For a limited time only (unspecified) click HERE to get a coupon for $3 off Huggies – my preferred brand of diapers… Overnight, and regular!
Clinton Hill Library (and all the Brooklyn Public Libraries) are asking for our help! And, given how much time Cameron and I have spent there (for Story Time and just hanging out on cold and rainy winter days) I am more than happy to oblige. If you are interested in supporting the Library and it’s programs here’s info on how to do it:
Donate to the Clinton Hill Library today!
Online: You can visit the Brooklyn Public Library website and make a donation there. You can send your money anywhere – even specifically choose the Clinton Hill branch.
By Phone: You can call 718-230-2738 and make a donation.
Via Text Message: You can text BOOKS to 50555 to make a $10 donation.
By Mail: You can pick up an envelope at the front desk of the Libarary and mail in your donation.
If you have any questions, email them at supportourshelves@brooklynpubliclibrary.org
I am guessing you’ve spent money on Music Together or other types of classes for your child – so please consider sending some money to the Library. They offer a great, free service to the community and deserve our support!
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Recently I was contacted by Tres Belles Spa (105 Bond Street, Boerum Hill) and asked to write a review of their services as well as help them reach out to other moms. I went in for a facial, to check out the location, and to talk to Allison Tray, the owner. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it!
Petite, but perfect for moms in need of TLC!
Allison opened Tres Belle Petite Medi-Spa spa 6 years ago, although they just moved to their current location in December 09. When she moved in, she totally renovated the space – and though it is quite small, it manages to be serene, and certainly has enough room to do the job! I treated myself to a basic facial. It was very gentle and relaxing; I left feeling refreshed, and my skin was looking great. I’ve had a lot of facials where afterwords I look like I’ve been attacked by the esthetician, but this was not the case. She managed to do my extractions and leave my skin toned, polished, and glowing – but not red. To me, this is a big deal! I noticed when I was there that the owner and staff seem to know everyone who walks in the door. I am sure that this closeness with the clientele would lead to increasingly better service – after all, the better someone knows your skin, the better they can help take care of it. So, I am sure the more times I go back, the better the facials will be for me, and the more tailored they would be to my specific skin issues.
Get your facial + relaxation here - you know you deserve it!
I talked with Alison a little to find out more about her business and the services they offer. It turns out that Tres Belle is a family business, run by Alison and her Dad (aww!) She says, “My family had always had family businesses so it was a natural progression that my Dad and I ended up working together. We have always been close and my Dad has a really great sense for business and I love helping people feel confident.”
I asked her why she was reaching out to moms specifically, and she smartly answered, “Moms often forget that it’s important to take a break even if it’s once a month. Many clients and friends are Moms and when they come to Tres Belle it’s like they can have a bit of their sense of self back. Moms give on a constant basis and it feels great to be able to provide them with much needed attention, not to mention adult conversation!” So true – and that is one of the main reasons I wanted to write about this on Mommy FTW – I know I don’t give myself enough time to relax, and do things just for me. So I hope that I can encourage some of you to spend some time on yourselves! If I have to bribe you with discounts, then so be it!
Tres Belle is apparently well known for its laser hair removal – something I’ve always been curious about, but admittedly know nothing of. “We were honored to have been voted Best Laser Hair Removal in NYC on Citysearch for 2009 [ we also won in 2006, 2007, and 2008]!” Allison bragged – and rightly so. That is quite an honor! “Our most popular package is definitely our Bikini Package. Moms never know when a day at the beach or pool is going to sneak up on them. With all the things you need to do to just get out the door, your bikini area should be a non-issue. Most clients require 10 visits to get to a permanent reduction of up to 85-90% but see results and skin improvement with just a few sessions.” Personally, I think I might be sold on this one. I am not a fan of the bikini wax, and not having to plan ahead for time at the pool would be fantastic.
So, for those moms who need to be pampered a little (which I am assuming is ALL of you!!) I encourage you to check out Tres Belles Petite Medi-Spa – it’s just on the other side of Flatbush pretty close to the Dekalb Ave train station. FYI – if you are looking for some more opinions before you book, then check out their reviews on City Search – they are positively glowing!
Allison has kindly offered Mommy FTW readers some discounts : $25 off any facial plus every facial will include a free add-on of hand massage, and 10% off all laser packages. Just mention “Cameron” when you book your service. Pampering at a discount? Who can resist that!? Give them a call and book yourself an appointment – You deserve it, and you won’t be disappointed!
Tres Belle Petite Medi-Spa
105 Bond Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: (718) 797-0033
Online at tresbellespa.com
Become a Fan of Tres Belle on Facebook
I know that I never felt as much a part of the Fort Greene / Clinton Hill neighborhoods as since I’ve had Cameron – mostly because I spend so much time walking the streets, playing in the playgrounds and parks, and meeting my neighbors. Anyways, that’s why I do posts about neighborhood news – because I know most of my readers live in this part of Brooklyn, and I think they want to know whats going on in their ‘hood….
I was walking today down Myrtle to go visit the Pratt Post Office and I saw two new businesses opening – both are going to be Grocery options with Organic Items – one smaller than the other.
Two New Grocery Stores for Myrtle Ave. Bring it on!
You can learn more about them on the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership website. The store opening in the Walgreens Building (375 Myrtle Avenue between Clermont and Adelphi) is going to be opened by people who run a few Organic and produce markets on Fulton. The smaller grocery, Mr. Coco says on the awning that it will be open 24 hours – that could be interesting. It is located at 414 Myrtle Ave. I wish them both luck! And I hope the quality of the food is good – we could sure use that!
Now, on to the Post Office. As you may know the Pratt Post Office is closed for repairs. I finally got a note in my mail about it! I went today to the Mobile Unit to pick up my P.O. Box Mail. There are two Mobile Unit trucks parked at the Post Office during the hours of 9-4 M-F and 8-1 on Saturday.
Skip the Mobile Unit on Myrtle and head around the corner for some real service!
The truck out front only sells stamps – so don’t bother waiting in line there for anything else. There is another truck parked in a small alley on the side of the post office which handles giving out the packages and the P.O. Box Mail. Be sure to bring your ID if you need any of those items!
Cameron enjoys toast – peanut butter toast, french toast – but sometimes you need a change. So when I was at Trader Joe’s recently I picked up some of their whole wheat “British muffins” (English muffins) and some tasty toppings.
I’ve been toasting them lightly and putting hummus on (per my pediatrician’s recommendation), or some peanut butter and honey. I was even thinking of Apple or Pumpkin butter (though I haven’t gotten to those yet). Another mom also told me that her toddler loves the cinnamon raisin British muffins. Next time, I’ll give those a try!
This week I’m heading back to DC with Cameron (for more pool time at the Wilson Aquatic Center!) so I decided to do a little research on the local Library (the Chevy Chase branch located at 5625 Connecticut Avenue) to see what sorts of baby friendly reading programs they have in case we’ve got some spare time. Here’s what I found listed on the Friends of the Chevy Chase Library web site. Looks like they’ve got some good offerings!
Chevy Chase Library (via flickr)
Baby Time!
Thursdays at 9:30 am
Books, Lullabies, and Bonding
A program intended for babies and their caregivers
Story Time!
Thursdays at 10 am
Stories, Songs, and So Much More
A program intended for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers
Family Time!
Wednesdays at 7 pm
Stories, Arts & Crafts, and FUN
A program intended for children and their family members
I don’t think we will make Baby Time on this visit, but we will try to in the future! I think this just goes to show that you should check with your local library to see what kinds of things they have to offer you and your little one.
I’ve never really felt like I “needed” a dust buster until Cameron started throwing anything and everything (mostly food items) on the floor. I can’t tell you how many Cheerios I’ve stepped on in the past week – creating that oh-so-hard-to-clean-up Cheerio dust. I knew now was the time to get myself a dust buster! I went to Amazon.com to see what the options were. I am a sucker for well reviewed item, so in the end I went for one that had 155 reviews with an average of 4.5 stars – it had to be good, right?! And, indeed it is!
This baby has some serious power!
This little number from Black and Decker isn’t going to be winning any beauty pageants any time soon, but it sure does the job! So far, I haven’t met a chunk of who-knows-what it can’t handle (although I am sure Cameron will do his best). The only thing I wish is that it was also a wet-dry-vac. But I don’t think any cordless hand held is going to do that for you. At a price of just under $55 – I am sold on this one. Cameron even claps when I get it out! Give it a try if your little one loves to leave treats underfoot.
Another mom was telling me about her daughter’s love of Trader Joe’s Freeze Dried Mangoes, so I went and picked some up a few weeks ago. I was pleased to see that there were no other ingredients besides “mangoes” in this treat! They have the consistency of Astronaut Ice Cream (if that means anything to you guys?!) Anyways last Friday I was at Trader Joe’s again and I noticed this time they had a lot more freeze dried fruit options – I picked up some blueberries, bananas, and strawberries in edition to the mangoes. Healthy treats with a long shelf life – not too shabby!
Yum Yum, Gimmie Some!
What are your favorite toddler and baby snacks from Trader Joe’s? Leave a comment and share with us!
The iPhone App Peekaboo Barn was first recommended to me by a mom friend. It took me awhile to get around to downloading it, mostly because I usually go for Free iPhone apps, and this one costs $.99 Well, when I was on the train ride home coming from DC with Cameron I downloaded it in desperation – and it saved me! And it has continued to entertain Cameron through many sticky and boring situations. Let me tell you, the $.99 price tag is well worth it.
The app is fairly simple: A barn appears and shakes, enticing the child to tap it. Once tapped, the barn doors open an an animal appears. Tap again a child says the name of the animal (in Spanish, if you like!). Another tap closes the doors and the game starts over with a new animal. The one main failure for me with this App (and every App) is that Cameron eventually just presses the button on the phone, exiting himself out of the game. Hopefully he will soon realizes that brings the fun to an end!
Peekaboo Barn - Hours of Baby Fun
What is your little one’s favorite app? Leave a comment and share with everyone! Just click “Write Comment” at the top of the post.
