With Father’s Day right around the corner UltimateMama offers up a few suggestions for Father’s Day 2011:
– help your child create a paper doll of daddy
– take advantage of the free shipping offer at J.Crew with code: FREESHIP and pick up some blue gingham boxers or nautical socks
– buy him a classic dress shirt with french cuffs from Charles Tyrwhitt (many shirts are reduced to $39 from $139)
– assist your child in the kitchen and offer him a special afternooon snack of manchego cheese with quince paste
– create a photo memory scrapbook with your child and include tickets from concerts, sporting events, plays, and other excursions
– surprise him with tickets to a baseball game, tennis match, or show
– order a personalized apron for daddy from allheartchefs
– get him a tee time at a GREAT golf course
UltimateMama wants you to book a day this summer at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Not only will parents love the Edible Garden experience but also kids! As a family you can learn about growing food, harvesting food, and preparing food with cooking demonstrations and interactive adventures! Check their website for information on celebrity chefs visiting the gardens.
UltimateMama has a great tip for all of you late to the game in the Father’s Day gift buying department – FRAME YOUR CHILD’s ARTWORK! It is fun, easy, and inexpensive! And, daddy will love it.
To do:
1. Find your child’s best masterpiece – a family picture she drew with colored pencils, handprints from paint, a scenic landscape done with watercolors, a collage with recycled materials, etc.
2. Pick out a frame (you may have to trim your child’s artwork a bit).
3. Date the artwork on the back and put the name of the child (so he never forgets).
4. Frame it!
Did you know that the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum was one of the seven oldest buildings in Manhattan? UltimateMama and her family found that out last weekend when we visited the museum.
Where else can you and your family learn about the history of ice cream (through June 20th) and play with period toys in the beautiful 18th Century gardens?!
UltimateMama is a strong advocate of involving your kids in meal creation.
For toddlers or young children, you can help them pour and stir as your sous-chef. Or, just give them a wooden spoon and a bowl and let them pretend to be an executive chef. Buy or make a little apron for them to really get into the spirit!
Older children could help with measuring. A valuable math lesson could be taught while cooking. Also, if you involve them with the cooking process it is an immediate science lesson as well!
Let your kids participate in the kitchen – supervised of course!
UltimateMama wants you to know that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that McDonald’s recalled its “Shrek Forever After 3D” Collectable Drinking Glasses” because the designs on the glasses contain cadmium which can pose adverse health effects.
After a nice morning or afternoon at the Bronx Zoo, UltimateMama and her family dart over to Arthur Avenue for a nice meal and some homestyle Italian food shopping!
Do not leave Arthur Avenue without stocking up on prepared eggplant parmigiana, cheese, cured meats (prosciutto), focaccia, and more from Mike’s Deli on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Even Bobby Flay frequents Mike’s Deli and met with him for a Food Network Throwdown!
For Arthur Avenue bread try Madonia Brothers Bakery — a must!
If you want to hit an Arthur Avenue restaurant with your family try Zero Otto Nove or Roberto!
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!
Quack, quack! UltimateMama loves Carter’s cotton clothing items for babies. For only $8 (from $17) the “I Love Hugs 3 piece Cardigan” gift set is an absolute no-brainer! Trust UltimateMama, the recipient will LOVE it!
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