Or at least I can tell you how I got there. I took the “R” train to Steinway Street; walked West on 34th Avenue and made a left on 36th Street. After arriving on Sesame Street, I spent the next couple of hours surrounded by amazing, passionate people who love their jobs – parenting media and Sesame Street staff.

It was so fun to see some of my favorite bloggers – Amy, Carol, Esti, Jen, Vera – along with meeting wonderful new parenting bloggers and writers (i.e. mommyblogger76, Tod Abrams, Melanie Notkin, Brett Singer and About Parenting). Here’s a photo of most (if not all) of the parenting media that was able to stroll down Sesame Street together:

We had a lot of fun on the set. It was hard to be quiet (they were rehearsing) because we were like a bunch of school kids – laughing and posing with props. Abby Cadabby stayed with us most of the day. Her puppeteer Lesley was so sweet. I was happy to hear that she liked the Olivia the Pig books, because my sons are in love with Olivia at the moment. I totally won cool points with my boys when I showed them the following (very short) clip:

The thing that stood out the most was how much everyone seemed to genuinely love their jobs. Michelle, a pregnant “muppet wrangler” gave us some insight on the care of muppets. My biggest takeaway: “Never brush a monster”. It’s amazing that most of the muppets last 8 to 10 years. Obviously, they don’t let kids handle them! Some of the puppets have lasted much longer. For example, they have used the same Oscar puppet for forty years. They just keep putting new foam into it. (On a side note, did you know that Oscar was originally orange?!) It was really refreshing to see people enjoying their jobs. They were laughing between rehearsals. It just seemed like a fun place to work.

Anyway, after touring the set, we had lunch with some of the Sesame street team. They basically shared with us the ways in which Sesame Street is trying to make a place in this “new digital world” in honor of their 40th anniversary next month. If you haven’t already done so, consider visiting sesamestreet.org. It has a lot of great videos, activities and such for kids and parents. You can also see sneak previews for Season 40. The four things that stood out to me the most:

1. The “My Street” function: It allows your kids to save their favorites so that they can easily access them in the future.

2. The “PlaySafe” feature: It allows parents to lock out keyboard functions which don’t have anything to do with the games that the kids are playing.

3. The “Parents” Section: It has a variety of educational media to help parents with their kids (i.e. for picky eaters, potty training; dealing with tough economic timesheet.)

And

4. Lastly, I like the sesame family robinson blog on the site. It is written by Marty Robinson and Annie Evans who I dubbed “Mr. and Mrs. Sesame Street”. They literally got married on Sesame Street’s 123 steps. Oscar the Grouch gave Annie away. They write about raising their twin daughters while working on Sesame Street. They are so creative that it is mind-blowing.

When I left, I received a yellow feather. I am SO bummed that it fell out of my purse on the way home. At least I have the following memento of my time on Sesame Street…

After a little (unintentional!) summer break, my husband and I returned to our monthly “outside date night” on Saturday. We planned to see Julie & Julia followed by dinner. That was the plan…

After dropping the kids off, we went to the movie theater. My husband Reggie dropped me off to get the tickets while he found a parking space. I went to the box office to get the tickets…but the movie was sold out. I called Reggie on his cell phone so that he wouldn’t waste time looking for a parking space. Then, he picked me up. I was trying really hard not to say anything, but my husband knows me so well. “It’s not my fault,” he said twice. I didn’t say that it was (out loud), but I was thinking it! Finally, my husband acknowledged that he should have gotten the tickets in advance and apologized. He just hadn’t thought that it would be sold out since the movie had been out for a while. After that, we were happy and laughing again.

As his “penance”, I asked my husband if he would put on his MBA hat and help me come up with a plan to monetize my Mom in the City site. We went to Starbucks and had a nice time coming up with a plan. I’m from an investment banking/research background, so I had two plans to share. One was more lucrative while the other was more in-line with what I enjoy doing/am currently doing – just on a bigger scale. I love my husband. He’s so supportive. He encouraged me to do what I enjoy rather than going after the quickest money maker (whew!). Since we were on a good roll, I slipped in how much I would need in order to get some legal/financial and web design changes done. A part of me just assumed that he would say, “Okay…just take it out of the budget.” He didn’t. Rather, we agreed that (going forward) I could keep whatever I made financially until I covered my projected costs. I pouted, “So, you’re going to make me bootstrap this?” (I just like the way “bootstrap” sounds. Honestly, I think that his way is the fairest.)

After our little coffee talk, we went to the second part of our date – dinner at a local Brooklyn restaurant that had been recommended to us. As we were driving, Reggie joked, “Oh no! The restaurant is closed.” Then, we pulled up to the restaurant and…yes, it was closed for business. I laughed so hard that tears came out of my eyes. I wasn’t upset. This wasn’t his fault. It was just so funny how our date had become a comedy of errors. My husband got out of the car to double check that the restaurant was really closed. I knew that it was when he came back shaking his head from side to side. It was hilarious! Eventually, we went to Stan’s Place, a Creole-styled restaurant for dinner.

I had some jambalaya that was pretty good. For me, it was just fun spending time with my husband without any interruptions from our little ones. I just had to laugh (again!) when I saw what was written on the bottom of the restaurant menu:

Let the good times roll…indeed!

(I did see Julie & Julia the next day with a girlfriend. I really liked the movie. The husband/wife relationships of the two couples were so sweet – especially Julia and her husband. And the food…from the fish in the opening scene to the duck at the end – my mouth was watering. I have officially put “visiting Paris to eat” on my dream list for summer 2010…)

Michael graduated from pre-k on June 19th. My plan was to give him a two week break and start up with our summer home schooling on July 6th. Well, I’m about 3 weeks behind on the plan! Now, we’re playing catch-up. Fortunately, because I do a variety of parenting writing, I’m often sent a variety of learning materials to review. There are two items that have especially stood out recently. I’m sharing about one of them below. (I’ll be writing about the other on my monthly “Gaming Notes” post on Thursday, since it’s an educational CD game.)

Summer Bridge Activity Workbook (P-K)

I accepted this workbook to review, because I had read a great review about it from a blogger whom I know and respect, Jennifer of 5 Minutes for Books. (Her son and Michael are the same age/stage of life. They were “fast friends” at a past event that we all attended.)

Anyway, the Pre-K to Kindergarten activity book is very helpful. For the most part, I like the layout. There are three different sections. The first and second sections review what the kid (should have) already learned in pre-k and the third section previews what they will be learning in kindergarten. There are also a variety of bonus sections in the workbook as well as an online site with additional material. Since Michael is so goal-oriented (I wonder where he gets that from…), I especially like the included incentive contract calendars and the certificate of completion. Since we’re behind schedule, Michael is doing 2 activity pages four days a week. That’s enough. When my little gamer boy completes the workbook, he has requested (yes, you guessed it) the video game of his choice.

My only concern is that the material in the book doesn’t seem as challenging as Michael’s pre-k work. (Then again, I thought that it was a little too much that the students were expected to “match spoken word to print” at the pre-k level anyway). I think that if I include “sight words” and art projects to the workbook’s daily activities, that Michael will be just fine in September.

(I’m always a little confused though – should I expect him to know all of the pre-k stuff at this point or most of the kindergarten material as well?)

On a side note, if you’re in the NYC area, you can find pre-k expectations in this pdf and on this Early Childhood site. For Kindergarten standards, you’ll have to click through each Academic subject on this page.

I’ve really been excited about making our Queens apartment a “home”. I’ve been on a little break since “Phase 1” (unpacking & carpets on the floor). Now, I’m ready to finish (for now – homes are always evolving). So, I’m at the curtains and wall coverings stage.

I mentioned that our last apartment came with custom window treatments, so I didn’t have to think about it. There are white blinds on all of the windows at our new apartment, but I don’t really like them. We had ordered roman shades for the kids’ room, but we measured wrong (oops). At this point, I’m thinking roman shades all around (the living area, the kitchen and our bedroom). I would like curtains in the living room, but there is a heater and air conditioner under the windows. (I like for curtains to go all the way down to the floor.)

Wall coverings are a whole other story. I have the pictures for the dining area, our bedroom and the kids’ room set in my mind. The dining room and the living room area is still a question mark though. Perhaps a montage of family pictures on one wall and a blowup of my favorite picture of the moment (the Central Park one) on the other in the living room? I have no idea for the kitchen. We’ll see.

In any event, I wanted to share with you the top 5 blogs that I turn to for home design inspiration:

-Apartment Therapy: This site has a lot of helpful information. I found it when I was doing a search for “water pipe covers”. (There’s a pipe in my bathroom that I want to cover.)

-Design Mom: This is Gabrielle Blair’s site. She’s a designer with five (well-behaved – I’ve seen them at an event) kids. I like that she shares about design and answers questions from readers in a mom-friendly, practical way. I also love the photography on this site.

-Ikea Hacker: So many of my friends have found great buys at Ikea. (I had one guy friend in particular who always seemed to find the most stylish things there.) Anyway, this site highlights what people do with their Ikea purchases. It’s full of great ideas (whether you get the items from Ikea or not).

-ShelterPop: I’m always excited to see what this site is writing about. It’s full of great decorating ideas. Some ideas (i.e. Paint A Rug on Your Floor) are above my skill level, but it is fun to sneak a peek. By far, my favorite posts are the “High vs. Low” where they find similar items at vastly different price ranges. (It’s kind of like what I do in my own home!)

And

-Skimbaco Home: My blogging friend Katja recently started this blog. If anyone should know how to decorate a home, it’s Katja – she moves a lot. On the site, she shares practical interior design tips. I especially like how she showcases various design stores and shares how to incorporate “trendy” colors into your home in a natural way.

What are your favorite design blogs/websites?

I’ve already shared how much I love Pottery Barn. When I learned that we needed to get carpets to cover the majority of the floor in our new apartment, I went to Facebook for recommendations and Pottery Barn for inspiration.

I wanted some attractive (but relatively inexpensive – so I won’t have to worry about the inevitable spills from my little ones) rugs, so I went to Pottery Barn’s “Rugs” section. I especially liked the Earth-Friendly / Natural-Fiber rugs and the Persian-Style ones. Below are my inspiration pieces versus my actual purchases. (Keep in mind that I needed large rugs, so they would fall on the higher end of the Pottery Barn range.)

Pottery Barn’s Collete Rug ($179.00 – $1,149.00)

Target’s Ankara Rug – Red ($154.99) – Free shipping & a $5 off coupon

Pottery Barn’s Eva Rug ($179.00 – $1,149.00)

Rug and Home’s Blue Persian Tabriz Rug (List Price: $1,105.00; Sale Price: $221.00 + Free Shipping)

Pottery Barn’s Color-Bound Seagrass Rug (SPECIAL $24.00 – $299.00)

Natural Home Rugs Coastal Seagrass Area Rug ($169)

Up to this point, my immediate family has not been negatively affected by the recession. I’m grateful for that and know that circumstances could change any day. As such, we are still trying to be careful with our finances. I know that I personally tend to spend a lot more money during the summer as I’m out and about with the kids, so I have to be aware of my purchases. (Besides, we have just spent thousands of dollars on our current move!)

That’s why I was happy to receive the following eight tips to make the best of your family’s “recessionary” summer. The information is from Marilyn Kagan, LCSW and Neil Einbund, Ph.D, marriage counselors and authors of Defenders of the Heart: Managing the Habits and Attitudes That Block You from a Richer, More Satisfying Life. They are based on their own family activities and conversations with parents in their Los Angeles private practice where parents have expressed concern about their kids this summer because the recession has taken away the opportunity for summer camp and/or family vacations. The instructions are aimed at instilling hope, creativity and family – making this the best summer yet!

1. Date night swap. Maybe you have enough funds for your weekly date night, but the babysitting fee is really breaking your budget. Don’t give up date night – your marriage needs it. Instead, arrange with your neighbors or other family friends to take turns watching each other’s children.

2. Skip the gym membership and get fit together. Set aside time during the week to hit the local park to play a sport together like softball or kickball. Gather the family and go for brisk walks after dinner. Wake up early on the weekend to cycle or hike on trails in your town.

3. Plant a garden. It teaches children about healthy eating and about positively contributing to Mother Earth. It also gives children something to care for each day.

4. Mentally prepare kids for the fall. In August, start to get your child’s mental power back on target by initiating one hour quiet time each day to fulfill back to school reading lists. Consider hiring a local high school or college student as a tutor to help your child get ahead in his or her weak subjects. Student tutors are usually more affordable and the work could benefit them too in their future career pursuits.

5. Flip your house. No DIY projects here. Instead, trade houses with a friend in another state that’s within driving distance. New places always lead to new, possibly great memories. It gives you and your family a chance to explore a new part of the country even if it’s only a few hours away.

6. Stay on top of local news. Whether it’s your weekly town paper, the city daily or a regional parenting publication, these media outlets will highlight a host of free and affordable activities during the week. If you’ve canceled all of your subscriptions to save a buck, then hit the internet and explore these publications online. You can also visit Craig’s List, Eventful, Zvents and CityGuide online for other nearby events and activities.

7. Join a cause together. Doing something good for others is one of the best feelings you can ever have. Families can contribute to the greater good by raising funds or providing time. Decide together those causes that are important to you, and how much you are willing to contribute.

8. Unplug. For one evening during the week, turn off the computers and television sets and host a night of good old time fun. Whether you take out the Monopoly board, spend hours on arts & crafts, or catch fireflies in the evening, teach your children the fun and inspiration in unplugged activities.

Congrats to the winner: tracy davis

Recently JCPenney contacted me about their baby registry. (No, I’m not pregnant. If you read about me being pregnant, it will be one of those “IUD baby” situations!) Rather, they wanted me to test out the site since many Mom in the City readers are expectant moms. They sent me one $100 gift card to use on my registry. They also gave me a $100 gift card for one lucky Mom in the City reader.

Honestly, I didn’t even know that JCPenney had a baby registry. When I had Michael over 5 years ago, I registered at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby. (I didn’t want a baby shower for Sean, so I didn’t register anywhere for his birth.) Now, after having gone through the process of creating a baby registry on JCPenney’s site, I definitely think that it’s a great option for expecting moms.

Here are my top five thoughts after having gone through the registry process:

1. It’s easy to find the “Gifts and Registry” section. The link is on the top of the JCPenney home page. Once you click on it, there is a “find a registry” (by name) link on the page. (I know that It’s a little thing, but I hate having to search all over the place for what I’m looking for…especially if I’m looking to get a gift for someone else.)

2. It’s simple to create a registry. You fill in some basic information to set up your account and then you’re able to start picking items. You also have the option of receiving (up to 50) free announcement cards once you set up your registry. They will arrive within 2 -3 weeks. The only thing that I don’t like about the registration process is that a CoRegistrant name is a required field. (It’s a small thing, but what if you’re a single mom – by choice or by necessity?)

4. There’s a great selection of items to choose from and the registries are easy to update. The thing that I like about the idea of having your baby registry at a variety type store like JCPenney’s (rather than a baby specific store) is simply that you have more options. If you need baby staples, they have many of the top baby brands. If you’re an expectant parent who already has all of the basics, there’s a “More gift ideas on jcp.com” option where you can include items from all over their website on your baby registry. (I could have especially used that feature for my second child!) For instance, I used my gift card towards curtains and a rug for my boys’ room…

5. They offer free gift wrap and shipping on gift registry merchandise purchases of $49 or more. The only catch is that this only applies when buyers ship to JCPenney Catalog Desks for in-store pickups. (That’s fine if you have a local JCPenney, but not so great if you don’t.)

3. There are a lot of tips and advice on the registry. I’m an “information junkie” so having everything all in one place is ideal. From “parent’s favorites” to “baby solutions” to “nursery solutions”, there’s information on a wide range of topics. Do you need help regarding hosting a shower/designing your nursery/etc.? The information is there. (I especially like the “just for dads” section – the “21 things not to say” in particular.)

Now, it’s your turn to test the site for yourself. One lucky Mom in the City reader will win a $100 JCPenney gift card to use towards a JCPenney baby registry (either yours or to purchase a gift from a friend’s registry).

To win, please let me know which JCPenney baby registry item(s) – from either your or a friend’s registry – you would purchase with the $100 in the “Comments” section below by July 31st.

For additional entries:
1. Link to this giveaway post on your blog.
2. Follow me on twitter or friend me on Facebook.
3. Leave a comment on any of my other (non- giveaway) posts until July 31st.

Good luck!

To see other contests & giveaways around the web, visit Contesting Monday or Contest Monday.)