Bicultural Mama

New Bubble Guppies and Team Umizoomi Spring Toys Now Available

2013-05-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

This little Bubble Guppies fan is happy
posing with her new Gil plush toy.
Photo: Maria Adcock

Bubble Guppies and Team Umizoomi are fun and cute animated TV series for preschoolers on Nick Jr. Fans of these shows will be thrilled to know about the new line of toys and playsets now available at major retailers.

Team Umizoomi Bath Squirters
Photo: Nickelodeon

Bubble Guppies Plush Dolls

Kids can cuddle with the Bubble Guppies plush dolls or use them in imaginative play to recreate scenes from the show. Available in the characters of Molly, Gil and Bubble Puppy. Age: 18m+; Price: $7.99

Team Umizoomi Bath Squirters

Make bath time extra fun with your favorite Team Umizoomi pals. Each figure squirts water with a squeeze. Great for toddlers and preschoolers for practicing their motor skills. Each sold separately in a set of three. Ages: 2+; Price: $9.99

Bubble Guppies Fin-tastic Guitar

Bubble Guppies Fin-tastic Guitar
Photo: Nickelodeon

The Bubble Guppies Fin-tastic Guitar makes a great first toy guitar. It features over 20 phrases and songs that kids can play by strumming the guitar strings to hear a song, or to step through the song at their own pace. Press the Gil, Bubble Puppy or Molly buttons to provide sound effects and phrases. Includes 3 “AA” batteries. Age: 18m+; Price: $19.99

These items make the perfect gift for any little Bubble Guppies and Team Umizoomi fan!

Disclosure: I received samples of these products for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Polish Filipino Author Ali Berlinski Debuts ‘A Beautiful Mess’

2013-05-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

It’s not very common to find books with a biracial theme; often publishers shy away, thinking the racial aspect is too “in your face.” With A Beautiful Mess [Pubslush Press], author Ali Berlinski gives a voice to biculturalism, showing it’s okay to talk about race. In A Beautiful Mess, she expertly weaves in her Polish Filipino identity into this memoir in an honest, humorous and balanced way.

Biracial readers, whether Asian and White or some other combination, will be able to relate to Berlinski. She states early in her memoir: “Deciding my race wouldn't be an issue if it didn't involve a hierarchy. In terms of privilege, there is nothing higher or even equal to being white. You'd think being half-white would give me some advantage over those who are fully ethnic, but it doesn't seem to work that way. In actuality, it reasserts my non-whiteness. Whereas the ‘one-drop rule’ automatically qualifies you as black, having one drop of minority disqualifies you from being white. It's not that I want to be white; I just find the criteria amusing. The Polish aren't exactly known as the master race. We make great pierogies and kielbasa, but mostly I'd say the Polish are just another poor working class. All the same, it's a club I can't be a member of, nor do I want to. There's something gratifying about being biracial and a minority."

The book also delves into complicated and dysfunctional family relationships. Berlinski is a child of divorce who grew up between two coasts. She never felt rooted while shuffling from one parent to the other. Family members included an emotionally and physically absent mom, a gay deaf brother, and an ex-nanny step mother, to name a few.

Berlinski also takes us into her romantic relationships, where readers will nod their heads in familiarity about hanging on to someone too long, or realizing that the person you loved has changed. Through it all, she looks back with humor and insight and then stoically moves forward.

Berlinski’s voice is that of a best friend, confiding her secrets while making you laugh. Through her own experiences, she helps you accept the messes in your own life with humor. Though with all the names mentioned the reader may sometimes forget who’s who, overall A Beautiful Mess is a book that readers, whether biracial or not, will enjoy.

'A Beautiful Mess,' released May 2013, is the first book ever to be published by a crowdfunding platform (the reader's decide). For every book purchased, a book will be donated to a child in need as part of an initiative to help combat illiteracy. Purchase a copy at Amazon.com.

Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of 'A Beautiful Mess' for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

MBA Mom Gives Up Career for Her Children

2013-05-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

By Valerie Nifora, Guest Contributor and bicultural first generation mom of Greek descent married to a man that is not. She is a mother of two wonderful boys.

I gave up my career for my children. That’s not something I’m supposed to say. Especially, since I work for a Fortune 500 Company that paid for my MBA. What I’m supposed to say is that I have a great work-life balance that allows me to be a leader in my area of expertise, while raising my children and being the epitome of what every working mother strives to achieve. The problem is I don’t believe that’s possible.

What I do believe is that as mothers we have a choice to outsource the raising of our children to institutions like day care, relatives like grandmothers, paid help like nannies or raise them ourselves. I know this is a profoundly unpopular notion as was articulated to me many times when I got pregnant.

The going wisdom was this: make sure I start planning now for my return to work since I had such great potential and people had invested in me -- which in translation meant: figure out who’s going to raise your kid since it isn’t going to be you. Also absolutely make sure you’re not out for more than the three months you are legally allowed to be out on maternity leave because otherwise you will destroy your career and your credibility.

So, I bought it. I believed it. And when my son was born, I argued, passionately as I stared at the MBA I had so meticulously framed in my home office, that I did not work so hard in my life, to beat all the odds, to get to where I am, so that I could spend the day changing diapers. The fact that I ever thought this saddens me greatly.

For the next year or so, I would desperately try to take on tough assignments -- operating on very little sleep and subsequently very little patience. I would pace the floor during conference calls, stress myself during meetings, and in short, was probably the most miserable human being alive. I cried a lot.

The advice that came to me from the work front was peppered with antidotes of outsourcing and how these women whimsically expressed how they had missed important moments of their children’s upbringing because work was important. I struggled with this information, trying desperately to be “ok” with things.

Then, a strange thing happened. A female executive gave me advice that changed my life. She so graciously said, “Your child will never care how many awards you get at work but he will forever remember that you missed his baseball game because of it.” It was at that moment that it all stopped. The nosey clutter that ran amuck in my head, that awful feeling of inadequacy — all stopped. And I stopped. It was so simple, and so easy…my child came first.

So I gave it up. I stopped competing for placement on the totem pole. I simply found a new assignment that was much less visible. I had another child. I turned down opportunities and even dream jobs. I just faded into the background much like the guy in Office Space that ended up in the furnace room. I just simply decided that my children came first.

I do watch my female colleagues climb up the corporate ladder. I watch their success and congratulate them. I sometimes wonder at what cost it takes to do what they do. But I simply know this — I have not missed a first step, first smile, first giggle or first visit to the doctor. I am here to drive them to the doctor when they fall or have a fever. I am here to comfort them when they have a bad dream. I will always be here, because I am their mother.

I know that when I look back on my life, I will not regret that I did not become the next vice president of an enormous business unit. I will not regret fading into the background. I will be thankful that I decided I didn’t want to buy into the hype anymore. I will be thankful that I accepted you absolutely cannot have 100% of everything, and that of what I did have, I was going to give to my family first.

Bicultural Mama supports a woman’s choice regarding what is best for her own family and/or career. Have you struggled with similar work-life issues and if so what did you do?

Photo image: freedigitalphotos.net

Dim Sum Recommended Dishes - Asian Pacific Heritage Month

2013-05-14T21:58:00.000-04:00

May is Asian Pacific Heritage Month, and food plays a big part in my Chinese culture. I never seem to tire of Chinese food. A subset of Chinese cuisine is Dim Sum, or a style of food prepared on small plates. I’ve highlighted a few of my favorites. Note that some of the Chinese words I refer to are in Cantonese while others are Mandarin – a result of growing up with both dialects.

Roast Pork Buns
Photo: Maria Adcock

Roast Pork Buns (chā shāo bā) is a classic dim sum dish. A well made roast pork bun will be steamed and include flavorful morsels of pork encased in fluffy white dough. Beware of less authentic versions where the pork is dyed red to give it color; you can tell because it’s unnaturally bright. Other versions of buns include those filled with lotus seed paste, sweet bean paste, yellow custard and more.

Chinese Breadsticks
Photo: Maria Adcock

Chinese Breadsticks (yóu tiáo) are long, golden brown deep fried strips of dough. They’re great for dipping in congee (rice porridge) or to eat plain. Most people like these because in general anything fried tends to taste good.

Various Chinese Dumplings
Photo: Maria Adcock

Dumplings can come in many versions. Some may be jiǎozi filled with meat and vegetables while others could be pork soup dumpling known as xiǎo lóng bāo. Many people also like siu mai which is often filled with shrimp.

Sesame Balls
Photo: Maria Adcock

Sesame Balls (jian dui) are fried dough filled with sweet red bean paste rolled in sesame seeds. It’s crisp on the outside, chewy in the inside. It’s not something you eat while on a diet, but it sure tastes good!

Sticky Rice
Photo: Calgary Reviews

Sticky Rice (lo mai gai) is rice filled with all kinds of goodies like chicken, Chinese sausage and vegetables that all kind of sticks together in a lotus leaf that is tied up in string and steamed. It’s visually a nice package to open at your table, and the flavors merge together during the steaming process to produce a very tasty dish.

Rice Noodle Rolls
Photo: Creative Commons

Rice Noodle Rolls (har cheong fun) are rice “wraps” that are typically filled with either shrimp or beef. At the table the server may pour a bit of sesame oil and soy sauce onto the dish. Growing up, we use to call these “slimy noodles” which doesn’t sound too appetizing, but I assure you it is. We thought they were slimy because they were difficult to pick up with chopsticks and often slipped out. When I think of Dim Sum, I think of Rice Noodle Rolls.

If you have a chance, try some Dim Sum. You may have to search the internet for a place that serves it as it’s a specialty that not every Chinese restaurant specializes in, but if you find a place to go it will be well worth the visit.

What is your favorite dim sum dish?

So You Want to Start Your Own WAHM Business

2013-05-13T15:27:00.000-04:00

By Sara Stringer, Guest Contributor

Why struggle over the decision between full time parenting and having a career?

Becoming a WAHM (Work At Home Mom) gives you the best of both worlds. You get to be there for your kids when they need you but you also get the satisfaction of helping your family financially and building something that is just yours…which sounds great, but how do you really do that?

1. What Do You Want to Do?

First, you need to figure out what kind of business you want to build. Are you good at crafting? Why not sell the things you make online? Why not create a website offering tips and tricks for the crafts you enjoy the most?

It might take you a while to become the next Yarn Harlot of Pioneer Woman, but if you’re dedicated you can do it. Are you a good writer? Do you have a keen sense for business and investing? Why not become a consultant? Figure out what you want to do and you’ll find a way to earn money doing it.

2. Build a Website

Every business needs a website. That’s just how it is now that we’re living in the future. Your website doesn’t have to be extensive or expensive. With WordPress and few good PacificHost coupons you can have your website up and running for less than $100 a year.

As for your content? You need to have a page explaining who you are, a page explaining what you offer and why you’re the best at it and a page that explains how to contact you.

3. Market

This is where things are going to start to feel confusing. Marketing -- especially for those who aren’t used to talking about themselves or promoting themselves—is going to take some getting used to. Unfortunately it isn’t something that you can put off. Marketing is how you get the word out about who you are and why people should hire you or buy from you.

Here’s some good news: Depending upon what you’re business centers on, you might be able to do almost all of this online.

4. Meet People

Set up meetings with other local entrepreneurs to get some insight and to make business contacts. The best way to build a successful business yourself is to emulate someone else who has already done it until you get the hang of things.

NOTE: Make sure you dress professionally for these meetings. Treat meeting with the same respect and preparation you would treat a job interview (if it’s been a while, make use of an Athleta promo code or two to help put together a “business wardrobe” for these meetings. Stained mom-jeans are only cute to your kids).

5. Be Diligent

Work at your business a little bit every day. Even if you can only manage ten minutes for a quick blog post, that’s okay. As long as you are working at your business every day you will get to where you want to go.

This might all feel a little simplistic. Surely building a successful WAHM business takes more than this. Surely it has to be more complicated, right?

Nope. Pick something you want to do, do it, tell people you’re doing it and then do it some more.

It really can be that simple!

Disclosure: Consideration was received for the editing and publishing of this guest post.

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

How Did You Announce Your Pregnancy?

2013-05-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

By Kim Como, Bicultural Mama Contributor

Do you remember the day you found out you were going to become a parent?

Maybe you heard the words “congratulations.” maybe you didn’t.

Maybe you were too focused on the little blinking “blip” on the screen that your doctor was trying to convince you was your baby’s heartbeat.

Or maybe, as it was in my case, the tears were flowing so fast and furious; it was all just one big blur.

That “exact” moment your life changed forever meant that the lives of everyone around you would be changing…for example, your parents "a.k.a the new grandma/grandpa” or your siblings “a.k.a the new aunts/uncles.” When it came time to sharing the news, how did you do it?

These days, social media makes it easy. If you want to, you can literally share your news with the world. You see a lot of sonogram pictures posted on Facebook with the words “Coming soon.” I recently even saw a post that got the family pet into the act; a friend posted a picture of her dog in a double stroller next to a sign that said “Reeses is going to be a big brother…we’re expecting twins in July.”

One of my friends made a music video filled with childhood photos in chronological order of both parents (birth to college), their wedding day, then ended it with a sonogram picture and the COMING SOON graphic. Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” even played in the background (A+ for creativity!).

Another one of my friends sent an online card. It was a simple Hallmark type of e-card to her family & friends that read “1 mom + 1 dad = 1 baby.”

We did something a bit unconventional as well. No phone calls. No emails. No Facebook or Twitter. We sent each set of grandparents a birthday invitation to the baby's first birthday party (we wrote the date of the party a year out from when the baby was due). Though it took each of them a half second longer to figure out what was going on, our phone began ringing off the hood as soon as the invites arrived in the mail.

When it’s time for baby #2, the obligatory "Big Brother/Big Sister" shirts come out -- but even those have gotten creative. Recently I saw a shirt that read "~~ONLY CHILD~~" which was then crossed out and scribbled underneath in kid’s handwriting that read "Big Brother."

In my world, gone are the days of trying to “one-up” each other with stories of how you got engaged (a.k.a how he proposed!)…we have SO moved on. Now it’s all about the babies, and I can only imagine what’s in store for the future of announcing to the world that you’re pregnant!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MOMS OUT THERE!

How did you announce your pregnancy?

Photo: freedigitalphotos.net

Turning 40 and Avoiding Reading Glasses

2013-05-10T20:16:00.000-04:00

I’ve always heard that when you turn 40 you’ll need reading glasses. It’s almost like it’s this magical number where things just happen. Well, lo and behold, I turned 40, and I’ve been having more difficulty reading small letters and numbers.

In my latest post for MOMentum Nation, I write about this new natural progression with my eyesight.

It all started in my younger years – here’s an excerpt:

“…since third grade I had been strapped to glasses and then later to contacts. My eyes had regressed so badly over the years that my prescription hit -13.0 …essentially, I was blind. Like in the cartoons and movies, I had to feel around for my glasses in the morning. Sometimes I just could not find them.”

Then I had LASIK, but was forewarned about the “40 curse” when it came to eyes. Another excerpt:

“I don’t want reading glasses right now. I’ve already spent much of my life chained to Coke-bottle glasses. I’m a mother to a preschooler, and it just seems like a disconnect to wear reading glasses (which I associate with my grandmother) when physically and energetically I seem much younger than my age.”

Read the full post here on MOMentum Nation: Eyeing 40 with Glasses

Have you experienced worse eyesight with the advent of 40? How did you deal with it?

Photo: freedigitalphotos.net

Time to Get Back on the Work Life Balance Wagon

2013-05-08T12:08:00.001-04:00


The Mamas Expo at the New York Hall of Science in Queens (Photo: NYSCI)

A few weeks ago I wrote about how I had fallen off the work/life balance wagon. Since January I had been helping to plan The Mamas Expo in Queens as a side position through my Editor job at The Long Island Mamas Network, and it had taken over my life.

I had long hours and was working 7 days a week. It was a lot, and I was not spending much time with my family. My daughter started acting out because even though I was at home, I was tied to my computer for work (until she had meltdowns to get my attention). I was stressed from being pulled so many ways and from not getting set time off since I was basically on call everyday. It was not a pretty time.

In the days leading to The Mamas Expo on May 5, I, along with the other organizers, were working 12-15 hour days setting up for the event at the New York Hall of Science. After a 2 hour drive home (rush hour traffic in Queens/Long Island was brutal), I had to go back to the computer late at night to tie up loose ends, print out documents needed, etc. On the morning of the expo I was working off of 3 hours of sleep.

The good news is that The Mamas Expo was a smashing success. We had expected 2,000 attendees and about 4,000 showed up. The parking lot was full – security had to open a spare dirt lot in the back of the museum. The cafeteria ran out of food (we had scheduled the Rickshaw Dumplings truck to come, but they said their truck broke down). Over 100 vendors came and were positioned on all three floors of the museum. There was entertainment for kids like face painting, author readings, music shows, soccer and tennis demonstrations and more. Vendors sampled and sold their items and were happy.


Checking in ticket holders at The Mamas Expo Photo: Onica Cupido

I was checking in ticket holders all day so I didn’t have a chance to look around the expo until the end. When I did, I took it all in and was happy the hard work had paid off. I realized how much I had learned about event planning – my last huge event was my wedding, but the Mamas Expo was different because we had to work with so many brands and companies.

My husband was a trooper as he took care of the house and our daughter for several days. It was great to have his support and couldn’t have done this without him.

Now that the event is over, I’m catching up on the rest of my life. I’ve been spending more time with my daughter – we went to a local fish hatchery for the first time yesterday and she loved it. I still need to spend more time with the hubby (that’s what the weekends are for!). There are more events coming up that I’ve been asked to help with. I will take a deep breath when it gets to that point, but for now I will cherish the moments I have with my daughter.

Remembering Grandma

2013-05-02T16:50:00.000-04:00

By Kim Como, Bicultural Mama Contributor

I remember her life. Her entire life, or at least the years that coincided with mine. Different generations yet similar frames of mind, she was always the teacher and I the student.

I can still see her weathered hands at work preparing foods for the Jewish holidays. I hear her voice, that thick European accent explaining the process as she went along, intentionally leaving out a few steps or ingredients. It was her own unique way of keeping “grandma’s secret recipes” just that…a secret. She was my father’s mother, but I called her “grandma” and the vivid, lifelike memories I have of her are often quite haunting.

Though it was her stories that I came to cherish, it was her life that I came to respect. From the horrific images of Nazi Germany to an operational Ellis Island, her eyes saw things that I’ve only read about in books. Giving birth to one child in a prison during World War II and burying yet another way before his time, her body endured the constant hardships that life threw at her, but her heart ultimately paid the price, hardening with each blow.

So often, grandparents and grandchildren share nothing more than a second parental relationship with perks. For the two of us, it was so much more. She wasn’t just there to spoil me, or to let me stay up late when she babysat, she was there to begin laying the bricks of my foundation, molding the person I was to become. The one who educated me about heritage, traditions and values. The one who instilled in me the importance of always being proud of who I was and to be thankful for the life I had.

Over the years we grew together, and simultaneously we drifted apart. All of the things that I had grown accustom to, her smile, her laugh, her love, were slowly drifting away only to be replaced by bitterness and anger. I couldn’t sit back and watch as someone who had fought so much adversity in life, now allowed it to completely take over her body and soul. And she couldn’t understand my lack of acceptance of it.

Ironically, what I remember most about my grandma’s life is her death. She had once been the bond that held a family so tightly together, but her death was now tearing it apart. A woman whose will had once given her the strength to survive so much pain had now just given up…and I resented her for it.

When her body began to follow suit, each organ failing one slow step after another, everyone chimed in with an opinion on how to “make things better.” The doctors would say one thing, relatives another, the social worker something totally different. It was hard to tell who was looking out for her best interest and who wasn’t.

The worst part of it all was that they knew she was dying but no one had guts to say it. Everyone would tip toe around whispering words like “death” and “funeral” but it was as if we were all deaf and mute.

After my first trip to the hospital, I didn’t go back; I refused. My actions infuriated my father and silently tore me apart. I was overwhelmed with emotions…guilt, anger, and fear, but I said nothing to him and just continued to tuck it all away. My actions brought about reactions from others and initiated an internal family feud. My mother tried to protect me, justifying my every move, explaining to my family “it was just my way” of dealing with things. My relatives thought I was selfish. I can still hear them now, “How can Ida’s own grandchild not want to be here to say goodbye?”

After I proceeded to tell the doctors that I thought they were egotistical maniacs who loved to listen to the sound of their own voices, well, needless to say they were overjoyed with my decision not to return.

Death does strange things to people. It can bring out the best and often the worst. Looking back over the years since her death, I have come to understanding with myself and my actions at that time. I do regret not saying goodbye and not telling her how much I loved her, but in some unspoken word, I know in my heart that she knew.

How do you watch someone you love slip away? How do you apologize for all of the times you meant to say something but didn’t? How do you make up for all of the lost time? You can’t, but you can remember. I remember her life. Her entire life.

Photo credit: Kim Como

Donating Your Car Does the Soul and Earth Good

2013-05-01T15:50:00.000-04:00

Have you ever heard the radio jingle for Kars4Kids where the kid is singing the telephone number “1-877-Kars-4-Kids?” It sticks in your head, so much that you find yourself singing the jingle at random times during the day.

Kars4Kids is a non-profit organization where people can donate their cars (they even offer free towing!) to benefit children to help with their educational, material, emotional and spiritual needs. As a bonus you also get a tax credit for your donation.

The organization also helps to get old clunker cars recycled. Did you know that old cars make up only 25% of vehicles on the road in the U.S., but they contribute to 75% of all harmful emissions?

Millions of cars are now recycled every year in the U.S. with the metal, plastics, tires, glass and other materials going to create thousands of new products. The handy infographic below by Kars4Kids provides interesting facts such as how many cars are recycled every year, what materials are recycled, and what can be made out of those materials. Recycle today!

Infographic produced by the Kars4Kids car donation program.

Author Lisa Takeuchi Cullen Debuts “Pastors’ Wives”

2013-04-28T23:06:00.000-04:00

In the 2000’s I worked at Time Inc. with Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. She was a foreign correspondent and staff writer for Time magazine, and we got to know each other through the company’s Asian American Association. We eventually both left the company, but stayed in touch thanks to social media.

Fast forward to 2013. I am now founder of Bicultural Mama, and Cullen is an author and TV writer. When she contacted me about her debut novel Pastors’ Wives (Plume/Penguin), it was a great fit for my site about biculturalism given her background.

Cullen was born and raised in Kobe, Japan and now resides in New Jersey. Her father, a Roman Catholic priest from Philadelphia, met her mother while working in southern Japan. Her mother converted and father left the priesthood to marry her. This brave yet scandalous move influenced Cullen while writing Pastors’ Wives.

She asks, “What’s it like when the man you married is married to God?” It’s a question that stuck with her long after attending a convention for pastors’ wives as part of an article she wrote for Time magazine.

Pastors’ Wives follows Candice, Ginger and Ruthie -- three women married to men of God at the Greenleaf megachurch in Georgia. Think Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church and Jim Bakker of The PTL Club, but written from the viewpoint of their wives. Cullen provides an insider’s look that goes beyond the jumbotron screens, rock bands, mascara-stained faces and generous cash flow.

Candace, married to Greenleaf’s head evangelist, is the “alpha” wife who will do anything to protect her church and family. Ginger, hiding her seditious past, struggles to be the dutiful daughter-in-law as expected by Candace. Ruthie, married to a Wall Street financer turned evangelist, follows him to Greenleaf where she experiences culture shock and a crisis in faith.

All of their paths cross in a riveting, emotional story that makes it hard to put the book down. You root for the characters through twists and turns, even saying to yourself, “Oh my God!” without meaning to take the Lord’s name in vain. You don’t have to be religious to enjoy Pastors’ Wives. It’s a story about love, loyalty, faith and staying true to yourself -- universal themes no matter what faith you believe.

Pastors’ Wives releases on April 30, 2013. Order on Amazon (Paper or Kindle) or at Penguin.com. For more information about Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, please visit www.lisacullen.com.

Disclosure: I received a pre-copy e-book of Pastors’ Wives for the purpose of this review.

Everyone Has an Opinion About Your Mom Skills

2013-04-26T16:20:00.000-04:00

By Kim Como, Bicultural Mama Contributor

Why is it when it comes to parenting MY children, EVERYONE has an opinion?!

"Are you reading enough with them?"

"Wow, that's what you’re feeding your kids?"

“Don’t you think the boys need a haircut?”

All very interesting questions, and most of the time these are thoughts I’ve even had myself. But when you hear it from another person, especially another mother, it just confirms what I already know, that I won’t be winning “Mother of the Year” anytime soon.

The latest incident happened during a chat I was having with my co-worker. My boys, ages 2 and 4, are in full time daycare. Full time meaning on a typical day they get dropped off between 7:30-8:00 a.m. and get picked up around 6:30 p.m. at night.

When my co-worker (again, another mom) asked about our daily routine, specifically what time the boys get home, she remarked, “Wow, that’s a really long day for them!” then proceeded with her inquisition, “So they get all their meals at daycare?” and “Do they sleep there too?” All this time I’m standing there feeling the knife twisting deeper into my heart.

I am well aware that spending 10 hours a day in daycare is a really long day for my kids as it’s a really long day for anyone. But unfortunately, it’s my reality.

Do I wish I could cut those hours down? YES.

Do I hate the fact that they are under someone else’s care for 10 hours a day? YES.

But since I can’t change it, like the many other sacrifices I have made since becoming a mom, I make the BEST of it.

In all fairness, I don’t think she was judging me. In fact, I think she felt bad for me, but that made me feel even worse.

I don’t want you to judge me.

I don’t want you to pity me.

I would like you to support me, to sympathize with how hard being a mom is, be it a working mom or a stay at home one.

Because like I said, I don’t think I will be winning “Mother of the Year” anytime soon, but I would settle for “runner up” knowing I had the support from other women, especially other moms!

Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net

Bicultural Mama Hits 400th Post – Top 5 Stories

2013-04-23T20:59:00.001-04:00

Bicultural Mama has hits its 400^th post milestone! Looking back, here’s a roundup of the top 5 posts since #300.

1. What NOT to do over Chinese New Year

My Chinese New Year related posts tend to be pretty popular because they give insight into such an interesting holiday. You always hear about what you should do for Chinese New Year; now you can learn what you should NOT do!

2. Hot Toys for the Holidays

Though its no longer the holidays, these post gave ideas on hot new toy releases which remain popular today. My readers especially liked the Fortune Cookie Maker from Moose Toys.

3. Surprise Message Found on Pregnant Woman’s Restaurant Receipt

In the last year there have been many incidences of customers receiving ill-meaning messages on their receipts from snarky cashiers. Find out what one pregnant mom found on her restaurant receipt.

4. Racist Trolls on Blogs

I had my first encounter with a blog troll leaving racist comments on my site. It was eye-opening regarding how easily it is for people to hide behind the anonymity of the internet. Find out what happened when I took matters into my own hands.

5. Go Boo Boo Chinese Language Learning for Kids

This post provided an in depth look at the different ways Chinese language learning tools use when it comes to teaching children. I reviewed the new Go Boo Boo system that uses both Zhuyin and Pinyin methods to provide a comprehensive system for language learning.

Thanks for your loyalty in readership through my 400^th post. Looking forward to the next hundred with you!

Looking for Asian American Families for TV Show

2013-04-20T21:16:00.001-04:00

What’s your parenting style? You could be featured on a new series on a top-rated national cable network.

Bicultural Mama was contacted by a casting agency to spread the word about the casting of a new show (name of show is confidential). While the show has families signed on from different ethnicities, Asian Americans are currently underrepresented.

The casting is national, and the show is looking for moms and dads with unique perspectives on parenting. Are you an attachment parent? Helicopter Mom? A green parent? Free range? Authoritative? Permissive? Or do you have a style that’s all your own?

Each episode features two families so shooting days are expected to take place on 5-7 non-consecutive days. The storylines for each show will be created along with the families, and the themes will follow the natural story arc of their lives. The show is a lighthearted look at families living a truly unique lifestyle and all the ups and downs that come with it.

If interested, please send your name, phone number, email address, a description of your family/parenting style and a photo to casting@punchedinthehead.com.

For more information, visit punchedinthehead.com/casting.

Note: Bicultural Mama does not control or take responsibility for the content or information that may be shown on this show.

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

Bicultural Mama Member Spotlight in Niche Mommy

2013-04-16T22:39:00.001-04:00

If you’re a blogger, having the support from other bloggers whether for advice or friendship is important. One such group is Niche Mommy, which is “a network and conference for the social, savvy, influential diverse mom active in social media.”

I am honored that Niche Mommy interviewed me for its Member Spotlight feature. They asked interesting questions, everything from the basics like, “What influenced you to start blogging?” to the quirky like, “What came first, the chicken or the egg?”

If you don’t mind seeing the huge close up photo of me that was plastered on the post (it kind of takes up the whole screen), then check out my full interview here:

“Member Spotlight is on Maria Wen Adcock”

Thanks!

Falling Off the Work Life Balance Wagon

2013-04-14T14:30:00.000-04:00

If I seem to have disappeared off of social media and answering emails the last few weeks, don’t take it personally. I am not trying to ignore you; I’ve just been working 7 days a week helping to plan a huge Mamas Expo in Queens that takes place on May 5.

The Expo is hosted by the publisher of the Long Island MamasNetwork where I am Editor (one of the many hats I wear). There will be about 100 brands catering to expectant parents and parents of 0-6 year old kids. We expect approximately 2,000 attendees. It’s going to be a really exciting event for parents, and though I’m working a lot I’m learning great skills about event planning and partnering with companies.

I strive to have a work life balance. That’s a big reason why I quit my corporate job. I am a self-starter and a hard worker which I know are great traits, but they also compel me to want to complete everything right now. It's hard for me to stop in the middle of something.

I admit my work life balance is definitely much better now that the crazy hours I was working while in the business world. But still, I feel guilty.

I feel this the most I’m working at the computer, and my little one is pulling at my arm, pleading with me to play with her. I say, “Not now, mommy has a deadline,” and she starts crying. So then sometimes I do stop and play for a little bit, but my head is not totally there because I’m thinking about all the things that I need to do. I wish I could compartmentalize everything in my mind, storing them away and bringing them back as needed, but my mind doesn’t always work that way.

I know what my priority should be – my family. I’m just not always good following it when I’m under pressure. The good news is that 1) I’m aware – isn’t that the first step to recovery? and 2) I know this is temporary because after May 5 things should slow down for a while. It doesn’t ease the guilt, though.

Now that I’ve confessed how I’ve fallen off the work life balance wagon, here’s my shameless plug for the event that has currently taken over my life (at least for a few more weeks). If you’re in the tri-state area, check it out. And if you’re a blogger and want to post about the Mamas Expo and get onto the press list to attend the event (press gets free tickets and a VIP swag bag), just let me know and I’ll set you up!

*********************

THE MAMAS EXPO – NYC’S PREMIERE EVENT FOR PARENTS RETURNS SUNDAY MAY 5, 2013

Join Us on May 5th as the Boroughs Best Resources, Experts, Entertainment, and Shopping Experiences Come Together Under One Roof for the Ultimate Day Out for Parents and Kids

New York’s largest borough is proud to bring back the mother of all expos. On Sunday May 5, the New York Hall of Science will proudly bring The 2013 Mama’s Expo, NYC’s premiere event to local parents. Open to all parents, expectant moms, and children ages 0-6, attendees will have unprecedented, insider access to some of the best local services, entertainment, activities, specialists and products currently available for families in New York City.
From finding new local classes and schools, to the best innovative products and retail stores, parents will receive an exclusive look at all of the new resources available to make sure they are in-the-know!

Families will enjoy:

Loads of free giveaways from the nation’s best kids brands
Designated play areas and free sample classes throughout the day to keep kids busy
Shopping and discounts from the hottest new retail companies
The opportunity to speak one-on-one to representatives from top vendors and local businesses such as Happy Baby, Music Together, The Queens Botanical Garden, NYC Parks, Click and Improve, Dolphin Organics and more.
Samplings of kid friendly food and treats
On-site entertainment and performances
All day access to the New York Hall of Science and the Science Playground
And much more…

Expo Sponsors:

Media Sponsors – WNYC, Queens Parent Magazine and Yelp
Corporate Sponsors – Music Together, Click and Improve, New York Hall of Science
Sponsors – Happy Family Brands, Wildlife Conservation Society, Babyganics, Honest Tea/Honest Kids, DDO Advisory Services, Tempest Toys, Huggies and Little Pim

Visit www.themamasexpo.com for more details and featured activities.

When: Sunday May 5^th 2013 from 10 am – 6 pm
Where: New York Hall of Science – 47-01 111th Street, Corona, NY 11368

Ticket Price: To Save on Tickets – Purchase your tickets in advance before May 4, 2013 online at www.themamasexpo.com to save a minimum of 15% off the Mamas Expo Access Ticket. Ticket includes all-day admission to New York Hall of Science, access to the Mama’s Expo and events, access to New York’s largest Science Playground, plus one round of Rocket Park Mini Golf.

Mama’s Expo Advance Access Tickets
$17 Adult (18+)
$13 Child (2-17), Student (w/ID), Senior (62+)/ Under 2 Free
(15% off Adult regular price / 19% off Child Regular Price)
Tickets will be available for purchase at the door for full price.
Includes General Admission for one, Access to the Mama’s Expo, 1 ticket to Science Playground and 1 any-time voucher for Mini-Golf (valid for 1 round of Rocket Park Mini Golf. Expires June 5, 2013)

Mamas Expo VIP Tickets
A limited number of Mama’s Expo VIP Tickets are available for online advance purchase only. VIP tickets are $30 per person* and include all components of the Advance Access Ticket PLUS an exclusive Gift Bag including sample products and savings. Must be purchased in advance to guarantee your gift bag. To purchase VIP tickets, please visit www.themamasexpo.com
*Pay one price for adults, children, students, seniors.

About The Mamas Network
The Mamas Network is a series of online resources and social communities built by parents for parents including websites, events, and social media hubs. By using local experts and real parent reviews we have built a community where parents can connect. The Mamas Network includes Queens Mamas, Brooklyn Mamas, Long Island Mamas, and the upcoming 2012 Mamas Expo. Visit www.themamasnetwork.com for more information.

About the New York Hall of Science
The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) presents 450 exhibits, demonstrations and design spaces that explain science, technology, engineering and math. A visit to NYSCI is a hands-on, energetic educational experience where you can indulge your curiosity and nurture your creativity. NYSCI offers professional development for teachers, produces curricula and resources for classrooms, and studies how technology, gaming and play affect how we learn. NYSCI was founded at the 1964-65 World’s Fair and has evolved into New York’s center for interactive science serving a half million students, teachers, and families each year.

From April through August, NYSCI is open 9:30 am–5 pm Monday-Friday and 10 am–6 pm on weekends. For directions, and other information, visit www.nysci.org or call 718-699-0005.
For more information about The New Mama Expo, or for press attendance, please contact: mama@themamasnetwork.com

Image Photo Credit: Freedigitalphotos.net

Want an Eco-Friendly Home? You’re Not Alone [Infographic]

2013-04-11T00:44:00.001-04:00

I strive to live a green lifestyle – it’s still a work in progress, but with persistence it’ll eventually become an even larger part of our life. One thing I would love would be an eco-friendly house. Looks like I’m not alone.

With Green Month (and Earth Day) fast approaching, realtor.com conducted a survey to discover how eco-friendly housing is catching on with consumers. Turns out, more than 80% of respondents would like to own a residence that is eco-friendly, and nearly 70% would pay more money for it.

Of the 31% of respondents that currently live in an eco-friendly home, 66% have children.
Of the more than 80% of respondents who would like to own an eco-friendly residence, nearly 65% have children.
Energy-efficient appliances, lighting and air conditioning were among the most desired eco-friendly home features - nearly 80% of respondents want all three.
Nearly 40% of respondents are willing to give up square footage for an eco-friendly residence while 75% would sacrifice a pool and 74% a game room.

Read the infographic below for more interesting stats. Would you be willing to pay more money to live in an eco-friendly home?

For more information about green living as it pertains to the housing market, check out the latest Field Guide to Green Homes & Green Mortgages from the National Association of Realtors.

The Perfectly Imperfect Life of Moms

2013-04-07T23:36:00.000-04:00

By Kim Como, Bicultural Mama Contributor


Kim Como with her two little bunnies. Photo: Kim Como

I’m a mom.

I have two kids under age five.

I’m a wife, embarking on 10 years of marriage.

I have a full-time job in New York City and spend almost four hours a day commuting to and from work.

I’m a blogger and a writer, and one day I hope to be a published author (hey, a girl can dream)!

But when it comes to everything I do, the question I often hear most is HOW? How do you have time for it all? How do you keep it all together? How do you balance it all out? And do you want to know the answer? My dirty little secret is that…I DON’T!

I DON’T MAKE MY BED, EVER.

Who wants to waste time removing the bed spread and the throw pillows before I can jump right in? My kids and I love to get lost under the covers pretending it’s our very own “bear cave” - why would I want to cut down on that time?

MY LAUNDRY BASKETS ARE ALWAYS FULL.

My kids are two and four years old. They’re boys, and though they are clean kids be it food, grass stains, paint, dirt, etc., they’re constantly getting dirty. Hence there’s always laundry to be done. My husband will tell you that once he had to go out and buy new socks and underwear because he ran out! Well, technically he did not run out, but they were in the bottom of the basket under the other dirty laundry.

AT ANY GIVEN TIME OF THE DAY THERE ARE DISHES IN MY SINK.

I’m just not one of those people who need to clean all of the dishes before going to bed. If there’s a cup or two or three that are left, well then they’ll be there when I wake up in the morning too.

I’M PERFECTLY IMPERFECT

“Perfection” does not exist in my world, and I’m ok with it. I’ve finally come to the realization that I can NOT do it all! Ever since I’ve accepted that fact, I’ve been much happier. I’m learning to live with my imperfections, and hopefully others will learn to accept them too.

And if not, it’s their loss!

Signazon Offers Custom Printing Ideas for Families

2013-04-05T13:14:00.000-04:00

With birthdays, showers, graduation, weddings and anniversaries coming up, printed products can be a parent’s best friend. They add a customized touch for gifts or for your own everyday use.

Signazon offers high quality customized printing options via its easy-to-use website. For busy parents, having the flexibility to go online whenever they’re able to (e.g. baby sleeping) provides much appreciated convenience. The website also lets users browse by events (birthdays, weddings, etc.) for ideas.

Parents can create custom calendars, announcements, cards, invitations, postcards, stationery, refrigerator magnets and more. All of these can make great gifts whether for others or yourself. For example, a great party favor idea for kids is to create customized “Thank You for Coming to My Birthday Party” magnets with a picture of the birthday child and/or guests at the party.

Clear window decals are another Signazon family friendly product. Parents like to use them in car windows to keep their kids entertained. Imagine creating a custom clear window decal with a picture of your child next to his favorite cartoon character. Every time you go in the car, your child will be thrilled to sit next to his favorite friend.

Signazon also offers reusable vinyl decal graphics. For those helping their daughters’ Girl Scouts troops, many parents have created vinyl banners for their cookie sales and fundraising efforts.

In addition, Parents use the vinyl decal graphics at home for multiple purposes such as a security sticker on a window to keep burglars away or decorating windows. Customize these for each holiday – how about a picture of your child with the Easter Bunny for the bedroom window? Or a decal of your child with Santa Claus placed on the window by the fireplace so Santa will see it when arrives? The possibilities are endless.

Signazon is at trusted site with a ResellerRatings.com score of 9.25 out of 10. Visit Signazon at www.signazon.com.

Photo Credits: Signazon

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored post. The company who sponsored provided compensation to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Bilingual Fest for Families Coming to New York City

2013-04-03T19:42:00.000-04:00

The first-ever cross-cultural bilingual family event BilingualFest 2013 will be taking place on April 20, 2013 in New York City. The event showcases prominent artists from local Chinese-American and Latino-American communities in a concert and cultural celebration.

BilingualFest 2013 will feature Emmy Award winner Pei-Sze Cheng, reporter for NBC4 New York, as emcee.

Other special appearances and performances include:

Parents’ Choice Award winner A Little Mandarin Chinese music CD for children, led by Toni Wang
Mencius Youth Orchestra & East River Ensemble
El Taller led by pioneering artistic director Bernardo Palombo, Sesame Street Spanish programming creator and executive producer of Grammy Award winner Dan Zanes’ Spanish children’s album ¡Nueva York!
Elena Moon Park of the Asian musical CD for children Rabbit Days and Dumplings
Musician Sonia De Los Santos who has been touring with the musical group Dan Zanes and Friends
Chinese lion dance by Sifu Norman Chin’s Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Lion Dance School
Monkey King performance
Extraordinary salsa duo Cynthia La China and Hector el Guajiro from NYSalsababy.

For BilingualFest 2013, A Little Mandarin and title sponsor, Bilingual Buds Immersion School for Children, a Mandarin and Spanish immersion school based in New York City and Summit, NJ, drew unprecedented sponsorship participation from Chinese and Hispanic educational and cultural organizations. These include: China Institute, Museum of Chinese in America, El Museo del Barrio, Hispanic Society of America, Queen Sofia Spanish Institute and La Escuelita School.

Additional support comes from District 6 Council Member Honorable Gail A. Brewer, and the event is recognized by The New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs as part of its Immigrant Heritage Week 2013 (April 17-24). Other notable sponsors include Putumayo Kids, Little Pim, ChinaSprout.com, urbansitter.com, Oznoz.com, Bilingual Birdies, Big Apple Parent/NY Metro Parents, ¡Sopresa!TV and Blanc de Chine.

Net proceeds benefit Asian-American youth outreach APEX and The Committee of Hispanic Children and Families.

BilingualFest 2013

April 20, 2013 at 3 p.m.

W83 Ministry Center at 150 W. 83rd Street, NYC (between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues).

www.BilingualFest.com

Purchase tickets at http://bilingualfest.com/tickets/.

Suggested Donations:
$10 Child
$15 Adult
$40 Family (up to 2 adults & 3 children)

VIP Family Sponsors:
$100 – Friend
VIP Family seating + autographed CDs from A Little Mandarin and El Taller
$250 – Contributor

VIP Family seating
+ autographed CDs and t-shirts from A Little Mandarin and El Taller
+ FREE museum family passes from MoCA & El Museo
+ merchandise from sponsors such as oznoz.com and ChinaSprout.com
$500 – Benefactor

VIP Family seating
+ autographed CDs t-shirts from A Little Mandarin and El Taller
+ FREE museum family passes from MoCA & El Museo
+ merchandise from sponsors such as oznoz.com and ChinaSprout.com
+ choice of $25 gift certificates from participating restaurants

For more information, please visit www.bilingualfest.com.

Hapa Main Character Featured in Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible, by Suzanne Kamata

2013-04-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Bicultural Mama celebrates and supports multiculturalism, so with great interest I reviewed the young adult novel Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible, by Suzanne Kamata.

The book, available in May 2013, features Aiko Cassidy, a 14 year old Hapa teen who lives with her mother in Michigan. Hapa refers to people of mixed racial heritage with partial roots in Asian and/or Pacific Islander ancestry.

Aiko is the product of a brief romance between her American sculptor mother and Japanese indigo farmer father. Often mistaken as the adopted child of her fair-haired mother, she feels lost never having met her father.

Kamata weaves many layers into her unique and refreshing main character. In addition to Aiko’s bicultural heritage, she has cerebral palsy, dabbles in manga art, longs to discover her Japanese roots and is on the verge of womanhood. I love that the author does not gratuitously add these in, and instead respectfully develops the character.

Aiko longs to disappear lest others notice her curled hand and stuttered walk. Heralded as the disabled muse for her mother’s sculptures, Aiko resentment grows and causes strain between the two. Aiko longs for acknowledgment, but for her own art -- not for her special needs. In secret she draws stories about a manga character, Gadget Girl, then leaves her printed works of art in public places. She waits for others to discover her, just like how she waits to discover herself.

Aiko’s mother is exhibiting her sculpture in Paris and invites Aiko to come along. Though Aiko would rather travel to Japan -- the manga capital of the world and birth father’s location -- the Paris trip provides the catalyst to explore the strained relationship between mother and daughter as well as first romance with a young Parisian waiter.

Kamata skillfully captures the angst of searching for self-identity, young love and acceptance. Readers will relate to these universal themes no matter what cultural backgrounds they come from.

----------------------------------------

Gadget Girl began as a novella published in Cicada. The story won the SCBWI Magazine Merit Award in Fiction and was included in an anthology of the best stories published in Cicada over the past ten years. To pre-order Gadget Girl, please visit Amazon.com.

Susan Kamata lives in Tokushima, Japan with her husband and bicultural twins. For more information, visit www.suzannekamata.com.

Disclosure: Bicultural Mama received a complimentary copy of Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are solely those of Bicultural Mama.

McDonald’s Launches Premium McWrap in New York Tri State

2013-03-29T23:26:00.003-04:00

McDonald's Premium McWrap - much
larger than expected.
Photo: McDonald's

Think of McDonalds and “Would you like fries with that?” comes to mind. But for New Yorkers this may change as McDonalds has launched a fresh line of Premium McWraps in the tri-state area. McDonalds created the new items to enhance and expand its menu offerings in response to customers’ evolving needs and taste preferences.

New York Knicks star
Steve Novak help to
launch Premium McWraps
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Yesterday Bicultural Mama attended an event in Chelsea to celebrate the launch of the Premium McWrap. Media influencers and the public received complimentary Premium McWraps which combined fresh vegetables, sauces and chicken breast in a warm tortilla served in convenient, hand-held packaging for those on-the-go.

New York Knicks star Steve Novak hosted the event where the ground floor of the McDonald’s restaurant at 541 6^th Avenue was transformed into the “Sweet Chili Chill Out Lounge.” Novak and a McDonald’s staff member demonstrated how to build a McWrap.

Bicultural Mama Correspondent Shawn Bullington asked Novak which one was his favorite Premium McWrap. Novak responded “Chicken & Ranch” which combines ranch sauce, seasoned rice vinegar, cheddar jack cheese, sliced cucumbers, and tomato.

Building a Premium
McWrap demonstration
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Other Premium McWrap flavors include Sweet Chili Chicken McWrap (sweet chili sauce, creamy garlic sauce and sliced cucumbers) and Chicken & Bacon McWrap (creamy garlic sauce, bacon, cheddar jack cheese and tomato).

The wraps were surprisingly larger than expected; all were entree size, and one wrap would be a filling meal for both big and small eaters. Calories range between 360-600 and retail for just $3.99 each. The Premium McWrap makes a great, light lunch at a great price.

For more information about Premium McWrap and McDonald’s full line of national menu choices including nutrition information visit www.McDonalds.com. Follow McDonald’s local Twitter handle @McDNYTriState to receive information about local products, news and promotions.

By Shawn Bullington and Maria Adcock

Premium McWraps are packaged
conveniently for those on-the-go
Photo: McDonald's

Disclosure: Bicultural Mama received samples of Premium McWraps at the event to assess for this post. All opinions expressed are solely those of the authors.

Scary Statistics of Pool Danger You Should Know [Infographic]

2013-03-27T23:23:00.000-04:00

Whether kids are swimming in an indoor or outdoor pool, water safety is something parents need to think about.

It is roughly 100 times more probable that a child will die in a pool than by a firearm. (Source: Freakonomics, 2005)

To help protect children, parental supervision and safety fences is a given. Find more ways to keep kids safe around pools in the infographic below.

pool fence

10 Day Multicultural Mom Blog Series Launches March 25

2013-03-24T22:13:00.000-04:00

Bicultural Mama's family
Photo: Teresa Kuo

Plushkies, the company that creates cultural learning plush toys for children, is launching the blog series “Raising Global Children: 10 Multicultural Blogger Moms Show Us How It’s Done.”

For 10 days from March 25 through April 3, the Plushkies site will feature an interview with a mom who is raising children in a multicultural family.

Encouraging children to become global citizens broadens their understanding of the world and helps to embrace diversity.

The list below details the schedule of interviews:

Monday, March 25- Stephanie Meade of “InCultureParent”
Tuesday March 26- Vanessa of "De Su Mama"
Wednesday, March 27- Leanna of "All Done Monkey"
Thursday, March 28- Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz of “Growing Up Bilingual”
Friday, March 29- Sarah Quezada of “A Life With Subtitles”
Saturday, March 30- Tallulah of “Bilingual Babes”
Sunday, March 31- Grace Hwang Lynch of "HapaMama"
Monday, April 1- Homa Sabet Tavangar of "Growing Up Global"
Tuesday, April 2- Becky Morales of "Kid World Citizen"
Wednesday April 3- Maria Wen Adcock of "Bicultural Mama"

Visit www.plushkies.com/blog to read this special series starting on March 25.

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s Red Carpet Gala Launches The Bible Experience in NYC

2013-03-20T15:26:00.000-04:00

The Bible Executive Producers
Roma Downey and Mark Burnett
Photo: Shawn Bullington

With the recent installation of Pope Francis, President Obama making his first trip to Israel and the holidays of Passover and Easter upon us, religion has made headlines in the media and minds of many Americans in the past few days.

The Bible Experience exhibit will
be open in NYC until March 27.
Photo: Mindy LaVergne

Given the rise of religious interest, it’s no wonder the History Channel series The Bible has taken off. To date over 50 million viewers have seen at least a portion of the miniseries which first aired March 3. The series, which will culminate on Easter, illuminates the Bible by re-telling the stories and revealing new insights into iconic characters.

14^th century medieval Torah scroll on
display at The Bible Experience
Photo: Kim Como

For those who may shy away from religious-based shows, many have noted that no matter what your beliefs are The Bible is a fascinating show to watch. It’s filmed in a way that captures viewer’s attention with engaging storytelling and lots of action - sometimes quite graphic. People who enjoy watching action epic features like Gladiator, Spartacus and Vikings will enjoy The Bible.

Bicultural Mama literally
on the Red Carpet
Photo: Mindy LaVergne

Bicultural Mama attended the exclusive Red Carpet opening night gala for “The Bible Experience,” an interactive gallery displaying rare biblical relics from the Vatican and breath-taking photography from the miniseries. Displays included rare dead sea scroll fragments, 12^th century Egyptian Jewish manuscript fragments, 14^th century medieval Torah scroll, 1613 King James “She” bible, a copy of the first bible printed in America and much more.

Bicultural Mama Correspondent Kim Como brushed shoulders with producers and stars of The Bible who stated they were not surprised at its success. On the Red Carpet, husband and wife Executive Producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey told Bicultural Mama that the “timing was right” for a series like this and that it was a “serious undertaking,” one they took with “great responsibility.”

Bicultural Mama Correspondent Kim Como interviews
Executive Producer Mark Burnett.
Photo: Mindy LaVergne

Diogo Morgado, who plays Jesus and is practically a household name in his native Portugal, is a relative newcomer to American viewers. Just like the character he plays, the handsome actor has a commanding presence. Morgado told Bicultural Mama that he “grew up in a really Christian country,” and the idea of playing Jesus "simply appealed to me." He addressed the show’s recent controversy over the resemblance between the actor who played the role of Satan and President Barack Obama, saying “Oh come on, it’s The Bible. There is no way you can take a project like The Bible and not expect controversy.”

Interviewing Jesus, played by Diogo Morgado from Portugal,
who stated he “grew up in a really Christian country.”
Photo: Mindy LaVergne

Actor Darwin Shaw who plays Apostle Peter said being a part of this series “was the most amazing thing an actor could wish for.”

Darwin Shaw "Apostle Peter" and Kim Como on the Red Carpet.
Photo: Mindy LaVergne

Shaw is not alone regarding being a fan. Opening night of “The Bible Experience” brought other celebrities including Carson Kressley, Kristin Chenoweth, Arianna Huffington, Carol Alt, Joe Pantoliano, Gabby Douglas, Della Reese, Grizz Chapman, Suze Orman, Monique Coleman, Sami Gayle, Eric West, Sami Gayle, Jeannie Ortega, Lenay Dunn, Lidia Bastianich and many more.

Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Joe Pantoliano of The Sopranos
and his wife, Nancy
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Roma Downey with personal financial
guru Suze Orman
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Actress Della Reese of Touched By An Angel
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur and Cookbook
Author Lidia Bastianich
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Celebrity Stylist and Fashion Expert
Carson Kressley
Photo: Kim Como

Lenay Dunn of MTV's 10 on Top
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Sami Gayle of Blue Bloods
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Monique Coleman of High School Musical
Photo: Shawn Bullington

Model Carol Alt with Kim Como
Photo: Mindy LaVergne

“The Bible Experience” gives New Yorkers who are fans of the TV series a chance to get up close and personal with the real thing. For those who missed the series but would like to view it at home, The Bible Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital HD will be available on April 2, 2013.

The Bible Experience
450 West 14^th Street (between Washington and 10^th Ave), NYC
Daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. from March 20^th to March 27^th
Admission: Free

By Kim Como
Contributors: Maria Adcock, Shawn Bullington, Mindy LaVergne