World Premiere of Puss In Boots: The Last Wish

Back in full speed

A few days ago I shared with you guys that my son James wasn't feeling too well. Today, I'm happy to announce he's fully recovered and back to his old self. That also applies to the parent who's been sleep deprived throughout this whole process, which is me. We're both happy to feel great again. Thank God and thank YOU for sending messages and prayers which helped him very much. I know it did. I also know many of you might be going through the same thing with your little ones. So here are a few things that helped James recover from a terrible cold. 

1. Love and attention. & lots of it. This is why I took a few days off social to truly cater to him. No phones, no emails. Just us. Hugging, snuggling, watching his favorite tv shows. Drinking Pedialyte and giving him acetaminophen as needed. 

2. I noticed he was back to normal when his appetite kicked in. He asked for oatmeal in the morning and spaghetti and meatballs for lunch. I made it without hesitation. Soup also helps. You can find my good friend Rosie's soup recipe here. 

3. I like to avoid anyone in the house saying that he's sick. I kept telling him "you're fine". "You're simply not feeling well currently but you are getting better each minute that passes by". Words are incredibly powerful specially when it comes down to our children. Make sure they are learning something good from you. Always stay positive even when they aren't doing too good. What keeps us going is hope.

And last but not least is Prayer. 

This should be 1st and last. 

Happy Thursday!

Celebrating our 15th Wedding Anniversary

Last night, Moe and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. A huge milestone neither of us saw coming so soon. It still blows my mind to see how we've been able to sustain our relationship not only as parents and friends but overall life partners. 

Typically, we go out to dinner to celebrate the occasion but this year we wanted to do something a little different. We hired a private chef to come into our home and cook a 5 course meal for our entire family. It was the best idea and I wish we would've thought about this sooner. 

Comfy in Mon Coeur

Another week, another big ol' smile!

Today, I wanted to introduce you to this brand that is truly making a difference in the kids fashion industry. Mon Coeur is a sustainable children's brand that was born out of necessity to save our planet. All the fabrics are made of 100% recycled content postindustrial recycled cotton, recycled polyester from upcycled plastic bottles and recycled Roica elastane. Along with making incredible clothes that are good for our kids and our planet, Mon Coeur also gives back with their philanthropy work. 

"We're dedicated to making kids clothing that lasts, so that our planet does, too."

Three of the most important things parents look for in their kids clothing is style, comfort and good price point. For me, comfort is thee most important aspect when buying items for myself and my family. This is something Mon Coeur does really well. James is wearing the Beige Cargo Pocket Kid Jogger and the Camo Sweatshirt. Both incredibly soft and super cozy. 

Toys"R"Us is back

Toys"R"Us has always been the place I'd take my family when they got good grades or when the Holidays came around. After it's closing many of us were devastated because we knew there would never be another place like it. Imagine aisle and aisle of toys and games for the kid in all of us. 

I'm so excited to welcome Toys"R"Us back and now in 400 Macys stores across the country. I had the opportunity to visit the iconic toy store located in Macy's Herald Square on the 7th floor sitting on a 14,000 square feet space. 

To celebrate its grand comeback, the chain is hosting a series of in-store events at Macy's Herald Square and all other Macy's locations nationwide throughout the month of October. Continue reading for details...

A Butter-full event with Kerrygold

Yesterday my family and I attended a fun interactive cooking experience with my favorite butter brand Kerrygold. 

If you're not familiar with this brand then you haven't tasted excellent butter. Kerrygold is a butter and cheese company that makes it's products with milk from Irish grass-fed cows. & you can taste the difference. Kerrygold has been around since 1962 and it's been a fan favorite from the get-go.

The event was in celebration of Kerrygold's latest launch, The Magical Pantry. A website that was created for parents and children to spend quality time connecting with each other. The idea is to involve the entire family in the cooking process and allow them to see how they can create delicious things with their own hands. All while enjoying story telling, learning recipes and creating memories. I'm all about involving my family in the kitchen and now you can too.

The Magical Pantry, designed to help families learn to cook together with delicious recipes and fable-like children’s stories. Designed for both desktop and mobile, The Magical Pantry allows young families to fully customize a character, pick from almost 40 recipes, and select one of 4 unique fables. Their character is then incorporated right into the pages of  the story – where hundreds of combinations of recipes and stories magically come to life.

Warm Tones

This outfit is the epitome of Autumn. A plaid wardrobe, denim and comfy boots are essential during the cooler months. All New Yorkers know that when the temperature drops you bring out the warmer tone vibes. This plaid jacket is an old Joie one but I've liked some similar ones below.

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Este look es el epítome del otoño. Una chaqueta de cuadros, jeans y botas cómodas son esenciales durante los meses más fríos. Todos los neoyorquinos saben que cuando la temperatura baja, sacas a relucir todo tonos más cálidos. Esta chaqueta a cuadros es una vieja de Joie, pero me han gustado algunas similares a continuación.

Nubiani Korean BBQ

NUBIANI

315 5th ave #3FL, New York, NY 10016

(917) 623-0807

I've lost count at how many times my family and I have visited Korea town. It's been a tradition of Moe and I since the birth of our children. Hazel, my second daughter is obsessed with Seoul which is located in Food Gallery 52 right on 32nd street. It's her all-time favorite restaurant for noodles. Me in the other hand, I'm more of a Noona Noodles kind-of girl, also located on Food Gallery 52. 

Before going on vacation I made an appointment to get my lashes done at Secret Eyelash. The space is located on the 10th floor of 315 5th ave. As I entered the elevator a young couple is already in there. They got off on the third floor. After noticing chairs, I took a little peek and realized it was a restaurant. Being the nosy person that I am, I also got off to checkout the menu. It was Nubiani. I immediately made reservations and after my lash appointment, I enjoyed the most delicious Korean bbq!

Once home I told Moe and the kids about this new gem I had found. They were eager to visit and so two weeks after we visited as a family. It was obvious that this would be our new favorite place. Watch my video here.

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He perdido la cuenta de cuántas veces mi familia y yo hemos visitado el area conocida como Corea en NYC. Ha sido una tradición de mi esposo y yo desde el nacimiento de nuestros hijos. Hazel, mi segunda hija está obsesionada con Seúl, que se encuentra en Food Gallery 52, justo en la calle 32. Es su restaurante favorito. Yo, por otro lado, me gusta mas Noona Noodles, también ubicada en Food Gallery 52.

Antes de irme de vacaciones hice una cita para hacerme las pestañas en Secret Eyelash. El espacio está ubicado en el piso 10 de 315 5th ave. Cuando entré en el ascensor, una pareja joven ya estaba allí. Se bajaron en el tercer piso. Después de notar las sillas, eché un vistazo y me di cuenta de que era un restaurante. Siendo la persona entrometida que soy, también me bajé para ver el menú. Era Nubiani. Inmediatamente hice una reservación y después de mi cita para las pestañas, ¡disfruté de una barbacoa coreana más deliciosa! Vean mi visita aquí.

Una vez en casa, le conté a mi esposo y a los niños sobre esta nueva joya que había encontrado. Estaban ansiosos por visitar, así que dos semanas después los visitamos como familia. Era obvio que este sería nuestro nuevo lugar favorito.

Leather Jacket in NYC

The moment the leaves start to change color or start to fall, I know it's time to pull out my leather jacket. There's something about a black leather jacket that never seems to go out of style. It can be styled edgy with jeans or faux leather legging or with a dress how I'm styling it today. For me, a jacket like this is one of the best investments pieces in my wardrobe. I've own this one for over 7 years and it's still in mint condition. As a matter of fact, the more you wear a jacket like this the better it looks. 

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En el momento en que las hojas comienzan a cambiar de color o comienzan a caer, sé que es hora de sacar mi chaqueta de cuero. Hay algo en una chaqueta de cuero negra que nunca pasa de moda. Se puede combinar con jeans o legging de piel o con un vestido como lo estoy usando hoy. Para mí, una chaqueta como esta es una de las mejores piezas de inversión en mi closet. He tenido este durante más de 7 años y todavía está en perfecto estado. De hecho, cuanto más usas una chaqueta como esta, mejor se ve.

Haunted House in New York City for Halloween

Blood Manor

359 Broadway, New York, NY 10013

(212) 290- 2825

Happy almost October 1st!! 

This year I'm super excited to be celebrating Halloween with my friends and family. Wear fun costumes, take the kids trick-or-treating and take lots of photos. After all the celebration only comes once a year. 

This year I wanted to do something I've never done before so I decided to accept an invitation to visit Blood Manor. If you're not familiar, Blood Manor is an interactive haunted house where groups of 5-6 people walk through rooms getting frighten by professional actors who look like they just came out of a horror movie. If you love the thrill of getting scared, then you'll love this. It's opening weekend right now!!

The recommended age to attend the show is 14 years and up. Believe me it's not for the faint of heart.

You can purchase tickets at BloodManor.com or at the door. Watch my experience here. 

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¡¡Feliz casi primero de octubre!!

Este año estoy súper emocionada de celebrar Halloween con mis amigos y familiares. Ponernos disfraces divertidos, llevar a los niños a pedir dulces y tomar muchas fotos. Después de todo, la celebración solo llega una vez al año.

Este año quería hacer algo que nunca antes había hecho, así que decidí aceptar una invitación para visitar Blood Manor. Si no está familiarizado, Blood Manor es una casa embrujada interactiva donde grupos de 5 a 6 personas caminan por las habitaciones asustándose por actores profesionales que parecen recién salidos de una película de terror. Si te encanta la emoción de asustarte, entonces te encantará esto. ¡Es el fin de semana de apertura ahora mismo!

La edad recomendada para asistir al espectáculo es de 14 años en adelante. Créeme, no es para los débiles de corazón. Puedes comprar boletos en BloodManor.com o en la puerta.

 A message from our editor: Johnnybell 

I find it so fascinating how I've been able to share my life through photos and text for almost 11 years. That's how long I've had this blog for. NYTM started as a fun little hobby and has become an extension of my life. You've seen my family and myself grow for over a decade. You were there when I moved from Astoria. You were there when I found out I was pregnant with James. You were there when I bought my first house. You were there when I launched Shop Johnnybell. You continue to support me with every single collaboration I take on. That will always blow my mind! Thank you for sticking around even through my inconsistency on here. These past four years have been the most challenging in my life as becoming a mother for the third time after so many years can feel like the very first time. 

As school is back in session and James has entered pre-K, I finally have free time to hop back into blogging. You might remember I attempted to do this a few months back but wasn't able to maintain a consistent schedule due to the lack of down time. 

In pure transparency, having 6+ hours to myself now that he's in school feels like a breath of fresh air. MY GOD! I forgot what it felt like to actually desire to write and want to create content out of pure desire not obligation. It's so gratifying.

Thank you for continuing to show up for me. I love my community. I love you. 

Packing for Miami + New favorites!

Departing New York City via Amtrak

Today we start our journey down to Miami, FL via Amtrak. An experience finally scratched off my bucket list. The expedition will take roughly 31 hours and no, that's no typo. We're currently 3 hours in and just stopped at the Baltimore, Maryland station. So far so good. Kids are entertained with their books, Nintendo Switch and dozens of snacks and I'm very pleased with the leg room. Again, it's only been a few hours so I'll check back later with more updates on this passage. 

The Natural Deodorant that works!

I've always been skeptical about clean deodorants until I tried  Lavanila.  These deodorants have No Aluminum, No Paraben and No harsh Chemicals. I have been using them for over two weeks and love the results. They have many scents but my favorites are the Vanilla Eucalyptus and the Sport Lux (perfect for applying before a good sweat session). This natural velvet formula allows your skin to breath. 

Each deodorant is $12-$14 and is available at Ulta, Ulta.com, Target and Target.com

Dominican Republic 2022

Nordstrom X Central Park Conservancy Playground Partners Annual Family Party

Yesterday, my family and I attended the Nordstrom X Central Park Conservancy Playground Partners Annual Family Party. This event was a fundraiser to support Central Park's playgrounds which helps keep the 21 playgrounds safe and clean.

Blueberry Lemon Glaze Cake

Treats from TOUS les JOURS

By now you probably know how much my family loves visiting Korea town and Flushing, NY. It's become a weekly activity for my family for more than 10 years. One of our favorite places to visit is Noona Noodles in Korea town. After indulging in the absolute best noodles, we like to stop by TOUS les JOURS. What we love about TOUS les JOURS is that each good is freshly baked daily. This makes the quality exceptional and each item consistently delicious. 

A few days ago TOUS les JOURS reached out to share their limited-time desserts from their Mother's Day collection. I was over the moon!! They treated me to a variety of my favorites baked goods and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. 

new Mother's Day assortment from Baked by Melissa

If you didn't already know, Mother's Day is May 8th and I'm already feeling so loved by my family and friends. Every year I come around here talking about "everyday should be Mothers Day... blah blah blah" and yes that's partly true. but the whole truth is I LOVE Mother's Day and if it was celebrated everyday it wouldn't be so special! Yes, we should appreciate our Mothers, love and care for them on a daily basis but.. also treat them a little extra special on Mother's Day. We deserve it. 

& nothing says I love you like a box of delicious mini-cupcakes in a beautiful floral box from Baked by Melissa. 

If you're thinking of purchasing a few mini-cupcake assortments be sure to use code: JOHNNYBELL10 for 10% off your order on BakedbyMelissa.com 

expires May 9th

Change begins with you

Good morning my wonderful family of friends! Lately, I've been missing you all so dearly.. I just had to hop on here to say hello and share what's been going on in my crazy life. I mean where do I even begin? I've taken on so many new ventures its challenging to keep my head above water these days. Funny enough I've managed to do so seamlessly without trip. I know that's not just me, it's the power of God on my side... Amen. 

These past few weeks I've been busy due to one renovation project I've kept secret until now. If you follow me on social then you might remember my at-home gym I did last year and that beautiful mural Mike Stylez did for me. I loved it so much and hesitated on getting rid of it but I didn't get good use out of the space. & you know in New York, space is essential. So, Moe and I decided to transform our entire garage into a guest house. Yes, a guesthouse or more like a guest loft. I absolutely love having my family over and of course my in-laws as well. Unfortunately, even after turning our attic into a shared playroom and bedroom we still don't have enough space. Ugh, the struggle of living in NY I tell you! Nonetheless, I'm always thinking of ways to solve problems. It's my specialty (they say). So that's one project that has kept me very busy lately. I will be sharing before and after photos/videos (on social) and will be creating lots of content in the space so you will see it very soon. 

Now that the guesthouse is completed I'm working on something else. As if being a mom of three and editor isn't hard enough haha. I'm currently planning an Iftar dinner party for my extended family of 42! Its the biggest gathering I've ever hosted and I'm so flipping excited! Since it's a pretty big crowd I decided to host them in our backyard. I rented everything from chairs and tables to doing the full decoration on my own. If you know me then you know, I go big or go home! I even created tiny personalized menus to place on each seat. It's going to be so cute :)

There is no specific theme but I do want the traditional Ramadan moon and a few stars here and there. The color scheme is sage because green is my absolute favorite color. I'm doing a beautiful balloon garland (which I've never done before so wish me luck). Initially, I reached out to a party planner/ decorator and she didn't get back to me on time so I decided to save money and just do it myself. You know what they say, "if you want something done right, do it yourself". I live by this quote! 

Part of why I am so excited about this event is because one of Moe's dreams has always been to have Iftar with his family on a big long table under a sky full of stars. That's exactly what I'm going to create for them. I will be adding twinkle lights all throughout the backyard to mimic stars. Believe you me, I'm going to make it extra special because he deserves the world. 

With so much happening there are bound to be curve balls thrown at me.. nothing I can't manage. To help me duck those balls, I like checking a few boxes. Which I'll be sharing in todays post. 

Quality brands for Kids from Maisonette.com

Over the past 11 years I've curated my blog and social accounts to focus on quality over anything else. 

I've only worked with brands I fully support and believe you all would enjoy. That's why I'm so excited to share that I'm officially a Maisonette fambassador. This means I will be sharing my monthly favorite items from Maisonette.com as well as styling them. The reason this partnership brigs me so much joy is because I've been a Maisonette lover since 2017. The website was founded by two moms with the goal of helping modern families with all their childs needs. Maisonette.com is an expertly-curated baby and kids marketplace featuring high quality products from around the world.

You can browse their site here. 

                                                                                                                                                      

Durante los últimos 11 años, he seleccionado todas las marcas con quien trabajo para mi blog y mis cuentas sociales. Siempre enfocándome en la calidad por encima de cualquier otra cosa.

Solo he trabajado con marcas que apoyo totalmente y creo que todos ustedes disfrutarían. Es por eso que estoy tan emocionada de compartir que soy oficialmente un fambassador de Maisonette. Esto significa que compartiré mis artículos favoritos mensuales de Maisonette.com. La razón por la que esta asociación me da tanta alegría es porque he sido un amante de esta pagina desde el 2017. La compañía fue fundada por dos madres con el objetivo de ayudar a las familias modernas con todas las necesidades de sus hijos. Maisonette.com es un mercado de bebés y niños seleccionado por expertos que presenta los mejores productos de alta calidad de todo el mundo.

Puedes navegar por su sitio web aquí.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy 2022 Friends! What a crazy year 2021 was for most of us. We all went through some crazy things and somehow made it out to welcome another year. Amen to that. 

May 2022 bring you all happiness, health, peace and everything else you deserve.

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¡Feliz 2022 amigos! Qué año tan loco fue 2021 para la mayoría de nosotros. Todos fuimos tentados de muchas maneras y de alguna manera logramos dar la bienvenida a otro año. Amen a eso.

Que el 2022 te traiga toda la felicidad, salud, paz y todo lo que te mereces.