Archives for December 2016

Vacation Tips For Staying Safe …

December 23, 2016 By admin

Accidents are no fun but they’re even worse when they happen on a weekend or during a vacation. In my little family alone, we’ve made urgent care visits aboard cruise ships, on tropical vacations, at Disney World and here at home in New York City for ear infections, stomach bugs and broken bones so I speak from experience when I say urgent care centers have become a true necessity for parents.

VACATION TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

I recently met with Neal Shipley, Regional Medical Director, Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care to talk about holiday safety tips and how to know when to head over to an urgent care center and today I’m sharing some of these tips. With 30+ urgent care locations in the metropolitan NYC area, Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care facilities are a great resource for families visiting family or friends in the NYC area this holiday season.

Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care centers allow patients to check-in online or just walk in 365 days a year.

VACATION TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

BEFORE LEAVING FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELS

– Check the weather at your travel destination and pack accordingly

– Schedule activities in advance if possible to avoid unnecessary stress

– Locate specialty gear like snowsuits for sledding and helmets for ice skating

– Look up the nearest pediatric ER and Urgent Care facilities

HOLIDAY TRAVEL PACKING TIPS

No matter how you’ll be traveling this holiday season be sure to bring along the following items:

– Ziploc bags for motion sickness

– Prescription medicines and epipens

– Thermometer and childrens ibuprofen

– Basic first aid kit and ice packs

– Pediatrician contact information

– Safety ID bracelets listing allergies

– Special blankets or stuffed animals

– Entertainment for kids and adults (books, games, etc.)

– Snacks and drinks

– Car seats if you’re renting a car

– Travel documents

– Cell phone chargers

HOLIDAY TRAVEL ROAD TRIPS

If you are driving this vacation season be sure to follow these guidelines – never drink and drive, wear seat belts at all times and be aware of your surroundings, including changes in weather or traffic patterns. Children under age 12 should always sit in the back seat in and and size appropriate safety restraints.

– For long car trips make sure you pack these emergency items:

– First-aid supplies

– Blankets, gloves hats

– Flashlight with spare batteries

– Flares, road-side reflective device

– A shovel and ice-scrapper

– Sand, salt or cat litter for traction

– Tire changing equipment

HOLIDAY TRAVEL BY PLANE

If you’re flying this holiday season be sure to book seats well in advance so you can sit together. Airports are especially crowded around the holidays so leave plenty of time to get to the airport and go through security. Be sure to wear easy to remove shoes (unless you have PRECheck) and be sure to put all medicine and jewelry in your carry-on-baggage. If you’re traveling with young kids, bring a change of clothes and some lightweight blankets.

SAFETY AT YOUR DESTINATION

If you’re traveling with young kids, be sure to ask the hotel staff to baby-proof your room before you arrive. If you’ll be staying with family or at an air bb, make sure tree is in a safe place (away from fireplace, etc), cover all electrical outlets, and make sure all cleaning supplies and medicines are out of reach. Seek immediate medical attention for burns or ingestion of poisons.

DECORATING DO’S

Decorations are gorgeous but be sure to keep kids away from sharp decorations, ornaments and candles when traveling. If you plan to decorate your hotel room or Airbnb, make sure you use a proper ladder or step stool and only use “fire resistant” materials. Lastly, keep kids (and pets) away from holiday plants like Mistletoe and Holly which can cause harm when ingested. Seek immediate medical attention for sprains or fractures, head injuries and uncontrollable bleeding.

HOLIDAY TOY HAZARDS

Toys play a big role in the holiday season but they resulted in 185,000 emergency room visits last year so be sure to match your gift to children’s ages and abilities. Avoid anything with small parts for babies and toddlers and be sure to give helmets if you’re buying a child a bike or scooter. Seek immediate medical attention for bad bike or scooter accidents and accidental toy ingestion.

Just one trip on a cobblestone path can lead to a broken elbow, one of the most common childhood injuries.

STAYING SAFE ON VACATION

Visiting the Metro NYC area means a lot of walking so be sure to bring comfortable shoes for kids and adults. A stroller is a must if you’re visiting with children under 5 and be sure to carry hand sanitizer as subways and doors are full of germs.

Everyone in New York City wears gloves, scarfs and hats in winter and you should too. Be careful walking around as it is easy to trip while you admire the sights and there are a lot of uneven sidewalks and cobblestoned areas. Hold onto handrails going up and down subway steps and always sit or hold on to the subway poles when riding the subway. In addition, NYC can streets get very slippery when it snows so be sure your shoes have some traction.

New York City has some amazing ice rinks so be sure to bring extra gloves, warm clothes and helmets if you’ll be skating.

Playing outside in the snow and sledding are a favorite winter activity in the metro NYC area but be sure to check children’s shoes, socks and gloves to be sure they are dry to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. Always carry extra socks and gloves and come inside if kids complain of any freezing-burning or tingling sensations.

If you or your child has a food allergy, always carry an epipen and make sure to verify multiple times that restaurant orders are safe to eat.

TIPS TO REDUCE HOLIDAY STRESS

Traveling during the holidays can cause a lot of stress for kids and adults. To manage, try not to over commit to too many activities, make sure everyone gets enough sleep, build in some time for exercise and relaxation and get help if you feel you need it.

It may seem like a lot of prep work but if emergency strikes, you’ll be happy to be prepared. Happy holidays!

Thank you to Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

2016 Holiday Gift Guide …

December 13, 2016 By admin

The holiday season is here so don’t wait until the last minute to get your mom (or wife) a great present. Of course, the best gifts are handmade so have your kiddo make a card or necklace to go along with one of these picks from my 2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts for Moms who Travel.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts for Moms who Travel

Got a new mom who loves to travel and cook on your holiday list? She may not be able to travel around the world right now but she can give her baby a taste of exotic worldwide flavors with Around the World in 80 Purees: Easy Recipes for Global Baby Food. It is so interesting to see what other countries choose as first foods for their babies and learn about spices from all over the world, I’m sure any new mom would love this. Pair this with a BEABA babycook and she’ll be whipping up culinary masterpieces in no time.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts for Moms who Travel

Every globetrotting mom on your list will love ARMigami, the wrap that does it all. The soft fabric drapes without clinging and can be worn in dozens of styles from skirts and halters to wraps and beach cover-ups as you simply style it by folding, twisting and buttoning! I received one at the Momtrends holiday event (in black of course) and I have worn it as a scarf, halter wrap and shrug top so far. The wraps are available in a selection of colors and fabrics and they all come inside a matching travel bag making them a great gift for any traveling mom.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts for Moms who Travel – ARMigami wrap

I usually throw my regular cosmetics in a ziploc when I travel so when Stowaway Cosmetics told me about their travel-sized makeup line, I was all ears. Their seven-piece essentials kit comes with a travel pouch making it a perfect gift for any on-the-go mom. The petite cosmetics are “right sized” which means you won’t get bored with shades or have to worry about expiration dates. I love how simple the items are to use (no need for extra brushes or sponges) and how easy the eyeshadow palate is to apply. I am usually running out the door in the mornings but when I gave myself a few minutes to sample these items, my mom friends all commented how great my make-up looked.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts for Moms who Travel – Stowaway Cosmetics

Every mom I know who loves to travel also loves to take photos. If you’re looking for some photography inspired gift ideas you can’t go wrong with this chic Gold Mine camera strap from Bloom Theory Straps? I love the Stardust with silver sequins too. For underwater photos, my GoPro is hard to beat and a new DSLR or iPhone is always a great gift.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts for Moms who Travel

I don’t like to travel with high-maintenance jewelry which includes anything that needs to be polished. The new line of Nambé jewelry is a great gift for moms who want wear nice jewelry with ease because the sterling silver pieces are Rhodium plated for a tarnish resistant finish. Whether you wear these pieces every day or once in a blue moon, not having to polish is a major plus for busy moms. My favorites are the modern pieces like multi-band rings and twist cuff bracelets that won’t snag clothing or scratch babies.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts for Moms who Travel

What are you hoping for this holiday season? Tell me below in the comments.

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

6 Great NYC Shows for the …

December 6, 2016 By admin

New York City is one of the most magical places to spend the holidays. While most visitors are busy checking out the bedazzled store windows and ice skating under the big tree, one of my favorite family friendly activities is taking in a great show. This year, I’m sharing some of my favorite holiday picks for everyone on your list. Show tickets make great holiday gift ideas, especially for those people who have it all. Book soon and enjoy because many of these are in town for a limited holiday run…

6 Great NYC Shows for the Holiday Season

These shows are all family friendly but I’ve categorized them by family members I think would especially enjoy each one.

6 Great NYC Shows for the Holiday Season – Waitress is the perfect feel good Broadway musical for the holiday season.

BFF DATE: Waitress the Musical

Grab your besties and go see this Broadway love story that highlights relationships, friendships and baking. The acting, singing, and choreography are all fabulous and the characters truly come alive on stage. You’ll fall in love with the storyline and show’s heroine as you watch the show’s twists and turns. Best of all, little mini pies are sold at intermission. What more do you need for a night out with the girls?

6 Great NYC Shows for the Holiday Season – That Golden Girls Show!

SISTER DATE: That Golden Girls Show

If you grew up in the 80’s, That Golden Girls Show will not disappoint. This is the perfect outing to take your sister (aunt, mom or grandma) or invite the whole family. I was wondering if it would be distracting to see a puppet show with the puppeteers on stage but turns out, their unique personalities just added to the adorableness of the show. You’ll laugh at the old jokes and antiquated references and will leave humming the “Thank You For Being a Friend” theme song. This off-broadway show is in the lively Union Square neighborhood so you can check out the famed gift market or farmer’s market before or after. Playing now through December 31, 2016.

6 Great NYC Shows for the Holiday Season – Fiddler on the Roof

MOM DATE: Fiddler on the Roof

My mom and I have a tradition of seeing a new Broadway classic every year and this year we saw the newest incarnation of Fiddler on the Roof. The themes in Fiddler on the Roof are timeless, the dancing is AMAZING and the songs will keep you humming for weeks. The show is closing on December 31, 2016 so if you haven’t seen it yet, the holiday season is the perfect chance.

6 Great NYC Shows for the Holiday Season – The Illusionists – Turn of The Century.

HUSBAND DATE: The Illusionists – Turn of the Century

If your husband doesn’t like Broadway musicals (I know, I know), The Illusionists is the perfect Broadway theater date night for the holidays. My husband and I were absolutely amazed by the optical illusions and magical performances that took place in The Palace Theater, the same theater where Harry Houdini once performed. From beds of nails, knife throwing, and card tricks to comedy acts and classic performances (yes they cut a woman in half!), every act was better than the next. Be sure to have some unique things in your purse in case you get called on stage by The Clairvoyants. This is a great family show for ages 6 and up. Now through January 1, 2017.

6 Great NYC Shows for the Holiday Season – Peter and The Wolf at The Guggenheim Museum.

COUSINS DATE: Peter and the Wolf at the Guggenheim Museum

I’ve gone to sooooo many kids shows since becoming a mom and some are enjoyable for parents too and some aren’t. Lucky for me, Seeing Peter and The Wolf narrated by Isaac Mizrachi at The Guggenheim Museum was great fun for all. Mizrachi steals the show with his humorous storytelling and each character has their own instrumental pairing so the music really helps kids follow along. This show is a perfect choice to see with cousins and then you can explore the museum afterward. There are three remaining shows on December 9, 10 and 11, 2016.

6 Great NYC Shows for the Holiday Season – Pip’s Island

KIDDIE PLAY DATE: Pip’s Island

I took my daughter and her pal on an after school adventure to Pip’s Island and they gave it a 9 and a 10! I still can’t explain this interactive show but think Willy Wonka meets a magical tree house with snow, bubbles, fog and mystical characters minus the candy. Parents go along too so be warned there is a crazy fast slide and no photos allowed. It’s perfect for kids 5-10 and near Chelsea piers, the High Line and art galleries making it a great weekend adventure. Check it out now through January 8, 2017.

Have you seen any of these shows? Tell me below in the comments.

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

Archives for December 2016

Vacation Tips For Staying Safe …