isn’t a controversy anymore — I was shocked to find out that many new, first time moms and mommies-to-be had no idea about the dangers of BPA!  Yes, I was even disappointed in myself, being their friend, not bringing it up sooner amongst all our talks about breastfeeding and getting ready for baby… how did the topic of BPA slip us?

I then slyly asked, so why did you want to come to my party if not to learn about the BPA-Free line of products… they answered… you throw awesome parties…  you always giveaway free stuff… who doesn’t love free stuff?!  I have to love the honesty of my friends.  They did also say that it looked like they were going to get some really cool looking bottles to try.  They were not disappointed.

I was definitely intrigued for my own knowledge to know what set this line apart for the bevy of baby bottles available out there.  With the name Dr. Andrew Weil attached to it nonetheless.  This man proved to be my lifesaver during this pregnancy when I was diagnosed with a severe case of pregnancy eczema.  I wanted to tear the skin off my entire body, but mostly I was concerned with my face.  In a desperate attempt to stop scratching I indulged in a FREE Origins Facial and Dr. Andrew Weil’s Plantidote line gave me some much needed relief — I was hooked!  So I asked Dr. Weil, what is this you’re doing for my unborn son?!  Forgetting about the snazzy modern design, it’s a new line of BPA Free Feeding Tools in both Tritan and Glass!  Also noted was that all parts are engineered, tested and manufactured in the USA to ensure they meet the strictest quality control standards.

Since breastfeeding has been a major topic, they were all happy to see that this system strongly supports breastfeeding first, and the line as a support.  The AirWave vent system effectively works to reduce colic, for some of us repeat moms, that was a concern.

One mom commented on the soft nipple, her having a newborn that was so incredibly picky with nipples, she felt it would pass the test.  Another mom raved about the wide neck which allowed for easy cleaning.  A couple of times it was said how very NY or Metro the design was.  We could see the Bugaboo mom’s toting these bottles around the city.

I was more partial to the glass bottle since I’m leaning towards using glass, but the Tritan bottles were beautiful and many noted not the fuzzy unclear BPA-free bottles too.  What is Tritan you ask?  It is a plastic made from copolyester.  It is BPA-free, Recycle Resin #7, impact and shatter resistant, dishwasher safe and able to be sterilized.  Some plastics with a No. 7 code are polycarbonates, which do contain BPA, yet there are many plastics in the category that do not contain BPA, including Eastman Tritan™ copolyester.  It claims not to retain flavors from previous containments ensuring a fresh expected taste experience.

Another warm-fuzzy feeling thing about Dr. Weil Baby is that all of the products and packaging are recyclable to reduce the carbon footprint.  We’re particularly digging the biodegradable Biomax insert that breaks down in water!

As some mom’s couldn’t make the party, that means a coup for you guys!  I’m giving away 3 coupons for a FREE Dr. Andrew Weil Baby Bottle (5oz or 9oz Tritan Tritan- your choice up to $8.99 value) to (1)  lucky winner.  To ENTER, from now until October 12th, leave a comment with your SAGE advice for a new mom and you’ll have a chance to win the Weil Baby Prize Pack. Get up to (two) bonus entry if you follow me on twitter @greenbaby_nyc and re-tweet this giveaway as well as becoming a fan on Facebook.  Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses. Giveaway ends on October 12th, 2009 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.

For my TWITTER friends, a bonus contest for the 15th Tweet of this contest, you’ll win (1) coupon for a FREE Dr. Andrew Weil Baby Bottle (5oz or 90z Tritan – your choice, up to $8.99 value). (One) entry per twitter account, per day.  Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses.

If you can’t wait to see if you’re a winner, you can download a generous $5 coupon off a $15 Weil Baby purchase at Babies R Us.

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I had the wonderful opportunity to attend Jillian Michaels’ exclusive preview of her new Fitness Ultimatum 2010 for Nintendo Wii and DS last week.

Best known as the strength trainer and life coach on NBC’s hit series “The Biggest Loser.”  I admit I’ve never actually watched the show, instead I am more familiar with her workout DVD’s, one of which I used to get my butt back in shape after being on bed rest for 7 months and delivering via c-section two years ago – Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred.  While it was easy to lose the weight while breastfeeding, I wanted the tone that Jillian showed on the cover of her DVDs.  Let me tell you, her body was even more impressive face to face.  Drool worthy biceps!

The event was held at the Chelsea Piers Sports Center where she debuted her 2nd and much anticipated “Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010″.  Her first video game, “Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009” had sold over 600,000 units.  During the event she took us through

many of the new features and discussed the entire process, personal philosophy and approach

to creating the game.  She spent countless hours in a motion capture suit to ensure the exercises were accurately portraying her movements.  This updated game, utilizing the Wii Balance Board accessory, was designed personally by Jillian herself and includes many new features such as my favorite,  the “Resolutions” mode which features customizable “realistic” training calendar, planning routines for up to 6 months in advance, tracking your progress!  Set on a rugged Pacific jungle island, you train One-on-One with Jillian(‘s avatar) while she motivates and kicks your butt with the wit and personality you see on “The Biggest Loser”.  I was incredibly impressed by the entire format.  I am a former gym rat turned workout DVD user.  The feedback and responsiveness of the game is something you simply cannot achieve with a DVD workout.  DVD’s don’t account for the inaccuracy of your form or motivate you when you’re slowing down.  This game through its constant feedback from the motion detection in the balance board and joystick does just that.  I appreciate the ability to skip exercises that you might not be too comfortable with, although, mark my word, the game compensates with other exercises that will help you reach your end goal.   This is a serious workout tool, but if looking at it as a game is what gets you moving, by all means, it’s a GAME!

Meeting Jillian was an incredible experience.  She isn’t your typical celebrity.  So incredibly accessible to her fans, she was eagerly engaging us and talking to us.  Amidst picture-taking and autographing books, she answered as many questions as she could about motivating ourselves,  simple steps to creating a healthier life… very relatable and honest.   Some things that really resonated with me was finding your own “mantra” or motivation.  No one can motivate you  but yourself.  You have to want it badly enough.  Also being healthier is as simple as eating right (organic), getting enough sleep (duh!) and exercising.  Just incorporating those 3 little things and you will have significantly improved your quality of life.  I, sadly, still do not have a Wii, despite wanting one FOREVER!  But perhaps my DH will want (hint, hint!) to get me one as my push present.  Seeing this  video game makes me want one even more.  In the meantime, I’ll have to run next door and sneak in a game or two at my nephew’s.  I hear getting your body back after

subsequent pregnancies gets harder and harder – argh!  I’m going to need Jillian to kick my butt again!

Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 for Nintendo Wii releases October 6th and the DS version releases October 2oth.  For more  information please visit www.jillianmichaels.com.

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This weekend I hosted a SOYJOY House Party.  We had everyone from Daddies, Mommies and babies stretching Yoga and enjoying our SPA-BQ… Yes you read right… SPA -B – Q. We made this a party for everyone!  In actuality, I used the BBQ part to lure the men in because health education is for EVERYONE!  We munched on everything from edamame to guacamole, roasted corn on the cob and drank everything from soy milk (the Chinese supermarket kind) to organic juices from my own pantry.  We played games with prizes such as a Yoga Mat w/carrier, SELF Magazine’s Ultimate De-Stress Yoga DVD, Real Simple Water Bottle (Jug if anyone asks me) and a SOYJOY Apron.  I didn’t hear any complaints afterwards – to good food and good health!

selection of our SPA-B-Q Menu

Being Chinese, SOY is practically a staple in our diet.  But in the form we eat it, I’m not sure its always so healthy (soy sauce, fermented soy pasted – definitely not made from whole soy)… but some things like tofu, edamame and soy drinks are.  Being a vegetable I just assumed it was healthy but because it’s such a pale green, I usually dismissed its hidden health benefits.  Did you know Soy is good for the HEART?!  It contains soy protein, heart healthy fats including omega-3 fatty acids and other vitamins and minerals including folate, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and calcium.  They are cholesterol free, low in saturated fat, and a good source of fiber.  Soy is also rich in isoflavones – plant-based compounds with antioxidant properties that may help support bone health.  Being pregnant I know all of that is good for me!  SoyJoy bars are the perfect nutritious on the go snack.  I have to say with everyone sampling all the delicious SoyJoy bars, my own little Ava didn’t want to be left out.  Since it wasn’t super sweet like some of her other snack bars I was surprised how much she like them – her favorite being berry.  The most exotic of the  flavors was the Mango Coconut which I found funny that only the women were willing to try it.

I’m sharing the love and you have a chance to win your very own SOYJOY Prize Pack which includes the following:

- Assortment of SOYJOY bars:

• Berry
• Strawberry
• Mango Coconut
• Peanut Chocolate Chip
• Apple Walnut
• Raisin Almond

- SOYJOY Measuring Spoon

- SOYJOY / RedBook Headband

- Kate Geagan’s Go Green Get Lean Book – awesome book!

- Yoga Morn-Nite DVD Journal

To ENTER, from now until September 4th, leave a comment describing what puts you in your ZEN moment and you’ll have a chance to win the SOYJOY Prize Pack. Get up to (two) bonus entry if you follow me on twitter @greenbaby_nyc and retweet this giveaway as well as becoming a fan on Facebook.  Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses. Giveaway ends on September 4, 2009 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.

UPDATE: Lucky #11, you are the winner! Please check your email and reply with your address. Congratulations and thanks to all who entered!

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Last week we had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Role Mommy hosted “Play Day along with Kool-Aid and KaBOOM!” to help promote a nationwide initiative to encourage individuals to host community play days in their hometowns from September 19-September 27.

KaBOOM! Play Days are free, fun-for-the-whole-family outdoor events that celebrate play! They believe all kid’s should have a chance to play. They believe through the KaBOOM!erang Principle, their law of incredible returns – What you do today can mean changed lives, stronger communities and brighter futures tomorrow. You can plan and host one in your community with the help of their handy Play Day Planner. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get a FREE Play Day Kit filled with fun activities too!

The NYC Play Day kick off event was held at the swanky Studio 450. My family and some of the other parenting bloggers were on hand along with their kids for an afternoon of games, arts & crafts (glitter glue anyone?!), cheeseburger sliders, mini ice cream cones (with crunch topping!), mac and cheese (scrumptious!), chicken fingers and of course…Kool-Aid! My little Ava had such a blast! She parked herself, not once, but twice at the Cupcake station – can you tell she loved loved loved being there?! Check out some more of the pics from the playdate here. If that wasn’t enough, every family got their portraits taken by celebrity children’s photographer Jade Albert. Mine was fabulous, but of course you’ll have to wait and see it at holiday time.

Amidst all the fun, I got pulled into an impromptu interview with Role Mommy on Blog Talk Radio. You can hear my nervous giggling at 36:00 – 44:00 as I talked about playing with a Toddler and how I became GREENBABY!

On an ECO|NOTE, I was thrilled to see our gift bags were none other than these adorable Tote bags made from recycled Kool-Aid pouches by Terracycle. Because I love to share…from now until August 24th, leave a comment with your creative fun playdate idea and you’ll have a chance to win your very own Kool-Aid Terracycle Tote (shown) and Pencil Case. Get up to (two) bonus entry if you follow me on twitter @greenbaby_nyc and become a fan on Facebook.  Giveaway only open to those with U.S. addresses. Giveaway ends on August 24, 2009 at 11:59 EST. A winner will be selected randomly by Random.org and notified by e-mail.

UPDATE: Lucky #10, you are the winner! Please check your email and reply with your address. Congratulations and thanks to all who entered!

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The other day my family and I had the wonderful opportunity (again!) to meet more blogger mommies and their families at the Kleenex Battle the Bug event at the Bronx Zoo. It was the last stop of their nationwide tour to launch their new Anti-Viral tissue with educational games and displays for the kids. My daughter and others got to “Whack A Bug”, play an interactive game, catching bugs and learning interesting things like, a single uncovered sneeze releases over 100,000 germy droplets traveling at over 200 miles per hour covering at least 3 feet — eww! They also got to meet Ahhh-Choo, Kleenex’s “Germ” Bug.

The adults had an opportunity to speak with Jean Grabeel, Executive Director of the National Association of School Nurses, (and mom to one of High School Musical’s actors) as she gave us tips on keeping our kids healthy and safe during flu season. Some of the important points I definitely will be keeping in mind are:

Teaching your kids the importance of thoroughly washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap. My GREEN suggestion is something all-natural like my go-to CleanWell Hand Soaps.

Making a fun game out getting your kids to remember to cover their mouths and noses when they sneeze… How you ask? Let them practice sneezing as loud as they can into a Kleenex Anti-Viral tissue and reward them with stickers when they do!

1. A point I wish all parents would remember, if your child shows symptoms of being sick, KEEP them at home. I know its hard in this society with two working parents but you’re not preventing the inevitable and you’re only helping to spread the illness and making it difficult for other working parents who will also eventually have to take time off to care for an ill child.
3. One of the key things I think many parents side bar when thinking of preventing flu is something as simple as having good a good nutritional diet. I appreciated Nurse Jean pointing out that we live in a fast-paced, ready-prepared society and often our kids aren’t getting their RDA of vitamins, fruits and vegetables. Taking a good multivitamin such as my favorite ShakleeBaby MultiMineral and MultiVitamin formula goes a long way in building a child’s immunity.

Another point learned, albeit a minor one that has often crossed my mind with a sports playing fanatic husband in the house, Gatorade and other sports drinks, is not for regular consumption! It contains an enormous amount of sugar and electrolytes whose purpose is for refueling, not for normal thirst quenching.

Throughout this event they were of course touting their Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues which guarantees to kill 99.9% of germs within 15 minutes thanks to a moisture-active layer. You can bet I will be looking into what exactly in that layer but the concept sounds good to me so far. I definitely know in my household, people sneeze and leave their tissues lying around. When my daughter is feeling her helper mood, I can see her running around grabbing all those germ-laced tissues for disposal – CRINGE!

Thank you to Kleenex Anti-Viral, Nurse Grabeel and The Motherhood for hosting such a fun and informative event!

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