Top 10 Mother’s Day Ideas

This one is for the husbands. (Or, for the wives who want to leave this in his briefcase.)

What does your wife want for Mother’s Day? Most moms are reluctant to ask for anything, but if you dig just a little deeper, you’ll find there are plenty of “presents” she’d love to receive. So take a hint and give her something really special this year.

1. A day off. There’s nothing like it. Even better if she’s in her own home — by herself.

2. Flowers. Cliche, but really not. Can you remember the last time she received an arrangement?

3. An afternoon off. You get the idea.

4. A gift certificate to the local hotel spa or day spa. Make sure she’s welcome to stay the whole day and use the facilities — pool, lunch, etc.

5. Something homemade from the kids. This should accompany another gift, but anything with crooked little letters and haphazard glue warms the heart.

6. A spectacular date — planned entirely by you. Take the reigns and devise something fun and different. Horse races? Theatre?

7. A new sweater or a whole outfit. Not lingerie. And please get the sales lady at Macy’s/J.Crew/Saks to help you. Even if she returns part or all of it, she’ll be touched you tried.

8. Art. Anything from a photograph of the first city you lived in (together) to a reprint of her favorite artist’s most obscure work, to a jewelry box you found in that out-of-the-way gift shop.

9. A cleaning lady, or a deep clean of the carpets and windows. The key is she won’t have to plan it or feel guilty for spending the money. And maybe get her flowers, too.

10. A dinner made by you. Hire a sitter to take the kids out or drop them at the grandparents for the night and make her a gourmet meal from start to finish. Even if you aren’t a star in the kitchen, you’ll both laugh and enjoy each other’s company. Bonus points for a fabulous bottle of champagne or her favorite (expensive) wine!

Rainy Day Activities

Rainy days with children can definitely instill a feeling of panic. Gone are thoughts of going to the park or playing in the backyard. So, what’s a mom or dad to do? Here’s a list of places and activities that can ease your mind on cold and wet days — and hopefully keep your little ones from crawling the walls.

And remember, UrbanSitter is always available to rescue you when you just can’t take another game of CandyLand. Book a sitter and let her take the reigns!

MUSEUMS

SF MOMA

Yes, the art is sophisticated, but the colors are also brilliant and the sculptural installations (not all art is on walls?) are amazing for little eyes to behold. It’s a chance to teach your children to respect art (no touching) and other people (no yelling or running), but for those who can handle it, a museum such as this can spark a lifetime love of all things beautiful. Don’t miss the cafe and gift shop on the first floor.

Exploratorium

It’s been around for decades, but  this SF institution still offers amazing exhibits specifically for kids. Try the shadow box, echo chamber, or one of the many hands-on activities meant to be touched and tinkered with.

Lawrence Hall of Science

High up in the Berkeley hills, this museum offers much to touch and see, including an insect zoo, a 3-D projection of the planet where actual real-time weather patterns can be observed, and a room full of building blocks, ramps, and vehicles.

RETAIL STORES

toy store

Pair this one with a trip to the food court for lunch and your day is looking up. Of course, after your child man-handles the train table or doll stroller, you may want to buy something. Perhaps a new book, lunch box, or birthday gift? As long as your children are respectful, the staff is pleasant (and sympathetic).

book store

Same as above. There’s usually a train table as well as kid-sized tables and chairs where you can sit and enjoy the latest Olivia or David book with your little one. You can even grab a coffee or treat before (or bribe your child with it in order to leave) at the cafe inside.

pet store

Who doesn’t love gazing at rats, tropical fish, and lizards? If you get lucky, perhaps an employee will let your children “help” feed such a beast. Sometimes, too, there is a “Beauty Salon” on the premises where you can watch the animals get a good scrubbing and blow-out.

PLAY SPACES

Playland

Lots of jumpy houses, ride-on cars, arts and crafts, and a little counter that sells snacks: What could be better? Located in Sausalito, Playland is really easy to find and offers just what every kid (and parent) wants, for a fee that’s reasonable.

Studio Grow

With soft ramps, blocks, and tunnels, as well as arts and crafts and open spaces to run and jump, Studio Grow (several locations in the e.bay) is an oasis of cushy fun on a stormy day. Snacks and coffee are available.

U-ME

In Menlo Park, this is truly a kid wonderland with the usual soft spaces and climbing structures, but also a kid-size stage, art and reading room, and trampoline. Get a $5 printable coupon when you visit the website.

IN THE KITCHEN

play dough

If you just can’t bring yourself to lug out the umbrellas and rain boots and brave the elements, stay home and entertain your children with a new recipe or project. How about home-made play dough?  Yes, you can buy it, but the process is half the fun…right?

muffins

Your little one will love helping with these Apple Stuffin’ Muffins, and when they sneak a little apple sauce along the way, you won’t mind. It’s a great healthy snack for a rainy day.

Video: Sh*t Urban Moms Say

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0xWwVbbhuw]

Okay, we’ve all seen Sh*t Girls Say, the “original.” Then came Sh*t New Yorkers Say, Sh*t Nobody Says, and even Sh*t Silicon Valley Says. Oh, and a few less PC titles that we probably shouldn’t mention here.

We’ve got our own tribute to a very special breed of moms we like to call “Urban Moms.” These city dwellers are just like everybody else — they go through their daily routines, at times facing challenges, victories, and quiet moments to themselves.

They also say some pretty funny sh*t.

Enjoy!
– The no-so-serious filmmakers at UrbanSitter

Babysitters now in Seattle!

We’re proud to announce UrbanSitter is now available in the greater Seattle area! We’ve recruited amazing babysitters from top colleges including Seattle Pacific University, University of Washington, and Seattle University—many have experience as teachers, camp counselors and child development students.

Seattle parents can now conveniently book sitters that are recommended personally by their friends, and read reviews from parents in trusted groups such as Queen Anne Moms & Dads, Ballard Moms Yahoo Group, and Seattle Gymnastics Academy.

Finding a babysitter in Seattle has never been easier!

 

 

 

Hit the slopes! UrbanSitter is now in Tahoe and Reno

lake tahoeWinter has finally arrived here in the Bay Area…in January! It’s time to pack the kids in the AWD and head to Tahoe or Reno for fun in the snow!

Luckily, UrbanSitter has just opened up in the Lake Tahoe area with over 40 local babysitters, many of whom are students at nearby colleges.

Book a sitter and take off for a full day of “adults-only” skiing or a romantic evening out. Here are a few ideas that will get you snowsuited up and ready for fresh powder:

  • Liftopia has great deals on lift tickets and kids packages to lure you into the powder.
  • KidZone Museum in Truckee has a jungle gym and plenty of interactive activities to keep the kids entertained while learning.
  • Sip fine wines at Uncorked in Tahoe City’s charming Cobblestone Center, then catch a movie at the theater.

 

We’re growing!

All Things D article

Today marks a very special milestone in the history of UrbanSitter — we just secured $1.75 million in seed funding! You can read all about it in our All Things D feature today.

We’re thrilled to bring our babysitting network to more cities around the US. In fact, we recently expanded to San Diego, Napa Valley and Sonoma, Seattle, Boulder and Lake Tahoe. By next month, we’ll be popping up in Chicago, Denver, New York and St. Louis!

This funding will also enable us to launch exciting product features, including online payment for our babysitters. We can’t wait!

Special thanks to First Round Capital, Rustic Canyon Partners, Menlo Ventures, and our angel investors.

New badges to help size up sitters

How many times have you tried to book a last minute babysitter? As you’re probably (painfully) aware, it can be a frustrating experience involving dozens of phone calls and potentially no result.

Luckily, UrbanSitter babysitter profiles now have badges that show a number of handy stats, including response time. You can see how quickly a sitter normally replies — in 24 hours or even 1 hour!

In total, there are three brand new badges that sitters have to earn by using the site:
<Response Time Badge>Booking a last minute sitter? Choose the candidate with the fastest response time.

<Repeat Families Badge>See how many families have booked the sitter more than once. Repeat business is always a good sign!

<Friends Badge>A well-connected sitter will refer you to friends if they’re unavailable for a job.

It’s also now possible to bookmark sitters to quickly access their profiles anytime. Just click the Bookmark link below any sitter’s photo and they’ll appear in your dashboard or when you “Sort by Bookmarked.”

Join or log in now to start exploring these helpful new features on UrbanSitter.com!

UrbanSitter now available to parents in San Diego

kids with kiteFinding a babysitter in San Diego just became a whole lot easier with the official launch of UrbanSitter!

Families living (or vacationing) in San Diego now have a central hub to find, interview, and book babysitters online, in real time. Best of all, the site enables parents to discover these sitters through friends, school affiliations, and parenting groups they really trust.

So far, over 75 sitters have signed up in the greater San Diego area, including many San Diego State University graduates and students. In addition to education level, parents can search for sitters by years of experience, background checks, reviews, language, experience with special needs, pay rate, and more. Sitters list their schedules online, so parents can easily book a job with the click of a button–even for a last minute babysitter!

UrbanSitter is arriving in San Diego just in time for MLK weekend and Valentine’s Day date nights! Parents planning a family vacation to the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld or Legoland can also look forward to a night away from the kids thanks to the growing network of parents and trusted sitters.

UrbanSitter is available across the greater San Diego area including La Jolla, North County, South Bay and East County. To search sitters, log in and enter your city in the location box.