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 30 - December 6, 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 deadline. 
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Disclaimer: We were provided product from Shinesty and photos from Beyond Moments in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. In addition, this post includes some affiliate links - you won't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
No matter the holiday or theme, Shinesty has an outfit to let you get as festive and cheesy as your heart desires! While they focus mainly on men's and women's funky fashion, they also have a great selection of children's and family coordinating options! Did you see us rocking our snowflake outfits last year?? Well, this year we're back for another collab with Shinesty, outfitted in my favorite of their Christmas line - the "Lincoln Log" pattern!
Our outfits arrived just in time for our Holiday mini photoshoot with Beyond Moments Photography, a new mom & dad photography team here in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Look at how stinkin' cute these photos came out!!! If you're local, stay tuned - they'll be offering more mini photo shoot pop ups in the coming weeks!! 
So, ok, I guess I'll have to stop gushing over those photos and get on with the review right!? Here's what we're wearing:
On Me:
Lincoln Log Love Lady Christmas Suit Jacket ($69) and Christmas Skirt ($59.99). The material is fabulous, smooth and a bit silky, high waisted with a hidden zipper. The skirt has pockets, which are convenient, and they're slimly tucked away, not adding bulk to your hips. I would suggest considering ordering a size down in the jacket as it's not especially fitted. 
On The Boys:
My husband is sporting the full Lincoln Log Love Daddy Christmas Suit ($99) - you can independently select jacket and pant size (waist only though, so they're super long on my short hubby), and can select tie or bow tie. My son however, quickly hijacked the tie, which looks adorbs, right? Kenzo is also sporting the Christmas pants, which feature a comfy easy to fit elastic waist. 
On The Twins:
They were low on stock when we ordered (and out of stock on many things now so plan ahead if wanting to get these for another holiday or next Christmas, it'd be smart to order by Halloween), so we couldn't get my twins identical dresses, but that kinda worked out nicely! Mia, below far left, is wearing the Lincoln Log Little Lady Christmas Dress (in XS, age 3-4; $34.99) which was long but otherwise fit pretty well. Emi, below far right, is wearing Toddler Christmas Dress (in size 5T, $29.99), which was shorter (and too big because she needed a 4T but nothing a quick fold under of the sleeves couldn't fix). Great news is that these will still fit them next year, score!! 
So, what do you think!? I love love love this pattern, but they have many to choose from, and not just Christmas! They've got Hannukah, New Year's, Thanksgiving, NFL, ski wear, crazy bathing suits and boxers, pajamas, you name it, even OREO apparel (yes, you read that right)!! Head on over to Shinesty to do some Holiday shopping!!
But first, comment below! How do you dress for family photos? Do you have a stash of Ugly Christmas Sweaters? Do you have any family coordinating outfits? I gotta say I'm a total sucker for them!!! Don't miss my post on the fab budget-friendly graphic tees over at Target!! 
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 23 - 29, 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 deadline. 
ONGOING:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23:
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26:
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29:
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Vianetic, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. Additionally, this post includes some affiliate links - we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
Of course The Vianetic aka the BEST DIAPER BAG EVER launched after my families' diapering days were over, but that doesn't mean I can't review it for you guys, and of course keep it for my own personal use, because this thing goes way beyond managing diapers!! We're actually giving away one Vianetic diaper bag in my $560 value jackpot Baby Goodies Giveaway, so don't forget to enter to win by November 26!
For the best introduction to this diaper bag, you'll need to watch my Vianetic demo video. As I walk you through each of the 21+ features of this bag, you'll be able to truly appreciate just how amazing it is!! So watch it here and then keep reading for more detailed photos and info:
Unbelievable Storage & Organization:
The biggest thing that sets Vianetic apart from the crowd is its organizational capabilities. It's not your average backpack that opens from the top into a cavernous mess. Oh no. The front panel pulls completely open (via pull tab magnet, no less) to give you a beautifully organized (with velcro panels or fully inclosed zippered container) view of your contents. Attached (but removable) to this front panel is your easy to wipe clean diaper changing pad. So you could sit the backpack in your SUV's trunk or a park bench, open it up and change your baby right there without taking anything apart. It also has a separate compartment on the bottom of the backpack (pictured top right in below image), and another in the back, meant for your laptop (pictured below on bottom right). 
Multiple Carrying Options:
While it serves most obviously as a backpack to be carried, well, on your back, it also has a really nifty ability to quickly convert to be carried or stowed in other ways. The straps are detachable so you can use as a standard 2 strap backpack or a cross body bag. The chest clips on each strap actually move up and down the strap, and have magnetic quick release buttons. These allow you to quickly hang or release it from the back of a stroller or the car's headrest, for example! Don't forget, it also has the luggage passthrough section on the back! 
21+ Features:
Some of these have been mentioned above, but let's just go ahead and list some of the very cool and unique features you'll find on or in your Vianetic:
So what do you think!? Pretty amazing diaper bag, am I right!? But it'll serve you beyond that - use it for a travel bag, a work bag, or just your daily bag for getting around town!!
Don't forget, you can win one in my $560 value Baby Goodies Giveaway running through November 26! Enter to win here!! If you don't win, don't fret - they'll be having some great Black Friday deals and other deals as well. Right now I'm seeing a code for $40 off the Mini on their website! Don't miss our reviews of the must haves for getting around with babies through big kid: 
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post but all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. This post also contains affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
Who's ready for another amazing giveaway!?!? This one features loads of amazing products for babies and young families! We're talking diaper bag, sleep sack, diaper pail, nasal aspirator, gift boxes of goodies for baby's first year of life, and more - a $560 value jackpot! Enter to win in the Rafllecopter app at the bottom, but first, read all about the great products and brands!!
The Vianetic Diaper Bag
Who says a diaper bag has to look like one?! This sleek and sophisticated diaper bag is about as cool as they come, and is jam packed with over 21 thoughtful and logistical features! First of all, it zips open from the front instead of at the top, so you immediately have access to everything inside, which can be compartmentalized in many different ways (check out the image above right to see what I mean). The detachable diaper pad flips down with the front, making changing baby on the go easier than ever. You can use it as a backpack or shoulder bag, or even attach it to the back of your stroller. It has a luggage passthrough, laptop compartment, USB port, sun glasses holder on one of the straps (possibly my favorite feature), magnetic chest strap, wet/dry compartments... I could go on and on (and I do in my full blog review here)! Because of it's versatility and modern-look, this bag will get your family through the diaper years and last for years to come after (likely graduating to become your new work bag). Our grand prize winner will receive one Vianetic Diaper Bag in their choice of color and size!
Antipodes Merino Baby Sleeping Bag
With roomy width and length and adjustable snaps on the shoulders and under the arms, the Antipodes Merino sleeping bag adjusts to fit your baby from 3 - 24 months! There is a two way zipper that goes across the bottom and one side (see above left image for a visual), so that you can change diapers without removing the sleep sack. Additionally, it has a seat belt slot, which means that you can buckle baby in and out of a swing, stroller, or high chair without removing the sleep sack. Brilliant, am I right!?! They feature a unique double layer of 100% natural merino wool on the chest, and 100% jersey cotton elsewhere meaning they can be worn year round - simply adjust the layers worn underneath based on room temperature. Our grand prize winner will receive one sleeping bag in their choice of color.
Noobie Box - A Year of Wonders
Now, I know we usually recommend sticking to the baby registry when buying an expecting parent a gift. But in the case of a Noobie Box, if it's not on their registry it's probably only because they didn't know about it! They have boxes for different themes, including a free pregnancy gift box (you just pay shipping), a parents box, nursing box, and 4 baby gift boxes based on age over the period of baby's first year, which can be purchased separately or as a set. This set is called "A Year of Wonders" and is included in the jackpot of this very giveaway!! Our grand prize winner will receive the lump sum shipment all at once (retailing for $120), but it can also be purchased as a subscription to send one box at a time. You'll get the Noobie Nest (for 0+ months), Noobie Play (3+ months), Noobie Eat (6+ months), and Noobie One (9+ months)! These aren't sample items either, they include 5 full sized products in each box that you will looooove!!
Dékor Diaper Pail
Changing diapers isn't the most glorious part of parenting, but there's no reason your diaper pail has to be stinky, ugly, or a pain to use. None of these are an issue if you have a Dékor Hands-Free Diaper Pail, which allows you to step on the pedal, drop the diaper through the trap door, and be done - no twisting or bending required! Refills are one continuous liner, so you can empty as often as you like. And Dékor Diaper Pails are made with ABS closed-cell plastic that doesn't absorb odor, is safe to clean, and won't rust. Our grand prize winner will receive their pail in color and size of their choice. Options include Mini, Classic, and Plus, the latter has the largest opening and can be used with their disposable liners or their washable cloth diaper liner! Be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 
Baby-Vac Nasal Aspirator
When babies and young children get congested, it can be hard to keep their nasal passages clear. It's necessary not just for their comfort, but to also lower the risk of secondary infections settling in! That is where Baby-Vac Nasal Aspirator comes to the rescue. A small, simple, and affordable option that does a better job of cleaning out baby's nose than any other home device I have tried (and I've tried about 10!!!). It hooks up to any vacuum hose (with a diameter of 0.90 to 1.22 inches & 800-1800 watts), but don't worry, it has a self-regulating valve so it's just enough suction to do the job but not enough to hurt (we've tried it on ourselves, there's no discomfort whatsoever). The secretions do not go into the vacuum, but are trapped in the chamber of the device and you can simply wash it out after each use. It's such a brilliant product, they even sell it at my pediatrician's office! Our grand prize winner will receive one set!
Wubba Water Electrolyte Drinks
Sick babies and young children can get dangerously dehydrated very quickly when sick wtih Flu or a tummy bug. It's a good idea to keep a supply of electrolyte drinks and ice pops at home for when the time comes. But before you stock up on electrolyte replacement drinks for the family, let me ask - did you know electrolyte replacement drinks tend to be full of artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners? Big Bang Beverages wasn't too thrilled with that, so they created an organic and healthier alternative to Pedialyte: Wubba Water, a children's hydration drink free of synthetic dyes, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and GMO's! Colored only with fruit and vegetable extracts and having only 1 gram of organic sugar per serving, Wubba Water is a healthier way for your little one to replenish water and electrolytes when sick (and they'll get a Vitamin C boost to boot)! Our winner will receive 2 bottles of each flavor - blue raspberry, fruit punch, and orange, a $15 value.
So there you have it! Amazing jackpot of products for babies, am I right!? Enter to win in the Rafflecopter app below. To enter, you must leave a blog comment and push the button in the app that you did so. No more actions are required, BUT each additional action you take will earn you extra entry points, and some options can be done daily! So come back each day to increase your chances to win! Open to US residents ages 18+.
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 16 - 22, 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 deadline. 
ONGOING:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18:
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Searching for a family-friendly vacation spot that was relatively midway between our home in NYC and my sister's home in Montreal, I stumbled upon Greek Peak Mountain Resort in upstate New York, near Cortland. After scoping out their indoor water park and outdoor adventure center online, I knew it would be amazing! I reached out and they were kind enough to provide our accommodation and activities free of charge in exchange for this review, but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased!
To get the best feel of Greek Peak, be sure to watch our full YouTube video which features highlights from the hotel and our time there, including the moment my sister's family arrived and totally surprised my son who had no idea they would be coming down to meet us! It was such a beautiful tear-filled moment!!!
The drive wasn't bad, it was about 3.5 hours from Brooklyn. You actually drive through the Poconos, which is the more typical mountainous region New Yorkers escape to, but it was worth the extra time on the road to explore a new area! It was a bit further trek from Montreal, I think it took them about 4.5 hours. Knowing we'd booked the huge Cedar River Suite (with 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a living room and full kitchen), we stopped at Walmart to stock up on breakfast, lunch, and snack supplies to save money and sanity. As a family with 3 young children, we find eating out to not be so much of a luxury anymore as it is a very stressful experience most of the time, so being able to have a relaxing breakfast and lunch in the room really makes it an enjoyable home-away-from-home experience in my opinion!! Now cooking dinner is another thing altogether, that's a hard pass for me on vacations, so we always dine out (covered further down in the review).
Hope Lake Lodge is beautiful. A modern rustic lodge vibe, very clean and new feeling or at least very well maintained. Our suite slept 10 with an independent bedroom and bathroom on each side of the living room / kitchen room, so each of our families had our own space that we could escape to for a quieter bedtime routine or getting ready for the pool. But our kids could sneak out into the living room to play in the morning while the parents slept. All without leaving the suite! That was pretty sweet, wink wink! Not only did we have a fully equipped kitchen with fridge, microwave, stove/oven, and dishwasher, but it also came stocked with not-your-average-minibar! We're talking a huge basket of candy, sodas in the fridge, and check out the Greek Peak wine, champaign, and vodka bottle in the picture below! Of course, anything opened is added to your bill, but we couldn't help but pop open a bottle of wine, which was perfection, and at just $25, totally fairly priced!
The lobby was gorgeous! They were actually preparing for a wedding in the lobby when we arrived, that's how stunning it is! They do a lot of weddings at Greek Peak, I'm sure you can imagine, whether indoors or outdoors or even on the top of a mountain, they have people tying the knot all over! Speaking of mountaintops, that's where we headed first!! The Adventure Center is across the street from Hope Lake Lodge (they recommended driving but you could definitely walk) and features lots of seasonal and year-round activities. We hit it at an odd time because summer activities (zip line, eurobungee, high ropes course, bounce house, and slide) were closed and snow tubing winter activity wasn't open yet. Zipline is year round. As is the Mountain Coaster, which is the one we decided to try.
Kids must be a minimum of 3 years old AND 38" tall to ride. Kids between 38-54" must ride with an adult. So, had we gone just my family of 5 we would only have been able to send one parent and child at a time which would have kinda stunk. Luckily, with my sister's family, their son was old enough to go by himself which left us with one adult per child, hooray!! And the Mountain Coaster guys, is FUN FUN FUN and scary but mostly FUN!!! It's a little go cart looking thing, on rails, and you ride it to the top of the mountain and then it releases you and you end up going about 30 miles per hour down the mountain, twists and turns, crazy fast and absolutely thrilling. Don't miss this part of our video guys!!! My son filmed one time forward so you can get the feeling that you are riding along, and my niece filmed another time to show our screaming faces LOL! It is cold though, so bundle up!!! 
After screaming our lungs out on the Mountain Coaster, we headed back to the hotel for dinner at Acorn Lodge. The menu and list of specials had some really great options, including Elk burger and kielbasa & pierogi! Kids menu with crayons and coloring as well, which is always welcome!
After a great night's sleep (it was really quiet and the beds were cozy), we woke up refreshed and ready for a full day at Cascades Indoor Waterpark, which was just down the hall from our suite!! Unless you buy a special package, these passes are not included in your stay. And people not staying at the resort can buy day passes as well. Kids under 24 months are free and rates vary but they have some great specials, for example Tuesdays are BOGO!
The waterpark is kept at 84 degrees year round, so it was nice and warm (not quite as warm once wet but better than most other indoor water parks we've been to!). The wave pool was probably my favorite attraction, I haven't been to one in over a decade and it was the first time for my kids. Emi loved jumping in the waves, and Kenzo and Mia loved riding the waves in the water tubes. The water slides were also really great, they had 4 big ones but my girls were too short for those and could only go on the little ones in the baby and toddler areas. My son was not tall enough to ride alone but could ride the double one, which was great fun to do together!
They also had a little pool with basketball hoops in it, an indoor/outdoor jacuzzi but you had to be 6 years old to go in that. And they had a heated pool that you could access from inside. I tried it. Once. The trick is not to do it with wet hair or face, and keep the rest of your body below the water. Then you'll survive. Ha! Seriously though, my kids couldn't get enough of it! It was kind of surreal, being in the pool and seeing the ski slopes and your breath in the air. Brrrr!!!
There was a fast food type of cafe in the pool area, but your wristbands are good all day so we chose to dry off and have lunch back in our room, and we went back for more fun after lunch. Our final activity at the hotel before heading home was a quick trip to the Bear Foot Den, which is their children's center. They have drop-off babysitting by appointment (for a fee), but during their open hours anyone can stop by to play. They had a toy house and kitchen, dolls, and toys for little ones. Board games, Wii, and movies for older kids or teens. Really something for everyone, and a great space for families to come spend some time together!
I can't get over what a good time we had at Greek Peak. It was so great to see my sister's family and let the kids have cousin time, and even greater to be able to do it all at such a wonderful resort! Making unforgettable memories with family, that is what vacation is all about, and Greek Peak is where to do it!!! Whether you go for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing in winter, or go in summer to hike and lay out on their lake's white sandy beach, you will have an amazing time!! To read more about Greek Peak or book your next vacation, head to greekpeak.net!
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 9 - 15, 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 deadline.
ONGOING:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12:
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13:
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14:
 
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15:
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 2 - 8, 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 deadline. 
ONGOING:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5:
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6:
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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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