Valentine's Day Fun for Kids!

Hi everyone!

Even though according to the CVS displays it's Easter, we at BGC don't want to skip over the fun of Valentine's Day. Who doesn't love a kid in a pink or red heart outfit? Lucky for us, there are plenty of Valentine's Day events in Westchester. Here's our shortlist:

Girl AGain Valentine's Day Sweet Treats Doll Craft - Girl AGain, White Plains
Saturday, February 3, 11am-12pm. We will be crafting sweet treats for our dolls made out of felt and other craft materials for Valentine’s Day. Come show your doll how much you love them! Each girl will also receive a new doll-sized apron, wooden spoon and oven mitt to decorate. All supplies included. For girls ages 6 and up. $10. Click here for more info.

Valentine Craft - Harrison Public Library
Monday, February 5, 11-11:45am. Make a fun Valentine craft immediately after storytime. All ages welcome. Click here for more info.

Celebrate Valentine's Day - Will Branch, Yonkers Public Library
Wednesday, February 7, 4-4:40pm. Make a valentine for someone special. Limited registration begins January 17. Please call 914-337-1500x306 to register. Click here for more info.

Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids  – Warner Library, Tarrytown
Thursday, February 8, 3-8pm. Drop in to make a craft and a card for that special someone! Crafty fun for young people of all ages. Caregivers must remain at the table with children under seven. Click here for more info.

Click, Clack, Moo I Love You! Storytime - Barnes & Noble, Eastchester & Yonkers & White Plains
Saturday, February 10, 11am. Little Duck and all of her friends on the farm celebrate Valentine's Day by inviting a newcomer to join in the fun in this charming addition to the award-winning Click, Clack series from the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott winning team who brought you Click, Clack, Moo and Click, Clack, Surprise! Activities to follow. Click here for more info.

Victorian Tea - Horace Greeley House, Chappaqua
Saturday, February 10, 11am & 2pm. The New Castle Historical Society hosts this elegant afternoon of tea, snacks, crafts, and a tour at the Horace Greeley House Museum. 11 am seating and 2 pm seating. Ages 4 - 12. Please register. Click here for more info.

DIY Heart Shaped Goggles  – Mount Kisco Library
Monday, February 12, 3:30-5pm. Create a heart-shaped pair of goggles for Valentine's Day using pipe cleaners! Ages: 3-12. Registration required. Click here for more info.

Last Minute Valentines - Chappaqua Public Library
Tuesday, February 13, 4-5pm. Glitter and pop-ups = cool cards. Grades K-2. Registration required. Click here for more info.

Chloe's Kids Valentine's Day Party - Kids U, Portchester
Wednesday, February 14, 11-12:30pm. It's the annual Chloe's Kids Valentine's Day party! Live children's music, story time, snacks, crafts, and play time in the Kids U facility. $10/child, please RSVP to attend. Click here for more info.

Wickity Stitch & Tibbits Happy Heart's Party  - Crestwood Public Library, Yonkers
Wednesday, February 14, 4-5pm. Come join the fun and chocolate loving witch and cat duo Wickity Stitch and Tibbits as we prepare to celebrate Valentine's Day. Local Author Elle L. Stone will read "Wickity Stitch's Will You Be My Valentine?" and we will play games, make crafts, eat snacks and more! Children up to 12 years. Free. Registration required. Click here for more info.

Valentine's Craft for Kids - Riverfront Library, Yonkers
Wednesday, February 14, 4-4:45pm. Come celebrate LOVE by making love wooden frames for a loved one. Children up to 12 years. Free. Click here for more info.

That's it for this week. I hope you have a great Valentine's Day. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. And as always, check our website for events and our easy-to-navigate chart of every weekly kids library program in Westchester.

See you next time!

Andrea

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Spruce Up Your Home With A DIY Family Photo Wall

Hi everyone! I love a good decorative find at Home Goods as much as the next person, but even better than a wrought iron chicken, decoupage mirror, or 1/200 scale Eiffel Tower planter is a wall of snapshots. Who doesn't love seeing your smiling loved ones as you go from room to room? A wall of photos is trickier than it seems. Do it the right way and it adds personality and warmth to your home.Do it the wrong way and it turns into College-meets-IKEA decorating. Here are some tips on how to make a perfectly imperfect wall photo collage.

This is a companion piece to our original series: How to Store, Organize, and Display Your Zillion Baby Photos. 

But first, don't forget to check out the grand opening of My Gym in Dobbs Ferry. Come play for free this weekend and next weekend. Check out the schedule below. 

1: Choose a spot

I love putting photos on staircases because there’s tons of unused wall space that’s typically uninterrupted by windows or trim, and you can make the area really busy without the rest of the room feeling overwhelmed. And since most of the photos will be hung at eye level, you can get close to your favorites without needing to make huge prints to see from across a room. If you don't have a staircase that works, look for a wall where your eye can linger for a bit. Entryways aren't ideal because it's awkward to stop and look in the middle of coming in the house and putting stuff away. A wall too close to the TV can be distracting. But a wall across from the TV in the living room, an upstairs hallway, facing your bed in the bedroom, or a far wall in the dining room are perfect.

2: Buy the frames

Unless your style is very modern, don’t buy all the same type, color, and size of frame. If you aim for a mix-and-match approach, you can add to the wall as your family grows without any one frame sticking out. I had good luck at Kohl’s and Home Goods finding well-priced, pretty frames in sizes 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10. Using frames of different sizes will help the wall feel whimsical. Unless you have a huge or tall area, it’s a good rule to have only one 8x10 for every three or four 4x6 or 5x7. You’re looking for a mix of frame styles, but they all don’t have to be completely different. If I see a frame I like, I'll buy the 5x7 and the 8x10 size, or buy the same frame in two different colors. Then I just make sure not to put those two right next to each other in the collage. Having a “twin” helps the collection feel cohesive.

Keep in mind a color family for your frame collection. My frames are several different colors, but they all live in the muted family of grey, grey-blue, brown, black, and a few off-white for contrast. You could do pastels, metallics, jewel tones, etc., but they should feel of a piece. Also, the style of the frames should have a similar feel. Almost all my frames are thick and wooden, so a thin shiny black or silver frame would be out of place. 

But don't be afraid to add an element of surprise! I included one strategically-placed collage frame of 12 smaller photos to anchor the grouping and stand out in the sea of single photo frames. It let me put a bunch of snapshots that are memorable but not "Top 20 Wall" perfect. If you're going to throw in an element of surprise, it's fun to pick a topic that's not covered on the rest of the wall. A collage full of baby photos on my wall would be more of the same, so for our 12-photo frame I used photos of my husband and me (gasp!) pre-kids, showcasing all the great places we travelled before "Let's take a trip" meant "Trader Joe's or Stew's?"

And this is probably a Duh! point, but make sure that the frames you buy have wall hanging hardware on the back. Not all of them do. And some of them have such a large easel backs that when you hang them, they stick out a little. You can cut off the easel backs, but it's an extra step you can avoid if you shop smart.

3: Print the photos and load up the frames

Once you have your frames, lay them out and see how many photos of each size you need. I like to start with my 8x10s, since those tend to be my favorites. Even if you think you know exactly what you want at each size, print a few extras at different sizes for backup. When it becomes time to places the photos into the frames you might find a particular photo is not a good match for the frame, or a print looks too dark. If you have a few extra prints you can keep your options open. (Not sure how to figure out which photos to print? Read Part 2 of our original series.)

4: Lay out the space

How are you going to figure out what goes where without making a zillion holes in your wall? Meet your new best friend: tracing paper and blue painter’s tape. Here's how to make it work: First, grab some sticky notes and number all your frames. Then get a pad of paper larger than your largest frame, and trace each frame onto a sheet, numbering each sheet to match the post-it, then draw an arrow to indicate which way is up. Cut them out, and now you’ve got light, unbreakable, moveable versions of your frames to play around with.

5: Hang the frames

Attach some painter's tape and affix the papers to the wall. Play around with placement and spacing until you have a collection that feels natural and fun. You’re going for a random look, so try to keep the distance between frames varied. Mine range from one to four inches. Don’t worry if there is an empty spot here and there. The point is to be able to add on to the collage as you make more memories with your family, so those empty spots at the top or sides will soon come in handy. Once you have all the papers set in place, sub in the corresponding frames, and you’re done!

That's it for this week! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. And as always, check our website for events and our easy-to-navigate chart of every weekly kids library program in Westchester.

See you next time!

Andrea

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How to get your kids out the door on time

Hi everyone!

Well, the holidays are over and it's back to the grind, only we have to do it in practically negative temperatures! Some of my mom friends can barely get out the door to head to the playground on a summer's day before naptime, much less make it in time for nursery school or $5 admission at The Play Place! Are you one of those moms? Here's my trick to getting where you need to go on time, toddler meltdown included.

But first, come out and play! BabyGotChat is collaborating with Lil Chameleon in Tuckahoe for Mommy & Me play dates. Our next one is this Monday, January 8, from 10:30am to 12:00pm. (Don't worry, you can be late). You can register in advance or pay $5 cash at the door. Click here for more info. 

HOW TO GET THERE ON TIME ... WITH KIDS

Step 1: Do your math

Let's say you want to be at school on time every day. First, figure out how long it takes you to get to school, then add 10 minutes for red lights, construction, and late starts. If the place you're going is a longer drive, add 15 minutes. 

School starts at 8:30, and it takes twelve minutes to get there. Add 10 minutes for traffic and construction and that gives you a 20-minute trip. So that's 8:08.

Then from what time you need to be in the car all strapped in, in our case 8:08am, subtract 10 minutes (how long it takes to get from the door to the car with potty breaks, shoe meltdowns, forgotten coats, etc.) That’s the time you need to be aiming for every day.

So in our case, leaving the house at 7:58 for 8:30 school ensures we'll get there on time every day.

 Now, we don’t literally leave at 7:58. But when we’re watching the clock we know that at that time we need to start walking toward the front door and getting coats on, shoes on, etc. With last-minute trips to the potty and lost socks, we are pulling out of the driveway around 8:10 or 8:15, which gives us enough time to get there without being late. Don’t forget to account for how long it takes to get OUT of the car once you’re there. Carseats, coats, strollers, and walks through the parking lot add up. 

Step 2: Make it easy to know what time it is

Put clocks in every room so you know how much time you have. Having a clock in your kids' rooms is essential because it can seem like time stands still when you're chasing them around trying to get their socks on. Putting a clock near the door helps too. I often find myself standing by the door wondering what else I need when I should be hauling butt to the car. 

Step 3: Do as little in the morning as possible

I'm not going to give you the age-old adage "lay out their clothes the night before," because I personally hate doing that. But if you can get the diaper bag ready the night before or put the stuff that has to go to school by the door, that's one less project.

Step 4: Go downstairs once

The biggest time suck in the morning is coming downstairs once we wake up, eating breakfast, then trudging back upstairs to get dressed. Why herd sheep twice? In our household no one goes downstairs for the day without being dressed. It means they're eating breakfast in their school clothes, and I have to cross my fingers the baby doesn't have a blowout before I leave the house. But not having to drag them back upstairs and then drag them back downstairs is an easy ten minutes saved.

Step 5: Keep your go-stuff by the door

Make it idiotproof. We keep coats out in the open on a coatrack right by the door. Kid shoes out in the open in a bin right by the door. Any winter woolens laying on a bench right by the door. Once the diaper bag and school bag is packed they go right by the door. The tea I make every day goes right by the door. Are you seeing a theme? The more stuff two feet from where you need to exit, the better chances of exiting with said stuff.

Step 6: You might need to go it alone

Instead of stressing about remembering everything that needs to go out, I'll make a trip to the car by myself, depositing the diaper bag, school bag, my tea, and anything else non-human that needs to get to the car. Then I'm free to focus on getting the two hardest things in the car. 

Step 7: Don't negotiate with terrorists—give in!

If you read the blog, you know a system of mine is House Toys Stay in the House and Car Toys Stay in the Car. But like any good rule, it can't be enforced 100% of the time. We were trying to get out the door to the doctor and my 3 year old decided she NEEDED Sick Elmo to come, I didn't even bother trying to convince her otherwise. We grabbed Elmo and got in the car on time. So, if your little terrorist makes demands, fold for the greater good. And maybe there's a way around it. If they don't want to do their hair, just grab an elastic for later. Won't put on their shoes? Carry them to their car seat and bring the shoes for when you get there. It's amazing what a few minutes peaceful contemplation while strapped into a moving car will do for a toddler's stubborn streak.

That's it for this week! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. And as always, check our website for events and our easy-to-navigate chart of every weekly kids library program in Westchester.

See you next time!

Andrea

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Westchester kid spots opening in 2018 and the best of 2017

Happy New Year, you guys!

I'm super proud I made my goal of 52 blog posts in 2017. I hope I've educated and entertained you in the past year. To celebrate, here is some of the best stuff of 2017 and what we're looking forward to in 2018.

Looking forward

There are some really fun places opening soon. First of all, Lifetime Fitness is opening a location in Chappaqua this summer. I'm in love with their Harrison location for the awesome shoreline indoor and outdoor pools (shoreline means toddlers can walk around in the water without you having to hold them up!) well as the daycare and kids classes. Oh, and I work out there too. But I'm not gonna lie, my favorite part is taking a shower alone while the kids are at the daycare. 

Also opening is My Gym in Dobbs Ferry. If you've been to the location in Larchmont, you know how fun it is and how great the classes and birthday parties are. Well now us westsiders can get to one without crossing the county. They are opening on January 22nd and are celebrating with 8 days of free programming between January 12th and the 21st. If you sign up before the 11th they have a special deal. Call 914-591-5437 and mention BabyGotChat for more info.

Photo courtesy of Larchmont Toddler

Also, Larchmont Toddler is back and better than ever. This under-the-radar gem is the perfect spot for your little ones to shake their sillies out this winter. LT is a morning open-play gym for kids ages prewalker to preschool. Come between 9:30am and 12pm and play for only $10, with half-price siblings. They also offer drop-off play for an additional fee if you call in advance. A lifesaver for that last-minute doctor's appointment or just to get through Trader Joe's without going insane. We had a meetup there last month with Shake, Rattle & Roll Music (who hosts classes out of the space) and our 1-year-old had a blast. 

This summer my daughter will finally be old enough for dropoff full-day camp! Now I just have to navigate the endless options in the county for summer fun. Luckily there's the Westchester Family Camp Fair, taking place January 13 and 14 in Bedford and Mamaroneck, respectively. Meet the directors and representatives of some of the best day camps and sleepaway camps.

Overwhelmed by too many camp choices? Have a kid with special needs or even just special interests? The Camp Connection is a free camp matchmaking service that will help you wade through all the flyers, websites, and brochures. With an arsenal of more than 600 summer camps, they will make objective personalized recommendations, and have personally prescreened every overnight summer camp they recommend. Did I mention the service is free?

And I'm no food blog but Colony Pizza is opening in mid-May in Portchester. I grew up with the Stamford location and that thin crust pizza is awesome! They are kid friendly but their menu is basically pizza, pizza, or pizza, so if you have a kid who only eats french fries, you may want to stick to takeout. 

Know of an opening or new kids program you're looking forward to in 2018? Drop us a line at info@babygotchat.com!

Looking back

ICYMI, here are some highlights from 2017:

First of all, you love lists! Whether it's Easter Egg Hunts, Santas, restaurants where kids eat free, carnivals, or anything else I can boil down for you, you were all ears. But 2017 brought the big daddy of all lists and my greatest accomplishment (in the baby blog world anyway): EVERY LIBRARY TOT PROGRAM IN WESTCHESTER IN ONE EASY LIST! Sorry, that deserved caps. You loved it so much we're going to make similar lists in different categories, so watch this space.

We also did a 3-part photo series in collaboration with expert photographer Jaye McLaughlin of The Life in Your Years Photography where we showed you how to transfer your photos from a zillion files to one (searchable!) database, how to organize them into prints for albums or around the house, and how to display them in a keepsake photo book. 

Better at organizing real objects? We tackled the topic of kid closets in our spring cleaning post. Our system cheaply and easily morphs their space from a pile of clothes and hangers into modular pods where clothes are easily stored, sorted, and rearranged for a kid's ever-changing wardrobe.  

And my personal favorite was The Cheap Mom's Guide to Westchester. I love a good high/low lifestyle, and for kid stuff there's almost no reason to go high. 

I try to be a mellow mom, but every once in a while I do like to get out my nagging finger and post some friendly reminders. Here's my shortlist to being a safety-minded parent:

1. Take a infant/child CPR class. Preferably in your home with grandma, grandpa, and all other babysitters. YourHomeCPR will come to you with dummies, videos, and everything you need, for the same cost for up to 10 people as other places charge onsite for 2 people. But in your house you get comfy seats, snacks, and bathroom breaks on your terms.

2. Keep newborns away from germs during flu season. I learned this the hard way and ended up in the PICU for a 10 days when my two-week old contracted RSV. It's no joke.

3. Take your kids to the dentist. It's easy and it's (mostly) fun. Make back your copay in free toothbrushes and toothpaste samples. I think we're good till age 7 on that front.

4. Be vigilant about water safety. Learn what drowning actually looks like (hint: it's not bouncing, screaming, and waving.) Don't leave standing water anywhere it could be forgotten about. Drain that bathtub before baby gets out and there's no chance you'll forget once they're toweled off and roaming around again. Flip over the baby pool when it's not in use. 

5. Car seat safety! It's so important. Make sure those seats are properly installed and those little bodies are in there tight with no slack and no big puffy clothes to get in the way. 

6. Don't drape a blanket over the stroller in hot weather. You're creating a sauna that's much hotter than the outside temperature. 

7. And my favorite thing to repeat with prewalkers: Babies can't fall off the floor. It may seem crazy to put them down on the floor in a pinch, but you at least know not to step on them, they don't know not to roll off a couch, bed, or changing table. 

Thanks for coming along for the ride! We're looking forward to more fun in 2018, so follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

See you next time!

Andrea

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