Happy Halloween!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Dreading Date Night
A toddler’s perspective on staying home while Mom and Dad hit the town.
Dream: I am ready to hit the town and check out the new sweet shop that opened down the street. Mommy and Daddy really don’t want to be left alone and have a lunch date all by themselves, but I insist that they deserve it. While they get ready I slip into my favorite high heels (they used to be Mommy’s) and beckon for puppy and together we head out for a candy-filled adventure. Mommy reminds me that she installed the Elle Belle Tracker App on her iPhone so she can watch over me and puppy from afar. We all hug and kiss and I go on my merry way!Reality: After a fun day asserting my toddler independence, the doorman rings up at 6 p.m., which only means one thing: a babysitter. See, I have it all figured out. It’s too late for a play date, but too early for an evening food order, so it must be what I fear most…Mommy and Daddy going out without me. Or so they think! This time I got it covered because I installed the Elle Belle Parent Tracker App on my pretend champagne-colored iPhone 6. It tells me where Mommy and Daddy are so I can find them. Surely they don’t want to be gone too long from their prized child?
Yet they do. I can tell Mommy is going out because she is wearing my favorite high heels. Upon seeing this, I immediately put on my cutest pouty face and cry Mommy and Daddy a river. But in return, they just hug me and tell me they love me. I already knew that–I just don’t want them to go! So this time I wrap myself around Mommy’s leg. She takes off her shoes, bends down to console me, and hugs me tight. Now I am in business! I keep crying to make sure I get the effect I want. I know Mommy feels icky leaving me because she gives Daddy a confused look that I have learned to love.
Mommy hugs me tighter while reminding me that wherever she is, her love is with me. Then (you won’t believe this) she goes on to tell me how much fun I am going to have with the babysitter and that she will see me in the morning. Daddy pulls Mommy away from me and tells me he loves me and to have sweet dreams. Sweet dreams my bum bum! My favorite people in the world are abandoning me at bedtime and I am expected to have sweet dreams? I don’t think so.
I continue to fuss until I am sure I have sufficiently sabotaged Mommy and Daddy’s plans and they will stay home for bedtime. But tonight Mommy and Daddy mean business. After a few (well, maybe several) more tears, kisses, and hugs for reassurance, they leave. Couldn’t they have just waited for me to fall asleep and sneak out like they used to? At least then we would read and sing lullabies together before they “abandoned” me.
I hear the elevator door close and have my confirmation: they really are gone. Even though I feel sad, I run to greet the babysitter with a smile. I ask for a tissue to clean my nose and then sit and play with my new iPhone app, secretly tracking my parents’ every move. I think of all the fun Mommy and Daddy must be having without me. Maybe they went to my favorite toy store. Or my favorite restaurant. Or maybe they are not having fun? Maybe they are crying because they miss me? That must be it!
At least puppy chose to stay home with me. Before I know it, I hear the babysitter saying something about bedtime. I decide to ignore that reference to dreamland and keep playing. Luckily, the babysitter goes along for a while; after months of playing with me, she still doesn’t know all of Mommy’s silly rules. We have a grand old time–we even pause to have cookies and milk! Yum! And before I know it, I ask to go to read books, puppy gives me kisses, and I willingly go nighty night.
And Mommy and Daddy were right about me having sweet dreams. My dreams were so happy that I woke up in the middle of the night to dish all about them and realized I had a really wet diaper. And guess who was there when I beckoned? Mommy and Daddy! I bet they were so glad they didn’t have to wait until morning to see me again!
Friday, October 11, 2013
A Frightfully Fun Time at the Count’s Halloween Spooktacular
A Frightfully Fun Time at the Count’s Halloween Spooktacular
I just had a frightfully fun time celebrating a not too spooky Halloween at the Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place! It looks like they did an Extreme Makeover: Sesame Place Edition because the park was transformed into a silly and fun Halloween haven. There were Halloween decorations everywhere, Halloween-themed shows, a character hayride, character mazes, and even a rubber duckie costume disco!It all started when I woke up on Saturday morning and asked for Elmo and Mommy and Daddy replied that we were going to visit him at Sesame Place in honor of my BFF Fiona’s birthday and an early Halloween. I immediately got dressed as quickly as I could and ran down to the car with Mommy so Daddy could drive us to Sesame in a hurry.
We arrived at Sesame Place and the welcome sign with Big Bird was replaced with a special sign featuring the Count. There was purple garland and Halloween decorations and numbers everywhere. In the spirit of the Count, I started counting! By the time I counted to ten and we were inside the park and once inside, I got dressed for the occasion (you are encouraged to attend in costume!). I wore my Abby Cadabby costume of course! Now I was ready for action.
I started running uncontrollably around the park with excitement. Everyone couldn’t help but notice how cute I was dressed as Abby Cadabby. Lots of other toddlers thought I was Abby’s look-a-like and asked to take a picture with me. I was happy to do so for my fans. Then I was off and running (literally) to Elmo’s World Live! The show informed us all about Halloween. I learned all about this fun holiday with the help of everyone’s favorite monster, Elmo! And Dorothy, Mr. Noodle, and Telly joined Elmo to teach us about Halloween. I was taught very important lessons about costumes, trick-or-treating, and more.
It was so much fun that I worked up an appetite so we went to celebrate at the Count’s Batty Birthday Bash! “One bat, two bats, three bats!” Count said as he welcome us and gave us a bat noise maker. We had a yummy buffet lunch followed by cupcake to celebrate the Count and Fiona’s birthday. Yummy in tummy! And then we had an educational dance party in true Sesame style. I danced like a ballerina with Zoe, did a yummy cookie dance with Cookie, soared across the dance floor with Super Grover, and partied like a Sesame monster with my best friend Elmo. Elmo loves me. He told me so!
Next it was off to the Countdown to Halloween musical show where I was trick or treated to a performance starring Count, Elmo, Zoe and Abby. The show followed Count as he started a journey alone but was joined by more and more friends on his favorite night of the year – Halloween!
After protesting nap time, I channeled my inner Abby Cadabby as I weaved and rambled through Abby Cadabby’s Magical Halloween Maze. It was so magical – even the pumpkins were pink like Abby! I went in the enchanted maze and using all my senses helped Abby find her wand. Poof!
I next poof-ed myself to Ernie’s Rubber Duckie Costume Party. There was a rubber duckie bigger than Daddy! And Ernie and Bert were there dressed as a duckie and a pigeon. We all gathered in the larger than life bathtub disco and danced up a storm. Rubber Duckie disco made dancing oh so fun! Quack!
The party continued as I danced my way over to meet and greet my best Sesame friends. Everyone was dressed in costume just like me (I always have been a trend setter). I ran to greet my Sesame friends one by one but I stopped in my tracks when I saw Elmo! “Elmo” I squealed, saying hi with a sweet wave of my Abby wand, and ran like a bull in a china shop straight to Elmo. Elmo gave me a big smile and hug. I was tickled red! Elmo was dressed like a kitty cat, Abby like a fairy princess, Ernie like a pirate, and I could go on and on. I ran to each friend, gave them a great big Elle Belle hug, then I told them to snuggle me close for a picture, and I posed for the camera. We worked it baby! Then I thanked my favorite friends for the pictures with high fives and saying thank you!
The last stop of the Halloween hay ride for me was The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular “Neighborhood Street Party” parade. It was a blast! And the finale was a happy Halloween song that is so catchy that Mommy, Daddy and I all couldn’t stop singing it!
I am walking on sunshine, scratch that, I mean pumpkins, after a visit to the happiest street on earth to celebrate the Count’s Halloween Spooktacular!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Happiness is...
Happiness is...a trip to Sesame Place to celebrate Fiona's birthday and play at the Count's Halloween Spooktacular!
A beary fun time for big and little cubs alike!
A Beary Fun Show in Bear Country
I am still smiling after going to Bear Country and seeing the “beary” wonderful adventures in “Berenstain Bears LIVE.” (which runs now through January 2104). I almost could not “bear” the excitement and had a grizzly good time!
The set was bright and colorful and the bears looked just as they do in the books. It was so inviting that this very important bear (V.I.B.) parked herself on the grassy knoll and took in the story up close and personal with all her favorite bears.
The show was just an hour long, the perfect length to keep any little cub’s attention, and the story was sweet as the sugary snacks the bears love. The show weaved together three different stories (The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers, The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food, and The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble at School) so seamlessly I didn’t even know it was a three in one! Triple score!
The show captivated me from the start when the bears appeared on the set and started singing to me. Brother Bear got sick and was sneezing and wheezing—his nose sounded so silly. Dr. Grizz made him all better but he still had to stay home and rest and miss soccer. And Brother was so upset about missing soccer that he didn’t do his math homework (even though he was having a math quiz). Then at school he had to sit out at practice to stay healthy but still didn’t do his homework. Then in math class he failed his math quiz. Uh oh.
Meanwhile, Sister Bear loves making new friends with other bears, and even a special frog friend, on her way to school but Brother Bear warns her not to talk to strangers and Mama Bear already told her she can’t bring frogs home. When Papa Bear hears about this, he tells a scary story about strangers which scared me (and Mommy, too, but don’t tell her I told you). Now Sister doesn’t want to talk to anyone.
And all the bears love their sugary snacks, especially Papa Bear. But the sugary snacks aren’t good for you. I learned that little cubs need good nutrition and healthy snacks to grow big and strong. And even big bears like Papa Bear need healthy snacks. Papa Bear grew wide instead of tall and said there was just more of him to love. But he grew so much from junk food that he split his pants right on stage. I laughed out loud! I even saw his red polka dot underwear!
And guess what silly things happen? Brother Bear tries to hide his failed quiz, Sister Bear sneaks the frog back to the bear tree (I was in suspense the whole time the frog was hiding and kept calling ribbitt!), and Papa Bear secretly eats junk food. By the end, Mama Bear figures it all out and helps solve everyone’s problems while reminding everyone of important lessons. Brother Bear learns to do his homework and succeed at math, Sister Bear learns to be cautious making new friends, and Papa Bear learns to be a good role model by eating healthy for him and his cubs! Also thanks to Mama Bear brother learned his division, the frog found a safe home outside the tree, and everyone ate healthy. The family learned important lessons from each other making them an even happier family. They even ran a race together as a happy, healthy family and won a shiny trophy. Go team go!
And the show stopper was at the end when the bears taught us to do Papa Bear’s pants splitting dance by pointing our fingers, rubbing our tummy, and jumping for hip hop hurray! This little cub had a “beary” good time.
After the show, the Bear Family came to greet everyone! Mama Bear asked me if I wanted a bear nose painted on but I said no. And Brother and Sister Bear stayed for photos but I said no, too. But lots of other kids got bear noses and “beary” special photos. I just hugged my new Mama Bear doll and went home with my own “beary” loving family.
Elle Belle Reports On “Berenstain Bears Live”
The Berenstain Bears Live
The set was bright and colorful and the bears looked just as they do in the books. It was so inviting that this very important bear (V.I.B.) parked herself on the grassy knoll and took in the story up close and personal with all her favorite bears.
The show was just an hour long, the perfect length to keep any little cub’s attention, and the story was sweet as the sugary snacks the bears love. The show weaved together three different stories (The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers, The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food, and The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble at School) so seamlessly I didn’t even know it was a three in one! Triple score!
The show captivated me from the start when the bears appeared on the set and started singing to me. Brother Bear got sick and was sneezing and wheezing—his nose sounded so silly. Dr. Grizz made him all better but he still had to stay home and rest and miss soccer. And Brother was so upset about missing soccer that he didn’t do his math homework (even though he was having a math quiz). Then at school he had to sit out at practice to stay healthy but still didn’t do his homework. Then in math class he failed his math quiz. Uh oh.
Meanwhile, Sister Bear loves making new friends with other bears, and even a special frog friend, on her way to school but Brother Bear warns her not to talk to strangers and Mama Bear already told her she can’t bring frogs home. When Papa Bear hears about this, he tells a scary story about strangers which scared me (and Mommy, too, but don’t tell her I told you). Now Sister doesn’t want to talk to anyone.
And all the bears love their sugary snacks, especially Papa Bear. But the sugary snacks aren’t good for you. I learned that little cubs need good nutrition and healthy snacks to grow big and strong. And even big bears like Papa Bear need healthy snacks. Papa Bear grew wide instead of tall and said there was just more of him to love. But he grew so much from junk food that he split his pants right on stage. I laughed out loud! I even saw his red polka dot underwear!
And guess what silly things happen? Brother Bear tries to hide his failed quiz, Sister Bear sneaks the frog back to the bear tree (I was in suspense the whole time the frog was hiding and kept calling ribbitt!), and Papa Bear secretly eats junk food. By the end, Mama Bear figures it all out and helps solve everyone’s problems while reminding everyone of important lessons. Brother Bear learns to do his homework and succeed at math, Sister Bear learns to be cautious making new friends, and Papa Bear learns to be a good role model by eating healthy for him and his cubs! Also thanks to Mama Bear brother learned his division, the frog found a safe home outside the tree, and everyone ate healthy. The family learned important lessons from each other making them an even happier family. They even ran a race together as a happy, healthy family and won a shiny trophy. Go team go!
And the show stopper was at the end when the bears taught us to do Papa Bear’s pants splitting dance by pointing our fingers, rubbing our tummy, and jumping for hip hop hurray! This little cub had a “beary” good time.
After the show, the Bear Family came to greet everyone! Mama Bear asked me if I wanted a bear nose painted on but I said no. And Brother and Sister Bear stayed for photos but I said no, too. But lots of other kids got bear noses and “beary” special photos. I just hugged my new Mama Bear doll and went home with my own “beary” loving family.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
In Mom's Shoes
September 29, 2013
Dream: I am walking down the street in my diaper, tutu, signature bow, and Mommy’s high heels. Ever since I have started dressing myself, I look totally fab. The heels slow down my pace a bit but it’s worth it for all the extra attention and ooohs and aaahs I get as I strut my stuff. Elle Macpherson better watch out for Elle Belle.
Reality: Mommy and I are happily playing in my room when all of a sudden she tells me it is time to get dressed. “No way!” I say, and the chase begins. See, until now, our routine has consisted of Mommy giving me two outfit choices and me picking the winner. But lately her choices haven’t been up to my standards. Personally, I prefer either to be nudie-kins–sporting nothing but my diaper–or decking myself out in my Abby Cadabby dress-up outfit.
Mommy repeats that I need to get dressed. So we go back into my room and this time she asks me what color I want to wear. My answer is the same as it is every day: blue. I heard that daddy went for one whole year wearing only red, and since I have inherited his competitive spirit, I’ve decided I will wear only blue for as long as possible.
Mommy shows me an outfit with blue and purple and one with blue and green. I pick the blue and purple one but as she puts it on, I see it just doesn’t flatter my figure. I pull it off and cry, “No!” So Mommy reaches for the second option, which I already said no to, and puts it on. I protest with a louder “No!,” pull the shirt off, and throw it across the room. Mommy is totally letting me win as I see her fetch two more blue outfit options. I start to settle for a cute blue and white number when suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spot the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen. They have a bow on top, silver sparkles throughout, and big heels. Wow!
I race over to admire them. My feet slip right inside and I feel like Cinderella. They are just right! I start delicately walking and am unsteady at first but slowly but surely get my groove, parading around like I’m on a catwalk. And I distracted Mommy from dressing me so much that she fetched the camera. She starts taking pictures and the flash is going crazy. I feel like a supermodel.
I love all shoes but I really love my new shoes. Now I’m ready to get dressed and go on an adventure! I run back to Mommy and ask her to put the rest of my outfit on. Then I strut to the door and say, “Go, go go!” Mommy looks at me and tries to hide her smile but I can see it. She tries to give me two other shoe options in my own size instead of a pair of Mommy’s grown-up shoes, including a pair of blue shoes, but I give her an emphatic “No!” (Smart thinking, but no thanks, Mommy.) I remember that in my book, “Cinderella,” it said one shoe can change your life, and now I totally get it. But Mommy doesn’t get it. And the next chase begins.
In Mom’s Shoes
A Manhattan toddler discovers the thrill of stepping into a pair of high heels.
As seen in New York Family Magazine: http://www.newyorkfamily.com/in-moms-shoes/
Dream: I am walking down the street in my diaper, tutu, signature bow, and Mommy’s high heels. Ever since I have started dressing myself, I look totally fab. The heels slow down my pace a bit but it’s worth it for all the extra attention and ooohs and aaahs I get as I strut my stuff. Elle Macpherson better watch out for Elle Belle.Reality: Mommy and I are happily playing in my room when all of a sudden she tells me it is time to get dressed. “No way!” I say, and the chase begins. See, until now, our routine has consisted of Mommy giving me two outfit choices and me picking the winner. But lately her choices haven’t been up to my standards. Personally, I prefer either to be nudie-kins–sporting nothing but my diaper–or decking myself out in my Abby Cadabby dress-up outfit.
Mommy repeats that I need to get dressed. So we go back into my room and this time she asks me what color I want to wear. My answer is the same as it is every day: blue. I heard that daddy went for one whole year wearing only red, and since I have inherited his competitive spirit, I’ve decided I will wear only blue for as long as possible.
Mommy shows me an outfit with blue and purple and one with blue and green. I pick the blue and purple one but as she puts it on, I see it just doesn’t flatter my figure. I pull it off and cry, “No!” So Mommy reaches for the second option, which I already said no to, and puts it on. I protest with a louder “No!,” pull the shirt off, and throw it across the room. Mommy is totally letting me win as I see her fetch two more blue outfit options. I start to settle for a cute blue and white number when suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spot the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen. They have a bow on top, silver sparkles throughout, and big heels. Wow!
I race over to admire them. My feet slip right inside and I feel like Cinderella. They are just right! I start delicately walking and am unsteady at first but slowly but surely get my groove, parading around like I’m on a catwalk. And I distracted Mommy from dressing me so much that she fetched the camera. She starts taking pictures and the flash is going crazy. I feel like a supermodel.
I love all shoes but I really love my new shoes. Now I’m ready to get dressed and go on an adventure! I run back to Mommy and ask her to put the rest of my outfit on. Then I strut to the door and say, “Go, go go!” Mommy looks at me and tries to hide her smile but I can see it. She tries to give me two other shoe options in my own size instead of a pair of Mommy’s grown-up shoes, including a pair of blue shoes, but I give her an emphatic “No!” (Smart thinking, but no thanks, Mommy.) I remember that in my book, “Cinderella,” it said one shoe can change your life, and now I totally get it. But Mommy doesn’t get it. And the next chase begins.
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