Archive for the ‘Postcards from Kidsville’ Category

Party city

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

Happy birthday, Mr. Contractor! Let’s hear it for little A. who knew exactly what theme he’d like to celebrate his big fourth year. And, thanks to a very loving mom and dad (who are both obviously really big fans of his incredibly vivid imagination), this was the construction birthday party to beat all! I happen to know that mom, interior designer and hip kid stuff guru Nancy Breslin, master-minded the whole shindig. It’s evident that she has a creative flair and tenacity for organizing a large group of small kids and lots and lots of paint. How she’ll top this one, I don’t know! For some really stylish tips for your kids be sure to check out Nancy’s blog Cohabitot.

Can they paint it? Yes they can, and they surely did. I’m still in awe of the creative insights and abilities of young children. After each guest was equipped with hardhat and apron, the “work” began. No need for instructions, tutorials or “let me show you how”–they just instinctively picked up a brush or roller and got to it. Boys and girls alike dug in and transformed the plain cardboard structures into a rainbow of rowhouses in the backyard. Big fun, beautiful “handyman” cake from Flour Patch Bakery and brilliant birthday wishes all around.

A big shout-out to Barista Kids for sending you this colorful party Postcard from Kidsville!

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Postcards from Kidsville: castles and sailboats and crabs…oh, my!

Friday, August 7th, 2009

It was a wonderful combination of heavenly smells, sweet all-natural dough and luscious whipped icing at yesterday’s 2:00pm children’s cookie decorating class at Le Baker’s Dozen in Upper Montclair. I so wanted to be sitting at the table sprinkling shiny non pareil decorations (a young cookie decorator kindly reminded me of the name) along a blue sailboat cookie’s mast.

The girls in the class (hey boys, you don’t know what you missed!) were hands-down the most creative and focused cookie decorators I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I envied them their pirate booty of cookies that would last me, well heck, at least an hour. I kick myself for not taking bakery owner Thérèse’s offer to pack a cookie for the road. What on earth was I thinking?!? Well, that just gives me the perfect excuse to go back again…and again…and again. Yum!

Sweet thanks to Barista Kids for letting you lick the frosting from this Postcard from Kidsville!

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Postcard from Kidsville: water antics

Monday, July 13th, 2009

It was bound to happen sooner or later–gratuitous photos of my own kids’ water antics in our backyard. Who knew two little fellas could have so much fun with a hose, a basin of water and a menagerie of their favorite plastic possessions? You really can’t plan this sort of homemade water park, it just appears out of a kid’s vast imagination. Thanks dad, for manning the hose with a soggy smile…splash on!

Big thanks to Barista Kids for sharing this summer fun Postcard from Kidsville!

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Postcards from Kidsville: a bubble to remember

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Babies and bubbles in the backyard — it’s gotta officially be summer! This was the first time this little cutie had seen a bubble. Can you remember the first time you saw one float by, reflecting the whole world in rainbow colors? Such a perfectly round, effortlessly floating pocket of air that only lasts a few seconds. Although I did manage to blow a bubble once that lasted for over four minutes. It’s true–we timed it!

My kids love some entertainment in the kitchen at mealtime (thank goodness for tile floors), so I whip out the bottle of bubbles for some instant fun. Bubbles and any kind of cheese is enough to rate it a 5-star meal. Well, that one bubble floated from room to room and back again with the help of a floor fan. I kept it aloft with a few waves of a magazine every now and then. I wonder what special powers that bubble had? Or just how old that bottle of bubbles was? In any case, it’s a bubble we won’t soon forget.

When did your kids see their first bubbles? Do tell — we’d all love to know!

And as always, a hearty thanks to Barista Kids for blowing this rainbow-liscious Postcard from Kidsville right at you!

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Postcard from Kidsville: where have all the flowers gone?

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

It turned out to be another wet and lonely weekend, this time without any faces in my viewfinder. Where was everyone? Where were you!? Well, after several attempts at finding my muse at community events (the Bloomfield Memorial Park Rock and Skate was rained-out yet again, our local farmer’s market was deserted, and who knew that high-tech paper shredding happens inside the truck?!), I headed on over to the Brookdale Park Rose Garden to see if the hard-core garden fans would withstand a little torrential downpour to celebrate 50 years of botanical beauties in the soil.

Well, it was me, my camera, my red umbrella and only two other brave souls (without an umbrella) wading through the puddles to get a glimpse of the fading glories. The steady rains had taken their toll on many a petal, and the empty event tent seemed indifferent to it all. Here’s a little photo tribute to the blooms that have passed–can’t wait for the next round of buds to unfold.

I’ve gotta thank Barista Kids for sending you a dozen roses in this Postcard from Kidsville!

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Postcards from BaristaKidsville

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

I’m very excited to tell you that my weekly Postcards from Kidsville will be featured on Barista Kids — the first posting just went up today. My recent photos (see previous post) have inspired a new weekly column called Photo Haiku. So click on over and check it out, and while you’re there try your hand at writing a haiku inspired by the Butterfly Girl. Don’t you dare forget to check out their new weekly listings of family-oriented community events spanning Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield and beyond.

As always, I look forward to your comments on their site and right here on my blog. I’m excited to get back out there to see what I can see — looking forward to spying you through my lens!

A very big thank you to Barista Kids for helping me share the photo love!


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Postcards from Kidsville

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Welcome to the first in an ongoing series of weekly photo posts featuring kid and family-friendly events, people, places and things of interest that I’m photographing in and around the towns of Bloomfield Avenue and beyond. As always, I look forward to your comments on this here blog of mine. Hope to see you and yours around town soon. “Smile for the birdy…!”

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Well, you heard it here first–apparently cats reign supreme in the world of children’s facial art (aka face painting), beating out Spiderman, butterflies and princesses by a country mile. At least those were my unofficial findings this past Saturday at Aunt Jean’s Toys and Treats during Montclair Center’s Sidewalk Sale. Tiana of Mr. Giggles had the kids grinning despite the huge raindrops that pelted their freshly-painted faces. I’m pretty sure she ran out of pink paint.

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