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 November 1 - 7, 2018!
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, NOVEMBER 1:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6:
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7:
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Looking for clothing & accessories for babies, children, and adults from small to well-known designers? One-of-a-kind gifts and fabulous home decor? Unique toys, jewelry, and birthday gifts? All while supporting a mother-owned and run business? Then you've come to the right place, because you can check off every single one of those boxes by shopping at Picket Fence, a small brick and mortar boutique in Pittsburgh, offering personal shopping assistance in shop, and an easy online experience as well with free nationwide shipping on orders over $40. And you're in luck because we are going to be giving away $50 store credit - be sure to enter to win in the Rafflecopter app at the bottom of this post!!
At Picket Fence you'll find unique, trendy, and classic items for your children, yourself and your home! Browsing through the baby and kids sections, you'll find great brands such as APPAMAN, Freshly Picked, Kickee Pants, Tea Collection, and more.
In the home section, you'll find everything from holiday decor to towels, cutlery, tumblers, tote bags, and candles! Look at this fun stuff:
The women's section features made-in-America clothing and accessories by small designers and well-known brands, such as Kate Spade and Chloe.
It's not the best place to go when needing duplicates for twins, since there is only 1 available in each size for most of the items, though I did find some great coordinating items, for siblings or twins:
Looking for a fabulous deal? Don't miss their sale section!! Check out some of these great deals I found:
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
And now that you've seen what amazing goods Picket Fence has, it's time for the giveaway!! YAY!! Enter to win a $50 store credit to PicketFenceShadySide.Com below - you must leave a blog comment to enter, and once you do that and click the button in the app, it'll open up a whole bunch of other entry options that will earn you more chances to win. Open to US residents over the age of 18 only. GOOD LUCK!!!
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 October 25 - 31, 2018!
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, OCTOBER 25:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28:
MONDAY, OCTOBER 29:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31:
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Culturelle but all thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not a medical professional - please do consult one before you or your children take any supplements or medicines.
I was waiting in our pediatrician's office the other day (toddler twins with nasty colds, fun!) and overheard a new mom with an infant speaking to the receptionist. Apparently, the doctor had recommended probiotics for her newborn, and she was to purchase them up front. She asked the receptionist how long her little one should take them, probably thinking it was a quick fix, just a week or two. The receptionist looked at her kind of stunned, and replied "Well, um, forever?" I chuckled to myself because not too long ago, I hadn't really heard of probiotics myself. It wasn't until my first child was faced with his first round of antibiotics that our doctor encouraged us to start them, to help discourage some of the nasty side effects antibiotics can have on the tummy, and to help rebuild his healthy gut bacteria afterwards (these "good bacteria" are essential for a strong immune system and overall wellness). Once you look into the research and talk to doctors, you start to understand their possible benefits on specific ailments, immune system, gut health and overall wellness, and it becomes quite clear that everyone, from infants through adults, can benefit from taking them daily, for life!
Now, there are a TON of brands and types of probiotics out there - some have a single strain, others have a handful. Potencies vary, as well as price points. So, I urge you to do your research and talk to your care provider about what will be the best probiotic for you, and your children. But I'm here today to talk to you about the #1 pediatrician recommended brand†, Culturelle, who I learned first about through my child's pediatrician about 5 years ago, and learned even more about last week at Momtrends' Moms' Night Out influencer event (see my recap of the event here - at their booth, we were encouraged to pick out a diaper bag and pack it full of essentials for our kiddos, including Culturelle Probiotics, of course)!!
Culturelle has several lines and products, including 4 types for digestive health, 4 for overall wellness, 3 for kids (1 with fiber), and 3 for baby, which I'll discuss in detail below.
Culturelle® Baby Calm + Comfort Probiotic + Chamomile Drops, for ages 0-12 months, includes Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG®) and helps reduce crying and fussiness due to occasional digestive upset.
Culturelle® Baby Grow + Thrive Probiotics + Vitamin D Drops for ages 0-12 months or 12-24 months, includes Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG®) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12™), and promotes the development of a healthy digestive and immune system and helps build strong bones.
Culturelle probiotics use safe and gentle ingredients that work naturally with your baby’s body*, and help build a strong foundation for your baby’s healthy growth and development.
You can shop for Culturelle products on culturelle.com, Amazon (affiliate link), and your local drug stores.
What do you think? Do you or your children take probiotics or other supplements? Leave a comment below!!
† Based on a 2016 survey among pediatricians recommending a kids probiotic brand * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease 
My husband was born and raised in Japan, and I spent 5 years over there myself (2 years before meeting him and 3 years together). Our oldest child has visited twice and our twins just once so far, when we went in the summer of 2017 (don't miss our great 4-part video series of that trip to Japan here!!). So, when Japan Candy Box reached out for us to do an unboxing, we were totally psyched!! Watch it below, have some laughs, be inspired to try something new, see us demo and try out 2 of the crazy interactive candies at the end, get your own Japan Candy box with my affiliate link here! And ENTER TO WIN YOUR OWN JAPAN CANDY BOX in the app at the bottom of this page - it's open WORLDWIDE (giveaway ended Nov 13, 2018)!!
Enter to win here, and don't forget to leave us a comment to let us know what you think about Japan Candy Box, our video, our silly kids, Japanese culture, or anything else!!
One of the greatest things about being a "mom blogger" is learning about the latest and greatest products, trends, and innovations, and getting to share them with all of you! Momtrends has been such an amazing resource for me, both as a mom and as a blogger. Their influencer events are always a blast, helping us connect with brands and learn about them in fun and creative ways. This year's 3rd Annual Moms' Night Out was no different, and I couldn't be more excited to tell you guys all about it!! Read on for a glimpse of the event and the wonderful brands and products that were represented there!
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. Amazon links below are "affiliate links" - you don't pay more, but I may get a small commission to help fund the blog, it's a win win!
The event was hosted by Parents Magazine at the Meredith Publications HQ in downtown Manhattan. There couldn't be a better match than Momtrends and Meredith, they totally run the parenting market in print with Parents and Parents Latina magazine (even if you're not receiving them at home, you're certainly reading them at your pediatrician's waiting room like I did yesterday), and digital on momtrends.com and parents.com (the latter did a piece on my twin pregnancy stop motion video that went viral 3 years ago!).
The night included fashion, food, massage, drinks, toys, giveaways, friends, and... being "moms' night out and all... no kids! YASSSSSS! 
Now let me get down to the sponsoring brands, the great products they have, and the fun ways we got to learn about them!
Culturelle
The Culturelle booth was my first of the night, they had a selection of great diaper bags to chose from and asked us to fill one as we would for a family trip! Lucky for me I don't have to bother with diapers anymore, but with kids in tow you still have plenty to think about - snacks, entertainment, illness, etc! They had amazing must-haves to throw in there! I ended up going with some KIND bars and Happy Family Happy Tot Fiber & Protein bars, Aquaphor Baby lotion, Babyganics sunblock, Johnson & Johnson mini first aid kit, sippy cups, and of course, Culturelle Baby Calm + Comfort Probiotics and Culturelle Baby Grow + Thrive Probiotics! 
Culturelle has probiotics for the whole family - for digestive health, wellness, and even an entire line focusing on building a strong foundation for your baby's healthy growth and development. It's actually the #1 Pediatrician recommended brand (based on a 2016 survey among pediatricians recommending a kids probiotic brand). Culturelle® Baby Calm + Comfort Probiotic + Chamomile Drops help reduce crying and fussiness due to occasional digestive upset. Culturelle® Baby Grow + Thrive Probiotics + Vitamin D Drops promote the development of a healthy digestive and immune system, and help them build strong bones. You can shop for Culturelle products on culturelle.com, Amazon (affiliate link), and your local drug store. Read more about Culturelle in my blog post here!
Boiron USA
The next booth was deeeeeee-licious! Boiron USA wanted to provided a healthy and Instagrammable booth for us to enjoy, and they sure did, with a full smoothie bar! 
Boiron USA is a world leader in homeopathic medicines, providing family-friendly products that work without causing drowsiness or drug interaction, and is best known for their top-selling flu medicine Oscillococcinum. Their baby & children's line features Children's Coldcalm Liquid Doses (multi-symptom cold relief for children 6 months and up) and Children's Chestal Honey Syrup (relieves all types of coughs). Boiron's homeopathic medicines have no risk overdose, won't interact with other medications, herbs, or supplements, and don't contain any of the ingredients questioned by the FDA for use in children under age 4. Amazing right!? You can purchase Boiron USA homeopathic medicines on boironusa.com and Amazon (affiliate link).
JCPenney's Peyton & Parker Collection
Now, I wouldn't call myself fashion forward or at all fashionably inclined. I struggle with this big time, so I was a wee bit intimidated upon hearing JCPenny's booth involved styling a mannequin family with items from their new exclusive Peyton & Parker Collection. They had a couple of racks lined up, and once I started flipping through, it was actually fun!! They have super cute stuff that coordinate quite easily! Check out me and my little mock-family below! 
JCPenney's new lifestyle brand, Peyton & Parker, launched TODAY (October 19) and will be sold exclusively in select JCPenny stores and online. Designed entirely by their in-house Design Team, Peyton & Parker is a collection of classic womens, mens, kids and home looks that mix & match to create effortless, yet put-together style for the family. The pieces are classic and versatile - fresh, approachable trends that work for every family’s lifestyle, no matter the occasion.
VTech
Am I saving the best for last? Perhaps... VTech wanted to demonstrate that their toys will keep your children entertained and engaged enough to provide you with some much needed "me time". So what did they offer at their booth? Well, tons of great toys for us to play around with. But also, MASSAGES!!! 
VTech is a world leader in developing high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children's development and make learning fun! From Kidizoom smart watch (that I'm playing with above) to digital cameras, musical instruments, activity walkers, and more! Be sure to check out their Holiday Guide (sorted by age group) to make your shopping this year easy peasy! You can purchase at vtechkids.com, on Amazon (affiliate link), and at local stores.
Great stuff, am I right!? Are you already a using and loving any products mentioned above? Have you just added some to your shopping carts? Lemme know in a comment below!!
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 October 18 - 24, 2018!
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, OCTOBER 18:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21:
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24:
WINTER IS COMING (or already here for some of you)!!! But have no fear, with the right winter gear for babies, toddlers (and care giver), it'll be a breeze!! To make it as easy as possible for you, I've rounded up my tried and true favorite winter products for you right here, as well as a few random hacks at the bottom of the post!
(Affiliate links included - you don't pay more, but I may get a small commission to help fund the blog, it's a win win!)
1. STROLLER BUNTING
You need a good stroller muff or bunting if you'll be pushing baby around outside at all this winter. It's basically a big sleeping bag that the stroller's straps go through and you can quickly zip open when you're indoors shopping or letting your baby nap in your entry way. JJ Cole BundleMe (in infant and toddler size) seems to be the most popular, probably because of the great price point ($35-60 new, and about $15-25 used), and it's what we've been using and loving for almost 6 years! The "Urban" style is wind-proof and water resistant. 7AM Enfant buntings seem to be the better choice if you're going to be in regular extreme cold (let's say, Canada, for example), and are loved by all who use them, but they cost quite a bit more.
2. STROLLER GLOVES
If you're going to be pushing a stroller around on the daily in temperatures under 50 degrees, stroller gloves are a necessity in my book. They make it so easy to seamlessly go between pushing the stroller, handing baby his binky, texting, refilling snacks, wiping snotty noses etc, since you're just slipping your hands in and out of the muffs that are strapped onto the handle bar. No need for actual gloves! 7AM WarmMuffs are the best, hands down (pun in tended LOL), a permanent fixture on my stroller from November through March!
3. Stroller Shield / Rain Cover
A great stroller cover is not just great in the rain and snow, it actually creates a beautifully warm green house type atmosphere for your baby!! My little ones were chronic sock / shoe / hat / glove tossers, so a rain cover on super cold days was essential. Our favorite brand is Manito (see my full review here), because it's made of a nice waterproof nylon with plastic windows that zip open and shut, meaning you can take your kids in and out of the stroller without having to remove the cover, and you can also zip it open to hand them a snack, when you're move indoors, or if the kids are getting too warm (picture that love scene in "Titanic" - it can get quite toasty and actually steam up the windows in that rain cover LOL). They have single (in alpha & plus for strollers where the back reclines such as City Mini & G-Luxe, and beta for strollers where the seat is reversible and rotates via lever, such as UppaBaby Cruz & Vista ) and twin (for side by side strollers). 
4. Baby-Proof Gloves
Mittens or gloves that are toddler proof? SNOWSTOPPERS!! They go all the way up to the elbow (under the jacket), so they keep snow out and toddlers can't pull them off, hurrah!!! SnowStoppers also make great super tall snow boots. Check out my full review of both the mittens and boots here. 
5. Nasal Aspirator
Whether they just have a runny nose from the cold, their first cold, RSV, the flu, or allergies, you need to invest in a good nasal aspirator! My personal favorite is BabyVac - it hooks up to your vacuum hose - valves control the suction power so it gets out all the buggies but isn't painful or dangerous, and don't worry, the boogers get trapped in the small device and don't go into your vacuum. See my full review here! Others prefer Nose Frida, which is powered by your own mouth. You'll also need saline drops, to make sure it's super moist and easy to suction. Suctioning right after a steamy bath can help, too. 
6. Baby Wearing Winter Gear
If baby wearing, you'll want to get a baby wearing coat or baby carrier cover. They'll make life easier. If just wearing here and there you can simply throw a pair of tights and leg warmers under kiddo's pants, or put them in a snow suit, or wrap a long warm blanket around you and the carrier. Jolly Jumper Snuggle Cover is probably the cheapest of the covers, and seems to be quite popular, though I've never tried it myself.
So, those are my favorite winter gear for babies and toddlers! Have you used any? Do you have any others to recommend? Drop a comment below!!!
And I'll leave you with my final tip for surviving winter with littles. This is especially for stroller-pushing city-dwellers. Those corners after a snow storm? They can be a DOOZY!!! First, you need a nice stroller with decent sized wheels (that handy umbrella stroller you have? yeah right, put it away til spring). To get over the snow mounds, the trick is pulling the stroller BACKWARDS. Yep. You'll look a fool but it's the only way. Good luck out there, parents!!!
If you're searching for a unique Halloween Costume, or an easy Cosplay idea for your next Comic Con, I've got a suggestion for ya! Kigurumi hooded onesie costumes from Kutame! From dragons and sharks to unicorns and pandas, they have a massive selection of costumes! You'll even find some Japanese ones such as Gudetama, Korilakkuma, Rilakkuma, Mega Man, Shiba Inu, and Pink Gloomy Bear. Not only does Kutame have tons of Kigurumi, they also have Pusheen, blind boxes, mugs and other great gifts.
And are you ready for this?! We're giving away a $150 store credit (US residents only; good for 2 - 3 Kigurumi costumes), and have a 20% off coupon code for everyone else!! Just read on and enter to win at the bottom of this blog post!! (giveaway ended) 
They are SUPER soft, and warm (made of 100% polyester, SAZAC's signature soft fleece), machine washable (just turn them inside out), and because they're so loose fitting they allow for plenty of layering underneath which makes them the perfect choice for Trick-or-Treating in chilly locations! Another thing that makes Kigurumi so great is there's no guessing game when choosing your size. They're meant to be loose fitting, and only come in 2 size options for adults: "regular one size" (what hubby and I got, we're both about 5'8") and "extra tall size" (for those over 6') and 2 size options for kids: 3-5 years old (what we got for our just turned 3 year old twins) and 5-9 years old (what we got for my small almost 6 year old son).
You can see that they're quite big on my kids, but the elastic wrists and ankles are great. Kind of harem pant style. Loose, comfy, and lots of fun to "monkey around in" as my son mentions in our HILARIOUS unboxing video, watch it here!! I can see them being a great costume during pregnancy and postpartum, as well, since they're so roomy!
Here are my husband and I modeling our "regular one size" Kigurumi. I got the "colorful skeleton" (only available in regular size) and he got the "skeleton" (available in regular & extra tall size), both have pockets and retail for $59 on shopkutame.com (don't forget to use code "USJAPANFAM" for your 25% off!!)
Here's our son in his Japanese monkey costume, with pockets, retailing for $45. He's almost 6 years old and about 43 inches tall, wearing the "5-9 year old size", it's also available in 3-5 year old size. I'm so happy he chose this costume, not only is it adorable and kinda hilarious with the red butt, but about 10 years ago his father and I actually drove out from our home in Yokohama to see the Japanese snow monkeys in the mountains of Nagano, lounging in the steamy natural hot springs! It was quite an amazing experience!!
Here are our twins modeling the pink unicorn and blue unicorn costumes. They just turned 3 and are about 36" tall, wearing the size 3-5 years (also available in 5-9 years). Both have pockets and retail for $45. The hoods were a bit difficult for them to manage at first, but after playing around in them for a while they figured them out. It's fun to pull them forward and be totally in character, but do make sure you and your kids can see well when necessary, or know to take their hoods down when crossing the road! Safety first!!
Suffice it to say, we are all totally in love with our new Kigurumi onesie character costumes, and think you will be too!!! US Residents can get 20% off their orders with code USJAPANFAM at shopkutame.com and can also enter to win $150 credit in the Rafflecopter box below. Don't forget you can earn more points daily with certain actions such as tweeting, watching our videos, and commenting on blog posts! The giveaway will end at 11:59 PM EST on Monday, October 15. Good luck to all, and be sure to comment below with your thoughts on these costumes, Japanese culture, or a fun Halloween/Costume-related story!!
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 October 11 - 17, 2018!
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, OCTOBER 11:
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14:
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17:
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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), focusing on fun and honest product and travel reviews, saving moms time finding the best for their families! Find what you need in the menu bar or search section above! 
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