Just for Moms Archives - Page 8 of 11

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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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…

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Fun Food Friday: Amazing Ice …

July 25, 2014 By admin

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? Who comes up with this stuff? Move over Mister Softee because I’m about to share my top 5 picks for amazing ice cream in NYC’s East Village.

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Fun Food Friday: Amazing Ice Cream Cones in NYC’s East Village

These family friendly frozen treats will please adult and kiddie palates so plan to treat the whole family.

Sundaes and Cones (95 East 10th Street)

This ice cream parlor is around the corner from my apartment and I can still remember indulging in a lot of pregnancy ice cream cravings back in the summer of 2009. They have some traditional flavors but you’ll want to try the more exotic options like taro, black sesame, Thai tea, wasabi, corn and more. Everything is homemade and delicious.

Davey’s Ice Cream (137 1st Avenue)

This new ice cream shop features handmade classics like Mexican Vanilla, Chocolate Chocolate, Strong Coffee, Cookies & Cream, Peppermint Chip and Roasted Pistachio but you will also want to check out their seasonal flavors like Ultra Babka featuring extra chocolatey cinnamon babka from Moishe’s Bake Shop and Brunch featuring chunks of maple cinnamon brioche french toast and slabs of coffee glazed bacon. OMG!

Big Gay Ice Cream Cone (125 East 7th Street)

This East Village outpost is known for their over the top signature cones like the Salty Pimp (vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche and sea salt topped dipped in chocolate), Bea Arthur (vanilla ice cream topped with dulce de leche and crushed vanilla waffers), Cococone (vanilla ice cream topped with toasted curried coconut) and American Globs (vanilla ice cream, pretzels and sea salt dipped in chocolate). Yum!

Momofuku Milk Bar (251 East 13th Street)

Do you remember how the milk at the bottom of your cereal bowl tasted when you were a kid? Well, imagine that flavor as soft-serve ice cream and you’ve got Cereal Milk Soft Serve. It’s definitely on the sweet side and not for everyone but kids seem to like it.

Dessert Club, Chikalicious (203 East 10th Street)

Imagine a yummy soft-serve vanilla ice cream served in an eclair! Yes, its the Eclair Soft Serve Cone and it is also available as in a sandwich version topped with hot fudge. May as well skip brunch and just have this.

If you’re based in NYC or if you’re heading to the Big Apple this summer, you’ll want to check these out. Let me know which are your favorites.

Globetrotting Moms: Cute …

July 1, 2014 By admin

Heading out of town for a July 4th weekend getaway? Check out these cute weekender bags…

I think these would be fun for a beach getaway with or without the kiddos but they’d also work well for a visit to your favorite friend’s house or a weekend retreat.

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Globetrotting Moms: Best Weekender Bags for July 4th Getaways

1) This neon pink and white canvas duffel from J. Crew is trendy and fun. It won’t stay this clean but since its on sale for $25 right now, I wouldn’t worry about that.

2) I love strips for a beachy retreat and the cool mint trim gives this Raleigh Weekender Bag a fun modern vibe.

3) Red, white and blue is a classic look for July 4th weekend and this Rail and Wharf 12-Hour Tote is patriotic in a classy way. Perfect if you’re packing light or sailing around for a day. It could also be a chic diaper bag if you just throw in some wipes and a changing pad.

4) This Ali Lamu Weekend Bag from Etsy is handmade from old cotton sail cloths. I love the one-of-a-kind factor and the rope handles.

Whether you’re heading near or far this holiday weekend, I hope you have a great time!

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Happy National Sunglasses Day! …

June 27, 2014 By admin

Did you know that today is National Sunglasses Day? I’m sure you’re savvy about protecting your eyes when you’re out and about – sunglasses are awesome for hiding those sleep deprived eyes – but how good are you at protecting your kids’ eyes from those dangerous UV rays?

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Happy National Sunglasses Day! Cool shades for globetrotting Kids

I recently learned from The Vision Council that eyes can get sunburned just like skin and everyone (adults, kids and babies) should wear sunglasses with UV protection whenever they’re outside. That means in EVERY season and even when its not particularly sunny. I don’t know about you but that came as a big surprise to me. In addition, kids are more vulnerable to UV damage because of their larger pupils and clearer lenses and contrary to popular belief, sun hats do not protect their little eyes. Damage from UV rays can cause pain, redness, swollen eyes, blurred vision, temporary blindness, cataracts and even cancer so why risk it when sunglasses are so easy to wear?

Since UV rays can reflect off surfaces such as water, sand, snow and buildings, its super important for you and your kids to wear those sunglasses on vacation too.

Here are my top picks for cool sunglasses for girls:

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Happy National Sunglasses Day! Cool Shades for Globetrotting Girls

1) How adorable are these red Selima Optique for Crewcuts Heart Sunglasses? A bit of a splurge but at $55 but so adorbs!

2) These classic pink shades from Old Navy are perfect for toddlers.

3) I love these white Betsy Johnson Cat with flowers. Great for your little fashionista.

4) Some girls love pink and some love purple. These cute purple heart sunglasses are a steal at just $7.

And here are some cute sunglasses for boys:

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Happy National Sunglasses Day! Cool Shades for Globetrotting Boys

1) These classic red Junior Ray Bans are perfect at any age.

2) Aviator shades are very trendy this summer and this cute yellow version from the Gap is just $10. Also available in blue.

3) These blue Kidz Banz Adventure sunglasses feature a wrap around strap making them great for sports and the beach. They make a baby version too.

4) For bigger boys, these black shades from Old Navy are a steal at just $5.

To learn more about the effects of UV exposure on eyes at every age, read the latest report from The Vision Council.

Have a great weekend!

I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. Although The Vision Council is a nonprofit organization, I was gifted a Sun Sade Swag bag.

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Globetrotting Mommy: Top 10 …

June 13, 2014 By admin

Those of you who follow me on Instagram and Twitter know that I’ve been spending the last few weeks homebound with a broken foot. Since I like to run around a lot, I’ve pretty much had to give in to things that can be done on one foot which isn’t a whole lot in New York City! I’ve spent a lot of time on the sofa elevating my foot, I caught up on some books, started Orange is the New Black and I’ve hired a ton of babysitters to cart G around to all her activities.

With all this time to think, I’ve come to the conclusion that recovering from a broken foot is super similar to those first few weeks as a new mom!

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Globetrotting Mommy: Top 10 Ways Breaking Your Foot is Like Having a Baby

Since globetrotting is off limits for me now, today I’m sharing the top 10 ways breaking your foot is like having a baby.

1) Having to pee in a cup before foot surgery (think one foot, two crutches, two hands) is equally…if not more…challenging than peeing in a cup with a 9-month baby belly.

2) You’ll vomit from all the pain pills and anesthesia. Gross but true…

3) Getting a good night’s sleep is not so easy with a broken foot in a big hard cast or gigantic belly but you’ll be so tired it will happen.

4) Everyone will tell you the time will go fast. They’re lying. You’ll be counting down every single day…

5) Your freedom is ripped away from you. Like to do what you want to do when you want to do it? That’s over for now. You can’t just run out the door like you used to, it now takes a whole lot of prepping to get out the door.

6) Taking a shower feels like a MAJOR accomplishment.

7) You’ll build new upper body strength from pushing that stroller and using those crutches but you’ll also be sore in new spots you never knew existed.

8) People will make you tell the same story over and over again. Birth story or broken foot story…it gets old, fast.

9) You’ll be forced to dress frumpy until your body returns to normal. Say goodbye to skinny jeans and stilettos and hello to capri sweats and sneakers.

10) The world wide web will quickly become your best friend especially Amazon, Seamless, Netflix, Babble and Diapers.com.

The best way to survive those torturous first weeks of shock and recovery is to take them one day at a time. Your friends and family will offer up help so definitely take them up on it while you count down the days till you’re wearing sandals or getting a good night’s sleep…14 more to go for me…

Have a great weekend!

Kate Spade Surprise Sale: …

June 10, 2014 By admin

Attention globetrotting shoppers, the Kate Spade surprise sale is here and the theme is travel! Act fast to get some great globetrotter gear like totes, diaper bags, wristlets, wallets, make-up pouches, sun hats and more for up to 75% off…

Here are some of my favorite picks:

How cute is this Play Hooky canvas tote with leather trim?

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Kate Spade Surprise Sale: Travel Edition

Globetrotting moms will look tres chic with this Into The Wild Stevie Baby Bag. I also like Kate Spade’s Gingham Harmony Bag. These diaper bags are great for travel and would also make fabulous baby shower gifts.

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Kate Spade Surprise Sale: Travel Edition

This Par Avion Stripe Small Natalie cosmetics bag is a great choice for make-up and toiletries to keep you looking beautiful at home and on the road.

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Kate Spade Surprise Sale: Travel Edition

This Gingham Grainy Vinyl Chrissy is a fun cross-body bag that will go from day to night.

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Kate Spade Surprise Sale: Travel Edition

Bon voyage…

Top 10 Family Friendly Things …

May 28, 2014 By admin

Following up on the Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth post, here are Globetrotting Mommy’s Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

1) Visit Hersheypark. No visit to Hershey is complete without a trip to this famed amusement park. More than 65 kiddie rides, amazing roller coasters and water park attractions await visitors of all ages.