Archives for August 2016

Bye Bye Summer Travels… …

August 30, 2016 By admin

As summer slowly comes to an end here in New York, we’re getting ready for back-to-school (next week, yay!) and I’m really looking forward to getting my routine back.

We had a super fun summer with trips to Splish Splash, Sesame Place, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Long Island and most recently Punta Cana to visit our pal SpongeBob.

Bye, bye summer travels…

We had camp adventures, vacations and staycations, sightseeing trips, museum outings, playground time, amusement park visits and playdates with friends and family.

We lounged poolside, raised butterflies, saw some fun shows and movies, played mini-golf, swam like a mermaid, read some books, rode carousels, attempted to ride a bike, journaled about our travels, made artisan ice cream and went back-to-school shopping. Last but certainly not least, G experienced her first ice cream truck (the moving kind) at Camp Grandma.

While I embark on one more week of Camp Mommy, I thought I’d leave you with a Travel Mamas story I wrote about five over-the-top hotel suites around the world. If you’re looking to celebrate or splurge, there is something on this list for everyone (big and small). Click the link for details.

5 Incredible Hotel Suites for Kids that Feel Like Stepping into a Movie

And if you’re guessing that The Pineapple made this list, you’re right. Just check out these fun Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana digs:

The Pineapple at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana

Master bedroom at The Pineapple at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana

The Pineapple at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana

Private infinity pool at The Pineapple at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana

The Pineapple at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana

Do you have any fun trips planned for fall? Tell me below in the comments.

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5 Great Shows for Kids in NYC …

August 24, 2016 By admin

New York City is known for its vast theater performances and kids are encouraged to take in live shows before they even start talking. Now that my six-year old daughter has moved beyond Sesame Street, Disney On Ice and Pinkalicious shows, we’ve been having the best time exploring performances all over town.

5 Great Shows for Kids in NYC

If you’re looking for some family friendly theater recommendations, here’s the lowdown on 5 Great Shows for Kids in NYC.

5 Great Shows for Kids in NYC – Cirque du Soleil – PARAMOUR (Photo credit: Richard Termine)

1) Cirque du Soleil Paramour – Paramour, a Cirque du Soleil musical, blends the theatrics, sets and songs of Broadway with Cirque du Soleil’s signature moves in a new family friendly show. The love triangle plot might go above little heads but kids will have no trouble following along with the acrobatic performances and dance numbers. My mom and I enjoyed the show’s old world glamour, glitzy costumes, elaborate sets and story line but what really wowed us all were the various acrobatic acts that tied the whole performance together. This is an especially fun show for a multi-generational family outing and a great way to introduce young children to the world of Cirque du Soleil and Broadway at the same time. The two-hour and fifteen minute show has one intermission and booster seats are available. The Lyric Theatre is a gorgeous space with a candy store and staff members who deliver snacks and beverages right to your seats! Be sure to take photos with a cast member before the show and stay afterwards for a quick post show performance in the lobby.

Five Great Shows for Kids in NYC.

2) Blue Man Group – This long-running show is perfect for kids (tots to teens) and adults too. My daughter describes this one as “kind of a circus, kind of a magic show and kind of a music show” which pretty much sums up this creative performance. The Blue Man characters, who remain silent and in-character throughout the show, do an amazing job entertaining as they toss cereal into each others mouths, interact with audience members, play drums while painting and perform other funny acts. My daughter was giggling throughout the entire show and so were the other kids in the audience. The 90-minute show (no intermission) ends with gigantic streamers of toilet paper flooding the seats from above so you may want to prepare small kids for that part. In addition, some scenes are loud so you may want to bring along headsets for sensitive ears. Make sure to stay and take pictures with the performers after the show but don’t expect them to chat. You can also catch Blue Man shows in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Orlando or on their World Tour.

5 Great Shows for Kids in NYC – Aladdin

3) Aladdin – A classic Broadway musical is always sure to please and one of my favorite kid-friendly picks is Disney’s Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre. The show features a great mix of dancing, singing, colorful costumes, spectacular sets, funny characters (especially the Genie) and witty repartee for the grown-ups. I love that there are no scary parts and that the story line is easy for little kids to understand. When Jasmine and Aladdin go flying across the stage on the magic carpet, kids of all ages will be wowed. This show is two-hours and 30 minutes with one intermission so plan bathroom breaks accordingly. Tickets are pricey but all seats are good (even in the balcony) just be sure to grab booster seats for small kids. If you’re looking for a theater outing with your favorite mom friends (and their kids), this is a great option.

Five Great NYC Shows for Kids - Stomp. Globetrotting Mommy

Five Great Shows for Kids in NYC – Stomp

4) STOMP – I first saw this show years ago when the East Village was super grungy and I was swinging single. I saw it again this summer with my husband and daughter and I’m pleased to report that it has stood the test of time. Still located in the historic Orpheum Theatre, the one-hour and 45 minute performance (no intermission) is a great option for kids who love music. The six-person cast perform the entire show just using rhythm and movements as they turn various objects and body parts into musical instruments. There is no complicated story line to follow and there is plenty of humor so young kids (ages 4+) will definitely enjoy. My husband doesn’t typically enjoy kid shows or Broadway musicals (I know, I know) but he really liked Stomp. Some parts of the show are very loud so earphones are a good option. You can also see Stomp on tour.

Five great shows for kids in NYC – The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall

5) The Radio City Rockettes – If you’re looking for a classic NYC show, nothing beats seeing the Rockettes perform live at Radio City Musical Hall. With the classic winter Christmas Spectacular and The New York Spectacular summer show, this is a great show to see with the whole family (especially grandparents). The synchronized dance moves, lively music and technological surprises never fail to impress me and this is one of the few shows I can see year after year. The winter show features classic scenes like dancing wooden soldiers, sugar plum fairies and multiple Santa Clauses while the summer show takes the audience on a tour of famed NYC landmarks. Shows are 90 minutes without intermission and booster seats are available.

Do you have plans to see any NYC shows? Tell me below in the comments.

I received tickets to some shows for review purposes. As always, all opinions are mine. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Who Lives in a Pineapple Under …

August 9, 2016 By admin

I’ve got some really exciting news to share! SpongeBob SquarePants has invited my daughter and I to visit him and see his new villa at the newly opened five-star Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. We can’t wait to see him and check out The Pineapple villa.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana Unveils Luxe Pineapple Villa

We can’t wait to visit Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana and see SpongeBob’s new villa.

This is really big news for family travelers as its Nickelodeon’s first-ever international property, built by Karisma Hotels & Resorts. The signature dwelling at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana is The Pineapple, the only such villa in the world. This 2-bedroom/3-bath playful presidential suite is a one-of-a-kind experience that allows guests to step inside SpongeBob’s world – the décor is Bikini Bottom-inspired – think pineapple exterior, porthole shaped window and swinging chairs. With 2,292 square feet of incredible indoor and outdoor living areas, including a garden, patio, signature infinity pool, and private butlers to take care of each and every need (think moonlight beach dinner!), guests will be pampered at every turn.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana Unveils The Pineapple. (Photo credit: Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana)

I’m really looking forward to the luxe accommodations and Karisma’s Gourmet Inclusive® Experience at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana while my daughter can’t wait for the Nickelodeon character and family activities. We’ll be there next week so be sure to follow along with our adventures on Instagram and Snapchat.

Rates at The Pineapple start at $3,800 per night for up to four adults and two children or two adults and six children, including the Gourmet Inclusive® Experience of all gourmet meals served a la carte, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service and full service concierge. Standard rates at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana begin at $345 per adult, per night including the Gourmet Inclusive® Experience. Additionally, up to two kids under 13 years old Stay, Eat and Play Free with a minimum 4-nights’ stay when staying in a room with two adults; the third child pays a child rate.

Reservations can be booked by calling 1 (844) SEE-NICK or by visiting www.nickresortpuntacana.com.

Ready to visit? Check out my Tips for Visiting Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana – Everything you need to know!

Note: I will be hosted during my upcoming stay at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana. All opinions are mine, as always. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

My Favorite Back-to-School …

August 2, 2016 By admin

Tis the season for back-to-school shopping so I’m here to share some of my favorite picks. These items are perfect for back-to-school supplies but can also be used on while vacationing (win, win) so be sure to stock up.

My Favorite Back-to-School Supplies for Globetrotting Kids

DIY Patch Designs – Kids love to personalize their items and when I saw these colorful stick-on-patches from Easy Peasy Patches, I knew my daughter would love them. Kids can use them on clothes, hats, backpacks, school supplies, water bottles, lockers and really anything they want to customize since they are dishwasher and washing machine safe. They come in various shapes and designs and you can even go old school and use them to cover ripped knees.

Keep Valuables Safe at School – As kids start to bring more valuable items to school like phones and tablets, its always a good idea to keep them safe while unattended. Master Lock has some easy-to-use and affordable options for kids of all ages. Younger kids will love these colorful combination locks for backpacks while older kids can use a portable laptop safe on travels or in their dorms. These items are also handy when traveling or visiting water parks.

My Favorite Back-to-School Supplies for Globetrotting Kids – Back-to-School Snack Ideas

Tasty Snacks – For weekday lunch boxes or a road trip snack stash, tasty snacks are a must-have. I hate sticky fingers so I try to serve snacks that are as mess-free as possible like pretzels, snack bars, nuts, fruit (dried or whole), etc. Individually wrapped snacks and pouches are especially great for travel and classroom snacks – try brands like Ella’s Kitchen, GoGo Squeez and Earth’s Best (their new frozen fruit cups thaw in lunch boxes!) for young kids. Some of my go-to ideas for healthy options include Good Health Snacks (think veggie straws, pretzels and chips), fruit-kebabs (made with straws not skewers), yogurt and most anything from Trader Joe’s snack aisle (especially seaweed, tortilla chips, crackers, nuts and dried fruit). For more substantial snacks (think after school or traveling), protein bars like Cliff, Luna or Luckybars (especially created for picky eaters) and New Zealand Jerky are all easy-to-pack options.

Personalized labels are great for back-to-school and traveling. Globetrotting Mommy

Personalized labels are great for back-to-school supplies and traveling.

Must Have Labels – Between classes, pick-ups, after-school activities, field trips and vacations, kids have a lot of opportunities to lose their belongings. If you don’t have any more camp labels left, now is the time to stock up for fall. I love Mabel’s Labels because they are indestructible, stylish and super easy to use. This year they’ve got some new designs like zombies and emojis plus a customizable keepsake school memory book.

Bento style lunch boxes are great for school and travel.

Bento Style Lunch Boxes – Kids are very particular about their meals and if you’ve got a picky eater, a Bento Box lunch with separated compartments is sure to please. I love the adorable Bentology Bento Lunch Kit that come with an insulated bag, large outer container, five bento box containers and a fork and spoon set. The slim exterior bag has pockets and a secret side bottle holder. Since my daughter complained last year because her water was inside her lunch box (making it hard to get out for snack time…) this will be a sure winner. A nice option for traveling or larger lunches is the Lunchbox Buddy from Nalgene featuring a soft Neoprene sleeve that folds around the hard case lunch box. An ice pack can be used to create separate sized compartments for food items and drinks making it very versatile. Best of all, the box top doubles as a plate so kids have a clean place to eat. I like that both of these options feature plastic outer containers which are easy to clean and quick to dry for every day use.

Leak Proof Water Bottles – School kids need water all the time (think school, activities, field trips, etc.) and one big requirement for me is a leak-proof bottle because there is nothing worse than cleaning out a soggy backpack or purse. Some of my favorites include Contigo’s Addison, Nalgene’s On The Fly, and the rectangular Drink in the Box.

Yoobi’s colorful back-to-school supplies are perfect for home, school and travels.

Fun School Supplies – My daughter’s school sends around a list of back-to-school supplies every student needs to bring in on the first day for the class to share throughout the year. When they don’t specify a brand, I love sending in colorful supplies like Yoobi. With every purchase, Yoobi donates school supplies to a local U.S. classroom in need, which is really a win. The playful designs and awesome accessories are so fun and I especially love Yoobi x i am OTHER journals (presented by Pharrell Williams) which are the perfect size for school or vacation.

WallPops Maps are a favporite for Back-to-School shopping.

Removable Wall Decor – Since kids love maps, I recently added this dry erase Wallpops! Kids USA Map to my daughter’s room. She loves to point out the fun places she’s visited like Charleston, Disney World, Boston, etc. and its a great way for her to learn the states (and Capitals). I also love these dry erase calendar message boards and this cute notepad calendar which are great for students of all ages, especially teens heading off to college.

Have you done your back-to-school shopping yet? I’m starting mine this week…

I received some of these items as samples from Blogger Bash, Momtrends and KidzVuz events. This post contains a few affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!