A couple of months ago a topic came up in my mommy group about putting a label of some sort on your baby's car seat and stroller, in case of emergency. We all agreed this is totally necessary, and people tossed around simple ideas such as the sticker name tags, you know, the ones that say "My name is _______". And yes, that would work, but check out this alternative I found recently called SwaggerTag:

SwaggerTags are plastic customizable identification tags that you can attach to your stroller, diaper bag, luggage, back pack, you name it!! You can see below, Karen (Owner of SwaggerTag) made one for each of the various business hats I wear: my blog, Miny Moe, and Mommy Nearest (the far right image shows the blank form "ID Circle" for your name/address/phone/etc; if you don't want it to show, you can put an image on opposite flap and then no one can see your info unless they open the tag):

They're super easy to customize - directions are in the packaging and they have a little stencil you can use to trace the photo or whatever planning to use to make sure it's the right size. The tag just snaps open and shut, and then you attach it with a really easy to use disposable cord. They also have a gallery of "window art" you can print for your tag (for free)!

SwaggerTags are not just helpful, cute (depending on what you put in it), and easy to use, but the price is right! Only $3.99 per set (inlucdes one tag, 3 cords, 2 image protectors, 1 ID circle, and 1 circle template), and $1.25 for a "refurbish kit" (includes image protectors, 1 ID circle, 3 cable ties, and 1 circle template). Oh yeah, they come in 6 colors, too!

Here's my stroller rockin' its SwaggerTag (and 7AM Enfant WarMMuffs!!)...

I love businesses founded and run by moms, so that is just one more reason I love SwaggerTags! If necessity is the mother of invention, mothers really make the best inventions!! Karen was runner-up for The 2013 Mompreneur Award of Excellence (and is nominated again this year) - you go girl!! SwaggerTags have also earned 2013 Top Choice of the Year Award and 2012 Top Product of the Year Award from Creative Toy Magazine!

What are you waiting for?? Go get you some swagger... tags... now!! :)

*Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.

Shorter version originally posted in Mommy Nearest Magazine.

Part 1 of my tale discussed the our journey on the Metro North and fun in the Hilton's hot tub. Part 2 will be about the awesomeness that is the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, which was included in our MTA Getaway package!! It's just over an hour by train from Grand Central Station, so totally doable for a day trip.

We were extremely impressed with Maritime. It was the most kid-friendly aquarium I’ve ever been to, and it was really fun for us adults as well! You’ll have the opportunity to touch live jellyfish (I was a bit terrified, but they didn’t sting – PHEW!), sting ray, and sharks (though the sharks were "on a break" from being touched on the day we were there, boooo)! The sting ray were really really smooth, and very playful! They would go up to you you, poke their head out of the water, and flap their wings and get you wet! So fun!!

Jiggling the jellies was thrilling. I was raised thinking they would sting the crap out of you, so had never thought about touching one. Apparently this type is harmless, and it's "not likely" you would feel their sting. Hmmm... I was VERY careful to avoid the tenticles, just in case. And was quite nervous with my husband dangling my 14 month old's hand in the tank to touch the jellyfish!! How would I describe them? Slimy smooth but firm. Almost like jello!

There is a really exciting exhibit of meerkats, an adorable seal show, and really great tanks full of huge sea turtles, tropical fish, sharks, eels, you name it!! 

The seal show was fun, and done 3 times a day. I think I counted 7 seals, and the trainers talked about how they get them to learn new tricks, and showed us how they can jump up onto the plan and exit the tank when needed! They were so cute hopping all around!

There were three choices for the IMAX and we chose 3D “Born to be Wild” which was about two programs for raising orphaned orangutans and elephants and re-releasing them into the wild. It was a really sweet story, and I was most pleasantly SHOCKED that my 14 month old sat and watched the entire 40 minute movie!!

We spent about 4 hours at the aquarium (so it is totally doable as a day trip from NYC,) and didn’t test out any of their food options since it’s located in the SoNo Historic district with a lot of restaurant options nearby - so we ate right before and after our visit. The aquarium had changing tables in BOTH the women’s and men’s bathrooms, which was very refreshing to see! It was stroller friendly and surprisingly not very crowded - we went on a cold Sunday so I figured it would be packed!

So, an amazing 3 day weekend thanks to MTA Getaways!! I highly recommend checking out the Maritime and if time and budget allow, turn a long day trip into a more relaxing weekend adventure! Norwalk also has a great children's museum, which we didn't check out but maybe next time! It's a really cute town (only negative is that Norwalk is VERY VERY VERY not stroller friendly after a big snow storm...)!

You can bet you'll start seeing more "MTA Getaway" posts from me - I'm hooked!!

Did you know the MTA has tons of getaways listed on their website? Not only is it a great way to get inspired for a day trip or weekend jaunt, but they are actually quite good deals!! By getting a package, you save on rail and activities. Destinations include things such as zoos and aquariums, ski resorts, beaches, and museums, and let you take advantage of the subway/buses, LIRR, and Metro North.

Recently I got the urge to “get outta town” on a Friday afternoon, and in less than an hour I had picked out our MTA Getaway package which was listed as a day trip - but I jumped onto Expedia and booked a hotel, turning it into a relaxing three-day weekend!

The Destination? Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. The Maritime getaway package includes a round trip off-peak Metro North ticket between Grand Central and South Norwalk Station (takes about 65 minutes), a ticket to the aquarium, and a ticket to the IMAX show. It costs $39 (cheaper for kids and free for under 3 years), but without the package it would run you about $50!

Luckily I have a stand-by "what to pack" list so packing wasn't much of an issue, and we were on our way Saturday morning! First stop, Grand Central Station (an hour into our journey already, thanks to living all the way down in Bay Ridge Brooklyn!!) to buy our Metro North rail and aquarium package tickets. I love Grand Central, it's my favorite spot in the City!! So beautiful...

The trains run ever 30-60 minutes, and we were lucky on timing and jumped on the next train leaving in just 5 minutes!! You can see they have nice and new ones with digital "next stop" signs, as well as really old-school trains... I guess it's just luck of the draw which one you get!

Just as I mentioned before about the LIRR, some stations require you to be in certain cars to be able to exit, and the aisles are not big enough for your stroller, so pay attention to the announcement when you get on the train or ask the conductor which car you need to be in, to save yourself some last minute drama!! Also, if you can find a wheelchair car, they are much more stroller-friendly!

After just over an hour on the train, we arrived at South Norwalk station and called the Hilton Garden Inn to come pick us up - they have a free shuttle anywhere in the area, which we used, several times! Awesome!! Unfortunately we didn't bring a car seat, and of course they didn't have one, so yes, another nomination for Mother of the Year goes to yours truly... >_<

I wanted to get out and start having some fun, but my boys had other plans...

While my guys napped, I enjoyed a new guilty pleasure of mine that I started on our last vacation, which is catching up with the Kardashians!! We don't have cable at home, not that I have a single free second for TV, so it is so fun to just sit back and let my mind turn to jelly seeing what those crazy sisters have been up to! Enjoying my "hotel hobby" with my baby napping on my chest, life is freaking GOOD!!!

After they woke up, we went down to the pool and had a blast!! The water was a bit cool but not too bad, and the jacuzzi was sooooooooo nice!!! We went down to the pool once each of the three days, and met 3 families who were there on a staycation!! So funny!

That night, despite the snowstorm bringing 6", we had the hotel shuttle take us a mile down the road to, wait for it, OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE! hahahaha!! I haven't been there in probably 15 years!! I resisted my urge to get the Bloomin' Onion, though I kind of regret it! Hubby's never had one and who am I to deny him of such an important cultural experience?! Damn. We'll just have to go back with a bigger group so it's not just him and me eating the whole thing!

Kenzo has become an incredible flirt and spent the entire dinner waving at every single person walking by. It's hilarious!! And makes me sooooooo happy!! Everybody loves a friendly baby!! He wasn't so much into coloring with the crayons, he much preferred throwing them on the floor repeatedly and making mommy hunt them down under the table. Then he managed to crush his styrofoam baby cup and it looked like he had the world's biggest pee-your-pants accident!! Whoopsie!!

We ran next door to Mrs. Green's Natural Market to grab some organic yogurt for Kenzo's breakfast (we're too cheap for the $12.95 buffet). One really cool thing about the Hilton is their lobby area is HUGE! They have a dining area, a main lobby with tons of huge comfy chairs, and off to the side is this big dining room with a flat screen TV and lounge chairs. We never saw anyone else in there, so we made ourselves at home for breakfast and dinner the second night!

Alrighty, that concludes part 1 of our Getaway to Norwalk. Part 2 will be coming shortly - all about the amazing Maritime Aquarium!! Stay Tuned!!

Whoopsie - guess I took an unplanned 2 week hiatus from the blog, sorry about that but as they say, Life Happens!!

The biggest thing that happened was that my baby turned ONE YEAR OLD!!! Wahhhhhhh!! Actually, no tears were involved surprisingly! Nostalgia, yes, looking through newborn photos and videos - GAH! But he's growing up and it's very exciting - he's 21 pounds, loves playing hide and seek, is eating table food with his 8 teeth, is running around and playing soccer (he even has itty bitty calf muscles LOL), and is also getting quite the attitude (advice on handling tantrums is MUCHO appreciated!!).

I also went home to North Carolina from December 13 - 24, so I was on vacation mode and lazy as hell. Who can blame me?? I've wearing a ton of different hats now working for Miny Moe and Mommy Nearest and Romio and Kidz Central Station, not to mention running after my little toddler, planning his first birthday party, managing several Facebook pages and of course this blog. Phew!! I'm exhausted just thinking about it!! There are just not enough hours in the day, and not enough dollars in my pay checks HA!

We're also on the fence about going into contract on a co-op (if you're not from NYC, a co-op is basically a condo but instead of owning the unit, you own shares to the building instead, and your monthly maintenance includes your portion of the entire building's property tax and mortgage - really strange, definitely a NYC thing!). We bid and counter-bidded 3 times before they finally accepted our offer. But when the contract came in there were a few things that made us balk including a 10% increase on the monthly maintenance and financial reports that look like there is a pretty constant assessment being charged. It's such a huge decision, we just don't know what to do!! It's definitely on the high end of what we can afford, and we don't want to stress about making ends meet. I think we're going to have to sit down and finally make a decision today >_< Home buying in NYC is a freaking joke, a cruel and punishing joke!

OK, so that's what's been going on here! Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things with more regular posts here! Also planning an awesome group giveaway for to-be and new moms coming up! If you have a suggestion for a great company I should reach out to for this, please let me know! Or if you're a blogger who'd like to help out on this one doing reviews and promoting on social media accounts, please get in touch!

Raising a child is expensive. Raising a child in New York City is ridiculously expensive! But as I just found out, filling your child's closet with great clothes can be a steal and a whole lot of fun! Yep, we just attended our very first swap event, hosted by Red Tricycle Awardee Little Swappies!

Here's how it works (or at least how the one we went to on Saturday worked):

1.  You pre-register for $20 or you pay $25 at the door, and you have to bring at least 5 items to donate (children's or maternity clothes, books, and/or toys).

2.  You get to the event (doors opened at 10am), sign in, give the items you're donating to a staff member, and are handed one ticket and a huge tote bag which you will fill up during the swap (only get stuff for your kids now - no hoarding for their whole childhood!!). You print your name on the ticket and peruse the table of various raffle prizes, putting your ticket in the box for the prize you want. They had really great prizes from a ton of vendors (see photo below). It was a hard decision, but I put my ticket in the Kidz Central Station box for 1 month free Gymboree classes (P.S. I actually won!!!).

3.  You've got some time to kill since the swap doesn't start until 11:15am, but no worries! There are loads of vendors stationed around telling you about their cool products, new apps, handing out freebies, etc!

You could even get your stroller cleaned for free by CleanBeeBaby. The wait was long, but actually it was like cleaning and stroller check in one. I filled out the stroller tag and left our stroller there, strapping Kenzo on for the rest of the event figuring the stroller would be too cumbersome to deal with during the chaos of the actual swap anyway!

4.  11:15 am came around, everyone was lined up at the door chomping at the bit. I felt like I was at Filene Basement's annual wedding dress blowout!! My adrenaline was pumping! haha!! Doors opened, and everyone scurried to the table of the age and sex they were looking for. The room was laid out really well - it was huge and had boys stuff in the back row and girls stuff in the front row with toys and books and maternity gear at one end. Each table was for a different age group. I headed straight to the boys' 7-12 months table and started pillaging through the clothes. There were several other moms at MY table, but no one was aggressive or anything. Literally within about 5 minutes the table was bare save 3 or 4 random onesies that no one wanted (leftover clothes are donated to a different charity after each swap). I have to admit I then moved on to the next size up table, cheating?? I then headed to the toy/book section which was already picked over pretty well but I still found a few fun items! Here's a photo maybe 10 minutes into the swap, it's more or less over (well, I was done anyway, otherwise I wouldn't have wasted time to stop and take a photo LOL):

5.  Now your bag is filled, you go pick your nice and clean stroller up, and wait for the raffle to be held at 12 noon. Some of the vendors have snacks, and there was free Starbucks coffee - HELLO!! I actually was talking to some of my Mommy Nearest friends and missed the raffle, but luckily enough they print your name on a poster and contact you afterward if you won! How nice! So, I know you're all dying to see...

Here is my Little Swappies Swap Loot!!!

I know - we made a killing!!! I LOVE LITTLE SWAPPIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will never shop retail again, haha!!

As an "Expert Mom" for Mommy Nearest (an awesome app for parents - download today and don't forget to join the #SummerChallenge and win $1,000!!!), Kenzo and I were invited to the launch of a cool new baby product they sponsored...Spuni. With my linguistical background I had no problem reading it correctly, but for those of you not in the know it's pronounced "spoo-nee" ^_^

Can you guess what it is? Can you??

Baby spoons!! Really cute ones at that. With a funky design that is meant to be less messy - the idea is that the shape will lead to baby sucking out the food better, and won't allow baby to push the food to the back end of the spoon, which is what usually happens am I right?!

We met CEO and co-founder Marcel, pictured above, who ironically doesn't have any kids but was an incredibly nice guy and took the time to tell me about the international team behind Spuni and its years of development. I can't believe how much effort goes into... a spoon... Just shows how much they believe in their product and want it to be the best it can be!

After ogling the Spuni cakes for a bit (yes, that's cake pictured above!!), I decided it was time for Kenzo to give this thing a go and see what all the fuss is about!

Well, the little dude was not having it. I don't really blame him... he's only been on solids for a couple of weeks, and has only been fed by mommy and daddy in his high chair in the kitchen. So, I can't say I'm not surprised he wouldn't open up for a complete stranger coming at him with a funky spoon in the middle of a party. Haha!! I gave it a try next and he did take a little bite, but it was not at all what you could call a good test of the product. >_< Booooo... I guess I can always go out and buy a set (they come in packs of 2, with 8 color options, and silver and wood coming soon - fun stuff!!).

If you'll recall I jumped on the Mommy Nearest train as an "Expert Mom" back at the beginning of June and it's been a fun ride ever since! The app is pretty freaking awesome, and I've been working really hard to get the best family friendly Bay Ridge spots on there, and review restaurants and shops and play places I go with my little one! The other Expert Mom's have been hard at work as well. We are a small (and mighty, hoowah!) group, but we need your help to make Mommy Nearest the end all be all app for mommy's around town!!

How can you help, you ask?? WELL....

Mommy Nearest is launching (like, RIGHT NOW!!) a summer-long contest called the Mommy Nearest Summer Challenge.

You can play along and get rewarded for the things that you do on the app -- like add a favorite kid-friendly restaurant or rate/review other places.  The top competitors get some seriously amazing prizes...

The top individual prize is $1,000 cash (umm, yes please!!).  Some of the other prizes include iPad minis, free kids classes at Gymboree and Wee Ones Club, free babysitting services by Urban Sitter and even free apartment cleanings courtesy of MyClean.

Mommy Nearest is also giving a whopping $5,000 to the Mommy Group that earns the most points as a team! So, make sure you are part of the "Bay Ridge Baby Mamas (& Daddies)" group - we are gonna DESTROY the other groups and claim our rightful $5K yo!!! (If you're not automatically added to my group, go to your profile and add yourself!)

CLICK HERE to join the Mommy Nearest Summer Challenge!!!

Winners will be announced shortly after Labor Day, so start playing today.

If you’re not using Mommy Nearest yet, it’s a free mobile app that helps parents find child-friendly resources on-the-go.  The places listed on the app are rated and reviewed by other moms, including me!  The app has been helpful when I’ve been in a pinch looking for a place to change my little guy's diaper, a nursing friendly spot, a yummy place with a high chair...

If you're looking for some good reads as well, you can check out my posts as well as posts from the other awesome Expert Moms on the Mommy Nearest blog here.  

Enjoy the #SummerChallenge! 

<Comment below if you've signed up so I can be sure to follow you on the app!!>

Breastfeeding is natural, so why doesn’t it come naturally for so many moms (myself included)? I powered through several weeks of pain, awkwardness, and frustration before baby and I finally got the hang of it. Luckily for moms who want to breastfeed but aren’t finding it as easy as they’d hoped, NYC is chock full of lactation support! Whether you’re dealing with a difficult latch, low supply, or downright cluelessness, you can get help from private IBCLC’s (international board certified lactation consultant), postpartum doulas, and local support groups aplenty (links below).

So let’s assume the challenge of figuring out the whole breastfeeding thing is behind you. Congratulations! But there is a new challenge looming ahead. You will at some point want to leave the privacy and comfort of your own home for a period of more than a couple of hours. Maybe not in the first few weeks when you can barely manage a weekly shower, but trust me, there will come a day when just have to get out. So you fill up baby’s diaper bag to the brim with everything you could possibly need, throw on your maternity jeans (yes, you’re still wearing those!), and out you go.

All is well until you realize baby needs to eat. But you’re out, in the city, in public! What to do!? Welcome to the new-mom city-dweller’s dilemma. You probably don’t have a car to run out to, like most suburban moms. Perhaps you pumped ahead of time and brought the milk in a bottle. Sounds good, right? Guess what… you’re still going to have to do something about those engorged monstrosities you’re lugging around in that brand new nursing bra! Nothing a little hand expression in the bathroom won’t take care of. Have fun with that!

Or maybe you’ve given up on the pump and have decided to just put baby to breast wherever and whenever baby is hungry. To this I say “Good for you!” But, you still have a decision to make: to cover up or not to cover up. I am a modest gal, and cannot even begin to imagine just whipping it out in the middle of a restaurant (this is just a personal preference; I have no problem with other moms doing it!). And they have such fun and stylish options out there – from the Udder Cover to the Hooter Hider - to help you maintain a bit of privacy and also minimize distractions for your baby. Some moms just throw a burp cloth or small blanket over themselves, and others forgo the cover altogether. To each her own!

It took a few practice runs of feeding my little one in public before it felt natural to me. It was frustrating constantly seeking out a private room to nurse in, and sometimes meant missing out on half of the dinner with my friends while baby and I were sitting in the corner of the ladies’ bathroom! If you’re like I was and are seeking out a private spot, Mommy Nearest has got you covered – just search the “nursing-friendly” category and the closest places with a nursing lounge or private space like that will pop up on the map for you! Most of the baby and maternity shops have something available for nursing or pumping moms, some restaurants have a comfy couch or chairs in the women’s bathroom, and don’t be afraid to ask in any clothing shop if you can use one of their dressing rooms for privacy (if they say no, give ‘em the stink eye and leave a reply on this blog)!

Thankfully, I’ve graduated from the need for private space and I pride myself on the cornucopia of locations where I have fed my little one. On a plane, on a train, on a bench outside of Macy’s in Herald Square… I asked some of my mommy friends where their most interesting nursing or pumping locations were and got some pretty great answers: in a Penn Station bathroom (broken lock on the stall, no less!), on the shoulder of the BQE and LIE, at a Dead concert at Madison Square Garden, in Katzs Deli (no, she didn’t get what Meg Ryan ordered), and the best (or worst) was STANDING on the F train!

BREASTFEEDING RESOURCES:
Find a lactation consultant
Find a postpartum doula
Find your local La Leche League group
Find a breastfeeding support group

The nabe was buzzing for weeks leading up to the Mother's Day Weekend grand opening. A boutique hawking the best in gear for babies and mothers? Here, in Bay Ridge?? We don't have to journey on the subway all the way to Park Slope or Manhattan or, gasp, Williamsburg? We don't have to blindly order goods online anymore? HOOOOOORAH!! Ladies and Gentlemen, Baby/Mama has set up shop, and babies and mamas (and papas) could not be more thrilled!

So, what exactly can you find at Baby/Mama? You name it! They've got you covered with everything from sunblock and Baby Legs to nursing pillows and hospital grade rental pumps to teethers and Bumbo chairs! The owners, Matt and Abbie, who could not be nicer by the way, are trained Babywearing Consultants through the Center for Babywearing Studies and are happy to advise you on the ins and outs of slings, wraps, and carriers. And of course you're welcome to give any of the carriers they sell a test run. They also recently got approved to be an Honest Company retailer and will be stocking the shelves with those products soon.

Yes, they sell great stuff and yes, the owners are super awesome, but here is what makes Baby/Mama really stand out. They have a private nursing room (with a rocking chair, no less!), they have a lovely bathroom with a proper changing table and products to sample for free such as wipes, diapers, and butt paste, and they have a great space in the back for special events. Some of the classes you can register for are yoga, birth instruction, infant massage, mom support in the 4th trimester, drop-in lactation consultation, and baby sign language!! They're planning to open it up for free-play in the winter, and have a story time in the works as well! You can also rent this room for your own event, and there's a back entrance so you can even use it after-hours.

If you want to drop in (and you should!), look no further than your handy dandy Mommy Nearest app. Or if you want to do it the old fashioned way, Baby/Mama is located at 9002 3rd Avenue, a few blocks from the R Train's 86th Street Station. Closed Mondays, 11am-8pm Tuesday through Saturday, 11am-7pm Sundays.

As a Mommy Nearest (MN) "Expert Mom" I'll be writing weekly posts for their blog about my experience using the app, my favorite spots in Brooklyn, etc!

I'm one of 6 "Expert Moms" in Brooklyn. You can check out our intros here: "Introducing our 2.0 Expert Moms: Brooklyn Mamas who Rock".

And you can find my first blog post for MN located here: "Babies and Books and Brooklyn, Oh My!"

Enjoy ^_^