That time of the week again, yup the one you have been waiting for. As usual I am late so maybe you may be reading this over Saturday morning’s coffee, if so take it slow.  This week’s chapter of Mommy Niri’s Friday 5 series is (unfortunately) dedicated to an aging Mommy Niri. Somehow there is nothing like the addition of family to make one realize...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations May I was recently approached by One2One network to review a book by Eileen Goudge, the New York Times Bestselling author of “Woman in Red“. Books are the toughest to review since they take time, though reading is a big love in my life it is not one I have given much attention to recently. So knowing my schedule was against...

Photo by Carol Cain, NYCityMama.com This is just another post that is way overdue but for my personal diary of blogging I wanted to write it. Blogalicious 09 was the inaugural conference of the MamaLaw media group to create a conference for women of color. I was asked pretty early on if I would be a speaker (on secrets to a successful blog) and although I was tickled...

While mommy was away, I was holding down the fort. In came the opportunity to see Benjamin Moore’s Natura Paint at the Natick Mall. So, I decided to cover the event for Mommy Niri with a borrowed camera and leaving the kids with my friend. Well, it was one of the booths at the mall that I would have normally passed by without noticing but since I was looking for...

You already know that Mommy Niri is an Office Max “Max Mom” and you would have seen the contest for $100 for nominating a teacher, and even watched as I surprised a teacher with the Office Max guys with $1000 worth of supplies (this was one of 1000 schools in the country. In fact you may have even seen my post on the Office Max party I had to collect supplies...

I should rather say “counter”, and that is a true honor in itself. The truth is the moment my oldest became a toddler I somehow lost counter space in my home. No matter what I did the counters became cluttered, though I salvaged some space for a laptop, priorities ehh? And you wondered how I always seem online or reply mails in a jiffy. That is precisely...

This past week we went to the opening night at the Ringling Bros And Barnum and Bailey circus courtesy of Mom Central (be sure to use the coupon MOM to get discount tickets) and the Feld Entertainment group. I was highly anxious about taking my kids to the circus. You see, they had never ever been to the circus, in fact we barely hit night events since it is normally...

Ok, so I never pretend to have it all together. In fact when I started the Mommy Niri Friday 5 series I did with so with resolutions for the year, knowing I had to get my act in gear. It is no surprise that the year is almost done (what do you mean it is only October, have you not seen the Christmas stuff out already?) and I am still as out of sync as ever.  I think...

CONTEST IS CLOSED!!! Congratulations Laura! You would have read about Mommy Niri being a Macy’s Path To Peace Ambassador and I am sure you have been ogling my fabulous bracelet. Well I love my readers and while I won’t share my bracelet, yes that same amazing bracelet featured in the The Oprah Magazine, I do have amazing news for you. Not only do I get to...

When I received an invitation to be an ambassador for the Macy’s Path To Peace program I had barely read the entire mail before I said yes. My plate is actually full, and then some, but this project was too close to my heart to say no to. What is the Macy’s Path To Peace program you say? Well this is what the project says “Spearheaded three years ago...

** CONTEST CLOSED ** Congratulations Clarissa Neiding & Jovita Cantu Nutritional drink for kids? There are so many in the market today that you can’t even count them. A quick search on Google for “kids nutritional drinks” returns 20 million results. Thats amazing. Seriously, it would drive anyone nuts to literally figure out how to pick the right...

While Wal-Mart and Amazon (and now Target) are slugging out for the top 10 best sellers for lowest prices (so far at $8.99), Barnes & Noble announced Nook, the Wireless eBook Reader. Just a few months after announcing their Free eReader app, BN surprised everyone with Nook. Nook marries innovative technology and sleek design – a good competition for Kindle...

Contest Closed! Congratulations Lisa and Susan! Contest Closed!!! You know how you always want you kiddo’s tootsies to be covered but have seen them fall as the socks skid on the non carpeted floors? Yes, some socks do have those non-skid surfaces but truth is you sometimes want that snazzy design you spied on during some vacation or grabbed on a bargain and chances...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Amy (book and hat, gloves and scarf set) and book winners Diane, Andria, Erica, Carol Two-time Caldecott Honor Book artist Kadir Nelson has been charged with creating memorable paintings that capture the essence of one of America’s finest heroes. Jackie Robinson’s legendary breaking of the color barrier in Major League Baseball...

I have been keeping my nose to the grindstone and pumping out posts trying hard to keep my content fresh barely lifting my head up to breathe. When I do manage to get out to tweet I see the parties I am missing yet I know I have commitments to post so I do. Maybe I feel like I have extended myself too much at times which is amazing because if I just closed “shop”...

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CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Kristi! The types of thermometers out there are big and everyone has their favorite. Growing up we just used the old mercury ones and I was glad to see them phased out. When we were expecting a baby we considered various ones but finally went with a regular digital one. We used it only in the mouth and though everyone swears by the accuracy...

Yesterday was Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. You may have never heard about it and I certainly would not blame you. Heck if it was not for Facebook and connected to friends and family back home I may have forgotten it. That is pretty sad, isn’t it? It used to be a day we looked forward with ardent fervor. Since it is tantamount to the commercialism of Christmas...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations John, Angela and Gina! It seems like yesterday that Ice Age was released, right? Can you believe October 27th Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs releases? Well I received a screener copy of the movie so I know it is indeed very real. The film will be available in a limited edition “Scrat Pack” which features tons of bonus features...

Friday seems to roll around all too often, especially when you commit to write a Friday 5 post every week. In fact I recall when I decided to start the Mommy Niri Friday 5 series hubby thought it would be too much to write and I rebelled and started it anyway. I knew my blog was going to have a bit of everything, I love bringing you the latest news and reviews but I...

I am so overdue for a post that I almost felt like I should skip it, I mean how embarrassing is it that it is almost a month before I am publishing this? Nevertheless I decided it was worth digging my head out of the sand of shame to share my experiences. Firstly I was always touch and go about attending, with finances being very tight,  also with the Blogalicious...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Meredith! In my home with a 4 year old and a 2 year old there are few toys which can appease both ages and still allow them to play in the complexity of their levels. Leggos and Potato Head are just a few favorite toys and with the imagination the play is limitless. I was glad to receive a free sample of Potato Head, ala Halloween style,...

I recently attended the Time To Play event in New York, where the Top 16 toys were going to be revealed. I knew nothing more of the event except for that snippet of information. Anything that screams “toys” though has me as an ardent listener. I was greeted by the registration guys with an empty bag and as I looked back at them puzzled they told me it was...

CONTEST IS CLOSED!!! Congratulations Joan! When the guys over at Fleischman Hillard asked if I was up for making some raisin treats, since I had worked with them earlier when the California Raisin guy was nominated, I was slightly skeptical. One was I am not a great baker and secondly I am a vegetarian so I don’t use eggs and the non egg baking is always tricky....

It is one of those perfect moments, the kids are actively engaged and you are busy into activities of your own, and then the phone rings. You initially think perfect timing but the veteran mom will be glancing quickly at her kids as she reaches for the handset to make sure they are still occupied. Just as you settle into the conversation and the more engrossed you become...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Heather and Kathy! Paul (Meet Paul, A Stay At Home Dad) and Lianne, who run Swirly Designs, are meticulous about their craft. No 2 designs of their polymer clay are identical as they are handmade. There is nothing like checking out their seasonal designs to get the mood going. Normally ornaments are relegated to Christmas as such...

CONTEST CLOSED!!! Congratulations Nicole, Jessica and Beth! Halloween on a Saturday? Always a Saturday! Make that the last Saturday in October? Easier to remember, or not? Although I do have a passion for October 31st as a date the guys behind this fun movement,  Spirit Halloween, have a point to make.  Still not convinced? How about these tit bits to make you ponder: ·...

Ok, so Halloween is not your typical holiday. You spend all that money for a costume for your little one, who moans to get in on, wears it for less than an hour, manages to drop something on it before you step out the door, and then brings oodles of candy that you either have to hide, eat yourself (not that you need it) or watch painfully as she eats it while you swear...

Mommy Niri was invited by 360 PR to the attend and tweet about the 49th Ad Club Creative Awards held at the World Trade Center in Boston, MA. Now if you know me, you know this is not the norm for me to be attending an event of this nature, but how could I miss an awards ceremony. Besides high school and college I don’t remember attending any other.  Added to...

Ever wonder how my kids (ages 2 & 4) know Chicago, Asheville, New York and Atlanta? Well, to tell the truth … mommy has been to all these places (for blogging conferences). Every night when I put them to bed I tell them to dream about toys that mommy will bring from the conference. And now the kids understand that blogging means more  toys, so they kind of...

This post has moved to: http://www.thepapapost.com/google-fun-goby/ the market? (Travel seems to be getting crowded) Unlike general purpose search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing, Goby is dedicated to a single task: helping people make the most of their scarce free time, from planning  a unique vacation to just creating a weekend adventure with your kids.  Rather...

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You would already know that Mommy Niri is an Office Max “Max Mom”.  You also know that I hosted a local Office Max party to collect supplies for a local teacher. You may even know I held a contest for $100 Office Max Gift Card for a deserving teacher. Well what you probably did not know is that Office Max is giving $1000 to 1000 schools in office supplies....

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Between all of the parties that I have been hosting lately from the Zhu Zhu Pets party (and I even have one up for grabs), to the ELF Makeup Party to the Healthy Choice Party you would have thought that my home was a Party Central, but this Office Max party had a touch of difference.  This party was to collect school supplies for a local teacher. If you did not...