Top

Home Contact me PR Info About me Giveaways Listed Here Collective Media Magic- About Us!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Recess Monkey Live at Symphony Space (NYC)

Saturday, February 25th, Symphony Space at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, New York, NY, will be showing Recess Monkey.  Specializing in indie rock for children, this Seattle Teacher trio makes their triumphant return to Symphony Space with their outlandishly fun recipe of high-energy pop and rock and roll. Their two performances sold out last year, impressing parents and kids with space age music and futuristic sounds.

Their latest superhero-inspired CD is called "Flying". These teachers, parents, and musicians know the power of music and how wearing a bedsheet, towel, or "cape" can only enhance one's superpowers (and dancing and leaping abilities).


Share
Pin It

Thermos Review and Giveaway

Check out the new Thermos's.  No longer are they just plastic containers.  They are now, BPA free aluminum interior and exterior plus they come in all kinds of cool designs like Clone Wars and Barbie.   All the designs are bright and vibrant, lots of fun for the little ones.

In regard to the container itself.  These will keep things cold or hot for up to 12 hours or longer.  They work really well and hit the 12 hour mark, no problem.  When packing hot liquids or foods, warm up the container with some hot water.  This will raise or lower the Thermos' standing temperature and definitely keeps things hot or cold longer.

"Staying hydrated is important for kids of all ages. Whether they are at school, sports
games or camp, kids need to drink plenty of water to stay fit and healthy. Thermos®, the
brand trusted by parents for over 100 years, makes it easy for kids to stay properly
hydrated with the reusable FUNtainer beverage bottle. Made with BPA-free stainless steel,
the FUNtainer beverage bottle keeps drinks cold for up to 12 hours and features an easy
to use push-button lid with a pop-up straw. With dozens of characters and fun colors to
appeal to every kid’s interests, the FUNtainer bottle helps children stay hydrated in style
everywhere they go. Matching food jars are also available."

One of you will win Thermos Funtime Containers.
Here is how to enter!


Friday, February 17, 2012

Bubble Tea in Chinatown, NYC

This week has been a hectic one, as I am sure you have all figured out from my lack of posts  :)
With all the frantic fun of Toy Fair (which I LOVE but wears me right out, LOL) there was little time for a whole lot else :)  But on Thursday, Grace from Blessed Elements and I took the day off and went sightseeing in NYC, since it was her first time there! (Outside the Jacob Javits center, anyway!)

One of my favorite places in New York is Chinatown.  Chinatown is really 2 places in one- one place is what tourists see- the other is a rich and tight knit community, and the largest Chinatown in the country.  As a tourist, there is tons to see and do- and taste!

There are so many fun and different things to try- one of my favorites is Bubble Tea, which is really only found in primarily Asian areas.  Miss Grace had never had one, so of course....
We got her a papaya (fresh fruit) bubble tea.
What is a bubble tea, you may want to know?  I'll clue you in.

Bubble tea is the name for pearl milk tea and other similar tea and juice beverages that originated in tea shops in Taichung, Taiwan during the 1980s. Drink recipes may vary, but most bubble teas contain a tea base mixed with fruit (or fruit syrup) and/or milk. Ice-blended versions of the drinks, similar to slushies, are also available, usually in fruit flavors.
One of the famous categories of bubble teas is "pearl milk tea" (also known as "boba milk tea" in parts of America), which contains small chewy balls made of tapioca starch, called "pearls" in Chinese (also known as "fenyuan" or "zhenzhu "). Pearls made of tapioca are also available in many places.

Two shops claim to be the creators of bubble tea.  One is Chun Shui Tang teahouse in Taichung, Taiwan,where Liu Han Chie experimented with cold milk tea by adding fruit, syrup, candied yams, and tapioca balls in the early 1980s.  The other is in Hanlin  Teahouse in Tainan, Taiwan, who made tea using traditional white fenyuan, or tapioca, which has the appearance of pearls, supposedly resulting in the so-called "pearl tea." Shortly after, Hanlin changed the white fenyuan  to the black version that is seen most today.

You also need a MEGA straw for it, only special "bubble tea straws" will work.  They need to be really large so that the pearls will fit through it.  It can be a little disconcerting at first, and the balls are very chewy- but it's fun and they are good.  The drink is almost all the flavor, I find the balls to have only a small bit of flavor- but they are really fun and whimsical  :) 

Share
Pin It

Exergen TemporalScanner- a Must Have for every home

Do you have dreadful memories of someone taking your temperature?  OK, lets not get the therapy couch out, I mean literally getting your temperature taken.  :P
Why not save your children the same "fond memories" with a temporal thermometer.  These thermometers are easy to use and don't require any pain (or wrestling) in the slightest.  These particular scanners, the Exergen Temporal Scanner, don't even need to be touched to the skin.
The way these thermometers work is by measuring the temperature, using the temporal artery instead of rectally or through the ear canal or under the tongue.  The advantage to this is it is more accurate, easier to administer and also less uncomfortable for the person being measured.   Did I mention easier?  Yes, it's easier. 

This particular thermometer is also used by doctors across the country and is incredibly well built.
We all took turns taking temperatures with one and it was very easy.  When used in a fever scenario, it also worked well, giving us an accurate fast readout.

This would be awesome in the Pre-K classroom, where we are contently taking temperatures-  but I'm keeping this one at home.  Sorry charlie!  The director will have to buy her own for the school, LOL. 
I HIGHLY recommend this for every home, and I did tell the director to buy one. 

Follow Exergen on Facebook and Twitter as well  :) 
Share
Pin It

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas on a Budget

If you're looking for remodeling ideas that will give you the best return on your investment when it comes
time to sell your home (not to mention making your space more beautiful and functional in the interim)
then a kitchen overhaul is one of your best options. This common room is utilized by the entire household
and many buyers see it as a pivotal space for family togetherness. So whether you gut it and start from
scratch or opt for a cosmetic facelift, you'll likely increase your own satisfaction with your home as well
as the resale value of your property in the process. And incredibly, you can undertake some amazing
upgrades even on a budget. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

Let's go from the ground up, literally, by starting with flooring. Laminates, linoleums, and faux stone
may seem like the best deal, and in many cases these options can offer not only a good price but also a
warranty of some sort (which is a good deal for kitchens, considering the number of spills that occur in
this room). However, you may also want to consider second-hand options like reclaimed hardwood or
natural stone; in many ways these may be better than going faux. For example, they can cost as little
as (or even less than) than their artificial counterparts while offering you the beautiful and desirable
products you crave. In addition, choosing these items is better for the environment because it requires no
additional manufacturing and it keeps old (but still usable) flooring out of the landfill. And P.S., reclaimed
hardwood cabinetry and stone countertops are also an option you may want to pursue to save money
while creating your gorgeous new kitchen.

So now you've got some ideas for the foundational pieces in your space, but what about everything else?
You're probably not too keen on the idea of second-hand appliances. The thing is you don't necessarily
need to replace everything in order to upgrade your space. Perhaps new flooring and countertops are
enough, or maybe re-facing (or simply painting or staining) cabinets will give you the new look you want.
And if you've already got a matching set of energy-star appliances, there's no real reason to replace them.
If, however, you're stuck with a fridge and stove that were manufactured before you were born, perhaps
you could do with something new. But how can you get these items for less? While you can certainly wait
for big holiday sales, you might not save that much. So think about frequenting sites like Craigslist. You
might be surprised at the items you find in practically perfect condition for a lot less than the price of new.

But there's more, and when it comes to putting the finishing touches on your new kitchen you can do a lot
for a little if you adopt a DIY attitude. Believe it or not, installing a sink, fixtures, lighting, and even a tile
backsplash are all projects you can tackle on your own with a little help from a home repair guide. While
you may balk at tampering with the plumbing or installing mahogany, bamboo, or Ipe wood flooring,
there are plenty of tasks that you should be able to complete on your own, saving you tons of dough when
you decide to spruce up your kitchen space.

Share
Pin It

Fiddler on the Roof- Live at the State Theater!

Tomorrow we will be at the show, and are excited to tell you all about it.

Fiddler on the Roof is slated to show at the State Theater in New Brunswick February 17-18.  Fiddler on the Roof has been entertaining audiences from the youngest ticket holders upwards for generations.  Few shows have captivated audiences like  Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's Fiddler on the Roof.  Even modern pop culture shows such at "The Wonder Pets" have referenced this Broadway standard, exposing even the youngest of children.

Share
Pin It

#CokeFamilyNight #WIN Handheld Camcorder and Prize Pack @Cocacola

I would like to introduce you to the new Coke Family Game Night. This is a special section of My Coke Rewards.  Not only does this portion of the site have different rewards, but also it has new contest to see the American Idol finale in person. It looks like a good deal to me, new prizes and contests. A trip to see a live show could be a lot of fun for a big fan of the show. Even the daily prizes are pretty sweet- free Coke Zero for life would be awesome.

Just log in and enter a contest- you never know, someone has to win right?  And you get a nice little site with tips for family game night, so go enjoy.

In regard to Family Game Night, this is the coveted night of the week where we all huddle around the board games, fighting over which gets played every Thurs. night.  This battle continues into whatever game we are playing where the kids even win sometimes, but they definitely earned it.  There is alot of laughing and making noise but all is well.  This night of the week is often called 'the best'.  It is a wonderful time to bond.  


One of you will win this AWESOME prize pack-
  • (1) Handheld Camcorder
  • (1) American Idol – The Hits Volume 1 CD
  • (1) Coca-Cola and Pringles coupon