My Mom, Style Icon

While we are celebrating Mother's Day here is a different look at moms from
Piper Weiss.  Her book was published a couple years ago but can still inspire you to think about Mom in a new way. Maybe, you will discover that your mom is also a fashionable icon.

"Moms are people, too...fashionable people! Before we came along to yank on their skirts, they showed leg, sported killer bangs, and flaunted bikinis. Some even wore feathers and halter tops and drove around on motorcycles. Was their style shocking? Yes. Covetable? Absolutely. Based on Piper Weiss's hugely popular blog of the same name, this book features 200 color photographs from decades past of moms showing us how it’s done. A perfect gift for mothers, daughters, and style mavens, My Mom, Style Icon is an entertaining celebration of the very first—and most important—style icon in a young woman's life."

Piper Weiss is a humor and culture writer, as well as an editor. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

The Mom Song for Mother's Day

So this is the way we sound. That is why we need a good sense of humor.

Celebrate Urban Creativity with Ideas City 2013

IDEAS CITY 2013 from IDEAS CITY on Vimeo.

This week celebrate Ideas City 2013.  IDEAS CITY explores the future of cities around the globe with the belief that arts and culture are essential to the vitality of urban centers, making them better places to live, work, and play. Founded by the New Museum in 2011, IDEAS CITY is a major collaborative initiative between hundreds of arts, education, and community organizations. This year’s theme is Untapped Capital, with participants focused on resources that are under-recognized or underutilized in our cities.

IDEAS CITY is a biennial Festival in New York City of conferences, workshops, an innovative StreetFest around the Bowery, and more than one hundred independent projects and public events.
Visit ideas-city.org to plan your visit, and connect on Twitter @IDEASCITY.
Directed by Lucas Borras / Creative Director: Carlota Santamaria
Music: Jorge R-Escudero

The Frog and the Princess

This weekend I took my nieces Shakina and Yonina to Broadhollow Theatre in Elmont to see their version of Disney's Princess and the Frog.  This was part of  celebrating Shakina's birthday and also to celebrate the fact that we made it through a rough winter.  In February I spent a total of two weeks in the hospital with both girls during their bout with asthma. The first week at Shakina's request, the hospital staff brought in the  DVD for the Princess and the Frog which she played and played and played.  The next week with Yonina, she made the same request so the Princess and the Frog stayed on continuous rotation. I think I must have seen the story over a hundred times.  But after two weeks I think we bonded around the story of Tiana, Princess Naveen,  Mama Odie, and all the other characters. So when Mocha Moms in Queens ( a support group for moms of color)  invited us to see the theater version we were game. So my little princesses donned their crowns and off we went to the theater.  Of course, we knew all the songs, plots and characters by heart but the girls were enthralled to see the story live on stage. After the performance the excitement continued when they got to meet the actors or characters (as they saw them). Finally they had to be bribed to leave the theater with a promise of pizza. Now I still hearing them talking and planning how they can get back to the theater next week because you can never get enough of The Princess and the Frog. Help!

Broadhollow Theater located at 700 Hempstead Turnpike at the Elmont Memorial Library will be performing The Frog and the Princess through April 3 and other kid friendly performances until May. Call 516.775-4420. They also have performances for children at Bayway Arts Center -265 East Main St., East Islip. Call 631-581-2700.

Also check out Elmont Memorial Library's Children's Room. They have a play room that looks like fun with lots of activities for children.

A Spring Tweet from Daily Candy

Celebrate  the first signs of Spring with Daily Candy's DIY project.

"Celebrate the return of the birds.  Looking for signs of spring? Then bird is the word. Attract a flock to your backyard with a tree full of cookie cutter bird feeders. This simple, kid-friendly DIY uses water, gelatin, and birdseed to make a welcome-home feast for our winged friends.  Once the feeders are dry, gather your chickadees and hang your creation from your porch, deck, or tree with string.  And then look to the sky."

For more information and more fun projects visit  Daily Candy.

Return to Children's Focus website.

Drive Right In - A Creative Twist on Movie Night

It’s the weekend and the winter chill has you indoors now what to do with the kids. How about a Drive In Movie Night?  Thanks to Daily Candy for this creative twist idea. Parents and children make their own little box cars to watch their favorite movie. So let the creative juices flow.  See their video at Daily Candy.  Don’t forget the popcorn, hot chocolate and a good classic movie.  Maybe, pick a theme like old fun movies like Annie, The Wizard of Oz,  Baby’s Day Out, The Goonies, or Back to the Future.  Or you can chose newer picks like Tangled, Ice Age or my favorite Up!.  If you need help deciding on a movie try these sites Kids First Film Festival and Parents.  Does your family have a favorite movie?





Return to Children's Focus website

Ella's Wool Helps Brooklyn's Children Stay Warm

Saga Merion Wool Dress

I am always looking for ways to keep the children warm during these long winter months so it was nice to discover Ella's wool. When family would visit from the UK, I always noticed how much warmer and durable their children's clothes were. Vibeke Kvan Johansen who is from Norway also noticed that the children's clothes were not the same when she moved to Brooklyn from her homeland. She wondered why children were not playing in the park during the  winter.  After some inquiry, she realized that children in Brooklyn did not have the warm woolen undergarments that her children had. This sparked her idea for her children's clothing line bringing Nordic knitwear brands to the United States. These brands use Merino wool in their clothing. Beside being very warm, wool from merino sheep is known for its incredible softness and its non-itch quality, so it’s ideal even for babies' sensitive skin.  Now her goal is to keep kids across America warm. Visit Ella's Wool to learn more.





Return to Children's Focus website.