Photography Archives - Page 2 of 2

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.

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Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2

2) Take a Hershey Trolly Works Tour – All aboard for a historic journey through the town built on chocolate. This 60-minute trolly tour is great for kids of all ages. You’ll visit Milton Hershey’s childhood home, the acclaimed Milton Hershey School, downtown Hershey and other sights while enjoying chocolate samples. This is a great end of day activity. Don’t forget to look for the Hershey Kiss shaped street lamps.

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Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2

3) Shop till you drop. Kids love to shop and boys and girls of all ages will find a wide array of gifts, stuffed characters, t-shirts and customized chocolate goodies. I found chocolates I never even knew existed at Chocolate World like Reese’s White Peanut Butter Cups for my white chocolate loving husband. And, how cute is Miss G’s little Hershey’s Kiss necklace?

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Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2

4) Hershey’s Great American Chocolate Tour Ride at Chocolate World – This free ride is a great introduction to chocolate making. Guests follow cocoa beans on a journey from the tropical rainforest to Hershey, Pennsylvania complete with singing cows, automated candy making machines and chocolate scents wafting through the air.

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Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2

5) Try the Children’s Scavenger Hunt at Hershey Gardens. Located at The Hershey Hotel, Hershey Gardens is a scenic respite featuring 23-acres of gardens (think roses, signature trees, butterflies and more). The hands-on Children’s Garden offers a Children’s Scavenger Hunt that will keep little ones busy and entertained.

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Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2

6) Hershey’s Create Your Own Candy Bar Attraction at Chocolate World – Gear up and get ready to custom design your own chocolate bar. Select a chocolate base, ingredients and toppings and watch as your customized bar travels down the conveyer belt. Once complete, you get to design your own graphics for the gift box. So. Much. Fun!

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Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2

7) Visit Zoo America – If you are visiting Hersheypark, your ticket includes free admission to Zoo America. The 11-acre walk-thru zoo is adjacent to Hersheypark and features more than 200 animals from five regions of North America.

8) Take photos with the giant Hershey candy characters. This is THE place to get adorable family photos with you and and a giant Hershey Bar, Reeses Peanut Butter Cup and Hershey Kiss so don’t forget your cameras. The characters can be found around Hersheypark (including a Character breakfast) and some hotels like The Hershey Hotel and Hershey Lodge schedule character appearances on site.

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Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2

9) Visit The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience – This museum has several interactive exhibits that explain how Milton Hershey built his famed empire. Along the way, guests can view antiques, vintage advertisements, testimonials and more. Kids will especially enjoy the chance to make their own personalized newspaper pages and create candy in the museum’s Chocolate Lab.

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Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2

10) Save room for dessert. Vacations are made for special treats and a trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania means lots of opportunities to indulge that sweet tooth. You and your kids will love trying specialty cookies and cupcakes available all over town, ice cream specialties, S’mores, chocolate infused meals, chocolate butter and of course chocolate martinis for the grown ups. Yum.

Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Hershey, Pennsylvania – Spotlight on Hershey, Part 2

Read on for one last post on family friendly tips for visiting Hersheypark.

Spotlight on Hershey, …

May 27, 2014 By admin

Love chocolate, amusement parks and historic towns? This post is for you. If you’re looking for a family friendly getaway with activities and amenities sure to please chocoholics and adventure seekers alike, you’ll love a summer getaway to Hershey, Pennsylvania, The Sweetest Place on Earth.

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Globetrotting Mommy – Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth – Part 1

I recently took a multi-generational road trip to Hershey with my 4-year old daughter, my mom and sister and it was a perfect spot for a girl’s getaway. I visited Hershey years ago (before marriage, before kid) and had the most relaxing, pampering stay at The Hotel Hershey where I enjoyed chocolate-themed spa treatments, gigantic chocolate covered strawberries, fancy dinners with late night chocolate martinis and a carefree day of roller-coaster rides at Hersheypark. Fast forward to 2014, add a kid into the mix and this trip was a little different.

Globetrotting Mommy – Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth – Part 1

We decided to stay at Hershey Lodge, The Hotel Hershey’s sister property, which offers all the Hershey Resorts VIP Perks at a more affordable price point. The staff was great and gave us a warm welcome complete with Hershey bars as our luggage was whisked up to our room in the Kisses Tower. Our room was spacious with two queen beds, ample closet space, a large bathroom with plenty of counter space and all the necessary in-room amenities (WiFi, refrigerator, coffee maker, safe, hair dryer, etc). Best of all, the beds were super comfortable, the towels were fluffy and everything was spotless. Oh and the bath lotions and potions were chocolate scented and turndown service included Hershey Kisses. Yum.

The Hershey Lodge really caters to families and my favorite kid perk was the “kids’ check-in” where kids signed in to register for their stay, entered guessing game contests to win prizes and left with a selection of kid-friendly goodies and of course chocolates. Check the schedule of events for complimentary activities like character greetings in the lobby (so much fun and no lines), family bingo, daily crafts, pool games and safari searches. Families can buy make-your-own S’mores kits at the Cocoa Beanery for a fun after-dinner activity.

Globetrotting Mommy – Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth – Part 1

Hershey Lodge amenities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, Fitness Center for guests 16 and up (my sister checked it out every morning), golfing at the Hershey Country Club and access to The Spa at The Hotel Hershey, just five minutes away. Complimentary shuttle service is available to nearby attractions so you really don’t need to drive anywhere but if you do, parking is easy and plentiful.

For dining, there are more than a dozen restaurants at Hershey Lodge, The Hotel Hershey and downtown Hershey. Most mornings we were eager to explore so we just grabbed a quick and simple breakfast at the Cocoa Beanery (think bagels, muffins, oatmeal, cereal, coffees, etc.) but more elaborate breakfast can be found (with or without chocolate chips) at Lebbie Lebkicher’s or Hershey Grill in the Hershey Lodge. My mom and daughter loved the Hershey Grill so much we ended up eating there every night which wouldn’t have been my choice but when you’re on a multi-generational trip, you’ve got to pick your battles. It was nice how the waitstaff recognized us visit after visit and went out of their way to meet our special requests (no pineapple in the fruit cup…vanilla ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, a cherry AND candle to celebrate the big 4.5…more coloring pages, please). The food was innovative and tasty (perhaps the best sweet potato fries I’ve ever had) plus every meal started with bread and chocolate butter, yes…chocolate butter. Mmmm.

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Globetrotting Mommy – Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth – Part 1

If you stay at the Hershey Lodge, be sure to visit The Hotel Hershey for a memorable meal (I recommend the Fish and Chips at Harvest), pampering spa treatment or walk around the grounds which feature some beautiful photo ops.

Globetrotting Mommy – Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth – Part 1

All Hershey Lodge and Hershey Hotel guests enjoy free admission to Hershey Gardens, a 23-acre garden featuring 11 distinct theme gardens as well as the Children’s Garden so be sure to stop by for a visit. For a $10 fee, kids can participate in a scavenger hunt around the Children’s Garden which is great for kids of all ages. This is a nice option for the end of a busy day since kids can run around the interactive exhibits and adults can sit back and relax.

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Globetrotting Mommy – Spotlight on Hershey, Pennsylvania – The Sweetest Place on Earth – Part 1

Summer is a perfect time to visit and now through July (blackout dates apply), Hershey Lodge and The Hotel Hershey have a Kids Stay, Play & Eat Free promotion that includes deluxe accommodations, admission to Hersheypark (one day) for the entire family, free breakfast for kids 17 and under, plus admission to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience. This is a great deal considering these perks are worth approximately $350.

Later this week, I’ll write about family-friendly attractions in the Hershey, Pennsylvania area as well as family friendly tips for visiting Hersheypark.

Bon voyage…

Spotlight on Photography: …

May 7, 2014 By admin

If you follow me around on Instagram, you know I like to take pictures and you also know I went to some really fun NYC events last week. You can imagine how excited I was when Kristin from My Strange Family invited me to meet photographer Ali Smith, author of the Award-Winning book Momma Love; How the Mother Half Lives and hear her tips for taking better photos of kids. I can’t think of many things more challenging than taking photos of kids who never sit still so I’m sharing her tips in hopes that we will all get better at capturing those Kodak moments at home and away.

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Globetrotting Mommy Spotlight on Photography: Tips from the Experts with Ali Smith

1. Ban the word “cheese” from your photographic life.
You know that strained “picture face” that happens when kids (and grown ups) say “cheese?” Ali suggests thinking of something else to get people smiling. She told us about a woman who says “1,2,3, FART.” I’m saving that one but I did say “1,2,3, ELSA” to my daughter and her pals and that got them laughing.

2. Don’t get married to one result.
You know how you have the perfect photo in your head that you’re trying to get? Well, it turns out that’s a no-no for capturing those true moments. You’ll get much better photos if you can go with the flow even if that means your kids aren’t wearing the outfits you picked out. Also, don’t be afraid to capture some of their strange or unconventional expressions.

3. Look for the light.
This is a “rule” that is definitely meant to be broken. Maybe you want a little “motion blur” or a dim shot of a sleeping child. Look for areas in a room with natural light or a well lit outside space if you’re trying to capture a moving kid, especially on your camera phone.

4. Change your perspective
Getting down on your child’s level or taking pictures at unexpected angles are great ideas to try. Children don’t need to be looking at the camera to get good results. For a different perspective, shoot with a “shallow depth of field” by controlling the aperture/F-stop “open up” to a low F-Stop. This will give you those cool photos where the subject is in focus and the background is blurry. If you’re using a camera phone, try the BlurFX app to get this look.

5. Distract your subject.
Ask them about something they are interested in or point out flowers, airplanes, etc. What you want to capture is their reactions and the in between moments when you’re most likely to show who they really are.

6. Don’t let other parents interfere unless it’s REALLY helping
Sometimes parents jumping around like apes behind you is great, like when you’re taking photos of babies. But if adults are over directing the children to “behave,” “listen” or “smile,” try to discourage that. Also, if you’re shooting family photos, tell the adults to always look at the camera so that when the kids are ready, the grown-ups will be too.

7. Show the child the photo
Today’s kids are used to seeing their photos on the camera screen so let them take a peek. If they like what they see, they’ll want to take more photos.

I hope these tips will help you capture some amazing photos of your kids. If you still need a Mother’s Day gift idea, Ali’s book is full of amazing photos and stories of motherhood making it a great gift for any mom.

Ali was nice enough to take some photos of the bloggers (and kids) at the event too. Here’s my favorite shot she took of me.

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Globetrotting Mommy Spotlight on Photography: Tips for taking better photos of kids

Thanks again to Kristin, a great hostess who thought of everything including Sensible Sitters and Ella’s Kitchen snacks so the kiddies were in good hands. What are your favorite photography tips?

Mother’s Day Gift Guide …

April 28, 2014 By admin

Mother’s day is coming up (May 11 in the United States) so don’t wait till the last minute to get your mom (or wife) a great Mother’s Day 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 Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

For the spa loving mom:

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

Teleflora and SpaFinder Wellness have teamed up to offer beautiful mother’s day floral gift combos that include a SpaFinder gift card ($25, $50 or $100) so mom can choose from an array of spa services, beauty treatments or other premier wellness offerings available at any SpaFinder partner location worldwide. Such a perfect choice for the mom who loves flowers and pampering spa treatments.

For the mom who loves pictures:

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

I know they’re time consuming to make but there are few gifts moms enjoy more than a custom-made photo book. Grab your computer and design your own keepsake photo book of your last family vacation or photos of you and your mom. I guarantee she’ll love it. Shutterfly has a great selection of travel themed styles including more than 30 designs.

For the mom who loves to travel with her daughter:

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

I just finished reading We’ll Always Have Paris: A Mother/Daughter Memoir, a great memoir about a mom who travels around Europe each summer with her daughter. If you’ve ever taken a getaway with your mom, you’ll both love reading this book. Read Jennifer Coburn’s guest post here.

For the jewelry loving mom:

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

These little mother and daughter necklaces are so adorable. There are also cute mother and son necklace and key chain combos because boys like presents too.

For the mom who loves to explore the world:

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

These Cavallini Vintage Maps Postcards feature 18 assorted vintage map postcards packaged in a cute tin.

For the mom who loves her kitchen:

Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

This Bloom Flower Utensil Set is super cute and useful.

For the mom who adores bath time:

Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

From the majestic pine covered cliffs of the En-Vau Calanque to a swim in the azure sea below, few afternoons can rival a day spent in the Calanques. Hook mom up with this Calanques Marine Sur La Route Soap and a glass of perfectly chilled white from Chateau de Fontcreuse and she’ll be in heaven. Just make sure to leave her alone for an hour or two.

For the mom who dreams of a Paris getaway:

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

Why not surprise your mom with tickets for a Parisian spring getaway! Not in the cards this year, these adorable Paris themed cookies may be the next best thing to springtime in Paris.

For the Jet Setter mom:

Jonathan Adler and Tumi have teamed up to offer an array of fun and stylish luggage. I think any jet setting mom would love this Super Leger International Wheeled Satchel.

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Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Globetrotting Moms

Bon voyage!

Photography tips: Dress the …

March 10, 2014 By admin

Did you ever try to take a photo of your kid and have them not want to look at the camera? Me too. Imagine if you could find a way to combat that especially on vacation when you’re trying to capture your kid and the scenery for a once in a lifetime shot. If you’ve got a daughter, I’ve got an idea for you — matching Doll & Me Fashion Sets from Our Generation doll.

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Photography tips: Dress the part with Our Generation Doll & Me Fashion Set

My daughter loves her dolls, stuffed animals and beloved Pinky, a raggedy pink lovey and often brings them with her when we’re traveling. One day, I surprised her with Our Generation’s Hally and the “One Smart Cookie” set. She loved the doll naturally, but when I showed her the next surprise – a matching Our Generation Doll & Me Fashion Set – her face lit up. The pink tutu skirt is just my girly girl’s style and the gray tank top and shrug sweater add just the right amount of big girl sophistication. She couldn’t wait to dress up in matching outfits with her doll and show off their cuteness. We ran across the street to the park and I said smile for the camera and she did just that. She wanted to make sure I got photos of just Hally too because she looked so pretty.

doll3 doll4 doll5

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Globetrotting Mommy Photography tips: Dress the part with Our Generation Doll & Me Fashion Set

I think this is a great way to get kids excited about an upcoming family photo shoot and holiday pictures as well as vacation shots.

The dolls are sold at Target individually ($23) or in deluxe sets ($32) with accessories and a book. Our Hally deluxe set came with a selection of clothes including a dressy school girl outfit and a casual gym set with sneakers as well as fun accessories like a backpack, notebook, report card, fortune cookie and a “One Smart Cookie” chapter book and bookmark. There are so many different styles and accessories available and they are all so affordable compared to so many other brands.

There are several Doll & Me Fashion sets for the 4-6 set and they’re just $30 which is a great price. From dressy party dresses to sundresses there are some great options for the upcoming spring and summer holidays. I think they’d also be cute for sisters and cousins who want to coordinate their outfits and a fun gift idea for any little girly girl you know.

And if you want to take your doll on a trip with you, check out the fun selection of Our Generation doll carriers.

I was not compensated for this post but I did receive the Our Generation products for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Chinese Astrology: The Year of …

February 26, 2014 By admin

Hey baby, what’s your Chinese sign? If you’ve ever eaten in a Chinese restaurant, you know that the Chinese zodiac is based on your birth year with each year commemorating an animal and their attributes. The Chinese New Year has arrived and this is the Year of the Horse. According to Chinese astrology, those born during this year are quick-witted, chatty and popular!

I think it would be fun to incorporate some cute horse themed accessories into your baby’s nursery design. Here are my favorite picks:

A rocking horse is a nursery classic and this Playsam Rocking Horse in Red will add a nice dash of color. I love the sleek modern design.

Globetrotting Mommy – The Year of the Horse

I love Jonathan Adler’s whimsical styles and this horse table lamp would work great in a nursery or playroom.

Globetrotting Mommy – The Year of the Horse

How sweet is this musical baby mobile featuring vintage horses? So cute for a circus themed nursery.

Globetrotting Mommy – The Year of the Horse

This cute Pull Along Double Pony from Land of Nod would be perfect for a baby boy.

Globetrotting Mommy – The Year of the Horse

This Parisian carousel horse print from Etsy would add a fun vibe to any nursery or playroom.

Globetrotting Mommy – The Year of the Horse

These would make great baby shower gifts. Be sure to follow my Pinterest Fun nursery and kids room ideas board for more decorating ideas and also check out my picks for a Safari themed nursery.

Globetrotter Wish List: Top 10 …

November 26, 2013 By admin

It’s time for globetrotting guys on my next holiday gift list! Check out the next round of great picks in my Globetrotter Wish List: Top 10 Holiday Gifts for Men…I think these gifts would be great for dads, grandpas, uncles, doormen and other important guys in your lives.