UltimateMama thinks Jill Stuart dresses are “ALL THAT”.  So, imagine her joy to discover this cobalt/black strapless Jill Stuart dress on sale at Bloomingdales for $145.92 (from $228).  For an uptown girl to wear downtown!

Grab some basic black pumps and you are a stylin’ mama!

UltimateMama knows that it is not always easy going from bed to school (for drop-off) to work to home.  However, BCBG’s “Dancing Raindrops” Cowl Neck Dress makes looking stylish quite easy not to mention comfortable.  At, $158 at Bloomingdales.com this emerald/white dress is so versatile you can go from a parent-teacher conference straight to dinner with friends. Wear it to a graduation, a wedding rehearsal dinner, a summer cocktail event, or to your child’s spring fun fair!  Not to mention it is quite figure flattering!

UtimateMama picked one up today at NYC’s flagship Bloomingdales retail store for only $60.67 ($158 originally on sale for $75.84 then discounted to $60.67 with an additional 20% off coupon)!  Buy one and you will be one hot UltimateMama!

UltimateMama loves getting a bang for her buck with this multi-purpose dress!

David Burke's Fishtail is one of UltimateMama's favorite restaurants for lunch in Manhattan.  UltimateMama and her family first visited Fishtail in early September 2009 and revisited it today (December 39, 2009).  Everything was excellent – high chair for the youngest child, service, food, value, and ambiance.  This bi-level restaurant is located in a beautiful townhouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side, not far from Bloomingdales.  UltimateMama's family loves to eat on the second floor. 

Run, do not walk, to Fishtail for their 3 course prix fixe menu for $24.07 (UltimateMama loves the lobster dumplings, roasted branzino, and fishtail fruit bowl) or their special $5 menu (consisting of burgers, tuna burgers, soup, fries, etc.). 

Do not forget to sample the yummy peanut brittle on your way out! 

Location:

UltimateMama knows that it is not always easy to select the perfect gifts for children.  Many times a holiday, birthday, or other celebration creeps up and we are scrambling to buy a present at the last minute.  UltimateMama is completely comfortable arriving empty handed or light handed (card only) to kids celebrations as long as she has the gift covered already. 

Here are some of UltimateMama's last minute gift ideas for children:

– Gift certificates to book stores (Borders, Barnes & Noble), clothing stores (The Gap, Gymboree, Old Navy, Children's Place), or department stores (Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macys) 

– Annual or monthly memberships to local museums, the zoo, or gyms for kids

– U.S. Savings Bonds

– Cash or check (as they say "cash is king" — make sure to say it is designated for their college savings)

– Contributions to 529 College Savings Plans

– Gift certificate to an arts and craft store to be used to create or paint plastercraft

– Educational toys, games, or puzzles

– Favorite childhood books. UltimateMama loves perusing Caldecott Medal and Honor Books