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!

STRUT! The fashionable mom show!

Mother of three, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, is the Director of Fashion at the Lincoln Center in NYC as well as the liaison between countless parties involved in fashion week. Stephanie believes that mothers can not only be fashionable, but they can also gain strength from mixing style and raising children while working! You really can have it all! Stephanie ensures readers that her family always comes first, and her lil' ones are constantly in her office. In fact, at this weeks fashion week Stephanie's daughter was taken through the Barbie dream closet... what little girl wouldn't dream of that!

Stephanie believes in empowering moms for all their hard work, which is why she loved the idea of a mom fashion show at fashion week! In collaboration with The Moms, Mom-entum, Big Fuel and Getting Gorgeous, Stephanie was vital in the development of "Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show". Why not bring couture to moms everywhere! The event featured over 20 moms wearing designer and non-designer clothing friendly for all shapes and sizes. Here's a picture from MSNBC of the moms workin' it!

In the article focusing on Stephanie in ibtimes.com she says, "I didn't just love the concept" of a mom show, it resonated with her personality with her extremely busy schedule as founding director of fashion at Lincoln Center she constantly struggles with balancing work and family. Stephanie pulls off both, and proves it is possible to have it all! To watch a video about the mom-friendly fashion show visit the website here.

Valentine's Day Packages!

Hey Dads! Lost at where to start for Valentine’s Day but want to give your partner the perfect gift? Looking for something different this year? How about one of our LLD customized packages? We will help guide you towards the perfect Valentine’s gift specialized to your partner’s favorite places, products and more! And the BEST part-we will provide you with a babysitter to cover the kids while your partner enjoys!

Email Lindsay to get your gift set-up today lindsay.bell@luckylildarlings.com

Snack time made Fun!

Once again it is snack time and I have just returned from the grocery store with a hungry, fussy three year old. 

I have just started to unload the car full of groceries and out of the corner of her eye she spots the bight colored FunBites. I explained to her that they are for making food fun to eat. With that, she pushed me out of the way to start making her very own creative snack. I showed her just once with a slice of cheese. She LOVED  the fact that she could make it solo. Ms. Independent. Not only did she make it herself, but she counted and grouped all her bites together before she ate EVERYTHING. 

The best part for me was that it kept my daughter entertained so I could put all the groceries away!  Thank you FunBites for a great way to eat a healthy snack and giving mom a quiet ten minutes to put everything away!
 

Funbites is the first and only kitchen tool to cut kids’ food into FUN-SHAPED BITE-SIZED PIECES.  It goes beyond sandwich cutters and works on a variety of foods like pancakes, burgers, brownies and more!  FunBites promises to get kids to try new things and eat healthier.  It’s mealtime made stress-free and fun. Use code FreeShipJan at checkout for 15% off your entire order until 1/31/12.

Written by Ilene Young, mother of one and LLD City Coordinator in Connecticut. Ilene can be reached at ilene.young@luckylildarlings.com

5 signs of a great sitter

When do you know you found a top-notch sitter? Here are my 5 signs of a great sitter!

She asks questions! Your sitter is through, savvy & smart. You know you found a gem if she asks you for the 411 before she starts babysitting. Does your lil’ one have allergies? Can you give me a tour of your home so I know where everything is? Is there anything you need me to do for you when the kids fall asleep? 

      She doesn’t look at her phone every 5 minutes. The sitter’s attention should be fully on your child. I frequently see nannies pushing strollers talking on their phones. How can a childcare provider push a stroller, hold up a phone up to her ear and pay attention to your child’s needs? I understand the headset in one ear and the other ear for the child for a quick call, but long time phone conversations are a NO. Also, I don’t like when sitters are constantly texting. Never should a sitter answer a phone call on the job when the kids are awake, unless they ask permission ahead of time.

      She is CPR Trained/Certified and knows the ropes of fire safety.  Wouldn’t you feel safer if your childcare provider could administer CPR if necessary? Or if someone is choking and your child needs the Heimlich?  Go with someone that is confident, educated and prepared.

     College-Educated & Professional. She has her 4-year degree, and possibly beyond. She is working full/part-time and has an impressive career.  She’s well rounded, traveled and brings her experience to provide the best childcare for your child.

     She can put on a show! Your child learns something new from her every time. She either brings activities, or has some great new activity for the kids to play with. She’s unique and fun, and your child looks forward to her visit every time.

-LB

Check out what I heard from Daily Candy Kids!  The ibaby Video Monitor for iphones and ipads! 

Big brother is watching. So is the babysitter on her iPad, dad on his iPhone, and mom on her office computer.

As many as four people at once can keep an eye on your prize with the iBaby Monitor — the only mobile video monitor with two-way audio that we have spied on the market.

High-tech doesn’t mean complicated. Just download the app to your iPhone, iPad, or computer; plug the monitor into your network to register; and install the camera in the room. Our favorite perk is that you can control the camera lens with just a swipe of your finger. So if your little Houdini disappears from view, drag your finger across the screen to find him.

Alerts are issued when baby lets out a cry or makes a move. Two-way audio capabilities let you give a comforting “shhhh” from anywhere you have a connection. Plus, infrared night vision allows you to spy on baby in the middle of the night. You can even take pictures of tushy-up sleeping using your device’s camera.

Available online at store.apple.com, $200. For more information, go to ibabylabs.com.

Big City Moms, always supporting LLD, invited us to their Sleep Experts Lunch to speak about the importance of communicating bedtime routines to your sitter. Here are a few important tips!

1. Give your sitter a tour of your home. Show your sitter the kids rooms, point out dangerous areas you want the kids to stay away from and give specific instructions on how things work.

2. Bedtime Rules. Talk to your sitter about your bedtime routine with the kids i.e. What time do you begin to wind down the night? What is your child's favorite story and/or bedtime song? What time should they be asleep by?

3. Special Instructions.  Are there any special rules you have? Do your kids have any allergies the sitter should know about? Are the kids sick and need medicine?

4. Exchange Contact Info. Be sure to leave your sitter with your cell phone and an emergency contact numbers. Be sure to get her cell phone number so that you can text her throughout the night if you have any questions or to check in.

5. Anything else? Sitters are happy to lend a helping hand. If you'd like them to unload the dishwasher or change the laundry most sitters won't mind. Especially once they have been at your home a few times and you feel connected to them. They will be happy to help! 

I stayed to listen to Kira Ryan, mom, sleep lover and co-founder of Dream Team, speak about her infant & toddler sleep tips.Here are a few!

·         Newborns should get 15-18 hours of sleep per day (24hrs)

·         A good bedtime for an infant is between 6-8pm

·         Signs of a sleepy infant: the cry is different, no engagement or eye contact, fussy

·          What is normal?

o   Up to 6 mo infants take naps every 1 ½ -2 hours

o   At 6mo infants usually take 2 naps per day

o   15-18 mo 1 long nap in the afternoon

o   Naps or ‘quiet time’ is recommended up to 3-4 years

·         White noise machines are great especially for city noise

·         Crib should be a sleep sanctuary, anything that screams party or playground should be removed

·         Check the nursery temperature! It should be between 68-72 F.

·         Is the room dark enough? Get blackout shades!

For more info on Dream Team click here or more info on Big City Mom events click here.

I'm obsessed with CleanWell wipes

It's cold season. Gross I know. LLD families know better and are prepared. A common household item my sitters and I have spotted recently is CleanWell's To-Go Disinfectant Spray. It cleans, disinfects & deodorizes + kills influenza virus including H1N1. Nice.

This no fuss spray can be easily packed into your purse or diaper bag. Quickly clean the kid’s toys at daycare or sanitize the high chair at your favorite local diner or spray down the table before serving the kids their meal. 

Use code CWECQ1 for 20% off plus a free gift now through 3/15/12!

Spray may not be the best choice for wiping down the kids face after he/ she finds your chocolate stash in your bag and smears it all over their face, so opt for the To-Go Disinfectant Wipes. They work like a charm.

There are very few products I can't live without and these CleanWell wipes are quickly becoming one of them. Click here to purchase CleanWell

Use code CWECQ1 for 20% off plus a free gift now through 3/15/12!

Pure Yoga is the ticket to prolong your paradise vacation

Happy New Year LLD! 

I hope that you are off to a relaxing and optimistic start to 2012!

I began my New Year in Mexico on the tropical island of Playa Mujeres.  More to come on  my experience in a bit. But I didn't want my trip to end, so I decided to go to the one place that keeps tropical paradise alive. Pure Yoga.  I took the Hot Power Yoga class, which is a perfect combination of stretching,  meditation and flow. Eric Elven is the instructor on Tuesday’s at 8:30am, and he is so chill in directing us through every move. The hot powered yoga class is taught in a room heated to 100 degrees. The heat provides for a detoxifying sweat while you flow through an athletic and dynamic sequence of postures. What a great way to start your day. The  friendly staff is there to answer any of your questions after the class.

Click here for a class schedule. If you interested in a trial offer click here http://www.pureyoga.com/en/newyork/purecontracts/enquiry.php for more info.

LB

BabbaBox's are way cool

Last week we highlighted a few great gifts for 2 year olds. This week, we found a unique gift for the 3-6 year old in your life!

Have you heard of the BabbaBox?

I learned about it in one of babybites recent newsletters. The BabbaBox is a topic-based activity box for kids delivered to doorsteps filled with activities, knowledge, and experiences that encompass all the ways kids love to learn!

A subscription box is delivered monthly with ALL the physical materials plus know-how content to really engage with your kids. Each month features a new theme-based box perfect for 3 – 6 year olds, right?  And better yet everything in the box is gender neutral.

So what's Inside the BabbaBox? Four major components are included to inspire your child: Create. Explore. Story tell and Connect.

If your order is placed before the 15th of the month, your first BabbaBox gift will arrive between the 15th & the 20th of the same month. If your order is placed after the 15th, your first BabbaBox gift will arrive around the 15th of the following month. Your BabbaBox gift will arrive around the 15th of each month after that (up to 3 months total). For more info click here

What is Sage Spoonfuls?

LLD is proud to introduce our families to our new friend Sage Spoonfuls founder Liza Huber. You may know the busy mother of three from the NBC daytime drama Passions. She also had the honor of being Miss Golden Globe in the year 2000. Her mother is Emmy-Award winning Susan Lucci of "All My Children". I invite you to get to know Liza-she’s great!

Liza and her family

It is always so interesting to hear everyone’s story on how they got started. What inspired you?

My children were, and continue to be, my inspiration for Sage Spoonfuls.  I first had the idea 5 years ago when my oldest was born and I started making his baby food.  There were no products on the market that made it easy for moms.  Then, when my second son came 2 months early and spent 6 weeks in the NICU, I knew I wouldn’t go back to work in the traditional sense for a while so I could be home with him.  That was when I decided to pursue and develop my idea for Sage Spoonfuls, because I could work from home.  When I was pregnant with our third baby, our daughter Hayden, I was on bed rest for the second half of my pregnancy.  That is when I finished my book and pulled it all together.  Royce was the initial inspiration, Brendan was the decision to pursue it and Hayden was the catalyst to get it all pulled together! 

What is your favorite simple recipe that you recommend to busy moms?

As a mom, my motto is “Sanity lies in preparation”.  That is the idea behind Sage Spoonfuls.  All baby food recipes are simple, but the key to making it easy is by preparing the foods in bulk and storing in Sage Spoonfuls jars in the freezer.  This way, you always have a stock of fresh, delicious and healthy baby food available.  All you need is 1 hour every 2 weeks, minimal effort for maximum benefit!

Tell us about your book!

I had so much fun writing my book and I am really excited about the finished product.  Sage Spoonfuls – Simple Recipes, Healthy Meals, Happy Babies is full of recipes, information and ideas from one busy, on-the-go mom to another!  My book includes everything you need to know about introducing and feeding your baby solids, including bonus family favorite recipes the entire family, babies and toddlers included, can enjoy together!  Moms will also find the most up-to-date information on food allergies, nutrition, foods to avoid, infant CPR, organics, finger foods, and much more!  There is even a journal section after each age group to keep track of your baby’s favorite foods.  My book is pediatrician recommended and filled with delicious, simple recipes and hundreds of yummy combinations to fit every baby’s needs.   Plus, it is full of fun commentary and beautiful photos to keep you excited about giving your baby the healthiest start to life!

If moms are looking for a last minute gift for their parent friends, what do you recommend?

Sage Spoonfuls of course! Click here to shop now!

Beyond Teaching is Beyond Amazing: Interview with Dimity Kirwan

I had the pleasure of sitting down at Peacefood Café yesterday with Dimity Kirwan, the CEO of Beyond Teaching a super savvy, fast-growing online community of teachers seeking extra work as tutors and caregivers.

Dimity connects teachers with parents who are looking for skilled and knowledgeable individuals to work with their children. Sound familiar to LLD?

Beyond Teaching believes that providing children with ongoing learning experiences is essential. Dimity and I understand that parents often struggle to find top quality childcare and tutors. LLD & Beyond Teaching are proud to collaborate in developing a solution for busy moms throughout the tri-state area by providing the best local tutors and caregivers. During the interview I had the opportunity to ask Dimity several questions about herself and Beyond Teaching.

Tell us about your story?

I’m from Wilton, CT, which is in Fairfield County. I have a twin sister, a younger brother and sister, and 3 much younger half sisters, for whom I often babysat and nannied. I went to Tulane University, in New Orleans. When I graduated, I joined Teach for America and completed a masters of education, specializing in Childhood 1-6, from Pace University whil

e teaching in Harlem.

What led you to start Beyond Teaching ?

Throughout my first three years of teaching, I supplemented my income through babysitting and tutoring, but connecting with families was always tough. I loved working with kids one on one and wished that I had more opportunities to do so, as did my fellow teacher friends. I thought it would be such a great business to connect these wonderful families I was meeting with great sitters/tutors.

What is the coolest thing that has happened to you this far?

My grant to start Beyond Teaching from the Jones New Yo

rk Empowerment Fund and meeting Dee Dee Meyers! I heard about this grant offer through Ladies Who Launch, applied, and received the grant in September 2010. All the recipients were featured in an ad campaign that ran in Elle & Real Simple Magazine.

So what is your goal with Beyond Teaching ?

On a larger scale, I'm hoping to empower teachers to utilize their skills beyond the classroom and to be compensated accordingly. I would love to do this full-time as I love being able to connect families and students with quality tutors.

What’s your favorite childhood memory?

Generally, playing outdoors with my siblings. Our house was in the middle of the woods, and we created a fantasyland out of nature! My love for nature has continued - when I'm not teaching or working on Beyond Teaching , I'm an avid rock climber and yogi!

So how do tutors get involved in Beyond Teaching ?

It's easy - take 10 minutes to visit our website www.gobeyondteaching.com and register for free.

Thanks to Dimity for all the great insight! That's all for now, make sure to keep following LLD!

-LB