Globetrotting Mommy

All things family, fun or just plain fabulous!

2015 Holiday Gift Guide …

By

Books are one of my go-to presents for kids of all ages and today I’m sharing my Gift Guide for the Best Books for Globetrotting Kids.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide - Best Books for Globetrotting Kids and Giveaway, Books, Kids, Travel, Giveaway, Gift Guide

2015 Holiday Gift Guide – Best Books for Globetrotting Kids and Giveaway

1) I See Me! books – I especially love giving personalized books as baby presents but I had to order my six-year old this adorable It’s Fancy to Be Me personalized book that showcases a little girl (with custom skin and hair) traveling the globe. We both love reading it and she especially loves seeing her name and photo on the pages. Enter to win your choice of I See Me! customized books TODAY ONLY (details below)…

2) Peppa Pig and the Day at the Museum – If you’ve got little Peppa fans, this colorful book is sure to please.  I love that it teaches kids how to behave in museums and gives them an idea of what to expect during their first museum visits.

3) The Central Park Tales – My daughter and I love exploring New York’s scenic Central Park so I was interested to check out this tale of animal characters who live in the park. The book is comprised of ten short stories making it is a great option for emerging readers who can rely on comprehension rather than photos.

4) Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade – If your family loves watching New York City’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, this book will become an immediate favorite.  The story tells the true story of how the famous floats came to creation with gorgeous graphics and a bit of STEM education along the way.

5) People – I love gorgeous oversized children’s picture books but if they don’t hold my daughter’s interest, they just sit on the bookshelf, and yes, we have a collection of those… My daughter is continuously drawn to this book which showcases details of people and their varied lifestyles across the globe. From clothing and housing to religions and customs, this book is a great option for teaching diversity.

6) Mad Libs – I just introduced my daughter to these fill-in-the-blank short story books and they were an immediate hit. If you’re heading off on a holiday road trip, these would be a great gift kids of all ages would enjoy along the way. I grew up with the classic version but they now feature specialty editions (think Star Wars, Frozen, SpongeBob SquarePants
and holidays) as well as Mad Libs on the Road and Vacation Fun versions perfect for globetrotting kids (and adults too).

7) My Pop-up World Atlas – Pop-Up books are always a hit with kids and this pop-up atlas makes learning geography fun. My daughter never tires of lifting the flaps and pull tabs to uncover interesting details from around the world. Its fairly sturdy but I wouldn’t leave toddlers unsupervised with it…

8) Eloise: The Ultimate Edition – For girls who love, love, love Eloise, this treasury is sure to please. This is a great choice for young travelers since it features Eloise in Moscow and Eloise in Paris as well as Eloise at Christmastime and the original Eloise story and scrapbook.

9) The New York Times: 36 Hours USA & Canada – For kids who are old enough to plan family adventures, this coffee table book is filled with travel itineraries and suggestions for trips across the United States and Canada.

10) From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler – Pre-teens will love this award-winning adventurous tale about two kids who hide out in NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. They bathe in the museum’s fountains and sleep in royal beds as they run away from home and discover a mystery along the way.

Ready to win a customized I See Me! book of your choice?

To enter please leave a blog post comment – Who do you know who would love this book?

For additional entries, please leave separate comments for each of these four options:

  1. Like Globetrotting Mommy on Facebook
  2. Follow Globetrotting Mommy on Instagram
  3. Like TravelMommy on Twitter
  4. Subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy

This giveaway is open to US residents. The winner will be chosen at 10 am EST Thursday, December 17, 2015 and must order their book the same day.

Good luck!

Congratulations to Elizabeth L! Check your email for details…

signature

All opinions are my own. I received review copies of three books and some links may contain affiliate links. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for …

By

If you’re looking for some holiday gift ideas the whole family can enjoy, today is your lucky day.  Below I’ve rounded up some fun family gift ideas for globetrotting families to enjoy at home and away…

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

The Gift of Membership – If you’re looking for a gift that keeps on giving, a family membership to a favorite museum, amusement park, zoo or other cultural attraction is an awesome gift. Some museum memberships include reciprocal benefits where you can receive complimentary admission to hundreds of museums across the United States. Check out the North American Reciprocal Museum Association and the Association of  Science-Technology Center’s Travel Passport Program for more details. 

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families, Show, Broadway, NYC, Family Travel

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

Go See a Show – Save a date and take the whole clan to see their favorite artists perform on stage.  From Frozen on Ice, Peppa Pig LIVE! and the Big Apple Circus to Sesame Street and Yo Gabba Gabba shows and musical concerts, there are dozens of family favorite events going on this winter. My top picks for families include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes, Blue Man Group, Aladdin and The Lion King. 

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families, Boston Duck Tour

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families – A Duck Tour around Boston makes a great holiday gift.

Take the Family Sightseeing – A staycation or vacation makes a great holiday gift. Give your family the gift of go with a Go City Card valid for tourist attractions in 11 cities across the US or book a family fun sightseeing tour like The Ride in New York City, a Boston Duck Tour or a Carriage Ride around Charleston.

Family Friendly Travel Books – From travel inspired coffee table classics like Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel  and Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places to trip planning guides and Lonely Planet Kids Activity Books, books are a great family gift idea.  

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families, Foodie Gifts, Holiday Gift Guide, Trader Joe's

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

Culinary Gifts for All – Foodies of all ages will appreciate culinary gifts that offer tasty treats from near and far. Some ideas include the Peninsula Grill Ultimate Coconut Cake® from Charleston, South Carolina, Tessemae’s Chesapeake Mayo from Maryland, Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Trader Joe’s Chocolate Passport, The Everyday Eatalian gift box featuring products from Italy, a Great Lakes Food Club membership from Michigan or a Try The World foodie gift box subscription.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families, Igloo Coolers, Mudpuppy, luggage tags

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

Must Have Family Friendly Travel Accessories – I’m always bringing home leftovers from holiday celebrations and Igloo has a great selection of chic insulated totes (Trend, Maxcold and Stowe) that make nice holiday gifts for everyone on your list. I especially love that these bags fold up for storage and are leak-resistant making them great picks for road trips and plane rides. For junior travelers, the adorable bag tags and travel journals from Mudpuppy are sure to please. Other ideas for family friendly travel accessories include selfie sticks (I know, I know) and gift cards to make photo books showcasing your travels.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families, Twister, Hangman, Holiday Gifts, Holiday

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families – Family friendly games are sure to please.

On The Go Games – Family friendly games are great to bring to holiday get togethers and the classics from Hasbro (think Twister, Operation, Jenga and my all-time favorite Monopoly) are perfect options. I also love travel friendly family games like Melissa & Doug Travel Hangman, Spot It, eeBoo’s Color Go Fish Cards which are great for little hands.

signature

I received some review items at the Momtrends holiday event but all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Toys That Travel: Crayola …

By

Home or away for the upcoming holidays? Crayola’s Cling Creator will keep kids busy as they create their own holiday inspired window decorations perfect for decorating houses, hotel rooms and more. Read on for my Crayola Cling Creator review and enter to win one of your own along with a $50 gift card!

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway, Toy Review, Crayola, DIY, Crafts, Kids

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway

As you know, we’re big fans of STEM inspired toys so I was excited to see that Crayola’s Cling Creator combines creativity with science lab techniques. My daughter got right to work setting up all the tubes, molds and instruments in the caddy which was perfect for keeping things organized.

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway, Toy Review, Crayola, DIY, Crafts, Kids

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway

The kit contains everything you need to make colorful cling creations that stick to (and easily peel off from) windows, mirrors and other flat, smooth surfaces. You can use the molds or create new designs by making molds with the included clay. You can even add your own glitter to the designs if you’re feeling festive.

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway, Toy Review, Crayola, DIY, Crafts, Kids

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway

The label says ages 8+ but my six-year old daughter was able follow the directions with some guidance. I mentally prepared for a mess but I was happily surprised to see how easy she was able to squeeze the correct ratio of color and firming solution into the labeled mixing pots and mix them in the kid-friendly mixing chamber.

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway, Toy Review, Crayola, DIY, Crafts, Kids

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway

We were hoping to make some fall-inspired designs to bring along on a road-trip to grandma’s house for Thanksgiving but had some challenges perfecting our leaf and pumpkin molds out of the clay. I would definitely recommend younger kids stick with the enclosed molds, especially since the gel sets rather quickly. Also, if you are planning to mix colors, start with just a few drops of the dark color and add the lighter color until you get the shade you want.

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway, Toy Review, Crayola, DIY, Crafts, Kids

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway

After 15 minutes, the gel solidifies and your window clings are ready to go. Volia!

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway, Toy Review, Crayola, DIY, Crafts, Kids

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway

We ended up with an assortment of fun, colorful designs…

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway, Toy Review, Crayola, DIY, Crafts, Kids

Toys That Travel: Crayola Cling Creator Review and Giveaway

The kit makes approximately 20 clings and refill packs are sold separately. If you and your kids love DIY crafty projects, the Crayola Cling Creator will make a great addition to your craft closet.

Ready to win a Crayola Cling Creator and a $50 gift card?

To enter please leave a blog post comment – Who do you know who would love this toy?

For additional entries, please leave separate comments for each of these four options:

  1. Like Globetrotting Mommy on Facebook
  2. Follow Globetrotting Mommy on Instagram
  3. Like TravelMommy on Twitter
  4. Subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy

This giveaway is open to US residents and will run until midnight EST Friday December 4, 2015.

If you’re looking for a Crayola inspired road trip, check out my review of the Crayola Experience in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Congratulations to Heather Johnson!!

signature

I was not compensated for this post but the Crayola Cling Creator, gift card, information and additional gift pack have been provided by Crayola. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Visiting Beaches Turks & …

By

If you’re looking for a Caribbean getaway sure to please beach loving parents and Sesame Street® loving kids, Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa has the perfect answer. A visit to Beaches Turks & Caicos with kids offers parents the chance to relax while the kids are entertained all day (and night) long. I recently returned from this all-inclusive getaway and today I’m sharing my Top 10 Sesame Street® Experiences at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa.

Visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos with Kids: Top 10 Sesame Street Experiences.

Visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos with Kids: Top 10 Sesame Street Experiences.

1 – Sign up for Camp Sesame – If you’ve got a toddler, you’ll want to enroll them in Camp Sesame. Each day’s complimentary offerings include typical camp activities like sand castle building, playground time and swim games but the biggest draw are the Sesame Street® character lead events like dance parties with Zoe and story time with Elmo. Aside from a friendly staff, Camp Sesame features a fenced-in play area with a beachy sand section, a shallow pool with pool toys and mini-beach chairs.

Visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos with Kids: Top 10 Sesame Street Experiences. Enjoy a nightly Sesame Street character show at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

Enjoy a nightly Sesame Street character show at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa.

2 – Check out the Stage Show – Every night, the Sesame Street® characters put on an interactive, family friendly outdoor stage show featuring kid-friendly dances and songs. Depending on your crew’s dining schedule, this makes a great before or after-dinner activity.

Visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos with Kids: Top 10 Sesame Street Experiences. The Sesame Street character breakfast is great fun for the whole family.

The Sesame Street character breakfast at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa is great fun for the whole family.

3 – Have Breakfast with the Sesame Street® Characters. This is an additional charge ($12 per adult and $16 per child) but I promise it will be one of the highlights of your vacation. Kids and adults will enjoy the funny interactions, hugs and kisses as every character comes by to say hello. If you’ve got young dancers, the conga line group finale will be a huge hit.

Visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos with Kids: Top 10 Sesame Street Experiences

Kids can learn to draw Sesame Street characters at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa’s interactive workshops.

4 – Sesame Street® Artist Workshops – Kids of all ages will want to check out these occasional workshops let by Sesame Street® artists, Louis Henry Mitchell and Barry Goldberg. Through drawing and sidewalk chalk sketches, this workshop introduces drawing fundamentals and techniques with fun, educational sessions.

Visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos with Kids: Top 10 Sesame Street Experiences. Kids can bake cookies with Cookie Monster at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

Kids can bake cookies with Cookie Monster at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa.

5 – Bake Cookies with Cookie Monster – My daughter had so much fun rolling out cookies with Cookie Monster and laughing as he jiggled his big blue belly. This free activity is a must-do if you’ve got a little foodie.

6 – Arrange for a Sesame Street® Photo Shoot – If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind memento from your trip, an All-Access Photo Session offers a family friendly photo shoot with all your Sesame Street® friends. The 15-minute session costs $50 and includes one 8×10 photo.

7 – Get tucked into bed by your favorite character. The signature Night Night, Sleep Tight with Sesame Street® tuck-in program lets your child’s favorite character (and a staff member) visit your room to read a bedtime story and tuck your child into bed. Pricing starts at $85 for one child.

Visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos with Kids: Top 10 Sesame Street Experiences. You'll find the Sesame Street characters strolling around at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

You’ll find the Sesame Street characters strolling around at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa.

8 – Catch the characters strolling around the resort. Be sure to check the daily schedule to see where and when the character walkabouts are taking place. In addition, we caught some of the characters heading to and from events and they were always happy to say hi and give my daughter a hug or high-five.

Visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos with Kids: Top 10 Sesame Street Experiences. Kids can celebrate Elmo's birthday at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

Kids can celebrate Elmo’s birthday at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa.

9 – Attend Elmo’s Birthday Party! He might just be three-and-a-half years old but this furry red toddler celebrates weekly at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa. Grab your kids and come wish Elmo a happy birthday (party favors and cake included!).

Visiting Beaches Turks & Caicos with Kids: Top 10 Sesame Street Experiences. Don't miss the Sesame Street® Carnival Celebration Parade at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

Don’t miss the Sesame Street® Carnival Celebration Parade at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa.

10 – Don’t miss the Sesame Street® Carnival Celebration Parade – This weekly parade features all of the Sesame Street® characters in carnival attire, Junkanoo dancers, festive music and more. Line up along the parade route or follow the dancers as they head to the Italian Village for the grand finale and dancing from the balcony.

Have you visited Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Village & Spa with young children? What was your favorite memory or what are you looking forward to most?

signature

Note:  I attended the Beaches Resorts Social Media on the Sand Conference and part of my stay at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa was subsidized. All the opinions, photos and experiences I’ve described are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Staycation Ideas 103: STEM …

By

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that my family and I love to visit attractions that encourage learning experiences such as science museums, historical sights and kid-friendly attractions. Some of our favorite local spots include MoMath, the Liberty Science Center and the Long Island Children’s Museum.

Staycation Ideas 103: STEM Toys for Home and Away, STEM, Great Gifts, Museums

Staycation Ideas 103: STEM Toys for Home and Away

With winter is on its way,  I’m gearing up for some indoor staycation time and today I’m sharing some of my favorite STEM toys and activities that inspire Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education.

  • The Magic School Bus – My daughter has been obsessed with this science cartoon series since pre-school. Miss Frizzle and the gang teach young kids about science, astronomy, biology and more as they drive through space, the human body and other unexpected places. The Magic School Bus DVD Set makes a great gift for young scientists (also great for long plane rides) and the monthly Magic School Bus Science Club subscriptions are great for rainy days at home or away.
Project Mc² Dolls, STEM toys, Staycation

Project Mc² Dolls encourage girls to experiment.

  • Project Mc² Dolls – This new doll line from MGA Entertainment is all about teaching girls that Smart Is The New Cool. Each of the four adorable doll sets include a real science experiment, fun accessories and stand. We tried the volcano experiment with the Adrienne Attoms doll and it was a big hit. Click here to see…

  • Magna-Tiles® – I love toys that encourage imaginative play and if they are a breeze to clean up, I love them even more. If you’re looking for a family friendly toy that will keep children of all ages engaged, Magna-Tiles are a really good option. They are also great to bring along on trips as there are no small pieces to lose or step on…

What are your favorite toys and activities that encourage STEM education?

 

signature

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

How to Save Money at Atlantis …

By

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard how fabulous and fun Atlantis Paradise Island Resort is for family vacations. All that fun comes with hefty price tag but today I’m going to tell you how to save money at Atlantis.

How to Save Money at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, Bahamas

How to Save Money at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, Bahamas

Read on to find out some of my favorite money saving tips for visiting this kid-friendly Caribbean hot spot.

  • The best way to experience Atlantis Paradise Island Resort without breaking the bank is to stay at the nearby Comfort Suites Paradise Island hotel. Most travelers don’t know this but Comfort Suites Paradise Island hotel guests receive free access to Atlantis’ exclusive features (think water parks, pools and beach) and charging privileges in all restaurants and bars. The newly renovated property is within walking distance and rates include daily breakfast and free Wi-Fi. You’re welcome!
Atlantis, Paradise Island, Save Money, Budget, Family Travel

Many rooms at Atlantis offer stocked kitchens so families can prepare meals.

  • I always bring emergency food and snacks with me but you’ll save a ton of money if you stock an extra suitcase with snacks and breakfast/lunch friendly food like peanut butter and jelly. When we stayed at The Reef, our only breakfast option was a super busy (and painfully slow) Starbucks and it was either wait for a $5 muffin or take a shuttle over to another area for breakfast each morning. If you don’t want to travel around the large property with hungry kids, bring food from home or stock up at the supermarket on your way to the resort. PS – Many guest rooms have family-friendly kitchenettes.
  • Atlantis is the opposite of all-inclusive and this means you will find yourself shelling out big bucks for extras or saying no to your kids all day. To avoid this, get some activities offered on property (like glitter tattoos) in advance and surprise your kids with them during the trip. When we visited over the summer, there was a decorate-your-own-cupcake activity that cost around $10 per cupcake so be sure to manage your kids’ expectations for extras and souvenirs before you go.
  • There is no shortage of great restaurants at Atlantis and many of the worlds best chefs have outposts here. One of the best budget friendly options is dining family style at Carmine’s where kids and adults can share Italian favorites and desserts without breaking the bank. If you’re traveling with young children, most restaurants offer affordable kid meals that can often be shared as well.
Atlantis, How to Save Money, Budget Travel, Beach Toys

Bring your own snorkel gear and beach toys.

  • Bring your own snorkels, water toys and other beach essentials. I know these can be bulky to travel with but you will save a lot of money not having to rent or buy them on property. The resort charges $12 an hour to rent a snorkel and fins so if you plan to snorkel, it pays to bring your own. If you travel a lot, stock up on beach toys at the end of summer when a big bag of sand toys is just $3 and you can leave them behind without feeling guilty.
  • Take advantage of complimentary activities at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.  There are plenty of free activities for guests staying at Atlantis including movies, The Dig, character parades, casino lessons, gym access and more so be sure to work these into your schedules.

If you’re planning a trip to Atlantis, be sure to check out my latest TravelMamas.com posts:

Top 20 Things To Do at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort

5 Things to Do on Paradise Island with Kids in the Bahamas

What are your favorite money saving vacation tips?

signature

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Pretty in Pink. Everything …

By

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that one of my daughter’s favorite New York City haunts is The Plaza Hotel.

The Plaza Hotel, New York City, NYC with Kids

Pretty in Pink. Everything Eloise at NYC’s Plaza Hotel

If you think this legendary NYC hotel is just for grown-ups, think again. From The Plaza Food Hall (with fro-yo, cupcakes and cookies galore) to Rawther Fancy Tea Parties at the hotel’s Eloise Shop and Afternoon Tea at The Plaza’s Palm Court, there are plenty of adventures for kids of all ages.

Plaza Hotel, New York City, Pretty in Pink, Eloise at The Plaza

Pretty in Pink. Everything Eloise at NYC’s Plaza Hotel

Check out my All Things Eloise at The Plaza story on TravelMamas.com to find out my favorite Eloise inspired activities.

Do you have a favorite Plaza Hotel memory? Tell me below in the comments.

signature

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Museum Day Live! – …

By

Mark your calendars! This September 26, 2015, Smithsonian Magazine is offering free museum day visits to more than 1,500 museums across the country with Museum Day Live!

Museum Day Live! - Smithsonian Magazine Offers Free Museum Day Across the US

Museum Day Live! – Smithsonian Magazine Offers Free Museum Day Across the US

Families can check out hundreds of children’s museums, art institutes, science centers and other cultural institutions for free when they register for Museum Day Live! online. One ticket admits two guests so plan accordingly if you have a big family. Note, many museums admit young children for free.

Check out the list of the participating museums in your area. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for a family-friendly museum day across the country. Whether you’re planning a road trip or staycation that weekend, there are plenty of options.

Families can visit The Hershey Story Museum for free with Museum Day Live!

Families can visit The Hershey Story Museum for free with Museum Day Live!

New York City, NY – The Skyscraper Museum

Macon, GA – Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

Springfield, MA – Springfield Museums (Four museums and the Dr. Seuss sculpture garden)

Boston, MA – Museum of Fine Arts

Hershey, PA – The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue

Portland, ME – Portland Museum of Art

Chicago, IL – Swedish American Museum

Miami, FL –  Zoo Miami

Boca Raton, FL – Children’s Science Explorium at Sugar Sand Park

Charleston, SC – The South Carolina Historical Society

Baltimore, MD – The Baltimore Museum of Art

New Orleans, LA – Louisiana Children’s Museum

Where will you be that weekend and which museum would you like to visit?

signature

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Bratz Dolls Encourage Girls to …

By

One of the best times of my life was spent studying abroad in Rome during my junior year of college. I have such great memories of visiting the famed sights, eating tons of gelato (pizza too!) and living among the locals.  When I heard that Bratz was reintroducing a new doll collection featuring a group of five study abroad characters, I couldn’t wait to check them out with my daughter.

Bratz Dolls Encourage Girls to Travel the Globe with New Study Abroad Collection

Bratz Dolls Encourage Girls to Travel the Globe with New Study Abroad Collection

When I took Raya, the study abroad Mexico doll, out of her box, my five-year old daughter was immediately drawn to all her fun accessories. Raya comes with two trendy outfits that can be mixed and matched, jewelry, hair accessories, a tote bag, cactus and piñata key ring along with a roller board suitcase with stickers for kids to decorate.

Bratz Dolls Encourage Girls to Travel the Globe with New Study Abroad Collection

Bratz Dolls Encourage Girls to Travel the Globe with New Study Abroad Collection

Bratz Dolls Encourage Girls to Travel the Globe with New Study Abroad Collection

Bratz Dolls Encourage Girls to Travel the Globe with New Study Abroad Collection

Dolls have come a long way since I was a kid and I loved all the attention to details on the outfits as well as the great hair that doesn’t immediately get knotty. I also loved that these dolls will expose young girls to different cultures through play. I also hope these dolls will encourage young women to study overseas as study abroad is on the decline.

The Bratz Study Abroad collection features Raya and the following dolls (pictured above) who all come with two outfits, jewelry and suitcases:

Cloe is just back from China with a teapot and teacup, a ying yang purse, a fortune cookie key ring.

Jade came back from studying in Russia with nesting dolls and a fabergé egg key ring.

Sasha returned from Britain with Union Jack purse, teacup and scones and a bunny bodyguard key ring.

Yasmin is back from Brazil with colorful sunglasses and a pineapple key ring.

In addition to the new Study Abroad dolls, Bratz revamped their entire line with a new look and feel that embodies the interests, passions and personalities of the modern day girl. The core collections are available now at Target, Toys”R”Us and Walmart stores nationwide.

I think these would make a great back-to-school gift for any globetrotting girl.

signature

If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Back-to-School Must Haves for …

By

Depending on where you live, kids go back-to-school sometime between now and early September. I love stocking up on back-to-school supplies and I especially love when my daughter can use these items on our travels.

Here are my favorite Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away…

Back to school, kids, labels, Mabel's Labels, travel, must haves

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – Mabel’s Labels

Personalized Labels – If you didn’t already order these for summer camp, now is the time to stock up. I pretty much label everything my daughter takes to school (and on trips) like food and drink containers, school supplies, shoes, coats, hats, etc. Mabel’s Labels are the only ones that survive my super hot dishwasher so they’re my top pick. The Stylish Scholars Combo in the quatrefoil pattern was my opportunity to update some of our old kiddie styles with a more sophisticated look for first grade.

Back to school, snacks, must haves, Earth's Best, Gogo Squeez, Travel, kids

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – Portable Snacks

Easy to Serve Snacks – For lunch boxes and road trips, easy to serve snacks are a must have. Depending on the ages and taste preferences of your kids, I recommend squeezy fruit pouches like GoGo Squeez, individually wrapped multi-grain snacks from Ella’s Kitchen and dried fruit like Crispy Fruit from Crispy Green for exotic palates and Earth’s Best freeze dried fruit snacks for toddlers. I also keep snack bars, fruit leathers and nuts on hand at home and away.

Colored Pencils, eeBoo, Travel, Kids, Coloring, Activities, Back to School

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – Colored Pencils

Non-Messy School Supplies – I love stocking up on school supplies knowing that the non-messy items will be great to also use on car or plane trips. This year my daughter is really into writing and coloring and I found the most gorgeous colored pencil sets from eeBoo featuring metallic, watercolor and fluorescent pencils. These are so nicely packaged (and affordable) you’ll want to get a set for everyone you know. Just add the Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book for older kids (and adults!) and you’ve got a great gift idea.

Back to school, Activity books, kids, travel, lonely planet, adventures

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – Activity Books

Educational Activity Books – As an after school surprise, I like to leave an activity book out with scissors, markers and glue. When we travel, I like to just bring along activity books that include stickers like the new Lonely Planet Kids series that includes Adventures in Famous Places, Adventures in Noisy Places, Adventures in Smelly Places and other fun titles. These are a great way to teach elementary age school kids about history and geography while holding their interest with funny facts.

back to school, backpacks, must haves, kids, travel, school supplies

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – backpack

Sturdy and Stylish Backpack – Backpacks are a must for school and traveling. Last year my daughter got a Backpack Jr. from Garnet Hill Kids and this year she has a more fashion forward Kayla backpack from Matilda Jane Clothing.  I’ve previously written about the coolest backpacks for back to school if you need more inspiration. Be sure kids can open and close buckles and zippers on their own before school starts.

back to school, tablets, leap pad, fire hd6 kids edition, kids, travel, accessories

Back-to-School Must Haves for Home and Away – tablets

Kid Friendly Tablets – Older kids bring their tablets to school but kids of all ages use them when traveling. My daughter loves the LeapPad3 when we travel by car and I love that she can use it without needing help so I can focus on driving. For plane rides and long trips, I’ll bring out our latest addition, the Amazon Fire HD 6 kids edition which comes in its own kid-proof case and is great for watching movies and shows, taking photos and videos and playing apps.

What are your favorite back-to-school must haves?

signature

I received some of these items for review but all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Recent Posts

Meta

Recent Comments