reviews Archives - Page 11 of 11 - Globetrotting Mommy

Stella and Dot’s new …

November 12, 2013 By admin

Every little girl I know adores dress up. The more ruffles, jewels and tiaras the better, according to my daughter who is four going on 14. Since so much of the plastic princess jewelry breaks in about three minutes, we’ve gone through a lot of heartache over broken baubles. I was super excited when I attended the Fashion Forward Conference and learned that Stella and Dot, a real jewelry company known for their quality and fun styles, had introduced a girl’s collection.

Globetrotting Mommy – Stella & Dot

The styles are perfect for little and big girls with an adorable and chic mix of butterflies, flowers, pearls, rhinestones, chunky beads and fun charms. I love that they are casual enough for the playground and classroom yet dressy (or fancy as my kid says) at the same time. Globetrotting girls will especially love the Paris with Love Necklace and matching Paris Trio Earrings.

Here are some of my Stella and Dot favorites for girls:

Globetrotting Mommy – Stella and Dot

I think these would make great birthday or holiday gifts for any little jet setting girl.

Note: I was not compensated for this post but I did receive the Paris Trio Earrings in the Fashion Forward Conference goody bag. As always, all opinions are mine.

Globetrotting Toys: Global …

November 5, 2013 By admin

It’s amazing how much stuff one little person can own. We’ve graduated from bouncy seats and rainforest jumpers to princesses, dress up, dolls, building creations, books, puzzles, games and arts and crafts galore. I try to be super careful selecting my daughter’s toys since I’m not so interested in sharing my limited NYC space with bright colored, plastic monstrosities with never ending lights and sounds.

During the last four years, we’ve amassed quite a collection of B. toys (Critter Clinic, Alphaberry, Spinaroos, Stackadoos, Meowsic, Parum Pum Pum, Pop-Arty!) so I was very excited when they asked me to take a peek at their 2013 Holiday Collection. Aside from being pretty indestructible and entertaining, I love that B. toys feature muted unisex colors and volume controls. I also love that B. toys come in eco-friendly packaging and help support philanthropic causes like Free The Children.

Globetrotting Mommy – B. toys review

Today I’m sharing my review of the Global Glowball which is a globe, nightlight, music player and ball all rolled up in one pretty package. In play mode, push the continents to hear 39 different cultural songs and authentic music (Jazz, Rock and Roll, Bluegrass, Blues, Polka, Samba, Tango, Salsa, Celtic, Flamenco and more). In lights mode, the globe turns into an illuminating nightlight. In lights and music mode, you’ll enjoy 20-minutes of tunes from around the world and a glowing nightlight and music mode is just that. The tunes are short and catchy and my daughter was very intrigued by the many varied sounds and rhythms (like rainforest, nature and animal sounds and instrumentals).

Globetrotting Mommy – B. toys review

It was fun to discuss the different types of music and talk about the countries in each continent. She’s just starting to learn geography (Madeline lives in Paris and the Lion King lives in Africa) and different languages (the goodbye song in her school features a bunch) so the Global Glowball gave me a chance to show her the places she’s been learning about. Since she can’t read yet, it really didn’t matter that the countries weren’t labeled but she now recognizes the continents by color and shape (Africa is the big orange one).

I think this is a great toy that will really grow with a child. I love the idea of the music and nightlight for a baby (great baby shower gift and nursery decoration). Toddlers will enjoy rolling it around and dancing to the different tunes while preschool and elementary school kids will enjoy learning about geography and musical styles.

Best of all, it’s pretty, fairly compact, educational and features a volume control and easy to find off button. B. toys can be found at all Target stores, online and at specialty toy shops throughout the United States and Canada. To find a store near you visit the B. Toy store locator.

I was not compensated for this post but I did receive the Global Glowball for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Day Trip: Pumpkin Picking on …

October 24, 2013 By admin

Pumpkin picking on Long Island is one of my favorite fall traditions. If you’re looking for a great day trip from NYC this weekend head over to Fink’s Country Farm on Eastern Long Island. It’s not too far from the Riverhead outlets so if you’re feeling ambitious you might come home with pumpkins and a few new outfits!

Globetrotting Mommy – Pumpkin Picking on Long Island

You’ll want to get there as early as you can (they open at 9 am) to avoid crowds and get the best photo ops and pumpkins. The $13 admission price includes unlimited access to the Fall Festival weekend activities including Hay Rides, 7-Acre Corn Maze, Pig Races, Animal Farm, Barnyard Bouncer, Corn Crib, Live Music and more. Additional attractions are available for an extra charge including Pony Rides, Face Painting, Fall Photos, U-Pick Pumpkins on the vine, Kiddie Train, Corn Cannon and Pumpkin Slingshot. There are plenty of picnic tables and the food stand serves soups, sandwiches, hot dogs, roasted corn on the cob (delish!) and beverages (get the hot apple cider). The food line was really long the day we went so be prepared to wait or pack a picnic and snacks. Bathrooms are plentiful but they are port-a-potties (I know, I know) and there is an area for diaper changing.

If you’ve got older kids, you might want to bring a flashlight and check out the Spookie Maze from 7:30 – 10 pm on October 26th. And if you visit on Sunday, October 27th there will be trick-or-treating.

There was so much to do and see my daughter was running around checking everything out for hours. She’s a pro at pony rides by now and she enjoyed her first pig race and corn crib. The Animal Farm was pretty extensive and there were plenty of feeding and petting opportunities. The staff was friendly and I loved that it wasn’t as commercial or expensive as many other pumpkin patches on Long Island (you know who you are). We left with three big pumpkins and a bunch of gourds for $12 which I thought was a real bargain when you consider one pumpkin at the Union Square Farmer’s Market is $10+ dollars.

You can also buy Halloween decorations, plants, pies (freshly baked by Mrs. Fink), vegetables, cider and other fall favorites at the farm stand.

There were so many great spots for pictures so bring your camera. Here are some of my favorite photos from our visit…

Globetrotting Mommy – Pumpkin Picking on Long Island

Still not ready for Halloween, check out my post on Halloween costumes and Halloween gift ideas.

Get crafty at home or away …

October 17, 2013 By admin

If you’re looking for a way to keep your kids busy crafting without having to spend hours on Pinterest researching project ideas (as fun as that is…) and way too much money in Michaels (thats fun too…), Kiwi Crate might change your life.

Globetrotting Mommy – Kiwi Crate

Just imagine, a box arrives at your door with a fun-filled Martha Stewart like project (and all the necessary supplies) and you just sit back and watch the excitement. If you’ve got little ones, you’ll need to supervise a bit but if your kids are old enough to read the directions, you could probably get a good hour to so to do something fun like fold the laundry.

My daughter and I tested out one of the Kiwi Travel Crates and it was a big kit. The travel kits come in smaller boxes and feature a single project that can easily be done on the go (like in a car, plane, train) or in a hotel. Check her out making a Kalidescope.

The kit included everything to make and decorate the project as well as an instruction pamphlet with additional suggestions and ideas. My daughter is turning four and was definitely able to do it all by herself but I did have to guide her through the simple steps.

Kiwi Crates are available in an array of offerings like monthly subscriptions, Single Crates, Travel Crates and Mini Crates as well as special holiday offerings and party favors. The Travel Crate is just the thing to pull out midway through a flight or train ride. Here’s hoping you won’t have to hear, “Are we there yet?????”

Note: I was provided with the Kiwi Travel Crate for this review but all opinions are my own.

Get around town fast! Best …

October 1, 2013 By admin

Have your kids tired of riding in their stroller? Are you happy because you hate pushing that thing around town? Yes and yes…move over stroller, its time to check out the best scooters for kids.

Living in NYC, the early morning school commute options involve buses, subways, taxis, scooters or good old fashioned walking. The pre-school set seems to be the biggest fans of scooters and my daughter insists on riding hers most days. I like to indulge her because she thinks she’s getting a special treat but the reality is kids on scooters move fast and that is a win-win for moms hoping to make it anyplace on time.

Most scooters come apart making them a great option for taking on a trip near or far. Just don’t forget to pack your helmet.

Globetrotting Mommy – Best scooters for kids

Little kids: The Micro Mini leads the pack with NYC kids. The three-wheel design, easy steering and user friendly brake make this a perfect choice for beginners. It comes in a whole slew of rainbow colors and its super lightweight. Grab some stickers and plaster your name on it and there will be no fights in the playground. Recommended for ages 3-5 but my almost 4-year old daughter has been using this since she was 2.

Globetrotting Mommy – Best scooters for kids

Big kids: The Maxi Micro (recommended for ages 5-12) features three-wheels and a choice of two steering options (Pilot stick or traditional TBar). The quality is great and adjustable steering stick means it will grow with your child. Available in rainbow or metallic options.

Globetrotting Mommy – Best scooters for kids

Goodbye ponytail…hello …

September 19, 2013 By admin

Do you spend so much time getting your kids dressed in the morning only to realize you have a whole four minutes left to get yourself out the door. Pretty much every single day, right?

I’ve got some good news for busy on-the-go moms! We can now say goodbye to boring mommy ponytails and hello to chic and easy top knots…

I attended NYC’s Fashion Forward Conference last week (yes, I was at Fashion Week!) and this little goody was in my goody bag…I hereby introduce you to The WRAP UP™, the newest addition to my favorite hair accessories list…

Globetrotting Mommy – The WRAP UP

You put your ponytail through the center slot, pull it up towards the end and simply roll it down and fluff the hair around the base. Sounds complicated but I swear the whole thing takes about 20 seconds! Voila. Here I am testing my mad hair skills at the Sarah Potempa booth last week.

Globetrotting Mommy – The WRAP UP

So much more sophisticated than that boring ponytail, right? Works at home or away…playground, supermarket, date night, stroll around Paris, early morning safari. You get the picture.

The WRAP UP™ is perfect for all ladies with shoulder length or longer hair (with long or no layers) and makes a great gift for a new mom. Available in yellow, brown or black, you’ll definitely want to stock up on these for your next trip.

What are some of your favorite hair accessories?