Stores

Dressing with style in one of the most fashionable cities in the world is a tough thing to do especially when you are a tween. I have allowed my daughter some freedom when it comes to clothing, letting her choose her clothes and then put them together into outfits good or bad. What we have discovered is that she consistently wants all new trendy clothing to impress her friends.

There is no need to spend a fortune on trendy items that are going to be ruined or out of style in less than a year. Kicks, rocker tees, patterned scarves, funky bags. All of these items are in high demand and easily found in multiple at many secondhand vintage stores. Tweens will also have a blast rooting through racks for that perfect t shirt so take some cash and go on a vintage shopping spree. Here are some tips on how and where to buy Vintage and Secondhand with your tween:

There are many benefits to buying handmade goods this holiday season. It makes for more meaningful giving, it supports local craftsmen and is overall better for the environment. The accumulating effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming. If buying with a conscious is high on your list of things to do this holiday season, where do you find high quality handmade goods? The internet is crawling with items that claim to be unique and handmade but it is almost impossible to discern the junk from the gems. Here is the 411 on where to get unique handmade goods in NYC.

Mini Jake is Williamsburg, Brooklyn's hip baby design store and sister store to the neighborhood's Two Jakes, its adult counterpart. This 1500 sq foot shrine to baby design is full of some great items to spruce up your baby's room or give as gifts. And, for its size, it is quite a cozy store with little nooks for books, clothing and toys throughout the space.

Perhaps when your kids were babies you only gave them hand made wooden toys and never bought them anything with a character on it, but once you send your kids to school, all bets are off. All of a sudden status is measured by how much brightly colored plastic you have in your room, hanging from your backpack and printed on your T-Shirts.

And for kids these days, especially the boys, Pokemon branded plastic seems to be the most treasured. But the Pokemon empire extends far beyond the world of adorable plastic figures, there's cards, video games and stuffed animals to collect also. My kids can't get enough of any of it.

It has always really bummed me out that there was no great craft store in New York City. When I was a kid I used to go to the Woolworth's on Broadway for all kinds of crafts supplies. I loved that place, but it's been gone for ages and, while you can find some craft supplies at the art supply stores, it's hit or miss. So, I am thrilled that, finally, there is a great craft store in New York City with the opening of Michaels on the Upper West Side. Yes, it's a huge chain, and, yes, it smells unbearably like potpourri, but I'll take it!

Why buy locally? Well, it ensures good independent businesses are here for the long run; it’s beneficial for the environment; and you can get some pretty cool one-of-a-kind items. Finally, these businesses provide excellent learning opportunities: Use shopping trips as a way to educate your child about how local companies operate. If you're already buying locally, take it a step further by increasing the products you purchase. You'll be surprised at how many fine items are made right here in New York City.

One way to shop locally is to visit the flea markets and craft fairs where local artisans and retailers often sell their wares. Brooklyn seems to be the epi-center of these markets now. Below are some of the best markets to buy locally, plus, surprisingly, an online source for local shopping as well.

Considering the size of New York City and the strong bias toward breastfeeding, one would think there would be a lot more resources for nursing moms. In fact there aren't that many stores and it can be hard to find breastfeeding supplies. The other snag to purchasing nursing bras and supplies is that you really can't do it before you give birth; your breasts are going to get much bigger than you realize, so you have no idea what size bra you are going to need. You should plan on making a trip to buy nursing bras as one of your early outings with baby soon after it's born.

Lots of places sell nursing bras, but a bra that fits well in order to support your already overburdened chest and back and help you feel like a human being again should be sought out. I think going to a store where they do a bra fitting is worth the investment (the fitting is free as long as you buy a bra, but the bras might cost a bit more than if you buy them online or from a discount store.) Remember, you may have to go back at least once while you are nursing and then again after you stop (yes, your breasts will probably not be the same as they were pre-pregnancy).

Breast pumps, nursing tops, cover-ups, slings and other breastfeeding supplies are other things you will want to get after you have your baby and you start to figure out your routine and what's comfortable for you and your baby. Here are some places in New York City that sell nursing bras and breastfeeding supplies:

As the weather starts to climb into the high ‘50s and the snow finishes its vanishing act, you might catch yourself day-dreaming of a spring vacation. Oh, the economy still got your wallet? (too bad the sun can’t melt that issue away)—No problem! You can still give the kids and yourself a well deserved break with an old fashioned play-cation right here in New York City.

Take a day to yourselves and go visit these extremely play-friendly stores, without having to spend a cent. Do anything from shooting hoops to free amusement park play, and maybe even get a little exercise in on the Wii Fit. The kids will be so played-out, they might not even whine about getting their own Nintendo system…

Aurea emailed me with a question about where to find help with baby wearing lessons. There is no way to underestimate the importance of finding the right carrier for you and your baby. You are going to be holding your infant (and toddler) a lot more than you might have ever guessed pre-pregnancy. The wrong carrier can be anything from annoying to down-right painful—and you want to enjoy have baby close to you, not find it a pain.

Choosing the right carrier for mom and dad (who may need his own if he is not the same size) is really important and worth investing a little time, thought and consideration into. You will need to consider the style of carrier (wrap, sling, bjorn, pack) that you are comfortable using and wearing as well as sizing, comfort and perhaps fashion.

There are a couple different routes to go when looking for help choosing and learning how to use your baby carrier. I've rounded up some good choices here:

Want a fun outing that your kids will REALLY love? How about a tour of some of the best candy stores in New York City? The Lower East Side is chock full of unique and fun candy stores and you can hit them all in one day for a super treat on Valentines Day or any day you want to be the bestest parent EVER! Find your inner child, turn off that parenting voice and have fun going crazy for candy with your kids, if only for one day.