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Summer is here, and those without summer camp lined up may be scrambling for how to keep their kids occupied, entertained, and engaged all summer long! I hope this list of local activities and easy excursions will help!!
QUICK & EASY BAY RIDGE ACTIVITIES:
WEEKLY BEYOND BAY RIDGE GUIDE:
MONDAYS:
TUESDAYS:
WEDNESDAYS:
THURSDAYS:
FRIDAYS:
SATURDAYS:
SUNDAYS:
EASY OUTINGS:
Have some more great activities we missed? Leave a comment below and we'll add them! It takes a village, am I right!?
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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 June 27 - July 3, 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, JUNE 27:
FRIDAY, JUNE 28:
SATURDAY, JUNE 29:
SUNDAY, JUNE 30:
MONDAY, JULY 1:
TUESDAY, JULY 2:
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3:
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 June 20 - 26, 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, JUNE 20:
FRIDAY, JUNE 21:
SATURDAY, JUNE 22:
SUNDAY, JUNE 23:
MONDAY, JUNE 24:
TUESDAY, JUNE 25:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26:
Welcome to our budget friendly kitchen makeover! We've been in our small Brooklyn co-op for 5 years now and have always disliked how dark and dated our tiny galley kitchen was, so we finally decided to give it an update.
Watch our kitchen remodel step by step highlights video - a tour in the "before" kitchen, replacing our kitchen appliances (from mismatched black to new smudgeproof stainless steel whirlpool appliances), replacing our kitchen counters (from dark baltic brown granite to msi arctic white quartz countertops), adding new white hexagon backsplash, and a tour of the "after" kitchen. I think it really brightened it up and gave it a much cleaner, fresher, and a bit funkier vibe, what do you think!? I mean, it'll never be a spacious pinterest perfect dream kitchen, but this is life in a Brooklyn co-op!
And if you're looking for tips on how to hire a contractor or go about remodeling your kitchen, check out this great post A+ Construction & Remodeling! 
Our Step-by-Step Highlights Video:
WHAT WE USED:
Our budget friendly kitchen remodel features the following products (affiliate links) - our whole project, parts and outsourced labor, was just under $5K!
So, what do you think? We did a gut renovation of our bathroom (also done by E&M Shore Construction) when we purchased our co-op 5 years ago. You can see that post here!
SPECIAL ADDITION ROUNDUP!!! On top of our regular weekly kids-events roundup (for the week of June 13 - 19, 2019), we've also got a GIVEAWAY OF a MUSIC TOGETHER SUMMER SESSION for one child - with unlimited makeup and bonus classes at one of their 6 South Brooklyn area locations, all summer long (7 weeks, starting July 1) - a $265 value!!! Enter to win in the Rafflecopter app below (once you click that you left a comment, more options will open up to earn extra entry points!), and don't forget to also sign up for one of their free trial classes, held June 25 - July 14.
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, JUNE 13:
FRIDAY, JUNE 14:
SATURDAY, JUNE 15:
SUNDAY, JUNE 16:
MONDAY, JUNE 17:
TUESDAY, JUNE 18:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19:
Disclaimer: We received this stroller free in exchange for our honest review. This post also contains affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission from sales made through the links.
While it is certainly convenient being able to test-drive strollers in store, it also raises the overhead and ultimately, the selling price of that stroller. Seeing how well other brands are doing in the direct-to-consumer niche, Mockingbird has jumped on the bandwagon offering their new luxury modular stroller online only!! Some parents may be wary of a stroller they can't test out in person, so Mockingbird offers a 30-day trial, with free shipping both ways, and a lifetime guarantee! To make it even easier for you, I reached out to them to get my hands on the stroller to do a personal review and demo (with our 3.5 and 6 year olds) for you! Watch my video below and keep reading for all the details!
Because they cut out the middle man, Mockingbird is able to offer this high end stroller for just $350! Crazy right!? It's beautiful, functional, and comes with some great accessories. Here are some of it's fantastic features:
The Seats:
The seat has a 5-point harness, a 50 pound maximum, and is infant-ready with the purchase of 1 of 3 options: $30infant insert, $30 car seat adaptor (car seat not included) or $100 bassinet. Otherwise, the seat is good from about 3-6 months of age. 
It has a one-hand lever that easily adjusts it into several recline positions, and the foot rest also has several positions. The mesh peekaboo window has a magnet, meaning it's silent and will stay shut despite wind gusts. The canopy also has a mesh zippered panel that you can pull up to give your child a nice breezy nap in summer! There are 3 color options for the canopy's outer fabric (black, blue, or light blue) and two options for the inner fabric (black and white polka dot or grids - both high contrast to promote early childhood visual development).
As you can see from our demo video, our 3.5 year old twins (38" tall, 35 pounds) fit in there perfectly, but our 49" 6-year old, while within the weight limits, was a bit of a tight squeeze. The manual does say it's not for over 42", so this isn't going to work past the age of 5 or so, except in a pinch like a quick trip to the doctor. 
The Basket:
The underbasket is enormous, with an unbelievable 25 pound maximum load! So, throw your diaper bag, older kid's back pack, your purse, you name it! For a carless city parent such as myself, a large and sturdy basket is extremely helpful as we haul goods from our daily grocery run in the stroller! It also has a little velcro pocket on one of the inner sides, a very discreet spot that could be useful! The basket has easy access from the back, and with a quick un-velcro of a panel you can also access it from the front. 
The Sunshade:
The canopy is decent, but when the seat is reclined it is at a 90 degree angle, meaning during certain times of the day you may end up with sun streaming in on your little one. This is why the extra attachable full coverage sunshade that comes with the stroller is so great, and really unique! It has a few internal magnets on the top panel that line up with magnets in the edge of the canopy. It then hooks onto the edge of the foot rest with elastic, and has an elastic that hooks onto each side of the seat to make it incredibly secure. I love the magnets because they're silent - no worries about waking your child when taking this extra shade on or off! 
The Wheels, Frame & Fold:
The wheels give a smooth ride, but aren't air so you don't have the added worry of an on-the-go flat! The frame has a very simple one-handed fold, and has a compact self-standing fold! You can adjust the handle bar to several heights, depending on height of care giver. This is also helpful if you plan to pair it with a ride-on-board (Mockingbird doesn't have their own... yet). The leather handle and belly bar are really smooth and luxurious, and you can choose between black and brown. 
Extra Accessories:
These don't come with the package, but here are some great accessories you can purchase as extras (in addition to the infant insert, car seat adaptor and bassinet mentioned above):
Now, I haven't been using this stroller heavily or regularly, so I can't attest personally to its durability, but after a quick demo I am really loving it. It pushes smoothly, handles curbs well, has a great recline and sun shade options, and a huge basket for hauling all of our gear! On top of that, I love the color/design option choices, all of the extra accessories you can buy, and hello - the price!! Don't forget, they have a 30-day trial with free shipping and return, so if you're on the fence, just go for it already!! Get more info or purchase your stroller on hellomockingbird.com today! And let me know what you think!!!
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Hilary Abbot Communications on behalf of pediped, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and unbiased. This post also contains affiliate links - you won't pay more but this blog will earn a small commission from any sales made.
Summer is coming (or already here!) and your kids are in need of some quality, comfortable, and adorable water-safe summer shoes!! We've been huge fans of pediped for many years now, and are thrilled to be working with them on yet another review and giveaway! Keep reading and enter to win a pair of shoes and a purse strap at the bottom of this post!
FLEX® RIVER MARY JANE SANDALS:
How excited are my girls about their new pediped summer shoes!! They're happy because they're super cute, comfy, great for the splash pad and the playground, and easy for them to put on by themselves, and mama's happy because they're water-safe, machine-washable, very flexible, vegan, and have a quick-dry EVA footbed! 
Available in sizes 20 - 36 (US 5 - 4.5Y), in colors purple, pink, and navy, you can grab a pair for $42.50 - $50 on pediped.com or Amazon (affiliate link).
FLEX® RENEGADE WATER-SAFE SNEAKERS:
My son already had a pair of hand-me-down fisherman style sandals, so I searched for another style of water-safe shoes and found the awesome Renegade design by pediped! Featuring clarino and mesh upper, breathable neoprene liner, and a quick-dry EVA foot bed - these are a great way to let your child play and run in the water, but keep their feet safe (completely protected from the sun, too - less sunblock FTW)! My 6 year old hasn't learned to tie laces yet, so he's happy these have stretchy faux laces and an easy velcro strap! And I'm happy that they're machine washable, because shoes worn frequently in summer without socks can get a bit funky, and I right? 
Available in sizes 22 - 31 (US 6 - 13.5) in navy/lime, pink, and purple you can buy these for $57 on pediped.com or Amazon (affiliate link).
Pediped has a few other great water-safe children's summer shoes, including the Flex design we got and reviewed last year, as well as crib shoes, sneakers, dress shoes, boots, and more (and to really go back in time, check out our old reviews of the Norm loafers, Orion Sneakers, and Natasha Dress Shoes and Max Sneakers)! Head to their website to shop all of their options!
But wait, pediped is more than just award winning shoes that promote healthy foot development!! They've also got some fun accessories, including pedipals shoe charms, pedipets pet collars and leashes (with designs that match some of their shoes!), and purse straps!
The pediped purse straps will attach to many kinds of purses (with a metal clasp on each end of the leather 40" lacquer coated strap), and comes in two designs - silver and white floral. It's long and intended for a mom to use and coordinate with her toddler's shoes (Flex® Jake White Floral, Originals® Jake White Floral, Flex® Barbara White Floral, or Originals® Louisa White Floral), so it was a bit too long for my 3 year olds to use but was fine for my 6 year old (see above). You could get creative and attach it to other things as well such as a teddy bare, water bottle, you name it!
THE GIVEAWAY!!!
OK, the moment you've all been waiting for!! Enter in the rafflecopter app below for your chance to win ONE PAIR of "adventure" water-safe shoes (you chose style, size, and gender) and ONE PURSE STRAP!! Open to US residents age 18 or over, the giveaway will end at 11:59PM EST on Thursday, June 13. The more actions you take in the app, the more chances to win you will accrue! Some options include daily points!
While I'm partial to homemade gifts like photo collages and cute hand / footprints of the littles (see what I did for my hubby's 1st father's day 6 years ago), and also gifting experiences such as a family vacation or activity (check Groupon for local deals), I know many of you out there may be racking your brains for a wonderfully unique product to gift your partner or dad for Father's Day. So without further ado, here are a few of my favorite ideas!
Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links - you don't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made through our links.
Personalized Wallet
I ran across this really cool custom wallet on Facebook (dang they're good with their targeted ads am I right!?) and was blown away. You send in a photo and they'll engrave the wallet with the image - how freaking cool!? They're currently 55% off so will run you about $30-40, and they also have photo watches, phone covers, key chains, bags, etc! 
Dad Mug
Have a coffee loving father in your life? Here are some of our favorite mugs out there, the best ones IMO require a dad with a good sense of humor!
A Manly Subscription / Gift Box
Daddy and Me Shirts
I'm a sucker for coordinating family tees, and no one has better prices than Target! Check out some options here, around $10 for adult and $5 for kid or baby (affiliate link)! 
Personalized Book
I came across LoveBook on a Facebook ad as well but it's so cute! Basically, you create characters that look just like your dad / kids / etc and personalize a book to tell your story! They have a 20% off code for father's day, so it's $36 for up to 100 pages. 
Photo books are always extremely touching and make amazing keepsakes to look back on! You could put one together very easily with Mixbook, that's always my go-to!! Here's Mixbook's Father's Day guide, including photo albums, cards, calendar, metal prints, etc!
23andMe Health & Ancestry Kit
If you and your family haven't done an ancestry test yet, this is your chance to get started!! 23andMe is currently offering $50 off the health + ancestry kit, or you can get 10% off the ancestry kit only through my affiliate link here. Get more info from my review and video (where we shockingly find out my Japanese born and bred husband isn't 100% Japanese)! 
Still undecided? Check out the Father's Day Gift Guide over on Amazon (affiliate link)! Here are some I'm loving:
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 June 6 - 12, 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, JUNE 6:
FRIDAY, JUNE 7:
SATURDAY, JUNE 8:
SUNDAY, JUNE 9:
MONDAY, JUNE 10:
TUESDAY, JUNE 11:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12:
Nothing ends the excitement of a road trip quicker than a car sick kid, am I right!? Two of my three kids get horrible motion sickness, and while we still stress about it every time we're heading to the car, we have found a few hacks to help prevent car sickness, as well as some products that help make the occasional vomit a little easier to deal with. Being the mommy blogger I am, I'm happy to share those tips with you now (and hope you'll leave a comment with your own advice!!).
Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links - you won't spend more but we'll get a small commission from purchases made through our links.
Our favorite products for preventing and dealing with car sick kids:
Related posts:
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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 + 1), focusing on fun and honest product and travel reviews, helping busy parents find the best for their families! Find what you need in the menu bar or search section above! 
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