Great Gifts Archives - Page 6 of 11

Globetrotting Mommy’s …

December 5, 2014 By admin

Holiday shopping is in full swing. If you’re not done yet, check out my holiday gift guide for all the kids and parents on your list! Stay tuned for upcoming gift guides for the rest of the family and my picks for the best holiday toys.

Globetrotting Mommy’s 2104 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids and Parents

FOR THE KIDDOS:

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Globetrotting Mommy’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

For babes who have it all, the personalized books from I See Me are a great idea. For babies, I especially love the durable board books and the personalized My Very Own Name book which comes with a stuffed lamb.

If you’re planning any road trips with little kids, the Curious George Complete Adventures Deluxe Book and CD Gift Set will keep them mesmerized for hours.

I love coin collecting and I just stocked up on the State Series Quarters Collector Map and National Park Quarter Archive Map for my daughter. These work for kids of all ages and I love that the insides feature large maps of the US making it a great way to teach geography too.

Big kids who love to text will love RUUM’s texting gloves in solids and stripes. These stylish and warm gloves are labeled for kids 8-14 but they fit me fine so you might want a pair for yourself too since they’re just $4.75…

FOR PARENTS:

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Globetrotting Mommy’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide

For globetrotting moms dreaming of a winter getaway, the next best thing is a gift from Fake Bake. Book her an airbrush tanning appointment at a local salon or give her some self tanning lotions. The perfect way to beat those winter blues.

For new moms, these Tobago Scarves are oversized infinity scarfs (perfect for nursing) inspired by the colors and sights from the Caribbean island of Tobago. They’re super lightweight, easy to wash and pretty so can use them for years to come.

For dads, Lands’ End offers a great selection of cozy flannel pajamas in an array colorful plaids. Since not all guys like PJ tops, I love that the pants and shirts are sold separately.

For the dad who wants to plan his next road trip, The New York Times 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the USA & Canada is a great pick.

Have a great weekend!

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

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NYC Inspired Holiday Gift …

November 29, 2014 By admin

Who wouldn’t love a little piece of the Big Apple under their Christmas tree or Chanukah bush this year? Here are my favorite NYC Inspired Holiday Gift Ideas…

This is New York by Miroslav Sasek. I had this on my bookshelf when I was a kid and its still one of my favorites today. This classic storybook shows many details of city life with cartoon characters and colorful illustrations. It works in a children’s bedroom or on a coffee table.

I don’t know one single kid who isn’t obsessed with the NYC Subway system. My Subway Ride by Paul DuBois Jacobs is colorful portrayal of the sounds and sights of the NYC subways. Girls and boys will be equally amused by this one.

Eloise is a classic NYC character. For girls who love, love, love Eloise, this Ultimate Edition treasury is sure to please. This is a great choice for young travelers since it features Eloise in Moscow and Eloise in Paris as well as Eloise at Christmastime and the original Eloise story and scrapbook.

Maya Brenner’s Big Apple Charm is a great pick for girls of all ages.

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New York City Inspired Gift Ideas

How fun is this New York State baking dish by Corbe? I would definitely be serving an apple crisp in this one.

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New York City Inspired Holiday Gift Ideas

Umbrellas are a necessity at home and away. I’m just loving this Cityscape Clear Umbrella from Felix Rey to add a little sunshine to a rainy day.

Globetrotting Mommy – Holiday gifts for women

For the guy who has everything, these vintage NYC subway token cufflinks are sure to please.

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New York City Inspired Holiday Gift Ideas

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Staycation Ideas 102: Get …

November 14, 2014 By admin

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.

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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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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Fun Food Friday: State Series …

September 5, 2014 By admin

Are you looking for a fun way to sneak in a little geography learning with your kids? Check out these handmade wooden State Series cutting boards from Etsy’s AHeirloom shop.

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Fun Food Friday: State Series Cutting Boards for Globetrotting Foodies

I think they’d be a great gift for any budding culinary star or globetrotting family. You can have icons engraved to commemorate cities where you got married, had children, went to school, etc. making it a fun family heirloom. Available in large or mini sizes, these cutting boards would also be a great gift for that person who has everything. Just pair it with a local cookbook or ingredients and you’ve got a fun foodie gift.

Bon appetit!

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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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Little Elliot, Big City …

August 26, 2014 By admin

My daughter loves books and I’m always looking for new tales that amuse her and don’t bore me. Since we live in New York City, she especially loves books that feature Manhattan as the backdrop. Little Elliot, Big City, the newest kids book set in The Big Apple, debuts today and we were excited to get a sneak peek!

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Great Books for Globetrotting Tots: Little Elliot, Big City Review

This cute tale is short and sweet with pretty illustrations and an easy to follow story line. Basically, little Elliot the elephant is having a challenging time in the city until he befriends a mouse. Working together, Elliot and the mouse make a great team and become good friends. Its just the right kind of story for the preschool/elementary set who are learning about teamwork and sharing.

We read it on a trip to grandma’s house and my daughter loved pointing out how Elliot was riding the subway like we do and how he was passing the Flatiron building near our apartment. She also liked the other New York landmarks and the old school cars.

Little Elliot, Big City is the first in a three book series by Mike Curato. This is a great addition to my favorite New York City themed books for kids and I think it would make a great gift for any globetrotting babe.

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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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Staycation Ideas 101: Juggle …

July 8, 2014 By admin

Traveling with kids can be tough but sometimes you can have just as much fun at home (without packing or jet lag) when you take a staycation! If your kids are home this summer, plan some day trips and explore your hometown like a tourist or just head out to your backyard or nearest playground and bring out some new summer toys!

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Globetrotting Mommy Staycation Ideas: Juggle Bubbles

Kids of all ages love bubbles but when I heard about Juggle Bubbles…bubbles you can touch and hold in your hands…I was intrigued. The box arrived and when I showed my four-year old, she immediately squealed with joy and told me how much she had wanted these. I thought I was surprising her with something new but apparently she had already seen the commercial…

Juggle Bubbles were a huge hit! The kit includes a bubble blower, a bubble tray, bubble solution and a pair of magic gloves. It takes a bit to master the blowing technique and figure out the ideal medium-ish size but once we did, voila…

Globetrotting Mommy Staycation Ideas: Juggle Bubbles

When you’re wearing the special stretchy gloves, you can gently touch, bounce and hold the bubbles. The box says ages 5+ but younger kids could definitely play along if a grown up handled the blowing. You’ll want to use these on a not too windy day for best results. I think they’d be just as fun on the beach or at a picnic as they were in the park. And here’s a tip, if you have a hard to photograph child, these are a great distraction and you’ll be sure to get a lot of smiling action shots.

I think Juggle Bubbles would be a great surprise to pack on your adventures near or far. I also think they’d make a great gift for kids of all ages.

I was not compensated for this post but I did receive Juggle Bubbles for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

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Global Inspired Gift Idea for …

July 3, 2014 By admin

Tired of giving the same old baby gifts all the time? If you’re looking for a fun, globally inspired gift idea for babies born in 2014, you’ll want to check out Jade Stars: The Great Race book and gifts.

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Global Inspired Gift Idea for Babies born in 2014: Jade Stars: The Great Race

We’ve all heard that this is the Year of the Horse according to the Chinese Zodiac, but do you know the story of how these zodiacs came to be? This colorful book features modern cartoon illustrations of the 12 Chinese Zodiacs making it a great learning tool to teach young children about the various animals as well as colors.

My daughter and I had the chance to review this book firsthand. As the story unfolds, we learn that the Jade Emperor has organized a Great Race and all his favorite animals must compete against each other to earn their place in the lunar calendar. Its a cute tale that teaches kids about personality traits, strengths and weaknesses as well as working as partners. My four-year old daughter picked up on the lessons about teamwork and I learned a story I never knew before.

Since books are a great baby gift, I think this would be a fun unisex baby shower or baby gift for any globetrotting baby born in 2014. The books are sold individually along with matching plush animals and other gifts. The Year of the Horse Plush Limited edition is the first to be released. Cute, right?