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Cool for School – …

August 25, 2017 By admin

September is almost here and back-to-school mania is in full swing. If you’re shopping for the elementary school set, check out my Cool for Back-to-School must haves for September and beyond.

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves for September and Beyond

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MUST HAVES – STUDENT NECESSITIES:

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves for September and beyond. A sturdy backpack is a must.

Backpacks:

One of the most essential back-to-school items is a backpack so be sure to help your kids choose one that will be a good fit. I specifically look for a roomy interior, adjustable shoulder straps (plus for chest-straps), dual zippers, exterior compartments and side pouches for water bottles. My daughter uses a backpack when we travel so styles that wear well are a plus.

For third grade, my daughter chose this fun World of Disney Emoji backpack because her favorite vacation destination is Disney World (surprise, surprise). Some other backpack picks I like this year include JanSport Superbreak Backpack in Prism Pink Sparkle, J. Crew’s Glow-in-The-Dark Snaggletooth Monster Backpack, and Pottery Barn’s Mackenzie Navy Solar System Backpack. Don’t forget to grab some fun backpack charms like Whiffer Sniffer’s awesome scented foodie clips.

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves for September and beyond. Lunchtime won’t be boring with these colorful lunch boxes.

Lunch boxes:

We’ve got a collection of lunch boxes and my favorites are the ones that don’t leak and clean up easily (think spilled yogurt). This year we’ll have these four on rotation. The coordinating World of Disney Emoji Lunch Tote, All Change London Tube Stations Bag we got in London, a rugged Bentology Kitty Lunch Tote which includes a bento box and a cute Bixbee Owl lunch box.

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves: Cool School Supplies

Supplies:

Depending on the ages of your kids, you’ll need to stock up on pens, pencils, markers, desk supplies and other fun items. My daughter’s teacher sends a wish list for class items but I love to have some fun supplies at home. This year, I choose some fun pencils from FlyingTiger, Crayola Silly Scents washable markers, indestructible Mabel’s Labels Back to School Combos with emoji designs, and a Bright Pink Poppin Stapler.

Cool for School – Back-to-School Must Haves: Fashion Picks

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MUST HAVES – FASHION AND ACCESSORIES:

Shopping for Back-to-School fashions is either fun or torturous depending on your child’s preferences. I choose to do a lot of my daughter’s shopping online so I can easily return items she doesn’t like.

This year’s styles are full of bright colors, shiny sequins and lots of emojis sure to please every girl in class. For sneakers, my daughter chose these bright emoji Stride Rite Phibians which are light weight and double as a water shoe making them great for travel. Customized denim is all the rage and my daughter had a great time decorating a vest with colorful sequin patches. So cute, right? My daughter hates when other kids have the same things so one-of-a-kind upcycled dresses from Courtney Courtney and hand crafted tanks, t’s and hoodies from Playdate NYC are great options for kids like her. And, don’t forget to stock up on accessories like kitty-cat headbands and giant “Jo Jo” hair bows.

Extra credit items for back-to-school season.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL MUST HAVES – FOR EXTRA CREDIT:

A good night’s sleep is a must for students (and parents) so snag new pillows like the Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Kool-Flow® bamboo shredded memory foam pillow that can be customized for the perfect fit. I can’t talk about school without mentioning lice prevention so now is the time to stock up on these yummy scented Rosemary Repel products from Fairy Tales Hair Care. If you are having trouble getting young kids to listen (or do homework, or get to school on time, etc.) get rid of the sticker reward chart and try the new Kudo Banz which rewards kids with bracelet charms they can proudly wear. And last but not least, another awesome item to buy now is Hero Clean Odor Eliminator because even tiny shoes get stinky.

What’s your favorite back-to-school item? Tell me below in the comments.

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

Potty Training Around the …

January 22, 2016 By admin

Potty training was definitely one of my most challenging parenting tasks to date. If you’ve got potty training on your to-do list, this weekend’s impeding winter storm Jonas could be a good time to stay home, roll up the carpets and see how things go. Be sure to stock up on reward stickers, training underwear and cleaning supplies…

Potty Training Around the World and Travel Must Haves

If you want some global potty training inspiration, check out this Potty Training Around the World story.

And, if you’re traveling with a newly potty trained kid, be sure to check out these Five Must Haves for Traveling While Potty Training. It can be very challenging to be on the go with little ones so try not to over schedule trips and be mindful of travel times and traffic delays.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the snow…

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Family Travel 101: Top 10 Tips …

April 16, 2014 By admin

If you haven’t heard, multi-generational travel is the hottest trend in family travel. At the New York Times Travel Show seminar “Trending in Family Travel: Multi-generational Travel Trends” hosted by Kyle McCarthy of Family Travel Forum, I got the latest scoop on this hot topic.

I’ve taken many multi-generational trips with my daughter and I definitely think its a win-win all around. Here we are last year on a Disney cruise.

Family Travel, Multigenerational Travel, Top 10 Travel Tips, Globetrotting Mommy, Family Vacations, Family Travel Tips

Globetrotting Mommy Family Travel 101: Top 10 Tips for Multigenerational Travel

If you’re planning a getaway with your parents or in-laws, siblings or grandparents, here are Top 10 Tips for Successful Multi-Generational Travel.

1) Try to plan as far in advance as possible to make the trip as smooth and affordable as possible. Book early to secure the best flights and hotel prices and be sure to use online comparison booking sites. If you’re traveling oversees, be sure to look into kid fares available on many foreign carriers. Try to travel during shoulder season and look for promotions where kids can stay and eat for free. Don’t forget to ask for AAA or senior discounts.

2) Discuss the trip budget in advance and agree on who will pay for what to avoid any uncomfortable moments. Be super clear about each family’s financial responsibility and either break it down by category (one family covers air, another covers hotel, etc.) or agree to split things evenly.

3) Discuss parenting and discipline issues with in-laws before traveling. If you don’t want your kids eating certain foods or participating in certain activities, be sure to let everyone know ahead of time. Be clear on babysitting responsibilities and try to give each set of parents a kid-free day or night (or more).

4) Consider renting a home so travelers can have space, privacy and the chance to eat on their own schedule. This is especially nice for families with little kids where the children can eat early and go to bed and the adults can enjoy a leisurely meal without worrying about babysitters.

5) Plan a trip that is important to your family’s history like exploring your ancestry or celebrating a family member’s milestone birthday. This could mean a trip to a grandparent’s home town, a parent’s alma mater, etc. This is a great way to bond a family and create a lifetime of memories, especially if it entails exploring a new culture.

6) Organize a trip that highlights your family’s passions or interests. Maybe you want to attend a sporting event like the Olympics or Super Bowl or visit a destination where the whole family can learn how to fly fish, ski, cook, etc.

7) Consider visiting National Park Service parks where travelers will find an array of family friendly activities and affordable rates.

8) Make sure to build in some down time. Little ones and grandparents will need time to nap and recharge their batteries while teens will want some alone time. Everyone will appreciate a little time to relax on the beach or explore new towns at their own pace but be sure to have some “hang out” time where family members can play board games, decorate cookies and partake in other bonding activities.

9) All-inclusive resorts and cruises are great options for large families with active big eaters. They are also great for families where not all siblings have children since there will be an array of adult activities.

10) Treats and bribes work well for kids of all ages. This could mean ice cream and park visits for small kids or shopping trips and special dining options for older ones.

If you”re interested in learning more about Kyle’s presentation, click here for the full slideshow.

Bon voyage…