This will be my last post on Mom in the City. Starting tomorrow, my new blog home will be Foodie City Mom (www.foodiecitymom.com). As of July 1st, Mom in the City readers will be automatically redirected to the new site. (As soon as my ex-computer programmer husband has the time to figure out how to redirect my Yahoo small business account blog over to my new domain, I will redirect this site. Meanwhile please check for all of the new posts over at Foodie City Mom. Thanks!) Over the last few months, I have been changing the content here to reflect the direction that I will be taking over there. Foodie City Mom will still be a peek at living and parenting in NYC. It will just have a stronger focus on the foods of New York. I’m especially excited that I have hired a “Healthy Choices” and “Dessert First” columnist. They will help my blogging life to be even saner…especially during the summer. (Did I mention that I’m administering the camps again this summer? Whew!) Anyway, I’m excited.

I just want to take the time to say “thank you” for being such wonderful readers. Mom in the City has been what I call a “happy accident”. Six years ago, I had no idea that my new hobby would lead to such wonderful friends, experiences and related parenting work opportunities. (Of course it has led to some great “stuff” too, but my consistent readers know that I’m adverse to clutter, so most of the “stuff” has been given away to people who would truly enjoy it the most!) I always say that there are a gazillion and one moms who live in the city, but I want to thank all of you for making this site #1.

Before ending, I just wanted to quickly answer two of the questions that I have been receiving a lot lately.

1. Why are you no longer writing at Mom in the City?

There is two parts to this answer. Primarily, I am moving on because I am at a different life stage. When I decided to stay at home with Michael, I created Mom in the City as a multicultural offline group for moms of preschool aged and younger kids. When the group became too large to continue meeting together, the website transitioned to a blog so that I could learn and grow together with my mom peers. Well, my youngest son is going to school in the fall, so now I’m ready to learn about and explore new things – primarily food – in depth. (I knew that it was time to start something new when I couldn’t stop the constant barrage of stroller and diaper bag pitches!)

The other reason is that I’m tired of my super loyal family and friends asking me about all of the new online variations of Mom in the City. For the most part, I didn’t/don’t care. Urban parents are a hot demographic and there are many moms in the city. Besides, the only person who people in the parenting industry have ever confused me with is Kimberly Allers. Since she is a renowned journalist/word genius, that is a compliment to me (a number cruncher turned information sharer).

2. What will you do with the Mom in the City site?

I really don’t know. Initially, I was going to turn it into a local parenting resource and events site since I have a lot of paid work experience in that area. After my initial research, I realized that there are 20+ similar sites covering NYC. That is too saturated a field for me! So, I’m just going to redirect the traffic over to Foodie City Mom (where I will also archive my favorite Mom in the City posts from the last six years). Mom in the City is a pretty solid url, so I’m going to keep it. I might want to do something with it later in life. I might sell it or partner with someone who has a great idea regarding how to best utilize it. Who knows? I’ll see what happens, but I will be focusing on Foodie City Mom for now.

That is it for now. Once again thank you! Over on BlogHer, there is a post entitled “My Blog Changed My Life”. I agree with the author. Mom in the City has changed my life. It has brought me new friends (readers, fellow bloggers, marketers, etc.) and opportunities. It has helped me to transition from one career (research/finance) to the next (parenting) and has also provided the opportunity for me to merge the two along the way. Most of all, it has allowed me to be the mom (and wife) that I want to be – one who fits work around her life and not vice versa (for the most part). I look forward to sharing the next chapter of our journeys together!

Have you seen Cars 2 yet? We haven’t, but it’s definitely on the boys summer “To Do” list. They are especially looking forward to seeing the movie after RIDEMAKERZ invited my family to a Toys “R” Us event to celebrate their new DisneyPixar Cars 2 line on Father’s Day weekend. Reggie, Michael and Sean all had a wonderful time customizing their own Cars 2 rides.

If you have fans of the Cars movies in your home, then they will love The RIDEMAKERZ Cars 2 line of customizable toy cars that are sold exclusively at Toys “R” Us. (My kids enjoyed the event so much, that I bought one of Sean’s little friends a Toys “R” Us gift card to make his own RIDEMAKERZ as a birthday gift.)

“My guys” had so much fun tricking out their cars (Lightning McQueen, Finn Mc Missile and Mater) as well as my Francesco Bernoulli car.

First, they chose their favorite cars.

Then, they chose the parts (rims, side pipes, engines, etc.) that they wanted to use to personalize their cars.

Finally, they put all of the pieces together (with a little help!) to make their own customized car.

Afterwards, we all had some delicious snacks as the kids playfully raced their cars. While the kids were eating and playing, I spoke with Larry Andreini, the founder of RIDEMAKERZ, and my fellow blogging friends. It is always so inspiring to be around people who are doing what they truly love. Best of all, this was one of those blogging events where the entire family had a great time!

Thanks to RIDEMAKERZ for inviting my family to this event.

Michael is becoming quite the karate kid and says that he wants to be a Sensei (karate teacher) when he grows up. Actually, he wants to own a chain of karate schools and have me do the marketing for him. (Don’t you just love how kids think that their moms will work for them their entire life?!) Anyway, he’s practicing by teaching his little brother Sean the basics. It’s one of the cutest things ever watching them play karate class together. Michael even gifted Sean with his old yellow belt today…

The Wimbledon Championships are being broadcast through July 3rd, so there is still time to pull together a celebration party. The London Candy Company party that I attended earlier this week was actually a combination launch of their Knock-Offs cake line and a celebration of the start of Wimbledon. Since Wimbledon has its origins in England, I really liked the ideas of a British-themed party. Below are five takeaways that can be applied to your own home party.

1. Food: Platters of tasty finger sandwiches were put out for guests to enjoy at their leisure. Along with the hors d’ oeuvres, The London Company’s new “Knock-Offs” cakes were served. (Alice’s Tea Cup also has some great sandwiches and desserts on their menu that you could replicate at home. Their cookbook actually contains the recipes for some of their top sellers.)

2. Drinks: Pimm’s and Lemonade (you can find the standard recipe at www.viewlondon.co.uk), wine, champagne and candy-inspired drinks were served.

3. Entertainment: That is easy – the tennis matches are the entertainment. (If you don’t have a large television, you might want to consider renting one.) You can check the schedule of play at wimbledon.com

4. Parting Gifts: Small bags of British candy sends guests home on a sweet note.

5. Special Touches: You can request that guests where “white dress” in honor of Wimbledon, but definitely don’t require it – especially in New York!

One last thing to consider is the people attending the party. All of the things that I mentioned above can be fabulous, but the party won’t be a lot of fun if you don’t have a great mix of people. I think that was the thing that I liked about The London Candy Company’s party the most. There were a variety of media invited – from mainstream media to bloggers. I also appreciated the fact that I could bring a guest. (It can be intimidating for people to go to a party where the only other person that they know is the host – who is usually busy for most of the party.)

Most importantly, the owner, store manager and employees were very warm and engaging to all of the guests. Howie, the manager, took the time to answer my questions and share fun facts. Lamont, an employee, made me laugh with his various tennis poses and quips (i.e. “I’m the sweetest thing in the store.”) Last of all, I was impressed by the owner. As he talked about his plans for opening another NYC location of the candy shop, he said something to the effect of “If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it all the way.” My sentiments exactly…

I’m coming down from a sugar high after last night’s launch party of The London Candy Company’s Knock-Offs cake line. The cakes will debut in the New York store today. Thankfully, there were also some savory food treats at the party to (somewhat) neutralize all of the delicious cake samples!

The new line of British candy bar-flavored cakes was inspired by those prepared by the mother of the shop’s owner Jig Patel when he was a young child. When I first read the descriptions, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy them. (I have simple tastes.) However, I was pleasantly surprised that the ones that I tasted were amazing! Cake highlights from pastry chef Khahlidra Levister include the following:

-After Eight – Chocolate cake layered with peppermint fondant and covered in dark chocolate

-Topic – Chocolate cake with homemade nougat and hazelnuts (This was my favorite!)

-Blackcurrant – Fruit pastille-flavored cake

-Terry’s Chocolate Orange – Chocolate cake layered with dark chocolate orange ganache and covered in dark chocolate

-Coconut Bounty – Coconut cake layered with coconut cream and covered in milk chocolate

Although The London Candy Company shop has only been open for ten weeks, it is already a favorite of British candy lovers. I asked Howie, the store manager, to share the top five candy bestsellers. (That way, you will know what to pick up while you’re getting your cake!) Here they are…

1. Maynard wine gums - There is no wine in the candy. Rather, it’s a British version of gummy candies.

2. Crunchie bar – This chocolate bar is similar to the texture (not taste) of a Butterfinger, but it is lighter.

3. 70% Dark Chocolate Kit Kat – Initially, they were 65%, but were changed to a higher percentage of chocolate. They constantly sell out.

4. Curly Wurly – These lattice-shaped chocolate and caramel candies are delicious. (I sampled one.)

5. Flake – Howie described this as the “gateway” candy for Americans to start eating British candies.

5. Smarties – Don’t confuse the British smarties with the American ones. Rather, they are chocolate. They are like M&Ms but each one tastes different. Fruit and vegetable concentrates are also used for coloring instead of artificial ingredients.

As you can see, there was a tie for #5. Howie also shared two honorable mentions:

1. Turkish Delight – British customers love this candy. Also, this candy is apparently mentioned in The Chronicles of Narnia, because many of the book/movie fans come in asking for it.

2. Minstrels – These candies are also like M&Ms, but they have a thicker shell. (You can microwave them for a few seconds – the shell will remain crisp, while the chocolate inside melts a bit.)

In any event, that is enough sweet talk for one post. I definitely recommend that you stop by the shop if you can. I enjoyed myself so much that I’m actually going to write a second post tomorrow regarding how to throw a sweet Wimbledon-themed party at home like the one that they hosted. Meanwhile, you can see some of the photos that I took last night:

The London Candy Company
1442 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10128
(212) 427-2129
www.thelondoncandycompany.com

Thanks to The London Candy Company for hosting such a fun party!

1. Dinner at Rusty Nail: The servers were friendly and attentive. The food was fabulous. I was also able to spend time with a group of fabulous bloggers. Since I often get the chance to spend time with the bloggers who are based in New York, it was especially fun to laugh and learn from Jo-Lynne, Melissa and Shannon Ott who all live in the Pennsylvania area. They are so sweet and smart. (They also take really beautiful photos.)

2. The history of Congress Hall: The owner Curtis Bradshaw talked about the history of Cape May, the oldest seaside resort town. It was fascinating to hear how his grandfather acquired much of the land that was not being developed during his generation. Hearing about Curtis’ fond childhood memories and traditions, really helped to explain how important simple pleasures and building memories is incorporated into the Congress Hall business culture.

3. Congress Hall events and activities: It was obvious that Myra, the activities coordinator/Director of Fun, enjoys her job so much. In addition to the various lodging and dining spots that fall under the Cape May Resorts umbrella, it is obvious that a lot of thought has been put into the programming schedule. They also have a Kid’s Camp where parents can drop their kids off in order to have a special date night. To see the full list of activities and events, you can visit their site.

4. Circuit training with Kate: It was fun to take a group fitness class with a few other bloggers on Friday. The exercises were simple to do. However, it was the repetition that made me “feel” it the next day. The nutrition class was also very informative. (Kate is going to send me copies of the exercises and nutrition notes that I will share with you soon.)

5. Lunch and walking tour at Beach Plum Farm: This will definitely stick in my memory as a highlight of this trip. Seeing the fruit and vegetables while they are still in the earth is just special. To eat the food straight from the farm to the table was also a sweet treat. Chef Lucas Manteca and his staff prepared an amazing lunch. It felt as if I was in the middle of a Martha Stewart segment as we all ate the freshly prepared salads, grilled meat and such.

6. The Ebbit Room at the Virginia Hotel: We went there for dessert after the lunch at the farm. The strawberry pie was so amazing that I was almost late for my massage that I was scheduled to have.

7. The Sea Spa at Congress Hall: Massages are one of my “things”. This one was perfect…I was so relaxed that I fell to sleep! (Unlike my last NYC massage where the masseuse was stepping on my back!)

8. The Tommy Folly shops at Congress Hall: I really didn’t do much sightseeing outside of Congress Hall, but there was so much to see there! With all of the clothing, jewelry and home goods that are on-site, it definitely makes off-site shopping optional.

9. Dining at The Blue Pig Tavern: Everything that I ordered was really good, but the macaroni and cheese appetizer with crabmeat on top was amazing! The conversation on our end of the table was especially funny – so much so that we had the owner (Curtis) play musical chairs to get away from us…and I’m only slightly kidding!

10. My beautiful room at Congress Hall: It was so wonderful to have a huge, comfortable bed all to myself for a couple of nights. The big, beautiful old-fashioned tub was my favorite thing though. There was a small thing of Aveda bath salts, so I just couldn’t leave before taking a long, interruption-free bubble bath with soothing bath salts. Just thinking about it takes me to a calm, peaceful place…

My stay at Congress Hal in Cape May was simply wonderful. All of those lovely ladies in the picture at the top of this post made it extra special.

In any event, if you are planning on going to Cape May this year, you can receive a $100 Resort credit to be used during your stay at Congress Hall, Virginia Hotel, or beach shack. (Reservations must be reserved online using the promo code MOMBLOG. They must be booked by July 31, 2011 for stays in 2011. The $100 credit will be applied at the time of checkout and is not valid with any other offers.)

Last, but definitely not least, I’m especially thankful to TheMotherhood along with Curtis and Jeanine (of Congress Hall ) who allowed me to be a part of this Mom Bloggers Weekend Retreat. It really was a special treat!

Kate’s Breakfast Example

Breakfast is one of the easiest, and cheapest, meals to prepare. There is no reason to eat out for breakfast, unless it is a treat. Eggs are a wonderful meal. They are low in calories, high in protein, and contain good cholesterol HDL. They also contain Vitamin A and Iron.

Wheat or whole grain bread (1 slice), no butter. Use peanut butter or a touch of olive oil (if using it for a sandwich).

A small amount of cheese is ok for a breakfast sandwich, but always use block cheese or organic, raw block cheese. Do not use deli sliced cheese (or meats for that matter). They are loaded with saturated fat, bad cholesterol LDL, and sodium. Keep your serving of cheese low, but do keep in mind that it is a protein source, and contains vitamins A and C.

I don’t recommend any bacon, but if you must have it, try turkey bacon. It is leaner and better for you than pork bacon. Definitely limit your portions.

Slow cooking oatmeal. Do not use microwave oatmeal, and never eat the flavored oatmeal. Compare the nutritional labels. Whole oatmeal contains whole, rolled oats. That’s it. The ingredients in microwave oatmeal are many and unhealthy.

Wheat bran cereal is ok, but be aware of the serving size and sugar. Try to buy a cereal that has ½ – 1 cup as a serving size, and no more than 6-8 grams of sugar per serving. Never buy cereals with raisins in them. They are loaded with sugar. Instead, buy whole raisins separately, and add a few to your low sugar cereal or oatmeal.

Coffee and tea are fine. If you would like to have a small glass of ¼ to ½ portions of juice mixed with ½ portions of water (this cuts back on sugars) at breakfast that is fine. You are better off eating a piece of fruit though, and I think it will make you feel better too! Not to mention, the health benefits that come from eating fruit far exceed that of processed juice.

You also might want to read the following two articles that Kate shared with us:

1. Women & carbs: your relationship with carbohydrates is complex, profound and completely different from a man’s

2. Daily Calories & Macronutrients

I took the nutrition class as part of a Mom Bloggers Weekend Retreat sponsored by TheMotherhood and Congress Hall in Cape May.

A few general rules (from Kate):

1) Anytime you leave your house to eat somewhere where you did not prepare the meal/food you are eating, you are eating fast food/eating out. Some people do not make the connection between fast food and some stores or restaurants. McDonald’s and Burger King are not the only fast food places. WaWa is fast food. Subway is fast food. Coffee Bistros are fast food. Even nicer restaurants, like Lucky Bones, serve a majority of fast, unhealthy food.

Therefore, eating outside the home should be a “treat” that you indulge in no more than 2-3 times per week. All other meals should be prepared at home, or, if purchased out, should be whole food such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

2) Look at nutritional labels. Always look at “serving size”, then continue down to “calories” per serving size, and mostly look at “sugars”. You want to keep sugar intake to a minimum every day. The recommended amount per day for a non-diabetic person is 40 grams. This refers to “added sugar”. Fruit has natural sugar, and is not included in the recommended daily allowance. However, definitely do not overdue natural sugar. Excess sugar intake which not only comes from added sugar cane or high fructose corn syrup, but can be disguised as white bread, pasta, bagels, and other white flour foods that do not necessarily taste sweet. Also, watch for saturated fat and sodium. Those should also be kept to a minimum. Sodium is in virtually everything, and you must be careful with pre-packaged foods, especially canned foods.

Never eat baked, sweet foods! With that said, your obvious chuckle of disbelief leaves me to believe that that is not happening. So, try limiting your consumption of cookies, cakes, danishes, etc. to once or twice a week. Just like fast food, baked goods are a treat, not a necessity in your diet. There are nutritious alternatives that I will list for you.

3) Don’t drink your calories. No, I am not talking about wine. We all know that wine is essential for health! Right? Yes! Let’s quickly move on. Juice, soda, and sports drinks are loaded with added sugar. One serving of any one of these drinks will have you close to, if not exceeding, your whole days allowance of sugar.

4) Stay away from food and drinks that say “diet”, “sugar free”, “low fat”, or advertise as being a diet product in any way. Most of these products contain more chemicals than a teenage girl’s hair on prom night! And the effects of chemicals such as mannitol and sorbitol (sugar alcohols often found in diet foods) are bloating! They also tend to leave you feeling more hungry.

Were any of these “rules” surprising to you? (The baked and “low fat” product warnings came as a surprise to me.)

I took the nutrition class as part of a Mom Bloggers Weekend Retreat sponsored by TheMotherhood and Congress Hall in Cape May.

Not only did Kate lead an exercise class, but she also led a nutrition class. A lot of information was covered, so I will break it down in three posts. The first portion was about nutrition basics.

Nutrition Basics:

*Proteins are essential for lean muscle mass. Eggs, fish, meat, and nuts are prime sources of protein. Eat protein with every meal and for a snack. Higher calorie and healthy fat proteins, such as nuts, should be eaten in moderation throughout the day do to their calories.

*Complex Carbohydrates are essential for energy. I recommend eating
something light within an hour before and after exercise to refuel your body and help build and recover muscle. A red apple (complex carbohydrate) with a little peanut butter (protein source) are a perfect pre and post-workout snack. Unrefined grains like oat, brown rice, quinoa, wheat, etc., are the only grains and flour you should be eating.

*Dietary Fat, especially monounsaturated fats from almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, and macadamia nuts can actually help you lose unwanted body fat! Nuts are also packed with omega-3 and help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Studies show that healthy fats from nuts even lower your risk for heart disease! Other healthy fats are oils such as olive, flax seed, and coconut. Use a little oil and balsamic vinegar with your salad and stay away from pre-packaged dressings (especially diet and fat-free dressings).

*Combine Proteins and Carbohydrates at every meal for maximum results. Be sure portions are sufficient; a handful of Protein, and a fistful of Carbohydrates. For weight loss, Significantly lower carbohydrate intake from grains and flour after AM hours. Lunch and dinner, and any healthy snack in between, should contain mostly lean protein sources (nuts, chicken, fish, eggs, beans) and vegetables as the complex carbohydrate source.

*Fruits are essential for energy and your immune system because they are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Lower sugar fruits are oranges, apples, and melons. Eat fruit in moderation and in the earlier part of the day.

*Vegetables cannot be stressed enough. Everything your body needs is in vegetables. Like fruit, they also contain antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, but vegetables have virtually no effect on blood sugar and are very low in calories. So eat them up anytime, and as much as you want. Yellow-orange and green vegetables are loaded with calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, and vitamins A, B, C, and K.

I took the nutrition class as part of a Mom Bloggers Weekend Retreat sponsored by TheMotherhood and Congress Hall in Cape May.

On Saturday, I was limping when I came home from Congress Hall in Cape May. My husband laughed as I explained that my soreness was a result of a circuit training class that I had taken on Friday morning. My initial thought was that my friend “Z” was right. (She had mentioned that the Zumba workout that I have been doing lately isn’t “really” exercise.) Then, I remembered that it is usually painful whenever I switch up my workout routine…simply because I’m working my muscles in new and different ways. Thankfully, the pain subsides after a few days!

Anyway, I asked Kate, who led the fitness and nutrition classes, if I could share some of her exercises and nutrition information with you. She said “yes”, so below is an abs exercise challenge. (I will share her nutrition information in future posts.)

Kate’s Exercise Challenge (Abs)

1) Side Lunge Jumps w/Touch Down – Stand with feet hip-width apart. Lunge right leg out to right side and touch left hand to right foot. Push off with foot and step right leg back in. Quickly do a little shuffle to the left and lunge left leg out to the left side. Touch right hand to left foot and bring left leg back in. Repeat shuffle and alternating side lunges with hand touch down for 30 sec.

2) Core Twist - Stand with feet hip-width apart and hold one medium-heavy weight in both hands. Keep shoulders back, abs tight, and quickly rotate weight and core from side-to-side for 30 sec.

3) Crunches – Keep hips and feet flat on floor, hands behind your head. Crunch up for 20 reps.

4) Scissors Kicks – Lie on back and place hands behind head, or, place hands on the floor and on either side of you (or under lower back for support). Raise legs straight up to a 45° angle. Quickly lower and raise right and left leg in a kicking motion, alternating right up with left down and left up with right down. Both right and left kick counts as 1 rep. Complete 20 reps.

*Repeat exercises 1-4 for 10 minutes.

6/15 Update:
Kate was kind enough to share the workout that left me a “hot mess”!

Kate’s “Hot Mess Circuit”

Round 1
-10 Alternating Side Lunges w/Opposite Hand-to-Foot Taps (shuffle to right side lunge and touch left hand to right foot {1rep}, then come up and shuffle to left side lunge and touch right hand to left foot {2 reps})

Round 2
-10 Alternating Side Lunges w/Opposite Hand-to-Foot Taps
-10 Back Lunges w/Overhead Press (lunge left leg back and press hands or any weighted object overhead – step left back in and stand erect as you bring weight back down to chest -repeat for 10 reps – switch to right leg lunge back and press for 10 reps)

Round 3
-10 Alternating Side Lunges w/Opposite Hand-to-Foot Taps
-10 Back Lunges w/Overhead Press
-10 Squats (with weights at shoulders or without any weight)

Round 4
-10 Alternating Side Lunges w/Opposite Hand-to-Foot Taps
-10 Back Lunges w/Overhead Press
-10 Squats
-10 Burpees (in a standing position, bring hands flat to the ground in front of you – hop feet out so that you are in a push-up position – hop feet back in towards hands and power up – jump up into the air and clap hands overhead {1 rep} – you can modify this by walking feet out and in in stead of hopping them out and in – power up without jumping up – clap hands overhead)

Round 5
-Round 4 +
-20 Alternating Single Leg Lifts w/Toe Touch (lie on back with legs straight out – arms straight behind your head and hands together w/palms facing up and touching the ground {as if diving into water) – lift right leg up overhead and crunch abs as you lift arms up to touch hands to right toes – lower leg and arms back to starting position {1 rep} – lift left leg up and crunch abs to touch hands to left toes {2 reps})

I took the circuit training class as part of a Mom Bloggers Weekend Retreat sponsored by TheMotherhood and Congress Hall in Cape May.