Mommy FTW

I did a post about Seamless Web in the past – have you tried it yet?!

Seamless Web is an online service which allows you to place food delivery orders via the internet.  I love it because it’s fast and easy – and it allows me to use my credit card to pay (lots of the places around here in Fort Greene only take cash, and sometime I just don’t have it on hand!)  Another useful feature is that Seamless Web keeps track of your orders and allows you to name your favorites, so next time you come back and you want to get the same thing it’s a one click process.  You can also request that a restaurant not include plastic utensils, napkins etc – usually we are eating at home and we don’t need these things.

I’m posting about Seamless Web again for two reasons – one in case you didn’t see my first post and haven’t tried it yet, and second (and more exciting!) Seamless Web just launched their iPhone App!  You can get it via the iTunes store.  And for you Blackberry folks out there, there is a version for you as well.  So now you can order your dinner while you are out and about, so by the time you get home with your little one it’s on the way.

Seamless Web serves 26 cities across the US – so check out their website and see what they have in your area.  It’s fast, it’s easy, and you can do it while your toddler is making noise in the background – believe me, it’s a lot easier than a phone call!

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Loyal readers of Mommy FTW know that I am a big fan of Huggies, and that they have asked me to be an Ambassador for their Little Movers Diapers.  Part one of my job was to write up a little post about Little Movers – If you didn’t see it – check it out.  I believe my “Tale of 3 Diapers” really shows what a great product Little Movers are.  Part two of my job is to give away some free diapers!  Horay!

To win free Huggies Little Movers from Mommy FTW you have to:

1) Be a fan of Mommy FTW and Huggies on Facebook.

2) Email me a photo of your little one sporting some Huggies Little Movers.  The cuter, the better!  I want to be able to see those diapers in action, people!  Include a write up about your little one’s favorite activities.  After all, Little Movers are made for active babies!  So tell me what your baby does in their favorite diaper.  Send your email to mommyftw -@- gmail – dot- com.  I will write you back to let you know I got your message.

OR – upload a photo with caption about your little one and their love of Little Movers to the Mommy FTW facebook page wall.

You must enter by by July 1 – so you have one week.  Feel free to send me multiple pictures, but each person can only enter the contest once.  I will pick 5 winners at random, and post them on Friday, July 2nd.  Then, I’ll contact the winners via email and get your baby’s size, your address, and so on.

I will post as many pictures and stories as possible on Mommy FTW because I want to show off all your cute babies!  So be sure to check back in the week to see your little one’s adorable mug.  If anyone has any questions, please post them in the comments.

And now, start taking some pictures!

You’ve had a long (but typical) day taking care of  your little one, perhaps doing some laundry, attempting to keep the house in semi-order, and all around being super-mom.  Bath time is over, and your baby is snoozing in his crib – and now it’s time to cook dinner?!  Um – no.  It’s time to order out!  My husband has gotten me into using this online service called Seamless Web.  It allows you to order via their website and pay with a credit card (even include the tip amount you want to leave).  It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s great because so often I realize too late that I don’t have the cash to pay for delivery!

All you have to do is check out the Seamless Web website, sign up for a FREE account, and then check the delivery options for your area.  They actually operate in 14 cities.  If they don’t have your favorite places to order from, you can suggest them.  Currently there’s about 20 choices for my zip code (11205) – and more are coming all the time.  Again, Seamless Web is free – there is no charge to sign up, and no charge to order.  I admit I was nervous the first time I used it…. but my food arrived safe and sound!

Once you order on the Seamless Web website, your order prints out at the restaurant.  Then the restaurant will confirm your order, and you will get a confirmation email.  Then the food appears at your house, like it normally would – you sign the receipt and start chowing down!  As of yet Seamless Web does not have an iPhone App, but I heard from them via twitter that they are working on one.  I’ll let you know when it comes out!

Did you know Clinton Hill Library has DVDs for Kids?  Probably!  But I didn’t!  I know it’s not exactly shocking, but I had never even thought to explore beyond the little Children’s section.

I was in the Library last Friday and we had just gotten Cameron his Library Card (all it takes is a picture ID from Mom, and it takes about 5 minutes).  I saw another mom checking out an Elmo’s World DVD and I asked her where she got it.  She showed me where the DVD section was – it’s in the back right corner if you are facing the kids section from the entrance.

They’ve got lots of great options!  I am sure we will be back for more.  And it’s just one more reason to support Clinton Hill Library in their Support Our Shelves campaign.  Check out this previous post to find out more about how you can donate to the Library.

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Having a child can be so expensive – so here’s a simple and free idea to help save you some cash, and keep your little one happy as well!  Recently I started a toy exchange with two other local moms that have boys around Cameron’s age.  We each brought several toys to a playgroup meet up, then did a little swap (while the boys weren’t looking – of course).  That way, the guys can have new things to play with, and then when they get their toys back at after the agreed upon amount of time has passed (we decided a month) they will be new and exciting again.  Here’s a few tips if you want to start your own exchange:

1) Exchange with other parents who have kids around your child’s age, and sex (I hate to say it, but it really seems like boys are interested in different things than girls – Cameron and his boy friends love trucks, cars, mechanical things – and anything that rolls).

2) Agree upon the length of time for the exchange.

3) Realize that things might break, or not come back in pristine condition!  Hey, I know Cameron is a little destroyer, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from another toddler.

4) Clean your toys before you exchange them, and before you return them.

It’s easy, and it’s free -so ask your friends if they are interested!

So far Cameron has managed to kill several electronic devices – an iPhone (excessive drool), a digital camera (sticky fingers in the lens and smashing), and our printer (suprise! matchbox car parked inside). I was afraid our TV was next on his hit list.

Cameron loves to press buttons and flip switches, and he found the on/off button on the TV to be particularly entertaining. The constant pressing of the button was worrying my husband and I so he got out some tape and taped over it. Not the most elegant solution – but it worked! No more on/off for the TV.

I’ve been wishing for a long time that Fresh Direct had an iPhone App – and recently, my dreams came true!  For those of you who don’t know, Fresh Direct is a grocery delivery service that us New Yorkers are lucky to have – and now we have it on the go!  The other day, I used the iPhone App to place a grocery order while Cameron was on the swings at Underwood Park.  How great is that!

As far as I can tell, you can do pretty much everything you can do from a regular computer – reserve a delivery slot, check out what’s on sale, change your order, even shop from your favorites.  Now, Fresh Direct is even having a giveaway with $1000 in prizes – check here to enter.  And get the free iPhone App now!

FYI – Fresh Direct just launched their facebook fan page – become a fan and get a free delivery!

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!

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.

Hi all – I had two bits of Fort Greene / Clinton Hill news I wanted to share.

First – I was at Story Time yesterday at the Clinton Hill Library and it seems that the usual woman has moved libraries and is gone for good.  They have  a stand in named Steve (I think) and he didn’t give the impression that he was going to be the permanent person in charge.  He seemed a little awkward, but everything worked out fine.  I saw another mom who was at the later session and she said Steve told her class that they might not have the funding to keep Story Time going for more than 6 weeks.  I hope this isn’t true!  It’s such an amazing resource in the neighborhood.  Yesterday there was quite a crowd!

Secondly, I also went to the Pratt Post Office on Myrtle to get the mail from my P.O. Box.  I wasn’t sure what to expect since they quietly and quickly announced their closing.  There was a truck outside that was selling stamps (no money orders, according to the postal worker).

They were also letting people in to use the APC machine and drop items in the big box in the foyer.  I was also allowed to walk into the actual post office and pick up my mail.  The postal worker said they decided to keep it like this until actual construction begins.  Sounds reasonable to me!  After that, she said, who knows.   Yikes….  She recommended that people with P.O. Boxes check their mail daily for now.

Gowalla is a really interesting App for the iPhone that can help you meet up with other moms (or friends!) and it’s free.  Often used in conjunction with facebook, or twitter, but great just on it’s own, Gowalla encourages you to “Check in” places that you visit.  When you do this, it lets your friends who also have the Gowalla App know.  A message gets sent to their phone (like a text message – but not counting as one, for those of you who don’t have unlimited texting, like me!).  I think this has some pretty cool possibilities!

If you were at the Library the Playground, or out for a bite, you could check in at that location (create the location if it’s not already listed).  You can even add a description of what you are doing.  Your message would go out to your friends, and if they were near by, they could stop in.  It’s fun – and free, and might get you some unexpected playdates.  Gowalla works on the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.  FYI, if you have heard of foursquare – this is pretty similar, but I think it has a few features that make it better.