Posting from my bathroom for charity
May 8, 2012 Charity & Volunteering
So I’m sitting in my bathroom writing this post. No, I’m not doing that, I’m waiting for my hair dye to penetrate my gray hairs and dark roots. What would make me dye my hair on a Tuesday when I have so many other things I should be doing? The RBaby Foundation.
I first heard about this organization when Julia Beck (in that picture with me over there), founder of Forty Weeks, invited me to hear Phyllis Rabinowitz speak a few years ago. Phyllis and her husband Andrew lost their newborn because the ER they took her to wasn’t prepared to deal with an infant. They were sent home when their baby needed treatment.
They took their incredible grief and turned it into an organization that trains ERs to deal with babies, and provides the right equipment. They took the biggest tragedy of their lives and turned it around and helped others. There really are no words for people like that.
And Julia Beck has been one of their biggest supporters. She brought me into the RBaby fold, getting me to run my first race, a Mother’s Day four miler in Central Park that raised money for RBaby. (Heck, she even got me to craft for another charity – what won’t I do for this woman?) When I heard that Julia was being honored with the first ever Champion Award, and that I was being invited to a huge charity gala at the Plaza to celebrate Julia and the fifth anniversary of The RBaby Foundation, I was just thrilled.
Then I got scared. Me and high society? We don’t mix. I was the last person in NYC to get the memo that panty hose were out. I can’t walk in high-heeled shoes. And I can’t wear nice clothes and eat at the same time. I can guarantee you that tomorrow night I will say or do something to embarrass Julia, and she probably knows this, which is why I’m even more honored to be invited – she’s willing to risk public humiliation in the name of friendship. Hell, I’m already in trouble with her mother for calling her a hippie, but that’s another story. :-)
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Tags: charity, Julia Beck, NYC, RBaby Foundation
Fresh Direct–actually making this mom’s life easier!
May 7, 2012 Paid/Sponsored Post
This giveaway has closed. Congratulations to the winner, Eve L.!
I can’t tell you how often I get pitches from PR people for things they claim will make my life easier. Usually it’s something that would make no discernable difference at all in the level of ease in my life. But when the folks behind Listen To Your Mother asked if I would give away a Fresh Direct gift certificate in conjunction with their show, I said of course! Fresh Direct has been making my life easier since 2003, and I support them wholeheartedly.
My life has been unusually busy lately. I was away for a week, and then I only had two days to catch up on a week’s worth of emails, clean my entire house, work a big fundraiser at the kids’ school, bake a birthday cake, and get ready for Fiona’s birthday party. And of course, having been out of town, we didn’t have the basics when we got home – no milk, eggs, etc. Thank goodness I was able to put in a quick Fresh Direct order for the very next morning, and get not only the groceries we needed, but the bulk of the food and drinks for the party, too. It saved me at least two hours at a time when I didn’t have two hours to spare.
I’m so thrilled that Fresh Direct was a major sponsor of Listen To Your Mother, because I know some of the people involved with the show (which was performed Sunday afternoon) and I know how hard they worked on it. I hope Fresh Direct was able to make their lives a little easier, too.
As a long-time Fresh Direct customer, I can personally attest to the quality of their food. And if something isn’t perfect, their excellent ratings system tells you, so that you can decide whether to buy it or not. Their customer service team is outstanding, taking care of any problems that may arise, usually within hours.
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Tags: Fresh Direct, NYC, Shopping
Don’t like the ice cream truck? Here’s what you can do
Apr 6, 2012 Around NYC
Every single spring, on some listserv or moms group or forum I’m on, somebody complains about the reappearance of the ice cream trucks and slushie carts in Brooklyn. This year, since it happened on the much-maligned Park Slope Parents listserv, it’s getting a lot of attention. Everyone from the San Francisco Chronicle to my friend Marinka (writing on Babble’s MomCrunch) to some Park Slope Parents members themselves (with a hilarious parody clarification) have been writing about this latest bit of whining from parents who blame the rest of the world because they have trouble saying “no” effectively to their kids.
The specific complaint that started the brouhaha involved carts entering the actual playground, and personally, I think that sucks. I get aggravated when anybody comes into the playground to sell anything. Most days in good weather we get pestered to buy slushies, cold water, balloons, stuffed animals, and cotton candy. My problem with this is that those people simply aren’t allowed in NYC playgrounds. If you’re not there with a kid, you’re there illegally. I’m sure you’re breaking other rules about vending inside the playground as well, but I just care about the rule that keeps creepy loners in trench coats out. So anybody who wants to ban selling anything within the wrought-iron-fenced confines of the actual city playgrounds, you’ve got my support.
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NYC gets a cool new taxi, but misses some big opportunities
Apr 4, 2012 Around NYC
The new Nissan NV200 (photo courtesy of Nissan)
Last night I went to a press conference introducing New York City’s latest taxi, the Nissan NV200. NYC taxis are always an adventure. You never know if you’re going to get a taxi with a flooded floor, one that smells like feet, a driver who has no clue where he’s going and gets both of you hopelessly lost, or who talks for half an hour about why he wears a tinfoil hat at home (all things that have happened to me since moving to NYC). This new taxi could have a positive impact on three of those situations.
The taxi itself is beautiful, and big. While it won’t seat more people than current cabs, those passengers will be a lot more comfortable. The rear compartment has these features:
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Disney Fantasy christening
Mar 2, 2012 Around NYC
I just got back from the christening gala for the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Fantasy. It was amazing!
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 8. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Want to catch up on my other posts about the Disney Fantasy? Here they are! (Oldest first.)
Today’s Agenda: Disneylucious Edition
Drooling, Headachy, Post-Disney-Christening Non-Alcoholic Hangover
Videos From The Disney Fantasy Christening Gala
The Disney Fantasy: Gorgeous From Head To Toe
So What Do Kids Do On The Disney Fantasy?
Drinking And Eating…And Eating…And Eating on the Disney Fantasy
Partying Around Europe On The Disney Fantasy
Tags: Disney Cruise Line, Disney Fantasy, NYC
Godspell on Broadway: This cast could sing the phone book
Jan 24, 2012 Around NYC, Theater Review
On Sunday night The Ass and I headed into the city with the kids for dinner and a show. I was fortunate to receive tickets to Godspell on Broadway from Mama Drama, a wonderful organization that promotes Broadway shows to moms.
We started out with dinner at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, just a block and a half from the theater. If you’ve never been (we hadn’t), it’s a good warm-up to seeing a Broadway musical. The entire wait staff takes turns singing selections from Broadway shows. This is not Monica from Friends standing on the counter singing over her big fake boobs, either. This is for real – these people can sing. In fact, last year the diner lost eleven waiters and waitresses to Broadway shows, including one to Godspell! One waitress even dazzled the diners with “Glitter and Be Gay” from Candide – she wasn’t messing around.
We got to the theater early and checked out the cast info. I absolutely love Hunter Parrish on Weeds, and he plays Jesus. Fiona immediately recognized Anna Maria Perez de Tagle from Camp Rock. And I was struck by the fact that six members of the cast were making their Broadway debuts (as is director Daniel Goldstein).
The Circle in the Square Theater is a really great space. I don’t think there could be a bad seat in the house. I’ve always thought there’s something magical to theater-in-the-round: once you’re not playing on a traditional proscenium stage, everything else should be messed with too. Rules should be broken. I wasn’t disappointed. From the way the band is scattered throughout the theater to the different surprises in the stage, this production is innovative. I mean, how can you not appreciate a show where a fatted calf plays the cowbell?
I mentioned in the title that the cast could sing the phone book, but only if it were set to music by Stephen Schwartz, who is responsible for both Wicked (one of my favorite musicals of all time), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the most underrated and overlooked of all the Disney musicals – I’m still waiting for it to get the Disney Broadway treatment.
The most interesting thing about this production is how topical it is. There are tons of references to politics, pop culture, etc. and if this were a movie it would be dated in about ten minutes. But judging by the Mitt Romney joke that had to have been added within the past few days, they’re keeping it fresh, and it totally works.
This is probably a good time to mention that I’m an atheist. My husband was surprised that I wanted to see the show. I pointed out that I’m not really a fan of murder and cannibalism either, but I’ll go see Sweeney Todd any day. A good show is a good show, whatever the subject. Godspell is based on the gospels of Matthew and Luke, and the lessons are brought to life in the same way that reading Shakespeare can be dry, but a good production is totally understandable and riveting.
The first act is definitely more joyous and, in my opinion, better than the first. But that’s not really anybody’s fault. The betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus is kind of a downer, even when sung. It’s all handled really beautifully, but still, things are solemn for a long time, and I imagine younger kids could get bored during the second act. I had to put my hand on Fiona’s program a couple times to make her stop playing with it. The show runs two hours and fifteen minutes, and in retrospect a matinee might have made more sense, but she loved it and is excited to listen to the soundtrack, which I bought the next day.
Jake is a tougher customer. He wasn’t all that enthusiastic about going in the first place, but I feel like kids should be exposed to theater as much as possible, and was really hopeful that he would get into it. Several times I glanced over at him and saw him playing air drums and clapping. He told me after that he gave it a 7.5 out of 10. Considering he would’ve otherwise been at home playing video games, I was more than happy with that.
My husband gave it the highest praise he could: if you like that sort of thing, it’s really good and definitely worth seeing. I was fooled in the beginning, when we were first dating: he went to every musical I wanted to. But, in the same way that I no longer shave my legs for him, he no longer pretends to like musicals just to please me. I’m sure that he would rather have been on the couch next to Jake, also playing video games, so I appreciate his sacrifice. :-)
There was a drawing after the show for two audience members to go back stage and get a tour, and I’m not sure who was more disappointed not to win, me or Fiona. This is the first show in a long time that I’ve wanted to see again right after it ended. If you are anywhere near NYC and your kids are about seven or older, I would highly recommend Godspell, especially if they’ve never seen a Broadway show. You can get a very big discount on tickets to Godspell through this link, using code GSMDR79.
Also, be aware that there’s something called Talk Back Tuesdays, where after the Tuesday show (through March) a different cast member talks about his/her role in the show, audition, etc. If I see the show again it’s going to be on a Tuesday. :-)
For more blog posts on Broadway’s Godspell visit MamaDrama.
Thank you to photographer Jeremy Daniel and the Godspell website for use of the production photos, and to Mama Drama for this great night out.
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 1. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
Stepping out of my comfort zone
Dec 14, 2011 Posted From My Phone
I’m in a cab on my way home from a fabulous event put on by my wonderful friend (and occasional employer) Barbara Jones of the One 2 One Network, and the awesome Catherine Connors of Babble. They hosted a really fabulous group of bloggers at Hotel Lola to introduce us to Sole Society and their gorgeous shoes.
Sole Society is like a personalized shoe subscription. You can sign up for free (you don’t even have to give any credit card info) and you take a very quick style quiz, choosing pictures of clothes and shoes that speak to you. Once you make your first purchase you become a member of the subscription club, and you get a selection of shoes to choose from each month. Each pair is only $49.95! And if you don’t want shoes in any month, no worries – you can always just skip that month.
I was allowed to pick a pair to bring home, and my first instinct was to grab a pair of flats, since they were adorable and exactly the kind of shoe I would buy.
But, this was an event! Free shoes! Why should I go practical? So, I chose the tallest, awesomest platform heels there.
I was surprised when I tried them on that I didn’t fall over. Despite having a five inch heel, the front of the shoe is about two inches high, so it doesn’t seem so bad. They’re absolutely the most stylish pair I own. I can’t wait to wear them out somewhere.
As long as there are no stairs.
Thanks so much, Barbara and Catherine. Great night out. And thanks to Sole Society for my new shoes!
UPDATE: I forgot to thank Barbara for taking that awesome picture of me and my shoes!
Originally posted on Selfish Mom, from Amy’s cell phone (so please excuse any weird formatting). All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 1. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
How to buy tech for other people
Nov 21, 2011 Paid/Sponsored Post
[The following post was commissioned by T-Mobile]
I love buying gadgets and tech toys, and know what I like. But when it comes to buying tech for other people, I just don’t do it that often. My sisters and I bought a laptop for my mom a couple of years ago, and that worked out very well, but I haven’t been brave enough to do it any other time. So, I was thrilled to host about twenty other bloggers for an event at the new T-Mobile store near Union Square last week, where we mingled and noshed,
had the T-Mobile staff at our disposal,
and were given tips on how to choose and buy tech gifts.
Smartphones for the neophyte
Now, in my opinion, someone who is totally into smartphones and up on the latest tech trends will not want you to get them a smartphone, unless you know exactly which one they want (in which case you’re probably either married to them or gave birth to them, and they’ve been hinting pretty hard). But for people who haven’t made the jump to the wonderful world of smartphones yet, a gift might be the kick they need.
Two new smartphones from T-Mobile, the myTouch (on-screen keyboard) and myTouch Q (slide-out keyboard), are designed specifically for people who’ve never owned a smartphone before, and who might be a bit apprehensive. They both run the very popular Android operating system, and to make set-up easier they have a wizard that guides the user through setting up email and social networks, plus a tips widget to help figure things out along the way.
[I got to give these phones away on my site last week – congratulations to Deanna Watson and M. Banks – enjoy your new phones!]
What to ask at the store
T-Mobile provided us with these questions to ask at the store where you’re shopping for tech gifts (and, actually, they’re smart questions to ask when shopping for yourself as well:
- What does my rate plan cover?
- What kind of speeds/data am I getting?
- How much will my monthly payments be and/or other charges?
- What’s the exchange/return policy?
- Is my/my recipient’s home and workplace covered by your network?
- What are roaming charges?
- What are your warranty/insurance policies?
Some other tips I learned at the event:
- If your gift recipient is moving from one phone to another, make sure you can help her transfer all of her contacts, pictures, and data over to the new phone seamlessly, or that she can bring it into a store to get expert help in doing this.
- If the person you’re giving a phone to makes a lot of international calls, or is a teen with her first phone, you might want to consider gifting a pre-paid plan as well.
- Consider whether your recipient will want to use the phone as a camera replacement, GPS, or a mobile hotspot and make sure the phone you choose includes these features (and that the plan does as well).
- Don’t forget accessories, like cases or protectors, portable chargers, bluetooth headsets, and upgraded storage cards.
- If you’re gifting a smartphone to a child or teen, you can add applications like Drive Smart Plus and FamilyWhere to help put your mind at ease about your child’s location and phone usage.
- As far as plans go, T-Mobile has a great online calculator that helps you figure out the best plan, based on things like how often you stream videos or music, how many pictures you upload from your phone, etc.
Purse and pocket sized tablets
If your gift recipient already has a phone she loves, you might want to consider giving a tablet. I didn’t get a chance to play with either of the tablets that people at the event were gushing over, but lucky I ran into the T-Mobile crew the next night at another tech event, and got to try them out.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 plus and the SpringBoard with Google are, in my opinion, great gifts for someone who likes to be productive on the go but doesn’t want to carry around a laptop. At $229 and $299 respectively with a two-year contract ($50 less after a mail-in rebate) these are much cheaper than an iPad, and better suited to throwing into a purse or a pocket. I would actually let these out of the house with my kids, as opposed to the iPad, which I’m way too paranoid to let out of my sight.
Thanks to my blogger buddies!
I appreciate all of them taking time out of their day last week to come to my event. They’re all awesome, so please check out their blogs (linked below) – you won’t be sorry!
Nancy, Rebecca, Ellen, Desiree, Maria, Jen, Jill
Me & Vivian
Not pictured: Kim, Linda, Nicole, Onica, Victoria
Originally posted on Selfish Mom. All opinions expressed on this website come straight from Amy unless otherwise noted. This post has a Compensation Level of 13. Please visit Amy’s Full Disclosure page for more information.
