The Book Fair is Here!

Posted on by
Reply

Miami International Book Fair is one of those events that makes me truly proud of our city.  It’s exciting, intellectual, self-promotional in the very best way, and fun! This year, they have some major authors – as in Dan Brown, Erica Jong, Pat Conroy and Anjelica Houston.  And so many more. It kicks off this week (Nov. 17th), and the street fair is Nov.22-24th!

But where to start? Well, for the no-kids options, the “An Evening With” series is where you’ll get to meet and listen to readings from some of your favorite authors.  Click here to see the schedule. Anjelica is making an appearance to talk about her new memoir, “Her Life in Stories”.  I’ve heard it’s really, really good (when your parents are best friends with Marlon Brandon, there’s gotta be some interesting stories!)  Pat Conroy, one of my all-time faves is making an appearance on Tuesday the 19th to talk his book after the book…i.e. what happened after he published The Great Santini (which was based on his abusive father).  Spoiler Alert: things didn’t go down so well with the fam, as one might imagine.   These events have a minimal charge, but many of the others are free.

As for the kiddies, the fair has REALLY stepped it up this year! There are tons of events in various locations.  Check out this link for the list, including the super fun Mad Science Lab (let your kids be their own Mr. Wizard).  The best part of the kids schedule is that they’re offering everything on multiple days and times, as we all have such crazy schedules! “Performances” (i.e. readings with more energy) will take place on the Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After stages.

So, even if we have another rainy weekend, you can look forward to something awesome to do with the kids!

Awesome Eco-Friendly Replacement for Zip Locks

Posted on by
Reply

While I try to keep my disposable-item usage to a minimum as much as possible (tupperware and lunchbox for lunches & snacks), I recently found myself reaching for zip lock bags more than I’d like to.

I realized they’d appear when I needed a few snacks on the go and had nothing to put them all together in (how else to group an apple, rice cake, string cheese, and granola bar all together, then put that in your bag?)

Enter ChicoBag bags. They are the perfect size for a bunch of snacks, or single snacks like nuts, sandwiches, etc. I bought three, then promptly re-ordered three more.  I’ve even found myself using them for stuff like legos and matchbox cars! And the best part, they fold & close to different sizes depending on what you have inside.  Seriously, one of the best products I’ve found in a while…

Best Costume Site

Posted on by
Reply

As the mother of a 4 year old boy who is VERY into costumes (the other day when he was complaining about being dragged to various activities I asked him what he would want to do and he said “be at home wearing costumes every day”), I have become quite familiar with the various costume stores and websites.

My favorite is anytime costumes - they have a wide variety of choices and sizes (we mostly search superheroes). And with Halloween approaching, they have one-stop shopping.  Looking for Batman size 3? They don’t offer just one option, they have a few – at different prices and with different “accouterments”.  For me, this is very important as we sometimes get pieces of costumes for “chores charts” (i.e. utility belts, green lantern rings), while Halloween or Bday presents are the whole shebang.

Right now, they’re offering 30% off.  See code above!

An Amazing Garbage Book

Posted on by
Reply

I recently read an amazing and life-changing book called Garbology by Edward Humes.  Humes goes into detail of America’s problem with waste and garbage, and illustrates just how much garbage we produce (50% more per person than other countries)…And it’s well-written and extremely fast-paced.

Even for those who somehow aren’t too worried about our environment, the cost alone of our waste management is staggering.

With Halloween approaching, I couldn’t help but think about all the extra candy wrappers, candy bags, trick or treating bags, etc. that would be generated for this “holiday”.  Now, I’m not going to tell anyone not to participate – we all do it, but I do think this read is an extremely important book for parents and puts life in a new light.

Some lessons I took away were – why are we trained to think we need new things, when many of our old things are perfectly fine? This didn’t used to exist.  Americans of the 40s/50’s were much more thrifty.  But marketing made us think we always need new clothes, new furniture, etc. Getting yourself out of the “new wants” trap is empowering.  I know we all have issues with our kids and consumption – they’ve caught on to this wanting something new all the time idea. Breaking it can help them and the earth. Additionally, eliminating plastic grocery bags from your life makes a BIG difference.  I really liked this part as I felt like it was something I could really take control over – and do – and it would actually make a difference! 

There is so much more history, insight, and truth in the book – it’s a must for parents and all enlightened adults. We want to leave more than trash for our kids!

Power Posing

Posted on by
Reply

Recently, I came across this amazing TED talk from social psychologist, Harvard Business professor and classically trainer dancer Amy Cuddy.  Cuddy’s fascinating talk is all about power posing – basically, making your body bigger so that your mind (and how others see you) follow.  I found the talk extremely interesting as well as extremely applicable – especially for women.

Amy’s theory is that body language and non-verbal cues effect how we are perceived in an actual biological, animal-instinct way.  Specifically, she suggests practicing certain positions in order to make yourself feel, and therefore appear, more powerful.  These poses actually can RAISE our testosterone (dominance hormone) and LOWER our cortisol (stress hormone). Bottom line – our minds don’t just change our body, but our bodies change our minds.  As a communication major myself, I remember learning quite a bit about non-verbal communication, and the studies on this topic are extensive.  In fact, often our non-verbal communication says much more to people than our verbal communication does.

Aside from utilizing this technique in business (I work part-time, so I straddle both worlds, as it were), I thought the power posing could also be applied to mothering.  During a somewhat trying afternoon the other day – I tried her theory/my theory out.  Hiding from my kids in the bathroom for sixty seconds, I did some power posing of my own.  While I certainly felt somewhat silly staring at myself mimicking a Gorilla in the mirror, I seriously think it worked!  First of all, the lightheartedness of the exercise took me out of the overwhelming moment forced me to breath.  But the power posing itself had an effect to.  While it’s hard to determine if my 2 year old and 4 year old were more intimidated by me, I really did feel more powerful, more in control and more sure of myself.  I ignored their whining and took a firmer, calmer approach to the issue(s) at hand.

So, thank you Amy Cuddy.  I’m a believer.  And this is one TED talk I’d strongly recommend.

Ten Things to Stop Saying to Your Kids

Posted on by
Reply

I thought this was a really interesting article (although an odd website name) about how to speak to your kids.  I’ve pasted some highlights below, click the link for the full story.  A lot of these tips are things you probably thought of, but when you put them together and change how you speak to your kids, it probably has an effect.

This whole idea of praising effort over attributes (i.e. say “what a great effort you put into that” instead of “you’re so smart”) ties into a famous book many of us have read called NURTURE SHOCK. If you haven’t read it, it’s really fascinating.

I also think the idea of praising (or “suggesting”) very specific behaviors is a helpful tactic, which they outline below.  That’s a big part of conscious discipline and I really think it helps kids hear what you’re saying, rather than in one ear/out the other.  Same with the “or else” scenario below.  Telling them what they CAN do, rather than just saying NO (or a scary NO), is much more productive…until five minutes later when they do something else naughty :)

The bribing is something I really have to work on, especially with eating (like eat veggies, get dessert).  It’s so true the slippery slope bribing takes you down.  Although, I’m not quite sure the suggestion here is all that effective on that topic, to be honest…

Don’t Say:  “Good boy (or girl)!”

This statement, while said with good intentions, actually has the opposite effect you’re hoping for. Most parents say this as a way to boost a child’s self-esteem. Unfortunately, it has quite a different effect. When children hear “good girl!” after performing a task you’ve asked them for, they assume that they’re only “good” because they’ve done what you’ve asked. That sets up a scenario in which children can become afraid of losing their status as a “good kid” and their motivation to cooperate becomes all about receiving the positive feedback they’re hoping for.

Instead, try “I appreciate it so much when you cooperate!” This gives children real information about what you’re wanting and how their behavior impacts your experience. You can even take your feelings out of it entirely and say something like, “I saw you share your toy with your friend.” This allows your child to decide for himself whether sharing is “good” and lets him choose to repeat the action from his internal motivation, rather than doing it just to please you.P

“Stop it right now, or else!”

Threatening a child is almost never a good idea. First of all, you’re teaching them a skill you don’t really want them to have: the ability to use brute force or superior cunning to get what they want, even when the other person isn’t willing to cooperate. Secondly, you’re putting yourself in an awkward position in which you either have to follow through on your threats—exacting a punishment you threatened in the heat of your anger—or you can back down, teaching your child that your threats are meaningless. Either way, you’re not getting the result you want and you’re damaging your connection with your child.P

While it can be difficult to resist the urge to threaten, try sharing vulnerably and redirecting to something more appropriate instead.“It’s NOT OK to hit your brother. I’m worried that he will get hurt, or he’ll retaliate and hurt you. If you’d like something to hit, you may hit a pillow, the couch or the bed.” By offering an alternative that is safer yet still allows the child to express her feelings you’re validating her emotions even as you set a clear boundary for her behavior. This will ultimately lead to better self-control and emotional wellbeing for your child.P

“If you _____ then I’ll give you _____”

Bribing kids is equally destructive as it discourages them from cooperating simply for the sake of ease and harmony. This kind of exchange can become a slippery slope and if used frequently, you’re bound to have it come back and bite you. “No! I won’t clean my room unless you buy me Legos!”

Instead try, “Thank you so much for helping me clean up!” When we offer our genuine gratitude, children are intrinsically motivated to continue to help. And if your child hasn’t been very helpful lately, remind him of a time when he was. “Remember a few months ago when you helped me take out the trash? That was such a big help. Thanks!” Then allow your child to come to the conclusion that helping out is fun and intrinsically rewarding.

Lacoste Event: Great for Kids, Benefits the Everglades

Posted on by
Reply

This Saturday, August 31, from 12-4 PM five Lacoste South Florida boutiques will be hosting the event “Education for the Everglades.” Attendees will be invited to explore the Everglades in-store with baby crocodile demonstrations from Native Village; 1PM to 3PM.

The event is kid-friendly; families will enjoy sweet treats and beverages from Vita Coco. 10% of the day’s sales will benefit wildlife preservation through the Everglades Foundation. It’s also educational – learning about the Everglades and how they impact Florida’s environment and ensuring are children have awareness of this topic is a great first step!

See Invite and Info below!

Free Kids App

Posted on by
Reply

Just thought I would share that this cute App for kids is free until August 10th!

This one is called Toca Hair Salon and it let’s the kids cut and style hair.  Might be more popular with girls but hey…you never know! Probably buys you at least one car-ride/meltdown worth of entertainment and it’s free!

CLICK here to see the offer in the Apple Store and info about that app.

Swim Week + Mom Suits PART 1

Posted on by
Reply

Swim week in Miami is always fun, I think, because it’s fashion done “Miami style”.  Instead of our city trying to be something it’s not, we showcase what makes perfect sense here – swim suits!

As for us moms, bathing suit can be a scary word/concept…And while I don’t think most of the bikinis shown are necessarily mom-friendly, I’ve posted some suits below that ARE. But first, a recap of the fun stuff…

I went to a few fun Swim Week events. The first was at Soho House and featured a FlyBarre class (which I missed, but I heard was HARD yet AMAZING) and a makeover from the ladies at GeeBeauty (the super cool beauty studio at Bal Harbor mall).

I loved the mini-facial from GeeBeauty (anything where I sit quietly for 20 minutes aint bad), and especially enjoyed the Tata Harper products.  This line is all natural and anti-aging, two VERY important things for us sun-drenched Miami moms! I’m going to try these samples for a while and give an update at a later time to let you moms know how they work!

From there, my friend and I visited the Ford Beauty Suite.

Side note: my friend brought her little diva, 16 month old Dafna along for the fun.  She is a major out-and-about mom (and writer) and brings her kids lots of places, exposing them to super cool experiences.  If people seem annoyed or the kids lose their sh**, she just leaves. I love her approach and think it’s an interesting discussion topic for us moms – why are we so worried about how everyone will react to our children?!?

The suite gave us some Zoya nail polish, which I have been using at home and LOVE.  I lean towards at-home nail care these days, especially for my hands – which get ruined in 24 hours even with a REAL manicure –  so nice nail polish is an easy indulgence.  And this brand lives up to it.  Easy, neutral colors and great staying power…

The next night it was on to the fashion shows.  While it was fun to experience the crowd and get free drinks/gifts (thank you Smashbox for the gorgeous non-sticky lip glosses), I find fashion shows pretty boring after about two minutes.  Especially ones I can’t see myself ever wearing anything from or similar to (bikinis).  But the models were gorgeous of course and it was fun to watch, for the most part.  If you have to pay, though, I’m not sure I’d call this babysitter worthy.

In my next posting, I’ll do a round up of the BEST MOM-friendly bathing suits! Stay tuned.

Miami Magazine Food Event

Posted on by
Reply

Every year, MIAMI Magazine (a publication I contribute to) hosts an annual celebration of their restaurant issue – Live and Dine Miami.  It’s a really great tasting event with Miami’s best chefs – who all take it very seriously.  Fun atmosphere, an overwhelming amount of ridiculously delish food, and a chance to chitty chat with our city’s top food talent.  What more could you want?

This year’s event is next week – July 31st. The tickets are going fast, so be sure to get yours soon – definitely babysitter worthy.

Food from Catch, Swine, The Dutch, Cypress Room and more.  Like going to ten restaurants in one and only trying their best dishes (last year I overloaded on Haven’s Tiger Shrimp…yum!).