New York Nanny Center » Event, Wedding & Party

Taking a Break from Wedding Planning

Lindsay Bell — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 13:16:38 +0000

My daughter’s wedding is a month away; most of the planning is complete and we are just waiting on the response cards that are past due. So I felt this was my last chance to escape for a few days before the hustle and bustle of the wedding to hang with friends. Finding a dress for the rehearsal dinner was an objective to complete on my trip, or in layman’s terms, I needed an excuse to go shopping with two shopaholics, also known as my bff and sister-in-law.

We are always trying to find bargains and all have a potpourri of coupons, so it’s always fun to count our savings. We all took dresses in to try on, as everyone had an occasion to buy a cocktail dress, only to decide on the same dress as our favorite. Like triplets, we marched up to the counter and purchased the same dress in three different sizes. Objective complete as long as the ordered dress is delivered and fits!

-Mama Bell

Changing of the Guard

Lindsay Bell — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 13:22:01 +0000

About 4 months ago, my daughter and I decided upon a NYC hotel for her wedding guests. I had spent weeks conversing, emailing and negotiating until the perfect West Village area hotel was chosen. We picked the Sheraton Tribeca for convenience, location , amenities and friendly cooperation. Working with the sales manager we locked in the wedding block price, room selections and costs. All set for August I thought. Not so. I found out last week through a guest that the room selections were down to only kings and there weren’t many rooms available. The invites had just gone out two weeks ago, so you understand my panic. According to plan I was to be notified when numbers were filling up to add more rooms to the block. I was not notified by the hotel. I later found out that there was a changing of the guard at the Sheraton without notification and our conversations were lost in oblivion. After numerous emails, phone calls and frustrations I was awarded additional rooms for the quoted price. I had to fight for what I thought were my rights and, I suggest that anyone in the same boat planning a wedding and securing hotel space get everything in writing should there be a changing of the guard.

-Mama Bell

Girls’ Weekend

Lindsay Bell — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 12:02:32 +0000

I asked my bestie to accompany me to my daughter’s bachelorette party. I thought it would be more enjoyable to have a buddy my own age to pal around with. After some discussion, we decided to leave a couple of days earlier and enjoy the beach ourselves. After 35 years of friendship, we never took a vacation without kids, so the two of us it was. From flight to train to bus to hotel, we didn’t even get lost! We were so proud of ourselves. And it was wonderful to just hang out and do our favorite things– walk, shop, eat and enjoy ourselves in the sun.

You realize your age when the music across the street keeps you up all night and the smokey smell of a non smoking room is too much to bear. So instead of bringing kids, we talked about them. Some habits die hard. Thanks Bestie for sharing another special time with the family.

Love,

Mama Bell

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Lindsay Bell — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:59:49 +0000

Once upon a time there was a beautiful, young bride to be who wanted to step in Audrey Hepburn’s shoes for a day. So on the day of her bridal shower in her own backyard, the tables and chairs were adorned with Tiffany blue covers and chair ties, tables decorated in pearls, the famous black sunglasses, gift boxes and Hepburn photos.

Music from the soundtrack of the movie played in the background as she opened her gifts. Guests dined on a variety of delicious muffins, bagels with cream cheeses, fruits, spinach salad,(the bride’s favorite) pasta salad and an array of quiches. Mimosas were served as were cupcakes decorated with the Tiffany colors and Audrey’s picture.

Guests took home a cookie favor of the little black dress. It was a glorious day, great weather, friends and family and a very excited bride to be.The shower was fantastic, Darling.

The darling Mother of the Bride,

Mama Bell

Bridesmaid Shopping for the Over 50 Crowd

Lindsay Bell — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 16:45:59 +0000

Many girls are pleasantly surprised when asked to be a bridesmaid; imagine my surprise when my daughter asked me to be her matron of honor. I quickly rebutted,” Why do you want me in that role?” She answered, “Because you are the most special person to me.” Of course this response turned on the waterworks.

Two of my beautiful daughters, the groom-to-be and myself enjoying some quality time

Well now I had business ahead of me which included finding dresses that would fit both beautiful, young women and one 50 something woman. So now it was my job to find the perfect dress. After much shopping, I have rediscovered the culture of the bridesmaid dress. It’s short, mostly strapless and designed for the 20-30 something body type, which I am not. When faced with adversity I move with determination. So onward in my quest of both fitting in with the bridesmaids and fitting in to the bridesmaid dress.

Thank you Lindsay, for always making me feel special.

Mama Bell

Moms Night Out for a Good Cause

Lindsay Bell — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:28:25 +0000

New York, NY – This summer, take a break from the kids for a great cause. Grant making charity Walk the Walk is bringing back its bra-baring marathon, The MoonWalk New York City, presented by Empire BlueCross BlueShield, where women and men Power Walk the streets of New York overnight in decorated bras to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Grab your girlfriends, bedazzle your bras and register today at: www.walkthewalkamerica.com.

NEW YORK, NY – JULY 20: Participants pose together at the first-ever MoonWalk NYC at Randall’s Island on July 20, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Walk the Walk)

The party kicks off on Saturday, July 26^th at 8pm at Randall’s Island, where you’ll enjoy a delicious group feast, awesome live entertainment, and tons of free giveaways. After the festivities, you’ll Power Walk this renowned midnight marathon (with a half marathon option) with Olympic and World Cup Soccer Star Brandi Chastain.

As you snag free snacks and hydrating drinks along the route, you’ll befriend participants, get fit and healthy, and raise money for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Breast Examination Center in Harlem (BECH), which provides breast cancer screenings for underserved, Harlem women at no out of pocket cost.

NEW YORK, NY – JULY 20: Participants attend the first-ever MoonWalk NYC at Randall’s Island on July 20, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Walk the Walk)

Plus, meet founder and breast cancer survivor Nina Barough, who started Walk the Walk 18 years ago in London, earning support by notables including His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Paul and Stella McCartney, Sir Richard Branson, Pierce Brosnan, and designer Swarovski Crystal. Today, Nina leads Power Walking marathons and challenges across the globe, including The MoonWalk in Scotland, Iceland, and as of last year, America. To date, it has engaged over 300,000 participants and has raised over $144 million dollars to support breast cancer research and those affected by cancer.

Nina Barough Kicks off the MoonWalk NYC

Nina says, “Exercise and physical activity are an essential part of cancer prevention. It’s time to take action, sign up, and get walking.”

Start a team and sign up today at www.walkthewalkamerica.com.

Like us at: www.Facebook.com/WalktheWalkAmerica
Follow us at: @WalktheWalk #MoonWalkNYC

A Frozen Birthday

Lindsay Bell — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:07:43 +0000

Last weekend on a freezing cold afternoon, I went to a “Frozen” themed five year olds birthday party. Having adult children allows you to forget what those birthday party days were like and the current pop culture of the five year old. The party was decorated with all things “Frozen” down to the two layer cake with snowflakes and Disney characters.

The gang’s all here!

I was quickly reminded of what young children do at parties which is run, scream, cry, fight and ride toy vehicles over your feet . My niece had a great calming activity to end the party. The kids made a craft that complemented the theme of the party: a snowman made of three marshmallows, snack sized carrots, chocolate chips and a wooden skewer. What an easy, creative way to top the day off. And what ‘s more fun than being able to eat your snowman.

-Mama Bell

P.S. Have a container of wipes handy.

An Engagement Affair to Remember

Lindsay Bell — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 17:20:05 +0000

What better place to be on a cold winter’s night than in a warm loft apartment over looking the Empire State Building in NYC? I’m used to the 400 square feet studio apartments that my daughters have lived in. This place was fit for a wedding venue. And whoever said New Yorkers weren’t friendly has not had the pleasure of meeting these gracious guests.They were genuinely supportive and happy for their friends.It makes a parent proud to witness such friendship and good will to one’s daughter and fiancé.

Congrats with love,

Mama Bell

Planning a Birthday Bash

Lindsay Bell — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 22:33:23 +0000

Once a year that special day comes for our lil’ ones… their birthday! Whether they are young or old, birthday parties are always a great way to celebrate. Today we’re giving some tips on how to make that party special, fun, and easy for you to plan!

LLD Sitters helping set up for a great kiddie bash

Don’t overwhelm your lil’ ones. A good general rule of thumb is invite one kid for every year (for example, if your child is 5, invite 5 of their friends). If you do choose to include more friends or adults, try to keep the activity low key. Too much commotion and a new surrounding can cause lil’ ones to feel overwhelmed and unhappy. Stick with fun, simple crafts, games, and activites.

Finger Foods. Although everyone loves being a great hostess and having a fantastic spread, lets face it, finger foods are just easier. Save yourself the cleanup and hassle of big spreads and opt for chips and dip, veggie trays, cookies, and other items that are not as messy. A cupcake “cake” is always a good option to avoid having to cut the cake (or that kid who always has to plant his face in the cake before it is even cut… yikes!).

DIY. One complaint many parents have is how expensive it can be to throw a birthday party for a young child. Although some costs are unavoidable, some things are easy to make yourself! Crafts, decorations, balloons, and games are all things that you can do yourself for a cheaper price. This is also a great way to get other siblings involved in the birthday party; having them help make crafts and set up will get them excited for the day, even though the attention won’t be focused on them.

Keep it simple; Its a party for kids! Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the birthday party is to make kids happy. Don’t get too wrapped up in making it fancy. Kids usually end up happier playing in the cardboard box their gift came in than playing with that fancy hovercraft itself. Remember that your kids will love their party; if they want mini hot dogs instead of cheese and crackers, go for it! If they want to wear their pajama slippers and a princess hat with a Batman cape, let them! Plus… those blackmail pictures could come in handy during their teenage years!

Call in help. Keep yourself from getting stressed by inviting the other guests parents to come with their children. This will help keep them in line and save you from being the bad guy if anything goes wrong. If this is not an option, hire a sitter or party staffer to help out and keep your party running smoothly.

We hope these tips to throwing the ultimate birthday bash have been helpful! Any other ideas? Feel free to comment down below! LLD offers sitters for parties to help watch the kids or staffers to help set up, run errands, and plan the party itself. Let LLD help you with all of your childcare needs! We’re here to help you throw the best party ever!

Are You Really Sorry?

Lindsay Bell — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:47:29 +0000

At LLD, our sitters are trained to help children manage inevitable conflicts and unhappiness. However, when children are playing together nicely, sometimes even a small things can become challenging. Dana Rosenbloom, Owner and Therapist at Dana’s Kids, explores how we use “I’m Sorry” in place of fostering meaningful interactions between our children.

The Problem: Children can be playing nicely together at a birthday party or event when suddenly a conflict arises. Or perhaps two children are sharing and enjoying each other’s company when one leans over and grabs a toy, pushes the other child, or bites the other’s arm.

The Age Old Solution: Parents are quick to tell their child “tell them you’re sorry!”

Why It Doesn’t Work: Children, in an attempt to appease their parents and stay at the birthday party, will often say I’m sorry and move on. However, oftentimes the children do not actually know why they’re saying sorry or the meaning behind the phrase.

The Solution: There are a few ways Ms. Rosenbloom suggests for teaching young children better and more genuine ways of handling these situations:

Instead of asking children to say “I’m Sorry,” teach them to “check in” with the victim. They may ask them if they’re okay or if they need help getting up.
Make sure your child waits and listens to the response instead of just asking the question and walking away.

If the other child is hurt, you may teach your child to offer assistance. This could be in the form of bringing them ice, a tissue, or a band aid. This will build problem solving skills and empathy.

For older children, help them to identify the other child’s emotions. This can be done by helping them think of a time they felt the same. This will also give them an opportunity to think of realistic ways they can help the victim.

For more information about teaching your children about “I’m Sorry” and other alternatives, check out Ms. Rosenbloom’s article.