Fashion & Gear - Entertainment

Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

We’re always on the lookout for music our kids will love. So we were excited to get a copy of Here Comes Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could (2008).

The GRAMMY nominated self-titled CD is full of feel-good R&B and classic rock songs the whole family will enjoy. One of our faves is “Jump Up“. It put our little ones — and us — in a good mood every time we heard it.

After getting his start in a band called From Good Homes touring with big name artists like Bob Dylan, David Crosby and Dave Matthews, lead singer Brady Rymer decided to take a break when he started having kids. While enjoying being a new dad, Rymer started writing songs and playing gigs at mommy and me groups, schools, daycares and parties.

Eventually, Rymer started recording again much to the delight of parents everywhere. His other albums include Every Day is a Birthday (2006), I Found It! (2004), Look at My Belly (2002) and Good Morning, Gus (2000). We definitely recommend getting the complete collection.

Want to see Rymer and his band in concert? Check his website for upcoming tour dates in your area.

Mamapedia.com/Credit: Mike/Splash News Online

Play dates aren’t just beneficial for kids — they’re also an opportunity for stay-at-home moms to interact and exchange ideas and tips about child-rearing, marriage and everything in between. For working moms, these crucial mom-to-mom heart-to-hearts are often hard to come by. With that void in mind, Mamapedia launched earlier this year.

Boasting more than 2 million users – including Minnie Driver, mom to 14-month-old Henry Story — the site has clearly struck a chord. Celebrity Baby Blog recently interviewed founder Artie Wu who said inclusiveness has been the biggest key to Mamapedia’s success.

“If you set up a community where moms don’t feel like they’re going to be judged, they ask their questions,” he explains. “That’s the biggest priority for us.”

Click below to learn about how Mamapedia works, and who it’s helping.

Click to continue reading »

OneMoreStory.com

One more story, please! How many times have you heard your little one say these words?

If you’ve heard it on more than one occasion, try OneMoreStory.com — a virtual bookshelf full of award-winning literature from authors such as Ezra Jack Keats, Donald Crews and more.

Aimed at ages 2-9, the site lets your child choose between having the book read to him/her or reading it alone. Under the narrator mode, the words are highlighted as the narrator reads the story. Plus, original music accompanies the reading.

If your tot is ready to read, pick the “I Can Read It” option which mutes the sound and lets them click on unfamiliar words for pronunciation tips.

Created by a former Sesame Street producer and his late sister (a former teacher) to help enrich a child’s love of literature, One More Story currently features 56 books. Click here to see the whole e-library (they’re currently adding a book a month). You can also check out how it works here.

A three month subscription is $15, a six month subscription is $27 and a year’s subscription is $44. It’s the perfect gift for mini book lovers!

–Nancy

Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas

Every kid (big or small) loves the holidays! And Fancy Nancy is no exception. On November 3rd, Harper Collins released Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas — the latest in the Fancy Nancy picture book series.

The merry story details Nancy’s efforts to make Christmas as “splendiferous” as possible.

Since the series launch in 2005, the Fancy Nancy brand has sold more than 8 million books, spent over 175 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and won countless literary and toy industry awards.

They’ve even expanded to dolls, dresses, tiaras, shoes, party goods, calendars, bedding, board games and much, much more!

If you live in the L.A. area, stop by the PEOPLE-hosted event at Every Picture Tells A Story… children’s gallery and book shop this Saturday (11/14) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Not only can you meet author Jane O’Connor and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser, but signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. Guests will also take home a free PEOPLE gift bag (while supplies last).

Recently, CBB had the pleasure of chatting with Jane and Robin about their newest book, as well as all things Fancy Nancy.

Click below to read the interview.
Click to continue reading »

Baby Loves Disco

Baby Loves Disco is turning 5 this November! And they’re celebrating!

The super fun dance party for the tiny set kicked off its birthday festivities with a Pajama Party in Philadelphia on November 1st. Parents and kids (up to age 7) took over a dance club for an afternoon and grooved to the sounds of 70’s and 80’s music.

Baby Loves Disco is perfect family fun. Each party features a disco ball, strobing lights and a bubble machine. There’s also cool dance contests and birthday shout-outs upon request. When your little one has had enough, they can relax in the quieter sections complete with couches, face painting, books and toys.

The bar serves healthy drinks and snacks for all ages. Always kid-friendly, each location features stroller check in stations and diaper changing tables in bathrooms. Admission is between $10 -$15 and crawlers get in free.

Upcoming parties include Brooklyn on November 7th and Manhattan on November 15th. But there are dozens of locations around the US and in several countries. Just check the home page for more info.

In December, the company will be partnering with the National Down Syndrome Society for a series of “Dance for a Cause” events that will donate a portion of the proceeds to the NDSS.

Celeb fans include Kevin James, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Angelina Jolie and Edie Falco. Click here for online ticketing.

–Nancy

Handing out apples instead of candy is not going to get you points with the kids. But you’re not exactly excited about handing out treats chock full of additives and chemical colorants either. What to do? Try organic candy! There are lots of green treats on the market that offer all of the pleasure of regular sweets without all of the artificial junk.

Renee Loux (left) — former celeb raw/organic food chef, green living devotee and contributor to Whole Green Catalog: 1,000 Best Things For You and the Earth – gives us her top picks.

Click below for more on organic treats without tricks.

Click to continue reading »

There are two things that my preschooler is totally into right now — computers and audio books. Put the two together and you get Speakaboos, an online publisher that celebrates kid’s stories, songs, games and educational activities for children — for free! Click to continue reading »

Courtesy 2K Games

Birthday parties are usually fun for everyone involved, but for busy parents, they can often be overwhelming to plan. Enter Birthday Party Bash ($40), a brand-new Wii game from 2K Play that packs everything needed for a fun kids’ birthday party into one little package. Click to continue reading »

Scholastic Storybook Treasures has just released My Very First Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics Preschool Stories ($50).

This read-along seven DVD set includes such stories as Corduroy, Is Your Mama a Llama?, Noisy Nora, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.

Newer faves like the delightful Knuffle Bunny and Giraffes Can’t Dance are also included.

Click to continue reading »

Disney’s Imagination Movers is an example of what can happen when a powerhouse pulls out the stops to create a live-action show for the 3 year-old demographic.

The result is superbly well-crafted TV, with consistent art direction, tastefully executed special effects, and two music videos in every episode.

Recently released, the Imagination Movers: Warehouse Mouse Edition ($14) is their first DVD since coming to Disney, featuring four episodes plus a bonus episode of the animated Playhouse Disney series Special Agent Oso.

Click to continue reading »