Don't travel without Archives - Page 5 of 8

Traveling Toys: LeapPad3 …

March 3, 2015 By admin

We’re big LeapFrog fans so when we were asked to review the LeapPad3, I knew my daughter would be up for the challenge.

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Traveling Toys: LeapPad3 Review

I occasionally let her use electronic gadgets at home but when we travel I let her use them as much as she wants on the plane or in the car. We had a 6+ hour road trip planned so I charged it up and surprised her with it as soon as she uttered, “Are we there yet?”.

She was immediately drawn to its child friendly size and cuteness (pretty in pink) and loved the attached stylus (brilliant!). With very little prompting, she was figuring out the various games, apps, videos and camera while learning how to control the stylus and touchscreen. She happily followed each game’s voice instructions and I happily had some uninterrupted time! Win win.

Traveling Toys: LeapPad3 Review

As with other LeapFrog products, the games are fun AND educational. While she was playing she was also learning math, reading and other problem solving skills. My daughter is in Kindergarden and it seemed like she was able to play with every game at various levels. Best of all, the games automatically adjusted to her skill level so there was never any frustration. It comes with 10 preloaded apps and hundreds more are available to download from the LeapFrog library featuring characters from Disney, Nick. Jr., Sesame Street and more. FYI, the games and apps can add up but if you have other LeapPad products your purchases can be shared by up to three devices.

She especially liked a Barbie game where you matched rhyming words, a puzzle game that involved a bit of geometry, the camera app and seeing her favorite shows like Paw Patrol. There was plenty to do without using Wi-Fi but older kids might enjoy playing with their friends online and chatting with other kids who have LeapPads.

I was really impressed with the LeapPad3’s rechargeable battery life (don’t forget to pack the charger) and overall sturdiness. My daughter loved playing with it and I loved that I didn’t have to worry about her venturing off into YouTube videos or deleting my files. The recommended age is 3-9 but I think 4-6 year olds will enjoy it the most. If you’ve got a long trip with little kids coming up, the LeapPad3 makes a great travel companion.

Thanks to LeapFrog for providing us with the LeapPad3. As usual, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

2015 Product of the Year …

February 24, 2015 By admin

Today I’ve got a great giveaway filled with 30 items that were recently voted 2015 Product of the Year Winners! In case you’re not familiar with Product of the Year, it is the world’s largest consumer-voted award for product innovation.

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2015 Product of the Year Giveaway: Great Items for home and away

The 2015 Product of the Year award winners are backed by the votes of more than 40,000 consumers. Basically, these are tried and true products that real people love and actually use in their homes. Winning products represent categories such as baby, kids, pet care, beauty/skincare, household/laundry, food and home décor.

My family and I got to review these items and here are some of our favorites that can be used before, during and after any vacation or staycation…

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2015 Product of the Year Giveaway: Great Items for home and away

My daughter claimed the Snackeez right away! This great invention is part cup and part snack holder making it ideal for home and away. Now that her car seat features a cup holder, this will be a must-have for future road trips.

Need some snacks for your next trip, the Werther’s Original caramel popcorn and the new Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups were delicious. They pretty much disappeared in one day…

If you’re planning a pampering staycation, I highly recommend the Dial Greek Yogurt body wash and the Hada Labo Tokyo Ultimate Anti-Aging Mask, a 10-minute facial that left my skin feeling revitalized after a long, harsh winter. Guys can get in on the pampering too with Dial For Men Power Scrub, Gold Bond No Mess Powder Spray and Gold Bond Ultimate Rough & Bumpy Skin Daily Therapy Cream.

Parents who are planning a trip in the middle of potty training will have a stress-free trip putting their kids to bed wearing GoodNites Tru-Fit Underwear.

Ladies who want to get bikini ready will love the Yes! by Finishing Touch™ personal groomer.

The worst part about coming home from vacation is all the dirty laundry so I was super happy that Tide Ultra Stain Release laundry detergent was among the winning products.

Check out the complete list of the 2015 Product of the Year Winners here.

Ready to win? Product of the Year Awards is partnering with Globetrotting Mommy and one lucky reader will win a gift bag full of this year’s award winning products!

To enter please leave a blog post comment below – Which award winning product is your favorite?

For additional entries please leave separate comments for each:

Like Globetrotting Mommy on Facebook
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Post on Facebook or Tweet about this giveaway.

This giveaway ends at midnight EST on Friday, March 6th. Check out Product of the Year’s Facebook page to find out more ways to win.

CONGRATULATIONS to Leah Meray!

I received review items but all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Hair Fairy: A Must Have Travel …

December 31, 2014 By admin

There are few parenting tasks more challenging than brushing my daughter’s hair each morning. Her long curly locks are beautiful but maintaining them requires a full arsenal of equipment including the newly discovered Hair Fairy satin pillowcase from Tangle Free Dreams.

Here’s a look at the morning bed head madness I’m talking about pre Hair Fairy…

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Hair Fairy: A Must Have Travel Accessory for Curly Haired Girls

Enter the Hair Fairy, a silky satin pillowcase featuring Harriet, a little doll who fits snugly into the pillow’s corner pocket. It may seem a bit fancy for kids but this standard size pillowcase is machine washable so have no fear.

Hair Fairy: A Must Have Travel Accessory for Curly Haired Girls

When I first heard about the Hair Fairy, I wondered if it would be too good to be true but we took it for a test drive and it really worked. You simply brush the hair before sleeping on the satin pillow. Easy enough!

Hair Fairy: A Must Have Travel Accessory for Curly Haired Girls

In the morning, my daughter woke up with a mostly tame head of hair. We spent a minute brushing out the few tangles that were left and we were ready to go.

Hair Fairy: A Must Have Travel Accessory for Curly Haired Girls

Wondering how it works? The tight weave and high sheen of a Hair Fairy satin pillowcase eliminates the friction that causes hair to become tangled and damaged while sleeping. If you’ve got a curly haired kid, I would recommend using the Hair Fairy pillow at home and away.

I received a Hair Fairy pillow 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!

Cute and Comfy Pajamas for …

October 3, 2014 By admin

I always pack my favorite pajamas when I travel so when I pack my daughter’s suitcase, I always make sure to bring her favorite comfy pajamas along too.

While my daughter still has a soft spot for princess nightgowns, she likes her pajamas a little more “grown up looking” now that she’s almost five (going on 15…). I sometimes miss seeing her in footsie pjs but I am really enjoying watching her try on new “big-girl” styles like these adorable yet modern Girl’s Side Patch Pajamas from Little Twig and Sparrow (deal alert: Little Twig and Sparrow discount code below).

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Cute and Comfy Pajamas for Little Jetsetters

Made from Peruvian cotton, Little Twig and Sparrow’s pajamas are super soft yet made to last. The patch designs are fun for boys and girls and a refreshing change from the all the kiddie prints. They’re perfect for home or away and each pair comes in its own cotton travel bag so you won’t accidentally forget to pack the top or bottoms. How fun are these boy and girl designs? On some styles, the patches are made out of velour. Too cute!

Ready to snap some up, click https://littletwigandsparrow.com/coupon/twig10 and you’ll automatically save $10 on every pair and receive free shipping!

Cute and Comfy Pajamas for Little Jetsetters

Whether your kids are lounging around the Jacuzzi in a tropical paradise or vegging on the sofa, these pajamas are sure to please. And by the way, while I wish I had a balcony Jacuzzi here in NYC, these pictures were taken on our recent Dominican Republic vacation. More on that to come…

Have a great weekend!

I was not compensated for this post but did receive a pair of pajamas for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

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Personalized Kids Picks for …

August 28, 2014 By admin

Does anyone else have a kid starting Kindergarden next week (OMG!)? I want to make sure that my daughter has an easy time keeping track of all her things in elementary school so I’ve rounded up some of my favorite personalized kids picks for back-to school.

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Personalized Kids Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Step one…label anything and everything with personalized Mabel’s Labels! These are essential for back-to-school and traveling. When we accidentally left my daughter’s jacket on a tram in Stuart, Florida, I was able to track it down because it was labeled. True story. We’ve been using these sturdy and stylish Mabel’s Labels for the past three years and they really are indestructible. For Pre-K we had girly pink and purple cupcakes from the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo but for K we’re excited to test drive the new Stylish Scholars Combo pack in confetti dreamin’ polka dots. The Skinny-Minis are perfect for lunch containers, water bottles and gadgets, the Tag Mates work nicely on clothes and the waterproof Round Labels are great for shoes and towels. The set also includes two Teeny Tags that can attach to zippers. Thanks Mabel’s Labels for keeping our goods safe!

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Personalized Kids Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Step two…get a personalized backpack and lunchbox. Since there will be a lot more students and fewer teachers in my daughter’s class this year, I thought a personalized backpack and lunchbox would make things a little easier for everyone. Since she’s just turning five, many of the regular sized backpacks were just too big and many of the small backpacks were too small. After some trials and tribulations, we agreed that a 15″ backpack would be just right and I was very happy when I found the rugged yet cute backpacks from Garnet Hill Kids. Their Backpack Jr. is the perfect size with two large compartments, a built in organizer, padded straps, loops for a lunch box and more. Best of all, it came with a free matching lunch pack (through September 9). Win win! I had both monogrammed and got a matching pencil case too since the lunch pack was free.

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Personalized Kids Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Step three…add in some personalized school supplies like notebooks and pencils. Frecklebox has some fun personalized notebooks with glossy laminated covers. These work great for travel journals too. Paperwink has the most adorable collection of personalized pencils I’ve ever seen. Traditionalists can choose their child’s name on their favorite color pencil (in 11 color options) but I love the cute “It’s a great day to be (your name here),” “Hooray for (your name here),” and “See (your name here ) write” options. Or create your own personalization up to 32 characters and spaces. They make personalized teacher pencils too which are great for holiday gifts. Save 20% off Paperwink through the end of August with the discount code “SCHOOLED.”

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Globetrotting Mommy: Personalized Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

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Globetrotting Mommy: Personalized Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Step four…add in a personalized smock for art class. At my daughter’s pre-K, smocks were provided but for her Kindergarden class its BYO. At home she’s fine in an apron or old T-shirt because I control the paint pouring but for school I wanted a waterproof smock with long sleeves that would also be long enough to protect her dresses. I didn’t realize what a tall order that was but once again, Etsy saved the day. I ordered this adorable Extra Long Kids Art Smock with long sleeves in primary chevron from Ladybuglayne with monograming. There are so many cute styles and patterns for babies and children (up to age 9) and best of all, the cotton laminate will be a breeze to clean.

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Personalized Kids Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Personalized items make great presents for kids of all ages. What are your favorite personalized items for back-to-school?

I was not compensated for this post but I did receive Mabel’s Labels for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

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Top 10 Must-Haves for a Beach …

August 19, 2014 By admin

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.

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…

Note: Some affiliate links are included in this story. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Back-To-School Giveaway …

August 7, 2014 By admin

I’m super excited to join some of my favorite bloggers for a Back-to-School Giveaway! If you’ve got kids you’re definitely going to want to enter.

It’s time to get ready to head back to school and a group of us got together to share some of our favorite products that make that first day a little easier for both parents and students.

Read on and enter below to win everything on the list…

Now to introduce you to the awesome bloggers hosting this giveaway! Stop by and visit them to say thanks! Destiny of Suburban Wife, City Life, Courtney & Julie of The Chirping Moms, Lyla of Globetrotting Mommy, Kris of My Strange Family, Elizabeth of MommieDe, Esti of Primetime Parenting, Lynda of Main Street Mama and Jessica of Peekababy.

Here’s a breakdown and brief description of the amazing giveaway items…

$50 Stride Rite Gift Card

“A century of quality crafted footwear, designed specifically for kids.” Nothing says Back to School like a new pair of shoes and Stride Rite knows what little feet need.

$100 RUUM Gift Card

American’s Kids Ware ranging from birth to size 14Y this company will have you wishing picture day was everyday. The clothes are casual and stylish with quality at it’s finest.

Mabel’s Labels – choice of Stylish Scholars Combo or Ultimate Back to School Combo

A waterproof, dishwasher safe and microwave safe set of labels to put on anything you don’t want to risk losing. Their slogan is “Labels for the stuff kids lose.” To read a full review please visit Suburban Wife, City Life.

Vamousse – bottle of Lice Prevention and Lice Treatment

No one likes to talk about these unwanted visitors, but it’s best to be prepared and Vamousse helps to take care of both. These products are non-toxic and pesticide free. Killing the lice in as little at 15 minutes. A great secret weapon to have on hand.

BubbleBum – an inflatable car booster seat

This booster seat is the perfect item to have on hand when your child is going to someone else’s house after school or you’re picking up another child for a play-date after school. It meets all US safety testing standards and is appropriate for ages 4-11. To read a full review please visit Globetrotting Mommy.

Spbang – three reusable snack bags

This mom invented, made in the USA, lead free, phthalate free, bpa free and food safe bags are going to make packing lunches so easy. To read a full review please visit MommieDE.

Little MissMatched – backpack of your choice

A new backpack is much more than a place to hold your school supplies, but an expression of your child. These super fun bubble backpacks are not only stylish, but also so roomy!

Peppercorn Kids – $25 Gift Card

Whether you wear a uniform or everyday clothes allowing your child to accessorize shows their personality and fashion sense. Adorable hats, ties and bow ties for the little man of the house or a fun hair accessory or necklace for the little lady.

Skip-Hop – choice of zoo backpack and insulated lunch bag

Skip-Hop has been creating these adorable animal backpacks for years, and they have some new animals they’ve added to the family. Watching as your little one walks into the classroom is a little easier when they are wearing something so cute and functional. The insulated lunch bag is easy to wipe clean and perfect for on the go.

Sneakz Organic – case (12) of Chocolate Milkshake

If you have a picky eater, who loves to drink chocolate milk then you are set! Sneakz Organic combines 4 veggies into a delicious chocolate milkshake making you feel like a sneaky parent!

HABA USA – choice of Wildlife Mini Backpack

Perfect backpack for both school and exploring. A roomy inside with adjustable straps and chest strap there’s no worry for your little one sliding this off before getting to class.

Wall Pops – Learn to Write Chalkboard

You always say don’t write on the wall, but with this we encourage your child to! Wall Pops are easily repositionable and removable.

Raffi – Love Bug CD

Raffi has long been a passionate advocate for children and a sustainable world for today’s youth. ‘Love Bug’ resounds with Child Honouring principles and affirms Raffi’s place as the legendary children’s artist we all know him to be.

We are so grateful to all of the sponsors who are helping to support this giveaway with over $450 worth of products. This giveaway will run till Friday, August 15th at 11:59pm.

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Best Booster Car Seat for …

August 5, 2014 By admin

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!

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 …

July 28, 2014 By admin

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.