reviews Archives - Page 8 of 11 - Globetrotting Mommy

Fun Food Friday: Top 10 Kid …

October 31, 2014 By admin

Do your kids say “I’m hungry” all the time? That’s an easy one when you’re home but when you’re on the go, you better be ready with some kid friendly snacks.

Here are some of my favorite go-to, mostly healthy snacks for traveling.

Kid friendly snacks, banana chips, chick peas, GoGo Squeeze, PackEms

Fun Food Friday: Top 10 Kid Friendly Snacks for Planes, Trains and Automobiles

1) Food that doesn’t make a mess is a win when you’re on the go. I love squeezy fruit pouches like GoGo Squeez and yogurt tubes which I keep in my freezer.

2) String cheese. If you’ve got little kids, these are probably already in your fridge. A great snacks for parents too.

3) Yogurt covered raisins or pretzels. The yogurt makes it healthy, right?

4) Rice cakes are great for kids of all ages. Too healthy? Take along some single serving peanut butter pouches to spread on top and your kids won’t even notice whats underneath…

5) Bananas in any form. Bananas seem to be a universal pleaser with kids. If you’re not worried about squishing, take along some fresh ones. If you need something more durable, try Barnana bites or my personal favorite, banana chips from Trader Joe’s.

6) Roasted seaweed snacks. Maybe its a NYC thing, but the kids here all snack on seaweed. It’s healthy, available in small packages and lightweight making it a great option for traveling.

7) Freeze dried fruit. Its always nice if you can take along fresh fruit on your travels but when you can’t, freeze dried options (apples and berries for my daughter) are a great choice.

8) Trail mix, granola and energy bars come in all varieties these days making them a great option for a quick meal or snack. KIND and Luna bars are my faves but if you’re feeling inspired, there are a million DIY recipes on Pinterest.

9) Cereals like Cheerios and Puffins are great for traveling. Just add milk or grab and go. This one works for toddlers and teens alike.

10) Salty snacks are super popular in my house and pretzels seem to please in any shape or flavor. There are some great alternatives to greasy chips like Chick-a-peas baked chick pea snacks (a great gluten free snack option), wasabi peas which are great for older kids and popcorn in cheesy or sweet flavors.

Kid friendly snacks, Pack Ems, snack bags, eco friendly

Fun Food Friday: Top 10 Kid Friendly Snacks for Planes, Trains and Automobiles

I love when snacks are individually wrapped but sometimes its easier to portion out my own snacks. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly snack storage option, I recently got to test out Pack’Ems and I think they’re a great option for on-the-go families. The set includes small and large bags made of super durable plastic (BPA, PVA and phthalate-free of course) which is easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. The velcro closure is super easy for kids to open and close, but my favorite thing about them (especially for plane travel) is the way they stand when opened. No more knocking over the bag of chips on your tray table ever again…

Have a great weekend!

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

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).

pajamas, kids, cute, comfy, girls, boys, pjs

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.

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

Fall Fun: Pumpkin Picking on …

September 18, 2014 By admin

Back-to-school came and went and now its time for Halloween! Pumpkin picking on Long Island is one of my favorite fall activities but if you wait too long, the pumpkins are picked over and the crowds are crazy. So, pick a weekend (between September 20 and November 2) and 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!

pumpkin picking, long island, fink's farm, fall, family travel, eastern long island

Pumpkin Picking at Fink’s Farm on Long Island

You’ll want to get there as early as you can (like 9 ish) to avoid crowds and get the best photo ops and pumpkins. The $13.25 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 Flashlight Maze from 7:30 – 10 pm on October 25th. There is also a regular Flashlight Maze on October 18 from 7:30 – 10pm. And if you visit on Sunday, October 26th 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…

Need more Halloween inspiration? Check out my post on Halloween costumes and Halloween gift ideas.

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

I AM ELEVEN: Sneak peek into …

September 16, 2014 By admin

When I was a new mom, I remember venturing out to the movies to see a documentary called Babies that chronicled the lives of four babies around the world. I was amazed to see how different moms (and babies) had it in other countries (no wipes, no plush stroller buntings, oh my!) but the unifying theme was how the babies were loved and cared for in their communities.

I AM ELEVEN

I recently had the chance to see I AM ELEVEN, a new documentary that follows 11-year olds all over the world and it was a great sneak peek into the future for me. My daughter is almost five now and she’s so grown up in so many ways but clearly she’s still a little girl. Filmmaker Genevieve Bailey traveled to 15 countries to explore the world through the eyes of 11-year olds and the result is a fascinating look at the fleeting moment between childhood and adolescence aka middle childhood.

I loved seeing the children’s different environments and learning about their concerns and hopes for the future. Some children were orphans while others were living pampered lives but the overall message was one of hope, curiosity and excitement for the future. Their dreams varied from becoming a ballet dancer, actress or secret agent to being a famous rapper or getting engaged in college, yet they shared a love of singing and dancing.

The film is currently playing in New York City with plans to open in California this month followed by Boston, Chicago, Washington DC and other markets. I think its a fascinating must-see for children, parents and grandparents so be sure to check it out in a theater near you.

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

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.

Personalized Picks, Back-to-school, Backpack, Pencils, Notebooks, Back-to-school, Mabel's Labels, Garnet Hill, Paperwink, Frecklebox, family travel, great gifts

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!

Mabel's Labels, Personalized kids labels, back-to-school, school supplies for kids, family travel

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.

Kid's backpack, personalized backpack, personalized lunch bag, garnethill

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.”

Personalized notebook, back-to-school, traveling, personalized gifts for kids

Globetrotting Mommy: Personalized Picks for Back-to-School and Traveling

Personalized pencils, back-to-school, kids travel, personalized gifts for kids

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.

Personalized kids Picks, Waterproof smock, Waterproof apron, Back-to-school, arts and crafts, smocks for kids, great gifts

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.

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

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!

Kids Books, NYC, Little Elliot, Big City, Book Review, Globetrotting Mommy

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.

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

Spotlight on NYC: Victorian …

August 21, 2014 By admin

One of my favorite spots to disappear in the summer is Central Park. The big boulders, lakes and miles of grass quickly make me forget I’m dead smack in the middle of an urban jungle. After I became a mom, I quickly found out that Central Park is also home to Victorian Gardens, a mini-amusement park (with stellar views!) that is just perfect for the mini-set.

NYC, Victorian Gardens, Amusement Park, Central Park, New York with Kids, Family Travel

Spotlight on NYC: Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park

Victorian Gardens is located at Wollman Rink which is an ice skating rink in the winter. Leave it to the Donald to turn any bit of real estate into a money making enterprise. There is a nice selection of children’s rides (bumper boats, swings, airplanes, roller coaster, train, etc.) and none are too scary so even the littlest kids will be entertained.

Spotlight on NYC: Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park

This was my daughter’s third summer visiting and she was especially excited to be tall enough (42 inches) for every single ride! The rides are just perfect for the 2-5 age range but younger kids will be fine riding with parents. Its a very manageable spot with little kids since the rides are all contained in a small area (think ice rink) and the lines are never too long. Pack a lunch and grab a picnic bench or buy food at the concessions stand when you get hungry.

Spotlight on NYC: Victorian Gardens Amusement Park in Central Park

It’s a little pricey for what it is (pay-as-you-go starting at $7 or unlimited wristband options starting at $21) but since you don’t have to drive hours to get there, I think its worth paying up. Kids under 36 inches are free so bring along the little siblings. After a couple of hours, you’ll be ready to go home but don’t say I didn’t warn you if your kids want to stay and climb the nearby boulders for another hour…

If you’ll be near Central Park, check it out before they close on September 7.

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

Best Booster Car Seat for …

August 5, 2014 By admin

After years of dealing with baby and toddler car seats, I’m thrilled to report that my daughter now meets the requirements to travel in a booster car seat. If you’re looking for the best booster car seat for traveling, look no further than the BubbleBum inflatable booster car seat for kids ages four-11.

Best booster car seat, travel, Globetrotting Mommy, BubbleBum, Review, portable booster seat

Best booster car seat for traveling: Globetrotting Mommy BubbleBum Review

I recently got to test drive the award-winning BubbleBum booster seat and my daughter and I were really happy with its performance. First off, its so small and light which makes it easy to throw in your bag for taxi rides and perfect for taking on vacations. You simply unroll, blow it up in seconds (don’t worry, there’s an easy valve), place it on the seat, buckle your child in with the car seat belt and then slip the car seat belt straps through the red restraints on both sides. If your child is young, there is one more restraint that keeps the shoulder strap in place (its that red shoulder level loop pictured below). Seriously fast and easy and very comfortable according to my little passenger. Can you imagine never again having to contort your body as you reach though disgusting taxi and car rental seats searching for the LATCH bars while ruining your manicure? You’re welcome!

Best booster car seat for traveling: Globetrotting Mommy BubbleBum Review

We tried it in taxis, in friend’s cars and even when we went to test drive a car this past weekend. We’ll continue to use a permanent car seat in our car but I know the BubbleBum going to get a lot of mileage on vacations, in rental cars and when my daughter’s friends come along on weekend outings.

It exceeds US and European requirements, comes in four color options (black, purple, neon pink and neon yellow) and retails for just $29.99. In addition to traveling and taxi rides, I think it would be very handy for carpooling, babysitter and grandparent’s cars and fitting three car seats in a row.

Last but not least, there’s a BubbleBum app that features fun kids games (perfect for road trips) and checklists for parents! Win, win.

Bon voyage…

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

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.

NYC, Ice Cream Cones, East Village, Ice Cream, Best Ice Cream, Globetrotting Mommy, New York with Kids, Travel

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.

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!

Staycation, Juggle Bubbles, Globetrotting Mommy, Bubbles, Toys, Fun for kids, beach toys

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.

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