New York Nanny Center » Product & Brand Reviews

Musical Theater Camp for Lil’ Ones: Imagine Works

Lindsay Bell — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 15:18:29 +0000

Summer has begun and with it, kids are off to every type of camp imaginable. Today we’re featuring an awesome youth musical theater camp that starts next week (registration is still open!).

What is it?
Imagine Works is a youth musical theater summer camp located in the West Village that starts on July 14th. They offer affordable, individualized training where students learn at their own level, while being challenged and inspired. Students prepare for a session-ending musical on a professional Off-Broadway stage for agents, managers, and casting directors! A great way to start your creative lil’ one and get their foot in the door.

Why Performing Arts?
The performing arts are a wonderful form of self expression, and a great way for kids to gain important life skills such as public speaking and collaboration. Imagine Works’s experienced instructors have professional performing credits across the country and are full of advice on the industry.

Which Class is Right For My Lil’ One?
Imagine Works offers a variety of different classes for ages 3-18. All sessions end with a showcase or main-stage production. Past shows include “Beauty and the Beast Jr.,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and musical cabarets. These performances showcase each student and their growth in the program.

: Students learn the fundamental techniques to help them gain the confidence, enthusiasm and skills needed to become a great performer!

What Does A Typical Day Look Like at Camp?
Campers can enjoy a 10:1 camper to instructor ratio and plenty of fun each day. The schedule followed at camp usually looks like this:

9-9:50am: Acting Class
9:55-10:45am: Voice Class (2 groups)
10:50-11:45am: Dance Class (2 groups)
11:45-12:10pm: Rehearsal for final performance
12:10-12:35pm: Lunch
12:35-3pm: Rehearsal for final performance

What Can Your Child Gain?
Alumni of the programs have gone on to perform in Broadway’s “Matilda”, as well as sign with top agencies, book commercials, films, pilots, web-series, and lead roles in their school shows! Imagine Works students have also been accepted to respected arts universities such as NYU’s Steinhardt and Tisch School of the Arts, Boston Conservatory, Emerson College, Marymount Manhattan College, and Muhlenberg College.

Target.com Shoppers Beware

Lindsay Bell — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 06:16:18 +0000

Saturday, I innocently walked in to Target with my return product in hand and my Target Red Card expecting a quick transaction. When to my frustration and surprise left the store 30 minutes later with my return product still in tow. What happened you ask? Not much. Within those 30 minutes I found out Target did not include a packing slip with the product, there was no record of the transaction on my Target Red Card, the clerk could not find an order number that was accepted even though it was printed on the box and the item could not be returned in the store via the small print that supposedly was on the item details.

They would however send me a shipping label so I could send it myself via an email. 24 hours later no email and it took two calls to a supervisor to finally get it. When I explained to the supervisor that others are experiencing the same return issue and are choosing not to give Target their business, she did not seem concerned. You would think that after the Target Red Card mess in the fall, the company would be a bit more customer friendly!

-Mama Bell

It’s Coming, It’s Coming!

Lindsay Bell — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 18:40:21 +0000

Over the last five months, our team has been working tirelessly to perfect our new site and booking platform that will launch this June. The new platform will make the booking process quick, simple, and convenient for both our member families and our CareGivers. Yesterday evening, a few lucky CareGivers, member families, and our in-house team were able to preview the next phase of Bell Family Company by participating in our first beta testing for the site!

Our goal of the new site and booking platform was to add functionality and efficiency while maintaining the same tight-knit, family feel of the individualized CareGiver-family matching process. Kelly, who participated in the beta testing as a BFC member family member, said “the level of detail was great and will make matching families and CareGivers easier.” Compatibility and the precision of the matching system seemed to be a big plus of the new booking platform, allowing the BFC process to remain just as highly personalized as before. Laurie agreed with Kelly stating, “I am incredibly impressed by the matchability–being able to match a sitter so closely with a family’s wants and needs is a plus.”

However, it wasn’t just the BFC families that were raving. Many longtime BFC CareGivers were impressed with the functionality and aesthetics of the site. Mary told us, “ I think it will be a great addition–a lot easier and more organized for both families and sitters.” Brittany and Yasimen also enjoyed the aesthetics of the site respectively saying, “I think it looks good. It just needs tweaks here and there, but it is very visually pleasing” and ”The site looks great and works well; now it is just about the minor changes.”

The closest sneak peak to our brand new site for now! How good is your vision?

Besides the format and aesthetic changes, BFC is also looking forward to introducing a plethora of new features. Components such as Paypal integration and a personalized calendar of all bookings will help both families and CareGivers keep track of their appointments. Betsy loved the feature, and thought ” it’s going to be great to have all the bookings in one master calendar for reference. It is also good that you have the ability to change your availability.” We are looking forward to introducing a host of new features in order to make our member families’ and CareGivers’ lives easier!

Overall, the new booking platform includes the same time and care put into each booking currently, but better. It is more accessible to our families and our CareGivers. BFC Investor, Miles believes, ”It’s really humbling to see the difference between what you think is going to be great for the sitter and what they think. But in reality it is a more effective way to do what we’ve always done.” We look forward to finalizing the platform over the next two months and hearing your thoughts after the site goes live!

Stay tuned… Coming soon:

Minted

Lindsay Bell — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 13:41:33 +0000

Being a mom of five daughters, yes five! I’m ok (thrilled actually) with the fact that I will be planning weddings for the forseable future, followed by baby showers (twins most recently and I better have an excuse to plan for more!). Two weddings down and well into my third I am a self- professed wedding planner extraordinaire, in my mind anyway. The current nuptial plan has a mere eight months til the big day so quick and easy is a necessity, especially in NYC. Minted.com has been our favorite go to so far! The planning began with the Save the Date announcement and luckily a friend, recently married, recommended Minted to me.

After exploring the website and loving the community efforts and variety of designs and purpose, the planning process was off and running. My ideal checklist included: a black & white option, quality paper, great template designs, a variety of print options & sizes and a quick & easy process from start to finish. When we received the sample I was all smiles and the compliments I have received thus far from our invited guests have been positively delightful. Thank you Minted.com for starting wedding number three on the right foot with ease. I was fortunate enough to be given these discount codes so you too can get started on your favorite things from Minted.com, I’m paying it forward, enjoy!

-Mama Bell

We’d Like to Introduce you to…. FUNBITES!

Lindsay Bell — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:55:32 +0000

Today we have a very special product we’d like to introduce you to before Valentine’s Day! When we had the opportunity to review the FunBites product, we were excited! We love easy products like this that make mealtime easier for kids and parents.

About the product: FunBites is the first state of the art kitchen tool that easily cuts food for your lil’ ones. The hard plastic tool ensures that sandwiches get cut evenly and the food never gets snagged on rough metal edges. The FunBites tool comes in a variety of color options and best of all, it is small (we all know those NYC houses don’t have much space!). It also comes in different shapes, our favorite for Valentine’s Day being the heart shaped cutter.

Why it’s useful: What we love about FunBites is it saves parents from having to take time away from dinner to cut food up into tiny pieces. Even better is these tiny shapes can be made into other shapes, helping picky eaters get excited about their food! It works on almost all kiddie food such as cheese, bread, pancakes, fruit, lunchmeat, and any other soft food. Its plastic edges also keep little hands safe from cutting themselves if they come across the product laying on the kitchen counter– fun and safe!

Who else is weighing in? FunBites has been recognized by Family Review Center as the Best New Product for Kids in 2013 and has been featured in Parents Magazine, Real Simple, Parenting, Women’s Day, Nickelodeon and many more!

How to order: Each FunBites product includes the state-of-the-art cutter and a popper piece to get food out easily. You can browse products here.

FunBites cuts food into cute and easy to handle bites!

Have you used FunBites? Weigh in and let us know your opinions or share your pictures of your fun shaped food!

Having a New Baby? Get Your Nanny, Get Your Baby Box!

Lindsay Bell — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:59:19 +0000

As you probably already know, it’s NANNY WEEK here at LLD, so we’ve been talking to a lot of new moms. A common theme keeps recurring — they are all, understandably, looking for anything and everything to help simplify their lives!

So we figured this would be the perfect time to introduce many of you to The Baby Box Co., the ultimate starter kit for new moms, with a Q&A featuring the company’s founders, Jennifer Clary and Michelle Vick. The Baby Box Co. is launching with a pre-sale today, so if you order anytime between now and October 6th, making sure to enter presalesavings at checkout to get $15 off your purchase plus a FREE surprise bonus gift!

Baby Sawyer

1. How did you come up with the idea for The Baby Box Co., and could you tell us a little bit about the boxes?

JC: Our baby boxes are designed in the 75 year old Finnish tradition of maternity packages gifted by the government to all expectant mothers in Finland to promote the safety and well-being of infants. They contain all the basic new mom must-haves, from diaper rash creams and baby shampoo to onesies and swaddles. The box itself is lined with a securely fitted mattress so that it can be used as a lightweight bassinet or travel crib. This Finnish baby box model for safe infant sleeping and transport was highlighted in the news recently when Will and Kate received one as a gift. The Baby Box Co. is the first company in the world to offer these affordable and extremely helpful starter kit/baby bed combos to consumers outside of Finland.

MV: We’ve essentially recreated these “new baby starter kits,” filling them with all of our favorite brands and can’t-live-without products. It’s been fun putting together the perfect box, full of everything I wish I had received when my daughter was a newborn!

2. What’s the most exciting part of the business for you?

MV: Helping new moms! I remember how terrified I was when I first came home from the hospital. I’d like to help other moms feel a little more prepared, and to help save them from the frustrating, lengthy process of trial and error that I had to go through in order to determine which products and brands were the best (and which were a total waste of money).

JC: Another thing we’re really excited about is our company’s mission to help poverty-stricken mothers across the globe — for every box that is purchased, a portion of the proceeds goes towards sending a box to a new mom who is struggling to make ends meet. We built our “Box a Week” outreach program into The Baby Box Co.’s business model from the very start. It’s a priority for us to know that our company is providing shoppers with the best baby products available while simultaneously making a positive difference for moms in impoverished countries.

3. In honor of Nanny Week here at LLD, would you mind giving us some advice, from your experience, on finding the right nanny?

MV: Before you meet anyone, it’s important to sit down with your family and determine what your priorities are and exactly what you’re looking for. Would you prefer someone young and energetic, or someone who’s older and has tons of experience? Do you want someone who speaks English as her first language, or do you see this as an opportunity for your children to learn a foreign language?

Also, when you start interviewing candidates, don’t let a charming personality distract you from what matters most! Chemistry is important, and you of course want someone who you get along with well, but you’re looking for a new nanny, not a new best friend.

Finally, I can’t underestimate how valuable it is to go through a reputable source like LLD. They’ve performed background checks, spoken with references, and rigorously screened the candidates they send you, so you can rest assured that you’re meeting the cream of the crop!

For more information on The Baby Box Co., check out their website, follow them on Twitter, and like them on Facebook.

Big Idea, Little Name

Alison Gore — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:23:32 +0000

We first discovered Little Name Design and met Alexis, designer and founder, at the Playtime NY tradeshow a couple of months ago. Playtime NY exhibits some of the best American and International children’s clothes collections, and Little Name Design really stood out! Each product is adorable and functional- and the fun catch- they’re all educational. We loved these “Little Scarves,” and had one of our kids try out one of the 100% silk garments with a sitter.

It was the perfect accessory to keep her curly hair pulled back while playing water games. The lil’ model loved discovering that once unfolded, the scarf became a checkers board! Our sitter had a blast teaching her how to play checkers on that sunny day. Check out the website to discover some of Alexis’ other products, like the “Little Laces” that help kids learn the difference between left and right, or the too-cute wallpaper that teaches your lil’ ones how to say “rabbit” in 7 different languages. You and your lil’ ones will love the whimsically educational aspects of all the Little Name products!

-Little Name was independently created by designer alexis g. mcvicker, who designs for the child in all of us. she has resided in nyc, philadelphia, portland oregon and currently lives in new jersey.

Jam with Jamie

Alison Gore — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:45:03 +0000

Have an upcoming party for your lil’ one? Check out Jam with Jamie! Your lil’ ones will love all the instruments and fun songs they can rock out to at parties, play groups, or events with Jam with Jamie. We asked Jamie a few questions about what she and her group can do for you!

What is Jam with Jamie & what inspired you to start it?

Jam with Jamie provides musical entertainment for birthday parties, playgroups, and events for children, from 0 to 5 years old, all over New York City and the Tri-State area. My inspiration stems from working as a music teacher in preschools and for the company, Citibabes. My mother encouraged me to start my own company to provide private entertainment for birthday parties and playgroups, so in 2008 I took her advice. I got my start at a family friends’ birthday party and from there Jam with Jamie kept growing and growing. Now, 5 years later, the Jam with Jamie team has six entertainers. We are currently in the works to expand to Nashville and Miami!

Describe a typical party appearance with Jam with Jamie

Parties include live singing and guitar playing with one rockin’ entertainer who interacts with the children through instruments, animal puppets, shakers, parachutes, and bubbles to add to the fun. For forty minutes, children will be up on their feet dancing and shaking to familiar tunes, that even adults enjoy! It is truly fun for the whole family and specials requests are always welcome!

Jamie incorporates the theme of the party into the entertainment!

Tell us more about your new online Children’s Song Series!

We are so proud to announce our most recent venture with Howcast.com. There are 38 videos that children can sing and play along with at home. We hope we can spread the joy of music to little ones and help them connect to new songs and classics with these videos. Here is a link to one of our favorites, and please check out the others. It’ll keep you and your kids occupied for hours!

A couple of my favorite videos from the Children’s song series are Baby Shark and Two Little Blackbirds.

What else are you up to?

When I am not performing at birthday parties I am also an actress. I have done a ton of children’s theater, even when I was a child myself! I have performed in “The Little Mermaid” and “The Velveteen Rabbit” at The Player’s Theater. I am currently performing as the rock and roll granny in the new Laurie Berkner musical, “Wanda’s Monster.” We were just nominated by the Off-Broadway Alliance for “Best Family Show” which I am very excited about. Look out for news on our upcoming run at The Vineyard Theater over the summer!

How can I book Jam with Jamie for my party?!

-Jamie has been working with children of all ages as an actress, teacher, and entertainer for the past ten years. She has taught numerous music and movement classes in Miami, Florida and at Citibabes and Kaplan Nursery School in New York City. Jamie has also performed in many off-broadway children’s theater productions, most recently as the Rock and Roll Granny in Laurie Berkners’ new musical, “Wanda’s Monster.” Learn more about Jamie on her acting website.

Create, Explore, and Learn with Waverly

Alison Gore — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:50:25 +0000

Summer is fast approaching! Do you know how your daughters are going to be spending the summer yet? Well, we think you should check out Waverly, an amazing group of girls in CT and NYC exploring and growing through engaging and fun experiences! Here’s more about Waverly from its founder, Molly:

Waverly is a chapter of girls exploring creative activities that inspire us to develop our own talents through writing, adventure, and community service. We aim to be girls that lead by example in friendship and in passion! Held on a Saturday afternoon, together we discover culture and reinforce our findings with a craft. Imagine a day in Paris: visiting a French restaurant, taking a cooking class with a chef, starting a cook book, and stopping off at the MET for a private tour of an exhibit highlighting the unique beauty of Paris. The girls connect with a place, dream in their own ways, and have tangible examples of how to be inventive at home! Waverly was launched in Greenwich, CT last October and will be opening a chapter in NYC this fall!

Every single girl needs role models, inspiring her to be her best self and provide experiences that encourage connectedness and growth. A Waverly afternoon is run by a twenty-six year old gal along with a Greenwich Academy High School volunteer, both focused and committed to being exceptional examples for the next generation! Waverly role models (Waverly Writers) contribute once a month to The Waverly Journal in which they share their unique experiences and interests. The Waverly Journal is available for girls of all ages!

Waverly will be visiting Greenwich, CT and Baltimore, MD in June, Nantucket in July, and Southampton in August! We would love for you to join us during one of these weeks this summer! Please email waverlynyc@gmail.com for registration information and for more information about the monthly letter, The Waverly Journal.

-Molly Wills started Waverly as way to encourage future generations of girls from a creative standpoint. She is a current LLD sitter and lives in CT.

Vintage Furniture for Modern Kids

Alison Gore — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:04:34 +0000

Finding the perfect furniture for your lil’ ones’ room can be a challenge. It’s sometimes hard to balance your aesthetic with a kid-friendly feel that your lil’ ones will enjoy. Lora Appleton, curator & co-founder of kinder MODERN, is our go-to for finding functional and playful pieces for lil’ ones that they will love! We asked Lora about what inspires her and where to see some great pieces from her collections.

How & why did you start kinder Modern?

I came up with the idea for kinder MODERN when I was looking for items for my son’s room. I have always been a bit of a vintage furniture addict & design collector, and wanted to find similar styles for my little boy. I didn’t want to buy the same old big box brand sod kids furniture that I was seeing, and wanted a unique space. I literally had a dream about the idea to open a children’s furniture gallery focused on mid century items, and when I woke I called my dear friend & interior designer, Bachman Clem and asked if he wanted to start the business with me…and there it went. We immediately began shopping for pieces and wound up finding some amazing things.

This desk is perfect for any lil’ one’s room!

It was love at first purchase for me; and don’t get me wrong, it’s not as if this stuff is everywhere, you have to know where to go & how to dig & between myself & my partner we bring a ton of experience to the table. My grandmother was an artist & my mom was married to a restoration specialist so I was always around furniture and art growing up, and it seeped in.

In addition to our vintage items we are also working on collaborators with amazing furniture designers, for new children’s items that are using mixed materials; basically things we have not seen out there. The whole concept is about incorporating amazing design into the development of your little ones. You’ll see 2 of these collaborations at Collective!

Your lil’ ones will LOVE these bright vintage chairs

What is the Collective Design Fair?

Collective.1 is a new design fair in NYC taking place May 8-11 at Pier 57 that will present a compelling vision of design today. Founded by Steven Learner, approx 25 galleries from around the world showcasing both contemporary furniture and design pieces as well as special installations showcasing work by Gaetano Pesce and more. Also very exciting there will tours by Little Collector for kids ages 5 & up Friday & Saturday…so be sure to bring your little ones to the fair. (children under 12 are free).

-Lora Appleton is co-founder and curator of kinder MODERN, a New York City-based gallery showcasing 20th century children’s design. She launched kinder in 2012 as a platform to explore her passions of design and children while capitalizing on her impeccable eye for art.