Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of April 25 - May 1, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadlines. 
ONGOING:
THURSDAY, APRIL 25:
FRIDAY, APRIL 26:
SATURDAY, APRIL 27:
SUNDAY, APRIL 28:
MONDAY, APRIL 29:
TUESDAY, APRIL 30:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1:
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Bay Ridge Brooklyn's own Fontbonne Hall Academy is proud to showcase the talent of their Drama students in the Spring production of Hairspray.
The Story: In 1962 Maryland, quirky and big-haired teenager Tracy Turnblad dreams of dancing on the local TV dance program. When she shows off her moves to host Corny Collins, her wish comes true and she becomes an instant local celebrity. Using her new-found fame, Tracy advocates for racial integration on the show - an uphill battle she has every intention of winning.
Performance dates are May 3 (7:30 PM), May 4 (2:30 PM & 7:30 PM) and May 5 (2:30 PM) in the Fontbonne Hall Academy gymnasium, located at 9901 Shore Road in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Tickets are $12, with best availability Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Please keep in mind, the show is recommended for children 8+. They do not have booster seats for younger kids, but you are welcome to bring your own if you believe your child might have difficulty seeing.
Purchase tickets here, and contact glasser@fontbonne.org with any questions. And don't miss this fun video of the cast in rehearsals!!
**updated 9/8/2021**
How will vibrant hair dyes show up on virgin brown hair? Read on & watch my videos below to see how different brands and colors have worked on me before you try on your own hair!! 
In high school I went through some crazy hair phases - from platinum blonde to dark red, you name it! I spent much of my 20's with long blonde highlighted hair, spending tons of money at salons in Tokyo and NYC. After meeting my now husband, I settled into my "mousy light brown" hair and have not changed it color-wise for over a decade! But... I got bored. So, I recently started my adventure with vibrant semi-permanent hair dyes, ones that wash out in 4-15 washes and don't have bleach, ammonia, or any really damaging chemicals. They're cheap, they're fun, but do they work??
In a nutshell, you can't expect to look like Mal from Descendants without bleaching your hair first, but you can still have fun without lightening it. I'll add my youtube videos below as I try new colors - comment below with what you think, what colors you've played around with, etc!!
L'Oreal Colorista (Burgundy)
This was my first delve into the vibrant semi-permanent hair dyes (in January 2018). I bought 2 boxes at Rite Aid for about $20, and spent about $50 at the salon having them apply it because I was too scared to try it and ruin my hair and bathroom haha!! It was beautiful, purplish reddish dark brown, but it did wash out very quickly, about 50% the first wash and by 5 washes was pretty much gone. I did shampoo with warm/hot water and regular shampoo with sulfate, so I'm not sure how much this had to do with the quick fade out. It was fun and I liked it, but with the salon expense, totally not worth it.
Clairol Color Crave (Orchid)
This was my 2nd "crazy" color, and my first ever time dyeing my own hair (or anyone's, for that matter). Watch the video, it's helpful but mostly funny - I take you through my paranoid prep of my head (Burt's Bees ointment all over my hairline, ears, and neck) and bathroom (garbage bags all over), dyeing my hair, washing it out, and how it looks dyed. It was very dark, blueish purple in sunlight, almost black in regular indoor lighting. There was ZERO SMELL from the dye itself or on my head afterward, which was awesome, but makes sense since there aren't really any harsh chemicals in there. The vaseline worked well at protecting my skin, and I ended up getting some dye on my hands and arms when I forgot gloves washing it off, but it came off with a quick rub with hand sanitizer! I'll update this page when I find out how quickly it fades, I'm a bit nervous it'll go grey during the fadeout, since it is quite a blueish hue of purple. It's supposed to last 15 washes and this time I'll be trying to use colder water and special sulfate-free color safe shampoo and conditioner (Redken Color Extend Magnetics Sulfate-Free Shampoo & L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Moisture Conditioner - affiliate links).
L'Oreal Colorista Teal
My 3rd "crazy" color, I let my YouTuber fans vote and pick this one out actually!! Unfortunately, it came out a bit more green than blue and I'm not really loving it. And it really lingered, more than 6 months later and the green hue was still there, and highlights made it reappear! But it covered up easily with the next colors.
Manic Panic Amplified Hot Hot Pink
My 4th color job, and my favorite results so far!!! LOVE THIS STUFF!! But... it washed out VERY quickly, quicker than the others.
New Cut & Half Head Highlights (12/2/2019):
oVertone Coloring Conditioner Rose Gold for Brown Hair (dyed 12/4/2019)
The in shower conditioner kept it from fading like 90%, so amazing!! I used it in almost every shower - I'd towel dry, apply in shower, comb through, let sit 5 minutes, then rinse out and shower off, no gloves needed (it tinted my palms a wee bit pink each time but it came off quickly and wasn't obvious at all). As soon as I finished the bottle (took about 2 months, i wash my hair just 1-2x a week) and started taking hot showers without it, it faded very quickly, almost gone in about 5 washes!
oVertone Coloring Conditioner - Purple for Brown Hair
(dyed 3/15/2020) This purple guys, it is STRONG STUFF!! I recommend wearing gloves in the shower when using the in-shower conditioner because it tinted my hands and nails pretty significantly each time. I did this color during COVID lockdown so didn't really care all that much that my palms/nails got tinted, and my kids got a kick out of it LOL! But, just a heads up!! The purple lasted the same as the last overtone color I did - in shower conditioner kept the color pretty good and it faded very quickly when I stopped.
oVertone Coloring Conditioner - Extreme Pink
(dyed 8/20/2020) Great color!! Came out pretty much same color as Manic Panic Hot Hot Pink (see above). To save money you could do the Manic Panic for initial color and keep it going with the oVertone in shower extreme pink conditioner... After I stopped using the in shower conditioner, it didn't want to fade all the way out. But I moved on to my next color (below) and it covered the remaining rose gold hues no problem!
Manic Panic Shocking Blue over Rose Gold Hair
(dyed 11/4/2020) Beware, this blue man, it gets everywhere!!! Until my first shampoo, it bled like CRAZY!!! My fingers got stained anytime I touched my hair, and blue was all over my computer keyboard, shirts, etc. Yikes!! After the first wash it was fine, but it faded SUPER quick and after it was all gone, the pink from my previous color remained under it! Kinda weird but I loved the pink so it's all good.
Purple & Pink Ombre with oVertone
(dyed 1/14/2021) I decided to try using 2 colors for the first time, and didn't have the skill or patience to go strand by strand as the professionals did. So I went with my typical "massage in by hand like shampoo" method and it actually came out great!! I used Purple for Brown Hair on top half and Extreme Pink on bottom half.
(dyed 5/17/2021) I wanted to try a new color and was on the fence between Crazy Color Fire and Manic Panic Vampire red, in the end went with the latter since I've had good luck with Manic Panic on my unbleached brown hair in the past. This one seemed thinner than I'm used to and I made a bit of a mess but it came out FABULOUS!!!! Loving it!
July 20, 2021 - used oVertone extreme green over my (still tinted red from manic panic vampire red) brown hair. didn't love it, i think the red canceled out the green mostly? it washed out SUPER quickly, maybe 3 shampoos. tops.
September 8, 2021 - Dyed my hair black with oVertone Rich Black coloring conditioner! Very thick and easy to use it seems to have a bit of a purple hint. Very dark but not black black on my brown hair. Still a fun color, I really love it!
Not hair dye related, but here are my fun DIY haircut videos!!
Disclaimer: This blog post is sponsored by oNecklace, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links - you don't pay more but we will earn a small commission for purchases made.
Mother's Day is coming up and we all have different feelings about this day. For many, it's a day to reflect on all that the mother does for the family. To spoil her, or at least to take a moment to say "Thank you and I love you!" But we have to remember for some, it's not all rainbows and butterflies. Some women are struggling to become mothers, some are grieving the loss of our own mothers, some have a tense relationship with their mother / mother-in law / baby mama or even their own children! No matter the case, we can all agree that without mothers, none of us would be here. So, to commemorate the day just how you want to, if that means gifting yourself or a mother with something lovely, unique, and treasurable - anything from a personalized necklace to a full day of treatments at Spa MD, then this is the post for you! I bring you my unique Mother's Day Gift Guide!
Personalized Jewelry
I have been wanting this myself for ages, and just hadn't made the splurge or hinted at it to my partner in crime, oops! But I got a beautiful personalized piece of mothers' jewelry thanks to oNecklace who provided me with this gorgeous Three Tone Ring Engraved Mother Necklace, currently 40% off, selling for just $47.95!! Beyond having your children's names engraved (smallest ring is 24K gold plated, next is rose gold, and largest ring is 925 sterling silver), you can also customize the clasp (lobster or spring-ring clasps) and chain length (with 14 - 22" available). oNecklace has TONS of other designs available - mother jewelry, and non-mother necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, for kids and adults. oNecklace has been around since 2012 and has been featured in British Vogue and on Pretty Little Liars and The Talk, they offer free shipping and have a 90-day return policy, so what do you have to lose!? Check 'em out!
Mugs, Tumblers, & Glasses
Whether she's a wine lover, coffee addict, tea enthusiast, fitness freak, or just your average Jane struggling to stay hydrated, you can't go wrong with a fun or stylish beverage container. Pick out one with a silly catch phrase, an inspirational quote, or even some photos of your kids - the sky's the limit! I'm loving the motherhood line of glasses by Pearhead, featuring wine glasses (affiliate link) and ceramic coffee mugs (affiliate link).
Subscription Box
Nothing says love like a box of goodies delivered right to their doorstep! Thankfully there are a bazillion subscription boxes out there to choose from!! Got a fitness or yoga lover? Check out my review (and $10 off coupon) for Yoga Club!! For regular clothing (men, women, and kids) try Stitch Fix (affiliate link).
Intangible Services
Sometimes the most thoughtful gifts don't come in packages with pretty bows on top. What about booking her a day at the spa, or that cut and color she's had on the back burner for months (or years) because she just hasn't had the child-free time to "pamper" herself on such a "luxury"!? Heck, you can even book a sitter for her to have some free time - check out Chime by Sitter City, you'll even get $25 off your first booking with my affiliate link!
Professional Photography
When's the last time your family had a professional photoshoot? Book one to commemorate Mother's Day this year, or every year! Or, just for the mama, how about a Boudoir Shoot? It's certainly not for everyone, but would be an experience she'll never forget (and probably some photos she and her partner will appreciate having decades down the road!). If you don't know of a great local photographer, hey, there's an app for that, with plenty of "on-demand" photography booking options these days. With Shoott in NYC, for example, you book on demand (or ahead) and get a free on location 30 minute photo shoot and only pay for the photos you keep (each is $15 or less)!! Some others include PhotoSesh, Snappr, and Snapped.
Other Ideas:
Support your mama friends by shopping through them!! Here are a few great Mother's Day gift ideas from my mom friends:
If all else fails and you're still at a complete loss for the perfect Mother's Day Gift, check out Amazon's exhaustive list of Mother's Day Gifts (affiliate list), with tons of categories and options!!
Watch a Video!
Not sure how to dress for yoga? Looking for women's yoga clothing inspiration, how to look hot at the gym, or just to be comfy and cute while running errands? Say hello to YogaClub (who sponsored this post), a yoga apparel subscription service!
You take a style quiz so that your yoga outfits are individualized for your taste, and for just $79 per box, you'll get the best yoga clothing brands (like Free People, Niyama Sol, Manduka, & Beyond Yog) at 60% off retail value, delivered to your door! I love LOVE the items they sent me, the style quiz did its job, it's so detailed even asking if there's a part of your body you'd like to conceal (ehem, my #twinskin). I love how easy it has made it (as a mom of 3 convenience is KEY) to update my workout wardrobe gradually! If this sounds right up your alley, your hunt for a great fitness subscription box is over! Sign up here to get $20 off for life, and don't miss my unboxing, mini fashion show, and headstand in the video below LOL!! 
Whether you like to coordinate your multiples like me, or you have a daughter who likes a multitude of solid color options to mix and match, you're going to love basics by kidpik (who provided us with some clothes in exchange for this review.) Offering the best in cute & fashionable basics for girls sized 4T - 16 - no logos, prints, or graphics - you can mix and match and let your girls show off their own style (without breaking the bank)!
We're talking buttery soft and comfy materials, in a rainbow of colors, at a price point that will make your wallet do a happy dance! As a mom of twins, their "Buy 2 get 30% off" deal for nearly every item is right up my alley, but their regular rates are great, too! For example, seamless tank tops (in 20 colors!!) for $7.50 (2 for $10), long sleeve layering tees for $10.50 (2 for $15), super soft skinny jeans for $22.50 (2 for $34), t-shirt dress for $14.50 (2 for $22), fun fringe denim shorts for $17.50 (2 for $25), and glitter sandals for $25 (all shown in the above image).
Check out my girls modeling the Coco Swing Top in Provence Blue ($10.50, 2 for $18) and Tie Front Skort in Pink Peacock ($15.50, 2 for $22). I love the skort - fun like a skirt and practical like shorts! I think it looks best with a fitted shirt tucked in (so you can see the adorable tie front), but I was happily surprised that the swing top actually works well in or out! Both are super duper soft, especially the skort, made of rayon spandex jersey. They're adorable and welcome additions to my girls' spring and summer wardrobe! The sizing was spot on, as well, my girls are in between 3T and 4T so we went with size 4 and it'll definitely fit through summer and probably even next year (now that's a great bang for your buck, am I right!?)
Before you shop basics by kidpik, make sure you have Rakuten (previously Ebates) plug-in installed on your browser - they're currently offering 6% cash back on kidpik purchases!! If you don't already have Rakuten, sign up with my affiliate link and get $10 toward your first purchase!
Kidpik also has a great subscription box, check it out here! Each month you get 3 stylish mix and match outfits (7 pieces total). There's no stylist fee, you just pay for what you keep (and there's a 30% off discount if you choose the "keep all" option). Shipping, returns, and exchanges are FREE! 
So, what do you think!? Let us know what fashion trends your daughters are loving these days!
Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of April 18 - 24, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadlines. 
ONGOING:
THURSDAY, APRIL 18:
FRIDAY, APRIL 19:
SATURDAY, APRIL 20:
SUNDAY, APRIL 21:
MONDAY, APRIL 22:
TUESDAY, APRIL 23:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24:
Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of April 11 - 17, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadlines. 
ONGOING:
THURSDAY, APRIL 11:
FRIDAY, APRIL 12:
SATURDAY, APRIL 13:
SUNDAY, APRIL 14:
MONDAY, APRIL 15:
TUESDAY, APRIL 16:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17:
Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of April 4 - 10, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadlines. 
ONGOING:
THURSDAY, APRIL 4:
FRIDAY, APRIL 5:
SATURDAY, APRIL 6:
SUNDAY, APRIL 7:
MONDAY, APRIL 8:
TUESDAY, APRIL 9:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10:
As a parent, it can be hard to find the time to work out, so sometimes you've got to get a bit creative. I've been playing around with my kids doing acro yoga for a year or so now, and it's always so much fun! At the 2019 Toy Fair New York, I came across a new and fun game called Monkey Moves - created by a college student, that was right up our alley! She sent me the digital version of the game and I organized an acro yoga with kids Monkey Moves Challenge with The Baby Gang, who you may know for their jaw dropping "Mom vs. Triplets Plus Toddler" video (with over 54M views!!). They were totally game for the challenge, and I think you'll agree that the resulting compilation video is absolutely hilarious!! Watch it below and don't forget, you can get your own Monkey Moves card game on Amazon (affiliate link). Be sure to tag me (@usjapanfam) if posting anything on social media, I'd love to see your moves!!
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About Me ^_^I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins plus 1). This blog is chock full of product reviews, family travel guides, and giveaways galore! It's also home to Bay Ridge Families, and several guides focused on kid-friendly activities and guides to South Brooklyn, Hudson Valley, and New Jersey, as well as family-friendly destinations beyond the NYC area (check the menu bar!)  
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