UltimateMama’s girls tried an amazing tie dye kit from Amazon called Make it Mine Premium Tie Dye Brights for their white sneakers.  It was fun, easy, and fast!  The results from their white Converse sneakers were stellar!

UltimateMama and her girls can’t resist thinking back to their trip to Spain a few years ago and longing for the excitement of Barcelona.  Since flying to Europe was out of the question last weekend, UltimateMama decided to do the next best thing–make paella with her girls for Friday night dinner. Using a brilliant Matiz paella rice recipe, the girls made an out of this world seafood paella! The one catch–make sure you have saffron on hand–expensive but worth it.

Matiz Seafood Paella recipe:

Heat 8 cups of fish or chicken broth with 1 teaspoon of saffron (we used a bit more) in a pot.  In a separate (very) large pan, heat 1/2 cup of olive oil over medium heat.  Add 1-2 medium sized diced onions to the oil and fry until translucent (6 minutes, approximately). Add 1 chopped red bell pepper and 1 chopped orange-yellow bell pepper and cook for about 5 minutes. Add 16 oz diced artichokes (canned), 28 oz diced tomatoes (canned), and 4 cloves of diced garlic — simmer for 5 minutes.  Pour in 4 cups of Matiz Paella rice and stir until the rice is fully covered with the sofrito tomato mixture.

Carefully add the broth to the paella. Gently move the rice mixture around until evenly distributed. Do not “stir” the rice after this part.

After 10 minutes place your fresh seafood (white fish, uncooked shrimp without the shells, mussels, clams, etc.) into the mixture one by one and evenly distribute the seafood. After about 10 minutes add piquillo pepper to garnish and add color. In another 15 minutes or so the water should be completely absorbed and you can remove from heat. Cover with foil and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. You can serve it directly from the pan (add wedges of lemon or lime if you want to impress).

UltimateMama always likes to be prepared for long weekends!  The best preparation is creating an agenda of activities that your whole family will enjoy.

UltimateMama shares her special list of Memorial Day activities for kids:

– Visit a war memorial, a naval ship, or a historical museum.  In NYC, UltimateMama loves the New York Historical Society as well as the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum.

– Host a BBQ

– Meet up with friends in the park for a picnic

– Catch a baseball game

– See a Memorial Day parade

– Make a Memorial Day flower arrangement with your children 

– Create and wear red, white, and blue bracelets

– Read a book about the meaning of Memorial Day to your children such as Memorial Day Surpise by Theresa Golding

NYfamilySports, 04-06-2010 » Page 5

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Samuel Chamberlain, Kristen Duca, Neil Landwehr, Brittany McNamara, Bonnie Rosenberg, Teresa Tobat, Spike Vrusho, Daniel Wright

NYfamilySports, 04-06-2010 » Page 4

30 DAYS

This is for all the young and the restless out there. Get out of the house and go do these things. You’ll have fun, you’ll feel better and we won’t ever say we told you so.

April 17 Jordan Brand Classic All-American Game 3:30 p.m. Madison Square Garden www.jordanbrandclassic.com Who will be the NBA’s next superstar? Find out at the Jordan Brand Classic, when top high school talent from around the world will get the chance to showcase their skills at the legendary Madison Square Garden. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant all played their final high school games at this game. So this is your chance to see tomorrow’s NBA greats for the first time!

April 17 Street Games 2010 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Thomas Jefferson park, 114th Street and First Avenue www.nycgovparks.org The third annual Street Games puts a modern twist on the classic games of the ’60s and ’70s. Enjoy the sounds of old time rock ‘n’ roll, soul and Motown while your child plays with pogo sticks, double-dutch, hula hoops and yo-yos—all in the streets, just like their grandparents! This year’s festivities also feature skate boarding clinics and a costume contest for the grooviest duds. And it’s all free!

April 18 Run for the Parks 4-mile: 8 a.m.; Kids’ Races: 9 a.m. Central park www.cityparksfoundation.org Kick off the running season and keep in shape with this 4-mile race to benefit the City Parks Foundation. Youngsters can get in the spirit by participating in the kids’ races. Families can enjoy food, music and activities at the post-race reception.

April 24 The Big Swim at Asphalt Green 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. location: Asphalt Green, 555 E. 90th St., between York & East End avenues www.asphaltgreen.org Give your child an Olympic experience at The Big Swim. This open swim meet invites 1,000 children to participate in a free day of competitive swim races—complete with the nuts and bolts of a real competition, including starting blocks, officials and a timed finish. Regardless of scores, each child will feel like a winner and get to take home a medal, T-shirt and a goodie bag. Olympic swimmers and elite athletes will be in attendance, and families can watch diving and swimming exhibitions in addition to the meet. Registration deadline is April 14. For more information, call 1-888-979-4669.

April 24 High Rock Challenge Adventure Race 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Greenbelt recreation Center, Staten island www.nycgovparks.org Join 600 runners for this 10K trail race along the Staten Island Greenbelt’s legendary trail system. Held in honor of fallen NYPD officer John Kelly, the race is presented by the Greenbelt Conservancy, New York Adventure Running Association and the Parks Department. Teams of two members will run and compete in five mystery events— previous challenges have included water crossings, mental challenges, climbing stunts and water submersion. After the teamwork is finished, all will be rewarded with food, beverages and entertainment.

MAY 1 Hershey’s Track and Field Games 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Van Cortlandt park, Bronx www.nycgovparks.org Kids with a craving for track and chocolate should race to Van Cortlandt Park for the chance to advance to the North American Final track and field meet held in Hershey, Pa.! The free trip will include an afternoon at Hershey Park Entertainment Complex and a tour of the world’s largest chocolate factory. Children ages 9-14 can compete in a number of events, including the 50 meter, 100 meter, 400 meter and 4×100 meter relays, standing long jump, softball throw and more.

MAY 7 Meet Ralph Kiner at Last Licks 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m. 245 W. 93rd St. www.lastlicksicecream.com Take the family to meet a legend at Last Licks, Manhattan’s “Sports Bar for Kids.” Baseball Hall of Famer with the Pirates and Mets announcer Ralph Kiner will be on hand to sign autographs.

MAY 11 New York Liberty’s 5th Annual “School Day” 11 a.m. Madison Square Garden www.nyliberty.com Experience a New York Liberty preseason game at the Garden for a fraction of the cost during the 5th annual “School Day” game. Tickets range from $10 to $15 and groups can also qualify for a chance to meet players on the court, get autographs, create a fan tunnel or even sing the national anthem! Plus, schools that purchase $1,500 worth of tickets will receive a visit from Liberty legend Kym Hampton.

MAY 15 Al Oerter “Fists for Fitness” Free Youth Karate Tournament 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Al Oerter recreation Center, Flushing Meadows Corona park www.nycgovparks.org Calling all teen martial artists (think Tae- Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Karate) to this citywide competition that encourages healthy lifestyles. No worries if you’re not the next Karate Kid—spectators are welcome, too!

MAY 16 AIDS Walk 11 a.m. Central park, 59th Street and 5th Avenue www.aidswalk.net The world’s largest AIDS fundraising event returns to the city. Last year, 45,000 participants—including families, youth sports leagues and schools—raised more than $5.6 million for Gay Men’s Health Crisis and 50 local AIDS service organizations. Log on to their website to register as an individual, sponsor a walker, join a team, start one or make a donation. A chance to get some excercise and help those in need!