Visit the Spring Art Colony Day Camp

Looking to fill your child’s spring break? Find a truly collaborative art making experience in CMA’s Art Colony Day Camp. Art Colony allows students to immerse themselves in innovative arts courses taught by professional teaching artists. Classes run from 10 AM-4 PM, with supervised play from 9-10 AM and 4-5 PM included. Explore the wide variety of class offerings for ages 6-15.

Learn How to Cook Brigadeiros!!

You will need:

• 1 can of Leite Moça (sweet condensed milk)
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder (You can use more cocoa, some recipes call for 4 spoons. You can also use chocolate powder in which case you need 7 spoons, but the Brigadeiros will be intensely sweet. With practice, you will find your own perfect recipe)
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• chocolate sprinkles
• a non-stick pan
• a wooden spoon
• mini baking cups

Cooking Instructions:

• put roughly 2 tablespoons of butter to melt in the pan
• set the stove top to medium-low
• once the butter is melted, add a whole can of condensed milk
• now you will add the chocolate; but wait, if you are using cocoa powder here is Betânia’s personal trick: get a glass with a bit of water and slowly add the cocoa while mixing it with the water; this is because cocoa powder does not dissolve very well in the condensed milk, so you want to totally dissolve it with a bit of water and then add the mixture to the condensed milk in the pan
• stir with the wooden spoon; you will need to stir for at least 20 minutes and it can take as long as 40 minutes; stir in circular movements and make sure you get the Brigadeiro from the sides so it does not stick there and burn
• the Brigadeiro will get thicker and thicker and will reduce in volume
• you know it is ready when a) you divide it in half with the spoon and it stays parted for a few seconds and b) you scoop some Brigadeiro with the wooden spoon, turn the spoon upside down, and it holds there for an instant before falling back into the pan; the video will show this!
• when your Brigadeiro is ready, spread the content of the pan on a plate and put it in the fridge for about 30 minutes; you want it nice and firm before you roll it in balls
• to make the little balls, spread a little bit of butter in your hands and make sure to get your fingers; using a small spoon, scoop some Brigadeiro, put it in your hands, and roll it in a little ball
• roll the ball on the chocolate sprinkles to cover it completely
• place your Brigadeiro in a baking cup
• repeat–should yield about 25 Brigadeiros
• put Brigadeiros in the fridge for about 15-30 minutes to make them firmer

Read about brigadeiros and see the recipe at StreetSmart Brazil

“There is nothing that I enjoy more than spending time as a family….I love listening to what my children have to say and seeing their milestones as they grow. They make me laugh and teach me so much. I am a better person because of them and I cherish their individuality. Spend time as a family…the memories you are creating will last a lifetime and be forever remembered in your child’s mind.”

Spending time as a family is a wise investment. Children in families that participate in religious activities together are more likely to report having parents who show affection, and those with involved parents tend to fare better in school and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.

• Spending time in everyday family leisure activities is associated with greater emotional bonding within the family. A family’s “core” leisure activities (those that are typically everyday, low-cost, home-based activities such as playing board games, playing in the yard, gardening and watching television together) were related to the family’s cohesion (“the emotional bonding that family members have toward one another”). Both a family’s “core” activities and their “balance” activities (those that are novel experiences and require a greater investment of time, effort, planning and money–such as vacations, special events, and sports activities) were related to the family’s ability to adapt.₁
• Children in families that participate in religious activities together are more likely to report seeing expressions of love and affection between their parents. Two dimensions of family religious involvement–family participation in religious activities at least once per week and parental prayer more than once per day—were associated with greater expression of love or affection between the parents, as reported by their children.₂
• Parents of families in which both the parents and children attend religious services are more likely to know their children’s social networks.  They are more likely to know their children’s friends, those friends’ parents, and their children’s teachers, than parents of families in which only the parents or only the children, or neither, participated in religious activities.₃
• Children’s academic success is associated with having mothers who frequently communicated with them. This entailed talking with the children, listening to them, and answering their questions.₄
• Children whose fathers spend time with them doing activities tend to have better academic performance. Preteens whose fathers spent leisure time away from the home (picnics, movies, sports, etc.) with them, shared meals with them, helped with homework or reading, and engaged in other home activities with them earned better grades in school, on average, than peers whose fathers spent less time with them. Similarly, teens whose fathers engaged in activities in the home and outdoors, spent leisure time, and talked with them earned better grades, on average, than teens whose fathers spent less time with them.₅
• Adolescents whose parents are involved in their lives tend to exhibit fewer behavioral problems. Parent involvement was assessed by how often the parent or parental figure asked about their children’s lives, encouraged their interests, gave good advice, and spent free time with them in school activities.₆
• Youths who communicate, do activities and have close relationships with their parents are less likely to engage in violence. Family integration through bonds with a parent (in particular, with a mother who was living in the home) was associated with a decrease in the likelihood that an adolescent will commit an act of violence. (Parent-child bonds were measured by adolescents’ reports of feeling close to their parents, being involved in family activities, and communicating with their parents.) Youths in twoparent families whose bond with their resident mothers was just one standard deviation higher than the mean level were 18 percent less likely to commit an act of violence than peers with average maternal bonds. Among youths living in single parent families, a bond with that parent that was one standard deviation above the mean was associated with a 17 percent decrease in violence, while a one-unit increase in bonding with a nonresident parent was associated with a 5 percent decrease in violent behavior.₇
• Teens who frequently have dinner with their families are at a lower risk for substance abuse. Compared with teens who frequently had dinner five times or more per week with their families, those who had dinner with their families only two nights per week or less were twice as likely to be involved in substance abuse. They were 2.5 times as likely to smoke cigarettes, more than 1.5 times as likely to drink alcohol, and nearly three times as likely to try marijuana.₈
• Teens whose parents are home with them after school and in the evening are less likely to experience emotional distress. Other parental factors included having parents who engaged in activities with the teens and parents who had high expectations regarding teens’ academic performance.₉

While strolling down King Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, my daughter and I discovered the cutest little children’s boutique called Sugar Snap Pea. The clothes are playful yet traditional and the boutique is stocked with fabulous accessories. We left with so many goodies in hand…a must if you are visiting this charming Southern City.

“Sugar Snap Pea is your destination for fresh and fun children’s clothing in Downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant. We aim to provide our customers with the highest quality of modern children’s clothing, gear and accessories.Stop by one of our two locations today for a delightful shopping experience!

We make every effort to carry a wide range of products in store and online. However, if you are looking for a product online that you cannot find, please do not hesitate to give us a call! We happily offer concierge shopping services for our out-of-state customers.”
www.sugarsnappea.com

A gorgeous floral top by Sugar Snap Pea….Charleston’s premiere children’s boutique.

Sugar Snap Pea – fun children’s clothing!

Beautiful dresses – the Tea Elfengarten Sash Dress, the CP Wrap Dress & the CP Crystal Dress.

Sugar Snap Pea Store – Charleston, SC.

Bali is one of the best destinations for a family vacation. It has everything: good beaches, a rich culture, friendly people, great weather, and wonderful food.
See the 10 Best Family Resorts on Bali!

Bali Westin

Bali Intercontinental

Bali Dynasty Family Resort

Bali Nikko Resort

View the top 12 things to do with kids in New York City this January 2015!

While January is traditionally a mellow time, especially compared to the nonstop action of the holiday season, there’s no way you can hibernate all month—not with kids around. Luckily, you don’t have to. Our January GOList is packed with annual favorites like the 38th annual Three Kings Day Parade in East Harlem, Central Park’s annual Winter Jam sports fest and Beam Center‘s hands-on Inventgenuity Festival, plus some brand-new, exceptional-sounding shows and performances for kids.

As always, if an event piques your interest, be sure to click through to our listing for all the details, including address and time. And keep in mind: In NYC, really cool things to do with kids often get booked up quickly. So buy your tickets ASAP or, in the case of FREE events, arrive as early as possible to try to beat the crowds.

So get out your calendar: Here are the top 12 things to do with kids in New York City this January, five of which are FREE.

Clifford’s Big Red Party at the Scholastic Store – Soho
Saturday, January 3
The Scholastic Store isn’t just saying goodbye to 2014—it’s saying goodbye, period! Come January 11, the kid-lit spot is closing for good so this is one of the last times you’ll be able to hit the shop’s Imagination Clubhouse, the Magic School Bus, the Creativity Corner and that beloved Clifford coin-operated ride. The big red dog himself is hosting this final bash featuring crafts, magic tricks, face painting, balloon twisting, a reading of Clifford Visits the Zoo and photo ops. It’s sure to be a bittersweet experience. FREE

Community Cube at the Seaport – South Street Seaport
Monday, January 5-Sunday, February 1
Throughout the month, a 250-person heated tent will host a wide variety of events for all ages, from screenings to dance parties to hands-on workshops. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, downtown community org FiDi Families is curating all of the little-kid activities, including interactive concerts by Music for Aardvarks (Monday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 27) and screenings of Frozen (Monday, January 5). However, it’s worth looking at the “grown-up” programming (dubbed Sugarcube), too, since some of those offerings are good for school-age children, like screenings of Enchanted (Thursday, January 8), Little Fugitive (Thursday, January 15) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II – The Secret of the Ooze (Thursday, January 29), and the interactive Paint the Music party (Saturday, January 17). All events are FREE

Three Kings Day Parade – East Harlem
Tuesday, January 6
While there are many ways to mark Three Kings Day (a.k.a. the “12th day of Christmas”) in NYC, El Museo del Barrio’s 38th annual procession is the biggest celebration. Watch as lots of local school kids march by alongside colorful floats, festive bands, live camels and the massive Three Wise Men puppets, which lead the procession and stay on display in the museum after the event. My daughter and I have been many times and it’s fun though modest. Find a spot at the start on 106th Street and Lexington Avenue (there’s always room), watch for 15 minutes or so and then continue celebrating with a great Mexican meal at nearby El Paso Restaurante. Or go to the end at La Marqueta where there will be live music and delicious eats from local vendors. FREE

Stella, Queen of the Snow – Upper West Side
Saturday, January 10
Marie-Louise Gay’s popular picture book comes to life at Symphony Space thanks to the eye-popping creativity of the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Stella and her little brother Sam’s wintry adventure features snowballs, snow angels and a snow-topped forest, all conjured by whimsical puppets, striking scenic effects and moving original music. Bonus: Mommy Poppins is sponsoring the 2pm performance so our readers enjoy an adorable marshmallow snowman activity before the show and save 35% on tickets with the discount code MPJK. $26 for adults, $16 for children

IMpossible IZZpossible – Fort Greene
Friday, January 16-Saturday, January 17
Head to the Brooklyn Academy of Music to check out this multicultural dance mash up from Philadelphia’s Illstyle & Peace Productions. The troupe celebrates the African roots of hip-hop dance by showcasing a wide range of styles, from tap to step to modern. Thanks to its high energy routines and brief one-hour running time, IMpossible IZZpossible is a great choice for all ages, though the recommended range is 6 to 11. $12

The Fresh Beat Band Live – Midtown West
Saturday, January 17
Even though their Nickelodeon show went off the air in 2013, the Fresh Beat Band—a.k.a. Kiki, Marina, Twist and Shout—are still big-name celebrities to the preschool set. At a pair of tot-friendly pop concerts at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the group will perform its greatest hits including “Bananas,” “Here We Go” and a brand-new version of “Great Day,” plus classic covers that should please parents, like the Bangles’ “Walk Like An Egyptian.” $40-$65

Wild Kratts Live – Greenwich Village
Saturday, January 17-Monday, January 19
Calling all preschoolers who love animals (a.k.a. all of them): Catch Martin and Chris Kratt, real-life brothers and stars of the PBS Kids nature series Wild Kratts, onstage at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Although there are no live animals in this stage adaptation of the show, there’s plenty of audience interaction as the Kratts ask tots to help them tap into the powers of various creatures. With video, music and amazing animal facts, it’s the perfect show for the under-six set. $32-$75

Everything About a Family (Almost) – Chelsea
Saturday, January 17-Monday, February 16
Out of all the shows my daughter and I see together, the ones at TADA! Youth Theater make the biggest impression on her, because she loves watching her peers on stage. Local youngsters ages 8 to 18 perform in original musicals that are quirky and thought-provoking. The company’s latest revue, Everything About a Family (Almost), was actually conceived and written by former members of TADA!’s Resident Youth Ensemble. This updated revival is set on a cruise ship and examines how kooky, fun and irreplaceable relatives can be. $25 for adults, $15 for children

Lionboy – Midtown West
Friday, January 23-Sunday, February 1
A dystopian fantasy about climate change and the corporatization of our global culture aimed at families? You’d only find a show like this at the New Victory Theater. Based on Zizou Corder’s bestselling young adult trilogy, Lionboy was adapted by the award-winning London troupe Complicite and chronicles the cross-continental saga of a boy who sets out to save his kidnapped scientist parents. Happily, he’s got a secret weapon: He can communicate with cats. Geared to children ages 8 and up, Lionboy is a rousing adventure that gets kids thinking about complex real-life issues. $15-$38

Winter Jam – Upper East Side
Saturday, January 24
Regardless of what Mother Nature brings, it’s going to be a major snow day at the Central Park Bandshell. The Parks Department’s annual winter sports festival features fresh blown snow courtesy of Gore Mountain so families can try cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding, or just frolic in the fluffy white stuff. All equipment is provided or you can bring your own. Signed waivers are required for certain activities. This one gets seriously crowded to arrive as early as possible. FREE

Beam Center’s Inventgenuity Festival – Cobble Hill
Saturday, January 24-Sunday, January 25
We first heard about Beam Center‘s annual hands-on fest in 2011 and many Mommy Poppins families go every year. The 2015 edition will be the last one in Cobble Hill since Beam Center is moving to a brand-new, state-of-the-art studio in the Columbia Street Waterfront District in February. The Inventgenuity Fest is a great way to get a sense of all the program has to offer kids, with a wide range of collaborative and individual low- and high-tech projects, all overseen by professional educators and artists. You must register for the festival in advance and then sign up for specific workshops. Drop-ins most likely cannot be accommodated. Free admission but there is a $8.25 materials fee for each workshop

Thunderbird American Indian Dancers Annual Dance Concert and Pow-wow – East Village
Friday-Sunday: January 30-Sunday, February 8
A beloved wintertime tradition: At the Theater for the New City’s 40th annual cultural event, families can enjoy dances, stories and music from the Iroquois and Native Peoples of the Northeast, Southwest and Great Plains regions. All proceeds benefit the Native American scholarship fund, and on weekend matinees, kids get in for just a buck and are invited to interact with the performers during parts of the show. $10, $1 for children under age 12 for matinees only

Honorable Mentions

NYC always has so many incredible things going on that it’s difficult to choose. So here are 10 more cool events that are worth considering for your January calendar. Be sure to sign up for our FREE newsletters so you can get our weekend picks delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning.

Watch (or if you’re brave, join!) the Coney Island Polar Bear Club members on their annual New Year’s Day swim in the Atlantic Ocean. FREE

Take train-obsessed tots to the New York Botanical Garden to see the mini musical All Aboard with Thomas & Friends, which plays throughout the month.

Join the Urban Park Rangers in Queens’ Cunningham Park to gaze at the Quadrantids meteor shower on Sunday, January 4. FREE

Scour the skies for eagles in Inwood Hill Park on Saturday, January 10. FREE

Get up close and personal with bugs, reptiles and slime at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s annual Icky Fest on Saturday, January 10-Sunday, January 11.

Enjoy Songs for Unusual Creatures at Carnegie Hall as images of blobfish, elephant shrews and other bizarre beasts frolic to kooky tunes by author/composer Michael Hearst on Sunday, January 11. FREE

Try to grab an artistic holiday treat to take home as the New York Hall of Science dismantles its massive GingerBread Lane display on Sunday, January 11.

Check out panels, films, workshops and discussion about African-American comics at the third annual Black Comic Book Festival at the Schomburg Center on Saturday, January 17. FREE

Join eighth graders from the Manhattan Country School as they march for peace in honor of Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 19. FREE

Celebrate Oshogatsu, a.k.a. the Japanese New Year, at Japan Society’s annual fete on Sunday, January 25.

Love this Cream of Broccoli Soup Recipe….make and enjoy!!!

View the recipe – Courtesy of Culinary Institute of America

Cream of Broccoli Soup

Makes 8 servings

• 2 lbs broccoli
• ¼ cup vegetable or olive oil
• 1¼ cups chopped onion
• ½ cup chopped celery
• 1¼ cups chopped leeks (white and light green parts)
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 6 cups chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream, heated
• Fresh lemon juice to taste
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. Separate broccoli into stems and florets. Trim away the tough outer parts of the stems. Set aside 1 cup of the nicest-looking small florets to use as a garnish. Coarsely chop remaining broccoli florets and stems.
2. Heat oil in soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, leek, and chopped broccoli. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent, about 6 to 8 minutes.
3. Add the flour and blend well. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Add the broth to the pot gradually, whisking to work out any lumps of flour. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes. Stir frequently and skim the soup as needed.
5. Strain the solids, reserving the liquid. Purée the solids, adding liquid as necessary to facilitate puréeing.
6. Combine the purée with enough of the reserved liquid to achieve the consistency of heavy cream. If you wish, strain the soup through a fine sieve. Return the soup to a simmer.
7. Meanwhile, steam or boil the reserved broccoli florets until just tender.
8. Remove the soup for the heat and add the heated cream. Season to taste with the lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Serve in heated bowls; garnish with the florets.

CEO and Co-founder of Fame Game and former Senior Executive of AOL, the lovely Tatiana Platt joined me under sunny sky’s on Christmas Eve in Palm Beach to discuss her very hands on role as a Mother to three young children. Certain Mother’s are just fun….roll your sleeves up, get in the sandbox and play fun…and Tatiana is just this! She is uber Mom x three…and I delighted in her talents from hand making beautiful hair bows for her girls to her ultra creative birthday celebrations and filling in for a missing instructor one afternoon and playing soccer with her sons team for a hour!

We here at Old Fashioned Mom are proud to introduce Tatiana Platt as our fourth Celebrity Mother!

____________________

1. How would you describe yourself?

Busy! I am a multitasker who juggles a million different things every day. I wake up at 5:45am and usually collapse into bed around 9pm.

2. Please tell us about your children…

I have 3 children: 5, 4 and 3 years old. I didn’t plan on having them so close together, it just happened! And in hindsight, I love how close in age they are and also how close they are in general. My son is the eldest, his name is Fox, and he is very disciplined and organized. He could sit with a Lego set for 2 hours and be happy as a clam. He is now in Kindergarten and loves the challenge. My second child is my daughter Xenia. She is strong, independent, outgoing and a little fashionista. For her 4th birthday, she asked for a vanity table and makeup. My youngest is my other daughter Riva. She is headstrong and fierce (I guess you have to be when you have two older siblings). She easily keeps up with her brother and sister and can even out-scoot them! But she also has an attitude, last week she threw her ballet shoes at her ballet teacher. That one is a little rough around the edges. What I love is they all have their own personalities, their special sparkle and of course their rivalries with each other.

3. How did your family celebrate your first Mothers Day?

We spent the weekend in the Hamptons. It was a gorgeous brisk spring weekend and my son was only 3 months old. I remember talking a long walk with my husband and my son in a bjorn on Flying Point Beach all bundled up.

4. What activities do you and your children enjoy most?

We love outdoor activities, scooting to school, swimming in the ocean and playing at the beach, playing cards and board games, and especially traveling. We do everything together.

5. The benefits of world travel for children has been well documented….what far off places have your children experienced?

In the last year alone, we have been to Italy, Morocco, Mexico and are headed to Costa Rica in a week. The kids love being exposed to new cultures and environments. Many of my friends can’t believe I take my three small children on such long trips, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The BEST Places for Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Parties!

View the Top Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Parties at travelchannel.com

Family-friendly, Legoland fireworks in Carlsbad, California.

Family-friendly, beachside ball drop at Panama City Beach.

My children and I love Sant Ambroeus….conveniently located on Madison and 77th Street, a dream of a place, offering some of our favorites like Crostino Milanese, Pancake Alla Frutta Fresca and Salmone Affumicato. The gelato is divine and I delight in seeing my darlings press their little faces against the glass to see what daily flavors are in store. For Mommies that need a little boost the Espresso Con Panna and Espresso Lungo are sure to do the deed….two of my favorites!!

Sant Ambroeus Madison Avenue
1000 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Tel. 212-570-2211
http://www.santambroeus.com