Limeade to the rescue!

braggs limeade

The apple cider vinegar people of choice have now gotten into the beverage business.

It’s spring break this week, so for us that means all bets are off, routine-wise. Movies every day, extended playdates with friends, a general optimistic feeling that warmer weather is here to stay…

Then comes the dreaded email from school about a student having strep throat, and the whole world of swimsuits and butterfly chasing comes crashing down around us.

Especially as our little one has a bit of a cough.

So I turn to all of my usual remedies with a vengeance, and while I was stocking up at the local health food store, I discovered another addition to the arsenal. Because while Mommy’s apple cider vinegar and honey tea is dutifully consumed, a prepackaged limeade from Braggs (that just happens to have that same magic vinegar in it) goes down like a treat.

And who doesn’t like a treat every now and again?

Monday, Monday– or more links about apps that will improve our lives (maybe)

I wonder if anybody ever made apps for her phone?

I wonder if anybody ever made apps for her phone?

Vertical videos have always driven me crazy… here’s an app called Horizon that keeps all your shots horizontal, no matter how you’re holding the phone.

Can’t bear the idea of going to the gym? Try Tabata, an app that delivers short (starting at 4 minutes) and sweet workouts you can do anywhere.

Why bother learning how to write more clearly and succinctly when there’s an app that will essentially do it for you?

Jauntful is an app that lets you print out (and digitally share) your own travel maps, complete with favorite spots and secret routes, so you have all the info you need in your pocket, without using up you batteries.

For the design-obsessed among us, there is finally Canopy, a filter that brings all the beautiful, useful and lovingly designed merch on Amazon into one spot.

Now that we’ve got all these well designed products coming into our homes, here’s a whole list of apps to help with spring cleaning – digital and otherwise.

And last, but definitely not least, we have Forecast, an app that gives you up to the minute weather reports wherever you happen to be.

Staycation!

Our view from the Standard Hotel in the East Village.

Our view from the Standard Hotel in the East Village.

A couple of weeks ago my in-laws (god bless them) came and stayed with our daughter at home while my husband and I took off for a two night (childless!) voyage to the far off island of Manhattan. One of the great things about New York City is that it’s as fun to be a tourist here as it is to be an insider. Here’s what we did (if you’re curious, or want to copy us– which you should…) — Read more

Time for some new kicks

tretorn

The classic tretorn, but in lime green suede. And really worn in.

My friend Wendy gave me these Tretorns about 10 years ago and I have worn them to death. Literally. And now it’s time for a new pair.

But instead of being exited, I am all sad and overwhelmed by the choices out there. I think I’ll just stick to my guns (traditionalist that I am) and go with the same brand…I mean, I’ve been wearing some version of these sneakers since I was in junior high school. But even then, there are lots of decisions looming.

Nylite florence

Nylite Florence… one of my many choices of Tretorn sneakers.

Do I go with the new Florance Broadhurst line and have crazy patterns on my feet wherever I go?

Club Monaco for tretorn

These collaborations with Club Monaco appeared in Esquire Magazine (which is where I got this photo) are more along the lines of the classic shoe.

Or do I just stick to the basic version? And even in that case, what color might I want? And do I stick with suede or branch out to canvas?

Oh who knows. I think I still have a little while before my current pair falls completely to pieces. Until then, I’ll just drive myself crazy trying to decide. And please don’t anyone suggest going with a different brand…

Bunny Books

Every Easter, for as long as our daughter has been able to move around on her own, there has been a basket left at the doorstep by the Easter Bunny on a certain significant Sunday in April. And while he does put a few eggs and something sweet in there, the main attraction is a book or two that has something to do with either the holiday or the season in one way or another.

Here are three of my current favorites:

The Easter Rabbit's Parade by Lois Lenski.

The Easter Rabbit’s Parade by Lois Lenski.

In The Easter Rabbit’s Parade, a bunch of farm animals plan an Easter surprise for the little girl who cares for them. Originally published in 1936, it is gentle story from a gentler time. In the best of all possible ways.

Here COmes The Easter Cat, by Deborah Underwood. Pictures by Claudia Rueda.

Here Comes The Easter Cat, by Deborah Underwood. Pictures by Claudia Rueda.

Here Comes The Easter Cat is the story of a cat who, sick and tired of everyone fawning over a certain well known bunny, plots to take over Easter. Hot off the press, this one makes a great gift as you can be pretty sure no one has it yet.

A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long.

A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long.

And last but most certainly not least we have A Seed Is Sleepy: a book about rebirth in the form of seeds. Stunningly and meticulously illustrated, the pages work both as works of art and scientific record. The text is seemingly hand written, though it’s hard to tell these days, what with modern technology being so tricky, but lets just believe in the vision of a pen and ink doing the work here.

Oh and check out a few of my other favorites here… These books never go out of style!

Real live magic fairy dust!

cool kid mist

Just a spritz of this and your child will transform from a whirling dervish into a cherubic angel. Or something like that…

The minute I saw this little bottle of Calm Kid Mist on the shelf at Kiosk, one of my favorite local spots that I’m sure you’re all sick of hearing about by now) I knew I had to have it. Visions of spraying a bit of this over my daughter’s WHY-CAN’T-I-HAVE-ANOTHER-BOWL-OF-ICE-CREAM storms and having it instantly dissipate are very very appealing.

Well it might not be quite that dramatic, but a nice gentle whiff of lavender and lemongrass will tone down even the most potent tempests. I’ve been spraying a bit on my daughter’s pillow before she goes to bed and I swear she’s falling asleep more quickly than ever. Plus her room smells lovely, which is never a bad thing.

ever hydrosol

As Fancy Nancy would say, a hydrosol is just a fancy way of saying mist.

And then for the Mamas, there is this Clary Sage Hydrosol from my absolute favorite (and brand new!) aromatherapy company EVER Brooklyn. Billed as a woman’s emotional rescue (sign me up!) the scent of clary sage is wonderful for relaxing without sedating. Because we grown ups need some fairy dust too!

Monday, Monday– or more links about Heather, Roxanne and the other Brooke Williams

Roxanne Shante and The Real Roxanne had the same name just like like me and that other Brooke Williams... Photo by Ernie Panicciole

Roxanne Shante and The Real Roxanne had the same name just like me and that other Brooke Williams… Photo by Ernie Panicciole

Another Brooke Williams (and our name is Legion, for we are many) wrote a piece in the New York Times yesterday about the trauma of not being me.

Or at least not being the me she imagined from a few messages left on her phone by mistake. Which immediately reminded me of UTFO’s Roxanne Roxanne, Roxanne Shante’s bad ass rebuttal, and The Real Roxanne’s subsequent addition to the mix.

Sure, I am finding the above-mentioned situation a bit unsettling, but hey, at least it’s not tax identity theft, right?

Stuff like that kind of makes me want to throw up both of my hands. Like Marvin Gaye.

Or maybe I should just be quietly thankful that we are all Brookes and not Heathers.

This is a bit off topic, but did you guys know Cher actually got arrested for “borrowing” her moms car?

Oooh Easter is around the corner! And when one begins to think about dying eggs, one must of course consult the master of all things craft, Martha Stewart.

And last but certainly not least, check out this incredible video of old cellphones making beautiful music with their beeps and ringtones. It’s actually quite moving.

Shopping with your heart

The WILBy pop up shop at the Wythe Hotel

The WILBy pop up shop at the Wythe Hotel.

If your plans include a trip to Williamsburg this weekend (or if you already live here) you should all take a stroll over to the Wythe Hotel and check out the last weekend of the adorable WILBy pop up shop. It’s just past the check in desk on the main floor and it is really worth the visit.

WILBy stands for What I Live By and it’s all about shopping mindfully, with a full understanding of what goes into the things you are purchasing. At the core, they are a bag company, with a whole selection ranging from the $8 “Factory” bag made in Pakistan to the $120 “Local” bag, made to order at the Wythe, with fabric of your choosing. You can even bring in something that you want to recycle and your bag will be crafted from something that has personal meaning to you… how cool is that?

What makes this place different is its lack of preachy-ness about the whole thing. Any reusable bag is better than plastic, and while it might be nice to have a custom made especially-for-you carry-all, $120 might be more than you can spend on a vehicle for your groceries. They break down the whole process in this chart (below) so that you can see each step of production and thus gain a better understanding of the final cost of your bag.

WILBy production cost chart

And if you’re like me, and have way too many bags, there are all sorts of other ethically produced items to look at and potentially buy… from camera straps to tea towels to craft books for the kids. I know we’re supposed to be all about acquiring less, but at least at this shop we can feel really good about the people we are supporting when we buy their stuff!

The Shop at Wythe Hotel Presents WHAT I LIVE BY (WILBy)
March 10 – April 7 2014
10 am- 8pm daily
Wythe Hotel. 80 Wythe Ave. Brooklyn, NY