Globetrotting Mommy

All things family, fun or just plain fabulous!

Adorable Halloween Costumes …

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Tis the season for pumpkins and adorable Halloween costumes!

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Adorable Halloween Costumes for Little Globetrotters

I searched Pinterest high and low and here are my top five Halloween costumes for Globetrotting Kids…

1) This Baby Pilot DIY costume is just perfect for the under-one jet set.

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2) How cute is this DIY Mini Eiffel Tower?

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3) I just love these little DIY Pan Am Stewardess Costumes.

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4) Do your kids love the Disney movie Planes?  How about making this DIY Dusty Costume.  Perfect for boys or girls.

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5) No time to be crafty?  This Ride in an Airplane Costume is great for kids of all ages.

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What are your kids going to be this year?

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Circle Line Debuts Bear …

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Looking for a fun fall day trip from NYC that doesn’t involve driving, getting lost or keeping kids in a car seat for hours?  Circle Line is kicking off their new Bear Mountain fall cruises this weekend and here are my top 10 reasons you should check it out…

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Circle Line Debuts Bear Mountain Fall Cruises

1) You won’t be driving!  This is a big plus for NYC parents who dread thoughts of traffic, tunnels and are-we-there-yet tantrums.

2) You won’t have to ask for directions. The boat will drop you off at Bear Mountain and pick you back up in three hours.

3) You can relax during the trip instead of being stuck in a car or train. This is a biggie for parents with toddlers.

4) Bathrooms on board!  No trying to time pee-pee breaks and no emergency pit-stops required. Win, win!

5) You can point out all the various bridges, changing leaves and sites along the way.

6) Plenty of photo ops and great viewing areas.

7) No food necessary, you can order a picnic lunch for the whole family (extra charge applies) or grab something at the concessions stand on board.

8) You’ll have three hours to experience Bear Mountain State Park’s 50 different hiking trails, nature walks and fall festivals like Oktoberfest. This is just enough time for a family picnic and nearby exploring.

9) The return home departs at 2:30 pm so afternoon nappers can sleep away in their strollers on the way back.

10) You’ll be home in NYC at 5:30 pm.  No traffic guaranteed and everyone can relax on the way back and be home in time for bedtime.

HERE’S THE SCOOP:  The full day trip departs at NYC’s Pier 83 at 9 am Saturdays and Sundays now through October (and Columbus day) and returns at 5:30 pm.  Tickets are $60 for adults, $51 for seniors and $36 for children.

If a full-day is too big of a commitment, check out Circle Line’s iconic NYC cruises.  See a full review of my Circle Line Kids Cruise here.

Bon voyage!

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Fun Food Friday: State Series …

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Are you looking for a fun way to sneak in a little geography learning with your kids? Check out these handmade wooden State Series cutting boards from Etsy’s AHeirloom shop.

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Fun Food Friday: State Series Cutting Boards for Globetrotting Foodies

I think they’d be a great gift for any budding culinary star or globetrotting family.  You can have icons engraved to commemorate cities where you got married, had children, went to school, etc. making it a fun family heirloom. Available in large or mini sizes, these cutting boards would also be a great gift for that person who has everything. Just pair it with a local cookbook or ingredients and you’ve got a fun foodie gift.

Bon appetit!

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Spotlight on NYC: Victorian …

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One of my favorite spots to disappear in the summer is Central Park. The big boulders, lakes and miles of grass quickly make me forget I’m dead smack in the middle of an urban jungle. After I became a mom, I quickly found out that Central Park is also home to Victorian Gardens, a mini-amusement park (with stellar views!) that is just perfect for the mini-set.

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Spotlight on NYC: Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park

Victorian Gardens is located at Wollman Rink which is an ice skating rink in the winter. Leave it to the Donald to turn any bit of real estate into a money making enterprise. There is a nice selection of children’s rides (bumper boats, swings, airplanes, roller coaster, train, etc.) and none are too scary so even the littlest kids will be entertained.

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Spotlight on NYC: Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park

This was my daughter’s third summer visiting and she was especially excited to be tall enough (42 inches) for every single ride! The rides are just perfect for the 2-5 age range but younger kids will be fine riding with parents. Its a very manageable spot with little kids since the rides are all contained in a small area (think ice rink) and the lines are never too long. Pack a lunch and grab a picnic bench or buy food at the concessions stand when you get hungry.

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Spotlight on NYC: Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park

It’s a little pricey for what it is (pay-as-you-go starting at $7 or unlimited wristband options starting at $21) but since you don’t have to drive hours to get there, I think its worth paying up. Kids under 36 inches are free so bring along the little siblings. After a couple of hours, you’ll be ready to go home but don’t say I didn’t warn you if your kids want to stay and climb the nearby boulders for another hour…

If you’ll be near Central Park, check it out before they close on September 7.

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Top 10 Must-Haves for a Beach …

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We’re heading off on a tropical vacation later this month and I can’t wait. There’s a spa for me, shaded cabanas for my husband, a kids zone for my daughter and a white sand beach for all of us. If you haven’t had your fill of fun in the sun this summer, today I’m sharing my top 10 must haves for a beach getaway with kids…

1) Sunscreen is a must for grown-ups and kids and The Honest Co. makes a great family friendly version. If you’ve got a girly girl in your group, Glitter Tots’ Sparkle Screen is my daughter’s favorite. When she asks for more “skin glitter,” I’m always happy to oblige.

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Top 10 Must-Haves for a Beach Getaway with Kids

2) On those days when its chilly coming out of the ocean or pool, I recommend hooded towels for kids. Some of my favorites are from The Company Store, Pottery Barn Kids and Carters.

3) A cute bathing suit is a must have. For moms, Miraclesuit makes some a stylish options that don’t scream “mom.”  For fathers and sons who want to be matchy matchy, I am loving the Tom & Teddy line.

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Top 10 Must-Haves for a Beach Getaway with Kids

4) Hats and sunglasses for the whole family are a must. Flap Happy offers a great hat selection for babies and toddlers and I highly recommend their swim hat and floppy hats with the chin tie. Target also has a great selection of sun hats for the whole family.

5) Beach toys can be as simple as a plastic container or as complex as a fancy kite. You can’t go wrong with Melissa & Doug products and the Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Speck Seahorse Sand Ice Cream Set and Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Seaside Sidekicks Sand Baking Set are always popular with my daughter and her friends.

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Top 10 Must-Haves for a Beach Getaway with Kids

6) For those who haven’t fully mastered the art of swimming, bring along some accessories. For toddlers, I recommend taking along a Stearns Kids Puddle Jumper Life Jacket Vest (one of the few coast guard approved devices) while a backpack type floatation device like the Water Gear Back Float 4-Color Split Back Float is better for new swimmers who want to do more than just doggie paddle. Kickboards are also fun..

7) You’ll need some cute beach bags to carry all your stuff. For kids, I adore the Trunki PaddlePak waterproof backpacks that come in a variety of colors and sizes. They are the perfect size and kids will love the secret compartments and extras like a special tag to hang sunglasses. I also love this Stephen Joseph Mermaid Beach Tote above because the back is made of mesh so the sand stays at the beach. It comes with beach toys and is also available in a cute Shark version.

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Top 10 Must-Haves for a Beach Getaway with Kids

8) Picnics at the beach are great family fun but you want to be careful your food stays nice and cool. I took a PackIt Freezable Picnic Bag to the beach on a super hot day and it did not disappoint. You freeze it overnight and stays cool for up to 10 hours. The Picnic Bag is a great size for a small family but you could also use it for baby bottles/food, drinks and anything else you want to keep cool. They also make lunch bags, shopping bags, wine bags and more which are great for summer or if you live in a warm climate.

9) Cover ups are a must for the whole family. I love the cool cotton kurtas and dresses for kids and adults from Roberta Roller Rabbit. Rash guards are also great for keeping active kids protected when they’re swimming and building sand castles.

10) Nobody wants to bring sand home so don’t forget this trick… Put some baby powder in an old sock and the sand will magically disappear when you wipe the sock across your skin. You’re welcome.

I hope you enjoy your last few trips to the beach…

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Best Booster Car Seat for …

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After years of dealing with baby and toddler car seats, I’m thrilled to report that my daughter now meets the requirements to travel in a booster car seat. If you’re looking for the best booster car seat for traveling, look no further than the BubbleBum inflatable booster car seat for kids ages four-11.

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Best booster car seat for traveling: Globetrotting Mommy BubbleBum Review

I recently got to test drive the award-winning BubbleBum booster seat and my daughter and I were really happy with its performance. First off, its so small and light which makes it easy to throw in your bag for taxi rides and perfect for taking on vacations. You simply unroll, blow it up in seconds (don’t worry, there’s an easy valve), place it on the seat, buckle your child in with the car seat belt and then slip the car seat belt straps through the red restraints on both sides. If your child is young, there is one more restraint that keeps the shoulder strap in place (its that red shoulder level loop pictured below). Seriously fast and easy and very comfortable according to my little passenger. Can you imagine never again having to contort your body as you reach though disgusting taxi and car rental seats searching for the LATCH bars while ruining your manicure? You’re welcome!

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Best booster car seat for traveling: Globetrotting Mommy BubbleBum Review

We tried it in taxis, in friend’s cars and even when we went to test drive a car this past weekend. We’ll continue to use a permanent car seat in our car but I know the BubbleBum going to get a lot of mileage on vacations, in rental cars and when my daughter’s friends come along on weekend outings.

It exceeds US and European requirements, comes in four color options (black, purple, neon pink and neon yellow) and retails for just $29.99. In addition to traveling and taxi rides, I think it would be very handy for carpooling, babysitter and grandparent’s cars and fitting three car seats in a row.

Last but not least, there’s a BubbleBum app that features fun kids games (perfect for road trips) and checklists for parents! Win, win.

Bon voyage…

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Globetrotting Mommy: Coolest …

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It’s time for back-to-school shopping and today I’m sharing my picks for the coolest backpacks.  I was at a Momtrends Back-to-School event last week and learned that the hot fall colors are…..cobalt, orange and berry. Read on if your tots are starting Kindergarden like mine, college kids backpacking through Europe or anywhere in between…

Blue has always been my favorite color so I’m loving these cobalt backpacks for boys.

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Globetrotting Mommy: Coolest Backpacks for Back to School

The Hanna Anderson Monster, L.L. Bean Shark, LeSportsac Stripes and Hannah Anderson Airplanes are all fun backpack designs for young boys.

There is no shortage of adorable backpacks for young girls this fall…

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Globetrotting Mommy: Coolest Backpacks for Back to School

The Lands End Purple Dot, LeSportsac LeFlower, Itzy Ritzy Owl and Pottery Barn Mackenzie designs are great choices.

Older girls can get in on the berry trend with these stylish picks…

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Globetrotting Mommy: Coolest Backpacks for Back to School

This JWorld Dexter berry and blue print backpack from Target is stylish and sophisticated. Fjallraven backpacks from Sweden are all the rage here in NYC and this pink on pink version will stand out from the crowd. Vera Bradley is showcasing some awesome prints this fall and I just love this berry leopard spots backpack. Lastly, this orchid JWorld Collis backpack from Target is casual and comfy.

Older boys will find fun patterns and styles to choose from like…

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Globetrotting Mommy: Coolest Backpacks for Back to School

Green and Navy stripes at Pottery Barn Kids, orange and navy Herschel Supply Co. color block at J. Crew, tech prints at Lands’ End and classic solids at Jansport.

Tween and teen girls will adore these stylish options…

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Globetrotting Mommy: Coolest Backpacks for Back to School

Camouflage is still going strong and I love the hot pink trim on this Gap backpack.  Vera Bradley’s Orange and Berry Ziggy Zags backpack is so fun and on trend especially with coordinating accessories like bracelets, wallets, phone covers and lunch boxes. Orange is the new black and this Jansport off-trail backpack at Madewell is bright and bold. And for the fashionista who loves metallics, check out this rose gold foil snake backpack from LeSportsac.

Did you buy your back-to-school backpacks yet?

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Fun Food Friday: Amazing Ice …

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Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month?  Who comes up with this stuff?  Move over Mister Softee because I’m about to share my top 5 picks for amazing ice cream in NYC’s East Village.

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Fun Food Friday: Amazing Ice Cream Cones in NYC’s East Village

These family friendly frozen treats will please adult and kiddie palates so plan to treat the whole family.

Sundaes and Cones (95 East 10th Street)

This ice cream parlor is around the corner from my apartment and I can still remember indulging in a lot of pregnancy ice cream cravings back in the summer of 2009.  They have some traditional flavors but you’ll want to try the more exotic options like taro, black sesame, Thai tea, wasabi, corn and more. Everything is homemade and delicious.

Davey’s Ice Cream (137 1st Avenue)

This new ice cream shop features handmade classics like Mexican Vanilla, Chocolate Chocolate, Strong Coffee, Cookies & Cream, Peppermint Chip and Roasted Pistachio but you will also want to check out their seasonal flavors like Ultra Babka featuring extra chocolatey cinnamon babka from Moishe’s Bake Shop and Brunch featuring chunks of maple cinnamon brioche french toast and slabs of coffee glazed bacon. OMG!

Big Gay Ice Cream Cone (125 East 7th Street)

This East Village outpost is known for their over the top signature cones like the Salty Pimp (vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche and sea salt topped dipped in chocolate), Bea Arthur (vanilla ice cream topped with dulce de leche and crushed vanilla waffers), Cococone (vanilla ice cream topped with toasted curried coconut) and American Globs (vanilla ice cream, pretzels and sea salt dipped in chocolate).  Yum!  

Momofuku Milk Bar (251 East 13th Street)

Do you remember how the milk at the bottom of your cereal bowl tasted when you were a kid?  Well, imagine that flavor as soft-serve ice cream and you’ve got Cereal Milk Soft Serve.  It’s definitely on the sweet side and not for everyone but kids seem to like it.

Dessert Club, Chikalicious (203 East 10th Street)

Imagine a yummy soft-serve vanilla ice cream served in an eclair!  Yes, its the Eclair Soft Serve Cone and it is also available as in a sandwich version topped with hot fudge.  May as well skip brunch and just have this.

If you’re based in NYC or if you’re heading to the Big Apple this summer, you’ll want to check these out.  Let me know which are your favorites.

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Amusement Parks 101: Top 10 …

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Summertime means visits to amusement parks and today I’m sharing my Top 10 Tips for Visiting Hersheypark, Pennsylvania from my recent road trip…

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Top 10 Tips for Visiting HersheyPark, Pennsylvania – Globetrotting Mommy

1) Start your day early!  You’ll want to be in line when the gates open so you can enjoy the most popular rides before the crowds arrive.  If you can get your kids past the first rides they see and head towards the back of the park first, that’s an even better plan. And if you really want to avoid the crowds, try to schedule your visit mid-week.

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Globetrotting Mommy Amusement Parks 101: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

2) Sneak a Peek!  Guests who purchase a regular full-day admission ticket can enter the park for a sneak preview the night before (either 5:30 pm or 7:30 pm depending on closing times). This is a great time to tackle the more popular rides and make a game plan for the next day.

3) Download the Hersheypark app and you’ll be able to see ride wait times as well as find restaurants, shows, restrooms and more. Try not to leave it running all day or you might run your battery down.

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Globetrotting Mommy Amusement Parks 101: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

4) Prepare to get wet. Bring your bathing suit, water shoes, and towel if you want to visit the Boardwalk water park area featuring 15 rides as well as wave pools and lazy river.  Don’t forget swim diapers and puddle jumpers for the little ones.

5) Take the shuttle if you can.  Most nearby hotels offer free shuttle service to and from Hersheypark and that is definitely the easiest way to go.  The drivers will put your strollers in the luggage compartment so its really easy.

6) Speaking of strollers, take one if you’re bringing kids who are five or younger.  Even if your kids don’t get tired, you’ll be happy to have a place to keep your bags and towels. If you’re bringing older kids, rent a locker or splurge for a cabana so you can have a home base for your stuff because wet towels are HEAVY.

7) Divide and conquer.  If you’ve got a mixed age group, you’ll want to pick a meeting time and place so everyone can enjoy different rides.  Hersheypark is unique because the kiddie and adult rides are mixed together in each area making it easy for families to do one area at a time which is nice. And if you and your partner want to ride an adult ride (imagine that!) or if a parent needs to ride with more than one child, Hersheypark has a “child swap” option where adults or kids can take turns riding.

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Globetrotting Mommy Amusement Parks 101: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

8) Bring your camera! You’ll want to get some pictures of the Hershey characters so make sure to visit them throughout the park or book a Character Breakfast for a more personal encounter.  If you’ve got a waterproof camera, bring that along too.

9) Make a detour to the Zoo America. Admission is included in your Hersheypark ticket so if you or your kids need a little down time (or a quiet place to nap), the zoo is a great retreat.

10) Test out some of the new for 2014 kid-friendly rides like Cocoa Cruiser (a kid-friendly roller coaster), Tea Cups (a classic spinning ride) and Sweet Swing (a gigantic swing that my daughter and I really loved).

Ready to plan your visit to Hershey, PA?  Check out Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth – Part 1 and Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2 for more suggestions of things to do and see.

What are your favorite tips for visiting Hersheypark?

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Thanks to Hersheypark for providing our tickets.  All opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Spotlight on Wyndham Vacation …

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Wyndham Vacation Rentals.

Did you know that July is National Vacation Rental Month?  If you are a vacation rental virgin, read on for my top five reasons why Wyndham Vacation Rentals are a great choice for family getaways.

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Globetrotting Mommy: Spotlight on Wyndham Vacation Rentals

1) Space, space, space.  When families stay in typical hotel rooms, there is rarely extra room to spread out.  When you book a vacation rental property, you’ll have room for the whole clan to relax without being on top of one another. This is especially important for multigenerational getaways.

2) All the amenities of home.  Wyndham Vacation Rentals come with everything you need to make your vacation enjoyable including fully-equipped kitchens and in-unit washers and dryers so you and your family will feel right at home.

3) All the amenities of a hotel.  When you stay in a Wyndham Vacation Rental you can also receive hotel-like amenities like a concierge, housekeepers and shuttle services at many of its properties. Win win!

4) Your vacation is protected by the Vacation Rental Bill of Rights, an industry-first service pledge that says your stay will be covered from start to finish! This guarantees things like no surprise cancellations, a freshly cleaned unit and online photos that accurately represent the property. If you’ve ever had a vacation disaster, you know what a big deal this is.

5) Big savings! Vacation rentals are a more affordable option compared to traditional hotel rooms and this summer you can save up to 35% off a Wyndham Vacation Rental when you book a stay now through July 31, 2014.

Are you ready to book your vacation getaway? Visit Wyndham Vacation Rentals special page for National Vacation Rental Month and start by selecting from more than 9,000 homes in the U.S. Villas, private homes and resort condos, oh my…I’m ready to go somewhere beachy, like Kiawah Island, South Carolina…

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Globetrotting Mommy: Spotlight on Wyndham Vacation Rentals

What about you?

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Wyndham Vacation Rentals. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

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