Spring Chicks

The cutest cupcake variation I saw seen yet! These will be on my table on Sunday.
Click here for the recipe

I just got a great little scoop that I wanted to share with all the moms out there...

Buzz Marketing Group just put out a great opportunity for high school and college students to make money and build their resumes. They are scouring the country for the just the right brand ambassadors for their new client (which is totally hush, hush right now). The opportunity even includes a Brand 101 weekend experience- all expenses paid in Philadelphia this summer. And did I mentioned this is a paid job? Up to at least $750. There are a limited number of spots for these sought after opportunities with Buzz so don't delay.
Know a high school or college student that would be interested? Have them take this survey to qualify:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22C8XXLCJPL

Who is Buzz?
Buzz Markeitng Group is in the business of finding out what teens what. The very thought makes my head spin but since the founder Tina Wells started her company at 16 she knows exactly how important the teen opinion is and how to get it for her fortune 500 clietns. Flash forward a few years later and the company is still leading the pack and being dubbed the "teen whisper" of the marketing industry.

Have you rubbed oatmeal on your kids today?

Over a giant cup of mocha hazelnut coffee at Parc I got the low down today of how to cure your little ones dry skin for dermatologist that is about to launch her own all natural skin line. My oldest gets patches on his legs and arms so my Pediticrian prescribed a steroid. This worked in the beginning but has failed to be the long term answer. I asked our expert what I can do and this is what she told me:

She said that steroid that I am putting on my little one is all wrong. First start with A&D ointment which can be found in your local CVS or Grocery store.

Once you get a handle on the situation Aveeno Baby products are what she recommends for keeping the dry skin blues from coming back. I threw a bunch of Aveeno products in my shopping cart at the grocery store tonight from the calming bath soak to the eczema therapy lotions. The boys and I are all stocked up and will be ready to show off our baby smooth skin by the time we hit the beach.

P.S. The little secret I can't wait to try: She also recommended taking regular oatmeal, putting it a pair of stocking and using that as a little scrub brush in the bath. Works miracles she said.

Is that Natalie Portman...no its you!

This weekend I was "brunching" at PARC in Rittenhouse with the rest of the world. A few friends were discussing their gown options for the Young Friends of the Art Museum Winter Gala when one girl said: "I like my dress but it is a little mother of the bride." Record scratch, siren, 5 alarm! Whoa. Who buys a dress with the understanding that it makes them look like MOB? We have to take back our busy lives people. Philly already suffers greatly from a lack of style. The overall average is constanting being dragged down by the numerous fashion design students trying to out crap each other with their creative misguided creations. Oy Vey kiddies, stop hurting my eyes, get a mirror and listen up.

This event combined with a purging of my personal closet made RenttheRunway.com all the more attractive when it popped up in my inbox. I love my closet. I have some real gems in there but I also love to keep my assortment fresh. This means that most my special occasion dresses get worn once maybe twice if I am lucky. This equals great memories and wasted cash.
Rent the Runway lovingly pimps over the top expensive numbers for your event without the commitment and high credit card bill. Why not rent a $700 dress for $200 or $1,200 number for $150? I know what you are thinking...I can find a great dress for $200. EHHH wrong. Good dresses go for at least $350 and up these days. Believe me I wish I was wrong but sadly these are the times we are in. A decent frock is gonna cost a decent wage. And for you single girls a good dress is the difference in snagging an investment banker type vs. an accountant type. I think you can do the math on that one for yourself. How it Works

Not sure where to start...Rent the Runway treats you right. They sort their wares by size, color, event, price, designer...etc. And for those of you that have to shop with a gaggle of girls that come with a gaggle of opinions they have you covered. Ripped from the fashion head lines they provide you with style and trend boards. Which will serve you 10 times better then that yappy girlfriend with the crappy boyfriend stories. Tell her to leave it to the reality TV stars and get her act together.


What was that you said...in a pinch with an important event rapidly approaching...don't pile your posse in the car and head for the mall. Check out their Available this Weekend section.

So for those of us that have events with the same crowd over and over again and have to rotate the options constantly don't get new friends get Rent the Runway. Let them hate you and leave them wondering how the *bleep you are affording all these Legers, Ferrettis and Proenza Schoulers. Is that Natalie Portman...oh no its you! Just tell them you got a raise for being freaking awesome and it will be our little secret.

xoxo
Philadelphia Mama

Oh where, oh where has my Doggie World gone.

The infamous Doggie World where pet owners would drop their beloved furry best friends off before hitting the airport has left us. Almost over night Operation Ava has popped up in its place. This kiddie friendly looking spot is a no-kill, animal rescue, grooming and pet store all in one. This revamped doggie haven is brought to you by the same owners of the bubble gum colored high price Doggie Style Boutique owners Goldfard and Guiterrez. I find it interesting that they don't have their names on any of their brand websites...that is so un-philly Philebrity like of them. Rittenhouse-ites will remember her doggies running around her Leehe Fai boutique. Can't say I miss the boutique since she refused to take back a pricey Tracy Reese number that fell apart after one wear. Not the best in customer service lets just say.

However it is not about the owner and all about the animals so I will assume she is redeeming herself with Operation Ava. Let's just hope she is smart enough to keep the murals in the play yard. So check it out for yourself at their open house this weekend:

What: Young animal lovers learn about pet care and meet furry friends at the new no-kill shelter.
Why: Adorable cats and dogs — need we say more?
When: Sun., 4-7 p.m.
Where: 858 N. Third St. (215-240-1240)

Please don't forget about Chic Petique for your puppy needs. They have been a No. Libs staple long before the place became kinda safe and very trendy.1040 N 2nd St # 401, Philadelphia, PA 19123-1562
(215) 238-0981 ‎

No Libs Rocks for Kids

It is turning out to be a rock and roll Saturday for kids in Northern Liberties. Kearny Public School is playing it up to it hipster neighbors this weekend with its Kids Rock Benefit show. So after your little ones take their disco naps check out the all ages show ($10/adult, $5/youth) from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

The Line up:

The Joe and Lara Show *true legends among the local kiddies, Girls Rock Philly (who I have been dying to see) and Queens of Heart.

All money raised from the Kearny Kids Rock Show will be used to
purchase instruments and supplies for the Kearny music program.


Saturday March 5th
3:00pm � 5:00pm
2424 E. York Street, Suite 122, Phila PA 19125


For more information to find out how you can help, email
kearnyschool@gmail.com.

The Tree House Play Cafe just assured us we will not be moving out of the city any time soon.

What local kids location in the burbs had me dying to get back to the peace and quite of the the city? That would be The Tree House Play Cafe in Chestnut Hill. As soon as we got there I realized that we had made a terrible mistake. This was so not the morning I had in mind. The place way small, overcrowded and so disappointing.

How could I lead my family astray this far? Well I will tell you. I just realized when I went to grab pictures to add to the blog how misleading they are. In fact there is no climbing equipment, train table or cute little play kitchen like they show in the picture below. That giraffe must have moved on to greener pastures because he wasn't there either.


The atmosphere reminded me of classroom that just found out they were having a substitute and early dismissal after a round of pixi sticks. The chaos wasn't cute, fun or the least bit enjoyable. The place is a hybrid. Part cafe, part play area and everything is way too small. You start by being smooshed in the check in area which is packed with parents and little ones. Then you go into the "cafe" part which is a sea of overweight suburban moms in sweatshirts zoning out and pretending to watch their children. Unfortunately I will be standing since the moms don't really get up much leave very little turn over of the tables. I found one that was missing the chairs but at least I had a place to put the car seat. It was right next to a mom that had her nose in her laptop. She looked up at me once with one of those interrupt my "me time" and I will kill you looks. So we didn't really chat it up.

We threw our jackets on the floor...since that was the only place for them and my husband and son headed into the play area. The play area is actually the smallest area in the place. The play area was filled with colliding, coughing, runny nose kids swirling around different mom cliques sitting on the floor. As far as the toy selection it pretty much resembled a grocery store the night before a major snow storm. Anything you really wanted they were out of. The play kitchen was bare because one little munchkin had all the wooden food in a wagon and was taking her time wheeling it around and around the small play area.

What they are not showing is all the merchandise that is throw in front of the hand washing station. If fact I didn't even see this until we were leaving and I was about 4 feet from it.



This train table...totally not there



The most disappointing thing I noticed was that very few parents were actually playing with their kids. The Tree House Play Cafe is basically a dumping ground for suburban moms.

Oh and how could I forget the woman that was flashing everyone while she was falling asleep breast feeding. I so did not need to see that. These women made me look like mom of the year.

These stacking blocks...totally not there.