Just for Fun Archives - Page 6 of 17

Spotlight on Ireland: The …

March 17, 2016 By admin

In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, I’m talking about The Irish Fairy Door, one of Ireland’s most family friendly traditions that just recently launched here in America. Read on to learn more and find out how you can win your very own.

Spotlight on Ireland: The Irish Fairy Door and Giveaway

I am always intrigued by cultural traditions around the world so when The Irish Fairy Door Company invited me to their New York City launch party I quickly said, “Yes.” As we munched on Irish fare, I learned that Irish Fairy Doors are all the rage with kids in Ireland and England where they encourage kids to let their imaginations run wild as they leave notes and pictures for each other and decorate their surroundings.

Spotlight on Ireland: The Irish Fairy Door and Giveaway

Each Irish Fairy Door set contains a beautifully crafted wooden door (in varying colors and styles), a Fairy Welcome Guide, a Family/Fairy Lease Agreement, a fairy notepad, a tiny glass bottle with a key and a special code to register your fairy’s name online. The welcome guide explains how everything works. You basically decide on a spot for the door, choose your fairy name and sign the lease agreement. This humorous agreement gives kids a nice sense of easy-to-handle responsibility (who is in charge of food, laundry, decor, etc.) as it outlines who is responsible for what. Since my daughter has been asking for a pet, I couldn’t wait to see how she would handle her fairy responsibilities…

Spotlight on Ireland: The Irish Fairy Door and Giveaway

I positioned the door in her bedroom and waited for her to notice after school. It looked cute but I couldn’t help but wonder, would my city savvy six-year old actually believe in magical fairies. Well, she noticed it right away and started shooting off questions about fairies… We read the book together, decided on a name (Lola) and signed the contract. She went right to work drawing pictures and writing to Lola so yes, she really did believe. That night, the key disappeared and Lola arrived. Lola responded to my daughter’s note and even left some fairy dust…

Spotlight on Ireland: The Irish Fairy Door and Giveaway

I love anything that encourages free thinking and creativity but when it also encourages my daughter to practice her handwriting, I’m really sold. If you’re looking for a fun surprise for any girl or boy, this would make a great gift.

In celebration of their US launch, The Irish Fairy Door Company has partnered with The Starlight Children’s Foundation by donating Irish Fairy Doors to Starlight community partners.

Ready to win? The Irish Fairy Door Company is partnering with Globetrotting Mommy and one lucky reader will win their very own Irish Fairy Door!

To enter please leave a blog post comment below – Which door is your favorite?

For additional entries please leave separate comments for each:

Like Globetrotting Mommy on Facebook
Follow Globetrotting Mommy on Instagram
Follow Globetrotting Mommy on Twitter
Follow Globetrotting Mommy on Snapchat (GlobetrotMommy)

This giveaway ends at midnight EST on Friday, April 1.

Thanks to the Irish Fairy Door Company for inviting me to the NYC launch party and providing me with product to review. As always, all opinions are mine. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

Exploring Central Park With …

March 2, 2016 By admin

Spring has finally sprung here in NYC and that means its time to go play outside! One of my favorite spots for families with kids of all ages is Central Park and springtime is one of the best times to plan a visit.

Exploring Central Park With Kids

Exploring Central Park with kids is especially fun when the park is in full bloom. After our long dreary winters, it is a treat to see green grass and colorful flowers and kids will love running around taking in all the fresh air and expansive lawns.

Pack a picnic, grab a frisbee and plan to spend a few hours (or a whole day) exploring Central Park. Here are some of my favorite springtime activities for families:

Visit one of the many playgrounds
Climb a statue or two (Alice in Wonderland is my fave)
Stop at the Central Park Zoo (and Children’s Zoo)
Take a spin on the Central Park Carousel
Go fly a kite
Visit Victorian Gardens (opening Memorial Day weekend!)
Get your caricature done
Visit Bethesda Fountain
Rent a row boat
Race boats at Conservatory Water
Check out a story time
Stop for lunch at the Loeb Boathouse
See a free Shakespeare in the Park performance (starting in May)

Check out my Tips for Central Park with Kids in Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall story on TravelMamas.com for more details and be sure to visit the Central Park event calendar before you visit.

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

Fun Food Friday: The Cronut …

February 12, 2016 By admin

Cronuts may be yesterday’s news but the Cronut craze at Soho’s most famed pastry shop Dominique Ansel Bakery, is alive and well with tourists and locals alike.

Fun Food Friday: The Cronut Craze at NYC’s Dominique Ansel Bakery

If you’re not familiar with the Cronut, here’s a quick lesson…its a flaky croissant-doughnut hybrid. The original can be found at NYC’s Dominique Ansel Bakery with flavor offerings that change each month.

Feast your eyes on the February 2016 Milk Chocolate Cassis Cronut! I can personally tell you that this Cronut was delicious. Think of a croissant built into a doughnut then rolled in sugar, filled with jam or cream and topped with glaze. What could be better?

Fun Food Friday: The Cronut Craze at NYC’s Dominique Ansel Bakery

And this my friends was the January 2016 Hazelnut with Blood Orange Jam Cronut. Yummmm.

Fun Food Friday: The Cronut Craze at NYC’s Dominique Ansel Bakery

With just 350 Cronuts made each day, the demand is high and the lines form early. When the doors open at 8am (9 am on Sunday), the line is usually stretched around the corner. If you’ve got to have one, come early and wait but if you’ll be in the neighborhood, try coming between 8-9 am and you might get lucky. This happened to me in the aftermath of snowstorm Jonas and again last week so it could very well happen for you too.

If you’ve got friends visiting from out of town or if you’re heading to NYC, add a stop here to the agenda. And if the cronuts are sold out, you can always get your sugar fix with some of the other yummy pastries and coffee drinks.

Fun Food Friday: The Cronut Craze at NYC’s Dominique Ansel Bakery

Gorgeous, right? There is cafe seating in back so you can dig right in.

If you’re bringing kids, make sure to stop by the window where the Cronut bakers work their magic…

Don’t want to wait? Big news, you can now pre-order Cronuts online! The sales open every Monday and you must pick them up in person.

Each Cronut is priced at $5.50 plus tax so don’t forget your dough…

Have you ever had a cronut? Tell me about your experience below in the comments.

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

Globetrotting Mommy’s …

December 21, 2015 By admin

Family friendly activities, vacations and books are great holiday gifts but there is nothing like watching a kid open up the most wanted toy on their wish list. Today I’m sharing my Best Toys for Kids Holiday Gift Guide.

Globetrotting Mommy’s Holiday Gift Guide – Best Toys for Kids

Best Toys for Kids – Holiday Gift Guide

1 – Shopkins anything! – I can’t write a 2015 holiday gift guide without including Shopkins since my daughter and all her friends are soooo obsessed with these little guys and their many cute playsets. If you can get your hands on Target’s Exclusive Shopkins Mystery Edition this holiday season, you’re golden.

2 – My First Weaving Loom – The crafty kids on your list will love this kid-friendly loom. My perfectionist daughter needed a bit of assistance to keep the rows even but the results were impresive. I love that it includes instructions and measured out chenille yarn to complete three projects (headband, scarf and purse). Once you master those, you can create your own projects with the sturdy wood loom and crafting tools.

3 – Monopoly Junior – This mini-me version of the classic board game is a great gift for boys and girls. In addition to the traditional version, there are also themed games including the ever-popular Frozen.

4 – Barbie Pop-Up Camper – My daughter got this as a birthday present and it was an immediate hit. Barbie is really traveling in style these days with roof-top dining, chandelier lighting, pull-out swimming pool with slide, fire pit, bathroom and more. Girls will love taking their Barbies “glamping” as they play for hours. Make sure to leave yourselves some time to put together the pieces and attach the zillions of stickers.

5 – Sara Sleepover Doll – Every little girl I know can’t wait to host or attend her first sleepover. Let your little one take this adorable plush Sara Sleepover Doll for a test-drive and you won’t have to worry about anyone going home in the middle of the night. Sara comes with comfy detachable bunny slippers and a cute teddy bear that can be stored in a velcro pocket which makes her a perfect pal to bring along on real sleepovers, vacations and summer camp.

6 – ZOOB Z-Strutz Scorpion Driller – If you’ve got a little builder, this ZOOB kit will be a hit. Kids can build a Scorpion Driller, Tunnel Driller, Vertical Driller or a Mine Cart with the enclosed pieces or make their own creations. I love how the pieces move after you put them together so kids can let their imaginations run wild.

7 – Beanie Boos – These ever popular collectibles come in a wide array of characters and sizes. I love that they are small enough to not over clutter a bedroom and they are also great for bringing on vacations. The tiny versions clip onto backpacks so your kids won’t lose them.

8 – Vicks Sweetdreams Cool Mist Humidifier (in pink or blue) – A humidifier isn’t exactly a toy but when it can project fun images onto ceilings, I think that changes everything. You can choose from starry night, sea and safari themes (each theme features three images) which can be projected with or without the humidifier running. If you’re looking for a way to combat winter dryness and keep your babes soothed as they fall asleep, this is sure to please.

9 – Scientific Explorer Tasty Science Kit – Young experimenters will love this STEM culinary science kit. The kid includes materials to make ten tasty projects including fizzy drinks, rock candy, and other sweet treats. I love that it teaches kids about flavors, taste buds and sensory cues with a little chemistry thrown in for good measure.

10 – Project Mc² Dolls – This new doll line from MGA Entertainment is all about teaching girls that Smart Is The New Cool. Each of the four adorable doll sets include a real science experiment, fun accessories and stand. We tried the volcano experiment with the Adrienne Attoms doll and it was a big hit. Click here to see…

What toys are on your kids’ wish list? Tell me below in the comments.

I received a few of these items for review purposes. All opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for …

December 10, 2015 By admin

If you’re looking for some holiday gift ideas the whole family can enjoy, today is your lucky day. Below I’ve rounded up some fun family gift ideas for globetrotting families to enjoy at home and away…

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

The Gift of Membership – If you’re looking for a gift that keeps on giving, a family membership to a favorite museum, amusement park, zoo or other cultural attraction is an awesome gift. Some museum memberships include reciprocal benefits where you can receive complimentary admission to hundreds of museums across the United States. Check out the North American Reciprocal Museum Association and the Association of Science-Technology Center’s Travel Passport Program for more details.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

Go See a Show – Save a date and take the whole clan to see their favorite artists perform on stage. From Frozen on Ice, Peppa Pig LIVE! and the Big Apple Circus to Sesame Street and Yo Gabba Gabba shows and musical concerts, there are dozens of family favorite events going on this winter. My top picks for families include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes, Blue Man Group, Aladdin and The Lion King.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families – A Duck Tour around Boston makes a great holiday gift.

Take the Family Sightseeing – A staycation or vacation makes a great holiday gift. Give your family the gift of go with a Go City Card valid for tourist attractions in 11 cities across the US or book a family fun sightseeing tour like The Ride in New York City, a Boston Duck Tour or a Carriage Ride around Charleston.

Family Friendly Travel Books – From travel inspired coffee table classics like Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel and Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places to trip planning guides and Lonely Planet Kids Activity Books, books are a great family gift idea.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

Culinary Gifts for All – Foodies of all ages will appreciate culinary gifts that offer tasty treats from near and far. Some ideas include the Peninsula Grill Ultimate Coconut Cake® from Charleston, South Carolina, Tessemae’s Chesapeake Mayo from Maryland, Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Trader Joe’s Chocolate Passport, The Everyday Eatalian gift box featuring products from Italy, a Great Lakes Food Club membership from Michigan or a Try The World foodie gift box subscription.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families

Must Have Family Friendly Travel Accessories – I’m always bringing home leftovers from holiday celebrations and Igloo has a great selection of chic insulated totes (Trend, Maxcold and Stowe) that make nice holiday gifts for everyone on your list. I especially love that these bags fold up for storage and are leak-resistant making them great picks for road trips and plane rides. For junior travelers, the adorable bag tags and travel journals from Mudpuppy are sure to please. Other ideas for family friendly travel accessories include selfie sticks (I know, I know) and gift cards to make photo books showcasing your travels.

2015 Holiday Gift Guide for Globetrotting Families – Family friendly games are sure to please.

On The Go Games – Family friendly games are great to bring to holiday get togethers and the classics from Hasbro (think Twister, Operation, Jenga and my all-time favorite Monopoly) are perfect options. I also love travel friendly family games like Melissa & Doug Travel Hangman, Spot It, eeBoo’s Color Go Fish Cards which are great for little hands.

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

Toys That Travel: Crayola …

November 24, 2015 By admin

Home or away for the upcoming holidays? Crayola’s Cling Creator will keep kids busy as they create their own holiday inspired window decorations perfect for decorating houses, hotel rooms and more. Read on for my Crayola Cling Creator review and enter to win one of your own along with a $50 gift card!