Twenty Things You DON'T Know About Taye K.

Namaste!


As much time as (I hope) you spend reading and rereading my little thoughts and fancies, and as much time as I spend sharing my life here and on IG, I still don't say much.


You know I'm a serious writer, excellent cook/baker, and avid traveler. You know I have a multi-cultural family. You know my kids are adorbs. You know I enjoy a good prank. (Some of my husband's left shoes have still not been found.)


But there's still a lot that you don't know.


In the spirit of transparency, I will now tell you twenty things you don't already know.


1. I am currently writing a book.


It encompasses my experiences as a mom navigating the mom social scene--but it's fictionalized, not autobiographical. It will be light, but there will be some polarizing scenarios as my protagonist finds her "mom niche."


2. I don't watch television.


I read current events and watch interviews on the Web. I get my news via the New York Times, the Times of India, NPR, and the occasional British newspaper. I have no interest in cable, reality TV, or any of the like.


My children are allowed to have television, by the way. I just don't care for it. My guilty indulgence is YouTube--I like watching real people do things, unscripted. Plus I'm addicted to various tutorials.


3. I am actually NOT vegetarian!


I eat many good foods, and I enjoy cooking whatever tastes good, be it a delicious meat stew OR a vegetable dish. I vacillate between meat and non-meat the way some people change channels. I lean more toward vegetables simply because they are more easily digested. I gravitate to meals with the most nutritional bang for my poor appetite's buck.


4. I nearly became a family law attorney.


I scored in the 96th percentile when I took the LSAT. I have all the prereqs. I just decided that law school would take too much time away from my daughter, time I wouldn't get back. My circle argued that I was missing out on a very lucrative occupation, and that I needed to just buckle down for those 3 years so I could be set for the rest of our lives--but those people did not have to see the disappointment in my baby's face when I couldn't attend her extracurricular activities or tuck her in at night. The kid was and is my most important work.


I may finish up that JD (doctorate of jurisprudence--I plan to take it all the way) someday. I like to think I have time, and time spent with my family is never wasted. This is where I'm supposed to be now, and this is what I'm supposed to be doing. As a bonus: I didn't lose out on the salary end of things, either. My jobs pay well and I don't actually have to leave home!


5. I am a social activist. (A real one, not a meme-posting social media vigilante.)


I devote a fair amount of my free time to activism. I advocate for foster children (my favorite is making and stuffing the suitcases for them--can you imagine being uprooted from your 3rd home this month with your belongings stuffed in a trash bag?! Totally dehumanizing!). I help counsel prospective parents through the adoption process. I educate parents about their rights regarding visitation, custody proceedings, and (when necessary) termination of rights. While I chose not to become an attorney, I know and understand the gap in legal representation. So many don't know or understand legal processes and their rights and responsibilities at each juncture, and I help level the playing field.

My main (and toughest...and most polarizing) cause is working to change the misconceptions about Black women. What people see in the media and on television is NOT the average reality. 

I am active in breastfeeding education. I believe the best way to break the stigma and normalize both breastfeeding and milk donation, is to talk, talk, TALK about it til it's second nature--and WALK as I talk. Seeing is believing--and desensitizing. 

I like to involve my family as much as possible. My children understand why some Saturdays are spent stuffing suitcases, or why even though we are business people, we give out baskets of food and personal items sometimes. They know that we take care of home, them we take care of the community. That is how we leave a mark on the world.

All in all, I try to use my time on this planet to make people smarter and kinder. "Namastè" is NOT just a catchphrase. 


6. I speak three languages and understand six.


Because my family is so very diverse, I end up communicating in a total of six languages. I can speak three--Hindi, Tamil, and Spanish. I can understand a total of six--Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Sapnish, and Arabic. Thanks to our family businesses I encounter people from many different countries, and it definitely helps to be able to talk to them in their native language, or at least understand what is being said even if I cannot respond.


7. As much as I enjoy writing, I hate social media.


My blog pages (follow me here and here) are bustling with activity. I manage my son's modeling page (follow and support here) as well.


...but my personal page gets no love because I actually hate social media.


Why do I use it?


Uh, because I can, Debra.


I jest, I jest...sorta. I can reach far many more people with my pages than I can in day-to-day interaction--because I'm at home with three kiddos and I don't have time for much social interaction. I share my thoughts and also get to enjoy a glimpse of other people's worlds, but I still don't care for social media.


Now MySpace...I still dig that!


8. I ain't a hot mess mom.


I can't get into the trend of broadcasting my shortcomings. I'd rather be seen as a "got-or-getting-it-together" mom.


I don't hide or gloss over my pitfalls and missteps, but I don't feel like deliberately being a half-ass or celebrating fails is all that productive. I can own my stuff, but I prefer my stuff be together. What you see in my blog is me putting it all together, NOT glorifying that it's a bit of a mess in the first place. 


9. I ain't a perfect mom either!


Self-explanatory.


10. I have postpartum anxiety It doesn't have me.


Since my son was born in 2016, I've had anxiety. The kind where I shake and hyperventilate when I get too overwhelmed. Fast forward to 2018--it has not dissipated. So while I appear pretty antisocial, I'm really just not able to handle a ton of people at once.


I'm addressing it--and that's why I speak about it. While I'm not a poster child for anything (I'd die under that spotlight!) I do feel that, because I have a platform and a decent rapport with people (especially moms and dads), I should let them know that it can happen to anyone. Even the most well-rounded, level-headed, well-appointed person can develop an anxiety disorder. It doesn't mean you're crazy. It doesn't mean you're defective. It's just a ridiculously heightened hyperawareness about everything and the nothing in between--and you're not alone.


11. I have an entire Instagram devoted to food.


It's literally ONLY FOOD. I didn't want any pictures of myself, my family, or anything that would polarize people to follow blindly or ignore it blindly. It's literally just photos of different things I've eaten and made, at home or in restaurants. It will always be only food. I find it soothing, and because there are no photos of me or the kids, no quotes or anecdotes, it's completely neutral. I don't promote it (this is the only place I've ever shared the link.) because its growth has been completely organic. Don't follow because it's me...follow because you like food and think my culinary adventures are the sauce.

IG: @ayeeemrsparkar


12. I don't follow anyone on the aforementioned Instagram.


I don't follow back. I don't watermark either.


I didn't want the pressure of responding to comments or liking photos or following back so people wouldn't unfollow me. The growth is organic--people come because they want to, and stay because they want to, and none of it has anything to do with me personally because they don't even know who's behind the account.


13. I cannot rest unless my home is immaculate.


I don't consider it OCD--it isn't that. I just like a clean house and I can't sleep when mine is a mess. I have kids running around and there's baby stuff in every room now, and all that stuff has to have its place before I can rest.


14. I sing!


...and pretty well, too. Unfortunately it's a wasted talent, because I only do so when I'm in the shower or the car. I don't have the nerve to sing in front of people--crowds freak me out.


15. I like the Beverly drink at World of Coke.


I like aperitifs. Beverly is an aperitif. (It's a bitter drink served before a meal...and because I grew up in a home where we regularly had aperitifs [to stimulate appetite, because my parents hated wasted food], I acquired the taste for them and still have it.


16. I'm a mega milk donor.


Because I've never not had oversupply, I was overjoyed to discover the milk donor programs. I don't believe milk donation is discussed nearly enough. I also don't believe I would be more comfortable giving my baby milk from a real live cow as opposed to a trusted donor.


17. I love archery!


I'm a regular sharpshooter with my crossbow, as well as the regular bow. I don't hunt, but I love nothing more than taking a foam block out in the pasture or a far corner of my yard and popping it full of arrows. It's a stress relief. (I only use blunt-tip or suction cupped arrows, because I have no desire to maim anyone or anything.)


18. I am an avid hiker.


I don't strike the tone of an outdoorsy type--and truthfully I'm not. However give me a nice trail to hike or a mountain path to explore and I'm the happiest girl alive. I love Stone Mountain (minus the local derelicts) and my family has been a part of the Braswell Mountain community for years. I'm excited about actual spring (I am convinced we are practicing now) because that means more daylight and better temps to be outside doing what brings me the deepest peace--walking and hiking the trails.


19. Despite my blog and social media, I'm very private.


I manage to tell a lot while actually revealing very little. My philosophy is, I want to be famous enough that my blog thrives for many years, but anonymous enough that I will never be approached in public. I'm shy as heck and while I do enjoy it, I don't want to be consumed by it. My biggest fear is going viral, because then I'll be under a microscope.


To that end, I don't often post photos of myself, and I always watermark or obscure the kids. I generally don't post a ton of me because I am a writer, not a photographer and not a model. I'd rather you take a journey through my food, travels, and mom moments without being so hung up on my face or figure. (Plus, being slightly obscure kinda helps keep the randos [random men] out of my DMs.)


20. I get nauseous at the mere thought of pasta salad.


I love pasta, and I love salad. The idea of pasta salad just makes me want to puke. I don't know why. Just don't bring it to my potluck.


...that's it for now.


Namaste!


-- Taye K.

My 4th Trimester Hacks

Namastè!

So...you have a brand new baby at home.

You're in the purest, most potent love you never imagined. You look at those little starfish fingers and those tiny little feet and your heart melts. Their breath, their weird little grunts--everything about newborns is delicious and brain-sapping. Don't even get me started on that snuggly thing they do when you pick them up and they nestle into your arms...

*happy sighs*

...but if you just delivered a baby, there's a lot of things that maybe aren't so lovely. Read: it ain't all roses.

Childbirth is some heavy work. We are built for it, but it definitely has its effects. Your body hurts. Your boobs are twice their size and tender as ever. You can't imagine sitting without a donut--pool floaties, where are you?! You are deliriously tired. (Some of those aforementioned sweet snuggles are happening at decidedly un-snuggly hours. Who knew the items sold in those 3 am infomercials were so damn dandy?!)

...I'm there with you, mama. I have a few hacks and tips that MIIIGHT just make you a little more comfortable as you heal from delivery and get to know this brand new person.

NOTE: This isn't a sponsored post, and I'm not being rewarded for talking about any of the products I mentioned.

 Padsicles

With my son, I got a 3rd degree tear and fractured my pelvis. Breech. (While it ain't for the faint of heart, do not let anyone force you into a c-section unless it's medically necessary. Doctors shouldn't be doing major surgery for convenience, and that's what electives boil down to.) I felt like a warrior mama...and also like perhaps my womanly space got fed through a wood chipper. Every time I would stand or walk or think about doing either, it felt like a spike-studded watermelon was falling from my girl-parts. (and no--I am NOT uncomfortable saying vagina.)

Enter, padsicles.

I bought some incontinence pads. (I always make padsicles with Tena brand incontinence pads.) Incontinence pads are big, cover the whole perineal area, and also absorb a good bit of that lochia. (Postpartum bleeding.) I doused them in witch hazel and aloe vera gel, put them in a plastic shoe organizer, and froze them.

When my poor battered bum began to bother me, I just put on a padsicle. They're soothing. The witch hazel helps out with the ouchies. The coolness combats that ungodly swelling. The aloe soothes and keeps the area from drying out. (Trust me...you don't want your stitches to get dry. Imagine being popped with a rubber band down there.)

 Rice Pack

Yes, rice. Not ice.

My abdomen was so sore after my last delivery (I had an ECV) that I needed a warm compress to be comfortable. But electric heating pads aren't safe to fall asleep with, and since I was guaranteed to fall asleep any time I got a little comfort, I needed something less likely to burn me.

The rice pad is simple to make. Simply take a clean towel (I used a hand towel), sew it up on three sides, fill it three-quarters fill with uncooked rice, and sew it shut. This flexible, comforting bean bag of relief can be microwaved whenever you need it. Just keep it dry.

I have three of these now. Because the rice holds heat, it stays warm for a nice while. Because it doesn't have a continual source of heat, it doesn't get any hotter. Perfect warm compress.

Note: Don't use the rice pack while holding a baby. Just putting that out there...

 BIG Personal Water Bottle

My biggest postpartum fail is always hydration. I get so busy taking care of the baby and trying to reintegration back into the swing of things that I forget the most important thing: Drinking enough water.

To keep myself on track, I have a large Yeti cup. (I know, I know--until you own one, you'll say they are overrated ...but if you're judging me, it says way more about you than it does about me!) I keep my Rambler full of H2O, and I drink no less than four cups a day, along with whatever other juice or smoothies I tackle. The Rambler holds 30 ounces--and it keeps those 30 ounces cold all day long, I kid you not.

The water is important, mainly because after a major shakeup like childbirth, some women get constipated--and that constipation is even worse for fear of passing a hard stool. It's gonna hurt...but if you hydrate yourself properly and eat good fiber, you'll survive.

 Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, and Air Fryer #FTW

I don't have a postpartum entourage. It's me, my hubby, and the kids. I went from hospital to back at the reigns. Because we need coins, he works several days a week. Rather than take off, he works abbreviated hours. As such, I still have to make food.

My Instant Pot is a postpartum hack worth knowing because I can cook an entire pot roast (and a bevy of other deliciousness) in minutes. Not hours. That makes all the difference when I am too sore to stand at the stove and don't want delivery. (In our neck of the woods, we can only get Pizza Hut anyway, and I personally won't eat pizza more than once or twice a month.

You can do all kinds of things with the Instant Pot, but I also love my slow cooker and air fryer. Quick meals, with #healthy food (prepared quickly) instead of microwaved stuff, is a definite win.

It all boils down to convenience.

 Boppy for Baby...and Mom too!

If you've even breathed in the general direction of a baby, or the section of the store where their assorted paraphernalia is sold, you know about the Boppy.

You'll want it, trust me. I personally cannot nurse using any other pillow--the Boppy helps keep baby at a comfortable height for latching, and takes some of the pressure off those sore abdominals. In the event we're not holding the baby, the Boppy makes a nice place to prop her up so she can have a look around. Tummy time is made infinitely easier also.

NOTE: The Boppy is NOT for sleeping. Be safe and keep baby safe!

When our baby isn't using the Boppy, you can bet your last pack of Gushers I am. I like to have it around tummy, kind of like a support pillow. I'm weird, but it works for me.

 Rose Water

Skin, hair, tea...rose water is good across the board. I keep a spray bottle of it with me at all times. I use it to pamper my skin and hair.

In the 4th trimester the last thing any of us really think about is hair or makeup. Personally I have dubbed the messy bun my official hairstyle, and I don't wear anything I can't toss in the laundry--no fancy this or designer that unless you count my Calvin Klein bathrobe. (It's is LIFE, you hear me?!)

Rose water is an all-natural astringent as well as toner AND moisturizer. It smells great, and it's full of vitamins to help get your new mommy glow going. I spray it on my face twice a day.

I also use it to freshen up my hair.

Just make sure you get the pure stuff.

 FridaBaby Fridet perineal rinser bottle

A wiser Tayè would have had this on hand for pregnancy hemmorhoids. But I didn't miss a beat when I knew to grab this game changing wash bottle.

That spray bottle they give you in the hospital is cute...but it has nothing on the Fridet (free-DAY). It works from any angle to help sooth things down there, and we all know (or shall soon find out) how those first bathroom breaks can be. A warm stream of water (and a little witch hazel or betadine) can ease that soreness and discomfort. The Fridet makes having that, a cinch!

They're very easy to clean, and come with a waterproof storage bag.

 UpSpring Baby Shrinkx tummy wrap

My postpartum tummy...ugh. I don't care about stretch marks (I have 3!) or the little jiggliness that remains because, while I lost all the weight, I'm not toned up, nor am I trying just yet.

What I do care about is that feeling of my internals being on the verge of falling out. I feel like everything in there is...unsettled? And my tummy itself is very tender, not exactly painful but still uncomfortable.

My solution?

My UpSpring Shrinkx postpartum belly band. I have the original one, which I'm currently using for the compression. It's amazing.  When I'm ready to tone up, I'll use the charcoal version.

...I'm no expert at anything in particular, except maybe when it comes to maintaining my personal comfort. I'm a mega expert at that. I have to be at my best to handle everything I am entrusted with each day, so I worked out these little hacks, tips, and tricks to make it all a little easier.

The fourth trimester is really a period of rest and regeneration, and acclimation: Baby is getting acclimated to life outside the womb, and you are getting acclimated to this new person whom you may not figure out immediately. (I take an average of 7 weeks to completely register my kids' particular needs and fancies. It's stressing, but it's also the sweetest--in those first seven weeks or so postpartum, I am literally building a bond that will last and strengthen over time.)

Happy healing!

Namaste!

-- Taye K.

OLD? Nah, Established.

Namastè!

Discoveries abound in these parts!

As is everyone around me, I'm aging. Perhaps not visibly so, but aging is still unavoidable.

I embrace it.

According to the medical charts, I'm bordering on advanced maternal age. According to my 11-year-old, I'm seasoned. According to the younger moms in my scope...I'm the OLD mom.

Can you feel the smirk? Mm-hmm, I'm sure.

In my 20s I was pretty...unsettled. I was never into any dangerous activities or inherently unhealthy situations, and I've been blessed that my only hardships were emotional,  but I still had the bad combination of youthful exuberance and limited direction. I didn't have a set path for life. I was simply flowing along.

I had a job. I had friends. I had pretty much everything.

...then at 22 I became MOMMY.

Shortly thereafter I realized I previously had nothing. Nothing that mattered, anyway. Nothing compared to the joyful maelstrom of raising this little Baby. I didn't have a clue what to do with her but she was mine.

I wasn't the most confident mom. I worried about plastic bottles. I worried about keeping her warm, and about keeping her too warm. I worried about organic food (was it worth it) and the "right" preschool (would I find it?) along with trying so hard to prove my salt as a mother. Every day proved to be more challenging.l, but my baby girl and I muddled right on through. All the knowledge I garnered in college became moot once I logged out of my work system for the day--but all the new information I was absorbing daily as I navigated caring for my baby girl felt priceless.

Fast forward.

At 34 I'm Mommy again. I have the same flutters and moments of insecurity--but they're rooted by wisdom now, wisdom long-fought and hard-won by yours truly. I still ponder preschools and organic food,  because I know the right fuel and the best experiences and education will take my babies further. While I'm not doing their college applications just yet, I'm wide enough to look toward and plan for their futures. I've got a couple years of this mommy'ing thing under my belt. I've got a couple more years of living in general under my belt. I'm still not the expert, but thankfully I'm no longer that sweet little novice wearing tracks in the carpet with her incessant pacing.

I admittedly don't move like I did in my 20s.

For starters, I'm not so obsessed with looks now. (Thankfully I still have them!) When my Princess was a baby, I was determined to be that stylish, put-together mama who had a diaper bag to match my every fancy. Granted I don't look like a garbage pail kid nowadays, my style is far more effortless. I look good, but I focus more on feeling and being good. It resonates outward, which is a real lifesaver on those messy-bun and yoga pants days.

Because I'm not as inexperienced as I was, I'm also not as flighty. When Princess was a baby I legit swayed with almost every study. If it came out that something was good for babies to have, I got one or two immediately.  When an item was revealed as bad, it got chucked, regardless of how expensive it was. (I've always had a thing for shopping and my kids benefit greatly, *chuckle*) Except buying the latest fad gadget only to end up chucking it later is just...not cool. I now trust my own instincts about things. I don't force minimalism and I don't reinforce materialism--I've just learned to basically lean on proven sources and let the rest in one ear and out the other.

Sure, I'm not on the scene with my little ones, drinking matcha shooters and lamenting balancing my unicorn hair with my daughter's snarky onesies or my son's ripped toddler jeans. I'm not battling my older daughter for cool points on social media and we don't share clothes. (She steals my shirts and shoes occasionally but I mean, I'm legit stylish as heck.) I don't run around dressing like her peers but it's pretty cool that she sometimes wants to dress like me!)

I'm ALSO not sitting in a glider knitting a sweater while asking my kids to turn those conflabbed video consoles down. I'm not too feeble to pay on the climbing wall or ride horses with my kids. I can dance with them and I can chase them around.

While I'm not necessarily young anymore, I'm certainly quite the mommy force to be reckoned with.

I have an energy, strength, and confidence that I couldn't have even imagined ten years ago.

As exhausting as motherhood can be, it is my fortè! I make no bones about the fact that sometimes I wish for more sleep, or that my little would quit cluster feeding for two seconds so I can eat a sandwich. That's reality at any age a woman decides to tackle mothering. 

Do I feel like I could be enjpying an easier stretch of life? Maybe--I'm only 34. I don't imagine these are my twilight years! I dont really think about what I could be doing because I used my youth wisely. I've traveled, enjoyed my husband, and fulfilled several bucket lists kid-free. I'm not done by a long shot.

My babies aren't an inconvenience or a road block because they are so fiercely wanted and loved. I traded in my little two-door sports car years ago, because traveling life's highways is not something I want to do unless I've got room for the most important people on the journey.

Sure, I'm the OLD mom.

I dig. As a bonus, I have glitter growing from my scalp. *chuckle*

The Ks Take NYC, Episode 1: 10Below Ice Cream

Namastè!

I hope you're experiencing copious amounts thereof this week. We are in NYC visiting and seeing the things, and I ticked a super cool item off my bucket list.

As you know, I am a dessert afficionado. (It's hard not to be when my go-to meal is an Ensure shake--generously appointed with ice cream and toppings, because a girl has to keep her weight by whatever means necessary!) My favorite is cake and ice cream.

So...I set out to find the most unique ice cream dish in NYC. I wanted something tasty, unique, and customized. I tucked into my research and discovered a trendy food called rolled ice cream. I hadn't heard of it before. I looked on Instagram and as soon as I got an eyeful of the yumminess that is rolled ice cream, I needed it. In typical me fashion, I wanted this to be an experience. (I have had a rash of great days lately, so I've been trying to do and experience more while my anxiety is on the wane.) I wanted to go to the first, the best, AND the most popular.

That could ONLY be 10Below.

Note: Thanks to Richard Tam, the owner and co-founder of 10Below, for making our visit so special! Thanks to Max and Austin for taking the time to answer our questions as well as make such amazing treats for us.

I contacted the store to see if they gave tours, because how cool would it be to actually see in-depth, behind the scenes what happens there?!

I wasn't expecting much, but boy was I blown away when I received the email from Mr. Tam! Not only could we have a gander at the inside operations--they would open the store an hour early just for my family, so we could get in and out before the line wrapped around Mott and Canal Streets.

Off we went, navigating and eyeballing our way to 10 Mott Street. I may or may not have bought a scarf, a bus (relax--it's a toy for my little guy), and some key chains along the trek.

We saw this cute mural in the midst of our meandering.

The shop itself is unassuming, tucked below the busy sidewalk on Mott Street, which intersects the major vessel Canal Street in Chinatown, NYC. (Lower Manhattan.) You could easily walk past it off-peak...but that line stretching back to Canal Street lets you know something very special is happening in this little shop of wonders.

Inside the shop is really chill, cool. (No pun intended--or maybe!) It has got a nice vibe--grey decor, very minimalist. They have over half of their floor space clear, so people can watch and take photos and video of the process...which Max and Austin have down to a 2-minute science! It's an Instagram and blog dream spot.

Also, they have a really cool mural for people to pose in front of. The shop mascot is a whale!

Brass tacks. (Well, more. This is good, I promise!)

So what's so special about this place called 10Below?

Everything.

Since 2015, 10Below has brought delicious, fresh, (as in, made to order, preservative and add-in free!!!) rolled ice cream to NYC. Their inaugural location is at 10 Mott Street, Chinatown. That's why I was so keen to go there.

What's rolled ice cream, anyway?

Rolled ice cream is a Thai treat that involves super-chilling cream and other mix-ins on a plate. Not just any plate--the plates used in 10Below are chilled to 10° below zero, or colder. The cream base is poured onto the plate and smoothed until it freezes into ice cream. Then the artists (that's the closest word I can conjure for Max and Austin...they make it look soooo easy!) shave the super-chilled ice cream from the plate. The technique causes the ice cream to roll, like little taquitos!

This is the plate, all chilled and ready for ice cream rolling..

They have 8 pre-made combinations. (You can also freestyle and customize your own...but these 8 are nothing to shake a stick at.) The names are pretty cool too.

1. Honey Boo Boo
2. Monkey Business
3. Strawberry Shawty
4. Cookie Monster
5. Ain't Got no Thai Fo Dat
6. S'mores Galores
7. Fruity Bam-bam
8. Matcha Made in Heaven

Here is video of Max making my S'mores Galore.

There is an absolute plethora of toppings available, and they're unlimited. So...for a max of $7.50, you can have a one of a kind dessert. (The cups are $7, for .50 more you can have a waffle cone. We were touring, with a 2-year-old, so we got cups.)

I opted for the S'mores Galore. It is graham cracker ice cream rolls with chocolate, topped with granola, whipped cream, coconut, chocolate drizzle, and sprinkles.

Princess, always dainty, opted for the Strawberry Shawty--strawberry ice cream rolls topped with whipped cream, bananas, and fresh cut strawberries.

Our little cereal lover, Brother Bear, got the Fruity Bam-bam. It's a crazy mix of Fruity Pebbles ice cream rolls, and he chose blueberries, strawberries, bananas,  and whipped cream. I had a little taste of the ice cream and I know what I'm getting next time!

...my kids go to an ice cream shop and get FRUIT?! (Inside I am glowing...although I totally wouldn't fuss if they wanted candies and cookies.)

The ice cream itself is literally made right before your eyes. I imagine it's akin to flash freezing. The process makes for the creamiest, smoothest ice cream I ever tasted, y'all.

They don't skimp on quality at all--the toppings provided for that incredible ice cream are all top notch as well. The fruits in particular are mega fresh--I had a few blueberries and they were as sweet and juicy as if they'd just been picked, right at the peak of freshness.

If you happen to be in Manhattan, or in NYC at all, don't skip this hidden gem. Go in and treat yourself. Take some pics. Grab a couple stickers! And a spoon.

We are definitely fans. I will be bringing Family Namastè back to see Max and Austin, and to get a taste of the other flavor combos on that menu!

Namastè!

-- Tayè K.

*Gasp!* Brother Bear's 2nd Birthday

Namastè!

February 28th was a gorgeous day here in NYC. Crisp breeze and sunshine. Clear skies. A dream day for touring--not too cold, not too hot, and not overcast at all.

Our agile, strong, brilliant, little guy turned two years old. (I guess he's no longer Baby Namastè--Brother Bear!)

As we are in NYC visiting and seeing the things, we decided to set up a tour of the Disney Store in Times Square. He adores Mickey Mouse, so we knew it'd be a hit.

What we didn't know, is how special the cast members would make that tour.

We went to the Disney Store in Times Square around lunch time. We wanted him to be well rested and to have had lunch, so he could enjoy everything. (Toddlerhood can be a minefield fraught with tantrums and meltdowns...timing is everything.) When we got in the door, we were greeted by the attendant, who showed us upstairs to the castle. When we got to the castle, the cast members immediately came over to confirm his information. They even took great care to assure they were pronouncing his name correctly.

The production itself is simple but adorable and oh-so-thoughtful--three cheers and a birthday song. But the Disney Store is magical already, and for the cast members to do this is super epic.

In addition to the three cheers and birthday song, he received a button pin with his name on it and all the cast members gave him high fives.

No trip to the Disney Store would be complete without a treat. Since our little guy is obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, we knew he would want a plush. (I've stopped buying toys on a whim, as our playroom is packed to the gills.) 

He had such a good time exploring the store. 

For this super special occasion, he got his long-awaited Pluto! I should have recorded the squeal when he realized we were buying the BIG one.

This mama is pleased as punch. We may make this an annual thing. Just look at him! (He was staring at something up ahead. Or perhaps his RBF has set in and he looks like me now?) 

Namastè!

-- Tayè K. ♡