Last week, we found ourselves stuck inside AGAIN as a result of YET another walloping snowstorm. On the worst day of it all, our doorbell rang. It was the kind people from DinDins, the brand-spanking new NYC toddler food delivery service, who braved the storm just to make sure that our toddler was well fed! Boy were we happy they did!

DinDins meals are all homemade, prepared by a cook and a nutritionist (mother and daughter team – love it!), using only the best possible organic (and often local!) ingredients. They do not use any preservatives, additives or artificial ingredients yet their food tastes great!!! Hallelujah! And… they deliver right to your door.

We tried the “Healthy Fried Rice with Eggs, Peas and Corn”, the “Baked Penne with Roasted Winter Vegetables”, the “Cranberry Zucchini Mini Muffins”, and the “Artichoke, Corn, and Chicken Quesadilla”. Everything was delicious! My son agreed to eat rice for the first time ever and was absolutely obsessed with the penne. I myself loved the cranberry muffins and fully admit to “stealing” more than a few bites of the muffins and the quesadillas. Having so many options is crucial, especially with toddlers, when you have no idea what they are going to go for on any given day. With DinDins, you can freeze the food for up to three weeks and have it all right there at your fingertips. Also, the DinDins menu will change often so “we” won’t get bored of any one thing. You can subscribe to their newsletter for product updates and nutrition tips, and also check their menu for what’s on tap. DinDins is committed to being green and uses packaging that is almost all recyclable. And… did I mention it was only $2-3 a meal?

Finally, healthy food for our toddler (something very important in our house) at the snap of my fingers even when mommy can’t (or won’t) cook. As I say, anything to make life easier! Thank you DinDins!

I am so excited to share with you finn’s finds, an amazing new online clothing boutique for kids!!! I have to admit I may be a tad bit partial considering it IS named after my Godson, but I SWEAR it is the cutest kids online clothing store you ever did see.

finn’s finds is the brain-child of one of my very best friends, Jennyka Wasserman. After working for 12 years in women’s product development and textiles, Jennyka needed a new outlet to release her passion for fashion. When she was unable to find chic, wearable clothing for her kids, she decided to create a website focusing on unique brands from around the world, which emphasize simplicity, quality, special details, and use of unpredictable colors. Her “finds” hail from Denmark, Holland, France, Australia and the U.S. all by environmentally and ethically responsible partners.

We are so pleased to offer you the chance to WIN a $75 gift certificate to finn’s finds! In order to enter you must post a comment below telling us WHICH is your favorite outfit in the upcoming Spring Collection (shown below) and WHY. The winner will be chosen on March 5th and will be notified via email. Good luck!

Tarte Bathing Suit

I mean, do i really need to say anything about this suit?!? It’s too cute for words. Girls blue bathing suit with tarte print. High quality material, made to outlast your childs playfullness at the beach. Designed by Stella Cove.

Cotton Ruffle Dress

Easy ruffled cotton voille dress. Great party dress, or can be worn casually with a cardigan. Your little one will be the life of the party twirling around in this number! Comes in ivory and black. Designed in Paris, by Talc.

Ditzy Print Romper

European tradition mixed with a dollop of playful charm, nellystella will become the darling of your daughter’s wardrobe. Classic ditzy print made new in this playful silhouette! Great for running around, or throw a cardigan over and voila- a new outfit!

White Cotton Flutter Sleeve Dress

Adorable classic dress with flutter sleeves. Such a simple, easy to wear dress! Perfect for party or play. Designed by nellystella.

I recently attended PSFK’s Good Ideas Salon with Seth Godin at Soho House. Seth presented ideas from his new book, Linchpin, in a dynamic atmosphere sorrounded by some amazing minds. Seth described historic changes in the economic landscape, specifically the advent of the Linchpins, employers/employees who are independent thinkers and passionate creators. These Linchpins own their own means of production, and, according to Godin, will be the only truly indispensable professionals in the future. Linchpins create “art” regardless of what they do, and they go out of their way to generate a human connection with their customers. To create “art,” Linchpins are challenged to overcome their ever-present “lizard brain,” which promotes safety, security, and adhering to the historical professional role of working as a cog in a business machine. Godin urged everyone to seek out and solve interesting problems and to keep “shipping” (i.e. creating), sometimes for free, in the quest to become a Linchpin.

Seth touched all of us in the audience. He inspired me to continue to create “art” and personally challenged me to expand my business with or without the necessary funds. I sincerely thank him for that.

Who knew that The American Museum of Natural History was developing iPhone apps? And good ones too! A couple of weeks ago AMNH launched their first iPhone app called Dinosaurs: The American Museum of Natural History Collections. The app allows paleontologists, both big and small, to discover and explore the museums famous dinos through hundreds of beautiful photos, renderings, and detailed descriptions. If you are at the museum, the app will act as your tour guide. If you are at home, the app brings the collection to you. What a great way to explore the history of dinosaurs with your kids! Oh, and did I mention that it’s FREE? Check out the app demo on You Tube.

According to the Museum this is just the first of many “Collections” apps to come. Good thing, because this is just ANOTHER reason for us to get excited about The American Museum of Natural History!

The American Museum of Natural History
(212) 769-5100
Central Park West & 79th Street, New York, NY 10024

The Art Farm is now offering a winter playtime drop off for kids 2.5 and up Monday through Thursday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. They also offer classes from art and cooking, to how to care for the animals. They even book birthday parties in the petting zoo!

The Art Farm in the City
www.theartfarms.org
419 East 91st Street, New York, NY 10128
(212) 410-3117

Finally a BRILLIANT invention for cold weather iPhone/iTouch/iPod users! Echo Touch Gloves allow you to keep your hands warm AND use your mobile device. Echo’s gloves have electromagnetic fabric on the fingertips so you can tap away as if you were using your bare hands. I am so grateful to have discovered these gloves after constantly having to stop to take my gloves off to use my iPhone and then freezing to death!! The gloves are actually quite cute and come in four sizes and eighteen colors. Now go pick some up before it gets warm again!

I often get asked what apps I have on my iPhone.
I don’t know if that is because I am an iPhone app developer or because people are just looking for the latest and greatest in a sea of 140,000 iPhone apps. Either way, here are my top 10 at the moment:

- Exit Strategy – Tells you where to stand on the subway platform to shave minutes off your subway trip. Invaluable time-saver for busy moms.
- Around Me – Shows you all the businesses “around you”. Great for finding nearby restaurants, movie theatres, or practically anything.
- CNN – Busy moms on the go don’t always have time to sit down and read the newspaper. Enjoy the “power of CNN in your hands” with videos and all.
- Old MacDonald – This really is my son’s favorite but I’ll include it here since it’s a mainstay. Hours, well at least minutes, of enjoyment for the little one.
- Starbucks – Since I am often out and about all day long, I need coffee on the run and sometimes some internet access too.
- TweetDeck – My favorite of all the Twitter applications. It’s well organized and simple to use.
- PrimoSpot – This is a must when driving a car in NYC. It helps you find the closest on-street parking spots and lets you know when they will become available.
- Hop Stop – Gives you directions or a subway route from point A to point B. I use it at least once a day.
- Yelp – Reviews on anything and everything.
- Menu Pages – NYC restaurant menus. Definitely my go to when finding a place to eat.

Apple Walnut Raita

From “One Spice, Two Spice” by Floyd Cardoz and Jane Daniels Lear

Apples and walnuts are common ingredients in Kashmir. This raita is delicious with pork or poultry.

Raitas are best served chilled, so refrigerate them after they are made for at least an hour. That way the flavors will have time to bloom and deepen. Before serving, taste your raita and adjust the seasoning so that the dish is rounded and well-balanced. — don’t be afraid to add another pinch of salt, for instance, or jack up the heat with a bit more cayenne.

Makes 3 cups

1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup walnut halves
1/2 teaspoon sugar, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups grated peeled apples, such as Empire, MacIntosh, or Gala
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped mild to moderately hot fresh green chile
About 20 mint leaves, cut into very thin strips (about 1 tablespoon)
1 1/2 cups plain whole-milk or low-fat yogurt
1/8 teaspoon chaat masala (optional)
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Melt the butter in a small heavy skillet over moderately low heat and add the walnuts, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, cayenne, and a pinch of salt. Toast the walnuts, stirring to coat with the butter and spices, for about two minutes, until the nuts are fragrant and browned. Drain the nuts on paper towels and chop them.
Stir the apples, lime juice, chile and mint together in a small bowl.
In a larger bowl, whisk the yogurt to lighten it. Stir in the apple mixture, chaat masala, walnuts, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover the raita and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
Taste the raita and adjust the seasonings if necessary before serving.

Serve it up with some warm whole-wheat pita and ENJOY!

They started at FAO Schwarz and were tempted by the toys,
The over-sized piano, the stuffed bears, oh boy.
Then department store window displays, what fun,
Each more elaborate than the previous one.

On to Rock Center to see its gargantuan tree,
My how baby would have shouted with glee!
But along the way, before the tree he did meet,
From all the hullabaloo he fell fast, fast asleep.

Do it again tomorrow, well they just might,
Happy holidays to all and to all a good night.