What You’ll Need:

The white Chocolate Wafers or Chocolate Chips of your choice. I used white chocolate chips, but dark or milk chocolate will work also.

A proper Hot Chocolate Bomb Mold from Amazon – I got these one and I was happy. This is the large size (watch the sizes offered) – while they seemed smaller than what I was expecting, they were still big enough. They fit nicely into a cup or a cupcake liner (which is the way to present these)

Sprinkles – I love these multi-colored 6 in one sprinkles (real bang for your buck)

White Cookie Icing

Cupcake liners

Sanding Sugar sprinkles – I used red but also had pink

Hot Chocolate Mix – I used one packet to fill 3 spheres. These also look like they’d work.

Pink Heart Marshmallows – I used them from the Lucky Charms Marshmallow pack – I also found these

Pastry Brush

A spoon

Instructions:

I melted chocolate chips. I used white chocolate chips, but you can use chocolate wafers or dark or milk chocolate chips.

Then take your hot chocolate mold. If you have the silicone egg bites mold, this will still work, but I found it so much easier using the proper hot chocolate bomb mold.

Use a spoon or a small pastry brush to cover the mold with your chocolate – make sure you have it fully covered. I found I had to go back a couple time to make sure I got every inch of my molds. Remember you need two sides to make one hot chocolate bomb!
Then pop it in the freezer for around 30 minutes.

Because I used a proper mold, they popped out really easily and intact – definitely not like the silicone egg bites mold (which I had to run under water to release).

This was a smoother process, but be careful, your hot chocolate bomb pieces are still delicate.

Then add your hot chocolate mix, sprinkles and marshmallows inside of one of your hot chocolate bomb spheres. I found that one packet will fill at least 3 spheres.

Then take the tops of the spheres that don’t have the hot chocolate in them and melt on a hot pan for a few seconds (one at a time) and then place on top of your hot chocolate bomb to make it whole.

I admit this wasn’t as easy as I thought and one of my hot chocolate bombs was melting a little. I had to brush some more chocolate on.

You can stick it back in the freezer for a few minutes or if it’s sealed to your liking, just start decorating them.
I used white cookie icing to draw designs and then I dusted sprinkles on top. Even if you screw up a little and some of them aren’t so pretty, just add sprinkles and no one will notice!

To Serve:

Place in a large mug and pour hot milk or water over it! It’s so fun to serve and the perfect treat to serve! It’s hard to get romantic now, while we’re in quarantine, so make a batch of these, serve to the kids after dinner and then save two to enjoy with your honey as you connect and gaze into each’s other’s eyes.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Enjoy these romantic Valentine’s Day Hot Chocolate Bombs!

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In the story, a man named Nomax is down on his luck and on his way to a self-destructive path, taking up drinking and smoking. He doesn’t treat his girlfriend well and she leaves him. Five guys named Moe (No Moe, Eat Moe, Big Moe, Little Moe and Four-Eyed Moe) appear before him. They call him out on his behavior and try to straighten him out.

The 25 songs featured in the show – all full-length – are diverse and in a variety of genres, ranging from 50’s to Doo-Wop to Calypso. The lyrics are often comical and the melodies catchy.

I recently saw the show at WBT and loved the energy in the room. All five “Moe’s” had contagious charisma and energy. Napoleon M. Douglas who played Nomax was also a delight to watch. He has an amazing voice and played the role of a guy down on his luck with beautiful restraint. One of the big highlights of the show for me was his solo, I know What I’ve Got.

Towards the end of the first act the audience were encouraged to participate: stand up, dance and sing the crowd-pleaser, Push Ka Pi Shi Pie (words are provided). This was really fun way to end the first act.

The second act included the famous Caldonia – also with audience participation. The show ended with the show-stopper – literally and figuratively – Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby? It was a stunningly beautiful rendition.

Aside from the six performers, the band was also on the stage, which was a nice change from other shows at WBT, where the band is often hidden. The food was, as always, very good and very fresh.

This show was super fun and you may find yourself singing “Push Ka Pi Shi Pie” on your way home.

Photos by John Vecchiolla

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for nineteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids, ages 13, 10 and 7.

The post Five Guys Named Moe at Westchester Broadway Theatre: A Feel-Good Show with Great Songs! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I read King Lear in high school many many years ago and to be perfectly honest I haven’t re-read it since. Yet as soon as the play began everything started coming back to me and Shakespeare’s immortal dialogue and timeless story immediately came back, as if it never left me!

The story – for anyone who needs a quick refresher – is about a king who divides his kingdom among his three daughters but when his youngest daughter refuses to flatter him his disowns her and banishes her from the kingdom. He learns that his older daughters don’t love him as he thought. Meanwhile, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester deceives his father into thinking that his real son is plotting against him. Like Lear, Gloucester also learns the truth in the end.

I liked the clever idea of having the young girl be a part of the play. To show that she is viewing the play from a girls’ perspective, Beth Ann Hopkins, who adapted and directed this version, has made some alterations to the text: she included throughout the dialogue writings from famous works by Lewis Carroll, Emily Dickinson, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Dylan Thomas. As an English major I was, of course, delighted but you don’t need to have extensive knowledge of literature to get the references, as most are famous quotes from very famous works. In a sense, the play is a “love letter” to English Literature.

As director, Hopkins was also very inventive and made good use of a seemingly simple set design and cleverly-used props to create unforgettable visuals. The cast is led by Louis Butelli as the tragic Lear who was phenomenal. Other notable performances were Sarah Dacey, Charles and Venessa Butler who played men’s roles (Gloucester and Cornwall, respectively) and Noelle Franco, who stole the show with her charming rendition of the fool (also a male character coincidentally).

The performance is two and a half hours, plus two short intermissions. I would recommend it for kids 13 and older.

When: Through September 22, 2019

Where: A.R.T./New York Theaters
Gural Theatre (3rd floor)
502 W. 53rd St. (btwn 10th & 11th Ave.)

Price: $15-$30 per person

To purchase tickets click here.

Photos by Evan Felts

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets. 

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for nineteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids, ages 12, 10 and 6.

The post Theater Review – Lear: That Old Man I Used to Know appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Mambo Italiano is a musical which is based on a movie which is based on a play. Try saying that three times. Basically, what this means is that it’s a compelling story and people across the board can relate to its theme: what happens when an older generation has to learn to accept a younger generation. This theme can be applied to almost every family’s personal history; it’s a part of life; and it’s incredibly funny to watch it happen to a warm Italian family, with all its quirks and shenanigans.

The story revolves around the Barbieri family which consists of aging grandparents and their two grandchildren, who all work in the family’s Italian restaurant. Similarly to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, one of the grandchildren wants to quit the family business. The other follows and the grandparents eventually find out something about their grandchild that turns their world upside-down.

Mambo Italiano is a hysterical broad comedy, with some slapstick humor and ethnic jokes – book written by Jean Cheever and Tom Polum (Polum also directed). I would recommend it for kids ages 14 and older as there are some pretty raunchy lyrics by Omri Schein (“he put his prosciutto in Rita the Puto”). Music by James Olmstead is perfect for the show – upbeat in the first act and more melodramatic in the second act when the show takes a more dramatic turn and the songs are more heartfelt and emotional. 

The cast of fourteen, spearheaded by Broadway veterans Bill Nolte and Joy Hermalyn as Gino and Maria, the grandparents, was superb, as was the live band. Nolte was the perfect “ethnic grandfather” and his operatic voice was an absolute pleasure to listen to. I wish he had more solos. Hermalyn brought the house down with her powerhouse voice, especially when she sang “Family” in the second act.

The first act had Diana DiMarzio as Lina who stole the show with her incredible vocal skills and theatrics in “Mama’s Cannelloni”. The second act was just as funny but much more sentimental with some unforgettable moments, such as “Family”, mentioned above, Gino telling his grandchildren about their mother and of course the finale song –  Mambo Italiano, which had the cast dancing around in the aisles and was a huge crowd-pleaser. No doubt, it would have made Rosemary Clooney proud.

I love the concept of dinner theater: you come in, eat, watch a show. One and done. Boom. No need to look for a place to eat, make sure you get the food on time not to miss the show, etc. I can’t tell you how many times I was in the theater district and had to ask our server to rush our food because we were running late to a show, scarf down a pizza right outside the theater and, in one case, go on an empty stomach. Dinner theater solves so many problems and at an affordable price.

The menu is prix-fixe and changes according to the show. For Mambo Italiano there was an emphasis on Italian food, of course. We started out with a fresh Caesar salad (plus delicious roll and cornbread) and then chose from a variety of entrees. There’s always at least one vegetarian dish (my husband had the Eggplant Parm; I had a filet of sole in lemon butter sauce – both were good) and there’s a dessert (peach melba, which was heavenly, especially the vanilla ice cream). For an extra fee you can opt for an appetizer, an extra dessert or a drink. Coffee and tea are always included. The servers were very courteous, quick and efficient and everyone was done with their meal before the show started so there was no unnecessary movement or noise. I loved the stadium seating – you get a great view from anywhere!

Dinner and a show are $61-91, plus tax, per person which is a really good deal as the show alone is likely worth as much, considering the quality of the performance. I personally loved the comfort and convenience of having everything at one place and not running around and it was just a really fun  and stress-free experience.

Mambo Italiano is playing through September 29th. Click here to learn more and to purchase tickets.

Photos of performers courtesy of John Vecchiolla

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets 

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 12, 10 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

The post Catch Mambo Italiano the Musical at Westchester Broadway Theatre appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

New York City in the summer is a treat. The whirling bustle of the city actually slows down to a dull roar and people stop their frenetic place. Catching a drink or a meal al fresco is a must, and everyone just seems to be more relax. New Yorkers relaxed? Yes, it actually happens! We let the kids stay up late and we all sleep in a little. Summer in the city can be so much fun too! But there’s one thing that doesn’t exactly take time off — my bladder leakage issue. So, while I’m enjoying myself this summer, I always make sure that I am protected with Depend and that I’ve scoped out the bathroom facilities ahead of time.
Here’s my list of fun summertime NYC activities you can do either with your friends or your family, all while keeping yourself ahead of any bladder leakage issues. Where To Find a Bathroom While You’re Exploring New York CityMy Favorite NYC Summer Activities & Tips on Easily Finding a Restroom Around NYC Where To Find a Bathroom While You’re Exploring NYC

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Broadway Shows

I love seeing Broadway musical any time of the year, but in the summer, when things are more relaxed, I try to see more shows. And yes, the cheaper seats are just as good! As long as I get to see a show, I’m happy! When I walk into the theatre, I immediately ask where the closest bathroom to my seat is and I go before the show and right after the show (everyone is using the restroom during the intermission and I hate to wait on long lines). Also, if you have to use the bathroom as you are on the way to your show, find a nice restaurant and then walk in confidently and scoot right into the restroom — I’ve done this many times. Check out my BEETLEJUICE review, The Play That Goes Wrong review (totally great for kids), BEAUTIFUL The Carole King Musical, and Pretty Woman the Musical Review. BEETLEJUICE and Pretty Woman are not skewed for kids, just keep that in mind. For BEETLEJUICE, if you are on the Orchestra level, there’s a handicapped bathroom right near the drinks cart on the back left. Pretty Woman, which is unfortunately closing in August won’t let you in early to use the bathroom, there’s a cute restaurant right to the left of the theatre that you can sneak into. If it’s possible, I try to grab dinner in the Theatre District first. Try to eat around 2 – 2 ½ hours before your show starts, you may have to wait for your table! There are so many great places to eat! Favorites in the area are Nizza, Trattoria Daniela, and John’s Pizza. Bring your appetite!

Central Park

I love Central Park! I try to go in by either by the Plaza or by Columbus Circle. I always stop near one of the fast-casual restaurants near either the Plaza or the Time Warner Center to use the facilities and then I’ll hit the park for an hour. If I’m with my family, then we’ll let the kids run around on the grass or if I’m with a friend, we’ll stroll and people watch. There are bathrooms around the park, but I usually prefer to go before I get to the park and then when I leave.

Street Fairs

Street Fairs are so much fun! There are street fairs in NYC just around every weekend. I love strolling along and looking at all the fun things for sale. There’s always a restaurant or a coffee shop that I can use the restrooms at. I’ll try to time my visits with getting a snack or an iced beverage.

Cruises to Nowhere

Sometimes it’s just fun to get on a boat and ride around The Big Apple.We love the Hornblower Dinner Cruises because they are just one big party! The food is always delicious and the dancing is a blast!. Plus, there are easily accessible and spotless restrooms! Read our review here and here.

Bronx Zoo

I’ve been a fan of the Bronx Zoo since I was a kid and my grandfather used to take me there. Now, I love to take my family or a friend and spend the day. There are TONS of clean bathrooms, so I keep a map on me and note where the bathrooms are as we stroll. I make it a point not to have a set itinerary at the Bronx Zoo – we simple pick a few animals, pull out the map and just start walking. Read my Family Guide to the Bronx Zoo.

THE RIDE Interactive NYC Experience

Riding a Tourist Bus in NYC is a real treat, but The Ride takes it to the next level with it’s interactive experience. However, it’s only around an hour and leaves from Times Square. There’s no bathroom on board, but there’s a Starbucks and a bunch of restaurants right near where it leaves from. Duck in one of those places to use the restroom! Check out my review with video!

I hope you get to check out some of the fun NYC activities on my list! Nearly 65 million Americans experience bladder leakage in one form or another, but bladder leakage doesn’t have to get in the way of living a confident, uninterrupted life.

If you experience incontinence, join The Incontinence Community on Facebook to connect with others, get advice and even share your own tips: http://bit.ly/InconCommunity.

Photo credit for NYC Photo Where To Find a Bathroom While You’re Exploring New York City

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

More New York City Content

King Kong on Broadway: It’s Not a Show, It’s an Experience! (+ Discount Code)

The Downtown Experience: An Unforgettable Multi-Media Experience of Lower Manhattan

Gulliver’s Gate: A Magical Land of Miniatures in Times Square

https://www.themamamaven.com/the-tour/

The post Where To Find a Bathroom While You’re Exploring New York City appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I love musicals and when I can have a fun time watching them, so it was no surprise that I greatly enjoyed BEETLEJUICE on Broadway. The actors shone (especially the hysterical Alex Brightman who plays the titular role), the sets, lighting, and effects were top notch, and I loved the music. This is one show you need to see, read on to see why. BEETLEJUICE Musical on Broadway: It’s A Scarily Good Time!

BEETLEJUICE tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and slightly depressed teen who loses her mother. Then she moves to the house, where the Maitlands lived (and died) and then Beetlejuice. She bonds with the Maitlands but starts wishing that her father and Lydia’s life coach/Father’s secret girlfriend Delia would just leave her alone. She makes a deal with Beetlejuice that she regrets after a song or two to scare away living. Then she works with the Maitlands to stop Beetlejuice — there’s a shrunken head, a little “Shake Shake Shake Senora, a trip to the Netherworld, and a rather large sandworm involved. 

You may remember Alex Brightman as the original Dewey in School of Rock. He’s got a big personality and handled the role of Beetlejuice really well. A mix of outgoing and inappropriate, he really had us all hooked. He serves as the narrator/guide in the show and then his role changes into major cast member/villain. While the show is different from the movie, there are a lot of similar elements and plots. I couldn’t help feel for Beetlejuice because we saw what contributed to who he became – which was a big departure from the movie. The actress who plays Lydia (Sophia Anne Caruso) is delightful, Leslie Kritzer who plays Delia is hysterical and totally channels Catherine O’Hara’s voice, and Adam and Barbara Maitland (played by Rob McClure and Kerry Butler) are so likable, even when they are trying to be scary ghosts. BEETLEJUICE Musical on Broadway: It’s A Scarily Good Time!

BEETLEJUICE is directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers, with an original score by Eddie Perfect (you may recognize him from his role as Mick Holland on Australia’s Offspring series – streaming on Netflix), a book by Scott Brown & Emmy Award nominee Anthony King, music supervision, orchestrations and incidental music by Kris Kukul, and choreography by Connor Gallagher.

This is a wonderful show for adults – either a fun, date night option or with friends/family. Note: I wouldn’t recommend this for kids, as there was some jokes and bits that were really better for an older audience – but every show we review doesn’t have to be for kids. Recommended audience is 10+, but I think older teens would do better with this than my younger kids (who, admittedly may not “Get” some of the jokes. I had a terrific time at BEETLEJUICE and couldn’t stop laughing. In fact, I may go see it again.

Ticket prices range from $59-$179 (include a $2 facility fee) and recommended for ages 10+. Also, nominated for 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical!

Website: https://beetlejuicebroadway.com

The post BEETLEJUICE Musical on Broadway: It’s A Scarily Good Time! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Indeed, the show felt like a 4D experience. The plot is based, albeit somewhat loosely, on the original famous 1933 film. The crew travels to a faraway land to film a movie and comes across King Kong, a gigantic gorilla, who falls in love with the beautiful star of the film, Ann Darrow. The director decides to take King Kong back to New York and throughout the story the use of special effects not only helps move the plot along, but also give the viewers an experience they typically don’t get at a Broadway performance. For example, when the crew was on the boat a part of the boat moved on stage and so did the background screen, which created the feeling that you are also moving in your seat. I felt like I was actually on the boat with the performers. When King Kong was running down the streets with Ann Darrow in Manhattan – I felt like I was running along with them. And when they climb up the Empire State Building I felt like I was also moving in my seat.

King Kong himself was able to move thanks to a group of puppeteers. Having them on stage did not take away from the magic – it enhanced it, because they were able to convey with their bodies how King Kong was feeling, together with his own life-like facial features. Speaking of life-like features, King Kong’s voice is very, very loud. The entire theater shook when he growled. Very young kids would be terrified and I recommend it for mature kids, ages 8 and up.

Christiani Pitts, in the role of Ann Darrow, had a stunning, versatile voice, which she showcased throughout the many musical numbers. The songs were perfect for the theme and mood of the show, although for this production, I felt that the music took a step back, so to speak, in order to allow the visuals to shine because that was really the main focus of the entire show. The audience came to see state-of-the-art, ground-breaking technology and sets that take it to a whole other level and King Kong did not disappoint; the special effects left me (and the rest of the audience) literally speechless.

King Kong is two-and-a-half hours long, including an intermission and is currently playing at the Broadway Theater, 1681 Broadway @53rd St. Click here to purchase tickets.

Use discount code KKPMV129, valid for performances through Sept. 1, 2019 via this link.

Photos by Matthew Murphy

This post is made possible by support from King Kong Broadway. All opinions are my own. King Kong Discount

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 12, 9 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

The post King Kong on Broadway: It’s Not a Show, It’s an Experience! (+ Discount Code) appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Photo by Joan Marcus

The show revolves around Carole King, her rise to stardom and her relationship with her then-husband Gerry Goffin. It’s about how the songs that Carole wrote together with Gerry reflected various periods in her life. One of the main themes in the story is going after your dreams, having them change a few times along the way and finding new dreams. The show ends with Carole finding her own voice (literally and figuratively) and coming out with Tapestry, an album that proved to the world what she is capable of.

Photo by Joan Marcus

The performance that I attended had understudy Sara Sheperd portraying Carole; it was spectacular and so was Sara. Her voice had an incredible range and it was such a pleasure to listen to her belt out the nonstop hits. She physically also seemed to embody Carole King. It’s a funny thing about Broadway: even if you get the understudy, you still get a world-class performer. You can’t find this anywhere else in the world, it is truly a phenomenon.

Photo by Zachary Maxwell Sterz

There’s a number of musicals that are about musicians and how they became famous. I have seen a few, including Jersey Boys, which is about Frankie Valli and On Your Feet, about the life of Gloria Estefan. Both shows were excellent in their own way; what sets Beautiful apart is that there’s an added dimension which allows the audience to get a glimpse of Carole King’s inner feelings and what drives her. For example, the part where she’s watching a performance of a song that she wrote – One Fine Day, performed by a singer named Janelle  – Carole is suddenly singing the song on her own. When we realize that she is singing about her own life and how the song relates to her  – this is Broadway at its finest. Simply put, the show has heart. Miles ‘n miles ‘n miles of heart.

Beautiful is playing at the Stephen Sondheim Theater, 124 West 43rd St, NYC. For tickets you can call Telecharge (212) 239-6200 or click here. It’s appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.

Photo by Zachary Maxwell Sterz

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 11, 9 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

The post Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway – Filled with Upbeat Music and High Emotions appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

The stage is set at The Lounge, a hidden library on 47th and 8th with over 15,000 real books and craft cocktails. 5 professional NY actors meet as members of “The Drunk Shakespeare Society”. One of them has at least 5 shots of whiskey and then overconfidently attempts to perform a major role in a Shakespearean play. Hilarity and mayhem ensue while the four sober actors try and keep the script on track. Every show is different depending on who is drinking… and what they’re drinking!

The show is 90 minutes long and for age 21 and older (photo ID required). Craft cocktails are available for purchase during the show.

When: Until September 29th, 2018. Click here for showtimes.

Where: The Lounge at 777 Theatre
777 8th Avenue, 2nd floor

Price: $29-$45 with discount below:

To purchase tickets click here and use code: DRUNKSHAKES

We are excited to be giving away a pair of tickets to the show!

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 11, 9 and 5) and loves finding great products for her family.

The post Date Night Idea: Drunk Shakespeare appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

When you first walk in you enter the Hall of Arms, filed with Medieval decor. There are shops with merchandise all related to the Middle Ages and you can also get your picture taken to purchase later (some photos are included in the upgrade packages).

The shops sold everything related to the era:

When it’s time to enter the show, you enter an arena and get seated at your table. There are no bad seats – it’s stadium seating so even if there’s someone tall in front of you, you will still see well.

The show begins very dramatically, with smoke, light strobe effects and dramatic music. There are knights on horses, princesses, kings and even a falcon that flies around the audience.

When the show begins we meet all the knights and cheer for the knight that represents your section. Ours was the black and white knight.

Before the jousting tournament begins, the horses perform tricks and the knights perform some cool tricks on their own. In between, they head to the princess who throws flowers to them. They, in turn, throw the flowers out to the audience.

As part of the story, the master of ceremonies calls the king to round up the knights for the tournament.

King Carlos and the knights:

The highlight of the show is the jousting tournament and while I was at first worried that my kids (especially my four-year-old) will be seeing a violent tournament, I was pleasantly surprised. The “fighting” is more playful than real. When a knight “wounds” another knight, he simply places his sword on the knight’s body and the knight falls down. The “wounded” knight then gets up and walks slowly off stage, with the help of his attendant, pretending to be injured. There’s no fake blood or anything gory, it’s more of a sport than a fight. The actors train for months and you can tell – they were absolutely amazing and the chorography was top-notch!

The food was surprisingly good. I selected the vegetarian option and enjoyed pita bread, crudites and humus, as well as a delicious bean and rice soup and sides. There was also coffee and cake for dessert. For meat eaters there’s chicken, sides, garlic bread and coffee and dessert as well. Keep in mind that the utensils are minimal, similar to the way things were back in that era.

Visit Medieval Times to learn more and to purchase tickets.

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 8 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier. 

The post A Fun Afternoon at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

For those of you who have never heard of an “escape room”, basically you get locked in a room and use clues to solve puzzles and riddles in order to figure out how to escape it. We recently visited Hoodwinked Escape and had the time of our lives trying to escape the room! 

I want to keep the challenges a secret so this is one of those rare posts on The Mama Maven where I can’t really describe much of what I did. Here’s what I can tell you: I took my daughter and friends to Hoodwinked Escape and we went into one of the rooms: Spy Academy. A woman greeted us and explained a few rules – it was as if we were students in a spy academy and had a mission. We were referred to as “agents”. Once the woman left and locked the door we had about an hour to escape the room – there were locked drawers and a variety of challenging riddles and puzzles that we had to solve.

There were different clues around the room that we had to put together to try and figure out how to get out of the room. Each time we solved a challenge it led up to another which led to anther, so it was very rewarding to solve all of the puzzles. My daughter and her friend turned out to be very resourceful and really surprised us with their out-of-the-box thinking and ideas!

At the end we were not able to complete the mission but we were very, very close. It felt like we got a workout for our brains and the entire time I felt like I was in a Mission Impossible movie – many of the puzzles were high-tech and very clever and it really felt good to know that I helped figure them out. We worked as a team and helped each other solve the challenges – each person had their own talents and skills and the girls, ages 9 and 10, worked really hard and more than put in their fair share. They were so thrilled with their experience, they’re already planning to come back!

Hoodwinked Escape is mainly for adults but kids ages 10 and older will be able to solve many of the challenges (you can also ask to modify some challenges and make them a little easier). You have about an hour in the room and you can ask for 3 clues. There is a camera in the room so the employees can monitor you at all times so you’re not really alone. There are 2-8 people in a room so unless you book all tickets you may be in the room with people you don’t know.

Aside from Spy Academy (the challenge level is hard), there are three more rooms to escape from: Spirit of Harlem (which is perfect for multi-generations, challenge level is easy), the Hangover room (which is more for young adults and gets altered to make it appropriate for kids, challenge level is easy) and The Experiment (for all ages, challenge level is medium). Hoodwinked Escape is perfect for date night, birthday celebrations and family gatherings.

Visit Hoodwinked Escape to learn more and to book a room.

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 8 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier. S

The post Family Activity: We Did the Hoodwinked Escape the Room Challenge! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

The countdown is on and we’re busy getting our party hats ready to count down to 2017. 

We usually celebrate at home, but a few years ago we made the mistake of letting our kids stay up to watch the ball drop. They were tired and whiny and so exhausted the next day. So, a couple of years ago, when Netflix came out with their on demand New Year’s Eve countdowns, I was thrilled. We were able to have the new year start at 9pm, as opposed to 12am. Big difference! We rang in the new year together and celebrated together and then sent the kids to bed, so Mr. Maven and I could have alone time to ring in the new year! 

Now, you could look at this as tricking kids, but they do know that this isn’t the Times Square Ball dropping and seeing their fave King Julien countdown to the new year is pretty appealing. Staying up to midnight isn’t up for discussion – even for my oldest, who is 11. Next year we may have to give in, but not this year!

This year, the most famous 10 seconds of the year are back on Netflix with 10 new countdowns based on some of your kids’ favorite shows: Word Party, Puffin Rock, Luna Petunia, Beat Bugs, All Hail King Julien, Skylanders Academy, DreamWorks Trollhunters, Project Mc2, Fuller House and Chasing Cameron.

So, celebrate New Year’s Eve with your kids and then set the countdown any time you want (you can even show all 10 countdowns!)

The next morning, here’s some ideas of Netflix shows your kids can watch while you get some more zzz’s. 

Sing in the new year with Puffin Rock.

For a limited time only, the Puffin Rock Music! app is now available for a discounted price in the Apple and Google Play stores now through January 7. Just search ‘Puffin Rock Music’ in your app store and join the Puffin Rock ensemble!

And sssh! 

Need a doorhanger to convince the kids to let you sleep in? Download the one below!

Netflix_ NYE_DoorHanger

Disclosure: I am a Netflix Stream Team Member. I am given product, certain opportunities, and I receive a free Netflix subscription in exchange for posting about Netflix. As always, all opinions are my own. W

The post How To Get Your Kids to Go to Bed on New Year’s Eve (Netflix Can Help) appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

When his father passes away and leaves him a failing shoe factory, Charlie forms a partnership with a drag queen named Lola and reinvents the factory as a boot manufacturing company. Charlie and Lola soon realize they have a lot more in common than they think and work together in preparation for a big show in Milan. But first, they have to work out some of their own kinks and learn a thing or two about accepting those who are different.

Deftly directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, La Cage aux Folles, Hairspray & The Fully Monty), Kinky Boots’ piece de resistance is its music. Composer & lyricist is none other than Cyndi Lauper. As someone who went to high school in the late 80’s, Cyndi Lauper holds a soft spot in my heart, but even I was surprised she can pull off a musical, let alone do it all by herself. An eclectic mix, the songs ranged from ballads to upbeat showstoppers with music so infectious that I was dancing in my seat during most of the songs. In fact, I had to fight myself from getting up and dancing.

But captivating music isn’t Kinky Boots’ only appeal. The book, written by Harvey Fierstein (Newsies, Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage aux Folles) expertly uses comedy to send a message about acceptance of those who are different in general, and of the LGBT community in particular. And delivering this message are two hugely talented performers: YouTube superstar Todrick Hall (The Color Purple) as Lola and Aaron C. Finley (Rock of Ages) as Charlie.

As expected, Todrick Hall did steal the show. But his part was created to do just that. Aaron C. Finley had the more “boring” job: to act as the extreme opposite of Lola. Finley held his own beautifully and with poise. With a rather wide vocal range, he shined in a short duet with Hall(“Not My Father’s Son”) and captivated with one of the most touching and memorable moments of the show (“The Soul of a Man”). Hall is the heart of the show, and rightfully so, but Finley is its soul. While Hall grabbed the audience and kept us at the edge of our seat, Finley kept us staying on for something that was more than fun, but rather thought-provoking. “The Soul of a Man” was one of the strongest numbers of the show and a pivotal moment for both character and audience and Finley nailed it.

The finale was very uplifting and satisfying. At the Milan show, did Charlie and Lola end up getting what they wanted – buyers for their boots? Who knows? But they got something much more important- and what every minority group strives for – acceptance.

As they say in Kinky Boots, whether you’re ladies, gentlemen, or those who are still deciding…go see the show! You’ll be glad you did!

Kinky Boots is now playing the Al Hirschfeld Theater
302 West 45th Street
(between 8th & 9th Avenue)

To purchase tickets click here or call (877) 250-2929

You can also purchase tickets at the box office:
Mon-Sat: 10am-8pm
Sun: Noon-6pm

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for the Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 9, 7 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Kinky Boots on Broadway: You’ll Just Want to Have Fun! (+ Discount) appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

You can always count on The Mama Maven team to give you a heads up for the best deals in Manhattan and we’ve just discovered Groupon Things To do – an incredibly easy way to get the biggest deals on fun things to do in your area, from events such as comedy clubs, festivals and shows, to sightseeing tours, sporting events and concerts.

Groupon Things To Do zeroes in on local activities and events specific to your area. This means that you can finally afford to go to a show you have been wanting to see, or even just hang out on a Saturday morning and figure out what you’ll do for that day. You can book things in advance or last-minute, whatever suits your plans. This is especially handy when you have guests coming in from out-of-town and want to impress them with the best your town can offer, or when you want to do something special but don’t want to pay full-price.

Since I’m near Manhattan I looked up to see what type of deals I can get and was astounded to find massive discounts on unique activities, such as $29 for a wine-tasting class (instead of $80), $12 for the Brooklyn Lobster Fest (instead of $19.59), $10 for two tickets to a show at Comic Strip Live (instead of $40) and $19 for a boat tour around Manhattan (instead of $40). Pretty amazing, right? Head on over to Groupon Things To Do to see what’s cool -and affordable – in your neck of the woods!

Paint the Town Red with Groupon Things To Do

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 9, 7 and 3) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Paint the Town Red with Groupon Things To Do appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I recently went on a City Lights Cruise with my husband and it was everything I expected and then some. Here’s our experience:

The yacht: We had dinner on the lower part of the deck. There were a few tables on the upper deck, along with a bar, a DJ booth and a dancing area.

Upon arrival we were treated to hors d’ouvres: a variety of cheeses, fruit and crudites, along with a to-die-for dip which unfortunately I was unable to get the recipe for (it’s the chef’s secret). Each table had a bread basket, along with complimentary glasses of Champagne.

The food was very good. We selected an appetizer (salad for my husband, scallops for me) along with a main course (Eggplant Rollatini for my husband, salmon for me) and dessert (cheesecake and chocolate mousse). There’s also herbal tea and coffee available. For a fee, you can order other drinks, such as cocktails from the bar. The DJ played soft music while we ate. (Those are not us in the picture; not everyone gets a window table, but the views are abundant outside on the deck)

We spent almost the entire time on the deck. What I really loved about the cruise is that our waiter was very attentive and whenever our food was ready he came out looking for us to let us know. It was nice to go back inside to eat great food but as soon as we were done we went back outside to enjoy the breeze and the stunning views.

The daylight views were gorgeous. I loved looking at the different buildings. We sailed up to midtown and then back down again towards the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, circling around the harbor afterwards.

Of course the sunset views take the cake:

Downtown, with the Staten Island ferry getting ready to depart:

The Brooklyn Bridge is stunning from every angle:

We also saw the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island but the pictures did not come out so well. We did get lot of great views of the Freedom Tower:

At 9pm the DJ started playing more upbeat songs and some people danced. We preferred to sit outside see see more of this:

The New York City Lights cruises depart from Pier 40 in the West Village and are held on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from April-December, and on Saturdays only, January-March. Price is $125 per person. Visit the website to learn more.

I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary cruise. New York City Lights Cruise with Hornblower Cruises
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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 9, 7 and 3) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post New York City Lights Cruise with Hornblower Cruises appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

While I don't want to spoil the movie, here are the highlights:

Sandy (played by Jennifer Aniston) is a stressed-out, divorced mom who is trying to co-parent with ex-husband Timothy Olyphant (who is super foxy with grey hair). However, he has a new wife who's MUCH younger (played by Shay Mitchell). Sandy isn't pleased, to say the very least. She's friends with Jesse (played by Kate Hudson). Jesse and her sister (played by Sarah Chalke) are both moms and hiding some pretty big things from their parents, played by the hilarious Margo Martindale and Robert Pine. Bradley (played by the charming and funny Jason Sudeikis) is a widower who's trying to raise two daughters on his own. Television shopping host  Miranda (Julia Roberts) is too busy with her career to worry about having children. Kristin and Zack are a young couple with a baby. All the stories start to intersect and some pretty big problems come out — while yes, everything does get neatly wrapped up, I liked the movie. 

Take your mom (or your mom friends) to see this! http://fandan.co/mothersdaymovie

Huge thank you to Brianne of Stroller in the City, Fandango, and Lindt Chocolates for providing the screening, snacks and a gift bag. No compensation was received. 

@Fandango @Lindt_Chocolate as well as #SITCcelebratesMothersDay. Please also include this link when directing your readers to the movie http://fandan.co/mothersdaymovie. 

The post Celebrating Mother’s Day with Mother’s Day Movie & Stroller in the City appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Recently my husband and I had the opportunity to take in a performance of Beautiful, The Carole King Musical on Broadway in NYC. And it was amazing. As in — you NEED to see this. It’s so full of music that you won’t be able to help singing along to – from the songs that Carole King wrote with former husband Gerry Goffin for such groups as the Shirelles, the Drifters, and Little Eva to the songs she wrote and performed.
 

Beautiful tells the story of Carole King — but before she was “Carole King”, she was Carol Klein,a girl from Brooklyn. She skipped two years of school and was in college at 16. She fought her way into the songwriting business at 1650 Broadway (right near the Brill Building) and met her future husband, Gerry Goffin at College. They decided to team up (he writing lyrics and she writing the music). They meets Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, who are these biggest competition and become their best friends. After her life falls apart, she finds out that she is strong.

Chilina Kennedy stars as Carole King and she really has all of Carole’s facial expressions and mannerisms down. To me — Anika Larsen almost stole the show as the smart and beautiful Cynthia Weil. Her chemistry with partner, then husband Barry Mann (played by Jarrod Spector) was terrific. Another standout was Paul Anthony Stewart as Don Kirshner – I remember him from his days on the soap opera Loving. Carole’s mother, “Genie Klein” was portrayed by Tony® Award-nominee Liz Larsen.

Beautiful the Musical[/caption]

The ensemble includes Gisela Adisa, Ashley Blanchet, E. Clayton Cornelious, Joshua Davis, Kevin Duda, James Harkness, Aisha Jackson, Sara King, Rebecca LaChance, Douglas Lyons, Chris Peluso, Gabrielle Reid, Rashidra Scott, Sara Sheperd, Yasmeen Sulieman, Daniel Torres, Melvin Tunstall and Alan Wiggins.

The post Seeing Beautiful: The Carole King Musical appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

As a lover of live theater, shows in New York are top priority for me – we all know Broadway and many off-Broadway shows are the best of the best. However, these shows typically come with a hefty price tag and when you add kids and a husband…well, it just becomes a special-occasion treat.

TodayTix is a free app that gets you into Broadway and popular off-Broadway shows at a much more affordable price than most other vendors and it is quick and easy to use. Rather than wasting time figuring out charts and dates, this app does it all for you and you can even avoid waiting at will call to pick up your tickets. Here’s how it works:

You download the app on the Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon Apps. The app, as mentioned, is free and works with iPhone or Android. Once you open the app you will see a list of shows, prices and available dates for today or this coming week (it doesn’t work for more advanced dates). You can also do a search by date, type of show and price.

When you select a show you can read a short synopsis, length of show and age recommendation for kids. There’s also a video, address of theater and critics’ reviews. Most importantly, you get a list of available dates and prices. Once you click on a date you can then select the amount of tickets and which part of the theater you’d like to sit (i.e. balcony, orchestra, etc), with the appropriate price.

For some shows you can’t pick specific seats – you get best seats available for shows called Concierge Shows. But you always get seated together and you can also view the last three customers’ seats for that specific show, so it will kind of give you an idea of where you’ll sit.

Once you click on “checkout” you do a quick “sign up” – just put your name, email and password. Add credit card info and that’s it! All you have to do is show up and your tickets will be hand-delivered to you outside the theater 30 minutes before the show. I used the app for tickets to On the Town and it took me less than one minute for the entire process!

When I got to the theater I was greeted by a uniformed TodayTix concierge agent just outside the theater who handed me my tickets to On the Town. The show, a classic musical comedy, is a love note to New York set in the 40s’. It’s about three sailors who are on a 24-hour shore leave and experience the city, while searching for love. The catchy, fun music by Leonard Bernstein and the superb choreography sealed the deal for me; I found the show breathtakingly entertaining. And my seats, by the way, were amazing!

Here’s a video from the show:

Click here to learn more about TodayTix.

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 8, 5 and 2) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Discount Broadway Tickets at the Touch of a Button? Yes, Please! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

A woman walks onto a stage; she sits on a couch in a ridiculous pose that’s supposed to be seductive, readjusts herself into an even more ridiculous pose and waits, garnering uproarious laughter from the audience. This is how The Cottage begins and thus the tone is set for the rest of the play. This past weekend I saw it at Queens Theater and for about two hours I sat entranced and amused by the hysterical play.

I can’t decide if The Cottage is supposed to be a farce or a parody. The setting is in the 1920’s in the English countryside and so the characters all speak with British accents that are most likely intentionally horrible. The group of six is led by Michelle Federer, the star of the show, who is also the most talented one, with impeccable comic delivery and hysterical facial expressions. She plays a woman who is having an affair with her husband’s brother and decides one morning to send a telegram to her husband and sister-in-law to tell them about it. What happens afterwards is very surprising for both her and the audience and there are more surprises in store, which I won’t give away. What I will say is that all six actors are perfect for their roles and use body language and facial expressions in a manner that will get you to at least smile, if not laugh out loud.

The well-written play by playwright/actor/comedienne Sandy Rustin is peppered with jokes throughout. While it’s not supposed to be a realistic play and the characters are more like caricatures than real people, the issues they are dealing with – true love, faithfulness and destiny – are very real and easy to identify with. At times the play seems like a long and funny Saturday Night Live sketch, at others, more like a Broadway play (the scenic design and costumes are very impressive). Regardless of what it is, it’s good entertainment and pure pleasure to watch. It’s playing this weekend only so be sure to go see it!

When: 11/14/14 – 2pm & 8pm
11/15/14 – 2pm & 8pm
11/16/14 – 3pm

Where: 14 United Nations Avenue South
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens

Price: $25-$42

To purchase tickets click here or call at box office (718) 760-0064

Photos by Mark Levine

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 2) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Love, Lust & Laughter: Don’t Miss ‘The Cottage” at Queens Theatre appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

New Yorkers are known for their love of the Sunday brunch: bagels & lox, fresh fruit, pastries & croissants…I could go on. Another thing New Yorkers love is seeing the glorious Manhattan skyline on a clear, sunny day. With the Champagne Brunch Sail at Manhattan by Sail they can do both. I recently went on one of the brunch sails with my husband as a “daytime date” and we both loved the experience!

The Shearwater Classic Schooner is a beautiful sailboat that was hand built in 1929.

The spread was gorgeous, fresh and delicious. There was enough selection even for vegetarians, like my husband and pescatarians, like me. There was yogurt parfaits, croissants, quiches, fresh fruit & veggies, lox, bagels with cream cheese, butter and jelly, wraps, mini brioche sandwiches, champagne, mimosas, oj, coffee, tea and more.

The food was constantly replenished by the friendly staff.

There’s unlimited champagne so my husband and I indulged ourselves with mimosas.

Here are some of the incredible views:

The captain and crew:

We ended the sail on a sweet note with a platter of muffins and danishes.The Brunch Sail departs every Sunday at 11am until October 26th (The Shearwater will return on April 26, 2015). Sail lasts two hours and costs $95 per person.

Click here to make a reservation and here to see other sails of the Shearwater.

I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary sail.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 2) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Delicious Food & Unbeatable Views With Manhattan by Sail’s Champagne Brunch Sail appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I was recently treated to a great evening at the Olive Garden in Times Square to promote a range of new menu options. If location is everything in real estate, the Times Square location has it made.

It is essentially an island right in the middle of all the action. The views are great in every direction and it was no surprise when they told us that they are swamped at 2pm leading up to New Year’s Eve because it must be spectacular setting for the show.

We started things off with the first batch of their famous breadsticks along with the first drinks. The drinks were very inventive and every type could be made into a frozen alternative (that sounded perfect to me). Then we got to business with course after course, with a few appetizers, followed by main courses and then topped off with dessert. We were fairly warned to pace ourselves and I did okay in that department, at least to start.

I managed not to go overboard on the crispy risotto balls, the wings or the salad.

However, the smashed chicken meatball sandwich was begging me for seconds. From there, I took some good sized portions of delicious main courses until the Pappardelle Pescatore arrived.

That was almost cruelly left to the second to last course because it was so good I had to soldier on and have a good portion. Then I realized I had made a huge mistake because I could only eat part of the pumpkin cheesecake.

Still, I don’t have any regrets.

Although my kids weren’t with me, I would like to note that there are a good variety of very fairly priced options for kids. There are lighter dishes as well, including the Garlic Rosemary Chicken, which was very good.

There are even some gluten free options.

Thank you to the Olive Garden for providing this tasting. 

The post Olive Garden Debuts New Menu Options appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

This year, with going back to work and my kids all in school(ages 4, 6 1/2, and almost 9), it’s time for me to really take care of myself. And that also involves looking good. I haven’t been happy with my hair for a while — I used to have very thick hair and after giving birth three times, it’s much thinner than I’d like. I was asked to try out Secret Extensions and was thrilled by the idea.

This is how they work:

Take them out of the package (you may want to use 1, 2 or even 3 sets.). Two sets were right for me. My hair is brown, but highlighted blonde. The dark blonde and dark golden blonde matched my color exactly. I also have brown on hand (for when I go a little darker in winter).

They slip on just like a headband (it’s a clear string) and then you pull your hair over it to make it blend together. That’s it. No clips, you don’t sew them in. It seriously takes a second.

Since my hair is shorter, I curled my hair in the back and pinned it up on the sides for a fun look. I plan to cut them a little bit and use them for for volume, than for length.

Check out the official video with Daisy Fuentes:

Overall, I was really pleased with Secret Extensions. They were easy to use, matched my hair color, and made me look great. Plus, they were easy to take on and off, and to maintain. You can curl or style the extensions. The Secret Extensions are 16 inches long. You can find them on Amazon.

Thank you to Secret Extensions for sponsoring this post and sending samples for review. This post contains affiliate links

The post Getting My Groove Back with Secret Extensions Hair Extensions appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Even though we don’t have to wash all our clothes by hand, walk hours to get water and cook from scratch with limited ingredients, life today as a mom has its own difficulties and pressures. Some pressures – like dealing with a baby that doesn’t sleep well – we can easily admit to. Others – like the pressure to give our children the best opportunities and maybe watch our children not reach their potential – we don’t always care to admit to. But that’s okay, the play Urban Momfare, currently playing at the FringeNYC festival does this for us. With intelligence, finesse, and lots and lots of humor. I recently attended a performance and while I was thoroughly entertained, most of all I felt relieved to hear others say the things that most of us are embarrassed to say.

Urban Momfare follows three women who live on the Upper East Side: Kate, a newcomer from Pittsburgh and her friends, Debbie and Ellen. The story takes place over the course of 17 years. It begins when Kate’s daughter, Charlotte, is a baby, and ends when she goes off to college. The three friends deal with nannies, divorces, problematic children and the pressures of being a modern mom and how it affects their own friendships. Throughout the show I constantly had that “Yeah, me too!” feeling. It sometimes felt like a good part of it was written about my own life. In fact, I don’t think there’s a single mom out there who won’t be able to identify with at least some of the issues. I don’t want to give away too much so I’ll just discuss some of the highlights that I think make the show worthwhile (not to mention that it’s also affordable). One of the most memorable scenes was of a class called “Music for Gifted and Talented Babies”, that highlighted how moms can be competitive and pushy about their kids and trying to have the “best kid”. I loved the song “I want a Superdad” – a perfect example that the grass is always greener. In dealing with the ambiguity that comes with having your first child – there was a great line in a song: “Everybody asks about the baby, nobody asks about me”. This was really easy to identify with, along with a line from another song: “Nobody wants to hear about your kids”.

Urban Momfare is a satire and the jokes fly at a mile a minute, but there were some bittersweet moments. One of the characters, Debbie, deals with a child with issues, who is likely autistic. Her song “A Child That’s Hard to Love” was very moving and brought me to tears. The talented cast is spearheaded by Pamela Weiler Grayson, who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book with Alice Jankell, who directed the show. Sarah Rosenthal as Charlotte, nearly stole the show – what a huge talent! She could really hold her own with the seasoned adults. I also want to mention Cheryl Howard, who was equally believable as an Upper East Side posh mom and a Caribbean nanny (accent and all).

Oftentimes shows begin with a great opening scene but then gradually get worse as the show progresses. In Urban Momfare, the show just got better and better. Each song was better than the one before, each punchline more poignant than the one before. The show, which runs for one hour and 35 minutes, is playing for only two more days, this Friday and Sunday and at a mere $18 per ticket it’s a steal!

When: Friday, August 22nd at 5:15pm
Sunday, August 24th at 3:30pm

Where: Theatre 80 (Venue #7)
80 St. Marks Place (between 1st and 2nd Avenue)

Price: $18 advance, $24 at the door.

To Purchase Tickets visit www.fringenyc.org

Photos by Dixie Sheridan

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 1) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Don’t Miss: Urban Momfare at FringeNYC appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Each day theaters all across New York City are abuzz with performances that involve cute, cuddly puppets and marionettes who sing sweet songs and teach about accepting yourself for who you are and Avenue Q at New World Stages is no different. Um, actually, that’s not really true. Sure, Avenue Q, winner of the Tony award for best musical, score and book does involve adorable puppets. And they do sing songs about self-acceptance. But they’re really not that sweet. In fact, they’re pretty raunchy. Yup, these puppets have no problem belting out four-letter words and singing songs about porn. I recently attended Avenue Q’s 11 year anniversary performance and was swooned by the side-splitting performance.

Avenue Q deals with issues many young people face today: trying to make it in the real world, figuring out jobs, friendships and relationships. At the heart of the story is a character who, fresh out of college, is the new kid on the block and the relationship he develops with his attractive next-door neighbor.

The book in Avenue Q is surprisingly current and is equally funny as thought-provoking. The music, written by Jeff Marx, we well as Robert Lopez (of Frozen fame) is just as raunchy and funny as the dialogue. It’s also very catchy but because of the content you might not want to have it blasting out of your car or singing along when you’re at the gym. Just to give you an idea, some of the song titles are “Everyone Is a Little Bit Racist” and “I’m not Wearing Underwear Today”.

But there’s more to the show than just raunchy humor. There’s a real element of nostalgia when you look at the puppets and see yourself 10 or 15 years ago struggling with similar issues. The incredibly talented cast uses their entire body to bring the puppets to life and this, along with the content of the show and the dialogue makes them almost come to life in an eerie yet entertaining way. I admit, there were times I was forgetting these were just puppets with only half a body.

There’s a reason Avenue Q is one of the longest-running shows currently playing. It’s relatable, funny, quirky and has fun, catchy songs. Just be careful because you might catch yourself singing “The Internet is for Porn” when you’re washing dishes.

Avenue Q is currently playing at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, NY. Click here to purchase tickets.

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 1) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post NYC’s Avenue Q Celebrates 11 Years of Hysterical Jokes! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Confession: I don’t like Italian food; that is, I don’t like American Italian food. I’ve never actually tasted authentic  Italian food so when I had dinner this past weekend at Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas, a new Italian restaurant in Garden City, Long Island, I was completely blown away. I’m happy to report that I am now a big fan of Italian food. At least if it’s authentic, like at Spuntino.

Spuntino means “snack” in Italian and the menu at the restaurant is made up of different dishes that are supposed to be snack-sized (although as you will read below, the portions are more full-size). My husband and I had a wonderful waiter who has tried every single dish and wine on the menu – this is a requirement so that he is able to help patrons decide on what to order. Together with the restaurant manager, Andrea Rossi, the four of us put together a lovely selection of food and wine that like a mosaic of different colors helped create a beautiful masterpiece which was our dinner. Here is the breakdown of our meal, which I will happily do all over again on any given day:

We started with home-made mozzarella and buffalo milk cheese. The mozzarella arrived with with a dab of balsamic vinaigrette, which provided a perfect sweet and tangy flavor that went well with the slightly salty cheese. The buffalo milk cheese was creamy and rich. This dish was paired with Prosecco – very light and a very appropriate start to a meal.

Next we had french fries with truffle oil and a grilled shrimp scampi bruschetta. The french fries were super thin and crispy and had a little garlicky taste. They were simply divine and came at a rather large portion. The bruschetta was delicious – I love shrimp scampi but having it grilled brought out the flavor even more. These dishes were paired with a white wine from Sardinia called Vermentino Costamolinas Argiolas. It was light and very sweet and as far as white wines go, it was probably one of the top five I have ever tasted.

For the main course I ordered the fetuccini with shrimp, calamari and mussels and my husband had the pizza margherita. My dish was wonderful and every single ingredient – even the cherry tomatoes – tasted super-fresh. Turns out almost everything in Spuntino is locally-sourced (but I’ll get to that later). It was a large and filling dish. When my husband ordered the pizza margherita I was a little disappointed because I had hoped he’d order something a little more exciting– but after trying the pizza, with the thin crispy crust, the rich, flavorful sauce and, of course, the mozzarella which I had tried earlier, I realized this pizza can easily compete with Grimaldi’s and DiFaro’s of Brooklyn.

I had the Chardonnay from St. Clement, one of the oldest wineries in Napa. It was a heavier wine, which went well with the fetuccini but at this point I was feeling a little buzzed from the Vermentino so, I had to take it easy (I cannot hold my liquor for the life of me) . My husband had Sant‘Antimo Rosso – a red wine that he absolutely loved with his pizza.

When our waiter brought over the dessert menu the first thing that caught my eye was “Nutella Pizza” and this was pretty much it for me. I didn’t even bother looking at the rest of the menu. As you can imagine, Nutella Pizza at Spuntino is everything you would want in a Nutella Pizza and then some. Other than the crispy crust (the same one as the pizza margherita) and the sweet, chocolaty Nutella spread, the pizza also had pistachios, strawberries and chopped mint leaves which brought out the flavor even more. It was pure heaven. After the first slice my husband and I were pretty full but we just couldn’t stop polishing off the rest – it was a perfect ending to a scrumptious, dazzling meal. We had Brachetto wine which was a sparkling dessert wine and tasted like punch.

After speaking to Andrea, the manager, I learned a little about his background – over 30 years of experience and a love of the slow food movement. Along with chef Ryan Keough, they have put together a menu with some dishes based on recipes from Andrea’s Italian grandmother and food that’s locally-sourced. According to Chef Keough, if they can’t get anything local they import it from Italy (for example, the flour in the pizza). They have a “zero kilometer policy” so many of the items, such as the bread, cheese, gelato and fresh produce are from local growers/manufactures in nearby areas from Long Island, Hudson Valley and New Jersey.

The atmosphere in Spuntino is casual and the ambiance is friendly and not at all uptight. It is a restaurant where you can go on date night or bring your entire family. There are high chairs, as well as booster seats and I did see a few kids that evening. Starting in September, Spuntino will be serving brunch and my husband and I have been making plans to come with the kids. I already know what I’m having for dessert…

Click here to learn more about Spuntino of Long Island. They are located at the Gallery at Westbury Plaza, 1002 Old Country Road in Garden City. (516) 228-5400. If you’re in New Jersey be sure to visit Spuntino in Clifton.

I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary meal.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 1) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas in Long Island Pleases the Senses appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

I have been fascinated by the Blue Man Group since Tobias Fünke (from Arrested Development) “blue’d” himself (in Season 2).

Before our performance started, there was a LED marquee that was showing information. It mentioned someone’s birthday and asking us to sing, say things, it was very funny (unless they are reading, the kids really aren’t going to pay attention to that). If you are sitting in the front section, you will be giving a poncho (things do come flying out in the audience). We were in the back section and since the theatre is small, we were able to see perfectly. The Blue Men never say a word, but they are very expressive with their faces and actions.

They use props like marshmallows in a very surprising manner and we were gasping at some of the things they were doing. The Blue Men use paint in their act (in several different ways), it’s cool. They use audience volunteers in a couple of parts (one of which was really funny, the other way was very expressive) as well as giant iPhone like devices called the GiPad. Video is incorporated and you’re not sure where the Blue Men start and the video content ends. It’s done very well and we just loved this show! 

At the end of the show, a lot of paper toweling rolls are used. This was my oldest son and middle child’s favorite part.

During parts of the show, the lights go out a few times and the music gets loud. If you have a child that has sensory issues, they may not like the loud music and the flashing lights. My oldest has outgrown his sensory issues, so it wasn’t a problem for him. They offer booster seats, snacks for purchase. The bathrooms are small and had long lines, so you may want to make sure you go before you get to the theatre.

After the show, we took a picture with one of the Blue Men. We thought this was awesome and you can do this after each show. The Blue Man Group offers group discounts,  birthday party packages, and have local restaurant partners.

Get tickets: http://www.blueman.com/new-york/buy-tickets

Ticket price range: $72 – $102

The Blue Man Group is recommended for ages 3 and up.

There are current performances in NYC, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Las Vegas, plus a tour going on (to more cities).

Special NYC Discount: From June 1 through August 31, 2014, New York area locals can take advantage of a special offer from Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theatre, saving $20 off regular Orchestra and Mezzanine ticket prices. Use code NEWYORK for $20 off for New York locals. Tickets are subject to availability and excludes Saturday 8pm performances.

We’ve got two tickets to giveaway to a NYC performance. This is good for a Blue Man Group performance from Sunday to Thursday and must be used by September 30, 2014.

Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Blue Man Group for providing tickets in exchange for an honest review and for a giveaway. As always, all opinions are my own.

The post Blue Man Group: Get Your Mind Blown (+Giveaway) appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

yellow tail Wines contacted me recently and sent me a little pick me up — a bottle of their new Sangria. I’m not the biggest wine drinker (or drinker in general), but Sangria is delicious. They included a cute sangria bottle of nail polish, this great tote bag and a toe separator (for giving myself a pedicure).

So this is how we served it.

My husband cut up some apples and oranges.

Then we added yellow tail’s Sangria. It was delicious!

We recommend yellow tail Sangria. In fact, it’s perfect for any day of the week. 

Thank you to yellow tail Wines for sending their Sangria. No compensation was received. 

The post yellow tail Wines Introduces Sangria appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Mother’s Day is coming up in a few weeks which gets me thinking of my own mother and other moms I know who love their kids unconditionally. I recently saw the critically-acclaimed play Mothers and Sons on Broadway and found it captivating, funny and most of all, touching.

The play is about a woman who comes to New York and pays an unexpected visit to her late son’s partner, who is now married to another man and has a child. The big elephant in the room is clearly her disapproval of her son’s homosexual lifestyle and as the play unfolds she comes to realize a few things about her son, his partner and ultimately about herself as well.

Written by Terrence McNally, one of the greatest American playwrights currently active, Mothers and Sons is, in fact, a sort of sequel to a movie called Andre’s Mother. The film, written by McNally, aired on television and has won an Emmy for outstanding writing. No surprise here as the writing in Mothers and Sons is pitch-perfect. It is laugh-out-loud funny, clever and thought-provoking.

The play deals with the death of the son from AIDS and while you might thinks it’s too depressing to watch, it’s actually a really funny play. The jokes fly at a mile a minute and there are a lot of references to New York so right from the get-go you’re hooked. Even later in the play as we find out about the son’s circumstances of death and about his constant longing for acceptance by his mother, the sombre mood gets some comic relief from the witty jokes.

Throughout the play we watch as the mother (played by the great Tyne Daly) realizes her mistakes, regrets, missed opportunities and what “could have been”. And as we see sparks of acceptance, unconditional love and the possibility of redemption one thing becomes clear: love between a mother and her child is universal and something most, if not all mothers can relate to.

With a talented cast and impeccable writing, Mothers and Sons is a profound, extraordinary play that will make you think, laugh and want to call your mother as soon as you leave the theater.

Visit Mother’s and Sons official website to learn more and purchase tickets.

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for thirteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 7, 5 and 1) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Broadway Show Review: Terrence McNally’s Mothers and Sons appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

While I don’t want to spoil the plot, you’re going to find yourself rooting for Elphaba (the so- called Wicked Witch). But you’ll find Glinda the Good pretty charming. Originated by Kristin Chenoweth (whom the musical role was written for),  she’s currently played by Alli Mauzey. Who was absolutely hysterical and kind of stole the show with her antics.

So, if you love drama, incredible vocals and music, a little comedy and strong acting, Wicked the Musical is for you.

Running time for the show is 2 hours and 30 minutes, plus a 15-minute intermission.

Should you bring the kids?

While it’s recommended age for children is 8 and up and no children under 5 admitted — personally, I wouldn’t bring kids under 12 or 13 to this. My 8 year old son would have not really understood a lot of the things going on and he would have been scared at some of the parts. If you see it with your tween, familiarize yourself with the plot and discuss what’s going to happen with your child. This is based on the Gregory Maguire books, which is a “revisionist tale of the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, its sequels, and the 1939 film adaptation.” (*Wikipedia).

Go to Wicked the Musical for more info.

My tickets were comped in exchanged for my honest review.

The post Why I love Wicked The Musical appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

It’s hard to believe but September is coming to an end. Soon we’ll be seeing our kids in costumes going trick-or-treating in the neighborhood and then the holidays will be upon us, with formal sit-down dinners, cocktail parties and holiday gatherings. I like to prepare ahead as much as I can, rather than rush to the stores to buy last-minute holiday dresses and hope my seamstress can hem them in time. Here are some of my favorite holiday dresses which I found on DressFirst and are flattering on any body type.

These festive cocktail dresses are perfect for holiday parties. The A-line silhouette is flattering and the short length and bright colors are fun and not too formal:

An LBD ( little black dress) is always perfect for any formal occasion. These dresses are classic and timeless and you’ll find yourself going back to them again and again when you want something that always looks great on you.One of the best parts about the holidays is glitzy parties where you get to dress up, get your hair done and and feel a little like Cinderella for a night. You can certainly make a statement with these stunning formal gowns.

All photos courtesy of DressFirst.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been l been living in New York City for twelve years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 6, 4 and a baby) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Holiday Season is Coming — You Can Rock a Formal Gown that Can Flatter Any Figure appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.