Play Like a Pirate

Arrrrrrgh matey! That’s right, everyone. Tomorrow, September 19, marks Talk Like a Pirate Day! There’s a lot going on to mark this fun day that was started back in 1995 by two pirate fans from Oregon, but we got wind that Monkey Island, the swashbuckling pirate games by LucasArts and Telltale is making the premiere episode of Tales of Monkey Island a free download on their website all day.

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Not only that, but today through September 21, LucasArts is offering a treasure trove of deals on several versions of The Secret of Monkey Island, including:
• 50% off the iPhone and iPod touch version of The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition via Apple’s App Store
• 50% off The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition on Steam, Valve Corporation’s delivery and management platform for the PC and Direct2Drive, IGN Entertainment’s digital download store

Get ye these games before the deals expire! Arrrrrghhhh!

Listen up: Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack

Spike Jonze’s adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic, “Where the Wild Things” continues to create buzz. This time, there’s been some rumblings of the highly anticipated movie’s soundtrack. wild

Specifically, what caught MY attention is the fact that the Karen O, the frontlady of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, is just one of the many rockstars that will be featured on the soundtrack. According to Rolling Stone, the soundtrack will also feature:

Karen O’s YYYs bandmates Brian Chase and Nick Zinner along with Tristan Bechet (Services), Bradford Cox (Deerhunter), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs), Aaron Hemphill (Liars), Greg Kurstin (The Bird and the Bee), Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes), Oscar Michel (Gris Gris), Imaad Wasif (New Folk Implosion, Alaska). An untrained children’s choir contributes to the songs and soundscapes.

The soundtrack will be released on September 29th and first single “All Is Love” will come out August 25th digitally.

Where the Wild Things is gearing up to not only be a movie to be seen, but also to be heard! In case you haven’t seen the trailer, be sure to check it out!

I just love that one of my favorite books ever is being made into a movie by one of my favorite directors and writers! I seriously can’t wait for this one!

Thank goodness Max said yes!

Woodstock, the music festival that was said to define a generation, celebrated its 40th anniversary over the weekend.  The music festival that took place at a farm in Upstate New York made music history when it brought together rock legends for three days of peace, love and music.  Forty years after Woodstock many of the original attendees still reminisce, but now, they share their stories with their kids…and for some, their kids’ kids.

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But beyond experiencing Woodstock in person 40 years ago, what better way to share the monumental event with other generations that with an illustrated children’s book!  Max Said Yes! The Woodstock Story by Abigail Yasgur  and Joseph Lipner and Barbara Mendes (Illustrator) is a book that tells the story of how Woodstock came to be.  Before Jimi, Janis and other rock legends hit the stage, the venue—the most important element—was in question.  So, thank goodness Max said Yes!

“One farmer did not think the same
And Max Yasgur was his name.
He raised cows, sold milk and cheese.
He liked kids with big ideas like these.”

And thanks to Max, August 15, 16 and 17, 1969 will forever be remembered as not only the music festival that defined a generation, but as a time where peace, love and music ruled all.  It’s this happier kind of history that all kids should know about!

Bugging Out at the Bronx Zoo

With illness always lingering, especially in a time where the H1N1 virus often makes headlines than not, Kleenex and The Motherhood partnered together to spread the word about the Battle of the Bug campaign. Last Friday, together with a group of NYC/NJ-area bloggers, I was invited to participate and learn more about the Battle of the Bug campaign.

It’s Wellness Wednesday over here on NKT, what perfect timing to share more about Kleenex’s Battle the Bug campaign.

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The Battle the Bug tour has been making its rounds and spreading the word on how to combat and avoid sickness. The tour made its way to the Bronx Zoo where we whacked bugs, got “sneezed on” and even had photo opps with the big blue bug and reinforced that ongoing battle of keeping our kids healthy.

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As families begin to fulfill their school shopping lists, it’s no doubt that boxes of tissues and hand sanitizer will find their way into many shopping carts. But in addition to the usual supplies, Kleenex tapped Jean Grabeel, to arm families with helpful tips and tactics on staying healthy all year.

Did you know

Grabeel, the Executive Committee member of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), has been the Coordinator for Health Services for the Springfield Missouri Public Schools. Grabeel, who has been a healthcare professional for close to 30 years, highlighted a few techniques on how to Battle the Bug:

  1. Help kids understand the importance of washing hands

    • -washing in between fingers is just as important too!
  2. Teach kids the importance of covering their nose and mouths when sneezing

    • -use tissues (Kleenex’s anti-viral tissues are said to kill 99.9% of cold and flu viruses
    • -use the interior of their arm to cover nose/mouth and not their hands
  3. If kids have signs or symptoms of illness, STAY HOME

    • -signs include temperature over 100 degrees
    • -vomiting
    • -diarrhea
    • -kids should stay home until sickness and the symptoms subside.

When you sneeze, over 100,000 droplets go into the air at once at 200 mph and can reach up to 3 ft.
Knowing those details, why wouldn’t you cover your nose and mouth? Yuck!

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Grabeel noted that if kids don’t cover their noses and mouth when sneezing, it obviously increases the the possibility of spreading those nasty bugs, especially because of kids’ lack of social distancing. In your face, all the time.

The moms in attendance all asked a variety of questions, but Kimberly’s question regarding the safety of hand sanitizers caught my attention, particularly because I try to avoid alcohol-based sanitizers. Grabeel suggested that the these hand sanitizers are safe, and that even the CDC recommends using them. Though I”ll continue to use our natural sanitizers, I’ll keep in mind that the other stuff should be just fine too.

And finally, perhaps one most helpful suggestions that Grabeel offered was for parents to help keep their kids healthy is to be in communication with school health professionals. Grabeel said that school nurses and other health professionals are the best advocate for keeping our kids healthy.

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There won’t be a pop quiz later, but keeping the kidlets healthy is enough motivation to enforce the importance of battling the bug. Don’t forget: wash your hands, cover your mouths and if you’re sick, stay home!


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Full disclosure: Though not affiliated with Kleenex, I was compensated for this event.

All dolled up

Get ready girls, Toy company, Spin Master, has introduced Liv, a new line of dolls.  The stylish teenage gal pals, Daniela, Sophie, Katie and Alexis, are unique and relatable, and are geared to girls in the 6-10 age range.  In addition to their cool outfits, each Liv doll has a special access code to an online world, which will give girls a different dimension to interact with their dolls to collect fashions in their virtual closet, view webisodes, games and more.

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What’s notable about the Liv dolls is that their style and appearance is much different and more age appropriate for the range that they’re targeting.  As an aunt who has had to shop for dolls for tween nieces and cringing at the options, I appreciate the market research that Spin Master has done.  I think the online world is also an innovative idea, giving girls even more opportunities to engage in imaginative, interactive play.  What I love most: the dolls’ believable attributes and diverse appearance gives girls a better understanding of what it’s like to be a teen.  [Boy craziness and angst aren’t included :)]

Livworld doesn’t officially launch until August 15, but the dolls, which retail for $20, are in stores now.

Hip Hip Hooray for Cynthia Rowley

Famed designer Cynthia Rowley, known for her vibrant, yet simple designs, is teaming up with Babies “R” Us to launch a line of exclusive baby basics. The collection, called Hooray, will include baby essentials such as layette, diaper bags, blankets, playwear.

Though this is Rowley’s first foray into the baby products market, this isn’t her first collaboration. A few years ago, Rowley, along with her best friend, teamed with Target to launch a line of home accessories called Swell. A huge fan of that line, many of our bathroom towels and accessories are from the hugely successful Swell collection.
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BRU is hoping that Hooray will appeal to the style and budget-conscious shoppers, which I know includes many, if not all, NKT readers. Layette and playwear ranges from $7.99 to $29.99, and bibs, blankets and diaper bags range from $5.99 to $39.99. The first photos of this collection exude such a sweet, simple, yet modern vibe. BRU said the clothes feature a variety of signature prints, plaids, and striped and dotted patterns, that use corduroy and chunky sweater knits–perfect for fall. From the sounds of it, Hooray will be a welcome addition at BRU.

Giveaway winners

TruKid Sunblock sticks- Brandy, Kim and Melissa, please email your address at jen [at] nextkidthing [dot] com!
Kooky flash drive- Melissa, congrats! Brett, you’ve got some fuzzy slippers coming your way.
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Everyone else, thanks for participating as usual. Also, I’ll announce last week’s cd winner once I post the next Music Monday. Also, I’m busy writing up a slew up articles AND really great giveaways in honor of my trip to BlogHer this week, so stay tuned!!!

When monkeys fly…

Always a fan of mom and dad entrepreneurs, I can’t resist these shirts and onesies by eight3one. With their unique, but classic and cool designs, eight3one shirts definitely stand out in a crowd.

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My personal favorites are the Flying Monkey onesie and the T-Rex t-shirt, both of which received animated approval by my little dinosaur fan, as I typed this out! The designs are fun, modern and never too cutesy.

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Breaking it down with the Imagination Movers

viewmedia-6Music will always play a huge part of our lives, and so, as a fan to various genres, including kid music, I’d like to introduce NKT’s very first exclusive feature!

Just in time for the release of their latest CD For Those About to Hop, the Imagination Movers sat down with me and the kid to chat. The Imagination Movers, who hail from the New Orleans area and appeal to the preschool set and their parents, have been captivating kids on their hit Disney show of the same name. The former journalist, firefighter, architect and teacher break it down to the Next Kid Thing and tell us their favorite Police album and offer some insight to parents on getting their kids interested in music.

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