Bring the Family Together With Jungle Speed + Giveaway - CLOSED

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When Hurricane Irene swept over the East Coast this past summer, hundreds of thousands of people lost power. People complained of the inconveniences; however, one mom I spoke to said, “I didn’t mind the blackout because my family actually spent more time together. The kids couldn’t play video games, so we played board games.”

Jungle Speed at Dylan's Candy Bar in New York City
Photo by Maria Adcock

Non-electronic games can encourage family bonding time by requiring face to face interaction and communication. In Europe, families love a game called Jungle Speed. According to the manufacturer Asmodee, over 2 million sets have been sold. It’s the kind of game that kids, teens, and adults find addictive and it fosters social interaction between the players. It’s a lightning-fast game requiring quick thinking and reflexes. For kids, the educational component involves recognizing unique shapes, colors, and matching them. For adults, the game freshens and sharpens thinking skills.

Jungle Speed is now available in America at mass retailers. I had the opportunity to play the game with other writers, bloggers, and kids at the Asmodee Jungle Speed event held at Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City last week. The venue, owned by the daughter of fashion designer Ralph Lauren, was the perfect place to feel like a kid again. While snacking on sweets, we learned the rules of the game and played several rounds.

The game can be played with 2-8 players and is recommended for ages 8+. Playing time is only 15 minutes – great for kids who may easily become bored. Here’s a quick summary of the game from the Asmodee website:

Jungle Speed cards display unique
shapes and colors.
Photo: Asmodee.com

Flip the cards, spot the matching symbols and grab the totem, but grab faster than your friends, or you’ll be stuck with their cards. Dump your whole hand to win – if you can! Jungle Speed is easy to learn and fast to play, with excitement and fun for families and friends of all ages.

Spotting the matching symbols is challenging enough, but the entire game can change if you see one of the special cards appear. Then you’ll find yourself looking for colors instead of symbols, grabbing for the totem out of turn, or otherwise scrambling to stay a step ahead of everyone else.

Learning to play Jungle Speed was fun.
Mitch from GayDayNYC.com played at the table as well.
Photo by Maria Adcock

After the competition round, we all received giant sugar cookie to decorate with
frosting and candy. The kids were trying to decorate the cookies in the
shapes and colors found on the Jungle Speed cards.
Photo by Maria Adcock

The table at Dylan's Candy Bar displayed several of Asmodee's
hottest new games.
Photo by Maria Adcock

The rules were easy to learn - after a few tries everyone at the table got the hang of it. The competitive bug came out of all of us, and we really got into the game. We all tried winning, and the ultimate champion at our table was an 8 year old boy (the winner was the one who used up all of his cards).

Jungle Speed retails for $19.99 at major retailers such as Walmart, Toys R Us, and Amazon.com. The game includes a cloth bag, 80 cards, one totem, and one rule book.

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

Two lucky readers will win the Jungle Speed game. Please review the instructions below to enter.

For more info: Visit www.asmodee.com for more details about Jungle Speed and other games available such as the new game called Dixit – a game of storytelling through imagination and clues.

Disclosure: Author received a gift bag at the Dylan's Candy Bar event which included the Jungle Speed game for review purposes. Author did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are the author's only.

Humbled By Our Firefighters

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My brother-in-law is a New York City Firefighter. He rarely talks about the emergencies he attends to everyday, and understandably he probably does so to separate work from his family life. Once in a while the family will see a photo or news article mentioning him at the scene of a fire. Today my husband came upon a post by Steve Spak who takes photos for the FDNY.

The post speaks to an explosion in Queens on Father’s Day in 2001. Though my brother-in-law is not named, my husband tells me he was one of the firefighters blown off his feet during the explosion (this took place before I had met my husband). My brother-in-law sustained injuries requiring him to go on disability for several weeks, and it was a traumatic event for everyone involved.

Eerily, this explosion took place three months before 9/11, and several of the firefighters who attended to the Queens explosion later perished at the Twin Towers. Some of the parks and streets in our area bear their names.

I was going to take a break from writing a post today, but after finding out this incident that affected my family and reading Steve Spak’s post, I felt compelled to write – it reminded me to not sweat the small stuff because life is precious, and some people put their lives on the line every day to help others.

Let’s remember to honor our firefighters. I am humbled, and express my gratitude to these brave men and women.

Honoring those who risk their lives every day to save others.
Photo: flickr/mycalcave

Japanese/Brazilian/U.S. Pop Singer Haikaa Produces a Work of Art

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Haikaa
Image: Haikaa.com

Haikaa, an international pop singer with an enchanting pure voice, has emerged into the music scene with her new album, Work of Art. I had the opportunity to interview and write the biography for this amazing multicultural artist. With her permission, I am posting the biography here to coincide with its release on her website www.haikaa.com.

Watch the video of her Work of Art Global Project where she sings excerpts of her album’s title song in 19 languages.

View the live performance of Haikaa's song, Call Me By My Name.

About HAIKAA

Love. Self-acceptance. Tolerance. Diversity. True happiness. Haikaa radiates these messages and more through her powerful music. The international pop singer/songwriter hails from Brazil, Japan, and the U.S. Her multicultural background blends seamlessly to create songs with universal themes, sung with a luminous voice full of emotion, honesty, and pride.

Haikaa’s new album, Work of Art, debuts Fall 2011. The nine track album features songs by Haikaa and songwriting partner, Mercuri. Producers Ross Leitner and Michael Bradley lend their expertise to develop songs artfully deployed through rich melodies, rhythmic beats, and lush vocals. The album speaks about love, empowerment, the search for genuine happiness, and the courage to change and break paradigms. Pulling from her past and guided by love, Haikaa sings about her own truths and experiences in an authentic way that reveals itself through her voice, melody, and lyrics. She channels light through her timeless and refreshing music with a voice of striking purity that bares an exquisite soul.

The title track, Work of Art, speaks of self-acceptance and the tolerance, diversity, and harmony it can lead to. Haikaa also promotes these cross cultural ideas through her humanitarian effort, The Work of Art Global Project, where she masterfully records the title track in 20 languages. Listeners can view the project’s video on her website www.haikaa.com. Another standout track, Everything I Know About Love, evokes her positive persona by acknowledging rejection and embracing the concept of learning to love “Love” again. The album will be released digitally, and Haikaa plans to perform in music festivals around the world. The talented musician is already finishing her second album and working on her third. Like in Work of Art, she envisions including songs recorded in different languages into her future albums.

Haikaa’s musical journey began in Japan when Sony Music discovered her as a teen. She performed and toured in a girl band, and through this experience she heard her musical calling. She also started songwriting and realized the liberation it brought to her. While influenced by Kate Bush and The Renaissance for the way their voices merged into their music, Haikaa developed her own songwriting style and vocal technique through hard work and perseverance. She studied classical music, Japanese folk-singing, bossa nova, and pop. She also started speech therapy to fine-tune her vocal and hearing instruments. This combination of vocal training and speech therapy is the basis for her ability to hear and reproduce sounds in varying languages.

In addition to performing at corporate and non-profit events around the world, Haikaa’s global outlook and passion for music led her to participate in environmental and educational humanitarian efforts. Her beauty inside and out shines through her music, and she lives the truths that she sings about. Haikaa confides, “I would like to be remembered as the artist whose music inspires people to fall in love with themselves and to fall in love with Love.” Her new album Work of Art achieves this and more.

Winner Announced for Women of the Calabash Tickets

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Congratulations to Michelle Levine for winning Bicultural Mama’s Women of the Calabash giveaway! Michelle wins 4 tickets to attend the multicultural show Women of the Calabash in New York City.

Winner was chosen via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email, and the winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thank you to everyone who viewed the giveaway post and entered it!

The Constant Foreigner

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Visiting Hiroshima, Japan, where I said
"Konnichiwa!" to everyone.
Photo: Maria Adcoc

“Konnichiwa!” says the store clerk, the person on the street, or the tour guide. No matter what country I’m traveling in (including in the United States), strangers have greeted me hello in Japanese. The funny thing is that I’m not Japanese. I’ll politely tell the person that I’m American (specifically Chinese-American), and they typically don’t believe me because I wear an Asian face.

See a large tour group of Asians holding cameras? There’s probably a good chance they’re Japanese as many are indeed avid travelers. As such, I understand how a mistaken identity could take place.

What I find interesting is how people often cannot get past the physical appearance to accept your identity. After grad school I traveled to Australia with a Chinese-Filipino-American friend of mine. We joined an international tour group, and as part of the introductions we announced we were Americans. Besides us, the other Americans in the group included four young Caucasian guys and girls who were having a great time partying.

During the trip, an Australian girl in our tour group was watching the other four Americans. She rolled her eyes and with a huge sigh said to me and my friend, “Americans…they’re so loud, obnoxious, and annoying!”

I pointed out we were Americans, too, and the girl replied, “Well, no, you’re different, not like regular Americans.” She said it in a matter of fact way, and we realized it likely because we looked Asian.

Even within Asian countries, many people assume Americans look a certain way. My American-born sister is an ex-pat in Shanghai and was touring the old alleyways there when she spoke to a lady on the street. Through my sister’s American-accented Chinese, the lady could tell she wasn’t a local. The conversation went like this:

“Where are you from,” asked the lady.

“America,” said my sister.

“No, you can’t be from America because you look like me,” insisted the lady.

My sister says she’s observed that people don’t think you can be American if you don’t look like the people on American TV shows – specifically Sex in the City and Desperate Housewives. I suppose better these shows than Jerry Springer, but it’s interesting how much media influences the perception of Americans overseas.

What have you experienced as an American traveler regarding assumptions about who you are?

Zutano Showcases a Vibrant New Line of Baby & Toddler Clothes

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Too cute shoes by Zutano
Photo: Maria Adcock

Colorful, whimsical, versatile. These are the trademarks of Zutano, the family-owned baby and toddler clothing design company. Michael and Uli Belenky started creating clothes for their baby daughter over 20 years ago out of their small NYC brownstone. When the business outgrew their living quarters, they relocated to Vermont. Inspired by the fresh air, wide spaces, and joy their children exuberated, the Belenkys lovingly grew their line of children’s clothing and accessories using high-quality fabrics sourced from the softest cotton.

Through Momtrends, Zutano showcased its vivid new product line at its quaint showroom event in New York City last week to a group of lifestyle and parenting editors and bloggers. As an attendee, I was impressed by the fanciful and colorful unique prints. All of their clothes are designed to be mixed and matched, a convenience parents will surely appreciate. The Zutano line extends into accessories and nursery décor as well.

Mix and match for no-mistake outfits.
Photo by Maria Adcock

 

The baby in this photo is happy because he's wearing cute Zutano clothes.
Photo by Maria Adcock

 

The showroom boasted beautiful displays of its
colorful and whimsical clothes.
Photo by Maria Adcock

 

How cute will any girl look wearing this coat?
Photo by Maria Adcock

 

The Zutano bedding line - just as adorable as its clothes.
Photo by Maria Adcock

 

The Zutano founders' daughter, Sophia (center), spoke to life growing up in the Zutano business.
Photo by Maria Adcock

 
As a treat, the event pampered participants with nail treatment by Nail Taxi, a unique mobile nail boutique. Nail Taxi used non-toxic kid-safe nail polish by Hopscotch Kids. Attendees also sipped on red and white wines brought in mompreneur, Cheryl Murphy, founder of Mommy Juice Wines.

Beyond the product line, I loved the Zutano philosophies instilled into its everyday practices. From the beginning Michael and Uli Belenky treated their employees as family, cooking for them out of their house everyday until the group expanded beyond 15. Employees were allowed to bring their babies to work during the infant’s first year of life, and even pets were welcomed. The company also encouraged employees to plant seasonal vegetables in the community garden on the premises.

To view the complete line of Zutano products, visit www.zutano.com. To find out more about Momtrends, visit www.momtrends.com.

Disclosure: Author received a gift bag through the Momtrends event. Author did not receive any monetary compensation. All opinions are those of the author.

OMGmother (Oh My Godmother) Offers a New Virtual Godparent Service

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When you can't physically be there, stay involved virtually.
Image: OMGmother.com

If you’re a godparent, aunt, uncle, or any other extended family member of a child, you probably want to know what’s going on in that child’s life. No longer are generations of families living within the same village or town; relatives today may live many states or even countries away. A new service, OMGmother (Oh My Godmother), offers a safe and supportive online community for parents to involve their friends and relatives into their child's life so they can play an active role in becoming his/her mentors.

OMGmother can include any adult who
parents want involved in their child's life.
Image: OMGmother.com

Built on the noble tradition of godparenting, this service extends beyond the spiritual role of godparents to include broader family connections to anyone the parent wants involved in their child’s life. It’s not a social network, but a service that allows OMGparents to find creative ways to be more involved or simply stay connected with their godchildren, nephews, nieces or best friends' kids.

Follow and celebrate key milestones together like baby’s first steps or the child’s first day of school. Simply complete the free registration on the OMGparent website. 

Here is a quick 1 minute overview of OMGmother.com.

 

What do you think of this new service?

For more info: Visit www.OMGmother.com for your free registration.  

Note: Author did not receive any compensation for writing this post. All opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

Baby & Toddler Bonanza Event - NEW DATE 11/17

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The fun-filled Baby & Toddler Bonanza Event takes place November 17.
Image: NYMomsWorld.com

Expectant moms and moms with toddlers are invited to the Baby & Toddler Bonanza Event hosted by NY Mom’s World on October 17th from 4-8pm in Syosset, New York (Long Island). Enjoy sipping virgin mamatinis and noshing on delicious treats while learning about the latest baby gear and accessories. No need to find a sitter – kids come free and can participate in the many games and crafts offered in addition to snacking on pizza. Mom can enter giveaways, raffles, and enjoy the entertainment.

Other things to see and do:

• Learn exactly what you need to put on your registry
• Demo the hottest baby gear on the market today
• Learn basic CPR techniques from our keynote speaker Dr. Luke Hermann
• Hear from Dr. Mahnaz Khan, Pediatric Dentist, how to prepare for and care for those beautiful baby pearly whites
• Try out a pre-natal or mommy & me yoga demo
• Enter to win our Grand Raffle with prizes ranging from strollers, high chairs, & play yards to free formula, skin products & baby food
• Enjoy bountiful goodie bags...come back here for a list of the products we're loading inside!

YOU MUST REGISTER TO GUARANTEE YOUR FREE GOODIE BAG WORTH HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN PRODUCTS AND DISCOUNTS!

Registration is $25 and can be completed online. For additional details visit www.nymomsworld.com.

Sponsors include: Munchkin, Boon, Mommy’s Medicine Cabinet, My Little Picassa, Lil Tux N Tiaras, Wooly Boo, Barefoot Reading NY, and Ehrenman & Khan pediatric dentistry.

Venue: Shelter Rock Church
178 Cold Spring Road
Syosset, NY 11791

Time: 4 - 8 PM
Date: November 17, 2011

Note: Author did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Author will receive a complimentary ticket from NY Mom’s World to attend the event in order to cover the occasion for BiculturalMama.com.

Lessen the Ouch - New Relief for Sensitive Teeth

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Over half of adults experience
pain from tooth sensitivity.
Image: flickr/jetpak

Did you know that up to 57% of adults suffer tooth sensitivity?[1] It’s not just older people who experience this pain; 25-44 year olds are just as likely to suffer from tooth sensitivity as those over age 45.[2] For people already using sensitive toothpaste, 75% say they still feel pain.[3]

I fall in all of these areas. Somewhere in my 30’s a few of my teeth started to hurt when cold air passed through. Visiting the dentist for a cleaning was an excruciating experience. Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief approached me to test and review its new toothpaste and Colgate 360˚ Pro-Relief toothbrush. Given my personal history with sensitive teeth, I readily accepted.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

The triggers for tooth pain often include hot, cold, sweet or very acidic foods and drinks, or breathing cold air. Tooth sensitivity is usually caused by exposed root areas (lack of the protective enamel layer) due to receded gums or periodontal disease. Over aggressive brushing or use of abrasive toothpaste can deteriorate the tooth’s enamel surface. A very acidic diet like too much citrus food, pickles or soda can also lead to the erosion of the tooth surface.

Test Results

I used the Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothpaste and Colgate 360˚ Pro-Relief toothbrush for about a month. In the past I had used another leading brand of sensitive toothpaste which I’d like to think it helped a bit, but yet I still experienced some pain. As such I was looking forward to using this new brand.

New Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste
Photo: Kmart.com

Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothpaste

I tested the original Fresh Mint flavor. Another variety available is the whitening formula. According to the manufacturer, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothpaste is clinically proven to provide faster and lasting sensitive relief within 2 weeks based on clinical studies versus a leading sensitive teeth toothpaste. Colgate says its new toothpaste works by rushing potassium nitrate to the nerve for faster relief, and with continued use its formula builds a protective by layer by desensitizing the nerve.

I tested the toothpaste two times a day, once in the morning and at night. At first I did not feel a difference, but also knew that the desensitizing action takes time to build. Within 2-3 weeks, however, I noticed I didn’t feel pain when I came into contact with cold air. Now if I scratched the roots of my sensitive teeth with my fingernail I did experience some pain, but realized that the toothpaste is meant to reduce pain for more topical things like temperature fluctuations, not direct contact with a scratching hard surface.

Colgate Sensitive
Pro-Relief Toothpaste
Photo: Drugstore.com

Colgate 360° Sensitive Pro-Relief toothbrush
I sampled the Extra Soft version of this new manual toothbrush. The manufacturer says this toothbrush has 48% softer bristles for sensitive teeth and gums versus an ordinary soft manual toothbrush. It provides gentle, proven plaque removal for patients with exposed dentin and/or dentin hypersensitivity.

I liked the toothbrush’s comfortable ergonomic grip and thumb pad. The soft bristles also included gentle rubber polishing cups within the brush. As a bonus it featured a unique soft textured cheek and tongue cleaner on the back of the brush. This was probably the fanciest manual toothbrush I had ever owned, and I liked it. It felt good in my hand and on my sensitive teeth.

Overall

Based on my personal testing of the Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief toothpaste and Colgate 360° Sensitive Pro-Relief toothbrush, I would tell people with sensitive teeth to give it a try. The pricing is reasonable and in line with other similar items – the toothpaste retails for $4.99 and toothbrush for $3.99. Colgate released these new products in July 2011 via mass retail, drug stores, and grocery stores.

Note: Colgate Palmolive, the manufacturer of the tested products in this post, is a New York City based company. Author received product samples solely for testing purposes and did not receive any other compensation. All opinions stated are those of the author. For more information on these products, visit www.colgatesensitiveprorelief.com.     

---

[1] Addy M. Int Dent J. 2002;52(suppl5):367-375.

[2] ICPT 2008

[3] Sensitive Toothpaste In-Home Use Test, July 2011

I Chopped 14” of Hair for Locks of Love

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My 14" ponytail will help a child in need
through Locks of Love.
Photo by Maria Adcock

This week I cut off most of my hair and donated it to Locks of Love, a non-profit that provides hairpieces to financially-disadvantaged children suffering from medical hair loss (such as cancer and other long-term illnesses). I have been donating my hair to this organization on average every two years for the last decade. They require a minimum of 10” to make a hairpiece, but will accept less to sell in order to offset manufacturing costs. They also do not accept altered hair such as permed or colored hair.

My "Before" photo.
Photo taken by Sario

Many people ask why I grow my hair long and donate it. My reasons:

1. My hair grows very fast – about ½” a month.
2. Instead of wasting my cut hair, I might as well donate it to someone who needs it.
3. I like having long hair, but eventually tire of it and decide to cut it (refer to point #2).

For the past couple years, I had another reason: I did not make cutting my hair a priority. Post-baby, I chose to spend my time and money on my daughter, not my hair. Also, the only person who had ever given me the perfect haircut lived in NYC; now that I lived in suburbia I rarely traveled there. My hair started to get caught in things, and my husband couldn’t stand the strands littering the floor, tub, laundry basket – basically anywhere imaginable. I also experienced headaches whenever I wore my hair in a ponytail or a barrette due to the weight of my hair concentrated in one spot.

Good-bye ponytail!
Photo taken by Sario

It was time to get a haircut. I knew I would be in NYC for a blogger event, so I made an appointment with Sario.

Like many people who are known by only their first name, Sario displays an amazing talent for her craft - which in her case is haircutting. She hails from Japan and performs her artistry in her West Village studio apartment. Though she doesn’t advertise, hundreds of loyal clients flock to her through word of mouth recommendations.

I found Sario this way about 8 years ago when I noticed my co-worker sported a fabulous bob-style haircut. My co-worker raved about how she didn’t need to really style her hair because the way it was cut it naturally fell into place. She gave me the number for Sario, I made an appointment and got a similar haircut. Sario spent a full hour perfecting my hair. She chattered in a friendly-matter while precisely doing her work in a detailed-oriented manner.

The "After" photo - hair is
slightly longer and angled
near the front.
Photo taken by Sario

Years later - during my haircut this week - I got the same bob-style haircut. Sario pulled my hair into a ponytail and cut off 14”. While catching up on each other’s lives, she cut and styled my hair. I thanked her for another great haircut and mailed my ponytail to Locks of Love the next day. I am happy with my stylish yet super low-maintenance haircut and glad I could help a child in need at the same time.

For people thinking of chopping their long hair, I would encourage them to consider donating to Locks of Love. As for Sario, I asked her for permission to provide my readers with her contact information, and she agreed. Information is listed below.

For more info:

To donate hair, visit www.locksoflove.org.

To make an appointment with Sario, call 212-627-2562 or email sario@pobox.com.

Note: Author did not receive any free items or compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are those of the author.

Win 4 Tickets to See Women of the Calabash in NYC - CLOSED

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Win tickets to see the family-friendly multicultural show, Women of the Calabash.
Photo courtesy of Symphony Space via Beth Blenz-Clucas

Bicultural Mama is teaming up with Symphony Space in New York City to offer readers 4 free tickets to the family-friendly Afro-Cuban rhythm show, Women of the Calabash. The performers combine traditional instruments, lush vocals, and musical forms with contemporary influences from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Black America. Kids will love listening and moving to the toe-tapping beats, as well as learning about other cultures from around the world.

Founded in 1978, Women of the Calabash has performed for former Presidents Tomas Sankara of Burkina Faso and Jean Bertrand Aristide of Haiti. The group received the prestigious Monarch Merit Award, Blue Ribbon for Best Music Video from the American Film Festival, and the CINE Golden Eagle Award. The performers were cited as "Musicians Extraordinaire" by the National Council for Culture and Art, and HBO featured Women of the Calabash in a Black History month profile in 1997.

Preview a performance of Women of the Calabash:

Women of the Calabash takes place on October 8, 2011 at 2 pm in the Leonard Nimoy Thalia theater in the Upper West Side of New York City. Tickets typically sell for $20 (adults) and $17 (children), but now readers can win a family pack of 4 free tickets through the Bicultural Mama giveaway.

See instructions below on how to enter.

9/11 Fate - A New Yorker's Personal Perspective

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An impromptu memorial in New York City's Union Square Park
days after the 9/11 attacks.
Photo by Maria Adcock.

With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 upon us, I humbly pondered if I would be holding my daughter today had fate assigned a crueler outcome.

My husband and I met in 2004 in New York City. One day we discussed the topic that inevitably arises between two people who lived in New York on that fateful day, “Where were you on 9/11?”
I informed him how I heard the news of the burning towers while in my Midtown Manhattan office, 4 miles north of Ground Zero. “What about you?” I inquired.

He paused and calmly stated, “I was scheduled to attend a seminar at the World Trade Center that morning.”

Shock. I had no idea.

He continued, “The seminar was moved to Midtown at the last minute.”

At the time, my husband never questioned a seemingly insignificant location change. The Windows on the World restaurant conference center, located in the north tower on the 107th floor, hosted the seminar. No one from the restaurant survived the attack.

Fate is not always kind. On 9/11, it cruelly took my friend’s husband. He took the day off from work, but ended up going into the office at the last minute.

Fate played unfairly with my pregnant friend’s mother-in-law who worked in the towers. The baby arrived two months later with grandma’s airplane tickets left unused.

No matter if we believe in fate, the events on 9/11 require us to contemplate our lives. The small things argued about with our families appear petty in the timeline of life. We must embrace appreciation and gratefulness…and hope.

To this day, my husband does not know why the seminar moved from the World Trade Center. Looking into our daughter’s wide brown eyes, he no longer seeks an answer.

Families posted missing posters to a subway railing in Union Square Park.
Photo by Maria Adcock

 

Note: I originally wrote this piece two years ago, but never published it in Bicultural Mama because this website did not exist back then. I have since made some edits and wanted to share it for the 10^th anniversary of 9/11 in remembrance and reflection of that tragic day.

World Trade Center Observation Deck Photos Two Weeks Before 9/11

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The World Trade Center stood majestically on the southern tip of New York City.
Photo: Maria Adcock

Two weeks prior to 9/11, I trekked to the top of the World Trade Center with a friend. We snapped photos and left. Hindsight revealed that the opportunity to capture these photos would never arise again.

After waiting in line for an hour, we entered the observation deck elevator. A crisply dressed young man operated the packed elevator. He turned around and smiled after shutting the doors. One sensed he enjoyed guiding the visitors, patiently answering their endless questions. As we whizzed up through the floors of the South Tower, he noted the roofless observation deck would offer a panoramic view of more than 55 miles on a clear day like today. Our ears popped as we raced to the top.

We reached the indoor observation deck on the 107th floor in only a few minutes. We proceeded to switch to another elevator to ascend to the 110th floor outdoor observation deck.

Just like on 9/11, the weather boasted sun and a warm breeze with a hint of fall. Atop the World Trade Center, I clicked the shutter of my camera, memorializing its glorious views. I noticed the silhouettes of the two towers gracing over the Woolworth Building, shadows that darkened the world two weeks later.

Someday I plan to show my daughter my World Trade Center observation deck photos. She will see how proudly they once stood, and how inspiring they can be for the future.

View of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge from the WTC observation deck.
Photo: Maria Adcock

 

The Empire State Building stood above all others
as seen from the WTC observation deck.
Photo: Maria Adcock

Southern view from the WTC observation deck.
Photo: Maria Adcock

Visitors could see the outline of Manhattan in this northern view.
Photo: Maria Adcock

From the 110th floor of the WTC, the Statue of Liberty appeared tiny.
Photo: Maria Adcock

The silhouettes of the two towers fell upon the
Woolworth Building, foreshadowing what was
to come two weeks later.
Photo: Maria Adcock

Note: I originally wrote this piece two years ago, but never published it in Bicultural Mama because this website did not exist back then. I have since made some edits and wanted to share this for the 10^th anniversary of 9/11 in remembrance and reflection of that tragic day.

Remembering 9/11: One New Yorker's Reflections

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Smoke billows from where the Twin Towers once stood.
Photo was taken at 8 am the day after 9/11/01 from my
high rise apartment in Greenwich Village.
Photo: Maria Adcock

New York City forever changed after 9/11, driven not only by its altered landscape, but also by its resilient citizens. In an otherwise poker faced metropolis, people started greeting one another. With offices closed, residents roamed the streets and created makeshift memorials at public parks. Taxicabs meandered down the roads, their chorus of honking horns stunned into silenced.

I photographed scenes of 9/11 from the city that I called my own after recently moving from the Midwest. I recorded the events not to sensationalize the tragedy, but to show my future children how the world shuddered that sunny September morning.

With most public transportation at a standstill, residents traveled by foot or bike
and protected themselves with face masks. I took this photo on 9/12/01
outside of my apartment on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village.
Photo: Maria Adcock

In 2001 I lived in Greenwich Village, two miles north of the World Trade Center. I enjoyed fabulous unobstructed views of downtown from my 36th floor apartment. In the morning, the twin towers greeted me hello through my living room window, in the evening, their twinkling lights welcomed me home.

Immediately after the attacks my company sent their employees home. The city shut down the subway system, so along with thousands of stunned New Yorkers I walked miles to my apartment. Tired from walking in heels, I stared at the public buses jammed with people trying to rush back home to their loved ones.

The streets filled with an exodus of dazed refugees. People clutched cell phones to their ears hoping the next call would connect. An eerie quiet blanketed the city pierced only by the occasional siren. People stared with long faces as fire engines and police squads rushed by.

At my apartment dump trucks and barriers lined Houston Street. Police blocked residents clamoring to return home. They lived on the south side of the street, the off limit area due to its proximity to Ground Zero. Living on the north side I was allowed into my apartment.

From my living room window I stared at the unbelievable sight unfolding before me. Long arms of choking gray smoke grasped at the sky like a drowning swimmer.

When night descended police issued a 10 pm curfew. The winds changed, blowing thick dark smoke north toward the rest of the city. With my eyes glued to the television, I noticed dust on my glasses.
I cleaned the lenses and returned to the news, but within minutes they were dirty again. Curious, I felt them. A silky dust covered my fingertips. I jumped up and opened the apartment door. The acrid smell of scorched metal and concrete overwhelmed me.

Shutting the door I hustled to the linen closet, grabbed blankets and towels, and covered the vents. Soon the apartment became hot and stuffy. Heavy smoke enveloped the neighborhood. With the strict police curfew and lack of transportation, I could not leave.

I retreated to my bedroom and climbed into bed. I covered my face with a handkerchief to minimize breathing the fine dust and wondered, “How did this happen to my city?”

New York City residents expressed their grief through art and words on
paper taped to the ground in Union Square Park. Photo taken on 9/12/01.
Photo: Maria Adcock

After a sleepless night, I packed a small bag and headed further north to stay at a friend’s apartment. Fallout from fear ensued. A turbaned middle aged man drove the cab I had hopped into. Each window prominently displayed stickers of American flags. The driver caught me staring at the decals and proclaimed, “I am an American citizen!” We passed an Afghanistan restaurant, its “Afghan Food” sign hastily covered. Further up the road, nervous Middle Eastern shopkeepers stared at the sidewalk behind the safety of closed doors.

I saw how tragedy strengthened humanity. People stood along the West Side Highway cheering support to emergency workers as they drove by. In record numbers residents flocked to donate blood. Children sold cookies and lemonade to raise funds. Friends and families told one another how much they loved each other.

Thousands of people tragically lost their lives on 9/11, each leaving a legacy. My story cannot compare, but it is the one I will recount to my children and grandchildren. I will tell them how Americans gathered strength that day and put truth into the words, “The United States of America.”

Note: I originally wrote this essay two years ago, but never published it in Bicultural Mama because this website did not exist back then. For the 10^th anniversary of 9/11, I am posting this in remembrance and reflection of that tragic day.

Wordless Wednesday: Mom Will Never Know

Pin It A lot of commercials targeted to moms, especially for household cleaners, are pretty boring. This was was actually very funny and thought Clorox2 did a good job using humor and creativity to get its points across. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO >> Mom Will Never Know by Clorox2

Meet Laila Ali and Other Celebrity Moms at Destination Maternity’s Fashion’s Night Out September 8

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The fun-filled event will feature Laila Ali and eight other celebrity moms.
Image: Destination Maternity

Destination Maternity, the world’s largest designer and retailer of maternity apparel, will support the March of Dimes with an online charity auction and a celebrity-filled Fashion’s Night Out event at the company’s New York City flagship store on September 8, 2011. Hosted by athlete, new mom, and health and beauty advocate Laila Ali, she and eight other celebrity moms will be participating in the retailer’s "Celebrities 4 Maternity Denim" auction.

Bid on embellished maternity denim
to benefit the March of Dimes.
Photo: Destination Maternity

The moms will embellish a pair of A Pea in the Pod's exclusive designer maternity denim. The denim is open to the public for bidding and will be on display at Destination Maternity during Fashion's Night Out event taking place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the company’s flagship store (28 East 57^th Street at Madison Avenue). Aside from viewing the latest styles in maternity wear, the store will also offer “mocktails” to expectant moms and other guests.

Celebrity prenatal yoga instructor Latham Thomas will also be on hand to discuss the importance of exercise during pregnancy. Mama Mio, Edamame® Spa, and MD Moms’ representatives will offer hand and chair massages as well as skincare product demonstrations.

The celebrity moms participating in the embellished denim auction for the March of Dimes include: Laila Ali, Heidi Klum, Naomi Watts, Jewel, Nicole Sullivan, Diane Farr, Camila Alves, Busy Philipps, and Kaitlin Olson. These one-of-a kind denim jeans can be viewed and bid on from August 25 to September 22 at www.biddingforgood.com/celebs4maternitydenim and will be on display at the flagship store.

Destination Maternity has participated in Fashion’s Night Out for the last three years. In 2010, Destination Maternity partnered with supermom and supermodel Heidi Klum who mingled with guests and showcased her latest maternity fashion collections Loved and Lavish, which are carried exclusively at Motherhood Maternity® and A Pea in the Pod® respectively.

For More Info:

Read my exclusive interview with Dr. Harvey Karp (Author of New York Times Bestseller “The Happiest Baby on the Block") at a prior Destination Maternity event: Click Here

Fashion’s Night Out - Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) is a global initiative created by American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Company, and the City of New York to highlight fashion and support retail with exciting events that include designer appearances, celebrity guests, fashion shows, and musical performances.

Embellished jeans example for the
March of Dimes fundraiser.
Photo: Destination Maternity

Destination Maternity - Destination Maternity Corporation is the world’s largest designer and retailer of maternity apparel.  In the United States and Canada, as of August 31, 2011, Destination Maternity operates 2,349 retail locations, including 656 stores, predominantly under the trade names Motherhood Maternity®, A Pea in the Pod®, and Destination Maternity®, and sells on the web through its DestinationMaternity.com and brand-specific websites.  Destination Maternity also distributes its Oh Baby by Motherhood® collection through a licensed arrangement at Kohl’s® stores throughout the United States and on Kohls.com.  In addition, Destination Maternity is expanding internationally and has exclusive store franchise and product supply relationships in India, the Middle East, and South Korea.  As of August 31, 2011, Destination Maternity has 61 international franchised locations, including 48 shop-in-shop locations and 13 Destination Maternity branded stores. Visit the retailer's website at www.destinationmaternity.com.

     The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

Disclosure: Author did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are the author’s only.

WINNER: Zing-Shot Launcher Giveaway

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Zing-Shot Launcher
Photo: ZingToys.com

Congratulations to Kim C. from Texas who won the Zing-Shot Launcher Giveaway from Bicultural Mama! Kim wins the Zing-Shot Launcher, a toy that features soft-foam balls that kids can launch up to 45 feet.

Kim won with her daily tweet on 9/1 about this giveaway. The winner was chosen by the random number generator via Random.org. The Giveaway ended at 11:59 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011.

The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.

Congratulations, Kim!

Kids Say No to Veggies? Growums Garden Kits Can Help

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Growums Garden Kits can encourage healthy eating habits in kids.
Photo: Maria Adcock

Getting kids to eat veggies doesn’t have to be a battle. According to the American Gardening Association, 98% of kids who grow their own vegetables eat them. Try growing a garden to give kids a fun and educational way to learn about food and healthy eating. Growums Garden Kits makes creating gardens easy.

The pellets absorb
the water and expand.
Photo: Maria Adcock

Growums comes in six garden kits recommended for kids ages 5-12 years:

• Herb Garden – Includes seeds for oregano, cilantro, parsley, and basil.

• Pizza Garden – Includes seeds for tomato, bell pepper, oregano, and basil.

• Ratatouille Garden – Includes seeds for eggplant, tomato, bell pepper, and zucchini.

• Salad Garden – Includes seeds for tomato, lettuce, carrot, and cucumber.

• Stirfry Garden – Includes seeds for bok choy, carrot, sugar snap peas, and broccoli.

• Taco Garden – Includes seeds for lettuce, tomato, cilantro, and jalapeño pepper.

I met the Growums team at the Time to Play event in New York City. The company asked me to test and review its Herb Garden Kit. I love fresh herbs and vegetables so I accepted and recruited my 11 year old niece to help.

Place 3 seeds in each pellet.
Photo: Maria Adcock

Setting Up the Garden Kits

1)      The first step is to register at Growums.com. The Growums Garden Kits are the first interactive kits for kids. The site features lots of cute and fun vegetable and herb cartoon characters as well as games and learning tips. The site sends kids or parents emails during the growth cycle to remind them what to do next for their plants and to provide general gardening guidance.

2)      Place the coco pellets (pods of dirt) in a pie tin or shallow container (we used empty takeout containers). The 8 pellets come in flat discs about 1.5” in diameter and ¼” high.

3)      Empty the container of the seed packets and fill with warm water. Gradually add the water into the tin or dish. The pellets absorb the water in about 5 minutes and quickly expand to about 2” high.

4)      Insert 3 seeds into each pellet. Each packet contains more seeds than needed just in case tiny hands lose them or for reseeding later. Push seeds into pellet about a fingernail deep. Add the plant tags.

Insert the plant tags
and wait for them to grow!
Photo: Maria Adcock

Watching the Plants Grow

If after 10 days the seeds don’t sprout, kids can replant the pellets with the extra seeds. In our test, 5 of the 8 sprouted within a few days. After my niece replanted the ones that initially failed, within a few more days the total raised to 7 out of 8. One cilantro pellet refused to grow.

The successful pellets saw plants grow to half a foot high within a few weeks. We transferred the plants to larger pots. Eventually we plan to move the plants into even larger pots since the outdoor growing season is ending in our area. For those people who live in sunshine year round, transfer the plants into the ground.

Based on our experiment, here are the pros and cons:

Within a few days most
seeds had sprouted.
Photo: Maria Adcock

PROS

1)      The kits are easy to set up. My niece thought it was fun to watch the pellets expand.
2)      My niece enjoyed the hands on approach and felt proud to put together her own garden. She checked the pellets every day and was excited when the seeds sprouted.
3)      Growums are available in a wide variety of garden kits.
4)      Having a garden teaches kids where food comes from and encourages them to eat healthy.
5)      The interactive online aspect differentiates Growums from other garden kits.
6)      Though targeted to kids, novice adult gardeners may enjoy using these kits, too

CONS

Growing well after a few weeks!
Photo: William Wen

1)      Too much of the post-planting instructions are left for the website and weekly emails. People can’t find on the package basic information like where to place the plants or when to transfer them to pots or the ground. The reality is that busy parents/kids don’t always read emails nor have time to check the website. More instructions within the product’s container would be helpful.

2)      The package says results may vary based on season, but it never says what seasons are ideal for growing. Can these plants successfully grow indoors year round if people bought the kit in the winter?

3)      The website can be utilized better. On the Growums site, kids collect points for things like watering the pellets, putting them by a sunny window, etc. but no where does it say what these points are for (we assumed they were for unlocking games). We also think the games could be more engaging to warrant repeat play.

Recommendation

Overall we thought the Growums garden kits were a great idea, and my niece really enjoyed the experience. The lessons learned trumped the cons - learning where food originated from, seeing how plants grew, feeling pride in ownership of growing living things, and creating excitement about eating herbs and vegetables. The kits retail for $9.95. Parents can purchase the kits directly from www.Growums.com.

Disclosure: Author received one or more of the products mentioned above for the sole purpose of this review. Author did not receive any other compensation. All opinions expressed are those of the author.