TAKE THE KIDS ///. NEW YORK CITY GUIDE - HOTELS

Finding a good hotel is usually our first step when we're planning a trip to NYC. It can take a lot of hours to find the One, but it's always a good challenge to find the right room at the right location at the right price and at the right time of the year.

Before kids, our expectations of a hotel room were different and at extremes also: uber-stylish for the full luxury trip or very low-low-key since we were out most of the day and didn't need much. But traveling with kids is different. They wake up early, they need space to run/jump/cry/scream, they want to rest during the day or get to bed early, plus you have tons of luggage and need some space for snacks and drinks so you can stop their temptation to open that mini-bar. 

All good reasons for us parents to pick a hotel room that offers comfort and function. Because after a whole day of pushing strollers and piggy-backing, you will appreciate a nice hot shower, clean hotel carpets and plush beds with extra pillows.

In the long term, we're aiming to try more boutique hotels to enjoy the design aspect of the stay. Until now, we've tried mid-range hotels and it fits perfectly our current needs. We've tried a few options in the past years and here's an overview of our experiences: 

Delivery Day

A mini post to start the day right. Words of Wismom is now officially www.wordsofwismom.com!

Un mini post pour débuter la journée du bon pied. Nous sommes maintenant www.wordsofwismom.com!

via

Thanks to you all for reading everyday and Cheers to many more W.O.W. moments to come!

Merci à vous tous pour votre lecture quotidienne et un toast aux merveilleux moments W.O.W. à venir!

KAT.

W.O.W. Tip: Get on our mailing list to be the first to know whenever a new post is up on our site. It's right here on the top right.
Faites comme plusieurs d'entre nous et inscrivez-vous à notre liste de courriels. Une façon efficace d'être informée des nouveaux posts tout chauds! C'est juste en haut à droite ici.

W.O.W. Pick: Merci Merci

J'ai la chance d'avoir une grande soeur, mais en plus j'ai la chance d'avoir une grande soeur qui habite à Paris (ou sur Paris comme elle dirait). Elle est ma source secrète de tout ce qui se passe à Paris.

Aujourd'hui, je partage avec vous ce qu'elle m'a confié tout dernièrement. La fameuse boutique Merci est maintenant en ligne! 

Pour ceux qui y sont déjà allés, le nouveau site aide à apaiser l'attente jusqu'à votre prochaine visite. Pour ceux qui ne connaissent pas, c'est une introduction à une des meilleures boutiques. 

Le site est bien, mais n'équivaut certainement pas à une visite en personne. 

Merci à ma chère collaboratrice parisienne pour partager avec les lecteurs de W.O.W. son fameux carnet d'adresses. 

MERCI
111 boulevard Beauharnais
Paris

Office Chic: Ze Trench

Finding your perfect trench is like finding your perfect Starbucks drink. Tall, short, mocha, hot chocolate, the list goes on. The trick is you gotta try different ones before finding the perfect one, especially if you're vertically-challenged like me and were not going for the Inspector Gadget look. 

Professionnelle à la recherche d'un imperméable disponible pour de nombreuses balades printanières. Il doit être ceintré, pas trop long, pas trop court, pas trop de boutons, la bonne couleur, sérieux et décontracté, et au bon prix. Si vous êtes croyez être 'Ze One', veuillez me laisser un commentaire à ce post. Merci!

W.O.W. Pick: Yogaqua

This looks like a fun workout: yoga on a paddleboard. More info here and here. Leave your yoga mat at home!

Source: updates.thomsonreuters.com via Fiona on Pinterest

The Book Club: Zoé et Théo

La mignonne série Zoé et Théo nous a aidés sauvés à maintes reprises à préparer la famille à l'avance pour des événements comme aller à la piscine publique, se promener en ville ou prendre l'avion. 

Les enfants aiment bien la complicité fraternelle entre ce charmant duo et leur débrouillardise dans les nombreuses aventures. Bon ce ne sont pas ces mots exacts qu'ils ont utilisés, mais bref, c'est ce que j'aimerais entendre s'ils étaient interpellés à en faire une critique littéraire. Voici donc nos mes titres préférés, bonne découverte!

La Pause Café: The Design Files

New feature I'm trying out today: La Pause Café is designed for all of you who sometimes have to eat lunch at your desk to get all your work done. Some cool websites to escape to for 5 minutes. Let me know what you think or have sites to share!

Une nouvelle rubrique à essayer: La Pause Café. Conçue pour ceux et celles qui doivent rester au bureau durant le lunch pour compléter leurs tâches. Des sites cool pour une petite escapade de 5 minutes. Faites-moi signe si vous aimez ou avez des suggestions!

The Design Files

New Kid on the Block: Studio Bump

For all you mama-to-be and hot new mamas in Montreal, meet your new best friend: Studio Bump. Make sure to pass by their open house on April 16th and see what wonderful things you can do to get the real 'glow'. I did yoga throughout my 2 pregnancies, but I wish I had their Bootcamp class!

La nouvelle meilleure amie des dames enceintes et nouvelles mamans: Studio Bump. La nouvelle adresse en ville qui mettra en valeur vos nouvelles courbes! Faites un ptit tour à leurs portes ouvertes du 16 avril pour tester leur nouveau concept. Le Bootcamp class serait mon premier choix!

Care for Daycare: Thank you!

Our friend Lorraine commented on the original Care for Daycare post to share with us all that the petition worked (!) and discussions will be planned to look at all options.

Thanks to Lorraine for the follow-up and to you all for taking the time to read about this topic.

Have a good week!

Care for Daycare: Sign Here Please

One of the very first things I do when I learn that I'm pregnant is that I block 1 to 2 hours of precious work time for what I call 'daycare cold-calling'. After subscribing to the waiting-list websites, I identify all the daycares in my area that manage their own list and I call them, one by one, to put my unborn child's name ('X') on their waiting list.

Not the most exciting thing to do, but it's one step closer to having access to a good daycare. 

W.O.W. Pick: DVF Loves Roxy

My teenage years were all about dreaming to be a surfer. Turns out, lemon juice on black hair makes it orange, so the natural blonde highlights part didn't really work out for me. But Roxy bikinis got me a little closer to the beach bum lifestyle, that and the movie Blue Crush (when Kate Bosworth actually had muscles).

Too Cool for School

If you believe that kids can appreciate good design when they're surrounded by it, check out these schools that took the extra step.

Takeout Option: Chand Palace

Takeouts. There's so many of them, but by the time you choose one that suits everyone, you could have cooked a 5-course menu.

Here's a new feature on Words of Wismom: Takeout Options. They could be handy when you've exhausted all the options in your fridge or your newborn is napping and you don't want to go out. The bigger kids get to try new food while you can breathe out of your Spanx after a long day at work. Like anything, moderation is key of course.

The Book Club: The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein.
About the act of giving, selflessness, selfishness, happiness, sadness and consequences. It may sound a little dramatic for a children book, but it's delivered in a light way.
I was first attracted to this book for its clean black and white graphics and short texts.

WOW Tip: The author's profile picture on the back is not the most child-friendly picture, so you might have to hide that picture when reading the story to your children.

Hugs and Rugs

We spend lots of time playing on the floor so why not invest in a fabulous rug. Here are some of my favorites picks.

Office Chic: Florals

With daylight savings, we get to do a full day of work and pick the kids up at daycare when there's still daylight. Gotta love it.
Here's some inspiration to get ready for spring. Sprinkle some floral prints into your work wardrobe without looking like a wallflower.

Who Let the Belly Out

Hatch offers great looks to enjoy during pregnancy and post-delivery. Here are my favorite looks:

Wear to Work

Grey's Anatomy

It was back in 2008. I still remember the look on my coworker's face when she asked me what paint color I had picked for my nursery and I answered grey. Grey?!? It's as if she was feeling sorry for my unborn child and his boring future room.

I found grey to be quite organic and a soothing background to all the colorful toys and action that goes on when a baby arrives.

Here's an example of the gorgeous grey nursery of one lucky baby. How about you, ever had grey fever?

Action Mom

Monday mornings are tricky. It feels like starting the same new routine over every week, and by the end of the week, you're glad you've mastered the organized chaos and its little surprises.

Whenever I feel like wearing pajamas to work, I think of all you cool moms out there. This morning was definitely one of those mornings so I went straight to my no-fail website, The Glow.  

Here's a glimpse at their inspiring and fashionable moms.

Laura Garcia

Stock Up On Stockholm

With all the money I saved from this week's W.O.W tip, I spotted some pretty neat and organic items from Ikea's new 2013 Stockholm collection. Loving all the natural wood pieces and hoping that the quality and prices will meet my expectations so that I can scream 'START THE CAR!!'

A sneak peek at the new Stockholm collection.

My favorite IKEA commercial.