Join us for a FREE demo of Mi Atico Spanish Immersion Program for children 18 months to 5  years old! There will be 2 classes of 8 children so sign up now!

• 9:30 for children 18 months to 3 years
• 10:30 for children 3 to 5 years

Mi Atico classes are be based on music and story telling en Espanol. Our classes will max up at 8 children per class so please email us to sign up at miatico.nyc@gmail.com

Silhouette Cut Outs with Erik Johnson @ Mini Jake
Mini Jake is going old school!
One room school house old…

Wednesday, June 5
10am-6pm
5 X 7 – $25
frames and additional cut outs available for an extra charge

KIDS – ADULTS – PETS – PICTURES
Silhouettes can be made of any of these

Click here to sign up: http://minijake.eventbrite.com/

• Breastfeeding Circle with Lactation Consultant Kate Sharp - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
• Learn about Skip Hop’s Newest Products
• Find out about the Active Labor Gown
• aden + anais will demonstrate swaddling techniques
• Meet Debbie Koenig author of “Parents Need to Eat Too” and try a sample from her book
• Meet the women of Mi Atico
• Win prizes from Aden + Anais, Crocodile Creek, Baby Bunch, Moby Wrap, Seedling kids and Skip Hop

Launching in March, Active Labor Gown has quickly been welcomed into the maternity market by expectant mothers and medical professionals alike, easing the distressing effects of labor for moms to be everywhere.

Active Labor Gown’s revolutionary performance fabric and innovative design are what make the gown truly unique. “Active Labor Gown is the only gown on the market that opens from both the front and the back simultaneously and also has an opening in the side for fetal monitor cords” states Active Labor Gownfounder and healthcare professional, Kristina Boland.  Also, easily opened from the top by 4 buttons to effortlessly allow skin-to-skin contact for breast-feeding and comfortability, Active Labor Gown adapts easily to every birthing style possible.  “All these features help with the “medical aspects” of labor, while the fabric keeps you cool and comfortable, to feel and look your best.”

Using innovative new US EPA certified ChitoSante treated performance fabric,Active Labor Gowns are wicking, odor resistant and anti-stain, helping Mom’s to be stay comfortable during labor and delivery, as well as workouts prior to and post delivery.  The gowns are also antibacterial and antimicrobial, offering expectant mothers a potentially higher level of sanitation than hospital gowns offer, without the fear of prior usage.

Boland, a Boston bred former Naval Officer and mother of 3, grew up designing and sewing clothing with her great-grandparents, who worked as tailors. Working as a professional registered nurse for the last 25 years, Kristina recognized a need for this type of gown after seeing firsthand the negative psychology behind giving birth in a uniform reusable garment. “You never know who’s used the gown before you. It was absolutely time for a change.”

Active Labor Gown will also be launching their new #passthebucket campaign at Mini Jake on Sunday, showcasing the buckets they will be donating both locally and nationally to playgrounds and family shelters in an effort to bring more harmony and generosity to communities across the globe.

Meet representatives of Active Labor Gown at Mini Jake’s Cinco de Mama event on Sunday, May 5th from 11am-4pm. Click here for more info

• Breastfeeding Circle with Lactation Consultant Kate Sharp - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
• Learn about Skip Hop’s Newest Products
• Find out about the Active Labor Gown
• aden + anais will demonstrate swaddling techniques
• Meet Debbie Koenig author of “Parents Need to Eat Too” and try a sample from her book
• Meet the women of Mi Atico
• Win prizes from Aden + Anais, Crocodile Creek, Baby Bunch, Moby Wrap, Seedling kids and Skip Hop

Plan Toys has sent Mini Jake 24 Earth Day kits to enjoy at Mini Jake on Sunday at 11am, so come make some great Earth Day crafts with us! Included in each kit is a wooden art frame, classic Plan Toys monkey pencil and cotton gift bag. We will supply coloring materials and paper and a fun place to create.

Ages 3 and up.

Also…

In addition to a fun Earth day project from Plan Toys, this weekend (and Earth Day Monday) Mini Jake is offering a 10% discount on the following eco friendly products This offer is for :

Potting Shed Creations “Garden-in-a-Bag” varieties including Basil, Zinnia, Lavender, Strawberry, Tomato (a fruit!), Sunflower and Butterfly and Bird Habitat Kits.

Green Toys, American made toys and tableware made from recycled plastic milk jugs.

Liberty Bottles, American made BPA-free drinking bottles made from recycled  aluminum.

Eco Dough from Eco-Kids. Playing dough made from natural ingredients including plant, fruit and vegetable extracts

Hudson Paint is an odor-free chalk board paint made in NY State. Save paper and make your own chalk board wall!

Save electricity by switching off all electronic devices and play games! Blue Orange Games has fun games for all ages. This weekend we are giving out free samples of the latest versions of their “Spot It” games (while supplies last).

Plus…

Calling all kids! Have you created something out of found materials? Have you recycled items into a unique way? We will take pictures and post some of them on our face book page to celebrate your caring about your caring for our planet and your great ideas.

This past weekends craft activity at Mini Jake was so much fun we doing it again THIS SUNDAY! Click here to see pictures. But here is the catch… There is only room for 7 kids so sign up is a must! It’s free with purchase of a box of Eco Eggs. Below are details.

Science Basket
A variety of science and fun projects from Toysmith

We will be making Cute Critters using Eco Eggs
Only 14 spots avail (7 in each time slot) Ages 5 and up

Sunday, March 17th
10am + 11am
FREE with the purchase of a 48 count box of Eco Eggs ($19.95)

RSVP a must!
Click here to sign up

PLUS FREE STORYTIME FOR THE UNDER 5s
Olga andAlicia from Mi Atico, a Spanish immersion program, will be offering storytime for the little ones between 10am-12am.
No reservation required for storytime.

Plus Enter to Win one of 3 FREE Baskets of Treats
We have 3 amazing baskets to rafle off so come on by the store to enter.
This contest is in-store only.

Mommy and me basket

Huge Bashful Bunny, book from Jelly Cat, baby clothing gift set from Baby Bunch
and cookies from Milk Makers

Girly Basket
Pink bunny by MiYim and Easter nail polish by Piggy Paint

Science Basket A variety of science and fun projects from Toysmith

Without getting into too much detail, when Miles Storm was first born, it took a huge toll on my husband and my relationship. While family and friends were worried about me developing postnatal depression, it was actually my husband who took our Son’s arrival the hardest. As a result, during the majority of the first year I spent a lot of time upstate NY in Rhinebeck (at our weekend house) with our 2 dogs and our newborn Son. My husband works in New York City, so we would see him on the weekends. It was rough for me to for sure, although I hate admitting that. I saw a therapist on a weekly basis and tried my best to navigate through all the changes.

What also helped me was the discovery of the Holistic Moms Network Dutchess County Chapter which is based here in Rhinebeck. There are other Mothers groups in the area, but for me being “Green Inspired” this was a God Send. I found support, encouragement and answers to many questions that I had as a first time Mother. On top of that, there was acceptance and interest in some of my “wacky” ideas. And, I say “wacky” tongue-in-cheek as to me it is normal, however in comparison to traditional parenting, it could be considered so. “Wacky” ideas may include bringing a child up vegetarian and not vaccinating your child. Or maybe, you are considering a water or home birth, not to mention hypnobirthing (now that is really wacky – ha).

At the Holistic Moms Network, our mission is to generate national awareness, education, and support for holistic parenting and green living by providing nurturing, open-minded, and respectful local community networks that encourage families to share these ideals and learn from each other.

Eventually, around a year ago, my husband and my relationship recovered to its fullest and with us buying a bigger apartment Miles Storm, Rockstarr, Mohawk and I moved back to the city in the Williamsburg part of Brooklyn. We still come up to Rhinebeck every single weekend but during the week we live in the Big Smoke. This for me was another huge change  and the sole reason I started this blog in the first place, but that is a whole other story.

Living in the city I missed the monthly meetings of the Holistic Moms upstate NY, and thinking about it I realized that Brooklyn needed a Chapter. As somebody recently said to me “If a successful Holistic Moms Network group cannot be started in Williamsburg the whole organization should just give up and fold”.

The Williamsburg area is full of people trying to make the Earth a better place from up-cycling to organic foods to rooftop gardens and green centers being built on top of schools, there really is a lot of like-minded people in the area.

Deciding to move forward with my thinking, I approached HMN and applied to be a co-leader and start a Chapter. It took almost a year working through the application process, and with the help of another local Mummy, last night we excitedly launched our Kick-Off event! I was so nervous, and I have to tell you I was petrified that nobody would show up. Alas, I did not need to worry as around 18 Mummies/Daddies stopped by, and what a wonderful diverse group of people they all are.

I would also LOVE to thank Little Duck Organics, DeLIFEful Foods, Zico Coconut Water and Ingo Cucumber Juice for supplying free samples for all of us. You all ROCK and I very much appreciate you making the night all that more awesome because you were on board!

All the Mums having a GREAT time

If you are in the immediate area and interested in joining the group we will be meeting at (the awesome) Gourmet Guild in Sth Williamsburg on the second Wednesday night of every month.  Monthly meetings will involve all kinds of different topics like Organic Farming, Natural Birth Discussion, T-shirt Repurposing, Gluten Free Living, Learning How To Knit, Raising A Toxin-Free Family and Exploring Education Options: Homeschooling. We would love to see you there. For more information you can check out our web page HERE.

If you are not in the immediate area, live in the United States and interested in finding a local chapter, or maybe even start a chapter you can do so HERE.

Yep, I am doing my part to help Keep It Green!

This posting was written by Libby AKA Willy B Mum
Find us at www.Facebook.com/WillyBMum or just www.WillyBMum.com