Today marks the 2 year anniversary of my going vegan! In some ways, it seems like it’s been much longer than 2 years- almost as if I was born like this. On the other hand, I can’t believe I’m sticking to a plan that was only supposed to last a month!
I had tried, unsuccessfully, to go vegetarian as a young child when I learned that chicken came from…chicken. My experience was similar to the little boy in the adorable viral video who learns that the octopus on his plate is actually a real, chopped up octopus:
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Tonight, take 10 minutes to sit down and listen to this recording (George is playing the piano!) in his honor:
Updated September 2015
It’s almost October- can you believe it? We were just at the beach and now we’re surrounded by pumpkins, scarves, boots, and chilly air! One of the best parts about this time of year for kids (and parents!) is Halloween. Have you chosen your costumes yet?
Click through for 24 of my favorite Halloween costumes for babies, toddlers, and big kids. Click on the links beside the list items to view each costume on Amazon. Looking for a Halloween event to attend with your kids in NYC? Make sure to join TLB Music for a Halloween Costume Party on Friday, the 30th on the Upper East Side of Manhattan!
Ray Charles was born “Ray Charles Robinson” on September 23, 1930 in Albany, GA. He would have turned 83 today! Here are a few of my favorite videos of Ray performing to watch in his honor:
Happy First Day of Fall! It’s time to pick apples, bake homemade pies and warm bread, drink fresh cider, carve pumpkins, eat creamy soup, and take comfort in all things Autumn. Here are five of my favorite vegan recipes for the Fall plucked from my Vegan Recipes & Foods Pinterest board.
1. Apple Cider Glazed Sweet Potatoes by Oh My Veggies view recipe
2. Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils by Whole Living view recipe
3. Creamy Cashew Veggie Pot Pie by Healthy. Happy. Life. view recipe
4. Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup by Allyson Kramer view recipe
5. Pumpkin Cinnamon Bun Layer Cake by Healthy. Happy. Life. view recipe
Katia and I are so excited to be throwing our first Halloween costume party for kids at TLB Music! We can’t wait to decorate the studio with cobwebs, spiders, glowing lights, pumpkins, and more. If you live in the NYC area, please join us on October 30th for music, making Halloween-themed crafts, playing in our indoor playspace, and snacking on yummy sweets. We’ll be giving away $100 in Bird Bucks to TLB’s staff pick for favorite costume of the day and will be raffling off a full session of music classes ($688 value) for our Winter/Spring 2014 session!
What: Halloween Costume Party for kids ages 4 months – 6 years
Where: TLB Music 266 East 78th Street (between 2nd and 3rd) NY, NY 10075
When: Wednesday, October 30th 2013
Time: come anytime between 2:30 – 5:00! We think most people will stay about an hour.
Tickets: $20 per child in advance | $25 per child at door | 50% off siblings
How to Purchase Tickets: Call 212-744-0404, email tlb@tlbmusic.com, or purchase tickets online at: www.tlbmusic.com/workshops-events/
On September 16, 1963- 50 years ago today- The Beatles released “She Loves You”. It was an immediate success and was one of the five Beatles songs that set a record on April 4, 1964 by simultaneously holding the top five positions on the Billboard charts! These were the 5 songs:
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Happy Birthday, George Jones! George was born on September 12, 1931 – he would have turned turned 82 today. This is one of his most famous songs, “He Stopped Loving Her Today”, a song released in 1980 about a man who couldn’t forget about his lost love. For years, the man holds on to her letters and photos always hoping that she will “come back again”. He only stops loving her when he passes away and she comes to visit him one last time at his funeral. It’s a sad, but beautiful song regarded by many as the greatest country song of all time. Love the song? Here’s another beautiful performance of the song by LeAnn Rimes at the Grand Ole Opry.
These are 10 of my favorite children’s books about New York City. #4 is one of the most popular on our bookshelves at TLB! Click on the links to view each Big Apple book on Amazon.
1. 123 NYC: A Counting Book of New York City (2-6 years) View on Amazon
Author: Joanne Dugan
2. B is for Brooklyn (2-6 years) View on Amazon
Author: Selina Alko
3. This is New York (3 and up) View on Amazon
Author/Illustrator: Miroslav Sasek
4. Subway (3 and up) View on Amazon
Author: Anastasia Suen Illustrator: Karen Katz
5. Larry Gets Lost in New York City (3-7 years) View on Amazon
Author/Illustrator: John Skewes Author: Michael Mullin
6. New York, New York!: The Big Apple from A to Z (4-8 years) View on Amazon
Author: Laura Krauss Melmed Illustrator: Frane Lessac
7. Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade (4-8 years) View on Amazon
8. A Walk in New York (4-8 years) View on Amazon
Author/Illustrator: Salvatore Rubbino
9. The House on East 88th Street (5-8 years) View on Amazon
Author: Bernard Waber
10. New York City History for Kids: From New Amsterdam to the Big Apple with 21 Activities (9 and up) View on Amazon
What are your kids’ favorite things? What are yours? I had a hard time choosing one for each category so I made room for 3 choices!
Click the image below to download, save, and print the PDF activity sheet.
Empire State Building, 1931
photo source
I love this shot of the Empire State Building nearing completion in 1931. The observation deck hadn’t been constructed yet so the photo was retouched to add it in!
Here’s a picture of the same view 82 years later:
