Wonderkids in Candyland

Her tee shirt says it all.  She loves candy.  So when Wonderkids asked if we would like to cover their Candyland event, it didn’t take much convincing.  We were THERE!

Located at the DL, a 3-floor venue in the lower east side of Manhattan, costumed characters paraded in dressed creatively as their favorite candy.  The organizers “strongly encourage” creative costuming.  We saw people simply dressed with candy haphazardly taped to their colorful shirts to a man who took the theme to another level dressing head to toe as Willy Wonka!  Eye candy was everywhere!  Doughnut leggings on one mom, a splash of rainbow swirls all over one child, and then… this pastel-hued lady with the cotton candy hat.  LOVED HER!

Oh my!  I wanted her whole costume for next Halloween!  But alas, it’s one of a kind of course, given she painstakingly hand-made it herself!

The event bills itself as a “creative dance experience where kids and parents celebrate life, self-expression, music, dance, creativity and community.”  I found it to be a place where Burning Man fanatics grow up and party with their kids.  It had sort of a bohemian vibe, the house music rocked, and I got the feeling that all the hippie flower child inspired looks came straight out of these guests’ normal wardrobes.

Whatever the style, the kids had fun!  Juliet enjoyed making a bead necklace with me, posing with a gigantic gingerbread man cookie, testing out her hula hoop skills, and finding sweets along the way.

What a magical sweet world it was!

My favorite and most inspirational sighting was this giant cake.  The community was encouraged to help decorate it and I just thought what a brilliant crafting activity to have at a future birthday party!  All you would need is cardboard, paper to wrap it with and items to decorate it with (think stickers, play doh, scrapbook paper cutouts, glitter glue, etc).  Juliet happily stationed herself here for quite some time!

The 3 hour party had a lively tone and we happily explored each and every corner, dancing our way throughout.  You could event paint along to the music!

Thanks to Wonderkids for this wildly imaginative way to spend a Saturday!  This is why I love NY.  There are so many amazing, artsy and fun things for families to discover and make memories from.  I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!  Happy Saturday!

Disclaimer – We were given 3 complimentary tickets to review the event but as always the opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

You might also like:

How to Host a Disney Princess Party or Playdate in 8 Easy Steps 2016 Year In Review – Holiday Parties How To Design a Picture Perfect Birthday Party for a Little Princess Barbie Party Ideas with Just Play Products 15 Fantastic Frozen Party Ideas

5 Things I Didn’t Know About the NY529edu (That YOU Should)

Securing your financial future may not be the sexiest topic but it sure makes sense to seriously think about it when you realize that kids’ college tuitions are just getting pricier each year. (Did you know that currently it takes about $75k / year for a student to room, board and attend NYU for instance)?  Per year, you heard me right…. Us blogging moms learned all about this at the recent MomTrends ny529edu event with NY 529 who was there to helpfully explain this powerful savings plan.

Luckily I have a financial guru (my brainiac husband who also works in finance) who was smart enough to start a NY 529 as soon as our daughter was born. So I knew the major benefit was tax savings. Your earnings grow federally tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. But there was still so much that I needed to learn!

Here are 5 things I didn’t know about the state – subsidized, higher education savings plan:

1. The money can be used not just for college but for: post graduate programs, vocational and post secondary trade schools, books, supplies, equipment, computers, and certain room and board fees
2. Anyone can start one (parents, grandparents, other relatives, friends—as long as he or she is a U.S. citizen or a resident alien) and with just $25 minimum
3. There’s a link to send out for contributions in lieu of holiday and birthday gifts
4. opening an account takes as little as 10 minutes
5. You can change the beneficiary, as desired, to a sibling, a relative, or even to yourself—should you choose to go back to school (it’s never too late for that either!).  So even if your child for some reason doesn’t end up needing the full amount, it can be transferred to someone who does need it!

While we were planning for our kids’ futures, the kids had so much fun planning our lunches!  The event was held at the ICE Institute of Culinary Education in Battery Park City and it was the perfect place for our kids to turn into chefs for the day!  Here is little J designing her own chef hat…of course she had to bedazzle it with gems, and color in purple and pink!  (SUCH a girly girl!)

She was so cute, telling me she was going to be just like Disney princess Tiana (who loves cooking in all the stories).   Here she is modeling her new chef hat, accessorized of course with the tiara she wore to the event!

And here are all the little kids.  Who says there are too many cooks in the kitchen??

Lunch was surprisingly delicious!  These kids can cook for me ANYTIME!!  Thanks guys!

Now all I need to do is figure out how to get my daughter into one of my alma maters..Harvard? Yale? I hear both calling your name, little J!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

You might also like:

Back To School with MomTrends and NYC Bloggers 4 Fab Finds Every Mom Needs To Know About This Holiday Season Baby Magic Announces Brand News with Breakfast, Bunnies and Blooms in NYC Mom’s Night Out with MomTrends Why We Want Dinosaurs Living in Our Hair