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.

Baby Slinger: an impossible task

Do I hate baby slings or do baby slings hate me? Am I the only one that can't figure out how to walk around in complete bliss with one of these things. No matter what brand, style or size the process always feels like stuffing an elephant into a bean pod. My babies look smooshed, cramped and any thing but comfortable.

The BoBa: This company expects we to coax my little one into hanging on me like a monkey so that I can swing them across my back, get there legs in the slot and then buckle us together. I bought it because the baby can be on your front and your back. Ahhhh no shocker that I fail this one hardcore.

This past month I have been unsuccessfully road testing The Peanut. Well the fabric is about as rough as a peanut and basically swallows Oliver whole. Not comfortable and I looked nothing like the smiling women on the box with their make up and blown out hair. I looked like I got hit by a tornado by the time I got him off and the sling off me. Today I was able to put him in it only to take him right back out. We never made it out of the nursery.

Next on our tour is the K'tan baby carrier. The how to book is like a diner menu with a million variations and options on the same position. The interesting thing about this one is that it comes with an Obi belt in matching jersey fabric (and a matching hat). I am not really sure what to do with this Obi belt but my husband insist it is part of the overall process. I will say this is the one I want to work out the most. I keep trying it over and over again. But like all the other I have to prep myself hardcore. I lay back on the couch, criss cross the fabric around Oliver like mama spider and hope...pray that when I stand up I did it right and that at some point I will be able to take this contraption off. Again I look and feel nothing like the picture shown when I am all K'tan'ed up. Today I was able to keep it on for a whole 5 minutes...progress.

The winner of worst in fabric is Hug-A-Monkey. I have read the testimonials on the site and again I just don't get how I am the only one in America that buys these freaking things and is not grinning from ear to ear in love with the thing. I bought two different sizes of this one. The only thing this is going to make is a well intentioned hand me down to my cousin's baby.

So I guess it is back to the Bjorn and I will dream of the expensive Ergo...

If my kids slept I would do this to them....

My aunt forwarded me an e-mail today with the most creative thing I have seen in a long time: Mila's Dreams. By the number of Facebook fans creative mom Adele has I quickly see I am late to party when it come to admiring her work. I don't know if I am more in love with her work or the fact that her baby sleeps through her creations. Both have me in awe especially since you will hear my harp on how little my kids sleep. Well Maybe I can try this with my dog! You better believe I am already planning next year's holiday card after seeing this.
Like Mila's Dreams on Facebook

Is the secret to eating out in the placemat?

I am one of those moms that stares at relaxed families in restaurants in complete awe and envy. Eating out is not a relaxed situation with my crew. From the moment we sit down it is like a NASA countdown until things get out of hand. 3 minutes to enjoy the new location, 1 minute until I need to clear all the "weapons" off the table, 2 minutes I start to look around nervously for the waitress and now T-minus 4 minutes until Henry's melt down.

Ok so I am exagerating but to me that is what it feels like. We rarely take Henry out unless it is warm weather and we can sit outside away from other, with lots to look at, and a clear evacuation route.

The other day I came across Get Set Placemats from HelloHanna.com


I think if I whip these placemats out right when I see things starting to go down hit it just might do the trick. My dream is that these placemats can safely get my crew all the way to dessert. These little placemats will hopefully keep my little guys busy just long enough for someone else to cook me a meal and for me to get out a few sentences about my day to my husband. Here is to dreaming, good planning and the UPS getting these to my door as soon as possible.

Necklush - Why I don't own one.

AHHH I love Necklush. It just fits my life style. I feel the same way about Necklush as I did about the ponytail mowhawk...finally a way to dress up a dressed down look.

Necklush takes well planned color combos of printed jersey - cuts them like angel hair pasta and Bam you have a hipster neck piece that can be twisted into 3 different looks. They are my go to gift for my young hip friends but sadly my own personal closet is without a Necklush. I hit the site once a month, check out the inventory, fall in love and then....I get paralyzed by all the options. It is almost like if I buy one the mystic of having one will disappear. All I want to do in a pinch is throw on a plain T, a great pair of jeans and a Necklush and call it a day. My own indecision is holding me back from completing my hipster look. All the crap I waste my money on and I won't buy the item I really want...it is sad really. Oh and don't try to make one at home...it will end in a bulky disaster...trust me. Don't let my issues keep you from your Necklush
necklush.com
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