Globetrotting Mommy

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Awesome Gift Guide For Tweens …

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If you’ve got a tween on your holiday gift list, you probably need some help.  These not-little but not-big kids can be tricky but lucky for you, I’m sharing a Gift Guide for Tweens. 

Awesome Gift Guide for Tweens
Awesome Gift Guide for Tweens

Awesome Gift Guide For Tweens

Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 – Tweens love instant film cameras and the newest Fuji Instax prints out larger square photos that are perfect for sharing with friends at sleepovers or capturing travel memories. The chic design and unisex pearly color options are great for guys and girls.

Fuzzy Slippers – Being cozy at home and away is a win for tweens so you can’t go wrong with these cute bunny slippers for the girls or navy Ugg Slippers for the boys. Pair them with a unicorn onesie and you’re all set.

Shockatato Party Game – Remember playing Hot Potato as a kid? This modern version has three shocking settings with and without music. Great for parties or family vacations.

Scratch Off World Map Poster – Globetrotting tweens can track their travels and plot their future vacations with this scratch-off world map.

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel – This bestseller will be a hit with older tweens who have seen the Broadway show or who are hoping to see it.

Not Parent Approved – One of the most wished for card games on Amazon, this family friendly game was inspired by Cards Against Humanity. Perfect for travel or at home, this fun card game makes a great stocking stuffer for girls and boys.

Erin Condren Travel Petite Planner – For globetrotting tweens who love to organize and record details of their vacations, this travel journal will be a hit. There is plenty of room for packing lists, daily adventures and more plus colorful stickers.

Watermelon Ball – Tweens will love playing with this water-filled ball at home or on vacation. It looks and feels like a watermelon, doesn’t sink or float and can be used underwater and in a variety of pool games.

Reading Pillow With Arms – My daughter just got one of these husband pillows and she’s obsessed. Its a perfect cozy setting for books, iPads and movie watching.

Wreck This Journal – Tweens will love following the quirky destructive instructions in this fun-filled journal. Perfect for kids who like to draw outside the lines and think outside the box.

Hope you enjoyed this gift guide for tweens. Check out my 2020 Tween and Teen Gift Guide and Holiday Gift Guide for Kids Who Love Traveling for more ideas.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for …

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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. 

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

Globetrotting Kids Alert: …

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Today I’m sharing some big Skylanders news sure to please young and old globetrotters…Skylanders SuperChargers is coming this fall and kids (and adults) will soon be able to explore and navigate the mountainous terrains, deep sea environments and big blue skies of Skylands with the vehicles-to-life feature.

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Globetrotting Kids Alert: Skylanders is Taking to Land, Sea and Air! (Photo Credit: Skylanders)

The new game features 20 vehicle designs and types (think race cars, motorcycles, boats, tanks, helicopters, jets, submarines and more) many of which feature moving parts. These new vehicles pair with twenty new SuperChargers – special Sklylanders who can interact with vehicle tricks, new moves and weapons. Of course, any Skylanders characters can drive the new vehicles allowing for endless imaginative play.

I got a sneak peek thanks to Momtrends and the graphics, new characters and vehicles looked great.  Check them out…

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Globetrotting Kids Alert: Skylanders is Taking to Land, Sea and Air! (Photo Credit: Skylanders)

Skylanders, SuperChargers, Starter Pack, Games, Kids, Vehicles, Toys, Travel

Globetrotting Kids Alert: Skylanders is Taking to Land, Sea and Air!  (Photo Credit: Skylanders)

After a delicious lunch, we moved on to a crafting project that fit with the new Skylanders SuperChargers’ vehicles – travel theme…DIY personalized luggage tags!  They were super fun to make so if you’re interested, check out this DIY luggage tag tutorial.

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Globetrotting Kids Alert: Skylanders is Taking to Land, Sea and Air!

Skylanders SuperChargers will launch September 20th (holiday wish list!) and will be available on all major consoles and iPad making it a great option to bring along on vacation. In addition, many hotels offer gaming consoles in their kids clubs or available to borrow so if you’re planning a vacation with your Skylanders’ fans, be sure to ask before you go.

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Globetrotting Kids Alert: Skylanders is Taking to Land, Sea and Air! (Photo Credit: Momtrends)

Here I am saying goodbye with my friend Esti at Primetime Parenting. Thanks again to Momtrends and Skylanders for a fun time.

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This is a sponsored post.  As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 …

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Mother’s day is coming up (May 10 in the United States) so don’t wait till the last minute to get your mom (wife or grandma) a great Mother’s Day present.  Of course the best gifts are handmade so have your kiddo make a card or candy necklace to go along with one of these picks from my 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Globetrotting Mommy’s 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide:

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

1) I Just Want to Pee Alone – This hysterical book is my go-to gift for new moms. I may or may not have read most of it hiding in my bathroom…There have since been two more versions but the original is my fave.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

2) I’m a Cool Mom Sweatshirt – For the mom who wants to be cute and comfy, I think this Etsy sweatshirt is super fun.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

3) Cartography USA Tray – For the foodie moms, this ceramic tray featuring a USA map is a fun idea. Serve up some cheese and crackers and teach your kids a little geography at the same time.  Win, win!

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

4) Deckopedia’s 50 Road Trip Games: Inside this cute box are 50 cards featuring so many fun games, you won’t hear “I’m bored” ever again!  I’ve had these in my bag for the last month and they have saved me from meltdowns on road trips, at the doctor’s office, in restaurants and many other places kids tend to get bored. The games range from toddler to teen making it a great option for moms with kids of any age.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

5) Lush Cosmetics’ Flowers for Mom – Since relaxation time for mom is always a nice treat, this fun filled, yummy smelling assortment of bath treats from Lush Cosmetics is sure to please. I love that it comes in a cute floral scarf with a gift tag made of flower seeds to plant at home.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

6) Your Child’s Artwork and Handwriting Necklace – This Etsy store turns cute kiddie doodles and signatures into necklaces (or earrings, brooches, bracelets and key chains). If you’ve got an artsy kid, this is a great option that moms (or grandmas) would definitely love.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

7) Fashionable (and slimming!) swimwear from Miraclesuit and Magicsuit. Summer is coming and odds are your mom needs a new bathing suit and cover up. Splurge on some fabulous swimwear for her and she will be ready for St. Tropez or the kiddie pool. I got to test drive a Miraclesuit and coverup in Miami last week (thanks Momtrends!) and they were comfy, chic and oh so flattering.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

8) Kings Road Redux Mugs – If your mom is dreaming of a trip to London, she’ll love these adorable mugs. Pair them with this Tea from Around The World Set and three months of pastries and you’re good to go.

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Globetrotting Mommy: 2015 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

9) Mommy and Me Photo Shoot – Since its important that Mom Stays in the Picture, I think a Mommy and Me Photo Shoot would make an awesome Mother’s Day gift.  Hire a professional or hand dad the good camera and head to the park. Here’s a tip I just learned from my daughter’s kindergarten teacher that works wonders for a natural smile…have kids say “Macaroni and Cheese.”

Happy Mother’s Day!!!!!!

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2014 Holiday Gift Guide Part …

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Last week I featured my holiday gift guide for all the kids and parents on your list and today I’m back with some fun family friendly gift ideas! Stay tuned for my picks for the best holiday toys.

FOR THE REST OF THE FAMILY:

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Globetrotting Mommy’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

For jewelry loving aunts, these tres chic Jet Set Candy luggage tag necklaces are sure to please. Moms would love these too – hint, hint…

For the cousins, I think this colorful Novogratz-Designed “Family” Blanket from Old Navy is too cute. Pair it with some DVDs and movie snacks and you’ll be all set.

For grandparents who juggle a million appointments, what could be better than a personalized photo calendar?  I made this one from Shutterfly but there are so many great options out there. I love that you can add in family photos, birthdays and other special family dates.

For nieces and nephews – Kids love getting games for the holidays but imagine how many bonus points you’ll score for giving them a game with chocolate game pieces?  Yes, edible! Gamesformotion has taken some of the best family friendly games (Candy Land, Guess Who, Monopoly, Scrabble, and others) and added Belgium milk chocolate playing pieces! My daughter and I tried these first-hand and we both think these will be a win with the kids.

FAMILY FRIENDLY GIFTS:

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Globetrotting Mommy’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

For the whole family, I love the idea of a year-long subscription gift so the Jeni’s ice cream Pint Club is a great fit. The lucky recipient gets three pints of Jeni’s dreamy ice cream delivered four times a year. Sign me up!

For chocolate lovers – Small edible gifts are always a win around the holidays and Trader Joe’s has some really fun options. Their Chocolate Passport set and Dark Chocolate Covered Star Shortbread Cookies (and mini stars in mint) are my personal favorites.

Speaking of cookies, cookie decorating is always a fun family activity but if you’re too tired to bake, Walkers shortbread cookies come in festive shapes making them a tasty option. Grab some frosting in a tube and sprinkles and you’ve got a fun no-planning holiday playdate.

If you’re looking for a fun family gift that can be used year after year, I love the idea of sending flowers in a keepsake cookie jar. Teleflora’s Gingerbread Cookie Jar Bouquet is a festive arrangement in a hand-painted gingerbread-house cookie jar that also includes a recipe for Chocolate-Dipped Cookies.

Have a great weekend!

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Some samples received, however all opinions are my own.  Special thanks to Momtrends for hosting me at their holiday event.

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get …

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Keeping NYC kids entertained outside in the winter can be challenging but can so staying home which typically means a post-playdate messy apartment. When LeapFrog and MomSelect asked if I wanted to try out the new LeapTV and host my very own playdate, I was excited to say the least.

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get Moving with LeapTV from LeapFrog

My five-year old daughter had never played with any gaming devices other than the iPad but I had a feeling she would quickly become hooked on LeapTV.  Over the years we’ve amassed a variety of LeapFrog learning products and I’ve always been impressed with their ability to hold her interest. The LeapTV from LeapFrog is a great addition to our collection since it gets her moving and having fun while teaching reading, math, science and problem solving.  That’s a win-win in my book.

LeapTV, designed for kids ages 3-8, is way more advanced than anything I ever had as a child of the 80s. It uses a motion-sensing camera so kids can use their bodies to “touch” and watch themselves on TV (so cool!) and a controller that fits small hands perfectly and can be used in two positions. The audio instruction makes it simple for little kids while older children can read the prompts.  My five-year old and her pal had a super fun time testing out the Pet Play World (free when you register) as well as the LeapFrog Sports! and LeapFrog Dance & Learn games. Several other game are available as well.

These little girls like to boogie so they wanted to start with the dancing games.  They danced around and loved watching themselves on the tv screen.  While they danced and drummed, they learned new moves as well as rhymes and compound words. This game also teaches letters and sounds, sight words and word sounds.  For these kindergarten kids who are just learning to read, this was a huge hit.

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get Moving with LeapTV from LeapFrog

The LeapFrog Sports! cartridge features nine games (soccer/football, bowling, baseball, karate, skateboarding, snowboarding, swimming, rope climbing and weight lifting) that all teach math. The games involve shapes, number recognition and patterns for younger kids as well as addition, subtraction and fractions.  The soccer and skateboarding games were the favorites here.

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get Moving with LeapTV from LeapFrog

The controller takes a bit of practice for young kids to master and the response time seemed a bit slow compared to adult gaming devices but the girls didn’t seem to mind.  Overall, it was a big hit and the girls played nicely even as they competed against each other which is not always the case with board games…

The games adapt to each child’s level—starting with age, and then automatically adjusting the learning for just the right challenge so I think this will be a popular choice for years to come. If you’re looking for holiday gift ideas, this would definitely be a hit for families with small kids.

After an hour or so of hard core playing and learning, these girls were tired out and my apartment was still clean. It doesn’t get better than that…

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get Moving with LeapTV from LeapFrog

If you want to see LeapTV in action, check out this movie…

Have a great weekend.

 

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I was not compensated for this post but I received free products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored MommyParty. As always, all opinions are my own.

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