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Posts tagged ‘parenting advice’

UltimateMama believes that the Gymboree rewards card is a no-brainer for those with children.  It is free and offers members special benefits, including:

– access to savings and promotions

– email alerts with discounts (online and in-store)

– $5 certificate for ever 250 points accumulated

– And more!

This weekend, those Gymboree Rewards cardholders get to take an extra 30% off any purchase with the special “Circle of Friends” event.

UltimateMama scored her daughter a leopard pink jumper (100% cotton) today for $3.49 (originally over $30). Now, that is what I call SAVING MONEY!

Rewards
Go online or to a store and sign up today!

UltimateMama wants you to get started on your child’s college savings now! It is never too late to open up a savings account. Plus, it is super easy. All you need is an identification card (driver’s license will do), social security number, and your deposit.

UltimateMama is here to let you know that TD Bank, which is part of Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries known as TD Bank Financial Group (TDBFG) offers the Elite Savings account with a promotional APY of 1.25% available (read:  this rate will change eventually) if you make a new deposit of $25,000 and have a checking account. TD Bank, a top 15 commercial bank in the United States, offers over 1,000 locations in the United Sates as well as online banking options.  Check The Toronto-Dominion Bank out under ticker symbol “TD” on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

You know how much your UltimateMama loves a good children’s sample sale.  What better way to get name-brand merchandise for your children at a fraction of the retail price than to hop into a sample sale.

French retailer Bonpoint is holding a sample sale in NYC this week. Plenty of children’s clothing will be featured from newborn to preteen (tops, bottoms, sleepwear, outerwear, shoes, and accessories). Savings up to 60% off!   UltimateMama gives you the scoop:

 – Private Sale: Wednesday, May 12th from 3 PM-7 PM

– Public Sale:  Thursday, May 13th from 8 AM-7 PM and Friday, May 14th from 8 AM- 3 PM

Location:  The Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 West 18th Street, NYC – 5th Floor (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

*No cash or checks. American Express, Visa and Mastercard.

All sales are final. No exchanges or returns.

Stollers are not allowed!

UltimateMama realizes this is a tough economy in 2010.  Should you skip Mother’s Day altogether?  Of course not!  You can show your mother (and your child’s mother) appreciation on a shoestring.

UltimateMama’s top budget Mother’s Day gifts are as follows:

– Send her an e-card

– Make her afternoon tea with biscuits or muffins

– Make her a photo collage or enlarge and frame your favorite photo

– Make her an early Christmas tree ornament

– Pick and arrange a bouquet of wild flowers

– Buy her a “used but in great condition” book

– Give her a gift bag of her favorite magazines (don’t forget to include the one UltimateMama writes for:  New York Family magazine

– Take her to your favorite park, beach, nature trail and go for a walk or bike ride

– Catch a matinee movie (cheaper prices)

– Buy her inexpensive gifts that are useful (socks are always nice)

– Get her a new keychain

– Pick out a nice candle or make one yourself

– Paint a piece of pottery for her (stores like Little Shop of Crafts are perfect for this as they have a wide range of price points)

– Make her placemats for dining

Your mommy brought you in to this world!  Show her some appreciation by making Mother’s Day 2010 extra special.

Have you thought about what you are getting your Mother on Sunday? UltimateMama wants to provide you with a list of the top Mother’s Day gifts for 2010 (in no particular order):

– flowers

– a meal out (breakfast, lunch or dinner)

– prepare mom a meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner)

– perfume

– a spa certificate (manicure, pedicure, massage, etc)

– candles

– new purse or wallet

– new scarf

– jewelry

– engraved picture frame of the family:  Things Remembered offers nice silver plated frames starting around $25

Frame
– tickets to a musical, sporting event, movie

– stored value gift card to her favorite retailer or restaurant

– Chocolate or something sweet

– Handmade (by her children) card

– A poem or art project (by her children)

– Books

– Sporting goods (new tennis balls, golf balls, swimsuit)

– personalized gifts (towels, bath robes, jewelry boxes, charms, necklaces, keychains, etc.)

– photos (in books, albums, frames, or totes). Check out this super-cute photo collage tote for $49.95 from Red Envelope.

Tote

– Make her a gift basket of her favorite gourmet treats

 Chef UltimateMama has a fun, quick, and easy trail mix recipe for you to give your kids.  Whether you are feeding your child in the park, at home after-school, or packing a camp snack, UltimateMama’s easy trail mix is guaranteed to be a winner.  Toddlers, school-aged children, and adults will love this nutritious and yummy snack.

Easy Trail Mix

1 (16 oz). package dried apple 
1 (16 oz.) package pretzels
1 (16 oz.) package banana chips
1 (16 oz.) package dried pineapple or mango
1 (10 oz.) package raisins or dried cranberries

Mix all the ingredients together and store in a container with a lid or zipped bag. 

Ironically, after Barron’s touted Johnson & Johnson Inc. on its cover this weekend, the company has egg in its face with a massive recall of children’s medicines.  Affected products include varieties of Tylenol, Tylenol Plus, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. 

UltimateMama wants you to know that McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Johnson & Johnson Inc (NSYE: JNJ), announced a voluntary recall of “all lots that have not yet expired of certain over-the-counter (OTC) Children’s and Infants’ liquid products manufactured in the United States and distributed in the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Dubai (UAE), Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and Kuwait,” according to its website. This recall was after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In yesterday’s press release 4/30/10, the company stated that “some of these products may not meet required quality standards. This recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events. However, as a precautionary measure, parents and caregivers should not administer these products to their children. Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles. While the potential for serious medical events is remote, the company advises consumers who have purchased these recalled products to discontinue use”.

For more information please contact the company at 1-888-222-6036 and also at www.mcneilproductrecall.com.

UltimateMama will admit to all of you that she had a few of these “recalled products” in her bathroom. So, get off your tushie, look in your medicine cabinent, and get rid of all the recalled products now!!

 For a list of recalled products, click here:

http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/page.jhtml?id=/include/new_recall.inc

UltimateMama loves New York.  UltimateMama loves Tribeca.  UltimateMama loves movies of all varieties.  UltimateMama loves introducing her kids to everything she loves.  Put it all together and you have this DO NOT miss event of the year:  Tribeca Film Festival’s Family Festival Street Fair

Grab your partner, your kids, a backpack (of diapers/wipes/sippy cups/snacks/etc.) and head to Tribeca on Saturday, May 1st from 10 AM until 6 PM!  Meet local merchants, enjoy street performances, engage in arts and crafts, and enjoy some possible celebrity sightings!

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!

Leave it to the folks at LoveforEarth to come up with cute, compact reusable lunch bags for kids and adults alike.

UltimateMama loves the eco friendly insulated zipper sandwich bag.  At $9.60 it is a steal!

Bag