What’s your Spring Work-out Plan? Give Figure 4 a try!

After our CPR Training taught by none another then Lieutenant Betty from FDNY, we love her spunk, LLD enjoyed a new kind of work out hosted by Pure Yoga West. Pure Yoga, which Access Hollywood calls the place where you can “be fit like Jennifer Aniston”, hosted LLD for our first Figure 4 experience!

Created by professional ballet dancer Kate Albarelli, Figure 4 combines elements of classic dance training, Pilates, yoga, and free weights. This combination is part of a high energy class that works the heart and the limbs in tandem for faster, more effective results, helping to create a long, toned and flexible body.

Our instructor Kerry rocked. The full-time publishing executive, dancer for more than 20 years and performing arts scholar at The George Washington University also happens to be four months pregnant so she showed us how the movements can easily be done for expecting mothers as well as for non-expecting beginners aka all of us!

The class was NOT easy!  We moved muscles we didn’t know we had. Kerry’s motivation, call-outs by name (which I personally love) and high-powered energy made the class both informational, enjoyable and an awesome new work-out.

And you MUST check out Pure Yoga West’s digs. The place is paradise.  Quietly placed on 77^th Street and Amsterdam conveniently next door to Equinox & Soul Cycle it’s a fitness guru’s dream.  Pure Yoga presents a home and a playground for the modern yogi, and a source of inspiration for the spirit, the soul, and the body.

Kerry

 "Figure 4 is perfect for mothers.  As I'm about to find out first-hand, moms don't necessarily have a ton of free time.  In just one hour, Figure 4 tones and strengthens the entire body without a second to waste, so you're using the time you do have SMARTLY!  We work the thighs, arms, abs and glutes using aspects of ballet training, yoga, pilates and strength conditioning.  It targets both the superficial and the smaller interior muscles, leaving you with a longer, leaner physique,” said Kerry.

To give Figure 4 a try click here

-LB

Recycle Your Kid’s Clothes without Leaving Your House + Get Cash Back

What’s on your spring cleaning agenda? 

Like most moms, we are sure you want to organize the kid’s closets. Whether you take on the duty solo or call someone like our friends at Cut the Clutter, be sure to have an organization plan.  One step of that plan is where to toss out your unwanted clothes.

Check out this article on Babble’s Family Style Blog they talk about threadUP’s Concierge Service where it allows you to recycle your kid’s clothes without even leaving your house AND you get cash back!

It is easy to sign up, then request a bag and start cleaning!

threadUP does have a few rules, so be sure to read them before you start cleaning. See below!

Clothing must be:

• In gently used to new condition
• Clean and freshly laundered
• Originally purchased within the last 2 years

They don't accept:

• Infant clothing size 12 months and under
• Clothing from brands: Faded Glory, Garanimals, Baby George, Sonoma, Circo, or Cherokee (it’s hard to resell)
• Sleepwear, sock, and undergarments
• Homemade items or clothing that supports a local team
• Non-clothing items

Earn more money with:

• Name brand clothing, including: Oilily, Mini Boden, Tea Collection, Guess, Gap, Gymboree, Baby Lulu, and more!
• In-demand clothing sizes, including: 18 months, 2T, 3T, 4T, and 7
• In-season clothing, i.e. warm clothing in the winter months and lighter weight items in the summer months

Today's Kind of Babysitter

Lana Del Rey still babysits.

She may be an up and coming music star according to The Huffington Post, but the buzzed about singer’s other job when she’s at home is none other than babysitting! 

Lana Del Rey

She’s not the only one. LLD’s troupe of over 100 professional sitters include medical students from Johns Hopkins, advertising & fashion executives from Conde Nast, attorneys from top law firms, CEO’s, Broadway & TV actors/actresses, agents, yoga instructors, health coaches, personal chefs to the stars, entrepreneurs, college basket ball stars, Radio City Rockettes and more!

What a better role model then some of these sitters?

Especially if your child excels or shows interest in one of these areas, request a sitter that specializes in his or her interest! And these women love to teach and be around children. Its a perfect combo.

Like all of our sitters, Lana has a busy schedule but still makes babysitting a priority.   She continues to babysit because that’s what she has done for a long time. So why stop doing something you love?

LLD is now open in eight states across the US; NY, NJ, CT, PA, IL, GA, TX and CA. If you are interested in joining our troupe email us today info@luckylildarlings.com

-LB 

Weddings This Spring with Lydia Ross

LLD knows we're all hoping for spring to... well "SPRING" into action. February is over and it's almost time for spring break. What's on the calendar for spring you ask?? Well we heard weddings weddings and more weddings! For the inside scoop on what to expect this spring,  expert Lydia Ross spoke with us about trends in wedding fashion and decor this spring as well as why she felt so inspired to become involved in event planning. For moms who have older kids, and sitters that want to tie the not, keep tuned!

Tell us what is in for this seasons spring wedding?

Brides are still taking cues from last year’s Royal Wedding and recent fashion trends and include covering up more with long sleeves, cap sleeves, straps, etc. More and more brides are deciding to take a break from the ubiquitous strapless dress.  We’ll likely see brides incorporating color or patterns in their attire.  For décor, I think we’ll see movement in two different directions. Recently the rustic wedding has been popular, but I think we’ll start to see a lot more modern, stream-lined décor or weddings inspired by The Artist and the upcoming The Great Gatsby, with retro or garden-party inspired looks!

What has been your favorite wedding memory so far?

One of my favorite wedding memories is from an Indian-Western wedding I did a few years ago.  The groom’s father had lent the bride’s mother his late wife’s jewelry to wear for the traditional Indian ceremony.  Minutes before departing for the ceremony, the bride’s mother went to put on the earrings and found that the posts were too thick.  I was wearing my favorite pair of earrings – an inexpensive set of sparkly, flower-shaped studs from Anthropologie – and they matched her sari perfectly, so without hesitation I handed them over.  While the wedding wouldn’t have been ruined had she not had earrings to wear, being able to immediately calm those pre-ceremony jitters with such a simple offering – and their thanks for my doing so – reminded me why I do this. Now I wear the earrings to every wedding… just in case!

How did you first get involved in events & weddings? Did you always want to go out on your own?

I have wanted to be a wedding planner since I was little.  Really little.  I got my first subscription to Brides when I was in second grade!  But, after college I followed a more traditional career path and became a marketing consultant.  After the crisis of 2008 I had a chance to reevaluate what I really wanted to do with my life, and with a little encouragement from my friends and family I decided to try wedding planning.  I started out as a volunteer at a bridal expo – stuffing gift bags for attendees – and from there I got an unpaid internship with a firm in the city.  From there I’ve expanded into social, corporate, and non-profit events. The rest is history!

A few of our sitters are getting married. How can the newly engaged get more info about you?

Prospective brides can check out my website to get more information on my services, view photos of some of my past weddings, and read my blog to see what’s interesting me lately.  I’m also always available via email at Lydia@lydiarossevents.com or by phone at 203.243.0035.

eco-friendly baby shower & birthday party invitations

Since we are on the topic of baby showers and birthday parties, when you are ready to be the hostess, where do you start?

The invitations of course!

I came across Paper Culture from one of my LLD member moms.  Paper Culture is a modern eco-friendly stationary company that brings a unique twist to boring stuff that reads like a resume.  They pride themselves on providing clean, fresh modern aesthetic. Developed by parents themselves they truly care about the environment and the future state of the planet for our children.

Click here for eco baby shower invitations; girl, boy and gender neutral.

Click here for birthday party invitations; kids birthdays, girl or boy, photo birthday invites or adult parties.

Hear what Parenting Magazine, Cool Mom Picks and Daily Candy has to say about Paper Culture here!

Things to do this weekend in PHILLY!

 Philly has SO much to offer for local families ... Here what one of our wonderful sitters Brittany B  rates as her top 3 rated family friendly places:

1. Please Touch Museum- it's a museum for kids! They offer so much for all ages of children to do. A great event for families and kids or kids and their babysitters to attend would be the Story Book Ball which takes place on Saturday April 21st from 6-9PM. The event happens to be a fundraiser all proceeds will go to the museum's new program "Play Without Boundaries" which helps all children of socio-economic backgrounds, especially children with disabilities, enjoy new ways of learning at the museum and in their community. In the meantime the museum is hosting "Story Time in the Story Castle" Sunday the 4th at 12:30 and 3:30. 
2. World Cafe Live- it's the home of WXPN a radio station here in Philly but they always have concerts and events for families. Their most popular events for families and kids is called Peanut Butter and Jams. A kid friendly artists usually a musician puts on a show for children and their parent(s) every weekend. 
3. The Franklin Institute- Best Place for kids to explore, learn and have a great time. The best part of the Franklin Institute is the IMAX theater which shows great educational yet really exciting films. 

Brittany B comes to LLD referred by one of our LLD families in ny. She is both gracious and kind with a slew of Childcare experience!

How do I know which doctor is BEST for my child?

Parents often question which doctor they should choose to help manage their child's Anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and an interesting and often mis-diagnosed disorder called PANDAS (a disorder where children develop sudden onset OCD behaviors and tics from STREP). They have been trying to cope by reading books, online blogs, and getting advice from their friends and loved ones. When they feel that their child is not getting better, they determine that they need to take things to the next level and seek professional help. How do families know where to go and which is doctor is BEST for them?

I encourage families to check out Stefanie Weiss at ASK STEFANIE.  The mother of three children 10, 8 and 5 helps families select the appropriate psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or pediatrician based on a families needs. Every child’s personality is different, therefore they respond differently to different people. Stefanie interviews each doctor personally, so she can help parents choose who would be the best fit for their child. It is hard enough to get a child to open up emotionally to a stranger, especially one they don’t relate to. Stefanie makes this process so much easier! She is a true hand-holder, guiding parents through the entire process. Parents anxieties are alleviated the moment they walk in the door.

Stefanie is warm, charismatic, and very easy to relate to. She has relationships with many doctors all over New York City and Long Island. She truly takes her time with each family, helping navigate the process as well as giving parents great tips and advice on how to handle friends, relatives, and teachers. Her concierge service is truly one of a kind! One day when you need it, you will be glad that you have her number in your back pocket!

Check out www.askstefanie.com and join her on twitter @askstefanie.