Local Love Archives - The Mama Maven Blog

Fidelis Care Launches “Here for Your Health” to Support the Well-Being of New Yorkers

Nancy M Horn — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 19:10:50 +0000

Hey New Yorkers! Fidelis Care just launched a “Here for Your Health” Campaign, which supports New Yorkers’ total well-being. I learned all about this at their NYC kickoff event at the Bed-Stuy Farm in Brooklyn recently. “Here for Your Health” supports the physical, mental and emotional well-being of New Yorkers. This includes health screenings for illnesses, education about healthy eating, maternal health, and behavioral health. As a mom to a son with Type 1 Diabetes and a former elementary teacher who taught in underserved communities, healthcare is more than just a doctor’s visit when you aren’t feeling well. It should include health screenings and preventative measures, as well as education about proper nutrition – plus how to access these services in your community.

Mary Beth Maginn, Fidelis Care Senior Vice President of Population Health and Membership, told us about how “Here for Your Health” provides essential health information and connects people to free or low-cost screenings, helping them to make informed decisions about their well-being – all in their own community. That includes learning about preventive care, understanding insurance options, and/or accessing early detection services. I got to speak with Mary Beth after her speech and we connected parent to parent, about Type 1 Diabetes and other health conditions that many children face.

Fidelis Care offers mobile StreetSide vehicles, local community offices, and community events to bring care closer to home. They also partner with local gardens (like the Bed-Stuy Farm through GrowNYC), nonprofits, schools, and community organizations to promote health and wellness across New York State, focusing on improving maternal health, behavioral health, as well as urban and rural health.

I remember talking to parents of my students’ who didn’t go for routine screenings for their kids or for themselves because they didn’t know that they should. Many of them didn’t have access to regular medical care, they would just go to the Emergency Room when they absolutely needed to (either with an accident or a severe illness). As a mom to a kid with Type 1 Diabetes, my kid goes to his endocrinologist every 3 months to make sure things are okay. I don’t know what we would have done if we didn’t have health insurance to cover the visits and all the medical supplies (including insulin, CGM monitor, and insulin pumps).

Fidelis Care New York is the only statewide health plan, accessible to all, regardless of income, background, or zip code.
Learn more at: https://www.fideliscare.org/

This is a sponsored post. As always, all opinions are completely my own.

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Visiting the Holiday Train Show at the NY Botanical Garden

Nancy M Horn — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 17:12:58 +0000

Looking for the ultimate family outing this holiday season here in NYC? We were invited to discover the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens! It’s a magical journey through New York City’s most iconic sights, right here in the Bronx. It’s easy to get to (though we recommend taking public transportation if possible). Head on up to the Bronx and enter into the beautiful NY Botanical Gardens. You’ll find the Holiday Train Show at the NY Botanical Garden at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

The Details

There are 190 miniature twinkling, plant-based replicas of famous NYC landmarks. Remember that unless there is a sign saying it’s okay, don’t touch the trains. Unfortunately kids keep doing that and it derails the trains – however, the employees keep an eye on this and we saw them fixing multiple trains. There are several trains that kids can touch – most are located outside before you go into the main area.

Check out our video!

There is Stroller Parking

There is stroller parking, as no strollers are allowed inside. If you have a tiny one, either carry them or take a fabric baby carrier with you. The Holiday Train show is too crowded and the pathways are much too narrow to let a stroller through. Your stroller is also a great place to stash your jackets, as the Haupt Conservatory is very warm for the plants that are inside.

Your railroad obsessed kids will be thrilled, plus there are lots of places to run around outside. Hit the nearby snack bar for some sweet treats and hot cocoa after you go! The snack bar is to the right of the NYBG Shop, which is filled with souvenirs, toys and even Santa from on Tuesdays & Thursdays, November 21–December 31, 2024.

Make sure to bundle up and bring your family to the Holiday Train Show! Now through January 20st. Plan your visit at NYBG.org and make sure to get your tickets in advance on their website as the Holiday Train Show sells out. We recommend taking public transportation as parking may be tough at times.

Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate Replica

Prices for the Holiday Train Show with Grounds Access
Adults are $39
Seniors are $35
Students are $35 (School ID necessary)
Kids (2-12) are $27
Kids under 2 are free.

If you don’t want to go to the Holiday Train Show, prices are much less for NYC residents (but they will check at the Haupt Conservatory to make sure you have tickets for the Holiday Train Show.

Membership

If you want to get into the Holiday Train show for free, we recommend becoming a member. Family memberships are $155 and if you are a family of 5 like we are, you will spend more than that anyway. Memberships pay for themselves usually pay for themselves even if you visit 2x a year.

Santa and Elf Photos

If you are looking to take Santa photos, head over to the NYBG Shop on Tuesdays & Thursdays, November 21–December 31, 2024.
https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2024/photos-with-santa-at-nybg-shop/

Adults Only

After dark, the roving Train Conductors welcome you to Holiday Train Nights, and set you on your journey through the warm glow of the Holiday Train Show. You’ll enjoy the colorful lighting, have a sweet or savory treat, along with a cocktail and sing along to holiday classics and Christmas pop favorites sung by performers in our Locomotive Lounge.

Holiday Train Show

November 16, 2024–January 20, 2025 from 10AM to 6PM at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Holiday Train Nights
Adults 21+: November 23, 29, 30; December 7, 13, 14; January 4, 11, & 18
All Ages: December 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, & 28
More info: https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2024/holiday-train-nights/

Get more information: https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2024/plan-your-visit/

Essential Info:
Strollers. Strollers are allowed throughout the Garden grounds with the exception of the Haupt Conservatory, where the Holiday Train Show takes place. Stroller parking is available.
Accessibility. Most key areas of the Garden are wheelchair accessible, including all of the Holiday Train Show. Wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the Visitor Center and Mosholu Entrance. An ID must be left with a Visitor Experience representative. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own mobility devices for Garden navigation. Accessible lifts are located in the Haupt Conservatory and at the entrance to the Mertz Library Building. Use our online accessibility guide to plan your visit or pick up an accessibility guide at an entry gate.
Travel light. NYBG does not offer bag or coat-check facilities.
Photography. You are welcome to take personal, non-flash photography. Tripods, monopods, easels, selfie sticks, and lighting equipment are not permitted in the Haupt Conservatory. Check their Visitor Guidelines for more information about photography at the Garden.

Make sure to discover the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden! It’s definitely a Mama Maven Must!

All photos and videos were taken by Nancy Horn for The Mama Maven Blog© and are copyrighted. Please ask for permission before using or linking to this post.

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Don’t Miss: Peter & The Wolf with Narration by Isaac Mizrahi

Maytal — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:16:55 +0000

by Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman

The holidays are around the corner and before you head to the airport to visit relatives or drive upstate to go skiing be sure to add a new tradition: the gorgeous and hysterical ballet of Peter and the Wolf. Why hysterical? Because fashion designer and TV personality Isaac Mizrahi will narrate the famous Prokofiev story – to which he has written a libretto. I have seen this production over the past several years and it just gets more and more clever each time.

Isaac Mizrahi narrates and directs Sergei Prokofiev’s charming children’s classic, Peter & the Wolf, accompanied by Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, conducted by Michael P. Atkinson. The cast, wearing costumes by Mizrahi, performs choreography by John Heginbotham, bringing the thirty-minute story to life for the young and young at heart.

Show Dates and Times

Friday, December 6, 2024 6:30 pm
Saturday, December 7, 2024 11:00 am
Saturday, December 7, 2024 1:00 pm
Saturday, December 7, 2024 2:30 pm
Sunday, December 8, 2024 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 8, 2024 2:30 pm
Sunday, December 8, 2024 4:00 pm

Where: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Peter B. Lewis Theater
1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street)
New York, NY 10128
Enter via ramp at 5th Ave and 88th St.

Price: $20 per person and up; Everyone needs a ticket regardless of age.

Click here to purchase tickets or call the box office (212) 423-3575

Photos by Robert Altman

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

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a PR consultant and freelance writer and has written for several blogs. She has been living in the New York City area for over twenty years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree. Maytal is a mom to three kids, ages 17, 15 and 12.

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Don’t Miss: Beyond Van Gogh, The Immersive Experience – A Stunning Visual Smorgasbord

Maytal — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 20:25:25 +0000

I love going to museums but it’s not always easy getting my kids to walk from room to room to look at paintings for hours on end and not start to whine after 30 minutes. I still want them to be familiar with art and know about artists’ lives and how their lives can influence their paintings. “Beyond Van Gogh – The Immersive Experience” is an exhibit that allows people to see 300 of Van Gogh’s artworks, while learning about him and his craft. And the best part is that it only takes one hour and doesn’t require going to a bunch of different rooms.

My family and I recently went to the exhibit, located at Samanea Mall in Westbury, Long Island, NY. I was happy that the first thing you see is multiple slides with information about Van Gogh’s life and background, along with details about his approach to art, his style of art and how it had changes over the years. This part of the exhibit is important because it gives context to all of the artwork, otherwise you’re just looking at beautiful art, but without understanding anything about it.

The next room had various graphics, some based on Van Gogh’s art, cascading like a waterfall. This room led into the Immersive Experience room, which is a very large room that screens images on the walls, the floor and various structures as well.

The 300 pieces of art were divided by topics and screened everywhere, accompanied by quotations and graphics. There was also music in the background, including the famous Don McLean song, “Vincent.”

I loved how not only the artwork was constantly moving and switching to different works of art, but that also some video tricks made eyes on portraits “blink” and images of water “flow.”

I also loved how this is one of those rare exhibits that allows people from all backgrounds and in all ages to enjoy it. You can be in your eighties and have a vast background on Impressionism, or you can be a four-year-old who simply likes the visuals. There’s something for everyone here.

Tip: kids under 4 are free so if you have a 3-year-old I would still bring them. The exhibit’s youngest patrons enjoyed looking at all of the colors and art. They don’t need to understand who Van Gogh was – they can simply enjoy the visuals for what they are.

My kids, ages 16, 13 and 10 liked learning about his life, in addition to looking at the art.

The exhibit is located inside the Samanea Mall, at 1500 Old Country Road, Westbury, NY.

Open through May 14.
Tue-Thur, Sun: 10:00am – 8:00pm; Fri & Sat: 10:00am – 9:00pm; Mon: closed

Price is $55.99 adult; $34.99 child (ages 5-15). Kids 4 and under are free. Click here to purchase tickets.

Some favorites from the exhibit:

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

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a PR consultant and freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for over twenty years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree. Maytal is a mom to three kids, ages 16, 13 and 10.

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Don’t Miss: Circus Vazquez is Coming to the Tri-State Area

Maytal — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 02:12:31 +0000

Founded in Mexico City in 1969, Circo Hermanos Vazquez (“Vazquez Brothers Circus”) has toured Mexico and Central America for decades. Now called Circus Vazquez, the circus has come to the U.S., presenting a family-friendly show full of thrills, light show, live orchestra and talented acrobats, dancers and aerialists. The circus will hold performances in Queens, the Bronx, New Jersey and in two locations on Long Island.

Led by Ringmaster Memo Vazquez, Circus Vazquez presents an awe-inspiring, death-defying, hilarious and affordable circus experience for New Jersey and New York area audiences. See the bravado and daring speed of Columbia’s X-Metal Riders inside the Globe of Death while Duo Vanegas defy gravity on the Wheel of Wonder. Be amazed by the acrobatic display of America’s own Super Tumblers and the mastery of Mexico’s Jan & Carolina on the Rolla Bolla balance board. The Medini Xtreme Skaters, a brother & sister act from Italy, will mesmerize with their incredible roller skating maneuvers as Ukraine’s Bingo Group, whose members escaped the war in their home country to join the show, will make you want to move with their energetic and inspired aerial, hand balancing and dance performances. Italy’s famed clown, Fumagalli,weaves his unique side-splitting comedy throughout the show. Laying down the beat behind each act are the talented musicians of the live Circus Vazquez Band.

Dates & Locations:

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m. on Saturdays; 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m. on Sundays.

GARDEN STATE PLAZA MALL : September 9 – 26
One Garden State Plaza, Paramus NJ 07652

WOODBRIDGE MALL : September 30 – October 10
250 Woodbridge Center Drive, Woodbridge Township NJ 07095

WALT WHITMAN MALL : October 14 – 24
160 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station, NY 11746

BRONX TERMINAL MARKET : October 28 – November 14
610 Exterior Street, Bronx NY 10451

CITI FIELD : November 18 – December 12
41 Seaver Way, Queens NY 11368

Price: Tickets start at $25 per person

To purchase tickets please visit https://www.circusvazquez.com/

Photos courtesy of Circus Vazquez

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets. All opinion is my own.

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Holiday Activities Your Kids Will Love

The Mama Maven — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 12:39:27 +0000

This post is sponsored by Depend® Brand. All opinions and statements are my own.

My kids are happy this coming holiday season because they get a week and a half off from school here in NYC. Me? Not so much. Keeping them home is not an option as they’ll get cabin fever, but I’m also not going to let incontinence prevent me from having a blast with them and making memories. While I make sure to scope out the bathroom no matter where I go, I’m always protected with Depend® FIT-FLEX® Underwear. It’s ultra-soft, and I feel comfortable and more confident when I know I have all-day protection.

My game plan? I’m putting together a list of fun holiday activities I’m hoping to do with them this winter vacation. I’ve made sure they’re all bathroom friendly, so I can stay confident. I’m sure you can find a few of them that appeal to you too!

Skiing

Skiing is so much fun! If you’re lucky enough to live close to a mountain, skiing can be a great activity for even young kids and something that families can spend time together doing. My husband grew up in the Poconos, which is a couple of hours drive from us now. Before you put on your snowsuit, scope out where the restrooms are located beforehand. And if the rest of your family enjoys skiing but you don’t, just curl up with a good book by the fireplace in the nearby lodge and enjoy the warm, cozy atmosphere. We’ve been a couple of times and I love it, even if I have to stick to the bunny trail. Hint: Go before you get on the slopes and take a lesson or two.

Ice Skating

No matter your level – whether you can pirouette on the ice or barely move without holding onto the railing – ice skating is a fun activity. If you can find a place to go ice skating outdoors, you’ll get the bonus of a beautiful scenery. Restrooms will typically be located near the rink, or close enough. My kids have a blast and I love getting some exercise in the rink, too (though I’m not as graceful).

Museums

Visiting a local museum in the winter is a great activity since you can probably kill a few hours, depending on the size of the museum. Not all kids will be able to spend hours upon hours in a large museum, so consider a smallish museum, or a museum that can cater to kids – whether it’s a museum made specifically for kids or a museum that has cool artifacts, such as a natural history museum. You can also find specialty museums that showcase unique items, such as antique cars or watches. Be sure to grab a map for restroom info.

Visiting Historic Mansions

Historic mansions are always a cool place to visit – it’s the closest you’ll ever get to stepping back in time. This time of year is perfect because many mansions and historic homes are decorated for the holidays and have a festive atmosphere. It’s interesting to learn about the history of the place and about the historical context of the time when people lived there, plus you’ll likely find out about some juicy family stories. The only tricky part is taking kids – an infant in a baby carrier will be relatively easy to take, especially if you can time the visit around nap time. However, if you have school-aged children, you’ll have to make sure they are old enough to pay attention and listen, or at least can behave and not touch anything. Many historic homes do not have a usable restroom on premises but there should be one nearby – just ask the tour guide.

The Zoo

One great reason to visit your local zoo in the winter? There are virtually no lines – you avoid the crowds and the humid, sticky days of summer. Many exhibits are indoor and have animals that live in tropical climates. There are animals, such as pandas, polar bears and Siberian tigers who thrive in cold weather and other animals that have adapted to the colder weather. Be sure to grab a map of the zoo to see where the nearest restroom is located.

Indoor water park

Winter vacation is the perfect time to visit a water park. It’s always perfectly warm and gives you a feeling of summer even if outside there’s a blizzard or torrential rain. Luckily, indoor water parks always have convenient restrooms everywhere.

Shows/Concerts

Going to shows or concerts is fun and there’s a variety of different shows and music events for any taste and budget. Restrooms are always available but there are usually long lines, so that can be tricky. It may be helpful to find a seat that’s close enough to the door and on the isle so that you can get quicker access to the restroom, if you need to. I usually ask right when I get inside to make sure I know where I am going.

Playing Tourist in Your City

You may know your city like the back of your hand, but there’s always an area you’re never explored before. Put together a mini walk and explore streets you haven’t yet discovered. Or try a new restaurant you’re never been to. Always check for local public restrooms if you’re in an area of the city you’re not familiar with. Most coffee shops and restaurants will let you use the restroom.

Library

If your kids are familiar with your local library, consider venturing out to a library they’ve never visited before. Older kids will enjoy a selection of books and younger kids will love playing with new toys and discovering picture books that interest them. Restrooms should be easy to find and are super clean. Some libraries even have small cafes or places you can bring a packed lunch.

As I’ve shared, I, along with nearly 65 million Americans, experience bladder leakage. But I definitely don’t let it get in the way of how I want to live my life and how I spend time with my family. In fact, I’m more confident with Depend. Don’t let bladder leakage stop you from living your best life. If you or someone you know is looking for advice and resource on bladder leaks, join The Incontinence Community, a private Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/InconCommunity.

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The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays – The perfect Mix of Magic and Comedy

Maytal — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:37:23 +0000

I have seen quite a few magic shows and I love comedy shows but it’s not very often that I get to see a show that combines both magic and laughter and with such a huge variety of different types of magic tricks and illusions. This holiday season, The Illusionists are performing on Broadway in a show that will leave you both speechless and laughing hysterically (often at the same time).

The show is comprised of six performers, all who have different styles and skills that they showcase. The one thing they do have in common is that all six are absolutely incredible to watch.

The performers:

Dom Chambers – “The Showman” – Dom hails from Australia and has some crazy tricks that just left me speechless: for example, he kept pulling glasses full of beer out of thin air (even out of a shoe!)

Eric Chien – “The Manipulator” – Eric is the winner of “Asia’s Got Talent” and you can easily see why: his sleight-of-hand abilities are something you just can’t see anywhere else and I simply could not figure out how in the world his tricks worked.

Chris Cox – “The Mentalist” – Chris has a really quirky personality and just blew me away with his ability to mind-read random people from the audience.

Paul Dabek – “The Trickster” – Paul was the host of the show and was one of the funniest magicians/trickiest comedians) I’ve ever seen. He just oozed charisma and was an absolute delight to watch. He was very funny from the very beginning of the show but his jokes kept getting funnier and funnier. His tricks were pretty awesome, too.

Kevin James – “The Inventor” – Kevin is a seasoned magician but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to mesmerize an audience with new and innovative tricks no one has seen before.

Enzo Weyne – “The Unforgettable” – Enzo is a charismatic French magician who is quick on his feet and dazzles with his unique and clever tricks.

The first half of the show was amazing but the second half is when things started to get even crazier and the magicians kicked it up a notch. So if you’re not blown away by the first half (and trust me, you will be) the second half is guaranteed to make you doubt everything you know about physics and human ability. In the end the cast got a well-deserved standing ovation.

The show is two hours long (some weekend 11 am matinees are 90 minutes long). I recommend it for kids ages 5 and up. There are several jokes that are really inappropriate but your kids won’t get them. (My ten-year-old definitely didn’t get the adult-oriented humor, thankfully).

Illusionist

Show Details

When: Through January 5th, 2020

Where: Neil Simon Theatre
250 West 52nd St. (between 7 and 8 Ave)

Ticket Price and Purchase Info

Price: $49 and up

To purchase tickets, go through our partner, Today Tix

Photos by Joan Marcus

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 12, 10 and 7.

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Mean Girls on Broadway Review: A Fun Musical With An Important Message

The Mama Maven — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 18:00:33 +0000

This post is made possible by support from Mean Girls on Broadway. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

My requirements are pretty simple for a musical. I want to have a great time. Mean Girls, currently playing on Broadway, definitely delivered that plus more, with a great message for kid and adults. The cast worked very hard (yes, we absolutely saw you!) and the staging was so innovative with sets that changed on the LED screens around it. You can sit with us!
If you’re not familiar, Mean Girls is an award-winning hit new Broadway musical comedy produced by THE Lorne Michaels, Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman, and Paramount Pictures. Mean Girls features a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, based on her screenplay for the film, music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin. Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.n

Synopsis Girls on Broadway Review: A Fun Musical With An Important Message

Mean Girls
August Wilson Theater

Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savannah, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Chicago. How will she make friends and influencer people? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George (she’s a big deal), egged on by new friends Janis and Damian.

Mean Girls
August Wilson Theater

But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

The cast is led by Erika Henningsen as Cady Heron, Reneé Rapp as Regina George, Krystina Alabado as Gretchen Wieners, Kate Rockwell as Karen Smith, Barrett Wilbert Weed as Janis Sarkisian, Grey Henson as Damian Hubbard, Jennifer Simard as Mrs. Heron / Ms. Norbury / Mrs.George, Kyle Selig as Aaron Samuels, Cheech Manohar as Kevin Gnapoor, Rick Younger as Mr. Duvall. The cast also includes Aaron Alcaraz, Darius Barnes, Maria Briggs, Collins Conley, Kevin Cosculluela, Cailen Fu, Davon Hadsell, Morgan Harrison, Curtis Holland, Olivia Kaufmann, Myles McHale, Brittany Nicholas, Becca Petersen, Brendon Stimson, Christine Shepard, Jake Swain, Riza Takahashi, Daryl Tofa, Bria Jené Williams, Gianna Yanelli, and Iain Young. We saw Barrett Wilber Weed’s understudy Olivia Kaufmann perform as Janis Sarkisian and she was just terrific.

The Message:

However, Mean Girls was more than just a great time — there was a message in the show. We need to be better to each other. Being unkind is not okay. The show really showcases this message and it’s one that is sorely needed in these times. Middle school, high school, and beyond. Bullying is never okay. Trying to bully a bully isn’t okay either because it makes you no better than the bully. Kids will love the show because the music and the action will draw them in, hopefully they’ll get the message too. And if they can really take the message to heart, then maybe it will spark change in all the schools, workplaces, and government.

Mean Girls is playing at the August Wilson Theatre and based on the hit film of the same name.

See Mean Girls!

August Wilson Theatre
245 West 52nd Street
New York, NY

How to Get Tickets

Get Broadway Tickets here

And if you have a bladder issue like me:

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

Alean Girls on Broadway Review: A Fun Musical With An Important Message | The Mama Maven Blog

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Where To Find a Bathroom While You’re Exploring New York City

The Mama Maven — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 18:21:16 +0000

This post is sponsored by Depend® Brand. All opinions and statements are my own.

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.

Fun Day Out with Kids at RPM Raceway Driving Go Karts + Special Discount Offer

The Mama Maven — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 10:00:06 +0000

We’re always looking for new and different things to do with our kids, so when we were invited to spend the day at RPM Raceway in Farmingdale, Long Island, we eagerly accepted. A quick 40 minute ride from my house (and 20 minutes from where my parents live), RPM Raceway is definitely worth the trip. There are several locations – Jersey City, Stamford, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, NY and I could not believe how much fun we had! Fun Day Out with Kids at RPM Raceway + Special Discount Offer

My kids were intrigued when they walked through the door. With a huge racetrack, tons of video games, snacks, and a bowling alley, this is perfect for a day out with the kids or fellow adults. It’s also great for birthday parties!

Kids need to be a certain height to use the child karts. There was a handy line to make sure, but the staff will let you try your child in the karts to make sure they fit. There are rules that riders will need to follow, they are posted right next to the track, plus all participants much watch a safety video before they take place.

Here’s the prices – 1 race is actually plenty of time to really get the full experience. I honestly loved driving my go-kart — it was so fun! When you check in, they give you your race number and then you can make your way over to the track when your race is announced.

I was very impressed at the safety at RPM Raceway. We watched a quick video, we were verbally told the rules, and I felt very safe. Note for kids and adults with sensory issues – you put on a cloth sock cap (clean) and then the helmet. I normally am not sensory and I panicked when I put the helmet on. I had to take it off, fix the sock cap and then put it on again, while taking deep breaths. It is heavy, so keep that in mind.

We found that we had plenty of time to drive the track and we were very happy with just one race. But if you want even more fun, go for the 2 races.

Check out my video!

We had such a fun time and after our races we enjoyed the arcade (you use a gift card and put money on it). You can also go bowling! We had such a fun day and we’ll definitely be back again! Fun Day Out with Kids at RPM Raceway + Special Discount Offer

Discount alert! Show the staff at RPM the photo below to get $5 off!

Thank you to RPM Raceway for hosting us for the day.

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Mad Scientist STEM Birthday Party with Mad Science of NYC and Westchester + Exclusive Discount

The Mama Maven — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 07:26:36 +0000

This post is in partnership with Mad Science of New York City and Westchester. As always, all opinions are my own.

My daughter just turned 11 and loves science and math, so when it was time to plan her birthday party recently I found out Mad Science of New York City and Westchester. I just knew that a STEM based party was perfect for my math and science loving kid. Did we have the best birthday party ever? Read on. Mad Scientist STEM Birthday Party with Mad Science of NYC and Westchester, Mad Scientist STEM Birthday Party, Mad Scientist STEM Birthday Party

We decided that my daughter’s party would be at the Mad Science Loft in DUMBO, Brooklyn – which was around 45 minutes from my house. Around a week before my party, my party coordinator, Alvin, checked in with me. Alvin told me everything I needed to know and assured me that everything would be handled. I felt better because I get very stressed when I have parties for my children and I felt better knowing that everything was taken care of and there was a STEM learning angle. Basically all I had to do was to show up – which is my idea of a great children’s birthday party.

I created a simple invite on my mac.

Download your own here and put your child’s info in. Print and then send your invitations!

Here’s what we saw when we walked into the Mad Science Loft.

We arrived a tad early – okay, an hour. I’m never early, but this time the traffic gods were kind. I expected to wait but we were welcomed in and Radical Rob – our host, was gracious enough to entertain all of us. 2 of my kids and (the 3 kids) that had come in our car were entranced by him. He really connected with them and had a terrific sense of humor. He showed off a few science tricks and then brought out mini chessboards for the kids to play with.

Our guests came at 11AM and they were warmly welcomed into the Mad Science Loft. There was a name tag station which was adorable and a great icebreaker.

There were tables set up with STEM activities and the kids ran around to try everything out. A hairdryer that caused a ping pong ball to stay up in the air was one of the biggest hits. Snap circuits was another big hit.

There was thought put into everything and as a mom, knowing that my kid was thrilled with her party was the most important thing.

Radical Rob did several fun demos with the kids.

They got to touch a cool sand/water reaction, see bubbles come from dry ice and carbonation, make slime… it was STEM Heaven!!

He was the perfect host – funny and informative and the kids just loved him. He was the right mix of silly and serious.

He asked the kids a lot of questions, designed to really teach the concepts he was talking about. So while the kids had fun, they were also learning (which is pretty brilliant).

After the demos, our guests enjoyed pizza from Front Street Pizza and cupcakes from One Girl Cupcakes. Delicious! Again, the Mad Science team handled serving and cleaning up. They even handled the goody bags!

Did you know that Mad Science New York City and Westchester also does school and camp programs?

From their website: Mad Science Group Inc. has franchises located around the world, who bring science education to millions of children each year. Our innovative programs help kids learn about science through our fun after-school programs, preschool programs, in-class workshops, camps, birthday parties and special events.

Mad Science programs encourage scientific literacy in children in an age when science is as vital as reading, writing and arithmetic and they don’t stop there. For over 30 years, they’ve invested in research and development and continue to do so. They believe in the importance of being at the forefront of our industry and continue to create hands-on science programming for kids. Their approach to teaching science invites children to pursue STEM careers. After seeing what Mad Science was able to do for my child’s birthday party — as in getting every single kid in the room engaged and interested in STEM Lessons, I would heartily recommend them for birthday parties and beyond.

Mad Science of New York City & Westchester
(914)948-8319
newyorkcity.madscience.org

Get Social with Mad Science ofNew York City & Westchester:
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EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT: Use the code MAMAMAVEN and they’ll offer $75 off loft parties or $25 off home parties. This offer will be good thru 3/1/20.

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We Did It! THE RIDE NYC Interactive Bus Tour (+ Discount Code)

The Mama Maven — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 03:24:37 +0000

Hey NYC friends and readers — when was the last time you explored our amazing city? Or if you have recently visited NYC, did you have a fun tour? You may remember that our Senior Writer, Maytal, experienced THE TOUR and THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE last year — this summer was my turn to have some fun. I picked THE RIDE and journeyed into Manhattan last weekend with my daughter and my cousin’s daughter to see the sights. If you are looking for something really fun to do as you explore NYC, you’ll really enjoy THE RIDE. We Did It! THE RIDE NYC Interactive Bus Tour (+ Discount Code)

Check out our experience:

Exclusive Discount: Use discount code BMMRIDE which can be used for THE RIDE at ExperienceTheRide.com

THE RIDE is not your usual tour bus. You don’t hop on and off. THE RIDE is so unique because it mixes tech, street performers, and two very funny emcee’s as you tour NYC in a side seat style motor coach bus. Their patented buses are the largest in New York, at 45-feet long, 14-feet tall, and 8-feet wide. It’s really an immersive NYC Sightseeing experience (with multimedia). I’ve never experienced anything like it. It kept us on our toes and made us laugh constantly. I loved seeing my New York City as a tourist (when do we ever get time to do that!). We were comfy (yeah for air conditioning!) and really enjoyed our 75-minute tour. I’m going to certify this as a The Mama Maven Blog Must if you’re visiting NYC or just want to play tourist. We laughed, we played trivia, we sang — we truly, truly had a ball.

The company offers 3 experiences now: THE RIDE, THE TOUR, and THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE!

Check out our posts on the other experiences:

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

https://www.themamamaven.com/the-downtown-experience-an-unforgettable-multi-media-experience-of-lower-manhattan

Don’t forget:

Exclusive Discount: Use discount code BMMRIDE which can be used for THE RIDE at ExperienceTheRide.com

Thank you to THE RIDE for giving us two tickets and a discount on our third ticket. As always, all opinions are uniquely my own.

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

We Did an Escape Room Challenge at Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

The post We Did It! THE RIDE NYC Interactive Bus Tour (+ Discount Code) appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Don’t Miss: Kid-Approved Trick-or-Treat Tea at the Plaza in NYC

The Mama Maven — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 15:30:48 +0000

By Natalie Stanton of Natalie’s Nuggets

Halloween is quickly approaching! I love a tea in the city! The Plaza is posh & iconic, so when I learned I would be able to cover the annual Trick or Treat Tea at The Plaza Hotel for The Mama Maven, I got spooker boo-per excited! Don’t Miss: Kid-Approved Trick-or-Treat Tea at the Plaza in NYC

Spooky and kid-approved tea offerings like Tombstone Cucumber Sandwiches and Deviled Egg Salad will be served. And, the Trick or Treat Candy Cart, which I hear will be loaded with extravagant chocolate and candy will be making the rounds. With the guarantee of so many treats and so much fabulousness, it’s going to be an amazing time for adults & kids to enjoy together.

My son and I will be going in costume and I cannot wait to tell you all about it!

You can go too!

Location: The Palm Court at The Plaza
Dates: Saturday Oct 28^th – Tuesday Oct 31^st (12pm – 5pm, last seating at 4:45pm)
Cost: $70 per person
Call: 212-546-5300 to make a reservation

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What’s the Best Place to Trick or Treat in NYC?

The Mama Maven — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 03:54:22 +0000

What’s the best place to Trick or Treat in NYC? One of the best places in Queens to Trick or Treat is Burns Street in Forest Hills Gardens, Queens, NY. The residents go all out and we live close by (plus my in-laws have an apartment right there). We set off at late Halloween afternoon, after a day of doctor’s appointments.

The day was cold, so they were wearing long sleeves under their clothes and I had a sweatshirt for my daughter. We walked over to meet my oldest child’s friend and his mom.

Trick or Treating on Burns Street starts at Union Turnpike and usually goes to around Ascan Avenue.

This house, right off Burns, was awesome.

How cool is this? This child’s parents made his wheelchair a #7 Train!

This woman was Mona Lisa. Photo taken with permission.

Frankenstein was giving out candy.

We met Green Balloon Boy and he let us take a photo with him.

Our Queen Elsa met Olaf.

About an hour or so in, our little Dinosaur Astronaut pooped out.

My husband took my youngest child home and we kept on going.

We saw Baby Harry Potter.

This gentleman used blue painters tape to finish his Minion costume.

My son is the one on the right.

Homeowners get so creative here!

The baby is dressed as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! This photo was taken with permission. Isn’t he adorable?

At this house, they were “shooting candy!”. It was hysterical.

We had a grave, I mean great time.

My son met an adult “Vision” — so this is “Double Vision”.

Where do you like to Trick or Treat?

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Halloween Harvest at Luna Park in Coney Island

The Mama Maven — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 15:35:22 +0000

Every weekend from Sept 26 through Nov 1, Luna Park offers family-friendly events filled with tons of activities, entertainment, and of course the Luna Park rides and fun games. We checked it out recently and had a blast!

Here’s our video:

How adorable is the Minion Hay Bale?

My little guy kept gravitating towards the witch bale.

There are costumed characters walking around Luna Park — and they’re giving out sweet treats.

Wondering what’s going on at Luna Park? Here’s the schedule of events for the next several weeks.

Featured Events:

JACK’S PUMPKIN SHACK
Visit their giant pumpkin, Jack, at this shack, and guess his weight for a chance to win prizes worth up to $1,000!

CREEPY CRAWLY CRAFTS
Make your own Halloween themed crafts, sponsored by local arts and crafts stores.

CAMP LUNA
Hear a fun story and enjoy s’mores at the Luna Park Campgrounds. Note: The Stories are free, but S’mores will cost you $5.

CONEY CARNIVAL
Get a fun Halloween airbrush tattoo, your face painted or a balloon animal at this kid-friendly carnival.

MONSTER MASH
Dance and take part in fun contests and activities all day at the Luna Park Monster Mash stage.

KOOKY POOKY KARAOKE
Choose from over 20,000 songs and dress up for a video of your performance! (Located at Scream Zone)

GRANDMA’S PUMPKIN PATCH
Choose your own pumpkin along Red Riding Hood’s path and paint it at Grandma’s house! (Located at Scream Zone).

Giveaway:
We’re giving away 3 wristbands (which lets you experience unlimited rides – good for either adults or children) and two Luna Park Cards ($5 on each).
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Luna Park for inviting us to experience everything. No compensation was received, but we were given free admission.

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How to Recycle Your Medela Breastpump

The Mama Maven — Fri, 22 May 2015 15:33:49 +0000

Update: 2024 – Apparently this program is now over. I would recommend either recycling the parts in your town or passing on your pump to another parent, like in a Buy Nothing Group, if the pump still works, of course and you can get new tubing.

Breastfeeding was a very personal thing to me. So was using a breast pump. When my first child was born, I was only able to get to 4 months before we had to switch to formula. He couldn’t latch on and I didn’t make a lot of milk — however, thanks to pumping, I was able to get my supply up and give him pumped milk and nurse him for the 4 months. While I considered it a failure, without pumping — we wouldn’t have even gotten to 4 months. And that was a little victory. With my second and third child, I had to pump to help things along supply-wise and used to feed my babies when I couldn’t be there. We got so much farther with breastfeeding (to 7 months with kid #2 and 13 1/2 months with kid #3), and I considered my pump a part of myself. But the question is, what do you do with your pump when your baby has weaned? Does it sit on a shelf in your closet? Don’t you wish you could recycle your pump? Medela has an answer for that, with their new Medela Recycles Program.

Medela Recycles is a program that’s designed to allow more moms the opportunity to breastfeed—supported by the recycling of used Medela personal-use electric breastpumps. This was created in response to customer feedback (in fact, it started from a change.com petition by a mom), Medela Recycles provides a way to properly recycle personal-use pumps with the opportunity to positively impact another mom’s breastfeeding journey.

All pumps recycled through the Medela Recycles program will go toward a donation of hospital-grade Medela Symphony® Preemie+ Breastpumps and breastfeeding supplies to the Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®).

The goal is to provide moms with the same high-quality equipment they use at the hospital during their stay at a Ronald McDonald House®.

By making Medela Symphony pumps (hospital grade) available at Ronald McDonald Houses, mothers have the ability to pump while resting to restore the energy needed to focus on their baby in the NICU. This consistency will ease the transition from the hospital to a Ronald McDonald House® and give families caring for a baby in the NICU one less thing to worry about.

Medela hopes to recycle 12,000 Medela breastpumps through this initiative to support its commitment to reducing solid waste and helping protect the environment.

Want to Recycle Your Breast Pump?

Go to MedelaRecycles.com and fill in a few questions, put your address in and print your shipping label. It’s that easy. Note: It must be a Medela electric breast pump (the Medela Harmony manual pump and other brands of breast pumps will not be accepted). You also must live in a US State or territory. If you have another breast pump brand, please contact the manufacturer to discuss their disposal instructions. For more info on what exactly can be recycled, go to to MedelaRecycles.com.

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DISNEY LIVE! THREE CLASSIC FAIRY TALES is Coming to the Tri-State Area 3/26 to 4/19

The Mama Maven — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 20:58:26 +0000

Update Giveaway is now closed! EJ Morales is the winner. DISNEY LIVE! Three Classic Fairy Tales is coming to the Tri-State Area March 26 to April 19.

DISNEY LIVE! THREE CLASSIC FAIRY TALES is Coming to the Tri-State Area March 26 to April 19 (+ Giveaway) @DisneyLive #kids #DisneyLive #showsforkids

We always have such a great time at the Disney Live shows. Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt. This enchanting show features more than 25 Disney characters.

Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy as they embark on an unexpected quest to find a magical storybook hidden in Mickey’s attic. As the four pals curiously turn the pages, they magically bring to life the timeless fairy tale adventures of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. Featuring dynamic storytelling, time-honored songs, such as Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, Heigh Ho and Be Our Guest, stunning costumes and glittering special effects, audiences will be captivated by the humor, fun and adventure of these spellbinding stories performed live on stage.

DISNEY LIVE! THREE CLASSIC FAIRY TALES is Coming to the Tri-State Area March 26 to April 19 (+ Giveaway) @DisneyLive #kids #DisneyLive #showsforkids

From Feld Entertainment^®, find a performance in your area.

Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY, March 26-29:
Thursday, March 26 – 7:00PM
Friday, March 27 – 7:00PM
Saturday, March 28 – 11:00AM, 3:00PM, 7:00PM
Sunday, March 29 – 1:00PM, 5:00PM

Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY, April 2-5:
Thursday, April 2 – 7:00PM
Friday, April 3 – 1:00PM, 7:00PM
Saturday, April 4 – 11:00AM, 3:00PM, 7:00PM
Sunday, April 5 – 1:00PM, 5:00PM

The Theater at Madison Square Garden, April 8-12:
Wednesday, April 8 – 1:00PM, 5:00PM
Thursday, April 9 – 11:00AM, 3:00PM
Friday, April 10 – 1:00PM, 5:00PM
Saturday, April 11 – 11:00AM, 3:00PM
Sunday, April 12 – 1:00PM, 5:00PM

Nassau Coliseum, April 16-17:
Thursday, April 16 – 7:00PM
Friday, April 17 – 3:00PM, 7:00PM

IZOD Center, April 18-19:
Saturday, April 18 – 2:30PM, 6:30PM
Sunday, April 19 – 11:00AM, 3:00PM

Tickets start at $15

For tickets go to www.ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000. *Ticket pricing is subject to change based on market demand.

For more information, go to www.feldentertainment.com/threeclassicfairytales or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. To learn more about Disney Live!, go to www.disneylive.com.

Enter our Giveaway:

We’re giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to Disney Live. The tickets would be for April 2 at Kings Theatre at 7:00 P.M.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Feld Entertainment for providing tickets for my family as compensation.

The post DISNEY LIVE! THREE CLASSIC FAIRY TALES is Coming to the Tri-State Area 3/26 to 4/19 appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

How to Get Through Winter Colds and Flu

The Mama Maven — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 13:18:22 +0000

Here in New York, everyone I know — including me – is SICK of winter. I’m teaming up with P&G to promote #NYTough #ColdandFlu, tackling this tough last month of winter in the city.

While NY didn’t get as much snow as Boston did, we still got hit. The pic below was taken this past Saturday right near my apartment in Queens.

Vicks NyQuil/DayQuil and Puffs Tissues are essentials for daily relief when you’re feeling under the weather in the city, from cold and flu season and beyond.

Both my husband and I swear by NyQuil and DayQuil (and yes, that’s our real bottle above).Both my husband and I got sick several times this winter (I spent most of November and January sniffling everywhere). NyQuil lets us get some rest and feel better, while DayQuil makes it possible to function while taking care of our most pressing symptoms. In fact, DayQuil makes it possible for me to still go to work in Manhattan and navigate the subway and the blocks to work. We always keep it stocked in our apartment and boy, have we gone throw several bottles!

Puffs Tissues keep our noses from getting sore – I have a chronic sinus problem and I am always reaching for one. It’s so much worse when I have a cold or illness. When I don’t feel like dragging myself to the grocery store, I use Peapod to deliver sweet relief to my apartment with NyQuil, DayQuil, and plenty of Puffs Tissues. Peapod carries a variety of P&G products.

Besides the giveaway right in this post, P&G is running daily giveaways until 3/31/15 with one entrant winning a P&G #ColdandFlu prize pack every day for all 40 days of the giveaway! To win, entrants must:

Tweet a photo using hashtag #NYTough showing how they stay #NYTough during Cold &Flu season.
Extra entries can also be earned after 3/2/15 by visiting the #NYTough takeover at Barclays Center Station, Brooklyn, NY and:
- Posting a tweet with the location (tag) on using hashtag #NYTough.
- Posting a “selfie” photo on Twitter with the location (tag) on using hashtag #NYTough.
Official Rules: http://bit.ly/ColdFluGiveaway

Giveaway: a P&G Prize Pack — worth $55, includes a $50 Amex Giftcard and P&G coupons
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to P&G for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

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NYC Love: A Day at the NY Hall of Science in Corona, Queens, NYC

The Mama Maven — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 13:26:46 +0000

The NY Hall of Science in Flushing, Queens is a terrific place to spend the day with your kids.

This is a place where I’ve spent a lot of time with my kids and they always seem to find new exhibits and places to explore. We were members when my oldest was small. It’s so close to my house and membership was a good deal. If you are interested in going with your children, here are some good things to know.

You don’t have to worry about lugging heavy coats around all day. There’s a coat check ($1 per coat).

While we didn’t get to explore as much as we usually do on this day, but we set out on the first floor.

How cool is that structure? My kids loved running around it. This museum encourages touching and exploration — which is awesome.

And you can’t go wrong with bubbles!

It’s all about the bubbles. @@nysci #kids #like4likes #instagood #instakids

A video posted by Nancy Johnson Horn (@themamamaven) on Jan 17, 2015 at 11:28am PST

We checked out a new section, Charlie & Kiwi’s Evolutionary Adventure.

This exhibit offers an engaging story, exhibits and activities that introduce visitors to the basics of evolution, seen through the eyes of Charlie, a young boy who is writing a report about his favorite bird—the kiwi. Join Charlie as he travels back in time to the age of the dinosaurs to discover the kiwi’s ancestors and evidence for how evolution works. There’s a short video (that airs around every 13 minutes) that kids will love.

Charlie and Kiwi’s Evolutionary Adventure is an original 3-part experience that invites visitors to:

See evidence of evolutionary connections between dinosaurs and birds
Enjoy the story of Charlie, whose curiosity leads to his understanding of how evolution works
Engage in activities about variation, inheritance, selection, time and adaptation (VISTA), key evolutionary concepts

We spent some time in the library. After all the time I’ve spent here with my kids, we hadn’t spent much time in the library.

This time, my kids are readers, so it was more appealing.

My little guy is four and really into books about trains, trucks, and dinosaurs.

Of course, there were toys and legos to keep the kids occupied.

There’s a lot more to see, but we were short on time. There’s tons of exhibits and programs. Click here to check them out: http://nysci.org/programs-main/.

Coincidentally, my nieces are featured on the website and in the youtube video.

Here’s some things to know:

ADMISSION

Adults (ages 18 & older): $15
Children (ages 2 – 17): $12
Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Students (with college ID): $12
Senior Citizens (age 62 & older): $12
Members: Enjoy FREE general admission to NYSCI and discounts on special events.

SCIENCE PLAYGROUND

$5 per person, plus general NYSCI admission fee.
Free for NYSCI Premium and Family Explorer Members.

ROCKET PARK MINI GOLF

$6 per person, $5 for children and seniors, plus NYSCI admission.
Members: Family Explorer free, all other members $3.

3D THEATER PRESENTATIONS

$6 adults; $5 children, students & seniors, plus NYSCI admission.
Members: Family Explorer free, all other members $3.

FREE ADMISSION Friday afternoon and Sunday morning.

Enjoy free general admission on Fridays, 2 – 5 pm and Sundays, 10 – 11 am.
Free hours are suspended during World Maker Faire.

ASTC PASSPORT PROGRAM

NYSCI honors members of institutions participating in the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport program (benefit 2 adults/4 children) with photo ID and proof of home address within 90 miles of host museum. ASTC Passports are not accepted during World Maker Faire.

STROLLERS

Strollers are permitted. You can check them in the coat check, or keep them with you. There are elevators and ramps if you have a stroller with you.

PARKING:

It costs $10 to park, but members and Cool Culture Pass holders get that waived. The new NYC Municipal id will also get you in for free.

NY Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
Queens, NY 11368
718-699-0005

Located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park

You can take the subway or bus there.

Subway

Take 7 train to 111th Street Station. Walk three blocks south.
Please Note: For the most up-to-date subway service advisories, please visit www.mta.info.

Bus

Q23 or Q58 to Corona Avenue and 108 Street.
Q48 to 111 Street and Roosevelt Avenue.

I have a Cool Culture Membership and got into the Hall of Science with this. No compensation was received.

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The New York Pass: The Most Affordable Way to Get the Most Out of NYC

Maytal — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 12:08:22 +0000

by Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman

When I was 26 I moved to New York by myself. I didn’t know anyone so I stayed at a youth hostel in Times Square. I had never been to New York before and through the daze of the first few days I managed to make some friends at the youth hostel and together we visited one of New York’s most popular landmarks: The Empire State Building.

I remember it was a very powerful experience, to see all of these strange new skyscrapers and buildings and to wonder what my new life here will be like. After the visit I went back to the hostel and started focusing on finding a job and a place to live. Eventually I met my husband and we had three kids and although our older kids always pointed at the Empire State Building whenever they saw it, it had never occurred to me to take them up there. A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity of trying the New York Pass and we so we went to see it, along with other attractions.

We began the day super-early because we wanted to beat the lines at the Empire State Building. This was a smart move. The only line we were in moved pretty quickly and the fact that we didn’t have to stop to buy a ticket only made things move faster. The view from the Observation Deck was simply breathtaking. The kids had fun pointing out the buildings and landmarks and asked what everything was. They spend a lot of time visiting the different neighborhoods in the city so it was really nice to be able to show them everything they already know from a totally different perspective.

After the Empire State Building we stopped for a quick brunch at a nearby diner and then walked over to 7th Avenue to Madison Square Garden for the All Access Tour. This tour was simply phenomenal! My husband and middle child are big Knicks fans and love other sports in general so they they were really interested in seeing the arena. I’m a big lover of “behind the scenes”-type tours so I was intrigued by all of the little secrets that most people don’t know about. MSG has recently undergone a major renovation and everything looked shiny and brand-new. We got to sit in one of the private VIP suites, learn tidbits and trivia about events that occurred in the Garden, plus we got to stand right where the red carpet is – where the NY Rangers would walk on in a few hours when they step into the area to play. The staff was getting ready for a Rangers game so we got to watch some of the preparation, which was really neat.

The view from the VIP suite:

The VIP Suite:

This is where the players enter the arena:

Really cool sports memorabilia:

View from the highest seats:

After the tour we walked over to Times Square to visit Madame Tussauds. We had been there last spring but it’s been such a fun experience for the kids (not to mention an easy one-hour stroll through the wax figures) that we couldn’t say no.

A New York Pass for adults costs $85 per day. Here’s what the attractions would have cost if I did NOT have the pass:

Empire State Building: $29
Madison Square Garden All Access Tour: $27
Madame Tussauds: $36
Total: $92

You can actually end up seeing more attractions during the day. (We went with small kids, so we took our time). The New York Pass is like a credit card that you swipe and it allows you to visit 80 attractions, museum, walking tours, behind-the-scenes tours and boat rides for free. There’s also a discount on restaurants, Broadway shows, shopping and other attractions. You can choose from 1,2,3,5 or 7 days.

Each pass comes with a pocket-sized guidebook with invaluable information that tells you everything you know about all of the attractions, times they’re open, what transportation to use, etc., plus whether they’re free or come with a discount. There are also NYC maps, a subway map and useful telephone numbers. This is something you’d want to keep and give to out-of-town guests.

Click here for more information on the New York Pass.

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

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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 The New York Pass: The Most Affordable Way to Get the Most Out of NYC appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Love, Lust & Laughter: Don’t Miss ‘The Cottage” at Queens Theatre

Maytal — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 18:47:36 +0000

by Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman

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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Summer Family Fun at Coney Island

Maytal — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 11:54:57 +0000

by Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman

What was once dubbed “the playground of the world” only to endure a decline, Coney Island has been experiencing a renaissance for the past ten years. Recently my family and I visited the Coney Island boardwalk and got to experience first-hand some of the new (and renewed) attractions that have been making it, once again, a popular destination.

It was wonderful to walk on the boardwalk. On one side you have all the shops, rides and attractions. On the other – the beach!

There are over 50 rides in Coney Island and we decided to experience Luna Park but before we stopped at Brooklyn Beach Shop (next to the Scream Zone). This is the place to go for beach essentials plus really cool souvenirs.

Some of the rides were definitely geared for toddlers (my 22-month-old was able to go on a couple and had a blast!) The picture in the middle is at the historic renovated B&B Carousell [sic] that’s located a little further away from Luna Park but is definitely worth going to.

There were also some rides for school-age kids who want a little thrill:

And then there were some rides for adrenaline junkies:

Two of the most famous attractions in Coney Island are Deno’s Wonder Wheel and the famous Cyclone wooden roller coaster, both of which are historic NYC landmarks.

We took a break to have lunch at Applebee’s. There’s upstairs seating with spectacular views of the boardwalk and beach, but we opted to sit downstairs to be near the fish tank which has sharks as well as stingrays and other fish. They had just been feeding the fish and it was really cool to watch the fish gobble up all the food. After the fish were fed it was time for us to have our own lunch. My kids were very happy with the kids’ meals, while my husband and I shared the 2 entrees + one appetizer deal for $20. We loved having a variety of food so that everyone is happy and we appreciated the attentive wait staff. (They didn’t know I was a blogger, they were just very courteous).

There’s a lot more to Coney Island than Luna Park. Other than the NY Aquarium, there’s a museum, a sideshow theater with live performances and, of course, the Brooklyn Cyclones, the minor league baseball team. Each year Coney Island adds another big ride and the entire area is growing to be a huge attraction for people from all over. We cant wait to visit again!

I was not compensated for this post. I received a complimentary pass to Luna Park, discount to Brooklyn Beach Shop and lunch.

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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 Summer Family Fun at Coney Island appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Why Your Mac Book May be Slowing Down & How to Fix it

The Mama Maven — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 12:00:13 +0000

Editor’s note: Personally, I have been a Apple Computer owner since 1995 and like most Mac people, I am rabid about the brand. I have gone over to the dark side (PC’s) sometimes, but always come back to Macs. I’ve owned several different apple computers and I currently use a Mac Book Pro.

We are lucky enough to have Jeff Graber, the owner of The Mac Support Store in Brooklyn giving us some insight on why your Mac laptop or desktop may be slowing down.

By Jeff Graber, Mac Support Store

What do Macs and cars have in common? They require upkeep to stay in perfect condition.

When the miles per gallon on a car go down or the car begins going through oil at an alarming rate, then something has to be done. Macs are no different. The first sign that your Mac may need some TLC is if it begins to slow down.

What Is Slowing Down Verse Normal Operation?

Macs will slow down when performing complex tasks, or a number of tasks at any one time. This is perfectly normal, as the Mac divvies up tasks through its processors. You know you have a problem however when this problem persists over a period of time, even when the Mac is not actively doing something. Slow load times, extended start times for applications, and unresponsive windows are all signs that your Mac may be slowing down over time. So what causes this to happen?

1. Been Running For A Long Time

The most frequent cause of Macs slowing down over time is extended run time. This means that the Mac has been on for a very long time. The longer a Mac is on for, the slower it will operate. This depends on the Mac, as some Macs run excellently for months without being shut down, while others need to be restarted every few days. Regardless, the solution is simple. Save everything you are working on, and restart your Mac. If the problem persists, then go to step 2.

2. Running Out of RAM and Storage Space

Random Access Memory, or RAM is responsible for processing information and requests on your Mac. If the number of requests exceeds the abilities of your installed RAM, then slowdowns in performance will occur. In addition, if you have a lot of applications running on your Mac, then there may be enough with background processes that your Mac slows down. In addition, when storage space is nearly out, Macs slow down as they work to do what they can with the little room they have left. By decreasing the number of processes occurring at once, upgrading your RAM, and increasing your storage space, you can do a lot to speed up your Mac. If none of these work, then go to step 3.

3. 3rd Party Programs

Viruses, and Unwanted Software Malware and viruses will slow down your Mac quickly. Be sure to run anti-malware scans and keep your anti-virus software up to date.

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If your Mac or Apple device is giving you any problems, The Mama Maven Blog heartily recommends you go The Mac Support Store. They offer a free diagnostic service so you can figure out what’s going on.

Located:

168 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 312-8341

http://www.macsupportstore.com/

Find them on facebook. Follow them on twitter.

Jeff Graber is the owner of The Mac Support Store in Brooklyn and he is giving us his insight as a courtesy.

The post Why Your Mac Book May be Slowing Down & How to Fix it appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

How to Enjoy Major League Baseball with Kids

The Mama Maven — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 14:22:58 +0000

Thank you to the New York Mets for hosting us for this fun game. We were given money for the concession stands and complimentary tickets, no other compensation was received. There are affiliate links in this post.

I’ve always had a special connection with the New York Mets, as my grandpa Ben (who my son Ben is named for and who passed away in 1975) was a fan. So I was pretty excited that I was able to attend games last year and was invited back this year. We went to see Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. While our team didn’t win, we had a wonderful time.

Strollers are welcome, but you’ll have to leave it at the gate before you walk down to your seat. We decided not to take our toddler since we knew he couldn’t sit for the game. The crowd was friendly and it was actually Bring Your Dog day — so cool to see all the dogs and owners together. There were big dogs as well as little dogs.

Dogs and their owners had to enter through a special gate and they got to walk around the field for a parade before the game started.

We enjoyed the game and we highly recommend catching a Mets Game with your family this season.

My kids got onto the Jumbotron.

Here are some great tips for taking your kids to a major league baseball game.

How to Enjoy Major League Baseball With the Family

Get There Early

You are going to want to get there around hour before the game. There are activities outside the stadium and on the Field Level Concourse, near Shake Shack. Most games last the minimum of 3 hours, so make sure your child can handle it. You may need to take them to stretch their legs.

Plan out Food Options/Pack Snacks

Plan out what you are going to eat before you go (to stave off meltdowns). And pack snacks. We felt the quality of the food was good, but prices aren’t exactly large-family friendly. At the time of this post, big pretzels were $5, Hot dogs were around $6.50, Cracker Jacks were $5 for a small bag. Shake Shack was good, but figure on spending $16 to $25 per person. You are allowed to take in a sealed bottle of water (per person) or a soft juicebox (per kid) at CitiField. Note: I’m not sure if this is still valid, always check CitiField’s rules beforehand. They will search your bags, but last summer I was able to bring in some snacks without issue.

Bring Binoculars

Bring binoculars for your children, this will help them to see the action better. Also pack things for kids to do. A small pad and crayons, tablets, toys… anything that kids can hold in their laps. There is free wifi available.

Souvenirs?

Most likely you’ll buy your child a souvenir or team clothing. If you really don’t want to, buy a MLB branded item BEFORE you go and present them with it. Last year I bought my son a Mets hat for $20 and he wore it to the game.

Enjoy yourself!

Note: This was written several years ago. Prices have gone up and I would make sure you take a clear plastic purse or backpack to comply with rules.

You May Need:

Clear Stadium Bags

NY Mets Kids Hat

NY Mets T Shirt

The post How to Enjoy Major League Baseball with Kids appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

How to Throw a Easy Super Hero Themed Birthday Party

The Mama Maven — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 11:24:35 +0000

Do you have a little super hero fanatic? We do and we made the super hero party of his dreams recently.

Location:

Find a local party place or community center that has a place for the kids to run around. Super Heros need to be very active! We held my son’s party at our local Jewish Community Center, the Central Queens Y. I chose the Y because it was actually very reasonable to hold the party there and I could customize it to our theme. I picked their “Fitness Fun” activity in the Y’s gym and had the party runners running active games. The Central Queens Y also is a kosher venue, meaning that they only permit kosher food to be served and brought in. While we are not kosher, it is pretty simple for me to get a kosher cake (both Costco and BJ’s offers Kosher Sheet Cakes). The Y takes care of ordering the pizza (kosher). I also picked up a veggie platter and a fruit bowl from a local supermarket and some other kosher snacks.

Invitation:

I like to add a personalized touch to parties with personalized invitations. While I have designed party invitations on my computer, I decided to purchase one on Etsy through Designing for Peanuts. Erica was great and customized to my needs.

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/designingforpeanuts FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Designing-for-Peanuts/234765503259468 The Favor: When it comes to kosher character sugar cookies, Ostrovitsky.com is my go-to place. YouCake.com did the toppers for our cookies and these are sealed, kosher cookies.

Disclosure: I know YouCake.com very well, as I’ve worked with them since 2009. Getting the cookies from Ostrovitsky.com ensures they are kosher (the toppers are printed there). Since we were having our party at a kosher venue, I needed the cookies kosher certified. Carolyn, the owner, sealed each cookie with red and yellow ribbons, and I used these as a favor for our little guests.

Photo Booth: This was so fun! I bought a sheet from Kmart and we hung it on the wall with blue painter’s tape. We had some props from Party City (masks, headbands), but my daughter and her friend grabbed items from the gym at the Y for this funny shot.

Food: We had kosher pizza for the kids and adults, and I supplemented with a veggie tray and a fruit bowl. Since the Y takes care of ordering the pizza, I only had to go out and get the fruit, veggies, the cake, and the other (kosher) snacks we served.

Dessert Table:

I considered about doing a candy buffet, but decided against it. However, I did a dessert table and it came out great! We got the cake from BJ’s Wholesale, cookies from Ostrovitsky.com (as I just mentioned) and the necklaces from PartyCity.com.

We had an absolute ball (and I didn’t have to do any major cleaning up afterwards).

Thank you to Party City for providing our party goods and supplies, Ostrovitsky.com and YouCake.com for providing the personalized kosher character sugar cookies. I did not receive a discount from the party place or BJ’s Wholesale.

The post How to Throw a Easy Super Hero Themed Birthday Party appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Legoland Discovery Center in Westchester: Wholesome Fun for LEGO Lovers

Maytal — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 12:34:08 +0000

by Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman

This past weekend I spent a fun-filled afternoon with my family at Legoland Discovery Center in lower Westchester. It opened this back in March and has become a big hit with families from NYC and the surrounding areas. It has 2 rides, a 4D cinema, lots of fun attraction and tons and tons of LEGO’s. Here’s our recap: (Read more after the jump)

What we liked: All of the attractions at Legoland Discovery Center are fun and engaging, there’s really nothing boring here and you can spend many hours getting lost in the world of LEGO’s. We stayed over 4 hours and could have easily stayed for more, so you get a lot of bang for your buck here. The rides are a lot of fun: one is interactive where you have to save a princess and the other is more like a typical theme park that goes up in the air and spins around. the 4D movie is a must and Miniland is very impressive (more on that later). This is a perfect place to take kids ages 3-10 when it’s too hot/cold or when it’s raining. There is so much to do and your kids will have fun, learn and get creative. Plus, parking is very affordable (we paid $3.25 for up to 6 hours).

What we didn’t like: While the prices at the cafe are reasonable, the portions are a little on the small side. Since people can’t bring their own food it would be wise to perhaps charge a few dollars more and have slightly larger portions. Also, personally, I would have liked to see more healthy options than just a salad, like a fruit cup for snacks, along with the cookies and cupcakes that were available.

Here are some highlights from our visit:

Building with LEGO’s was fun because my kids don’t have nearly as many LEGO’s at home.

This was a big hit: you build with LEGO’s, then press a button and the plates move, like a mini earthquake. The higher you build, the more LEGO’s fall, the louder the laughter.

My kids had way too much fun at the maze and could have spend at least 30 more minutes going through it: (TIP: bring socks, otherwise you’ll have to buy a pair there)

Miniland was a HUGE hit, even with the parents. It has miniature replicas of major NYC landmarks and is made of 1.5 million LEGO’s. It’s also interactive so you can press buttons and make some things move and every few minutes the lights go off and it changes from daytime to nighttime and includes fireworks:

There are LEGO’s EVERYWHERE!

Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-9pm; Sun: 10am-7pm

Price: $22 per adult (13+); $18 per child (3-12); kids 2 and under are free. Prices do not include tax.

Location: 39 Fitzgerald Street, Yonkers, NY 10710

Visit Legoland Discovery Center to learn more.

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

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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 Legoland Discovery Center in Westchester: Wholesome Fun for LEGO Lovers appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Kids from Bullies

The Mama Maven — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 12:40:45 +0000

By Nancy Johnson Horn, Editor

Were you bullied as a kid? I was and it was awful. I want to make sure I teach my children how to stand up for themselves. I recently attended Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s No Room for Bullying Event, hosted by Vida Lok (MommyLok) and Maria Wen Adcock (Bicultural Mama).

My son, Ben (almost 8) and my daughter Allegra (5 1/2) e were shown techniques to help protect themselves against bullying. Since this was a Jiu Jitsu studio, you may think that they were just shown how to defend themselves physically, right? While that was part of it, that wasn’t the main focus. My children have taken Jiu Jitsu for the past year, so I was excited to see what techniques they could learn (they go to a studio near our home).

This is what we were shown.

Step 1) Walk Away and Raise Awareness

Walk Away:

The first thing you must teach your child when they are being bullied is to ignore and walk away.
Remind your child how much their family and friends love him/her and they should be trained to ignore any verbal abuse from the bully who is trying to control their feelings by walking away for safety. At the moment the child demonstrates that he/she cares about what the bully is saying, the bully will win and will continue bothering him/her.
Ignoring the bully could be a challenge so there is a technique used to make it easy for your child to do so.
When someone calls them a name, they should ‘catch the comment’ and then ‘trash it’! After they do that, they finish by saying something nice to themselves. EX: If someone calls them stupid. They should mimic catching the comment with their hand and throw that comment in the trash using their imagination.
After that, they finish by saying something nice about themselves, for example “I’m smart”.

Raise Awareness:

Have your child talk to you and their teacher about what happened by asking for their help to make it stop, and to inform them about the situation. This allows your child to have an adult interfere and take care of the situation.
Once again there is a technique for your child to effectively communicate with you and their teacher. When communicating, your child must be serious and beable to explain the situation in detail so the adult will notice that is a real situation. Bad communication: “Miss Lara, Joe is bothering me!” (using a whining voice). The teacher will most likely ignore since she will think that is not something important. Good communication: “Miss Lara, Joe is calling me stupid over and over again. I have already asked him to stop. This is really bugging me. Would you please talk to him and tell him to stop?”

Step 2) Stand Up for Yourself

Most bullies will back off if you tell them to buzz off right to their face. The only downside to that is that you need to be ready to defend yourself if need be).
If the verbal bullying is repetitive your child must now stand up for themselves and show the bully that they are not weak. If the bully sees them as a strong individual he or she will most likely leave your child alone.

How can your child stand up for themselves?
Your child has to use a strong voice and strong corporal body language.
Having a solid posture, with the hands not moving, shoulder high, chest forward, looking the bully in the eyes, and using a strong, firm tone of voice they must say “Stop it! I don’t appreciate when you say this” or “Please stop this now!”.
It is not what they say but how they say it that will make the bully see them as a strong person.

Step 3) Self Defense (kids should know how to physically protect themselves). They showed us actually how to do this with jiu jitsu moves.

Even after they stand up for themselves by asking the bully to stop, the situation may still escalate with the bully becoming physically aggressive such as using a push, kick or punch. When this happens, it is the time for your child to use Jiu Jitsu. It is important to understand that we teach your child to use Jiu Jitsu not to hurt the bully but to get free and escape. Being safe is number one. After the escape, your child will immediately get help from the teachers and parents.
Commonly, when a child uses their Jiu Jitsu to defend themselves the bully will see that they are not weak anymore and will leave them alone; most bullies do not like to fight. So from now on, the bully will see your child as a strong person and they will move on.

Techniques:

Besides the “Walk Away” Technique, we were shown a Jiu Jitsu technique that you can teach your child is to surprise the bully taking him down with a double leg take down and escaping for help after. We were also shown another technique of what to do if a bully is on top of you.
Check out my video below.

Also, if your child sees another kid bullied, don’t just let it happen.. Run and get help or even help them stand up to the bully.

Thank you to Gracie Barra Academy, Vida Lok, and Maria Wen Adcock for this workshop.

The post What You Can Do to Protect Your Kids from Bullies appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

SHIPWRECK! Pirates &Treasure to Drop Anchor at NYC’s Discovery Times Square

The Mama Maven — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 19:17:29 +0000

By Nancy Johnson Horn, Editor

Recently we attended SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure, an interactive, multi-media exhibit containing more than 500 artifacts from deep-ocean expeditions around the world. This not to be missed exhibit brings the world’s most amazing deep-sea discoveries to the crossroads of the world at New York City’s Discovery Times Square.
Produced by Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. and Discovery Times Square, SHIPWRECK! offers visitors a unique look into the depths of the ocean through a mix of actual historical artifacts and hands-on, interactive computer games and exhibits. This exhibit helps to bring history to life by uncovering priceless knowledge from the depths of the sea.

Artifacts found at the exhibit, such as rare bottles, porcelain figurines, and a 300-year-old carpenter’s folding ruler, lets visitors travel back in time as they get an up close and personal look at over 2,000 years of nautical history. My kids got to touch real gold and silver, recovered from the deep, including the first ever display of silver recovered from the SS Gairsoppa over three miles deep.

One of the exhibit’s most coveted highlights is the wreck of the SS Republic, a Civil War-era side-wheel steamship which sank to the bottom of the ocean in 1865 due to a ferocious storm. The Republic, yielding over 51,000 silver and gold coins and 14,000 artifacts, was discovered by Odyssey 1,700 feet below the surface of the Atlantic in 2003 and now provides visitors with a detailed look at life in America in the late 19^th century.

SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure also offers guests the chance to put their skills to the test by piloting a virtual submersible over the Republic wreck site and scouring for artifacts with an operable model of Odyssey’s remotely Operated Vehicle ZEUS’ robotic arm. The exhibit’s Hurricane Simulator also pushes guests’ strength to the limit as they face up against 75-mph winds.

SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure will be on display at Discovery Times Square, located at 226 W 44th St New York, NY 10036. For more information, visit http://www.discoverytsx.com/exhibitions/shipwreck

For details on Odyssey’s activities and its commitment to the preservation of maritime heritage please visit www.shipwreck.net.