A Magical Journey to Brasil/Brazil at Macy’s

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve always been a huge fan of Macy’s. It seems as if whenever I need something, I can always find it there. Whether for myself, my family or for a gift. I’ve loved their celebrity designer showcases and their inclusion in NBC’s Design Star. I’m super excited about something new…just in time for summer! Macy’s is bringing specially-curated in-store shops, from well-known Brazilian fashion designers, to some of their stores. The curated shops feature authentic Brazilian products in a variety of categories, including fashion, home, beauty, accessories and art pieces, and have been hand-selected to create a colorful and inviting main floor environment in 300 Macy’s locations. Macy’s is also including a fundraising and awareness program to benefit the Amazon Rainforest.

Be part of the excitement when Macy’s kicks off Summer with a host of spectacular events inspired by the fashion, food and flavor of Brasil. If you are in MetroWest, (Massachusetts), check out these great events:

  • Thursday, May 17th at 6pm, Macy’s will have a Samba performance by Moves and Vibes Dance Co, a demonstration by Jiu Jitsu experts from Capoeira Brasil Boston, tropical music provided by a DJ, and a sampling of traditional Brazilian cuisine.
  • Saturday, May 19th at 12pm, Macy’s is hosting a kid-friendly event with a carnival-like atmosphere. Kids can test their skills in an interactive soccer challenge (a national sport in Brasil), enjoy balloon twisting, face painting, and more! At 2pm, there will also be a swimwear fashion show where you can create your very own Brasil inspired ”Kanga” sarong with any swim purchase, and attendees can try their hand at soccer too.

If your are not in MA, here is a list of other Macy’s events around the country:

Macy’s Brasil Events:

Other Brasil Events:

I’m looking forward to checking out this taste of Brazil just in time for Summer!

 

I have been compensated by CharleneChronicles to write this post on behalf of Macy’s. But trust me, and ask my husband, I am a loyal shopper of Macy’s. And it is TinySophisticate’s policy to only work with companies/products/services that I use and believe in. 

Pin It
Email

My Expanding Family: Anticipating #2

Posted on by
Reply

As many of you know, I am a mom to two little girls, ages 3 and 9 months. The age difference is 2 years, 3 months.

When I found out I was pregnant, my little one was 18 months old. She was walking, talking and being a crazy little toddler. When I found out I was pregnant, of course I wanted to tell her and tell her she would be a big sister. But what would that mean to an 18-month-old?

Probably nothing. So I didn’t tell her.

During my pregnancy, I wondered if she was curious about what was happening. Let’s face it, I could eat all the cupcakes in the world and my belly would never grow as large as it did during my pregnancy. I was definitely tired….a lot. I had some days/weeks of doctor ordered bed rest which was very tough. My daughter definitely started picking up on something come my last trimester.

But I still felt it was too early to start explaining what was about to happen. Finally in my last month, we started telling her there was a baby in mommy’s tummy and she was going to be a big sister. We talked about how being a big sister is the best thing in the world. How much fun it would be. To be honest, she didn’t really care much. She’d entertain our conversation for a few minutes, then want to build blocks or play outside.

As she should….at this point, she just turned two.

I think we made the right decision. There is no way a little one can understand 9 months of waiting and anticipation. And if she did get it, that’s a long time to have to wait for something.

Here are some other tips and ideas for getting your toddler ready for their new little brother or sister:

  • Don’t change a lot at once. We had to get out the Moses basket, the swing, and other “baby” items that were put away. We did this slowly and gradually.
  • Her room didn’t change. Many families move their toddler to a new bedroom to make room for the new baby. I don’t agree with this. You don’t want your toddler feeling like you are taking things away from him/her to give to the new baby. The transition of adding a new baby to the family will be easier if you keep as many things  for your little one as possible.
  • Similarly, think ahead about things like high chairs, car seats, etc. If your little one will be ready for a booster seat, instead of a high chair, try to transition in advance of the new baby needing it. Same with the car seat so that our little one thinks it’s a natural progression for him/her, not because of the new baby.
  • Many people say getting your little one a doll works well. Our little one didn’t take to it much, but I’ve seen it work with others and is a great idea.
  • Take your little one shopping to buy a gift for the new baby. A lovey makes a great welcome to the family gift.
  • When the new baby arrives, have a gift that you bought ahead of time for the baby to give his/her big sister/brother. From personal experience, balloons make a great gift, especially for toddlers! When my little one came to visit me and the baby in the hospital, we had balloons for her…from her little sister of course.
Pin It
Email

Shopping the Trends in the Baby/Toddler Girls Department

Posted on by
Reply

I’d like to think of myself as a fashionable mommy. I like to know what’s trendy. And while I don’t dress head to toe in the latest and greatest, I pick a few key pieces each season and incorporate them into my wardrobe.

Anyone following fashion knows some of the spring trends for 2012 include asymmetrical hems, neon and mixed prints.

Well, during a recent stroll through my local Target store (yes, I went for cold medicine and somehow wound up in the kids clothing department), I saw these trends in the baby/toddler section.

Adorable right?

This Disney Minnie Mouse top is so sweet with its assymetrical high front/low back hem. I’m fine with this on my little girls, as long as the “high” in front is still below the belt-line. No tummies showing on my little ones. Add a long sleeve tee under it or a sweatshirt over it for cool spring nights or to transition into fall. $11.00

 

 

 

 

This super cute mixed print dress is so fresh and bright for spring. And to be honest, I’m a little afraid of mixing my own prints….so I love that this one-piece does it for you. And easy to transfer into fall with a cardigan and leggings. A perfect item for my toddler’s closet. $12.00

 

 

 

 

And this little dress w/ tank and bloomers was such a great interpretation of the neon trend. The navy backdrop is the perfect foundation for some pops of neon pink. A great item for my baby’s spring/summer wardrobe. And again, you can replace the bloomers with leggings and add a sweater, sweatshirt or long sleeve onesie and you can turn this spring essential into a great fall outfit.  $13.00

 

 

Pin It
Email

Review: Dr. Panda, Teach Me! iPad/iPhone App

Posted on by
1

My daughter is 2 years 11 months and loves my iPad, so much so that she calls it HER iPad. I’m always on the lookout for new apps, especially kid friendly ones that will not only entertain her but also teach and engage her.

I recently tested the Dr. Panda, Teach Me! app for the iPhone and iPad. Dr. Panda, Teach Me! is an interactive educational application for toddlers ages 2-5 years old with fun, engaging animations, sounds and educational activities.

I gave it a quick glance to make sure it was appropriate for my little one (she is 2 years 10 months) and then I turned it over to her to see how she liked it…let’s face it, that’s all that matters. And she loved it! It was easy for her to navigate and it held her attention for a while. More than a week after I first let her play it, she continues to ask for it.  ”Mommy, I want to play Dr. Panda!”

Check out this video of her playing:


Why I recommend it: 

  • I loved the colors, sounds and animals. It is charming and adorable and I knew my little one would love it.
  • I was surprised that my little one was as into the activities as she was. Some were challenging for her but I like that she is challenged.
  • There were no links, notifications, advertisement or in-app purchases.
  • Dr. Panda’s Teach Me is certified by the kidSAFE® Seal Program.

Why my little one loves it:

  • Animals. All her favorites were represented.
  • Sounds. She loved the sounds and that she could trigger them.
  • She loved the rewards when she completed the activities correctly.
  • There were so many different activities and things for her to do, she did not get bored, and in fact she continually wants to play it.

Dr. Panda, Teach Me! was created by TribePlay and is available from the iTunes store for $1.99. In addition to the full version, there is also a FREE version called Dr. Panda, Teach Me! Lite (I have not tested the free version and do not know what options is has or does not have).

***This a sponsored post for which I have been compensated. However it is TinySophisticate’s policy to only write sponsored posts for products or services that I believe in, use and/or endorse.***

Pin It
Email

Taking the easy way out

Posted on by
1

I’m not usually one who takes the easy way out. But yesterday I did…and I think I fooled people. For Easter, I was to bring an appetizer and a dessert. For the appetizer, I made little Brie bites – Brie cheese and raspberry jam in a little crescent cup (crescent dough rolled out, cut w/ round cookie cutter and cooked in mini-muffin tins). Always delish and a crowed pleaser.

I usually like make something from scratch for dessert, but I was just tired this weekend. I’m fighting a cold, chasing two little ones and just feeling a little run down. So instead of getting stressed and trying to pull off something elaborate…

…I faked it :)

I took a boxed meyer lemon cake and frosting mix and cooked it in two 8″ cake pans. After the cakes cooked on a wire rack, I put a layer of frosting and a layer of raspberry jam in the middle of the two stacked cakes. Then I frost the cake and decorated the top with raspberries.

Voila. Done. Easy. And tasty! And no one else knew that it came from a box.

Meyer Lemon Cake with Raspberry Filling and Lemon Frosting
Pin It
Email

Sister conversations

Posted on by
1

I just love seeing my little ones interact. I was an only child, so the fact I have two little girls, and they will always have a sister and a best friend is awesome.

This morning, as I was getting ready, I overheard the following “conversation”…keep in mind my toddler is 2 years 11 months and my baby is 8 months:

 

Toddler: Are you a baby? A little girl? Or a big girl?

Baby: Ba ba ba ba ba

Toddler: Oh silly. I think you are a baby.

Baby: (big grin) Aaaaaaa

Toddler: Are you trying to talk to me?

Baby: (grinning) ba ba ba ba

Toddler: I am a little girl. And Mommy, you are a little girl too!

It was just so sweet. I’m sure there will be sibling rivalry and fights, but I am so enjoying watching my two littles one grow up together. It makes me smile.

Oh, and I say I was an only child, because that’s how I grew up, but since I got married, I consider my sister-in-law my sister and my best friend. She is awesome!

Pin It
Email

Why is my toddler acting like a teenager?

Posted on by
Reply

We’ve made it through the terrible twos pretty unscathed. I’m not letting out a sigh of relief yet because many tell us that the “horrible threes” are much worse.

Awesome.

But it seems as if my little toddler sometimes acts like a teenager?

I’ll give examples.

  • After planning for months for a Yo Gabba Gabba themed third birthday party (and by planning I mean pinning things onto my Gabba pinterest board), my little one proudly proclaims “I can’t wait for my Mickey Mouse birthday party!” She totally changed her mind. A toddler’s prerogative? Remedy: there is not one other than I already created a Mickey Mouse party pinboard (even though her party last year was Minnie!).
  • After getting her fully dressed for school in an outfit she’s worn many times, she begins to tear off her clothes and cry “I don’t want to wear this to school,” just as we are getting into the car. Remedy: Now she picks out her own clothes, or at least what color clothes she wants to wear the night before (and this remedy is actually working quite well…thanks to my Mom for the suggestion).
  • She takes about 2 hours in the morning to wake up. She’s a slow riser, that’s for sure. Today I heard her stirring and went into check on her. “Mommy, can you please go back downstairs? I’m still waking up.” At least she said please…. Remedy: I don’t have one. Sometimes it is helpful that she is in slow-motion in the morning and allows me to actually get ready!
  • Sometimes when she is watching a show on TV and my husband and I are talking, she will say, “Mommy. Daddy. Be quiet.” No please there. Remedy: Usually the tickle monster comes out and we chase her around the house. I know that has nothing to do with her asking us to be quiet but hey, what can I say.

Now please don’t take away from this that she is a spoiled little brat. She is not. She is adorable, well-mannered and sweet. And 2 years 10 months. So once in a while, I get these little glimmers of what she will be like as a teenager….and I also remember what I was like as a teenager. Ugh. Gives me a headache.

I will try as hard as I can to keep my little one little for as long as humanly possible. Does your little one have “teenager” moments?

Pin It
Email

Recipe: Mexican Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Posted on by
2

I am making an effort to not only “pin” recipes, but to actually cook them. I know pinning them is fewer calories, but really, what fun is that?

I found this recipe for Southwestern Stuffed Spaghetti Squash and thought it looked delicious. The recipe was originally from BevCooks and I’ve since found some other great recipes on her site. Check it out.

I decided to make some changes to the recipe. I support vegetarians but I need some meat in my meal so I added ground turkey.

  • 1 spaghetti squash
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound ground turkey (beef or chicken would work well too)
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
  • coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
  • hot sauce to taste
  • 1/2 cup freshly torn cilantro, plus more for garnish
  • 1 lime
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400.

Roast squash on a baking sheet for 50 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes while you cook the filling.

Quick note, chopping onion makes me cry like a little baby so I threw the onion and jalapeno into my cuisinart and chopped it up.

Heat oil in a medium skillet. Add the ground turkey and cook through.

Add cumin, oregano and 1 tablespoon of chili powder. Add some salt and pepper too. Add onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper and red bell pepper. Saute 3 minutes. Add the beans, corn and cilantro. Then squeeze in the lime. Stir to combine.

*I actually forgot the cilantro but still taste great. I’m sure will taste better next time when I use it though.

Cut open the spaghetti squash. Scoop out the seeds, then use a fork to scrape the squash to look like spaghetti. Add squash into skillet with filling and stir to combine.

Taste and add more seasoning if necessary. I added in another tablespoon of chili powder and some hot sauce at this point. Fill the hallowed out spaghetti squash with the filling and top with cheese.

Broil the stuffed spaghetti squash until the cheese melts.

I had a lot left over and put it over a mixed green salad the next day. Yummy!

Enjoy!

Pin It
Email

A Day at the Museum

Posted on by
1

My in-laws visited recently and I always look for fun activities to do while they visit. Never fails…we always visit the outlets when they are here, but each time they visit, I always aim to find something we haven’t done or someplace we haven’t been.

We visited the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, MA during their trip. We had a GREAT time.

One thing I learned….admission is FREE to Massachusetts residents on Sunday mornings from 9am-noon! I found that out after visiting on a Saturday, but the $9 per adult was well worth it. My little ones are under 3 so they were free.

I wasn’t sure if my toddler (age 2 years 10 months) would like it, and she loved it! It took her a few minutes to figure it all out. But then she really enjoyed it.

Talking to the fishies on the phone:

Big skeletons:

Looking for frogs:

There were many interactive areas where the kids could touch and feel skeletons and other things:

“Mommy, that’s a big moose”

They provided clipboards, paper and markers and crayons for kids to sketch what they saw. It is an awesome way to get the older kids engaged:

So many colors in the displays:

My little one was so curious:

“The big bad wolf.”

I tried explaining what these were but she didn’t quite get it:

Owls are so hot and trendy aren’t they?

Pin It
Email

Fashion for your Pregnancy

Posted on by
1

No, I’m not pregnant again. I likely will not ever be pregnant again. I’m 98% sure I’m all done. But my little cousin is…and by little I mean almost turning 30 this year, but still little to me. As soon as I found out, I forced her to come over and look through my maternity clothes and baby stuff. As it turns out, my baby will be one just before her baby arrives, so there are some things I’d love to give her if she wants them. And I’m secretly hoping she takes it all so I can get rid of it!

Anyway…we talked a lot about what to wear when you are pregnant. Even though I had some maternity clothes (thank you Liz Lange maternity leggings and More of Me Maternity dress), I didn’t have a lot, because I wore a lot of regular clothes, maybe just a size or so larger. I’ve blogged about my maternity fashion before (here and here).

So, I dedicate this post to my cousin Tiffany and offer up some fun outfits for your pregnancy:

Don’t lose your personal style. When I was pregnant the first time around, my mother and I went shopping for some maternity clothes. I bought a few things and NEVER wore them. They weren’t me. And they just didn’t fit right. During my pregnancy, I found regular clothes in a larger size worked better for me. I love the look of this outfit. A pretty shift or empire waist dress (I bought a size or two larger than I normally wear) paired with boots and lots of accessories. Notice these boots from a recent post? Top with a cardigan, or for an edgier look, a dark denim vest. The sweater or jacket can be your regular size, there is no need to button it. After pregnancy, wear the dress belted!

 

Fitted is often better. Many expecting moms thing maternity wear must be big, baggy and loose. I totally disagree. I loved showing off my bump, and found that fitted tops actually looked much better. A staple outfit for me during my pregnancy included maternity leggings, a long fitted tank top (I bought one size up and they fit until my 9th month) or a maternity tank top, a blazer or cardigan (again, I bought or wore my own size, just didn’t button), and then tied in some fun accessories such as scarves, bangles (love piling on Alex & Ani) and leopard print flats. The staples of this ensemble, the tank and leggings, have endless possibilities. A sequins blazer and heels for a night out? High boots and a chunky cable knit sweater?

Buy lots of accessories. When I was pregnant, I bought very few pieces of clothing, but I SPLURGED on accessories. Why? First of all, they pull any basic outfit together. Secondly, they will fit you during and after pregnancy. I loved wearing soft, stretchy jeggings or skinny jeans while I was pregnant. I bought some cheap ones (Forever21 or Old Navy are great options) in a size or two larger and if they are a low waisted style, you will get a lot of wear out of them. I opted not to buy an expensive pair of maternity jeans and instead bought a few cheap, regular options. This look shows the skinnies paired with a fitted tank, green scarf, gold hoop earrings, shades and Tom’s. This same look would be great with boots or pumps and a blazer.

Maxis are a must! I was pregnant through spring and summer my second time around. My daughter was born on August 1st. My favorite item to wear once the weather turned warm was a maxi dress. I bought a few from H&M and Forever 21. Some were my same size, others were a size larger. And they are forgiving and they stretch. Pair a maxi with an awesome hat, sandals, bangles and a scarf. Toss in a great bag and you are ready for shopping or lunch with girlfriends. The best thing about the maxi dress is it will fit after you are pregnant…and as I mentioned above, so will the accessories!

 

So, what are the must-have pieces?

  • Maternity leggings
  • Skinny jeans (low-rise)
  • Fitted long tanks
  • Maxi dresses (may fit during and after pregnancy)
  • Accessories!!!! Scarves, bangles, bags and hats.
  • Jackets, vests, cardigans! These can all be your regular size b/c they don’t need to button
Pin It
Email