Adventure, baby!

Christine Knight

Christine is the editor of Adventure, Baby!

A Day Trip To The Cloisters, New York

Day trip to the Cloisters #newyork with kids via christineknight.me

During the warmer months, a perfect family day trip is just north of the city at The Cloisters.

The Cloisters museum and gardens is the branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to medieval European art and architecture. The building and its gardens are located in Fort Tryon Park, in north Manhattan, just a hop, skip and a jump away on the A train.

The architecture and artistic works at the Cloisters are largely from the Romanesque and Gothic periods. Four reconstructed cloisters, sourced from French monasteries and abbeys, are surrounded by early medieval gardens and a series of indoor chapels and rooms.

Walking inside the Cloisters feels very much like stroll through Medieval European monastic life. This is by very intentional and clever architectural design combined with the five thousand medieval works of art on display from the Mediterranean and Europe, mostly from the 12th to 15th centuries.

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

To get to the Cloisters, take the subway to 190th Street station at the base of Fort Tryon and walk from there. The walk to the Cloisters takes visitors through an herb and flower garden. It’s a beautiful place to wander through, especially with the Hudson River as a backdrop.

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

The aren’t a lot of food options in the area. Your easiest options are: 1. Bring a picnic lunch; 2. Buy a pre-made sandwich or salad from the Cloisters cafe; or 3. A sit-down brunch or lunch at New Leaf Restaurant.

We chose New Leaf Restaurant & Bar. Housed in a 1930s cottage, the restaurant serves modern American cuisine. On weekends, brunch is served from 11am-3pm. We were given a table on the bright, airy patio, surrounded by trees. Tres tranquil.

While the restaurant is large, it fills quickly, and by 12:30pm it was at capacity. As New Leaf does not take reservations for brunch, get there early.

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

The brunch menu is a pre-fixe at $19.95 for an entree, juice and tea or coffee. We ordered a croissant ($5) for missy E while we looked at the menu in more detail. Oddly, the croissant came with chutney. The croissant was absolutely delicious, while on the small side (kid-sized, one might say, except E demanded another, making it the most expensive croissants we had ever ordered). Our group ordered New Leaf Scrambled Eggs (goat cheese, scallions, roasted potatoes, field greens), the Market Omelette (tomatoes, peppers, onions and your choice of cheese, with herbed-roasted potatoes, field greens) and the Hanger Steak Sandwich (with salad and potatoes). The portions for the most part were large by New York standards, and we all struggled to finish our meals.
New Leaf Restaurant, 1 Margaret Corbin Dr, New York, NY, Phone: (212) 568-5323

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

A short stroll through beautiful Fort Tryon Park takes you to The Cloisters.

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com #nyc

Cloisters, New York, USA

My favourite part of the Cloisters was the Unicorn Tapestry collection. These seven individual pieces are among the most beautiful and complex works of art from the late Middle Ages that survive today, woven from fine wool and silk with silver and gilded threads.

Cloisters, New York, USA

Spring is the best time to visit The Cloisters as the gardens are in full bloom. The famous garden you see in all the photographs is filled with bright flowers and a fountain centerpiece.

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

The lower-level garden is home to plants one would have found in a garden in the middle ages, like herbs and vegetables. Take the time to explore the garden and the different plants on display – many of which you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Cloisters, New York, USA
The purpose of the plants is explained throughout the garden: medicinal (like St. John’s-Wort, Hollyhock, MarshMallow, Meadow Clary, Liquorice, Comfrey, and Feverfew), magical (such as Bear’s Foot, Ragged-Robin, English Ivy, Cornelian Cherry, and Herb Robert) or for use in the kitchen (herbs like Winter Savory, Leek, Cardoon, Samphire, Chive, Small-Leaved Basil, and Red Valerian). As it was an herb garden and all the plants had such unique scents, we got down close to the gardens and smelled the aromatic plants such as spearmint and lavender.

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

Cloisters, New York, USA Cloisters, New York, USA Cloisters, New York, USA Cloisters, New York, USA Cloisters, New York, USA Cloisters, New York, USA

Tips for taking kids:
We timed our visit so Cheese would nap in the stroller after lunch, so we were able to see most of The Cloisters before she woke up. Which was a good thing, as the museum is not so friendly for smaller kids. Babies in carriers and older children are the ideal candidates for this cultural experience.

There are lots of tiny stairwells and no ramps or elevators. You can’t leave strollers unattended. No food/water anywhere except in the cafe (including the gardens). Within the gallery rooms, keep children close as there are lots of fragile objects around.

To get to the Cloisters, take the subway to 190th Street station at the base of Fort Tryon. Directly outside of the station entrance is the Jacob K. Javits Playground, where we let Cheese run off steam before brunch. It’s a nice playground with swings, several climbing structures for children of all ages, and also space for scooting or basketball.

A Day Trip To The #Cloisters via brunchwithmybaby.com

The Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Dr,
New York, NY
Hours: Daily, 10am-5:15pm
Prices: Recommended $25 per adult

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

As transplants to the glorious city of New York, we’re constantly seeking out fun new ways to experience everything NYC has to offer. We try to balance obvious kid-centric activities with things that we, as adults, are interested in, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I also hope that exposing Missy E to art and culture will inspire in her an interest when she is older too.

A Day At The Met With Kids via brunchwithmybaby.com
I’ve always loved art galleries in particular, and never get sick of visiting the grande dame of museums and art galleries, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (AKA the Met Fifth Avenue).

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan’s Museum Mile, is the largest art museum in the United States and one of the world’s largest and most visited art galleries. With over two million works spread throughout seventeen departments, you could easily spend an entire day inside and still not see everything the museum has to offer.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

Founded in 1870, the purpose of the Met was to bring art and art education to the American people.

The Met Fifth Avenue has a permanent collection that spans over 5,000 years of history. It consists of works of art from classical antiquity and ancient Egypt, paintings and sculptures from pretty much all the European masters, and a large collection of American and modern art. African, Asian, Oceanian, Byzantine, Indian, and Islamic art is also represented, and you’ll even find collections of musical instruments, costumes and accessories, antique weapons and armor.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

A favourite area of ours is Greek and Roman hall that is filled with classical sculptures. We pointed out things we thought she might be interested in, like animals or statues of people, and she was particularly concerned about the statues that were missing limbs or heads.

A Day At The Met With Kids via brunchwithmybaby.com

The fountain was also a particular favorite. She was fascinated by the money in there, so we gave her spare change and taught her how to throw in coins and make wishes.  “What do you wish for?” “The playground!”. Of course. “Anything else?” “Lions. And giraffes!”. Er, sorry Miss E. Wrong spot for those. But we will keep it in mind when we next visit the zoo!

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

A must when visiting the Met Fifth Avenue is the rooftop garden. There is a special elevator that takes you up to the roof — ask for directions as you enter or you’ll be walking around in circles trying to find it. The garden is open seasonally, and offers spectacular views of Central Park and the surrounding buildings. Each summer the rooftop garden opens with a new seasonal exhibit. When we visited this time, the Roof Garden Commission was an installation by Dan Graham with Günther Vogt.

A Day At The Met With Kids via brunchwithmybaby.com

A Day At The Met With Kids via brunchwithmybaby.com

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

If you’re taking kids to the museum, be sure to stop by the Hecksher Playground next door afterwards to the Egyptian-themed play space.

A Day At The Met With Kids via brunchwithmybaby.com

Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street)
New York, NY 10028
Hours: Daily, Sun-Thur 10am-5:30pm, Fri & Sat 10-9pm.
The Roof Garden Commission is on display April 29–November 2, 2014

The Alexis Silver Pediped shoes retail for $59 and are available on the Pediped website.

Brunch With My Baby was provided with a sample for reviewing purposes. All opinions, as always, are our own.

Amoretti’s Plough And Harrow Park: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, South-West Sydney

amorettis #ploughandharrow - #kidfriendly #restaurants #sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com

Situated in the Western Sydney Parklands Plough and Harrow Park East, Amoretti’s is a great location for families to eat good food while also being able to entertain the kids.

amorettis #ploughandharrow - #kidfriendly #restaurants #sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com

Amoretti’s takes reservations and is used to handling large groups, which is one of the reasons we head there one early weekend morning with a large group of friends and kids ranging from a few weeks old to almost 5.

The weekend breakfast menu offers lots of variety, from Yoghurt and Fruit to French Toast and Egg dishes. All of the food is fresh and flavorsome. The eggs dishes in particular are a huge hit.

amorettis #ploughandharrow - #kidfriendly #restaurants #sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com

amorettis #ploughandharrow - #kidfriendly #restaurants #sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com

amorettis #ploughandharrow - #kidfriendly #restaurants #sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com

amorettis #ploughandharrow - #kidfriendly #restaurants #sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com

amorettis #ploughandharrow - #kidfriendly #restaurants #sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com

Right next to the restaurant is a waterway with a platform where kids can feed the ducks (BYO bread), which is great on mornings like ours, where we had to wait a bit longer than the kids could handle for our food to arrive. A large playground with equipment for all ages is around the other side of the restaurant, which is also good for running out energy either before or after your meal.

amorettis #ploughandharrow - #kidfriendly #restaurants #sydney via brunchwithmybaby.com

 Last Bite: A good breakfast or lunch location for families with active kids.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Amoretti’s
Western Sydney Parklands, Plough & Harrow Park
745-899 Elizabeth Drive,
Cecil Hills NSW 2176
Phone: 02 8786 1777
Prices: $$$
Hours: Thurs-Sun Lunch 12pm-3pm, Dinner 6pm-10pm Sat & Sun Breakfast 8am-11am
Get Directions

Amoretti's on Urbanspoon

Going Green With zoe b organic Dish Set & Beach Toys

zoe b organics dish set and sand toys via brunchwithmybaby.com

Is there anyone left who ISN’T worried about plastic, PBAs and other nasty things leaching into our food and water, particularly with young kids? After reading a particularly disturbing report on all the nasties that can be absorbed by children from their plastic bottles, dishes and containers, I’ve spent a lot of time researching what I can use with my daughter that will be safe for her. I came up with zoë b organic (I also love stainless steel water bottles, plates, cups and dishes).

What makes the zoë b organic range different from other plastics out there? The focus for this company is on being as green as possible, which means making their sand toys and dish sets from a bioplastic derived from corn sugar grown in the USA. They contain absolutely no BPA, phthalates, or PVC. Their toys and dishes are manufactured in Pennsylvania USA, so you’re supporting the local economy when you shop with zoë b.

The bioplastic used is also a renewable resource. While ordinary plastic comes from oil and natural gas — fossil fuels that are not renewable —zoë b organic’s bioplastic fully biodegrades in 2 to 3 years when buried in soil, immersed in water, home composted, or composted in industrial facilities (ordinary plastic takes up to 500 years to degrade).

Zoë b toys are durable and designed to hold up to playing just like ordinary beach toys. They’re designed to withstand extreme heat (hello New York summer heatwave!) and endless sunlight, and are dishwasher-safe. The toys and dishes only biodegrade when exposed to microbial activity, such as in soil, home compost, industrial compost, or marine environments. When your kids outgrow the toys and dishes, if they’re not suitable to be handed down to another family, you can simply put them in your compost or bury them in your backyard.

zoe b organics dish set and sand toys via brunchwithmybaby.com

We received a set of the dishes, containing a cup, dish and bowl, and a set of the sandpit toys, both in pink/orange. When they arrived, Missy E literally shrieked with joy and insisted on her dinner being served on the dishes (“and milk in my milk cup!”) and taking the sand pit toys into the bath with her. So tick off “instant hit with the kid”. I personally love the designs for different reasons. The cup is the perfect size for small hands to hold, and slightly sloped on the side to make it easy to drink from without excess spilling over the edge. The bowl is big enough for a big serving of cereal, and the plate is the perfect size for a large toddler dinner.

zoe b organics dish set and sand toys via brunchwithmybaby.com

zoe b organics dish set and sand toys via brunchwithmybaby.com

The sandpit toys are designed with function and fun in mind. While most sand toys come in a bucket and fall out everywhere, this innovative set comes as a box with a lid and toys inside, giving you an all-in-one toy kit where the container is also part of the toy. The lid is a fun sand sifter with different shapes like a star, diamond, triangle and circle for the sand to fall through, and the bottom of the box acts as the bucket. Inside are two small cups and a shovel — again, the perfect size for small hands, and also the perfect amount of equipment to either play with on ones own, or to share with a friend or two.

zoe b organics dish set and sand toys via brunchwithmybaby.com

The zoë b organic range is available for sale on here and here. The dish set retails for $13.25 and the sandpit toys for $22.

Brunch With My Baby received samples of zoë b organic dishes and toys for reviewing purposes. All opinions are, as always, our own. 

DUMBO Dreaming

One of my absolutely favourite things to do is to just walk the streets of DUMBO. I did it a lot during winter with the Cheese to get her to nap, which wasn’t ideal, but it was still an amazing experience (even in the snow and sleet). DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, and is a little old industrial neighborhood full of cobblestones, soaring bridges and, of course, stunning water views.

DUMBO was originally a manufacturing district, home to warehouses and factories that made machinery, paper boxes and Brillo soap pads. Interestingly, the cardboard box was invented in the Robert Gair building on Washington Street, which is now the home of Etsy.

Nowadays, DUMBO is home to a lot of expensive condos, tech startups, little cafes and restaurants, like my faves One Girl Cookie and Jacques Torres, and the beautiful Jane’s Carousel.

DUMBO Dreaming via akissgoodnight.co

 

#DUMBO Dreaming via akissgoodnight.co

#Dumbo Dreaming via akissgoodnight.co

#DUMBO Dreaming via akissgoodnight.co

#DUMBO Dreaming via akissgoodnight.co

#DUMBO Dreaming via akissgoodnight.co

Downtown #Brooklyn via akissgoodnight.co

OK so this last one is actually in nearby Downtown Brooklyn, but I wanted to throw it in because I love it.

 

Happy 40th Birthday Alec

Happy 40th birthday my dearest love! We celebrated in style with a festival of NYC events:

Alec's 40th Birthday

Lunch at ABC Kitchen. Cheese slept well the night before, so we all had a lovely lunch – especially when the little one slept through most of lunch so we were able to enjoy a leisurely lunch and then share dessert with her when she woke.

Alec's 40th Birthday

Alec had crab. I had ravioli, and we shared really good citrus desserts. ABC Kitchen was really kid-friendly too, which was nice, even though Cheese was asleep the whole time! When she woke up, they set her a special place at the table.

Alec's 40th Birthday

A party with friends at the KBH, Brooklyn. Nothing like beer, cake and pie with good friends. Pie and cake from Betty Bakery, Brooklyn. Alec wanted a pie rather than cake, so we had both to feed the masses.

Alec's 40th Birthday

Candles on the birthday pie. Happy birthday boy.

#Brooklyn #Nets game for Alec's 40th Birthday

Awesome seats at a Net’s game at the Barclays Center – the Brooklyn Nets vs Atlanta. My first basketball game! It was so much fun, both being so close to really see the players and the action, and the atmosphere. The view was amazing! Special seats for the birthday boy. The only celeb we saw was Katie Couric, but plenty of other fun things to watch, like the half-time entertainment and dancers. I also loved that our tickets included unlimited food.

#Brooklyn #Nets game for Alec's 40th Birthday

Last stop on the birthday train …

Alec's 40th Birthday

Dinner at Per Se. The most amazing dining experience of our lives.

Alec's 40th Birthday at Per Se #NEWYORK

Located in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, Per Se has been on our bucket list since we moved to New York. It was an experience worth waiting for, and one that we will remember forever. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel special and welcome. They knew our names, they knew I was a vegetarian, they knew it was Alec’s birthday. They printed special menus with “Happy Birthday Alec” on them. Every tiny detail was perfect.

Alec's 40th Birthday at Per Se #Newyork

And of course the food was exquisite. Every course was a tiny delight. In addition to the courses listed on the menu were various others including amuse bouches, bread, hand-churned butter from a small dairy of 14 cows, extra desserts, a cardamon affogato, macarons, hand-made chocolate truffles and, of course, the famous donuts. All up I think there were about 12 courses.

We were so full we had to take home the macarons and chocolates. As we left we were handed our especially printed menus in a folder, our boxed up desserts, and sweet little tins filled with the most amazing hazelnut cookies for later.

Alec's 40th Birthday at Per Se #newyork

Alec's 40th Birthday at Per Se #NewYork

Alec's 40th Birthday at Per Se #newyork

Alec's 40th Birthday at Per Se #newyork

Alec's 40th Birthday at Per Se #newyork

The best meal of our lives, and the most amazing evening.

Alec's 40th birthday

Alec looks eternally youthful to me, with the exception of some tired bags under the eyes thanks to the bad-sleeping Cheese monster.

My love, I hope your 40th was wonderful, and here’s to celebrating every day between this and the next birthday. It’s an honor to walk through life with you by my side. You’re a wonderful father and husband. Both the Cheese and I are lucky to have you making up our little family of three.

Mother’s Day 2014 at the New York Botanical Garden

Finally gorgeous weather after seven months of freezing cold. What better way to spend the day with my loves than in the gorgeous New York Botanical Garden? The gardens are way up in the Bronx, so makes it a good day trip for us. They are extremely relaxed at the gardens, happy for visitors to lounge anywhere and really enjoy the gardens (in contrast to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens where they won’t let you sit on the lawn!), so we always pack a blanket and picnic food so we can hopefully spread out under a tree at some stage and enjoy the serenity.

Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Gardens

The gardens are so easy to get to by train. The B, D or 4 are all nearby, and it’s a short walk from the station to the garden. The gardens are MASSIVE. There is a tram to get around, but we always walk and haven’t found it too large for strolling between each area. Mother’s Day weekend is the perfect time to visit the garden – the tulips and daffodils were just past peak bloom, but the cherry blossom trees and azaleas were in full bloom and absolutely stunning.

Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Gardens

The gardens put on a special Mother’s Day garden party, with a live jazz band, old school lawn games like croquet, kites, and arts for the kids like making cards, baskets for (pretend) bird eggs, and water colour paintings. We grabbed lunch from a food truck (grilled cheese!) and set up under a perfectly flowering cherry blossom tree. Cheese quickly found toddlers nearby to play with, and merrily entertained herself with a little boy the same age collecting and building a house out of sticks.

We stopped to listen to the band – Cheese wanted to dance, and so we did! Nothing like dancing to a real vintage jazz band among the gorgeous trees and flowers.

Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Gardens

Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Gardens

Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Gardens

 

A stroll around the gardens after lunch for the Cheese to nap brought us to the exact same spot we paused for a picnic two years ago when we first visited the garden. After the little lady woke up and saw our picnic spread, she proclaimed it “the best picnic ever!” (from Peppa Pig perhaps?). It was the perfect Mother’s Day with my dearest loves, in one of my absolute favourite places in the city I also love.

Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Gardens

Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Gardens

Mother's Day at the New York Botanical Gardens

The only thing that could have made the way better was to be celebrating my own mother in person as well. I miss spending time with my parents, particularly on special days like today. Happy Mother’s Day to my amazing mum, and all the wonderful mums in my life and in yours!

Reasons My Toddler Is Whining

Reasons My Toddler Is Whining via akissgoodnight.co

My mum warned me that once my child started talking, that I’d regret wanting her to talk so much as from then on, the talking never stops. Of course, I didn’t listen, and was so desperate for little Cheese to start talking. Over our summer visit to Australia, her speech finally exploded. Somethings are insanely cute, like “I love you Mummy!”, “You’re my best friend”, “Tulips are Mummy’s favourite!” (they are!), “I’ll be right back!” (so not true, she’s never right back). Others, not so cute, like “Calm down Mummy!”, or “Just stop it, Mummy!”. Ugh.

Worst of all though, is the whining. I was worried that age two would bring tantrums. Thankfully, no tantrums, but OH MY GOD, THE WHINING! Some days there are none, but some days, it’s literally non-stop all day long.

Here are today’s top whines.

She wanted to try bread in Whole Foods. I got her bread. It wasn’t big enough. “Want BIGGER BREAD!”

She wanted a bandaid on a graze on her toe. Socks and shoes went over the top. She wanted to pull her shoes and socks in the playground off to see the bandaid.

Couldn’t find Anna. Found Anna. Couldn’t find Anna’s dress. Found Anna’s dress. Couldn’t find Elsa’s dress. Found it! Can’t put either dress on. “BROKEN!!!”

Scooting was too hard. “NO MORE SCOOT!”

Breakfast was her usual favourite, Cheerios and milk, and strawberries. “DON’T LIKE CEREAL!” (Dramatic hand sweeping motion.) “DON’T LIKE BUBBIES! (Crap. Now what am I going to feed her?)

Wanted to take Anna and Elsa dolls to preschool. Told her they’d get lost so they needed to stay home. “NOOOOOOOO ANNA ELSAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!” Charges around the living room holding onto Anna and Else for dear life. Dolls need to be (lovingly) removed by force. Whining turns into crying.

A lady on the street admired her Cinderella dress. “DON’T LOOK AT MEEEEEE!”

Didn’t want to push the button to call the elevator, so I pushed it instead. “BUT I WANTED TO PUSH ITTTTTTTTT!”

I gave her Cheddar Bunnies and she wanted Gold Fish. THEY’RE THE SAME THING!

She did a poo in her nappy and I tried to change it. “DON’T TOUCH ME DON’T TOUCH ME DON’T TOUCH MEEEEE!!!!”

Toddlers, yay! Now someone please pass me the wine.

Mother, What is the Moon? A Book Review

#motherwhatisthemoon #bookreview via brunchwithmybaby.com

It’s always a lovely surprise to receive books in the mail. I love reading to E and hope she will end up loving literature as much as I do. The particular book we are checking out today is Mother, What is the Moon? by David Griswold, and illustrated by Eliza Reisfeld. The book is perfect for preschoolers, so if you have a kid aged 2 – 5, read on.

#motherwhatisthemoon #bookreview via brunchwithmybaby.com

Mother, What is the Moon? is full of gentle poetry and beautiful art, presented in an engaging way for little ones. The book tells the story of a young boy, asking his mother what the moon is. Her answer is both wise and whimsical. The moon is a nighttime adventure through snow, fields and streams. It’s connected to the cycle of life and nature, and is a thing of dreams, magic and science, all rolled together.

My 2.5 year old is currently obsessed with the moon. Every night, it’s the same. “Where is the moon?” “I can’t see it!” “It’s hiding!” This sweet book gives me a story to tell my toddler that answers the question “what is the moon?” when the moon, like us, is always changing.

Mother, What is the Moon? has become a new nighttime favourite in our home, among both the adults and our toddler. If you’re going to read a book a hundred times a week, make sure it’s one you’re all going to enjoy!

#motherwhatisthemoon #bookreview via brunchwithmybaby.com

#motherwhatisthemoon #bookreview via brunchwithmybaby.com

Mother, What is the Moon? is currently raising funds for its publishing run on Kickstarter. Back it to receive a first edition copy.

Brunch With My Baby was not compensated for this post. We just love awesome kids’ books.

Mother's Day Traditions to Inspire You

Rejoice! It is almost Mother’s Day! The Brunch With My Baby team hopes that you’ll be spoiled rotten by your family, and get to enjoy some quality time with your loved ones.

Haven’t decided on where to go yet? We asked some of our favorite blogger friends for their Mother’s Day plans to give you some last-minute ideas.

#mothersday #traditions via brunchwithmybaby.com

Kristin Strange of My Strange Family
This year I will be celebrating my 4th Mothers Day.  Every year, my Mother’s Day is divided between “me” time and “family” time. We always have a nice brunch at The Harrison restaurant in Tribeca (which we originally picked because it is my son’s name). After brunch we make our way tonearby Washington Market Park for some running-out-the-crazies and slide time. During nap-time on Mother’s Day, I usually sneak out of the house and have a nice spa afternoon at the Langham Place Spa in Midtown. It is a perfect mix of activities for a perfect day of celebrating me as a mom. (The photo is from last year at Washington Market Park, when Kristin was 8+ months pregnant!)

#mothersday #traditions via brunchwithmybaby.com

Allison Cooper of Project Motherhood

For our family, Mother’s Day (and Father’s Day!) have become days that we always spend together as a family, but the rule is that my husband and son are in charge of planning something they know I will enjoy (we do the same for Father’s Day, but with me as the planner). Last year, we spent a wonderfully sunny day at Prospect Park Zoo, which we love because it’s so intimate and friendly. We also do small gifts, which is always fun to look forward to. As my son gets older, many of the gifts become homemade treasures that I value more than anything!
An Interview with #Brianne Manz from #strollerinthecity - brunchwithmybaby.com

Brianne Manz of Stroller In The City
My absolutely favorite thing to do in NYC on Mothers Day is to go to a wonderful brunch with my family! It’s so important to me to spend the day with my 3 children and husband. This year we are actually heading to Langham Place for a fun, family-friendly sing along. I think the kids (and us parents) will have an absolute blast!
#mothersday #traditions via brunchwithmybaby.com

Jory Lieber of Teeny Tiny Foodie

For Mother’s Day, I like to go out for a nice meal with my husband and daughter and enjoy time outside if the weather permits. The restaurants we like (with the perk of outdoor seating) are Du Jour Bakery and Stone Park Cafe. However, I also like to celebrate by taking a little time for myself and getting a manicure and pedicure too! We love the JJ Byrne Playground in Park Slope for outdoor fun, and we also like to go to the Prospect Park Zoo or just for a neighborhood walk.
#mothersday #traditions from @foodballfoodandmotherhood via brunchwithmybaby.com
Stephanie Barnhart of Football Food and Motherhood
It’s become tradition for us to go to Freeport in Long Island for Mother’s Day — they have the nautical mile which is lined with outdoor ocean/seafood restaurants. You can sit outside on the harbor and have a cold beer and fresh seafood. This year however, we are opting against it since Maximo is so wild and will probably fall off the dock. Stay tuned to see how that plays out! Typically we eat at Otto’s Sea Grill or Rachel’s Waterside Grill. (Check out Stephanie and Maximo last Mother’s Day  at Freeport in the pic above!). The Freeport area was significantly damaged during 2012’s hurricane and only re-opened late last year, so the businesses would love your support!
#mothersday #traditions to inspire you via brunchwithmybaby.com
Serena Norr, Managing Editor of Momtrends and The Shopping Mama
With all of the busyness in my life, I love Mother’s Day as a time to spend time with family. Since I grew up in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, we usually go there to meet my mom and my sister for an early dinner and to visit to the local parks afterward. I also love waking up to the sweet and precious handmade cards that my girls usually make me. There is nothing better (to me) on Mother’s Day then the simplicity of shutting off, eating great food and being with my family.
If these ideas don’t inspire you, here are some of our fave restaurant and outing picks:
Lunch at DUMBO’s Superfine and something sweet from Jacques Torres
Fancy SoHo lunch at Mercer Kitchen
People-watching while dining al fresco at Isabella’s on the Upper West Side
A walk around Union Square and lunch at the Blue Water Grill
Playing in Washington Market and brunch at Sarabeth’s
A day trip to Blue Hill Farm
Touring the gardens at The Cloisters and lunch at New Leaf Restaurant
Enjoy!!!