Little bit of Lana in my life

The lovely Lana Del Rey , that is.

Staying true to the resurgence of the 60s pop era, Del Rey delivers sultry,dramatic melodies that rope you in with the enchanting, sometimes disturbing and sad lyrics. The 60s she embodies is not that of the "stepford" wife and hamburger joints, but more the gritty, acid-laced, "factory girl" under side. This album, Born to die,  which dropped Jan 31st, seems a social commentary of the "all-American" ways (songs like :Blue jeans, Elvis, Video games, etc) and speaks to issues of press,status,sex, marriage, and whatever else her label allowed her to sing about (albeit with  rather depressive outlooks), showcasing glamour and love as being more barbituate, than "Barbie". It's not really child-appropriate listening unless you don't mind your toddler belting out "we were born to die" in her sunday school class.

It would appear that Lana is an overnight success, but in reality she has been performing under the name Lizzie Grant and other side projects for a few years now. Seen here:
performing in 2009 (pre lip-enhancement).While her talent was apparent, her new label felt the need to do a complete overhaul, sprinkle some illuminati symbolism into her videos and even a name change and hence reborn the sultry, Lana Del Rey.

While I'm not thrilled about the power houses using artists as tools for their own means(See MK Ultra),or her SNL flop, and that her authenticity is questionable, her songs are still both intriguing and meloncholy- exactly as they intended, so I guess just listen with caution. ;)

Sounds Like : Stevie Nicks, Lykke Li
http://www.lanadelrey.com/

Love and listening,
Kerry the Momster

More on this:

Vigilant Citizen

Lets get Happy!!

I began the happiness project this year right alongside my buy nothing year ,mostly because I think they might be directly related to each other, but also just because this is a year I finally feel like changing things that have been bothering me.

My guide is "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin, a woman who spent a year methodically determining what she thought would make her happy and then making efforts each week and month to change it. If you are interested in doing it with me get the book, or visit the website. 
You could also just follow along with me, or even determine what you think would make you happy and just do that, but really resolve to do it!!

January's Resolutions are mostly about getting to a healthier state of mind and physicality in order to kick off the rest of the resolutions. Here they are:

Get more sleep: I have vowed to be in bed by 10:30 every week night
Exercise more: My goal is 3 x week
Toss, restore and organize: I have scheduled 2 thrift store pick ups to inspire me to toss stuff out quicker, and I am going through each room to organize before the end of the month.
Tackle a nagging task: My nagging task is life insurances

Remember whatever your resolutions are, you want to make them something you can measure so that at the end of the month you will be able to determine whether you have achieved your goals or not.

I also purchased (prior to my buy-nothing year) the 5 yr happiness journal, which is a line-a-day journal that you fill out for 5 years. I thought it was such a great way to see your progression of mind, attitude and action through the years. everything is available off the website, or in bookstores.

I would love to know if anyone else is joining me in this endeavor!

Love and luck,
Kerry the Momster

Royal Babies

We had the great fortune of taking a family cruise to Mexico recently. While it was 5 days, it was still too short, and I would have loved more time to relax with the family. My little boy slept well after wearing himself out at the pool, my daughter got to see a phenomenal Ice skating performance, and my husband ate so many cones of frozen yogurt that I'm surprised he can still feel his face. I got to shop and read ( a book!!) and see some Mayan Ruins in Mexico.

Royal Caribbean Cruise line definitely makes for some wonderful family time on their ships, and so I have compiled a list of pros and cons regarding traveling with kids on their line.I would HIGHLY recommend this cruiseline, specifically this ship! We were on the Liberty of the Seas:

Pros:

• Excellent Childcare (free for ages 3 and above)- my six year old didn't want to leave the play area, and because it's separated by age groups, the activities can be tailored specifically.
• Partner with Dreamworks and Fisher price and Crayola for lots and lots of activities onboard.
• The infant childcare is so great! All childcare staff have Bachelors in Education.
• A fun looking kiddie splash area
• Early dinner time
• Attentive staff who try to cater to the kids
• Lots of menu options for picky eaters
• Cribs available on board
• Lots of shows and fun activities for the whole family- Cupcake decorating lessons anyone?
• Dreamworks Character breakfasts, parades and meet and greets
• Fisher Price Toy lending program for babies 
• Wave Simulator, Rock wall and lots of other activities for older kids
• Room service available 24 hrs a day, and eating pretty much day round, so no worries if you miss a mealtime.

Cons:

•  Childcare for under 3 costs $8/hr
• No baths for babies in room- can only shower them.
• Most evening activities start too late for children to participate in
• Childcare fills up fast
• Paper-thin walls to the hallway-not good when teenagers decide to run up and down hallways at all times.
• When babies nap there isn't much to do in the rooms (Movies were $11.99 each to watch on Tv!!)
• Drinks are pricey (this is a con for the parents!)
• Room Service has very few choices.

Hope this helps you decide whether cruising is right for you with kids. Also note that these cons do apply to most other cruise lines too.

If you are interested in booking a cruise, I recommend contacting Theresa Watson. She is a vacation planner and was a great help on Royal Carribbean, and makes sure you know all your options, and services ahead of time.Office: 800.859.7225 Ext 13205 • Hours:  Tuesday - Saturday  11 - 8  EST 
Email: twatson@rccl.com  
Love and travel,
Kerry the Momster

Summer Fun: Little Javas

Little Java's is a coffee house/play place in Weston, Florida.

Age group: 0-7 There are many bounce houses for big kids and a smaller play area with lots of toys, building items and a slide for the little ones.
Activities: Bounce house, mom and me classes and play area for toddlers, video arcade games.
Selling Point: Lots of "counselors" around helping to keep kids safe.
Food: Coffee and food available , but not that great and quite pricey. I say eat after! (Menu)
Cost: $7 per child that can walk.
Overall: Both children had a lot of fun, especially my older girl. I will definitely be going again.


www.littlejavas.com
2750 Glades Circle suite 100
Weston, FL 33332
(954) 372-0989

Love and jumping monkeys,
Kerry the Momster

Sick things for sick babies

I recently had strep throat for over a month, which my daughter then caught and added to it a cough, which in turn was passed onto my 5 month old in the form of bronchitis. Fun for everyone! Sick children are sad, sick babies are even sadder. Here's my list of must haves for sick babies,who for the most part can't take anything for coughs or congestion.


1. A cool mist humidifier: this helps ease the airway for a baby with a cough, and also helps tiny inflamed nasal passages. The cool mist takes away the fear of a child getting burnt, and this brand makes such gos-darn cute little ones! (Crane 1 gallon Cool Mist humidifier).

2. Baby Cold Rub: Regular Vicks is too harsh for little noses, but this is perfect to smeer on chest and back after a bath. It will give you at least 2 hours of clear nosed sleep.
 

3. Saline Solution and a nasal aspirator: Saline drops help to loosen the mucous, then sck out with a nasal aspirator. Hospitals give the best ones!!
 

4.  Vapor Bath for baby: Great to help soothe a sad, sick baby at any time of day (I bathed my baby at least 3 times a day while he was sick). A capful in a warm bath is just enough to help baby breathe, and I steamed the bathroom prior to getting him in there. He splashed around happily, and it helped bring his fever down. while he was bathing I sprayed saline solution in his nose, and then a few minutes later aspirated it. When he got out I kept him in the steam and smeered the baby rub over his chest and back, and then put on pjs.


5. Nosefrida Aspirator: Gross idea I know, but man it works so well!! Suck out the snot with this Swedish aspirator (Don't worry it's filtered, so snot stays far away from your mouth). This got such great eviews n Amazon, and after nights of sleeping in two hour intervals, I used this and got a solid 4!! It's amazing how much it gets out.


If all else fails, ask your doctor to prescribe C-phen. It's the only baby decongestant and definitely works! If you are like me ad like to try natural methods first, try the others first.

Love and robust health,
Kerry, the Momster

Stroller-Derby

Recently I posted about purchasing a new stroller. After careful, fine-tuned, consideration I settled on the First Years Wave. Yes, I'm a sucker for mod-gadget-clad-euro strollers, so the look of it was a big selling point. Here are my findings after using this stroller for a week with a 5 month old:

Pros:
Recline: I wanted a stroller with full recline, and this one converts to a bassinet with no extra pieces. This was a huge pro for me.
Wheels: Easy to push, great maneuverability even over grass.
Shade: The sun canopy is huge and the stroller can VERY easily swivel around to change the direction baby is facing.
Appearance: High-tech and mod- baby will be envied and stroller admired.


Cons:
Size: This stroller has gigantic wheels, and is also heavy.
No cup holders or trays: For baby or mom, and no other makes fit on the stroller.
Compactness: One has to take the seat off the base o pack it, and still when folded it is quite large.
Gimick-y: The overall feel of the stroller is sturdy, but the seat, with all its buckles and velcro seemed too gimick-y and finicky for me. The biggest problem is that it keeps getting stuck when it is open and leaves me sweating and frustrated trying to get it closed.

Overall impression: Item will be returned. ('Nuff said)

Love and breezy strolling,
Kerry the Momster

Mod Mamas

Sexy, stylish and a little bit sweet: the words to describe a mod mama.
Modcloth.com: the words to dress them.

I have found the perfect site for those mom's (or any ladies) who enjoy something a little off the beaten fabric. The array of dresses and other garments on this site are slightly off-kilter from what one would find in the run-of-the-yawn mall, AND delivered right to your door.
Obviously now you are muttering to yourself about the hateful qualms of purchasing items online prior to fittings, but that reluctance can easily be discarded by reading the ingenious return policy from these fashion wizards. Buy as many things as you like, try them on in the safe, veiled mirrors of your home and return whatever is not to your liking for free! (Read:gratis!) Pre-addressed return labels printed offline with either an exchange for a different size or a basic refund, keeps you from wallowing in buyers remorse. The prompt, courteous email regarding your return may just make you feel like you have a new friend, and the items themselves will keep you coming back for a wash, rinse,repeat.

Each garment is limited and turn around is quick, so if you see something you adore, buy it and think about it later (you can always return it!). There is also a fun section for budding fashionistas- or bored moms- to "Be the Buyer!" and decide what the next dress they will stock could be.

For the oldies-inspired girl there is a section of vintage items to singularize your appearance. So for the mod, retro, indie or just "you", you will  find something  pretty to love here. Or, if you are like me, many, many pretties to love here.



Love and fine dressing,
Kerry the Momster

Web: It's whats for dinner!

It's 6:15, you're tired, and starving, the children's witching hour has begun, and Daddy is late from work. The phone rings for the third time with a telemarketer asking if you have life insurance, while you jiggle your screaming baby in the other hand. "Mommy, I'm hungry" Dinner! What to make? You meant to get groceries today! Solution: Supercook.com
In a few seconds you type in whatever ingredients you have and you are directed to recipes containing those items.

Only have ketchup, cheese and cans of tuna? No problem:
Choose, cook, eat!
Perfect for those times when your brain won't think for you. The personal shopper of recipes. Yay, internet!

Love and full bellies,
Kerry the Momster

Chocolate-free Chocolate

One of the saddest days of my existence was the day the doc told me I had to eat a hypo-allergenic diet until we could tell if something I was eating was causing my baby's acid-reflux. He said no nuts, no dairy, no berries... essentially everything I eat on a daily basis (cheese, peanut butter, granola bars,strawberries, chocolate!!)

I starved for the first day, and then got my hiny into the nearest Whole Foods Store to take a look at their insane everything-free selections.

My first stop:the chocolate aisle (Hey, a girl's got her priorities)
I bought three brands: Twilight, Boom Choco Boom and Buccaneer. All of which are dairy free, nut free, etc.

The Twilight bar tasted gross, like some floury, goo with very little chocolate-y-ness. It went into the trash. I was desperate, but not that desperate!
Next I tried the Buccaneer, which would have sufficed just fine. It wasn't that bad, and my hope picked up.
My final stop on the taste train was the Boom Choco Boom Dark Chocolate Bar. Lo and behold, we had a clear winner. I swear I heard angels sing. If I didn't already know this was some frou-frou, wimpy version of chocolate, I would never have known!

So if you are stuck in my dilemma, sing Boom Choco Boom all the way into the store. They even have coupons online!

Another fantastic discovery: Sunflower seed butter; it's tastier and healthier than peanut butter.


                                                                       Love and yummies,
Kerry the Momster

Book Club Besties

This year, I pledged to read more books. Thus far I have succeeded and read about a book a week, sometimes two. It has been fabulous, and in the process of course I have stumbled upon some fantastic stories. The following books are some that I think offer a lot of discussion-worthy topics and interesting character layers to dissect. They are perfect for book clubs, or if you happen to read one of them, drop me a line and let me know what you thought.

Amazon.com $17

1. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender  

Synopsis: A young girl finds that she has a peculiar gift, to tell the exact emotions the preparer of food has in their soul at the time of preparation. IT creates problems for her as she realizes most of it is unhappy and she can't bear to eat anything but factory packaged "soulless" foods.

Review: The author captures such a melancholy feeling throughout the book. I adore the choppy but vivid interactions and descriptions. Such an amazing writer, with a very different story to tell. It reminds me a little of "Like Water for Chocolate", but only in the aspect of connecting the emotions of the cook, to the emotions of the eater. Make sure you have food nearby, as all the detailed food descriptions might leave you famished.
Like nothing you ever read before!

Amazon.com $12

2. The Bad Behavior of Belle Cantrell by Loraine Despres

Synopsis: Set in 1920's Southern America (one of my favorite periods) , Belle is left widowed and struggling to make it in a man's world. Yet she is different from her counterparts, spunky and modern and shocking people at every turn.

Review: Both the emotions of the South and the realities of the time are portrayed through strong characters and a quick-moving storyline. Belle continues to march to her own drum, and is strong and inspiring. I was lost in the world of southern plantations for a week, and when it ended was left wanting to read the story of her whole life!! This book presents conversations about how woman were treated, racial issues and morality. This author also wrote The Scandalous Summer of Sissy Leblanc, which I plan to read and hope it matches up to this fantastic novel.

Love and literature,
Kerry, the Momster

Muse-ings

Muse. Such an inspiring musical group. I can't even bear to lump them in with other "bands". They are above this term. Since their first notes- 11 albums ago- their melody variations and unique blend of beautiful sounds, synthesize into one awe-inpiring song after another.

And now, even though they have been on the "anti-new world order" bandwagon for a while, they are spilling their core out for all to hear, in the triumphant sounds of " Uprising". It's so refreshing to see a band rise above the illuminati-infested waters of pop culture and truly speak to what they believe. These boys are definitely not some producer's money-making pawns, but cavalry on the frontlines in the war against mediocracy and mindlessness. The album "Resistance" calls us all to wake up.

Listen to their lyrics, let them inspire you.



Lyrics | Muse lyrics - Uprising lyrics

More info here.

Love and bravery,
Kerry the Momster

Julie and Julia

Since I became a mom, I don't get to watch many movies whilst they are still playing in the theatre. Honestly, the cost of a sitter, coupled with the cost of movies, and the fact that when we finally get a night to ourselves, I would prefer to be looking at my husband and engaging in real conversation all contribute to this fact.

Thus, I only recently saw Julie and Julia, as it was available on my instantly streaming movies on Netflix (one of the best inventions!!). I have had the book sitting on my bedside table for about a year, but had yet to read it, and finally broke down and watched the movie instead.

And it was fabulous! Once you get over the annoying - but true to life- Julia Child's voice, the movies was sweet and inspiring. It may also have had something to do that now, since I am pregnant, I am suddenly what one would consider a "foodie". Whereas before I ate when I was hungry, and otherwise did not think about food, I now find myself craving odd and delicious concoctions at all times of the day. This makes my husband really happy, as he would eat over just about anything else.

The movie follows a woman, who doesn't have much going for her but enjoys cooking. She decides to blog for a year, whilst cooking her way through Julia Child's "Mastering the art of French Cooking". It sounds like nothing much happens, but it left me with warm fuzzies. A good chick-flick. Based on the book by Julie Powell.

Love and entertainment,
Kerry, the Momster

Bad, but oh so good, breakfast.

I have fallen in love. With a cereal!

I can't justify starting the day with this much chocolate, and sugar, but as a late afternoon pick me up, or semi-healthy pregnancy snack, this is seriously delicious stuff. My husband says it tastes as though it should be an ice-cream topper (which I have yet to try, but sounds completely feasible!)

Target's own Archer Farm Chocolate Chunk Hazelnut Biscotti Granola!! It's one of about 10 different cereals they have for $3.99. When I do want to eat if for breakfast, I cut down the sugar quotient by mixing it with a sugar-free granola, or Corn flakes.

Can be purchased in Target Stores.

Love and sugar,
Kerry, the Momster

Suite Home

Vacationing in West Palm Beach with the fam. It's close enough for a not-so-awful travel time and yet still away enough to feel like a vacation. I also found the most amazing, inexpensive hotel!
We are staying at Homewood Suites- a Hilton subsidiary. A one bedroom, with a separate living room and full kitchen, double queen bed suite will set you back only $100 a night. BUT this includes a full hot breakfast every morning AND if you go during the week a "welcome home" reception, which includes beer and wine. Upon hearing this I thought, hmm probably some nasty, warmed up microwave dinner, but no! We were served fresh salad, the most amazing chicken potpie and cornbread and decent wine too! All included!!

We will definitely be staying here again!

Love and relaxation,
Kerry the Momster