Recently I put out a post about trying to get the value of money across to my preschooler (read Flowers and Financials) but coming from a poor background the concept of saving is one close to my heart so I place emphasis on it with my girls. I normally skip book reviews as they take too long (in fact the only reading I do is reading to the kids) but when I was pitched...

So with a hop, skip and jump (and a car and train) I got myself to New York for an event hosted by Ragu. I was psyched that Molly Ringwald was going to be there. Since I barely know any “stars” of today it was nice to hear a familiar name of “my” time. The event was short but pretty well put together. We got to the the “loft” which...

Wordless Wednesday: Spring is sprouting. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Wordless Wednesday – Spring Is Sprouting", url: "http://www.mommyniri.com/2010/03/spring-is-sprouting/" });

Brushing is a necessary evil. I mean like it or not you know you have to do it.  If you skimp on it the results will be clearly visible each time you smile. Having a kid throws a spanner in the works. Oh, and I don’t just mean that you don’t find the time to pay attention to your oral hygiene (that too) but the fact that you have to look after their teeth....

Normally I love to clear out the kitchen when the kids are asleep. Except for the fact that it is great not to be tripping over the kids when they are around, cleaning up at the end of the day is a non-thinking therapeutic kind of job. The only thing I never do, that I wanted to, is kick off the dishwasher. Well at least that used to be the one thing I never did. No way...

I headed to the car wash with a pit stop to the self vacuum place first. The car sorely needed it and nothing like Boston’s winter slush to make the car really icky. I guess the fact that I let the girls snack in the car does not help. Anyway after we were done, and after the car-wash freaked my little one into a hysterical bout of crying (while her kind sister...

Never it be said that Mommy Niri forgets about all the mamas out there. This is just for you. This 3-piece kit from CoverGirl includes everything you need to get the smoky eye look. Easy-to-follow makeup application instructions by CoverGirl makeup artist Molly Stern are also included.  It comes in 3 options Bold, Glamorous and Natural look. Each kit includes a mascara,...

Before I had kids I lived in the sheltered life of what a tantrum was. I mean surely I never had one? What on earth causes our cute-as-a-button kid to turn into something that makes you want to dig your head deeper in the soil than any ostrich could? I mean one minute they are as happy as a bee and the next like something possessed. The probability of one happening is...

What is Bloganthropy? Debbie: Bloganthropy is designed to explore the intersection between social media, corporate giving campaigns, volunteerism, and non-profit charitable causes. Do we need another charity started up? Candace: More than another charity, Bloganthropy fulfills a niche in organizing and promoting blogger charitable campaigns. We hope to support and amplify...

You read that right! He did! He un-friended me a while ago but the gall of the act still riles me and I decided I needed to share it with you. Oh, if you are wondering if we’re still together, well we are, but to the regular Facebook world we were not for a while. If you wondering what I am rambling about a few months ago I saw a common friend send me a Facebook...

I love soda. I don’t keep it in the home and know it is BAD for me but I love it. I love tea. I never used to but it is one of those things living with a tea addict I became a lover of. The only thing is I like my tea hot. I never drink iced tea and have never had the urge. So when last year I was offered to try some I found an excuse after another to not. Call me...

Two years ago this time I set out to blog, not knowing exactly what the tide would bring in. It all started with a little Flip video camera. I wanted one. Hubby objected. His reasoning was we already had a very expensive one collecting dust in the cupboard. Ok, so he was correct, but the Flip video camera came in pink and they were cute. Anyway he heard about the rave...

Mommy Niri chats with Kimberly Williams-Paisley on her project with Peter Pan in their fight against child hunger. MommyNiri: Peter Pan Peanut Butter with Kimberly Williams-Paisley from Ramesh Kumar on Vimeo. Disclosure: Received a few bottles of peanut butter after the event SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Chat With Kimberly Williams-Paisley As She Joins Peter Pan Peanut...

My girls love to play dress up. I mean that in every sense of it. They dress themselves up, they dress their dolls, they dress their magnetic dolls and they even have dress up bath toys. In fact I have been using printables where they cut and dress up paper dolls recently too. Lovely Lisa is based on a doll as popular in Japan as Barbie is in the USA. Now here is a game...

Friday 5 is up again and I thought would be great to dedicate another of the Friday 5 series to blogger stuff. We will do anything for free stuff Although I do not speak for the entire mom blogger population, as I should not, review samples are necessary to give a review on, right? Once I did a contest where I was not reviewing a product but just conducting a giveaway...

I am not talking about space to have a hot cup of tea or go to the bathroom undisturbed. I know those are futile to dream about. Those days waved goodbye so fast the day I became a mom. Actually the other space that I speak of was also a dream too, hmm actually the lack of space was a nightmare. Really. If you have not yet figured it out, I speak of my shiny new dishwasher. Having...

Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster) are teaming up together to celebrate International Friendship Month this February. These ladies are actual friends in real life and are focusing on the joy that close friendships bring to people’s lives. Melissa and Soleil were co-hosts of a Gain-sponsored “Better Together” Friendship...

Recently I decided to host a Valentine’s party for my daughter’s Pre-K class. I sent an invite out (albeit a very untidy, rushed, and forgot-to-write-my-kid’s-name-on-it invitation) and thankfully the teacher called to let me know I missed out a few new students.  All along the way I received comments like “what a wonderful thing you are doing”...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Rosanne! My daughter has been bugging me for ages to have a party. Now if you are one of the moms at my daughter’s school you would know that I can barely get my act together. Thank heavens for winter jackets which hide the same crumpled shirt I don every morning. Anyway either the fact that her nagging had got to me or the fact that...

Friday 5 is here and trying to still catch up on posts (and life) but better late than never, right. Soon my littlest girl will be turning 3 and while the antics of her two-someness is still  fresh in my mind I thought I would share some of my ideas. Make sure you catch more tips on older posts in the Friday 5 series. Give a choice of her age (two)! Asking open ended...

Every so often a neat campaign comes along where you can help just by a few clicks. The fact that you may win something is just icing on the cake. Kelly and accomplished master baker and cake decorator Buddy Valastro, from TLC’s “Cake Boss,” recently joined forces at a fun event to bake lavishly decorated cakes in support of The Ovarian Cancer Research...

Wow, I knew there was a reason I broke up the Atlantis posts, but now I am hoping I can recall it all. Pretty tough considering I am staring out my window to seen snow on the ground. Sigh, I can almost feel the sea breeze on my face as I look at those “summer” Atlantis laundry still not put away. I refuse to put them away, in the hope that Spring appears earlier...

4:00 am: The cabbie did not show 4:30 am: Dragged the kids to South Boston 5:10 am: On my way to NYC (Acela @ $140) 9:00 am: Penn Station 9:30 am: Checking out the latest by Zhu Zhu Pets (Kung Zhu) and the adventure begins … Toy Fair 2010 New York City Over 100,000 Toys 7:00 pm: Private Lego party to introduce Lego Board Games (stay tuned for updates) 9:00 pm: Outside...

I was recently invited to a private breakfast with Hasbro along with a few bloggers. This was all in the mood of the upcoming Toy Fair in New York. There was a chance I was going to miss the Toy Fair, even though I had a press pass to it, but I would sooner miss that than a more intimate event with bloggers and a behind the scenes look. As a blogger we regularly get media...

A group of unique hamsters are gearing up for some Kung Zhu fighting!  Zhu Zhu Pets, the hottest toys of 2009, have earned their black belts and will reveal their skills in a new line-up of toys — Kung Zhu battle hamsters. These hamsters combine the whimsical, mild-mannered fun of the original Zhu Zhu Pets with a level of action and excitement that appeals specifically...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Karen! You may recall a little while ago The Papa Post did an interview with Goby.  Well Goby has changed a lot since then and have a fun challenge for the Mommy Niri readers.  Summer is always easy but come February I am literally climbing the walls for something to do. Winter is a tough one everywhere but in a place like Boston where...

CONTEST CLOSED!! Congratulations Terri! Hasbro has the most delectable toys, especially for PreSchoolers (more on that later as I have a scoop from a private showroom viewing) but my favorite has got to be the Potato head. Sure it is not the most sophisticated of toys but its simplicity is it’s charm.  I love that there is one for each season but seriously the...

Well if the Disney on Ice a few months ago took your breath away then you are in luck as another round of Disney On Ice is set to his Boston. This time the Mad Hatter; a Royal Valentine’s Day Ball with the Disney Princesses, including Cinderella, Ariel and Tiana; a Hawaiian luau with Lilo & Stitch; a winter wonderland with Woody and Buzz Lightyear fromDisney/Pixar’s...

I am sure that this may not make me popular but I have to say it. I drive a Toyota and am proud of it. I love it enough to dedicate this week’s Friday 5 to it. Yes, I have a television and I have been keeping tabs on the news about the recalls. Am I underplaying the severity of the issue? No! Do I believe it is sprinkled with hype? Yes! There are important issues...

Seriously I am. This is a big moment. Probably not to you as you do it often but this is a big step for me. I mean I will load, but unloading is a pet peeve. If you don’t already know I have a new shiny thing in my kitchen (courtesy of being a Fridgedaire Test Drive Mom) and you won’t miss it since it is the only shiny thing in my kitchen. I am sure I saw...

Some things are just the easiest to review. I would be hard pressed to come across someone who has not heard about Johnson’s baby products. Fads and hip new brands may come and go but as a mom I know that I can rely on the Johnson’s brand. I know this not only from my own use of them on my girls but of my mom’s use of it on me. True, I grew up in South...

As much a wrapped gift is always welcome you cannot beat a getaway to prolong the gift. I received a few suggestions from the tourism guys of New Hampshire and I thought I would share a few of my favorites. Of course I have not yet tried any of these wonderful places (I will be away at a blogging event) but there is no reason why you guys can’t check them out. For...

Everyone love great quality, but no one loves to pay them (celebrities don’t count). I have been a bargain hunter for a while. I gave up looking for trendy items for myself  after I ballooned like a whale in pregnancy. I then began to focus on buying clothes for my baby. Since I knew I was having a girl I went crazy buying her clothes. Since then I had another...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Terri! Electronic games are all fine and well but I slot the usage of them in the 2 hour maximum television window I allow my kids per day. I dread the picture of having my kids glued to the television all day and I really hate when kids fail to see the beauty around them as they are so deep in a game (as I mentioned seeing kids with a Nintendo...

Printable Valentine cards are dime dozen today. Don’t get me wrong, the printables save my butt when I need to give my kids an activity to buy me a few moments of sanity (all in the life of a SAHM), but many are pretty commercial and, dare I say it – BLAND.  In fact I mostly ignore pitches of printable cards but when the guys from Gnaana sent me an email...

Water is good for you. That is just a truthful statement. Knowing that and still managing to drink it is really not so easy. The past few weeks I was approached about test driving some beverage alternatives. Of course I said yes, anything but water always sounds better. And way better if it is not the soda I reach for. Luckily I don’t keep soda in the house or I...

I know you would have been eagerly awaiting Day 2 after reading Day 1 but a stiff neck on my end has somewhat delayed things. Also after that whole experience with the dolphins it would be difficult to imagine how it could get any better. I was thinking the very same thing that night as I wearily went to bed by 9pm, which is not like the 2am bedtime I have at time. Anyway...

I am cheap. So sue me. I hate paying for something if I can get it free, or at the very least cheap. Don’t pretend you don’t too.  After suffering this week with a horrid stiff neck (I would kiss my chiropractor if I could just turn my head) and I finally tackled Mount Laundry (with those piles of clothing from Atlantis) I felt I deserved to give some bloggy...

Check the Atlantis JetAdventure video capturing my 4 days visit into 5 minutes. Music composed by AR Rahman (movie: Ghazani). Also see: Day 1: Atlantis #JetAdventure : My 1st JetBlue And A Dolphin Too! Day 2: Alantis #JetAdventure : The AKA Club, Some Animals And Pottery Too! Day 3: Atlantis #JetAdventure : Beach Olympics and A Race Car Too! Disclosure: All expenses...

Bath time!  It can either mean fun time or struggle time. We tend to have box of bath toys in the bathroom to try and make it as exciting as possible.  Of course there is no guarantee. I have reviewed Suave before but was keen to learn they had a kid’s line of bath products too. All those who can never have too many bath products for kids raise your hands. That...

Yes, today is the day Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his hiding place and tells the world if there will be six more weeks of winter. I am so not keen on another day of winter let alone 6 more weeks of winter. Of course I should moan less considering I just had a few days in Atlantis, right? I somehow forget that Groundhog Day is a day for all rodents, be it mice, chipmunks,...

CONTEST CLOSED! Congratulations Adria! Are you ready for your Super Bowl party? Walmart is a place that has everything from the snacks to electronics. Truthfully not always the most fashionable place to shop but certainly the most practical. In fact I am always trying to get to the fancier stores and when hubby drags me to Walmart and goes on about how realistically we...

So I am back. It happened really so fast and yet so wonderful. If you don’t know I was invited to  a special media trip on behalf of Jet Blue, Lego and Atlantis. I know what you are thinking: Lucky girl. And you know what you would be correct. I have been thinking for days, while I tackle my mountain of laundry that awaits every vacationer, of how to share with...

If you don’t know I have been dealing with some ugly hacker who messed up my site. It has been a scary time but am so relieved to be back and though late with this week’s dose of Friday 5 series, better late than never. Since I have just come back from a media trip to Atlantis, it was the closest thing to a vacation, there were some things I could not comprehend. Kids...

My 2 (and a half) year old daughter has been having some real funky traits these days. I am not sure how much of it is the terrible twos or how much of it is going to make her lie on some couch spilling her guts about how her mother led her to this behavior. At first I caught her looking at a little house her sister (4 year old) had made and she came in and declared “I...

With snowy winters comes jackets, hats and mittens and though they bring vivid memories of me fighting the kids over dressing for the cold, there is another “cold” that is more troublesome. Yes, the one that brings snotty noses, fevers and pains.  When I was alerted to another surprising concern about how people are dishing up their dose I was skeptical....

Some time during the holidays I was approached to take the Waterpik for a spin. A few years ago I would have laughed myself silly and passed up on the offer. In fact about 6 or 7 years ago I was wary of the electric toothbrush (I had chalked it up to a gadget for lazy people). Somehow I sucked it up and bought one to try. Needless to say I have never gone back. If you...

We have been testing out the monthly projects at Home Depot and Lowes. The great thing is they are free the not so great is that they manage to happen at a time when I almost certainly have some other event scheduled. I love planning activities but hate having to shop out for each individual materials. Also when you have kids time is precious and I really don’t want...

If you know me personally then you would have heard me rant and curse at my dishwasher, and not without reason. I live in a community where all the homes were built at the same time and sold with (the cheapest) appliances. We bought the house after the owner had put the current model through the rigmarole for over 10 years. Since we don’t believe in replacing something...

CONTEST IS CLOSED!!! Congratulations Sarah! While I attended a Blogger’s Brunch in New York I met up with the guys from Plum Organics. When they contacted me to try their Plum Tots line aimed at toddlers I was honestly skeptical. You see while I believe anything organic is worth a look things marked baby foodlike don’t go down easily with my sensory specific...

I am packing! I won’t be here tomorrow. And not even for the day after. Tonight I will be packing. I fly tomorrow and I have not started packing. Final destination Atlantis. Am I overwhelmed? You betcha. Am I confident it will get done tonight? Absolutely. Since I cannot think further than my battered suitcase (man I so need new luggage as I have had bad luck with...