LilSugar

Lil Ones in the Big Apple Are Waiting on the Postman

LilSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:00:27 -0800

This week many lil ones in the Big Apple are waiting on their preschool acceptance letters. According to a Sugar coworker, the rat race (or brat race) begins early in NYC, with many parents believing that where their child attends preschool can determine where they will attend college.

Much like the college application process, parents must first get their hands on applications that are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis in the fall. They then spend the winter attending parent-only preschool tours, followed by “observed play-dates” or “interviews” for their children. Needless to say, it is not the laid-back process that most of us imagine.

Would you subject your child to such a process? And, do you think preschool is any indication of where your child will end up in life?

Source

Sugarbaby: Noah from NYC

babysugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 05:00:44 -0800

Our Sugarbaby this week hails from the Big Apple!

Noah, born February 15, 2006 in Manhattan, is quite a big boy these days and enjoys playing the guitar, romping around the playground, strutting along the balance beam at the gym, and dancing. He likes to shake his tiny tush to Little Maestros “Jump-In”, Justin Roberts “Meltdown”, and the Beatles “Ob li di, Ob la da”.

When he's not making music, he enjoys playing with fire trucks, cars, blocks, and his new kitchen set and grocery cart. His favorite stuffed animal is his Gund My First Puppy that he has slept with since he was one-day-old. To hear more about adorable Noah just read more.

This growing boy has quite an appetite. A New Yorker for sure, one of his favorite foods is chicken parmesan. He also loves fruit, noodles, omelettes, chicken hot dogs, meatballs, string cheese, and ice cream. And like a lil rascal, he dislikes all vegetables!

But his mom says he's a good boy and loves to read Dear Zoo, Snuggle Puppy, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, and Daddy Loves Me. Noah also indulges in a little Sesame Street where he watches his best furry friends, Cookie Monster and Elmo.

As we can tell from the pictures, he's one trendy tot! Mommy likes to deck him out in Janie and Jack and Polo. His favorite words are khaki and Daddy. Sounds like Sugarbaby Noah needs to meet Ralph Lauren!

Check out the video of Noah dancing like a maniac below.

View 12 Photos ›

Mom-Me Time: Citibabes

babysugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:00:48 -0800

New York seems to reign superior when it comes to things that are hip and cool. And, they've done it again with an amazingly convenient and luxurious club for moms, Citibabes. Started by two women, Tracey Rensky and Tara Lipton, the club opened a little over two years ago in downtown Manhattan. And, it has been hugely popular - currently has over 500 members. The membership is a whopping $2,000 a year but apparently it's worth every penny.

Moms and dads can drop off children ages three months to five years, for some babysitting which is only $8 an hour, while they relax in the club's lounge, workout, get a mani-pedi or their hair blown out. The caregivers at the club have been background checked extensively so the parents can rest assured that their lil one is in good hands.

To learn some more about Citibabes, read more

Some of the amenities that are included in the Citibabes membership are:

Access to the Citibabes store, which is stocked with adorable kids clothes.
A workout facility with adult fitness classes and cardio equipment.
An unbelievably cute indoor playground, which is especially nice for rainy, snowy, or cold days.
A cafe specializing in organic and healthy fare for the whole family.
Lounge and Concierge services to help families find a nanny or plan a party.

Services the club provides at an additional cost are:

Birthday parties with photographer, gift bags, special cakes, etc.
A hair and nail salon to pamper Mommy and her friends.
Personal training and private exercise sessions so Mama can get back into shape.
Art, music, cooking, dance, language, science, and sports classes for the lil ones. How will you pick which one to choose?
Private counseling services, workshops and discussion groups on subjects ranging from childhood development to discipline, toilet training, and infant and child CPR.

For pregnant women who aren't so concerned with the indoor playground yet, they can still join with a prenatal membership. When they sign up, they receive a posh little bag with a book and access to all the amenities. Once baby arrives, she'll be a step ahead of the gang knowing her way around Citibabes. Lucky girl.

We're hoping these clubs will open across the country. Wouldn't it be so nice to channel that old polished and fabulous you while junior is playing in kiddie wonderland? Sign me up!

Non Voyage: Bring New York's Bright Lights Home

LilSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:00:36 -0700

Get your walking shoes on and prepare to see the bright lights of some of our nation's biggest cities! Families looking to explore the culture and variety that urban centers offer can do so in the comfort of their own homes with projects and foods that celebrate the metropolitan destinations. Our week of big-city "Non Voyages" kicks off in the largest one of all – New York City.

Start the morning off with Eloise's favorite mealtime delight - room service. Kids will love seeing their breakfast served bedside.
Lady Liberty has long been a hot spot for families visiting the Big Apple and the just reopened crown provides great inspiration for tots. There are 354 steps from the base to the top of the statue. Have kids try to stack that many blocks to see the height. And, use construction paper to create your own crown hats.
The Museum of Natural History is known for its dinosaur exhibit so put together some 3D dinosaur puzzles and study the giants.
Even though it's not as bright as the lights of Times Square, check to see if there are any local theater productions that appeal to your tots. Introducing children to theater is wonderful even if you're way off Broadway! Or, prepare for a marathon of Disney movies including The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Mary Poppins, all of which are currently playing in the Big Apple.
They say there's a great pizza shop on every corner of New York. Get down to business in the kitchen and create the ultimate thin-crust pie. Just be sure to eat it like a New Yorker – folded down the middle with the grease dripping off.
Serendipity's frozen hot chocolate is beloved by all visitors to the city. Re-create it at home and give your kids a new perspective on the treat.

Would You Buy a Parenting Book From a Real Housewife?

LilSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:00:12 -0800

When the Really Scary Housewives of New York City aired last Spring, most of you were appalled by the women's parenting skills. The series' final episode, in which one of social climber Alex McCord's sons threw a shrieking temper tantrum in the middle of a dinner party while his parents sat idly by, brought out the claws with several of you, suggesting that the family needed to spend more time at home teaching social skills and less time gallivanting about town. We've now heard that Alex, and her husband Simon, are co-writing a parenting book based on their experiences with their own tots.

Given what you have seen of the McCord family on TV, would you consider purchasing their tome?

Source

Wee TV: The Really Scary Housewives of New York City

LilSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:00:53 -0800

Who knew there were women that could put The Real Housewives of Orange County to shame? But, last night, my jaw dropped as I watched the train wreck that is The Real Housewives of New York City.

The new queen of mama drama in the Big Apple is Ramona Singer, a blond bombshell of sorts that makes it her mission to make her 12-year-old daughter, Avery uncomfortable. To hear about Ramona's antics, read more.

Between chatting up pole dancing techniques and the term MILF, wrestling and kissing a friend poolside and threatening to toss a dog in the water, the loud mouth momster was more than a viewer could handle let alone her self conscious preteen who sat looking on in disgust.

In an interview, the reserved Avery said her mother tends to take things a bit too far and acts in a manner that isn't "ladylike."

What do you think, is it Ramona's prerogative or should she consider her child's feelings?

Wee TV: The Really Scary Housewives of New York City

LilSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:00:45 -0700

It's hard to tell what's appropriate when it comes to the Really Scary Housewives of New York City.

The grown women gossip behind each other's backs, throw fits, and seem all together unbalanced. But, when four-year-old Francois had a shrieking tantrum - it struck a nerve with all the housewives. To see what happened, read more.

The "genius" multilingual child of attached at the hip couple, Simon and Alex got bored of the dinner party antics in last night's season finale and decided to create some of his own by running around the table and stabbing Jason's $30 burger to bits.

What ensued was even more ridiculous. Bethenny and Ramona had a meeting of the minds on how children should act. I'm not sure if outspoken Bethenny (who threatened to stab Jill with a fork earlier in the episode) and her blond sidekick, Ramona (who is continually rude) should feel comfortable standing on a soapbox.

Meanwhile, Francois's parents so set on moving to the "upper echelons" of society through connections, stared blankly as their lil guy wreaked havoc and announced that the tot is allowed to play with food.

Wee TV: The Really Scary Housewives of New York City

LilSugar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:00:39 -0700

Last week, Ramona's antics and Avery's reactions stole the show on The Real Housewives of New York City.

But this week, it was Jill Zarin and her 14-year-daughter, Allyson that were the focus. And, more than the Manhattan mommy shipping her girl off to a detox center to improve her arthritis (read: lose weight), it was the odd pressure she puts on the teen to have a relationship with her step-dad, Bobby that made me uncomfortable.

Do you think it's fair for Jill to force a relationship on Bobby and Ally?

Trendtotting: New York Times Tee

babysugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:00:18 -0800

Of course your lil one is the smartest kid on the block and the Ivy Leagues are poised to offer scholarships before your tot even enters preschool, but now you can show off your brainy boy wonder with one of his hip all cotton New York Times tees ($27).

The next time your brood is out to Sunday brunch, onlookers will stare in amazement at your darling dashing though the Business section.

Ladies' Home Journal: The New Nicole Kidman Is a Woman's Woman

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:28 -0800

Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress, producer, and vocalist are just a few things Nicole Kidman can rattle off from her long list of accomplishments. But the role the gorgeous red head relishes most is being a mother and wife in her new hometown of Nashville. As country crooner Keith Urban's partner, she is happy to sit back for a bit and let the spotlight shine brightly on him while she spends the majority of her time raising their young daughter, Sunday. The 42-year-old mother recently took time to sit down with Ladies' Home Journal where she talked about her content lifestyle and her desire to give back to the community.

On living in Nashville:

I love living here. . . . It's a long way from New York and Los Angeles, but that's part of the attraction. I feel protected here, especially now that I have the baby. . . . There are certain limitations to my career because I'm based here. And that's cool. Keith has enormous ambitions, which I support. His tours and albums are much bigger than what I'm doing right now.

On how she cherishes her new life:

I was running from my life, in a way. . . . My imaginary life was better than my flesh-and-blood life. That's a sad thing to say, but it was. Now I love my real life so much it requires an enormous belief in a film to want to take it on. . . . I think that we're in the world to connect. Because that's what you're left with. You're not left with your houses or awards or money, you're left with the people that you built relationships with.

On UNIFEM, a charity she has worked with for years:

It's so they'll [battered women] have a place to call. A lot of women are so terrified; they'll go to the police or court and don't win. We can set up shelters and raise money. . . . I'm constantly trying to find new ways to give back. . . . Women are nurturers. There's so much we can do with the power of our feelings, the power of our sensitivity.

To see what the leggy lady has to say about being a strong woman, her past divorce, and her marriage to the hunky, honky-tonk star, just read more.

On how she was raised to be a strong woman:

She wanted us to have a sense of our place in the world. . . . She didn't want us to be shaped by our relationship with boys. She wanted us to focus on our intellect instead.

On how she and her sister Antonia made it through their divorces:

A lot of it was literally holding each other and listening. . . . Our motto is, "Just get in there. Don't retreat. Stay in it."

On her marriage to Keith Urban:

Keith and I have a very honest, profound marriage, which we both contribute to every day. . . . We have a phrase, "Does this contribute to the good of our union?" Because that's what's most important. I love being in love. I believe in the power of love, the way it can heal. The more you keep choosing it - because there are times when you can choose to be angry at the person or to love him - the more it nourishes a family.