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Belly Bling

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Akiyo HennaBaby bingo, baby trivia, finish the baby rhyme…you’ve played every game at every shower. Next time, skip the games and go straight to the fun.

Put an artful spin on your baby shower: Akiyo Henna does beautiful, exotic, temporary (and safe!) body art with a modern twist. Henna artist Akiyo will expertly paint your baby bump with intricate patterns (using a henna paste that’s safe for pregnancy) that you’ll want to show off. Have her bedeck your growing belly to take center stage at your shower, then have her stay for the party to give guests equally fabulous Luxe Glow (a waterproof glitter body art) on their hands, shoulders or feet. A few of the girls might jump up on the couch to bellydance, but hey, it sure beats baby bingo.

Go for the glow.

Visit akiyohenna.com.

Organic Living

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

Organic AvenueDare we say it: The few recent glimpses of sun mean that warmer months aren’t that far away. To get your hot mom bod in shape, it’s time to replace the brownies with beet juice.

As that big family spring break trip (where a post-winter swimsuit debut is a must) lurks in the near future, jump start a new healthy eating kick. If the word “cleanse” has both terrified and intrigued you, take a look at Organic Avenue’s completely un-scary Love Cleanse. Focused on nutrition rather than deprivation, the NYC-based company offers delicious plant-based juices and snacks to shake off the winter doldrums. Try a one, three or five-day cleanse, available in levels like Love Easy, Love Fast or Love Deep, and get an easy-to-follow plan delivered to your door in old-fashioned glass bottles. Rather than craving pizza all day, you’ll be fully satisfied with their daily menus of grapefruit juice, cucumber basil soup, goji berry smoothies and coconut water (the less intense plans even include foods you can chew, like sunflower falafel with tahini dipping sauce). If you’re not quite ready for the commitment, test the waters with their a la carte vegan offerings including super-healthy wheatgrass elixir, dandelion salad and almond mylk (kids will love options like apple cinnamon donut holes and zucchini pasta with pesto, where you can easily sneak in the fruit and veggies).

Show yourself some love.

Visit organicavenue.com.

Camera Ready

Monday, January 31st, 2011

PhotoOpYour kids love to ham it up in front of the camera — and although the shots you snap with your iPhone are pretty priceless, you’d love for a professional to preserve the precious age they’re at.

Opening tomorrow on the Upper West Side, PhotoOp family photography studio is just the place to get your little ones in front of the lens. Led by creative director Brian Marcus (who has photographed a fair share of celebrity weddings, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner), the studio has a team of senior-level photo stylists to capture your kids’ most memorable moments in both modern and classic family portraits. Take a spin though the sample closet for accessories such as a denim jacket or pink tutu to add pop to the photos, pick out a colorful backdrop like a candy wall, and strike a pose. A sitting fee includes retouching, editing and a digital slideshow, and there are plenty of packages and a la carte options to choose (depending on how many 8×10s the grandparents will want). The studio also offers birthday party options (you can’t go wrong with dress-up clothes, snacks and your favorite soundtrack) and photo-based keepsakes as a token of your star treatment.

That’s a wrap.

422 Columbus Ave. at 81st St., 212-362-1911, photoopnyc.com

At Your Service

Monday, January 24th, 2011

If only there were three of you to get everything done before your due date — one to clean, one shop, and one to figure out what you’ll actually do with the baby once you all come home.

Multiple yourself: Sissy + Marley’s baby planner and concierge service just launched to help expecting parents prepare for that big arrival. Launched by a trio of working moms who perfected the art of busy schedule-meets-baby decor (fashion exec, physical therapist and private chef are among their qualifications), the team helps NYC families with everything from setting up a gift registry to helping you whip up homemade baby food. Like the magical fairies you’ve envisioned coming to the rescue throughout your pregnancy, they’ll shop for maternity and nursery gear, babyproof your home and help you set up a photo shoot to capture that gorgeous newborn.

Visit sissyandmarley.com.

Shape Shifters

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Pure YogaWhether you’ve got baby weight to bid farewell or finally have time to work out now that your kids are in kindergarten, getting back on the circuit can be intimidating (but hey, there are cute new exercise clothes in your future). Or maybe you’re a gym rat looking to push yourself to the next level — after all, it’s a great way to relieve stress during one of your few child-free hours. Jump off the treadmill and try one of these new-and-improved classes designed to whip that mommy body into its best shape.

Core Fusion at Exhale Spa
With a new location at the Gansevoort Park Avenue, Exhale’s Core Fusion has expanded its empire of long and lean bods. From the original Core Fusion class to Core Fusion Cardio, Sport and Yoga, each uses techniques from conditioning and cardio to strengthening and stretching to work muscles you never knew you had (especially after 100 or so squats) — luckily the time breezes by as the expert instructors push you without being pushy. Plus, there’s a massage table just steps away to give those sore muscles a treat.

Nalini Method at Pure Yoga
Rupa Mehta’s intense East-meets-West workout is a mix of resistance training, Lotte Berk, ballet, yoga and Pilates. While it’s been known to whip moms into shape for some time, Nalini Method now has a new home at Pure Yoga’s Upper West Side location. If the gorgeous studio isn’t enough to entice you into class, Mehta’s inspiring teaching will push you to feel the burn (and then some). The non-impact strengthening class is safe whether you’re a workout enthusiast or trying to get back into shape post-baby.

As for pregnant women looking to stay in shape for the big push, Mehta and Core Fusion co-creators Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito agree: Discuss any exercise with your physician before you begin, and get a doctor’s note. Stay hydrated, get lots of rest and move at your own pace.

It’s no sweat.

Visit exhalespa.com and pureyoga.com.

O+Kay Dokie

Monday, October 18th, 2010

O+KayYou’ve finally found the perfect little sweater to throw over your shoulders on a crisp fall day, but your kid still hasn’t achieved the layered look necessary for the season’s constantly changing temps. Time to invest in a few great basics.

NYC-based designer Grace Sun recently launched O+Kay, a fab kids’ collection of luxury knit separates. Sun’s women’s line melds uptown chic with downtown cool, so it was only natural to expand the aesthetic to pint-sized pieces (the O+Kay name comes from the little ones of Sun and her business partner Emerald Ku). The first fall collection, for boys and girls in sizes 2T to 5T, features comfy cashmere ruffle capes (the line’s signature piece), hat and scarf sets and zip-up hoodies that will quickly become classic wardrobe staples that outlast anything overly trendy. Stock up online on the autumn must-haves, and stay tuned for an upcoming holiday collection.

It’s A-O+Kay.

Visit opluskay.com

Babymoon Spa Break

Monday, October 11th, 2010

It may be the city that never sleeps, but you’re pregnant and desperately need a nap. With an urban babyThe Lodge at Woodloch kicking around in your tummy, it’s time for an escape to the country.

Schedule a last-minute babymoon, no JFK required. The Lodge at Woodloch, a destination spa just about three hours from NYC in Pennsylvania’s lake region, is a scenic car or train ride away. Give yourself two or three nights to enjoy the serene spa, which includes prenatal massage, soothing body polish and gentle facial treatments, not to mention a relaxing indoor pool. In between appointments, schedule a mani/pedi at the salon (try the autumnal harvest-inspired options) or stop by one of the many classes going on throughout the day, from meditation and nature walks on the pretty outdoor trails to watercolor painting and cooking demos. Or, simply curl up with a good book and comfy robe in front of a stone fireplace. If you’re bringing the DH, keep him busy with cocktail mixology lessons, golf at nearby Woodloch Springs or couple’s massage. The Lodge is quiet as can be, which means you’ll (finally!) be able to detox from city noises, dream up a few new baby names, and get ready for that special delivery.

Relax and say spaaa.

Visit thelodgeatwoodloch.com.

Baby by Design

Monday, October 4th, 2010

Sixx DesignNew Yorkers fell in love with the Novogratz family during their hit Bravo show, 9 by Design — even though most local folks can’t exactly relate to the fab city spaces (a rooftop basketball court, really?). Cooler-than-thou husband-and-wife team Cortney and Robert Novogratz of NYC-based Sixx Design are known for renovating otherwise drab spaces into spectacular homes any family would dream to live in (check out their book, Downtown Chic). But as parents of seven kids, they also have great practical tips for transforming your baby’s room, whether it’s your first or fifth:

Learn to Share
“A lot of people don’t look at the bright side of sharing a room,” says Cortney, who designed a joint bedroom for her then-infant twins and two older boys in a former home. Big kids may enjoy reading to little roommates, and everyone quickly learns how to share. Side-by-side cribs allow twins to pass toys or babble to one another. Give each baby her own toys and stuffed animals so she can express herself and start to form an identity that’s separate from her sibling – this can be as simple as giving one baby a teddy bear and the other a tiger.

Get Organized
Make sure there are enough soft books and blocks to go around, and establish an organizational system so toys can be stashed away quickly. Stock up on inexpensive baskets, or invest in an armoire with doors to hide the clutter inside.

Use Art Everywhere
“We love art, so we have a huge collection and don’t save it for just the living room,” Cortney says. “Open your whole house up, and put good things in every room. Since everybody comes to see the new baby, consider hanging your best piece of art in there.” Nursery art doesn’t have to be limited to the ABCs: Hang sophisticated pieces that you enjoy – after all, you’ll be spending a lot of time in there, too! Frame items in Plexiglas to make them more baby-friendly. Infants will quickly outgrow a room that is too juvenile, but if you make it hip and stylish they’ll still love it in their tween years.

Stick to the Essentials
When it comes to nursery gear, it’s tempting to indulge in every imaginable accessory – but you’ll do just fine with a few basics. Essentials: A basic crib that serves as a great focal point, a cool modern-looking chair, drapes or roller shades for the windows and an interesting piece with timeless appeal, like a cool lamp. And don’t forget a soft rug, since you’ll spend a lot of time on the floor with games and toys.

Visit sixxdesign.com

Little Fashionistas

Monday, September 27th, 2010

StylesightEver noticed that your kid is dressed even better than you are? The local stroller and preschool sets really step up when it comes to cutting a figure, and this fall is no exception.

To get a better handle on some of this season’s biggest back-to-school kiddie trends, we consulted the experts. Stylesight is an NYC-based firm that forecasts worldwide trends before most of us even see them. Here’s what the children’s editors, Khalym Schell and Nicole Yee, report will be big for little ones across the city:

Geek Chic
With one eye on the Ivy League, even the tiniest tots are into collegiate looks with a hipster edge. Tailored, preppy pieces like blazers, crewneck sweaters, layered jumper dresses and cuffed pants (similar to a school uniform) are popular everyday clothes. For important play dates, retro-inspired athletic tees, anoraks and varsity hoodies are big hits.

A Little Bit Country
Country prints like plaids, gingham checks and liberty florals are showing up on pint-sized barn jackets, embroidered knit tops, cotton tunics and oversized sweaters. These looks are best worn layered — let kids have fun and be playful with this trend.

World Explorers
Young jetsetters with a hippie spirit are digging bright hues and a medley of Fair Isle patterns, ethnic and animal prints, and lots of faux fur for girls. For the urban jungle, safari-inspired khaki jackets and pants rule. Or simply throw on a graphic tee emblazoned with wild animals like lions and tigers.

Glam Rockers
Little punks are getting a bit more dressed up in bow ties, tuxedo blouses and ruffled skirts mixed with skinny jeans, jeggings and leggings. Distressed denim with wear-and-tear details means they can still be rough on their clothes and look cool, too.

For more information, visit Stylesight’s blog Small Talk.

Outside the Box

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Punch-FitnessYou’ve developed a calm and cool demeanor when dealing with toddlers, in-laws, pushy co-workers and class parents. But sometimes, you just want to punch something.

Get out your aggression — and get a great workout at the same time — at Punch Fitness, a family-friendly boxing gym on the Upper East Side (also in Bridgehampton for the summer). Instead of an intimidating, bare bones, Million Dollar Baby-inspired studio, Punch is warm and welcoming with a strong female client base. Owner Adelino Da Costa will whip you into shape with his special system of jabs, kicks and crunches (prices range from about $109 to $145 for a sweat-inducing one-on-one session). Da Costa even trains women throughout their pregnancies, as evidenced by black-and-white photos of a rather ripped mom-to-be (though you should begin his workouts prior to getting preggo).

Your triceps may scream for mercy, but your stress level will stabilize.

1015 Madison Ave., lower level (bet. 78th & 79th St.), 212-288-2375, punchfitnesscenter.com.